The Citizen

movesHugoDowntownprojectaheadtocouncil

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

HUGO — For many years, motorists have driven by the vacant Egg Lake property across from City Hall and wondered if redevelopment plans would ever come to fruition.TheCity Council will consider a project known as Downtown Hugo Oct. 3, after the Planning Commission unanimously recommended the council approve a preliminary plat and planned unit development (PUD) general plan.

The developer, Dennis Properties LLC proposes five buildings totaling approximately 63,000 square feet on the 4.2-acre property, located on the east side of Highway 61 in downtown Hugo along Egg Lake.Back in 2019, a steakhouse was proposed for the property but plans fell through due to a lack of financing for the project. The council approved a new purchase agreement with Dennis Properties for $1 for the city-owned property in December 2020.

Deer season outlook is good, safety a top priority

ROY HEILMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Minnesota’s deer hunting tradition is rich and strong, reaching back many generations and in general, hunters in 2022 can expect more opportunities to harvest deer.

Seasons summary

Overall deer harvest is expected to be strong across the

state in 2022. Firearms season begins Nov. 5, youth and early antlerless hunts will take place Oct. 20-23. Archery season has alreadyAvailablebegun.tags will be stable or increasing in number in the vast majority of deer permit areas (DPAs).Because of recent chronic wasting disease (CWD) finds, new CWD zones have been established. Over opening

weekend, sample submissions will be mandatory in CWD management, control, and surveillance zones. Carcass movement restrictions will continue to be in place. As always, hunters are encouraged to consult the regulations booklet or the DNR website for the most updatedAccordinginformation.todataavailable

Bones, bags and • 651-488-6707

Developer Denny Trooien, a longtime resident of White Bear Lake, said, “We are excited to be here. We have been working on this project for about three years and much more intensely in the past two years … It has

CONTRIBUTED

Dennis Properties LLC is proposing five buildings totaling approximately 63,000 square feet on the 4.2acre property in downtown Hugo. The first phase of the project would include a 6,800-square-foot restaurant, parking and half of the promenade area.

Royal Credit union schedules ribboncutting event

Royal Credit Union, located at 14602 Everton Ave. N in Hugo, will host a ribbon-cutting event at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Royal Credit Union recently acquired several Lake Area Bank locations, including the Hugo branch. At the ribbon cutting, attendees will hear from President and CEO Brandon Riechers about the credit union’s growth in the state. Light refreshments and gift bags will be given out. The ribbon cutting will be hosted by the Hugo Business Association and the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce.

Believer’s Boxing Gym to host ‘Rumble in the Forest’

Believer’s Boxing Gym, located at 24799 Forest Blvd. in Forest Lake, will host “Rumble in the Forest” Saturday, Oct. 1 at Maranatha Assembly of God Church (same address as boxing gym). The event will showcase the accomplishments of Believer’s Boxing athletes, other athletes in the region, as well as the talent of Forest Lake music andBeliever’sentertainers.Boxing Gym, a nonprofit organization, strives to provide affordable athletic activities that promote and enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being in a diverse community. For more information, visit www.believersboxing.org or call 651-464-3564.

HBA hosts annual Breakfast with the Mayor

The Hugo Business Association recently held its annual Breakfast with the Mayor event at the Blue Heron Grill. During the event, Mayor Tom Weidt highlighted several key projects that the city has accomplished recently, including Lions Volunteer Park and the new Hugo Public Works. White Bear Area School continues to invest in Hugo, most recently by purchasing the former public works building, constructing a new transportation

facility and adding a new elementary school. “The city is in a very good place,” he said.

Dream of Wild Health begins construction of new site

Dream of Wild Health recently hosted a “Planting Seeds for Future Generations” event to launch a capital campaign and kick off construction on its new 20-acre property, located just down the street from its existing 10-acre property located at 16085 Jeffrey Ave. N in Hugo.

According to Dream of Wild Health Executive Director Neely Snyder, construction should begin shortly and take approximately 15 to 18 months.

“We want to honor the many gifts that the earth has given us and ensure that our future generations continue to survive through anything just as we have done so far…” Neely explained. “In just a matter of two years, we will have created another thriving and vibrant farm on this property, another safe place for youth to learn about their culture and language and indigenous foods, a space for our

community to gather and learn and a space for our future farmers and chefs to learn and grow with us.”The project will include a pavilion, a greenhouse, a high tunnel and plenty of growing space. A building will also house a processing area, teaching kitchen and meeting space. For more information about Dream of Wild Health, visit https://dreamofwildhealth.org.

Shannon Granholm

SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Mayor Tom Weidt provides an update on the city to community members and business owners.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Dream of Wild Health has broken ground on its new property in Hugo.

SEE MORE BUSINESS

COPS&COURTS

HUGO POLICE REPORTS

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:

• T hree suspicious vehicles were reported at 11:25 p.m. Aug. 12 in the 6000 block of 145th Circle N. In an unusual development, the vehicles were not gone on arrival, and Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies spoke to the driver of one of the vehicles matching the description. That driver revealed that his group had thrown toilet paper all over the yard of a friend’s home. Deputies advised them all to return to the address to clean up the mess. Just to make sure, deputies alerted the residents at the address that the toilet paper cleaner uppers were on the way.

• A vehicle parked in the 13000 block of Europa Court N. at 7:22 a.m. Aug. 13 received a citation under the windshield wipers for displaying tabs that expired in June.

• A southbound motorist was cited at 10:07 a.m. Aug. 13 in the area of Finale Avenue N. and Upper 147th Street N. for semaphore violation, after deputies observed the vehicle go through the red light without even attempting to stop.

• A vehicle parked in the area of Farnham Avenue N. and 149th Street N. received a citation under the windshield wiper at 10:23 a.m. Aug. 14 for displaying tabs that expired in June. A vehicle parked in the 4000 block of 159th Street N. was similarly gifted at 10:44 a.m. Aug. 14 for tabs that expired in February.

A M innesota motorist was cited at 2:49 p.m. Aug. 14 in the area of 148th Street N. and Foxhill Avenue N. for driving after revocation and equipment violations, after Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with a tree-shaped cardboard air freshener dangling from the rearview mirror. The driver admitted to knowing his license was revoked, and a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database check confirmed it. A valid driver had to be summoned to collect the vehicle, dangling air freshener and all.

• A M innesota driver was arrested at 4:19 p.m. Aug. 14 in the area of Oneka Parkway N. and Frenchman Road for driving after suspension, after deputies on patrol matched the description of the driver with the suspended registered owner of the vehicle in their files. His passenger took charge of the vehicle.

• D eputies on radar patrol conducted a traffic stop on a motorist at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 on 140th Street N. and Flay Avenue N. for speeding 74 mph in a 55 mph zone on Highway 61. The driver was described as having a good attitude after he agreed to deputies’ statement about his speed.

• A n unidentified motorist was cited at 8:06 p.m. Aug. 14 on a private road for not wearing a seat belt.

• A suspicious male walking along the 6000 block of 165th Street N. at 4:50 a.m. Aug. 15 turned out to be a man walking to the Speedway station from his nearby home. Deputies said they had no justifiable reason to detain him any longer than necessary and let him walk on.

• T wo road bikes were reported stolen overnight Aug. 14-15 from a garage in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N.

• Forced entry to a pole barn in the 8000 block of

140th Street N., resulting in stolen tools, was reported at 7:11 a.m. Aug. 15.

• A male was reported for causing a disturbance in a store in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 5:25 p.m. Aug. 15. Deputies advised the male that he needed to leave the premises, per the store’s request, which the male agreed to do without incident.

• W hen deputies conducted a traffic stop at 1:32 a.m. Aug. 16 on Forest Blvd. N. and 147th Street N. on a vehicle that drove over the curb, the elderly driver said he was driving home to Maplewood but was unsure where he was. Field sobriety tests revealed that the driver was not under the influence, and deputies assisted the male with directions home via his phone maps.

• A resident in the 6000 block of 138th Street N. at 9:54 p.m. Aug. 16 reported her adult son for disrespecting her and not holding down a steady job. Deputies advised the complainant that this was a civil matter and provided information on the eviction process.

• A resident in the 5000 block of 149th Street N. at 3:23 p.m. Aug. 17 reported being contacted by a scammer claiming to be from Xcel Energy and that she owed them money. Deputies spoke with Xcel, which said they did not call, but that there was a balance due on the complainant’s account.

• A g roup of juveniles shooting people with BB guns from their car in the 15000 Farnham Avenue N. at 5:18 p.m. Aug. 17 was detained and the occupants were cited for fifth-degree assault, after deputies located a vehicle in the area containing Orbeez guns and a small cooler full of rounds.

• Paramedics in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. reported being harassed by an out-of-town female in a vehicle at 6:40 p.m. Aug. 18.

• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies cited an unidentified person for assault in the 17000 block of Farnham Avenue N. following a report at 8:27 p.m. Aug. 18 from a woman who said she was assaulted at work earlier that day.

• A westbound pickup truck driver was cited at 7:55 a.m. Aug. 19 on 170th Street N. and Henna Avenue N. for speeding 70 mph in a 55 mph zone by eastbound deputies in their marked squad, who clocked him on radar. The driver was also cited for displaying registration that expired in May.

• A Minnesota motorist was cited at 10:03 a.m. Aug. 19 in the 14000 block of southbound Forest Blvd. N. for disobeying a semaphore, after deputies behind the vehicle observed it go through a solid red light.

• K ids in the middle of the road mooning vehicles in the area of Frenchman Road and Oneka Parkway N. were reported at 5:20 p.m. Aug. 19.

• A woman, with whom deputies were well familiar, reported her boyfriend for arguing and taking her phone away at 3:00 a.m. Aug. 20 in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. Deputies said the woman frequently called in to report her boyfriend for various issues when they weren’t getting along. Deputies advised the complainant that her case was a civil matter and that they couldn’t intervene.

• A Minnesota motorist was cited at 12:13 p.m. Aug. 20 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for using

a cellular device for a phone call while driving, after deputies observed her talking into the phone. The driver admitted to calling to ask for directions because she was lost.

• A c aller at an undisclosed location at 1:42 p.m. Aug. 20 reported receiving an attempted kidnapping scam. After he verified that his daughter was safe, the complainant hung up on the scammer.

• A fter a cat was reported stolen at 4:11 a.m. Aug. 21 in the 4000 block of Education Drive N., deputies advised the complainant that the incident was a civil matter and advised him on the civil process.

• A resident in the 4000 block of 143rd Court N. at 11:12 a.m. Aug. 22 reported fraud.

• Residents in the 15000 block of Fenway Avenue N. at 10:21 p.m. Aug. 22 reported their home egged.

• Residents in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 3:37 p.m. Aug. 23 reported damage to their property as a result of the resurfacing of the road next to their home.

• A bike reported found at the side of the road in the 5000 block of 147th Street N. at 5:46 p.m. Aug. 23 was discovered to have been stolen out of Macalester, Oklahoma. Deputies contacted investigators from that police department.

• A motorist was arrested on multiple warrants at 12:58 a.m. Aug. 24 in the area of Frenchman Road and Victor Hugo Road N.

• A M innesota motorist was cited at 4:47 p.m. Aug. 24 in the area of Oneka Parkway N. and Frenchman Road N. for displaying license plate tabs that expired in May. Not to be outdone, another motorist was cited at 4:58 p.m. Aug. 24 in the area of Farnham Avenue N. and Oneka Parkway N. for tabs that expired in March.

• A suspicious occupied vehicle parked in the Festival Foods lot in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 12:07 a.m. Aug. 25 turned out to be a woman hanging out to smoke, because her apartment complex was a no-smoking establishment.

• Residents in the 13000 block of Europa Trail Way N at 2:10 a.m. Aug. 25 reported an individual for doing a burnout in their yard and wanted the incident documented.

• At 9:19 a.m. Aug. 26 deputies conducted an unsuccessful attempt to serve civil papers at a residence in the 15000 block of Emerald Drive N. because no one would answer the door. At 9:28 a.m. that same morning, deputies were able to serve the court order and arrest the person, after the subject’s wife let deputies into the residence when he refused to answer the door.

• A resident in the 13000 block of Fondant Trail N. at 11:09 a.m. Aug. 26 reported delivered packages stolen.

• A pickup truck driver was arrested at 12:52 p.m. Aug. 26 in the area of Isleton Avenue N. and 136th Street N. for multiple registration violations after deputies conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle. The vehicle’s registration tabs did not match the registration in their computer database. The driver admitted to using tabs from one of his father’s vehicles in an attempt to avoid expired registration citations.

Loretta Harding

PUBLIC SAFETY

Centennial Fire District all recently participated in a live burn training opportunity at 16345 Everton Ave. N. in Hugo. The home was donated to the Hugo Fire Department from

a developer for a rare training opportunity.

PHOTOS BY HUGO FIRE | CONTRIBUTED

Goodbye my friend

It’s sad how quickly a light can go out. When I found out my uncle Del passed away last month, a lifetime of memories came rushing through my head.

Del was 81 years old. He had been on kidney dialysis for approximately eight years. He was a widow for 30 years. His wife, my aunt Sharon (my dad’s sister), died suddenly from a heart attack and he never remarried. Since I was born, Del and Sharon were a big part of my life. They were my Godparents and when I was confirmed, they took me to Disney World. It was a great

Noelle’sNotes

Noelle Olson

Alongtrip!with my parents, Del and Sharon were owners of our cabin in Wisconsin. We spent many weekends together. I have many memories of fishing, swimming, campfires and playing cards. They had a Bayliner speed boat so I learned how to water ski and the dangers of tubing. Del loved to take me, my brother and two sisters on wild rides when we were young – and we loved it. Since my aunt and uncle didn’t have children of their own, we became their surrogate kids.Itnever bothered my parents.

Del was like a brother to them and they were a big part of our family. We spent every Christmas together and they spoiled us kids. Every Easter they would give us each a big box from Cub with our favorite treats, junk food, fruit and a case of pop. My pop of choice was Mountain Dew back then. I lived with Del and Sharon when I went to the University of Minnesota in the late 80s. Del and I went out to lunch at least once a week. He would save newspaper articles about the proposed casinos that the Indian tribes wanted to build. I was taking an Indian class (can’t remember what it was called), and I would use them to write my essays for class. Del was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam. He never spoke about it to anyone. A few years ago, Del and I went to lunch and he told me about his time in Vietnam with stories about the war. With tears in his eyes, he said what bothered him the most was the terrible way he and other soldiers were treated when they came back to the U.S. Spending time with your loved ones is what life is all about. When they die, they’re not really gone. They live in your heart and the memories made throughout the years will tide you over until you meet again. When something like this happens, everything else seems so small.

I remember a “Little House on the Prairie” episode when Mary was going blind. The grange was collapsing and the town was dying. Charles tells his friend Jonathan Garvey, “Life is a funny thing. If you would have told me a couple of weeks ago that the mill was shut down and the grange was collapsing, I’d be the most upset man you ever saw. Now, I don’t even care. It doesn’t mean a thing. I just wonder how much our lives are spent worrying about things that just don’t mean anything.”

This is so true and pretty much says it all. Del got the hero funeral he deserved. He was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery last week. Sharon’s ashes are now next to his. Del kept her ashes all these years so they could be buried together. The funeral honor ceremony included a color guard, rifle volley and the folding and presentation of the flag. When “Taps” was played, there wasn’t a dry eye under the shelter.

I will treasure all of my cherished memories with Del. Thank you for all of the things you’ve done for me throughout the years. You will be greatly missed and you will always be in my heart. Say hi to Sharon and Grandma Mary, and I’ll see you in my dreams.

Noelle Olson is the staff writer of the Shoreview Press. She can be reached at 651-407-1229 shoreviewnews@presspubs.com.or

Selecting Minnesota native plants for your landscape

Did you know that big bluestem grass, a Minnesota native plant, provides food or habitat for 24 different songbirds and 11 species of butterflies? Or that the presentgetatothatchoosingyourwildlifewaysarefood?dropseedandbigrequiresbutterflyskipperbothbluestemprairieforIfyoulookingfortoinviteintoyard,plantsarenativeMinnesotaisgreatwaytostarted.Ifaplantwasinour

ecosystem prior to colonization, it is considered a native species. Gardening with native plants has a wide range of benefits. In addition to attracting and supporting wildlife, native plants generally require less maintenance than cultivated specimens due to their extensive root systems, which also help prevent soil erosion. Here are some examples of Minnesota native plants and the wildlife they support: Bees: anise hyssop, blazing star, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, prairie dropseed (nesting), purple prairie clover,

sky blue aster, wild columbine Butterflies: anise hyssop, big blue stem, blazing star, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, sky blue aster, wild columbine, white prairie clover, yarrow Birds: blazing star, cardinal flower, prairie dropseed, wild columbineNativeplants require care when first planted, but if you choose the right plant for your site, you can expect them to thrive with little maintenance. Some plants need specific conditions, while others will grow almost anywhere. For example, wild columbine tolerates a wide range of soils, while prairie dropseed prefers drier locations. It’s important to research plant requirements, test your soil, and observe sun exposure before selecting plants.Youcan experiment with a variety of native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers to design a space that will support multiple species in addition to providing you with a visually pleasing design. If you are considering replacing large patches of lawn with native grasses and/or native plants and you live in an urban or suburban neighborhood with local ordinances, you may want to add structural design elements such as fencing, rocks, mulch, or mowed spaces to ensure that

your yard looks tended. If you are on a budget, your local nursery has a limited selection, or you prefer to grow plants from seed, many native plants can be grown from seed. Read the instructions on the seed packet, because most natives require cold stratification before they will germinate. You can cold stratify seeds by mixing them with damp sand and placing them in the refrigerator for about two months, or until they sprout. Alternately, seeds can be planted in containers, covered with mulch, and stored in a protected area or unheated garage. In both cases, keep the seeds moist, which simulates winter conditions. Another option is to plant the seeds in the ground in the fall, but this could result in lower germination rates if some seeds are eaten by wildlife or washed away by Growingrain.native plants is a great way to support area wildlife while also enhancing your landscape, so I hope you’ll make room for some in your garden!

For more information on native plant selection, find-plants/native-plantshttps://extension.umn.edu/visit.

letters.

published as space permits.

• Four weeks (or issues) must pass between publication of unpaid letters from the same writer.

•

•

•

• Repeat unpaid letters by the same writer about the same subject matter will not be paid letters will be

Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters at the editor’s discretion.

• Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published.

• Letters by campaign managers or candidates designed to champion the candidate’s position on a specific issue will be accepted as paid letters.

• Letters reprinted as part of letter-writing campaigns are paid

• All letters are subject to editing.

• We reserve the right to not publish any letter.

• The deadline to submit a letter is 5 p.m. Wednesday the week prior to publication.

• The last batch of letters to be printed before the Nov. 8 election will be printed in the Oct. 26 issue and must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.19.

• To submit a letter, email news@ presspubs.com, fax it to 651-4291242 or mail/deliver it to Press Publications.

Nanette Morgan is an Anoka County ExtensionGardener.Master or mail a check payable to Press Publications to 4779 Bloom Ave, White Bear Lake, MN, 55110. Endorsement letters are

PAID LETTER

A plea for civility

We took our two granddaughters to march in the Vadnais Heights Heritage Days Parade (age 6 and 8). We joined Roger Chamberlain’s float, and the girls were very excited to be in a parade and handing out candy! They are not political, and were surprised and disappointed to find out that they could not vote. While we were being moved into position for the parade, we passed the group that was marching in support of Roger’s opponent, Heather Gustafson. Upon seeing us, they started angry chanting and yelling in our direction. Our girls wanted to know why those people were so mad at us. Fortunately, young children are easily distracted, and we quickly got them focused on the mechanics of giving out candy to the crowd!

My point is that I understand that emotions run high in this election, and we all want our point of view heard, but we must remember we are giving civics lesson to the next generation! I for one want that lesson to be that we can support our candidates and beliefs and still be respectful of others!

AndrewLinoCraveroLakes

put ideology and politics ahead of kids and affirm a worldview in which we are all divided and judged by race, class, oppressed and oppressor, and a world where gender is fluid.

T his is the deplorable state of K-12 education in Minnesota. PELSB ignores that 50% of kids cannot read at grade level or do math. Yet, to be licensed, teachers must affirm that (according to standard 4(H)) “The teacher creates opportunities for students to learn about power, privilege, intersectionality and oppression in the context of various communities and empowers learners to be agents of social change to promote equity.” Or standard 6(F) says, “The teacher assesses how their biases, perceptions and disciplinary training may affect their teaching practice and perpetuate oppressive systems and accesses tools to mitigate their own behavior to disrupt oppressive systems.”

It goes on — 100 distinct standards governing what a teacher must understand and apply in the classroom. Politics and ideology of oppressor and oppressed, race and class become a substitute for academic excellence.

T his isn’t education, it isn’t equality. It is a bleak, unhappy place; it is oppression itself — a dehumanizing, intellectual prison, and a giant step backward.

renewables. For us, a nation rich in fossil fuels and heavily dependent on transportation, this is government-inflicted torment.

Biden wants personal sacrifices from citizens like me to hypothetically fix the global climate issue while China and India continue with their coal plants belching. This big government plan runs roughshod over citizens and elevates questionable ideology over humanity.

Democrats and their America-last policies need to be voted out, starting right here in Minnesota. I’m voting Scott Jensen, Roger Chamberlain and Elliott Engen.

Tim Klecker White Bear Lake

PAID AbortionLETTER–the non-issue

Growing up on a farm in Minnesota meant your parents were Democrats, which meant you were a Democrat. However, today’s Democrat Party is not the party of my parents. Those Democrats used to care about the little guy. They had policies they thought were in the best interest of all Minnesotans. This is far from true today.

PAID AcademicsLETTERneed to be first

Want your kids to learn to read, write do math? Would you like them to grow to be a critical and free-thinking individual? Want your kid accepted to a quality college or university? Then the current hubbub over the proposed teacher licensing rules in Minnesota will alarm you.

T he new standards, now in their final draft, were crafted by people mostly hand-picked by DFL Gov. Walz for their “wokeness,” the Professional Educators Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). These new standards require teachers to

OBITUARIES

Larry Eugene Funk

Age 81 of Hugo. Loving Father, Grandpa, GreatGrandpa, Brother & Uncle passed away on September 10, 2022 after a brief battle with kidney cancer.

Preceded in death by loving wife of 61 years, Bette; parents, Frank & Betty; brother, Steve; granddaughter, Hannah Rundquist. Survived by children, Larry (Cheryl), Vicky (Tony) Grove, Amanda (Mike) Rundquist; grandchildren, Maggie, Ali, Monica, Eric, Leah, Levi, Emily, Scotlin, Whitney; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Galen (Vicki); nephew, William (Chelsey); niece, Rachael; other relatives & friends.

Larry was a proud Veteran. He worked for 37 years at NSP.

A celebration of Larry’s life 1 PM Friday, September 23rd with visitation beginning at 11:30 AM at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake. Interment at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Hugo. Memorials preferred to Minneapolis VA Hospice Ward, (Checks payable to MVAHCS with a memo note for Fund 8033). 651-464-4422 - RobertsFamilyFH.com

Vilhelmine “Willie” Vanags

March 22, PrecededSeptember19318,2022indeath by

husband Visvaldis; children Mara (Steve) Dworak, Ilze (Mark) Hager and Juris (Barbara) Vanags; 12 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; sister Janina Jansevics and nieces. Willie started her career at White Castle and ended as one of the pioneers with the WIC program.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Genevieve Catholic Church, St. John Site, 14383 Forest Blvd, Hugo, MN with visitation starting at 10:00 am. Private interment at Resurrection Cemetery. MuellerMemorial.com – 651-429-4944

W hy aren’t candidates Gustafson or Strom speaking out against requiring teachers to become political ideologues? Because as DFLers, they and the powerful teachers’ unions are fully in support.

I f you believe academics need to be first; if you want your child to learn to read, write, do math; if you would like them to have real opportunity and true equality and freedom, then vote Republican to take back our education system.

Stacy Lundblad Licensed Minnesota teacherCenterville(retired)

PAID DemocratsLETTERneed to be voted out

Just two years ago, on Sept. 14, 2020, gas prices were $2.077 per gallon in Minnesota. On Sept. 12, 2022, gas prices are averaging $3.669 in Minnesota. Earlier this summer on June 13, shockingly, they peaked at $4.753.

What clearer demonstration of the differences in energy policies under the Democrats (Biden) vs. under the Republicans (Trump)? Are the good ol’ days of reasonable gas prices over?

To listen to Biden, the answer seems to be yes. “(When) it comes to the gas prices, we’re going through an incredible transition that … when it’s over, we’ll be stronger and the world will be stronger and less reliant on fossil fuels when this is over.” That was Biden on May 23 during a press conference. The New York Post headline that day: “Biden praises high gas prices as part of ‘incredible transition.’”

Yes, Biden took pride in high gas prices as part of his plan to push the economy toward 100%

What matters to most Minnesotans today? The high cost of groceries and lack of products on the shelves, how much it costs me to fill car’s gas tank, rising violent crime rates in my neighborhood and the number of deaths weekly in Mpls and St. Paul, what is my child learning (or not learning) at school, why haven’t his math and reading scores improved, why is the state taking more money from my paycheck than they budgeted for … What in NOT an issue for Minnesota voters this election cycle is abortion. In 1995, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in Doe v. Gomez that women in Minnesota have a constitutional right to abortion, and our state’s Medical Assistance program will pay for it for those with low income. So, like it or not, after the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court, nothing has changed in Minnesota. Abortion is still available for those who think they have no other choice, and it’s not going away any time soon. May God forgive us.

So, your decision this November is important. Will you cast your vote for Mr. Walz and the Democrats, whose policies have caused havoc in every part of your day-to-day life, all because of misinformation on your access to abortion?

Or will you choose commonsense Republican candidates who will be tough on crime, support our peace officers, offer tax cuts and tax relief for families, push for curriculum transparency in schools and parents’ rights, reject gas tax increases, fight fraud and audit out-of-control government spending?

Today, it’s the Republican candidates who have your best interests at heart, and the best solutions to the problems affecting Minnesotans every day.

Patty VadnaisBradwayHeights 9:30am 6:30p, 8:00a, 5:30-6:15p,Thurs 8:30-9:00a

• T he city of Hugo has allocated up to $50,000 of its budget to participate in a visioning and jurisdictional transfer study with Washington County to be completed for Highway 61. The study will build on the existing layout that was developed with the city, Washington County and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for the future expansion of Highway 61.

The study will further evaluate the access locations and type of andimprovements,planafuture.CountytransferredHighwaythattransportationusesalsoPurplethethefuturerightlocation.improvementsintersectionateachItwilldefinetheofwayneedsfortheexpansionandevaluatefuturetransitplansforRushLinecorridor/Line.ThestudywillanalyzethefuturelandalongHighway61andcorridorsconnecttothehighway.61isplannedtobetoWashingtonfromMnDOTintheThestudywilldevelopdetailedimplementationincludingfuturetiming,costagencyresponsibilityfor

BUSINESS BRIEFS

the transfer to occur. Washington County has selected Bolton & Menk as the project consultant. Work will start soon on the study with several public engagement events and stakeholder meetings planned.

• A city is in the process of implementing a new software, CivicRec Recreation Management System from CivicPlus, that will allow residents and users of cityowned facilities to easily check availability and reserve space. Areas that will be available to schedule are the Oneka Room, Rice Lake Centre, Hanifl Shelter and the new Peder Pederson Pavilion and outdoor space.

• T he initial software cost, development fees and firstyear service fees totals $5,938, and the annual recurring service fee will be $4,725. The city will also pay $1,312.50 for GIS integration to confirm Hugo residency and Forte for payment processing and gateway services.

• Brian Kindelberger has resigned from the lieutenant position with the fire department to allow more time

New tobacco shop coming soon

The Lino Lakes City Council has granted a tobacco license for a new business called AK Smoke Zone, owned by Ai Afureedy. The business will be at located on the east side of I-35E at 7107 Otter Lake Road, near the city’s border with Hugo.

New Horizon Academy is coming to Lino Lakes

The City Council has approved a preliminary plat, conditional use permit (CUP), site improvement performance agreement and a

PUBLIC NOTICES

to continue his education. Kindelberger has served in that role since March 2018. He plans to remain a regular firefighter on the department. A public hearing has been set for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, for the Oneka Parkway improvement project. As part of the public improvement process, in accordance with state statute Chapter 429, the city needs to declare the costs to be assessed and conduct the assessment hearing. The total project cost is $2.6 million with assessments totaling $381,500.TheCity Council has agreed it needs to further discuss and evaluate whether changes need to be made to its assessment policy. The policy was last updated in 2013. City Administrator Bryan Bear said, “Construction costs have gone up significantly, and our assessment policy has stayed theThesame.”council plans to discuss the policy at a future work session.

Shannon Granholm

CITY OF HUGO MINNESOTA

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ASSESSMENTS 2022 ONEKA PARKWAY IMPROVEMENTS

To Whom It May Concern:

Notice is hereby given that the City Council will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Mon day, October 3, 2022, to consider and possibly adopt, the proposed assess ment against abutting property for the 2022 Oneka Parkway Improvements. Adoption by the City Council of the proposed assessment may occur at the hearing.

The proposed assessment roll is on file for public inspection at the City Clerk’s office. The total amount of the proposed assessment is $381,500.00. Such assessment is proposed to be payable in equal annual installments ex tending over a period of 5 years, the first of the installments to be payable on or before the first Monday in January, 2023, and will bear interest at the rate of 4.25% per annum from the date of the adoption of the assessment resolution. To the first installment shall be added interest on the entire assessment from the date of the assessment resolution until December 31, 2023. To each subsequent installment when due shall be added interest for one year on all unpaid installments.

A property owner may at any time prior to certification of the assessment to the county auditor, pay the entire assessment on such property, with in terest accrued to the date of payment, to the City of Hugo. No interest shall be charged if the entire assessment is paid within 30 days from adoption of this assessment. A property owner may at any time thereafter, pay to the City of Hugo the entire amount of the assessment remaining unpaid, with interest accrued to December 31 of the year in which such payment is made. Such payment must be made before November 15 or interest will be charged through December 31 of the succeeding year. If a property owner decides not to prepay the assessment before the date given above the rate of interest that will apply is 4.25% per year. The right to partially prepay the assessment is not

Writtenavailable.ororal objections will be considered at the meeting. No appeal may be taken as to the amount of an assessment unless a written objection signed by the affected property owner is filed with the City Clerk prior to the assessment hearing or presented to the presiding officer at the hearing. The City Council may upon such notice consider any objection to the amount of a proposed individual assessment at an adjourned meeting upon such further notice to the affected property owners as it deems advisable.

An owner may appeal an assessment to district court pursuant to Minn. Stat. 429.081 by serving notice of the appeal upon the Mayor or City Clerk within 30 days after the adoption of the assessment and filing such notice with the district court within ten days after service upon the Mayor or City Clerk.

parking deferment agreement for the development, known as Belland Farms 2nd Addition. The property owner, Rehbein Properties, applied for a preliminary plat for a 1.57-acre commercial lot for the purpose of constructing a 12,027-squarefoot commercial day care facility in the northwest quadrant of CSAH 14 (Main Street) and 24th Avenue, next to the new eye clinic, Associated Eye Care. (24th Avenue/Elmcrest Avenue is the municipal boundary between the city of Lino Lakes and the city of Hugo.) The deferred parking agreement simply states that if in the future the business ever needs more parking spaces, it will be required to

Under Minn. Stat. 435.193 to 435.195, the City Council may, in its discre tion, defer the payment of this special assessment for any homestead proper ty owned by a person 65 years of age or older for whom it would be a hardship to make the payments. When deferment of the special assessment has been granted and is terminated for any reason provided in that law, all amounts accumulated plus applicable interest become due. Any assessed property owner meeting the requirements of this law and the resolution adopted under it may, within 30 days of the adoption of the assessment, apply to the City Clerk for the prescribed form for such deferral of payment of this special as sessment on his property.

Dated this 6th day of September, 2022.

BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL Michele Lindau, City Clerk, City of Hugo Washington County, Minnesota Published two times in The Citizen on September 8 and 22, 2022.

OBITUARY

Rosalie E. Stedt

Age 84 of Hugo Loving Mom, Grandma & nephews,grandchildren;6step-son,LindaSurvivedbrother,Louishusband,PrecededonpassedGreat-GrandmaawaypeacefullySeptember15,2022.indeathbyDean;parents,&EmilyKubiak;EugeneKubiak.bydaughters,Ide,LauraBean;Terry(Linda);grandchildren;7great-nieces,otherrelatives

&

friends. Rosalie will be deeply missed by her family. A celebration of Rose’s life 6 PM Thursday, October 6th with visitation one hour prior at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake. A special thank you to Sisters In Harmony and Allina Hospice for their loving care of Rosalie.

WHITE BEAR LAKE SCHOOL BOARD SNIPPETS

• T his year schools in the suburban east conference are going to online only ticket sales for all sporting events. Superintendent Dr. Wayne Kazmierczak said all conference schools have partnered with hometown ticketing to make it easier for spectators. People can access online tickets by downloading the hometown ticketing app. Information about purchasing online tickets and season passes can also be found on the White Bear Lake Area High School activities page at https://activities.isd624.org/ online-ticketing.

• School Board student representatives for the 2022-23 school year are Lauren Collier and Arianna Vann-Cook. Collier, a senior at the south campus, will serve as the student representative. She is involved in the National Honor Society, Link Crew, chamber orchestra, homecoming and prom committee and secretary of the Student Council. She also volunteers at St. Johns Hospital. Vann-Cook, a junior at the south campus, will serve as the alternate student representative. She is involved in the Student Council, Black Excellence Club, speech, Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee, lacrosse, and is the leader of the Women Empowerment Seminar.

• T he White Bear Lake Area School Board recognized students who represented the district at a state and national level in skeet/ trap and fishing. They are:

Kaleb Walton: 2022 Bass High School National Championship qualifier.

• Tyler Thilmany: 2022 MN Jr. BASS Nation State Tournament of Champions qualifier, SATT 2022 MN Tournament Champions

COUNTY BRIEFS

County Board agrees to use proceeds from taxforfeited land for parks

The Washington County Board of Commissioners will set aside 20% of the proceeds of the sale of tax-forfeited land to be used for buying and maintaining county parks. The ownership of property that forfeits because of the nonpayment of property taxes rests with the state, and the county is tasked with the management and disposition of the property. When a taxforfeited property is sold to a governmental agency or the public, the proceeds are deposited into the county’s taxforfeited sale fund.

From the net proceeds, the distribution as established in state law is: • 2 0% of fund proceeds to the county for acquisition and maintenance of county parks and recreational areas in counties that have passed the appropriate resolution annually; and • of the remaining funds, 40% is distributed to the county general fund, 40% to the school district and 20% to the city or

Thetownship.financial implications for the county vary by year, depending on the amount of sale proceeds.

Board continues review of 2023 budgets

Commissioners continue to review the 2023 budgets. Under the budget recommendations, the county net levy would increase by 4.9% to $126.6 million, and nonlevy revenue would be $108.3 million, a decrease of 18.6% from 2022.As in nearly all counties in Minnesota, property owners in Washington County have experienced increased property values from the rise in sales prices, especially for residential properties. The median value of a home in the county went up about 20% between 2021 and 2022. The recommended levy combined with the rising valuations results in a decrease

qualifier.

• Andrew Mailer: 2022 BASS High School National Championship qualifier.

• Zach Loken: 2022 Bass High School National Championship qualifier.

• Eli Hansen: 2022 MN Jr. BASS Nation State Tournament of Champions qualifier.

• Adler Siebenaler: 2022 MN Spring Skeet League — First place high average, first place 2A conference. 2022 MN Spring Trap League — Third place high average, first place 6A conference.

• Cal Ambrose: 2022 Bass High School National Championship qualifier.

• T he district’s capital project levy renewal will be on the Nov. 8 ballot. Kazmierczak said the funds will be used for safety and security, technology and related services, textbooks, curriculum materials and equipment, musical instruments and transportation. Community members will have a chance to learn about the capital projects levy renewal at public meetings that will take place this fall.

• 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the WBLAS Senior Center, 2482 East County Road F in White Bear Lake.

• 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at District Center, 4855 Bloom Ave. in White Bear Lake.

• 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at Oneka Elementary, 4888 Heritage Pkwy N. in Hugo.

For more information about the district’s capital projects levy renewal go to the district’s website at capitalprojectslevyrenewal.www.isd624.org/

CALENDAR BRIEF

Quad Chamber hosts marketing expo

The Quad Area Chamber of Commerce will host a marketing expo from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at Chomonix Golf Course, located at 700 Aqua Lane, Lino Lakes. During the event, business owners can network with other local business professionals while learning marketing tips from local professionals. The local pros will share information on a variety of topics relevant to today’s small business needs. The event will include a panel discussion, Q &A, networking, food truck and a cash bar.

Panelists will include Jason Mayhew, of Mayhew Marketing; Michelle Koch, of Main Street Marketers; Brad Clark; of Country BOB-FM; Lisa Leseman, of Rapid Press; Randy Roberts, of Press Publications; Lonni Olsen, of L. Olson Design; and Lisa Burnside, of the Lino Lakes Toastmasters.

To register for the marketing expo, visit quadareachamber.org.

in the county’s tax rate of 13.9%. Should the recommended budget and levy be approved, the median valued home in the county, which is $386,500, assuming that its value increased by 20% in the past year, would be taxed $910 for 2023 by the county, a $46 or 5.4% increase over 2022.

The county board will set a proposed levy and adopt a proposed budget for 2023 Sept. 27; after the proposed levy is set, it may be reduced but not raised in the final budget, which will be approved Dec. 13. An evening public budget meeting will occur at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, in the board room of the Government Center is Stillwater. The budget workshops may be viewed through webstreaming of the county board meetings. See the county website at www. co.washington.mn.us and search “county board.” See budget materials on the same website by searching “budget.”

Washington County ready for voting for general election

There are many ways to vote in the Nov. 8 general election: via mail, in-person absentee and on Election Day. Learn more on the Washington County website www.co.washington. mn.us by searching “voting.”

In-person absentee voting will begin Sept. 23 and run through Nov. 7 at five Vote Centers:

• C ottage Grove Service Center, 13000 Ravine Parkway, Cottage Grove

• Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Ave. N., Oakdale

• Headwaters Service Center, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake

• Washington County Government Center, 14949 62nd St. N., Stillwater and

• Woodbury Central Park/R.H. Stafford Library, Lower Level, 8595 Central Park Place, Woodbury.HoursareMonday through

Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Additional in-person absentee voting hours will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7.

Noelle Olson

Absentee ballots may be dropped off with an election official at any of the Vote Centers during operating hours.

Polling locations will be open in Washington County Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters may find their polling location and other election information by seeing www.mnvotes.org.

The Washington County Election Division may be reached at 651-430-6175 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Board considers revisions to county’s food code ordinance

Commissioners set a public hearing for 9 a.m. Oct. 4 to consider revisions to the county’s food code ordinance. The hearing will be in the Board Room of the Government Center at 14949 N. 62nd St. in Stillwater.

The food code ordinance specifies establishmentsrequirementsregulatoryforfoodtoprovide for safe food consumption and prevent foodborne illness. The Department of Public Health & Environment is proposing revisions to the Food Code Ordinance to bring it into alignment with the Minnesota FoodChangesCode.in the state food code include changes in terminology, food handling, health and hygiene, and equipment and facilities. The county’s food ordinance was last revised in 2000.More than 750 food establishments are licensed and inspected by the county’s Department of Public Health & Environment. Many establishments have more than one license type

After the public hearing, the County Board will consider the new ordinance at its Oct. 18 meeting.Anelectronic copy of the proposed ordinance can be found at travis@co.washington.mn.us.TraviscommentsFood.www.co.washington.mn.us/QuestionsorwrittencanbedirectedtoJeffat651-430-4033orjeff. CATCH OF THE

Send us your photos for possible inclusion in Catch of the Week. Please email your best shot to citizennews@presspubs.com, with Catch of the Week in the subject line. Please include information about when and where it was taken and who is in the photo.

Contact Lisa at 651-407-1205.

CONTRIBUTED

Jack Weyandt, 12, of Hugo, recently caught and released this 32-inch Northern pike on East Rush Lake. Jack fought to catch the fish for about five minutes, drag running wild. “Jack did great. He tired the fish out and we were finally able to net him and get him in the boat,” said Jack’s father, John Weyandt.

Suicide is a problem that touches the lives of many Americans. Many of us may know someone, such as a friend, family member, or coworker who has attempted or died by suicide. Over the past two decades, suicide rates have steadily risen in the United States. Suicide is currently ranked 10th for cause of death among all ages.

It’s important for you to know that suicide is preventable. With commitment and engagement in our communities, workplaces, and homes, together we can help reduce the number of suicides.

What are the warning signs that someone is at risk for suicide?

• Feeling extreme depression, guilt, or shame.

• Feeling hopeless.

• Talking about, or preoccupation with, death or suicide.

• Preparing for death, such as updating/preparing a will, giving away possessions, or taking steps to access lethal means (buying a firearm, acquiring quantities of pills/medication, researching ways to die).

• Exhibiting a dramatic change in behavior, including withdrawal from friends or usual activities, increased alcohol/drug use, difficulties in sleeping or eating, decreased self-care.

What should I do if I suspect someone is experiencing a crisis or is hurting?

If you believe someone needs help, we encourage you to follow the ACE (Ask, Care, Escort) suicide prevention model, with these easy-to-remember steps:

Ask – Ask, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” Although it may feel awkward,

research shows that people having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks them in a caring way.

Care – Show you care. The context of caring makes it a lot easier to ask the hard questions about suicide. By actively listening and engaging, without judgment, you are showing that you care – this might just be enough to help the person feel relief and that they are not alone.

Escort – When someone acknowledges that they are feeling suicidal or hopeless, care enough to connect them to the nearest helping resource. Do not leave them alone! If possible, separate them from methods of harm.

What to say and what not to say to someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one (from Insider.com; May 2022. The article was medically reviewed

by David A. Merrill, MD, PhD, psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Pacific Brain Health Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.)

“Listen to them with empathy, and avoid judgment. There is no timeline for grief, and it is helpful to avoid expectations that someone will feel better or stop talking about their loss after an arbitrary amount of time has passed,” says Sarah Vollmann, MPS, a board-certified art therapist and faculty member of the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition.

There are times when a grieving person wants to talk about their loss and times that they don’t, so let them know that you’re open to talking about their loss while also letting them decide if and when they want to open up. According to Vollmann, you can say something along the lines of, “I don’t know if you feel like

talking about your dad right now. If you want to talk about him we can, or we can totally talk about something else.” It’s best to let them take the lead.

Be willing to listen or simply keep them company.

“One of the most powerful things that we can offer to a bereaved friend or family member is to just be with them, while accepting their feelings and remaining present and empathic,” says Vollmann. Let them know that they can be vulnerable with you and your door is always open.

Knowing the right thing to say doesn’t come naturally, especially when the topics of death and grief are always avoided.

Here’s what you should avoid saying to a grieving person:

“God has a plan.” or “They’re in a better place now.” There are varying meanings of death among different belief systems. Unless you’re certain that they share your faith in what happens after death, don’t force it on them as it will not be comforting.“Everything happens for a reason.”

or “It was meant to be.” Avoid saying statements that try to justify the loss. Don’t suggest that a terrible and painful tragedy deserved to happen to them.

“You need to move on.” Grieving lasts a long, long time and there’s no getting over it. Their loss will continue to be meaningful to them over time, and telling them to move on or cheer up will only invalidate their grief. “It can sound like a judgement, as if they are mourning too much or too long, and make people feel unable to share about their grief,” says Vollmann.

DENNIS PROPERTIES: City Council will consider Downtown Hugo Project

been a long time coming to get to this meeting. It feels good to be here.”

Trooien explained that he has been driving by the site for well over a decade but became especially interested in the site after he noticed how many rooftops were being added to Hugo, the commercial growth in the city, and the $1 land purchase price. “Egg Lake is what made it special,” he said.

City Planner Rachel Juba explained that Dennis Properties is proposing a variety of uses within the development, including at least two restaurant users as well as retail and office space. A few of the buildings would have a second story. A representative of the development team said at its tallest, the building would be approximately 32 feet. The proposal also includes a Main Street concept (one-way street with on-street parking); a promenade center with design features and landscaping; and a waterfront boardwalk and docks for public access to Egg Lake.

Downtown Hugo is proposed to be built in two phases. The first phase

would include the south side of the property. That phase would include a 6,800-square-foot restaurant, parking and half of the promenade area.

The developer is requesting PUD flexibility on a few items, including shoreland ordinance requirements, parking regulations and minimum rear yard setback requirements. In return for the flexibility, Juba explained that Dennis Properties landscape plan, design standards and architecture all exceed ordinance standards; creates a Main Street atmosphere in the Central Business District; and grants the public access to Egg “StaffLake.iscomfortable with the flexibility that has been proposed with the development,” Juba said, adding that the property is long, narrow and sandwiched between the lake and the highway. “We think that flexibility for this property is needed in order to create that feature.”

Planning Commission Member Scott Arcand said he was concerned about the fact that the developer is proposing 245 parking spaces whereas 380 would be required. “It might not seem like a big deal today but imagine 10 years from now … It is really a pain to try to find a parking spot at a place like that and hopefully it is a popular place.”

Juba explained that it was staff’s opinion that even though

wasGuthrieresidentpublicnecessary.moretoreducedmaysquareFutureandtheperneedparkingForadequatelikely245needed.wouldspaces,requiresordinancethe380thatamountnotbeHowever,spaceswouldnotbeeither.thatreason,needswilltobeevaluatedeachphaseofdevelopmentbasedonusers.buildingfootageneedtobeinorderaccommodateparkingifDuringthehearing,Annsaidsheconcernedabout

the fact that the DNR weighed in and strongly recommended denial of the application. “We have limited resources. We are getting bigger, people are coming here, our precious resources and water especially is limited. It is a high value commodity, so please protect it as necessary,” she said.Planning Commission members ultimately recommended the council approve the preliminary plat and PUD general Commissionerplan.Cindy Petty said, “I feel the PUD request is pretty standard for what we see. What we are getting in return makes sense to me.”Arcand said, “I think they put a lot of work into this. It is a very difficult site to make something happen … It has come a long way.”

Chair Bronwen Kleissler added, “I do think it has been well presented. I think it hits on a lot of the positive things we wanted to see in that piece of land. It hits on the community piece; it hits on the restaurant. I think the general feel is there, the detail has been put together and the thought.”

The city’s Economic Development Authority was scheduled to review the proposal and pending purchase agreement Sept. 20. It will then go to the council Oct. 3.

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-4071227 or citizennews@presspubs.com.

Press Publications donated $500 to the Good Neighbors Food Shelf in Hugo as part of the 2022 Good Neighbor Days Golden Spike promotion. The Golden Spike was found by Erin Jurkovich and her children, Mason and Cleo. Since the family did not complete the Golden Ticket, the remaining prize money was donated to the food shelf. Prize money was made possible by sponsors: Heartland Credit Union, city of Hugo, Wiseguys Pizza, Hugo Equipment Company, Key Automotive and Hugo American Legion. Pictured are Chris DuFresne, Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf president, and The Citizen multimedia representative Barb White. — Randy Roberts, Press Publications

Send us your photos for possible inclusion in Spotted Around Town. Please email your best shot to citizennews@presspubs.com. Please include information about when and where it was taken and who is in the photo.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Dennis Properties is proposing a variety of uses within the development, including at least two restaurant users as well as retail and office space. Downtown Hugo is proposed to be built in two phases.

Dennis Properties LLC is looking at developing the “Downtown Hugo” project on the east side of Highway 61 in downtown Hugo along Egg Lake.

September marks start of Minnesota apple season

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

Minnesotans don’t have to wait any longer for the crisp, juicy apples the state is known for growing. Apple varieties such as Honeycrisp, Sweet Sixteen and Chestnut Crab are already available at orchards, grocery stores and farmers markets across Minnesota. Soon, others like Haralson, Honeygold, Regent and SnowSweet will be available too.

The tradition of picking apples at local orchards is one many look forward to each year, and growers are expecting great turnouts this fall. Although some parts of Minnesota were faced with lingering drought conditions that carried forward from 2021, local apple growers have been irrigating trees as needed and are looking for an excellent harvest.

“For the first time since last fall, Minnesotans can enjoy local apples that are not only early to ripen, but also crisp, juicy and delicious,” said Paul Hugunin, director of ag marketing and development at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota Grown program. “These early season apples are some of the best tasting apples around, providing a win-win for

New building ready

Apple seekers are encouraged to check ahead of time before visiting orchards to see what apples are currently available. For more information about Minnesota apple varieties and when they are in season, visit marketsorchardscom),Grownforapples/varieties.https://mnhardy.umn.edu/AnotherresourceappleloversistheMinnesotaDirectory(MinnesotaGrown.whichincludesmorethan130andmorethan175farmersaroundthestate.

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-4071227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

consumers, as well as growers and grocers.”Keepyour eyes peeled for local apples, including the varieties below:

Early season apples B eacon C entennial Crabapple R ave and First Kiss State Fair

Mid-season apples Crabapple Baron apples

SHELLI ELLIS | CONTRIBUTED

The North Metro has an abundance of apple orchards for residents to visit this fall season. of the new Hugo Public Works Building, located next to

FINANCIAL PLANNING

529 college savings plan offers several investment options

BY ABE WINTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If you’re thinking about starting a college fund for your children, a 529 plan may be the way to go.

A 529 plan is an investment account that offers tax benefits when used to pay for qualified education expenses for a designated beneficiary. You can use a 529 plan to pay for college, K-12 tuition, apprenticeship programs and student loan repayments. If using a 529 plan to save for college, your savings will have a minimal impact on financial aid eligibility.According to online services, there really is no limit to how much you can put into the plan.There are no annual 529 plan contribution limits, however, there are some important things to consider when making a large contribution. For example, contributions in excess of the annual gift tax exclusion ($16,000 in 2022) will count against your lifetime estate and gift tax exemption ($12.06 million inEach2022).state also has an aggregate contribution limit for 529 plans, which ranges from $235,000 to $550,000. This amount is based on the price of attending an expensive

college and graduate school program, including textbooks and room and board.

As a general rule of thumb, you can aim to save about one-third of your projected future college costs. This assumes you can cover the remaining two-thirds with current income, including scholarship funds, and student loans.

What happens if I can’t afford the monthly payments?Mostplans allow you to set up automatic recurring deposits from a linked bank account, but it’s not required. After you make a minimum initial contribution

requirements (sometimes as low as $25), you can invest as much as you want, whenever youYouwant.may choose to make lump sum contributions around birthdays, holidays or other occasions. 529 plans also accept gift contributions from family, friends and other loved ones.

529 plans are usually categorized as either prepaid tuition or college savings plans.

College savings plans work much like a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA by investing your after-tax contributions in mutual funds or similar investments. The 529 college savings

plan offers several investment options from which to choose. The 529 plan account will go up or down in value based on the performance of the investment options.

You can see how each 529 plan’s investment options are performing by reviewing our quarterly 529 plan performance rankings.

Prepaid tuition plans let you pre-pay all or part of the costs of an in-state public college education. They may also be converted for use at private and out-of-state colleges. The Private College 529 Plan is a separate prepaid plan for private colleges, sponsored by more than 250 private colleges.

Educational institutions can offer a prepaid tuition plan but not a college savings plan. The first education savings plan was a prepaid tuition plan: the Michigan Education Trust (MET) was created in 1986.

More than a decade later, Section 529 was added to the Internal Revenue Code, authorizing tax-free status for qualified tuition programs. Today there are over 100 different 529 plans available to suit a variety of education savings needs.

Abe is a contributing writer with Press Publications. He can be reached by emailing news@presspubs.com or calling 651-407-1200.

CONTRIBUTED

Upcoming Events:

NEA Big Read Classes and Events:

The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is designed to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. White Bear Center for the Arts is one of 60+ nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host an NEA Big Read project. WBCA is thrilled to partner with community organizations in 2022 and 2023 to bring in-depth, creative programming surrounding the book “The Bear.”

Take a look at upcoming NEA Big Read classes happening around White Bear Lake.

NEA Big Read Equinox Kick-Off Event

Thursday, September 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

WBCA will be kicking off NEA Big Read White Bear Lake with an equinox gathering on Thursday, September 22. Please join us for a family-friendly evening featuring indoor and outdoor activities inspired by “The Bear.” Together, we’ll kick off the Big Read program series and honor this day of equal sunlight and darkness.

Register at WhiteBearArts.org/classes.

Kids Library Family Storytime – Nighttime Sky

Location: Ramsey County Library White Bear Lake Friday, September 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Join us for a special “stellar” storytime. We’ll read stories, sing songs and do a fun craft about the moon and stars. Age/Level: ages 2–5 and caregivers. No registration required.

Draw Nature In: Mindful Drawing and Watercolors Outdoors with Dallas Rising

Friday, September 30, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

In this half-day workshop, we’ll bring our sketchbooks outside and slow down to focus deeply on our senses. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a novice, we’ll bring a beginner’s mind to this practice as we discover patterns, textures and lines that surprise and delight in their perfect imperfection. Register at WhiteBearArts.org/classes.

Inspiration from Trees with Annie Hejny

Sunday, October 2, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 a.m.

Join Annie Hejny for this special tree-inspired abstract art workshop. In the morning, Hejny will guide a Forest Bathing walk for sensory awareness and tree connection. While outside, students will take photos on their phones to inspire abstract compositions. Returning to the classroom after lunch, students will review their photos, explore contour drawing, and learn gouache painting on paper to create abstract compositions through line, shape and color.

Register at WhiteBearArts.org/classes.

Member’s Exhibition Submissions Open Now

The yearforWhiteannualExhibitionMembers’isabelovedtraditionforBearCentertheArts.Everythegalleryis

filled with andtextiles,sculptures,paintings,pottery,woodworkmore,allfrom

WBCA members. Part of what makes this show so special is the fact that every WBCA member can display a piece of artwork in the show. It’s a non-juried process.

The show takes place at the end of the year with an opening reception that doubles as WBCA’s holiday party. Artists crowd together during the opening to admire the show, catch up with friends and reconnect with fellow artists from class. Last year’s Members’ Exhibition took place in WBCA’s newly built Ford Family Gallery soon after the art center’s reopening. The expanded facility offers increased wall space to house more artwork from members.

This year WBCA hopes to make members feel especially commitmentbedrocksupport“Membershiphonored.istheofWBCA’stoprovide

Oftentimes members will submit a piece that they’ve been working on in a WBCA class, like Dan IntermediateMondloh’sto Advanced Watercolor or Alex beClay.MondayChinn’sMorningOritcouldsomething

they’ve worked on independently and want to showcase in a professional gallery setting.

accessibility to the arts,” Development Coordinator Lori Swanson said. “The annual ExhibitionMembers’isa way WBCA honors our members and celebrates their personal journeys.”creative

Anyone can be a member at WBCA, whether you consider yourself an artist or not. And participation

is not limited to age; the art center offers family, student and senior memberships. WBCA hopes to see artwork from all ages on the walls, to reflect the variety of patrons who call WBCA their community art center. Submissions for this year’s Members’ Exhibition will open on September 16 and remain open until October 28. You can submit your artwork at exhibitions.WhiteBearArts.org/

Come see the show on display in the Ford Family Gallery from November 21, 2022, to January 13, 2023. And you can join WBCA for the opening reception on Thursday, December 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. to celebrate the show and the whole art center community.

WBCA

Art lovers attend Members’ Exhibition.

WBCA

Donna Bruhl poses by “Fantôme Vase”

Laurel O’Gorman “Beyond” by Laurel O’Gorman.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

ONGOING EVENTS

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited. Contact: 651-592-0369 barbconnolly1958@yahoo.comor

HUGO SENIOR CLUB

When: 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19; the 3rd Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Monthly meeting followed by afternoon of games. A guest speaker from the Forest Lake YMCA will provide information on programs available for seniors. Refreshments served.

Contact: 651-592-0369 barbconnolly1958@yahoo.comor

When:CRIBBAGE12:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26; the 4th Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Senior citizens from Hugo and surrounding area are invited to an afternoon of cribbage. Coffee and refreshments served.

Contact: 651-429-4413

COURTHOUSE BY CANDLELIGHT

When: 7, 7:45 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14.

Where: Washington County Historic Courthouse, Third and Pine Streets, Stillwater

Details: Walk the halls of the courthouse bu candlelight and see areas typically closed to the public, including the basement, sheriff’s residence, and 1900’s jail. Ages 10+; registration required, $10/person. Contact: 651-275-7075 or co.washington. mn.us/parks

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST

When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: Free naturalist-led program for those 50+. May include trail hike. Registration not required; equipment provided.

Contact: 763-324-3350 anokacountyparks.comor

WHITE BEAR LAKE FARMERS MARKET

When: 8 a.m.-noon Fridays, June 24Oct.

Where: Clark St. between 2nd and 3rd Streets, downtown White Bear Lake Details: Produce includes organic produce, natural meats and cheeses, honey, syrup, baked goods, plants and flowers. Contact: 651-747-3650 or whitebearlake.

org

their progress.

Contact: Barb @ 651-592-0369 barbconnolly1958@yahoo.comor

CLASS REUNIONS

ALL WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL SCHOOL REUNION

When: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24

Where: Hay Lake School Museum, 14020 195th St. N., Marine on St. Croix

Details: Class reunion for anyone who attended a one-room or two-room school in one of the 79 rural school districts operated by the county prior to the 1960’s. Share stories and photos. No reservation required; cake and lemonade served.

Contact: susan.stepka@wchsmn.org

CURRENT EVENTS

‘SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 2; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26 (pay-what-youcan)

Where: Lakeshore Players Theatre, 4941 Long Ave. White Bear Lake Details: Family-friendly performance of the “greatest movie musical of all time.” Tickets $30; flex passes available for multiple productions. Contact: 651-478-7427 lakeshoreplayers.orgor

NEA BIG READ KICKOFF EVENT

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave.

Details: Family-friendly evening of indoor and outdoor activities inspired by “The Bear.” Kick off the Big Read program and celebrate the equinox. Free with registration. Contact: 651-407-0597 or whitebeararts. org

OFFICER SHAWN SILVERA MEMORIAL

When:5K

7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24

Where: Running Aces, Columbus Details: Memorial 5K run is part of Freedom Fest, a full day event to raise funds for the Invisible Wounds Project. Other events include Forest Lake Lions pancake breakfast from 7:30-11 a.m., Cruise for Heroes and concert featuring Rodney Atkins. Contact: iwproject.org/freedom-fest

GLORIA’S 10TH ANNUAL SHORTEST

When:MARATHON

11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24

Where: Corner of Third St. and Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake Details: Run a one block long “marathon” to support the White Bear Food Shelf. White Castle carb load and other treats. All ages welcome. Donation of $35/adult; $15/ children under 12 includes t-shirt. Contact: 651-426-3088 whitebearfoodshelf.orgor

Lake Children’s Fund Coats for Local Kids Drive.

Contact: forestlakemasons.com

AFTON ART IN THE PARK

When: Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25

Where: Afton Town Square Park, 3418 St. Croix Trail S.

Details: Traditional craft fair in it’s 44th year features more than 100 vendors, kids artist quarter, inflatables, small; business expo, food trucks and beer garden, live music, crafts and activities.

Contact: exploreafton.com/art-in-thepark

KIDS READING EVENT

When: 10-10:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22

Where: HealthPartners White Bear Clinic, 1430 Highway 96

Details: Special guest readers, crafts, snacks, and a free book to take home.

Contact: healthclub@healthpartners. com

AUTHOR VISIT

When: 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23

Where: Lake Country Bookseller, 4766 Washington Square, White Bear Lake Details: Mary Clare Lockman will sign copies of her books. Contact: 651-426-0918

SPIRIT OF THE ST. CROIX ART FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

Where: Lakefront Park, downtown Hudson.

Details: Free. More than 65 juried artists, entertainment, food vendors and more. Contact: 715-386-8411 thephipps.org/events/art-fairor

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS GALA CONCERT AND DINNER

When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

Where: St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd., Mahtomedi Details: Free admission concert featuring top local organists. Dinner follows for members and guests. Contact: tcago.org

AFTON ART IN THE PARK

When: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 Where: Town Square Park, Afton Details: 100+ vendors showcasing fine art, live music, food wine and beer garden, craft and activities for kids. Contact: aftonartfair.com

STILLWATER FLEA & CRAFTER MARKET

When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25

Where: Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 40th St. N., Lake Elmo

Details: Free outdoor market with 200+ vendors, food trucks, farmer’s market.

Contact: 715-557-1785 rsgdevelopment.comor

MISS BENSON’S NURSERY SCHOOL

ANOKA COUNTY 4-H OPEN HOUSE

When: 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29

Where: Bunker Hills Activities Center, 550 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW, Andover

Details: Learn about 4-H including their focus on youth leadership, fine and performing arts, and STEM. Hands-on activities, animals, and general information for youth K-12 grade.

Contact: 763-324-3495 or extension. umn.edu/local/anoka

AUTHOR VISIT

When: 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30

Where: Lake Country Bookseller, 4766 Washington Square, White Bear Lake Details: JacLynn Herron wil sign copies of her debut “Rewriting Marguerite.”

Contact: 651-426-0918

RIVERTOWN FALL ART FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2

Where: Lowell Park, Downtown Stillwater

Details: St. Croix Valley’s largest juried art festival features the works of more than 100 artists from around the country, food vendors, beer tent, live music.

Contact: com/rivertownfallartfestival.comgreaterstillwaterchamber.

FAMILY OUTDOOR EXPO

When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1

Where: Lino Park, 7850 Lake Dr., Lino Lakes

Details: Boy Scouts Troop 232 hosts community event with interactive events such as an obstacle course, knot tying, cooking, radio-controlled cars, drones, and more.

HUGOContact:OKTOBERFEST CRAFT SHOW

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct 1

Where: Hugo American Legion, 5383 140th St. N.

Details: 70 crafters and vendors, food trucks, beer tent, DJ and games.

Contact: 715-557-1785 rsgdevelopment.comor

NOOKS AND CRANNIES TOUR

When: 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1

Where: Washington County Historic Courthouse, Pine and Third Streets, Stillwater

Details: Explore areas of the Historic Courthouse typically closed to the public, including the basement, dome, and 1870’s jail. Held the fitrst Saturday of the month, May-Oct. $10; registration required.

Contact: 651-275-7075 or co.washington. mn.us/hc

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST

When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: Free naturalist-led program for those 50+. May include trail hike. Registration not required; equipment provided.

Contact: 763-324-3350 anokacountyparks.comor

When:EXHIBITIONWATERMEDIANORTHSTARNATIONALJURIED

8TH ANNUAL

9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, through Nov. 3

Where: St. Paul Monastery Gallery, 2675 Benet Rd, Maplewood, MN

Details: 50 Selected paintings by national and regional artists. Proof of vaccination and masks required.

Contact: northstarwatermedia.com

DROP-IN 55+ FITNESS CLASSES

When: 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Free fitness classes for Hugoarea adults 55+ by Live 2B Healthy. Class designed for seniors to help improve balance, strength, and flexibility in a group setting. Periodic fitness tests so participants can track

FLAMB CHARLIE-O DUELING PIANO’S

When: 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 Where: Lone Oak Grill, 55 Lake St. N., Forest Lake Details: Support the Forest Lake Music Boosters with a requestcentered, audience-inclusive dueling pianos show. Admission includes allyou-can-eat taco bar; $40. Cash bar.

Contact: 651-331-1656 pianos-by-charlie-oflmusicboosters.org/product/dueling-or

FOREST LAKE MASONS SUNDAY

When:BRUNCH

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

Where: Forest Lake Masonic Lodge, 119 8th Ave. SE

Details: Enjoy pancakes or a European breakfast wrap dine-in or drive-thru style. $10/meal. Dine in pancakes are all-you-can-eat. Fundraiser for Forest

When: 6-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26

Where: Zoom Details: Hear the story of the nursery school at the Fillebrown House that served neighborhood kids in the 1940’s. Registration by phone or online.

Contact: 651-724-6001 ext. #2 or whitebearhistory.org

SPRAYFINGER OPENING RECEPTION

When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, Details: Create a spray art project, pizza from the woodfire oven, and learn about graffiti as art. All ages. Free; registration required. Contact: whitebeararts.org

FALL COLORS VOYAGEUR CANOE TRIP

When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5

Where: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve boat launch, 7373 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: See the fall colors from a 30foot Voyageur canoe, No experience required. Registration $10/adult; $5/ child 15 and under.

Contact: 763-324-3350 anokacountyparks.comor

King Shepherd Puppies Malmute/Germ Shep mix, Calm temper ment $450/each. Kevin 320-496-7441

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Ho using Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any prefer en ce, limitation or discriminat ion based on race, co lo r, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such prefer en ce limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal custod ians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not kn owingly ac cept any ad vertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers ar e hereby informed that all dw ellings advertised in this newsp ap er are available on an equal oppor tunity basis To complain of discrimi nation call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

Boutiques403 Boutiques403

Stillwater Flea & Crafters Market

200 vendors, food trucks, farmers market & more

Saturday & Sunday September 24th-25th, 2022

9 am - 3 pm (both

Washington County Fairgrounds 12300 40th St. N, Stillwater MN

@stillwaterfleamarket

NOW GRAPHICHIRING!DESIGNER

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Press Publications is looking for a motivated graphic designer for a part-time or full-time position to join our team! As part of the production-design team, you'll have a vital role in making sure the weekly and bi-weekly papers get out the door and into the hands of the local community.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Comfortable in Adobe InDesign (CS6 + CC) with the minor use of Photoshop and Illustrator

- Build ads to customer specs, and assist the sales team with new ads for potential clients

- Follow a strict schedule with overlapping deadlines

-Work with editors to produce vibrant products

JOB DETAILS:

- 20-38 hours per week

- M-F 7:55am - 5:30pm

Email resume marketing@presspubs.comto:

Shoreview, MN 651-490-9755•

N. Suburban grounds maintenance company has opportunities for full & part time seasonal & year round positions. Both entry level & experienced people encouraged to apply! $18 - $20/hr with hiring bonus incentives.

For more information & to schedule an interview please call Bill at 651-490-9755 or amilawn@aol.comemail

Now Hiring

Accounting Assistant Part

70 crafters & vendors, food trucks, beer tent, DJ & games

@stillwaterfleamarket

Administrative Assistant

Part Time, Mon. & Tues., 7:55am-5:05pm

Press Publications publishes 6 community newspapers, magazines and coupon books, serving White Bear Lake and surrounding communities. Our publications brings news of school events, government, business, politics, and social events to local residents.

Desired Skills & Experience:

High school diploma required.

Ability to interact well with a broad base of internal and external clients, both in person, telephone and written communication. Reliable, responsible, and dependable in fulfilling obligations.Strong attention to detail and the ability to organize, prioritize, and multi task effectively. User of Microsoft Office suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as Microsoft Office. 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 email

Accounting Clerk I

City of Circle Pines/Centennial Utilities - August 2022

The City of Circle Pines/Centennial Utilities is accepting applications for the position of Accounting Clerk. This full-time position is responsible for professional level of accounting work and assists in all processes related to the Finance Department including accounts payable, payroll, utility billing, bank reconciliation, special assessments, and accounts receivable. There are four entities that these processes will be conducted for city, utilities, fire and police. Also fulfilling receptionist duties such as directing calls and providing counter help to assist citizens and customers. Assist in administrative duties as needed. Minimum requirements of a High School Diploma or GED, two (2) years demonstrated experience in accounting skills and familiar with computerized accounting system. Degree in accounting/ finance and governmental experience desired. Salary range $21.77-$28.83. Applicant must fill out a City of Circle Pines/Centennial Utilities application to be considered. For a full position description and application visit www. ci.circle-pines.mn.us. Application deadline 4:30 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2022. The City of Circle Pines/Centennial Utilities is an equal opportunity employer.

PRESS PUBLICATIONS IS SEEKIN G A

REMULTIMEDIAPRESENTATIVE io ns the c andida te who s to and gr ow in a your resume to: Patty Steele at marketing@presspub s.com or call 651-407-1213

Dear hunters should make plan for archery season

Minnesota’s archery deer season is upon us, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging hunters to make a plan for their season by considering safety, hunting regulations, chronic wasting disease and steps they need to take to process their deer. Hunters can use the DNR’s “make a plan for deer season” webpage (mndnr.gov/ DeerHunt) to find comprehensive hunting and chronic wasting disease information they should review before going afield.

The DNR will host a webinar at noon Wednesday, Sept. 21. Dana Keller, an archery coach at A-1 Archery in Hudson, a Level 3 USA Archery coach and bowhunter, will discuss how to prepare for the upcoming archery deer season and suggest ways to have a more successful hunting season this year. The webinar is a part of the DNR’s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series. The webinar is free, but registration is required. More information is available online at mndnr.gov/Discover.

Grouse season now open

Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse hunting seasons have begun and last through Jan. 1, 2023. Woodcock season is from Saturday, Sept. 24,

through Monday, Nov. 7. Hunters can find a variety of grouse and woodcock hunting information, including where and when to hunt, applicable regulations and safety and educational resources for those who want to learn to hunt these forest birds, at the Minnesota DNR’s grouse hunting webpage (mndnr.gov/ Hunting/Grouse).Additionally,hunters seeking sharptailed grouse need to know that the hunting season in the east-central zone remains closed. The hunting season in the northwest sharp-tailed grouse zone opened Saturday, Sept. 17, and will last through Wednesday, Nov. 30.

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF

3 car crash on Highway 61

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash on Highway 61 south of County Road J near the border of Hugo and White Bear Township at 8:22 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19. A Ford Expedition was traveling southbound on Highway 61 south of Leibel St. when it rear-ended a Dodge Dart attempting to turn left into 5900 Highway 61. The Ford Expedition pushed the Dodge Dart into the northbound lanes of Highway 61 and was then struck head on by a Volvo XC90.

CENTERVILLE TIDBITS

• A new developer has come forward to develop Block 7 in downtown Centerville, after Centra Homes dropped plans to develop the 1.61 acres of vacant city-owned land on Centerville Road between Sorel and Heritage Streets.

• At its Sept. 14 meeting, council unanimously (Council Member Russ Koski was absent) approved a purchase agreement with Schifsky Companies to develop the site. Schifsky Companies will collaborate with Jim Boo of High Pointe Realty to build 24 attached townhome units within four buildings, six per building, in downtown Centerville at 14.9 units per acre. The buildings will be two-story structures with attached two-car garages. Each home will provide residents with two private, enclosed garage parking spaces that will be accessible from the new private road. Unit size is expected to range from 1,600 to 1,900 square feet. The estimated baseline unit price range is expected to range from $295,000 to $350,000. The target market will be homebuyers looking for an affordable, low-maintenance new home. Schifsky will essentially take Centra’s plan and build it, City Engineer Mark Statz said. Schifsky has six months to decide whether it will move forward and close on the deal. After all the formalities are successfully completed, construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2023, Statz said.

• Dark winter is coming soon; however, the new lighting won’t be installed in the improved City Hall parking lot until spring, Statz said. The city was hoping to install the new lighting this fall, but grant funding ran out, he said. The city may succeed in obtaining a $10,000 grant in January, but will need to match that grant with another $10,000 in city money. However, council approved plans and specifications for

the $20,000 project, provided commentary on the plans and authorized solicitation of quotes for the project that is expected to be finished in 2023. To save money, city staff will handle the bidding through the solicitation process and reimburse staff through grant funding. Mayor D. Love said he was disappointed the lighting wouldn’t be done in time for winter and its associated safety concerns.

• The city has found a new workshop agenda item, after resident Tony Smith presented his struggles in being allowed to build a garden shed to council as part of the meeting’s public comment period. After Smith found discrepancies and inconsistencies in the application of city code, he asked for an independent review of the process in granting variances. “We will work with Mr. Smith, if he is willing to move the shed 5 feet off the property line,” Statz said. “As to the process, we can bring that back to a workshop.”

• Good news for skating rinks and ballfields in city parks came in the form of a council resolution to apply charitable gambling proceeds to park and recreation expenditures. Charitable gambling proceeds are limited in how they can be spent; however, after council reviewed the authorized list of allowable expenditures, gambling proceeds will now be used for allowable park and recreation operating and capital expenditures. Gambling proceeds collected in 2020 and 2021 will now be applied toward park and recreation activities and facilities for youth.

• Election judges perform exacting work for up to 15 hours on Election Day, and the city showed its appreciation by increasing their pay. State statute requires that the precinct have no fewer than three judges serving on primary election day and no fewer than four judges on

general election day per precinct. City staff recommended eight judges at any given time, with the exception of the primary election, where fewer voters are served. Staff also recommended increasing the pay from $10.25 per hour to $15 per hour, with $15.50 per hour pay for the head judge, who requires additional training and has more responsibilities. The total cost to the city for nine judges paid $15 per hour each for 15 hours, plus one head judge at a rate of $15.50 per hour for 17 hours, will amount to $2,288 and change. Local candidates on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election include D. Love for the two-term mayoral seat and council members Darrin Mosher and Michelle Lakso for the two four-year council seats.

• The city continues to search for volunteers to serve on two of its boards. A vacancy remains on the Parks and Recreation Committee and another on the Economic Development Authority (EDA) board.

• The Parks and Recreation Committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers. The EDA meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Call City Hall at 651-429-3232 for more information.

• Council adjourned the Sept. 14 meeting in the regular way after canceling the executive session that was on the agenda. The executive session was scheduled to determine the asking price for Block 7, real property owned by the city, and to develop offers or counteroffers for the sale of that

Theproperty.council

next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at City Hall, 1880 Main St.

Loretta Harding

Hugo author publishes book all families can relate to

Hugo resident Jamie Peterson recently published a children’s book, “Melinda the One and Only!”

As a mother of an only child, Peterson was having a hard time finding books that highlighted “only children”, so she decided to write her own.

Press Publications recently interviewed Peterson to learn more about her and her book.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself?

A: My name is Jamie Peterson. My husband Jeremy and I have been married for five years. We have a 2-year-old daughter, Sloan, and a 4-year-old chocolate Lab, Sam. We have lived in Hugo for almost five years. I have been an elementary educator for 14 years and spent the last 11 with St. Paul Public Schools. I focused on special education for seven of those 14 years. I enjoy reading, golfing, boating and being outside but, most of all, spending time with my family.

Q: What inspired you to write “Melinda the One and Only: The Sleepover”?

A: My husband and I had talked about having multiple children but while we were pregnant with Sloan, we found out that we both carried the cystic fibrosis gene. Thankfully, Sloan did not get both genes. After much research and

time, we decided that our healthy, beautiful baby would complete our family.

I am part of a Facebook group for parents of only children and some were asking about books that highlighted only children. I started doing some digging and had a hard time finding them. I had always wanted to write a book but never knew what to write about, so when I realized we needed more books in the world about only children, I realized this is what I wanted to write about.

Q: Give us a brief synopsis of the book.

A: The characters in the story represent my daughter, husband and I. Melinda is the main character who goes to a friend’s house for a sleepover. Her friend has a sister, and the story highlights the challenges that can come with having siblings.

Q: What do you hope readers will gain from the story?

A: I hope that children of all types of families can relate. Only children can see themselves represented but also embrace being an only. Children who have siblings can relate to the characters as well, and the challenges that they may face.

Q: Where is the book sold?

A: Right now you can find it online on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com. I hope to get it into a few local bookstores and shops soon.

Q: Do you have any plans for future works?

A: I would love to make “Melinda the One and Only” into a series. Going forward, though, I would like the stories to be adventures for all readers and Melinda, the main character, just happens to be an only child.

Q: How can people contact you?

A: You can follow me on Facebook @ Melinda the One and Only and also on Instagram @melinda_ theoneandonly

Jamie Peterson, a Hugo president recently published “Melinda the One and Only!”

Jamie Peterson’s daughter, Sloan, reads her mother’s childrens book.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Local author Jamie Peterson pictured with her husband Jeremy and daughter Sloan.

From White Bear Lake and beyond: Josh Cassada makes his 1st trip to space

BY CORINNE STREMMEL STAFF WRITER

It was at White Bear Lake High School that Josh Cassada started imagining a career as an astronaut. In just a few weeks his childhood ambitions will come true.

On Oct. 3, Cassada, Mission Commander Nicole Mann and mission specialists Koichi Wakata and Anna Kikina will travel to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

“I’ll have to be honest, I’m super excited to get to work,” Cassada said.

T he SpaceX mission will last roughly six months, or “about a hockey season,” according to Cassada. The crew of four astronauts will spend 180 days aboard the International Space Station collecting data about life in low orbit with the hopes of taking what they’ve learned into future deep space missions.Though Cassada is the pilot for the mission, much of his time will be spent simply maintaining the spacecraft that he and the other astronauts will live on for the next several months.

T he livable space on the space station is roughly the size of a six-bedroom home and hosts about 200 to 400 experiments that will be conducted over the six months.

Cassada shared a sneak peek at what he’ll be working on.

“My favorite experiment is the alpha magnetic spectrometer, which is a giant experiment set on top of the space station,” Cassada said.

It’s experiments like this that help answer some of the most fundamental questions about the universe, according to Cassada.

T he cold atom lab is another experiment that’ll be on board the space station. Being in space allows atoms to get so cold that the astronauts will see the atoms behave at a quantum level that can’t quite be achieved on Earth.

Cassada and his crew will also work on the bio fabrication facility, or BFF, an experiment

involving scientific advances in growing human tissue. The lack of gravity in the laboratory allows the astronauts to build human tissue, a technology that Cassada hopes will revolutionize the medical field in the next 10 years. “You can just leverage the advantage of being on a space station,” he noted.

Crew members will even try to grow tomatoes aboard the space station, which the astronauts will get to eat and bring back to Earth for further experiments.“Thespace station exists as a national laboratory, but it’s the only place where we can get good at long-duration space flight,” Cassada said.

Cassada’s excitement for experiments and space flight has been years in the making.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in physics at Albion College and his Ph.D. at the University of Rochester. Afterward, Cassada served as a Navy test pilot, flying T-38s, the same aircrafts NASA has been using since the Apollo days. It was in 2013 that Cassada and a class of potential astronauts began the astronaut candidate program that prepared them for space flight.

T hough Cassada has undergone years of training with NASA, undertaking space travel essentials like learning Russian and figuring out how to live in Zero-G, he credits one very special math teacher from White Bear Lake, Miss Otis.

Cassada was in sixth grade, and it was time for him to take the test to determine if he would be in accelerated math in seventh grade.

“I think I just hated the whole standardized test thing and I did okay, but I wasn’t put in accelerated math. But there was a seventh grade teacher, Miss Otis, who said, ‘You know what, I know you, you should take this again,’” Cassada said.

T hat summer before seventh grade, Cassada studied for his test. Thanks to a second chance from a teacher, he passed and was placed in accelerated math.

“And because of that, I got into calculus as a senior, which allowed me in college to do physics and start with calc II. And the language of physics is math, so with that, I was able to do grad school in

physics.”Cassada admits that physics was actually his second choice when it came to his dream career. He wanted to be a major league baseball player, but when his fastball didn’t quite break 80 miles an hour, he decided that maybe his goal of being an astronaut wasn’t so bad.

“I was really lucky in the things I did, I loved doing it. What a great consolation prize,” Cassada said. “I use the analogy of the lottery. To play the lottery you have to buy the ticket, but you have to have a different retirement plan. And that’s how I viewed this job. I wanted to apply for NASA to see if it was a good fit, but if it wasn’t, what a great consolation prize. I love what I’m doing.”

I n the weeks leading up to his first trip to space, Cassada is reflecting on what it means to be where he is today.

“At the end of the day, (it’s about) being able to come back and being able to know you have the sense of accomplishment that we’ve been able to contribute in some small way to what’s happening in the next generation of human space flight,” he said.As a way to pay homage to his early days in White Bear Lake and to thank Miss Otis for encouraging him, Cassada has invited her to Kennedy Space Center in Florida to see the launch this October and see how far her student has come.

Staff Writer Corinne Stremmel can be reached by calling 651-407-1226 or emailing lowdownnews@presspubs.com.

mix who loves to go on walks, play fetch and go for car rides. He is about 2 years old and is from a local shelter. Roo likes all people and children, and he really enjoys playing with other dogs. He’s very social. However, he is not very fond of cats.

Roo weighs about 50 pounds. He is house-trained, smart, eager to please, gentle, affectionate and very playful. He also knows his basic commands, but would do well in formal training class. This would be a great bonding opportunity for Roo Miguel and his new forever family.

CONTRIBUTED

If you are looking for happy-golucky, energetic, sweet young boy, then Roo Miguel is waiting for you. a

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Josh Cassada

Injury-riddled Cougars grind out 3-0 win over Totino-Grace

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Missing their top two offensive threats, but fortunately not their special teams ace, or their defensive stalwarts, the Centennial Cougars ground out a victory by the extremely rare score of 3-0 on Friday night.

The Cougars edged Totino-Grace (T-G), thanks to “the big leg” of Eli Nowacki and an “awesome” defensive effort, in coach Mike Diggins words, in Fridley.“Weare hurting right now. We were down six guys. This next week will be like a tryout week. But a win is a win, too,” Diggins said. The longtime coach said this game had the fewest total yards of any he’d ever seen.

Maverick Harper, junior fullback who rushed for 284 yards in the first two weeks, is out for the year, Diggins said, with torn ligaments in his ankle, suffered on a tackle late in last week’s 17-6 win over St. Michael-Albertville. He’s due for surgery this week.Daylen Cummings, junior quarterback in his second year at the helm, missed his second game with an ankle sprain and will miss one more, the coach said.

“We can’t throw. Teams are stacking the line against us. Totino literally had 10 guys up front,” he

said.Nowacki was able to drill a 40-yard field goal in the second period, which stood up the rest of the game. His previous long was 30 yards.

“It was crazy,” Nowacki said about the game. “Usually, I get random points during a game, or maybe go for a game winner. But this was really a defensive game, and I started thinking, oh, man, those might be the only points of the game.”

The Cougars could have scored again in the final seconds but took a knee after reaching the one-yard line.

Dylan Carver, pressed into action at fullback, gained 84 yards in 13 carries, including a 40-yard burst on that last drive. Henry Pirner netted 60 yards in 20 carries, and completed one of six passes, a 23-yarder to Ty Burgoon. The Cougars had 158 yards rushing and just 181 total yards from scrimmage.Onedefense, the Cougars (2-1) gave up a paltry 77 net yards to the Eagles (1-2). “Our defense played great,” Diggins said. Marcus Whiting, junior defensive end, made three quarterback sacks. Melvin Wallace, another junior lineman, gave T-G backs problems with his quickness off the snap. Will Quick and Lance Nielsen (playing with the flu) each intercepted a pass. That was Quick’s third of the“Itseason.waslike a game in the sixties,” said Diggins.

Mahtomedi gridders (3-0) thump Hill-Murray 46-21

Mahtomedi stayed unbeaten with a 46-21 conquest of Hill-Murray at home Saturday, piling up 469 yards from scrimmage and scoring a defensive touchdown as well. Corey Bohmert rambled for 231 yards in just 13 carries, with touchdowns of 11, 47, and 30 yards. He also picked off a pass and dashed 88 yards for a touchdown. The senior tailback has amassed 651 yards and 10 TD’s in three games.

Sam Garry, junior quarterback in his first start, tossed touchdown passes of 31 yards to Michael Barry and eight yards to Ramsey Morrell while hitting seven of nine for 96 yards.TheZephyrs rushed for 373 yards and passed for 96. Alec Mahoney had a 60-yard run and totaled 70

yards in five carries. Chase Devens got the final TD on a one-yard dive. Hill-Murray rushed for 122 yards and passed for 136.

Hill-Murray (0-3) got a pair of aerial touchdowns, from Joe McGurran to Gavin Berg (22 yards) and Simon Seidl (six yards) along with a three-yard TD run by Sawyer Seidl. The Pioneers pulled within 34-21 in the fourth period.

Tyler Gunderson made 10 sacks and a sack for the Zephyrs. Cody Dvorak made nine tackles, Javan Harvey seven, William Harris six and Carsten Cummins six. One downside for the Zephyrs was missing on four of five conversion kicks.The Zephyrs will host Tartan (2-1) on Friday.

Except that in the 60’s, nobody could kick a 40-yard fieldThegoal.Cougars will host Maple Grove (3-0) on Friday.

Bruce Strand is a sports writer for Press Publications. He can be reached at gmail.combruce.a.strand@or651-407-1200.

Cougar girls 2nd, boys 3rd in Blaine CC meet

The Centennial girls placed second of eight teams, and the boys placed third of 11 teams, in the Blaine Invitational on Friday at Northdale Middle School. The Cougar girls were a close second to Forest Lake. They had Kylie Nelson in fourth place (19:51), Abby Wood fifth (20:01), Julia Zalewski 12th (20:16), Abby Smith 14th (20:21) and Anna Swanson 20th (21:14). For the Cougar boys, the top five were Eli Berg in sixth place (17:01), Charlie Bolkcom in 14th (17:27), Alex Perseng in 17th (17:33), Matt Washburn in 20th (17:36) and Evan Pouliot in 33rd (18:02). They finished behind Blaine and Duluth East.

Volleyballers (9-1) win 3-0 twice

Centennial picked up a pair of 3-0 wins last week, improving to 9-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The Cougars beat Irondale, which had a 7-1 record coming in, 25-12, 25-17, 26-14 at home Tuesday. Cassi Sosinski and Elena Hoecke had eight kills each. Riley Diebes made 19 assists. Ash McClellan notched four of the Cougars’ 10 ace serves. Sosinski made 11 digs and Ingrid Noha 10. The Cougars topped Coon Rapids 25-15, 25-12, 25-13 on Thursday. Hoecke made eight kills and Noha and Sosinski six each. The Cougars aced 14 serves, led

Cougar kickers beat Elks, lose to Armstrong

Centennial snapped a four-match losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Elk River at home Thursday evening. The Cougars did not give up a single shot on goal. Noah Marquard tallied two goals and Dominic Trejo-Monson had the other. The Cougars are 2-4 in conference and 3-4 overall. The Elks are 0-7. The Cougars lost to Armstrong 4-1 at home Tuesday. Cal Babiash had the goal.

Netters trip T-G, lose to Andover

Centennial defeated Totino-Grace 6-1 on Tuesday and lost to Andover 4-3 on Thursday. The Cougars are 4-5 overall, 2-4 in the Northwest Suburban. Against Totino-Grace, the Cougars swept singles with Lauren Klein, Katrina DeBoer, Anya Sugden and Emma Thompson. In doubles, Anna Jarpy/Ella O’Hearn and Elie Fenstemacher/Anna Peterson won. Noel Pomerleau/Avery Cantrell lost a close 3-setter at No. 3. Winning against Andover were DeBoer, Sudgen, and Addison Slotsve/Isabella Yang at 3-doubles.

JON NAMYST/NAMYSTPHOTOGRAPHY.COM | CONTRIBUTED Marcus Whiting grasped the jersey of Totino-Grace quarterback Nicholas Ruohonen. He held on for one of his three sacks in the game.

by Hoecke and Annie Richtsmeier with three each. McClellan provided 15 assists. Mattie Petersen had a strong 3.5 pass rating.

Bruce Strand

COUGAR SPORTS BRIEFS

BRENNAN SCHACHTNER | CONTRIBUTED

DEER SEASON: Tree stand accidents leading cause of injury

Hugo, Centerville, and Forest Lake, saw overall harvest that was similar, at 1,943 deer.

However, archery and firearms hunters took proportions of deer that were roughly inverse from those in DPA 701, around 32% and 57%, respectively.

As in 2021, DPA 701 will have a 5-deer limit and DPA 236 will have a 3-deer limit in 2022.

Hunters who are or may be hunting on private land or within city limits are responsible for knowing boundaries and laws pertaining to their location.

September is Tree Stand Safety Awareness month. Tree stand accidents are the leading cause of injury to hunters. Thousands fall from elevated stands each year, causing many to take trips to emergency rooms. Some are killed by their falls.

“No deer in the world is worth serious injury that ranges from a twisted ankle to death,” Davis said. “Any time you get above the ground, you should wear a harness. The modern full-body harnesses are very good; they prevent a lot of injuries. Think what would happen if you fell and broke your pelvis or something else and couldn’t work…or worse.”Helikened body harnesses to seat belts, in that some people resist them, but they pose little imposition and offer lots of protection.“Youjust get in the habit and it becomes second nature. It takes only a little thinking and a little doing,” he said.

from the Minnesota DNR, 2021 license sales across the state were strong (586,963), down slightly from 2020, which had been the highest since 2011. Deer harvest was also reduced, by roughly 9,000 animals.

In DPA 701, which encompasses the heart of the Twin Cities metro area, 2021 total deer harvest was 2,331. Archery hunters accounted for 1,495 (64%), and firearms hunters took 726 (31%). Muzzleloader, youth, and early antlerless seasons accounted for only 110 deer all together.DPA236 (an area less than a third of DPA 701), which includes the northern Stillwater area,

Fortunately, according to data provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, treestand falls requiring emergency room care have been on a downward trend. There has been an estimated 70% reduction between 2010 and 2021.

Also fortunate is the fact that falls from tree stands are almost entirely preventable. According to the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation, 86% of fall victims were not wearing a body harness, and 99% were not secured to the tree or stand.

Jeff Davis is Communications Director for Whitetails Unlimited, a national nonprofit organization of over 110,000 members with a focus on deer hunting, resource conservation, and education. He knows that falls from tree stands offer the potential of serious injury, and that harnesses can nearly eliminate that risk.

If hunters consider a safety harness an undue expense, Davis suggests they consider the cost of gas, ammunition, and other factors, then “work it into the budget.”Harnesses are widely available and affordable. The highlyregarded Tree Spider line of harnesses, for example, has options that start at less than $100, according to Davis.

Davis also suggested that nonhunters buy a harness for those they know who need one.

When it comes to implementing safety gear, he offered one last piece of advice. “Practice with it ahead of time. Don’t be trying it on for the first time an hour before sunrise on opening day.”

Roy Heilman is a contributing writer for Press Publications. He can be reached at news@ presspubs.com or 651-407-1200.

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ROY HEILMAN

Hundreds of thousands of Minnesota deer hunters will take to the woods this fall. For those climbing into stands, safety should be priority #1.