Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
1845 Main St., Centerville
26427 Forest Blvd., Wyoming
centerville@applecw.com
wyoming@applecw.com
651-462-8772
Visit applecw.com or call for tuition specials.
809644
651-762-8911
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2024 VOL. 21 NO. 22 www.readthecitizen.com $1.00
ART IN COMMUNITY: ‘First Person Plural’ shares journeys of immigrants PAGE 18
City spurs to action after accident 20th Avenue before crossing the parallel walking path and plummeting into a ditch, said day care parent Cara Johnson. The northbound biker then catapulted back up the ditch and launched through the chain link fence on 20th Avenue and onto the playground. No children were hurt, but the motorcyclist lay seriously injured at the scene. Johnson, whose sons attend the day care, noted that too many motorists along the corridor speed and tailgate other vehicles and called for immediate action on five principal changes. A barrier to protect school and walking path should be installed and funded by the county, so the burden doesn’t fall on the small business, she said. A solid-line no-passing zone and reduced speed limit must accompany
BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CONTRIBUTED
The Heilmans and Janne Mook (right) welcome Gabriel Comin (middle) to Minnesota at the airport.
Exchange students value experiences while in Minnesota BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
Multiple exchange students in the Forest Lake Area School District are looking
forward to all the experiences Minnesota, and the United States, has to offer them during the calendar school year. From attending the Minnesota State Fair to
attending a Forest Lake High School football game, the students are looking forward to many more experiences for memories that will last a lifetime.
Forest Lake Area High School
“When I was in high school, I always wanted to be an exchange
An accident involving a motorcyclist launched into a day care playground at 1980 Center Street has resulted in immediate action from adults in Centerville to address safety issues. Following public commentary and ensuing discussion, the Centerville City Council directed city staff to waste no time in erecting a concrete jersey barrier along Center Street, to seek school safety designation for the day care, and to look into lowering vehicle speeds along 20th Avenue. The directive was carried by a vote of 4-1, with Council Member Raye Taylor opposed. The motorcyclist on 20th Avenue at Center Street lost control while approaching town and veered off
SEE EXCHANGE STUDENTS, PAGE 3
SEE ACCIDENT, PAGE 10
Hugo joins list of cities to become a GreenStep City BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
The city will soon join more than 149 cities that are mindful of sustainability. The city of Hugo has long prided itself on water conservation and other sustainability efforts but has never gone out of its way to receive “bragging rights,” City Administrator Bryan Bear explained.
“Maybe we should be proud of ourselves for some of these things,” he said. “We have not been in the position of seeking out accolades for many of the practices that we have taken.” The Minnesota GreenStep Cities program helps cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The continuous improvement program is based on a menu of 29 optional best practices.
Each best practice can be implemented, as decided by city elected officials, staff and community members, by completing one or more actions from a list of four to eight actions to a 1-, 2- or 3-star level. The voluntary actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities and focus on cost savings and energy use reduction while encouraging civic innovation. In fall 2007, Minnesota’s
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) held regional listening sessions to discuss community-based energy opportunities and the state’s Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. The idea of creating a free sustainable cities program that would challenge, assist and recognize cities that were “green stars” was born. This idea was taken up by the 2008 Legislature, which
directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Division of Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and CERTs to recommend actions that cities could elect to take voluntarily. Representatives from cities, nonprofit organizations, businesses and state government agencies SEE GREENSTEP, PAGE 11
$10.95 ANY $5 OFF purchase
Pizza & Salad Lunch Buffet
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1923
M-F from 11am - 2pm
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 ppcirc@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1230 citizen@presspubs.com
Not valid with any other offers Expires 10/31/24 818949
FLORAL & GARDEN CENTER FLOWERS FOR EVERY OCCASION 16155 Forest Blvd, Hugo (Highway 61) • Visit us On • 651-488-6707
excludes alcohol
2023
2022
of the Press
of the Press
BEST OF THE PRESS
The Citizen
BEST OF THE PRESS
The Citizen
(651) 407-1094 • 7095 20th Ave S • Centerville, MN Voted Best Pizza!
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
818950
of $25 or more
& PUB