The Lowdown by Press Publications

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Fighting the winter blues

Wintertime activities during the COVID-19 pandemic | 8

LOCAL LOVE:

2020 VISION:

ZERO KIDS WAITING:

INTRODUCING CHAMBER BUCKS | 3

YEAR IN REVIEW | 5-7

ADOPTION STORIES | 14

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PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

About the cover Bill and Ginny Buell start their journey down one of the hills along the trail.

3 | ‘A way of life’:

9 | Phoenix Farms:

Clothing line celebrates Minnesota

New home for old horses

5-7 | 2020 Vision:

14 | Zero kids waiting:

Looking back at the year

COVID-19 hasn’t stopped adoption stories

CONTRIBUTORS |

What are you most looking forward to in the New Year? ADAM HENSCHELL | Lead Designer art@presspubs.com Having 2020 be a distant memory and hoping normal things like going to the movies or seeing my friends without having to worry about potentially endangering them or their family.

ELIZABETH CALLEN | Editor

lowdownnews@presspubs.com Being able to travel again once the vaccine is rolled out.

RANDY ROBERTS |

Multimedia Consultant

lowdown@presspubs.com Things getting back to as normal as possible! Not necessarily for me, but for everyone, particularly children.

PAUL DOLS |

Photojournalist/Website Editor photos@presspubs.com Looking forward to being able to see friends and family in person without worrying about negative repercussions.

SHANNON GRANHOLM | Lead Editor quadnews@presspubs.com 2020 being over, and my home being back to normal.

CLAIRE BAUER | Production Designer

art@presspubs.com Excited for more camping trips and more time spent outdoors in that classic fresh air!

Publisher

Editor

Contributors

Photographer/ Photo Editor

Lead Designer

Carter Johnson

Elizabeth Callen

Katie Leibel Shannon Granholm

Paul Dols

Adam Henschell

Marketing Director

Advertising

Patty Steele

Randy Roberts

Design Manager Zac Hoppe

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JANUARY 2021

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Shifting gears: School bus drivers miss their kids A few weeks ago, Press Publications received a letter from a bus driver in School District 624. The letter, from Daniel Giossi, was about his experience as a bus driver for White Bear Lake Area Schools. The letter read, “Over the years I’ve had many kids on the bus. Some, of course, more introverted than others. With the very limited time I have, I try to be friendly, learn names and work to get them out of their shell.” Giossi’s letter went on to describe a kindergartner this year who was filled with confidence, smiled and called him by name. Giossi loved seeing his kids on the bus, but with so many who are now studying from home, it’s been harder for him to check in with them, provide support or interact with both the kids and parents in the community. He hopes the kindergartner he knows won’t crawl back into her shell. Among many of the worries that parents are facing amid the pandemic are concerns that their children will regress in their education and social skills. There’s also the worry of how different industries and employees, including school bus drivers, are handling the sudden shift to athome learning. The bus drivers who transport Centennial and White Bear Lake Area school students are doing their best to stay positive. “Last spring COVID-19 hit, and our

spring break went on all summer. Aside from delivering meals, I had extra time to work in my garden,” Giossi said. Giossi noted that he is still working, delivering meals and driving kids who are having trouble with distance learning, but much has changed. “School started in September with a hybrid model. This left us with far fewer passengers but more training, mostly with (personal protective equipment) and cleaning the bus after each group,” Giossi said. And, like employees in other industries, they have faced new challenges. “The obvious ones are extra training, dealing with PPEs and all the extra cleaning. Not so obvious is the unknown. Things change so fast no one knows. Management does the best they can, but even they can’t tell you what they don’t know,” Giossi said. Giossi’s school district is not the only one experiencing these new challenges. A driver and an aide from Rehbein Transit Company Inc., which serves Centennial Schools, described this year as less structured as before. “With school on and off, we are a bit discombobulated,” Betty Baily and Cheryl Edberg told Press in an interview. Edberg has been a driver with the company for six years, Baily has been an aide for four. They said they are taking whatever routes they are assigned to and are grateful for them.

Give the gift of local love he Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce recently introduced Chamber Bucks— a gift certificate program to support our local businesses. In the current state, and ever-moving environment; this has never been more important. The Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of tracking the pulse of our business community and the impacts of COVID-19 since the beginning. In two weeks, we have sold almost $4,000 in Chamber Bucks—that revenue will be put right back in our local business community, where it is needed most! Chamber Chamber Bucks are redeemable to purchase merchandise, food, Chat or service at any participating Robin Anthony Member’s business. You can fi nd a list of participating businesses on the Chamber of Commerce website and on the certificate itself when you purchase the Chamber Bucks. We need our community to keep it local by shopping, eating and supporting local. Most of our business owners live right here, in the valley, with you. A couple of ways that you can support local: Buy Chamber Bucks! They are a great gift idea any time of the year, a smart purchase for someone living out of town to gift to a local resident, perfect for employers to give to their employees and purchase to use anytime with no expiration date— keeping the revenue flow in our community by supporting our local businesses. Get take-out from our local restaurants and bars— they need us! After the recent extended restrictions, Bars, restaurants, breweries will remain closed through Jan. 11. Order take-out as much as possible. Encourage your friends & neighbors to do the same. Each purchase makes a difference! Like you, the Greater Stillwater Chamber is looking forward to putting 2020 behind us. We have great hope for 2021. We have learned new ways to do business, collaborated more with our neighbors and will come out smarter and stronger. Cheers to a new year!

Robin Anthony is the Executive Director of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at director@greaterstillwaterchamber.com or 651-439-4001.

“We love our kids, and we are never sure how long or which ones will be there tomorrow. Everything seems so up in the air,” Baily said. One of their biggest challenges is ensuring the young kids wear their masks properly, but they’ve found creative ways to encourage this. “With the variety of masks, it's a way to engage them. We get them singing songs, we have some toys for some that need to feel comfortable,” Baily said. Despite the pandemic, drivers in both the WBLAS and Centennial school districts are doing their best to continue to engage with the kids on their routes. “Most interactions happen when kids enter and leave the bus, so I still talk with the kids that ride but just as they pass. Kids are no longer allowed in the front seats, so talking while waiting to leave school is difficult,” Giossi said. And although this year has been hard, Giossi has seen his efforts impact the lives of children over the years, so he continues to engage as best he can. “One young lady had some emotional issues. She would sit quietly in front with her brother. This gave me the opportunity to talk with them before we left school in the afternoon. Over the course of driving them three years, she learned to trust me,” Giossi said. They had some nice talks, and he will always remember them. Outside of encouraging his students and bringing them out of their shells, Giossi also has experience helping them cope during

stressful situations with his other positions. “Everything breaks down, even buses. A middle school bus broke down while a hurricane was slamming Florida. While waiting for another bus, I explained how storms like that happen. Kids told me I should have been a teacher,” Giossi said. Another example of his success at encouraging his young charges was when shortly after leaving the elementary school with a nearly full bus — including 11 kindergartners — the bus broke down after just two stops. “I was very worried that these kids would get scared and start crying, etc. Instead, they had a ball. The next day one young man asked if we could do it again. Can’t say, but I like to think I had something to do with them staying comfortable,” Giossi said. “There are always some challenges in dealing with kids. None (of the children) are perfect, but we treat them as if they are as much as we can. We are a team on our bus,” Edberg said. As with everything during this pandemic, the return to school, bus rides and normalcy are unpredictable. “Until there’s a vaccine, COVID-19 will continue to change everyone’s lives. I don’t know if we’ll be going back to school this school year or not,” Giossi said. Until then, the drivers will continue to do what they love in the best way they can, while keeping the kids on their routes safe.

Minnesota: ‘It’s not just a place, it’s a way of life’ BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR

Is it possible for a business owner and a banker to launch an apparel line in the middle of a pandemic and make it look seamless? Apparently. Rick Wagner and Jason Anderson, both Lino Lakes residents, acquired Minn Life Clothing and subsequently launched the Wake Life apparel line in July and the Star of the North apparel line in October. Wagner grew up in Circle Pines and graduated from Centennial High School in 1994. In the apparel industry for about 15 years, he owns Xtreme Custom Apparel and Promotions in Blaine. Anderson worked in the financial sector when he met Wagner. “He was my banker that I would use for my business, and then it transformed into him getting out of the banking industry and coming to work for me,” Wagner recalled. Anderson grew up in New Brighton and moved to Lino Lakes in 1998. He has two daughters, both of whom are Centennial grads. Anderson had been in the banking industry for 20 years when he decided he needed to make a change. “It raised my children, it was a good job, but my passion has always been creating,” Anderson explained. “My mom passed away five years ago now. (One day) I was cleaning out her stuff and I came across the last birthday card she had written to me, and it hit me in the face like a two-by-four … She said, ‘Always look to the stars.’” Anderson had found Wagner’s business fascinating, so he resigned from the bank and went to help Wagner with sales, where has been for 3 1/2 years. Last spring when the pandemic began, business really slowed down and they were “just looking for something to do,” Wagner recalled. “I've really never worked for anyone, I've always kind of worked on my own thing and it was just one of my passions, to produce clothing and to see people out there wearing my apparel,” Wagner said. Wagner’s two sons were the inspiration for the Wake Life apparel line. Both enjoy wakeboarding and wakesurfing. The line, which launched in July, features apparel for spring and summer, when many Minnesotans spend plenty of time at the lake. Anderson has always been intrigued by the Minnesota motto, “L'Étoile du Nord,” which means “star of the North.” He is also a Minnesota North Stars fan. The Star of the North apparel line, launched in October, includes items for fall and winter. “I grew up with parents who really loved showing

where they were from. I’ve always loved Minnesota. It’s a great place to live,” Anderson said. A popular item Anderson created was the “honcho,” an oversized hoodie that can keep Minnesotans warm at football games, on a boat or by a campfire. “I remember when I showed Rick for the first time, he said, ‘No, we are not making that. We will not sell one of those,” Anderson recalled. “I went behind his back and developed it … We made a bunch of them for a show (this fall) and for not being able to sell one of them, we sold out of them in two minutes. It was crazy.” All clothing design and decoration is done in Blaine. The brand’s models are local, too. Currently, customers can only purchase apparel online at www.minnlifeclothing.com. The entrepreneurs look toward the day they can sell their product lines in retail locations. It’s not uncommon to see Xtreme apparel around here, but Wagner and Anderson can’t wait until they start seeing MinnLife Clothing around the north metro, state and nation. Lead Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

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JANUARY 2021

Glimmers of hope ecalling a memory from Christmas past, I remember looking through a telescope my brother had set up outside on the deck of our parents home in Duluth and seeing for the fi rst time, directly with my own eyes, the planet Saturn. I’d seen the iconic image of the ringed planet that has captivated humans for centuries many times in photographs, but actually seeing it clearly through a telescope in the crisp winter air was kind of surreal and awe inspiring. As we experience the waning days of December, the darkest month, skywatchers have had the opportunity to observe an end-ofyear celestial treat in what has become known as “Christmas Star,” in reality, the planetary conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. For the past couple of weeks the two planets have been easily visible Angle of in the evening sky, culminating View on the night of the winter solstice, Dec. 21, in a “great conjunction.” Paul Dols According to the NASA.gov website, what makes this year’s conjunction so rare is that “it’s been nearly 400 years since the planets passed this close to each other in the sky, and nearly 800 years since the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter occurred at night,” giving people around the world a chance to see them. I try to imagine what the level of knowledge and enlightenment in the world around him was like when in 1610, the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei “pointed his telescope to the night sky and discovered the four moons of Jupiter – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.” And in that same year, he also discovered “a strange oval surrounding Saturn, which later observations determined to be its rings. These discoveries changed how people understood the far reaches of our solar system.” Humans have a long history of drawing inspiration and comfort from the night sky and I personally fi nd the simple, physical act of taking a deep breath, pulling my shoulders back and looking up at the sky to be a useful component in a stress relief strategy. The winter lights we see glimmering around us today have a long symbolic history dating back to pagan rituals. Many of the modern traditions we associate with Christmas have origins in Germany. An entry on the History. com website references an enduring legend about the inspiration for the Christmas tree: “Late one evening, Martin Luther was walking home through the woods and noticed how beautifully the stars shone through the trees. He wanted to share the beauty with his wife, so he cut down a fi r tree and took it home. Once inside, he placed small, lighted candles on the branches and said that it would be a symbol of the beautiful Christmas sky.” The wide array of lights we see today are the manifestation of years of technological advancement that started in 1882 with light-bulb inventor Thomas Edison and his friend and partner Edward Johnson. Johnson created a popular window display to showcase a tree decorated with the new-fangled lights. The fi rst manufactured strings of lights were strictly the domain of the wealthy. In 1900 you could rent a string of lights for the holiday season for $12, the equivalent of about $350 today. Now holiday lights are accessible to pretty much anyone with the desire to participate in the festive annual ritual. I don’t think I’m imagining things when I look around this season and see what appears to be some extra special effort being put into the light displays illuminating city streets and homes around the area. In what has been an unusual and challenging year on multiple fronts, these optimistic bursts of light seem to offer glimmers of hope during the long December nights that signal the end of the year. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite local display of lights at presspubs.com/holidaylights.

Vaccine distributions and reasons to be hopeful for 2021 s 2020 draws to a close, there are many reasons to be hopeful that next year will be less challenging than this one. Studies have shown that two upcoming coronavirus vaccines are over 90% effective, meaning there is light at the end of the tunnel. And as we look ahead, we must ensure that states have the resources they need to transport, store and distribute these vaccines Legislator effectively— including in our rural Lingo communities. Amy Klobuchar A coronavirus vaccine is critical to protecting public health and getting our country back up and running. Currently, there are multiple types of vaccines under development, in addition to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that are first out of the gate. As communities across the country await the first doses, a Center for Disease Control (CDC) advisory committee has recommended that priority be given to frontline health care workers, who have been true heroes in the face of this devastating crisis that has upended the lives of millions of Americans—including their own. The committee has also recommended that the initial doses go to residents and workers in assisted living facilities, where the spread of this virus has had a devastating impact on some of our most vulnerable citizens.

But ultimately health experts and officials in Minnesota have the discretion to decide how to distribute these vaccines in our state, as well as future vaccines that may come on to the market. And they cannot do it alone. Storing, transporting, and distributing these vaccines is not a simple task and requires a great deal of coordination. After all, these vaccines won’t just parachute into Thief River Falls, Luverne or Grand Marais. Getting them to our residents will require fully functioning airports to receive them, trucks for transporting them around the state, pharmacies and community centers to help with distribution, and other important supplies. One of the vaccines, for example, requires storage in a freezer of minus 103 degrees Fahrenheit. And while we have no shortage of snow and ice in Minnesota, that kind of cold storage means special facilities in locations around our state. Unfortunately, ultra-cold freezers like this can cost around $10,000—well out of reach for most of our rural health care providers. And it is critical that communities all over our state—not just in the Twin Cities—can access them. That’s why I’m working to get the federal resources that states need to execute their plans to store, distribute, and administer the vaccines. This is a critical moment and Congress needs to act immediately to pass a coronavirus relief package that includes funding for vaccine distribution and helps our country get through the difficult months ahead. There is an initial bipartisan proposal that would do exactly that—including delivering major funding for vaccine distribution and for continued testing, which

is critical to get ahead of this virus. The proposal also includes additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and help for those who are out of work. Because ultimately, providing relief for our workers, schools, small businesses, restaurants and small entertainment venues is the best way to help our economy get back on track while the vaccine is being widely distributed. I have also called on the federal government to work with state and local officials immediately on the logistics for vaccine distribution. Minnesota has been a leader in this, and has already worked with the CDC and the Department of Defense to develop model approaches and best practices for other states to follow when a vaccine becomes available. And our own health systems—including the Mayo Clinic, Allina Health and HealthPartners—have been hard at work studying the safety and effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines through trials and research. There are many reasons to be optimistic as we look ahead to next year. And with the stakes this high, it is crucial that our country have both a plan and the necessary funding to get these vaccines out safely and efficiently. I am working in Washington to make sure these things happen and won’t go home for the holidays until it gets done. In the meantime, we must stay vigilant and continue practicing good public health and safety measures, like wearing masks and abiding by local public health guidelines. We will get through this, but it will require all of us working together, especially during the holidays. By U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.

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matter will not be published. • Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published. • Submissions containing facts not previously published in The Lowdown must be accompanied by factual verification. • All letters are subject to editing. • Deadline is 5 p.m., Wednesday of the week prior to publication. • To submit a letter, e-mail it to lowdownnews@presspubs. com, fax it to 651-429-1242 or mail or deliver it to Press Publications, 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Paul Dols is photojournalist/website editor for Press Publications. He can be reached at 651-4071238 or photos@presspubs.com.

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YEAR IN REVIEW 1st baby of new year

JANU UARY Y

The fi rst baby of 2020 born in Stillwater arrived at 8:03 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3. Mia Christine Golden made her new year debut in the Lakeview Hospital Birth Center, weigh 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 19 inches.

What a wild ride 2020 has been! At the end of each year, it is a tradition of the Lowdown to take a look back at memorable moments from the last 12 months. Despite the hardships of this year, there was still some good that managed to come through. Now that 2020 is coming to a much-welcomed close, we hope that 2021 will bring good health, good cheer and more good stories. Thank you for being a reader. Happy New Year!

Housley honored by National Foundation for Women Legislators

FILE | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Senator Karin Housley (R-St. Mary’s Point) was honored as an Elected Woman of Excellence by the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL). The award, which recognizes elected women of both parties for their legislative contributions, was presented at NFWL’s annual conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Polar Plunge participants jump into the icy waters of Forest Lake.

Axe throwing bar opens in Stillwater

FEBRU UARY

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When Sara Jesperson was looking at starting a new business in Stillwater last year, she did research on various bar experiences that would be more engaging than darts and other activities. A small bowling alley was among the ideas. But with her Northwoods background, axe throwing hit the target. Jesperson, who also owns fitness facilities, opened Lumberjack Axe Throwing Bar in downtown Stillwater. The Lumberjack is opened for both small and large groups to have fun while learning—and perhaps even mastering—axe throwing.

“Koi Inyodo,” chocolate truffles handcrafted by the artistans at St. Croix Chocolate Company took the gold medal for Best Overall Truffle Artistry at the sixth annual Chocolate Truffle Artistry Awards.

MARCH

St. Croix Chocolate Company earns gold in international contest The International Chocolate Salon Awards have announced the winners of its sixth annual Chocolate Truffle Artistry Awards, and St. Croix Chocolate Company took the gold for Best Overall Truffle Artistry. St. Croix Chocolate Company’s entry, “Koi Inyodo” (Japanese yin and yang duo), featured two hand-painted koi fish “swimming” in a stenciled shipping crate, as though the customer had ordered fancy koi from Japan. One of the koi truffles was fi lled with yuzu ganache and roasted buckwheat praline. The other featured honey ganache with a black sesame seed crunch.

APRIL

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Craft breweries had to get creative when bars and restaurants were forced to stop dine-in service in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Lift Bridge Brewery in Stillwater transitioned its taproom to to-go service only for its beers, hard seltzers and sodas.

Forest Lake wrestler 3 time state champ Derrick Cardinal, Forest Lake junior wrestler, finished 50-0 and captured his third state championship when he defeated New Prague’s Joey Novak 4-2 in the Class 3A 126-pound finals. He reached finals with two pins and a 16-5 decision. Cardinal was champion at 113 as a freshman and 120 as a sophomore.

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Members of Forest Lake’s Future Farmers of America chapter pose for a photograph after receiving national honors.

Science and athletic excellence come together in 2020 Big Read This year’s NEA Big Read is breaking ground in more ways than one: in addition to selecting a nonfiction book for the fi rst time, Big Read events will also celebrate the upcoming memoir of a hometown hero: Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins. For six years running, ArtReach St. Croix has organized the Big Read, a community-wide series of events inspired by a common book. The Big Read is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, and takes place in many different communities across the nation. This year’s selection was “Lab Girl,” a memoir by geobiologist Hope Jahren. Part of the book’s appeal is that it’s the first nonfiction offering suggested by the NEA.

A matter of horse: Washington County’s love for all things equine If you’ve talked to any equestrian in Washington County, you’ve probably heard it: Washington County has the highest number of horses per capita in the state of Minnesota. It might be just that: a rumor. Krishona Martinson, a specialist with University of Minnesota Extension’s livestock program, said that she has heard people say this, but has never quite found the statistics to prove it. Whatever the actual numbers, Washington County is brimming with equestrians of all kinds, and has a close history with horses.

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Stillwater journalism teacher named Master Journalism Educator

MAY

Rachel Steil, journalism teacher at Stillwater Area High School, received a Master Journalism Educator Award from the Journalism Education Association. Steile was presented with the certification during a ceremony at the recent National Scholastic Press Association and Journalism Education convention in Washington, D.C. She has been teaching in the Stillwater district since 1999.

Stillwater middle schools earn national recognition

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State parks became more popular than ever as residents turned to the outdoors to fight quarantine-induced cabin fever. Here, a young visitor to Afton State Park takes in the view from a scenic overlook.

JUNE

Both middle schools in the Stillwater district, Oak-Land Middle School and Stillwater Middle School, have been recognized as Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools for the 2019-20 school year. PLTW honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement and achievement by providing opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) courses. Oak-Land and Stillwater are among seven schools in Minnesota and 176 in the nation to receive such recognition. Stillwater Middle School received this honor for the second year in a row.

AUG GUST

JULY Y

FILE | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

The annual Forest Lake 4th of July Parade was cancelled this year due to COVID-19, marking only the second time in the paradeâ€™s 97-year history that it did not take place. PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Legislature bans TCE Minnesota became fi rst state in the nation to ban trichloroethylene (TCE), the toxic chemical illegally spewed into the air for years by Water Gremlin. The bill takes effect June 1, 2022.

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

A bicyclist rolls along he Brownâ€™s Creek Trail, which connects the Gateway State Trail in the city of Grant to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway in Stillwater.

Forest Lake Area High Schoolâ€™s FFA named one of Minnesotaâ€™s best

4th of July parade cancelled For only the second time in its 97-year history, the Forest Lake 4th of July parade was canceled. The decision was a difficult one to make, according to the Forest Lake American Legion, which sponsors the annual celebration. â€œThe only other time that the celebration has been canceled was during another trying time for our country and our greatest generation,â€? its website states, referring, of course, to World War II.

Forest Lake ski patroller comes to the rescue Forest Lake sophomore Taylen Peterson came to the rescue in an emergency at Northstar Stables in Stacy. Peterson was meeting some friends at Northstar to ride their horses when she noticed a woman in a seizure-like state on a picnic table surrounded by several panicked adults. The 16-year-old rushed over to see if she could help.

Stillwater school board, superintendent reach separation agreement

New FamilyMeans president FamilyMeans board of directors announced that Jim Kroening is named the new President of FamilyMeans. Kroening is replaced Arba-Della Beck, who started in 1996 and announced her retirement in January. He will be the fi fth president since the agency was founded in 1963. Kroening has been with FamilyMeans since 1992.

In a 5-2 vote, the Stillwater school board voted to end Superintendent Denise Pontrelliâ€™s contract, approving a $300,000 separation agreement effective July 1. The decision came more than four years after the districtâ€™s Building Opportunities to Learn and Discover (BOLD) plan led to the closures of Withrow, Marine and Oak Park Elementary Schools, and nearly a year after the board tried to remove Pontrelli in July 2019.

SEPT TEMB BE R

The Stillwater Lift Bridge has become a popular destination for pedestrians and bicyclists since it reopened after a three-year renovation process that restored the structure, originally build in 1931.

The Forest Lake FFA chapter was named one of Minnesotaâ€™s â€œTop Ten Chaptersâ€? at the annual Minnesota FFA Convention. Due to COVID-19, the Minnesota FFA Convention was held virtually.

Historic bridge lifts spirits with reopening After a three-year renovation, the Stillwater Lift Bridge is once again open and operating. It reopened with little fanfare, as celebrations were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but community leaders hope its completed construction will have a positive impact on the St. Croix Valley and surrounding area for years to come. The bridge underwent a complete renovation to bring it back to its original look while converting it into a pedestrian/bike trail but can still be used for emergency vehicles as necessary. This trail adds to the series of bike trails in and around the Stillwater area.

Tiny homes with a big purpose

SUBMITTED

Amid recent unrest throughout the Twin Cities comes a spark of hope in the form of tiny homes for those in need in Forest Lake. Settled, a local homeless advocacy group, is led by co-founders Gabrielle Clowdus and Anne Franz, as well as a team of social workers, social scientists, business strategists, product developers, counselors, pastors, homemakers and homebuilders. The group has spent the last year moving forward with plans to build tiny house communities referred to as â€œSacred Settlementsâ€? on church properties to help provide homes for those in need.

Walking tours share stories of Stillwater Among the re-emergence of the hustle and bustle on the streets of downtown Stillwater, you will find a new group of curious walkers led by a guide telling the rich history of the community. Rivertown Tours started providing the new service this year. The inspiration behind it comes from owners Sara Regan Letourneau, Christie Wanderer and Angela Fletcher, who thought of the idea last summer on one of their many walks together up the Stillwater Stairs.

Visitors donned face masks for Washington Countyâ€™s Nooks and Crannies tour.

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JANUARY 2021

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Forge and Foundry opened in downtown Stillwater this year, making it the city’s first legal distillery since Prohibition.

SUBMITTED

Andrea and Greg Sandager opened Rustic Roots Winery in Scandia this year.

Distillery opens in Stillwater The fi rst legal distillery in Stillwater since Prohibition is now open. Forge and Foundry, named after Stillwater’s late-1800s foundry is a family-run, grain-to-glass craft distillery. Owners Andrew Mosiman and Christie Wanderer, who are married, decided to open their own distillery as a way of keeping busy as their twin boys are getting older.

River Radio back on the airwaves

Leadership in the Valley graduates inaugural class

Winery opens in Scandia

The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural cohort of Leadership in the Valley (LITV) participants graduated at the Royal Golf Club. Graduation was originally scheduled to happen in May, however, with COVID-19, the Chamber adjusted the schedule and the cohort fi nished their program and requirements this fall.

What began over a year ago has now culminated for Andrea and Greg Sandager. Rustic Roots Winery is open to to the public, the latest business venture for the pair as they own Abrahamson’s Nursery as well. Rustic Roots Winery is located at 20168 St. Croix Trail in Scandia, which is located across the highway from Abrahamson’s Scandia location.

The St. Croix Valley’s own live “radio” program, broadcast via the Internet, return for its second season. River Radio produced and hosted by Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson and presented in partnership with the Marine Community Library, has resumed.

DECEMBER

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

49 Years

The city of Stillwater, Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and Discover Stillwater Convention and Visitor Bureau have partnered to Wintertime in Stillwater — a month-long series of festive activities centered on downtown Stillwater. The hope is to provide a much-needed dose of holiday cheer to area residents while also supporting the city’s numerous small businesses, many of which have been hit hard by the pandemic.

THE

Holiday traditions continue through ongoing pandemic

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Warm, windy temps make slow start for Minnesota deer season

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This year’s hunting season had more than a few unexpected variables, but among the most unusual was the weather conditions of the rifle season opener. Temperatures hovered in the 60s and 70s. Combined with high winds, hunters did not see many deer during opening weekend.

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This year, the city of Stillwater, Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce and Discover Stillwater Convention and Visitor Bureau partnered for Wintertime in Stillwater — a month-long series of festive activities centered on downtown Stillwater. The hope was to provide a much-needed dose of holiday cheer to area residents while also supporting the city’s numerous small businesses, many of which have been hit hard by the pandemic.

8 THE LOWDOWN

JANUARY 2021 www.presspubs.com

Fighting the winter blues

Wintertime activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

BY ELIZABETH CALLEN EDITOR

Minnesotans are no strangers to making the most of the chilly months, but outdoor activities are set to be more popular than ever this year as COVID-19 rages on. If you're looking for to fend off stir crazy feelings, consider the following. Washington County is full of wonders to explore, and you won't have to travel far from home to do so. Keep the current pandemic in mind, however. Health officials still encourage people to don masks, especially if headed to a popular park or trail, and to keep a distance of six feet or greater from others.

Cross-country skiing Minnesota may not boast the mountains that other states have, but its miles of rolling landscapes make it perfect skiingâ€”cross-country skiing, that is. Also referred to as Nordic, cross-country skiing is much different from the downhill variety. For one, the skis are generally shorter, heavier and firmer, and they attach only to the front part of the foot, leaving the heel free for the long strides forward. It is also easily adaptable. Depending on your experience level, you can find challenging trails that will give you a full body workout or just a leisurely glide through a park on a snowy day. Just make sure you purchase the right pass before you go. This year, Washington County Parks will no longer take the Greater Minnesota Ski Pass. Instead, skiers must purchase a Washington County Ski Pass online or at a pay station ($6/day, $30/year).

SUBMITTED

Bill Brownâ€™s multicolored jacket contrasts with snow covered tree branches along the trail.

SUBMITTED

Jake Horak gains enough momentum with his skate skis to make it to the crest of a hill.

Ice skating

Skijoring

You probably won't have to travel far to find a place for ice skating, making it a good option for those days you want to enjoy the winter scenery without trekking into the wilderness. Outdoor ice rinks are created and maintained by most city public works departments throughout the winter. In Stillwater, check out Northland Park, Bergmann Park, Lily Lake or the Old Athletic Field, and in Forest Lake, Beltz Park and Tower Park.

Somewhat of a cross between dogsledding and cross-country skiing, skijoring makes for a great workout for people and pups alike. Along with basic skiing equipment and a dog who likes to run, you will need a pulling harness, a skijor belt and a tugline in between. All regional park trails designated as multi-use are open for skijoring.

Snowshoeing

a person's weight over a larger area so that their foot does not completely sink into the snow. It makes for a great low-impact workout and lets you extend the hiking season through the winter. You can snowshoe anywhere in Minnesota's state parks and recreation areas, save for trails that are specifically groomed for another activity, such as skiing or snowmobiling.

Have snowshoes, will travel. The special footwear straps over and distribute

Around the Lakes

We are proud that for the fifth year in a row, we were awarded â€œBest Pet Groomingâ€?

eâ€™re Forest Lakeâ€™s original grooming shop, operating since 1989. We want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We want to thank all of our clients for their patience in 2020. It was tough a year and we will continue to operate under the requirements set forth by the CDC and the State of Minnesota. We 2017-2020 2015-2020 YLTHPU JVTTP[[LK [V `V\Y WL[ MYVT Z[HY[ [V Ă„UPZO \USPRL IPN IV_ Z[VYLZ 0[ÂťZ HSS ^L KV HUK we make your pet look and feel its best! Always have and always will! Be sure to check out our photos on Instagram/Facebook @ petstylesgrooming

â€˘ Trimming â€˘ Shampoos â€˘Ears â€˘ Nails â€˘ Grooming â€˘ Anal Glands â€˘ Dyes Voted BEST GROOMING SALON since 2015 when this category was created! From L to R: Kari, owner and groomer; Sandy, groomer; and Jackie, groomer.

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JANUARY 2021

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Phoenix Farms: New home for Racehorse Reimagined program BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR

SUBMITTED

Honey is a rescued Norwegian Fjord.

This Old Horse Founded in 2012 by Turner, This Old Horse is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support and sanctuary to retired, rescued and recovering horses while they continue to serve as ambassadors to the positive effect of "horse power" in the lives of people. The mission of the retirement refuge is to create a sanctuary for aged or unwanted horses who have worked hard for a living. This Old Horse’s lease began Dec. 1. The organization plans ultimately to purchase the property. The Hugo site, called Phoenix Farms, is the organization’s 11th barn. Turner explained that This Old Horse has been interested in the property for quite some time and had actually tried to purchase it back in 2016, but Meline did not want to sell. Turner said the property was a natural fit for another location because This Old Horse already operates a few of its programs in the St. Croix Valley area, and many volunteers have expressed interest in volunteering closer to home rather than driving to the south metro. “It's already kind of a little jewel in Hugo that people love, and they want

SUBMITTED

Mara, daughter of Barn Manager Johanne Gentlebread, adopted an orphaned miniature foal named Victor.

to see it there. People have a real love for (horses) there,” she said. “It feels like such a good fit for us to have that sense of being welcomed and that our farm will be welcoming.” The main program at Phoenix Farms will be Racehorse Reimagined, which is a new collaboration with the Minnesota racehorse industry. “Retiring horses that have served are discarded and that makes them vulnerable. It doesn't matter what discipline, it's not just racehorses, it's show horses, therapy horses … Horses that have served are vulnerable at the point when they probably needed the most support and the most reverence, frankly, for the life

KENNEDY TRANSMISSION

of service. They are not like cars; you can't just park them, you still have to feed them and take care of them,” Turner explained. This Old Horse has seven programs, some of which will also operate at the new location. “One of the things that we think we can offer is that people can experience horses in a certain way. Most of our horses are unridable because of the fact that they are older or (have) special needs. But there's so many ways that we fi nd that we can engage with a horse and love a horse from the ground,” Turner said. “So, most of our programs are having the horse and the humans interact in ways that the humans can learn and

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the horses can be the teacher.” Johanne Gentlebread, of Minneapolis, has been involved with the organization for a little over a year. “I was a social worker for 14 years and I decided that I wanted to fi nd my soul again after a soul-sucking job,” she explained. She started looking for volunteer opportunities involving animals and stumbled across This Old Horse. Gentlebread has helped with barn chores as well as This Little Horse and a new pilot program called This Teaching Horse. This Little Horse is where miniature horses are used therapeutically to visit health care facilities, schools and libraries. This Teaching Horse is all about equine-facilitated learning for grades K-5. Gentlebread now not only owns eight horses herself, but she is the barn manager for Phoenix Farms. The entire operation, excepting barn managers and stable hands, is completely volunteer-based. Volunteers are primarily needed to help with barn chores, but also needed for things like adoptions and fundraising. “If someone has an interest in helping, we can fi nd something for them to do,” Turner explained. Since 2012, the organization has had 3,000 volunteers. It is almost exclusively funded by private donations, but does receive some grants. “We love that for decades this has been open to the community up there as a place to come and love horses. That's really an important thing for us, and the fact that we can take that on and continue it,” Turner said. Lead Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

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Mel-O-Dee Stables is now home to This Old Horse. Mel-O-Dee Stables, located at 13151 Elmcrest Ave. N. in Hugo, has operated as a full-service equine facility since 1971. The 40-acre farm has indoor/outdoor boarding options as well as indoor and outdoor riding arenas. The past 13 months has seen a number of changes at the facility. Last December, Reins of Love founder Cynthia Marx moved her operation from Isanti to Mel-O-Dee Stables. Reins of Love provides refuge and rehabilitation for abused equine, as well as riding lessons and therapy services. In March, Mel-O-Dee Stables owner Donna Meline passed away at the age of 90. The property was given to Jeff Carpenter, a Forest Lake Building contractor who had worked for Meline and her husband Howard as a youth and, as co-manager, had helped her keep the stables afloat during the recent recession. After Meline’s death, Carpenter listed the property for sale. Marx and fellow supporters of Reins of Love had hoped to raise enough money through crowdfunding to purchase the property but were unsuccessful; the organization’s lease ended Nov. 30. Reins of Love will continue its mission in Isanti. Carpenter explained, “My intent was and is to continue on the Melines’ wish for the property to remain an equine facility. I had several interested buyers and met with them all.” He added, “In the end, I felt This Old Horse was a quality nonprofit organization and the best fit for the Mel-O-Dee Stables property. There is no doubt in my mind Nancy (Turner) and her staff will be excellent curators of the property. Their passion for horses and people is genuine, and I am proud to be a part of the change.”

10 THE LOWDOWN

JANUARY 2021 www.presspubs.com

COVID-19 cases surge in Minnesota prisons, outbreak among worst in U.S. BY ELIZABETH CALLEN EDITOR

Prisons have become a hotbed for COVID-19 as infection rates surge both state and nationwide. Minnesota's correctional facilities are facing one of the worst oubtreaks in the country, recent data shows. Throughout the U.S., Minnesota's prison system has the sixthhighest COVID-19 infection rate, with 3,859 known cases per 10,000 peopleâ€”a rate that is 467% higher than Minnesota overall, according to the Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. As of press time, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC)

had reported 12 COVID-19 hospitalizations and nine deaths among inmates, most recently a 70-year-old man incarcerated at the state's Faribault correctional facility. DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell said that his department is working hard to contain the spread of the COVID-19 within among incarcerated individuals and staff. â€œSince the beginning of this pandemic, we've worked to take all reasonable steps to minimize the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in the state's correctional facilities for the well-being of those we serve and our staff,â€? he said in a statement. Schnell also

6,628 5,568 5,259 5,240 4,374 4,360

said that the DOC has conducted â€œcomprehensive testing of all incarcerated people and staffâ€? in Minnesota's 11 correctional facilities as well as measures to manage the risk of the virus, such as implementing â€œStay in Unitâ€? plans, enacting mandatory mask policies and installing handwashing facilities in each location. Not everyone fi nds such measures sufficient, however. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Minnesota

4,055 3,859

SOURCE: THE MARSHALL PROJECT

Reported COVID-19 cases per 10,000 prisoners (as of Dec. 21)

has fi led a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Corrections over accusations that the department has failed to stop or slow transmissions of COVID-19. The lawsuit, Arnold Baker et al v. Minnesota Department of Corrections, alleges, among other things, a complete lack of social

distancing, staff not wearing masks, unsanitary conditions and prisoners being denied access to testing and medical care. â€œThe cell (I was confi ned to) had feces on the floor and had obviously not been disinfected,â€? Plantiff Charles Jackson, who is incarcerated at the Faribault facility, said

in a statement. â€œThis made me extremely nervous that I could easily get the virus. I tried to clean the cell with the towels DOC provided me to shower with. I was not allowed to have cleaning supplies.â€? The case is currently pending in court.

BUSINESS BRIEF Scandia Clinic closing its doors After 10 years, the Scandia Clinic will be closing its doors and consolidating services with the Clinic at Osceola Medical Center starting January 4. "This decision was not taken lightly as we know many community members have come to rely on the Scandia Clinic," said Matt Forge, CEO of Osceola Medical Center. "A number of factors contributed to this decision, including service and facility upgrades to meet community needs; staffi ng changes and gaps over the last couple

of years; and fi scal strains brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic." Although the pandemic has been putting pressure on the health industry, It wasn't the sole reason for this decision, he said. "The uncertainties surrounding the pandemic are speeding up our process. COVID placed extra pressure on us as an organization; it made us quickenâ€”faster than what we wishedâ€”our evaluation of how to continue providing quality and safe health care."

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JANUARY 2021

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362

Notices

Miscellaneous

Christmas & New Yearâ€™s

Early Deadlines Press Publications will have early ad deadlines in observance of the Christmas and New Yearâ€™s holidays starting the week before Christmas.

ClassiďŹ ed ad deadlines:

Thursday, December 17; 11 AM for ads to run the week of 12/27-30, 2020 Thursday, December 31; 11 AM for ads to run week of January 3-6, 2021

651.407.1250 Happy Holidays! Press Publications suggests that you be aware of advertisers requesting payment for shipping merchandise. Confirm and verify all contact resources prior to sending any money. Take caution when responding to text messages that are not local numbers. ________________________________________________

PRESS PUBLICATIONS

23 Free Items CONSOLE PIANO Story&Clark Excellent cond.! 651-428-8448 Free pick up for donated small furn/HH items to Church Store 651-430-0011

160 Hire Me Ann's AwesomeHousecleaning - 20 Yrs experience. Dependable, Trustworthy References Avail. Call or text 651-776-7834

300 For Sale WOOD STOVE w/2 flue pipes, roof hardware & chimney cap 763-786-4031

355 Furniture

Free wood chips, Hugo area. 651-426Full/Queen Bed with 8660 Mattress & Box Free wood chips, WBL Spring, Dresser & Cedar Chest, Like area. 651-426-8660 New $300 Cash. Jim PIANO Garland Up- (651) 766-5843 right â€“ Must Move! (651) 426-6668.

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AT&T WIRELESS Two great new offers! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e on us with AT&T's Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! Call 855/332-0464 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. ExcCond.6-cylinder, 4 liter DIRECTV Every live eng All maint. Up to football game, every stds- $6300. (651) Sunday - anywhere 434-7884 on your favorite 2008 Honda Accord EX Sedan, 185K Gd. Cond./Runs Gd. Trailer hitch, Remote Start, Never been in Accident, Small rust on one wheel well. $3900 (651)328-7288

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451 Rentals/ Commercial EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise â€œany preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.â€? Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

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Minnesota

Mental Health Specialist Direct Support Staff Full-Time/Part-time U Flexible Schedules Come be part of a team that can make a difference in someone's life! Use your leadership abilities while helping others achieve their goals. As part of our team you will work in a residential setting providing support to 1-4 individuals with a wide variety of physical and mental disabilities. Requirements: Â‡ High School Diploma Â‡ Valid Driving License & current auto insurance Â‡ Clearance of a MN DHS background study Dungarvin Offers: Â‡ Competitive pay Â‡ BeneĂ€ts at 30hrs/wk Â‡ Career Advancement Â‡ PTO $1,000 Signing Bonus until 1/31/21 Please send resume to

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Senior Procurement Coordinator Webster, WI Nexen is a leading manufacturer of precision motion control components, power transmission and web tension control products. Responsibilities will include strategic planning, logistics and management of assigned supply chain activities. Purchases materials and services including but not limited to castings, steel, bearings, machined components, springs, friction facings, electronic components to support production, while ensuring that cost, delivery, inventory and quality targets are met. Negotiates agreements that secure key business points. Audits and monitors supplier performance. Participates in development of strategic supplier partnerships, and generates and leads key supplier initiatives. Provides expertise and support to Design Engineering and Plant Personnel. Sources and processes prototype materials and MRO requisitions. Requires a bachelorâ€™s degree in business, management or engineering and 5-8 years of purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment or equivalent. Requires excellent strategy, interpersonal and communication skills. Must be able to read technical drawings, have effective computer skills, excellent analytic and organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and demands. ISM and APICS CertiďŹ cations preferred. We offer an excellent salary and beneďŹ t package. If you are interested in joining a dynamic and forward looking company, and have a positive and enthusiastic approach to work e-mail a resume to:

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‘Zero kids waiting’: MN Adopt finds loving, lifelong homes for children BY ELIZABETH CALLEN EDITOR

Adoptions and foster care placements have continued throughout the COVID-19 crisis, but both children and families are facing additional challenges due to the ongoing pandemic. Thankfully, in Minnesota there are many organizations with resources to help them navigate such challenges. One of those organizations is MN Adopt, which creates permanent placement for children in Minnesota by providing online resources, services, support and training. The organization’s mission is to have “zero kids waiting” for loving, lifelong homes. Through raising awareness, providing referrals for families interested in foster care or adoption, and offering education, support and resources, MN Adopt finds and strengthens adoptive, foster care and kinship families. Heather Van Brunt is the manager of MN Adopt’s HELP Program, which provides post-adoption support to Minnesota families. “Our job is to highlight the resources and support and tailor them to what their needs might be,” she said of the program. “One of the biggest things that we do is connect people to adoption-competent therapeutic resources. We also help people connect to community organizations that might not be labeled as adoption support or post-adoption support but still might fit for a particular family at a particular juncture with things that they’re experiencing.” The COVID-19 pandemic has changed day-to-day life for families, including those who have adopted or are seeking to adopt children, and so MN Adopt’s operations have had to change somewhat as well. “At first we had a brief period of time

where we just didn’t hear from as many families as we thought we would,” Van Brunt said. “This was in March and April when things were new. I think everybody was a little bit more in a frozen kind of mode. But since then, it’s been going back up to previous levels of engagement with families.” Van Brunt said that much of the support MN Adopt is offering through its HELP Program these days centers on increased time at home. “With being at home together more, families need more support,” she said. “And so because there’s been an interruption for so many people with some of the in-person services at school and therapy, families are engaging with us to see what other options are there.” Throughout the last several months, families have been utilizing telehealth services for therapy and counseling more often than they did with in-person services prior to the pandemic, Van Brunt said. “You have disruption with what school looks like these days and what work looks like and what families’ work-life balance, so a lot of them are looking for extra support,” she said. “One theme that we have seen is more families accessing therapeutic support because they can do it through video in their own home. They’re not running here and there and everywhere for these kinds of services.” Raising children comes with challenges no matter how those children came to be a part of the family, but Van Brunt says the highs outweigh the lows—especially with support along the way. “We try to help people prepare for all the joys and challenges of children and how they come to them and the unique aspects about them,” she said. “Specialized support and being surrounded by other families who are

having that same lived experience is really, really helpful.” Shoreview resident Deirdre McCarrell Otis can attest to the joys brought by adoption in her own life. She and her husband, Sheff, have nine children, five biological and four adopted, between the ages of 4 and 20. Deirdre said that adopting children has long been a priority for her. “I think that came from being an only child, and I was raised kind of all over the world. I traveled a lot and was exposed to different things,” she said. “I think part of it was just really wanting to create community and feeling a drive, almost, like this young, fresh energy and proving that you can create community without biology. It was a really strong value that I had.” That value, Deirdre said, has primarily been informed by her faith. “We’re Catholic, and that definitely is part of who we are as a family,” she said. “But it also was a sense that it is possible to create a community without blood ties, and we built our family on that concept.” When Deirdre and Sheff first sought to adopt, they did so internationally. “We were newlyweds and we traveled to Russia. Our son had severe special needs, to the extent where we were told in the orphanage, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? You’re so young.’ We were almost dissuaded from the experience,” she remembered. “But we really said, ‘We’re going to dedicate this energy we have to a child and to diving into this world.” Though those first few months and years were not easy, Deidre said, they still made for an invaluable experience. “Looking back now, 20 years later, I think it really created a desire to learn about children’s needs, trauma (and) what it means to be a parent to someone who needs you to constantly be learning,” she said.

Deirdre and Sheff have since opened their home to more children, both through adoption and the foster care system. “We started with international adoption, and through that process our eyes were opened to how much it takes to be an adoptive parent. It’s something where you really need to educate yourself, and we realized how much we had to learn,” Deirdre said. That realization brought them to seek out education and support from local organizations like MN Adopt which, in turn, made them increasingly aware of the local need for adoptive and foster care families. “We hadn’t known about that before,” Deirdre said. “At that point, we were having biological children and raising children who were adopted internationally, and then we became foster parents in 2014 through Ramsey County.” Since their first foster care placement in 2015, Deirdre and Sheff have opened their home to more than 20 children in Ramsey County’s foster care system and have continued to do so since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. “To us, the best language (to describe foster care), is bridge or support a child going to a family who’s really hoping to adopt, because in foster care, when (children) come to your door, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Our goal through foster care is really to be a safe landing spot,” Deirdre said. “We really went into it wanting to serve, wanting to be safe and help kids heal and help families heal.” Elizabeth Callen is the editor of the Lowdown. She can be reached at 651-407-1229 or lowdownnews@ presspubs.com.

1st COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Minnesota BY ELIZABETH CALLEN EDITOR

The first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in Minnesota, and more are on the way, offering a glimmer of hope that the end of the pandemic may well be in sight. Gov. Tim Walz laid out the state's distribution plan in a recent press conference. Frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities will be the first to receive the vaccine. The vaccines come from two manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, which have both sought emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency gave the green light to the Pfizer vaccine Dec. 11 and to the Moderna vaccine Dec. 18. Approval comes as good news following a week where the state's death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 4,000. “This day is real … It's happening. It is ready,” Walz said of vaccinations. However, he encouraged Minnesotans to remain cautious. “We are at the worst part of the worst part of this pandemic,” he said. “Just because this vaccine

is coming now, it is not a panacea to get through this.” Minnesota is expected to receive 183,400 doses by the end of December, which is not nearly enough to cover everyone in the state. Accordingly, those early vaccinations will first go to health care workers and long-term care facility residents, following a recommendation made by an advisory group to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All Minnesotans will be able to get vaccinated for free, but officials caution that availability will not be widespread for some time. “Vaccine will be rolled out in a phased approach, and this is because we won't have all the vaccine that we need or want right away,” said Kris Ehresmann, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) infectious disease and control director. After health care workers and long-term care residents, officials anticipate that essential workers—including teachers, first responders, public transit workers and others—will be next in line, per guidance from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine on equitable allocation. People with underlying health condi-

tions and/or those 65 and older are expected to follow. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses within roughly a month of each other, so an individual who gets vaccinated will not be immune from COVID-19 right away. “If you consider that it takes our body's immune system a little while to develop immunity, we're saying that it takes about six weeks from the time someone receives their first vaccine and when they might expect to have protection from COVID,” Ehresmann said. As the state rolls out its vaccine distribution plan and Minnesotans wait to get vaccinated, officials recommend continued precaution against contracting and spreading coronavirus, particularly mask-wearing and social distancing. “It will be probably six months before this humongous vaccine campaign is really well underway,” said MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “We are not going to stop our efforts until everyone is vaccinated that wants to be, but in the meantime, we ask for your patience and your continued collective work and individual work to do the things we know will slow the spread of this virus.”

MONTHLY WEATHER OUTLOOK

AREA NORMALS FOR MONTH

January 3 to 9

January 10 to 16

January 17 to 23 January 24 to 30

Avg. High……24 Avg. Low…… 9 Sunshine…… 47

Avg. High……23 Avg. Low…… 8 Sunshine…… 52

Avg. High……23 Avg. Low…….8 Sunshine….…52

Avg. High……25 Avg. Low…… 9 Sunshine…… 54

% Daylight Hours

Precipitation 0.25

Precipitation 0.26

Precipitation 0.30

Precipitation 0.22

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com Frank Watson is a local meteorologist who operates a weather station in White Bear Lake. Weather data and observation are from his weather station and trips around the area. Frank can be found on the internet at WeathermanWatson.com.

Weather Tidbit: My December forecast didn’t fare all that well. We experienced an incredible run of warmer than normal temperatures up to the last week of the month. Arctic air eventually moved in and temperatures fell to below zero. For perspective, we totaled 4 days of below 0º lows last December with the first coming on December 10. With the mild temperatures we’ve experienced, it will seem like a shorter winter. Once we get to mid February, it’s tough to get the really cold sub zero readings. December lived up to its billing as a cloudy month with just over a handful of days with sun. Snow, what can I say? It’s been pretty much nonexistent. We got off to a great start with a heavy snow in October and early November. From November 13 to December 22 I totaled a dismal 1.5 inches. I still believe we can rally and get to my 70 inch predicted total, but it’s going to take some good snows taking us into April. Not what you want to hear. My Watson Weather Calendar for 2021 is out and you can order it on-line at WeathermanWatson.com. Loaded with climate and my 2021 forecast.

Morning Planets: Mercury (dawn), Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Evening Planets: Venus (dusk), Mars (dusk) 8 Mercury below Moon 24 Saturn above Moon 12 Venus below Moon 26 Jupiter above Moon 12 Mars below Moon 27 Delt-Aquarid Meteor Shower

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Waiting Child Alexa,16, is talkative and outgoing and enjoys the company of adults. She is helpful with chores and projects. Some of her favorite foods are pizza, Mexican food and chocolate. Alexa likes to dance to Hip Hop, listen to music, read, and play electronic games. She is also very athletic and likes all sports, especially football. Alexa is also very artistic and likes to make jewelry and other crafts as well as paint and draw. Alexa is open to both rural and city living and would do best in a small family setting. Alexa would do well in a structured home that portrays patience and understanding.

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HONORING OUR HEROES Roy D. Christensen Sr. U.S. Army SPC5

Irvin J. Christensen U.S. Navy E2 Deceased

Rory D. Christensen U.S. Army Sergeant 4 years Home presently

Norman I. Christensen U.S. Army SPC E-4-1.

Roy D. Christensen Jr. U.S. Army Sergeant, now working for US Govt. active for 10 years

Alex Park U.S. Marines USS Iwo Jima

Joe Hibberd U.S. Army Specialist 4/E-4 Vietnam

Donald F. Nelson U.S. Army CPL Korea

Donald F. Nelson U.S. Army CPL

Elmer Pedersen U.S. Army

Francis J. Wald U.S. Army WWII

Kenneth Joachim U.S. Army 34th Red Bulls WWII

Daniel Ivan Nelson U.S. Army Private 1st Class

David Conde U.S. Marine CPL E-4

Lester Nelson U.S. Army Private 1st Class

Chalie Lundgren U.S. Army Staff Sergeant E6 Fort Jackson

Clement Stine U.S. Army Rand TEC 4 WWII

Abby White U.S. Navy Commander

Ray Bean U.S. Navy Quartermaster 7th ďŹ‚eet WWII

Terry DuRei U.S. Air Force Security Squad

Wayne Dirksen U.S. Army Air Corp Flight OfďŹ cer WWII

William Burrows U.S Navy Chief Petty OfďŹ cer Midway Island

William Hart U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Korea-Vietnam

Carisa Anderson National Guard

David Juutilainen U.S. Marines

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Myron Lee Nelson U.S. Army Radio Teletype Operator

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Walter G.Mueller U.S. Coast Guard Petty OfďŹ cer 1st Class Stationed in Florida

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Harry A. Strus U.S. Army 90th Division PFC 358th INF WWII - Normandy KIA 7-7-1944

John F. Reilly U.S. Marines Lcpl KIA 1966 Quang ngai, Vietnam

Robert Paoli U.S. Army Major Vietnam war, 1968

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Harold â€œDukeâ€? WingďŹ eld U.S. Army Sergeant WW II Mop-up operations-Italy

James Rupert U.S. Army Specialist Third Class, Fort Stewart, Georgia 1955-57

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