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February 2022 Vol. 10 No. 2

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Takin’ the plunge in

Forest Lake SPORTS

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH | 6

OUT & ABOUT

WHAT’S HAPPENING | 6&7

AUTHOR Q&A

“SECRETS OF LOUVRE” | 20

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FEBRUARY 2022

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18

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JILL GREEN FROM LAKES AREA COMMUNITY TELEVISION

14 | Winter Activites:

About the cover

18 | Author Q&A:

Skiers and happy trails.

Life as a rare bookseller.

3 | Foraging:

Forest Lake High School football players take the plunge into Forest Lake and get cold for a cause at a previous Forest Lake Winter Plunge put on by the Forest Lake Rotary. The plunge is back this month after taking a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. See more on page 11.

12 | Wing & Things:

Edible wild foods.

Minnesota squirrels.

CONTRIBUTORS | Are you a cat person or a dog person?

GAOKANGZOUA MOEN |

NOELLE OLSON | Staff Writer

lowdownnews@presspubs.com I really like both and have a really nice cat now, but deep down I am a dog person.

RANDY ROBERTS |

Multimedia Consultant

lowdown@presspubs.com Dog person!

PAUL DOLS |

Photojournalist/Website Editor photos@presspubs.com For a variety of reasons, I like both dogs and cats. However, I believe that cats have the advantage in the self-sufficiency department.

The Lowdown Vol. 10 No. 2 COPYRIGHT © 2022 PRESS PUBLICATIONS Material may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form whatsoever.

Publisher

Carter Johnson

Marketing Director Patty Steele

Staff Writers

Lead Designer art@presspubs.com Hm, one solves mysteries, the other hates Mondays. I do like mysteries and hate Mondays...I guess, I’m a cat person.

Did I have to flip a coin? No, I eine meine minne mo.

CORINNE STREMMEL | Staff Writer

lowdownnews@presspubs.com Both! I can’t choose.

JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | Contributing Writer

jackiebussjaeger@gmail.com I would say I am both! I love to explore outdoors with dogs, and I also really value my quiet time indoors, for which cats are wonderful companions.

Contributors

Noelle Olson Corinne Stremmel

Jackie Bussjaeger Abe Winter

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Challenge-mode foraging: Finding wild foods in Minnesota winter

By Ja ckie Buss jaeger St aff Writer

Minnesota is rich in edible wild foods, but it’s difficult to find anything alive and growing when everything is buried under inches of snow and ice. Foraging for wild foods in winter is a bit like a scavenger hunt—it gets you outside and keeps you busy in the winter months, with the promise of a tasty reward at the end.

Below are a few wild foods you can forage even in the dead of Minnesota winter. Most of them are best prepared as tea, but what better way to warm up after a long foraging walk than with a hot mug of spruce needle or rosehip tea?

Spruce and pine needles Evergreens are easily identifiable all year round, and a tasty tea can be made from their needles.

Make sure you can correctly identify the tree whose needles you want to collect. Most Minnesota evergreens are safe to consume, except for the yew tree, which is poisonous.

White pines and spruce trees are among the best for a tasty tea. Winter weather naturally tends to knock small clusters of needles to the ground, where they are easy to gather. Some people prefer the milder taste of young needles, but you’re not likely to find these until spring comes around. The needles have a light citrus flavor, which is complemented with honey and lemon. Pour hot—not boiling—water over the needles to get the most out of their natural vitamin C content.

Chaga Chaga is a fungus mainly found on paper birch and yellow birch trees. This fungus attacks injured but living trees, growing like a tumor from the inside. On the surface of the tree, chaga looks like a big black scorch mark, but inside, it is a burnt yelloworange color. The interior color is a dead giveaway that you have a fungus and not simply an Chaga fungus, which grows on old burn scar in birch trees in northern climates, front of you. is an increasingly trendy Chaga grows “superfood,” with antibacterial very slowly. If you and anti-inflammatory choose to harvest properties, among other health chaga, it’s best to benefits. take a chunk no larger than the size of a fist, so the remaining fungus can continue growing. Winter is the best time to harvest, since the fungus is naturally dried in the cold winter air.

The texture of chaga is hard and woody, so it should be chopped into smaller chunks and powdered with a food processor or coffee grinder. This powder can

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be combined with hot water or milk to make a thick, coffee-like beverage. Cinnamon and maple syrup can add to the richness of chaga tea.

Rosehips The fruit of rosebushes sometimes stays on the branches long into the winter, providing a naturally dried source of rosehip tea. Wearing thick gloves while harvesting can prevent painful pricks from the thorny branches. The hips can be used whole steeped in a tea blend, but crushing them will release the gritty seeds and fibers inside, which no one wants to ingest. Rosehips are high in vitamin C and can help boost the immune system—a great benefit for the time of year where seasonal illnesses are rampant. Add a little honey or mint leaves to your rosehip tea for a more complex flavor.

R osehips are the seed pods of rosebushes, which are commonly used in landscape plantings and easy to find even in urban areas

Turkey tail Turkey tail is a fungus that grows on decomposing wood yearround. It is a visually alluring fungus, easily recognizable by its colorful concentric stripes resembling the patterns on wild turkey feathers. Turkey tail has many health benefits, including antioxidants and prebiotics that aid in digestion.

The easiest way Turkey tail fungus is found to use these fungi worldwide, often growing on is in a turkey tail fallen hardwood logs in damp tea. This can be locations. easily turned into a warming turkey tail chai latte with the addition of a few spices and your choice of dairy or dairy substitute.

Watercress Watercress is a plant in the mustard family.

Watercress can be found in shallow streams of fastflowing water, and is easy to spot from a distance

by its bright green color. This plant should only be collected from clean water sources, and leaves should be washed thoroughly before consuming. The taste is similar to arugula or other peppery, flavorful greens, and is often used on sandwiches or in salads.

photo s by Jackie Buss jaeger | pr ess pub l ic at ions

Wintergreen grows low to the ground, but its bright colors make it easy to identify wherever it pokes through the snow.

Wintergreen Most people know wintergreen as a popular chewing gum flavor, but it is a wild-growing plant in the northern regions of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

As the name implies, its leaves stay bright green even when snow is thick on the ground. Both the berries and the leaves of wintergreen are safe to consume.

But there is a trick to making wintergreen tea: unlike other herbal teas, adding boiling water won’t release the strong flavor of the leaves. Instead, the leaves should be fermented in a jar of water, covered with a small towel and placed in a warm location for several days. When bubbles start to form, all you need to do is heat the water to have a refreshing wintergreen tea.

The number one rule of foraging is never to eat anything you cannot identify with 100 percent confidence. There are many Minnesota-specific guides to plant and mushroom identification and foraging. Smartphone apps such as Seek and iNaturalist can also give you a good start in identification, but are not always accurate and should be double-checked with a field guide or expert opinion.

It’s important to make sure you have permission to enter and harvest on the land where you plan to forage. Some items can be found right in your backyard, especially if you have a home garden. You should also be certain that the area where you plan to forage has not been treated with harsh chemicals.

Be mindful of how much you gather. Many foragers take only as much as they will use, and leave behind some wild foods for wildlife to eat, or to allow seeds to spread for the coming spring.

Staff Writer Jackie Bussjaeger can be reached at news@presspubs.com or 651-407-1200.

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FEBRUARY 2022

County Briefs Youth Services Bureau will continue to provide services to Washington County The Board of Commissioners has approved a $233,273 contract to continue using Youth Services Bureau (YSB) as a diversion service for youth in 2022. YSB offers diversion services for juveniles that would otherwise be brought to juvenile court in Washington County. These services may be accessed by referral from a variety of sources, including the County Attorney's Office, Community Services Department, law enforcement agencies and schools.

While on diversion, a juvenile may participate in community work service, an educational program, and/or early intervention services through the YSB. Juveniles are required to make restitution to the victim and complete the diversion conditions to avoid a formal court record.

County continues work with Tubman for victims of domestic violence Washington County will continue to work with Tubman to provide services for victims and families who have experienced domestic violence, after the county board approved a $204,241 contract with the agency for services in 2022.

Tubman provides services to county residents, including shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, orders for protection assistance and community presentations. In addition, Tubman is the community point of contact for the Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) program, a risk assessment tool used by law enforcement officers in Washington County.

The 2022 contract will help Tubman's Washington County Legal Services program maintain critical service delivery for victims and families of domestic violence.

County will receive grants for protecting water resources Washington County will receive $184,000 of natural resource grants from the Board of Water and Soil Resources. The county will receive the money between the beginning of 2022 and the end of 2024. The funds will be used for shoreland preservation, septic treatment systems, local water management and wetland conservation.

County will continue to work with Washington Conservation District Washington County will continue to work with the Washington Conservation District. The county board approved a $260,000 contract with the agency for 2022.

The district provides technical assistance and educational services to promote and apply soil and water

conservation practices throughout the county. Funding is for the organization's administrative activities and services in the areas of local water management, land and water treatment and public education.

County will receive additional funds for COVID-19 response Washington County will receive additional funds to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A $1.198 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Health will be used for COVID-19 response and vaccine implementation, to be used through Dec. 31, 2023. Funding will be used for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, initiatives to address the mental well-being of staff and volunteers, to address community recovery efforts associated with maintaining childhood vaccination rates, to promote well-child visits and to address preventative medical care, chronic disease conditions and adverse mental health impacts.

The county will also receive $200,000 from the Minnesota Department of Health for the COVID-19 Public Health Workforce, to be used through June 30, 2024.

Funding will be used for infectious disease control and response staffing associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Board approves 2022-26 capital improvement plan Commissioners have approved a capital improvement plan (CIP) for the county for 2022-2026. The plan includes major roadways, parks and facility projects in the county planned for the next five years, and those projects that are funded by bonds.

Roads and bridges make up 75% of the proposed projects in the five-year plan; public facilities making up 17%; and parks and land make up 8%. Funding comes from a number of sources, including county program aid from the state, intergovernmental revenue, the local option sales tax and bonds.

More than 79 projects or programs are included in the capital plan, with $352 million in planned investments in infrastructure over the next five years. Projects in the 2022 portion of the plan include the construction of an environmental center in Forest Lake and yard waste facilities in the county. Roadway projects throughout the county are also in the proposed plan.

Board adopts county redistricting principles The board has adopted principles that it will use when redistricting county commissioner districts next year. State law establishes the procedure and process

Waiting Child

Ari, 16, is a kind and caring teen with a great sense of humor. He can be somewhat quiet until he gets to know you. Ari enjoys basketball, football, dancing and arts and crafts. He also likes being around animals. Ari enjoys being active, both physically and in the community. He needs a family who will be accepting and committed.

Board approves levies, budget for county for 2022 Commissioners have approved the county’s 2022 budget and the property tax levy that will support it. With the ongoing response to and recovery from the pandemic, the recommended 2022 budget includes a levy increase that will pay for increased costs to the county that are expected in 2022, and those that occurred in 2021.

The levy is a 5.28% increase from the county’s 2021 levy, for a levy of $120.6 million. It is expected that the levy will result in an increase for the county’s portion of the annual property tax of $25 for the averagevalued home in the county, which is $318,700.

Operating expenditures are budgeted to be $204.8 million, and capital projects are budgeted to be $64.1 million in 2022.The recommended budget includes investments in the county’s technology infrastructure and information technology staff to maintain and enhance data and network security. The budget funds a fairly substantial increase in election costs for 2022 as more people vote absentee, which adds to the cost of managing an election.

The budget also funds replacements in the public works fleet to ensure the ability to maintain and provide snow removal on county roads.

Attorney added to county-supported court representation Victoria Herr will provide legal representation for children in need of protection or services (CHIPS), termination of parental rights and permanency cases in Washington County. The contract runs from Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023.

The county is required by state law to provide this representation for parents or guardians in these cases. State statute also requires reasonable compensation for the attorney. The county contracts with five attorneys for this representation. Under the terms of the agreement, Herr will provide representation for approximately 30% of these cases within the county.

County will continue to work with Canvas Health for services Canvas Health will continue to provide services to county residents after the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.3 million contract with the agency for 2022. Canvas Health provides services to children, adolescents, adults, elderly individuals and

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Following adoption, Ari would need to maintain contact with his birth family.

Submitted by MN Adopt, a state organization whose vision is to have zero kids waiting for permanent loving families, and mission to find and strengthen Minnesota adoptive, foster care and kinship families. To learn more, go to www.mnadopt.org.

for redistricting of county commissioner districts based on population figures from the federal Census. Although it is not required, county board members wish to establish principles to guide the redistricting process. The proposed principles may be viewed on the county website at www. co.washington.mn.us by searching “redistricting.”

The county will be the last governmental entity to establish its district boundaries before the 2022 election. The schedule will be: • Feb. 15: new congressional and legislative districts set • March 29: reestablishment or redistricting of municipal precincts • April 26: new local government election districts set (county, soil and water conservation, school district, etc.)

• May 17: candidate filings open • Aug. 9 and Nov. 8: state primary and general election based on newly drawn districts.

families who struggle with aging, crises, chemical and mental health, and domestic and sexual abuse.

The changes for the 2022 contract include the elimination of some programs, the reduction of $41,500 in costs and the addition of programs for $34,868, representing an annual net decrease in costs of $6,632 from last year’s contract.

Washington County Parks ski pass Remember to purchase your Washington County Parks ski pass.

Washington County grooms ski trails when conditions allow at Big Marine Park Reserve, Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, Lake Elmo Park Reserve, Pine Point Regional Park and St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park. Skiers must purchase a Washington County ski pass online at https://washcoparks.usedirect. com/WashCoWeb/Default.aspx, at a pay station, or at a park office.

Nordic Rocks Ski rentals are also available at Lake Elmo Park Reserve. These introductory level cross-country skis come in youth and adult size and are worn over a traditional winter boot. As part of the rental package, adjustable poles are included.

Upcoming parks vehicle permit photo contest The 2023 parks vehicle permit will feature Square Lake Park. The photo contest will open later this year, but photos can begin to be captured for those wanting to highlight the winter scenes around Square Lake.

County will use $1M Met Council grant to update swim pond Washington County will use a $1 million grant from the Metropolitan Council to improve the filtration system of the Lake Elmo Park Reserve Swim Pond. The swim pond, which was constructed in 1985, had its filtration system replaced in 2000. The pond underwent a major rehabilitation in 2016, with new pipes, drains and liner, and it was regraded for safety to reduce its depth. Amenities around the pond were updated. The filtration system was not rehabilitated at that time.

The current project will update the filtration equipment, pumps and motors, and the pipes and electrical equipment around the pond.

Design for the project will occur this summer, with construction from fall 2022 to spring 2023, so that the pond will be operational for the swim season in 2023. Additional funds for the project will be $250,000 from state bonds and $150,000 from County Program Aid. Library will remove existing processing fees on library patron accounts The county board revised the county fee schedule to eliminate library processing fees. In light of that, the library will remove processing fees that accrued on library patron accounts prior to Jan. 1 and remain unpaid. Library patrons with overdue materials will still owe the cost of the replacement materials unless they are returned.

Removing the existing processing fees on patron accounts will further reduce barriers for residents and make accessing library resources more equitable. With the removal of the processing fees, more than 3,000 Washington County residents will have the use of their library cards back — more than 1,000 of whom are minors who could be accessing free educational resources and assistance from the library. Overall, more than 7,000 residents will have processing fees removed from their library accounts.

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Winter driving: Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer

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Oleander aphids and you

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any of us have heeded the call to save monarch butterflies by planting milkweed in our home landscapes, and we’ve all enjoyed watching the baby caterpillars munching away happily. What we didn’t expect to witness, however, were the swarms of bright yellow-orange insects that moved in shortly afterwards. This army of small, soft-bodied vampires that appear poised to suck the life from our Gardener’s force monarch buffets Grapevine are called oleander aphids.

The oleander Timothy aphid is named Newcomb after its ideal food source, the oleander flower. Since Minnesota is too chilly for oleander plants to grow here, oleander aphids substitute milkweed, which is in the same plant family. According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, oleander aphids are mostly harmless and rarely cause significant damage to milkweed. However, with a large invasion of oleander aphids, milkweed leaves may become shiny due to the

excretion of honeydew, which can encourage the growth of sooty mold.

If your milkweed is playing host to oleander aphids, you might not get much help from nature in managing them. Oleander aphids carry cardenolide toxins from the milkweed they consume, and this makes them toxic to most predators other than the parasitic wasp. The best way to control oleander aphids is to plant the right milkweed for your landscape and keep it well watered. This will help your milkweed stay stronger and better able to handle the presence of oleander aphids.

Do not fertilize your milkweed, as aphids will reproduce faster on plants with higher concentrations of nitrogen.

If aphids persist on your milkweed, there are more aggressive things you can do to help control these uninvited guests. The best method of attack is to manually remove the aphids. It sounds tedious, but it’s the only way to ensure you don’t accidentally kill a caterpillar. Insecticides will kill both indiscriminately, but your fingers can tell the difference.

Squishing them with your gloved fingers is best, or if this makes you squeamish, another option is to rub them with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. Aphids prefer tender

new leaves, which grow from the tip of each stem, so concentrate your efforts there. If you have children around, perhaps you can make a game of bug hunting and let them do the work. Just don’t pay them by the bug, or you will go broke before they run out of aphids!

If a section of your plant is coated with aphids, you can trim off the affected area and dispose of it after checking for any caterpillars that would need to be relocated. If you have an outof-control situation that won’t be remedied by trimming, you can also spray the plant with a hose, again checking for caterpillars that could also be displaced.

While a massive swarm of oleander aphids might look shocking, you shouldn’t let the threat of them prevent you from planting milkweed. The benefits of the milkweed to our pollinators greatly exceeds the nuisance value of this pest.

Save the date for the Home Landscape and Garden Fair on April 2 at Bunker Hills Activities Center in Andover. For event registration and information about Anoka County Master Gardener projects and services, visit anokamastergardeners.org.

Timothy Newcomb is an intern with the university of Minnesota Master Gardeners program.

hile driving to work the other day, I counted six vehicles that were in the ditch off of Highway 35. I even saw an Ice Castle (fi sh house) lying on its side in the ditch like it fell off a trailer hitch but there was no vehicle there. Not really sure what happened there but you don’t see that very often.

One of the cars just happened to be one that passed me going about 80 mph and I saw him swerve into the snowy ditch. It wasn’t snowing but the roads were not great and there had been snow the night before. When I passed him, I saw that he was on his phone—probably calling a tow truck to get him out. No matter what, he was going to be late for whatever he was racing to. If he would have driven the speed limit instead of weaving in and out of lanes like a race car driver, he wouldn’t have gotten Noelle’s into that predicament.

According to the Minnesota Notes Department of Public Safety, noelle olson while summer months are the deadliest on Minnesota roads, wintertime leads to the most crashes and poses safety risks and hazards.

From 2016 to 2020, officers reported snowy or icy road conditions in more than 79,165 crashes.

These crashes resulted in 181 traffic deaths and 19,218 injuries.

I’m always reminding my kids to “winterize” their cars and when I went out to lunch with my daughter recently, she wanted to know where my winter survival kit was. Frankly, I wasn’t prepared for the question and my answer was, “I haven’t gotten around to it yet.” It’s never fun when your kids call you out when you don’t practice what you preach.

So, I got my winter kit together which includes, jumper cables (which were in my truck), a scraper, fl ashlights, extra hats, mittens, scarves, extra warm clothing, winter boots, windshield wiper fluid and a heavy blanket. However, I don’t have a tow chain, shovel, bag of sand or cat litter for tire traction as recommended by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

It reminds me of one Christmas when I told my daughter to grab a blanket for her car because the roads were not the best. I told her she should always keep a blanket in her car in the wintertime in case her car breaks down or she slides into the ditch. I grabbed one of my cozy blankets and threw it in the back seat of her car.

Good thing I did because on the way home from my parents house that night, her car started shutting down and I had to pull over into a deserted parking lot. We had to wait for my son to come get us, which took him about 45 minutes.

Since the car heater wasn’t working, that blanket was a life saver. We would have been super cold if we didn’t have that blanket and my daughter still keeps it in her car to this day.

When the weather person tells you to avoid travel because of winter weather conditions, just stay home if you can. If you absolutely have to drive, give yourself plenty of time and drive according to the road conditions. And for goodness sake … please be aware of your surroundings and slow down. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Staff Writer Noelle Olson can be reached by emailing lowdownnews@presspubs.com or calling 651-407-1229.

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SnOWSHOe DiSCOVery WALK FOr BeGinnerS When: 10:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5; 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6; 10-11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12; and 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13.

Where: William O’Brien State park, 16821 O’Brien Trail N., Marine on St. Croix.

Details: Enjoy a winter snowshoeing experience alone or with the family. Brief how-to lesson followed by a naturalist-led walk. Bring snowshoes or borrow wooden ones. Free with parking permit. RSVP. Contact: 651-539-4986 or Sean.Hoppes@state. mn.us.

BeAr’Ly OPen XV When: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5.

Where: White Bear Lake at Ramsey County Beach.

Details: Play golf on frozen White Bear Lake using a tennis ball and anything that can propel it – golf clubs, hockey sticks, tennis rackets, etc.

Groups encouraged to dress in costume. Sponsor tents back this year with activities and treats.

Tickets $35 each. Fundraiser for the White Bear Lake Food Shelf also includes online auction.

Contact: bearlyopen.org.

BUiLDinG WitH BriCKS When: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 & 26.

Where: Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake.

Details: Drop-in event for children ages 4-12 to make creations with the library’s Lego collection.

Contact: 651-275-7300 or washcolib.org/events.

MiDWinter FAMiLy FUn When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5.

Where: Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton.

Details:View the stars and moon with Minnesota Astronomical Society members, meet a raptor,

FeBRUARY 2022

and enjoy arts/ecological activities and a campfi re with s-mores. $10/car.

Contact: 651-436-5189 or belwin.org. tAKe AnD MAKe WitH GiBBS FArM: QUiLt SQUAreS When: All day, Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Where: Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake.

Details: Kids ages 5-12 can pick up a kit with materials and an instructional video to complete a project and learn about the history of Dakota and pioneer life in Minnesota. No registration required; supplies fi rst-come, fi rst-served.

Contact:651-275-7300 or washcolib.org/events.

COnVerSAtiOnS OF tHe VALLey: “tHe BUiLt enVirOnMent” When: noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Where: Online.

Details: Speaker series hosted by the St. Croix Valley Foundation presents an online series about “Placemaking” – how intentionally fostering an attachment to place can impact a town’s economic growth, help to attract and retain residents, and build thriving communities. The Honorable John Robert Smith, is presenter. Free, but registration required.

Contact: scvfoundation.org.

CriMinAL eXPUnGeMent WOrKSHOP When: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Where: Where: Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Road N., Forest Lake.

Details: Two volunteer criminal attorneys from the Law Library will assist participants with going through forms and walk through the process of getting records sealed. Bring forms and relevant case records. Registration not required.

Contact: 651-275-7300 or washcolib.org/events.

conTRiBUTed

Story Stroll When: 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 5.

Where: Lake Elmo Park Reserve, 1515 Keats Ave. N. Details: Take a walk while reading “The Snowy Day”

by Ezra Jack Keats. Hot cocoa and pre-packaged s-mores available following stroll. All ages. Snow shoes and sleds welcome. Free.

Contact: co.washington.mn.us/parks.

atHletes of tHe montH

*Athletes chosen by press staff

Ethan Hebert

Owen Bouthile

Forest Lake Skiing

Stillwater W restling

Ethan Hebert is a returning all-stater on the Forest Lake Nordic Ski team that’s once again a top contender for state honors. Hebert placed 15th in the 2021 state meet to help the Rangers place second, and was one of the leaders when the Rangers were state champions in 2020. This year he has finished in the top three in each conference meet, and teamed with Jacob Kensy to win the sprint relay at the Loppet Invitational. “Ethan is a naturally good sprinter, and he puts in a lot of effort, too, training hard all year,” coach Ryan Wright said. “He comes from a skiing family where he’s the oldest sibling and they all ski.”

Owen Bouthilet is one of the leaders on the Stillwater wrestling team that’s ranked No. 2 in the state. Bouthilet has a 22-8 record with 10 falls, placed sixth in the huge multi-state Rumble on the Red tournament in Fargo, and is ranked No. 9 at 145 pounds in Class 3A by The Guillotine. He recently dropped to 138 pounds, where he’ll finish out the season. His career record is 43-21.

“Owen is one of the hardest working wrestlers in the room and leads by example,” said Matt Onken, Ponies assistant coach.

Delaney Nickles Forest Lake Gymnastics

Stillwater Basketball

Delaney Nickles is a third-year standout on the Forest Lake gymnastics team as a sophomore. She was a state qualifier on floor exercise last year and led the Rangers to state as a team. This season, prior to missing the last two weeks with illness, Nickles was second on the state honor roll with a 9.525 in balance beam while also ranked with a 9.225 on bars and a 9.40 on floor. “She has beautiful lines, so she's fun to watch,” coach Lindsey Pierron said. On beam, she does a standing layout-step-out that’s “incredibly difficult, and kind of a signature skill.” Her leap connection on beam is also unique, and her floor choreography is outstanding, Pierron said. “The whole gym stops when she does floor,” Pierron said, “because the music grabs your attention.”

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Lizzie Holder Lizzie Holder is averaging 16.8 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Stillwater basketball team, helping the Ponies post an 11-2 record with eight straight wins. The 6-foot2 forward is a threat from inside and outside, with 16 three-pointers on her ledger. As a junior, she averaged 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. Holder has committed to the University of Colorado. "She is tough and gritty, and has a tireless motor,” assessed JR Payne, Colorado coach. “She is a lights-out shooter and loves to defend, which will help her contribute to our success very early in her career." Holder is ranked No. 9 in Minnesota by jrallstar.com and No. 15 by Prep Hoops MN.

651-429-4531

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FeBRUARY 2022

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Details: Snowshoe along a luminary-lit trail, followed by bonfi re, live music, milled wine and charcuterie. $48/ person.

Contact: 651-280-7299 or scvwines.com.

BLUeGrASS JAM SeSSiOn When: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19.

Where: Marine Mills Folk School, 550 Pine St., Marine on St. Croix.

Details: Participants arrange themselves in a circle, choose a song from a common repertoire, sing, accompany each other, and play solos.

Free; $10/person, $20/family donation encouraged.

Contact: marinemillsfolkschool.org.

conTRiBUTed

Midwinter Family Fun When: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5.

Where: Belwin’s Education Center, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton.

Details: View the stars and moon with Minnesota Astronomical Society members, meet a raptor from Carpenter Nature Center, and enjoy guided night hikes and a campfi re with s’mores. Belwin’s Education Center will be open for hot chocolate and bathrooms only.

The Joseph J. Casby Observatory will be open (weather permitting) with limits to the number of people in the observatory at one time. $10 per car. Pay as you drive in. No RSVP required. Please note: No dogs allowed at this or any Belwin event. Masks required inside Belwin buildings.

Contact: belwin.org/event/midwinter-family-fun/.

COMeDy At tHe GrAnD When: 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 11.

Where: Grand Banquet Hall, 301 S. 2nd St., Stillwater.

Details: Off the Rails Entertainment starring Dan Mogol, Courtney Baka and Dan Hinninkamp as M.C. Dinner option available. Show only $25; dinner and show $52.

Contact: eventbrite.com/e/ the-st-croix-club-comedy-atthe-grand-february-tickets.

Winter tWiLiGHt HiKe When: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12. p.m.

Where: Belwin’s Education Center, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton.

Details: Witness the mystical time between day and night with a Twilight Hike at the Belwin Conservancy Education Center in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education. Led by Belwin Naturalist Lynette Anderson, you will begin with a short introduction indoors, then head out to experience this magical time of day. Dress in layers for the weather. Bring water and binoculars if you have them. Masks required inside Belwin buildings.

Contact: belwin.org/event/ winter-twilight-hike-with-lynette-anderson/.

Winter MArKet At tHe HiStOriC COUrtHOUSe When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.

Where: Historic Courthouse, 101 W. Pine St., Stillwater.

Details: Stillwater Farmer’s Market at the Couthouse the second Saturday of the month through April. Public tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. will note be held during the market.

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

CABin FeVer CrAFt AnD VenDOr SHOW When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.

Where: Oak Glen Golf Course, 1599 McKusick Rd., Stillwater.

Details: Artists, crafters and vendors with gifts of all kinds in a tropical-themed atmosphere. Free admission.

Contact: 715-557-1785 or facebook.com/holidaycraftevents.

VALentine’S DAy CArriAGe riDeS When: 4-7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 14.

Where: Pedestrian Plaza, 217 Main St. N., Stillwater.

Details: Free horse-drawn carriage rides and shopping and dining specials at downtown businesses.

Contact: discoverstillwater. com.

GUiDeD BirD HiKe When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.

Where: Pine Point Regional Park, 11900 Norell Ave. M., Stillwater.

Details: Learn to identify the birds that call the St. Croix Valley home and contribute to citizen science data collection by completing bird count surveys with the guide. Call to register. Free with parking permit.

Contact: 651-430-8370 or co.washington.mn.us/parks.

FAre FOr ALL When: 4-6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Where: Community Thread, 2300 Orleans St. W., Stillwater.

Details: Purchase food at a discount. Open to the public; drop-in and pick up food curbside.

Contact: fareforall.org.

Art FOr KiDS: BrittO HeArtS When: 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.

Where: Stillwater Public Library, 224 Third St. N. Details: Kids can make patterned heart multi-media artwork based on the bold, colorful work of Brazilian artist Romero Britto. Free; registration required.

Contact: stillwaterlibrary.org.

SnOWSHOe HiKe When: 1-3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12.

Where: William O’Brien State park, 16821 O’Brien Trail N., Marine on St. Croix.

Details: Participants ages 10 to adult can explore areas of the park unknown to most visitors with a naturalist.

Two miles on moderately steep terrain. Free with parking permit. RSVP. Contact: 651-539-4986 or Sean.

Hoppes@state.mn.us.

rOMAnCe BOOK CLUB When: 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Where: Virtual event.

Details: New book club for all things romance. All ages, genders, and reading interests welcome. Register for Zoom link.

Contact: stillwaterlibrary.org.

FULL MOOn HiKe Or SKi At Pine POint PArK When: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Where: Pine Point Regional Park, 11900 Norell Ave. M., Stillwater.

Details: Glide or hike across the snow on the serene landscape of Pine Point Regional Park under the light of the full moon. Meet at trailhead kiosk.

Equipment not provided.

Contact: 651-430-8370 or co.washington.mn.us/parks.

StArLiGHt SnOWSHOe At SAint CrOiX VineyArDS When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 and Saturday, Feb. 19.

Where: Saint Croix Vineyards, 6428 Manning Ave., Stillwater.

StiLLWAter FAt tire BiKe rALLy When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20.

Where: Browns Creek State Trail Trailhead, 401 Laurel St., Stillwater Stillwater.

Details: Participants and ride or race and 11-mile or 8.1 mile course. Register in advance; $25/adults; $15 youth ages 11 to 18.

Contact: bikereg.com/stillwater-fat-bike-rally.

COnSerVAnCy On iCe: Let’S GO iCe FiSHinG When and Where: 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21 at Big Carnelian Lake boat launch. Stillwater; 12:30-2:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21 at Lakeside Park, Bayport.

Details: Learn ice fishing basics with all necessities provided. Free; participants age 16 and up must have a fishing license. Registration required.

Contact: wildriverconservancy.org.

WAter COnSerVAtiOn: WHAt CAn i DO? When: 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Where: Stillwater Public Library, 224 Third St. N. Details: Learn about water conservation and what you can do to stay informed and protect our water resources in this talk with Barbara Heitkamp, a water resources educator from the Washington Conservation District.

Contact: stillwaterlibrary.org.

ZyAt VAriety SHOW When: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26.

Where: The Zephyr Theatre, 601 Main St. N., Stillwater.

Details: Enjoy a collection of songs, dances, skits and improvisation by youth performers. Free.

Contact: stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org. “tHe ADDAMS FAMiLy” When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 1 and 4 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m.

Sundays, Feb. 25-March 13 Where: The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust St., Hudson Details: Musical comedy performed by the Phipps’ Children’s Theatre. Tickets $15-$30.

Contact: 715-386-8409 or thephipps.org.

BriAn’S FrOZen BOCCe BALL tOUrnAMent When: 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 Where: Brian’s Restaurant, 219 S. Main St., Stillwater

7

Details: Annual tournament with teams of 4. Register at the restaurant.

Contact: 651-571-3132.

MAKe yOUr OWn SOAP When: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.

Where: Marine Mills Folk School, 550 Pine St., Marine on St. Croix.

Details: Learn to make all natural soap. Students will take home 4 bars and a silicone mold. Registration required; $45.

Contact: marinemillsfolkschool.org.

DAnCe PArty reUniOn When: 3 p.m.

Sunday, March 6.

Where: Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, Mahtomedi High School, 8000 75th St. N. Details: Wildwood Artist Series presents an interactive restaging of Buddy Holly’s 1959 Winter Dance Party, featuring music by Ritchie Valens, Dion & the Belmonts, and the Big Bopper. Tickets $25/adult; $20/seniors; $15/ students.

Contact: 651-605-1124 or wildwoodartistseries.com.

OnGOinG eVentS WinterFeSt When: Feb. 13-26.

Where: Downtown Stillwater.

Details: Winter games and events and deals at shops and restaurants. Boot Hockey Tournament, Corn Hole Tournament and more. See schedule of events online.

Contact: one23events.com. iCe PALACe MAZe When: 2-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; Noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through Feb. 20.

Where: Stillwater Zephyr Theatre, 601 N. Main St. Details: Ice maze with ½ mile of twisty passages, ice slide, ice bar, hot chocolate and s’mores. Tickets in advance online-children 12 and under $12; Adults 13+ $20, Under 4 free; tickets at gate $2 more.

Contact: 651-342-1542 or icepalacemaze.com.

WAter Street inn’S Winter riVer-SiDe iCe SKAtinG rinK When: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily through February.

Where: Water Street Inn, 101 Water St. S. Details: Free skating for all ages in downtown Stillwater. Bring your own skates.

Schedule subject to change.

Contact: 651-439-6000 or discoverstillwater.com. ePiC KArt rACinG On iCe When: 5-9 p.m. Fridays; 2-9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Feb. 26.

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

Details: Try gas-powered go karts on ice. Minimum age is 12.See website for tickets.

Contact: epickartracing.com.

WintertiMe LeD LiGHt SHOW When: 5-10 p.m. through Mar. 20.

Where: Downtown Stillwater, 1010 Main St. Details: Experience a winter wonderland of lights in downtown Stillwater on Chestnut St. from Main Street to the Historic Lift Bridge.

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FEBRUARY 2022

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District 5960 is part of the larger Rotary worldwide organization, which is made up of more than 46,000 clubs. Worldwide, Rotary has 1.4 million members.

Boeve's Rotary experience began in 1997. He led District 5960 efforts to procure and complete two district grant efforts in Kenya in support of a school for orphans and to bring water to a remote village in the northwest quadrant of the state of Pokot. While at Stillwater Sunrise Rotary, Boeve supported the continued success of a mentoring partnership with Stillwater Area High School called STRIVE – Students Taking a Renewed Interest in the Value of Education. Additionally, his leadership, even during COVID-19, helped the Volunteers for Education and School Literacy program.

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Snowmobile riders revving their engines across Minnesota

Lawrence offers the following tips to ensure a safe ride: • Stay on marked trails. Minnesota’s snowmobile clubs work hard to maintain good riding condition on

the state’s trails. Riders who stay on groomed trails are less likely to strike an obstacle or trespass onto private property. In some parts of the state, wet conditions where trails go through low areas or across lakes mean trails aren’t yet groomed. Riders should check trail conditions (mndnr.gov/snow_ depth) before heading out.

• Leave the booze at home. Riding under the influence is one of two main factors in crashes and plays a role in about 60 percent of those that are fatal.

• Watch the speed. Going too fast is the other main factor in crashes. Many serious and fatal crashes happen when a speeding snowmobiler loses control or strikes an object.

• Be careful on the ice. In recent years, nearly every through-theice fatality has involved people who were riding a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle when they fell through. There must be at least 5 to 7 inches of new, clear ice to support the weight of a snowmobile and rider.

• Take a snowmobile safety course. It’s required of anyone born after 1976 and recommended for everyone. People with snowmobile safety certification are less likely to be involved in serious or fatal crashes.

Additional safety tips can be found on the snowmobile safety tips page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/ snowmobiling/safety.html).

Purchase Chamber Bucks! $hop Local. $pend Local.

A gift certificate program to support our local businesses.

Redeemable to purchase merchandise, food, or service at any participating Member’s business.

Purchase in $5, $10, $20 and $100 denominations - No expiration date!

Find a list of participating businesses on the Chamber of Commerce website and on the certificate itself when you purchase Chamber Bucks.

ORDER at GreaterStillwaterChamber.com/Store OR CALL the Chamber office at (651) 439-4001

Press release from the Minnesota DNR

Bridging Business & Community

greaterstillwaterchamber.com | (651) 439-4001

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Snowmobile trail conditions vary throughout Minnesota but, in areas where there’s good snow, riders have been getting out with gusto.

Snowmobile tracks are common sights in road ditches, on trails and atop the ice. This year’s busy start to the riding season continues a surge in recent years of people riding snowmobiles to enjoy Minnesota’s outdoors.

Gov. Tim Walz has declared Jan. 15-23 to be Snowmobiling Safety Awareness Week, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers remind all riders to brush up on safety and prioritize safe rides. So far this year, two snowmobile riders have lost their lives and there have been multiple close calls, including several snowmobile riders who have fallen through the ice. During the past eight snowmobile seasons, more than seven riders, on average, have lost their lives each year.

“We’re continuing to see new people get into the sport of snowmobiling and discover the unique way riding the trails connects them with nature,” said Bruce Lawrence, DNR Enforcement Division recreational vehicle coordinator. “With more than 22,000 miles of snowmobile trails in Minnesota, opportunities abound. As long as riders make good decisions when they’re out riding, snowmobiling is something they can do the rest of their lives.”

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FEBRUARY 2022

LAKE ELMO AVENUE

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Stillwater Hwy. 36/Manning Ave. Detour

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The Highway 36/Manning Ave. Interchange Project is expected to continue for two years. Manning Ave. will be closed from Highway 36 to 62nd Street to EB Traffic and traffic will be detoured to Lake Elmo Ave., from the South and East of the intersection. Access is now available from WB 36 The detour will then take drivers North to 75th St. N. (CR 12), and then back East to Manning Ave. Access to several businesses will be affected. Traffic signal modifications on Highway 36 will take place, and a temporary road will be constructed for residents of the Sanctuary neighborhood to the South of the intersection.

Anyone driving from the White Bear Lake/Mahtomedi area or other points West of Lake Elmo Ave., can access Manning Ave. via CR 96, CR 12, or the detour on Lake Elmo Ave. For more information, go to: co.washington.mn.us/2662/TH-36-and-ManningAvenue-Interchange.

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Winter plunge After taking a year off because of the pandemic, the annual Winter Plunge on Forest Lake is coming back at noon Saturday, Feb. 19, at Lakeside Memorial Park in Forest Lake.

The Forest Lake Rotary Club puts on the event; any person, group or organization can form a team and take the plunge.

“It's a fundraiser that gives all nonprofits an opportunity to raise funds for their cause, and that's why we say, ‘Get cold for your cause,’” said Rotarian Melissa Niederkorn said.

Pledges can be made online by clicking the link on forestlakerotary. org or by going directly to secure. frontstream.com/rotary-winterplunge-2022. Donors have the ability to search by team or participant on the webpage. Participants also will have a personal fundraising page generated by the site that they can share via email and social media, according to Niederkorn.

“All pledges received will count towards the team’s fundraising goal,” Niederkorn said. “For example, the Forest Lake Good Samaritans have their team, ‘Frosted Flakes,’ already lined up, and folks can pledge to any team member that is jumping. Then they will have a team total of what they raise in donations.”

Niederkorn said anyone who does not want to dip into the frigid water can donate to any plunger. Money raised by each team is divided between the recipient nonprofit organization and the Rotary Club.

“Seventy percent of the money raised goes to the nonprofit organization, and 30% goes to the Rotary Club of Forest Lake,” Niederkorn said.

Rotary President Susan Young said costumes are encouraged for plunge jumpers. There will be a costume contest with prizes awarded for best individual costume and best team costume.

“We've had dads from dance clubs dressed up as ballerinas. We've had sharks, football players and all sorts of crazy stuff when it comes to costumes,” Young said.

The event will have food trucks there and, according to Young, there will also be youth snowmobile races taking place on Forest Lake that day.

According to Rotary Member Jesse Johnson, the Winter Plunge has approximately 200 to 600 plungers each year. He encourages people to bring their outdoor grills and tailgate at the event.

Johnson said people who want to experience the plunge and are not part of a nonprofit can still participate in the event. “If there's someone who has this on their bucket list or just want to jump, they can still register and join a team,” he said.

Rotarian Jim Gavin said his grandson came to the Winter Plunge one year and wanted to jump. “He ended up joining a Boy Scout team and had the best time. The team kind of adopted him that day,” he said.

is back for an icy splash splash

Don't forget to plug your nose before you take the plunge and the water's not that cold.

These two plungers represent the Forest Lake YMCA in a previous Winter Plunge in Forest Lake.

“This is a really unique fundraiser for nonprofits. It is an easy fundraiser for a nonprofit. You don't have to deliver the pizzas, you don't have to deliver the cookies and you don't have to deliver the cakes,” Young said. “It's a call to your grandparents, aunts, uncles, family and friends to sponsor you. LATV (Lakes Area TV) is livestreaming the event, so all of your sponsors can see you jump all the way

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Registration and check-in for the Winter Plunge will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 19, at Park Place By the Lake, Suite #130, 25 North Lake Street, in Forest Lake.

Rotarian Karen Morehead has been jumping in the Winter Plunge for many years.

“I'm here to prove that whatever your age, you can do it.” Morehead said.

“It's just a lot of fun, and I love it. It's invigorating, and it's for a good cause.”

For updates and more information about the Winter Plunge, go to forestlakerotary.org or to Facebook @ FLRotary.

Staff Writer Noelle Olson can be reached by emailing lowdownnews@ presspubs.com or calling 651-407-1229.

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FEBRUARY 2022

Get to know your local squirrels

BY CORINNE STREMMEL STAFF WRITER

When you look out in your backyard and spot the unmistakable bushy tail darting across the lawn, you may not realize it, but you’re getting a look at an important member of Minnesota’s ecology. Squirrels’ friendly dispositions offer more than just a chuckle for us backyard observers: watching squirrels is a helpful way to learn about our environment and instill an appreciation for nature.

As Scott Noland of the Minnesota DNR explained, “They’re kind of a gateway species into the environmental world that people get to see pretty frequently.”

Gray, red, fox, ground and two species of flying squirrels can be found yearround throughout the state.

While gray squirrels are probably the ones you’ve seen digging up lawns and misappropriating birdseed, here’s a short guide to spotting each of the six different species found in Minnesota.

The Eastern gray squirrel is the most common squirrel seen in the northeast metro.

They’re known for their bushy tails, which are about 8 to 10 inches in length, or roughly the same length

as their bodies. The gray squirrel can be spotted in hardwood forests, wooded parks and residential areas.

Gray squirrels are some of the few animals that thrive in areas where houses break up natural woodlands.

The flying squirrel is more elusive than the other species.

This nocturnal squirrel can “fly,” thanks to a fold of skin spanning from its front to hind feet. When their legs are outstretched, their skin turns into a planing surface that allows them to take “flight” as far as 50 feet. There are two species of flying squirrel in Minnesota: the Southern flying squirrel and the Northern flying squirrel.

They can be spotted by their brown bug-eyes, olive-brown backs and white bellies, and their silky soft fur.

“We do get some calls about them in the northeast metro.

People will call in and say they saw a flying squirrel, which is really cool. Some people might see them if they’re doing tree removal or they’re just seeing them during their dawn and dusk hours,” said Noland.

The fox squirrel isn’t as common as the gray squirrel, but they make themselves known by their large size.

Fox squirrels can weigh up to 3 pounds and range from 20 to 24 inches in length. Their

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White Squirrel.

tails measure about 10 inches in length. Fox squirrels can be found in the northeast metro, but they’re most common in the western part of the state.

The red squirrel — otherwise known as the pine squirrel — is Minnesota’s noisiest species of squirrel. These squirrels have a tendency to chatter while humans are nearby.

They have a rust-red back and tail and a white belly.

The name “pine squirrel” comes from their habitat of coniferous woods throughout the nation’s snowbelt and into the mountainous regions of Canada.

The 13-lined ground squirrel is commonly known as the Minnesota gopher.

These ground squirrels can be spotted skittering across the state’s grasslands and have taken over agricultural lands as well. The eponymous squirrel has exactly 13 stripes on its back and has golden fur, just like its famous namesake, the University of Minnesota’s mascot, Goldy Gopher.

These six species have a number of ways to make it through the harsh Minnesota winter.

To preserve energy, they limit their time of activity in the winter. They don’t hibernate like other animals, but they tend to stay within the confines of their nest when the temperatures drop.

“During the really cold times, they’ll stay up in their nest with other squirrels so they have additional body heat,” Noland said. Like humans, squirrels will shiver when they're cold. Their layer of thick fur also helps them stay warm in extremely low temperatures.

In autumn, squirrels begin building up their fat reserves and collecting and storing their food for the winter in tree cavities. Noland explains that to humans, it might feel like squirrels don’t have enough food to survive the winter.

“We tell folks there is plenty of food for them in the natural environment for these critters to live here.

That's how they’ve been able to survive.”

Backyard feeding has led to an abundance of squirrels in the metro, but Noland recommends keeping wildlife wild. However, if you do have the urge to feed your backyard residents, it is best to research your city’s ordinances before feeding.

Squirrels remain prolific in the northeast metro and, unlike other wildlife in Minnesota, there haven’t been any disease-related incidences in the squirrel population. Since squirrels thrive in urban and suburban environments, there are plenty of opportunities for humans to learn more about their fellow Minnesota residents.

“It’s a way that people are learning about them and instilling a kind of value and land ethic and concern, plus an interest in wildlife too,” Noland noted. “And of course, they’re pretty fun and comical too.”

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

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r adon in homes is a common and preventable cancer risk aware of it, and this puts them at increased risk for lung cancer,” said Dan Tranter, supervisor of the MDH Indoor Air Program. “We’ve heard a lot of common misunderstandings that discourage people from testing their home for radon.”

For example, many people think their home does not need to be tested, or that if they test once they don’t need to test again, or if their neighbor’s radon level is low, they don’t need to test.

Testing should be conducted in all homes, regardless of foundation type, soil type, age, presence of an air exchanger or insulation, Tranter said. Even if the initial test shows the radon level is low, it’s a good idea to retest at least every five years because levels may change. Homes with mitigation systems should also be retested. The monitors on mitigation systems do not show the radon level, so it’s important to retest at least every two years. New homes are built with radon-resistant features, but they can still have elevated radon and should be tested.

MDH is partnering with local public health departments and other organizations to make test kits available to all Minnesotans at low or no cost. Participating agencies and

vendors can be found at health.state. mn.us/communities/environment/ air/radon/radontestresults.html.

Hardware stores may also stock test kits. Licensed professionals can also conduct testing.

To help residents get a more accurate picture of radon levels in Minnesota, MDH developed a series of maps showing information about radon in Minnesota, available at mndatamaps.web.health.state. mn.us/interactive/radon.html. Some of the key findings were: • The average radon level in Minnesota homes is about 4.5 pCi/L compared to 1.3 pCi/L nationwide.

• Only about 1% to 2% of homes in Minnesota are tested annually; health officials recommend that at least 20% be tested annually.

• Testing and mitigation are less frequent in communities with lower incomes and more renters.

Health professionals recommend testing for radon during real estate transactions. Sellers must disclose any prior radon testing and provide a two-page publication to buyers under state law. Radon tests should be incorporated into a home inspection.

Tests should be done in the lowest level of the home that is frequently

Limitless Cycling receives grant to enhance community well-being

ConTRiBUTEd

a Van raam Chat ricksaw bicycle.

STILLWATER — The recipient of this year's Stillwater Area Community Foundation’s (SACF) $15,000 fall grant is River Valley Trails for Limitless Cycling. Early this summer, Limitless Cycling will implement a unique model of sharing adaptive bicycles within area communities. Its free service will be available to area senior living facility residents and nonprofit organizations serving veteran and disabled communities.

The Stillwater area offers an array of bike-friendly trails.

Despite this, trail-related opportunities are often out of reach for seniors, disabled

veterans and other less physically abled individuals.

Limitless Cycling will utilize the SACF grant dollars for phase one of its project — the purchase of a Van Raam Chat rickshaw bicycle. Trained volunteers will “pilot” the bicycle to provide a social outdoor experience for one to two riders. Its reach will be broadened over the next year with the addition of an enclosed trailer and two more bicycles — a two-person side-by-side and a ride specifically designed for a wheelchair user.

From press release

occupied. Test devices are usually placed in the home for two to five days. The best time to test is during the heating season, but testing can be done year-round.

In homes with high radon levels, radon reduction typically involves installing a venting pipe and fan to pull the gas from under the home to the outside. Professionals conducting radon mitigation must be licensed

by MDH, follow standards and affi x an MDH tag to the system. A list of licensed radon mitigation professionals can be found on the MDH website: health.state.mn.us/ communities/environment/air/ radon/mitigation.html MDH conducts free inspections of radon mitigation systems installed after June 1, 2020. The inspections ensure systems were installed correctly, to make sure they meet minimum requirements. Contact the MDH Indoor Air Unit to request an inspection at health.indoorair@state. mn.us.

More information about radon in Minnesota is available on the MDH website at Radon in Homes or by calling the MDH Indoor Air Unit at 651-201-4601 or 1-800-798-9050.

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723900

Of all the unwelcome house guests you may ever host, few are as nasty as radon.

The colorless, odorless gas occurs naturally in Minnesota soils and is found at elevated levels in nearly 40 percent of all homes in the state.

It also is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Each year, radon kills more than 21,000 people across the country. While there are cheap and easy ways to test for radon, many people are unaware of the risks and may not be getting the help they need to be safe.

The radon risk is largely preventable through testing homes and eliminating radon problems through improved ventilation and other measures. With more people working from home, it’s more important than ever to test homes for radon, because testing is the only way to know if a home has radon levels at or above the level that presents a health risk.

During January, Radon Action Month, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is making a special push to urge everyone to test their home for radon.

“Unfortunately, many people are still exposed to high levels of radioactive radon without being

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14 The lowdown

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Obituaries

George K. Brushaber

President Emeritus Bethel University Long-time North Oaks resident George K. Brushaber, who led Bethel University from 1982 to 2008, has died at the age of 82.

As Bethel’s fourth president, Brushaber was best known for his visionary leadership and firm grasp of Christian liberal arts.

He successfully steered the institution through economic and enrollment challenges, tripling the student body and adding 19 new buildings to the campus—one for every 18 months of his tenure.

A nationally recognized and respected evangelical leader, Brushaber recruited top-tier faculty and increased the number of academic offerings from 57 to 141. He oversaw the addition of adult degree completion programs, graduate programs, and the country’s first online seminary degree programs, eventually presiding over Bethel College & Seminary’s transition to a university in 2004. Under Brushaber’s leadership, Bethel grew in academic visibility and reputation from a regional to a national school of choice for Christian students.

“George Brushaber was highly conversant in many fields—science, history, literature, journalism, philosophy, theology, sports, music, and architecture,” says Dwaine Lind, former executive assistant to the president. “This gave him great credibility as he personally interviewed every full-time faculty candidate and encouraged unprecedented curricular and program development and growth.”

Brushaber also provided critical fundraising leadership in support of both capital and operating goals. Under his direction, the operating budget increased from $17 million to $90 million, the annual fund increased from $3.5 to $10 million, and a $105 million comprehensive campaign was completed.

“George Brushaber’s contributions to Bethel are legendary, but among the most significant was his unwavering commitment to the mission and the preservation of Bethel’s core values,” says Bethel trustee board chair, Collin Barr. “He worked tirelessly to ensure that Bethel’s biblical values were operative and that the impact of the university’s graduates would be felt worldwide.”

Brushaber thrived on literary work throughout his presidency, serving in various editorial roles with Christianity Today and Christian University Press and as founding editor and chair of trustees for Christian Scholar’s Review. His work in Christian publishing and active participation in many other national organizations—such as the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities and National Association of Evangelicals—proved highly valuable to him as president. In addition to enhancing Bethel’s reputation, he gained a national voice that put him in regular contact with other Christian leaders worldwide. These important connections allowed him to recruit many influential leaders to seek election to Bethel’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors for the Bethel Foundation, building a quality governance team from across many professions nationwide.

Brushaber was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Wheaton College, where he received both his B.A. and M.A. in philosophy and theology. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon Divinity School and a Ph.D. in epistemology and metaphysics from Boston University. He served on the faculty at Gordon College, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and he was vice president and academic dean at Westmont College before completing the rest of his career at Bethel.

He is survived by Darleen (Dugar) Brushaber, his high school sweetheart and wife of 59 years; daughter Deanna (Tod Dalberg); son Donald (Amy Larson); and grandchildren Brittan, Taite, and Dane Dalberg as well as Kaia and Kettly Brushaber.

Memorial Service 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022 at Benson Great Hall, Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, Arden Hills, Minnesota. Visitation and Reception following Service. Memorials preferred to the Brushaber Scholarship at Bethel University or Eaglebrook Church.

FEBRUARY 2022

Masons accepting fundraising applications Forest Lake Masons are now accepting applications from charitable organizations to participate in one of the six community support fundraising events planned for 2022. The Masons have had a long history of fundraising for cancer research, youth and families in need locally.

The organization has been very successful with its current model of tying these charitable fundraising events with the Lodge

pancake breakfasts and other events.

Historically, donations have been in the $1,000 to $6,000 range per event. Charitable organizations do not need to be located in Forest Lake, but should at least be in the surrounding area.

Applications can be accessed from the website home page at forestlakemasons.com.

All applications must be received by March 1.

From press release

Political brief DLF Representative will not seek reelection in 2022 Rep. Shelly Christensen (DFL-Stillwater) announced that she will not seek reelection this November. Since 2019, Christensen has represented District 39B. She is currently the vice chair of Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee. While in the Legislature, Christensen focused on issues like education, small businesses and the environment. She also authored the bill to establish the Energy Transition Legacy Office.

In a statement Christensen said, “I am forever grateful to my community members who put their trust in me, and my fellow legislators.

Together we have made real progress. I look forward to serving at the House throughout this year and will continue to advocate for civility and bipartisan teamwork in my policy-making.”

Christensen’s term officially expires January 2023.

Many family activities are just outside

By A be Winter Contri buting Rep or t er

If you’ve lived in this area all your life or for just one winter, you know there are many outdoor activities once the snow arrives.

Most of our cities have a lot of parks, skating/hockey rinks, skiing areas and more, much more.

Take a look at Hugo, where its parks offer a half-dozen outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, skateboarding, ice skating and hiking on miles of nature trails.

The cross-country skiing is on groomed trails at Irish Avenue Park.

Access and parking are available off Irish Avenue.

Snowmobilers have miles of trails maintained by the Hugo Snowmobile Club that connect to regional trails.

The club is part of the Washington County Star Trail Association.

Additional information on the trails in the area can be found on the DNR website at dnr.state. mn.us/snowmobiling/index.html or the Washington County Star Trail Association website at startrail.org/.

Hugo has two special passive parks with unpaved trails that provide great opportunities to connect with nature.

Clearwater Creek Preserve offers a 1/2-mile creekside trail. Parking is available on Fable Hill Circle North.

The trail surface is made of wood chips and can be uneven or muddy, depending on the season. Irish Avenue Park is located at 14420 Irish Avenue N. There are several miles of looped trails throughout the property.

The city’s most popular area for sledding is at Oak Shore Park, which is located at 12790 Exhall Avenue North. It’s southwest of Highway 61 and 130th Street, and

includes a small playground at the top of the hill.

Skateboarding enthusiasts will have to wait until next winter for their enjoyment at Lions Park, which will offer quarter pipes, grind rails, concrete ramp features and a center pyramid. The park is under construction and won’t be completed until this summer. “We’re going to have a beautiful park there,” said Shayla Denaway, the city’s parks planner.

For outdoor skating, a rink is located at Hugo Elementary School, located at 14895 Francesca Ave. North.

Denaway said special events such as a sledding party and a cross-country meetup are being considered.

The city of Shoreview has seven outdoor skating rinks with supervised warming house facilities.

All of the locations below have lighted hockey or general skating rinks. (Did you know it takes 7-10 consecutive days with below-freezing temperatures to produce a safe ice surface?) And if it gets too cold — like last Friday, the rinks are closed.

The sites: • Bobby Theisen Park, 3575 Vivian Street • Bucher Park, 5900 Mackubin Street • McCullough Park, 915 County Road I (Snowshoeing is offered for $5 cash; snowshoes can be reserved and paid for at the site) • Shamrock Park, 5623 Snelling Avenue • Shoreview Commons, 4580 Victoria Street N (Open skating only, no hockey) • Sitzer Park, 4344 Hodgson Road • Wilson Park, 815 County Road F • Ramsey County Parks & Recreation offers marked and

Paul Dols | Press Publications

A grouup of Cross Country N ature Skiers at T amarack N ature Center.

groomed cross-country ski trails at county parks. All trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Trail maps and grooming patterns for each park are available. Call 651-748-2500 or visit ramseycounty. us/ for more information.

Despite working through some inclement weather and COVID restrictions, Shoreview is going full throttle.

“We’re still running everything as usual,” said Becky Sola, Shoreview’s recreation program manager.

Sola said more information on all activities can be obtained by calling 651-490-4750.

Lino Lakes canceled its fall and winter activities last August, but its residents can participate nearby.

Its recreation programs and use of warming houses actually were halted in late 2020.

White Bear Lakes has 24 parks that are closed for the season. Outdoor enthusiasts are enjoying them at their own risk, as there are no groomed trails. Skating rinks are open at four parks — Podvin, Spruce, Jack Yost and Ramaley.

So, whether you live in White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Hugo, Lino Lakes, Centerville, Lexington, Lino Lakes, Shoreview or Forest Lake, you’re not far from these winter outdoor activities.

And, of course, this is a state with more than 10,000 lakes, which means lots of ice fishing. You’ve probably seen several fishing houses on local lakes. More are likely to come.

Contributing Writer Abe Winter can be reached by emailing news@ presspubs.com or calling 651-407-1200.

PHONE: 651-407-1250 | EMAIL: classified@presspubs.com

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

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Notices

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FRIDAY NOON 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com (Earlier deadlines for Holidays) Aerator Sunset Lake.

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EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is 120,000 Readers subject to the Fair Housing Act which When you place makes it illegal to ad- PERMITTING AND vertise “any prefer- INSTALLATION MANence, limitation or dis- AGER Grow with the crimination based on leading inclined elevator manufacturer. race, color, religion, www.presspubs.com Manage permitting sex, handicap, familial status, or national ori- and installations. FullWe are looking for a new team member to time. Some travel in gin, or an intention, to join our sales team!

Press Publications is looking for a positive energy Minnesota and Wismake any such prefersales representative that can be creative and help ence, limitation or dis- consin. MN or WI limour community business grow through our print & crimination.” Familial ited master construcdigital products. status includes chil- tor license or greater If you are looking to be a part of something big dren under the age of required. Marine Innoin the community call or email: Marketing@ Want to Buy 18 living with parents vations 888/334-4666, presspubs.com - 651-407-1213 info@marineinnovaor legal custodians; WANTED: ALL 1970S tions.com pregnant women and MOTORCYCLES people securing cusRunning or not. Titled tody of children under or not. Cash in ex18. This newspaper change. Sell now will not knowingly acwhile prices are high! cept any advertising Call Dan at 612/720for real estate which is 2142 in violation of the law.

We Buy Vinyl Records Our readers are hereLps, 45s, Stereo Equip by informed that all We make house calls dwellings advertised by appointment. in this newspaper are ROUTES AVAILABLE FOR WHITE BEAR PRESS: White Bear Lake available on an equal Records Rt 116 - N of Cedar – E of Rt 124 – N of Birch to E of opportunity basis. To 4775 Banning Ave,WBL wblrecords.com complain of discrimiBellaire Hazel 651-224-4947 nation call HUD toll Rt 118 – S of Martin Way – E Rt 125 – N of Cedar to W of free: 1-800-669-9777.

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18 The lowdown

www.presspubs.com

FEBRUARY 2022

S tillwater author’s memoir shares the ups and downs of the rare book industry

Press Publications sat down with author Gary Goodman to talk about his memoir, “The Last Bookseller: A Life in the Rare Book Trade,” which describes his life as a rare bookseller.

It is wrought with humor and replete with complicated histories and, occasionally, crime. The author captures important moments in Stillwater’s history as it rose to the ranks of being America’s first “book town.”

Q. Tell us a little about yourself.

A. I grew up in North Dakota — Napoleon, North Dakota. I’d be shocked if you’ve ever heard of it, but it’s about 75 miles east of Bismarck.

But we’ve lived here in Stillwater for 31 years.

Q. And the book is set in Stillwater?

A. Yes, it’s set in Stillwater. I had originally bought a bookstore in St. Paul, and then in 1990, I moved to Stillwater and started St. Croix Antiquarian Booksellers, which was right on Main Street. And then I owned that store on Main Street for nearly 30 years.

Q. Is this the first book you’ve written?

A. I’ve written a couple of other ones, but this one is probably the most traditional one because it’s published by the University of Minnesota, so I’d say, technically, this is my first book.

Q. Can you provide a brief overview of the book?

A. It’s the story of my career as a used and rare bookseller, but it’s told with the backdrop of the coming of the internet and how the internet changed the second-hand book

business. I use the terms used — rare and second-hand — interchangeably, but that area of bookselling is a kind of a separate way of selling books than, say, a new book. But the book itself is about my bookselling career and how I started in 1982 with a bookstore on Arcade Street in East St. Paul. I bought kind of a rundown bookstore there, and then I learned the ins and outs of running the store.

Then I moved to Stillwater in 1990, and that’s when I started St. Croix Antiquarian Booksellers. Then, in 1993, we started the Stillwater Book Center, and that became so popular and caused so many other booksellers and book buyers to come to town that Richard Booth, who was the founder of the book town movement in Europe and Wales, declared Stillwater the first book town in North America. That was all around 1995, and it was a huge deal because Stillwater was known as kind of an antique destination for antique hunters, and it generated a lot of publicity. It was covered in all the papers like the Star Tribune and even the Washington Post, and the New York Times mentioned that Stillwater was a book town.

Q. How did you start your personal interest in rare books?

A. Yeah, that’s kind of the funny story I start the book out with. I was working as a psychiatric counselor in a hospital unit that treated violent and mentally ill adolescents, and one day when we were living in St. Paul, my wife came home and told me there was a small used bookstore a few blocks away from us that was going out of business. And she said I should go check it out. The store

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had the usual book club books, but I saw a lot of older books that, to me, looked valuable. I thought, “Boy, these must be worth some money.” I got talking to the store owner, whose name was Frank, and I asked why he was closing the store. He said he had a heart condition and could no longer come to work to buy and sell books. We got to talking, and I asked him how much he’d sell the store for instead of closing it. He originally said $25,000. He had about 4,000 books in the store, and he eventually offered it to me for $2,000. And mind you, I had a couple of kids and was barely scraping by as it was. He was desperate to sell it, and I was dumb enough to take it. So, I really made a total mistake, because later I found out that all the books he had collected were the leftovers from estate sales and garage sales. They were the books no one wanted. It was quite the journey going from that to opening the store in Stillwater.

Q. What audience would you say the book is geared toward?

A. Well, I would say anyone interested in books, but also anyone interested in an entrepreneurial story. I wouldn’t quite call it rags to riches, but I started out with a horrible bookstore with a horrible bunch of books, and then I eventually figured out the business.

Q. What do you want your readers to take away from your book?

A. I think that it’s a realistic picture of what the book business was before the internet, for one thing, and it’s also kind of a historical record. It also

N G

G ary G oodman

Contributed

shows the importance of Stillwater to the whole story, because Stillwater was known as a book town then, and anyone who had any sort of interest in books and all that kind of thing, knew about Stillwater. At one point we probably had 35 dealers in town and almost half a million books within a four-block radius of downtown.

It really had a lot of attention for several years, and then there was the transition with the internet, and people have forgotten that. So, one thing I want to do is make sure they don't forget.

Compiled by Corinne Stremmel

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FEBRUARY 2022 www.presspubs.com

The lowdown

19

Contributed

Contributed

World Sculpting Championship

Contributed

Twelve teams from around the globe competed in the inaugural World S now S culpting Championships in S tillwater. Team Jetset from Canada took first place; Team Pichincha from E cuador took second place; Team S now Cowboys from Minnesota took third place and the People’s Choice went to Team S culptora Borealis from Wisconsin. Pictured below in the middle is the breathing “R epo Man” by House of Thune of S t. Paul and yes, you can see his breath. The G reater S tillwater Chamber of Commerce said the event was a huge success and stated, “It was an absolutely fantastic weekend in S tillwater - we are still in A WE !”

Contributed

Paul Dols | Press Publications

Paul Dols | Press Publications

Local Y MCA s offer free meal bags Free meal bags are now available at the main entrance of local YMCAs. The YMCA of the North and Every Meal are teaming up to provide food assistance to families in need during the winter and ongoing pandemic. Each bag contains

four to 5 pounds of nutritious nonperishable food items.

There are no qualification requirements to receive the meals and no contact information will be collected.

All meal bags are free.

Families can pick up meal bags during the YMCA’s

open hours Monday through Friday at the following locations: Forest Lake YMCA 19845 Forest Rd N Forest Lake, MN 55025

Maplewood Community Center YMCA 2100 White Bear Avenue Maplewood, MN 55109 Shoreview YMCA 3760 Lexington Avenue North Shoreview, MN 55126

White Bear Area YMCA 2100 Orchard Lane White Bear Lake, MN 55110 From press release

Who put the “groundhog” in Groundhog Day? Plucking a sleeping rodent from its burrow and asking it to play meteorologist for the day may be America’s oddest holiday. It might not surprise you that the history behind the tradition is just about as weird as the holiday itself.

German settlers were the folks who brought Groundhog Day as we know it to the United States. It wasn’t uncommon in Germanic Europe to use animals as a way to predict the weather. “Dachstag” or “Badger Day” is also known as Candlemas, an ancient Christian tradition on Feb. 2, just 40 days after Christmas, where clergy would bless the candles that were needed for winter. It was believed that if Candlemas was a sunny day, there would only be 40 more days of winter.

This is where animal meteorology comes in. It was believed if a badger saw its shadow, there would be four more weeks of winter, just like our modern Groundhog Day. Many different animals would

be volunteered for the tradition.

Badgers, foxes and even bears were among the animals used to predict the weather, but the hedgehog was very common according to German lore since hedgehogs were prevalent in Germany.

So why the groundhog that we know (and love) today? When German settlers came to Pennsylvania they brought their traditions with them, but not their hedgehogs. Since hedgehogs aren’t native to North America, they selected an abundant rodent, the groundhog.

It’s possible the earlier German settlers were on to something.

According to NOAA, Punxsutawney Phil has been right about the weather about 50 percent of the time. This Feb. 2, maybe consider turning down the Weather Channel and tuning in to weatherman, Punxsutawney Phil, for your latest forecast.

Corinne Stremmel

Contributed

20 ThE lowdown

FEBRUARY 2022

www.presspubs.com

Stillwater history buff and author shares inspiration behind his new book “Secrets of the Louvre”

ConTRiBUTEd

“Secrets of the Louvre” is Bernard Rappa’s own special blend of fiction and nonfiction. The self-proclaimed history buff has a special fascination with World War II and a strong appreciation for art, culminating in his fi rst novel about the stolen art business during the war. Rappa’s imagination runs wild as he envisions the mystery of how precious art was stolen and occasionally recovered by the heroes of his tale.

Q. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

A. I grew up in Rockford, Illinois, in a pretty tough neighborhood, but I had a pretty strong background. I grew

Q. Can you give us a brief overview of your book “Secrets of the Louvre?”

A. The story started in my mind over the years and I’ve personally been to the Louvre several times. I’m also somewhat of a historian of WWII. I took great interest in it because I remember exactly where I was when the war ended. I was just 7 years old.

I became very interested in what happened to all of these pilfered, stolen goods from the Jewish people and also from different museums the Nazis raided. If you can believe it, the Nazis took 40 to 42 trainloads of treasures from people’s private collections and museums back to Berlin to be in a museum that Hitler wanted to start on his own. So my book focuses on that stolen art.

Q. Who are some of the characters in the book?

A. There’s Hans Müller, who is Jewish. He’s a master art repairer who essentially becomes indentured to Hermann Göring, who was a real person, to take care of all of this stolen art and repair it. In return, Göring would help Müller and his family get out of Germany. The book is fiction but there are some real people in it, and, I mean, all of this stuff is possible. It could’ve happened, but the main character is fictional.

I’ve also got another character from Austin, Minnesota, who is fictional too. He has this whole story about

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how he gets into a car crash and loses his memory while he’s over in France.

Q.What made you decide to write this novel?

A. Well, it was on my list of things to do when I retired. I wrote a book in my late 40s, but that was never published. But this one is my fi rst published book, and I’m already working on the sequel. When I started traveling going to different countries, I visited some of those WWII sites like the Holocaust museum, and it’s very emotional to go to something like that. We visited places like Normandy Beach, and I got to thinking of all the veterans that died there. You know I

have some personal motivation, too, because I served, but I was never in a war like that.

Q. Who might be interested in a book like this?

A. People who are interested in the stolen art business or the CIA or mysteries like that. I think nurses might be interested in it, because of the nurses that helped heal soldiers in the war. But anyone who is interested in the history of WWII would find the book interesting.

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

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