The Lowdown by Press Publications

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Lowdown

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June 2021 Vol. 09 No. 06 readthelowdown.com | $1

Dogs leave

rints p ponaw our hearts | 10

ROAD CONSTRUCTION

STUDIES & SPORTS

ART SHOW

HWY 36/MANNING AVE. DETOUR | 3

STILLWATER TEAM WINS NASA AWARD | 6

MINNESOTA PAINTER’S LOVE OF ART | 12

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KRISTINA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN | SUBMITTED

About the cover 4 | Lyme Disease:

9 | Bear sightings:

Local support group urges prevention

Living with bears in Minnesota

8 | Boating:

11 | Protecting your pet:

Ettiquette and safety guidelines

From internal and external parasites

What would you name your boat if you had one?

NOELLE OLSON | Staff Writer

SHANNON GRANHOLM | Lead Editor

lowdownnews@presspubs.com ‘Reel Therapy.’

quadnews@presspubs.com ‘Aquaholic.’

RANDY ROBERTS |

PAUL DOLS |

Multimedia Consultant

lowdown@presspubs.com ‘Roberts Rules the Sea.’

KENNEDY TRANSMISSION BRAKE & AUTO SERVICE Transmission Experts & Total Car Care

Publisher

Carter Johnson

Marketing Director Patty Steele

Photojournalist/Website Editor photos@presspubs.com The inflatable kayak I’ve had for several years is called ‘The Gleek.’

BEAT THE HEAT! CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY AND BE READY FOR SUMMER! Lead Editor

Shannon Granholm

Staff Writer

Noelle Olson

4 Wheel $25 2-Wheel $50 Brake Brake OFF Service OFF Service Road Test, Inspect Brake System, Replace Pads or Shoes. *Additional parts/services are often needed at an extra cost. We provide an estimate for you before any work is done.

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Photographer/ Photo Editor

Contributors

Design Manager

Randy Roberts Debra Neutkens

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CONTRIBUTORS |

Kristina Lynn Photography & Design captures that puppy face, wrinkley skin and inquisitive head tilt or the wisdom and peace in your older dog’s aging eyes before those stages and moments are gone. See more photos on page 10.

Paul Dols

Lead Designer

Adam Henschell

Zac Hoppe

News 651-407-1229 | Advertising 651-407-1200 | Circulation 651-407-1234 | Classified 651-407-1250 | Production 651-407-1239

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MANNING AVENUE

Stillwater Hwy. 36/Manning Ave. Detour

LAKE ELMO AVENUE

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 and traffic will be detoured to Lake Elmo Ave., from the South and East of the intersection. 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-Manning-Avenue-Interchange.

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Forest Lake

Collection Day Saturday, June 5 & 12 · 8 am – 2 pm

The very popular Food Truck Extravaganza

Bring unwanted household hazardous materials and electronics to the collection day event. Accepted materials include: automotive, household, yard & garden, and home improvement.

community event takes another bite out of Stillwater when it returns on Saturday,

Location

June 19th, 2021; 11 am until 8 pm

Forest Lake Transit Center 19987 Fitzgerald Tr. N. dN Forest Lake, MN st R Fore YMCA 55025

SO MUCH MORE THAN FOOD, COME FOR THE FUN!

Headwaters Service Center

Family friendly, outdoor entertaining event includes: > 35 food trucks

> Beer and Wine Tent Headwaters Pkwy

> Marketplace of Local Products & Services > Live Music, Entertainment & Kid's Activities

All items listed will be accepted from residents of Washington, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, and Ramsey counties only.

Entry Fee: $3 per person; under 5 FREE; $5 at the door

Proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, is required. More info: www.co.washington.mn.us (Click on Environmental Center) | 651-275-7475

Call 651/439-4001

701992

PRE-REGISTER for Entry Tickets: www.greaterstillwaterchamber.com; 698849

702627

651-342-1472

COURTESY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY

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Those with experience issue warning: Be Lyme aware BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER

Summer is nearly here, but it also brings that nemesis of the great outdoors: the blacklegged tick that causes Lyme disease. Talk to people who attend a local Lyme support group, and it becomes obvious the disease is endemic here, despite myriad efforts to preach prevention. Preventing a tick bite remains the primary goal of the Minnesota Lyme Association (MLA), a 15-year-old advocacy group that holds monthly support meetings at the White Bear School District Center (or did, pre-COVID), in addition to hosting speakers with expertise on researching, diagnosing and treating tick-borne diseases. Founded by Anne Myre of Scandia in 2006, MLA helps those afflicted by Lyme or tick-borne disease lead a healthy, vibrant life. She started the support group out of desperation as she was suffering from chronic fatigue and joint pain that was traced to a tick bite. "When I began this journey, I wanted other people with chronic Lyme to know they weren't alone. When I was fi rst treated 16 years ago, I had to go to Colorado to get treatment. We've come a long way in understanding the disease, but it baffles me to this day that more doctors don't pay attention to the issue." Lyme is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged, or deer, tick. According to the Department of Health, Minnesota is one of 14 states that has the majority of Lyme disease cases. In 2017 (current data isn't available), the rate was 25.2 cases per 100,000 people compared to the national rate of 9.1 cases per 100,000 people. Myre's goal with the nonprofit she started is prevention, prevention, prevention. "Be aware that ticks are out, and there are ways to prevent a bite," she emphasized. "It's very important to never get the disease in the fi rst place." An early attendee of Myre's support group, Brenda Peltier, knows from experience. About a year after noticing what she thought was a heat rash, she was clinically diagnosed by an infectious disease doctor in Duluth. It was 2007. "By then, I was really sick," said the Hugo resident. The rash went away, but Peltier was left with "crushing" fatigue and joint pain. She ignored it. Then her eyelid drooped; in April 2008 she was bitten again. Ten days later, the bullseye rash appeared. Her family physician dismissed the rash and prescribed an anti-fungal cream. Two weeks later, she attended a MLA meeting, back when they met in a Forest Lake

7 TIPS FOR LYME DISEASE PREVENTION 1. Reduce tick habitat where you live, work and play. On your property, remove fallen leaves, cut the grass short and keep woodpiles neat to reduce tick numbers. 2. Landscape to discourage ticks from hanging around your yard. A tick management handbook describes steps at mnlyme.org. 3. Use sprays containing permethrin on your clothing, footwear, camping and hunting gear and 30% DEET or 20% picaridin on your skin. 4. Tuck shirts into pants, pant legs into socks, tie up long hair and tuck it into a hat, etc., to inhibit tick movement. 5. Promptly put tick-exposed clothing into the dryer on high heat for 60 minutes if wet/damp or 15 minutes if dry. Take a shower; vigorous scrubbing will remove ticks that aren’t fully attached. 6. Check yourself and your animals for ticks immediately and for several days after being in a tick-infested area. Make tick checks a habit for all family members after any outdoor activity. The sooner ticks are found and removed, the less chance you and your family have of becoming infected. 7. Carefully remove and save any attached ticks for your doctor to identify. If you are bitten, have a discussion with your doctor about using antibiotics to prevent disease. It’s important to know that: • Waiting to see if an EM (erythema multiforme) rash develops is risky, because some patients will never develop one. • A single dose of doxycycline isn’t very effective. • Better options use longer courses of antibiotics. Source: Minnesota Lyme Association church, to hear a talk about gluten-free diets. "I asked them to look at my leg rash and they said, 'Dude, that's Lyme.'" Peltier's Lyme has persisted, as evidenced by more and more symptoms. Her primary care doctor passed her off to a neurologist, rheumatologist and then an ophthalmologist. She suffers headaches and joint pain, facial palsy and a disorder in her eyes that requires special prisms in her glasses. "Then it hit my heart," Peltier said. "I had all the symptoms of a heart attack," Peltier recalled. She found doctors were "very dismissive of a Lyme diagnosis" and they "twice kicked me out of the hospital." She's not giving up, however, and after five cardiologists, her next step is to see an electro-physiologist. She's expecting the doctor to recommend an ablation procedure due to her erythema but will be seeking long-term antibiotic therapy such as rifampin — something a physician "well-versed in Lyme" previously prescribed short term. Peltier estimates her tests and treatments for tick-borne disease have cost about $75,000, most of it covered by good health insurance. She doesn't feel her illness will ever be cured. Her advice: "If you have the bullseye rash, you have Lyme. It's not prudent to wait on a test. If done too early, the result will be negative anyway."

Better diagnostics, treatment strategies There are advances in disease diagnostics, however, that offer speedy results. Dr. Jonathan Otten, a naturopathic physician with Northern Lights Medicine who specializes in Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, talked about diagnostics and treatment strategies during an April Lyme meeting hosted by the MLA. "The disease is near and dear to my heart," said the White Bear Lake doctor, who sees many chronically ill patients. He is using a test developed by a German tick-borne disease expert to guide treatment plans and facilitate full recovery, "or as much as we can achieve with Lyme," Otten said. The test is called ELISpot and is available through InfectoLab, an Oakdale diagnostic lab founded by the German doctor Dr. Carsten Nicolaus. "The test offers a rapid, on-theground picture of the state of infection by measuring the presence of active (fighting) antigen specific T-cells," Otten explained. "Often in patients who have been infected for a long time — chronically ill folks — the humoral immune response is negatively affected due to immune evasion or immunosuppression caused by the infection. Some people have been infected 20 to 30 years. The Western blot test won't pick them up."

LETTER TO THE EDITOR A view from somewhere in the middle For the last 25 years I have been acutely aware of the need to address racial discrimination. One would think I would be pleased that it is finally at the forefront, but instead I’m extremely frustrated with the direction it is going. I watch this one-sided “woke” media pushing detrimental agendas that include critical race theory, and I’m horrified, because I believe that this issue is being hijacked to cause further division among Americans. It is perpetuating the same evil that it proposes to eliminate. The “woke” mentality is causing further social division, so why is it being used? It doesn’t solve racial discrimination, but it is a tool to further certain political visions of the future. This is a setup; it’s using a painful societal issue to cause further division and destruction so the government can convince the American people that we need a ruling class of government elites to be our god. They begin with a motto like ‘a world without discrimination.’ It is clear to me that

Early symptoms of Lyme disease include a rash at the site of the bite, fever, chills, muscle and joint aches, muscle pain or swollen lymph nodes. Note that about 30% of people never develop an erythema migrans, a telltale rash that means there is Lyme disease. Chronic issues that can be Lyme related are still "underappreciated" in the medical community, Otten said. If not diagnosed and treated early, Lyme can become persistent or chronic, as is the case with Myre and Peltier. Years later, the disease can be mistaken for multiple sclerosis (MS), Lou Gehrig’s disease (amytrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's or mental illness.

2-week therapy not always enough Sometimes, treating a bite with two weeks of doxycycline (the commonly prescribed treatment) is not enough. Otten discussed a case of a 57-yearold man who developed the rash in 2017 and received the two-week antibiotic regiment from his primary care provider. The rash resolved, which it will regardless of treatment, Otten said. The standard Lyme antibody test at the time was negative. "In the next few years, he developed stabbing pains in his arms, forgetfulness and short-term memory loss, joint pain and some disequilibrium. We tested for burgdorferi, bartonella and babesia through InfectoLab. He showed all three." Otten said he started the patient on herbal antimicrobials, probiotics, 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily and a triple regimen of antibiotics using azithromycin, rifampin and minocycline. A single antibiotic won't be successful if there is persistence, he said. "There is a subset of patients who need ongoing treatment for years to control symptoms," noted Otten. "In those cases, I'm always looking for what else is going on that the immune system doesn't recover." After two months, the chronic pain is significantly reduced, and cognitive function is back to normal. In March, the bartonella was negative and babesia "trending towards resolution. The Lyme is also trending in the right direction. Why is this helpful?" he asked. "It shows babesia and Lyme appear to be persisting." Another drug Otten uses for chronic sufferers is disulfi ram, an antimicrobial for borellia persistence. "Used for alcoholism, the drug got a lot of attention in the Lyme community," Otten said. Noting that it’s "peak tick-borne illness season," the White Bear physician, like Myre, stressed prevention. "Prevention is difficult, but not as difficult as treating a disease that's been smoldering for months or years." New patients or anyone interested in learning more about Otten's practice can visit northernlightsmedicine.com.

BUSINESS BRIEFS this movement is leading American people into a trap. Here is the problem. If the solution involves the loss of personal freedoms and elites dictating and controlling every area of life, then what history proves is that it will devolve into one of the most evil political systems in human history that will ultimately crumble and fail. So, what is the answer? We must stand up and unite in brotherly love and help heal the pain in our communities. We must elect leaders that represent OUR vision. We can reject the critical race theory and those who seek to assign blame and shame a whole group of people based on the color of their skin AND acknowledge the pain of our fellow citizens. Let’s choose a road that doesn’t lead us to a Communist society where the government is our god. Instead, let’s reflect the love of God by choosing to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Laura Ndirangu Forest Lake

Art Guild Gallery under new ownership Art Guild member and local photographer Bob Lyksett is the new owner of the Stillwater Art Guild Gallery. Lyksett, who specializes in landscape photography with an emphasis on the St. Croix Valley, has been a featured artist in the gallery for more than six years. He was a co-owner of the gallery for the past two years and says he has always dreamed of owning his own art gallery. Lyksett resides in Hudson, Wisconsin, with his wife Christine, two sons, and two dogs. The gallery will remain located at 402 N. Main St. in Stillwater. For more information and gallery hours, call 651-689-0149 or visit artguildgallery.com.

Attorney joins Eckberg Lammers Eckberg Lammers, P.C. announces the addition of Pam Whitmore to the firm as a shareholder, attorney and Rule 114 qualified neutral. Pam practices extensively in conflict management solutions, alternative dispute resolution/mediation, municipal law and employment law.

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Lost and found: a dog’s story hen a dog runs away and gets lost, dog owners experience the same feeling of dread a parent has when their child goes missing. This happened to my sister Stephanie and her husband Lance a few years ago at our cabin in Wisconsin. They took their two dogs Zoey, a yellow lab and Hershey, a havanese, for a walk. This was something they never did before because their dogs usually love just hanging out by the lake. While walking the rural road, they encountered a St. Bernard, who was not on a leash, at a home off the road. Both Zoey and Hershey Noelle’s were on their leashes. Suddenly, the St. Bernard became aggresNotes sive and attacked Zoey, who was Noelle Olson injured in the scuffle. Keep in mind, St. Bernards are a very large breed of dog and can weigh up to 260 pounds. Stephanie described the St. Bernard as unruly with drool coming out of her mouth and it was like being attacked by Cujo. Hershey became so scared and somehow squeezed out of his collar and ran off into the woods. Lance and Stephanie tried calling him, but he didn't respond. The woman who owned the St. Bernard came out of the house to retrieve her St. Bernard, whom she called “Molly.” Stephanie said Molly’s owner didn’t seem to care that Molly had inflicted several wounds on Zoey, who was taken to the vet for her injuries. Lance decided to call the local police and since it was their fi rst offense, Molly and her owner were in the clear. Our family looked for Hershey the rest of the day, which was Labor Day, and informed our neighbors of Hershey's flight into the woods. They put pictures of Hershey on various Facebook pages to help with the search. The search continued during the week and they were worried because the weather took a turn for the worse with severe thunderstorms in the area. The vet called Stephanie and told her that it is very unlikely that Hershey would survive due to the storm. Hershey was a small dog weighing a mere 10 pounds soaking wet. Lance received a few calls with people saying they had seen a small dog matching Hershey’s description around the area. My parents who live at the cabin during the summer, looked for Hershey during the week and my dad said a truck came by and the driver suggested they put a jacket belonging to my sister or anyone else in the family on the ground in the woods to lure the dog to a comfortable place. While searching, my dad heard coyotes howling in the woods and was worried they had gotten Hershey since he has been missing for four days. On Friday, a woman called and said believed she saw Hershey on the road. When Stephanie heard the news while shopping at Walmart, she left her cart and immediately drove up to the cabin hoping to fi nd her beloved dog. Nearly two hours later, she put her jacket in the middle of the woods and continued to look for Hershey. She was searching with a neighbor and after a while, went back to her jacket hoping and praying for a miracle. Lo and behold, Hershey was laying on her jacket. The sun was shining right down him through the trees just on that particular spot. Stephanie couldn’t believe it and she called out Hershey’s name, but he did not respond right away. She ran over to him and grabbed him. He was full of burrs but she was so relieved to fi nally fi nd her beloved dog. The neighbor with her was crying saying it was a miracle! (I’m pretty sure Stephanie was sobbing as well.) Hershey recovered, along with Zoey, and seemed to have no traumatic signs of the incident. Since then, the people who owned the house with the St. Bernard have moved, so we assume it is safe to take your dogs on a walk unless you are scared of coyotes, mosquitoes or bears.

Springtime re-emergence ollowing the turmoil and uncertainty of the past year, the unfolding of events over the past month has brought a sense of relief. Because of a somewhat superstitious nature and having seen far too many premature celebrations gone wrong, relief is about all I can muster at this point. Perhaps I’ll feel more celebratory after receiving my fi nal vaccination shot. I suspect most of us, to some degree, have had our creativity, resilience and even sanity tested over the last 14 months, which was when a COVID-19 case was fi rst reported in Minnesota. Some of the fi rst cases were reported locally. White Bear Lake resident Dale Bartz was the fi fth person in Minnesota Angle of to test positive for coronavirus. View Talking to him in person about his experience — while taking Paul Dols photos for a Press story by Deb Neutkens — created a strong, tangible awareness that the virus was serious and not to be taken lightly. He recovered, but his descriptions of the illness, including feeling like his lungs were fi lled with broken glass, put me on high alert. He also conducted his own contact tracing and surmised he caught the virus during a Rotary Club trip to Vail. He recalled visiting a packed bar in late February fi lled with people from all over the country and the world. The guitar player entertaining the crowd that evening tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized on March 10. He died on March 21. The international travelers in attendance that evening could have possibly brought the virus into this country or home with them. As we begin to hear more good news concerning the ongoing pandemic, I wonder if we will be able to take some of the positive lessons we have learned over the past year and integrate them into our daily lives. Some of these lessons are more tangible, like changes in habits, the importance of family and the simple

joys of outside activities, including the almost primal comfort of social gatherings around fi res. Others are a little more abstract, like exercising empathy, creativity and flexibility. A recent article on the AARP website titled, “Lessons the Coronavirus Pandemic Has Taught Us” pointed out that we are emerging from not just “one deep crisis but three: a pandemic, an economic meltdown and one of the most fraught political transitions in our history. Interwoven in all three have been challenging issues of racial disparity and fairness.” This combination of factors created a high pressure situation that we can learn from and draw on to potentially improve our lives moving forward. Several examples are listed in the article including the importance of family, the unleashing of a revolution in medicine, accelerated digital adaptation and the ability to work effectively from home. The pandemic has magnified how important long term relationships, self care and intergenerational family connections are to our health and well being. It also showed that “the scientific community working together can do some pretty amazing things.” The new mRNA vaccines were produced in record time and may have fundamentally changed the way drugs are developed. With the help of technology like internet connectivity and video conferencing, workers who were forced to work from home out of necessity have discovered they can be just as productive as in the office. These transformative developments could have positive impact far into the future. Since the fi rst tense days of the pandemic, when there were still many unknowns, I began starting each day with a deep breath. This simple physical act, followed by a sense of gratitude, has gone a long way as one of the positive, fi rst steps moving toward a new and hopefully improved version of reality. Paul Dols is photojournalist/website editor for Press Publications. He can be reached at 651-407-1238 or photos@presspubs.com.

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

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Team takes 2nd place in NASA rover challenge BY NOELLE OLSON STAFF WRITER

When the COVID-19 pandemic put students into distance learning last year, six Stillwater Area High School students decided to get together to design and build something really cool — a human-powered rover. “We had to assemble a team, raise money from our sponsors and build connections with mentors who ended up checking some of our work,” said junior Addie Foote. “We started designing the rover with drawings on paper, brainstorming ideas and eventually put them into the computer as CAD models so we could make sure they worked. We figured out the dimensions and specifics of the design and, after that, we had to write a technical report. Then we got to build it.” They built the rover in the garage of teammate Vincent Ramirez, a junior, and tested the rover in their yards and at area parks. After eight months of hard work and dedication, the team had a successful working human-powered rover that earned them second place in the high school division of NASA’s 27th annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge. This is the fi rst year the team participated in the competition, and team members also won the Ingenuity Award. Teams from around the world participated in the engineering competition put on by NASA. The competition requires teams to perform mission tasks while negotiating the course, including retrieving samples and performing spectrographic analysis. The team said they are proud of their accomplishments of starting with an idea and building a successful rover, but they also learned some other important life skills along the way. “I was proud of all the work we put in. We had a lot of things we had no idea how to accomplish because it was our fi rst year of this competition. It’s very gratifying, seeing all the work we’ve done,” Ramirez said. “I learned a lot of different skills besides engineering. Like social skills, organization skills, presentation skills and how to talk to news reporters.” The team calls this season a win because they learned so much.

SUBMITTED

Above, the Stillwater rover award winning team, pictured left to right, Ben Abbott, Jocelyn McBride, Vincent Ramirez, Ethan Foote, Addie Foote and James Daum. At right, Addie Foote and Vincent Ramirez on their rover for a test-drive.

“I never thought I could do something this large, let alone be successful at it. For me, it wasn’t even finishing the specific project. It was knowing we were able to successfully do all the parts and win a project this large with several obstacles in our way,” said sophomore Jocelyn McBride. “We’re a small public high school team. It was eye-opening that you can conquer projects this large no matter who you are.” Other members of the winning team were senior Ben Abbott, freshman Ethan Foote and freshman James Daum.

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH

*Athletes chosen by press staff

Brooke Glumack

Gavin Zurn

Forest Lake LaCrosse

Stillwater Baseball

Brooke Glumack, junior mid-ﬁelder and attacker on the Forest Lake lacrosse team, leads the Rangers (9-2) in points with 25 goals and 22 assists. Glumack, an assistant captain this year, had a productive freshman year (24 goals, 18 assists) on the Rangers’ state-qualifying team in 2019. “Brooke has been a leader since the beginning,” coach Jenna Brown said. “Brooke is leading the offense in more ways than just on the stats sheet. She is analyzing plays, strategies, and what’s going on in the zone. She’s a huge asset to our team as her vision for the ﬁeld is outstanding.”

Gavin Zurn, Stillwater senior pitcher and ﬁrst baseman, is one of main reasons the Ponies baseball team is 14-2. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander has a 5-0 pitching record, allowing just 10 hits and seven walks, and no earned runs, in 27 2/3 innings, striking out 24. As a ﬁrst baseman, hitting .302 with nine RBI’s, he has signed with North Dakota State. Zurn was also a defensive lineman in football.

Michael Vue Forest Lake Golf Michael Vue, Forest Lake senior golfer, has turned in five strong performances in the last month and is averaging 78.06 strokes overall. He tied for first place with 73 at Grand National on May 14, shot 75 for fifth place at Les Bolstad on May 12, shot 76 for first place at Forest Lake on May 10, shot 74 for fourth place at Tanners Brook on April 28, and 76 for third place (tie) at North Oaks on April 19.

3045 White Bear Ave, Maplewood chick-fil-a.com/locations/mn/maplewood

Cat Smetana Stillwater Softball

Cat Smetana, junior catcher/ﬁrst baseman, is a proliﬁc run-producer for Stillwater’s topranked softball team. She is hitting .556 in the cleanup slot with eight home runs, 32 RBI’s three doubles and 10 walks. Her slugging percentage is 1.056. “Cat is a great offensive player,” said coach Angie Ryan. “She is leading the team in RBI’s and has the lowest amount of strikeouts on the team. She hits for power and consistency.” As a freshman on Stillwater’s 2019 state runner-up team, Smetana hit .481 with 18 RBI’s.

BRAD CORNELL | COUNTRYSIDE PHOTO

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Forest Lake Elementary School Principal Kenny Newby

Area principal receives professional leadership award

The Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA) recognized Kenny Newby, principal of Forest Lake Elementary, Forest Lake Area Schools, with the 2021 MESPA Division Leadership Achievement Award for MESPA’s East Suburban Division. The award honors principals whose exemplary leadership and sustained efforts have made noteworthy contributions to the operation of effective school learning programs — improving education, their communities and their profession. From press release

NOELLE OLSON | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Spring fling fun At left, Nevaeh Tolar, of Forest Lake, poses with this donkey at the petting zoo at the spring fling on May 1, at the Forest Lake City Center. It was a beautiful, sunny spring day and the event had crafts, games, activities, bubbles and snacks for the ommunity. At right, Donovan Marchand, a first grader at Rutherford Elementary in Stillwater, concentrates on the ring toss game.

MUSICIANS OF THE MONTH

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Kevin Bump Kevin Bump is a senior at Forest Lake Area High School. He has participated in concert bands, pep band, and marching band throughout high school. Kevin took Advanced Placement Music Theory in 11th Grade and has studied conducting this past year. He has a positive enthusiasm that is infectious. Kevin works hard, loves being a part of the group, and encourages others around him. He is a leader with endless energy and exuberance.

Katelyn Kaup The Orchestra is recognizing Katelyn Kaup for her fantastic attitude and dedication to the orchestra over the last four years. In addition to being in orchestra, Katelyn is an avid outdoors person and is on the Clay Target Team. Next year, She plans to go to the U of M, Carlson School of Management to study Accounting and Finance.

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Jack Walde is a choir senior and a baritone in Forest Lake High School’s top concert choir, Cantorei. He is a positive leader who always brings energy and enthusiasm to rehearsals and performances. Jack also plays baseball and is a member of the National Honor Society. He will be attending the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, majoring in Business and Political Science.

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Don’t rock the boat: Keep peace on the water with safe behavior BY NOELLE OLSON STAFF WRITER

As many Minnesotans take to the lakes this summer, practicing boat safety and etiquette can make your time on the lake less likely to cause unpleasant waves with other boaters on the water. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), there are unspoken rules to follow for good boating etiquette. It starts at the boat launch or dock before your boat goes in the water. “Last year was a busy year on the waterways across the state, and it’s anticipated to be a busy boating season again,” DNR Recreation Safety Outreach Coordinator Lisa Dugan said. Launch etiquette means “having patience at the ramps and making sure that you have everything ready before you launch your boat so you have the smooth transition,” she noted. While out on the water, own your wake. A sure way to cause a problem with another boater is to cast a big, intrusive wave at another boat, swimmer, angler or shoreline owner. This could be dangerous to people who are unable to handle a large wake. Boaters should stay at least 200 feet from the shoreline and other boaters, according to the DNR. “Every boat creates a wake. Make sure you check your wake if you’re going by smaller fishing boats or paddlers,” Dugan said. “We’ve had paddlers get severely injured because boaters fly past them and the wake overturns their boats.” Boaters should be familiar with water markers and navigation rules of the body of water to prevent a collision.

They should also be aware if the lake they are on has a speed limit or slow nowake zone restriction. It’s the boater’s responsibility to respect the rules and follow them. Boaters should always remember they are accountable for any damage they cause to other people’s property, according to the DNR. Since music and sound is amplified over water, boaters should keep the volume at an appropriate level. This can be disturbing for some people and could also make it hard for the driver to hear a spotter when someone is water skiing, tubing or kneeboarding. While you’re in the boat, keep the garbage out of the water. Have a garbage can on board or a plain garbage bag. Disposing of trash properly keeps the water clean and off the shorelines. Dugan said boaters need to remember that if they have children in the boat, they are learning boating behavior from you. When you lead by example, children tend to follow your lead. Boating etiquette is also about safe behavior while out on the water. In 2020, there were 16 boating fatalities in Minnesota compared to 10 in 2019. The 2019 figure, according to Dugan, was a record low. “Thirteen of the 16 fatalities in 2020 were not known to be wearing a life jacket, and 15 of the 16 fatalities in 2020 were men,” Dugan said. There has been one boating fatality in the state thus far in 2021. According to the DNR, 30% of boating fatalities in Minnesota occur in cold water. “The ice went out early on many lakes across Minnesota this year, but the water hasn’t warmed as quickly as you might expect,” Dugan said. “Water temperatures don’t adhere to a date

BOAT SAFETY Before the first launch of the season, anglers are reminded to inspect their watercraft and gear; enlist a mechanic to check exhaust systems for potential carbon monoxide leaks; and verify motorboats are equipped with the following: • U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jackets for each person on board (children under 10 must wear a properly fitting life jacket while underway). • A throwable flotation device on boats 16 feet or longer. • A horn or a whistle. • Type B, U.S. Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher. • Navigation lights in working order. • Valid boat registration, with numbers visible. Safety tips for boaters as they prepare to enjoy a day on the water: • Leave the alcoholic beverages on the shore. Drunk boating is the same as drunk driving. • Wear a life jacket. It’s the best way to stay safe on the water. • Enjoy the view and put away the phone. Just as distracted driving is a concern on our roads, distracted boating can lead to accidents and fatalities on our waters. • Take a boating safety course. A vast majority of boating accidents occur on boats where the operator has not taken a boating safety class. From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on the calendar. While we’ve had open water for weeks now, the water remains dangerously cold and an expected fall into it could be deadly. Vigilance is key anytime you’re around the water, but especially when it’s cold.” While temperatures continue to rise, water temperatures across the state generally are around 50 degrees, which is cold enough to cause a gasp reflex and incapacitate even the strongest swimmers in less than one minute. Dugan noted that a Minnesota operators permit (boat license) is required for youth ages 12-17 to operate a motorized boat over 25 horsepower. They may operate a motorized boat of 25-75 horse-

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Bus loop continues service under new provider Community Thread has contracted with Newtrax, a Northeast Metro nonprofit transportation provider, to continue the weekly bus loop serving Oak Park Heights and Stillwater. The connector loop makes five loops for five hours a day (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) on Mondays, with scheduled stops at senior housing complexes, area businesses and other retail destinations. Planned stops will be offered on an hourly loop schedule. Riders have the flexibility to request a stop nearby within one-quarter mile of the scheduled route. Riders of all ages and income levels are welcome. The $3 all-you-can ride fare allows riders to get on and off at any of the stops. The bus seats 13-14 people and is wheelchair- and walker-accessible with a lift. Caregivers and personal care assistants may ride for free. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, riders are required to wear masks. If the bus exceeds the seven-rider limit, riders will need to wait until the next trip to board the bus. Drivers will inform riders when they will be returning for another pickup. Riders who live within 2 blocks of the bus route may request to be picked up at their home by calling a day in advance (the Friday before for the next Monday loop) to 651-846-9302 or 651-789-6221. The connector loop will not be offered on Mondays that are holidays (Memorial Day, July 5, and Labor Day). To learn more and see the bus schedule, visit CommunityThreadMN.org, or call 651-439-7434 to get a schedule.

Franconia Sculpture Park summer solstice festival Franconia Sculpture Park will host Alchemy & Intention, a summer solstice performance art festival, from 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 19. The festival will feature the work of 20 artists from across the U.S. The festival will use the 50-acre park site for site-specific performances that use the common theme of ritual and resilience as a catalyst for social change and healing. The event is free and open to the public; there will be a $5 parking charge per vehicle. The park is located at 29836 St Croix Trail N., Shafer.

Outdoor morning yoga opens at Lake Elmo Park Reserve Tune into the sights and sounds of nature and release stress through guided yoga sequences designed to improve balance, flexibility, breath awareness and muscle tone from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, June 1 through Aug. 31, at the north picnic pavilion at Lake Elmo Park Reserve. The

program is open to all levels. Dress for outdoor yoga, bring a mat and arrive five to 10 minutes early. Space is limited and reservations are required. Check the website or the park office for information. Individual yoga classes are $8 session. Season passes are available for $100. Vehicle permits are required — $7 daily or $30 annually — and are not included in the individual class price. Call the Lake Elmo Park Reserve Contact Station for information at 651-430-8370 or visit the Washington County website at co.washington. mn.us and search “outdoor yoga” to register online. Lake Elmo Park Reserve is at the intersection of County Road 19 and County Road 10 (one mile north of Interstate 94) in Lake Elmo.

Explore SCRA Outside’s guided adventures Discover a new favorite activity or stretch of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway this summer. SCRA Outside’s range of guided riverway adventures includes something for every age and skill level. Find your park in 2021, savor the sunshine and fresh air, and learn from expert guides. Fully supported day paddles offer a day on wild and scenic rivers in a safe and fun environment, allowing you to pick the right trip for your interests and experience level. Upcoming trips include exploring the St. Croix’s Kettle River Slough on May 23, learning about the geology of the St. Croix on June 7, getting to know the turtles of the Namekagon on July 9, savoring a golden St. Croix sunset on July 20 and meeting the marvelous mussels of the St. Croix on Aug. 15. Learn how to kayak with free learn-to-paddle events on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. Join SCRA Outside at Wisconsin Interstate State Park and learn at your own pace on June 2, June 23, July 7, July 14, Aug. 11, or Aug. 18. (Gear is provided, but please note that a Wisconsin State Parks Pass is required for entry.) To learn more about these events and register, visit the St. Croix River Association at stcroixriverassociation.org/events/.

Art and farmers market at sculpture park From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month, June through October, local farmers and artists come together at Franconia Sculpture Park to provide a variety of fresh produce and handmade crafts to our 180,000 annual visitors. Each event is a fun way for people to connect directly with the local farmers and artists in the St. Croix River Valley. The park is located at 29836 St Croix Trail N., Shafer.

power without an operator’s permit as long as there is someone at least 21 years old on board with them. For youth interested in obtaining an operator’s permit, the DNR offers an online boating safety course that takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete. “The course walks you through the navigation requirements and state requirements. The online course has improved quite a bit by being more interactive. If you get a wrong answer, it reinforces what the correct answer is, and that question will come back in the test,” Dugan said. “There are more videos and it’s not text-heavy. You’re learning the skills you need to learn.”

Stillwater Police Department

Ask a cop Q: As a police officer, what is one of your funniest or most favorite memories? A: A police officer said about 15 years ago after a squad check, he went back into the patrol room to check emails and return phone calls before going out on patrol. While on patrol, he kept getting messages from his partners asking how his ride along was going and he didn’t know what they were talking about. He thought there must be some kind of mix up. It wasn't until he broke for his lunch and did another cursory check of his squad car when he noticed that his partners had placed a 3 foot plastic Santa Claus in the back seat of his squad car. A: A police officer (now retired) said he had an incident while responding to an animal control complaint when someone reported a ferret in his garage. Never one to turn down a challenge, he headed into the garage with the usual animal control attire, minus the long sleeves, complete with a catch pole and a box. He was able to position himself to gain the upper hand as his prey was now cornered in the garage. He slowly inched toward the wily animal and the animal made a run at him. He was able to get the upper hand and catch it with the pole. However, as he was attempting to put it into the box, the captured animal started biting and scratching him. Unfortunately, the fury woodland creature was able to scurry off and elude capture after all. To make matters worse, in the short time he had control of the animal, he realized it wasn't a ferret after all, but a non-domesticated weasel. He ended up taking a trip to the doctor to get the rabies protocol series of injections, which he said was not fun. Don't you worry about his fellow officers not being concerned for his well being, they made every effort to find the weasel for months by posting random "WANTED" posters in his work area and around the department. Sometimes police officers have a jaded sense of humor. A: A police officer said he responded to a report of a dead animal in a local resident's toilet. Indeed there was a dead squirrel in the toilet of a woman's home. He removed the squirrel using a catch pole, because it seemed more sanitary, and then proceeded back to the police department with the deceased squirrel still attached. Back at the department, he took the opportunity to have a “bit of fun” and placed the squirrel with its head and front paws hanging over a used doorway awning where officers come and go frequently. Officers started urging everyone in the department to exercise caution when entering and exiting so they wouldn't be alarmed by the “watching squirrel.” He gave his prank an hour or so before enough was enough, and the animal was given a proper disposal. To this day, he's never accepted responsibility or admitted that it was him who pulled the prank on his fellow officers. As far as he knows, those officers remember it as “the day a squirrel stalked them from the doorway awning.”

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Couple launches 2 businesses amid pandemic BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR

HUGO — Residents will have an ice cream shop much closer to home just in time for summer. Hugo residents Josh and Nicole Korus plan to open an ice cream shop called Booms, located at 14869 Forest Blvd N. in Hugo. “We knew we wanted to start our own businesses during the pandemic,” Nicole explained. Nicole is a stay-athome mother of their five children, who range in age from 2-13. Josh is a certified public accountant (CPA) who was tired of working in the corporate world. He wanted to have the opportunity to build relationships with clients, rather than doing behind the scenes work for large businesses. The couple saw the Country Video Barn building listed for sale and thought it would be a perfect spot, not only because of the lot size, but also for its prime location right off of Highway 61. “It’s right in the heart of the community, and that was super appealing to us,” Nicole said. They purchased the building in September 2020. Following a big renovation, Josh officially opened JAK Tax & Accounting, a full-service tax accounting fi rm in December 2020. “The building was bigger than what we needed, so we wanted to do some kind of a secondary business,” Nicole

explained. “We were thinking about what we could do in the off season and thought, ‘What about ice cream?’ Everyone loves ice cream.” It didn’t take them long to figure out a name for the ice cream business. Even though the Korus family has only lived in Hugo for about a year, they quickly figured out that Hugo is the land of 10,000 booms. Shortly after moving to Hugo, they were told they needed to join the Hugo Hangout group on Facebook. “I kept hearing people talk about the booms,” Nicole said. Then they stopped by the Argyle Moose, where they saw more boom references. “We thought that was pretty iconic,” she said. “We knew right away that was what we wanted to name it.” Booms will offer over 50 rotating flavors of hard-serve ice cream purchased from the Big Dipper Creamery, which has locations in Blaine and North Oaks. It will be operated in a similar style to Cup and Cone in White Bear Lake, where customers approach a window, place an order, and then enjoy their ice cream on the go or outdoors. “We want people to hang out and gather, something we haven’t been able to do in a while,” Nicole said. “We will have outdoor seating, games, photo ops and a tree swing. It will be a fun atmosphere.” Josh added, “I'm looking forward to connecting with people and

SUBMITTED

Josh and Nicole Korus will open Booms, an ice cream shop, just in time for summer. Pictured are their five children, Micah, Malachi, Makenna, Miles and Madelyn. Booms is located at 14869 Forest Blvd N. in Hugo (where Country Video Barn used to be).

getting to know our regulars.” Perhaps it is fitting that the old video store building will once again be home to ice cream. The building was originally built in 1961 as one of the fi rst drive-in restaurants in the state. Nicole said, “We want to be your local, hometown ice cream shop.” The couple is planning a grand opening the weekend of Good Neighbor

Days (June 11-13). Booms will eventually have a social media presence. For more information on JAK Tax and Accounting, visit jaktaxes.com or find JAK on Facebook. Lead Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@presspubs.com.

Bear sightings: How to stay safe and coexist Several bear sightings have recently been reported throughout the north metro. Upon checking with area law enforcement agencies, most of the bear sightings are not reported in an official capacity to police, but rather shared on social media platforms.

Think Local... Act Local... Be Local

Report a bear sighting The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is trying to keep track of Minnesota’s black bear range, which has been expanding southward and westward. If you see a black bear outside of its primary range (shown in black on the map), please report the information online at dnr.state. mn.us/hunting/bear/bear-sightings.html. Your name and contact information will not be made public.

Laura Whitney Realtor licensed in MN & WI 612-387-3052 LauraWhitney@EdinaRealty.com

Did you know? Bears can consume 12,000-20,000 calories a day to prepare for hibernation. That’s the equivalent of 6-7 pounds of black oil sunflower seed or about 700-800 acorns.

Reduce bear conflicts by reducing attractants Conflicts between people and bears have increased as more people build homes and cabins and recreate in northern and central Minnesota. Conflicts can arise when bears interact with domestic pets, tip over garbage cans, or damage bird feeders, personal property, beehives, livestock and agricultural crops. The best way to avoid problems with bears is to not attract them in the fi rst place. Once a bear

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CREATED BY ADAM HENSCHELL | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

fi nds a food source, it will return repeatedly. Bears prefer natural foods and are especially attracted to calorie-dense food sources. They have an incredible sense of smell, are opportunistic and are easily attracted to foods or food sources provided by humans (including things like dog food, birdseed and grease). Bear attractants are things that smell, taste or look like food to bears. These include birdseed, dog food, grease on grills, garbage, fi sh entrails and fruit. Taking the initiative to secure or remove attractants will help prevent bears from becoming a nuisance. Additional resources For more information on bear population management or how to coexist with bears, visit: • Bearwise.org • lwwf.org/resource-guides • agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/wildlife-nature-environment/deterring-bearswith-electrified-fences-a-beginners-guide/ Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

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Living with bears in Minnesota The black bear is an iconic species usually associated with Minnesota’s north woods. While they are common throughout the forested northern and central portions of the state, they can live throughout the state, and sometimes wander into cities and towns. Black bears are naturally cautious animals that avoid human contact for their safety, but conflicts between people and bears can arise. To live peacefully with bears, humans play a part by being responsible for their behavior. We can prevent conflict and stay safe, at home and while exploring nature, by reducing the availability of bear attractants and preparing for bear encounters.

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Photography business has

’ h t d a e r b g o ‘d

BY NOELLE OLSON STAFF WRITER

Many more people who have family pictures taken include their dogs in the poses. Photographer Kristina Lynn Marshall, owner of Kristina Lynn Photography & Design, has learned a few tricks along the way to get the best shots of those furry friends. “Dogs are very much like children, and if you make it fun for them, they will behave. I usually keep treats on hand, but I do ask my clients to have treats in case their dog has some finicky eating habits,” Marshall said. “Dogs are easier than children, because they respond to treats better.” Some of her best dog photography tips include tilting your head, making different sounds, and doing stuff that is out of the ordinary. “You have to do it sporadically and sparingly, because if you break out all of your tricks right away, they catch on,” Marshall said. A combination of giving the dogs treats and using different sounds to keep them interested can make for a fun photo shoot, she noted, adding that it requires a whole lot of patience. When deciding on a setting for a photo shoot, Marshall will ask her clients what they are looking for. She will then offer location options; sometimes her clients have somewhere else in mind. “Recently, one of my clients wanted her dogs with flowers in the shoot, and she actually found a wonderful location based on her connections. I’m always open to a certain location, and I will scout the location and make sure the lighting is good and that we have what we need,” Marshall said. Marshall does professional photography for weddings, high school senior pictures, families, dogs and kids. “I’ll take pictures of pretty much anything,” she said. Marshall has owned Kristina Lynn Photography & Design since 2009 and has two studio locations. One is in her hometown of Clarion, Iowa, and the other in Stillwater at 118 Chestnut Street E. “I have clients in Colorado, and I’m going out there this summer. I am willing to travel wherever my client needs me to be,” Marshall said. “I’m definitely not a photographer who stays in the studio all the time.” For more information on Kristina Lynn Photography & Design, go to kristinalynnphoto.com.

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Rodger A. Caras

Photographer and Writer

KRISTINA LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN | SUBMITTED

Kristina Lynn Marshall

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Ambassadogs host ‘yappy hours’ at Franconia BY NOELLE OLSON STAFF WRITER

Looking for a place where you can take your dog and enjoy the beauty of the St. Croix River Valley? Look no further than Franconia Sculpture Park. “We love dogs at the park, and there’s plenty of space for the dogs to run around,” said Ginger Shulick Porcella, Franconia’s executive director and chief curator. “I’m a dog mom, and my two dogs (Maya Papaya and Radio McGriddles) are Franconia’s ambassadogs and hosts of our yappy hours.” Yappy hours are three special events for dogs and their parents to experience the park after hours. All yappy hour events are scheduled on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This year, they’re June 11, Sept. 3 and Oct. 15. “Our first yappy hour is called “Pride Pups” to celebrate Pride month. Our second will be in September during the dog days of summer, and we’re calling our third yappy hour “Howloween” to celebrate Halloween with dog costume contest,” Porcella said.

Each event will feature dog-tinis, cocktails, art activities for pups and people, contests and other surprises, according to Porcella. “It’s a great way for people to meet up with other dog owners at the park,” she said. Franconia partners with Ruff Start Rescue, a nonprofit, foster homebased, no-kill dog and cat rescue based in central Minnesota. Organization representatives will be at each yappy hour event with dogs that are looking for their forever home. Parking is free, and proceeds from the events go to Ruff Start Rescue. “We don’t benefit from it in any way, since we are a small nonprofit organization,” Porcella said. Porcella noted that people can also bring their dogs to the Franconia Sculpture park during regular open hours. Dogs should be on a leash, and their owners are expected to pick up their dog’s droppings. “People have brought other animals to the park, including miniature horses, goats — and someone even brought a pig once,” she said. “Therefore, all dog-like animals are welcome.”

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Franconia’s ambassadogs Maya Papaya and Radio McGriddles

Protecting pups from parasites Before you take your dog out for a walk to the park anywhere this summer, be aware of potential parasites lurking to harm your four-legged friend. According to Angelica Dimock, Animal Humane Society's managing shelter veterinarian, ticks and fleas are the most prevalent external parasites affecting dogs in Minnesota. Available medications include a topical liquid to be applied to their skin, oral medication once a month or once every three months, and flea and tick collars. “There are some really good flea and tick collars now, not like the old-fashioned kind. They may be a little bit more expensive, but they actually do work. In the old-fashioned collars, sometimes you can find fleas living underneath the collars,” Dimock said. Fleas can cause severe skin issues, anemia, weight loss and a poor quality of life for your dog. Heartworm disease can be fatal and can cause heart failure. This very common internal parasite requires medication, and dogs should be administered a monthly dose. Also, heartworm medication can take care of other internal parasites. “It's a general dewormer, but there are a couple of additional worms that are not covered through that general dewormer, like tapeworm,” Dimock said. Tapeworm is commonly spread by fleas. “If a flea has a tapeworm egg inside of it and the dog bites the flea and ingests it, they can get a tape-

worm and separate medication is needed,” she added. The most common symptom of a tapeworm is an itchy anus. If it's not treated right away, the dog can experience weight loss, diarrhea and vomiting. “You can see the little segments of dried-up tapeworm near the dog's anus, where the dogs sleeps, or even on their bedding. It looks like little grains of rice,” Dimock said. The easiest way to prevent tapeworms is to use a flea and tick preventative.

“If you get a lot of squirrels or deer walking in your yard, your dog could become infected” Angelica Dimock Managing Shelter Veterinarian, Animal Humane Society

Ticks can cause tick-borne diseases including ehrlichia, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease, which is the most common here in Minnesota. “Lyme disease can cause kidney issues and get into the brain and cause memory issues,” Dimock said. “Clotting disorders can cause dogs to bleed with any kind of injury. That can make them really lethargic, and eventually could be detrimental to their health.” Dimock noted that because of the nice weather and

dogs now being outside, people should make sure their dogs are up to date on their vaccines. Core vaccines are rabies and distemper, but there are some additional vaccines that are beneficial, like the kennel cough — or bordetella — vaccine. “These should be given to any dogs who go to dog parks a lot. Kennel cough is an infectious airborne disease. So, if a lot of dogs are panting and breathing close to each other, it can spread pretty quickly,” Dimock said. “Kennel cough is a really annoying cough and, in most cases, it is self-limiting, but there are cases where it can develop into pneumonia. You don't really want to mess around with it when there's a really good vaccine.” There is also a Lyme and leptospirosis vaccine. It doesn't prevent the infection, but just lessens the clinical signs of Lyme disease. “It's one for dogs who go to parks, on hikes, or to the cabin a lot,” she said. Leptospirosis is a bacteria that spreads through urine from wild animals. For example, if a dog has any contact with a place where wildlife would urinate, like stagnant water (a pond) or a backyard, there could potentially be leptospirosis in the area. “If you get a lot of squirrels or deer walking in your yard, your dog could become infected,” Dimock said. “If a dog gets lepto, it could cause liver and kidney failure and can be fatal if it's not caught right away. It's an easy one to prevent for those dogs who are at risk. Keeping your dog vaccinated and using preventive measures can keep your dog healthy all year round.” 696737

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12 THE LOWDOWN

JUNE 2021 www.presspubs.com

Age is just a number for this Minnesota painter BY NOELLE OLSON STAFF WRITER

Judith Johnson began drawing with chalk when she was a child. That grew into a love of painting, which has continued to this day. Johnson is now well into her 70s, and she doesn’t plan to put down her paintbrushes anytime soon. Johnson’s paintings will be featured at an upcoming exhibit at the Wildwood Library. The show, “Judith Johnson: Minnesota Artist,” will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3, at the library, 763 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi. Johnson grew up in Mahtomedi, graduated from high school in 1958 and was the class artist. “I did all the posters and cartoons for the school paper,” she said. “After high school, my mother didn’t want me to major in art, so I majored in home economics because they had art classes.” When she married her husband, Jack, he was attending Gustavus Adolphus College. She took some art classes there and eventually got her art education degree. She taught home economics at various high schools for approximately 25 years while the couple raised their three children. While teaching at the Minnesota School of Arts in St. Paul, Johnson was asked to judge an art show. She thought her favorite painter, Edward Hopper, was going to be one of the judges. “I was really excited to meet him,” she said. “While judging the show, he was very harsh on the artists and was leaving shattered souls in his wake,” she said. “We went to lunch after the show and I told him I that loved his work. During the meal, he was looking at me like he didn’t know what I was talking about. When I got home and told my husband that I had lunch with Edward Hopper, he looked at me and said, ‘He’s been dead for quite a number of years.’” Johnson wondered, “Who did I have lunch with?” After some investigating, she found out it was Clem Haupers, a well-known painter in Minnesota. Everything she loved about Hopper’s paintings was reflected in Haupers’ style as well. “I called him, and he invited me to his studio, and I became his protégée,” Johnson said. “I was in my 30s at the time and he was about 60. He became a father figure to me and a part of my family. We were friends for 20 years when he died at the age of 80.” When she was 50, Johnson went back to school and got her Ph.D. in design and art history. She then became a

SUBMITTED

“Grandma’s House”– a painting by Johnson of her grandmother’s home while she was growing up in Mahtomedi. SUBMITTED

professor of design at the University of Minnesota until she retired. “After retirement, I joined Judith Johnson the Birchwood Town Hall painters and the North Star painters in Roseville,” Johnson said. “We also have a group called the pandemic painters. Since we couldn’t meet anywhere because of COVID, we started painting in our cars in the parking lots of Birchwood and Como Park.” Johnson describes herself as an illustrator and realistic painter. “I paint what I see around me. I paint barns, old houses and people,” she said. “My illustrations would be great in a children’s book,” she said. Johnson’s illustrations were published in a poetry book and a book on prayer back in the 1960s. Recently, she self-published a book on Finnish folktales called “Troll Tales” that featured her creative illustrations. She is currently working on a Swedish folktale book. Johnson’s talents don’t end with painting. She plays cello in two orchestras and is a professional piano player. “I’m a better piano player than a cellist,” she said. She plays classical music on a grand piano at St. Andrews Village

One of Johnson’s paintings featuring the home of her mentor, Clem Haupers, simply titled “Clem’s House.”

on Thursdays, and she said the residents really love her there. “I play the cello for Chapel Strings in assisted living places and in the Woodbury Orchestra, where we play in big churches for the food shelf,” she said. “Since COVID, I don’t know if or when they’ll start up again.” Currently, she is writing a mystery novel about a musical theater group. She said that it will never get published, but she loves a good mystery story. “I always have something that I’m working on,” she said. “I get up in the morning and I’m drawing at the breakfast table.” Throughout the years, Johnson’s work has been exhibited in many art shows. She recently realized that she hadn't had one in a long time. She called the Wildwood library in Mahtomedi and asked if she could have an art show there, and they said “yes.” The exhibit will feature approximately 25 paintings and 25 illustrations of Johnson's work. Johnson and her husband reside in Grant. She will celebrate her 80th birthday two days after the show. “I'm really excited for the show, and I still love painting after all these years,” she said.

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E G A GAR SALE List your Garage Sale locally for as low as

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Call Lynda at 651-407-1250

158

Health & Wellness

Social Services

HEARING AIDS!! Buy one/get one free! Nearly invisible, fully rechargeable In-Ear Nano hearing aids priced thousands less than competitors! 45-day trial! Call: 833/373-0926

Adoption LOVING FAMILY PROMISES baby secure future, family friendly neighborhood near ocean. Devoted grandparents, gentle pets. Living expenses paid. Andres/Elana 561/388-1123 or attorney 310/663-3467

23 Free Items 90” Floral Sofa w/6 pillows Must P/U WBL, Deb (651) 442-7033 Free pick up for donated small furn/HH items to Church Store 651-430-0011

53 Vehicles Wanted

CARS/

JUNKERS

• Cash Paid • Free Towing Call Swede’s Towing, LLC (651)462-5513

104 Hauling/Moving Scrap metal appliance pick up 651-329-0815

106 Home Improvement A HANDYMAN Lrg & sm jobs 612-751-8336

110 Rototilling Garden tilling, cheap Paul 651-270-1926 LM

160 Hire Me King's Homecleaning LLC,Insured Casandra (612)-466-1075

160 Hire Me Ace Lawn & Garden Svcs: Fully Insured (651) 503-8913

• Employment • Employment • Employment • Employment •

362 Miscellaneous

THE GENERAC PWRCELL A solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down financing option. Request a free, no obligation quote today. Call 888/913-5895

TIMESHARE CANCELLATION EXPERTS Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 833/619-1117

AT&T WIRELESS Two great new offers! Ask how to get the 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

366 Guns

Do you have ammunition or a hunting gun Ann's AwesomeHousecleaning - 20 in your home and you're not quite sure Yrs experience. Dependable, Trustworthy what to do? My name References Avail. Call is Al, owner of Al's or text 651-776-7834 Gun Shop, I'm happy to review your firearm at no charge and give you a recommendation. Please call (651) 482-8138.

Respect Response Choice

PT HELP NEED-VH Seldom drive for doc appt & plant/weed $15/hr - 651-483-6461

COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS Competitive wage and benefits, meal allowance, paid lodging. Traveling position for railroad vegetation control, 60-80 hrs/week. RAW (Cooperstown, ND) 888/700-0292 www.rawapplicators. com

Do you desire to makes someone smile each day? Do you have a passion to engage others ? Are you searching for purposeful work with opportunities to grow within the company?

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES POSITION START AT $14.50-$18.00 AN HOUR! DAYS, EVENINGS AND OVERNIGHTS AVAILABLE!

501

PULL TIME AND

Real Estate Wanted Do you have a duplex or small apartment building you are considering selling? Call Micah at (651) 400.0530

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 “any 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.” 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.

PART TIME! Direct Support Staff Mental Health Specialist Dungarvin provides supports in a Residential Group Home setting to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. We have over 160 programs across MN including: St. Cloud, Monticello, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Stillwater, Forest Lake, North Branch, Mora, Howard Lake, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Anoka, Jordan and Many More!!! Join Our Team! Take the first step towards enjoying your journey! Apply online today: www.dungarvincareers.com 651-699-6050

FT in VADNAIS HEIGHTS General woodworking and customer service work; some exp in both areas desirable.

LUND FSHING BOAT 14' Model WC14 Black w/20 HP Suzuki DF20AS2 outbrd motor & 18' deep water swift lift. Boat, motor, lift LIKE NEW. Purchased July 2020. Buyer needs trailer; no delivery incl. Pkg price: $8,000 Gary: 651-324-7336

362

1401 Willow Lake Blvd. Contact Steve at (651) 775-8137

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CITY PLANNER The City of Shoreview is now hiring a FT City Planner to work at City Hall in our Community Development Department.

Hiring Range: $90,459 - $99,840 annually, plus excellent benefits/pension. For more info and to apply online, go to shoreviewmn.gov/jobs

Deadline to apply:

Monday, May 24 at 1:00 pm EOE

PEDIATRICIAN WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN.

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries in children from birth to 18 years of age. To apply, mail resume to: Ruth Rathbun, Group Health Plan, Inc. dba HealthPartners, Inc., 8170 33rd Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425, or, email to: ruth.a.rathbun@healthpartners.com. Reference Job ID 59809.

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KMS PUBLIC SCHOOLS has FT high school Social Studies position beginning August 2021. Qualifications: MN Licensure. Apply: www.kms.k12.mn.us. Attach: letter of interest, resume, transcripts, copy of license, three letters of recommendation.

NORTHWEST AREA SCHOOLS Multi-District/Education Cooperative in Isabel, South Dakota is seeking applications for the following instructor position/s: open until filled. Speech Language Pathologist, Early Childhood Special Education Instructor, Intro. to Drafting and Design/Architectural Drafting and Design (CTE CADD position). South Dakota licensure is required and work-related experience may count toward certification. NWAS offers competitive salary, benefits, transportation and SD Retirement. Contact Quinn Lenk, Director, at 605/466-2206, or email quinn. lenk@k12.sd.us. Northwest Area Schools Multi District/Education Cooperative does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

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14 THE LOWDOWN

JUNE 2021 www.presspubs.com

Washington County Library returns to pre-pandemic hours

• Employment • Employment • Employment • Employment • Employment •

Manager I, Project

The Washington County Library is doing more to serve residents this summer. Beginning June 1, all branches will be returning to pre-pandemic hours, launching summer reading activities, and offering multiple ways to participate in library programs. “While we know the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, I am excited that summer at the library will be more similar to past years,” Washington County Library Director Amy Stenftenagel said. “We look forward to welcoming you back in any way you feel comfortable.” While this will look a little different at each branch, it generally means an increase from modified COVID-19 hours that have been in place over the past year. Visitors are encouraged to check hours on the library’s website before visiting, or to download the library’s mobile app by searching for “WashCoLib” in an app store. June 1 is also the kick off to Washington County Library’s summer learning programs for kids, teens, and adults! Participants of all ages can complete a game card to earn a reward and enter the library’s grand prize drawings. Game cards can be completed in-person or online. Stop by any library branch to pick a game card or learn how to complete the program online at WashColLib.org. This summer, Washington County Library will also delivering fun and engaging programs in a variety of ways. Staff will be offering more in-person programs and continuing virtual programs throughout the summer. These include outdoor storytimes, virtual activities, take and make kits, and pop up programs at library branches. Learn more about library hours, services, and upcoming events by visiting WashColLib.org.

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APPLEWOOD BUILDERS

Exterior/Interior

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Storm & Hail Damage

44YRS YRS EXP 40 EXP

Lic. #BC-516217

Specializing in Ceiling Repairs

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Primeau’s Tree Service

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(651) 426-4424

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763-208-8862 www.truebluebuilders.org

612-868-6837 ,i `i }ÊUÊ, Ê `` Ì Ã >Ãi i ÌÃÊUÊ ÌV i Ã Ã Ê >À«i ÌÀÞ For more info visit

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Senior & Military Discounts MN LIC.#BC665536

Lic. #005402

No solicitations please

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Free Estimates!

PLUMBING

Tom Thill 651-433-4866

ROOFING/SIDING

• Rooﬁng • Siding • Decks • Windows • Storm Damage • Family Owned

(651) 428-0229

• Drain Cleaning • Hot Water Heating • Hot Water Heaters & Disposal • Well Pump Service • New Construction • Remodeling

& 1 , * ,1

Lic #686889

CALL LEE

• Professional, Residential House Painting • 35 Years Experience • Interior & Exterior • Kind, Respectful Service CONTACT RICHARD

80%

(651) 426-6000 www.whitebearplumbing.com

Family Owned & Operated YRS s 3INCE Insured Pro

Residential CommercIal

ROOFING Remodeling all types #BUISPPNT t #BTFNFOUT ,JUDIFOT t %PPST 8JOEPXT 3PPöOH 4JEJOH

TXJO Cities Premier Home Improvement Company

651-238-6751 NorconHomes.com Insured / Lic #BC105943

“Your Local Exterior Specialists” Residential - Hardie Plank

Roofing ë Siding ë Windows Gutters ë Fascia & Soffit

651-407-1987 MN Lic.# BC223025

WINDOW CLEANING Quality Work • Reasonable Rates

Tree Removal Tree Trimming Brush & Stump Removal

651-426-8660 FREE ESTIMATE Fast, Dependable, Insured

Cameron

Tree Service

Cutting Edge Window Cleaning

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We don’t cut corners, we clean ‘em! Residential Window Cleaning Exterior Only Call Jeff for a free estimate

(651) 775-8602

651-283-8770

DOWNTIME

THE LOWDOWN

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JUNE 2021

MONTHLY WEATHER OUTLOOK

Weather Tidbit: Weather Tidbit: May started off sizzling with May 1 reaching 87º, but then we went into a two-week cold funk. We woke up to some chilly and frosty mornings from May 8-11. Temperatures did finally rebound to normal to close out the last 10 days of the month. It was extraordinarily dry for much of the month. I didn’t receive my first measurable rain until May18. It was my first measurable rain since April 27. Rains totaling 1-2 inches on May 19-20 helped make up for the May deficit as lawns were getting dry, and it seemed at times we were just blowing around dust. With June just around the corner, I’m expecting temperatures near normal with rainfall slightly below normal. Father’s Day and Summer begin on the same day, Sunday June 20.

Morning Planets: Mercury (dawn), Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune Evening Planets: Venus (dusk), Mars 1 Jupiter above Moon 10 Annular Solar Eclipse 12 Venus below Moon

13 Mars below Moon 27 Saturn above Moon 28 Jupiter above Moon

New Moon June 10 Full Moon June 25

AREA NORMALS FOR MONTH MAY 30 TO JUNE 5

JUNE 6 TO 12

JUNE 13 TO 19

Avg. High......................75 Avg. Low...................... 53 Sunshine ..................... 61

Avg. High......................77 Avg. Low...................... 56 Sunshine ..................... 61

Avg. High......................78 Avg. Low.......................59 Sunshine ......................64

% Daylight Hours

Precipitation ..............0.95

Precipitation ..............1.02

Precipitation ..............1.33

JUNE 20 TO 26

JUNE 27 TO JULY 3

Avg. High......................81 Avg. Low...................... 61 Sunshine ..................... 69

Avg. High......................81 Avg. Low...................... 61 Sunshine ..................... 70

% Daylight Hours

Precipitation ..............0.99

Precipitation ..............1.25

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.

FUN FACTS

ACROSS 1. Greasy powder (abbr.) 5. Rural Free Delivery (abbr.) 8. Amount of time 11. Greeting 13. Form of “to be” 14. Israeli diplomat 15. Outfit 16. The 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 17. Deceptive movement 18. Anxious 20. Popular Letterman guest 21. Saints’ signal caller 22. Intoxicate 25. Relationship 30. Ask for one’s hand in marriage 31. Popular Will Ferrell film 32. Gargle 33. Warning sensation before migraine 38. Returned material authorization (abbr.) 41. Erases 43. At ease 45. Small branch of an artery

It can take a photon 40,000 years to travel from the core of the sun to the surface, but only 8 minutes to travel the rest of the way to earth.

DID YOU KNOW? The word ‘uncopyrightable’ is the is the only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating any letter.

ANSWERS

FOUR SEASONS AIR SPECIALISTS, INC. www.4seasonsairwbl.com | (651) 426-5254

701883

“Experts in Indoor Air Comfort Since 1974”

48. Mother of Hermes 49. Body part 50. Cavalry sword 55. Wellness chants 56. Helps little firms 57. Afflicted 59. Peep 60. Nellie __, journalist 61. Spiritual leader 62. Doctor of Education 63. Affirmative 64. Cheek

DOWN 1. Popular kids’ game 2. Away from wind 3. Round water pot 4. Drink quickly 5. A simple type of jet engine 6. Something for nothing 7. Painkiller 8. Siskel’s pal 9. Strong spirit distilled in Turkey 10. Again 12. Imitate 14. Icelandic poems

19. Jacob __, American journalist 23. No (Scottish) 24. Newborn 25. Credit term 26. Nonprofit research group in CA 27. Male offspring 28. Important baseball stat 29. A way to compel 34. Fiddler crab 35. Jewish equivalent of “Sir” 36. Every 37. Midway between east and southeast 39. Anti-slavery treaty 40. A friendly manner 41. Military figure (abbr.) 42. Area units 44. Sudden incursions 45. Expressed pleasure 46. Covered with hoarfrost 47. Job 48. Donkey 51. Swiss river 52. Prejudice 53. Actor Idris 54. Light dry-gap bridge (abbr.) 58. Criticize

JUNE 2021

THE LOWDOWN

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COUNTY BRIEFS Washington County offers free training to anyone who is interested in obtaining a certified production technician (CPT) manufacturing certification. The free eight-week online training and independent learning classes begin June 7 and go through Aug. 6. This program is specifically designed for those looking to develop foundational knowledge of manufacturing processes and production and gain skill development and hands-on experience on safety, maintenance, logistics, blueprint reading and lean manufacturing principles. Participants will have the opportunity to test for nationally recognized CPT certification and pursue employment with manufacturing companies such as Intek Plastics, Renewal by Andersen and more. For more information, contact Cory Sindt at 612-449-4221. The CPT training is a collaboration between Century College, ACCESS Program of South Washington County Schools, Intek Plastics, Renewal by Andersen and the Washington County CareerForce Center.

Assistance available to help renters, landlords pay their bills A new rental assistance program, RentHelpMN, has opened for applications, making it possible for low- and moderate-income renters to get caught up on overdue rent and utilities dating back to March 13, 2020. Washington County renters may apply directly or learn more about the application process by seeing renthelpmn.org or calling 651-430-6570, which includes multilingual assistance. Those outside of Washington County may call 211 for questions or assistance. The 211 helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions about RentHelpMN COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The programs also make provisions for those at risk of falling behind on rent payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal funding was provided through the federal stimulus bill passed in December 2020. Minnesota received about $375 million for emergency rental assistance; $289 million went to the state and approximately $85 million was allocated to localities in the Twin Cities metro area. The funds are available to help prevent eviction and homelessness and to maintain housing stability for low- to moderate-income renters. The state is coordinating with participating local governments to distribute the rental assistance, including Washington County. Property managers and landlords are encouraged to let their tenants know about RentHelpMN and help them be prepared to apply.

County conducting spring household hazardous waste collections in Forest Lake Washington County satellite weekend household hazardous waste collections are planned in Forest Lake June 5 and June 12. Satellite collections bring the services offered at the Washington County Environmental Center closer to residents, making it more convenient and practical for them to recycle and dispose their household hazardous waste and electronics. The Forest Lake event will be at the Forest Lake Transit Center, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, June 5 and June 12. The center is located at 19987 Fitzgerald Trail N., Forest Lake. Confidential document shredding will be available.

County board approves housing program for 2021 The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a program to assist affordable housing programs in the county. The Washington County Community Development Agency manages programs under the federal

Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Programs. All funds assist low- and moderate-income households. The programs include: •$300,000 for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to build four units of affordable housing •$76,288 for Two Rivers Community Land Trust to rehabilitate three units of affordable housing •$380,099 for home improvement loans to rehabilitate 10 units of affordable housing; and •$105,320 for Washington County Community Services for homeless prevention, to assist 540 people.

Board accepts state funds to provide vaccines for COVID-19 Commissioners accepted $1.3 million for COVID-19 response and vaccination distribution May 3. The county is receiving federal funding through the Minnesota Department of Health for COVID-19 response and vaccine implementation. Funding will be used for vaccine distribution costs and initiatives to increase vaccinations in the community. The money is to be used through Dec. 31. Costs that will be reimbursed include: • Staff salary and fringe benefits • Subcontracts for vaccine administration • Purchase of supplies and equipment • Costs associated with vaccine clinics, such as rent, security and translation/interpreters • Expanded clinic hours and staff overtime • Community engagement and vaccinations in underserved communities • Promotion of vaccine confidence (messaging, videos, social media, etc.) • Efforts to address vaccine misinformation

Home to Sweet Home celebrates new location The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce celebrated the new office location for Home to Sweet Home with a ribbon cutting on April 22. The new location is located at 220 Commercial Street in Stillwater. Owner Lisa Bevens, staff members, Greater Stillwater chamber members and chamber ambassadors were there to join in the celebration.

Waiting Child

Shafer Contracting Co. Inc. will construct the Highway 36/Manning Avenue interchange at the intersections of Stillwater, Lake Elmo and Grant, after Commissioners approved a $21 million contract with the company May 11. Washington County was awarded federal and state funds to lead the development and construction of a grade-separated interchange at the intersection of state Highway 36 and Manning Avenue/ County State Aid Highway 15. The project is funded by federal grants, state grants, highway state aid, Minnesota Department of Transportation funds and funds from the cities of Stillwater and Lake Elmo. The project will: • Improve capacity, safety, and traffic operations • Maintain and improve local access • Maintain federal requirements for funding • Provide a northwest frontage road connection • Maintain multiuse trail connection • Maintain long-term transportation goals It is expected that the construction will create 230 jobs, with 18% committed to disadvantaged business enterprises. It is also expected that there will be five trainees on site who will receive 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. The project’s Equal Employment Opportunity Goals anticipate that 22% of the work will be done by people of color and 15% by women. Construction began in May and is expected to continue into 2022.

RODEO

odeo S Prese eries nted by RAM

; Bareback Bronc

; Calf Roping

; Pole Bending

; Steer Wrestling

; Saddle Bronc

; Goat Tying

; Barrel Racing

; Breakaway Roping

; Team Roping

; Bull Riding Photo by Linda Wagner

Hour ing 1 eo t r a t d S re Ro des Befo Ri y n Po e e des r F ) ay Ri H e e )Fr

Jonathan,15, has a contagious smile and a great sense of humor. He enjoys adult attention and is loyal to those he is close with. He can be very helpful especially when it comes to hands-on activities. He does well when he has a physical task to tackle, such as building something. Jonathan enjoys the outdoors where he can ride a four-wheeler, go biking and snowmobiling. His favorite activity is ﬁshing! Jonathan also likes animals and helps his foster parents with daily chores on their small farm. Jonathan is learning about gardening this summer and has his own garden beds to tend to. He also likes playing basketball and football. When he’s not outside, he can be found playing video games or working on building something. He is a very handson learner and enjoys taking things apart as well as reconstructing things.

Hugo, MN Between Forest Lake and Hugo on Highway 61 (170th Street & Hwy 61)

Free C owb First 10 oy Hats each pe 0 Kids rforma nce

Just west of roundabout

Friday June 11 7:00 pm Saturday June 12 7:00 pm Sunday June 13 12:00 noon

Jonathan needs a family who can provide structure, routine, and concrete expectations. He would prefer that he is either the youngest child or the only child in the home. He enjoys ﬁshing and doing other types of outdoor activities, so an active family would be ideal.

$10.00 Adult Daily Gate Price $15.00 3 Day Pass $5.00 18 years and under Children 5 and under Free 701052

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.

Construction begins on Highway 36/ Manning Avenue interchange

Minnesota High School Rodeo Finals state championship R 2021 at

year a n 23rd Our roke Are B Dead

SUBMITTED

The programs include setting up a vaccination clinic in Stillwater, supporting mobile vaccination efforts, providing translation options and creating community engagement sessions with cultural liaisons to diverse communities in the county.