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VOLUME 35
City briefs
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NUMBER 4
Our city is growing up Read what the Mayor has to say, on page 4.
The Planning Commission public hearing had 30 people talk about a rental ordinance proposal, see more on page 15.
Staff Writer
will speak April 4 about the new Kowalski's store. Community announcements, see more on page 9.
Several more residents write their thoughts about the future of the gatehouse. Read all the letters to the editor, see more on page 5.
Read about resident Steve Yoch and his new book about George Washington, see more on page 11.
Start the North Oaks News
April Meetings • Agendas available online •
CITY OF NORTH OAKS 100 Village Center Drive Suite 230 651-792-7750 www.cityofnorthoaks.com
Resident refuses to move brush pile By Sara Marie Moore
Kris Kowalski Christiansen
If your neighbors aren’t receiving the North Oaks News, ask them to call the circulation department at Press Publications, 651-4071234, to start and stop the paper. Newspapers cannot be forwarded, so delivery is stopped if they are returned to the publisher. Don’t forget that each edition is available online if you are away from home at www.presspubs.com/ north_oaks
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9
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CIRCLE PINES, MN
APRIL 2016
NORTH OAKS NEWS 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
News
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
North Oaks
— By Carol Beatty
Preview spring flowers at Garden Club workshop By North Oaks Garden Club members Calling all gardeners. As the days get warmer and longer, it’s time to start planning our outdoor spaces.
Whether you are new to gardening or an experienced gardener, the North Oaks Garden Club can help you achieve your gardening goals. The Garden Club will discuss new gardening trends and give
a preview of their plant sale at the Container Workshop Tues., April 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the West Rec Center Community, Room, 14 West Pleasant Lake Road.
See Garden Club – Page 3
NORTH OAKS — John Harris could be fined $100 if he doesn't remove a small oak wood brush pile from his yard — or move it to his garage. But Harris, an 82-year-old retired attorney, doesn't plan to budge his small gathering of branches located 40 feet up his driveway until the city changes its mind about a threatened citation. The 48-year resident of North Oaks wants to use the wood pile as a learning experience for the community — and encourage reconsideration of a 59-year-old requirement in city code. His wood pile came to be after a storm on Nov. 22 with straightline winds and about 3 inches of rain. The storm knocked down an oak tree and branches from two other oak trees. His driveway was blocked, so he called in Hugo's Tree Care to clear it the next day. “Two days later my nephew and his fiancee came with a chainsaw and axes and they spent about six hours cleaning up the mess,” said Harris. They took away two large trailer loads of wood and piled more wood by the driveway for easy access to the trailer upon their return. Then John received a letter
See Resident – Page 10
City Council meeting: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14
Natural Resources Commission meeting: 7 p.m. Thursday,April 21
Planning Commission meeting: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 31
NORTH OAKS HOME OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION (NOHOA) 100 Village Center Drive Suite 240 651-792-7765 www.nohoa.org
NOHOA Board meeting: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7
Architectural Supervisory Committee meeting: Meet in the NOHOA office 6:30 p.m. Mondays, April 4 and 18 All other meetings held in the Community Meeting Room 100 Village Center Drive, Suite 150
Rental housing and the future of North Oaks By Katy Ross In 2015, the City received a record number of complaints from residents about homes or yards that were in disrepair. This generated some letters and some discussion. Letters were sent from the City to homeowners notifying them of the concerns about their home or yard, asking them to repair or clean up their property. The discussion centered on what the City could do to more forcefully encourage homeowners to care for their property, if they chose not to follow through on the City’s requests. Unfortunately, the City of North Oaks does not have ordinances that govern how
homeowners must take care of their property. Some homeowners took care of the issues that were cited in the letters they received. Others chose not to do anything. Recently, the City began discussing how to deal with this situation. It is not unusual for residents to contact the City when their neighbors are not taking care of their property. The City decided that it needed something to respond to issues when individual properties needed some help. The Mayor met with the Planning Commission and asked the Commissioners to look into developing a housing maintenance code. A
steering committee was established and discussions continued and research began. From that research, the steering committee discovered that there are approximately forty homes being rented in North Oaks. After numerous discussions, it was decided that a rental ordinance was needed. The steering committee’s goal was to follow the basic premise of the Countryman Deed, which essentially says that lots in North Oaks are intended for single family residences. The proposed rental ordinance says that only one family can occupy a house. The lease must be a minimum of one year, and a homeowner may only rent one home.
In February, the Planning Commission felt that the initial draft of the rental ordinance was done and decided to hold a public hearing in order to get feedback from the community. The Community Meeting Room was full and the Commissioners listened to feedback. The public hearing was not closed, and will continue at the March 31 meeting if residents have additional feedback. The feedback that the Commissioners received was helpful. People gave the Planning Commissioners things to think about and the rental ordinance has been revised substantially based
See Rental Housing – Page 14
North Oaks News ~April 2016 ~ Page 3
Garden Club – From page 1 You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn new trends and preview some new plants. Treats and drawings for free plants will be provided, along with expert gardening advice. All gardeners and wanna-be gardeners are encouraged to join us. Order Forms The Garden Club Plant Sale preorder form is a great place to start when planning that burst of color for your yard or front steps. This year’s PreOrder Form is available for download at www.nogardenclub.com. Links provide photos and growing information for most plants. You can also request an order form via mail by contacting Nancy Hans at (651) 4813954. As noted on the form, preorders are due by Thursday, April 21. Order pickup is May 5 from 37 p.m. at Hill Farm. By placing a preorder, customers are assured of getting just the right quantity, variety, and color of desired plants, custom picked and loaded into their vehicles. The Garden Club hopes to make your plant shopping experience a breeze! New for 2016! Great Sunflower Challenge — This year the Garden Club will host a Great Sunflower Challenge for children. Free packets of sunflower seeds will be available at the Plant Sale for children to take home and plant. In September during Farm Fest, children can bring their sunflower plants where prizes will be given for the tallest plant and largest flower. New Plants — There are a number of new plant offerings available on this year’s PreOrder Form. The Garden Club is excited to offer some gorgeous new basket combinations, including some beautiful trailing Begonias. New plant offerings include Fennel, Stevia, Cute Gold Stuff Peppers, beautiful new Coleus to add color for both Sun and Shade, Sanvitalia (creeping yellow zinnias), Meuhlenbeckia (fairy vine) and a return of bedding impatiens, in addition to many new colors of old favorite plants. These are all high-quality plants at very competitive prices. They are also Neonicotinoid free, meaning they are healthy
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Pleasant Lake beach, East Rec, Southpointe Park and Chippewa Middle School, and many other community projects.
REQUESTED
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now! ring cleaning Do your sp spring donation e Rummage sal day is May 16 drop-off
including new landscaping at the West Rec Center, benches along our trails, holiday signpost decorations, plantings at our entrances, Mary Hill Park,
SERVICE
News
news.com
34 VOLUME
501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. Proceeds from the annual PreSale Order Form and Plant Sale support community projects in and around North Oaks,
NEWS NORTH OAKS Avenue 4779 BloomLake, MN 55110 White Bear
orth Oaks
northoaks
— By Carol Beatty
for all those pollinators that are essential to our environment. For photos and growing information for these and other plants available on the Presale Order Form, refer to the North Oaks Garden Club website, www. nogardenclub.com Plant Sale The Container Workshop and PreOrders are a precursor to the annual Plant Sale held at the Historic Hill Farm (35 Hill Farm Circle) on Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. You will find a huge variety of annuals, herbs and veggies, beautiful hanging baskets, and our popular perennial wagon with a wide variety of sun and shade perennials and peonies. Vendors with a variety of gift items will be there to help with your Mother’s Day shopping. There will also be a potting bench for kids to plant a free flower and pick up their sunflower seed packets for the Great Sunflower Challenge. Community Benefit Best of all? Your purchases will benefit the community. The North Oaks Garden Club is a
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Page 4 ~ North Oaks News ~April 2016
OPINION
Easter and beyond By Dick Leonard Easter just went by, April Fool's Day next, then comes the Master's golf tournament. Next is spring when everything turns green and our attitudes are lifted to another glorious season. Oh, spring is here! Looking back at March, it was a very interesting month with all of the political stuff. Now we all know the difference between a caucus and a primary. Thinking about caucuses reminded me that I caucused in April of 1960 for John F. Kennedy. Although the caucus date was seven months before my 21st birthday (remember it was 21 to vote until 1970) the chairman let me in to watch. Three weeks ago I caucused again and was surprised that the number of neighbors were about the same. The precinct chairman was elected along with delegates and alternates. The vote was taken and we all left. We did not stay for the platform discussions. I hope that you took advantage of that right we all have. Also in March the Planning Commission had almost 30 residents appear to give testimony about the proposed rental ordinance. See Councilman Ross' excellent summary of that meeting along with the Shoreview Press’ account. The hearing was continued for more testimony. There are many articles, community announcements and several letters to the editor that you will find interesting.
FROM THE EDITOR
DICK LEONARD Of particular importance is the Mayor’s article about our city. He is so right that we are not just some small town suburb of St Paul. Remember we had no sewers or public water for most homes until the middle '90s, no townhomes or senior residences until the last 20 years. Today most of our homes are serviced by individual septic systems and wells. Now we have four townhome developments, one senior residence (although there are five more within three miles of the front entrance), and soon to have our own sheriff. We have come a long way and have farther to go. Be sure to read the Mayor's comments. In May, there is the annual Hill Farm Historical Society dinner, which will commemorate the 100th year of James J. Hill’s death. Also mark your calendars for the Children's Hospital rummage drop off, the garden club sale of flowers for your yards and the home improvement event. See you there.
Lost and Found A resident found a gold bracelet by the walking bridge behind Peterson Place. If you lost it, please call the City or NOHOA and identify it and thank the finder. Kathy Carlson
North Oaks
News
In the ‘60s It’s not 1960 anymore. Back in the '60s when North Oaks had a few hundred homes, gravel roads, a manned gatehouse and was a small, semi-rural community, things were a lot different. The Homeowner’s Association was an intimate group who could meet at the North Oaks Golf Club and pretty much do what needed to be done in the community. Well, it’s not 1960 anymore and the needs of our community have changed with the times: the growth of the community and the growth of the communities around us. State and Federal statutes have imposed more requirements on us, and the development of more truly “suburban” neighborhoods such as Rapp Farm, The Pines and Summits and Charley Lake Preserve have really changed the population make-up of the community. It’s not 1960 anymore. With time and growth come issues that were not present in 1960, not just for North Oaks but for all communities. Every city faces ever-changing problems and needs as years pass and populations and culture changes. I often hear people say that “North Oaks is different,” and some of that is true, but in general we are not. We are a city with the same basic needs as any city. I say this because the City Council members and I have been asked why we are developing new ordinances (such as the Rental Ordinance) and beginning to enforce old ones (such as brush piles and rubbish laying around). Some have commented that we are trying to fix problems that don’t exist. Just because you are not aware of a problem and it doesn’t impact you, does not mean that it doesn’t exist. The fact is that we are experiencing issues with properties not being cared for. This issue extends to both the homes and the property. Poor upkeep of a home can impact the homes around them by degrading the aesthetics of the community and
FROM THE MAYOR
MIKE EGELSTON, MAYOR the property values. If you are trying to sell your home and the view from the kitchen window is of an adjacent home with peeling paint, screens in disrepair or a sagging roof, you are likely to experience problems with potential buyers. The same is true of fallen trees, brush piles and piles of exposed maintenance items. Our trees are aging and dying and various diseases are taking others. The storm last summer downed a lot of trees, many of which are still laying visible from the roads and the yards of neighbors; not a pretty sight. I have been confronted with the argument that the deadfalls and undergrowth is “natural.” That is simply not true. North Oaks is no longer “natural” because we have built homes here and have changed the natural order of things. “Natural” would be a wildfire every few years that would clean-out the old, dead wood and brush and renew the underlying forest floor; something that the National Forest Service and the State Department of Natural Resources recommend. Because we live here and have taken control of suppressing fires, we no longer have those self-renewing conflagrations. I am not suggesting that we cease fire control, only that we care for our properties in a reasonable, sustainable manner. A second issue that has arisen in conjunction with downed trees, brush and undergrowth is Lyme disease. While blamed primarily on “deer ticks,” Lyme is propagated beginning
with the mice that inhabit those wood and brush piles, nymphs transferred from the mice to larger animals (deer, fox, coyotes, turkeys and dogs) and then on to humans through contact in grass and undergrowth. The ticks do not do well in sunny environments, so the greater the layer of undergrowth the better they do. Please keep an eye out for, and read the information being published by the Tick Task Force, it is important. The primary task of the city government is to provide safety and security for all residents. Included in that is the “quiet enjoyment” of ones’ home. While you may not have personally had issues with renters in our community, there are many who have. Renters are not bad, but renters (and homeowners) who have not been made aware of the ordinances and rules of our community can create issues. The City is not trying to stop renters, but in working with the Sheriff ’s Department, we need to be aware of rental properties in order to better manage security. The renting of suburban, single family homes is on the rise across the nation and we wish to be forward-thinking regarding what that means for North Oaks. Please be informed, via the City website or through attending Planning Commission meetings (March 31 at 7 p.m.). I have had a number of calls from residents telling me that they have heard about the Rental Ordinance and complaining that we can’t stop people from renting. When I ask if they have read the proposed ordinance, I often hear “no.” Being informed is important, before you take a position. We need to maintain North Oaks as a premier community in Minnesota and right now I’m worried that is not happening. We need to be aware of the needs of residents and families in 2016 and beyond. It’s not 1960 anymore and we as a city need to be cognizant of that, planning for the next 20 years of our city’s life.
www.northoaksnews.com
Editorial Dick Leonard, Editor (612) 749-8235, cell phone northoaksnews@presspubs.com Multimedia Representative Leanne Swanson 651-407-1223 northoaks@presspubs.com Published monthly by Press Publications Copyright © 2016
Next Issue: May 2016 Mailed Wednesday, April 27, 2016 Ad/Want Ad/Celebrations Deadline: Monday, 4/11/16 Letters to the Editor/ Editorial Submissions Due: Monday, 4/11/16 Deliver Announcements and Letters to: Dick Leonard, Editor northoaksnews@presspubs.com
Please email northoaksnews@presspubs.com if you would like to receive a monthly email reminder of these deadlines. If you or someone you know would like to receive the paper and live in North Oaks please call 651-407-1200 8 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday
Q. How do I dispose of chemicals and other hazardous waste? A. If a container has the words CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER, or POISON on the label and still has product inside, it doesn’t belong in the trash. These products are considered household hazardous waste. Examples of household hazardous waste include: paint, solvents, adhesives,
aerosol cans, used motor oil and filters, antifreeze, items with mercury, oven cleaner, drain opener, cell phones, propane tanks, pool chemicals, rechargeable batteries, button batteries, and weed or insect killers. Please bring these items to the St. Paul-Bay West Collection Site, located at 5 Empire Drive in St. Paul. There are other collection sites available, but are only open during certain months of the year. For items not listed above, hours of collection, and locations of other collection sites, please call 651-633-EASY (3279). You can
also go to RamseyRecycles. com and click on the purple “Household Hazardous Waste” button. In addition to dropping off unwanted products, residents can find free products like paints, automotive fluids, and pesticides at the Product Reuse Center, also located at the Bay West site. Product availability and selection will vary. Must be 18 or older to take products. Let’s keep hazardous materials from contaminating our environment! Recycling committee
North Oaks News ~April 2016 ~ Page 5
LETTERS Improve the gatehouse Zachary Bailey I would like to voice my support for any action by the council or NOHOA board that reinforces our rights to maintain private ownership of the roads within North Oaks. Also, I would like to voice my support for the maintenance and improvement of the gatehouse. As part of that maintenance I would like to urge the board to install a new high-tech gate system at the gatehouse and all entrances to North Oaks. A system that would be installed and maintained, but not utilized unless it is decided by the NOHOA board or our community service officer that it should be activated. The system should utilize a card key that is issued to all NOHOA members and emergency service, post office, etc. as decided by the board. Once again, this system would not be utilized except in case of an emergency as decided by the board or CSO.
Question environmental soundness Bonnie Grzeskowiak First I would like to thank the Tick Task Force for all of their work. Over the years I have tried to educate myself on Lyme's disease and how to prevent it. I have had four nymph deer ticks on me, one transplanted from Maryland and the rest gathered around our neighborhood. I realize that I could have done a better job on the preventative side of the equation. I have learned to tuck my pants into my socks and to always have a visual check when I get indoors. Two major things that I can do to protect myself. We also spray our clothing but I think that the visual checks are crucial. I am concerned about one approach that was reported in the last article in the North Oaks News: " Professionally applied treatments" I think was the term, into the forest floor. That approach was neither defined or elaborated on and I do have concerns of applying " treatments" into our forest floor to what I assume is to kill the mice. The " treatment" was neither described nor was the intended target defined. I wouldn't consider that approach to be environmentally sound if it is a poison as there will be unintended ingestion by others that live in our forests like hawk, owls and other critters. In addition to the forest dwellers
there are a lot of resident dogs that may find these " treated" mice and the "treatment" transfers to them. I don't see how putting "treatments" in the forest floor is a safe approach and would hope that idea would be rethought before implementing it if those " treatments" include a poison of some sort. We regularly have mouse traps set around our home and garage and the supply of mice is never ending but we would never set out poison to reduce the population as we don't consider that approach to be environmentally sound.
Gatehouse should stay John C Watson Dick Leonard, you asked for our thoughts about the gatehouse and its future. I have asked a number of people who do not live in North Oaks and the answer always comes back the same. Driving along Highway 96, the gatehouse is the “face” of the community. “It has always been there, it is a symbol of what is beyond it.” In my opinion, it has got to stay if only a shell of a building with no purpose other than being the entrance to our community. Maybe someone will come up with a more creative idea, but it does need to represent the main entrance to a very special community.
TO THE
EDITOR
the summer heat and need constant attention and watering is not very appealing to the eye. Everything North Oaks stands for would suggest you need to use native prairie grasses and flowers. Once it is established, it maintains itself, doesn’t need watering and are deer resistant. If you look at the nice grasses and plantings around the Maplewood mall and other city areas nearby, you will see now nice they look. They were done by Prairie Restoration in Scandia (they will come out and do it all – the right way! http://www.prairieresto. com/). ALL of the North Oaks entrances should look like this. Note some awesome examples of their work. Isn’t this what James J. Hills vision was?
— Submitted
Gatehouse an icon Kate Winsor My household is in favor of keeping the gatehouse intact and at its current location. It is an icon and perhaps serves as a deterrent to unwanted visitors. Maybe it could be used as an additional storage area. Thanks for collecting opinions.
Native plants would help David and Vicky Winter Yes! Keep the guardhouse. It is a part of North Oaks history. We don’t think the building is an eyesore at all. If anything is an eyesore, it is the entrance to Preserve Trail on the north. The “island” is filled with rocks, weeds, and scraggly juniper bushes. This makes it seem like we don’t care how our city looks. It would actually be nice if the guardhouse was resided with some nice cedar or log siding. We appreciate the attempts at beautifying the yard, but they were just attempts. Planting annuals that wilt in
— Submitted
Letter to the Editor Michael Robertson North Oaks City Administrator Mr. Leo Harris has claimed that the City of North Oaks should not have an ordinance prohibiting brush piles. In fact, complaints about brush piles are one of the more common complaints I receive. As the North Oaks Tick Borne Disease Task Force has determined, brush piles are one of the homes for the mice that carry the disease causing ticks. Therefore cleaning brush piles up is a public health issue, not just an aesthetic issue. When Mr. Harris received a letter in December asking him to clean up his brush piles, that letter made no mention of citations, it was just to make Mr.
Harris aware of the ordinance. Mr. Harris’s response was to threaten a lawsuit if the City pursued enforcement of its ordinance further. When no cleanup was done and he received a second letter, his attorney called me. One of the brush piles was subsequently removed and one remains. That is where the issue stands now. The City has no intention of pursuing this criminally; our courts have more important things to take care of. We will continue to work with Mr. Harris on this matter and if he does not come into compliance with the ordinance, he will receive citations until he does.
Threats in letter a last resort John Harris Whenever a city administrator sends a threatening letter to a resident, that letter should be correct from a factual and a legal perspective and, above all, represent the policy of the city concerned. The letters to me failed this test on all three scores. How to resolve this? The mayor and city council members should affirm a clear and rational policy to govern all situations in which a resident is being threatened with fines and imprisonment. Such threats should only be made as a last resort. Such threats must take full account of the facts in each case. What are the elements of a policy that should apply in any wood pile case? Clearly wood piles should be removed if they are composed of disease-bearing elements (oak wilt, etc.), are a fire hazard, endanger residents who are walking on pathways, or if piles obstruct the safe driving of automobiles. Should a resident be cited for having created a neat brush pile, while his neighbor who has allowed trees, branches and brush to accumulate where they have fallen, is ignored? And, should there be different rules for vacant lots? In addition, North Oaks is a diverse place. The residents are each entitled to their vision. The esthetic here is vastly different. Any policy must reflect these differences. Any such letter to the resident should rationally and fairly describe the factual situation and explain what is expected, and why. One does
not achieve a meaningful result by blithely quoting an ordinance! Finally, the process should never be complaint-driven. Any enforcement of punitive ordinances should be uniformly sought, applicable evenly to all residents. This may all amount to a tempest in a tea pot, but the fact you have read my words to this point seems to indicate that the issues are of interest to you. And if residents are interested in a particular problem, then it is capable of being resolved. We can solve local problems together; we the residents ultimately approve the policies. North Oaks is our city. Such problems are rarely, if ever, resolved satisfactorily by city administrators alone.
Make a statement with gatehouse Ted Risdall It would be grand to really dress up the gate house. Obviously, the house is quaint and historic, but what’s the future of North Oaks look like? We’ve grown. There are very few areas in the Twin Cities that are gated or can even be gated. My question would be why not bring back a great gatehouse that makes a statement to the community and becomes a sales and marketing opportunity to build out the rest of the community. I would be surprised if this did not have an immediate affect on property values and also the amount of ‘out of state’ folks wanting to locate to North Oaks. This should also impact great private schools in the area. We need to compare ourselves to other high end gated communities in the country. What are they doing to make those communities really work? We have a lot of seasonal and also folks that travel often - how to make them feel protected while away. There is more than enough space with the parking lot to do something impactful and yet tasteful to the heritage of North Oaks. Yes, we do live in Mayberry where nothing seems to ever happen - the point is step it up.
North Oaks News Letter to the Editor Guidelines Letters to the editor are limited to 350 words. Statements that cannot be confirmed by the newspaper may be removed, or the writer may be asked to submit proof of their accuracy. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and grammar. Up to two signatures may accompany each letter
to the editor, and each must include the telephone number and address of the writer. All letters will be verified. The North Oaks News will not publish letters to the editor that have been copied from another source and/or mailed out in bulk.
It is the intent of North Oaks News staff to publish only letters originating from writers living in North Oaks. An identification line may be added to some letters to help readers identify the writer by title or occupation.The North Oaks News reserves the right not to publish any letter.
North Oaks News ~April 2016 ~ Page 7
Welcome spring! Experience the Difference... By Kimberly Murray Executive Director, NOHOA In Minnesota, we have the pleasure of the changing seasons and as I write this article, winter is slowly leaving and the first signs of spring are appearing. The skating rinks are closed, the snow piles are melting and we eagerly await the first buds of spring. As the seasons change, new tasks and concerns are coming to the fore for us as well. It is a mere two months until the Community Fair and the beach opening. The 2016 Community Fair is scheduled for June 11 and we have begun the planning. Michelle and I invite everyone to send ideas, your interest in volunteering, or sponsorship payments to the North Oaks Home Owners’ Association office (NOHOA). In 2015, NOHOA had a great group of lifeguards working at the beach and we hope many of them return this summer. We are also looking for new candidates and a new head lifeguard and Assistant head lifeguard for this coming summer. If you know someone who has lifeguard certification and is looking for a summer job, please have them check the website for an application or contact Michelle at the NOHOA office. NOHOA is pleased to once again be offering summer programs for youth through Next Level Sports and Robin Coverdale, tennis pros. More information about program schedules and fees is posted on the NOHOA website and at the NOHOA office. If you’re looking for ways to keep
the kiddos busy this summer, we have options! Speaking of busy, the NOHOA Board of Directors is truly embracing the concept of longrange planning. The recent approval of a Strategic Plan has positioned the Board to think longterm, to use research to support decision making and to put maintenance of NOHOA’s privacy at the forefront of all discussions. The Board of Directors has established a number of committees to look at several aspects of the community and generate comprehensive input into possible approaches. The Board is engaging consultants to provide expertise and objective evaluation and will use new tools such as the Strategy Screen and Cost Benefit Analysis to determine priorities and guide decision-making and action plans. Finally, as I get back to my original thoughts, with the onset of spring, I invite you to get out of your homes and onto the trails – enjoy the fresh air, the trees budding and the birds singing. And, if you happen to be on the one section of the Pleasant Lake Trail near Ironwood Lane and the island, check out the new trail signs that have been posted. A small sampling of signs have been installed, as a trial, to see what folks think about the new design and information posted. Send your feedback on the new signs to nohoa@ comcast.net. Continuing steps in the process will be based on the responses received.
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NOHOA welcomes your participation By Myra Coleman NOHOA Treasurer As I reflect upon the political climate in the United States in recent months, I can't help but marvel at the wide range of viewpoints that coexist in our country. We Americans take pride in being a "melting pot" of cultures and ideologies. Our elections represent democracy at its best and this year, while controversial, is no exception. On a smaller scale, North Oaks is also home to demographic groups that have differing viewpoints and goals. We also seem to have a tradition of being fairly inactive when it comes to voting (our voter turnout rate was under 30 percent for the 2016 budget, for example). The good news is that the silent majority is probably pretty satisfied with status quo. Ultimately, an unengaged electorate is not advantageous to our growing and changing community, though. In the coming months, the NOHOA Board will be inviting the community to share its
opinions on an array of possible capital improvement projects aimed at maintaining and enhancing our common assets and quality of life. We would like your perspective on a wide range of projects of varying focus and scope. Our newly developed Strategic Plan will provide the foundational guidelines from which we will develop the projects. Broad community education and participation are crucial to determining the direction that will benefit the greatest number of residents. Please take some time to review the ideas and proposed projects as they come forth. Also, as much as possible, consider not only your own personal best interests, but also the collective interests of your older and younger neighbors. By working together, we can ensure the future viability (and vitality) of this unique and beautiful community we call home.
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Page 8 ~ North Oaks News ~April 2016
NOHOA 2016 Strategic Plan By Kathleen Emmons The North Oaks Home Owners’ Association (NOHOA) Board has prepared and recently approved a new Strategic Plan. The 2016 Plan is the product of a collaborative effort between the NOHOA Board of Directors and Cincinnatus, a consulting group specializing in strategic initiatives for nonprofit organizations and community development. The plan was developed over a three-month period in 2015 and formally adopted by the Board on Feb. 4, 2016. The plan flows out of the long-standing NOHOA Vision, Mission and Values. It is designed to function as a broadly scoped road map for the direction of the association. This plan encompasses four strategic areas of focus: Stewardship, Community, Reputation and Operations. Each area has a specific goal and supporting strategies that will be further developed into specific action agendas with input from the Membership as the plan unfolds. So, a little bit of context: North Oaks, a private, planned residential community covering approximately 5,548 acres of rolling wooded hills, fields, lakes, and wetlands in northern Ramsey County, was established in 1883 by railroad magnate James J. Hill. North Oaks continues to reflect its heritage and the values of its founder by allowing the topography, drainage, woodlands, and wetlands to remain undisturbed as much as possible as roads and homes are built. The value of privacy and seclusion for the residents is reflected in the covenants,
restrictions, and easements entrusted to NOHOA. As a condition of privacy, all road easements, recreational grounds and facilities, trails/ trail easements, and other properties are held in common by the Membership and maintained by NOHOA. When NOHOA was established as a nonprofit organization in 1950, all systems and services within North Oaks were planned at a rural level. Over the years, the number of Members living within North Oaks has grown significantly, from the original 14 lots sold in 1950 to over 1,700 homes and over 4,400 residents currently. As of 2016, the North Oaks community has several recorded sub-associations, representing diverse new communities within its borders. The NOHOA Membership collectively owns all of our shared community assets. The 10-seat NOHOA Board of Directors (nine are volunteer Members of NOHOA, elected by their fellow Members, and one is a representative of the North Oaks Company) works in partnership with the City of North Oaks, the North Oaks Company, and other stakeholders to manage shared community assets. In order to effectively manage an ever-increasing complexity of services and facilities, the Board has undertaken a series of initiatives including: hiring an executive director to assist with the implementation of initiatives and manage administration of the organization; commissioning a Reserve Study (2012) to provide a 30-year schedule of planned maintenance of existing
assets; commissioning a Brand Identity Study to develop a single, unified brand for the North Oaks community; and most recently, commissioning the development of this Strategic Plan. In order to effectively manage an ever-increasing complexity of services and facilities, the Board has undertaken a series of initiatives. Recently, the Board hired an executive director to assist with the implementation of initiatives and to manage the administration of the organization. To better anticipate future maintenance
costs, the Board commissioned a Reserve Study in 2012 that provides a 30-year schedule of planned maintenance of existing assets. More recently, the Board commissioned a Brand Identity Study to develop a single, unified brand for the North Oaks community. In addition, the Board has commissioned the development of this Strategic Plan. The Plan: The purpose of NOHOA’s Strategic Plan is to inform and guide an overarching vision and inspire corresponding action for the North Oaks community as managed and enhanced by
the collective efforts of the Board and its partners and collaborators. This plan is designed to ensure that the private ownership of North Oaks’ shared resources remains intact for current and future generations. It strives to support NOHOA’s capacity for sound stewardship of North Oaks’ shared assets (privacy, natural environment, and infrastructure); to foster community by informing, engaging, and serving NOHOA Members; to enhance and promote North Oaks’ reputation as a premier community in the Twin Cities; and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of NOHOA’s operations. A top-line version of the 2016 NOHOA Strategic Plan is presented here for your review. The full plan will be made available on the NOHOA website in the coming weeks. Please take a minute to read through the plan. We hope you will see the tremendous potential reflected in its broadly defined Goals and Strategies. We also hope – as per the plan – you will choose to engage with us as we move forward to identify community priorities and develop an action agenda that aligns with your own vision of our unique and amazing community. We invite you to reach out to us with your questions or comments on the Plan and look forward to working with you to make our exceptional community the best it can be.
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North Oaks News ~April 2016 ~ Page 9
NOTEWORTHY NOHOA NEWS Now hiring NOHOA is now accepting applications for lifeguards during the summer of 2016. Applications are available through the NOHOA office and on the website.
• A presentation on the activities of the Parks and Recreation committee was presented by committee chair, Greg Mack.
Baseball fields and Soccer fields
From the March 3 Board of Directors Meeting: • The Board approved a resolution to support the GreenCorps host site application. • The Board approved agreements with summer camp vendors. • The Board approved a policy for no smoking on NOHOA properties. • The Board approved a change to the Bylaws, officially recognizing Rapp Farm Phase V, the Villas of Wilkinson Lake, Phases I, II, and III, and Red Forest Way, Phase IIA, as new subdivisions within the NOHOA boundaries. • The Board approved the designation of $30,000 in unbudgeted income from 2015 (based on the number of new homes in the community), to be assigned to the operating account to be used for Consultants – Roads/ Drains/Towers/Capital Improvements/Research/Etc.
Coaches wanting to schedule practices on North Oak’s fields must submit a written request to the NOHOA office. The form is on line and a team roster must be attached. Teams can request two practice times per week, from 5:30-7:00 or from 7-8:30 p.m. weeknights. (Contact the office for weekend options.) Field assignments are based on the number of NOHOA members on each team. For additional questions or to schedule a practice (one week in advance), contact the NOHOA office at 651.792.7765.
The Community Fair is coming, the Community Fair is coming….. The Great North Oaks Get-Together will be held on Saturday, June 11, at the West Rec Area. Ideas, sponsors, and volunteers are all welcome! Plans
are in place for a 10K run/walk around Pleasant Lake, the parade, a kids’ race around the soccer fields, a carnival with food and games, a resident dog show and more! Come see what is new in 2016 or offer to sponsor an awesome activity. New volunteers are always welcome and there is never too much help, food, games or fun. Please call NOHOA at 651-792-7765 for more information or to sign up….soon.
Community Garden Plots, Boat Moorings, and Canoe Racks Registration forms for community garden plots, boat moorings and canoe racks are due in the NOHOA office as soon as possible. Registration forms are available on the website and space is limited! Be sure to reply – if you have not already – so you don’t lose your space. Boat mooring and canoe rack usage also requires a copy of the watercraft license be submitted to the NOHOA office. Rates are $50 for a garden plot, $75 for a canoe rack and $100 for a sailboat mooring.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS to be at or run every event. If members don’t step up then the event doesn’t happen. Social Club is a great way for friends to get together regularly. Those involved in Social Club love it! So please consider taking a leap to more involvement.
Update on new store:
– Submitted
These fantastic women of Social Club spent a night on retreat at the family cabin of Mari Eckblad in February. From left: Mari Eckblad, Jane McCampbell, Kirsten Long, Beth Fruehling, Deb Breen, Jenny Landon, Faith Ralston and Heidi Carlson.
Social Club: Save the date for the Newcomer’s spring party Friday, April 8. Anyone new to Social Club within the last two years is welcome to attend. If you are new to North Oaks and want to check out Social Club, this is a good opportunity to meet new people in a casual and friendly environment. Social Club members check your email for an Evite. April Food and Friends will be held on Thursday, April 21 at the home of Jen Motta. This event is for the women of Social Club and includes a meal and wine. Social Club is open to all residents. Attend an event or two to learn more before joining.
Details can be found at www. cityofnorthoaks.com under Community Organizations. Event details are sent to members via Evite and are also updated on Facebook. Don’t know anything about NOSC? Find out more by contacting Deb Breen at jdbreen123@msn.com. Social Club is looking for a new president or co-presidents to help organize/schedule events next year. It’s easy to do and a fantastic way to meet new people. Primary tasks include sending out meeting notices and leading the monthly planning meetings, welcoming new residents interested in Social Club, and lining up homes for events. It is not necessary for the president
Kris Kowalski Christiansen will be the speaker at the monthly North Oaks Network meeting on April 4, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 101 Village Center. Come and learn what we have in store for us at their new store. Any questions call Tina Liiste, 484-6814.
Hill Farm Dinner: Save the date for the Annual Hill Farm Historical Dinner on May 13. This year is the 100 year since the passing of James J Hill. More information will appear in the May North Oaks News and will be followed with a letter.
Villagers April Announcements: Book Club: Lydia Hatterscheid, 2996 Cleveland Ave N, #302, Roseville, will host the group on Tuesday, April 5, at 9:45 a.m. The book is “Circling the Sun,” by Paula McLain. Jackie Pihl will provide
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the research. Please RSVP to Lydia at 651-483-3697. The book for May is “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr.
Bridge: Join your friends for Bridge on Friday, April 8, at 9:30 a.m., in the card room at the North Oaks Golf Club. To play contact Jane Conlin, at 651-484-4448, by Friday, April 1.
Needle Workers/ Come for Coffee: Kathy Rich, 40 County Road F, Vadnais Heights, will host a morning of crafts and coffee, on Tuesday, April 12, at 9:30 A.M. RSVP to Kathy at 651-728-0050, by Monday, April 11th.
Recipe Exchange: Our luncheon will be hosted by Linda Pederson, 5 West Shore Road, on Monday, April 25, at 11:30 a.m. Our theme this month is “Whatever,” so have fun sharing a dish you love! Call Linda at 651-483-2203, to RSVP and receive a course assignment.
Institute of Arts, on Thursday, April 28 to view the beautiful floral arrangements paired with works of art! Following our tour, we will have lunch at a nearby restaurant to be determined. Carpooling will be available from the North Oaks Golf Club at 9:00 a.m. Please RSVP to Sue McDougall at, 651-4848053, before April 25, to verify if you will be carpool, and attending lunch. This is always a beautiful fun event, so don’t miss it!!
Feed My Starving Children: Villagers are volunteering at the mobile packing event being held at Incarnation Lutheran Church, in Shoreview, on Monday, May 2, from 5-7 p.m. The Incarnation goal for this year is to pack 750,000 meals, that will feed approximately 2054 kids. We will go to dinner, at a nearby restaurant, following our shift. Please RSVP to Joy Burdick, at 651-307-6338, by Friday, April 15, to join the team. This event is not only worthwhile but very fun!!
About Town/ Out-to-Lunch: Villages is going to “Art in Bloom,” at the Minneapolis
Better Gas For Better Cars!
Page 10 ~ North Oaks News ~April 2016
Resident – From page 1
— Sara Marie Moore | Press Publications
An oak wood brush pile, left, stands as a “memorial” against a “threatening” letter North Oaks resident John Harris received from City Hall. from the city on Dec. 3. “City Hall has received complaints that items on your property are in violation of the North Oaks City Code,” read the letter signed by City Administrator Michael Robertson. “Specifically, there are several piles of brush along your driveway.” The letter went on to state a city ordinance which prohibits downed trees, branches and brush piles, unless they are enclosed in containers. Harris was “galled” at the “unseemly haste” of the letter. “I’m 82 years old; I am not supposed to pick up a piece of wood,” he said. So John wrote a letter back on Dec. 7, stating he would not comply. He received another “threatening” letter from the city on Jan. 8. “A recent inspection showed that these piles of brush remain,” read the letter, again signed by Robertson. “As the previous
letter noted, outside storage of materials is not allowed under city code. Please remove these materials or store them in the garage. The city will recheck the property in two weeks. If these materials remain you [will] be cited for violating city ordinances.” Harris started asking his neighbors, several of whom have had brush piles themselves, if they had ever received such letters. Of the 10 neighbors he spoke to, none had ever received such a letter. Meanwhile, he became aware of the penalty listed in the city code for violation of the refuse pile ordinance. “Any person violating any provision … shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $700 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 30 days or both,” reads the ordinance, passed in 1957. “I doubt they would do that, but
you have to take these things seriously,” said Harris, who was a lawyer for the State Department in Washington, D.C. “I hired a lawyer just to make sure,” said Harris. “He agreed to represent me if anything happens.” But Robertson said a misdemeanor charge would likely never happen. The courts are busy with other things, like DWIs, he said. Instead, the city delivers administrative citations, starting at $100, to those who do not comply after 2-3 notices. But Robertson also has no plans yet to cite Harris. “I have no plans to cite him at this time, but it could go that way,” said Robertson. “He is making progress and that is fine.” Robertson said he sent Harris a third letter, thanking him for cleaning up one of his brush piles and asking for the second one to be cleaned up. But Harris said he has not received it yet and that he
did not clean up any of his brush. There may have confusion as to how many brush piles he had, as there is a pile of stacked wood next to his brush pile, which is allowed. In 2015, Robertson sent about 170 letters to residents regarding brush piles, junk cars and the like. The city gave six citations for nuisance violations last year, but none were regarding brush piles. Five of the 25 notice letters he has written so far in 2016 were regarding brush piles. The city has been enforcing this code for many years, he said, when residents complain. If City Hall receives a complaint about a brush pile visible from the street or an adjoining property, Robertson will verify it himself before issuing a letter. “We are driven only by complaints,” he said. “I've found most places will clean up. The purpose is really just to keep people's property cleaned up.” Harris wants to see changes in city policy and procedure
regarding brush piles and said it doesn't really belong in the ordinance regarding garbage and other similar items. “I just don't think it is right,” he said. “I've always had a sense of the underdog.” He also said there should be a differentiation for old North Oaks and new North Oaks, which has few trees. He said residents in old North Oaks enjoy the more rustic wooded feel. “I think there is a different mentality here,” he said. “This is an area of rolling hills and lots of trees.” Harris's brush pile has become sentimentally significant to him and he doesn't plan on moving it. “At the moment it is going to sit there as a memorial or monument to the stupidity,” he said. “If the city comes to its senses, of course I will clean it up. If they withdraw the letter and say they will clean up their act, of course the pile will go immediately. It is a learning experience, is my feeling.”
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North Oaks News ~April 2016 ~ Page 11
North Oaks Author’s Book Takes Off By Dick Leonard Steve Yoch grew up in North Oaks and returned with his family to raise his two sons and practice law in Minneapolis. Yoch explains,“As the boys became teenagers and more time became available, I began to think more and more about writing a book that was buzzing about in the back of my mind like a bug bite that couldn’t be itched.” With his wife Andrea’s support, he began researching and writing "Becoming George Washington." As a lawyer, Yoch has written and taught extensively on legal topics, but writing a historical novel was something new. “Sitting in my back yard, with the woods surrounding me, I found myself transported to Washington’s time. Writing the book was one of the most energizing experiences of my life.” Yoch has admired Washington as not only our foremost founding father, but as the indispensable man of the Revolution. As he examined Washington’s life in detail, the human side of Washington became even more interesting, especially Washington’s early years. Far from the powdered haired general and president, the young Washington was a true “action hero” at the center of the French and Indian War. Washington’s youth was far from ideal. His father died when he was only 11 and his mother did not remarry (contrary to the convention of the time). Mary Washington was a stern, harsh and unforgiving mother with whom Washington struggled his whole life. Driven not only by an inward fire, but also a desire to escape his mother’s clutches, Washington embraced a military career. At age 21, through luck
and happenstance he found himself heading the Virginia Militia and playing a central role in causing the French and Indian War. During the war, he had numerous horses shot out from under him, bullets through his hat and he behaved with both profound military incompetence, as well as undeniable bravery. At the same time, and more controversially, Yoch believes Washington had an affair with a married woman and close family friend, Sally Fairfax. At the time of the affair, Washington was not married and believed he was at death’s door. In writing his book, Yoch wanted to take a different approach than many authors. While the book is a historical novel, there are extremely extended author’s notes at the end of the book, describing the more controversial events and explaining how major historians have interpreted these unsettled issues. Yoch completed the book in 2015 and it has received positive reviews. His book was selected as a “Fall Read” by the Pioneer Press, and Yoch was recently named a Literati by the Landmark Center in St. Paul. His speech at the Landmark Center on May 14 at 10 a.m. is open to the public. Yoch’s book has also had extensive media coverage on TV and radio. He has enjoyed touring and making speeches at local groups throughout the region, as well as meeting with book clubs. Yoch recently spoke at Waverly Gardens. Copies of his book are available at Hummingbird Floral & Gifts, owned by North Oaks resident Lugene Olson, as well as online. More information on the book is available at: www. becominggeorgewashington. com.
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Above: Steve Yoch Right: Yoch’s book cover
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North Oaks News ~April 2016 ~ Page 13
Don’t miss the Home Improvement Fair The third annual Home Improvement Fair (HIF) will be held on Sunday, April 17 from 2-5 p.m. at the North Oaks Golf Club. Many of last year's participants are returning, and there are lots of new and interesting experts joining the HIF. A variety of exhibitors will be available to answer questions. There will be landscaping and tree companies, home and kitchen remodelers and builders, home entertainment professionals, green builders, HVAC professionals, a glass company, realtors, painters, designers, architects, flooring and carpeting experts, a door and
We moved — Again!
shutter company and window treatment companies. Even a handyman! Door prizes will be given out throughout the afternoon and complimentary snacks will be provided. A list of participating companies is available at www. northoakscommunity foundation.org, and is being updated as more companies are added to the event. HIF is sponsored by the North Oaks Community Foundation. Questions can be sent to nocf2014@aol.com. Submitted by North Oaks Community Foundation
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– Submitted
Carol Bourgeois, left and Karin Green.
Children’s Hospital Guild II plan rummage sale Co -chairs Karin Green and Carol Bourgeois are planning for the spring donation drop-off that is set for May 14, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Recreation Center. To arrange for a furniture pick-up within North Oaks call Bev Ogren at 651-490-1700 or Mary Leonard at 651-762-7023 no later than Mon., May 9. The sale is scheduled for
Sept. 17 and 18 at the Shoreview Ice Arena. Proceeds, after expenses, go to the Children’s Hospital Association and support programs and services not covered in the annual budget for the hospital. Please see www. northoaksrummagesale.org for more information. Submitted
OFF
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– File photo
Page 14 ~ North Oaks News ~April 2016
Rental Housing – From page 1 on their feedback. For example, the vacant property section of the ordinance was removed entirely. The revised ordinance can be found on the City’s website in the Ordinance section (www.cityofnorthoaks.com). The City is responsible to protect the safety, security, general welfare and privacy of the all residents in North Oaks. People in North Oaks rent their homes for many different reasons, and the
City needs to ensure that these residents have the ability to rent their homes when needed. However, that ability cannot come at the expense of other North Oaks residents. That means that the City needs to know when a home is being rented and who is renting it in order to do its job. The rental ordinance will help the City do just that. Once the rental ordinance is completed, work will begin on
a housing maintenance code. Feedback from the attendees following the February 25 Planning Commission meeting indicated that the City should have something in place to handle issues with any homes that are in disrepair, not just rental homes. Again, that is something that the City’s ordinances do not handle today. The City needs to be able to respond to issues when
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residents are concerned about property upkeep. In some cases, a homeowner may not even know that there is an issue with their property and a reminder is all it will take to resolve the issue. In other cases, a homeowner may not be able physically or financially update the property and the City should be able to help deal with the situation. The rental ordinance is about
maintaining and planning for the future of the City of North Oaks. It is the City’s responsibility to preserve natural resources and properties so that future generations can benefit as much as we do today. Current residents have benefited from the efforts and careful planning that was done in the 1950s and it is important that we continue to plan for the next generation’s future.
WANTED: A Few Good Women… For Martinis, Manicures, Fashion & Fun By Kathy Carlson Hey ladies, time is quickly running out to RSVP for the fabulously fun event planned for Thursday, April 7 at the North Oaks Golf Club. This event has it all – a sit-down four course dinner (choice of salmon or chicken), a fashion show by Frank Murphy, a presentation on the latest in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology by Dr. Neil Shah from Clarus Dermatology, manicures, massages, shopping with a variety of vendors, a wine auction and, of course, a cash bar. What else could you possibly
want in one action-packed evening? Tickets are $40 and reservations can be made by mailing a check payable to NOCHA Guild 1 to 50 W. Lake Dr. North Oaks, MN 55127 by April 4. Please indicate your choice of chicken or salmon. Space is limited and is quickly filling up so don’t delay. What better way to usher in spring than with some fabulous new clothes, dynamite jewelry, a beautiful manicure, glowing skin… The list goes on and on. We will see you at 5:30 on April 7 at the North Oaks Golf Club.
Friends of the Ramsey County libraries host used book sale
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ROSEVILLE – The Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries is hosting a Used Book Sale April 20-24 at Roseville Library, 2180 Hamline Ave. N. Thousands of books, movies, talking books and CDs from all seven branches of Ramsey County Library, as well as private donations, will be sold. Most items sell for $1 or less. Books are pre-sorted by genre in fiction, several non-fiction categories, children and young adult books to make shopping easier for book lovers. Sale hours are 2-5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20 for an exclusive “Friends Members Only” pre-sale. A membership can be purchased for $20 at the sale. Public sale hours are: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23 Noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 24 “$3 Bag Sale” Proceeds from the Friends book sales and used book stores benefit Ramsey County public libraries in Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North St.
Paul, Roseville, Shoreview and White Bear Lake. About Friends of the Ramsey County Library The Friends of the Ramsey County Library is dedicated to supporting the libraries in making information, books, music and programs available to the public. The organization sponsors many special programs including the Summer Reading Program for children and teens; free computer classes for all ages; book clubs, and author events. Volunteers operate used book stores at the Maplewood, Roseville and Shoreview libraries and a book cart at Mounds View and White Bear Lake to help fund projects. Since 1979, hundreds of Friends members, volunteers, and donors have provided more than $3.5 million in funding, materials, equipment, and enhancements to Ramsey County libraries located in Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Ramsey Library, St. Paul, Roseville, Shoreview and White Bear Lake. Contact Sue Gehrz at sgehr@rcl.ramsey. lib.mn.us
North Oaks News ~April 2016 ~ Page 15
Youth finds work – From page 12
– By Sara Marie Moore Press Publications
Top: Abriana Anderson works on spring raking at the home of Nancy Shreve, a senior she works for through the Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS) Senior Chore Program. Above: Nancy Shreve, left, enjoys having Abriana Anderson, a White Bear Lake High School junior, assist her with chores around her home.
out with volunteered with NYFS for its annual spring cleanup for seniors. She saw a flier about ongoing jobs assisting seniors with NYFS. The $9-10 hourly wage for youth sounded good to her. “I was only 16,” she said. “That’s pretty good money.” But now she has a different motivation for her work with the program. She said thinking of her own grandmother and someday her mom needing help and not necessarily being able to be in the area to help them causes her to keep helping Nancy. And she just has a servant heart. “I really like serving others,” she said. “I just have a heart for serving.” Abriana also said she is a perfectionist and has enjoyed seeing Nancy’s lawn cleaned up and improved. “I think it is a nice thing between these two,” said Debbie Wells, senior chore coordinator. “They are friends now. I was really happy when Abriana started with the program.” Getting involved About 60 area youth work with the the Senior Chore Program throughout the northeast metro, including Mahtomedi, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake. Even more are employed during the summer. Seniors age 60 and over are eligible to receive assistance through the program. Subsidies are available for qualifying low-income seniors. The program started 30 years ago. “It started out as a program for kids who had gotten in trouble and needed to do community service,” said Wells. Now, most of the workers are responsible youth looking for work. NYFS operates several other programs, including a diversion program for youth charged with misdemeanors, a mental health counseling clinic for youth and adults and mental health programs and art therapy in the Mounds View School District. It has two offices — one in Shoreview and one in White Bear Lake. For more information on the Senior Chore Program visit www.nyfs.org or contact Wells at debbiep@nyfs.org or 651-757-4061.
North Oaks residents oppose rental restrictions By Sara Marie Moore Staff Writer NORTH OAKS — A few dozen residents and real estate agents showed up to a public hearing regarding a rental and vacant property ordinance at a North Oaks Planning Commission meeting Feb. 25. City Councilwoman Katy Ross, the council member appointed as liaison to the Planning Commission, was pleased so many residents attended. Usually commission members are the only ones there, she said. “We are really glad you are all here to do this,” she said. “We want the feedback.” Most of the residents and real estate agents expressed angst at a proposed ordinance which would bring new restrictions to rental and vacant properties. The main issues addressed regarding rental properties were situations where the ordinance would not grant rental
rights. Specifically, the ordinance would not allow for an owner to have more than one rental property, would not allow rental properties within 0.1 miles of another rental property and would have a minimum lease time of 12 months. “I have concerns with the ordinance, with rights to rent my home,” said resident Andrew Siechen, whose home on Skillman Lane was listed as purchased for over $1 million in 2013 on Redfin. Resident Matt Anderson expressed several reasons he opposed the ordinance: renting property gives flexibility if it cannot be sold; the restriction of no rental property within 0.1 miles of each other could have a negative effect on selling a property; and he doesn't think North Oaks would be a place an investor would want to buy multiple properties to rent. Resident Julia Hupperts said she lives right next door to renters and has had no issues with
them. She said she also rented out a home in St. Paul for 10 years while she lived overseas. “It gave us great stability to know we could go back to Minnesota,” she said. Daniel Spearman, who is a resident of Texas but owns a North Oaks home for work reasons, expressed concerns about the vacancy section of the proposed ordinance. The ordinance would require all homes that would be vacant for more than nine months a year to register with the city for $100 and follow upkeep regulations. Spearman expressed disappointment at the timing of the public hearing. He believes most snowbirds whom it would affect are not in North Oaks right now. “Why are we having this meeting in February?” he asked. “It is an odd time to have a meeting.” Resident Paul McClean said he left his house vacant for
three years about a decade ago and opposes the new oversight. “It would add more difficulty to a process that is already difficult and emotional,” he said. Realtors at the public hearing also opposed the ordinance. “I find that [in] areas where rental values are restricted, the property value goes down,” said Krista Wolter of Coldwell Banker Burnet. “People were scared to purchase properties they could not rent. I just don't feel having a restriction on renting is good for the community.” Brian Sundberg, also of Coldwell Banker Burnet, opposed the 12-month minimum lease. “Having the power to do those things is a right of the people,” he said. Realtor Brian Combs said the option to rent in a down market is a perk of home ownership. “I really think when you
limit, you take away one aspect of full ownership.” At the close of the public hearing, Ross said the Planning Commission would continue to take comments throughout the month until its next meeting. “Your feedback has been great,” she said. “We are going to take the feedback and go back to the drawing board. Ultimately, we want the best for North Oaks.” Ross explained the purpose of the proposed ordinance — to regulate properties in order to avoid nuisances and deterioration. “We do have some not good rental situations,” she said. “We have to be able to have some teeth to use. We haven't had anything in place.” Ross assured the community that any changes to the proposed ordinance before the commission’s next meeting on March 31 would be announced.
Page 16 ~ North Oaks News ~April 2016
DOWNTIIME
Reel talk Don’t Miss!
Good
Worth a Look
Weather tidbits
Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com
Forget it
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.
“10 CLOVERFIELD LANE” (PG-13) (3.5) [THEMATIC MATERIAL, INCLUDING FRIGHTENING SEQUENCES OF THREAT WITH SOME VIOLENCE AND BRIEF LANGUAGE.]
— A surprising ending highlights this suspenseful, enthralling, creative, well-paced, 115-minute thriller based on Josh Campbell’s story in which a wannabe fashion designer (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up in an underground bunker after she is accidentally run off the road in Louisiana and finds herself seemingly held captive with a stranger (John Gallagher Jr.) by an intense, hotheaded retired Naval man (John Goodman) who claims the United States has been attacked by an unknown force and that the air outside is not fit to breathe.
SUNRISE / SUNSET
Wed
March 30
7:09 7:30
Thu
March 31
7:07
7:31
Fri
April 1
7:05
7:32
Sat
April 2
7:04 7:33
Sun
April
3
7:02
Mon
April
4
7:00 7:36
Tue
April
5
6:58 7:37
WEATHER TIDBIT I heard a few groans from folks who got a little spoiled with Spring Fever from a few weeks back, only to have temperatures cool near normal. I guess that seemed pretty chilly. Area lakes went out last week. A few like White Bear, Bald Eagle, and Forest Lake went out on Wednesday, March 16, the earliest on record.
WEEKLY AVERAGES MAR. 30 TO APR. 1, 2016 High 58° Low 36° %Sun 57% PCP 0.62”
7:35 YEAR AGO THIS WEEK March 27, small ponds ice free. March 29, pelting rain with gusts to 30 mph with tree limbs down. Highs only in 30’s from March 25-27.
“CITY OF GOLD” (R) (3) [SOME LANGUAGE.]
— An informative, insightful, fascinating, 96-minute, Laura Gabbert documentary that focuses on the Los Angeles food scene primarily through the eyes and stomach of well-respected, Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic and writer Jonathan Gold and consists of interviews with his wife/Los Angeles Times Arts and Entertainment editor Laurie Ochoa, daughter Isabel Ochoa Gold, novelists Michelle Huneven and Jervey Tervalon, chefs/restaurant owners (such as Bricia Lopez, Duane Earle, Ludo Lefebvre, Nancy Silverton, Gener Agonafer, Jazz and Tui Singsanong, David Chang, Raul Ortega and Ray Choi), authors David Sax and Ruth Reichl, James Beard Foundation executive Mitchell Davis, food TV hosts Andrew Zimmern and Zach Brooks, University California at Berkeley professor Michael Dear, Los Angeles Times writer Carolina Miranda, Los Angeles Times Editor-in-Chief Davan Maharaj, senior food critic Robert Sietsema, architectural critic and educator Reyner Banham, radio host and culinary multitasker Evan Kleiman, editors Sue Horton and Peter Meehan and journalists Laurie Winer, Allan Salkin and Calvin Trillin.
Crossword
Fun Fact An egg that is fresh will sink in water, but a stale one won’t.
Did you know? A strawberry is not an actual berry, but a banana is.
Sudoku
“KRISHA”
(R) (3) [LANGUAGE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SOME SEXUAL CONTENT.]
— A low-key, dark, somber, critically acclaimed, low-budget, realistic, 83-minute, 2015 film loosely based on Trey Edward Shults’ family in which chaos ensues when a mentally-unstable, 60-ish alcoholic (Krisha Fairchild), who has been estranged from her dysfunctional family (Bryan Casserly, Alex Dobrenko, Olivia Grace Applegate, Billie Fairchild et al.) for more than 10 years, returns to the Texas home of her sister (Robyn Fairchild) and brother-in-law (Chris Doubek) during the Thanksgiving holiday where the festivities quickly unravel.
“REMEMBER” (R) (4) [SEQUENCE OF VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE.]
— A shocking ending and awesome acting punctuate this terrific, captivating, well-paced, unpredictable, star-dotted (Dean Norris, Jürgen Prochnow and Bruno Ganz), 94-minute Atom Egoyan film in which a 90-year-old widower (Christopher Plummer) with dementia leaves his retirement home where he has been befriended by a Holocaust survivor (Martin Landau) and worries his distraught son (Henry Czerny) when he goes on a road trip that takes him to Cleveland, Canada, and Nevada in the hopes of finding a Nazi SS guard who has been living in the United States for more than 70 years under an assumed identity and was allegedly responsible for killing his entire family at the Auschwitz concentration camp.
WENDY SCHADEWALD The preceding films were reviewed by Wendy Schadewald, who has been a Twin Cities film critic since 1986. To see more of her film reviews, log on to www.shortredheadreelreviews.com.
©1986 through 2016 by Wendy Schadewald
CLUES ACROSS 1. Matter 5. Puzzled 11. Well wish 14. Frightened 15. Home of the Cowboys 18. Between the jejunum and the cecum 19. Founded the Union Colony 21. Read-only memory 23. Sorcerers 24. Female parents 28. Unexpected obstacle 29. Of I 30. Used to have (Scottish) 32. Patti Hearst’s captors 33. Rock TV channel 35. Revolutions per minute 36. Exclamation: yuck! 39. Be afraid of 41. Arizona 42. Red liqueur __ gin 44. More discourteous 46. Type of chef 47. Mother (Brit.) 49. Untidy in character 52. Inhibitions 56. Pains 58. Politician 60. Unofficial fighter 62. Type of Mustang 63. Branch of Islam
CLUES DOWN 1. Satisfaction 2. Astragals 3. Egg-shaped 4. Nothing more than specified 5. Measures speed of wind 6. In the middle of
7. Actinium 8. The Master of Shadows 9. Dutch cheese 10. Valley 12. A river between China and Russia 13. Masses of matter 16. They live along Gulf of Guinea 17. George __, actor 20. Latvia’s largest city 22. One thousandth of an ampere 25. Millihenry 26. Swiss river 27. Individually 29. Magnetomotive force (abbr.) 31. Without armies (abbr.) 34. Portuguese municipality 36. Old Marxist-Leninist state 37. Malicious satisfaction 38. Actress Julianne 40. Rural delivery 43. Bar or preclude 45. Unit of measurement 48. Peninsula in Greece 50. Bird genus 51. Releases gonadotropin 53. Racquets 54. Southwestern state 55. Town in Benin 57. Car mechanics group 58. Brother or sister 59. Woollen rug 61. Milliliter
“I learned the value of hard work by working hard.” -Margaret Mead
Page 18 ~ North Oaks News ~April 2016
PRESCHOOL NEWS The North Oaks Preschool would like to thank everyone who came out to support the Preschool at our 1st Annual Auction. It was a great success filled with great food, drinks and fun. Thank you again to all who donated, and to our sponsors.
North Oaks Preschool Registration is now open at North Oaks Preschool for the 2016-2017 school year. We have openings for both the Bumblebee (3yr old) and Treefrog (4y r old) classes. Class size maximum is 20 students for each
class, with 2 teachers and usually a parent volunteer in the classroom as well. North Oaks Preschool offers a unique parent cooperative approach that allows the parent to actively participate in the classroom and the administration of the preschool. For
more information and registration forms visit our website at www. northoakspreschool.org or call/email us at 651-481-1594/northoakspreschool@gmail.com Submitted
CITY NOTES The North Oaks City Council conducted the following business at the March 10 meeting:
• Detail Oriented • Highest Quality Products • Weekly Mowing • Fertilizing • Spring/Fall Clean Up • De-Thatching • Aeration
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• Heard from Fire Chief Tim Boehlke who presented the Lake Johanna Fire Department annual fire report. A copy of the report is available in the city offices. In 2015 the fire department responded to 2,875 calls for service which is an increase of 469 calls from the previous year. North Oaks had 434 calls but Shoreview had 1597. Estimated fire losses for North Oaks was $6,000 compared to $1,021,991 last year; Response time for North oaks is 7:28 minutes. Of the 2,875 calls for service, 1,648 of those calls were to residential properties, the next highest category was health care facilities where they responded 556 times. There are 75 firefighters. • The council heard from residents about the increased traffic caused by golf course maintenance vehicles on the roadways. This was a continued meeting from the October meeting when 16 residents had written the mayor a letter about their concerns about the traffic, their safety and privacy matters. The mayor suggested that the parties meet to find some common ground. The matter was continued. • With reference to the gate house, the council received a 30 page report about its condition especially asbestos
in the walls. Since the report was recently received this matter was continued until next month. • The city administrator advised the council that 94 deer have been removed. The traps have been removed. The Mayor commented on the Tick Task Force and their fine job of public awareness and suggested that the ticks grow in piles of branches, live on mice and other rodents and then move to the deer. Residents should be aware of nests in their yards. • Karen Barnes, 10 Peterson Place addressed the council about her, and other neighbors concerns about the frequency of trucks, noise and safety of the recycling area north of her house. She is against a further development or enlarging the center and suggests that the recycling should be taken from the city, not dumped next to a house and later removed. The council will look into the matter and referred the issue to the maintenance committee. • The mayor introduced the new City Engineer, Mike Kuno who talked about the proposed storm water ordinance changes. Copies of the ordinance are available at the city offices. Dick Leonard
Seeking rain gauge volunteers Be a rain gauge volunteer. The only prerequisite is to have an open area to the sky in your yard, no trees interrupting rain fall. Coordinated by the Ramsey Conservation District, rain gauge volunteers record the daily precipitation amounts on forms supplied by the Conservation District who also provide equipment and directions. This valuable data is used by the State Climatology office and can be viewed Online at http:// climate.umn.edu. Rainfall at the official Twin City site at the airport does not reflect the detailed data needed by the state. Did you know that twice as much rainfall from the same storm has been recorded from one side of North Oaks to the other? For over 50 years, North Oaks residents have volunteered to be rain gaugers. However, with the retirement of two of the
— Submitted
volunteers who have kept rainfall records for 25 years, North Oaks would like to enlist the services of more residents. To volunteer or find out more about the program, call 651-266-7271.
Page 20 ~ North Oaks News ~April 2016
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