December 2016
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North Oaks News ~ 3
Family Halloween party brings out friends & neighbors On Saturday, Oct. 29, almost 400 neighbors came out to participate in the family Halloween party at the West Rec center. The North Oaks Social club is grateful for our hardy Minnesota neighbors who endured the drizzle to still enjoy bounce houses, hayrides, pony rides, games and crafts as we improvised to quickly move as many activities as possible under cover in tight quarters. We are thankful to the North Oaks Golf Club who co-sponsored the event
with the addition of corn on the cob hot off the grill, bounce houses and an evening adult event. Also a huge thanks goes out to those wet volunteers running the activities, NOHOA for sponsoring pony rides and the planning committee consisting of Jen Getsay, Cindy Schuveiller, Kari Bohle, Laura Peterson, and Kate Sonnek. Such community spirit shown on a gray rainy day is a testament to the great spirit of this community! Kathy Laur
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North Oaks News
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December 2016
North Oaks Company hires new president By Dick Leonard Editor The North Oaks Company announced the hiring of its sixth president succeeding Tom Dougherty who had been president since 2006. Interesting enough, the past four presidents were lawyers, not known for their knowledge of real estate. Mr. Mark Houge was introduced to the City Council at its November meeting. He took the reins Nov. 7 and was at his office the next day learning about the our North Oaks community and history by reading “Three Bold Ventures,” the history of North Oaks. He will be responsible for ongoing development of the North Oaks company lands and will take a seat on the NOHOA board where he will shortly learn about what’s going on in North Oaks. Tom Dougherty will continue as president and CEO of North Oaks Investments LLC and global manager of the Harpur’s family worldwide investments. Mr. Houge comes to the company with a wealth of real estate experience, having worked with OPUS Companies, Adolph Peterson, Cresa and most recently at Cushman Wakefield/ NorthMarq. All are large local and international real estate developers and managers of commercial properties. Mr. Houge has served in a number of capacities with these companies such as project manager overseeing developments including the types of properties owned by the North Oaks Company—both com-
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Front row, from left: Pamela Ploumidis, Diane Gorder, Mary Hoyme; back row, from left: Jerry Hinderman, Bob Larson, Jayne Early, Janet Folsom, Jerry Yanz, Ken Adams. Mary Hill Park volunteers not included in the photo are: Sue Fox, Nancy McNee and Susan Miller.
Mark Houge mercial and residential. Aside from his professional career he has served on the boards of the Presbyterian Homes and Services, Visitation Convent high school and other civic organizations. He is married to Anne, and has two children — one in college and the other graduating from high school in 2017. He lives in St Paul. We welcome Mark in his new venture.
Preschool registration opens soon for Hills, Hugo and surrounding areas Enrollment at North Oaks Preschool for the 2017-2018 school year opens in January. Tour now, so you are ready to sign up when registration opens and secure a spot with us for next year! Bring your future preschooler to meet our teachers and
Update on NEST
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currently enrolled families. This is a great chance to learn about the benefits of our preschool, including our parent-run executive board,open communication and volunteer opportunities.Learn about our enrichment activities and field trips that are included
with tuition. We have naturalist and storyteller visits, field trips, Spanish lessons, firefighter and dentist visits, travel week visitors and more. For more information, address or directions, email us at northoakspreschool@gmail.com or visit our website.
Update: Since its appointment last winter by the NOHOA Board and its first meeting this past February, NEST (Natural Environment Stewardship Team) has been busy setting and implementing its goals. NEST’s overall charge is to plan, implement, and evaluate activities that preserve, protect, maintain, and, as necessary, restore the natural environment of NOHOA properties as well as enhance them using methods that reflect best practices, are sustainable, provide stability (especially in regards to shorelands) and embrace the art of nature. Top NEST projects for 2016 have included collecting data on the water levels of Pleasant Lake via a water gauge donated by Vadnais Lake
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Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO). This data will be collected even more systematically in 2017 and will be useful in exploring the goal of attaining a water level that is environmentally sound for Pleasant Lake. Further projects have included continuing the restoration of the shoreland on NOHOA’s Gilfillan Lake property, evaluating Mary Hill Park and developing a three to five year management plan that emphasizes stewardship of the park’s heritage and natural environment, removing buckthorn and other invasive vegetation and with input from the city forester, implementing an ash tree injection program while continuing to monitor and remove other ash trees as part of NOHOA’s overall emerald ash borer (EAB) program. Volunteer opportunities: NEST will be focused on developing a three to five year plan for Mary Hill Park (MHP) this winter
and would welcome more community input. Contact the NOHOA office if you’re interested in joining the group at nohoa@comcast.net or 651-792-7765. VLAWMO has started a new volunteer group, the Watershed Action Volunteers (WAV), made up of residents living within the Vadnais Lake Area watershed who are interested in working to protect and enhance our water resources. WAV opportunities include planting and gardening events, managing booths at community events, photography, citizen science, educational video assistance and more. For more information, contact Nick Voss at nick.voss@vlawmo. org or 651-204-6070 – Submitted by Diane Gorder, NOHOA Director of Land & Water
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December 2016
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Water resources best practices Water is essential for life and plays a vital role in the proper functioning of the Earth’s ecosystems. Our water supply is threatened by pollution, invasive species and overuse, which may have a serious impact on all living creatures and can have a negative effect on the use of water for drinking, household needs and recreation. The following best practices are recommended to protect and maintain our water resources. More information can be found on the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) web site at vlawmo.org.
ly lawn and garden. Minimize water use, keep leaves and grass clippings out of streets and storm drains and swales, and avoid pesticides. Action – Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) currently promotes rain gardens and provides educational brochures on how to construct them. Action - Don’t litter. Pick up trash when you see it. Debris gets washed into storm drains and flows directly into local bodies of water. That includes animal pet waste, which can contribute harmful ammonia.
GOAL
GOAL
Avoid nutrient pollution caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorous in the air and water. Recommendation – Encourage proper maintenance of on-site septic systems. A poorly functioning septic system can allow pathogens, nutrients and other chemicals to enter groundwater or lakes. Action – Continue requiring septic systems to be inspected and/or pumped every two years. Recommendation – Encourage disposal of yard waste away from lakes and wetlands. Action – Continue to promote Ramsey County’s compost site and to leave grass clippings on your grass rather than in the garbage can. Recommendation - Dispose of unwanted medicines using an approved collection site. Action – Continue to promote the disposal sites provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff ’s Department. Recommendation - Use road and driveway salt efficiently. Action – Promote the reduced use of salt on driveways and roads through education. Action – Consider the use of salt alternatives.
Limit and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels and milfoil. Recommendation – Encourage awareness of how invasive species are spread. Action - Continue educational efforts reminding people to make sure all boats and other objects that have been in the water are cleaned before and after their use.
GOAL Because wetlands are a vital link between our land and water resources, avoid degradation of wetlands from pollution, urban encroachment, groundwater withdrawals, partial drainage and other actions. Recommendation – Reduce runoff. Action - Grow a healthy water friend-
GOAL Reduce the amount of water overuse. Action – Promote web sites such as wateruseitwisely.com which lists dozens of ways to reduce water use. Action - Check water bills for any instances of high water use, as this may be an indication of a leak. Action - When doing laundry or using a dishwasher, always wash full loads. Action – Use garbage disposal sparingly and compost vegetable food waste. Action – Collect the water you use to rinse fruit and vegetables and use it to water plants. Action – While running water to heat it up, collect the water and use it to water plants. Action - When it is time to replace appliances that use water, choose high efficiency models. Action - Find and fix any leaking faucets. Action – Test your toilet for leaks once a year by putting food coloring in the tank. If it seeps into the bowl there is a leak. Action - Replace showerheads that have a flow rate greater than 2.5 gallons per minute (the current national energy policy act standard).
Action - Take shorter showers. Reducing shower length by a minute or two can save 150 gallons a month. Action - If an irrigation system is used, make sure that it has a weather based SMART irrigation controller with a rain sensor that is properly set up and maintained. Action - Water grass in the morning to prevent water loss through evaporation. Action - Sweep outdoor surfaces with a broom instead of using a hose. Action - Wash vehicles at a carwash that recycles its water.
Wetlands 101: What to Know Before You Work Minnesota’s landscape includes roughly 10.6 million acres of wetlands. While many people think of wetlands as swampy, marshy areas with standing water and cattails, the reality is wetlands take on many forms. In addition to swampy, marshy areas, wetlands can vary from grassy meadows, to forested wetlands covered in trees and shrubs, to wet areas of cultivated farm fields. Many wetlands are actually dry for most of the year, with no standing water.
Why Wetlands Matter Before European settlement, studies estimate Minnesota had over 20 million acres of wetland. Today that number has been cut in half. Wetlands are important ecosystems. They hold water, providing for natural water quality improvements by filtering nutrients and sediment that might otherwise pollute and clog waterways. They provide flood protection and shoreline erosion control. Wetlands are also home to many species of fish and wildlife.
Wetlands Regulation Most wetlands in Minnesota are protected by state and/or federal law and in some cases by local ordinances. Minnesota’s primary wetland protection law is the Wetland Conservation Act. The law is implemented by local governments, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources provides assistance and oversight, and the Department of Natural
Resources provides enforcement. The state law applies to all wetlands, including those on private property, to achieve “no net loss” of wetlands. In general, wetland protection laws regulate activities in or near wetlands that can negatively affect the wetland through draining, filling or excavating. There are some exemptions contained within state law for certain activities.
What You Should Know It can be very difficult to identify wetlands and wetland regulations can be quite complex. Some examples of projects that could potentially affect wetlands include: Filling a low area of a residential lot for a building or lawn. Digging a pond in a low area. Cleaning out an old ditch or improving an existing ditch. Adding fill for a crossing of a stream or wet swale.
Requirements If there is the potential for your project to impact a wetland, before you start it is important to contact your local WCA regulatory authority to: Find out if the land you intend to alter is a wetland. Remember, an area can be a wetland even if it does not appear wet on the surface. Determine if the proposed activity has impacts to a wetland area. Assure that any impact to wetlands can be avoided if possible, and properly replaced if not. If you don’t know where to start, your local Soil and Water Conservation District can help you determine which agency is your local contact. Cooperation is a key component of successful conservation. Local, state and federal wetland regulatory agencies work in partnership with landowners to help them achieve the best possible results on their private land. For more information about wetlands in Minnesota, see the Board of Water and Soil Resources website at www. bwsr.state.mn.us/wetlands/index.html, or the Department of Natural Resources website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/wetlands/index.html. Submitted by VLAWMO
NOTEWORTHY NOHOA NEWS From the NOHOA Board of Directors meeting on Nov. 3, 2016: At the beginning of the meeting, it was announced that Tom Dougherty would be retiring as President of the North Oaks Company to be replaced by Mark Houge, effective Nov. 7. Tom will continue to serve in a different leadership role with the company for the foreseeable future. Multiple community members spoke during the visitor comments portion of the meeting. They stated concerns about the Maintenance Center improvements proposal that was scheduled to be on the ballot. As one, they believed that the proposal should be removed from the ballot until such time as a comprehensive Capital Improvements Plan has been developed. Candidates to the Board of Directors were given time to introduce themselves. The candidates included: Myra Coleman, Diane Gorder, JoAnn Hanson, Chris Kalgren, Tara Larson, Jim MacGillis and Pamela Ploumidis. The board accepted the candidates.
The board approved the items on the consent agenda including the minutes and financial reports for October. These items are now listed in the appropriate location on the NOHOA website. Other consent agenda items include the authorization of a mail ballot, the LWV to serve as the Ballot Board and the CHA Guild I Holiday Tour. The president’s report pointed out increased tax payment savings made when NOHOA re-negotiated its property values. Also, cell tower rents are scheduled to increase in 2017 thanks to recently negotiated leases with American Tower and Crown Castle. The treasurer’s report included a review of the proposed 2017 budgets being shared with the membership as part of the Annual Report (being mailed on Nov. 14). With a vote of 9-1, the board approved the 2017 Operating Budget for the ballot. The executive director provided updates on a number of ongoing projects such as the trail signage project and the Mattamy completion projects. Suggestions were presented for discussion
regarding Facebook guidelines and the development of communications policy. No decisions were made and directors were invited to contribute to the policy development. Based on the discussion at the beginning of the meeting, the board approved the removal of the Maintenance Center improvements proposal from the ballot. It was determined that the other two proposals slated for discussion would also be placed on hold until such time as NOHOA has a CIP plan in place. A report by the NEST chair provided updates on restoration work at Lake Gilfillan and the development of a plan for Mary Hill Park. A recommendation to remove cedars at the beach was put on hold until such time as the interested directors can visit the site and gain a better understanding of the situation. Two new volunteers were approved to serve on the ASC: Stephanie Paul and Andrew McCoy.
Annual Membership Meeting The annual meeting of the member-
ship of the association is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. This meeting is called in accordance with the bylaws of the association and is the time when the ballot results are announced.
Ice Rink Info It takes two full weeks of below freezing temperatures for the ice to freeze at the North Oaks skating rinks. As soon as the temperatures start to stay below freezing, consistently, Mel’s Services will begin the process of flooding the rinks. Most years, the rinks are ready for use at the end of the December. Rink monitors are needed for the 2016-2017 skating season. Potential monitors must be at least 16 years of age and available to work 6-10 hours per week during evening and weekend hours. The deadline for applications is Dec. 9. Applications are available on the website or from the NOHOA office.
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North Oaks News
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December 2016
Nov. 6, 2016 - What to do on a 70 degree day in North Oaks
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Norm Hagsfors and daughter Rachel Pickering.
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Jerry and Marcia Yanz and dog Mugsy.
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Front row from left: Tim and Dawn Rafferty, Kathryn and George Altendorfer; back row: guests Mark and Debbie Bruns.
Miss a month? Miss a lot. Get caught up at: www.presspubs.com/ north_oaks/
— Submitted Photo
Becky Reiling and dog Twister. SUMMER UNDAYSchool MORNINGS 9:00 amSSunday & 9:00 amAdult Worship Service Education 10:00 am am Worship Coffee Fellowship 10:15 11:15 am Coffee Fellowship
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Alex with Mathnasium Owner Dr. Peter Atakpu.
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Christmas Holiday Homes tour. “THREE BOLD VENTURES” has a picture on page 113 of Wendy Muscanto and Wyona Bartsch hanging the greens on a road sign in 1981. Thank you Garden Club and all the other elves for all your work. It is a beautiful tradition.
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December 2016
North Oaks News ~ 17
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Treasurer’s report by Myra Coleman The 2016 fiscal year end has arrived already… my, how time flies! As Treasurer, I have become acquainted with many members of the community during my 3-year tenure on the NOHOA Board. Your ongoing support and active participation in the budgeting process is immensely helpful. Thank you for being informed and engaged in the community! It is my pleasure to report that current 2016 budget projections reflect our ongoing efforts to be fiscally conservative. In fact, we spent less than we forecasted in several budget areas this year. These savings left us with money that will be carried over into 2017 to help offset future expense increases. Our fiscal discipline, coupled with an unexpected surge in new home sales during the past several months, also gave us unanticipated extra income in the form of annual dues and initiation fees. For example, thanks to the strong housing market, new homes in the Charley Lake Preserve subdivision took about half the time to sell than was estimated by the developer. We re-negotiated our two cell tower contracts for a favorable income increase of $12,000 per year going forward. We also proactively requested property tax valuation reductions on two NOHOA-owned properties. These efforts succeeded in lowering our assessed value on these properties by more than $490,000. This will lower our tax bill for 2017 by approximately $9,000. Having a healthy budget puts us in an ideal position to make thoughtful decisions about how to maintain a balance between
prudent spending and future saving. We evaluated our longterm financial picture to ensure that we are spending wisely in the present so that we don’t end up “penny wise & pound foolish” in the future. Many of our buildings, roads and core infrastructure are decades old. They require ongoing repair and increasingly expensive maintenance to extend their useful lives. Advice from several expert sources indicate that we have been under-allocating money for basic infrastructure projects in an effort to keep our annual dues down. If this trend continues, there will be a correspondingly higher increase in dues in the future, as we are likely to be forced to make more expensive expenditures such as reclaiming roads instead of re-surfacing them. After constructing financial models for the next 5 years, we are comfortable that a 2 percent (or $20) increase in annual dues for 2017 will allow us to make necessary increases to our “Street, Bridge, Culvert Repair & Maintenance” line item. The additional dollars generated by this change will allow adequate funding for ongoing repairs to these essential assets. The picture on the right provides a highlevel visual summary of how our Operating Budget expenses are allocated for 2017. As you can see, the largest segment of our spending is earmarked for our long-term contractor, Mel’s Services.
Our proposed 2 percent annual dues increase is also driven, in part, by a 2 percent contractual increase for Mel’s. In general, Mel’s expenses support work related to parks and recreational activities. In addition to plowing the roads, Mel’s also routinely maintains skating rinks, soccer fields, trails, recreational centers, playgrounds and softball fields. This general budget category for Mel’s comprises 40 percent of our expenses in 2017. After Mel’s, the secondlargest budget item relates to the repair and maintenance of approximately 57 miles of streets, bridges and numerous culverts. Some of our older roads have gone nearly 50 years with infrequent repairs. We are addressing this situation by executing a 6 zone repair cycle by neighborhood so that we do not overlook less traveled streets to our long-term fiscal detriment. A 7 percent increase in this budget category will ensure that we do our due diligence in maintaining these
invaluable assets before they become too damaged to repair and must be rebuilt instead. Additionally, the “Reserve Allocation” segment of the budget provides annual funding for the maintenance of existing assets. It represents a 9 percent share of our 2017 budget. Each year, a pre-determined amount of money is transferred from the Operating Budget into the Asset Reserve budget to ensure the prescribed funds are earmarked for the maintenance of existing assets. Any money not spent in a given year is rolled forward for spending in future years. Another noteworthy change in our budget for 2017 relates to our continued efforts to regulate tick habitat in North Oaks. In cooperation with the City’s “Tick Task Force,” NOHOA has set aside monies in multiple line items (via our Operating and Reserve budgets) to address the multi-faceted approach that we are taking to reduce buckthorn, eliminate tick habitat, administer
tick tubes and follow expert advice on prescribed use of pesticide spraying. Our efforts dovetail with the Task Force’s commitment to community education and outreach on this important topic. Also new for this year is our Capital Reserve budget, which is funded by new member initiation fees and other miscellaneous sources. This budget is intended to help seed capital projects that will be voted upon by the community. By segregating these funds in an allocated budget, we are now able to secure a loan or line of credit from a bank in a manner not possible in the past using Operating Budget surpluses. For historical context, previous boards had made it a practice to allow any unspent Operating funds in a given fiscal year to remain in the bank as unallocated. This money served as an informal source of funding for future capital projects. We recently eliminated that approach in favor of specifically characterizing those unspent funds as “carryover” and dedicating a line item in the Operating Budget Income to track these funds and use them to reduce the increase in members’ dues the following year. The board genuinely seeks to represent the best interests of the majority of our citizens. We welcome your thoughtful comments and perspectives. Please vote “yes” on the 2017 Budget. Make sure your ballot is received by NOHOA before 5 p.m. on Nov. 30. Respectfully, Myra Coleman, Treasurer
Boatworks restaurant gets off back burner By Debra Neutkens Editor
WHITE BEAR LAKE — Sushi lovers will be excited about plans for a new Boatworks Commons restaurant. “It appears the timing has lined up to secure a restaurant tenant,” said Community Development Director Anne Kane. DC Restaurant Group, doing business as Acqua Restaurant and Bar v3 with the future name to be determined, plans an 86-seat upscale Japanese cocktail and sushi bar for the first floor of the two-story building at 4475 Lake Ave. S. According to Kane, Acqua owner Daron Close learned a few months ago that the vision for the lakefront restaurant had evolved from a two-story, full-service concept to a much broader range of food service categories limited to just the first floor. He and partner JJ Maleitzke met with the developer and the city and hashed out details of a 10-year lease. A yoga studio and offices are planned for the second floor. The restaurant buildout is estimated to cost $600,000, to be shared equally by the landlord
and tenant. Close and Maleitzke requested an economic development loan for half their investment, or $150,000, from the city to be repaid over 10 years at 2 percent interest. The City Council considered the request at its Oct. 25 meeting. Kane told members that the city approved a similar loan for Manitou Station. There is a difference with this loan, however. Team Manitou LLC owned the building that was put up as collateral. Close and Maleitzke will be tenants, not property owners. “They have offered a personal guarantee on the loan,” Kane said. “However, while we have strong confidence in their ability to succeed, there is the potential that the proposed restaurant may not succeed. If it does not, staff is working with Boatworks Commons LLC to seek agreement that the city would be reimbursed a portion of the outstanding investment.” The developer asked that there be confirmation that an alternative use be allowed down the road if the restaurant does not succeed. Close has five restau-
rants: Acqua in White Bear Lake and Forest Lake; and three Meet Markets in White Bear Lake, Stillwater and Forest Lake. Originally, a full-service restaurant was envisioned that served breakfast, lunch and dinner. But size, layout and location of the space proved challenging, Kane said. The shallow depth of the building doesn’t allow a full kitchen due to challenges with location of a ventilation system. Staff encouraged the developer to explore a variety of concepts. The city placed a high priority on securing a restaurant, Kane said, and made it known the city was committed to offering financial support if necessary to offset build-out costs. “They have indicated it is their goal to be among the top Japanese cuisine establishments in the Twin Cities area and they’re excited to add to the lakeside energy,” Kane said. The men were unable to attend the council meeting, she added. The developer and business operators also asked that sewer (SAC) and water access charges (WAC) be waived. Kane
said the value of those charges is $35,000 to $41,000. The city has 14 credits in reserve, worth $3,485 each, that could be offered to the project. Councilman Kevin Edberg said he wasn’t aware the city had credits. Kane told him the Metropolitan Council allowed cities to retain credits as properties are redeveloped and/or reduce projected sewer and water impacts. SAC and WAC normally goes with the property. Finance Director Don Rambow said the credits are held in the economic development fund as reserves for future use. Mayor Jo Emerson explained that cities raised the issue with the Met Council about three years ago “that SAC and WAC was out of control.” Council members approved the loan in a resolution that states the developer (Boatworks Commons LLC) agrees to reimburse the city for half the outstanding loan if the council approves occupancy for a business other than a restaurant within 90 days of closure. Councilman Bill Walsh liked the flexibility of the option. He did
tell staff he felt uncomfortable to “be in this position.” “We are not a bank,” Walsh said. “But I support helping these guys get going.” Councilman Dan Jones said he looks at the loan as more of an investment. He clarified the fact that if the restaurant fails, the council has 90 days to amend the CUP to allow a tenant other than a restaurant. To get the loan payment 100 percent guaranteed, the city would have to allow an alternative (non-restaurant) use on the first floor.
City Manager Ellen Richter asked the council: “Do we want to lose control of what happens to the building?” That option was nixed. The arrangement between all parties is contingent on the lease getting signed. Emerson reminded the council after approving the construction loan, “we do not have to amend the CUP.”
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December 2016
CITY NOTES City notes are derived from the City Council meeting on Nov. 10, 2016. Past City Council minutes and agendas can be found on the city website www.cityofnorthoaks. com.
Deputy Mike Burrell’s Report The month of October was a bit of a sleeper with not too much to report. However, there was some crime as windows were broken at a church on Hodgson Road and at a residence on Blue Jay Lane. Whether they are related, there is no way to know. With regard to traffic and speeding, Burrell would like residents to let him know if there is a specific area of concern. He will put up speed bars or speed traps on those roads. Speed has been up a bit from last month especially in the early morning and late evening. A vehicle went off the road by the West Recreation Center and hit a tree. Speed was a factor. A reminder to residents the speed in North Oaks is 30 mph. If residents are going out of town and would like for Officer
Burrell to do house checks while they are away they should contact him by phone at 651-239-9731 or email at michael.burrell@ co.ramsey.mn.us.
Rapp Farm News This past summer the residents of Rapp Farm had the opportunity to use golf carts from their homes to the pool house on a trial basis. The city conducted a survey of homeowners in Rapp Farm to see how they felt about the use of golf carts within their subdivision. Thirty-four residents responded to the survey, which was more than half of the homes. Thirty of the respondents were in favor of the golf carts. Deputy Burrell said he had no issues with the golf carts over the probationary period this summer. The council made the decision to allow the use of golf carts permanently but only from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Sewer and Water News Most of the residents in North Oaks have well water and septic tanks. In the newer developments
of Rapp Farm, Charley Lake Preserve and those on the far east side of town have city sewer and water. For several months city staff has been meeting with the North Oaks Company to review maintenance of the sewer and water systems which is currently done by White Bear Township Public Works Department. The city will be taking over utilities from the North Oaks Company in the coming months. There are six sections/systems that will be taken over by the city. Only one system at a time will be taken over to assure it’s done correctly and up to standard. Utilities are a city issue and should be handled by the city. As part of the city’s process for taking over the sewer and water systems from the North Oaks Company, the company is assigning to us its utility access easement rights. Given that the city will be working within private road right-of-ways, NOHOA has asked that the city sign a maintenance and easement agreement with them.
Dick Leonard Editor About three months ago a young man, who had recently obtained his driver’s license thought he could negotiate a turn from Evergreen Road to west bound Willow Road. He was going way too fast and went straight into a house on Willow Road. Fortunately, no one was hurt except the driver’s feelings about first time driving. As a result, the city has been trying to figure out why there is so much traffic on those roads. The sense is that coming into North Oaks from Highway 96, it is faster to turn right onto Willow Road and then
north on Evergreen Road to avoid the busy intersection at West Pleasant Lake Road. When leaving North Oaks, apparently the reverse is faster to get on 96. This summer the city installed a stop sign at Evergreen Road and Willow Road. Still, there is almost twice the amount of traffic for the number of homes. At the November City Council meeting the council deferred to NOHOA to survey the neighbors to determine their views. Possible solutions might be to block off Willow Road at West Pleasant Lake Road to prevent incoming and outgoing vehicles as they try to beat their neighbors going to work or school.
COMMUNITY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries host huge used book & furniture sale SHOREVIEW – The Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries is hosting a huge used book and library furniture sale Dec. 1-3 at the Shoreview Library, 4570 Victoria St. N. The library is located at the corner of Highway 96 and Victoria. Thousands of used books, DVDs and CDs will be sold. Most books sell for one dollar or less. Library furnishings, including computer desks, tables, a variety of chairs, sofas, cabinets, bookshelves and more are offered at garage sale prices. Shoreview Library closes on Nov. 23 but will be open for this special event only. Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. A grand opening for the new library is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2017. Proceeds from this sale will go directly to the Shoreview Capital Campaign for amenities that are not covered by Ramsey County funds.
Traffic still a problem on Evergreen Rd, Willow and Larkspur
About Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries: The Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the seven libraries in suburban Ramsey County. The organization sponsors many special programs including the Summer Reading Program for children and teens, ExpLORE newsletter, free computer classes for all ages, book clubs and author events. Since 1979, hundreds of Friends members, volunteers, and donors have provided more than three million dollars in funding for materials, equipment, and services for Ramsey County libraries located in Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North St. Paul, Roseville, Shoreview and White Bear Lake. Sue Gehrz
Michels Homes earns leadership award
Villagers information for Dec. 2016 North Oaks News Villagers is a social organization for North Oaks women. Call Dorothy Hoem (651-486-7470) for more information. If you want to join or haven’t paid your 2016-17 dues, send a check for $10 to Dorothy Hoem, 41 Nord Circle, North Oaks, MN 55127.
Book Club
Book club will be at Pam Binns’ home, 13 Spring Farm Rd., North Oaks at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec.6. RSVP to Pam at 651-490-0356 or pambinns@comcast. net. The group will discuss “In Reach” by Pamela Carter Joern, and the author will be joining the group at this meeting. The January book is “You Learn By Living” by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Bridge
Join your friends for bridge at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9 in the card room at the North Oaks Golf Club. Contact Jane Conlin at 651-484-4448 or jdconlin55@ gmail.com by Dec. 2.
December Recipe Exchange
Bonnie Frels is hosting the Holiday Recipe Exchange at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at her home, 8 Black Lake Road, North Oaks. Contact Bonnie (651-483-8763 or bonnie.frels@icloud.com) for your food assignment: appetizers, desserts or wine. Home hostesses are needed for January and February 2017. Contact Becky Ackerman (651-484-4233) or Shirley Flittie (651-483-4309) if you would like to host.
Holiday party Dec. 10!
The annual Villager’s Holiday party will start at 6 p.m. Saturday evening, Dec. 10 at the home of Alice and Bob Larson, 21 Nord Circle Rd., North Oaks. Food and beverages are all included. The cost is $10 per person ($20 per couple) so send a check to Voni Swenson, 4839 Moon Lake Circle, White Bear Twp. MN 55127 by Wednesday, Dec. 7. Villagers are welcome to bring your spouse, significant other, or come on your own. A great way to celebrate the holiday season with your friends and neighbors!
Social club presents Progressive Dinner Dec. 3
NORTH OAKS – Michels Homes was honored to receive the 2016 MN Green Path Leadership Award from the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC). This award was presented at BATC’s Building Industry Gala (BIG) Night held on Oct. 20 at the Mystic Lake Showroom in Prior Lake. The MN Green Path Leadership Award is given to a recipient who inspires us with their innovation, passion and commitment to building energy efficient and sustainable homes. “Michels Homes truly deserves this honor as MN Green Path Leadership winner,” said BATC Executive Director David Siegel.
“BATC has many amazing companies among its membership, so winning this award is truly an accomplishment.” “It is our objective to build and remodel durable and energy efficient homes. We believe that your new home or remodeled space should be comfortable, sustainable and use resources proficiently while reflecting your personality and style,” said Bob Michels, president of Michels Homes. Michels Homes is a fourth-generation family owned and operated new home construction and remodeling company. The core of our company is modeled on honesty, integrity and
quality. Bob Michels has built a positive reputation with these principles throughout 40 years of building in the Twin Cities. Michels Homes prides itself on effective, efficient project management that is timely, respectful of its client’s budget, and includes continuous communication with the homeowner. We provide our clients with an excellent and enjoyable home building experience. Please visit us online at www. michelshomes.com From the Builders’ Association of the Twin Cities
NOSC Members are invited to attend the annual Progressive Dinner on Dec. 3. Progressive dinner is the social event of the year, with a host home for appetizers, host homes for dinner and a host home for dessert. The North Oaks Social Club (NOSC) is a volunteerbased organization created and run by local residents with the goal of fostering a greater sense of community among North Oaks residents. NOSC executes a variety of events throughout the year and members have access to monthly events, interest groups, a private Facebook group and the NOSC babysitter list. In addition to that, NOSC facilitates community outreach programs in which all North Oaks Residents are welcome. These programs include: an infantpreschool playgroup, Oktoberfest, a Halloween party, newcomer’s events, and community service projects. RSVP now for this fun-filled event. For additional information, email or call Jenny Landon at info@ northoakssocialclub.com or 612-940-6775
December 2016
North Oaks News ~ 19
www.northoaksnews.com
A Minnesota premier brings rowdy good fun to Lakeshore Players Theatre By Ben Ratkowski WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINN. -- What do you get when you mix “Sex and the City” with the holidays? You get a fun, flirty, touching comedy called “The Twelve Dates of Christmas.” This high-
ly acclaimed, heartwarming, and hilarious one-woman play makes its Minnesota debut and stars Rachel Ratkowski (seen at Lakeshore Players as Madge in “Sherlock Holmes the Final Adventure,” Poppy in “Noises Off,” and Mulch in “‘Twas the
Night Before Christmas).” Last year in December, Lakeshore Players’ Artistic Director Ben Ratkowski directed David Sedaris’ one-man show “The SantaLand Diaries.” He returns this holiday season to direct “The Twelve Dates of Christ-
mas.” “While The Twelve Dates of Christmas doesn’t have a disgruntled Christmas elf, it does have a fascinating and strong female character with just as much wit, humor and heartfelt moments,” said Ben Ratkowski. “We are both so happy to be working on the show together. We both love the Christmas season and ‘Twelve Dates’… is a fabulous celebration of it,” comments Rachel Ratkowski. About the show: On Thanksgiving Day, Mary catches her fiancé kissing another woman on national TV at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. She then must navigate a year’s worth of hapless holidays and stumbles through a series of luckless “romances” amid the colorful characters that make up her family. Mary’s cynicism grows until an unexpected twist brings her a renewed outlook on life and love. Great for a “Girls Night Out.” If you liked “The SantaLand Diaries,” you’ll love “The Twelve Dates of Christmas.” Suggested for mature audiences.
— Submitted by Ben Ratkowski
Rachel Ratkowski plays Mary in “The Twelve Dates of Christmas” at Lakeshore Players Theatre Dec. 3-17, 2016.
TWO HOLIDAY SHOWS: NAUGHTY : “The Twelve Dates of Christmas” (Dec 3-17, 2016)* A Special Holiday Event http://lakeshoreplayers.org/buy-tickets/2016-2017-season/twelve-dates-christmas/ NICE : Harry Connick, Jr’s “The Happy Elf” (Dec 1-18, 2016) http://lakeshoreplayers.org/buy-tickets/2016-2017-season/the-happy-elf/ Please note that all Lakeshore Players Theatre email addresses now end in “.org”
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When you go: -Performances are December 3-17, 2016 at Lakeshore Players Theatre, 4820 Stewart Avenue in White Bear Lake. -Tickets are $15-$18 and may be reserved in advance with remaining seats sold at the door starting two hours prior to show time. To purchase tickets in advance and select your own seats at no additional charge, go to LakeshorePlayers.org or call 651-429-5674.
PERFORMANCE DATES: Sat., Sun., Sat., Sun., Sat.,
Dec. 3, 2016 at 2 p.m. Dec. 4, 2016 at 6p.m. Dec. 10, 2016 at 2 p.m. Dec. 11, 2016 at 6 p.m. Dec. 17, 2016 at 2 p.m.
“The Twelve Dates of Christmas” by Ginna Hoben is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
UPCOMING SHOWS: All in the Timing Jan 19-Feb 5, 2017 The Tempest March 9-26, 2017 Goodnight Desdemona Good Morning Juliet March 9-26, 2017 Happy Days, a new musical Apr 20- May 14, 2017 Lakeshore Players Theatre provides community enrichment opportunities through the performing arts.