Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025 VOL. 44 NO. 7 www.quadcommunitypress.com $1.00
COUGAR SPORTS: See winter previews on PAGE 6
New shelter offers lifeline for exploited youth BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
CONTRIBUTED
The Salvation Army will host its Red Kettle Campaign through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
Sounds of the season: Volunteers kick off Salvation Army Kettle Campaign BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
The sound of a ringing bell and the sight of a red kettle are familiar signs that the holiday season has arrived. Each year, Salvation Army volunteers take to street corners and storefronts to collect donations
director (Northern Division) for the Salvation Army. She noted that the red kettle is unique to North America, although the Salvation Army is worldwide.
that support local families in need. “This is something we tend to do every November and December. It’s a great way for us to be out in the community, to be visible. The red kettle is super iconic, because it’s been around for so long,” said Sophie Crowell, divisional volunteer relations
SEE RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN, PAGE 11
Corrie’s House has opened its doors to up to six youth, ages 12-17, who are at risk of or have experienced sexual exploitation. Corrie’s House is the first Department of Human Services (DHS) licensed shelter and group residential program in the Twin Cities, and likely the only one in the state to offer crisis and long-term care for both genders. Efforts to establish Corrie's House began in 2017. “We have been working for almost eight years to get to this point. It's very complex to open a home, especially for minors. There are hundreds of pages of policies and procedures that have to be submitted and approved by the DHS, and for good reason,” explained Executive Director Renée Boehme. For the past several years, the Corrie’s House staff conducted countless hours of research not only to understand the issue of sex trafficking but to also look at what services exist around the state and what gaps they could help fill. “What we learned was there’s very little that existed compared to the need. The need is so high for youth who are in this situation,” Boehme explained. “They have complex trauma from it. It really requires specialized care to understand how to meet them where they are and help them back on the road to recovery emotionally, mentally, as well as to address the barriers that they may have been facing that make it really hard to exit.” SEE CORRIE’S HOUSE, PAGE 10
Centennial High School reimagines vampire novella In 1872, a Gothic novella written by Irish author Joseph Sheridan le Fanu was published. The novella was titled “Carmilla,” and is one of the earliest known works of vampire fiction. Le Fanu’s vampires are women. The novella is regarded as one of the most influential vampire stories of all time. The Centennial High School Theatre company will bring its own version of “Carmilla” to life from Thursday, Dec. 4,
through Sunday, Dec. 7. It will feature about 100 total students, cast and crew. “I was inspired to write this years ago, and the time just seemed to be perfect to do it,” said Eric Webster, director and playwright. The show will have many twists from the original, as the vampires in Webster’s story are out to rid of the world of evil. The cast will use the pretense of the novel to examine the boundaries and conception of what is right and wrong. To depict vampirism, Webster said they have a “tell, but don’t
Fa i rwaY
show” approach. “It’s not hard to make people see things in their mind. Tell, but don’t show. Our minds provide the gory details,” he explained. Senior Crow Pinsonnault will play the Baron Vordenberg, who Pinsonnault describes as “very analytical.”= “It’s interesting play with all these other characters that are very caring, especially the Vinters, and I’m coming in here and taking notes and solving the mysteries,” he explained. SEE CARMILLA, PAGE 7
MELISSA CARLSON | CONTRIBUTED
Senior AJ Basara (left) and Senior Svea King will play Carmilla and Milarca in the Centennial High School Theatre’s version of “Carmilla.”
WHY WH Y CHOOSE CHOOSE US?
c o lli si o n an d au t o motive
651-483-4055 CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1226 quadnews@presspubs.com
Family owned and operated since 1975 Certified Expert Technicians Lifetime Warranty Collision & Mechanical Services Hail Damage Specialists
www.fairwaycollisioncenter.com
125 E. Cty Rd. F • Vadnais Heights, 55127 ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
2022
2022
of the Press
of the Press
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
Shoreview Press
818927 792568
BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
PRODUCTION 651-407-1253 artmanager@presspubs.com