City undertakes comprehensive study on 165th Street corridor
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
HUGO — Now that the council has given the green light, work will begin on an alternative urban areawide review (AUAR) that will analyze multiple development scenarios along the 165th Street corridor including land use, infrastructure, environmental assessment and costs.
City Planner Rachel Juba says there is increasing “development pressure” in the area, and any development would trigger necessary roadway improvements. The 165th Street corridor is primarily gravel between Highway 61 and Elmcrest Avenue. Along with roadway improvements, city sewer and water infrastructure would need to be extended.
“The work for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan will start next year, but there is likely some work that needs to be completed earlier due to increased development interest,” Juba explained.
Per the city’s 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan, the area is slated for a temporary paving solution in 2026. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan identifies 165th Street as an urban section minor collector road (pavement, curb, and gutter) from Elmcrest Avenue to Highway 61 with a future trail making connection to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail. There have been questions about whether the design of the road should be reevaluated.
Juba explained since the city’s last comprehensive plan update (2040), a few metrowide decisions have been made that impact will impact land use, roadway design and sewer and water.
The Metropolitan Council has stated that it is not planning a fixed line transit corridor along Highway 61 and that transit in the area will likely be micro transit or transit on demand. The city’s 2040 land use plan guides land at the intersection of 165th Street and Highway 61 for industrial, high-density residential and mixed use.
SEE 165TH STREET CORRIDOR, PAGE 5
Oneka Lake Park upgrades in the works
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
HUGO — Oneka Lake Park will see improvements to the tune of $282,052 this year.
The park was built in 2004, and the playground is nearing the end of its useful life. Flagship Recreation drafted two playground options in eight color schemes for consideration.
“We asked the neighborhood to vote on their
preferred concept, and the voting preferences were pretty clear,” explained Parks Planner Shayla Denaway.
Both options included a structure for ages 2-5 and another structure for ages 5-12. Neighbors voted for option 2, which includes five bays of swings, a “cozy dome” similar to the one in Lions Volunteer Park and other freestanding features. SEE ONEKA LAKE PARK, PAGE 5
a
owned by Mark and Evelyn Duvall. Evelyn is the third generation to occupy the home. Her great-aunt Ena Pierce was a founding member of the club.
Women’s club celebrates historic milestone
BY DEBRA NEUTKENS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
One hundred years ago, “on a sunny, summer day,” 12 neighbor women met at the home of Mrs. A.F. Thompson on Bald Eagle Lake. Their purpose was two-fold: fellowship and service. Little did the ladies of the lake
know that a century later, their group, known as the Bald Eagle Women’s Club, would still be meeting. In fact, the centennial celebration took place in the very house a founding member once owned.
What started as the “Best Ever Birthday Club” morphed into an official organization June 24,
1925, when a dozen women elected officers and approved bylaws. Most were well-to-do wives of prominent St. Paul businessmen who traveled with their families by train to summer cottages on Bald Eagle. They met twice a month at each other’s homes, holding teas and
Members of the Bald Eagle Women’s Club dress in vintage clothing to celebrate their 100th anniversary at “The Bungalow,”
CONTRIBUTED
A rendering of what the new playground will look like at Oneka Lake Park in Hugo.
We Do the Heavy Lifting for
BALD EAGLE WOMEN’S CLUB: Uniting
luncheons. They had speakers and music programs, played bridge and shared poetry. Dues were $2.
“That’s how they connected,” said Wendy Steiner, a lake resident and descendant of Thompson, the club’s first president. Steiner and her older sisters, Robyn Stuemke and Diane Tonder, grew up on the “Hilltop” on East Bald Eagle Boulevard, property their greatgrandparents homesteaded in the late 1800s.
Mrs. A.F. Thompson, known as “Frankie,” was a Wellesley-educated language teacher in Boston before moving to Bald Eagle with husband A.F. “Archie” in the 1880s. Archie was a mail clerk who had followed the railroads west to seek his fortune. He ended up in St. Paul and eventually Bald Eagle, where he found a perfect spot on a hill to build a year-round home for his family. It was a mile walk from the train station.
The Thompsons had a daughter,
Octavia, who married Oscar Blien. Their daughter, Barbara, is the sisters’ mother. Barbara married Terry Rooney, of the Rooney nursery family in White Bear Lake. Terry moved into the Hilltop house when they got married. The
women for social, civic betterment
Rooney sisters joined the club “to honor Frankie,” Steiner said.
Thompson was a close friend of Ena (Adamson) Pierce, Duvall’s ancestor and a club co-founder. Ena and husband Willis, a prosperous banker, owned a cottage at 5372 E. Bald Eagle Blvd., nicknamed The Bungalow.
As the founders decreed, the club’s objective was “to unite the women of Bald Eagle and adjacent territory for the purpose of social and civic betterment.”
Membership originally was limited to 35 members but quickly expanded to 40 with a waiting list. Today, there are about 50 members.
Back in the day, club members donated books and toys to the Neighborhood House in St. Paul, sponsored a Girl Scout troop and started a county library at The Bungalow with an $8 bookcase they bought. They sewed and knitted afghans for the Red Cross during war years and, early on, supported the American Field Service. Today, money raised is mostly donated to the White Bear food shelf.
The club’s longevity is rare, noted Steiner, who felt the fact it’s still active has to do with meeting locations. “There’s something personal about getting together in each other’s homes,” she said, adding, “We have a spirit here. We are a smaller, tighter knit community on Bald Eagle.
“Keep in mind, this area was still resorts at the time the club started,” continued Duvall. “As homes or cottages cropped up, the club became a way to connect.”
The late LaVerne Armbruster said the club gave members a “sense of belonging” in a Press story on their 85th anniversary. Armbruster, who was club historian, felt the Bald Eagle group was a great way to get to know neighbors. She died in 2020.
Stuemke, the current club historian, recalled a story her great-grandmother told about gangsters who visited Bald Eagle in the ’30s. “Archie and Frankie had a small house they rented (on the Hilltop). Frankie saw one of them pull out a big roll of money and said, ‘I’m sorry, it’s already been rented.’ She didn’t want
them living next to her. I’m pretty sure that was Ma Barker’s son.”
Their mission is probably more social now, admit the three women, who helped plan the celebration. Their numbers have grown in the past few years, which is encouraging.
Today’s monthly programs often involve food, coupled with guest lectures on topics such as history or art or gardening. Dues are now $20, “which is still pretty cheap,” remarked Duvall, who is current co-president.
For the special celebration, members enjoyed tea and samplings from the new club cookbook, “To Luncheons Much Inclined,” served on Ena’s handembroidered tablecloth. Duvall made her mother Anzle Chapin’s carrot cake recipe, a family favorite, paired with Octavia’s Jell-O salad and the Bald Eagle cookie, originator unknown. Members reminisced about club history, heard Frankie Thompson’s birthday club poem and concluded with a singalong to tunes like “You Are My Sunshine,” “Red Red Robin” and “Button Up Your Overcoat.”
“We wanted to bring back the flavor of the times,” Duvall said. “We had a lot of fun with it.”
No doubt, just like the women who preceded them these last 100 years.
Blacksmith hosts car shows Blacksmith Lounge & Broaster, located at 17205 Forest Blvd N. in Hugo, will host seven car shows in 2025. The first show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Memorial Day, Monday, May 26; followed by Back to the ’80s, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7; Lincoln car show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 26; Oldsmobile car show, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3; Brotherhood of Street Racing show, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10; Labor Day Car Show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1; and Northern Lights car show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
ONGOING EVENTS
HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’
When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, May 1; first, third and fifth Thursday of every month
Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th St. N.
Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited. Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com
WASHINGTON COUNTY PARKS
FREE TUESDAY
When: Tuesday, May 6; first Tuesday of the month
Where: All Washington County Parks
Details: Free entry into county parks all day the first Tuesday of the month. Contact: washingtoncountymn.gov/ parksprograms
CURRENT EVENTS
FIX-IT CLINIC
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 3
Where: Stillwater Public Library
Details: Get help fixing small electronics and gadgets.
Contact: washingtoncountymn. gov/3776/Fix-It-Opportunities
ONCE UPON A STORY TIME
When: 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, May 6
Where: Wargo Nature Center
Details: Themed story book reading and craft for kids ages 2+ with an adult. Contact: anokacountyparks.com
GARDEN TOOL SWAP
When: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7
Where: North Environmental Center, Forest Lake
Details: Drop off unwanted garden tools and decor and pick up needed ones. No power tools, plastic planters, dirt or broken items.
Contact: washingtoncountymn. gov/3775/Reuse-and-Repair-Resources
TOUCH-A-TRUCK
When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 8
Where: Podvin Park, 1700 Ninth St., White Bear Lake
Details: Come explore a variety of vehicles, meet first responders and have some family fun. Hosted by the White Bear Lake Police Department. Contact: 651-429-8511
HEART 4 ART
When: 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8
Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave., White Bear Lake
Details: WBCA’s annual fundraising event includes social hour with cash bar, dinner, and program with moving stories and teaching artists creating original pieces live throughout the event. Register by April 30. Contact: 651-407-0597 or whitebeararts. org
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
When: 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 9
Where: Mahtomedi District Education Center
Details: Live music, yard games and food trucks. No registration required. Contact: communityed.mahtomedi.k12. mn.us
BIG RED BARN FOLK ARTS AND CRAFTERS FAIR
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 10
Where: Maplewood Area Historical Society, 2170 County Road D E., Maplewood Details: This event is a fundraiser supporting the preservation of the Maplewood Area Historical Society’s 12 historic structures dating back to 1891. Browse over 100 booths in the area’s largest Folk Arts gathering. Parking is available at Maplewood Mall. Contact: events@MaplewoodMuseum. org or 651-748-8645
SPRINGTIME FORAGING
When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 10
Where: Wargo Nature Center, Lino Lakes
Details: Hike around the forests, fields, and wetlands in search of wild foods,
and potentially harvest mushrooms. Registration required. Contact: anokacountyparks.com
AGING WELL SENIOR EXPO
When: 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 15
Where: St. Genevieve’s Parish Community Center, Centerville Details: Area seniors and caregivers can connect with local businesses and organizations. Medication and eyeglasses collection.
Contact: centennialarechamber.com
WASHINGTON COUNTY SHREDDING EVENT
When: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursdays, May 15
Where: North Environmental Center, 6065 Headwaters Pkwy, Forest Lake Details: Document shredding by ShredRight. Limit 6 boxes, 30 lbs per box. Open to residents and businesses in Washington County; proof of residency required. Contact: washingtoncountymn. gov/3031/Shredding-Events
CHURCH BRIEF
St. Paul Lutheran Church hosts Scandinavian music, dance event
St. Paul Lutheran Church of Stillwater will host Ponyfolk at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 10. Clifton Nesseth (vocals, fiddle) and Paul Sauey (vocals, guitar, bass pedals) formed Ponyfolk in 2014 after connecting as students in the music program at St. Olaf College. Both multi-instrumentalists, the pair brought their mutual interest in folk music traditions and love of harmo-
Culture Fair
When: 12-4 p.m. Saturday, May 10
Where: Centennial High School, 4757 North Road, Circle Pines
Details: Come be a part of this beautiful community celebration of culture—educational booths, vendors, food trucks and performances. Hosted by Centennial Students for Change, a student led organization promoting equality and accountability in our community. Contact: DBevins@isd12.org
nies to the project. The group has since expanded, with Mikey Marget (cello) and Alex Nelson (pump organ). The performance will include music from their recently released album, “The Woods Have Shown Us,” along with Nordic folk music that has been passed down for generations. The event will also feature a Norwegian dance group, the Peer Gynt Dancers. St. Paul Lutheran Church is located on the corner of Fourth Street and Walnut Street in Stillwater.
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance in the United States that began in 1949. It was created by Mental Health America to bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing. Various organizations and individuals step up during this time to raise awareness of and help address the challenges faced by many living with mental health conditions.
According to The National Council, 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by the age of 14, and 75% by age 24. One in five adults experience mental illness each year. One in six adolescents have a mental health condition, but only half of them will receive treatment. In a previous column I wrote, I spoke about my own mental health journey (“Let’s talk about mental health” The Lowdown, Oct. 2024). During my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with severe/moderate anxiety and depression. Thankfully, with the help of insurance, my family was able to afford therapy sessions that I attended twice a month for a year. That year was difficult, and I reflect on that time a lot. It was the year that changed my life.
Madeline’s
Madeline Dolby
When I was a junior in college, my mental health took a turn for the worst. My grades started to slip, and I had to attend a study hall for three hours a week. I wanted to quit track. I stopped hanging out with friends and doing the things that I loved. That summer, I worked hard on improving my mental health again. I spent less time on social media. I started saying “yes” again. I began to exercise outside more.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), each illness has its own set of symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and teens can include excessive worrying or fear, problems concentrating or learning, extreme mood changes, avoiding friends and social activities and many more. But remember, symptoms and signs can vary for everybody.
Just when I thought my mental health was on the rise, I got hit with a serious depressive episode about a month into my senior year. My best friend came into my room one night and expressed her concerns for me. We had a long discussion about what I needed to do to improve my mental health. I talked to my parents about attending therapy again and possibly even going back on my medication. Two days later, I asked my athletic trainer to help me set up an appointment with the sports psychologist on campus. I began to attend therapy once a week for five months, then twice a month until I graduated in May. The change in my mental health, and myself, was significant.
Asking for help is scary. Acknowledging that you are not okay is scary. Telling a loved one that you are not okay is scary. When I told my parents that I believed I needed to go to therapy, I was terrified that they would look at my differently. Thankfully, they supported me and continue to support me through my mental health journey. But I know this is not the case for everybody. For more information on NAMI and to access mental health resources visit www.nami.org or www.health. state.mn.us/people/mentalhealth. The national suicide and crisis hotline number is 988. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Editor Madeline Dolby can be reached at 651-431-1226 or quadnews@presspubs.com.
HDenim and Diamonds: Dinner, games, music and dancing
appy Spring! The Centennial Area Education Foundation (CAEF) has been part of our community for almost 25 years. As a nonprofit, Centennial Area Education Foundation (CAEF) is composed of community volunteers focusing on raising funds for Educational Grants and Student Scholarships. Our mission is “Supporting Education to Build a Strong Community.”
CAEF supports education-based community programs in Centennial School District for over 6,000 students in the communities of Blaine, Circle Pines, Centerville, Lexington and Lino Lakes. In the last year alone, CAEF awarded more than $44,000 through grants for our staff and community and scholarships for our students.
To continue providing opportunities for our students, staff and community, our CAEF team is planning a fantastic annual gala Denim and Diamonds on May 3rd, 2025, at Dellwood Barns. The CAEF gala, Denim and Diamonds,
• Limited to 350 words.
• Submissions must Include a full name, address and daytime phone number for verification.
• Letter writers must live, work or have another connection to Press Publications coverage area.
is our primary fundraiser of the year. It is a fun evening to celebrate our donors and raise funds for our student programs and the community. The event includes dinner, silent and live auctions, games, music and dancing. We would love to have you join us! For more information on tickets, to donate, volunteer or join our team, see our website: www.centennialareaeducationfoundation.org.
Fund the Need is part of our fundraising effort at the Gala. In the past we have supported many classroom enhancements through Fund the Need. Most recently, we have raised money to support the Manufacturing Program at Centennial High School. Through Fund the Need, CAEF and our supporters were able to help purchase equipment to make our manufacturing program top of the line. It is providing students with career paths and many skills and opportunities.
This year, Fund the Need will be focused on enhancing PreK-12 Music and Arts education in Centennial Schools. Inspiring Creativity, Enriching Education. By expanding access to essential resources, we will be ensuring that every student has opportunity to explore, create, and grow through the arts. With the support from our community, we will provide elementary music instruments to build a
THE CITIZEN | LETTER GUIDELINES
• Letter writers are limited to six letters per year and at least four weeks must lapse between publication. Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters.
• Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues are not guaranteed publication.
• Repeat letters by the same writer about the same subject matter will not be published.
strong foundation for young musicians. Bring Artists-in-Residence to lead engaging, hands-on art experiences for elementary students. Equip the band programs with the instruments needed for student participation. Upgrade secondary art tools and materials to foster advanced artistic expression. An arts education nurtures creativity, confidence, and collaboration—essential skills that shape well-rounded, inspired students. CAEF is proud to join with Centennial Schools making the arts accessible for all and ensure every child, from PreK through High School, has opportunity to discover their creative potential.
Please join CAEF in our fundraising efforts to support our students, staff and community through grants, scholarships and educational experiences. Join us at our Annual Gala, May 3rd. If you are unable to attend the Gala, please consider a donation to Fund the Need, or bid on items from our Silent Auction with this link: https://caef.winningbidder.com/ event/4034 or access our website with QR code.
We appreciate the support from our Centennial Community. Together we can make a difference!
Suzy Guthmueller is co-president of the Centennial Area Education Foundation.
• Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published.
• Submissions containing facts not previously published in The Citizen must be accompanied by factual verification.
• All letters are subject to editing.
• Deadline is 5 p. m., Wednesday of the week prior to publication.
• To submit a letter, e-mail it to citizennews@presspubs. com, fax it to 651-429-1242 or mail or deliver it to Press Publications, 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.
Movers & Shakers
ONEKA LAKE PARK: Project will begin late
FROM PAGE 1
“They gravitated toward (option 2), which has a very traditional 5-12 structure,” Denaway explained. “The other option had a more alternative, newer style playground structure.”
Other park improvements will include a fresh coat of paint on the picnic shelter, asphalt and concrete repairs, landscaping improvements and maintenance of existing trees.
The playground replacement will cost $150,000. The Hugo Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission also recommended the council invest an additional $133,000 for pour-inplace (PIP) rubber surfacing.
“PIP is being recommended due to the site constraints (and) large park service area and thus increased use, longevity of the surface and accessibility,” Denaway noted. “The existing playground container regularly holds water, and maintaining adequate engineered wood
Work on Oneka Lake Park is expected to begin in late August.
fiber depths, which we need for safety, has been difficult.”
Currently, the public works department has to level out the wood chips weekly; and wood chips need to be replaced every three years. “We did it in 2019 and it was very much needed again last year,” she said.
Grading of the site is also needed. “The work that would be necessary to make engineered wood fiber work would
be very extensive and would likely necessitate the removal and replacement of many of the trails, concrete pads, trees and would potentially impact the picnic shelter,” she said.
Public Works Director Scott Anderson explained that the PIP would make “huge improvements” to the muddiness that the park currently experiences.
“If we chose to go the route
with the engineered wood fiber, we would have to raise everything up to get good drainage, and that is a substantial cost,” Anderson said. “Another cost that would be added is we wouldn’t be able to save the pavilion. We would have to take out the pavilion and do a new concrete slab.”
Council Member Mike Miron said he has seen some damage to the PIP at Lions Volunteer Park and wondered what kind of budget might be involved in making repairs to that surfacing going forward should the council choose that option.
Denaway said the city doesn’t have enough history with PIP for her to be able to answer that question, but repairs would be needed less frequently than mulch replacement, perhaps every five to eight years instead of every three years.
Miron also questioned whether PIP is a new trend for the city’s parks. Denaway explained that the parks commis-
sion doesn’t necessarily want it to be the trend, but at this park, in particular, it makes a lot of sense due to the large service area, high traffic and drainage issues.
Council Member Ben Krull said, “I’m struggling with the cost differential, but when you weigh in the unknown cost of grading and things we don’t know, it’s kind of hard to argue the other way.”
Council Member Dave Strub added, “This is a heavily used park. I don’t have a problem with upgrading it to handle all the extra traffic it does get.”
The City Council ultimately approved option 2 with the PIP. The work is expected to begin in late August and last through September.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@ presspubs.com.
165TH STREET CORRIDOR: Study to provide ‘jump start’ for development
FROM PAGE 1
Many questions related to water supply have also surfaced relating to restrictions put in place because of the White Bear Lake lawsuit.
Interested developers have also asked the city whether 165th Street needs to be improved to an urban section roadway, and what utility extensions would be necessary.
Two consultants, WSB and Landform, have proposed to complete an AUAR for a total of $167,324. To help offset those costs, the city plans to apply for a grant of up to $40,000 from the Washington County Community Development Agency.
Council Member Becky Petryk wanted to know if there was any way for the city to recover some of the study costs from developers. Juba said there isn’t.
City Administrator Bryan Bear explained that the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan update 10 years ago cost about the same amount of money. “That was just an update,” he said. “This is a true planning study, more than an update, analyzing all
BUSINESS BRIEF
Waldoch Farm breaks ground on apple orchard
Waldoch Farm, located in Lino Lakes, has broken ground on a new apple orchard. In the upcoming weeks, approximately 1,600 apple trees will be planted. The orchard is scheduled to open in three to four years. Waldoch Farm is located at 8174 Lake Drive. For more information, go to waldochfarm.com.
the utilities, infrastructure and land uses. This is going to require a fair amount of effort to pull it all together.”
Council Member Dave Strub added that the AUAR will provide a “jump start” on some of the work the city will have to go through starting next year for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan update.
AUARs generally take approximately 9-12 months to complete. It is anticipated that the draft AUAR will be available for distribution in November and, if everything goes as planned, the City Council will likely adopt the final AUAR in February 2026.
“This is a project that we have to get correct,” Mayor Tom Weidt said. “This is info that will be helpful and will also spur development and make it easier going forward to get that correct … I’m in big favor of spending money right one time.”
The council unanimously approved an AUAR for the corridor at its last meeting.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@presspubs.com.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
CHURCH DIRECTORY
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site 14383 Forest Blvd N, Hugo Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Community Center
Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site 14383 Forest Blvd N, Hugo Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937
CONTRIBUTED
The City Council has authorized consultants to do a comprehensive review on the 165th Street corridor.
CONTRIBUTED
COPS&COURTS
HUGO POLICE REPORTS
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following calls for service in Hugo:
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies receive plenty of noise complaints each week, but rarely issue a citation, often because they can’t find the source of all the racket. However, at 3:16 a.m. March 9, a son in the 4000 block of 149th Street N. was cited for loud noise at that hour, most likely because deputies had already warned him about the noise.
• A Hugo resident at 10:21 a.m. March 10 reported that she arrived at the auto mechanic’s shop at an undisclosed location to pick up her vehicle that was supposed to be ready, after having paid for repairs up front. The complainant told deputies the mechanic had kept the vehicle for more than a month. When deputies met with the mechanic, he said the vehicle was not finished and needed another day. On March 7, a woman reported a shop in Hugo for exhibiting the same behavior — demanding more money and refusing to tell her when the vehicle would be ready. When deputies spoke to that mechanic March 7, he said the vehicle was ready, and the complainant could come by the next business day and pick it up. That next business day was March 10. Deputies wrote in their report, “This appears to be an ongoing issue of lack of motivation and follow-through on the mechanic’s part, as he was paid in full for the job. This ongoing civil issue will likely lead to a civil lawsuit.” Not to mention a dramatic drop-off in business once the public finds out the address of the shop — or shops, in the event of a wild coincidence.
• Residents in the 8000 block of 122nd Street N. at 10:25 a.m. March 10 reported their mailbox smashed. Later that same day, residents in the 12000 block of Keller Avenue N. reported hit-and-run property damage to their mailbox,
an event that happens with alarming frequency these days, but never happened in the olden days when mail was delivered to the house.
• A motorist on Highway 61, just north of 125th Street N. was cited at 3:50 p.m. March 10 for illegally passing another vehicle. At 4:11 that day, another motorist was also cited on Highway 61 at 127th Street N. for passing in a no-passing zone.
• A motorist on Goodview Avenue N. and 130th Street N. at 6:36 p.m. March 10 was cited for driving after suspension, following a traffic stop for a missing taillight.
• Six vehicles were cited throughout town overnight March 10-11, one of them twice, for violating the city’s winter overnight parking ban. A single vehicle was cited overnight March 11-12 for the same offense.
• A motorist was cited at 5:34 p.m. March 11 on Forest Blvd. N. at County Road J for multiple violations, following a traffic stop for illegal window tint.
• A resident in the 15000 block of Goodview Trail N. at 4:31 p.m. March 12 reported that $2,000 was taken fraudulently from her bank account and used to make several purchases at local Holiday gas stations and elsewhere.
• Two suspicious people reported at 3:09 a.m. March 14 for being at a front door in the 5000 block of 159th Street N. and ringing the doorbell turned out to be people from St. Cloud who were lost. Deputies gave them a courtesy ride to the address they were seeking.
• A shoplifter was reported caught at 11:06 a.m. March 14 at a business in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd.
• Deputies arriving in time to the scene of a juvenile vandalism report at 11:16 p.m. March 14 in the 4000 block of 158th Street N. found a vehicle with several youths inside. All the juveniles were out past curfew and were ordered to call their parents to be picked up. The parents arrived on scene, and the juveniles escaped a citation.
• A report of a break-in to a home under construction in the 6000 block of 157th Street at 12:02 a.m. March
15 turned out to be a delivery driver dropping off appliances for the house.
• Deputies at 12:29 a.m. March 15 responded to a disturbance report in the 5000 block of 146th Street N. that doubled as an unwanted person report. By the time the complaint was dispatched out to deputies, the person who refused to leave had left. However, a driving complaint arrived at dispatch a short time later about a vehicle matching the description of the unwanted person’s vehicle. Multiple agencies followed the complaint, and the Forest Lake Police Department found and tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled.
• Deputies responding to a hit-and-run accident at 5:10 p.m. March 15 on Victor Hugo Blvd. N. and Frenchman Road found the culprit vehicle with five unsecured juveniles in the back seat. The driver was cited for leaving the scene of the crash and for failure to use child restraints.
• A motorist in the 5000 block of 140th Street N. at 6:08 p.m. March 15 was cited for failure to provide proof of insurance following a traffic stop for expired registration.
At 6:38 p.m. that same evening, another motorist was cited on Forest Blvd. N. and 140th Street N. for speeding 53 mph in a 35 mph zone. A third motorist was cited at 10:10 p.m. in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for speeding 46 mph in a 35 mph zone.
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop at 12:31 a.m. March 16 on Flay Avenue N. at 140th Street N. for displaying tabs that expired in November 2024 and cited the driver and registered owner for the tardy tabs. They pulled another vehicle over for late registration at 8:23 p.m. March 16 in the 4000 block of Empress Drive N. and cited the motorist for that offense and for failure to produce a valid driver’s license or proof of insurance.
• A motorist on 137th Street N. and Greystone Avenue N. at 3:51 p.m. March 17 was cited for a multitude of motor vehicle violations after deputies conducted a traffic stop due to the vehicle having an object suspended from the rearview mirror.
During the stop, deputies realized the motorist had been driving with headphones on, did not have a valid driver’s license and did not have insurance for the vehicle.
• Deputies cited a motorist for speeding at 5:46 p.m. March 17 in the 6000 block of 170th Street N. They conducted another traffic stop for expired vehicle registration at 6:11 p.m. March 17 on Egg Lake Road N. and Goodview Avenue N.
• A hit-and-run accident was reported at 8:14 p.m. March 17 in the 5000 block of 140th Street N. The suspect vehicle could not be identified because the license plate was unreadable.
• Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by a driver with revoked license plates at 9:14 p.m. March 17 on Highway 61, just south of 140th Street N. The plates were removed, and a temporary plate and impound form were given to the driver.
• Deputies pulled a vehicle over for speeding at 9:33 p.m. March 17 on 125th Street N. and Goodview Avenue N. and issued a written warning to the driver. They conducted another traffic stop at 9:42 p.m. that evening on Elmcrest Avenue N. and Frenchman Road for expired registration and issued a written warning for that offense. A third motorist was cited for speeding at 9:27 p.m. March 18 on 170th Street N. and Ingersoll Avenue N.
• A motorist with an object suspended from his rearview mirror was arrested at 4:45 p.m. March 18 on 140th Street N. and Fenway Avenue N. After deputies identified the driver during the stop, they discovered he had a proba -
tion warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody and transported to the Washington County jail.
• A motorist who caused an accident while trying to make a U-turn was cited for failure to yield to oncoming traffic at 9:47 p.m. March in the 5000 block of Egg Lake Road N. The accident resulted in minor injuries, but none resulted in hospitalization.
• A political sign was reported stolen from the 8000 block of 120th Street N. at 5:28 p.m. March 19. A business in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 5:08 p.m. March 20 also reported a theft.
• Deputies conducted two traffic stops during the evening of March 20. The first stop, at 6:24 p.m. in the 13000 block of Forest Blvd. N., resulted in a citation for expired registration.
The second, at 11:56 p.m. in the 14000 block of Generation Avenue N. for window tint and unreasonably loud exhaust, also resulted in a citation for those violations.
• A woman in the 14000 block of Homestead Avenue N. at 3:32 p.m. March 21 was arrested for DWI and for multiple violations against law enforcement, private property and her family, after deputies responded to a call for service. The complainants were in their car when the suspect rammed into them. When deputies on scene tried to investigate the unruly, intoxicated female, the subject spat on them, resulting in her immediate detention.
• Deputies responding to a noise complaint at 10:11 p.m. March 15 in the 4000 block of 149th Street N. noted that the complainants appeared to always call in on their neighbors whenever any amount of noise at all is heard.
• A butcher knife reported found in the middle of the road in the 4000 block of Empress Drive N. at 7:38 a.m. March 22 turned out to be not a knife, but a stick that resembled a knife.
• Deputies conducted three traffic stops on March 22. A motorist was cited at 8:19 a.m. in the 12000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for using her cellphone while driving. A second motorist was cited at 10:07 a.m. on Forest Blvd. N. and 146th Street N. for expired registration and for having a juvenile in the front seat without child restraint. A third motorist was cited at 1:29 p.m. for speeding 46 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Loretta Harding
PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF
Guilty verdict for man who shot, killed Centerville man
John Lee Edmondson, 54, of St. Louis Park, has been found guilty of second-degree murder and illegally possessing a firearm after a shooting that killed Larry Jiles Jr. in February 2023.
Jiles, 34, was known locally as “Chef Hot Hands.” Jiles operated his restaurant and catering business. He was born in St. Paul, raised in Hugo and graduated from White Bear Schools in 2006.
Jiles was one of two people killed in the shooting on Dale Street in St. Paul Feb. 25, 2023. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the building following a celebration of life event. Three other people were injured in the incident.
On April 14, a jury in Ramsey County returned a guilty verdict for Edmondson, while finding him not guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. Edmondson is scheduled to be sentenced June 11. He faces between 23 and 32 years in prison.
BUSINESS BRIEF
Otter Crossing South preliminary plat receives approval
The preliminary plat for Otter Crossing South, which includes a commercial lot for an ALDI grocery store, has been approved by the Lino Lake City Council. The site is located south of Main Street, east of I-35E and west of Otter Lake Road. (See “ALDI grocery store a possibility for Lino Lakes, Hugo residents,” Quad Community Press, March 18, 2025).
in The Citizen area
your nominations online April 30 - May 18 online at
Scan to nominate Contest Categories
Nominate once per day in one or all categories. The top 5 nominees will be put on the voting ballot.
Arts & Entertainment
• Best Art Class
• Best Bowling Alley
• Best Celebration/Festival
• Best Local Band/Musician
• Best Local Singer/Vocalist
• Best Outdoor Event
Local
• Best Curbside Pickup
• Best Elementary School
• Best High School
• Best Middle School
• Best Place To Work, Large (>50 Employees)
• Best Place To Work, Small (<50 Employees)
• Best Teacher K-5
• Best Teacher 6-12
• Best Wedding Venue Indoors
• Best Wedding Venue Outdoors
Sports & Recreation
• Best Bike Trail
• Best Dance Studio • Best Martial Arts Studio
Shopping
• Best Clothing Store
• Best Flooring/Carpet Store
• Best Florist
• Best Gift Shop
• Best Greenhouse/Nursery
• Best Grocery Store
• Best Hardware Store
• Best Home Furnishing Décor
• Best Liquor Store
• Best Specialty Shop • Best Vintage/Thrift Store
Eating & Drinking
• Best Appetizer
• Best Appetizer Selection
• Best Bar
• Best BBQ Ribs
• Best Beer Selection at a Bar
• Best Beer Selection at Liquor Store
• Best Bloody Mary
• Best Breakfast
• Best Brewery
• Best Bourbon Selection
• Best Burritos
• Best Cordial/Spirits at a Bar
• Best Cordial/Spirits at a Liquor Store
• Best Cheese Curds
• Best Chicken
• Best Chow Mein
• Best Church Dinner
• Best Coffee
• Best Deli
• Best Fajitas
• Best Fast Food
• Best Fish Fry
• Best French Fries • Best Fried Rice
• Best Hamburger
• Best Happy Hour
• Best Ice Cream Cone
• Best Italian Restaurant
• Best Lasagna
• Best Lunch
• Best Outdoor Dining
• Best Pho Soup
• Best Pie
• Best Pizza • Best Restaurant • Best Salad
• Best Seafood • Best Soup • Best Steak Dinner
• Best Stir Fry • Best Sub/Sandwich • Best Tacos • Best Walleye Dinner • Best Wine at a Bar • Best Wine at a Liquor Store
Health & Fitness
• Best Assisted Living
• Best Audiologist
• Best Acupuncturist
• Best Chiropractic Care
• Best Chiropractor
• Best Clinic
• Best Cosmetic Dentist
• Best Dentist
• Best Dermatology
• Best Primary Care Doctor
• Best Esthetician
• Best Eye Doctor
• Best Gym
• Best Healthcare Facility
• Best Health Food Store
• Best Hospice Care
• Best Accounting Firm
• Best Massage Therapist
• Best Mental Health Service
• Best Orthodontics
• Best Orthopedic Clinic
• Best Orthopedic Doctor/ Surgeon
• Best Pediatric Dentist
• Best Pharmacist
• Best Physical Therapist
• Best Physical Therapy Clinic
• Best Retirement Facility/ Independent Living
• Best Senior Care Facility
• Best Wellness Coach
• Best Yoga
Services
• Best Air Duct Cleaning Service
• Best Auto Body
• Best Auto Repair
• Best Bank
• Best Credit Union
• Best Bartender (Include First/ Last Name/Place Of Work)
• Best Bike Shop
• Best Car Wash
• Best Childcare
• Best Church
• Best Customer Service From A Local Business
• Best Dog Groomer
• Best Dog Trainer
• Best Exterior Painting Service
• Best Exterminator
• Best Financial Planner
• Best Funeral Home
• Best Gas Station
• Best Hair Stylist (Include First/ Last Name/Place Of Work)
• Best Hair Salon • Best Heating/Air Conditioning
• Best Junk Removal • Best Landscape Company
• Best Lawn Care Service
• Best Lawyer
Best Mechanic • Best Mortgage Company • Best Moving / Hauling Service
• Best Oil Change • Best Paint Store
• Best Pet Sitter/Boarding
• Best Plumber
• Best Realtor
• Best Remodeler
• Best Rental Business
• Best Roofer
• Best Self Storage
• Best Server (Include First/Last Name/Place Of Work)
• Best Solar Company
• Best Spa
• Best Tattoo Shop
• Best Tax Preparer
• Best IT Support
• Best Tire Shop
• Best Towing Service
• Best Tree Service
• Best Veterinary Clinic
• Best Veterinary ClinicEmergency
• Best Water Treatment Service
“The
andArts Culture2025
EMERGING ARTIST: JACOB PASIUK
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Last fall, White Bear Lake senior Jacob Pasiuk received his third consecutive Hennepin Spotlight Trust distinction for Outstanding Overall Technical Team for his work on “Legally Blonde.” He additionally received recognition for Outstanding Technical Leadership. Since 2022, Pasiuk has racked up dozens of lighting and sound design credits from not only White Bear venues, but also Minneapolis and Maple Grove. He has even done lighting tech for corporate events. How does one even get started in such a field? According to Pasiuk, “Curiosity and just watching.”
“I started out as an actor actually,” Pasiuk remembered. He explained that his grandmother, a choreographer, got him interested in performing on stage. In third grade, Pasiuk was cast in “101 Dalmatians” in Bluewater Theater
CONTRIBUTED
Jacob Pasiuk
Company in Wayzata. “I was always going up to the tech booth and seeing what the technicians were doing. I was like, ‘I want to do that.’” From there, he trained at Bluewater during his middle school summers and began helping with
tech for their elementary school shows. Pasiuk’s decision to pursue lighting design as a career, however, happened during the winter one-act play during his sophomore year. “I was left alone and thrown into the deep end. The technical director, he got a concussion … during that time, that was a huge learning curve,” Pasiuk recalled. During White Bear’s spring play that year, he received mentorship from a Century College lighting student. “After that, I was like, ‘I got this.’” Pasiuk said.
While Pasiuk has faith in his own abilities, he also must collaborate closely with other creative teams. He explained, “If there was a gunshot, for example, you need to work with sound [designers] and the stage manager … when this gunshot happens, there has to be a flash that happens.”
Pasiuk must also work with everevolving technology. Over the past decade, programmable stage lights have
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THEATER PROGRAM IS THE TOPS
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Though the White Bear Lake Area School District standardizes the curriculum, vets the staff and maintains the facilities of all elementary schools, extracurricular opportunities can vary greatly between buildings. Birch Lake Elementary School Teacher Allison Theissen explained, “I had three kids go through Otter Lake [Elementary], and now I’ve been teaching at Birch Lake for about 11-12 years. It’s drastically different, from the way their PTA operates to the amount of money they fundraise.”
To help close the opportunity gap, Children’s Performing Arts (CPA) instituted Theater Outreach Program in the Schools (TOPS). “It is an after-school enrichment program where we rehearse and then perform a 30-minute musical,” explained CPA Education and Programs Manager Maddie Ripperger. “We try to make it as simple for the school and the students who are performing as we possibly can.” This includes picking the show based on teachers’ guidance, creating costumes and props and designing digital backdrops and technical setups. “They get to rehearse in their school,” Ripperger continued, “so we’re removing a lot of the barriers, like needing transportation to a venue outside of your school.”
After a preview for their classmates at the school, the kids get rehearsal time at the Hanifl Performing Arts Center as well as two performance dates on their stage. “For a lot of kids…” Ripperger commented, “it’s their first time being in our building and ever being in a show, period.” Through donations from community fundraising, CPA is able to provide costumes, keep ticket costs affordable and give teachers who work on their school’s show a small stipend. “Teachers volunteer beyond their limits a lot of times,” Allison stated. “CPA actually acknowledges that.”
Teachers from every school involved with TOPS have
CONTRIBUTED
noticed a marked growth in participants’ confidence. Said North Star Elementary teachers William Moris, Kelly Counihan and Jenny Storhaug in a joint statement, “We all feel like this program is a great way for our students here at North Star to be able to express themselves … Some of them really enjoy the ability to step out of their own lives and pretend to be someone else twice a week. It is awesome to see the smiles that this program puts on their faces.”
Allison’s husband, Mark Theissen, a teacher at Vadnais Heights Elementary, praised the difference TOPS made for his students during his school’s first year with the program. “The kids that came in three months ago are not the same kids that performed on stage at Hanifl. The confidence that they gained over those three months is life changing,” Mark stated.
The next TOPS show will be a junior version of “The Addams Family,” performed by North Star Elementary students at 6:30 p.m. May 7-8 at Hanifl Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available at the location’s box office. To donate to the TOPS program, visit childrensperformingartsmn.org/support/donate.
A GALA WHERE ‘ANYTHING GOES’
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
This year, for the first time ever, Lakeshore Players will attach their fundraising gala to a performance of their spring musical—in this case, “Anything Goes.” This version of the show, about a Wall Street broker turned cruise-ship stowaway who teams up with his nightclub-singer friend to break off an heiress’ engagement, follows the 2022 revival, updating the show’s sensibilities, but keeping its timeless appeal.
“There’s a lot going on in the world right now,” Lakeshore Players Executive Director Megan Pence stated. “We’re really thrilled to have this show on our season right now because it’s light and fun … It’s true escapism and pure entertainment at its best.”
While “Anything Goes” is currently showing at Lakeshore, the May 15 performance will serve as one portion of a grand evening out, with dinner, drinks and fundraising events surrounding the show. Attendees will also be among the first to see Lakeshore’s lineup
for their 2025-2026 season. Pence stated that donations raised from the fundraising gala are essential because Lakeshore is a non-profit. She estimates that ticket sales cover only half of the work Lakeshore does. Said Pence, “We rely on individual contributions to help us close that gap, to make the arts remain accessible and sustainable within your own community.”
For tickets and details on “Anything Goes” or the Lakeshore Players Gala, visit www. lakeshoreplayers.org
gotten more affordable, safer and lighter, giving technical designers both more capabilities than ever before. “It definitely makes my art a lot more noticeable,” remarked Pasiuk, using White Bear Lake’s new Performing Arts Center (PAC) as an example. If White Bear’s old theater was 1800s quill and ink, Pasiuk analogized, the new PAC would be a ballpoint pen. “It’s a great help to have technology involved, having all these nice new tools to play with,” Pasiuk remarked. Pasiuk’s experience with equipment new and old will serve him well this fall. He is one of only ten lighting design students selected to attend University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music—a school equal in reputation to Juilliard. Regardless of caliber, Pasiuk’s goal will largely be the same: “I program the lights, I design all the looks and make people shine on stage.”
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THEATER SUMMER CAMPS
All camps take place at Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake
DARE TO DREAM JR.: A DISNEY MUSICAL REVUE
Grades: 3-5 or 6-8
Dates: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. weekdays June 9-27
Details: A three-week process where children learn a musical revue show filled with Disney songs and perform it at the end of camp. Great for general performance skills and learning to take wellknown material and make it your own. Register at lakeshoreplayers.org/theatre-education.
WELCOME TO MUNCHKINLAND
Grades: K-2
Dates: 9:30-11:30 a.m., June 9-13
Details: Have your child join a week of creative, drama-based classes. Students will read books, then play games and create crafts that connect to the books. Finally, they will have a chance to act the book out, play different characters and explore different worlds. Incoming Kindergarteners welcome. More information at childrensperformingartsmn.org/ programs.
REVOLTING CHILDREN
Grades: 4-6
Dates: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. June 16-20
Details: A musical-theater camp featuring songs from “Matilda,” “Newsies,” “Oliver” and more. Participants will learn and perform scripted material. Instruction will be tailored to each child’s level of experience. More information at childrensperformingartsmn. org/programs.
PINK GOES GOOD WITH GREEN
Grades: 7-12
Dates: 1-4 p.m. June 16-20
Details: Teens will acquire focused, hard-skill performance techniques while learning and performing songs from “Mean Girls,” “Legally Blonde,” “Wicked” and more. Whether a novice or seasoned performer, instructors will customize the experience for each participant’s needs. More information at childrensperformingartsmn.org/ programs.
YES AND! INTRO TO IMPROV
Grades: 7-12
Dates: 1-4 p.m. June 23-27
Details: Participants will experience the beauty of onyour-feet storytelling! Throughout the week, students will learn the basic tenets of improv, cultivate their improv skills and host their own improv show for friends and family. More information at childrensperformingartsmn.org/programs.
Vadnais Heights students perform “101 Dalmatians” with help from Theater Outreach Program in the Schools (TOPS).
Sundays Acoustic Sundays 1-4pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
Sundays Ongoing – Game Day, BYO or use our selection 1-4pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
Tuesdays Bingo! Starting Nov 11 6pm
Tuesdays Beginner Yoga Flow Class 6-7pm
Wednesdays Ongoing – Trivia Night 7-9pm
Wednesdays Keychain Kash All Day
Thursdays Trivia Mafia 6pm
May 1 Music: Hailey James 5-8pm
May 1 Trivia Night 6:30-8pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
May 3 Craft Fair Noon-5pm White Bear Meadery
May 4 Star Wars Day Noon-8pm White Bear Meadery
May 4 Minnesota Bridal & Wedding Expo 5-8pm
May 4 Acoustic Sunday/Tim Cheesebrow 1-4pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
May 4 Hudson Community Expo 11am-3:30pm Belle Ame Vineyard
May 4
Candle Pouring Experience 2pm St. Croix Vineyards
May 4 Music: Steve Poynter 2-5pm 7 Vines Vineyard
May 6 Trivia with Ryan 6:30-8pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 7 Trivia Night 7-9pm White Bear Meadery
May 8 Music: Sten Carlson 5-8pm Belle Ame Vineyard
May 8 Music: Gary LaRue (sold out) 7 Vines Vineyard
May 10
Mothers Day Artist Market noon-5pm Big Wood Brewery
May 10 Devon Worley Band 8pm Big Wood Brewery
May 10-11 Rose Days & Mother’s Day Weekend St. Croix Vineyards
May 10
May 11
May 11
Mother’s Day Mini Market 11am-4pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
Mother’s Day Tulip Bouquet Bar 12-3pm 7 Vines Vineyard
Mother’s Day at Rustic Roots Rustic Roots Winery
May 11 Sunday Live Music Series 3-6pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 11
May 11
Acoustic Sunday-Vinnie Rose 1-4pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
Mother’s Day Tours 1-3pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
May 13 Bingo! 6:30-8pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 14 Trivia Night 7-9pm White Bear Meadery
May 15
Farmers & Artisans Market 4-7pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 15 Music: Sten Carlson 5-8pm Belle Ame Vineyard
May 15 Trivia Night 6:30-8pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
May 16 Art at the Winery 6-8:30pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
May 17 May 17th Flip Cup Tournament
May 18
Register at bigwoodbrewery.com Big Wood Brewery
Acoustic Sunday-Tim Fast 1-4pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
May 18 Candle Making Experience 2-5pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 18 Sunday Music Series 3-6pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 18 Yoga in the Vines 10-11am St. Croix Vineyards
May 18 Paint and sip classes 3-5pm Croix Vineyards
May 20 Trivia with Ryan 6:30-8pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 21 Trivia Night 7-9pm White Bear Meadery
May 22 Music: Sarah VanValkenburg 5-8pm Belle Ame Vineyard
May 22 Puzzle Night 6-7:30pm Belle Ame Vineyard
May 24-25 Winemaker’s Barrel Tasting Noon-5pm St. Croix Vineyards
May 25 Sunday Music Series 3-6pm Rustic Roots Winery
May 25 Acoustic Sunday-Billy Johnson 1-4pm Dancing Dragonfly Winery
May 25 Music: Michael August 2-5pm 7 Vines Vineyard
May 25 Paint & sip classes 3-6pm St. Croix Vineyards
May 28 Bingo! 6:30-8pm Rustic Roots Winery
May
May
May
May 31 German music by Mr.
CLASSIFIEDS
Thank you Blessed St Jude, fo r prayers answered. IF YOU HAD KNEE OR HIP REPLACEMENT SU RGERY and suffered an infectio n between 202 0 and the present time you may be entitled to compensa tion. Call Attorney Charles H. Johnson 800/535-5727
AN NANDALE SCHOOLS is seeking a Full Time Night Custodian; Hours: 210:30PM, M-F yearro und. Excellent pay, benefits, and work enviro nment Apply online at: jobs .redroverk12.com/org/18 48
Because of our ad with Press Publications we found such a great candidate who accepted our offer –Toby Sullivan White Bear Sailing School “ “
Call 651-407-1221
JOIN OUR TEAM Coon Rapids MN and surr ou nding areas We are looking for Skilled La borers and Heavy Equipment Operators/HDD Operators with a CD L. Competitive pay and full benefits package. Opportunities for growth and advancement. Immediate openings start your career with us! Apply to day: andersonug.com/jobs 302/20 3-1830
Are you interested in getting paid to protect our local lakes and rivers?
The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District (CLFLWD) is now accepting applications for watercraft inspectors for the 2025 season (May-October). We are looking for friendly, energetic people to educate boaters and inspect their water equipment for aquatic invasive species (AIS). Watercraft inspectors play a crucial role in preventing the spread of invasive species that damage lake and river ecosystems and pose serious risks to the economy, recreation, and public health.
Inspectors will make $16.50 an hour while working a minimum of 16 hours per week primarily on weekends (Friday-Sunday) with occasional weekday shifts. Additional compensation includes time-and-a-half pay for holiday work, raises for returning inspectors, and season-end bonuses available to all inspectors. Inspectors will work outdoors at Comfort, Bone, and Forest Lakes. They will be able to educate the public about the threats of AIS and meet people that love lakes as much as they do! All necessary training is provided, so no prior inspection or AIS experience is required. A full job description and application form is available at https://clflwd.org/employment/.
House Keeping Manager Wanted White Bear Country Inn
651.272.3783 Up to $20 per hour
If you are interested in applying, please e-mail the completed application form to info@clflwd.org or mail it to 44 Lake Street South, Suite A, Forest Lake, MN 55025.
• The city will hire seven seasonal employees for the public works department to assist with mowing, garbage/litter removal, park maintenance, boulevard maintenance and general maintenance. Adler Siebenaler, William Heise, Beck Rogers, Jacob Weierke and Kristofer Bower will all return (from last year) and two new hires include Allison Siebenaler and Matias Evert.
• Merrick Inc. will conduct bingo for this year’s Good Neighbor Days, scheduled for June 7-8.
• As it does on an annual basis, the city has modified its Municipal State Aid Street (MSAS) system. Per state aid rules, a city is allowed to add and/or remove mileage annually, provided it meets necessary criteria. To optimally address needed maintenance of Hugo’s MSAS system with the goal of strategically using the annual available allotment of state aid funds to the city, staff recommended modifying the system. Modifications include adding both 159th Street N. from Highway 61 to Goodview Avenue N. and Goodview Avenue N. from 159th Street to Oneka Lake Boulevard while revoking Farnham Avenue N. from 149th Street N. to Oneka Parkway N.
Cemetary Call 651_238_1066 or email Tomengh@msn .com
Call 651/353-1957
DON'T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for an yone who struggles on the stairs is co ncerned about a fall or wa nts to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 866/852-5506
GET A BREAK ON YOUR TAXES! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to a ssist the blind and visually impaired. Ar range a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Herita ge for the Blin d Today at 844/220-9501 today!
GET BOOST IN FINITE! Unlimited talk, text and data for just $25/mo! The power of 3 5G networ ks, one low price! Call today and get the latest iPhone every year on us! 855/849-66 21 GET DISH SATELLITE TV + INTERN ET! Free in stall, free HDDVR upgrade, 80,000 on-demand movies, plus limited time up to $600 in gift cards. Call today! 855/562-4309 SAFE STEP North America's #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Topof-the-line
• The city will pay Envirotech Services $1.49 per gallon for a total of 109,000 gallons of calcium chloride for dust control to approximately 23 miles of gravel roads within city limits. There will be two applications — one in mid-June and one in mid-August.
• Danielle and Marcus Haug can construct a fence within a drainage and utility easement on their property located at 6260 157th Court N.
• City staff has drafted a letter of support for Comcast’s application for a broadband equity access and deployment (BEAD) grant from the Minnesota State Broadband office to provide service to as many as 260 eligible locations that are unserved or underserved (speeds less than 100/20 Mbps).
• Oneka Lake Park will see some significant upgrades late summer, early fall. (See full story in this week’s issue.)
• The city will apply for a $40,000 grant through the Washington County Community Development Agency (CDA) for an alternative urban areawide review (AUAR) for the 165th Street corridor. (See full story in this week’s issue.)
• City Administrator Bryan Bear’s annual performance review has been rescheduled and will now take place May 5.
The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 5, at City Hall.
Shannon Granholm
HUGO BITS & PIECES
Nominations open for Best of the Press Contest
WATER PROOFING
Nominations are officially open for Press Publication’s Best of the Press Contest on Wednesday, April 30. Readers can choose from a variety of categories to nominate their favorite business or person. These include Arts and Entertainment, Eating and Drinking, Health and Fitness and others. New selections have been added for the Eating and Drinking, Health and Fitness, Services and Shopping categories. Those interested in submitting nominations can do so at www.presspubs.com/ citizen/bestof or scan the QR code below.
WINDOW CLEANING
Cutting Edge Window Cleaning
We don’t cut corners, we clean ‘em! Residential Window Cleaning Exterior Only Call Jeff for a free estimate 651-283-8770
The Newspaper shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of the advertisement. The Newspaper shall not be liable or responsible for any error in any advertisement except to give the Advertiser credit for so much of the space occupied by the advertisement as is materially affected by the error; credit shall be by refund or republication of the advertisement at the election of the Newspaper. Such credit shall not be given for more than one incorrect insertion unless the Publisher is notified in writing of the error before the repetition of the insertion. When the Advertiser wishes to correct or change copy submitted as a "proof," the Newspaper shall not be liable for the changes or corrections unless they are received by the Newspaper within a reasonable length of time before the deadline for publication. If an advertisement is requested to run after copy deadline, the Newspaper will not honor an adjustment request if an error occurs. No specific page or position shall be guaranteed. The Advertiser or Agency shall indemnify the Newspaper for any attorney 's fees incurred in defending against claims, pay any judgments against the Newspaper, and pay associated expenses and losses that are caused by the publication of any advertisement submitted by or published at the direction of the Advertiser or Agency, including claims for libel, copyright infringement, and invasion of privacy. LIABILITY
Press Publications wants to hear from mothers
Currently Press Publications is working on putting together something special for Mother’s Day and would like to hear from our local moms. We want to know what is your favorite thing your child(ren) has ever said to you? We would love to hear it! Send us a quote or two along with a photo of you with your child(ren). Please send submissions to citizennews@presspubs. com.
Cougar lacrosse team is undefeated and ‘locked in’
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
The Centennial boys lacrosse team has started the season 3-0. In their lone outing last week, the Cougars defeated Spring Lake Park 19-6 at home Wednesday evening. Their first two wins were each by one goal.
Soloman Marshall netted five goals on eight shots and made two assists. Gavin Cunningham had three goals and an assist, and Gavin Krage two goals and an assist. Macin Hehir scored his first two varsity goals, and Rocco Scarella and Nolan Larson each got their first. Alex Koehn logged his first varsity win as a goaltender.
Coach Konnor Kapitan calls it “a good start,” but added, “I can say with confidence, we are nowhere near at 100 percent yet. These guys are locked in, every day at practice. They have something to prove this season.”
The Cougars show balanced scoring as Isaak Adams and Krage have seven goals each, Cunningham and Marshall six each and David Moran five. Ground ball leaders are Moran with 13, Kellen Searles 12 and Marshall and Cunningham 10 each.
“Our offense is clicking on a new level every single day and our defense is elite,” Kapitan assessed. “Our staff is
Upcoming Games
April 29 - May 4 vs. Columbus Clippers
May 6 - 11 vs. Buffalo Bisons
very proud of the start but is ready to face some better competition over the next two weeks.”
Bears get rolling, enjoy 3-1 week in softball
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
White Bear Lake softball took a 14-1 lead against Mounds View on Monday and wound up winning three of four games, improving to 4-5 after a 1-4 start. Pitcher Lily Martin allowed just four runs in 25 innings. The final score against Mounds View was 18-10 as the Bears cleared the bench and had some errors. Kendall Kotzmacher belted a three-run homer and an RBI single. Maddie Belisle had a solo home run, single, two walks and three runs. Anessa Pena hit a two-run double and Teagan Kotzmacher a two-run
CONSTRUCTION BRIEF
single. Kendall Roeser was 3-for-5.
The Bears beat Irondale 5-1 Tuesday as Martin threw a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts. Belisle and Lauren Elias had RBI hits.
Park’s Mackenzie Darsow won a pitchers duel over Martin, 2-0, hitting a two-run homer herself, on Wednesday. Martin allowed just two hits and fanned 10.
In a 3-0 win Thursday over Woodbury, Martin spun a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and Kotzmacher hit a two-run homer. Pearson doubled and scored on a single by Lauren Simmons.
8 projects along County Road J head for construction
The Anoka County Board of Commissioners has approved a joint powers agreement with Ramsey County for eight road improvement projects along County Road J in the cities of Lino Lakes, North Oaks and White Bear Township. The project includes interchange improvements at County Road J and I-35E, construction of roundabouts at the intersections of County Road J at Centerville Road, at 20th Avenue S. and at Otter Lake Road; enhanced pedestrian accommodations; and other associated improvements to address safety concerns and mobility issues for all modes of traffic. Construction on these projects is scheduled to begin this summer.
Cougars were 10-9 last year, which was their sixth straight winning season.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Mahtomedi Baseball
April 30, 2025
Ethan Felling, Mahtomedi senior pitcher/outfielder, is the No. 6 ranked baseball prospect in the state. He signed with the Minnesota Gophers in November. “Ethan is regarded as one of the state’s top left-handed arms,” said Gopher pitching coach Alec Crawford. “I am expecting Ethan to come in right away and compete on our staff.” Last week, Felling, 6-foot-3, pitched 10 shutout innings with 20 strikeouts in two games, and had a pair of 3-for-3 games at the plate. He has made the all-state tournament team in the last two seasons.
The
PHOTOS BY JON NAMYST CONTRIBUTED Isaak Adams scans the field while a Panther defender tries to knock the ball away.
Logan Hjelmberg carried the ball with Dave Moran trailing him during a 19-6 win over Spring Lake Park.
BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED
Kendall Kotzmacher rounded third on a three-run homer at Mounds View. She had another homer against Woodbury.
