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WHAT’S HAPPENING: Community events in full swing PAGE 7
Local author celebrates Minnesota music legends Andrea Swensson, editor of North Oaks News, has written three books on her own and four additional books for Paisley Park. The North Oaks resident’s book, “Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years” was published this month and chronicles the years since the release of Purple Rain in June, 1984. Her next book, “Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs and Salvation of Cornbread Harris” will come out in August. Press Publications recently sat down with Swensson to learn more about her and her upcoming works.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. A: I have been a music journalist
in the Twin Cities for the past 20 years. I started my career at City Pages, then spent a decade working at Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current. In recent years I’ve shifted my focus to writing books and hosting the official Prince Podcast for Prince’s estate. I also just started working as editor of North Oaks News this year, which has been a great way to get involved in the community where I live.
Q: You contemplated a career as a classically trained concert pianist. What made you shift your focus from performing
music to writing about it? A: As a 19-year-old, the idea of
spending four to five hours a day locked in a rehearsal room with a piano started to sound less appealing than going out to rock shows and interviewing musicians. I fell in love with this work by writing articles for Hamline University’s newspaper, “The Oracle,” and never looked back.
Q: How many books have you written over the years? When was the first one published and what inspired it?
CONTRIBUTED
“Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years” by Andrea Swensson is a 175 page coffee table-worthy book full of history and photos, and encased in a purple velvet cover.
SEE MUSIC LEGENDS, PAGE 3
Longtime fire chief set to retire
Cookout brings together community, history, and slice of fun
BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ERIK SUCHY | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Members of the Vadnais Heights Community Action Network, state legislators, and elected officials gathered for a Freedom Day Cookout in celebration of the Juneteenth holiday. From left to right, Shemeka Bogan, Judy Lissick, Barbara Clark, Alexis Varner, Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, and City Council member Kelly Jozwowski. BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Several dozen Vadnais Heights residents gathered for a day of enlightenment and celebration, thanks to the Vadnais Heights Community Action Network.
The group organized a thoughtprovoking Freedom Day Cookout at the home of member Alexis Varner’s parents. The educational cookout celebrated Juneteenth, a day to delve into African American history and its significance within
American history. “Our mission is to build bridges between our communities,” said member Barbara Clark. “Vadnais Heights is becoming more diverse. We want to ensure
Mahtomedi Fire Chief Terry Fischer is officially retiring on Sept. 20, and the Mahtomedi City Council has started the process of replacing him by approving a recruitment proposal from David Drown Associates (DDA) at the June 18 City Council meeting. Mayor Richard Brainerd urged city staff to start the long process immediately, because Fischer was already counting down the days by the time he submitted his letter of resignation. “I have 2 new grandkids and a cabin,” said Fischer. “I’ll be 65 and it’s just time. And I’m leaving the department in a good place.” Bart Fischer (no relation) will be the city’s contact with DDA, who will charge the city $27,000 for the search. The all-inclusive fee had already been set aside in the 2024 budget, City Administrator Scott Neilson said. Neilson recommended DDA, who conducts many of the city and county executive searches in the state and is experienced with the search and recruitment process. Fischer, who moved to Mahtomedi in 1993, has spent 31 years with the department and was elevated to chief in 2009. He thanked council for all the work done to lead the city to the good place it is in at present. “We accomplished a lot since I’ve been chief, and I have 93 days until retirement,” he said. But he’s not getting out of town before the city holds a community event in his honor. Stay tuned.
SEE JUNETEENTH, PAGE 11
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