White Bear Press

IN THE DIRT: Local homestead expert to release new book PAGE 5

Dog beach stays put after fumbled effort to close it

BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Several improvements are in the works for the dog beach, but in general, the resolution to maintain status quo passed, but not before it was reversed, then passed again. Parliamentary procedure was put to task in the jumbled back-and-forth last week when a council member wanted to renege on her vote after the fact, saying she was confused as to what she was voting on.

Bottom line, the resolution approved by City Council Feb. 28 continues operations of the dog beach located at Matoska Park, subject to conditions.

How council arrived at that decision, however, proved to be rather unprecedented.

After taking public comment, all favorable to keeping the beach, and allowing council members to orate on the matter, the mayor called for a vote. It passed 4-0. (Council Member Steve Engstran had an excused absence). Council Member Heidi Hughes immediately asked if she could make a new motion and was told no, because the vote was done. “Oh God. I didn’t understand that,” was her response.

Hughes lives across the street from the dog beach and wants it closed or moved.

Prior to the vote, the councilwoman pitched reasons for removing dogs from the beach, noting the canines “scare kids who don’t have a dog at home” and use the nearby swim dock.

Since the beach is in her ward, Hughes said she is the “storehouse” for complaints.

“It’s not just private property owners who

Attention all brides: Annual wedding show coming this month

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

If you are looking for a wedding show that has over 25 vendors and is easy to get to, the 38th annual wedding show is for you.

Press Publications will host its annual wedding show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at the White Bear Country Inn in White Bear Lake.

The wedding show will feature a discounted wedding dress shop with gently used donated

dresses that will be resold for $10 each. All proceeds from the dresses will be donated to the White Bear Area Food Shelf.

Since a wedding dress can be a large part of a wedding budget, the wedding show aims to make one’s dream dress more accessible.

“We started this last year and had a huge response,” Multimedia Marketing Director Patty Steele said. “This year, we are looking for wedding dress donations from the last five years.”

The show, emceed by Gary LaRue, will include approximately 25 vendors covering wedding musthaves like venues, catering, officiants and flowers. Many of the vendors have continued to return to the wedding show in order to keep their business local.

Local vendors have been a draw to the show over the years, but Press is excited to bring some new ideas to this year’s

SEE WEDDING SHOW, PAGE 3

SEE DOG BEACH, PAGE 18

The Matoska Park dog beach is a rare spot where humans can take their dogs for a dip.

Sidewalk cafes become part of

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Patrons of sidewalk cafes will be able to sip a beverage from a glass container, instead of plastic cups, as early as 7 a.m., come April.

The rules are part of a new ordinance that permits outdoor seating for restaurants and bars in public rights of way.

Staff was getting requests to continue the use of public right of way for outdoor seating post-pandemic and since there were no guidelines on how to fairly consider such requests, codified a process at the direction of City Council.

Adopted by council Feb. 28, the permitting process was tweaked in the second reading to include a few changes. Instead of 8 a.m., hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and opening day is not May 15, but April 15, although a clause was added giving the city manager authority to adjust the season as weather warrants.

Sidewalk cafes must abide by certain occupancy, maintenance and cleanliness provisions. Food preparation is not allowed in the outdoor seating area, nor is smoking. A provision that requires establishments that serve alcohol to be contiguous to the business site was also nixed in the final wording.

Furniture, too, got some attention in the final version of the ordinance.

The first reading prohibited furniture made of plastic, unfinished wood or pressure-treated wood. Public Works Director Paul Kauppi explained that heavy furniture won’t get blown around on a windy day so the city wanted nonplastic, durable tables and chairs. Treated wood, he added, can stain the sidewalk.

Council Member Dan Jones pointed out that composite material, while durable, is expensive, with a chair costing $250 and up. He suggested giving outdoor café owners a year grace period to acquire the right furniture.

Mayor Dan Louismet said he didn’t care if wood was unfinished or pressure treated. “I don’t recall Cobblestone’s plastic chairs getting scattered around Washington Square on a Saturday morning,” he observed. “I don’t want to force businesses to spend $8,000 on patio equipment.”

The mayor suggested amending the resolution to require furniture be made of “durable material,” and leave it at that. Council members agreed.

It was also Louismet who wanted to remove a prohibition on glass drinkware. “Let’s allow glass and see if it’s a problem,” he suggested. Again, council members approved.

Other stipulations include at least a 4-foot-wide unobstructed pedestrian corridor with stanchions or other portable barriers between the approved sidewalk café area and the remainder of the public sidewalk whenever the café is in use.

To offset permit processing costs, staff recommended

White Bear Lake

an initial application fee of $150 and a renewal fee of $60, provided there are no changes to site design. Those prices will be finalized at a later date and be part of the city’s fee schedule.

www.whitebearlions.org

The White Bear Lake Lions Club Foundation, certified as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2013 to support the White Bear Lake Lions Club and its numerous activities.

The Foundation’s mission is: “To Improve the Quality of Life in our Community through Humanitarian Services” We do this through four key areas of service in the White Bear Lake area community:

•

Donations to the Foundation may be tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.*

Donate today : Contact the Foundation directly or through our site on GiveMN.org

*

Lic. #02378-013

WEDDING SHOW: Brides invited

show, including a photo booth vendor, Scherer Photo Company.

Steele said, “Not only do we have wide variety of wedding vendors, but we are local and convenient to travel to,” which explains the popularity of the show.

“You don’t have to fight the traffic downtown on these bigger shows to find parking and fight through all the people,” Steele added. “Our vendors keep coming back because they like the quality time with the brides to have conversations about their big day.”

Tickets are available for $5, but brides attend for free. If you’d like to donate your wedding dress, contact Patty Steele at marketing@presspubs. com or 651-407-1213.

We

“The Carlson Clinic is top notch, caring and considerate. The therapy plan treatments have reduced pain and increased my mobility considerably. Thanks to all of you, you really make a difference!”

“I threw my back out and was home alone.

Donated dressed allow brides to choose their gown without breaking the bank.

Modern Luddites

H

Angle of View

Paul Dols

In a recent New York Times article titled “‘Luddite’ Teens Don’t Want Your Likes” by Alex Vadukul, a group of high school students is profiled as they promote “a lifestyle of self-liberation from social media and technology” at weekly Luddite Club meetings. Participating in an activity that the vast majority of their peers wouldn't even consider, the teens leave their phones behind when they gather for their meetings at an outdoor location.

According to Wikipedia, the term Luddite refers to a group of English textile workers who resisted the industrialization of the textile industry in the 19th century by sabotaging machinery that they thought was threatening their livelihoods. I'm probably generalizing the definition, but when I think of the term Luddite or Neo Luddite, I prefer to categorize it as someone who does not blindly accept all technological advances, but instead questions if these advances are actually improving the quality of our lives. In a podcast interview, Logan Lane, the young founder of the Luddite Club, defined the term from a contemporary perspective as someone who rejects social media, phones and “the sort of personal machine that has plagued all of us.”

As described in the article, without access to their phones the students engage in interweaving conversations, sketch, paint, read or just quietly sit and listen to the wind. Some of the participants have also reported less anxiety and improved overall well-being since joining the club. Among the books and authors that club members have a shared interest in is “Into the Wild” a 1996 nonfiction book by Jon Krakauer about Chris McCandless, who attempted to shed the trappings of mainstream society and died while trying to live off the land in the Alaskan wilderness. While reading the book when it was first published, I noted a similar (but far less extreme) experience that I had as a young adult along the nomadic route McCandless first took through the west and southwest before heading up to Alaska. I had recently turned 21 and decided to take the fall quarter off from school. In reality, I was heartbroken and unsure of what direction my life was going to take. I had positive memories of working for a season in Glacier National Park after graduating from high school, so I decided to take a trip back out west. Despite unexpected bills whittling my available funds down to $150 just prior to departure, I decided to hit the road anyway. Starting with an October construction job in Yellowstone National Park, I was able to work a string of temporary jobs and fund three months of travel and camping excursions into some exceptionally beautiful areas in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. I still appreciate the simplicity of traveling with just a tent and sleeping bag. Chris McCandless has sometimes been portrayed as foolish or naive but I see him more as someone who was seeking an authentic life, who could very well have survived in the Alaskan wilderness if not for the unpredictable and overwhelming power of nature.

In an example that you shouldn't make sweeping generalizations about certain age groups, I find it heartening that there is a group of young people willing to question the addictive path that our society appears to be on.

Paul Dols is photojournalist/website editor for Press Publications. He can be reached at 651-407-1238

M

ave we reached a point where we need to pause and examine if the seemingly continuous state of disruption that rapidly evolving technology and social media appear to be creating is doing more harm than good? When we use the phones we have come to depend on and engage with social media there are powerful forces at play using video game style designs that trigger “feel good” dopamine neurotransmitter surges in our brains that reward continued interaction.What does the Met Council do anyway?

ost people in the Twin Cities region have heard of the Metropolitan Council. Yet many might struggle to explain what we do. They might know we run Metro Transit, or that we clean most of the region’s wastewater. Both of those things are true, but they’re just part of the picture.like for our children and grandchildren. But we are also responsible for making many of those plans come to fruition.

Connecting people to opportunities

The Met Council exists to lead a regional conversation about what residents want the future to look like. Legislators came up with the idea back in 1967, when the Twin Cities was second to Los Angeles in terms of urban sprawl. A bipartisan group created the Met Council as a planning agency for the region.

Every 10 years, the Met Council engages residents, community organizations, cities, counties, and businesses to draft a longterm plan for the region. That plan takes issues like land use and development, transportation, housing, racial equity, regional parks, and other key issues and combines them in a document that looks 30 years into the future. It’s a plan that’s written with the input of hundreds of participants across the seven-county metro area.

In essence, the Met Council was given the mission of thinking about what our region would be

• 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.

• Letter writers are limited to six letters per year and

Transit is our most visible service, and we are in the process of a major program of investments. By 2040 those investments will connect 500,000 people who don’t have good transit service today to a 30-minute, one-seat ride to work or school.

Riders deserve, a clean, safe, comfortable environment and we’re making moves to provide that. The Safety & Security Action Plan endorsed by the Council last June describes the steps Metro Transit is taking to improve public safety on transit. This includes continued investment in increasing visible, official employee presence on our system, greater utilization of real-time cameras, expanded lighting and other security features at stops and stations, and partnerships to connect riders in need to services.

The Met Council is the official recipient of much of the federal transportation funding allocated to the seven-county metro area. We work closely with communities across the region, relying on elected officials to advise us on where to make the best investments. In the funding process we just completed, we authorized over $350 million in transportation investments and improvements between now and 2027.

The Met Council operates one of the state’s largest housing au-

thorities, serving more than 7,200 households with low and moderate incomes every month with federal rental assistance. We help families to find safe, affordable housing on the private market across the region, moving closer to jobs, schools, and other opportunities that help them build a better future.

Everyone appreciates the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. We work with city and county regional park agencies to plan and fund the regional parks and trails – places like Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Square Lake, and Lebanon Hills. These places receive more annual visits than Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon national parks combined. The common denominator in all our work is collaboration and partnership.

This year the Met Council is starting to reach out to communities to begin work on our next 30-year plan, which will look forward to the year 2050. Our role is to facilitate a broad, region-wide discussion about our values and vision as a region. We will be engaging with elected officials, neighborhood groups, advocacy organizations, and all residents who want to have a voice in what our future will look like. I’m excited to have that discussion, so watch this space, I’ll keep you posted.

Charlie Zelle is the Chair of the Met Council.

WHITE BEAR PRESS | LETTER GUIDELINES

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.

• Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published.

• Submissions containing facts not previously published in the Press must be accompanied by factual verification.

• All letters are subject to

editing.

• Deadline is 5 p. m. , Thursday of the week prior to publication.

• To submit a letter, e-mail it to whitebearnews@ presspubs.com, fax it to 651429-1242 or mail or deliver it to Press Publications, 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

www.presspubs.com

Met Council

Charlie Zelle

Homegrown food expert to release new book

Local food advocate Michelle Bruhn, a White Bear Lake resident, will release her new book “Small-scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More” on March 14. Bruhn is a Master Gardener volunteer, garden educator, farmers market manager and frequent Press Publications’ contributor. She is also founder of ForksInTheDirt.com, a local information hub for gardening topics and farm-to-table living. Bruhn wrote the book with co-author Stephanie Thurow, a homesteader, Certified Master Food Preserver and Master Gardener volunteer from Minneapolis. Thurow has authored the cookbooks “Can It & Ferment It,” “WECK Small-Batch Preserving” and “WECK Home Preserving,” and created the blog “Minnesota from Scratch.” The Press’ asked Bruhn and Thurow the following questions in advance of the book’s publication.

Q: How did you develop your passion for food and gardening?

MB: This was a passion that slowly grew over the years. You shouldn’t expect to start doing it all right away, learning skills and deciding what you enjoy t he most is all part of the journey. I fell in love with food all over again after I had my babies, I just cared so much more what went into their bodies, and I was a stay-athome mom then. I figured I could grow more food because I was around; it turned into my happy place, and my love of plants merged with my love of good food.

Q: What is urban homesteading?

MB: We really believe any home can be a homestead, and we’re much more interested in supporting communal abundance than the idea of selfsufficiency.

ST: To be considered an urban/ suburban/modern day homesteader, you do not have to be completely selfsufficient. Just simply doing more with what you have, such as growing a garden, or baking your own bread, learning new skills, or teaching new skills of self-sufficiency to others, all means that you’re on the path of homesteading.

Q: What advice would you give to a firsttime home gardener, chicken-keeper, maple syruper?

MB: Start small and slow. Both of us have slowly been adding new skills for over a decade. Gardening is great at showing you the rewards of “slow living.” But start with something you’re interested in — not something that you saw on social media!

Q: You say that one of your core beliefs is making “small changes.” What are some of the small changes you suggest?

MB & ST: In the home, try using natural ingredients for home cleaning; vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda clean amazingly well without all the extra chemicals and packaging. In the kitchen, freezing or dehydrating food before it goes bad can make a huge impact on food waste. In the garden, growing salad greens and herbs is something

almost anyone has space for, and they can be grown in a pot and can take part shade.

Q: What was your favorite aspect of writing this book?

MB: I loved writing this book with Stephanie. It felt so right to live out one of the aspects we talk about in the book, “working together as a community,” in the writing process. We found that while we do many of the same homesteading tasks, we do them differently. I love that about this book. We show readers multiple ways to do a few things, and hopefully that normalizes differences a little more as a whole. It was beneficial for us to have to distill our processes and beliefs into accessible bites. Also, taking time to capture all the photos — the photos are a big part of this book, they really are each worth so many words!

Q: What impact do you hope your book has on prospective homesteaders?

MB: For those thinking about starting down this path, we hope to inspire you to try one aspect of the book. Try something and if you like it, keep going. But we also offer the freedom to not feel like anyone expects you to do it all!

Keep in mind that the new tasks will one day become second nature and take no brain power. Like planting out the garden, tending chickens and fermenting some of your harvest … we just keep doing

White Bear Lake Area

what we can, what we (and our families) love, and don’t sweat the rest.

Q: Where can local readers find/purchase the book?

Lake Country Booksellers, Sassafras Health Foods and Kowalski’s will be carrying it right in town. It is going to be quite a trip to see a book I helped write in my stores I frequent in my hometown! I’ll also be selling at a few other events around town this summer.

Q: What do you have planned in the community in the upcoming growing season?

I am teaching a few classes around town this spring, with lots of things in the works for the summer. To keep updated, your best bet is to follow along with us on social media or sign up for the Forks in the Dirt monthly newsletters at www. forksinthedirt.com.

Michelle Bruhn with her new book, available March 14.

‘Blighted’ intersection gets renewed interest

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Years after a gas station at 2502 County Road E pumped its last gallon, a developer is testing the water for an apartment/ townhome project.

A Minneapolis company called Element DesignBuild is proposing to build 15 apartment units and three townhomes on the southeast corner of Bellaire Avenue and E. The concept went to the Planning Commission for a first official look Feb. 27 in an attempt to get feedback on the design before the company submits a formal application.

An apartment building would be positioned on the northern half of the site and the townhome units located in the southwest corner. The layout is designed to “focus intense use” of the site along E and Bellaire and then transition to a parking lot adjacent to neighboring single-family residential to the east and south. The highest part of the building is three stories, which steps down to a two-story building along E and two-story, street-facing rowhomes along Bellaire.

Community Development Director Jason Lindahl said overall, the commission supported the proposal. “They liked the developer’s receptiveness to neighborhood feedback, their approach to have three

stories on the corner and then transition down to two stories toward the neighboring residential uses, their approach to managing parking and the mix of both apartment and townhome units,” reported Lindahl, who helped lead a neighborhood meeting in early February.

The property has been used as a gas station since 1971; the existing building was constructed in 1985. City records indicate water service to the property ceased 13 years ago and fuel tanks were removed in 2016.

In the company narrative, project manager Ryan McKilligan pointed out that the project “allows for a high-quality transformation of a significant portion of a blighted intersection that has prevented growth in its respective section of the County Road E corridor for many years.”

Asked why they selected that corner, McKilligan explained, “We were encouraged by the city’s process of bringing community input through the corridor action plan, as well as the new concept plan review process. We believed we could align with the overall community interests and build something far better than the blighted gas station currently there.”

The concept plan also fits within the mixed-use

future land use category of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Staff expects the applicant will request rezoning the subject property from the current B-3, auto-oriented business classification, to R-6, mediumdensity residential.

This would be the company’s first project in White Bear Lake.

An online search shows the property sold in January for $220,000.

City Council will review the concept at its March 14 meeting.

CSAs support local farms and bring healthy food options home

produced right here in their own state.

A CSA is a farm membership system that allows consumers to sign up to receive a season’s worth of a farm’s products (such as fruits and vegetables, cheese, meat or flowers) on a weekly or biweekly basis. Many offer products throughout the summer growing season; however, there are winter or year-round CSAs available to consumers. A CSA subscription is also an active way to support local farmers and get to know the people who grow and raise your local foods.

worthwhile,” said Janaki FisherMerritt of Food Farm in Wrenshall. “Being able to repay their support with the highest quality food makes this the most rewarding work a person could ask for.”

Northeast Metro:

• A ll Good Organics, Lino Lakes

• Niemczyk’s Greenhouse & Gardens, Hugo

Community-supported agriculture brings local food to your table.

Shopping at a supermarket gives you tasty options all throughout the year, but sometimes it’s hard to tell where your food comes from. Minnesota is replete with a wide variety of homegrown fruits, veggies and other goodies for the pantry grown on local farms. Many farms offer a CSA, or community-supported agriculture program, that supports local business and connects people with fresh food

Minnesota Grown is the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) “buy local” program. Minnesota Grown makes locating CSAs easy through its online directory, which lists 95 CSA farms with over 375 pickup locations around the state. The number of pickup sites listed in the directory has more than doubled in the past two years, making it even more convenient to source fresh, local and affordable foods.

Farmers attest to how CSA members contribute in more ways than dollars.

“Whenever the work is exceptionally hard, or the weather is exceptionally bad, knowing the people who are fed by our hard work makes it all

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following selected incidents in Birchwood, Dellwood, Grant, Mahtomedi, Pine Springs and Willernie: Grant

• A M innesota motorist was cited Feb. 7 in the 9000 block of Jamaca Avenue N. for failure to provide proof of insurance after being pulled over for speeding 68 mph in a 55 mph zone. Deputies issued a verbal warning for speeding.

• A suspicious vehicle reported parked in front of a driveway in the area of Jamaca Avenue N. and 75th Street N. at 7:10 p.m. Feb. 7 turned out to belong to the resident and was legally parked.

• D eputies issued a citation to an unidentified motorist at 1:52 a.m. Feb. 9 for possessing marijuana and pot paraphernalia in a motor vehicle, following a vehicle search subsequent to a traffic stop in the area of 60th Street N. and Demontreville Trail N.

• T he stop lights at Manning Avenue N. and 75th Street N. were reported

completely nonoperational during the morning of Feb. 9. The Grant Public Works Department was called out to the scene to fix them.

• Horses on the lam were reported running loose Feb. 9 in the 10000 block of 117th Street N. The complainant stated the horses had escaped from a property just to the east of her residence. Deputies called to the scene could not see or round up any horses or find anyone to explain what was going on.

• A burglary was reported Feb. 9 in the 11000 block of Lansing Avenue N. Mahtomedi

• Glenmar Avenue residents reported a suspicious male walking through their yard at 8:59 p.m. Feb. 5 around the time of recent law enforcement activity in the area. The complainants suggested the suspicious male could have been the person deputies were looking for during a pursuit. Deputies encouraged the complainant to call back if the male returned to their area.

• Residents on Hickory Street on

Minnesota Grown member Sprout MN runs a multifarm food hub in Little Falls. Food Hub Director Jessie Bavelli said, “The direct connections between consumers and producers formed through CSA contribute to stronger economies, healthy members of our community and a more resilient agriculture system and environment.”

Minnesota Grown spokesperson Rachel Wandrei says since each CSA program is unique in what it offers, it’s a good idea to review the options in the online directory to find what is right for you or your family. “Some CSAs offer smaller shares for folks living alone or in couples; some offer eggs, baked goods or flower bouquet add-ons; while others are chooseyour-own or customizable,” she said. “Most importantly, pick a CSA with a convenient pickup location, and be ready to enjoy what is in season.”

Learn more at www. minnesotagrown.org.

A short list of CSAs available in the

• C osta Produce Farm & Greenhouse, White Bear Lake (pickup at Festival Foods in Circle Pines, Hugo and White Bear Lake; Flicker Meat Co, Sak’s Sports Bar and Lunds & Byerly’s in White Bear Lake; Angus Meats in Maplewood)

• A xdahl’s Garden Farm & Greenhouse, Stillwater

• Pahl Farms (pickup at Von Hanson’s Meats in North Oaks and Blaine)

From press release

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Good use for blighted property

Regarding the “blighted” County Road E/Bellaire Avenue intersection, why not install a couple pickleball courts? I believe it would spur interest to develop the remaining sites.

Ann Wolfe White Bear Lake

Feb. 5 reported buying a vehicle, for which the title had yet to be transferred to them. Deputies advised the complainants about their options in this civil matter.

• A school bus stop arm violation was reported at 9:00 a.m. Feb. 6 on 72nd Street and Hallam Avenue N.

• Navigator Fiduciary and Forensic Services in Burnsville reported a vehicle they now own driven to Mahtomedi by another involved party and missing somewhere in Mahtomedi on Feb. 6. Deputies located the vehicle at a multifamily dwelling on Wildwood Road and arranged for it to be towed back to the company. Instructions were left that should the vehicle be reported as stolen from the Wildwood Road address, it was not to be considered stolen.

• A motorist was issued a verbal warning at 9:56 p.m. Feb. 7 in the area of Mahtomedi Avenue and Ash Street for either a missing headlight or the considerable amount of marijuana shake and pipe found in the center console of the vehicle, following a traffic stop for the

missing headlight.

• A patient care facility on East Avenue reported medication stolen from the premises Feb. 8.

• A motorist was cited at 9:25 p.m. Feb. 8 in the area of Stillwater Road and Hilton Trail N. for no license plates. A d river was cited for driving after revocation at 11:41 p.m. Feb. 8 in the area of Century Avenue N. and I-694 after being pulled over for turning right at a red light without stopping. During the routine computer review, deputies discovered the revoked status of the driver.

• A n attempted catalytic converter theft was reported Feb. 9 in the 3000 block of Century Avenue.

Pine Springs

• D eputies conducted a traffic stop Feb. 8 on Hilton Trail N. and 69th Street N. and issued a citation for expired registration.

Willernie

• A motorist was cited Feb. 8 in the 6000 block of Stewart Road for displaying expired registration after being pulled over for the tardy tabs.

CONTRIBUTED

Debra Neutkens

CONTRIBUTED

A view of the project’s west elevation at Bellaire and County Road E.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

The basics of consumer credit

A strong credit score is an undeniable asset for consumers. A strong standing in the eyes of potential creditors can save consumers money on relatively short-term expenses like vehicles and longterm purchases like homes.

Consumer credit is so influential in the lives of the average person that it pays to have some knowledge of what it is and how individuals can use it to their advantage.

Who issues consumer credit?

Consumer credit is typically issued by banks and retailers. One common question consumers have is who owns credit cards, which are among the most recognizable and widely used forms of consumer credit. Many credit card companies, including Visa, are now publicly held companies after years of being owned by banks. However, many major

banks, including Capital One and Bank of America, issue credit cards as well.

What is a credit score?

According to the credit reporting agency

Equifax®, a credit score is a three-digit number which represents an individual consumer's credit risk. Credit risk refers to the likelihood that a borrower will pay their bills on time. Scores are typically between 300 and 850, and the higher the score, the more creditworthy and less risky a consumer is in the eyes of creditors.

How are credit scores calculated?

Three different consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), including Equifax®, determine credit scores. That's why it's not uncommon for a single consumer to have

three different scores. Those scores should be similar, and if they're not it's likely that one or more CRA reports has an error or errors. A host of variables are considered when determining a credit score, and these include:

· Payment history

· Credit utilization ratio, which is the amount of credit used versus the total available credit

· Types of credit accounts a consumer has. This includes revolving credit accounts, like consumer credit cards, and installment accounts, which include mortgages and auto loans.

· Credit history length

· Frequency of credit inquiries (numerous inquiries in a short period of time generally lower a consumer's credit score)

So why is a credit score so important?

Credit scores are so significant because they can cost or save consumers a substantial amount of money. Consumers with poor scores, which are generally considered scores between 300 and 669, may not be eligible for auto or mortgage loans and may only be able to secure credit cards with high interest rates. By contrast, consumers with scores considered very good to excellent (740 and above) generally get more favorable interest rates on sizable purchases like cars and homes, which can save borrowers tens of thousands of dollars over their lifetimes.

A financial plan to keep a roof over the school district

When it comes to roofing, the Mahtomedi School Board took the stance that you get what you pay for. It unanimously approved a resolution of intent to sell long-term facilities maintenance (LTFM) bonds at its Feb. 23 meeting.

The district’s financial team realized that the annual $500,000 it receives from the yearly $1.3 million in LTFM funds wasn’t going to be enough to pay for roofing upkeep, said Jeff Priess, director of finance and operations.

Priess said the current annual appropriation of $500,000 to keep replacing single-ply roofing on a 15-year warranty “would need to continue forever.” With a 15-year cycle of replacing roofs, the district would probably never catch up financially.

“We also have other needs for that $1.3 million in LFTM funds,” Priess said.

LTFM, a 10-year expenditure plan most recently approved on June 23, 2022, had planned roof repair and replacement as a component, with costs estimated to be approximately $500,000 per year. This annual appropriation assumed the replacement of current single-ply roofs with a 15-year warranty to take place every 15 years.

However, as the district set about replacing its single-ply roofs after last year’s hailstorm, officials noticed that roofs they recently replaced with the “built-up dual ply” roofs carrying a 30-year warranty did not sustain any damage from the 2022 storm.

They also realized that a 30-year cycle of roof replacement would be affordable with a greater outlay of capital spent at the outset.

LTFM bonds, along with insurance reimbursement money, will provide the funding for the necessary scope of roof work, Priess said.

The approximate principal amount of the LTFM bonds is $6.1 million, which will be paid off from the annual $500,000 in LTFM appropriations.

The actual amount of the bond sale will be determined once insurance reimbursement is finalized, Priess said. Financing roof replacement with LTFM bonds would require an annual average amortization of approximately $625,000 for 15 years (with a $6,125,000

bond sale at 4%). The district plans any further roof replacement to use multiply built-ups with a 30-year warranty.

“With the 30-year warranty, we’ll have 15 years of no roof replacement,” Priess said.

The district is looking to finalize the insurance reimbursement from the 2022 storm by the end of February. In March, the board is scheduled to approve roof replacement bids. The board expects to receive the bond presale report at the March 23 regular school board meeting. On April 27, the school board likely will award the sale of bonds with a May 18 closing date.

All roofs are expected to be totally replaced by the end of September, Priess said.

Other action from the Feb. 23 meeting:

The district’s general fund surplus just got bigger by $125,000, following the latest round of fiscal year 2023 budget revisions, Priess said. Revisions in the current budget saw a decrease in revenue of 0.3% and a decrease in expenditures of 0.45% from the original budget, Priess said. Revisions to the budget are usually brought about by enrollment changes, staffing updates, changes to previous estimates and assumptions and Legislative funding changes regarding acceptance of grants. The revised budget shows general fund revenues at $45,885,290 and expenditures at $45,760,114. The school board is required to approve a preliminary budget prior to the start of each fiscal year, Priess said.

The district has given the community an opportunity to study changes to its policies and offer commentary, following the first reading of the changes, Superintendent Barb Duffrin said. The board heard no feedback between the first and second readings, but will wait until the next board meeting to take any action to finalize the changes, she said. The six policies undergoing change and the impact of the revisions follow: Policy 603 – Curriculum Development, will add the District Advisory Committee and School Site Team statutory requirements; Policy 604 –Instructional Curriculum, will add parental curriculum review statutory

requirements and adjust the policy’s articles to separate CPR/AED training, college and career planning and civics provisions; Policy 708 – Transportation of Nonpublic School Students, will add Minnesota Rules language regarding students with disabilities; statutory citations at the end of many provisions are removed to restore consistency with MSBA model policies; Policy 709 –Student Transportation Safety Policy, will include changes to the definition of “serious traffic violation” in light of federal regulations and Minnesota law; Policy 721 – Uniform Grant Guidance Regarding Federal Revenue Sources, will add a procurement note regarding districts’ options to increase the micro purchase threshold; Policy 722 – Public Data and Data Subject Requests, will add the statutorily required annual review, posting requirements, legal definitions related to data and the Minnesota statutory language on data subjects.

The district received $10,051.29 from various organizations and individuals for student activities.

The district is proud to announce that seven high school seniors are National Merit Scholarship finalists and six more have been named Commended Students, Duffrin said in her report. In other news from the superintendent, Mahtomedi will send two teams to the Real World Design challenge National Championship for the seventh year in a row. Middle school course registration has started, featuring a number of new offerings stemming from the recently redesigned schedule. Duffrin and Board Director Lucy Payne testified at the Legislature on behalf of the Reading Act Bill for funding to support the district’s literacy work. More than 90 people have signed up to join the Strategic Plan action teams; team leader training will take place on March 1, and action teams will hold six meetings from March through May. The district’s communication director and MAEF have teamed up to send out an e-mail newsletter for alumni and friends and a newly designed Globe that was recently mailed out to the community. The next Zephyr Learning Showcase will be held at 6:15 on March

23 at the District Education Center. Mahtomedi High School will host the CSAH 12 open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 1.

Forty children from 23 families who identify as American Indian are attending schools in the Mahtomedi district. Minnesota Statutes, Section 124D.78, subd. 1 states that a school district in which there are 10 or more American Indian students enrolled must establish an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC). These committees serve in an advisory role and help ensure that American Indian students are receiving culturally relevant and equitable educational opportunities, District Social Worker Ali Middlebrook said in her presentation. Prior to March 1 of each year, the AIPAC must meet to discuss whether it concurs with the educational offerings extended by the district to American Indian students. Members either issue a vote of concurrence or nonconcurrence.

The Mahtomedi Schools AIPAC voted concurrence, Middlebrook said.

During 2021-22, the Mahtomedi district was one of the 171 districts participating in the Achievement and Integration (A&I) program. The purpose of the program, established in Minnesota statutes, is to pursue racial and economic integration, increase student achievement, create equitable educational opportunities and reduce academic disparities based on student diverse racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds in Minnesota public schools. When paired with North St. Paul public schools, as it has since 2009, Mahtomedi is eligible for A&I funding. To access this supplemental funding, Mahtomedi needs a plan approved by the board, said Jennifer Reichel, director of teaching and learning. The board unanimously reviewed and approved the A&I plan, which will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education by the March 15 deadline.

The board next meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the District Center Community Room, 1520 Mahtomedi Avenue.

Loretta Harding

PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 832 MAHTOMEDI, MN

55115

MINUTES JANUARY 26, 2023

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of Mahtomedi Public Schools was held January 26, 2023, beginning at 7:00 PM. - CALL TO ORDER- Meeting was called to order by Chair Stacey Stout at 7:01 p.m. ROLL CALL OF ATTENDANCE- Present: Ryan Domin - aye; Paul Donna - aye; Lucy Payne - aye; Jenny Peterson - aye; *Kelly Reagan - aye; and Stacey Stout - aye. The School Board Meeting will be held in person with Superintendent Duffrin and the School Board located in the District Office Community Room at the District Office, 1520 Mahtomedi Avenue, Mahtomedi, MN 55115. In accordance with MN Statute 13D.02, Other Entity Meetings By Interactive Technology, Mahtomedi School Board Member *Kelly Reagan will be attending via interactive technology. She will be physically located at: 85 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601, for the duration of this meeting. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA- Motion by Stout, seconded by Domin; to Approve the Agenda with flexibility to change as needed. Roll call vote: Domin - aye; Donna - aye; Payne - aye; Peterson - aye; Reagan - aye; and Stout - aye. Motion carried 6-0. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA -Motion by Donna, seconded by Peterson; to Approve the Consent Agenda with Item #14G and Item #14H pulled to be discussed and considered separately. Roll call vote: Domin - aye; Donna - aye; Payne - aye; Peterson - aye; Reagan - aye; and Stout - aye. Motion Carried 6-0. Discussion took place on the procurement of professional consultants. Superintendent Duffrin spoke on Item #14H Designation of Legal Counsel and Jeff Priess, Director of Finance and Operations, discussed Item #14G Designation of Financial Advisors. Motion by Payne, seconded by Stout; to Approve the Consent Agenda with Item #14G and Item #14H as presented. Roll call vote: Domin - aye; Donna - aye; Payne - aye; Peterson - aye; Reagan - aye; and Stout - aye. Motion Carried 6-0. - ACTION ITEMS- A.) Approval of Donations/Grants from December 2022 Totaling $45,726.81. Motion by Payne, seconded by Domin; Approval of Donations/Grants from December 2022 Totaling $45,726.81. Roll call vote: Domin - aye; Donna - aye; Payne - aye; Peterson - aye; Reagan - aye; and Stout - aye. Motion Carried 6-0.

B.) Approval of Audit Report – MMKR - Jeff Priess, Director of Finance and Operations, presented to the School Board the Audit Report year ending June 30, 2022. Priess explained that the Audit has been already reviewed by the Finance Committee and the Finance Advisory Group. The Audit is required by MN Statute 123B.77., where Mahtomedi Public Schools received a Clean opinion; which is the highest and best you can receive. Single Audit of Federal Awards had no findings on the received Federal dollars of $750,000.00. Priess reviewed the results, especially the General fund and unassigned fund balance that ended at 12% in 2022, compared to 4.2% in 2019. Motion by Donna, seconded by Peterson; Accept the Audit Report. Roll call vote: Domin - aye; Donna - aye; Payne - aye; Peterson - aye; Reagan - aye; and Stoutaye. Motion Carried 6-0. ADJOURNMENT- Motion by Donna, seconded by Peterson; Adjournment. Roll call vote: Domin - aye; Donna - aye; Payne - aye; Peterson - aye; Reagan - aye; and Stout - aye. Motion Carried 6-0. Meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m. Submitted by: Paul Donna – Acting Clerk. A full

version of the minutes are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us

Published one time in the White Bear Press on March 8, 2023.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 832 MAHTOMEDI, MN 55115

MINUTES FEBRUARY 9, 2023

A Study Session of the Board of Education of Mahtomedi Public Schools was held February 9, 2023, beginning at 7:00 PM.- CALL TO ORDER- Meeting was called to order by Chair Stacey Stout at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL OF ATTENDANCE- Present: Paul Donna; Lucy Payne; Jenny Peterson; Kelly Reagan; and Stacey Stout. Ryan Domin was absent. Also present: Barb Duffrin, Superintendent; Jeff Priess, Director of Finance and Operations; Jennifer Reichel, Director of Teaching and Learning; and Leslie Lovas, Assistant to the Superintendent and School Board. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA- Reagan motioned, Donna seconded; Approval of Agenda. Carried 5-0. DISCUSSION/ INFORMATION ITEMS- A.) Budget Revisions/Projection Model -Jeff Priess, Director of Finance and Operations, provided to the School Board a 20222023 Budget Update. Priess advised the School Board of the General Fund Revenue revisions being at $127,735. The key factors included reduction in projected year-end enrollment, funding estimate correction and additional federal funds. Preiss also explained the reason for the budget change which was updates to staffing, carry-overfunds and transportation updates that included 2 less bus routes. Priess advised the School Board that they will need to approve the General Fund Revisions at the next School Board Meeting. B.) Achievement and Integration Plan- Jennifer Reichel, Director of Teaching and Learning, reviewed a proposal with the School Board on the MDE (Minnesota Department of Education) Achievement and Integration (A&I) Plan, including Mahtomedi’s baseline plan. This proposal requires districts to have goal areas in 1. Increasing racial and economic integration, 2. Reducing achievement disparities, and 3. Increase access to effective and diverse teacher. Reichel advised the board that MDE requires districts to revisit this plan every 3 years to retain its financial support for the program. Reichel then went on to describe how the goals will have strategies that will be repeated and how they will use KIP (Key Indicators of Progress) that will measure the success of the program. Reichel described the strategies that will be used: Mahtomedi will partner with ISD 622 to provide activities and shared experiences with students who are willing to opt-in. Focus on Math and Reading using system-oriented MCA data to measure. Reichel described the intent to increase access to effective and diverse teachers; including partnering with post-secondary schools, restorative practices, and professional development. Reichel then asked the board for feedback and advised she will seek approval at the February 23, 2023 School Board Meeting. C.) Partner Ed School Board Academy -Superintendent Barb Duffrin asked the School Board for feedback on the first session. Most members agreed it was introductory but appreciated the connection with other districts and break out groups. D.) Community Engagement

Calendar - Leslie Lovas, Assistant to the Superintendent and School Board, asked the school board to review the engagement calendar and discuss who will be representing the School Board at the Coffee & Conversation session.

ADJOURNMENT- Reagan motioned, Donna seconded; Adjournment. Carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Submitted by: Kelly Reagan, Clerk. A full version of the minutes are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us

Published one time in the White Bear Press on March 8, 2023.

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

White Bear Township’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Road.

The meeting is being held to consider all business pertinent to the Town of White Bear including the Preliminary Tax Levy for fiscal year 2024.

If there is bad weather as determined by the Town Board on the day of the meeting, the Town Board shall set the meeting for the third Tuesday in March, March 21, 2023. If there is bad weather as determined by the Town Board on the third Tuesday in March, the Town Board shall set another date for the meeting within 30 days of the third Tuesday in March.

Given under my hand this 14th day of February, 2023.

PATRICK CHRISTOPHERSON, Town Clerk

Published one time in the White Bear Press on March 8, 2023.

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

WELLHEAD PROTECTION PLAN

Pursuant to the Wellhead Protection Rule (Minnesota Administrative Rule Part 4720.5350, Subpart 4), a public hearing has been scheduled for March 20, 2023 at 7:00 pm, Heritage Hall.

The purpose of this public hearing is to discuss issues and concerns relating to Part 2 of the Wellhead Protection Plan; Inventory of potential contaminants of concern within the drinking water supply management area (DWSMA), data that was considered in preparation of the plan, issues, problems and concerns within the DWSMA, goals, objectives and action strategies to address issues and concerns within the DWSMA, plan evaluation strategy, and contingency strategy in the event of water system disruption.

A draft copy of White Bear Township’s Wellhead Protection Plan, Part II may be reviewed at the Town’s Administration Building located at 1281 Hammond Road.

The public hearing will be held in Heritage Hall at 4200 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110 at 7:00 PM on March 20, 2023. The public is welcome to attend and provide input. Please find detailed information on the Town’s website at www.whitebeartownship.org/ or call the Clerk/Treasurer

THE CLERK’S CORNER – HOCKEY DAY 2023 IS IN THE BOOKS!!!!

Greetings once again from White Bear Township. After the snowiest month on record, it’s a good time to talk Public Works. The staff here has been challenged all month long with the management of snow within the Township, battling the elements as well as ever dwindling available space!. Reminder! The Township’s Annual Meeting will be on March 14th, 2023, beginning at 7 pm at Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Road. This is a great opportunity for all of our residents to keep informed about everything we have going on within the Township.

SPRING AHEAD

The seasonal time change when we “spring forward” will occur on Sunday, March 12, a full week before the official start of spring on march 20th. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. which is the official hour to set all of our clocks ahead one hour.

WILL THE DEEP SNOW AROUND MY TREES & SHRUBS HURT THEM?

Deep snow in the winter will not hurt trees, they are dormant & not growing. The height of the snow however may help rabbits to reach branches of the tree or the trunk so watch for this & provide protection (chicken wire or a barrier to keep rabbits away) if necessary. Older trees are less likely to be eaten by rabbits. The snow may melt near the trunk from the heat reflected by the sun from the tree trunk. Snow is a good cover

A bi-weekly section where readers will be informed on subjects of seasonal interest, upcoming events and other timely topics.

for plants & provides needed moisture in the spring when plants begin to grow again.

SNOWPLOWING ROUTES Does the Township plow all roadways within the Town? No, the Township is responsible for most roadways, but does not plow Ramsey County Roads, MN State highways or private roads.

NEW FIELD HOUSE OPEN FOR INDOOR WALKING

On February 21st the White Bear Lake Area School District opened up the North Campus field house for FREE open walking Mondays through Thursdays from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., entrance on Bald Eagle Avenue. The new 4-lane, indoor track is located above the baseball courts, it is well-lit & looks great & for those who keep track, 6.4 laps = 1 mile.

WANT TO PLANT A TREE & HELP THE WHITE BEAR LAKE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL’S ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB TOO? – HERE’S HOW YOU CAN

Students from White Bear Lake Area High School are partnering with the nonprofit Tree-Plenish to help make their community more sustainable. They plan to plant 440 saplings on April 22, 2023 to offset their school’s energy consumption from the past academic year.

Residents are able to help support the event starting now! They can order a sapling to be planted in their yard or sign up

to volunteer to plant saplings on the day of the event. Saplings are $5 & residents can choose between Common Chokecherry, Paper Birch & Red Maple saplings. The more residents that request saplings, the faster the students are able to reach their goal. Order by March 22, 2023 http://tpevents.org/school/3180

If residents are unable to order a sapling or volunteer their time, they can also make a monetary contribution on the Tree-Plenish website to help support future tree-planting events.

Tree-Plenish is a student-led 50l(c)(3) non profit organization with the mission of empowering students to create a more sustainable & equitable future through community tree-planting.

ITS FIX A LEAK WEEK MARCH 20-26

Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. Check your home for any possible leaks that could be costing you money.

What do you call an angry carrot? – A steamed veggie!

What do you call a sad strawberry? – A blue berry!

Why shouldn’t you tell secrets in a cornfield? – Too many ears!

What do you call a hippie’s wife? – Mississippi!

Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long? – Because then it would be a foot!

Fire calls continue upward trajectory

The city’s strong AA+ long-term bond rating is attributed to council’s accomplishments in developing and implementing long-range financial plans and policies, noted Kindsvater. The rating remains one step below the highest possible rating of AAA.

Feb. 28

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Average response time for the city’s fire department is 6 minutes, 13 seconds.

Chief Greg Peterson thinks that’s pretty good, considering the department covers 35 square miles.

In his biannual update to City Council Feb. 28, the fire chief said White Bear firefighters/ paramedics answered 5,283 calls in 2022, a 7% increase from 2021. Most calls, 82%, are medical and 18% are fire and rescue.

The department currently has 15 full-time and 26 part-time firefighters/ paramedics. “The goal is to continue adding to full-time staffing,” Peterson told council, but they’re not alone. “Fire departments are expanding into full-time staff in the suburbs right now, which is creating a lot of competition,” he said.

His update included a recognition last month. White Bear’s fire department received a Certificate of Clinical Excellence for demonstrating exceptional clinical care in 2022. Supply issues have delayed delivery of the city’s new ambulance, added the chief. He expects it to arrive this summer. A new search and rescue boat should be ready for pickup in fall.

Council Member Kevin Edberg

asked the chief if fires seem more significant? His answer was “Yes. A lot has to do with materials used in construction. People have less than 3 minutes to get out of the house now. Historically, it was more like 20 minutes. Products are made from petroleum and burn hotter and faster.”

Also noted, the department is celebrating 135 years in 2023. In other business, the council approved the following: Sale of 2023 general obligation capital improvement bonds in amount of $10 million. The funding finalizes the city’s public safety facility renovation and expansion project costs.

Eight bids were received from investment firms on the Feb. 28 bond issue. Northland Securities Inc., Minneapolis, was awarded the bond with a true interest cost of 3.7239%. Bidding was competitive; the difference between the lowest and highest bids was less than a quarter of a percent, noted Finance Director Kerri Kindsvater.

The rate is lower than originally estimated by the city’s bond consultant, and saves $704,000 in principal and interest over the bond’s life.

The S&P report noted the city’s local economy is experiencing significant residential and commercial development, leading to improved market values. During the last three years, the city’s tax base grew by an annual average of 7%. Taxes collected from property owners in future levies will be credited to the debt service fund for the next 20 years to pay down the bond. According to the finance director, net levy amounts will range from $361,000 to $802,000.

“Staff continues to do a fine job with financial planning,” noted Edberg. “It should bolster the community’s confidence.”

• Special event application by White Bear Lake Area Schools for annual Bears Night Out community picnic during Night to Unite from 2-9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1. The event involves food trucks, music and exclusive use of Podvin Park.

• Application from White Bear Lions Club to conduct charitable gambling at Big Wood Brewery, 2222 Fourth St. The club has gambling activities at two other locations: Carbone’s Pizzeria & Pub and 617 Lounge.

• A resolution authorizing the city manager to negotiate and enter into a professional services agreement with Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. for the completion of the downtown mobility and parking study. The 2023 budget included $150,000 for completion of the study.

• Heard the mayor read a proclamation celebrating the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce 100th anniversary. Organized

in 1923, the chamber has been helping local businesses prosper since 1923. Council Member Dan Jones congratulated the chamber, adding, “it’s had a few bumps and bruises” along the way. He attributed three key people to turning the organization around: former Executive Director Tom Snell, current Executive Director Shari Wilson and Office Manager Maureen Francis.

766607 Did

Debra Neutkens

Mayor Dan Louismet presents a proclamation celebrating the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce 100th anniversary to Executive Director Shari Wilson.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Six new firefighters were sworn in at the

City Council meeting. From left: Evan Young, Charlie Penn, Brian St. Clair, Tou Lee, Mindy Fiester and Jake Bogdanovich.

Feeding the Friday night fish fry tradition

Above: Volunteer Shannon Anderson greets visitors and serves a variety of side dishes including pasta and coleslaw to accompany the fish.

At left: Pastor T.J. Mckenzie takes a moment to visit with volunteers in the kitchen, including Carol Kelly, Catherine Bernal and his parents Tom and Lori. The next fish fry at the church is Friday, March 10 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

SPACE STATION: Astronaut shares photos from orbit

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER INTERIM EDITOR

People around the globe enjoyed the spectacle of the northern lights this month, but astronaut, physicist, U.S. Navy test pilot and White Bear Lake graduate Josh Cassada had a bit of a different view.

Cassada, one of the four astronauts in the SpaceX Dragon Endurance crew, is currently aboard the International Space Station.

The White Bear Press recently got a chance to chat with the four Crew-5 astronauts, including a former White Bear Press carrier Cassada.

The Crew-5 astronauts have been living and working aboard the station since their docking Oct. 6, 2022. During their mission, the crew contributed to hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations, including cardiovascular health, bioprinting, and fluid behavior in microgravity to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth.

Cassada described how mission commander Nicole Mann called him into the observation cupola early one morning to see something incredible—the glow of the aurora borealis over the Earth’s atmosphere.

“We just soaked it all in. We were feeling a little guilty in a position that we didn’t have the words to describe what we

were seeing,” Cassada said. The following day, the crew set up a time lapse camera and were able to capture some images of the aurora borealis over Earth. “Everybody up here tolerated me saying, hey, that’s the excited state of oxygen,” Cassada added. “That’s just quantum mechanics at work.”

Cassada went on to say that witnessing this event has been one of the biggest highlights of the mission for him. “I can’t thank Nicole enough for dragging me down into the cupola on Monday morning and showing me the view. When I heard that excitement in her voice, I knew it was going to be something, but I didn’t know it was going to be that. It was incredible to see that aurora.”

Crew-5 is the fifth crew rotation mission with SpaceX for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Regular commercial crew rotation missions enable NASA to continue the research and technology investigations taking place aboard the station. This research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future expeditions to Mars.

To aspiring future astronauts, Cassada gave this advice: “My path to get here was simply doing what I love. I don’t think there’s a recipe, I don’t think there’s a checklist you can ever check off to get to

a place like this, but if you’re doing what you love you can’t lose.”

All four crew members expressed their gratitude for the unique experiences they’ve been able to have, but look forward to the creature comforts they’ve missed on Earth. Cassada is excited to be reunited with his family, who have some exciting plans when he returns to the planet.

“In our family of four, I’m the only who can’t sail, despite being the only one who’s in the U.S. Navy. So when I get back, my kids have promised to teach me how to sail,” he said. The family also plans to adopt a rescue dog, and Cassada can’t wait to help his kids with their math studies.

The SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft will undock from the space station in early March, splashing down off the coast of Florida to conclude their mission.

ZEPHYR SPORTS BRIEFS BOYS BASKETBALL

Mahtomedi wrapped up a share of the Metro East crown last week beating Tartan 64-51 Tuesday and St. Paul Central 88-81 Friday on the road. The Zephyrs and St. Thomas Academy were finished 15-1, with Tartan and SSP tying for third at 11-5. The Zephyrs (23-3) are seeded No. 2 in Section 4AAA behind top-ranked TotinoGrace. They will host Fridley on Wednesday, 7 p.m. If they win, they’ll host St. Paul Johnson or Minneapolis Henry on Saturday, 7 p.m. Will Underwood, one of their two 20-ppg guards, missed both games with a hip injury from a fall early in the Tartan game and is listed as day-to-day. The other star guard, Owen Carlson, scored 23 against Tartan and 32 against SSP, shooting a combined 8-for-9 on three’s and 13-for-13 on free shots. Against Tartan, Cole Armitage and AJ McCleery added 10 points each and James Ecker eight. Against Central, Armitage notched 22 points (shooting 9-for-13), five assists and three blocks, McCleery 12 points and 12 rebounds, Max Holley eight points and Tom Holley seven.

WRESTLING

Evan McGuire fared the best of Mahtomedi’s five state tournament entrants, placing fourth at 182 pounds in Class 2A on Friday and Saturday at Xcel Energy

2023 Summer Camp

Center. McGuire (41-9) lost to Caden O’Malley of Tri City United 10-6, beat Ryan Lexvold of ZumbrotaMazeppa 4-3, beat Brian Thilges of Mankato East 7-3, got a forfeit, and lost to O’Malley again 8-2. Hayden Schaefer (37-14), senior at 170, won a 15-0 technical fall, then lost two decisions. Freshman Aidan Carlson (31-19) at 113 lost two decisions. Senior Max Rice (30-16) at 285 was pinned twice. Mahtomedi’s first girls state entrant, sophomore Shelby McFetridge (12-5), was pinned by the eventual champion and lost her second match 4-2 at 120 pounds.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Mahtomedi, riding a 13game win streak and seeded first in Section 4AAA, was ousted in the first round by No. 8 Totino-Grace 75-67 at home Saturday, abruptly finishing the season 20-6. Chloe Nuss tallied 25 points, and Maria Radabaugh and Ava Riegel 18 points each, for the Eagles. They are defending state champions but graduated most of their lineup and are 8-20 this year. Mahtomedi had plenty of offense but could not stop the Eagles. Mya Wilson sank 22 points, Anna Greene 17, Ella Kletti 13 and Sonya Potthoff 10 for the Zephyrs. Totino-Grace was 19-for-25 and the Zephyrs 12-for-17 on free shots. Each team made six 3-pointers.

NASA

Josh Cassada peeks out of the cupola on the International Space Station

GREAT DANE – gray w/black spots - seen frequently in WBTwnsh p near St Mary's of th e Lake Cemetary on Stillwater Street. If you've lost your dog or kn ow about th is do g, please ca ll Rebecca 651-605-5812

PHONE: 651-407-1250 | EMAIL: classified@presspubs.com

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THAN K YOU GOD ST MARY AND ST

JUDE FOR FAVORS

GRANTED

Press Publications in White Bear Lake is se eking a staff writer to join its awardwinning team As a staff writer-reporter you will be responsible for coordinating editorial conten t and layout for our newspapers, website and social media page s. In addition to writing stories, the job will require attending meetings, ta king photographs, assisting with the layout pr ocess, coordinating, writin g occasiona l ed itorial columns and ma intaining a positive relation ship with the commun ity at large. We are lo oking for a ca ndidate who is an efficient writer, passionate about local community news and gr eat at time managment. Candida tes sh ould have a degree in journalism (or a relate d field) and have rele vant experience

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MOTORCYCLES Running or not Titled or not Cash in exch ange. Sell now while prices are high! Call Dan at 612/720-2142

PUBLICATIONS IS SEEKING A MULTIMEDIA REPRESENTATIVE

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Ho using Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preferen ce limitation or discriminat ion based on race co lo r, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such preferen ce, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal custod ians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not kn owingly accept any ad vertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers ar e hereby informed that all dw ellings advertised in this newsp ap er are available on an equal oppor tunity basis To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

The City of Circle Pines is offering exciting job opportunities this summer.

FROM BOATWORKS APARTMENT BUILDING, WHITE BEAR LAKE

Must sell by Feb. 20th! Call or Txt Nicki: 651-261-7340

Golden Lake Concession Stand Attendants

MOVING SALE!

FROM BOATWORKS APARTMENT BUILDING, WHITE BEAR LAKE

Green side chair, very good condition, $50. Glass & metal high top table w/4 upholstered metal chairs, brown upholstery, excellent condition, $250.

Must sell by Feb. 20th! Call or Txt Nicki: 651-261-7340

Let’s talk or txt!

Nicki, 651-261-7340

The City of Circle Pines is looking for seasonal Concession Stand Attendants for Golden Lake Park. Individuals will work approximately 20-30 hours per week. Individuals will be responsible for park groundskeeping, selling concessions, operating a cash register, cleaning and stocking shelves. Pay is $16/hr. Must be 16 years or older to apply.

Park Maintenance Worker

The City of Circle Pines is currently looking for seasonal park employees. The individuals will perform various types of manual labor, groundskeeping, operate light equipment, such as lawn mowers, and work on various projects in the park system. Position pays $17/hr. Work hours are Monday-Friday

Side Chair – Very good condition. $100

Side Chair – Very good condition. $100

6:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Applicant must be 16 years or older.

Public Works Maintenance Worker Centennial Utilities/City of Circle Pines is currently looking for summer seasonal employees for the Public Works Department to perform various types of manual labor and operate light equipment. Applicant must be 18 years or older. Work hours are Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Position pays $17/hr.

Applications for Positions

If you enjoy meeting people, solving problems and helping businesses grow, this may be the perfect opportunity for you. Press Publications seeks an organized and creative professional multimedia rep to promote and market the business community through our products in print and digital. Sales experience is helpful but training is provided to the candidate who shows the willingness to learn and grow in a fast-paced marketplace.

SEND YOUR RESUME TO PATTY STEELE AT MARKETING@PRESSPUBS.COM OR CALL 651-407-1213

Housecleaners Needed!

Up to $18/hr

3-5 days/wk Must be thorough cleaner!

NOW HIRING DRIVERS

WORK!

Now hiring:

• Recreation Staff

• Park Maintenance Staff

• Building Supervisor

Learn more and apply at CityofRoseville.com/jobs

High-top Metal and Glass Table with 4 Upholstered Metal Chairs – Excellent condition. Bought at HOM Furniture, 2017. $350

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. Please send applications to Chandra Peterson, Circle Pines City Hall, 200 Civic Heights Circle. If you have questions, please call 763-784-5898 or email cpeterson@ci.circle-pines.mn.us.

High-top Metal and Glass Table with 4 Upholstered Metal Chairs – Excellent condition. Bought at HOM Furniture, 2017. $350

Maids of White Bear 651-247-2807

Guaranteed minimum salary up to $20 per hour depending on shift

651-653-9845

4687 Bald Eagle Ave., WBL 55110

PRESS PUBLICATIONS IS SEEKING A

Staff Writer

Press Publications in White Bear Lake is seeking a staff writer to join its award-winning team. As a staff writer-reporter you will be responsible for coordinating editorial content and layout for our newspapers, website and social media pages. In addition to writing stories, the job will require attending meetings, taking photographs, assisting with the layout process, coordinating, writing occasional editorial columns and maintaining a positive relationship with the community at large. We are looking for a candidate who is an efficient writer, passionate about local community news and great at time managment. Candidates should have a degree in journalism (or a related field) and have relevant experience. To apply, please send resume, cover letter and three writing samples to quadnews@presspubs.com.

SEASONAL MAINTENANCE WORKERS POSITIONS

White Bear Township is accepting applications for Seasonal Maintenance Worker positions to assist in routine maintenance work including, but not limited to, the following: general maintenance of parks, streets, water, storm water, sanitary sewer, etc. Up to 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm (subject to change between Memorial Day – Labor Day).

Salary range from $14.00 /hour to $18.00/hour depending on qualifications. A valid driver’s license with a good driving record is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass pre-employment drug screening.

Applications are available Monday –Friday, 7 am – 4:30 pm, at Township Administrative Office, 1281 Hammond Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110 or online at www.whitebeartownship.org.

Application deadline: Open until positions filled.

CITY OF MAHTOMEDI

MAINTENANCE WORKER

The City of Mahtomedi has openings for up to (4) full time Seasonal Maintenance Worker positions. All positions are for 67 days. Duties include assisting the Public Works Department with street, water, sewer, and park maintenance. Must have a High School diploma or GED, the ability to lift/move 25-100 Lbs., be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. The pay range is from $16.00/hr. to $18.00/ hr. depending on qualifications. Applications will be taken until positions are filled. Applications can be obtained at City Hall, 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 or at its website at HYPERLINK "http://www.ci.mahtomedi.mm.us" www. ci.mahtomedi.mn.us. Mahtomedi is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Deputy Clerk

Birchwood Village is hiring a PT Deputy Clerk for 20-30 hrs./wk. at $20-$30 per hr.

The position includes PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) benefits. Job duties include processing financial transactions, permits, and providing administrative support. Bachelor’s degree in finance, business or public administration preferred but not needed. Requires technical ability in bookkeeping and/or accounting, effective communication and customer skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. A full job description and application materials can be found at www.cityofbirchwoodvillage. com. Applicants should complete the Application and Background Check Release and send, along with a resume and cover letter, to info@cityofbirchwood.com or mail to City Hall at 207 Birchwood Ave, Birchwood MN, 55110. EEO

The city of Birchwood Village is committed to building a diverse, welcoming and respectful workforce. We seek and welcome candidate applications from historically underrepresented groups, such as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) women, LGBTQ+, and those living with disabilities as well as veterans.

THE BEST PLACE YOU’LL EVER

WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, March 9

Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 County Rd. F East

Details: Make and appointment to donate by calling 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

SAP TO SYRUP

When: noon-4 p.m. Saturday, March 11 and 18

Where: Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township

Details: Participating volunteer groups sign up to pick a section fo the lake to clean up. WBL Conservation District will provide bags; volunteers bring sleds and something to chop trash from the ice.

Contact: 651-269-0976

VADNAIS HEIGHTS FOOD PROGRAM

When: 9-10 a.m. Saturday, March 18

Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 E. County Road F

Contact: 651-407-0597 or whitebeararts.org

COMMUNITY LUNCH

When: noon-1 p.m. Monday, March 20

Where: Mahtomedi District Education Center, 1520 Mahtomedi Ave.

Details: Lunch catered by Luna

Seasons and live music. Register by March 17 at noon.

Contact: mahtomedi.ce.eleyo.com

“CALENDAR GIRLS”

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, March 10-26; 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 20

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Bittersweet comedy performed by Lakeshore Players Theatre. Tickets $10-$30

Contact: 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers.org

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

MARCH UNIT MEETING

When: 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 and 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 9

Where: Zoom

Details: March meeting will cover the topic of Climate Change Action Plans and how it is being addresses at the the city, county, state and federal levels. Register online. Contact: lwv-wbla.org

LATIN ART IN MINNESOTA:

PART 2

When: 7-8:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 9

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave.

Details: Evening with artists from Latin Art in Minnesota includes collaborative storytelling and conversation. Questions may be sent in advance to apenders@ whitebeararts.org. Free with registration. Contact: whitebeararts.org

Details: Learn all about the process of tapping maple trees for syrup during a 45-minute guided tour. Registration required for staggered start times.

Contact: ramseycounty.us/residents/ parks-recreation/tamarack-naturecenter

20TH ANNUAL WHITE BEAR LAKE CLEANUP EVENT

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 11

Where: White Bear Lake and shoreline

Weekly Outlook

Weather Tidbits

Details: Distribution of food to any family in need and considered low income. May register day of event. Contact: 612-245-9259 or cityvadnaisheights.com/foodshelf

EQUINOX CEREMONY AND COMMUNITY DAY

When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 18

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave.

Details: Sculpture dedication of “Ursula Major” by artist Robin Tost, family-friendly art activities, refreshments and music.

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com

The snow just keeps on adding up. I totaled 6.2 inches this past Sunday and Monday, bringing my season total to 74.1 inches. While it seems this snow will be around forever, we stand a very good chance of it all of it melting before the end of the month. It does seem like a monumental task considering we have over 15 inches of snow cover. The sun is strong and the days are getting warmer. Meanwhile, I still have friends who are embracing the snow.

Note: Free Pi Day pie! Purchase a Watson Weather Calendar on March 14 at my office and receive a free Pie from Eat at 5th and Banning. Details at WeatherManWatson.com.

CENTURY COLLEGE LUNCH & LEARN

When: 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, March 21

Where: Century College, 3300 N. Century Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Join President Millender and Board Chair Melissa Martyr-Wagner for complimentary lunch, discussion, and tour of art gallery exhibit and theatre.

CARPENTRY

AGING GRACEFULLY

Social media: It's not just for kids anymore

Perhaps due to the popularity of social media among a generation of young people who grew up with it, platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are often associated with people born in the 21st century. However, a 2018 study from the Pew Institute found that 65 percent of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 used Facebook and 68 percent used YouTube.

Social media is often on the receiving end of negative attention, but it's also a potentially valuable tool that can help men and women over 50 stay connected with their communities. That's not always so easy for adults who no longer have children at home. And as its name suggests, social media can help users connect with others who share their interests. Such connections also can be hard to make for adults over 50.

Adults over 50 may be more comfortable with social media now than they were a decade ago, but it's still a good idea to brush up on basic security measures that can help men and women protect their privacy as

Safety Tips for Social Networking:

they utilize platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

· Protect your personal information. No social media user has the right to access your personal information, including your address, date of birth or other data unique to you. Avoid interacting with anyone who requests personal information, employing the function to block such users from connecting with you when possible. It's also important to keep information about travel plans

private. For example, sharing details of an upcoming vacation can serve notice to potential criminals that no one will be in your house, making it a potential target for burglars.

· Aim for quality, not quantity, when building social media networks. Avoid accepting friend requests from individuals you don't know. Cyber criminals often gain access to victims via social media, so

limit your social media network to people you know and trust.

· Turn off location information. The technology behind social media is impressive and even makes it possible to determine where users are when they tweet or post to other platforms. But many users, especially those concerned about their privacy, don't want to share location information with anyone, much less strangers. Turn off location information and routinely double check to make sure it's still turned off.

· Discuss others' privacy concerns before posting to social media. Social media isn't for everyone, and some people may not want photos of themselves or their children posted to platforms like Facebook or Instagram. Prior to posting pictures or information about other people, confirm that they're OK with you doing so.

Adults over 50 are engaging with social media. But no matter how comfortable users become, it's still best to keep various social media safety protocols in mind. LP227089

• Manage your privacy settings.

• Remember: once posted, always posted. .

• Build a positive online reputation.

• Keep personal info personal.

• Protect your computer.

• Be cautious on social networking sites

Now offering a limited number of beautiful studio apartments in Club Lodge, an intimate neighborhood with an ideal location on the first level of The Lodge. Enjoy the convenience of a private entrance, a patio off of the communal living room, and month-to-month rentals with no “buy-in” fees.

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Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter can be a great way to connect with friends. But there are some social networking safety tips you should always keep in mind

DOG BEACH: Beach will remain open but dissent continues

entertain and want to be out in their own yard (who complain). We can be having a barbecue and have to listen to strangers yelling at their dogs. It’s not a common problem. People aren’t keeping their dogs leashed. I don’t want it where it is.”

Representatives from the Parks Advisory Commission (PAC) were invited to the meeting to share their recommendations after visiting the site nearly 70 times. “We found a lot of support by users and citizens,” Chair Bill Ganzlin reported. “We also found some concerns.”

In a memo to council, the PAC listed its conclusions from the site visits. Most are in response to concerns voiced by Hughes, who asked the commission to consider a recommendation to close the dog beach at the end of the 2022 season.

• Dog waste was not found and it was confirmed that city staff who maintain the area infrequently find dog waste.

• Use of leashes is mixed. Most owners not using leashes generally had verbal control of their dogs. Only a few dogs briefly strayed.

• No dogs crossed into adjacent properties.

No excessive aggressive behavior was witnessed that would cause concern.

• On a couple of visits, a dog was seen jumping off the swim dock with the owner.

Twice the PAC voted in favor of keeping the dog beach open in its existing location. They did assess an alternative site on the other side of the Matoska boat ramp, per a suggestion from Hughes, but the lake bottom was muddy and unsuitable for people.

“The current location is definitely best,” Ganzlin told council. The com-

mission does have recommendations for improvement, however, which are part of the new resolution.

Better signage with one sentence stating dogs must be leashed; a permanent fence between the dog beach and swim dock; a buoy system to separate the two beaches and gates at the top of stairs accessing the beach from Lake Avenue are recommended. Installing a ‘No Fishing’ sign on the swim dock was also recommended so dogs or people won’t step on lost fish hooks.

“We know there are dogs not leashed, but regular users have been educating people who have dogs off leash,” noted Mike Shepard, who probably made half of the site visits.

“City staff has been testing the water and there is not a high amount of bacteria from waste; it’s actually lower than most places,” Shepard said. “We think those recommendations will improve the dog beach and allow it to keep going as a valuable asset to the community.”

Dog beach users were given the opportunity to speak to council after the park board presentation.

Fourth Street resident Cheryl Bolstad doesn’t use the beach but feels the location is “a terrific asset to the community. I enjoy watching and talking to the people,” she said. “These changes are positive in helping people enjoy the beach.”

A Cedar Avenue resident, Kyle Wiberg, commented that “the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. I’ve talked to many community members who enjoy the dog beach. It’s a shame that year after year the complaints come from one person in particular. I would encourage that person to move if you don’t like to live across from the dog beach.”

Vocal proponent and dog owner Terry Honsa likes the improvements but doesn’t think the gates are necessary.

“I’ve used the beach a lot. I have never seen a dog go up that hill,” she said, adding, “I’m sorry this is before you again.

“Opponents may say the beach is putting dogs before people,” Honsa said. “It isn’t about the dogs. It’s about community. I’ve made extensive connections with people at the beach.”

Calling it a “six-year saga,” Mayor Dan Louismet said the problem is that complaints are coming from several homeowners, not just one. “I give deference to homeowners who see what is going on. Is there a right to bring a dog to a lake? No. It’s a nice public amenity if it works. We have to weigh that against another right and that is for people to freely and lawfully enjoy their private property.”

The mayor added he’s skeptical the PAC-recommended improvements listed in the resolution will work. “I’m not convinced this will change anything for the bad actors. I think we have to defer to homeowners who deal with it every day.”

Maintaining that the dog beach is a public asset, Council Member Dan Jones supports it. “I think it’s a good thing. Dogs are like children, and I’m not going to prohibit kids from our parks.”

Following the vote to continue operations of the public dog beach and Hughes’ ensuing dismay, Council Member Kevin Edberg interjected, “I want to be sympathetic to her predicament. I have suspicion there are misunderstandings about the vote. I would not be opposed to action that allows us to have that vote again and allow more discussion.”

The mayor was not so willing. “I understand what you’re trying to accomplish,” he told Hughes, “but we had a motion and a second and voted and it passed. I don’t like the precedent of unwinding things after a vote.”

He asked Hughes her objective. She replied, “to vote on closing the dog beach.” The mayor said that wasn’t currently before the council and asked the attorney for advice, as it was “stretching” his parliamentary procedure. “Someone who voted for it can make a motion to reconsider?” he asked.

Attorney Troy Gilchrist said he might need 20 minutes to research procedure but ultimately advised making a motion to continue the matter to the next meeting. “Staff could prepare a separate resolution to close the park and have both before you,” he said.

“If council agreed to reconsider the motion,” Gilchrist then added, “the matter is back before you as if it wasn’t approved.”

Rather than table, Jones didn’t want to wait for another meeting.

Speaking to those in the audience who are pro-dog beach, he said, “I don’t want parliamentary procedure (to make the decision) to open or close the beach and I don’t think you want

this hanging over your head. Let’s rip the Band-aid off, make a decision and move on.”

Hughes then made the motion to close the beach, which received a second. Jones pointed out that one council member was missing and that the council went from a resolution to maintain status quo with new rules to closing a park. “Do we want to close any other parks?” he quipped.

Saying he opposed the new motion to close the beach, Council Member Bill Walsh warned that the “new fixes” better work or he’ll change his mind next time.

Hughes retorted, “At what point do private property owners have to entertain dogs, and at what point do swimmers have to swim with dogs? It’s not a place for kids and dogs. We’re not getting rid of a park but getting rid of a use. What do people have to say to realize it’s not working?”

She then thanked the council for agreeing to amend the resolution to close the dog beach.

Rather than prolong the matter any further, the mayor called for a vote on Hughes’ motion, which failed 1-3. He asked for a vote to reapprove the original resolution, which passed.

A confused audience member asked for clarification: “The dog beach remains open with modifications,” the mayor said.

Park Advisory Commission members Bill Ganzlin, chair, and Mike Shepard, left, shared observations from nearly 70 dog beach visits to City Council.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Concern about the beach include noise and unleashed dogs.

New headache for Bear hockey: Gentry ousts them 5-1

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

There’s now not one, but two, high-powered neighborhood hockey entities in White Bear Lake’s way. The Bears’ usual section Section 4AA finals clash with Hill-Murray didn’t happen this year because five-year-old Gentry Academy tumbled the top-seeded Bears 5-1 in the semifinals Wednesday evening.

“No excuses. We didn’t play very well and they took advantage of our mistakes,” coach Tim Sager assessed. The Bears finished 20-6. “I am very proud of our team and what they accomplished — a 20-win year and a conference championship,” he said.

Sager acknowledged frustration with now having two schools in the section playing by different rules: “Until the MSHSL creates an even playoff field, these schools will have greater advantages recruiting student athletes from all over when the public schools

have to stay within the school district boundaries. The charter schools even have ‘billet families’ so kids from out of state can live with them.”

The Stars (19-9) played probably the best game

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK AJ McCleery

Mahtomedi basketball

AJ McCleery makes an impact on both ends of the court for Mahtomedi’s 22-3 basketball team. “His defensive effort is the key to our team defense, and he runs our plays well,” said coach Keith Newman about the rugged 6-foot-1 senior guard.McCleery had two double-doubles (totaling 22 points and 23 rebounds) in road wins last week. He’s averaging nine points this year after averaging 11.8 last year and making all-conference. McCleery coaches in the youth traveling program and “he puts in the same work ethic and seriousness” as the does on varsity, Newman said. In the fall, McCleery is a standout soccer defender, named allconference and coaches association all-state second team.

“Your Financial Partner”

against the Bears of any opponent all season but playoff-savvy Hill-Murray cooled them off Friday night. The Pioneers (14-13-1) won 3-0 for their 33rd section title and fourth in a row.

The Bears scored 19 seconds after face-off at Aldrich Arena, on a shot by Grady Gallatin swooping past the the net, but the Stars and goalie Anthony Zolezzi turned away their next 33 shots. Gentry quickly erased the Bears’ lead with goals by Reese Shaw at 2:04 and Ryder Betzold at 4:52. The Stars expanded the lead with missives by Max Vonklingraeff and Easton Rooney in the second period and Eli Bailey in the third.

Last year, Gentry lost to Hill-Murray 7-2 in the semifinals. In 2021, they were Class 1A state champions, pummeling all 19 opponents, including Mahtomedi 7-3 in the section. The Gentry Academy girls were Class 2A state champions this season. They were Class 1A runner-up in 2021.

Zephyrs’ Newman notches 300th win

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

Keith Newman, Mahtomedi boys basketball coach, notched his 300th victory on Feb. 28 when the Zephrys won 64-51 at Tartan. The eighthgrade math teacher currently has a 301-166 record in 16 seasons, with three conference champions and one state tournament team. “I have been blessed to coach many great players over the years,” said Newman, adding that he’s been assisted by George Palke his whole tenure. He said he feels fortunate to have coached two sons (both their teams reached section finals) and expressed appreciation to “very supportive families” and to dedicated youth

4661 Highway 61 | White Bear Lake northstarbank.com | 651-429-4531

BRUCE STRAND

Keith Newman followed the action during his 300th win last week.

association volunteers. “I have loved coaching in Mahtomedi,” he said.

BRUCE STRAND

White Bear Lake’s Aiden Akins (12) and goalie Leo Gabriel could not prevent Gentry’s first goal as Reese Shaw (right) knocked it in with Ryder Betzold assisting.

Mahtomedi skaters repel Wildcats 3-1, head back to state

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

Generating two goals in the last six minutes, the Mahtomedi Zephyrs turned back Chisago Lakes 3-1 on Thursday evening to capture another Section 4A championship.

“I was so proud of our team and their play during the section tournament,” said coach Jeff Poeschl about his 11th state tournament team, and seventh in eight years. “It is never easy to win the section and go to state.”

The Zephrys (20-8) are seeded third and will open against Alexandria (14-12-1) at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center. Other pairings are No. 2

BEARS SPORTS BRIEFS BOYS BASKETBALL

After winning their last four games by a total of eight points, White Bear Lake heads into playoffs with an 18-7 record, seven straight wins, and a No. 2 seed, their highest in at least two decades. “We’ve been well-tested these last four games, and that should help us in close games in the playoffs,” coach Gregory Burke said. “There weren’t any game-winning shots; we had to make defensive stops at the end of each of them, and we did.” In the final week of conference play, the Bears beat Cretin-Derham Hall 58-55

Monday with Wyatt Hawks scoring 22 points, Jack Janicki 19 and Jack Misgen 10; beat Mounds View 75-73

Tuesday as Janicki sank 26 points, Hawks 18, Jeremy Kolb 12 and Misgen 10; and beat Park 66-65 Friday with Janicki netting 23 points and Hawks and Misgen 15 each. In the Suburban East, No. 6 ranked East Ridge finished

March is...

17-1, No. 12 White Bear Lake 15-3 and No. 15 Stillwater 13-5 for the top three spots. That’s the same order they’re seeded in Section 4AAAA. The Bears will host Woodbury on Wednesday, and if they win, will have another home game Saturday against Stillwater or St. Paul Central. Game times are 7 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

A stellar White Bear Lake season ended with a 51-47 loss to Stillwater in a duel of top-ten teams in the Section 4AAAA semifinals at home Saturday evening. The Bears finished 22-5. Alexis Karlen, powerful 6-foot senior post, led Stillwater on both ends, scoring 17 points while defensively making the lane a no-scoring zone for the Bears. Amy Thompson added 13 points and Elise Dieterle 11 for the Ponies (23-5). Most of their points came in the paint. The Bears, needing

COLORECTAL CANCER MONTH

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest cancer in the United States. One in 24 people will be diagnosed with CRC in their lifetime.

• Screening can find the warning signs of colon and rectal cancer, letting doctors take action to prevent the disease.

• Screening can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment is most effective. All men and women without a family history of CRC should begin screenings at age 45, according to the American Cancer Society.

If you have certain risk factors, you may need to be screened earlier than 45.

Do you have a family history of CRC or polyps?

Get screened at 40 or 10 years before the age at which your immediate family member was diagnosed.

Colorectal cancer first develops with few, if any, symptoms.

Symptoms list

• A change in bowel habits

• Including diarrhea, constipation, a change in the consistency of your stool or finding your stools are narrower than usual

• Persistent abdominal discomfort

• Such as cramps, gas, or pain and/or feeling full, bloated or that your bowel does not empty completely

• Rectal bleeding

• Finding blood (either bright red or very dark) in your stool

• Weakness or fatigue

• Can also accompany losing weight for no known reason, nausea or vomiting

Hermantown (25-2-1) vs. Luverne (13-12) at 11 a.m., No. 1 Warroad (27-0-1) vs. St. Cloud Cathedral (1612) and No. 4 Orono (23-5) vs. No. 5 Northfield (23-5). Semifinals will be Friday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the finals noon Saturday.

Chisago Lakes (16-11-1) took an early lead on a goal by Drake Thyen at Aldrich Arena and Jonny Grove tied it for Mahtomedi just 1:13. Zephyr goalie Charlie Brandt stopped Chisago’s other 19 shots. Wildcat goalie Jack Hanson thwarted 40 of Mahtomedi’s 43 shots.

The score remained 1-1 until 10:36 into the third period when Grove scored again for the lead.

Charlie Drage made it 3-1 on a power play at 13:47 and Zephyrs killed off a penalty with three

minutes left to clinch it.

“Their goaltender played very well,” Poeschl said. “We stayed with our game plan throughout and we were finally able to wear them down.”

Asked about his state-bound team’s strengths, Poeschl cited balanced scoring — the first line has 49 goals, the second 44, the third 22 and the fourth nine — along with senior leadership, team speed, work ethic, and consistent goaltending.

The Zephyrs beat St. Paul Academy (14-12-1) in the semifinals 9-1 Tuesday on goals by Drage (two), Bruner, Grove, Wolsfeld, Patrick Egan, Carter Haycraft, Gene Wegleinter, and Jake ToddChlebeck.

Heidi Barber 11. The Bears’ defense and rebounding were good enough to win, with Blessing Adebisi especially strong on the boards. The Bears beat St. Paul Central 70-18 Tuesday, scoring the first 35 points of the game. Seventh-grader Sarah Poepard had 13 points, Anna Sommerhaus 11, and Schmittdiel 10.

WRESTLING

3-pointers to win, hit two early while taking a 13-6 lead, but only two more the rest of the game. Addi Post led with 14 points, mostly on gutsy drives. Jordyn Schmittdiel had 13 points and

Live a healthy colon lifestyle

Know your risk factors and family history. Most importantly, listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right or changes, take control and speak to your doctor.

• Eat fiber (fruits and vegetables).

• Drink plenty of water.

• Take in whole grains.

• Drink low-fat or fat-free milk.

• Eat lean proteins (chicken, turkey) instead of processed meats (hot dogs, lunch meat).

• Reduce excess sugar and fried foods.

• Limit alcohol intake.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Don’t smoke.

• Exercise regularly.

• Monitor bathroom habits for any changes. Early signs of cancer often do not include pain. It is important not to wait

White Bear Lake’s two state tournament entrants exited early Friday. Isaac Kolstad (32-15) lost his lone match at 120 to Lane Karsten of Owatonna 12-0. Christian Carlson (3517) at 126 lost by technical falls to Ian Schultz of St. Michael-Albertville and Maverick Mueller of Waconia. ‘Both Isaac and Christian should learn from this journey,” coach Craig Nasvik said, “and be that better prepared for next year as they both are only sophomores.”

before seeing a doctor. Early detection can save your life!

(This information is from Colorectal Cancer Alliance: https://www.ccalliance.org)

BETH DONAHUE Mahtomedi players and coaches piled together happily with their seventh section trophy in eight years.

BRUCE STRAND

White Bear Lake’s Aiden Akins (12) and goalie Leo Gabriel could not prevent Gentry’s first goal as Reese Shaw (right) knocked it in with Ryder Betzold assisting.