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A NEW STAGE: Young performers welcome PAGE 3A
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Rob Thomas, Lakeshore Players Theatre executive director, assisted pianist Dr. Reid Smith, seated at the Steinway, in selecting the piano.
A Grand Debut: Theater acquires Steinway BY DEBRA NEUTKENS EDITOR
There are now two 9-foot concert grand pianos in the White Bear Lake area. The first Steinway belongs to a classical pianist living in Dellwood, Dr. Reid Smith; the second was uncrated Friday in the lobby of Hanifl Performing Arts Center. Smith was first to caress its
keys; in fact, he was the one who selected the $150,000 piano at the Steinway & Sons factory in Queens, New York. Last December, Smith and Rob Thomas, Lakeshore Players Theatre executive director, traveled to New York to decide on the instrument. They knew they wanted a Steinway concert grand; the part that required Smith’s expertise was choosing which one.
The selection narrowed to six candidates at the factory, which has existed in the New York City borough since 1853. A two-hour tour was included in the excursion with the guide, who explained that picking out a Steinway was like choosing a favorite child. All have their own particular qualities. Surprisingly, the process of elimination did not involve Smith performing
works by Chopin or Mozart. His technique was, shall we say, rather unconventional, and closely involved Thomas, who claims to be tone deaf. Ultimately, the piano Smith chose sounded the best when Thomas yelled into it. Smith described the sound as “sustained.” SEE STEINWAY, PAGE 9A
North Oaks Company developing township parcel BY MAGGIE STANWOOD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP — About 28 more homes are coming to White Bear Township after the Town Board approved a major subdivision during its April 2 regular meeting. North Oaks Company, which owns 28 acres between Peterson Road and Centerville Road, plans to develop nearly 11 acres into a neighborhood called Cambridge Downs with 28 single-family, mostly single-story
homes. The lot is currently vacant, and its zoning allows up to 32 homes. Residents who showed up at the meeting expressed concerns with the development, which they said would change the character of the quiet neighborhood. “I’m rather shocked by the density of the development,” said resident Leif Eischen. “It seems to me it does not fit in with the character of the township. I’m going to have three backyards on the side of my property. That seems like a lot.
I’m also very concerned about the traffic.” The development would also allow for the construction of a 32-foot road. In a letter to the Planning Commission last January, North Oaks Company President Mark Houge said the development would have a homeowner’s association “to both enforce high-quality design standards and maintain exterior site improvements.” The infrastructure will be oversized to accommodate SEE DEVELOPMENT, PAGE 8A
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The new development, Cambridge Downs, is located in the circled area between Centerville and Peterson Roads in White Bear Township.
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