May the fourth be with you

Along time ago in a movie theater not too far away I went to see the movie “Star Wars.” I was 9 years old and I remember being transported across the galaxy when a long space ship was gliding across the movie screen. Like many people, I was hooked. The international phenomenon of Star Wars had begun. May the fourth is a play on words of the phrase, “May the force be with you,” used by Jedi Masters throughout the franchise.

Noelle’s

Notes

Noelle Olson

I read somewhere that phrase was first used in 1979 on The London Evening News on May 4. It was the day when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister and her party ran a congratulatory advertisement saying, “May the fourth be with you, Maggie.”

The second movie, “The Empire Strikes Back” was released on May 21, 1980.

I’ve probably seen that movie 100 times throughout my life. It’s my favorite Star Wars movie and introduced my favorite character — the Jedi Master Yoda. He is small in size but wise and powerful. Yoda trained Jedi for over 800 years and is stronger than most in his connection with the force. My favorite scene with Yoda is in “Attack of the Clones” when he has a lightsaber battle with the Sith Lord Count Dooku. Let’s just say that the dark side was no match for Yoda’s speed and agility. The first time I saw it, I couldn’t stop laughing because Yoda ditches his cane and grabs his lightsaber. He continues to use the force by flying through the air with such perfection. After he grabs his cane like it was no big deal. Classic.

There was a 16-year gap between the “Return of the Jedi” and “The Phantom Menace.” Star Wars creator George Lucas took some time off to raise his kids. When it was announced he was going to do the Star Wars prequel movies, fans were excited and I was one of them. I bought tickets for opening day and went with my dad and my son Lukas —three generations of Star Wars fans. I have to say it wasn’t the greatest movie of the franchise but the most “craved.” Since then, Star Wars franchise has grown with more movies, TV shows and a theme park at Disney.

Fans are getting plenty of material to satisfy the craving. Probably the most popular show now is “The Mandalorian.” It’s pretty good and they have a “baby Yoda” named Grogu. It reminds me of a western and people can stream it on Disney+. Luke Skywalker makes an appearance in season two, episode eight which is a must for Star Wars fans.

This Easter I was talking to Lukas who is now 31 years old. We were discussing all the Star Wars projects and he said I named him after Luke Skywalker. I told him I didn’t even think about that at the time. He laughed and said, “I think you did subconsciously.” Maybe I did. Everybody calls him Luke and he does seem to be strong with the force. So if someone tells you on May 4, “May the fourth be with you,” simply reply back and say, “And also with you.”

Noelle Olson is the editor of the Shoreview Press

As Tara Iyer reaches down to pull a weed from her lakeshore garden along Green Lake in Chisago County, a swallowtail butterfly alights on a nearby flower blossom. A gust of wind sends the blossom with its passenger fluttering gently other kinds of wildlife. These native shorelines are designed to withstand wind, waves, and everchanging water levels and also play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity. up and down. Tara’s husband Shravan takes notice. “It’s so amazing seeing what’s here –butterflies, bees, birds – there’s so much life on our shoreline now,” he says.

(Scandia) and Lake Jane (Lake Elmo) to the state’s impaired waters list due to biodiversity loss, and warned that Big Carnelian and Big Marine are at high risk as well.

In the Land of 10,000 lakes, more and more lakeshore landowners are turning toward natural solutions that combine bio-engineering with deep-rooted, native plants to stabilize the land along the water’s edge while also maintaining connected corridors of habitat for beneficial insects, fish, birds, frogs, turtles, and

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This winter, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) debuted a new tool that evaluates biology, terrestrial and aquatic connectivity, geomorphology, hydrology, and water quality in order to assess the overall health of watersheds across the state (www.dnr.state.mn.us/ whaf). Looking at the Lower St. Croix River Watershed as a whole, from Pine City all the way down to Hastings, the DNR assigned an overall watershed health score of 59/100, with startlingly low ratings for terrestrial habitat quality (16/100) and terrestrial habitat connectivity (19/100). Not surprisingly, the metro Mississippi River watershed ranks even worse, with an overall health score of 42/100 and terrestrial habitat and connectivity scores of 8/100 and 10/100, respectively.

As shoreline and terrestrial habitat vanishes, so too does the biodiversity in our local lakes, including several that are wellknown for excellent water quality. Local residents and scientists alike are seeing fewer fish, less diversity in the insects and aquatic invertebrates, and cascading impacts to the overall ecosystem.

In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency added Bone Lake

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The most important action that lakeshore landowners can take to protect the fish, birds, and wildlife that we love is to maintain terrestrial and shoreline habitat where it still exists and begin working to enhance low-quality habitat with a wider variety of native plants.

This spring, the East Metro Water Education Program and Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership will co-host a free webinar. Restore Your Shore, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 8 will explore bio-engineering strategies that harness the power of nature to guard against erosion while also restoring habitat. This workshop will showcase lakeshore design examples that incorporate pathways, docks, and access to the water, while also providing healthy habitat for pollinators, fish, and wildlife. Learn more and register at tinyurl.com/restoreyourshore.

Barbara Heitkamp is a water educator for the East Metro Water Resource Education Program and Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership. Angie Hong coordinates the East Metro Water Education Program. Find their contact information at www.mnwcd.com writer about the same subject matter will not be published.

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Public transit seems necessary

As a senior citizen living in the northeast suburbs, I have been thinking a lot about how to be able to continue to live in my community as I get older. One of the things on my mind is how dependent I am on the car to get places. City and suburban people share with me the value of being able to easily travel to the grocery store, the clinic, community meetings, the playhouse, the library, and all the other destinations that provide the things we need to thrive. But the cost of operating a car and the cost to future generations of the greenhouse gases it emits, has led me to seriously consider accessible public transit.

Some local elected officials in my community have characterized public transit as an unnecessary luxury that does not fit in with life in the suburbs. I find that if I’m going to be able to continue to live in my suburb, public transit is looking more and more like a necessity.

That’s why I was so encouraged to learn that the Minnesota House of Representatives included in the omnibus tax bill a 0.75% metro area sales tax to fund building out a robust public transit system serving city and suburb alike. With that kind of funding, we could have arterial routes connecting communities, a bus stop no more than a 10 minute walk away from home, high-frequency buses, as well as electric buses. There are many seniors like me whose quality of suburban life would be greatly

Obituaries

Mary Anna Japs

Our beautiful mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother passed away peacefully on April 17th, 2023.

improved if we had access to this kind of a transportation system. If you agree, contact your senator and representative and let them know you support the transit sales tax.

Joe Crowe

White Bear Lake Neighbors don’t want development

With regard to the March 22 story in the White Bear Press (“Developer hopes to create ‘residential anchor’ for intersection”) on the proposed development on the southeast corner of County Road E and Bellaire Avenue, and the updated plans mailed to residents April 14, the neighbors strongly disagree with the proposal. A petition was carried door to door, and no residents were in favor of the current plan. We received 34 signatures. The petition was dropped off with the Planning Commission April 21, and a copy was given to the White Bear Press. We urge residents to attend the City Council meeting where this will be discussed at 7 p.m. May 9 to voice their concerns.

Allen Rivard White Bear Lake

Encourage civil discourse

I was happy to read of Senator Klobuchar’s emphasis on civil discourse during her visit to White

Bear Lake. I disagree with the Senator on many issues, but on this I couldn’t be more in agreement. I would encourage that we all hold our civic leaders accountable on this score, no matter what political party or viewpoint we identify with.

A good place to start might be in how we “label” each other, especially on highly divisive issues where emotions run high. An example is abortion and right to life issues. Folks on “my side” often like to use the negative term “pro-abortion” to describe others whose primary focus might better be described as “pro-choice”, ensuring the safety and rights of women faced with difficult choices regarding an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. On the other side of the coin, I am against unrestricted access to abortion, not because I’m “anti-choice” or “antiabortion”, rather I believe an unborn fetus is a viable human being, with rights that need to be upheld. I believe we all have a societal obligation to help both mothers and children in such instances; hence I view myself as “right to life”.

Maybe it seems a small thing, but I think honoring the intentions of others would make a difference regarding our ability to engage in productive civil discourse, such as Senator Klobuchar is very sensibly and honorably advocating.

Diane Linden

Mary was born in Minneapolis on April 20, 1929, to Andrew and Marian Hoverstad. She was raised on the family farm near Dennison, MN and graduated from Kenyon High School. She met Cliff Japs at the University of Minnesota, and they married in 1950. Mary and Cliff lived and raised their family in White Bear Lake before moving to Boutwell’s Landing Senior Community in Oak Park Heights.

Mary was an active volunteer in her church and community. Mary was an avid and excellent golfer and held various positions in the Minnesota Women’s Golf Association. Mary was a church Deacon, Elder, and served in the Twin Cities Presbytery. Mary was active in the League of Women’s Voters, was a volunteer at Ramsey/ Regions Hospital and American Field Service. Mary enjoyed Boutwell’s activities and raised money for their Neighbor Helping Neighbors fund.

Mary loved her family and was a strong influence in their lives. Mary found much joy being involved in her children and grandchildren’s lives, attending many sporting and school events.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Cliff; her sister, Bernice Groebner, brothers, Herb, and Norv Hoverstad. Mary is survived by her children Russ (Bonnie), Steve (Lynn) and Mary L. Japs (Brad Molstad); 8 grandchildren Andrew, Mike (Susie), Greg (Rachel), Scott, Nick, Kelsey (John Emmons) Japs, Aaron (Liz Harder), and Nathan (Allyson Azar) Molstad; 7 great-grandchildren; sister Carolyn Gardiner and brother, Arne Hoverstad.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be Friday, April 28, 2023, 3:00 P.M. at NORTH CHURCH, 2675 Highway 36 East, North St. Paul with visitation one hour prior to the service. Private interment Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be given to University of Minnesota Medical Foundation, North Presbyterian Church, or Boutwell’s Landing. Arrangements with Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services, 651-439-5511.

Diane Linden, age 79, of Granite Falls passed away Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, MN. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, April 28, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Rock Haven Church in Granite Falls. Visitation will be held one hour prior.

Diane is survived by her beloved husband, John Linden of Granite Falls; daughter, Angie Linden Jans of Granite Falls; 6 grandchildren. She preceded in death by parents; son, Jason Linden. Arrangements with Wing-Bain Funeral Home. Please visit www.wingbain.com. Memorials may be directed to Rock Haven Church.

Yvonne Fish (Fugleberg)

Age 88, of Oakdale (formerly of White Bear Lake), passed away at Oak Meadows Assisted Living in Oakdale, MN on February 5, 2023. A Celebration of Life will be held at Oak Meadows Community Room (8133 4th Street N, Oakdale, MN 55128) on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 1 p.m. A private family burial will be held at Fort Snelling on May 8, 2023. Complete obituary is at Cremation Society of Minnesota website.

Colleen Ann Judd

(Nee: Sheehan)

Age 70 of White Bear Township, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2023 in the presence of family. Colleen is preceded in death by her parents, James and Margaret Sheehan. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Perry; son, Adam; granddaughters, Madison and Mara; siblings, Mary, James, Michael, Joe, Laura, Patrick, John, Anna, and Jerry; many nieces, nephews, greatnieces, great-nephews, other relatives, and friends. Memorial Service 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29 at the Church of St. Mary of the Lake, 4690 Bald Eagle Ave, White Bear Lake, with visitation beginning one hour prior. BradshawFuneral.com 651-407-8300

Existing stadium serves need

Let’s take the Purple Line – to the new stadium.

Having just dodged a bullet getting the purple line rerouted to who knows where, I was surprised to see that White Bear Lake has jumped up to endorse a new stadium at the high school. To my way of thinking, most of the same arguments we used to persuade calmer minds to prevail on the bus line would apply to the stadium; traffic, redundancy, residential neighborhood, noise, oh, and that other one…..cost.

Aside from these already discussed issues the stadium has another parallel; lack of need. South Campus has a pretty darn nice facility, with adequate road access and parking. For something used fairly infrequently, this would seem appropriate.

Perhaps more significant long term is what a new stadium will say to our children and grandchildren. The carbon footprint of building a new facility with its required aluminum stands, parking, concrete, concession, and turf will certainly highlight our lack of interest in the environment to future citizens.

Any new plan for a stadium should also address the uses of the facility at the existing high school. Perhaps repurposing that facility would better serve the school district, and our environment.

Patricia “Pat” Gorr

Age 77, of Forest Lake, Minnesota Formerly of White Bear Lake.

Preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Ruth Peck. Survived by her husband Ken Gorr, son Richard Gorr (Katherine) and daughter Kelli Gorr Raney (Joel), grandsons Michael Bucher and Cody, Gallagher and Gardner Gorr. A ‘64 Mahtomedi High School graduate, Pat worked as a cosmetologist, office supply purchaser and server. In retirement she continued her life-long love of bowling, playing the slots and traveling. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave, White Bear Lake, with visitation from 9 AM until time of service. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery to follow. Mueller Memorial, www.muellermemorial. com, 651-429-4944