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CITY COUNCIL: Recognizes longstanding county commissioner. PAGE 8
Rotary Nature Preserve enters next phase of project
overseas contingency operations. Although he was deployed while on active duty, this was his first deployment/mobilization in the Reserves.
WHITE BEAR LAKE — Next up, Phase 3. The city has entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (VLAWMO) for the Rotary Nature Preserve Phase 3 project partnership. Rotary Nature Preserve is a 40-acre city park located north of Birch Lake, between Birch Lake Boulevard North and White Bear Parkway. The land was preserved to provide native habitat for wildlife and passive outdoor recreation for park users. The ecological integrity of the upland and wetland native habitat is being threatened by the presence of invasive plant species, which over the years have taken over many areas of the park. In 2022, the city and Rotary Club of White Bear Lake began partnering on a three-phase project to remove invasive plants in upland and wetland buffer areas along the paved trail and to restore these areas with native plants. The Phase 1 prairie restoration on the east side of the trail just south of the parking lot was completed in 2022. The city was awarded a VLAWMO cost share grant for that project. The Phase 2 wetland buffer restoration project along the west side of the trail, from the restroom facility to the boardwalk, was completed in 2023. This fall, the city entered into a contract with Natural Shore Technologies (NST) for a cost of $22,446 to complete the Phase 3 wetland buffer project
SEE HERO’S HOMECOMING, PAGE 18
SEE NATURE PRESERVE, PAGE 5
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Andrea and Jeffrey London surprise their son Gabriel during a class at Lakeaires Elementary School. Jeffrey returned a month earlier than his children expected from a military deployment in Djibouti, Africa.
Home for the holidays 13 years; he serves as a chief information systems technician in the Navy. For the past 10 months, Jeffrey has been deployed to Djibouti, Africa, in support of Operation Al Qaeda East Africa and
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Jeffrey London will be home for Christmas. The White Bear Lake resident has been in the military for
Tour the trees: Festival of Trees returns for 2nd year BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Thousands of people are expected to stop by the White Bear Lake Armory from Dec. 7-21 to tour the trees. It is all a part of the second annual Festival of Trees hosted by the White Bear Lake Historical Society. “I’m excited to bring joy to people. It’s been a rough year for me,” said Historical Society Executive Director Sara Hanson, who just returned after a yearlong medical leave after a fight with breast cancer. “For the organization, it’s just awareness
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that we are there (downtown) and want to be a part of the community.” Hanson came up with the idea last year, right before her diagnosis. Back in 2001, she said the historical society did a “tiny version” of the event when they had mini trees on display at the Fillebrown House. “We were brainstorming (ideas) of how to use the Armory … Our big goal for the space is to have it be almost like a community center — a place for people to gather, a place where they feel welcome and at home,” she said. “We are always looking for ways to make history fun. We are constantly fighting
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that perception of history is dull and boring, and it is not.” Allison Lincoln, community engagement director, described last year’s event as a “test run.” Area nonprofits were invited to participate in the one-day event as a part of Winterfest. There was a total of 15 trees. In the six hours the Armory was open, more than 3,000 people filed in to view the trees. “I have worked my entire career in nonprofit work (almost 10 years) and I have never once in my life had an event where I am opening the doors and being SEE FESTIVAL OF TREES, PAGE 9
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The 2nd annual Festival of Trees will feature 30 trees from area businesses and organizations. Check out the trees from Dec. 7-21. Keep an eye out for the Press Publications’ tree in honor of the White Bear Press’ 130th anniversary.
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