Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
White Bear Lake Dental
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Specializing in cosmetic dentistry & same day crowns! DR. JOY JOHNSON
651-653-3802
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2024
803223
4100 BELLAIRE AVENUE WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110
VOL. 130 NO. 11 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
MILITARY HEROES: Honoring service men and women PAGES 10&11
2024 YEAR
A look back with
PRESS PUBLICATIONS Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
2300 Hwy 96, WBL 651-429-5354
Lundfamilydentistry.com
796953
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024 VOL. 129 NO. 18 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
STREETCAR PARK: Volunteers, city team up to make improvements PAGE 8
Foraging ahead with maple tapping BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP—Late winter brings the usual conditions that start maple sap flowing, but in a winter that has rarely dipped below freezing, what happens to the maple syrup harvest? It’s a question that a lot of Minnesotans are asking right now, as we enter the usual window for the maple syrup harvest to begin. Tamarack Nature Center Naturalist Shannon Stewart has been watching the trees closely this season. During the warm weather at the end of January, she put a few taps on trees in her neighborhood just to see what would happen. “I have a black maple in my neighborhood that I tapped on the 27th and probably had been running for a week at that point,” she said. “We essentially missed the first run.” Savvy syrupers who put their taps out early might have been able to collect a batch during the warm spell, but it’s nowhere near the end yet. “We probably will get another sap run, but it’s going to be based on what the weather is going to do to the trees,” she said. Right now she expects a cold snap will return before spring truly arrives. “My thought was that the trees were going to flower, and winter would come back, and the flowers would freeze and die.” The best syrup is collected before the trees flower, Stewart explained. The sugar in sap produces the energy trees use to put out flowers and leaves, and once a tree flowers, it creates “buddy” sap that isn’t quite as sweet and delicious as the maple syrup we know. “The sugars start to change and you get what people in the business call metabolized syrup. It’s considered an off flavor,” Stewart
Love Story
in one photo
IN REVIEW
812014 768801 765785
2022
2023
of the Press
of the Press
Mary Montpetit and her daughter Kim take a brief break from their bartending duties during a recent, busy, early evening rush at the 617 Cocktail Bar in downtown White Bear Lake. The venerable establishment is celebrating 90 years of business this week. Find story and more photos on pages 12-13.
SEE TRAIL, PAGE 11
Retired director leaves legacy of hope for the homeless BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Her time fighting for people experiencing homelessness may be drawing to a close, but the legacy of Trisha Kauffman is far from over. Kauffman officially retired in August 2023 from her position as executive director at Solid Ground. The organization, based out of White Bear Lake, assists homeless families in finding affordable housing across Minnesota. Her replacement, Diamond Hunter, was named a short time later.
Kauffman, originally from Ohio, previously worked as an associate director for The Domestic Violence Project in Canton before she moved to Minnesota in 1996. “I really developed a special interest in housing for families with children,” Kauffman said. She became executive director for Solid Ground in 1997. As her time at Solid Ground began, Kauffman became instrumental in improving and expanding the nonprofit’s programs, which were originally intended to serve low-income women with children area. Although the organization also
2022
2023
of the Press
of the Press
SEE KAUFFMAN, PAGE 9
STOP SAVE
On Sale Now
see store for details
BEST OF THE PRESS White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
CONTRIBUTED
Trisha Kauffman poses with her successor, Diamond Hunter, the new executive director.
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
THE BEST SERVICE • SELECTION • VALUE
NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS
3699
$ 798868
3955 Highway 61, White Bear Lake, MN (651) 426-4518
Temporary Hours: 7:30am - 5pm M-F • 7:30am - 2pm Sat • GPMINNESOTAWHOLESALE.COM
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
OIL, FILTER, LUBE, 4 TIRE ROTATION
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
4999 7999
$ $
• Alignment
Full Syn Ams Oil
Local man seeks new normal after ‘horrific’ work accident Jeff McLean hung on for dear life on the edge of a large industrial shredder for 52 seconds before help arrived. If it weren’t for that help, Jeff likely wouldn’t be alive. The 54-year-old from Hugo is trying to find what his new normal will look like for himself, his wife Jamie, and their sons Kyle and Brady now that he is a double amputee. Jeff has worked at Rohn Industries in Bloomington for 23 years. Last month, he was operating an industrial shredder, which can be plagued by paper
jams, often referred to as paper bridges. He was attempting to relieve a paper bridge when he fell in. “The bridge broke after that and then that’s when I was hanging out for dear life,” Jeff recalled. “I was hanging onto the edges of shredder, yelling and screaming for people to come and shut it off.” Jamie added, “He was hanging on for 52 seconds while the machine was eating his legs … It was horrific and I just can’t imagine what Jeff went through.” That’s when Jeff’s coworker Matt Marsyla jumped into action. He climbed up the machine, pulled Jeff out of the machine and placed him on the platform
2022
2023
of the Press
of the Press
UP TO
Expires 3/31/24
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
of the shredder. He then placed tourniquets on both of his legs. “If it hadn’t been for the actions of Matt, Jeff would not be here,” Jamie explained. “He would have bled out right at the scene.” It was then that Jamie got a phone call from Jeff’s company. She was told Jeff was alive, but it was bad. “I started hyperventilating. I was not sure what I was going to walk into when I got to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC),” she recalled. “I had to have a friend from work drop everything and she flew me to the hospital as fast as she could. I got 10 to 15 seconds to talk to Jeff as they
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
SEE RECOVERY, PAGE 15
SEE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, PAGE 9
STOP SAVE
On Sale Now
see store for details
BEST OF THE PRESS White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
THE BEST SERVICE • SELECTION • VALUE
NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS
$1000
• Brakes $3000 PER See store OFF AXLE for details
CONTRIBUTED
Making kids laugh to learn
OFF
• Select Batteries Napa & Interstate
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
Temporary Hours: 7:30am - 5pm M-F • 7:30am - 2pm Sat • GPMINNESOTAWHOLESALE.COM
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
OIL, FILTER, LUBE, 4 TIRE ROTATION
3699
$
3955 Highway 61, White Bear Lake, MN (651) 426-4518
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
See store for details + 2.00 shop supplies/2.00 waste oil filter disposal. Oil filter: up to 5 qts. of SW30. Rotate 4 tires. Check air pressure. 20 pt. Safety Inspection. Must Have Coupon. Exp. 5/31/24
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
4999 7999
$
See store for details + 2.00 shop supplies/2.00 waste oil filter disposal. Oil filter: up to 5 qts. of SW30. Rotate 4 tires. Check air pressure. 20 pt. Safety Inspection. Must Have Coupon. Exp. 2/29/24
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED • Select Batteries Napa & Interstate
OFF
Offer Excludes
4999 7999
$ $
Full Syn Ams Oil
CIRCLE PINES, MN
UP TO
• Brakes $3000 PER See store OFF AXLE for details Expires 2/29/24
WEDNESDAY, JULY PRODUCTION 24, 2024 CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 651-407-1239 VOL. 129 NO. 41 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00 classified@presspubs.com art@presspubs.com
Fishing ban weighed in light of swan deaths BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Vadnais Heights’ Sucker Lake is facing a severe problem. Twenty six swan deaths have been recorded at the lake since 2019. However, it was not until March of this year that Ramsey County discovered the cause of these deaths: lead poisoning. The swans are accidentally eating lead fishing tackle left by fishermen. The county is proposing several ideas to prevent the deaths, led by Planning and Development Director Kristopher Lencowski. Lencowski spoke to Press Publications about the measures the county is considering to save these swans.
Q: Ramsey County Parks and Recreation has announced they will not ban fishing at Sucker Lake for now. How confident does the county feel about this decision? A: We have some, but not full confidence. We’re
keeping the possibility of closing fishing in our back pocket. Through past community engagement, we heard from locals about how important fishing is to the community. People also talked about how Sucker Lake is a valuable spot to fish for those who enjoy it. There was also an equity consideration
Paris-bound Olympic sailor
SEE SWANS, PAGE 6
JAY RENDALL | CONTRIBUTED
Lara Dallman-Weiss and Stu McNay toast their win in Miami. Their quest to reach the podium begins Friday, Aug. 2. BY JAY RENDALL SPECIAL TO THE PRESS
It was her first visit back to White Bear Lake just a short time after Lara Dallman-Weiss competed in the Tokyo summer Olympics. We sat at an outdoor table at a local restaurant for lunch and the first-ever Olympic sailor from the White Bear Lake/Shoreview area looked like an Olympian in her red, white and blue U.S. Sailing warmup suit. We hadn’t talked long and Lara said, “I need to figure out how to get there again.” That was a logical statement for the young woman who has the goal of being on the Olympic podium. Though everything was different now — she could no longer sail with her recent Olympic partner because the Women’s category
of the 470 Class was eliminated from the Olympics and a new, mixed gender class was created for 2024. Three years later, DallmanWeiss is once again going to the summer Olympics — this time in Paris and the sailing venue in Marseille, France. It’s not surprising if you know her determination and dedication. But it wasn’t easy or even clear how she could get there. The long and twisted journey even included trying a different class of boat. When that opportunity ended after a year, Dallman-Weiss wondered if there was a potential opportunity to pair with fourtime Olympian Stu McNay in the new Mixed 470 Class. She called to ask him. McNay, who was coaching and doing some other sailing projects said, “It really surprised me how
excited I was to receive her call and to be given the opportunity to start sailing again with an experienced crew like her.” Lara and Stu started their new Olympic pursuit by training in Miami, then traveling to Europe to train with world-class sailors and compete in regattas. There was uncertainty about the new mixed teams. Was it better to have the female be skipper or crew? There were teams of each combination. Lara and Stu’s early regatta results showed that their combination with Lara as crew, a role in which she hangs off the boat on the trapeze wire, was competitive. They finished fifth at the 2023 pre-Olympic test event at the Olympic venue in Marseille, France.
June 9 through 15, caters to Minnesota high school students entering their senior year. Onsite, students learn about the process behind city, county, and state governments. Newcome and Knauss were two of 165 students chosen across the state to participate. “I always had an interest in national government, but I never really knew anything about local government,” said Newcome. “At Boys State, I learned about many interesting things happening at the local level. Honestly, it piqued my interest while I was there.” Newcome and Knauss’
government interests partially come from their respective family histories. Newcome’s grandfather, Tom, was an army officer in World War II. Tom and his wife, Esther, were also heavily involved in state and local politics and community volunteer organizations around White Bear Lake. Knauss’s great-grandfather, Harris, was a World War II veteran serving in the Army Corps of Engineers in Okinawa. “Learning about my family history makes me feel responsible for learning about government,
Find us on Facebook for More Great Deals! Pod’s Offers Free Wireless Internet While You Wait!
Find us on Facebook for More Great Deals!
29 16
Pod’s Offers Free Wireless Internet While You Wait!
$29.90 $49.90 19Oil$89.90 Change &
Find us on Facebook for More Great Deals!
Pod’s Offers Free Wireless Internet While You Wait!
• Dealership level service with personal Tire feel! Rotation
16
Find us on Facebook for More Great Deals!
Up to 5 quarts semi synthetic oil. Most cars
Pod’s Offers Free Wireless Internet While You Wait!
light trucks
$50.89
Semi synthetic oil (up to 5 Some qts) restrictions may apply. Exp.8/31/24
Tire Rotation
This is a different kind of repair center Hours & Saturday Hours Extended and we think you are going to like it!
SEE ROOF, PAGE 25
-Up to-
149
$
19.90
$ 40 OFF*
hardware. Parts will be additional.
*Based on 10% of service. Some restrictions may apply. Exp. 8/31/24
Reg $50.89
Some restrictions may apply. Exp.8/31/24 3634 Scheuneman Rd. | White Bear Lake • 651-426-4640
WBC110
Semi synthetic oil (up to 5 qts)
5 quarts semi synthetic oil. Most cars Tire Rotation • 21-point inspections light trucks. Some restrictions may Spring MaintenanceUpandtoSpecial apply. Exp5/1/12
WBC110
3634 Scheuneman Rd. | White Bear Lake • 651-426-4640
169 Maintenance Spring Special 6-9 SEE YEAR IN REVIEW, PAGES
Coolant Flush • 4 Tire Rotate • Transmission Mon - Fri 8am-8pm • Saturday 9am-2pm CIRCULATION NEWSFlush Tire
ERIK SUCHY | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
$
Full service
Everyday Low Price. oil change Everyday Low Price. We will check AC temperature, (up to 5 qts) & Full Synthetic Tire Rotation Spray inpressures, Bed-Linersbelts, • Complete system and Auto Repair Complete Brake Service Labor 21-point Spray in Bed-Liners • Complete Auto Repair (Includes free brake inspection) Vehicle Accessories • Automotive hose to make sure your system Detailing inspections Top brake service: Replace brake Vehicle Accessories • AutomotiveStandard Detailing Prem Synthetic off all fluids pads or shoes. Clean and lube brake is operating at peak Most cars and Oil Change & efficiency. $ .90 Reg
NEW Extended HoursForeign & Saturday Tire Rotation • 21-point inspections OPEN: Monday – Friday •Domestic 8am-6pm Auto and light trucks. Some restrictions may • Full service &Hours Repair. 3634 Scheuneman Rd. | White Bear Lake apply. Exp5/1/12 WBC110 TopWBC110 off all fluids Mon - Fri3634 8am-8pm 9am-2pm • 651-426-4640 Scheuneman •Rd.Saturday • White Bear Lake, MN • (651) 426-4640 3634 Scheuneman Rd. • White Bear Lake • 651-426-4640 Pod’s 651-426-4640 MM100
NEW
Any Service
Starting at just $99
CERTIFIED
Starting at justSemi-Synthetic $99
CERTIFIED
Pod’s is your one stop shop for all your automotive needs..
Thanks to her husband Dan’s Army service, Aurora Rogers was able to get their White Bear Lake home’s roof replaced for free.
CONTRIBUTED
Max Newcome (left) and Xavier Knauss (right) were picked by the American Legion Boys State of Minnesota to learn about city, county and state governments at St. John’s University.
SEE BOY’S STATE, PAGE 14
Factory Free Air Conditioning Oil Change & Tire Front or Rear Factory ScheduledBrake Maintenance Performance Test Service Scheduled Maintenance Rotation
The Next Generation of Auto Repair
Balance Check • Brake Inspection
$
Top off all fluids CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING Pod’s 651-426-4640
MM100
651-407-1234 651-407-1230 651-407-1200 651-407-1250 Every vehicle a 21-point Off All Fluids • Battery & Charging Systems Test This is a receives different kind of Top repair center circ@presspubs.com Air Conditioning whitebearnews@presspubs.com marketing@presspubs.com classified@presspubs.com safety and maintenance Performance Test and weasthink are going tolightlike it! extra. Some restrictions may apply. Exp5/1/12 Reg $275 Most cars and trucks. Dex-cool inspection well asyou a vacuum. Pod’s 651-426-4640 Coolant Flush MM101 • 4 Tire Rotate • Transmission Flush Tire
25 OFF
99
Pothole SPecial $ Complete Every vehicle receives a 21-point Save Your Tires & Pod’s is your one Brake Service We offer full Suspension Components! safety and maintenance forInall Front Or Rear (Includes Sprayed Free Inspection) service auto stop shop We will inspect your vehicle Includes everything needed for a standard inspection as well vacuum. for anyas potholeadamage brake service: Replace Semi-Metallic Brake repair, vehicleyour automotive Bed Liner and perform a complete pads, Re-Surface Brake Rotors or Drums, Clean accessories Starting at just $409 & Lube Brake Hardware alignment check FOR ONLY needs.. and automotive Some restirctions may apply. Some restirctions may apply. Most cars Complete & light trucks. Exp5/1/12 Exp5/1/12 Some restrictions may apply. Exp5/1/12 detailing! Pod’s 651-426-4640 Pod’s 651-426-4640 Pod’s 651-426-4640 MM102 MM110 MM115 Brake Service
$
$
$
25 OFF
We offer full To advertise in your local Money Mailer call Jill Martin at (651) 341-5264 or (715) 246-3014. Sprayed In service auto 272-10-0513 LC 272-10-051 repair, vehicle Bed Liner accessories Starting at just $409 and automotive Some restirctions may apply. Exp5/1/12 detailing! Pod’s 651-426-4640 MM102
25
$
Balance Check • Brake Inspection $ Off All Fluids • *Battery & Charging Systems Test Top Air Conditioning Performance Test
up to
60 OFF Any Service
169
$
Most cars and light trucks. Dex-cool extra. Some restrictions may apply. Exp5/1/12 Pod’s 651-426-4640
99
Front Or Rear (Includes Free Inspection) Includes everything needed for a standard brake service: Replace Semi-Metallic Brake pads, Re-Surface Brake Rotors or Drums, Clean & Lube Brake Hardware Some restirctions may apply. Exp5/1/12 Pod’s 651-426-4640
Pothole SPecial
*Based on 15% of service. Some restrictions may apply. Exp5/1/12 Pod’s 651-426-4640 MM105
MM110
Save Your Tires & Suspension Components!
We will inspect your vehicle for any pothole damage and perform a complete alignment check FOR ONLY
$
25
Most cars & light trucks. Some restrictions may apply. Exp5/1/12 Pod’s 651-426-4640 MM115
up to
$
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
Reg $275 MM101
60 OFF
*
Any Service
*Based on 15% of service. Some restrictions may apply. Exp5/1/12 Pod’s 651-426-4640 MM105
To advertise in your local Money Mailer call Jill Martin at (651) 341-5264 or (715) 246-3014. 272-10-0513 LC 272-10-051
buy one get one free L&B Signature Seasoned Beef Tenderloin Steaks
$1000 UP TO
• Brakes $3000 PER See store OFF AXLE for details
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
Students learn what makes governments tick BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Mahtomedi High School students Max Newcome and Xavier Knauss both have an enormous interest in understanding how government works. But they never expected to participate in its processes firsthand. Both students were chosen by the American Legion Boys State of Minnesota to participate in its week-long summer leadership/ citizenship program at St. John’s University. The event, which ran from
Ryan & Nicole Podewils TheOperated Next Generation of Auto Repair • Family Owned and • Dealership level•service withOwned personaland feel! Operated Years Family of Excellence • Full service Foreign & Domestic Auto Repair.
J U LY 2 5 – 3 1 , 2 0 2 4 | 8 O Z . | S AV E $ 1 7 . 9 9 O N 2
OFF
• Select Batteries Napa & Interstate
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Plein air painting in progress
Suhaila Ihsanullah works on a plein air oil painting overlooking White Bear Lake along Lake Avenue Saturday morning. She was among the artists recently spotted around the area capturing the local landscape and landmarks as part of the White Bear Center for the Arts sponsored Into Nature Plein Air Competition. En plein air, French for “in open air,” is a style of painting in which painters step outside of their studio walls and into nature. Completed paintings will be on display at the arts center starting on Aug. 15 with an Into Nature Community Reception and Award Ceremony.
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
If there’s one thing Aurora Rogers was not expecting from her husband Dan’s army service, it was getting a new roof for their home. Dan is in his 12th year serving in the Minnesota National Guard 34th Red Bull Infantry Division. Through his involvement, Dan is part of a program called the Soldier Family Readiness Group. The group presents special events and offers for military families. It was through this group that Aurora learned of the opportunity to get their
&
Wheel & Tire SPECIALS Going on Now
• Alignment
Full Syn Ams Oil
Military couple receives free roof
SEE OLYMPICS, PAGE 20
ASE Certified Mechanics
Offer Excludes
$
Ling Becker is the next county manager after being selected by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners following an extensive national search. “I am honored and excited to energize our amazing employees for this next chapter by highlighting the CONTRIBUTED importance of their work and Ling Becker empowering them to make a meaningful difference in collaboration with our community,” Becker said. Becker first joined the county in 2019 as the Director of Ramsey County Workforce Solutions and the Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board providing innovative employment and training services to job seekers and businesses for Ramsey County. Prior to that, she was Executive Director for the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation and Project Administrator for the Metropolitan Council, Transportation and Transit Development Office. She also ran her own consulting company providing support services for the non-profit and public sectors and has served on many boards. “Counties are vital in improving the lives and well-being of our residents. This is at the very core of my being as an immigrant who relied on government support when my family first established itself here and as a long-time public servant,” said Becker. In her new role, Becker is the chief administrative officer of the county, responsible for implementing policy and overseeing daily operations for the county, including a budget over $8M and more than 4,000 county staff.
Wheel & Tire SPECIALS PRESORTED Going on Now STANDARD
RELAY FOR LIFE: Help in the fight against cancer PAGE 7
“Our district is fortunate to have such amazing educators,” said North Campus Social Studies teacher Mark Domschot, reading the list of nominees for Teacher of the Year. “These teachers understand what truly matters in the field of education. They demonstrate a consistent presence in their students’ lives and listen and learn from their first teachers.” White Bear Lake Area High Schools held their annual Teacher of the Year Awards at the District Center recently. Six teachers were nominated for the award this year, including: • Hannah Allen, who teaches music at Oneka Elementary. • Paige Kazak, who teaches kindergarten at Lakeaires Elementary. • Katie Solem, who teaches third grade at Oneka Elementary. • Michele Norcross, who language arts at the Alternative Learning Center. • Ashley Peterson, who teaches third grade at Matoska International. • Melissa Wickert, who teaches social studies at North Campus. Now, the votes have been cast, and the people have spoken. Michele Norcross, a language arts teacher at the Alternative Learning Center (ALC), is this year’s White Bear Lake Teacher of the Year award winner. “Above all, I have to thank my ALC family,” Norcross stressed during her CONTRIBUTED acceptance speech. Michele Norcross “I’m so grateful to work where I feel supported by the students and the staff.” Norcross has taught in the White Bear Lake School district for 13 years. Additionally, Norcross said she was interested in teaching alternative education as far back as college. “When I was in college, I got into it by chance,” said Norcross. “I had a professor who taught at an alternative school and let me into his classroom for a day. I immediately fell in love with the kids and got enough experience to put on my resume.”
Local author David LaRochelle, here at a Farmers’ Market book signing event with Susie Fruncillo, owner of Lake Country Booksellers, has released his latest children’s book “Go and Get with Rex”. Learn more about the White Bear Lake resident and author of more than 30 children’s books on page 8.
ASE Certified Mechanics
Offer Excludes
See store for details + 2.00 shop supplies/2.00 waste oil filter disposal. Oil filter: up to 5 qts. of SW30. Rotate 4 tires. Check air pressure. 20 pt. Safety Inspection. Must Have Coupon. Exp. 3/31/24
&
Wheel & Tire SPECIALS Going on Now
NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANGING EDITOR
helped serve single fathers and two-parent families, the only program available at the time was through traditional housing, which limited the occupancy of these families to a maximum twoto-three-year stay. Kauffman helped the nonprofit add a permanent housing subdivision and provide rental assistance to people outside the company’s housing program, including originally site-based housing. “The rental market is very tight, so it’s tough to find affordable units for lower-
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
&
OIL, FILTER, LUBE, White Bear Lake, MN ASE 55110 Certified Mechanics U.S. POSTAGE PAID 00 4 TIRE ROTATION $10 • Alignment PERMIT NO. 9
3699
$
Teacher of the Year helps students find themselves
805073
617 celebrates 90 years as local social hub
4779 Bloom Avenue
796912
805365
DUSTY TO DAZZLING: Update on caboose remodel PAGE 10
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
2300 Hwy 96, WBL 651-429-5354
Lundfamilydentistry.com
VOL. 128 NO. 31 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
Bruce Vento Trail gets council approval for new expansion Cyclists, rejoice! More path is on the way for bike lovers and enthusiasts alike. A new extension plan for the Bruce Vento Trail is receiving a thumbs-up from the White Bear Lake City Council and is set to begin construction in late 2024. The trail starts in downtown St. Paul and runs north to just north of I-694 near Buerkle Road in White Bear Lake. The council intends to construct an additional 2.7 miles from Buerkle Road to just north of the intersection of Hoffman Road and Highway 61. The project is headed by Scott Yonke, director of planning and development at Ramsey County Parks and Recreation. The Phase 1 Project initially took shape in 2014 after Ramsey County Parks and Recreation found few pedestrian facilities within the proposed trail extension area, in which major transportation routes for vehicles and various industrial and office buildings take up the corridor. The county then launched a large-scale planning effort to find an alternative three-mile trail connection away from Buerkle Road to Highway 96 to close the trail’s remaining gap. Additional designs were established in 2018 for the planned 2.7mile extension between Buerkle Road and the intersection of Hoffman Road and Highway
THE BEST SERVICE Publications • SELECTION •Press VALUE
NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS 3955 Highway 61, White Bear Lake, MN Accepting (651) 426-4518 new patients! Temporary Hours: 7:30am - 5pm M-F • 7:30am - 2pm Sat • GPMINNESOTAWHOLESALE.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024
VOL. 129 NO. 21 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
STOP SAVE
see store for details
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
651-762-8040 carlsonchiro.net 2130 2nd Street White Bear Lake
HOCKEY: Bears, Zephyrs state tournament bound PAGE 6
Daylight Savings March 10
Becker selected as next county manager
Sap from the tree will slowly accumulate into buckets, which will be boiled down in an evaporator to concentrate the sugar content.
On Sale Now
Expires 5/31/24
811015
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024
No referral needed!
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2024
811832
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Hurt on the Job? Workman’s comp?
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
VOL. 129 NO. 43 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
SHANNON STEWART | CONTRIBUTED
795515
799060 796615
2023
of the Press
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRIMARY ELECTION: Who is on the ballot PAGE 6
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
Dr. Dustin Carlson, DC
Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
In honor of Valentine’s Day Wednesday, Feb. 14, Press Publications reached out to our readers and asked for submissions of a “love story” in one photo. Submissions ranged from a couple going on 54 years of marriage, to a young family enjoying the holidays, to a mother and son riding a carousel. See the submissions above and online at presspubs.com.
BEST OF THE PRESS
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Before we say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025, it is a tradition of The White Bear Press to look back at some of the most memorable stories of the year. In 2024, pages were filled with a variety of news, including stories about crimes, events, schools, churches, sports, businesses, city government and more. Perhaps some of the most memorable stories are the ones that feature local residents.
SEE MAPLE TAPPING, PAGE 6
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Accepting new patients!
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
North Environmental Center: Serves as ‘blueprint’ for other counties BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
In 2025, the North Environmental Center in Forest Lake is expected to serve more than 40,000 customers with an anticipated collection of 600,000 pounds of electronics and 750,000 pounds of hazardous waste. Construction of the $18.3 million facility began in September 2023. The center is now open to residents of Washington, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Scott counties. “There are some folks on
this side of the county that could have to drive 45 to 50 minutes, and we knew that that was a barrier,” explained David Brummel, director of Washington County Public Health & Environment. “Our goal was to have equity across the county in the availability of these environmental programs. Certainly, this puts everyone in the county within 25 minutes of an environmental center … It's about making that environmentally responsible choice the easy choice. So, we want to make this easy and convenient.”
Washington County Commissioner Fran Miron (District 1) added, “The North Environmental Center is a prime example of our commitment to convenience, accessibility and sustainability for the residents of northern Washington County … This facility saves residents time, gas and effort.” Washington County’s South Environmental Center is located in Woodbury. The North Environmental Center, located at 6065 Headwaters Parkway in Forest Lake, offers residents a second
location to drop off items that don’t belong in the trash like household chemicals, batteries, electronics, recyclables and food scraps. Funding for the $18.3 project came from the Washington County solid waste fund balance, which must be spent on solid waste plan strategies. Money for the fund is generated by the county environmental charge (CEC), a 35% charge on all trash-hauling services. Ongoing operations costs will be built into the Public SEE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, PAGE 14
SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Environmental Coordinator for Washington County Public Health & Environment Adam Fredrick shows off where hazardous materials are sorted at the new Washington County North Environmental Center.
D E C E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 2 4 – J A N U A R Y 1 , 2 0 2 5 | S AV E $ 1 5 / L B .
822650
$14.99/lb. L&B Reserve Aged Beef® Choice Boneless New York Strip Steaks CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1230 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com