The Courier - December 2015/January 2016 by St. Francis Area Schools

The C urier December 2015/January 2016 | Volume 23, Issue 4

a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education | St. Francis, Minnesota Serving the communities of Athens Township, Andover, Bethel, East Bethel, Linwood Township, Nowthen, Oak Grove, St. Francis and Stanford Township

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www.the-courier.org | news@isd15.org

Professional Learning Communities promote student achievement Steve Fetzik

SFHS Community Relations Coordinator

Teachers in Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) are working with a new sense of collaboration and purpose. Several years ago, the district introduced Professional Learning Communities (PLC), a process allowing teachers to align curriculum, work with peers to ensure consistent instruction and analyze data to promote student growth. At a recent school board meeting, ISD 15 Superintendent Troy Ferguson stated that the district is developing systems and structures to ensure we “become a PLC district” rather than “just doing PLC.” According to Ferguson, that means an on-going collaborative process of organizing teachers into working groups as described by Dr. Richard DuFour in his book, Learning By Doing. DuFour developed the concept of PLC and outlines the guiding principles for this new approach to teaching. In his book, DuFour describes PLC as “an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve.” In short, it is the process of teachers working collaboratively with each other, especially those who teach similar classes, in order to gather achievement data. This data is then used to create plans for improving individual and group achievement. “Collaboration is the key. Every member of the teaching team needs to be on board,” said Linda Ericson, the district’s Student Performance Initiative Improvement Coordinator. “It’s a systematic, whole-school process in which everybody needs to be engaged in order for it to succeed.” “When teachers work together to achieve common goals, students can begin to improve,” suggested Bethany Stiles, St. Francis High School science teacher. The PLC structure aligns with the ISD 15 core value, we believe that

commitment to high expectations is essential to help achieve full individual and collective potential.” A focus of PLC is for each teacher to set SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely). Every day, teachers are expected to post their SMART goal or learning target for students and measure if it was achieved. This can be done a number of ways, but many teachers use both formative (short term) and summative (long term) tests of knowledge. “The key is to break it down on a classroom level to match a student’s abilities,” noted Ryan Fiereck, a technology teacher at Cedar Creek Community School and East Bethel

Community School. Ericson added, “The big thing is focusing on learning and knowing that students are progressing. We need to cooperatively look at instructional procedures, create common assessments and engage in conversations to move students forward in their academic progress.” Since the inception of the program, over 150 ISD 15 teachers and administrators have participated in formal training during this past summer. Dr. DuFour and his staff provide training over a three-day period. Each year, the district hopes to send 50 additional staff members until all groups have received the training.

In the end, according to Ericson, it’s all about how you see student learning and the impact that teacher teams can have. “Collaboration is a mindset. The process is fluid and in response to student needs. When results of collaboration are seen, it stops being another thing you ‘have to do,’ and becomes an integral part of the teacher team process. Working as PLC supports the district mission “…to equip all students with the knowledge and skills to empower them to achieve their dreams and full potential while becoming responsible citizens in a dynamic world.”,

Cedar Creek Community School students, kindergarten through grade 5, walked 1.5 miles to raise money for their school in October. Students raised $10,720 which will be used to fund field trips, family reading night, scholarships for graduating seniors, to purchase books and classroom supplies. Students had a good time dancing and singing their way away around the track to music provided by DJ. Prizes were given to top earners from each grade level and the top classroom. Thanks to Eko Backen, Andover YMCA, Rum River BMX and Pump It Up for providing prizes. Sandra Benson, CCCS Community Relations Coordinator

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What’s Inside Schools in Action.................................................. 2 School Board Highlights................................11 Community & Business...................................13 Community Education....................................24 Sports & Outdoors.............................................28 Meetings, Events & Benefits.........................30 Life...............................................................................31

Schools in Action

School Board Highlights Community Education

PAGE 11 PAGE 24

Superintendent’s Bulletin

Troy Ferguson ISD 15 Superintendent

It’s hard to believe the end of our first trimester is already here. As we look forward to the beginning of our next trimester, district leaders and stakeholders are already busy planning the calendars for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years. There are numerous variables to consider when planning school calendars. First and foremost is to ensure our calendar provides optimal learning time for our students. Numerous stakeholders have needs and interests they want addressed when planning our school calendar. Statute, school board policy, our district strategic plan, number

of student contact days, number of staff days, legal holidays, breaks, testing dates, conferences, open houses, events, start and end dates, start and end times…the list is extensive and that is why planning is already under way. One calendar variable I have been talking about all fall is the necessity for our district to schedule common planning time during the regularly scheduled day for our Professional Learning Committees (PLCs). This need is intricately related to our core value “we believe that commitment to high expectations is essential to help

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achieve full individual and collective potential.” As we continue to move Independent School District 15 along in the process from “doing PLCs” to “becoming PLCs,” it’s important to note research and practice indicate that staff need common planning time during the regularly scheduled day in order to have a significant impact on student learning. Our initial goal is to secure 40-45 minutes each week for our building teams and about 90 minutes once a month for districtwide collaboration. We are also exploring a midyear training day in which staff would collaborate with their building teams and districtwide colleagues. In the interest of transparency and stakeholder input it’s important to note that adding common planning time to the regularly scheduled day will impact the development of the calendar. Possible calendar changes

that are being considered to create PLC common planning time for 2016-17 and 2017-18 may include all or some parts of many options. The main options at this time include: } Adjusting the start and end times for students. Our high school schedule currently has 10-20 minutes more student contact time per day than any high school in our conference. } Reducing student contact days from the current 172 to 171. } Re-purposing some portion of time currently allocated to tasks such as: staff development designed by district leadership or the Office of Teaching and Learning, grading days, or parent/teacher conferences/ contact. More ideas may surface as we continue to explore options with stakeholders. It is important to understand that while all these options are

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on the table at this time, no decision has been made or will be made without input from various stakeholders involved. Another question that arises as calendars are being formed is “why don’t we have a full week of spring break?” It appears from conversations in the community, informal polling of staff members and feedback from families and students that there is a strong preference for a five day spring break. We would be very interested to know if that sentiment is universal. We continue to seek input from all stakeholders as we move toward making calendar decisions to present to the school board for final approval in late winter or early spring. Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, opinions or ideas concerning our district calendar planning. All my best to you and yours over the holidays!

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Successful Student Bingo: promoting positive student behavior Jessie Rowles

SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

A new student behavior recognition program is underway at St. Francis Middle School (SFMS). Successful Student Bingo enables every student, each month, to have the opportunity to be identified as someone who deserves recognition for success in a variety of areas. In the past, SFMS recognized students through the traditional Student of the Month program. That program allowed each grade level core to select one student who embodied leadership, academic success and positive behavior. The downfall was that only ten students out of a possible 1,095 students were recognized each month. SFMS wanted to create a system where students can be recognized for all the outstanding choices they make while attending school and not just focusing on success in academics, but leadership, positive decision-making and timeliness. Jenni Jones, SFMS assistant principal, created a positive behavior program for SFMS focusing on areas other than academic success alone. Successful Student Bingo allows each and every student at SFMS the opportunity to be recognized for being a well-rounded student. CoralLyn Wyman, RTI coordinator and Chery Knaeble, behavior specialist, developed Bingo cards for students to keep in their student planners, identifying each monthly goal where SFMS would like to see improvement. Some of the monthly goals are being on time to all classes, no D’s or F’s on trimester one report cards and no study center referrals that month. Jones introduced students to the program through focused learning class visits and the administrative team who built excitement and motivation for students to earn the Bingo stamp each month. Students who achieve the goal of the month will be recognized with their name on a poster displayed throughout the school as well as earning prizes. If students earn a Bingo for multiple months they earn a grand prize on the last day of school. The kick-off month of October saw 1,020 students out of 1,093 earn the monthly reward. Ninety-three percent of the middle school student body will be publicly recognized in

November. “We are so excited to implement a program where all of our amazing students have the opportunity to be recognized and rewarded for making positive choices at school each and every day. Research has proven that when students feel connected and invested in their school community, individual academic success will improve. I have heard many students

share their excitement for the opportunity to earn a monthly reward and many have also set their sights on at least one Bingo during the school year. My goal is to see discipline and tardies decrease throughout the year and increase the time that students spend in the classroom learning,” Jones said. Jones also explained how this program aligns directly with Independent School District 15’s Core Values, “We believe

that every person matters and has value,” and “We believe that commitment to high expectations is essential to help achieve full individual and collective potential.” SFMS is looking forward to rewarding hundreds of students to help promote positive

student behaviors and to increase student achievement. If you have a connection to a company that would like to support this student recognition program with a donation, please contact Assistant Principal Jenni Jones at 763-213-8500.

Core Value

We believe that commitment to high expectations is essential to help achieve full individual and collective potential. Independent School District 15 • St. Francis, MN

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Middle school students teaching others about courage classrooms. Students traveled between rooms and answered the following questions anonymously in a unique graffiti style: What On October 30, Core 71 at St. Francis does courage mean to you? How can you Middle School (SFMS) had a core day to show courage everyday? and Who is your review what was learned at the Courage courageous role model? Retreat the previous week. These lessons Finally, the day wrapped up with the movie, included showing courage, anti-bullying ParaNorman. This is a stop-motion video and following their hearts to make the right about a child who is being bullied for being choices. To review these topics, the core did different. As the video finished, students STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) answered one of two journal questions and application activities for students to to make a connection to the day’s theme. demonstrate a hands-on definition of courage. The first journal topic was about personal For the first activity of the day, students experiences with bullying. The second topic created a stop-motion video to show what was about a time they had to work with they took away from the retreat. Students someone who was different from them and had fun being creative with Legos, Play-Doh, elaborate on how the differences helped them pipe cleaners and other items. Within the succeed. application the students used, they were able Feedback from the students about the to embed music and voice-overs to make these activities was positive. A seventh grade videos drive home their definition of courage. student said, “It was really powerful. It taught For the next activity, students were able me about respect and it’s not nice to bully to share their thoughts and feelings with people. You are not the only one dealing with peers. Large papers with thought-provoking it; other people are too.” By making the day questions were posted over the doors of Ted fun and memorable, the lesson will stay with Gehring, Kelly Winter and Katie Calvert’s students for years to come. Lindsey Redmann, a counselor at SFMS, came to visit the classrooms and observe the students. She stated, “I thought that the classroom activities were Jason M. Semler incredibly creative. I really REALTOR®, CRS, GRI, CDPE, enjoyed seeing what the CIAS, SFR, e-PRO, BPOR students took away from the Courage Retreat and seeing 612-282-8233 them use that as a creative www.agentsemler.com outlet. Every student was • Full service real estate broker engaged and recalled what • Seller and buyer • Free home buyer consultation they learned. Hopefully this representation will carry on throughout this • Licensed in Minnesota and school year and beyond.” • Free market analysis Wisconsin Using the STEM process, the final products that students Time to move? Considering new created will be remembered for construction? years to come. These videos Check out award-winning, can be found online at the local builder core’s website: https://sites. “Delivering the Quality You Expect and Deserve Semler Homes, Inc. google.com/a/isd15.org/coreSince 1981” www.semlerhomes.com 71/courage-videos-2015. Katie Calvert

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St. Francis High School (SFHS) Student Council members with Advisor Julie Cuscaden attended a regional workshop October 27. The workshop, hosted by the Eastern Division of Minnesota Association of Student Councils, provided an opportunity for student councils to share ideas with other schools, problem-solve common challenges and develop leadership skills. Cuscaden noted that attending these opportunities is an investments not only in the individual student leaders who attend, but also in the quality of the student council as a whole. The result is a positive impact for everyone at SFHS. Julie Cuscaden, SFHS Teacher, Student Council Advisor

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Harvey Daniels influences writing practices at St. Francis Middle School Jessica Rowles

SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

and assess class work. Then comes dialogue journals, where pairs dive deeply into academic subjects. Next, groups of three or four students join in extended written discussions called write-arounds. Finally, kids take their thinking online, where they enjoy digital discussions with partners from their own classroom and with kids from around the world.” Daniels spoke to the need for students to write more often, writing to learn versus public writing and writing for short increments of time versus

Sixth and seventh grade students in Jessica Rowles’ language arts classes practiced a writing technique, “Written Conversations,” for three weeks after Rowles attended a workshop led by Harvey “Smokey” Daniels at an Independent School District 15 workshop September 1 at St. Francis High School. Daniels, a former teacher and author of The Best-Kept Teaching Secret, spoke to staff regarding the importance of written conversations. The Corwin Literacy website describes Daniels’ written conversations as, “It all starts with mini-memos, short student letters that teachers use to introduce, extend Pictured is sixth grade student, Kinsey Wolfe.

longer increments while interacting with each other through writing. Daniels created urgency with his quote to the audience, “Students should be writing five, seven, twelve times a day!” Each language arts hour in Rowles’ class opened with a writing prompt for students to work on for about five minutes over the course of three weeks. The idea was pencil to paper the entire time to focus on the flow of writing and to also “cross out and go,” as Harvey put it. The goal was to keep students thinking without hesitation or backtracking. Students looked forward each day to seeing what their peers responded with, commented on, questioned or suggested about their writing. They loved seeing immediate feedback. Responding to each other’s thoughts

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in writing is a popular format seen on the web through blogs, commenting on Facebook and other social media, programs that allow users to make comments or suggestions on documents, online newspapers and more. “Interactive writing is a format of writing for this generation of kids that will continue to be common social practice as they enter adulthood,” Rowles said. Daniels has written 18 books throughout his career. His knowledge and expertise given at the district’s workshop in September have inspired Rowles to continue these techniques throughout the school year to increase writing quality, grammar and the practice of making connections to world experiences.

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Courier Contacts Telephone �� 763-753-7031 Fax �� 763-753-4693 Advertising �� 763-753-7032 Billing �� 763-213-1588 Website �� www.the-courier.org Like us on Facebook Publisher Troy Ferguson �� 763-753-7041 troy.ferguson@isd15.org Editor Kathleen Miller �� 763-753-7042 kathleen.miller@isd15.org Production Pat Johnson �� 763-753-7025 pat.johnson@isd15.org Heidi Anderson �� 763-753-7033 heidi.anderson@isd15.org Binie Bertils Advertising Sales Janice Audette �� 763-753-7032 janice.audette@isd15.org Billing Amy Lindfors �� 763-213-1588 amy.lindfors@isd15.org Address 4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW St. Francis, MN 55070-9368 Deadline Information Deadline for the February issue of The Courier is January 8. News Send news and photos to news@isd15.org. Letter to the Editor For the complete Letter to the Editor policy, visit www.the-courier.org. Delivery For delivery inquiries call 763-753-7031 Policies and Pricing Visit www.the-courier.org for policy and pricing information. Subscriptions The publication is delivered at no charge to all residents in Independent School District 15. The Courier can be mailed to any address for an annual (10 issues) subscription rate of $18. The Courier is a monthly publication distributed by Independent School District 15 Community Education and paid for with revenues generated by advertising.

High school students attend WE Day Carline Sargent

ISD 15 Multicultural/ Diversity Liaison

Forty-two St. Francis High School students attended WE Day at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul November 3. WE Day is a movement to empower youth to be leaders of social change in their local communities and around the world. WE Day is a powerful, life-changing event that combines the energy of a live concert with the inspiration of extraordinary stories of leadership and change. Youth who have made contributions to social change are acknowledged and celebrated. All youth are challenged to identify the issues that spark their passion and create the change they want to see. Some of the world-renowned speakers and award winning performers at this year’s event included Ciara (performed Lose Control and 1, 2 Step), Nico & Vinz (performed Am I Wrong), Natalie La Rose, Kenya Boys Choir, Mae Jemison (first African American woman to travel in space), Henry

Photo by ISD 15 Superintendent Troy Ferguson

Winkler, Chelsea Clinton, Rowan Blanchard (actress, Girl Meets World) and Darren Criss (actor, plays Blaine Anderson on the television series Glee). The 2015-16 tour schedule for WE Day includes fourteen cities in the United States and Canada.

ISD 15 American Indian Education Program presents a

CELEBRATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE Saturday, December 12 • 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

St. Francis Elementary School, 22919 St. Francis Blvd. NW, St. Francis Potluck Feast Activities For more information, contact Dakota Ojibwe Star Lab Carline Sargent at 763-213-1575, Native American art demonstrations email Carline.Sargent@isd15.org Make-and-take art activities or visit www.isd15.org/aie. Lacrosse presentation

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The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Community input on strategic plan essential Nancy Wallace

ISD 15 Strategic planning implementation team leader, community education coordinator

Work continues on three result statements associated with the Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) strategic plan during the 2015-16 school year. The three being addressed are: every ISD 15 employee understand the strategic plan; ISD 15 has a recognizable and consistent brand; ISD 15 uses established protocols to support transparent communication to foster trust among all ISD 15 stakeholders. Community members representing a broad spectrum of interests are encouraged to be part of these efforts. If interested in serving on a committee focusing on one of the results statements, send an email to: strategicplan@isd15.org and indicate your preference. The goal is that by next spring there will be accomplished or significant progress made toward achieving these three results which are part of the strategies identified for achieving the ISD 15 mission and mission outcomes. The full implementation of the strategic plan doesn’t end with the accomplishment of these three statements. Full implementation is designed to take about five years. The core planning team for the strategic plan, Superintendent Troy Ferguson and the School Board will provide direction to the implementation team on at least an annual basis on the focus each year to make more progress towards full implementation. Other parts of the strategies and

mission outcomes have been targeted to work on during the next few years. Reading through the list, it is easy to recognize that many aspects are already in place in some parts of the school system. The core planning team believes strongly that by focusing on these in a concerted way, the mission of equipping all students with the knowledge and skills to empower them to achieve their dreams and full potential while becoming responsible citizens in a dynamic world will become reality. At the present time, this is the remainder of the results statements that will be addressed by 2020: } ISD 15 employees understand their role, purpose and value in achieving the mission and mission outcomes. } ISD 15 employees conduct themselves in a manner that promotes the strategic plan. } ISD 15 utilizes a system that engages all stakeholders through collaborative activities that support the mission. } Communication platforms increase open dialogue and facilitate engagement with all ISD 15 stakeholders to support the mission. } ISD 15 utilizes diverse perspectives to develop team processes to make decisions relative to the mission } A framework is adopted by ISD 15 to support continuous improvement toward aligning all programs and services with the mission } Collaborative practices are utilized to provide personalized educational experiences in order to support the mission and mission outcomes. } ISD 15 has a culture of recognition that celebrates all accomplishments related to the mission.

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In addition, two mission outcomes will be in place by 2020. The mission outcomes state that all students will: } Develop a personalized educational path they can articulate and use to progress toward their evolving dreams. } Identify and choose positive ways they can take active ownership in their community while recognizing its diversity. By accomplishing the results statements associated with the strategic plan strategies and mission outcomes,

students, staff and the community will transform ISD 15 so that it will continue to thrive in today’s changing world. The purpose of a transformation process by way of a strategic plan is to design, implement and sustain the commitment to achieve the purpose it values most highly. That purpose is reflected in ISD 15’s mission statement, “…to equip all students with the knowledge and skills to empower them to achieve their dreams and full potential while becoming responsible citizens in a dynamic world.” Mary Dresch Agency

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Senior Day preps students for their future Steve Fetzik

SFHS Community Relations Coordinator

Seniors at St. Francis High School (SFHS) began their first steps to the next phase in their lives October 27 during Senior Day. The program, organized by the school’s Career and Guidance Department, allowed seniors to check their transcripts, meet with counselors and even apply to colleges of their choice. “Senior Day was developed to meet with each senior and give them a few options to get started on their future planning,” commented Jayme Helle, a counselor at the high school. According to Helle,

“Students start in the school’s Media Center and, depending on their goals, they can start applying to colleges in the computer lab, meet with military reps, begin career and college research and develop a resume.” Many of the state’s colleges, including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, offered free applications as part of the day. This allowed students to submit applications and have the usual fee waived by the system. The University of Minnesota also allowed students to complete an application that can be shared with all of its colleges. “It’s a fun day,” noted Dawn Abraham, Career Center

coordinator at SFHS. “The students can find all sorts of information that will help them make decisions for their careers, education and beyond.” Senior Kalley Wagner thought the day helped her. “It helped me figure out what I need to do for going to college,” Wagner said. Cooper Peterson, another senior, also thought the day was beneficial. “It was a lot of in-depth help in what you need to do for college and after high school,” he said. “The more we can help students prepare for the future, the better,” Helle said.

High school counselor Samantha Schmidt (right) helps a student review her transcript as part of Senior Day on October 27. Submitted Photo

Lamb brings local roots to classroom

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What Baby Boomers Need to Know to Maximize Retirement Income Social Security is far more complicated than most people realize. The decisions baby boomers make now can have a tremendous impact on the total amount of benefits they stand to receive over their lifetime. To help baby boomers better understand the Social Security system, this workshop will cover: • 5 factors to consider when deciding when to apply for benefits • When it makes sense to delay benefits—and when it does not • Why you should always check your earning record for accuracy • How to estimate your benefits • How to coordinate benefits with your spouse • How to potentially minimize taxes on Social Security benefits • How to coordinate Social Security with your other sources of retirement income

• Will Social Security be enough to live on in retirement? • How to potentially maximize your benefits • When to apply for Social Security

Driver’s

Education

at St. Francis High School

Dates: Thursday, December 10 Thursday, January 14 Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m. This workshop will be presented by Lyle Clem and Cody Clem, North Metro Money Management, 23624 St. Francis Blvd. NW, Suite 8, St. Francis, MN 55070; 763-434-9724. Securities offered through Parkland Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. North Metro Money Management is independent of Parkland Securities, LLC. To sign-up for one of the sessions contact ISD 15 Adult Community Education at 763-213-1640 or visit www.communityed15.com.

North Metro Money Management 8

First-year teacher Elizabeth Lamb (front) listens to students doing a presentation in her language arts classroom. Submitted Photo

Classroom Education

Registration for classroom driver’s education is being accepted for the 2015-16 school year. If you are 15 years of age or approaching 15, you may register to participate in a 30-hour classroom driver’s education course offered during the school day. Fee $110.

Behind-the-Wheel Driving Instruction Six hours of required behind-the-wheel instruction Flexible scheduling State of Minnesota certified instructors Fee $250

Applications available at www.communityed15.com or call 763-213-1640 for more information. Sponsored by ISD 15 Community Education

One of the keys to successful teaching is knowing a little bit about the students and the community. For St. Francis High School language arts teacher Elizabeth Lamb, that shouldn’t be a problem. “I grew up in the small town of Isanti, graduated from Cambridge-Isanti High School and went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls,” Lamb said. Being from the area has helped the first-year teacher make quick connections with her students and their parents. “I’m a very small town person, so my students know that I’m grounded in the same values as them. I have similar hobbies as a lot of my students because I grew up in the country. I enjoy hunting, fishing and football.” Lamb is also able to connect with students through her varied interests. “I love reading, playing the piano and organizing things. I am also trying out new recipes in the kitchen, many of which work out deliciously,” Lamb said. The energy displayed by her students is mirrored by her own enthusiasm and love of teaching. “I’ve always wanted to teach since my days in kindergarten and my passion for the job has only continued to grow.”

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Young scientists at Cedar Creek Community School build catapults

Unity Day at East Bethel Community School Haellie Opp

4th Grade Student at EBCS

Some people bully others. We at East Bethel Community School (EBCS) all try to unite

Shirley Meyers

CCCS 5th grade teacher

and stop bullying! During the month of October we focused on bullying. EBCS believes our school can unite as one to prevent bullying. Ways to stop bullying are: be a friend, stand

up for each other, be kind to the bullies, don’t use your fist—use your words and by being a “bucket filler.” If the bully is really hurting you, tell a trusted adult.

Young scientists in Shirley Meyers’ 5th grade class at Cedar Creek Community School were invited to participate in a catapult-building contest as a grand finale to their study of simple machines. The goal was to build a catapult that would fling a marshmallow the greatest distance. Many students chose to take on the challenge with assistance from parents. Joe Jacobson (pictured standing, center) built the catapult that flung both a miniature and regular-sized marshmallow the greatest distance. This contest was a fantastic way to end a wonderful unit of learning.

Students in Nancy Zak’s grade 4 class at East Bethel Community School wore orange to show support against bullying on Unity Day. Submitted Photo

Submitted Photo

Students energized through theatre exposure Eighth grade student Cassie Norton with National Theatre for Children actors using their home energy saving kit box at a recent presentation at St. Francis Middle School.

Elizabeth Muhr

SFMS FACS teacher

The National Theatre for Children (NTC) visited St. Francis Middle School on November 6. Eighth grade students attended a presentation in the gym. The NTC offers free skits to schools on a variety of topics. A particular fun duo from NTC presented three skits on energy conservation. The format included a skit on how energy is made, where in our homes energy is used and how everyone can help in reducing energy usage. SFMS student Trevor Patterson said, “Those guys were awesome.” The theater troupe did a great job of incorporating audience participation. Students were surveyed for fun ideas of movies, famous people and more. The actors then worked some of the students’ answers into the skits. Two students also got to help in performing the skits. The National Theatre for Children did a great job of creating a fun presentation that also teaches students valuable life lessons. SFMS hopes they will return to the school in the future.

Submitted Photo

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The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

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East Bethel Community School students participate in national anti-bullying day

National Bullying Prevention Month participation

SFHS Counselors’ Corner

Sandra Benson

CCCS Community Relations Coordinator

Katherine Arnold

EBCS Dean of Students

The nationwide Day to Unite Against Bullying was held on October 21. Six lucky East Bethel Community School (EBCS) students had an opportunity to participate in a police car ride and a pizza party at the St. Francis Police Department. Hundreds of students participated in the anti-bullying coloring contest which ended with a grade level drawing for a prize package. Students had a great time. This was one of the many activities that EBCS participated in during the month of October, which is anti-bullying month. Thank you to the St. Francis Police Department for supporting the students’ pledge to put an end to bullying.

Cedar Creek Community School (CCCS) joined the movement again this year! The end of bullying begins with me. That’s the message during PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month in October. It was a time when CCCS united for awareness of bullying prevention through wearing orange, a Kindness retreat, making an orange chain and coloring contest. Resources from PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center make it easy to take action. The day was filled with educational activities to help us learn and prevent bullying.

Middle school fall party Coral-Lyn Wyman

SFMS Dance Party Coordinator

The Fall Fun Dance Party at St. Francis Middle School (SFMS) was held October 30. Six hundred and fifty students attended the dance where they got to enjoy dodgeball, bingo, a 40 foot inflatable obstacle course, professional face painters, food and drinks, a costume contest, prizes and a dance. Coral-Lyn Wyman, dance party coordinator, explained, “Our parties provide great experiences for SFMS students to connect with their school and spend an afternoon hanging out with their friends, participating in fun and exciting, ageappropriate activities.” The next dance will be Friday, December 11, 2:20-5:00 p.m. Cost is $5 for admission. Students can bring money to purchase food and light-up souvenirs. They can expect another exciting afternoon of friends, food and fun!

Submitted Photo

Anti-bullying awareness party with St. Francis Police Department Jessica Marsolek

CCCS Social Worker

Six students from Cedar Creek Community School were chosen to attend the Anti-Bullying Awareness party hosted by the St. Francis Police Department. Students received a ride with police officers, a tour of the police station and a pizza party for dinner. They participated in a Ricochet coloring sheet activity and were selected to represent their grade. The students chosen were: kindergarten, Sierra Carlson, grade one, Conner Swenson, grade two, Gavin Scharber, grade three, Brianna Lemke, grade four, Paige Shampine and grade five, Niqolis Pickar.

Submitted Photo

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COLLEGE PREPARATION

Tammy Sworsky

SFHS Counselor

Let’s talk study habits Having effective study skills is not only essential to achieving good grades in high school, but is also extremely important to success in any post secondary education students plan to complete. High school is the time to learn what works and to refine study habits in order to be prepared for college level course work. The following are some tips for students that can be applied toward good study habits. Time management Prepare a weekly schedule Set realistic goals Be aware of your best time of day Prepare in advance Avoid procrastination Textbook reading Ready yourself for learning by shortening the intervals to only 30 minutes or 20 pages per sitting Re-read sections that you are not fully understanding Surveying your textbookdetermine how many chapters the book has, average length of chapters and what is in the summaries Take notes! Test taking Before the test: get rest. Do not cram, review all notes and skim the chapter summaries beforehand During the test: relax, read all directions, glance at the entire test to get a feel for the format, be mindful of the time and read questions more than once Study skills Find the right setting, a place with limited distractions Study in a healthy way Strengthen your study skills Use your resources

Classes will not be in session for students in Independent School District 15 December 24 through January 1 and January 18.

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

School Board Highlights School Board Perspective Barbara Jahnke

A change of mind The New Year is at hand, along with her companion, Review of the Year Past. As a school board member, I have been looking for a method to evaluate my performance. Did I make a contribution? Did I impede our ability to move forward and do the much

needed work? I’m proposing a unique way to evaluate the past year and set goals for the year to come, which was inspired by a three-year-old. My granddaughter, age 3, was video taped on the morning of her third birthday. “I don’t want to be three,” she announced, with clenched fists, waving arms, stomping feet and a nasty look on her face. Apparently Hazel was hungry and only wanted breakfast, not birthday festivities. A couple of weeks later she happily told me that she is now three years old. I said, “I thought you didn’t want to be three.” She answered, “I changed my mind.” A change of mind is not just the prerogative of three year olds. Although it is often viewed as weak, disloyal or

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

distrustful, the process of changing could be invaluable to us. I have observed so many people painfully stuck in a particular point of view, while unwilling to do the work of becoming unstuck and moving forward. Some of our politicians in congress are prime examples. A quote from Winston Churchill reveals his perspective on this subject, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” I challenge us to consider how many changes of mind we have had in the past year and how we will engage in a process that would make it more possible. Have you ever thought of a change of mind as a process, which can be valuable, even if your mind has not changed? Here are some questions we can ask

ourselves to know whether we are ready to do the work it takes to get things started. Let us be warned that this is going to be more difficult for us than it was for a three year old. This process is hard work. Have facts or information been gathered? We need facts and information from opposing points of view and diverse perspectives, such as political, religious or racial. Has time been allowed to consider and weigh the information? Quality time is essential. This is uninterrupted time for the information to sink in, which must be scheduled and protected. Do we possess the courage to engage in something which

may bring criticism our way? We may create enemies and lose friends. But, we may make new friends, at a deeper level. In closing, another quote from Churchill, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

School Board Members Marsha Van Denburgh, Chairwoman 763-753-6653 Suzanne Erkel, Vice Chairwoman 763-413-1195 Barbara Jahnke, Clerk 763-753-6846 Amy Kelly, Treasurer 763-744-8458 Janet Hunt, Director 763-221-5341 David Roberts, Director 763-843-0013 Scott Schwarz, Director 763-898-6985 Email: schoolboard@isd15.org

School Board Highlights

October 26, 2015

Heidi Anderson

Staff writer

All members present Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 Superintendent Connie Hayes addressed the School Board regarding the programs and services that are offered to member school districts. Northeast Metro 916 currently has twelve member districts throughout the northeast metro and offers various specialty services that might be too expensive for school districts to operate on their own. Hayes explained that the district specializes in services for special education, in which Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) has expressed interest. Northeast Metro 916 has facilities in Blaine and White Bear Lake that offer more individualized learning plans from highly trained staff for students whose needs are more complex. Hayes also said that the district offers administrative services to its member districts, such as collaboration projects with other members, a grant for a district-wide survey and legal resources. ISD 15 has paid tuition and access fees for referring students to District 916 facilities, but if ISD 15 were to join, Hayes said the district would pay about an additional $102,000 per year in membership fees. Hayes encouraged the School Board to consider how the added services ISD 15 would receive as a member district would pay off for the extra cost. ISD 15 taxpayers would incur a levy if the district were to

School Board Meeting Schedule School board meetings are held at the Community Room in the Central Services Center located at 4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW, St. Francis. Monday, December 14 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 11 & 25 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 8 & 22 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. Live streaming and video archives of school board meetings are available at www.isd15.org/sbvideo 12

join Northeast Metro 916. Hayes said that based on their projections, the levy tax impact for an ISD 15 home owner would be about $5 on a $150,000 home in year one. That grows to about $14 by year four. SFES Site Report St. Francis Elementary School (SFES) Principal Ryan Johnson provided an update on activities at SFES this year. A kindness and chalk event was held during October for anti-bullying month. Students wrote positive messages on the sidewalk near the entrance of the building. Improvements on security were made over the summer with the installation of security cameras inside and outside the school. Johnson said this has helped combat damage to the playground. Johnson announced that SFES was named a Reward School for a fourth straight year. Reward School status is given to schools that are in the top 15 percent of Title I schools based on Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments testing data. Superintendent’s Report ISD 15 Superintendent Troy Ferguson reported to the School Board that establishing common times for professional collaboration and development at the elementary level has been difficult. Ferguson said the minutes for development this year will likely be decreased, but in order to make time for Professional Learning Communities in the future, there are discussions about possibly adjusting start times. However, this solution hinges on logistics such as transportation. School Board Chairwoman Marsha Van Denburgh and Ferguson met with Gary Lee from Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA). Lee talked about member services and encouraged board members to contact MSBA as needed. He also advised the district to provide electronic devices such as Chromebooks, laptops or iPads for board members to use during their term. Estimated cost for a single device: $300 for Chromebooks, $400 for laptops and $600 for iPads. Ferguson reported that on October 19, groups were able to accomplish tentative agreements on language for teacher negotiations. They will meet again on November 12. The Saints Area Learning Program continues to move forward with looking for physical space modifications

and staffing needs. Ferguson said we are on track to meet application deadlines. Ferguson also announced that he will facilitate the American Indian Education parent committee. According to Ferguson, Jay Powell, Principal at Crossroads School & Vocational Center is proposing a hybrid educational assistant job description for a few positions. This will allow educational assistants to work in both Transition 15 and Crossroads. Ferguson also discussed a change in process regarding how administration will respond to emails sent to school.board@isd15.org. The sender will receive an email from Kim Springer, administrative assistant to the superintendent, confirming their email was received and they can expect a response soon, after which the email would be forwarded to the proper department or school board member for a more detailed response. Members of the community can send questions or comments to school.board@isd15.org or they can contact a specific school board member directly at their own ISD 15 email address. School board meeting agendas, packets and minutes will soon be available on ISD 15’s website via BoardBook. According to its website, “BoardBook is an online service that streamlines the board agenda and packet preparation process.”

School Board Highlights

November 9, 2015 Heidi Anderson

Staff writer

All members present Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 The Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) School Board voted 6-1 in favor of becoming a member district with Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916. ISD 15 will join twelve other school districts in the area that are a part of Northeast Metro 916. By becoming a member district, a very low number of ISD 15 students with highly complex needs will be guaranteed a spot at one of Northeast Metro 916 special education facilities. ISD 15 taxpayers will incur a tax levy as a result of the district becoming a member. As estimated by Northeast Metro 916 Superintendent Connie Hayes at her

presentation to the ISD 15 School Board on October 26, the impact for an ISD 15 homeowner would be around $5 on a home valued at $150,000 in year one, with it growing to about $14 in the fourth year. Professional Learning Communities Superintendent Troy Ferguson addressed the issue of finding time for Professional Learning Communities (PLC) to meet at the elementary level. Ferguson said the original plan for this school year was to contract the number of substitute teachers from our district’s sub pool. After that proved not possible, three temporary agencies were contacted but none could guarantee subs so the request was denied. Since $30,000 was already secured for the substitutes, those funds will be used to pay for the elementary staff to meet for their PLC time outside of a normal school day. PLC teams will determine with the principal of their school when they will get together to collaborate. Ferguson said he imagined that PLC teams would meet for about three hours at a time, but that will be up to them to decide. Ferguson said this solution would be for this school year only. Director of Special Services Tim Finn and Director of Curriculum & Instruction Nichole Rens presented the School Board with three possible solutions to schedule PLC time at the elementary level beyond this year. The ideas included: use spare hours from already allotted conferences and open house time, each month have either a late start or early release for elementary students or reduce the number of student contact

days from 172 to 171. Ferguson also re-addressed the possibility of pushing back the start time for St. Francis High School, but again said that this change would depend on feedback from stakeholders and whether or not it would work with transportation. SFMS World Domination St. Francis Middle School (SFMS) teachers Deb Parson and Joe Fredrickson updated the School Board on how World Domination projects are going this school year. Through World Domination projects, students think about a research question that interests them and then develop a presentation about their findings. Fredrickson said that World Domination projects help students develop new skills. Sixth grade student Lindsey Salmela presented her project on table hockey and demonstrated her findings using a table hockey board she built herself. Superintendent’s Report Ferguson said that Susan Hintz of TSL Education would be meeting with the Core Planning team on Friday, April 29, 2016. Activity bus routes from St. Francis Middle School begin on November 16 after school. Ferguson said that the buses would also stop at SFHS to pick up students from that location, too. Activity routes will run Monday through Thursday each week. Other School Board Decisions The School Board unanimously approved Policy 607 for the Transportation of Public School students and an employment agreement for laundry, grounds, custodians and maintenance workers.

Lindsey Salmela, a grade six student at St. Francis Middle School (SFMS), presented her World Domination project on table hockey to the Independent School District 15 School Board on November 9. SFMS teachers Deb Parson and Joe Fredrickson presented to the Board about the World Domination projects and how they are helping students build important skills through researching a question and presenting their findings.

The Courier Photo

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Community & Business

Training students to save lives Jessie Rowles

SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

Training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) was given to seventh grade St. Francis Middle School students October 28 as part of Anita Koep’s health classes. Troy Lachinski, East Bethel Fire Department and Heart Safe East Bethel, came with several other officers to train small groups of students using hands-on equipment. Effective treatment of sudden cardiac arrest requires immediate response from bystanders who recognize the emergency, call 911, start CPR and use the nearset AED. Sudden cardiac arrest survivor Tim Hoffman, Ramsey, shared his story. He collapsed at work and was saved by a co-worker who began CPR until help arrived. “The kids were very excited about learning a life skill they can use and thankful that these volunteers took the time to come and work with us,” Koep said. A Minnesota law that went into effect in 2014 requires all school districts to provide training of CPR and AEDs as part of the curriculum. Students from grades 7-12 receive hands-on training at least once before they graduate. Staff members at the middle school were also trained on CPR and AED use.

East Bethel Fire Department provided hands-on training to St. Francis Middle School seventh grade students on compression only cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use automated external defibrillators (AED). A Minnesota law that went into effect in 2014 requires all school districts to provide training of CPR and AEDs instruction as part of the curriculum. Submitted photo

East Bethel Fire Auxiliary emergency kits fundraiser Submitted by Danielle Uden

East Bethel Fire Auxiliary

The East Bethel Fire Auxiliary will be hosting its first ever Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast Saturday, January 30, 8:00-11:00 a.m. The all-you-can-eat breakfast will be held at East Bethel Fire Station #1, 2751 Viking Boulevard in East Bethel. Proceeds go toward emergency displacement kits for families that lose possessions due to a fire. The cost is $7 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12 years; carry-out plates available. Thank you for your support. We hope to make this an annual event, so mark your calendar today. Email EBFDAuxiliary@yahoo.com if you have questions.

St. Francis United Methodist Church proudly presents…

Remembering The King Saturday, December 12

r e n n i D l a u n An Friday, January

Refreshments served during intermission.

Remembering The King

erce

of Comm er b m a h C a re A s ci n St. Fra

Christmas Cookie sale will be held before show and during intermission.

featuring Tommy and Steve Marcio. Visit www.aelvisexperience.com for more information.

Celebrate the season with a Christmas and Gospel Show! Showtime is 2:00-4:00 p.m.

29, 2016

.m • Dinner 7:00 p . .m p 0 :0 6 r u o Social H lf Club The Refuge Go Oak Grove zes and fun! ri p s, e ffl ra , o g Bin

on to follow. Formal invitati erce amber of Comm h C a re A s ci n a lic. Open to St. Fr the general pub d n a ts es u g s, member ake a

ld like to m n or if you wou o ti a rm fo in re contact the For mo d prizes please n a es ffl ra r t fo donation of Commerce a er b m a h C a . re A St. Francis ll 763-438-5163 ca r o rg .o er b m cischa chamber@stfan amber.org ww.stfrancisch w t si vi fo in ed For detail

At St. Francis United Methodist Church 3914 229th Ave NW • St. Francis General admission $15 • Limited preferred seating $20 For tickets and info call the church at 763-753-2273. The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

55 Alive Class The Oak Grove Senior Citizen Club is offering a 4-hour refresher 55 Alive class to be held at the Senior Center, 19900 Nightingale Street NW in Oak Grove on Saturday, January 9, 2016, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Cost for the class is $15 for AARP members; $20 for non-members. Contact Betty Bearl at 763-753-2973 to sign up.

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History Day Hullabaloo at Anoka County Library Patrick Jones

Anoka County Library

Anoka County Library is hosting a History Day Hullabaloo at its Mississippi Library location Wednesday, December 9, 4:00-8:00 p.m. Students competing in National History Day can drop by the History Day Hullabaloo and receive personalized help narrowing and developing paper topics and identifying resources and library materials. Even though students can visit their Anoka County Library in person or online anytime for help with History Day projects, the Hullabaloo will have Minnesota History Day staff and college mentors on hand to assist students, along with librarians. History Day Hullabaloo is the “go to place” for students preparing for History Day. “This type of program demonstrates Anoka County Library’s mission in action,” said Anoka County Library Board President, Dan Greensweig. “Students are gathering information, developing ideas for their research and getting inspired about using the library.” National History Day began on the campus of Case Western Reserve University in April 1974. Forty years later, students from every state take part in this event. History Day teaches students to conduct in-depth research, use primary and secondary sources, read a variety of texts, analyze and synthesize information and write and present historical content. “This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in history to take advantage of these experts in action,” said Anoka County Commissioner Jim Kordiak. “What a great way to get kids excited about history!” History Day Hullabaloos are coordinated by the Minnesota Historical Society and sponsored by MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency). MELSA is an alliance of over 100 public libraries in the seven-county Twin Cities metro. History Day programs are funded with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The Mississippi Library is located at 410 Mississippi Street NE in Fridley, 763-571-1934. For more information, please visit your local Anoka County Library or the library website at anokacountylibrary.org.

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Contact us today! 763-856-3936 www.ClaytonsRepair.com Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call anytime day or night for emergency service and after hour appointments. Major Appliance Repair • Service • Installation

Eagle Garage Door Co. New Construction • Remodel Commercial • Residential Service

Results

Residential & Commercial

St. Francis Residential Commercial • Industrial Springs Fixed right Cables the first time! Get ready for Openers colder weather. Doors

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Lynn Karasch, MBA, CPA

Specializing in Individual & Small Business Returns By appointment Phone 763-413-3090 Fax 763-434-4739 www.ldkaccounting.com

Open year round for all of your accounting needs. • Accounting & Bookkeeping Services • Consulting • Payroll Services • Business Startup Services

Ta x P r e pa r at i o n

Home Mortgage Financing I am here to help you with any purchase or refinance needs. It’s still a great time to take advantage of low interest rates: - Pay off your home sooner - Reduce monthly payment - Cash out for projects or debt consolidation - Remove mortgage insurance - Pay off a second mortgage/home equity line

Call now for your FREE mortgage review, 763-301-0530, email eric.schmoll@amecinc.org or Eric Schmoll website https://ericschmoll.amecmortgage.com NMLS 803271 The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Preparing for winter and possible school closings Troy Ferguson

ISD 15 Superintendent

What a difference a year makes. Last year, November 10, 2014, to be exact, Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) had its first school cancellation due to inclement weather. This year we have been fortunate to have seasonably warm weather which prevented our November rain from becoming a major snow storm. Nevertheless, it is time for all of us to once again be aware of the impending weather changes that are most likely around the corner. I want to take a moment and remind our students, parents, staff and residents about the process that occurs when determining school closings or delays. ISD 15’s number one priority is to ensure the safety of our students and staff while working to maintain the integrity of the school day. Whenever inclement weather threatens to affect school, district administration continually monitors the weather to determine its probable affect on travel and safety. ISD 15 relies on information from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association as well as local forecasts to determine the level of concern and probability of weather affecting our regular school schedule.

We understand our students, parents and staff are eager to know whether school will be cancelled or delayed as soon as possible. Most, if not all, would like to know the night before. And while we do make every effort to notify all stakeholders of a change with ample time to plan, the reality is quickly changing and possibly dangerous weather conditions do not always allow us to do that. More often than not, especially it seems when dealing with blowing and drifting snow, we are only able to make the decision in the early morning after driving ISD 15 roads, typically between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. We monitor forecasts and talk with our colleagues in neighboring school districts to learn what conditions are like for them. When all that information is gathered and recommendations are made, I make the decision whether to cancel school, delay the start of the day or stay with the normal schedule. When a decision is made to alter the schedule, a notification call is made as close to 5:00 a.m. as possible. Though there certainly is no perfect time for everyone to be notified, we have found 5:00 a.m. to be the time that accommodates the needs of most of our stakeholders. In addition to the notification call, we notify WCCO

(4), KSTP (5), KARE (11) and FOX (9) news stations and post the information on our website www.isd15.org and Facebook page ISD 15, St. Francis, Minnesota. If school is cancelled, it is important to remember all ISD 15 activities are cancelled including before and after school activities, Kids Connection and Community Education classes. If there is a two-hour delay, we cancel morning preschool and bus routes start two hours later. The weather could conceivably delay actual pick-up times by more than two hours. Elementary, middle and high schools, plus Kids Connection are delayed two hours from their regularly scheduled start times. A reminder to all parents, the decision to send your child to school is ultimately yours. If we hold school and you are uncomfortable sending your child to school due to weather conditions, please notify your child’s school and verify their absence. That absence will then be excused. There can be many challenges with our weather this time of year. ISD 15 remains committed to ensuring safety for all and communicating any changes with stakeholders in a timely manner.

Donate toys at Anoka County License and Passport Centers Martha Weaver

Anoka County Public Information

The Anoka County License and Passport Centers are conducting a toy collection to kick off the holiday season. Toy donations can be dropped off at the following county license and passport centers: Ham Lake License Center 17565 Central Avenue NE, Suite 330 Coon Rapids License Center 455 99th Avenue NW, Suite 100 Coon Rapids Passport Center 455 99th Avenue NW, Suite 100B Ramsey License Center 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Suite A Blaine License Center 10995 Club West Parkway, Suite 700A Blaine Passport Center 10995 Club West Parkway, Suite 700B Columbia Heights License Center 3982 Central Avenue NE Toy donations will be accepted through December 18 and will be distributed via the Toys for Tots network.

Retirement Investments College Planning

23847 Johnson Street NE, Suite# 2 East Bethel, MN 55005

763-753-6614 www.highlandmoneymgmt.com

Life Insurance

David Johnson Serving the local community since 1999.

Highland Money Management is independent of Parkland Securities, LLC & SPC. Investment advisory services offered through Sigma Planning Corporation, a registered investment advisor. Securities offered through Parkland Securities, LLC. Member FINRA & SIPC.

Thank you St. Francis!

We do New Construction, Remodels & Replacements!

Heating & Cooling Solutions proudly accepts:

“Meeting Your Comfort Needs” Contact us today at 763-434-8893 www.heatcoolsolut.com

18 Months Deferred interest financing available!

Bryant Factory Rebates

1 300

$ , up to

Utility Rebates

For minor health conditions, you can turn to Fairview Express Care in the Coborn’s Superstore in Elk River or get care online 24/7 at fairview.org/zipnosis.

805

$ up to

Fairview Clinics is grateful for the trust you’ve put in us for the last 5 years as your community health care partner. While our clinic in St. Francis is now closed, Fairview Clinics offers care in many nearby communities, including Andover, Elk River, North Branch and Rogers.

Find a clinic at fairview.org/clinic or call 855-FAIRVIEW

*On qualifying furnace, A/C & heat pump purchases.

100 Off

(Or A Free Media Filter) Furnace, Heat Pump or A/C Installation

Call Heating & Cooling Solutions for details at 763-434-8893 Offer valid on Bryant efficiency heat pumps, furnaces & AC install. Must be present at time of quote. Cannot be combined with any other offers or cash back rebates. Call for details.

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Veterans Day program inspirational Kathleen Miller

Staff Writer

In support of local veterans, the St. Francis Lions Club hosted the 5th annual Free Breakfast for Veterans November 11. The community was invited to the St. Francis American Legion Post #622 in St. Francis for a breakfast and program. Guest speaker Sergeant Dennis Berg, a 1963 graduate of St. Francis High School and former Anoka County Commissioner, served in the United States Army. Berg shared his personal story that began with a life-changing event in Viet Nam November 21, 1966. Emcee of the program was Major Mike Starr, Army Reserve National Guard retiree after 25 years of service. Starr presented the remembrance service to POWs and MIAs. The St. Francis High School Madrigal Singers and Wind Ensemble provided music for the program. Thank you to all veterans and families for your service!

Dennis Berg, pictured above left, was the guest speaker at the 5th Annual Veterans Breakfast November 11. Above, St. Francis High School student Hanley Pesta, recited the Soldier’s Creed. Members of SFHS Madrigal Singers are pictured in the background. The Singers, under the direction of Lucas Warren and the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Chad Armbruster, provided the music for the Photos by Mike Starr, veterans breakfast coordinator program.

St. Francis Auto Parts Local one stop auto parts store with over 100,000 in stock parts and nationwide parts locating.

SFES Community relations coordinator

NOW HIRING Sannerud, Savarese & Associates, p.a.

763-753-4698

Certified Public Accountants Specializing in accounting and taxes for closely-held and family-owned businesses since 1974. Tax Season Office Hours through April 15 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Wednesday and Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m.-Noon

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. • Saturday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

1207 Constance Blvd. NE • Ham Lake, MN 55304 www.sannerudsavarese.com

Paying $5000 for most junkers!

Bonus for cars ’04 or newer!

From all of us!

4140 St. Francis Blvd., just south of town on Hwy 47 Family Run Business — Open 6 Days A Week

Paid Training ISD 15 St. Francis 763-753-7101

763-434-5929

May your Holidays be Beautiful and Bright St. Francis Collision & Glass

St. Francis Elementary School students participated in a competition to see which grade could collect the most box tops. Joan Copa’s first grade class collected the most for October with 869! Emilia Wintz (pictured), brought in 600 box tops to help her class. The trophy travels around the school each month. Hannah pagel

Best wishes for the holidays and coming new year from

From the City of Oak Grove

Just Ask Paul Computer Repair Andover

Warmest Season’s Greetings from all of us at Valerie L. Temp Certified Public Accountant St. Francis Area

in St. Francis The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Nowthen Alliance PrimeTime Event Helen Peterson

Nowthen Alliance Church

Come and listen to Minnesota historian Doug Ohman as he shares stories, historical information and photographs of Minnesota’s involvement in the Civil War at the January PrimeTime event. The event is scheduled for Thursday, January 21, 2016, 1:00 p.m. at Nowthen Alliance Church (Door A handicap accessible). The church is located at 19653 Nowthen Boulevard NW in Nowthen, at the intersection of County Roads 22 and 5. Refreshments and fellowship following the program. The community is invited! For more information contact Church office 763-441-1600 or Helen 763-753-1267.

Local student studying in France Mike Killeen

East Bethel Royalty busy serving the community Kellie Hallstrom

EB Scholarship Program

East Bethel Royalty has been busy these past few months—volunteering in the community is a top priority! They cleaned up their adopted park, Norseland Manor Community Park, helped at the Manna Market, created a balloon finish line for the Hope & Hearts Run, volunteered at the East Bethel Fire Department Open House and helped at the Oak Grove Fire Department Pancake Breakfast. They have also participated in Anoka Halloween festivities, Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield, Pepperfest Celebration in North Hudson, Wisconsin and traveled to surrounding cities for other celebrations, spreading goodwill and cheer from the East Bethel community. Come and see us at East Bethel Senior Pancake Breakfasts and Lions/ Lioness holiday activities!

East Bethel Royalty keep busy volunteering in and around East Bethel. Pictured are Princess Tori, Queen Karley, Little Miss Maddie and Little Miss Elizabeth, helping at Manna Market. Submitted photo

College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University

Samuel Wellman, son of Jeff and Jill Wellman of Oak Grove, Minnesota, is studying in France during fall semester 2015 through the Center for Global Education at the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) in St. Joseph, Minnesota and Saint John’s University (SJU) in Collegeville, Minnesota. Wellman is a junior global business leadership major at SJU. The France program is located in the city of Cannes, on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea and provides access to many important artistic and historic sites. Students are housed and take classes at the Collège International de Cannes alongside international students. Students study the French language, history, culture and society, art history, theater, politics and business. In addition, they visit many of the important sites in the region and a program excursion takes them to Paris. Chuck Villette, assistant professor of languages and cultures at CSB and SJU, is the director of the program for fall 2015.

30 West Main Street Downtown Isanti 763-444-5767

Saturday, December 5

9:00-11:30 a.m. St. Francis American Legion Hall County Road 24 (Bridge Street) & County Road 9

Tickets sold at the door: $3.00 for age 10 and under; $4.00 adults Bring your camera to take pictures with Santa.

Fun, Food and Door Prizes

Proceeds for community projects. The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Monday-Saturday 10 am-7 pm Sunday 10 am-4 pm

Call in orders anytime for a QUICK & EASY pickup!

EBT Approved

Holiday Specials USDA Choice Seasoned or Unseasoned

Prime Rib Roast Call for pricing!

presented by the St. Francis Lioness/Lions Club

Open 7 days a week

Smoked Turkey �� $3.79/lb Fresh Turkey �� $1.99/lb PREMIUM SPECIALITY - 100% natural, certified range grown with no hormones or steroids, USDA Grade A individually inspected turkeys from Northern Minnesota. Smoked Ham �� $3.79/lb Limited supply, so call and reserve your order today.

We appreciate the yearround support of good friends like you and we wish you all the best at Christmas time and throughout the new year.

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We do wild game processing all year round. 17

Students pay tribute to local veterans

East Bethel Community School fourth grade students honored our veterans November 6. They learned about military veterans and their importance to everyday life. Students had a chance to invite a family member or friend who is a veteran to speak to the students. Eighteen veterans shared artifacts, currency from around the world, helmets and valuable experiences from their time in the service. All fourth grade students either interviewed or researched a veteran to prepare for this special day. Veterans, thank you for your service! Alexa Gustafson, EBCS 4th grade teacher

Project Bookshelf Mary Oliver

Anoka County Library

Share the magic of books with a child in need. Anoka County Library is accepting donations of books for children and teens as part of its annual Project Bookshelf.

“Reading opens a world of possibilities to young people,” says Library Board President, Dan Greensweig. “The gift of a book can inspire a child for a lifetime.” To participate, simply bring new, unwrapped books for children and teens to any Anoka County Library location through November. Books will

2 Off a Haircut

First grade students at St. Francis Elementary School were busy studying Veterans Day. Students learned how service men and women keep the United States safe. They also learned that because of veterans and current service members, they are free to do many things that children in other countries do not get to do. Students made thank you cards, which were sent to the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Minneapolis. Pictured (L-R) front: Isabell Pemberton, Isaac Fontaine; back: Addison Randall, Isaac Zurn, Sarah Bryan.

’Tis the season to share our thanks for your business and friendship.

5 Off a Perm

be distributed through Anoka County food shelves including ACBD, CEAP, Centennial Community Food Shelf and SACA. For more information, please visit your local Anoka County Library or call Mary Oliver at 763-434-6542 or visit anokacountylibrary.org.

763-753-4993

St. Francis • 3128 Bridge Street Serving this community since 1977

www.gerdinauto.com

Salon in East Bethel

18423 Highway 65 NE Call for an appointment 763-434-7575

Don’t forget your Holiday Gift Certificates!

Expires 12/31/15. One coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offer.

Embrace the Magic of Christmas!

Northland Screw Products, Inc. St. Francis

24 Hour Towing & Recovery 763-434-1686

We install Remote Start Systems

Season’s Greetings in Nowthen

Hannah pagel, SFES community relations coordinator

Wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons

City of East Bethel

Merry Christmas Isanti Physical Therapy North Branch Physical Therapy St. Francis Physical Therapy Andover Physical Therapy Ham Lake Physical Therapy Zimmerman Physical Therapy 18

The City of Nowthen At Christmas—please recycle!

A Life-Giving Church in Nowthen The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Get the scoop on recycling plastic bags Cindy DeRuyter

City of Andover Recycling Coordinator

Cedar Creek Community School grade 4 students in Kara Lofgren’s class are currently working on an engineering unit where they are learning about the water cycle, water pollution and water filtration system. They recently toured the St. Francis Water Treatment Plant, which is able to supply 4.3 million gallons of water per day, if needed, for the area. This field trip brings classroom lessons to life right here in our community. Kara Lofgren, grade 4 teacher, cccs

Bus drivers needed Independent School District 15 Transportation Department is in need of school bus drivers. Complete an online application at www.isd15.org/ employment. A valid Class B drivers license required; if applicant does not have Class B license, the Transportation Department will provide PAID training. A 6-hour day qualifies driver for full-time benefits. Call the ISD 15 Transportation Department at 763-753-7101 and ask for Dean. ISD 15 is an equal opportunity employer.

Maybe you have said, “I recycle everything.” Still, there is confusion about what is recyclable. One example is plastic bags. This is probably the most confusing item. Here are some guidelines to follow: Never put your recyclables in a plastic bag. This goes for your curbside recycling and at the Andover Recycling Center. If you need to bag your items, put them in a paper bag. When your recyclables go to the plant for recycling and they’re in a plastic bag, the bag may not be opened and all your recyclables will be thrown away. Plastic bags get caught in the machines during the sorting process. Black bags are not recyclable at all. Because of the color, they cannot be

Season’s Greetings–best wishes for 2016!

Heat Mizer Glass, Inc. HOME & BUSINESS

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AUTO Glass

Auto Glass Repaired & Replaced Boat • RV Tractor & Heavy Equipment Insurance Specialists

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2:00-4:00 p.m. Remembering

the King! Featuring Steve and Tommy Marcio

Tickets $25 per couple Doors $15 per single pen at o $20 each reserved seating 1:00 p.m. first two pews Intermission For more information, contact FREE delicious desserts, treats Mike Starr at 763-300-9110. and refreshments

St. Andrew Lutheran Church Highway 65 and 237th Avenue NE East Bethel – Cooper’s Corner

www.standreweb.org • 763-434-7146

Wreaths, Garland, Fresh Evergreen Patio & Memorial Planters

Stop in for unique holiday gifts

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Saturday, January 30

3745 Bridge Street • St. Francis, MN

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M I Z E R

and put it into the recycling. Acceptable bags have rigid handles taken off and no pull strings. If you have questions concerning plastic bags, please call your trash hauler or the Andover Recycling Program at 763-767-5114.

763-753-2721

Presents…

H E A T

recycled. You need to throw them away when you’re done using them. The Andover Recycling Center and many businesses (such as grocery and big box stores) accept clean, dry plastic bags for recycling. Simply put your bags into a bag, tie it once

Friday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 13 at 2:00 p.m.**

Fall Harvest

Beets • Potatoes Squash • Carrots Holiday Plants Onions • Rutabagas Wind Chimes Honey • Syrup Angels • Books Wild Rice Fairy Garden Accessories Jams • Jellies Western Gifts Popcorn Birding Supplies Bedding & Cover Straw Birdbaths Bird Seed & Feed Statuary and much more!

Green Barn Garden Center

& Farm Market

Northgate Performing Arts Center 7295 Sunwood Drive • Ramsey, MN Ticket Pricing Adult $10 • Students/Seniors $7 **Senior & Scout Day $5

www.northernstarz.org for more information

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

3 miles south of Isanti on Hwy. 65 & 265th Open daily through December 23 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily

763-444-5725 greenbarngardencenter.com

Gift Certificates Always Available! 19

Financial Focus

Blake Cheeley Edward Jones Financial Advisor

Gen X’ers must juggle a variety of financial issues If you’re part of “Generation X” — the age cohort born between the mid-1960s and the early 1980s — you’re probably in one of the busiest phases of your life, as you’re well into your working years and, at the same time, busy raising a family. But just as you’re “multi-tasking” in your life, you’ll also need to address multiple financial goals.

In seeking to accomplish your key objectives, you may be asking yourself a variety of questions, including the following: Should I contribute as much as possible to my IRA and 401(k)? In a word, yes. Your earnings on a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and a 401(k) grow on a tax-deferred basis, so your www.edwardjones.com

Merry Christmas

During this holiday season and every day of the year, we wish you all the best.

money can accumulate faster than it would if placed in an investment on which you paid taxes every year. Plus, since you typically make 401(k) contributions with pretax dollars, the more you contribute, the lower your taxable income. And your traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible, depending on your income. If you meet income guidelines, you can contribute to a Roth IRA, which provides tax-free earnings, provided you meet certain conditions. Should I put away money for my kids’ college education? It’s not easy to fund your retirement accounts plus save money for your children’s college education. Still, college is expensive, so if you feel strongly about helping to pay for the high costs of higher education, you may want to explore college funding vehicles, such as a 529 plan, which offers tax advantages.

Should I pay down my mortgage or invest those funds? Most of us dream of freeing ourselves from a mortgage someday. So, as your career advances and your income rises, you may wonder if you should make bigger mortgage payments. On one hand, there’s no denying the psychological benefits you’d receive from paying off your mortgage. However, you may want to consider putting any extra money into your investment portfolio to help as you work toward your retirement goals. Work with your financial advisor to determine what may be most appropriate for your portfolio. Do I have enough insurance in place to protect my family? You may hear that you need seven or eight times your annual income in life insurance, but there’s really no “right” figure for everyone. You may want to consult with a financial advisor to determine how much life insurance is appropriate for your needs.

Am I familiar with my parents’ financial situation and estate considerations? Now is the time to communicate with your parents about a variety of issues related to their financial situation and estate plans. The more you know, the better positioned you’ll be to provide assistance and support if and when it’s needed. Just to name one example, you should inquire of your parents if they’ve designated a durable power of attorney to make financial decisions for them in case they’re ever incapacitated. By answering these questions, you can get a handle on all the financial issues you face at your stage of life. It may seem challenging, but taking the time now can help you better position yourself to reach your financial goals. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

For all your winter automotive needs!

Blake A Cheeley, AAMS® Financial Advisor .

23306 Cree Street NW Suite 102 P O Box 215 St Francis, MN 55070 763-753-2988

Highway 47 and Stark Drive in St. Francis www.advancedautomotivecare.net

763-753-8282 MKT-1920A-A-AD

Member SIPC

The City of St. Francis

Wishes all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Round Lake

Dental

in Andover

Happy Holidays from the staff at

Oak Grove Animal Hospital 20

Courtesy shuttle provided to surrounding area.

Holiday Wishes

from all of us at

Larry D. Anderson, GRI Realtor®

Re/Max Results St. Francis

Temperature Specialists, Inc. in St. Francis

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

I Hate When That Happens

Randy Gerdin ASE certified technician

When enough is enough In the car fixing business, we normally can solve any issue. However, some folks can only stand so much. Either they are frustrated with how much their vehicle costs in repairs or they are tired of its numerous breakdowns. Many times we hear people say, “I wish I would have known that X, Y and Z were going to break down before I spent money on A, B and C.” We agree, as we also do not know the future breakdowns on a vehicle. There certainly are inspections that can be done to educate a driver as to what is visible and what may be an upcoming problem. However, there are numerous issues in a vehicle that are just plain unknown. There is no way one can tell when many items will fail. Items include: computers, modules, internal engine or transmission components,

starters, alternators and more. It usually is no big deal if one or two items fail, but when numerous items continue to have issues, it is very easy to get frustrated. Wanting to give up on your problematic car is certainly understandable. Sometimes we even advise people that although their vehicle can be repaired, they may be better off putting the money into something else. This actually happened last week. A vehicle came in for frontend noise and an oil leak. In the process of our inspections, we uncovered a couple major issues that would have cost thousands of dollars to repair on a vehicle that was not even worth a thousand dollars. In addition, the problems found could not be avoided, as they most likely would cause a breakdown on the road or serious safety concerns.

Breakfast with

After speaking with the owner, he agreed that we should not move forward with repairs. It is a shame because the vehicle’s exterior and interior are in very good condition, considering the year and amount of miles on the car. One question I ask, could you take the same amount of money to purchase a different car and have a vehicle as good or better than if you fixed your original vehicle? Even so, still it may be more cost effective to do the repair. Of course, I am referring to major repairs like an engine or transmission. As you consider the cost of a replacement vehicle, it is a no brainer as the cost of a newer used vehicle can be high due to

the additional cost of interest, increased insurance and the possibility of maintenance or repairs. A brand new vehicle also comes with increased costs. We find it disheartening when a person buys a new vehicle and a few short years down the road, they need some major repairs and are still making payments on the vehicle. Now, they find themselves upside down and barely affording the payment, let alone the cost of maintenance and repairs. The vehicles these days are indeed very good compared to even 10-15 years ago, but like anything, nothing lasts forever. Most folks shudder at the word budget. However that is really the best way to

Tasty Pizza

Two large, two topping $ pizzas ��

Expires 12/31/15. One coupon per order. Must buy two. Void with other offers. Eat-in, take-out or delivery. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

St. Francis Mall • Bridge Street in St. Francis

763-753-4988

Family Deal: any large two-topping pizza, an order of cheese bread and a liter of pop

Sun/Mon/Tues 2:00-9:00 p.m.; Wed & Thurs 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Fri & Sat 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

1999

Expires 12/31/15. One coupon per order. Void with other offers. Eat-in, take-out or delivery. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

699

½ Rack $ Rib Dinner ��

SANTA

Includes garlic toast and fries Expires 12/31/15. One coupon per order. Void with other offers. Eat-in, take-out or delivery. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

Saturday, December 5 • 8:00-11:30 a.m. Cedar Creek Community School

Cost: $2 for children (ages 3-12); No ns Children 2 and under free; $4 for adults io t a v r e res needed Pancakes, sausage, milk, juice, coffee Photographer will be available to take pictures with Santa for $1. The Girl Scouts will have a Santa Shop! For a minimal charge children can shop for parents and grandparents, etc. Children will be assisted with shopping. Sponsored by Cedar/East Bethel Lions and Lioness Donations of used eyeglasses and hearing aids and food items for the local foodshelf will be accepted. Your holiday spirit is appreciated.

manage any transportation needs. If one would set aside a certain amount of money each month, say $100, then as problems come up, you already have the funds to repair the vehicle. If the cost of repair is too much, then you have a healthy down payment on a different vehicle. I wish we had a crystal ball to tell us when our vehicles are going to breakdown, but unfortunately we don’t. My best advice is to have a conversation with your financial advisor and trusted vehicle service technician and make a wise and informed decision. I have seen folks go from one bad situation to another, based on emotions rather than facts. I hate when that happens.

5 Off

$ 00 28th Annual

Customer Appreciation Spaghetti Dinner

r7 Monday, Decembe ne 4:00 p.m. until go

Lunch Specials

any purchase of $25 or more

Expires 12/31/15. One coupon per order. Void with other offers. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

Lunch Buffet....... $599 Buy any Pasta, Come in for our Lunch Specials get the second $ 99 and get your lunch card punched. Pasta for �� All-You-Can-Eat Expires 12/31/15. One coupon per order. Must purchase two. Void with other offers. Eat-in, take-out Spaghetti............ $595 or delivery. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

Get Your Winter Toys Rates as low as 1.99% APR*

* Ice House Loans, Snowmobiles and ATVs - 1.99% APR (APR=Annual Percentage Rate) on both titled and non-titled recreational vehicles for a 24-month term. Interest rates subject to change at any time. Payment on a 24-month loan at 1.99% APR is $42.54 per $1,000.00 borrowed. Rate disclosed is for up to 100% financing on both new and used recreational vehicles for qualified borrowers. Rates and terms subject to qualification. Other rates and terms available. Other restrictions may apply.

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

763.422.0290 ♦ www.ahcu.coop 23280 St. Francis Boulevard NW

Submitted 12/15

Financed at

Anoka County compost sites close for the season November 30

An Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Research Study Volunteers, ages 12 and older, are needed for a research study of an investigational topical medication being conducted at the Minnesota Clinical Study Center located in Fridley. If you are 12 years of age or older and have been diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis (eczema) we have a study that involves 4 visits to our clinic.  Qualified participants will be seen by a board certified Dermatologist

Martha Weaver

Anoka County Public Information Manager

Bunker Hills site will reopen two weekends in January Anoka County’s two compost sites, located in Bunker Hills Regional Park and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park, will close for the season November 30 at 4:30 p.m. However, the Bunker Hills compost site, located one mile north of Main Street on Hanson Boulevard in Coon Rapids, will reopen for two weekends in January to receive Christmas trees and evergreen garland (not heavily bound with wire), as well as other types of yard and tree waste. Examples of acceptable yard and tree waste include leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, weeds, brush, logs and stumps.

Bunker Hills compost site special January 2016 hours Saturday, January 2 and 9, 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday, January 3 and 10, Noon-4:30 p.m. Residents are asked to remove all wire from evergreen boughs and garland before bringing them to the compost site. Christmas trees should be free of tinsel, ornaments, wire and stands. There is a $1.50 charge per Christmas tree. There is a fee of $5 per vehicle for debagged leaves, grass clippings and garden waste up to four cubic yards. An additional 50 cents per yard will be charged in excess of four cubic yards. There is a variable fee for tree waste disposal, depending on the size and amount of the material. Residents are asked to keep yard waste separate from tree waste. Note: Most garbage haulers offer Christmas tree collection as part of their service. Some municipalities collect and chip Christmas trees for mulch. Contact your hauler or municipality to obtain specific pickup information in your area. The Bunker Hills compost site will re-open April 1 and the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes compost site will re-open April 2, weather permitting. Both compost sites are closed Thanksgiving Day. The Bunker Hills site is open November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. Go to AnokaCounty.us/recycle or call 763-323-5730 for more information.

 Parental (or legal guardian) consent is required for all participants under the age of 18  Qualified participants will be compensated for their time and travel

Sponsored by the St. Francis Elementary School APT

A fun shopping opportunity for KIDS! Children are accompanied by Santa’s elves who will help them shop for moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas and siblings. Gifts range in price from 50¢ to $8, are all pre-wrapped and ready to give. There will be free refreshments, pictures with Santa and a kid’s craft project.

Minnesota Clinical Study Center

7205 University Avenue NE • Fridley, MN 55432

Steven Kempers, M.D.

For more information, please call 22

763-502-2941

Join us Saturday, December 5 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. St. Francis Elementary School

22919 St. Francis Boulevard NW St. Francis The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

famil

Friday, December 4 5:00-8:00 pm Saturday, December 5 1:00-8:00 pm No tours between 4:00-5:00 pm Sunday, December 6 1:00-4:00 pm

16345 Polk St. NE Ham Lake, MN 55304

For more information call: 763.220.0125 Donations to the NACE Food Pantry encouraged!

1 hour tours depart every 6 minutes - Plan to arrive 1 hour before closing

FREE Admission - Indoor Setting

Experience the true story of Christmas.

Funded in part by (Stongly recommended for LARGE GROUPS)

Journey to Bethlehem Coloring Contest

Contest is for children ages 0-12 years old as of December 1, 2015. Age categories: 0-4, 5-8, 9-12. Entries must be postmarked or delivered to the church by December 4, 2015. All entries must include the child’s name and age in the space provided. Please include a telephone number and/or email address on the back to be notified if your child has won a prize. First, second and third place winners will be chosen in each age category. Winners will be notified by December 20. Each winner will receive a gift basket. All entries become the property of Family of Christ and will not be returned. Your entry may be on display at the church or on the Internet. Last names will not be posted.

Bethlehem Bethlehem, in Arabic, means House of Meat and in Hebrew, it means House of Bread. It is a Palestinian city located in the central West Bank, about 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. The economy is primarily tourist-driven. The New Testament identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. The Hebrew Bible identifies it as the city was from and Child’s Name_________________________________________________________ Age____________ David where he was crowned as the king of Israel. Family of Christ Lutheran Church · 16345 Polk St. NE · Ham Lake, MN · 55304 · 763.434.7337 Source: www.wikipedia.com The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Community Education Have a concern about your child? Are you concerned about your child’s development, speech or behavior? If your child is under three years of age, contact 763753-7172 to reach Independent School District 15 Help Me Grow services. If your child is at least three years of age and not yet in

Adult Community Ed

RV Technical Repair

kindergarten, ISD 15 Early Childhood Screening is the first step in confirming any concerns you have. Call for an appointment at 763-753-7187.

Community Education Contacts Nancy Wallace, Community Education Coordinator.................. 763-753-7171 Adult Basic Education (GED)...................................................................... 763-753-7190 Melody Panek, Site Coordinator/Teacher Adult Education & Services......................................................................... 763-213-1640 Driver’s Education/Behind the Wheel Nancy Messerschmidt, Program Supervisor Communications/The Courier Kathleen Miller, Program Supervisor................................................. 763-753-7042 Pat Johnson, Graphics Coordinator................................................... 763-753-7025 Heidi Anderson, Communications Coordinator........................ 763-753-7033 Janice Audette, Advertising.................................................................... 763-753-7032 Amy Lindfors, Billing.................................................................................... 763-213-1588 Facility Scheduling Nancy Messerschmidt, Program Supervisor................................ 763-213-1589 Early Childhood Family Education & Services................................. 763-753-7170 Jennifer Dupre, Manager Kids Connection Christine Spindler-Schlottman, Program Supervisor.............. 763-213-1616 Lori Krause, Assistant Coordinator..................................................... 763-213-1641 Kids Connection Cedar Creek Community School Site............ 763-753-7160 Kids Connection St. Francis Elementary School Site.............. 763-213-8674 Preschool Place 15............................................................................................ 763-753-7170 Jenny Dupre, Manager Rec Department Diane Guinn, Program Supervisor...................................................... 763-213-1823 Amy Lindfors, Rec Assistant.................................................................... 763-213-1588 Youth Enrichment Christine Spindler-Schlottman, Program Supervisor.............. 763-213-1616 www.isd15.org • www.the-courier.org • www.communityed15.com

FITNESS for all! We offer plenty of ways for you to get in shape, so you’ll never be bored with working out. We have two treadmills, two elliptical trainers, two stationary bikes and a Nautilus four-station weight machine.

Relaxed atmosphere – senior citizens are encouraged to attend! Socialize after your workout in our conference room. Only $2 per visit and no membership fees. Contact ISD 15 Adult Community Education at 763-213-1640 for more information. Fitness 15 • Sandhill Center 23820 Dewey Street Bethel, MN 55005

Hours: Monday thru Thursday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. & 1:00-4:00 p.m. • Friday Closed

Preschool students worked on making individual apple pies after spending the week learning how we grow and use apples. Jennifer Dupre, ECFE Manager

ABE

Free

One-On-One Instruction for Adults

Adult Basic Education

www.communityed15.com/abe For more information or to register, call 763-753-7190.

Start your future now!

Independent School District 15 Community Education

English classes on all levels Classes are for foreign born adults who want to read, write and speak English. Our ESL classes are designed to fit students’ needs and help with everyday living. Our teachers and volunteers work with students one-onone to help them learn a new language.

Get your Adult Diploma Complete credits through independent study to get your high school diploma! An Adult Diploma might make more sense than taking the GED if you need very few credits to graduate, have test anxiety or have other challenges that would make taking the GED difficult.

Holiday Wreath Sale

Crossroads School & Vocational Center Work Experience Program will have wreaths, crosses and swags available for purchase for the 2015 Holiday Season.

Prepare for the GED Adults who have a degree earn more money and are prepared for college. Class days and times: Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Wreaths 24-inch $17.50 30-inch $25.50

Note: Flocking is not available on any item this year.

Students will be creating items as orders are received. Last day to order: Last day for pick up:

Do you own an RV and have questions? In this class you will troubleshoot and repair: 110 and 12 volt wiring, furnace functions, hot water heater, A/C, refrigerator, power distribution panel, satellite hook ups and TV boosters. Instructor will be open to additional items the class would like to discuss, if time allows. Day: Tuesday Date: January 26, February 23, March 22, April 19, May 24 Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Location: St. Francis High School Fee: $45 Instructor: Dan Long Call 763-213-1640 to register!

Swag

Wednesday, December 16 Friday, December 20

32-inch $13.00

To order call 763-753-7091 or email glenda.kimpling@isd15.org

Cross

The Work Experience Program is coordinated by Glenda Kimpling 42-inch If paying by check, please make checks payable to $25.00 Crossroads Voc Ed/Wk Exp Program. Pick up items at Crossroads Door 9A in back of the building. gold Red or vailable. Please contact Glenda to arrange a date and time. a is ribbon sed if Crossroads School & Vocational Center l be u il w d. ie Red if 4111 Ambassador Blvd. NW, St. Francis, MN 55070 c t spe no

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Attention Childcare Providers! Did you know the Lifelong Learning Center offers CEU hours for childcare providers? If you are a childcare provider or know someone who is, check out these opportunities:

Vicki Thrasher-Cronin presents: Four Square! This playful, interactive workshop will explore the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of emotional regulation, conflict resolution, problem

solving and secure base relationships while uncovering strategies that support a child’s development of emotional intelligence. Discover ways to support social-emotional development in young children. Course: EC 9901 Dates: Thursday, January 14 Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fee: $3.00 Register online at www.isd15.org/ecfe or email: melissa.denning@isd15.org.

Just 4 Kids

4-year old childcare program

Betty Rydell (pictured right) performed at the Bethel Cabaret in the Sandhill Center November 10 to a full house as part of the monthly Lunch Bunch series. After the performance, the community was invited to the Sandhill Center Open House. The center offers fitness classes, line dancing and a workout room. A monthly book club, library and meeting room, which can be reserved by the public, were also featured during the open house. On hand were members of the Bethel Fire Department, demonstrating hands-only CPR and how to use an AED. The office for the City of Bethel is located at Sandhill Center. The Sandhill Senior Advisory Group coordinated the open house. This energetic group meets about once a month. Interested? Call Community Ed at 763-753-7171. The courier photo

Classes & Events 23820 Dewey Street Bethel, MN 55005

Join the Lunch Bunch at the Sandhill Center in the Bethel Cabaret for our monthly catered luncheon featuring top entertainment by popular artists. Make your reservations early as most of our shows sell out ahead of time. Seating is done on a first come first served basis. Lunch Bunch is available through efforts of the ISD 15 Senior Advisory Board. Doors open: 10:30 a.m. Lunch served: 11:00 a.m. Showtime: 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Location: 23820 Dewey Street NW, Bethel Cost: $17.50 (price includes sales tax) For reservations, call 763-213-1640.

Red Johnson

Tuesday, December 8, 2015 Red Johnson, Minnesota Rock & Country Hall of Fame recording artist, has pleased audiences for over 50 years with his singing and songwriting skills. Traditional country and western music with a blend of bluegrass, Tex-Mex, Cajun, gospel—Red Johnson covers the realm of real country music.

Wonderful World of Woody

Tuesday, January 12 Tom Strohmyer, known professionally as “Woody,” has been performing since 1983, playing guitar, keyboards, saxophone, trumpet, flute, harmonica and singing in various bands and as a solo performer. Also an experienced juggler and magician, he entertains everyone from one year-olds to 100 yearolds at birthday parties, school functions, wedding receptions, beach parties, corporate functions, family reunions, day cares, assisted living facilities, church festivals, nursing homes, bars—you name it, he’s probably done it! Shows are tailored to the specific audience, so no show is ever exactly like the next, but all performances guarantee singing, a little magic and some juggling. And dancing is ALWAYS encouraged! The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Kids Connection offers a 4-year-old childcare program called Just 4 Kids at St. Francis Elementary School. Children participate in various educational and recreational activities in a safe, well-supervised environment. Children may bring a lunch from home or purchase a school lunch. Contact Kids Connection for more details. Program hours are Monday-Friday 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Daily and weekly rates are available.

Questions?

Call Chris at 763-213-1616 or www.communityed15.com/kc

Kids Connection is a division of ISD 15 Community Education

Strength

SilverSneakers Yoga

In class you will use dumbbells/ hand weights and resistance bands to strengthen muscles, improve bone density and increase your metabolism. Class is for seniors or active older adults. Days: Mondays Time: 8:00-8:45 a.m. NEW! Fee: $2 per class No registration required

SilverSneakers Yoga will move your whole body through a complete series of seated and standing yoga poses. Chair support is offered to safely perform a variety of seated and standing postures designed to increase flexibility, balance and range of movement. Restorative breathing exercises and final relaxation will promote stress reduction and mental clarity. Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays Time: 9:00-10:00 a.m. Fee: Free to SilverSneakers and Silver and Fit members; $2 per class for non-members No registration required

Line Dancing Have fun and move to the music through a variety of exercises designed to increase muscular strength, range of movement and activities for daily living. This is an excellent class for those just beginning in line dance as well as the more experienced line dancers! Days: Wednesdays Time: 10:00-11:00 a.m. Fee: $2 per class No registration required

SilverSneakers Circuit Combine fun with fitness to increase your cardiovascular and muscular endurance power with a standing circuit workout. Upper-body strength work with hand-held weights, elastic tubing with handles and a SilverSneakers ball is alternated with lowimpact aerobic choreography. A chair is used for standing support, stretching and relaxation exercises. Day: Tuesdays Time: 8:30-9:15 a.m. Fee: Free to SilverSneakers and Silver and Fit members; $2 per class for non-members No registration required

SilverSneakers Classic Have fun and move to the music through a variety of exercises designed to increase muscular strength, range of movement and activities for daily living. Hand-held weights, elastic tubing with handles and a SilverSneakers ball are offered for resistance. A chair is available if needed for seated or standing support. Days: Wednesdays, Fridays Time: 8:00-8:45 a.m. Fee: Free to SilverSneakers and Silver and Fit members; $2 per class for non-members No registration required

Sandhill is a Silver & Fit qualified center. For more information on the Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program or the Sandhill Center, please call 763-213-1616. To see if you qualify as a Silver & Fit member or a SilverSneakers member please contact your insurance company. 25

Bright Beginnings in ISD 15 Early Childhood 763-753-7170

Call ECFE at for more information or to register for any of the opportunities on this page. Lifelong Learning Center • 18900 Cedar Drive NW, Oak Grove • Online at www.isd15.org/ecfe Follow ISD 15 Early Childhood on Facebook to stay in the know and connect with other parents.

Upcoming ECFE Events Will your child be a Kindergartner next fall? We have the perfect class for you!

Family Carnival

Destination Kindergarten

Tot Shop for Mom & Pop sponsored by the ISD 15 Early Childhood Advisory Council

A unique holiday shopping experience for children birth to kindergarten.

Young children can purchase their choice of gifts for moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas or siblings and pets, plus have them wrapped. Volunteers will take your child shopping while you wait. All gifts are $1. Don’t have time for dinner? Don’t worry. Pizza and beverages will be available for purchase. All items are

only $1!

Join us Friday, December 4 5:00-7:00 p.m. Lifelong Learning Center 18900 Cedar Drive NW Oak Grove

Preschool Place 15 and Early Childhood Family Education are divisions of ISD 15 Community Education

Make the most of your wait time.

Shop the Scholastic Book Fair.

Do you have a new baby in your house?

Pop In and Play Pop in for fun activities with a new theme each week. Meet other families and build relationships that last a lifetime. No preregistration required. Dates & Times: Wednesdays, 12:45-2:45 p.m. and Fridays, 9:15-11:15 a.m. Fee: $4.00 per child, max $12.00 per family (limit 4 children per adult)

Minneapolis Adventure

Come join us for an ECFE Babies and Parents Class Enjoy songs and games together and meet others who are experiencing the joys and challenges of raising a baby. Dates: Thursdays, December 3-January 21 Time: 9:15-11:15 a.m. Fee: FREE but you must pre-register. Sibling Care also available at a low cost.

Early Childhood Family Education A division of ISD 15 Community Education www.isd15.org 763-753-7170

Babies and Parents Class doesn’t work for your schedule? Schedule a Welcome Baby Home Visit An early childhood teacher will schedule a visit with you and your baby in your home or at the Lifelong Learning Center. Information about the joys and struggles of being a parent, infant milestones and development, Early Childhood Family Education and community resources will be shared with you. Call Kim at 763-753-7165 or email infant.visits@isd15.org for more information.

What skills should your child have before kindergarten and what expectations should you have as they transition into this new setting? The children will explore a new environment while the parents focus on the transition from preschool to kindergarten. A panel of kindergarten teachers and parents will be present one of the nights. Be sure to bring your burning questions. These sessions are designed to bridge preschool years to kindergarten for both the parents and the child. Course: EC 4403 Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m. Fee: $12 per child for the three-week session Dates: Thursdays, January 7-21 Location: Cedar Creek Community School —OR— Dates: Thursdays, January 28, February 11 & 25 Location: St. Francis Elementary School

Bring the family and enjoy a fun-filled morning of games, crafts, playdough walk, face painting and much more. Don’t forget the Basket Raffle. Course: EC 9730 Date: Saturday, February 6 Time: 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Fee: $3 per child; max $7 per family and a non perishable food item for the local food shelf.

Bear Snores On at Stages Theater On a cold, stormy winter night, one-by-one, a whole host of animals venture into Bear’s cave to warm up. The tea was brewed and the corn was popped but Bear just snored on! Come see what happens when Bear finally wakes up. Pack a lunch for you and your child to eat on the bus ride home. Course: EC 9402 Date: Thursday, February 11 Time: Bus leaves the LLC at 11:00 a.m., returns by 3:00 p.m. Fee: $12 per person Deadline: Noon, January 25

For Children Only

We will visit Macy’s holiday display on the 8th floor. Then you and your child can sightsee, shop and browse on your own with handouts we provide. Course: EC 7402 Dates: Friday, December 11 Time: Bus leaves LLC at 9:30 a.m., returns by 2:00 p.m. Fee: $6 per person

Make Way for Learning

Eagles Nest in New Brighton Join us in exploring Eagles Nest, the indoor play space, which provides a ball pit, eightfoot climbing wall, slides and a foam forest. After two hours of fun, we will have lunch on-site, so pack a bag lunch. Course: EC 9401 Date: Tuesday, January 26 Time: Bus leaves LLC at 9:30 a.m., returns by 2:00 p.m. Fee: $7 per person Deadline: January 19

For children three to five years of age at the time of the event. Reinforce early learning skills in fun, interactive two-time classes. Lots of moving and creative fun for your preschooler. Children must be toileting themselves. Time: 12:45-2:45 p.m. Fee: $8 per child per two-week class Theme: Read All About It Course: EC 7804 Dates: Mondays, December 7 & 14 This session will include fun literacy activities. Your child will explore reading in a whole new way. Your child will take literacy activities home to share with you. Theme: Messy Day Course: EC 9801 Dates: Monday, January 25 & February 1 Be sure to dress for this messy exploration that will engage all the senses. Glue, paint, cream, mud, glitter, water and many more messy activities can engage all learners. Don’t miss the fun!

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Sports & Outdoors Fall sports in perspective Jeff Fink

SFHS Activities Director

As we close out another fall season, I am often asked if I felt the season was a success. The sting of two close section final losses can make some think that our teams didn’t meet our goals. Let’s put some things in perspective. The girls soccer team won 13 games, a school record, and played in their first section final. The true strength of this team was they accomplished this with three starters sitting on the bench with seasonending injuries. They lost in a shootout to the hottest team in our section. If any Saints fan could see the tears shed and the disappointment on each girls’ face, you would know how important this game was to the team. The four Saints seniors and one foreign exchange senior had played their last soccer game as a Saint. I heard girls say that this was the most pressure-filled game they ever played. Our boys football team played in their second consecutive Section 7 final. They surely didn’t play their best game of the year, but they fought to the bitter end. The Saints had 15 wins in the past two years. Fifteen wins are more wins than they’ve had in many five-year spans over the past twenty-five years! We hosted a section final game for the first time in school history. Fans were entertained every Friday night for two years as the team played one of the toughest schedules in 5A football. I hope as parents, students and Saints fans, you know how lucky you were. I heard our boys, through their tears, talk about each team member being their “brother for life.” This was more than a season-ending loss for them; this was the last time they got to play football together. Many of our seniors had trouble leaving the field after that game. They didn’t accomplish their season goal but nobody can doubt their passion or effort. Our other teams, boys soccer, cross-country, girls tennis and volleyball, all had seniors

who had personal growth as competitors and achieved some personal bests in their sports. Some earned allconference honors, others were great teammates and leaders. They all represented our school with pride and above all, are great student athletes. In a recent article titled, I Never Thought it Would End This Way, Karrick Dryer talked about his daughter and watching her play her last match. He asked, “Shouldn’t the journey of sports teach these things and more to prepare kids for life beyond sports?” Dryer listed the following values that he thinks should be taught to student athletes: standard of excellence, work ethic, believe in themselves, trust others, encouragement, know they aren’t the center of the universe, know that success does not come overnight (or in one practice), lose with dignity, accept temporary failures without blaming others and realize these failures aren’t permanent, be pushed to their physical limit time and time again, to love and be loved (by coaches and teammates), sacrifice for others, respect authority and rules, teamwork/unselfishness and never give up. When you assess the fall season and your student athlete, did they model these 15 values? In their years as a Saint, did you see growth in these areas? We work with our athletes through the Minnesota State High School League “Why We Play” curriculum

on talking about our purpose in athletics and activities. Of course we want to win every contest, but that isn’t our purpose. That is a goal we can set as a team or individual. Our purpose is to develop skills that will help students be successful in life. I see the quality young men and women who participated this fall and the personal growth each has made makes me extremely proud. Our athletes can play in all the youth tournaments, travel tournaments and summer leagues and never feel the pressure of playing for their school and community. It takes courage, pride, self-belief and determination to put yourself in a situation where you may fail. Competition reveals character. Putting on a Saints jersey is something special. Playing with kids you’ve grown up with all your life is special. The fun times on the away game bus and in the locker room before home games are special. The competition and games are special. Those are where lifetime friendships and memories are made. So when answering the question if our fall season was a success, it is an easy answer. Our athletes competed for St. Francis High School and represented our community in every way I could have hoped. A special thank you to the seniors for all they did representing the Saints this fall—they exemplify our purpose.

Saints’ Amelia Johnson leaps to complete a spike against Fridley.

Hunter Trautman (4) attempts a run while center Max Spitzer (55) blocks against the Bemidji Lumberjacks.

Midfielder Samantha Zgutowicz (18) looks to dribble past a Cambridge-Isanti defender. Photos Courtesy of Alan Angell

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The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

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Former student athlete has success with Gophers Sandra Benson

St. Francis High School students will venture to the Amazon rainforest indigenous people of the Yagua culture. The trip is co-hosted by a unique partnership between Eco-Tech and Environmental Expeditions. The two organizations team up to bring the students and teachers to Peru for ecological expeditions, which focus on conservation work, authentic culture exchange and guided exploration. Retired SFHS teacher DC Randle will lead the group. Randle taught biology, natural history, environmental studies and

DC Randle

CCCS Community Relations Coordinator

St. Francis Amazon Explorers

St. Francis High School graduate and distance runner Adam Zutz was named to the All Big Ten First Team after placing seventh at the Big Ten Cross Country Championship hosted by Northwestern University on November 1. Zutz, a redshirt senior, is a captain of the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers cross-country team. His time of 23 minutes and 40 seconds was a new personal record for Zutz and is the fifth fastest eight-kilometer time in Gopher history. Minnesota totaled 98 points to finish third at the conference meet behind Michigan with 63 points and Illinois with 81. In addition to earning Academic All Big Ten honors for two years, Zutz was recently named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. This award is given to student athletes who are letter winners and who maintain a 3.7 or better GPA for a full year. Zutz is majoring in mechanical

Eight students from St. Francis High School (SFHS) have been offered the opportunity to travel for ten days to the Amazon Center for Tropical Studies on the Amazon River basin of Northern Peru next summer. The explorers will experience firsthand the beauty of the Amazon rainforest while researching native birds, insects, frogs, monkeys and plants as they live with the

engineering and also competes on the University’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams. In 2010 while attending St. Francis High School, Zutz was the Class AA crosscountry state champion. Zutz’s parents, Betsy RockZutz and Greg Zutz, are both teachers at Independent School District 15.

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Former St. Francis High School biology teacher DC Randle (left) will lead a group of students and adults to the Amazon rainforest next year. The group is offsetting their travel expenses by holding fundraisers prior to the trip. Submitted Photo

763-434-4772 763-434-7373 Collision Specialists

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wildlife management at SFHS and is now a contributing researcher and Director of Education and Citizen Science for the Amazon Center for the Tropical Studies Research Facility in Peru. Randle has primarily studied herbivory and leaf-tagging in the Amazon under the direction of Dr. Meg Lowman. On the trip, the explorers plan to participate in the scientific work being conducted by Randle and other contributing scientists in relation to animals, insects, amphibians, soils and plants while ascending over 125 feet on a quarter-mile rainforest canopy walkway, one of the few of its kind in the world. In addition, students will get a chance to improve their Spanish speaking skills while actively living in a village of native people as they complete a variety of service projects, such as building or refurbishing schools and dwellings for the Yagua community. To support their endeavors to reach the Peruvian rainforest, the explorers are planning a series of fundraising activities. The largest event is an upcoming spaghetti dinner and silent auction at the St. Francis American Legion on Saturday, January 30, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. All proceeds go directly to the St. Francis Amazon Explorer fund.

Anoka County Parks Dumpster Rental • We Haul Junk Cars and Recreation upcoming programs • 6 • 10 • 15 • 20 • 30 Besides hauling junk cars we also and events yard dumpsters remove metal. Ask about snow plowing. • Household junk • Construction debris • We also load junk for you

763-444-6992 a1rolloffs.com

“We treat your pets like our own”

St. Francis Veterinary Clinic 763-444-9359

Doctors on staff Dr. Tracey Thomas Dr. Jill Hergenrader Dr. Kelly Pawlenty Dr. Nicole Perreault

We are now offering Pet Wellness packages!

• Small animal medicine, surgery and dentistry • Free initial puppy and kitten exams • Early morning drop off available by appointment • Evening appointments • Heartworm and Lyme testing • Microchip pet ID

Bring in this ad for

00 15 off Any exam

Offer expires 1/31/16. One coupon per customer, per visit.

Two miles north of St. Francis on Highway 47 Visit us on the web at www.sfvetclinic.com

Martha Weaver

Anoka County Public Information Manager

Check out Anoka County Parks and Recreation for great early winter programs and activities. To register or for more information, call 651-4298007 or visit anokacountyparks. com. Young Explorers Club: Wild Winter December 3, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Wargo Nature Center 7701 Main Street, Lino Lakes Cost: $4/child (+tax) What do wild animals do in the winter? Let’s head outside for an afternoon of fun investigation to learn where the animals go and what they do. Continued Page 29

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

A bittersweet finish to cross country season Brittney Moffat

Cross Country Assistant Coach

The St. Francis High School (SFHS) cross country team had a bittersweet finish to their season as they competed in the sections tournament on October 29 in Cloquet. Continuing to the state tournament were the Forest Lake girls team and Duluth East girls team as well as Elk River boys team and Duluth East boys team. The state tournament took place at St. Olaf College November 7. The Saints varsity girls team finished 15th overall. Leading the team were senior Emily Daniels who placed 59th with a time of 21:52, freshman Kylie Wolfe who placed 68th with a time of 22:19, freshman Grace Wunderlich who placed 87th with a time of 23:42, freshman Sydney Hauck who placed 88th with a time of 23:42, senior Aarilee Lorenzen who placed 92nd with a time of 23:56 and senior Brooke Dippon, who competed on the Saints cross country team for six consecutive years, finished 102nd with a time of 25:20. The Saints varsity boys team finished 11th overall.

Leading the team were senior Coletyn Barth who placed 39th with a time of 18:01, junior Conor Sullivan who placed 61st with a time of 18:42, junior Andrew Miller who placed 64th with a time of 18:46, junior Luke Maiers who placed 67th with a time of 18:51, sophomore Alex Fuchs who placed 74th with a time of 19:01 and freshman Reid Benson who placed 93rd with a time of 20:01. In honor of the senior athletes completing their cross country careers with SFHS, here are some words of advice: Aarilee Lorenzen: “Be thankful for everything you have. Don’t take anything for granted because you never know when you will lose it.” Brooke Dippon: “Stay in cross country throughout high school because you make long lasting memories with some of your best friends.” Emily Daniels: “Make the most of your cross country season because it goes by fast; Always remember to run with your heart.” Coletyn Barth: “Always be a leader because there are people who look up to you, not just in cross country but in life too.”

From Page 28

Parks & Rec This program is designed for preschool children, ages 4 and 5. Pre-registration is required. Nature Play: Cold Critters December 3, 10:00-11:15 a.m. Wargo Nature Center 7701 Main Street, Lino Lakes Cost: $3/child; $3/adult (+tax) Join us as we learn about the critters that stay in Minnesota for the winter. We’ll read a story, make a craft and explore outside to see what we can find. This program is designed for 2- to 5-year-olds who are accompanied by an adult. Preregistration is required. Experience Winter Recreation December 20, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Wargo Nature Center 7701 Main Street, Lino Lakes Cost: $7/adult (+tax); $5/child (+tax) Looking for some outdoor family fun? Get a taste of some of the many things to do outside in Minnesota during our coldest months. You will sample a variety of recreational activities including kicksledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. This event is open to families and individuals of all ages. Preregistration is required. Winter Recreation Camp December 28, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Wargo Nature Center 7701 Main Street, Lino Lakes December 29, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. East Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, 9750 Egret Boulevard, Coon Rapids Cost: $25/person (+tax) This one-day camp is a great way for kids in grades 3-6 to get outdoors in the winter! The day will be packed full of winter activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kicksledding, winter games and more. Come join in the winter fun!

Seniors Coletyn Barth, Brooke Dippon, Aarilee Lorenzen and Emily Daniels pose for a picture after completing the last race of their cross country Submitted Photos season.

North Metro Soccer Association

Recreational Program Spring/Summer 2016 Online Registration Begins January 4 Traditional Recreational Program $115 Includes Full Uniform Monday/Wednesday Pre K-Kindergarten Co-Ed (Born 9/1/09 to 8/31/11) Grades 1 & 2 Boys Grades 3 & 4 Girls Grades 5-7 Girls Tuesday/Thursday Grades 1 & 2 Girls Grades 3 & 4 Boys Grades 5-7 Boys Grades 8-10 Co-Ed Pre K-Kindergarten will play at Oak View Middle School in Andover. Grades 8-10 co-ed will play at Rum River Elementary in Andover. All other ages play at Oak Grove City Hall. The season begins April 25 and ends on June 25 with the Jamboree.

Comp Prep Program

Mini Metros Program

$135 Includes Full Uniform Monday/Wednesday Experienced Grades 1 & 2 Boys and Girls The Comp Prep Program is devised for Rec players who have some experience playing Rec soccer and already exhibit strong soccer skills. It is also for players who want an increased level of training and more playing time in the Spring/Summer and who anticipate playing Competitive Soccer the following year. There will be minimal additional fees (less than $50 for the season) to participate in up to four weekend Jamborees. See website for details.

$60 Includes Shirt Tuesday OR Thursday Ages 3 and 4 (Born 9/1/11 to 1/1/13) Introduction to soccer through trainer-led soccer related activities and games.

Online Registration The registration fee will increase by $35 beginning March 6. Registration closes March 19. Any registration accepted after this date based on availability will incur an additional $20 administration fee.

Co-Coaches Please consider volunteering as a co-coach. You will be making a big difference for youth and your child by volunteering with NMSA. Coaches will have the assistance of a NMSA sponsored trainer who will visit practices and games throughout the season. All coaches receive a 50% reimbursement on registration fees after the season ends. Thank you for making a difference!

More details, register online at northmetrosoccer.org

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Volunteering for positive youth development through soccer. 29

Meetings, Benefits & Events Blood Drives

Health & Fitness

Oak Grove The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be taking donations on Tuesday, December 8, 1:30-7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 19921 Nightingale Street NW in Oak Grove. To schedule an appointment, please call Caron at 612-282-5372 or Sue at 612845-8459. Walk-ins are welcome after 2:30 p.m.

St. Francis Give the gift of life—a Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at the St. Francis United Methodist Church on Monday, December 28, 1:30-7:30 p.m. The church is located at 3914 229th Avenue in St. Francis. Donors can make appointments at www.redcross.org/blood by entering in a local zip code.

School District ISD 15 SCHOOL Board Meetings: December 14, January 11 & 25, February 8 & 22 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m., Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. at Central Services Center, Community Room, 4115 Ambassador Boulevard NW, St. Francis.

SFHS All Night Party 2016 St. Francis High School Senior All Night Party will be held after graduation on Friday, June 3. Any parent of a high school student and community members are encouraged to volunteer. Contact Melissa French, chairperson, at 763-753-3937 for further details. Monthly meetings are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Oak Roads Grille & Bar in Oak Grove. Dates are: January 7, February 4, March 3, April 14 & 28, May 12 & 26.

Chamber of Commerce St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast with the Chamber is December 9 at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in St. Francis, 8:00-9:00 a.m., $3 for breakfast. The next Board of Directors meeting is on December 16, 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Community Center, 23340 Cree Street. Meetings are open to all. Visit stfrancischamber.org for more info or call 763-438-5163.

Health & Fitness Tops Chapter MN #1774 meets every Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. at the St. Francis Community Center, 23340 Cree Street N. TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly and is a weight loss support group. Check out a meeting or visit www.tops.org.

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Service Group

Long Lake Lutheran Church invites you to join us for GriefShare Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. Free. We are located five miles north of St. Francis on Hwy. 47. For more information please contact Sharon Sudeith at 763-444-4483 or visit www.longlakeluth.org. For general information on the GriefShare program, visit www.griefshare.org.

Seniors Oak Grove Seniors meet the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at noon for a potluck and a short business meeting. Bingo follows each business meeting. For information about the club and events, call Marion Schulz at 763-444-5652. St. Francis Seniors If you are 55 or older, come enjoy some companionship. We play cards and bingo, go on trips, have picnics and potlucks. We meet the first and third Thursday of each month at the St. Francis Legion. Social time at noon, meeting at 1:00 p.m., games until 3:00 p.m. Some play Scrabble in the afternoon on the second Thursday and Cribbage on the fourth Friday. Come check us out or call President Ray Steinke at 763-753-1871. East Bethel Seniors Dances are held 1:00-4:00 p.m. The next dance will be held Friday, December 4 with old time music played by Jerry Bierschbach. No dance is scheduled for Friday, January 1. The cost is $6 and includes lunch. All are welcome to the Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, December 13, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Serving pancakes, French toast, sausage, juice, coffee and choice of egg, 50¢ per egg. Cost for breakfast is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 10. Seniors meet the third Thursday of each month for business meeting and catered noon lunch, 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; second Wednesday of each month is crafts, 9:00 a.m.-noon with potluck at noon; fourth Wednesday is crafts only, 9:00 a.m.noon. Cribbage once a month, call Barb for date/time at 763-434-6179. We also go on tours, etc. The East Bethel Senior Center is available for rent, call Dennis at 763-434-9244. Are you 55 or older? Bring your spouse and come and enjoy some companionship. All are welcome. Join East Bethel Seniors for $7 a year and receive a monthly newsletter. The East Bethel Senior Center is located one mile east of Highway 65 on 221st Avenue in East Bethel.

AA AA Meets at Long Lake Lutheran Church, 5 miles north of St. Francis on Hwy. 47, Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

By Phone

763-753-7031

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

In Person

St. Francis Area Women of Today meets the first Thursday of the month at the Anoka Hennepin Credit Union, 23280 St. Francis Blvd. NW in St. Francis. Social time is 6:30 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. For more information about the Women of Today, visit us at www.sfawt.org.

Lioness CEDAR/EAST BETHEL LIONESS CLUB meets the first Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at Ham Lake VFW. For membership information call Marilyn Kappelhoff, 763-434-6599. We Serve! St. Francis Lioness Club meets monthly. First Wednesday, administrative board and third Wednesday, general membership meeting at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are held at St. Francis City Hall, 23340 Cree Street. For more information, call Jean Schuldt at 763-753-1205 or Mary Madden at 763-444-5020.

Lions Oak Grove Lions meet every second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. adjourning at 8:00 p.m. For more information, call Lion Mark Silvernagel at 763-753-2215. NOWTHEN LIONS CLUB Are you looking to serve in your community of Nowthen? Meet new friends? Have a lot of fun? Come join the Nowthen Lions Club! The Nowthen Lions meet on the first Thursday of the month for the board meeting and on the third Thursday of the month for the membership meeting. Please call Patty Wirz at 763-241-1341 or email to nowthenlions@yahoo.com. CEDAR/EAST BETHEL LIONS CLUB meets bimonthly, first and third Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., at Hunters Inn. Call Judy Ricke at 763-226-4893. St. Francis Lions Club meets three times during the month at the St. Francis American Legion. First Wednesday board meeting; second Wednesday regular business meeting; fourth Wednesday social and program. All meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Call Lion Kevin Schuldt for more information at 763-753-1205 or visit www.stfrancismn.lionwap.org.

American Legion American Legion Auxiliary Unit 622 – St. Francis General membership meets monthly on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. All members of the auxiliary are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 763-753-4234.

4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

American Legion

By Mail

The Courier

4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW St. Francis, MN 55070

American Legion Post 622 – St. Francis General membership meets monthly the second Thursday at 7:00 p.m. All members of the post are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 763-753-4234.

AA/NA AA/NA Meetings at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in East Bethel. NA on Mondays at 7:00 p.m., AA on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., NA on Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

City & Township Meetings Andover City Council Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., 1685 Crosstown Blvd. NW andover, 763-755-5100 Bethel City Council Meets 1st & 3rd Thursday 7:00 p.m., 23820 Dewey Street, Bethel, 763-434-4366 Nowthen City Council

Meets 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., 19800 Nowthen Blvd. NW, Nowthen, 763-441-1347

East Bethel City Council Meets 1st & 3rd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., 2241 221st Avenue NE, East Bethel, 763-367-7840 Oak Grove City Council Meets 2nd & last Monday 7:00 p.m., 19900 Nightingale St. NW, Oak Grove, 763-404-7000 St. Francis City Council

Meets 1st & 3rd Monday 6:00 p.m., ISD 15 Central Services Center, St. Francis, 763-753-2630

Stanford Township Board Meets 1st Monday, 7:00 p.m., 5050 261st Avenue NW, Isanti, 763-444-6370

NOW HIRING for ISD 15 Kids Connection Positions open are: Morning Assistants—St. Francis Elementary School and Cedar Creek Community School between the hours of 6:00-9:15 a.m. Afternoon Assistants—St. Francis Elementary School and Cedar Creek Community School between the hours of 3:15-6:00 p.m. Morning Instructors—St. Francis Elementary School and Cedar Creek Community School between the hours of 6:00-9:15 a.m. Afternoon Instructors—St. Francis Elementary School and Cedar Creek Community School between the hours of 3:15-6:00 p.m. For a complete list of qualifications, summary of duties and salary, please visit www.isd15.org/employment and click on View our open positions > Community Education Programs. Independent School District 15 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Life St. Patrick Catholic Church welcomes new Pastor Submitted by Dan Jaeger

Business Administrator

On July 1, Father Allan Paul Eilen was welcomed to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Oak Grove as their new Pastor. His journey here was anything but typical. Ordained a priest six years ago, he comes to this faith community with a wide range of life experiences. The first seeds of his vocation were sown while growing up in a family of ten in Delano. After high school he received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of St. Thomas. Eilen then spent nearly 20 years in the courier industry, most notably with the HealthEast Care System as manager of its courier division. In the early 1990s, Eilen heard God’s call and invitation to follow Him and the idea of priesthood became more attractive. Yet there was a major complication. He had recently met a young woman at Mass and they eventually became engaged. “Though I thought married life was my calling, something was still missing. That was a painful time,” he said. “But, I am now where I am supposed to be—a priest.” As Fr. Eilen knows, God was slowly speaking to his heart during all those years. "A vocation is who you are," he said. "A career is what you do." In 2003, he was accepted to St.

Father Allan Paul Eilen Photo Janice Audette Paul Seminary and ordained a priest in 2009. Q: What have you most enjoyed about this new assignment? A: Oak Grove is a beautiful country setting, but still close to major amenities. The people

here have been wonderful and the St. Patrick community is so hospitable and welcoming. Q: What are some of your goals at St. Patrick Church? A: The community of St. Patrick put together a detailed long-range plan called Vision 2020. It’s based on meeting people where they’re at and walking with them in their spiritual journey. Our mission statement is to “love God, neighbor and self.” I’m thrilled to be part of this mission and vision. Q: What role do you see St. Patrick Church playing in serving those in need in your area? A: In a short time it has become clear to me that there are several needs in this north Anoka County area. We’ve witnessed homelessness, job loss, physical and mental illness

Wild Game Feed at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Mike Starr

Church member

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church will host a wild game feed on Saturday, January 16, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Dinner will include wild game selections of elk, bear, deer, duck, plus a potato side dish and fantastic desserts. There will also be a silent auction and a speaker.

Falconer, Frank Taylor, will talk about falcons and how they hunt and his trips world wide to train other falcons. This event is free will. St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church is located at 1450 237th Avenue NE at the corner of Highway 65 at Cooper’s Corner. For more information, call 763-434-7146 or visit www.standreweb.org.

Advent and Christmas Schedule

St. Patrick Catholic Church 19921 Nightingale Street NW Oak Grove, MN 55011 763-753-2011 www.st-patricks.org

Weekend Masses

Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Sunday at 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Rosary ½ hour before all Masses

Tuesday, December 1

Mass at 6:15 p.m., followed by Divine Mercy Presentation [Mother of Mercy Messengers] at 7:00 p.m., with a Holy Hour (Chaplet of Divine Mercy) at 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 2

Divine Mercy Presentation [Mother of Mercy Messengers] at 6:15 p.m., followed by Parish-wide Advent Penance Service with a Holy Hour (Chaplet of Divine Mercy) at 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, December 8

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM – Holy Day of Obligation Masses in the Church at 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve

Nativity of Our Lord Masses at 5:00 p.m. and Midnight — Christmas Carols begin at 11:30 p.m.

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

Nativity of Our Lord Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 31

Mass in the Chapel at 8:00 a.m. and Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Holy Day of Obligation in the Church at 6:00 p.m.

Friday, January 1, 2016

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Holy Day of Obligation in the Church at 9:00 a.m.

Sunday January 3, 2016 Epiphany Saturday Mass at 5:00 p.m.; Sunday Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Sunday January 10, 2016 Baptism of the Lord Saturday Mass at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

Christmas Season comes to a close – for more information, see www.st-patricks.org

and chemical dependency. St. Patrick can have a major influence on serving those most in need. Q: What hobbies do you enjoy? A: Spending time with family, music, sports, reading, outdoors and traveling.

St. Patrick Catholic Church is located at 19921 Nightingale Street in Oak Grove. Starting as a small mission parish in 1893, they currently have 1,200 active families engaged in their faith journey. For more information visit their website at www.stpatricks.org.

Christmas Eve Worship Services Thursday, December 24 • 3:00 & 5:00 p.m.

Weekly Sunday Services 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

19653 Nowthen Boulevard NW Nowthen, MN Intersection of CR 5 & 22 www.nowthenalliance.org 763-441-1600

Zion’s Advent & Christmas Schedule Advent Services Wednesdays, December 2, 9 and 16 �� 7:00 p.m. Dinner will be served from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday School Christmas Program Sunday, December 20 �� 9:00 a.m. Brunch will be served after the Service Crown Christian School Christmas Program Thursday, December 17 �� 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Thursday, December 24............................7:00 p.m. Christmas Day Worship Service Friday, December 25................9:00 a.m. Rev. Jacob Dandy

Zion Lutheran Church & School of Crown From Hwy. 47, 5 miles west on County Road 8 or from Hwy. 169 (Zimmerman) 6 miles east on The County Road 4, then north on Lutheran Church County Road 7 one mile Missouri Synod 763-856-2099 • www.ZionLutheranCrown.com zioncrown@connections-etc.net 31

Births Join us in our Christmas Conspiracy to:

Worship Fully

Spend Less

Give More

LivingHopeEFC.org

Callan Lawrence Piescher was born on August 20 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces. Proud parents are Amy Pearson and Chad Piescher of Cedar. Grandparents are Perry and Karen Feigum, Mark Pearson, Ron and Debbie Piescher.

Love All

763.753.1718

a small, imperfect, beautiful church community in St. Francis, MN

Celebrate Christmas With Us! Wednesday, December 24

New Life Church will hold its Live Nativity, Saturday, December 5, 4:30-6:30 p.m. This is New Life’s 8th year providing this free opportunity to the public, to experience the birth of Jesus. Step back in time, some 2000 years, to see the Nativity scene with live animals. Come inside to warm up and enjoy a cup of chili, hot chocolate, a variety of Christmas cookies and live music. All are welcome! Come as a guest, stay as family. New Life Church is located at 18975 Lake George Boulevard in Oak Grove. Sharon Bergman

Christmas Eve Services 5:00 and 9:00 p.m.

763-753-2057 crossofhope.net

Regular Sunday Worship 9:15 a.m.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church

Free

Annual Community Advent & Christmas Concert

Saturday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. “A Winters Peace” • Refreshments following

Highway 65 and 237th Avenue NE East Bethel – Cooper’s Corner www.standreweb.org

Christmas Eve Services

Thursday, December 24 at 3:00, 4:30 & 10:30 p.m.

763-434-7146

Our Saviour’s

Lutheran Church & Preschool Following Jesus, we Worship, Learn, Serve, Invite and Connect.

Pastor Jason Lukis 5730 179th Lane NW, Highway 47 and County Road 27 • Ramsey, MN

Worship With Us

Submitted by Valerie Johnson

Jeremy, Valerie and big sister Zoey are happy to announce the birth of Savannah Lee Johnson. Savannah was born on September 13 at Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming. She weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces and was 19½ inches long. Proud grandparents are Marty and Vicki Nathe and Larry and Barb Madson. Jeremy is a 2005 graduate of St. Francis High School and Valerie is a 2006 graduate. Aden Leona Pettit was born on November 9 at Cambridge Medical Center. She weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. Proud parents are Joel and Elizabeth Pettit of Isanti. Aden is welcomed by brothers Owen, 5 and Levi, 3. Ryder Henry Lakeberg was born on November 10 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 20½ inches long. Proud parents are Travis and Melissa of East Bethel. Ryder is welcomed by older brother Miles, 1½.

Join Trinity Lutheran Church for our special worship services Thanksgiving Day

Sunday Services at 8:00, 9:15 &10:45 a.m. Wednesday Power Up Services at 6:30 p.m. Dinner at 5:00 p.m.

Blue Christmas

Thursday, November 26 at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. This service is for you if you are feeling down this holiday season.

Sunday School Children’s Christmas Service

Christ the Savior is Born!

Thursday, December 24 at 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve Worship

Thursday, December 24 at 11:00 p.m.

Christmas Day

Friday, December 25 at 9:00 a.m.

19001 Jackson Street NE • East Bethel West County Road 22 south on Jackson Street 763-434-6117 • www.oursaviourslc.org oslc@oursaviourslc.org

Thursday, December 31 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Worship Services Sunday Worship at 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday School & Bible Study at 9:15 a.m.

Candlelight Service

12:30, 2:30, 4:30 & 9:00 p.m. Communion at all Services

Join Us!

Christmas Day Service

at the Chapel in Ham Lake, 8:30 a.m.

New Year’s Eve Service

“The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”

Savannah Lee Johnson

Titus 2:11 ESV

Trinity Lutheran Church and School 3812 229th Avenue NW • St. Francis, Minnesota 763-753-1234 • www.trinitysf.org Rev. Timothy Vaughan Rev. Keaton Christiansen The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc. charitable 5K Walk/Run Dustin Eslinger

St. Francis Physical Therapy

On October 10, Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc. hosted their second annual 5K walk/run in honor of Physical Therapy month. Physical Therapy Consultants provides expert treatment for orthopedic conditions, neurologic disorders, sports and occupational injuries, as well as strives to promote health and wellness to the surrounding clinics of all 6 locations. The current locations under the umbrella of Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc. include Andover, Ham Lake, St. Francis, Isanti, North Branch and Zimmerman.

The event hosted in October was a huge success. Over 55 participants joined the occasion in support of Physical Therapy month and Citizen’s Supporting Our Armed Forces (CSOAF). CSOAF is a 100 percent volunteer organization supporting Deployed or active soldiers (any branch) and their families. The organization helps to gather and ship items to our troops as well as provide aid and support to our deployed troops and their families. Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc. and the surrounding communities were able to raise $2,080 to benefit CSOAF as well as gather 331 items for donation to the deployed

troops. Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc. and team would like to thank all

Dr. Amy Morgan Oak Grove Animal Hospital, Owner

First Baptist Church & Christian School K–12 22940 St. Francis Boulevard St. Francis • 763-753-1230 www.fbcsaintfrancis.com

Abundant Life Alliance Church 3840 197th Avenue NW Oak Grove • 763-753-0284 www.AbundantLife4U.org

Cedar United Methodist Church 17541 Jefferson Street NE Ham Lake • 763-434-7463 www.cedarumc.org

Submitted Photo

Pet Corner

Faith Listings

Bethel Community Church 23860 Dewey Street NW Bethel • 763-434-9834 www.bethelschurch.org

sponsors, vendors, participants and Anoka County Sheriff reserves for all their support.

Immanuel Church 15036 Round Lake Boulevard NW Andover • 763-210-5846 www.immanuelchurchopc.org

Cross of Hope Lutheran Church 5730-179th Lane NW Ramsey • 763-753-2057 www.crossofhope.net Elim Baptist Church 114 Dahlin Street SE Isanti • 763-444-9221 www.elimistani.org

Living Hope Evangelical Free Church 23038 Rum River Boulevard St. Francis • 763-753-1718 www.LivingHopeEFC.org Long Lake Lutheran Church 3921 277th Avenue NW Isanti • 763-444-5315 www.longlakeluth.org New Life Church 17261 St. Francis Boulevard NW Ramsey • 763-421-0166 www.newlifemn.org

New Life Church - Oak Grove 18975 Lake George Boulevard NW Oak Grove • 763-753-5717 www.newlifeoakgrove.org Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church 19001 Jackson Street NE East Bethel • 763-434-6117 www.oursaviourslc.org St. Francis United Methodist Church 3914 229th Avenue NW St. Francis • 763-753-2273 www.stfrancis-umc.com St. Patrick Catholic Church 19921 Nightingale Street NW Oak Grove • 763-753-2011 www.st-patricks.org West Bethel United Methodist Church 1233 221st Avenue NE Cedar • 763-434-6451

Question I walk my dog in the winter around my neighborhood and I’m concerned about him getting the sidewalk/driveway salt in his paws and them licking them. Is there a way to avoid this situation and what are some other outdoor hazards to be concerned about when walking him. Answer One way to avoid getting sidewalk salt on your dog’s feet is having them wear dog boots. Many dogs will be reluctant to walk in them initially, but given time will adjust well to wearing the boots. If boots are not an option, wash your dog’s feet with a pet shampoo as soon as you arrive back home. Other hazards when walking outside may include ice or jagged areas in the snow. Dogs with long nails may get a nail caught and actually tear a nail. Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed short will help avoid this problem. Dogs can also get frostbite just like people; therefore, on the coldest of days avoiding a long walk may be best.

Long Lake Lutheran Church All are welcome to the 20th Annual

Live Nativity “One Night in Bethlehem” Saturday, December 5 4:00-7:30 p.m.

Join us in Bethlehem to meet the characters and animals who participated in the Savior’s birth. Chicken Wild Rice Soup and Chili will be served. Grandma’s Attic will be open with crafts and gently used treasures.

Advent Worship Services Wednesdays, December 2, 9, 16, 23 (December 23 service only, no supper) Soup Suppers 5:30-6:45 p.m. Service 7:17 p.m.

Christmas Worship Services

Live Nativity Worship Service One Service Only Sunday, December 6 9:30 a.m. Join us for breakfast following the worship service.

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. Family Friendly 7:00 p.m. Traditional “God With Us” 10:30 p.m. Candles and Carols

Christmas Day

One Service Only 9:30 a.m.

3921 277th Avenue NW Isanti, MN 763-444-5315 www.longlakeluth.org

December 6 Christmas with the Griswolds: The Perfect Tree December 13 Christmas with the Griswolds: The Perfect Family December 20 Christmas Program December 24 Christmas with the Griswolds: The Perfect Gift December 27 Christmas with the Griswolds: The Perfect Lights December 28 Blood Drive Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. • 6th grade-adult Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. • 5th grade and under Worship at 10:30 a.m.

St. Francis United Methodist Church A Community Dedicated to Seeking Christ and Serving Others Pastor Kevin Coder 3914-229th Avenue, St. Francis www.stfrancis-umc.com • 763-753-2273 33

Ideas to prevent, treat colds and flu Carol Wilson, LSN

ISD 15 Health Services, CCCS School Nurse

As the allergy season leaves us the cold and flu season approaches. I would like to give you suggestions first for prevention and secondly for dealing with a virus if it should catch you. I am a firm believer in working with our bodies to help prevent catching the nasty viruses that seem to be everywhere. A few tips to remember: Eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. In the winter months, go heavy on the vegetables, especially dark green ones, followed by vegetables of the season; root vegetables are prominent this time of year. Drink plenty of fluids including hot liquids. Drinking

liquids as hot as you can stand (be careful not to burn yourself) several times per day will help kill the viruses and bacteria that linger in your throat and mouth. Get plenty of rest. Dress appropriately for the weather. If your body is busy trying to stay warm, your immune system cannot function at its optimal level. Reduce stress. Meditation with deep breathing a few times a day helps to keep stress levels low. Simple breathing to the count of four in and out of the nose will greatly reduce stress and help your body function at its best. If a virus should catch up to you, despite your best efforts, here are some ideas to help reduce the symptoms: Maintain a healthy diet with plenty of fluids. Don’t 3220 Bridge Street, Suite 107 in the St. Francis Mall

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We hope you’re able to dash away from your hectic workload and enjoy a happy holiday with the ones you love!

Merry Christmas Teddy Bear Care

Child Care Center in East Bethel & Isanti

Wishing you good health and happiness

St. Francis & Zimmerman 34

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worry so much about eating as getting the right amount of fluids. Drinking hot liquids is vital to help keep the virus from spreading to other areas in the body; I like Yogi cold season tea. Don’t forget to add a little honey. If congested, warm showers with water running down the face, massaging around the nose and sinus areas, may reduce congestion. Try using a neti pot to rinse the sinus areas. See recipe below for shower decongestant drops. Rubbing Vaporub or a similar product on the bottom of the feet is also effective for congestion and coughs. Take honey in a spoon for cough.

A Himalayan salt lamp in the room can help kill off viruses and bacteria through an ionic function. Diffusing thieves oil in a room diffuser helps kill bacteria and viruses. Meditation and rest are useful to allow the body to heal. Health care providers recommend getting the flu shot every year as another preventative measure. The following is a recipe for a shower decongestant: 2 cups of baking soda Water (as needed) 10 drops eucalyptus oil 10 drops peppermint oil 5 drops rosemary oil 5 drops lavender oil Make sure your oils are of good quality. I usually use oils

Fitness Matters

Melissa Enzler St. Francis Anytime Fitness, Owner

Question The day after I run or lift weights, my low back is always achy. I’m not new to exercise so I am concerned I may be doing something wrong. Do you have any advice for eliminating low back pain? Answer Lower back tension can be experienced by sedentary people as well as highly trained athletes. Long periods of sitting along with any weight-bearing sport or exercise that involves running, jumping or rapid dynamic movements can produce tension on the low back. Without stretching the muscles after these types of activities, the lower back will tighten and low back strain or pain may occur. If you are not currently stretching, a great stretch to begin with is called Cat/Cow. This is a simple low back stretch and can be performed daily or after your workouts. Position yourself on your hands and knees. Slowly let your back and abdomen sag toward the floor. Then slowly arch your back, as if you are pulling your abdomen up toward the ceiling. Repeat this sequence five times and up to two times daily. With this said, understand we are talking about simple tension in the lower back and not an injury. If you have questions or would like to see an example of other stretches, we would be happy to help. We also have stretching classes that will make you feel wonderful.

from Young Living or The Apothecary Shoppe at ACHS. edu. Gradually add water to baking soda until just wet enough to stick together and form a very thick paste. Add in all essential oils and mix well to incorporate throughout. Place in mold of choice (I use ice cube trays). Allow paste to dry overnight or as long as it takes to be dry to the touch. Place in airtight container. Place one cube on the floor of the shower to melt and allow essential oils to permeate and relieve congestion. I hope these ideas are helpful. Have a healthy fall and winter season.

Engagement

Marty McGoey, son of Larry and Sandy McGoey of Oak Grove, will marry Lara Carlson in Brandon, South Dakota on July 23, 2016. Currently, the couple lives in Sioux Falls. Lara Carlson

We appreciate your generosity and kindness and look forward to serving you in 2016.

From all of us at

Sara Sauer, C.P.A., LLC in Ham Lake

Have a warm and fuzzy Christmas!

Best Wishes for the Coming Year.

from the

St. Francis Bottle Shop

Merry Christmas to your family from ours!

St. Francis Veterinary Clinic

The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

Master Gardener

Carol bray Isanti county master gardener

What was hot at Green Barn in 2015 I thought it would be interesting to find out from Kelsey Sparks of Green Barn Garden Center Inc. what the new and popular items were in the 2015 garden season. Sparks knows her plants and provided information as to why certain plants were popular or trendy this year. Here is her list: Perennials For hostas, Empress Wu has sold well the past couple of years. This plain green hosta is proclaimed to be the world’s largest hosta. In 2015, Green Barn saw a significant increase in demand for Asclepius tuberose, Asclepius incarnate, swamp milkweed and milkweed seed. People want to create a monarch butterfly habitat. (Carol’s note: “YAY”). An echinacea, commonly known as coneflower, named Cheyenne Spirit along with other new and unique colors was a big seller and is a strong performer for those who have it.

Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower File Photo

Herbs Green Barn sells the standard varieties, but Pinterest has caused a large increase in demand the past couple of years for lemongrass, lemon balm and citronella scented geranium as people are looking for plants to repel mosquitoes. Vegetables Mini sweet peppers, similar to those sold in grocery stores, have been of interest to customers, so more varieties are introduced each year. Lunchbox Pepper Mix of three colors, Cute Stuff Gold and Cute Stuff Red are some examples. Green Barn’s customers want the hottest peppers they can find, which is why the ghost pepper plant was popular. From 2006 to 2010, the ghost pepper was given the world’s hottest pepper title by Guinness World Records with a Scoville units reading of over one million and is three-times hotter than the habanero. Heirloom tomatoes have also been in demand the past few years. Fairy Plants Fairy plants in special packaging have been popular the past two to three years. Succulents are being sought after for miniature fairy gardens or general use. Trees Firefall maple (Acer x freemanii ‘AF#1’) is becoming popular as a substitute for Autumn Blaze because it is seedless. Shrubs Shorter versions of old favorite shrubs, new, unique foliage and flower colors are popular. Newer hydrangeas like Bobo, Bloomstruck, Fire and Ice, Strawberry Sundae

2015 Goal 679

Tons

53 Tons

Recycled in October St. Francis has recycled 508 tons in 2015 so far. Recycling is now easier with simple sort recycling. You no longer need to sort items. Just place them all in the large roll-off container provided by your hauler. If you have any questions about what is acceptable or would like to start a new service, call your hauler: Ace Solid Waste 763-427-3110 Allied Waste 763-784-2104 East Central Sanitation 763-689-2171 LePage & Sons 763-757-7100 The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org

and Vanilla Strawberry are popular. Short weigala or those with unique foliage like My Monet, Glow Girl spirea and Little Devil ninebark been great sellers and perform well in gardens. “It seems like anything a little bit different in shrubs has been popular,” Sparks said Newer barberry like Orange Rocket and Sunjoy Gold Pillar have also been in demand. Many of the older existing barberries will be phased out. Beginning January 1, 2018, some cultivars will become Restricted Noxious Weeds in Minnesota and will be illegal to sell and propagate www.mda.state.mn.us/ plants/pestmanagement/ weedcontrol/noxiouslist/ japanese barberry.aspx. Annuals Sunpatiens and bounce impatiens are alternatives for areas with downy mildew problems. Santa Cruz Sunset begonias, Calliope Dark Red and Fantasia Dark Red geraniums, many of the new coleus colors and Superbell Punch Series calibrachoas were popular this year too. If you’re not familiar with the above-mentioned plants, you may want to check them out. Thanks to Sparks for the interesting facts. For more information, visit Isanti County Master Gardeners’ website at www. isanticountymastergardeners. com, the University of Minnesota Extension website at www.extension.umn.edu or call the Isanti County Master Gardeners at 763-689-8254. You can also find us on Facebook at Isanti County Master Gardeners.

Recycling Days For All Anoka County Residents Saturday, December 12 & January 9 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

1825 Crosstown Boulevard NW at the Andover Recycling Center

Enter at the driveway of the hockey complex, across from Sunshine Park.

Appliances, electronics and fluorescent bulbs will be accepted. There is a charge for each item.

For fees, please visit www.andovermn.gov or contact JR’s Advanced Recycling at 651-454-9215.

makes Fido’s your Ask What favorite home away Fido: from home? “Easy. Four free walks a day, every day I’m here!”

More personal care boarding perks:

10% Off for new Grooming Customers!

• $18 per day plus a multi dog discount • Pick-up/drop-off 365 days a year • 24 hour on-site care • Maintaining Fido’s routine of pottying outside—we’re not in the business of starting bad habits • Free medication administration

Fido’s Barber Shop

19847 Orchid St. NW, Oak Grove

763-213-8143

www.fidosbarber.com All Breed Professional Dog Grooming and Personal Care Boarding Day and Evening Appointments

Happy Holidays! Schedule your pet’s grooming appointment now and beat the Christmas rush!

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Amy Morgan, Lisa Johnson, Kaija Youngner, Dawn Price, Alyssa Ziche,

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District schools recognized by Minnesota Department of Education Nichole Rens

ISD 15 Director, Curriculum & Instruction

This fall the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) notified Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) that three of our schools: East Bethel Community School (EBCS), St. Francis Elementary School (SFES) and St. Francis Middle School (SFMS), who provide federal Title I programming, were recognized for their effective instruction and educational practices. We are proud to announce that SFES has earned the distinction of Reward School for the fourth consecutive year. Reward Schools are the top 15 percent of all Title I schools in Minnesota based on a formula using Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) data. Being identified as a Reward School is a high distinction and rarely

achieved in consecutive years. “Being designated as a Reward School for the fourth consecutive year is an honor for St. Francis Elementary School. It is something we strive to attain on a yearly basis. The Reward School designation is a culmination of hard work put forth by all staff, exceptional student effort and supportive families in the SFES community,” said Ryan Johnson, SFES principal. EBCS and SFMS were also recognized for their effective instructional practices by MDE. Both schools met eligibility to apply to be Celebration Schools. Celebration-eligible schools are the 25 percent of schools directly below the Reward School status. EBCS and SFMS are both applying for Celebration status with MDE. In order to be eligible to apply for the Celebration designation,

the schools’ MCA data must show significant achievement and growth. According to EBCS Principal Angela Scardigli, “Teachers at EBCS have strongly committed to the Response to Intervention (RtI) model for all students in the areas of reading and math. Their hard work and follow through has shown in our increased test scores and higher student achievement.” SFMS Principal Dr. Bobbi Anderson Hume attributes her school’s academic achievement to the on-going work the staff does to develop a strong sense of belonging for each SFMS student. In addition, the staff “created and implemented a system of formative and summative assessments that were based upon teacher-identified essential benchmarks aligned to the Minnesota State Academic Standards” stated Anderson Hume. The work with

benchmarks and assessments provides staff an opportunity to focus their instruction and ensure student learning. The hard work put in at each school to receive these acknowledgments is a great example of ISD 15’s Core Value of “we believe that commitment to high expectations is essential to help achieve full individual and collective potential.” Through a collaborative effort of staff, students and parents, each student and staff member has the resources and support to achieve their highest individual success, while all three schools are also rewarded for their achievements as a collective. ISD 15 is proud of the great work these and all of our schools are doing in partnership with our students’ families and community members to provide our students with the best learning experiences possible.

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The Courier | December 2015/January 2016 | www.the-courier.org