The Courier - May 2015 by St. Francis Area Schools

The Courier May 2015 | Volume 22, Issue 10

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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

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

St. Francis High School cuts loose with spring musical Footloose Glenn Morehouse Olson SFHS Theatre Department Advisor

The iconic 80s movie musical Footloose bursts onto the St. Francis High School (SFHS) stage this month with all the powerful songs, energized dancing and great story line of the original movie. Footloose is based on a true story of a town in Oklahoma that outlawed dancing for 100 years. In 1980, teenagers confronted the town council and fought to have the ban lifted in order to have a dance. “Footloose,” “Almost Paradise,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” and “Holding Out for a Hero” are just a few of the songs audiences will enjoy in this energized show that celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people and guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind. “We know there was a modern version made of the film recently, but we’re really trying to take our audiences back to the 80s,” said the musical’s director Glenn Morehouse Olson. “Get ready, because big hair and bright colors are back.” In addition, the SFHS thespian troupe is using the opportunity to continue the community outreach and advocacy work they have done with recent shows. They are working with Hope4Youth in Anoka and invite patrons to bring donations of shoes, socks and other clothing items to benefit the drop-in center, which serves homeless youth in Anoka County. “There are a number of young people in our community who do not have the luxury of being ‘footloose’—some of them don’t even own a pair of shoes, much less get to dance in them,” said Morehouse Olson. People who bring in items for Hope4Youth will receive a $2 discount at the door on adult tickets. The most urgent needs are men’s and women’s tennis shoes, men’s boxer briefs (medium, large, extra large), men’s white undershirts, men’s jeans (size 28, 30, 31), men’s shorts, women’s underwear, women’s leggings, women’s colored socks and women’s pajamas (small, medium, large), as

St. Francis High School senior Max Mauch-Morff as Ren rehearses “I’m Free” in the spring musical, Footloose. Get ready to kick off your Sunday shoes when one of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the live stage with exhilarating results. To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind. Purchase tickets at seatyourself.biz/stfrancishs. submitted photo well as non-perishable food items. To learn more about Hope4Youth, visit Hope4YouthMN.org. Footloose opens 7:00 p.m. April 30 and returns to the stage 7:00 p.m. May 1 and 2 and 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Tickets for Footloose are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors at seatyourself.biz/stfrancishs. St. Francis High School Performing Arts Center is located at 3325 Bridge Street in St. Francis. “We have around 80 kids involved from onstage to technical staff to pit orchestra members. They’re looking forward to kicking off their Sunday shoes with a full house,” said Morehouse Olson.

What’s Inside Schools in Action.................................................. 2 School Board Highlights................................11 Community Education....................................13 Community & Business...................................16 Sports & Outdoors.............................................29 Meetings, Events & Benefits.........................33 Life...............................................................................34

Reverend Shaw Moore (junior Clayton Baker) lectures his daughter, Ariel (senior Natalie Hanson) in the St. Francis High School spring musical, Footloose. Students in the Theatre Department are dedicated to using theater as a means of social change. As part of community outreach, students are supporting a shoe (and other essentials) drive for Hope4Youth in Anoka. There are many homeless teens who are not “footloose” and students want to raise awareness. Audiences are encouraged to bring donation items to a performance. submitted photo

Schools in Action

School Board Highlights PAGE 11 Community Education PAGE 13

Superintendent’s Bulletin Troy Ferguson ISD 15 Acting Superintendent

I’ve said it every time I’ve had an opportunity over the past three years, “Thank you for all you do to make Independent School District 15 a great place.” What exactly do I mean by a great place and who am I thanking? Let’s start with the latter. I am thanking every ISD 15 student, parent, teacher, staff member, coach, volunteer, district resident, business, service provider, church and worker for their outstanding contributions to our community. Geographically, our District is a huge place, encompassing 165 square miles. It spans six

cities, three townships and portions of two counties. While there is no single downtown, we manage to maintain a small-town feel because of the outstanding people who reside and work here. Having lived in ISD 15 most of my life, I feel abundantly qualified to describe why our District is such a great place. First though, I feel compelled to disclose that I’ve always felt we (all of ISD 15) do not do a very good job touting our own strengths and successes. Too often, we rely on, or worse, allow others to describe or label our community as they

see fit without the benefit of actually living here and experiencing first-hand the dedication, kindness and commitment we have for our children and each other. That is especially true in times of crisis. Time and time again, our community works together to help each other. We have active Lions clubs, church organizations, school groups, youth groups, senior groups, booster clubs, business groups, families, individuals…The list is long and all these people are ready to unselfishly help our neighbors when needs arise. We have an outstanding

school system filled with dedicated staff. Their daily focus and commitment is to deliver top notch instruction and high quality opportunities to our students, families and our community. As a graduate of St. Francis High School, I am very proud to say I will forever be a St. Francis Saint! So many of us who went to school here, continue to live and raise our families here. I am thrilled to report that our District completed work on our first five-year strategic plan on April 23. The three teams: Core Planning, Measurement and Design and Action Planning met numerous

times (and at least 40 hours each) since October 2014 to develop this plan. Each team was an eclectic representation of community members and each was dedicated to the task of producing a product that promotes not just change, but transformation of our District. We have set our sights on that transformation and the strategic plan will be the road map to guide us through the inclusive, transparent process. The strategic plan will be presented to our School Board for consideration and approval in May. These are indeed exciting times in ISD 15.

Classes will not be session in Independent School District 15 on Monday, May 25.

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Superintendent Saxton resigns Kathleen Miller Staff Writer

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While learning about the branches of government, fifth graders at East Bethel Community School had the opportunity to ask some of our local political leaders questions about our government and Constitution. Mayor Steve Kane from St. Francis, Mayor Mark Korin from Oak Grove and Councilman Scott Lawrence from Oak Grove came into the classroom and shared their experiences and knowledge of our government. Students gained insight to what government is like today and a spark of interest resulted as well. Cassie Schmoll, EBCS Community Relations Coordinator

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At the Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) School Board meeting April 13, two agenda items were added: Item E. Resignation, Settlement and Release Agreement and Item F. Resignation of Edward Saxton. Item F was the action to officially accept the resignation of Saxton. At the conclusion of the meeting, ISD 15 leadership released the following statement: Effective April 13, 2015, Mr. Saxton has resigned from ISD 15. In addition, Mr. Saxton has agreed to settle all legal matters with the District and both parties have agreed to release all pending and future litigation against the other. This settlement allows us to close the book on this matter and focus all of our energy where it needs to be—on the education of our students and the renewed partnership with our community. While it is true the past year has been a challenging one for our District, our community has continued to move together in partnership toward a positive future for our students. We would like to thank our staff, administration, union leadership, families, community members and most of all, our students for continuing to work hard and staying focused on what matters most. We have been pleased with the changes that have been happening in ISD 15 over the past several months. These include a renewed cooperative relationship between our School Board and administrative team, a renewed commitment to transparency and trust building and the extensive commitment and work from stakeholders from across our district and community in developing our first comprehensive fiveyear strategic plan, which will be brought to the School Board for approval this May. We are looking ahead to the future in ISD 15 with great optimism as we continue working together to ensure we are meeting the high expectations of our community and that we are developing and delivering high quality programming that meets the educational needs of our students. David Roberts ISD 15 School Board Chairman Troy Ferguson ISD 15 Acting Superintendent The motion set forth passed unanimously. Discussion followed regarding the superintendent position and setting a direction for that leadership position. Board members weighed in and by consensus, agreed to schedule a work session to discuss options and gather information to make a plan for the future.

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St. Francis Elementary School raises over $10,000 for the American Heart Association Scott Kruger SFES Dean of Students

The month of February was Heart Month and St. Francis Elementary School (SFES) participated in the Jump Rope for Heart event sponsored by the American Heart

Association. The month was filled with several activities led by physical education teacher Stacey Nelson to help students learn about eating healthy foods and getting lots of exercise. SFES kicked off the month with a demonstration from the American Heart

Heidi Wold’s class was excited to learn about Due Process Facilitator Robyn Smith’s, hobby of dog sledding. Students also connected this new knowledge to what they were learning in class about the Alaska Iditarod. This great race takes place each March in Alaska. Heidi Wold, CCCS 2nd Grade Teacher Kaitlyn Swiech’s name, along with 70 other student’s names who raised over $50 for Jump Rope for Heart, were placed in a drawing to have a Subway lunch with an Independent School District 15 leader. Swiech had lunch with Acting Superintendent Troy Ferguson. Submitted Photo

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DEMO team, displaying double-dutch jumping and individual and group rope jumping. Many students collected online donations. For some, the drive to earn a “duck” for the duck pond or just to raise some money to prevent heart disease helped SFES raise over $10,000 for the American Heart Association. To promote our campaign, we displayed and allowed students to read their “My Heart” stories on the morning announcements, displayed a large duck pond with student names on ducks, displayed a jump rope in the shape of a heart and displayed Jump Rope for Heart posters. In all, 212 students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, raised funds. One of the incentives for the students to raise over $50 was a Subway lunch with one of our district leaders. Seventy students raised over $50 and five student were selected: Makayla Mitchell ate lunch with Transportation Program Supervisor Dean Krause, Hannah Linson ate lunch with Human Resource Director Brandon Nelson, Katelyn Swiech ate lunch with Acting Superintendent Troy Ferguson, Chase Liebel ate lunch with Director of Curriculum & Instruction Paul Neubauer and Kaden Micheels ate lunch with Principal Ryan Johnson. SFES would like to thank the American Heart Association for their support and guidance, as well as the students and families within our community for their very generous donations to our campaign.

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Elementary school students helped fill a need girl who was helped by FMSC. This girl only weighed 11 pounds and couldn’t sit, stand, walk or talk. After her mother walked four miles round trip daily to get MannaPacks she started to thrive. The after picture was heartwarming for all of us. During a two-hour period, we filled 105 boxes with 36 MannaPacks in each box. One pack feeds six people. Each meal was hand packed by the students and adults. These meals are nutritionally complete with a blend of twenty vitamins and minerals to fuel healthy child development. By the end of our two-hour shift, our efforts helped provide 22,248 meals! We even got to taste a sample at the end of our session. Volunteering at FMSC is a wonderful experience for both children and adults. Each one of us can make a difference.

Karen Holsten Candi Blosberg SFES Teachers

March 19 was a mindaltering day for 47 third grade St. Francis Elementary School students and 29 parents who volunteered at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Coon Rapids. The students discovered earlier in the year that there are starving children living in more than 70 countries around the world. Some of these children receive fortified meals (MannaPacks) through FMSC. FMSC receives no government support. So before Karen Holsten’s and Candi Blosberg’s classes went, the students held a fundraiser at SFES to help pay for some of the food, shipping and supplies needed to feed starving children around the world. Students made posters, distributed fliers to classrooms, collected donations and counted the money. By the end of the week, a total of $918.06 was raised. This is enough to feed ten children for a year. When we arrived at FMSC, students learned that our meals that day would bring nourishment to people in Haiti. Students were able to go into a home on display in the gathering room that showed how these poor people live. One was a thatched hut; the other was a cardboard enclosure. We also saw a before and after picture of a three-year-old

St. Francis Elementary School students, staff and parents took a field trip to Feed My Starving Children on March 19. Submitted Photo

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Seventh grade students work to end blindness Ted Gehring SFMS Social Studies Teacher

Earlier this school year, St. Francis Middle School (SFMS) 7th grade students committed themselves to making our world a better place through joining We Act. As a member of this organization, kids were charged with writing two civic action plans—one tackling a local issue and one tackling a global issue. During this past trimester,

Courier Contacts Telephone ��763-753-7031 Fax ��763-753-4693 Advertising ��763-753-7032 Billing ��763-753-7031 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

students tackled their global goal of making the world a better place. Students decided to partner with our local St. Francis Lion’s Club and help people in poor and developing countries by holding an eyeglass drive. Students set a goal of empowering 65 percent of the entire student body to donate one pair of eyeglasses (712 total eyeglasses) and gained an audience with building administration. With administrators in attendance, students pitched their ideas and gained approval to run an entire week dedicated to raising awareness for vision impairment. During their allotted week, students packed the middle school gym before school with “Minute to Win It” games, sports and contests creating a carnival atmosphere.

Students that brought a pair of eyeglasses or a $1.00 donation received a wristband to enter the gym and partake in the fun. Students also created daily activities tied to raising awareness for vision impairment for students that had completed homework during study hall. These activities included a daily three to five minute educational YouTube video, word find and crossword puzzle. The end result of the eyeglass drive exceeded all expectations. In one week’s time, students nearly doubled their goal by collecting 1,418 pairs of eyeglasses. Additionally, the “Minute to Win It” activities raised $540, which was donated to the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank.

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Advertising Sales Janice Audette ��763-753-7032 janice.audette@isd15.org Graphic Designer Pat Johnson ��763-753-7025 pat.johnson@isd15.org Deb Thayer ��763-753-7033 deborah.thayer@isd15.org Billing Amy Lindfors ��763-213-1588 amy.lindfors@isd15.org Production Binie Bertils Address 4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW St. Francis, MN 55070-9368 Deadline Information Deadline for the June issue of The Courier is May 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 (12 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. 6

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Joe Robinette, 7th grade math teacher, received a pie in the face from Jacob Magnuson during lunch as a celebration for students achieving their drive goal. Submitted Photo

Anti-Bullying Club at middle school Sydney Holmberg SFMS student

Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever been scared to walk the halls of your school knowing that a bully is there? If you said yes to one of those questions, you are not alone. There are many people in this world who have been bullied and you’re not the only one who wants it to stop. The Anti-Bullying Club at St. Francis Middle School is a hard-working club trying to prevent bullying. Twelve-year-old Cordelia Stoeckel started the Anti-Bullying Club to put an end to bullying, but the club can’t do it all alone. You can help by telling the bully to stop or telling a responsible adult because bullying is not right. Bullying was never meant to happen, so take a stand and help us put bullying to rest by joining, calling the tip line below or communicating with one of our members. The Anonymous Tip Line phone number is 763-213-8600.

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Author visits St. Francis Elementary School Hannah Pagel SFES Community Relations Coordinator

Newbery Honor winning poet Joyce Sidman visited St. Francis Elementary School (SFES) and spoke to students about her craft and techniques. She is the author of many award-winning poetry books and hails from Minnesota. Sidman writes poetry inspired by

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nature and many are paired with scientific facts about the poem’s subject. SFES students prepared for her visit reading her poems and re-creating artwork from her books, which decorated the halls of the school on the day of her visit. Many students left her presentation with a personalized, autographed book and dreams of becoming a poet!

Pictured are Jody Casello’s fifth graders with poet Joyce Sidman and Principal Ryan Johnson. Submitted Photo

Hannah Pagel SFES Community Relations Coordinator

The St. Francis Elementary School (SFES) program, Take A Book, Leave A Book, is going so well that we are running out of books! Please consider donating gently used and/or new (K-5) books to our program. Who Anyone who wishes to help create a love of reading in each of our St. Francis Elementary School students, as well as helping them to build their own home libraries. What Donating books in good condition which you no longer read or use and are appropriate for K-5 children. Where Bins are set up in the hallways for collection purposes. Just drop them at the office at SFES or SFEN and we will take care of them from there. When Community members can bring

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books for Take A Book, Leave A Book anytime. Why To foster a love of reading in all of our students and to make sure there are books in every student’s home. How the program works Students can take only one book a day, but they can take a book every day if they want. All the books on the Take A Book, Leave A Book shelves are marked with a sticker that has a “T” on it. This is so students and parents know this is a book they can keep. Students can return a book if they get tired of it and they can bring books from home that they don’t read anymore (with parent permission, of course). If you have any questions about our program, please contact Jody Casello, fifth grade teacher or Cathy Paquay, reading specialist. The readers at SFES thank you for your generous donations to our Take A Book, Leave A Book program.

Jen’s Alterations Specializing in bridal gowns, bridesmaid and mother’s dresses and formal gowns. All other alterations welcome.

Located in St. Francis 763-753-9823

763-421-0141

Amanda Stoltman O.D.

13855 Round Lake Boulevard VSP Provider Andover

Nip Allergies

in the Bud

Mon, Thurs, Fri

8:30-5:30 Tues, Wed 8:30-8:00

Goodrich Pharmacy

23168 St. Francis Blvd. NW, Suite #300 St. Francis

763.753.6019 Jeffrey W. Williams, O.D.

Andover................763-434-1901

We have solutions for every sniffle, sneeze, cough, itch or wheeze.

St. Francis............763-753-0222

Questions? Ask our friendly pharmacists. Prescriptions filled while you wait.

Blaine....................763-717-0222 Fridley .................763-780-0222

Easy Prescription Transfers

www.goodrichpharmacy.com

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

St. Francis Eyecare

Jeff Smith O.D.

Hours: M-F 9 am-8 pm; Sat 9 am-3 pm

Anoka...................763-421-5540

Andover Family Eyecare 3480 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW, Suite #101 Andover

Elk River..............763-441-0764

763.712.9854 Amanda Schmitz, O.D.

Providers for EyeMed, VSP, Medica, BCBS, HealthPartners, Preferred One, Davis Vision and many more.

Box Tops for Education contest raises over $5,000 Sandra Benson CCCS Community Relations Coordinator

The Parent Teacher Organization at Cedar Creek Community School (CCCS) sponsored a Box Top for Education contest to raise money for the school. Students brought in 53,783 box tops raising $5,378.30. The winning classroom at each grade level was able to spend the money they raised for many things, including field-trips, educational supplies and games for the classroom. Certificates were presented to each class, thanking them for their contributions. Classroom winners were: kindergarten - Julie Kellerman, $428; 1st grade - Katherine Olsen, $235.40; 2nd grade - Amy Baar, $245.80; 3rd grade - Anne Marie Carter, $178.50; 4th grade - Holli Hillman, $293.10; fifth grade - Mary Kay Tonsager, $292.60 and Special Education - Christy Meld, $83.60. Thank you to everyone who clipped box tops. At CCCS, we have been able to raise money to help our school purchase needed items and pay for field trips.

Drug grant awareness money provides opportunity to teach through drama Jessica Rowles SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

On March 12, seventh and eighth grade students from St. Francis Middle School (SFMS) attended a one-act play at St. Francis High School, put on by the Theatre Department led by instructor Glenn MorehouseOlson. The Brick and the Rose is a play dealing with drug addiction, abuse, overdose and relationships, topics close to the heart of our district’s community. According to Dramatists Play Service Inc., “The play is an expressionistic reading and a kaleidoscopic drama of a young boy of the slums from the moment of

his birth in a charity hospital until his tragic death.” A local organization, “For Jake’s Sake” provided the necessary funds for bussing the students to the play. After the play, students were separated into groups led by high school students involved in the play, for discussion regarding aspects of the drama. Some of the questions discussed included, “What do you think is the message of the play?” “How did Tommy’s (main character) chemical use affect his relationships?” and “How did Tommy’s friends influence his choices?” The discussion was monitored by one of the classroom teachers. The play

had a profound influence on students. Seventh grade student Lindsey Peterson stated, “I thought it was a very powerful piece and it taught kids that you shouldn’t do drugs. Even if it is your first try, you can get hooked.” SFMS Principal Bobbi AndersonHume shared, “It was an important event for several reasons. We want students to repeatedly hear the message about the damage chemical use does to our lives. Adolescence is when most students who use begin experimenting, so we can’t pretend it’s not an issue. But also, any time we can partner with the high school, our kids get to see their future and the opportunities that await them. It allows middle school students to see quality role models in our high school students and it reminds our kids what they are working for.” St. Francis Middle School students took were able to view the one-act play The Brick and the Rose. After the play students were separated into small groups to discuss the play’s message of drug addiction, abuse and overdose. Submitted Photo

Christy Meld’s special education class raised $83.60 worth of Box Tops for Education. Submitted Photo

Education Driver’s

at St. Francis High School

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. The fee is $110.

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

Middle school teacher Ted Gehring awarded scholarship Jessica Rowles SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

St. Francis Middle School teacher Ted Gehring was one of 72 educators from across the nation recently selected to work with our country’s leading Civil War historians at Ford’s Theatre July 26-August 1. As a recipient of The Seat

or War and Peace: Lincoln Assassination and its Legacy in the Nation’s Capital scholarship, Gehring will have a chance to visit the locations of the assassination, Booth’s escape and the ensuing military tribunal. His group will also visit Arlington National Cemetery, Frederick Douglass’s home and the African American Civil War

St. Patrick Catholic Church

19921 Nightingale Street, Oak Grove

Youth Plant Sale Hanging baskets and gift certificates available on May 9 and 10, Mother’s Day Weekend after each Mass.

Thursday, May 14 • 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Friday, May 15 • 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16 • 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 17 • 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Call 763-753-2011 with questions.

Applications available at www.communityed15.com or call 763-213-1640 for more information.

All proceeds from this sale go directly toward youth activities in our parish. We look forward to your support.

Sponsored by ISD 15 Community Education

Annuals • Herbs • Hanging Baskets

Ted Gehring

Submitted Photo

Memorial. The goal is to bring back creative ways of teaching this historical period that incorporate powerful primary sources housed at Ford Theatre’s new digital primary source library, Remembering Lincoln. The scholarship is awarded by the National Endowment of the Humanities and Landmarks of American History

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Fun was had by all on Carnival Night High school senior accepted to Abe Gabor

Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute

you so much!

EBCS fifth Grade Teacher

East Bethel Community School (EBCS) students, parents and staff would like to thank everyone who helped organize and run the Carnival Pizza Night. It was a combined effort between our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), Kohl’s Cares Associates in Action, parents, staff and National Honor Society students from St. Francis High School. It was great fun for all. The night included games, pizza and beverages and the ever popular dunk tank! This year many individuals braved the tank to help raise money, thanks to Angie Scardigli, Jamie Studnicka, Ryan Fierick and Michael Werner. All of the money raised will go into the PTO fund for activities and items that benefit our students. EBCS could not provide family events such as this without the volunteers who donate time and efforts. Thank

Carline Sargent ISD 15 Multicultural/Diversity Liaison

National Honor Society students from St. Francis High School ran the Plinko game during Carnival Pizza Night at East Bethel Community School

Submitted Photo

Dick Henz recently drove his 1931 Plymouth to The Courier office to pick up posters that were created for the St. Francis Friday Nite Rally Car Show. While there, students and teachers from Crossroads School & Vocational Center came over to get a closer look at the car, which Henz said took him over three years to restore. He shared photos of how the car looked when he first acquired it. Students had many questions for Henz, who took time to answer each and every one. It was a spontaneous moment. Car shows are a free, familyfriendly event held Friday nights, May 15-September 11, 5:00 p.m. until dusk (weather permitting) at the St. Francis City Center Mall. THE Courier photo

East Bethel Community School (EBCS) staff and students ended Trimester 2 with their second Eagle Pride assembly. At the assembly, fourth and fifth grade honor roll students were announced as well as Eagle Pride T-shirt recipients. The EBCS choir performed the school’s respect song with Cassie Schmoll’s fifth graders as backup singers. During the assembly, the student body was informed that for the second time this school year, they had reached their goal of earning 1,500 golden Eagle feathers. In celebration of this accomplishment, classes paired up throughout the school, playing games with one another. Debra Tonn’s second grade class and Jamie Studnicka’s fifth grade gym class took the opportunity to enjoy the amazing weather outside and played a game of cooperative kickball! Cassie Schmoll, EBCS Community Relations Coordinator

Pioneer Days

Under the Tent

Sign-Up for the

Youth Summer Bowling Pass

Alyssa Littlewolf a senior at St. Francis High School has been accepted into the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute at the University of South Dakota. The Institute provides two weeks of workshops for talented and committed high school art students to learn about contemporary Native American Fine Arts with a focus on Native American culture, history and traditions. All courses are taught by impressive professional artists, such as Don Montileaux, Roger Broer, Bunky Echo-Hawk and Marwin Begaye, who provide cultural insight to the importance of the visual arts. These classes make up the basis of the institute and students are afforded several hours each day to concentrate on their own assignments and explore the specified media and subject matter. Participants also work together on group projects such as murals, limited edition prints and posters. In addition, Institute participants enjoy field trips to area museums and cultural facilities. To celebrate, the St. Francis High School senior Alyssa finale of each institute is Littlewolf was recently accepted into marked by an honoring the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute. ceremony, gallery Submitted photo

l a t n e R t n e m u r t s In Lesson Program Rent • Buy • New • Used Band, Orchestra, Guitars, Drums

Bring your instruments in and we’ll sell them.

May 1 through August 31

2 Games of Bowling and Shoe Rental for

only

Join us on Friday, June 5 for the Killer Hayseeds and Saturday, June 6 for Maiden Dixie. Plus bingo with a guaranteed $1,000 cover all on Sunday, June 7.

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Repair Guitar Supplies Piano Books (In Stock or Order)

www.reynoldsmusicanoka.com

Offer valid Monday through Friday for ages 10 to 16. Participants ages 10-13 must be accompanied by an adult. Not valid with any other promotions or specials.

Patriot Lanes Bar and Grill Check us out at patriotlanesbarandgrill.com

3085 Bridge Street, St. Francis 763-753-4011 Hours 11:00 am-1:00 am

exhibition and sales of works the students have created. The ceremony attracts over 100 attendees, including the families of the students, faculty and staff, the local community and often Oscar Howe’s family. Oscar Howe (19151983) was a Yanktonai Dakota artist from South Dakota, who became well known for his casein and tempera paintings. He is credited with influencing contemporary Native American art. Next school year Littlewolf will be attending Winona State University, majoring in art education and graphic design.

763-421-1062

108 Main Street • Anoka www.reynoldsmusicanoka.com

Consignment Center MUSIC &Educator Approved Instruments 1/15

Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30-8; Friday 9:30-6; Saturday 9-4 9

National Pi Day dominated at middle school Jessica Rowles SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

Each year there is an under appreciated holiday that takes place. On March 14, math nerds from all around the world get out their calculators and celebrate National Pi Day! This year marked a historic Pi Day because for the first time since 1915, the first 10 digits of pi were listed in order via the date and time: 3/14/15 at 9:26.53. Unless you live another 100 years, this will be the only time to experience a Pi Day of such significance! Now, all cheesiness aside, pi is the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle. Students in Nathan Beich’s math classes recently completed a unit on area and circumference of circles in the week leading up to National Pi Day adequately named “Pi-Fest.” They demonstrated their knowledge through many calculations and real-life examples. At the end of Pi-Fest, the classes had a friendly competition to see who could successfully memorize the most digits of pi. Many students gave valiant efforts but three students – Donna Vlasyuk (8th), Cameron Nelson (8th) and Spencer Sears (7th) – stood out above the rest. Hall of Fame basketball player Wilt Chamberlain once scored 100 points in a single game. This was an amazing accomplishment and showed his superiority of the game. Great achievements often go unrecognized, but I hope this will not be the case for these three individuals. Vlasyuk memorized the first 82 digits of pi in an amazing act of memory and skill. Nelson followed that by becoming the first person to triple digits by setting the 8th grade school record with 101 digits! Not to be outdone, Sears was determined to break the record and eventually achieved his goal by correctly reciting the first 111 digits of pi. Make sure to congratulate each of these students for their unbelievable feats and remember the next time March 14 comes around that it’s not just another day, but instead a national holiday! 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820 9749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679…

Student Updates Alex Gray named 2015 Peace Scholar Alex Gray, a 2012 graduate of St. Francis High School, has been named a 2015 Peace Scholar of Concordia College Moorhead. The Peace Scholars program, sponsored by Augsburg, St. Olaf, Augustana (SD), Luther, Pacific Lutheran and Concordia, is designed to deepen students’ understanding of the central issues and theories regarding conflict, war and peace. A cohort of two students from each college has been awarded this scholarship to study for seven weeks this summer in Norway, starting at the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue in Lillehammer, with continuation of the program at the Oslo International Summer School. At the conclusion of the program, the Peace Scholars will receive academic credit for two courses. The 2015 Peace Scholars were introduced at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis.

Gray is currently a junior at Concordia Moorhead, majoring in social studies education and political science. In the 2015 fall semester, Grey plans to study abroad in India for four months in a global studies program. He is the son of Thomas and Rosalie Gray of Oak Grove.

Jessica St. Marie has received a $500 Ignite Scholarship from Minnesota State University (MSU) Moorhead. St. Marie is the daughter of Janie St. Marie, St. Francis. The Freshman Ignite Scholarship awards $500 for the freshman year and requires a high school class rank in the top 50 percent and a score of 21-23 on the ACT exam. MSU Moorhead is a comprehensive regional university enrolling approximately 7,500 students and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Cameron Nelson celebrated National Pi Day by becoming the first person in her 8th grade class with 101, triple digits. Submitted Photo

Alex Gray (2015) (left) pictured with other Concordia Peace Scholars, Madeline Hyde (2014), Anne Savereide (2014) and Matthew Lillehaugen (2015). Submitted Photo

We’ll help you get Recycling Days growing For All Anoka County Residents

Annual Plant Sale 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

1825 Crosstown Boulevard NW at the Andover Recycling Center

Sunday, May 17

Proceeds will benefit the youth attending the National Youth Gathering in Detroit, Michigan this July.

Long Lake Lutheran Church 3921 277th Ave NW, Isanti, MN 763-444-5315 • www.longlakeluth.org

Sunday Worship Services 8:00 & 9:30 a.m. Education/Sunday School Hour 9:30 a.m. Wednesday Service 7:17 p.m.

9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

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

Appliances, electronics and fluorescent bulbs will be accepted. There are fees for each item.

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

Nancy Zak EBCS 4th Grade Teacher

Jessica St. Marie receives MSU Moorhead scholarship

Saturdays May 9, June 13, August 8

Fourth graders travel to Texas with a little help from technology Thanks to modern technology and “Connect2Texas,” fourth graders at East Bethel Community School (EBCS) were able to visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum and participate in the Distance Learning program, First Encounters: When the Conquistadors Met the Karankawa. Here are a few highlights from what they learned: “Did you know that the conquistadors are European people who explored a lot? They searched all over the world to find new land. The conquistadors came from Spain to the coast of Texas near the Gulf of Mexico.” Brooke W. and Claire A. from Nancy Zak’s class. “Did you know that the conquistadors came because of God, Gold and Glory? But not all trades were good ones. Sometimes their trades brought death and sickness.” John S. and Elsie F. from Zak’s class. “Did you know that the Karankawa ate shellfish and then they built a tool out of the shells and used sticks for the handle? They called it an adze and they used it for digging.” Nathan C. and Easton J. Alexa Gustafson’s class. “Did you know that the Karankawa used the bison for many things like when they took the horns off of the bison and used them for cups, or when they took the fur they used it for clothing?” Gabby R. and Grace C. from Gustafson’s class. “Did you know that when the Karankawa met the conquistadors they started trading things from America and the conquistadors started trading things from Spain? Lily K. and Sydney O.” from Gustafson’s class. Are you interested in knowing more about the Karankawa and conquistadors first encounters? Ask a fourth grader from EBCS. They are sure to have more details!

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

School Board Highlights School Board Perspective Barb Jahnke

Footings, flashing and lessons learned You may ask what footings and flashings have to do with the Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) School Board. It is my attempt to answer the hard questions coming to the Board lately. As I worried about answering the inquiries that go something like. “Whatever is the Board doing and why is it taking so long?” While I looked for a concise explanation and hoping for inspiration, I decided to sit on my deck with a cup of coffee and think. To my surprise, the deck offered more than sunshine and soft breezes; the deck itself became the analogy to respond to the inquiries. While sitting there, memories flashed in my mind from five years earlier, when the former deck, which was no longer safe and reliable and had not been utilized for years, needed replacement. I had thought about going without a deck, but could not because of lower level walkout, which would leave a large and dangerous hole. I had held off on the project because of

School Board Members David Roberts, Chairman 763-843-0013 Marsha Van Denburgh, Vice Chairwoman 763-753-6653 Barbara Jahnke, Clerk 763-753-6846 Suzanne Erkel, Treasurer 763-413-1195 Janet Hunt, Director 763-221-5341 Amy Kelly, Director 763-744-8458 Betsy Roed, Director 763-434-9570 Email: schoolboard@isd15.org

expense, but decided it was time to move ahead five years ago. A capable fellow named Mike was employed to do the work. The old deck was removed from the house and then reality set in when Mike reported his findings. The house itself was in big trouble. The deck had been improperly attached to the house, which had caused significant damage to the integrity of the home’s foundation and support system. At this point, I was exposed to a whole new vocabulary with words such as rim joist, support beams, ledger boards and flashing. In my words, big important boards were rotten. I was so disappointed. Because of this damage and associated problems created by the situation, other extensive repairs were needed outside as well as inside the house. The one summer project became a three-year renovation. During this time, visitors to my home were asking “What are you doing with this big, dangerous hole and why are you leaving it exposed so long?” Our school district has been in need of similar restorations. The structural foundation has been in such disrepair that it threatens other components of our wonderful schools. Since this problem was identified, ISD 15 has been involved in a massive cleanup and rebuilding of its support beams, ledger boards, rim joists and footings. Like the foundation of a house and the supports for a deck, critical elements of a trustworthy, predictable

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, May 11 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 26 6:00 p.m. Retiree Recognition Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. Monday, June 8 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

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

support structure are not easily observable. Here is a sample of the work being done to stabilize ISD 15 by hundreds of volunteers and staff: Strategic plan For the last nine months, community volunteers and ISD 15 staff have worked together to create a five-year plan which addresses the needs of the schools and community in a designed, predictable way. Collaboration and communication All committee meetings and negotiation meetings are open, unless allowed closed by state statutes. Meeting times are posted on our website. Data driven decisions Data related to decisions at hand is being made available. Trustworthy student programming Programming is aligned with state and federal statutes. Some programming has been discontinued and is

School Board Highlights

March 23, 2015

Kathleen Miller Staff writer

All board members present Happenings Around the District Community Education Rec Department Program Supervisor Diane Guinn along with Barb Anderson, coach and referee, presented highlights of the department to the School Board. There were over 2500 participants in the past school year and summer. The Rec Department has created opportunities for the community. Football is the only activity where teams travel outside of the school district. Rec, short for recreation, provides positive, lifelong learning opportunities for participants and fans alike, promoting respect, engagement and confidence. Diversity in ISD 15 Carline Sargent, multicultural liaison and Sara Tramm, data coach, presented in-depth data that was collected regarding the diversity of students and families in ISD 15. The report can be viewed at https://infogr. am/isd_15_diversity_data.

being replaced with state approved programs. We are currently developing an online component for our district, as one example. Clear, unambiguous employee contracts and evaluations Our teacher contract has been reviewed by Minnesota School Board Association, with numerous suggestions for changes that will reduce vagueness and contradictions. Other contracts will be reviewed in a similar manner. Competitive and fair employee compensation This is an ongoing process, but we are making strides toward our goals through recent negotiations and reconfiguration of job duties. Teacher Academy Our Teacher Academy, which deals with staff development and support, has been revising and updating their curriculum.

Building security and safety Updated security systems have now been placed in district buildings. Policies and procedures A committee has been put in place and is reviewing the district’s policies and is making recommendations for revisions. User friendly technology After considerable research and review, Infinite Campus and Skyward have been selected as student and business data systems. These neglected support structures are now being revitalized. They are our district’s footings and flashings, which are not easily noticeable. On this foundation, we will move forward with visible, safe, predictable and planned changes for the better. The lesson learned from the deck is that anything worth doing is worth taking the time to do right.

Sugar Hills Regional Trail Proposal Karen Blaska, Anoka County Parks and Recreation park planner, presented the proposal of the master plan for the Sugar Hills Regional Trail. The trail proposes to connect Oak Grove, St. Francis and Nowthen. The proposal has been presented to the St. Francis City Council, who provided feedback for an alternate alignment. A new pedestrian bridge over Highway 47 in St. Francis has now been added to the proposal. The School Board is favorable to the addition of the pedestrian bridge, as concerns for students’ safety in crossing Highway 47 near St. Francis Middle School (SFMS) is a constant issue. The Board proposed that Blaska and ISD 15 administrators work together to find the best option for the portion of the trail that will be on ISD 15 property. Teacher/Mentor Task Force Linda Ericson, Office of Teaching and Learning, presented recommendations from a task force that was assembled to review teacher/ mentor positions. The task force met a total of nine times to discuss questions and concerns addressed during the last round of

contract negotiations. The group recommended establishing four mentor positions and setting the stipend for each position. The recommendations will go next to the Joint Standing Committee. The mentor job description will be included in the Teacher Academy handbook and published on the Office of Teaching and Learning website.

School Board Highlights

April 13, 2015

Kathleen Miller Staff writer

All board members present Kids Connection/Just 4 Kids Chris Schlottman, program supervisor of Kids Connection and Just 4 Kids, provided an update of the childcare programs. Kids Connection is a before/after school program for students in kindergarten to grade 5 and is offered at Cedar Creek Community School and St. Francis Elementary School. Kids Connection is also offered during the summer and on non-school weekdays. Just 4 Kids, a 4-year-old childcare program, provides children with a safe, fun experience Continued Page 12 11

The following students have been chosen by their teachers as Student of the Month: Payton Beedle, Lexie Doyle, Peyton Hallberg, Sarah Johnson, Shelby Lawin, Parker Leipzig, Jackie Schadewald, Amme Sheforgen, Terren Stenger. Congratulations to these student leaders in our classrooms! A thank you goes to Casey’s General Store in St. Francis for donating pizza for the lunch.

Jessica Rowles, SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

From Page 11

School Board Highlights while offering families a variety of childcare options. Site Report: St. Francis High School Principal Doug Austin presented an overview of highlights from St. Francis High School to the School Board. This year, changes in attendance have shown a reduction in the number of unexcused absences, which is a positive. In place in the high school is Pathways to Success, which focuses on assisting every student with their career path and helping them reach their evolving dreams. Features include postsecondary options including

college and vocational choices, college-in-school classes, advanced placement classes and a focus on taking active ownership in our community, where students have been involved in a number of community service projects. Amendment to Agenda Board approved adding two agenda items regarding the resignation of Superintendent Edward Saxton. See article on page 3 for details. Write Source Writing Adoption Paul Neubauer, director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented an overview of the Write and Speak adoption. Learning Area Committee members contributed to the presentation to the School Board. In attendance were Alicia Stoffel, SFHS language arts teacher, Jessica Rowles,

Saturday, May 2 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

St. Francis Middle School language arts teacher, Jodi Casello, St. Francis Elementary School teacher and Anne Carter, Cedar Creek Community School teacher. They presented information from each of their perspectives. Lillian DeRung, data assessment and intervention coordinator, spoke on the District’s commitment to professional development and the quality writing program. The Assessment, Curriculum & Teaching Committee (ACT) voted unanimously to adopt the curriculum for the 201415 school year. ACT meets quarterly and provides active community participation in reviewing the school district instruction and curriculum. The teachers spoke about the integration of writing across the curriculum Bus Leasing Information Scott Nelson, director of Business Services and Dean Krause, program supervisor of the Transportation Department, presented the School Board with information regarding the possible leasing of a propane bus fleet. Currently, there are three propane buses in the District’s fleet. Some of the reasons to lease rather than purchase include operating new buses that are under warranty, lease term would be for six years with the option to purchase the bus for $1.00, the cost of propane is less that diesel fuel or gasoline and propane buses don’t need to be plugged in during the cold months. The last time the district purchased buses was in 2007, so the current fleet is aging, requiring more maintenance and parts. The District would run the same number of routes and keep the same number of bus drivers. The School Board gave direction to gather detailed information regarding leasing buses and to present a proposal at a future meeting.

Andover Community Center, 15200 Hanson Blvd. NW

Sewing machine won’t sew? Toaster won’t toast? Toy helicopter won’t fly? Don’t throw them out! Come to our Andover Fix-It Clinic where coaches give free, This guided assistance to help you disassemble, FREE Clinic troubleshoot and repair your broken items. is Open to Fix-It Clinics reduce the amount of stuff Everyone! that gets thrown in the trash, teaches valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills and builds community connections. These are family-friendly events. Volunteer Fix-It Coaches are needed to make this day a success. If you have skills in soldering, electronics, electrical, computer repair, sewing or general tinkering and handyman skills, please contact Cindy DeRuyter at c.deruyter@andovermn.gov or call 763-767-5114 with questions or to volunteer. 12

TOP-NOTCH SERVICE FOR EVERY CAR & EVERY CUSTOMER

Crossroads celebrates Pi Day Scott Manni CSVC Principal

Crossroads School & Vocational Center (CSVC) celebrated a very special Pi Day March 13 (a day early of course). The reason it is special is because one day each year the calendar’s digits match up with pi, the irrational number that expresses the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. In other words, March 14 (or 3/14) matches 3.14, the shortened number for pi. CSVC had to celebrate this year as it is particularly exciting as the digits in the year, 2015, line up with the next two digits of pi and at 9:26 (a.m. or p.m.) correspond with the next three digits of this irrational number (3.1415926…). Happy Pi Day from CSVC! Stacy Brissette and Lori Schulte helped celebrate Pi Day at CSVC. Submitted Photo

Data and trends emerge in diversity study Carline Sargent ISD 15 Multicultural/Diversity Liaison

Recently, Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) staff completed a project in which data on multicultural diversity within the school district and surrounding districts was gathered. Carline Sargent, Multicultural/Diversity liaison and Sara Tramm, data coach, completed an in-depth analysis to establish baseline data, identify trends and work toward meeting the needs of all students in ISD 15. A few highlights of the findings include: } There are 19 unique languages identified as primary home language, including Hmong, Spanish, Ukrainian and Russian } Fifty-nine percent of multicultural students at St. Francis High School speak a language other than English in their homes } A five-year enrollment trend shows an increase of 3.5 percent in minority students since the 2010-11 school year, with a 2.6 percent increase in the past two years } ISD 15 minority students at Cedar Creek Community School, East Bethel Community School and St. Francis Elementary School are performing well above the state targets for proficiency on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in both reading and mathematics. To view the complete project, visit https://infogr.am/isd_15_ diversity_data.

Get the expert attention your car needs as well as the friendly, professional service you deserve. Our certified technicians are happy to answer all of your questions and auto repair needs.

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

763-753-8282

Courtesy shuttle provided to surrounding area. The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Community Education Screen at three has a new option in ISD 15 Nancy Wallace ISD 15 Community Education Coordinator

Screening children at age three is an important step in getting children ready for school. Now, in addition to making appointments at the Lifelong Learning Center, Independent School District 15 (ISD 15) is reaching out to area child care providers to work with the school district to offer health and developmental screening at their site. Not only is this convenient for parents, but also establishes partnerships between programs in the community that work with young children and parents before kindergarten. Amy Gully, owner of Tinker Tots Daycare, says she partnered with ISD 15 Early Childhood Screening to come to her home child care after several families with three and four year old children were finding it very difficult to work screening appointments into their schedules. Amy says, “The kids loved having a setting that they trusted in a home away from home environment. The process was amazing and well worth it. The ISD 15 staff were easy to work with and the parents felt comfortable and involved.” A parent with a child at Tinker Tots Daycare said, “Coming from parents who work full time anything that saves time and energy is a welcomed service! The screening at Tinker Tots Daycare was simple, effective and thorough.” And recently, more than 15 three and four year olds at Kids Country Child Care in St. Francis were screened through the partnership with ISD 15 Early Childhood Screening. Parents signed permission forms and completed questionnaires before the screening took place. ISD 15 early childhood staff came to the center and did the various screening tasks with the children individually. Parents reviewed the results of screening with a school nurse and with an early childhood teacher as they picked their child up at the end of their work day. These efforts are made possible through a collaborative grant ISD 15 received with the Forest Lake and Centennial school districts to create new

options for screening; the grant was awarded by the Anoka County Children and Family Council. Grant funding has been awarded to continue this effort for the 2015-16 school year. ISD 15 is seeking area child care centers or family child care homes having three or more preschoolers in their care that may be interested in partnering to offer screening as early as June 1. The grant eases some of those barriers by having screening at a location where the child spends a significant part of their day. The exits are

convenient for parents and take less than a half hour to complete. The child care site needs to provide space for the screening to take place, help schedule appointments with parents for the exits and distribute the necessary forms. There is no cost to the child care site or parents to partner with ISD 15 in offering screening. If you are interested in partnering with ISD 15 to offer such a screening, contact Melissa Denning at 763-753-7178 or melissa.denning@isd15.org for more information. Early Childhood Screening

Early childhood programs involved in investing in our future

is available when a child turns three years of age and is recommended before they turn four; this screening meets the state requirements of screening before enrollment in kindergarten. Screening is a quick check of a child’s health and development status so that any concerns can be addressed during the preschool years. Since it’s geared to the age of the child, waiting until nearer kindergarten age has no benefit. As always, screening appointments for children at least three years of age, including those entering kindergarten in fall 2015 and haven’t been screened, can be made by contacting the Early Childhood Screening office at 763-753-7187. Appointments are

Submitted Photo

being made now for fall 2015; these appointments take place at the Lifelong Learning Center in Oak Grove.

Nancy Wallace ISD 15 Community Education Interim Coordinator

Children and families involved in Independent School District 15 Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes at the Lifelong Learning Center are the stars in newly released informational video spots and commercials promoting investment in the future by investing in education. ECFE was chosen by Education Minnesota as the site where much of the filming of these spots took place. Melissa Denning and Jenny Dupre, teachers involved in ECFE, also have roles in the videos. To watch the videos and commercials, visit edmoments.com under Investing in a Brighter Tomorrow. Scroll down to video 3 of 3 titled Prim(ed) Ready for School. See the commercials under See our TV Spot-Invest(ed) in the Future Part 1 and Part 2 on that website. The videos and commercials will have statewide distribution.

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

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. Call Chris today for more information or email christine.schlottman@isd15.org Fitness 15 • Sandhill Center 23820 Dewey Street Bethel, MN 55005

Hours: Monday thru Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m.–Noon

ISD 15 Community Education Rec Department

2015 Summer Camps & Clinics

Summer camps & clinics dates and descriptions available online – www.communityed15.com look in Available Courses, change program year to 2015-16.

The ISD 15 Community Education Rec Department has coordinated with St. Francis High School coaches and community members to offer activities for the summer. Questions? Call 763-213-1823.

Community Education Contacts Nancy Wallace, Community Education Coordinator.................. 763-753-7171 Adult Basic Education (GED)...................................................................... 763-753-7190 Melody Panek, Site Coordinator Adult Education & Services......................................................................... 763-213-1640 Driver’s Education/Behind the Wheel Nancy Messerschmidt, Program Supervisor Communications Kathleen Miller, Program Supervisor................................................. 763-753-7042 The Courier Newspaper................................................................................ 763-753-7031 Kathleen Miller, Editor................................................................................ 763-753-7042 Pat Johnson, Graphics................................................................................ 763-753-7025 Deborah Thayer, Graphics........................................................................ 763-753-7033 Janice Audette, Advertising.................................................................... 763-753-7032 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 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 Sandhill Center Christine Spindler-Schlottman, Program Supervisor.............. 763-213-1616 www.isd15.org • www.the-courier.org • www.communityed15.com 13

ABE spotlight on Tony Brown Melody Panek ISD 15 Adult Basic Education Coordinator

Summer Kids Connection childcare offers a safe, nurturing atmosphere for children that brings summer fun to a whole new level. Flexible options for parents. Grades: Age 4 through completion of grade 5 Hours: 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Location: St. Francis Elementary School Dates: June 3–September 1 (closed July 3) Summer Kids Connection provides a variety of learning activities and recreational experiences to fill each day. Fun weekly field trips and summer activities offered include: Good Times Park Stages Theatre Company Grand Slam Chuck E. Cheese McPete’s Lanes Wooddale Fun Zone Movie Elm Creek Park

French Regional Park Hyland Regional Park Prairie Park St. Francis Library Daily Activities Arts & Crafts Gym & Outdoor Play Technology

Registration forms available online at www.isd15.org/kc or call 763-213-1641.

Tony Brown is a very wonderful and special person. He is one of the most dedicated and hard working individuals that I know. I am honored to call Tony one of our best students in the Independent School District 15 Adult Basic Education (ABE) progam. And it all came about by accident! Tony loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time riding his bike, walking

Kids Connection Before and after school childcare Program Sites Cedar Creek Community School 763-753-7160 for East Bethel Community School and Cedar Creek Community School students St. Francis Elementary School 763-213-8674 Before School Care Begins at 6:00 a.m. until school starts ��$9/day After School Care Begins at end of school day until 6:00 p.m. ��$9/day Non-School Day Care 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ��$31/day Other fees Registration fee ��$35/child each additional child is $10

The Sandhill Center is a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education. Its purpose is to provide arts and recreation opportunities for ISD 15 residents.

Sandhill Center 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 on a first come, first served basis. Doors open: 10:30 a.m. Lunch served: 11:00 a.m.

Showtime: 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Cost: $16.25, sales tax included

For reservations, call 763-213-1641 or 763-213-1616.

Boxcar Bob Tuesday, May 12 “Boxcar Bob” Selby has been singing since junior high school and has sung in a variety of genres including: male choruses, country, folk, fifties rock & roll and even some light opera. He has been singing with “The Cowboy and Hobo Show” along with “Cactus Willie” (Charles Casterline) and “The Drifter” (Wil Kelly) for the past seven years. The band has four CDs to its credit with some of the tunes written by Boxcar Bob. For this performance Boxcar will be teaming up with JoAnne Lee, a very accomplished musician, guitar and bass player and teacher. The Drifter will be playing bass for this show and adding his wry sense of humor, all in all this promises to be a great show and one to look forward to hearing a variety of music. 14

or playing games, such as basketball. Last year, Tony spent a lot of time shooting hoops at our school’s outdoor basketball court. One of our custodians noticed the young man, who came almost every day to play basketball. The custodian became friends with Tony—it’s hard not to be friends with someone like Tony. He is gregarious, outgoing and loves to laugh. The custodian asked Tony if he’d be interested in one of our ABE classes and that’s how we acquired one of our most talented students.

School year care is available now through June 1, 2015. All children must be preregistered. Kids Connection is a comprehensive childcare program for children in kindergarten through grade 5, that provides a safe, fun experience and offers families a variety of childcare options. The program is open 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours include before and after school programs and full day programs on non-school days. Contracts are now available.

Questions?

Call Chris at 763-213-1616 or 763-213-1641. www.communityed15.com/kc

Tony has trouble reading; however, it has been our privilege to work with this terrific young man to help him improve in this area—and improve he has! I haven’t met many students who have the willingness and motivation to learn like Tony. He is here every day and while he’s here, he is 100 percent dedicated to working on the many reading improvement assignments he has been given. His commitment and enthusiasm have paid off nicely as his reading level continues to grow! All of the staff and volunteers enjoy Tony’s company and find it extremely rewarding to work with him because he comes prepared to learn and never gives up. His perseverance inspires our staff to work even harder to ensure that Tony’s reading continues to develop. He is unfailingly cheerful, honest, generous and as I said before—he loves to laugh. On occasion, after working hard for long hours, we all like to take a break. Tony is no exception. He brings his Uno cards to school and many of us take time to play, relax, have conversation and enjoy each other’s company. Although we’re playing a game, we still try to incorporate learning. It is a genuine pleasure to be Tony’s teacher. I wish all students were so excited to learn and willing to work as hard as he. I know that no matter what he does in the future, Tony will be successful because of his determination to learn and his ability to try as hard as he can every day.

Kids Connection is a division of ISD 15 Community Education

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.

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 those more experienced line dancers. No registration necessary, come when you want. Day: Wednesday Time: 10:00–11:00 a.m. Fee: $2 per class

SilverSneakers® Classic

SilverSneakers® Yoga

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: Tuesdays, Thursdays Time: 9:00–10:00 a.m. Fee: Free to SilverSneakers® members; $2 per class for non-members.

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® members; $2 per class for non-members. The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

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.

Vehicle Day Young children and parents can explore vehicles of many types, shapes and sizes. Bring a toy vehicle to compare to the real thing. Remember to dress for the weather as this event will be outdoors. Date: Time: Location:

Saturday, May 16 10:00-11:30 a.m. Lifelong Learning Center

This event is FREE but please preregister and bring a non-perishable food item for the local foodshelf.

Preschool Place 15 Registration for the 2015-16 School Year Register NOW for classes! Classes are filling fast. Classes offered at the Lifelong Learning Center in Oak Grove. • Programming takes place now through May • Morning, afternoon and evening sessions available • One, two or three times per week • Two hour to two-and-a-half hour sessions • Most classes are age specific • Classes also available for 2-year-olds and very young 3-year-olds • Sliding fee scale is available based on family size and income • Busing available for ALL morning and afternoon classes on a limited basis

Children and families of ISD 15 Early Childhood programs enjoyed a performance at the Lifelong Learning Center by The Teddy Bear Band. The event was sponsored by the Early Childhood Advisor Council. The evening was full of smiles and laughter as children enjoyed singing and dancing with the band.

The mission of Preschool Place 15 is to provide a safe environment where young children of all abilities can grow and experience success and their parents can be partners in learning.

For more information on classes and to register, visit www.isd15.org/ecfe or call 763-753-7170.

Submitted Photo

See page 28 for a list of

Summer ECFE Program

Come and join us at ECFE What is Early Family Childhood Education (ECFE)? A place for babies A place for toddlers A place for preschoolers A place for all dads, moms and other relatives in a parenting role ECFE is a place where parents and young children learn and play together and meet other families with young children. ECFE provides information about getting ready for school, discipline, child development, communication and growing together as a family. ECFE parent/child includes:

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Time for Parents While children are busy playing, parents meet with other parents. A licensed parent educator will lead the group and guide discussion. a division of ISD 15 Community Education

Time Together Parents and children explore a variety of activities planned by a licensed early childhood teacher.

Time for Play Children practice and discover their own capabilities by experimenting with materials, playing with other children and trying out new activities.

Sibling Care Care is available for the siblings of the child in class.

Special events and field trips Como Zoo This family favorite trip will take us to St. Paul Como Zoo where we will find wild animals. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase food at the zoo. Shelters are available in case of rain. Date: Wednesday, May 27

Time: Bus leaves LLC at 9:00 a.m. and will return by 2:00 p.m. Fee: $6 per person Do you have a baby 9 months old or younger?

Come join us for Celebrating Baby!

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

Enjoy songs and games together and meet others who are experiencing the joys and challenges of raising a baby. Don’t forget to pick up your free gift! Sisters and Brothers Care is available for this class but you must pre-register. Date: Thursdays, May 14 and 21 Time: 9:30-11;15 a.m. Fee: Free 15

Community & Business

St. Francis High School graduate first to win Pro Lite title and Rookie of the Year in same season kim springer parent, isd 15 resident

Buckling down and grinding things out is nothing new to Ryan Springer. A 2010 graduate of St. Francis High School and football and baseball player, Springer understood early on that relentless practice of your craft is paramount to success. Springer’s first love was motorcross, even in high school. “Growing up as a kid my parents always had snowmobiles. I’d ride them for fun around my grandparent’s farm. But motocross definitely helped with my success on the sleds, along with all the hard

work,” said Springer. Three years ago, Springer and a friend decided to race the Thursday night GrassRoots Snocross Series at Elk River Extreme Motor Park (ERX). Chris Carlson, half owner of ERX and owner of the Carlson Motorsports team, watched Springer racing the Grass-Roots series and was impressed. As a result, Springer was picked up by the professional Carlson Motorsports Race Team to compete in the International Series of Champions (ISOC) national circuit. Springer’s first year of racing was in the sport

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class category. He raced half of his first year, finishing 11th overall. In the 2013-14 season, Springer raced his first fullyear as a sport rider, winning the national sport class championship. “Coming into the 2014-15 Pro Lite season and coming off the national sport slass championship, I knew I had some speed,” said Springer. “But I knew I definitely had a lot of things to work on. There’s a lot of fast guys in this class, so I knew I not only had to be consistent, but that I could also never give up.” His hope was to be in the front row of the final, but to his surprise, he won the Pro-Lite championship. Springer is the first athlete in the history of Amsoil Championship Snocross to win both the Pro Lite title and Rookie of the Year in the same season. This summer, Springer has a UTV (Polaris Razor) deal with Bikeman Performance out of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. He will be racing a Polaris 900 and

Tasty Pizza

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St. Francis High School graduate Ryan Springer made snocross history in 2015 by becoming the first to win the Pro Lite title and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

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also aired on the CBS Sports Network channel. Special thanks for information supplied for this story from AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series, ISOC Racing, Albertville, Minnesota.

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a Polaris 1000 in the Grand National Cross Country series, along with some Iowa races. He will also be racing Pro Open next year. All races can be watched live on snocross. com/livestream and are

The Vocational Education/Work Program at Crossroads School & Vocational Center is having its annual Basket & Planter Sale, just in time for Mother’s Day. nch Come in for our Lu ur yo Specials and get d. he lunch card punc

Plant Sale Thursday, May 14 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Proceeds go back into the program for next year.

Lunch Specials

Students are excited to sell plants and remaining baskets and planters that they have grown this year. There will be a variety of flowers, vegetables and accent plants. A limited amount of vegetables are available this year.

All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti.............. $595

4111 Ambassador Drive NW, St. Francis

Lunch Buffet....... $599

Crossroads School & Vocational Center The Vocational Education/Work Program is taught by Glenda Kimpling. For more information, email glenda.kimpling@isd15.org The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

St. Francis Pioneer Days set for June 5-7 JANICE AUDETTE ST. FRANCIS AREA CHAMBER of COmmerce BOard Secretary

The 51st St. Francis Pioneer Days community celebration is fast approaching. Mark your calendars for June 5, 6 and 7. Pioneer Days is presented by the St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce. Community Park (on Hwy. 47) will come alive with carnival rides, food vendors, business booths, petting zoo and entertainment, along with the parade, fireworks and more! New this year, is an opportunity for businesses to have exposure to thousands of people at the Business Expo in Community Park. Booths are also available for food concessions, crafters and non-profit groups. More ways to get involved are to be in the parade on Saturday, volunteer for a work shift to help the weekend run smoothly, support with a monetary donation or just clear your weekend and bring the family and have fun. Friday, June 5 — Enjoy carnival rides and games 5:00-9:00 p.m. Advance ticket sales for carnival rides are $10 for five rides and can be purchased at the following St. Francis locations: Casey’s General Store, King’s County Market, St. Francis Bottle Shop, City of St. Francis, St. Francis True Value and Village Bank. Live music is scheduled in Community Park with the Dirty Dog Duo and One Mangy Cat, 5:00-8:30 p.m., followed by Movies in the Park at 9:00 p.m., sponsored by Cub Scout Pack 511. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Saturday, June 6 — St. Francis Lions Club and Killebrew Root Beer Softball Tournament. Call 763-753-1265 to register your team. The 5K Run/Walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. at St. Francis High School west parking lot with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m. Exhibitor booths, rides, crafts and food will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Community Park Saturday and Sunday. Registration for the Turtle Race, sponsored by Schroeder’s Creekside Stables, begins at 10:00 a.m. in Community Park. Bring your own turtle (no Blanding Turtles) New for the small ones is a “Kid Walk” sponsored by St. Francis McDonald’s and St. Francis Lions, starting at noon at St. Francis True Value and ending at St. Francis Middle School with ice cream floats and fun. The Bed Races follow the Kid Walk, held in front of St. Francis True Value Hardware. Call 763-753-1265 for more information. The Grand Parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. After the parade the St. Francis Fire Department sponsors Bingo, prizes and food at the fire station. Don’t miss Connexus Energy’s electrical safety demos at 2:30 p.m., the Touch of Magic Show at 3:30 p.m. and music in the park with Slippery Steve & Scary Gary, 5:00-8:30 p.m. A Pioneer Days button will give you free admittance to the St. Francis Ambassador Program coronation at St. Francis

Congratulations to Jennifer Smith of Blaine for winning the 2015 Pioneer Days button design contest. Highland Money Management, Inc. sponsored the contest and owner David Johnson presented Smith with a $100 Visa check card prize. Pioneer Days buttons and a coupon book showcasing local businesses will be available for sale for $5 in May at the following locations in St. Francis: Casey’s General Store, King’s County Market, Patriot Lanes Bar & Grill, St. Francis City Hall, St. Francis Bottle Shop, St. Francis True Value Hardware and Village Bank. submitted photo

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Physical Therapy

on the east side of Lake George 2203 214th Avenue NW, Oak Grove 763-753-2076 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Buy Mom a hanging basket or a potted plant for Mother’s Day.

Both locations are now open!

NEW Second Location!

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

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Thanks for making this past year so great!

Don’t forget your special someone! Gift certificates are available.

Home Bake Pizzas

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Continued Page 18

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Recycling Champions wanted

From Page 17

St. Francis Pioneer Days, June 5-7 Middle School at 3:00 p.m. Free kids games and hot dogs will be offered at Living Hope’s Ministry Center at 6:00 p.m. across from St. Francis High School. Saturday ends with spectacular fireworks at the St. Francis High School football field at dusk. Sunday, June 7 — Breakfast 7:00-9:30 a.m. at St. Francis United Methodist Church, 3914 - 229th Avenue NW. A community worship service will take place in the tent in Community Park at 10:00 a.m. with a full day of fun to follow, including Kids Power Peddle Pull at 1:00 p.m. and Wonderful World of Woody at

2:30 p.m. Watch for clues for the 2015 Medallion Hunt on Facebook, Twitter and www.stfrancischamber.org beginning Monday, June 1. You must have a Pioneer Days button to claim the prize. Watch for details on the Chamber website and Facebook for the Photo Contest, sponsored by Coldwell Banker Burnet. Registration forms can be found at www. stfrancischamber.org/ pioneerdays, for the parade, vendors and sponsorship opportunities. Lions softball tournament and 5K run forms

Martha Weaver Anoka County Public Information Manager

can be picked up at St. Francis True Value. Payments and donations can be made on the chamber website via the PayPal donate button at the bottom of the page. For more information about Pioneer Days, call 763-4385163, visit the St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.stfrancischamber.org or follow Pioneer Days on Facebook at www.facebook. com/StFrancisPioneerDays Look for complete schedule and full details in the June issue of The Courier.

er? h t e g o t t e g a g n Planni Isanti County Fair Grounds & Event Center

The Isanti County Fair has beautiful grounds with a picturesque pond for outdoor gatherings and ceremonies! Plus, banquet facilities (up to 500 people)

Conveniently located on Hwy. 95 in Cambridge

763.689.2555

Community building (up to 200)

Camping available • Lodging close by

Bring this ad in when you book and receive $50 off the community building rental.

Weekly Events & Specials

Monday Bingo 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday Texas Hold ’em 7:00 p.m.

May 8 Slippery Steve & Scary Gary

May 16 Roadhouse Blue Band

May 15 Acoustic sets on the patio

Memorial Day Weekend DJ/Karaoke

Wednesday Cribbage 7:00 p.m. Thursday All-U-Can-Eat Shrimp starting at 5:00 p.m., Keys for Cash Friday All-U-Can-Eat Fish Fry starting at 5:00 p.m. & Prime Rib Special, Meat Raffle at 6:00 p.m. Saturday $5 Breakfast 8:00-11:00 a.m. All-U-Can-Eat BBQ Ribs starting at 5:00 p.m. & Prime Rib Special, Meat Raffle 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 10

10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. $15.95 Adult • $9.95 Kids ages 6-11 $4.95 Kids ages 3-5 FREE—Kids under 3

Wedding & Banquet Hall • Book your parties & events now, call 612-801-5553 • Wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, sports parties and more!

www.captainsonlonglake.com

763-444-5897 18

community; hauling organics to a drop-off center. Waste Reduction Activities: Examples of waste reduction activities include preventing the generation of waste, which saves natural resources by reusing and reducing. Outreach: Examples of outreach activities include coordinating an event where items purchased were reusable, recyclable or compostable or activities to convince others to reduce, reuse, recycle or compost. Nomination forms are available by calling Anoka County Integrated Waste Management at 763.323.5730 or available online at AnokaCounty.us/recycle. Applications are due on Friday, May 8.

www.IsantiCountyFair.com isanticountyfair@gmail.com

Pavilion & Bandshell Full kitchen, stage and banquet seating

Do you know a recycling super star? An individual, group or organization passionate about recycling and exceptionally committed to reducing, reusing, recycling or composting? Nominate them for an Anoka County Recycling Champion award. Recycling Champions selected will be acknowledged with a certificate of appreciation at the Recycling Recognition Ceremony June 17, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Anoka County Government Center. Here are examples of activities that make an individual or an organization a Recycling Champion: Recycling Activities: Examples of recycling activities include finding out exactly what is recyclable and why; convincing others to recycle; starting a recycling program at work, school or in the community. Composting Activities: Examples of composting activities include backyard composting or vermicomposting (composting indoors with red worms); starting a composting or organics collection program at work, school or in the

Hwy. 47 to 277th Avenue, East to Long Lake and left to Captain’s, 27821 Bayshore Drive NW Hours: Sun-Th 11a.m.-11p.m.; Fri & Sat 11a.m.-1a.m.

Visit our greenhouse for all your yard & garden needs. Green Barn Grown

Annual Flowers Vegetable Plants Hanging Baskets Herbs • Perennials Patio Planters

Nursery Stock

Fruit & Shade Trees Shrubs • Evergreens Vines • Blueberry, strawberry, rhubarb, raspberry plants

Great Gifts for Mom! Miniature & Fairy Garden Accessories Yard Ornaments: Western • Gnomes Angels • Chickens Frogs • Cats & Dogs Tractors • Greeting Cards

For the Birds

Feeders, bird seed, bird houses, poles and suet

Landscape rock, decorative bark, mulch, potting soil, manure and peat moss.

Green Barn Garden Center

& Farm Market

3 miles south of Isanti on Hwy. 65 & 265th Open 7 Days a Week Spring Hours 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

763-444-5725 greenbarngardencenter.com The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Life-changing opportunity offered to local girls Kellie Hallstrom East Bethel Scholarship Pageant

The East Bethel Scholarship Program offers a unique and exciting opportunity for local girls to participate in, by becoming candidates for East Bethel Royal Ambassadors. Candidacy has been designed to provide personal and professional growth to all who join, making all participants true winners. Throughout the seven-week candidacy, activities and educational experiences occur which promote positive character development, along with having a truly fun and memorable time. Some of the topics covered in candidacy include public speaking, volunteerism, interview skills and building confidence. The princess age division has extra opportunities for self-development. A highly regarded guest speaker has been booked to talk with the candidates about leadership and having a positive selfimage. Candidates also participate in an image clinic covering etiquette, poise and public/virtual image awareness, along with a make-up clinic with a cosmetic professional. But most of all, creating friendships and lifelong memories is a top priority of this positive program. Tom Hall, father of current Little Miss East Bethel Madison Hall, states, “Watching Madison blossom through involvement as a member of the East Bethel Royalty and the East Bethel Scholarship Program has been a great joy and a memory that will be forever cherished!”

Candidacy leads to the selection of new royalty on East Bethel Booster Day, including a Miss East Bethel, East Bethel Princess and Little Miss East Bethel. The new royalty will serve a one-year term as goodwill ambassadors with many local volunteer events and traveling around the state of Minnesota attending other community festivals. Miss East Bethel also completes her reign by becoming a candidate in the Minneapolis Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes program. The East Bethel Scholarship Program is full of history, having crowned royalty since 1979 with many past ambassadors choosing to volunteer with the program after finishing their reign. Miranda Justad Ness is a former queen who is now an active volunteer. She states, “Being Miss East Bethel was one of the best years in my life. It was a year of personal growth, networking, traveling around Minnesota, meeting amazing and inspiring people; some of which I’m still friends with 10 years later! Now I get to see other young women experience the same thing as a volunteer on the board. It’s truly incredible watching the growth that happens, even in just two months.” East Bethel candidates must meet certain criteria in order to

be eligible. Miss East Bethel/ Princess candidates need to be female, 16-22 years of age (must be at least 17 years old to be crowned queen) by July 1, 2015, cannot currently cohabitate with a significant other and never have been married or pregnant. Little Miss East Bethel candidates need to be female, 6-8 years of age by July 1, 2015. All candidates need to live in East Bethel or attend school in St. Francis, Andover or Forest Lake school districts and be willing to attend candidate events. The 2015 candidate orientation will be on Monday, June 1, 7:00 p.m. at East Bethel City Hall, located at 2241 221st Avenue NE in East Bethel. Orientation will provide all of the information one needs to participate. Please visit the program’s website for additional information at www.eastbethelroyalty.org.

Anoka County 5K Walk for Mental Wellness May 16 Martha Weaver Anoka County Public Information Manager

The 6th annual Walk for Mental Wellness takes place Saturday, May 16, at the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Pavilion #3. There will be a short program at 10:30 a.m. followed by the walk at 11:00 a.m. The event is sponsored by the Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County, a nonprofit organization that seeks to erase the stigma of mental illness by increasing public awareness and understanding of mental health care. “We are very excited to welcome guest speaker L.A. Jones, former Anoka County Union reporter, who will share his experience with mental illness and recovery,” said Barry Sanders, chair of the Mental Wellness Campaign. “Nothing is more effective than to hear the message about mental wellness from someone who’s been there and done that.” Along with the 5K walk, the event will feature a live band, a resource fair at the pavilion and refreshments. Pets are welcome and parking is free the day of the walk. Note: the walk will go on rain or shine. Ponchos will be provided, if needed. Cost of the walk is $12 per person or $25 for a group of two or more. All registered walkers will receive a free T-shirt. Register at www.mwcac.org before May 16 or in person the day of the walk. For more information on the Mental Wellness Campaign or the 5K Walk for Mental Wellness, go to www.mwcac.org or call 763-228-6321.

Flowers every year… automatically.

Lilac shrubs

20% off

6th Annual

Women’s Pink Boutique Hosted by Marcy’s Marteenies The Isanti Women’s Team • Making a Difference A celebration for all women, supporting the Avon 39, The Walk to End Breast Cancer

Saturday, May 9 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Long Lake Lutheran Church 3921 277 Avenue NW, Isanti

Lunch On-Site NEW

Vendors

Basket & Quilt Raffle

Spend the day with us… pamper yourself. Shop for Mother’s Day or any special occasion. Special Basket for the person who brings the most guests.

More information visit www.Isanti3DayTeam.com or email ronda60@msn.com

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

your choice: common lilac, sensation, miss kim, pocahontas and many more varieties.

Flowering crab trees

25% off with this ad regular $59.95-$159.95

Not valid with any other promotions. Must bring ad in for savings. Expires May 30, 2015. SFC0512

21050 Lake George Boulevard NW Anoka, MN 763-753-4595 www.rumrivertreefarm.com 19

Life experiences — Lawrence “DC” Randle Kim Demory Eagle Grove Eagle

Permission to reprint from the Eagle Grove Eagle, Eagle Grove, Iowa From meeting the man who discovered the Titanic, to traveling the Amazon—DC Randle shares his adventures with students in more ways than one. Part 1 of 2.

Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.” Lawrence “DC” Randle, brother of Rotary Senior Living Administrator Sam Boeke, has echoed that statement since he began his teaching career 30 years ago. He believes that the best way for kids to learn is through firsthand experience.

Oak Grove Lions French Toast Breakfast Sunday, May 3 8:00 a.m.-Noon. Served with sausage and beverages. Cost $20 Family, $6 Adult, $4 Child. Profits will benefit area youth groups.

Oak Grove Senior Center 19900 Nightingale Street NW, Oak Grove

Isanti Family Farmer’s Market “A Fresh Experience”

Every Friday 2:30-6:30 p.m. May 29 through September 25. Eagle Park - Downtown Isanti south of Main Street behind Isanti Custom Meats Contact Josi Wood • 763-444-5512 isantiparks@cityofisanti.us

Looking for more vendors to join our market!

Grand Opening Friday, May 29

isantifamilyfarmersmarket.org

“I’ve always taught environmentally, but in order to teach, I believe you should have life experiences,” said Randle, a biology and wildlife management instructor. Randle isn’t your “basic science teacher.” He began his career teaching behaviorally challenged students at St. Francis High School in Minnesota. He gladly took the class of kids the others thought were too difficult to teach. He got the kids’ attention by letting them experience the world around them, not just in a text book, but in the real life environment around them. One of the ways he did this was by starting a turtle project with them. The goal was to trap the endangered Blanding turtle, mark them and then put them back in nature to study and learn from them. Randle said other teachers couldn’t believe he was doing this kind of project with “these kinds” of kids…but he did and they were interested in learning. This project and other environmental work on rivers, eventually won Randle a state award. It also later led him to learn of The Jason Project, a nonprofit organization that gives middle school students, both inside and outside the classroom, a connection to “real science” and exploration. It’s meant to encourage students to study and pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. The Jason Project was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered the sunken remains of the historic Titanic. Randle wanted in the worst way to bring Ballard’s program to his students at St. Francis, but it was unfeasible for

158 Main Street • Bethel, MN 55005 763-434-0119

Lawrence "DC" Randle (left) shared some of the artifacts he brought back from his Amazon adventures with Dr. Fran Petitgrew (right) and other members of the Eagle Grove Rotary. Photo by Kim Demory the school district at the time. But Randle didn’t give up. While attending a science convention at a later date, he met Amy Theisen the local Jason Project leader in Minnesota who knew of his work. She was impressed and told Randle he should apply to go on a Belize Jungle Expedition. At first, he thought this was a contest that you win by pulling your name out of a hat, but further conversation led to greater understanding that this was applying for a spot on a scientific research team. Randle was reluctant to do so, but with further encouragement, he decided in order to live by his own motto of teaching by experience, he had to at least give it a try. Randle made it through the first two rounds of cuts from amongst applying teachers around the world. Then came an interview with Ballard himself. Randle was honored to be chosen by Ballard as one of six teachers to accompany him on the expedition. This opened up a whole new world of opportunities for

Randle, including taking part in an Amazon Exploration Project. He accepted that invite more than 20 years ago and is proud to say he has continued to be a part of the project each summer ever since returning for 10 days in June and again for 10 days in July, every year. Each time, he brings with him a group of students (now totaling more than 200) ready to be a part of the Citizen Science in the Peruvian Amazon and offering them the chance to experience first-hand the world of tropical ecology, indigenous culture, sustainable development and rainforest research. Do you know a student kindergarten through 12th grade who would like to go? They also welcome K-12 educators to join them. To find out how to apply and what adventures await them in the world’s largest rainforest, or if you just want to learn more about the work being done in the Amazon and discoveries being made. Be sure to read next month’s issue of The Courier for Part 2.

Bethel Fire & Rescue 4th Annual

Daily Specials Monday (5:00-9:00 p.m.) ¼ Pound Burgers.........................$1.50

Upcoming Events May 2

Tuesday Tacos 3 hard or 2 soft tacos.........$5.00 Wednesday Reuben Sandwich Combo............$7.75 Thursday Steak Dinners............... starting at $11.75 Friday Prime Rib Dinner.......................$17.75 Saturday Shrimp Dinners............. starting at $10.75 Sunday (10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) Breakfast.....................................$5.00 20

Bethel Fire Department Annual After Spaghetti Dinner Party (see Bethel Fire Dept. ad for

more information)

May 3

Vendor Craft Fair......12:00 p.m.

May 9

Joel Hagberg..............8:00 p.m.

May 15 Crankshaft and The Gear

Grinders.....................8:30 p.m.

May 16 Johntourage...............8:30 p.m. May 30 The Agates.................7:00 p.m.

Numerous Raffles Bake Sale Door Prizes

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Saturday, May 2 4:00-8:00 p.m. Sponsored by and held at

Bethel Community Church

23850 Dewey Street NW • Bethel If you are unable to attend but would like to donate to Bethel Fire & Rescue, please visit www.gofundme.com/lgeoaw The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Financial Focus

BLAKE CHEELEY edward jones financial advisor

How can you become a “healthy” investor? May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This “month” is designed to encourage people to follow a healthy, active lifestyle. You can take steps toward this goal, of course, but why not carry the concept of improving health to other areas of your life — such as your investments? Toward that end, consider these suggestions: Give your portfolio a regular “check-up” To maintain your fitness, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor for a check-up on a regular basis. And to help ensure the “health” of your portfolio, you may want to periodically review it with the assistance of a financial professional — someone who can point out gaps in your existing holdings or changes that may need to be made. Follow a balanced investment “diet” Nutrition experts recommend we adopt a balanced diet, drawing on all the major food groups. Too much of any one category can lead to health concerns. An analogous situation exists when you invest — if you own too much of one particular asset class, such as aggressive growth stocks, you might expose yourself to an

“unhealthy” degree of risk, because you could take a big hit during a market downturn. But not all investments move in the same direction at the same time, so if you own a mix of stocks, bonds, government securities and other vehicles, you can lessen the impact of volatility on your portfolio. In investing, balance and moderation are important. Don’t let investments get “lazy” Exercise is essential in staying fit and healthy. Yet, exercise can also be hard work, causing many of us to put it off. Some of your investments may also not be working hard enough for you. To cite one possibility, you might own quite a few certificates of deposit (CDs). There’s nothing “wrong” with CDs and they do offer a high degree of preservation of principal, but they provide very little in the way of return, particularly in a low-interest-rate environment, such as we’ve had over the past few years. So, if you have a plethora of CDs, you might be depriving yourself of the opportunity to own other investments that “work harder” by offering you the growth potential you’ll need to make progress toward your long-term goals.

CAR SHOW 20 15 St. Francis Friday Nite Rally

May 15-September 11

th 1 1 Season

FREE! Family Friendly Event Reserved parking for Every Friday Night 1980 & Older 5:00 p.m.–Dusk Street Rods, Customs, Classics, Weather Permitting

St. Francis City Centre Mall

Trucks, Motorcycles

Music and Prizes Weekly

Custom trophies by Joe from St. Francis Collision on May 15 (special prizes and trophies), June 26, July 24, August 21 and September 11

Hwy 47 & Pederson Dr. NW St. Francis, Minnesota For rally information, call Dick Henz at 763-753-1092.

Sponsored by St. Francis Collision/Joe’s Hot Rod Shop, St. Francis McDonald’s, King’s County Market and other area merchants.

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Avoid “unhealthy” habits Many of us are guilty of unhealthy habits, such as eating too much or failing to address stress. Taken together, these bad habits can harm the quality of our lives. As an investor, you can also fall into bad habits. You could waste time and effort by chasing after “hot” investments, which may already be cooling off by the time you hear about them, or you could decide to take a “time out” from investing when the markets are turbulent. Another bad habit: Investing either too aggressively or too conservatively for your goals and risk tolerance. By avoiding these and other negative habits, you can help yourself stay on track. It takes diligence and vigilance to stay physically fit and healthy. And these same attributes are just as important in keeping your investment strategy in good shape.

You talk. We listen. In person. Blake A Cheeley, CRPC®, AAMS® Financial Advisor

23306 Cree Street NW St. Francis, MN 55070 763-753-2988 Member SIPC

www.edwardjones.com

Living Hope

Evangelical Free Church Join Us Sundays 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. 23038 Rum River Boulevard NW Just west of St. Francis High School

LivingHopeEFC.org 763.753.1718

Community-Wide Event—Free Admission & Pizza

Your Brain on Adolescence: How teens’ thinking, learning and social life can be impacted by alcohol and drugs

Join us for a parent-youth conversation on the maturing brain and what this means about the implications of chemical use on brain development. Date: Tuesday, May 12 Time: 6-6:45 p.m. Pizza 7-8:15 p.m. Speaker/Q&A Location: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church 19921 Nightingale Street NW Oak Grove, MN 55011 For more information: Call Anoka County CHES 763-323-6145

Research on the potential personal and social effects of drug use by youth will be discussed by Dr. Ken Winters, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Minnesota. He is a long-time researcher specializing on the thinking and behaviors of teenagers. Dr. Winters is a frequent speaker, training consultant and publisher for organizations like Hazelden Foundation, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and the Mentor Foundation.

This event is being sponsored by the following organizations:

Jake’s Sake Foundation

St. Francis Middle School A special thank you to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for the use of their facility. 21

Rivard Companies introduces Garden planters, premium heavy duty cedar grilling planks and superior-quality outdoor furniture and games.

Vertical Garden Gardening is even easier with Vertical Gardening, with a small footprint, just two feet square; it’s possible to have a garden just about anywhere. Comes pre-assembled and includes a drip line irrigation system, so you can water less and enjoy growing more. Item #: VG 32-45

Modular Raised Garden Bed 48x48x13 Two Level Raised Garden Beds are great for small plots of veggies and/or flowers. With these beds you eliminate tilling, soil amending and minimize weeding. Item #: MRG2-L 48-48

Western Red Cedar Cooler

Rustic Elevated Garden Bed 24x48x30

Ask about personalization option with photos, graphics or logos. A cooler, where a cold one is always in reach!

Excellent for small patios, decks, condos and apartments, anywhere you’d like to grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers. The Elevated Garden Bed eliminates bending over while gardening and is perfect for gardeners with mobility and back strain issues.

Item #: CC 24-32

Item #: REGB 24-48 Made in the

U.S.A.

Visit us online at www.gronomics.com to view the full product line or stop in at our #1 Dealer – St. Francis True Value Hardware store

763-753-7888 or 763-753-7374 www.rivardcompanies.com www.gronomics.com 19801 Hwy. 65 NE • East Bethel 22

❱ Tree trimming, removal and hauling ❱ Lot and land clearing ❱ Competitive rates and dependable service ❱ Facility offers tree waste disposal site – clean brush and logs ($4.00 yd/fee) The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Anoka County Compost Anoka County Law Day to be held May 1 Sites now open Lori meyer

anoka county court administrator

waste at Anoka County’s two compost sites is $5 per vehicle for up to four cubic yards of yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, garden wastes, weeds, pumpkins, pinecones). An additional 50 cents per cubic yard will be charged for yard waste in excess of four yards. (Approximately eight lawn bags equal one yard.) The fee for tree waste is a variable cubic yard rate depending on the size and amount of brush, logs or stumps. Tree waste may be loose or bundled. Loads are measured to determine quantity. The more compact the load, the lower the fee. Free unscreened compost is available at both sites. Please remember to bring your own shovel and containers. For more information, go to AnokaCounty.us/recycle or contact Anoka County Integrated Waste Management at recycle@co.anoka.mn.us or 763-323-5730.

Martha Weaver Anoka County Public Information Manager

Anoka County’s two compost sites opened for the season April 1. The sites are located in Bunker Hills Regional Park in Coon Rapids and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park in Lino Lakes. Compost site information Bunker Hills 13285 Hanson Blvd., Coon Rapids 763-767-7964 Monday through Friday: 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (or sunset if earlier) Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday: Noon-5:00 p.m. Rice Creek Chain of Lakes 7701 Main Street, Lino Lakes 651-429-3723 Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. (or sunset if earlier) Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday: Noon-5:00 p.m. The fee to drop off yard

Cherise Foley • 763-753-9696 22001 Lake George Blvd., Anoka

Remember Mom on May 10.

Serve graduation cupcakes to remember!

Wedding, Bridal Shower, Birthday, Baptism cakes, bars & much more!

Graduation Announcements

Mark your calendars to join us on May 1 to participate in Law Day with Anoka County. The celebration will be held in the atrium of the Anoka County Government Center, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The event will consist of approximately 14 justice partners and agencies that work in collaboration with the court system. Resource tables and information will be

available to the public, along with the opportunity to visit with justice partners. A K-9 demonstration, courtroom tour and a question and answer session with a District Court Judge chambered in Anoka County is scheduled. The 2015 National Law Day theme is, Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom Under Law. The Magna Carter was signed 800

SPRING FOR A CAUSE St. Francis United Methodist Church, partnering with Living Hope Church presents…

a talk by Master Gardener, Lynda Ellis on rain gardens, native plants and pollinators

Saturday, May 2 •1:00 p.m.

St. Francis United Methodist Church 3914 - 229th Avenue NW, St. Francis

763-753-2721 3745 Bridge Street • St. Francis WE HAVE

                     







 

763-753-2660

For all your entertaining needs:

Lunch served at noon. RSVP right away to 763-753-2273. Free will offering.

 

Open House Cards Personalized Napkins Thank You Notes and more!

23307 St. Francis Boulevard corner of Hwy. 47 & 233 Avenue Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

years ago in England. The idea of a national Law Day was conceived in 1957 by American Bar Association President Charles Rhynes. In 1958 President Dwight D. Eisenhower, established the first Law Day and in 1961 the United States Congress issued a joint resolution making May 1 the official Law Day.

  

graduation parties, weddings, reunions or special occasions.

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Individual – Relationship Adolescent – Adult – Child

Midwest Family Counseling

BHP – Preferred One – UCare – MHCP

763-753-9459

Bridge Street

Poppy St. Rum River Blvd.

Midwest Family Counseling, P.A. SF High School

Joyce Hels Edward Jones

Village Bank

23038 Rum River Boulevard, St. Francis

Northwest corner of Bridge Street and Rum River Boulevard

Bruce W. Barton, M.Div., M.A., LMFT, LP

JOIN U ME S O

Local financial advisor earns Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® designation Blake Cheeley, financial advisor for Edward Jones in St. Francis, has achieved the professional designation of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC®) . Cheeley successfully completed the professional education program from the Denver-based College for Financial Planning. Those who complete the program, pass a final exam and sign a code of ethics and disclosure form earn the CRPC® designation. This advanced training program focuses on the pre-

9th Annual

2015

Past • Present • Future

2881 229th Avenue NW • St. Francis

Saturday, June 20 • 1:00 p.m. Register

$95 individual entry or $380 per team includes 18 holes of golf, cart, gift bags and dinner 4 Player Scramble Best Ball with prizes for Closest to Pin/Longest Drive/Hole In One/Longest Putt Hole Sponsor Prizes and Competitions Raffle & To sponsor a hole or register, contact: Silent Nicole 763-795-6235 or Rick 763-370-8419 Auction no later than Friday, June 12.

We salute the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, those who serve today and the future generations who will carry on the honorable duties of protecting and preserving America’s freedom. Their dedication, patriotism, sacrifice and courage will always be remembered.

All monies go to Minnesota-based Veterans Programs

Memorial Day

May Sale Take

20% Off

your purchase of any American Flag during the month of May. A Chair for Mom!

on Mother’s Day Weekend only.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 763-753-8000

Like us on Facebook to find current in-store specials!

3645 Bridge Street St. Francis, MN 763-753-1265 www.stfrancishardware.com Offer good for May 2015. Not valid with any other promotions.

Rentals | Hardware | Small Engine & Equipment Repair | Bird Seed & Houses 24

American Legion Post 622, St. Francis 763-753-4234 Anytime Fitness 763-753-3399

20% off all chairs

branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm’s 14,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly seven million clients. Edward Jones, which ranked number six on FORTUNE magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2015, is headquartered in St. Louis. FORTUNE and Time Inc. are not affiliated with and do not endorse products or services of Edward Jones. The Edward Jones website is www.edwardjones.com and the recruiting website is www. careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

A Salute to Our Soldiers

The Ponds Golf Course

NOW!

and post-retirement needs of individuals. Study topics include principles of retirement planning, sources of retirement income, employer-sponsored plans, deferred compensation plans, plan distributions, investment strategies during retirement and planning for incapacity, disability and longterm care. Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company, provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of

City of East Bethel 763-367-7840 City of Oak Grove 763-404-7000

City of St. Francis 763-753-2630

Sara Sauer, C.P.A, LLC 763-413-3390

Gold Star Kennels & Suites 763-753-5450

St. Francis True Value Hardware 763-753-1265

Independent School District 15 763-753-7040

Subway, St. Francis 763-753-8511

Northland Screw Products, Inc. 763-753-3628 Printing Unlimited 763-753-2721

The Courier 763-753-7031 Temperature Specialists, Inc. 763-753-2974

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

4-H prom dress sale raises over $2,500 layne vermeulen 4-H Program Coordinator

Anoka County 4-H youth leaders raised over $2,500 from their 4-H Prom Dress Sale fundraiser in March. The youth leaders are members of the Y.E.S. (Youth Energizing System) Committee and the funds raised will help the group participate in leadership activities and community service projects. At the sale, there were over 800 dresses for sale for $30 or less. The group received 148 dress donations from Anoka County employees and from community members. Bridal Aisle Wedding Consignment, Cynthia’s Bridal Emporium, Flutter Bridal Boutique, Raffiné Bridal & Formal Wear and The Hope Chest Bridal Boutique donated a total of 238 dresses. Vendors were also at the sale, including Marta’s Tailor Shop and Star Limousine.

This sale offered gently used dresses at affordable prices to many young women who were looking for dresses for prom and other formal events. One shopper said, “This was great! I found a dress I love for a good price!” another stated, “This was the best, most organized sale I’ve attended.” The Y.E.S. Committee would like to thank the 39 volunteers who helped organize and staff the sale, vendors and the businesses and community members who donated dresses. In 2016, the sale will be held on two days: March 5-6, 2016 at Bunker Hills Activities Center. Dress donations are accepted year-round at the Anoka County Extension Office 550 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW Andover, MN 55304. Please call 763-755-1280 if you have questions. For more information on 4-H in Anoka County, visit www.extension. umn.edu/county/anoka or call 763755-1280.

Home Improvement & Service Guide Did you know...

Central Heating & Cooling

Eagle Garage Door Did you know that your garage door is the largest and most used appliance in your house? Did you know that your garage door springs are designed to do all the lifting of your garage door? A heavy or rough running door can decrease the life of your garage door opener.

50% Off Labor

Call us for free estimate – Siding – Windows – Roofing – Gutters – Bathroom – Kitchen And much more!

Locally owned, licensed, bonded and insured

Lic # BC637881

Phone 763-434-1500 www.myproexteriors.com

The Youth Energizing System Committee would like to thank the 39 volunteers who helped organize and staff the 4-H prom dress sale. Some of the volunteers are pictured here. Submitted Photo

Your Hardscape Specialists

For all your Automotive Repairs & Maintenance

Experienced n Insured n Free Quotes

ElementLandscapingMN.com 763-203-5036

21388 Johnson Street NE, 1 block W of Hwy. 65 & Sims Road in East Bethel 763-413-3445

All Appliance Disposal Recycling Appliances, Electronics & More

Residential & Commercial 18641 Hwy 65 NE, East Bethel

612-865-9570 www.AllApplianceDisposal.com The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

n Patios, walkways Projects and paver projects Big and n Retaining walls Small! n Stone work and veneer n Curb appeal and edging n Bobcat/dirt work and more

5 OFF

$ 00 Bring this ad in and receive $5 Off your next disposal. Not valid with any other offer.

Eagle Garage Door Co. St. Francis Residential Commercial • Industrial Springs Cables Openers Doors

Fixed right the first time!

763-753-2032

Central Heating & Cooling is a local small business that prides itself on lasting customer relationships. Dave Feders, owner and operator, has been in the HVAC industry for over 15 years and his goal is to offer high quality at a fair price. Call today for a free estimate, 10% off a service call or our spring special, good for 5% off a system installation by mentioning The Courier.

Residential & Commercial

Think Clean this Spring!

We clean ducts and dryer vents.

Ask about our A/C Special 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

New Construction • Remodel Commercial • Residential Service

Dave Feders

centralheatcool@gmail.com

All Major Brands FREE ESTIMATES

612.369.7906

www.CentralHVACmn.com

Northstar Outdoors, Inc. Summer Lawn Professionals Lawn Mowing Dethatching Fertilizing Weed Control Commercial and Residential

612-710-7710

northstaroutdoors@live.com Licensed and Insured 25

Greetings From The Capitol Area manufacturers to benefit from $100,000 Tom Hackbarth Connexus donation to Anoka Technical College Final weeks of 2015 session; machine came about of complex features on small fia Prpic after talking with local components. state lottery update manufacturers. “Connexus “In considering the needs State rep. District 31B

Anoka Technical college

Anoka Technical College Foundation and the college’s Machine Trades program are thrilled at a recent $100,000 donation by Connexus Energy toward a multi-axis Swiss machine. The Connexus donation plays a leading role in encouraging other industry partners to invest in their future workers by participating in getting this equipment purchased. Don Haller, Connexus Energy’s vice president of Member Services, said the idea to fund the Swiss

CELEB

saw this as a way to help the manufacturers find local, talented, skilled workers to help their businesses grow and expand. It’s also an opportunity to increase economic development in the north metro.” Swiss CNC multi-axis machines are valued within the machining industry. They are ideally suited to the flexible machining necessary for longer components and for their ability to efficiently provide precise machining

RATIO N

Reserve your booth space

Merchandise, food and crafters, are all welcome for Saturday, July 18. General information, call Denise 763-413-2748 or dlachinski @gmail.com Parade information, contact Diane at gdevenson5954@msn.com

Honest, Reliable and Affordable

16191 Round Lake Blvd., Andover, MN

Coupon

Transmission Service

25 Off

Not valid with other coupons or offers. No cash value. One coupon per customer. Coupon must be presented at time of service. Regular price $149.99. Expires 5/31/15.

Specializing in accounting and taxes for closely-held and family-owned businesses since 1974. Office hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or by appointment 1207 Constance Blvd. NE • Ham Lake, MN 55304 www.sannerudsavarese.com

Retirement

Cooling System Service Service includes: First we install a powerful commercial grade flushing agent that loosens deposits In the complete cooling system. Including, engine block, radiator and heater core. We then drain the system and flush it with clean water. Then we evacuate the system completely, so that there is no old antifreeze mixed with the new. At that time we can replace your thermostat if requested and reinstall fresh 50-50 mix of coolant. We also supply a bottle of additive for down the road to add to the cooling system after you have driven the vehicle for 20,000 to 30,000 miles to increase coolant life.

763-422-4004

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

763-753-6614 www.highlandmoneymgmt.com

College Planning Life Insurance

Free Estimates!

763-444-9234 H E A T

M I Z E R

s “Give U ” A Break

Heat Mizer Glass, Inc. HOME & BUSINESS

Investments

Regular Price: $139.99

Not valid with other coupons or offers. No cash value. One coupon per customer. Coupon must be presented at time of service. Regular price $139.99. Expires 5/31/15.

1/12

763-422-4004

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parts of Oak Grove and Andover – contributed $3.1 million in lottery sales last year. Those sales included $2.1 million in scratch games and more than $1 million in lotto games. The lottery is one source of state revenue, which stayed level during the recession and continues to perform well. This has helped Minnesota continue to fund important natural resources and environmental projects during tough economic times. A total of 19 businesses in District 31B served as lottery retailers in 2014, earning more than $243.000 in commissions and incentives. Those sales resulted in estimated contributions $418,769 to the General Fund, $196,517 to the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund and $75,256 to each the Game and Fish Fund and the Natural Resources Fund. The $531 million in statewide sales in 2014 and $128 million to state programs included $69 million to the General Fund, $33 million to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and $13 million to both the Natural Resources Fund and the Game and Fish Fund. A chart illustrating the details of how lottery revenue is appropriated can be found at www.mnlottery.com. Select “Where the Money Goes” under "About the Lottery" at the bottom of the home page.

Certified Public Accountants

763-434-5929

Includes up to 5 quarts of full synthetic transmission fluid, filter and pan gasket.

The Legislature is in the final weeks of the 2015 session and a number of headline items remain works in progress. Our top job this session is to put a new two-year budget in place. Negotiations continue from original proposals that included top-line numbers from the House ($39.95 billion), the Senate ($42.7 billion) and Governor Mark Dayton ($43 billion). As a point of reference, the House’s initial plan would be a 4 percent increase over the current budget, while the governor and Senate propose more significant rises. I will provide more details on what transpires once a finished product is put in place. Your continued correspondence is welcome. The best way to reach me during these busy times is by emailing rep.tom.hackbarth@ house.mn. For now, here is an update regarding revenue the Minnesota State Lottery generated in our district during 2014: The state lottery had $531 million in statewide sales last year, gaining $128 million in revenue for the state General Fund, Environmental Resources Trust Fund and more. House District 31B – including Linwood Township and the cities of Columbus, East Bethel, Ham Lake and

Sannerud, Savarese & Associates, p.a.

Specializing in foreign & domestic auto repair

763-422-4004

of the region’s manufacturers, one of the priority areas at Anoka Technical College has been to add multi-axis Swiss machine training to the Machine Trades program,” said Pete Gravett, development director at the Anoka Tech Foundation. “A $100,000 commitment from Connexus Energy serves as our first commitment from an area manufacturer and puts the Anoka Technical College Foundation within $40,000 of getting that piece of equipment on the floor in time for fall programming.” “From the student perspective, a Swiss machine involves the culmination of our two major disciplines of milling and turning,” said Matt Rogers, Machine Trades faculty at Anoka Tech. “When combined, these two functions demand a higher level of comprehension and a heightened skill set." Anoka Technical College offers several programs in Machine Trades including an associate in applied science degree and a certificate in CNC manufacturing technology, a diploma in CNC machining, a diploma in machining and an advanced certificate in multiaxis machining. For more information on the comprehensive Machine Trades programming at Anoka Technical College, visit AnokaTech.edu.

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.

New Construction • Remodeling and Repair • Commercial Residential Windows & Doors Glass of All Types • Plastics Shower Doors • Mirrors

AUTO Glass

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

30678 Hwy 47 NW MN Glass Isanti, MN Association

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

I Hate When That Happens

Randy Gerdin ASE certified technician

War stories As I write this, I am in a hotel room after just ending a two-day meeting with fellow shop owners from the upper Midwest. Our group meets for a few days, three times a year. A different shop owner acts as the host each time and we all travel to their destination and have business meetings. One of my favorite parts of our gatherings is that we take time to go to the auto repair shop of our host for a tour. We divide up into five groups and each group takes a different aspect of the operation and does a critique. The group analyzes everything from the shop layout, to the rest rooms, to the workflow, to how customers are handled and how paperwork is done. Last January was my turn to host. It is always a bit nerve-racking for the host to

get everything ready for the evaluation. Our host this time said it reminds him of getting his house ready for a high school graduation party. You always end up sprucing up a bit more when you know that a lot of company is coming. This is a bit different because the purpose is to identify the problems that the host may have overlooked. It is a great learning experience not only for the host, but for all that attend. The majority of the folks in my group have been in business for 20-35 years. And, of course, we all enjoy and relate to each other’s “war stories.” Some are quite humorous and some are very sobering. One story comes to mind. One shop has a customer that brought in their older second car because it was overheating. The vehicle was checked out

and they found that the head gasket was leaking coolant. This is no small or inexpensive job. The customer called back and told the shop to go ahead and replace the head gaskets. They said that they had recently done some other work to the vehicle and they decided that it was worth the cost. They figured that for the cost of the repair, they could not replace the car. Everything went well, the job was finished on time and everyone was happy. About a month later the customer called and said the vehicle is overheating again! The shop sent a tow truck to pick up the vehicle and again checked it out. This time they found that the radiator was leaking. So the customer was called and told the unfortunate news. The radiator was replaced and the car was back on the road. Another month went by and the customer

Fixed rate, low interest loans available for first time Anoka County homebuyers Martha Weaver Anoka County Public Information Manager

Low interest money for first time homebuyers in Anoka County is available through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). More than $5.8 million is available to qualified buyers. Homebuyers may use the loan

requirements: } Be a first time homebuyer or not have owned a home in the last three years. } Qualify for a home mortgage from a MHFA-approved lender. } Not exceed the following household gross income limits: 1-2 person $82,900 and 3+ person $95,335.

MHFA loans are usually at or below market rate interest. Interest rates and discount points may change at any time depending on market conditions. To learn more, call Anoka County Community Development at 763-323-5764 or visit www.anokacounty.us/ cd

Services include: Individual Income Taxes • Business Taxes Tax Planning • Quickbooks & Peachtree Assistance

Sara Sauer C.P.A., LLC 14115 Lincoln Street, Suite 400 Ham Lake, MN 55304

www.SauerCPA.com

Saturday, May 16 9:00 a.m.-NOON Held in the Nowthen Fire Department (next to recycle center). The City of Nowthen in partnership with Dr. Stanley Fagerness, DVM will be holding their annual pet clinic. Fees: Rabies: $15.00 Dog License (Nowthen residents): $3.00 (1) one year; $5.00 (2) two year; $8.00 (3) three year Other vaccinations available at additional cost. Call 763-441-1347 for further information needed. All Community Residents Welcome

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

such cases when a vehicle can have numerous problems, all appearing to be the same thing in the customer’s eyes, but indeed they are not related. The shop owner tried his hardest to explain a complex situation to a person not at all familiar with how a car really works. He emphasized that there are still many components on the vehicle that may fail and will exhibit the exact same symptoms to the driver. This type of situation has happened to all of us. We all hate when this happens.

Ramsey License Center hours change Martha Weaver Anoka County Public Information Manager

Beginning Monday, May 4, business hours at the Ramsey License Center will be adjusted to better meet the needs of customers and more closely align with Ramsey City Hall business hours. The Ramsey License Center will open a half hour earlier, at 8:00

a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The change discontinues evening hours on Tuesday. For more information about services available at Anoka County License Centers, go to anokacounty.us/licensecenters. The Ramsey License Center is housed in Ramsey City Hall, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Suite A, Ramsey.

Call for summer enrollment! Offering swimming lessons

Childcare Center

763-753-5010 • www.kidscountrychildcare.com 23256 St. Francis Blvd. NW, St. Francis Proudly accepting Child Care Assistance

Planning Commission Members Needed

763-413-3390

to purchase a new or existing home valued at up to $310,000. Additional funds may be available to assist with closing costs and down payment. Buyers must use an MHFAapproved lender. View a list of MHFA-approved lenders at www.mnhousing.gov. Click on “Home Buyers,” then “Find a Lender.” The program runs through November 30, 2015, or until funds are spent, whichever comes first. To participate in the program, homebuyers must meet the following minimum

again called saying it is doing the same thing again! The shop sent a tow truck to pick up the vehicle again. This time the technician found a problem with the wiring controlling the temperature gauge on the dash, causing the gauge to appear that the car was overheating, when it was not. Of course, in the customer’s eyes, this looks very suspect. The shop owner explained the situation to the owner. He said that unfortunately this condition was not related to the previous conditions. As shop owners, we can all relate to

The City of St. Francis is looking for residents to serve on the Planning Commission. If you are interested in the quality of life in your City and would like to be a part of seeing that happen, the City of St. Francis would like to hear from you. Commission members will be involved with planning and making recommendations on planning matters to the City Council. The Planning Commission meets on the third Wednesday evening of each month. The meetings start at 7:00 p.m. If you are interested in being a Planning Commission member, contact city hall. For more information, please call 763-753-2630. EOE 27

2015 Summer Programs: Preschool & Early Childhood Family Education Fruit & Veggie Fun

Jennifer Dupre Manager, ECFE, Preschool Place 15

Classes for preschoolers are centered on a theme. Choose from classes that are one morning a week for three weeks or classes that are three consecutive days. All classes will include stories, music, art, literacy and math activities, and time for playing with others. A sliding fee scale is available.

Course: PP1111 Day: Tuesday Dates: July 7-21 Sort, match, describe and compare a variety of different fruits and vegetables. Some of them you may be familiar with; others you may never have heard of.

Nature is Neat Course: PP1112 Day: Wednesday Dates: July 8-22 Trees, dirt, bugs and birds. So many different things to see, touch, hear and small in nature. We will get outside and experience the many things that nature has to offer.

Painting Pazazz Course: PP1113 Day: Thursday Dates: July 9-23

Summer Preschool Place 15 Time: Fee: Ages:

9:15-11:30 am $39 for each 3-meeting session sliding fee available Children must be at least 3 years of age by 6/1/2014, not yet attending kindergarten

Choose from the following:

Paint with a variety of different tools and with a variety of different materials in this class all about painting.

When I Grow Up

Kraig Domogalla

“Your Real Estate Specialist” 612-366-3925 Email: kraigdomogalla@aol.com

Results

Each office Independently Owned and Operated

Less than 5 minutes from St. Francis and 15 minutes to Riverdale in Coon Rapids. Call

763-753-8385 for more information

21202 Old Lake George Boulevard Oak Grove, MN 55303

Great Mortgage Rates Start 2015 off right with a mortgage review and see how you may benefit with a refinance: - Pay off your home sooner - Reduce monthly payment - Cash out for projects or debt consolidation - Remove mortgage insurance - Pay off a second mortgage

Course: PP1115 Days: Tues, Wed, Thurs Dates: July 7-9 Get up close and personal with all of these flying and crawling creatures. What characteristics does a bug have and where are the best places to find them?

Eric Carle Course: PP1116 Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Dates: July 14-16 Little Cloud, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do You See? and The Very Hungry Caterpillar are just a few of the wonderful books by Eric Carle. Come and enjoy a variety of stories and activities that he created. Course: PP1117 Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Dates: July 21-23 Writing begin so much sooner than when a child puts a pencil to paper. Body awareness, letter skills and fine motor skills will be part of the focus of this class as the children work towards writing their name and other familiar letters and words

Early Childhood Family Education Parent/Child Camp Birth to kindergarten and their parents Come enjoy a variety of activities with your child/ren this summer. Play with others, paint a picture or build a creation. There are many things to explore at ECFE. Parent discussion time will take place in the classroom.

Celebrating Baby Your baby must be 12 months of age or younger when you attend the event Enjoy songs and games together and meet others who are expecting the joys and challenges of raising a baby. Don’t forget to pick up your free gift! Course: EC0701 Day: Wednesday Dates: July 8, 15 Time: 9:30-11:30 am Fee: FREE No sibling care available. Try a preschool camp for your preschooler.

Pop In and Play Come with your young child for activities related to a weekly theme, meet other families and build relationships. No pre-registration necessary. The perfect place to relax with your toddler or infant while your preschooler is in a preschool camp with us. Time: 9:15-11:30 am Day: Thursday Dates: July 9: Water Fun July 16: A Rainbow of Colors July 23: Animals at the Zoo Fee: $4 per child; max $12 or three punches per family (limit of 4 children/adult)

Complete Family Dentistry

ound R Lake

Dental

Dr. Thomas Swenson

763-427-0285 • www.roundlakedental.com 13841 Round Lake Blvd. NW • Andover 2 minutes north of Highway 10 on Round Lake Boulevard

Now is the time to refinance or get pre-approved to buy.

Call now to take advantage of these excellent interest rates, 763-301-0530 or email eric.schmoll@amecinc.org.

Backyard Bugs

Help Me Write My Name

Course: PP1114 Day: Thursday Dates: July 9-23 Children imagine all of the different

A 55+ rental housing community offering comfort and convenience at an affordable rate!

things they could be when they grow up—a firefighter, a veterinarian, a construction worker, a dancer. Come experience a variety of jobs they may be thinking of as they grow.

Open Evenings Nitrous Oxide Available Cosmetic Dentistry

Lynn Karasch, MBA, CPA

Specializing in Individual & Small Business Returns By appointment • Accounting & Bookkeeping Phone 763-413-3090 Services Fax 763-434-4739 • Consulting Eric Schmoll NMLS 803271

www.ldkaccounting.com

Open year round for all of your accounting needs.

• Payroll Services • Business Startup Services

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Sports & Outdoors St. Francis High School softball season in full swing Tony Hoglund Parent/Softball Booster board member

This season the Saints return with six seniors, three juniors and five sophomores rounding out their lineup. Lead by senior captains Abby Marron, Sam Jochum and Megan McMahon, the Saints look to improve on their third place finish in the Mississippi 8 conference and final four appearance in section play. The Saints will heavily rely on the sophomore class, in particular the arms of pitchers Annika Peterson and Alex Marron along with Emma Lero catching behind home plate. Conference play kickedoff April 2 at Chisago Lakes. Although the Saints lost the contest 4-5, there were some bright spots. After being hit by a pitch in her first plate appearance, Lero then sent the ball over the fence for her first home run. Senior Kylie Almendinger went 3 for 4 with two singles and a double and junior Bobbiejean Miller also connected for a double driving in a run. On the mound Peterson pitched four innings, accumulating six strikeouts with her efforts. Alex Marron then entered the game and finished with four strikeouts of

How to be a good youth sports parent The Journal of Sports Medicine says three out of four American families with school-aged children have at least one child playing an organized sport. While many kids play just for recreation, others play competitively. Sports are meant to be sources of enjoyment for children, but parental pressure and poor adult behavior on the sidelines can make kids reluctant to compete. The following are a few tips for parents who want to encourage their kids’ passions for sports in positive ways. } Show respect for coaches and officials. Parents should Continued Page 30

her own. The Saints first win of the season came five days later while hosting Big Lake. The 7-4 victory was secured with 5 runs in the second inning. Senior Sam Jochum lead the way going 2 for 3 at the plate and two RBI’s. All three Saints pitchers Peterson, Marron and junior Amanda Kishish contributed to this win. The next evening, the Saints traveled to Monticello for their third game. Miller contributed 5 RBI’s in a 14-5 victory while hitting her first career home run. Kishish went 2 for 4 with 1 RBI along with Junior Gabby Hoglund batting .500 for the game and providing 3 RBI’s. Editor’s note: Sophomore pitcher Alex Marron was named Prep Athlete of the Week by the StarTribune April 13. She started in the April 7 game against Big Lake, pitching four innings, striking out five, to earn the victory in a 7-4 win for the Saints. Then, on April 10, she dominated Minneapolis Washburn, setting a school record by striking out 18 batters in a 4-2 victory. Please come out and support the Saints at any of their remaining games: Tuesday, April 28 at

The Saints softball team hopes to improve on its 2014 third place conference finish.

Submitted by Jen Close

St. Michael-Albertville, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30 vs. Buffalo at SFHS, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 vs. Cambridge-Isanti at SFHS, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at North Branch, 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 8 at Anoka, Central Park in Ramsey, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14 vs. Princeton at SFHS, 4:30 p.m.

We buy Estates!

auctionmn.com

SECOND SUNDAY & Tuesday FLEA MARKETS & AUCTIONS WITH TONY AT MAU’S CORNER

Can’t come on Tuesday? No problem. Please join us on Sundays beginning May 3 and then on every Second Sunday after that. Flea Market 7:00 A.M. • Auction 10:00 a.m.

Although we usually don’t know what folks will bring to sell… from past experience there will be plenty of tools, collectibles, antiques, power equipment, furniture, sporting goods, electronics and even cars, boats, ATVs and more.

Bag it. Box it. Bring it or Buy It at Mau’s Corner, Hwy 47 & CR 8, 3 miles north of St. Francis. Visit www.auctionmn.com for weather cancellations.

763-421-3044

Tony Elfelt, Lic. #02-180 – Nowthen, MN

Oak Ridge Auto Body Inc. 23428 Hwy. 65 NE 2 Blks. S of CR 24 on Hwy. 65

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

Recommended by insurance companies Ask about a free loaner car • Owners John and Lori Buchta Friendly and dependable service

Dumpster Rental • We Haul Junk Cars • 6 • 10 • 15 • 20 • 30 Besides hauling junk cars we also yard dumpsters remove metal. Ask about snow plowing. • Household junk • Construction debris • We also load junk a1rolloffs.com for you

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

763-444-6992

St. Francis 6th grade girls repeat as state grade basketball champions Ron Kissel Coach girls 6th Grade Blue Basketball team

There’s something special about the St. Francis class of 2021 girls basketball players. Last year as 5th graders, with a 2-18 record, they were placed in the bottom C bracket at the Grade State Championship tournament. To the surprise of everyone, even themselves, they won four games in a row and the Class C state championship. A bit of a Cinderella story and as Coach Kissel put it, a once in a lifetime accomplishment… or was it? The Saints started the 201415 season playing in the A bracket. It looked like it was going to be another tough season as they started with an 0-8 record. But the girls dug in with extra practices and they started to pay off. At the C level the Saints finally garnered their first win and followed it up few a more. January ended and they had a consolation and third place finish. In February, the team stepped up to the B level and won two second place trophies. By state championship time, the Saints were placed as the

number one seed of 16 teams in the 2A bracket, three levels above last year’s placement. They got the first game jitters out with a comfortable 33-19 win over Crosby-Ironton. The second game was a nail biter against Stewartville. With St. Francis up by two near the end of the game, Stewartville had a flurry of shots before being fouled with 0.5 seconds left. Stewartville made the first free-throw but the second rimmed out and the Saints survived. Game three wasn’t any easier as they were pitted against Hospitality House, the same team they beat last year for the championship. At one point in the second half, Hospitality House went on a 8-0 run and took a 6 point lead when St. Francis called a time out, regrouped and answered with a 8-0 run taking the lead and never looked back, winning the game 35-31. In the championship game, St. Francis jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 29-17 win and their second straight Grade State Championship.

3220 Bridge Street, Suite 107 in the St. Francis Mall

Call

763-753-1277 for an Appointment

Kendall W. Goodian, D.C. Chiropractic Orthopedist

Specializing in Sports, Industrial and Auto Accident Injuries

6/12

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

Paying $150 for most junkers!

Bonus for cars ’04 or newer!

763-753-4698

4140 St. Francis Blvd., just south of town on Hwy. 47 Family Run Business — Open 6 Days A Week Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. • Saturday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

St. Francis 6th grader girls have won their second Minnesota Grade State Basketball Championship. Pictured (L-R): Veronica Tilc, Enya Kissel, Brynne Bankes, Amelia Sonterre, Megan Johnson, Natalie Netteberg, Lydia Rzeszutek, Breanna TerWisscha, with Coach Ron Kissel, assistant coaches Deb Kissel and Lynn Bankes. Submitted photo

Two players named to state all-star team Brent Swaggert SFHS Football

The St. Francis High School football team is proud to announce the selection of Running back John Santiago and tight end/defensive end Blake Moreno to the 2015 High School All-Star game. All-star selections are made by high school coaches throughout the state of Minnesota. Both John and Blake will be playing for the North Team coached by Osseo head football coach Derrin Lamker. Santiago completed his historic three year varsity career with 3,370 rushing yards

From Page 29

Sports Parents

and 39 touchdowns with an average of 8.8 yards/carry. Moreno made a big impact on both sides of the ball and offensively ended his three year varsity career with 44 receptions and 13 touchdowns. The 42 Annual Minnesota Football Coaches Association All-Star game will be played on Saturday, June 27 at Husky Stadium at 1:00 p.m. Next fall, Santiago will be attending the University of North Dakota and Moreno will be continuing his education at Minnesota State-Mankato. Both have earned football scholarship to further their education.

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763-753-3595

Auto • Home • Business • Risk • Recreation

not act like they are the final authority on calls or how team members should play. Respect should always be shown to coaches and referees. } Let your child have fun regardless of his or her performance. } Recognize college scholarships may not be in the cards. } Take cues from the child. Parents whose children seem unenthusiastic about mom and dad attending their sporting events may be trying to tell you they don’t appreciate your behavior at the games. } Provide constructive criticism. Early coaching and practice with parents can give kids a leg up on the competition. } Place emphasis on fun and learning skills. If children seem to have lost interest in sports, parents can ask why in an effort to make sports fun again or encourage other pursuits. Many sports now require year-round participation, which can cause burnout in some youngsters. Sometimes a brief break and some fine-tuning may be all that’s needed to rekindle a child’s passion for sports. Source: MetroCreative Graphics

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Saints wrestlers have strong showing Tony Hoglund Parent

The St. Francis Middle School wrestlers participated at the Northland Youth Wrestling Association (NYWA) seventh and eighth grade state tournament. The tournament, featuring 32 teams, was held March 26-27 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. The Saints

wrestlers had a very strong showing, winning three of their five dual matches. They defeated St. Peter, Pierz and New London-Spicer. In their two losses, the Saints went down by a combined three points to Minneota and eventual tournament runner

up Waconia. The middle school wrestlers would once again like to thank their coaches, John Lorenzen, Andy Robinson and Mitch Hazelton, for their time and knowledge throughout this season.

Eighth grade students from St. Francis Middle School took part in a field trip to the Maple Grove Community Center on February 26 for a day of socializing, fun and exercise near the end of Trimester 2. Students used the pool with a slide, rope swing, climbing wall and open gym, went ice-skating, sang karaoke, played arcade games, air hockey and pool and snacked at the concession bar. Students could rotate from area to area with friends at their own pace. “Students enjoyed their freedom to spend a day with their friends,” said eighth grade language arts teacher Katie Cady. “They appreciated a day without homework and schoolwork.”

Jessica Rowles, SFMS Community Relations Coordinator

Replace your car engine or Transmission, not your car! Engine or Transmission Replacement Team members pictured are Dalton Anderson, Josh Ferguson, Mike Wasche, Ryan Grise, Zach Bonte, Jake Ferguson, Calvin Grise, Joey Lipinski, Andrew Hoglund, Case Sharp, Nick Gerlach, Luke Bonte, Tommy Ficocello and Kyle Lindenfelser; not pictured: Ben Hallin and Brady Bigelbach. Submitted photo

100

$ Save

Expires: 5/31/15. Not valid with any other offers. Good at Gerdin Auto & Tire in St. Francis. Coupon must be presented at time of service.

To The Goal

• Initial savings through a JASPER remanufactured component can be tremendous. • A JASPER remanufactured engine only costs about 20% of a three year vehicle lease. • Look at the facts…then choose JASPER! www.jasperengines.com • 3 Year/100,000 Mile Warranty

BARB ANDERSON nutritionist, referee, coach, Pact (parents and coaches together) presenter/ Minnesota youth soccer association

It can be done! Kids can learn to do their best, be competitive, be caring and be good citizens. There was a recent article in the StarTribune on Sunday, April 5 by Gail Rosenblum called “How to grow caring kids.” She refers to a program I have mentioned before called “Doing Good Together” started by Jenny Friedman about ten years ago. (www. doinggoodtogether.org. It is growing as families and parents are realizing the importance of taking the time to work along side their children as they participate in helping others. How about if we take this approach with our youth sports teams this summer? We can help our children be better teammates and learn to care for others through the activity/sport they are doing. Before the game remind your child to be an encourager and speak positive. “Good try,” is very easy for any age child to say. Encourage your child to see where they might be able to offer help, i.e.

carrying a bag for the coach. If we teach them to look for the positive they will enjoy their time more and be a positive influence. During the game keep your cool and be a positive example. Encourage all the children, not just yours. Compliment both teams when a good play is made. Talk to the other parents—those from the other team as well. Let’s set the example. After the game remember it is a game and meant to be fun. Children

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

stop wanting to play when it stops being fun. Congratulate other children on their efforts. Offer to help clean up trash after the game is over—even if it is not your garbage. Keep the comments positive during the car ride home. Ask, “What was the best part of the game for you tonight?” “What was the most fun?” Enjoy the time together and we can help our youth bring out the best in themselves, us and our community.

763-753-4993

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

www.gerdinauto.com

Nowthen Threshing Show

Spring Tractor Pull Saturday, May 16

Food &

7415 Old Viking Boulevard Beverages by in Nowthen the Ramsey

Tractor Pull

Lions

Registration at 10:00 a.m. • Pull starts at Noon

Child Care Center We Have Infant Openings! Now Taking Enrollment Both Locations, All Ages East Bethel

763-434-1980 Isanti

763-444-3774

For pull information, contact Kurt Johnson at 612-790-3554 • oldgjd@comcast.net Josh Wilhelm at 763-370-1321 • jwilhelm@frontiernet.net For more general information, contact Sharon Wilhelm at 763-913-1238 • wilhelm@tds.net

FREE admission to spectators for this event Don’t miss the 45th Annual Nowthen Threshing Show

August 21, 22, 23, 2015

Featuring “Oliver Hart-Parr & Related Items” Not responsible for accidents. Children must not be left unattended near operating machinery. All attendees must stay behind barriers at all operating machinery demonstrations and be alert for other moving machinery. Children 12 and under not admitted without an adult present.

Call for Employment Opportunities 31

Meetings, Benefits & Events School District ISD 15 SCHOOL Board Meetings: May 11 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m., Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m., May 26 Retiree Recognition 6:00 p.m., Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. at Central Services Center, Community Room, 4115 Ambassador Boulevard NW, St. Francis.

SFHS All Night Party 2015 St. Francis High School Senior All Night Party will be held at Blainbrook in Blaine after graduation on Friday, May 29. Parents and community members are encouraged to volunteer. Contact Michelle Wenker, volunteer coordinator, at wmichellejim@aol.com for more info. Upcoming meeting dates are: April 29, 6:00 p.m. at St. Francis High School and May 15, 6:00 p.m. at Oak Roads Restaurant in Oak Grove.

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.

Chamber of Commerce St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce A noon lunch networking meeting will be held on May 13, instead of the monthly breakfast, at St. Francis Community Center, speaker will be the new St. Francis City Administrator. RSVP by May 11. The next Board of Directors meeting May 20, 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.

Seniors

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

East Bethel Seniors Dances are held 1:00-4:00 p.m. The next dance will be held May 1 with old time music played by Mr. Morgan. Entertainment for the June 5 dance will be Mike Elsenpeter. The cost is $5 and includes lunch. All are welcome to the Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, May 10, 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 w/potluck at noon; fourth Wednesday is crafts only, 9:00 a.m.-noon. Cribbage once a month, call Barb for date/ time 763-434-6179. We also go on tours, etc. The East Bethel Senior Center is available for rent, call Dennis 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.

Online

By Phone

www.the-courier.org 24-hours-a-day

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

Health & Fitness Tops Chapter MN #1774 meets every Wednesday 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. 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.

Business Edward Jones Coffee Club meets the second Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. at Bridge Street Coffee Box and Sweet Shoppe, 22973 Rum River Blvd. in St. Francis.

763-753-7031

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. 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 763753-1871.

Lions Oak Grove Lions French Toast Breakfast on Sunday, May 3, 8:00 a.m.-Noon. Served with sausage and beverages. Cost $20 Family, $6 Adult, $4 Child. At Oak Grove Senior Center, 19900 Nightingale Street NW. Profits will benefit area youth groups. Oak Grove Lions meet every second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. adjourning at 8:00. For more information, call Lion Mark Silvernagel at 763-7532215. 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 at nowthenlions@yahoo.com. CEDAR/EAST BETHEL LIONS CLUB meets bimonthly, first and third Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., at Hunters Inn. Call Ruth Larson at 763-434-9423.

Lions

American Legion

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.

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, 763434-6599. 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 763-7531205 or Mary Madden at 763-444-5020.

Recreation & Hobby A new neighborhood group of the American Sewing Guild is meeting the second Tuesday of the month, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in East Bethel. Come share sewing successes, challenges and ideas. The American Sewing Guild is a non-profit organization that promotes home sewing. For more information, go to ASG.org or contact Julie at 763-434-9143 or jmaurer.3962214@gmail.com.

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.

In Person

By Mail

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

4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW St. Francis, MN 55070

4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW

The Courier

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.

Service Group St. Francis Area Women of Today meet the first Tuesday 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 or call Dana at 763-753-5010.

City & Township 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 Ave. 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

Have an engagement, wedding or birth announcement or an article you would like published in The Courier? Use the convenient online submission form at www.the-courier.org/ submissions.

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Life Katie Halsne, RN,

Director of Clinical Operations, NeoPath Health

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month Spring is here! Well most of us welcome warm sunshine, flowers and longer days, others suffer from an increase in asthma and allergy symptoms. Asthma is one of the most common lifelong chronic diseases. There are approximately 25 million Americans living with asthma, seven million of which are children. Asthma is a lung condition that inflames and narrows the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Common symptoms of asthma include: wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and increased mucus production. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to manage asthma successfully to reduce and prevent asthma attacks. Successful asthma management includes knowing the warning signs of an attack and avoiding things that may trigger an attack such as tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, pets, mold and smoke from burning wood or grass. Allergies are diseases of the immune system that cause an overreaction to substances called “allergens.” Many people experience Allergic Rhinitis or “seasonal” allergies this time of year, brought on by inhaling outdoor allergens such as tree, grass and weed pollen and mold spores. Common symptoms of allergies include: congestion, skin rash, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and difficulty breathing. Treatments are available to better manage both asthma and allergies. Talk to your healthcare Provider to discuss your symptoms and develop a plan to stay healthy.

Pet Corner

Dr. Amy Morgan Oak Grove Animal Hospital, Owner

Question How do I choose a pet? Answer When choosing any pet, first you need to take your lifestyle into consideration. Do you have an active lifestyle or are you away from home for long periods of time? Are you home often and looking for a pet that will sit on your lap and snuggle? Do you have children and how old are they? Does anyone in the house have allergies? When choosing a dog, consider size and breed. Certain breeds are more active and require more exercise like daily walks which work well for active families. Do you have a fenced in yard? If you get an active dog but are unable to take daily walks, this will come in handy. Size of your pet needs to be considered; how big is your living space? Dogs range in size from just a few pounds, to over one hundred pounds. Some breeds require frequent grooming—will this added time or expense of a groomer fit your lifestyle? Age of a dog is also a consideration— are you willing to puppy proof your living space and house train a new puppy? Cats can be more independent and are able to stay home alone for longer periods of time. An indoor cat will require a litter box that will have to be cleaned frequently. Outdoor cats often have more episodes of wounds from fighting or intestinal parasites. Also, cost of spaying or neutering can vary between cats and dogs and should be included in the budget. If a dog or cat will not fit with your lifestyle, there are many other pets to consider. Guinea pigs or other rodents or even reptiles are also options for some families. Check this website: www.aspca.org for great information about pocket pets under their pet care tab. Your veterinarian can also help you make the right decision so that you can be prepared to offer a lifetime of care to whatever pet you choose.

Nowthen Alliance Church PrimeTime Event Helen Peterson Nowthen alliance church

Nowthen Alliance Church invites the community to their May PrimeTime Ministry event. Enjoy an afternoon of Inspirational Southern Gospel Music at it’s best with Harmony Three in concert on Thursday, May 21. The potluck lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. with the concert to follow. Please bring friends and a food donation to bless a church family. A free will offering will be received Nowthen Alliance Church, located at 19653 Nowthen Boulevard NW in Nowthen. Enter at Koinonia Kafe (Door C). For more information call the church office at 763-441-1600 or Helen at 763753-1267. ES T . 2 011

Harmony Three Submitted Photo

5th annual

Nowthen Farmers Market is seeking vendors, volunteers and musicians. Begins Thursday June 25 through September 24. ES T . 2 011

Call Lynda for more information 612-751-9995.

Market every Thursday, 3:00-7:00 p.m., downtown Nowthen. Corner of Viking Blvd. (CR 22) and (CR 5) Nowthen Blvd. File Photo

Our Saviour’s

ELCA

To Your Health

Lutheran Church & Preschool

Join Us!

Following Jesus, we Worship, Learn, Serve, Invite and Connect. Sunday Worship Schedule

8:00, 9:15 & 10:45 a.m. Wednesday PowerUp Service at 6:30 p.m. Dinner served at 5:30 p.m.

Summer Worship Schedule

Begins on May 24 • 8:30 & 10:00 a.m. Spring Fling Thing on Sunday, May 17 • 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Games, music, burgers, brats and hotdogs. Celebrate the beginning of summer with us. Heart Safe Training on Sunday, May 10 begins at noon with a potluck. Free training will focus on choking, strokes, seizures, cardiac arrest, CPR and use of an AED. Please call to sign up. 19001 Jackson Street NE • East Bethel West County Road 22 south and Jackson Street For information call 763-434-6117 or visit our website at www.oursaviourslc.org • email to: oslc@oursaviourslc.org

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Sunday Services

8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School including adult classes 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship

PrimeTime Ministry Thursday, May 21 11:30 a.m. Potluck Luncheon Bring friends and a food donation to bless a church family. Free will offering will be received. Entertainment The Harmony Three— Inspirational, Southern Gospel music at it’s best. Community Welcome!

19653 Nowthen Boulevard NW, Nowthen, MN 55303 Intersection of CR 5 & 22 For more information call 763-441-1600

www.nowthenalliance.org

Celebrating 50 years Vicki Flansburg Oak Haven Church

Oak Haven Church (formerly know as Ham Lake Baptist), is celebrating 50 years of God’s faithfulness, May 2-3. Events planned on Saturday include a carnival, dinner and program. Sunday events include a Worship Service followed by a dessert reception. Please call the church at 763-434-6013 for more information and to RSVP for the dinner. The cost for dinner is $10 per individual and $30 per family.

Cedar/East Bethel Lions and Lioness craft and garage sale Ruth Dutchak Cedar/East Bethel Lioness

A craft and garage sale will be held May 1-2 at the East Bethel Ice Arena. Hours are Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Crafters and vendors should bring their own table(s). Prices are $10 per table or $25 for 3 tables. For more information and to reserve space, call Deanna Kleven at 763-434-3017.

Dr. Francis S. Ryan, Dentist Main Street at First Avenue kitty-corner from The Creamery Isanti, Minnesota 55040

Se Habla Español Aqui – Poco.

Telephone

763-444-4063

Join us for Vacation Bible School at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

Master Gardener plant sale fundraiser Lynne Hagen Master Gardener Program Coordinator, University of Minnesota Extension, Anoka County

Start your spring gardening shopping early! The University of Minnesota Extension - Anoka County Master Gardener Volunteers will have their annual fundraising plant sale on Tuesday, May 12 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, May 13, 7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the spacious Anoka Armory, 408 East Main Street, Anoka. Featured plants this year include select specialty annuals such as sunny Coleus, Calibrachoa, Sweet Potato Vine, Sunpatiens and many more. Other popular plants available include perennials for sun, perennials for shade, tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, daylilies, Dahlias, Hostas and houseplants. It is recommended to come early, as some selections are limited. Proceeds from this plant sale help to support the University of Minnesota Extension - Anoka County Master File Photo Gardener Volunteer Program and their efforts in delivering education through a variety of programs including: the Walk in the Garden classes, Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinics, Ask A Master Gardener booths, the Home Landscaping and Garden Fair and many youth projects. Master Gardeners will be on hand and available to assist with questions about lawns, trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables and pests. Feel free to bring in plant disease or insect samples to be evaluated by Master Gardener diagnosticians. To learn more about the plant sale or other programs offered by Master Gardeners, call 763-755-1280 or visit anokamastergardeners.org.

GARAGE Annual

June 15-19 9:00 a.m. until Noon Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

19001 Jackson Street NE East Bethel

Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Friday, May 29 Saturday, May 30 Located at

Contact Brice, at 763-434-6117 with questions –or– go to oursaviourslc.org to register! 34

Cross of Hope Church

5730 179 Lane NW, Ramsey MN 763-753-2057 www.childrenofhopepreschool.com

Lots of

everything!

Day camp at 4-H Camp Salie Lindsay Anderson University of Minnesota Extension, Anoka County

A fun-filled day with 4-H is now being offered. Anoka County 4-H will be hosting a free family day camp at 4-H Camp Salie, Linwood Township Saturday, May 9, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Campers will experience a day loaded with games, crafts, songs and a delicious lunch. Youth and adults of all ages are welcome. For more information on 4-H Youth Development programs in Anoka County, please call the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Anoka County at 763-755-1280. For more information and registration form: visit our website at www.extension. umn.edu/county/anoka, or call 763-755-1280.

Mercy Hospital named one of the nation’s top 100 by Truven Health Analytics Gloria O’Connell Allina Health

Four Allina Health hospitals made the lists of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Truven Health Analytics, a leading provider of data-driven analytics and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis is a 100 Top teaching hospital for a second time. Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids is a 100 Top large community hospital for a fourth time. St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee and Buffalo Hospital in Buffalo are 100 Top small community hospitals for the second and fourth times. Recently, Mercy’s Heart & Vascular Center was named a 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital® by Truven for the ninth time. That study evaluates performance in key performance areas: riskadjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severityadjusted average length of stay and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Local Isanti residents to walk 39.3 miles to aid breast cancer research Ronda Fenlon Isanti 3-Day team

Marcy’s Marteenies of Isanti will join thousands of women and men in the upcoming AVON 39, The Walk to End Breast Cancer in Chicago, June 6-7, raising funds to enable access to mammograms and medicine, fuel research and save lives. The team includes Colleen Bell of Princeton, Nikki Mellum, Mo Spike and Ronda Fenlon of Isanti and Sherri McKenna of Zimmerman. They will take on the 39.3 mile challenge together. Marcy’s Marteenies was inspired to take part in AVON 39 Chicago because of Marcy Stoeckel’s diagnosis in November 2014. Our team has been walking for nine years in honor of and support for women in the Cambridge, St. Francis and Isanti communities who have been diagnosed with breast cancer (in some cases for the second or third time). The generosity of the community has helped us raise over $130,000. We believe with the funds raised we are making a difference. The breast cancer journey has given us the opportunity to give back in some small way while making friends and building hope. Please join us at our upcoming fundraising event, the 6th Annual Women’s Pink Boutique on Saturday, May 9, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. at Long Lake Lutheran Church, 3921 277th Avenue NW in Isanti. Spend the day with us…pamper yourself! Shop for Mother’s Day or any special occasion. Basket and quilt raffle and lunch is available onsite. A special basket will be given to the person who brings the most guests. For more information, visit www.Isanti3DayTeam.com or email ronda60@msn.com.

Free plant and insect diagnostic clinics Lynne Hagen Master Gardener Program Coordinator, University of Minnesota Extension, Anoka County

The University of Minnesota Extension - Anoka County Master Gardener Volunteer Program offers free Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinics for Anoka County residents. These clinics are designed to help homeowners identify problems and develop appropriate solutions for their landscapes by using researchbased information. Clinics are held on Wednesday evenings at the Bunker Hills Activities Center from 6:00-8:00 p.m., please arrive by 7:30 p.m. at the latest, May 20 through August 26. No clinic will be held the week of July 4. For the convenience of those living on the western side of Anoka County, a traveling Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic will be held at the Nowthen Threshing Show, August 21-23, 7415 Old Viking Boulevard NW, Nowthen. At the plant and insect diagnostic clinics, residents can: bring samples of garden or lawn plants or weeds for identification; bring samples of damaged plant material for diagnosis of common insect, disease or other problems; receive recommendations for cultural control of pests and weed problems or discuss other problems or concerns about lawns, trees, flowers, fruits, vegetables and pests with Master Gardeners. Samples of diseased plants should be a substantial portion approximately 8-10 inches in length and include leaves, flowers and fruit if available and to include margins showing both healthy and damaged material is best. Samples of insects should include the whole insect (not squished) placed in a screw top jar or sealed plastic container. Insects can be placed in a freezer to preserve them. Samples of turf need to be about the size of a small shoe box and must include the roots. If the turf is diseased, the specimen needs to include a margin of both the healthy side and unhealthy side of the sample. The Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinics are free, but donations are welcome. Participants are asked to please limit samples to three per visit. To learn more about the clinics, or other programs offered by Master Gardeners, call 763-755-1280, or visit their website at www.anokamastergardeners.org. The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

4-H plant sale fundraiser Kay Petersen 4-H Volunteer, University of Minnesota Extension, Anoka County

Help support summer programs for 4-H youth. Profits from this fundraiser will go to offset the cost of our County 4-H Arts-In program, a thirty minute musical show performed all week at the Anoka County Fair. Plants may be purchased at the Anoka County Fairgrounds 4-H Exhibit Building, Friday, May 15, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 16, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. A large selection and variety of plants will be available: annual bedding plants,

hanging plants, perennials, herbs and vegetables. Waldoch Farm and Garden Center in Lino Lakes furnishes the plants. They have offered 4-H the opportunity to sell plants for fundraising purposes. Please visit online at

z.umn.edu/4hplntsale for more information on the sale. Any questions, please contact the University of Minnesota Extension, Anoka County at 763-755-1280. Anoka County 4-H is a non-profit organization.

Faith Listings Abundant Life Alliance Church 3840 197th Avenue NW Oak Grove • 763-753-0284 www.AbundantLife4U.org Bethel Community Church 23860 Dewey Street NW Bethel • 763-434-9834 www.bethelschurch.org Cedar United Methodist Church 17541 Jefferson Street NE Ham Lake • 763-434-7463 www.cedarumc.org Cross of Hope Lutheran Church 5730-179th Lane NW Ramsey • 763-753-2057 www.crossofhope.net First Baptist Church & Christian School K–12 22940 St. Francis Boulevard St. Francis • 763-753-1230 www.fbcsaintfrancis.com 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

File Photo

“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

• 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

Ask Fido:

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

00 15 off any exam

Offer expires 5/31/15. One coupon per customer, per visit.

What makes Fido’s your favorite home away from home?

“Easy. Four free walks a day, every day I’m here!”

More personal care boarding perks:

New Life Church - Oak Grove 18975 Lake George Boulevard NW Oak Grove • 763-753-5717 www.newlifeoakgrove.org

St. Francis United Methodist Church 3914 229th Avenue NW St. Francis • 763-753-2273 www.stfrancis-umc.com

Bring in this ad for

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

New Life Church 17261 St. Francis Boulevard NW Ramsey • 763-421-0166 www.newlifemn.org

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church 19001 Jackson Street NE East Bethel • 763-434-6117 www.oursaviourslc.org

We are now offering Pet Wellness packages!

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

All Breed Professional Dog Grooming and Personal Care Boarding Day and Evening Appointments

763-213-8143 www.fidosbarber.com

Master Gardener

Carol bray Isanti county master gardener

Marvelous Monarchs Who doesn’t love to see Monarch Butterflies? This article is another reminder that you and I can help reverse the decline of the monarch by something as simple as planting milkweed or not weeding out milkweed. Monarch larvae feed heavily and only on milkweed and accumulate toxins called cardiac glycosides in their wings and bodies. The bright and distinctive markings of these colorful butterflies tell potential predators that their taste is bitter and the predator would be better off leaving

them alone. The monarch butterfly is from the insect order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and here are a few facts about the monarch butterfly: Female monarchs lay 100 eggs or more on a single milkweed plant. Sixty degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature monarchs need it to be before they can warm up their muscles to fly. There are only 12 mountaintops in Mexico where you can find monarch butterflies during winter. Monarchs travel an average of 50 miles a day during their migration.

MULTICULTURAL

FESTIVAL Saturday, May 16, 2015 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. St. Francis High School Music Dance Fashion Show

FREE & FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Food Games Demonstrations

Wanted people from all ethnic backgrounds to

participate by sharing your art, crafts, dance, food, music, historical knowledge of traditions and customs. If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Carline Sargent at 763-213-1575, or email carline.sargent@isd15.org. ISD 15 Multicultural

The Monarch Butterfly may be the most widely recognized of all American butterflies with its distinct orange, black and white wings. While beautiful, this coloring actually sends a warning to predators that the monarch is foul tasting and poisonous. Photo by Lynn Hass Source: www.Defenders.org Insect feeding results in A tagged monarch once Gardeners at 763-689-8254. You pollen transportation and traveled 265 miles in a single can also find us on Facebook is more reliable than the day! at Isanti County Master alternative form of pollen Most monarchs typically Gardeners. transport, wind. Look closely spend only two to six weeks in Asclepias syriaca, at a butterfly and you will butterfly form. The first three commonly called common notice large eyes for finding to four weeks of life are spent milkweed, butterfly flower, flowers and larval host plants as an egg, as a caterpillar and silkweed, silky swallowand a coiled mouthpart called in a chrysalis. wort and Virginia silkweed, a proboscis used for probing Only some monarchs is a species of flowering and sucking nectar from migrate. Roughly four plant. It is in the genus flowers. generations of monarch live Asclepias, the milkweeds. Nature left alone is perfect and die in any given year. This species is native to and balanced and miraculous. The only food on a monarch Southern Canada and of Sadly, man can alter nature larva’s menu is milkweed. much of the conterminous principally by using pesticides, Butterflies visit plants Eastern U.S., east of the removing habitats and for several reasons. First, Rocky Mountains, excluding interfering with the orderbutterflies need nectar to the drier parts of the of-life. So, leave or plant the provide energy for flying Prairies. It grows in sandy milkweed in your garden—the and reproduction. It is in the soils and other kinds of monarchs will reward you and process of drinking nectar soils in sunny areas. It was others with their beauty and that they pollinate plants. In one of the earliest North pollinating skills. fact, the evolution of flowers American species described For more information, is considered to be a result in Cornut’s 1635 work visit Isanti County Master of a mutualism between Canadensium Plantarum Gardeners website at www. pollinators and plants. Plants Historia. The specific name isanticountymastergardeners. provide nectar in flowers and was reused by Linnaeus due com, the University of butterflies transport pollen to Cornut’s confusion with a Minnesota Extension website to ensure reproduction with species from Asia Minor. at www.extension.umn.edu or unrelated individuals. Source: www.wikipedia.com call the Isanti County Master

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Wisconsin sheep breeders honor Dick Boniface Juanita J. Reed-Boniface President/Educational Consultant JRB Associates, Inc. Partner Boeckenhauer Cattle

Richard “Dick” Boniface, Oak Grove, was awarded the Art Pope Award at the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative Association held recently at the University of Wisconsin Experimental Farm at Arlington, WI. This award recognizes an individual for outstanding service and dedication to the American sheep industry. The award was established in 1995 to honor Dr. A. L. Pope, an animal science professor, University of Wisconsin, for his leadership and service to the sheep industry . Boniface enjoyed a 40 year woolmarketing career at North Central Wool Marketing Corporation, a regional co-op headquartered in Minneapolis. He started working on a grading crew in the warehouse, became a wool buyer, supervisor of field staff, Director of Field Service and Director of Public Relations. During his time

Robert Black (left) Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Association, awarded the Art Pope Award to Dick Boniface for his outstanding service and dedication to the American Sheep Industry. Photo courtesy Lynn Grooms, AgriView

there, he originated the grade and yield method of marketing wool. This made it possible to sell an individual producer’s wool on the current market based on its quality and yield. In addition, he implemented and helped operate the wool-testing lab. He traveled and spoke to grower meetings and events in many states, organized and led buyer-training sessions throughout the fleece wool states. As public relations director he arranged annual meetings and edited the company paper The Wool Sack. This publication had a circulation of 20,000 including wool growers, industry personnel and agriculture libraries in the United States and abroad. He worked with the Universities of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, State, North Dakota State and South Dakota State teaching livestock classes and the basics of wool grades and proper wool preparation with a lecture or warehouse tour. He was also a popular wool show judge including over 20 years at the Wisconsin State Fair. Continued Page 39

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Bryant Factory Rebates

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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.

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The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

4.9% for 48 mo on S240 Sport Lawn Tractor

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Blade Sharpening Plan

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• Remove mower deck • Scrape and clean entire deck • Remove mower blades, sharpen & balance • Re-install blades on deck • Level mower deck • Starting at $80 for 2-blade decks; Starting at $100 for 3-blade decks

Births

Theolena (Lena) Renee Ballance Submitted Photo

Theolena (Lena) Renee Ballance was born March 12, 2015, in Duluth Minnesota. She weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces and she was 19 inches long. Her proud parents are Elliot and Erin (Johnson) Ballance of Hermantown, Minnesota. Proud grandparents are Frog and Alice Ballance of St. Francis. She was a few weeks early and tiny, but is thriving and doing well.

Damion Asher Paul Mathews was born on March 16, 2015 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces and was 20 inches long. Proud parents are Kayla Quellhorst and Cory Mathews of Cambridge. Damion is welcomed by siblings Skylar and Xzavior. Calvin Gerard Faraone was born on March 18, 2015 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20 inches long. Proud parents are Joanna and Dale Faraone of St. Francis. Brady James Kline was born on March 22, 2015 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 22 inches long. Proud parents are Jenny Grondin and Jordan Kline of Isanti/Forest Lake. Brady is welcomed by sibling Rilynn. Braydon Lawrence Hunt was born on March 24, 2015 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20½ inches long. Proud parents are Amanda Griep and Brandon Hunt of Isanti. Braydon is welcomed by siblings Austen and Andrew.

Corban Duane Aase was born on April 6, 2015 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounces and was 21 inches long. Proud parents are Sara Hartfel and Jason Aase of Cambridge. Corban is welcomed by siblings Jack and Lindsay. Eli David Yatckoske was born on April 3, 2015 at Cambridge Medical Center. He weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and was 21¼ inches long. Proud parents are Kelsey and Jake Yatckoske of Oak Grove. Eli is welcomed by siblings Jayden and Noah. Lucy Elizabeth Thomas was born on April 6, 2015 at the Cambridge Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19 inches long. Proud parents are Katie and Tyler Thomas of Isanti. Lily Patricia Metzger was born on April 13, 2015 at the Cambridge Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 21 inches long. Proud parents are Aaron and Vanessa of Cambridge and Isanti.

Did you know? Though laughter is often referred to as “the best medicine,” no definitive study has been conducted to determine the effects of laughter on overall human health, leaving open the possibility that maintaining a good sense of humor and a positive attitude are just as important, if not more important, than finding time to laugh each day. But even if laughter is not medicinal, its benefits can mimic those of exercise. When a person laughs, his or her pulse and blood pressure increase and people tend to breathe faster when they laugh. Faster breathing sends more oxygen to the tissues, which can help the heart and lungs work more efficiently. In addition, a Vanderbilt University study found that between 10 and 15 minutes of laughter can burn as many as 50 calories. Finding time to laugh may also indirectly improve the body’s immune system response, as studies have suggested that infection-fighting antibodies might be more abundant in people who can use humor to combat stress.

Ticks love spring! Frontline and Nexgard are available now.

Ask about dog and cat grooming!

5 Off Express Gasolines ¢

Per Gallon All Grades of Gas Cash transactions only, must pay inside store. Expires 5/31/15 Not good with other offers. Limit one per visit. Valid only at St. Francis County Market.

5 Off Express Gasolines ¢

Per Gallon All Grades of Gas Cash transactions only, must pay inside store. Expires 5/31/15 Not good with other offers. Limit one per visit. Valid only at St. Francis County Market.

Expires 5/31/15 X1001 Expires 5/31/15 X1001

19035 Lake George Blvd. NW Oak Grove, MN 55303 763-753-6336 www.oakgrovevet.net

Amy Morgan, D.V.M. Lisa Johnson, D.V.M. Kaija Youngner, D.V.M. Dawn Price, D.V.M. Alyssa Ziche, D.V.M.

2015 Goal 679

Tons

38 Tons

Recycled in March St. Francis has recycled 134 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

We can help plan your graduation party or any special event! Call for details 763-753-3334. Deli Trays Deli Meats & Cheeses

www.kingscountymarket.com 23122 St. Francis Boulevard NW St. Francis 763-753-3334 Open Seven Days A Week Monday-Saturday 5:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Sunday 6:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

Delicious Deli Fried Chicken BBQ Meat Balls • Chicken Wings • Baked Beans Fresh Fruits • Fresh Deli Salads Bakery Bars & Cakes • Fresh Buns The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

Wisconsin Sheep Breeders

From Page 37 Boniface helped organize the Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers Association (MLWP) and continues to support the organization’s events at the Minnesota State Fair. He is a donor of 4-H State Fair awards in Lamb Lead and the wool show. Dick and Juanita have been long time contributing buyers at the Minnesota 4-H Livestock Auction in sheep. The Dick Boniface and Juanita Reed-Boniface 4-H Endowment was established to assure support of these awards for the future. Dick and Juanita also sponsor special awards for several categories of hand constructed wool items in the Creative Activities Department at the Minnesota State Fair. Although his primary work has been in the sheep and

Dick Boniface got a few laughs during his response. Photo courtesy Lynn Grooms, AgriView

wool industries, he has given his time and talent generously to many other aspects of agriculture. Dick and his wife Juanita formed an agriculture education consulting firm, JRB

Fitness Matters

Melissa Enzler St. Francis Anytime Fitness, Owner

Question Whey protein powder seems to upset my stomach. Are there any other alternative protein powders that I can try? Answer An upset stomach could be a sign that you have an allergy or sensitivity to whey protein. Try egg, pea, brown rice, or hemp protein, which are all excellent alternatives for whey. Lactose and gluten could also be culprits, so you might start by looking for brands of whey protein labeled lactose-free or gluten-free. Of course, it could also be what you are combining with whey that is causing the issue. Instead of milk, try blending powders with kale juice, unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk to pack a double punch of protein and phytonutrients. You could also try sprinkling protein powder over fruit, in Greek or coconut milk yogurt or adding to recipes for an alternative protein boost. Also please remember not all supplements are created equal. You need to have some knowledge of ingredients to know what you are consuming. You don’t want to buy a product that is filled with a lot of additives, sugars or possible allergens. You are making a healthy choice by adding a protein shake to your diet, don’t negate it by getting one with harmful ingredients.

Award Winning Boarding – Grooming – Training

Going on vacation?

If your pets could talk, they would insist on…

of Twin Cities Coop Credit Union (now SPIRE) including the last four years (1980-1984) as president. Acknowledging he had been given a great honor, Boniface said while accepting his award, “It’s been a privilege to spend my career working in this industry. It’s not a job that has made me a millionaire, but I am rich in another way. Getting to know and work with hundreds of the greatest people in the world—the farmers and ranchers in the north central and western parts of the United States… has been truly rewarding. The friends I gained through my work are among my life’s prized possessions.”

Volunteer for an Acne Study Volunteers, ages 16-65 years of age are wanted for an investigational drug research study that will compare topical study medications for acne.

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The Star Newspaper Reader’s Choice Award 2013 & 2014 Best Boarding & 2013 Best Grooming

5 Off Grooming at Gold Star Kennels

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50 Off Training at Gold Star Kennels $

Limit one per family. Not good with any other offers or discounts. 763-753-5450 • Expires 5/31/15

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org

For more information, please call Courier 5/15

Courier 5/15

Add ons, mat charges, etc., still apply, ask for details. Limit one per family. Not good with any other offers or discounts. 763-753-5450 • Expires 5/31/15

Anoka County Farm Bureau officers and help to conduct award winning educational programs in agriculture literacy including presentation of children’s literature book bundles to elementary schools, Oliver H. Kelley Historic Farm and giving classroom presentations. In 2004 they were inducted into the Minnesota Livestock Hall of Fame and in 2010 Dick received the American Sheep Industry Camptender award for his commitment and longlasting contributions to the wool industry. His interest in cooperatives includes credit unions. He served fourteen years (19701984) on the Board of Directors

 All participants are seen by a board certified Dermatologist

Book soon—filling up doggone fast!

763-753-5450

Associates, Inc. in 1992. From 1997-2008 they were program coordinators for Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care. They gave leadership to designing and implementing Minnesota’s Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics Program for young producers, a program which now reaches 50,000 youth in the Minnesota 4-H program. He has provided resources on sheep and wool and taught hands-on activities to hundreds of students for Ag-In-The Classroom, Ag Adventures Day Camps, 4-H Family Farm Fests and county and state fair educational exhibits. Dick and Juanita are both

763-502-2941

Unique gift ideas for Mother’s Day Cajima St NE

Cajima St

Heritage Blvd NE

Railroad

Main St E 65

8th Ave SE

Main St W

ve N E

Three spectacular businesses All under one roof! WillowBridge • Nada • The Green Table

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Golden Way NE

Ave

Massage • Salon • Skin Care Acupuncture • Boutique

Whether she’s still hard at work raising children or her kids have grown up and now have children of their own, Mom deserves our best efforts come Mother’s Day. And while traditional gifts like flowers and chocolate might make for thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts, those who want to go the extra mile for Mom this year can consider the following unique gift ideas. Concert tickets Many adults recall the days of their youth when Mom would relax while listening to some of her favorite music on a lazy summer afternoon. Why not take a stroll down Memory Lane and take Mom to see one of her favorite acts in concert? Even if you have outgrown Mom’s musical tastes, she will still appreciate the chance to spend an evening out on the town with her kids and some good music. Theater tickets If Mom is a fan of live theater then nothing will elicit a bigger smile than tickets to a Broadway show she has had her eyes on. If Broadway is a bit too far for you to travel, do your homework and find a traveling production of a former Broadway show. Such productions often feature many of the same actors who made the play famous on Broadway so you’re still bound to see an unforgettable show Mom will love. Parts unknown Moms who love to travel and experience other cultures would certainly appreciate a trip abroad or a domestic getaway to a region of the country they have yet to explore. Source: MetroCreative Graphics

763.552.6161

willowbridgecenter.com

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All moms love less stress, so why not give yours a stress-fixTM body care gift with an aroma proven to reduce the feeling of stress? Better, yet give it to her with a gift card to WillowBridge Spa & Salon, so she can unwind with a stress-fixTM manicure, pedicure or massage.

with purchase of $125 in gift cards. Offer good May 1-9, 2015.

It’s a wonderful way to make Mom’s day! Your Permanent Hair Removal Solution

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Mom’s receive a

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April 30, May 1, 2 at 7:00 p.m. May 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Limit one use per client. Offer expires 5/31/15.

St. Francis High School Performing Arts Center

gift with any service during the month of May. Value of $9. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Serving the finest coffee, sandwiches, salads, soup and baked treats.

763.691.3096 • citycentermarket.coop Hours: M-TH 7 a.m.-7 p.m. • F 7 a.m.-6 p.m. • S 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Now Serving izzy’s Ice Cream

3325 Bridge Street NW, St. Francis, MN $8 Adults $6 Senior Citizens/Students/Children Visit www.seatyourself.biz/stfrancishs to order tickets or for more information, call 763-213-1527.

Stage Adaptation by DEAN PITCHFORD and WALTER BOBBIE Based on the Original Screenplay by Dean Pitchford Music by TOM SNOW Lyrics by DEAN PITCHFORD Additional Music by ERIC CARMEN, SAMMY HAGAR, KENNY LOGGINS and JIM STEINMAN

Produced by arrangement with R&H Theatricals, 229 West 28th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001

The Courier | May 2015 | www.the-courier.org