Last week was the opening week of the 94th session of the Minnesota Legislature. Members took oaths of office and elected leaders and officers. Learn about local lawmakers’ priorities in Press Publications’ Legislative Preview inside.
NOW IN SESSION, pages 10-11
Nearly 55 years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, the civil rights movement leader’s legacy continues to inspire progress toward social justice and equality.
Hedy Lemar Walls hopes people will reflect on the importance of finding shared moral values with others this Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Lemar Walls — the executive vice president for social responsibility for the YMCA of the North in Minneapolis — will be the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community
BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER INTERIM EDITOR
They’re tiny, they’re tough, they weigh less than a gram, but this year’s Christmas Bird Count confirmed they are once again the heavyweights of winter: black-capped chickadees.
Volunteers in the 122nd annual Audubon Christmas Bird count tallied more than 1,300 of these tiny birds on Dec. 31. This annual survey has taken place across the globe every winter since 1900, amassing a huge quantity of population data that can help scientists observe trends in bird behavior over time.
And the changes have been noticeable. Jim Howitz, the coordinator of the Northeast Suburban survey area in Washington County, keeps close track of the numbers. As with many species, birds are reacting
to climate change. Minnesota has been seeing more and more species from southern regions, such as wild turkeys and red-bellied woodpeckers, and fewer of the northern finches that used to be common in wintertime.
Some species are better at rolling with changes than others. The black-capped chickadee is one of the most hardy and versatile species found in Minnesota in winter, and year after year, dominates the top of list by sheer numbers. These birds spend daylight hours feeding as much as possible and building a store of fat—10 percent of which will disappear every night as they fall into a state of torpor and burn as little energy as possible to keep from freezing. Getting through winter is a harsh game, but the chickadee is
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an efficient survivalist, using a surprisingly complex system of calls to communicate about resources and threats with other denizens of the winter world.
Chickadees and count volunteers alike enjoyed temps in the 20s and 30s during the New Year’s Eve count. Some of the chickadees even broke into their cheerful springtime calls while soaking in the sunlight.
“People enjoyed going out because the weather was so much better than it typically has been,” Howitz said. “What people were seeing was what we expected to see; we didn’t have any truly unusual birds.”
Uncommon species this year included a belted kingfisher, Wilson’s snipe, and red-winged blackbirds—all birds that seem to be adapting well to changing climate conditions.
“They’ll move to where the habitat is, and do just fine with global warming,” Howitz said. “Trees can’t anticipate what they climate’s going to be, but birds probably can.”
Howitz pays particular attention to tufted titmice, a species that was plentiful several decades ago, but is only now beginning to reappear in counts in the Twin Cities area. These cute birds are recognizable by their gray feathers and tiny crest on the top of their head. Just like their chickadee cousins, they are a bold and hardy species. The reason for their retreat from this region of Minnesota is unknown, but data collected in the Christmas Bird Count may help scientists understand over time. One tufted titmouse on this year’s count was seen begging for food from other birds, indicating it was a juvenile.
“So they’re breeding in Washington County,” Howitz said. “We’ll probably be getting them year after year now. They’re almost a perfect bird to follow people because they breed in bird houses and use bird feeders. There’s no reason they couldn’t last a whole winter next to a well-stocked bird feeder.”
Woodpeckers also appear to be doing very well, thanks to the maturation of trees planted in suburban areas decades ago.
“If some of them have rotten parts and die, the woodpeckers are in good shape,” he said. “A lot of the woods along the St. Croix may have been logged 100 years ago but I don’t think anyone’s logged them since. As the trees die woodpeckers move in, select a tree where the outer inch of bark is solid, and the inside is rotten. They want it solid to deter predators. They have better nest success than other birds because high in trees and cavities, they’re reasonably safe.”
Waterfowl, however, were not as well represented in this year’s count as previous years. Howitz anticipated this effect as the Xcel Energy coal plant in Bayport is on its way to retirement in favor of sustainable energy alternatives. The plant is scheduled to close for good in 2028.
Amid
While operational, the plant vents warm water, used in the cooling process, into the St. Croix River. This created a hotspot for ducks and other wildlife. Without that watery oasis, ducks like mergansers and goldeneyes will seek sustenance elsewhere. The plant is currently inoperative. Counters only tallied three waterfowl species this year—mallards, Canada geese, and trumpeter swans.
“We used to have 500 birds there in the winter,” Howitz said. “The little fish would hit the open water and get stunned, and the birds would pick them right off.”
As humans continue to change their surroundings, the birds will no doubt change right along with us.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies at 12:20 a.m. Dec. 1 cited a motorist who was not driving his own vehicle for driving after revocation, after they pulled him over for speeding 65 mph in a 55 mph zone along the 17000 block of Forest Blvd. N. Deputies cited two other motorists for undisclosed violations, one at 4:27 a.m. Dec. 1 in the area of Isleton Avenue N. and 132nd Street N., and the other at 3:09 a.m. Dec. 2 in the area of Frenchman Road and Victor Hugo Blvd. N.
• A resident at an undisclosed Hugo address at 11:35 a.m. Dec. 3 reported her co-worker’s wife for harassing her via text, calling her a “little whore” and saying, “you can have him.” The texts also included threats to confront the complainant at her home. Deputies advised the complainant on how to take out a harassment restraining order and to block the suspect’s phone number.
• A male was arrested at 9:57 p.m. Dec. 4 in the area of Oneka Lake Blvd. N. and Generation Avenue N. after deputies pulled him over for speeding and expired registration. Narcotics were found during a vehicle search.
• Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at 1:41 p.m. Dec. 5 in the area of Forest Blvd. N. and Frenchman Road for speeding through a residential neighborhood.
• A motorist was warned at 6:50 p.m. Dec. 5 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for possessing drug paraphernalia in a motor vehicle after deputies pulled the vehicle over for equipment
violation and detected an odor of marijuana. A search of the vehicle yielded used THC cartridges and paraphernalia.
• A Minnesota motorist was cited at 6:06 p.m. Dec. 6 in the area of Forest Blvd. N. and 147th Street N. for petty misdemeanor possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia in a motor vehicle, after he was pulled over for a missing rear license plate light and an object suspended from the rearview mirror. During the stop, deputies smelled pot, and the driver admitted to having it in the car. The pot and the multiple pieces of paraphernalia were taken into evidence to be destroyed.
• Deputies reported finding more than 50 used tires near the roadway in the area of 180th Street N. and Foxhill Avenue N. at 8:45 p.m. Dec. 6 and advised the Hugo Public Works Department of the situation.
• A resident in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N. reported someone in the neighborhood for engaging in loud intercourse at 11:01 p.m. Dec. 6. Deputies told the complainant they would take the report as information.
• A motorist was cited at 1:15 a.m. Dec. 7 near the intersection of Frenchman Road and Victor Hugo Blvd. N. for driving after revocation, as he was driving another person’s vehicle. The owner of that vehicle, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was cited for failure to provide proof of insurance. Another motorist was also cited at that same location at 3:29 a.m. that same morning for failure to provide proof of insurance.
• A suspicious vehicle in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. reported at 6:39 a.m. Dec. 7 turned out
Newly-elected and re-elected Washington County officials took oaths of office prior to the Jan. 3 Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Newly-elected commissioners Karla Bigham, District 4, and Michelle Clasen, District 5, were sworn in to four-year terms. Commissioner Stan Karwoski, District 2, was also sworn in, having been re-elected to a four-year term. Karwoski was elected in a special election in November 2016, and was re-elected in 2018.
County Sheriff Dan Starry and County Attorney Kevin Magnuson were sworn in for four-year terms. Both were voted in in the November elections, Starry being re-elected, and Magnuson being elected to his first full term.
Also Jan. 3, Commissioner Gary Kriesel, District 3, was elected board chair for 2023 and Karwoski was elected board vice chair.
The board also set a meeting schedule for 2023, which includes 35 official County Board meetings, and five workshop-only board meetings. County Board meetings may be added or canceled, as necessary, with proper public notice. Meetings generally occur at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Board Room of the Government Center at 14949 N. 62nd St. N. in Stillwater.
to belong to a female waiting for a friend who was at work.
• A resident in the 5000 block of 126th Street N. at 2:21 p.m. Dec. 7 reported a fraudulent credit card account opened in his name.
• No one was immediately cited in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N., after deputies were called out to the scene of a noisy neighbor dispute at 11:15 p.m. Dec. 9. Deputies spoke to the yelling neighbors and advised them of the Hugo noise ordinance, saying that both households were in violation of it and promising a citation should the activity be repeated.
• “Don’t make me come out here again,” deputies told partying residents in the 13000 block of Flay Avenue at 11:53 p.m. Dec. 9. They advised the loud party hosts that further complaints from the residence would result in a citation.
• Deputies conducted a traffic stop at 12:15 a.m. Dec. 10 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. on a driver for failure to drive within a single lane and for dark window tint violation. During the stop, deputies discovered the driver had been canceled due to driving behavior inimical to public safety.
• A Minnesota motorist was cited at 8:02 a.m. Dec. 10 on westbound 170th Street and Ingersoll Avenue N. for speeding 64 mph in a 55 mph zone by east-facing deputies on stationary patrol, who clocked him on radar at 72 mph. The driver admitted to 68 mph.
Loretta B. Hardingwww.readthecitizen.com
The best way to get insight The best way to get into your local community: into your local
They say you can’t go home again. In a lot of ways it’s true—so many things have changed since I last sat at a desk at Press Publications.
Last time I was here, I hadn’t yet held wild birds in my hands, hiked more than a hundred miles on the Ice Age Trail, or obtained my graduate degree in environmental studies. And, of course, I also hadn’t yet lived through a global pandemic.
Before I left to pursue my degree in 2018, I was the editor of the Forest Lake and St. Croix Valley Lowdown publications.
Afterward, I spent a few exciting field seasons demolishing buckthorn, seeding native prairies, leading nature camps and writing the odd freelance story for Press even when I was living in the mountains of Missoula, Montana.
Now, I find myself sitting in as the interim editor of the Hugo Citizen and Quad Community Press—normally the territory of our managing editor Shannon Granholm. A big congratulations is due to Shannon and her husband Patrick—their son Royce Raymond Granholm was born Dec. 26. While Shannon takes the next few months off to recover and adjust to motherhood, I’ll be covering the Quad and Citizen desk.
It didn’t take TOO much arm twisting to persuade me to come back to Press once again. White Bear Lake is where I was raised, and coming back to Press Publications is a homecoming in many ways. But Press Publications is so much bigger than just the White Bear Lake community.
When you work at a newspaper, you get to do a little bit of everything, and take part in the community in ways you might not always experience as an average citizen. My time at Press is filled with unique memories created by the incredible human desire of people striving to help each other, create a healthy place to live, and have a lot a fun while they’re at it.
Some of my best memories include painting storm drains with the volunteers for the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District, meeting wolves at the Wildlife Science Center in Stacy, and quietly watching sandhill cranes and waterfowl in the lowland ponds of Hugo. A few times I cut down buckthorn with VLAWMO at Vadnais Heights City Hall, and once I helped middle schoolers unhook crappies on the ice of Centerville Lake. Just a few weeks ago I joined members of the Marine on St. Croix community for one of my favorite events of the year—the Christmas Bird Count, by now a holiday tradition in my life.
It is both familiar and strange to return to this corner of the world and reconnect with so many people and places. As the interim editor of the Quad and Citizen, I will have the pleasure of getting to know some areas of the community that are newer to me.
The world is a little different now, but the human drive to form communities worth living in is as daunting and wonderful a task as always. It will be an exciting prospect to experience it together over the next few months.
Gratitude is a powerful tool that many of us do not utilize as much as we could. Finding ways to remind yourself of the good things happening in your life and our world each day is a way to help lift your spirits and focus on the positive. Taking time to be grateful is very helpful as we all work through the challenges in our lives and those of our community.
distributed to 126 local children to help them have a brighter holiday. Throughout the entirety of 2022, approximately 150,000 pounds of food were donated through collections from patrons at local grocery stores and through ongoing food donations from local businesses! Food drives sponsored by many community organizations, including various Scouting troops, schools, and churches helped provide food throughout the year. And we could not do this without our amazing volunteers and staff who make this all happen! Without all of this support, we would not have been able to serve 2 1/2 times as many clients in 2022 as we did in 2021.
partnership with various food banks, we can purchase 10 times as much food for $1 compared to what any of us can purchase on our own. Donate securely online at hugofoodshelf.org/give or by mail: Hugo Food Shelf, P.O. Box 373, Hugo, MN 55038.
Food donations: Purchase bags of food at Festival in Hugo or Cub in White Bear Lake, then place them in the bins near the exits. Food can also be dropped off at the food shelf during regular hours (see www. hugofoodshelf.org for hours and details).
In light of this, I would like to start by sharing heartfelt gratitude to our community for a holiday season in which the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf was able to brighten the holidays for hundreds of local families. Thanks to our amazing community, more than 135 families received holiday meal baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate the holidays in the way they should be celebrated — with family, friends and nourished bodies. In addition, hundreds of toys and gift cards were collected and
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Carter C. Johnson Publisher cjohnson@presspubs.com
Gene Johnson Publisher Emeritus ppinfo@presspubs.com
Shannon Granholm Managing Editor citizennews@presspubs.com
Jackie Bussjaeger Interim Managing Editor citizennews@presspubs.com
Patty Steele Director of Sales & Marketing marketing@presspubs.com
The challenges faced by many in our community are real, though. We foresee the need for our services to continue to climb in 2023. Financial donations were down 25% in 2022 compared to 2021 (excluding building addition grants).
Food donations were lower in 2022 compared to 2021 as well. Unfortunately, we expect these challenges will also continue into 2023. The good news is, you can help!
Ways to help our community via the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf: Financial support: Due to our
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Volunteer: We are always in need of volunteers, especially those who can work 1-2 shifts on an ongoing basis each month. Complete the volunteer form at www.hugofoodshelf.org to sign up.
Spread the word: Know of somebody who may need our help? Are you in need of some assistance with food? Signing up for services is confidential and easy. Email us at info@ hugofoodshelf.org, call us at 651-528-6224 or text us at 763-6076060. Proof of need or citizenship is not collected—we are here to help whoever is in need.
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Lucy Lou, or just Lucy, is a sweet 1-year-old German Shepherd/Labrador mix. Her favorite activities are playing, cuddling and napping, in that order. And although she weighs 55 pounds, she thinks she’s a lap dog. Lucy is intelligent, obedient, affectionate, goofy and eager to please. She is crate-trained, housetrained and leash-trained, she knows her basic commands and she is social with all people and other animals, including cats and farm animals. She is a fantastic young lady with a heart of gold and love for all. Lucy likes going for car rides, going for walks and playing fetch. She would also do well in a home with a securely fenced yard where she can run and explore. And, because she is so social, she would do well with a play buddy. If you’re looking for a wonderful lifetime companion, then Lucy is waiting for you. If you are interested in learning more about Lucy Lou or adopting her, please fill out an application at www.ruffstartrescue.org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.
Key Automotive welcomes a new owner, Matt Frederick. Patrons might have met him in the last nine years while he was employed as the lead mechanic in the automotive shop. Frederick lives in North Branch with his wife and two kids. In his spare time, he loves to fish and hunt. He is proud and excited to continue to serve residents in the city of Hugo and surrounding areas with quality work and honest feedback.
Key Automotive provides services such as oil changes, brakes, tire installation and even engine replacements. The business is snuggled in between the Speedway Gas Station and O’Reilly Auto Parts in Hugo at 14797 Forest Blvd, and can be reached by phone at 651-429-2524.
Joyce Kathryn Granger (nee Ethier) 94, of Hugo MN passed away on December 23, 2022.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Robert Granger and her daughter Melissa (Gail) Granger.
Joyce is survived by her children: Glenn Granger, Greg Granger (Kathy), Judy Granger (Eric), and John Granger (Kimmarie), her grandchildren: Nichole Wilson, Ashley Granger, Michael Granger, Granger Titcomb, Taylor Titcomb and Kyle Granger, her great-granddaughter Ellie Wilson and her siblings: Shirley Sontag and Jack Ethier. She will be greatly missed.
A funeral mass will be held on January 13, 2023 at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Hugo. Visitation will precede the mass at 10 a.m. Joyce’s immediate family will gather privately afterwards. Burial will take place in the spring.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Hugo City Council has scheduled a goal setting workshop for Monday, January 23, 2023, at 5 p.m., at Hugo City Hall. Published one time in The Citizen on January 12, 2023.
Shannon and Patrick Granholm, of Hugo, welcomed their first child, Royce Raymond Granholm Dec.26 at 9:08 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs 13 Oz and measured 21.5 inches long.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an aeration system is installed and running year-round in the following lake within the city of Hugo, Minnesota: Approximate Location: 45 degrees 10’55.01” N, 92 degrees 55’43.02W The following land parcels border the lake and may be affected by this notice: 14.031.21.120.003 (aeration system located within this parcel) 11.031.21.330.001 11.031.21.310.001 11.031.21.430.001 11.031.21.340.001 14.031.21.220.001 14.031.21.210.002 Aeration may create open water and thin ice conditions along the eastern shore. Weather conditions may cause the open water and thin ice to fluctuate greatly. Use extreme caution traveling anywhere on the lake.
FROM PAGE 1
Breakfast for the Northeast Suburbs
Monday, Jan. 16, at Parkview United Church of Christ in White Bear Lake.
Parkview is hosting the event in partnership with White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church and Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul. Doors for the event open at 6:30 a.m., and a free continental breakfast will be served at 6:45 a.m.
Lemar Walls will deliver her address at 7:15 a.m. and Minneapolis-based vocal ensemble Cantus will perform afterward. There will later be a linked broadcast of the 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast that will be taking place that morning in Minneapolis.
“One thing that he was very well known for was his strong values,” Lemar Walls said of King. “What we have to do as a people, I believe, is instead of focusing on the way people look or the way they dress or even the color of their skin, how do we move to a position of really wanting to engage and understand how others are feeling and seeing the world?”
“It may be different from us, yet we can all learn from each other.”
Lemar Walls is a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native who lived in Minnesota for 48 years before moving to Florida in 2020.
After she earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Lemar Walls’ mother insisted she continued her education by getting a master’s degree. Lemar Walls applied to several universities around the country and received a full scholarship from the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota. That’s where she received her master’s degree in business administration.
She later went on to earn a doctoral degree in education in leadership from St. Mary’s University in Winona and a specialist degree in education administration from Minnesota State University in Mankato.
Lemar Walls recalled how people in her life told her she should be grateful for living in Minnesota because they believed there would be more racial equality and opportunities for Black people there than in the South.
“That was not true,” Lemar Walls said, noting how most of the students of color at the University of Minnesota at the time were international pupils.
Therefore, she had to learn to navigate a new cultural setting
surrounded mostly by white people. That was in contrast to the segregation she’d grown up in living in Louisiana, where most people in her social circles were Black like her.
“It helped me to understand, and really it opened me up to really begin to see people for who they really are and not for who I want them to be,” Lemar Walls said.
The Rev. Deborah Hasdorff at Parkview Church said the hope for the event is to remind community members of King’s core messages: equality, justice, nonviolence, love, individual conscience and service above self.
“Those are the core values of Martin Luther King that are important to us too,” Hasdorff said. “We want to lift those up and remind people in our community that there are churches and organizations that are working toward those goals.”
She added that she wants the community to know that there are churches, such as Parkview and the Unitarian Universalist Church, that are committed to diversity and social action.
The Unitarian Universalist Church has hosted the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast since 2010 and has collaborated with Parkview on other social justice-related events in the past. This is the first year that Parkview is the lead sponsor and host for the event.
“The theme of the event is ‘keep moving forward,’” said the Rev. Roger Bertschausen, interim lead pastor at the Unitarian Universalist Church.
“It’s the acknowledgment that we’ve come a long way in realizing King’s vision of a country where everyone is treated with inherent dignity and worth — and we have a ways to go. I always think that King’s celebration day is a marker of that and a reminder and a prod. It’s not about the one day but about what we do each day to move forward.”
In all, nearly 14 inches of snow fell in my backyard from January 3rd to the 5th. Add that total to the snow already on the ground and snow cover was a good 15-19 inches. The snow left stunning scenery. Pine trees were draped in snow with limbs of the ash, oaks, maples covered in snow. The colder temperatures resulted in very little melting so even the side roads were a glistening white. For now, I think we’ve had enough snow for awhile. There’s plenty of
What: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast for the Northeast Suburbs
When: 6:45-9:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16 Where: Parkview United Church of Christ, 3737 Bellaire Ave., White Bear Lake
Details: A free community meal and celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy will take place at Parkview United Church of Christ on Jan. 16. Although there is no cost, registration
is still required for the breakfast portion of the event. That can be done by visiting the church’s website, www. mnparkviewucc.org, or finding the event on Eventbrite. Registration for the program that follows will remain open even if breakfast registration is closed. Masks are recommended but not required. Call Parkview at 651-429-3346 for more information.
When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan.14
Where: Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park, 6970 LaMotte Dr.
Details: Community event with ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing, kick-sledding, hot cocoa, popcorn, s’mores, bonfire and more. Free.
Contact: centervillemn.com
When: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12
Where: White Bear Center for the Arts
Details: Conversation with artists featured in the book “Latin Art in Minnesota” moderated by editor William Gustavo Frankin. Free with registration. Contact: whitebeararts.org
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15
Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake
Details: Story about race, history and power. Tickets $20.
Contact: 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers.org
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14
Where: Normandy Park Education Center, 2482 County Rd. F. East, White Bear Lake
Details: Monthly market with more than 20 local vendors with locally sourced foods. Hot cider and food trucks.
Contact: forksinthedirt.com
TWILIGHT HIKE
When: 4-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14
Where: Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail, Afton
Details: Winter walk on the trail at Belwin followed by a campfire and hot beverages. Ages 12+. RSVP required.
Contact: belwin.org
EVENT
When: 6:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16
Where: Parkview United Church of Christ, 3737 Bellaire Ave., White Bear Lake
Details: Celebrate the life of Dr. King and consider ways to continue his work. Live music by Cantus. Free breakfast, open to the public. Contact: manyfaceswblarea.org
PARENT-CHILD SNOWSHOE TREK
When: 10-11:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16
Where: Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Township
Details: Go off trail with a naturalist, follow animal tracks, and discover hidden homes beneath the snow. Registration required.
Contact: ramseycounty.us
HUGO SENIOR CLUB
When: 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16; the 3rd Monday of every month
Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N. Details: Monthly meeting followed by afternoon of games. Refreshments served. Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com
When: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17
Where: Centennial Library, 100 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines
Details: Make wigs for kids going through cancer treatment. Free; supplies provided. RSVP. Contact: whimsicalwigsMN@gmail.com
LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST: WILDLIFE TRACKING
When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m Saturday, Jan. 18
Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes
Details: Bring a lunch and join a naturalist in this monthly presentation and possibly stroll the trails. Free.
Contact: 763-342-3350 or anokacountyparks.com
WORLD SNOW SCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIP
When: Jan. 18-22
Where: Lowell Park, Stillwater
Details: Teams from around the world compete for the World Champion title. Social events and activities for the whole family.
Contact: worldsnowsculptingstillwatermn.com
HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY “500”
When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday Jan 19; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month
Skate/Sled
Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N. Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited.
Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com
SENIOR LUNCH
When: Seatings at 11 a.m. and noon Friday, Jan. 20 Where: White Bear Senior Center Details: Lunch catered by EAT @ Banning. $5/person; call to register. Contact: 651-653-3121
When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 21 Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes Details: Learn how to distinguish the varying tracks of local wildlife with a certified wildlife tracker. Registration required. Contact: 763-342-3350 or anokacountyparks.com
WBCA WINTER OPEN HOUSE
When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave. Details: Free activities for the whole family, including clay experimentation, ice sculpting, dog sleds, and more. Details and registration online. Contact: whitebeararts.org
2ND ANNUAL AUXILIARY CHILI CONTEST AND BAKE SALE
When: 1-2 p.m. Sunday, Jan 22 Where: Hugo American Legion, 5383 140th St. N. Details: Sample a variety of chili and vote for People’s Choice award for a $5 fee. Contact: 651-255-1432
CRIBBAGE
When: 12:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23; the 4th Monday of every month
Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N. Details: Senior citizens from Hugo and surrounding area are invited to an afternoon of cribbage. Coffee and refreshments served.
Contact: 651-429-4413
WHITE BEAR’S HOCKEY HERITAGE
When: 6-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23 Where: Online-Zoom Details: Learn about the local hockey greats throughout the decades and other hockey trivia. Contact: whitebearhistory.org
LUNCH AND TABLE GAMES
When: noon Wednesday, Jan. 25 Where: Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 3676 Centerville Road, Vadnais Heights Details: Bring a bag lunch and play table games with friends. Coffee provided. Contact: 651-204-6000 or cityvadnaisheights.com/ seniors
HOCKEY DAY MN 2023
When: Jan. 26-29
Where: Polar Lakes Park, 1280 Hammond Rd., White Bear Township Details: Weekend of frozen fun with outdoor hockey games including Stillwater and Forest Lake high
school teams, outdoor concerts and activities all weekend. See schedule of games and events online. Contact: hockeydaymn.com
VIRTUAL READING WITH AUTHOR ANDREW KRIVAK
When: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 Where: Zoom Details: WBCA host author of the Big Read book choice, “The Bear” for a virtual reading and conversation. Free with registration. Contact: whitebeararts.org
SNOW DAY
When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes Details: Participants of all ages can partake in activities including snowshoeing, ice fishing, kicksledding, fat tire biking, winter crafts, live animals and more. Free. Contact: 763-342-3350 or anokacountyparks.com
WINTER FESTIVAL
When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28
Where: Wildlife Science Center, 22830 Sunrise Rd. NE, Stacy Details: Learn about dogsledding and meet mushers and their teams. Demos, dog sled rides, campfires, food trucks, beer and other vendors. Contact: wildlifesciencecenter.org
FILE
Where there’s snow, there are eager Minnesotans waiting for the perfect moment to enjoy the fresh powder. The Twin Cities metro is rich in scenic landscapes where winter recreationists can hike, snowshoe, ski, sled and even skijor (ski with their dogs! What’s more Minnesotan than that?). Press Publications has compiled a list of some of the best skiing and snowshoeing trails to enjoy this winter.
Tamarack Nature Center
5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township
Activities: Classic ski, snowshoe
Requires a ski pass; ranging from $6 for a daily natural snow pass to $80 for an annual all-access pass. Youth 12 years and under are free. This pass is valid in all Ramsey County parks. Ramsey County groomed trails are for cross-country ski use only. No snowshoeing, hiking, biking, skijoring, sledding or pets. Ski and snowshoe rentals at Tamarack are $12 per person.
Activities: Cross-country ski, snowshoe, fat tire bike
This park is divided into several units with different usages. Rice Creek West is cross-country ski only, while the North division along with Long Lake Regional Park allows hiking, snowshoeing and fat tire biking. Rice Creek North is cross-country ski only. Find a map of trails at www.ramseycounty.us/residents under the Parks and Recreation tab.
Anoka County
Chomonix Golf Course
700 Aqua Lane, Lino Lakes
Activities: Skate ski, classic ski
Anoka County Parks retired its cross-country skis this year—they were a bit too well-loved after nearly 25 years of service on the trails! In 2023, visitors will have to bring their own skis. All of the trails at Chomonix are ski-only, but the county recently purchased all brand-new snowshoes that are now available in its other parks for $5.
Bunker Hills Regional Park
550 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW, Andover
Activities: Skate ski, classic ski, skijor
Bunker Hills is not renting cross-country skis this year, but snowshoes are still available for rent at $5 for up to two hours. Call ahead at 763-324-3330 to ensure rental equipment availability. Rental hours are Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Rum River Central Regional Park
17955 Roanoke St. NW, Ramsey
Activities: Skate ski, classic ski
Rum River is not renting cross-country skis this year, but snowshoes are still available for rent at $5 for up to two hours.
Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
9750 Egret Boulevard, Coon Rapids
Activities: Skate ski, classic ski
Coon Rapids is not renting cross-country skis this year, but snowshoes are still available for rent at $5 for up to two hours. Call ahead at 763-324-3320 to ensure rental equipment availability. Rental hours are Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wargo Nature Center
7701 Main St., Lino Lakes
Activities: Snowshoe, kicksled
Wargo has only about a mile of winter trail, which is perfect for beginner snowshoers and kicksledders. Equipment is $5 for up to two hours. Call ahead at 763-324-3350 to ensure rental equipment availability. Rental hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Washington County
Lake Elmo Park Reserve 1515 Keats Ave. N., Lake Elmo
Activities: Cross-country ski, snowshoe, skijor All Washington County Parks require a county
Afton State Park
6959 Peller Avenue S., Hastings
Activities: Cross-country ski, snowshoe State ski pass is required for cross-country skiing; no pass required for snowshoeing. Hikers, snowshoers and people walking pets should stay off designated ski trails. Snowshoe rentals available for $6 per person.
William O’Brien State Park
16821 O’Brien Trail North, Marine on St. Croix Activities: Cross-country ski, snowshoe
There are many ways to enjoy winter trails, and no one wants their winter fun ruined by someone who doesn’t know the rules or follow them. Here are a few things to watch out for when visiting multiuse winter trails.
Most ski trails are groomed with a track for classic-style skiers, and sometimes a grooved path for skate skiers.
Anyone hiking in boots or snowshoes should stay clear of these tracks.
Just like being in traffic, skiers should also be conscious of who is coming behind them, and step off the side of the trail if they need to stop.
Some trails, like those at Chomonix and Bunker Hills, are ski-only.
Each park usually has its own rules for ski and
snowshoe trails; it is best to check these before setting out on your adventure. Keep an eye on the weather; many parks post daily trail condition updates that are worth checking.
Most parks require a Great Minnesota Ski Pass. Passes are $10 daily, $25 for a year and $70 for three years. Passes can be purchased in person at park front desks, on the DNR website, or by phone at 1-888-6654236. Washington and Ramsey counties no longer accept this ski pass, and require you to purchase a county-specific one, which can be done onsite or online ahead of time. Parks often require a vehicle pass as well. Be sure to check the trail maps and take a look at the requirements of each site before you get there!
Financial success can mean different things to different people, but for many it’s managing money in a way that offers a financially healthy future. From building your savings to creating goals for the future, here are some easy ways that you can set yourself up for financial success.
When your paycheck is deposited into your checking account, it’s easy to focus on the immediate future: paying bills, buying groceries, or going to the movies on Friday night. But before any of that happens, it’s important to pay your future self first by setting money aside in savings.
By paying yourself and your savings first, you’re planning for the future and building a safety net. Savings are important for making future goals possible, like buying a car or a house, or taking a vacation. You can even create multiple savings accounts for different goals, and track your saving progress using tools like online banking or a mobile
app. Having money set aside in savings can also make it easier to deal with unexpected expenses, like an urgent car repair or a surprise medical bill. You can even have part of your paycheck automatically deposited into your different savings accounts, making it easy to pay yourself first!
If you’re thinking about opening a new credit card, buying a house, purchasing a vehicle, or opening a personal or business checking or savings account, it’s important to look for the best interest rate. Finding a lower rate on a loan can save you from paying unnecessary interest and lower your monthly payments. A higher interest rate on savings and checking accounts also means your money earns more in interest.
Watching the interest rate is especially important when opening a new credit card. Store charge cards and even mainstream rewards credit cards can come with a high interest rate, and some have
costly annual fees. A local financial institution like a credit union may offer a credit card with lower interest rates and few or no fees that can help save you money over time. Be sure to read the fine print whenever opening a new account or taking on a new loan so you understand if the rate could change over time.
3. Check Your Credit Score
Credit scores help lenders determine your interest rate when purchasing a home or vehicle. Your credit score may also be reviewed when you apply for rental housing or certain job positions. Knowing your credit score can help you make accurate loan payment estimates. You’ll also be able
to take measures to keep your score healthy. Many financial institutions, including credit unions, banks, and credit card companies, share your credit score with you for free as part of their online banking service. You’re also able to request a copy of your credit score from each of the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) once a year for free without it impacting your credit.
When you imagine yourself in the future, do you know how your financials will factor in? Creating focused and achievable goals can help make your ambitions a reality. Looking at your different expenses for the month is a great place to start identifying goals. Determine what you’re spending your money on, decide whether it contributes to your future goals, and adjust your spending from there.
When setting goals, making them realistic is the key to success. If you know that you
spend $200 on restaurants and fast food each month, setting a goal of spending only $50 may make it difficult to stick to your budget. Start small and be sure to celebrate even the little wins!
A key part of staying financially fit is simply being aware of your transactions and balances! By looking over your monthly statements, you’ll be able to see your spending for the month, verify charges, and watch any loan balances go down as payments are made. Staying on top of your monthly charges also reminds you of recurring costs, such as streaming services or subscriptions, that you may no longer need. By cancelling unnecessary subscriptions, you can save money and work toward reaching your goals even faster. Try picking a couple of the suggestions above to start next month and work your way up to incorporating all five into your life. Before you know it, you’ll be finding success!
FROM
Minnesota Senate District 33 651-296-4351
Sen.Karin.Housley@ senate.mn.
As 2022 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on unfinished business from the previous Legislative Session and consider our priorities as we head into 2023 with a budget year on the horizon. I’ve heard the concerns of families across the district—inflation, the surplus, crime, and the healthcare staffing crisis are all on their minds. Though leadership has changed in the Senate, Minnesotans are looking for Legislators to work together in addressing these issues to move our state forward.
Since 2023 is a budget year, the top priority will be addressing inflation and the disbursement of the historic $17.6 billion surplus. This number is clear evidence of the constant over-taxation of Minnesotans. Families are suffering at the hands of inflation and are concerned about a possible recession. This year’s work will call for bipartisan solutions that responsibly utilize the surplus, while providing much-needed tax relief to families across the state.
Many families are also concerned about the uptick in crimes across the state. Despite challenging factors, law enforcement officers have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe. As a Legislature, we must listen to our officers and their concerns. It is important that we continue to support law enforcement, ensure continued transparency and accountability in prosecution decisions, and hold judges and prosecutors accountable when it comes to sentencing violent criminals. Families across the state deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities.
There have also been large gaps left in the longterm care workforce, and the shortages have not gone unnoticed. These facilities serve our most vulnerable citizens, and we need to provide them support as they address the staffing crisis. Everyone across the state deserves access to high-quality medical care and services. We attempted to address this problem last year, and it’s time we revisit the issue.
It is so important that we address last year’s unfinished business, while also prioritizing the needs of families across the state. I’m confident that in doing so, our Legislature will come together with bipartisan solutions that address the everyday problems facing Minnesotans.
District 32 B 651-297-9001 rep.matt.norris@house.mn
My top priority for 2023 is bringing our tax dollars home and investing in infrastructure for our district: fixing Highway 65, getting a water treatment facility for Lexington, and addressing the $80 million maintenance backlog at the National Sports Center.
With a projected budget surplus of $17.6 billion, Minnesotans expect us to do all we can to make sure workers and families can succeed. We need bold, but responsible, action that will set Minnesota on a path to prosperity for decades and keep our economy growing by building a state that works better for everyone.
The surplus offers us a chance to make historic investments in our public schools that will boost student achievement and teacher pay, increase access to mental health resources, and reduce local property taxes. We should also fix our care economy by taking steps to reduce the cost of health care and child care—two of the biggest budget items for many families—while making sure all Minnesota workers have access to paid family and sick leave.
These investments should be paired with tax cuts, including increasing the Working Family Tax Credit, creating a state child tax credit, and eliminating the tax on social security benefits.
The bulk of the projected budget surplus is one-time money. The focus with those dollars should be leaving Minnesota a legacy for decades to come. Building affordable housing and retrofitting public buildings to make them more energy efficient are examples of worthwhile investments that will save the state money in the long run.
Minnesota voters also made it clear through the election that, whatever their personal beliefs may be, they do not want government involved in their reproductive health choices. I support efforts to reflect this will of the voters in Minnesota law.
I care deeply about the challenges the residents of Blaine and Lexington face in an economy that too often is tilted against them. I’m committed to taking decisive action that makes a positive difference for Minnesotans today and in the decades to come.
Minnesota House of Representatives District 33A 651-296-3018
Rep.Patti.Anderson@ house.mn.gov
As a member of the Tax Committee, my top priority for the 2023 legislative session will be returning our state’s record-setting $17.6 billion surplus to Minnesotans. A surplus of this magnitude should not just be spent. Instead, it should be returned to the people in the form of one-time rebate checks, tax cuts, and the full elimination of the tax on social security. There is bipartisan support to end the tax on social security benefits, and I am hopeful that we can accomplish this quickly next session.
It’s important to note that $12 billion of the $17.6 billion surplus is one-time money which means this is not the time to grow government spending. We can spend part of the surplus on urgent needs facing our state. Public safety is one area where we should make investments. As crime continues to rise across the state, we must ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to keep our communities safe. However, we cannot spend more taxpayer dollars on growing our bureaucracy which would only put our state at risk for a deficit in the future.
I will also be serving on the Education Finance Committee. As we all know, our children have suffered academically from the school closures that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a state, we must find solutions to help our children get caught up so they can thrive and be successful.
Family budgets continue to be stretched thin by higher grocery, gas, and energy bills. Beyond public safety and K-12 education, we need to prioritize returning the surplus back to Minnesotans. I look forward to working with my colleagues to give families meaningful tax relief during this time of economic uncertainty.
Sen.
Minnesota Senate District 36 651-296-1253
sen.heather.gustafson@senate.mn
I look forward to getting to work for our community in my first year as your state senator. I will have the honor of serving as Vice Chair of the Education Finance Committee and will also serve on the Ag and Rural Development Committee and the Jobs and Economic Development Committee.
My top priority is providing our schools with the resources they need for students, families, and staff to succeed. I’ve seen what happens when the state doesn’t do its job - it means cuts to programs, bigger class sizes, and higher property taxes. The state must fulfill its responsibility for the education of our children, and that means funding mental health and fully funding special education.
People also should feel safe in their community.
I support increased funding for our local police departments, as well as support for victims of domestic violence, and additional community mental health resources to make sure everyone has access to the help they may need.
It’s also time for sensible tax relief, especially for our senior citizens living on a fixed income. We will take a strong look at making changes to help them, as well as other measures that could provide relief for those who need it most.
Minnesotans believe in protecting rights, not taking them away. I will work with my colleagues to protect reproductive rights this year, because everyone deserves autonomy over their own body and freedom from government overreach in our medical decisions.
The budget forecast makes it clear we can afford to do some big things this year for Minnesota, but unfortunately too often in the past the legislature has failed to do its job. I was elected to deliver results, not gridlock, and that’s my promise to our community.
I look forward to getting to work in St. Paul, and I encourage my new constituents to reach out to my office with any questions, comments, or concerns. It is my honor to serve as your voice in the Senate, and I look forward to hearing from you.
As Assistant Minority Leader for the house Republicans, I look forward to building relationships with DFL colleagues to find ways to make Minnesota an affordable and safe place to live, work, and raise a family.
Recently, we learned that the state has a $17.6 billion surplus. Now is the time to allow Minnesotans to grow their own savings accounts instead of the state government’s. With record inflation, rising costs, and economic uncertainty, it’s time to cut taxes for Main Street businesses and working families across the state, and abide by our promise to eliminate the tax on social security for our seniors. I am hopeful that we can end this tax at the beginning of session.
As a member of the Public Safety Committee, I will prioritize law enforcement recruitment, retention, and mental health resources to combat record crime in the metro and surrounding suburbs. Supporting our police and first responders is the first step in fostering safer communities for all.
I will also advocate for school safety programs and an increased focus on mental health services for our students.
As a new member, it is my commitment to stay transparent and accountable to the voters I work for, and I look forward to having regular communication with you through Town Halls and office hours.
With any questions or concerns, feel free to contact by phone or email.
Thank you for allowing me to serve you in St. Paul.
Minnesota House of Representatives District 40A 651-296-0141
rep.kelly.moller@house.mn
This coming legislative session, lawmakers have an incredible opportunity to make bold, overdue progress on the priorities we value as Minnesotans. I’m excited to serve as chair of the House Public Safety Committee where I’ll work to ensure every Minnesotan can be safe throughout their community. By advancing innovative and proven criminal justice strategies, delivering funding for law enforcement and first responders, and listening to victims, survivors, and others impacted, we can address the crime concerns on people’s minds right now, while making Minnesota a safer state over the long term.
We just marked the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, and since then, countless other senseless tragedies have occurred in schools, workplaces, movie theaters, nightclubs, and other locations where everyone should feel safe. The status quo is unacceptable, and delivering meaningful action to address our gun violence crisis is one of my top priorities. Background checks, red flag laws, and requirements around safe storage and reporting of stolen firearms are just a few of the actions Minnesotans are calling for to help ensure firearms aren’t in the hands of those who shouldn’t possess them.
This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a half-century of precedent guaranteeing the right to an abortion. While a 1990s state Supreme Court ruling currently protects abortion rights in Minnesota, as we learned with the Dobbs decision, the right for women to have autonomy over their own health care decisions can’t be left to judicial precedent, and ought to be enshrined into law.
While receiving an excellent education, students deserve strong emotional and social support as they grow and develop. I plan on renewing my effort to help the state more effectively collaborate with school districts to address the unique mental health needs of our students, including suicide prevention strategies.
There are plenty of other priorities Minnesotans are counting on us to deliver, too, including investments in our schools, economic security for working families, making health care more affordable, protecting our democracy, addressing climate change, and much more. I look forward to engaging with community members as we do this important work, together.
sen.john.marty@senate.mn
We must build a better future for all: Bold action on climate & affordable healthcare for everyone. An economy where people earn enough to support their families – with safe, secure housing and other necessities that many people struggle to pay for. Supporting schools, so they can address mental health challenges and help students learn. I’ll continue working for a government that is frugal & cost effective, focused on cost-saving prevention rather than expensive remedial programs.
When the new session begins in January, we have the opportunity to move Minnesota forward. As chair of the Senate Finance Committee, I am working to develop a state budget that reflects Minnesota values in meeting these challenges.
Most of the large budget balance is one-time money and cannot be used for ongoing budget items. Also, much of the ongoing funds are needed to address inflationary impacts, if we don’t want to go backwards in funding schools, the courts, and other public services. We need to be wise stewards of public resources in good times and bad.
I am authoring legislation that would repeal the state law prohibiting state budget forecasts from factoringin inflation for expenditure projections. No business would intentionally distort their budget forecasts this way. Neither should state government.
Public safety and prevention of gun violence is an urgent priority. And this year, I hope we can finally pass my legislation to prevent catalytic converter theft.
In addition to pushing important legislation on these and numerous other issues, we need to ensure a responsible political process. I am working to address flaws in the past legislative procedures to increase transparency and accountability. For example, there is a growing practice of putting multiple, unrelated policies into so-called “garbage bills.” These bills violate the state constitution. It is time to address this problem, and I will do my best to fix it.
I am honored by the opportunity to represent you. I welcome hearing your questions and concerns.
Minnesota House of Representatives District 36B 651-343-7023
rep.brion.curran@house.mn
First, I want to thank the residents of House District 36B for trusting me to bring community concerns to St. Paul. It is an honor and privilege to serve, and I look forward to hearing more about what is important to you. I am grateful to be seated as Vice Chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee in addition to serving on the Human Services Policy, Public Safety, and Judiciary Finance & Civil Law committees.
Heading into the 2023 Legislative Session, I am focusing on several issues I heard about from neighbors while campaigning. These include (but are not limited to) improvements to disability services, eliminating tax on Social Security, protections for the LGBTQ+ community, legalization of recreational cannabis, protecting reproductive rights, responsible management of our state budget, maximizing federal dollars to reduce state and local costs, funding public education to help reduce local property taxes, and improving our public safety systems to create safer communities for all. It is my goal to support legislation that allows for Minnesotans to thrive.
I look forward to serving our community over the next biennium and encourage you to reach out to me to discuss any issues you believe the state can help with. Should you need resources, I am happy to connect you with those who can assist. I am here to listen, learn, and deliver results for you.
Minnesota Senate District 41 651-297-8060
sen.judy.seeberger@ senate.mn
My top priorities for the 2023 legislative session are to ease the burden of inflation and lower costs for seniors and working families, strengthen opportunity in Minnesota schools, and work for safe, thriving communities. Our state’s historic budget surplus demonstrates that we have the resources needed to do all of those items and more. It also shows that gridlock and division left billions of dollars on the bottom line from the last legislative session, rather than doing something to improve Minnesotans’ lives. That kind of inaction is unacceptable, and is one of the most important reasons I ran for office this year.
I believe the legislature’s first priority should be eliminating the tax on Socials Security benefits so that seniors are not taxed on benefits they earned through hard work throughout their time in the workforce. I also believe we need to take action to lower the cost of childcare and healthcare so that families can thrive.
Minnesota’s schools have faced incredible challenges due to COVID-19. I saw them as a parent and as a classroom teacher. I believe we need to take the opportunity to bring back career and technical education, to ensure we are no longer 50th in the nation in the ratio of students to school counselors and provide greater mental health services to our kids.
Finally, we need to address public safety by ensuring local police, fire and EMS have the resources they need. Serving on a rural fire department and EMS unit makes it clear to me that we have a workforce crisis in all of our emergency and public safety professions, and we need pension reform, new resources, and fresh approaches to tackle those challenges.
FROM PAGE 8
State ski pass is required for cross-country skiing; no pass required for snowshoeing. Hikers, walkers and people walking pets should stay off designated ski trails. Snowshoe rentals available for $6 per person.
Wild River State Park
39797 Park Trail, Center City Activities: Cross-country ski, snowshoe State ski pass is required for cross-country skiing; no pass required for snowshoeing. Hikers, walkers and people walking pets should stay off designated ski trails. Snowshoe rentals available for $6 per person.
At Wild River State Park, cross-country skis are available for rent through a private concessionaire located at the park’s Trail Center. For rental rates or to reserve equipment, call Wild River Ski Rental at 651-257-0685.
For gifting and lifting the holiday mood, nothing compares to the joy of good food.
This year, as we savor seasonal fare, WE’LL BE GRATEFUL for local growers who care.
Raising a glass to another great year – let’s toast to employees who do great work here.
Now is the time to eat, drink and be merry, and make this year’s holiday cheer legendary.
OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275
MAINTENANCE SUPERINTENDENT, one person department for a small city.
Must have a H. S. or g e.d.; Class D sewer license, Class D water license or the ability to obtain. At least one year experience in sewer-water field preferred, and general knowledge of street equipment and building facilities. Full time position. Would be on call 24/7, operate under a yearly budget, and be within 30 minute drive time. Must be able to work independently and be bondable.
$60,000 to $80,000 depending on experience and qualifications.
Job description and application on line at www.Willernie.Org, or can be acquired at Willernie City Hall, 111 Wildwood Road, Willernie, Minnesota Mon-Thur. a. m. 9-12, or call for an appointment (651) 429-2977. Application deadline February 10, 2023.
Centennial picked up conference wins two straight nights, over Forest Lake 56-43 there Thursday and Blaine 61-53 at home Friday, improving to 6-6 overall and 4-1 in the NWSC. Against Forest Lake, Macey Littlefield tallied 19 points, Emma Walsh 11 and Marisa Frost 10. Amelia Espelien had 16 for the Rangers (2-8). Against Blaine, Autumn McCall tallied 15 points, Frost 12 and Walsh 11. Molly Garber sank 16 for Blaine (6-3). The Cougars lost to Eastview 51-47 on Dec. 29. Frost had 14 points, Walsh nine and McCall eight.
Brennan Sauvageau led the Rangers (3-6) with 16 points each. Jackson Driessen netted 11 points and Jack D’Agostino 10 for Centennial. Blaine outshot the Cougars 86-73 on Friday, with Ryan Bohemian sinking 21 points and Zach Shusted 20. The Bengals made 11 three’s. Centennial was torrid — 38-for-70 overall, 12-for-27 on three’s — with Ty Burgoon hitting 26 points (11-for-19 on field goals) and Driessen 17 points (5-for-6 on three’s). Will Quick added nine. The Cougars lost to Brainerd (7-0) by 78-63 at St. Cloud State on Dec. 29. Quick and Timmy Ball had 12 points each and D’Agostino 10. Brainerd’s Nick Evanston tallied 25 points and Johnny Pecarich 21.
Centennial collected goals from all their lines in victories over Spring Lake Park 10-0 there Thursday and Coon Rapids 6-0 at home Saturday, improving to 6-3-1. Nine Cougars found the net against SLP (3-71): Drake Ramirez (twice), Nick Carls, Sam Menne, Peyton Blair, Casey Coenen, Tanner Graczyk, Alex Clampitt, Heath Nelson and Harper Searles. Easton Cody made 13 saves. Six players notched goals against the Cardinals (5-6): Blair, Searles, Ramirez, Austin Petersen, Menne, and Palmer Lamay. Blair and Searles made two assists each. Gavin Schahn in goal made 14 saves.
Noelle Hemr delivered the overtime game-winner as Centennial/Spring Lake Park nipped East Ridge 2-1 at home Thursday. Hemr’s 10th goal came unassisted at 3:20 in the extra session. Lily Fetch scored for East Ridge (8-7) and Katie Ball tied it for CSLP (113-1). Ella O’Hearn assisted on two goals. Raptor goalie Annika Limpert made 32 shots and CSLP’s Kaitlin Groess made 17. The Cougars won the third-place game at the Breck Holiday Tournament over Breck 4-2 on Dec. 29 with all four goals in the second period, by Annabelle Buccione, Hemr and Lauren O’Hara (two). Annie Peterson made 25 saves.
Centennial is 2-6 after dropping conference games two straight evenings last week. Forest Lake made 11 three-pointers and blocked several shots to defeat the Cougars 70-51 on Thursday. Owen Waldoch and
Centennial placed fifth of 12 teams in the Fargo Border Battle meet Saturday. Fargo Davies was champion. Cougar senior Max Scheurer placed third in points as he won the backstroke (1:00.20) and took second in individual medley (2:03.47). George Atkinson was sixth in the 200 free and seventh in the butterfly. Alex Larkin was eighth in backstroke and butterfly. Tyler Celotta placed eighth in diving, Joseph Murray 10th in 50 free, Benno Schuhbauer 11th in backstroke, Isaac Nguyen 12th in IM, and Ben Condon 12th in 100 free. Top relay finish was the medley team of Atkinson, Scheurer, Larkin and Condon placing fourth (1:45.07). The Cougars (3-0 in duals) beat Champlin Park 110-76 there on Thursday. Event winners were Condon (500 free, 5:32.15), Scheurer (backstroke, 1:00.50), Talen Greeson-Stormoen (breaststroke, 1:16.32), and all three relays with Caleb Cregan, Nguyen, Scheurer, Murray, Larkin, Condon and Jacob Taylor contributing.
Jordin Flohaug, Centennial freshman, was the girls individual winner at a Northwest Suburban Conference meet at Wild Mountain on Thursday. The Cougar girls and boys teams both placed fourth of 11 schools. Blaine was champion for both and had the first-place boy, Lucas VanWechel. Flohaug posted times of 38.90 (second place) and 32.94 (fifth) for a total of 1:11.84, earning her first NWCS win by a margin of .9 over Anoka’s Stella Gronski. Brooke Halverson placed 13th, Annie Trettle placed 18th and Katie Tensing 22nd. Bruce Johnson led the Cougar boys, placing 14th. Owen Crandall took 20th. Luke Lofgren, a senior in his first year of Alpine, placed 23rd.
Centennial placed 10th of 12 teams in Buffalo’s Gerry Bakke Memorial Invitational on Saturday. Cougar junior Marcus Whiting (11-3) placed second at 220 pounds with a bye, pin, 6-3 win, and loss by pin in the finals. Placing third were junior Michael Streff (7-5) at 195 and senior Owen Hackett (5-7) at 285, each winning two of three matches. Tyler Cook, freshman at 170, won twice, then lost twice to place sixth.
Next season, Lauren O’Hara will skate for the University of Minnesota, after making a huge impact with the Cougars over five years. Let’s let Gopher coach Brad Frost explain why he implored the Centennial star to join one of the premier college programs in the country.
“Lauren is a very smart forward who plays a strong game. She has great size and uses her reach to her advantage,” assessed Frost on signing day Nov. 9,
when she was one of six recruits. “She has a high hockey IQ and makes an impact all over the ice. She has a knack for scoring goals or setting up her teammates.”
The 5-foot-11, 160-pound forward has rattled the nets for 20 goals, seven on power plays, and 10 assists this season for the No. 9 ranked Cougars (11-3-1). Notching her first three in eighth grade, she presently has 69 goals in her career, 23 on power plays, and 76 assists, for 145 points in 113 games.
Cougar coach Sean Molin echoed:
Drake Ramirez has delivered nine goals and nine assists for the Centennial hockey team, including three goals and two assists in a pair of conference wins last week by the Cougars (6-3-1). The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward’s career totals are 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points in 59 games over three years, helping the Cougars post a 39-14-5 record. “Drake is one of the grittiest players on the team,” said coach Ritch Menne. “He has zero problem going to the tough areas on the ice. With that toughness, ‘Ramir’ also brings a ton of skill — with his skating, puck control, and especially his shot.”
“She’s 5-foot-11 and has an elite shot and finishing ability. She is smart and strong all around. Gets points on shots, one-timers, tips and dekes.”
As a senior, O’Hara and her skate mates are on a mission to make up for a searing disappointment two years ago. In her sophomore year, the Cougars beat longtime nemesis Maple Grove 3-2 for the section championship, then had the state tournament yanked away due to a positive COVID test on the team.
“It was heartbreaking to hear the news. Our team was devastated, because after our big section final win, we were all pumped to have the opportunity to play at the ‘X’ and compete in state. Our team’s goal this year is to play in the state tournament.”
O’Hara, daughter of Matt and Alissa, has two older brothers. It’s a hockey family. Josh, 20, and Alex, 19, played for Centennial. Matt played in high school and in the USHL. “I started playing hockey when I was five years old,” said Lauren, who also played soccer, softball and lacrosse for a time.
Asked about career highlights, O’Hara listed that section finals win over Maple Grove — she had two of the three goals — along with placing fifth in the U12 state tournament with her club team.
O’Hara joined varsity the year after Centennial’s two all-time scoring leaders — Gabbie Hughes, a Miss Hockey finalist, and Anneke Linser — led the Cougars to a state runner-up finish as seniors. Both are wrapping up productive college careers at
Minnesota-Duluth this winter.
“I remember watching them take second place in the state tournament, which was really cool to see,” O’Hara said. “Since there was such an age gap, I didn’t know them well, but they were two players I looked up to in my youth.”
The Gopher coach first spotted O’Hara with her off-season team, the OS Whitecaps, and she verbally committed as a sophomore.
“I was fortunate to visit and talk with other schools. In the end I knew I wanted to play in the WCHA and be close to home,” O’Hara said. “After my visit to Minnesota it just felt right, the coaching staff, meeting the team, seeing their facilities and campus.”
O’Hara will be the first Centennial woman to play for the Gophers. Ryan Flynn, a member of Centennial’s 2004 state champion team, had four seasons with the Gopher men, from 2006-10.
HUGO — Snowmobilers in Washington County won’t soon forget the large impact that the late George Reus had on their community. This December, members of the Washington County Star Trail Association decided to honor his memory by dedicating a new section of trail just south and west of the Blacksmith Lounge, the bar and restaurant owned by Reus that became a hub for snowmobiles over the years.
The new trail, on the south side of County Road 4, extends from Highway 61 to Elmcrest Avenue and connects to the Rice Creek Trail Association trail.
George’s daughters, Jennifer Ehlert and Georgie Gibbons, unveiled the sign that commemorates George’s contributions to the snowmobiling community in Hugo and Washington County.
Star Trail member Mike LeClaire said, “George has done a lot of nice things for the snowmobiling community over the years. When he passed, we wanted to do something that would be remembered, and show our appreciation for his generosity.”
Many snowmobilers remember how Reus went above and beyond to make the Blacksmith Lounge a welcoming place to the snowmobile community. He installed a parking lot camera so patrons could keep an eye on their sleds from inside, and installed hooks specifically meant to hold snowmobile helmets. Most importantly, he always kept the large parking lot clear and allowed trucks and trailers to use it as a park and ride location—one of few in Washington County.
Star
“What kind of a business owner would do that?” Udstuen said. “Obviously, these snowmobilers make sure they’re having dinner there.”
The restaurant became an unofficial meeting place for members of the snowmobile club, as well as motorcyclists in the summer months. The restaurant has played host for many snowmobile shows over the years. In fact, it will host the first ever Hugo Knight Riders “BeaterCross” event on Jan. 28.
For many years, Reus was a sponsor of the Star Trail Alliance’s annual trail map. The Blacksmith Lounge is
marked on the map with a large red circle and a #32, showing Reus’ sponsorship and marking it as a park and ride location.
“I want to give a special thank you to George Reus and family. We’re grateful for all they’ve done for the sport,” Udstuen said. “You get businesses that do things like that, and that’s just remarkable.”
The trail creation and commemorative signs were sponsored by the Washington County Star Trail Association, and trail maintenance is run entirely by volunteers. The association marks and maintains all snowmobile trails in Washington County.
Jackie Bussjaeger
Constituents of Senate District 36 will have an opportunity to participate in legislative interviews with Senator Heather Gustafson and Representatives Brion Curran and Elliott Engen. The program sponsored by the League of Women Voters White Bear Lake Area will be held from 10:15 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 21, at the White Bear Lake Library.
The local legislators will discuss the issues faced by the state of Minnesota in 2023, their top three priorities and the legislation they plan to support in the coming session. Constituents may also engage in conversations with their elected representatives.
Senate District 36 includes the communities of Birchwood, Centerville, Circle Pines, Gem Lake, Lino Lakes, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Township.
Forest Lake Masonic Lodge #344 is currently looking for organizations from the community to partner with for its annual fundraising events. Typically the Forest Lake Masonic Lodge hosts 5-7 fundraising events each year in partnership with
local organizations that help generate charitable donations for them.
These events have included the annual Booyah, BBQ, Sunday Brunches, and more. Previously the Masons have partnered with cancer research and support groups, youth service groups, scouts and other community organizations.
Historically donations have been in the $1,000
to $6,000 range per event. Applications are being accepted now until March 1, 2023.
If you belong to an organization or know someone who you think might be interested in partnering with the Masons for these events, contact them at forestlakemasons@ gmail.com or download the application form on the website homepage at www. forestlakemasons.com.
Call us today to place your Assumed Name notice in the paper. Contact Lisa at 651-407-1205.
Snow doesn’t fall from the sky in 10foot cubes — not even in Minnesota.
While that’s fortunate for the general public, it also means considerable work goes into preparing the massive blocks for participants in the World Snow Sculpting Championship in Stillwater.
A dozen, 1,000-cubic-foot slabs of the white stuff will await the 12 sculpting teams for the artistic extravaganza set for Jan. 18-22 in Lowell Park.
Creating the edifices is a collaborative effort between construction contractor Market & Johnson and Midstate Landscaping and Excavating. Ski resort Afton Alps meanwhile supplies the snow.
After Afton Alps has finished making the snow, the frozen powder is loaded into concrete forms built by Market & Johnson. The process occurs during the two days before the championship event kicks off.
“We create two sides to each of the blocks, with forms that are then interconnected to create the full block,” said James Hanke, business development director for Market & Johnson. “Then the real important aspect of it that comes into play is how you load the snow into those blocks.”
That’s where Midstate comes in.
The excavating company first hauls the freshly created snow to Lowell Park in a dump truck, according to Midstate’s Operations Manager Chris Klein. Its skid loaders then dig into the snow pile and transfer perfectly clean scoops of snow into the bucket of a wheel loader. The wheel loader finally dumps the snow into the concrete forms.
“They'll dump a bucket in and then the people are in there and they stop it
down to get all the air voids out of it to ensure that it's nice and hard and there are no air voids,” Klein said.
The people he referred to are teams of six to eight volunteers from businesses and organizations in the community, some of which sponsor the sculpting championship.
They're using mostly their feet but also some other tools, and they're really making sure that snow is compact,” Hanke said. “When you're talking about 1000 cubic feet of snow, you're talking about 1000 cubic feet of snow with not a lot of air in between.”
According to Hanke, one team of stompers will be from First Resource Bank and the Stillwater fire and police departments will each field teams too. The latter two teams will compete to see which group can stomp down their snow the fastest.
“It's a lot of work to do, having done it and watching everyone do it last year,” Hanke said. “It's a lot of work, it's tiring but we try to make it as fun as possible and make sure everybody has a good time.”
Hanke and Klein anticipate building the blocks will go smoother than it did last year after having gone through the process once and learned from previous hiccups. In 2022, for instance, their companies initially attempted to transfer the snow into the concrete forms using a conveyor truck. When they realized that wouldn’t work, they
switched to using wheel loaders.
Once the cube-creating crews found their groove with the wheel loaders last year, however, Klein said it took them just a little more than an hour to complete one block. The completed cubes will then be ready for the sculptors on Jan. 18.
“We want them to sit there at least overnight to harden up a little bit, but we don't want them to sit there too long because then they start getting a little icy,” Hanke said.
Klein noted that he and Midstate owner Jason Anderson donated their time and effort helping with the blocks last year, which wound up being about a 12-hour endeavor.
“We really enjoyed it. It was fun doing something in your own community and giving back,” Klein said.
Hanke echoed that sentiment and pointed out how Market & Johnson’s office in Stillwater only opened recently for the Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based company.
“We've been involved in a lot of community events over there, and when this opportunity was presented to us, we were pretty excited about it and thought it would be fun,” Hanke said.
“I’ve just been really impressed with the number of people who have been involved, the amount of effort that people are willing to put in and most importantly, the amount of fun they're willing to have in the process.”
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