The Lowdown

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Winter Wonderland

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

VINTAGE VIEWFINDER

OUT & ABOUT

PAINTING HER PASSION | 15 & 16

LOOKING BACK TO THE PAST | 8

WHATS GOING ON IN YOUR COMMUNITY | 10 - 13

Your guide to the Arts & Outdoors Scene in Washington County

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CARTER JOHNSON | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Steel arrives 6 | Talent and a tweet

19 | Judge Juanita Freeman

12-year-old Kalei Forga will represent Minnesota on the 2019 World Selects team in Chamonix, France. A tweet by Minnesota Wild player Matt Dumba helped get her there.

As Washington County’s first black judge, Freeman helps the judicial bench reflect its ever-changing communities.

19 | Making city history on council 23-year-old Carly Johnson is likely the youngest person ever elected to the Oak Park Heights City Council.

22 | Wings & Things

Steel for Press Publications’ new roof was delivered last month. The building’s roof collapsed from a snowstorm last April. The steel is from Lino Lakes company Boe Iron Inc., a full-service structural steel, miscellaneous metals and ornamental iron shop with over 40 years in the business. Boe Iron Inc. is a designing, fabricating and installing custom, hand-crafted ornamental wrought iron products for both commercial and residential.

Dead trees are essential to wildlife health

CONTRIBUTORS | What is your favorite thing about winter?

JULIE KINK | Contributing Writer

ELIZABETH CALLEN | Staff Writer

lowdownnews@presspubs.com I love how winter sunrises seem much more vibrant than any other time of year—and thanks to shorter days, I’m actually up early enough to catch the sunrise most mornings.

kink100@att.net My favorite thing about winter is how a full winter moon casts shadows on the snow, and looking up, you can see the outlines of tree branches against the blue-indigo sky. It reminds me of how large and miraculous the universe is.

RANDY ROBERTS |

JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | Contributing Writer

Multimedia Consultant

lowdown@presspubs.com While I’m still a summer person, I have to admit the postcard scenery after a snowfall on the trees is breathtaking. If you are a lifelong Minnesotan, please don’t take that for granted for one second.

jackiebussjaeger@gmail.com My favorite thing about winter is taking lots of hikes in the snow and marveling at the way that nature conserves itself through such a harsh season yet still manages to be beautiful.

PAUL DOLS |

SHANNON GRANHOLM |

Photojournalist/ Website Editor photos@presspubs.com Practicing a Minnesota variation of ‘Hygge’ after spending the day outside in the cold weather.

The Lowdown Vol. 07 No. 08 COPYRIGHT © 2019 PRESS PUBLICATIONS Material may not be reproduced in whole or part in any form whatsoever.

Quad Editor

quadnews@presspubs.com Ice skating! I’m a member of an adult synchronized skating team that practices every week.

Publisher

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Contributors

Photographer/ Photo Editor

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Carter Johnson

Elizabeth Callen

Paul Dols

Amanda Stedje

Marketing Director

Advertising

Patty Steele

Randy Roberts

Julie Kink Jackie Bussjaeger Sarah Knieff

Design Manager Zac Hoppe

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Explore Washington County’s winter wonderland The weather outside is frightful, and because this is February in Minnesota, it’s likely going to stay that way for a while. As we enter midwinter, the effects of cabin fever may start hitting harder and harder—but Minnesotans have never been the type to let a little snow and ice put a damper on their fun. We’ve rounded up some of the best activities that Washington County has to offer throughout the month ahead, so bundle up and take advantage of the winter wonderland around us.

See old snowmobiles • The Stillwater Snowmobile club hosts its 5th annual The Older, the Better Vintage Snowmobile Show on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Blacksmith Lounge (17205 Forest Blvd. N., Hugo). Trophies will be awarded for “Oldest Runner” and “Ugliest Runner,” in addition to best restored and best original in three different classes.

There is a $5 entry fee per sled, and admission is free for spectators.

Food, beverages and raffle tickets will be available for purchase.

For more information, visit stillwatersnowmobileclub.org Ice fishing • Throughout the month of February, St. Croix Valley Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) will host an ice fishing contest. Submit photos of your biggest catch—either a pan fish, walleye or northern pike—along with the $50 registration fee to win one of three grand prizes and be eligible for weekly drawings.

Winners in each category will be determined by length of fish, and participation helps raise funds for SART’s health care, education and advocacy services. For registration or more information, visit stcroixvalleysart.org.

Lumberjacks as they dive into an icy Lake Carver in the Woodbury Polar Plunge on Feb. 2.

The team will represent the St. Croix Valley and raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota.

This year, the team has its sights set high with a total fundraising goal of $6,925.

• The annual Forest Lake Winter Plunge will be held Saturday, Feb. 16, at Lakeside Memorial Park. Sponsored by the Rotary Club, the annual event features participants braving a dip into the frigid waters of Forest Lake while raising money for local organizations. Last year, the event brought in $42,034 and the Lakes International Language Academy was named top fundraiser at $9,417.

New this year is the championship prize pot, which will be donated to the team who secures the most pledges. Like always, Lakes Area TV will livestream the event, so even faraway family and friends can get in on the fun.

Hit the slopes • Washington County may not boast the majestic mountains of Colorado, but its rugged, rolling landscape will more than suffice for those looking to shred some powder locally.

Wild Mountain Recreation Area (37200 Wild Mountain Road, Taylors Falls) has slopes suited for skiers and snowboarders of all ages.

Lessons are offered seven days a week and are open to ages 4 and up for skiing and 6 and up for snowboarding.

On Friday, Feb. 15, Wild Mountain will host a special Starlight Tubing event. With the floodlights off, the slopes will be lit by multicolored LED batons and, of course, the stars above.

For more information, visit wildmountain.com.

• The snowmaking machines at Green Acres Recreation ensure that its hills are open for tubing throughout the season—even when we’re forced to navigate Mother Nature’s dry spell.

Green Acres is at 8989 55th St. N., Lake Elmo,

Halloween Coloring Contest

BY ELIZABETH CALLEN STAFF WRITER

and is open 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, visit greenacresrec.com or call 651-770-6060.

Walk through the tunnel of lights • If you haven’t yet gotten around to checking out Stillwater Lights yet, don’t fret; you have until March 31. Downtown Stillwater’s newest seasonal attraction includes a festive lighted tunnel that spans Lowell Park. The multicolored archway is lit every night from 4 p.m. to midnight and, best of all, is completely free.

Explore the outdoors • Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Parks will host its annual Candlelight Ski, Snowshoe and Hike from 6–8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. Willow River State Park (1034 County Hwy. A, Hudson) will twinkle with the light from luminarias as participants traverse its trails. The event is free to attend, although vehicle admission into the park is required. For more information, call 715-386-9340 or email naturalist@willowkinnifriends.org.

Lace up your skates • Area rinks are flooded and ready for skaters to hit the ice. Throughout the winter, the city of Forest Lake maintains three rinks — two at Tower Park (843 Fourth St.) and one at Beltz

Park (720 11th Ave. SE). Reservations for sports team practices or group events can also be made. For hours and more information, visit ci.forest-lake.mn.us or call 651-209-9723.

• The St. Croix Valley Recreation Center (1675 Market Drive, Stillwater) hosts regular open skating sessions and group classes, so skaters of all abilities and experience levels can get their glide on. The center also manages the Lily Lake Ice Arena at 1208 Greeley St. Visit stcroixreccenter.com or call 651-430-2601 for more information.

Watch for wildlife • Guided bird hikes through Washington County’s parks continue this month. Meet at the trailhead kiosk of Pine Point Regional Park (11900 Norell Ave. N., Stillwater) at 9 a.m. for a one-hour hike. Attendees will learn how to identify the birds that call the St. Croix Valley home and will contribute to citizen science data collection by completing bird count surveys. The data collected will assist the Washington County Natural Resources team and its work in conjunction with the Lessard-Sam Outdoor Heritage Fund grant. The program is

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Take the plunge • Washington County residents will get cold for a cause during polar plunges throughout the month ahead. Cheer on the St. Croix Valley

Always be in tune and up to date on what’s happening in Washington County.

free with a Washington County parks permit ($7 daily, $30 annually).

• Belwin Conservancy (1533 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton) hosts its popular Owl Prowl on Friday, Feb. 15. Come dressed for a walk in the woods and join other wildlife enthusiasts listening for owls and other nocturnal animals. Ornithophiles will be in luck that weekend, as Belwin will put on a Winter Bird Hike from 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. the following day as a part of its Open Third Saturday program. One-hour guided tours depart from the Education Center at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Advance registration is required for the Owl Prowl, and is available online. For more information, visit belwin.org/events or call 651-436-5189.

Brave the cold by camping • Summer may make for classic camping weather, but there’s something to be said for the solace that a winter trip to the woods can bring—at least there will be few other campers around to disturb your peace and quiet.

If you’re feeling bold enough to face the ice and snow, know that a cold-weather camping adventure is possible.

Just be sure to bundle up. For winter camping tips, including packing suggestions, visit dnr. state.mn.us/state_ parks/winter camping. html.

The following nearby state parks are open for camping year-round: • St. Croix State Park, 30065 St. Croix Park Road, Hinckley • Willow River State Park, 1034 County Hwy. A, Hudson • William O’Brien State Park, 16821 O’Brien Trail N., Marine on St. Croix • Afton State Park, 6959 Peller Ave. S., Hastings Elizabeth Callen is a staff writer and reporter for the Forest Lake and St. Croix Valley Lowdown.

She can be reached at lowdownnews@ presspubs.com or 651-407-1229.

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Outdoor scenes

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Carter Johnson is publisher of Press Publications.

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An introduction from Randy

I

f you read the second page, you’re probably wondering who Randy Roberts is. First, I would like to introduce myself to the Lowdown readers and businesses as the new multimedia consultant in Stillwater and Forest Lake. Second, imagine, if you will, being a diehard Vikings fan AND a diehard Chiefs fan, so you experience double the disappointment year after year.

That’s me I thought you might care about that nugget of information.

Maybe not.

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But back to Stillwater and Forest Lake—I look forward to meeting with local business operators and meeting members of the communities, as I will be a part of them for years to come. This is a new adventure after 20 years working with newspapers in Hastings and Woodbury, and 30 years overall in the newspaper industry. I’ve had two careers, actually. I was a managing editor at a paper Missouri, and then more recently in Hastings for several years. Writing features about people VENDORS WANTED!

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e are thrilled to launch The Lowdown as the fi rst newspaper magazine in Washington County. Our goal is to inform you on upcoming events and activities, and be the community’s go-to publication for the arts and outdoor scenes throughout Forest Lake, Stillwater and the surrounding areas.

With every issue, the Lowdown continues to push the boundaries of community news with our feature articles, calendar pages and updates on local happenings. Although the paper has been published every other week, we are now moving to a publication schedule, Publisher’s monthly which will allow us to reach more people each month.

View If you would like to ensure Carter Johnson that you receive The Lowdown in the months ahead, please email us at circ@presspubs. com to say “yes” to The Lowdown. All of our current subscribers will continue to receive the now-monthly publication without any interruption. Our editorial, production and sales teams have all been working hard to launch the new and improved Lowdown. We are excited for these updates and hope you will be, too. Please let us know what you think at lowdownnews@ presspubs.com.

Lunar eclipse Last month the lake was lighted by a full moon and perfect for ice skating. While my son and a few friends were out skating, we tracked the beginning of the lunar eclipse. It was the only full lunar eclipse said to happen in 2019, so we gave it our all. With the temperature coming in at 1 degree, it was cold and crisp and we were thankful for no wind. Having a portable heater with us was critical, and every few minutes the boys would take turns standing in front of it to warm up. My wife made a special trip with hot cocoa and marshmallows, which may have been their favorite part of the experience. The boys stayed out on the frozen lake for over an hour.

After everyone had gone home, our family took a few more trips outside to glance at the moon.

Total eclipse was impressive as it reached a peak around 11:15 p.m. From the solar eclipse and now this lunar eclipse, it has been a great 24 months of celestial activity. Take in the outdoors this new year. Check out the stars and learn some of the constellations. Many local parks offer star watching programs with telescopes. Don’t let the cell phones and video games in your life eclipse what nature has to offer.

Social media wasteland When a stock photo of a brown-colored egg makes a headline with more that 50,024,444 likes on Instagram, beating out Kylie Jenner’s birth announcement, it seems we might have a problem. Do we really have nothing better to do than try to be part of a world record on social media? I know I can get sucked into some things on social media, but this seemed over the top. It might be good for all of us to step back and evaluate how we spend our time on social media.

Stick to posts that are relevant and helpful to your life, or increase your knowledge. Make an effort to avoid topics that are completely trivial or plain dumb. There is a screen time function on phones to monitor and limit usage. I’m truly worried about our kids, the digital wasteland and mental health.

Wedding Expo Email marketing@presspubs.com or call 651-407-1213

Arts & Outdoors Scene in Washington County

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019 VOL. 07 NO. 07 www.presspubs.com $1.00

SCHOOL BOARD: New members installed, officers elected PAGE 9

FEBRUARY 2019 VOL. 07 NO. 08

Beloved and influential potter Warren MacKenzie dies

BY SUZANNE LINDGREN COUNTRY MESSENGER EDITOR

Page 2 Stillwater man missing

Page 5 WCHS hosts ice cream social

Having devoted nearly 70 years to making elegantly simple pottery intended for everyday use, influential potter Warren MacKenzie died Dec. 31, 2018. He would have celebrated his 95th birthday Feb. 16.

MacKenzie was often identified as a mentor to potters around the world and the reason many have chosen to keep studios in the St. Croix Valley.

He, however, humbly refuted the claim, saying he couldn’t take credit for the area’s strong community of potters.

With work featured in museums around the word including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Tokyo’s Japan Folk Crafts Museum, his presence hasn’t hurt in putting the St. Croix Valley on the map.

“He could make the most amazing work, but was also capable of connecting with people.”

Page 12

Guillermo Cuéllar, speaking of Warren MacKenzie

Snowmobilers granted access to Big Marine Lake

Featured Events Out East When Writing Meets Art When: Jan. 20 Where: The Zephyr Theater

Up North Senior Dance When: Jan. 18 Where: Forest Lake American Legion

See pages 6&7 for event details WINTER WONDERLAND

VALENTINES DAY

CALENDAR

ICE FISHING, SPEAR FISHING, SKIING

BLURB ABOUT IT

PAGES 10-13

KAREN BRONG | SUBMITTED

Still, when Shafer potter Guillermo Cuéllar talks about MacKenzie, he doesn’t mention his museums, awards or recognitions. He talks about the pots, the philosophy behind them and the impact MacKenzie’s teaching has had on others around the world.

“He had an incredible capacity to engage with, and reach and charm people,” Cuéllar said. “He also was incredibly competent. His skills had been formed in a studio where he’d learned to make pots in the same way some people learn to play the violin, with really hard work and repetition, learning how to make forms accurately.

“When he sat down, people couldn’t believe how quickly the pots came off the wheel.

“So he had both those things. He could make the most amazing work,

Warren MacKenzie at work in his studio in rural Stillwater.

but was also capable of connecting with people.”

In Venezuela, where Cuéllar first worked as an assistant to MacKenzie in a 1981 workshop, potters still use MacKenzie’s recipes for glaze. (“To me it was almost like the stars had lined up,” Cuéllar said of meeting MacKenzie. “He was a window into the kind of historically grounded, utilitarian pottery I was really interested in making.”)

In Minnesota, MacKenzie helped inspire a genre. Called Mingei-sota, the play on words combines a Japanese celebration of folk art and longstanding Midwestern ethics of modesty and craftsmanship.

“Warren brought that aesthetic

philosophy he represented, which had some relationship to a Japanese aesthetic philosophy called Mingei,” Cuéllar explained. “It’s the appreciation of utilitarian objects, often made by craftspeople who are unknown, kind of like folk art. They can be very beautiful.

“The style became known as Mingei-sota because of his influence and that philosophy, which also related to Midwest values of honestly and authenticity. There is a legacy Warren left of potters working this way in Minnesota, which is also what put Minnesota on the map as an important center.”

SEE WARREN MACKENZIE, PAGE 12

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The current cover of the newly-redesigned Lowdown (left) and the previous design (right).

in the community and local history was really what got me out of bed each day as an editor. Throughout the past 15 years, my second career has been helping local businesses with their marketing solutions. It’s the local niche of Press Publications that brought me to Stillwater and Forest Lake.

You now know that the format of the Lowdowns has changed, and that it will now be a monthly news magazine. The Lowdown will be chock-full of information and stories about history, photos, the arts, community events, schools, sports and much more. News will be more geared toward how it affects you as a community member and previewing what’s ahead, not what happened a month ago.

Not every community is fortunate to have a local newspaper, and even sometimes among those that do, the “local” concept disappears, as is the case with many newspapers across the country.

Press Publications is committed to local news, and the Lowdown will continue this tradition in an entertaining monthly format with even more to read. I am really excited about the content that will be featured in the Lowdown. You will be, too, and that is why I am here. I will get around the communities as soon as I can, but in the meantime, if you do have an advertising need, question or would like set an appointment, please call me at 651-407-1212.

THE LOWDOWN | LETTER GUIDELINES • Limited to 350 words. four weeks must lapse be• Submissions must Include a full tween publication. Exceptions name, address and daytime may be made for rebuttal phone number for verification. letters.

• Letter writers must live, work • Due to space limitations, or have another connection to letters that don’t address local Press Publications coverage issues are not guaranteed area. publication.

• Letter writers are limited to six • Repeat letters by the same letters per year and at least writer about the same subject

matter will not be published. of the week prior to • Submissions containing libelpublication. ous or derogatory statements • To submit a letter, e-mail it to will not be published. lowdownnews@presspubs.

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COMMUNITY BRIEFS Youth United Way hosts 17th annual Empty Bowls

Youth United Way invites the public to attend its 17th annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser on March 7 at the Stillwater Area High School. Youth United Way is a group of eighththrough 12th-grade students that work together to raise money for different youth and hunger programs in our community.

Empty Bowls is the group’s largest, most substantial fundraiser during the year. The group works for months to fi nd local artists and restaurants to donate pottery bowls, soup and bread. The soup and bread serve as a simple meal to enjoy at the event, and the pottery bowls go home with the guests as a continual reminder of the empty bowls in our community.

It helps to remind our guests that hunger exists everywhere, even here in our Stillwater area community.

The group is in need of pottery and pottery bowls for the event. If you have good pottery you would like to donate to this great cause, please contact Lois Raboin at 651-439-3838 or lois@uwwce.org, or you may drop it off at the United Way office, 825 Curve Crest Blvd., Stillwater.

To purchase tickets, visit uwwce. org/youth-united-way.

Community organizations support each other

The Forest Lake Masons and Forest Lake Lions have been active in the local community for decades. After noticing that the Masons did not have an automated external defibrillator, or AED, in their building, the Lions Club donated one to the Masons Lodge for use by members and residents who frequent the building.

Community Thread seeks nominations for 2019 Community Involvement Awards

Community Thread and the Washington County Board of Commission-

SUBMITTED

Pictured from left to right are Stev Stegner, Mark Harshman, Bob Moorhouse, Chris Stauner, Michael Perreault and Rich Jabas.

ers are now accepting nominations for the 2019 Community Involvement Awards. The Community Involvement Awards, now in their 44th year, honor the work of exceptional volunteers in the community. According to Jennifer Kmecik, Volunteer Center Director at Community Thread, “Volunteers make our community stronger in so many ways. The Community Involvement Awards offer the opportunity to recognize these volunteers for their dedication and service.”Community Involvement Awards recognize volunteers in six categories: Youth, Group/Family, Exemplary Employer, Outstanding, Lifetime, and Legacy. Nominees are residents or organizations in Washington County who meet the criteria for each award. Visit commuitythreadmn.org, to complete the nomination form, e-mail Jennifer@ CommunityThreadMN.org (Subject: CIA), or stop by Community Thread to request a nomination packet. Nom-

POLITICAL BRIEF

documents are listed on the Community Thread website at communitythreadmn.org.

inations are due by Feb. 20.

Free tax filing assistance in Stillwater

Community Thread is hosting the Stillwater Site of the AARP Tax Aide Program, which provides free income tax assistance to low-income and moderate-income taxpayers.

Trained and certified AARP Tax Aide volunteers will work with taxpayers to prepare and electronically fi le federal and state income tax returns. Returns can be prepared only for Minnesota residents who are not required to fi le a state tax return in any state other than Minnesota or Wisconsin. Not all IRS forms and schedules can be prepared in this program.

Appointments can be made by calling 651-439-7434 between 9 a.m and 4 p.m. Appointments will be offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from Feb. 11 to April 10 at Community Thread, 2300 West Orleans Street in Stillwater. Required tax-related

Help for smart family shopping

The Marine Mills Folk School has been offering a monthly series of classes entitled “Topics in Nutrition” The subject of the school’s last class in the series will be a hands-on grocery Ssore tour on Feb. 12. Interested participants will join Bre Marsel, Registered Dietician, at the historic Marine General Store to discuss the best food choices, how to read labels and other timely subjects.

Founded in 2017, Marine Mills Folk School’s mission is to support and strengthen connections by inviting all people to discover the joy of learning and creating together. the school offers adult and intergenerational classes in traditional arts and craft skills. Please visit marinemillsfolkschool.org for additional information or to see a complete listing of classes.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Housley and Dettmer to hold town hall meetings

Sen. Karin Housley (R-St. Mary’s Point) and Rep. Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake) announced a set of town hall meetings during the month of February. The town hall meetings are an opportunity for constituents to interact with legislators and discuss issues while the legislature is in session. Residents of District 39, which includes the Forest Lake area and the St. Croix River Valley, are encouraged to attend.

The fi rst town hall meeting will be held in Stillwater at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Stillwater Public Library (224 Third Street N.). Attendees can park free of charge in the library parking ramp and take the elevator up to the Margaret Rivers Room on the upper level.

A second town hall meeting will be held in Forest Lake at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Forest Lake Area High School (6101 Scandia Trail N.). Attendees can park in the student lot located at Highway 97 and Goodview Avenue, then enter the high school through Door 1. The meeting will be held in the high school media center.

Legislators will open the town hall meetings with a brief presentation on the current legislative session, followed by a time for audience comments and questions. There is no cost to attend, and the meetings are open to the public.

Questions can be directed to Rachael Grooms, legislative assistant to Sen. Housley, at 651-296-1780 or Rebecca Meade, legislative assistant to Rep. Dettmer, at 651-296-8871.

Chamber director graduates from IOM

SUBMITTED

Robin Anthony, executive director of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, graduated from the Institute for Organization Management (IOM), a professional development program sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Forest Lake Marine adds U-Haul truck sharing

CHURCH BRIEF Bethlehem hosts Second Sunday Supper Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bayport will host its Second Sunday Supper at 5 p.m. Feb 10. All are welcome to attend this

community event. The meal will be turkey chili and breadsticks, followed by dessert.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located at 490 Fourth St. N., Bayport.

The Institute for Organization Management (IOM), the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is pleased to announce that Robin Anthony, executive director of the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, has graduated from the program and has received the recognition of IOM. Awarded to all graduates of the organization’s program, the IOM graduate recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management.

In addition, participants can earn credit hours toward the certified chamber executive (CCE) or certified association executive (CAE) certifications.

Nearly 1,000 individuals attend the institute annually.

SUBMITTED

Forest Lake Marine, 6671 Lake Blvd., now offers U-Haul vehicles, towing equipment and moving supplies.

U-Haul Company of Minnesota is pleased to announce that Forest Lake Marine has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve the Forest Lake community.

Forest Lake Marine, at 6671 Lake Blvd., will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pickup for boxes.

Normal business hours are 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Reserve U-Haul products at this dealer location by calling 612-326-5048 or online at uhaul.com.

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FEBRUARY 2019 www.presspubs.com

NHL player’s tweet helps send 12-year-old hockey player to France Thanks to the exposure from Twitter and the outpour of support from friends and strangers alike, the Forga family reached their fundraising goal a mere matter of hours after Dumba’s tweet.

BY SARAH KNIEFF CONTRIBUTING WRITER

FOREST LAKE — A 12-year-old hockey player’s dream has come true, thanks to talent, hard work and a tweet by a Minnesota Wild player.

Kalei Forga’s love of the ice started at the early age of 6, when her parents, Michelle and Jaime Forga, signed her up for the hockey program in Forest Lake. She currently plays on the Forest Lake Rangers 12UA team.

“It was pretty evident at an early age that she had a passion for this game and was learning very quickly,” Jamie said.

Over the last few years, Kalei has been invited to play in several AAA tournaments, including Minnesota Selects, Midwest Selects, Super Series, Minnesota Elite and Pee-Wee Challenge Girls Major. She also plays

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Kalei Forga of Forest Lake—pictured her with her dad, Jaime—will represent Minnesota on the 2019 World Selects Team, which will play in Chamonix, France, in April.

3-on-3 summer hockey at the Lumberyard in Stillwater.

In December, Kalei was selected to represent Minnesota on the 2019 World Selects Team, which will play in Chamonix, France, this coming April. However, the trip’s $15,000 price tag meant that the family needed help Kalei get to the tournament.

They created a GoFundMe page to offset $7,500 of the total needed to make Kalei’s dream a reality.

Michelle sent a link to her daughter’s GoFundMe page to the Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC), which she described as a “group for black women to come together and talk about the hockey culture. (We can) discuss any struggles, joys, concerns or experiences that come along

as hockey fans of color.”

BGHC tweeted a link to the Forga family’s page, which soon led to something even more incredible.

Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba saw the tweet and shared it—and also donated $500 to the cause.

“Go Kalei! I had a similar opportunity when I was younger and it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of a lot of good people in my community and the sacrifices made by my parents! Tear it up over there!”

Dubma’s tweet read.

“I couldn’t believe it was really him. I had to go to Twitter to see if it really was.

I called Jaime right away at work as I was super excited,” Michelle said.

“I don’t think either one of

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Kalei, her parents and her sister Maya pictured at a Minnesota Wild game (from left): Michelle, Kalei, Maya and Jaime.

us got more than a couple of hours of sleep over the next couple of days due to all of the excitement, still not even realizing that this story was literally going viral,” Jaime added.

Thanks to the exposure from Twitter and the outpour of support from friends and strangers alike, the Forga family reached their fundraising goal a mere matter of hours after Dumba’s tweet.

“It is making me feel excited but, on the other hand, it is making me feel a little embarrassed because I am

CITY BRIEFS Opioid crisis hits Stillwater

It’s normally a time for routine business and even light-hearted banter between staff and elected officials. But at the Jan. 22 Stillwater City Council meeting, the staff reports took a somber turn.

“The opioid issue — epidemic — crisis is here,” Police Chief John Gannaway told councilmembers.

“In the end of November, beginning of December, in the span of two weekends we had four opioid overdoses. One was a fatality involving carfentanyl the first weekend. The next weekend we had three, and those involved fentanyl. Without lifesaving measures by our staff and Fire Department staff, two of them would have been fatalities.”

In the past, there have been very infrequent overdoses, Gannaway said, but to see this number of overdoses in such a short time is unprecedented. He said older teenagers and young adults are taking drugs like Percocet that they think is an opioid, but that have been cut with fentanyl, a heavy drug used to tranquilize elephants and big game. “They’re fatal or near fatal every single time,” Gannaway said.

“The fentanyls are so serious that they put all the first responders at

not used to all of this attention,” Kalei said. She and her parents are looking forward to going to the tournament come spring.

“Speaking for my entire family, we are incredibly grateful for everyone that not only donated money but also all of the messages of encouragement,” Jaime said.

“It’s hard to just choose a few words to describe our feelings but a few would be ‘extremely overjoyed,’ ‘blessed,’ ‘humbled,’ and I would even go so far as to say completely ‘overwhelmed by it all.’”

WASHINGTON COUNTY BRIEF risk. We had to send staff home with Narcan (a nasal spray that counteracts the life-threatening effects of drug exposure) in case they felt lightheaded. You have to treat the home as a hazardous site and it has to be professionally cleaned.”

Gannaway said education and the public’s help are needed to combat the crisis. Unused prescription drugs may be dropped off at the Stillwater Law Enforcement Center or other Washington County locations in Forest Lake, Cottage Grove, Woodbury and Hugo.

“Know what your young adults and your teenagers are doing. Use prescription drug drop-off sites,” he urged. “One family had to arrange a funeral over the holidays. We prefer not to see this again.”

Julie Kink

Forest Lake seeks to fill open council seat

Now that Mara Bain has taken the oath of office as mayor, there is a vacancy on the Forest Lake City Council as her previous term as councilmember was not set to end until December 2020. The council voted unanimously at its Jan. 19 meeting to officially declare a vacan-

cy for Bain’s seat and to undertake the appointment process suggested by city staff.

Residents looking to serve on the City Council must complete an application and a filing statement.

To be considered, applicants must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, a registered Forest Lake voter, and must not be on parole or serving time for a felony conviction.

The application process will culminate in a special council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19 (given that Monday, Feb. 18, is President’s Day), at which time council will conduct a brief interview of candidates. The council may select a replacement at that meeting or postpone the decision until the regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 25. In the event of a deadlock, the mayor may appoint someone.

Application forms for the open seat are available at City Hall or online at ci.forest-lake.mn.us and must be submitted to Deputy City Clerk Bailey Fencil by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.

Questions about the process may be directed to City Administrator Patrick Casey at 651-209-9750 or patrick. casey@ci.forest-lake.mn.us.

Elizabeth Callen

Licensing information for potential adult foster care providers available

An informational meeting regarding providing adult foster care in Washington County will be 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, in the Lower Level Room 13 in the Government Center in Stillwater.

Washington County requires interested people to attend an informational meeting, which will provide an overview of the foster care program. For those who decide to become licensed to provide foster care for adults, the licensing process begins at no cost to them.

In addition to meeting state licensing requirements, foster families should be able to provide a stable family in a oneor two-parent home, adequate housing, and love and support for those in their care.

Before families can be licensed, they must undergo a thorough screening process, which includes an extensive background check.

For additional information, questions, or to RSVP to the meeting in case of cancellation, contact Tammie at 651-430-8307 or tamara.belland@ co.washington.mn.us. The Washington County Government Center is at 14949 62nd St. N., Stillwater.

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Brown winter When you’re a child, time moves so slowly. Children’s days are long; they play all day and end up falling asleep on the couch or even the floor. But as people get older, time moves faster.

Days fly by. You can’t get everything done, so things can pile up. Now, we realize most of the hunting seasons have passed; the only deep snow within driving disWild River tance is around Lake Superior. If you’re a Trails cross-country skier or snowmobiler, you Jim Bennett have to put on some miles behind the wheel. It’s already the middle of winter, and the brown winter south of Highway 8 just keeps moving along.

Ice anglers are cautiously inching vehicles across area lakes to maintain safety. I recently got hooked by fake news when I posted a photo of a couple ice houses that fell through ice, an incident that actually happened a couple years ago. That photo ran on the internet and I found out that everyone who saw it got hoodwinked like I did.

The advantages of a brown winter are that lakes with clear ice are getting a shot in the arm to keep underwater plants alive and oxygen levels high for fi sh to thrive. Photosynthesis happens above water and below.

Just like plants above water keep our oxygen levels at a healthy level, without snow it does the same for life underwater. Animals that use snow to their advantage suffer. Mice and voles without snow cover are easy prey for hawks, owls, fox and coyotes.

Ruffed grouse have no deep snow to escape the extreme cold and also in which to hide from predators on long winter nights. Wild turkeys and pheasants can scratch out a living during a brown winter. The freezing rain iced in much of the acorns and waste corn, but the warm spells have helped out on south-facing slopes. But without blizzards, life, for the most part, is good for many critters, who benefit when we have a brown winter.

Is it global warming that is causing the brown winter? Some average temperatures are on the rise across the northland from it — or are La Niña and Arctic oscillation the culprits? La Niña’s pattern of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean is pushing the jet stream and cold arctic air northward. Arctic oscillation is a seesawing pressure difference between the Arctic and lower latitudes that allows colder air to move southward into the U.S., but that’s just not happening.

Many claim this is all a part of global warming, impacted by rainforests being cut down and pollution.

But as smart as we think we are, I often wonder if we really have no clue as to why these are happening.

Remember when burying garbage in landfi lls was a great idea until we realized it polluted our drinking water? Let’s talk about 2019 in about 100 years—or maybe 1,000 years—and we will have a better understanding of all this.

Until then, the brown winter goes on.

Jim Bennett is an outdoorsman who lives and worked in the St. Croix River Valley and can be reached at jamesbennett24@gmail.com

A note from the mayor A 5 by 7 inch sign with orange block letters that boldly proclaim “TODAY IS THE DAY” has had a visible place in my office for at least the past five years and was the first thing I put on my desk when I took office on Jan. 14.

It reminds me that despite lengthy timelines and daunting details, there is no time like TODAY to make our world a better place. Incremental steps are important, and there are actions each of us can take today to be impactful.

As a new mayor, the first order of business is to ensure we have the right people serving in the right capacity with the right plan to meet the needs of our community. One of the first items of business the new council is tasked with is filling the open council seat that I had previously held. Whoever is appointed to this open seat will serve out the remaining two years of my council term. Additionally, I will appoint (with council approval) citizen members for vacant positions on our various boards and commissions.

Council will begin the process of updating our Strategic Plan, which is a five-year tactical plan that complements our 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Transportation and infrastructure will continue to be active priorities in 2019. Continued partnership with MN Department of Transportation and related agencies to secure plans and funding to improve Hwy. 97 safety is a top priority. With sewer lift station improvement projects funded and underway, council has identified a number of projects to update current plant equipment and expand water service capacity with a continued focus on reliability and safety. These projects are anticipated to begin in late 2019.

Community development and redevelopment will continue to have a prominent place on the agenda as opportunities are presented. It is my goal that the city be a valuable partner to those making investments in our community, while keeping the interests of current and future residents top of mind.

I value your feedback and welcome conversations and questions. Council meetings and workshops are open meetings with agenda time dedicated to listen to whatever is on your mind and important to you. The priorities discussed above will be presented in further detail at future council meetings and workshops. Agendas for upcoming council and commission meetings can be found on the City’s website: www.cityofforestlake.com.

As a final note, congratulations to the Lowdown on the new format! As a resident, I’m excited to add a monthly news magazine to my sources for local content.

Mara Bain is the mayor of Forest Lake and can be reached at mara.bain@ ci.forest-lake.mn.us or on Facebook under Mara Bain for Forest Lake

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH *Athletes chosen by press staff

Sydney Nenn

Will Whittington

Forest Lake Gymnastics

Stillwater Swim

Sydney Nenn, Forest Lake junior gymnast, achieved some solid scores in January, highlighted by placing third all-around with 35.55 at the Gustavus Adolphus Invitational where she was top-six in all four events. Nenn has scored as high as 9.25 on both vault and balance beam. It’s her third season on varsity.

Will Whittington, Stillwater sophomore swimmer, was top scorer for the Ponies as they won the Section 4AA trueteam championship at home Jan. 1819. Whittington won the 200 freestyle (1:42.13) and 500 freestyle (4:38.65), and anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay. He is a returning all-stater in each of those races. In the previous meet he won the 100 and 200 freestyle against East Ridge.

Dalton Saltness

Izzy Bartosh

Forest Lake Hockey

Stillwater Gymnastics

Dalton Saltness is the leading scorer on the Forest Lake hockey team (9-7) with 26 goals and 16 assists through January 22. Highlights for the 5-9, 175-pound senior center include notching two thirdperiod goals to rally the Ponies past Irondale 5-4 and delivering the overtime goal to beat East Ridge 3-2. Saltness was the top returning scorer for the Rangers after logging 14 goals and 13 assists last year.

Izzy Bartosh is the top scorer and senior captain for the Stillwater gymnastics squad that is defending state champion and ranked No. 1 this season. Bartosh has scored as high as 37.60 all-around, 9.65 on bars, 9.725 on vault, 9.55 on floor and 9.25 on beam. She had the Ponies top score of 37.80 in the state meet last season. “Izzy is a phenomenal leader as well as a great gymnast,” said Joan Ledson, co-head coach.

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V IN TAGE V I EW F IN DER

PHOTO COURTESY OF MINNESOTA REFLECTIONS AND THE NORTH STAR MUSEUM OF BOY SCOUTING AND GIRL SCOUTING.

A photo titled “Ski hike at St. Croix winter camp, Washington County, Minnesota’ shows a group of Troop 104 Boy Scouts carrying skis on a snowy road near the St. Croix River. The image is estimated to have been taken sometime in the 1930’s. A portion of the historic lift bridge can be seen on the left and it looks like a view of downtown Stillwater is visible in the background. The photo was contributed to the Minnesota Reflections website by the North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting.

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County’s first black judge helps judicial bench reflect community

BY ELIZABETH CALLEN STAFF WRITER

STILLWATER — The walls of the Washington County Courthouse judicial chambers are lined with portraits of former judges, most of them white and male. There are no black judges pictured, but once Judge Juanita Freeman’s photograph is added to the collection, there will be.

Former Governor Mark Dayton appointed Freeman as a 10th District Court judge after Susan Miles announced her retirement last fall. Freeman previously worked as a senior assistant Hennepin County attorney in the adult prosecution and child protection divisions. She said she was surprised to learn that she made history by accepting the appointment, thereby becoming the fi rst black judge to serve in Washington County.

“Before me, I don’t think that there had been a judge of color in Washington County, period, and yes, it is 2019,” she said. “When I found out that I would be the fi rst nonwhite judge—and in particular, the fi rst African-American—I was like, ‘wow.’

It’s unbelievable.”

Freeman lives in Oakdale with her husband and their three daughters— ages 6, 4 and 1. Originally from Rock Island, Illinois, she moved to Minnesota in fi fth grade when her mother accepted a job at the University of St. Thomas. Freeman graduated from St. Paul’s Central High School and went on to study sociology and criminology at Hamline University, where she also played on the women’s basketball team.

After graduating, Freeman then spent a busy three years at Mitchell Hamline School of Law clerking for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office drug and poverty teams and volunteering in the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center on top of studying for her J.D. Freeman’s interest in the legal field began early, she said. “I come from a very large blended family of nine step and foster siblings. Because I was the second to youngest of all those kids, I did a lot of listening and observing.”

Throughout such listening, Freeman observed “an inherent distrust in the system. I didn’t understand really why at a young age, but I knew that I wanted to be a part of understanding it and trying to break down that barrier. That was always the motivating force for me behind my legal career.”

Though some around Freeman expected her passion for social justice and advocacy to lead her to a career as a defense attorney, after law school she became a prosecutor instead.

“I think disconnect starts from all different levels of the process, including that initial interaction with law enforcement,” she explained. “If you can have a prosecutor who has an understanding of life experience and circumstances reviewing the cases, that will bring a different perspective.

I think I brought that.”

Freeman’s desire to break down structural barriers led her to apply for the seat on the 10th District Court last fall.

“What better person to break down a barrier than the judge? Everybody

looks to the judge in the legal process,” she said. “You need judges who are not just knowledgeable of the law but are going to treat everybody with dignity and respect, and make sound decisions based on what they heard.”

Freeman was sworn into office Nov. 13.

“It’s been great. Everybody is so welcoming and fantastic,” she said of her fi rst few months on the job. “It’s been a nice adjustment learning the culture of Washington County and being embraced with the amount of warmth that I have been.”

With three judges set to retire in the next year, the Washington County judicial bench will soon look significantly different than it does currently.

“That’s a big turnaround for a 10-judge county,” Freeman said. “(Those judges) have been here for years, ensuring that justice has been done, so my immediate goals are to maintain that. … I think the immediate things are making sure that we do everything that needs to be done to make sure that the citizens we serve are still going to receive equal treatment and justice when they come to the Courthouse.”

Freeman called the opportunity to make history as the county’s fi rst black judge “amazing and humbling.”

“I can’t think of a time in my life where I thought I’d be breaking a literal barrier,” she said. “I wanted the barriers of distrust overtime to be broken down, but to literally kind of break that color line was—and still every day is—impactful to me.”

She also said that she is honored

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10th District Court Judge Juanita Freeman is the first black judge in Washington County history. She was sworn in Nov. 13, 2018.

to help make Washington County’s judicial bench more representative of its ever-changing communities.

“I’ve been out here now for almost 10 years. As I’ve been here, I’ve seen the diversity increasing within Washington County,” she said. “I think it’s nice that the bench starts to reflect the populations that we serve, so that the people who are coming before the courts see reflections of themselves within the community and the bench.”

Elizabeth Callen is a staff writer and reporter for the Forest Lake and St. Croix Valley Lowdown. She can be reached at lowdownnews@presspubs.com or 651-407-1229.

New council member likely youngest in Oak Park Heights history

BY ELIZABETH CALLEN STAFF WRITER

OAK PARK HEIGHTS — At 23, Carly Johnson is currently the youngest member of the Oak Park Heights City Council, and she’s likely the youngest in the city’s history as well.

Johnson was elected to the council in November and took the oath of office on Jan. 8. She is an Oak Park Heights native who graduated from Stillwater Area High School in 2014 and from the University of St. Thomas in 2018. Her interest in public service, however, began much earlier, when she was a seventh-grader at Oak-Land Middle School.

“It started in Mr. Klancher’s class in seventh grade—we had a mock trial, followed immediately by a mock Congress,” Johnson remembered. She was selected to represent the plaintiff in a civil suit involving a rabid dog bite, an experience that immediately sparked her desire to pursue a career in the legal field.

“Right away, I could tell that this is where I would be able to really help people who are in bad situations, or where I could help prevent bad situations from happening,” she said.

Johnson graduated from college last spring with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in legal studies. She quickly found work in the political field, serving as deputy finance director for Betty McCollum’s re-election campaign, and is currently a fi rst-year student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul.

When Mark Swenson announced his retirement from the council, Johnson, at the encouragement of her friend Margot Rheinberger, decided to run for his seat.

“Margot knew I was interested in politics and really loved learning about local issues,” Johnson said. At debates, I would just be the nerd that would sit there and listen to everything.” Johnson said.

“She called, and she was like, ‘A lot of the big issues that you’re really excited about are at the City Council level’ … She asked if I had ever considered running for council, and I didn’t even know this

JOHN KAUL | SUBMITTED

Carly Johnson, 23, is likely the youngest council member in Oak Park Heights history. She took the oath of office on Jan. 8 and will serve a four-year term through December 2022.

particular race was a thing. I looked into it, and I met with Mark (Swenson) and decided that would be the best way to get involved.”

Johnson fi led to run in August, making her fi nal decision the day before she turned in the necessary paperwork. Though she ran unopposed (only she and Mike Liljegren fi led for the two open seats), in the spirit of many of her former bosses, she ran as though the race was tight.

“I’ve worked for candidates who never take their race for granted, and I didn’t want to either, especially as a fi rst-time candidate,” she said. “I wanted people to know that I’m available, and that if they ever have any concerns, that they can reach out. So, I ran a normal campaign.”

At the Jan. 8 meeting, Johnson and her colleagues on the council received their committee assignments for the year ahead. Johnson will serve on the Parks Commission and St. Croix River Association Advisory Council and will serve as an alternate to the Middle St. Croix Water Management Association.

Johnson said the assignments are a perfect fit for her, given her degree in biology and her deep interest in both law and science.

“I’m looking at law that will incorporate my love of policy with science, so either environmental law, medical malpractice or patent law,” she said.

But for the immediate future, her priority is serving the residents of Oak Park Heights.

“Right now, I think the biggest issue is looking at our roads, especially the frontage road right next to Walmart on (Hwy) 36. Our city has been really working hard to move that frontage road back and put in a roundabout to prevent congestion because that’s an accident-prone area,” she said. “Another big priority is looking at what to do long-term. The King Plant is 40 percent of our tax base, but at some point, they’re looking at shutting down the power plant—and where does our city go from there?”

Johnson also said that her fi rst year on council is proving to be a good complement to life as a law student, even though balancing her civic duties with homework can be tough at times.

“I’m learning law at City Hall quicker than I am in law school. It’s trial by fi re, and it’s the best way to learn.”

And, though she sometimes worries that her age and gender will mean that some won’t take her seriously, she won’t let that fear get in the way.

“There have definitely been rooms I’ve been in where I’m the only woman, and being so young is definitely something,” Johnson said. “But it’s motivating me to work twice as hard.”

Elizabeth Callen is a staff writer and reporter for the Forest Lake and St. Croix Valley Lowdown. She can be reached at lowdownnews@presspubs.com or 651-407-1229.

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DOGGIE DEPOT

When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 Where: Union Depot, St. Paul Details: Free event for people and their pooches includes rescue dog adoptions with 20 animal rescue organizations, a pet products marketplace, pet experts including Katie K9, and the crowning of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival doggie royal court.

Contact: uniondepot.org/doggiedepot

BEAR’LY OPEN

When: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 Where: Ramsey County Beach, 5050 Lake Ave. N., White Bear Lake Details: Annual golf on ice event benefits the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf. Open to all ages. 18-hole course, hospitality tent, food and entertainment. Golfers play with tennis balls and use golf clubs, hockey sticks, tennis rackets, or anything else that can propel a tennis ball. Official Winter Carnival event. $30/adult; $15/student ($5 additional for walk-ins) Contact: bearlyopen.org

Stillwater Details: Night to honor chamber and community members includes dinner, live music by Gary LaRue and the Rat Pack, dancing, live and silent auctions, and games. Tickets $75.

Contact: 651-439-4001 or greaterstillwaterchamber.com

THE LITTLE MERMAID JR.

When: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 Where: Forest Lake High School, 6101 Scandia Trail N. Details: Adaptation of Disney’s Broadway production based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved stories about sacrifice, love and acceptance. Tickets $6-$12.

Contact: childrensperformingartsmn.org

‘UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL, THE MYSTERY OF THE ABANDONED TROUSERS’

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Forest Lake Winter Plunge

When: Noon Saturday, Feb. 16 Where: Lakeside Memorial Park, 95 E. Broadway Ave., Forest Lake Details: Participants jump into frigid Forest Lake to support local organizations through this annual event sponsored by the Rotary Club.

Registration online in advance, Friday, Feb. 15 5-8 p.m. or Saturday morning until noon at Vannelli’s by the Lake.

Contact: forestlakerotary.org/winter-plunge

NATIONAL PARK SNOWSHOE SERIES When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 Where: Ridgeview Trails, 973 County Rd. S, Osceola Details: Program highlighting St. Croix National Scenic Riverway trails is family friendly, and appropriate for all ages and stages of snowshoers.

Guided local natural history.

Contact: stcroixriverassociation.org

DEAN MAGRAW WITH CAROL CAOUETTE

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 Where: White Bear Unitarian Church, 375 Maple St., Mahtomedi Details: Master guitar player Dean Magraw is joined by the soulful voice of Carol Caouette in an evening of music full of variety, from original tunes to Hendrix. Tickets at the door or on eventbrite.

Contact: wbuuc.org

LOSING A SPOUSE OF SIGNIFICANT OTHER: LIFE AFTER LOSS

When: 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 Where: Lakeview Hospital, 927 Churchill St., Stillwater Details: Join Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Kelsey Trauscht to talk about grief, moving forward after loss and self-healing.

Contact: 651-430-4697 or healthpartnerslocalcare.org

“SCIENCE FAIR”

FEBURARY 2019

Contact: 651-275-4338 or stillwaterlibrary.org When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 Where: The Zephyr Theatre, 601 Main St. N., Stillwater Details: A reclusive librarian finds a book 123 years overdue and he‘s compelled to embark on a worldwide quest to track down the borrower and in the process uncovers a mystery.

Performed by veteran fi lm and TV actor, Patrick O’Brien. Tickets $18-$45.

Contact: stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org

GUIDED MORNING BIRD HIKE

When: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 Where: Pine Point Park, 11900 Norell Ave., Stillwater Details: Learn to identify birds that call the area home and contribute to citizen science data collection by completing bird count surveys with a guide. Free with parks permit. Open to all ages; minor must be with an adult.

Contact: 651-430-8200 or co.washington.mn.us/parks

STEM SATURDAY: RAPTORS AT THE LIBRARY

When: 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 9 Where: Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 Forest Rd. N., Forest Lake Where: Marine Village Hall, 121 Judd Details: Meet a hawk and an owl and St., Marine on St. Croix learn about Raptors with the Wildlife Details: National Geographic Science Center. No registration documentary follows 9 high school students as they navigate rivalries and required.

Contact: 651-275-7300 or washcolib.org setbacks on their journey to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. Free admission; INTRODUCTION TO doors open at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments served.

GENEALOGY RESEARCH Contact: marinecommunitylibrary.org When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 Where: Stillwater Public Library, 224 WINTER GALA COMMUNITY Third St. N. Details: Learn how to get the most AWARD CELEBRATION out of Ancestry.com for genealogy When: 5:30-11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 research, and explore the free online Where: JX Event Venue, 123 2nd St., resources. Free; registration required.

KICKSLEDDING, CRAFT AND COCOA

When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 Where: Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center, 15375 Norell Ave. N., Marine on St. Croix Details: Use Norwegian “sparks” or kicksleds then warm up inside around the fi replace to enjoy hot cocoa and prep ice lanterns to take home as a winter luminary. All ages. $10/members; $13/nonmembers; registration required.

Contact: 651-433-2427 or warnernaturecenter.org

CHARLOTTE’S WEB

Rat Pack music by Gary LaRue, a complimentary glass of wine, board games and blackjack table, exclusive specials on food and wine, bonfi re, s’mores, and prize drawings. $50.

Contact: mywahooadventures.com

ROYALTY OF ROCK TOUR

When: 8:30 p.m.-midnight, Saturday, Feb. 9 Where: JX Event Venue, 123 2nd St., Stillwater Details: Two bands, Zed Lepplin and The Crown Jewels, perform a tribute to Queen. Tickets $20 online or at the door; $30 VIP. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Pizza buffet and drink specials.

Contact: one23events.com

When: 1 & 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 & 16; 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 & 17; 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 14& 21; Friday, Feb. 15 & 22 Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake Details: Special 50-minute version of the play designed for a cast of six.

Tickets $20/adults; $10/children.

Contact: 651-426-3275 or lakeshoreplayers.org

STILLWATER WEDDING EXPERIENCE

VALENWINE’S TASTING

CHAMBER 101

WINERY WONDERLAND AT 7 VINES VINEYARD

TOWN HALL MEETINGS

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10 Where: Chateau St. Croix, 1998 Highway 87, St. Croix Falls Details: Live music and wine tasting with complimentary port and chocolate pairing.

Contact: 715-483-2556 or chateaustcroix.com

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 Where: 7 Vines Winery, 101 Highway 96 E., Dellwood Details: Wander through the vineyard on snowshoes following twinkling candlelight, singing and dancing to

When: Noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 Where: JX Event Venue, 123 2nd St., Stillwater Details: Drinks, eats, door prizes, amazing vendors and more. Two Grand Prize drawings at 3 p.m. include free rental of JX Event Venue and The Loft at Studio J. Tickets $10$25.

Contact: one23events.com

When: 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 Where: Family Means, 1875 Northwestern Ave., Stillwater Details: Informative presentation for new Chamber members, as well as those considering joining, on how to get the most value from membership.

Networking opportunity.

Contact: greaterstillwaterchamber.com

When and where: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at the Stillwater Public Library, 224 Third St. N.; and 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Forest Lake Area High School, 6101 Scandia Trail N. Details: Senator Karin Housley and

Shop, Dine, Relax, Stay in Downtown White Bear Lake

Ladies Night Out www.DowntownWhiteBearLake.com

Thursday, February 28th 4 - 8 pm More details to come

Over 200 Shops & Businesses

DowntownWhiteBearLake.com

FEBRUARY 2019

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Library, 224 Third St. N. Details: Informative session for all ages about the science and research conducted largest structure ever assembled in space. Program courtesy of Space St. Croix in Hudson; no registration required.

Contact: 651-275-4338 or stillwaterlibrary.org

OPEN THIRD SATURDAY

FILE PHOTO

“The Older the Better” Vintage Snowmobile Event When: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 Where: Blacksmith Lounge, 17205 N. Forest Blvd., Hugo Details: See old sleds (1987 and older) and support the Stillwater Snowmobile Club.

Trophies, cash raffle, door prizes and bake sale. Food and drinks available for purchase. $5 entry fee/sled. Free admission for spectators.

Contact: stillwatersnowmobileclub.org Representative Bobb Dettmer will interact with constituents of District 39 and discuss issues while the legislature is in session. Time allowed for questions.

Contact: 651-296-1780 or 651-296-8871

Details: Free carriage rides along the river; shopping and dining deals at local establishments all weekend long.

Contact: discoverstillwater.com

VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY

When: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 Where: Family Means, 1875 Northwestern Ave. S., Stillwater Details: Free screening of movie about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, followed by presentation, and Q & A from experts at Rogers Behavioral Health. Open to the public.

Contact: familymeans.org

When: 7 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 15 & 22, and Mar. 1; 1 and 4 p.m.

Saturdays, Feb. 16, & 23, and Mar.2; 2 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 17 & 24 and Mar. 3 Where: Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust St., Hudson Details: Children’s Theater production about a poor boy who wins the golden opportunity to tour the fantastic chocolate factory of the eccentric and mysterious Willy Wonka. Tickets $25 adults, $23 seniors, and $13 students and youth.

Contact: thephipps.org

STARLIGHT TUBING

SENIOR DANCE

When: 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 Where: Community Thread, 2300 Orleans St., Stillwater Details: Live entertainment featuring The Resisters and Eddie as Elvis. $5/person; reservations required By Feb. 11.

Contact: 651-439-7434 or communitythreadmn.org

THE HEART OF CAREGIVING

When: 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 Where: Cherrywood Pointe, 231 W. Broadway Ave., Forest Lake Details: Presentation about caregiving will address what to expect when caregiving, ways that caregivers can take care of themselves and resources available to help caregivers. RSVP. Contact: 651-464-2709 or cherrywoodpointe.com

VALENTINE’S DAY CARRIAGE RIDES

When: 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 Where: Pedestrian Plaza, Water St., downtown Stillwater

“UNSTUCK”: AN OCD MOVIE

When: 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 Where: Wild Mountain Recreation Area, 37200 Wild Mountain Rd., Taylors Falls Details: Wild Chutes tubing lanes are lit up with hundreds of sparking lights for a fun family adventure.

Contact: wildmountain.com

OWL PROWL

When: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 Where: Belwin Conservancy Education Center, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton Details: Hike through the winter woods listening for owls and other nocturnal creatures. Ages 12+. Free for members; $10 non-members.

Space limited.

Contact: 651-436-5189 or belwin.org

A NIGHT OF MUSIC AND COMEDY

When: 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 Where: Willowbrook Community Church, 840 Lake St. S., Forest Lake Details: Performance by Nashville sensation Marie Miller and comedian Dustin Nickerson. Living Room Concert Series is intended for an adult audience. Tickets

$15-20.

Contact: 651-982-6361 or willowbrookchurch.org

“WILLY WONKA JR.”

When: 1-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 Where: Forest Lake American Legion, 355 W. Broadway Details: Enjoy mature music and dancing. Held the 3rd Friday of every month. $6/ person includes lunch. Cash bar. Public welcome.

Contact: 651-464-2600

916 EDUCATION FOUNDATION GALA

When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 Where: North Metro Event Center, 1000 Gramsie Rd., Shoreview Details: Annual fundraiser includes dinner, hors d’oeuvres buffet, silent and live auction. Proceeds will support the purchase of science equipment provide hands-on and technology-enriched learning opportunities. Tickets begin at $75.

Contact: 916educationfoundation.org

LIFE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION When: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16 Where: Stillwater Public

When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 Where: Belwin Conservancy Education Center, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton Details: Participate in programs, meet Belwin staff, explore the trails, and connect with nature. Guided experiences at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Open to the public; $10 or free for members.

Contact: 651-436-5189 or www. belwin.org

PAINT ON PINE AT AAMODT’S APPLE FARM

When: Noon Saturday, Feb. 16 Where: Aamodt’s Apple Farm, 6428 Manning Ave., Stillwater Details: Create “Starry Night” on a pine wood board. Tickets includes free glass of Thor’s Hard Cider.

Contact: 715-441-2913

GARDEN COMMUNITIES: A COLLABORATIVE WAY OF LIVING

When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 Where: Lake Elmo Library, 3537 Lake Elmo Ave. N. Details: Learn about the design and planning of a potential Garden Community for the St Croix Valley area. Time for Q&A. All are welcome.

Contact: 760-642-8939

CANDLELIGHT SKI, SNOWSHOE AND HIKE

When: 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 Where: Willow River State Park, 1034 County Highway A, Hudson Details: Trails lit up with luminaries. Free with park permit.

Contact: 715-386-9340 or willowkinnifriends.org

OPEN HOUSE WITH KINJI AKAGAWA

When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 Where: Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton Details: Special talk by artist Kinji Akagawa, known for his works of beauty in public spaces and printmaking.

Also stargazing with the Minnesota Astronomical Society, woodland walks and s-mores by a campfi re. Free.

Contact: 651-436-5189 or www. belwin.org

THE GOLDEN VALLEY ORCHESTRA

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake Details: Program will feature the Overture to Rossini’s opera The Barber of Seville, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, and Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor with Emma Taggart, soloist. Tickets $20.

Contact: 651-426-3275 or lakeshoreplayers.org

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MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

When: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19 Where: Cherrywood Pointe, Forest Lake Details: Mary Beck, Senior Real Estate Specialist, will explore such things as why we procrastinate, the reason people feel it’s time to move and making new life style changes. Attendees will receive complimentary copies of Bruce Nemovitz’s two books, “Moving in the Right Direction” and “Guiding Our Parents in the Right Direction.” RSVP. Contact: 651-464-2709

FULL MOON SKI

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 Where: Lake Elmo Park Reserve, 1515 Keats Ave. N. Details: Guided ski under the light of the full moon. Free and no reservations required.

Contact: co.washington.mn.us

FULL MOON FAT TIRE BIKE

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 Where: Pine Point Regional Park, 1900 Norell Ave. N., Stillwater Details: Bike the parks trails by the light of the full moon.

Headlamps welcome. $20/ person to rent bike.

Contact: co.washington.mn.us

JUNGLE BOOK KIDS

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, Feb. 21 Where: Stillwater Middle School, 523 W. Marsh St. Details: Zephyr Theatre performance of the children’s classic. Tickets $6-$8.

Contact: stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org

LITERATURE LOVER’S NIGHT OUT

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 Where: Community Thread, 2300 Orleans St. W., Stillwater Details: Event hosted by Twin Cities’ literary connoisseur Pamela KlingerHorn, featuring local and national authors, Allen Eskens, Wendy Webb, Chris Cander, and Anissa Gray.

Light refreshments and drawings for prizes. Seating limited; tickets online.

Contact: 651-430-3385 or valleybookseller.com

8TH ANNUAL CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 Where: Stillwater Elks Club.

5880 Omaha Ave., Oak Park Heights Details: Play 8 games for $20 and win cash prizes.

Fundraiser for Elks Scholarship Fund.

Contact: 612-865-5402 or elks179.org

6TH ANNUAL MARINE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OSCAR PARTY

When: 6:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 Where: Marine Village Hall, 121 Judd St., Marine on St. Croix Details: Showing of the year’s five Oscar-nominated live action short fi lms. Appetizers and dessert served; cash bar.

Swank to casual country attire. $30/person supports

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FEBURARY 2019

the annual Marine Documentary keynote speakers, exhibitors, fi lms, Film Series. hands-on learning and discussion Contact: marinecommunitylibrary.org designed to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.

For youth grades 6-12 and college WINTER FUN AT THE students. Registration $25.

CREATIVE CENTER Contact: 715-483-3300 or stcroixriverassociation.org

CANDLELIGHT SNOWSHOE AND DINNER

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 Where: Belwin Conservancy Creative Center, 795 Indian Trail S., Afton Details: Explore Belwin’s Creative Center this winter by hiking, sledding, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing our ungroomed trails. Hot chocolate provided. Free.

Contact: 651-436-5189 or belwin.org

3RD ANNUAL OSCAR PARTY

When: 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24 Where: The Zephyr Theatre, 601 Main St. N., Stillwater Details: Watch the Academy Awards on the big screen at a fundraising party for the Zephyr Theatre. $25 includes hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, live music and prizes for predicting the night’s Oscar winners. Semi-formal/formal attire suggested. RSVP by Feb. 19.

Contact: stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org

DUAL-ING PIANOS SING-ALONG

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Mar. 1 Where: The Outing Lodge, 11661 Myeron Rd., Stillwater Details: Moonlight showshoeing through Pine Point Park, chef prepared dinner, and relaxing in front of a roaring bonfi re. Adults or families. Tickets $40.

Contact: 651-439-9747 or eventbrite.com

BERNSTEIN AND FRIENDS

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 2 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 3 Where: Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 4th St. N., Stillwater Details: Performance by Valley Chamber Chorale honors Leonard Bernstein, often called the greatest musician of modern times.

Contact: valleychamberchorale.org

MAPLE SYRUPING DAY

When: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, March 2 Where: Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center, 15375 Norell Ave. N., Marine on St. Croix Details: Learn about the history of maple syruping and see the whole process fi rst-hand. Familyfriendly activities such as demo tree tapping, sap boiling, maple syrup sampling, crafts, refreshments, and more. $5/person; cash at the gate.

Contact: 651-433-2427 or warnernaturecenter.org

TOTALLY CRIMINAL COCKTAIL HOUR WITH PRISCILLA PATON When: 7-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25 Where: Bloody Mary’s, 96 Mahtomedi Ave. Details: Performance featuring Bill and Dan Chouinard is a fundraiser for Wildwood Artist Series. Tickets $15.

Contact: wildwoodartistseries.com

ST. CROIX SUMMIT

When: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 Where: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 501 Wild Rose Ave. Details: One-day workshop with

When: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Mar. 6 Where: Dock Cafe, 425 Nelson St. E., Stillwater Details: Read and discuss mystery book. $11 includes appetizers. RSVP. Meets the fi rst Wednesday of the month.

Contact: valleybookseller.com

17TH ANNUAL EMPTY BOWLS

When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 7 Where: Stillwater Area High School, 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N. Details: Fundraiser for Youth United Way, a group of students in grades 8-12

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Owl and Snowshoe When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Mar. 1 Where: Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center, 15375 Norell Ave. N., Marine on St. Croix Details: Explore the woods by snowshoe under the full moon and meet resident screech owls. Registration $7 members; $10 non-members.

Contact: 651-433-2427 or warnernaturecenter.org

who raise money for youth and hunger programs in the community. Local artists and restaurants donate pottery bowls, soup and bread. $20 soup and pottery bowl; soup only $10 for adults; $5 for students and children.

Contact: 651-439-3838 or uwwce.org

LUNASA

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 7 and Friday, Mar. 8

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake Details: Performance by nationallyknown Irish Acoustic Group includes vocals as well as flutes, low whistles, tin whistles, double bass, guitar, fiddle and uilleann pipes. Tickets $19 or $29 VIP; proceeds benefit Doctors without Borders.

Contact: 651-429-5674 or lakeshoreplayers.org/hanifl

‘OUT & ABOUT’ CALENDAR GUIDELINES • Anyone in the community may send news of an upcoming local event.

• The calendar is reserved for secular community events in or adjacent to Press Publication’s coverage area.

• Priority is given to free or affordable events that are likely to appeal to a broad audience.

• Publication of events is subject to editorial discretion.

• Due to space limitations, there is no guarantee whether, when or for how long submissions will be published.

• Submissions are subject to editing.

• Please include date, time, location, cost, brief details and contact information for each event submission.

• Submission deadline is Wednesday prior to the following weeks’ publication.

• Call 651-407-1226 with questions.

Online: www.presspubs.com/calendar Email: calendar@presspubs.com Mail: Press Publications, Attn: Calendar 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110

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Experienced Cabinetmakers Employment Opportunities are available immediately: • Calling all Cabinetmakers!!–Do you have a minimum of 2 to 5 years experience in the cabinet building field? Are you able to build store fixtures from shop drawings and cut bills? Do you have excellent knowledge and experience with all woodworking tools? We have a place for you!!

We are a strong, long standing company called Madsen fixture & & Millwork, INC. located in Forest Lake, Minnesota, a manufacturer of retail store fixtures. With our current work load, new clients and projects, and long standing existing customer base, we are looking for individuals that are dedicated and looking for long term employment. We have multiple experienced cabinetmaking and assembly positions available. These individuals need to be flexible in working overtime which is common in this type of industry. We offer a benefit package and our wages are very competitive and based on experience.

If you are interested in working for a company that believes in a great place to work and producing an excellent product for our customers, please come in now for an application. You can also print and email an application from our website or you can fax your resume to us. Madsen is always taking applications so come in and fill one out; we’d love to hear from you!

MADSEN FIXTURE & MILLWORK, INC. 921 15TH STREET SW, POST OFFICE BOX 12, FOREST LAKE, MN 55025 (651)982-6220 PHONE • (651)982-6211 FAX • E-MAIL: info@madsenfixture.com • www.madsenfixture.com

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FEBRUARY 2019 www.presspubs.com

Capturing a sense of place

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

A group of tubing enthusiasts defy the cold and below zero wind chill to enjoy some rides down a snow-covered hill at Green Acres Recreation Area in Lake Elmo. Green Acres has been a family-owned snow tubing business since 1974. Snow is made at the facility for a groomed, open tubing hill. Sliders can ride back up the hill with the use of tow ropes. After a few runs, visitors can relax and warm up in the chalet.

Valentine’s Day

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Come in and see what over 50 years in the jewelry business will do for you!

Forest Jewelers 1331 3rd Ave. SW., Forest Lake, MN • 651-464-3090

FEBRUARY 2019

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Disabled artist paints her passion

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM QUAD EDITOR

Sara Jane Parsons has always loved creating things. After a horrible car accident that left her unable to use her arms and legs, she had to fi nd a new way to create.

Parsons, 55, grew up in Circle Pines and graduated from Centennial High School in 1981.

“I have always been somebody who likes to create things,” she said. “Even though I was not drawing or painting, I was always sewing and had learned how to knit. As a child of the ’70s, I was pretty darn good at tie-dying. I was always begging my mom to let me do arts and crafts classes.”

After high school, Parsons headed to the University of Minnesota to pursue studies in International Relations and Dutch. Her education was put on hold after she was involved in a car accident the summer of 1984 before her junior year.

Parsons and her boyfriend, along with her sister and sister's boyfriend, left in the wee hours of the morning for the Boundary Waters hoping to get their canoes in the water just before sunrise.

“We were just young college kids trying to take a long weekend and take a break from our summer jobs,” Parsons recalled. The group never made it to their destination: they were rear-ended by someone traveling at a high rate of speed.

“At the time of the accident, I was sleeping in the back. There were no seatbelt laws back then,” Parsons said. “The back seat was smashed up to the front seat.” The other three people in the car didn't sustain such significant injuries.

Parsons wasn't released from the hospital until around Thanksgiving that fall. She was eager to get back to school, and in spring of 1985 she returned to finish her undergraduate degree.

“I needed to go to school. All my friends were there,” she said. “School is a good place for people with disabilities. In a lot of ways, it is kind of a level playing field. Everybody is there sitting along with you and trying to learn something.”

After graduation, Parsons had an internship with Utne Reader and volunteered as a crisis line volunteer for Alexandra House before she decided she wanted to go to law school. She graduated in 1994 from Boalt Hall, now referred to as the University of California–Berkeley School of Law. While she was looking for part-time legal work, Parsons began drawing and painting and fell in love with the craft.

“It was something that I really became passionate about. If I wasn't drawing and painting, I would literally have dreams about it,” she said. “It was something that I had never done before the accident, so it was like a new thing. It is something I can do independently, whereas I need someone to help me eat, cook, get out of bed, go to bed, brush my teeth. I need help for all of my activities of daily living. Painting and drawing is something that I can largely do independently, once I am set up.”

An assistant tapes dowels to her brushes. This reduces the wear on her brushes and adds a little bit of length to the brush so she can paint a little bigger.

Parsons eventually found a legal job and spent five years working for the Marine Aids Project, where she helped people with HIV and AIDS secure legal benefits.

In 2004, Parsons decided she needed a change of pace and moved to Austin, Texas. “It was just too cold and too damp. Every time I would catch cold, I would end up in pneumonia,” she said. “I decided the stress of legal work was not good for me. It was making me sick.”

Parsons dived full time into art and in 2009 she became a student member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA, mfpausa.com). She enjoys painting portraits, landscapes, flowers and cats. When it comes to drawing, she likes to attend drawing sessions focused on using live models. “For a visual artist, it is sort of like going to gym and working out. It is a great way of keeping your eye fresh,” she said.

MFPA, Parson said, has been incredibly supportive. This year, one of her paintings was used for a Christmas card in Sweden, one illustrated a calendar in Norway and another decorated a gift tag for the U.S. Another piece of her work was also accepted into the 15th annual People’s Gallery exhibition at Austin City Hall. Her art will be on display in the gallery through Jan. 1, 2020.

For more information, or to see more of Parsons’ work, visit sarajaneparsons.com.

Shannon Granholm is the editor of the Quad Community Press and the Citizen. She can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

SUBMITTED

Sara Jane Parsons, who grew up in Circle Pines, is now an artist who lives in Austin, Texas. Since she is unable to use her arms an legs, she paints and draws with her mouth.

SUBMITTED

Sara Jane Parsons is able to paint using her mouth after she has someone tape a dowel to the end of the paint brush.

White Bear Animal Hospital is very happy to announce the recent addition of Dr. Matt Winter to our team!

Dr. Winter was born and raised in the east metro area, graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and has 21 years of experience providing outstanding care for dogs and cats in the Stillwater area.

His special professional interests include surgery and internal medicine.

Dr. Matt Winter Dr. Winter is in surgery on Mondays and is seeing appointments on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and every third Saturday.

Please give us a call to schedule your pet's appointment with Dr. Winter, or with any of our other outstanding veterinarians.

SUBMITTED

Sara Jane Parsons enjoys painting portraits, landscapes, flowers and cats.

1909 East County Road E, White Bear Lake 651.777.1393 whitebearanimalhospital.com

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FEBRUARY 2019 www.presspubs.com

Franconia Sculpture Park hires renowned sculptor Robert Brady FRANCONIA — Franconia Sculpture Park is pleased to announce that noted sculptor Robert Brady will join its resident artists, fellows and artist interns at the 43-acre sculpture park to provide mentorship, inspiration and support to the 40-plus artists working during summer 2019.

Robert Brady is an American modernist sculptor who works in ceramics and wood. Born in Reno, Nevada, he has made his home in the San Francisco Bay Area for many decades now. Brady is a multi-faceted artist who additionally works in pottery, painting and illustration, though he is best known for his abstract figurative sculptures.

Brady is a professor emeritus at California State University, Sacramento.

Though he came to art through an affinity for clay, Brady long ago began incorporating wood into his practice, and now creates works in clay, wood, bronze and on

paper. Brady earned a BFA from the California College of the Arts in Oakland and an MFA from University of California, Davis. After completing his studies, Brady joined the faculty at CSU, Sacramento, where he taught for 33 years.

Though Brady’s early work dealt directly with functional clay vessels, he eventually began creating abstract and figurative pieces in varying materials. These works call to mind ritual objects or totems from around the world yet remain specific to the artist’s own psyche.

His work has been exhibited widely and can be found in a number of public collections. He has also received multiple fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts (1981, 1988 and 2008), and was elected a Fellow of the American Craft Council in 2007.

From press release

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Artist Robert Brady in his studio. Brady has been hired by Franconia Sculpture Park to work with artists and interns throughout the upcoming summer.

A groovy way to celebrate Valentine’s Day: Masquers Theatre Company debuts ‘Beehive’ FOREST LAKE — Masquers Theatre Company announced its second production of the 2018-19 season, “Beehive: The 60s Musical,” created by Larry Gallagher. The show will run Feb. 14-17, Feb. 22 and 24, and March 1-3 at the Forest Lake American Legion, 355 W. Broadway Ave. An optional dinner theater will be offered by the American Legion and includes a special four-course Valentine’s Day menu, Feb. 14. Billed as a “Date for Two”, the opening night festivities will feature an upscale four-course, served dinner, including appetizer, soup or salad, a choice of four entrées, dessert and a bottle of house wine.

“Beehive” is a celebration of 1960s female empowerment, told from the perspective of six young women who came of age during the decade. It features some of the most celebrated and memorable songs of the era, including classics such as “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “Be My Baby,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Nostalgically recalling the days of miniskirts, transistor radios

and flower power, the musical casts a spotlight on a host of issues ranging from the excitement of a teen’s fi rst dance to the serious challenges that faced the nation during those tumultuous years.

The all-female cast includes Allea Eichler, Kayla Kauffman, Beth Ryan, Katie Jenson, Lydia Selby, Bre Churchill, Abigail DePew and Jazmine Jendersee. The sole male role of Radio Announcer/Soldier will be performed

by Mike Selby. Beehive is directed

by Emily Lehmann-Wiberg and stage managed by Jennifer Wilson. Music direction is provided by Karen Hillmann; choreography by Anne Brown; costumes by Nicolle Wollan and Rachel Selby; light and sound design

by Jake Otto, with production assistance by Peter Wiberg; prop design

by Rachel Peterson; and set design by Craig Moen.

Tickets are available at the door, or can be purchased in advance at www. masquerstheatre.org.

From press release

Children's Performing Arts presents ‘Little Mermaid Jr.’ Journey “under the sea” with Ariel and her aquatic friends in Disney's “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” adapted from Disney's Broadway production and the motion picture. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories, the story is an enchanting look at the sacrifices we all make for love and acceptance.

Children's Performing Arts (CPA) specializes in children's educational leadership programs through the performing arts. Every child who registers for a program through CPA is accepted and given a role, or multiple roles, in the fi nal production. Children are taught that all roles are essential to the fi nal production and that every part of the show is important.

Theater teaches many skills: self-confidence, personal relationships, team building, empathy, putting yourself in another's shoes—and that the show must go on. Children's Performing Arts is committed

to teaching children the importance of being leaders and giving back to their local and global community. “The Little Mermaid Jr.” is the fi rst main stage production of the 2019 season. This production will be CPA's longest-running and largest program, and features more than 100 children in the cast. Shows are appropriate for all ages.

Performances will be held at the Forest Lake Area High School Auditorium, 6101 Scandia Trail N., at the following times: • 6 pm. Tuesday, Feb. 5 (sensory-friendly preview performance) • 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 • 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 • 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 Tickets cost $12 for adults and $6 for students and seniors, and can be purchased online at childrensperformingartsmn. org From press release

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Perfect ice makes for perfect season

BY DEBRA NEUTKENS WHITE BEAR EDITOR

“Unbelievably smooth.” That's how iceboat enthusiast Mike Parenteau describes White Bear Lake.

The perfect ice conditions this winter are rare.

“Iceboaters can wait a decade for a season like this one,” he said.

A lake homeowner, Parenteau has been iceboating since childhood. “My dad made me an iceboat when I was 10 years old,” he recalled. “He stuck me in and gave me a push and that was it.”

The experience of iceboating is thrilling, Parenteau stated. “It's an experience you wouldn't expect. It's cold, but you dress for the cold. And it's not dangerous. We don't go if it's dangerous.”

Yes, he's gone through the ice a few times, but the last incident was in 1979. “I don't want to do that anymore,” admitted the sailor.

The iceboat aficionado has more boats than he cares to admit, but two are special favorites.

His latest acquisition is a “pleasure” model built in 1890, probably the oldest iceboat in Minnesota. Parenteau bought the restoration project with fellow sailors Dale Deters and Bill Reed. The trio dubbed the wooden craft the “Commodore.” They found it on Craigslist and spent 18 months renovating the one-of-a-kind iceboat.

Built 128 years ago by The Erickson Iceboat Corp., a forerunner to Minnetonka Boatworks, the Commodore was sailed on Lake Minnetonka its first 50 years. By then, the boat was in need of tender loving care and purchased by a guy who stuck it in his barn but never got around to restoring it.

There the boat sat for another 50

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Mike Parenteau has been ice boating on White Bear Lake most of his life.

years until the owner decided he was too old to do anything with it. As the story goes, the owner of Northland Yachts in Excelsior saw an ad in the Minneapolis Star and bought the boat, restoring it in time for the 1991 Minneapolis Boat Show.

Again, the boat fell into disrepair sitting in an outside storage lot until 2016 when Parenteau and his sailing buddies struck a deal to bring the boat to White Bear Lake.

Rotted wood required replacing, but most of the boat is original. An article on the Commodore appeared last year when the boat made its maiden voyage on Bald Eagle Lake.

It’s received a few tweaks since then and is now at its permanent home on White Bear Lake.

The timing couldn’t have been better. “We are enjoying the best conditions for iceboating you can imagine,” Parenteau iterated. The three men like to take the Commodore and its sister iceboat, “Wrigley,” to the VFW on weekends, even giving rides to curious onlookers. They always draw a crowd. The trio also restored

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Dale Deters, Mike Parenteau and Bill Reed pose on the frozen surface of White Bear Lake with the “Commodore,” a vintage iceboat refurbished from the 1890s.

the 1905 Wrigley, once owned by the family of chewing gum fame.

Parenteau, Reed and Deters also own front-steering Nites, fiberglass iceboats that are real speed demons.

The latter two men enjoy racing their Nites at Minnesota and Wisconsin regattas when the ice is good.

Lake Pepin is a favorite venue, and lakes in the Madison, Wisconsin, area are home to many competitions. There were rumors that the Nite Nationals could be coming to White Bear Lake, but Parenteau said it’s not true. “They prefer to stay around southern Wisconsin,” he said.

Unfortunately, a lack of cold days

and nights made it necessary to postpone the 2019 Nite Nationals Jan. 19-20 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

The club is looking at Pepin for the weekend of Jan. 26/27, depending on ice conditions.

According to iceboating.net, the Dutch invented iceboats to move cargo down frozen canals. All it took was a fisherman who added a plank to his boat to bring his fish to market. Since then, iceboating has traveled from The Netherlands across Europe and to northern North America. Parenteau is just glad the sport landed in his backyard. Hopefully it won’t take another 10 years to get a repeat season.

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

The 25-foot, 600-pound Commodore goes 40 to 50 mph and can carry four people. Shown, from left, are Dale Deters, Mike Parenteau and Bill Reed.

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DOWNTIME

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MONTHLY WEATHER OUTLOOK

FEBRUARY 2019

SUDOKU

It has been a change of fortunes this winter season. Looking back to November it seemed we were going to be in store for a cold winter, as a period of November felt more like January. As December came and went, we began to experience a milder winter. January 1st ushered in our first below zero reading of the season with record highs dominating the first week and weekend of January. It got downright balmy when temperatures reached into the mid 40’s. By mid month we were running 10º warmer than normal. It was a lock to finish January warmer than normal….errr wait a minute. Winter arrived. January ended with bone-chilling cold sending our monthy average below normal. Our first significant snow of the season arrived January 27 with 5-8”, almost doubling our season total. Warmer days are ahead as the coldest temperatures are now behind us.

February Astro Notes: Morning Planets: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn Evening Planets: Mercury (dusk), Mars, Uranus, Neptune (dusk) New Moon: Monday, February 4. Full Moon: Tuesday, February 19.

FEBRUARY NORMALS FOR THE MONTH JAN 27 - FEB 2

FEBRUARY 3-9

FEBRUARY 10-16

FEBRUARY 17-23

FEB 24 – MAR 2

AVG. HIGH……28 AVG. LOW…… 7 SUNSHINE…… 53

AVG. HIGH……28 AVG. LOW…… 9 SUNSHINE…… 53

AVG. HIGH……30 AVG. LOW…….11 SUNSHINE….…55

AVG. HIGH……34 AVG. LOW…… 16 SUNSHINE…… 58

AVG. HIGH……35 AVG. LOW…… 17 SUNSHINE…… 58

Precipitation 0.25

Precipitation 0.17

Precipitation 0.19

Precipitation 0.31

Precipitation 0.29

% DAYLIGHT HOURS

% DAYLIGHT HOURS

% DAYLIGHT HOURS

% DAYLIGHT HOURS

CROSSWORD

% DAYLIGHT HOURS

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com Frank Watson is a local Meteorologist who operates a weather station in White Bear Lake. Weather data and observation are from his weather station and trips around the area. Frank can be found on the internet at WeathermanWatson.com.

WORD SEARCH Winter Wonderland ACROSS

BLIZZARD FIRE FROSTY HAT ICY PARK

SKIING SNOWFLAKE SPARKLE WIND BOOTS FISHING

FROZEN HOTCHOCOLATE LAKE PLUNGE SLEDDING SNOWMAN

TUBING WINTER CHILLY FLAKE GLOVES ICESKATES

MITTENS SCULPTURE SNOW SNOWMOBILE VALENTINE WONDERLAND

FUN FACT Snowflakes come in all shapes and sizes.

1. Sheep sounds 5. Turn up 11. Statements of support 14. Spells 15. Evildoer 18. One-time baseball stadium staple 19. Activities 21. WWII-era US President 23. Soft, flexible leather 24. Proverb 28. Wish (Hindu) 29. Injury treatment 30. Red Sox ace 32. “Deadliest Catch” captain 33. Baseball stat 35. Where marine life lives 36. Heartbeat test 39. Signs on the dotted line 41. Atomic #24 42. Bind securely 44. Swiss Nobel Peace Prize winner 46. Fragrant brown balsam

47. Where you were born 49. Sells a ticket for more than its price 52. Where goods are presented 56. Jewish salutation 58. Fruits 60. Poorly educated 62. Microorganism 63. Depicted

DOWN 1. Ballplayer’s tool 2. Hairdo 3. From a distance 4. Belt one out 5. Revising a text 6. More (Spanish) 7. Beloved Spielberg alien 8. BBQ dish 9. Provoke 10. Within 12. Canadian flyers 13. Smugly smile 16. Buffalo 17. Lake in the Kalahari Desert

“Happiness is an attitude.

We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.”

- Francesca Reigler

20. Grab 22. Rural delivery 25. Equally 26. It’s sometimes passed 27. Citizens who are qualified to vote 29. Greek letter 31. Body part 34. Boxing result 36. Newts 37. Predatory semiaquatic reptiles 38. Cockatoo 40. The NFL’s big game (abbr.)

43. Leguminous east Indian tree 45. News reporting organization 48. A nemesis of Batman 50. Legal term 51. Not all 53. A way to greet 54. Knot in a tree 55. Satisfy 57. Russian space station 58. A baby’s mealtime accessory 59. Stitch together 61. __ and behold

DID YOU KNOW? Snow falls at 1 to 6 feet per second.

FEBRUARY 2019

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BAMBOO HUTS AND BUNGALOWS: Choose your own Chiang Mai adventure

BY SARA MARIE MOORE VADNAIS HEIGHTS & SHOREVIEW EDITOR

Chiang Mai, a city of about 1 million in northern Thailand, is popular among tourists for its small-town feel, historic city moat, night markets and as a launching point for jungle adventures.

Tour guide shops with bright advertisements line the streets on the east side of the city, interspersed with cafes, restaurants and hotels and guest houses ranging from $5 to $250 a night.

To spend extended time among the elephants, mountains, strawberry fields and banana trees, you have two options: book an overnight tour where you will likely be joined by a myriad of other tourists in a van or find someplace to stay in rural Thailand on your own. My husband Andrew and I chose the latter during a trip in November.

First, we rented a motorbike and zoomed about an hour over the mountains to the Samoeng Forest, with a stop to ride elephants bareback at Maesa Elephant camp along the way.

Our talented elephant painted us a flower using his trunk. We rewarded him with a basket of bananas, which he scooped from our hands one by one with his whooshing trunk.

We stayed in a bungalow at Rai Napa Phupha, a strawberry farm, sipping strawberry smoothies as the sky turned pink at sunset.

The $18 wooden bungalow was equipped with the essentials — a private bathroom with a hot shower, cozy blanket for the chilly mountain night, and electricity. Complimentary breakfast was rice soup and there were a variety of strawberry items to purchase. We took a short walk to a waterfall among the banana trees and greeted the farmers as they tended to the growing berries.

To find a hut made exclusively of bamboo and grass, we then motored back over the mountain and north a couple hours to the Bamboo Country Lodge near Mae Taeng, stopping to pick strawberries at another farm along the way. I ate fresh strawberries on the back of the motorbike as Andrew curved round mountain bends.

We drove by elephants settling in for the evening as the sun slipped behind the mountains. We bumped along a long dirt driveway to a jungle haven, a small clearing dotted with bamboo huts. We were greeted by a cheerful English-speaking Thai man and his wife, who made us dinner for a few dollars. We then settled into our $29 A-frame bamboo hut for the night, accompanied by the sounds of the jungle night.

In the morning, we awoke to a large American breakfast spread among the banana trees. The Thai man had worked in America but was happy to be home in his jungle, sharing it with others. A monsoon earlier that year had wiped out some of his bungalows and huts, but he was busy rebuilding, the smell of varnish wafting in the jungle air.

We stopped overnight at our guest house in Chiang Mai and rented a car before heading a couple of hours south to Doi Inthanon National Park, where the highest peak in Thailand is located.

We stayed in the foothills at Chai Lai Orchid, where elephants live in the forest among the bungalows. To get to the hotel, we walked across a suspension bridge, a river roaring below, to be greeted by an elephant at check-in. Our large $36 bungalow sat atop a hill next to the banana trees, a wraparound porch adding to the typical bungalow amenities.

I awoke with a start — “There are elephants outside,” my husband said.

Sure enough, I could see two elephants were swinging their trunks in the morning light from our porch.

I snuck them a piece of watermelon

ANDREW MOORE | SUBMITTED

The talented elephants of Maesa Elephant Camp paint pictures of flowers, trees and elephants.

SARA MARIE MOORE | SUBMITTED

Rai Napa Phupa is a strawberry farm with bungalows to stay in overnight in the Samoeng Forest in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. Fresh strawberries can be picked in the Thai countryside.

ANDREW MOORE | SUBMITTED

A suspension bridge leads to the Chai Lai Orchid lodge, where guests are greeted by elephants. It is near Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai province, Thailand.

from the large continental American breakfast served just down the hill.

As we checked out of our bungalow, a mom and baby elephant lumbered by after a walk through the jungle.

I sneaked a few bananas in an elephant trunk and bought a handmade elephant keychain to support the ecolodge before we left. Chai Lai Orchid, begun by an American woman, offers elephants an alternative to providing rides in heavy carts. It is also a hospitality training center for people from the Karen tribe, who grew up in nearby villages. The goal is to prevent young Karen women from being trafficked by teaching them hospitality, business and English skills.

We drove up the mountain, whizzing by strawberry fields and stopping at a Hmong village for lunch.

There was a breathtaking view awaiting us at the top. Range after range of rounded mountains spread below to the south and west as a late afternoon mist rose from the earth.

We headed wistfully back to the city. I looked around but didn’t see the strawberry-elephant mountain-bungalow safari advertised anywhere.

Sara Marie Moore is the editor of The Vadnais Heights Press and Shoreview Press. She can be reached at 651-4071235 or vadnaisheights@presspubs.com

SARA MARIE MOORE | SUBMITTED

The Bamboo Country Lodge in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai province, Thailand offers tourists the chance to stay in a traditional bamboo hut with a grass roof.

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THE LOWDOWN

WINGS & THINGS www.presspubs.com

FEBURARY 2019

Dead trees are essential to wildlife health

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

At a time of year when most of the outside world appears lifeless, dead trees don’t stick out much. But to countless wildlife species, dead trees are an oasis of resources year-round.

Woodpeckers are one of the most common birds to see in the winter landscape, and one of the most famous for making good use of standing dead trees or snags. With their specialized beaks and tongues, woodpeckers hammer at the bark of dead trees to find insects that have burrowed inside for the winter. In the spring, some of the cavities drilled into the trees by woodpeckers will become nests for their offspring, for other birds, or for completely different types of wildlife, such as squirrels.

Tree cavities are an essential part of the life cycle of red-headed woodpeckers, a species that has declined significantly since the 1960s. Part of the reason their population has decreased may be due to the clearing of dead trees, and a reduction in nut-producing trees due to disease and infestation.

However, the highest population of red-headed woodpeckers in Minnesota is found in East Bethel, at the University of Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Center. Researchers have questioned why this area is so attractive to red-headed woodpeckers, and found that their nesting sites correlate to the number of prescribed burns done in the area. Before modern land management practices,

JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | SUBMITTED

A barred owl hunts from a dead tree.

natural fi res were an essential part of Minnesota’s ecosystem. Many of the trees that were burned created the red-headed woodpecker’s ideal standing, dead tree for nesting.

Some species are incapable of creating their own nesting cavities, relying on other birds or animals to do the hard work. These include eastern bluebirds and American kestrels, which have been helped somewhat by the effort to install artificial nesting boxes in their respective habitats.

Late winter is a good time to keep an eye on small holes in trees—small

A red-bellied woodpecker settles into a tree cavity in White Bear Lake.

owls such as northern saw-whets and eastern screech owls may be exploring roosts to select as nesting site. A closer look at some of these shadowy cavities can reveal a haunting yellow pair of eyes—or two, or three—staring back.

Hundreds of other forms of life also depend on the presence of dead trees in their habitat. The decomposition of trees returns important nutrients to the ecosystem, which feed bacteria, fungi, lichen, and an assortment of microscopic critters up the food chain. Ant colonies thrive in and

under dead wood, providing a food source for a diverse array of other species. Pollinating insects such as native wasps and bees also rely on dead trees and logs for their nesting sites.

Although downed logs and snags are not always aesthetically pleasing in a forest setting, the benefits of dead trees extend even into the health of the soil and ecology of local aquatic life. It only takes a closer look to observe the web of life that stretches from a single rotting log to the entire world around it.

FEBRUARY 2019

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Union Volunteers introduce local youth to ice fishing COLUMBUS — Temperatures hovering around zero didn’t stop more than 100 budding young anglers and their families from participating in the Take Kids Ice Fishing Day at scenic Coon Lake on Saturday, Jan. 19.

A joint effort by the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 9 and a coalition of other supporters, the free event was aimed at introducing the next generation of anglers and conservationists to the joys of ice fishing.

Much to their delight, the youngsters received a free ice fishing rod and reel courtesy of Pure Fishing and game calls from Plano Synergy—all while making great memories with their families and union mentors.

“The kids had fun and the event went really well,” said local project leader Dave Morin, a member of IUEC Local 9.

Morin reported that 25 volunteers from the local community and various unions including IUEC Local 9, area building trades and SMART Local 209 donated 152 hours toward planning and holding the event at no cost to the participants or their families.

Volunteers provided instruction and assistance, including drilling holes, rigging the participants’ new fishing poles, and offering sage advice on how to hook the big one.

After fishing, the young hard-water warriors and their

SUBMITTED

More than 100 youth and families enjoyed time on the ice at Coon Lake during the Take Kids Ice Fishing Day event last month.

families were treated to a picnic-style lunch, plus raffle prizes from hats to heaters and a brand-new Vexilar FL-8 fish locator.

“Seeing how excited the kids are getting out on the ice and the looks on their faces when they catch fish makes it all worthwhile,” said Morin, a lifelong outdoorsman who was chosen to appear in a 2018 episode of the USA’s Brotherhood Outdoors television series based on his union work ethic and commitment to sharing the outdoor experience with others.

“I can’t thank the volunteers, local sponsors, union supporters and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance enough,” he added. “Without all of their help, this event wouldn’t have happened.”

Morin also noted that holding such events helps build relationships between unions and the general public, by reminding community members that union workers are friends

and neighbors who enjoy giving back to their hometowns.

The event was led by IUEC Local 9 with support from other unions in the Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council, along with Pure Fishing, Plano Synergy, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, Thorne Bros. Custom Rod and Tackle, Clam Outdoors and Vados Bait and Tackle.

“Our first-ever youth ice fishing event was a big success,” said USA Conservation Manager Robert Stroede.

“Thanks to a diehard crew of volunteers from various local unions and the local community, participants were treated to good food, lots of prizes, free fishing gear and heated fishing shelters with holes predrilled and ready for them to wet their lines. The fish were fickle, but some participants managed to land a few yellow perch and a couple northern pike were caught on tip-ups.

The day was filled with smiles

SUBMITTED

A family takes a break from ice fishing to smile for a photo.

and new friendships and provided plenty of incentives for holding similar winter events in the future.”

The event was the latest in series of free, community-based Take Kids Fishing Day activities held as part of Work Boots on the Ground — the USA’s flagship conservation program. In 2018, open-water fishing events were held in Marietta, Ohio; Barboursville, West Virginia; and Eau Claire, Janesville, La Crosse and Madison, Wisconsin, collectively drawing more than 800 participants.

Additional events are planned

for 2019.

“With more than 40 million anglers generating $35 billion in retail sales and $600 million for fisheries conservation and public water access through special excise taxes each year, it’s critical to continue recruiting new anglers,” Stroede added. “Plus, research has shown that outdoor-related activities such as fishing create participatory pathways for children to experience nature and help kindle a lifelong interest in environmental conservation.”

From press release

CATCH OF THE

M NTH

Meghan Wright of Forest Lake, caught this 22" walleye in Canada. — Submitted

Teddi Carlson caught a 15-inch walleye ice fishing on a top secret reef in White Bear Lake Dec. 31. Teddi is the daughter of Annie and Dustin Carlson. — Submitted

Send us your photos for possible inclusion in Catch of the Month. Please email your best shot to art@presspubs.com, with Catch of the Month in the subject line. Please include information about when and where it was taken and who is in the photo.

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THE LOWDOWN

FEBRUARY 2019

EAST MET TH

EXPO

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Where

at the White Bear Lake South Campus Including New 2019 Health & Wellness S h o w c a s e

NITY & BUSINES

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We’re looking for The Voice of the North East Metro!

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2019 Event: April 7th • 11am-3pm

RO

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TOGET

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Submit a video no longer than 60 seconds performing a song of your choice. Email video to info@vhedc.com by March 1. Three finalists will be selected to compete LIVE at the NE Metro Expo on April 7, 2019 for a grand prize of $250.00. Celebrity judges include Voice Season 6 star Kat Perkins! After judging the competition, she will perform 2 songs for the audience.

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