The Lowdown

If you find yourself in an unlikely situation not knowing the best direction forward, Miller & Stevens may be able to help.

& Stevens Law has been representing clients in the Forest Lake area for over two decades.

& Stevens is a general practice law firm representing businesses and individuals in a wide

of legal matters, including litigation, personal injury, estate

and mediations. Miller & Stevens takes pride on being an active member of the Forest Lake community, has had the opportunity to serve on various local non-profit boards and supports many local charities. Don’t hesitate to give them a call today at 651-462-0206.

Anderson’s Ice Cream Shoppe

Did someone say, “Ice Cream?” Anderson’s Ice Cream Shoppe opened their second location here in Forest Lake! Ice Cream is just the start they also offer salt water taffy, a variety of candies and crafted sodas.

Anderson’s is open yearround at both the Forest Lake and Lindstrom locations. Malt shakes, waffle cone and floats are just a few ways to enjoy your Saturday and every day! Stop by today and get a double scoop for the whole family!

NOELLE OLSON

Editor | lowdownnews@presspubs.com

Rolling down my car windows and smelling the fresh air. And the blooming of spring flowers.

JACKIE BUSSJAEGER

Staff Writer

My favorite thing about spring is exploring the forest floor and appreciating the spring wildflowers.

CORINNE STREMMEL

Staff Writer

It stays lighter for longer!

RANDY ROBERTS

Multimedia Consultant | lowdown@presspubs.com

Golf and Baseball. And furthest away from next winter as we can be.

MELISSA MCELIN

Production Manager | art@presspubs.com

The smell of the air, new growth and warmer weather.

PAUL DOLS

Photojournalist/Website Editor | photos@presspubs.com

The first warm days when the leaves and blossoms start to sprout.

Managing

Contributors

Production Manager Melissa McElin

Photojournalist Paul Dols

Publisher Carter Johnson Marketing Director Patty Steele Advertising Randy Roberts

Editor Shannon Granholm Editor Noelle Olson

Jackie Bussjaeger Corinne Stremmel

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Local students featured in showcase at Hallberg Center for the Arts

series of abstract photography. In these works, I reimagine natural landscapes and scenes in new visual forms, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. As line and shape dissolve beneath my experimental photographic techniques, I challenge viewers’ understandings of the landscape. These two distinctive aspects of my practice transform the landscape and work symbiotically with one another embracing my own unique perspective on the world around us.”

The Hallberg Center has a main gallery, an underground gallery and a stage. The center brings in songwriters to perform their original music.

Songwriters in the Round will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 27, for its 34th installment on the main gallery stage. There will be performances by Pine & Fire and the Roe Family Singers.

According to Larson, Pine & Fire is a working class, do-it-yourself (DIY) folk music duo from the Northwoods of Minnesota. The two blend traditional roots music influences with a modern punk sentiment, creating a unique and driving sound. Together, they sing original songs woven with themes of love, escapism, home and growth. Since their start in 2019, Pine & Fire has released three self-recorded projects. Recently, the duo was awarded a 2023 Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship in music.

IF YOU GO

Where: Hallberg Center for the Arts/Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community, 5521 Viking Blvd., Wyoming.

Hours: 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The gallery is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Details: Free and open to the public.

fiddle pulls and county fairs with the rock & roll passion of youth. In 2018, they won Entertainers of the Year and Album of the Year from the Bluegrass Music Association of Iowa (BMAI). In 2019, they won Best Band, Best Band Overall and Entertainers of the Year from BMAI. In 2020, their song “Don’t Worry About the Rich Man,” was number 10 overall on the Bluegrass Grassicana charts.

Eleven years ago, a group of artists formed the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community. The Hallberg Family Foundation was the primary benefactor; it donated $100,000. Larson said other key sponsors that helped buy the building were Rosenbauer America, First State Bank of Wyoming and B&N Sheet Metal.

BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR

The Hallberg Center for the Arts/Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community (WACAC) features a new exhibit every month.

“That's quite an achievement for a small arts community,” said Kirk Larson, vice chair and co-gallery director. “We split our annual exhibits between solo duo shows and open community collaborative shows.”

This month, the arts center will showcase the exhibit “Ranger Art” from approximately 90 students of the Forest Lake Area high school, middle school and community school. The exhibit is open until Saturday, April 15.

“The students began creating their art for this exhibit at the beginning of the school year,” Larson said. “It's exciting for them because they get to have their art hung professionally in a gallery.”

“We are so fortunate to have a creative arts center in our community,” said Maria Kaiser, art teacher at Forest Lake High School. “I also believe that having a partnership between the schools and the art center helps the larger community see the importance of art in both our schools and in our community.”

Another exhibit coming this month is from photographer Cameron Williams. It is titled, “The Many Faces of Nature.” A grand opening will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20. The exhibit

will be on display through Saturday, May 13.

According to Williams, still images have the power to capture the authenticity of the world around us. The art he creates is twofold, According to a statement from Williams on the WACAC website.

“First, I engage with a documentary approach. Here, I capture the splendor of our world through high saturated colors, dynamic compositions, and the graceful movements of nature. Landscapes and wildlife are revealed in vivid scenes that transport viewers to new corners of the Earth. These works evolved into the construction of a

Bonfire Music Group recording artists the Roe Family Singers are a goodtime, old-time hillbilly band from the tiny community of Kirkwood Hollow, Minnesota. Led by wife and husband Kim and Quillan Roe, the band marries old-time sounds from barn dances,

“One question we get all the time is, 'Wyoming has an arts center?'” Larson said. “We try and provide a forum for the community to present their art but also experience new art.”

For more information, go to https:// wyomingcreativearts.org/.

Kirk Larson displays a Ranger Art Review poster in front of a stage at he Hallberg Center for the Arts.

Volunteers are reflected in a wide angle mirror as they hang artwork in a gallery at the Hallberg Center for the Arts prior to the Ranger Art Review, featuring the creations of Forest Lake area students.

PHOTOS BY PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS Forest Lake High School students Kylie Blommstom, Emeline Gunderson and Brooke Dubuque were National Honor Society members who volunteered to help measure and hang artwork in the gallery.

Wildlife rehab center to construct animal nursery in Grant

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER STAFF WRITER

GRANT — Many a compassionate Twin Cities local has taken a wounded or helpless animal to the helping hands of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville. Some of these animal patients are sick or injured and require a lot of medical care, but a lot of them are just babies found far from the care of their wild parents.

These growing animals don’t need a lot of medical attention, but they do need a lot of space—and a historic farm property in Grant is just the place for a young creature to grow up.

Phil Jenni is the former director of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRC), but now spearheads development of this secondary campus. A capital campaign is planned for the summer of 2023, and the project is expected to break ground before the end of the year.

The Roseville campus has been in urgent need of more space for years. It was constructed in 2002 with the expectation of 10,000 patients, but by 2019 the facility was hosting more than 15,000 and still receiving new cases. At its busiest, the WRC takes in up to 250 animals in a single day.

“Seventy percent of our patients come in during the summer months, and those are orphaned uninjured baby animals,” Jenni said. “They require a lot of care for a long time, but not medical care. All they need is husbandry, and increasingly more space as they grow larger. It’s one thing to have a baby fox, but by the time it gets to be an adult fox it needs quite a bit of space. It needs to wild up.”

To help with the overflow, the WRC purchased a 22-acre farm on Jamaca Avenue with the intent of transforming it into a second animal care facility. A 19th-century farmhouse and several dilapidated outbuildings currently stand on the property, but these will be torn down, and their fieldstone foundations will be incorporated into a new 25,000-square foot structure specifically designed for the care and keeping of young animals.

This rehabilitation campus will have a variety of outdoor caging, including in-ground pools for waterfowl. There is a strong emphasis on sustainability in its construction, Jenni said. Clean water is particularly important.

“We use a lot of water, and it’s not very clean when it comes out,” Jenni said. The facility will have a lot of pools that need to be constantly filtrated. The goal is to make this water use as efficient as possible, recycling millions of gallons of water so that the water does not go back into the ground. The facility will also use a rain collection system.

“We won’t really be putting any pressure on the water supply,” Jenni said. “That’s a really big deal out there.”

Jenni said that the building will also use geothermal heating and cooling to maximize energy efficiency. “We think we’ll probably qualify for a $1 million incentive through the new Inflation Reduction Act incentives,” he said. “It will really be a very leading-edge building.”

Unlike the Roseville location, this facility will not be open to the public. For an animal preparing to return to a wild life, the less interaction with humans, the better. The Roseville campus will remain the location for animal intake and assessment.

The WRC has been running limited operations at the Grant location since it was purchased in 2019, but the capacity will expand dramatically once its able to take its next steps toward construction. Currently, the center is working on getting all the bureaucratic formalities with the watershed district, Department of Natural Resources, Washington County and other local stakeholders out of the way.

For those wondering, animals ready for release will not be turned loose from the Grant location. WRC staff work as best as they can to return animals to the appropriate habitat, where there are enough resources to support them and far enough away from humans where they won’t get into too much trouble.

“It’s a pretty quiet operation,” Jenni said. “We fit right into the community. The mayor was quoted saying we’d been good neighbors, and we hope to continue that.”

Learn more about the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at www.wrcmn.org.

What to do if you find a baby animal?

If you find an injured wild animal (adult or infant), bring it to WRC during operating hours (10 a.m. – 6 p.m. every day of the year); no need to call first. During baby season, the WRC can help determine whether or not the baby animal needs to be brought to rehabilitation, so call before bringing in the young animal: 651-486-9453. Leave a message if staff cannot answer the phone; someone will call back within the hour.

Found a Baby Squirrel?

If you accidentally cut down a tree or branch containing a nest of squirrels, place the entire nest (or just the squirrels if nest was destroyed) at the base of the stump/tree as soon as your trimming activity has ended. Give the mother squirrel time and space to move her babies (keep away from the area, keep children and dogs away, etc.). Squirrels are industrious and keep a few fully-constructed nests in the area. The mother will most likely move the family one at a time to another tree.

You might find baby squirrels laying on the ground with no obvious injuries. If you see no sign of bruising or other injuries, and they are warm and dry, they should be left where they are. Giving mom a chance to retrieve her babies is important to keeping wild families together.

Any squirrels on the ground should be gently picked up and set on an old t-shirt or fleece (tiny squirrel toes can get caught on towels) to keep them off the cold ground. Place two activated hand warmers underneath the fabric. This will provide necessary warmth to the young squirrels. Do not cover the squirrels.

If for any reason baby squirrels are still laying on the ground after four hours, or it is after 4:30 p.m., bring them to WRC.

If you cannot get to WRC before close at 6 p.m., bring the squirrels in at dusk and keep them contained and warm overnight. Set up a shoebox with air holes, line it with old t-shirt or fleece, put half the box on a heating pad set to low, and tape the lid shut. It is critical to not give baby squirrels any food or liquids to prevent aspiration pneumonia.

Doors are open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and phones are answered from 9 a.m.6 p.m., 365 days a year.

Open house on Highway 36/Lake Elmo Avenue improvements

The public is invited to an open house to review and provide feedback on design alternatives that will improve the intersection of Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue, or County Highway 17.

The open house will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at River Valley Church, 5900 Lake Ave. N., Lake Elmo.

The project will seek to overcome the current deficiencies at the intersection, and improve its safety and capacity. Design alternatives will also improve bicycle, pedestrian, and ADA facilities in this area.

This is the second open house in the planning process for intersection improvements. Information from the previous open house and past newsletters may be found on the Washington County website at co.washington.mn/LakeElmoAvenue.

Questions may be directed to Andrew Giesen, project manager, at 651-430-4336 or andrew.giesen@ co.washington.mn.us.

Upcoming Games

April

April

April

Waiting Child

Darian,14, is talkative, outgoing, helpful and funny. He enjoys cooking, playing video games, dodgeball, fishing, dirt biking, and four-wheeling. Darian would like to live in a rural community with a “country style” atmosphere. He loves animals and has a dog that he is hoping to take with him to his adoptive home. Darian would do best in a home where he is the only child. Following adoption, Darian would need to maintain contact with his siblings and birthparents.

animal season is right around the corner. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is the biggest wild animal rescue in Minnesota, and will soon be expanding its operation to care for more baby animals.

Modern Luddites

Have we reached a point where we need to pause and examine if the seemingly continuous state of disruption that rapidly evolving technology and social media appear to be creating is doing more harm than good? When we use the phones we have come to depend on and engage with social media there are powerful forces at play using video game style designs that trigger “feel good” dopamine neurotransmitter surges in our brains that reward continued interaction.

In a recent New York Times article titled “‘Luddite’ Teens Don’t Want Your Likes” by Alex Vadukul, a group of high school students is profiled as they promote “a lifestyle of self-liberation from social media and technology” at weekly Luddite Club meetings. Participating in an activity that the vast majority of their peers wouldn't even consider, the teens leave their phones behind when they gather for their meetings at an outdoor location.

According to Wikipedia, the term Luddite refers to a group of English textile workers who resisted the industrialization of the textile industry in the 19th

It’s a spring thing

century by sabotaging machinery that they thought was threatening their livelihoods. I'm probably generalizing the definition, but when I think of the term Luddite or Neo Luddite, I prefer to categorize it as someone who does not blindly accept all technological advances, but instead questions if these advances are actually improving the quality of our lives. In a podcast interview, Logan Lane, the young founder of the Luddite Club, defined the term from a contemporary perspective as someone who rejects social media, phones and “the sort of personal machine that has plagued all of us.”

As described in the article, without access to their phones the students engage in interweaving conversations, sketch, paint, read or just quietly sit and listen to the wind. Some of the participants have also reported less anxiety and improved overall well-being since joining the club. Among the books and authors that club members have a shared interest in is “Into the Wild” a 1996 nonfiction book by Jon Krakauer about Chris McCandless, who attempted to shed the trappings of mainstream society and died while trying to live off the land in the Alaskan wilderness. While reading the book when it was first published, I noted a similar (but far less extreme) experience that I had as a young adult along the nomadic route McCandless first took through the west and southwest before heading up to Alaska. I had recently turned 21 and decided

to take the fall quarter off from school. In reality, I was heartbroken and unsure of what direction my life was going to take. I had positive memories of working for a season in Glacier National Park after graduating from high school, so I decided to take a trip back out west. Despite unexpected bills whittling my available funds down to $150 just prior to departure, I decided to hit the road anyway. Starting with an October construction job in Yellowstone National Park, I was able to work a string of temporary jobs and fund three months of travel and camping excursions into some exceptionally beautiful areas in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. I still appreciate the simplicity of traveling with just a tent and sleeping bag. Chris McCandless has sometimes been portrayed as foolish or naive but I see him more as someone who was seeking an authentic life, who could very well have survived in the Alaskan wilderness if not for the unpredictable and overwhelming power of nature.

In an example that you shouldn't make sweeping generalizations about certain age groups, I find it heartening that there is a group of young people willing to question the addictive path that our society appears to be on.

Paul Dols is photojournalist/website editor for Press Publications. He can be reached at 651-407-1238

THE LOWDOWN | letter guidelines

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Noelle’s Notes

Noelle Olson

It’s said that April showers bring May flowers. Well, I sure hope so. I love the smell of the air after a rainstorm. And there’s nothing like the smell of fresh cut grass — especially after a long winter. The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a soggy and shivery spring. All I see in that sentence is shivery which to me means cold. April weather in Minnesota is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re going to get. Snow, tornadoes, flooding and high winds are common events in the spring. I remember one year on my birthday (which is in midApril), I was planning on going golfing with my family. My dad and I have the same birthday so it’s always nice to celebrate together when we can. Those plans were terminated since we had a blizzard that day. But that’s life in Minnesota. Weather has the power to control our lives and we can’t control the weather. But once in a while, the weather surprises us and gives us beautiful days of sunshine. Sometimes we can golf in December and that’s a true blessing.

Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Its continuing mission is “to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations.” The official theme for 2023 is “Invest In Our Planet.” According to earthday.org, unlike previous economic revolutions, this time there are two additional imperatives — saving humanity from the climate crisis and building green economies in every country so that everyone benefits from this green revolution. This can only be done if we invest in our planet’s future together. The Minnesota State Parks has selected Earth Day as one of its four free entry days this year. According the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website, the goal of offering this free entry day is to encourage families to spend time together with a walk outdoors. Research shows that walking offers multiple benefits, from increased creativity and better brain function to more flexibility and stamina. So you won’t just burn calories, you’ll also improve your well-being.

National Volunteer Month

April is National Volunteer Month. Washington County has amazing volunteers. The Forest Lake Good Samaritans have been “paying it forward” for over five years now. Stillwater relies on volunteers for the World Sculpting Championships. Whether you’re volunteering at a soup kitchen, schools, athletic games, nursing homes or any noble cause, you are true heroes of the community. I have a strong admiration for volunteers and I believe that if someone can help just one person in a positive way, they are making a difference. Hats off to all volunteers. You truly make this world a better place.

Noelle Olson is editor of the Lowdown for Press Publications. She can be reached at lowdownnews@presspublications.com

Angle of View

Paul Dols

STILLWATER MAP LEARN ABOUT THE STORE

1 You and me Cafe

Where: 826 4th St. South, Stillwater

Contact: youandmecafemn.com

2 Matts Basement

Where: 413 Nelson St. E., Stillwater

Contact: mattsbasementlounge@gmail.com

About Us

A cozy lounge with nostalgic video rentals & board games, Boba bubble tea, waffles and more.

3 Lolito’s new location

Where: 241 Main St. S Stillwater

Website: http://www.lolitostillwater.com/

About Us New concept restaurant from the Lolo American kitchen group. Lolito is inspired by Latin American flavors with plenty of tequila, mezcal and rum.

4 Pearl Vision Oak Park Heights

Where: 5980 Neal Ave N suite 500, Oak Park Heights

Contact: (651) 208-1389

About Us Here at Pearle Vision OPH, we are devoted to getting to know you, your visual needs, your lifestyle, and how we can give you access to the tools for the best vision possible. We pride ourselves on delivering legendary customer service and providing the highest quality products to meet your needs.

5 Senior Helpers

Where: 6750 Stillwater Blvd. suite 4, Stillwater

Website: https://www.seniorhelpers.com/mn/stillwater/

About Us Senior Helpers of Stillwater offers a comprehensive suite of programs and services that suppor t aging in-place. Serving the areas of Stillwater, Bayport, North St. Paul, Forest Lake, Hugo, Scandia, Maplewood, White Bear Lake.

6 Aneu Beauty LLC

Where: Stillwater Contact: 320-309-7071

Website: http://bit.ly/3YX651z

About Us Aneu Beauty is a medical spa in Stillwater offering toxins, fillers and chemical peels.

7 Mick Sterling Presents

Website: http://www.micksterlingpresents.com/

About Us

Mick Sterling Presents is a Minneapolis-based production company that assembles, produces and performs a wide array of entertainment events in the midwest region. A Minnesota Music Hall of Fame recipient and a veteran of the Twin Cities music scene for over 40 years, Mick Sterling Presents also is an author, documentary film producer and is the founder and director of the Minnesota based 501c3 nonprofit organization called The 30-Days Foundation.

8 Juniper Organizing

Where: Lake Elmo

Contact: 608-469-8814

Website: http://bit.ly/40qivQV

About

Around the Lakes

e’re Forest Lake’s original grooming shop, operating since 1989. Petstyles is celebrating 25 years of ownership by Kari Halvorson. Your pets are like family to us. We remain 100% committed to your pet from start to finish. It’s all we do and we make your pet look and feel its best! Always have and always will! Be sure to check out our photos of happy clients on Instagram/Facebook @petstylesgrooming

WTrimming We are proud that for the sixth year in a row, we were awarded “Best Pet Grooming” 2015-2020 2017-2021

PETSTYLES 2022

• Shampoos •Ears 747979 IN N & SUI TE S BY RADISSO N

651-464-6996 Call one of our Certified Master Groomers at Visit our web site and Take a Virtual Tour!

2015-2020 2017-2021 | petstylesgrooming | petstylesgrooming

Tues-Sat Day & Eve Appts.

We are Forest Lake’s Original Grooming Salon since 1989!

Grooming Salon GIVE YOUR PET A SPRING BREAK 100% dedicated to your pet’s grooming in a cozy, intimate pet spa, not a big box store! Check out our social media to see all of our happy clients! Nail Trims by appointment only. 143 North Lake Street, Forest Lake www.petstylesmn.com

Award Winning Pet Grooming! 765626

WE CAN HELP! 651-982-9799

Monthly Meetings? Birthday Parties? Business Lunch? 1954 West Broadway Avenue, Forest Lake, MN

Meeting room available for private use 765629

Excess lights out in Stillwater

As part of Stillwater's Bird City initiative and its commitment to GreenStep City best practices, Sustainable Stillwater MN is urging Stillwater to adopt measures that address light pollution and its impact on the environment. In September 2022, the city made a citywide proclamation of “lights out.”

Over 250 species of birds migrate through Stillwater, up the St. Croix River Valley through Minnesota, each spring and fall. Birds migrate at night and can be drawn off their flight path by lighted structures, according to the Audubon Society. Mortality at lighted structures has been documented across a wide geographic area and a broad range of species. Many birds have

been known to collide or drop from exhaustion after circling brightly lit buildings, reluctant to fly out of the light. The "lights out" program, which includes dimming, shielding or eliminating excess lighting, has already been adopted by many cities nationwide and can dramatically reduce these collisions. How does ‘lights out’ work?

“Lights out” is a voluntary program developed by the National Audubon Society in which building owners, managers, tenants and residents work together to ensure that unnecessary lighting is turned off at certain times of the year. A blackout is not required. This also saves electricity and cuts costs.

Midnight until dawn:

• Now until May 31 for spring migration

• Aug. 15 to Oct. 31 for fall migration

Some examples are as follows:

• Turn off exterior lighting (leave security lights on as needed for safety)

• Dim lobby and atrium lighting

• Turn off interior lighting — especially upper floors

To sign up, use the following link: https://mn.audubon.org/conservation/lights-out-program.

For more information, go to SustainableStillwaterMN.org.

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH

Aspen Blasko, Forest Lake junior wrestler, has been a state champion each of the first two years a girls tournament was held. Blasko (14-1 for the season) won three decisions at 114 pounds at the state meet, 4-0 against Forest Lake, 5-0 against Rosemount and 4-2 in the finals against Luverne’s Bernie Rock. She was 107-pound champ at the MSHSL meet last year and won a coaches association tournament the two years before that.

Amy Thompson, senior guard, is averaging 16 points for the Stillwater basketball team, which was heading into the state tourney third-place game at this writing. A 5-foot-10 junior with excellent 3-point accuracy, she led with 22 points when the Ponies beat East Ridge 60-55 in the section finals, and with 29 points, including the game-winning layup with 11 seconds left, as the Ponies beat Lakeville North 67-65 in the first round at state. She averaged 14.6 points as a sophomore and 7.5 as a freshman.

Grant Marr, Forest Lake sophomore wrestler, placed fourth in the state Class 3A tournament. Marr was Section 7AAA champion, then won four of six matches at state, three by pin, and finished with a 40-12 record. Marr also qualified for the state tournament as a freshman but had to injury-default and did not complete. He was 37-9 for the season.

Ryder Rogotzke, Stillwater senior wrestler, was 195-pound state runner-up, after winning the 182-pound title as a junior He was 49-3, with two losses to four-time state champion Max McEnnelly and an injury default. Rogotzke lost to McEnnelly 5-3 in the regular season, moved up to 195 for postseason to get a rematch, and lost to him 3-2 in the state finals. The Ohio State recruit had 255 wins, including 190 pins, against 23 losses. His 44 pins as a junior tied the state record, and he broke it with 47 this year.

Aspen Blasko

Amy Thompson

Forest Lake wrestling

Stillwater basketball

Grant Marr Ryder Rogotzke

Forest Lake wrestling

Stillwater wrestling

*Athletes chosen by press staff

Sustainable Stillwater

CONTRIBUTED

Spring Cheese and Chocolate Weekend

When: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16

Where: Saint Croix Vineyards, 6428 Manning Ave., Stillwater

Details: Samples of wines accompanied by cheese and chocolates. No reservations required.

Contact: 651-430-3310 or scvwines. com

FOREST LAKE SPRING CRAFT & VENDOR SHOW

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 1 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, April 2

Where: Forest Lake Middle School 21395 Goodview Ave. N.

Details: Food, crafters and vendors. Contact: rsgdevelopment.com

VICTORIAN TEA AT THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE

When: Noon-2 p.m. Saturday, April 1 where: Washington County Historic Courthouse, Pine and Third Streets, Stillwater

Details: Multi-course tea and 5-course lunch and presentation by Kristin Mapel Bloomberg titled “Woman Suffrage and Women’s Rights: A Minnesota and Midwest Perspective.”  Register online. Contact: co.washington.mn.us

A CAPPELLA SHOWCASE

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 1

Where: Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, Mahtomedi High School, 8000 75th St. N.

Details: Performances by A Cappella groups from the high school, local colleges, the North Star Chorus, and Lake Country Chorus. Tickets online; free student ticket with adult ticket. Contact: 651-605-1124 or wildwoodartistseries.com

END IN MIND'S ART OF DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH CATHY WURZER

When: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 2

Where: Trinity Lutheran Church, 115 4th St. N., Stillwater

Details: Learn about artistdriven tools to help people have difficult conversations about illness, death and dying. Free; advance registration required. Contact: 651-439-1465 or artreachstcroix.org

TOTALLY CRIMINAL COCKTAIL HOUR

When: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5

Where: Stillwater Zephyr Theatre, 601 N. Main St.

Details: Mystery lovers and authors come together for conversation and reading inspiration. April event features author Cara Black. Cash bar. Tickets online. Contact: valleybookseller.com

MR. BUNNY STORYTIME

www.presspubs.com

When: 10:30-11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 6

Where: Bayport Public Library, 582 4th St. N.

Details: Preschool-age children can read a spring story and have photos taken with Mr. Bunny.

Contact: washcolib.org

STILLWATER WINTER FARMERS

MARKET

When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 8

Where: Washington County Historic Courthouse, 101 Pine St. W., Stillwater

Details: Shop for locally-grown produce, barked goods, artisan foods and confections, and handicrafts.

Contact: facebook.com/ StillwaterMNFarmersMarket

SEEING MINNESOTA HISTORY

THROUGH THE LIFE OF CHARLES

A. LINDBERGH

When: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, April 13

Where: Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 S. Greeley St., Stillwater

Details: Join Prof. Chris Gehrz, author of a new biography of Charles A. Lindbergh, which sheds light on important themes in the state's history.

Free.

Contact: wchsmn.org

MONEY MANAGEMENT BASICS

When: 1-2 p.m. Saturday, April 15

Where: Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Rd. N., Forest Lake

Details: Learn strategies and steps to control spending and set realistic financial goals. Registration required.

Contact: washcolib.org

FARE FOR ALL

When: 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18

Where: Community Thread, 2300 Orleans St. W, Stillwater

Details: Public can purchase food at a discount through a curbside delivery model.

Contact: 763-450-3880 or fareforall.org

EASTER MASSES

Holy Thursday, April 6

The Lord’s Supper

7:00 pm (with incense)

Good Friday, April 7

Veneration of the Cross 7:00 pm

Holy Saturday, April 8

Easter Vigil Mass

8:00 pm (with incense)

Easter Sunday, April 9 Mass 9:00 am (with incense) & 11:00 am with overflow in Kohler Hall

700 Mahtomedi Ave

Mahtomedi, MN 55115

651-426-3245

www.stjudeofthelake.org

THE REMEMBER PROJECT

FORTUNE COOKIES

When: 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 and Saturday, April 29

Where: Family Means, 1875

Northwestern Ave., Stillwater

Details: Simply-staged one-act play brings to life real issues connected to care, diagnosis, and experience of dementia. Free.

Contact: 651-439-4840 or artreachstcroix. org

GREENLAND: A CANARY IN THE COAL MINE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

When: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20

Where: Marine Village Hall, 121 Judd St., Marine on St. Croix

Details: Presentation on climate change risks and developments in and around Greenland. Free.

Contact: marinecommunitylibrary.org

CIRCUS MAHDUHAI

When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 22

Where: Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd St. N.

Details: Four-person troupe practices the traditional art of the Mongolian circus. All ages, free.

Contact: stillwaterlibrary.org

FAMILY EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 22

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: Family celebrations with crafts, bouncy house, refreshments, and Eco-fair with local businesses and organizations and information about how to be a good steward of the Earth. Free.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

BLACK TIE BINGO

When: 6-9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22

Where: Grand Banquet Hall, 301 2nd Street S., Stillwater

Details: Annual fundraiser for Community Thread features five games

of Bingo with prizes and celebrity Bingo callers, online auction, photo booth and appetizers and desserts. Tickets available online in advance. Contact: 651-439-7434 or comunitythreadmn.org

FROG WALK AT OXBOW TRAILS

When: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25

Where: Oxbow Trails, 2398 St. Croix Trail S., Afton

Details: Evening stroll through a new hiking area while listening for spring calls of native frogs. Registration required.

Contact: belwin.org/events

FRIENDS OF THE STILLWATER

PUBLIC LIBRARY USED BOOK

SALE

When: 10:15 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27; 10:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29

Where: Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd St. N.

Details: Gently used books for sale for $1-$2. Cash or check; proceeds support library programs. Contact: stillwaterlibrary.org

CELEBRATING YOUR WILD VOICE!

When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 29

Where: Belwin Conservancy Hilltop Classroom, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S., Afton

Details: Join a naturalist and song leader for a day in the woods and prairies that includes conversation, singing, stretching, walking and vocal improv games in the pine forest. Bring a lunch. No talent required; RSVP.

Contact: belwin.org/EVENTS

CLIMATE FAIR

When: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, April 29

Where: Pioneer Park, Laurel and N. Second Streets, Stillwater

Details: Community event to advocate for climate change includes organizations, children's activities, speakers, and treats.

Contact: sustainablestillwatermn.org

GRACE

The Goggin’s Candies store can be seen behind piles of sand bags set up to protect Main Street businesses in Stillwater from the rising floodwaters of the St. Croix River in April 1965. The photo was taken by a member of the Chisago City Fire Department, which was providing mutual aid assistance during the flooding. The river crested at 694 feet above sea level on Easter Sunday, April 18 1965. Stillwater city officials are preparing for flooding this year as current forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict about a 70 percent chance the St. Croix will reach flood level again over the next few weeks — for

GREAT DANE – gray w/black spots - seen frequently in WBTwnsh p near St Mary's of th e Lake Cemetary on Stillwater Street. If you've lost your dog or kn ow about th is do g, please ca ll Rebecca 651-605-5812

Jo in our Assembly Team in V.H. at Snuggle Me Or ganic. Hiring PT M-F Flexible Hrs. Send Resume to: becky@snugglemeorganic.com

Press Publications We Need You!!! Now accepting resumes Part-t ime and Full-time ppinfo@pres spubs.com 65 1-407-1200

Staff Writer

SEASONAL PUBLIC WORKS POSITION.

The City of Hugo is currently accepting applications for a seasonal public works employee. This position is responsible for assisting the public works department in a wide variety of tasks including: park, street and utilities maintenance. This position will exist from May through September and will not exceed 40 hours per week. The rate of pay is $16 per hour.

Applicants must have a valid Minnesota driver’s license and be at least 18 years of age.

Applications are available at City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Av. N., Hugo, MN 55038, 651-762-6301 or on the City’s web site at www.ci.hugo.mn.us. Applications must be completed and returned to City Hall by 4:00 p.m., March 24, 2023.

Guaranteed

CITY OF MAHTOMEDI

Press Publications in White Bear Lake is seeking a staff writer to join its award-winning team. As a staff writer-reporter you will be responsible for coordinating editorial content and layout for our newspapers, website and social media pages. In addition to writing stories, the job will require attending meetings, taking photographs, assisting with the layout process, coordinating, writing occasional editorial columns and maintaining a positive relationship with the community at large. We are looking for a candidate who is an efficient writer, passionate about local community news and great at time managment. Candidates should have a degree in journalism (or a related field) and have relevant experience. To apply, please send resume, cover letter and three writing samples to quadnews@presspubs.com.

THE BEST PLACE YOU’LL EVER WORK!

Imag ine cruising the St Croix River this spring in a 25.5' Bayliner Cruiser. The Saratoga will make memories! Grill steaks or impossible burgers, the sky is the limit! Boat has Refri gerator, Sink, Grill, 2 batter ies, Marine radio, hardtop, full canvas,new power, 26 0hp, 5.7 MerCruiser $7500. Located at Wolf's Marina in Stillwater Must se ll due to ski accident 612-599-1729

Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal 15 GB internet service Bonus offer: Android ta blet FR EE with o ne-time $20 co pay Free sh ipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 866/433-5324

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MOVING SALE!

EQUAL HOUSING

651-653-9845

WORKER

Now hiring:

WANTED: ALL 1970S MOTORCYCLES

Running or not Titled or not Will pick up. Cash in exchange. Sell now before prices fall. Call Dan at 612/720-2142

MOVING SALE! Green side chair, very good condition, $50. Glass & metal high top table w/4 upholstered metal chairs, brown upholstery, excellent condition, $250.

MOVING SALE!

4687 Bald Eagle Ave., WBL 55110

FROM BOATWORKS APARTMENT BUILDING, WHITE BEAR LAKE

Must sell by Feb. 20th! Call or Txt Nicki: 651-261-7340

Let’s talk or txt! Nicki, 651-261-7340

OPPORTUNITY all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Ho using Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preferen ce limitation or discriminat ion based on race co lo r, religion, sex, handicap, familial atus, or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such preferce limitation or disimination.” Familial atus includes chilen under the age of livin g with parents legal custod ians; egnant women and peop le securing cusody of children under 18. This newspaper ill not kn owingly acept any ad vertising r real estate which is violation of the law. Our readers ar e hereinformed that all dw ellings advertised in this newsp ap er are available on an equal oppor tunity basis To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

FROM BOATWORKS APARTMENT BUILDING, WHITE BEAR LAKE Must sell by Feb. 20th! Call or Txt Nicki: 651-261-7340 Side Chair – Very good

The City of Mahtomedi has openings for up to (4) full time Seasonal Maintenance Worker positions. All positions are for 67 days. Duties include assisting the Public Works Department with street, water, sewer, and park maintenance. Must have a High School diploma or GED, the ability to lift/move 25-100 Lbs., be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. The pay range is from $16.00/hr. to $18.00/ hr. depending on qualifications. Applications will be taken until positions are filled. Applications can be obtained at City Hall, 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 or at its website at HYPERLINK "http://www.ci.mahtomedi.mm.us" www. ci.mahtomedi.mn.us. Mahtomedi is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Recreation Staff

• Park Maintenance Staff

• Building Supervisor

Learn more and apply at CityofRoseville.com/jobs

SEASONAL MAINTENANCE WORKERS POSITIONS

White Bear Township is accepting applications for Seasonal Maintenance

Worker positions to assist in routine maintenance work including, but not limited to, the following: general maintenance of parks, streets, water, storm water, sanitary sewer, etc. Up to 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm (subject to change between Memorial Day – Labor Day).

Salary range from $14.00 /hour to $18.00/hour depending on qualifications. A valid driver’s license with a good driving record is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass pre-employment drug screening.

Applications are available Monday –Friday, 7 am – 4:30 pm, at Township Administrative Office, 1281 Hammond Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110 or online at www.whitebeartownship.org.

Application deadline: Open until positions filled.

WASHINGTON COUNTY BRIEFS

Schaefer receives 30 Under 30 designation

Connor Schaefer, senior planner for Washington County Public Works, was recently named by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) as a 30 Under 30 winner. Parks & Recreation magazine’s 30 Under 30 honors young park and recreation professionals who are making profound impacts in their communities and the field of parks and recreation. The Washington County Board of Commissioners congratulated Schaefer on his award at a recent board meeting. He has been with Washington County since 2016, and over the years has been the primary planner working with the county’s parks division. The magazine noted that Schaefer leads projects to improve Washington County’s growing park and trail system, including master plans, policy initiatives and project funding. Schaefer also works to connect communities of underrepresented populations, specifically people of color, first-generation immigrants, people with disabilities, low-income community members, and adults ages 65 and older by tailoring engagement strategies to meet the needs and goals of the project and community. He also designed a new funding approach to help park agencies address equity issues in parks and trail systems.

Washington County

CONTRIBUTED

Connor Schaefer, senior planner for Washington County, with county commissioners Fran Miron, District 1; Gary Kriesel, District 3; Stan Karwoski, District 2; Karla Bigham, District 4; and Michelle Clasen, District 5; and public works staff.

April is...AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH

The shift from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month reflects input from autistic and other community leaders, including members of the Association of University Centers on Disability who are advancing support, research, evidencebased interventions, inclusiveness and advocacy for the human and civil rights of all people with autism spectrum disorder / developmental disabilities (ASD/DD).

Autism diagnoses are growing, both for children and adults. In December 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that one in 44 children are diagnosed with autism. Over 7 million people in the U.S. are on the autism spectrum. Autism affects people from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic standings. The numbers stress the urgent need for equitable access to diagnostic evaluations and early interventions that have a significant impact on lifelong outcomes.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop.

People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact and learn in ways that are different from most people. Their appearance may not set them apart from others, and their abilities can vary significantly. Some people with ASD may have advanced conversation

skills whereas others may be nonverbal. Some with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others can work and live with little to no support.

ASD begins before the age of 3 and can last throughout a person’s life. Symptoms may improve over time. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age then stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.

As children with ASD become adolescents and young adults, they may have difficulties developing and maintaining friendships, communicating with others, or understanding what behaviors are expected in school or on the job. They may come to the attention of healthcare providers because of anxiety, depression, or attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, which occur more often in people with ASD than in people without ASD.

Approximately 1 in 5 young adults with autism will interact with a police officer before the age of 21. Individuals with disabilities, including those with autism, are five times more likely to be incarcerated than people without disabilities. Police interactions lead to more injuries and fatalities within this population, largely due to lack of training and the improper use of excessive force.

Up to 85 percent of autistic adults with a college education are unemployed, and over 70 percent of adults with autism are underemployed or unemployed. Given the current labor shortage, employers could benefit from expanding their pool of applicants through inclusive hiring practices.

The Autism Society offers a series of fact sheets and brochures to educate first responders and partners with businesses to offer learning opportunities, resources and connections to the wide network of autistic individuals in the workforce to support inclusive workplace missions.

More information can be found at https://autismsociety.org/ and https://www.cdc.gov/

In Office and Telehealth...

Long-time Forest Lake volunteer encourages others to take initiative

BY CORINNE STREMMEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Karen Morehead has devoted much of her life to volunteering in the Forest Lake community and she wants to encourage others to do the same.

“There are so many advantages to volunteering for both you, the volunteer and the people you’re helping,” Morehead said.

Morehead herself started volunteering at a local daycare when she first got married which sparked her passion for helping her community.

“I just think it’s in my DNA, and I think it helped me realize the importance of volunteering. You always get back more than you put in,” Morehead added.

Over the years Morehead has volunteered at the Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Lakes Life Care Center, and Morehead served for over 20 years on the Forest Lake School Board.

Part of Morehead’s drive to help her community is her dedication to assisting youth.

“I believe the youth of today really need

Sendoff reimagines the final celebration

“We’re trying to lead that charge, offering new and unique experiences and giving permission to think outside of the box, pun intended,” Roberts said.

the support of caring adults,” Morehead said.

Morehead’s efforts haven’t gone unrecognized, earning her the On Behalf of Youth Award and the Chamber Volunteer of the Year award.

She has most recently joined the Forest Lake Good Samaritans because she admired their motto, “It feels good to do good.”

For those who are interested in volunteering, Morehead suggests people find ways they can use their gifts and abilities to best help others.

“I always say if you have the strength, the time, and the energy, get out there and do something with it because you’re going to reap the benefits of what you give,” Morehead said.

Morehead reminisced on her time on the Forest Lake School Board where her school board email spelled out “Karen cares,” and she still does today, all while finding ways she can help her community and encourage others to get out there and serve the community.

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER STAFF WRITER

It’s your funeral—why not make it your own?

That’s the idea behind Sendoff Funeral Services, a new Twin Cities-based event planning organization that aims to give people the kind of memorial they would have been excited to attend in life.

Kelly Roberts, who has long operated his family’s funeral home in Forest Lake, is the founder of Sendoff, which launched in November 2022. Roberts noticed that while the industry for other big life events such as weddings were changing with the times, funerals were often the same solemn, stuffy and depersonalized affair as they had been for decades.

“Over time, I thought we that we could offer new and unique experiences outside of the church and funeral home setting to honor and celebrate a life,” Roberts said. “Over the years I would hear the comment a lot: ‘I want to have a party, I don’t want to have a funeral.’”

Sendoff has partnered with hospitality venues throughout the Twin Cities to curate a funeral experience that fully embraces the unique personality of the deceased.

For instance, someone who was an avid golfer in life might have an event at a golf course, where guests receives golf balls inscribed with their name. They might even join the players on the green, their urn riding along the course in a golf cart. The possibilities are only as limited as the imagination of the family, or the deceased themselves, if they’ve taken the steps toward end-of-life planning. Education about end-of-life planning is another thing Sendoff hopes to bring to the community as it grows.

Since its launch, Sendoff has hosted a nontraditional celebration at the Dellwood Wedding Barn, as well as a more traditional service for an outdoorsman that included a pheasant release at the cemetery to honor his love of the outdoors and hunting.

“We do a deep dive or discovery time with the family to find out what made their loved one tick, and based on those ideas we can come up with and curate how their life can be celebrated,” Roberts said.

About 75 percent of people in the Twin Cities area choose cremation, Roberts said, but he expects the number is closer to 90 percent for Sendoff clients. Each family can determine how traditional or nontraditional they’d like the service to be—whether there will be a body for visitation is up to them.

Sendoff serves the Twin Cities region but is open to organizing destination events such as hunting up north or scuba diving in the Caribbean.

“The main goal is, when families and their guests leave these events, is they have to think, ‘This is exactly what we wanted.’ It provides so much hope and healing and joy and helps with the grieving process as well,” Roberts said.

Sendoff also has a charitable giving branch called SendHope. It partners with two nonprofits—Sophie’s Squad and the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Every Sendoff event results in a monetary donation in the name of the family’s loved one.

Ukrainian medical professionals visit Century College

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER STAFF WRITER

In the cluttered lab deep in the heart of Century College, an “I Stand With Ukraine” sticker adorns a red toolbox as a delegation of Ukrainian visitors gathers around an odd assortment of brightly colored prosthetic limbs. Century professor Joanna Kenton answers questions as a translator follows her words a beat later in Ukrainian.

These five Ukrainian delegates serve essential roles in Ukraine as the nation’s war with Russia enters its second year. This exchange was made possible through the Open World program organized by the Congressional Office of International Leadership (COIL) and Global Minnesota. Normally, these international exchanges are not so dire. But the conditions have made this program into a stepping stone for Ukrainians and Americans who want to do their all to care for those most impacted by the brutality of war.

“Knowing each other on a human level a bit more not only creates learning, but it creates the possibility for innovation and creates the possibility for all of us as a globe to get along a little bit better and support each other,” said Global Minnesota President Phillip Hansen.

The delegation of five included experts on prosthetics and physical therapy as well as health care policymakers. The group included Olena Kulchytska, advisor to the Minister of Social Policy; Yurii Melnyk, physical therapist; Oleksandr Popenko, technologist and prosthetics engineer; Olha Shchehliuk, senior resident of the Rehabilitation Department for Patients with Amputated Limbs; and Iryna Tkach, prosthetist and orthotist technician.

Members of the White Bear Lake Rotary Club hosted the delegates during their stay. Each delegate was invited to share some of their experiences at the Rotary Club meeting.

Melnyk described his patient load increasing from 7-8 people a day to 20 or 30. Shchehliuk described the experience of working as a physician in a military hospital as the occupation set in—in her hospital, a baby was delivered during the bombing and shooting by Russian forces. The hospital was destroyed, and the medical staff had to redistribute to other places where they were needed.

“That’s why we are here. We have a lot of experience, but we want to be better for our patients,” Schchehliuk said.

Russian attacks have targeted many hospitals and medical facilities in Ukraine as a brutal military tactic to weaken morale and display ruthlessness. Thousands of civilians have suffered and been killed since the war began.

“This country is constantly bombarding our cities, they target civilians, they use genocide against people in my country,” Tkach said with the aid of an interpreter. “This is what we have to go through right now. Ukraine currently is fighting not just for its own future but for the future of the entire civilized world. It’s the 21st century, and anti-vessel rockets are not supposed to target civilian houses.”

Each delegate expressed their gratitude for the hospitality of the Rotarians and Minnesotans who have hosted and supported them, and to the many professionals willing to share an open exchange of knowledge. Tkach said through an interpreter that it is a great pleasure to see Ukrainian flags on the houses of Americans.

During their stay, the delegates were able to connect with Dr. Yakov Gradinar, a former Ukrainian who now lives in the Twin Cities and has started the Protez Foundation, an organization that serves Ukrainian soldiers wounded in the war.

“The Ukrainian system is overwhelmed right now,” Gradinar said. “It’s very important for us to help as much as we can and bring people over to show them our support and remind our Americans that war is going on. We cannot forget to support and help as much as we can.”

The White Bear Lake Rotary has hosted homestay guests before through this program, but until now, all of the guests were from Russia. It is a strange twist of fate how the tides have turned—Rotarian Greg Bartz commented on how strange it is to have friends still in Russia while the war rages on.

Century College was an important stop for the group, as it is one of only 12 colleges in the U.S. that have a robust prosthetics and orthotics program. The delegates toured the department and met with faculty and students, asking questions in a mix of English and Ukrainian and taking many photos.

During their stay, the delegates also made connections with some of the other premiere medical facilities in Minnesota. In addition to Century College, they were scheduled to see the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, the Limb Lab and Wiggle Your Toes in the Twin Cities and NovaCare Rehabilitation in Crystal.

The hope is that the lines of communication will remain open between these world-class professionals, and that the open exchange will promote progress as both nations fight toward a brighter future.

“We’re trying to lead that charge, offering new and unique experiences and giving permission to think outside of the box, pun intended.”

Kelly Roberts Sendoff Founder

SENDOFF | CONTRIBUTED

Sendoff aims to celebrate the life and death of loved ones in a way that reflects the joy and color of their personality in life.

‘Stair angels’ step up for

CORINNE STREMMEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

While many of us are still fast asleep, Sara Jespersen and her team of volunteers are out as early as 5 a.m. clearing snow, ice and other hazardous debris off the Stillwater stairs.

“We’re the stair angels,” Jespersen says.

Jespersen, who is known in the community for owning Stillwater establishments like the Mad Capper and The Lumberjack, has been faithfully serving the Stillwater community’s stairs for the last 11 years.

In 2012 Jesepersen was working with a training group that would frequently run the Stillwater stairs. One of her clients, Libby Junker, suggested their training group start sponsoring the stairs since they were already tidying the stairs they were using anyway.

“She helped me work with the city to officially ‘adopt’ the stairs, and the rest is history,” Jespersen said.

In 2017, the stair angels received a grant for $10,000 to put toward beautifying the stairs. A portion of the proceeds went to repairing the cracked concrete and installing a safety light on the Main Street stairs. The rest of the funds were used to restore the Pioneer Park stairs.

“The stairs are really a treasure to the community,” Jespersen said.

The Main Street stairs have a rich history in the city of Stillwater. Historians believe the stairs were constructed in 1857, and one source suggests the inspiration for the stairs was to make it easier for Stillwater’s brewmaster to climb from the brewery at the foot of the bluff to reach his home above.

Today, the beloved Stillwater stairs serve as a historical landmark and an easy way to access downtown and get a gorgeous view from above. Or, if you’re like Jespersen, the stairs serve a fitness challenge and deserve some tender maintenance.

Now that spring is around the corner and the snow is starting to melt, Jespersen and her team of volunteers will work on their big spring cleanup, removing any debris that may have been hidden by the snow.

“Maintaining the stairs is important for the safety aspect of it, but also to keep the stairs looking beautiful for the community who uses them and for tourists who want to come visit the town,” Jespersen said.

After more than a decade of cleaning the stairs, Jespersen says it's been a great way to help out her community and make connections with the people she meets along the way.

“I’ve met a lot of people while on the stairs,” Jespersen explains.

CONTRIBUTED

Sara Jespersen receives a $10,000 grant from the St. Croix Valley Foundation to beautify the Stillwater stairs.

Jespersen has committed herself to many more years of taking care of the stairs, saying she and a friend have promised each other to keep shoveling off snow until they’re well into their 70s.

The next time you’re enjoying the Stillwater stairs, you may just have an angel to thank.

Monday $7.00

Tuesday Deep fried tacos $3.00 for 1 or 3 for $8.00 or taco salad for $11.00

Wednesday $8.00 Goulash with Garlic Bread stick

Thursday $9.00 Chicken stir fry

Friday $14.00 Fish fry after 5 ( 3 pieces of fish,Fries,veggie, and a roll)

Saturday $14.00 BBQ ribs after 5 (1/2 rack , veggie, and potato)

Sunday Chef’s choice