Quad Community Press

Hockey Day goes retro with vintage-style poster

Atlas Villas takes a compassionate approach to memory care

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER INTERIM QUAD EDITOR

CENTERVILLE — Hospitals may be essential to the function of our society, but no one wants to feel like they live in one.

That’s why Rick and Amber Gonion created Atlas Villas, a new 16-resident memory care facility located on Main Street in Centerville. This residential center, which had a few supply setbacks during construction due to supply chain issues, is set to open in February of this year.

The villa is dedicated in memory of Amber’s grandparents, Jack and Colleen Long, who battled dementia in their later years. In their research, Rick and Amber were disappointed with the available memory care offerings in the area.

“All the places we looked at looked and smelled like a hospital,” Rick said. “If we can make it an inviting place to be, it helps a lot.”

Residents of Hugo, the Gonions wanted to establish a memory care facility that was near enough for them to drop in quickly, Rick said.

The interior of Atlas Villas is designed to be pleasant and efficient. Stepping inside from a winter day, a visitor will find what looks like a sunny street with the sound of bird song and the pleasant scent of spring wafting through the hallway. A curved ceiling mimics the appearance of a summer sky, and the lighting changes according to the time of day.

The future is clear for these fifth graders

CIRCLE PINES--Every year, Mr. Gutbrod’s fifth grade class at Blue Heron Elementary writes a persuasive essay to encourage the community to donate used eyeglasses. This year, Logan Anderson was selected to represent the class and the project. Here is Logan’s message to you,

the members of the community. Mr. Gutbrod’s Grade 5 class and the Circle-Lex Lions’ Club are working together to collect old or no longer used eyeglasses for people in need. We are trying to make a difference with you in people’s lives that might not have access to eyecare. There are many reasons that people around the

world could use your no longer used eyeglasses.

The first reason you should donate your eyeglasses is that you could change a kid’s whole life. One out of four kids have vision problems that can affect their learning in school. Providing eyeglasses would help the children

Each private room is designed using ADAcertified hotel room guidelines, with roll-in showers and sinks. The rooms are unfurnished so that residents can bring their own beds and furniture to make the room feel as much like home as possible. Each door has a personalized nameplate and a front “porch” area with a bench, old-fashioned lamppost and a faux wrought iron gateway made from plastic material that is easy to grip for a steadier step.

The center will provide many activities for residents, including live musical performances, pet therapy, religious services, card games and outdoor barbecues on the patio.

A large sitting room is outfitted with an artificial fireplace, and a slot machine encourages residents who can stand to spend time enjoying themselves on their feet. The

MINNESOTA.

CONTRIBUTED

The vintage poster look (see inside for full poster) is a signature style of Forest Lake artist Steve Thomas, who designed this year’s Hockey Day Minnesota poster.

The Centerville City Council at its Jan. 11 meeting took the following actions:

• Mayor D. Love welcomed Centennial High School senior Rowan Shaw, the second junior council member to serve on council. “Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to be up here — I’m looking forward to it a lot,” Shaw said as he began his one-year term.

• Longtime City Council Member Michelle Lakso will be leaving, months after winning reelection to a four-year term. Council formally accepted her resignation and declared a vacancy. A new council member will be appointed to serve in her position until 2024. Council members in attendance thanked Lakso for her many years of service to the city. Love said Lakso’s perspective was important to the city. “The female perspective is a powerful part of who we are and what the city represents,” Love said. “(Lakso) was that representation for us.” Lakso was most noted for starting the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the city.

• The city plans to accept letters of interest for the new vacant council seat immediately and will review them for interviews at a workshop just prior to the Jan. 25 meeting. If all goes well, council may formally appoint a replacement for Lakso’s seat during the Jan. 25 meeting. In November 2024, two council seats and the mayor’s seat will be up for a vote in the general city election. Lakso’s seat will come up for re -

election at that time.

• Council members don’t simply attend two meetings per month and go home. Each council member serves on several boards to keep the city running efficiently. As an annual business tradition, council adopted the 2023 list of council member appointments. However, the preliminary list of appointments council adopted in December was shaken up, following the resignation of Lakso. Most of the committee duties assigned to her will be left vacant until the fifth council member is appointed. With appointments still left vacant on adoption, the appointments list can be revised and adopted again when the new council member comes on board, City Administrator/Engineer Mark Statz said.

• Of note on the slate of appointments is the hierarchy of succession, in the event of the mayor’s absence at a meeting or other function. As tenure on council is the principal criterion for succession, Council Member Russ Koski will again serve as acting mayor. The position of alternate to the acting mayor had been assigned to Lakso, and can not remain vacant. Council Member Steve King was therefore appointed alternate to the acting mayor.

• In his administrator’s report, Statz noted vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Committee and on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Anyone seeking an opportunity to contribute to the community may contact City Hall at 651-792-7933 for

The City Council has made its committee appointments and official designations for the coming year. These include:

• The Quad Community Press as official newspaper

• Mayor Dave Bartholomay and Council Member Dean Goldberg as official signatories

• Shelley Ryan of Hoff Barry PA as civil attorney and Joe Van Thomme of Eckberg Lammers as prosecution attorney

• Eric Eckman of WSB & Associates as city engineer

• Council Member Matt Percy as mayor pro tem

• Bartholomay and Goldberg on the Police Governing Board; Council Member Nici Dorner, alternate

• Percy and Council Member Steve McChesney on the Fire Steering Committee; Goldberg, alternate

• Percy on the Fire Protection Council;

McChesney, alternate

more information. The Parks and Recreation Committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Both organizations meet in council chambers at City Hall.

• Cities must formally accept any donation from the community, and Centerville did so unanimously (by a vote of 3-0; Council Member Steve King was absent and Council Member Michelle Lakso had resigned) and with appreciation. The new Kwik Trip on Main Street donated $1,000 to the Parks and Recreation Committee. The Centerville Lions Club donated $5,000 to help defray some of the costs in staging the annual city festival, Fete des Lacs. These donations help keep the events free, Statz said. “This past year, everything was free, except for food and beer,” he said.

• In his administrator’s report, Statz also noted that the city’s mobile app has been launched. Look for it in your Google Play Store and Apple Store links. The second public hearing for the 2022 thin overlay project is scheduled for the Jan. 25 regular council meeting, he said.

• Each year, the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) asks city councils, as part of the insurance contract renewal process, to decide whether they want to waive the Minnesota statutory liability limit. These limits are $500,000 for an individual claim -

CORRECTIONS

ant and $1.5 million for all claimants for a single incident. If liability limits are waived, the liability limit goes up to $2 million per claimant and per incident. City staff recommended that council elect not to waive the liability limits. It has been the city’s annual policy not to waive the limits.

• After the Economic Development Authority interviewed candidates at its Dec. 28 meeting, upon a unanimous recommendation, council appointed Anthony Smith to fill a vacancy on that board, also unanimously

• Council adopted a resolution releasing the letter of credit for Kwik Trip Inc. In developing its site, Kwik Trip was required to post a security for the costs of constructing a right turn lane on Main Street (CSAH 14), as part of its development. The city received both a cash escrow and letter of credit covering the improvements, each in the same amount and each with enough funds to cover the costs.

This redundancy recently came to the attention of both Kwik Trip and city staff, so council released the letter of credit security for the right turn lane improvements and retained the cash escrow.

The council next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at City Hall, 1880 Main St.

Contributing Writer Loretta Harding can be reached by emailing news@ presspubs.com or calling 651-407-1200

• Dorner on the Cable Commission; Matt Percy, alternate

• Mayor Dave Bartholomay was again appointed by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to serve as co-chair of the Metropolitan Council Nominating Committee. The 15-member nominating committee, which recommends candidates for the Metropolitan Council to the governor, will host public meetings to accept statements from, or on behalf of, applicants for the positions on the Met Council.

• City personnel will receive one extra day of paid leave under a revised contract with Local 49 Union. Paid leave for employees at 0-5 years of service will increase from 16 to 17 days.

The Circle Pines City Council will next meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at City Hall.

Jackie Bussjaeger

On page 5 of the Jan. 10 edition of the Quad Community Press, the photo caption mistakenly said that Lexington Mayor Gary Grote was pictured taking the oath of office. The photo actually shows Lexington Council Member Kim DeVries taking the oath of office.

On page 2 of the Jan. 10 edition of the Quad Community Press, it stated that the “BeaterCross” event would be held at the Blacksmith Lounge. “BeaterCross” will actually be held at the Whitaker residence at 7195 137th St. on Jan. 28, and the “Older the Better” vintage snowmobile show will be held at the Blacksmith Lounge on Feb. 4. Press Publications regrets these errors.

Anoka County welcomes new county attorney

New Anoka County Attorney Brad Johnson was sworn into office at the Jan. 3 Anoka County Board of Commissioners’ organizational meeting.

County Attorney Johnson is the 25th elected Anoka County Attorney since the office was established in 1881.

He served the City of Coon Rapids for two terms as a City Council member, and he has more than 24 years of experience as an accomplished felony prosecutor, child protection lawyer and trial lawyer. He’s also a member of the Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council and a past member of the Anoka County Fire Protection Council. Johnson also served as manager on the Coon Creek Watershed District Board of Managers.

He is married to Daisy, a staff sergeant in the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard, and they have two children.

“I am thrilled to return to my hometown of Anoka and to work with the capable staff and attorneys in the Anoka County Attorney’s Office,” Johnson said. “Having the opportunity to make a positive difference in the community

that gave me my start in life means so much to me. I look forward to implementing our plan to improve relationships with all our criminal justice and court partners, to represent the county board and all the county departments, and to administer justice in a firm but fair manner that will be a credit to our community.”

CIRCLE PINES CITY COUNCIL SNIPPETS

CARTER JOHNSON

Council Member Kim DeVries takes the oath of office at the Jan. 5 Lexington City Council meeting.

CONTRIBUTED

County Attorney Brad Johnson takes the oath of office.

COPS&COURTS

POLICE REPORTS

The Centennial Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• An officer was dispatched to the 2000 block of South Highway Drive and Restwood Road for an individual slumped over in a vehicle on Jan. 5. An adult female was subsequently arrested for DWI.

• Officers responded to the scene of a motor vehicle property damage accident in the 300 block of Heritage Trail in Circle Pines Jan. 5. The accident occurred on private property in the alley, and both drivers exchanged their information.

• Police were called in response to suspicious activity with a suspected impaired driver in the 2000 block of Main Street in Centerville. A male passenger was located and transported to Vadnais Heights.

• An officer took a phone call report of attempted counterfeiting from Lexington on Jan. 5. The suspect is unknown and the case is currently inactive.

• Officers were dispatched to the 9200 block of Lexington Avenue for a hit-and-run accident report Jan. 5. Officers took information, and there are currently no known suspects.

• Officers were dispatched to the 9200 block of Lexington Avenue for a trespassing report on Jan. 7. The suspect was located and issued a citation for trespassing.

• Police responded to an address in Centerville for a domestic/civil issue on Jan. 7. One person was arrested and transported to jail.

• Officers located a male with a warrant in the 0 block of Pleasant View Lane in Circle Pines Jan. 9. A male was arrested and the scene was cleared.

• Police conducted a traffic stop in the 9700 block of Lake Drive on Jan. 10. The vehicle was found to be stolen. The driver was arrested and taken to jail. The vehicle was towed.

The Lino Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• A community service officer issued a citation for zoning violations in the 100 block of Morgan Lane on Jan. 3.

• On Jan. 3, an officer responded to a fight between two juvenile students at Centennial Middle School. The incident is being investigated by the school and law enforcement.

• A community service officer was dispatched to assist a motorist in the area of Main Street and Fourth Avenue on Jan. 3. Three vehicles were located in the ditch, and tows were arranged.

• A community service officer was dispatched to a vehicle in the ditch of the Interstate where the driver was unable to exit their vehicle on Jan. 3. The CSO assisted the driver out of the vehicle and provided transportation off the Interstate.

• An officer was dispatched to a motor vehicle property damage crash in the area of Black Duck Drive and Crystal Court on Jan. 3. The officer documented the incident and the parties involved were provided a case number.

• A community service officer responded to a school bus stuck in the intersection of 77th Street and Marilyn Drive on Jan. 3. A different bus arrived to pick up the kids and the bus company arranged a tow.

• Officers responded to a possible domestic assault on Jan. 3. The officers determined a crime was committed, arrested a male for domestic assault and transported him to jail.

• Officers responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle in the 6900 block of Otter Lake Road on Jan. 3. Officers made contact with the driver and cited them for driving after revocation.

• Officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Birch Street and Pheasant Hills Drive on Jan. 4 because the registered owner had a revoked license and an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Officers arrested the male and booked him at the Anoka County Jail. The male was also cited for driving after revocation.

• A business reported a theft in the 700 block of Town Center Parkway on Jan. 4. The investigation is ongoing.

An officer responded to assist Minnesota State Patrol on a crash on I-35W on Jan. 4. A driver was arrested for DWI by the State Patrol.

• An officer received a theft by swindle report from the 300 block of Sioux Court on Jan. 6. The case is currently being investigated.

• An officer responded to a report of ongoing harassing phone calls to a local business in the 400 block of Apollo Drive on Jan. 6. The suspect was advised to stop, or he would be charged.

• An officer responded to a single snowmobile accident with a male lying on the ground in the 900 block of Main Street on Jan. 7. The male was assessed by a paramedic and later declined transport to the hospital.

• Officers assisted another agency that requested help in taking a male into custody in the 1900 block of 72nd Street on Jan. 7. Officers arrived and the male was placed under arrest without incident.

• Officers responded to a report of a domestic assault at a private residence on Jan. 8. An adult male was arrested and booked at jail.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop at Lake Drive and Marketplace Drive on Jan. 8 for an equipment violation. Drug paraphernalia was located in the vehicle, and the driver was issued a citation for various violations.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for speeding in the 100 block of Ash Street on Jan. 8. The driver, who was under 21 years of age, was found to be in possession of alcohol. The driver was issued a citation and released.

• Officers attempted to arrest an adult male on two outstanding warrants in the 6200 block of Otter Lake Road on Jan. 9. The male was taken into custody and booked into Anoka County Jail for the warrants.

• The Centennial School Board will be joined by three newly elected board members for the 202223 school year: Tom Knisely, Gloria Murphy and Jessica Schwinn.

• Board member Chris Bettinger will continue to serve as school board chair, while Tom Knisely will serve as vice-chair, Sue Linser as secretary and Craig Johnson as treasurer.

• The board will not increase the annual stipend paid to board members. The chair is currently paid $5,700, the vice chair and clerk receive $5,500, the treasurer $5,100, and directors $4,900.

• Organizational items were established for 2023, including the following designations:

- Rupp, Anderson, Squires & Waldspurger; Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney; Knutson, Flynn & Deans; and Dorsey & Whitney as legal counsel

- Wold as architect

- Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich & Co. as district auditor

- Baker Tilly, Baird, PMA, PFM and Wells Fargo as financial advisers

- US Bank, PFM, PMA, Wells Fargo, Zions Bank and Computershare as official depositories

- Jody Josephson as official election clerk and Marsha Eichinger as assistant election clerk for school board elections in 2023

- The Quad Community Press as official newspaper

• The board has assigned its committee representatives for the year. These include:

- Tom Knisely on the Northeast Metropolitan Intermediate School District 916 Board

- Chris Bettinger and Sue Linser on the Centennial Area Education Foundation committee (CAEF)

- Chris Bettinger and Jessica Schwinn on the Schools for Equity in Education (SEE) committee

- Sue Linser on the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD)

- Bettinger, Knisely and Linser on the

Centennial Education Association negotiation committee

- Knisely and Schwinn on the Confidential Employees negotiation committee

- Bettinger and Johnson on the Custodial/ Maintenance negotiation committee

- Knisely and Johnson on the Food Service negotiation committee

- Linser and Schwinn on the Paraprofessionals negotiation committee

- Bettinger and Linser on the Principals Association negotiation committee

- Linser and Murphy on the Secretarial Association negotiation committee

- Knisely and Murphy on the Kids Club negotiation committee

- Linser on the Centennial Alternative Compensation System (CACS) committee

- Johnson on the Centennial Area Learning Center Advisory Board (CALC) committee

- Knisely and Murphy on the Community Education Advisory Council

- Murphy and Schwinn on the Systems Accountability Committee (SAC)

- Bettinger on the Quality Steering Committee (QSC)

- Johnson on the Transportation Safety committee

- Members will attend the Boundary Committee as needed

• The board approved its 2023-24 meeting calendar. Board meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at the District Office Board Room, while work study sessions are held at 5:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The board will meet next on Monday, Jan. 23.

CENTENNIAL SCHOOL BOARD SNIPPETS

CONTRIBUTED

Three new school board members took the oath of office at the Jan. 9 Centennial School Board Meeting.

Processing AI

This column was written with the help of ChatGPT-3 - a chatbot with 175 billion parameters. According to BBC Science Focus, ChatGPT-3 is a state-of-theart language processing Artificial Intelligence (AI) model. “Where we could spend hours researching, understanding and writing an article on quantum mechanics, ChatGPT can produce a wellwritten alternative in seconds.”

Some college students are using it to rewrite sentences or descriptions in papers, high school students could be using it to rewrite everything, and there is little a teacher or unknowing parent can do to prevent the use of AI in homework. AI has been in the headlines but I took an interest after our college-age daughter shared how groups were using it to write papers. AI is not new - what new is how complex it has become. Today Corporate America is using AI to write code, answer basic questions and manage and write reviews for hotel chains, airlines and online retailers. AI has been engaging in customer service and addressing bad reviews – by now we all may have interacted with a live chat box asking how it can help.

Publisher’s View Carter Johnson

Here at Press Publications, we can’t afford AI software to write stories. However, larger corporate entertainment and media publications and even some smaller papers have used it. One example where AI is often used is to write a sports story from box scores, saving a reporter’s valuable time. In that sense, AI could be a useful and efficient tool. Having AI write papers for college or high school students brings up the question of cheating. That’s not for me to decide, but what we all need to know is that AI is around us and will only increase its presence. As with any technology, AI needs guiding rules.

Ice dams

If you have noticed the beautiful icicles forming along your eaves, you may have ice dams building. They grow silently on the roof eaves and valleys of houses, causing water to back up under shingles. Sometimes it is because the home is lacking insulation or proper attic venting. We have fought ice dams on our homes. Ice rakes can be a solution, but our roof is too tall to rake from the ground in some areas, forcing me to climb up and manually remove the snow and ice. It’s extremely dangerous and I don’t recommend anyone doing it. If you’re struggling with icicles, especially those that have color, you should call an expert.

If you’re not able to afford a professional there are a few inexpensive methods people have shared with me. One is to use an ice melt product by filling a long sock or extra small nylon. Ice melt products come in the form of liquids, pucks, and granular. Consider air temperature and where it will be placed when choosing the right kind. If you have gardens or vegetation below, some ice melt products will kill plants or shrubs. Some are corrosive to metal and can be damaging to concrete. Magnesium chloride is considered a more environmentally-friendly option. Potassium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate are considered more pet-friendly. Once you choose your type of ice melt, make several logs by filling socks or nylons and toss them on the roof behind or on the ice dam to slowly melt it away. I have witnessed people using an axe or chisel to pound away at the ice dam, but this will damage your roof and is extremely dangerous. In extreme cases, heat tape can be installed on the ice dam areas to prevent damage by gently heating the snow and ice and preventing any build up. The best prevention of ice dams is a properly insulated roof and attics with ventilation to prevent the freeze- thaw buildup.

If you have an ice dam problem, its best to play it safe and call a professional. We have a several listed in our classified section. As with any contractor, get references, agree in writing to the services provided, how long it will take, and a price before they start. Ice dam removal is expensive but is often less than replacing drywall and painting after a leak happens. Check with your insurance carrier to see if your ice dams and water damage is covered.

Johnson is publisher of Press Publications.

Using stone in the home landscape

Merriam-Webster does not recognize “stonescaping” as an actual word, but Google gives plenty of definitions consistent with altering, improving or otherwise adding character to your landscaping by using stone. There are many ways to design with natural stone in the landscape.

the base, and the different sizes of stone and how they are used and layered. Once I mastered these basic principles, the building of the riverbed was easy, even though it was a lot of physical labor.

You can ensure this happens by building a wood frame and using string as your outline.

• One stone must always overlap two others.

• You must have a continuous layer of “through stones” halfway up the wall. These are large stones that extend through the wall, connecting the two sides to prevent them from separating.

Gardener’s Grapevine Nyle Zikmund

A simple cluster of rocks, a single boulder, a dry riverbed or a stacked stone wall are just a few examples. Like most landscaping methods, design is limited only by imagination and your canvas (the physical constraints of your yard). Construction is limited only by your passion and determination.

My wife and I had no experience with stonescaping, but she had a vision of a dry riverbed flowing through our yard. While I couldn’t picture it myself, I listened to her design ideas and researched construction procedures and suppliers. I learned a lot about quality weedbarrier fabrics, proper grading of

Buoyed by our success, our next project was more ambitious; a mortarless stone wall. We were looking for a feature that would serve as a border, but we didn’t want a fence. We unexpectedly found our inspiration on a walk at a retreat, and immediately started scouring the internet for educational opportunities and resources. We took a trip to the North Carolina Arboretum for some weekend classes, and a local stone supplier gave us supplies, books, suggestions and (most importantly) moral support. It wouldn’t be the Great Wall of China, but it would be our “great wall.”

The mortarless wall was a little more complex; there were some key engineering rules to keep in mind because you are building two walls of stone and holding them together as one without mortar:

• The base is the most important detail and needs three to four inches of compacted and leveled Class 5 gravel.

• The wall needs to taper or get narrower as it gets higher.

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Carter C. Johnson Publisher cjohnson@presspubs.com

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Our wall is now 20 years old and remains one of the signature components of our stonescaping. We selected Chilton, which is sourced from Wisconsin.

If you’ve admired stone structures but have been hesitant to create your own, there are many resources available on the internet to get you started. Even one well-placed boulder can add interest and a great backdrop for your favorite shrubs and perennials, and you’ll have a focal structure that will last for many years to come.

Mark your calendar for the Anoka County Master Gardeners’ Home Landscaping and Garden Fair on April 1 and Plant Sale on May 16 & 17, 2023. Visit anokamastergardeners. org for details.

By Nyle Zikmund, Anoka County Extension Master Gardener

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OBITUARY

Ruff Start Rescue Pet of the Week

This handsome fella, Ghost, is a recent arrival to Ruff Start Rescue from Texas. He is friendly to everyone he meets, and he is social with other dogs. In fact, a home with a securely fenced yard where he can run, explore and play, and maybe even a home with another dog or two, would suit him well. Ghost has even been to doggy day care since his arrival and he really seems to enjoy it.

Ghost is a Labrador retriever/ shepherd mix and weighs about 55 pounds. He likes to play fetch and go for car rides. He is

affectionate and eager to please.

Ghost is learning his basic commands and would do well in a formal training program as he continues to become his best self. Ghost is approximately 3 years old and has a high energy. He is anxious to find an active family or human who has time to spend with him and has as much love for him as he has to give. If you are interested in learning more about Ghost or adopting him, please fill out an application at www. ruffstartrescue.org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.

Jim Nelson

Jim Nelson, January 27, 1944 – January 5, 2023, age 78, of Brooklyn Park, formerly of Duluth and Circle Pines, passed away on January 5, 2023. Survived by loving wife of 60 years, Peggy; children, Ron (Kathy) Nelson, Jim (Bonnie) Nelson, Jody (Gary) Borgemenke; and grandchildren, Liz, Emily, Aaron, Ben, Kristin & Hannah. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 9185 Lexington Ave. NE, Circle Pines. Visitation at the church from 1:00 – 2:00 PM Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Sharing & Caring Hands or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Mueller-Bies 651-784-3390 www.muellerbies.com

A piece of the pie: Shed allowed on property line, with condition

CIRCLE PINES — It was an honest mistake, when Ruth Perlich and her husband, former Circle Pines mayor Keith Perlich, located their shed beside their garage on the edge of the neighboring property on Keith Road some years ago.

The shed was found to be in violation of the setback requirements according to city code, which state that such structures should sit at least 5 feet within the property line. However, the unique, “pie-shaped” dimensions of the property make it difficult to relocate the structure to a different part of the yard.

The residents requested a variance from the City Council to allow their shed, which contains a riding lawnmower, to remain where it is.

Due to the parcel’s restrictive shape, the City Council granted the variance request with one condition— if the house comes under new ownership, the shed must be removed from the property line.

Circle Pines Council Member Dean Goldberg ques-

tioned whether the age and ability of the residents was a factor in the decision of this case—would, for example, a 30-year-old couple be granted the same consideration?

“He’ll be 84 in a couple of weeks now,” Ruth Perlich said of her husband.

Council Member Matt Percy agreed that granting the variance might set a precedent for anyone else who violates ordinance, whether they’re aware of the violation or not.

City Administrator Patrick Antonen suggested that the shape of the parcel was more the issue. The only other available spots for the shed are directly in the sightline of the backyard, where the owners enjoy the view of their birdfeeders, or on another property line adjacent to a city-owned parcel.

“Both spots they looked at would need variances, and this was the easier spot,” Antonen said. “There already was a carport-type structure there, so it kind

of fit. If it wasn’t a pie-shaped lot, I don’t think there would be any issues here. You don’t see too many lots shaped like this in town.”

Mayor Dave Bartholomay added his thoughts.

“I don’t think about it as an age and ability thing,” he said. “It should have had a permit before it went in and shouldn’t have been there without a variance. It is there now.

“There have been a couple mistakes made, but I still think the Planning Commission was able to thread that needle correctly by saying, OK, it should have been done differently and better, but we’re here now. We can allow this to be here, and then will move when the property is sold, so we’ll kind of ameliorate the impact.”

Jackie Bussjaeger

HOCKEY ART: Poster art highlights the best of Hockey Day

FROM

BY JACKIE BUSSJAGER INTERIM QUAD EDITOR

Pucks will fly at the Hockey Day Minnesota festival in White Bear Township—and one local artist has captured the excitement in his vintage approach to the official event poster.

Steve Thomas, a Forest Lake resident, was approached by the organizers of Hockey Day Minnesota to create a poster that evoked the hockey history and hometown flavor of White Bear Township, the host site of this year’s festival. Events will take place Jan. 26-29 at Polar Lakes Park.

Thomas’ modern vintage style seemed uniquely suited to the huge event, especially considering the area’s extensive hockey history.

Part of the influence for his style comes from working in graphic design in newspapers. Visuals in the newspaper need to be bold, creative and

minimalistic color blocks and line art of Thomas’ retro posters.

“A lot of inspiration comes from the early 20th century travel posters and advertising,” Thomas said.

“It’s the graphic screen print look, that also includes

have to keep it somewhat simple and bold and easy to read.”

He has previously produced posters for big acts such as Pearl Jam, Blink 182 and the Pixies, as well as the 2011 commemorative poster for the Minnesota State Fair.

The poster is meant to incorporate elements from the hockey history of White Bear Township and surrounding area. The poster shows the White Bear Town Hall located in Polar Lakes Park, as well as familiar locations sch as the Hippodrome ice rink. The poster even includes a small portrait of Frank “Moose” Goheen, a White Bear Lake native who won two U.S. Amateur Hockey Championships with the St. Paul Athletic Club, enlisted in

White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake also make an appearance on the poster, and on the map of Minnesota, White Bear Township is pinpointed in the circles of the center ice like a bullseye.

Thomas added that he wanted to be sure to include a female player, because his daughter Rissa Thomas, a 9th grader, currently plays on the Centennial High School girls team. His three children occasionally make cameos in his various artwork. He also wanted to make sure a goalie was included in the work, since goalies are sometimes overlooked.

In addition to his work creating posters for prominent events and concerts, Thomas spends his time creating a wide selection of pop culture

This celebratory figure is a nod to female hockey teams.

To learn more about this year’s Hockey Day Minnesota festival, see inside for a special Press Publications insert.

1. Brynna Villalobos, 14, took this photo of a long-eared owl in early December near her home in Lino Lakes. She spotted the owl next to the driveway on her way home from school. Long-eared owls can be secretive and difficult to find— congrats, Brynna!

2. Lino Lakes resident LeAnn Michael photographed this barred owl hanging out in her neighbor’s yard on New Year’s Day.

Winter is one of the best times to observe owls in the wild! Between January and March, owls will be calling loudly to attract mates and defend territory, and they will find a protected spot in the trees to lay their eggs in January or February. While there are no leaves on the trees, large owls stand out as a large, blocky shape among the branches. Crows and chickadees will make a noisy ruckus when an owl is near to protect themselves and warn other animals that a deadly hunter is nearby.

CONTRIBUTED

CONTRIBUTED

Local artist Steve Thomas created the unique look of this year’s Hockey Day Minnesota poster.

A Gopher next year, O’Hara has unfinished business with Cougars

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

Next season, Lauren O’Hara will skate for the University of Minnesota, after making a huge impact with the Cougars over five years. Let’s let Gopher coach Brad Frost explain why he implored the Centennial star to join one of the premier college programs in the country.

“Lauren is a very smart forward who plays a strong game. She has great size and uses her reach to her advantage,” assessed Frost on signing day Nov. 9, when she was one of six recruits. “She has a high hockey IQ and makes an impact all over the ice. She has a knack for scoring goals or setting up her teammates.”

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound forward has rattled the nets for 22 goals, seven on power plays, and 10 assists this season for the No. 9 ranked Cougars (13-3-1). Notching her first three in eighth grade, she presently has 72 goals in her career, 23 on power plays, and 76 assists, for 148 points in 115 games.

Cougar coach Sean Molin echoed: “She’s 5-foot-11 and has an elite shot and finishing ability. She is smart and strong all around. Gets points on shots, one-timers, tips and dekes.”

As a senior, O’Hara and her skate mates are on a mission to make up for a searing disappointment two years ago. In her sophomore year, the Cougars beat longtime nemesis Maple Grove 3-2 for the section championship, then had the state tournament yanked away due to a positive COVID test on the team.

“It was heartbreaking to hear the news. Our team was devastated, because after our big section final win, we were all pumped to have the opportunity to play at the ‘X’ and compete in state. Our team’s goal this year is to play in the state tournament.”

O’Hara, daughter of Matt and Alissa, has two older brothers. It’s a hockey family. Josh, 20, and Alex, 19, played for Centennial. Matt played in high school and in the USHL. “I started playing hockey when I was five years old,” said Lauren, who also played soccer, softball and lacrosse for a time.

Asked about career highlights, O’Hara listed that section finals win over Maple Grove — she had two of the three goals — along with placing fifth in the U12 state tournament with her club team.

O’Hara joined varsity the year after Centennial’s two all-time scoring leaders — Gabbie Hughes, a Miss Hockey finalist, and Anneke Linser — led the Cougars to a state runner-up finish as seniors. Both are wrapping up productive college careers at Minnesota-Duluth this winter.

“I remember watching them take second place in the state tournament, which was really cool to see,” O’Hara said. “Since there was such an age gap, I didn’t know them well, but they were two players I looked up to in my youth.”

The Gopher coach first spotted O’Hara with her off-season team, the OS Whitecaps, and she verbally committed as a sophomore.

“I was fortunate to visit and talk with other schools. In the end I knew I wanted to play in the WCHA and be close to home,” O’Hara said. “After

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Centennial picked up conference wins two straight nights, over Forest Lake 56-43 there Thursday and Blaine 61-53 at home Friday, improving to 6-6 overall and 4-1 in the NWSC. Against Forest Lake, Macey Littlefield tallied 19 points, Emma Walsh 11 and Marisa Frost 10. Amelia Espelien had 16 for the Rangers (2-8). Against Blaine, Autumn McCall tallied 15 points, Frost 12 and Walsh 11. Molly Garber sank 16 for Blaine (6-3). The Cougars lost to Eastview 51-47 on Dec. 29. Frost had 14 points, Walsh nine and McCall eight.

GIRLS HOCKEY

Noelle Hemr delivered the overtime game-winner as Centennial/Spring Lake Park nipped East Ridge 2-1 at home Thursday. Hemr’s 10th goal came unassisted at 3:20 in the extra session. Lily Fetch scored for East Ridge (8-7) and Katie Ball tied it for CSLP (11-3-1). Ella O’Hearn assisted on two goals. Raptor goalie Annika Limpert made 32 shots and CSLP’s Kaitlin Groess made 17. The Cougars won the third-place game at the Breck Holiday Tournament over Breck 4-2 on Dec. 29 with all four goals in the second period, by Annabelle Buccione, Hemr and Lauren O’Hara (two). Annie Peterson made 25 saves.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Centennial is 2-6 after dropping conference games two straight evenings last week. Forest Lake made 11 three-pointers and blocked several

the Cougars

with Ryan Bohemian sinking 21 points and Zach Shusted 20. The Bengals made 11 three’s. Centennial was torrid — 38-for-70 overall, 12-for-27 on three’s — with Ty Burgoon hitting 26 points (11-for-19 on field goals) and Driessen 17 points (5-for-6 on three’s). Will Quick added nine. The Cougars lost to Brainerd (7-0) by 78-63 at St. Cloud State on Dec. 29. Quick and Timmy Ball had 12 points each and D’Agostino 10. Brainerd’s Nick Evanston tallied 25 points and Johnny Pecarich 21.

BOYS HOCKEY

Centennial collected goals from all their lines in victories over Spring Lake Park 10-0 there Thursday and Coon Rapids 6-0 at home Saturday, improving to 6-3-1. Nine Cougars found the net against SLP (3-7-1): Drake Ramirez (twice), Nick Carls, Sam Menne, Peyton Blair, Casey Coenen, Tanner Graczyk, Alex Clampitt, Heath Nelson and Harper Searles. Easton Cody made 13 saves. Six players notched goals against the Cardinals (5-6): Blair, Searles, Ramirez, Austin Petersen, Menne, and Palmer Lamay. Blair and Searles made two assists each. Gavin Schahn in goal made 14 saves.

SWIMMING

Centennial placed fifth of 12 teams in the Fargo Border Battle meet Saturday. Fargo Davies was champion. Cougar senior Max Scheurer placed third in points as he won the backstroke (1:00.20) and took second in individual medley (2:03.47). George Atkinson was sixth in the 200 free and seventh in the butterfly. Alex Larkin was eighth in backstroke and butterfly. Tyler Celotta placed eighth in diving, Joseph Murray 10th in 50 free, Benno Schuhbauer 11th in backstroke, Isaac Nguyen 12th in IM, and Ben Condon 12th in 100 free. Top relay finish was the medley team of Atkinson, Scheurer, Larkin and Condon placing fourth (1:45.07). The Cougars (3-0 in duals) beat Cham-

plin Park 110-76 there on Thursday. Event winners were Condon (500 free, 5:32.15), Scheurer (backstroke, 1:00.50), Talen Greeson-Stormoen (breaststroke, 1:16.32), and all three relays with Caleb Cregan, Nguyen, Scheurer, Murray, Larkin, Condon and Jacob Taylor contributing.

ALPINE

Jordin Flohaug, Centennial freshman, was the girls individual winner at a Northwest Suburban Conference meet at Wild Mountain on Thursday. The Cougar girls and boys teams both placed fourth of 11 schools. Blaine was champion for both and had the firstplace boy, Lucas VanWechel. Flohaug posted times of 38.90 (second place) and 32.94 (fifth) for a total of 1:11.84, earning her first NWCS win by a margin of .9 over Anoka’s Stella Gronski. Brooke Halverson placed 13th, Annie Trettle placed 18th and Katie Tensing 22nd. Bruce Johnson led the Cougar boys, placing 14th. Owen Crandall took 20th. Luke Lofgren, a senior in his first year of Alpine, placed 23rd.

WRESTLING

Centennial placed 10th of 12 teams in Buffalo’s Gerry Bakke Memorial In-

my visit to Minnesota it just felt right, the coaching staff, meeting the team, seeing their facilities and campus.”

O’Hara will be the first Cougar woman to play for the Gophers. Ryan Flynn, a member of Centennial’s 2004 state champion team, had four seasons with the Gopher men, from 2006-10.

PHOTO BY JON NAMYST

Lauren O’Hara, Gophers recruit, has racked up 148 career points for the Cougars.

SPORTS BRIEFS

shots to defeat the Cougars 70-51 on Thursday. Owen Waldoch and Brennan Sauvageau led the Rangers (3-6) with 16 points each. Jackson Driessen netted 11 points and Jack D’Agostino 10 for Centennial. Blaine outshot

86-73 on Friday,

vitational on Saturday. Cougar junior Marcus Whiting (11-3) placed second at 220 pounds with a bye, pin, 6-3 win, and loss by pin in the finals. Placing third were junior Michael Streff (7-5) at 195 and senior Owen Hackett (5-7) at 285, each winning two of three matches. Tyler Cook, freshman at 170, won twice, then lost twice to place sixth.

Bruce Strand

PHOTO BY JON NAMYST

Emma Walsh of the Cougars gets inside to score against Forest Lake.

PHOTO BY BRUCE STRAND

Marcus Whiting was about to get a pin over a Buffalo opponent on the way to third place at 220 pounds.

Drake Ramirez has delivered nine goals and nine assists for the Centennial hockey team, including three goals and two assists in a pair of conference wins last week by the Cougars (6-3-1). The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward’s career totals are 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points in 59 games over three years, helping the Cougars post a 39-14-5 record. “Drake is one of the grittiest players on the team,” said coach Ritch Menne. “He has zero problem going to the tough areas on the ice. With that toughness, ‘Ramir’ also brings a ton of skill — with his skating, puck control, and especially his shot.”

DONATE YOUR CAR truck or boat to He ritage For The Blind. Free 3-day va cation, tax deductible, fr ee to wing, all pape rwork taken care of 844/220-9501

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THE GENERAC PWRCELL

EQUAL HOUSING 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 status, or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such preferen ce, limitation or discriminat ion.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal cu stod ians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not kn owingly accept any ad vertising for real esta te which is in violation of the law. Our readers ar e hereby informed 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: 1-800-669-9 777.

The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

Tidbits

After a punishing cold December, January’s milder temperatures have been a welcomed relief. Not only has January brought us milder temperatures and a heavy snowfall, but we can now throw in this past Monday’s rain. I’m not sure I like rain in January because all it takes is a few degrees and it freezes. It looks like we were able to avoid an ice storm as temperatures stayed above freezing. Right now it looks like our mild January will continue. I’m loving the later sunset times! Note: My 2023 weather calendar is available at Lake Country Bookseller in Downtown White Bear Lake or visit WeathermanWatson.com to order. Thanks

City of Willernie Maintenance

time. Must be able to work independently and be bondable.

$60,000 to $80,000 depending on experience and qualifications. Job description and application on line at www.Willernie.Org, or can be acquired at Willernie City Hall, 111 Wildwood Road, Willernie, Minnesota Mon-Thur. a. m. 9-12, or call for an appointment (651) 429-2977. Application deadline February 10, 2023.

FROM PAGE 1

read

The second reason is there are countries that are unable to make good lenses because they can’t afford the proper tools to make them. They don’t have the money and resources that we are fortunate to have in our country.

People in developing countries could lose their jobs because they can’t afford to buy eyeglasses. Some family businesses could be closed down because they are unable to see what they’re making. Other people could need glasses if their jobs involve driving

vehicles.

So, if you have a pair of eyeglasses that are collecting dust in a closet or nightstand, we need them. Please give eyeglasses to a student attending Blue Heron Elementary, or send your donated eyeglasses to Blue Heron Elementary c/o Mr. Gutbrod’s Grade 5 Class (405 Elm Street, Lino Lakes, MN 55014). We will be taking your donated eyeglasses until the end of May. Your donation will go a long way to changing people’s lives. Thank you.

PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES

to our Stormwater Management Regulations to comply with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and their mandates resulting from our storm water discharge (MS4) permit audit conducted in 2022. Deficiencies were noted in our regulations during the review process. These mandated amendments by MPCA are noted in Ordinance No. 23-01 – Chapter 13 Storm water Management Regulations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Lexington, due to the lengthy nature of this Ordinance, has directed that this title and summary be prepared for publication pursuant to Minn. Stat. 412.191, Subd. 4

The Council finds that the following text clearly informs the public of the intent and effect of Ordinance 23-01, and hereby approves the following summary text for publication:

“SUMMARY PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE 23-01.

ORDINANCE NO. 23-01 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 13 OF THE LEXINGTON CODE OF ORDINANCES– STORMWATER MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LEXINGTON, MINNESOTA IN ACCORDANCE WITH MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY (MPCA) REQUIREMENTS

NOTICE: the full text of this Ordinance is available for public inspection at Lexington City Hall located at 9180 Lexington Avenue, Lexington, MN 55014, during regular office hours.”

WHEREAS, Passed by the City Council of Lexington, Minnesota this 5th day of January 2023.

Gary Grote, Mayor Attest: Bill Petracek, City Administrator Published one time in the Quad Community Press on January 17, 2023.

CITY OF LINO LAKES ANOKA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AD FOR BIDS WATERMARK PARK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Bids for the construction of Watermark Park will be received online through QuestCDN vBid™ until Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 1:00 PM local time. Immediately following expiration of the time for receiving bids, representatives of the City of Lino Lakes will publicly view Bids at an online Bid opening meeting. Those interested in viewing the online Bid opening are welcome to join the meeting by logging on to https://zoom. us/join or calling 646-931-3860 and entering Meeting ID 957 4004 1620 and Passcode 930163. The as-read online Bid results will be available at www. questcdn.com following the Bid opening. The Project includes the furnishing of all

Lino Lakes shall comply with the provisions of the statute.

Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at www. questcdn.com. Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the website for a nonrefundable fee of $55 by inputting Quest project #8368833 on the website’s Project Search page.

The website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the website www.questcdn.com. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from other sources.

Bids will only be accepted via the electronic bidding service through QuestCDN.

The City Council reserves the right to reject any and all Bids and to waive any Bids received without explanation. No Bid may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days.

For all further requirements regarding Bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

DATED: January 19, 2023, BY THE ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL Rick Degardner, Public Services Director, City of Lino Lakes Published two times in the Quad Community Press on January 17 and 24, 2023.

CITY OF LINO LAKES COUNTY OF ANOKA

SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 10-22

AMENDING SECTION 1011 RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF STORMWATER, EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL Section 1. Amendments.

COUNTY OF ANOKA, STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 23-04

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LEXINGTON, MINNESOTA, APPROVING SUMMARY PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCE WHEREAS, January 5, 2023, the City Council adopted amendments

Chapter 1011, Stormwater, Erosion and Sediment Control is hereby amended by updating regulatory requirements including modification or addition of new definitions, updating of administrative references, and adoption of certain Rice Creek Watershed District Rules and Vadnais Lakes Area Water Management Organization rules by reference within the following sections: Section 1011.001 Title 1011.002 Findings 1011.003 Jurisdiction 1011.004 Statutory authority 1011.005 Adoption by reference 1011.006 Definitions 1011.007 Applicability 1011.008 Exemptions 1011.009 Reserved 1011.010 Grading, erosion and sediment control requirements 1011.011 Stormwater management requirements 1011.012 Inspections and maintenance 1011.013 Plan review procedure 1011.014 Financial securities 1011.015 Enforcement 1011.016 Abrogation and greater restrictions Section 2: Effect. This ordinance shall be in force and effect from and after its passage and publication according to the Lino Lakes City Charter Passed by the Lino Lakes City Council January 9, 2023.

Rob Rafferty, Mayor

ATTEST: Hannah Lynch, City Clerk. Published one time in the Quad Community Press on January 17, 2023.

CENTENNIAL SCHOOLS

Logan Anderson, center back, along with fellow classmates in Mr. Gutbrand’s 5th grade class at Blue Heron Elementary are requesting donations of used eyeglasses to help others in need.

CONTRIBUTED

Mayor Gary Grote (left) and Council Member Robert Benson take the oath of office at the Jan. 5 Lexington City Council meeting.

LEXINGTON CITY COUNCIL

MEMORY CARE: Atlas Villas feels like home

FROM PAGE 1

machine uses tokens, which can help residents maintain dexterity.

The back of the facility faces a pond and residential neighborhood, adding to the homelike comfort.

On its main “street,” the villa boasts a mini movie theater. When there are no films being screened, videos of sensational locations such as the Las Vegas strip, Parisian streets and beaches of Hawaii play on the screen, providing a soothing backdrop and place to pass some quiet time. The theater is constructed of concrete to serve as a storm shelter.

Audio cues such as the sound of gentle rain showers let residents

know when it’s time to eat. Engaging the senses as much as possible is a key component of memory care. A virtual fish tank is located in the dining area—a stimulus that is thought to help encourage appetite.

Just inside the doors, a counter opens to a fully stocked industrial kitchen. A particular highlight is the ice cream bar—an enjoyable option for everyone, but especially helpful for those who struggle to eat regularly and maintain a healthy body weight.

A group of 16 is the ideal number of residents, Rick noted. Each resident will receive much more personal attention than they would at a larger facility, and social events

The Lino Lakes City Council has made its committee appointments and official designations for the coming year. These include:

– Council Member Dale Stoesz as acting mayor

– Quad Community Press as legal newspaper

– Barna, Guzy & Steffen; Kennedy & Graven; Rupp, Anderson, Squires & Waldspurger and Geck, Duea & Olson as legal services

– Barna, Guzy & Steffen; Riley, Dettman & Kelsy and BakerTilly as labor services

– BakerTilly as fiscal agent

– Anoka County as assessor

– Stoesz on the North Metro Telecommunications Committee; Council Member Tony Cavegn, alternate

– Mayor Rob Rafferty on the Vadnais Lake Watershed District

– Council members Chris Lyden and John Swenson on the County Corrections Program

– Cavegn and Swenson on the Joint Law Enforcement Council

– Council Member Mike Ruhland on the Anoka County Fire Protection Council; Rafferty, alternate

– First Resource Bank, LMC 4M Fun, PMA Financial Network, PMA Securities, Moreton Capital Markets and US Bank as city depositories

– Hannah Lynch as city treasurer

– WSB & Associates as city engineer

– Sarah Cotton as data practices officer

– Redpath & Company as city auditor

– Sarah Cotton on Twin Cities Gateway; Stoesz, alternate

– Dean Quimny on the Anoka County/ Blaine Airport Advisory Council

– Swenson as hearing officer; Rick DeGardner,

are comfortable but not overwhelming. The in-house chef can even customize meal plans to fit residents’ preferences.

There is quite a bit of technology at work behind the scenes. The facility is equipped with 43 cameras, and residents can opt in to in-room cameras.

In-floor heating ensures a comfortable temperature for elderly residents, and an automatic electrical generator provides power for heating and air conditioning even when the weather affects the power supply. Rooms are cable-ready, and Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Each room also has a built-in reading light with a dimmer, an

adjustable thermostat and a pull cord to summon staff.

Atlas Villas has contracted with a local salon to provide haircut and spa services. The spa area also includes a walkin tub for residents who would like to take a bath.

The Centerville location is only a start for Amber and Rick. Once it is up and running, they plan to expand Atlas Villas to future locations, possibly in Blaine and Stillwater.

To learn more about Atlas Villas, visit https:// atlasvillasmemorycare. com.

The main “street” of Atlas Villas is designed to have a personalized feel, with old-fashioned lampposts and a personal front porch

alternate

– Mike Ruhland, Rob Rafferty and Chris Lyden on the Local Board of Appeal & Equalization Training

– TimeSaver Inc. for secretarial services

• The intersection of Main Street and Sunset Avenue may soon be looking a little more circular—Anoka County plans to install a traffic roundabout in 2024. This project has been proposed to address growing traffic volumes and safety concerns at the intersection. A complete preliminary design is expected in June 2023, and project completion is scheduled for November 2024. Funding from the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program is pending. A public virtual open house is planned for Jan. 10-24, and an in-person open house will take place at Sunrise Elementary School in Blaine on Jan. 25.

• Two smoke shops in the Lino Lakes area—Lino Lakes Tobacco Inc. and AK Smoke Zone Inc.— will now be able to sell edible cannabinoid products after their license applications were accepted by City Council.

• The Centerville Lions will be able to sell raffle tickets and serve alcohol and food at its Feb. 18 Ice Fishing Contest event on Centerville Lake, after City Council approved a special event permit.

• Five new part-time employees will be staffing The Rookery Activity Center. These positions include two lifeguards, a swim instructor, a child care staff person and a manager on duty.

• A new labor agreement with LELS Local No. 299 means that union members will see a 3% wage increase and increased stipends for investigators, school resource officers and firefighters, among other changes.

• A $20,000 grant from the Coss Family Foundation will help support an expansion of the wellness enhancements program for fire division personnel. Previously, only police were able to take advantage of wellness enhancements through health organization Provicta, since the only available funding was through law enforcement forfeiture funds. The

donation will be deposited into a city escrow account.

• The city’s stormwater management policy has been updated to conform with language, definitions and standards in line with state requirements as well as the rules and requirements of the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) and Vadnais Lake Area Watershed Management Organization (VLAWMO).

• The construction company busy on its plans for the Watermark HOA Clubhouse will also provide the city with a shared-use driveway and parking lot for the adjacent public park. The city will reimburse U.S. Home LLC (Lennar) for the out-of-pocket costs related to this site improvement project, which is not to exceed $138,922.

The City Council will next meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at City Hall, preceded by a 6 p.m. work session.

JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

for each resident.

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY “500”

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday Jan 19; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N. Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited.

Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo. com

WHIMSICAL WIGS WORKSHOP

When: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17

Where: Centennial Library, 100 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines Details: Make wigs for kids going through cancer treatment. Free; supplies provided. RSVP. Contact: whimsicalwigsMN@gmail.com

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST: WILDLIFE TRACKING

When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m Wednesday, Jan. 18

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes Details: Bring a lunch and join a naturalist in this monthly presentation and possibly stroll the trails. Free.

Contact: 763-342-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

WORLD SNOW SCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIP

When: Jan. 18-22

Where: Lowell Park, Stillwater Details: Teams from around the world compete for the World Champion title. Social events and activities for the whole family. Contact: worldsnowsculptingstillwatermn.com

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW: WILDLIFE TRACKING SERIES

When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 21

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

Details: Learn how to distinguish the varying tracks of local wildlife with a certified wildlife tracker. Registration required. Contact: 763-342-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

WBCA WINTER OPEN HOUSE

When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave.

Details: Free activities for the whole family, including clay experimentation, ice sculpting, dog sleds, and more. Details and registration online. Contact: whitebeararts.org

2ND ANNUAL AUXILIARY CHILI CONTEST AND BAKE SALE

When: 1-2 p.m. Sunday, Jan 22 Where: Hugo American Legion, 5383 140th St. N. Details: Sample a variety of chili and vote for People’s Choice award for a $5 fee. Contact: 651-255-1432

CRIBBAGE

When: 12:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23; the 4th Monday of every month Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N. Details: Senior citizens from Hugo and surrounding area are invited to an afternoon of cribbage. Coffee and refreshments served. Contact: 651-429-4413

HOCKEY DAY MN 2023

When: Jan. 26-29

Where: Polar Lakes Park, 1280 Hammond Rd., White Bear Township

Details: Weekend of frozen fun with outdoor hockey games including Stillwater and Forest Lake high school teams, outdoor concerts and activities all weekend. See schedule of games and events online. Contact: hockeydaymn.com

SNOW DAY

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes Details: Participants of all ages can partake in activities including snowshoeing, ice fishing, kicksledding, fat tire biking, winter crafts, live animals and more. Free.

Contact: 763-342-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

WINTER FESTIVAL

When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28

Where: Wildlife Science Center, 22830 Sunrise Rd. NE, Stacy

Details: Learn about dogsledding and meet mushers and their teams. Demos, dog sled rides, campfires, food trucks, beer and other vendors. Contact: wildlifesciencecenter.org

ST.

PAUL HIKING CLUB

When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29

Where: Rice Creek Elementary, 575 Birch St., Lino Lakes Details: Hike is approx. 5 miles on pave trails and streets. Contact: stpaulhike.com