Shoreview Press by Press Publications

2025 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW

The countdown is on. The 94th session of the Minnesota Legislature begins Jan. 14. Members will take oaths of office, elect leaders and officers. Learn about local lawmakers’ priorities for 2025 in Press Publications’ Legislative Preview inside. See pages 11 & 12.

CONTRIBUTED Viacheslaw Pereta (Ukrainian, born 1977). “Playtime, in the Garden”, 2003. Oil paint on canvas. 18 3/4 × 26 3/4 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2024.124.34.

The Cafesjian Art Trust Museum’s (CAT) new exhibit, “Echoes of Life: Paintings from the Collection,” will showcase a selection of diverse moments that make up the human experience. The exhibit will open on Jan. 24 and run until Sept. 6. “This selection of paintings collected by my father Gerard Cafesjian (19252013) throughout his lifetime is another wonderful example of his diverse and eclectic artistic tastes,” said Kathie

CAT MUSEUM, PAGE 2

Apartment complexes a new possibility on Owasso Street

BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR

Urban Works LLC, on behalf of Tycon Companies, has submitted a planned unit development (PUD) concept stage application for the redevelopment of the Midland Terrace Apartments located at 3529 Owasso Steet.

Phase 1 of the proposal includes the replacement of the existing 1.5-story leasing office/fitness center with a mixed-use building that includes apartment units, a fitness center and 2,500 square feet of office space. The project is being called The Midland 29. Currently, the Midland Terrace Apartments consists of 387 dwelling units spread out over nine

three-story residential buildings. There are also 10 detached garages, surface parking and a leasing office/fitness center.

The lot where The Midland 29 is proposed contains the existing leasing office/fitness center, two of the nine apartment buildings and two detached garages. The site also has a portion of the Harriet Pond wetlands in the southeast corner.

“The applicant has a long-term plan to redevelop the entire site,” said Allison Eddins, senior planner. “There is no timeline yet, but we are looking at a 15–20-year timeline perhaps for the entire redevelopment (project).”

Kelly Moller District 40A

John Marty District 40

Heather Gustafson District 36 Elliott Engen District 36A

Brion Curran District 36B

Matt Norris District 32B

Karin Housley District 33

Patti Anderson District 33A

The Midland 29 would be located at 3529 Owasso Street in Shoreview.

We Do the Heavy Lifting for You!

Cafesjian Baradaran, president and CEO of the CAT.

The artwork featured in the exhibition will focus on universal elements of our shared humanity—a strong sense of place, a specific moment in time or a particularly relatable character. These painted “echoes of life” may feel familiar or may introduce an entirely new way to see the world.

“What unites our different artworks in this exhibition is their shared ability to capture the essence of everyday life,” said Linnea Seidling, director of communications and events. “Each piece is easy to understand and relate to, and offers a unique perspective on a universal theme, inviting us to consider the interconnectedness of our experiences. We think that in our divided times, works like these might particularly resonate.”

The CAT has designed multiple ways for visitors to engage with the exhibition content. For the first time in the museum’ history, visitors will be able to visit the museum without a reservation every Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. throughout the run of the exhibition.

“We have had so much

interest from visitors that getting a coveted tour reservation has become a challenge,” Baradaran said. “So, we’re making a change and encouraging visitors to drop by any time on Saturdays – no reservation or ticket needed! We hope to welcome even more people through our doors, especially families and those who work during the week.”

The museum will continue to offer docent-led guided tours on Thursdays and Fridays, still by reservation

only. Docents will be available on Saturdays for visitors to answer questions and lead tours. An opening reception for “Echoes of Life” will be held Friday, Jan. 24. Drop-in Saturdays will begin Jan. 25. Tickets for the reception will be available starting Jan. 3. See www.cafesjianarttrust. org for more details. The CAT is located at 4600 Churchill St., Shoreview.

Madeline Dolby

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Jan Roëde (Dutch, 1914–2007). “Aparte Werkelijkheid II”, 1978-1995. Oil paint on canvas. 44 3/4 × 57 1/4 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2024.265.1.

Benjamin Walter Spiers (British, 1845 – 1894). “Old Armour, Prints, Pictures, Pipes, China (All Crack’d), Old Rickety Tables, and Chairs Broken Back’d”, 1882. Watercolor paint, gouache, and pencil on paper. 27 1/4 × 48 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2024.320.

David Rickert (American, born 1939). “Minneapolis Sunday Morning”, 1991. Acrylic paint on canvas. 27 1/2 × 39 3/4 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2024.321.1.

WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING

CONTRIBUTED

ONGOING EVENTS

DROP IN MAH JONGG

When: 1 p.m. Thursdays

LAKESHORE QUILTERS GUILD

MONTHLY MEETING

When: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28

Where: Shepherd of the Hills Church, near entrance, Door G, 3920 Victoria St. N., Shoreview

Details: Annual business meeting to approve the 2025 budget, welcome new officers and committees. Program is “Sew Inviting.” The shop owner will discuss pattern printing and more. Visitors are welcome. Contact: lakeshorequiltersmn.org

Where: Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N.

Details: Bring your tiles and your

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

friends for drop-in play. All levels welcome. No registration required.

Contact: 651-490-4700

500 CARD CLUB

When: 12:30 p.m. Mondays

Where: Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N.

Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office receives fire suppression tools

CONTRIBUTED

The St. Paul Freemasons Grand Lodge of Minnesota and Minnesota Masonic Charities have donated three portable fire suppression tools to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.

The St. Paul Freemasons Grand Lodge of Minnesota and Minnesota Masonic Charities have donated three portable fire suppression tools (FST) to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.

A FST is a portable device designed to quickly extinguish small fires by rapidly cooling the flames. If a deputy is first on the scene of a fire, they can pull a pin on the device and toss it into the blaze, knocking down the flames and helping to reduce the temperature.

Man pleads guilty in victim dismemberment

Joseph Steven Jorgenson pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional murder in connection with the killing and dismembering of Manijeh Starren in April 2023 and Fanta Xayavong in September 2021. As part of the plea agreement with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Jorgenson will serve two

POLITICAL BRIEFS

Special election will fill vacant House District 40B seat

Governor Tim Walz has issued a writ of special election to fill a vacancy in the House District 40B in Ramsey County following the resignation of Representative-elect Curtis Johnson.

A special election to fill the vacancy will be held Tuesday,

CALENDAR BRIEFS

Kids Corner Preschool open house

Stop by the Shoreview Community Center from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, and learn about the Kids Corner Preschool program. Meet teachers and see the various classrooms and amenities.

Kids Corner Preschool offers full-day prekindergarten

Details: Cards and conversation. No partner required.

Contact: 651-490-4700

CURRENT EVENTS

EASTSIDE BAND FESTIVAL

When: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16

Where: Mounds View High School, 1900 Lake Valentine Road, Arden Hills

Contact: 651-621-7100

SNOWVENTURES

When: 1-3 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 21; 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28

Where: Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township

Details: Suitable for ages 6-12.

Embrace winter and try some of its activities. Each week cross-country ski, snowshoe or learn about winter survival.

Contact: ramseycounty.us

concurrent 480-month sentences. He will be sentenced on Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. in Ramsey County District Court.

According to the criminal complaint, St. Paul Police received a missing person call from Ms. Starren’s father in April 2023. Over the next few weeks, investigators visited her apartment, reviewed video surveillance, her social media accounts and EBT account history. The investigation led officials to believe that Jorgenson was the primary suspect in her disappearance and murder.

A review of Jorgenson’s Google and Gmail accounts led authorities to suspect that he had indeed killed Ms. Starren and dismembered her. While her apartment looked perfectly normal, St. Paul Police forensic technology was able to locate a substantial amount of blood that was not visible to the naked eye, as it had been cleaned. Keys recovered from Jorgenson’s apartment led investigators to a storage facility in Woodbury, where they located the victim’s dismembered remains in two separate coolers as well as a large bag.

During the first homicide investigation, authorities uncovered evidence of a second victim, Xayavong, with whom Jorgensen had a relationship back in 2021. Investigators found her remains in a separate storage locker in Coon Rapids and tied evidence back to Jorgenson committing the offense at his Shoreview residence. Prosecutors were able to obtain an admission of guilt regarding Xayavong’s death.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office (RCAO) has not received any additional homicide cases from law enforcement involving Jorgenson. As part of the plea agreement, the RCAO will dismiss a separate arson case filed on June 28, 2023.

Avian influenza on the rise

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRCM) has been closely monitoring a new variant of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been affecting global wildlife for the past four years. Cases are on the rise as the virus mutates and birds flock for the winter. Birds suffering from influenza are often spotted on the ground, lethargic, stumbling

Jan. 28. If necessary, a special primary election for nomination of candidates will be held Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Candidate forum for special election set in Roseville

A candidate forum for the special election for the House 40B seat will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

preparedness classes and half-day preschool classes. Registration for the 2025-2026 school year begins Jan. 22.

Those interested in competing in the Piece Out Puzzle Contest will need to get their team together for the second annual jigsaw puzzle

Thursday, Jan. 16, in the Roseville City Hall Council Chambers. The forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters, will be livestreamed on NineNorth Cable or online at ninenorth.org. The forum will be recorded and can be viewed after the event.

Candidates are David Gottfried (DFL) and Paul Wikstrom (GOP).

competition from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 8.

Teams of up to four people will compete to finish a 500-piece puzzle in the shortest amount of time. The competition will take place at the New Brighton Community Center, 400 10th St. NW. Puzzles are provided. Register your team through the Shoreview Parks and Recreation catalog by Jan. 25.

GALLERY 96 OPENING: ‘COMPLEMENTARY COLORS’

When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22

Where: Shoreview Library, 4560

Victoria St. N.

Details: Gallery 96 Art Center invites you to join them for an opening night reception of their winter member exhibition entitled “Complementary Colors.” Contact: www.gallery96.org.

AARP SMART DRIVER

When: 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23

Where: Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N.

Details: Taught by AARP trained instructors. Learn safe driving techniques to help keep you and your loved ones safe on the road. Register one week before class. Contact: shoreviewmn.gov.

and twisting their necks around. Residents must carefully remove the bird while wearing gloves and a face mask if they come across a bird exhibiting these actions. The bird should be placed in a disposable box disinfected with bleach after use and brought directly to the center. Removing these sick birds from the wild can help save lives by preventing the spread to other birds and mammals, including humans, that can contract the virus.

Possible dwelling fire brings in Lake Johanna Fire Department

Just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, fire crews were dispatched to a possible dwelling fire in the 5000 block of Hamline Avenue N. C101 arrived to find smoke coming from the garage. Upon investigating, wood was found on fire next to the burner. C101 canceled auto aid. The Lake Johanna Fire Department crews remained on scene to overhaul.

The Newspaper shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of the advertisement. The Newspaper shall not be liable or responsible for any error in any advertisement except to give the Advertiser credit for so much of the space occupied by the advertisement as is materially affected by the error; credit shall be by refund or republication of the advertisement at the election of the Newspaper. Such credit shall not be given for more than one incorrect insertion unless the Publisher is notified in writing of the error before the repetition of the insertion. When the Advertiser wishes to correct or change copy submitted as a "proof," the Newspaper shall not be liable for the changes or corrections unless they are received by the Newspaper within a reasonable length of time before the deadline for publication. If an advertisement is requested to run after copy deadline, the Newspaper will not honor an adjustment request if an error occurs. No specific page or position shall be guaranteed. The Advertiser or Agency shall indemnify the Newspaper for any attorney 's fees incurred in defending against claims, pay any judgments against the Newspaper, and pay associated expenses and losses that are caused by the publication of any advertisement submitted by or published at the direction of the Advertiser or Agency, including claims for libel, copyright infringement, and invasion of privacy.

N ORTH METRO FIRE BUFF | CONTRIBUTED

The Lake Johanna Fire Department was dispatched to a possible dwelling fire in the 5000 block of Hamline Avenue N.

Skip the resolutions

Habits are hard to change, so skip the resolutions. It may be a good idea to have your spouse, children and other special friends help you make them. You know what I mean? Be gentle, be kind, be encouraging, and that’s not always easy.

In all our newspapers we try to celebrate success, years of service, and enter contests within the associations for quality of work.

About the Town

The Press celebrates years of service of staff members. On a snowy day in December, Myrna Press reached the 17-year mark at the front desk as executive assistant to Carter and Gene. At the end of the day, she was presented a gift for being the first one at work that day, as a number of employees surrounded her with accolades of loyalty and competence. When asked, “What made you come in on this snowy day, or at least not come in until a little later?” she answered, “It’s just how I was raised.” She grew up on a farm in North Dakota where a strong work ethic was expected. Maybe by now you have found it interesting that her last name is Press.

Last call for ballots

I thought our November state and national elections were over. They are still counting ballots and there is likely to be some re-elections where ballots can’t be found right here in Minnesota.

On the presidential side, there were people who were surprised at the outcome. Maybe there were lessons learned. Minnesotans were frustrated with the spending that had been going on and the corruption in food programs for children, not holding construction and software companies to their bids, dealing with the safety of light rail and the overruns of the light rail construction in the southwest metro. The project is now delayed nine years.

People voted across the country and showed their displeasure with government leadership, the expansion of government, and the excessive programs affecting the economy.

The future challenges will include controlling medical costs, immigration, insurance rates, and inflation which far exceeds incomes.

It was another indication that every vote counts, if they got counted.

Generational living

A trend is emerging of multi-generational housing. Homes that have adult siblings, adult children over the age of 18, and parents and/or grandparents residing with the primary home buyer. A local realtor, Joe Benson, sent me some information on this statistic. Between 2013 and 2024 it has been gaining traction. Seventeen percent of homes purchased last year were multi-generational households.

A number of factors bring this about, such as high interest rates and housing costs. It also points to the growth of condominiums and large rental units, especially near freeways, light rail and inner-city housing. Storms and fires caused many people to lose their homes.

Memory lane

Conversations with friends who are of similar ages to this 88-year-old bring around words like fender skirts, steering knobs, curb feelers, emergency brakes, and a clutch or a dimmer switch.

What about running boards? Waiting in the driveway for your daddy to come home so you could ride up to the house on the running board on the outside of the car.

Do you remember the days when your home had hardwood floors and then you would cover them wallto-wall with carpeting?

The coffee maker was a changeout from a percolator and we changed words for Dyna Flow and Electrolux vacuums. The word supper is on the way out, being replaced by dinner.

Try this in conversations. It can be fun.

Gene Johnson is publisher emeritus of Press Publications.

Why we need snow and religion

Ilove winter! My favorite season is fall

– jeans and a sweatshirt, the leaves changing colors, Halloween, football and the anticipation of the Holidays. Fall is perfect.

Pastor’s

Ponderings

Jason Steffenhagen

But winter is next on my list. Pond hockey, cold winter walks with snow falling, downhill and cross-country skiing and candles lit in a warm family room heated by a fire. Winter is magical! Unless there isn’t snow. My guess is that my brain works like most other people’s. What it sees is what it perceives. When I look outside and see green grass and sunshine, I assume it’s time for shorts and a trip to the lake. When it’s raining and overcast, I assume it’s chilly and a good day for a book. When there is snow falling and I can hear the plow, I assume it’s going to be cold and that I should start the car a few minutes early.

But when it’s sunny and the

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ground is an ugly shade of brown, I don’t assume that it’s 8 degrees and the windchill is -4! There is something in my brain that doesn’t prepare me for a Minnesota winter without snow. Without snow, I go into the winter world vastly unprepared for the icy blast that is waiting at the end of my driveway. I find this to be a good metaphor for doing life without a guiding narrative. Life without a guiding narrative is like walking outside in the winter without snow... You just might find yourself completely unprepared. We all need something to ground us, to fall back on, to provide context for life’s joys and sorrows. For many people, religion is a stable foundation that provides context and a north star for life’s many twists and turns. Others might look to moralism or humanism, something within all of us that calls us to reach for our better angels.

Unfortunately, religion as a grounding narrative hasn’t always been good news. From abuses to violence, we’ve all seen the hurt that religion can cause. And even the most moralistic person can admit that the best intentions can still cause harm.

There isn’t a perfect religion or story. But maybe that’s okay.

at least four weeks must lapse between publication. Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters.

• Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues are not guaranteed publication.

• Repeat letters by the same writer about the same subject matter will not be published.

Maybe we shouldn’t be looking for perfect. Instead of pointing us towards perfection, maybe our guiding narrative should be preparing us for how to be human in a world of freezing temperatures and windchills below zero. Like snow that prepares us for winter, maybe our religion should prepare us to be forgiving and patient, kind and grateful, loving and peaceful. I’m often skeptical of religion that claims to have it all together and answers all of life’s questions, as if life is solvable. People are complex, history is ever-changing and evolving. I need a guiding narrative that isn’t scared to ask hard questions. Therefore, give me a religion that embraces suffering while pointing to hope. One that identifies with the poor while challenging the rich. One that isn’t satisfied with the status quo but is ready to include and expand.

Like snow on a winter day, that type of religion will prepare us for this wildlife. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Jason Steffenhagen is the lead pastor at United Methodist Church in Shoreview.

• Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published.

• Submissions containing facts not previously published in the Press must be accompanied by factual verification.

• All letters are subject to editing.

• Deadline is 5 p. m. , Wednesday of the week prior to publication.

• To submit a letter, e-mail it to shoreviewnews@ presspubs.com, fax it to 651429-1242 or mail or deliver it to Press Publications, 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Gene Johnson

PAID LETTER

Choose truth

Last year, the DFL endorsed a candidate who did not live in the House District he was supposed to represent, failing the most basic requirement for election to this office. We’ll probably never know whether this flaw vetting was due to incompetence, deceit, or both, but regardless the DFL has proven to be untrustworthy. Now that a judge has determined, based on overwhelming evidence, that the DFL candidate is not eligible to take officer, their folly has cost taxpayers who have to pony up for a special election.

Now the DFL has endorsed a candidate who just moved to Shoreview in 2023 and actively campaigned for the ineligible candidate. His radical policy positions will result in more wasteful government spending, entailing higher taxes with a state government budget deficit already looming on the horizon, and promote more government control and less individual freedom of choice.

Paul Wikstrom has lived in Shoreview for over a quarter-century, raised his family here and run honest campaigns; we can trust him to represent us in an ethical manner. Paul has promised to continue to confront deception to improve public transparency and expose fraud, demand accountability, and bring balanced representation to our Minnesota state government. Let’s elect a man of integrity. Vote Paul Wikstrom for House District 40B, Roseville and Shoreview, on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

Gary

Peterson Shoreview

PAID LETTER

Special election 2025

On Tuesday, January 28, House District 40B will hold a special election now that a judge found the person elected in November did not live in the district and cannot be seated.

As the House District 40B Representative, Paul Wikstrom will spend our hard-earned tax dollars responsibly. His priorities are 1) to raise student academic proficiencies so that they can become their best selves and good citizens; 2) fully support and fund our peace officers and hold criminals accountable to reduce crime in our communities and 3) pursue truth in state government through greater public transparency and accountability. We can trust Paul to be our advocate as our State Representative. Please support and vote for Paul Wikstrom.

Joyce Thompson Shoreview

M ADELINE DOLBY PRESS PUBLUCATIONS

Paul Gardner was sworn into office at the Shoreview City Council meeting by City Attorney Joe Kelly. Gardner will take over Emy Johnson’s seat on the council.

• Paul Gardner and Shelly Myrland were sworn into office as council members. Gardner will replace former Council Member Emy Johnson. Sue Denkinger was also sworn into office for another term as mayor.

• Council Member John Doan announced that 2024 was a record year for construction of both commercial and residential developments in the city, at almost $118 million.

• The Shoreview Press will be the city’s legal newspaper for 2025 after council approval. The Shoreview Press has been the city’s legal newspaper since October 2019. It is published every two weeks and widely distributed in the community.

• The city has entered into a service agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. for engineering services related to the maintenance center fuel system replacement project. The city’s 2025 capital improvement plan includes funding for the replacement of the city’s underground fuel delivery system and professional services. The current underground fuel delivery system was installed in 1985 and is nearing the end of its service life. The project would include the removal and replacement of the underground fuel tanks and dispenser pumps, restoration of the disturbed area and a new fuel management and tracking system. The total estimated cost for the project is estimated to be $550,000 and would be funded from

SCHOOL BRIEF

Mounds View High School is state finalist in STEM competition

Mounds View High School has been named a state finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition.

Dr. Tim Berndt, engineering and

the central garage fund.

• Tree Trust Landscape Services will be responsible for the removal of trees on public property after the City Council accepted its bid of $99,061. Significant ash tree removals are needed to continue to remove dead and dying trees that are being killed by the emerald ash borer beetle. The only options for ash trees are treatment or removal. The city and residents treat many ash trees with insecticide trunk injection, but the remaining untreated ash trees must be removed.

• The council approved a special purpose fence permit for the city to install a 6-foot fence in the front yard of the water treatment facility located at 881 Highway 96. The purpose of the fence will be to enclose a solar array that is being installed at the facility.

• An abatement of diseased trees will be issued to the property located at 646 Mounds Avenue after council approval. Six red oak trees on the property are dead and dying with signs characteristic of oak wilt.

• The council reappointed 13 individuals to their respective committees or commissions through Jan. 31, 2028. These committees and commissions included the Bikeways and Trails Committee, Economic Development Commission, Environmental Quality Committee, the Human Rights Commission, Parks And Recreation Commission, Planning Commission and the Public Safety Committee.

• Rodolfo Batres has been appointed to the Bikeways And Trails Committee through Jan. 31, 2028, after current committee Member Jay Martin’s term ends on Jan. 31, 2025.

• Emily Salva Batres and Mary Ellen Bailsey have been appointed to the Human Rights Commission. Batres will serve till Jan. 31, 2026. Bailsey will serve on the commission till Jan. 31, 2028. The commission still has one student vacancy; the commission will be interviewing students from Irondale in February.

• The City Council appointed individuals to represent the city on various organizations for 2025. John Doan will serve as acting mayor in 2025.

The next Shoreview City Council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, in council chambers.

Madeline Dolby

technology teacher, and three of his engineering students have the opportunity to earn funding for the engineering and technology program.

This year’s theme for the competition was to address a critical issue within the community while using STEM

solutions. Berndt and his students created eight to 10 chairs in various sizes to support the Special Education Department at Mounds View High School. The chairs and solution were submitted as part of the competition.

PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES

Part of the existing drainage and utility easement as dedicated by SEVEN LAKES, according to the recorded plat thereof, Ramsey County, Minnesota, more particularly described as follows: Commencing at the Northwest corner of Lot 2, Block 1, SEVEN LAKES, thence South 00 degrees 32 minutes 34 seconds East along the west line of said Lot 2, 66.26 feet; thence South 87 degrees 04 minutes 51 seconds East, 157.85 feet; thence South 72 degrees 49 minutes 53 seconds East, 194.66 feet; thence South 00 degrees 32 minutes 34 seconds East, 6.88 feet to the point of beginning, herein known as Point “A”; thence continuing South 00 degrees 32 minutes 34 seconds East, 19.13 feet; thence South 89 degrees 27 minutes 26 seconds West, 313.74 feet; thence North 00 degrees 32 minutes 34 seconds West, 19.13 feet; thence North 89 degrees 27 minutes 26 seconds East, 313.74 feet to Point “A” and there terminating.

AND Commencing at the Northwest corner of Lot 2, Block 1, SEVEN LAKES, thence South 00 degrees 32 minutes 34 seconds East along the west line of said Lot 2, 1028.37 feet; thence North 89 degrees 27 minutes 29 seconds East, 5.00 feet to the point of beginning, herein known as Point “B”; thence continuing North 89 degrees 27 minutes 29 seconds East, 379.59 feet; thence South 00 degrees 32 minutes 34 seconds East, 119.99 feet; thence North 89 degrees 16 minutes 13 seconds West, 379.68 feet; thence North 00 degrees 32 minutes 34 seconds West, 111.56 feet to Point “B” and there terminating.

BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Brad Martens, City Manager

Published two times in the Shoreview Press on January 14 and 28, 2025.

CITY OF SHOREVIEW

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Shoreview Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in the City Council Chambers at Shoreview City Hall, 4600 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, Minnesota to consider a conditional use permit for a residential care facility for eight adults.

APPLICANT: City of Shoreview

PROPOSAL: To amend Section 103-92 of the Shoreview Municipal Code in regards to land disturbance activity

Persons who want to submit written comments on this proposal can email Allison Eddins, Senior Planner, at aeddins@shoreviewmn.gov. All written comments received before January 23rd will be included in the staff report. Those who wish to give oral testimony are invited to attend the meeting on Tuesday, January 28that 7:00pm.

Residents are encouraged to call the Shoreview Community Development Department at 651-490-4681 after Thursday, January 23rd to find out where this item will be located on the meeting agenda.

BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL

a proposed vacation of a public utility easement, legally described as:

Brad Martens, City Manager Published one time in the Shoreview Press on January 14, 2025.

LAKE JOHANNA FIRE DEPARTMENT LEGAL NOTICE - BIDS WANTED NEW LAKE JOHANNA FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS

Existing Headquarters 5545 Lexington Avenue North Shoreview, MN. 55126 BIDS DUE: 2:00P.M. CDT, THURSDAY JANUARY 30, 2025

Sealed proposals from General Contractors will be received at the Existing Headquarters of Lake Johanna Fire Department (reception counter), Shoreview, until 2:00 P.M. CDT, January 30, 2025 for bidding: New Lake Johanna Fire Department Headquarters 3535 Pine Tree Drive

Arden Hills, MN

The project consists of the following: The construction of a two story fire station of 41,000 SF. Precast concrete panel walls, steel frame with bar joist roof structure. No bids shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after opening of bids. A Performance Bond and Labor and Material payment Bond will be required.

Buetow 2 Architects, Inc. was the Architects of Record for Design & Construction Documents. Feders Architects, LLC is the Architect for Bidding & Construction Administration (refer all bid questions to Feders Architects 612-270-8168). Bidding documents including proposal forms, specifications, plans, etc. will become available at the printers ARC Document Solutions, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 email minnesota@e-arc.com 952-697-8822

Bidders, General Contractors and other sub-contractors may secure electronic or hard copy documents at ARC beginning Friday January 3, 2025.

Bidding Documents will also be on file at the following locations: Minnesota Builders Exchange, Quest CDN, Rochester Builders Exchange, Blue Book and Dodge Construction Network.

Bids must be placed in a sealed envelope marked “Bid for Lake Johanna Fire Station Headquarters” and addressed to the Fire Chief Tim Boehlke, 5545 Lexington Avenue North, Shoreview, Minnesota 55126.

Bids shall be accompanied by a Bid Security in the form of a cash deposit, a bid bond or certified check payable to the Lake Johanna Fire Department in the amount of at least 5% of the Base Bid amount.

Bids will be publicly opened and read in the large meeting room at the existing fire station headquarters.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive informalities or to award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, in the interest of the Owner. Tim Boehlke,Fire Chief Published

COPS&COURTS

RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS

To celebrate the new year, below are some of the best Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office reports of 2024. Ranging from dazed raccoons to fraud highlights (or lowlights), there is something for everyone to enjoy.

BIZARRE BEHAVIOR

• Deputies responded to the scene of a fire inside a port-a-potty at Bobby Theisen Park on Vivian Avenue at 7:47 p.m. March 1. The fire had already been distinguished when deputies arrived, and the case is under investigation.

• A Shoreview man, 37, was arrested for criminal damage to property at 11:38 p.m. July 8 in the 3400 block of Rice Street after he smashed an outdoor cigarette disposal unit, scattered trash around the front of a business and climbed into the exterior ice cooler.

• A 35-year-old Elmhurst, N.Y., man was arrested for disorderly conduct Sept. 3 in the 1000 block of Island Lake Avenue after deputies found out that he had falsely reported an assault, refused to leave the scene, became disorderly and threatened to make his way to a near restaurant to cause more problems.

• A resident in the 5800 block of Savannah Lane reported being harassed by an ex-girlfriend, who kept calling him and showing up unannounced at his residence to cause a scene, most recently at 12:34 a.m. Oct. 21.

ANIMALS

• An injured doe was reported April 7 in the 900 block of Arbogast Street. “Injured doe was able to flee, so we let her be. Plus, her family was present and checking on her,” Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported in their log.

• A large snapping turtle was reported Sept. 29 in the middle of the road at the intersection of Mound Avenue and Victoria Street N. The caller kept the turtle (and deputies) out of harm’s way by removing it before deputies arrived.

• A resident in the 1500 block of Park Street on Sept. 30 reported a domesticated rabbit for hopping up to her door seeking some sort of assistance. The caller didn’t say whether the rabbit was holding a clipboard or soliciting for business.

CATCHING THE BAD GUYS

• A Brooklyn Park man, 32, was arrested for DUI March 20 in the 5900 block of Carlson Street after deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity and found him passed out in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. After he performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests and submitted a preliminary breath test showing a blood alcohol content of 0.16, he was transported to the Ramsey County jail.

• A St. Paul woman, 28, was arrested for theft May 13 at the Country Inn & Suites in the 5900 block of Rice Creek Parkway after hotel employees discovered she used a stolen credit card to book a room. In addition to the stolen credit card, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies found other stolen items, such as credit cards, hotel room keys for other rooms and bags full of clothing that also appeared to have been stolen.

• A Willernie woman, 44, was arrested on two active warrants June 17 in the 1500 block of County Road I, not because deputies were looking for her, but because they learned about the warrants after making contact with the subject for a different reason.

FRAUD

• A Fairview Avenue N. resident on Jan. 12 reported that she was persuaded to buy a driver’s license on the internet for $300 before she realized that driver’s licenses can’t be obtained this way.

• A resident on Carmel Court on Feb. 23 reported an unknown person from Facebook for fraudulently taking her money, after she had arranged for the purchase of a vehicle from a relative. After she gave the scammer money, she waited for the vehicle she had bought to arrive, but it never did. When she contacted her relative about the missing vehicle, she learned that the relatives were not selling any vehicles.

• A Monterey Court S. resident reported being defrauded out of money April 2, after she sought help with her iPhone by calling a phone number she found on an advertisement.

• Employees of a credit union in the 1000 block of Red Fox Road on April 17 reported two successful attempts and one failed attempt to cash fraudulent checks at the institution. The two cashed checks had

been stolen from two different places before being successfully forged.

THEFTS

• A resident in the 4800 block of Nottingham Place on July 21 reported five of 10 life vests he left drying stolen from his yard.

• Two Hellstar T-shirts and a pair of Hellstar shorts, valued at approximately $1,000, were reported stolen Sept. 10 from a spare bedroom in the 4400 block of Snail Lake Blvd. where they had been stored.

• A resident in the 5800 block of Hamline Avenue N. reported two chainsaws stolen from his garage overnight Nov. 12-13.

• A Heybike Racemax electric bike was reported stolen Nov. 16 while its owner was inside getting a haircut at Sport Clips in the 1000 block of Red Fox Road.

• A Shoreview man, 45, was arrested June 7 in the 200 block of Dawn Avenue on multiple warrants from multiple counties. He was wanted in Scott County for felony theft by swindle; in Ramsey and Stearns counties for felony domestic assault; in Hennepin County on a felony drug warrant; and in Anoka County on a felony fleeing warrant. With five out of seven metro counties after him, the suspect did not put up any resistance.

• A Blaine woman reported a hit-and-run incident involving her vehicle in the 4000 block of Lexington Avenue N. at 12:35 p.m. Sept. 24. At least, she briefly met the person who did it, after the other driver stopped. The driver became uncooperative and drove away without exchanging insurance information. It is unknown whether the complainant was able to retrieve the license number.

• And now, a Blaine man reported hit-and-run to his vehicle later on Sept. 24, almost in the same location near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Red Fox Road. The miscreant vehicle had made a sudden U-turn and left a scuff mark on the complainant’s back bumper before leaving the scene.

Loretta Harding

7-year-old rises to the top of Holiday Lights Contest

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

At the age of 7, Grant Ulrich is already known by many as a “Christmas enthusiast,” as he has developed a passion for all things Christmas.

“His room is over the top … He has got a Christmas village, and he has like four strands of lights in his room,” said Grant’s mother, Amelia.

Grant is the winner of Press Publication’s Holiday Lights Contest for

Drop your evergreen tree off at the Maintenance Center

Residents who would like to dispose of their Christmas tree will be able to recycle it at the Shoreview Maintenance Center through Saturday, Feb. 1. Remove all items from the tree before dropping it off.

The Shoreview Maintenance Center is located at 4615 Victoria St. It is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Cafesjian Art Trust Museum puts on small exhibition

The Cafesjian Art Trust Museum will feature a selection of six works by artist Kyohei Fujita, a pioneer of Japanese glass art. See how he celebrated the history of Japanese decorative art with a modern twist. The mini exhibition will be on view in the museum’s Focus

his display outside of his home in the Diamond Point East neighborhood in Hugo.

“He pretty much took care of everything that was not on a ladder,” said Grant’s father, Matt.

For the past 10 years or so Matt says the family has decorated for Christmas. After a neighbor decided to move to the country, they acquired his holiday decorations.

“He had a pretty extravagant display,” Matt explained. “It was all synchronized to music … We kept it going.” Matt added that he tries to have a “special bonding” activity with each of his children, and putting up Christmas lights is his and Grant’s.

Gallery from Jan. 24 through April 19.

The Cafesjian Art Trust Museum is located at 4600 Churchill St., Shoreview. For more information, go to cafesjianarttrust.org.

Lions host 3rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. community service day

The Shoreview/Arden Hills Lions Club will sponsor the third annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Day from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Jan. 20, at the Shoreview Community Center.

Help pack snack bags and laundry soap bags for the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, tie blankets for the M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, create bookmarks and cards and more.

The Lions will also collect gently used shoes for Soles4Souls.

They typically begin to put up decorations the weekend before Thanksgiving. Last year was when Grant started to get involved, but this year was the first year that he really got into it, Amelia said. “(Grant) was out there every day for a week.”

Shortly after the display was up, a windstorm came through and Matt and Grant had to go back out and fix some things. Grant also helped put up lights at his grandmother’s house.

Grant said the most challenging part of the display was pounding the stakes into the ground.

The Christmas tree is Grant’s favorite part of his display.

“It has a remote that controls it.

Fix-it Clinic helps Ramsey County residents

Ramsey County will host a Fix-It Clinic from 10:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the St. Paul Public Library-Hayden Heights, 1456 White Bear Ave.

Attendees can bring in small household appliances, clothing, electronics and more to receive free guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix items. There is a three-item limit.

For more information, go to ramseycounty.us.

Ramsey County Library puts on teen events in February

The Ramsey County Library will put on multiple teen events during the month of February. On Sundays

He keeps track of the remote,” Matt explained. “He keeps it in his pocket every day. Brings it to school.”

Amelia explained that the family drove around to check out the other displays in the contest and Grant did not think he would win. When Grant heard the news he had won, he was excited and couldn’t stop saying “I won, I won!” She added that Grant would also get excited when he saw motorists slowing down outside so they could check out his display.

So, what did Grant ask for this Christmas? More lights and displays to add to his yard next year. Perhaps he will rise to the top of the displays again in next year’s Holiday Lights Contest.

from 10 a.m. to noon, teenagers can explore the possibilities of Dungeons and Dragons virtually. No experience is needed to participate. Registration is required to play.

On select Tuesdays in February, teens can attend MakerTeen from 4-6 p.m. at the Shoreview extension of the Ramsey County Library. Teens will be able to work on a different project each week while using high-tech and low-tech tools.

The first MakerTeen workshop is on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Ramsey County Library-Shoreview is located at 4560 Victoria St. N.

More information about these events can be found online at rclreads. bibliocommons.com.

Grant Ulrich

XCEL ENERGY MINNESOTA ELECTRIC RATES

INTERIM CHANGE IN ELECTRIC RATES

Starting January 1, 2025

Xcel Energy’s rate increase request

Xcel Energy has asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) for permission to increase its electric rates over a two-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The requested increase for 2025 is approximately 9.6% or $353.3 million. Xcel Energy requested an additional 3.6% or $137.5 million for 2026. The total increase requested for the two-year period is approximately 13.2% or $490.7 million. State law allows Xcel Energy to collect higher rates on an interim (temporary) basis while the MPUC reviews Xcel Energy’s request. The interim rate increase for 2025 is 5.2%, or $191.9 million, over current rates. Because this increase only applies to the base rate- which includes the basic service charge, demand charges and energy charges- portion of customers’ bills exclusive of fuel costs and certain rate riders, the interim rate request is uniformly billed as a 7.14% increase of that portion of the bill, or $5.39 per month for an average residential customer. This increase appears on your bill as an Interim Rate Adjustment.

Typically, final rates are approved and become effective within 10 months of the date of the Application, unless the review period is extended by the MPUC. If final rates are lower than interim rates, Xcel Energy will refund customers the difference with interest. If final rates are higher than interim rates, Xcel Energy will not charge customers the difference.

Xcel Energy’s last request for a rate increase was in 2021, when it received approval for its current multiyear rate plan. Under that plan, Xcel Energy’s base electric rates increased in 2022 through 2024.

Why is Xcel Energy asking for an increase?

Xcel Energy has continually invested in strengthening the energy grid and enhancing the reliability of the service our customers count on while expanding clean energy. These projects are key to meeting our customers’ needs today and in the future, as we work toward Minnesota’s goal of providing 100% carbon-free electricity to customers by 2040.

How will the rate change affect monthly bills?

The proposed rate increase will affect individual monthly bills differently, depending on electricity use and customer type. The proposed rate increase affects only those charges that recover the cost of providing service to our customers – approximately 73% of your total bill. This rate increase request does not affect the Fuel Cost Charge, which is passed on to you directly without markup. Your monthly bills will continue to vary due to changes in the wholesale cost of fuel and individual electricity use.

The typical residential electric customer uses 600 kWh per month. On average, the proposed $353.3 million rate change for 2025 would increase the bill for a typical residential electric customer by $9.89 per month or about $119 annually. On average, the proposed incremental rate change of $137.5 million for 2026 would increase the bill for a typical residential electric customer by $3.90 per month or about $47 annually.

Proposed changes for monthly electric rates

The following charts show the current and proposed electricity base rates for each customer class with average electric use.

What is Xcel Energy doing to control costs?

• Providing energy conservation options. This helps customers manage energy use and save money on their bills. This also helps to delay generation investments.

• Reviewing and monitoring our business to minimize operating and maintenance cost increases.

• Operating power plants efficiently.

• Using a variety of fuel sources to manage costs and protect the environment.

Help with bills

If you are having trouble making regular payments on your Xcel Energy account, contact us as soon as possible. We’ll work with you to arrange a payment plan and connect you to other resources that can help.

What is the process for reviewing Xcel Energy’s rate increase request?

The MPUC, the Minnesota Department of Commerce – Division of Energy Resources, the Office of the Attorney General – Residential Utilities and Antitrust Division, public interest groups, and large commercial and industrial customer groups will investigate our proposal.

The MPUC will hold public hearings and accept written comments about our rate increase request. Customers and others will be able to comment on our rate request at the public hearings. You may add verbal comments, written comments, or both into the record. Notice of the public hearing dates and locations will be published in local newspapers, included in monthly bills, and at:

xcelenergy.com/company/rates_and_regulations/filings/minnesota_electric_rate_case (Make sure “Minnesota” is selected in the top left-hand corner.)

More information

Xcel Energy’s current and proposed rate schedules are available at:

Xcel Energy Web: xcelenergy.com/company/rates_and_regulations/ filings/minnesota_electric_rate_case

Phone: 800-895-4999

414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401

Minnesota Department of Commerce Web: www.edockets.state.mn.us/documents

In the “Docket #s” field, type in “24-320” and click search to see a list of documents.

U.S. Mail: 85 7th Place East, Suite 280, St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone: 651-539-1500 or 800-657-3602

Citizens with hearing or speech disabilities may call through their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

Submit comments

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is asking customers to comment on Xcel Energy’s request for a rate increase. Send comments to, or contact the MPUC’s Consumer Affairs Office for assistance with submitting comments: Online: mn.gov/puc/get-involved/public-comments/ Be sure to reference docket number 24-320

U.S. Mail: 121 7th Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone: 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782

Urban Works has submitted two concept plans for the proposed mixeduse building.

“Both concepts have the same mixture of uses,” Eddins explained. “One concept is a three-story building that would have 38 units. (For) the fourstory option, the only difference is that it would have 41 units.”

The proposed PUD also includes a request to change the land use designation from residential high density (RH) to mixed use (MU) and rezone the site to a PUD/MU with an R3, multi-dwelling residential and office underlying zoning districts. Also included in the project is a plan to create a separate lot for the new building, realign the Owasso Street boundary line to match the actual boundaries of the right-of-way and to create individual lots for the remaining existing apartments with the garages.

The three-story building would be mixed-use with a 17,465-square-foot footprint and 69,860 total square feet.

“As proposed, this is going to be 38 units,” Eddins said. “It would be a mixture of studio, one and two bedrooms, a 1,200-square-foot fitness center and roughly 2,500 square feet for office space.”

The fitness center and office space would be located on the first floor. The residential units would be on the first, second and third floor with underground parking. There would be 47 structured parking spaces and eight surface spaces, a total of 55 parking spaces.

Even though the four-story complex has more units, it would be smaller. Eddins explained that the footprint would be around 14,300 square feet and the total square footage would be roughly 69,860 square feet. The number of structured parking spaces would be increased to 57, with eight surface spaces.

Based on the conceptual plans submitted, flexibility from the city’s development standards will be needed for building height, building setbacks, parking and parking lot setbacks. The city asks that a building’s maximum height be 35 feet. Both the three-story concept and the four-story concept will exceed this height.

For parking, the city requires a ratio of 2.5 parking spaces for every dwelling unit and five spaces for every 1,000 square feet of office space. The parking requirement for a three-story concept would thus be 110 spaces. The applicant is proposing 55 total spaces. The

parking requirement for the four-story concept is 117 spaces; the applicant is proposing 65 total spaces.

As the applicant moves through the PUD review stages, the flexibility requested may differ slightly from what is listed in the concept plan.

City staff asked Urban Works to develop building elevations for phase 1 and a master plan showing all proposed phases and redevelopment.

“It is a little hard to judge how they are helping us meet our goals of innovative design and high-quality building materials without that building elevation,” Eddins said.

She added that while the city’s comprehensives plan generally supports mixed uses of multifamily apartments and office/commercial spaces, Urban Works will need to work with the city on defining allowable and prohibited uses for the overall development.

Commissioner Lee Helgen expressed his initial thoughts and questions about the concept plan.

“Some stuff that I think would be really interesting to look at is stormwater management; what is some innovative strategies around that you (Tycon Companies) could demonstrate with this project? Are we finding ways to connect to our park and trails system?” he said. “Right now, it just feels like 41 units, maximize profit.”

Eddins said that even though the current complex is providing housing to almost 400 residents, the properties were built in 1969 and the expectations for a complex then are different than the expectations of an apartment complex in 2025.

“I know from talking to the developer that their intent is to be competitive in the Shoreview residential marketplace,” she explained.

“Somethings that we’ve seen in recent developments would be EV (electric vehicle) charging stations, a lot of thought put into sustainable building practices and enhanced open space, whether that’s outdoor recreational opportunities for adults or if that’s a playground for children. All of these are what people have come to expect when they’re looking for an apartment building.”

Rick Wessling, an architect at Urban Works, explained to commission members and staff why they did not propose a master plan and just this singular building.

“In an ideal world, nobody would have to be displaced when a piece of

property is redeveloped, but we can’t redevelop the entire property without taking some of the existing apartment buildings down,” he explained. “So, by starting with this building in the southern part of the site, on a site that currently doesn’t have any residential units on it, we can create almost the same number of units as in one of the existing buildings.”

This would make it possible for residents to move into the new apartments while their old complex is being redeveloped.

Wessling also added that while these buildings are well maintained for their age, they do not fit today’s market very

well nor will they in the future.

“They won’t fit the market in 20 years,” he said. “So here is our opportunity to build a new building that will not have accessibility issues, (will) meet the current market and will provide a better spectrum of housing types for the city.” No formal action was taken by the Planning Commission. It was discussion only.

Madeline Dolby is editor of the Shoreview Press. She can be reached at 651-431-1226 or shoreviewnews@ presspubs.com.

The first floor of the three-story concept would include an office/fitness center along with residential units.

2025 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: Legislators detail priorities for this session

FROM PAGE 1

Sen. John Marty District 40

651-296-5645

sen.john.marty@ mnsenate.gov

The legislature will adopt a two-year budget during the upcoming session. As Senate Finance Committee Chair, I am working to establish a responsible budget that reflects Minnesota values. Our last budget earned Minnesota the highest, Triple A, rating from the national bondrating firms by being fiscally responsible. The budget

Rep.

Kelly Moller District 40A

651-296-0141

rep.kelly.moller@ house.mn.gov

I look forward to returning to the Capitol to represent our community’s interests for the 2025 session. While I have many priorities, here are three at the top of my list. First, I will be focused on advancing constituent-

Rep. Brion Curran District 36B 651-296-4342 rep.brion.curran@ house.mn.gov

I want to thank the voters of District 36B for re-electing me as your representative in the Minnesota House. It’s an honor to return to the Capitol this January and continue advocating for our White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights White Bear Township, Gem Lake and Birchwood Village neighbors. With an evenly divided

Sen. Heather Gustafson District 36 651-296-4197 sen.heather.gustafson@ mnsenate.gov

Minnesotans work hard for their money, and our government should work twice as hard to protect it. That’s why I’m introducing a bill to create the Office of the Inspector General. We’ve seen too many cases of bad actors committing fraud by stealing public dollars that should be going to feed hungry kids or care for vulnerable adults. This new position will ensure accountability, transparency,

Rep. Matt Norris District 32B 651-296-2907 rep.matt.norris@ house.mn.gov

This session I look forward to working with my colleagues from both parties in the Minnesota House to advance priorities that are important to the residents of Blaine and Lexington while passing a responsible budget.

With the Minnesota House tied between Democrats and Republicans, delivering results will require leaders who can work with both sides of the aisle.

forecast shows the need to make adjustments to address the projections for the 2028-29 biennium, and a prudent budget now will avoid problems in the future.

On top of the uncertainty in long-term forecasts, some potential policies at the federal level – such as mass deportations or high tariffs – could have a major downward impact on the economy. With the equally divided Minnesota House of Representatives, we must work hard on a bipartisan basis, to develop a sound budget.

To save money and deliver better care in Minnesota’s public healthcare programs, I am proposing a “PatientCentered Care” system that would replace our health insurance system with direct payment for healthcare services, eliminating enormous administrative costs. Our healthcare costs more than twice as much as almost any other country, yet our health outcomes are worse, and we need reform! I’m committed to a

driven legislation. There are few moments more rewarding in this job than watching a constituent’s bill be signed into law. As your State Representative it is my pleasure to champion the reforms you would like to see in our state. Already this year I’m working with constituents on bills related to assisted living, homeowner associations, and day care access. If you have an idea for a bill you think would benefit our community, please do not hesitate to reach out. I would be happy to discuss it with you.

Safety from gun violence will be foremost on my mind when session begins in January. Gun violence is unacceptably the leading cause of death of children and teens in America. The bills we have enacted in recent years, such as the Extreme Risk Protection Order (“red flag”) law, have saved lives. More is

House, I’m looking forward to finding common ground with my colleagues and building a stronger economy for workers and families in 36B.

My top priority this legislative session is ensuring that our local communities’ needs are met. This year is a budget year, meaning the House, Senate, and Governor must come together to pass an overall state budget. I am committed to passing a responsible, bipartisan budget that keeps our state running and improves the lives of Minnesotans.

As your state representative, it’s my job to ensure our budget responds to the needs of our cities, local schools, police, and fire departments, and to advocate for local projects in our capital investment bill that help our region thrive. In 2023 I was proud to pass significant funding for local public safety needs into law, and I look forward to building on that progress this year.

and fiscal responsibility in state government. An Office of Inspector General is more than catching fraud after it happens; it’s about building on a culture of accountability and proactive oversight.

Our new budget must invest in our schools, but also make sure funding matches our school district’s needs. As a longtime Centennial teacher, I know firsthand we need a solution to reduce taxpayer and education funding disparities. For years, our district’s schools have been asking for equalization in funding. I will work to pass my bill changing funding formulas to provide fair equalization, making school levies, operating referendums, and programs more affordable.

I am also focused on public safety. I carried legislation that provided $300 million in public safety aid to every city, county, and Tribal Nation in Minnesota in the 2023 tax bill. This funding helped the Centennial Police Department add an officer to

Approximately two-thirds of my bills in my first term had support from both parties. I believe my record of passing bipartisan bills will serve Blaine and Lexington well this year.

One of my top priorities is protecting our neighbors in manufactured housing from extreme rent increases. Many parks across Minnesota, including in our district, are being bought by private equity firms. When these out-of-state corporations buy the parks, they sharply increase rent. This puts stress on family budgets and has even caused some residents to lose their homes. I will introduce a bill to crack down on this practice and keep manufactured housing affordable. I hope lawmakers from both parties will join me to get this done for our neighbors.

I’m also excited to be working with residents from my district on bills based on ideas they brought to me. These bills include: (1) setting up a system to help

logical, efficient system that saves money and ensures that all people get the care they need.

I’ll close with a brief note about the increasing division in politics: Our democracy is at great risk when politicians gain political support by attacking and belittling others. All people deserve respect, fair treatment and compassion when they are struggling – regardless of their age, their race, ethnicity, political beliefs, gender, or religion.

There are so many serious challenges facing society – from climate change to poverty; from violence to lack of housing. To address those challenges, we need to work together. All of us. When politicians vilify others, we must speak out. Please join me in speaking out and protecting all our neighbors.

It is an honor to represent you in the Senate. Please let me know your ideas and concerns. Together we can build a better future for all.

needed, and in the upcoming session, I will focus on school safety.

Finally, as the priorities of national politicians shift, protecting the human rights of Minnesotans will become more important than ever. This includes defending hard fought reproductive rights like access to abortion, birth control, and fertility treatments. We cannot roll back protections as other states have done. I will work hard to ensure that politicians don’t interfere with personal decisions made about reproductive healthcare. I will also advocate for the protection of human and civil rights of all Minnesotans.

Please reach out to me with any comments, concerns, or priorities you think I should consider. It’s my honor to serve as your State Representative.

Ensuring residents have access to clean drinking water will also be a major focus. Last session I passed a bill creating a working group of environmental and health experts to partner with local officials and find solutions to ensure White Bear Lake can be enjoyed for future generations. I will also continue working to keep harmful chemicals out of our air and water. Finally, I will continue breaking down barriers for our neighbors with disabilities and improving state laws to match the current needs of those receiving health and human services care. I’ve heard concerns from constituents about transportation for seniors and people with disabilities getting to appointments and community events which I hope to work on this year. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas on issues facing our community. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

their force, and helped other departments access new training, better equipment, or build up their staff. I will reintroduce this bill in the coming session.

Public safety needs are also top of mind when considering mental health, domestic abuse, and sexual assault. I have been advocating for more resources to help victims with experiences we don’t publicly see. Two out of three victims of abuse stay in their abusive relationships and 4 in 5 victims of abuse do not report their attacks. Often because they have nowhere to go or can’t afford to leave. Alexandra House is our only local emergency shelter and I’ll continue to fight for the resources they need.

I’ll also work to get the White Bear Community Market and other food shelves throughout the state the resources they need to handle record demand for their services.

catch drivers who commit hit-and-run accidents; (2) reducing the number of income sources Minnesotans must consider when calculating whether they qualify for the homestead property tax refund; (3) increasing education about organ donation to help save lives, and (4) creating a Minnesota license plate to honor Combat Infantry Badge recipients.

I will also be introducing a bill to create an Office of the Inspector General in Minnesota. This new role will help make sure our state government is transparent, efficient, and effective. In 2023, I voted for new safeguards and transparency policies. This new role will build on these meaningful steps we’ve taken while creating dedicated ongoing support for government accountability.

I always value hearing from my constituents. It makes me a better legislator. If you live in Blaine or Lexington, contact me anytime.

Sen. Karin Housley

District 33

Sen. Karin Housley District 33

651-296-4351

Sen.Karin.Housley@ mnsenate.gov

It’s that time of year again – a time for reflecting on what has passed, how previous legislation has affected Minnesotans, and what we must do moving forward.

The state’s December budget forecast was recently announced, which confirmed exactly what

Rep. Patti Anderson District 33A

651-296-3018

patti.anderson@ house.mn.gov

Rep. Patti Anderson District 33A 651-296-3018 patti.anderson@ house.mn.gov

The 2025 Legislative Session is guaranteed to be historic. As of this writing, House Republicans will have a majority in a previously tied house, 67-66, due to a judge ruling that a DFLer is ineligible to hold office since he didn’t live in the district he was elected to serve.

My priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session are

Rep. Elliott Engen District 36A 651-296-2365

rep.elliott.engen@ house.mn.gov

The 2025 Legislative Session offers Minnesota an unprecedented chance to address our most pressing challenges with bold, decisive action. For the second time in our state’s history, the House of Representatives is evenly divided providing a unique opportunity for a new path forward that ensures government works on behalf of Minnesotans and the working class.

many have been concerned with: raising taxes will cover spending increases for now, but it is not a viable, long-term solution that our state can afford. The forecast estimated a meager surplus of $616 million at the end of 2026, followed by a massive $5.1 billion deficit by 2029. It wasn’t too long ago we had a historic surplus that was spent away in record time. Minnesotans cannot afford this to be the new normal. In fact, Minnesota’s budget has grown from a $39 billion general fund budget in 2014 to $71 billion in 2024. Minnesota is already ranked the 46th worst state when it comes to local tax burdens, and with such a massive deficit to contend with, I’m concerned the Democrats will push for additional tax increases that families in this state cannot afford.

We need to focus on repairing the budget and getting our state’s finances in order. Minnesota families

simple: stop the fraud and focus on restoring fiscal responsibility and government accountability to cut the projected $5.1 billion deficit.

First and foremost, addressing the projected $5.1 billion budget deficit is critical. Over the past two years, the DFL majority pursued reckless spending policies that depleted a record $18 billion surplus while raising taxes by $10 billion and growing the state budget by nearly 40%.

Our caucus is committed to cutting wasteful spending and ensuring state agencies operate effectively within their means. We will oppose tax increases that burden hardworking families and businesses, instead prioritizing thoughtful reforms to restore fiscal balance. To be clear, tax increases to close the deficit are off the table.

Additionally, we are dedicated to curbing unchecked growth in government bureaucracy that has allowed

At the top of my agenda is tackling the $5.1 billion budget deficit that threatens the economic stability of our state. Over the past two years, corrupt spending and untethered growth in government bureaucracy have drained resources and left taxpayers footing the bill. Now is the time for disciplined and decisive leadership. Our plan focuses on cutting unnecessary spending, holding state agencies accountable and ensuring every dollar is spent wisely. Raising taxes to fill the gap is simply not an option. Instead, I’ll be proposing legislation to create a State Department of Government Efficiency and Ethics - rooting out fraud, corruption and greed in government agencies. To help hardworking families, I will also be introducing the largest tax cut in Minnesota’s history. This initiative includes targeted relief for working families, putting more money in their pockets at a time when they need it most. Minnesotans have been stretched thin by rising costs and over-taxation — it’s

Editor’s note: Press Publications reached out to

deserve to know we are working to keep life affordable, and that means repairing the budget, so they don’t have to worry about higher taxes in 2025 and beyond. One of my top priorities moving forward will be reining in the out-of-control spending and holding government accountable for any missteps that cost the taxpayers. It’s also important that we crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse. It seems like every week there is a new fraud allegation in our state, and we must get to the root of this problem – taxpayers should not be left footing the bill for this mismanagement. I will also be working to introduce a bill that eliminates taxes on tips, allowing Minnesotans to keep their hard-earned money to use where they see fit.

We have a lot of work ahead of us, and I look forward to doing what’s necessary to alleviate the high cost of living in our state and putting Minnesotans first.

so much fraud over the past few years. The days of automatic budget increases must end. We will demand accountability from state agencies, requiring them to justify spending and deliver measurable results for taxpayers while implementing oversight procedures aimed at stopping fraud.

These priorities aren’t just my priorities. They’re the priorities of the people of Minnesota. I heard countless times on the campaign trail that we need to restore sanity and stop the fraud, and that’s exactly what we aim to do. Responsible governance is not just about fixing the present—it’s about securing long-term stability and prosperity.

The 2025 Legislative Session is a historic opportunity for Republicans and DFLers to work together for the future of our state. Republicans will tirelessly work to address the deficit without raising taxes, stop the fraud, and restore sanity to the Capitol.

time to give them a well-deserved break and empower them to invest in their own futures. My proposal includes a sales tax exemption on infant care items, back to school supplies and more.

Finally, we must prioritize the safety and well-being of our children. I will be reintroducing the SHIELD Act, a plan to make Minnesota’s schools the safest in the nation. Every child deserves a secure learning environment, and every parent deserves peace of mind. From enhanced school security measures to innovative prevention strategies, this legislation will put student safety at the forefront.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, but the opportunities are immense. By reforming government and demanding it serve you again, we can achieve meaningful progress for Minnesota families, strengthen our state’s future and set a new standard for servant leadership in 2025. I’m excited to get to work.

did not hear back before press deadline.

Shoreview native plays a ‘good friend’ in Children’s Theatre production

Karly Gesine Bergmann, Shoreview native, will play Sam in “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster,” produced by the Children’s Theatre Company and directed by Manual Cinema. The show follows Leonardo, a monster who is not very scary. When other monsters make fun of him, Leonardo goes in search of the most scaredy-cat kid he can find to scare. Will he become the scary monster he dreams of being? Or will he discover something even better to be?

Recently, Press Publications sat down with Gesine Bergmann to learn more about her and her role in “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster.”

Q. Tell me about yourself.

A. My name is Karly Gesine Bergmann. I grew up in Shoreview and moved to Chicago, where I graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University. After graduation, I moved to Italy, where I studied shadow puppetry with masters of the craft. I moved back to Minnesota in 2018 and have found an artistic home in the vibrant puppetry community in Minneapolis.

Q. What got you into theater?

A. I went to Island Lake Elementary

School. In first grade, we went on a field trip to the Children’s Theatre and that’s where I saw my first play. I don’t know the name of the show I saw, but I know that I LOVED it! I recently found my first grade writing journal, where I wrote pages about how funny Anansi was to trick Tiger and how much I loved the theater field trip. It means a lot to me to be performing on stage at the same place where my theater journey started for young audiences that are about the age I was when I had that formative theater experience.

Q. What made you want to audition for Sam?

A. When Sarah, the director of “Leonardo” and one of the artistic directors of Manual Cinema, reached out and asked me if I would be interested in auditioning for the role of Sam, it was an immediate and enthusiastic “YES!” for me. I have admired the work of Manual Cinema for the past 10 years since I first learned about them as a college student in Chicago. People say, “You shouldn’t meet your heroes because they may disappoint you,” but this is one of those rare cases where I met my heroes and have found them to be some of the warmest and most welcoming people to work with. And I am still blown away by their artistry and talent, even while being a part of it!

Q. What is your favorite characteristic about Sam?

A. The thing I most appreciate about Sam is that he is a good friend. His many (many!) fears may hold him back from trying new things, (but) they never hold him back from trying to be a good friend to Leo and Kerry.

Q. What is your favorite scene from the play?

A. I really like doing the sequences of the show with the paper puppets on the pages of the three-ring binder. During these moments me, Leah (who plays Kerry) and Kevin or Lindsey (who both play Leonardo) are all closely grouped around a coffee table. The camera above the puppet binder is projecting the live animation that we’re creating onto the big screen, so most of the audience is watching that magic happen. It’s the only time in the show when we’re all off-camera and can giggle at the audience’s reactions to things while working closely as a team to perform this small, detailed puppetry.

Q. What is the most challenging part about your role?

A. One of the more challenging parts of the role was learning to puppet the monster Brad, who is one of the fuzzy, Muppet-style puppets in the show. This show was my first time puppeting that style of puppet, and I had to do a lot of practicing to sync his mouth with the lines I was saying. It’s given me such a deep respect for what Kevin and Lindsey do when they are puppeting

Leonardo! Sometimes when I’m not on camera, I am off to the side watching them perform like, “Wow! These guys are amazing!”

More information about “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster” can be found online at https://childrenstheatre.org/whatson/leonardo/. The show runs through March 9.

Compiled by Madeline Dolby

Sen. Judy Seeberger, Rep. Leon Lillie and Sen. Tou Xiong and

Editor’s note: Press Publications reached out to Sen. Judy Seeberger, Rep. Leon Lillie and Sen. Tou Xiong and did not hear back before press deadline.

Karly Gesine Bergmann

P HOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The production of “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster” runs through March 9, 2025.

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City of Centerville Now Hiring

Rink Attendant – Centerville

The city of Centerville is hiring rink attendants to start immediately. Job duties include opening and closing the warming house, light shoveling, light custodial work and communicating with city staff. Hours are evenings, weekends and holidays, through the outdoor ice season. Applicants must be 16+. For a complete application, visit City Hall or online at www.centervillemn.com

Public Services Technician

The city of Centerville is hiring a Public Services Technician. The position is a general labor position within the City’s Public Works Department. Duties include maintenance of sewer, water and stormwater infrastructure, plowing snow on city streets, maintaining public buildings and parks, and other related tasks. Sewer and Water system operator licensure, as well as a commercial driver’s license is required or may be obtained within one year of employment. For a complete application and more details on the job requirements, visit City Hall or online at www.centervillemn.com

1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

SPORTS

Ousdigian earns spot on Nordic U18 Team

Mounds View sophomore Linnea Ousdigian has earned a spot on the USA team for Nordic skiing and is slated to compete at an international meet in Norway in February.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Ousdigian, the state Nordic champion last season, qualified for the six-woman U18 squad at U.S. Nationals in Anchorage, Alaska. Among the U18s/U16s, the 15-year-old was seventh in the 10K individual start skate, 10th in the 1.4K sprint and third in the 10K mass start classic race.

The USA U18 Nordic Nations trip will include skiing against Norwegian, Sweden and other European junior skiers in Gjovik, Norway, Feb. 20-23. That’s two weeks after the state Nordic meet.

Ousdigian ook first in four Junior Regional qualifiers in December: a classic sprint and 5K state at Cable, Wiconsin; a skate sprint at Mt. Itasca; and a 7.5K classic race at Mt. Itasca on December 22 where she raced up in the U23/U20/U18 category. She has qualified to race in March at Junior Nationals in Soldier Hollow Utah, site of the 2002 and 2034 Olympics.

Mounds View won a high-scoring affair over Forest Lake 86-79 at home on Friday evening, improving to 8-4. Gracie Helmer, seventh-grade guard, led the Mustangs with 24 points with hot shooting on three’s and free shots. Nora Schmidt tallied 22 points. Next were Lily Ryan with 11, Ivy Nystrom nine and Maddie Schneider eight. Kendal Damon sank 30 points for Forest Lake (7-7). The Mustangs lost to White Bear Lake

Nordic Skiing

3:40 p.m. Wednesday, Jan.15—at Battle Creek Regional Park

8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20—at Les Bolstad Golf Course

3:40 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23—at Hyland Park Reserve

Girls Basketball

7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15—at Woodbury

7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17—vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21—at Irondale

7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24—vs. Park

Boys Basketball

Stillwater snaps Mustang matmen streak at 39

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

The Mounds View wrestlers lost to archrival Stillwater 35-27 at home on Thursday evening, ending a string of 39 straight dual meet wins over two seasons. The Mustangs beat Woodbury 58-16 earlier.

Stillwater dominated Mounds View’s conference and section for years before the Mustangs beat them twice last season and went unbeaten until the state finals.

The Mustangs (12-1) won three duals in their home tournament on Saturday. See scores in summary.

They placed a close second in the huge Rumble on the Red tournament in Fargo on Jan. 2-3.

Stillwater took the upper hand in the Suburban East Conference with the win.

69-56 on Tuesday. Schneider had 16 points. They won at Duluth East 54-44 on Dec. 26 with Nystrom sinking 14 points, Schmidt 11 and Taylor Whitehill 10.

ALPINE SKI

The Mounds View girls placed second of three teams and the boys fourth of four teams in the second NWSC meet last week. Blaine placed first in both. Gwen Halverson led the girls, placing fifth, her first top-ten finish. Hadley Goochey was 14th and Morgan Tharp 26th, all with personal bests. Caleb Nelson led the boys team, placing 12th. Ryder Quinn was 29th.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Mounds View improved to 9-2 with a 56-47 win at Forest Lake on Friday evening. Cody Loegering sank 17 points, Jonny Gale 13, Jacob Sampson 10 and Royce Kytola eight. On Tuesday, the Mustangs edged White Bear Lake 53-49. Sampson netted 15 points, Nate Edelman 13, Jack Dahl 10 and Alex Kriauciunas eight. The

Looking ahead for SPORTS

7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15—vs. Woodbury

7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17—at Cretin-Derham Hall

7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21—vs. Irondale

7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24—at Park Wrestling

5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16—at White Bear Lake

9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18—at Howard LakeWaverly-Winsted

7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23—vs. Park

“We had two guys out, and a lot sick, but they wrestled well,” Mustang coach Daniel Engebretson said.

Winning for the Mustangs were Owen LaRose (tech fall), Brett Swenson, Colton Loween (tech fall), Caden Grenier, Joey Muhlstein (tech fall) and Ethan Swenson (pin). Grenier, ranked No. 3 at 172 pounds, beat No. 5 Lindson Turner 10-6.

At Fargo, champions Brett Swenson at 133 pounds and Loween at 160 led the Mustangs. Creighton Prep, No. 1 in Nebraska, had 193 points. The Mustangs, No. 2 in Minnesota, had 191.5 for second among 60 teams.

Swenson beat a Bismarck wrestler 13-10 in overtime in the finals. Loween beat Sam Drietz of Canby 9-0 in the finals. Placing second were Muhlstein at 189 and Ethan Swenson at 215. LaRose was fifth at 121 and Will Schneider seventh at 127.

Mustangs came back from the holiday break with a 78-41 win over Chisago Lakes on Jan. 3 with Kriauciunas and Edelman hitting 20 points each and Dahl 15.

SWIMMING

Mounds View placed second of seven teams in the Section 4AA true team meet Saturday at Stillwater. Top three teams were Woodbury with 1250, the Mustangs 1020 and Stillwater 878. Danny Bai led with first-place swims in the 50 free (21.45) and 100 free (46.90). Mix Prindle was second in diving (300.0). Luke Schmitzer was second in the 500 (5:08) and fourth in breastwork. Ben Lawrence fourth in the 50 and fifth in breaststroke. Sammy Snider fourth in the 500. Payton Kwan seventh in breaststroke and eighth in the individual medley. Holden Then took fifth in the butterfly and eighth in the medley.

Bruce Strand

Boys Hockey

7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16—vs. Roseville Area

2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18—vs. Stillwater

7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23—vs. White Bear Lake

3:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25—at Park

Girls Hockey

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18—vs. Forest Lake

7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21—at Cretin-Derham Hall

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23—vs. Hudson

6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16—vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23—vs. White Bear Lake

Jan. 18—at St. Michael-Ablterville

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jaycie Helmer

Mounds View Basketball January 14, 2025

Jaycie Helmer, Mounds View seventh grader, is not only a starter on an 8-4 basketball team but runs the offense at point guard. Helmer sank 24 points in a win over Forest Lake last week, shooting 3-for-5 on three’s and 10-for-11 at the line. She’s averaging 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds. “She has all the things you want in a point guard,” said Coach Dave Bratland, citing. “Great vision, tremendous passer, handles the ball well, has speed, can shoot, and is a really good defender.” She’s learning how to lead on the court.

“We remind ourselves,” he said. “That she just turned 13 and we have to be patient with some things.”