Shoreview Press

The 94th session of the Minnesota Legislature is now in session. Members take oaths of office, elect leaders and officers.

Learn about local lawmakers’ priorities in Press Publications’ Legislative Preview inside.

NOW IN SESSION, pages 9 & 11

LOCAL LAWMAKERS SHARE TOP PRIORITIES

Meet the new mayor of Shoreview

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

For the first time in 26 years, there is a new mayor in town.

Former City Council member and now Mayor Sue Denkinger describes herself as an objective listener who is fair and partial.

“I know Sue will be a great mayor,” former Mayor Sandy Martin said. “She will continue to listen to all points of view, study all the staff recommendations and make sure her decision is best for the community.”

Denkinger grew up in the Macalester Groveland area of St. Paul and has four siblings.

“My folks were both from South Dakota,” Denkinger said. “My mom was a college-educated teacher and my dad was an electrical engineer and worked for General Mills and Univac.”

When she was in her teens, she volunteered her time singing at a nursing home. “I would go there every week, and I remember those seniors tapping their feet and it was something they looked forward to,” she said.

This was the beginning of her community service. When she was 16, she won the St. Paul Outstanding Youth award. “I remember I got to

Mounds View School board begins next year's budget

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

Mounds View Public Schools officials have started the budget process for the 2023-24 school year.

“We always start our budget processing at the first of the year,” Mounds View Public Schools School

Board Member Jim DeMay said. “Our staff works very hard to get it prepared, and we go through a lot of reiterations of the budget. We get a lot of input from our buildings and a whole lot of folks, but it is our most important policy document that we do produce here at the school district.”

According to Bernice Humnick, executive director of business services, the 2023-2024 budget assumptions continue to be developed with input from the

school board through work sessions and school board meetings.

“District enrollment is projected to be at 12,343.8, and that's weighted volume,” Humnick said. “This is a conservative estimate. We do not want to overprotect enrollment, and we will continue to watch enrollment closely and we'll be adjusting as necessary as we move

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. PHOTO BY TOM OLMSCHEID.

Rep. Elliott Engen

Sen. Heather Gustafson

Sen. Judy Seeberger

Sen. Karin Housley

Rep. Kelly Moller

Rep. Brion Curran Sen. John Marty

CONTRIBUTED

Mayor Sue Denkinger with her two daughters Diana and Kelly.

MAYOR SUE DENKINGER: Ready to lead the city with 23 years of leadership

Denkinger at Thomson Reuters.

meet the mayor,” she said.

Denkinger graduated from Our Lady of Peace High School and got a voice scholarship from the University of Minnesota. She studied there for one year and then went to St. Cloud State University. But then something changed her life forever — she got called to jury duty.

“I was 19 and called as a juror for the Wounded Knee trial,” she said. “I got interviewed and was selected as a juror. For a 19-year-old, that's a big deal — and the trial lasted nine months.

She retired in 2016 after 40-plus years of working at Thomson Reuters. She had over 23 years in leadership positions, including:

• SAP (enterprisewide software) deployment executive.

• Global business process owner.

• Senior director of U.S. Legal Customer Service organization with locations in Minnesota; Manila, Philippines; and Sydney, Australia.

• Project management roles.

• Editorial and manufacturing/production planning.

“It was just a wonderful career, and I went to a number of different places and learned a lot about different things,” she said.

Denkinger moved to Shoreview 32 years ago and became involved with the community.

“I coached T-ball and basketball one year,” she laughed. “Being a mom came first.”

She applied to the Economic Development Authority and was chosen by the City Council to be on the committee. Later, she ran for City Council.

“I never thought of running for office, and Mayor Martin asked me if I would consider running for City Council,” she said. “I had just retired in 2016 and I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that.' Much to my surprise, I won.”

Here is what Denkinger is most proud of during her City Council tenure:

properties, preserve existing affordable housing and provide assistance to qualifying residents to purchase housing in Shoreview.

• Small business assistance during COVID.

“The city provided Small Business Emergency Program grants to qualifying businesses to help them stay in business — this was important, as the city authorized it ahead of any COVID relief packages simply because these businesses are important to our residents and the city,” Denkinger said. “There were two rounds of these grants, and all businesses who received them survived. More than one business owner who received a grant shared that they would not have survived without the assistance.”

Denkinger said she never planned on running for mayor.

“It took me a long time to decide, and the more I thought about it, I decided to run,” Denkinger said.

The first order of business for Denkinger is working with the City Council to fill her City Council seat (see related story, Page 12).

“We also have more work to do on affordable housing, and we have some big developments coming up,” she said. “I take this job very seriously and I really appreciate the trust people had

in voting for me. Our focus is what's important to our community.”

One thing you may not know about Shoreview's new mayor is that she is a musician. She plays the piano and guitar.

“I always thought I would get into music, and so did everybody else,” she said. “I got a job singing with a band and I found out within days that I was pregnant with my first child. I've also sung at many weddings and funerals.”

Denkinger has two daughters — Diana and Kelly and three grandkids — Daxton, Quinn and Maeve. Her son Billy passed away when he was an infant.

Her hobbies include gardening, traveling, the arts, playing the piano, guitar, singing and spending time with family and friends.

Denkinger will continue Martin's tradition by having “meet with the mayor” office hours from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays at Shoreview City Hall in the council chambers.

“We've got a great structure in place here with a great city staff, and it's really important to have a continuity of leadership,” she said. “It was difficult to think of stepping into her role because she is so good at it. I feel I can deliver the things that people in Shoreview are looking for. I just love this city.”

We were sequestered, and it ended in a mistrial. I can't tell you what an impactful experience it was.”

After that, she decided not to go back to school and got a job at West Publishing — which later became Thomson Reuters. “They were a great company to work for,” she said.

When she was 41, she went back to school as a working mother and is a magna cum laude graduate of Augsburg University with a Bachelor of Arts in communications/public relations and advertising. She also got her Master of Business Administration at Augsburg.

“My daughters and I graduated the same year,” she laughed. “Kelly from high school, Diana from Hamline University and me from Augsburg. That was really fun.”

Getting a degree opened doors for

• Housing initiatives and policies including:

• Completing a comprehensive Shoreview housing study to give the city direction on where to focus its housing programs and initiatives.

• Developing a tenant protection policy.

• Working with developers to incorporate affordable units into “market-rate” projects before the city had an inclusionary housing policy.

• Creating a subsequent inclusionary housing policy.

• Expanding the qualifications of both home improvement loan and down payment assistance programs to assist both current and future residents.

• Part of this included a manufactured housing loan program, as they qualify differently. These policies assist new and existing residents to maintain their

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Mayor Sue Denkinger with her three grandchildren – Maeve, Daxton and Quinn.

FROM PAGE 1

A teenage Sue Denkinger singing and playing guitar at a high school event back in the day.

Hockey Day Minnesota

HOCKEY DAY MINNESOTA will be celebrated at Polar Lakes Park in White Bear Township on Jan. 26-29. The four-day event will include outdoor hockey with girls and boys high school teams, college teams, and alumni and all-star teams as well as many other entertaining events. Go online to hockeydaymn.com to get details. Planning for the event goes back to 2017.

Hockey is big time in Minnesota. Hockey Day began in 2007 and is celebrated like the Minnesota fishing opener.

W hite Bear has members in the Hockey Hall of Fame at Eveleth. The boys have made 19 state tournament appearances over the years, but never won the title.

Let’s all celebrate.

MY WIFE KATHY was with her doctor for an annual checkup this past week. The key advice from the staff at Vadnais Heights Clinic was, “Be careful on the ice. Walk like a penguin.”

A day later I was visiting with Dr. Sarah Boo and told her about it and she said, “Come on, Gene. Being careful on the ice is called the Minnesota shuffle.” Our daughter Stephanie added, “When inside a home or business, it is the Minnesota stomp your feet.”

W E ARE STAYING around Minnesota this winter. As many know, our boat was destroyed by Hurricane Ian when it hit Fort Myers, Florida in Sept. We are enjoying Minnesota with the heavy snowfall and now the January thaw, but there is something else we are enjoying. When in Florida, we would drive 16 miles east to have broasted chicken at the Alva Diner with country-style dining. It was reasonable and good.

SCIENTISTS NOW FINALLY admit that weather proverbs are true. The following is from the Boys Town Farmers’ Almanac. “Pay attention to winds and clouds. These are the big predictors of changes in barometric pressure and resulting weather. For instance, the adage ‘No weather is ill if the wind be still’ indicates a high pressure system, a broad area of descending air characterized by calm winds and little cloud formations.”

In February there is always one fine weather week. If bees get out in February, the next day will be windy and rainy. Fogs in February mean frosts in May. Winter’s back breaks about the middle of February.

DIGITAL CURRENCY IS a morning topic over coffee. If you have noticed how people pay their restaurant check, it’s often with a credit card. Paying for gasoline is usually done with credit cards.

As we move more and more into digital currency, it has the potential to completely change how society thinks about money. Bitcoin, Ethereum and thousands of other cryptocurrencies today exist only in electronic form. This is leading large banks in this country and around the world to research how digital currencies might work.

In the political world, our government would have access to personal information such as what we earn and how we spend it, more than they currently know from our tax returns.

Digital would allow faster payments, less expensive international transfers, more access to the public, and support for more than seven million American households that do not have a bank account according to FDIC.

W hat do you think the future of money will be? Canada has already dropped the penny as a coin. Hiding currency under the mattress may become a thing of the past.

Using stone in the home landscape

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.

using string as your outline.

• One stone must always overlap two others.

Gardener’s Grapevine Nyle Zikmund

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. 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 weed-barrier fabrics, proper grading of the base, and

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. You can ensure this happens by building a wood frame and

• 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.

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, Master Gardener

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Local hockey ‘first family’ prepped for Hockey Day

Services LLC in White Bear Lake.

“She’s been great with all the hockey stuff we’ve been through,” said Peter. “I know it’s been tough being the only woman (in the family) besides our two black Labs, Willow and Jersey.”

Kelly comes from a hockey family, too. Her grandfather, Robert Shearen, played for the Bears in the first state hockey tournament in 1945. Her father, Thomas Shearen, played for Cretin-Derham Hall. Her brother, Sean, was a Bear teammate of Tony Roed, graduating in 1992. Her niece, Sydney Shearen (Sean’s daughter), scored 76 goals for the Bears and currently plays for Minnesota-Mankato after two seasons with the Gophers.

SCHOOL BOARD: Budget process begins

FROM PAGE 1

forward.”

Humnick said an estimate of state funding will include a 2% increase for the next year from $6,863 to $7,000, an increase of $137 per pupil. “This percentage will be factored in the budget calculations,” she said.

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

Hockey Day Minnesota, slated to take place in White Bear Township next weekend, is especially meaningful to the Roed family, one of the local “first families” of the sport.

Peter Roed was a Bear standout in the mid-1990s and an NHL draftee who played six pro seasons, although he didn’t reach the National Hockey League (NHL). He grew up skating on a backyard rink put in by his dad, Chris, who had played youth hockey. In turn, Peter Roed and his wife, Kelly, installed a rink in their backyard for their three sons — Lleyton, who starred for the Bears and now plays for Bemidji State; Nolan, a Bear junior forward who’s led the team in goals for two years; and Nash, a second grader who, his mom said, uttered “hockey” as one of his first words.

Nolan and his Bear teammates will skate against their section archrival Hill-Murray on at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the outdoor rink constructed in White Bear Township for Hockey Day Minnesota. The other games will be the White Bear Lake girls against Stillwater at 9:30 a.m. and the Mahtomedi boys against Hermantown at 1 p.m.

“It’s probably the most excited I’ve ever been for a hockey game,” said Nolan, who has 15 goals for the 10-2 Bears. “My teammates and I feel very fortunate to play in, and host, this event.”

Peter echoed: “It’s pretty special to be part of it, especially playing the local powerhouse Hill-Murray. This will be my first one in person.”

The Roed boys and their friends are accustomed to playing outdoors, which is the Hockey Day Minnesota tradition.

“I’ve played lots of outdoor hockey

in my back yard, and at the Hugo rink right down the street, playing minigames, with all my buddies and brothers,” Nolan said. He noted that the Roed family rink is “where I learned how to skate and the basics of hockey. Every year, we host a two-on-two tournament with the high school team and have everybody over. It’s always a great time.”

Peter was a three-year starter for the Bears, then coached by Mike Schwartz. He played in state tournaments in 1994 and 1995. The Bears lost in the first round each year but won two consolation games in 1994 to place fifth. “It was a nice run for the Bears in the’90s,” he said . Peter was a starting halfback in football as a junior but after that season focused on hockey.

Peter was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round in 1995 at No. 38 overall, the highest ever for a White Bear Lake athlete. He played two years of juniors with Prince George (British Columbia) in the Western Hockey League, then signed for three years with the Sharks. He played with three minor league teams — Kentucky in the American Hockey League, Richmond (Virginia) in the ECHL, and Kalamazoo (Michigan) in the United Hockey League —then two years with a pro team in Germany.

“But I never made the big dance,” he said. “The goal was the NHL, but as we know, it’s not easy.”

No regrets, though: “Talk about a fun ride! Traveled all over, playing hockey and making a living. Some of the best times of my life. Never thought I’d get to visit Paris, Amsterdam, Munich — playing the sport I love.”

Peter was still playing hockey when he and Kelly, his high school sweetheart, married in 2001 and when Lleyton was born in 2002. Peter’s last pro season was 2003. Both parents work at Cities Title

Needless to say, Kelly transitioned smoothly into being general manager for another generation of Roed skaters. “All three boys have always loved hockey,” she said. “Since they could walk, they would always have a stick in their hands, and if they weren’t at a rink playing, they were inside playing ‘knee hockey’ with each other. My hands were always sore from tying the boys’ skates. It seemed like every minute one was coming in or going out to skate.”

Lleyton, 20, made all-conference three times, played in the 2019 state tournament and logged 105 points (46 goals, 59 assists) in 68 games. He also played golf and qualified for state once. A sophomore at Bemidji State, he has notched eight goals and six assists for the Beavers, who are 9-6-1. Nolan, 17, who has 34 career goals in 1 1/2 seasons, has committed early to St. Cloud State. He also plays golf. Nash plays peewee hockey along with golf and baseball.

Peter, who’s been an assistant coach for all three boys hockey teams, said it’s been “a great ride” for the couple. “Lots of carpooling going on. We don’t miss a game. If games are at the same time, one of us goes to each. At this point, we get to watch Lleyton on TV when we can’t get there, which is awesome. Basically, we are at the rink seven days a week in the winter, watching or coaching — and at the baseball field in the summer, in our lawn chairs as fans.”

Kelly said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We have met so many lifelong friends from each of the boys’ teams. We have had a blast at every out-of-town tournament. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all three of them, and we are trying to cherish every moment we have left watching the boys play a sport that they love so much.”

And that will include basking in statewide attention for their beloved Bears this weekend.

The final version of these assumptions will be brought to the board for approval at the Jan. 24 school board meeting. The next budget phase will provide specific allocations to the building principals so that the board can begin the planning necessary to develop building-specific budgets.

“These assumptions, along with building-specific budgets, will result in the final budget that is adopted in June of 2023,” Humnick said.

Each quarter, the school district reviews budget variances and makes amendments as additional information becomes available.

Humnick said the federal government has passed three major relief packages related to the pandemic.

“The grants have specific criteria, including spending timelines, carry-over procedures and expenditure standard requirements,” Humnick said. “The general fund has been impacted by $7,064,410.42 and community ed will be impacted by $1,937,584.”

“This isn't new money,” Superintendent Chris Lennox said. “After we go through our audit, it is money that is carried over, unspent money. So much of the relief money came with a three-year plan so anything you don't spend in year one, in fact some we can't spend, we have to insert and it gets recorded as revenue coming in. So we're just aligning our revenues and expenditures as we move forward.”

In other school board action: • Treasurer Shauna Bock read the list of gifts the district received this period. There were four gifts for school programs totaling $3,948, and 77 gifts received for the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, totalling $95,498.

The next Mounds View School Board meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the District Center, 4570 Victoria St. N. in Shoreview.

CONTRIBUTED

(From left) Lleyton, Nolan, Kelly, Nash and Peter wore hockey attire while vacationing at the family cabin in Grand Marais.

Chickadees are the champs of winter in annual Christmas Bird Count

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER STAFF WRITER

They’re tiny, they’re tough, they weigh less than a gram, but this year’s Christmas Bird Count confirmed they are once again the heavyweights of winter: Black-capped chickadees.

Volunteers in the 122nd annual Audubon Christmas Bird count tallied more than 1,300 of these tiny birds on Dec. 31. This annual survey has taken place across the globe every winter since 1900, amassing a huge quantity of population data that can help scientists observe trends in bird behavior over time.

And the changes have been noticeable. Jim Howitz, the coordinator of the Northeast Suburban survey area in Washington County, keeps close track of the numbers. As with many species, birds are reacting to climate change. Minnesota has been seeing more and more species from southern regions, such as wild turkeys and red-bellied woodpeckers, and fewer of the northern finches that used to be common in wintertime.

Some species are better at rolling with changes than others. The blackcapped chickadee is one of the most hardy and versatile species found in

Minnesota in winter; year after year, it dominates the top of the list by sheer numbers. These birds spend daylight hours feeding as much as possible and building a store of fat—10 percent of which will disappear every night as they fall into a state of torpor and burn as little energy as possible to keep from freezing. Getting through winter is a harsh game, but the chickadee is an efficient survivalist, using a surprisingly complex system of calls to communicate about resources and threats with other denizens of the winter world.

Chickadees and count volunteers alike enjoyed temps in the 20s and 30s during the New Year’s Eve count. Some of the chickadees even broke into their cheerful springtime calls while soaking in the sunlight.

“People enjoyed going out because the weather was so much better than it typically has been,” Howitz said. “What people were seeing was what we expected to see; we didn’t have any truly unusual birds.”

Uncommon species this year included a belted kingfisher, Wilson’s snipe, and red-winged blackbirds—all birds that seem to be adapting well to changing climate conditions.

“They’ll move to where the habitat is, and do just fine with global warming,” Howitz said. “Trees can’t anticipate

what they climate’s going to be, but birds probably can.”

Howitz pays particular attention to tufted titmice, a species that was plentiful several decades ago, but is only now beginning to reappear in counts in the Twin Cities area. These cute birds are recognizable by their gray feathers and tiny crest on the top of their head. The reason for their retreat from this region of Minnesota is unknown, but data collected in the Christmas Bird Count may help scientists understand over time. One tufted titmouse on this year’s count was seen begging for food from other birds, indicating it was a juvenile.

“So they’re breeding in Washington County,” Howitz said. “We’ll probably be getting them year after year now. They’re almost a perfect bird to follow people, because they breed in birdhouses and use bird feeders. There’s no reason they couldn’t last a whole winter next to a well-stocked bird feeder.”

Woodpeckers also appear to be doing very well, thanks to the maturation of trees planted in suburban areas decades ago.

“If some of them have rotten parts and die, the woodpeckers are in good shape,” he said. “A lot of the woods along the St. Croix (River) may have been logged 100 years ago but I don’t think anyone’s logged them since. As

the trees die, woodpeckers move in, select a tree where the outer inch of bark is solid, and the inside is rotten. They want it solid to deter predators. They have better nest success than other birds because high in trees and cavities, they’re reasonably safe.”

Waterfowl, however, were not as well represented in this year’s count as previous years. Howitz anticipated this effect as the Xcel Energy coal plant in Bayport is on its way to retirement in favor of sustainable energy alternatives. The plant is scheduled to close for good in 2028.

While operational, the plant vents warm water, used in the cooling process, into the St. Croix River. This created a hotspot for ducks and other wildlife. Without that watery oasis, ducks like mergansers and goldeneyes will seek sustenance elsewhere. The plant is currently inoperative. Counters only tallied three waterfowl species this year—mallards, Canada geese and trumpeter swans.

“We used to have 500 birds there in the winter,” Howitz said. “The little fish would hit the open water and get stunned, and the birds would pick them right off.”

As humans continue to change their surroundings, the birds will no doubt change right along with us.

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the City of Shoreview's 2023 Adopted Budget.

PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES

CITY OF SHOREVIEW

The complete budget document may be examined at the Shoreview City Hall, 4600 North Victoria Street, Shoreview, MN 55126. Questions concerning this information should be directed to Fred Espe, Finance Director/Treasurer (651) 490-4600. The format of this notice is prescribed by state statutes.

MINNESOTA CITY SUMMARY BUDGET DATA GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS [1]

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the City of Shoreview’s 2023 Adopted Budget.

Policy EG-4102 - Student Representation at Board meetings was presented for the second reading and approved as revised.

Housing

and enrollment study

The complete budget document may be examined at the Shoreview City Hall, 4600 North Victoria Street, Shoreview, MN 55126. Questions concerning this information should be directed to Fred Espe, Finance Director/Treasurer (651) 490-4600. The format of this notice is prescribed by state statutes.

MINNESOTA CITY SUMMARY BUDGET DATA GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS [1]

CITY OF SHOREVIEW 2022 2022

Original Amended 2023

Budget Category Budget Budget Budget

REVENUES:

Property taxes (including fiscal disparities)

$10,279,785 $10,279,785 $11,213,345

All other taxes 362,000 362,000 349,250

Licenses and permits 449,950 449,950 634,950

State highway aid 558,000 558,000 584,000

Grants/fees from local governments 104,400 104,400 106,600

Charges for services 7,385,420 7,385,420 7,742,383

Fines and forfeits 53,500 53,500 55,000

Interest on investments 94,000 94,000 94,000

Miscellaneous revenue 50,550 50,550 50,600

Total Revenue 19,337,605 19,337,605 20,830,128

Transfers from other funds (including enterprise funds) 1,485,000 1,485,000 1,575,000

Total Revenues and Other Financing Sources $20,822,605 $20,822,605 $22,405,128

EXPENDITURES:

Current Expenditures: (excluding capital outlay)

General government $3,057,031 $3,057,031 $3,319,618

Public safety 4,756,338 4,756,338 5,218,514

Public works 1,993,445 1,993,445 2,211,535

Sanitation 782,327 782,327 819,993 Parks and recreation 8,074,664 8,074,664 8,679,673

1,274,515 1,274,515 1,368,892

765,000 765,000 780,000

Hazel Reinhardt, demographic consultant, gave a report on the District Operational Plan Goal: Complete a Comprehensive Housing and Enrollment Study. Ms. Reinhardt recently completed a housing and enrollment study for Mounds View Public Schools and presented an overview of the findings of the study which project slow resident growth over the next 10 years.

Property tax decrease

The Board approved a resolution to certify the 2023 property tax levy. The final certification will be forwarded to Ramsey County for processing of the final property tax statement. The tax statements will be sent out in March 2023. The property tax revenue will be available to the District for the 2023-24 school year. The total levy amount is $60,908,536.39, which is a decrease of more than 4 percent.

Non-resident enrollment options

The Board adopted a resolution that the District remain closed for non-resident enrollment options for the 2023-24 school year. The current capacities of school buildings and the projections of continued resident enrollment growth were factors in this decision.

Updates

The Board discussed issues and updates related to legislative issues and AMSD, and shared updates on their activities and participation in events and committees around the District.

Thank

you

The Board accepted with appreciation gifts from JUN’s Inc - Jessie Wong, Judy Alcott, Land O’Lakes, Medtronic, Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club - Charlie Oltman, Boston Scientific Blackbaud Yourcause, Carley Foundry - Jordan Carley, Dairy Farmers of America, DFA Cares Foundation -Jackie Klippenstein, Decko - Michel Sales Company, Ruth Allen and Michael Coyne-Fidelity Charitable, Hunger Solutions Minnesota - Joe Walker, New Brighton Lions Club - President, Nichols Kaster, PLLP and Steven Andrew Smith, Sunrise Fellowship, Thrivent Charitable Impact and Investing - Kim Borton, Troop 639 North Oaks - Jen Quackenbush, Turtle Lake Elementary PTA - Lynnette Hilmer, Mary Anderson, Matthew and Sarah Anderson, Mary Apuli, Elizabeth Baldwin, Gabrielle Basara, David and Ann Bollmeier, Doug and Julie Bowman, Marie and Harry Carter, Erin Derubeis, Kathleen Diffley, Richard Eaton, Rodger Erickson, Patrick Foley, Deborah Fung, Sally Gilchrist, Jennifer and Branden Happel, Paulette Harapat, Pat and Wayne Haselhorst, Katherine Hawkins, Mr. and Mrs. Holt, Gregory Johnson, Kara Johnson, Jeff Jones, Kathleen Kihle, Kathryn Lessard, Blaine Mably, Brett Marquard, Sandra Martin, Lisa and Greg Mattson, Joanne Messerly, Bonnie Miller, Beverly Nelson, Julie Peirson, Leo Pon, Harry and Lucinda Puryear, Mark Roberts, Clarene Seemann, Cheryl and Timothy Skildum, Susan Slechta, Alicia and David Smith, James Smith, Todd Smith, Andrew and Shari Troje, Aaron and Tracy Van Oort, Rachel Veenker, Marcie Weinandt, Mary Whalen, Claudia Wiebold, Diane Wilder, Michelle and Jonathan Woodand Veronica Zink.

A look ahead January 5, 5 p.m., work session January 10, 7 p.m., regular meeting (6:30 p.m. comments to the Board) January 24, 7 p.m., regular meeting (6:30 p.m. comments to the Board) Published one time in the Shoreview Press on January 17, 2023.

The

EG-4100

EG-4109 – Shared Leadership

EG-4110 – Legislative Involvement

All official

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 3, 2023

BY THE ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Brad Martens

City Manager, City of Shoreview, MN

Published two times in the Shoreview Press on January 17 and 31, 2023.

2023 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: Elected officials share goals and priorities

FROM PAGE 1

651-296-0141

This coming legislative session, lawmakers have an incredible opportunity to make bold, overdue progress on the priorities we value as Minnesotans. I’m excited to serve as chair of the House Public Safety Committee where I’ll work to ensure every Minnesotan can be safe throughout their community. By advancing innovative and proven criminal justice strategies, delivering funding for law enforcement and first responders, and listening to victims, survivors, and others impacted, we can address the crime concerns on people’s minds right now, while making Minnesota a safer state over the long term.

We just marked the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, and since then, countless other senseless tragedies have occurred in schools, workplaces, movie theaters, nightclubs, and other locations where everyone should feel safe. The status quo is unacceptable, and delivering meaningful action to address our gun violence crisis is one of my top priorities. Background checks, red flag laws, and requirements around safe storage and reporting of stolen firearms are just a few of the actions Minnesotans are calling for to help ensure firearms aren’t in the hands of those who shouldn’t possess them.

This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a half-century of precedent guaranteeing the right to an abortion. While a 1990s state Supreme Court ruling currently protects abortion rights in Minnesota, as we learned with the Dobbs decision, the right for women to have autonomy over their own health care decisions can’t be left to judicial precedent, and ought to be enshrined into law.

While receiving an excellent education, students deserve strong emotional and social support as they grow and develop. I plan on renewing my effort to help the state more effectively collaborate with school districts to address the unique mental health needs of our students, including suicide prevention strategies.

There are plenty of other priorities Minnesotans are counting on us to deliver, too, including investments in our schools, economic security for working families, making health care more affordable, protecting our democracy, addressing climate change, and much more. I look forward to engaging with community members as we do this important work, together.

As Assistant Minority Leader for the house Republicans, I look forward to building relationships with DFL colleagues to find ways to make Minnesota an affordable and safe place to live, work, and raise a family.

Recently, we learned that the state has a $17.6 billion surplus. Now is the time to allow Minnesotans to grow their own savings accounts instead of the state government’s. With record inflation, rising costs, and economic uncertainty, it’s time to cut taxes for Main Street businesses and working families across the state, and abide by our promise to eliminate the tax on social security for our seniors. I am hopeful that we can end this tax at the beginning of session.

As a member of the Public Safety Committee, I will prioritize law enforcement recruitment, retention, and mental health resources to combat record crime in the metro and surrounding suburbs. Supporting our police and first responders is the first step in fostering safer communities for all.

I will also advocate for school safety programs and an increased focus on mental health services for our students.

As a new member, it is my commitment to stay transparent and accountable to the voters I work for, and I look forward to having regular communication with you through Town Halls and office hours. With any questions or concerns, feel free to contact by phone or email.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you in St. Paul.

John Marty

Minnesota Senate District 40 sen.john.marty@senate.mn 651-296-5645

We must build a better future for all: Bold action on climate & affordable healthcare for everyone. An economy where people earn enough to support their families – with safe, secure housing and other necessities that many people struggle to pay for. Supporting schools, so they can address mental health challenges and help students learn. I’ll continue working for a government that is frugal & cost effective, focused on cost-saving prevention rather than expensive remedial programs.

When the new session begins in January, we have the opportunity to move Minnesota forward. As chair of the Senate Finance Committee, I am working to develop a state budget that reflects Minnesota values in meeting these challenges.

Most of the large budget balance is one-time money and cannot be used for ongoing budget items. Also, much of the ongoing funds are needed to address inflationary impacts, if we don’t want to go backwards in funding schools, the courts, and other public services. We need to be wise stewards of public resources in good times and bad.

I am authoring legislation that would repeal the state law prohibiting state budget forecasts from factoringin inflation for expenditure projections. No business would intentionally distort their budget forecasts this way. Neither should state government.

Public safety and prevention of gun violence is an urgent priority. And this year, I hope we can finally pass my legislation to prevent catalytic converter theft.

In addition to pushing important legislation on these and numerous other issues, we need to ensure a responsible political process. I am working to address flaws in the past legislative procedures to increase transparency and accountability. For example, there is a growing practice of putting multiple, unrelated policies into so-called “garbage bills.” These bills violate the state constitution. It is time to address this problem, and I will do my best to fix it.

I am honored by the opportunity to represent you. I welcome hearing your questions and concerns.

Sen. Judy Seeberger

Minnesota Senate District 41 651-297-8060

sen.judy.seeberger@ senate.mn

My top priorities for the 2023 legislative session are to ease the burden of inflation and lower costs for seniors and working families, strengthen opportunity in Minnesota schools, and work for safe, thriving communities. Our state’s historic budget surplus demonstrates that we have the resources needed to do all of those items and more. It also shows that gridlock and division left billions of dollars on the bottom line from the last legislative session, rather than doing something to improve Minnesotans’ lives. That kind of inaction is unacceptable, and is one of the most important reasons I ran for office this year.

I believe the legislature’s first priority should be eliminating the tax on Socials Security benefits so that seniors are not taxed on benefits they earned through hard work throughout their time in the workforce. I also believe we need to take action to lower the cost of childcare and healthcare so that families can thrive.

Minnesota’s schools have faced incredible challenges due to COVID-19. I saw them as a parent and as a classroom teacher. I believe we need to take the opportunity to bring back career and technical education, to ensure we are no longer 50th in the nation in the ratio of students to school counselors and provide greater mental health services to our kids.

Finally, we need to address public safety by ensuring local police, fire and EMS have the resources they need. Serving on a rural fire department and EMS unit makes it clear to me that we have a workforce crisis in all of our emergency and public safety professions, and we need pension reform, new resources, and fresh approaches to tackle those challenges.

Rep. Matt Norris House District 32 B 651-297-9001

rep.matt.norris@house.mn

My top priority for 2023 is bringing our tax dollars home and investing in infrastructure for our district: fixing Highway 65, getting a water treatment facility for Lexington, and addressing the $80 million maintenance backlog at the National Sports Center.

With a projected budget surplus of $17.6 billion, Minnesotans expect us to do all we can to make sure workers and families can succeed. We need bold, but responsible, action that will set Minnesota on a path to prosperity for decades and keep our economy growing by building a state that works better for everyone.

The surplus offers us a chance to make historic investments in our public schools that will boost student achievement and teacher pay, increase access to mental health resources, and reduce local property taxes. We should also fix our care economy by taking steps to reduce the cost of health care and child care—two of the biggest budget items for many families—while making sure all Minnesota workers have access to paid family and sick leave.

These investments should be paired with tax cuts, including increasing the Working Family Tax Credit, creating a state child tax credit, and eliminating the tax on social security benefits.

The bulk of the projected budget surplus is one-time money. The focus with those dollars should be leaving Minnesota a legacy for decades to come. Building affordable housing and retrofitting public buildings to make them more energy efficient are examples of worthwhile investments that will save the state money in the long run.

Minnesota voters also made it clear through the election that, whatever their personal beliefs may be, they do not want government involved in their reproductive health choices. I support efforts to reflect this will of the voters in Minnesota law.

I care deeply about the challenges the residents of Blaine and Lexington face in an economy that too often is tilted against them. I’m committed to taking decisive action that makes a positive difference for Minnesotans today and in the decades to come.

Rep. Brion Curran

Minnesota House of Representatives District 36B 651-343-7023

rep.brion.curran@house.mn

First, I want to thank the residents of House District 36B for trusting me to bring community concerns to St. Paul. It is an honor and privilege to serve, and I look forward to hearing more about what is important to you. I am grateful to be seated as Vice Chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Committee in addition to serving on the Human Services Policy, Public Safety, and Judiciary Finance & Civil Law committees.

Heading into the 2023 Legislative Session, I am focusing on several issues I heard about from neighbors while campaigning. These include (but are not limited to) improvements to disability services, eliminating tax on Social Security, protections for the LGBTQ+ community, legalization of recreational cannabis, protecting reproductive rights, responsible management of our state budget, maximizing federal dollars to reduce state and local costs, funding public education to help reduce local property taxes, and improving our public safety systems to create safer communities for all. It is my goal to support legislation that allows for Minnesotans to thrive.

I look forward to serving our community over the next biennium and encourage you to reach out to me to discuss any issues you believe the state can help with. Should you need resources, I am happy to connect you with those who can assist. I am here to listen, learn, and deliver results for you.

Rep. Brion Curran

Rep. Elliott Engen

Sen.

Sen. John Marty

Sen. Judy Seeberger

Rep. Kelly Moller Minnesota House District 42A rep.kelly.moller@house.mn

Rep. Kelly Moller

Rep. Matt Norris

Sen. Karin Housley Senate District 33 Sen.Karin.Housley@ senate.mn.

As 2022 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on unfinished business from the previous Legislative Session and consider our priorities as we head into 2023 with a budget year on the horizon. I’ve heard the concerns of families across the district— inflation, the surplus, crime, and the healthcare staffing crisis are all on their minds. Though leadership has changed in the Senate, Minnesotans are looking for Legislators to work together in addressing these issues to move our state forward.

Since 2023 is a budget year, the top priority will be addressing inflation and the disbursement of the historic $17.6 billion surplus. This number is clear evidence of the constant over-taxation of Minnesotans. Families are suffering at the hands of inflation and are concerned about a possible recession. This year’s work will call for bipartisan solutions that responsibly utilize the surplus, while providing much-needed tax relief to families across the state.

Many families are also concerned about the uptick in crimes across the state. Despite challenging factors, law enforcement officers have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe. As a Legislature, we must listen to our officers and their concerns. It is important that we continue to support law enforcement, ensure continued transparency and accountability in prosecution decisions, and hold judges and prosecutors accountable when it comes to sentencing violent criminals. Families across the state deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities.

There have also been large gaps left in the longterm care workforce, and the shortages have not gone unnoticed. These facilities serve our most vulnerable citizens, and we need to provide them support as they address the staffing crisis. Everyone across the state deserves access to high-quality medical care and services. We attempted to address this problem last year, and it’s time we revisit the issue.

It is so important that we address last year’s unfinished business, while also prioritizing the needs of families across the state. I’m confident that in doing so, our Legislature will come together with bipartisan solutions that address the everyday problems facing Minnesotans.

Minnesota Senate District 36 651-296-1253

sen.heather.gustafson@ senate.mn

I look forward to getting to work for our community in my first year as your state senator. I will have the honor of serving as Vice Chair of the Education Finance Committee and will also serve on the Ag and Rural Development Committee and the Jobs and Economic Development Committee.

My top priority is providing our schools with the resources they need for students, families, and staff to succeed. I’ve seen what happens when the state doesn’t do its job - it means cuts to programs, bigger class sizes, and higher property taxes. The state must fulfill its responsibility for the education of our children, and that means funding mental health and fully funding special education.

People also should feel safe in their community. I support increased funding for our local police departments, as well as support for victims of domestic violence, and additional community mental health resources to make sure everyone has access to the help they may need.

It’s also time for sensible tax relief, especially for our senior citizens living on a fixed income. We will take a strong look at making changes to help them, as well as other measures that could provide relief for those who need it most.

Minnesotans believe in protecting rights, not taking them away. I will work with my colleagues to protect reproductive rights this year, because everyone deserves autonomy over their own body and freedom from government overreach in our medical decisions.

The budget forecast makes it clear we can afford to do some big things this year for Minnesota, but unfortunately too often in the past the legislature has failed to do its job. I was elected to deliver results, not gridlock, and that’s my promise to our community. I look forward to getting to work in St. Paul, and I encourage my new constituents to reach out to my office with any questions, comments, or concerns. It is my honor to serve as your voice in the Senate, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Minnesota House of Representatives District 33A Rep.Patti.Anderson@ house.mn.gov 651-296-3018

As a member of the Tax Committee, my top priority for the 2023 legislative session will be returning our state’s record-setting $17.6 billion surplus to Minnesotans. A surplus of this magnitude should not just be spent. Instead, it should be returned to the people in the form of one-time rebate checks, tax cuts, and the full elimination of the tax on social security. There is bipartisan support to end the tax on social security benefits, and I am hopeful that we can accomplish this quickly next session.

It’s important to note that $12 billion of the $17.6 billion surplus is one-time money which means this is not the time to grow government spending. We can spend part of the surplus on urgent needs facing our state. Public safety is one area where we should make investments. As crime continues to rise across the state, we must ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to keep our communities safe. However, we cannot spend more taxpayer dollars on growing our bureaucracy which would only put our state at risk for a deficit in the future.

I will also be serving on the Education Finance Committee. As we all know, our children have suffered academically from the school closures that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a state, we must find solutions to help our children get caught up so they can thrive and be successful.

Family budgets continue to be stretched thin by higher grocery, gas, and energy bills. Beyond public safety and K-12 education, we need to prioritize returning the surplus back to Minnesotans. I look forward to working with my colleagues to give families meaningful tax relief during this time of economic uncertainty.

Sen. Karin Housley

Sen. Heather Gustafson

Sen. Heather Gustafson

Rep. Patti Anderson

Rep. Patti Anderson

City Council vacancy to be filled next month

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

The Shoreview City Council is diligently working on filling the vacant seat on the council left by newly elected Mayor Sue Denkinger.

Denkinger's council term expires on Dec. 31, 2024. She said it would be good to speed up the process because the council needs to set up new strategic goals for this year.

“We’d like to do it in the first quarter,” Denkinger said. “Part of the reason for the time frame is it would be great for whoever replaces me on the council can be a part of those goal-setting meetings.”

City Manager Brad Martens said that when less than two years remain in the unexpired term, there is no need for a special election to fill the vacancy;

the City Council can fill the vacancy by appointment unless a specific ordinance exists requiring a special election. No such ordinance exists for the city of Shoreview. There are no rules in place requiring a certain process to take place to appoint a council member.

“This is not par for the course for this council or other councils,” Council Member John Doan said.

“It's a unique opportunity to bring in another member of the City Council in an appointed fashion versus via an election. I think it is a decision that is very important in that I, and I would imagine my fellow council members and the mayor, do not take lightly.”

Council Member Cory Springhorn said the last time the council had a vacancy, when Council Member Terry Quigley passed away, the city received many qualified applications.

“It was kind of tough to narrow it down to the few that we interviewed,” Springhorn said. “I'm sure we

will get high-quality applications again.”

Here is the timeline for the appointment of the City Council vacant seat:

• City Council reviews applications at its next workshop and selects individuals to be interviewed on Jan. 23.

• City Council interviews selected applicants on Feb. 6.

• City Council appoints an individual to fill the vacancy on Feb. 21. He/she will take the oath of office and join the City Council for the remaining term through December 2024.

“As Mayor Denkinger stated, we do want to move this along as quickly as possible, because if we want to get some goal-setting in the near future, the sooner the better to get those strategic goals moving forward,” Martens said.

DNR urges snowmobile riders to ride safely

Recent heavy snowfall has made for excellent snowmobiling conditions throughout the state, so the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wants to remind eager riders to make safety a priority.

“Opportunities to ride snowmobiles are entirely dependent upon the weather, and in years when there’s a lot of snow, like this year, we see an uptick in riders,” said Capt. Jon Paurus, DNR Enforcement education program coordinator. “It’s imperative that anyone who plans to head out makes good decisions and keeps safety at the top of their mind.”

Already this snowmobile season, too many rides have ended in tragedy. While the DNR doesn’t yet have official reports for all fatalities, preliminary reports indicate six riders have died in crashes this season — that’s the same number as the entire 2021-2022 snowmobile

season and double the number of the 2020-2021 season.

Eleven snowmobile riders died in 2019-2020 and 10 died in 2018-2019.

To ensure a safe ride:

• Stay on marked trails. Minnesota’s snowmobile clubs work hard to maintain good riding conditions on the state’s trails. Riders who stay on groomed trails are less likely to strike an obstacle or trespass onto private property. (Civil penalties for snowmobile trespass have doubled this year.) Riders can check trail conditions on the DNR website at mndnr.gov/snow_depth before heading out.

• Don’t ride impaired. Drinking and riding is a primary cause of crashes and plays a role in about 60% of those that are fatal.

• Watch your speed and stay to the right. Going too fast is another main cause of crashes. Many serious and fatal crashes occur when a speeding snowmobiler loses

control or strikes an object. When meeting another snowmobile, always slow down and stay to the right.

• Be careful on the ice. In recent years, nearly every through-the-ice fatality has involved people who were riding a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle when they fell through. There must be at least 5 to 7 inches of new, clear ice to support the weight of a snowmobile and rider. Check the ice thickness as you go.

• Take a snowmobile safety course. It’s required of anyone born after 1976 and recommended for everyone. People with snowmobile safety certification are less likely to be involved in serious or fatal crashes.

Additional safety tips can be found on the DNR website (mndnr.gov/snowmobiling/safety.html).

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

POLITICAL BRIEFS

Get to know new legislators

Constituents of Senate District 36 will have an opportunity to participate in legislative interviews with Senator Heather Gustafson and Representatives Brion Curran and Elliott Engen. The program sponsored by the League of Women Voters White Bear Lake Area will be held from 10:15 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 21, at the White Bear Lake Library.

The local legislators will discuss the issues faced by the state of Minnesota in 2023, their top three priorities and the legislation they plan to support in the coming session. Constituents may also engage in conversations with their elected representatives.

Senate District 36 includes the communities of Birchwood, Centerville, Circle Pines, Gem Lake, Lino Lakes, North Oaks, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Township.

Senator addresses postal service delays

Amid reports of missing and irregular mail delivery in the Twin

Cities and surrounding communities, the office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar reports that the Senator spoke with U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Minnesota-North Dakota District Manager Anthony Williams to raise concern about the ongoing issues and discuss solutions. She also sent a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

“Minnesotans rely on the Postal Service to receive their paychecks, access their prescriptions and stay connected to family and friends. This week I spoke with the U.S. Postal Service’s Minnesota-North Dakota District Manager Anthony Williams about solutions to fix the postal delays that have impacted the Twin Cities and surrounding communities, and I am also pushing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for further assistance. Among several factors, delivery is being affected by staffing shortages and I encourage everyone who is interested to apply to join the U.S. Postal Service workforce and help ensure Minnesotans continue receiving reliable mail service,” Klobuchar said.

CITY BRIEF

Public skating open in Shoreview

The city has seven outdoor skating rinks with supervised warming house facilities. Locations below have lighted hockey or general skating rinks.

• Bobby Theisen Park, 3575 Vivian St.

• Bucher Park, 5900 Mackubin St.

• McCullough Park, 915 County Road I

• Shamrock Park, 5623 Snelling Ave.

• Shoreview Commons, 4580 Victoria St. N.

• Open skating only – no hockey

• Sitzer Park, 4344 Hodgson Road

• Wilson Park, 815 County Road F

Outdoor rinks are open until Feb. 24. Rink access depends on weather and ice conditions. Warming house hours are from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, noon to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Warming houses will be closed when it is in the best interest and safety of the community. Situations where the warming houses will be closed include when warm temperatures have softened the ice, temperatures are below -10 degrees, windchills are below -20 degrees, or substantial snowfall has occurred.

Shoreview City Attorney Joe Kelly administers the oath of office to Mayor Sue Denkinger.

Shoreview City Attorney Joe Kelly administers the oath of office to Council Member Cory Springhorn.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Shoreview City Attorney Joe Kelly administers the oath of office to Council Member John Doan.

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

2023.

Mustangs making their mark in Nordic races

The Mounds View girls placed 10th of 56 schools in the Mesabi East Invitational on Jan. 7 in Biwabik, highlighting January action for the Mustang Nordic teams. The Mustang boys placed 26th in the event billed as the largest prep Nordic meet in the country.

Linnea Ousdigian led the Mustangs with an 11th-place finish among 140 girls. Claire Sabby was 22nd, Margot Derosier 33rd, Bria Mills 40th, Brynn Mills 42nd and Alana Schmitzer 74th of 140. For the boys, Levi Hammerbeck placed 40th, Owen Kalmes in 45th, Will Kelley 76th and August Arnold 79th. Duluth East was team champion for both boys and girls.

In a Suburban East 5K classic race Jan. 5 at Battle Creek, Ousdigian placed first individually as the girls placed second and the boys third among seven schools. Sabby placed 7th, Derosier 14th, Mills 18th, Schmitzer 20th, Brynn Mills 23rd, Maddy Dornfeld 25th, and Maya Surve 28th of 87 girls. Hammerbeck placed 7th, Kalmes 10th, Arnold 23rd, Miles Smith 25th, Will Kelley 27th, Ian Gamson 34th, and Corban Carlson 37th out of 112 boys. Forest Lake boys and girls both won.

In a sprint freestyle tandem event last Jan. 11 at Lake Elmo, Ousdigian/Sabby placed fourth, Brynn Mills/Derosier sixth, Bria Mills/Surve 14th, and Kenna Karel/Dornfeld 20th, among 43 girls teams. Boys in the top 20 were Hammerbeck/ Smith in eighth place and Kelley/Arnold in 17th.

SPORTS BRIEFS

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Bria Stenstrom pumped in 42 points, tying a 40-year-old school record, against one of the top teams on the schedule, but Mounds View lost that game and the next two over the last two weeks, dropping to 7-5 for the season. Against Stillwater at home Jan. 6, Stenstrom, a junior guard, shot 14-for-24 from the floor (5-for-10 on three’s) and 9-for-11 at the line to tie Mary McCauley’s 1983 school record. Stillwater (10-2) won 73-63 with four double-digit scorers, led by Amy Thompson with 22. Roseville Area routed the Mustangs 7234 in Roseville last Wednesday, holding Stenstrom to eight points.

Yazzy Abed led with 10 points.

For Roseville (8-4), Kendall Barnes sank 21 points and Drew Johnston 18. East Ridge (13-3) downed the Mustangs 64-48 there Friday, led by Isabell Sanneh with 18 points.

BOYS HOCKEY

Mounds View has a 5-8-1 record after beating Spring Lake Park 6-4 on Jan. 7 and Stillwater 4-3 on Jan. 14, with a 7-1 loss to Cretin-Derham Hall in between. Scoring against SLP (4-10-1) were DJ Koch, Sam Schulte, Grant Dean, Evan Hatton, and Johnny Conlin (two). Owen Lee made 37 saves. Scoring against Stillwater (8-4-1) were Schulte twice, and Dean and Aiden Bale, both on power plays. Aidan Petrich in goal stopped 49 of 52 shots.

WRESTLING

Mounds View placed sixth of 60 teams in the Rumble on the Red, a multi-state tournament at the Fargo Dome on Dec. 29-30. Placing third were Brett Swenson at 106 pounds, Quin Morgan at 195 and J Roc Solheim at 285, while Apollo Ashby was fourth at 170. Three other Mustangs reached the “blood round:”

Brady Swenson at 145, Colton Loween at 152 and Gavin Maxey at 220. Mac Donnohue placed fourth in her girls weight class. The Mustangs are 12-0 and ranked No. 7 in Class 3A. In January they have beaten Park 55-12, East Ridge 73-0, Centennial 73-19 and Cretin-Derham Hall 78-3. They will host perennial nemesis Stillwater on Wednesday. Ranked wrestlers are Brett Swenson, 26-2 and No. 2, Joey Muhlstein 9-0 and No. 3, Solheim 27-3 and No. 4, Ashby 25-3 and No. 5, Loween 24-4 and No. 8, and Brady Swenson 22-5 and No. 9.

SWIMMING

Mounds View placed second behind Stillwater (808 to 707) among six teams in the Section 4AA true-team meet in Stillwater on Saturday. The Mustangs won the medley relay, with Josh Wallin, Luke Schmitzer, Tyler Quattrin and Justin Wang (1:40.42) and 400 freestyle relay, with Danny Bai, Quattrin, Schmitzer and Wallin (3:18.85). Wallin won backstroke (52.54) with Quattrin third. Wang was second in 50 free and Theo Gufencu fourth. Quatrin was second in IM and Soren Wiles fifth. Wang was third in breaststroke and Schmitzer fifth. Bai was second in the 200 free. Bai was third in butterfly and Gafencu fourth. Schmitzer was second in the 500 with Wilkes fifth. In dual meets the past two weeks, the Mustangs beat Roseville 101-74, led by event winners Bai (two), Wang (two), Schmitzer and Wallin; beat White Bear Lake 104-71 with Wang winning two events and Schmitzer, Hare, Gafencu and Bai one each; and lost to East Ridge 95-85 with wins by Wallin, Alexander Olson (diving), and the medley relay of Wallin, Hare, Zhou and Wang.

Mustangs cool in clutch for 7-2 hoops record

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

When Mounds View eked out a 6866 win at Roseville last Wednesday, with Joey Fretheim supplying the last four points, coach Dave Leiser said it was a familiar outing for the Mustangs.

“We have a good team, but we’re not a team that can blow you out,” Leiser reflected. “We have a lot of games like that.”

The Mustangs, ranked No. 18 in Class 4A, have won by two points twice, once by four and once by 10. They hold an 8-2 record after losing two of their last three, to No. 12 Stillwater and No. 16 East Ridge.

At Roseville, Freitheim gave the Mustangs a 66-65 lead by soaring for an inbounds pass from Jacob Becher in the lane and, in mid-air, dropping the ball into the net.

Roseville tied the score with a free throw with 1:20 left, then missed

the second shot but rebounded. The Raiders were going for one shot and killed about a minute before the Mustangs forced a turnover with :24 left. Fretheim was fouled shooting with :06 left and made both free shots.

Fretheim, a junior guard, totaled 23 points, and Becher, senior guard, had 21. Evan Fischer sank 19 points and Ataa-Adjetey Mensah 16 points for Roseville (7-4).

The Mustangs nipped Northfield 64-60 on Dec. 29, led by Becher with 21 points. Stillwater dealt the Mustangs their first loss 67-56 on Jan. 6 with their all-state guard Max Shikenjanski drilling 29 points. Colby Deluce had 24 and Becher 18 for the Mustangs.

After beating Roseville, the Mustangs were tripped by East Ridge 62-50 last Friday. Alex Mattes hit 16 points, and Cedric Tomes and Charlie Theis 14 each, for the Raptors (7-4). Deluce had 15 and Becher 14 for the Mustangs.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Jacob Becher

Mounds View Basketball

Jacob Becher, Mounds View basketball captain, is a floor leader who makes things happen for a team off to an 8-2 start. “Jacob is exceptional at driving to the basket and finishing or dishing to teammates,” coach Dave Leiser said. “A very hard worker, great leader, and vital to the success of the Mustangs.” The 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 13.8 points. He sparked two recent close wins on the road with 21 points against both Northfield and Roseville. He’s a two-year starter and averaged eight points as a junior.

BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED

Joey Fretheim eyed the hoop before sinking two winning free shots with six seconds left at Roseville.

Bruce Strand

CONTRIBUTED Leading the Mustang wrestlers in the Rumble on the Red were (from left) Brett Swenson, J Roc Solheim, Quin Morgan and Apollo Ashby.

BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED Bria Stenstrom tied the Mustangs single-game record with 42 points against Stillwater.

Upcoming events:

Virtual reading

with Author Andrew Krivak

7-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26 White Bear Center for the Arts is pleased to welcome author Andrew Krivak for a virtual reading and conversation on Zoom. This event will connect the WBCA community with the author of our Big Read book choice, “The Bear.”

Author Andrew Krivak will join the White Bear Center for the Arts for a virtual reading and conversation about his book, “The Bear,” 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26.

Historic retrospective exhibit coming to WBCA

Renowned Minneapolisbased graffiti artist Peyton Scott Russell — famous worldwide for his depiction of George Floyd — is returning to the White Bear Center for the Arts after exhibiting the work of his community-based company SPRAYFiNGER in fall of 2022. His inaugural retrospective exhibition, “Peyton Scott Russell. Artwork. Retrospective. 40 Years.,” will feature artwork spanning his entire life as an artist, telling the story of how Peyton grew to become an internationally-known creator. The show will run from Feb. 2-March 3 in

A retrospective exhibition by Minneapolis-based graffiti artist Peyton Scott Russell will be on display at the White Bear Center for the Arts Feb. 2-March 3.

WBCA’s Ford Family Gallery. It will be free and open to the public during all WBCA business hours.

Peyton started creating as

a toddler and has exhibited work professionally since 1990. This retrospective exhibition highlights 40 years, featuring work from Peyton’s high school years to the present. It examines how graffiti art has been a genre that followed Peyton and eventually became the one craft that transcended all other media, earning Peyton national and international recognition. This body of work will show the various media, concepts and ideas Peyton has worked through and continues to examine with the aesthetics of graffiti art being at the helm of his creations.

WriteNow! participant reflects on the contest’s influence

Peyton Scott Russell

retrospective opening reception 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2. Join WBCA for the opening reception of “Peyton Scott Russell. Artwork. Retrospective. 40 Years.” There will be an artist talk with Peyton beginning at 7 p.m., and his brother Kai Alexander will provide music for the event.

Spider in the Bathtub 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9

Join WBCA for an evening with filmmaker Deacon Warner and the band, 13 Howell. There will be a screening of the music video for “Spider in the Bathtub,” a creative discussion about making music and music videos as well as a live performance by the band.

Filmmaker Deacon Warner and Twin Cities band, 13 Howell, will be at the White Bear Center for the Arts Feb. 9 to discuss their music video for the song, “Spider in the Bathtub.”

You can find a full list of classes in WBCA’s quarterly printed catalog and online at WhiteBearArts.org/classes.

Eleanor Wilhelmi participated in the 2016 WriteNow! High School Writing Contest and continues her work as a writer today. Eleanor shared her experience with WBCA Grant Writer Karen Parkman.

Karen: When and how did you first become involved with White Bear Center for the Arts?

Eleanor: When I was in high school, I’d written a short story around the time the WriteNow! contest was open for submissions and sent it in on a whim. I wound up winning an award for it and attending the ceremony, which was lovely. As a developing writer, it was really validating to have my work recognized and pushed me to keep going.

Karen: Submitting your writing to a contest can be a vulnerable process for some writers. Can you share what it was like to submit your work and how you prepared yourself for the contest?

Eleanor: It’s absolutely vulnerable! Opening your art — which is often rather personal — up to external appraisal puts you in a position in which you can doubt your own ability if it’s not received the way you’d hoped for. As I was very young, and this was my first time submitting to a contest, I didn’t really know how to prepare myself at all. But that’s another benefit of WriteNow!: It’s designed for young writers as a way to gain experience and get familiarized with this part of the literary industry.

Karen: How did submitting to the

WriteNow! contest impact you as a writer? How do you feel about the contest, looking back on your experience?

Eleanor: Having the award as an accolade under my name that young helped me open quite a few doors. I mentioned it in my application to the Perpich Center for Arts Education. When I got in, I already had the helpful background knowledge and confidence to submit a portfolio to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, which I also received an award from. I’m in my final year studying creative writing at Knox College, and I edit the poetry section of Knox’s literary magazine, “Catch.” When I make the selections for poems to be published during our submission drives or write-up critiques in workshops, I remember how nervous I felt at 16 when I submitted my story for the first time.

Karen: What encouragement or support can you offer other emerging writers who might want to submit their work to the WriteNow! contest (or to any contest or publication)?

Eleanor: You don’t need to try to imitate another writer in their language, narrative or style. Let them influence you instead. I promise, your own voice is good enough and interesting enough to be heard.

The WriteNow! contest is open for submissions until Feb. 15. High schoolers are encouraged to submit their writing at WhiteBearArts.org/youth.