Shoreview Press

$25 gift card saves man’s life

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

Cancer is the word no one wants to hear.

March is colon cancer awareness month. Kent and Kathy Smith, of Shoreview, know the importance of having a colonoscopy.

Kathy kept pushing him to get one. He had just turned 50 and had just lost one of his best friends. Kathy told him he should get a colonoscopy in honor of his memory.

“I didn’t want to do it, because there’s not any cancer in my family,” Kent said. “And there’s a stigma, right? That’s a private part that you don’t want people to go in there, and I didn’t want to, so I said, ‘I’m gonna push it off till I’m 60 because I just don’t want to do it.’ There wasn’t any cancer in my family, and I just thought I didn’t need one.”

That all changed when Kent was offered a financial benefit from work — a $25 gift card for getting a colonoscopy.

“That little incentive, which is trivial, is what truly made me go in,” Kent said. “He had to get his colonoscopy by the end of June to get the $25 gift card, and his life was saved,” Kathy added.

After his colonoscopy, Kathy went into the recovery room.

“The doctor came in and said, ‘You have three polyps and a mass and, in my experience, it’s colon

Spring events sprout in Shoreview

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

Spring is here, and the city of Shoreview has many events coming up.

The Shoreview-Einhausen Sister City Association (SESCA) will hold its spring happy hour and new member welcome from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 14, at the German restaurant Black Forest Inn, in Minneapolis.

“They’re welcoming new members that have just joined, but it’s open to anyone,” City Council Member Cory Springhorn said.

Two days later, at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 16, the Shoreview Historical Society will hold its annual meeting at City Hall. Historian Paul Nelson will give a presentation about the history of the Lake Owasso Children’s Preventorium.

“That program is free and open to the public,” Springhorn said.

The Northeast Metro Climate Action Coalition

The wait is over

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

cancer,’” Kent said.

“That was not how we saw that appointment going,” Kathy said. “I was proud of him for doing it, and we were going to go to Denny’s to eat afterward, and that would be it. Instead, we got life-changing news. My mind started racing. I started thinking, ‘Is he going to die? Is he never going to meet our grandchildren? Am I going to be a widow?’ It was pure terror.”

Researchers estimate that in the U.S. this year, some 153,000 individuals will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The study, which was published by the American Cancer Society this month, states that 13 percent of those cases will be among people under 50. This represents a 9 percent increase since 2020 in that age group.

Kent had a biopsy and was officially diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2018. He had surgery six weeks later to remove 11 to 12 inches of his colon.

“We called the kids, and the kids were silent and in shock,” Kathy said. “The Smith way of dealing with things is through humor. The butt jokes started, and Kent just let them run with it because it made the kids feel better.”

Alex, Kent and Kathy’s youngest son, said he freaked out when he heard that his dad had cancer.

Farrell Tuohy had one wish for his 60th birthday — better health.

That might just happen, thanks to local resident Jeff Engler. After a yearlong process, Engler found out he is a match and may be able to donate a kidney to Tuohy, who is a cousin of Engler’s wife, Barb. Tuohy, owner of Pizza Man & Corner Malt Shop in White Bear Lake, has been on dialysis for nearly three years, something he says he can’t do forever. (See “Area business owner patiently waiting for kidney, June 8, 2021.)

So far, three people have come forward as potential donors but none of them have been a match. Engler is the first person to make it all the way through the testing phase, although there are still a few things that need to happen in order for the surgery to take place.

Last summer, the Englers stopped by Pizza Man’s booth at Marketfest and they started talking about blood types. Later, after realizing his blood type matched Tuohy’s, Engler decided to go through the testing to see if he was a match but he had one condition for Tuohy’s wife, Kim — she couldn’t tell her husband.

“It’s not very often a person has a chance to be a living donor,” explained Engler, who is listed as a donor on his license. “I’m a firm believer that you

(From left) Alex, Kent, Mady, Kathy and Nathan Smith spend quality time together in Ireland at Blarney Castle three weeks after Kent’s colon cancer surgery.

We Do the Heavy Lifting for You!

COLON CANCER: Shoreview family faces colon cancer diagnosis with humor

“My mind immediately started going a million miles per hour,” Alex said. “Was he gonna be OK? What stage? What could be done? To be honest, when you hear the news for the first time you always fear the worst, and that’s the scariest part — the unknown.”

Alex continued, “My dad got lucky because his cheapness got the best of him. Over time, we learned to cope and understand what was happening — mostly with humor.”

The Smith’s daughter, Mady, also said they are a family that copes using humor, because it’s easier to joke than face the reality of the situation.

“When I found out Dad had cancer, it felt like my heart fell clean out of my body,” Mady said. “Too many thoughts were racing — is he going to need chemo? Radiation? Surgery? Will he make it? I can’t lose my dad. We’re lucky that he caught it when he did before it spread anywhere else.”

She continued, “After the surgery was finished, I was so relieved I could cry. This feeling came out while telling my dad as he lay in the recovery room with a foot of colon missing, ‘You look like crap!’ but he actually looked the most beautiful I ever saw him, simply for being alive and OK.”

Kent and Kathy’s oldest son, Nathan, described his feelings when he heard his dad had cancer.

“I’m not the kind of person who reacts outwardly,” Nathan said. “Even when I got the call from my parents that dad had cancer, it was no different. I didn’t cry, I didn’t immediately tell anyone, I didn’t get angry. I asked a few questions, maybe made a crude joke or two, and then hung up the phone.”

He said his outward appearance held back a tide of emotions and swirling questions he had in his mind

that occupied every second after that phone call.

“Every phone call and text I get to this day is coupled with an anxiety that I’m not sure will ever fade,” Nathan said. “I thought that if I asked the questions in my head all it would do was bring up new worries for my family, so I kept them inside. I was trying to be the strong one, I guess. I cracked jokes and asked the bare minimum of questions to determine the path forward and I kept the rest inside. As a result, I felt completely alone, drowning in that rising tide of emotion. It was a long time before I could talk about the mental ramifications of how I felt openly. Seeking help for the way I was feeling was the best thing I have ever done.”

Kent is cancer-free, and encourages people to get a colonoscopy.

“After my whole ordeal, I tell people to get a colonoscopy when they’re 45 and get it every five years, because I don’t know how old my tumor was when they diagnosed mine at age 50,” Kent said. “But, if I would have waited until I was 60, I’d probably be dead.”

Kent said early detection is the key to surviving colon cancer.

“Sometimes I feel guilty saying I’m a cancer survivor, because I’ve not gone through the wringer that other people who have cancer go through, and that’s because we got it early,” Kent said. “The reality of it is, a $25 gift card saved my life.”

(From left) Mady, Nathan, Alex and Kent Smith at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland three weeks after Kent’s surgery.

Sendoff reimagines the final celebration

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER STAFF WRITER

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

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

Kelly Roberts, who has long operated his family’s funeral home in Forest Lake, is the founder of Sendoff, which launched in November 2022.

Roberts noticed that while the industry for other big life events such as weddings were changing with the times, funerals were often the same solemn, stuffy and depersonalized affair as they had been for decades.

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

Sendoff has partnered with hospitality venues throughout

the Twin Cities to curate a funeral experience that fully embraces the unique personality of the deceased.

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

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

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

the outdoors and hunting.

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

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

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

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

Sendoff also has a charitable giving branch called SendHope. It partners with two

nonprofits—Sophie’s Squad and the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Every Sendoff event results in a monetary donation in the name of the family’s loved one.

Representatives from Sendoff will hold a free education seminar about end-of-life planning at 7 Vines Vineyard in Dellwood at 3 p.m. March 29. Learn more about Sendoff at www.sendoff.co.

The 118th Congress is underway. Two bipartisan local journalism bills will soon be introduced. The Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, or JCPA, is authored by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (center) of Minnesota, and is supported by an even mix of Republicans and Democrats. Matt McMillan (left), America’s Newspapers board member and CEO of Press Publications, and Dean Ridings (right), CEO of America’s Newspapers, meet to discuss local journalism role in communities. McMillan is talking to eight Minnesota and Wisconsin lawmakers “on the Hill” about the bills. He is part of a delegation whose members represent more than a dozen independent, family-owned U.S. newspapers and are visiting members of Congress. Recent studies show communities without local newspapers pay higher taxes and have fewer people vote, fewer people run for office and more partisanship.

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

Kelly Roberts Sendoff Founder

SENDOFF

Sendoff

OPINION

I’m back

Did you miss me?! I hope so because I missed you. I recently returned to work after taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave. My husband and I welcomed our first child, Royce, the day after Christmas.

Dropping him off at daycare for the first time and walking back into the Press Publications office after being off for three months was an absolutely surreal experience. I may have shed a tear (or two).

Shannon’s

Shenanigans

Shannon Granholm

During my leave, I unplugged from the world for a while. I didn’t watch the news on TV or scroll my newsfeed on Facebook for quite some time. Part of that was on purpose, but another part of that was because my family and I had so much going on all at once.

Right after welcoming our son, we had to rush our corgi Twinkie to the emergency vet. For six months prior we were religiously putting various drops in her left eye to try to cure neurogenic dry eye, which means her glands were producing zero tears. At one point, we were putting five different drops in her eye twice a day.

Needless to say, the drops didn’t work and she developed an ulcer on her eye. We had to rush her to the emergency vet and were told that if we didn’t remove her eye, it would likely rupture. We went through with the surgery and thankfully Twinkie didn’t skip a beat. Besides being a little loopy from the anesthesia and drugs for the first 24 hours, she adapted very well and went right back to acting like her sassy self. And now she has one more nickname, T-Winks.

At the same time our German shepherd Frosty also started having troubles of her own. She likely has degenerative myelopathy (DM), which is a disease that affects the spinal cord, resulting in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. DM is similar to some of the forms of human ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

In the beginning she started dragging her feet and but then one day she went to stand up and it was like her legs just weren’t there anymore. It happened so fast and has been absolutely heartbreaking to watch. She is only 9 years old. We are hoping the disease’s progression slows down for a while so we can keep her enjoying life and free of pain for as long as possible.

She’s on the waitlist to get a doggy wheel chair that should help her get around outdoors. Indoors we have a harness that we can use to lift her back legs so she can get up and down all the stairs in our split-level home.

So much has happened in my life over these last few months, and I know a lot has happened in our communities while I was away. I was so sad to hear Chef Hot Hands was killed in a shooting in St. Paul. What a huge loss for our communities.

I was happy to hear area business owner Farrell Tuohy was gifted a kidney on his birthday after a three-year wait.

I’ve sure missed my interactions with community members and I’m looking forward to plugging back in and feeling in-the-know again.

Shannon Granholm is the managing editor at Press Publications.

Modern Luddites

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

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

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

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

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

I had recently turned 21 and decided to take the fall quarter off from school. In reality, I was heartbroken and unsure of what direction my life was going to take. I had positive memories of working for a season in Glacier National Park after graduating from high school, so I decided to take a trip back out west. Despite unexpected bills whittling my available funds down to $150 just prior to departure, I decided to hit the road anyway. Starting with an October construction job in Yellowstone National Park, I was able to work a string of temporary jobs and fund three months of travel and camping excursions into some exceptionally beautiful areas in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. I still appreciate the simplicity of traveling with just a tent and sleeping bag. Chris McCandless has sometimes been portrayed as foolish or naive but I see him more as someone who was seeking an authentic life, who could very well have survived in the Alaskan wilderness if not for the unpredictable and overwhelming power of nature.

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

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

SHOREVIEW PRESS | LETTER GUIDELINES

letters per year and 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.

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writer about the same subject matter will not be published.

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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 651-429-1242 or mail or deliver it to Press Publications, 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Angle of View

Paul Dols

Transitioning to EVs

How exciting that we are living to see another major technology transformation. This time it’s our transportation system going electric! Electric transition of vehicles is happening at a rapid pace. Ten percent of all new car sales in 2022 were EVs; by 2030, it’s projected that number will jump to 50% of new car sales. Few areas of the new global energy economy are as dynamic as electric vehicles.

What’s driving the surge in EV sales? Electric vehicles have come down dramatically in price. Today you can purchase a Nissan Leaf for approximately $21K (including the tax credit), and the very popular GM Equinox SUV, which is hitting the market with a cost as low as $30K, has a range of 300 miles.

The price drop can be attributed to consumer demand to reduce carbon emissions along with the Inflation Reduction Act, which has led to large private investments in new battery technology that will continue to rapidly reduce the price of battery storage.

Businesses are embracing the transition and looking at creative ways to

CITY BRIEF

Pothole repairs

make money. One business opportunity is in building and managing charging stations. Businesses with large footprints are creating electric carcharging “oases” along major transportation routes with green spaces, bathrooms and playgrounds (Subway is the latest one to announce plans). They want their business to be where you stop to charge your EV, just like gas stations have become one-stop shopping. Will there be challenges with the EV market? Of course. Supply issues, building out an equitable charging infrastructure, reuse/recycle of batteries; however, there are a lot of people and businesses very focused on these issues. I don’t think the electrification of our transportation can be stopped, nor should it be. Learn more about EVs at a free event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, at the Shoreview Library. There will be a few EVs on display in the library parking lot at 6 p.m. If you cannot attend in person, join on Zoom at bit.ly/NEMCA0329.

Kate Winsor North Oaks

Scholarship opportunities from Shoreview sister city

The Shoreview-Einhausen Sister City Association (SESCA) is pleased to announce scholarship program opportunities for high school students who are interested in advancing their skills in the German language. This includes German language instruction offered by the German American Institute in St. Paul and Concordia College camps located near Bemidji. Tours to Germany are led by world language instructors. General requirements include being a Mounds View District High School student and having a demonstrated interest in learning the German language. Inquiries can be sent via email to SESCA at sistercity@sesca.org or via mail to SESCA at 4600 Victoria Street North, Shoreview Minnesota 55126. The mission of SESCA is to promote friendship and international goodwill by creating opportunities for all citizens of the greater Shoreview area to experience the German culture through a variety of social,

educational and cultural activities, with an emphasis on exchanges and personal interactions with the people of Einhausen, Germany. More information can be found at https:// www.sesca.org//.

Taste of Shoreview coming in April

If you are looking for the perfect evening for a date night while benefiting your community, come to the Taste of Shoreview from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Shoreview Community Center. The Shoreview Arden Hills Lions Club is hosting the event. People can sample local foods and beverages including craft beers, wines and soda. People can vote for their favorite local vendors. Other fun activities throughout the evening will be a live auction, silent auction, bucket raffle, wine wall and a gift card wall. This is a fundraiser for the Slice of Shoreview festival this summer. Tickets are available online at shoreviewardenhillslions.org/ events.

Shoreview public works personnel have started repairing potholes around Shoreview. Major potholes will be repaired first, as timely as possible. If people see a pothole, they can report its location to the city’s streets supervisor, Jason Ewell, at jewell@shoreviewmn.gov. On Ramsey County roads, potholes can be reported at http://bit.ly/40fBmhL.

Upcoming Games

April 4-9 vs. Iowa Cubs

April 18-23 vs. Scranton/WB Railriders

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Upcoming Games

BUILD THE FOUNDATION

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BUILD

- CREATE YOUR LEGACY BUILD THE FOUNDATION

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Building a Better Community through Charitable Giving

The Shoreview Community Foundation Advisory Board invites you to

Building a Better Community through Charitable Giving

IRA Charitable Distribution

Make a tax-free gift to the Shoreview Community Foundation from an IRA in 2020 Individuals who are age 701/2 or older can make gifts of up to $100,000 directly from their IRA to one or more qualified charities, without paying federal income tax of the withdrawal. This option provides tax savings to donors even if they do not itemize deductions.

Details:

Community Night at Churchill St. Restaurant

By connecting the generosity of people with the evolving needs of Shoreview, the Shoreview Community Foundation enriches our quality of life. The Foundation provides grants according to predetermined guidelines to non-profit organizations or units of governmental from its permanent endowment fund.

• Donors must be age 701/2 or older at the time the gift is made.

At Churchill St. they believe a place to gather and enjoy good food can transform our community and enhance the lives of their guests, team members, partners, and neighbors.

By connecting the generosity of people with the evolving needs of Shoreview, the Shoreview Community Foundation enriches our quality of life. The Foundation provides grants according to predetermined guidelines to non-profit organizations or units of governmental from its permanent endowment fund.

There are many options for making undesignated or designated, tax deductible gifts or bequests by will or trust.

• Gifts cannot be used to fund a gift annuity or charitable remainder trust.

• Each donor may give up to $100,000 per year.

• The funds must be transferred directly to a qualifi charity. It is important not to withdraw the funds before making a gift.

There are many options for making undesignated or designated, tax deductible gifts or bequests by will or trust.

• Gifts can be used to satisfy the donor’s required minimum distribution.

• Donors can exclude the distribution from income on their federal tax returns. If they do, they will not receive a charitable income tax reduction.

Please join us Sunday evening, April 16th, from 4pm-8pm for Shoreview Community Foundation's community night meal. 10% of gross sales from the evening will be donated to SCF.  So not only will you get to enjoy a delicious meal at this community restaurant, but you will get to help SCF in the process.  In order for them to plan, please let them know you are coming by calling 612-466-2596 or by going to Churchill St. Reservations to set up a reservation.  However, walk-ins are always welcome.  We hope to see you there!

• To qualify for tax-free treatment, donors cannot receive goods or services, or a personal benefit (such as tickets for events) in return for the IRA charitable distribution.

Contact the Shoreview Community Foundation at: www.shoreviewcommunityfoundation.org

The Shoreview Community Foundation does not give tax or legal advice. We recommend that donors consult their own professional tax advisor before making a gift.

The Shoreview Community Foundation’s mission is to maintain, enhance and enrich the quality of life in Shoreview by connecting the generosity of people who appreciate Shoreview with the evolving needs of the community. For further information visit www.shoreviewcommunityfoundation.org

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office reported the selected incidents in Shoreview:

• A Shoreview man, 30, was arrested at 10:02 p.m. Feb. 20 in the 4400 block of Chatsworth Street for misdemeanor domestic assault, after Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the scene of a dispute where the subject assaulted another male, 65.

• Violation of an order for protection (OFP) was reported Feb. 21 in the 4500 block of Victoria Street N.

• Residents in the 1000 block of Churchill Circle reported a checking account opened in their names Feb. 22. Deputies advised the complainants to notify the Social Security Administration and monitor their credit reports.

• A Minneapolis man on Feb. 22 reported his personal keys stolen from an office table at his place of employment in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road. The victim will be out some $1,200 when he has to rekey his vehicles and doors. The good news is that the victim’s car never left the parking lot.

• A resident in the 5900 block of Alameda Street reported her ex-husband for showing up unannounced at her residence Feb. 22 after the divorce decree said he could not.

• A Maplewood man, 46, was arrested Feb. 23 in the 1000 block of Carmel Court for gross misdemeanor domestic assault, following a domestic dispute. His assault charge was upgraded due to a prior qualifying conviction.

• Shots were reported being fired at 9:17 p.m. Feb. 23 in the 4200 block of Reiland Lane. Witnesses said they heard what sounded like gunshots fired into the air and immediately saw a vehicle speeding southbound on Reiland Lane. On arrival, deputies found shotgun shells on the ground and footprints made by deer leading to a lake. A foot search and drone footage found no signs of gunshot victims, human or cervid.

• A Vadnais Heights man, 37, was arrested for DWI at 8:17 a.m. Feb. 24 in the area of Gramsie Road and Rice Street after deputies responded to the scene of an accident with injuries during which a car crashed into a tree. The driver had lacerations on his head and reeked of a consumed alcoholic beverage. Because he refused to take the preliminary blood test, deputies obtained a search order for a blood draw and chased the ambulance to Regions

Hospital. When subject refused to allow a blood draw and provide a urine sample, he was placed under arrest for third-degree DWI test refusal and transferred from the hospital to the jail.

• Residents in the 4300 block of Nancy Place on Feb. 24 reported a package stolen from the front step, after video surveillance showed a male wearing a hooded winter jacket and scarf taking the package and leaving in a sedan of an unidentifiable color.

• A visitor walking along the path from the Grass Lake Park and Nature Reserve parking lot in the 500 block of Gramsie Road Feb. 24 reported finding spent shotgun shells. Deputies collected the shells and placed them into property in case they were related to an earlier incident on Reiland Lane.

• A Vadnais Heights man, 63 was cited Feb. 24 in the intersection of Hodgson Road and Gramsie Road for failing to yield the right of way while making a left turn, following a two-vehicle accident at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle, a Circle Pines woman, was transported to Regions Hospital by EMS. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and provided necessary paperwork. Both disabled vehicles were towed.

• A North Oaks man reported cash missing from a backpack left in the back seat of a vehicle going through a car wash in the 4500 block of Hodgson Road on Feb. 25. After surveillance video footage proved to be inconclusive, the car wash general manager forwarded the case to his employer’s loss prevention department.

• A Shoreview man, 18, was arrested for disorderly conduct Feb. 25 in the 900 block of Dawn Avenue, after deputies responded to investigate a 911 hangup and deescalated a situation involving an intoxicated person mishandling firearms.

• A Duluth woman reported a wallet stolen from her vehicle Feb. 25 while it was parked in the Rice Creek Dog Park lot, after the driver side window had been broken in for access. After the complainant received an alert of an attempt to use her cards at the Shoreview Target, she canceled her cards. Photos of the persons trying to use the cards have been collected. Later, the wallet was found in Blaine, minus everything but an old identification card. The case is under investigation.

• A Shoreview man, 34, was arrested and cited Feb. 26 in the 100 block of Dennison Avenue for

violating an Harassment Restraining Order (HRO).

• A Spring Lake Park man taking his dog for a walk Feb. 26 in the 5900 block of Lexington Avenue N. reported being bitten in the hand, after breaking up a fight between his own dog and another dog. The victim, who required stitches, didn’t know if he was bitten by his own dog or the other dog.

• A resident in the 1000 block of Cobb Road reported being defrauded out of $350 Feb. 26, after falling victim to a scam started on Instagram that also involved pictures shared on a video call.

• A resident in the 5400 block of Carlson Road reported being scammed over the phone Feb. 27, after he responded to a computer virus popup notification and exposed his social security number, credit card number and banking information. The complainant was able to stop charges of $1,000 before reporting to deputies.

• North Suburban Auto Care in the 400 block of Highway 96 reported a person being observed stealing a key fob from the key fob rack inside the service center March 1 and using it to locate a vehicle on the premises. The person then left the office with the key fob, but not the vehicle, because staff blocked the car and detached its battery to prevent any future theft. Photos of the suspect were entered into the case file.

• A purse backpack containing a watch and business receipts was reported stolen March 1 from an apartment unit in the 4100 block of Lexington Avenue N., most likely when the door was open during painting work.

• A Shoreview man, 35, was arrested March 3 in the 400 block of Harriet Avenue for fifth degree domestic assault and disorderly conduct, after deputies were called out to the scene of a 911 hang up call and arrived to the sounds of people arguing.

• Residents in the 800 block of Colleen Avenue on March 3 reported a family diamond ring stolen.

• A Dellwood woman reported losing her vintage ring March 5 at the Shoreview Target store in the 3800 block of Lexington Avenue N. while she was walking. At the time of the report, the ring had not been turned into the lost and found.

Loretta Harding

PUBLIC NOTICES

OFFICE OF THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME

Pursuant to Chapter 333, Minnesota Statutes; the undersigned, who is or will be conducting or transacting a commercial business in the State of Minnesota under an assumed name, hereby certifies:

1. The assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted is: Still Deeper Spiritual Direction

2. The street address of the principal place of business is or will be: 333 10th Street NW #210 New Brighton, MN 55112

3. The name and street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name, including any corporation that may be conducting this business.

Teresa Talley 333 10th Street NW #210 New Brighton, MN 55112

I certify that I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify that I understand that by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath.

Dated: March 2, 2023

Signed: Teresa Talley, Director Published two times in the Shoreview Press on March 28 and April 11, 2023. CITY OF NORTH OAKS SUMMARY PUBLICATION ORDINANCE NO. 143

A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PUBLICATION OF A SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 143, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING NORTH OAKS CITY CODE TITLE V, CHAPTER 51: SEPTIC ORDINANCE

On March 9, 2023, the City Council of the City of North Oaks, Ramsey County, Minnesota adopted Ordinance No. 143, an ordinance amending North Oaks City Code Title V, Chapter 51: Septic Ordinance. Ordinance No. 143 clarifies that Chapter 51 will be administered by the City of North Oaks Sanitary Inspector; adopts the dispute resolution procedure for periodically saturated soil disagreements found in Minn. Rules, Part 7082.0700, subp. 5; clarifies a refence to Minn. Rules P. 7083.0020, subp. 4 related to submission of an as-built report for new system installations; and clarifies the penalties for violations or threatened violations of Chapter 51.

It is hereby determined that publication of this title and summary will clearly inform the public of the intent and effect of Ordinance No. 143, and it is directed that only the above title and summary of Ordinance No. 143 conforming to Minn. Stat. Sec. 331A.01 be published, with the following: NOTICE

A printed copy of the full text of Ordinance No. 143 is available for public inspection by any person during regular office hours at the office of the North Oaks City Clerk, 100 Village Center Drive, # 230, North Oaks, MN, 55127, by standard mail, or by electronic mail, and at any other public location which the Council designates.

Published one time in the Shoreview Press on March 28, 2023.

CITY OF NORTH OAKS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING APPLICATION FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO AMEND THE CITY OF NORTH OAKS 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADD ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE AREAS DESIGNATED FOR FUTURE MUNICIPAL SEWER AND WATER SERVICE AND WITHIN THE AREA DESIGNATED AS EMERGING SUBURBAN EDGE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of North Oaks will hold a Planning Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. on April 12, 2023, in the Community Room, 100 Village Center Drive, North Oaks, MN to hold a PUBLIC HEARING on the application for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Applicant North Oaks Company, LLC is requesting modifications to Tables 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Chapter 3 and amendments to Maps 1, 16, 17 and 18 of the City of North Oaks 2040 Comprehensive Plan which would allow the installation of municipal sanitary sewer and water systems. The amendment would add additional area to the Emerging Suburban Edge (Map 1), Future Sewer Area (Map 16), Future Service Area (Map 17), and Future Water Service Areas (Map 18). The areas proposed to be added to Maps 16, 17 are Tracts A through R of RLS 640. Maps 1 and 18 areas proposed to be added area Tracts A through R of RLS 640 and Tracts F and H of RLS 561. Members of the public may participate in the public hearing by:

1.Attending the meeting in person and providing public comment during the public hearing;

2. Attending the meeting remotely and providing public comment via zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85715667387 ; or

3.Submitting written public comments by emailing City Administrator Kevin Kress at kkress@northoaksmn.gov by _April 7, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Public comments submitted in advance will be accepted into the record as part of the public hearing. Questions regarding the public hearing, including about remote participation opportunities, should be directed to City Administrator Kevin Kress at 651-792-7750.

Published one time in the Shoreview Press on March 28, 2023.

CITY OF SHOREVIEW, MINNESOTA ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 2023 STREET LIGHTING REPLACEMENT CITY PROJECT NO. 23-01; SEH NO. SHORE 170409

Notice is hereby given that Online Bids will be received by the City of Shoreview until Tuesday, April 4,

Documents is: Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. located at 3535 Vadnais Center Drive, St. Paul, MN 55110-5196, Ken

- 651.490.2000

The Bidding Documents may be viewed for no cost at http://www.sehinc. com by selecting the Project Bid Information link at the bottom of the page and the View Plans option from the menu at the top of the selected project page. Digital image copies of the Bidding Documents are available at http:// www.sehinc.com for a fee of $30. These documents may be downloaded by selecting this project from the “Project Bid Information” link and by entering eBidDocTM Number 8419387 on the SEARCH PROJECTS page. For assistance and free membership registration, contact QuestCDN at 952.233.1632 or info@questcdn.com.

For this project, bids will ONLY be received electronically. Contractors submitting an electronic bid will be charged an additional $42 at the time of bid submission via the online electronic bid service QuestCDN.com. To access the electronic Bid Worksheet, download the project document and click the online bidding button at the top of the advertisement. Prospective bidders must be on the plan holders list through QuestCDN for bids to be accepted. Bids shall be completed according to the Bidding Requirements prepared by SEH dated March 9, 2023.

In addition to digital plans, paper copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from Docunet Corp. located at 2435 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441 (763.475.9600) for a fee of $70.

Bid security in the amount of 5 percent of the Bid must accompany each Bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders.

A Contractor responding to these Bidding Documents must submit to the City/Owner a signed statement under oath by an owner or officer verifying compliance with each of the minimum criteria in Minnesota Statutes, section 16C.285, subdivision 3.

This Work shall be subject to minimum wages and labor standards in accordance with State Funded Construction Contracts, Exhibit A. The City reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive irregularities and informalities therein and to award the Contract in the best interests of the City. Brad Martens City Manager, City of Shoreview, MN

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Details: Mark Armstead of Beisswenger’s Garden Center will Speak on Succulents and Cactus in the Garden. Public welcome. Contact: 651-484-4341.

EGG HUNT

When: 8 a.m. Saturday, April 8. Where: McCullough Park, 955 County Road I in Shoreview.

Details: For children aged 10 and under. Join the bunny for an egg hunt. Each participant will be given a bag for hunting. The egg hunt is held outside, so please dress for the weather.

“BUT IT FELL IN MY CART!” TIPS FOR SMARTER PLANT PLANNING

When: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11.

Where: Online.

SHOREVIEW NORTHERN LIGHTS VARIETY

BAND ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT

When: 7 p.m. annual spring concert is Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 7:00 pm, in Benson Great Hall

Where: Benson Great Hall, Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Dr. in Arden Hills.

Details: Inspired by the “soundwaves” theme, the program spans a variety of musical genres. Selections include marches, favorite melodies from the Encanto and The Greatest Showman movies, sci-fi video game music and a classic piece from Wagner’s opera Lohengrin. Tickets are available at www. snlvb.com, Shoreview City Hall, tickets. bethel.edu, Benson Great Hall Box Office,

and at the door.

Contact: More information and a history of the band is at www.snlvb.com.

AN INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES

When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29.

Where: Ramsey County Shoreview Library, 4560 Victoria St. N. in Shoreview.

Details: Guest speaker is Brian Anderson, a local engineer who has transitioned to 100% electric transportation. EVs will be on display in the parking lot at 6 p.m.

Contact: bit.ly/NEMCA0329.

SHOREVIEW COMMUNITY GARDEN CLUB

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 5.

Where: Shoreview Community Center

Holy

Details: Join guest speaker Diana Grundeen to discuss the difference between plant shopping and plant deigning, and ways to get the most out landscapes. Free.

Contact: vlawmo.org/events/it-fell-my-carttips-smarter-plant-planning/.

NORTH SUBURBAN NEIGHBORS CLUB

SPRING COFFEE

When: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 13.

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

Details: NSNC, a non-profit friendship organization for women in the northern suburbs, invites prospective members to learn about their activities.

Contact: 651-247-9601.

SONGBOOK LIVE: THE WOMEN WHO WROTE THE SONGS

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 16.

Where: Lakeshore Players, 4941 Long Ave. in White Bear Lake.

Details: Top performers present tribute to iconic female songwriters in a musical celebration.

Contact: 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers. org.

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST: WARBLER IDENTIFICATION

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 19.

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

Details: Free naturalist-led program for those 50+. May include trail hike. Registration not required; equipment provided.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks. com.

FAT

TIRE BIKING

When: 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 19.

Where: Rice Creek Chain of lakes Park Reserve, 7373 Main St. in Lino Lakes.

Details: Introductory class for novice bike riders. Registration and cost information online.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks. com.

The Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band

How to eat smart during National Nutrition Month

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER STAFF WRITER

In a culture that’s always on the go, it can be difficult to make time to focus on nutrition. Occasional indulgent choices sometimes become consistent bad habits, but once in a while, it helps to reevaluate and make an intentional effort to choose healthier food.

National Nutrition Month, which takes place in March, was created in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage the public to make informed food choices and develop healthy lifestyle habits.

Kelly Kunkel, a health education specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension, gave a few tips on how to focus more on nutrition this month.

To start, increasing fruits, vegetables and whole grains are all beneficial ways to improve diet.

“Another thing you often forget about is that with sugar-sweetened beverages, those calories really add up over time. You get an endless amount of pop at restaurant, and the beverage you drink is sometimes higher in sugar and calories than the meal you eat,” Kunkel said.

She also recommended eating at home.

“When you know what’s going into the food, it can be a lot healthier,” she said. “We used to really focus on the meat being the centerpiece, but you can have whole grains or plant-based products as a focus instead, and have meat more as an accompaniment.”

Many Minnesotans grew up learning that the food pyramid was the best way to balance your daily foods and nutrients. These days, recommendations look a little different. MyPlate is the name of the new model recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that can help you find the right balance in your meals.

MyPlate recommends making half of your plate fruits and vegetables, making half of your grains whole grains, eating varied proteins, and moving to low-fat or fat-free dairy milk or yogurt.

“We don’t eat off of pyramids, we eat off of plates,” Kunkel said. “It helps to make that visual for the consumer. Oftentimes our meals are combinations

of food groups, like if we have a stir fry, it doesn’t fall neatly into those categories.”

Nutrition is more than just what you eat—your whole lifestyle is involved. Physical activity is one important element in staying healthy.

It’s good to be aware of snacks and beverages you might consume outside of regular mealtimes, Kunkel said. Some of the lattes and frappuccinos we enjoy are packed with upwards of 500 calories and tons of sugar.

“Calories eaten while standing in front of the TV still count,” Kunkel said. “We can finish a bag of potato chips without realizing we did so. It helps to put it into a bowl or into a cup, so when you’re done, you’re done. A snack is an extension to your meal day, so try to keep it at three meals and three snacks.”

As spring approaches, many are thinking about losing weight in time for the summer season. Dieting can help, but Kunkel advised that people should use their common sense when choosing a diet to follow.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” she said. “Make sure you research the diets you’re planning. I recommend the MyPlate diet; it’s very

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manageable. The Mediterranean diet is another choice that is well-researched.”

A diet shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive, Kunkel said, and she recommends talking with a health provider or dietitian when looking for the best fit for your health.

Probiotics, found in fermented foods, are becoming a popular way to nurture the microbiomes in our stomachs. This area of nutrition is still being researched, but probiotics are thought to help with many stomach and immune conditions. Foods that contain probiotics include sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha and yogurt.

“If one type of food is not something you like to eat, try different kinds of fermented foods and serve it with foods that you do like,” Kunkel said. “If you don’t like kombucha by itself, maybe you add mineral water to it. Kimchi might not be something you like on its own, but you do like it in a stir fry. Making a Greek yogurt smoothie with berries and spinach is great way to start the day.”

Eating healthy requires fresh foods, which not every household can afford. There are many community resources, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, to households that face food insecurity. The Minnesota Food HelpLine (1-888-711-1151) can help connect people with resources available to them.

“It costs more to eat healthy, but it’s also an investment in your health,” Kunkel said. “Not everybody has access to the food they need to eat. Eating well shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be something everybody can afford.”

The HelpLine can direct people to community meals and food shelves that keep fresh produce and lean meats in stock. It can also help get them started on receiving SNAP benefits.

Communities are also combating food insecurity with initiatives such as community gardens that turn empty lots into places where people can grow their own produce.

Find recipes, information, resources and more this March at www.eatright.org, www.reallifegoodfood. umn.edu, www.hungersolutions.org or www.myplate. gov.

June - August

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE | CONTRIBUTED

The MyPlate approach to healthy eating puts emphasis on fresh fruit and vegetables, varied sources of protein and more whole grains during mealtime.

Wildlife rehab center to construct animal nursery

BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER STAFF WRITER

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

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

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

The Roseville campus has been in urgent need of more space for years. It was constructed in 2002 with the expectation of 10,000 patients, but by 2019 the facility was hosting more than 15,000 and still receiving new cases. At

its busiest, the WRC takes in up to 250 animals in a single day.

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

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

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

water is particularly important.

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

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

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

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

What to do if you find a baby animal?

If you find an injured wild animal (adult or infant), bring it to WRC during operating hours (10 a.m. – 6 p.m. every day of the year); no need to call first. During baby season, the WRC can help determine whether or not the baby animal needs to be brought to rehabilitation, so call before bringing in the young animal: 651-4869453. Leave a message if staff cannot answer the phone; someone will call back within the hour.

Found a baby squirrel?

If you accidentally cut down a tree or branch containing a nest of squirrels, place the entire nest (or just the squirrels if nest was destroyed) at the

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

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

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

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

base of the stump/ tree as soon as your trimming activity has ended. Give the mother squirrel time and space to move her babies (keep away from the area, keep children and dogs away, etc.). Squirrels are industrious and keep a few fully-constructed nests in the area. The mother will most likely move the family one at a time to another tree.

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

Any squirrels on the ground should be gently picked up and set on an old t-shirt or fleece (tiny squirrel toes can get caught on towels) to keep them off

the cold ground. Place two activated hand warmers underneath the fabric. This will provide necessary warmth to the young squirrels. Do not cover the squirrels.

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

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

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

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

Schmitzer is Mounds View HS Triple-A nominee

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS WRITER

Alana Schmitzer, an all-conference athlete and musician, was Mounds View High School’s girl nominee for the Triple A Award, a Minnesota State High School League program honoring seniors for achievement in arts, academics and athletics. Sports, music and studies “each involve a very different set of skills,” she said, and helped her develop “a better creative mind” and leadership ability. Schmitzer was an allconference swimmer for four years. She lettered three years in Nordic Ski and made all-conference as a senior.

Hentges

A cello player, she was section leader for solo ensemble for music contests. A relatively late starter in music, she worked hard at it, joining multiple orchestras.

Academically, she carries a 3.975 gradepoint-average. She especially enjoyed a CIS Physics class her senior year when she was on a team that built a catapult, then do various tests and calculations about the distance and velocity of projectiles.

“This lab broadened my knowledge and demonstrated my creative thinking skills,” commented Schmitzer, who plans to attend St. Olaf and major in Biology/Pre Med.

sidelined at start of MLB season

Sam Hentges, the Mounds View graduate who had an excellent 2022 Major League Baseball season with Cleveland as a middle relief pitcher, helping the Guardians win the American League Central championship, will start the 2023 season on the injured list. In spring training, the 6-foot-6 left hander has been sidelined since March 1 due to a shoulder inflammation. Hentges, after struggling as a starter/reliever in his first MLB season in 2021, came on strong last year. The 2014 Mounds Virw High School graduate posted a 2.32 ERA in 62 innings, striking out 29.4 percent of batters he faced while walking just 7.8 percent. Cleveland will open on Thursday evening in Seattle.

Dashboard offers greater resolution on violent death data in Minnesota

Health officials have announced the launch of a new dashboard as a comprehensive public health tool for visualizing the state’s violence data. This dashboard is among the first of its kind, making it easier for users to see some of the circumstances related to violent deaths at the county level. It allows policy makers, media and other stakeholders to observe trends in violent deaths over time and among groups of Minnesotans, which can help them develop more effective approaches to prevent such deaths.

The dashboard uses data from the Minnesota Violent Death Reporting System, which pulls together information about violent deaths including suicide, homicide, unintentional firearm, law enforcement intervention or other undetermined violent death between 2015 and 2020.

is overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The new dashboard provides context about violent deaths by collecting more than 600 unique data elements. It includes violent death information regarding relationships, locations, methods and demographics.

Data on the dashboard indicate some of the following patterns.

• Homicides and homicide rates spiked in 2020 — a trend also observed nationally — while other manners of violent death did not.

CONTRIBUTED

Sam Hentges

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Grant Dean

Grant Dean, a three-year starter on the Mounds View hockey team, had hIs senior season cut short by a knee injury after 10 games. Dean logged seven goals and five assists, and a plus-four rating. In his solid career, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound, left-handed forward had career totals of 28 goals and 31 assists in 56 games, an average of just over one point per game. He hopes to resume his career on a juniors team and eventually play on a college team. 4661 Highway 61 | White Bear Lake northstarbank.com | 651-429-4531

“This dashboard gives us more detailed information on which populations are experiencing the tragedy of violent deaths, and what the circumstances are surrounding these deaths,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. “By pulling this data together into one dashboard, we can better understand where and why these deaths are happening and work with our partners to develop tailored strategies to protect Minnesotans.”

For example, the dashboard indicates that 55% of those dying by suicide during 2015-2020 had a current mental health problem and 48% had a history of mental health treatment. The data suggests opportunities to prevent suicides by increasing the effectiveness of treatments and access to those treatments. The dashboard also suggests that some of the Minnesotans at the highest risk for suicide include American Indian males in their teens and 20s and white men, ages 35-64, in rural areas who have access to guns and less access to mental health care.

The Minnesota Violent Death Reporting System pulls together data from death certificates as well as death investigation reports from medical examiners, coroners and law enforcement. It is a part of the National Violent Death Reporting System, which

• Firearms were used in 45% of suicide deaths, 65% of homicide deaths and 54% of inter-personal violence homicide deaths. Most firearm deaths, 75%, were suicide. Minnesota has large racial disparities in suicide and homicide rates. Suicide rates in Minnesota are highest among the American Indian population, more than 70% higher than for the white population.

• Homicide rates in the state are highest among the Black or African American population and the American Indian population, more than 10 times the rate of the white population.

• Antidepressants were found in the systems of 29.8% of females who died by suicide, compared to 12.1% in males.

• Most often the victim and suspect in a homicide knew each other.

• Spouses were suspected as the perpetrator in 21.1% of homicide cases where the victim was female. The victim’s boyfriend or girlfriend was suspected in an additional 15.5% of cases.

• In homicide deaths, the most common circumstance recorded, 32.9%, was an “argument or conflict” precipitating the death.

If you or someone you know needs crisis supports or is thinking of suicide, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The Minnesota Office of Justice Programs has a list of Minnesota Resources for Crime Victims at http:// bit.ly/3YGAukD.

To learn more, go to http://bit. ly/3mNvmhi.

“Your Financial Partner”

Mounds View Hockey

Alana Schmitzer is a standout swimmer and cello player.

Minnesota Department of Health

KIDNEY BUDDY: Area business owner granted birthday wish, gets donor

help out where you can, and if I can give him a kidney and prolong his life and get him up and running again … I don’t need two kidneys. You do what you can for family.”

After about a year of going through the process and just days before Tuohy’s birthday, Engler found out he was a match. On Tuohy’s birthday, the Englers and some family members stopped by for a visit and to reveal the surprise.

“It threw me for a loop. I didn’t know anything about it,” Tuohy said. “It was a total shocker.”

Before giving Tuohy a card, Engler asked him, “If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?” And Tuohy responded, “better health.”

Engler then unzipped his sweatshirt to reveal a T-shirt that read, “kidney buddies for life.” Tuohy was speechless.

“There is no way in hell I would have guessed he was there to do that,” Tuohy said. “I lost it. It was crazy. I couldn’t speak.”

Tuohy is beyond grateful for the sacrifice that Engler is willing to make.

BY TOM STANGL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

The trend of rising winter (and summer) United States Postal Service (USPS) prices continues for the general public and commercial users. Increases include first-class letters, by 5%; postcards, 9%; marketing mail, 6.25%; and periodicals, 7.6%.

The increase, one of two planned for 2023, follows stamp increases of 13.5% during 2022.

Due to the postage increase, Press Publications and other U.S. periodicals are raising home

“That’s one hell of a sacrifice, for him to make that commitment …” he said.

The two are hopeful the donation will happen, but there are a few hurdles that need to be jumped over first. They have to go through a tissue crossmatch to check to see how Tuohy’s immune system may react to Engler’s kidney.

In addition, Tuohy currently has a wound on his toe that is slow to heal. In order to speed up the healing process, he may need to go through a partial amputation. Once he is healed from that, if everything else checks out, they can get the organ donation surgery on the calendar.

“It’s been a long haul,” Tuohy said. Engler added, “It’s a privilege to do something like this. It is something more people should participate in. More people should think of others instead of themselves.”

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

Postage prices, subscription rates increase

delivery subscription rates to coincide with postage increases.

Press Publications subscriptions will increase by $2 per year.

National Newspaper Association (NNA)

incoming chair John Galer, publisher of the Hillsboro (Illinois) Journal-News, said the increases are daunting. The increase added to a price hike of around 7% from July 2022. The total impact of increased mailing costs has risen into the range of 15% in a single year.

“We understand the damage that inflation inflicts upon the U.S.

economy and, as loyal customers of the Postal Service in our industry for more than 200 years, we try to take actions to help USPS control its own expenses,” Galer said. “But price increases of this magnitude will hurt newspapers as well as the Postal Service. This is not the time to drive business away if the Postmaster General’s goal is to fill his mail trucks and his mailbags, as he told us.”

“We value our subscribers and don’t make these decisions lightly,” said Press Publications’ publisher Carter Johnson. Johnson

added subscribers get unlimited access to the paper’s website, including the e-edition. The cost of a local subscription is $32 yearly.

Delivery of the paper is 75 cents per issue with the new rates. Newsstand price is $1 per issue. Home delivery represents a 25% savings from the newsstand price.

Tom Stangl is publisher of Sentinel Publications, an affiliated company of Press Publications

CONTRIBUTED

Pizza Man owner Farrell Tuohy poses for a photo with his “kidney buddy.” If everything goes as planned, Engler plans to donate his kidney to Tuohy.

65 1-329-0815

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY,

all real estate adv ertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Ho using Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preferen ce, limitation or discriminat ion bas ed 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 ill not kn owingly acept any ad vertising r real esta te which is violation of the law. Our readers ar e hereinformed that all dw ellings adv ertised this newsp ap er are ailable on an equal oppor tunity bas is To mplain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9 777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

NOW HIRING DRIVERS

Guaranteed minimum salary up to $20 per hour depending on shift

651-653-9845

4687 Bald Eagle Ave., WBL 55110

SEASONAL MAINTENANCE WORKERS POSITIONS

White Bear Township is accepting applications for Seasonal Maintenance

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

Salary starting at $20.00/hour. A valid driver’s license with a good driving record is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass pre-employment drug screening.

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

Application deadline: Open until positions filled.

Staff Writer

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

Weekly Outlook

you by WeathermanWatson.com

After 122 days, the Airport recorded under 1 inch of snow depth. Your yard may disagree. While southern sloped yards are becoming exposed, area yards still have 5-7 inches of snow cover. Our back yards are sheltered while the Airport snow-measuring area is open and prone to blowing which results in less snow cover. We’re slowly to break out of below normal temperatures. We’re slowing working our way up but it does seem to be dragging. A few more ups and downs in the temperature department is expected.

Astro note: Last Thursday night and early Friday morning was one of most spectacular views of the aurora we’ve seen in ages. I hope you were one of the ones who were able to view it.

Scrap meta l applianc e pick up

Shoreview man drinks, assaults girlfriend

A Shoreview man, 48, faces up to 90 days in jail and/or a maximum $1,000 fine for misdemeanor domestic assault stemming from a March 18 incident in the 3900 block of Victoria Street N. His sentence could be tripled if he’s also convicted of two counts of fourthdegree DUI, of which each count carries a maximum jail term of 90 days and $1,000 fine.

At approximately 10:53 p.m. March 18, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched out to the 3900 block of Victoria Street N. on a domestic assault report. On arrival, deputies met with the male complainant, who stated that his mother had been assaulted by her boyfriend. Deputies located the complainant’s mother lying on a couch covering her face. She had a deep gash on her forehead, and one eye was swollen.

The victim said she had lost consciousness, but remembered that the defendant had struck her. The victim was transported to Regions Hospital for treatment of her injuries. The suspect had left the scene before deputies arrived.

Additional deputies assisting on scene left the residence to look for the suspect’s vehicle and located it as the suspect was returning to the residence. Deputies initiated a traffic stop and issued verbal commands for the suspect to exit the vehicle. The subject exited the vehicle, whereupon he was arrested and transported to jail.

After the suspect was read the breath test advisory, he agreed to take the breath test, registering a blood alcohol content of 0.11 at 1:40 a.m.

(Full Name)

Identity thieves don’t go quietly

A St. Paul man, 45, faces up to 20 years in prison and/or a maximum financial penalty of $100,000 for identity theft. His sentence could be augmented if he is also convicted of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a sentence that carries up to three years in jail and/or maximum fine of $5,000. His accomplice, a St. Paul woman, 46, has also been charged with identity theft and faces the same penalty if convicted.

The suspects’ life of crime unraveled just after midnight March 8 when Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed their stolen Cadillac being driven erratically in the area of Hodgson Road and Highway 96 before it stopped in the center turn lane and activated its emergency hazard lights. When deputies approached the vehicle, it fled at 110 mph and turned off its lights.

The Cadillac tore through the communities of Shoreview, Arden Hills, Roseville, Falcon Heights and St. Paul and successfully avoided law enforcement attempts to stop it by crossing into oncoming traffic and running red lights. It was only after a State Patrol helicopter picked up the getaway car and followed it along a dead end street that the motor vehicle pursuit ended in front of a building in the 1800 block of Arundel Street.

But the chase was not over. The male driver ran away and hid on top of a garage roof, and the female passenger hightailed it out of the Cadillac with two large bags. The bags must have held something important because they encumbered the woman enough to cause her to be caught easily.

The male’s baggage consisted of a warrant out of Anoka County for identity theft after having bought a vehicle with another person’s financial information. The female’s baggage on scene contained an ID belonging to another woman with the suspect’s picture on it, as well as checks for thousands of dollars made out to a woman who had outgoing mail stolen from her mailbox.

When advised of her rights, the female suspect denied everything, including being in possession of the bags she dropped when fleeing on foot and which slowed her down enough to be caught.

Inside that bag the female suspect denied the existence of were numerous identification cards and papers, insurance information, personal checks, business checks from Oak Grove Lutheran Church, an outdated rental form with a name and social security number, credit cards, a Premier Bank credit card, and an outdated Roseville Estates lease. The documents belonged to more than 10 different victims, none of whom knew the suspects or why their documents would be in their possession.

Still inside the Cadillac was a shopping bag containing vehicle titles and other identity documents.

When contacted about their recovered documents, victims said their outgoing mail had been stolen, or a wallet had been stolen from a vehicle.

The male suspect has 20 prior felony convictions and his distaff partner has prior felony convictions for motor vehicle theft and burglary in the second degree.

Four times the limit is “drinking a lot”

A Shoreview man, 34, faces up to a year in jail and/or maximum fine of $3,000 for third degree DWI and an additional 90 days in jail and/or maximum $1,000 fine for fourth degree DUI, after Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a driver sleeping in a vehicle at the intersection of Tanglewood Drive and Hanson Street. At 4:42 p.m. March 7, deputies located the vehicle and sleeping driver, as well as the odor of alcohol coming from him. The driver, who displayed red, bloodshot eyes, admitted to “drinking a lot”.

When deputies administered standard field sobriety tests, the driver performed poorly on the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test (tracking the movement of his eyes to follow an object) and registered a blood alcohol reading of .291 on the portable breath test.

At the law enforcement center, the defendant agreed to take a breath test at approximately 5:59 p.m., less than two hours after initial contact with deputies, and revealed a .32 blood alcohol content. This means the defendant took his last drink shortly before contact with deputies.

Loretta Harding

CITY COUNCIL: April spring events galore in Shoreview, construction to begin

FROM PAGE 1

will host an introduction to electric vehicles at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, at the Shoreview Ramsey County Library.

“If anybody’s interested in learning more about electric vehicles, they can do it right in our community,” Council Member John Doan said. “I think they’re going to have a couple of EVs on display in the parking lot so people can actually get in one, but I don’t know if they’ll let you drive them.”

Doan noted that the annual

tree sale continues until Friday, April 14. “Each household may buy up to five trees and 10 shrubs at wholesale prices, and delivery is included in that wholesale price,” Doan said.

He also noted that the City Council discussed emerald ash borer, the pesky bug that is eating and killing ash trees in the city.

“For residents of Shoreview, we do have a program that helps to treat the emerald ash borer if you can catch it early enough,” Doan said. “And

that’s a program that the city does at cost just for materials, and I’m happy to share with our community that it is available. Please contact the Shoreview Community Center or the Shoreview general number to ask for more information about that program, as it is going to kick off here starting in the spring.” Mayor Sue Denkinger shared that construction on Lexington Avenue is scheduled to resume on April 17.

“Apparently there will be some work being done around

the railroad crossing area, so there will be a period that Lexington Avenue will be closed at the crossing for one week,” Denkinger said. “Then Lexington will be back to single-lane closures. But the good news is that all of the work is scheduled to be done by mid-July. So hopefully, if things go according to plan, we’ll have to endure this for a little while longer, as well as the businesses.”

Denkinger also noted that farmer’s market season is right around the corner. “If

anyone is interested or knows someone who would like to get involved as a vendor in the farmer’s market, they can go to the city website and apply for that now,” she said.

The next Shoreview City Council meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, April 3, in council chambers at City Hall, 4600 Victoria St. N., in Shoreview. Shoreview Press Editor Noelle Olson can be reached by emailing shoreviewnews@ presspubs.com or calling 651407-1229.

CSAs support local farms and bring healthy food options home

Shopping at a supermarket gives you tasty options all throughout the year, but sometimes it’s hard to tell where your food comes from. Minnesota is replete with a wide variety of homegrown fruits, veggies and other goodies for the pantry grown on local farms. Many farms offer a CSA, or community-supported agriculture program, that supports local business and connects people with fresh food produced right here in their own state.

A CSA is a farm membership system that allows consumers to sign up to receive a season’s worth of a farm’s products (such as fruits and vegetables, cheese, meat or flowers) on a weekly or biweekly basis. Many offer products throughout the summer growing season; however, there are winter or year-round CSAs available to consumers. A CSA subscription is also an active way to support local farmers and get to know the people who grow and raise your local foods.

Minnesota Grown is the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) “buy local” program. Minnesota Grown makes locating CSAs easy through its online directory, which lists 95 CSA farms with over 375 pickup locations around the state. The number of pickup sites listed in the directory has more than doubled in the past two years, making it even more convenient to source fresh, local and affordable foods. Farmers attest to how CSA members

A short list of CSAs available in the Northeast Metro:

• All Good Organics, Lino Lakes

• Niemczyk’s Greenhouse & Gardens, Hugo

• Costa Produce Farm & Greenhouse, White Bear Lake (pickup at Festival Foods in Circle Pines, Hugo and White

contribute in more ways than dollars.

“Whenever the work is exceptionally hard, or the weather is exceptionally bad, knowing the people who are fed by our hard work makes it all worthwhile,” said Janaki FisherMerritt of Food Farm in Wrenshall.

“Being able to repay their support with the highest quality food makes this the most rewarding work a person could ask for.”

Minnesota Grown member Sprout MN runs a multifarm food hub in Little Falls. Food Hub Director Jessie Bavelli said, “The direct connections between consumers and producers formed through CSA contribute to stronger economies, healthy members of our community and a more resilient agriculture system and environment.”

Minnesota Grown spokesperson Rachel Wandrei says since each CSA program is unique in what it offers, it’s a good idea to review the options in the online directory to find what is right for you or your family. “Some CSAs offer smaller shares for folks living alone or in couples; some offer eggs, baked goods or flower bouquet add-ons; while others are choose-your-own or customizable,” she said. “Most importantly, pick a CSA with a convenient pickup location, and be ready to enjoy what is in season.”

Learn more at www. minnesotagrown.org.

Minnesota Grown

Bear Lake; Flicker Meat Co, Sak’s Sports Bar and Lunds & Byerly’s in White Bear Lake; Angus Meats in Maplewood)

• Axdahl’s Garden Farm & Greenhouse, Stillwater

• Pahl Farms (pickup at Von Hanson’s Meats in North Oaks and Blaine)

CSAs give members of the community a chance to source their food from local farms and support local business while they’re at it.

andArts Culture2023

EMERGING ARTIST BEN STORELEE APRIL EVENTS

Ever since Ben Storelee could talk, he’s been a singer. “He’s always loved music and singing,” observed Ben’s mom Gina. “When he found theater, something clicked.” Ben’s dad Jeremy describes him as “a human juke box.”

Now a sixth grader at Central Middle School, Ben has been singing and acting since playing a cornstalk at Lincoln Elementary in the musical “Oklahoma.” As small a role as it was, he was hooked.

Children’s Performing Arts (CPA) has become Ben’s home away from home. “I feel like I belong there,” said the young stage enthusiast, who enjoys socializing with like-minded peers and the adult directors. He also likes how “everyone knows your name.”

The budding actor is already building an impressive resume

DIRECTOR TAKING DIFFERENT PATH

of performances. He just finished playing Bert in CPA’s “Mary Poppins” and had a role as Cruella deVil in Disney’s “Descendants: The Musical” last fall. He’s also playing Miss Hannigan in “Annie” next month at the middle school. It’s his 15th performance. Playing the Disney antagonist

Longtime director Carrie Carlson is retiring from Children’s Performing Arts (CPA). After 16 years as a parent volunteer, board member and primary (K thru 6) director, she is going to back to school to become a school psychologist.

Cruella was Ben’s favorite role to date. Did he find playing a woman daunting? “Not at all,” he replied. “It was one of my first female roles and I was proud of that. She was funny and an outstanding character.” Ben never really cared for sports, according to Gina, who feels performing on stage is a perfect alternative. “Being in theater is just like being on a team,” she pointed out. “The kids have to work together and it teaches confidence. I also love that CPA is all inclusive and accepting of who kids are. You are in CPA no matter what, even before the audition starts. We are

lucky to have it.”

Gina figures Ben gets his musical talents from dad Jeremy, a middle school teacher who plays and sings professionally. Jeremy appreciates how both CPA staff and parent volunteers mentor and guide students. “CPA has helped Ben gain in maturity and responsibility,” he said. “They learn skills that will serve them for years.”

Ben’s goal is to pursue the spotlight as a professional. And no surprise, he’d love to someday appear on Broadway.

CPA’s primary director, Carrie Carlson, has no doubt Ben will continue to blossom as a performer: “He has an amazing voice and I’m super proud of him for embracing different types of roles. He was hysterical as Cruella so I know he’ll have great depth. It will be fun to watch to see where he grows.”

ARTS CENTER’S INTERIM EXECUTIVE BRINGS FAMILIARITY

George Brophy brings valuable experience to his temporary role as White Bear Center for the Arts’ interim executive director.

Explore upcoming Avenue of the Arts events with CPA, LPT and WBCA

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR PETER AND THE STARCATCHER AND HEATHERS

Hanifl Performing Arts Center

Early April

Auditions are open for Peter and the Starcatcher and Heathers. See www.childrensperformingartsmn. org for more information.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The Hanifl Performing Arts Center

Black Box Theatre

April 6-8 at 7:00 P.M. & April 8 at 2:00 P.M.

A new version of the classic tale conceived & performed by an ensemble of teen collaborators. Come see “Alice” like you never have before!

MINNEAPOLIS GUITAR QUARTET CONCERT

White Bear Center for the Arts

Thursday, April 13, 7:00-8:30 PM

The Minneapolis Guitar Quartet performs music from Spain, Finland and Macedonia; this concert will include new arrangements of music by Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and jazz composer Hiromi Uehara, and a newly commissioned piece by Minnesota composer A.J. Isaacson-Zvidzwa.

“CPA has been amazing,” said Carlson, a Forest Lake mother of two who started with the performing arts group when it was a grassroots organization run solely by parent volunteers. Carlson said it’s time to pursue an even bigger passion than theater. “CPA is so big now and offers so much programming, it’s time to step away and let it grow and develop. I’m going to let someone else take the reins.”

He has served as an interim CEO several times for similar organizations, plus he knows the neighborhood. His son and daughter-in-law live in White Bear Lake; in fact, it was Heidi Brophy who suggested giving George a call after Suzi Hudson retired. Heidi serves as the center’s treasurer.

“I understand small business, revenue, budgets, cash flow, in a sense how to perpetuate the purpose of an enterprise,” George said. “And I care even more about staff. I want this to be a place where people want to work.”

similar leagues (based on IRS tax forms) are in cities with much higher populations. We’re not talking about some sleepy time kind of place here,” he said. “This is a serious nonprofit.”

A firm has been hired and the search started to find a new executive director.

Brophy figures it will take several months to fill the position. Two internal candidates are expected to apply.

As the arts center moves forward, Brophy and the board are looking for consistency in both “things that matter to the center,” and financial stability.

Although he’s been most pleasantly surprised by the level of philanthropy in the community, Brophy points out benefactors have been impacted by the economy, too.

THE GIVER

The Hanifl Performing Arts Center Black Box Theatre

April 14, 16, 21, 22 at 7:00 P.M. April 15, 22, 23 at 1:00 P.M.

A teen boy learns that everything is not as it seems in his once utopian world. A Kids & Family series production based on the popular novel, this show is recommended for ages 10+.

THE WOMEN WHO WROTE THE SONGS

The Hanifl Performing Arts Center

CARRIE CARLSON

Carlson has seen firsthand the impact of theater on youth. “Kids fundamentally change how they relate to people after going on stage,” she said. “I’d have kids come into rehearsal with their hoods up. They wouldn’t even look at me. Some don’t know how to talk to people face to face. To see them now, they are different kids.”

“Mary Poppins” was Carlson’s last show at CPA. It was her 10th major production. “I wanted to retire on a high note,” she said. The former staff member will continue to advocate for arts programs, added Carlson. “I know fundamentally how it enhances kids’ lives.”

Originally from Chicago, George and his wife Katie consider themselves southern Minnesotans. George ran an economic development nonprofit for 20 years in Austin so he’s familiar with not-for-profit organizations. He is also familiar with WBCA because the couple enjoy visiting places like museums, parks and art galleries and had been to the White Bear center before. “We are Minnesota Public Radio/TPT kind of folks,” George said.

Brophy considers the arts center unique in terms of its scale, especially considering it’s in a Twin Cities suburb. “Other upper Midwest arts centers that rank in

“When funds in a portfolio go down, so do contributions. This is a characteristic of change for which we’re having to deal,” he said.

“Most art centers in the suburbs do not have the philanthropic commitment this one has enjoyed,” Brophy continued. “It’s the separating characteristic that brings this arts center into the same league with cities of 100,000 or greater.”

Brophy looks forward to his remaining time leading the center in the short-term and enjoying the community in the longterm. He cares about the people and the place, he said, and credits the center’s success to a fantastic staff and motivated board, adding, “it’s an extraordinarily well recognized place.”

THEATRE’S INTERIM DIRECTOR PLAYS KEY ROLE DURING TRANSITION

The new interim executive director for Lakeshore Players Theatre has a big role these days. “The performing arts industry was hit hard by COVID and it’s still tough,” said Darby Lunceford. On the positive side, ticket sales are bouncing back after practically a two-year hiatus. “We should see our programs doing what we saw in our inaugural season in 201819.”

That’s great news for the community theater, which will soon begin a search for a permanent director.

“The board smartly decided to use this transition time to decide who

the next leader should be,” said Lunceford, who explains his job is more in consulting, “to keep the organization moving forward as the board looks at the future.”

The Stillwater resident came to Lakeshore Players from The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson where he served as executive director. Prior to that role, he served as chief marketing officer at MN Opera and director of marketing and communications at Children’s Theater Company. His career spans 25 years in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. He has worked with numerous arts organizations all over North America in a variety of roles from marketing services to consulting.

Board Chair Peggy Witthaus said Lunceford came “highly

recommended” from previous Executive Director Rob Thomas and members of the board who had worked with him in the past.

“He brings an incredible wealth of management and development experience and has worked to build staff and programming for growing organizations,” she said.

“He loves a challenge and brings a visionary, yet practical approach to the theater.”

Lakeshore Players is experiencing significant growth in artistic quality, participation and access, Witthaus continued. She noted how such growth may lead to changes and expansion of the executive director’s role in the future.

“Having an ‘interim’ director role enabled us to quickly put leadership in place through a

transition, addressing current needs and take a thoughtful approach to determining the ideal management structure for the future,” Witthaus said. “We are thrilled to have Darby in a leadership role as we move into the next phase of the theater’s growth.”

After working in all disciplines, Lunceford said it’s great to return to a place centered on theater and be on the “producer” side of the business. He also loves working with Lakeshore’s staff. “They are all artists,” he noted. “It’s a great culture here.”

As the board considers the next executive director’s job description, Lunceford said his role will be “fueling the fire. I want to give staff the resources they need because they’re the ones making the plays.”

April 15 at 7:30 P.M. & April 16 at 2:30 P.M.

Songbook Live presents another fantastic concert of hits by Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and more! Come hear the songs and learn about the great women behind them!

GLOBAL POETRY CELEBRATION

White Bear Center for the Arts

Date: Thursday, April 20, 6:30-8:30 PM

Come watch a lineup of readers from the community each read a poem written in a language other than standard English, along with an English translation of the poem. Please join WBCA and St. Paul Almanac for an inspiring, international evening of poetry.

2023/2024 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY

Hanifl Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, April 25th at 7:00PM

Join Children’s Performing Arts in announcing their upcoming season! There will be performances, refreshments, and fun!

HIGH SCHOOL VISUAL ARTS COMMUNITY RECEPTION

White Bear Center for the Arts

Thursday, April 27, 6:30-8:30 PM

Celebrate student artists during the community reception for the High School Visual Arts Exhibition. There will be an award ceremony beginning at 7:00 PM.

DARBY LUNCEFORD

GEORGE BROPHY

BEN PLAYED BERT IN CPA’S RECENT PRODUCTION OF MARY POPPINS.

BEN STORELEE AS CRUELLA DE VIL IN DISNEY’S “DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL.”