Shoreview Press

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS: Hodgson Road closure, detours in place PAGE 7

families share journeys

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

At the age of 11, Kate has attended six different elementary schools. Kate is one of the more than 16,000 children in Minnesota who have at least one parent currently serving in the military. April is Month of the Military Child. Started in 1986 by former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, the Month of the Military Child allows Americans to celebrate military children for their service on the homefront and in their communities.

“Children of military parents in Minnesota often make difficult adjustments in their daily lives as they wait for their parent’s safe return home,” Gov. Tim Walz wrote in a proclamation. “It is fitting and proper that we recognize and honor the sacrifices of military families, their

spirit and dedication, and remind our service members in uniform that while they are safeguarding our freedom and way of life, we are taking care of their children as a community.”

Meyer family

Leah Meyer, of Lino Lakes, has served in the Air Force for 18 years and has been deployed three times. She is a mother of three — Charli, 13, Kate, 11, and Henry, 7. She currently serves as the commander of the Air Force ROTC at the University of St. Thomas.

“They have been exposed to more in their 13, 11 and seven years on the planet than I was up until I was an adult,” Meyer reflected. “I think they’ve seen up close what sacrifice means. My service has meant their sacrifice, too.

The Air Force tells me when to move and where I’m going … I might have a

WEAR PURPLE: To celebrate military children for their service all month long

say, but they are just along for the ride.” In total, Meyer has had to relocate nine times. Charli has moved six times, Kate has moved five times and Henry has moved four times. The family has lived in Lino Lakes since last July.

“They have learned a lot about making adjustments and starting over,” she said.

Charli said the hardest thing about her mother being in the military is not only having to move so often but also being far away from family.

“It is not easy. You have to make

BY THE NUMBERS

1.6 million military children in the U.S. 2 to 3 years how frequently military families move, on average 16,000 children in Minnesota have at least one parent currently serving in the military

1986 The year Month of the Military Child was established

sacrifices,” she said. “The worst part of the military is when we have to pick up and move, but I like where we are stationed a lot, and it is easy for me to adjust.”

Kate added, “It is really hard to move away from people and all of your friends, but it’s great to make new experiences. I think it’s fun to travel.” According to one of Kate’s teachers, “You can put her in any classroom; by the end of the day she’ll have made friends and try to be in charge.” Meyer added, “She’s really good at meeting new people and being in a new environment.”

Being a military child also has some perks. Charli got to go on a field trip to Gettysburg, and Kate visited the Pentagon with some of her friends.

“I think they understand a lot more about how the world works than most kids their age. They can tell you about the branches of the military, they can talk about how the government works,” Meyer explained. “They can tell you that Djibouti is a country, because mom was deployed there.”

Charli and Kate have witnessed that females can be strong leaders too, as they have witnessed their mom run two units. “The sky is the limit for these girls; they are going to change the world.”

Scully family

Ashley Nicole Scully, married to Ashlea Morgan Scully (who goes by Scully), is currently deployed to the Middle East. She has been there since June.

The two met while they were on active duty. Scully, who served in the Navy for eight years, was a K-9 handler, and Ashley is a vet technician in the Army. Scully retired from the military in 2020.

The Lino Lakes couple has been married for five years and has two children, Reese, 9, and Riley, 2.

“Since my mama is in the military, I don’t get to see her much,” Reese said.

Call for the Arts

Since 2002, thousands of military-connected children have shared their experiences, dreams and challenges through art. The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) invites military-connected children from all over the world, representing every branch of service, to share interpretations through art of what it means to be a military-connected child.

Using any medium, children in grades K-12 can share what being a military-connected child means to them. There will be a first-, secondand third-place winner. Entries will be accepted through April 30, and winners will be announced by the end of May.

For more information, visit www. militarychild.org/programs-and-initiatives/the-call-for-the-arts.

Purple Up

Wear purple to celebrate military kids all month long. Purple references the joint environment of the military, encompassing all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard and Veterans. Purple combines each branch’s colors into one: the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard all use shades of blue, the Army uses green, and the Marines use red.

“I only get to see her like a quarter of the time.”

Staying in touch with her mama is challenging not only because of the lack of good Wi-Fi, but also the time difference. “When we wake up is the only time we can talk to her, because during the day she’s falling asleep,” Reese explained.

This deployment has also been a challenge because Reese takes her job of taking care of her little sister very seriously.

“Reese is a very resilient, tough girl … I think having a little sister this goaround definitely gives her more of a purpose,” Scully said. “Every military kid, no matter how young they are, has a certain role to play … We are one cohesive unit.”

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

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Riley (left) and Reese’s mother Ashley Scully (left) is currently deployed to the Middle East. Ashlea Scully (who goes by Scully) also served in the Navy for eight years. Below, Riley, points to her mama at a Veterans Day program at a local school. PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The Meyer family.

FAMILY WATER SAFETY DAY

When: 9 a.m.- noon Saturday, May 4

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

Details: The city of Shoreview has partnered with Abby’s Hope and the Ramsey County Sherriff’s

CURRENT EVENTS

LAKESHORE QUILTERS GUILD MEETING

When: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 23

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

Details: Guild members who participated in the Panel Challenge or the Friendship Block exchange will show their completed projects and the Special Program Committee will judge and distribute prizes. Small entrance fee.

FRAUD PROTECTION CLASS

When: 10- 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 24

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

Details: Scams, identity theft and consumer fraud are the most commonly attempted financial crimes. Learn how to safeguard against identity theft and fraud, hear first-hand accounts from victims and learn what to do if you or someone you know have been a victim of fraud. Registration requested. Free.

Contact: 651-490-4700

BOB ROSS PAINTING CLASS

When: 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 30

Mounds View participates in ‘No Mow May’

The city of Mounds View is joining the “No Mow May” initiative to promote healthy habitats for earlyseason pollinators, such as bees, by allowing grass to grow.

Participating in No Mow May supports all of Minnesota’s pollinators. Minnesota pollinators include native bees, honeybees, ants, flies, beetles, birds, butterflies, and more! Avoiding mowing protects overwinter habitat for native bees and allows plants rich in nectar and other nutrients to grow as pollinator food when pollinators need it most. More healthy and more biodiverse pollinators help Minnesota’s urban landscapes and statewide agriculture thrive.

During this month-long voluntary program, the city will temporarily suspend enforcement of the city code regarding grass length. Renters must have their landlord’s permission to participate in this imitative. Yard signs will be available for those registered at the Mounds View Community Center front desk. Signs should be on display in participating yards for city staff and neighbors to

department to host a water safety camp to provide education on water safety. Free life jackets to attendees while supplies last. Free event for all ages.

Contact: 651-490-4700

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

Details: Experience painting the Bob Ross way with a landscape method certified instructor, Valarie Namen. Registration is one week before class.

Contact: secure.rec1.com/MN/ shoreview-mn/catalog

‘CINDERELLA’ ENCHANTED EDITION

When: Thursday, May 2- Sunday, May 5

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

Details: The Mounds View High School Theater put on their Spring Production.

Contact: 651-621-7100

JAZZ BAND CONCERT

When: 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, May 6

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

Contact: 651-621-7100

HOUSING FAIR

When: 2- 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7

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

Details: Visit representatives from various senior living developments, in-home care and traditional options available. Free to attend.

Contact: 651-490-4700

identify project participation. For more information about the initiative, go to beecityusa.org/no-mow-may.

The program will run from May 1-31 with mowing to resume by the first Monday in June. Those interested in participating can register online at www.moundsviewmn.org/ residents/ no_mow_may. If you have questions, contact the Mounds View Public Works department at 763-7174050.

Spring water system flushing to begin

The Shoreview public works department will be flushing all the water mains starting the week of May 1, 2024.

Residents may notice discolored water for a short period, after nearby fire hydrants have been flushed. The water is safe for consumption. Residents will want to reschedule laundry or other work that may be affected by the discolored water. Simply flush out your service pipes to get rid of the discolored water. Flushing will take around three weeks to complete. If you have questions, call the public works department at 651-460-4661.

Pizzeria & Pub

SSupport local news

everal readers called and sent emails and text messages to express support as news broke last week that a publicly-traded venture capital group will shutter another group of newspapers in Minnesota, including the Hutchinson Leader, Chanhassen Villager, and others in the southwest metro suburbs. Some of these papers have been publishing in their communities for more than 150 years.

Press Publications’ CEO Matt McMillian has worked for several newspaper companies throughout Minnesota and explained it in a memo to our staff as follows:

“Mainly, there are two types of newspaper owners – families and publiclytraded companies. Families own 4,000plus newspapers in the country. Public companies own a few hundred. Families tend to think about the long-term good when making decisions. Publicly-traded companies think in short-term threemonth timeframes when making decisions.”

I would add that family-run papers have locally-based employees who shop here, volunteer here, pay taxes here, and send their kids to our local schools. We are invested in the community and that is reflected in our work to produce your community newspaper each week.

In 2019 a neighboring group of community weekly newspapers based in North St. Paul ceased operations. As a result, residents of that community along with those in Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Roseville, Mounds View and New Brighton no longer have a local paper. Since its closing, we have entertained the invitation from elected officials to launch newspapers in three of the communities. Residents and community and church leaders have called to request we publish their news and events in our calendar because they have limited outlets as effective as the local paper to reach people.

At this time we aren’t considering the addition of new markets-especially as Big Tech companies continue to steal content from small town news organizations and sell their own digital ads to reap the profits. How can we compete in a market where these giants have been given an unfair advantage? When a few companies control the content you see on the internet, it becomes an uphill battle for local community journalism organizations like newspapers to succeed. Some of these giant companies have settled with media outlets in Europe, Australia, and most recently in Canada. Until we see a resolution in the U.S., small towns and suburban communities will continue to lose local reporting by journalists who champion local issues.

Twice a year we reach out to readers about our subscription campaign and ask for your support. Some ask why we give the paper away for free in this market. The answer is that our longstanding mission is to bring local news to anyone who wants to read it in the community. Not all of our readers have the resources to pay for the paper they receive, but many do. We have set a goal of 20% paid subscriber support in order to be sustainable in our market. If you have the resources and enjoy reading the content we create each week, we need your help to get there. Please subscribe and encourage your friends and family members to subscribe to the local newspaper. We have set a subscription price that we believe is reasonable, but we appreciate any amount our readers can contribute. Thank you to our long time supporters and subscribers. We look forward to serving you with real, local news in 2024 and beyond. Carter

SSUpdate on Partners in Energy Program

horeview participates in Xcel Partners in Energy Program: City staff and community representatives have been participating in Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program since 2023 and recently completed the first portion of the program. Partners in Energy is a twoyear program that supports communities by assisting them in developing and implementing energy plans. Five workshops, facilitated by staff from the Center for Energy and Environment, were held between October and March. Shoreview’s energy action team includes representatives from schools, churches, businesses, the environmental quality committee, interested residents, and city staff.

Xcel’s stated goals for the program are to:

• Develop a better understanding of the energy needs of the communities they serve.

• Better align their services and programs with customer needs to save energy and advance clean energy.

• Support communities through engagement and partnership.

Based on information gathered during the workshops, Xcel will now develop a strategic energy action plan that is designed to fit Shoreview’s attributes and needs. The plan should be brought to staff and the city council this summer. Once approved, staff and Xcel will begin implementing the plan, which will include a large communications campaign to residents and businesses to build awareness of their available options for energy and cost savings.

How will the program be measured for success? The team looked at data from Xcel on energy consumption in the city for electricity and natural gas. Baseline data showed how many customers currently participate in residential program offerings from Xcel and lighting efficiency and energy design assistance for commercial and industrial buildings. The team created goals to increase renewable energy and energy efficiency (including cost savings) for residential, business and municipal customers.

The city of Shoreview will incorporate the outcomes of this initial project into what will be a future city climate action plan. Thanks to the staff and volunteers who are part of the energy action team. I’m looking forward to

seeing the plan and the potential efficiencies and energy savings to our city, residents, and businesses.

If you missed Family Water Safety Day last year: For the second year, Shoreview has partnered with Abby’s Hope and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office to host a family water safety day on Saturday, May 4 to provide education on water safety. This one-day event provides adults and children information on:

• Water safety

• Proper life jacket fitting

• Water rescue tips

• Parent water tips

• Boating regulations

• Beach and pool safety

Free life jackets are fitted to and provided to attendees while supplies last. I attended last year’s event with one of my grandchildren and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. He learned how to toss out a rescue line, how to be safe even in the bathtub and was able to explore a water rescue vehicle among other demonstrations. The free event will be held from 9 am to noon at the Shoreview Community Center lower-level parking lot. Based on personal experience, even parents and grandparents can learn something about water safety while having fun.

Sue Denkinger is the Mayor of Shoreview.

OBITUARY LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Communication on pickleball courts in Bobby Theisen park

I am a resident of Shoreview who lives just a few blocks from Bobby Theisen Park. I enjoy the park in many ways, especially playing pickleball. With noise reduction nets, the park noise is very low from my home. The pickleball courts are perfect setting for players to have fun, exercise and be social. The current development plan for nine courts seems low since waiting lines to play are getting longer. Court lights are needed to play when sunset is earlier in the season. These lights are low and should have little to no impact on the neighborhood. Tennis players are seldom in the park, and having more pickleball courts makes more sense due to the rapid growth of the sport. One tennis court and more pickleball courts should be the current plan to lower the waiting time. A waiting area that is shaded for players and viewers is a must. Thank you for your attention to this communication.

Johan Gomez Sang Shoreview

School Boards Association, is a knee-jerk reaction made too quickly after the announcement about the southwest metro newspapers and does not take into consideration possible solutions.

Movers & Shakers

Sarah Stultz

While there is a possibility some of these newspapers could still be purchased, there is also a law already in place that says if you don’t have a legal newspaper in your county, those notices can be placed in a newspaper in an adjoining county. In the case of these newspapers, there is also the possibility of printing notices in the Star Tribune.

We believe that any time you start messing with public notices and government transparency, it gets the ball rolling, and we have no doubt it could trickle down to other local government public notices as well.

Jordan Richard Salo

At age 34, passed away with family by his side on March 14, 2024 in Rochester, MN.

Jordan was born on March 28, 1989 in Shoreview, MN. Jordan is survived by his mother, Kimberly; brother, Nick (Betsy); sister, Tianna (Connor), grandfather, Richard; nieces and nephews, Sophia, Natalia, Mac, Charlie, and Sam; partner, Alexis; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father, Roger; grandparents, Reino and Dorothy, and Donna; uncle, John; and family dog, Zola. Jordan was a loving and gracious person who had a heart of gold. He loved animals, walks, and spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

A private service will be held.

Public notices are essential in not only helping residents make informed decisions but also in holding local governments accountable for decisions made.

Government entities should not be placing their own notices on their websites for transparency’s sake, and it’s especially important to point out that the reach of these sites is often substantially less than those of newspapers.

In addition to the print edition, the Tribune and all newspapers that print public notices publish them on their websites in front of the paywall so that any person interested in looking through the notices can do so free of charge. People don’t have to buy a newspaper and they don’t have to have a subscription to view them. And they are archived there forever so if someone needs to go back and look through several notices, they will be able to find them.

The notices are also uploaded to mnpublicnotice.com, where the public can search for all of the public notices throughout the state.

We urge the Senate Conference Committee members to work with the Minnesota Newspaper Association, which represents the state’s newspapers, on a possible solution to this situation.

The Minnesota School Boards Association and MNA collaborated in 2022 to modernize the state’s public notice laws, and we believe a solution can be reached in this case as well.

The House version of the bill, with the help of Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, has come up with a possible solution that the newspaper association could support that would offer a narrow, time-limited exception to the required newspaper publication requirements for school district legals to address the situation taking place in the metro.

We ask legislators to keep in mind the importance of transparency for the public.

Don’t put residents across the entire state in the dark with this decision.

- CREATE YOUR LEGACY BUILD THE FOUNDATION

IRA Charitable Distribution

Make a tax-free gift to the Shoreview Community Foundation from an IRA in 2019

Welcomes Ellen Guo Shoreview Caring Youth Award Winner

Details:

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.

Individuals who are age 70 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.

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

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

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.

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.

• 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

Ellen is a senior at Mounds View High School. She has been an active member of the Shoreview community and the Mounds View school district since she moved here 11 years ago. Ellen was this year’s Shoreview Caring Youth Award winner, and is also a U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, and an International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist. She founded the Mounds View Coding Club which she later brought to the Shoreview community in the form of a summer coding camp for middle schoolers. Aside from Coding Club and Camp, Ellen is a Mounds View Science Olympiad Captain, serves on Student Council, the National Honor Society Executive Board, and is a violist in Mounds View Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Youth Symphonies. Ellen plans to major in engineering in college and is excited for her time on the Shoreview Community Foundation board.

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 SCF seeks 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

Your newspaper has agreed to participate in the Minnesota these ads in the main news section of your newspaper per). At times, advertisers may request a specific section. each newspaper. Ads may need to be decreased/increased Please do not bill for these ads. If you have questions, please

Sarah Stultz is the Managing Editor at the Albert Lea Tribune

COPS&COURTS

RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS

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

• A Crystal woman, 36, was arrested on an active warrant out of Scott County March 17 outside a business in the 3900 block of Rice Street after employees identified her as a shoplifting suspect. Before being taken to jail, Allina health services transported her to Regions Hospital for medical treatment.

• A boy, 12, reported his Lucky scooter stolen March 17 from its parking spot outside the Shoreview Community Center in the 4500 block of Victoria Street while he was inside the center for an hour having fun.

• Three males, ages 16, 17, and 19, were officially banned from the Union Gospel Mission in the 500 block of Highway 96 at 7:39 p.m. March 17 after Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) deputies on evening patrol noticed two people dressed in black on the roof of the facility. Both suspects took off running when they realized they had been spotted. When deputies went inside, they discovered the three males with vape pens, a bag of cannabis and an airsoft gun. The youths had made their way inside the building through a broken window, which may or may not have been broken with the use of the pellet gun.

• Three vehicles were reported broken into at 9:19 p.m. March 17 in the 1900 block of Century Road I while the victims were away. No suspect information.

• Power tools were reported stolen from a vehicle parked on the street in the 4100 block of Lexington Avenue overnight March 17-18. The case is under investigation.

• A Tiffany Lane resident on March 18 reported that someone, possibly a relative, had withdrawn money from his bank account without permission.

• A Becker man, 19, was arrested on a warrant at 9:37 p.m. March 18 outside a business in the 5900 block of Creek Parkway after patrolling deputies pulled him over for speeding. During the traffic stop, deputies discovered the motorist had an active Hennepin County gross misdemeanor warrant out on him. Before the subject was taken into custody and transported to the law enforcement center without incident,

CITY COUNCIL SNIPPETS

• The city of Shoreview is in a cooperative agreement with Ramsey County as part of the reconstruction project of Hodgson Road. This agreement includes cost share participation, ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the city and county. Ramsey County, in cooperation with the cities of Shoreview and Vadnais Heights, has programmed the reconstruction of Hodgson Road from Bridge Street to Rice Street; County Road F from Hodgson to Rice Street; Rice Street from County Road F to 700 feet south of Hodgson Road; and Gramsie Road from Hodgson Road. Improvements include the reconstruction of pavement, addition of a center turn lane, addition of a concrete curb and gutter, installation of a sidewalk along the east side of Hodgson Road and south side of County Road F, and replacements of signal systems and streetlights.

• Parking restrictions are in effect on the south side of Lepak Court. City staff was contacted by the Mounds View School District transportation manager concerning issues that school buses have been experiencing while trying to turn into Turtle Lake Elementary School. During the times of drop off or pickup, vehicles parked on the south side of the street reduce the amount of turning space available to the buses and make it difficult to enter the parking lot. Parking will not be allowed on the south side of Lepak Court between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• As part of the Ramsey County’s reconstruction of the Hodgson Road and County Road J intersection, the city of Shoreview will enter into a joint powers agreement with the city of Lino Lakes. This agreement includes cost share participation and maintenance responsibilities for the roundabout and stormwater infrastructure.

he was made to park the vehicle in the business lot with permission from the owners.

• A Wayzata man, 48, faces charges for multiple unspecified code violations involving a rental property in the 400 block of Cardigan Road, after his case was submitted to the county attorney for consideration on March 19.

• A resident in the 4300 block of Chatsworth Street N. on March 19 reported being swindled out of several hundred dollars while trying to contact Apple to discuss one of its gift cards that wasn’t working.

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

• A resident in the 1000 block of Edgewater Avenue on March 22 reported being scammed out of thousands of dollars in Bitcoin by unknown persons pretending to be investigators with the Federal Trade Commission.

• And now, here is a happy reunion story about a stolen guitar: deputies assisted a complainant in the 1100 block of Woodcrest Avenue March 23 in recovering it after the complainant reported seeing it for sale on Facebook Marketplace. When deputies confirmed that the guitar was stolen, they contacted the person trying to sell it and learned that he had recently purchased it, also on Facebook Marketplace. Deputies collected the guitar and returned the instrument to its rightful owner. The case remains open and active as investigators try to get to the bottom of who stole the guitar in the first place.

• Holiday gas station employees in the 3400 block of Rice Street on March 23 reported seeing a man walk behind the counter and steal several boxes of vape pens and other products.

• A resident in the 3500 block of Owasso Street reported that someone contacted her on her cell phone March 24 and tried to scam her out of thousands of dollars.

• The Appropriate Response Initiative program will now be enacted in Shoreview. In 2022, Ramsey County established the program to offer additional resources to respond to 911 calls in situations where a mental health worker would be more appropriate.

• Policy changes have been made to the city employee handbook. Current policy lists all the positions considered exempt under the Fair Labor Standard Act. Changes to this policy will give the city manager the authority of class current and/or future positions based on recommendations from the human resources director.

• Stephanie Smith will take over the role as city engineer from Public Works Director Tom Wesolowski, who has been temporarily serving as city engineer. Smith previously was the assistant city engineer for the city of Roseville.

• Will Harris is a new housing program specialist for the city. He will focus on housing policy and rental licensing programs and projects.

• Revisions have been made to Snail Lake Improvement District bylaws.

• Park Construction Company will enter a construction contract for the 2024 street rehabilitation city project after the company’s base bid of $3,065,837 was accepted. The project will improve almost 5 miles of roadways and 15 miles of trails and concrete sidewalk.

The next Shoreview City Council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 6, in council chambers.

Madeline Dolby

• Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies took a report about a driver of a Mazda CX-5 who struck a snowplow at 9:42 a.m. March 25 in the 1700 block of Chatham Avenue, causing cracks to the Mazda’s windshield and dents in its hood.

• A resident in the 800 block of Monterey Drive reported being swindled out of tens of thousands of dollars March 25 by scammers who somehow had locked her computer and demanded money to unlock it. The case is under investigation.

• A Sterling Heights, Michigan, man reported that someone had stolen power tools from inside his vehicle while it was parked overnight March 27-28 in the Best Western Plus lot in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road. There are no suspects.

• A resident in the 3100 block of Lexington Avenue N. on March 28 reported being scammed out of nearly $100,000 by someone claiming to be a Syrian general on Facebook.

• A Pengilly man, 43, was arrested for assault at 7:02 p.m. March 28 in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road after he walked up to a half-naked man he knew in the hotel and punched him squarely in the face, which knocked him to the ground. Although circumstances of the incident remain under investigation, it seems that a “copious amount of Karkov vodka was a contributing factor.”

• A resident in the 5200 block of Oxford Street N. on March 29 reported that someone driving a Jeep kept driving by and throwing empty alcohol bottles into her yard. After deputies did a little investigating, they tracked down the Jeep driver, who admitted to littering the complainant’s yard on purpose because he thought she’d previously been rude to him at a dog park.

• A Shoreview resident stopped by the patrol station in Arden Hills March 29 to drop off a handgun she no longer wanted and asked deputies to destroy it.

• A resident in the 1300 block of Woodcrest Avenue on March 29 reported being threatened by an acquaintance during a dispute about a vehicle.

Loretta Harding

POLITICAL BRIEFS

House passes legislation to combat junk fees

The Minnesota House has passed legislation that will crack down on hidden, deceptive fees to ensure consumers have fair, upfront pricing for event tickets, restaurant meals, hotels, credit cards and more.

Representative Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview) authored the first, HF 1989, that would improve fee transparency in ticketing. This transparency would prevent deceptive practices that negatively impact consumers who purchase tickets. The second, HF 3438, was authored by representative Emma Greenman (DFL-Minneapolis) and would ban the practice of junk fees.

“In recent years the scales have been tipped against Minnesota consumers when it comes to buying tickets. With this bill, we are putting control into consumers’ hands so they can make informed decisions about their purchases,” said Rep. Moller. “Once this bill becomes law, Minnesotans will be able to focus more on seeing their favorite band or team and less on getting gouged by predatory practices.”

Local government group endorses 2 candidates for election

Democrats in Senate District 40 have chosen two candidates to endorse for the upcoming election to the Minnesota House of Representatives.

District 40A includes the cities of Arden Hills, Mounds View, northern New Brighton and Shoreview. Delegates from District 40A will endorse Rep. Kelly Moller for reelection, while District 40B, southern Shoreview and most of Roseville, will endorse Curtis Johnson. He will replace Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, who is not running for reelection.

SCHOOL BOARD SNIPPETS

• Five students from the Irondale speech team will attend the National Tournament in Nebraska in May. Students from both Mounds View and Irondale winter activities and sports recapped their successful seasons.

• Schools and programs received four gifts this period for a total of $4,220. The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf received 19 gifts for a total of $64,020.

• Turtle Lake Elementary fourth grade teacher Michelle MorseWendt is one of 11 finalists for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year award. She will participate in a round of interviews. The winner will be announced in May.

• Superintendent Chris Lennox announced that three athletes from the district have been named Metro Athletes of the Year: Irondale’s Anthony Petkov in alpine skiing; Quin Morgan, Mounds View, wrestling; and Linnea Ousdigian from Mounds View in Nordic skiing.

• The school board continues to review the district’s policies. The school board adopts policies that provide general principles for guiding management of the district. The administration develops regulations that specifically support the school board’s policies. Policies can only be adopted by the school board. Board members and administration members reviewed the policies within this series independently and collaboratively at school board work sessions. Currently, there are

COUNTY BRIEF

Ramsey County yard waste sites open Ramsey County yard waste sites are now open for the regular summer season. All seven sites are free and open to Ramsey County residents as

no recommendations to revise the policies within the current series. These policies will be recorded as reviewed and posted to the Mounds View Schools website.

• The school board approved of the termination of probationary staff. The probationary period is enacted by the state. During this period, nonrenewal can happen due to performance, budget, staffing reasons and sometimes licensing reasons. A probationary teacher is deemed to be reemployed for the ensuing school year if they are notified before July 1. All teachers recommending for nonrenewal were notified by their principal before this action was taken.

• A comprehensive review of high school activities and athletics programs shows that the district continues to offer equal opportunity for students at both Irondale and Mounds View to participate in different levels of competition. The district will use this review to help form recommendations that will be considered in the final DOP review. The final review will be presented to the school board at the end of the year.

The next Mounds View Schools School Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at the District Center, 4570 Victoria St. N., Shoreview. Public comments to the board will be at 6:30 p.m. before the meeting.

Madeline Dolby

well as Hennepin County residents who live in Saint Anthony Village. Yard waste site hours vary. Learn more about the Ramsey County yard waste sites at www.ramseycounty. us/residents/recycling-waste/collection-sites/yard-waste.

CONSTRUCTION BRIEF

Constuction causes road closures, detours

County Road J and Hodgson Road will be closed for construction. Detours in place.

County Road J and Hodgson Road will be closed for construction starting this week. Anoka County will begin construction on the improvement project.

County Road J will be closed for westbound traffic through the duration of the project. Westbound traffic should follow the detour. The Hodgson Road closure will run from Emil Avenue to Rohavic Lane.

CALENDAR BRIEF

Save your spot at the Irondale spring play

The Irondale Drama Department will put on a play where everything goes wrong Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28.

“The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition” originates from Mischief, Broadway masters of comedy, and Cornley Drama Society’s newest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” where things quickly go from bad to worse. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse

This project is in partnership with Ramsey counties and the city of Lino Lakes. Learn more online through the Anoka County website www. anokacountymn.gov.

that cannot play dead and actors who trip over almost everything, including their lines. Nevertheless, the accidentprone casts battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call.

“The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition” performances will be held April 25-28 at the Irondale High School Auditorium. Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursday, Saturday and Friday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Reserved seats are available online and at the door. Visit www.ihsdrama. org for more information about the show and to purchase tickets.

andArts Culture2024

EMERGING ARTIST: SOPHIA SAGERER

White Bear Lake High School

Senior Sophia Sagerer’s fashion is best described as making pajama chic work. “These Ugg boots were the first thing I found on the way out today,” Sagerer confesses, pointing to a splotch of clay on the toe. “So fashionable,” she deadpans. Conversing with Sagerer is a delight, her tangents ranging from umbrella mishaps to stressing about past literature assignments. Her accomplishments are equally sprawling, with a Scholastic silver key, a Minneapolis Institute of Art exhibit, and a professional logo-design gig already under her belt. Just what is this style of Sagerer’s that attracts so many?

“Psychedelic propaganda is what people say,” Sagerer offers tentatively. Unsettlingly, Sagerer’s pieces combine wartime structure and authoritative messaging with kaleidoscopic detail. “This one says ‘Just quit!’ right at the top,” Sagerer explains of a canvas painting. The words, however, are surrounded by a halo just out of reach of an addict in agony.

More disturbing are Sagerer’s 3-D forays. “Ooh, I’ll show you my closet! …it’s super creepy,” she chimes cheerily. She’s not kidding. Among her sculptures lie a melted Eldritch horror of grocery-store prescription bottles

and an ouroboros wheel of decaying faces that show the sobriety journey of a person close to Sagerer.

Though Sagerer does not use drugs (minus caffeine), drug abuse is the focus of much of her work. “I’ve had close friends and family members use drugs in front of me and need to go to treatment. It’s made me look at how much drug depiction is in our culture,” Sagerer explains. She mentions current young stars—Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi—all of whose careers were supercharged by Euphoria, a show about teens abusing substances. “A guy I sat next to in class the other day just reeked. I know he vapes charges in the bathroom every day,” she continues.

Sagerer’s art also avoids preachiness because it’s based on real details and experiences from people in her life. “Here’s a self-portrait I did of mood swings,” Sagerer warns before showing a painting of rapid-fire, gladmad-sad emotions inked in grimy black outlines. “I put them so close together to show how fast a person on drugs can change—‘I need my vape right now!’—something in them just goes.”

Clearly, Sagerer uses her art as an outlet. Therefore, her goal is to get a master’s degree in art education. “I’m doing art as a career, but there’s

therapy in it,” Sagerer says, “I find myself expressing what I’m feeling in multiple ways. Art gave me something that people connect to no matter what.” Those interested in connecting with more of Sagerer’s art can do so at an Empowerment Seminar at the

South Campus High School Theater on May 10th from 3-4pm, to which Sagerer contributed the visual design. They can also buy merchandise from Caydence Records & Coffee, for which Sagerer is designing this summer’s logo and T-Shirts, at caydencemn.com

DIRECTOR DETAILS DAZZLING “DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS”

In “Disney’s Descendants: The Musical”—the Central and Sunrise combined middle-school show—children of infamous villains are suddenly thrust together with children of royalty. Chaos ensues. While one might think a production with 71 middle-school children would be equally chaotic, director Odelis Garcia Anderson says her production is engaged and focused. “Egos are not an option,” Garcia Anderson explains, “We are as strong as our weakest link… Everyone has room to grow on day one.”

Part of this mentality involves using particular language to foster cohesion between different departments. “We have a cast and crew, obviously,” Garcia Anderson describes, “but I refer to them all as ‘production.’ …We don’t have a ‘cast party;’ we have a ‘production party.’ We’ve had years where the crew

gets costumes for scene changes to help immerse the audience.”

Audience immersion is one of Garcia Anderson’s top priorities for the upcoming show—behind the children’s wellbeing, naturally. “I’m known as a ‘warm demander,’” Garcia Anderson offers, “…My job is both director and educator… I want these kids to reach their full potential and recognize that. What we do, though, it’s external. We also need to produce quality, so the audience will be entertained.”

That said, Garcia Anderson’s expectations don’t block anyone from participating. She marvels, “This collaboration is the most inclusive I’ve been a part of—racially, gender, ability… This space includes everyone. It gives students an opportunity to love what we do and learn to do it together.”

Even more impressive is the price tag

a family must pay for their students’ involvement: $0. “We are 100% donations, and we put ads in the program,” Garcia Anderson emphasizes, “Students do not pay. Seven or eight years we’ve been doing that.”

With so many magical elements gathered, “Disney’s Descendants” looks to cast quite the spell. What, though, is that spell’s effect? “When you’re up there,” Garcia Anderson exclaims to her kids, “I want you to feel like you’re glowing!”

“Disney’s Descendants: The Musical” has performances on April 25th and April 26th at 7pm as well as April 27th at 2pm at the District Auditorium next to Central Middle School. For tickets and details, visit https://central.isd624.org/ families/communications

PIECING TOGETHER HISTORY—FOR PRIZES!

“The puzzle-race craze is sweeping Minnesota!” Allison Lincoln, Community Engagement Director for the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, declares. Those wishing to begin or continue to hone their competitive jigsaw skills will have an opportunity to do so at The White Bear Lake Armory on May 4th with “Puzzling History”! “It’s a great new event,” Creative Director Dan Jones adds, “It’s your chance to get a customized White Bear Lake Area Historical Society puzzle!”

APRIL/MAY EVENTS

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

Location: White Bear Center for the Arts

Date: April 25, 6-8:30 p.m.

Come celebrate young writers and artists during this community reception! WBCA hosts two annual high school competitions: the High School Visual Arts Contest and the WriteNow! High School Writing Contest. This year, the results of the contests are united into one gallery exhibit.

BRING OLD PAINTINGS TO BACK TO LIFE

Location: White Bear Center for the Arts

Date: Thursday, May 2-30, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

While Lincoln divulges that the puzzle will be 500 pieces with a local connection, contest rules forbid her from giving any more information. What she can say is why the Historical Society has decided to edge into the puzzle-race trend. “We want to capitalize on new and exciting ways to attract different members of the community,” Lincoln explains, “It’s a different historical avenue. Yes, it’s White Bear Lake history, but it’s active.”

called—with a puzzle swap! “Bring your old puzzles and trade them with other people,” Lincoln encourages.

“Registration starts at 10am,” Lincoln announces, “with a start time of 10:30. We’ll call the buzzer at 12:30. There will be prizes for first, second, and third. Registration is $60, teams of four, no more.”

The puzzle-race event, then, aims to break attendees’ interlocked view of what history can be. “Many people are still stuck on history being about dates,” Lincoln admits, “History is fun; there’s a social aspect to it.” Part of that sociality will come after time has been

When asked if teams can be fewer than four, Lincoln chuckles, “I guess, but you’re paying for four people. You might as well bring them.”

Full details for “Puzzling History” can be found on whitebearhistory.org.

Come revisit old paintings that need some sprucing up. This class with Frank Zeller will critique paintings that are considered done, but need another option for improvement. GO FIGURE! SELF-DIRECTED LIFE DRAWING STUDIO

Location: White Bear Center for the Arts

Date: Thursday, May 2 & 23, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Explore figure drawing while enjoying the camaraderie of

Incarnation Lutheran Church, located in Shoreview, will host its 17th All Hands on Hope MobilePack event from April 24-28. This event is in partnership with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC).

The goal of this year’s event is to pack 614,304 meals to feed 1,683 children around the world for one year. Meals will be packed on-site at the church and loaded into a semitrailer parked there throughout the weekend. Meals will travel and be distributed to the FMSC partners located in 70 countries across the globe.  “Our hope at Incarnation is that we can be co-creators of a better, more loving world. FMSC is one significant movement in that direction,” said Pastor Kai Nilsen, lead pastor at Incarnation. “We come together as a congregation and community. We laugh, we cry, we pray, we hope, and then we put together meals that, for

one child at a time, one day at a time, are evidence of a better, more loving world.”

Founded in 1987, FMSC is a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and people around the world become healthy and nourished. FMSC meals are hand-packed by volunteers or machines and sent to a network of partner organizations that distribute them to those in need.

Incarnation Lutheran Church hosted its first FMCS MobilePack in 2007.

Since then, over 28,000 people have volunteered to pack FMSC meals. Over 8.6 million meals have been packed and sent to feed children across the globe through the church’s annual pack. This year, the church is looking for 3,000 volunteers to help pack during the weekend.

“I am looking forward to this year’s FMSC event at Incarnation, where members of our congregation and the

larger community will come together to help feed the hungry. This event is a great illustration of one of our strategic pillars, Serving and Transforming Community. When many hands come together, the impact we can have in the world is transformational. Please come and join us!” said Tracy Strantz, president of the Incarnation Congregation Council.

To learn more about the event and to sign up to volunteer for a shift to pack food or make a financial donation to help pay for the packed ingredients, visit the All Hands on Hope, Feed My Starving Children MobilePack web page. Incarnation Lutheran Church is located at 4880 Hodgson Road, North Oaks.

Madeline Dolb y

CONTRIBUTED Incarnation Lutheran Church will host its 17th All Hands on Hope MobilePack event from April 24-28.

803273

A classic fairytale comes to life this spring

BY MADELINE DOLBY STAFF WRITER

The Mounds View High School Theater Company will bring the timeless and magical story of “Cinderella” to life with a musical twist this spring.

“Cinderella: Enchanted Edition” pulls inspiration from the 1997 teleplay of the classic story. The twist on the fairytale will take place four times: Thursday through Saturday, May 2-4, including one showtime on Sunday.

“‘Cinderella’ is not a show that is done by most high schools,” said director Matthew Van Burgen, “and is one of my favorite fairytales.” When looking

at what shows the group could put on for the spring musical, Van Burgen thought that it was the perfect show for the group and wanted to find a way to bring it to life.

The show is larger than previous productions put on by the group. The show will feature 33 cast members and 70 crew members behind the scenes.

“Personally, I like the challenge, but it is challenging to do a show that is a very well-known fairytale,” said Van Burgen, “and not only do it justice, but you want to meet the expectations of the audience.” Everyone has a tie, or a version, of the story that they envision, whether it is the classic fairytale or a more modern telling.

Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother.

“It’s fun to see the ensemble form their personalities and get to learn these big billowing scenes, which is not easy for high schoolers,” Van Burgen said.

Luke Baker-Trinity, a sophomore, plays Prince Charming.

“After a hiatus, I became almost eager to be part of a production again,” said Trinity. He had been “wanting another opportunity to learn more music and return to a loving community, Cinderella was a fantastic opportunity.” To do so.

Trinity said that there is a lot of dancing for long periods of time, which is something he struggles with. He added that the prince needs to come off as likable and sympathetic, but he has considerable and frustrating flaws which also poses a bit of a challenge.

“I think that despite the prince having a tendency to bloat his situation out of proportion, he genuinely has a kind hear and cares about the people he loves,” Trinity concluded.

Cinderella will be played by senior Eva Manrodt, who has been in every show at Mounds View this year.

“Cinderella has always been my favorite princess and I was excited to have a chance to be in this show and maybe even get to play her,” Manrodt said. Her favorite scene is when she is driving through the moonlight because it’s when the stepfamily and Cinderella finally start getting along. Mandrot also loves the songs that pair with it.

“I love getting to sing so many beautiful songs, and of course getting to play a Disney princess,” she added.

As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, this romantic fairy tale still warms the hearts of children and adults alike.

Before every show there will be the royal promenade in the lobby featuring the ensemble. Children will be able to walk down the promenade after they are announced, just like royalty.

More than 130 students are involved in the Mounds View High School Theater Company, which stages three shows each year: a fall play, a winter studentdirected play and a spring musical.

“Cinderella: Enchanted Edition” performances will be held May 2-5 at the Mounds View High School Auditorium. Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Reserved seats are available online and at the door. Visit https://www.mvtheater.org/shakespeare for more information and to purchase tickets online.

Strong start for Mustang tracksters

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Mounds View’s boys track squad is off to a strong start in 2024. The Mustangs placed second among the 10 Suburban East Conference teams at White Bear Lake on April 11 and won the Stillwater Pony Classic on Saturday, April 20.

Their distance runners, always a team strength, were held out of the White Bear Lake meet due to their training schedule, said coach Ross Fleming, and scored heavily at Stillwater.

The host Bears edged the Mustangs 134 points to 130, followed by Stillwater with 124 and Woodbury (121).

Luke Van Ort won discus (167-8 1/2) and took second in shot put (45-5). Colin Elliott won the triple jump (44-1) and was second in long jump (20-11). Rhythm Waiba won high jump, with Ameer Safi second, each clearing 6-0. Other winners were Asher Compton (800 meter run, 2:00.97) and Charlie Robb (300 hurdles, 42.26). Lincoln Malone was second in pole vault with

BOYS GOLF

Mounds View placed 10th out of 30 teams at the Bunker Hills Invitational in Coon Rapids on April 11 to open the season, and third of 12 teams at the Saetzer Invitational at Hastings Golf Club on April 18. The Mustangs shot 305 at Bunker Hills, where Spring Lake Park won with 286. Anoka’s Tyler Gandrud won with a score of 67. The Mustangs’ top four were Christian Goralski with 74, Cooper Larson (75), Jack LaBounty (77) and Max Young (79). At Hastings, the Mustangs scored 315. St. Thomas Academy won with 305 and had the medalist, Phillip Ebner with 73. The Mustangs’ top four were LaBounty with 76, Goralski (78), Young (78) and Larson (83).

SOFTBALL

Mounds View has a 2-5 record through last week. The Mustangs lost to White Bear Lake 6-1, beat Roseville (11-4), lost to Park (9-3), beat Irondale (4-3) and lost to Woodbury (11-1), Forest Lake (18-0) and East Ridge (10-2).

BASEBALL

The Mustangs have won four of their first five games. They beat Rogers 8-0, lost to Stillwater (9-3) and defeated Park (2-1), Cretin-Derham Hall (5-4) and Irondale (5-4).

BOYS LACROSSE

Mounds View has a 3-1 record, showing a robust offense. The Mustangs beat Totino-Grace 18-3, led by Trent Habisch with five goals and four assists; lost to St. MichaelAlbertville (18-13), with Liam Andrews netting seven goals; beat Park (18-4), with Brody Herr hitting six goals, Andrews five and Caden Ashford four; and beat Roseville (17-8).

GIRLS LACROSSE

Mounds View won its opener over Moorhead 13-6, led by Ella Westerman with three goals, Madelyn Tinkle and Allie Atwood two each and Brigitte Otto one with three assists. The Mustangs then lost to Park (13-2) and Roseville (6-5).

SWIMMING

Six Mounds View swimmers made the All-Suburban East Conference honor list. They are Danny Bai, Theo Gafencu, Nathan Hare, Ben Lawrence, Tyler Quattrin and Luke Schmitzer. Quattrin received the teams MVP award. Will Overbo got most-improved. Named captains for next year were Joe Cole, Raj Gill and Peyton Kwan.

and Blaine (205). This was the 15th time Mahtomedi has won this long-running event, tying Stillwater for most team titles.

The Mustangs won the 4x800 in 8:23 with Otto Coleman, Noah Hammett-Divine, Asher Compton and Sam Geer; the 4x1600 in 18:42 with Cayden Stoner, August Arnold, Owen Kalmes, and Casey Poppler; and the sprint medley 800 in 1:40.88 with Tre Doran, Weston Kuchar, Cayden Tran and Ethan Zhao. They were second in the 4x200, the 4x400 and the distance medley.

Field events were also scored as relays. Individually, Van Ort won discus (176-9) and was second in shot put (46-9). Elliott won triple jump (45-0) with Tonie Torbah second (43-10 12). Elliott was second in long jump (2011 1/2) with Ben Mugisa third (20-8). Finley Moseti was second in the high jump (6-0). Miles Smith was fourth in pole vault (12-0). Cayden Stoner was second in the 3200 (9:43) with Levi Hammerbeck third and Spencer Olson fifth.

Girls hoops recap: Stenstrom tallied 1,721 points

Bria Stenstrom, who averaged 24.6 points this season, finished with 1,721

in her career, second-most all-time for Mounds View girls’ basketball.

Stenstrom and Kate Roeber, a junior who averaged 12.3 points, were named to the all-Suburban East team. The Mustangs were 14-13 overall and 10-8 in the Suburban East Conference. Kirk and junior Lily Ryan received allconference honorable mentions.

Stenstrom, a 5-foot-6 guard who holds the single-game record of 44 points, passed such luminaries as Jenny Cafferty (1,568), Stacy Fields (1,513) and Megan Lauck (1.343) in career scoring. She has committed to Winona State.

The Mounds View High School girls career leader is Lindsey Becher, a 2020 graduate, with 1,837 points. Becher averaged 13.6 points for Concordia-St. Paul this year as a junior.

Bruce Strand

May 1— vs. Stillwater at Stillwater Area High School

• 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 3—vs. Park at Mounds View High School

Softball

• 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24—vs. White Bear Lake at White Bear Lake Area High School-South Campus

• 5 p.m. Friday, April 26—vs. Roseville Area at Rice Creek Park

• Noon Saturday April 27—vs. Irondale at Irondale High School

• 5 p.m. Monday, April 29—vs. Park at University of Minnesota

• 5 p.m. Friday, May 3—vs. Woodbury at Rice Creek Park

Boys Tennis

• 4 p.m. Thursday, April 25—vs. Woodbury at Woodbury High School

• 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27—at Creek Valley Elementary School

•

•

• 4 p.m.

Ryan Wirrer third, each clearing 12-6. At Stillwater, a meet emphasizing relays, the top three teams were Mounds View (291), Stillwater (258)

PHOTO BY BRUCE STRAND PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Amber Safir got over the bar at 6 feet at White Bear Lake.

PHOTO BY BRUCE STRAND PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Bria Stenstrom is the No. 2 all-time points scorer in Mustang history.

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Mosquito Control activity has begun

There was nothing normal about the winter of 2023-24. Unseasonably warm temperatures and a lack of snowfall for much of December through February gave way to relatively cool temperatures and moderate precipitation in late March and early April. In early spring, mosquitoes tend to stay in the water as larvae for longer, but as air temperatures rise, they begin to emerge as adult mosquitoes. The warming expected in the coming weeks means adult mosquito activity will increase in late April and May.

The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) will be conducting surveillance and treatment activities in your community to reduce the risk of disease and annoyance in an environmentally sensitive manner. Each year field staff at MMCD monitors and treats wetlands that breed mosquitoes with the use of a fleet of trucks and helicopters. Many MMCD seasonal staff begin working in April, and residents of the seven-county metro area may notice the

green or white trucks with the MMCD logo or staff on bikes or on foot wearing brightly colored “Mosquito Control” shirts.

At times, MMCD employees may need to cross private property for access to check and treat areas for mosquito larvae.

Some of the activities that MMCD may be doing in your community include:

Wetland surveillance - determining if ponds or swamps have mosquito larvae present.

Catch basin surveillance - pulling off grates and inspecting neighborhood catch basins to determine if mosquito larvae are present.

Ground larval treatments - applying control materials to a wetland with a hand spreader or backpack.

Helicopter larval treatments - applying control materials to a wetland via helicopter.

UAS/drone larval treatments – applying control materials via drone. Catch basin treatments - apply-

ing control materials to neighborhood catch basins.

Setting or collecting traps - surveillance helps MMCD determine where and what types of mosquitoes are active.

The control materials and methods used by MMCD are regularly tested for safety and only applied when surveillance indicates they would be effective. The active ingredients are specifically designed to target mosquito larvae or adults with minimal impacts on nontarget insects. The control materials are not harmful to people, pets or wildlife.

Scheduled treatments including planned helicopter activity are posted on the MMCD website. For information about our programs or for tips on how to reduce mosquitoes near your home, visit MMCD.org. If you have questions about mosquito control activities or concerns about an employee, please call the MMCD front desk at 651-645-9149.

If every person takes one small step toward being more conscientious of the environment, the collective effort will change the planet.

83.3% of Minnesota's Class of 2023 graduated

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has released the class of 2023’s graduation rate data. The 2023 graduation rate was 83.3%, or 58,293 graduates, which represents a 0.3 percentage point decrease in the four-year graduation rate compared to the class of 2022.

In 2023, 3,874 students from earlier classes also earned their diplomas, graduating five, six or seven years after beginning high school.

“I am proud of the students in the Class of 2023,” said MDE Commissioner Willie Jett. “Every student has a unique story, and their effort and commitment deserve celebration. I am also grateful for the hard work our educators, families and communities invest into

supporting our students.”

The small decrease in the total graduation rate is driven, in part, by a 0.4 percentage point increase in the unknown

rate, which tracks students who were either incorrectly reported or were not reported as enrolled elsewhere. This reemphasizes the need for

schools to keep track of — and report — every single student during their high school career. For more information,

-  

May 1 Cribbage Tournament 6:30-8:30 p.m. Rustic Roots

May 1 Muskc: Grace notes 5:30-8:30 p.m. 7 Vines Vineyard

May 2 Music: Noah Burnett 4-7 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

May 2 Corn Hole 6-7:30 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

May 4 Derby Viewing Party Noon-6 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

May 4 May the 4th Be With You All Day White Bear Meadery

May 4 Music

Two Silo Winery & Vineyard

May 5 Cinco de Mayo Open Hours Dancing Dragonfly

May 5 Hudson Community 11 a.m.- Belle Ame Vineyard

Wine Tasting 3:30 p.m.

Succulent workshop bee craft Noon-3:30 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

Yoga in the Vineyard 6-7 p.m. Rustic Roots

Trivia with Ryan 6:30-8 p.m. Rustic Roots

Music: Gary LaRue 5:30-8:30 p.m. 7 Vines Vineyard

Music: Sten Carlson 4-7 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

Puzzle Night 6-8 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

Farmers & Artisans Market 4-7 p.m. Rustic Roots

Mother’s Day Mini-Market

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dancing Dragonfly

Mother’s Day Craft Fair Noon–5 p.m. White Bear Meadery

Mother’s Day Music: Josh Quinn 2-5 p.m. 7 Vines Vineyard

Two Silo Winery & Vineyard

Mother’s Day at the Winery various times Dancing Dragonfly

Mother’s Day Yoga 11 a.m.-Noon Rustic Roots

Music : Barstool Bandits Duo 3-6 p.m. Rustic Roots

Yoga in the Vineyard 6-7 p.m. Rustic Roots

May 14 Bingo 6:30-8:00 p.m. Rustic Roots

May 15 Cribbage Tournament 6:30-8 p.m. Rustic Roots

May 15

Music: Mike Bustin 5:30-8:30 p.m.

May 16 Music: Nick Hensley 4-7 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

May 16 Beer/wine dinner 6-9 p.m. Belle Ame Vineyard

May 17 Art at the Winery - Paint & Sip 6-8:30 p.m. Dancing Dragonfly

May 18 Rosé in May 5-7 p.m. Dancing Dragonfly

May 18 Gears & Beers Bike Tour Big Wood Brewery

May 19 Music: Michael Sherwood 3-6 p.m. Rustic Roots

May 19 Music: Cole Thomas 2-5 p.m. 7 Vines Vineyard

May 21 Yoga in the Vineyard

May 21 Trivia with Ryan

May 22 Music: Patrick Allen

May 23

May

May

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exchange

students International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is looking for local families to host high school exchange students ages 15 to 18 from diverse countries such as Australia, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Japan and more. Host families have the opportunity to choose a student from diverse backgrounds, countries and interests. To become a host family, contact the ASSE Midwestern Regional Office at 1-800-736-1760 or visit www.host.asse. com.

Local police departments host Take Back events

Area police departments will work with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 27. Minnesotans are invited to bring in there unneeded or expired prescriptions for safe disposal. To locate a collection site, visit https:// www.dea.gov/takebackday and search by zip code, county, city or state and select how many miles you are willing to drive.

WHITE BEAR LAKE GRADUATE EXPANDS BUSINESS INTO WHITE BEAR LAKE

Jeff Dougherty, a 1982 White Bear High School graduate, is proud to announce that he is expanding his home services business, Aquarius Home Services— based in Little Canada, Minnesota—by merging with Roger Vadnais Plumbing in White Bear Lake.

Jeff Dougherty and John Vadnais, the owner of Roger Vadnias Plumbing, discovered they share very similar core values and are both proud to be familyowned businesses. They decided to combine forces to provide expanded services for the White Bear Lake area and beyond, from skilled, courteous professionals who provide fast, efficient customer service and overall field support in all areas of their business, including premier water treatment, HVAC, plumbing and electrical services.

Their mission is “Earning the Right to be Recommended,” always striving for world-class customer service for all of their customers.

John Vadnais and his team have worked hard in the White Bear Lake area for many years, earning customers’ business and trust. John and his entire team will be an important part of Aquarius Home Services and continue to serve their valued customers. Their joint goal is to provide amazing service that makes customers happy to recommend them to their family and friends. To help demonstrate what this great new partnership will bring, they invite everyone to stop by their Customer Appreciation Open House event May 3-5 at their Little Canada office, near 35E and 694. There will be food, fun and prizes for everyone! See the ad at the right for more details.

Jeff said, “This new partnership is especially exciting for me as I was raised in White Bear Lake and am so proud to have such a close tie to this amazing community. We all look forward to providing you the service you deserve for years to come!”