Around every corner are tales of those who have gone through seemingly unconquerable odds to get to where they are today. Some, such as Chisago City resident Michelle Lang, have faced adversity in the form of a stroke. However, through a combination of physical and occupational therapy, as well as forming her own brain injury/stroke support group, Lang has overcome her setbacks to spread awareness and connect with others like her. See the full story on page 3.
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Trauma comes in many forms, and sometimes, what we need is a tight-knit community of those with whom we can all relate. That is where Michelle Lang has those individuals covered.
Lang leads the Stroke & Brain Injury Support Group at the M Fairview Health Clinic in Wyoming, which meets on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The group, founded by Lang for those recovering from different forms of brain trauma, is one she describes as a safe environment for attendees to open up and discuss their struggles.
“I think everyone feels very comfortable with each other there,” said Lang. “We are all a family. We’re all very close.”
The group’s origins are rooted in Lang’s own history of brain trauma following a stroke in April 2023. “I spent about a month in acute rehab,” she explained. “I was in a wheelchair to begin with.
“I was also with a walker and a cane, so I worked my butt off to get to where I was. Eventually, I found that when I went to an exercise class, it made me realize how much in friendships I had lost as a result of the stroke. People don’t know what to say or what to do, so it’s easier for them to walk away or just ignore the whole situation.”
In finding a location to hold group meetings, Lang chose the M Fairview Health Clinic in Wyoming due to its proximity to her residence (Chisago City) and its familiarity. “The closest groups were either up in Duluth or down to the cities,” she said. “I think that a lot of it was because I was there all the time, too. I talked with the administration, and they were willing to give the space free of charge. It seemed like a natural choice.”
Enlisting the help of her daughter, Anna, to create and spread group flyers, Lang began hosting the first meeting in December of that year. Though attendance was initially minimal, participation steadily increased through Facebook and different neighborhood group websites. By May 2024, the group had 31
Dr.
us,” said Carolyn, who had attended a St. Paul-based brain tumor support group with Douglas. “When I saw another group that had to do with brain functioning, I thought it would be a good one to have some other people that he (Douglas) could relate to.”
The group has featured a number of notable guest speakers at certain group meetings. Among them is Dr. Haitham Hussein, a neurologist with M Health Fairview and the University of Minnesota Medical School, whom Lang herself has seen as a patient.
• One of the key ways you can identify someone about to have a stroke is through the “FAST” warning signs, which stand for:
– F: Face drooping
– A: Arm weakness
– S: Speech difficulty
– T: Time to call 911
• Different types of stroke include an ischemic, which happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blood clot; a hemorrhagic, which occurs when a blood vessel in or on the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding tissues; and a transient ischemic attack (TIA, also called a “warning stroke”) which is caused by a brief blockage of blood flow to the brain.
• One in four stroke survivors is at risk for another stroke.
members from cities including Hugo and Forest Lake.
Among the first few who joined were Hugo couple Marie and Dennis Knieff. Dennis had previously suffered a malformation-induced brain bleed in 2022, which required emergency surgery. “We’d been coming here for occupational and physical therapy,” said Marie. “I was a little apprehensive just because I’ve never done anything like this, but when I got to know Michelle, it felt like going to your neighbor’s house. She kept us grounded and positive, and it just felt really at home. It’s nice to know it’s getting bigger and bigger all the time.”
After previous groups closed due to COVID-19, Forest Lake couple Carolyn and Douglas Schulette found Lang. “As soon as the pandemic came, it left
Online voting is open for the 2025 Stillwater Chamber Gala & Community Awards Celebration, which will take place from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday,
“There’s a lot of work that goes into starting a support group like that,” said Hussein, “sustaining and keeping it going. Michelle really singlehandedly did that. It isn’t just that she had the motivation; she also had the perseverance to find resources and figure out how to keep things going.”
In his role as guest speaker, Hussein said that his goal is not to discuss any one single topic but to see it as an opportunity to spend time with individual stroke/brain injury survivors.
“I get to learn more about their everyday struggles beyond the medical aspects,” explained Hussein, “which tends to be the focus when they come to the clinic. In the medical field, we have tools to measure stroke recovery developed based on the doctor’s opinion about what is helpful for a person surviving a stroke. But there is a different point of view when you hear the patient.”
Source: American Stroke Organization
Hussein said that spending this time helped him understand more about himself as a doctor and the group members’ recovery process.
“For example, we think that if someone is able to walk, that’s good,” said Hussein. “But maybe you hear from the patient, ‘No, that’s not good enough because I want to be more independent or I want to go back to riding my bike.’
“Sometimes, what is important for stroke survivors and their caregivers might not be what a doctor is looking for or what the medical community thinks is a good or bad outcome,” Hussein said. “I also learned from the stroke survivors, when they go to a rehab facility, what ones are good and what are not very good. We can find, for example, more sophisticated therapists to help people recover from
stroke in urban settings versus rural settings. It is helpful for me to be in these meetings so I can understand the everyday struggles at home with stroke recovery.
“I am grateful to this support group for inviting me and me to go multiple times. That has always been a fun and lovely experience for me.”
The next group meeting will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 1, at the M Health Fairview Clinic, 5200 Fairview Blvd., Wyoming. To learn more about stroke symptoms and treatments, visit the American Stroke Association website at www. stroke.org/en/.
Erik Suchy is a staff writer for Press Publications. To reach him, please contact him by email at lowdownnews@presspubs.com or by phone at 651-407-1229.
STILLWATER WINTERFEST
When: Feb. 19 - 24
Where: Throughout Stillwater
CONTRIBUTED
Details: Community-wide celebration with a variety of events including the fictitious University of Stillwater
Contact: one23events.com/winterfest
BINGO AT THE CURRENT
When: 2 - 4 p.m. Sundays
Where: Afton House Inn, 3291 St. Croix Trail S.
Details: Play Bingo and win cash prizes. Contact: 651-436-8883 or info@ aftonhouseinn.com
TREAT YOURSELF TUESDAYS
When: 5 - 8 p.m. 2nd Tuesday of every month
Where: Sodie’s Cigar & Pipe, 5946 N. Good Ave., Oak Park Heights
Details: Ladies’ night at Sodie’s Cigar & Pipe. Each month will feature a different cigar and drink pairing.
Contact: 651-342-0971
FREIGHT HOUSE HAPPY HOUR
When: 4 - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday
Where: Freight House, 305 Water St. S., Stillwater
Details: Discount on all draft beer and select apps. Available both inside and patio.
Contact: 651-439-5718 or info@ thefreighthouse.com
LAKE ELMO ROTARY CLUB MEETING
When: 7 - 8 a.m. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesday of every month
Where: Lake Elmo Inn, 3442 Lake Elmo Ave N.
Details: Join the Lake Elmo Rotary Club’s meeting on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Please RSVP your attendance) the Monday prior to the meeting.
Contact: Liz Niehaus: lmjohnson3@ hotmail.com
CALENDAR BRIEFS
DATE NIGHT
When: 4 - 9 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Afton House Inn, 3291 St. Croix
Trail S.
Details: Wednesdays are Date Night here at Swirl. Offer includes two salads, one flatbread, two truffles and a bottle of house wine.
Contact: 651-436-8883 or info@ aftonhouseinn.com
BETTER BREATHERS CLUB
When: 1 - 3 p.m. 4th Wednesday of every month
Where: Lakeview Hospital, 927 Churchill St W., Stillwater Details: Better Breathers Club offers the opportunity to learn ways to better cope with chronic lung disease while getting the support of others who share in your struggles. Family members, friends and support persons are welcome. Registration is free.
Contact: 651-430-4786 or jenny.j.kratochvil@lakeview.org
WINERY WONDERLAND AT 7 VINES VINEYARD
When: 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21; Saturday, Feb. 22, Friday, Feb. 28
Where: 7 Vines Vineyard, 101 Hwy 96 E., Dellwood
Details: Presented by Wahoo Adventures. Snowshoes, ice luminary trail through the vineyards and private state room available for live music and bingo for prizes. Online pre-registration only. $59 per person includes snowshoes, luminary lit trail, mulled wine, live music, bonfires, s’mores, cider, cocoa and bingo/prizes.
Contact: 651-478-6300 or info@7vinesvineyard.com
Stillwater Public Library features local artists in new exhibit
GAME NIGHT
When: 5 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8; Saturday, Feb. 22
Where: Washington County Historic Courthouse, 101 West Pine St., Stillwater
Details: Enjoy a fun-filled evening of games and friendly competition at the Washington County Historic Courthouse. A variety of board games will be available to play.
Contact: 651-275-7075
WINE TASTINGS
When: 6 - 8 p.m. Fridays
Where: Afton House Inn, 3291 St. Croix Trail S.,
Details: Come on down to the Swirl Wine Club for a night of free wine tastings, family and friends.
Contact: 651-436-8883 or info@ aftonhouseinn.com
WILD RIVER RUNNING
When: 6 p.m. every Tuesday and 6:30 a.m. every Friday
Where: 224 Chestnut St. E, Stillwater Details: Group runs from Wild River Running. All paces and abilities welcome with distances typically ranging three to six miles. Coffee and cold cereal served after Friday morning group runs. Tuesday evening will occasionally rotate locations.
Contact: 651-342-2741 or info@ wildriverrunning.com
MOVIES AT MATT’S
When: 6:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday
Where: 413 Nelson St. E., Stillwater
Details: Nostalgia movies shown at the lounge at Matt’s Basement. Movies announced on social media the week prior. All tickets come with free popcorn with variety of seating options available. Contact: www.instagram.com/ mattsbasement/
STROLLING ACCORDION
When: 8 p.m. every Friday-Sunday Where: Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter, 8390 Lofton Ave., Stillwater Details: Enjoy strolling accordion performances through the Gasthaus dining rooms every weekend throughout the year.
Contact: 651-439-7128
FREE PARK ENTRY DAY
When: All day, Tuesday, Feb. 4
Where: Washington County parks Details: Visit any Washington County Park for free, no vehicle permit required. Contact: www.washingtoncountymn.gov
FAMILY FUN NIGHT AND PJ STORYTIME
When: 5:30 - 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7
Where: Marine Village Hall, 121 Judd St., Marine on St. Croix.
Details: Join for fun, games, and pizza. All ages are welcome to wear their pajamas, bring their favorite blanket and stuffed animal friend for stories and games. Contact: info@marinecommunitylibrary. org
Throughout the month, the Stillwater Public Library will feature the work of three local artists, Laura Albertson, Cathryn Peters and Kay Hoskins, in the exhibit “Bound by Nature: Antlers, Clay, Stones, Sticks.” The show will explore the artists’ deep connections to the natural world and feature various mediums, including pottery, basket and stick sculptures. These pieces will be on display at the library’s art gallery.
To learn more about these artists and follow them on social media, visit Albertson’s Instagram page at @strings_sticks_stones or view Peters’ work at www. artworkarchive.com/profile/cathryn-peters. Hoskins can be reached at hoskins.k@gmail.com.
Stillwater Public Library holds public reading challenge
Until February 28, the Stillwater Public Library is hosting a winter reading challenge for adults. To participate, readers must submit book reviews in person
BIRD HIKE
When: 9 - 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Where: Pine Point Regional Park, 11900 Norell Ave. N., Stillwater.
Details: Learn to identify the birds that call the St. Croix Valley home. Hike will go through turf, gravel and paved trails depending on conditions. Contact: 651-430-8370 or parks@ co.washington.mn.us.
FOREST LAKE ICE CLASSIC
When: Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Where: Forest Lake Public Boat Ramp #1, 111 Lake St. S.
Details: Open to fishermen of all ages and experience. Tickets can be purchased online and in person. All proceeds go towards veterans and first responders. Food trucks, vendors and a raffle drawing will be on-site. Contact: 651-272-5474 or IceContest@ Fuhrent.com
WINE BOTTLE PAINTING CLASS
When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8
Where: Hallberg Center for the Arts, 5521 East Viking Blvd., Wyoming.
Details: Learn to hand-paint your own wine bottle. Artists will be able to choose from several durable and scratchresistant all-surface paints. Registration deadline is 12:55 p.m. on the day of the class.
Contact: 651-272-5122
SOLO PIANO CONCERT
When: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9
Where: Christ Lutheran Church, 150 5th St., Marine on Saint Croix
Details: Come for an evening of music featuring pianist Denis Evstuhin. Postconcert refreshments provided. Tickets can be purchased online. Contact: 651-341-9355 or candlelightseries@gmail.com.
HUMAN FORM DRAWING CLASS
When: 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10
Where: Hallberg Center for the Arts, 5521 East Viking Blvd., Wyoming
Details: Learn how to draw the human form with a live model. Artists will work with a professional model to create poses from which they can draw. Class will be self-led. An optional 20-minute discussion/show-and-tell may be held afterward. Participants 18+. Contact: 651-272-5122 or Surelle@ wyomingcreativearts.org.
FULL MOON FOREST BATHING
When: 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12
Where: Lake Elmo Park Reserve, 1515 Keats Ave. N..
Details: Join for an ancient, immersive and meditative Japanese forest bathing experience (Shinrin-Yoku). Registration required. Contact: 651-430-8370 or parks@ co.washington.mn.us
at the library or through Beanstack at www.stillwaterbayportlibrary.beanstack.org/reader365. Each review will be entered into the library’s end-of-February drawing for book bundles.
RPAW to host monthly vaccine clinic
RPAW Animal Wellness Center will offer a monthly vaccine clinic one Saturday each month. The first one will kick off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. During the clinic, dog and cat owners from the public can get their pet’s annual vaccines at a lower cost. Vaccines include distemper, Bordetella and rabies. Nail trims and microchip services will also be offered. Advance registration is required. To register, email rpawwellness@gmail.com. RPAW is located at 15161 Feller St. NE, Columbus. dedication and passion, we wouldn’t have made it this far.”
s it wrong to say that ‘I have no response’ is a response?”
Suchy’s Scoop
Erik Suchy
DGardener’s
id you know that during WWII, President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed in a fireside chat that “victory gardens were of direct benefit in helping relieve manpower, transportation, and living costs as well as addressing the food problem.” Victory gardens became patriotic and helped sustain the food supply in the difficult years during the war. Unfortunately, we have lost that fervor for growing our own food, relying rather on the produce readily available at local stores. Now with modern food production methods, our produce travels thousands of miles covered in plastic and has lost much of its flavor and nutritional value by the time it arrives home to our tables. Today we do not have a food supply problem but rather a food nutrient and energy problem.
My dream of bringing kitchen gardens to every backyard stems
from the magical childhood memories of watching seeds develop into plants and plants grow into food. However, as an adult who developed an autoimmune disease, my reasons have shifted to include an urgency for improving the health benefit of our food. Our food no longer possesses the nutrients needed to sustain good energy and health at the cellular level.
Dr. Casey Means, author of the book Good Energy, states, “As a nation, we are experiencing a health crisis which is a reflection of a destroyed ecosystem. The world we are living in is crushing the very way that our human body and our cells can transmit food energy to life energy and cell energy.” I highly recommend reading her book. By adopting the Good Energy name, my hope is to educate gardeners as well as other consumers that growing our own food is not just about a few fresh tomatoes in the summertime; it is about longterm health.
Good Energy Garden intentionally points to the need for gardeners, farmers and the greater food industry to provide healthier food through better supply chain delivery, healthier growing methods
and elimination of chemicals. While Minnesota is a major food producer, the produce is still wrapped in plastic and sits in a warehouse waiting to be delivered to the store. The more local the better but there is nothing better than growing in your own backyard.
Growing a kitchen garden puts you in control of the health of the soil and plants. We teach you how to become the master gardener for producing the freshest nutrient dense food which you can eat within minutes of harvesting. Kitchen gardens could revive president Roosevelt’s ‘patriotic victory garden’ sentiment however this time the emphasis is on the health and wellness for you, your family and even your community. The time is now to start planning your kitchen garden so come springtime you are ready. Contact me for a brief discovery call or consultation through my website at goodenergygarden.com.
Crystal Crocker is a Stillwater resident and longtime gardener. If you have gardening questions, reach out to her at 952-240-4648 or GoodEnergyGarden@gmail.com.
Those were the first words I texted back to my dad when he informed me my grandpa had passed away on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 9, at the age of 94. I had chosen not to be in the hospital when the doctors took him off life support because I couldn’t handle the emotional turmoil that would have come with witnessing this. It’s true that people process grief in very different ways. When I was much younger, my emotional response to familial passing was far more intense. When my grandma Joan died in 2008, I was unable to control my tears during the funeral, so much so that I had to isolate myself in a separate room because the pain was too overwhelming. When we had to put down Shadow, our beloved Black LabradorRottweiler mix in 2013, I remember almost physically shaking from the level of heartache I experienced.
Now, after facing another death in the family, I could only take the news in and let the grief crash over me, not knowing if it would lead to more tears or not. In the following days, I kept telling myself the same thing: “I have no response.”
That was until I realized my true response deserved to be written, not kept inside.
Every memory of my grandpa has never been a bad one. He was a pure definition of a simple, loving man. Someone I could talk to for hours and never find a dull spot in any conversation. I have never met a sweeter man who took nothing for granted and asked for little in return. Most of all, he always took his days one step at a time. Regardless of whatever happened, good or bad, his vitality to live in the moment always spoke volumes.
Even as he was battling more and more oncoming health issues, I never once saw any sign that his physical decline was causing a shift in his mood. He was just alive; he didn’t even need to always have a smile on his face to illustrate this. Even well into his 80s, he could still drive his van to and from wherever he needed. Perhaps this is what I will miss the most about my grandpa: his perseverance. He always had that special quality on his side, even until his last day. And missing is always the hardest part about losing a loved one — especially when that loss becomes lost in translation after it hits you.
For me, being on the autism spectrum has always had its challenges when it comes to perceiving emotion. Some days, I cry harder than most when I lose something special to me, such as a friendship or a pet. When it comes to comforting others, I often don’t know how well-meaning I need to be to guarantee that my reassurance impacts them. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care or know how to be hurt.
And in the advent of my grandpa’s passing, I am still feeling pain. The pain of familial loss; gone too soon and too hard to digest to this day.
Goodbye, grandpa. On behalf of the entire Suchy family, we will miss you.
Erik Suchy is a staff writer at Press Publications. he can be reached at 651-407-1229 or email at lowdownnews@presspubs.com.
1. St. Croix Event Center
What: Event center
Where: 5880 Omaha Ave. N. Contact: 651-605-5784 or tricia@
stcroixeventcenter.com
About: Multipurpose event center with ballroom and cabernet room. Perfect for hosting wedding receptions, corporate
1. North Environmental Center - Forest Lake What: Recycling Center Where: 6065 Headwaters Pkwy. Contact: 651-275-7475 or EnvironmentalCenter@co.washington.mn.us
banquets and galas, fundraisers and business networking events.
2. Gold & Eight What: Jewelry store
Where: 324 Main St. S.
Contact: www.goldandeight.com
About: Sells high-quality, affordable gold-filled permanent jewelry.
2. Aztek Countertops Forest Lake What: Countertop Store Where: 708 Lake St. S. Suite C
Contact: 651-285-7383 or info@aztekcountertops.com
About: Washington County operates two Environmental Centers in Forest Lake and Woodbury for the collection of household hazardous waste, electronics and more. Open to residents of Washington, Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Scott counties.
About: Family-owned company that
specializes in installing and fabricating kitchens, vanities, bars and stone top needs. Over 45 years of experience combined.
3. Mike’s Discount Foods What: Grocery Store
Where: 840 Lake St. S., Unit A. Contact: www.mikesdiscountfoods.com About: Discount grocery store.
4. Legacy Home Revive What: Remodeling/Handyman Services
Where: Forest Lake Contact: 651-248-2796
About: A home improvement business that specializes in handyman services and remodeling projects.
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
The temperature is below zero in the dead of winter. You step inside a 14-by-7-foot mobile trailer and are greeted with a temperature of 160 degrees and the smell of fresh cedar. All you can hear is the occasional clinking of a stove. Looking out the window, you are greeted with the serene view of a nature center.
This winter, Amy Ogren launched Driftwood Sauna, a mobile, wood-fired sauna that can seat up to eight people.
“It’s a really restful experience. It is quiet, and the cedar smells so good,” Ogren explained. “It is a little oasis in the ‘burbs.”
Ogren, who grew up in Shoreview, taught middle school and high school English for around 25 years but she was ready for a break. “I was just ready for a different pace,” Ogren shared.
While listening to the radio one day, Ogren heard a story about “saunapreneurs,” a new trend happening on the North Shore and nationwide. Ogren and her husband own a small cabin on the south shore of Lake Superior.
“I was driving to work, and I thought we need one of these in Cornucopia, Wisconsin,” she recalled.
From May through October, Driftwood Sauna will be parked by the lake in Cornucopia. From November through March, the trailer will primarily be located at Tamarack Nature Center, but you may also find it at other pop-up events, including Franconia Sculpture Park.
Driftwood Sauna was custom built by Forge Saunas in the St. Croix River Valley and features a Kuuma wood stove, which was manufactured in Tower, Minnesota. Sauna users can have the sauna to themselves (one to eight people) by booking a private session; community sessions are also available for up to six people.
Julie and Kevin Grove, of White Bear Township, recently tried out Driftwood for the first time and are hooked. “We are booking again,” Julie said. The two were looking for saunas close to home and stumbled across the new business in a Google search.
“The location is great, and we love Tamarack Nature Center,” Kevin said. Julie explained that it is nice for the two to sneak away for a bit while their
1-1/2-year-old daughter is still at day care during the week.
“You feel so good after,” Julie explained. “It is so cold, but you get nice and warmed up.”
Kevin added, “You feel rejuvenated, and it has health benefits.”
Sauna bathing, an activity that has been a tradition in Finland for thousands of years and is mainly used for relaxation, is becoming increasingly popular in many other populations. According to the Mayo Clinic, emerging evidence suggests that beyond its use for pleasure, sauna bathing may be linked to several health benefits, which include reducing the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive diseases. It also tackles nonvascular conditions such as pulmonary diseases as well as conditions such as arthritis, headache and flu.
The Groves expect they will use the sauna once to twice a week.
Ogren encourages others to give it a try.
“It is a way to take some time for yourself. You have quiet; a little break from the routine and the hustle and bustle.”
For more information about Driftwood Sauna, visit driftwood-sauna.com.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or whitebearnews@presspubs.com.
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Richard Herod III’s life changed in the blink of an eye on May 3, 2021. A horrifying car accident at Highway 61 and Willow Lake Boulevard brought him to the ER, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury and long-lasting effects that forced him to leave his public life as one of the most recognizable car dealers in White Bear Lake.
are all possibilities for me. I’m looking for purpose in what my reality is.”
Recently, Herod began working with the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, launching a fundraiser called “Richard’s Challenge.” Both the alliance’s Board of Directors and its key donors committed to helping Herod match up to $10,000 in donations. By the time the challenge concluded, Herod had successfully raised over its $10,000 goal in donations from 117 different donors. “In about four days, we were able to get over ten grand in contributions and donations,” said Herod of the challenge’s success. “Then, that ten grand turned into twenty. I actually got a letter from the Minnesota Brain Injury Association saying that this was one of the most successful donor-led campaigns in their history, which blew my mind. It was an honor that my first real attempt at anything community-enrichment-focused had such an amazing result.”
• In Minnesota alone, there are more than 8,000 cases of hospital-treated traumatic brain injuries which are reported annually.
• Over 100,000 Minnesotans live with a disability as a result of a traumatic brain injury.
• Americans are more likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury than to be diagnosed with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and breast cancer combined.
Source: Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance
time in the auto industry, Richard Herod III still plans to give back to the community as much as he can.
“My doctors have told me that I’ll never be able to do that again,” said Herod, who for years owned the Bear Lot dealership in Mounds View and the White Bear Mitsubishi dealership. He is also wellknown for his role in commercials with the White Bear Mitsubishi mascot. “I don’t have the same patience, temperament, enthusiasm and energy as I used to. Many months, I drive in excess of 2,000 miles to get to all my doctor’s appointments and treatments. I have to take one or two naps a day just to get through the day.”
But the setbacks have not discouraged Herod. Today, he is committed to living life as best he can and retaining the same caring, community-oriented persona that different local communities still know him by.
“I believe that my reality is permanent, and I’ve accepted that,” said Herod. “But given that it is permanent, I’m still going to do the best I can with it. I’m not sure exactly what the future holds for me, but being a community fundraiser, advocate and public speaker
After years of dedicated service, Lori Houston and Cindy Selness have retired from Stillwater Public Library. Houston began working at the
Although he is no longer able to work full-time due to his injuries, Herod maintains a close association with Walser Automotive by serving as a community ambassador. “The specific goals of my partnership are to enrich the partnership with Walser and the White Bear Lake community,” said Herod, detailing multiple objectives regarding his current role. “The second goal is to enhance further Walser’s already significant efforts in the LGBTQ+ community. The third and final effort is to make the car-buying process easier for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in the Twin Cities.”
Outside of Walser, Herod also acts as a “car concierge” for friends, family and social media followers in selecting their preferred car. “If a friend of mine was curious about a Mazda or a Chevy, I can help meet them at both stores and introduce them to a customer specialist that will allow them the chance to pick the best out of those three.”
Through these partnerships with Walser and the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, Herod said his goal is to “find happiness in sadness,” including spreading more understanding and awareness of brain injuries. “The number of people that have reached out to me with similar stories is overwhelming,” said Herod.
library as a page while in college before joining the circulation department in 1984, later becoming department head. Selness, who spent 23 years as an ESL teacher, joined the circulation department just over five years ago.
The library thanks Houston and
Maverick McKinnon, an eighth-grader, leads the Forest Lake hockey team in scoring with 16 goals and 17 assists in 16 games, including four goals on power plays and two shorthanded. In the last four games, the 5-foot-7, 160-pound forward had a goal and assist in a 3-2 win over Duluth, two assists in a 5-3 loss to Roseville, three goals in a 6-3 win over Mounds View and two goals in a 6-0 win over Cambridge-Isanti.
Selness for “their unwavering commitment to customer service and their warm, welcoming presence at the library” and says that while their contributions will be missed, they have left “an indelible mark on our library and the community we serve.”
Forest Lake basketball
Kendal Damon is averaging 13.7 points for Forest Lake and recently had a 30-point game, helping the Rangers post an 8-7 record. The 5-foot-10 junior guard/forward has stepped up her game from a promising sophomore season when she averaged 8.2 points. She has a smooth outside shot, hits the boards, scores off rebounds and plays solid defense.
“I’ve learned that communities impacted by brain injuries have so many stories, and I want to make sure they get heard. I want people to know that those with brain injuries want to have a normal life. They want to be good friends, partners with people and good family members.”
Of his injuries, Herod said that he is also committed more to helping his husband, Charles, and the rest of his family helping redefine his new, post-accident life. “It’s deeply altered the course of my marriage and the relationship with the rest of my family,” said Herod. “What I’ve realized most recently is that while I suffered a dramatic loss, my entire network of friends and family also suffered a loss. They lost the Richard that was. Now, I need to rebuild and redefine myself, and I’m starting to realize I need to give my family space for them to grieve because they lost something. But I’m still hopeful. I pray that my family and friends will be able to better understand.”
To learn more about the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, visit www.braininjurymn.org. To find out more about Herod’s current car concierge business, you can visit “Car Guy Concierge” on Google Maps, or contact him at 651-422-7489.
Erik Suchy is a staff writer for Press Publications.To reach him, please contact him by email at lowdownnews@ presspubs.com or by phone at 651-407-1229.
*Athletes
Stillwater swimming
Zach Cody is a fifth-year member and leader on the Stillwater swimming team. “He’s a great motivator and inspiration for the team,” Coach Brian Luke said. Cody made all-conference last year and received the team’s Workout Award this year. He posted a career-best performance at the recent sectional true-team meet, recording personal bests in the 200 freestyle (fourth place, 1:55.83), 100 butterfly (second place, 57.77), and 400 freestyle relay split.
Stillwater basketball
Liana Buckhalton, Stillwater 6-foot senior wing, is a thousand-point scorer and tenacious defender for the Pony basketball team that’s 10-3. Buckhalton is scoring 15.4 points per game this year after averaging 13.3 as a junior and 11.3 as a sophomore. She has committed to Eastern Illinois. “She plays hard and is a solid defender,” said Eastern Illinois University (EIU) Coach Marqus McGlothan. “Her length and speed can make her a very impactful player in the OVC.”
The city of Centerville is hiring rink attendants to start immediately. Job duties include opening and closing the warming house, light shoveling, light custodial work and communicating with city staff. Hours are evenings, weekends and holidays, through the outdoor ice season. Applicants must be 16+. For a complete application, visit City Hall or online at www.centervillemn.com
The city of Centerville is hiring a Public Services Technician. The position is a general labor position within the City’s Public Works Department. Duties include maintenance of sewer, water and stormwater infrastructure, plowing snow on city streets, maintaining public buildings and parks, and other related tasks. Sewer and Water system operator licensure, as well as a commercial driver’s license is required or may be obtained within one year of employment. For a complete application and more details on the job requirements, visit City Hall or online at www.centervillemn.com
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The Minnesota State Forest Nursery is in need of both jack pine and black spruce cones, as well as decidious and coniferous tree seeds. These cones and seeds play a vital role in the reforestation of state forests, parks and private lands, and collecting them helps grow trees adapted to the state’s climate and produces more resilient forests. To participate, residents should check the seed and cone collection map on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website to identify drop-off locations in their area. Residents should also call the area’s forest office drop-off location and ask what kinds of cones and seeds they need and how many. They should also follow seed-collecting guidelines to collect clean, viable seeds that will grow into seedlings.
Seeds and cones must be kept in a cool, dry, breathable container and delivered to a dropoff location as soon as possible. Please note that the nursery will not accept low-quality seeds or cones. Residents must make sure they know where the seeds and cones were collected and the date, as this information will be recorded when they drop them off at the area office. Once the seeds and cones have been checked for quality at the offices, a receipt and a check will be written based on the price list and the number of bushels collected. Prices for seeds range from $20 to $150 per bushel, depending on the specific tree species.
A complete map of seed and cone drop-off locations and a price list for different cone and seed types can be found online at www. dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/nursery/cone-seedcollection.html.
Name: Alice Abbott Residency: Stillwater
Q: What brought you out to Stillwater today?
A: I’m heading out to lunch.
Q: What helps you “seize the day”?
A: I usually have myself
on a bit of a schedule to get a few things done, but I’m just glad to be here and get up every morning.
Q: What is the best life advice?
A: Embrace the day.
Compiled by Erik Suchy
Suite Living Senior Care
At Suite Living Senior Care, the mission is simple: to provide compassionate, personalized care that helps seniors live their best lives. Specializing in assisted living and memory care, Suite Living offers a warm, home-like environment where residents can thrive with dignity and purpose. With a team of dedicated professionals, they focus on enriching lives through individualized care plans,
engaging activities, and fostering a sense of community. Suite Living believes every senior deserves respect, comfort, and joy in their golden years, and their passion for making this a reality shines through in everything they do. Call Suite Living Senior Care, Forest Lake location at 651-289-6755 to learn more about their exceptional services or schedule a tour to see the difference they make in our community!
SNAP Fitness – Forest Lake
Snap Fitness Forest Lake is dedicated to helping our community stay active, healthy, and strong. With 24/7 access, state-of-the-art equipment, and a variety of fitness programs, Snap Fitness makes it easy for members to achieve their wellness goals on their own schedule. Their supportive environment and knowledgeable staff create a space where everyone—from beginners to seasoned athletes— feels welcome and empowered. At Snap Fitness, the focus is on helping members build healthier lifestyles and fostering a sense of community around fitness and well-being. Ready to start your fitness journey? Give SNAP Fitness a Call at 651-464-3234.
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
In Minnesota, only about 10% of the 656,420 tons of plastic that gets thrown out becomes new products, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
From the bag you go shopping with, to the cup you drink your coffee out of to how you cover your leftovers. Plastic is everywhere.
For the second year, Ramsey and Washington counties are joining forces with Hennepin County for the Plastic-Free Challenge this February. Hennepin County launched the challenge in 2021.
“(Hennepin County) invited us to join last year and we thought it was a super cool initiative. We don’t usually have many of our programs cross and touch paths, so it was a cool opportunity,” explained Ramsey County Health Educator Kaija Schlangen. “We tried (the challenge) for the first time last year and we had some great participation from residents from all three counties and wanted to continue to provide it this year as an opportunity for residents in all of our counties to learn more about their plastic usage.”
The eco-challenge gives residents the tools and inspiration to reduce their impact on the planet and contribute to a healthy and sustainable future. Last year, 1,755 people from all three counties participated in the challenge. This year, the hope is that those participants will return, and more will join in.
“Plastics are all around us, especially single-use plastics. There is a lot of work that needs to continue to go on more upstream with governments and businesses taking more of a role with single-use plastics,” Schlangen said. “There is a lot of work that individuals can take as well to just notice how much plastic plays a role in our everyday lives and how making these small swaps at home can add up to some big impacts.”
This year, one thing Schlangen wants to focus on switching from
plastic wrap to reusable containers or beeswax wrap.
Residents can sign up for the challenge by joining an existing team, creating a team or “competing” as an individual.
Washington County Environmental Specialist Jess Hall says the challenge is meant to “empower residents to reduce plastics in their own lives” while advocating for change within their communities.
“It is sometimes difficult to understand how our individual actions matter, but when taken together, you can see the larger impact that reducing plastics can have,” Hall explained. “This challenge can help educate residents on different ways that their consumption habits contribute to our waste.”
Challenge participants to commit to various actions in eight categories, including Plastics 101, At Home, Food, On-the-Go, Personal Care, Community, Kids and Pets. Actions range from watching a documentary, ditching disposable cleaning wipes, buying unpackaged produce, using a reusable mug, buying reusable bathroom products, picking up plastic litter, making the change to cloth diapers or preparing homemade dog treats.
“The goal with this challenge isn’t that you end the month and you are completely plastic-free and you’re not using plastic at all in your life. I think that would be very difficult to achieve in the world that we live in today, but the goal is that you become more aware of the plastic that’s being used in your life and notice some simple swaps that you didn’t think of before,” Schlangen explained.
The Plastic-Free Challenge runs the entire month of February, but the hope is that its impacts reach far beyond the month. For more information, or to join, visit https:// tcplasticfree.ecochallenge.org/.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-4071227 or whitebearnews@presspubs. com.
Xelas by El Sazon is opening a new location in Stillwater on Frontage Road. The restaurant, initially founded in an Eagan convenience store in 2022, was expanded by owners/chefs Cristian de Leon and his wife Karen to Minneapolis in October 2023.
According to Cristian, this new
location will feature a blend of Guatemalan dishes from his childhood and the restaurant’s standard, customer-loved meals, including quesabirria, burritos and birria ramen. Other menu items will be an ode to Cristian’s mother’s cooking, including seafood, with a unique twist.
The restaurant is located at 1180 W. Frontage Road. For more information, including hours and a complete menu, visit www.elsazonmn.com/xelas.
Bethany Cox, elected to serve a four-year term on the Washington County Board of Commissioners for District 3, was sworn into office. Before being elected, Cox worked as the director of development at the Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St. Croix and Namekagon from 2019 to 2024. Cox also served on the Stillwater Planning Commission from 2022 to 2024 and the Stillwater Public Library Board of Trustees from 2018 to 2022. Cox will represent the cities of Afton, Bayport, Baytown Township, Lake Elmo, Lake St. Croix Beach, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Oak Park Heights, St. Mary’s Point, Stillwater, Stillwater Township and West Lakeland Township.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners will oversee various projects and programs throughout the county in a newly approved capital improvement plan (CIP) that will run through 2029. The CIP includes $399 million in community investment through 90 of these projects and programs and outlines plans to maintain current
Washington County is sharing tips and guidelines for sharing trails with others throughout its parks. Because not all modes of transportation are allowed on all trails, trail users are recommended to check that their chosen activity is allowed in the park they plan on visiting. Trail users can also call the park offices or visit www.washingtoncountymn.gov to see winter trail maps.
Cross-country skiers must travel in the right direction, know who has the right of way and be sure to fix any divots they accidentally create from falling. Other skiers rely on the same tracks, and missing segments may cause them, as well as others, to crash. Skiers should use the loose snow from their fall to fill in the holes and smooth out the surface. If the divot is in the tracks, they must press down on the loose snow with their skis.
Stillwater’s Forge and Foundry Distillery has officially closed its doors. Located on Main Street across from Hotel Crosby, the distillery had remained in business since opening its doors 4 1/2 years ago. Although no reason was given for the closure, the business owners thanked customers and workers for supporting them since
infrastructure and construct new roadways, buildings and park facilities. The latter projects are to address both county population and service demands.
The plan calls for 81% of the funds to be spent on roads and bridges, 15% on public facilities and 4% on parks and land. These same funds will also pay for the maintenance of 294 miles of county highways, including separated trails, intersections, signs, culverts and roundabouts. Park projects planned for 2025 will include improvements at Square Lake Park and Point Douglas Regional Park, Central Greenway Trail wayfinding and pavement preservation.
Among the different road projects planned for next year include the 58th Street and County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15 connection project in Stillwater. Additionally, the plan will include more than $16.6 million in investments through 15 projects in the county’s parks. These projects include design, construction, maintenance and improvements to the regional trail system and pavement preservation for parks and trails. Other projects include designing and reconstructing the play areas at Lake Elmo Park Reserve pavilions; Square Lake Park improvements to trails, stormwater infrastructure, the boat launch and fishing pier; and campground improvements at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park.
In addition, $61.4 million will go toward public facilities in the county, such as the construction of the Emergency Housing Services Building in Stillwater and improvements to the Law Enforcement Center in Stillwater. The plan also calls for improvements to the county’s South Shop and North Shop, which house the maintenance facilities to serve the county’s highways.
Snowshoers are recommended to stay out of ski tracks and yield the trail they are on, as uphill travelers have the right of way. If they need a break, snowshoers should move off the trail, and if they are on a multiuse trail, they must listen to other users who may be behind them. While snowshoeing is allowed on multiuse trails, it is not allowed on ski trails.
Fat tire bikers must never ride on ski tracks. If riding on a groomed trail, where these bike types are permitted, they must stay in the middle of the open groomed run and never ride across the ski tracks. Bikers must not continue to ride if their bike is sinking, as groomed trails need time to set, and sometimes the snow is too soft to ride on. If bikers still find themselves sinking after lowering their tire pressure, they are encouraged to return on a different day. Like snowshoers, bikers must yield to all users on a multiuse trail. Fat tire biking is also allowed on multiuse trails, but not on ski trails.
the business was founded. “You’ve celebrated your milestones with us, brought your friends and families here, and supported us through thick and thin,” the owners stated in a Facebook post. “Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for the amazing staff who have poured their hearts and souls into making this place what it is. Without their hard work,
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
“Elevate your visual storytelling with high-resolution drone photography, capturing stunning images from above.”
This sentence can be found on the website belonging to ScenePhoto360, a Stillwater-based drone photography company. Founded in 2022 by Earl Bakke, an FAA-certified pilot with 10 years of photography experience and seven with flying, ScenePhoto360 works to provide high-quality images for legal and litigation firms, real estate, landscaping and construction/contractor businesses.
But outside of his business, Bakke has brought his aerial photography skills to other meaningful ventures. In several missing person cases, Hakke has lent a helping hand by aiding different police departments in their searches for these individuals, bringing his drones front and center to their investigations.
“I’m trying to grow a little bit, but I’m going to stay a very small business,” said Bakke, who worked at the Palm County Sheriff’s Department in Florida before moving to Minnesota in 2014. “I tell all my clients when they call me, ‘Hey, active missing persons always come first.’ I’m hoping they understand that ‘he’s out there giving probably 50% back to the community. Maybe I should see if I can support his business.’
“Know that when you’re paying for my services, that money is getting turned around and used for additional equipment and technology to help law enforcement.”
One case was the disappearance of Madeline Kingsbury, who was reported missing in March 2023 after failing to
show up for work at the Rochester Mayo Clinic. Bakke contacted Mark Edwards of Texas Equusearch and offered to use his mapping drones to aid in Kingsbury’s search.
“They had flown him up here,” said Bakke of Edwards. “He took a helicopter out, but they didn’t have a drone program or pilot. So we connected, and I went down three times and probably captured over 17,000 data images.” The search, according to Bakke, was hard on him because Kingsbury, who was found deceased, was discovered just outside of one of the several areas he had mapped out on his drones.
“It was a learning process,” noted Bakke. “Every case I help with, I learn
from every one of them what to do differently and what to do better for the next one.” Kingsbury’s estranged partner, Adam Fravel, was found guilty of premeditated first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in December 2024.
Another case involved the disappearance of Pine County resident Gerald Knapp, who vanished on Jan. 28, 2024. Upon hearing of the case, which was then ongoing, Bakke emailed the county police department, offering to use his drones to help locate Knapp, who had been struggling with dementia. To aid in the search, Bakke relied on programming specific colors, taken from the last known clothes Knapp had
been wearing, into his mapping drones to make locating him easier.
“I was able to program the color red and start scanning data images,” said Bakke. In addition to colors, he also relied on other information from the sheriff’s department to program the drones. He noted that when people with dementia go missing, they are typically attracted to water and follow straight lines.
“So I take that information, where his car was located and other personal items, and map it out.”
Upon taking 4,000 to 5,000 data images across six areas, Bakke was able to locate Knapp with his drones. Tragically, Knapp had died from exposure by the time Bakke and the department were able to determine his location. “It was a sad outcome,” noted Bakke, “but it was great closure for the family.”
Bakke said that he hopes to lead classes in different police departments on how to use drones, particularly thermal drones, in the future. “I want to start doing some free training for law enforcement,” he said. “I would like to offer them because they don’t really have the budget. But if I can give them an hour of more advanced thermal training, I think that will help them a lot.”
To learn more about Bakke and Scene360, visit the firm’s website at www.scenephoto360.com.
Erik Suchy is a staff writer for Press Publications. To reach him, please contact him by email at lowdownnews@ presspubs.com or by phone at 651-4071229.
