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SHOP LOCALLY THIS SEASON: See Holiday Gift Guide inside
JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | CONTRIBUTED
White Bear Mitsubishi service technician Aaron Wallace applies an identification label on a catalytic converter.
Local dealerships take steps against catalytic converter theft
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Looking forward to the holiday season Above: Hannah Rediske and Michael Sturn play outside in downtown White Bear Lake during the recent early evening Holiday Open House. They will be returning with their Irish folk style music for the three Saturdays before Christmas.
The theft of catalytic converters from parked vehicles has skyrocketed in the Twin Cities region, but a new pilot program from the Minnesota Automotive Dealers Association (MADA) aims to put a stop to these unchecked crimes. The MADA received a Minnesota Automobile Theft Prevention Grant from the state of Minnesota. The MADA was able to
At right: Balloon decorations along 4th Street carry the message of “A Hometown Experience.”
SEE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, PAGE 9A
Grandma’s Bakery owner hangs up apron BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER
Blood, sweat, tears and a lot of cake mix have gone into John Lupo’s baking business over the last 44 years. As the Grandma’s Bakery owner nears his 68th birthday, he’s retiring his flour-dusted apron and calling it quits. But not to worry, faithful bakery patrons. New owners don’t plan to change a thing, according to Lupo. Unless you
count improvements such as the purchase of a fancy cookie-making machine as change. Lupo won’t miss the 80-hour work weeks, post-COVID worries about supply chain shortages, vaccine mandates, staffing issues and other headaches that go with around-the-clock bakery production. A weekend off after the business deal closed Nov. 3 was the first time since he was 24, Lupo said, that he had no responsibilities.
"I did projects around the house. It felt good to do what normal people do on a weekend," quipped the longtime baker. "People take normal for granted." The new owners are Eric and Olga Shogren, who, Lupo assured, excel at running community bakeries. "When they shared their vision, I thought, ‘These guys get it. They will succeed,’" he said. The couple also
DEBRA NEUTKENS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Community booster and baker John Lupo stands behind the counter of Grandma’s Bakery in downtown White Bear Lake. He sold the business earlier this month.
SEE GRANDMA’S BAKERY, PAGE 9A
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