White Bear Press

Workshop teaches allies ways to support LGBTQ youth

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

Having at least one adult who accepts them for who they are can make all the difference for young LGBTQ people.

Specifically, such youth who have a supportive adult in their lives are about 40% less likely to attempt suicide, according to a 2019 survey from LGBTQ suicide prevention nonprofit The Trevor Project.

“You can be that adult. You can make a really significant change in some kiddo’s life,” Tina Nguyen of Hugo recently told a group of adults during a workshop at Parkview United Church of Christ in White Bear Lake.

Nguyen — who’s the founder of Dreaming Sky Circles, which helps girls and nonbinary youth build confidence in themselves — shared five ways that friends and family members can support LGBTQ children in their lives.

First, allies should believe what young LGBTQ kids tell them about their identity. Doing so involves listening to the kid, asking questions respectfully and acknowledging you may not fully understand everything the child is telling you.

“If a young person comes to you and says, ‘I think I’m gay,’ they’ve taken a big risk to tell you that. That is an honor for you,” Nguyen said.

She added that people should respect the kid’s privacy and not tell others the child is LGBTQ without their permission.

Kaiser at world racquet tourney: two bronze medals, one volcano

Racquetball star Ava Kaiser, a Mahtomedi High School junior, competed in the world juniors meet recently and brought home bronze medals in 16U singles and doubles.

“It was not the color I was working for, but third in the world is not a bad place to be,” said Kaiser, the top-ranked female (all ages) in Minnesota who has collected six national titles, starting at age 10.

At the IRF World Junior Championships held in Guatemala, Kaiser lost to Mexico’s

top-ranked player Yanna Salazar in singles. Kaiser and partner Naomi Ros of Texas were nipped by a Mexican team 11-8 in the fifth game. Both losses came in the semifinals. Ros beat Salazar for the singles title.

On the upside, Kaiser said, “I beat countries that I had never beaten before, and also came back and beat opponents that I had lost to in pool play.” She lost to Natalia Mendez of Bolivia in pool play and beat the same girl in the quarterfinals. In doubles, she and Ros

beat strong Mexican and Bolivian teams in pool play. They beat an Ecuador duo in the quarterfinals after losing to them in pool play.

The Lake Elmo resident also got to dodge a volcano.

“It was an eventful trip, with Mt. Fuego erupting four hours before we were supposed to board the plane back to the U.S.,” she reported. “Volcanic ash closed down the airport for over 12 hours.”

Rep. Elliott Engen

Sen. Heather Gustafson

Sen. Judy Seeberger Sen. Karin Housley

Rep. Brion Curran

Ava

LGBTQ YOUTH: Resident talks ways to support

FROM

The second way to support LGBTQ kids is to respect their pronouns and names. For instance, if a transgender or nonbinary child tells someone they prefer going by different pronouns and their name given at birth, that adult should practice referring to that kid by those identifiers.

“They might change. It might not stick, but it’s part of that process of figuring out ‘who am I?’” Nguyen said.

That process might not be easy for adults to understand at first, and they may make mistakes along the way when it comes to addressing the kids. Nguyen said it’s best to just correct themselves and move on.

A third way to support LGBTQ kids — especially in cases where someone’s pronouns aren’t known — is to use gender-neutral language that’s inclusive for all people. A few examples Nguyen suggested included the following:

• Child or kid instead of daughter or son.

• Sibling instead of brother or sister.

• People, folks or everyone instead of ladies, gentlemen, boys or girls.

Nguyen’s fourth point was for supportive adults to learn more about LGBTQ issues on their own instead of only relying on the child in their life for information.

Books, websites, workshops or seminars and peer-support groups are some methods people can use to learn about LGBTQ topics.

Minnesota-based LGBTQ advocacy organizations that also offer information and support include Transforming Families, Queerspace Collective, OutFront Minnesota and Gender Justice.

A fifth way to support young LGBTQ people is to advocate for them in one’s community however possible. Nguyen said this can mean voting in elections at all levels of government, contacting lawmakers whenever LGBTQ policies are proposed, pushing back against instances of discrimination — such as attempts at banning LGBTQ books — and donating to organizations that support queer youth.

“It’s hard to go against the culture, but we can do it,” Nguyen said. “Little by little, tiny piece by tiny piece.”

Nguyen’s workshop was the first of its kind that she’s led, and she said

she plans on leading it again in the future.

The event also came toward the end of a year that saw widespread violence and threats against LGBTQ people as well as a record number of proposed and adopted laws that target them.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 34 transgender or gender-nonconforming people in the country were killed last year. Twenty-three states — including Minnesota — introduced antiLGBTQ bills in 2022, while 13 states signed such bills into law.

LGBTQ TERMS:

LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning.

The first three terms refer respectively to women attracted to women, men attracted to men and people who are attracted to people of each sex. Transgender, or simply trans, meanwhile is an umbrella term that refers to people whose assigned sex at birth differs from their gender identity.

Queer meanwhile is a catch-all term to refer to people in the LGBTQ community. The word used to be said as a slur but has since been reclaimed by many people in the community.

Sexual identity is not the same as gender identity, and neither are strictly binary. Instead, each type of identity exists on a spectrum.

A person’s gender identity is how they define their own gender, while their sexual identity refers to how they find themselves attracted to people sexually or romantically. A person can express their gender identity through outward appearances, such as clothing, hairstyle and demeanor.

LOCAL LGBTQ RESOURCES:

• Tina Nguyen of Dreaming Sky Circles in Hugo can be reached at christina@dreamingskycircles. com or on Facebook and Instagram @dreamingskycircles.

• Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs exist in White Bear Lake middle and high schools.

A GSA also meets monthly at the Ramsey County Library in Shoreview for teenagers in grades 6-12.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tina Nguyen brought several educational books to her recent workshop in White Bear Lake about supporting young LGBTQ people. One way allies can support such youth is by learning about LGBTQ issues on their own.

“It’s hard to go against the culture, but we can do it,” Nguyen said. “Little by little, tiny piece by tiny piece.”

Tina Nguyen Founder of Dreaming Sky Circles

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF

Cold weather exposure likely cause of Stillwater man's death

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office has formally identified the body found the evening of Dec. 25 near the 5400 block of Osgood Avenue N., Baytown Township, as that of missing Stillwater man George Musser.

Musser, 20, was reported missing the morning of Dec. 24 after leaving Brian's

Bar & Grill in downtown Stillwater at approximately 2:10 a.m. Musser left the bar in subzero temperatures wearing a flannel shirt, jeans, stocking cap and shoes.

A progression of video footage from traffic and surveillance cameras tracked an individual matching Musser's description as he traveled alone and on foot, leading from downtown Stillwater toward the area where his body was ultimately located.

Preliminary evidence

indicates Musser died as a result of cold weather exposure. However, the official cause and manner of death remain pending toxicology results, which could take up to 60 days to complete. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said it will continue to work closely with the Stillwater Police Department. The case remains under investigation, and the sheriff’s office will not release further information.

COMMUNITY BRIEF

Celebrate the legacy of MLK, Jr. at local event

Parkview United Church of Christ, in partnership with White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church and Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul, is hosting a special community event to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 16.

The event commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. King begins with a continental breakfast, keynote address from Dr. Hedy Lemar Walls, Executive Vice President of Social Responsibility for the YMCA of the North and

music by the vocal ensemble, Cantus, followed by a broadcast of the 33rd Annual MLK Holiday Breakfast in Minneapolis.

Doors open at 6:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required and space for the breakfast portion of the program is limited. Register at eventbrite.com/e/dr-martinluther-king-jr-community-breakfast-for-the-northeast-suburbstickets or call 651-429-3346.

Parkview United Church of Christ is located at 3737 Bellaire Avenue, White Bear Lake. A link to the livestream of the event can be found at mnparkviewucc.org.

Reflecting on 2022

2023 HAS ARRIVED! Happy New Year to everyone. Let’s take a look at the past year. A lot has happened.

Politics seems more divided than ever, and it is far from a peaceful time in the world. Covid spread around the world and changed things, from our shopping habits to schools online, and created a debate over vaccines and boosters. Every medicine cabinet now carries a test kit.

Travel finally seems to be coming back. Dining out is too, but many restaurants have closed. Many community events were still canceled and attendance has dropped at major athletic and entertainment events.

About the Town

Gene Johnson

Grocery stores geared up for curbside pickup and delivery services. Independent delivery companies sprang up, in some cases with same-day service. Customers have gotten used to these services.

A “triple-demic” of Covid, influenza, and RSV has caused hospitals to once again reach capacity. Another factor is the rush to get procedures done by year end once a deductible is met.

People are still wearing masks to prevent the spread of all kinds of germs in the workplace and while out shopping. Masks are still required in most medical facilities.

Working from home got a big start over the past couple of years and is continuing, for the most part in a successful way. Some companies now require an employee to come in one or two days a week at minimum.

On the economic side, the stock market has declined, interest rates on savings are very low, and inflation at 7-8% is hitting almost everyone’s budgets for food, fuel, car buying, rents and mortgages.

When it comes to automobiles and trucks, new features are providing more safety. For example, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warnings, lane-keeping assist, rear and front alerts, blind spot monitoring, plus more. It takes a study of the instruction manual to learn how to use them.

Internet technology is advancing, and the Covid effect for churches turned many people onto online services rather than being in a crowd. Forty percent of churches are expected to close this coming year. Megachurches are scooping up these members.

Nuclear fusion is becoming a reality, but it will take years before we can bring it to practical levels for heating our homes and fueling our cars.

It’s been quite a year, and we continue to struggle to live at peace with each other. We have also seen our educational scores decline, the government debt load increase and there have been issues at the border where thousands are trying to enter the United States for a better way of life.

We need to return to the value of a family teaching biblical principles for living and recognize the value of our democracy and protect it. The Ten Commandments were given as guides for the lives of people 2,000 years ago, who had the same needs, desires and committed the same sins as we do today! They are still relevant and necessary for our culture to function effectively.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gene Johnson is publisher emeritus of Press Publications.

Talking how to avoid winter injuries with U of M

With winter season in full swing, winter injuries are on the rise. University of Minnesota Medical School expert Mahmood Gharib talks about common winter injuries and how to avoid them.

Q: What injuries are most commonly seen during the winter?

shoveling or using sidewalks?

Dr. Gharib: Be mindful of slippery or icy surfaces that may be difficult to see. Take it slow on ice and snow and “walk like a penguin,” meaning:

• Walk slowly and flat-footed

• Use a wide-stance

should people take when sledding, skiing or snowboarding?

• Take small, shuffle-like steps

• Keep your center of gravity over your feet

Movers and Shakers

Dr. Gharib: A variety of injuries can occur during the winter. If someone slips or falls on icy surfaces, an injury can range from spine and musculoskeletal injuries — such as sprains and broken bones — to head and brain injuries — such as a concussion.

Injuries also commonly occur during winter sports activities. Other injuries can be related to cold-weather conditions such as frostbite or hypothermia.

Q: Are spinal and head injuries serious injuries?

Dr. Gharib: Spinal and head injuries can be very serious. Anyone who has significant trauma to the head and spine should seek medical evaluation. These types of injuries may not always appear immediately obvious, however, the time between injury and treatment could help limit the severity and extent of damage.

Q: What prevention measures should individuals take when

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• Use your arms for balance Black ice can be difficult to see. Use extra caution near water runoff areas such as downspouts, landscaping, parking ramps and outdoor stairwells. Stay on designated sidewalks and avoid taking shortcuts through grass and landscaping.

Prior to shoveling, dress appropriately, wear multiple layers for warmth and use appropriate footwear to limit slipping. A few gentle stretching techniques can get your body prepared for the hard work of shoveling. Use an ergonomic shovel, typically made of lightweight, durable metals or plastic to reduce stress on your back. Adjustable handle lengths can also provide the best fit.

Shovel often and early during snow falls instead of waiting for snow to accumulate. Pace yourself when shoveling. While heavy, wet snow may be fun to play in, it can create more challenges and strain on your back, so use proper lifting techniques: bend at the hips and knees, push instead of pull and limit excessive lifting.

Q: What extra safety measures

Dr. Gharib: These activities should be done in appropriate and designated areas. Wear protective gear, including helmets. Helmets designated with MIPS (multidirectional impact protection system) may provide additional protection. Avoid areas close to roads, fences or densely populated trees. Be mindful of others nearby — always sled feet first and make sure children are accompanied by adults.

Q: If someone has a back or head injury, what should they expect for the recovery process?

Dr. Gharib: Back and head injuries can vary widely in severity. While most back injuries typically resolve within a few days or weeks, seek medical attention if you experience:

• any new or worsening weakness; numbness or tingling;

• bowel and bladder changes;

• pain that does not respond to relative rest and some over-thecounter medications

It is always best to consult with a physician with any type of head injury.

Dr. Mahmood Gharib is a physiatrist at the U of M Medical School and M Health Fairview. He specializes in rehabilitation medicine, restoration of function and a return to a high quality of life. “Talking...with U of M” is a resource whereby University of Minnesota faculty answer questions on current and other topics of general interest.

WHITE BEAR PRESS | LETTER GUIDELINES

to six letters per year and at least four weeks must lapse between publication. Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters.

• Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues are not guaranteed publication.

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writer about the same subject matter will not be published.

• Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published.

• Submissions containing facts not previously published in the Press must be accompanied by factual verification.

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• To submit a letter, e-mail it to whitebearnews@presspubs. com, fax it to 651-429-1242 or mail or deliver it to Press Publications, 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Dr. Mahmood Gharib

Life-saving community

The radio announcer warned that any small car problem could turn deadly in the upcoming snow storms. We called some big automotive businesses for repairs needed but we just got, “We could get you in next week.” We needed repairs now so we turned to local small automotive businesses and were pleasantly surprised at the immediate, same-day help they gave. We saw a place that said, “Oil changes and more.” We stopped in and got “more.” They put a new signal light in, put air in our portable air tank, and gave us a same-day tire mount.

Another small automotive business in White Bear Lake came through for my friend who had a leaky tire. They took her car right in and told her what was wrong and what needed to be done.

In this same storm, we hit a patch of black ice and landed in the ditch in deep snow. We called for a tow truck but were so touched by all the people who stopped to offer help, from the lady asking if we wanted her to call 911 for

us, to the man who gave us a ride home to get our other car, to the two young men who tried to help us push it out, to the young man who came by in a white pick-up truck and said he had a tow rope. By this time, we had shoveled the snow from around and under the car, so we let him try to pull us out. It worked and we canceled the tow truck.

We may have had a lifethreatening winter storm, but we are so grateful for our life-saving community.

Pat & Rock Wittkop Hugo

Thank you for stopping

I want to thank the two gentlemen who stopped to help me on Friday, Dec. 2. They stopped their pick-up truck when they saw that I had fallen on the ice while walking along Centerville Road. They were so kind to stop to ensure my safety and help me contact my family. Thanks to their kindness I’m on the road to recovery.

What to do with your natural Christmas tree: A regional guide

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

Unless people plan on keeping their natural Christmas trees up until the holiday arrives again next December, the time has come to dispose of the evergreen plants.

The conifers cannot simply be thrown into the trash; instead, they are either picked up through curbside collection or must be recycled at yard waste collection sites.

To do so, all ornaments, lights, tinsel and tree stands must first be removed before the trees are taken to a disposal site.

Residents in Anoka, Ramsey and Washington counties have a few locations to dispose of their trees.

Anoka County has two compost sites where residents can dispose of their Christmas trees at no charge:

• Bunker Hills, 13285 Hanson Boulevard NW, Coon Rapids.

• Rice Creek, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes.

Bunker Hills and Rice Creek are open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through March, weather permitting. Christmas wreaths can also be taken to each site for a fee of $5 per wreath.

In Ramsey County, holiday trees can be brought to the following yard waste collection sites:

• Arden Hills: 1881 Hudson Road.

• Frank and Sims, St. Paul: 1150 Sims Ave.

• Midway, St. Paul: 1943 Pierce Butler Route.

• White Bear Township: 5900 Sherwood Road.

All four Ramsey County locations have the same hours through March: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays.

In White Bear Lake, trees are picked up as part of residents’ regular trash service at no extra cost to them.

Pickups occur the first two full weeks of January on normal trash collection days. Residents must set their trees next to their trash containers by 6 a.m. on their designated collection day to ensure it’s taken away. The city advises residents to wait until the day before or the day of their collection to set out their trees so the plants don’t get stuck in the snow or ice.

Washington County meanwhile has four tree drop-off spots:

• Forest Lake Public Works: 843 Fourth Ave. SW (Forest Lake

residents only).

• Northern Yard Waste Site: 5527 170th St. N., Hugo.

• Oakdale Public Works: 1900 Hadley Ave. N (Oakdale residents only).

Rumpca Companies: 9600 Glendenning Road, Cottage Grove.

The Forest Lake site is open for holiday tree drop-offs 24 hours a day through Jan. 31.

The Northern Yard location is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays through March. It is open to all Washington County and Ramsey County residents and doesn’t charge for tree disposal.

The Oakdale site will accept holiday trees 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Jan. 31. It charges $3 per tree.

Rumpca Companies takes holiday trees and wreaths 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 and 14. It charges $3 per item but waives the fee if people also bring a canned good to be donated to a local food shelf.

Residents in all three counties can also contact their respective cities or private waste haulers to learn if those entities will accept holiday trees.

Lutheran Church 1660 Birch Lake Ave., White Bear Lake (Just off Hwy 96 & Otter Lake Road) 9 am worship in person & online at www.ctkwbl.org office@ctkwbl.org | 651-429-4828 752983

In-Person worship

LuVerne Schmitt Vadnais Heights

COPS&COURTS

RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS BEST OF 2022

A day in the life of Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) deputies

Vadnais Heights

• Black bears do the town: A black bear was reported at various locations around town during the afternoon of May 18. Residents in the 5800 block of Bald Eagle Blvd. spotted the bear in their backyard after it returned for a second or third helping of sunflower seeds and bird feed stored in a metal trash can. Deputies emailed the “Bears in Ramsey County” brief to the complainant. A resident in the 1500 block of County Road H2 reported a young bear in the neighbor’s backyard and was concerned it would be hit by a vehicle. It was last seen climbing a tree on the next street. A resident in the 1200 block of County Road H2 reported the juvenile bear gobbling up contents of a bird feeder later that afternoon. The bear then proceeded to the east wall of I-35E and headed north.

• Farm animals on the lam: Goats and chickens were reported May 18 for escaping from a business in the 1300 block of County Road D Circle. The business owner assisted deputies in rounding up the animals.

• Driver goes on the lam: A St. Paul man, 35, was mailed a notice for fleeing officers on foot, after he was pulled over at 11:02 p.m. July 2 on eastbound I-694 and Rice Street for equipment and traffic violations. Although deputies were able to approach the pickup truck and obtain the driver’s identification, the driver fled down an embankment when deputies returned to their squad car. He was last seen on foot at Country Drive and Ryan Drive. Despite an assist from a Roseville K-9 officer and Minnesota State Patrol helicopter, multiple agencies were unable to locate the suspect. Fortunately, the fugitive gave valid and real identification and was positively identified. His vehicle was towed to the impound lot, and notices were sent via certified mail to the lien holder, registered owner and suspect.

• It’s that muskrat again: A muskrat was reported Aug. 4 for falling into a window well and getting stuck in the 4100 block of Kaitlin Drive. Deputies captured and released the muskrat with a long-handled net.

• Be careful what you wish for: A Brooklyn Center man, 44, was arrested for DWI Aug. 16 in the 5700 block of Meadowview Drive after deputies responded to a domestic assault call. He was the person who dialed 911 to bring deputies to the scene where he was the victim, but he had driven to the scene to be assaulted while intoxicated.

WHITE BEAR LAKE POLICE REPORTS

The White Bear Police Department reported the following selected incidents:

• Disorderly conduct was reported Dec. 21 in the 2000 block of County Road E.

• Criminal property damage to property in the 4700 block of Sandra Lane was reported Dec. 21. It was a loss of $2,000.

• Theft of a package in the 1800 block of Birch Street was reported Dec. 22.

Disorderly conduct was reported Dec. 22 in the 1200 block of Gun Club Road.

• Theft was reported Dec. 23

• Buck just running laps inside yard: A resident in the 3300 block of Highway 61 reported an eight-point buck running around inside a fenced area of the address at 9:02 a.m. Nov. 9. The complainant asked for assistance in removing the deer, but it had managed to jump the fence by the time deputies arrived on the scene.

White Bear Township

• Just a raccoon being a raccoon: A raccoon was reported April 26 for climbing up a tree located near a path in the area of the 5400 block of Franklin Avenue that children use to go to a nearby park. Deputies advised the caller about their wildlife policy of leaving healthy critters alone. They invited the caller to explore the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website for further information on raccoons.

• Not in junior high anymore: An adult male, 20, was served a trespass notice Sept. 5 in the 1200 block of Stuart Street for ding-dong ditching the neighbors.

Brazen crooks of 2022 — Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office police reports have shown that lightning-fast crooks are always waiting for the opportunity to strike.

• Stash and grab: A previously unreported method of shoplifting was reported at 2:32 a.m. Feb. 2 from the Kwik Trip in the 3200 block of Highway 61, after a male purchased a beverage right before walking to the door area, where he picked up a shopping basket filled with items he had stashed earlier, and walked out the door to a waiting vehicle.

• Receiving notification seconds after dropping wallet: A Little Canada man reported credit card fraud April 19 after he received notification that his cards were used at the Vadnais Heights Walmart and Target. The victim then realized the fraudsters didn’t have far to go to use the cards, because he had dropped his wallet while inside the Walmart. He wasted no time in canceling the cards.

• Gone and spent in 10 seconds: A Walmart shopper reported her wallet stolen April 22 after she had it in her possession at 7 p.m. at the self-checkout, but not 10 minutes after being at the self-checkout. At 7:18 p.m., she received a bank notification that fraudulent charges were made to her credit card from a nearby Holiday gas station. Deputies provided her with identity theft response information.

• I’ll steal from the store and you: On April 27, a St. Paul woman, 52, was cited for shoplifting and for giving false information to police after she was observed concealing $472.32

in the 3500 block of Century Avenue.

• Disorderly conduct was reported Dec. 23 in the 4700 block of Highway 61.

• Disorderly conduct was reported Dec. 23 in the 2000 block of County Road E.

• A 55-year-old St. Paul man was arrested and booked at the Ramsey County Jail Dec. 23 for a gross misdemeanor of giving false information to police and driving after having his license canceled. The arrest came after a traffic stop for expired registration

worth of items and passing all points of sale. She was then suspected of stealing a wallet containing cash and credit cards belonging to the store detective while she was detained in the loss prevention office after the victim was notified of $2,000 in fraudulent purchases on her credit cards. When video surveillance showed the detained shoplifter taking the wallet from the victim’s purse, the investigation was on.

• Stealing from neighbor and lying about it: Residents in the 200 block of Woodridge Drive on April 26 reported a neighbor for taking a package from the residence without permission. The neighbor denied having anything to do with the stolen package until surveillance video showed otherwise. The package was returned.

• Two gone in 13 minutes: A North Oaks man reported the converter stolen from his Mercedes Benz GLE during a 13-minute span May 1 while it was parked in the Lake Vadnais north lot. The victim remembered seeing a male carrying what looked like an umbrella to a green Toyota Celica parked behind his vehicle as he completed his walk. A White Bear Township youth, 16, also reported the converter stolen from his Mazda CX5 that same period while it was parked in that same north lot.

• Stealing once isn’t enough for greedy thieves: Tousley Motor Sports in the 1400 block of County Road F reported $500 in damage to a fence after video surveillance showed two people in motorcycle helmets and dark clothing attempting to break through a fence in the back of the property overnight July 23-24. The business had reported a motorcycle stolen from the same area the previous day.

• After I gave them a ride, too …: A Little Canada woman reported her vehicle stolen at 3:55 a.m. July 24 from a gas station in the 3200 block of Highway 61 after she gave an acquaintance and two others a ride to St. Paul and stopped for gas. When the victim returned from inside the store, the vehicle was gone. It was later recovered in Roseville with only a passenger in the car. The suspects are two females and a male of indeterminate ages.

• Purse snatching while back is turned: A Rochester woman reported her credit card used fraudulently at the Vadnais Heights Speedway Aug. 10 after she left her purse on a chair on an outdoor patio in the 900 block of County Road E. When the victim returned for her purse, she noticed some of its contents missing. Speedway has been contacted for the video of the transaction.

• Props to victim who was even faster than the thief — part 1: A shopper

on White Bear Avenue. The driver was revealed to have a second-degree drug warrant too. His vehicle was towed.

• Officers dealt with a group of intoxicated men having a dispute Dec. 24 in the 1700 block of County Road E.

• Disorderly conduct was reported Dec. 24 in the 2500 block of Oak Court.

• Officers were dispatched to a verbal dispute Dec. 25 in the 1900 block of Eugene Street.

• Exploitation of a vulner -

in the 900 block of County Road E reported her purse stolen Aug. 13 after she set it down at the end of a clothes rack to try on a shirt. When she turned around, the purse was gone. The victim wasted no time rushing home to cancel her cards. She was in time to prevent fraudulent activity and will be relaying her phone’s serial number to investigators.

• Props to victim who was even faster than the thief — part 2: A Little Canada woman, 20, was arrested Aug. 18 in the 1000 block of Highway 96 for gross misdemeanor financial transaction fraud after she tried unsuccessfully to use a debit card belonging to another person at a business adjacent to the one the card was stolen from. Her attempt to use the card failed because the victim saw the suspect handling her personal bag in the employee break room and noticed the debit card missing from the bag. The victim quickly notified her bank to freeze the card, after which the bank notified her within minutes that a failed attempt to use it next door had been made. Video surveillance footage confirmed the identity of the thief, and her case has been forwarded to the city attorney for consideration of charges.

White Bear Township

• Can’t leave car running for even one second: A Circle Pines woman reported her vehicle stolen at 7:06 a.m. Feb. 9 from the 1000 block of Meadowlands Drive after she left it unlocked and running while dropping her children off at day care. The victim’s keys, purse and phone were inside the stolen vehicle. After the vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, it was recovered Feb. 14 in the 5800 block of Centerville Road and towed to the impound lot for processing.

• The rules are not for me: A Ham Lake man, 43, was mailed a citation for disorderly conduct and illegal dumping following an Earth Day incident at the Ramsey County yard waste site in the 5900 block of Sherwood Road. It all started when he was told he couldn’t dump there because he couldn’t provide proof of being a resident of Ramsey County. The subject said that he could dump there and did so, despite being told he couldn’t several times. The folks at the yard waste site took down his license plate number, after which he was identified via the Department of Vehicle Services as an Anoka County resident. A “no trespassing” notice was also mailed out to him at his non-Ramsey County address along with the citation.

able adult was reported Dec. 25 in the 3600 block of Prairie Road.

• A 41-year-old was arrested in the 1600 block of Ninth Street for an outstanding threats-of-violence warrant Dec. 25. He was booked at the Ramsey County Jail. No new charges stemmed from the incident.

• Disorderly conduct was reported Dec. 26 in the 2400 block of Elm Drive.

• Officers investigated a 911 hang-up regarding disorderly conduct in the 4700

block of Carolyn Lane Dec. 26.

• Telephone harassment was reported Dec. 27 in the 3600 block of Highland Avenue .

• A drunken driver was reported Dec. 27 in the 4400 block of Lake Avenue.

• Officers responded to the 1900 block of Buerkle Road for a disorderly customer Dec. 28. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the male suspect.

in 2022

Curbside Christmas Tree Recycling

Free curbside recycling of live Christmas trees will be available January 4 and 11. The trees should be picked up within 48 hours, but could be delayed due to weather. Place your tree at the curb and your hauler will pick it up at no charge. Remove all decorations and do not place the tree in a plastic bag. The tree (or sections of the tree) cannot be longer than seven (7) feet. Trees will be picked up by a separate truck. There will be a $7 charge for trees placed outside for pickup at times other than those listed above.

Sharing the Road with Snowplows

Stay safe and slow down! During the winter season, please remember to share the road

with snowplows and give drivers plenty of room to do their job safely.

- In residential areas, they may back up in order to turn around. When roads are covered with snow or ice, watch for the flashing white, yellow, and blue lights of snowplows.

- Never crowd a snowplow. Pass snowplows only when you can see the entire vehicle. Stay well behind plows to avoid any flying sanding materials, snow, and ice that could strike your vehicle.

- Be alert for dangerous snow clouds or “whiteout” conditions. Snowplows can create clouds of blowing snow that may conceal the road and hide driving hazards

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS BEST OF 2022

2022 Crime Desk favorites - a workday in the life of a Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputy is never dull.

Mahtomedi

• Why is the road not plowed? Hmmmm: A resident living near Hallam Avenue S. and Frankland Street at 8:50 a.m. Dec. 11 reported that his road was not plowed. Deputies quickly advised him that the party to call in such matters was either Mahtomedi City Hall or Mahtomedi Public Works. Meanwhile, an unidentified vehicle owner received a citation at 2:02 a.m. Dec. 11 for having parked on a snow emergency route overnight.

• Driver puts self in wheelchair: A male with two sore feet was arrested Dec. 28 in the 1000 block of Park Avenue by deputies conducting a welfare check on a suspicious vehicle. They found that one of the two adults sleeping inside had an active warrant out on him. The male became upset about the warrant and began kicking his vehicle with the foot not already in a walking cast. When the male complained about pain in his foot and new pain in his already injured foot, he was released from custody at the Lakeview Hospital Emergency Room.

• A Metro transit bus was reported stolen Jan. 20 from an address on Long Lake Road. Deputies initiated a pursuit of the stolen bus.

• Love/hate relationship with snowplows: First, a barking dog was reported, then the Mahtomedi snowplows were reported at 1:04 a.m. Jan. 24 for being out on duty and making the barking dog not want to go back inside its house on Hickory Street.

• We don’t tow on demand: Employees at the FedEx depot on Long Lake Road on Jan. 28 reported a vehicle that had been parked on their property for two years. After the car cleared stolen status, deputies advised the complainant that if they wanted the vehicle off their property, they would have to be responsible for towing it.

• Deer get stuck, too: A gravely injured deer was reported March 16 stuck on a pond in the 9000 block of Jamaca Avenue N. Deputies dispatched the deer to a more pain-free world and removed it from the ice.

• Make him go to school, officer: A Hickory Street resident reported a student who refused to go to school March 16.

• Reporting the ethanol: A customer of the Holiday gas station on Stillwater Road walked across the street to the Mahtomedi Fire Department on March 27 to report that the gas station had mislabeled the amount of ethanol in his gasoline, causing his carburetor to seize up. Deputies provided the complainant with a case number.

• A turkey on the lam: An injured turkey reported March 30 in the area of Wildwood Road turned out not to

have been injured after all but was merely running wildly all over the road. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the turkey and shooed it off the busy road and into a grassy area.

• They used their best stationery: A Hallam Curve resident on April 18 reported receiving a suspicious handwritten envelope with no return address in the mail. Inside the envelope was a sheet of toilet paper that appeared to have been unused. When asked about possible suspect information, the complainant mentioned family members with bad blood due to inheritance issues. The crime desk is unable to confirm whether the sheet of toilet paper was in absolutely pristine condition at the time of its receipt.

• We’re not air traffic controllers: A seaplane was reported for causing a disturbance at 11:01 a.m. Aug. 30 on Mahtomedi Avenue. Dispatch advised the complainant to contact the city.

• Tell her to talk to the hand: A Ledgestone Drive resident on Nov. 9 reported that he no longer wanted contact with his mother and asked deputies to convey that information to her. Deputies quickly advised the complainant they would not be making personal phone calls on the complainant’s behalf.

• Reporting the snowplow driver again: A Wildwood Road resident on Nov. 30 reported snow blocking his driveway. On further review, it was determined that the city had not yet plowed the road at that location.

Pine Springs

• You can’t skate in a buffalo herd: A skateboarder was reported at 11:21 p.m. June 24 on eastbound Highway 36 over Hilton Trail N.

Willernie

• You said to move the truck, you didn’t say anything about a trailer: An ongoing property dispute on Kimberly Avenue was reported April 9. Deputies advised both parties to stay away from each other. On April 10, deputies were again called out to this scene of a property dispute. One of the parties had recently contacted Washington County to certify a survey of the property line and had started to build a fence along the associated stake line. The property owner on the other side of the stake line parked his truck across the property line to obstruct the fence installation. When deputies advised the truck owner to move his truck off the neighbor’s property, he complied without incident. However, a pop-up trailer is still staged on the property line, obstructing full construction of the fence line, and parties are currently going through the civil process for the remainder of the dispute.

Winter Rec Programs – Registration Open

On cue with the snow, our winter rec programs are open for registration. Youth basketball, floor hockey, indoor soccer, and adult Tai Chi Chaun and yoga programs are available. Stay busy with us this winter: www.cityvadnaisheights.com/register

New to our recreation catalog this winter - Learn to Snowshoe classes! Learn the basics and gain confidence through a guided hike. Snowshoes provided! Ages 7+ are welcome (14 and under must be accompanied by an adult). www. cityvadnaisheights.com/register

Skating Rinks

Weather permitting, the ice rinks at Community Park and Westfield Park should be open. Visit our website or call City Hall for updates as they become available.

Winter Shindig

Embrace winter with Vadnais Heights Parks & Recreation! Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, ice skating, snowshoeing and all things winter! Join us for the Winter Shindig on Saturday, January 14 at Community Park, 651 E County Road F, from 2 to 4 pm. FREE - all ages welcome. No pre-registration is required. 761568

Waiting Child

Jamie,10, is artistic, funny, charismatic, and kind. She enjoys connecting with her friends at school, playing with dolls, playing outside, and swimming. Jamie is eager to find her forever home and start building new memories and traditions. She appreciates spending quality time with her caregivers, enjoying special girl days, and getting her nails done. Because Jamie can’t pick just one, her favorite color is the rainbow.

Following adoption, Jamie will need to maintain contact with her siblings and her maternal aunts.

“The Niceties”

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 & 13; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 & 14; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 & 15

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Story about race, history and power. Tickets $20. Contact: 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers.org

“The Little Mermaid”

When: 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 Where: Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, 8000 75th St. N., Mahtomedi

Details: Mahtomedi students in grades K-8 will perform in the Missoula Children’s Theatre residency musical production. Tickets available at the door by cash or check. Adults $8; Students $5; Pre-K and younger free.

St. Paul Hiking Club

When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 Where: Costco, 1421 Beam Ave., Maplewood Details: Hike is approximately five miles on streets and trails. Contact: stpaulhike.com

Creative Pastels: Winter Sunset in Oil Pastels

When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9

Where: White Bear Lake Library, 2150 2nd St.

Details: Participants will create a piece of art using oil pastels. Free; registration required. Contact: 651-724-6007 or rclreads.org

2nd Tuesday Lunch for Seniors

When: noon Tuesday, Jan. 10 Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 County Road F E

Details: Lunch catered by Donatelli's followed by Bingo. $5/person, register by Jan. 6 Contact: cityvadnaisheights. com

“Polar Bears and Climate Change”

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10

Where: Live on Zoom Details: Northeast Metro Climate Action, Anoka Area Climate Action, Indivisible North Metro Environment Team, West Metro Climate Action, and Resilient Roseville co-host a presentation with local meteorologist Sven SundgaaRoad Registration required. Contact: bit.ly/3WnSCzE

Lunch and table games

When: noon Wednesday, Jan. 11 Where: Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 3676 Centerville Road, Vadnais Heights Details: Bring a bag lunch and play table games with friends. Coffee provided. Contact: 651-204-6000 or cityvadnaisheights.com/ seniors

Latin Art in Minnesota

When: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12 Where: White Bear Center for the Arts

Details: Conversation with artists featured in the book “Latin Art in Minnesota” moderated by editor William Gustavo Franklin. Free with registration. Contact: whitebeararts.org

North Suburban Good Neighbors Club

When: 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 12

Where: Shoreview Community Center-Fireside Lounge, 4580 Victoria St. N. Details: Get acquainted with others through activities such as coffees, eating out, programs and events, book clubs, movies, community service and more. Contact: 651-247-9601

Fare for All When: 1-3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13

Where: Community of Grace Church, 4000 Linden St., White Bear Lake Details: Opportunity to buy fresh produce and meats at a lower cost. Communitysupported and open to everyone. Contact: thefoodgroupmn.org

Winter Shindig

When: 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 Where: Community Park, 651 E. County Road F, Vadnais Heights Details: Enjoy all things winter with ice skating, snowshoeing, hot chocolate and cookies. Free for all ages. Contact: cityvadnaisheights. com

Winter Farmers Market

When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14

Where: Normandy Park Education Center, 2482 County Road F. East, White Bear Lake Details: Monthly market with more than 20 local vendors with locally sourced foods. Hot cider and food trucks. Contact: forksinthedirt.com

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast

Event

When: 6:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16 Where: Parkview United Church of Christ, 3737 Bellaire Ave., White Bear Lake Details: Celebrate the life of Dr. King and consider ways to continue his work. Live music by Cantus. Free breakfast, open to the public.

Contact: manyfaceswblarea.org

Parent-Child Snowshoe Trek

When: 10-11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16

Where: Tamarack Nature Center, White Bear Township Details: Go off trail with a naturalist, follow animal tracks, and discover hidden homes beneath the snow. Registration required. Contact: ramseycounty.us

Youth hockey team packages meals

SARAH

Latin American creators to talk artwork, identity at White Bear Center for the Arts

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Two years’ worth of work documenting and editing a contemporary history of some of Minnesota’s many Latin-American artists will soon come to fruition for William Gustavo Franklin.

Franklin will discuss his forthcoming book, “Latin Art in Minnesota: Conversations and What’s Next,” at a moderated discussion set for 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the White Bear Center for the Arts.

Six of the 12 artists featured in the book will join Franklin at the event, which will give audience members a chance to hear their stories and perspectives. The book meanwhile will be available in April.

“I'm looking forward to revamping interest in Minnesota-based Latino, Latina and Latinx art by highlighting the stories and visions of some key players I've had the privilege to work with,” said Franklin, an independent art curator, educator and Venezuela native who’s lived in Minnesota for more than 25 years.

Franklin, who edited the book, also works as an adjunct faculty member at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Dunwoody College of Technology and is a part-time bilingual

IF YOU GO:

What: “Latin Art in Minnesota: Conversations and What’s Next”

When: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts

Details: A discussion of Latin art, identity and community in Minnesota will await visitors to the White Bear Center for the Arts on Jan. 12. The moderated event is free to attend for those who register at whitebeararts.org, though a $20 donation is suggested.

educator at the Walker Art Center.

The six artists who will take part in the Jan. 12 discussion are as follows:

• Guillermo Cuellar, a potter who was born in Venezuela but completed high school and college in the United States. He worked as a potter and taught workshops in his native country for several years before moving to Minnesota in 2005. Cuellar is also a Center for the Arts board member.

• Alondra Marisol Garza, a Tejana/Chicana painter who was born on the Mexican side of the Mexico-Texas border. She holds double nationality as a Mexican American and moved to the United States. Her work has been featured nationally, including at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Walker Art Center and ArtReach Gallery in Stillwater.

• Carmen Gutiérrez-Bolger, a painter and sculptor whose work draws on her experiences growing up in southern Florida as a Cuban refugee and merges her personal history with Cuban iconography from the past and present.

• Luis Fitch, a graphic artist originally from Tijuana, Mexico, who came to the United States in 1985. A graduate from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Fitch founded UNO Branding, a multicultural, strategic visual communication agency. His artwork has been featured around the world.

• Alonso Sierralta, a Chilean-born sculptor who received a master’s degree in sculpture from the University of Nebraska in 1997. His work has been exhibited nationally and featured in several publica -

tions. Sierralta teaches sculpture and painting at Concordia University in St. Paul.

• Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo, a documentary filmmaker, artist and teacher who hails from Chile. She lives in Northfield and teaches at Carleton College. Her work — which explores notions of displacement and belonging and is rooted in the experience of living in-between cultures — has been shown at festivals around the world.

The six other artists in Franklin’s book are Martha Gabriela Driessen, Selma Fernández Richter, Gustavo Lira García, Dougie Padilla, Maria Cristina Tavera and Xavier Tavera.

In the book, Latino leaders and activists in Minnesota interview each artist about their work, their cultural identity and their connection to the arts scene in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

“The release of this book is timely,” Franklin said. “Minnesota-based Latinx artists are gaining rapid prominence not just as practitioners but as cultural leaders. This event is one of many others in the works to help promote the book and the local Latinx art phenomenon.”

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED “Latin Art in Minnesota” is a forthcoming book by Minnesota-based William Gustavo Franklin, an art curator, educator and Venezuela native. He will discuss the book with some of the artists who are featured in it during Jan. 12 event at the White Bear Center of the Arts. The artists above are as follows: (top left) Carmen Gutiérrez-Bolger, (top right) Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo, (middle) Alonso Sierralta, (bottom left) Luis Fitch and (bottom right) Guillermo Cuellar.

William Franklin

Alondra Marisol Garza is one of the artists featured in “Latin Art in Minnesota” and who will speak Jan. 12.

Former Mounds View hockey player makes it to the pros

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

Sydney Brodt first put on ice skates when she was 2 years old and hasn’t stopped since.

Brodt, 24, is a forward for the Minnesota Whitecaps, a women’s professional hockey team in the Premier Hockey Federation. The team plays in Richfield, Minnesota, at the Richfield Ice Arena.

Brodt’s love for hockey began in North Oaks.

“Growing up, I played a lot of hockey at the North Oaks ice rink with all of my friends,” Brodt said. “Every day after school, we’d go down there and play. I’ve always just loved the game.”

Brodt graduated from Mounds View High School in 2016. She made the Mustangs girl’s varsity hockey team as an eighth grader.

“A highlight for me while playing for the Mounds View team was going to the state tournament twice — when I was in eighth grade and when I was a sophomore,” she said. “I had a lot of great friends on the team, and I loved my coaches. I still have good relationships with them.”

Brodt got a scholarship to play hockey at the University of MinnesotaDuluth (UMD). She played all four years and received a degree in financial markets and a minor in psychology.

“We went to the national tournament once when I was there, and my favorite game was beating the Gophers,” she said. “I really loved Duluth.”

After college, Brodt played in the Linköping Hockey Club in Sweden for a year.

“It was a great experience, because I got to play and got to travel around

Europe,” she said. “They have a super good league over there for women where they pay your cost of living and it’s a good place for female players to play after college,” she noted.

After playing overseas last year, Brodt said it’s good to be back in Minnesota and playing for the Whitecaps.

“This is the first year that we’ve gained a lot of traction, and we’re getting good living salaries,” she said. “We are playing at a much higher level; it’s really taking off with sponsorships, great coaches and management.”

Brodt is living with her parents, Bart and Darcy of North Oaks.

“My parents really love it that I’m back in the U.S. and Minnesota so they can come to my games,” she said. “My dad has coached me my entire life, and our family is really into hockey. They’ve been an inspiration for me, especially my dad.”

When she’s not playing hockey, Brodt is an assistant coach for the women’s hockey team at Hamline University.

“That’s what I do in the mornings and afternoons, and then I have practice with the Whitecaps later in the afternoon,” she said. “I love it.”

In the future, Brodt plans to keep on coaching hockey or pursue a career in financial markets — or maybe both. But now she will continue to play professionally for the Whitecaps.

“Hockey has given me so much,” she said. “It’s crazy how many people I’ve met along the way throughout the world. It’s super special.”

For more information on the Minnesota Whitecaps, go to https:// whitecaps.premierhockeyfederation. com.

HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS OF SYDNEY BRODT

• Earned a spot on the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2021 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship

• Played in the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship, helping Team USA win gold

• Made her debut as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2018 Four Nations Cup

• As a member of the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team, participated

in the 2016 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championships (gold)

• Member of the 2015 U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team for the Under-18 Series and both the 2018 and 2019 U.S. Under-22 Women’s Select Team for the Under-22 Series against Canada

• Named to the 2016-17 Western Collegiate Hockey Association AllRookie Team while skating for the University of Minnesota-Duluth

Minnesota Whitecaps forward Sydney Brodt playing against the Boston Pride in a game earlier this season.

PHOTOS BY SAM SILVER | MINNESOTA WHITECAPS

Above: An ice angler recently tests the thickness of the ice out on White Bear Lake near Bellaire Beach in White Bear Township. An angler parked in a truck near shore reported that heavy snow and slush covered the ice on the lake before the string of cold weather days, creating a complicated and less-than -deal freezing process. The angler concluded that we would need another string of cold days to thicken the ice enough to safely drive a vehicle out to a fishing spot.

THE GENERAC

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EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY, all real estate adv ertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Ho using Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preferen ce limitation or discriminat ion bas ed on race, co lo r, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such preferen ce, limitation or discriminat ion.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal cu stod ians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not kn owingly accept any ad vertising for real esta te which is in violation of the law. Our readers ar e hereby informed that all dw ellings adv ertised in this newsp ap er are av ailable on an equal oppor tunity bas is To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9 777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society seeks two Collection Inventory Specialists (CIS) to inventory the Society’s 3D object collection. For full position description and qualifications, please visit whitebearhistory.org. This is a grant funded, temporary, project position with a scheduled ending date of November 30, 2023. $19/hour, average of 35 hours/week.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Sara Hanson, Executive Director, WBLAHS, sara@whitebearhistory.org or PO Box 10543, White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Applications will be considered through January 13, 2023.

Carl Franzen

Carl Franzen of Blaine, MN passed away on December 20th, 2022 and is now home with his Heavenly Father. Carl was born in St. Paul, grew up in Hugo, MN and lived in WBL, Andover, Coon Rapids and Blaine at the time of his passing. He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 59 years, his six children; Greg Franzen (Jenifer), Lori Lindsey (Brian), Jeff Franzen (Nancy), Lisa Moore (Mike), Mary Franzen and Jonathan Franzen. Carl also has 15 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Carl and his wife Marilyn were foster parents for 35 years in Anoka County. They loved and cared for more than 30 foster children with special needs or who simply needed a loving home.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, January 7th at Meadow Creek Church in Andover, MN. The visitation is at 10am, service at 11am and a luncheon will immediately follow. Flowers are welcome and should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Marilyn Franzen.

Paul Lee Fink

Age 78 Of White Bear Memorial service 11 AM, Saturday Feburay18th. Details to follow. Arrangements by Honsa Family Funeral Home.

Thomas Nicholas Delmont

Thomas Nicholas Delmont of White Bear Lake, MN passed away peacefully on Dec 29th, 2022 after waging a long and tireless battle with a failing heart. He was born on October 16th, 1940 to Nicholas and Venita Delmont of St Paul, MN.

Tom was a 1958 Graduate of St Paul Central High School, and as a young man was stationed in San Antonio, Texas as a US Army Medic. He spent much of his life in sales, and as an entrepreneur. He opened a barber shop when he was only 20 years old, owned and operated his own employment agency in downtown Minneapolis, was a new car sales manager for many years and lastly, retiring after owning a flooring business.

Tom’s greatest joys were his family, participating in and watching sports, his love of the water and travel. He loved being a part of his grandchildren’s lives and was a constant presence in the stands, rarely missing a game of soccer or hockey as they grew and competed. He loved to watch football, baseball and tennis, as well as playing softball and tennis well into his mid 60’s, culminating as a shortstop on a men’s softball senior league National Championship team in the early 2000’s. He loved being on or near the water, spending most of his life seeing the sun rise and set over his beloved White Bear Lake. Many years, he’d spend a couple of months during the winter, enjoying the California coast and the views of the Pacific Ocean.

Tom is survived by daughter Angela Delmont (part-

ner J.P. Rydland), grandchildren Jack, Julianna and Johnny Sellwood, and former son-in-law Christopher Sellwood. He is also survived by sister Beverly DeWell of AZ. He is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Patty Hawkins of Saint Paul, MN.

Services will be held on January 7th, 2023, with a visitation at 11:00 AM, followed by a Memorial Service at Noon at the Willwerschied Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association.

Mahtomedi resident Mollie Allen has been cast as Lili in the Children's Theatre Center's production of “Locomotion.” It is her debut

performance with CTC. Allen has performed in “A Christmas Carol” at the Guthrie Theatre and with Ashland

Productions, Lakeshore Players, Homeward Bound Theater Company and Missoula Traveling Theaters. “Locomotion” plays from Jan.

24 through March 5 at Children's Theatre, 2400 Third Avenue S., Minneapolis. For ticket information, visit childrenstheatre.org.

PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES

BUDGET TOWING PUBLIC NOTICE

The following vehicle must be claimed by 1-19-2023 or it will be disposed of or sold:

MERCEDES E500, SILVER, SOUTH DAKOTA PLATE–1EH034 VIN-WDBUF83J24X164266

Budget Towing Inc, St.Paul, MN 55102, 651-771-8817

Published one time in the White Bear Press on January 4, 2023.

which time they will be publicly tabulated for review, please join us for a Zoom at the following link:

https://tinyurl.com/KABidsWBLPublicSafety Meeting ID: 868 9930 3405

Passcode: 026184

Bidders are also invited to review the results online at https://www.krausanderson.com/subcontractors/bid-tabulations/.

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PATRICK CHRISTOPHERSON, Clerk-Treasurer

Published two times in the White Bear Press on December 28, 2022 and January 4, 2023.

STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF RAMSEY DISTRICT COURT, SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT IN PROCEEDINGS SUBSEQUENT TO INITIAL REGISTRATION OF LAND COURT FILE: 62-CV-22-3975

CITY OF GRANT

City of Grant 2023 Minnesota City Summary Budget Data

2023 MINNESOTA CITY SUMMARY BUDGET DATA

A report on Minnesota City Budgets for all governmental funds for which annual budgets have been adopted.

A report on Minnesota City Budgets for all governmental funds for which annual budgets have been adopted.

Revenues 2022 Budget 2023 Budget

Property Taxes $1,402,773 $1,402,151

All Other Taxes 80,366 81,154

Special Assessments 10,000 5,000

Licenses and Permits 172,250 173,050

Small City Assistance 0 0

Charges for Services 140 140

Fines and Forfeits 10,000 10,000

Interest on Investments 500 10,000

Miscellaneous Revenues 45,419 30,447

Total Revenues 1,673,887 1,711,942

Total Revenues and other

Financing Sources 1,673,887 1,711,942

Expenditures

General Government 276,189 291,617

Public Safety 602,657 679,352

Streets and Highways 726,512 759,496 Sanitation 85,233 88,849 Miscellaneous 65 854 27,327

Total Current Expenditures 1,756,445 1,847,641

Debt Service-Principal 0 0 Interest/Fiscal Charges 0 0

Total Expenditures and Other Financing Uses $1,756,445 1,847,641

Increase (Decrease)

In Fund Balance ($79,803) ($135,699)

All bids shall be on a lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of 30 days after bid receipt without consent of the Owner. Each bidder shall accompany the Bid Form with a bid security as described in the Instructions to Bidders. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any irregularities in bids.

This project involves demolition of existing apparatus bay with new apparatus bay, new police car garage, renovations and alterations to existing building, and site improvements.

Direct communications regarding this Project to the office of the Construction Manager: Eric Quam (Eric.Quam@krausanderson.com) Kraus-Anderson Construction, 501 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404 Tel: 612-750-4100.

Obtain Bidding Documents, including the online bidding instructions, as well as Drawings and Specifications, via free electronic download by visiting https://app.buildingconnected.com/public/5757529c4425ca0a0029307b Contact Rachel Struckman with any planroom downloading or ordering questions at 612-255-2378 or rachel.struckman@krausanderson.com to receive an invite. Kraus-Anderson will not be responsible for notifying individual parties who obtained documents without utilizing the Building Connected process through KA, when Addenda are issued.

Bidding Documents will be available for inspection at the office of the Construction Manager and the office of the Architect: Wold Architects & Engineers; as well as several Builder’s Exchanges: MHC Dodge Plans, MEDA, Mid-Minnesota, Brainerd Lakes, Rochester, Duluth, and MBEX.

Published two times in the White Bear Press on January 4 and 11, 2023.

US STORAGE CENTERS – WHITE BEAR NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE SALE

Please take notice US Storage Centers – White Bear located at 1828 Buerkle Road White Bear, MN 55110 intends to hold an auction of storage units in default of payment. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storagetreasures.com on 1/18/2023 at 10:00 am. Unless stated otherwise the description of the contents are household goods and furnishings. Belinda Johnson; Patrick Lauer; Subbiah Vaughn. All property is being stored at the above self-storage facility. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

In the Matter of the Petition of LOANCARE, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company, in Relation to Certificate of Title No. 598897 issued for land in the County of Ramsey and State of Minnesota and legally described as follows: Tract I, Registered Land Survey No. 612

TO: ALL PARTIES WITH AN INTEREST IN THIS LAND, PARTICULARLY: OCCUPANTS OF THE PROPERTY OF BRETT WILLIAMS, ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, AND BELVIDERE CAPITAL, LLC.

The Court will hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. This hearing will not be held in-person at the Courthouse. The hearing will be held remotely via Zoom, and appearances shall be by video unless otherwise directed. Due to Minnesota Supreme Court Order ADM208001, this Court will rule on the Petition in this case after administrative review of submissions and remote hearing.

YOU ARE ORDERED to show cause, if there is any, why this Court should not enter an Order as follows:

1. The mortgage recorded as Document No. 2721904 has priority over the mortgage recorded as Doc. No. 2649264 but not over the state tax liens recorded as Doc. Nos. 2696152 and 2696153.

2. Upon the filing of a certified copy of this Order in Court File No. 62-CV22-3975, the Registrar of Titles shall show by memorial on Certificate of Title No. 598897 that Doc. No. 2721904 has priority over the mortgage recorded as Doc. No. 2659264 but not over the state tax liens recorded as Doc. Nos. 2696152 and 2696153.

3. The Registrar of Titles shall carry forward the memorial of this Order until such time as Doc. No. 2721904 has been satisfied, released or removed by further Court Order.

Kim Points Administrator/Clerk

Kim Points, Administrator/Clerk Published one time in the White Bear Press on January 4, 2023.

CITY OF MAHTOMEDI WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA AD FOR BIDS

JUNIPER STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Bids for the construction of Juniper Street Reconstruction Project will be received online through QuestCDN vBid™ until Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 10:00 am local time. Immediately following expiration of the time for receiving bids, representatives of the City of Mahtomedi will publicly view Bids at an online Bid opening meeting. Those interested in viewing the online Bid opening are welcome to join the meeting by logging on to https://zoom.us/join or calling 1-929-205-6099 and entering Meeting ID 968 2053 5336 and Passcode 317821. The as-read online Bid results will be available at www.questcdn.com following the Bid opening.

The Project includes the furnishing of all labor and materials for the construction complete in-place, of the following approximate quantities:

1,900 S Y Remove Bituminous Pavement 1,410 C Y Excavation (All Types) 460 C Y Class 5 Aggregate Base 840 C Y Select Granular Embankment 480 TON Bituminous Pavement (All Types) 1,010 L F Concrete Curb and Gutter 1,010 S Y Sod 350 L F 15” RCP Storm Sewer 1,010 L F 6” Perforated PVC Pipe Drain

The provisions of MINN. STAT. 16C.285 Responsible Contractor are imposed as a requirement of this contract. All bidders and persons or companies providing a response/submission to the Advertisement for Bids of the City of Mahtomedi shall comply with the provisions of the statute.

Information and Bidding Documents for the Project can be found at www. questcdn.com. Bidding Documents may be downloaded from the website for a nonrefundable fee of $45 by inputting Quest project #8332143 on the website’s Project Search page.

The website will be updated periodically with addenda, lists of registered plan holders, reports, and other information relevant to submitting a Bid for the Project. All official notifications, addenda, and other Bidding Documents will be offered only through the website www.questcdn.com. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for Bidding Documents, including addenda, if any, obtained from other sources.

Bids will only be accepted via the electronic bidding service through QuestCDN.

The City Council reserves the right to reject any and all Bids and to waive any Bids received without explanation. No Bid may be withdrawn for a period of 60 days.

For all further requirements regarding Bid submittal, qualifications, procedures, and contract award, refer to the Instructions to Bidders that are included in the Bidding Documents.

DATED: January 4, 2023

BY THE ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL s/s Scott Neilson, City Administrator, Mahtomedi, MN Published one time in the White Bear Press on January 4, 2023

CITY OF WHITE BEAR LAKE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

PUBLIC SAFETY ADDITION AND RENOVATION

The City of White Bear Lake is presently soliciting competitive “Prime Contract Bids” for Public Safety Addition and Renovation – Asphalt Paving ReBid. Sealed bids will be received electronically through Bid Express using the following link: https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/39702/home, free of charge to Contractors. No other agent is authorized to receive bids. Bids will be received until 2:00PM local time, on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at

Published two times in the White Bear Press on December 28, 2022 and January 4, 2023.

= WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the Town of White Bear, Minnesota, will meet at Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Road, in the Town of White Bear, Minnesota on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 7:00 p.m., to consider the improvement. A reasonable estimate of the impact of the assessment will be available at the hearing.

The general nature of the improvement is set forth as follows: construction of bituminous paving, concrete curb and gutter, storm drainage and other appurtenances thereto.

The area proposed to be assessed for such improvement is every lot, piece or parcel of land benefitted by said improvement in the area of the Town of White Bear lying and being within the following area of the Township including: Gilfillan Lane, Greenhaven Drive, Moon Lake Circle, Crescent Curve, Meadowlands Drive, North Birch Lake Boulevard and Birch Bend Lane,, Ramsey County, Minnesota,

The estimated cost of the improvement is $1,675,600.00.

The Board proposes to proceed under authority granted under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429.

All persons desiring to be heard with reference to the proposed improvement will be heard at this meeting.

Dated: December 19, 2022.

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PATRICK CHRISTOPHERSON, Clerk-Treasurer

Published two times in the White Bear Press on December 28, 2022 and January 4, 2023.

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the Town of White Bear, Minnesota, will meet at Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Road, in the Town of White Bear, Minnesota on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 7:00 p.m., to consider the improvement. A reasonable estimate of the impact of the assessment will be available at the hearing.

The general nature of the improvement is set forth as follows: construction of bituminous paving, concrete curb and gutter, storm drainage and other appurtenances thereto.

The area proposed to be assessed for such improvement is every lot, piece or parcel of land benefitted by said improvement in the area of the Town of White Bear lying and being within the following area of the Township including: Hammond Road and Township Parkway Ramsey County, Minnesota,

The estimated cost of the improvement is $1,922,400.00.

The Board proposes to proceed under authority granted under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429.

All persons desiring to be heard with reference to the proposed improvement will be heard at this meeting.

Dated: December 19, 2022.

If you wish to object to the entry of the Order set forth above or if you wish to attend the remote hearing, you must contact the Examiner of Titles office at least three (3) business days prior to the hearing date, and the Court will email you the Zoom link at least one (1) business days before the hearing. The Minnesota Judicial Branch uses strict security controls for all remote technology when conducting remote hearings. Visit our website at www.mncourts. gov/Remote-Hearings for more information on remote hearings.

Examiner of Titles contact information:

• Phone: 651-266-2886

• Email: 2ndExaminerofTitlesOffice@courts.state.mn.us

You must provide: your name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, and the court file number.

If no objections are filed, the Petition may be granted without further notice. If any objection is filed, the matter will be a contested case and assigned to a judge.

If you DO NOT OBJECT to entry of that Order, you are EXCUSED from appearing at the hearing, and the Order may be entered without you.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that as applicable, this Order to Show Cause be served in the manner recommended in the Report(s) of Examiner on file herein.

BY THE COURT: Patrick C. Diamond, Judge of District Court Entry of this Order is recommended. Wayne D. Anderson, Examiner of Titles

By N. Bissonette Attorney for Petitioner: Katherine L. Wahlberg, #387001 7201 Ohms Lane, Suite 210 Edina, MN 55439 952-224-3644

Published two times in the White Bear Press on January 4 and 11, 2023.

STATE OF MINNESOTA, RAMSEY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT, SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FILE NUMBER: 62-PR-22-1049

CASE TYPE: INFORMAL PROBATE

NOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS (WITHOUT A WILL) In re the Estate of: Edward Wayne Fenton, Decedent.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS:

Notice is hereby given that an application for informal appointment of personal representative has been filed with the Probate Registrar. No will has been presented for probate. The application has been granted. Notice is also given that the Probate Registrar has informally appointed the following: Terri Steenblock 568 South Shore Drive Forest Lake, MN 55025

as Personal Representative of the Estate of the Decedent. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as Personal Representative or may object to the appointment of the Personal Representative. Unless objections are filed pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-607, and the court otherwise orders, the Personal Representative has full power to administer the Estate, including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate.

Notice is also given that, subject to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the Estate are required to present the claims to the Personal Representative or to the Court Administrator within four (4)months after the date of this Notice, or the claims will be barred.

Date: December 20, 2022

Laura J. Stevens, Probate Registrar

Michael F. Upton, Court Administrator

Self-Represented Litigant: Terri Steenblock 568 South Shore Drive Forest Lake, MN 55025

Published two times in the White Bear Press on December 28, 2022 and January 4, 2023.

2023 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: Elected officials share goals and priorities

FROM

Minnesota Senate District 36 651-296-1253 sen.heather.gustafson@ senate.mn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minnesota Senate District 41

651-297-8060

sen.judy.seeberger@ senate.mn

Sen. Karin Housley

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

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

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

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

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

Rep. Brion Curran

Minnesota House of Representatives District 36B 651-343-7023 rep.brion.curran@house.mn

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

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

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

My top priorities for the 2023 legislative session are to ease the burden of inflation and lower costs for seniors and working families, strengthen opportunity in Minnesota schools, and work for safe, thriving communities.

Our state’s historic budget surplus demonstrates that we have the resources needed to do all of those items and more. It also shows that gridlock and division left billions of dollars on the bottom line from the last legislative session, rather than doing something to improve Minnesotans’ lives. That kind of inaction is unacceptable, and is one of the most important reasons I ran for office this year.

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

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

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

Rep. Elliott Engen

Minnesota House of Representatives District 36A 651-202-8702 (C)

Rep.Elliott.Engen@house. mn.gov

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

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

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

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

As a new member, it is my commitment to stay transparent and accountable to the voters I work for, and I look forward to having regular communication with you through Town Halls and office hours.

With any questions or concerns, feel free to contact by phone or email.

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

Rep. Brion Curran

Rep. Elliott Engen

Sen. Heather Gustafson

Sen. Heather Gustafson

Rep. Patti Anderson

Sen. Judy Seeberger

Sen. Judy Seeberger

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

Girls hockey: Bears win 2 of 3 at Border Battle

BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

The White Bear Lake girls picked up two straight wins after a first-round loss in the Mid-Winter Border Battle at Fogarty Arena.

The Bears lost to Forest Lake 3-0, falling to 2-9 for the season, but doubled their win total by defeating Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada 6-0 and Blaine 2-1.

Six players scored for the Bears (4-9) against the Canadians: Celia Spence, Amanda Smythe, Ava Johnson, Elaina Hosfield, Madelyn Lee and Zoe Timmons.

The Bears fell behind Blaine (8-4-1) on Taylor Olson’s goal in the first period but Timmons pulled them even, scoring with eight seconds left in the period, assisted by Johnson. A power-play goal by Maddy Belisle, at 2:34 of the third period, assisted by Tally Domschot, gave the Bears a 3-2 lead.

The Bears held that lead with Maya Marston making 10 saves in the third period and 23 in the game. The senior netminder stopped 44 of 48 shots in the tournament.

Boys hockey: Bears clip Mustangs 5-3

White Bear Lake scored the last two goals to defeat Mounds View 5-3 evening at TCO Sports Garden. The Bears (7-2) had a 40-18 advantage in shots on goal, with Mustang goalie Aidan Petrich stopping 35 of 39 to keep it close. Nolan Roed and Aiden Welch scored for the Bears in the first peri-

od, while Grant Dean and Jack Loucks struck for the Mustangs (3-5). Brady Borgestad gave White Bear a 3-2 lead in the second period. Loucks tied it up at 2:02 of the third. Will Distad delivered the Bears’ go-ahead goal at 10:22 and Borgestad added an empty-netter at 16:17. Welch and Joe Belisle made two assists each for the Bears.

ZEPHYRS SPORTS BRIEFS

BOYS BASKETBALL

Mahtomedi edged Farmington 80-78 in a duel of highly-ranked teams Thursday evening at Hamline’s Capital City Classic holiday expo. AJ McCleery’s layup with 5.5 seconds left was the game-winner. Owen Carlson sank three free throws with 53 seconds left to tie the score. The Zephyrs (3-1) are ranked No. 5 in Class 3A and Farmington (3-3) is No. 7 in Class 4A. Will Underwood pumped in 31 points, with five 3-pointers, for the Zephyrs. Carlson added 19 and Cole Armitage 11. Underwood and Carlson each nabbed nine rebounds. Farmington had an early 2611 lead. Baiden Bean hit 24 points and Nik Domier 17 for the Tigers.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Mahtomedi sank 10 three-pointers and defeated Kimball 68-35 in a holiday expo at St. Cloud State. Ella Frazier netted 17 points for the Zephyrs (5-2). She got 15 of them on five shots from outside the arc. Sonya Potthoff added 12 points, Mya Wilson 11 and Anna Greene 10. Allison Leither scored 12 points for the Cubs (6-2).

GIRLS HOCKEY

Victoria Nelson’s overtime goal lifted Roseville/Mahtomedi (9-5) to a 2-1 win over South St. Paul (10-3) at Doug Wood Arena. After two scoreless periods, SSP’s Eva Beck got the first goal on a power play at 4:33 of the third period. Kylie Jones tied it for R/M at 9:24. In overtime Nelson delivered her 13th goal of the season, assisted by Rylee Bogren. Marauders goalie Lily Peterfeso stopped 26 of 27 shots. SSP’s Delaney Norman saved 24 of 26.

WRESTLING

Mahtomedi took a partial lineup (forfeiting at nine of 14 weights) to the Eau Claire (WI) Holiday Duals on Thursday. The Zephyrs (4-10) lost to Superior 48-24, Westfield 57-17, and Cambridge-Isanti 57-18, then defeated Durand-Arkansaw 36-18 and Whitehall 48-30. For the Zephyrs, Max Rice was 4-0 (four pins) at 285, Aidan Carlson 4-1 (four pins) at 113, Evan McGuire 4-0 (three pins, tech fall) at 182, and Hayden Schaefer 2-1 (two pins) at 170.-

PHOTOS BY BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED

Bears goalie Maya Marston, along with teammates Annika Norman and Elaina Hosfield, hunkered down at the net while Abigail Sklavenitis of Forest Lake tried to get a shot off.

Zoe Timmons notched a goal against Fort Frances and another against Blaine.

Ella Frazier, Mahtomedi basketball’s 5-foot-6 sophomore guard, is averaging 14.5 points per game, a big jump from last year when she averaged 4.6 off the bench. Frazier, also a strong, aggressive full-court defender, had 17 points and five 3-pointers in a win over Kimball last week. She also sank 17 points the game before, a win over Mounds View. She is one of three players scoring around 15 points per game on a 5-2 team.

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