White Bear Press

PRESIDENTS’ DAY

TRIVIA

Mahtomedi swears in new mayor

BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Longtime Council Member Richard Brainerd is the new mayor of Mahtomedi.

That is the good news.

The bad news is that there is now a vacant seat on the council.

However, the vacancy presents an opportunity for citizens of the city to step forward and serve.

Celebrated each year on the third Monday in February, Presidents’ Day honors all U.S. presidents. The origins of the holiday lie in the 1880s, when George Washington’s birthday, Feb. 22, was celebrated as a federal holiday. See page [9] to test your historical expertise.

After Judson Marshall resigned as mayor Jan. 17, the council declared a vacancy in the office of mayor. Council then needed to appoint someone to fill the remainder of the mayor’s term, which expires at the end of 2023. According to Minnesota Statute 412.02, subd. 2A, if less than two years remain on the unexpired term of office, the council is to fill the vacancy by appointment.

Council wasted no time in unanimously (by a vote of 3-0) appointing Brainerd as mayor. A unanimous vote was required because the appointee could not vote for himself, and a quorum vote was needed.

“I miss the person who’s not here,” Brainerd said of outgoing Mayor Judson Marshall. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the city of Mahtomedi, and I’m honored to serve as mayor,” he said.

A reception will be held for Marshall from 4:30 to 6 p.m. March 7 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road.

SEE MAHTOMEDI MAYOR, PAGE 19

Longtime director retires from Wildwood Artist Series

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

MAHTOMEDI — There are 16,819,200 minutes in 32 years, which also happens to be the same amount of time that Ellie Bruner has served as president of the Wildwood Artist Series (WAS).

“I enjoyed every minute of it,” said Bruner, who recently retired from her long-held position.

She will be honored for her years of service at the nonprofit arts organization’s next concert, featuring musician Peter Mayer on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Mahtomedi High School’s Chautauqua Fine Arts Center.

For the dedication ceremony that will also take place at the concert, the organization is gathering memories and notes of gratitude for Bruner’s work and invites community

members to submit such statements by emailing info@ wildwoodartistseries.com.

Bruner was a founding member of the artist series, which started as a committee of the Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation with an aim of bringing highquality, family-appropriate arts events to the community. The organization also provides educational opportunities in the performing arts for students.

Brett Smith, a music teacher at O.H. Anderson Elementary School at the time, pitched the idea for the artist series; Bruner

SEE WILDWOOD ARTIST SERIES, PAGE 8

Ellie Bruner has led the Wildwood Artist Series in Mahtomedi as its president for 32 years and recently retired from the role. She will be honored for her service at the organization’s upcoming Peter Mayer concert on Feb. 25.

CONTRIBUTED

CONTRIBUTED

Richard Brainerd

Public can comment on Water Gremlin air permit through March 3

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP — Community members who missed a recent online public meeting with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding proposed updates to Water Gremlin’s air quality permit still have time to make their voices heard.

The MPCA is accepting public comments on the proposed permit changes through 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 3, either in writing or through an online submission form. Visit pca. state.mn.us/local-sites-and-projects/ white-bear-township-water-gremlin to learn how to submit a comment.

After the March 3 deadline, MPCA will review all the comments it receives and consider the input from them. The new permit is then either issued to Water Gremlin or not. If legal issues arise, the permit could be blocked by a judge.

The MPCA hosted a virtual presentation on the proposed permit updates last week and answered questions from members of the public who tuned in.

Among the proposed updates to the permit are the following:

• A f ive-year expiration date to the permit instead of Water Gremlin’s existing permit that doesn’t expire. This update would require Water Gremlin to apply for reissuance of the permit after five years. The reissuance period will let the MPCA reevaluate the facility and the overall effectiveness of the permit.

• L ower annual emissions limits for several of Water Gremlin’s pollutants. The updated permit also calls for new operating requirements to limit pollution.

• More stringent requirements for demonstrating permit compliance. Primary requirements include record-keeping, pollutant emissions calculations, stack testing and reporting. Secondary requirements would assess the reliability of the primary requirements regarding t-DCE emission limits and include audits of weighing measurements and t-DCE usage record-keeping with a continuous emissions monitoring system and audits of t-DCE purchasing and inventory records.

• C ontinued ambient monitoring of t-DCE around the facility to help ensure the effectiveness of the multiple permit conditions and the protection of human health. Monitoring results must also be reported monthly. The ambient monitoring must continue for at least two years under defined permit conditions before discontinuation of such monitoring will be considered. Discontinuation of monitoring won’t be authorized until Water Gremlin demonstrates there is a low probability of exceeding health-based guidance while operating under the conditions of the permit.

MPCA air quality compliance staff member Marin Ryan, who is the compliance enforcement contact for Water Gremlin, explained there are several ways MPCA monitors the company’s emissions.

Each day, for instance, Ryan receives emissions records from the company and reviews that data. If she has questions, she calls Water Gremlin to clarify the information.

“They also have continuous emission monitors there, so it’s something that calculates up the actual emissions at the facility,” Ryan said.

“Some of this information gets incorporated into the daily information that I receive from them. It’s also something that we use as a measuring stick.”

MPCA also conducts unannounced inspections at the facility to review compliance standards. Ryan said there isn’t a specific number of inspections MPCA does per year, and the inspections don’t follow a set inspection schedule. That’s to prevent Water Gremlin from knowing when visits will occur.

Water Gremlin is required to preserve its records for at least five years. However, once company data passes to MPCA, the agency can keep it for longer. That data also then becomes a public record.

“Everything that comes in is public unless it’s something confidential and meets the confidential criteria — trade secrets kind of stuff,” said Doug Wetzstein, MPCA’s industrial division director at the MPCA.

We Do the Heavy Lifting for You!

SCHOOL BRIEFS

Learn about Liberty

Classical Academy

Discover Liberty Classical Academy at a winter open house for families of prospective students in preschool through grade 12 at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. The event will be held in the gymnasium at Liberty’s White Bear Lake campus, 3878 Highland Avenue. For more information, visit libertyclassicalacademy.org/ winter-2023-open-house/

Support schools at gala

The Bear Legacy Gala, the

White Bear Lake Area Education Foundation’s annual fundraising event to support students and educators in the White Bear Lake Area Schools, is set for Friday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. at Dellwood Country Club. Registration includes dinner and two drink tickets. VIP tickets are also available. A silent and live auction are included in the evening’s festivities. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit wblaef.org/bear-legacy.

MAEF celebrates 35 years

The Mahtomedi Area Education Foundation (MAEF) will celebrate

35 years of investing in Mahtomedi Public Schools at the Zephyr Gala on Friday, March 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the JX Event Venue, 123 Second Street N., Stillwater. Tickets are on sale now, with early-bird pricing through Feb. 17 and regular ticket sales through March 17. Tickets include cocktails, dinner, desserts, live auction, raffle and program. A silent auction is open to the community and will be available online in late March. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to maefgives. org.

The Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) recently announced the following new board members: Juston Anderson, general manager, Buerkle Hyundai; Linda Thompson Carpenter, attorney, GDO Law; Patty Steele, director of sales and marketing, Press Publications; and Lauren Welch Lofrumento, chief

operating officer, Children’s Discovery Academy. White Bear Lake Main Street, Inc. welcomes four new members to their Board of Directors. They are: Emily Blake, Bella Maria Boutique; Bill Foussard, White Bear Country Inn and Rudy’s Redeye Grill; Cora Haugen, That Old Blue Door; and Amber Puschinsky, Oldies and Goodies.

PPP, ERTC, who CARES?

It is over now, we think.

Last week President Biden announced that federal pandemic programs will end in May.

I watched a comedy special by Jo Koy recently where he was recalling how we all acted during the spring of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. Funny stuff from sneezing in masks to hoarding toilet paper.

The passage of nearly three years has hopefully given us some perspective. In hindsight, it all looks fairly crazy now. Then? Not so much.

Federal and state governments looked at all sorts of financial aid during lockdowns to prevent businesses closing, bankruptcies and overall social unrest from occurring.

Publisher’s

Desk Tom Stangl

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) was signed into law at the end of March, 2020. The $2.2 trillion measure had provisions for individuals to receive stimulus payments, parents to receive extra funds for school age children, free lunches for school age children and many other benefits.

Many businesses qualified for the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), a forgivable loan program from the Small Business Administration designed to help businesses keep their employees during the pandemic. Over $800 billion was loaned and then forgiven.

Another CARES program, the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), is a refundable tax credit for qualifying employee wages. Businesses of five or more employees are able to qualify for up to $13,000 per year ($26,000 total) tax credit for 2020 and 2021 for full time employees.

ERTC was initially reserved for businesses that didn’t get PPP. However, the rules were changed and firms who previously got PPP can get ERTC. ERTC sunsets in June (maybe sooner with the recent announcement of an end to federal pandemic programs), so there is limited time for businesses that qualify to amend their tax returns and get their money.

I know many people have ethical, moral or political objections to government programs. On an intellectual level, I can understand and appreciate the objections. But pandemic relief that individuals and businesses qualify for and legally are entitled to receive for me is a different thing altogether.

This newspaper qualified for PPP and ERTC. We have used the funds to keep people employed and the business going during some major disruptions brought on by the pandemic.

We have decided to partner with Easy Tax Credits, LLC, to help spread the work about ERTC. Easy Tax Credits, LLC is a family-owned business run by a newspaper family, the Richners, in New York. The CEO of our company has known the Richners for years and after hearing a presentation about Easy Tax Credits, LLC, we made the decision to work with the company.

You have probably seen the ads in this paper and on the website for the company. We want every small business of five or more employees to get the CARES Act funding they are entitled to under the law.

Whether that means working with your payroll tax advisor or Easy Tax Credits, LLC, we hope businesses make sure they aren’t leaving money on the table. This paper does receive a commission on business referred to Easy Tax Credits, LLC. Please see the ad in the paper or visit the website.

The COVID-19 pandemic was awful. We look forward to getting back to whatever is normal now.

W

Gardener’s Grapevine

Stop and taste the flowers

hile many of us are familiar with the idea of creating an edible landscape using traditional food sources like currant bushes, apple trees and herbs, we might be missing out on some other culinary delights contained in our own backyards –flowers.a closed gas grill. Cook at 450 degrees for about five minutes. Serve the heads in chunks and eat them like corn on the cob.

2. Nasturtiums: Do you like peppery greens like arugula? If so, you’ll love nasturtium, which is ready to harvest after arugula and other mustard-like greens have bolted in the heat of the summer. Both the petals and the flowers can be eaten, and the flowers come in many vibrant colors to match your landscape and your salad plate.

hybrids are bred primarily for looks.

www.presspubs.com 651-407-1200

Publications

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

Paulette Greenberg

When you are selecting pansies for your spring planter, consider buying extras to give a pop of color and taste to your spring salads, or candy them for a delicate dessert. Both the petals and sepals of pansies are edible and have a delicate, slightly grassy flavor. Here are some other good choices for both your landscape and your plate:

1. Sunflowers: While most people know you can eat the seeds, few realize that the whole flower head is edible. Harvest the heads when they begin to droop (before seeds are fully formed), remove the outer and inner petals, and wash thoroughly. To prepare, drizzle the sunflower heads with olive oil and place them face down on

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3. Borage: This Mediterranean herb is incredibly easy to grow from seed, and both the leaves and flowers are edible. Borage tastes like cucumber and is a gorgeous addition to salads and summer cocktails with its blue or white blooms. It is best to use young leaves as older ones are hairy and not as palpable. Borage is a pollinator magnet, so leave some flowers for the bees to enjoy, too!

4. Roses: These workhorses of the flower garden are excellent additions to your afternoon tea party. Rose hips are used in preserves and teas. Rose petals are making a comeback in baking and cocktail applications via rose water, which will add sweetness and a taste undertone ranging from spicy to fruity depending on the variety. For best taste, select an heirloom rose variety since newer

There are several precautions to take when using a flower for food. The most important is to be certain you have properly identified the flower. There are many resources available online and in print to guide you. Next, avoid consuming plants from florists or from areas sprayed with pesticides or other chemicals. Finally, thoroughly wash all flowers or produce before serving – an insect may be trapped in that borage bloom.

For gardeners with small or non-existent yards, it is not necessary to sacrifice blooms for food or vice versa. With a little research, you can make your environment both beautiful and edible.

The University of Minnesota Extension has more information about edible flowers: https://extension.umn.edu/ flowers/edible-flowers

Mark your calendar for the Anoka County Master Gardeners' Home Landscaping and Garden Fair on April 1 and Plant Sale on May 16 and 17. Visit anokamastergardeners. org for details.

Paulette Greenberg is an Anoka County Extension Master Gardener

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Island rezoning issue shelved for clarification

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP — Unanswered questions by the Planning Commission mean a Feb. 22 public hearing on rezoning Bald Eagle Island is postponed.

If the island is rezoned to R-1 from its current individual zoning district, setbacks would be governed by the shoreline setback, according to Planning Commission minutes. The consequences of changing the zoning eliminates the recording studio conditional use permit (CUP) and would open up other uses as laid out in R-1.

Since the CUP for the studio was issued, it apparently could still continue in the R-1 district, unless the permit has expired. At its last meeting Jan. 26, the Planning Commission was unclear if the CUP had expired or could be made invalid. Commission members want clarification from the town attorney before making a recommendation to the board and plan to discuss the matter at their Feb. 23 meeting.

The CUP for a recording studio was never acted upon as an agreement between the island owners at the time, Nick and Jane VanBrunt, and a Germanborn music producer named Hans Stachowiak, languished for years and never materialized. Instead, Nathan Landucci, owner of Stillwaterbased Landucci Homes, bought the island in 2016.

Landucci landscaped the 2.3-acre property and completely renovated the 35-year-old home, which boasts 9,700 square feet, five bedrooms and a sixstall garage, before putting it up for sale. Realtor. com shows the property listed at $5,990,000, down from the original ask of $6.6 million a year ago. A second listing on the site, posted Jan. 1, offers the island home for rent at $35,000 per month.

Commission members also discussed the owner’s intention to rent the home and want clarification as to whether the township allows short-term rentals.

In addition to postponing the island hearing, the Board of Supervisors approved the following at its

Feb. 7 meeting:

• L etter of support for Metropolitan Council’s 202425 Clean Water Fund request.

In the letter to Clean Water Council Chair John Barten, Town Administrator Patrick Christopherson noted that the $38,000 the township received in 2022 from the Met Council’s water demand reduction grant program helped save an estimated 1,628,800 gallons of water.

The Clean Water Fund supports the water demand reduction grant program, which provides rebates to water customers who replace existing devices with specified water-efficient models.

• On-sale and Sunday liquor license renewal for Red Luna Taco Factory, 5960 Highway 61.

• Spring and fall street sweeping bid from Allied Blacktop Company in amount of $20,285. Funding comes from the stormwater fund.

• I nstallation of irrigation smart controllers at Columbia Park, Polar Lakes Park and township administration office. The contract was awarded to Peterson Companies in amount of $14,388,

which will come from the capital building fund. Smart controllers automatically adjust to weather conditions via sensors to conserve water.

• At an earlier meeting, the Town Board voted to end its membership with the Minnesota Association of Townships. Christopherson explained members’ reasoning: “We asked for help in securing LGA (local government aid) through legislative means and were refused. The Board felt our membership dues were no longer providing us any value.”

The board also took a 10-minute recess to wait for Rep. Elliott Engen. He was scheduled to talk about legislative priorities but was a no-show. Staff was told later that Engen got tied up at the Capitol. Board Chair Ed Prudhon had an excused absence.

Debra Neutkens

Escape rooms part of new Armory offerings

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society (WBLAHS) acquired the historic Armory in late 2022 and has been busy planning how to best utilize the space as it enters its new century.

New events on the schedule include history-themed escape rooms coming on Feb. 24-25, where attendees can solve the riddles and escape from themed rooms. Some rooms, for instance, will be Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s bunker below Grand Central Station and Alcatraz, where several of White Bear’s notorious gangsters did time. Reservations are

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bill important for veterans

Veterans are an important part of our societal fabric, but not everyone has the privilege of knowing a veteran. I am a wounded Korean War veteran and know that veterans are proud of their service and often too proud to ask for help or talk about their needs.

Sen. Heather Gustafson, who serves on the State’s Veterans Committee, recently sat down with a group of veterans at The Arbors, a senior residence in White Bear Lake. She took the time to get to know our issues, explained the working of the Senate and answered all our questions on a variety of issues such as renter protection, pensions, Social Security, sports betting, affordable rent, taxes and education. She was also very knowledgeable on available veteran benefits provided by the State of Minnesota.

Sen. Gustafson has authored Senate Bill SF16, which will help reduce state taxes on Social Security and pension income. This is an important topic to many veterans who live on modest incomes, and we were appreciative of Sen. Gustafson taking the lead on this bill.

Sen. Gustafson was a pleasure to talk to, with clear, understandable language and no political double talk. She encouraged all the veterans to reach out to her office with questions or concerns. We are fortunate to have her representing us and working on

required and can be made at whitebearhistory.org.

Other Armory renovations to move staff offices to the main level, build out a meeting room space and reading library upstairs and create an exhibit gallery in the former drill hall are currently underway. Also planned are mechanical and technology upgrades as well as updates to the common areas of the building.

The WBLAHS has been located on the upper floor of the historic building in downtown White Bear Lake

behalf of veterans and others.

Dr. Don Sonsalla White Bear Lake Leaders took action

Minnesota is one of the top states in the country experiencing change to our climate. I’m pleased that our leaders are taking climate change seriously and are taking decisive action. Minnesota recently passed the 100% Clean Energy Bill. With this bill, utilities must provide energy to us that is 100% carbon-free by 2040. This is a significant bill for our state, and we should thank all those representatives who voted for it.

The bill was passed along party lines, so you would think it must be very controversial. However, this bill is in line with Xcel’s energy vision and had the support of both major utilities in our state, labor unions, many business and environmental groups.

You may have heard some legislators call it the “blackout bill” to try to scare us into thinking that’s what our future will be like with renewable energy. But the facts are that by law, utilities have to provide our energy within high reliability and affordability standards and the bill did not change those standards at all. It appears that the comments on “blackouts” are just fearmongering. There is also an “off-ramp” in the bill if a utility doesn’t feel it can meet the reliability and affordability

since 2013 and is excited to expand its programming and resources by utilizing the full space.

“To have the ability to use the gym and other areas all the time is a real game-changer for us. The programming possibilities are nearly endless,” said WBLAHS executive director Sara Markoe Hanson. Plans are being completed and must be reviewed by the to ensure any renovations will maintain the historical integrity of the building which is listed in the National

standards, and we have 17 years to accomplish this. With the rapidly increasing rate of new technology, this seems very doable.

According to a 2020 Pew Report, 66% of us want the government to do more on climate concerns and 79% of us feel the most important priority for this country is to develop alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar, over fossil fuels. Our leaders finally listened and took action. Thank you!

Judy Lissick Vadnais Heights

Mayor, council delivering on promises

I’m so pleased to see our mayor and City Council deliver on two of their campaign promises: climate resilience and community engagement.

Last night they picked two initiatives to pursue under the Gold Leaf program. The first is to create a Green Team — a team made up of community members to identify and address topics related to Minnesota’s changing climate.

Whatever you think the cause of climate change is, there’s no denying that it’s happening. Minnesota is in the top third of states that are warming the fastest, according to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance: Statewide Rankings,

Register of Historic Places and carries a preservation easement as a condition of its original transfer to the city of White Bear Lake in the 1990s. Construction is planned to begin later this year once approvals are received from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and local officials. Initial fundraising efforts are underway to support the multiphased project.

- Press release

published February 2023, retrieved on Feb. 8, 2023 from www.ncei.noaa. gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-aglance/statewide/rankings.

It’s good the council is looking to our community to identify areas where we can improve our climate resilience. We are a stronger city when our residents are encouraged and allowed to take an active role in solving problems!

The other initiative is community restoration, which will engage residents for a restoration or cleanup project — again, making it possible for us to participate in improving our city.

Our mayor, Mike Krachmer, is delivering on his promise to be accessible to residents. Every fourth Monday of the month at 7 a.m., he will host “Breakfast with the Mayor” at Perkins, starting on Feb. 27. You need to RSVP with the city so he knows how many are coming.

The best part of all of this? None of it costs our city any additional funds.

Barbara Clark Vadnais Heights

Agree with editorial

Gene: you hit a home run! I hope our legislators read it!

Thank you.

Whitie Johnson White Bear Lake

The island currently has its own individual zoning district, a consideration given years ago to allow a commercial recording studio that was never built.

COPS&COURTS

WHITE BEAR LAKE POLICE REPORTS

The White Bear Police Department reported the following selected incidents:

• Disorderly conduct was reported Feb. 1 in the 1800 block of Cedar Avenue. Identity theft was reported Feb. 1 in the 3500 block of Century Avenue.

• A civil dispute over a vehicle was reported Feb. 1 in the 3900 block of Linden Street. A Keep Our Police Safe (KOPS) alert was sent.

• T heft from a vehicle was reported Feb. 1 in the 4700 block of Washington Square.

• A n officer took a phone call complaint Feb. 1 over a civil problem originating from the 4700 block of Highway 61.

• O fficers on Feb. 2 were dispatched to the 3200 block of White Bear Avenue for a report of disorderly conduct.

• A subject on Feb. 2 reportedly trespassed in the 2400 block of Orchard Lane.

• A vehicle on Feb. 2 was reportedly broken into sometime overnight in the 1700 block of Fourth Street. The suspects are unknown.

• A d isorderly conduct dispute was reported Feb. 2 in the 2500 block of Oak Court.

• A warrant arrest occurred Feb. 2 in the 2600 block of Aspen Court.

• A business in the 4700 block of Highway 61 North reported on Feb. 2 that a customer stole items from the store. An investigation is ongoing to identify the suspect via security footage as well as the total value of items taken.

• O fficers responded to the 2600 block of Aspen Court Feb. 2 for a report of disorderly conduct.

• Police responded to the McDonald’s in the 4900 block of Highway 61 on Feb. 2 for a disorderly conduct incident in the drive-thru. A male was unable to pay for food, refused to leave the drive-thru, and while squads were en route to the scene, threatened to “pistol whip” staff. Upon arrival, officers determined the male was not armed and was having a possible medical event. He was later released from the scene.

Breach of trust was reported Feb. 2 on the 2600 block of Aspen Court.

• F raud was reported Feb. 3 in the 4900 block of Long Avenue.

• Disorderly conduct was reported Feb. 3 in the 1800 block of Buerkle Road.

• A protection order violation was reported Feb. 3 in the 3600 block of Hoffman Road.

• C ommercial theft was reported Feb. 3 in the 4400 block of Highway 61 and 1200 block of Jonquil Lane.

• A d isturbance noise complaint was reported once on Feb. 3 and twice on

RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office reported the following selected incidents in Vadnais Heights and White Bear Township: Vadnais Heights

• A Vadnais Heights woman, 23, was arrested on an outstanding warrant at 11:11 p.m. Jan. 17 in the 1100 block of County Road D after Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene of a domestic disturbance.

• T he Holiday gas station in the 1000 block of County Road E at 6:29 a.m. Jan. 18 reported misdemeanor theft after surveillance video showed a male entering the store late the previous evening and asking the clerk for a carton of cigarettes. After he showed his passport, he grabbed the carton of cigarettes off the counter and exited the store without paying.

• A resident in the 100 block of Primrose Court reported a hitand-run to a vehicle parked in the driveway overnight Jan. 17-18 or during the morning of Jan. 18 while she was out running errands. The complainant needed the report to initiate an insurance claim.

Feb. 4 in the 3500 block of Century Avenue.

• T heft of lottery tickets was reported Feb. 4 in the 3200 block of White Bear Avenue.

• A phone scam was reported Feb. 4 from the 3700 block of Midland Avenue, with a total loss of $5,000. The suspect is unknown.

• T heft was reported Feb. 4 in the 1200 block of Gun Club Road.

• Items were reported stolen from a vehicle parked in an underground garage Feb. 5 in the 1700 block of Buerkle Road. The loss was $20.

• A c atalytic converter theft was reported Feb. 5 in the 1400 block of Park Street with an estimated loss of $1,200. There are no suspects.

• A vehicle parked in the underground garage of an apartment complex was broken into Feb. 5 in the 1700 block of County Road E. A window was broken to gain entry. A pistol, Swiss luxury watch, wallet and cash were stolen at a loss of over $4,000.

• A n officer responded to the 3600 block of Hoffman Road Feb. 5 on a report of two purses found on the ground. An investigation led to a vehicle that was broken into within an underground garage and had items stolen from it. The estimated loss is $400. There are no burglary suspects.

• A d isturbance noise complaint was reported Feb. 5 in the 2400 block of Mayfair Avenue.

• A stolen 2012 Chevy Malibu was recovered Feb. 5 in the 3600 block of Hoffman Road. The suspect was interviewed, and the case is under investigation.

• Disorderly conduct was reported Feb. 5 in the 3700 block of Midland Avenue. O fficers responded to a report of loud arguing Feb. 5 in the 1700 block of County Road E. No issues were found.

• A c ase of airline miles being used fraudulently at a loss of $590 was reported Feb. 6 in the 2500 block of Manitou Island.

Police investigated a harassment report Feb. 6 in the 1900 block of County Road F. No charges were filed.

• A d ispute agreement was reported Feb. 6 in the 2700 block of Cedar Avenue.

• Police were called to a dispute Feb. 7 in the 3500 block of Century Avenue. No charges were filed.

• A Chevrolet Suburban was reported stolen Feb. 7 from the 1900 block of Buerkle Road. It is an approximate loss of $3,500. An investigation is ongoing.

• A resident in the 4200 block of McMenemy Street reported the front driver’s side window of his vehicle smashed in and miscellaneous items stolen from it overnight Jan. 18-19.

• A snowblower was reported stolen from a front porch in the 400 block of Koehler Road at 4:06 a.m. Jan 19 after the homeowner viewed surveillance video of the thief clad in a North Face winter jacket.

• A M aplewood woman, 68, was cited Jan. 20 on Centerville Road at Horizon Street for speeding and for operating a vehicle without insurance. The vehicle was towed and the driver was given a ride home.

• A Walmart shopper reported a hit-and-run to the front end of her vehicle parked in the Walmart lot Jan. 21 while the complainant was shopping. Security video showed a truck and trailer driving past the caller’s vehicle, but showed no details about the accident.

• A M aplewood woman, 21, was arrested on an active Dakota County warrant, and a St. Paul woman, 20, was cited Jan. 21 at the Walmart after they were detained

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following selected incidents in Birchwood, Dellwood, Grant, Mahtomedi, Pine Springs and Willernie:

Birchwood

• A n unwanted male was reported Jan. 20 on Cedar Street as part of a dispute involving two parties claiming ownership of a vehicle. Deputies advised everyone to pursue the civil route.

Dellwood

• Suspicious trespassers reported Jan. 21 at a home under construction on Dellwood Avenue turned out to be a member of the construction crew showing off the home to friends and family.

Grant

• A reckless motorist was cited for driving after revocation Jan. 16 in the 9000 block of Dellwood Road N. following a traffic stop for failure to stop at the four-way stop sign at Dellwood Road N. Southbound Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies on patrol had been nearly T-boned by the eastbound motorist. The driver was made to arrange for another driver with a valid license to pick him up.

• D eputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop Jan. 17 in the area of Dellwood Road N. and Dellwood Road Lane N. for a vehicle missing a taillight and failing to stop at the stop sign. However, the pursuit ended at Arcola Bridge before deputies could pull the motorist over. On the other hand, deputies were more successful in conducting a traffic stop for speeding Jan. 19 in the area of Manning Avenue N. and 75th Street N. and citing the driver. D eputies on patrol on Highway 36 Jan. 19 observed a driver using a wireless device while underway and issued a citation.

• A resident in the 9000 block

by store employees for concealing $214.24 worth of items and passing all points of sale. Both adult females were cited for misdemeanor theft, and a juvenile accompanying them was trespassed. The arrested woman was transported to the Dakota County jail.

• A Vadnais Heights man, 61, was arrested for domestic assault Jan. 21 in the 4200 block of Bridgewood Terrace. His case has been referred to the county attorney for consideration of charges.

• A Spring Lake Park man, 26, was cited for disorderly conduct at 11:53 p.m. Jan. 21 in the 1100 block of County Road E after he was caught urinating on the outside wall of a restaurant.

White Bear Township

• A M aplewood woman, 43, was banned from the Cub Foods store in the 1000 block of Meadowlands Drive after she was stopped by loss prevention personnel for trying to leave the store with a cart filled with stolen merchandise. The store chose to trespass her for disorderly conduct in lieu of citing her for theft. Deputies provided her with a

of 83rd Street N. on Jan. 21 reported receiving an internet fraud call. The complainant canceled all her credit cards, had Best Buy wipe her computer and suffered no financial loss.

Mahtomedi

• D eputies conducted a traffic stop at 1:39 a.m. Jan. 16 in the area of Century Avenue N. and westbound Wildwood Road on a vehicle missing two brake lights.

• D eputies issued two citations overnight Jan. 19, at 2:07 a.m. in the 1300 block of Iverness Place and at 2:13 a.m. in the 1300 block of Prestwick Place for winter parking violations.

• A L ong Lake Road resident on Jan. 19 reported receiving threats as part of a Snapchat scam. A Hallam Avenue S. resident on Jan. 20 also reported receiving threats via text. Deputies determined this incident to be a scam similar to others reported in the area. The complainant didn’t suffer any monetary loss.

• A motorist was arrested on a gross misdemeanor Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office warrant Jan. 19 in the area of Wildwood Road and Century Avenue following a traffic stop.

• Rose Street residents reported the neighbors for going through their trash Jan. 20. The complainants said they communicated with the neighbors asking them to stop and would notify deputies if this behavior continued.

Pine Springs

A motorist was cited for driving after cancellation at 12:34 a.m. Jan. 20 on Hilton Trail at 60th Street N. after being pulled over for failure to display current registration.

• A nother motorist was cited for driving after cancellation at 10:14 p.m. Jan. 20 in the 6000 block of Hilton Trail, following a traffic stop for a burnt-out headlight.

courtesy ride to her residence.

• A W hite Bear Township woman, 44, was arrested for DWI Jan. 17 in the 3900 block of Bellaire Avenue after deputies responded to an erroneous report of a domestic. The subject had driven her vehicle through the garage door and was trying to enter the house through an egress window at the back of the house. Deputies found the woman in the egress window well, smelling of a consumed alcoholic beverage. After a controlled substance was found in her purse, a search warrant was obtained, and the subject was transported to Regions Hospital for a blood draw. She was then booked at the law enforcement center.

• A Forest Lake woman reported on Jan. 19 that the front driver’s side window of her vehicle was smashed in as it was parked in the Tamarack Nature Center lot in the 5200 block of Otter Lake Road. Her purse was stolen from inside the vehicle, and more than $2,000 was fraudulently charged to her credit and debit cards. The victim then canceled her cards.

WINTERFEST

WHAT’S HAPPENING

show images of butterflies while discussing their amazing ecological qualities from his collection during 60 wildlife tours to Latin America.

Contact: mahtomedigardenclub.org

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CHORAL RECITAL

When: 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16

Where: White Bear Lake United Methodist Church 1851 Birch St.

Details: Public is welcome to attend a free concert with acclaimed tenor Johnnie Felder and the chancel choir of WBLUMC to celebrate Black History Month.

Contact: 651-429-9026 or wblumc.org

Where: White Bear Lake VFW, 4496 Lake Ave. S.

Details: Double-elimination

tournament. Sign up 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Contact: 651-426-4944

PARENT-CHILD SNOWSHOE TREK

When: 10-11:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20

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

BUILDING RAMSEY COUNTY’S CLIMATE

ACTION PLAN

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22

Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 County Rd. F East

Details: Make and appointment to donate by calling 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

STEPS IN BECOMING A HOMEOWNER

When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22

Where: Mahtomedi District Education Center, room 103, 1520 Mahtomedi Ave.

Details: Interactive class covers the housing market, programs available, and steps to buying a home from mortgage application to closing. Free; register online.

CONTRIBUTED

When: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19

Where: St. Pius X, 3878 Highland Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Community event featuring chicken dinner and other food options, bingo, games, cake walk, derby races, raffles and more.

Contact: churchofstpiusx.org/ winterfest

POLLINATORS IN PARADISE: BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF THE AMERICAN TROPICS

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16

Where: Zoom webinar

Details: Mahtomedi Garden Club hosts  Carrol Henderson, who will

COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER

When: 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17

Where: Mahtomedi District Education Center, room 109, 1520 Mahtomedi Ave.

Details: Opportunity for parents to bring a baby 0-12 months to a free shower with activities, refreshments, gifts, and information. RSVP.

Contact: mahtomedi.ce.eleyo.com

FRIDAY LUNCH

When: Seating at 11 a.m. & noon Friday, Feb. 17

Where: White Bear Senior Center

Details: Dine-in and enjoy a white bean chili meal from Key’s Cafe.

Registration required.

Contact: 651-653-3121 or whitebearseniorprogram.org

HORSESHOES ON ICE

When: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21

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

Details: Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt will share her perspectives on the County’s Climate Action Plan.

Contact: bit.ly/NEMCA0221

VIRTUAL TALK WITH JIM ROCK

When: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21

Where: Zoom

Details: James Rock is a citizen of the Dakota nation and Director of Indigenous Programming for the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at the University of Minnesota Duluth and presents Indigenous star knowledge in several languages to thousands annually. Free with registration. Contact: whitebeararts.org

Contact: mahtomedi.ce.eleyo.com

ELDERCARE IQ PRESENTATION

When: 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23

Where: Vadnais Heights City Hall, 800 East County Rd. E

Details: Learn about a new tool to screen nursing homes, assisted living, and health care providers. Free.

Contact: 651-204-6000 or cityvadnaisheights.com

WINTER SEED SOWING WITH NATIVE PLANTS

When: 6-7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23

Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 County Rd. F

Details: Learn the steps to kickstart your seed collection. Limited seeds available. Free.

Contact: 651-204-6070 or vlawmo.org/ events

WILDWOOD ARTIST SERIES: Celebrates leadership change, upcoming concerts

and bring this great community asset to us,” Molitor said.

She looks forward to working with other artist series committee members, as well as music teachers in the school district who support the program, in bringing new acts and old favorites to the Chautauqua stage. Molitor also is eager to continue boosting the series’ presence in the community and on social media.

“The arts have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, and it’s been the slowest to recover,” she said.

“What I’m excited about is working with the team to get the word out more and get more people engaged and bringing performances and artists that maybe people didn’t even know existed, or introducing types of music to people that maybe they wouldn’t have gone to if they had to, say, drive to Minneapolis or something.”

then was chosen to head it.

“It was the performing arts, the live performing arts, that were very important to our community,” Bruner said, adding that tickets for the Series’ first concert season sold out.

The concert series continued each year since and has brought performing artists from around the world to the Chautauqua Fine Arts stage. Some notable performers through the years that Bruner mentioned were Arlo Guthrie, the Okee Dokee Brothers, the Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats, the U.S. Army Band, U.S. Marine Band and the Vienna Boys’ Choir.

WAS launched its Professional Performing Artist Residency Program in 2016, which paid artists to do extended residencies in the Mahtomedi Public Schools’ four buildings. In light of Bruner’s retirement, the program was recently renamed the Ellen C. Bruner Professional Performing Artist Residency Program.

During the residencies, artists give students first-hand learning experiences for their respective performing arts mediums. The residency program has exposed students to Swedish and American folk songs and dances, Black Gospel choral style and culture, musical and lyrical composition and more.

Bruner said with a chuckle that when she initially took on the role of WAS president in the early 1990s, she didn’t think at the time she’d hold the position for more than three decades.

The arts, however, have been an ever-present part of her life.

While Bruner was growing up in Montclair, New Jersey, her mother — who she said was “very artistic” — encouraged her and her brother to take music lessons

OBITUARY Mary Lou "Lou" O'Connor

Passed away peacefully at the age of 90.

Longtime White Bear Lake resident. A memorial gathering will take place from 2-4:00pm on Saturday, February 18th at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake. MuellerMemorial.com 651.429.4944

DEATH NOTICES

Rosell Erhardt

Born 6/25/1932, passed away Jan. 23, 2023 surrounded by family. Preceded in death by husband, Stanley Erhardt. Survived by 6 children, 12 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. Services at Grace Lutheran Church, WBL, on Feb. 25, 2023 at 10am with luncheon after service.

Yvonne Fish

Fish, Yvonne of Oakdale, Mn (formerly White Bear Lake). Passed away February 5th. Celebration of life will be held in May, 2023. Complete notice later.

“We lived near the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She had a subscription to that and took me many, many times to the opera, to New York,” Bruner said. “I was exposed to the arts very early, mainly through my mom but also my dad played fiddle.”

She later studied music in college, including at graduate school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. That’s where she met her husband, Phil, on a blind date. The couple married about a year and a half afterward in 1964. At the time, Bruner was teaching K-12 music at Roycemore School in Evanston, Illinois.

She and Phil later moved to Rome, New York, while Phil was serving in the U.S. Air Force. She earned her doctorate degree in the humanities from Syracuse University in the meantime.

The couple moved to Minnesota later in the 1960s and lived in Mahtomedi from 1968 to 1975. They currently reside in neighboring Grant.

Although Bruner thoroughly enjoyed her tenure as WAS president, she said there comes a time to hand the leadership reins to someone else. That someone else is Julie Molitor, who became the organization’s new president in January.

Molitor, who works full-time at 3M and lives in Birchwood, has attended WAS concerts through the years. She became secretary of the arts organization last May, with the intention being that Bruner would hand off the president position to Molitor this year.

Molitor expressed her gratitude to Bruner for her dedication to leading the organization for so many years and for the countless others who’ve helped make the artist series successful.

“There are just so many people behind the scenes, and there’s a fantastic committee that really puts a lot of time in to put these performances together

January 2023 Carrier of the Month

Alex Jonel

IF YOU GO:

CONTRIBUTED

What: Wildwood Artist Series concert and dedication ceremony

When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Where: Mahtomedi High School Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, 8000 75th St. N.

Details: With his guitar in hand, Minnesota singer-songwriter Peter Mayer is taking to the Wildwood Artist Series (WAS) stage Feb. 25 for an evening of family-friendly live music. Mayer was the composer-in-residence in 2022 at O.H. Anderson Elementary School for the Professional Performing Artist Residency Program. During the event, retired WAS president Ellie Bruner will be honored with a dedication ceremony for her 32 years of leadership.

White Bear Lake ROTARY ACADEMIC ACHIEVER

Rotary

Matters

wblrotary1@comcast.net

Brielle is a very hard worker both in the classroom and out of it. She consistently completes her work on time while seeking to learn more information through asking questions and trying new things. She is a leader at Willow and is involved with the mentor and summit teams. On top of her accomplishments in school, she is also involved in dance and gymnastics. She has used the discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills needed in these activities to help achieve success in school. Brielle plans to attend college in the future and become a kindergarten teacher.

Thank you for all your hard work.

Sponsored by White Bear Lake

United Methodist Church

Brielle Runningen

Willow Lane Elementary

Congratulations to Alex Jonel! Alex has been a carrier with us for 3.5 Years.

CONTRIBUTED

Programs from 32 years’ worth of Wildwood Artist Series concerts have been preserved since the organization’s start in the early 1990s.

Presidents' Day Trivia

PRESIDENTS’ DAY TRIVIA: Test your knowledge about the nation’s leaders

Celebrated each year on the third Monday in February, Presidents' Day honors all U.S. presidents. The origins of the holiday lie in the 1880s, when George Washington's birthday, Feb. 22, was celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved several federal holidays to Mondays in order to give workers a number of long weekends throughout the year. During the debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington's birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to likewise honor Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is Feb. 12.

To test your knowledge of America's 46 presidents, check out the quiz below:

1. Which president was a classically trained pianist and played four other instruments?

2. How many presidents never went to college?

3. Who was the first president to travel by railroad?

4. Who was the oldest president to be inaugurated?

5. Which president hated his painted portrait so much that he eventually burned it?

6. Which president was the first to ride in a car to his inauguration?

7. Which president was the first to hold a televised news conference?

8. Which president signed legislation creating Medicare?

9. Which president was a famous movie star?

10. Which president was the first to fly in an airplane?

Construction continues at forthcoming carwash

1. Richard Nixon. 2. Nine. 3. Andrew Jackson. 4. Joe Biden. He was 78. 5. Theodore Roosevelt. 6. Warren G. Harding. 7. Dwight Eisenhower. 8. Lyndon Johnson. 9. Ronald Reagan. 10. Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

CARTER JOHNSON

Construction workers recently erected the metal frame at the future site of Tommy’s Express Car Wash at the southwest corner of Highway 61 and County Road F.

Upcoming events:

Forest friend clay tiles

1:30-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18

Create a clay relief tile while bringing a forest creature to life. We will construct a clay tile, then carve a forest scene with a wild friend. Come with a favorite woodland animal in mind and ready to fire up your imagination! This class is for ages 8 and older.

Virtual talk with Jim Rock

7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21

Join WBCA for a talk with Jim Rock, live on Zoom. Rock is a citizen of the Dakota nation and Director of Indigenous Programming for the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he also teaches ethnoastronomy and archaeoastronomy. Rock is an activist, consultant and author on archaeoastronomy and ethnoastronomy and for sacred sites restoration issues for Wakan Tipi Cave and Interpretive Center at the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary in St. Paul. As co-author of a Dakota/Lakota Star Map Constellation Guide (2012), his goal is to “indigenize and digitize the skies.” Rock was the principal investigator and designed the first Native American experiment aboard NASA’s last space shuttle STS-135 Atlantis in 2011. Since 2015, he has presented Indigenous star knowledge in a touring, 30-foot portable GeoDome planetarium in several languages to many thousands annually.

Welding a garden sculpture

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 4

Interested in learning how to weld, or want to become a more experienced welder?

This class with Greg Kraft will teach you how to weld metal around a stone using a TIG welder. Attach a steel rod to the stone by welding and place it in your garden. No experience is required.

For the love of clay: A conversation with Nancy Saathoff

Nancy Saathoff has been involved with White Bear Center for the Arts since the 1970s, back when the organization was still the White Bear Arts Council. As an art teacher at Mahtomedi High School, Nancy was drawn to WBCA as a place where she could learn from fellow teachers and grow as an artist.

“Everybody who’s in art education needs professional support,” she said.

As a teacher she was able to give, “but at the art center, I could take.”

During the early days of WBCA, Nancy not only took classes but also organized concerts and events. At WBCA, she took classes taught by pillars of the arts community like Frank Zeller and Polly Shank.

“These people were my mentors, even though it was in a quiet way. Just to watch their performances and their successes and their enthusiasm — I think you need that as an artist.”

Through her work at

Mahtomedi High School, she befriended renowned potter Warren MacKenzie who instilled in her a lifelong love of clay. She took her high school classes out to his pottery studio, and Warren would come to her classes to teach lessons on clay.

While Nancy taught all mediums in her art classes, she held a special fondness for pottery.

“If you ever walk into a pottery class there are a lot of smiles,” Nancy said. “We’re so far removed from the earth, but with clay, you feel grounded. There’s something in clay that just makes people

happy.”

Nancy wants to ensure that all students at WBCA have the grounding, enriching experience of working with clay. It’s important for her to see clay classes open and welcoming to everyone.

“I’m a strong believer in diversity,” Nancy said. “When I come into a clay class, I see young mothers, I see former students, I see retired people. White Bear Lake can offer diversity, and I think WBCA’s clay program is one place people feel really comfortable.”

“I hope WBCA stays as strong as it is,” Nancy added. “Sometimes you don’t need progress to be successful. You need to have strong roots.”

Nancy has been able to follow White Bear Center for the Arts throughout its more than 50 years of life. She’s witnessed moves, expansions, new faces and new programs. But at the heart of it all, “It’s the people who make WBCA what it is.”

WBCA offers wheelchair-accessible clay wheel

In an effort to remove barriers to working with clay, WBCA now offers a wheelchair-accessible clay wheel.

clay wheel.

Learn how to use a TIG welder at a welding class with Greg Kraft at the White Bear Center for the Arts on March 4.

You can learn more and register for these classes at whitebeararts.orgthe band.

“It opens up the opportunity for people who think they can’t do clay, to be a part of this community,” clay instructor Alex Chinn said.

The art center also offers modifications like a standing wheel and tilted stools, that can help people who have back pain from working at the

“It’s important to us to remove any barriers that students are facing so they can thrive in our clay studio,” Program Manager Abigail Penders said.

Interested in learning about clay? WBCA offers Introduction to clay classes, as well as monthly classes and workshops. Find more information at whitebeararts.org/clay

WBCA art teacher Nancy Saathoff smiles for the camera alongside former WBCA Executive Director Suzi Hudson.

A clay tile creation and carving class is set for ages 8 and older.

A new offering at the White Bear Center for the Arts is a clay wheel that’s wheelchair accessible.

Northeast Residence turns 50, looks to future following merger

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR LAKE — This year marks the 50th trip around the sun for Northeast Residence (NER) and coincides with a new chapter in the nonprofit’s story of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The White Bear Lake-based organization started the new year by officially merging with Hammer Residences of Wayzata, which itself turns 100 years old in 2023. The unified entity, Hammer & NER, will celebrate the dual anniversaries during its annual “Reach for Ralph” summer fundraiser in June.

“Whether you started last week or have been around as long as I have, there’s just such a sense of pride that we have done what we’ve set out to do in providing safe, happy homes and fighting for getting our people accepted into the community the way we have,” said Lin Curran, chief of East Metro Operations, who started working for NER in 1987.

Hammer & NER manages 44 group homes and apartment programs in the west metro and oversees 24 group homes in the east metro. In addition to housing people with disabilities, the nonprofit provides onsite nursing and support care and assists residents with transportation to jobs and appointments. Altogether, the organization supports 243 people in its homes and employs about 550 staff members.

Curran, however, still remembers when NER operated out of a former convent in downtown White Bear Lake. In those early days, it served nine residents with just three staff members.

“That’s kind of unheard of nowadays,” she said.

St. Mary of the Lake Church was next to the convent, which meant church members often invited NER residents to breakfast events and often provided musical entertainment. NER staff also introduced residents to the wider community by taking them on trips to the parks, beaches and downtown area.

In the early 1990s, NER raised enough money to get a group home on White Bear Avenue for its residents to live in. That home had six upstairs bedrooms and four downstairs rooms. NER then gradually moved residents to four-bedroom homes in White Bear Lake afterward.

Moving residents out from a campus

setting into a residential one with the group homes came with challenges, mainly involving prejudice and ignorance from other White Bear Lake community members.

“Back in the ’80s, people were truly afraid of people with intellectual disabilities; they just didn’t

Hammer, a nurse who started the Hammer School near Minnehaha Falls before eventually relocating to a larger property outside of Wayzata.

“Taking the time to pivot, reassess and innovate is really exciting to me, and what the model will look like in the future together,” Brandt said. “We have innovated throughout the years, and I just think there are many more new things that we’re going to be doing and new ways of doing it that will be very impactful for the people we support.”

Hammer & NER Communications Specialist Jennifer Hipple said two looming challenges for the organization — and direct support caregivers in general — are meeting the needs of residents with disabilities as they age and creating better employment opportunities for caregivers.

understand,” Curran said. “I think they were all kind of just lumped into this big basket of ‘bad people.’”

A more recent challenge for NER was navigating the coronavirus pandemic while still providing continuous care for residents. Curran remembered how in early March 2020, the management staff had to create COVID-19 logistical plans for its providers in a matter of days. Despite that being a trying time for NER, Curran said it succeeded in limiting the virus’ spread among residents.

“People did get COVID. It was minimal. We had very minimal hospitalizations, and nobody passed away in our care from COVID,”

Curran said. “I think all the staff are very proud of that. We took it seriously very fast. It was a lot of work, but we got it done.”

Just before the pandemic broke out in 2020, NER had approached Hammer about joining forces. Hammer acquired NER on Jan. 1, 2021, and finalized the merger this year, making Hammer & NER one of the largest nonprofit disability services in the state.

Hammer & NER Director of Communications Barbara Brandt said the reasoning behind the merger was to share resources between the two organizations, since they each share similar goals and provide similar services.

Brandt also noted how Hammer originated from humble roots: It was started by and named after Alvina

House File 7 — or the Caregivers Stabilization Act — was introduced this year in the Minnesota Legislature and is one Hammer & NER is hopeful will get passed. The bill would, among other things, invest more resources into increasing reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities and thereby increasing workers’ pay.

In the meantime, Hammer & NER welcomes additional assistance from volunteers in the public when it comes to serving residents. Among the volunteer opportunities are oneon-one activities with residents, the “Cooks in the Kitchen” meal program and various events throughout the year that need volunteers.

“We work really hard to find just the right fit for people who want to volunteer,” Hipple said.

To learn more about Hammer & NER’s history, services and volunteer opportunities, visit hammer.org.

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT:

Frank Palony has been with Northeast Residence for most of his life and for most of the organization’s 50-year existence.

Palony, who has Down syndrome and is nonverbal, came to NER in 1975 when the organization still operated out of a former convent in downtown White Bear Lake.

He was also the first person Lin Curran worked with when she started with NER in 1987.

“Frank is just an amazing person,” said Curran, who currently serves as Hammer & NER’s chief of East Metro Operations.

She recalled how she’d take Palony on long walks around town when he was a child and sit with him while he’d watch the traffic go by on Highway 61 during rush hour, “because that’s what he wanted to do.”

“I just found that amazing that he enjoys observing whatever is going on in this world,” Curran said.

She’d also invite Palony and other NER residents to her home in Centerville, where’d they play outside with Curran and her husband’s two daughters and other neighborhood kids.

“He loved to throw those big balls that kids play with. The children would stand on one side of my house, and he’d stand on the other with my husband or somebody else with the neighbors and they would toss it over my roof back and forth and just have a great time,” she said.

As Palony has aged, NER’s staff has continued to support him as he’s dealt with health issues such as deteriorating eyesight and problems with physical mobility.

“We are so glad Frank is a member of our NER family. Our goal is to do everything we can to keep him with us as he ages, and his needs continue to grow,”

Curran wrote in the December 2022 issue of Hammer & NER’s publication, “Discoveries.”

“After all, Frank is an original, and we love him.”

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Rich Olson, a Northeast Residence caregiver, spends time outside with longtime NER resident Frank Palony.

A group of Northeast Residence members is pictured next to a display celebrating the nonprofit organization’s 10-year anniversary in 1983.

1. Willow Lane Elementary fourth-graders Chloe Cassidy, Lauren Estis, Jacob Heller and Adrian Hamlin stand in front of Kristi Flanagan Villar of the University of Minnesota Foundation, Masonic Cancer Center scientist and researcher Christoper Pennell and Minnesota Masonic Charities Chief Operating Officer John Schwietz. The students placed third in the Minnow Tank competition in November, which earned $400 for the cancer center. — Contributed

2. Special Teams Charities founder, Jeff Loeks, right, and his wife Racheal, left, dropped off shoes, hats, jackets and other items to the Washington County jail recently. The donations go to inmates who need items when released from jail. — Contributed

3. The White Bear Lake High School fishing team spent Saturday on the ice at Big Marine Lake drilling holes and weighing fish for the annual Hugo Lions Ice Fishing Contest. From left, coach Joe Mailer, Tyler Thilman, Asher Schmidt, Andrew Mailer, Owen Torgrimson, Zach Loken and Kaleb Walton. — Debra Neutkens

BUDGET TOWING

PUBLIC NOTICE

The following vehicle must be claimed by 3-1-2023 or it will be disposed of or sold: WHITE 2017 FREIGHTLINER M2 California Plate-O4165L3; VIN-1FVACXDT3HHHZ2870

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

Published one time in the White Bear Press on February 15, 2023. CITY OF GRANT ORDINANCE SUMMARY ORDINANCE NO. 2023-72

AN INTERIM ORDINANCE PLACING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON STORAGE-RELATED LAND USES IN THE CITY AND DIRECTING A STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED

On February 7, 2023, the City of Grant adopted an ordinance placing a temporary moratorium on all storage-related land uses for the purpose of conducting a study relating to that ordinance.

A printed copy of the Ordinance is available for inspection by any person during regular office hours at the office of the City Clerk or by standard or electronic mail.

Published one time in the White Bear Press on February 15, 2023.

CITY OF PINE SPRINGS WASHINGTON COUNTY, MN

ORDINANCE NO 30 SUMMARY PUBLICATION NOTICE

AN ORDINANCE REESTABLISHING THE CITY PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

A complete copy of the Ordinance is available from the City Clerk.

The City Council of the City of Pine Springs, Washington County, Minnesota, ordains:

The purpose of this ordinance is to 1) repeal ordinance #11 which originally established the Planning Commission, and 2) replace ordinance #11 with a more detailed ordinance that reestablishes the Commission with specific member composition, terms, powers, and duties.

This ordinance shall take effect upon passage by the City Council and subsequent publication.

Passed by vote of the City Council of the City of Pine Springs, Minnesota, this 7th day of February, 2023.

Randilynn B. Christensen, Mayor

Attest: Victoria R. Keating, City Clerk

Published one time in the White Bear Press on February 15, 2023.

CITY OF WHITE BEAR LAKE

PLANNING COMMISSION

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The City of White Bear Lake Planning Commission will hold a public hear-

ing in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 4701 Highway 61, White Bear Lake, Minnesota on Monday, February 27, 2023 beginning at 7:00 p.m. to hear and make a recommendation to the City Council on the following requests:

A. Case No. 23-6-V: A request by Tammy and Mike Hilliard for a variance from the 15 foot side yard setback on both the north and south side, per code section 1303.040, subd.5.c.2, and a variance from the 40 foot rear yard setback, per section 1303.040, Subd.5.c.3, in order to tear down and rebuild a single family home on the property located at 4815 Lake Avenue.

B. Case No. 23-7-CUP: A request by A New Hope Preschool for a conditional use permit, per code section 1302.140, in order to operate a day care facility on the property located at 955 Wildwood Road.

Unless continued by the Planning Commission, these items will be heard by the City Council on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Comments may be presented at the public hearing or filed with the City Clerk until 4:30 p.m. on the Friday before the hearing. Each response will be considered before the Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council. If there are questions concerning these applications, please call the City’s Planning Department at (651) 429-8561.

Caley Longendyke, City Clerk

Published one time in the White Bear Press on February 15, 2023.

WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA SCHOOLS

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 624 WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN

NOTICE OF BID

Independent School District No. 624, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, is presently soliciting competitive “Prime Contract Bids” for the White Bear Lake Area Schools-Central Middle School Addition and Renovation. 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, March 7th, 2023 at which time they will be publicly tabulated for review. Please join us for a Zoom at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2xuz3frt Bidders are also invited to review the results online at https://www. krausanderson.com/subcontractors/bid-tabulations/

All bids shall be on a lump sum basis. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of 60 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 is a multiphase and multi-year project that starts summer 2023 and is to be completed summer 2025. Project involves the construction of new gym that will also serve as the school’s storm shelter, renovations of existing classrooms and offices, remodel of kitchen and cafeteria, and HVAC upgrades that include adding dehumidification throughout the building.

Direct communications regarding this Project to the office of the Construction Manager: Kent Henry (kent.henry@krausanderson.com) Kraus-

Anderson Construction, 501 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404; Tel: 612-719-1026.

Obtain Bidding Documents, including the online bidding instructions, as well as Drawings and Specifications, via free electronic download by visiting www. buildingconnected.com. Contact with any planroom downloading or ordering questions at taylor.becker@krausanderson.com to receive an invite. KrausAnderson will not be responsible for notifying individual parties who obtained documents without utilizing the BuildingConnected 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; as well as several Builders Exchanges: MHC, Minneapolis Builders Exchange, St. Paul Builders Exchange, BuildingConnected, and Franz Reprographics.

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

Pre-Bid conferences will be held at the following location and time:

• Tuesday, February 21, 2023 @ 8:00 AM at Central Middle School, 4857 Bloom Ave, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Meet in the main lobby at Door A.

• Thursday, February 23, 2023 @ 8:00 AM at Central Middle School, 4857 Bloom Ave, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Meet in the main lobby at Door A. Independent School District No. 624

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Published two times in the White Bear Press on February 15 and 22, 2023.

OFFICE OF THE MINNESOTA

SECRETARY OF STATE

CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME

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

1. The assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted is: Salon 4862

2. The street address of the principal place of business is or will be: 4495 Lake Ave. S Apt 407 White Bear Lake, MN 55110

3. The name and street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name, including any corporation that may be conducting this business. Salon Bambino, Inc. 4495 Lake Ave. S Apt 407 White Bear Lake, MN 55110

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

Dated: January 24, 2023

Signed: Sara Gruett, sole officer

Published two times in the White Bear Press on February 8 and 15, 2023.

City Council approves design services for potential chamber renovation

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR LAKE — The City Council meets in a chamber space that hasn’t been renovated since its original construction in 1988. That’s why the council recently OK’d a contract with Wold Architects & Engineers of St. Paul for design services related to a proposed renovation of the council chamber.

The design proposal from Wold totaled $21,000. The construction costs for the actual project — should it be approved at a later date — would be funded with unused money in the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund.

In 2022, the city budgeted $200,000 of ARPA money for improvements to the Bellaire Center and $140,000 for a City Hall office expansion. However, since neither project occurred last year, that $340,000 was transferred to 2023 and could be put toward a potential chamber renovation. City staff doesn’t

expect the chamber renovation would require all of those funds.

The city also has $13,750 left of its $159,000 allocation from the Ramsey Washington Suburban Cable Commission from 2015, which was given to make technology improvements for meeting broadcasts.

City Manager Lindy Crawford noted how, during the 35 years since the chamber space was constructed, local government buildings, in general, have evolved in terms of safety and technology features, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and attendance during public meetings.

“Security and safety at that point in time really wasn’t something that we thought of for staff and visitors and elected officials 35 years ago; unfortunately, it is today,” Crawford said.

“Many metro area council chambers generally have dedicated exiting, panic hardware and ballistic barriers at the dais. To date, the only

modification that we have made to our dais was the addition of ballistic barriers.”

Regarding ADA accessibility, Crawford said the chamber is accessible from a physical standpoint but not necessarily accessible for those with vision, hearing or speech disabilities.

Crawford also pointed out how the screens set up in the chamber facing the audience can be difficult for spectators to read during meetings. A few potential remedies she mentioned included relocating the screens so they’re closer to the audience and installing an additional screen in the City Hall entryway.

Another technology upgrade she spoke of was placing monitors at the council dais that elected officials and staff could use to view presentations.

“As we rely more on technology and presentations, this really is necessary for our dais. Currently, the depth of our dais would not allow for that,” Crawford said.

Mayor Dan Louismet voiced support for looking into potential renovation designs with Wold and clarified the goal of such a project wouldn’t be “to have a shinier or prettier” dais or chamber.

“These are some very serious logistical and technical improvements that I think are much needed. The ADA compliance is a big one, the safety component is huge and our technology is low-tech, relatively speaking,” Louismet said.

The council voted 3-2 on the resolution to approve Wold’s renovation design proposal. Council Members Heidi Hughes and Steven Engstran cast the nay votes.

Hughes said the city already approved a tax increase for the 2023 fiscal year and recently signed off on a separate renovation project for the public safety building.

“I’ve got other priorities other than this room,” she said.

Upcoming autism month gets backing from White Bear Township

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

— One in 36 Minnesotans is diagnosed with autism; one in 44 students in the school district is on the spectrum. Those statistics were cited by resident Tom Snell, retired executive director of the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce, who shared the numbers with the Town Board.

April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month, and

Snell asked supervisors to acknowledge the disorder with an official proclamation.

The former chamber leader wants people to know it’s important to recognize and accept people with autism.

“Autism takes on different forms,” Snell said at the Feb. 7 Town Board meeting.

“Autistic people may act different and find it difficult to function in our society in a regular way,” Snell said,

noting “Seventy percent of people with autism are underemployed or not employed, even if they can do the job.”

Those on the spectrum have many valuable traits, Snell continued. They are able to focus on a subject, they work hard and they don’t judge people. “It’s important to support this month,” he stated. The Town Board agreed,

and approved a resolution proclaiming April as autism month. The proclamation encouraged “residents of our community to treat its citizens who have autism spectrum disorder with respect and dignity.”

Snell thinks the township might be the first community in the state to recognize autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He posted on his social media that hopefully,

the township’s support will become a catalyst for other communities to join in the effort.

The resolution noted that ASD prevalence has increased by 6 to 15% each year since 2002.

Debra Neutkens

Have something you are curious about in the community? Submit your questions to the news team. Send your questions to news@presspubs.com

Willernie bids goodbye to its go-to maintenance guy

BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER

WILLERNIE — “Rick Paulson was fantastic,” said Willernie Mayor Barb Parent. “His boots will be hard to fill.”

“Rick was the best son anybody could ever hope for,” said Paulson’s mother, Joyce Povolny.

Paulson passed away suddenly on Dec. 21 at the age of 62. Many in the community have been left realizing how irreplaceable he will be.

Paulson was chief maintenance troubleshooter for the Willernie public works department over the past 28 years. “Rick was a single-person department,” Parent said.

Paulson was on call 24/7, Parent noted. He plowed, he mowed the parks and the beach and was the main equipment person. He fixed everything that was broken, he cared for the sewer and water systems, he flushed the hydrants and he winterized facilities in the city. “He did a great job of it,” she said.

In addition to being useful, Paulson was kind, even-tempered and easy to work with, Parent said. “And he knew so much about the area and who to call. He kept us informed,” she said. He knew carpentry, mechanics and could take things apart and put them together. “I just did not worry about things in the city. If a tree fell down, Rick was there. If the door on City Hall needed fixing, we would just call Rick.”

next came over to start it for me if I needed it that day.”

He was also ready to help the people he worked for, Povolny said. One time Paulson was out and about and saw Parent struggling to start her snowblower to clear her driveway. He just stopped his truck, got out and started the snowblower for her, she said.

Another time, Povolny and her husband got their ATV stuck on a tree stump at the top of a hill on her farm. Her son was mowing his substantial lawn when she phoned, and was beside her on the hill within 10 minutes.

“He was so strong, he just lifted the gator right off the stump,” she said.

Paulson was also an interesting person, Parent recalled. He climbed Kilimanjaro and trained for it on the steep hills around Willernie.

He also trained for the six-day uphill hike by going about his job and daily activities, Povolny said. He had a step counter and wouldn’t stop moving each day until he had 13 miles in.

“Sometimes he cut his visits with me short because he still had 3 miles to cover on the treadmill,” she said.

The magnitude of Paulson’s sudden passing was brought home to all who knew him. It seemed that the snow started falling a little heavier, and ice rained down from the sky to make for treacherous footing everywhere. Willernie’s water mains broke within days after Paulson passed away. Then they broke again.

legacy to the city, and should inspire whoever will appear over the horizon to carry on his duties.

More than 2,500 years ago, the Greek philosopher Aesop said, “A man is known by the company he keeps.”

Povolny’s son had a lot of friends and they’ve been a big help, his mother said. That 20 inches of snow that fell onto her driveway was plowed immediately by one friend one day and another friend right after the next snowfall, she said. Several of those friends have stopped by her home for welfare checks.

Paulson also made time to visit his mother in Grant every day, Parent said.

“He stopped by to make sure I was OK and stay and chat, but not overstay, because he respected my privacy too,” Povolny said. “He did whatever was needed, like lifting, and he did it happily — I never had to ask.”

As a boy, Paulson liked to tinker around in the garage. He took an auto body repair class after he graduated from Mahtomedi High School. He was always interested in things, especially mechanical things and how they worked, Povolny said. He and other kids did experiments. “I’m proud of him and his friends,” she said. “If someone knew an elderly lady needing help — like a new bathroom floor installed — they would go help without charge.”

“Rick was always ready to help people with a smile. He was the perfect son,” Povolny said.

He was strong, too, Povolny said, “Probably because of what he did, he was really good at starting machines.” Povolny had a power washer she could never start, so Paulson would come over and start it for her with a smile. “All I needed to do was keep it filled with gas to be ready for when he

Overnight, Willernie’s mayor had to learn to read meters, fix lift station lights and clear mounds of snow with the snowblower. Everyone knew it, but the past month only affirmed how much Paulson did for the city, Parent said.

Paulson’s sudden death created a gaping hole in the hearts of family members over the holidays. With more than 20 inches of snow having fallen since Christmas, it was still imperative that Povolny’s long, steep and curving driveway be plowed.

One consolation for Paulson’s absence in the city of Willernie is the brand new public works building, completed this fall. It replaced the shed built in the 1960s that had a dirt floor and no electricity. The new building installed in its footprint is larger and built better. For years, Paulson lobbied for a new building, and Parent teamed up with state Sen. Chuck Wiger and Rep. Peter Fischer to obtain grant money to build the new facility.

Paulson was project manager for the construction of the metal-clad garage with three bays and a people door. “Rick was excited to finally have heat and electricity in the building in December, along with a garage door mechanism that works,” Parent said. “It still needs a bathroom, however,” she said.

The new maintenance building is Paulson’s

“His friends are just like him,” she said. “They’ve stepped up and have been unbelievable. The way Rick was, they would be the same way.” Paulson’s friends go way back to his childhood. “They’ve stuck together. It’s a nice group of people,” Povolny said.

Paulson’s legacy for his mom is the army of friends who will step up to attend to her with goodness.

Shoreview photographer celebrates decade of exhibits

BY NOELLE OLSON SHOREVIEW PRESS EDITOR

Jim Radford has a passion for photography and is known for his exquisite nature photos.

His new exhibit, “Doorways to Europe,” features photos he took while t raveling through Europe. They are on display and for sale at the Taste of Scandinavia located at 845 Village Center Drive in North Oaks until Feb. 28.

“This is the 10th year I’ve showcased my work at Taste,” the longtime Shoreview resident said. “People might know me for my nature photography, but this is something different. I selected eight prints for the exhibit on 20-inch-by-20-inch acrylic that display the unique, virtual visualization of life inside. Imagine the life and times that build stories of people at these locations and

the stories that these doorways hold.” Radford reflected on something he had heard in a Celtic sermon about “thin places” — a veil between here and there.

The Shoreview resident described thin places as follows:

• T hin places, sacred places and happy places are all transformational experiences.

• T hin places provide us an opportunity to step away and be rejuvenated.

• Spending a little time in a thin place might be the best medicine for living a calmer, more centered life.

While vacationing in Maui, Hawaii, Radford said he experienced time away in a thin place and had a moment of grace at Mount Haleakala.

“I was sitting there alone and wanted to capture the beauty of it by taking a picture,” Radford

said. “I prayed and had a formative experience. It’s hard to explain, but I felt closer to God.”

Since retiring from marketing management at 3M, Radford has been published in a wide variety of publications. He has won awards for his graphic art and displays in public places, including his online galleries at http://radfordpictures.com and pictorem.com/profile/James.Radford.

Other prints displayed in the exhibit are photos he took in Minnesota that feature Snail Lake, National Parks, Lutsen and the Mississippi River.

“These doorways all have something in common to me,” Radford said. “They’re all in different places, but they have a message of a passageway to someplace that you want to be. It is a passageway that might be amusing, interesting, safe and comfortable.”

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Rick Paulson pauses for a photo opp while working in his shop in this 1991 moment.

Willernie’s late maintenance man Rick Paulson pops a wheelie on a skid loader.

CONTRIBUTED

Jim Radford at the Taste of Scandinavia. Behind him is his 10th exhibit, “Doorways to Europe.”

Willernie completed its new maintenance garage last fall. The new structure is something the city’s late maintenance man, Rick Paulson, had pushed for.

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Winter-friendly modes of outdoor movement

Above: Jordan and Rylee Shelton hitch a ride across a snow-covered open field north of White Bear Lake behind a snowmobile driven by Andy Meysembourg during a recent gathering of vintage snowmobile enthusiasts. Area residents continue to take advantage of the recent moderate temperatures and a snow base of close to a foot for various modes of travel on local trails in the northeast metro area.

Find more photos online at presspubs.com.

Above: Snowmobile riders emerge from a snow-packed trail north of White Bear Lake on their way to the Hardwood Creek trail that runs parallel with Hwy 61 between Hugo and Forest Lake.

At left: White Bear Lake area youth hockey players recently competed on the deluxe ice rink that remained after the conclusion of the Hockey Day Minnesota event in White Bear Township.

STUDENT NEWS

The following local students were named to the dean’s list or received academic honors at a college or university for the 2022 fall semester:

• Minnesota State University-Mankato: Connor Carlson and Kayla Eberle, both of Mahtomedi; Lily Ahles, Hailey Eastburn and Emily Olson, all of White Bear Lake.

• Northern Michigan University: Josephine Taylor of White Bear Lake.

• Saint Mary’s University: Kendall Rolling of Dellwood; Thomas Comstock of White Bear Lake.

• University of North Dakota: Kieran Viggiano of Mahtomedi; Sarah Wickstrom of Vadnais Heights; Jackson Chase-Jacobus, Nicholas Fosse and Ethan Hunter, all of White Bear Lake; Addison Bachmeier of White Bear Township.

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Maxwell Behnke of Mahtomedi.

• University of Wisconsin-River Falls: Julia Bjork, Allison Kosel and Anika Nordin, all of Mahtomedi; Blake Buzay, Sage Durdle, Alyssa Erickson, Madilyn Gieske, Blake Griebenow, Laura Koontz, Hannah Kunz and Matt Weiman, all of White Bear Lake.

• University of Wisconsin-Stout: Becca Bergman of White Bear Lake; Brody Fox, Jacob Lynch and Jason Lynch, all of Mahtomedi.

• Winona State University: William Clark, Natalie McCarthy and Magnolia Podgorak, all of Mahtomedi; Hannah Dorr and Corey Goeltl and Katherine Timmons, all of White Bear Lake; Claudia Johnson of White Bear Township; Kimberly Hoffmann of Hugo; Caitlin Kuehborn and Jordan Nelson, both of Vadnais Heights.

CONTEST 2023

WHITE BEAR LAKE CONTEST 2023

MAKE YOUR OFFICIAL GUESS ON THIS OFFICIAL ENTRY— IT’S EASY!

1. You must submit an original entry form from the White Bear Press or online at www.presspubs.com/site/forms/contest/register_to_win/white_bear_lake_ice_out_contest/ (One entry per person)

2. Guess the date of Ice Out 2023 on White Bear Lake

3. Submit your completed entry, drop off or mail to: 4779 Bloom Ave White Bear Lake MN, 55110

4. email to: marketing@presspubs.com

5. Must be 21 or older to enter.

6. Deadline to enter is: March 27th, 2023 at noon.

7. Ice Out is declared when there is no more visible ice on White Bear Lake.

Ice Out Date: _______________________________________________________________________________

Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Email:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What can you win? Grand Prize: $50 other prizes are gift cards donated by these fine Ice Out 2023 sponsors. How do you win? All entries with the correct ice out date will be placed into a drawing. First ticket drawn will be awarded the grand prize. Runners up will be drawn until all prizes are awarded. You must pick up your prize/redemption slip at Press Publications before May 31, 2023. In addition to the Grand Prize, a prize will be awarded from each of the Ice Out sponsors.

NORTH STAR

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Mahtomedi is 10-0 in the Metro East, 15-5 overall with eight straight wins, and ranked No. 10 in Class 3A. Against South St. Paul the Zephyrs were tied 1919 late in the first half but roared away to a 64-25 win over the Packers (5-14). Sonya Potthoff sank 15 points, Mya Wilson 13, Ella Frazier eight, Anna Greene eight and Sophia Peer seven. The Zephyrs held off Hill-Murray 82-70, outscoring the Pioneers 45-42 in the second half. Wilson netted 24 points, Greene 20 and Ella Kletti 14. Elise Groppoli hit 26 points and Payton Mackley 16 for Hill-Murray (11-10).

BOYS BASKETBALL

St. Thomas Academy snapped Mahtomedi’s 12game win streak by shutting down the Zephyrs’

high-octane offense 72-58, outscoring the Zephyrs (16-3) in the second half 45-27. The Cadets started the season 1-4 but have gone 14-1 since then (with the loss against Mahtomedi 69-41) and each team now has one MEC loss. STA’s Michael Kirchner hit 28 points (six 3-pointers) and Luke Dobbs 20 points. For Mahtomedi, Will Underwood had 22 points, Owen Carlson 19 and Cole Armitage 10. Other than against STA, the Zephyrs have scored between 72 and 102 points. Mahtomedi defeated Hill-Murray (1-18) 99-43 at home as Carlson tallied 31 points, Underwood 21 points and Armitage 12.

ALPINE

The Mahtomedi girls placed fifth and the boys placed sixth among 20 schools in the Section 7 meet at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. Zephyr freshman Haley Wilson placed seventh and qualified for state; Stella DeMars was 29th, Sophia Albanese 31st, Maddie Ruppel 46th, Sophie Eigen 48th and Elise DeMars 59th, For the Zephyr boys, the top four were Landon Schmidt in 21st place, Matt MacDonald 25th, Sam MacDonald 33rd, and Connor Hagen 39th.

NORDIC

The Mahtomedi girls placed eighth of 10 teams and the boys 10th of 11 teams at Section 4 at Battle Creek Regional Park. Sarah Brings, a senior, placed 10th of 44 entrants in  34:52 (18:10 classic, 16:43 skate) to qualify for state. The only other Zephyr in the top 20 was eighth-grader Ethan Albrecht placing 13th of 54 entrants in boys individual pursuit in 30:33 (15:59 classic, 14:34 skate). Another highlight was

BOYS HOCKEY

Mahtomedi (14-8) cruised to a pair of conference road wins last week. The Zephyrs won 6-0 over Two Rivers (15-6-1). Scoring early were David Wolsfeld 40 seconds after the face-off, Charlie Drage at 2:17 and Seth Nelson 3:20. The Zephyrs had another burst in the third, by Nelson at :56, Drage at 3:30 and Nelson again at 6:13 for his hat trick. Corey Bohmert made two assists, and Charlie Brandt had 10 saves for the shutout. The Zephyrs won 7-1 over Hastings (12-91). Six Zephyrs found the net: Jake Hodd-Chlebeck twice, Noah Mogren, Drage, Wolsfeld, Nelson and Gene Wegleitner. In the Metro East, the top three are Hill-Murray 7-1, St. Thomas Academy 6-1, and Mahtomedi 7-3.

WRESTLING

Mahtomedi finished the regular season with an 11-20 record, including 3-6 in the Metro East. The Zephyrs lost to Centennial 48-14 and White Bear Lake 53-20, beat Tartan 42-20 and St. Paul Humboldt 54-24, and lost to Chisago Lakes 41-27. Next for the Zephyrs is Section 4AA  at Simley, starting 9 a.m. The pairings will be determined on Wednesday. Two Mahtomedi girls competed in Section 3 and 4 on Saturday at Hastings. Shelby McFetridge placed second at 120 pounds (see separate article) and Nyx Swanberg was 1-2 (all pins) at 185, placing fourth.

Ben Larson and Luke Vipond reaching the sprint tandem finals and placing third.

ZEPHYR SPORTS BRIEFS

BRUCE STRAND

Sophia Peer makes a steal against South St. Paul’s Lauren Bauer, after which she scored off the turnover.

SPORTS

AND OUTDOORS

Mahtomedi gymnasts win another MEC crown Three Zephyr girls qualify for state meets

CONTRIBUTED

Mahtomedi captured its 43rd conference championship, winning the seventeam Metro East meet at home with a season high score of 140.175. Simley was second with 134.45.

Abbey Bush placed first all-around with a career-best 37.025 and won three events. Alix Fox placed sixth with 33.775, also a career best. Lucy Rapp of Two Rivers was second (35.975) and Simley’s Lucy

BEARS SPORTS BRIEFS

Bears’ Levins qualifies for state Alpine

Angus Levins, White Bear Lake sophomore, qualified for the state Alpine Ski meet by placing seventh in the Section 7 meet at Giants Ridge. Levins will return to Biwabik on Tuesday for the state meet. “He really went for it on his first run. He didn’t hold back at all,” coach Frederick Feirn assessed. “His second run was a bit more tactical on the steeps, but he still went full gas to the finish.” The Bear boys placed 10th among 20 schools. Dylan Christopherson, senior, placed 28th, and Cooper Feirn, freshman, placed 36th. The Bear girls placed 12th, led by seniors Ella Skeie in 22nd place, Maddie McNerlin 44th and Mia Haskins 52nd, with freshman Eva Haskins 56th.

Pentilla third (34.55). Bush won vault (9.45) with Fox sixth (8.075), Lucy Otto seventh (8.75), Addison Briske eighth (8.675) and Kendall Hines 10th (8.40). Bush won uneven bars (9.40) with Erin Steinman second (8.80), Margo Brunner fifth (8.20), Fox sixth (8.075) and Annika Sturm ninth (7.80). On balance beam, Bush placed first (9.175), Steinman third (8.675), Hines seventh (8.275) and Fox eighth (8.05). Rapp won floor exercise with 9.35. Steinman was second (9.05), Bush third (9.00), Madison Moeller fourth (8.95), Fox sixth (8.85) and Otto 10th (8.35).

BOYS BASKETBALL

Three Mahtomedi girl athletes qualified for state meets last week — Shelby McFetridge in wrestling, Haley Wilson in Alpine Ski and Sarah Brings in Nordic Ski. McFetridge, a sophomore, placed second at 120 pounds among 13 contestants in the Section 3 and 4 tournament at Hastings, going 3-1 with a pin and two decisions, including 4-3 over Gavyn Hanson of Hastings in the semifinals to clinch a state berth. McFetridge (12-3) lost by pin to Stillwater’s Audrey Rogotzke in the finals. The second annual state girls competition

Conference leader East Ridge fended off second-place White Bear Lake 75-63, and the Bears lost again to Edina 72-54, both on the road. The Bears are 11-7 overall and 9-3 in the Suburban East. Against East Ridge (14-5, 12-0), Wyatt Hawks tallied 21 points (6-for-7 on free shots), Jack Janicki 16 and Jack Misgen

11. Raptors guards led the way as freshman Cedric Tomes pumped in 24 points (five 3-pointers) and senior Alex M attes added 17 (four 3-pointers). At Edina, t he Bears were beaten by a barrage of three-pointers as the Hornets (12-8) nailed 15 of them. Hawks netted 15 points, Jeremy Kolb 14 and Janicki 13 for the Bears.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Brady

Borgestad

White Bear Lake Hockey

Brady Borgestad, White Bear Lake hockey senior co-captain, is enjoying his third productive varsity season. The 6-foot-1 forward has produced 12 goals and 15 assists and a plus five rating this season for the Bears (15-5). His career totals are 38 goals and 37 assists in 67 games. “Brady has grown into a dynamic scorer. He has worked very hard on other parts of his game, which has led to his success,” coach Tim Sager said. “He is a strong player in the offensive zone and is tough to play against. He has done a great job this year being one of our captains helping the younger guys.”

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NORDIC SKI

White Bear Lake concluded its Nordic season with the Bear girls placing fifth among 10 teams and boys ninth among 11 teams in Section 4 at Battle Creek Regional Park. In boys individual pursuit, Andrew Klier placed 15th (30:45), Tanner Hoel 19th (32:10), Rodrigo Rubio 32nd (35:37), Jake Weierke 33rd (35:40) and Joe Rogers 37th (36:25) among 54 entrants. In girls individual pursuit, Amelia Nachtsheim placed 16th (36:58), Irene Bakke 22nd (39:47), Lydia Moore 32nd (42:44), Grace Reeves 34th (43:33), and Morgan Grund 36th (43:58) among 44 entrants.

BOYS HOCKEY

White Bear Lake picked up two conference wins, improving to 16-5 overall 9-2 in the Suburban East. The Bears beat East Ridge 3-0, outshooting them 41-16 with goals by Kevin Laska, Brady Borgestad and Jack Stanius (empty net). Leo Gabriel was in goal. The Bears clipped Stillwater 3-2 in overtime with Borgestad delivering the game-winner 4:28 into the extra session, Blake Eckerle and Michael Delaney assisting. The Bears (who lost to the Ponies 2-1 earlier) led 2-0 with Grady Gallatin and Jack Stanius scoring in the first period. Stillwater pulled even on goals by Daniel Roeske and Ty Tuccitto, the latter with seven seconds left. Gabriel stopped 26 of 28 shots.

WRESTLING

White Bear Lake won four of six matches and take a 12-14 record into playoffs. The Bears finished 5-4 in the Suburban East. In a quad at home, the Bears defeated Tartan 69-9, Mahtomedi 53-30 and Centennial 42-33. At Cambridge-Isanti, the Bears lost to the host team 52-25, beat Irondale/Spring Lake Park/St Anthony 52-30 and lost to Farmington 52-25. The Bears are seeded No. 4 in Section 4AAA which will take place Friday at Mounds View. They face No. 5 Roseville at 5:30 p.m., with the winner likely facing No. 2 Stillwater in the next round. The Bears’ 20-win wrestlers are as follows: 106: Gavin Nathanson, 22-18, 13 pins;

is set for March 4 at Xcel Energy Center. Wilson, a freshman, placed seventh in the Section 7 Alpine meet at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. Wilson returned to Biwabik for the state meet on Tuesday (see results at presspubs.com). Brings, a senior, placed 10th of 44 entrants in the Section 4 Nordic meet at Battle Creek Regional Park, earning a state berth for the second time. Her total time was 34:52 (18:10 classic, 16:43 skate). The state meet will be held Wednesday and Thursday at Giants Ridge.

120: Isaac Kolstad, 28-13, 17 pins; 126: Christian Carlson, 31-14, 15 pins; 132: Gabe Kessel, 27-18, 16 pins; 145: Porter Cleary, 24-20, 13 pins; 152: Kesean Lipscomb, 23-15, 6 pins; 182: Jackson Halko, 21-22, 15 pins; 220: Zach Carnes, 27-17, 13 pins.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

White Bear Lake handed East Ridge its first conference defeat, 63-49. Blessing Adebisi tallied 17 points,  Jordyn Schmittdiel 16 and Heidi Barber 14, each of them pulling down eight rebounds. The Bears (17-4) outscored the Raptors 40-22 in the second half and reversed an earlier 6552 loss to the Raptors (18-4). “We executed our offense well and played great team defense,” coach Jeremy Post said. “The kids played hard and aggressive all night. Fun night for them.” The Bears had seven 3-pointers and made 16 of 23 free shots. The Raptors had six 3-pointers and were 15-for-23 at the line. The top four teams in the Suburban East are No. 5 ranked East Ridge at 13-1, No. 9 Stillwater 12-2, the No. 11 Bears 11-3 and No. 18 Roseville 10-4.

GIRLS HOCKEY

White Bear Lake’s girls hockey season ended with a loss to No. 4 ranked Gentry Academy, 8-3. Gentry Academy (22-2) outshot the Bears 51-15 and seven players scored. The Bears got the last three goals of the game, by Ava Johnson, Zoe Timmons and Madelyn Lee, in the last eight minutes. They finished 9-17.

GYMNASTICS

White Bear Lake won its conference finale at Woodbury, 134.125 to 128.95, finishing 4-4 in the SEC. Addy Mueller, sophomore, won all-around (34.7), vault (8.8) and bars (8.85), and placed third on beam (8.3) and floor (8.75). Josie Mlejnek, sophomore, was second all-around (33.9), won floor exercise (8.95), took second on bars (8.45) and tied for third on beam (8.15). Gracyn Lehner was second on beam (8.6) and fourth on bars (8.1). Elaera Knutson, senior co-captain, was fourth on vault (8.4). Seventh-grader Grace Mueller was fifth on floor (8.675). Next for the Bears is Section 4AA on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Roseville.

The MEC champs, from left: Natalie Eisenhuth, Addison Briske, Ali Fox, Madison Moeller, Abbey Bush, Annik Sturm, Erin Steinman, Kendall Hines, Lucy Otto, Margo Bruner.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Sarah Brings

Haley Wilson

Shelby McFetridge

CONTRIBUTED

Angus Levins

BRUCE STRAND

Wyatt Hawks works against Edina’s Mason Swinney on the way to 15 points in a loss to the Hornets.

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The City of Mahtomedi is accepting Letters of Interest to fill a recently vacated City Council seat. The City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7:00 p.m. and occasionally for Work Sessions or Special Meetings. The term of this appointment will expire at the end of 2023.

If you are interested in serving the community in this capacity, please send a Letter of Interest to: City of Mahtomedi, c/o Scott Neilson Administrator, 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 or email to sneilson@ci.mahtomedi.mn.us. Letters of Interest will be accepted until Friday, February 24, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. with interviews scheduled the week of February 27, 2023. Please direct questions to Scott Neilson at 651-426-3344.

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Weather Tidbits

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com

On our group run this past Sunday, friend Dan asked, “Is winter over?” I said, “yes.” Well at least the worst of the cold is now behind us. Highs in the 30’s and lows, for the most part, will stay above freezing. Of course another runner friend calls this “fake spring,” where we’re teased with 40’s but there is still a good 7-8 weeks of winter-like weather ahead. Whatever, I’ll take this mid-winter thaw over what we’ve been having and enjoy it. Are you like me and have 6-7” of ice along your roof line? I’ve never seen it this bad.

Note: My 2023 weather calendar is available at Lake Country Bookseller in Downtown White Bear Lake or visit WeathermanWatson.com to order. Thanks for your support!

Frank Watson is a local Meteorologist who operates a weather station in White Bear Lake. Weather data and observation are from his weather station and trips around the area. Frank can be found on the internet at WeathermanWatson.com.

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MAHTOMEDI

VOLUNTEER FOR CITY COMMISSION

The City of Mahtomedi is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on the Finance Commission. The Commission serves as an advisory body making recommendations within their areas of responsibility to the City Council.

If you are interested in serving the community in any of this capacity, please contact City Hall at 651-426-3344 for an application form. Applications are also available on the City’s website at www.ci.mahtomedi.mn.us. Applications will be taken through March 1, 2023.

JERENE ROGERS CITY CLERK

MAHTOMEDI MAYOR: Council to fill vacancy, interested residents inquire by Feb. 24

With a shiny, brand-new gavel in hand, (the previous gavel retired as the same time Marshall did), Brainerd thanked council members for their support and said he looked forward to continuing to work with them.

Because Brainerd’s appointment as mayor leaves his own council seat vacant, Mahtomedi will now solicit interest from the community in filling that seat.

There are no statutory requirements about how the council goes about filling the vacant council seat, City Attorney Bridget Nason said. “It’s up to the council’s discretion,” she said.

Therefore, council unanimously (4-0) voted to accept letters of interest until Feb. 24. Council will study the letters the following week and interview candidates with the intent of seating the new council member at the March 7 regular meeting.

It’s important that council be transparent about the process and get the new council member seated as soon as possible to conduct the business of the city,” Council Member Jane Schneeweis said.

Schneeweis moves up in the hierarchy as council president. She will now serve as acting mayor when Mayor Brainerd cannot attend a meeting.

In other action, the council: Moved some appointment chairs around, due to vacancies. Brainerd is now liaison with the city of White Bear Lake and with Washington County.

Schneeweis is now liaison with Law Enforcement Services; Council Member Luke Schlegel is now liaison with the city of Grant and with the Mahtomedi School District; and Council Member Lilly Melander is now liaison with the city of Pine Springs.

The city has done due diligence to maintain its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit after a presentation from Water Resources Senior P roject Manager Rebecca Haug of WSB on the city’s 2021-22 activities. As part of the requirements, the city also held a

public hearing at which Tom Collins of the city’s Environmental Commission called for more water-quality testing in the area. Mahtomedi is required by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to hold at least one opportunity each year to update the public on the adequacy of the city’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP). The city’s MS4 permit addresses six program areas that the city uses to maintain and operate its storm sewer system. The six program areas are public education and outreach; public participation; i llicit discharge detection and elimination; construction site stormwater runoff control; post-construction stormwater management; and good housekeeping and pollution prevention practices for municipal operations. The city renews its MS4 license every five years and last renewed it in 2021. Haug advised the council to expect chloride restrictions in t he next permit cycle due to road salt concerns for area wetlands.

Residents along Juniper Street can look forward to road work this summer after the council passed a resolution awarding the contract for the 2023 Juniper Street Reconstruction Project to the low bidder, M iller Excavating Inc. with a total bid of $414,538.67. Eight bids were received on Jan. 26.

To attract qualified applicants and keep salaries in line with the market to retain excellent employees, the Personnel Committee recommended council approve compensation adjustments to the nonunion employee pay plan. A market study indicated the various nonunion positions were anywhere between 5% and 12.5% below comparable cities, based on 2022 numbers. The revised pay will be retroactive to Jan. 1. The financial impact of the revised plan is $168,766, which is budgeted in contingency.

Mahtomedi’s communitywide energy, waste, water and associated greenhouse gas emissions will appear on the Regional Indicators Initiative website after the council approved a proposal from LHB for professional services with the Mahtomedi Community-Wide Data Collection 2021. The proposed fee is $3,500.

To prevent an ill-timed breakdown of the break room chairs at the public works department, the council purchased nine swivel office chairs and nine additional stackable chairs from Innovative Office for $4,078.21 with money from the building and equipment replacement fund to replace the usedused furniture it acquired in 2009.

Bikers using the Lake Links Trail now won’t have to worry about a breakdown, at least halfway around the lake, after the council approved a donation of up to $2,500 from the Lake Links Trail Association to install a bike repair station in Veterans’ Memorial Park. The bike repair station will be located on the east end of Veterans’ Park near the bike rack, as one of many amenities Lake Links plans to install around the trail. The bike repair station will cost $1,969, and the concrete needed to install it will be $500. Lake Links will also provide bicycle parts for one year.

The fire department will have a new employee on board after the council approved a request from the department to hire a paid, on-call firefighter/EMT, contingent on the successful completion of required assessments and background check.

Chief Terry Fischer said that the department is trying a new system of hiring twice per year to coincide with the EMT class.

The fire department will have a free loaner while the No. 2 ambulance is in the shop receiving a remount after

COMMUNITY BRIEF CHURCH BRIEF

Tribute bands take stage in new concert series

A new live concert series is coming to the Freight House in Stillwater. “On Stage at the Freight House” features top regional tribute bands that honor the legends of yesterday and today. Performances will be held Sunday and Thursday evenings through May in the

establishment’s newly revamped music and event center. Dinner is also available.

The concert series is produced by Mick Sterling Presents. A limited number of membership cards to access all shows are available. To view the schedule of performances or purchase tickets, visit onstageatthefreighthouse.com.

Celebrate Lent with Fish Fry

The Church of St. Pius X will host the first of three fish fry events in observance of Lent from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. The dinner includes deep-fried or baked cod, baked potato, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, pasta salad, roll, dessert and beverage. Guests may dine-in or

council approved a zero-cost lease agreement with Everest Emergency Vehicles Inc. Ambulance No. 2 was budgeted to be remounted in 2022, but was delayed due to the inability of the manufacturer to purchase a chassis, Fischer said. The remount process, which involves lifting the patient compartment off the old chassis and placing it on a new one, saves money compared to buying a totally new ambulance.

Once again, the city has refrained from waiving the statutory tort liability limits in the League of Minnesota Cities (LMCIT) liability coverage. Staff recommended that the council not waive the monetary limits, as established by Minnesota Statute 466.04. This is an annual form that LMCIT requires the council to approve. The city has not waived the monetary limits every year. By not waiving the tort immunity, the city is limiting potential collection by an individual to $500,000, with a total of $1.5 million per occurrence on claims to which the statutory limits apply. If the council waives the tort immunity, individuals could collect up to $2 million. This would cost the city approximately 3% more than not waiving. Otherwise, there is no budget impact.

The city will soon have a new massage therapy business after the council unanimously (4-0) approved the business license application from Xiaowei (Weili) Cai. The city received an application from W&M LLC for the business to be located at 3152 Century Avenue N. The business must wait for its massage therapist license from the city, however. A completely different business occupied that space previously.

The council next meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at City Hall, 600 Stillwater Road.

LORETTA B. HARDING is a contributing writer for Press Publications. She can be reached at news@presspubs.com or 651-407-1200.

get their meal to-go curbside in the northeast parking lot.

The fish fry will also be held March 10 and 24, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Church of St. Pius X is located at 3878 Highland Avenue, White Bear Lake. For more information, call 651-4295337 or visit churchofstpiusx.org.

“I miss the person who’s not here. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the city of Mahtomedi, and I’m honored to serve as mayor.”

Richard Brainerd Mahtomedi Mayor

Climate action group is back in person for library event

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR LAKE — A group of area climate activists is breaking free from its virtual confines later this month to hold its first in-person event in three years.

Northeast Metro Climate Action is co-hosting a free public discussion featuring Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the White Bear Lake Library. Resilient Roseville and the League of Women Voters White Bear Lake Area are other co-hosts.

Reinhardt will discuss the county’s Climate Action Plan during the event, which will be hybrid in person with an option for people to still tune in virtually through Zoom.

Steve Jorissen of Vadnais Heights, one of the core volunteer members who lead the climate action group, said Reinhardt has been a longtime champion for climate-related issues and that the county is working on “pretty ambitious climate goals.”

Public transit is one policy area he noted the county is working on when it comes to climate and reducing emissions from vehicles. Another transportation-related development in the county is traffic-calming measures such as creating 4-to-3 lane conversions.

Those lane conversions transform a four-lane road into a three-lane road with one lane of traffic in either direction. Between those lanes is a third lane used to make turns, while bike lanes could be created on either side of the one-way lanes.

“The flow of traffic is actually better

IF YOU GO:

What: “Building Ramsey County’s Climate Action Plan”

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21

Where: White Bear Lake Library, 2150 Second St.

Details: Northeast Metro Climate Action, along with Resilient Roseville and the League of Women Voters White Bear Lake Area, are hosting a free, public discussion about Ramsey County’s Climate Action Plan. County Commission Victoria Reinhardt will speak about the county’s work toward addressing climate issues. Attendees can either show up in person at the White Bear Lake Library or tune in remotely through a Zoom link at northeastmetroclimateaction. org or on Northeast Metro Climate Action’s Facebook page.

Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate approved the legislation with party-line votes of 70-60 and 3433 respectively.

Another bill Jorissen mentioned that’s in the works, House File 597, would establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to cities to address climate change.

He and other members of the climate group have distinct interest areas when it comes to learning about climate change solutions. Jorissen, who’s a chemistry instructor at the University of St. Thomas, said his interest in climate activism focuses on clean energy. Other group members’ interests include biodiversity, ecology, plastic reduction and environmental justice.

CONTRIBUTED

Northeast Metro Climate Action, which consists of eight core volunteer members from in and around White Bear Lake, is holding its first in-person event since 2020 on Feb. 21 at the White Bear Lake Library. The members are (left to right, top to bottom) Joe Crowe of White Bear Lake; Steve Jorissen of Vadnais Heights; Judy Lissick of Vadnais Heights; Kate Winsor of North Oaks; Diane Edson of Vadnais Heights; Steve Olinger of North Oaks; Lori Olinger of North Oaks; and Jeff Kolstad of Mahtomedi.

because rather than having cars turn out of the driving lanes, they turn into a turn lane and it doesn’t block the traffic,” Jorissen said.

He also anticipates the future of the proposed Purple Line bus rapid transit project will be discussed during the Feb. 21 event. The 15.2-mile bus route would connect Gem Lake, Maplewood, St. Paul, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Township. Last year, Maplewood and White Bear Lake blocked the route from entering their city limits. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Northeast Metro Climate Action has congregated monthly through educational Zoom events about climate topics, typically with guest speakers. Its core members live in North Oaks, Mahtomedi, Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake.

“It took us a couple of months to reenergize after the pandemic hit. Then we started back up with our Zoom events, and it’s been really great,” Jorissen said.

Although the group acknowledges the importance of individuals doing their own small part in combating climate change, Jorissen said it also emphasizes the need for systemic changes. Jorissen noted that in 2020 due to the pandemic, carbon emissions in the United States dropped by roughly 6% because fewer people were driving and flying.

“We don’t want a pandemic every year; that’s not the way to get there. It’s showing that those individual actions that everybody was — whether they wanted to or not — everybody was doing those individual actions and it only dropped our

carbon emissions by 6%,” he said.

“That’s not enough. Our energy sector, our agriculture, our transportation and industry all need to move to carbon-free power as quickly as possible. And there’s not really anything an individual can do about that.”

One bill in the Minnesota Legislature Jorissen said Northeast Metro Climate Action members have been following is House File 7, a major piece of legislation that requires utility companies in Minnesota to generate 100% carbon-free energy by 2040 in an effort to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill into law on Feb. 7 after Democrats in the

“We have different viewpoints because there’s just a lot of different aspects to this whole climate crisis,” Jorissen said.

More topics the climate group plans on discussing at meetings later this year include electric vehicles and reducing plastic use.

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Cost, ridership evaluated in Purple Line route study

Metropolitan Council staff continue to study three potential northern end points for the proposed Metro Purple Line Bus Rapid Transit project: Maplewood Mall Transit Center, the I-35E and County Road E Park and Ride in Vadnais Heights and Century College on the White Bear Lake/ Mahtomedi border.

Criteria such as cost, ridership and other factors for each end point are being evaluated to confirm which options would qualify for federal funding. More details on events, activities and opportunities for involvement will be forthcoming.

The Purple Line project office, Met Council and Ramsey County staff are connecting with city and county leaders to better understand their needs and collaborate on next steps. This includes participation in the city of Maplewood’s engagement process. That process involves a series of workshops Feb. 15, 22, and 28. On March 8, the Maplewood City Council will review options and

discuss recommendations. For more information on the workshops, see https://maplewoodmn.gov/ purpleline.

The public will be invited to participate in a comment period expected this spring on results of the route modification study.

The Purple Line is a 14-mile transit line that will share and/or have direct connections to the existing Metro Green Line, Gold Line (under construction) and future G and H lines.