White Bear Press

Readers vote St. Jude of the Lake teacher ‘the best’

BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR

The votes are in, and a St. Jude of the Lake first grade teacher is at the top.

Shannon Vitullo (Globensky) was selected the Best Teacher in the 2023 Best of the Press Readers’ Choice Contest. St. Jude of the Lake is a Catholic elementary school in

Mahtomedi for grades kindergarten through sixth grade.

“When I found out I won, I was really touched by it,” Vitullo said. “I really enjoy working at St. Jude's and was really surprised because some teachers at school have been teaching for like 24 years, and I've only been teaching for seven years. We just have some really

awesome teachers here.”

Vitullo grew up in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. She graduated from McDonell Central Catholic High School and then headed to Benedictine College in Kansas. She earned a master's degree from St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

“When I was in high school, I was a preschool aide and that made me

want to become a teacher,” Vitullo said. “I had a really good teacher when I was in high school who inspired me. His name was Mr. Aita and he teaches in Missouri now.”

She started her career as a teacher in Chippewa Falls, which is not surprising since she comes from a family of over 15 teachers. “I taught there for two years and I

Downtown flower program beautifies White Bear

BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR

Have you noticed the flower beds, hanging flowers and sidewalk pots throughout the city?

The city of White Bear Lake has a flower program to supply

and care for the flowers that adorn the sidewalks and streets.

“There are 160 beds throughout the city, and 62 are downtown,” said Andy Wietecki, parks working foreman. “It can be a large bed or a small little bed next to the trees. If you go down to the

Memorial Beach, the landscaping down there is massive.”

Beautifying White Bear Lake is no easy task, and it requires a lot of work.

Horticulturist Sadie Loose

replaced my first grade teacher. Her name was Rita Nowak, and she was also a big inspiration to me.”

She packed her bags and moved to Minnesota because a lot of her friends lived in the Twin Cities.

“I used to work for the Archdiocese of St. Paul

City welcomes new firefighters

BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR

October is Firefighter Appreciation Month and it's fitting for the city of White Bear Lake to welcome four new firefighters/paramedics to the White Bear Lake Fire Department.

Fire Chief Greg Peterson introduced the four at a City Council meeting before a swearing-in ceremony. The new firefighters/paramedics are as follows:

• Greg Wheelock brings 14 years of experience. He started as a combat Army medic, worked at Pleasant Hill fire in Iowa, Lockwood in rural Montana, Ames, Iowa and Allina.

• Alex Weil has five years of experience and came from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He currently lives in Lake Elmo. He is also with the Lake Elmo Fire Department.

• Ben Horner brings 19 years of experience. He began his career up north, worked at HCMC for 10 years and has been with the Scandia Fire Department for three years.

• Chris Dvorak has 12 years of experience. He started down in Louisiana, worked for HCMC for 10 years and has been on the Andover Fire Department for seven years.

“We're very happy to have them and they all have a lot of experience,” Peterson said. “I've gotten a lot of compliments from our current staff like saying this is a really good class of people.”

Peterson noted changes in staffing in the fire department including — three full-time employees resigned this year, four part-time employees resigned (Lieutenant Margaret Janssen retired).

“We lost three full-time firefighters to other departments,” Peterson said. “There's a lot of opportunity out there right now. When I started in this business, it was hard to get a full-time job. Now, there are

SEE FIRE DEPARTMENT, PAGE 9A

Horticulturist Sadie Loose and Parks Working Foreman Andy Wietecki at Railroad Park in White Bear Lake.

Thank You!

Gloria’s 11th Annual White Bear Lake Shortest Marathon One Block Run

A genuine thank you to all the fun and generous people that showed up on Saturday 9/16 to run the Shortest Marathon. You came with big smiles, bright shirts, wheelchairs, walkers, dogs and in a party mood! It was a huge success again, bringing our 11 year total over $113,000 for the White Bear Lake Food Shelf. This will put nutritious meals of fresh foods and staples on the tables of our neighbors in need of our assistance.

Thank you to our volunteers John Parenteau, Ron Carpenter, Mary Burfeind, Kim Bennett & Timm Lavass, Jerry & Carole McKinzie, Tim Bauman, Karen Williamson, Bruce Burnham, Mary & Kim Potz, Grant, Wyatt, Jennifer & Tony Lightfoot, Leo and the WBL Food Shelf staff.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors: Abbott Paint & Carpet, Donatelli’s Restaurant, IC Systems, Rudy’s Red Eye & Country Inn, VFW Post 1782 and Auxiliary and Northland Financial. Please patronize their establishments and thank them inperson. Thanks to the food vendors that donate all the marathon food: Mueller Memorial and staff for the White Castles, Caribou Coffee (Hwy 96/ Centerville Rd), Aldi (Mahtomedi) for the water and Cub Bakery (Centerville Rd) for the donut holes.

Our thanks also for the support of Perry Peterson, Amy & Ashley from the WBL Food Shelf, John Parenteau from East Central Screen Printing for printing the shirts, Patti and Paul of the White Bear Press, Fr. Alan Paul Eilen and Mary Scheurping of St Mary’s Church.

Don’t doubt for a minute that one person can’t make a difference.

Gloria Carpenter & Peggy Parenteau

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Clean up for fall

Now is the time for White Bear Lake residents to clear out unwanted household items and bring them to the Fall Cleanup Day from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. The event is at 4200 Hoffman Road, on the west side of the intersection of Highway 61 and White Bear Avenue. Acceptable items include appliances, electronics, car batteries, carpet, construction materials, furniture, mattresses, tires, bicycles and lawn mowers and snowblowers. Household hazardous waste and yard waste is not

Obituaries celebrate and honor unique lives.

(Full Name)

Years and age listed here followed by the names of family members, life accomplishments, places traveled, jobs held, or descriptions of what was important to the person.

To Submit an Obit Call 651-407-1250 Email obits@presspubs.com Visit us at 4779

accepted at this event. Go to whitebeartlake. org/cleanup for a complete list of items that will and will not be accepted.

A fee will be charged based on the size and type of load, and can be paid at the gate by cash or check. The event is only for residents of White Bear Lake and a driver's license or utility bill can be used as proof of residency.

Check presentation open to public

Tour de Bar organizers will present a check to this year’s

benefit nominee on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Dubbed the “Big Reveal,” the event starts at 5 p.m. with a meet-and-greet of the family at Cabin 61, 4150 Hoffman Road. The public is invited.

Ribbon cutting ceremony

Bill Weigel Signs will be having a ribbon cutting celebration at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5 at it’s new location at 470 Koehler Road in Vadnais Heights.

Harvest Moon Sale

thurs-sun October 5th – 8th

• Vintage • Collectibles • Furniture

• Kitchen Ware • Primitives

• Jewelry • And More

20% OFF

STOREWIDE Sale

Excludes Sale or Firm items

Antiques

White Bear Hwy 61 & 8th St. • 651-426-3834 787069

What journalism means to me

To me, journalism has always meant relaying the truth to the public, no matter what that takes or what that looks like. Journalism means leaving any and all preconceived notions or unconscious biases out the window. It’s transparent. In my reporting assignments, I always strive to paint a picture in the mind of the reader. I don’t want the reader to feel like they are reading a story and being distracted by the way I write. As a reporter, I believe that it is your duty to write in a manner that brings the reader right into the story. No opinions, no extraneous details, just the story and what it is like to witness the story firsthand. I strive to put the reader in my position as if they were witnessing the happenings for themselves.

It is important for people to support real journalism because the industry of journalism has the power to keep people informed on the happenings in their communities. Journalism also has the power to keep public officials and public happenings in check. People need to know what is going on in their communities so they can be citizens that make informed decisions. A community without communication and information is a community destined to fail.

It is important for the public to look for real journalistic reporting rather than believing everything they see on social media. Social media is a platform that is internationally structured to grab attention. This causes misleading information and misleading quotes to be in the public eye, right in the hand of the reader, on their phone screen. Social media is extremely popular and is in the hands of many people. Misinformation can be spread quickly on any social media platform and people can easily accept untrue information as fact. All people have a voice on social media, and many people use that voice to spread incorrect information.

I think that journalism is changing. Many people say that journalism is dying, but would not go that far. Print journalism is becoming less popular, there is no doubt about that. Online journalism is where the industry seems to be moving and where companies need to start moving their content. Journalism is by no means dead, as some people say. It’s changing. We just need to learn to change with it.

The obvious question one may ask as they consider a subscription is why would anyone pay for a free paper?

Let me share what your paid subscription does. First, it offsets the rising cost of newsprint.

Your subscription also helps offset some of the costs of keeping top notch staff and reporters who provide our readers a newspaper rich in content. Finally, paid subscriptions subsidize the cost of delivery, allowing the paper to be available to everyone in the community who wants it.

We need your support through a subscription more than ever. In many of our markets we have limited participation among readers, yet we know regular readers enjoy our product. Again, thank you to all our past supporters who have been with us through the ups and downs.

If you have read or learned something that was beneficial to your family or life in our community in the past month, I would like to ask you to subscribe today by calling our office, filling out the envelope or flyer that was stuffed in all of our newspapers or subscribe online at www.presspubs.com. Thank you for your consideration.

Sebastian Studier is a contributing writer at Press Publications.

Movers and shakers

Dean Ridings

Americans have more media options than ever. We are inundated with stories, memes, videos and promotions 24 hours a day. Most of us are on social media, which is built to provide an endless feed of content to keep us glued to our screens. And unfortunately, misinformation is prevalent and much of that content isn’t factchecked, verified or professionally produced. The result is that we’re not always shown what we need to know, or the information that is most likely to impact our lives. That’s where local newspapers come in. Your local newspaper takes a different approach.

National Newspaper Week is a good opportunity to recognize the commitment that local newspapers make to the communities they serve. Your local newspaper is just that – local. It hires reporters who are trained to provide reliable information about the issues that matter most. Whether it’s the latest happening from the local school board, changes in real estate zoning, high school football scores or a review of that new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try,

Election season is considered to be when filing first begins until the day of the election. Limited to 350 words. Paid letters running longer will be charged $10 per 30 words after that.

Letters are free unless endorsing a candidate, party or question on the ballot. Endorsement letters will have a $45 fee. Please call 651-407-1200 to arrange payment by credit card or mail a check payable to Press Publications to 4779 Bloom Ave, White Bear Lake, MN, 55110. Endorsement letters are

newspapers deliver what’s important to you.

Your local newspaper is far more than just print. In the ever-changing media landscape, local newspapers have evolved to true multi-channel content providers. From websites to apps, emails, newsletters, video and podcasts, local newspapers are delivering news in innovative ways. As a reader, you get to choose when and where to get the news you need, and no matter the method, can always be assured what you’re reading is credible and reliable.

Although the format or device readers use to connect with their local newspaper might vary, it’s clear that newspapers are relied on as the source for local news. A recent national study conducted by the independent research firm Coda Ventures shows that 79% of Americans use local newspapers to stay informed about their communities and depend on them to feel connected and to decide where they stand on local issues and to find places and things to do. Further, six out of 10 American adults use newspaper advertising to help them decide what brands, products and local services to buy. It’s clear that local newspapers are vital to healthy communities.

In spite of the new ways to connect with your local newspaper, it’s true that the newspaper industry is facing significant challenges. Rising costs, national competitors and the impact of Big Tech companies using newspa-

pers’ content without compensation have all impacted your local newspaper. Now, more than ever, we need their commitment to journalism's core values. As we recognize National Newspaper Week, let’s focus on the vital role that newspapers play, and consider how we can support them. Subscribing or advertising in your local newspaper not only supports the newspaper but is also an investment in your community.

On a national level, the Community News and Small Business Support Act (HR 4756) has recently been introduced in Congress. This bill would provide local newspapers with financial support for their newsroom employees, and would go a long way to providing your newspaper with support for the reporters and photographers that are sorely needed. Encourage your members of Congress to support this bill!

Whether you access the content from your local newspaper in print or online, remember that it is produced for you. And behind the articles, columns, and images your newspaper produces is a team of local residents who are committed to making your community stronger! Join me in thanking your local newspaper –during National Newspaper Week –for the good work it does to keep your community informed.

Dean Ridings is the CEO of America’s Newspapers.

LETTER GUIDELINES FOR ELECTION SEASON 2023

labeled, “paid letter.”

Letters for or against a candidate will qualify as paid letters. Submissions must include a full name, address and phone number for verification.

• Letter-writers must live, work or have another connection to Press Publications coverage area. Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues are not guaranteed publication. Repeat unpaid letters by the same writer about the same subject matter will not be published. Repeat paid endorsement letters will be

published as space permits.

Four weeks (or issues) must pass between publication of unpaid letters from the same writer. Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters at the editor’s discretion.

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

Letters by campaign managers or candidates designed to champion the candidate’s position on a specific issue will be accepted as paid letters.

• Letters reprinted as part of letter-writing campaigns are

paid letters.

All letters are subject to editing. We reserve the right to not publish any letter.

The deadline to submit a letter is 5 p.m. Wednesday the week prior to publication.

The last batch of letters to be printed before the Nov. 7 election will be printed in the Oct. 25 issue and must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.18.

To submit a letter, email news@ presspubs.com, fax it to 651-4291242 or mail/deliver it to Press Publications.

This week, and every week, newspapers are for you

Sebastian’s Script Sebastian Studior

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Community Unity Day was fun

On Saturday, Sept. 23, I attended the Vadnais Heights Community Unity Day, presented by Vadnais Heights Community Action Network (VHCAN) at Vadnais Heights community pavilion.

The opportunity to gather with other Vadnais Heights residents was nothing short of enjoyable. We were able to meet our community leaders, enjoy Liberian cuisine (casava leaf and rice), participate in a traditional Maori stick game and experience Bomba drumming. The Bomba musicians and dancers were engaging and delightful. It was great to see the kiddos and adults having so much fun.

Resident involvement and participation is essential and imperative in creating a unified community. I am hoping for another engagement activity in the near future!

Thank you, VHCAN!

Rebecca Lewis Vadnais Heights

Didn't like performance

On Monday, Sept. 17, I went to a play at the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake. The name of the play was, “What the Constitution Means to Me.”

It was a two-person play, and the actors I saw were fabulous and very talented. However, I stayed through only half the play. I was shocked at the content, as I consider myself a Constitution nut.

I expected some recognition and respect for the oldest active codified constitution in the world. I also expected some support for the law and order and government it established over 280 years ago.

Instead what I heard was complaints about the 14th Amendment meant to establish citizenship for black men following the Civil War and how inadequate it was in accomplishing that. The woman actor blamed “white males” for causing that inadequacy. Also she criticized the male treatment of women in our country and how it took until 1920 before women were finally given the vote. Blaming it all on the “white males” of America — especially Justice Antonin Scalia.

Secondary naming rights to help fund fieldhouse

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with City & County Credit Union for secondary naming rights of the fieldhouse at TCO Sports Garden in Vadnais Heights.

As part of the 10-year agreement, City & County Credit Union will invest $30,000 per year toward the facility. The funding will help Ramsey County provide high-quality programming and experiences for users at the fieldhouse.

The fieldhouse at the TCO Sports Garden, which includes three turf practice fields with room for spectators, hosts yearround youth and adult soccer, lacrosse and football teams.

She played snippets of conversation between Supreme Court Justices to prove her points. She mentioned the Ninth Amendment stating that rights not enumerated in the Constitution are retained by the people.

To balance the scales, she announced that the other actor, a (horror of all horrors) man, would say a few words. He did and it could be boiled down to: I'm a gay man and have been discriminated against my whole life.

Nothing about the 620,000 “men” who died in the Civil War trying to eliminate slavery here in the USA. Nothing about the fact that of the 198 countries in the world, the USA was the 21st one to give the vote to women, with Switzerland, Portugal, France, Germany and England finally doing it in 1971, 1976, 1944, 1918 and 1928. Do you know where the women's suffrage movement started in the 1840's? That's right — in the USA!

Lloyd Hansen Vadnais Heights

PAID LETTER

Great choice for Ward 3

Yes, it’s true! Early voting has already started for the Nov. 7 municipal, nonpartisan election in White Bear Lake! **

This election gives those of you who are in White Bear Lake Ward 3 (typical polling place Sunrise Park Middle School) the opportunity to vote for Andrea West, a candidate uniquely qualified to represent you for the next four years on the White Bear Lake City Council.

At a time when issues facing our community are increasingly complex and contentious, you can confidently vote for Andrea, knowing you are voting for a remarkable person who:

1. Is an approachable, caring, and competent advocate for you and our city. Having worked with Andrea on numerous projects, I can attest that she respectfully listens to, learns from and works with people of various perspectives. She then calmly and effectively prevents or solves problems, implementing “everybody-wins” options as much as possible. And she does not feel the need to take credit for successful outcomes!

2. Understands the strengths and

Downtown vintage shop hosts art classes, storytimes

Oldies & Goodies in downtown White Bear Lake is hosting several craft-making and familyfriendly events this month.

On Oct. 7, design a fall-themed bracelet with a DIY bead bar. The event is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Those interested in connecting with other artists and makers can join the “Coffee with Creatives” group, which meets from 9 to 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. On Oct. 14, the group will be making wooden pumpkin décor. The event is free and coffee is provided.

Also on Oct. 14 is a kids storytime and book signing with author Kelli Hofmeister.

issues unique to White Bear Lake and its future. Through her many years in municipal leadership, including successful tenures on the city’s Planning Commission and Housing Task Force, she is familiar with city matters, has positive working relationships with many city staff members and appreciates how things “get done.”

3. Respects the value of your dollars! As a manager working at a nonprofit organization, she knows how to spend money on important things while responsibly maintaining a budget.

I am so proud to call White Bear Lake my home. No community remains as vibrant as this one without ethical, capable, visionary leadership. We are so fortunate in this wonderful place to have a candidate with Andrea West’s passion, skills and experience willing to take on the challenges. Ward 3 voters: proudly vote Andrea!!

** “Off-year” elections are becoming increasingly critical for our democracy. Plan to inform yourself and vote every time you can. For election details, registration, sample ballot, etc., go to MNVotes.org.

Trudi Taylor White Bear Lake

Can’t dock in a full marina

I am not understanding why people think it’s acceptable to tie their boat in a marina that is full. All four marinas have been full for years, with people who pay $3,000 and up for their slip.

My slip at Tally’s is on the end of the dock. Many times this summer when I came back in someone was in my slip. There’s a pole at the end of the slip that says, “For Tally’s Customers Only.”  With the continued low lake levels,  the width between all the docks has shrunk making it harder to get out if your boat is at the end. Tally’s staff is great. They take mine and store it somewhere so I can at least go home. This summer, someone tied up to the end of the city dock on a very windy day. One of the poles came loose, and that section was listing but still attached.

Each marina has a maximum number of slips, and they legally can’t add anymore. So allowing people to tie up and hang out is against the

Families can stop in to hear her read “The Best Creature on the Reef” and learn about her scuba diving trips all over the world. On Oct. 28, kids are encouraged to dress in costume to hear local author Wayne McChesney read his children's book “The Tooth Pirates.” Both storytime events are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A pumpkin string art class will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27. Participants must be 16 or older, or attend with an adult. Registration for all events is encouraged, but not required. Go to oldiesandgoodiesmn.com/ classes-and-events for more information and to register. Oldies & Goodies is located at 4717 Clark Avenue, White Bear Lake.

rules set forth by the White Bear Lake Conversation District. If you want to hang out for the day on the lake, there are multiple spots where people throw an anchor to swim and have fun. There are places on the St Croix where you can tie up. I’d suggest that as an option.

Betsy Larey White Bear Lake

PAID LETTER Advocate for all residents

Andrea West has the experience and qualities to represent and be an effective advocate, not only for the residents of Ward 3, but all members of the White Bear Lake community. When I think of an effective representative on the council, I think of someone who has been engaged in making the community a better place for all residents and someone who has developed an understanding of the range of community issues. Andrea is that person.

Andrea is a 29-year resident of White Bear Lake, and her two sons graduated from White Bear Lake Area Schools.

Andrea has served on the Ramsey County Mental Health Advisory Committee and the White Bear Lake Housing Task Force, and is a member of the White Bear Area Neighborhood Concerned Citizens Group, which formed to hold Water Gremlin accountable for a history of emissions violations. She is currently on the White Bear Lake Planning Commission and the Ramsey County Library Board.

In addition to her understanding of community issues, Andrea has the skills and calm demeanor to be an effective City Council member. She has worked in nonprofit management for the past 25 years, consistently demonstrating expertise in listening, problem-solving, decision-making and identifying solutions with attention to detail.

I encourage all residents of Ward 3 to vote for Andrea, either in early voting, which began Sept. 22, or on Nov. 7. Please access more information on her website andreaforcitycouncil. org, where you will also find an interactive ward map.

Ellen Fahey White Bear Lake

CHURCH BRIEFS

Bring pets for special blessing

St. Stephen Lutheran Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church will team up for a Blessing of the Animals event at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct 7. All leashed or crated pets are welcome, including dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, fish, reptiles, insects, farm animals and even stuffed animals. This community event will be held at Wedgewood Park, 211 Wedgewood Drive, Mahtomedi. For more information, visit StStephenWBL.org or RedeemerWhiteBear.org.

Annual pumpkin patch coming soon

The annual pumpkin patch is opening at noon Sunday, Oct. 15, and will run through Oct. 31 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 3676 Centerville Road, Vadnais Heights. Hours will be noon to dusk Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to dusk Saturday; and noon to dusk on Sunday. Pumpkins galore!

White Bear’s largest water body makes A grade for quality

BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER

As area lakes go, most are average when it comes to quality, earning a “C” grade by the Metropolitan Council. White Bear Lake, however, is a star pupil that consistently gets an “A”.

That puts the 2,400-acre lake is an elite group of metro water bodies, according to Matt Kocian, who says only 16% of metro lakes get an “A”.

As lake and stream program manager for the Rice Creek Watershed District, it’s Kocian’s job to monitor about 30 of the district’s 50-plus lakes. He collects and analyzes water quality and quantity, invertebrate life, aquatic plants and fish, sharing the information with both local and state agencies. He also gives technical presentations to the public, something he did Sept. 26 at Wildwood Library.

When measuring quality, Kocian’s focus is on phosphorus (P) and chlorophyll-a, or algae. The two are the most likely suspects to impair water quality of state lakes and streams.

The state standard has a number of 40 for P. “White Bear Lake is nowhere near that,” Kocian noted.

He uses the terms quality and clarity interchangeably, he said, meaning the higher the quality, and the higher the clarity, the less algae is present. A white plate called a secchi disk is lowered into the lake to measure how clear the water is at different depths. In areas of White Bear Lake, that’s almost 20 feet.

“That is pretty incredible in our watershed,” Kocian said, “and some of the best water clarity in the district.” Rice Creek’s watershed covers 186 square miles, 28 cities and townships and three counties.

How does the lake compare to other lakes?

“White Bear Lake is closing in on really high clarity,” he said. “It’s not at the level of a Bound-

ary Water’s lake, but it’s still very clear.” Other district lakes, like Peltier and Centerville, are not so fortunate.

A major reason for the quality difference is size of the watershed, Kocian explained. White Bear Lake has a 2:1 watershed, meaning there are 2 acres of drainage for 1 acre of lake. Peltier has a huge watershed, something like 120:1, and some of the worst water quality in the district. Runoff carries P into Peltier Lake from multiple directions, including Forest Lake from the north and Bald Eagle from the south.

Invasive zebra mussels are partly responsible for the uptick in White Bear’s water clarity. Discovered in 2014, Kocian was part of the initial survey group with aquatics expert Steve McComas of Blue Water Science. Because the mussels were found in multiple locations, a rapid response with chemical treatment was not possible.

Clarity improves with the algae-eating mussels, which isn’t a bad thing,

but there are other impacts, said the program manager. They crowd out native mussels, congregate on hard structures and can clog water intakes.

The Minnesota Aquatic and Invasive Species Research Center is finding zebra mussels can impact the walleye population, Kocian added. The invasive species filter out food sources for young walleye, which can reduce growth rates.

“There is speculation as to whether zebra mussels are affecting the walleye population in Mille Lacs Lake,” he said.

There is something new regarding the lake’s zebra mussels. McComas has found dead zebra mussels attached to stems of Eurasian watermilfoil in the lake. Researchers believe the mussels may have reached a cyclable phase where they grow exponentially and then run out of food and die off, Kocian said.

Another invasive species found in White

Bear Lake, Eurasian watermilfoil, is propagating with native northern milfoil to produce a hybrid. “This is a concern because hybrids grow with more vigor and eventually become more herbicide resistant,” Kocian pointed out. The University of Minnesota has found several strains of hybrids that could be resistant. A strain has

been identified in Lake Minnetonka, but not White Bear Lake.

Watermilfoil isn’t the only abundant plant species. A survey commissioned by the district with Blue Water Science found the lake contains an unusual amount of diverse native plants.

A single rake throw (sampling is done using a steel rake) found 11 species in an area near the eastern shore. “I’ve never heard of that happening,” Kocian said. “Maybe in far northern Minnesota, but never in the metro area.

“Some sites had an incredible species diversity. Just to put it in perspective, a Clear Lake survey in 2020 found at best four species per rake. This level of diversity is unusual and a good thing,” Kocian said. “Native plants are part of a healthy lake system. Different species fulfill different roles in the eco-system. Large leaf pondweed and cabbage weed, for example, are good fish habitat. Muskie

fishermen love cabbage weed because that’s where the fish hang out. Other species are good for waterfowl. And all plants provide stability to lake sediments.”

Although it’s not part of his monitoring program, when a question was asked about pollutants, Kocian shared there has been some testing for PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) levels in fish by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health. PFOS is part of the PFAS family of harmful “forever chemicals” produced by 3M and detected in groundwater. White Bear Lake was included in the 2022 sampling and no significant levels were found, he said. Kocian added that three lakes, Clear Lake, Johanna and Little Johanna, had fish above the health threshold. At this point, most lakes have no data.

STEVE MCCOMAS | BLUE WATER SCIENCE

Dead zebra mussels found on a stem of Eurasian watermilfoil may indicate the start of a cyclable phase where the invasive species grow exponentially and then run out of food, so die off.

CONTRIBUTED

Program Manager Matt Kocian lowers a secchi disk into the lake to measure clarity.

CONTRIBUTED

This bar chart shows very small amounts of phosphorus (blue) and chlorophyll-a (green) in White Bear Lake.

Mahtomedi School District sets preliminary levy

BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Although the total levy is set to increase by $190,823.46, the school district portion of individual property taxes will go down, said Tim Erickson, director of business operations for the Mahtomedi School District.

The Mahtomedi School Board unanimously approved the Preliminary 2023 Payable 2024 Levy Certification for the 2024-25 school year.

The Final Payable 2023 Levy was $15,897,547.67, and the Proposed Payable 2024 Levy has temporarily been set at $16,088,371.13, an increase of $190,823.46.

"The levy is up — not a huge amount, but actually pretty good." Erickson said during what he called his "highly summarized presentation".

The General Fund levy actually went down, from $10.3 million in 2023 to $10.2 million in 2024. This is a decrease of $154,771.63.

The Community Education levy also went down, from $287,008.20 in 2023 to $185,487.42 in 2024. This is a decrease of $101.520.78.

However, debt service increased from $5.2 million in 2023 to $5.7 million in 2024 – an increase of $447,115.87.

The district must submit a preliminary levy to the county auditor by Oct. 2. The deadline for school districts to certify their final adopted levies to the county auditor is Dec. 28.

The reason for the almost threemonth gap between the two deadlines is the fluid financial figures available during that time.

Levy change drivers include enrollment updates and expenditure updates, Erickson said. Although the district

must submit preliminary figures to the county auditor at the end of September, final figures won't be available to the district for several months.

"These numbers are changing constantly," Erickson said. For example, the Minnesota Department of Education is doing updates on the levy, which could result in a six-figure change in the district's levy, he said.

The property tax impact is not yet known either, Erickson said. If Mahtomedi doesn't see any market value increase, the individual school taxes will go down 4%, Erickson said. If market values do go up, the city does't expect to see them go up very much, he said. The market value increase could be only .209%, he said.

If the city does see market value increases, a $350,000 home paying $1,583.34 for Payable 2023 taxes will become a $357,700 home and pay $1,554.48 for Payable 2024. This would be $28.76 less than last year, or a decrease of 1.82%.

A $400,000 home paying $1,821.05 for Payable 2023 taxes will become a $408,800 home and pay $1,788.70 for Payable 2024. This would be $32.34 less than last year, or a decrease of 1.78%.

A $500,000 home paying $2,279.66 for Payable 2023 will become a $511,000 home and pay $2,235.88 for Payable 2024. This would be $43.78 less than last year, or a decrease of 1.92%.

The board will have the chance to approve a more accurate levy in December at the Truth in Taxation meeting, scheduled for Dec. 7, at which time the final specific dollar amount will be certified.

Dorothy and Joel are officially retired

We would like to thank the White Bear Community for the years of support and the many friendships that were formed.

The goldsmiths and craftsmen you have learned to trust are going to continue to carry on the repairs, custom designs and special orders. We still have a selection of beautiful jewelry remaining for sale.

In the meantime, many of our window displays, cases and more will be offered for purchase. Items will be added to the sale as we clean through the store.

Again, we thank you all for your patronage."

8A WHITE BEAR PRESS

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:

MantraWear

2. The street address of the principal place of business is or will be:

18202 MINNETONKA BLVD WAYZATA MN 55391

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.

Create Space Health Inc.

4707 HIGHWAY 61 N, PMB 154

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: September 22, 2023

Signed: Courtney Weber

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

CITY OF MAHTOMEDI

WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA

NOTICE OF PROJECT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT HEARING

STILLWATER ROAD (CSAH 12) PHASE 2

STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

NOTICE is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Mahtomedi will hold a public hearing and meet in the City Council Chambers at 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, to consider the making of the following improvements for the Stillwater Road (CSAH 12) Phase 2 Street Improvement on Stillwater Road from west of Hallam Avenue/East Avenue to Ideal Avenue.

STILLWATER ROAD (CSAH 12) PHASE 2 STREET IMPROVEMENT

PROJECT.

The area proposed to be specially assessed is generally described as properties abutting or with direct access to Stillwater Road Street from west of Hallam Avenue/East Avenue to Ideal Avenue. The roadway improvements include full street and storm sewer rehabilitation, signalization, pedestrian and safety improvements and associated utility improvements.

ESTIMATED COST OF PROJECT -

$7,000,000 - The estimated cost includes construction and overhead costs for the project. The overhead costs include funds for administration, legal, fiscal, engineering design, preparation of plans and specifications, field surveying, and inspection. The overhead costs are estimated as a percentage of the construction cost. The estimated unit prices for construction costs are based on actual bid tabulations from recent local projects of similar scope. The project cost estimates reflect the estimated construction cost, which includes contractor costs for labor, equipment and materials. Estimated costs include all utility improvement costs associated with the street improvements.

The area proposed to be specially assessed is generally described as properties along Stillwater Road from west of Hallam Avenue/East Avenue to Ideal Avenue. These properties (proposed to be specially assessed) are more particularly described in the project feasibility study by Washington County Tax Parcel Identification Numbers, and the parcel owners according to the Washington County Property Tax Records are listed in the project feasibility study.

The project is proposed to be specially assessed against tax parcels abutting said improvements. The area, described above, will be subject to special assessment of the project costs pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429. The City’s Consulting Engineer will be present to describe the physical and financial impact of the proposed project as described in the project feasibility study and proposed plans and specifications. Persons desiring to be heard with reference to the proposed improvements will be heard at said time and place of the public hearing. Written or oral objections will be considered at the public hearing.

The City’s assessment policy and a project feasibility study are on file with the City Clerk and the City’s Consulting Engineer. The City’s assessment policy and the feasibility study are immediately available for public inspection by contacting the City’s City Clerk Jerene Rogers at City Hall, 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, Minnesota 55115, or by telephone at 651-426-3344.

The feasibility study includes a reasonable estimate of the total amount to be assessed, and a description of the methodology used to calculate individual assessments for affected parcels. Any updates on estimated assessment amounts will be available at the hearing together with the assessment methodology. A reasonable estimate of the total amount to be assessed, and a description of the methodology used to calculate individual assessments for all affected parcels will be available at the hearing.

Jerene Rogers, City Clerk

Published two times in the White Bear Press on September 27 and October 4, 2023.

CITY OF WHITE BEAR LAKE

A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE TITLE AND SUMMARY APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE NO. 23-09-2070

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING REGULATIONS IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF WHITE BEAR LAKE REGARDING TOBACCO PRODUCTS SHOPS AND EDIBLE CANNABINOID BUSINESSES

WHEREAS, the City of White Bear Lake City Council may, pursuant to Ordinance No. 83-6-666, adopt a title and summary of a proposed ordinance to be published in lieu of lengthy entire ordinances, and

WHEREAS, in addition to adopting a title and ordinance summary, the Council shall direct the City Clerk to:

1. Have available for inspection during regular office hours a copy of the entire ordinance.

2. Post a copy of the entire ordinance at the Public Library

3. Receive an affidavit of publication of the title and summary from the official newspaper.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of White Bear Lake City Council hereby adopts the aforementioned title and summary for approved Ordinance No. 23-09-2070 as listed below:

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING REGULATIONS IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF WHITE BEAR LAKE REGARDING

TOBACCO PRODUCT SHOPS AND EDIBLE CANNABINOID BUSINESSES

The text amendment adds a section to Chapter 1302 regarding the zoning of tobacco products shops and edible cannabinoid businesses in White Bear Lake city limits.

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of White Bear Lake City Council hereby directs the City Clerk to provide the inspection and publication requirements as listed above.

The foregoing resolution, offered by Councilmember Edberg and supported by Councilmember Engstran, was carried unanimously on September 26, 2023.

Dan Louismet, Mayor

ATTEST: Caley Longendyke, City Clerk

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

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 832 MAHTOMEDI,

MN 55115

MINUTES AUGUST 24, 2023

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of Mahtomedi Public Schools was held August 24, 2023, beginning at 7:00 PM.- CALL TO ORDER- Meeting was called to order by Chair Stacey Stout at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL OF ATTENDANCE- Present: Ryan Domin; Paul Donna; Lucy Payne; Jenny Peterson; Kelly Reagan; and Stacey Stout. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA- Reagan motioned; Domin seconded; Approval of Agenda. Carried 6-0. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA- Donna motioned, Peterson seconded; Approval of Consent Agenda. Carried 6-0.ACTION ITEMS- A.) Approval of Donations/Grants from July 2023 Totaling $1600.00. Domin motioned, Peterson seconded; Approval of Donations for July 2023 Totaling $1600.00 Carried 6-0. CLOSED SESSION -Domin motioned, Reagan seconded; Approval for Closed Session for Discussion of labor negotiations strategies or developments in closed session, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 13D.03 - Superintendent Contract. Carried 6-0. Meeting closed at 9:31 p.m. OPEN SESSION- Payne motioned, Domin seconded; approval to open session. Carried 6-0. Meeting opened at 9:34 p.m. ADJOURNMENT- Payne motioned, Domin seconded; adjournment. Carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Submitted by: Kelly Reagan, Clerk. A full version of the minutes are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us Published one time in the White Bear Press on October 4, 2023.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 832

MAHTOMEDI, MN 55115

MINUTES SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

A Study Session of the Board of Education of Mahtomedi Public Schools was held September 7, 2023, beginning at 7:00 PM.- CALL TO ORDERMeeting was called to order by Chair Stacey Stout at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL OF ATTENDANCE- Present: Ryan Domin; Paul Donna; Lucy Payne; Jenny Peterson; Kelly Reagan; and Stacey Stout. Also present: Barb Duffrin, Superintendent; Dr. Jennifer Reichel, Director of Teaching and Learning; Alice Seuffert, Director of Communications; Nicole Flesner, Director of Human Resources; Tim Erickson, Director of Business Services; Kate Andersen, Director of Community Education; and Leslie Lovas, Executive Assistant to Superintendent & School Board. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA- Donna motioned, Domin seconded; Approval of Agenda. Carried 6-0. DISCUSSION/INFORMATION

ITEMS-

A.) Preliminary Audit - Superintendent Barb Duffrin presented the Preliminary Audit Update for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 to the School Board. Before the review, Duffrin introduced Tim Erickson, who will replace Jeff Priess as the new Director of Business Services. Duffrin then went over the Statute required by the State of Minnesota and how, by November 30, the school district must provide the commission-audited financial data for the preceding year. Duffrin went over the audit timeline that started in June 2023 and completed an audit status of fieldwork on August 4, 2023. The school district should receive an unmodified opinion: the highest and best opinion. Duffrin said potential findings could be the Segregation of duties; Erickson explained it as not having enough staff to segregate the duties, which is common with smaller districts. Duffrin highlighted the increase in Unassigned fund balance to 13% of Expenditures; the Fund 20 Proprietary Fund is positive as of June 20, 2023, with HRA funded through December 31, 2023. The unassigned fund balance is at $5,951,326. Erickson will give a complete presentation of the audit at a later date. B.) Superintendent Goals - Superintendent Barb Duffrin presented her 2023-2024 School Year Strategic Plan District goals to the School Board. Duffrin advised the School Board that there are three focus areas and asked the School Board to review each focus area, starting with the strategy focus area Agency and spend time on each goal to allow asking questions. Duffrin mentioned that her goals are the goals of the district team tied to the new strategic plan and that the district team was present for questions. The School board went over each strategy area and results statement connections. Duffrin did mention that this goal is connected to the World’s Best Workforce. The School Board also asked Duffrin to change the name of the goals from District goals to Superintendent goals. Duffrin will rewrite some goals for added clarity and work with School Board Chair Stacey Stout. Duffrin will send out a draft next week to the School board. These will come back to the School Board for approval at the next School Board Meeting. C.) School Board Goals - School Board Chair Stacey Stout presented to the School Board the 20232024 School Board goals that are connected to the Superintendent’s goals. Stout will rewrite these goals and send a draft to the board next week before approval. Payne motioned to recess for 5 minutes, Stout seconded; to recess for 5- minutes. Carried 6-0. The meeting recessed at 9:00 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:05 p.m. D.) E-Learning Family Survey - Superintendent Barb Duffrin presented to the school board the results from the E-learning survey that closed on August 28, which was information requested from the School Board. Duffrin gave the board the purpose of e-learning, including allowing students to work from home avoiding dangerous commutes during inclement weather. Overall, families at Wildwood and O.H. Anderson valued e-learning days, strongly agreeing at 89-92% that their child knew what they were doing on an e-learning day but still wanted more opportunities for students to continue learning during the day. Wildwood and O.H. Anderson’s feedback included having more printable activities, outdoor and active choice activities, and more video messages from the teacher. Middle School feedback included 93% of respondents strongly agreeing that their child knew what they were doing during e-learning days, with feedback themes that included having more teacher voice, follow-up on uncompleted assignments, video messages from the teacher, and more challenging work for those who need it. Mahtomedi High School participants strongly agreed at 92% that their child knew what they were doing on e-learning day; but offered feedback to have more opportunities for their child to continue learning, provide more active check-in’s for attendance, follow-up incomplete work, and more high-level engagement. Duffrin stated that the next steps will include Principals reviewing the feedback with teachers on improving academic engagement during e-learning days. E.) Policies - Superintendent Duffrin reviewed two policies group recommendations from the Policy Committee. The first group of policies, the policy committee recommends passage with one reading. Policy 102 – Equal Educational Opportunity; Policy 424 – License Status; Policy 507- Corporal Punishment; Policy 513 – Student Promotion, Retention, and Program Design; Policy 532 –Use of Peace Officers and Crisis Teams to Remove Students with IEP’s from School Grounds; Policy 602 – Organization of School Calendar and School Day; Policy 603 – Curriculum Development; Policy 604 – Instructional Curriculum; Policy 708 – Transportation of Nonpublic Students. Duffrin then spoke on the second group of policies; that require multiple readings. Policy 419 – Tobacco-Free Environment; Policy 419 – Drug-Free Workplace Drug-Free School; Policy 806 – Crisis Management Review. Duffrin asked the board to email her questions regarding all these policies before they move forward to the board for approval or multiple readings. F.) School Board Calendar - Superintendent Duffrin reviewed with the School Board the School Board calendar that included retreat days; but the discussion was still on the first meeting to change from January 4 to January 3, 2024. The agreed to change the first meeting to January 3 and will vote on that change at the next school board meeting. Retreat dates did not work for many board members and discussion was still on changing the later dates in 2024 to Monday. Duffrin will ask other parties how changing the Board’s meetings to Monday’s would impact them.

School Board Chair Stout will look at other retreat days. ADJOURNMENTPeterson motioned, Domin seconded; adjournment. Carried 6-0. Meeting was adjourned at 10:08 p.m. Submitted by: Kelly Reagan, Clerk.

A full version of the minutes are available at www.mahtomedi.k12.mn.us

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

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF HEARING ON ASSESSMENTS FOR IMPROVEMENT 2022-5

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the Town Board of the Town of White Bear, Minnesota, will meet at Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Road, in the Town of White Bear, Minnesota, at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2023, to hear and pass upon objections, if any, to the proposed assessment in respect of Improvement 2022-5. A reasonable estimate of the impact of the assessments will be available at the hearing.

The proposed assessment roll is now on file and open to public inspection by all interested persons in the office of the Town Clerk. Each of these assessments will be payable, unless prepaid, in ten equal, annual consecutive installments, the first such installment will be payable with the general taxes payable in the year 2024, collectable with such taxes during the year 2024. The first installment will be payable with interest at the rate of 6.00% per annum on the entire assessment from October 16, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and each subsequent installment will be payable with one year’s interest at said rate on all unpaid installments.

The general nature of the improvement is set forth as follows: construction of construction of bituminous paving, concrete curb and gutter, storm drainage and other appurtenances thereto within the following area of the Township including: Gilfillan Lane, Greenhaven Drive, Moon Lake Circle, Crescent Curve, Meadowlands Drive, North Birch Lake Boulevard and Birch Bend Lane, Ramsey County, Minnesota.

The proposed area to be assessed for such improvement is every lot, piece or parcel of land benefitted within the area of the improvement, to-wit: Gilfillan Lane, Greenhaven Drive, Moon Lake Circle, Crescent Curve, Meadowlands Drive, North Birch Lake Boulevard and Birch Bend Lane, Ramsey County, Minnesota.

The total amount to be assessed is $899,000.00.

An owner may appeal an assessment to the District Court pursuant to Section 429.081 of Minnesota Statutes, by serving Notice of the appeal upon the Chair of the Town Board or the Clerk of the Town within thirty (30) days after the adoption of the assessment and filing such Notice with the Clerk of the District Court within ten (10) days after service upon the Town Board Chair or Town Clerk providing a written objection signed by the affected property owner is filed with the municipal clerk prior to the assessment hearing or presented to the presiding officer at the hearing. Sections 435.193 to 435.195 provide that a Town making a special assessment may, at its discretion, defer the payment of that special assessment for any homestead property owner by a person 65 years of age or older from whom it would be a hardship to make the payments.

The Town of White Bear has elected to defer some special assessments and has adopted Ordinance No. 53 establishing the standards and guidelines.

Dated: September 18, 2023.

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PATRICK CHRISTOPHERSON, Clerk-Treasurer

Published two times in the White Bear Press on September 27 and October 4, 2023.

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF HEARING ON ASSESSMENTS FOR IMPROVEMENT 2022-6

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the Town Board of the Town of White Bear, Minnesota, will meet at Heritage Hall, 4200 Otter Lake Road, in the Town of White Bear, Minnesota, at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2023, to hear and pass upon objections, if any, to the proposed assessment in respect of Improvement 2022-6. A reasonable estimate of the impact of the assessments will be available at the hearing.

The proposed assessment roll is now on file and open to public inspection by all interested persons in the office of the Town Clerk. Each of these assessments will be payable, unless prepaid, in ten equal, annual consecutive installments, the first such installment will be payable with the general taxes payable in the year 2024, collectable with such taxes during the year 2024. The first installment will be payable with interest at the rate of 6.00% per annum on the entire assessment from October 16, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and each subsequent installment will be payable with one year’s interest at said rate on all unpaid installments.

The general nature of the improvement is set forth as follows: construction of bituminous paving, concrete curb and gutter, storm drainage and other appurtenances thereto within the following area of the Township including: Hammond Road and Township Parkway Ramsey County, Minnesota.

The proposed area to be assessed for such improvement is every lot, piece or parcel of land benefitted within the area of the improvement, to-wit: Hammond Road and Township Parkway Ramsey County, Minnesota.

The total amount to be assessed is $308,000.00.

An owner may appeal an assessment to the District Court pursuant to Section 429.081 of Minnesota Statutes, by serving Notice of the appeal upon the Chair of the Town Board or the Clerk of the Town within thirty (30) days after the adoption of the assessment and filing such Notice with the Clerk of the District Court within ten (10) days after service upon the Town Board Chair or Town Clerk providing a written objection signed by the affected property owner is filed with the municipal clerk prior to the assessment hearing or presented to the presiding officer at the hearing. Sections 435.193 to 435.195 provide that a Town making a special assessment may, at its discretion, defer the payment of that special assessment for any homestead property owner by a person 65 years of age or older from whom it would be a hardship to make the payments.

The Town of White Bear has elected to defer some special assessments and has adopted Ordinance No. 53 establishing the standards and guidelines.

Dated: September 18, 2023.

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PATRICK CHRISTOPHERSON, Clerk-Treasurer

Published two times in the White Bear Press on September 27 and October 4, 2023.

US STORAGE CENTERS - WHITE BEAR

NOTICE OF SELF STORAGE SALE

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

Published two times in the White Bear Press on September 27 and October 4, 2023.

A bi-weekly section where readers will be informed on subjects of seasonal interest, upcoming events and other timely topics.

CLERK’S CORNER – Greetings from the Township! Fall is here & I would like to address an ongoing topic here at the Township. Due to the impact that Hockey Day Minnesota made on Township property, our Public Works department has been engaged in restoring both of our soccer fields at Polar Lakes Park. And though the impact on the fields was enough to have to find accommodations for events elsewhere around the area, we fully expect that these fields will be open for use beginning Spring 2024.

We would like to thank all of our residents for their patience during this summer’s edition of road construction season! We are wrapping up major improvement projects in multiple neighborhoods of the Township as part of our 10-year street management

program & everything has gone off with very little to impede progress. If you are interested in where your road(s) may fall in our plan, please feel free to reference the Township’s website for further information.

Enjoy your Autumn!

HYDRANT FLUSHING TO BEGIN SOON

– Within the next few weeks White Bear Township Public Works will begin to flush hydrants & watermains throughout the Township. Some residents may experience discoloration in the water. Residents can open their lowest level faucet to clear the line. It is not advisable to wash clothes if the water is discolored.

STREET SWEEPING HAPPENING

LATER THIS MONTH – Toward the end of the month, sweeping of the Township streets will begin, weather permitting.

Sweeping is typically done as late in the season as is feasible in order to capture the most leaves. This does not mean blow or rake the remaining leaves in your yard into the street; those should still be properly disposed of.

VACANCIES ON TOWNSHIP BOARDS & COMMISSIONS – There are vacant spots the Township is hoping to fill on the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) & the Utility Commission. Interested in learning more? Check out our website to read about the purposes of these boards/commissions & complete an application!

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TOWNSHIP DAY – Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate this year’s White Bear Township Day. It was a beautiful day that would not have taken place without the help

from our sponsors, volunteers, vendors, & amazing team. Thank you to Viking Automotive for putting on a spectacular car show with over 120 cars in attendance & to Trinity Automotive for sponsoring the Touch-A-Truck. Looking forward to seeing you all at next year’s event.

SNOWPLOW NAMING CONTEST – There are only two weeks left to submit your name suggestion for our new snowplow. We need your appropriate, creative, witty, punny, & fun ideas! The submission form can be found on our website & Facebook page & will be open until October 15, 2023. Township employees will vote on their favorites & 10 submissions will make it to the final round!

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Looks to build staff for public safety in the community

plenty of full-time jobs out there. So that is just a sign of the times we’re in. For whatever reasons they decided to go to other agencies which was a bummer for us.”

Peterson said the fire department is having a busy year. It has 16 full-time firefighters/paramedics and 21 part-time employees. It also had to relocate operations while the public safety building is under construction. “We have adapted well and continue to provide excellent service,” he said.

“As far as future full-time staffing goes, that is really what we want to continue to do and I know that it’s proposed to have a couple more hired for next year, which is great,” Peterson said. “It will do all of these things that will help to improve our service level so we have proper coverage. That will give us more of a consistent response that creates safer working conditions, will reduce stress, reduce injuries and will help to attract and retain employees.”

The fire department serves the cities of White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Dellwood, Birchwood and Gem Lake.

“It’s about 35 square miles just over 40,000 people that we serve in that area,” Peterson said. “It’s a big service area and it’s a lot of responsibility.”

The volume of calls the fire department received in 2022 was approximately 80% of medical calls and 20% of fire calls. He noted this is a national trend for fire departments that do both EMS services and fire services.

“Our call volume is always something that people ask about,” Peterson said. “Last year’s volume ended at 5,283. This year, we’re about on pace for the same call volume.”

Mayor Dan Louismet asked about the future delivery of a new fireboat.

“We were told November is when they expect to deliver it to us,” Peterson replied. “It seems they started

BEST TEACHER: ‘1st grade is the best’

FROM PAGE 1A

(and) Minneapolis and I worked for a program called Totus Tuus, which is basically a religious summer camp. My boss at the camp had kids that went to St. Jude’s, and that’s what kind of put St. Jude’s on the map for me.”

Throughout her teaching career, Vitullo has only taught first grade. She said one of her favorite things about her job is the creative aspect of teaching.

“First graders are so fun and excited about their learning journey.,” Vitullo said. “They grow so much during the year and start to become independent readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists and future saints. I always say that my students are the only ones who share my enthusiasm for life. They fill my days with so much color, fun and laughter.”

Vitullo wants to thank everyone who voted

for her in the “Best Of” contest.

“Words cannot express how touched and honored I am for being voted best teacher,” she said. “It is a joy to serve such amazing students

CONTRIBUTED

and their families. At St. Jude of the Lake, I am surrounded by so many amazing educators, so I am only a reflection of the awesome staff that I get to teach alongside every day.”

building it in August. They seem to be on time and we’re hopeful. I can tell you that as long as there isn’t ice on the lake, we will have it in the water, even being bundled up out there so we can practice.”

Peterson said the fire department continues to seek ways to support the community and is exploring partnerships with other organizations to provide additional benefits to the people the fire department serves.

FLOWER PROGRAM: City looks to involve community with donations

FROM PAGE 1A

charge of the planting and care of the flowers.

“This year, I planted roughly 2,472 petunias and grasses,” Loose said. “Usually, I have three seasonal workers helping me, so it's the four of us with eight hands going to every single bed. We remove the dirt from the winter with the salt that goes in there, then we put hard dirt in and then we plant. I have about 400 plants and 67 hanging baskets.”

Loose noted the city has received many compliments about the flowers this year. “I put a lot of pride into my work,” she said.

According to Wietecki, the program started years ago when a man donated to the city to put flowers throughout downtown.

“It started with the hanging baskets, and it's grown into pots at Railroad Park to the beds next to the trees,” Wietecki said. “We form this into our city budget and that's how we've been paying for it since the gentleman — I don't know if he moved or passed away — but since his donations stopped a few years back, it's absorbed into our city function.”

This year, the city rolled out the downtown flower program.

“This helps offset some of the costs, because it's grown into a huge program,” Wietecki said. “The cost of what we spend on mulch is a lot, and we go through over 120 yards of mulch a year. We don't mulch yearly, but we top it off to give it a fresh appearance. We want our downtown to look beautiful.”

People can choose from three different donation styles to support a flower bed, hanging basket or pot for a price. Wietecki said the city is getting a good response from the community.

“I know everybody says it's hard planting flowers, but when you really look at the time that's spent from four individuals working on everything to get ready, it is a massive amount of time,” Wietecki said. “But the other thing is just that sense of community. Putting all this in here for the community and for the events that we hold in this town is worth it. How beautiful it looks, and hats off to the city for supporting this and doing this for everybody that comes into the city.”

Donations for the downtown flower program are being accepted until Nov. 31 and are tax-deductible. For more information, go to https://www.whitebearlake.org/parksrec/page/downtown-flower-program. Questions can be directed to the city clerk at clerk@ whitebearlake.org or 651-429-8508.

(From left) Greg Wheelock, Ben Horner, Chris Dvorak and Alex Weil are sworn-in as new firefighters/paramedics for the White Bear Lake Fire Department at a City Council meeting.

Shannon Vitullo with her first-grade students at St. Jude of the Lake. She was voted the best teacher in the Best of the Press Contest.

Meet new Lakeshore Players’ executive director

BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR

While growing up in a small town in Texas, Darby Lunceford decided to audition for the play “On Golden Pond.”

“At the ripe old age of 13, I went out to the community theater, the Athens, and got the role of Billy in “On Golden Pond,” Lunceford said. “I thought it was the coolest thing in the world because I got to cuss on stage. I caught the bug after that.”

Lunceford is the new executive director at the Lake Players Theatre. He has served as interim director since November 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Darby formally move into this leadership role at Lakeshore Players Theatre,” said Peggy Witthaus, board president.

“For the past year, Darby has been a tremendous partner, a visionary thinker and collaborator, working hand-in-hand with the board and staff to advance our programming strategies and create more effective operations. Given the momentum the organization has achieved over the past year, Darby was an obvious choice to continue in this role.”

According to a Lakeshore Players Theatre, as executive director, Lunceford will oversee a robust season of theater productions, education programs, concerts and other arts experiences geared for all ages. He is also charged with managing the Hanifl Performing Arts Center, the premier theater and entertainment facility serving the northeast metro of the Twin Cities and beyond, owned and operated by Lakeshore Players. In addition to Lakeshore programming, the Hanifl Performing Arts Center is also the resident home of Children’s Performing Arts and hosts a variety of rental partners.

“Over the course of my tenure as interim executive director, I have had the privilege of gaining an in-depth

understanding of Lakeshore Players’ mission, values and operations, deepening my commitment to this organization and reinforcing my belief in its potential to make a lasting impact,” Lunceford said. “I’m honored to be chosen for this role and look forward to the incredible opportunities ahead of us.”

Before joining Lakeshore Players Theatre, Lunceford was the executive director of The Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin. He also served as the chief marketing officer of the Minnesota Opera and held positions as the director of marketing and communications for the Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis and the Shakespeare Theatre

Company of Washington, D.C.

He has extensive national and international experience in arts management having worked for various Broadway production companies and served as a senior managing consultant for Target Resource Group, a premier arts consulting firm. Additionally, Lunceford was on the board of the Minnesota Theater Alliance for five years, also serving as board chair.

Lunceford noted he learned a lot of the aspects of theater at the Theatre School at DePaul University.

“I was just in a general theater studies course and I got to learn about all parts of the theater,” Lunceford said. “It was a well-rounded education and a great program to go through when someone like me who decided pretty early on that they weren't going to be on the stage, but still wanted to learn all they could about behind the stage.”

Lunceford lives in Stillwater with his husband Todd and their two dogs — Roxy and Truman. He is excited to be named the executive director for the Lakeshore Players.

“I'm a very inclusive leader in the sense that I'm utilizing the entire staff in the season planning process because I want everybody's voice at the table because once they are part of that process,” Lunceford said. “I think we've done really great things with the organization. The staff is really building capacities so I just see really great opportunities. I see a place where I can still keep making a difference and that's a big driver for me when I'm able to be in that role.”

Darby Lunceford is the new executive director at Lakeshore Players Theatre.

PHOTOS BY ANNA BOTZ | CONTRIBUTED Darby Lunceford Celebrates at the 2022 Lakeshore Player Gala with Board Member Terri Dresen.

“I’m honored to be chosen for this role and look forward to the incredible opportunities ahead of us.”

Darby Lunceford Executive Director Lakeshore Players

WHITE BEAR LAKE POLICE REPORTS

The White Bear Lake Police Department reports the following selected incidents:

• Officers responded Sept. 20 to a report of disorderly conduct in the 3500 block of Century Avenue.

• An officer took a report Sept. 20 of a stolen bicycle in the 2100 block of Orchard Lane.

• An officer took a report of harassment Sept. 22 in the 4700 block of Highway 61.

• Disorderly conduct was reported Sept. 23 in the 3900 block of Hoffman Road.

• Officers mediated a dispute between neighbors Sept. 23 in the 3100 block of Karth Road.

• Officers responded to a theft in progress Sept. 23 in the 900 block of Wildwood Road.

• Assault was reported Sept. 23 in the 1400 block of County Road E. Citation issued.

• An officer took a report Sept. 23 of a 'theft' that occurred at a business in the block of Buerkle Road the day prior. The case is under investigation.

• Officers responded to a disorderly conduct report Sept. 24 in the 1600 block of 4th Street.

• Officers were dispatched Sept. 24 to the 3200 block of White Bear Avenue on multiple reports of shots being fired at the location and at least one gunshot wound victim. Officer's encountered a bar patron who had been struck by gunfire and two suspects started shooting at each other in the parking lot following a verbal dispute inside the bar. Investigation is ongoing at this time.

• Officers responded to a report of disorderly conduct Sept. 25 in the 3500 block of Hoffman Road. A citation was issued.

• An officer received a report of a residential 'burglary' that occurred Sept. 26 in the block of Lakeaires Avenue. The case is under investigation.

• An officer took a theft report from a business Sept. 26 in the 2700 block of County Road E. Loss estimated at $150.

• A woman was arrested Sept. 26 after shoplifting near the 2600 block of County Road E East. She was issued a misdemeanor citation.

Noelle Olson

RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS

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

Vadnais Heights

• A Brooklyn Park man reported theft by swindle Aug. 24, following a Facebook Marketplace transaction in a business parking lot in the 800 block of County Road E. When the complainant returned to pick up a vehicle he was trying to sell, it was missing. After conducting some research, a Ramsey County Sheriff's Office (RCSO) investigator found that the vehicle had been towed and was in the towing company impound lot.

• A resident in the 4200 block of Desoto Street reported his unlocked vehicle rummaged through while it was parked in the driveway overnight Aug. 24-25.

The garage door opener had been stolen, and the garage door was left partway open. A check of the garage found nothing missing or out of place, however.

• A business in the 900 block of County Road E reported accepting a counterfeit $100 bill on Aug. 25. Deputies collected the phony bill and placed it into property.

• The Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center on Aug. 25 reported an unauthorized wire transfer from a vulnerable adult in the 400 block of Vadnais Lake

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS

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

Birchwood

• Cedar Street residents reported a tree for falling on their home, as well as on the neighbor's home Aug. 28. The neighboring home was unoccupied at the time because it was owned by a rental company and still vacant. Grant

• Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on 75th Street N. and Keats Avenue N. for speeding 70 mph in a 55 mph zone on Aug. 25. Deputies conducted another traffic stop on Aug. 26 in the 11000 block of Manning Trail N. and issued a citation.

• Theft from a construction trailer parked at a residential construction site in the 7000 block of Lone Oak Trail N. was reported Aug. 28. The complainant wasn't sure whether the trailer had been locked, because there were no signs of forced entry.

• An abandoned bike was reported found Aug. 28 near Jewel Avenue N. and 84th Street N. After deputies took pictures and recorded the serial number, they notified the public works department to come along and retrieve the bike.

• Multiple tools and equipment were reported stolen from a

Drive that resulted in a loss of $2,200.

• A Burnsville man reported criminal damage to his vehicle Aug. 26 after one of his tires was found slashed in the 4300 block of Thornhill Drive. As the suspect is known, the case has been sent to the city attorney for consideration of charges.

• Multiple victims from Wisconsin, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Hugo and Lino Lakes reported their vehicles broken into Aug. 26 during a softball tournament in the 1400 block of County Road H2. Three vehicles in total had their rear driver’s side windows smashed in and various items taken. Fraudulent charges were made on stolen credit cards at the Vadnais Heights Walmart. The case is under investigation.

• The Town of White Bear Township reported graffiti “hate speech” and graphic images written with chalk or another water soluble media on and near the tennis court in the 5400 block of Township Drive on Aug. 26.

• A Marine on St. Croix man reported his storage unit in the 3200 block of Highway 61 broken into during the week of Aug. 25-27. Unknown miscellaneous items went missing, and other items were damaged.

• An Anoka woman 43, was arrested Aug. 27 on I-35E and

construction site in the 7000 block of 73rd Court N. over the weekend of Aug. 25-28.

• Deputies arrested an unidentified motorist for DWI at 8:26 p.m. Aug. 29 in the 9000 block of 75th Street N. after they observed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane.

• Motor vehicle theft was reported in the 6000 block of Ideal Avenue overnight Aug. 29-30.

• Deputies issued a citation to a driver in the 8000 block of 75th Street N. Aug. 30 for failure to stop at a red light.

Mahtomedi

• A Hazel Avenue resident at 2:16 a.m. Aug. 27 reported his home burglarized sometime during the prior week.

• Hit-and-run to a vehicle parked in an apartment lot on Stillwater Road was reported Aug. 28, as though a vehicle parked to the right of the complainant's vehicle had backed out and scraped the rear passenger fender.

• An unwanted male was reported at 10:06 p.m. Aug. 28 on a Wildwood Road property after he had previously been banned from the property. The male was no longer on scene when deputies arrived, nor could they contact him at his suspected residence.

• A Woodland Drive resident on Aug. 29 requested that deputies un-trespass a party they had trespassed from the property several days earlier. Deputies dutifully recorded that request.

• Residents in the 1000 block of

County Road E for driving after cancellation, following a traffic stop investigation.

• A Vadnais Heights woman, 67, was arrested for DWI at 9:57 p.m. Aug. 27 in the 1100 block of County Road D, after deputies were on a mission to arrest her on a previous fourth-degree DWI warrant out of Ramsey County and conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, deputies noticed signs of intoxication surrounding the driver and conducted standardized field sobriety tests. The driver registered a 0.13 blood alcohol content at the site of the traffic stop and a 0.16 blood alcohol content less than two hours later at the law enforcement center.

• A Vadnais Heights man, 55 was arrested Aug. 28 in the 800 block of County Road E for driving after revocation. A vehicle license check came back to a possible stolen vehicle, after the painted-over vehicle identification number matched the first four and last six digits of a stolen vehicle. However, further investigation found the VIN on the vehicle cleared the stolen list, and the arrestee was released.

• A resident of an apartment complex in the 4100 block of Centerville Road reported an unknown person for following another resident into the complex on Aug. 29 and stealing a bicycle.

Mahtomedi Avenue reported damage to their door frame overnight Aug. 30-31.

• Deputies responded to a request from a Stillwater Road address Aug. 31 to trespass a party from the address. That individual was gone when deputies arrived.

Pine Springs

• Deputies conducted two traffic stops for speeding on Aug. 31 — at 7:10 p.m. on Highway 36 at I-694, and at 8:17 p.m. on northbound I-694 at the Highway 36 ramps.

Willernie

• A Chatham Road resident reported a lost phone Aug. 27 and that a phone finding app had tracked the device to a Willernie address. Deputies made contact with the person at the found phone address, and the occupant turned the phone over. The complainant and his phone were then reunited.

• A Faversham Road resident was reunited with his missing bikes Aug. 29, after deputies found them the previous night.

• A fight was reported on Stillwater Road at 9:06 p.m. Aug. 29, after a husband followed his wife to the neighborhood bars while she was on a date with another male. The “other man” had left prior to deputies’ arrival. After the combative couple declined medical assistance, deputies discussed smart marital options with them.

Loretta Harding

The bike's owner is unknown and has not reported the theft.

• A Maplewood man, 24, was banned from Jimmy's Food and Drink in the 1100 block of County Road E on Aug. 29 following a disorderly conduct report involving a male.

White Bear Township

• An unidentified man was arrested at 2:15 a.m. Aug. 25 on I-35E and County Road J by the Lino Lakes Police Department after RCSO deputies issued a Keep Our Kops Safe (KOPS) alert in relation to a burglary reported in North Oaks. During the traffic stop, it was discovered the suspect was driving a vehicle stolen out of St. Paul. The suspect was then turned over to an outside agency.

• A resident in the 4000 block of Birch Knoll Drive reported being victim of a scam Aug. 25 after she received a scam text requesting verification of a bank transaction. The complainant called back and provided her user name and password to the scammer. Immediately, unauthorized transactions were made on her account to the tune of $1,800.

Loretta Harding

Real. Local. News.

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‘Anna and the castor beanstalk’ rises high in Mahtomedi

BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR

For 33 years, Anna Costello has planted a castor bean plant in her garden in Mahtomedi. But this year, she got more of a beanstalk than a plant.

“In May, I planted a castor bean seed, and this one grew to approximately 15 feet and they typically grow to 10 feet,”

Costello said. “I am hoping that it might break the Guinness Book of World Records for the tallest castor bean grown as an annual.”

According to Costello, castor bean plants are deer-resistant, and the seeds are poisonous.

“I have a lot of deer come through my garden, and they leave that plant alone,” she said. “I love the tropical look of the plant. When people come over and see the plant,

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF

Shooting in Doc’s Landing parking lot leads to 2 arrests

they can't believe how tall it is.”

Costello spent her career as a special education teacher at Minneapolis Public Schools. She retired from teaching fulltime and is now a substitute teacher. “I report to duty when needed,” she said.

Costello has a background in horticulture. She's worked as a gardener for Minneapolis Park and Recreation, the Children's Museum and Como Park. “I started some gardens at Como Park on the parkway a long time ago, and it's super rewarding and fun to go back and see that they're still there,” Costello said. “One thing about gardening I love is that my plants are from different places that I worked or from different people, so there's a story to every plant.”

Two men have been arrested for an incident that called out White Bear Lake Police to Doc’s Landing on Sept. 24 at around 12:50 a.m. on a shooting that occurred in the bar’s parking lot. Officers found spent shell casings between a white Tesla and a red Chevrolet Impala in the parking lot. A total of 13 shell casings were recovered from the scene.

According to the criminal complaint, Charles Edward Stevens-Thigpen, 36, called 911 to report he was trying to drive to the hospital after being shot in the leg. Officers tried to make contact with the him, but he never answered.

Stevens-Thigpen went to the clinic on Sept. 25 due to severe bleeding from his injuries. No blood was found at the crime scene due to the heavy rain that followed the incident.

Surveillance from the bar identified one of the shooters as Stevens-Thigpen. The other shooter was identified as St. Paul resident Kardell Baraka

Otae Jackson, 50. Thigpen and Jackson were reported to have gotten into a

heated dispute inside Doc’s Landing. Jackson briefly held a pool cue as if he were going to strike Stevens-Thigpen with it. Two women and a man intervened and blocked the men from one another. Jackson quickly left the bar, and Stevens-Thigpen followed seconds later. According to the criminal complaint, both fired multiple rounds at one another before Jackson drove away.

Stevens-Thigpen voluntarily went to the police department and spoke to an investigator where he turned over his Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun to the police. On Sept. 27, Jackson’s Tahoe was found in a parking lot near his workplace with three bullet impacts on the passenger’s side. Officers arrested Jackson.

Jackson has denied getting into an argument at Doc’s Landing. Officers executed a search warrant on Jackon’s Tahoe and recovered a Glock 9mm handgun and marijuana in a black backpack in the trunk.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office has charged both men with second degree assault and ineligible possession of a firearm.

NOELLE OLSON | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Mahtomedi resident Anna Costello stands next to her castor plant which she thinks could be a world record.

Have confidence in your financial strategy

At

Have confidence in your financial strategy

Have confidence in your financial strategy

in meaning and gratitude. Reach out to learn more about how we

Have confidence in your financial strategy

At the Wellspring Advisor Group of Thrivent, we see money as a tool, not a goal. Our approach is based on helping you prepare for the future, protect the people you love, and live a

At the Wellspring Advisor Group of Thrivent, we see money as a tool, not a goal. Our approach is based on helping you prepare for the future, protect the people you love, and live a life rich in meaning and gratitude. Reach out to learn more about how we can help you create a strong financial future for your family. Contact us for assistance with:

• Comprehensive financial planning based on your goals and values.

• Investment management strategies (Roth IRAs, 401(k) rollovers, IRAs).

• Retirement income planning.

• Tax and estate strategies.

• Insurance to help safeguard your loved ones.

• Charitable giving strategies and solutions.

• College planning.

Wellspring Advisor Group wellspringadvisorgroup@thrivent.com connect.thrivent.com/wellspring-advisor-group 321 Stillwater Rd., Upper Unit

Not all team members may be appropriately licensed to provide all products and services or licensed to do business in all states. Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional. Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products issued by Thrivent. Not available in all states. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. Advisory services available through investment adviser representatives only. Thrivent.com/disclosures.

Mahtomedi celebrates

Above: Alec Mahoney shakes off a defender and scores his first touchdown of the game in the first quarter of the Zephyr’s 55-7 homecoming victory over Tartan.

At right: In a long running homecoming tradition, members of the Mahtomedi Cross Country team deliver the game ball out to the officials prior to the start of the game — after shuttling the ball from their opponent’s high school.

Above: Some members of the marching band added paint and accessories with school colors to their look during the afternoon parade between Wildwood Elementary School and the high school.

At left: Angie and Leigh Griffith demonstrate the oversized footballs they brought to the festivities. Find more photos online at presspubs.com.

For nearly four decades now, the U.S. has recognized October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time annually devoted to educating everyone about breast cancer — including metastatic breast cancer (MBC) — and the importance of early detection and access to timely, high-quality care.

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2023, an estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Chances are, you know at least one person who has been personally affected by breast cancer.

But there is hope. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate is 99%. Advances in early detection and treatment methods have significantly increased breast cancer survival rates in recent years, and there are currently over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

No matter who you are or where you live, breast cancer may touch your life. It’s necessary to understand the warning signs of breast cancer, your risk of breast cancer and what’s normal for you so you can take action if there are any changes in your breasts or underarm areas.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include:

• A breast lump or thickening that

1 in 8

feels different from the surrounding tissue

• Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast

• Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling

• A newly inverted nipple

• Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin

•Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

If you find a lump or other change in your breast — even if a recent mammogram was normal — make an appointment with your doctor for prompt evaluation.

Doctors know that breast cancer

occurs when some breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do and continue to accumulate, forming a lump or mass. Cells may spread (metastasize) through your breast to your lymph nodes or to other parts of your body.

Breast cancer most often begins with cells in the milk-producing ducts (invasive ductal carcinoma). Breast cancer may also begin in the glandular tissue called lobules (invasive lobular carcinoma) or in other cells or tissue within the breast.

Researchers have identified hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. But it's not clear why some people who have no risk factors develop cancer, yet other people with risk factors never do.

It's likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment. Doctors estimate that about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations passed through generations of a family.

A number of inherited mutated genes that can increase the likelihood of breast cancer have been identified. The most well-known are breast cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer gene 2 (BRCA2), both of which significantly increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or other cancers, your doctor may recommend a blood test to help identify specific mutations in BRCA or other genes that are being passed through your family.

Consider asking your doctor for a referral to a genetic counselor, who can review your family health history. A genetic counselor can also discuss the benefits, risks and limitations of genetic testing to assist you with shared decision-making.

This information was found on www.nationalbreastcancer.org, www. mayoclinic.org and www.komen.org.

Dr. Leon J. Nesvacil

Age 93, of Hugo, MN and formerly of Waunakee, WI passed away peacefully in Stillwater, MN on Thursday, September 21st, 2023.

Preceded in death by his father, John; mother Clara; first wife of 50 years, Ruth Nesvacil; and his second wife of nearly 20 years, June (Romanik) Nesvacil; half-brother, Raphael

“Bud” Slack (Naomi); halfbrother, John “Jack” Slack (Evelyn); half-sister, Marian Slack. Leon is survived by his children, Michael of Hugo, Kaytee (Tom) of Stillwater and Zani (Kimberley) of Santa Clara, CA; brother, LaVerne (Theresa); sister, Esther (Jack) as well as 9 grandchildren, 3 + (one on the way) greatgrandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, many extended family members and a host of longtime friends, colleagues, and patients. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, October 5th at Mueller Mortuary, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave, White Bear Lake and a Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am with visitation beginning at 10:00am on Friday, October 6th at St. Mary of the Lake Church, 4741 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake. Mass will be livestreamed with a link on Mueller Memorial. Followed by a 12:15 luncheon at Manitou Event Center, 2171 4th Street, White Bear Lake. Private family burial at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in St. Paul. Donations to the American Cancer Society in Leon’s name would be greatly appreciated. MuellerMemorial.com 651.774.9797

CHURCH BRIEF

Talking about race

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church (UMC) will host Racial Awareness Conversations from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. The fourpart series will include components

Alice Williamson

Age 89, of Gem Lake, MN Passed peacefully in her home on 09/14/23. Daughter of Paul Presbrey, an award-winning reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Ethel (Rowe) Presbrey. Survived by brother Don Presbrey of Knoxville, TN, children Robyn (Carl) Wallin and Robert J. Williamson II, grandchildren Nykki & Robert J. Williamson III, Steven (JoLynn Uher) Smith, Max & Sam Wallin. Also survived by Curt Williamson, step-son and part of her care team. She attended Macalester College, ran Texaco & Shell service stations with husband Robert, ran a camper business and later drove Metro Transit bus. She became an accomplished skier in her forties. Following in her father’s footsteps, began publishing the Minnesota Skier for the MN Ski Council. She sold advertising to ski resorts worldwide, which allowed her trips throughout North America and Europe. She was a life-long member of First Presbyterian Church of White Bear Lake. Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 6 from 2-6 PM. Ceremony at 3:00. First Presbyterian Church, 4821 Bloom Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN.

Dr. Wallace Balcerzack

Of Hugo. Age 76. We are marking the moment: Dr Wally Balcerzak passed away August 15th, 2023 at 11:40pm in Hospice

Care. Husband, father, fisherman, friend, doctor of psychology, sobriety advocate, and spiritual shaman for many ~ we are forever changed. We believe he chose his time to go with bravery, grace, boldness and style ~ just like Dr. Wally would do. Our secular Celebration of Life Event for Dr. Wally is Friday, October 27th, 2023 from 4-8pm at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center in White Bear Lake, MN. There will be catering, music, an informal service at 6pm, and of course - a couple of cookies. RSVP, Donation info, and much more about Dr. Wally’s life can be found here: rb.gy/rqihx

MIKE MISGEN

of lecture learning, discussion and interactive projects. Discussions will center on questions related topics such as how we were raised to view and engage the world racially, the historical context of race, racialized patterns (identifying patterns, coded

language, and institutions) and how to work together for change at church and in the community. The event will include dinner. Registration is required. To register, visit wblumc.org. UMC is located at 1851 Birch Street, White Bear Lake.

WHITE BEAR LAKE

This Week In SPORTS Bears lead Raptors 4229 in interrupted game

Thursday, Oct.5

5 p.m. — Boys Soccer vs. Cretin-Durham Hall

• 6 p.m. — Swimming & Diving vs. Forest Lake

7 p.m. — Girls Soccer vs. Cretin-Durham Hall

Friday, Oct. 6

4 p.m. — Volleyball Invitational at Burnsville

7 p.m. — White Bear Lake Football vs. Stillwater

Saturday, Oct. 7

8 a.m. — Volleyball Invitational at Burnsville

• 10 a.m. — White Bear Lake Cross Country Invitational at Arrowwood Resort.

Tuesday, Oct. 10

7 p.m. — Volleyball at Forest Lake

MAHTOMEDI

Thursday, Oct.5

• 5 p.m. — Boys Soccer vs.

Two Rivers

6 p.m. — Swimming & Diving vs. Two Rivers

7 p.m. — Girls Soccer vs.

Two Rivers

Friday, Oct. 6

7:30 p.m. — Football at Cretin-Durham Hall

Saturday, Oct. 7

9 a.m. — Cross Country at Simley

Tuesday, Oct. 10

5 p.m. — Girls Soccer

Sections-Home

7 p.m. — Boys Soccer

Sections-Home

• 7 p.m. — Volleyball vs. St. Anthony Village

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

White Bear Lake broke into the win column, 42-29 over East Ridge, in a freewheeling football game played over two nights. The Bears were sparked by Kesean Lipscomb’s 190 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and a trio of big plays by Isaac Kigabendi.

Play was halted in the third quarter Friday night, due to approaching lightning and rain, with the Bears ahead 21-15, and was resumed Saturday night, with lots of action each evening. Both teams are 1-4.

Coach Ryan Bartlett cited the Bears’ running game as the key to waking up the first-team offense, which had managed just three touchdowns in four games previously. The Bears ran for 258 yards and passed for 97 with sophomore quarterback Tomi Animasaun at the controls.

“We got the run game going and the momentum just came from that on offense,” said Bartlett. About the 5-foot-5, 160-pound Lipscomb, who carried 28 times and averaged 6.8 yards, the coach assessed: “He ran really hard. His feet never stopped. He was on a mission.”

The Bears scored on all three drives in the first half: Lipscomb from five yards, Avian Atkins from 22, and Lipscomb from one, the latter set up by Kigabendi’s 65yard scamper with a short pass from Animasaun.

BEARS SPORTS BRIEFS TENNIS

White Bear Lake finished the regular season with a 3-4 conference record and 7-10 overall. The Bears had their last three Suburban East matches — a loss to Forest Lake 4-3, a win over Park 4-2 and a loss to East Ridge 5-2. Section 4AA will start Oct. 6. The Bears lost all four singles against Forest Lake while Josie Guidinger/ Sophie Menier, Mallory Peltier/Ava Johnson and Vera Zach/Ivory Drusch won 1, 2, and 3 doubles. Wins against Park were by Talia Domschot and Elara Kruse at 1 and 2 singles, along with Guidinger/Menier and Peltier/Johnson. Kruse won against East Ridge, as did Isabel St. John/Maddie Belisle at 1-doubles.

VOLLEYBALL

White Bear Lake has won four straight matches, lifting their record to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the confer-

Before storm hits, Zephyrs rout Tartan 55-7

Charlie Berg tallied all four Raptor touchdowns, two in each half, from eight, nine, eight, and five yards. Luke Ryerse booted a 40yard field goal that would have been good from 55. Kigabendi, a senior, made two huge interceptions against Raptor QB Tanner Zolnosky in the second half. With the Raptors on the Bears’ 15, trailing 21-15, he swiped a pass to the outside and raced 86 yards for a touchdown, opening a 28-15 lead. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound senior stopped another drive later with an end-zone pickoff.

Lipscomb got his third TD, from 27 yards, in the fourth quarter, after his wrestling teammate Porter Cleary had a six-yard TD in the third quarter.

Animasaun, in his second varsity start, completed six of eight passes for 97 yards.

“He’s poised and can move really well,” Bartlett said. Kigabendi caught three for 79 yards and Devin Mueller two for 15. Atkins had seven carries for 52 yards. Benjamin Watson was 6-for-6 on extra points with Kevin Zollinger snapping and Heidi Barber holding.

Making tackles for loss (the only tackling stat the Bears keep) were Levi Arvig (two), Akins, Charlie Woodcock and Ty Behnken. Austin Gibson blocked a point-after kick, and Evan Chang stopped a two-point conversion run.

The Bears will host Stillwater (4-1) Friday.

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Mahtomedi rushed for 453 yards and defeated Tartan 55-7 in a weather-shortened game Friday evening in Oakdale. The game was halted at the end of the third quarter due heavy rain and lightning.

Mahtomedi is 3-2 and Tartan is 1-4. The Zephyrs will face Cretin-Derham Hall (14) on Friday at University of St. Thomas.

Alec Mahoney scored the first three touchdowns on runs of 21, 65, seven and 11 yards, finishing with 133 yards on eight carries.

Cole Saenger had a 72-yard touchdown and totaled 97 yards in three carries. Jake Reubish scored TD’s from 18 and 33 yards and totaled 124 yards in 15 carries.   William Newman had a 34-yard TD in his only carry. Charlie Brandt was 2-for2 passing for 35 yards. Charles Thein kicked four extra points and Harlow Berger kicked three.

ZEPHYR SPORTS BRIEFS

ence. The Bears were 2-1-2 at a Two Rivers tournament, winning the last two over St. Agnes 25-18, 25-19 and St. Cloud Tech 27-25, 25-17. Then the Bears defeated Irondale 25-15, 25-17, 25-19 and Woodbury 25-19, 25-18, 25-17. Leaders during the four wins were Kailey Gieske with 38 digs, Kylie Gustafson with 33 kills, and Ally Munyer with 82 assists. Ella Stadtherr added 22 kills and Lauren Westerhaus 15. Reagan Farmer served four aces against Tech, Gustafson and Gieske three each against Irondale, and Stadtherr and Munyer three each against Woodbury.

GIRLS SOCCER

White Bear Lake lost to Woodbury 2-1 in a duel for the Suburban East lead. The Bears then beat Forest Lake 7-0. They are 6-1 in conference and Woodbury is 6-0-1, each with two matches left. The Bears (9-3-2 overall) were missing scoring leader

Jenna Maloy, who had an ankle sprain from the previous game. Woodbury’s second goal was an intended crossing pass that deflected off a Bear defender into the net for a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute. Abby O’Brien scored for the Bears in the 62nd minute, from the top of the box, after coaches moved her from center back to midfield. Against Forest Lake (3-8-1), Becca Smith notched two goals and Gabby Hofeld, Hannah Gilbertson, Cami Bachmeier, Navaya McCorkle, and Kelsey Wolfe one each.

BOYS SOCCER

White Bear Lake picked up its first victory, 3-2 over Forest Lake, with goals by Gil Pescosolido, Ben Watson and Cooper Peschman. The game-winner was Peschman’s lob over the out-rushing goalkeeper in the 60th minute. The Bears had five losses and four ties previously. They lost to

Woodbury 1-0 on Tuesday.

NEW COACH

White Bear Lake boys soccer has a new coach this year in Mike Knutson, a Bear alum. He played for the Bears in 1994-95-96, helping them win a section title in 1994, then played collegiately at St. Norbert in Wisconsin. A locksmith by trade, Knutson has coached in the Bear program for 14 years, including three as assistant to Karl Jende, who stepped down after the 2022 season.

SWIMMING

Woodbury out-stroked White Bear Lake 96-82. The Bears’ Lucy Borofka won the shortest and longest races: the 50 free in 25.81 and the 500 in 5:45. Placing second were Charlotte McIntyre in the butterfly and backstroke, and Audrey Borofka in the 500.

Bruce Strand

BOYS SOCCER

Mahtomedi picked up two conference wins last week, over Simley 3-0 on Tuesday and North St. Paul 3-2 on Thursday, both on the road. Mason Kipp booted two goals against Simley, Gavin Mass had a goal and assist, and goalie William Bruentrup made eight saves in the shutout. Scoring data for the North match is not available. In the Metro East, St. Thomas Academy is 6-1, Hill-Murray 5-1, the Zephyrs 5-2, and Two Rivers 4-1-1 for the top four spots. The Zephyrs (7-6 overall) will close conference play hosting Two Rivers on Thursday.

VOLLEYBALL

Mahtomedi had a seven-match win streak going after beating Simley 25-14, 25-22, 25-19 on Thursday, then defeating their first three opponents at Chisago Lakes tournament on Saturday. The Zephyrs beat Cambridge-Isanti 17-25, 25-17, 15-12; St. Paul Johnson 25-8, 25-8; and International Falls 25-23, 25-16. Then they lost to Cambridge-Isanti 25-19, 25-17, and to Holy Angels 25-17, 25-9. The Zephyrs are 10-9 overall and 3-1 in the Metro East.

BRUCE STRAND CONTRIBUTED Kesean Lipscomb broke away from Raptor defenders for a 36-yard gain in the first quarter.

MARY ROLLINGER | CONTRIBUTED Cole Saeger broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

FALL FRIDAYS AT THE FILLEBROWN

When: 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Oct. 6

Where: Fillebrown House, 4735 Lake Ave.

Details: Take a self-guided tour of the 1879 lakeside cottage and enjoy refreshments on the porch.

Contact: whitebearhistory.org

SENIOR CENTER OPEN HOUSE

When: 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Oct. 6

Where: White Bear Area Senior Center, 2484 E. County Road F

Details: Learn about weekly activities, Meals on Wheels, travel opportunities, screenings and foot care clinic. Visit with vendors and shop at the Craft Corner. Free.

ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE

When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 7

Where: St. John in the Wilderness Church, 2175 1st St., White Bear Lake

Details: Annual rummage sale with $2 bags on Saturday.

ROCKTOBERFEST

When: 5-11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7; 12-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8

Where: River Siren Brewing Co., 225 Main St. N., Stillwater

Details: Beer, German-inspired cuisine, and live music at the brewery and in the parking lot. Free admission.

Contact: riversirenbrewing.com

LAKE WOBEGON BRASS BAND

FALL CONCERT

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6

Where: St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd., Mahtomedi

Details: Concert program features a variety of works composed and arranged for the brass ensemble, including a narrated performance of Aaron Copland’s iconic and timely 'Lincoln Portrait.' Free and open to the public.

Contact: lwbb.org

GUIDED FILLEBROWN HOUSE

TOUR

When: 10 and 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7

Where: 4735 Lake Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Tour the 1879 lakeside cottage and learn about the resort era in White Bear Lake. Tour approx. 1 hour. Registration required. Contact; whitebearhistory.org

White Bear Lake Farmers Market

When: 8 a.m.-noon every Friday until Oct. 27

Where: Clark Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets

Details: More than 50 vendors and growers each week.

Contact: whitebearlake.org

PAT

DONAHUE AND THE PRAIRIE

ALL STARS

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts

Center, 4941 Long Ave.

Details: Guitarist for the "Guys All-Star Shoe Band" of Minnesota Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion for 20 years plays blues, folk, rockabilly, and more. Ticket information online.

Contact: lakeshoreplayers.org

UNITED STATES MARINE BAND

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9

Where: St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd., Mahtomedi

Details: “The President's Own” band has toured since 1891. Free.

Contact: wildwoodartistseries. com

ST. PAUL HIKING CLUB

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10

HUGO OKTOBERFEST CRAFT

SHOW

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7

Where: Hugo American Legion Post 620, 5383 140th St. N.

Details: Indood and outdoor crafts show with 70 vendors, outdoor grill tent, beer and Bloody Mary tent, and outdoor games. Contact: rsgdevelopment.com

FALL FAMILY OUTDOOR EXPO

When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7

Where: Golden Lake Park, Circle Pines

Details: Free event for families to experience what Scouting has to offer. Exhibits include games, model rockets, archery. Monkey bridge, putt and chip

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Brol Scherman

Centennial Lacrosse

Brol Scherman, Centennial junior lacrosse standout, has netted 22 goals and provided seven assists for the Cougars (4-2) while notching 17 ground balls (a change of possession statistic). Scherman was all-conference as a sophomore with 36 goals and 28 assists. The recruiting website ILMCA said of him: “Endto-end playmaking machine with striking confidence both on and off the field. Versatile offensive threat with strong outside shooting and crease finishing skills. Magnetic team leader and positive influencer.”

Allie Rippentrop has emerged as a spark plug on the conference champion Mahtomedi soccer team as a sophomore. Dave Wald, Zephyr coach, cites the 5-foot-2 forward as “very talented” and “the epitome of a team player.” Rippentrop has delivered 10 goals and five assists for the No. 2 ranked Zephyrs (11-2-1) and assisted on both goals in a 2-0

Mahtomedi Girls Soccer 3555 Hoffman Rd White Bear Lake, MN |

win over arch rival Hill-Murray. “She is adept at taking on opponents with the ball or finding a teammate in front of the goal,” Wald said. “Despite her diminutive stature, Allie is deceptively strong. She can hold off defenders —or turn and utilize her speed to get past them.”

We Buy used vehicles FAMILY OWNED SINCe 1981

We Buy used vehicles FAMILY OWNED SINCe 1981

3555 Hoffman Rd White Bear Lake, MN 651-488-8400 | www.longsauto.com

golf, RC cars and drones, outdoor cooking demo, obstacle course, fishing, and survival skills demo. Free. Contact: bit.ly/falloutdoorexpo23

SHAPESHIFT DANCE

COLLECTIVE

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7

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

Details: An inspiring story through the captivating medium of theatrical dance combining hip-hop/ contemporary movement and other dance styles, fused with old school music. See ticket information online. Contact: wildwoodartistseries. com

Where: Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Rd., White Bear Lake

Details: Hike on paved and unpaved trails.

Contact: stpaulhike.com

CARD MAKING CLASS

When: 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12

Where: Community Health Club, 1430 Highway 96 (Inside HealthPartners clinic)

Details: Card-making class for adults. Space limited; registration required.

Contact: https://form.jotform. com/232346847726162

Register Now Fall Classes Begin September 5, 2023

• The superintendent's three goal areas for the 2023-24 school year Strategic Plan are: Agency – to build learner agency through exceptional learning experiences; Trust and Partnership – to foster trust and partnership amongst all staff, students, families and community members and Excellence – to define, cultivate and celebrate excellence in the many ways it is embodied in the diverse Zephyr community. The Superintendent Goals come with a timeline for results, actions and outcome.

• Superintendent Barb Duffrin is officially signed on for another term, after the board unanimously approved the Superintendent Contract. Director Jenny Peterson said she appreciated that the Superintendent Goals, School Board Goals and Superintendent Contract aligned in her first year. "It couldn't have been better for my learning (everything). Director Paul Donna said he was pleased with the process and the ability to partner together and work toward a "really ambitious core academic foundation". Duffrin, in turn, said that a lot of good work happened this

year as a team figuring a way to work together. "We have a strong board, with diverse perspectives that makes us better," she said.

• The board voted unanimously to submit a resolution to the Minnesota School Board Association Delegate Assembly to allow the district to have an opportunity to work with the MSBA on bill language and have input on legislation that supports the district's vision.

• During the Policy Committee's regular review, certain policies required more than just one reading and will be presented to the public for review before they are formally approved. The following policies will contain updates resulting from the recently passed cannabis laws: Policy 418 – Drug-Free Workplace/Drug-Free School and Policy 419 – Tobacco-Free Environment 2.

• According to US News & Report, Mahtomedi ranks 10th overall in the state, and sixth among traditional schools, Duffrin said in her report. The Class of 2024 Commended National Merit Scholars are

Patrick Kosel, Katherine Lengyel and Alexa McKusick. Semi-finalists are Aradhna Chandra, Zoe Coler, Ishana Didwania, Claire Faulkner and Hannah Johnson. National African American Recognition Award (NAARA) recipients are Fatima Bah (Class of 2024), Isabelle Befidi (Class of 2024) and Aida Thiam (Class of 2025).

• Upcoming events include the O. H. Anderson Walking School Bus at 8 a.m. Oct 5; the MAEF Zephyr Get-Together on Oct. 5; Wildwood Artist Series Mahtomedi Music Faculty Concert at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and MahtoReadi from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 30.

• Fatimah Bah, student representative for the 2023-24 school year, made her first report of the year. Bah said she is a member of student council and a National Honor Society member who loves interreacting with the student community, "which is one of the reasons I'm on the board". Bah, who also said she would provide the student perspective, gave a report from all the district school buildings.

• The board recognized Annie Dahl, who has served as Business and Spanish

BUILDING LIVES THAT INSPIRE

Teacher (Spanish I), Yearbook Advisor, DECA Advisor and COVID coordinator. Honored for her leadership, Dahl has been been with the district for five years.

• Members of the community continue to be generous to their schools, and the board formally accepted donations of $48,776.57 from August.

• Members of the community who faithfully attend board meetings in person or on line will want to take note. Beginning in July 2024, the regular board meetings will take place on Mondays instead of Thursdays, after the board approved the change by a vote of 5-1 (Director Lucy Payne opposed). The board will address the committee meeting calendar changes at a future meeting. For now, remember to keep attending on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

The board next meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 in the District Center Community Room, 1520 Mahtomedi Ave.

Loretta Harding

SP TTED

AROUND TOWN

1. Joe Saad, Wilbur Muehlstedt and John Williams attend the VFW Booya. — Carter Johnson, Press Publications

2. The Mahtomedi High School basketball team annual car wash fundraiser at East Shore Auto Repair, where owner Daniel Bondeson donated his water, the lot and his time. Mahtomedi juniors James O’Connor, Kellen Johnson, Hank Roelofs, Connor Gray, Jacob Wilson and Thomas Meader. — Contributed

3. White Bear Lake High School class of 1954 luncheon at the White Bear Country Inn. — Kathy Johnson

4. Mahtomedi alpine ski team fundraiser car wash. Henry Honmyhr, Edwin Henderson, Oliver Ko, Matt Macdonald. — Anne Macdonald, Contributed

5. Dustin Carlson and his wife Annie at Octoberfest in Munich, Germany called Löwenbräu-Festzel. Tent seats 5,800 and another 2,700 in beer garden. — Contributed

6. Brynn selling lemonade for her school fundraiser to fight cancer. — Carter Johnson, Press Publications

Send us your photos for possible inclusion in Spotted Around Town. Please email your best shot to whitebearnews@presspubs.com.

when

Join us for tours, food, music, family-friendly activities, & more!

Lyngblomsten is celebrating the opening of its new senior living campus in Lino Lakes, and we want YOU to join us for our Grand Open House! Savor complimentary chef-prepared appetizers and treats, enjoy family-friendly activities, and take a tour. The campus features independent rental townhomes and apartments, assisted living, memory care, and a variety of amenities.

www.lyngblomsten.org/GrandOpenHouse

Lyngblomsten is a Christian nonprofit that has been serving older adults and their families through healthcare, housing, and community-based services since 1906.

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever are the nation’s leading upland wildlife habitat conservation organizations. Duties: pick, pack, & ship merchandise orders, operate various postal meters, coordinate inbound & outbound shipment of premiums, manage fulfillment lists,

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Annual Rummage Sale Fri Oct 6, 9am-3pm $2 Bag Sat Oct 7, 9am-noon St John in the Wildernes s Church 2175 1st St WBL

OU TSIDE STORAGE! RV's Boats, Toys Pontoons Trailers Up to 50' deep spaces www.T35storage.com

NOW HIRING! ENTRY LEVEL GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Press Publications is looking for an entry level, motivated graphic designer for a part-time position with the possiblity of full-time. As part of the production-design team, you'll have a vital role in making sure the weekly and biweekly papers get out the door.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Comfortable in Adobe InDesign Mac based and cloud, with the minor use of Photoshop and Illustrator

- Build ads to customer specs, and assist the sales team with new ads for potential clients

- Follow a strict schedule with overlapping deadlines -Work with editors to produce a vibrant product.

JOB DETAILS:

- 12-25 hours per week

- M-F 7:55 - 5:30 varies by season Email resume to: artmanager@presspubs.com

J o i n O u r Te a m ! Hiring PT assembly workers in White Bear Lake at Snuggle Me Organic. Mon-Fri. Flexible Hrs; Send Resume to: becky.k@makeheroes.co

Now Hiring

Administrative Assistant Part Time, Mon. & Tues., 7:55am-4:00pm

Press Publications publishes 6 community newspapers, magazines and coupon books, serving White Bear Lake and surrounding communities. Our publications brings news of school events, government, business, politics, and social events to local residents.

Desired Skills & Experience: High school diploma required.

Ability to interact well with a broad base of internal and external clients, both in person, telephone and written communication. Reliable, responsible, and dependable in fulfilling obligations.Strong attention to detail and the ability to organize, prioritize, and multi task effectively. User of Microsoft Office suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as Microsoft Office.

Please send resume to: 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 or email resume to: ppinfo@presspubs.com

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WANTED: ALL 19 70 S MOTORCYCLES Ru nn ing or not Titled or not Will pick up. Ca sh in e xchang e. Sell now before prices fall. Call Da n at 612/720-2142

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

White Bear Township is accepting applications for an Accounting Clerk / Administrative Assistant position in the Finance Department. General accounting, administrative duties and light reception are the cornerstones of the position. Other duties include processing accounts payable and accounts receivable, cash receipts, utility billing, and assisting with greeting customers, answering phones, filing, copying, word processing, assisting the general public and contractors with applications, permits, and inspections. Must have good analytical skills, ability to operate office equipment and have knowledge of computer operations and programs including Word, Outlook and Excel. Must have commitment to serve public, positive attitude, demonstrate initiative and have the ability to collaborate with others, work independently and take on new tasks. Salary range from $28.38/ hour or higher DOQ plus an excellent benefits package.

For more information and to apply; visit the Employment Opportunities section of the Town’s website: www.whitebeartownship.org. Send Resume and Town application by October 12, 2023.

Association) benefits. For more information, please see the full job posting at cityofbirchwood.com.

NOW HIRING Morning Day Shift Leadership positions available for flexible candidates.

651-653-9845 4687 Bald Eagle Ave., WBL 55110

SCHOOL NEWS

Homecoming this week

Find the complete White Bear Lake Homecoming schedule at isd624.org/ Homecoming.

Teamwork assembly

Teamwork was the theme of an all-school assembly at Willow Lane Elementary. Students received t-shirts with the word “Believe” on them and listened to guest speaker Taylor Heise, the first round draft pick for the Professional Women’s Hockey League. She spoke about the importance of teamwork and working together to achieve a common goal.

End of an era & fireworks

The White Bear Lake Area High School Homecoming Football Game that will take place on the evening of Friday, Oct. 6 will be a celebration of the end of an era. It will be the final Homecoming game at South Campus. Varsity football games will move to the stadium at the unified grades 9-12 WBLAHS next year when work at the current North Campus building is completed.

An added element of this year’s Homecoming game will be firework embellishments operated by a professional team that has been hired by the WBLAHS Homecoming Committee. Fireworks will be deployed to highlight certain parts of the pre-game National

CONTRIBUTED

White Bear Lake Area High school band members are preparing for next week’s Homecoming parade and football game by practicing their songs, chants and marching. Themed days and activities are happening throughout the district this week.

Anthem performance and after the Bears score touchdowns throughout the game. A short 10-minute display will also be shown at the end of the game, at approximately 9:30 p.m. The fireworks are made possible by fundraising efforts of WBLAHS students and are not funded by taxpayer dollars.

School Resource Officer (SRO) program to resume

The White Bear Lake Police Department (WBLPD) informed the White Bear Lake Area School District that it will resume the SRO program which had been suspended in the secondary schools. The continuation of the program has come after the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General provided a revised opinion related to a new law passed by the 2023 legislature that placed certain restrictions on safety interventions school employees and agents, including SROs,

can use when intervening with students. The district recognizes the step of providing additional clarification about the new law is a short-term solution and only through legislative action will this issue be permanently resolved.

Construction update: Future WBLAHS traffic plans

As the 2023-24 school year has begun, traffic at White Bear Lake Area High School - North Campus has settled into a regular pattern at the Bald Eagle Avenue side of the building, which is serving as the current main entrance with construction happening on the Division Avenue side of the building.

When school begins in September of 2024 and the building houses students in grades nine through 12, traffic patterns will shift and be shared between the east and west sides of the building. An addi-

tional 561 parking spots will be accessed from the Division Avenue side of the school, doubling the parking currently available on the campus. A second drop-off/pickup loop will also be created on the Division Ave side to give families additional options and help distribute traffic flow throughout the site.

A separate buses-only lot that will be shared between Central Middle School and the high school will move buses away from the front of the buildings to make loading and unloading safer. Special Education and Activity Buses will continue to enter at specific locations on the Bald Eagle side of the building. The future changes to bus traffic have been planned to eliminate congestion created with the mix of car and bus traffic currently experienced at both sites.

New Montessori school to hold open house

Hope & Joy Montessori school is celebrating its first school year by hosting an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct.

7, located at 3737 Bellaire Avenue Ste. A, in White Bear Lake. The nonprofit, founded by Meghan Meyer and Erin Richards, is for preschool and kindergarten students. The focus is empowering children to develop a love of learning and a connection to nature.

CONTRIBUTED Willow Lane Elementary Principal Matt Menier was surprised at the assembly.

CONTRIBUTED

(From left) Hope & Joy Montessori founders Meghan Meyer and Erin Richards.

ZEPHYR SPORTS BRIEF

FROM PAGE 4B

CROSS COUNTRY

William Lieberman’s third-place finish was the highlight for Mahtomedi as both the boys and girls teams placed ninth in the 32-team Farmington Cowbell Classic on Thursday. The Lakeville South boys and Farmington girls were champions. Lieberman finished in 16:21, behind Shakopee’s Owen Stowe (16:06) and Lakeville South’s Aiden

Jakubic (16:16). Evan Carion was 36th (17:38), Matthew Studenski 56th (18:11), Hudson Otto 100th (19:02) and Daniel Gibbens 110th (19:10) of 501 runners. For the Zephyr girls, Gabby Fox placed 32nd (21:06), Vanessa Rogosheske 43rd (21:38), Sylvie Lavigne 54th (21:48), Brooklyn Erickson 72nd (22:20) and Ruby Grinstead 134th (23:59) among 325 runners. Burnsville’s Carley LaMotte placed first in 18:26.

Local farm receives grant for doing good in the world

21 Roots is a farm located in Grant Township that is dedicated to providing a place for children and adults with developmental disabilities to connect with nature and community through farming.

These ongoing visitors, who 21 Roots co-founder Amy Peterson says are referred to as “farmers,” are involved in many of the day-to-day tasks and chores around the farm. The farm’s co-founders are continuing to make these activities as accessible as possible.

21 Roots Farm opened in the summer of 2019 and gradually has grown into a place that not only grows produce but also now has a CSA (community sustained agriculture) training program.

“We strive to cultivate independence by incorporating nature and agriculture into the farmers’ daily lives,” said fellow 21 Roots co-founder Brittany Wiitala.

The name “21 Roots” comes from the fact that

CONTRIBUTED

Bethany Fox at the 21 Roots Farm.

the farm is situated on 21 acres. The “Roots” part of it came about when Brittany and Amy decided that experiences below the surface are often those that yield the most benefits in real life.

Six adults come on a weekly basis and sort out the various boxes and count out how many veggies they have and who gets what. In this way, farming skills are turning into employment skills that

will help these farmers in later life.

“Caring for the chickens at 21 Roots Farm gives so many of our farmers pride and joy,” Peterson said. “They give them clean water and fresh food every day. One farmer used to be terrified of chickens when he first came to the farm, but after spending time with them and caring for them, he is the number one egg collector!”

Eggs are used to learn numeracy. Farmers clean these eggs, which are then sold as a farm product.

“The Stillwater Sunrise Rotary local grant monies will go toward renovating an existing garden shed into a winter chicken coop,” Wiitala said. “We are making this coop accessible for our farmers with developmental disabilities to care for our 50 chickens throughout the winter months.”

For more information go to www.21rootsfarm.org.

21 Roots Farm

nice to spread it out the course of the month but beggars can’t be choosers. How about this weekend’s temperatures? I recorded mid to upper 80’s both days. I had to fight every fiber of my body to not turn on the A/C in October and if not for family coming over I would’ve succeeded. We don’t turn on the A/C here in October! Astro note: Saturn can be seen in the southeast sky after sunset.