White Bear Press

Santa Claus is very busy getting ready for Christmas, but he recently took some time out of his busy schedule to sit down with Press Publications and provide a little insight into how the Christmas magic happens.

Q: What do you eat before the big night?

A: I eat whatever Mrs. Claus cooks for me! But I get hungry on my rounds, so I eat the cookies and snacks the children leave for me.

Q: How do you stay up all night on Christmas Eve while you’re delivering presents?

A: Lots of Christmas music, hot cocoa and warm cookies!

Q: How many hours of sleep do you get before you ride out on your sleigh?

A: Sleep? What’s that?

Q: Why do you fly in a sleigh and not in an airplane?

A: I need my sleigh, which is pulled by my nine reindeer, including Rudolph. Airplanes don’t work with reindeer.

Q: What’s your favorite kind of cookie?

A: All of the cookies!

Q: Do you always wear your suit?

A: I wear my special suit when I’m delivering presents around the world. I don’t wear my suit in the workshop; it’s too hard to keep clean!

Q: How do you tell the elves apart?

A: Have you ever tried herding cats? I don’t tell tell the elves

anything, except “Get back to work!”

Q: How do you fit all the toys in one bag?

A: I use a VERY BIG bag!

Q: What do you like doing for fun at the North Pole when you’re not preparing for Christmas?

A: I enjoy playing hide and seek with my elves. Of course, I’m always prepping for next Christmas.

Q: How do you keep track of who’s nice and who’s naughty? Do you have a book of names or have you gone digital?

A: I’m definitely “old-school”: I use books. A lot of books!

Longtime WBCA director recalls career ahead of retirement

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR LAKE — Suzi Hudson has spent almost two decades expanding artistic opportunities for people in and around White Bear Lake as executive director of the Center for the Arts.

She’s an artist by trade and at heart, however, and is eager to get back to pursuing creative endeavors of her own after she retires from her longtime role on Dec. 31.

“The work of the arts center has been pretty much my life these last 20 years, building the community,” Hudson said. “I always dreamt of having an arts center that, when I retired, I could participate in, where I could take classes and where I could continue to grow as an artist.”

Her artistic interests — namely, making fusedglass jewelry — are what sparked her initial involvement with the arts nonprofit when she and her husband, Erick, moved to White Bear Lake from San Diego in 1986. The organization sponsored an annual “Fair in the Fields” art show. There, she showed her creations and her husband displayed his handmade woodworking products.

Hudson later became a parent volunteer art teacher through a program the arts center sponsored. The program filled a gap in the elementary school where her son was a student after visual arts classes there were cut. During that time, she also worked as a co-owner of Lake Country Booksellers.

By the time the center was looking for a new executive director, Hudson had about 15 years of arts and business experience through her jobs in

PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Suzi Hudson, longtime executive director of the White Bear Center for the Arts, is retiring at the end of the year. She’s had the role since 2004 and has overseen several notable milestones in the nonprofit’s history.

CONTRIBUTED

Santa was invited to attend an event called Paws and Planes. The organization aims to get young children interested in aviation while helping to spread awareness of dogs and cats in shelters who need adoption. Although he can only deliver presents with his sleigh, Santa enjoyed trying out a Piper Decathlon airplane.

‘Family glitch’ fix makes Minnesotans eligible for cheaper health insurance

Thousands of Minnesotans who haven’t been able to access premium tax credits in the past are newly eligible for discounts and can shop for more affordable 2023 health coverage through MNsure, thanks to the “family glitch” fix.

In the past, a family’s eligibility for tax credits from MNsure depended on whether their job-based coverage was affordable for the employee, no matter how much it cost to cover the whole family. This meant some family members fell into the “family glitch”: that is, they were ineligible for Affordable Care Act subsidies even though they need them to afford quality coverage. Because they couldn’t access these important tax credits, many families in this situation have been paying more for coverage and some have been going

without health insurance entirely.

“Thanks to a new rule, many more families can get financial help to purchase a high-quality health plan through MNsure,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “Even if you’ve looked for lower-cost health insurance through MNsure before, it’s worth checking MNsure.org/newoptions this year to see if you are getting the best plan, at the best price, for you and your family.”

One study from the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates as many as 62,000 Minnesotans could benefit from the fix of the “family glitch.”

MNsure’s open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, 2023, but Minnesotans must sign up by Dec. 15 for coverage starting Jan. 1.

-From press release, MNSure

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Contact: simplegiftsmusic.net.

STRATEGY GAME BUFFET

When: 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28

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

Details: Learn and play the latest multi-player tabletop strategy games, imcluding card and board games. Grades 4-8; no registration required. Contact: 651-724-6007 or rclreads.org

LUNCH AND TABLE GAMES

When: noon Wednesday, Dec. 28

LIVING NATIVITY

When: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 Where: St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 1965 East County Rd. E Details: Free community event with live music and animals, kids crafts, and treats. Contact: 651-777-1107 or ststephenwbl.org

HOLIDAY CHEER DRIVE-THRU

When: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 Where: The Waters of White Bear Lake, 3820 Hoffman Rd. Details: Take a photo with the Grinch, see the holiday lights, enjoy hot chocolate and take home a giveaway. Free community event. Contact: 651-313-6440 or thewaters.com

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 County Rd. F E. Details: Make an appointment by calling 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org

HOLIDAY FOOD AND TOY DRIVE

When: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 Where: Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 E. County Road F Details: Distribution of food and toys to any family in need and considered low income. May register day of event. Donations can be dropped off at city hall through Dec. 14. Contact: 612-245-9259 or cityvadnaisheights.com/foodshelf

WINTER FEST

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 Where: Downtown White Bear Lake Details: Strolling carolers, Santa, ice sculptures, and horse-drawn carriage rides (free with food donation). Also specials at shops and restaurants. Contact: downtownwhitebearlake.com

'A CHRISTMASTIDE HOMECOMING'

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 and Friday, Dec. 23 Where: Marine Village Hall, 121 Judd St., Marine on St. Croix Details: Holiday concert with Billy McLaughlin and SimpleGifts. Tickets $45/adult; $20/student general admission. $5 more at the door.

Pull-tabs back at VFW

White Bear Lake VFW Post 1782 is again offering pull-tabs after a brief period in which the gambling tickets weren’t available at the Post. The organization was in the process of getting proper documentation to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board following the death of the Post’s gambling manager, Dan Campanaro. On Monday, Dec. 12, the VFW said in another Facebook update the action items regarding gambling were resolved and pull-tabs were open again. To learn more, call the VFW at 651426-4944.

Where: Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 3676 Centerville Road, Vadnais Heights

Details: Bring a bag lunch and play table games with friends. Coffee provided. Contact: 651-204-6000 or cityvadnaisheights.com/seniors

ONGOING EVENTS

“A CHRISTMAS STORY”

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18. 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 9; 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake Details: Holiday favorite performed by Lakeshore Players Theatre. Contact: 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers.org

SANTA’S TRAIN SHOP

When: First three weekends in Dec. Where: Minnesota Transportation Museum, Jackson Street Roundhouse, 193 Pennsylvania Ave., St. Paul Details: Music, vendors, games, snacks, caboose rides and Santa. Reservations required. Contact: trainride.org

HOMETOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

When: through Dec. 31

Where: Downtown Stillwater Details: Free family events happening every weekend through Dec. kick-off with Black Friday shopping deals at downtown shops and restaurants; also include Wintertime in Stillwater Lights Show, costumed Victorian carolers, caroling Biercycle tours, holiday tea events, horse-drawn wagon rides, photos with Santa, New Years Eve ball drop, and more. See schedule and details online. Contact: DiscoverStillwater.com/ events

Year end giving

This is the time of year to support our local community organizations, if you can. Our own communities have community foundations, churches, food shelves, arts and theatre organizations, and many other nonprofits that are based right here. Many nonprofits outside our communities do good work, too, but it is those right here that help in sustaining the local economypaying wages to local people and rent on buildings while they are helping our neighbors. When you’re at the checkout line of our local stores, look for opportunities to round up for a local cause, make a donation, or purchase an extra item to donate. Making a cash donation directly to your favorite local organization is even better. Often nonprofits can leverage their purchasing power so your monetary donation goes even further than donating items. Donating non-perishable food items to the food shelf is great, but know that if you give through their website or send a check, they will use your money to buy even more of what they need.

Some organizations, like community foundations, can accept unusual donations such as property, boats and stocks. Staff can be a helpful with setting up a donor-advised fund that carries out your desired plans for giving. What is so unique about a community foundation is that you can designate your annual giving to specific programs, or you can choose to give across the spectrum of organizations and initiatives that have the most pressing needs. Donations can be leveraged to fund major projects. Staff and board members will work with you to help you determine what kind of impact you want to make. There are also tax advantages. Look into our local community foundations – the Shoreview Community Foundation, Vadnais Heights Community Foundation, Greater White Bear Lake Area Community Foundation, and the St. Croix Valley Foundation are a few.

More than ever our local organizations need support. During the pandemic the staff were often overworked and are now catching up from the past few years. Many have seen donations slip or move in the wrong direction. One reason may be that people have paid more for gas, groceries and other goods, and they simply don’t have as much to give this year. It also could be caused from less or ineffective communication with the public. Many organizations have dropped newsletters communications and relied on social media and websites to stay in touch with supporters, which can be an expensive, tricky process to make work. The internet is intent-driven, which means most people don’t take the initiative to visit a nonprofits website or social media page unless they have a reason to.

Donors lose sight of organizations that do not communicate on a regular basis.

We hope our print and digital readers can keep an eye on local needs, from making donations or volunteering in any capacity where the need is. Keeping your gifts of time, money and talents local makes a difference.

T hank you for subscribing

C ongratulations to our subscriber campaign winner. Tom Weidt won $250 in gift cards for being a loyal reader and subscriber. We appreciate every subscription we receive, and every dollar our readers contribute helps us bring you relevant local news, online and in print.

Carter Johnson is publisher of Press Publications.

Supreme Court to weigh free speech, anti-discrimination laws

The future of state and federal laws that protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The ability to operate your business as you want, without the government telling you to compromise your beliefs.

T hese are the issues at stake in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, a case the Supreme Court will hear this term.

Freedom Forum

Kevin Goldber

L orie Smith is the owner of 303 Creative LLC, a graphic and website design company in Colorado.

Smith decided to explore offering wedding website services with one caveat: While she was willing to work with LGBTQ+ customers, she would not create websites for same-sex weddings, explaining that “doing that would compromise my Christian witness and tell a story about marriage that contradicts God’s true story of marriage...”

Such a refusal could violate the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), which prohibits refusing service because of sexual orientation (among other things) and prohibits publicly communicating that position.

Smith preemptively filed a lawsuit in federal court saying that these provisions violate her First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of

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religion. A district court and federal appeals court have both ruled against her.

Now, the Supreme Court will hear the case. It will consider only whether Colorado’s law violates the First Amendment’s protection of free speech.

Smith argues that Colorado forces her and other artists to express themselves in conflict with their deeply held beliefs. Compelling speech is the same as restricting speech in the eyes of the First Amendment. Worse yet, she argues, the law promotes only one viewpoint by punishing those who oppose same-sex marriage.

Smith argues that CADA fails the strict review that a court applies in either situation. The government doesn't need to force 303 Creative to provide services to gay couples because Smith otherwise provides those services to the general public, and someone seeking design of a same-sex wedding website could easily find someone else to do it in their area. Colorado also has other, less intrusive ways to protect against discrimination without violating free speech. For instance, the state could allow business owners to decline specific projects based on the message they are asked to convey, rather than the identity of the customer. It could apply the law only to businesses that provide essential services like food, lodging or medical care.

C olorado argues that its law is a legal and necessary way to combat discrimination because it focuses not on the content of

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expression but on commercial conduct by any business offering services to the public Colorado says it is an expression by the customer, not the business owner.

Cases involving other business owners who claim protection for their artistic expression are already being filed around the country.

It’s only a matter of time before other bakers, chefs, wedding singers, hair stylists, dress designers and printing services ask courts to weigh in on their desire to refuse services. And who else might be an artist who can claim exemption based on their beliefs? An architect? A landscape designer? A “sandwich artist”? Does this mean that as more and more business is done exclusively online, anyone who creates a website as part of their business transactions can claim such an exemption?

I f 303 Creative wins this case, might a business owner legally refuse to provide creative services to a customer of a different race, religion, gender or ethnicity

A nything but an improbable definitive ruling from the Supreme Court in favor of Colorado’s law is likely to lead to more questions about the balance between business owners’ beliefs and access to their services.

Kevin Goldberg is First Amendment specialist for the Freedom Forum. He can be reached at kgoldberg@ freedomforum.org.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thank you to community

Thank you for an amazing food drive for the White Bear Lake Food Shelf. A huge thank you to the residents of White Bear Lake, the White Bear Lake Police Department and the White Bear Lake Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for your support. It’s because of your donations that we were able to provide over 2,000 pounds of food to our friends and neighbors in the White Bear Lake area who are in need.

Thank you again for your support. Together, we are able to make a difference.

Madeline Harris White Bear Lake CERT

Lessons about state budget

Our state now has a projected surplus of almost $18 billion dollars. I have voted in Minnesota elections for more than 40 years and I have learned two things regarding our state budget:

1. In times of projected deficits, the solution is always higher taxes, never spending cuts.

2. In times of surplus, the solution is always more spending, never tax cuts.

R.J. Eliason White Bear Township

Keep fighting

To Mr. Gene Johnson regarding your Dec. 7 editorial: this is a quick note to let you know you are my hero! Thank you for your wonderful newspaper, along with your family and all the hard work in keeping it afloat and giving customers like me “the best of the best” local news. And an even bigger note to say, “Keep fighting!”

Patricia Feirtag White Bear Lake

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Holiday Angels in full swing

The Holiday Angels Program, a special fundraising initiative for the White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation Angel Fund, is running through Jan. 2. The WBLAEF Angel Fund is accepting donations for winter coats, boots, hats and mittens, backpacks, school supplies, basic food and clothing needs, temporary housing and other items requested by local families in need. The number of families experiencing job loss,

Bonding for streets tough decision

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

– Without a crystal ball, it’s difficult to know what interest rates will be in spring. The Town Board will be debating a decision to bond for two street improvement projects or three in the upcoming months with interest costs hovering above 4%.

The rate was 1.4% the last time the township bonded for a paving project.

Town Administrator Pat Christopherson said the township is considering “paring down” its street projects due to the impact interest rates have on long-term bonds. Three areas are being considered for pavement upgrades: Greenhaven/Gilfillan for a mill and overlay; Hammond Road/Township Parkway as a reclamation and Williams/Hoxie Avenues for full reconstruction.

Town Engineer Larry Poppler, with TKDA, told the board Dec. 5 that there will be cost increases. The curb is in much worse shape along Hammond Road than they thought and should be replaced. Entrances to businesses and residences need more work than normal and trails should be upgraded to ADA standards.

“There will be added costs,” Poppler told the board. “We’re looking for the board’s tolerance for bonding. This will impact future tax levies.”

Based on the township’s Standard & Poor rating of AA+, the true interest cost on a $4.5 million bond issue is currently

4.15%, according to Finance Director Tom Kelly. Issuance costs add another $50,000 or so to the loan.

“I don’t know if cities are cutting back on projects,” Kelly said. “If there isn’t a lot of bond issuances going on, we could get a good rate because banks will be desperate to issue bonds. There might be better pricing from contractors looking for work.”

Poppler added that projects have stalled or stopped. “We are hearing in the industry that a lot of private work is complete. The last few years have been fabulous for construction, but a lot of that work is done. Contractors could be hungrier.”

Board members will first consider feasibility studies provided by the engineer before making any decisions. The project has been budgeted for 2023 but won’t “hit the books” until 2024.

In other business at the Dec. 5 meeting, the board:

• Agreed to amend a 30-year-old joint powers agreement (JPA) to sell water to North Oaks.

Attorney Chad Lemmons feels the JPA needs to be more “sophisticated” in the wake of the White Bear Lake level lawsuit and other issues regarding water. “It needs to be reworded in terms of what do we do in the event (water) allocations are cut again or we’re required to enforce an

irrigation ban,” he told the board. The township is also considering elimination of the two-year notice to terminate the water supply agreement.

Before the agreement is amended, Lemmons said the city of North Oaks needs to explain its relationship with the homeowners association. “Who is governed by that?” he asked. “My understanding is that land developed by (the company) North Oaks Farm is separate from the association.”

Town Chair Ed Prudhon added that North Oaks residents must be held to the same water restrictions as township residents, should it come to that.

• Approved the tree inventory and emerald ash borer (EAB) plan submitted by Davey Tree. One year of unlimited phone support, custom treekeeper training and updating an EAB management plan will cost $33,150. Funding will come from road and bridge and parks operating funds.

• Approved Hugo Road watermain replacement final payment plus change order. The project cost of $392,600 included a $19,400 change order to remove and improve poor quality material with a Class 5 aggregate base.

Debra Neutkens

unexpected extraordinary medical expenses, a home fire or other situations increases each year.

Donors making a tax-deductible donation to the Angel Fund can designate a “Holiday Angel” in honor of a special loved one, teacher, coach, mentor or neighbor. The Holiday Angel will receive a handwritten card indicating a donation was made in their honor.

To donate, complete the Holiday Angels form at wblaef.org/holiday-

angels. The WBLAEF will then send a special Angel Fund holiday greeting card to the honored person stating that they have been honored with a gift to the WBLAEF Angel Fund.

Meet new friends in 2023

North Suburban Neighbors Club, a nonprofit friendship organization for women in the northern suburbs, invites prospective members to a coffee event Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Shoreview Community Center-

Fireside Lounge.

NSNC provides opportunities for members to become acquainted with others in the community through friendship, goodwill and fun. Activities include coffees, eating out, programs and events, book club, movies, community service and more. Learn more about North Suburban Neighbors Club Group on Facebook or call or text Ellen at 651-247-9601.

The Shoreview Community Center is located at 4580 Victoria St. N.

Frank Watson is a local Meteorologist

Frank Watson

COPS&COURTS

WHITE BEAR LAKE POLICE REPORTS

The White Bear Police Department reported the following selected incidents:

• A stolen check was reported forged in the 2100 block of Division Court Nov. 30.

Theft was reported in the 3500 block of Century Avenue Nov. 30.

• Officers responded to a fight between residents in the 3500 block of Rooney Place Nov. 30. The situation had calmed down upon the officers’ arrival, and the police mediated the incident.

• A Maplewood resident was booked on third-degree DWI charges after performing poorly on a field sobriety test during a drunken driver stop in the 1800 block of Buerkle Road Nov. 30.

• Disorderly conduct was reported in the 3800 block of Oak Terrace Nov. 30.

• Harassment was reported in the 4700 block of Centerville Road Dec. 1.

• A complainant reported a lost phone in the 1800 block

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS

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

Grant

• An Ideal Avenue resident on Nov. 13 reported receiving threats over the phone.

• A resident in the 10000 block of Manning Avenue Court N. on Nov. 16 reported being the victim of an email scam, in which she transferred $4,500 to an unknown party.

• An unidentified motorist was cited at 1:51 a.m. Nov. 17 in the area of 75th Street N. and Jamaca Avenue N. for undisclosed offenses following a traffic stop for speeding and a subsequent vehicle search.

A male riding a bicycle in circles with no lights on at the intersection of 60th Street N. and Jasmine Avenue N. was reported at 5:36 a.m. Nov. 18.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office

RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS

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

Vadnais Heights

• Two St. Paul women, 24 and 26, face possible charges for gross misdemeanor theft and aiding and abetting a crime after they were detained at the Walmart Nov. 9 for concealing and under-ringing $643.33 in merchandise at the self-checkout. Due to extenuating circumstances —two children accompanied each of the suspects — the women weren’t cited on the premises but released.

A Vadnais Heights man, 32, was cited for disorderly conduct Nov. 11 in the 800 block of County Road D after he pushed a caretaker for an apartment building where his girlfriend resides.

• A resident of a townhome complex in the 4200 block of Centerville Road on Nov. 12 reported all four wheels and tires stolen from her Jeep Liberty while it was parked in the lot overnight Nov. 11-12.

• Fresh Thyme in the 900 block of County Road E on Nov. 12 reported a male and female for entering the store and grabbing two bottles of alcohol and exiting the store without paying for them.

• An accident hit-and-run was reported at 9:47 a.m. Nov. 13 after a dark SUV crashed into the deck of a house in the 300 block of Bankers Drive. According to surveillance video, the hit-and-run occurred at 2:15 a.m.

• A St. Paul man, 52, was arrested at 8:51 p.m. Nov. 15 in the 800 block of County Road D for domestic assault and for making terroristic threats, following a domestic alternation.

of Buerkle Road Dec. 1. The person who answered the lost phone refused to turn it over without a reward and was requesting to meet in circumstances the complainant didn’t think were safe.

Theft was reported in the 1000 block of Highway 96 Dec. 1.

• A 22-year-old White Bear Lake man was issued a citation for disorderly conduct following a suspicious person complaint in the 1700 block of County Road E East Dec. 1.

• Theft was reported in the 3100 block of Century Avenue North Dec. 2.

• An informational call about disorderly conduct in the 2600 block of County Road E was reported Dec. 2.

• Officers responded to what was initially reported as a domestic incident in the 1800 block of Birch Street. Further investigation revealed the fighting appeared to be mutual, and the complainant was advised. The other party involved had already fled the scene.

deputies called out to the scene couldn’t see him.

• Three golf carts were reported taken from the Loggers Trail golf course in the 11000 block of 80th Street N. on Nov. 18.

• Deputies conducted a traffic stop Nov. 19 in the 10000 block of 75th Street N. for speeding 70 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Mahtomedi

• Theft from a motor vehicle was reported Nov. 11 on Salem Court.

• An abusive male was reported at 11:26 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Dugout Bar on Mahtomedi Avenue after he assaulted staff and patrons. Deputies arrived on scene to remove and ban him from the premises.

• Teens playing “ding dong ditch” were reported at 11:39 p.m. Nov. 12 in the 1000 block of Prestwick Terrance in the second episode of the same behavior in two nights.

• A motorist was cited Nov. 13 in the

Two people at the scene told deputies the suspect pushed his way into an apartment unit and punched one of the occupants in the face multiple times and kicked him with steel-toed boots. He also threatened to shove a spoon down the complainant’s throat and trashed the apartment. He has been charged in Ramsey County Court with felony threats of violence and misdemeanor domestic assault.

• Deputies attempted a traffic stop at 4:22 p.m. Nov. 16 on Highway 61 after they observed a blue Kia Optima with a broken-out rear passenger side window and a hand out the window, which is a sign of a stolen vehicle. When they ran the plate number, the vehicle came back as not stolen. Confused, deputies tried to pull the vehicle over, but it fled from them. However, the vehicle was involved in an accident and Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies contacted the vehicle’s owner, who had reported it stolen right after it fled from RCSO deputies.

• Multiple vehicles belonging to Spade Construction Inc. were reported broken into overnight Nov. 16-17 while they were parked at a construction area in the 3200 block of Fanum Road.

White Bear Township

An auto repair shop in the 2500 block of County Road F on Nov. 10 reported that a disorderly male left his vehicle at the shop.

• A White Bear Township woman, 49, was arrested at 11:44 p.m. Nov. 11 in the 4000 block of Margaret Street for DWI and domestic assault following a report that she drove away from the scene after drinking and assaulting a man, 24.

• Theft of $101 from a lost wallet was reported in the 1800 block of Buerkle Road Dec. 3. The suspect was identified and cited.

• Officers dealt with disorderly individuals in the 1900 block of County Road F Dec. 4.

• A 39-year-old Mounds View man was booked at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center for third-degree DWI refusal charges Dec. 4. Officers conducted a traffic stop for failure to obey a traffic control signal near Highway 96 and Otter Lake Road. Their investigation found the driver to be impaired by alcohol. He performed poorly on field sobriety testing and was arrested. He refused evidentiary testing.

• A debit card was reported stolen in Maplewood and was used at the White Bear Lake Sam’s Club Dec. 5.

• Disorderly conduct was reported in the 4600 block of Bald Eagle and First avenues and the 1900 block of Eugene and Webber streets Dec. 6.

400 block of Lincolntown Avenue for speeding 49 mph in a 25 mph zone.

• Cash in the amount of $3,800 reported stolen from a Wildwood Road residence Nov. 15 turned out to have been merely misplaced inside the home.

• A suspicious gas can was reported left in a parking lot in the 3000 block of Century Avenue at 5:25 a.m. Nov. 17. Deputies were dispatched out to the scene to remove the gas can.

• Hit-and-run was reported Nov. 17 on Mahtomedi Avenue.

• A motorist was cited at 2:15 a.m. Nov. 18 on Stillwater Road for driving without a proper driver’s license after he presented deputies with an identification-only card during the traffic stop.

• An unidentified motorist was arrested for driving after cancellation due to behavior inimical to public safety at 12:15 a.m. Nov. 19 on Ash Street and Wildwood Beach Road, following a traffic stop for a burnt-out headlight. During the vehicle search subsequent to the arrest, deputies located marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the motor

vehicle.

• After an East Avenue resident on Nov. 19 reported being the victim of a possible fraud, deputies assured her that she wasn’t when she divulged that she hadn’t actually sent gift card numbers to the scammer upon request. However, deputies did advise the complainant to seek security protection for her computer.

• An Echo Lake Court resident on Nov. 19 reported her ex-boyfriend for breaking into her home.

Pine Springs

• Deputies cited two motorists during the week of Nov. 13-19. On Nov. 17, they cited a motorist on I-694 for an undisclosed violation. On Nov. 19, a motorist was cited for speeding in the 6000 block of Hilton Trail N.

Willernie

• A motor vehicle was reported stolen Nov. 16 from an address on Stillwater Road.

• A motorist was cited Nov. 19 in the area of Stillwater Road and Wildwood Road for a stop sign violation.

5 common credit card mistakes

BY ABE WINTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Credit cards can be a great way to build credit and pay for expenses. However, they can be costly if you use them incorrectly.

“A credit card is a great asset, but when you use it incorrectly it can cost you a pretty penny,” writes Alexandria White in her online report for CNBC Select. “Carry a balance and pay high interest rate charges; miss a payment and incur a late fee; Close a credit card and ding your credit score. The costs add up quickly.”

She says I is not hard to get into the habit of using a credit card correctly and as a result, save money while building credit and taking advantage of some perks along the way.

Here are five common credit card mistakes you could be making and how to avoid them:

1. Carrying a balance month-to-month One of the biggest credit score myths is that carrying a balance on your credit card improves your credit. In fact, 22% of Americans carried a balance thinking it would increase their credit score.

In reality, carrying a balance monthto-month hurts your credit score and costs you money. If you carry a balance,

you’ll have a higher credit utilization rate, which is the amount of debt you have compared to your available credit. Experts agree that the lower your utilization rate, the better. A FICO study found “high achievers” — consumers with an average 800 FICO score — on average use a mere 7% of their credit limit.Carrying a balance can also get expensive thanks to interest charges. And while a cash-back card can be a great tool to help you save money on your everyday spending, all that savings is for nothing if you’re paying interest.

2. Only making minimum payments While you should always make at least the minimum payments, it’s not advised to only pay the minimum due. Not paying your bill in full can lead you to fall into debt and rack up unnecessary

interest charges. Plus, just paying the minimum can add months — even years — to the time it takes you to pay off debt.

Have a payment plan in place before you take on bigger expenses, and always make consistent, on-time payments toward your balance.

3. Missing a payment

Late or missed payments can seriously hurt your credit score if you’re more than 30 days past due. You can expect a drop of 17 to 83 points for a 30-day missed payment and a 27 to 133 decrease for a 90day missed payment, according to FICO data.

However, if your payment is less than 30 days late, you won’t see a drop in your credit score since a payment has to be a full 30 days past due before it’s reported to the credit bureaus

(Experian, Equifax and TransUnion).

But you may incur a late fee or penalty interest rate — which raises your APR. Set up autopay to ensure payments are always made on time. And if autopay isn’t for you, set calendar reminders and email notifications.

4. Neglecting to review your billing statement

It’s important to check that the transactions listed on your bill are accurate so you can take early action against fraudsters or reporting errors. At the very least, you should review your monthly statement for errors. But it’s a good idea to check your transactions a few times each week to verify everything looks OK.

You should be proactive about reviewing the charges that appear on your account so you can potentially spot fraud early and resolve any incorrect charges.

5. Not knowing your APR and applicable fees

When you apply and are approved for a credit card, you receive a long cardmember agreement that probably doesn’t top your must-read list. However, it’s important you parse through the jargon and review important account terms, so you understand all the applicable fees.

SARAH

Township property taxes hit double-digit increase

BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP – Like almost every other municipality in Ramsey County, the township’s property tax levy is seeing a doubledigit increase.

Approved Dec. 6 by residents attending the town’s annual budget meeting, the 2023 levy was set at $5,416,271, an increase of 11% over 2022.

“If you think that’s high, a county chart shows quite a few cities with double-digit tax increases,” pointed out Finance Director Tom Kelly. He singled out neighbors like White Bear Lake, 23%; Gem Lake, 22%; Vadnais Heights, 13%; and St. Paul residents, who face a 15% increase.

“Everyone is in the same boat countywide; hit with inflation and COVID money gone,” Kelly said, adding that White Bear Lake is playing catch-up from previous administration levy freezes.

The Town Board “tries to be frugal with your dollars,” Kelly continued. For example, the township spends $409 per capita in operating expenditures compared to $770 for other Minnesota cities with a similar population, he said.

“Creeping up” is capital outlay, noted the finance director. “In 2020, capital improvements cost $263 per capita compared to $507 in 2021 due to road and utility projects. Comparable cities spent $429.”

Still, township services cost a lot less than what families pay for cell phone service.

According to Kelly, the owner of a median value home pays $21.73 a month for public safety; $22.09 for public works; $11.46 for general government services; $11.02 a month for parks and $7.48 for debt service.

That’s $74 a month compared to a typical cell phone bill of $170, he said.

A median-value home in the township is $346,150, compared to $301,100 in 2022. Property taxes provide 86% of the revenue to keep the township running.

The general fund budget for those day-to-day operations is $5,654,256 — almost a 9% increase over last year. “We are not using reserve to balance the budget,” Kelly told residents.

Public safety accounts for 35% of the operating budget, or $1,987,800. Police protection increased 8% based on a contract with the sheriff’s department. Fire protection increased 9% based on a new contract with White Bear Lake.

Public works is getting the largest increase from the general fund.

The department’s ask is 13% more than last year. Its $1,805,962 budget covers a new maintenance position,

DIAGRAMS CONTRIBUTED

equipment and infrastructure improvements and an increased tree removal budget due to emerald ash borer.

Total expenditures for all funds are budgeted at $21,873,315 for 2023. That figure is up about $3 million (16%) from last year due mostly to capital expenditures and debt payments. Capital improvements are included in the 2023 number and account for 26% of the total budget.

The township anticipates adding $3.5 million in new debt next year for several street improvement projects, yet to be approved.

Kelly noted that the township is in Year 5 of a 10year pavement management program.

The total outstanding debt at the end of this year is

$12,740,000. Kelly said the amount requires a debt levy of $507,227 for 2023.

Opportunity for questions following the presentation garnered only two. One resident asked about local government aid, which amounts to $12 per capita revenue. Kelly said the formula is “archaic,” noting the city of White Bear Lake gets about $2 million in comparison.

“We’re working with legislators to fix that little problem,” Kelly added. Townships are also excluded from local gas tax allocations.

Another resident inquired about the status of the lake level lawsuit. Town Attorney Chad Lemmons replied that “nothing is happening.” The matter is before the administrative law judge, who has yet to schedule any hearings. “We’re waiting for a schedule. It’s very quiet,” he said.

At the start of the special meeting, Christopherson explained that the proposed levy is approved by residents rather than the Town Board, something unique to the township. As for the budget, residents recommend approval to the board, which will consider its adoption at the Dec. 19 meeting.

Mahtomedi city taxes will increase in 2023

The bad news is that the Mahtomedi city budget for 2023 will increase by 8.7%, and the tax bill for a median-valued home will increase by 11.1%. The good news is that although the Mahtomedi general fund budget will increase by $600,274, the tax increase on a median-valued home is projected at $151.42.

The Mahtomedi general fund budget will increase from $6.9 million in 2022 to $7.5 million in 2023. The city tax levy will increase over last year’s by approximately 10.7% to $5.9 million.

Following the annual truth-in-taxation budget presentation and hearing at its Dec. 6 meeting, the Mahtomedi City Council (by a 4-0 vote; Council Member Lilly Melander was absent) approved the 2023 annual city budget and the city’s 2023-2027 capital improvement plan. The council also passed a resolution approving the proposed tax levy for 2023 and cancellation of the debt levy for taxes payable in 2023.

The increases in the city budget are largely due to increased public safety costs. These include increases in ambulance expenses, costs associated with additional full-time firefighter/EMT’s on staff and cost increases passed on by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for policing. Debt service will also increase slightly in 2023.

On the city’s expenditure pie chart, the public safety slice makes up 32.3% of the pie, while debt service makes up 23.5% of the pie.

On the revenue side, the taxes the city levies on its citizens make up 79.2% of the pie.

Higher home values throughout the city are also responsible for increases in city taxes on everyone’s property tax bill. The city actually saw the tax rate decrease, as the cost of running the city is spread out over more property owners who foot the tax bill, said Finance Director Scott Schaefer via Zoom. Mahtomedi’s 2023 tax rate of 34.380% is a decrease of 12.1% from 2022, when the tax rate was 39.119.

The median-valued home in 2022 valued at $353,300 is now valued at $439,850 for 2023, a 24.5% increase in market value over the past year. This new valuation results in an 11.1% increase in the city portion of the property tax bill of $151.42, to $1,512.38.

In addition to the general fund, the city also considers annual budgets for its enterprise funds (water, sewer, storm water, equipment/building

replacement and park funds). The utility funds (water, sewer and storm water) will all require increases in expenditures for 2023. Utility rates will increase by 3% to 4% this coming year so the three funds can continue to support necessary capital improvements and system repairs.

The parks capital improvement plan reflects $1.4 million in improvements planned for the next five years.

The capital improvement plan is also an important part of the annual budget $17,775,000 in improvements are planned between 2023 and 2027.

For those suffering palpitations over capital improvement plan sticker shock, Council Member Richard Brainerd reminded the public that, “it’s five years and it’s a plan. It’s not cast in stone.”

Other action from the Dec. 6 Mahtomedi City Council meeting:

Certain fees around the city will also increase in 2023, after council conducted a public hearing and approved an ordinance adopting the 2023 fee schedule as part the city’s annual review and update. Notable increases include ambulance transport rates and equipment rental rates. Assessment rates will increase by about 5.7%.

Council approved three fund transfers to keep balances at recommended levels.

Most of the city’s contracted providers and their pay rates are approved at the first meeting of the new year, but the rate schedule for the city’s engineering firm, WSB, is usually approved in December each year. The firm will provide professional engineering and design services for the city at a wide range of hourly rates, from $68 per hour for an engineering technician to $235 per hour for a senior principal or senior associate engineer.

Council also approved a contract for audit services for 2023 with CliftonLarsonAllen at an estimated cost of $39,400 for the year.

The city has been awarded as much as $44,000 in grant funding from the Metropolitan Council to develop policies and regulations that aim to minimize climate impacts by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources. The funds will be used to take care of city trees; create green stormwater infrastructure guidelines; reduce impervious surfaces, such as parking areas; and clear

the way to install feasible wind energy conversion systems.

Council also passed a resolution of support for the city’s application for a 2023 MnDOT grant under its active transportation grant program to be used for the trail project located adjacent to Briarwood Avenue between Quail Street and the border with the city of Grant. The project is in the city’s capital improvement plan for 2024.

The Lake Links Trail will be lighted this winter, after council approved payment to Killmer Electric in the amount of $30,020 for the lighting.

The snow is here, and so is the ice. The city is ready with the hockey rinks, after council approved a cooperative services agreement with Mahtomedi Youth Hockey, Yardworks and Mahtomedi School District 832 for the outdoor rinks at 55 Briarwood Avenue. There is no change in the city’s responsibilities relating to this agreement, and the payment remains $12,000. The outdoor rinks include three ice hockey rinks, a warming house, a parking area and a small building at the south side of the parking lot.

The property owner at 331 Park Avenue will now be able to subdivide and develop the land, after council formally vacated a drainage and utility easement on the property. A new storm sewer was installed elsewhere on the property, and the old perpetual storm sewer and maintenance agreement were rendered inactive, such that the old easement was also made redundant, said City Engineer John Sachi.

Century Avenue will soon become a county state aid highway following action by MnDOT to conclude the “turnback” process. Washington County requested that Mahtomedi appoint a council member and an alternate to attend three or four meetings during a study period of 12 to 18 months. Brainerd will represent council, and Council Member Luke Schlegel will serve as alternate. “I like having a coalition to work with the counties, because we do have a vested interest,” Brainerd said.

The council next meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at City Hall, 600 Stillwater Road.

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

• There are approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. every year

• There are close to 350 million real Christmas trees currently growing on Christmas tree farms in the U.S. alone, all planted by farmers

• North American real Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states & Canada

• 80% of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department

• Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics & possible metal toxins such as lead

• There are more than 4,000 local Christmas tree recycling programs throughout the U.S.

• For every real Christmas tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring

• There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christmas trees in the U.S., much of it preserving green space

• There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas trees in the U.S., & over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry

• It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of typical height (6-7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years

• The top Christmas tree producing states are Oregon, North Caroline, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin & Washington

WANT TO HELP PROTECT WHITE BEAR LAKE’S WATER QUALITY? The Rice Creek

Watershed District is looking for community members for the 2023 Minnesota Water Stewards Program. The program is for people who want to be leaders in

improving & protecting water quality in the Rice Creek Watershed. You will attend online courses to learn more about water quality & complete a project within the watershed with guidance from staff. Program fees are all paid by the District & funds are awarded to support the projects that each Water Steward will implement, such as rain gardens.

Applications are being accepted now at www.minnesotawaterstewards.org. Classes start beginning of January 2023. Contact Kendra Sommerfeld at ksommerfeld@ricecreek.org if interested.

DON’T OVER SALT YOUR SIDEWALKS/DRIVEWAYS – While deicers clearly improve safety & getting around in the winter, it’s important to maintain hard surfaces properly & use deicers only on critical areas:

• One teaspoon of salt will pollute 5 gallons of water

• Runoff from deicing chemicals results in pollution of groundwater, the source of most Minnesotans’ drinking water

• Chloride in high amounts affects the oxygen levels & natural mixing of lakes & waterways & is toxic to fish, aquatic bugs & amphibians

• Excessive use of deicing salts can degrade concrete, asphalt & natural stone, & corrode metals

Dangers of Deicing Salts to Plants:

• Deicing salt harms & ultimately may kill plants. Sodium chloride, the most commonly used deicer in the Twin Cities, causes the most significant plant damage. Symptoms of salt damage

on plants include dried up & brown needles & leaves; loss of foliage, buds & branches; & premature plant death.

• Salt can be absorbed by plant roots, causing dehydration, & salt spray can burn turf & foliage especially on evergreens.

• Sodium causes clay particles in soil to expand, increasing soil compaction, reducing water infiltration & making it hard for roots to grow. Weeds like Canada thistle, however, grow well in compacted soils.

WINTER DRIVING TIPS –

• Increase following distance to 8-10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces

• When driving up & down hills, observe how other vehicles are reacting

& maintain safe distance

• Steer & brake with smooth, careful, & precise movements rather than quick, jerky motions

• Drive in the lane that’s been most recently plowed, & avoid changing lanes unless necessary

• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface

• Take extra care when driving on shaded spots, bridges, overpasses, & intersections

WBCA DIRECTOR: Hudson to pursue creative endeavors, spend time with family

FROM PAGE 1

White Bear Lake and previous work at the San Diego Museum of Art. Her neighbor in White Bear Lake was board chair for the arts center at the time in 2004 and asked if Hudson was interested in applying for the top job. She was.

Her mission since then was to grow the number of ways for community members to engage in the arts and recognize their creative potential.

“We’re creative beings, and the more ways the art center could facilitate opportunities for people to be engaged in the arts — that was the biggest value I see in having a community art center,” she said.

The center built on audiences of people already engaged in two popular art mediums — watercolor painting and pottery — by adding classes such as writing, textiles and jewelry-making.

“We now offer over 1,000 different classes a year. The more we expanded how we defined arts, the more our participation grew,” Hudson said.

Under Hudson’s leadership, the Center for the Arts also renovated and moved into its existing home at 4971 Long Ave. in September 2013. Before that, the arts

PUBLIC

nonprofit only had one classroom and an office at the Armory. It also held classes at various spots around town.

Having an arts center was a “game changer” according to Hudson because it gave artists a fixed meeting spot where they could learn from each other and one that served people of all backgrounds and skill levels. She also pointed out the building is accessible to people with disabilities.

“If there’s anything that’s most important to me, it’s accessibility to the arts at a local level and that it welcomes everybody at whatever ability,” she said. “It really has nothing to do with how great an artist you are. It’s about breaking down the fear of engaging, and it’s about celebrating wherever an individual is on that continuum of their artistic journey.”

The arts center has experienced additional changes the past few years due to two coinciding developments: the coronavirus pandemic and a building expansion.

During its 18-month-long closure from the pandemic and renovation, the arts center emailed weekly art lessons for people to do at home and offered live, virtual art classes and prerecorded courses. It also put on a weekly, outdoor

market for artists in fall 2020 to give the creators a chance to sell their work.

Groundbreaking for the building expansion happened in February 2021, and the center’s grand reopening took place the first weekend of that October. Hudson said the arts center had signed the building contracts at just the right time to avoid supply chain issues and material price hikes the pandemic caused.

The organization has occupied its newly renovated building for a little more than a year and is back to holding in-person events. Hudson also noted the arts center has seasoned staff and financially is “in a place that feels like recovery but also poised on the threshold of tremendous growth.”

Therefore, it felt like the right time for her to hand the reins of leadership to someone new. The center hasn’t yet named her successor, though there will be an interim director while the organization searches for a full-time hire.

Getting back to her artwork — as well as her passion for creative writing — isn’t the only aspect Hudson is excited about when it comes to her retirement. She’s also keen on spending more time with her family, which includes her

IF YOU GO:

What: Open house for Suzi Hudson When: 3:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21

Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave.

Details: All are welcome to help longtime Center for the Arts Executive Director Suzi Hudson celebrate her career of leading the organization and wish her well on her next adventures in retirement. Attendees should dress for indoor and outdoor festivities. Registration is encouraged but not required for the free event. Register at whitebeararts.org.

husband, her two adult children, Tim and Hanna, her mother, who’s in her 80s, and her golden retriever, Winnie.

Hudson said Hanna has a 6-year-old daughter, too, and is expecting a second child.

“The day after I announced my retirement to the chair, our daughter told us that she was expecting, so it was like, ‘Oh, there’s a great sign from the universe.’”

Company name, mailing address, street address, and phone numbers. Hard copy sets will also be available for pick up upon request.

Each Bidder must accompany his bid with a Cashier’s Check, Bid Bond, or Certified Check equal to 5% of the total amount of the Bid payable to Independent School District #624 as a guarantee of prompt execution of the contract in accordance with the Proposal and Contract Documents.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish satisfactory Labor and Material Payment Bond, and Performance Bond.

Bids may not be withdrawn within sixty (60) days after the scheduled time of opening bids, without the consent of the School Board of Independent School District #624 of Minnesota.

Published two times in the White Bear Press on December 14 and 21, 2022.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #832 1520 MAHTOMEDI AVENUE MAHTOMEDI, MN 55115

PUBLISHED ANNOUNCEMENT

55110

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Independent School District #624, White Bear Lake Area Schools, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, will receive sealed bids for:

PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Until 2:00 P.M. January 24, 2023, at the White Bear Lake Area Schools, District Center, Building and Grounds office, 4855 Bloom Avenue, room 309, White Bear Lake, Minnesota at which time and place all bids will be opened and read aloud in room 206. Bidders are invited to attend. Bids received after 2:00 P.M. will be returned unopened.

A Pre-bid meeting will be held at Lincoln Elementary School, 1961 6th Street, White Bear Lake, MN at 3:00 PM on January 10, 2023. Contractors are to meet at Door A.

Bids shall be upon bid forms provided within specifications. No oral, telegraphic, or telephonic proposals or modifications will be considered. Separate envelopes containing bids must be sealed, marked (PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) with the name and address of the bidder and the date and hour of the opening, addressed to Dan Roeser, Director of Building Operations.

The complete form shall be without alterations, additions, or erasures, all bids must be on a lump sum basis. White Bear Lake Area Schools reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids or parts of such bids and to waive any informalities or irregularities in bidding.

Bidding documents, including the Bid Form, Drawings and Specifications, will be available upon by emailing request to Andrea Noonan, Roof Spec, Inc. andien@roofspec.com. The copies will be available December 14, 2022. The following information must accompany the request: Contact name, email,

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Mahtomedi Public Schools, ISD 832, is soliciting sealed bids for building envelope repairs on various district buildings. Sealed bids shall be received until: 2:00 pm, January 12th, 2023 at the School District Office, 1520 Mahtomedi Avenue, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids sent via FAX will not be accepted. The Board reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids as it deems to be in the best interest of Independent School District 832. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for: December 22nd, 2022 @ 8:30 am at the Mahtomedi Public Schools District Office, 1520 Mahtomedi Avenue, Mahtomedi, MN 55115.

Bidding documents and specifications will be available at the Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting. The name and address of the bidder must be placed on the envelope and submitted to: Independent School District 832 1520 Mahtomedi Avenue Mahtomedi, MN 55115

ATTN: 2023 Building Envelope Repairs Published two times in the White Bear Press on December 14 and 21, 2022.

SECTION

Passed by the Town Board of Supervisors of the Town of White Bear, Ramsey County, Minnesota, this 5th day of December, 2022.

APPROVED: ED M. PRUDHON, Chair

ATTEST: PATRICK CHRISTOPHERSON, Clerk-Treasurer

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: ED M. PRUDHON, Chair, STEVEN A. RUZEK, Supervisor, SCOTT MCCUNE, Supervisor

Published one time in the White Bear Press on December 14, 2022.

The White Bear Township Board Members & Staff Wish You & Your Family a Very Merry & Safe Holiday Season!

Daniel J. Campanaro

Age 75, of White Bear Lake, passed away suddenly on December 2, 2022. Preceded in death by parents, Daniel, Sr. and Irene; brother, Patrick; and stepson, Nicholas Swanson. Survived by wife, Debra; daughter, Amy; son, Patrick; sisters, Judy (Terry) Morri and Joan (Denny) Mead; stepson, Matt (Sarorn) Swanson; grandchildren, Robyn, Arianna and Maliah; brother-in-law, Dick Johnson; sisters-in-law, Jan Dick and Becky Johnson; many nieces and nephews. Dan was kind, giving, and devoted all of his time to caring for others. He was a very active member of the White Bear Lake VFW Post #1782, who held many positions throughout the years, including Post Commander. Memorial Service 12:00 PM Tuesday, December 13 at COMMUNITY OF GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4000 Linden St., White Bear Lake, with a luncheon to follow the service. Visitation will be held from 4-6:30 PM Monday at MUELLER-BIES FUNERAL HOME - ROSEVILLE, 2130 N. Dale St. at County Rd B, and at the church from 11 AM - 12 Noon Tuesday. Private interment St. John’s Cemetery, Little Canada, MN.

Audrey Hurd

A funeral service was held on Friday, December 9, at 11 AM at Honsa Family Funeral Home. Preceded in death by husband Joe Hurd. Survived by children Bruce (Mary) Hurd, Jody Van Dell, Mark (Angie) Hurd, as well as Jeff Hurd; Sister Judy Munkelwitz.

Howard Theodore Roe

Howard Theodore Roe, age 90, of Danbury, WI, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 2, 2022, at the Divine Rehab and Nursing, St. Croix Falls, WI.

Howard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Betty; children, Michael (Ann) and Bonnie (Mark) Howell; 2 grandchildren, Jason (Tara) Bauer and Brieanna (Ricky) Howell-Smith; 6 great grandchildren; one great-great grandson and many other relatives and friends.

No services per Howard’s Request.

Arrangements are with the Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, WI. Condolences may be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com.

POLITICAL BRIEF

Outgoing legislators honored for work on environment

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy recently honored 11 retiring Minnesota legislators, including Rep. Ami Wazlawik and Sen. Chuck Wiger, for their commitment to protecting the health of the environment during a ceremony in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda.

Rep. Wazlawik was recognized for her leadership in authoring a law that made Minnesota the first state to ban the toxic chemical TCE (trichloroethylene) as well as strengthen protections from “forever chemicals” (PFAS) pollution. The MCEA recognized Sen. Wiger’ s co-authorship of the law to ban TCE as one of his most significant contributions to protecting the state’s environment, along with his commitment to working with the community on the bill. The honorees were given engraved wooden paddles.

Hospital receives national recognition for maternity care

M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital was among five M Health Fairview hospitals recognized as 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Maternity. The health care system earned the No. 1 spot in Minnesota for most high-performing hospitals on the list.

U.S. News launched the “Best Hospitals for Maternity” list last year. It is designed to help families make informed choices about hospitals where they might have a baby following an uncomplicated pregnancy. Nearly 650 hospitals across the nation were evaluated; of those, 297 were awarded the highest available distinction of “High Performing.”

To be awarded a “High Performing” rating, a hospital had to score significantly higher than average on a combination of eight quality measures, including the caesarean birth rate in low-risk pregnancies, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, and the rate of unexpected complications in term newborns.

The Birthplace at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital offers amenities and services that include therapeutic labor techniques and support tools, the latest options for pain relief, and lactation support.

“We never lose sight of the fact that each pregnancy is unique,” said Dan Landers, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine physician with M Health Fairview and co-chief of its women’s and children’s service line. “This recognition is a testament to the compassionate, personalized care offered by our experienced teams.”

-From press release

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF

A White Bear Township man, 44, faces up to one year imprisonment and/ or a maximum $3,000 fine for interfering with an emergency call, following a Dec. 2 domestic incident in the 1700 block of Ridgewood Drive. His sentence could be supplemented if he is also convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault stemming from the same incident.

At approximately 10:34 p.m. Dec. 2, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office deputies arriving on the scene of the incident were met by the defendant’s father, who told them his son had assaulted him. Deputies noted the victim’s bloody nose and ripped pajamas.

The victim said he and his son were living together at the

BUSINESS BRIEF

address, and that the defendant had spilled an alcoholic beverage in the kitchen. When the victim asked his son to clean up the spill, the defendant created an even bigger mess by aggressively throwing items and breaking the vacuum cleaner. For good measure, the son also yelled at his father during the altercation. When the victim left the kitchen to escape to his bedroom, the defendant followed. The son then threw his father onto the bed, struck him and elbowed him in the face. The victim took up his phone and told his son he was going to call 911. The defendant then snatched the phone and threw it across the room to prevent his father from calling 911.

The defendant’s father told deputies he was in fear during the assault.

Community gains a bakery as another closes

In-home bakers Cassandra and William Schrammen of Twin Cities Gluten Free Bakeshop have opened a brick and mortar location called The Bear in Gem Lake.

The space will initially be used for gluten-free, celiac safe cooking and baking classes. The space is also available to be rented for private events. Eventually, they hope to operate as a full-service restaurant and bakery serving organic and all natural gluten free foods, drinks and pastries.

Upcoming classes include Christmas cookies and Christmas brunch cooking with Santa on Dec. 17, and a cinnamon roll and monkey bread class on Dec. 18. Classes are also offered in January.

The Bear is located at 1595 Count Road E East. For more information visit twincitiesgfbakeshop.com.

Another local bakery, Vegan East, has decided not to renew its lease in downtown White Bear Lake’s Avalon Mall, which expires in January. On their website, owners Sheila and Reid Nelson thanked the White Bear Lake community and announced the opening of a bakery in Minneapolis’ Nokomis neighborhood as well as a cafe on Lyndale Avenue. Both are scheduled to open in early 2023. Find out details at veganeast.com.

Mikaylah is one of the most outstanding students we have ever had here at White Bear Lake Area High School. She has a perfect 4.0 GPA and she is ranked 1st out of 538 students in the class. She has made the A Honor Roll every semester, and she has been honored as an AP Scholar with Distinction. Mikaylah stays busy and active outside the classroom. She has played competitive club soccer for nearly a decade, participated on the girls' junior varsity program, and managed the boys' soccer team. She has also played recreational league basketball on a state championship team. She served as an Ambassador for our school, and held part time jobs as a youth soccer referee and as a bagger at a local grocery store. She hopes to pursue a career in aerospace engineering or a related field.

Now he has a bigger mess to clean up

the King

Scott

Bear Lake, MN 55110 Bus: 763-515-4655 scott.bohnen.vaayzv@statefarm.com

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Above: Emily Blake displays the elf who will be hiding at the Bella Maria Boutique, one of several shops in downtown White Bear Lake participating in the upcoming Elf Hunt challenge. At right: Some of

At left: “Flick” the elf tests out a potential hiding place by nestling in between colorful balls of yarn at the Sheepy Yarn Shoppe. The search for Santa’s elves is Dec. 15, 16 and 17. Elf Passports are available in this paper, at participating stores or download it at: downtownwhitebearlake.com.

Above: Sparkles the elf will try to hide amidst the festive surroundings at the Good Things store during the hide and seek challenge.

Strong first week for No. 4 Mahtomedi cagers

The Mahtomedi Zephyrs, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A boys basketball, made an impressive showing in the opening week, beating Columbia Heights and Stewartville, the latter at the huge Breakdown Tip-Off Classic.

“We had really good focus against two quality opponents,” coach Keith Newman said. “Our guys enjoy competing. It was fun playing in an event that brings many good teams to the same place. Breakdown runs a very good day of basketball for fans

SPORTS BRIEFS

and players.”

Thirteen players scored for the Zephyrs in a 90-62 conquest of No. 11 Columbia Heights. Will Underwood logged 25 points and 11 rebounds. Owen Carlson had 24 points, eight steals, eight rebounds and seven assists. “We forced them into many live ball turnovers that led directly to baskets for us,” Newman said.

The Zephyrs fended off No. 7 Stewartville 74-67 at the Breakdown in Hopkins. Underwood sank 29 points, including 4-for-8 on three’s, and

BOYS HOCKEY

cashed six straight free shots to help the Zephyrs pull away at the end. Cole Armitage sank 16 points. Carlson notched 14 points, four assists and four steals. Javon Harvey added 10 points. Defensive pressure, led by AJ McCleery (four steals), led to 24 Stewartville turnovers. For the Tigers (1-1), Henry Tschetter tallied 21 points and Caleb Bancroft 16 points.

Mahtomedi, ranked No. 3 in Class 1A, has a 5-1 record after two victories last week. The Zephyrs won 7-4 at St. Michael-Albertville (0-3) on goals by Carter Haycraft (two), Charlie Drage (two), Jimmy Egan, Cav Bruner, and Sam Harris. David Wolsfeld made three assists and Patrick Egan two. Charlie Brandt made 24 saves. The Zephyrs faced a hot goalie but defeated South St. Paul 3-1 at St. Croix Rec Center. Wyatt Tarnowski, Jake Hodd-Chlebeck and Wolsfeld scored against Wyatt Cheney, who made 57 saves for the Packers (1-41).

GYMNASTICS

Mahtomedi defeated Hastings 134.025 to 129.250 in the season opener. Zephyr

seventh-grader Margo Brunner placed second all-around with 33.825 and senior Erin Steinman was third with 33.675. Brunner was first on balance beam (9.20), second on floor (8.925), and third on bars (7.80). Steinman was second on bars (8.75) and third on floor (8.80). Alix Fox took second on beam (8.475) and third on vault (8.55). Kendall Hines was third on beam (8.40). Other solid scores were Madison Moller 8.475 on vault and 8.60 on floor, and Lucy Otto 8.35 on vault.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Mahtomedi lost to Providence Academy, top-ranked in Class 2A, 74-54 in their lone game last week. Maddyn Greenway, freshman guard who went

BEAR SPORTS BRIEFS

GIRLS BASKETBALL

White Bear Lake is 5-1 after two conference victories last week. The Bears enjoyed stellar balance in beating Mounds View 70-51 as Jordyn Schmittdiel netted 14 points, Heidi Barber 12, Blessing Adebisi 11, Sarah Poepard nine, Cami Bachmeier eight, Addison Post seven, and Abby O’Brien seven. The Bears clipped Park (0-3) 50-41, powered by Schmittdiel with 21 points. Post added nine points and Barber eight.

NORDIC SKI

White Bear Lake opened with a

over 1,000 points as an eighth-grader, poured in 37 points for the Lions (2-2), including 13-for-14 free throw shooting. Ella Kletti sank 18 points for Mahtomedi (2-2). Sonya Potthoff and Anna Greene netted eight points each.

WRESTLING

Mahtomedi lost to South St. Paul 5919 and to Hastings 68-6. Winning for the Zephyrs against SSP were Aidan Carlson 13-4 at 113 pounds, Alex Lavalle 10-3 at 152, Evan McGuire by pin in 1:51 at 182, and Max Rice by pin in 1:34 at 285. Winning against Hastings were Lavalle 9-6 and McGuire 11-7. The Zephyrs (1-4) forfeited at four weights against SSP and five against Hastings.

conference meet at Battle Creek. The boys and girls teams both placed sixth of seven teams. Top placement was sophomore Andrew Klier, sixth in boys freestyle. “Several skiers missed the race or were unable to ski at full capacity, due to still recovering from respiratory illnesses,” coach Doug Cran said. “As they get stronger, I expect they will move themselves and their respective teams further up the ranks.” It’s a young squad with just four seniors, boys captain Ian Ottavianni and girls captains Megan Ryan,

WRESTLING

White Bear Lake lost to Stillwater 63-13 and Wayzata 69-9 in a triangular at Stillwater. Against Stillwater, the Bears (3-5) had decisions by Christian Carlson (major) at 126 and Gabe Kessel at 132 plus a forfeit. Against Wayzata, Carlson won a decision and Ryan Kinde pinned his man at 285. The Bears also competed at Brainerd’s Lumberjack Invitational, placing 14th. Carlson placed

led the Zephyrs to a 2-0 start. The 6-foot-4 senior guard delivered 25 points and 11 rebounds in a 90-62 win over Columbia Heights, and followed with a 29-point burst in a 74-67 win over Stewartville clinching that win with six free shots in the last two minutes. Underwood scored 24 points per game as a sophomore. A knee injury in the football opener erased his entire junior year of athletics. He passed up football this year.

BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED

Cole Armitage churns toward the hoop to score after stealing the ball against Stewartville.

BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED

Charlie Drage scored twice against STMA.

ZEPHYR

Madie Bystrom, and Mhaveorgan Grund.

fourth at 126, Kessek seventh at 132 and Jackson Haiko seventh at 182.

GYMNASTICS

White Bear Lake lost their dual meet opener to Forest Lake, 130.825 to 123.55, with a lineup shorthanded due to illnesses.

Addy Mueller placed second all-around with 32.25 and Josie Mlejnek was third with 30.975. Both are sophomores. Mueller was second on beam (8.275) and third on bars (7.7) and floor (7.875). Rachel Profitt was third on vault (8.50).

GIRLS HOCKEY

White Bear Lake picked up its

second win, over Cretin-Derham Hall 4-1, and lost to Hastings 2-0. The Bears are 2-6. Against CDH (1-6), the Bears broke a 1-1 tie in the third period on goals by Lily Howard, Hailey Dawe and Grace Bailey (empty net).

Talia Domschot scored in the first period. Maya Marston made 28 saves. The Bears outshot Hastings (6-5) by 42-34 but could not get one past junior goalie Bree Balster. Makayla Berquist had both goals against Marston, who made 32 stops.

SWIMMING

White Bear Lake opened the season at the Suburban East Conference Relays against four other teams in Stillwater. The Bears’ top finish was second place

in the 400 freestyle with Benedict Hoefer, Calvin Weier, Jacob Pierce and Amarre Zalazar in 3:49.52. The Bears placed fourth in three other relays. Stillwater won seven of the nine events.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Missing its star player, White Bear Lake lost to Eagan 46-44, their lone game of the opening week. Senior guard Jack Janicki, their scoring leader for three years, is likely to miss a month with a shoulder injury suffered late in the AAU season. Jeremy Kolb scored 20 points, Jack Misgen 10 and Wyatt Hawks seven for the Bears. Hawks made a steal with six seconds left but the Bears weren’t able to get a clean shot attempt.

AGING GRACEFULLY

Talking to your aging parents about money

BY ABE WINTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There’s no shortage of information regarding what and how to discuss finances with your aging parent(s).

Migdalia Rivera Ortiz, the community liaison for Caregiver Homes from Seniorlink, discusses several issues.

“For adults with aging parents, the time often comes where you must discuss their future plans with them,” she said. “Some of the common topics involve making decisions about money, health, senior living, and other potentially difficult subjects.”

At some point, she says you’ll need to discuss the sensitive subjects.

“As a family, you want to be supportive without being overly controlling. It is hard enough for our parents to face potential limitations that threaten their independence, such as mobility challenges that increase their risk of falls,” she said. “Often, family members can struggle to bring up these important topics and leave them unresolved, which

TIPS:

can cause stress and strain on the family.”

She points out that a survey from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), 75% of respondents expressed a desire to live out the rest of their lives in their current homes.

“It’s no surprise that seniors desire to remain independent, but the challenge for many families is how to maintain as much independence as possible, even if there are limitations to what their aging parents can do,” Rivera Ortiz said. “There are

• Ask about money during a quiet time.

• Help get all of their paperwork in order early.

also financial considerations to weigh. Being prepared for the future is one of the most important reasons to start discussions with aging parents.”

Data from a 2019 Caring.com survey shows that more than half of U.S. adults (57%) do not have a written will or trust. Yet, not having a clear understanding of your parent’s wishes and legal documentation to ensure those wishes are followed can put a lot at risk.

• Consider asking your loved one where you can help.

• Use current events as a springboard for a financial

“Children of aging parents and their siblings have much to think about, including who can provide what support and, in some cases, what caregiver roles may be necessary,” Rivera Ortiz said.

She provides 50 tips from leading resources to help you start and maintain productive conversations with your aging parents about their future. Here are a few regarding money:

• Discuss finances before you need to make major decisions.

• Consider using a direct approach if you and your parents have a good relationship.

• Get familiar with the truth about your parents complete financial situation.

• Share your personal story to help parents in debt see the positives.

• Don’t neglect to review long-term care financial support options.

• Review accounts and set up safeguards to protect against financial abuse

Abe Winter is a contributing writer for Press Publications. He can be reached at 651-407-1200 or emailing news@presspubs.com.

discussion.

• Know when to get more involved in financial management.

CONTRIBUTED

Purchase a puck and leave a legacy. That opportunity is now open to hockey enthusiasts, thanks to efforts by those leading Hockey Day Minnesota.

Personalized, commemorative pucks will provide a lasting memory as part of Hockey Day Minnesota, called “a once-in-a-lifetime” experience by a White Bear Lake hockey mom heading the promotion. For $99, enthusiasts can buy a laser-engraved puck for permanent placement on a special wall exhibited during the hockey extravaganza.

A Hockey Day Minnesota subcommittee chaired by Jeanna Hinderer, fervent Wild fan, retired elementary teacher and Realtor, is working with area sponsors to build the puck wall. Currently under construction, the 8x8-foot wall features a cutout of the State of Hockey mounted in ice and highlighted with indirect lighting. The wooden wall will be made from antique heart pine donated by Lon Musolf, owner of Musolf Wood Flooring in Vadnais Heights. White Bear Makerspace is cutting

and varnishing the wood and Troy Shoemaker of Shoemaker Construction is building the structure. Another White Bear company, LasX, is engraving the thin wood veneer covering the pucks and United Health Care is donating the ice base.

Every puck purchased supports the January event. There are three options and many ways to personalize the puck: include your family name or a team name; honor your skater or a former player; or name your company or group affiliation.

“The wall is sure to be a fun part of the event as people search for their name and take selfies by the huge cutout,” Hinderer said.

“Hockey runs deep in White Bear Lake. People are purchasing pucks in their family names, for current skaters and even to honor past skaters who

still faithfully and eagerly follow the game.”

When Hockey Day is over, the legacy wall will become a permanent structure at the White Bear Lake Sports Center.

Hinderer compared the event to a mini-Olympics.

“It’s a big deal for hockey fans,” said the mother of four male players who’s spent hundreds of hours rinkside.

As webmaster for Minnesota Hockey District 2, Hinderer is active in promoting the sport and volunteered to help the local Hockey Day leadership team. Co-Chair Corey Roberts put her in charge of the puck wall once he learned of her extensive hockey resume, which included being named Hockey Mom of the Year in 2011 in the five-state area. She won a new kitchen and Schwann’s products.

SCHOOL BRIEF

New program connects students, alumni with community

Mahtomedi Public Schools, in partnership with Mahtomedi Area Education Foundation (MAEF), has launched an Alumni & Friends program. The purpose of the program is to connect current students and graduates with peers

YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Pucks cost $99 and can be ordered at hockeydaymn.com. Pucks must be purchased by Jan. 8. Space is limited. Hockey Day Minnesota is Jan. 26-29 at Polar Lakes Park in White Bear Township. Get $20 off a puck by entering this code on the order form: WBPress20.

But that’s another story.

“The hockey community is very special in this area,” Hinderer pointed out. “This is a great legacy idea for anyone who played here.”

Debra Neutkens

and access career exploration and networking opportunities. “Friends” such as staff, parents of graduates and current students, businesses, associations, and organizations are also invited to sign up to receive information about future events and volunteer opportunities. For more information or to sign up, visit mahtomedialumni.nationbuilder.com.

PARTS RUNNER - SHOP HELPER

IMMEDIATE - Full-Time employment opportunity with great benefits for a parts runner / shop helper at our Lino Lakes facility.DAYTIME HOURSIMMEDIATE OPENINGS Emergency Apparatus Maintenance, Inc provides full service and repair of fire apparatus, ambulances and other emergency vehicles. Due to our rapid growth and expansion we are looking for professional, reliable parts runner and shop helper to join our team.

Job Requirements: Pre-employment physical and drug screen required. Good driving record. Must have a Class B CDL license.

Excellent Benefits: medical/dental/life insurance, Holiday/Vacation pay and a HUGE retirement plan. Also, uniforms provided.

Go to our website to apply, www.eamservice.com or call (651) 786-4463

PUBLIC WORKS MAINTENANCE WORKER FULL TIME POSITION AVAILABLE

White Bear Township, in Suburban Ramsey County, is accepting applications for a Full Time Public Works Maintenance Worker position. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to water, sewer, streets, parks, buildings, and equipment operation and maintenance activities. Applicants must be able to obtain a Class B CDL driver’s license, with air brake and tanker endorsements, within 6 months of employment and have a good driving record. Starting wage is $27.48/hr plus benefits. The application and complete job description is available for pickup at the Township office located at 1281 Hammond Road, White Bear Township, Minnesota 55110, or by calling 651.747.2750, or on the Township’s website at www.whitebeartownship.org.

Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m., Friday, December 16, 2022.

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EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law.

readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777.

Press Publications We Need You!!! Now accepting resumes Part-time and Full-time ppinfo@pres spubs.com 651-407-1200

White Bear Lake, MN 55110 or email resume to: ppinfo@presspubs.com

A business’ advertising schedule should be consistent with their weekly income, and ads should run on a regular schedule, not just in “spurts.”

Advertisers should try to reach a lot of customers with every ad, not just a few people with a few ads. To get the most out of your advertising dollars, plan your ads and follow your plan . . . Contact an ad representative at 651-407-1200