White Bear Press

Student’s legacy lives on through gym at St. Jude’s

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

It’s been 14 years since John "Jack" Patrick Gunderson walked the halls of St. Jude of the Lake Catholic School in Mahtomedi, but his legacy of sportsmanship, kindness and inclusion still endures.

“I’m grateful for the person he was, that he made meaningful connections wherever he was. That has fed us a lot of energy

getting through our loss,” said Jack’s mother, Dawn Gunderson.

Last November, Jack’s life ended tragically at the age of 28 when he was struck by a vehicle. He attended St. Jude from kindergarten to eighth grade (2001-2011), later graduating from Mahtomedi High School in 2015 and Iowa State University in 2019 with a degree in civil engineering.

While at St. Jude, he participated in various sports, including hockey,

golf, baseball, volleyball and basketball. Competing in the Catholic Athletic Association, he was known not only for his skill but for his unwavering sportsmanship.

Fr. Michael Johnson, pastor of St. Jude’s, compares Jack to St. Carlo Acutis, an Italian Catholic who died at the age of 15, known for his use of digital media to promote Catholic devotion. “One

Century College celebrates big milestone for dental program

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

Thanks to a recent expansion at Century College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, the program was able to increase its enrollment by over 60%. The program is also anticipated to increase the number of patients it sees each year by 60%, reaching approximately 1,700 patients over the next 16 to 24 months.

“This is a dream come true. It’s been long awaited,” said Century College President Angelia Millender.

The college’s dental hygiene program began in 1995 with a cohort of 12 students. The program, which provides the knowledge and skills necessary to gain licensure and to practice as a dental hygienist, is highly competitive. The renovation expanded the clinic capacity from 12 to 20 chairs. The space is also used by the college’s dental assistant program. Per the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, the college is required to have one chair per student.

According to Shannon Zurbey, director of the dental hygiene program, about 70 applicants applied for this year’s 20 spots. “I’m in close contact with the other programs around the state and everyone is doing what they can to grow their programs, even if it is just by a couple of students, but dentists out in the workforce are not going to feel those changes for another two years.”

Construction of the $1.42 million expansion is a partnership between the college, the state of Minnesota, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation and community donors. Leaders involved in

SEE CENTURY COLLEGE, PAGE 14

New KIA Barnett dealership coming to Gem Lake

A new service building is being developed at the KIA Barnett dealership in Gem Lake, located at the northeast corner of County Road E and Highway 61. The site has been slated for remodeling for several decades. According to General Manager Jack Mayeron, the dealership has decided to reconstruct the entire building from the ground up for the sake of efficiency.

“We originally bought White Bear Dodge and moved our Chrysler Jeep franchise into the Dodge facility, and then we moved KIA into this building,” said Mayeron. “It’s probably the oldest dealership on the strip, so it needed an update and a facelift. The layout is not contemporary, and no amount of polishing, paint and remodeling was

going to do that.”

The new dealership will feature a large showroom floor. The service area will be kept separate to reduce noise. Solar energy generation will also be incorporated into the building, along with vehicle charging stations and an indoor area for new car delivery to customers. “It'll be a more efficient, convenient place for customers to do business, both for sales and service,” added Mayeron.

The old dealership will remain fully operational while the new building is under construction, with an anticipated completion date of June 2026. Once the new building is completed, the old one will be demolished, and the footprint will be paved with blacktop to display new vehicles.

White Bear Lake Area Schools Teacher of the Year strives to improve reading scores in the School District.

Meet WBLAS Teacher of the year, Carla Triggs. At a recent Lions Club meeting, Lion President Ivy Hunt presented her with a check to provide funds for her classroom needs. She is currently a 6th grade school teacher at Mariner Middle School but has taught many grade levels and been at many schools over her 28 years of teaching in White Bear. Carla teaches language arts with an emphasis on reading intervention. She talked about connecting with children of every spectrum of reading and addresses the community volunteer needs to drive home reading wellness with all children.

If you would like to help please contact any White Bear Schools websites and they will be glad to help you.

AUTUMN WATER SOCIAL

WHAT’S HAPPENING

When: 408 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23

Where: Big Wood Brewery, 3429 Centerville Rd., Vadnais Heights

Details: Wear a favorite fall sweater and join the City and Vadnais Lake Area Water management Organization to celebrate local lakes, streams and wetlands with educational resources, games, and crafts.

Contact: vlawmo.org

DIABETIC SHOE AND MOBILITY SHOW

When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24

Where: White Bear District Service Center at Sunrise Park, 2399 Cedar Ave.

Details: Onsite custom foot measurements for diavetic shoes, power chairs, scooters, transfer equipment, canes, diabetic socks, insoles, and other mobility aids. Some shoes covered by Medicare Part B.

Contact: 651-653-3124 or isd624.org

TRUNK OR TREAT

When: 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24

Where: Mariner Middle School, 3551 McKnight Road. N., White Bear Lake

Details: Free event sponsored by local churches in the middle school parking lot.

Contact: 651-777-1107

GANGSTER BUS TOUR

When: 10 & 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25

Where: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 4th St.

Details: Explore the hideouts and haunts of the 1930s era gangsters who laid low in the cottages around White Bear and Bald Eagle Lakes. Sights include a Mahtomedi speakeasy and the location of a notorious dance club. Purchase tickets online.

Contact: whitebearhistory.org

AMERICAN LEGION POST 168 BOOYAH

When: Noon Saturday, Oct. 25

Where: American Legion post 168, 2210 3rd St., White Bear Lake

COMMUNITY BRIEF

Honor a veteran with a luminary

White Bear Lake VFW Post 1782 Auxiliary will honor the veterans who inspired auxiliary membership by setting up luminaries at a Veteran's Day event at Veterans Park Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 4 p.m.

Community members who wish to honor a current or past veteran are welcome to participate. To request a luminary, email the veteran's name and branch of service to wblvfwaux@gmail.com by Nov.

3. Luminaries are free. All are invited to attend the Auxiliary's Veteran's Day event.

BEAR SCARE FUN RUN

When: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Where: Otter Lake Elementary, 1401 County Road H2 E, White Bear Lake Details: Put on your favorite costume and get ready to run or walk to support Lincoln Elementary and Otter Lake Elementary. Event will include a costume contest, “half mile skeleton skip,” “Freaky Four Mile” and “Terrifying Two Mile” races.

Contact: https://tinyurl.com/ysyabyre

Details: Booyah to support the Legion lasts until its gone. Contact: 651-429-5770

A NIGHT OF LAUGHTER

When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25

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

Hugo

Details: Fundraising event for Hugo's Hopkins Schoolhouse includes social hour, dinner, raffles, and comedy show by Charlie Stemig. Register online.

Contact: https://form.jotform.com/252004192133140

STORIES FROM THE STONES

When: 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27

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

Details: Program explores the history behind local cemeteries and some of the individuals buried there.

Contact: whitebearhistory.org

AGING WELL: MAINTAINING YOUR MEMORY

When: 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27

Where: Wildwood Library, Mahtomedi

Details: Community educator from Family Means share strategies to help maintain independence and make daily living enjoyable. Registration encourages. Contact: washcolib.org

IMMIGRATION ISSUES PANEL

When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28

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

Details: Experts from diverse backgroundsoffer perspectives on immigration, current issues, and local implications. Register online. Contact: manyfaceswblarea.org

UNRAVELING THE IMPACT OF FAST FASHION ON OUR CHANGING CLIMATE

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28

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

Details: Program explores how the large-scale production of cheap, trendy clothing leads to environmental damage and poor wages and working conditions in the garment industry. Contact: http://tinyurl.com/FASHION1028

Seasons change

We are in the fall season as evidenced by cooler weather, shorter days, longer nights and wildlife making preparations. Life goes through seasons as well. Infants need their parents close at hand. There’s a period of education and maturing into adulthood. For some it’s marriage and families, experience in employment, and then the period of retirement, separation of family through death and extra care that’s needed to maintain a daily life.

In this final period of life, we experience more deaths, more visits to doctors and keeping a close eye on our resources so we can be self-sufficient and enjoy the time we have left on earth.

About the Town

It brings more attention to our heavenly home for those who believe in the Bible and its promises.

Kathy and I are thankful every day that we have each other. So many of our friends have become widows or widowers due to severe illnesses and death.

Power of the press

The National Newspaper Association’s 139th Convention was held in Minneapolis on Oct. 9 and 10.

This organization is special to Kathy and I, as we served in leadership 39 years ago when the 100th anniversary was held in Minneapolis.

The interesting part of this association is it was founded by publishers meeting at the Chautauqua House in Mahtomedi in 1884.

Many of you know small newspapers and even large dailies have suffered losses, closures, mergers and many changes in their approach to news reporting, especially with the impact of the internet.

This was very evident at the trade show with all of the services provided by the vendors that relate to the use of the internet along with print media.

It’s always a good time to visit with friends, but there were fewer in attendance due to our aging. There were many second generations of both newspaper publishers as well as vendors.

Probably the best part is being able to visit with a variety of people over problem solving and to meet a number of our printing customers.

Harvest Moon

The moon that is now closest to our planet with its size and color is a reminder that this is the harvest season. It’s amazing how corn and bean production has increased through the use of fertilizers and the development of the genetics. I remember the day when 100 bushels of corn per acre was considered great and now it’s over 200 bushels stretching toward 300 bushels per acre.

A little statistic that might not be well known is 30% of the corn is used for the development of ethanol, not food. That’s rather interesting when there are areas of the world that are suffering from starvation. Another factor this season is China has chosen not to buy soybeans from the United States, but rather from other countries in the world because of tariffs. This is tough on our farmers and the Department of Agriculture is seeking ways to provide a subsidy for this loss.

Finish the job

Those serving in Congress act like spoiled children when they can’t get together and solve problems that are in the best interest of the American people. They shut down government and many salaried people are living without an income. It’s time to fix the problem. My suggestion is that people in Congress should not receive a paycheck when other people employed by the government are not getting paid. They need a taste of their own medicine.

Another solution, stay in town until you get the problem solved. Work day and night to get it completed. The way it’s going, no one benefits.

Gene Johnson is publisher emeritus of Press Publications.

Who is the Curing Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation?

As the daughter of White Bear Lake dentist Dr. David E. Crandall, I established the Curing Alzheimer’s Disease (CAD) Foundation to honor my father’s dying wish — that his brave, often bumpy road of selfexperimentation to reverse Alzheimer’s could be instrumental in helping others. He’d already done the unimaginable: reversed Alzheimer’s symptoms so many times that no medical doctor was able to provide a definite diagnosis. More remarkably, at the time of his passing, he toasted champagne days before his death with family and friends — despite the most extreme level of disease that should have left him vegetative.

It was soon learned what made this possible: Dr. Crandall’s autopsy revealed that his brain was significantly larger than expected, and the regions hardest hit by Alzheimer’s were still viable. These results suggest his interventions helped preserve brain function in ways medicine has yet to explain. Recognizing the importance of this discovery, the pathology team at the University of Minnesota requested permission to establish a lab dedicated to studying the regimens Dr. Crandall and his doctors used. However, repeated attempts to secure National Institutes of Health funding failed — not because the science lacked promise, but because the idea of reversing Alzheimer’s was, at that time, considered too far outside the mainstream.

I was astonished to hear this. And so, rather than let the work stall, I stepped in and formed the CAD Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to ensure my dad’s pioneering efforts would be scientifically tested,

refined and eventually offered to others. Today, the Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab at the University of Minnesota is already progressed to animal model, supported entirely by donations from individuals, private foundations, corporations and myself.

The Alzheimer’s Legacy Lab

Many people have asked why the lab the foundation funds wasn’t named after Dr. Crandall. That’s because he is only one of the many legacies in this story. Yes, he gets first billing as the thunder that started it all, but the term legacy also honors the millions of other legacies lost to this disease — a disease we hope to be instrumental in curing In future columns, I will chronicle our foundation’s unprecedented commitment with the University of Minnesota to “seeing the science through.”

Anna Shelander is the founder of the Curing Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation. To learn more about the foundation, visit www. curingalzheimersdisease.com.

WHITE BEAR PRESS/VADNAIS HEIGHTS PRESS | ELECTION LETTER GUIDELINES

• 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 $50 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 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.

• Letters are meant to express opinions. If letter-writers include facts, they must attribute those facts to a reputable source.

• 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. 4 election will be printed in the Oct. 22 issue and must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.15.

• To submit a letter, email news@ presspubs.com or mail/deliver it to Press Publications.

Thanks for kindness

I just wanted to say thank you to Isaiah on Sandra Lane for pulling over and picking up all of my recycling that had blown over! You are a very kind young man.

Alana Willroth White Bear Lake

Response to letter

This letter is in response to the Nation of Laws letter by Jim Brunzell in the Oct. 8 issue of the White Bear Press. President “Bone Spurs,” as you refer to Donald John Trump, is neither the enemy within or authoritarian. We are a nation of laws, which is something the last administration failed to recognize. I urge Mr. Brunzell to educate himself. It is not Donald Trump or the House or Senate that are spineless sycophants. It is the Congress, which refuses to think of the people who are suffering because of its decision to shut the government down. Did you know that every congressman gets paid health care for life? Something they voted in for themselves — not much incentive to work together. I don’t understand how you can blame Trump for inflation and lost jobs. This was inherited from the last administration — food prices have not gone up and gas is, in fact, less. The interest rates have either stayed the same or have gone down in some instances. Again, this was inherited from the Biden administration.

You are correct, the Department of Justice is weaponized with Obama, Biden and George Soros appointed judges. Why do you think so many criminals have been let in and out of jail as many as 14 times or more? Their policy is of catch and release, which brings me to your comment that he is weaponizing our Department of Defense. This is not the same thing as the DOJ. We do have enemies from within or, I could say, without. They are paid protestors called Antifa, which has now been categorized as a domestic terrorist organization.

Perhaps you have forgotten the George Floyd riot. It lasted three days. They burned down the police precinct and our city. Perhaps if Walz would have called in the National Guard, this could have been avoided. The reason the National Guard is in Democrat cities is because that’s where the violence has happened in the past. They are there to protect the citizens from rioting in the future. With regard to the tariffs, they are working and companies and jobs are coming back to our country. Do these actions sound like they are being done by a dictator or Nazi? I guess that’s why he is making peace in the Middle East and has brought the hostages home. Things take time and won’t change overnight, but at least he is doing something. If you haven’t watched precarious state.com, I urge you to watch it. Maybe it will help you get over your Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Trump goes after Antifa

Trump is now pushing a so-called “whole-of-government” approach to go after the anti-fascist group he calls Antifa. Assuming Trump’s delusion is true, then of course he would attack any anti-fascist group. Remember as stated earlier this year by General Milley, Trump is “a fascist to the core.”

But wait. Trump is attacking an anti-fascist group as if this is un-American? This only underscores the fact that what General Milley stated is true, and I agree. Yes, I admit it, I am anti-fascist. In July 1944, my mother-in-law landed on Utah beach in Normandy, France, where she served as a U.S. Army nurse. Her hospital unit followed combat troops throughout France and entered Paris two days after the Nazis evacuated the capital. They took over the main hospital that the Nazis had used. Over the course of the remainder of the war, her unit treated over 50,000 wounded soldiers. Many other members of my family also fought

White Bear Lake Area

the Nazis. Then, after the war, we all learned of the Nazi death camp horrors and that this should never happen again. I’m very proud of the contributions my family made to defeat the Nazi scourge. Because of history and my family’s history, I believe that Nazis should never be in power again, anywhere in the world. Just listen to Trump and his enablers. Just look at ICE in operation. When I compare what I’m seeing on the nightly news with German news films of Hitler and his Nazis thugs from the 1930’s, the similarities are striking — and a warning.

Yes, this makes me “an anti-fascist to the core.” It also makes it true that Trump is “a fascist to the core.” You might ask yourself, “Where is my core?”

Ross Culverhouse White Bear Lake

PAID LETTER

Candidate removed social media posts

I see “Mary Nicklawske for Mayor” signs all over, but I wonder if people truly know what she stands for. Prior to her announcement to run for mayor, she scrubbed her Facebook clean of her hateful and radical views.

On Nov. 21, she wrote, “It appears one of the job requirements of the Rapist for his cabinet is experience as a sexual predator/pedophile or a supporter of sexual predators (education pick) ...”

A May 10 post included: “Merit is the old school way based on who you know, how much money you can offer, loyalty to the dictator/king, white of course, questionable history, typically male and of course if you’re pretty, willing to say whatever they tell you, can be mean and don’t care about the constitution … then anyone will suffice.”

These quotes represent someone who has a significant case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. I can’t help but question three things: is Ms. Nicklawske aware of the Trump Administration’s stellar progress to get this country back

on track, how open-minded and professional will she be to work with as mayor, and, finally, what exactly are her ideas for our beautiful city? Neighbors, please do your homework and vote wisely, no matter how many yard signs you may see.

Lori

PAID LETTER

What makes a good mayor?

I asked ChatGPT. Here is the response: leadership and vision, government or civic engagement, financial and administrative skill, communication skills, problem solving and negotiation, integrity and trustworthiness and community involvement.

In the interest of space, I will choose to focus on two of these traits best exemplified by mayoral candidate Steve Laliberte. As an entrepreneur and small-business owner, Steve conceptualized and birthed his web development company, Internet Production, in 1995. He started in the basement of his home with no investors, no crowd funding and no family inheritance. Hard work, sacrifice, vision, resiliency, fortitude and sheer determination led him to escalate this basement business into a $3 million enterprise! He knows how to write a business plan, build a budget, design marketing, develop policies, sell, close and deliver!

Secondly, Steve’s involvement in volunteering in the community is extensive. For 12 years he has led the Birch Lake Association as president. As part of this critical role, he was the catalyst for establishing the BLID (Birch Lake Improvement District), which required a majority of 62 homeowners to agree to the taxing of this entity. Additionally, he has been a leader of Boys Brigade, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of the Lions Club; he’s coached gymnastics, baseball, basketball, and soccer; and

SEE MORE LETTERS, PAGE 9

Church Directory

COPS&COURTS

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

A North Branch man was arrested for DWI following a traffic stop in the area of Highway 96 and Interstate 35E Oct. 5.

• Officers responded to a juvenile incident in the 1400 block of Park Street Oct. 5.

• Officers responded to a domestic incident in the 2400 block of Floral Drive Oct. 5.

• A puppy hit by a car on White Bear Avenue Oct. 5 was treated for minor injuries.

• Officers mediated a dispute in the 3600 block of Glen Oaks Court Oct. 5.

• A driver was cited for driving after revocation following a report of disorderly conduct in the 1900 block of Buerkle Road Oct. 5.

• A White Bear Lake man was arrested Oct. 6 on Lincoln Avenue on an active misdemeanor warrant.

• Officers took a report of graffiti on the Lake Avenue sidewalk near Morehead Avenue Oct. 6.

• Officers issued a citation for theft and a trespassing notice in the 2600 block of County Road E Oct. 6.

• Theft was reported in the 3900 block of Linden Street Oct. 6. Officers mediated a civil dispute in the 4800 block of Centerville Road Oct. 6.

• Officers responded to a juvenile incident Oct. 6 in the 3700 block of Highland Avenue.

• Officers assisted with a dispute in the 3500 block of Rooney Place Oct. 6.

• Officers responded to multiple complaints about loud music in the 3800 block of Oak Terrace Oct. 6.

• Officers assisted Washington County deputies with a traffic stop of a noncompliant driver Oct. 7 in the 3500 block of Century Avenue. The driver was taken into custody.

• A New Brighton man was arrested for a domestic assault no-contact order violation following a traffic stop in the 1300 block of County Road E Oct. 7. A female passenger was arrested for giving an officer a false name of another person. Graffiti was reported in the 2200 block of South Shore Boulevard Oct. 7.

• A citation was issued to a dog owner following a complaint about dogs running loose on Van Dyke Street Oct. 7.

• Officers responded to juvenile incidents in the 2300 block of Oak Lane Oct. 7 and 8.

• Officers responded to a noise complaint in the 3100 block of Manitou Drive Oct. 8.

• Minor injuries were reported in a dog bite incident in the 2200 block of Thomas Lane Oct. 8. A dog at-large citation was issued in the 3900 block of Van Dyke Street Oct. 8.

• A noise complaint was reported in the 1700 block of County Road E East Oct. 9.

• A business owner reported illegal use of a dumpster at a work site in the 1300 block of

RAMSEY COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORTS

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

Highway 61 Oct. 9.

• Theft from a vehicle was reported in the 3900 block of Hoffman Road Oct. 9. Officers responded to a dispute in the 4800 block of Highway 61 Oct. 9.

• A loose dog in the 3300 block of Glen Oaks Avenue was brought to the Woodbury Humane Society Oct. 10.

• Officers responded to a verbal dispute in the 3500 block of Century Avenue Oct. 10.

• Officers responded to a dispute in the 1700 block of County Road E Oct. 10.

• A backpack was stolen in the 3200 block of White Bear Avenue Oct. 10.

• Officers responded to a fight in the 900 block of Wildwood Road Oct. 10.

• A missing person was reported in the 2300 block of Oak Lane Oct. 10.

• Officers arrested a man for trespassing in the 3500 block of Hoffman Road Oct. 11.

• Disorderly conduct was reported in the 2100 block of Orchard Lane and the 1700 block of Ninth Street Oct. 11.

• A Gem Lake woman was arrested for DWI following a traffic stop for speeding on County Road E Oct. 12.

• Disorderly conduct was reported at the corner of Highway 61 and Hoffman Road Oct. 12.

Officers mediated a family dispute in the 3100 block of Karth Road Oct. 12.

• Officers responded to a domestic dispute in the 2400 block of Floral Drive Oct. 12.

• Officers removed unwanted guests from an apartment in the 1400 block of Park Street Oct. 12.

• Officers mediated a dispute in the 3900 block of Van Dyke Street Oct. 12.

• Officers responded to a dispute in the 3400 block of McKnight Road N. Oct. 12.

• A person reported missing in the 2400 block of Floral Drive was Oct. 13 was located and returned home.

• Criminal damage to property was reported in the 4300 block of Cottage Park Road Oct. 13.

• A juvenile was reported missing in the 5000 block of Division Avenue Oct. 13. Officers mediated a dispute in the 1400 block of Park Street Oct. 13.

• Theft was reported in the 1000 block of Highway 96 Oct. 13.

• Officers assisted with a vehicle theft investigation in the 1900 block of Eugene Street Oct. 14.

• A person was reported missing in the 2300 block of Oak Lane Oct. 14.

• A Stillwater man was arrested on an active arrest warrant following a traffic stop Oct. 14 in the 1700 block of Highway 96. A person was reported missing in the 2400 block of Floral Drive Oct. 14.

• A White Bear Lake man was arrested on an outstanding domestic assault arrest warrant in the 1900 block of County Road E Oct. 15.

• A motorist reported traffic signs in the ditch along McKusick Road N. and Lansing Avenue N. on Aug. 25. Deputies fished the signs out of the ditch and brought them to the county public works garage to be in a better place.

• A business in the 11000 block of 60th Street N. was reported being burglarized on Aug. 27.

• A resident in the 9000 block of Janero Court N. on Aug. 27 reported an out-of-state home improvement company for being aggressive with him regarding work done on his neighbor’s house. The complainant told deputies he thought his elderly female neighbor was being scammed. When deputies arrived on scene to have a chat with the company, they had fled. Mahtomedi

• Deputies conducted a multi-day stationary patrol on Wildwood Road just east of Wedgewood Road from Aug. 25-28, for the purpose of checking for crosswalk violations at the Ridge Way crossing. Deputies issued 29 citations for vehicles ignoring the person in the

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

• Deputies issued a citation Sept. 14 for theft to a 56-yearold woman after she was caught stealing more than $120 worth of merchandise from a business in the 800 block of County Road E East.

• Deputies cited a 36-year-old man from St. Paul Sept. 14 for theft after he was caught stealing a bag of dog treats and other items from a business in the 800 block of County Road E East.

• A 62-year-old man reported that someone broke into his garage Sept. 15 in the 3300 block of Labore Road but nothing was stolen.

• Deputies arrested a 49-yearold man from New Brighton Sept. 15 in the 5600 block of Otter View Trail after a woman, with whom he has a romantic relationship, reported that he showed up unannounced and knocked on her bedroom window. He then hit her when she went outside to speak to him.

• Deputies arrested a 23-yearold man Sept. 18 in the 900 block of County Road E East for criminal damage to property, receiving stolen property and fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle. Deputies attempted a traffic stop but the suspect fled. Deputies ended the pursuit with a PIT maneuver and took the suspect into custody.

• A woman was cited for theft Sept. 18 and issued a trespass notice after she was caught stealing more than $100 worth of merchandise from a business in the 800 block of County Road E East.

• Deputies responded Sept. 19 to an argument between parents and their daughter in the 100 block of Skyline Drive. Deputies gathered information and documented the situation in a report.

• Deputies arrested a 27-yearold man from White Bear

crosswalk trying to cross. Nine of the violations occurred during distracted driving due to phone use. Motorists were also cited for not wearing a seatbelt, for displaying expired registration and for failure to provide proof of insurance. Below are some of the highlighted traffic stops.

• An Arizona motorist cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk at 8:49 a.m. Aug. 25 said he saw the pedestrian, but the sun was in his eyes, so he “just kept driving instead of stopping for the pedestrian”.

• A Minnesota motorist was cited at 9:12 a.m. Aug. 25 after being observed holding a cell phone with both hands as he crossed in front of the decoy officer in bright red. The driver admitted to being on his phone and said he was putting an address into the GPS app. Another motorist was cited at 9:37 a.m. Aug. 25 for holding a cellphone in both hands while driving.

• A motorist at 10:07 a.m. Aug. 25 was cited for holding a wireless communication device while driving. The driver admitted to being on her phone and said it was a work message and not an emergency.

• The eleventh motorist cited at the crosswalk on Aug. 25 was pulled over for holding a phone in her hand and looking at it while driving by the plainclothes officer. She admitted she had been on her phone and said her Bluetooth was not working, so she was send-

Lake Sept. 19 for DWI after finding the vehicle he was driving stuck on railroad tracks near the intersection of Goose Lake Road and Labore Road.

• Deputies arrested a man Sept. 20 for disorderly conduct after he was found intoxicated and repeatedly ringing the doorbell of someone’s home in the 4300 block of Buckingham Court.

• A 56-year-old woman from North Oaks reported that someone broke into her vehicle Sept. 20 in the 20 block of County Road F West and stole items from beneath the seat, including her debit cards, which were used at a business.

Deputies responded Sept. 20 to a business in the 800 block of County Road E East on a report of theft and learned that a man walked out the front doors without paying for a car battery valued at nearly $150.

• Deputies arrested a 37-yearold woman from Brooklyn Park Sept. 20 near the intersection of I-694 and Highway 61 for DWI after stopping her for speeding and determining she was driving while under the influence.

White Bear Township:

• Deputies arrested a 33-yearold woman from Burnsville Sept. 19 in the 5200 block of Otter Lake Road for assault and indecent exposure after deputies received a report of her walking around a nature center with her pants down. While making the arrest, she assaulted the deputies and told them she had taken drugs. She was transported to a hospital for evaluation before being taken to jail.

• Deputies arrested a 49-yearold man from St. Paul Sept. 20 after the caller reported seeing him walk down the street in the 5500 block of Bald Eagle Boulevard carrying tennis rackets worth $100 that had just been stolen out of his garage.

Loretta Harding

ing a text message.

• A dog out for a walk on Dahlia Street and Mahtomedi Avenue with its owner was bitten by a pit bull on Aug. 25.

• A Child Protective Services worker was reported on Aug. 26 for not showing her badge to a complainant on Wildwood Road.

Pine Springs

A juvenile Minnesota motorist was cited at 12:20 a.m. Aug. 25 on westbound Highway 36 at the southbound I-694 ramp for speeding 82 mph in a posted 60 mph zone by deputies on stationary patrol who clocked her vehicle on radar. The driver’s mother was contacted and advised of the stop for speeding 22 mph over the speed limit and the accompanying extra fine. Willernie

• A motorist was cited for failure to obey the stop sign on Stillwater Road and Warner Avenue N. at 12:48 a.m. Aug. 24.

• A motor vehicle was reported stolen Aug. 29 from behind a Stillwater Road business.

Loretta Harding

Voting on election day

On election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, White Bear Lake residents can vote a their designated polling location from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those not sure which ward they reside in can visit whitebearlake.gov/elections for an interactive ward map.

The polling location for Mahtomedi residents in Precincts 1 and 2 is St. Andrews Church, 500 Stillwater Road. Residents can also find their polling location online at mnvotes. gov and search their address.

Register to vote

Pre-register to vote up to 21 days before election day. Register online or update your registration at mnvotes.gov. Your registration remains current until you move, change your name or do not vote for four consecutive years. You may also register to vote at your polling place on election day with a valid Minnesota driver’s license or another photo ID combined with an approved document showing your name and address.

FOREVER 33: St. Jude honors student with gym

thing Jack was known for was that anybody who was left out, he would include them. It wasn't important to win. It was important that people felt included and loved,” Johnson explained. “Jack embraced everybody … made them a part of the team, and that’s something that Carlo Acutis did, too.”

After Jack passed away, the family says hundreds of people stepped up. Friends, teammates, coaches, teachers, co-workers and family members came forward with generous contributions.

“When we were identifying charities, St. Jude came to mind right away, because this was our home,” Dawn explained. “We have five kids, and all our kids went here.”

Greg Gunderson, Jack’s father, added, “It was really easy to pick St. Jude’s with everything it means to us and our family.”

The Gundersons credit St. Jude for shaping Jack’s faith, values and character. “He really loved it there, and we are convinced that Jack’s being was formed here,” Greg said.

The family was considering establishing a scholarship in Jack’s honor, but someone suggested renovating the school’s gym space, which was built in 2001.

Over the summer, the space was renovated to the tune of $600,000 — all of which was covered by the Cossack Foundation. Just before the one-year anniversary of Jack’s passing, the gym was completed, renamed the Jack Gunderson Memorial Gym and revealed to students with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dodgeball tournament.

“We feel really good about the fact that this is going to be here for generations. There are so many kids who are going to use this,” Greg said. Dawn added, “We are overwhelmed and extremely grateful. We are so proud of Jack and who he was and that he was able to leave this.”

Jack often gives his family signs that he is still around. When the old scoreboard, which hadn’t worked for several years, was taken down for the renovation, it was plugged in and one number showed up under the home score — 33, Jack’s jersey number when he played on the Mahtomedi High School hockey team. Or perhaps it was when all the old vents were removed from the gym floor and etched in the concrete of every

CONDENSED VOTERS’ GUIDE

Melander

City of residence: Mahtomedi

Occupation: Biotech Lobbyist  List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:

• Participated in the Mahtomedi Environment Commission Meeting, focusing on sustainability and environmental priorities for the city.

single vent was — again — the number 33.

“Jack is with us. He is giving us so many good signs,” Dawn said.

In addition to the donation to the Cossack Foundation, the Gunderson family also chose to donate to two other causes, Families of SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), in honor of Jack’s cousin, and the Mahtomedi High School Hockey Team, to renovate the locker room and rename it the Jack Gunderson Memorial Locker Room.

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or whitebearnews@ presspubs.com.

Stephen Laliberte

City of residence: White Bear Lake

Occupation: Business Administration

List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:

• Served on the Minnesota State Suicide Prevention Taskforce, contributing to statewide discussions on mental health and community well-being.

• Collaborated with City Council colleagues and community members on the turnback of Highway 244 to the city of Mahtomedi, engaging residents in shaping the future design of our city’s streets.

Luke Schlegel

City of residence: Mahtomedi

Occupation: Co-President of Collective Measures |Media & Analytics

List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:

• Mahtomedi City Council, 2022-Present • Mahtomedi Finance Commission 2017-2022

• Mahtomedi School District Community Education Advisory Council 2022-Present Lilly

Kevin L. Edberg

City of residence: White Bear Lake

Occupation: Nonprofit executive working in community economic development

List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:

• White Bear Lake City Council member: 2010-present (16 years)

• White Bear Lake Area School Board: 1979-1988, 1991-2001 (19.5 years)

• Volunteer and lay leader in my congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church

Ellen Gurrola

City of residence: White Bear Lake

Occupation: Higher Education

Sustainability Coordinator and Former Educator

List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:

• White Bear Lake Environmental Advisory Commission (2024-Present)

• Ramsey County Waste Reduction Advisory Committee (2024)

• White Bear Lake Welcoming and Inclusive Community Task Force (2021-2022)

•  I am the Board Chairman of the Birch Lake Improvement District. Our mission is to protect and improve the quality of Birch Lake.  I helped found the district in 2007.  I have served on this board for 12 years.

• I am a member of the Shoreview Lions Club.  My wife Jodi is the President of the club.  We own a small business in Shoreview.  I have been a member for four years.

•  I am a member of the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Mary Nicklawske

City of residence: White Bear Lake

Occupation: Retired business owner/ Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:

• Believet Canine Service Partners - I serve as a weekend foster to dogs that are in training to become service partners for our Veterans with PTSD.

• The Catholic Athletic Association -  I served as an active Board Member, partnering with fellow members to collaborate, manage budgets strategically, and secure financial support- leading key initiatives including the planning and execution of large-scale fundraising events.

• White Bear Lake Boy Scout Troop 402 - Serving as secretary, I ensured accurate record-keeping and maintained respectful, efficient meetings.

CHURCH BRIEF

Christian S cience Lecture

he has served on the board of directors of Northside Christian School.

And that’s just for starters! On the personal side, he is a generous, caring neighbor that will let you use his pool and pickleball court anytime!

Tim Klecker White Bear Lake

PAID LETTER

Candidate brings problem-solving energy

I will proudly vote for Mary Nicklawske for mayor of White Bear Lake. Mary genuinely cares about all citizens in our community—across every neighborhood and all walks of life.

She’s worked mightily during her campaign, knocking on doors, attending city events, visiting senior centers, and connecting with residents wherever she can. Mary is in the community, listening and learning, and when she’s elected, she’ll bring that same energy to solve problems in our town.

Mary brings a unique and compassionate perspective as a certified mobility and orientation specialist, where she has worked with visually impaired veterans, students and people of all ages. Because visual impairment can strike anyone, Mary has developed deep experience working with people of all ages, incomes, races and political beliefs. She understands what it means to serve — and to serve everyone.

I’ve known Mary for many years, and she has always been someone who brings people together. She doesn’t just talk about community — she lives it. Whether promoting support for seniors, advocating for public safety, organizing neighborhood gatherings, championing environmental causes or pursuing fiscal responsibility, Mary leads with heart, common sense and an affection for White Bear Lake.

Her dedication as a volunteer is also remarkable: from running successful fundraisers and coaching youth basketball, to fostering service dogs for

veterans with PTSD, Mary has quietly and consistently made a difference in the lives of others.

Now retired from her professional career, Mary is ready to bring her experience, energy and passion to the role of mayor. White Bear Lake would be lucky to have her leadership.

Please join me in voting for Mary Nicklawske for mayor of White Bear Lake.

Sheryl Bolstad White Bear Lake

PAID LETTER

Candidate

understands community's character

Things are pretty good in our little city called White Bear Lake. The fact that we spent so much time arguing about trees and dogs this year tells you everything you need to know. What a luxury that these are the most controversial issues!

That doesn’t happen by accident. Many people in White Bear Lake — elected officials, staff and community members — have contributed to building and preserving the small-town culture we enjoy.

One recent threat to our culture was the Rush/Purple Line bus project proposed by the Met Council to run buses through our city every 10 minutes from dawn till dusk. We successfully convinced the Met Council to drop the project, but we are only one election cycle away from its return. The next city leaders must remain vigilant if we are to preserve the character of White Bear Lake.

That’s why we’re supporting Steve Laliberte as the next mayor of White Bear Lake. Steve understands what makes White Bear Lake unique and has the strength to stand up to outside interests if necessary. Steve is also committed to keeping our property taxes among the lowest in the Twin Cities.

Please join us in voting for Steve Laliberte on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Mayor Dan Louismet

Councilman Bill Walsh (Ward 1)

Councilwoman Heidi Hughes (Ward 2)

PAID LETTER

Candidate spent lifetime serving others

I am writing to support Mary Nicklawske for mayor. When I look into Mary's career and volunteer background, I see she has spent a lifetime engaging with and serving others. She is an example of the motto “service above self.”

In talking with her, I believe that she is deeply committed to White Bear Lake and will bring community members together to problem-solve, work on common goals, and celebrate our achievements to make this a community where everyone is welcomed.

As a testament to her ability to be an effective mayor, Mary has endorsements from former White Bear Lake mayors Jo Emerson and Paul Auger, and Ramsey County Commissioners Victoria Reinhardt and Kelly Miller.

Mary will be an active and involved mayor. She will listen to people from all our neighborhoods and has already demonstrated that she will show up at different events to be available to our community. Mary has participated in open houses for our public works and fire department. She attends special events like Veterans Day, Memorial Day, 9-11 ceremony, Lake Links rides, four locations for National Night Out and many more. Mary will show up and work hard for the people of this community.

Please join me in voting for Mary Nicklawske on Nov. 4.

Ellen Fahey White Bear Lake

PAID LETTER

Candidate will help local environment

The lakes, the trees, our parks and gardens, and the weather are the first things we usually think about when we consider the environment in White Bear Lake. We don't often include sidewalks on the list. But sidewalks are important component

of our environment, as they make it possible for us to get to the parts of our environment we want to visit on foot. Yet I've noticed that in many of the older parts of the city the sidewalks are in poor shape, turning what should be a carefree stroll into an arduous and hazardous trek over uneven pavement. Mary Nicklawske wants to see the city correct this problem, creating safer conditions for people with mobility challenges and removing obstacles so all of us will be better able to enjoy our environment.

We also experience our environment in our 24 city parks. The Parks Advisory Commission and the Environmental Advisory Commission are working together on a thoughtful program to introduce or expand native landscaping, which allows pollinators and other small animals to thrive and promotes water conservation by slowing down runoff. But progress has been slow. Mary wants to find additional resources for this program through grants or other funding sources. She understands how these park enhancements will contribute to our quality of life. She also proposes to find ways to expand opportunities for more of us to enjoy our many parks by rotating events like Touch-a-Truck throughout the city.

Mary Nicklawske will be a hands-on mayor with many creative ideas that will make White Bear Lake's environment even better. I encourage you to vote for Mary Nicklawske for mayor on Nov. 4.

Joe Crowe White Bear Lake

PAID LETTER

Great choice for White Bear Lake

On Nov. 4 (or before), White Bear Lake voters have the opportunity to select a uniquely well-qualified mayoral candidate, Mary Nicklawske.

We are fortunate at this critical time — when issues facing our vibrant community are increasingly complex and potentially contentious — to

have Mary as an enthusiastic candidate for the pivotal role of mayor. Her experiences, skills, calming demeanor, and “Working together, how can we ALL win?” attitude make her the right person to serve as White Bear Lake’s chief advocate. She is well positioned to help us meet the challenges of change, while sustaining our remarkable culture.

Mary is widely known and deeply respected throughout our community, including across typical political party lines. Putting a Vote Mary Nicklawske for Mayor sign in my yard has resulted in a heart-warming phenomenon: numerous people, many strangers to me, have stopped by to share their personal, positive “Mary interaction” experiences, from working with her on civic activities to knowing a veteran who was profoundly empowered by her work with vision issues.

The essence of what I have heard as unsolicited comment in my front yard:   Mary’s tireless! ... Best coach ever! ... Made us ALL better by helping us cooperate! ... She’s a great small business owner, knows how to budget; every client’s success is her personal success … She really listens; knows how to combine public, private, and county resources to get the job done … Mary makes complicated issues understandable; she’s humble, doesn’t have to impress people like she knows more than we do … I learned so much about leadership from her; she delights when others are at their best, makes sure everyone is included and important, and she’s always thinking about how something can be accomplished more effectively and cheaper … She’s gracious, ethical, visionary, persuasive. A great model for my kids … I can’t imagine a better person to be our mayor! Please join me in proudly voting Mary for mayor!

two weeks of gorgeous weather,

NOT READY TO LEAVE! October 6October 19, 2025

Loon Chronicles X: Not ready to leave

and mittens. Up until the last few years, we dreaded

in

in October; now it is like an

also this

The sunrise, the following morning, filled the sky with a bright orange and yellow backdrop for all the fast-moving clouds. The leaves are starting to turn, all around the lake. Right now, the east side of the Peninsula takes the prize for colors on display. Loon sightings have been rare. We came back empty handed on a few of our outings. The juveniles and sub-adults are really visitors and come and go between neighboring lakes. On a few days, I spotted Scruffy and another juvenile, out of camera range, in the middle of the lake. They tend to pair up in late afternoon. Yesterday, after nearly giving up on spotting any Loons, we came across an impeccable sub-adult near the Birchwood shore, that appeared relaxed and enjoying the sunshine. Perfect photo opportunity. The Coots, on the other hand, remain on edge and never seem to get a break. Their covers continue to expand all around the lake, with their largest gatherings on either side of the bulrushes near Lake Avenue. When something sets them off, they look like Road Runners racing across the water. The Eagles continue to watch from the treetops, making their move several times a day. Most of the Gulls have moved on for the winter. We did spot a single Trumpeter Swan, North America’s largest native waterfowl, flying overhead and heading east. On Saturday, we watched the high school racing teams getting ready to race in the Art Johnson Invitational Regatta for C420’s. Eleven teams participated this year, and they had a perfect day for sailing. We know that November, is just around the corner, so we will make the most of the next two weeks chronicling the Loons. Ellen Maas

The

on

RAMSEY COUNTY ELECTIONS

NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION

MUNICIPAL & SCHOOL DISTRICT GENERAL ELECTION

NOVEMBER 4, 2025

Notice is hereby given that the Municipal & School District General Elections (as well as a Special Election for State Senate District 47) will be held on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025. Visit mnvotes.org to view full lists of candidates and ballot questions and to view your sample ballot. The following offices and questions will appear on ballots in Ramsey County: State Offices

• Senate District 47 (Special Election)

Municipal Offices

• Mayor of Saint Paul

• Saint Paul Ballot Question (Referendum on City Charter Ordinance 25-2)

• Falcon Heights City Council - 2 seats

• Saint Anthony City Council - 2 Seats

• Mayor of White Bear Lake

• White Bear Lake City Council Member – Ward 2

• White Bear Lake City Council Member – Ward 4 School Board Offices

• ISD 282 School Board - 3 seats

• ISD 282 School Board (Special Election with term ending January 3rd, 2028)

• ISD 621 School Board – 3 Seats

• ISD 621 School Board Question (Capital Project Authorization)

• ISD 622 School Board (Special Election with term ending January 4th, 2027)

• ISD 622 School Board Question #1 (Revoking Existing Referendum Authorization, Approving New Authorization)

• ISD 622 School Board Question #2 (Approval of Capital Project Levy Authorization for Technology)

• ISD 623 School Board – 3 Seats

• ISD 623 School Board Question (Approval of Capital Project Levy Authorization for Technology)

• ISD 625 School Board Question (Approval of New School District Referendum Revenue

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:

Hello Bloom Boutique

2. The street address of the principal place of business is or will be: 2179 4TH ST STE 2G WHITE BEAR LAKE MN 55110 USA

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. Christina Knoche

4145 CENTERVILLE RD UNIT 101

VADNAIS HEIGHTS MN 55127 USA

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: 10/06/2025

Signed: Christina Knoche

Published two times in the White Bear Press on October 15 and 22, 2025.

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: Oh My Dog!

2. The street address of the principal place of business is or will be: 880 VANDALIA ST SAINT PAUL MN 55114 USA

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. SARA BOUTROS 4438 41ST AVE S MINNEAPOLIS MN 55406 USA SBK + DOGS CO, LLC 4438 41ST AVE S MINNEAPOLIS MN 55406 USA REBECCA KROMER 1408 MINNEHAHA AVE W SAINT PAUL MN 55104 USA

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: 09/30/2025

• After a public hearing was held at the Oct. 7 Mahtomedi City Council regular meeting, council passed a resolution adopting special assessments for the 2025 street improvement project. The project included roadway rehabilitation, water main and miscellaneous storm sewer improvements to Briarwood Avenue from Quail Street to Hallam Avenue. The amount to be specially assessed on the $469,400 project is $47,455, paid by nine private property owners. The remainder of the project will be financed by the city of Mahtomedi.

• No more paying two sets of property taxes for the property owner at 245 Dwinnell, which until now was located partially in Mahtomedi and partially in Dellwood. After the property owners requested to have their property located entirely in Dellwood, Dellwood agreed to have the Mahtomedi portion of the property annexed to Dellwood. The city of Mahtomedi has now approved the detachment agreement.

• The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services 2023 Municipal Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) grant program provided $12 million from the state bonding bill for grants to municipalities to mitigate inflow and infiltration. I/I is the unwanted flow of clean water and storm water into the wastewater system, causing system overload and costly sewer back up into homes and buildings, rivers and lakes. MCES identified Mahtomedi as eligible to receive grant funding. Mahtomedi applied for grant money in 2023 and provided estimated project costs for improvements to reduce I/I. MCES has determined it will contribute half ($50,000) the

BY RICKA MCNAUGHTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A recurring column featuring glimpses into the lives, loves, and everyday dramas of random dogs I meet on walks around the White Bear Lake region.

Meet Sawyer, Anne Kane’s creamy yellow labrador retriever. Sawyer is a girl, by the way. That didn’t stop the adventure-loving Anne from choosing the name as a nod to Mark Twains’ fictional character Tom Sawyer,

actual amount of eligible expenses ($100,000) during the grant activity period of 2024-2025. The city must sign an agreement with MCES, which council approved.

• Ramsey County offers testing services to many cities in the area to detect unhealthy bacteria in municipal bodies of water. Mahtomedi has contracted with Ramsey County since 2006 to have its two beaches tested for E. coli and coliform. Council approved the 2026 agreement, and will use park fund monies to pay for the service. The estimated flat fee is $990.

• The Nov. 4 ballot will include two city council positions and two questions from the Mahtomedi School District. Council passed a resolution appointing election judges for the Nov. 4 General Election.

• The city has contracted with WSB since 2004 for professional engineering services, since 2008 for planning services and since 2024 for forestry services. The current five-year agreement for engineering and planning expires Dec. 31. A new five-year professional services agreement includes all three services. Compensation for a variety of services will increase each year within the five-year period from 3% to 5%.

Engineering services for 2026 start at $3,481 per month; planning services at $5,217 per month and forestry services at $75,024 per year.

• The property owner at 199 Bichner Lane plans to connect to the city’s sanitary sewer system and has asked that the city install the private lateral sewer line. The property owner will pay for the installation over a period of 10 years through a special assessment levied against the property.

Council approved the special assessment agreement.

• The City Council reduced the letter of credit for Bill DeWitt with Zawadski Homes for Owasso Beach LLC and Old Wildwood Oaks Development to $28,517.25 from $94,869.75 for two areas of work that have been completed.

• The public works department has surplus items to dispose of that are no longer usable or needed and which must be sold through the state’s auction process. The department has asked the city for permission to dispose of two trucks, a water testing spectrophotometer, miscellaneous plow blades and 26 unused voting booths.

• As a statutory city, Mahtomedi is generally authorized to accept gifts and donations from the community but must formally and publicly accept all gifts. Therefore, council officially accepted the gift of two benches worth $1,500 each. One will be placed at the top of the Katherine Abbott Park sliding hill and the other along the Eastgate Parkway Trail in memory of beloved day care provider Carol Whitman.

• City employees receive regular safety training. Council approved the $11,311 annual contract with SafeAssure for the service.

• Council heard a presentation from Lori Tella of the Washington Conservation District on the Wildwood Park Shoreline Restoration Project, Phase 2.

The Real Dogs of White Bear Lake

as in “The Adventures of.” So far, Anne and Sawyer aren’t planning to run off to an island in the Mississippi, pretending to be pirates. They do love to hit the open road, exploring what’s out there. But for Sawyer, even riding across town with the window rolled down registers high on her Epicness Factor Meter. No doubt she blissfully scans the air currents for all sorts of interesting local intel that dogs’ noses were designed to seek out, originally for survival.

You could compare this to the compulsion we humans feel to consult our preferred media sources for news of the day. Unfortunately though, for us, much “news” has come to mean all that’s going alarmingly wrong in the entire world, packaged in ways designed to make us look. Our survivalwired brain tells us that it’s better to know than not know. But our human psyches weren’t designed for the blunt force trauma of today’s 24/7 news cycles and social media posting havoc. As evolution goes, it brings to mind

those squished turtles in the road, whose shells protected them for eons without a major redesign, and then, catastrophically, automobiles happened. But certain dogs have a knack for snapping certain people back to sanity. Sawyer’s one of those dogs.

More than once, when Anne and Sawyer were out for a stroll, or rolled up to a stop at an intersection, window down, Sawyer has beamed at someone, and that someone has rolled down their window, beamed back and said to Anne something like “Awww! Your dog

just actually made my whole day.” Maybe, it’s because Sawyer’s radiant gaze is plainly saying, “Yes, human. You are welcome to join me in this epic and exhilarating moment of awesomeness!” Think of it as a reset button we can all use now and then. Sawyer’s classic retriever smile can, in the moment, both light you up and calm you down. But it should be noted that in some ways, two-year-old Sawyer is still a bit retrieverdivergent. If you throw her a ball to bring back, she may retrieve it once. Throw it again, and

she’ll look at you like you’re a toddler in a highchair who hurled her pacifier across the room, pulled a face, and right off wants it back. Not Sawyer’s thing. Also, unlike most labs, Sawyer doesn’t like the water. Does not like swimming, boating, or even the under-foot feel of a swaying dock. But Sawyer uses what superpowers she has for good. And in these times, that’s the most epic thing any of us can do.

PUBLIC NOTICES • PUBLIC NOTICES

CITY OF MAHTOMEDI

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING

VACATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY

Notice is hereby given that the Mahtomedi City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 3rd, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Mahtomedi City Hall, Council Chambers, 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, Minnesota, to consider a proposed vacation of plat dedicated right-of way (roadway easement) located on real property legally described as follows: All that part of Morgan Street and Hazel Avenue, originally dedicated on WILDWOOD ADDITION, according to the recorded plat thereof, Washington County, Minnesota, and now to be vacated, which lies southeasterly of a line drawn from the most northerly corner of Lot 1, Block 124, said WILDWOOD ADDITION to the most westerly corner of Lot 20, Block 123, said WILDWOOD ADDITION and northeasterly of a line drawn from the most southerly corner of said Lot 1, Block 124, to the most westerly corner of Lot 7, Block 131, said WILDWOOD ADDITION and northwesterly of the southwesterly extension of the southeasterly line of Lot 24, Block 123, said WILDWOOD ADDITION. All interested persons may provide comments at the hearing; comments may be sent before the hearing to the Mahtomedi City clerk at jrogers@ ci.mahtomedi.mn.us. Published two times in the White Bear Press on October 22 and 29, 2025.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 624

WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110

MINUTES SEPTEMBER 8, 2025

Abbreviated Minutes-complete information available from the Superintendent’s office or online at www.isd624.org.

A meeting of the White Bear Lake Area School Board was held on Monday, September 8, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in Boardroom 200 at the Sunrise Park District Service Center, 2399 Cedar Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN. This meeting was open to the public and a recording is posted on the website. PROCEDURAL ITEMS 1. Chair Arcand called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call

- Present: Streiff Oji, Thompson, Arcand, Beloyed, Ellison, Skaar. Absent: Daniels. Ex-Officio: Dr. Wayne Kazmierczak. 3. Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Beloyed moved and Streiff Oji seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Voice vote: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Motion carried. 5. Induction of Student Representative. 6. Thompson moved and Beloyed seconded to approve the consent agenda consisting of: a. Minutes for Board meeting on August 11, 2025, and August 25, 2025; b. Monthly invoices, all of which met the standards and guidelines as set by the School Board; c. Resolution regarding acceptance of gifts with thank you letters directed to the donors; d. Field trips; and e. Resolution regarding personnel items. Skaar requested to move the monthly invoices from the consent agenda to the regular agenda. Roll call vote: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Motion carried. 7. Thompson moved and Streiff Oji seconded to approve the monthly invoices, all of which met the standards and guidelines as set by the School Board. Roll call vote: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Motion carried. PUBLIC FORUM. INFORMATION ITEMS 1. Student Recognition - Students who earned state or national honors in Fishing were recognized and congratulated. 2. Superintendent’s Report - Dr. Kazmierczak highlighted several news items in the White Bear Lake Area School District. 3. Opening School Report. DISCUSSION ITEMS. OPERATIONAL ITEMS 1. Thompson moved and Beloyed seconded to approve the action on School Board Policies: a. 414, Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse; and b. 516.5, Overdose Medication. Voice vote: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Motion carried BOARD FORUM. ADJOURNMENT Ellison moved and Beloyed seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:01 p.m. Voice vote: Ayes, all. Nays, none. Motion carried. Submitted by: Jessica Ellison, acting clerk. Published one time in the White Bear Press on October 22, 2025. INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 624 WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110 MINUTES SEPTEMBER

AROUND TOWN

1. A Bear Boating volunteer appreciation took place at Boatworks Common’s Community Room Oct.12. Volunteers celebrated a successful season completing 225 trips on White Bear Lake. Dave Ryan, Contributed

2. Three generations of Philip and Ethel Vinck’s gathered at West Park for a family reunion Sept. 20. — Citty Scherman , Contributed

3. Bald Eagle Children’s Hospital Association Co-chairs (from left) Mark and Evelyn Duvall, Craig and Betsy McNulty, Fay and Dave Kotilinek.

— Contributed

4. This sandhill crane was spotted on a Mahtomedi pond. Sandhill cranes typically migrate from September through November. — Darlene Mondloch Zurawski, Contributed

Every Business Owner…

It is inevitable. Every business owner will exit. The question is, on what and whose terms.

Every Business Owner…

Every business entity has some value to be transferred or sold.

It is inevitable. Every business owner will exit. The question is, on what and whose terms.

Preparation in advance for this event will significantly increase the value transferred AND the probability of a successful outcome.

Every business entity has some value to be transferred or sold.

A business built for exit will be a better run business. Period.

Preparation in advance for this event will significantly increase the value transferred AND the probability of a successful outcome.

A business built for exit will be a better run business. Period.

Planning for the exit includes personal planning to make sure the business owner is ready for their next chapter in life.

Planning for the exit includes personal planning to make sure the business owner is ready for their next chapter in life.

The value of a business is many times over 50% of the business owner’s net worth.

When it’s a family business, the stakes are even higher.

The value of a business is many times over 50% of the business owner’s net worth.

When it’s a family business, the stakes are even higher.

Advanced Planning Solutions has the depth and the team for this conversation.

Advanced Planning Solutions has the depth and the team for this conversation.

CENTURY COLLEGE: Dental expansion ‘dream come true’

the project say it will address the state’s dental hygienist shortage, expand access to oral health care for underserved communities, increase enrollment and graduation of licensed dental hygienists and strengthen Minnesota’s dental workforce pipeline.

“This is a space designed to elevate student learning, support for faculty and provide high quality care for our community,” said Century College Foundation Executive Director Sarah O’Brien.

Millender added, “This space will empower learning, foster innovation and prepare the next generation of dental professionals for careers that impact health and well-being of our countless Minnesotans.”

Stephanie Albert, director of Delta Dental Minnesota Foundation, said the expansion marks a “transformative step” for dental education in the Twin Cities. “Both dental assistants and dental hygiene career fields are growing with a projected growth of around 7% by 2032, and this project will prepare students for lifelong careers in a high-demand field, giving them access to the latest simulation technology for hands-on learning,” Albert said. “We look forward to seeing collaborations with the local dental practices and Career Pathways programs as they flourish as a result of this new learning space.”

First-semester student Tessa Berg graduated from Century’s dental assistant program in 2019 and wanted to return to the school to continue her education in the dental hygiene program.

“I had a great experience with dental assisting. The class size was pretty small. The teachers and faculty were so nice. It was very hands-on,” she explained.

Berg’s positive experience at the dentist as a kid inspired her to go into the field. “I absolutely loved going to the dentist, getting out of school early. I know a lot of people don't have that experience, so I want to give that experience to people,” she said.

SCHOOL BRIEF

American Indian education coordinator leaving district

Vincent Patton, White Bear Lake Area School District’s American Indian education program coordinator, is leaving the district to teach Native American students at South High School in Minneapolis.

In his three years with ISD 624, Patton helped inform curriculum for Ethnic Studies history classes, increased awareness of Native American historical trauma among district employees, brought White Bear into concurrence with the district’s American Indian Parent Advisory Committee (AIPAC) and contributed to the district’s 90% graduation rate for Native American students (Minnesota’s state average is 60%).

“It’s an important field, and I don’t think there are enough people (going into it).”

After she graduates in two years, Berg says she wants to be a clinician for a while and eventually she is thinking about going into teaching or research.

“I’d love to come back here and teach someday. I think they have a great program, and I really like the location of this campus,” Berg said.

For more information about the dental hygiene program, visit www.century.edu/programs/ dental-hygiene. For more information on the dental assistant program, visit www.century.edu/ programs/dental-assistant.

Native American students in the district also specifically point to Patton as a positive force in their lives. At the most recent School Board meeting, before he performed a traditional Dakota grass dance for Indigenous People’s Day, White Bear senior Hezazac Adams said, “I want to honor Vince Patton … he is a great mentor and teacher that I’ve learned a lot from, and I’m very grateful to be around him.”

How did Patton accomplish so much on both a policy and personal level in so short a time? “There wasn’t transparency from Indian Ed. to the parents,” Patton explained. “‘We know we’re getting this set amount of money from the state, but where is this money? How are we spending it?’ What I did was open the books.”

One of AIPAC’s requested use for funding was professional development regarding Native American historical trauma for district employees. “Those are things where a parent asks, you do,” Patton said. “Yeah, I’ve got a superintendent, and I’ve got supervisors, but at the end of the day, parents are the boss of our district.”

Patton added that all parents’ opinions are worth hearing, but when choosing a path forward, a specific type of opinion is key. “Uplift those voices that you know are going to be doing right for the students.”

As for building meaningful relationships with the students, Patton’s answer was concise. “You’re there with them, but you give them the platform. Do things with them where they can excel. That’s the way to do it.”

Logan Gion

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White Bear School Board fields public comments on fraudulent enrollment

BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Twelve commenters spoke during the public forum section of ISD 624 School Board’s monthly meeting — a meeting that usually has 12 spectators. Hundreds of people from the surrounding community, however, attended this meeting, lining the back wall shoulderto-shoulder and filling the overflow room.

The majority stayed to hear the public comments as well as Superintendent Dr. Wayne Kazmierczak’s update on one issue: What steps are being taken after a man fraudulently enrolled at White Bear Lake Area High School posing as a teenager?

Police allege that in September, a 22-year-old man named Kelvin M. Luebke enrolled at the high school using an alias and a Liberian birth certificate that stated he was born in 2007. According to an email sent to families from the superintendent, Luebke attended White Bear for 19 school days and attended three football team practices.

“We

The Newspaper shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of the advertisement. The Newspaper shall not be liable or responsible for any error in any advertisement except to give the Advertiser credit for so much of the space occupied by the advertisement as is materially affected by the error; credit shall be by refund or republication of the advertisement at the election of the Newspaper. Such credit shall not be given for more than one incorrect insertion unless the Publisher is notified in writing of the error before the repetition of the insertion. When the Advertiser wishes to correct or change copy submitted as a "proof," the Newspaper shall not be liable for the changes or corrections unless they are received by the Newspaper within a reasonable length of time before the deadline for publication. If an advertisement is requested to run after copy deadline, the Newspaper will not honor an adjustment request if an error occurs. No specific page or position shall be guaranteed. The Advertiser or Agency shall indemnify the Newspaper for any attorney 's fees incurred in defending against claims, pay any judgments against the Newspaper, and pay associated expenses and losses that are caused by the publication of any advertisement submitted by or published at the direction of the Advertiser or Agency, including claims for libel, copyright infringement, and invasion of privacy.

DISCLAIMER INDEMNIFICATION: S E R V I C E D I R E C T O R Y

On Sept. 29, police in Plymouth pulled Luebke over for speeding, discovered outstanding warrants, and took him into custody. Various students, parents and staff became aware of Luebke’s true identity and reported the information to the district. The man was banned from school premises on Sept. 30.

doors,” said Joshua Wickander.

“I would imagine and hope that a lot of reflection is going on in multiple levels to ensure that it doesn't happen again,” said Lisa Hoffman-Konn.

Other comments showed support for the board.

“I want to thank both Dr. K and Principal (Russ) Reetz for their swift action, full transparency, cooperation with law enforcement and direct communication to parents. This is leadership,” said Ellie O’Brien.

Dawn Hank empathized with the difficulty of the board’s decision, saying, “We don’t always know that, right? When it’s hard for you as much as you’d like to share more information for the public. We’re talking about people who are minors. We’re talking about rules of government.”

After the public forum, Kazmierczak expressed appreciation to the students, family and staff who came forward with information. He also said that after careful review of enrollment procedures, the district is confident that its enrollment processes are as strong as they can be, given state and federal law.

understand that situations like this can be frustrating, especially when details cannot be shared as quickly or as fully as people might wish.”

Wayne Kazmierczak WBLAS Superintendent

“We understand that situations like this can be frustrating, especially when details cannot be shared as quickly or as fully as people might wish. Please know that we are committed to being as transparent as possible within state laws and given that this is an ongoing investigation.”

Per the superintendent’s email: “Throughout the enrollment process, there was no reason to believe the official birth certificate was fraudulent.”

At the board meeting, public comments ranged in tone. Some were critical of the board.

“Was a policy or a law broken on paper? Doesn’t appear so … It sometimes feels like what we’re actually settling for is not Bear pride, but bare minimum, especially when it comes to our district policies,” said Tim Klecker.

“I’ve become frustrated with transparency, frustrated with accountability and frustrated with not wanting to hear opinions that differ from yours and functioning behind closed

OBITUARY

Board Chair Dr. Scott Arcand ended the meeting by saying, “Thank you for coming. You are always welcome, and we love to see you here. This is our community.”

The public forum is held for 30 minutes during ISD 624’s monthly regular meetings. Those who wish to address the board must submit a written request to speak before 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting. For more details, call Rachael Markuson at 651-407-7563 or visit isd624. org/about/school-board/meetingmaterials.

The board’s next regular meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the new Sunrise Park District Service Center, 2399 Cedar Ave.

William L. “Bill” Morris

89, Lifetime resident of White Bear Lake, passed away on October 12, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy; son, John; granddaughter, Sarah; and brother, Jack. He is survived by his children, Wanda (Jim) Sprygada and Michael (Carol); grandchildren, Noah, Holly, and Amanda; great grandchildren; and brother, Floyd (Kathy). Bill was a proud Army Veteran of the 82nd Airborne. In 1957, he and Kathy were married and throughout their marriage they enjoyed many adventures and travels together. He worked for the City of White Bear Lake and was a volunteer Fireman on the Fire and Rescue Team. After his retirement, he enjoyed volunteering with the Rifle Squad at Fort Snelling and spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. An Honor Service will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Wednesday, November 12, at 2 PM, arrive through Gate 2, must gather by 1:45 PM at Assembly Area 2, further directions on Mueller Memorial Website. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Brains Together for a Cure, www.brainstogetherforacure.org Mueller Memorial-White Bear Lake, www.muellermemorial.com 651-429-4944

WHITE BEAR LAKE CITY COUNCIL NOTES

• The city will contract with B&H Concrete and Landscaping LLC for $29,032 for miscellaneous concrete work. Each year, the city undertakes miscellaneous concrete projects to improve the overall appearance and safety of concrete sidewalks, curbs and other concrete surfaces. The project includes removing and repairing existing sections of concrete. The city received three quotes, with the low quote coming from B&H Concrete and Landscaping LLC. Public Works Director/City Engineer Paul Kauppi noted the work is scheduled at 18 locations and should be completed by the end of the month.

• Robb Olson, of GDO Law, the city’s prosecuting attorney, recently visited the City Council to provide an annual update. A big change he said the office was nervous about was the change of services being provided

WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA SCHOOL BOARD NOTES

• The board is providing a legend showing check types to the monthly invoice payment registers included in the meeting agenda packets. “We need to make this invoice report information, but, at the same time, manageable,” said Board Chair Dr. Scott Arcand. While the board unanimously approved the change, Board Member Dan Skaar would like to see more. “It’s still very difficult to read, just because there are so many items. Can we get it stratified by dollars? So anything over $5,000 you can look at … I offered my assistance to help on this. I’m a licensed CPA as well. I would be happy to take a look at it.” Board Member Kathleen Daniels said, “I appreciate the detail, and I think it’s easy to read, and I think, if we had less detail, we would be accused of being less transparent.”

Board Member Angela Thompson added, “It is not our job to work for the schools in that capacity. We are a governing body. We don’t get into the day-to-day business of the schools… We all have professional training up here that the district could utilize if we were employees.” Thompson then encouraged

from Tubman Family Alliance to Northeast Youth and Family Services. “It really has worked out incredibly well. They are really good at communicating … they have really stepped up to the plate,” Olson said.

Olson mentioned that approximately 275 DUI cases in the state will likely be tossed out after issues surfaced related to law enforcement errors using the state’s DataMaster (DMT) breath test instruments. The Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) recently announced a new process it is implementing for replacing dry gas cylinders in DMT breath test instruments.

“There were two types of controlled substances, and they mixed them up in some jurisdictions,” Olson said, adding that the White Bear Lake Police Department was not one of the jurisdictions that put the wrong

members of the public to call the district office if they have questions about ISD 624’s financial invoices. Skarr replied, “We carry the public’s interests, correct? So is this report helpful for the public interest? … Why don’t we provide the clarity so that they understand it?”

• The board approved the replacement of Birch Lake Elementary’s boiler and awarded the bid to CM Construction for just under $2,615,000. “The boiler is original to the building going back to 1966,” noted Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Tim Wald, “so when we replace it next summer, it will have served the district 60 years.”

• The board will hold a second reading next month of five updated policies, including those concerning superintendent selection and school district administration. All changes being made are for grammatical or clerical reasons. All school district policies may be viewed at www.isd624.org/about/district-policies.

• The school board is recognizing students for academic achievement, especially National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Finnian McVeigh and Caitlyn Clark. To view a video listing

substance in the machine.

Mayor Dan Louismet asked whether most hearings have resumed to take place in person, or if most are still being held remotely. Olson said it really varies by county. “Ramsey County and Hennepin County are doing more in person,” he said, adding that some counties that are farther out, like Isanti County, are holding 85% of hearings remotely.

The City Council will consider the first reading of its revised tree ordinance at the next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Shannon Granholm

each student’s accomplishments, visit youtube.com/@ISD624.

• The White Bear Lake Area School Board will convene for its monthly work session at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, and

for its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, both at the new Sunrise Park District Service Center, 2399 Cedar Ave.,

Weekly Outlook

Weather Tidbits

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com

A week ago my maple tree was showing about 15% color. This past week the color exploded. My maple turned a stunning blazing orange and red as did other area maples, but not all. Area trees are a mix of colors ranging from yellow, red, orange, rust and green, making for a colorful variety. Temperatures have cooled but this past week remained well above normal. This week we experienced even cooler temperatures but they align within normal. Precipitation has been running below average, but I’m not too concerned about dry weather this time of year as this is our time to head into our dry season. I’ll be clearing out my vegetable garden this week as the threat of a frost and freeze should be just around the corner. Astro note: Saturn is the bright planet in the evening sky. Jupiter is the bright planet in the morning sky.

Weather data and observation are from his weather station and trips around the area. Frank can be found on the internet at WeathermanWatson.com.

andArts Culture2025

EMERGING ARTIST: HOLLY FLOOD

BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER

How much opportunity can a teenage musician receive in the northeast metro? Holly Flood, a White Bear Lake Area High School senior, is proving that the range is breathtaking.

Currently, Flood is starring in her high school’s production of “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” participating in danceline and recording tracks for a planned debut album as a member of local live favorite The Mothers Band.

The trio—Flood, Luisa Maruyama and Freya Sanders— actually met while participating in the middle school musical.

“Those two art forms melded for us very early,” Flood recalled. “We were asked to sing together, and we decided that we really enjoyed doing something for other people and sharing our love for music in that way.”

CONTRIBUTED Holly Flood

The band got its name, though, because of the musicians’ most important fans. “The driving factor of it is that our moms always loved hearing us sing together,” Flood stated. “We do it for our mothers, and we do it for the love that they bring us.”

This past summer, after playing at Marketfest for three years, The Mothers Band

received an invitation to record studio tracks from Oliver Din of the McNeely Music Center.

“It was definitely a moment of realization,” Flood described. “Not that we weren’t good at what we were doing before … but this was someone seeing us and seeing our hard work.”

Flood described The Mothers Band’s sound as folk and mellow, taking inspiration from many young female artists who use situations around them to create powerful lyrics and vocals.

Unlike the “Sad Girl Pop” of Billie Eilish or Olivia Rodrigo that currently dominates radio airwaves, Flood believes The Mothers Band sounds more hopeful and their harmonies allow for greater flexibility in the moods they are able to create.

Hopefulness will directly serve Flood next month when she dons a ballgown to play Cinderella. “It’s a big show, and it’ll mean a lot to the community,” Flood said. “It’s definitely a pressure,

Pbut it's something that I'm even more eager to work hard for.”

Flood explained that her diligence comes from seeing the effort each team puts into the production. It also comes from the awareness that “Cinderella” will be the first musical staged in the new Performing Arts Center. “I think (this show) is about bringing everyone together, and that makes me very excited to work as hard as I will,” she said.

Like Cinderella, then, Flood’s success stems from her efforts. The opportunities give her a space to shine.

Support The Mothers Band by following them either at instagram.com/mothersband or youtube.com/@Mothers-Band.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella” runs from Nov. 14-22 at White Bear Lake Area High School Performing Arts Center, 5045 Division St., Door A. Tickets and further details are available at sites.google.com/isd624.org/ musical-theatre.

‘PERCY JACKSON’ CAST BRAINSTORMS NEW WAYS INTO FAMILIAR CHARACTERS

BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ercy Jackson—the main character of “The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical,” based on the first book in the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series—is a middle-schooler who finds out he is the son of Poseidon. He then teams up with other middle-schoolers who have mythical makeups to retrieve an artifact for Zeus.

The cast of Children’s Performing Arts’ “Lightning Thief” production are middle schoolers too, yet their Olympic-level task is finding a distinct take on both characters from Greek mythology as well as beloved teen-lit protagonists.

Director Casey Marie Holmes explained that such an issue is the perfect quest for middle school performers to seize. “I encourage all of these actors to bring their own breath into the characters,” Holmes commented. “Live in the character’s circumstances as you believe them.”

Such an ask of a young actor is meant to be challenging. “That’s the educational part for this age group: Not only ‘How do we put on a show?’ but also ‘What do you, as an actor, have to do within your role to make that product happen?’” Holmes described.

Eighth grader Maya Tange, who plays Annabeth, daughter of Athena, needed to work on navigating her character’s arc. “At the beginning, (Annabeth) comes off as harsh, and I think making a

switch from harsh to a loyal friend to Percy is one of the biggest switches,” Tange remarked. Tange observed that the other characters have trouble seeing different sides of Annabeth, so she found parallels in a surprising source: singer and rapper Nicki Minaj.

“Early in her career, Nicki Minaj was seen like she could only be one thing—this very animated, bubblegum version of herself,” Tange explained. “As her career went forward, even though she was able to show more sides, she was still seen as a very strong figure.”

Meanwhile, eighth grader Brayden Walsh, who plays this production’s Percy Jackson, challenged himself to find a balance between all the previous iterations of the character—the original book, the 2010 movie, the Disney+ series and the script in front of him. His solution was to consider every version of the character a tool that he can pull out of a figurative toolbox depending on the moment.

“To me, it’s really about what is going on in the scene,” Walsh emphasized. “What’s the emotion of the scene? How can I implement things to make it more serious or fun?”

Regardless of expectations, Walsh believes this production completed the quest the director assigned to them.

“I want people to know that everyone here in the cast worked really hard to put on the show,” he stated.

“The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical” runs from Oct. 24-Nov. 2 at the Hanifl Performing Arts Center. For tickets and details, visit childrensperformingartsmn.org.

CHILDREN’S PERFORMING ARTS LIGHTS UP FOR THE MASQUE

BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Nov. 8, Hanifl Performing Arts Center will roll out the red carpet.

Children’s Performing Arts’ (CPA) theme for this year’s Masque fundraiser is “Hollywood Lights to Broadway Nights.” The evening includes a hosted happy hour, a program performed by CPA show participants and dinner with live music from sibling duo Kate and Bradley Beahen. All of the glitz and glam, however, is in service of educational opportunities for the next generation.

“Performing arts don’t just teach kids how to perform on

stage,” stated CPA’s Strategic Operations Director Sharon Hanifl-Lee, “It teaches them how to perform in life.”

CPA Board President John Vanyo agreed. “We’re helping these kids grow. We are giving them real-life skills. We are giving them a place to feel safe and understood,” Vanyo stated.

to be able to look somebody in the eye, shake their hand, have a conversation.”

Vanyo also underscores that CPA is for anyone curious about performing.

“Performing arts don’t just teach kids how to perform on stage, it teaches them how to perform in life.”

- SHARON HANIFL-LEE

Hanifl-Lee also sees CPA as a way to teach youth how to value and establish in-person relationships. “Kids are so focused on social media. They’re so intra; their heads are down,” she said. “In real life, you need

“Part of our mission is that we want these kids to feel like they are safe to be themselves in whatever capacity that is,” Vanyo said.

“No matter what their role is.” Therefore, CPA aims to meet kids where they’re at, then pushes them to grow. “What bugs me the most is when I see people underestimating kids or setting the bar low because

they’re ‘just kids,’” Hanifl-Lee stated. “We set the bar high, and they rise to that.”

Case in point—performers during The Masque’s program must find time to rehearse between other shows and obligations, yet still deliver. “You’ll see it and go, ‘Oh, that was really fun,’” said Vanyo. “Then, you’ll think of the prep work and the timeline the kids had to put it together and say, ‘Wow, it’s amazing what these kids can do.’”

Curtains rise on The Masque at 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake. Tickets and further information are available at childrensperformingartsmn. org/support/masque-gala.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR FALL AND WINTER THEATER CLASSES

All classes take place at Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake. To register, visit childrensperformingartsmn.org/classesworkshops

PIZZA PERFORMANCE POP UPS

Grades: 6-12

Dates: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays Nov. 1, Dec. 13 and Jan. 24

Details: Students will come together for socializing and pizza, then break into groups to work on scenes assigned to them. At the end of the night, all students will get to perform for each other.

SATURDAY MORNING DROP-IN

Grades: K-2

Dates: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays, Nov. 1, Dec. 13 and Jan. 24

Details: Classes focus on creative play and fostering imagination. Each week, students will read books, play games, do crafts and create characters.

CALENDAR

IMMIGRATION ISSUES PANEL

Location: Vadnais Commons, 655 E. County Road F, Vadnais Heights

Dates: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28

Details: Many Faces is hosting a public educational event to explore the complex issues surrounding immigration. Gain factual, accessible information to better understand the challenges of the U.S. immigration system and the impact those challenges have on immigrant neighbors and friends.

TEEN WRITERS SPEAK

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

Dates: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6

Details: Share your latest work, test new ideas or soak in the words around you at this openmic event. Though teens will read, adults are encouraged to attend. Register in advance at whitebeararts.org/events if you would like to read.

LAW AND ORDER IN THE LAND OF LAKES AND LEGENDS

Location: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 Fourth St., White Bear Lake

Dates: 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24

Details: Since its incorporation as a village in 1881 for the initial purpose of regulating liquor and other vices, White Bear has had an active law enforcement history. Hear some of the incredible stories of heroism and commitment to serve and protect.

Mahtomedi earns shot at 12th state soccer title

Mahtomedi’s defending state champion girls soccer team will return to the big show after their  3-0 conquest of arch rival Hill-Murray in the Section 4AA finals.

The No. 1 ranked Zephyrs (14-2-2) and No. 3 Hill-Murray (13-3-2) were scoreless at halftime on a cold, wet evening. They took a 2-0 lead as Anneliese Ulschmid and Lola Dambowy scored off corner kick feeds from Kayla Poirier. Later, goalie Harlow Berger, on a free kick from midfield, hammered the ball to the net and Rose Prescott buried it. Berger made seven saves.

Mahtomedi lost captains Allie Rippentrop and Jacqueline Worden for the season with injuries and had Ulschmid,

Adalyn Beulke, and Oona Lienke missing several games but still repeated as conference and section champs and posted 12 shutouts in 18 games.

“Extremely proud of this team,” said coach David Wald, praising the squad for its “next-person-up mentality, following the strong leadership of Harlow Berger and Kayla Poirier.” He cited the central defensive group of Dambowy, Neven Leopold, and Olivia Boberg for blanking a potent H-M attack.

Mahtomedi will make its 19th trip to state and seek the program’s 12th title.

The top-seeded Zephyrs opened Tuesday against Grand Rapids. Semifinals are Oct. 29 at U.S. Bank and finals Oct. 31.

Zephyrs are top-seed for 2A state tennis

Mahtomedi is the No. 1 seed for the state Class 2A team tournament at Lifetime Fitness in Bloomington.

The Section 4AA champions will also have Lily Carlson in the singles tournament and Katherine Smith/ Mallory Langer in doubles.

Carlson and Smith/Langer, all seniors, captured section titles five days after the Zephyrs nabbed

the team title. Each faced Chisago Lakes in the finals, Carlson beating Claire Mickelson 6-1, 6-1, and Smith/ Langer beating Anna Hageman/ Claire Beaver 6-1, 6-2. Langer and Carlson play 1-2 singles in the regular lineup. Carlson is 20-4, Langer 19-6 and Smith (all at 1-doubles) 22-3.

Soccer section title barely eludes Bear girls again

White Bear Lake fell one goal short of the state girls soccer tournament for the second straight year with a 2-1 loss to No. 2 ranked Stillwater in the Section 4AAA finals.

On a chilly evening in constant drizzle, Stillwater scored twice in the first half with Jenna Kurth and Savanah Backberg (free kick) drilling perfectly-placed shots just over the reach of Bear goalie Ali Ellis.

The Bears shut down the Ponies in the second half and got a penalty kick goal by Ellyse Oelker with 10:10 left but couldn’t add the equalizer. Last season, the Bears were unbeaten until they lost to East Ridge 3-2 in the section finals.

The Bears (12-4-2) had tied 2-2 against Stillwater (16-1-1) two weeks earlier but managed only three shots on goal in the rematch. The Ponies have allowed just seven goals in 18 matches.

The Bears reached the finals beating St. Paul Central 7-1, with Piper Heinsohn scoring four goals, then No. 6 ranked Woodbury 3-2 on an overtime goal by Grace Weierke. She headed

the ball into the net on a rebound of Heinsohn’s shot off the crossbar. Oelker scored the first two goals and had 16 for the year.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Mahtomedi Soccer October 22, 2025

Kayla Poirier is a mainstay in the middle for the No. 1 ranked Mahtomedi soccer team that has reached the state tournament. “Kayla is one of the hardest working players that I have ever coached,” coach Dave Wald assessed. “She covers the entire length of the field at full speed.” Poirier has contributed eight goals and six assists to the attack, including a pair of well-placed corner kicks leading to goals in the section finals against Hill-Murray. Wald cited the 5-foot-3 midfielder for “important goals in big moments,” for her tireless work on defense, and her senior leadership on a team dealing with multiple injuries.

FOOTBALL

St. Thomas Academy dominated a clash of unbeatens against Mahtomedi 35-7 in the regular season finale. STA’s Dominic Baez had a sevenyard touchdown run and threw to Grant English for a 64-yard TD. Todd Rogalski scored on a 70yard punt return and a 40-yard pass from Tristan Karl. For the Zephyrs (7-1), Jacob Reubish rushed 20 time for 118 yards. Mark Graff ran eight times for 47 yards with a 16-yard touchdown. He was 6-for-15 passing for 42 yards with a 31-yarder to Jaxon Mitchell. The Zephyrs, top-seed in Section 4AA, will host Highland Park or St. Paul Central on Oct. 25 at noon.

BOYS SOCCER

Mahtomedi lost the Section 4AA championship game to St. Paul Como Park 1-0 at home. Patrick Tenneson tallied the lone goal, and the Cougars (13-5-1) held the Zephyrs to three shots on goal. Mahtomedi (9-7-2) beat St. Anthony 3-1 and TotinoGrace 1-0 the previous week.

CROSS COUNTRY

The Mahtomedi girls placed fourth and the boys sixth among eight schools in the Metro East Conference meet at Hastings. The Hastings girls and Two Rivers boys were champions. In the girls race, Vanessa Rogosheske was 10th and Emily Alexander 11th, each making all-conference, and Julia Clayton 13th for honorable mention. Nora Jansen was 28th and Anna Cosby 32nd. For

the boys, Liam MacChesney was 23rd, Kai Seidl 29th, Mason Mahmood 35th, Nolan Dock 36th and Emmett Melchert-Zimmerman 44th.

VOLLEYBALL

Mahtomedi takes an 18-9 record into playoffs after beating Spring Lake Park 22-25, 19-25, 2517, 25-14, 15-11 and Hill-Murray 25-16, 25-22, 2519 in the last week of the regular season. They were 7-0 in the Metro East. Section 4AAA starts Wednesday.

GIRLS SOCCER

Harlow Berger, Mahtomedi’s imposing goalkeeper, is one of five finalists for the Class 2A Miss Soccer award. Each of the three classes choose its a Miss Soccer via the coaches association. Berger anchors a defensive unit for the state-bound Zephyrs that’s allowed just eight goals in 18 matches.

SWIMMING & DIVING

Mahtomedi placed ninth of 12 teams in the Class A state true-team mee at the University of Minnesota. Orono was champion. Shaela Murphy, Zephyr sophomore, placed second in diving with 403.25 points.  The Zephyr 200 free relay placed fourth (1:41.99) with Delaney Dumermuth, Lena Granovsky, Adalyn Miller and Abigail Wright. Other top-15 finishes were by Wright, seventh in the 200 free (1:58.80) and ninth in the 100 free (54.71); Miller, ninth in the

50 free (25.32) with Maddie Ruppel 15th (25.87); and Riley Parizek, ninth in the backstroke (1:02.87) and 15th in the 500 (5:42.85). The Zephyrs were seventh in the 400 relay and eighth in the medley.

Bruce Strand