the courier - april 2010

The Couriera division of Independent School District 15 Community Education & Services

4115 Ambassador Boulevard, St . Francis , Minnesota 55070

Summer CampS & aCtivitieS pullout SeCtion, Spring Home improvement, tax tipS

april 2010 volume 17, iSSue 9 www.tHe-Courier.org

SCHool Board meetingS

ISD 15 school board meetings: Monday, April 12 and Monday, April 26, 7:00 p.m., Central Services Center, 4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW, St. Francis. The public is also invited to “Dialogue with the School Board” at 6:30 p.m.

inSide

2 Schools in action11 School Board12 Community education14 Community & Business17 area recycling/Spring Home improvement32 Sports & outdoors35 life37 ClassifiedSpecial Pullout SectionCE 1-4 Summer Camps & activities

See page 2

for more details!

Don’t miss it! Chance to win $500! Plus hourly drawings and give-aways.

Saturday, April 17 • 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.St. Francis High School

Co-sponsored by the St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce and Independent School District 15 Community Education & Services

Food • Family Fun • Prizes Free ADmission!

See

�Live�at�the�expo

Students celebrate I Love to Read month in February at St. Francis Elementary. They also celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday March 2 with many fun activities. See page 36 for more I Love to Read photos. SuBmitted pHoto

By ToM LaRSonStaff writer

Independent School Dis-trict 15 is once again ahead of the curve and

proceeding rapidly in pursu-ing its goal of increased tech-nology for the 21st century learner. SMART Board pro-jectors and document camer-as are now in every K-5 class-room in the three elementary schools. Staff members are being trained on its use and capabilities. St. Francis Mid-dle School and St. Francis High School may soon obtain SMART Board technology.

This interactive classroom technology will increase student engagement in the learning process as staff accu-mulates new practices along the way. Better use of Internet curriculum will take place.

“We are on the brink of a technological breakthrough for teachers preparing les-sons for students to engage and learn,” said Superinten-dent Ed Saxton. “Today’s stu-dents come to school expect-ing more technology. They are technologically savvy and ready to advance.”

Linda Ericson, a fourth grade teacher at St. Francis Elemen-tary, has been enthusiasti-cally using the new technol-

ogy since it was placed in her classroom in February. “SMART Board technology has revolutionized the way I teach,” said Ericson. “Les-sons that used to be taught using only textbooks now come alive for students.”

According to Ericson, the use of the interactive SMART Board and the Internet brings up new and fresh material at the stroke of a key. “What once used to be a three-day lesson can now be handled in a day, and the learning is exciting for the student. This new classroom teaching tool encourages student engage-ment. Subjects come alive!”

SMART Boards are connect-ed to a teacher’s computer and a vast array of new cur-riculum and lesson plans are available through the In-ternet. The large screen, the ability for students to step up and move material around, and the ability to further uncover more data is revo-lutionizing the classroom. “Teachers are discovering that there are many online resources to support SMART Board instruction,” explained Ericson.

The boards will be used for everything from mapping concepts—where students

SMART Boards placed in all elementary classrooms

Linda Ericson, a teacher at St. Francis Elementary, demonstrates the use of SMaRT Boards in the classroom. The courier pHoto

fill an on-screen matrix with their ideas—to viewing past lessons, where students un-scramble letters to discover words. It’s all about presenta-tion and delivery in a way that promotes engaged learning.

The interactive SMART Board is also a great tool for saving information and recalling it at a later day. A math lesson, for instance, can be reviewed over and over, to show all the steps that were taken in class to achieve the solution. Audio can also be saved with the lesson.

One goal is to have these re-corded lessons available on-line. If students miss a day or need extra help with home-

work, they can access the les-son online at home.

What has really taken off is the ability for logging data in real time. For example, in a science lesson, students measure phenomena such as their own heartbeat, before and after eating chocolate. The ongoing results regis-ter simultaneously on the SMART Board screen.

According to some teach-ers, “You could almost hear the intake of breath when students were watching the graph on the SMART Board as it shot up.” The teacher then can ask questions about graphing and students can

circle the appropriate parts of the graph on the interac-tive board.” It’s hands-on and students can label, move, change, and discuss all, with the SMART Board as the focal point.

The newly installed SMART Boards change the way things happen in classrooms. Teach-ers and students experience a more natural way of teaching and learning. SMART Boards create a more collaborative engagement between staff. The long-range intent is to in-crease student achievement in math, science, and other disciplines. |

Summer Camps

& Activities

See center pullout section

ISD 15 Community Education presents:

2 The Courier | April 2010 www.The-Courier.org

Exhibitors:Accent CurbingAdvanced Automotive CareAir Comfort Heating & Air

ConditioningAll Event Party RentalsAll Service Oil-Amsoil

ProductsAnoka Hennepin

Credit UnionAnytime FitnessAugeson PhotographyAurora Asphalt &

SealcoatingBilly’s Neighborhood

Bar & GrillBOB-FMCaptain’s on Long LakeCedar East Bethel

Lions & LionessCity of St. FrancisCostco WholesaleDIRECTV/Qwest SalesDunbar Design &

DevelopmentEdward Jones InvestmentsFarmers Insurance Agency,

St. FrancisFirst Baptist ChurchFreedom FenceGirl Scouts Rum RiverGold Star KennelsHighland Money

ManagementISD 15 Community Education

& ServicesJam Hops Gymnastics DanceKing’s County MarketLand of Lakes Choirboys

of MinnesotaLinda Gutzkow’s Permanent

CosmeticsLone Wolf GreenhousesMike Hemphill InsuranceMiss St. Francis AmbassadorsNorth Country ExteriorsNorthland Siding & ExteriorsNowthen LionsOpp Family ChiropracticPampered Chef Premier SpecialtiesResource FairRum River BMXSt. Francis Area

Women of TodaySt. Francis ChamberSt. Francis

Collision & GlassSt. Francis

Dental Care P.A.St. Francis Fire DepartmentSt. Francis Physical TherapySt. Francis True Value

Hardware StoreSt. Francis Veterinary ClinicState Senator Rick OlseenTC Net-WorksThe Home DepotThe Rusty RowelThe Writings On Your WallTrinity ESP Extended School

ProgramVillage BankWestern RemodelersWMD Wellness CenterYoung Living Essential Oils

Stop by the new Family Resource Fair

Consisting of area organizations and services available to help your family, located in the multi-purpose room.

Have lunch at the Food Court

For more information go to www.stfrancischamber.orgCo-Sponsored By St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce and Independent School District 15 Community Education & Services

New for 2010

Broadcasting LIVE from the Expo!

“Mystery Ride” passes to MOA Nickelodeon, plus Lynx

tickets and more.

Saturday, April 1710:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

St. Francis High School3325 Bridge Street in St. Francis

Food • FuN • Prizes

Plus Hourly Prize Drawings from…

Grand Casino • Wild Mountain • Mansetti’s • East Bethel Theatres Subway • Opp Chiropractic • WMD Wellness Center

Augeson Photography • King’s County Market • Hair For You Anytime Fitness • Home Depot and much more.

BOB-FM donated tickets for: The Minnesota Twins, “Music Fest,” Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and more.

FREE Bring the family!

enter to win Grand Prize of

$500 Cash

KiDs! Try on fire fighter gearFace Painting • Crazy Hair • Bounce House

FREE Drawing for a girl’s and boy’s

bicycle!

Meet local business owners and organizationsNon-perishable food donations

will be accepted for

North Anoka County

Foodshelf.

Schools in Action3www.The-Courier.org The Courier | April 2010

Edward SaxtonthE SupErintEndEnt’S CornEr

St. FrancisDental Care

Dr. Timothy Johnson DDS

Dr. Kurt Huether DDS

General & Cosmetic DentistryHOURS:

MON/TUeS/THURS 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Wed/FRi 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

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763.753.1900

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Open 7 days a week

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See us at the St. Francis Expo on April 17 at SFHS!

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763-753-5450 Limit one offer per family. Not valid with any other

coupons or offers. Expires: 5/4/10

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High School!

In my early days, I used to try to convince my mom that bedtime was a long way off by stating, “But Mom, it’s not even dark yet.”

What I thought was my most powerful statement of fact was diminished with one phrase: “Not according to the clock, young man.”

The length of day changed and so did the weather. In 1962, the weather was any-body’s best guess. In 2010, the Minnesota weather pat-tern continues to be a mys-tery. In February, if someone were to have said, “I bet we won’t have any snow in March,” replies may have varied, but most reasonable people would have wagered against that statement with-out a second thought. March did come and go this year without a trace of snow, and we are welcoming the early spring weather.

The spring season brings the 2009-10 school year one step closer to being part of history. There is no need to predict the obvious, but it is prudent to note some important mile markers in our students’ edu-cational journey.

It is vital that we focus on ac-quisition of knowledge and help our students turn their attention to completing the achievement test generated by the Minnesota Depart-ment of Education (MDE)at the highest level possible. The state tests are used by MDE to compare students’ scores statewide. More im-portantly, we use the data to

chart the best possible course for the 2010-11 school year.

We learn from each lesson taught; from some lessons we learn what to do, and from others we learn what not to do. Educators are using skills garnered though profession-al development and collegial interaction. Several avenues are available to help students learn and grow. Because evaluation of students is im-portant, our instructors use both formative and summa-tive assessment throughout the school year to ensure that students attain the knowl-edge necessary to advance academically.

In a perfect world, I would predict that all parents know

how to guide their students through the spring testing season. Rather than predict, it might be wise to review some helpful hints for school and home. Even though longer spells of daylight make the day seem longer, the clock still regulates the amount of sleep our students have the opportunity to harvest. Be consistent and insistent, if necessary, about the most strategic time to hit the sack or call it a day.

Be sure to follow school newsletters and calendars to help your student focus on those important test-taking days. Breakfast is always a good idea, and it is par-ticularly important on test days. A growling stomach can distract even the sharp-est minds, especially when it is your own. A spring slo-gan might be: sleep tight, eat right, and write right.

The recent weather patterns seem confusing and difficult to predict. However, what’s the prediction regarding stu-dent preparation for the up-

coming assessment season? Look for dedicated instruc-tors working with engaged students, combined with concerned parents, to turn in test scores reflecting positive growth. It should make for a fine finish to 2009-10 and pro-vide us the data required to make the 2010-11 school year a quality sequel.

Although in 1962, I may have

had many good reasons (or excuses) to stay out and play, I was bright enough to only try one or two. After all, my mom was right. The clock would be the first to remind me that morning comes soon-er than you might think.

Let’s work together to pro-mote student achievement, with or without the weather.

Foundation 15’s Annual Fundraiser

Roarin’ ’20s PartyFriday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Refuge Golf Club 21250 Yellow Pine Street, Oak Grove

Cost is $100/couple or $50/singleProceeds fund the Foundation 15

Scholarship Program.Contact Dawn Nordin for tickets or

information email to: [email protected]

or call 763-213-8518.

4 The Courier | April 2010 www.The-Courier.orgSchools in Action

DeADline informATion

deadline for the May 5 issue of The Courier is April 16, unless other arrangements are made. Information about advertising—call Janice Audette at 763-753-7032. Information on story or photo submissions—call 763-753-7031.

Check out The Courier online at www.the-courier.org.

The Courier is a monthly publication distributed by Independent School District 15 Community Education & Services.

The publication is delivered at no charge to all residents in Independent School District 15 the first Wednesday of each month. An annual subscription is available for $18 (12 issues). The Courier will be mailed to any address.

Please direct comments, questions, and inquiries to:

The Courier 4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW, St. Francis, MN 55070-9368

Telephone: 763-753-7031

Fax: 763-753-4693

Advertising: 763-753-7032

Billing: 763-753-7031

editor: 763-753-7042

email: [email protected]

Web site: www.the-courier.org

Courier STAffPublisher

Tom Larson

editor Kathleen Miller

Advertising Sales Janice Audette

Graphic Artist Pat Johnson

Staff Writers Tom Larson

Alicia Loehlein

ProductionBinie Bertils

Billing Alicia Loehlein Amy Lindfors

St. Francis Mall • Bridge Street in St. Francis

763-753-4988Hours: Sunday 3:00-10:00 pm • Mon-Thurs 11:00 am-11:00 pm

Fri 11:00-1:00 am • Sat 11:00-12:00 am

EvEryonE’s favoritE Pizza • DElivEry availablE

Buy any large 2 or more item

pizza and get a FREE order of breadsticks

and liter of popExpires 5/4/10. One coupon per order. Good for large size

only. Void with other offers. Eat-in, take-out or delivery. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

Buy any large 2 or more item

pizza and get a FREE small (8") single item pizza

and a liter of popExpires 5/4/10. One coupon per order.

Void with other offers. Eat-in, take-out or delivery. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

Buy one pizza roll-up and get one pizza roll-up for

½ PriceExpires 5/4/10. One coupon per order. Good for large

dinner size only, must buy two. Void with other offers. Eat-in, take-out or delivery.

Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

2 single item large pizzas

for only $20

Expires 5/4/10. One coupon per order. Must buy two large pizzas. Void with other offers.

Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

Party Package!

Buy any ½ rack of ribs for dinner and get the second ½ rack of ribs

for only $5 Expires 5/4/10. One coupon per order. Good for large dinner size only, must buy two. Void with other offers.

Eat-in, take-out or delivery. Coupon good at Tasty Pizza in St. Francis.

Try our “TasTy” Lunch BuffeT!

Monday-Friday 11:00 am-2:00 pm

Rum River Viola & Violin Studio

Year-Round Lessons Private Teacher Viola & Violin

Weddings and Bridal Events•

Beth Guck Teacher, Violist, Violinist5218 171st Avenue NW

Andover, MN

[email protected]

A walk for a great causeSubmittEd by SuzannE plaiSanCESfmS eDuCATionAl ASSiSTAnT

On February 27, students and health professionals from Independent School District 15 met at the Mall of America to participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) walk to show support

for those who have diabetes. The role of JDRF is to provide re-search funds to find a cure for this disease. This year an esti-mated 18,000 people came to the mall to offer their support for someone they know who has this disease. Many walkers have organized their own groups and have raised money to find a cure. This year over $1.8 million was raised for this cause.

According to the JDRF web site, an estimated 3 million people have Type 1 diabetes. Each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed. To stay alive, people with Type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump. They must also test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day. While trying to balance insulin doses with their food intake and daily activities, people with this form of diabetes must always be prepared for serious hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, both of which can be life-limiting and threatening. Insulin, however, is not a cure nor does it prevent the possibility of the disease’s devastating effects, which may include kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputations, heart attack, stroke, and pregnancy complications.

The ISD 15 team was organized by St. Francis Middle School’s Licensed School Nurse (LSN) Jane Benjamin. East Bethel Com-munity School and Cedar Creek Community School also had LSN and health professionals in attendance. Students with dia-betes represented ISD 15 elementary schools, the middle school, and the high school. Several of the diabetics also had individual teams of supporters who came to walk with the school district as well. Many activities were also offered during the walk. The Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders were present as was Radio Disney, providing many fun contests and dances. Bands and jugglers also accompanied the walkers and provided entertain-ment. Snacks, juice, and water were provided for all walkers, and there was a separate area where vendors displayed prod-ucts. We would like to invite anyone who is interested to join us for next year’s walk. Please contact any ISD 15 health office for information or visit www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us. Donations are also welcome if you would like to contribute to the walk. |

district staff and students arranged a team to walk for Juvenile diabetes research Foundation on February 27 at the mall of america. SubmiTTeD phoTo

Students in physical education at Cross-roads School & Vocational Center finished the winter season by cross-country skiing. For most, this was the first time they had ever been on skis. Students learned how to size up equipment and properly put it on. they also learned how to fall and get back up. the course taught them how to move, turn, and negotiate obstacles, such as small hills. by the end of the unit each stu-dent found their own individual success. Some students skied close to two miles in one class period. the students learned that cross-country skiing can be a great life-long physical activity to make the winter months more enjoyable.SubmiTTeD by JAmie STuDniCkA, CroSSroADS SChool /hArbor phySiCAl eDuCATion

CroSSroADS SChool & VoCATionAl CenTer

Crossroads School students collected pennies during a three-week period in February for “pennies for patients,” spon-sored by leukemia & lympho-ma Society’s youth programs. the cause is to find a cure for blood cancers. School kids across the country have raised more than $100 million over the past 14 years for this cause. the three-week total at Cross-roads was $70.49.

SubmiTTeD by Sherrie wiTTe

5www.The-Courier.org The Courier | April 2010 Schools in Action

Thursday-Saturday, April 15-17 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m.St. Francis High School Performing Arts Center3325 Bridge Street, St. Francis, MN

$8 Adults; $6 Senior Citizens, Students and ChildrenFor more information call 763-213-1527

The Music Man is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York NY 10019

Meredith Willison’s

Book, Music and Lyrics by

Meredith WillsonBased on a story by

Meredith Willson and

Franklin Lacey

St

. Francis High School Drama presents…

HaM lakEdEntal

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763-434-4188220 Crosstown Mall

17565 Central Ave. NE

doctors available at one or both sites:

Accepting most major dental insurances • Visa • MasterCard • Discover

Dr. Jeffrey Wendt Dr. Michele Revoir Dr. Catherine Ruther Dr. Scott Kirkhoff

Dr. Scott Kirkhoff Dr. Michele Revoir Dr. Jeffrey Wendt

Family Dentistry • Cosmetic DentistryOral Sedation Dentistry

612-805-8838

TenTRenTals

Tables/Chairs, Etc.Graduation • Reunion • Birthday • Wedding • Parties

ColleCtingat Goodrich Pharmacy, St. Francis in County Market. This event is partnered with the

St. Francis Police Dept.

Collecting medications patients no longer need or that have expired. No syringes will be accepted.

goodriCh PharmaCy

5 locations to serve your family, Andover, Anoka, Blaine & Elk River

St. Francis 763-753-0222 There is a disposal fact sheet link at

www.goodrichpharmacy.com

All patient information will be removed from bottles.

Haulers are HIPPA compliant.

mediCation ColleCtionSaturday, may 8 • 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Chuck’s Portable ToiletsReasonable Rates

Serving Isanti and Anoka Counties

For All Occasions

763.444.6795

The Rusty Rowel, LLCUnique Western and Contemporary Design

Fashion AccessoriesJewelry • Purses • Etc.

Mary Herman 612-803-9315

See my work at the St. Francis Expo on April 17 at St. Francis High School!

Fourth grade students from St. Francis Elementary were invit-ed to tour a spectacular display on black history month which was created by 10th and 12th grade students at St. Francis high School. Students and staff were very impressed with the exhibits and all of the information. a big thank you to SFhS teachers mr. mclean and ms. arnold and their students for sharing their work. SubmiTTeD by lynDA SkogquiST, Sfe 4Th grADe TeACher

First graders at St. Francis El-ementary learned all about owls from deb Gallop of the anoka County parks/wargo nature Center. Kailee derby and tyson berwald were two students chosen to assist in the presentation. SFE first graders and their teachers would like to thank Connexus Energy for funding this excit-ing wildlife education pro-gram.

SubmiTTeD by lAurA hogue

ST. frAnCiS elemenTAry

by SCott KruGErSfe SoCiAl worker

SFC Vincent Anthony Kruger, Austin, Texas, kept his promise to St.

Francis Elementary (SFE) students that he would see them in one year. On March 18, Sergeant Kruger visited SFE and spoke to the entire school via a live broadcast. Last spring, Mrs. Hoefs’ third grade classroom along with Ms. Score’s 4th grade class-room were able to Skype with Sergeant Kruger while he was stationed in Afghani-stan. The students were able to see Sergeant Kruger and ask questions. Sergeant Kru-

ger told the students that he was working hard to keep them safe, so in return he ex-pected them to work hard in school to make him proud. Last spring, SFE participated in the Coins for Comrades event and was able to send Sergeant Kruger and his group of soldiers several box-es of necessities. Ms. Score’s students wrote letters to Ser-geant Kruger and he wrote back.

In the main office at SFE, you can see an American flag and a picture of Sergeant Kruger

folding that very flag in Af-ghanistan which was flown over his base.

The morning ended with Sergeant Kruger walking through the hallways filled with students, staff, and wav-ing American flags. Sergeant Kruger was high-fiving the students and talking with staff along the way. There were tears and hugs and many thanks for Sergeant Kruger’s service. Sergeant Kruger is a brother to Scott Kruger, school social worker at SFE. |

Afghanistan veteran has ties to St. Francis Elementary

Sergeant Kruger high-fives first and second grade students at St. Francis Elementary. SubmiTTeD phoToS

Sergeant Kruger prior to the live broadcast.

our Saviour’s preschool en-joys a winter picnic and the outdoors. it was a wintery blast! SubmiTTeD by

Terry fiSCher, our SAViour’S preSChool DireCTor


ChildCare Center23256 St. Francis Blvd. NW • St. Francis

763-753-5010 • www.kidscountrychildcare.comProudly accepting Child Care Assistance

Now ENrolliNg for SummEr!

Swimming lessons are available.

The kids at Kids Country have a for Haiti.

Fundraiser Saturday, April 17 at St. Francis United Methodist Church, 11a.m.-5 p.m.

Driver’s Education at St. Francis High School

Classroom EduCationRegistration for classroom driver’s education is being

accepted for the 2009-10 school year.If you are 15 years of age or approaching 15, you may register to participate in a 30-hour classroom driver’s

education course offered during the school day. Fee $110.

BEhind-thE-WhEEl driving instruCtion

Six hours of required behind-the-wheel instructionFlexible Scheduling

New VehiclesState of MN Certified Instructors

Fee $225

Applications available at www.communityed15.comor call 763-213-1640 for more information.

Sponsored by ISD 15 Community Education & Services

(Left) math students dennis and ryan at St. Francis Elementary celebrated the 100th day of school by counting and building with 100 manipulatives. (Right) in celebration of the 100th day of school, all first graders at SFE participated in a fun-filled day of activities. Each class spent 20 minutes with a different first grade teacher doing math games, reading stories, and creating art projects all hav-ing to do with the number 100. Students also collected, created, and displayed 100 of their favorite things as a homework assignment. these projects are on display in the first grade hallway at SFE.

SubmiTTeD by DiAne kroCAk-peTerSon AnD Julie wieCzorek, Sfe mATh SpeCiAliST

SubmittEd by dianE KroCaK-pEtErSonSfe CommuniTy relATionS CoorDinATor

Linda Ericson, fourth grade teacher, and Diane Peterson, technology teacher, collabo-rated on a cross-curricular project at St. Francis Elemen-tary. They brought several as-pects of technology into the project. Discovery Education videos and PowerPoint skills learned were used to create a presentation on geographical regions. Students had to re-search answers to questions and design a PowerPoint presentation to show what they learned. The unit con-cluded with presentations to the class and SFE Principal, Kathleen Kohnen, using the recently installed SMART Boards.

This integration of technol-ogy into social studies made

learning come alive and en-couraged independent stu-dent learning. “My favorite part was creating a Power-Point presentation because you got to work with a part-ner to learn about different regions and you got to pres-

ent your project,” said Van-essa Saarela, a fourth grade student. Another student, Nolan Garaghty, said, “It was really fun. You got to type about things you wanted to learn about.” |

technology providing new learning opportunities

Students use different methods of technology to create a presen-tation on geographical regions. SubmiTTeD phoTo

ST. frAnCiS elemenTAry

Students participate in Jump rope for heartby SCott KruGEr, SChool SoCiAl worker AnD yVonnE hanzliK, phySiCAl eDuCATion TeACher

In February, several St. Francis Elementary (SFE) staff kicked off the Jump Rope for Heart month by jumping rope themselves in the gymnasium. It was videotaped and shown to the school to encourage everyone to be “heart healthy.”

All SFE students participated in the American Heart Associa-tion (AHA) Jump Rope for Heart program in physical educa-tion class. Each student received a bookmark and a sticker for their participation. Kindergarten through fifth grade students collected donations that totaled $1,775 which will help the AHA save lives through research and education.

The top three classrooms to collect money were Mrs. Sheerin’s 5th grade class, Mrs. Ericson’s 4th grade class, and Mrs. Prow-izor’s kindergarten class. Each classroom will receive a pop-corn party during an upcoming event. All students received thank you gifts and some students received additional prizes by raising at least $25 online. A special thank you goes to Mrs. Hanzlik, physical education teacher, who planned the jump rope activities throughout the month of February. |

boys from ms. Jensen’s fifth grade class jumped rope for the american heart association. Kindergarten through fifth grade students at St. Francis Elementary raised $1,775 during the Jump rope for heart program. SubmiTTeD phoTo

SubmittEd by dianE KroCaK-pEtErSonSfe CommuniTy relATionS CoorDinATor

Walk down the hallways at St. Fran-cis Elementary during the month of February, I Love to Read Month,

and you will be amazed by the activities and outward signs of reading occurring every-where in the building! The month began with a video of the staff reading their favorite books in unusual places, which the students enjoyed immensely, especially Mrs. Berger reading in the recycling bin.

Each week during February also featured ongoing special reading activities such as spotlight reading using a flashlight in the dark; special DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) times for the entire school; Get Caught Reading! certificates and prizes for students found reading at unusual times and/or places; decorating classroom doors with book titles; and students reading tons of pages and minutes to earn reading hearts for their lockers. A special thank you goes to community businesses who donat-ed prizes all month for our students: East Bethel Theatres, McDonald’s, Applebee’s, Mansetti’s, and Subway.

The month ended with a wonderful Book Bingo game sponsored by APT (Association of Parents and Teachers). Every student in each classroom received either a new book to read, a bookmark, or a pencil. Family Read-ing Night on February 22 was also a celebra-tion of reading. Dr. Seuss’s birthday was cel-

ebrated with games, “Cat in the Hat” cookies, and wonderful renditions of many famous Dr. Seuss books.

Read Across America Day on March 2 was a very special way to end this wonderful month of reading. Students from St. Francis Middle School rehearsed their books and plays all month in order to be chosen as readers at SFE for the day. The students came bearing interac-tive games and other activities to share with their elementary peers along with a fantastic job of reading their chosen books. Thank you

to all of the teachers and students at the mid-dle school that worked so hard on their per-formances! Many members of the community visited classrooms to read their favorite chil-dren’s books as well.

Please continue reading about our Read Across America Day and our schoolwide celebration of Cat in the Hat on page 36. |

Students show off their Cat in the Hat bookmarks. SubmiTTeD phoTo

The gift of reading celebrated


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CeDAr Creek CommuniTy SChool

the Cedar Creek Community School Student wellness Commit-tee is sponsoring a school cookbook. Entries are from students and staff. axel amundson, a third grader in mrs. perkins’ class, won a free cookbook as his picture was chosen by the commit-tee for the cover. inside the front cover are substitutions that can be used with the recipes to make them more health conscious. Cookbooks will be sold for $5 at the carnival and at CCCS.

SubmiTTeD by SAnDrA benSon, CCCS CommuniTy relATionS CoorDinATor

Earth science was introduced to Ce-dar Creek Community School second grade students in mrs. ackerson’s class by integrating reading, writ-ing, and math concepts. after read-ing Joanna’s Cole’s book, The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth, our inves-tigations helped develop an under-standing of the properties of earth materials. a primary focus has been on observing, describing, and sort-ing rocks, as well as comparing the ingredients in different soils. Stu-dents learned that there are power-ful forces that shape our earth! SubmiTTeD by gwen ACkerSon,

CCCS SeConD grADe TeACher

(Above) mrs. ogren’s first grade class spent a day on the story, My Robot making their own inventions and robots. they used household items to create these spectacular mas-terpieces.

SubmiTTeD by kelly ogren, CCCS firST grADe TeACher

mrs. Klein’s first grade class at Cedar Creek Community School have been sharpening their skills on their new Smart board. the “Star of the week” is leading the class in the daily calendar math procedures. Students also enjoyed many math, reading, and health activities using the Smart board. SubmiTTeD by keri klein, CCCS firST grADe TeACher

Jessica bosma’s first grade students and their families enjoyed snowshoeing through the school for-est at Cedar Creek Community School on February 12. First graders from Cedar Creek Community School played tug-of-war as part of their reading celebration on February 26.

SubmiTTeD by JeSSiCA boSmA, CCCS firST grADe TeACher

by rhonda wiEbuSChCCCS ADminiSTrATiVe ASSiSTAnT

We are very pleased to have such a wonderful volunteer from our community. Wanda Saukkola volunteers every Tuesday and Thursday morning at Cedar Creek Community School. She helps out with various projects in the office as well as a lot of copy work, laminating, and keeps our supply room in order. We don’t know what we would do without her. She comes in bright and early and just digs right in, always eager to assist with whatever we need. Wanda is also on the district substitute list for office professionals. Every once in a while, you might see her working at the front desk. Thank you, Wanda! We truly appreciate you! |

CCCS administrative assistants rhonda wiebusch (left) and an-nie mickelburg (right) are truly appreciative of everything that wanda Saukkola (center), a volunteer, does around the office. SubmiTTeD phoTo

Volunteer appreciation


Andover YMCA Community Center15200 Hanson Boulevard • Andover, MN 55304

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eAST beThel CommuniTy SChool

First grade students at East bethel Community School spent Feb-ruary 17 celebrating their 100th day of school. Students read sto-ries, made glasses to look like the number 100, made hats that tallied to 100, and skip-counted to 100 in various ways. they also sang a song about the 100th day, wrote about “if i had 100 dol-lars,” and worked on books about 100 diff erent kinds of objects. after a day fi lled with activities revolving around the number 100, the entire fi rst grade culminated their special day in the lunchroom to take 100 licks of a lollipop.

SubmiTTeD by ebCS firST grADe TeACherS

on February 11, second grade students at East bethel Community School spent the morning celebrating and learning about the Chinese new year. Each teacher contributed to the learning experience as the students traveled through the classrooms embarking upon dif-ferent activities. Some of the activities consisted of exploring the Chinese calendar, creating Chinese lan-terns, practicing with chopsticks, Chinese writing, and defi ning the signifi cance of the color red in the Chi-nese culture as it is a symbol of good luck. (Left) mrs. hennig’s second grade class learns to use chopsticks. (Right) mrs. arnold’s class learns about the Chinese lu-nar Calendar.

SubmiTTeD by ebCS SeConD grADe TeACherS

Family dance event – a fun night for allSubmittEd by anniE miCKElburGCCCS ADminiSTrATiVe SupporT ASSiSTAnT/ebCS pArenT

The East Bethel Community School PTO spon-sored its annual family dance on January 29. This year’s theme was Art After Dark. To help prepare for the event, students decorated the school with artwork they created after study-ing a particular artist. At the event, students and family members had the opportunity to try their hand at embossing tiles, creating face masks, and testing their talent as record-

ing artists at the karaoke booth. All the while, they were able to dance the night away with a rockin’ DJ. A fun night was had by all! This event would not have been successful with-out the help of numerous volunteers and area businesses that stepped up and pitched in. A special thanks to the St. Francis High School seniors, Twin City DJ’s, J&M Tile, and the Kohl’s A Team. |

St. Francis high School seniors.dancing to the beat.

why is physical education or movement essential for life?SubmittEd by marty hEnnESy, SFmS; yVonnE hanzliK, SFE; ann mErKouriS, dapE; rowEna anGEll, CCCS/SFhSDiSTriCT 15 phySiCAl eDuCATion SpeCiAliSTS

fortify your bones Strength? Repetition? Bone loss? Bone loss is a natural occur-rence. In youth, the body develops bone. As the body ages, bone development turns into bone loss (especially for women). To prevent bone loss, weight training and resistance training will counteract the natural loss of bone density. Walking is one common way to build bone mass. Other ways are jump-ing rope, tennis, basketball, dance, or jogging. An easy way to remember the process of lifting weights should be three sets (times) of 10–15 repetitions (lifts) two times a week.� |


ST. frAnCiS high SChool februAry STuDenTS of The monTh

the February students of the month at St. Francis high School were, back row (l-r): Stephanie Sol-berg, hailey meshefski-perkins, Kaeli melin, Keenan Gunderson, logan Fennell, Kory Eik, Katelyn perleberg; front row: tara doe, tonya huhtala, ann hunt, heidi nisbet, and paige Gardas. SubmiTTeD by STeVen feTzik

ST. frAnCiS high SChool

by dawn abrahamSfhS CAreer plAnning ADViSor

Thirty local business pro-fessionals and commu-nity members gener-

ously volunteered their time to St. Francis High School (SFHS) students to give them a very worthwhile learning experience. Each volunteer donated from one to five hours of their time during the school day on February 25 to conduct mock interviews for 126 SFHS Futures Prep Finale students. Futures Prep Finale is an elective class that is of-fered to juniors and seniors and is designed to help stu-dents work on making a plan for life after high school. This class has grown in popular-ity each year because of such great feedback from past students. Some of the topics covered in the class are tak-ing assessments and explor-ing different career areas, researching post-secondary education and training pro-grams, scholarships, finan-cial aid, money management, as well as resume writing and interviewing skills.

Each student was given the opportunity to complete a 15 minute interview, after which they were given feedback re-garding their strengths and weaknesses, as well as an overall grade. Students were well-prepared and presented a resume, cover letter, an ap-plication, and were dressed to impress! For many stu-dents, it was their first time interviewing and they were very nervous beforehand. Most of the students had good feedback and felt it was a great experience.

“This experience has pre-pared me in a way that will benefit me in my future job search,” said student Jennifer Giddings.

Student Lauren Deans stated, “It was totally worth it. I was really scared but once the in-terview started, I felt confi-dent and relaxed.”

A big thank you goes out to the interviewers and busi-nesses that helped during the day. For a complete list of participants, please visit our web site at www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us. |

by tonya m.S. barnESSfhS ChorAl DireCTor

The music department at St. Francis High School has been busy. Choir and band students have performed in a variety of concerts, en-sembles, and solos. On Janu-ary 5, several choir students attended the Dorian Festival at Luther College in Deco-rah, Iowa. Made up of about 1300 select students, this is the largest honor choir in the Midwest.

A number of students were chosen to participate in the North Suburban Confer-ence All Conference Honor Band, Honor Choir, and Honor Jazz Band held Feb-ruary 8 at Spring Lake Park High School. Choir students performing were Nicole Bogdanowicz, Sarah Brug-genthies, Jordyn Williams, Tori Henry, Brittany Mingo, Dani Schwartz, Brian Larsen, Justin Linder, Jake Williams, Tommy Marcio, Sam Mu-onio, and Jon Perkins. Band students performing were Kilynn Sandberg, Yvonne Comtois-Peterson, Anasta-

another day of successful mock interviews sia Picha, Matt Paulus, Alex

Everhart, Alli Blake, Zoey Ol-son, and Kyle Simonson. Jazz band performers were Rob Masloski and Cole Dippon.

On February 24, the Bel Can-to Choir participated in the North Suburban Conference Treble Festival. Two clini-cians were on hand to listen to the choirs. The clinicians sang praises for the Bel Canto Choir’s rich sound and stat-ed that the choir was doing “incredible things with great repertoire.”

Choir students competed at the solo and ensemble con-test on February 25. Every St. Francis student that compet-ed earned an excellent or su-perior rating. The Madrigal Choir competed as a chamber choir and received a perfect score of 40 out of 40 and were named best in site! The Mad-rigal Choir was one of two high school choirs invited to perform at Augsburg College at their Mardi Gras Madrigal Dinner.

Band students competed in the Region 7AA Instrumen-tal Solo-Ensemble Contest on

March 20 at Andover High School. For a list of results please visit the web site at www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us. During spring break, band students traveled to St. Louis. While there, the students and their director participated in an exchange concert with another high school, a public performance, and a clinic at one of the local colleges. They also got the chance to experi-ence the culture and see some sites.

Choir and band students would love to see you at their upcoming concerts. Monday, May 17 at 8:00 p.m. is the high school band concert. The choir concert is Monday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. The district all-band concert, featuring grades 6-12 band students is Sunday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. The final musical event of the season on Wednesday, June 2, 6:30-8:00 p.m. is the annual Ice Cream Social Scholarship Fundraiser where students perform in a talent show for-mat. All events take place in the Performing Arts Center at St. Francis High School. |

Choir and band have been very busy

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STuDenT upDATeS

Hannah Aase, Oak Grove, was named to the dean’s list for the winter 2009 semester at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. Aase is a first-year student at St. Kate’s. Aase is the daughter of Connie and Randy Aase of Oak Grove, and a 2009 graduate of St. Francis High School. St. Cath-erine University dean’s list recognizes students achiev-ing a semester grade point average of 3.667 or higher.

Jake Bruggenthies of Isanti is among those Anoka-Ramsey Community College students who have been named to the dean’s list for fall semester 2009 by earning at least a 3.5 (B+) grade point average while carrying 12 or more credits.� |


Program Fees One ChildOne Day ........................................................$27.00Two Days ......................................................$54.00Three Days ................................................... $81.00Four Days ................................................... $108.00Five Days ................................................... $108.00Field Trips ............................................... $10.00/tripRegistration Fee ...................................$25.00/child $45.00/family

Rates include one Kids Connection T-shirt

Registration Fee (must be paid to be registered)

Campers provide their own lunch daily

Summer 2010Kids

Connection Kids Connection is a school age childcare program for children who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Locations: Lifelong Learning Center (air conditioned) For EBCS & CCCS students only St. Francis Middle School For SFE students only

Dates: Monday-Friday, June 14-August 27 (Closed July 2 & 5)

Hours: 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Registrationbegins on Tuesday, April 6 until the summer program is full.

Weekly Themes • Gym Time Nature Activities • Field Trips • Arts & Crafts

Register at Kids Connection sites, call 763-213-1641 or visit us at

www.communityed15.com

Kids Connection is a division of ISD 15 Community Education & Services

ST. frAnCiS high SChool

Students compete at Skills-USASubmittEd by ChriS nEiSESSfhS SkillS-uSA ADViSor

Eleven St. Francis High School students were selected to compete in the University of Wisconsin-Stout Regional Skills-USA competition in Menomonie, Wisconsin, February 25-26. Seven students competed in opening and closing ceremonies contest and placed second. Senior Madeline Johnson was awarded second place in the digital photography competition. Senior Ryan Gangl was awarded third place in the automotive technology competition. Students competed with participants from Wisconsin.

Competitions are based on industry driven occupational skill standards. Business partners plan these contests and industry experts judge student skills. Skills-USA (formerly Vocational-Industrial-Clubs of America) is a national organization for students who are interested in trade, industrial, technical, and health occupations. Skills-USA has more than 285,000 high school and college students and professional members who are enrolled in technical, skilled, service, and health occupa-tions. Members are organized into 13,000 chapters and 54 state and territorial associations (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands). |

St. Francis high School students compete in the regional Skills-uSa competition in wisconsin. ryan Gangl (back row, second from left), madeline Johnson (back row, fifth from left) and austin Kadlec (front row, left) placed in the competition. SubmiTTeD phoTo

by tim mClEanSfhS SoCiAl STuDieS TeACher

On March 5, students and staff at St. Francis High School held two fundraisers for Haitian relief. The first effort was a sleep-out in the school parking lot. Students in Mr. McLean’s college American history classes, in conjunc-tion with the student council, secured pledg-es of support, and then shivered their way through a long cold night under the stars. The students reported no ill effects from either the cold or sleeplessness. However, more than one of the participants reported that suffering through McLean’s rendition of Puff the Magic Dragon was really cruel and unusual punish-ment. Katrina Filek, a survivor of the evening, described the night as “really a lot of fun; it was almost a Breakfast Club-like experience,” referencing the 80’s hit movie. Pat Trumann, well-known laser tag impresario, also saw the experience as worthwhile. Special thanks are offered to the Arnold family, Mr. Gehring, and Mr. Hackbarth for volunteering to chaperone the event. Also, to Mr. Lorenzen, who donated a wagon load of hay and provided the stu-dents with a warm, dry place to set up sleep-ing bags.

The second fundraiser was held in the freezer and gym of St. Francis High School. Before the start of the last home boys basketball game, ten faculty members and a student represen-tative agreed to sit in the high school freezer until the crowd contributed $1,000 for the earthquake victims of Haiti. For each $100 contributed, one of the frozen faculty mem-bers was allowed to leave the freezer.

While the temperature hovered around zero degrees, the faculty involved generally en-joyed the sense that they were doing something worthwhile. Mr. Thul, one of the participants, likened the experience to a group of penguins huddled on an ice flow. Thul also noted that it was “nice being part of something that was larger than yourself.” Ms. Sworski viewed her freezer time as a good way “to become a really cool teacher.”

Thanks to the generosity of fans, money was quickly raised. Between the two efforts $2,504 was donated to the Haiti fund of Feed My Starving Children. That organization will now convert the generosity of this school commu-nity into 14,500 sorely needed meals. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to this fantastic cause. |

Freezing for haitian earthquake relief

High school offers automotive program

by StEVE FEtziKSfhS meDiA DireCTor

The library at St. Francis High School just got $5,000 better, thanks

to a Toolbox for Education grant from Lowe’s, the home improvement store.

“This is a wonderful oppor-tunity to improve our collec-tion of books and to improve our facilities,” stated Steven Fetzik, the Media Center Di-rector at SFHS.

In its notification letter, Kelly Persons, community rela-tions manager for Lowe’s, noted that the purpose for the grant is to “improve com-munities we serve, and we are committed to having a positive impact on the lives of our customers, neighbors, and employees.”

The grant will help the high school in several ways. Pri-marily, it will be used to pur-chase new books and update materials for students. “The

average age of a book in our library is 1976,” commented Fetzik. “It’s hard to provide relevant information when it comes from books that are older than some student’s parents.”

A second use for the grant will be to improve the ap-pearance of the library. “We are looking at adding new

furniture and maybe doing a little painting,” he added.

“We are really thankful to have Lowe’s as a community partner,” Fetzik reflected. “The improvements that we are going to make with this grant will have a positive im-pact on the students and the school.” |

by KylE lintonSfhS inDuSTriAl TeChnology TeACher

Five years ago, St. Francis High School rein-troduced its automotive program after being absent from the school’s registration packet for many years. The program currently offers four courses: Power Mechanics, Automotive Maintenance, Automotive Technology, and Automotive Technology II. The auto shop in-cludes a large variety of equipment available for the students to use, including tire chang-ing and balancing equipment, three car hoists, multiple instructional trainers, many hand tools, and a large array of specialized tools/equipment.

The automotive maintenance course is possi-bly the most valuable for the students in the program. It gives students knowledge of how automobiles operate and specifically how and when to perform maintenance on the automo-bile. The automotive technology courses focus on diagnosing and repairing vehicles; students are provided more in-depth knowledge about automotive system operation, and power me-

chanics is designed for students to learn small engine theory, construction, troubleshooting, and repair. All courses within the automotive program are designed for two purposes—for students to have a hands-on learning experi-ence that teaches about maintaining and re-pairing their own vehicles or small engines, and for students to delve into different career opportunities in the automotive field. All stu-dents in the high school are welcome to enroll in any of these courses; absolutely no prior mechanical knowledge is necessary! |

SubmiTTeD phoTo

lowe’s grants $5,000 to SFhS library

Steven Fetzik, SFhS media Center director, holds a check for $5000 that the high school library received as part of the lowe’s toolbox for Education grant program. Fetzik is flanked by ryan hansen and lance wetzel, managers at the Coon rapids store. SubmiTTeD phoTo

School board meetings are held at the Community Room in the Central Services Center located at 4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW, St. Francis.

Monday,�April�12

Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Monday,�April�26


Monday,�May�10


Amy Kelly, Chair 763-753-4282

Harry Grams, Vice Chair 763-856-4350

Joe Haag, Clerk 763-753-6298

David Anderson, Director 763-434-9457

Sandy Grams, Director 763-434-7564

Marsha Van Denburgh, Director, 763-753-6653

Mark Vogel, Treasurer 763-213-1237

Email schoolboard@

stfrancis.k12.mn.us

SChool boArD meeTing SCheDule

SChool boArD memberS

School Board Highlights11www.The-Courier.org The Courier | April 2010

SChool boArD highlighTS marCh 8, 2010

by KathlEEn millErSTAff wriTer

All school board members were present at this meeting.

Consideration�of�visitors�speak�out�on�one�issue

Several St. Francis High School choir students, par-ents and choir assistants ad-dressed the school board about the non-renewal of Tonya Barnes’ contract. Barnes has been the choir director at St. Francis High School for three years. In re-sponse to the number of in-dividuals that addressed the board, SFHS Principal Paul Neubauer suggested the item be pulled from the agenda.

Foundation�15

The foundation provides scholarships for graduating seniors from St. Francis High School. This year’s Founda-tion 15 will have a Roaring twenties theme. A donation of $100 per couple includes dinner and more. A silent auction will also be held. The event will be held at the Refuge Golf Course in Oak Grove on April 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Board�members,�administrator�participate��in�fundraisers

St. Francis High School raised funds for the Haiti re-lief effort. High school staff, board members, and a stu-dent agreed to stay in the freezer until enough money was raised to release them. The event was held in con-junction with the final home boys basketball game. Over $2,300 was raised. Human Resources Director Jay Rek-er represented ISD 15 at the

JoE haaGSChool board pErSpECtiVE

You know spring is here when the birds are becoming more active, geese and ducks are flying, and March madness is wind-ing down. The snow has gone and the start of summer is close.

I really like this time of year for the spring tournaments. I have been a basketball nut for a number of years, and this time of year is really great. It’s not uncommon around my house to be watching two or more games at one time, switching between the girls high school tourney, the boys high school tourney, and the NCAA men’s tourney. Life can’t get any better.

I would like to congratulate the St. Francis High School girls varsity basketball team on their recent trip to the state tourney. They played very well in a tournament that brings the best of the state together in one place. We did not match up well against the Chaska team, but our team did not give up and showed that they can be a “class” team even when they did not win. There was no complaining or disgruntled actions by our team.

I was also impressed with our student section at the tourney. They represented our community and our school very well. There are times that the student body section can get a little rowdy and chants can be a little cruel. This may have hap-pened, but I did not hear any from our section. It is my feeling that our students as a whole are a very good group. The major-ity are not out to bring a negative light to the school district they represent.

This brings up some things that have happened in the past few months, one being the graffiti that occurred at the high school. This was done by a very small number of individuals. The ma-jority of the students did not approve and were upset that the actions of a few caused distress for many.

There were also a number of students present at the last school board meeting to voice their concerns over the non-renewal of a teacher’s contract. They presented themselves in a positive light and spoke very well. There were no outbursts or other drama. They wanted their voice and their opinions to be heard. The outcome may or may not be what they want or desire, but their opinions have been heard.

As a board member, I receive letters, phone calls, and emails that are read or listened to or discussed with the person call-ing. These individuals have also expressed their opinions and concerns.

It is my belief that as a board member, my duty is to look at the big picture and not to micro-manage the buildings or the operation of the district. What the person feels is in their best interest, may not be in the best interest for the group as a whole. There are times when we do need to get involved, and when this need arises, I try to speak to that individual to make my opinion noted. There are times that I may or may not get the desired outcome, but my voice has been heard and my opinion has been expressed. |

Arctic Plunge held in Isanti. Wearing a tuxedo, Reker jumped in the lake for higher education. Funds from the event will support local fire departments, food shelves and others. The Diversity Outreach Team is sponsoring a clothing drive to be held March 18 in the County Mar-ket Parking lot in St. Francis. The donations will be given to the North Anoka Commu-nity Action Program. |

SChool boArD highlighTS marCh 22, 2010

by aliCia loEhlEinSTAff wriTer

All school board members were present at this meeting.

Crossroads�School�&�Vocational�Center�Site�Report

Principal Keri Collins pre-sented an overview of Cross-roads programs and services. Currently the site serves ap-proximately 75 students. Many students are from Bar-None Residential Treat-ment Center, in addition to ISD 15 students unable to be successful at their regular school. Crossroads School also provides education for students from surrounding districts, such as Forest Lake and Monticello, who can-not have their needs met in their own district. In June, Bar-None will be adding a girls facility. Staff at Cross-roads uses technology such as interactive whiteboards to keep students interested, and in the past year has focused on reading and diversity. The Harbor Program is short-term placement for ISD 15 students who are unable to be successful due to a variety of reasons such as academic,

truancy, and behavioral is-sues; however, the ultimate goal is to transition these stu-dents back to the high school.

Consideration�of�Visitors�and�High�School�Teacher�Contract�Discussion

A high school choir student was on hand prior to the eve-ning’s choir concert to pres-ent a petition signed by stu-dents to keep teacher Tonya Barnes. The board discussed at length whether or not to include the non-renewal of Ms. Barnes’ contract in the consent agenda under rou-tine personnel items. The ar-gument was made that public perception was very skeptical of action being taken on the same night as a choir concert, disallowing students and parents to voice their opin-ion. Other arguments were made that the school board is a policy-making board, not an administrative board. The board voted 4-3 to table this particular case until the April 12 board meeting.

Superintendent’s�Report

Staff is working to obtain and renew grants. Superin-tendent Ed Saxton met with Apple representatives about the new iPad which he hopes to see the district use as an educational tool. June 8 will be the last day of school for students in grades 6-12, Tran-sition 15 and Crossroads due to the January 25 cancelation of classes. Saxton and high school Principal Paul Neu-bauer have been discussing webcasting the school board meetings online, as students now do for city council meet-ings. Neubauer will look into Saxton’s concerns of video tampering and finding a reli-able student, especially over the summer. |

ST. frAnCiS miDDle SChool

middle school students and staff raise money for haiti by JEnniFEr norStrEmSfmS SChool SoCiAl worker

On March 5, St. Francis Mid-dle School Student Coun-cil and the Y Start group sponsored a Hats for Haiti Day. Students and staff who wished to wear a hat dur-ing the school day donated a minimum of $2 each for the opportunity. Many stu-dents and staff participated and over $640 was raised to donate to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. It was a fun and easy way to raise money for those in need. |

mrs. loerzel’s sixth grade students had the opportunity to ex-plore the concept of static electricity. in order to demonstrate this, the Van de Graaff generator is used. Students get a “hair rais-ing” experience from it, as you can tell. payton hearn is trying out a new hairstyle.

SubmiTTeD by JeAn A. loerzel, SfmS 6Th grADe SCienCe TeACher

12 the�courier�|�April�2010� www.the-courier.orgCommunity Education

Bright BeginningsBright Beginnings in ISD 15 Early ChildhoodCall ECFE at 763-753-7170 for more information or to register for any of the opportunities on this page.Lifelong Learning Center • 18900 Cedar Drive NW, Oak Grove • www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us

Fun ECFE Happenings!Marvelous MondaysA time you and your young children can come and play with us!

Dates: April 12 Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.Fee: $4 per child; maximum $12

or three punches per family (limit 4 children/adult)

Make Way for Learning:The Book That I WroteBecome an author of your own wonderful story! Draw, write, dic-tate, and create your own story that you can assemble and bring home

at the end. This class is for children three to five years of age and is for children only. This class is designed to reinforce early skills that are the building blocks for budding readers, math whizzes and scientists.

Dates: Wednesdays, April 21 & 28 Time: 12:45-2:45 p.m.Fee: $8 per child or two punches

Fit 4 U with Twirly SueCome on an adventure through ex-ercise with Fit 4 U with Twirly Sue and the Crew. They will get you mov-ing and grooving with wiggles and giggles. Be fit and have fun through movement and play. Most appropri-ate for toddlers and preschoolers

with their parents.

Date: Friday, April 23Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.Fee: $5 per childDeadline: April 19

Celebrating BabyEnjoy songs and games together and meet others who are experiencing the joys and challenges of raising a baby. Don’t forget to pick up your fee gift! Your baby must be nine months of age or younger when you attend the event.

Dates: Wednesdays, April 7 & 14 Time: 1:00-2:30 p.m.Fee: FREE

Early Childhood Advisory Council Vehicle DayYoung children and parents can ex-plore vehicles of many types, shapes and sizes. Bring a toy vehicle to com-pare to the real things. Remember to dress for the weather as this event will be outdoors.

Date: Saturday, May 1Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.Fee: FREE, but please

pre-register

We’re Making a Family ConnectionECFE is:• A place for babies

• A place for toddlers

• A place for preschoolers

• A place for all dads, moms

and other relatives in a

parenting role.

See all classes at www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us • Call 763-763-7170 for fees and registration information. All classes are at the Lifelong Learning Center unless otherwise noted.

Plan your year with ECFE!Register now for parents/child classes! New classes beginning now!

Find class offerings in the Learn & Thrive brochure or visit us online at www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us to register for any classes, special events or field trips.

Thinking about preschool for your child in the 2010-11 school year?Preschool Place 15

registration is now taking placeThe mission of Preschool Place 15 is to provide a safe environment where your children of all abilities can grow and experience success and their parents can be partners in learning.

Programming is September through May• Morning and afternoon sessions available• One, two or three times per week• Several age specific class options• Sliding fee scale is available based on family size and income• Busing available for some classes

Ready to GoThree special evenings for soon-to-be kindergartners and their parents. Spend time with your child focusing on math and pre-reading skills as they enter kindergarten. There will be parent discussion time each evening to learn more about the transition. Kindergarten teachers, early childhood staff and other district staff will participate in discussion time. Each week will have a different presenter. We’ll even have a school bus ride! Help your child be “ready to go!”

Course: EC4504Location: LLCTime: 6:00-8:00 p.m.Dates: Tuesdays, April 27-

May 11Fee: $7.50 for all three

evenings per childRegister: Through ECFE;

at the Early Childhood office or at Kindergarten Registration*

Deadline: April 20

Moving On To Kindergarten

A great way to help your soon-to-be kindergartner learn the ins and outs of their new school. Meet school staff, tour the school, and listen to a story. Limited space – registration required

Location: East Bethel Community School

Course: EC9407Date/Time: Tuesday, May 4

10:45-11:30 a.m.Course: EC9408Date/Time: Monday, May 10

1:45-2:30 p.m.

Location: Cedar Creek Community School

Course: EC9409Date/Time: Friday, April 30

10:45-11:30 a.m.Course: EC9410Date/Time: Tuesday, May 11

1:45-2:30 p.m.

Location: St. Francis Elementary School

Course: EC9412Date/Time: Friday, May 7

10:45-11:30 a.m.Course: EC9413Date/Time: Wednesday,

April 281:45-2:30 p.m.

Fee: FREE, but you need to register through ECFE; at the Early Childhood office or at Kindergarten Registration*

* This event is for soon-to-be kindergartners and their parents. Please find alternative care for other children.

Register online atwww.stfrancis.k12.mn.us

Do you have a child who is off to kindergarten in the fall?

Activities and events sponsored by ISD 15 Early Childhood Family Educationin cooperation with kindergarten staff. Questions? Call 763-753-7170

These preschoolers welcomed spring to ISD 15 at the Early Childhood Advisory Council’s Spring Fling on March 19. Children and parents enjoyed ice-cream and toppings. They then listed to Mr. Jim perform a variety of songs with help from the children. A special thanks to St. Francis foods for their generous donation of ice-cream.

Submitted by Nancy L. Wallace, ECFE Program Supervisor

Visit the Family Resource Fair at

the St. Francis Expo Saturday, April 17

10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.St. Francis High School

Multi-Purpose Room

13www.the-courier.org� the�courier�|�April�2010 Community Education

community�educAtion�contAct�info

director:�tom�larson�................................................................763-753-7041

Adult�Basic�education�(ged)�.................................................763-753-7190Sandy�farder,�coordinator/instructor

Adult�education�&�Services�...................................................763-213-1640�drivers�education/Behind�the�wheel�nancy�messerschmidt,�manager

communications�&�district�web�Site�Kathleen�miller�........................................................................763-753-7042

The Courier�newspaper�...........................................................763-753-7031Kathleen�miller,�editor�..........................................................763-753-7042pat�Johnson,�graphics�..........................................................763-753-7025Alicia�loehlein,�Staff�writer,�Billing�..................................763-753-7033Janice�Audette,�Advertising�...............................................763-753-7032

facility�Scheduling�nancy�messerschmidt�..........................................................763-213-1589

family�education�&�Services�.................................................763-753-7170nancy�wallace,�program�Supervisor

Kids�connection�theresa�Antinozzi,�manager�..............................................763-213-1616Kids�connection�lifelong�learning�center�Site..........763-753-7160Kids�connection�St.�francis�elementary�Site�...............763-213-8674

preschool�place�15�....................................................................763-753-7170nancy�wallace,�program�Supervisor

rec�department�diane�guinn,�manager�.........................................................763-213-1823heidi�Antinozzi,�rec�Assistant�...........................................763-213-1508

Sandhill�center�for�the�Arts�theresa�Antinozzi,�manager�..............................................763-213-1616

www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us� www.the-courier.org

23820�dewey�Street��Bethel,�mn�55005

The Sandhill Center Lunch Bunch has a new line-up for spring.

Take a peek at what is coming up next.

Most shows sell out quickly. Reservations must be made prior to the event. Reserve your seat early by calling 763-213-1641 and use your Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Reservations can also be made on the web site at www.communityed15.com.

Or mail your registration to: Lunch Bunchc/o Sandhill Center for the Arts4115 Ambassador Blvd.St. Francis, MN 55070

Groups are welcome!For more information about Sandhill

Center for the Arts, call 763-213-1616.

Sandhill Center for the Arts is a division of ISD 15 Community Education & Services

Sandhill gift ShopArtwork is displayed on a rotating basis, so you never know what you may find.

Open Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Lunch BunchJoin Lunch Bunch at Sandhill Center in the Bethel Cabaret for the monthly catered luncheon

with entertainment from popular artists.

Showtime: 11:00 a.m.Cost: $12

Red Johnson april 13 SOLD OUT

Angie Senger tuesday, May 11

Singer/songwriter Angie Senger has been wowing audiences since she began singing professionally at age 15. This local gal from Ham Lake appears frequently at the Midwest Country Music Theater in Sandstone. You will be in for a real treat with the wide variety of music she plays in the traditional country style.

Don’t be bored during the summer—find an activity!By Tom LarsonStAff�writer

Let’s face it—summer is all about finding adventure and something to do for kids. How many times have you heard, “I’m bored!” ISD 15 Community Education & Ser-

vices is here to help.

This summer, there is an array of activities to explore. You’ll find them by looking in the Summer Activities and Camps pull-out section of this edition of The Courier. Some of the oppor-tunities offered are theater and acting though CLIMB Theater, art classes, sports camps and clinics, and Mad Science classes. If it’s summer childcare you desire…check out Camp Kids Connection held at the Lifelong Learning Center or St. Francis Middle School where every day there is activity and a field trip once a week. Early Childhood Family Education is also offering classes for preschoolers and birth to kindergartners.

Can you hear the dialogue in your home? “There’s nothing to do,” and “I’m bored.” Now is the time to look at what is be-ing offered this summer; some classes fill fast. There are new adventures to be had, new friends to be made and activities to learn and grow from.

Get your children “unbored!” Join the fun…check out the mid-dle Activities and Camps pullout section. |

By sanDy FarDerAdult�BASic�educAtion�coordinAtor/inStructor

Teaching in the ISD 15 Adult Basic Education program brings me in contact with many people who have been negatively impacted by these difficult economic times. While many of us might focus our attention on the things we’ve lost, lack, need or just want, I don’t see that attitude in our students. The reason, I believe, is that they are taking steps to improve their situations.

Our program is so fortunate to have wonderful individu-als who volunteer their time to help these forward-look-ing students meet their goals. We recently acquired a new volunteer who is making a real difference in the lives of our students. Nancy Crow-ley brings a special down-to-earth demeanor with her ev-ery Tuesday night that makes her a natural tutor.

Her ease with students is no accident; she taught every-thing from preschool to tran-sitioning high school students for twenty-two years in the Minneapolis School District. Her area of expertise was in

dealing with emotional and/or behavioral disorders, so she is not easily ruffled.

After retiring, Nancy found herself less productive than she liked, so she sought some ways to bring more fulfillment to her life. Fortu-nately for us, she found our ABE program at the Lifelong Learning Center. Based on her comments, I do believe she has found the fulfillment she was seeking. She insists that our ESL students teach her as much as she teaches them, which is something I often hear from our volun-teers. I, myself, have long felt that way about all our stu-dents.

Nancy especially enjoys the variety of individuals she encounters here, but is also

amazed by how much they all have in common. She rec-ognizes that they all share goals for acquiring more edu-cation along with determina-tion and willingness to work hard in order to reach those goals. Nancy has also been inspired by our students’ ability to overcome the hard-ships that nearly all of them seem to have endured.

We are very grateful for Nan-cy’s desire to share her time and talents with our program and she still has time to de-vote to her three children, six grandchildren, traveling, reading and participating in water aerobics at the YMCA. Retirement obviously isn’t slowing her down, but I get the feeling she is thrilled about that. |

The gift of time

Pictured (L-r) are Her Xiong, nancy Crowley, and neng Lor.� SuBmitted�photo

Cedar Creek Community school teach-ers Chris Tauer and Carol Krupke worked with over 45 students in their after school class of drama/choir dur-ing the winter session. The drama pro-duction, Around the World, included acting scenes, narration, and songs from around the globe as well as world geography and languages. The pro-duction was attended by parents and friends in march. The after school activ-ity is part of IsD 15 Community educa-tion & services

SuBmitted�By�tom�lArSon

Early Childhood Advisory Council

16th Annual Children’s Used

Clothing & Toy SaleSaturday, April 10

9:00 a.m.-noon at St. Francis Elementary

Come and shop for a variety of children’s gear,

toys and clothing!

Check out what is being offered this summer

through Early Childhood Family Education in

the Activities and Camps pullout in the center

of this Courier.

Community & Business14 the�courier�|�April�2010� www.the-courier.org

Are you ready to…Lose Weight?

Stop Smoking or Chewing?ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL THROUGH HYPNOSIS!

Tuesday, April 20 St. Francis High School

6:15-9:00 p.m.With Dr. Mary Fischer, Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy

For more information or to register, contact ISD 15 Adult Community Ed at 763-213-1640.

$48/person, $96 both sessions With a lifetime guarantee card and free reinforcement CD.Private therapy is available at higher cost, call 1-877-255-9680.

New Way Hypnosis Clinic, Inc.320-255-9680 (Offi ce) www.hypnosisclinic.net

Trinity Lutheran School’s 7th Annual

SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISING

EVENT

Backto the 70s

Friday, April 23Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Food can be purchased along with baked and canned goods.

There will be an area set up for children’s activities and entertainment will be provided by our school students.

Open to the Public!Trinity Lutheran School

3812 229th Avenue NW in St. Francis

763-753-1234

Cambridge, MN • July 21-25, 2010

Showcase your business!Call for vendor information at 763-444-9418.

Visit our web site at

isanticountyfair.comfor info

passport fees to increaseSubmitted by martha Weaverpublic�inFormAtion�mAnAger

If you anticipate needing a passport for upcoming trav-el, apply now. The U.S. State Department is proposing in-creases in the cost of passport books and cards, effective as early as next month.

Passport fees will increase by as much as 35 percent under the new proposal. New ap-plications for a passport book for adults will go from $100 to $135; renewing a passport book will rise from $75 to $110; and obtaining a pass-port book for a minor child under age 16 will jump

from $85 to $105. Fees for passport cards, a t r a v e l d o c u -m e n t u s e d to en-t e r

the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry, will increase as well. Fees for expedited service will remain at $60.

You can apply for a passport at any Anoka County License Center. Passport applications are accepted until 30 minutes before the end of business hours.

Anoka County License Center Locations/Hours

Anoka License Center6111 Highway 10, #500Ramsey, MN 55303Tel: 763-576-5777Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sat and Sun

Blaine License Center 10995 Club West Parkway, Suite 700Blaine MN 55449Tel: 763-767-3888Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sat and Sun

Columbia Heights License Center 3982 Central Ave NEColumbia Heights MN 55421Tel: 763-789-7202Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue.: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sat and Sun

Coon Rapids License Center 455 99th Ave NW, Suite 100Coon Rapids MN 55433Tel: 763-785-5999Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue.: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sat and Sun

Ham Lake License Center 17565 Central Ave NE, #330Ham Lake MN 55304Tel: 763-413-9717Hours: Mon-Wed-Thu-Fri: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tue: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sat and Sun

Go to www.anokacounty.us/passports for more informa-tion. |

Anoka County Library takes the stageSubmitted by mary OLiverAnoKA�county�librAry

Want to add a little drama to your life? Anoka County Library is working in partnership with Lyric Arts The-

ater of Anoka to present free theater programs in March and April for kids, teens and adults.

Fractured Fairy Tale and Poetry workshops for children ages 8-12 will have students learning theater games, acting skills, and character de-velopment. There will be a short presentation at the end of each session. The workshops will be held at different Anoka County libraries during March and April. Students attending the Fractured Fairy Tale workshop will receive a free ticket to the Lyric Arts production, Nick Tickle, Fairy Tale Detective.

According to Anoka County Commissioner Jim Kordiak, who is the board’s library liai-son, “The arts help children grow and thrive and develop resources they never knew they had. The process and practice of bringing words to life on the stage imparts discipline and can awaken the individual gifts children have and build confi dence to dream and pur-sue careers that would have otherwise seemed out of reach.”

Teens and adults will enjoy William Shake-speare’s play, As You Like It at the Page and Stage series offered at the Lyric Arts Theater. The Page and Stage series has three parts: a group discussion before the play, attending the As You Like It: Director’s Notes with Ste-phen O’Toole who will share insight into the production process, and attending a perfor-

mance of As You Like It. The adult series will be on Sunday, April 25. The teen series will be on Saturday, April 17 for teens ages 13-17.

These programs are funded in part or in whole with money from the vote of the people of Min-nesota on November 4, 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s arts and cul-tural heritage. Space is limited for these free programs and registration is required. For more information about these programs and the Ano-ka County Library please go to www.anoka.lib.mn.us. For more information about Lyric Arts Theater, please go to www.lyricarts.org. |

isanti county Fair Submitted by ruth paSchKeiSAnti�county�FAir�boArd

The Isanti County Fair is currently accepting applications for Commercial Exhibitor Space at the 2010 fair. Commercial spaces are avail-able both, inside and outside, including space in the Kennel Club Shelter. All spaces inside are 8' x 10' and come with electrical outlets, curtains, and backdrops for $150. These two buildings are secured at night and are open 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. daily.

The addition of entertainment to the Kennel Shelter Building make this roofed building with open sides a busy and well-traveled area. Exhibitor space in the shelter is available with electrical outlets, lighting, and asphalt fl oor and start at $10 per running foot with sizes and prices negotiable.

Outside spaces for commercial exhibitors start at $100-$150 and are avail-able throughout the grounds. Electrical outlets are available for most outside spaces and the majority are equipped with water hook-ups and 50 amp service.

Exhibitor spaces are limited and after April 15, all unre-served spaces will be available to new inquiries. Vendors are reminded to get their reserva-tion in as soon as possible.

Information and applications are available at the fair of-fi ce, located at 3101 Hwy 95 NE in Cambridge or online at www.isanticountyfair.com. If you would like an applica-tion mailed to you, contact Ruth Paschke [email protected]. or 763-444-9418. |

health snacks for every daySubmitted by LiLLiaN LeviNe rN, LSN, ae-ciSd�15�heAlth�SerViceS

I am hungry. What is there to eat? Try one of the following healthy(ier) snacks. Remem-ber to read labels and watch serving sizes.

Fresh fruit with yogurt dipping sauceQuesadilla with salsaCereal

Angel food cake with fruit toppingsNuts, seedsGraham or animal crackersLow fat pretzels (served with sweet mustard dip) or popcorn100% fruit snacksFruit and cheese kabobsFruit with whipped topping100% juiceLow fat milk-plain, chocolate, strawberry, vanillaDried fruits-raisinsVegetables(zucchini, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, pea pods, etc.)Ants on a logTrail mix Quaker Chewy Granola BarsVanilla wafersWaterPopsicles made with 1005 fruit juiceFruit bread, skip the butter or margarineHard boiled eggsWhole grain crackersGingersnaps with pumpkin dipFig bars

Flavored rice cakes |

15www.the-courier.org� the�courier�|�April�2010 Community

Spring is here!Enjoy the change of season and be sure to call if any new insurance needs pop up.

Mary L Dresch Agency3747 Bridge StreetSt. Francis, MN 55070 [email protected]

American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its SubsidiariesHome Office – Madison, WI 53783amfam.com© 2005 001603 – 1/05

City of St. Francis Pioneer Days • June 11-13

Crafters WantedThe St. Francis Pioneer Days Committee is looking

for crafters to participate in this year’s celebration. if�you�would�like�an�application,�please�contact��St.�Francis�city�hall�at�763-753-2630�or�visit�the��

city’s�web�site�at�www.stfrancismn.org.

Visit us at the St. Francis Expo on

April 17 at SFHS.

attention all area Businesses

Let’s get ready to kick-off the annual Pioneer Days celebration! This is your chance to be a part of the coupon book received

when a Pioneer Days Button is purchased.

If you would like to advertise your business, include acoupon in this year’s book or have questions, contact City Hall at 763-753-2630

or email [email protected]

Please respond by April 16.

A copy of last year’s coupon is available upon request.

New this summer: tennis for ages 16+Submitted by NaNcy meSSerSchmidtAdult�enrichment�&�rec�iSd�15�community�ed

St. Francis High School has a beautiful tennis facility, and this sum-

mer, anyone ages 16 and old-er will have the opportunity to brush up on their game. Independent School District 15 Community Education is offering beginner and inter-mediate tennis classes along with a league. Online regis-tration is available by visiting www.communityed15.com or by calling 763-213-1640.

Beginning Tennis

This beginner class is for those who want to learn the proper technique for ba-sic tennis strokes including forehands, backhands, vol-leys, and serve. The class is designed for those who have very limited or no playing experience. Students will also learn how to keep score in a tennis match. A relaxed atmosphere and fun tennis games will make learning tennis fun! Ages 16 and older may register.

Course: AE110142 6 SessionsDays: Tuesday/ThursdayTime: 6:00-7:00 p.m.Location: St. Francis High School Tennis CourtsDates: June 15-July 1Instructor: Scott SchmidtFee: $40

Intermediate Tennis

This intermediate class is for those who have played ten-nis before (competitively or recreationally) who want to further develop their skills. These players generally want to be more competitive in their matches whether formally or recreationally. Emphasis will be placed on fine-tuning tech-nique and strategy. A relaxed atmosphere and fun tennis games will keep it fresh and fun! Ages 16 and older may register.

Course: AE110143 6 SessionsDays: Tuesday/ThursdayTime: 7:00-8:00 p.m.Location: St. Francis High School Tennis CourtsDates: June 15-July 1Instructor: Scott SchmidtFee: $40

Adult Summer Tennis League

Want to compete against other players but don’t know many others who are will-ing and able? This beginner

or intermediate league will give you that opportunity. You will play one match per week, scheduled by you and your opponent at a time con-venient for you. Champions will be awarded a prize at the end of the match schedule. Tennis balls will be provided! See descriptions below to determine your appropriate level. Ages 16 and older may register.

Beginner: These players have trouble consistently keep-ing the ball in the court and have limited serving abilities. They typically don’t demon-strate strategy in their play, focusing more on keeping the ball in play.

Intermediate: These players can consistently maintain a 5-7 ball groundstroke rally. They strive for power and placement but struggle with consistency. Serving is typi-cally not a strong point in the intermediate player’s game. Strategy is evident in their play.

Course: AE110144 8 SessionsDays: VariedTime: VariedLocation: St. Francis High School Tennis CourtsDates: June 26-August 22Scheduler: Scott SchmidtFee: $40 |

Red-headed woodpecker day at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserveby mary a. SpiveyeducAtion�coordinAtor,�cceSr

Come spend an afternoon ob-serving the Cedar Creek red-headed woodpeckers on Sat-urday, May 8, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. Members of the Redhead Recovery Orga-nization will guide you on a walk into Cedar Creek’s inte-rior to view the birds as they feed and prepare for nesting.

Come and hear the different calls used by these birds, un-derstand the special habitat the birds require, see the bril-liant red head and the flash of black-and-white as they fly, learn to identify them by sight and sound, and enjoy an hour or two outdoors.

The event is suitable for fami-lies, special interest groups, and the general public. We ask that if your group is larg-er than five people to please call in advance and let us know. Binoculars and camer-as are encouraged. Expect an easy walk on sand paths to the sites. A van is provided to transport up to six people re-quiring assistance walking to the bird locations. Please call ahead to request this service.

Meet at the Lindeman Re-search and Discovery Center at 1:00 p.m. on May 8. From there we will carpool to the sites. For information, call Mary Spivey or LuAnn Ma-rotte at 763-434-5131. Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Re-serve is located at 2660 Fawn Lake Drive in East Bethel. Web site: www.cedarcreek.umn.edu

We hope to see you on May 8! | photo�credit:�Jim�williAmS

international migratory bird day and Friends plant Sale at refuge Submitted by NaNcy haugeNSherburne�nAtionAl�wildliFe�reFuge

International Migratory Bird Day, a celebration of the return of millions of migratory birds to their breeding areas, will be observed at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, May 8 with guided bird programs free to the public and a plant sale held by the Friends of Sherburne.

The first program, “Songbird Search,” begins at 7:00 a.m. The group will meet at the Old School House then car pool to the Wildlife Drive and nearby trails to look for migrating song-birds. Warblers heading north to breeding grounds are likely to be seen. Intermediate and experienced birders will find enjoy-ment and challenge with this program. Participants are encour-aged to bring a pair of binoculars and a field guide to birds.

The second program, “Birds in the Wetlands,” begins at 8:30 a.m. After meeting at the Old School House, participants will travel to the Wildlife Drive to look for birds using the wetlands, grasslands and woodland edges. Bald eagles, great blue herons, sandhill cranes, ducks and geese may be seen as well as the red-winged blackbird, yellow warbler, and other songbirds. Begin-ning birders and families will enjoy this program. Bring binoculars if you have them.

The Friends of Sherburne will hold a plant sale at the school house from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Native wild-flowers as well as domestic perennials donated by Friends members will be available. A Nature Crafts for Kids activity will be offered and hot beverages and cookies will be for sale. Proceeds support projects on the refuge.

Advance registration for the guided bird tours is requested by calling the refuge at 763-389-3323. TTY users may access the Refuge through the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. All programs begin at the Old School House located on Sherburne County Road 9, 5.5 miles west of U. S. Highway 169. | Spring bird tour

Submitted by NaNcy haugeNSherburne�nAtionAl�wildliFe�reFuge

The early spring migrat-ing birds will be the focus of a bird tour scheduled for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, April 17 at 8:00 a.m. Participants will meet at the Old School House and drive from there to near-by woodland trails and wet-land areas to look for birds.

Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and a field guide to birds. Spotting scopes will also be helpful in exploring the wetlands. The program will be led by expe-rienced birders familiar with the refuge. This program is free and open to the public.

For more information call the refuge at 763-389-3323. TTY users may access the refuge through the Federal Informa-tion Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. |

File�photo

Submitted�photo

While tens of millions of peo-ple from Poughkeepsie, New York to Papua New Guinea will take part in events to mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this April 22nd, the story behind the first Earth Day begins with a single in-dividual. In the early 1960s, Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wis-consin, first hatched the idea that began the modern envi-ronmental movement. The nation’s roads were filled with cars sporting massive, leaded-gas-guzzling V8 en-gines, and its factories were spewing smoke and sludge into the air and water with little regard for environmen-tal consequences.

Nelson had been working to

bring national attention to a wide range of environmental issues for several years before launching the first Earth Day in 1970. His early efforts in-cluded persuading President John F. Kennedy to embark on a five-day, 11-state conser-vation tour in 1963. While the president’s trip failed to gen-erate interest on Capitol Hill,

16 the�courier�|�April�2010� www.the-courier.orgCommunity

Isanti Retail Meats~ Open 7 days a week ~Hours:MON-SAT 10:00 am-7:00 pmSUN 10:00 am-4:00 pm

30 West Main Street Downtown Isanti 763-444-5767

Call in orders anytime for a QUICK & EASY pickup!

fresh meat counterUSDA Choice Beef, Premium Pork, and Grade A Poultry

• Freshlyseasoned&marinatedchickenbreasts,wings,porkchopsandroasts

• Hugeselectionoffreshbrats–cheddar,jalapeno,wildrice,chicken-bacon-swiss,sauerkraut,turkey,andmuchmore!Also,ourownbreakfastsausageandlinks.

deli counter• Homemadesalads,desserts

andlunchmeats–plusBoar’s Headmeatandcheeses.

smoked sausage counter• Hickorysmokedhams,bacon,natural

casewieners,brats,polishandcountrysausage,andavarietyofmildtohotbeefsticksandjerky.All sausage made on site with no meat by-products!

MEAT PACKS! Starting at $69.99

Budget,SteakLovers,Pork,

Variety,andBulkPackages

Save 10%-15%!Gift Cards Available!

Fullcateringserviceallyear—wespecializeinoutdooreventsandparties!

Wealsoofferassistedandpick-upcateringthatcan SAVE up to 40% offfullcateringcosts.

Callustoday,sowecanhelpyouplanandbudgetthatspecialday.

Now accepting orders for graduation

parties!

Hwy 47 & Pederson Drive St. Francis, MN

763-753-4577

Hourssun 11:30a.m.-9:00p.m.Mon-Th 11:00a.m.-9:00p.m.Fri 11:00a.m.-11:00p.m.sat 11:30a.m.-10:30p.m.

$300 Off Any X-Large Pizza 2 or more toppings

St. Francis Mansetti’s OnlyNotvalidwithanyotherspecialsorcoupons.

763-753-4577Expires5/4/10.

FREE SODAwith purchase of lunch buffet

Valid on Dine-In St. Francis Mansetti’s OnlyNotvalidwithanyotherspecialsorcoupons.

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$150 Off Any Pasta Dinner Featuring Lasagna, Chicken Alfredo, Rigatoni or SpaghettiValid on Dine-In St. Francis Mansetti’s OnlyNotvalidwithanyotherspecialsorcoupons.

763-753-4577Expires4/6/10.

We Deliver Premium Pizza to You!

+tax

April Pizza SpecialLarge thin crust House Special Pizza $1699Only

Acoustic Karaoke with Michael CampbellSaturday, April 10 • 7:00-10:00 p.m.Check him out at: Singalongwithmichael.com

www.mansettis-pizza.com Online Ordering nOw available!

Friday, April 16 • 4:00-8:00 p.m.At Nowthen City Hall

19800 Nowthen Blvd. NW in Nowthen FREE WILL DONATIONMenu: Spaghetti, Bread,

Salad, Dessert and Beverages Questions? Please call

Josie Bettinger at 763-753-4962.

We will see you at the St. Francis Expo on April 17 at SFHS!

Tired of the same old song and dance from your insurance company?

Choose a partner with better coverage, better rates and all-around better service.

Auto•Business•Home•Boat•Risk•Recreation

Call Gary Zimmerman today for a free policy review and quote!

763-753-3595

ST. FranciS inSurance agencyAcross from St. Francis High School

A 55+ rental housing community offering comfort and convenience at an affordable rate

21202 Old Lake George Blvd., Oak Grove, MN 55303

Less than 5 minutes from St. Francis and 15 minutes to Riverdale in Coon Rapids.

Call 763-753-8385 for more information

Service & Parts20145 St. Francis Blvd.

Nowthen

763-753-2310 MSSCSA

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✃

St. Francis elementary held their school carnival march 20. the theme was the Olympics with a track race, obstacle course and bronze toss and was a great time for all. children also had an op-portunity to dunk iSd 15 School board members dave ander-son (above, left) and harry grams (above, in the tank), St. Francis Firefighter chris robinette, and iSd 15 Nutrition Food Services amy duckworth-Linder. St. Francis elementary teachers created baskets to bid on in the silent auction, which was a big hit along with all the food that was available. With the help of many volun-teers and donations from local businesses, the carnival was a suc-cess. the St. Francis elementary association of parents & teachers thanks everyone for making it a great day for all.

Submitted�by�Ann�peSch,�SFe�Apt

2010 marks 40th anniversary of earth dayNelson continued to press the issue during his own speak-ing tours.

It was during one such tour in 1969 that Nelson formed the idea that would become Earth Day. Inspired by the anti-Vietnam War protests, he began to organize a day of protest to express concern about the state of the envi-ronment. The idea took off, and on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans represent-ing groups and communi-ties from every corner of the country joined in what Nel-son called “a nationwide en-vironmental ‘teach-in.’”

Earth Day 1970 not only ush-ered in a new era of support for the environment, but brought about the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of key legislation, in-cluding the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Spe-cies Acts. In 1995, Nelson was awarded the Presiden-tial Medal of Freedom—the highest honor given to U.S. civilians—in recognition of his role as the founder of Earth Day. |

File�photo

Area Recycling/Spring Home Improvement17www.the-courier.org the courier | April 2010

Disposal FeesAppliances Humidifiers/dehumidifiers, furnaces, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, freezers, garbage disposals, washers, dryers, microwaves, water heaters, trash compactors, heat pumps. .............................$10Air Conditioners/Water Softeners.......................$20Gas Refrigerators (min) ......................................$75Appliances should be free of food and debris and not compacted. No commercial appliances.

BulbsFluorescent bulbs 4' & up ................................... .50¢HIDS bulbs ........................................................$2.20

Tires (off rim)Up to 17" ................................................................$5Truck ......................................................................$7Oversize ...............................................................$25Additional $2 rim charge

NEW THIS YEAR!Document Shredding • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

First 4 boxes/bags are $5 each and 5th is FREE Second 4 boxes/bags are $5 each and 5th is FREE

Limit of 10 boxes/bags per person

Items Also Being Collectedscrap metal • batteries • old cell phones

rechargeable batteries • ink jet cartridges food for the food shelf • laser cartridges

used eyeglasses and hearing aids used bicycles in any condition

EAST BETHEl ICE ARENA20675 Hwy 65 NE

Saturday, April 17 • 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.No garbage at this location

CooN lAkE BEACH182 Forest Road

Saturday, May 1• 8:00 a.m.-NoonOnly accepting scrap metal, batteries,

and garbage at this location

Spring Recycling DayS

Information – 763-367-7840

For more information visit the city web site at www.ci.east-bethel.mn.us

Partially funded by Anoka County Board of Commissioners & State SCORE FundsThese events are sponsored by the City of East Bethel and Cedar/East Bethel Lions & Lioness

ElectronicsCD Player/VCR/DVD ................................$5Copier (small) ..........................................$15Copier (med. 30-50 lbs) ...........................$50Copier (lrg. over 50 lbs) .........................$125Computer/Laptop .......................................$5Fax Machine .............................................$10Monitor (CRT up to 17") ..........................$15Monitor (CRT 18" and up) .......................$25Printer (small)/Typewriter ..........................$5Printer (large/laser) ..................................$25Scanner/Small Radio ..................................$5Stereo Receiver ........................................$15Stereo (console) .......................................$40Treadmill ..................................................$20TV (13" & smaller) ..................................$15TV (14-19") ..............................................$20TV (20-27") ..............................................$25TV (28" plus & console) ..........................$45TV (plasmas/LCD to 20") ........................$10TV (plasmas/LCD 21" +) .........................$20Vacuum ......................................................$5Please remove non-metal items from scrap metals and fluids from small engines

Representatives reserve the right to refuse items. For more information call, 763-367-7840.

No Hazardous Waste No furniture accepted call ACCAP at 763-783-4735.

East Bethel Cub Scout Pack #167 will be collecting worn and torn flags for proper disposal.

NEW THIS YEAR!Document Shredding • 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

First 4 boxes/bags are $5 each and 5th is FREE Second 4 boxes/bags are $5 each and 5th is FREE

Limit of 10 boxes/bags per person

763.753.3373www.northanokaplumbing.cominfo@northanokaplumbing.com

License Number 59361

Licensed • Bonded Insured

Your source for complete plumbing solutions.

Our services include:Residential New ConstructionCommercial New Construction

RemodelingService

Radiant Floor HeatMpls/St. Paul Licensed

Water Heater Change-outsDrain Cleaning

Gen-Eye GL Pipe Inspection CameraFaucet & Fixture Repair

RPZ Testing & RebuildingWater Softeners

Iron & Water Filters

Water Softeners

Crown Electric incL i C E n s E d B o n d E d i n s u r E d

Residential CommercialQuality Electrical Service with Integrity

763-444-5079Mike Ashley – owner [email protected] Mn LiC. # CA05155

Green Barn Garden Center www.greenbarngardencenter.com

3 Miles So. of Isanti on Hwy. 65 Open 7 Days a Week

Spring Hours 9:00 am-5:30 pm

763-444-5725

It’s Springtime at the Green Barn Garden Center

All your Gardening Supplies

Seeds ~ FertilizersSoil Amendments

Grass Seed ~ ToolsLandscape Supplies

Landscape Rock & Mulches

Cow Manure ~ Peat MossEdging & Fabric

Yard & GardenArbors ~ Trellises

Memory Benches & PlaquesShepherd Hooks

Garden hats, glovesVisit our huge pottery room

Unusual Gift Displays

Gnomes ~ AngelsFairies ~ WesternFrogs ~ Chickens

Cats & DogsTractors

Greeting Cards

For the BirdsBird seed & Suet

Wooden & Decorative Birdhouses

Huge selection of Feeders

Over 50 styles of Bird Baths

See us at the St. Francis Expo on April 17 at

SFHS!

Northstar Outdoors, Inc.Spring Cleanup Professionals

Lawn Mowing • De-thatchingFertilizing • Weed Control

Commercial and Residential

[email protected] Licensed and Insured

Submitted by martha WeaverAnokA county public informAtion mAnAger

The Anoka County Household Hazard-ous Waste Facility

switched to warm weather hours of operation April 1 and will run through Octo-ber 31.

Warm weather hours are Wednesday 2:00-8:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The facility will be closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

The household hazardous waste facility is located at 3230 101st Avenue NE in Blaine, off Radisson Road.

Household hazardous wastes

Warm weather hours at household hazardous waste facilitythat are accepted include ac-ids, aerosol cans with prod-uct remaining, drain cleaner, driveway sealer, liquid paint, liquid mercury, mercury ther-mometers, motor oil, oven cleaner, paint thinner, paint stripper, pool chemicals, and wood preservatives.

Residents dropping materi-als off at the site must pro-vide proof of county residen-cy, such as a driver’s license.

Businesses, organizations, and schools may not bring hazardous waste to the facility.

Wastes that are not accepted include ammunition, appli-ances, batteries, dried paint, electronics, empty con-tainers, fluorescent lamps,

medical wastes, radioactive wastes, railroad ties, and tires.

For disposal options for un-acceptable materials, call Anoka County Integrated Waste Management, 763-323-5730, or email [email protected].

For more information or di-rections to the site, call Ano-ka County Integrated Waste Management at 763-323-5730

or visit the Integrated Waste Management web page at

www.AnokaCounty.us/ recycle. |

18 the courier | April 2010 www.the-courier.orgArea Recycling/Spring Home Improvement

St. Francis City Hall23340 Cree Street NWSt. Francis, MN 55070Phone: 763-753-2630Fax: 763-753-9881E-mail: [email protected]

The City of St. Francis Spring Recycling Day will be

held Saturday, May 8, 8:00 a.m. to Noon.

This ONE DAy ONLy eventwill be held in the St. Francis Middle School parking lot,

23026 Ambassador Boulevard.

The following items will be accepted at NO CHARGE

BATTERIES: Automotive batteries only

SCRAP METAL: Rubber, plastic, glass, and wood parts must be removed from the item. Fuel tanks and crank cases must be drained.

SHREDDING: Shredding will be offered this day FREE of charge. Only shred paper with personal data such as your social security number, charge account numbers, and customer number. No need to remove staples or paperclips from documents. Keep it dry and clean. Do not place shredded paper in plastic bags. Do not shred any paper contaminated with food, grease or paint, carbon or carbonless paper, plastic or metal.

The following items will be accepted for a CHARGE:

APPLIANCES: JR’s Advanced Recyclers will be here to accept refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, microwave ovens, residential furnaces, hot water heaters, dehumidifiers, trash compactors, garbage disposals and trash burners for a recycling fee of $10 per item. Water softeners and air conditioners will be accepted for a recycling fee of $15 per item. Industrial units will be charged extra.

CURBSIDE PICKUP FOR APPLIANCES: The city will pick up your appliances for $20 and water softeners or air conditioners for $40. Curbside recycling is scheduled for May 5 and 6. Prepayment is required at city hall. If you have any questions regarding this service, please call city hall at 763-753-2630, Monday-Thursday 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

ITEMS WITH SPRINGS: ACE Solid Waste will accept couches, chairs, recliners, hide-a-beds or other items with springs for a recycling fee of $15 per item. Mattresses and box springs will be accepted for a recycling fee of $35 per item.

WASTE ITEMS (for St. Francis residents only): The city will be accepting household waste at a cost of $25 per load. A load is any amount equal to or less than a level pickup box or equivalent sized trailer. Oversized trucks or trailers will be charged extra. Household waste includes such items as old carpet, broken toys, plastics and general trash.

These items fall under the same restrictions as your local refuse hauler. NO HAZARDOUS WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED! Hazardous waste includes such items as oil filters, herbicides, pesticides, paints, solvents, fuel, and any undefined liquids, powders or solids. The containers these items are stored in are considered hazardous waste as well.

Any load with hazardous waste will be refused. For hazardous waste drop off sites or further information, please call Anoka County at 763-323-5730.

ELECTRONICS: E-Cycling Solutions will accept:

Computer towers (CPU) ...................$3

Notebook computers.........................$5

Computer monitors .........................$10

Televisions 22" and smaller ............$10

Televisions 23" to 32".....................$20

Televisions larger than 32" .............$30

Small printers, scanners, fax, typewriters, VCR’s, DVD players, satellite receivers, stereo components (each), boom boxes .......................... $5

Home and small office all-in-one printers & faxes ..............$10

Computer keyboards, speakers (pair), home phones ...........$2

Wires, cords, cables, cell phones .................................. FREE

Electric motors ........................... FREE

Fluorescent bulbs:Straight four foot and under .... $.50 ea.Over four foot ............................. $1 ea.Round, U-tube, plug-in ............... $1 ea.Screw in (CFL) ........................... $2 ea.HID lamps .................................. $4 ea.

Pay E-Cycling Solutions directly.

TIRES: Lehne’s Tire Service will be accepting tires at the following prices for each tire:

Car tires (with or without rims) ...........$3

Truck tires without rims ..................$7.50

Truck tires with rims ..........................$10

Tractor tires small .............................$15 medium .........................$25 large ..............................$35

Prices will be determined by the attendant.

Hydrant FlushingCity hydrant flushing will be done the last week of April.

CURBSIDE PICK UP FOR BRUSH

The city will pick up brush at the curb in the water and sewer district on May 3 and 4. The brush must be piled with the cut ends towards the street. Branches cannot be more than 4” in diameter and 8’ in length. Only piles 3’ high and 4’ wide will be taken. If you exceed this limit, please call city hall at 763-753-2630.

Medication CollectionGoodrich Pharmacy will collect old and used medicine bottles on Recycling Day. Drop off is at the Pharmacy inside County Market.

Donations of Household GoodsThe Salvation Army will be at St. Francis Foods parking lot, the corner of Bridge Street and County Road 9, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. to take donations.

Recycle ItemsRecycling items that are accepted by your curbside recycling vendor will also be accepted during this event.

Annual Pet ClinicThe St. Francis Pet Clinic will be held on Saturday, May 1, 9:00 a.m. until noon at the St. Francis Fire Station located at 3740 Bridge Street. Once again, veterinarian Dr. Stanley Fagerness will be there to offer a variety of vaccinations for your pets. City dog licenses will be given out this day for NO CHARGE. The City of St. Francis City Code Section 8.05 prohibits any dog from leaving the property limits of the owner while unleashed. Any dog six months of age or older must have a city dog license. Dog licenses may be obtained at city hall at a cost of $5. you must show proof of rabies vaccination from a certified veterinarian. <

St. Francis Spring Recycling Day • Saturday, May 8

In 2009, St. Francis residents recycled over 460 tons at curbside.

recycling is now easier with simple sort recycling. you no longer need to sort items. Just place them all in the large roll-off container

provided by your hauler. if you have any questions about what is acceptable or would like to start a new service, call your hauler:

Ace Solid Waste 763-427-3110Allied Waste 763-784-2104

2010Goal630

Tons 28 Tons

Recycled in February

Heat Mizer Glass, Inc.HOME & BUSINESS

New Construction • Remodeling and Repair • Commercial

Residential Windows & Doors Glass of All Types • Plastics

Shower Doors • Mirrors

AUTO GlASSAuto Glass Repaired & Replaced

Boat • RVTractor & Heavy Equipment

Insurance Specialists

30678 Hwy 47 NWIsanti, MN

Free Estimates!

763-444-9234

“Give Us

A Break”

MN GlassAssociation

Submitted by anoka County

Residents who bag their yard waste for curb-side pickup are required to use compostable bags—either plastic or paper—under a new state law that went into effect January 1, 2010.

The legislation was put into place to reduce the amount of plastic that gets mixed in with yard waste, resulting in higher quality finished compost.

Compostable bags include paper Kraft bags or

compostable plastic. Compostable plastic bags are usually clear or tinted a translucent shade of green, white, or pink; however the color is not the sure way of determining the composta-bility of a plastic bag. Compostable plastic bags should be clearly labeled “compostable” and include the U.S. Composting Council’s logo. Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the requirements of the state law.

For more information, visit www.anoka county.us. |

new compostable bag law for curbside yard waste pickupuse of compostable bags not required at county compost sites

Importance of fire drillsSubmitted by the oak Grove Fire auxiliary

Do you know the importance of fire drills and escape plans? If it’s 3:00 a.m. and your smoke detector goes off, will you know what to do? Will the rest of your family know what to do? When a fire starts, experts say you’ve got one to two minutes to get out of the house to safety. Most deaths in fires aren’t from the flames, but from smoke inhalation.

Once you have a plan, explain the escape routes to your family, and exactly what they should do in case of a fire. Then practice it on a regular basis, at least once or twice a year. Some of the drills should be scheduled; others should be a surprise drill when your family is sleeping because that’s when the majority of fatal house fires occur. } Identify two safe exits in every room in the house, especially

upstairs. Draw these exits on a map and place a copy in every room.

} If your secondary exit out of an upstairs room is a window, have an easy to deploy escape ladder nearby. Permanent es-cape ladders are an excellent alternative. Unlike portable lad-ders, they are right where you need them, when you need them and are easy enough for a child to deploy.

} Practice fire escape drills twice a year. Have everyone practice escaping every room in the house and practice crawling low under smoke.

} Pick an outside meeting place where everyone can gather after they’ve escaped. Remember to mark this spot on your fire es-cape map.

} Keep doors, stairways and other exits clear of toys, furniture and other clutter.

} Remind everyone that they should get out first, and then call for help from outside or at a neighbor’s home.

} Never go back into a burning building for any reason. Teach children not to hide from firefighters. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. Resources: SafetyResouce.org |

Independent School District 15 Community Education & Services

Summer Camps & ActivitiesSummer 2010 opportunities offered by the Rec Department, Early Childhood Family Education and Sandhill Center for the Arts

Baseball CampCamp open to all boys interested in developing the fundamentals of baseball. Instruction will focus on hitting, fielding, pitching, catching, and running bases.

Dates: June 14-17 (June 18 rain day)8

Course: SC-710001Ages: 11–14Time: 8:00–9:30 a.m.

Course: SC-710002Ages: 6–10Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.

Fee: $50 (T-shirt included)

Dance CampAn introduction to stretching, leaps and kicks. Have fun working on coordination and flexibility.

Dates: Monday–ThursdayJuly 12-15

Course: SC-710003Grades: K–8Time: 6:30–8:00 p.m.Fee: $50

(T-shirt included)

Boys Basketball Skills CampBasketball camp for in–house and young aspiring basketball players. Players will receive an introduction to the fundamentals of basketball.

Dates: Monday–Thursday June 21–24

Course: SC-710004Grades: 1–6Time: 11:00 a.m.–

12:30 p.m.Fee: $50

(T-shirt included)

Boys Varsity Basketball Offensive Skills CampCamp designed for returning Saints basketball players going into grades 10–12. The camp will focus on offensive skills including shooting and attacking the basket. Any player interested in signing up who did not participate within the Saints basketball program last year should see Coach Hauge prior to signing up. Players should sign up for the 9:30 a.m. weight training session separately.

Dates: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday June 15–July 29 (No camp July 1-7; camp July 20, 22, 27 and 29 at SFMS)

Course: SC-710005Grades: 10–12Time: 7:30–9:30 a.m.Fee: $90

(T-shirt included)

Boys Traveling Basketball Offensive Skills CampCamp designed for basketball players who participated in Traveling Basketball last year going into grades 5–9. Camp will focus on the fundamentals of shooting and individual offensive skills.

Dates: Tuesday/ThursdayJune 15, 17, 22, 24; July 8, 13,15


(T-shirt included)

Parent/Son Basketball Skills CampThis camp is designed for parents interested in having a basketball experience with their son. The camp will focus on helping parents guide their aspiring players by introducing basketball skills that a parent and son can work on beyond the camp. Campers and parents will receive drills and information on the necessary skills to help your son develop his skills to his fullest potential.

Dates: Wednesday & Thursday June 23&24

Course: SC-710007Grades: 3–7Time: 6:30–8:00 p.m.Fee: $50 for

parent and son (T-shirt included)

Boys Basketball Competitive CampCompetitive basketball camp for boys in grades 4–9. Camp will consist of daily emphasis on fundamentals as well as individual & team competitions. Campers are asked to bring a lunch each day, camp administered by St. Francis High School assistant varsity basketball Coach Andy Forbort.

Dates: July 19-23Course: SC-710008Grades: 4-9Time: Monday–Thursday

8:00 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.

Friday 8:00 a.m.–noon Awards Ceremony at noon on Friday

Fee: $80 (T-shirt included, ribbons, and prizes)

Girls Skills Basketball CampThis is a fundamental skill camp designed for in–house and aspiring young athletes. Girls will work on offensive and defensive skills each day.

Dates: Monday–ThursdayJune 21-24

Course: SC-710009Grades: 2–8Time: 5:30-6:45 p.m.Fee: $50

(T-shirt included)

Girls Basketball CampFundamental camp for travel level girls in grades 4-8. Coached by Danye Guinn.

Dates: Monday–Wednesday August 9-11

Course: SC-710010Grades: 4-8Time: 7:45-9 p.m.Fee: $40

(T-shirt included)Location: Middle School

Basketball for BeginnersCo-ed camp for youth to get started on the right track. Includes dribbling, ball handling and passing. Coached by Danye Guinn.

Dates: Monday–Wednesday August 9-11

Course: SC-710011Grades: K-3Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.Fee: $35

(T-shirt included)Location: Middle School

Girls High School Basketball CampThis camp is designed for traveling and high school players. Athletes will work on individual skills, goal setting, and teamwork throughout the summer. The summer session will include offensive, defensive, and team skill work.

Dates: Monday, Wednesday June 21–July 28 (No camp July 5 & 7)


(T-shirt included)

Girls Travel CampBasketball camp designed for girls that have played travel basketball. Focus on fundamentals and team building.

Dates: Monday–Thursday June 21–24

Course: SC-710013Grades: 4-7Time: 7-8:30 p.m.Fee: $55

(T-shirt included)

High School Football Team CampThis camp is for high school football players in grades 9–12. It will focus on position specific techniques and scheme implementation. T-shirts handed out in July.

Dates: Tuesday–Friday, June 1-4

Course: SC-710014Grades: 10–12Time: 2:35-5:30 p.m.Fee: $40

– and –Dates: Monday-Thursday,

July 26-29Course: SC-710015Grades: 9–12Time: 2:45-5:30 p.m.Fee: $40

If registering for both sessions:Course: SC-710016 Fee: $65

Quarterback CampThis camp is designed to specifically teach the complex skills needed to successfully play the quarterback position. Athletes will train in the classroom and on the field.

Dates: Monday-Wednesday June 21–23

Course: SC-710017Grades: 9-12Time: 1:00-3:00 p.m.Fee: $30

Course: SC-710018Grade: 5-8Time: 3:00-5:00 p.m.Fee: $30

All camps are held at St. Francis High School

unless otherwise noted.

Questions? Call 763–213–1823.

Rec Camps Continued on Page CE 2

Register for Rec Dept camps online starting

Monday, April 12


CE 1www.the-courier.org� the�courier�|�April�2010 Community Ed

All camps are held at St. Francis High School unless otherwise noted • Questions? Call 763–213–1823.

Registration deadline is the Thursday before

camp starts.

Questions? Call 763–213–1823.

Football Fundamentals CampThis camp will focus on football fundamentals including blocking, tackling, throwing, and catching. This is an excellent opportunity for youth level players in preparation for the upcoming season.

Day 1—Individual Work

Day 2—Individual Work

Day 3—Team/Group Day

Dates: Tuesday-ThursdayJune 1–3

Course: SC-710019Grades: 2–8Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.Fee: $55 (T-shirt

included)Location: Soccer complex

north of high school

Golf CampThis camp will focus on golf fundamentals including stance, posture, and grip, as well as putting, chipping, rules, and etiquette. Golfers will utilize the driving range, putting green, and chipping green at Viking Meadows and also get a chance to experience some course play. This is an excellent opportunity for novice and intermediate golfers. Must bring own clubs.

Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays

June 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, July 1

Course: SC-710020Ages: 7–14Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m.

Players are responsible for their rides; must be picked up promptly at 3:00 p.m.

Location: Viking MeadowsFee: $90 (T-shirt

included)Rainoutdate: June 23Note: All players are

asked to show up at the course; rain outs will be called by the coach. DonotcallVikingMeadows.

Tennis CampFor boys and girls grades 4–12. Students are divided by skill level.

Grades: 4–12Dates: Tuesday &

Thursday June 10-July 20


Location: St. Francis High School Tennis Courts

GroupA BeginnersCourse: SC-710021Time: 8:00–9:00 a.m.Students who are new to tennis or have very limited experience. Introduction to forehand, backhand, volley, and serve instruction as well as scoring, rules, and game play. Incorporating “Quick Start” tennis components.

GroupB IntermediateCourse: SC-710022Time: 9:00–10:00 a.m.Students who are able to have some success with the basic strokes and are beyond the beginner stage. Scoring, rules, and game play will be further explored. Incorporating “Quick Start” tennis components.

GroupC HighSchoolVarsity&JuniorVarsity

Course: SC-710023Time: 10:00–11:45 a.m.Students who are ready to focus more on skills and strategies of singles and doubles play. Should be able to consistently execute the basic shots and maintain a several shot rally to participate at this level. Competitive drills and games will be used. Incorporating match play.

Youth Soccer CampAll levels of interest welcome! Skills are incorporated into fun drills and games. Bring soccer ball, shin guards, and water bottle.

Dates: Monday–ThursdayJuly 26–29

Course: SC-710024Ages: 5–12Time: 6:30–8:00 p.m.Fee: $50

(T-shirt included)Location: St. Francis High

School Soccer Complex (½ mile north of high school)

Volleyball CampThe purpose of this camp is to help players improve their skills and knowledge of the game of volleyball. This camp is for volleyball players who wish to improve their overall level of play and to have fun.


Course: SC-710025Grades: 4–8Time: 10:00 a.m.–noon


(T-shirt included)

Wrestling CampA general overview of folk style wrestling will be offered. Open to all students who are interested in the sport of wrestling.


Course: SC-710027Grades: 6–12Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.


Location: St. Francis High School Wrestling Room

High School Summer Strength & ConditioningLimit 50 participants per session

Students undergo a 7-week strength and conditioning program designed to develop and enhance overall athletic ability. The program involves strength/explosive training, agility, plyometrics, speed development and flexibility.

Grades: 9–12Dates: Monday–Thursday

June 14–July 29 Course TimeSC-710028 6:30–8:00 a.m.SC-710029 7:30–9:00 a.m. SC-710030 8:30–10:00 a.m.SC-710031 9:30–11:00 a.m.

Fee: $90 (T-shirt included at end of session)

VarsityLetteringRequirements

1. Complete 90% of the workouts or 24 out of 28 dates

2. Score at the BFS “GREAT” level on lifts

3. Be a 9–12 grade student

4. Complete all core lifts for each day present

5. Complete all auxiliary lifts for each day present

6. Complete all pre–tests and post–tests

Questions?

Call Coach Lindquist at 763–213–1543

Middle School Summer Strength & ConditioningStudents undergo a 6-week strength and conditioning program designed to develop and enhance overall athletic ability. The program involves strength/explosive training, agility training, plyometrics, speed development, flexibility.

Location: St. Francis Middle School

Grades: 5–8Dates: Monday–Thursday

June 14–July 29 (No session June 30–July 6)

Course: SC-710032

Time: 8:00–9:30 a.m.

Fee: $80 (T-shirt included at end of session)

Beginning GymnasticsIntroduction to the basics of gymnastics. Focus on flexibility and coordination.

Dates: Mondays & Wednesdays, June 21, 23, 28 & 30

Course: SC-710034Grades: K-3Time: 9:00-10:00 a.m.Fee: $45

(T-shirt included)Location: East Bethel

Community School gym

Rec Camps Continued from Page CE 1

The Rec Department has coordinated with St. Francis High School coaches and community members to offer activities for the summer.

• Registration begins Monday,April12

• Register online or use the registration form on page CE 3. For online, go to: www.communityed15.com. Look in Available Courses and change the program year to 2010-11.

• Registrations accepted starting April 12 on a first–come, first–served basis. Allregistrationsaredue in the Community Ed office (St. Francis High

School, 3325 Bridge Street in St. Francis) on the Thursday prior to the start of camp.

• If individual sessions do not fill, sessions may be combined or cancelled.

• The Rec Department will not call participants before camp starts; if you are registered, you are in the camp.

• Grade listed is the grade your child will be entering fall 2010.

• Nofamilyrateorscholarshipsavailableforsummercamps.

• Participants should wear appropriate clothing and footwear; bring a water

bottle and be ready to go at the start of the session!

• Camps are held at St. Francis High School unless noted otherwise.

• If not registered by the activity deadline, you may attend the activity but will not receive a T-shirt.

• 10% cancellation fee will apply if Community Ed office is not notified the Thursday prior to the activity starting.

NEW: Please register carefully. Once you have registered, a $10 cancellation fee will be charged to cancel.

Important Notes to Parents & Participants:

Questions? Call 763–213–1823

CE 2 the�courier�|�April�2010� www.the-courier.orgCommunity Ed

Register for Rec Dept camps online starting

Monday, April 12


Or use the registration form on page CE 3

Preschool CampsClasses for preschool-ers that are c e n t e r e d on a theme. Two choices: classes that are one morning a week for three weeks or classes that are three consecutive days. Lots of learning and fun to break up summer!

Time: 9:30-11:30 amFee: $30 for each

3-meeting session, sliding fee scale available

Bugs and Crawly CreaturesChildren must be at least 3 by 9/1/2010

Course: PP2110Dates: Tuesdays

July 13-27

Alpha-AnticsChildren must be at least 4 by 9/1/2010

Course: PP1114Dates: Wednesdays

July 14-28

Math BuddiesChildren must be at least 4 by 9/1/2010

Course: PP2111Dates: Thursdays

July 15-28

Summer 2010 Rec Dept Registration1. Student’s name ____________________________________________________________ 2. Student’s name ____________________________________________________________

Course # ___________________________________________ Fee: $___________________ Course # ___________________________________________ Fee: $ __________________

Birth date _________________________________ Grade (2010–11)___________________ Birth date __________________________________Grade (2010–11) __________________

T-shirt size __________________________________________________________________ T-shirt size _________________________________________________________________

Parent’s name ________________________________________________________________ Email Address _______________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Zip _________________________________

Home phone ________________________________________________________________ Emergency phone ____________________________________________________________

Special needs we need to know about: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Charge: MasterCard Visa Discover Exp Date _____________________ Total charge amount: $ ________________________________________________________

Acct. # _____________________________________________________________________ Signature __________________________________________________________________

Total fee enclosed: $ __________________ Make checks payable to Community Ed Check number ______________________________________________________________

Mail or drop off form to Rec Department, 3325 Bridge Street, St. Francis, MN 55070

2010 Summer Preschool & ECFELimited space.

Separate checks for Preschool and ECFE, please. If you charge your fees, the entire amount will be charged to your

account when your child is registered.

Parent’s Name ____________________________________________

Phone (day) _________________ Phone (evening) _______________

Address __________________________________________________

City _______________________________ Zip _________________

ECFE EC5701 EC0701 EC5702

Total ECFE Fee: _____________

Child’s Name(s) _____________________________________________

Date(s) of Birth _____________________________________________

Attending Parent: ___________________________________________

Sibling Care: EC0701 EC1701 Name/DOB: _____________

Preschool Camp PP2110 PP1114 PP2111

PP2112 PP2113 PP2114

Total Preschool Fee: __________

Child’s Name _______________________________________________

Date of Birth _______________________________________________

Check(s) enclosed Visa MasterCard Discover

Card number: _________________________ Exp Date ___________

Print Name: ________________________________________________

Signature: __________________________________________________

Any special needs of you or your child we need to plan for? ________

__________________________________________________________Mail your registration and payment to the Lifelong Learning Center,

18900 Cedar Drive, Oak Grove, MN 55011. Registrations will be processed as they are received.

Early Childhood

Preschool & ECFE

Camping AdventuresChildren must be at least 3 by 9/1/2010

Course: PP2112Dates: Tue, Wed, Thur

July 13-15

Preschool PicassosChildren must be at least 3 by 9/1/2010

Course: PP2113Dates: T/W/Th

July 20-22

The FarmChildren must be at least 3 by 9/1/2010

Course: PP2114Dates: T/W/Th

July 27-29

ECFE CampsSiblings Getting AlongBirth to Kindergarten and their parents

The foundation for decades of sibling relationships is be-ing formed now. Discover the building blocks to positive relationships amongst your children. This class will sepa-rate for discussion time.

Course: EC5701Dates: Wednesdays

July 14-28Time: 9:45-11:30 am

Celebrating Baby Your baby must be 12 months of age or younger when you attend the event. Enjoy songs and games to-gether and meet others who are experiencing the joys and challenges of raising a baby. Don’t forget to pick up your free gift!

Course: EC0701Dates: Thursdays

July 15 & 22Time: 9:45-11:30 amFee: FREEFree Sibling Care available, but you must pre-register

Family Times Last ForeverBirth to Kindergarten and their parents

How do you want your children to remember their growing up years? Create the family memories we treasure and learn ways to have fam-ily time even when life is hec-tic. The plan is that this class will not separate for discus-sion time.

Course: EC5702Dates: Thursdays

July 15-29Time: 9:45-11:30 am

Family Special!

Register for any combination of two

Camps or ECFE classes and take a third FREE!

Offer does not apply to Celebrating Baby

and those registered in all three classes must

reside at same address.

For information about ECFE or

Summer Preschool, call 763-753-7170.

Sliding Fee Scale for ECFE* & Preschool

Annual Income

0-$40,000 $15.00

$40,00-$90,000 $22.00

$90,000+ $30.00

*No one will be denied participation in ECFE parent/child sessions due to inability to pay.

Register Online! www.communityed15.com

Register online! www.communityed15.com

CE 3www.the-courier.org� the�courier�|�April�2010 Community Ed

Sandhill Center Summer CampsCourse # ____________________ Fee: ____________________

Course # ____________________ Fee: ____________________

Total: ___________________

child’s�Name(s)�________________________________________

parent�Name�__________________________________________

Address/Zip� __________________________________________

phone�(home)_________________________________________

phone�(work/cell)� _____________________________________

Any�special�needs�we�need�to�be�aware�of?�_________________

_____________________________________________________

PaymenT InFormaTIonMake�checks�payable�to:�community�education.�Mailing�address:�4115�Ambassador�Blvd.�Nw,�St.�Francis,�MN�55070

Check number _______________

charge�my:�� Mastercard�� Visa�� Discover�card

Card number _________________________________________

exp. Date _______ Signature�____________________________

Questions? Call 763-213-1616 or email [email protected]

Fun with JewelryDo�you�like�to�wear�jewelry?�have�you�ever�thought�about�making�your�own?�if�so,�this�class�is�for�you!�we�will�be�working�with�a�variety�of�materials�to�make�our�own�necklaces,�bracelets,�earrings�and�pins.�come�to�learn�techniques�for�beading,�and�much�more!�

Dates:� Mon-thurJune�21-24

Course:� 110Grades:� 2-5Time:� 9:00-10:30�a.m.Cost:� $35Instructor:� peggy�peterson

Art Expedition SamplerJoin�us�as�we�take�a�trip�through�the�many�ways�to�create�fun�art!�try�painting,�drawing,�pastels,�and�bookmaking.�explore�Japanese�paste�paint,�handmade�paper,�and�construct�a�small�journal.�with�each�activity�you’ll�learn�a�new�art�technique�

and�create�a�fun�work�of�art.�each�day�will�be�a�new�and�exciting�adventure!

Dates:� Mon-thurJune�21-24

Course:� 112Grades:� 2-5Time:� 9:00-10:30�a.m.Cost:� $35�Instructor:� cherene�Bebeau

Mosaic Workshop there’s�no�limit�as�to�what�you�can�create�with�your�imagination�to�come�up�with�a�one�of�a�kind�design.

create�projects�such�as�a�stepping�stone,�flower�pots,�wooden�statues,�pictures,�and�more�using�everything�from�glass�and�nuggets�to�stones�and�shells.�Students�will�create�and�grout�two�projects.�Also�available�in�Session�2.�

Date:� Mon-thurJune�21-24

Course:� 114Grades:� 2-5Time:� 9:00-10:30�a.m.Cost:� $35Instructor:� lynn�Masso

Masters Samplerexperience�painting�a�ceiling�like�Michelangelo,�the�pointillism�method�georges�Seurat,�the�surrealistic�style�of�henri�rousseau�and�collage�technique�of�pablo�picasso�as�we�learn�about�the�masters�and�then�create�our�own�works�of�art�in�their�style.


Course:� 116Grades:� 2-5Time:� 9:00-10:30�a.m.�Cost:� $35Instructor:� Alexandra�

Blonigen

Create in your Sketchbookpractice�drawing�and�develop�your�skills.�use�fun�approaches�to�improving�your�skills,�including�perspective�and�self�portraits.


Course:� 118Grades:� 2-5Time:� 9:00-10:30�a.m.�Cost:� $35Instructor:� Jeanette�

offerdahl

Join us for a variety of exciting art and science classes the week of June 21. These classes are for children who have completed grades 2 through 5. Choose a class from session one and session two OR choose a class from our special offerings of Mad Science or Climb Theatre. All classes held at Sandhill Center for the Arts, 23820 Dewey St., Bethel. For more information call 763-213-1616

SeSSion 1

SeSSion 2

Scrapbook Maniathink�back�to�your�favorite�memories…birthdays,�halloween,�sleepovers,�vacations!�Do�you�want�to�hold�unto�these�memories�until�you�are�100�years�old?�Students�will�learn�how�to�create�pages�using�matting,�journaling,�and�embellishments.�Bring�your�favorite�photos�and�leave�each�class�with�beautiful�scrapbook�pages.


Course:� 211Grades:� 2-5Time:� 10:30�a.m.-noonCost:� $35Instructor:� peggy�peterson

Painting Pizzazzuse�watercolor,�tempera,�and�acrylics�to�paint�in�many�different�styles.�we’ll�paint�some�realistic�subjects�such�as�animals�and�people,�and�also�have�fun�with�abstracts.�You’ll�experience�making�monoprints�by�painting�on�a�surface�and�then�printing�it�onto�your�paper.�Add�some�mixed�media�collage�elements�to�give�your�paintings�extra�pizzazz.�


Course:� 213Grades:� 2-5Time:� 10:30�a.m.-noonCost:� $35Instructor:�cherene�Bebeau

Mixed Media CollagesBeing�creative�is�all�about�using�your�imagination�to�make�new�things.�create�a�

number�of�collage�projects�using�paint,�paper,�pictures�and�other�materials.�


Course:� 215Grades:� 2-5Time:� 10:30�a.m.-noonCost:� $35Instructor:� Alexandra�

Blonigen

Recycle/Reclaimed Artuse�your�imagination�to�create�one�of�a�kind�pieces�of�art�and�funky�storage�containers.�You’ll�be�surprised�at�all�the�things�you�can�make�from�everyday�items.


Course:� 217Grades:� 2-5Time:� 10:30�a.m.-noonCost:� $35Instructor:��Jeanette�

offerdahl

Mosaic Workshop there’s�no�limit�as�to�what�you�can�create�with�your�imagination!�create�projects�such�as�a�stepping�stone,�flower�pots,�wooden�statutes,�pictures,�and�more�using�everything�from�glass,�and�nuggets�to�stones�and�shells.�Students�will�create�and�grout�2�projects.�Also�available�in�Session�1.�


Course:� 219Grades:� 2-5Time:� 10:30�a.m.-noonCost:� $35Instructor: lynn�Masso

Sandhill Center

Art & Science Camps

Questions? Call 763-213-1616 or email [email protected]

Mad Science Summer Camp

Crazy Chemworkstry�your�hand�with�some�super�solutions�and�explore�the�chemistry�of�everyday�life.�camp�is�bubbling�over�with�classic�experiments�and�crazy�concoctions�with�spectacular�hands-on�activi-ties.�the�camp�includes�real�chemistry�tools,�stunning�demonstrations�and�your�own�set�of�labware�to�take�home.

Date:� M-th�June�21-24

Course:� 301Grades:� 2-5Time:� 9:00�a.m.-noonCost:� $95

Rocket Blast Offthis�action�packed�week�focuses�solely�on�rockets�

and�rocket�flight.�learn�about�model�rocket�design,�building,�aerodynamics,�propulsion,�launching,�safety,�recovery,�and�repair.�Daily�building�projects�and�launches.�this�camp�is�a�blast�for�boys�and�girls�alike.

Date:� M-th�June�21-24

Course:� 302Grades:� 2-5Time:� 1:00-4:00�p.m.�Cost:� $100

Making It Up As You Go: The CLIMB

Theatre Camplet’s�face�it�-�nobody�likes�learning�lines.�with�the�cliMB�theatre�camp,�you�don’t�have�to!�games�and�activities�will�help�you�to�feel�more�comfortable�

performing�in�front�of�an�audience.�You’ll�work�with�other�children�and�cliMB�actor-educators�to�make�up�your�own�performance�-�all�while�learning�about�the�basics�of�acting.�on�the�last�day�of�camp,�you’ll�take�part�in�a�sharing�event�that�will�give�your�family�a�chance�to�see�what�you’ve�been�making.�please�wear�shoes�that�won’t�fall�off�your�feet,�clothes�you�can�move�around�in,�and�bring�a�water�bottle�and�a�snack.�if�this�is�your�first�acting�class,�that’s�fine!�if�you’ve�taken�hundreds�of�acting�classes,�that’s�fine�too!

Date:� M-Fri�June�21-25

Course:� 303Grades:� 2-5Time:� 9:30-11:30�a.m.�Cost:� $75

Special claSS offeringS

CE 4 the�courier�|�April�2010� www.the-courier.orgCommunity Ed

19www.the-courier.org the courier | April 2010

Oak Grove SpringRECYCLING DAYSaturday, April 24

9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Public Works Garage815 Viking Blvd. NW

Watch for signs

Call 763-404-7006 for accepted materials

and prices

Get outstanding low prices on quality products.

Sale ends 04/30/10

Find the right supplies for your projects, plus expert advice.

THE PINK PANTHER™ & ©1964–2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. ©2006 Owens Corning

Proud member of St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dana Henjum OwnerCell 763-458-0715

Dan Anderson OwnerCell 612-267-6502

Roo� ng • SidingWindows • Remodeling

Decks • Additions

See our booth at the St. Francis Expo on

April 17 at SFHS!

SM

License #20615894

FREE ESTIMATES

Brenda Haller Independent Consultant

763-434-9744 Offi ce 612-598-7840 Cell e-mail: [email protected]

visit my web site.... www.pamperedchef.biz/brendahaller

discover the chef in you™

Come see me at the St. Francis Expo!

Free plant and insect diagnostic clinics to Anoka County residentsSubmitted by lynne haGengArDener progrAm coorDinAtor, u of m eXtenSion, AnokA county

The University of Minnesota Extension – Anoka County Master Gardener Volunteer Program offers Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinics for Anoka County residents beginning in May.

These free clinics are designed to help homeowners identify problems and develop appropriate solutions for their land-scapes by using research-based information.

Clinics are held on Wednesday evenings at the Bunker Hills Activities Center, 6:00-8:00 p.m. from May 26 to September 8 (clinic closed July 7).

A traveling Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic will be held at the Nowthen Threshing Show, 7415 Old Viking Boulevard in Nowthen August 20-22. Samples can also be brought to the Master Gardener’s booth during the Anoka County Fair (July 27–August 1).

Master Gardeners are available at each clinic to answer ques-tions about lawns, trees, fl owers, fruits, vegetables, and pests. Bring substantial samples of damaged plant material, turf, weeds, or insects. Insects need to be in a screw-top jar and can be frozen to preserve them. Please limit three samples per visit. Call 763-755-1280 for more information. |

20 the courier | April 2010 www.the-courier.orgArea Recycling/Spring Home Improvement

Get outstanding low prices on quality products.

St. Francis, MN3645 Bridge St

763-753-1265

St. Francis True Value Hardware

Find the right supplies for your projects, plus expert advice.

Sale ends 04/30/10

Visit us at the St. Francis Expo on April 17 at

SFHS!

GO UNDERGROUND.

ClimateMaster® Geothermal Heating & Cooling Systems

With a ClimateMaster Heating and Cooling System, you get a 30% tax credit and can save more than half on your energy bill. ClimateMaster uses geothermal energy to tap the constant temperature of the Earth, keeping your home comfortable year-round. Plus, a new system will usually pay for itself in about fi ve years and is a cleaner choice for the environment. Ready to go deep? You don’t have to change your name, just the way you think about heating and cooling your home.

30% TAX CREDITCUT ENERGY BILL IN HALF • FINANCING AVAILABLE

climatemaster.com

DL Johnson Heatingand

Air Conditioning LLC

763-434-1248www.DLJohnsonHtg.com

East Bethel, Minnesota

“Our Quality Will Floor You”

Custom & Prefi nished Hardwood FloorsNew or Remodel

Installation • Sanding • FinishingPoly or Waterbased Urethane

Free Estimates 763.856.6262Bill Nelson Cell 763.753.0770

Custom & Prefi nished Hardwood Floors

Keep your rooms cool this

summer! We’ll come to you or visit our showroom

1660 121st Ave NWHanson Boulevard and

121st Avenue in Coon Rapids763.434.5663

www.budgetblinds.com

Meeting Your Comfort NeedsSales • Service • Installation

763-434-8893 21461 Aberdeen Street NE763-413-4665 Fax East Bethel, MN 55011

www.heatingandcoolingsolutions.net

Submitted by martha WeaverAnokA county public informAtion mAnAger

The Anoka County Commu-nity Health and Environmen-tal Services (CHES) depart-ment, in cooperation with 13 municipalities, is sponsoring its 11th annual Well Water Wise (3W) promotion May 3-7 to encourage residents to check the safety of their pri-vate well water.

County residents may pick up a well water test kit at par-ticipating city and township

Residents encouraged to test safety of private well waternowthen spring clean up Submitted by debbie mahutGacity of nowthen

The city of Nowthen will hold its Spring Clean Up Sat-urday, May 1 behind city hall in Nowthen, 19800 Nowthen Boulevard NW from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Fire extinguisher maintenance and purchase will be available.

For more information, call city hall at 763-441-1347. |

offi ces (listed below), or in the county’s Environmental Services Unit, Suite 360 of the Anoka County Government Center, 2100 Third Avenue in Anoka. Water samples can be submitted to the county’s En-vironmental Services Unit for analysis every Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. During 3W week, sam-ples can be submitted Mon-day through Thursday (8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) and Friday (before noon). The well water testing kit will include de-tails about water collection and submission. A laboratory fee of $30 will be charged for bacteria and nitrate-nitrogen analysis.

Anoka County’s 3W promo-tion coincides with National Drinking Water Week. The purpose of 3W is to raise awareness of the need to test and maintain the safety of household wells. Residents are encouraged to perform an annual sanitary analysis to determine the concentra-tion of nitrate-nitrogen and the presence of coliform bac-teria in their drinking water supply.

Unlike public water utili-ties, private well water is not treated with chlorine to kill bacteria. Simply looking at the appearance of drinking

water is not a reliable indi-cator of whether it is safe to drink. An annual coliform bacteria test is a good way to ensure that water continues to be free of bacteria.

Nitrate-nitrogen occurs natu-rally in groundwater and in wells at concentrations be-low one milligram per liter (mg/L). The Minnesota De-partment of Health has es-tablished a health risk limit (HRL) for nitrate-nitrogen at 10 mg/L. Levels above that point may pose an immedi-ate risk to infants and preg-nant women. Nitrogen can seep into private wells from a variety of sources including septic systems, nitrogen fer-tilizers, animal feedlots, and landfi lls.

The testing of private wells used for drinking water is the responsibility of indi-vidual owners. There are an estimated 25,000 private wells in service throughout Anoka County. Only a small percentage of them are tested annually.

In addition to testing for ni-trate-nitrogen and the pres-ence of coliform bacteria, the CHES department also can provide analyses for arsenic, lead, fl uoride, iron, chloride, and total hardness (contact the department for sampling instructions).

For more information about well water testing, call the Environmental Services Unit at 763-422-7063.

Well Water Wise participat-

ing communities and agen-cies:

City of AndoverCity Hall1685 Crosstown Blvd. NW

City of BethelCity Hall165 Main Street

City of East BethelCity Hall2241 221st Avenue NE

City of Ham LakeCity Hall15544 Central Avenue NE

City of NowthenCity Hall19800 Nowthen Blvd. NW

City of Oak GroveCity Hall19900 Nightingale St. NW

City of RamseyCity Hall7550 Sunwood Drive NW

City of St. FrancisCity Hall23340 Cree St. NW #730

Anoka Conservation District16015 Central Avenue, Suite 103Ham Lake |


Our reception room is getting a warm reception.

Our reception room gives you more than a time to spend with family and friends. It gives you the opportunity to celebrate the life lived. We can cater a favorite meal, or provide freshly baked cookies for your loved ones to enjoy. Let us take care of the details for you.

©20

04 M

KJ M

arke

ting

IsantI Chapel 409 East Broadway • Isanti

(763) 444-5212

CambrIdge Chapel 720 First Avenue East • Cambridge (763) 689-2070

www.strikefuneral.com

Join us on Saturday, April 24 for our “PROM NIGHT”

Music by DJ Troy 9:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.Bring your sweetheart for dinner,

including prime rib & lobster or crab legs.Prizes for the ugliest prom dress and tuxedo.

BUY 1 LUNCH ITEM,GET 1 LUNCH ITEM HALF PRICE

Equal or lesser value. Valid Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dine in St. Francis

location only. Not valid with any other coupon or specials. Expires 4/30/10.

LUNCH COUPON

Equal or lesser value. Valid Monday-Friday

763-213-0894 23212 St. Francis Boulevard, St. Francis

NE I G H B O R H O O D BA R & GR I L L

763-213-0894 23212 St. Francis Boulevard, St. Francis

BA R & GR I L L

Check us out at the St. Francis Expo in the food court and expo hall on April 17 at St. Francis High School!

St. Francis American Legion

Post 6223073 Bridge Street • St. Francis

763-753-4234

Join us for FISH FRIESEvery Friday 5:30-8:00 p.m.

$8 per plateMonday-FridayStarting at 11 a.m.Daily Lunch Specials

Tuesday ...................................5-8 p.m.Broasted Chicken Dinner

Wednesday ...........................5-8 p.m.Mexican Night

FridaysMeat Raffle ................. 6 p.m. until gone Karaoke with Highland ........ 8:30 p.m.

Sundays ...................................4 p.m.Little Horses - Now Playing

NEW Pull Tabs WeeklyGiving back to communityCharitable Gambling License #A-01520-003

Reception Hall RentalNo cost to nonprofit organizations

Broasted Chicken DinnerSt. Francis American Legion 3073 Bridge Street, St. Francis763-753-4234Sponsored by the St. Francis American Legion Auxiliary Unit 622

Tuesdays 5-8 p.m.

By JaniCe audeTTesfAcoc�community�eXpo�committee�memBer

Plan to attend or be an exhibitor at the 3rd Annual St. Francis Community Expo, co-sponsored by the St. Francis Area Cham-ber of Commerce (SFACOC) and Independent School District 15 Community Education & Services. The expo will be held at St. Francis High School on Saturday, April 17, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Be sure to enter the FREE drawing for a $500 cash prize and a girl’s and boy’s bicycle that is donated by the SFACOC. New this year is BOB-FM, broadcasting live from the expo. They will be giving away prizes including Twins tickets, music and the-atre tickets and much more! Hourly drawings will also be held for many great items including: a Grand Casino prize package, Wild Mountain passes, one-month membership to Anytime Fit-ness, gift certifi cates to Opp Chiropractic, restaurants, County Market and more, along with many vendor drawings.

The Expo is great fun for the entire family with a Bounce House, face painting, crazy hair and photo opportunities with mascots and fi refi ghter gear. Visit the Resource Fair that is new this year and includes services and organizations to help families. Stay for a great lunch in the food court with local restaurants.

The Expo is a great opportunity to meet area business owners, organizations and school booster clubs and see what your own community has to offer. This event is free to the public. Dona-tions to the North Anoka County Emergency Food Shelf will be accepted. We look forward to seeing you at the St. Francis Area Community Expo April 17 at St. Francis High School.

For more information on how to sign up your business or or-ganization for the Expo, visit the St. Francis Area Chamber of Commerce web site, www.stfrancischamber.org, or see our ad on page 2. |

3rd annual St. Francis Community expo to be held Saturday, april 17

Pictured above are some of the 2009 St. Francis Community expo attendees and exhibitors. This year’s expo will again take place at St. Francis High School on Saturday, april 17.

Independent School District 15 Human Resources Director Jay Reker (above) is about to experience the icy water of Long Lake in Isanti. The Arctic Plunge was held March 6. Reker, wearing a tuxedo, represented public schools and “formal education.” The Arctic Plunge is a non-profi t organization consisting of vol-unteers Herb Knutson, Warren Lysdahl, Sue Lysdahl, Jim Lun-deen, Duke Dutkiewicz, and Brad Olson. Knutson took the fi rst plunge following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The fi rst plunge, held February 2002 at Long Lake, raised $5,500 to benefi t the Red Cross.

Over the past eight years, the Arctic Plunge has raised over $119,000 for community needs. This year’s benefi ciaries include the fi re departments of Cambridge, St. Francis, Oak Grove, and Dalbo along with the Braham Food Shelf, Cambridge Food Shelf, Spirit River Church Food Shelf, Children Come First, Isanti Senior Dining, and Isanti County Safety Rescue. |

arctic Plunge raises funds for community needs

School district to hold garage sale in JuneOver the years, Independent School District 15 has packed away equipment, chairs, desks, lockers, fi ling cabinets, shop equipment, motors, vin-tage maps, books and other learning materials, as well as a myriad of odds and ends. With a shortage of storage space, the need to clean out these areas is imperative. As a result, ISD 15 will be hold-ing a community garage sale:

Wednesday, June 23Noon-6:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 244:00-8:00 p.m.

The sale will be held at St. Francis Elementary in the gymnasium. Items sold must be taken from the premises on the day of the sale.

For more information, con-tact Tom Larson at 763-753-7041. |


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events,�fundrAisers,�Benefits

Saturday, april 10

A bene� t for Danny Ortel from noon to closing will be held at Route 65 Pub in East Bethel. Live music, food, auc-tion and more. Route 65 Pub is located at 18407 Hwy 65 NE. For information, call 763-413-3550.

A Home Landscaping & Garden Fair will be held 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Bunker Hills Activities Center, 550 Bunker Lake Blvd. in Ando-ver. The event will feature lo-cal garden centers, art objects and plant materials, classes and workshops. Registration is required. The fee is $25 per person, $45 for two, and $30 for walk-in, if space permits. Visit http://blog.lib.umn.edu/mgweb/anoka/ or call 763-755-1280.

The North Artist Studio Crawl will be held 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (also Sunday, april 11). The event brings togeth-er over 40 north suburban artists. Enjoy a wealth of tal-ent as they open their studios for a free self-guided tour and sale. For more informa-tion, visit www.nascrawl.org.

thursday, april 15

Michael Monroe in Concert will be held at Zabee Theater at Elk River High School, 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at http://elkriverart.readyhosting.com or at the Arts Alliance Gallery/Offi ce, 716 Main Street in Elk River.

Friday, april 16

Nowthen Lions Spaghet-ti Dinner will be held at Nowthen City Hall, 19800 Nowthen Boulevard, 4:00-8:00 p.m. Free will donation.

Saturday, april 17

The St. Francis Area Cham-ber of Commerce and ISD 15 Community Education & Services presents the 3rd Annual Spring Community Expo, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at St. Francis High School, 3325 Bridge Street in St. Francis. A day of fun and prizes for all. See the ad on page 2 in this issue of The Courier.

Isanti Area Chamber of Com-merce 2010 Annual Spring Fling Fundraiser begins at 6:00 p.m. at Spectacular Events, at 1001 County Road 5 NE in Isanti. Join us for din-ner, silent auction, raffl es, door prizes and more. Tick-ets are $45 at the door or $40 prior to event by calling the chamber offi ce at 763-444-8515.

Vaccination Clinic at Animal & Exotic Wellness Center in Elk River at 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. visit www.animaland-exotic.com for more details.

Kids Country has a heart for Haiti and is sponsoring an Arts & Crafts fundraiser for Haiti. The event will be held at St. Francis United Meth-odist Church, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information or to donate, visit www.InGreat Numbers.blogspot.com or

united States Census 2010In March 2010, more than 130 million addresses received a 2010 Census form by mail or hand delivery. The 2010 Cen-sus documents the changes in our nation since the last decennial census in 2000, and tells us how we’ve evolved as a country. Because census data affect how more than $400 billion in federal fund-ing is distributed to tribal, state and local governments, the census also will frame the future of our country and our community for the next 10 years.

During Census 2000, the mail participation rate was 72 percent as of the April 2000 cut-off. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participa-

tion. For these and many other reasons, we must work to encourage everyone’s par-ticipation in the census.

Here’s what you should know about the 2010 Census:

It’s easy. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete. The individual in whose name the housing unit is rented or owned should complete the form on behalf of every per-son living there, both rela-tives and nonrelatives.

It’s important. Census data are used to reapportion seats in Congress and ensure prop-er district representation in state and local governments. Information from the census helps determine locations for child-care and senior centers, new roads, hospitals, schools and community centers.

It’s safe. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other fed-eral agencies and law en-forcement entities. All Cen-sus Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confi dentiality of the data. The penalty for unlaw-ful disclosure is a fi ne of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to fi ve years, or both.

Finally, the most effi cient way to respond to the 2010 Cen-sus is to complete the form as soon as it arrives and return it in the postage-paid return envelope. Census workers will visit households that do not return forms to take the count in person.

Source: 2010.census.gov |

call Kids Country Childcare at 763-753-5010.

A bene� t for Shelly Geron-sin Lockwood, 1:00-5:00 p.m. will be held at Route 65 Pub in East Bethel. A contribution will buy a wristband for the event and includes food and beverages. All contributions will go toward Shelly’s medi-cal costs. Raffl es and prizes will be drawn throughout the day. Shelly was diagnosed with cancer in February 2010. She is a graduate of Blaine High School and a resident of this area.

A bene� t for Linda (Novak) Weber will be held at Ham Lake Lanes & Lounge, 1:00-5:00 p.m. A $5 donation at the door comes with a chance to win a great prize, including a TomTom GPS, hand-crafted cedar chest, or a 32" Emerson LCD fl at screen TV. A silent auction and bake sale with random drawings through-out the day, plus a live band. For Linda’s story, visit www.car ingbridge.org/vis i t/lindaweber. Questions can be directed to Lori Dobbs at 763-691-1550 or [email protected]

Friday, april 23

Trinity Lutheran School’s 7th Annual Silent Auction Fundraising Event—Back to the 70s. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Foundation 15 Annual Gala supports the graduating seniors of St. Francis High School. Dinner for two is a $100 donation. There will be many silent auction items and baskets to bid on. The event starts at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Refuge

Golf Course in Oak Grove. For more information, con-tact Dawn Nordin at 763-213-8518.

Saturday, april 25

5th Annual French Toast Brunch will be held at the Oak Grove Senior Center, 19900 Nightingale Street NW, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. This is sponsored by the Oak Grove Lions. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to helping area youth groups, adults $4, chil-dren (12 & under) $3, family rate $15. Let us know if you are interested in fi nding out more about the Lions or be-coming a member.

thursday, april 29

Want to become a Cub Scout? Plan on attending Cub Scouts Night at Cedar Creek Community School, 6:30-8:00

p.m. Watch for fl yers to be sent home from school. Cub Scouts is for all boys entering kindergarten through grade 5 in the 2010-11 school year. For questions, contact Vicky Zinniel at 763-434-6241.

Saturday, may 8

Medication Collection at Goodrich Pharmacy in St. Francis County Market at 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Nowthen Threshing Show Spring Event, 7415 Old Vi-king Boulevard in Nowthen. See May Courier for details

Friday, may 21

St. Francis Friday Nite Rally Car Show begins every Fri-day night May 21 through September 3 at 5:00 p.m. until dusk. Relax on a Friday night at the car show. |


letters�to�the�editor

letters�to�the�editor�policy

The Courier reserves the right to reject any letter submitted and edit letters for clarity, length, and grammar.

Be timely—visit www.the-courier.org for deadline information.

Include contact information—include your full name, title (optional), city, and daytime phone number. Unsigned letters or those submitted without a phone number will not be considered.

Be clear & concise—make one main point in 200 words or less.

Be accurate—letters that are factually inaccurate will not be printed.

Be considerate—only one letter per author every 60 days. Regular contributors should submit letters on varied subjects. Letters by the same author that reiterate opinions previously expressed may not be published. Writers must either live within District 15 or be writing about an issue specific to our coverage area.

Submissions—letters can be sent by email to [email protected], by U.S. mail to The Courier, 4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW, St. Francis, MN 55070, or by fax to 763-753-4693.

Other—thank-you letters that relate to a public event, organization, or official are not considered letters to the editor. Contact the editor regarding submitting that information.

Viewpoints expressed in a letter to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Independent School District 15 or The Courier staff.

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Memorial service for Signe Olivia (Tranberg) BuckSuBMiTTed By BOnnie SwedeenBethel�community�church

A memorial service will be held on Sat-urday, May 1 at the Bethel Community Church in Bethel for Signe Olivia (Tran-berg) Buck, who passed away on Feb-ruary 17 at the age of 92 years. Signe and her husband, Raymond, and their three children moved to Bethel in 1955 from Barron, Wiscon-sin. She worked for Sears Roebuck & Co. in Minneapolis, Luck Game Farm of Isanti, and Sylvester Sal-vage in Cedar. She was very involved with Bethel Community Church with Sunday school classes, Bible classes, ladies groups, Release Time classes, and choir, along with local PTA and 4-H.

Signe enjoyed gardening, flowers, raising rabbits, crafts, friends and family, and submitted many of her items over the years to the Anoka County Fair. Signe and Ray enjoyed 17 years of be-ing snowbirds in Apache Junction, Arizona. They moved from Bethel in 1993 to Cambridge, where they lived at Pine Village Mobile Home Park, then to Mill Ridge Senior Apartments and finally GracePointe Crossing in 2007.

Signe was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ray in 2008, a sister, and two brothers. She is survived by children Wayne (Pat) Buck of Bethel, Dean (Carlene) Buck of St. Paul, and Bonnie (Stan) Swedeen of Bethel, sister Betty (Russ) Kall-strom of Bloomington, and 7 grandchildren, 22 great grand-children, and 1 great-great grandchild. The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff and volunteers at GracePointe Crossing in Cambridge for the excellent care given to Ray and Signe while living there. Blessings to you! |

Photo of Signe and Ray Buck taken in 1996. suBmitted�photo

No letters were received this month.

By ROB eaSTlundstAte�representAtive,�district�17A

This letter is my official an-nouncement that I will not be seeking reelection this No-vember. When my term ends this year I will have enjoyed the unparalleled privilege of serving the residents of Dis-trict 17A in the Minnesota House of Representatives for a decade.

Ten years ago when running for election to this office, my wife and I had one son still in high school and two daugh-ters in college. Today all three of our children have graduat-ed from college, are happily married and to date we have been blessed with six grand-children.

I was first elected as a conser-vative and a Republican and still hold fast to those values. I continue to support indi-vidual liberty and freedom, limited government, free markets, a fair tax system, private property rights, the second amendment, eliminat-ing wasteful spending and excessive government regula-tion, family values and life - from conception to the grave. These values, coupled with what is in the best interest of my constituents, have always been my guide for the bills I have authored and the thou-sands of votes I have cast.

Many conversations with constituents over the years have resulted in some very interesting, spirited discus-sions in person or through email exchanges—sometimes changing my mind—some-times changing theirs and

sometimes just agreeing to disagree. My constituents have always, however, treat-ed me fairly with dignity and respect and for that I am very grateful.

Making this decision has not been easy but it was never my intention to become a career politician. My pas-sion for political activism has not changed but my life pri-orities have. I thank my wife and family for the support they have given me during these ten years. The relent-less schedule of the legisla-tive session, special sessions, phone calls and family in-terruptions and the never-ending campaigning has left little time for my family or anything else.

Serving as a state representa-tive in the Minnesota House has been the most challeng-ing, the most difficult and demanding and at the same time one of the most reward-ing experiences of my life. I have gained the utmost re-spect for the institution and all the wonderful people who serve there. Even though it is difficult to leave, looking back, there is really nothing I would change, but I am look-ing forward to returning to a more normal life outside of politics.

Our state, our country and our world are facing un-precedented challenges, but it is important to remember that behind every challenge is new opportunity. Every problem is begging for a so-lution. When facing difficul-ties in life there is great wis-

dom to be found in the book of Proverbs:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own un-derstanding; In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”

Acting on this truth in Prov-erbs by looking to God for wisdom and understanding, as an individual or as a gov-ernment, gives us another great promise to claim in Jer-emiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to pros-per you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Minnesota is facing some very difficult times. God is not a Republican nor is He a Democrat. More than ever before, we need principled leaders that look to God for the wisdom to work past par-tisan differences to make the right decisions for our state and our nation so we can have the prosperous bright future filled with hope that we are promised. I look forward to working with my successor and doing whatever I can to assist in the transition.

Thanks again for placing your confidence in me by al-lowing me to serve as your state representative. You have given me ten of the best years of my life. Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

God bless you. |

Eastlund not seeking reelection

JOan MageRcedAr�eAst�Bethel�lions�

Mary Cardey was recently presented with a Life Membership by the Cedar East Bethel Lions Club. Mary has been a member of the Cedar East Bethel Li-ons and Lioness for many years. She has demonstrated active leadership and given outstanding service to the club and the community. Mary has given count-less hours to roadside cleanup, Breakfast With Santa, recycling, East Bethel Booster Day, empty bowls, volunteering at Birch-wood, food shelf, Wellness van, and the senior Christmas meal. |


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legislAtive�updAteBY rOB EaStlund stAte�rep.�district�17A

cApitol�updAteBY rIck OlSEEn stAte�sen.�district�17

The capital investment package was recently signed into law, making real progress in the legislature’s goal to promote economic recov-ery and grow jobs in our state during the 2010 session. The final package, after the governor used his line-item veto power, is worth $680 million and is estimated to create 16,000 jobs across Minnesota.

This is a great time to complete construction projects and save taxpayers money, with ma-terial and labor costs low in this struggling economy. The package originally passed by both bodies of the legislature with strong bi-partisan votes was worth $999.6 million, and would have created 23,500 Minnesota jobs. The governor cut $319 million, about a third of the projects, and signed the remainder of the bill into law. Though I would have liked to have done more to stimulate the economy, this in-vestment in our state’s roads, bridges, college campuses, parks and trails, and public utilities will still get thousands of Minnesotans back to work.

This is the earliest we’ve had a capital invest-ment package signed into law in recent his-tory, which is vitally important in these tough economic times. By doing so, we can get these shovel-ready projects underway quickly for the spring and summer construction seasons and get folks back to work in just a matter of weeks.

I’m also happy that an important local project was included in the new capital investment law. Minnesota will provide $1 million to the city of North Branch to construct a water main loop in the ESSBY business park. Building up

the infrastructure of this development will help our region attract new businesses and jobs. This is exactly the type of project that should be accomplished through bonding – creating immediate construction jobs now and the foundation for long-term economic growth.

I’d also like to mention an opportunity for folks to help out our friends and neighbors who’ve come across tough times. New Path-ways, Inc. in Cambridge provides transitional housing and support for local families who are experiencing homelessness. You may be famil-iar with the Interfaith Hospitality Network, where churches provide housing and meals for homeless families; this program is admin-istered through New Pathways.

There are lots of ways for you to help out, such as hosting or cooking at one of the churches, donating personal care supplies, household goods, or furniture, or making a monetary contribution. I recently donated our couch to New Pathways to help a family transitioning into a home. They do not have the capacity to store furniture at their facility, so they accept furniture (in good condition) as they learn of a family in need. You can call 612-819-3171 with questions about the donation of any item, or visit www.newpathwaysmn.com for more in-formation on the program.

I encourage you to contact me with your ques-tions or comments on any issue. You may call me at 651-296-5419, send an email to [email protected], or write to G-24 State Capi-tol, St. Paul, MN 55155. |

Bonding�bill�signed�into�law�will�mean�quick�minnesota�jobsEarlier this year I wrote about the changes to the Green Acres program and the chal-lenges to area farmers. Land reclassifications chopped up family farms into multiple taxable parcels, while confus-ing back-tax payment poli-cies made the passing-on of farm land to future genera-tions nearly impossible—ex-actly the opposite of Green Acres’ original purpose.

This year, area residents saw property tax increases as much as 300 percent, while confusion over the program continued. I proposed a bill in the legislature to repeal the 2008 changes, and an-other to extend the property tax reclassification deadline for land currently in Green Acres. During the beginning of March, the issue was ad-dressed in committee.

The committee hearing fea-tured discussion of many is-sues related to Green Acres. There was considerable agreement on all sides that rising agricultural property taxes is a cause for concern. I was also pleased that several residents from our area were able to testify at the hearing.

The result of the committee

hearing had both positives and negatives. The down side is that the only bills heard in the house related to the property tax classification date change from May 1 to August 15. The upside is that we had the hearing. By hav-ing it before the committee deadlines, we increased the likelihood of some action on Green Acres this session.

I appreciate area residents’ interest and feedback, and I encourage you to continue sending the committee chairs your concerns. With sus-tained community involve-ment, we can keep this issue on the table. Alongside rural legislators from both parties, I will continue to do everything I can to protect our farmers and family farms in these dif-ficult economic times. |

Rob Eastlund represents Dis-trict 17A which includes the cities of Cambridge, Isanti, and North Branch. You may con-tact him at his office, located at 243 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Saint Paul, Min-nesota 55155, by phone at 651-296-5364, or by email at [email protected].

green�Acres�update

Students from Crossroads School and Vocational Center in St. Francis visited Sen. Rick Olseen at the state capitol on March 11.� suBmitted�By�AmAndA�duerr

Free Dollars into Sense ClassAnoka County Extension Staff and Dollar Works Volunteers will

present a free Dollars into Sense class on Tuesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bunker Hills Activities Center

(550 Bunker Lake Blvd., Andover) and 7:00 p.m. at the Blaine Human Services Center (1201 89th Ave, Blaine).

To register, call University of Minnesota Extension, Anoka County, at 763-755-1280 at least three days prior to the class you wish to attend. Classes will cover budgeting and address credit issues, tracking expenses, making a spending plan, goal

setting and how to get help.


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St.FrancisChristianSchoolhasbeeneducatingyoungpeoplesince1976.St.FrancisChristianSchoolisaministryoftheFirstBaptistChurch,designedto

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my�legislAtive�effortsBY mIkE JungBauEr stAte�sen.�district�48

greetings�from�the�cApitAlBY tOm HackBartH stAte�rep.�district�48A

This month, the Minneso-ta State Lottery celebrates its 20th anniversary. I am pleased to report that dur-ing 2009 the lottery contrib-uted more than $1.8 billion to the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the state general fund and other state programs.

When citizens participate in the Minnesota State Lottery, they are helping to preserve, restore, and enhance our state’s environment and nat-ural resources. Each year, the Environment and Natural Re-sources Trust Fund receives 40 percent of lottery net pro-ceeds, or about 6.6 cents of every dollar spent on lottery tickets. These proceeds fund projects including state and local parks and trails opera-tions and maintenance, and programs to enhance fishing and hunting.

Since the inception of the lottery in 1990, sales in Dis-trict 48A totaled over $58 million, with area retailers earning over $3.5 million in commissions and incen-tives. These sales produced $3.9 million for the Environ-ment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, $8.4 million for

The legislative session is par-ticularly intense and divi-sive this term. This is largely because all 201 legislative seats are up for election in November, including several legislators running for gov-ernor. Hence, everyone has an agenda. This divisive en-vironment affects numerous pieces of legislation, among them the bonding bill, deficit reduction, and General Assis-tance Medical Care (GAMC).

The bonding bill proved par-tisan, as Governor Pawlenty struggled with the house and senate. The Governor clearly identified what he required to sign a bill into law, and these requirements were not met to his standards.

For example, he stipulated the bill should not exceed $725 million, and the initial proposal was $1 billion. The governor also told the house and senate that funding first needed to go to core functions such as veterans, military, and public safety. While the final bonding bill did include funding for prison security and sex offender programs, it was well below the gover-nor’s recommendations.

Hence, what legislative lead-ers thought would have taken a week to pass, took over a month. Even with the extra time, the governor still line-item vetoed over $300 million, including higher education, state trail acquisi-tion, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, cultural, and civic centers.

The budget is experiencing the same sort of funding cri-sis. All supplemental bud-get appropriations are made based on forecasts of the state’s income and now re-quire cuts because the 2010-11 revenue of the state will be about $1 billion less than projected. While K-12 educa-tion funding makes up about 40 percent of the budget, this money has been deemed too important to cut. Therefore, cuts must be made from oth-er areas, such as higher edu-cation, the environment, lo-cal governments, and likely,

health and human services.

These health and human ser-vices cuts are truly conten-tious right now, with Gen-eral Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) at the forefront of this issue. The GAMC bill was vetoed initially, and af-ter some attempts to override the governor, the bill was sent back to conference com-mittee for negotiations with the governor and legislative leaders. They have come to an agreement to continue the program using a new method of payment.

GAMC will use a reformed method of providing care called Coordinated Care Or-ganizations (CCO) that will manage healthcare and pro-vide medically necessary ser-vices. Capped block grants to CCO will be funded with $71 million from the state’s gen-eral fund in fiscal year 2010-11, and $131 million in fiscal year 2012-13. Providers will lose a considerable amount of money because they will no longer be reimbursed us-ing the fee-for-service meth-od; all funding will be from capped block grants.

All dollars need to be stretched in this economic cli-mate. In November, forecasts indicated a $1.2 billion defi-cit for the remainder of this biennium. Most recently, the March forecast shows that the deficit has shrunk by $200 million (currently standing at $994 million until the end of the biennium) due to an unexpected increase in cor-porate tax and motor vehicle sales tax collection. Hap-pily, gross domestic product growth is expected at 1.8 per-cent annually, which means Minnesota can expect a re-turn to pre-recession levels in late 2011. |

Mike Jungbauer is serving his second term in the Minnesota State Senate. He encourages and appreciates constituent input, and can be reached at 651-296-3733; by mail to 121 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55115; email [email protected].

the state’s general fund and $834,000 each for the game and fish fund and the natural resources fund.

The past year saw record lottery participation in Dis-trict 48A, with sales totaling $481 million in fiscal year 2009. This resulted in $119 million for the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund and other state pro-grams, as well as $249,914 in commissions and incentives for 26 local retailers.

In this 20th anniversary of the Minnesota State Lottery, it is great to see our area’s contin-ued participation. Each ticket and scratch game is a win for area businesses, the environ-ment, and our outdoors ex-periences. |

Rep. Tom Hackbarth is the state representative for House Dis-trict 48A which includes Elk River, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Bethel and East Bethel. You may contact him at his office located at 309 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in St. Paul, MN 55155, by phone at 651-296-2439, or by email at [email protected].

record�lottery�saleseveryone�has�an�agenda

Did You Know?The Federal Deposit Insur-ance Corporation (FDIC) was established in 1934, part of a bevy of financial reforms passed as a result of the Great Depression. When money is deposited into an account with an FDIC-protected bank, the FDIC guarantees the amount of money up to $100,000 per depositor, and some retirement accounts are covered up to $250,000 per deposit. Any deposit into an FDIC-insured bank is pro-tected regardless of the de-positor’s citizenship status or country of residence. In light of the economic downturn of 2009, many FDIC-insured banks failed. In such instanc-es, a formal notice of failure is issued to the FDIC by a gov-ernment agency. That notice decrees the bank is no longer able to meet its obligations. Once that has been issued, the FDIC can then either take over the bank or it can be pur-chased by another bank. In 2009, numerous failed banks were purchased by other banks. Oftentimes, account holders find little immediate impact when their bank is purchased, as direct depos-its are still made and even branches remain open, only now with different names on the doors.

$ $ $ $ $wOMen’S

gOlF league seeks golfers for

9-hole league at Rum River Hills

golf Course, starts april 28. Call Teresa

Compton at 763-576-8584.

Realtors and other business professionals are invited to a breakfast hosted by Independent School District 15. Administration and school board members will share positive aspects about the K-12 public school system. A short DVD will be shown and information about the

schools will be presented followed by a question & answer session. You are encouraged to attend. RSVP by

Friday, April 16 by calling 763-753-7031 or email: [email protected].

26 the�courier�|�April�2010� www.the-courier.orgCommunity/Business

North Metro Money Management

•RetirementPlanning•CollegePlanning•Investing•MutualFunds•Annuities

23624St.FrancisBlvd.,Hwy.47•St.FrancisSecuritiesofferedthroughSammonsSecuritiesCompany,LLCmemberFINRAandSIPC.

5/08

Call for a free personal confidential consultation.Lyle Clem • 763-434-9724

• IRAs(Roth,Traditional,Education…)

•LifeInsurance(Variable,Term…)

(763)

753-6614David Johnson

www.highlandmoneymgmt.com

Securities offered through Sammons Securities Company, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Are you changing jobs or retiring? Call me to rollover your 401k to an IRA.

Retirement • Investments • College Planning • Life Insurance

23624 St. Francis Blvd., Suite #5St. Francis, MN 55070

Jennings, DeWan & Anderson, LLC

A Full Service Law Firm practicing in the areas ofBusiness, Real Estate, Personal Injury, Auto Accidents and Death Claims, Divorce and Family Law, Criminal, DWI, Probate, and Estate Planning.

– Title Insurance Agents –

Joseph W. Anderson, SF ‘68Certified Real Property Law Specialist

Mark N. Jennings

Daniel P. DeWanFamily and Civil Law Mediator

3296 NW Bridge Street St. Francis, Minnesota 55070

763-753-3028

i�hAte�when�thAt�hAppensBY randY gErdIn Ase�certified�techniciAn

what�you�don’t�know�can�hurt�you,�or�don’t�ask,�don’t�tell

I don’t know if you have noticed this or not, but it seems that things happen in threes. It seems that if something breaks in the house, three things break.

Anyhow, the other day I was talking to one of our service advi-sors regarding a certain topic. A few hours later, a great long-time customer came in and asked a question on the same topic. A few hours after that, another guy was in and asked about the very same topic. I thought I should address it.

The question is, when you bring in your vehicle to some shops, why is it they seem to regularly have other recommendations for you? Some shops never have other recommendations for the driver.

I found out that this is not unique to the automotive world. An-other longtime customer came in who is a doctor. He was an-noyed that some of his colleagues are not always upfront with their patients. Recently, he had to tell an elderly lady that her husband of many years was going to die. He told her that all of us are going to die someday, but for now, the plan is to face the facts. A plan was made so that her husband could have the best quality of life in the remaining time. The wife was expecting this, but was extremely grateful that the doctor leveled with her and could now make plans for the future.

He said some doctors (who are just people, by the way) have trouble giving bad news. His belief was to be upfront with peo-ple and let them be part of the decision-making process.

The same thing happens in the car world. There are those who want to be upfront with people and let them know of potential problems. Then there are those who just don’t say anything in fear that the customer may think they are just trying to get more business. It is a sticky situation.

My personal feeling is to properly inspect a vehicle and inform the driver of any problems, along with the manufacturer’s reg-ular maintenance schedule. I feel it is always better to be proac-tive than to be caught unaware.

If a technician is doing his job properly, then most likely there will be some recommendations. If nothing else, the owner’s manual has items in the maintenance schedule that should be mentioned.

Just like your doctor, if he is taking the time with you, he most likely will have recommendations for you. I know my doctor is always after me to exercise and watch my salt intake. It was a hassle for me and costly as well. The last time I saw my doc-tor, he wanted me to see a specialist because some of my blood work was slightly off. It was up to me to make the appoint-ment, take time from work, and pay for the tests needed. But in the long run, I am the one to benefit from the expertise of the specialist.

The same is true with your vehicle. If a technician makes a rec-ommendation, it is generally in your best interest to get it taken care of. One of the issues with every service is trust. If you don’t trust your doctor, you probably will find a new one. If you don’t trust your mechanic, you probably will do the same.

If you do trust your doctor and mechanic, realize they are look-ing out for you, even if your doctor tells you need to lose a little weight.

I hate when that happens. |

Realtors & other business

professionals:

Please join us for breakfast hosted by

Independent School District 15

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 8:00-9:15 a.m.

The Refuge Golf Course & Restaurant 21250 Yellowpine Street NW

Oak Grove, Minnesota

The Courier announces winnersSuBMiTTed By JaniCe audeTTeAdvertising�sAles,�the�courier

The Courier is happy to announce the winners of the first advertising draw-ing of 2010. They are: Gerdin Auto & Tire, winner of free one color added to an existing ad (a value of $80), St. Francis Insurance, winner of one free 2 column x 6 inch ad (value of $93),

and Marianne Roesner E.A. Income Tax, winner of one free 2 column x 3 inch ad with one color (value of $73).

To be eligible, ads needed to be placed in the January, Febru-ary and March issues of The Courier, and accounts needed to be current. We appreciate our loyal advertisers very much. Please thank the businesses that advertise in The Courier. Thank you and congratulations from The Courier staff. |

SuBMiTTed By KaRen MOeHRingvillAge�BAnk,�st.�frAncis

Village Bank is pleased to an-nounce that Curt Strandlund of East Bethel has been ap-pointed to the Village Bank Board of Directors.

“Curt’s success has come from his highly respected style of business. He is a stick-ler for quality while listen-ing closely to his customer’s needs. He will bring honesty, integrity and confidentiality to the board, values our busi-ness is built on,” said Village Bank owner and Chairman of the Board Don Kveton.

Curt owns Classic Construc-tion, Inc. of East Bethel. He will bring to Village Bank an understanding from both the customer side and now the bank point of view. “I am glad to have this opportunity to serve and help make the best decisions for both sides.”

“Our business started with a pickup truck and wheelbar-row 26 years ago. At that time our focus was primar-ily on cement work,” shared Curt. Today Classic Con-struction, Inc. also does gen-eral contracting and has built a number of local commercial buildings, including the con-struction of the Village Bank in East Bethel. Other projects include Blaine Bros. Mainte-nance, Forest Lake Hockey Arena, Foundation Hill Mon-tessori & Childcare, Blue Fin Pool & Spa, Princeton Hockey Arena, the St. Fran-cis County Market addition and adjacent malls to name a few. Curt runs a hands-on business with a close connec-tion to the customers. He is actively involved in all jobs to keep quality at the highest level.

Curt’s hobbies include snow-mobiling, spending time with his family at the cabin on Big Sandy Lake and recently try-ing his hand at a bit of crop farming. He and his wife, Di-ane, have lived in East Bethel together for 28 years and have three children. They are waiting the arrival of their first grandchild early this spring. |

Curt Strandlund appointed to Village Bank Board

27www.the-courier.org� the�courier�|�April�2010 Business/Income Tax Tips

FTM Tax & Accounting

James A. Jensen

Business Phone: 763-444-4856 Fax: 763-444-4513

•TaxPreparation Farm,Business

&Personal

•TaxManagement FinancialPlanning

Assistance Accounting&Payroll

Services include: Individual Income Taxes • Business Taxes Tax Planning • Quickbooks & Peachtree Assistance

Sara D. Sauer, C.P.A.

Elaine M. Mustari, C.P.A.

763-413-339023306 Cree Street, Suite 103 (next to St. Francis City Hall)

Email: [email protected] site: www.Sauer-Mustari-CPAs.com

ExpEriEncEd incomE Tax prEparaTion Call Jolynn at 763.434.2343

to schedule your appointment Appointments Available 7 Days a Week 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

21471 Ulysses St. NE • East Bethel, MN 55011

And Associates

Walk-ins Welcome

KELLY’SKELLY’STAX SERVICE

Taxpreparationforindividuals,families,andsmallbusinesses

Uptodateonnewtaxlaws

763-753-206722491CedarDriveNW(Hwy.13)•Bethel,MN55005

Lynn Karasch, MBA, CPASpecializing in Individual & Small Business Returns

By appointmentPhone 763-413-3090Fax 763-434-4739www.ldkaccounting.comOpen year round for all of your accounting needs.

Ta x P r e Pa r aT i o n

• Accounting & Bookkeeping Services

• Consulting• Payroll Services• Business Startup

Services

Marianne Roesner, E.A.Income Tax and Accounting Services

19531 Marigold Street NWOak Grove, MN 55303-9006

E-mail: [email protected]

763-753-5555 Fax: 763-753-6666

National Association of Tax PractitionersEnrolled to Practice Before the IRS

Valerie L. TempCertified Public Accountant

Accounting and Income Tax ServicesOffered Year-Round for Individuals and Businesses

763-753-5521Serving the St. Francis area since 1987

Tax Tip for april 2010file�your�tax�return…even�if�you�cannot�pay�the�amount�due�or�you�have�a�lossSuBMiTTed By TRaCy SlePiCasAnnerud,�sAvArese�&�AssociAtes,�p.A.

The year 2009 has been financially challenging for most, both individuals and businesses alike. With that, some may worry, will I owe taxes and if I do, how will I pay them? Rule #1: file your tax returns by the due dates. By doing this, if you owe taxes you will avoid the costly failure to file penalties and some of the interest charges. If you do owe and are unable to pay the full amount, making partial payments will help reduce the amount of penalties and interest.

If you are due a refund, there is no penalty for failure to file; however, you cannot receive your refund without filing your tax return—wait too long to file, and you may lose the refund altogether.

If you have a loss (or negative income), you should still file your tax return—purely to close the statue of limitations on au-dits. If you have securities sales or small businesses with profits over $400, you need to file a tax return.

If you are wondering about your own situation, please feel free to give us a call; we are happy to help! |

St. Francis women of Today’s nominee receives awardBy dana HOenigSCHMidTpuBlic�relAtions�mAnAger,�minnesotA�women�of�todAy

Hanna Maslowski, daughter of Tom and Lisa Maslowski of

Blaine, has been chosen as an Outstanding Person with Developmental Challenges by the Minnesota Women of Today. She was one of the finalists chosen from entries from across the state. The St. Francis Area Women of Today nominated Hanna for this award. The Outstanding Person with Developmen-tal Challenges Award is de-signed to recognize people who have made valuable contributions and who make a positive impact on their community.

Hanna is in seventh grade and is a student ambassador at Westwood Middle School. In addition to raising money for multiple charities and vol-unteering her time at events, and as 2009 Minnesota Junior Miss You Can Do It, Hanna is very excited about her lat-est project. Hanna is the in-spiration behind “Pageant of Hope,” a pageant to provide a magical evening of hopes and dreams for girls ages 6-18 with special needs. The pageant was a sellout held at the Season’s of Bunker Hills on March 13. For more infor-mation on the pageant, visit www.pageantofhope.com.

Hanna was presented with this award at the Minnesota Women of Today Convention at the Double Tree Hotel in St. Louis Park on January 30.

The St. Francis Area Chapter of the Minnesota Women of Today is a community ser-vice and leadership training organization. Membership is open to those 18 years of age and over. If you would like more information please con-tact the Chapter Service Cen-ter at 763.421.4718 or www.mnwt.org |

Hanna Maslowski won the Outstanding Person with develop-mental Challenges award at the Minnesota women of Today con-vention in March. suBmitted�photo

The St. Francis lionesses and lions would like to thank Cub Scout Pack 511, St. Francis County Mar-ket, and St. Francis Foods for their help with the north anoka County emergency Food Shelf food drive. Thanks to the community for your support. Pictured above, Scout leader Mark Radzwill with McCabe and isabella. suBmitted�photo

Sannerud, SavareSe & aSSociateS, p.a.Certified Public Accountants

Specializing in accounting and taxes for closely-held and family-owned businesses since 1974. Tax Season Office Hours: January 26-April 15 Monday,Tuesday,Thursday 8:00a.m.-8:00p.m. WednesdayandFriday 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Saturday 8:00a.m.-Noon

763-434-59291207ConstanceBlvd.NE•HamLake

www.sannerudsavarese.com

Beginning April 16 Hours:Monday-Friday

8:00a.m.-4:30p.m.

Sports & Outdoors28 The Courier | April 2010 www.The-Courier.org

Reserved parking for Street Rods, Customs

Classics, Trucks Motorcycles

Antique through 1980 ModelsMusic & Prizes

Sponsored by: St. Francis Collision/Joe’s Hot Rod Shop,

St. Francis McDonald’s Billy’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill,

St. Francis County Market and other area merchants

St. Francis City Centre MallHighway 47 &

Pederson Drive NWSt. Francis

For rally information, call Connie at St. Francis Collision/Joe’s Hot Rod Shop: 763-753-6116

or visit the web site

Free Admission • Everyone Welcome

St. FrancisFriday Nite Rally

6th Season

www.stfranciscarshow.com

CAR ShowEvery Friday, May 21 - Sept. 3 (except rainouts)

5:00 p.m. until DuskSt. Francis City Centre Mall

Casual and relaxed atmosphere…bring the family, stay for dinner!Food and beverages available at local restaurants.

St. Francis High School 5th Annual Softball Fundraiser

“Rip it Open” Golf Tournament

Friday, May 21 at Hidden Haven Golf Club

4:30 p.m. shotgun start4 person scramble

$50 per person includes 9 holes of golf, cart and dinner

$15 for dinner only

Registration deadline is May 15

For more information or to register call Troy at 763-753-0208 or email to

[email protected]

Ascension Bodyworks is looking for people who want to achieve higher ground.

Our disciplines are: Kettlebell Functional Body Fitness Women’s Self Defense ✦ Yoga Fit ✦ Pilates Taijitsu (Authentic Japanese Martial Art)

19580 Tamarack Street Cedar, MN 55011Upstairs level of

Carl Hanson Drywall

Visit www.ascensionbodyworks.com

or call 763-267-2198

Oak Ridge Auto Body Inc.

23428 Hwy. 65 NE2 Blks S of CR 24 on Hwy 65

763-434-4772

East Bethel Auto Body Inc.

2817 E. Viking Blvd.Next to E. Bethel Fire Station

763-434-7373

Friendly and dependable serviceCollision speCialists

Recommended by insurance companiesAsk about a free loaner car • Owners John and Lori Buchta

Saints softball set for successSumbitted by doug LubySAinTS SofTbAll

The St. Francis Saints soft-ball team is anticipating a strong season this year at all levels. Saints varsity coaches Alan Schlomann and Carolyn Thompson look to build on their reputation for fielding a strong defensive team, led this year by senior captains Julia Dugas, Amanda Luby, and Shauny Moen.

Both starting varsity pitchers from last year, junior Lindsay Schultz and sophomore Deb-by Evans, return again this year to lead a strong young pitching staff.

The Saints will look for de-fensive support from return-ing players Madison Hill and Kelsey Gale, and from a number of other sophomores and juniors.

The junior varsity squad, with new coach Beth Spur-rier, will be traveling quite a bit to seek out the best com-petition, including tourna-ments in North St. Paul and Lakeville.

The B squad will once again be directed by Jen Close, and will attempt to continue its dominance in the conference. Coach Marty DeKanick will be taking over at the fresh-man level, with one of the largest influx of young play-ers in recent history. Coach Mikki Hanson will again be working with the pitchers.

Visit www.nsconference.org to view team schedules.

girls basketball season ends successful season with trip to stateSubmitted by SFHS girLSVarSity CoaCHing StaFF

The 2009-10 St. Francis High School (SFHS) girls basket-ball season has come to a close, and what a successful season it was. The 39 girls in the program worked hard every day and the improve-ment showed on the court with both the 9th grade and varsity teams claiming con-ference championships.

The winning didn’t stop once the varsity team reached the playoffs as the Saints began the 7AAAA playoffs with a 72-42 defeat of Anoka at home. For the second round of playoffs, the team drew a tough Forest Lake team and defeated them by a score of 63-57.

This set up a rematch of a game played during an eventful alumni/youth par-ents night with Cambridge-Isanti. The first game be-tween these two teams was hard fought with Cambridge winning 63-60. The second time around, however, be-longed to the Saints. The girls took control from the begin-ning and kept it, winning 70-

the 2009-10 St. Francis High School girls basketball team finished the season at the state tournament. SubmiTTed phoTo

47 in front of a very energetic crowd at North Branch High School. The victory gave the Saints their second state tour-nament appearance in three years and set up a battle against Chaska. For five play-ers, this marked a return to the state tournament—a rare feat for any team in SFHS sport history.

The team came out ready to play against Chaska, jump-ing out to a 10-4 lead early on. The hot shooting and strong defense led to a halftime score of 35-31. Unfortunately the team ran out of steam and the shooting percentage dropped in the second half. This led to Chaska pulling away and beating the Saints by a final score of 76-57.

The Saints were led in scor-ing by Jordan Falk with 16 points, Taylor Morrell with 14, and Melissa Borstner with 13. It marked the last game for the five seniors: Melissa Borstner, Kelsey Lipinski, Taylor Morrell, Jill Morri-son, and Courtney Wenker. These girls gave an amazing four years to the high school basketball program and the

coaching staff wishes them nothing but the best in their future endeavors.

The coaching staff and the team would also like to thank all the community members for their support during this wonderful season.

St. francis girls basketball holds end of year banquetThe St. Francis High School girls basketball season offi-cially ended with the banquet on March 25 at high school. The banquet consisted of great food and recognition for the students’ achieve-ments. The 15 members of the varsity team were each given state tournament par-ticipation certificates.

Individual awards were handed out as well. Kelsey Lipinski earned the Top Re-bounder Award as well as the Most Improved Player Award. The Offensive Player Award was shared by Melissa Borstner and Taylor Morrell. Jordan Falk won the Defen-sive Player award. Melissa Borstner also won the Team

MVP award. The Team Spirit Award went to Sam Salo. Jill Morrison and Jordan Falk tied for the team’s highest free throw percentage award.

The North Suburban Con-ference also gave awards to some of the athletes. Kelsey Lipinski, Jill Morrison, and Joy Mikkelson won all-con-ference honorable mention awards. Melissa Borstner, Jor-dan Falk, and Taylor Morrell won all-conference awards. Melissa Borstner won the North Suburban Conference Most Valuable Player Award.

The banquet was a great way to end a wonderful season.

The coaching staff would like to thank all of the players, parents and fans for a won-derful season, and we hope you continue to support the St. Francis High School girls basketball program.

29www.The-Courier.org The Courier | April 2010 Sports & Outdoors

Hidden Haven Golf ClubGolf leaGues Now formiNG!H All Leagues open to the public H

men’s Golf Club Tuesday & Thursday eveningsladies Golf league Wednesday eveningsJunior Golf league Tuesday morningsCouples Golf league Friday eveningssenior Golf league Thursday mornings

For registration and information stop in, call the Golf Shop at 763-434-6867 or go to

www.hiddenhavengolfclub.com

20520 NE Polk StreetCedar, MN 55011

TimeTo

Join!

Call today for info!

763.444.4222 23815 Johnson Street • East Bethelwww.gymnasticsgalaxy.com

Open GyM Fun FOr All AGeS!

Now offering open gym fun for adults!Tuesdays 8:00-10:00 p.m. cost $10

Open GyM TiMeSTuesday Thursday Friday saTurday

2nd & 4th Friday of each month eCFe

Parent/Tot 10-11 am, Cost $3* or6:15-7 pm, Cost $4*

3-5 year olds

10:45-11:30 amCost $4* 6:15-7 pm, Cost $4*

Ages 5+ 7-9 pm, Cost $7* 1-3 pm Cost $7*

Adults 8-10 pmCost $10*

*Member pricing, call for non-member access and pricing.

For all your Automotive Repairs & Maintenance

21388 Johnson Street NE, 1 block W of Hwy. 65 & Sims Rd. in East BethelMonday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 763-413-3445

St. Francis Auto Parts763-753-4698

4140 St. Francis Blvd., just south of town on Hwy. 47

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Wrestlers earn honors at state tournamentSumbitted by KeitH LipinSKiSfhS wreSTling

The 2009–10 wrestling season is in the books, and a pair of St. Francis wrestlers are able to add their names to the list of Saints wrestlers who have earned all-state honors at the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament.

To get there, however, they had to get through what was con-sidered to be a sort of mini state tournament, the Section 7AAA Individual Tournament. Soph-omore Austin Leibel, rated sec-ond in the state, won his third consecutive Section 7AAA championship at 119 pounds. Senior Cody Raze, rated 7th in the state at 215 pounds, came away with a victory, and the Section 7AAA title.

Even though Leibel and Raze were the only Saints wrestlers able to punch their tickets to the Excel Center for the state tournament, several other Saints had an impressive per-formance at the Section 7AAA tournament. Senior Ryan O’Connell at 125 pounds was able to bounce back and earn third place.

Kyle Allen at 145 pounds, and Jayce Oie at 112 pounds came away with fourth place fin-ishes. Cole Ostendorf at 140 pounds and Justin Hartzberg at 152 pounds both finished fifth. Colton Oie at 103 pounds, Alex Eastman at 135 pounds, Travis Kapol at 171 pounds, and Nate Lipinski at 189 pounds all ended their seasons with sixth place finishes.

At the state tournament, Lei-bel and Raze proved that they were two of the best wrestlers at their weight class.

Leibel battled to the finals against number one ranked Dakota Trom of Apple Valley.

(Left) austin Leibel placed second in his weight division at the state wrestling tournament and Cody raze (right) took third place. SubmiTTed phoTo

This was one of the few finals that saw the top two ranks compete. The momentum of the match kept swinging back and forth. Leibel fell for only the second time this season by a score of 9–4. Leibel finished the season with a record of 42–2, a third place finish at the Minnesota Christmas Tourna-ment, and a second place finish at the Minnesota State Tourna-ment.

Senior Cody Raze was in a dif-ferent position. Even though he was the 7AAA champion, his road to placing at state could arguably be one of the tough-est. For his first round match,

Local player on top-ranked college baseball teamSumbitted by JuLie tHomaSbeThAny luTherAn College

Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, the second-place finisher in the 2009 confer-ence race and Upper Mid-west Athletic Conference Tournament runner-up, was the overwhelming pick to win the league in 2010.

Bethany Lutheran, who re-ceived 48 points and six first place votes in the coaches’ poll, are coming off a great year that brought national attention to the program. The Vikings were well-rep-resented in numerous NCAA national statistics categories in both hitting and pitch-ing in 2009. Bethany returns

Raze found himself paired against the third ranked wres-tler and was able to completely dominate the match. In his quarterfinal match, he faced off against the only individual who had beaten him this year. Despite his best efforts, Raze lost and dropped down to the wrestlebacks, where he would go on to win two matches to place third. Raze had to wres-tle a rated wrestler in every match and was able to defeat all but one.

Thanks go out to all the wres-tlers, parents and coaches on a great season. We will see you next year.

Summer field use being scheduledby tom LarSonSTAff wriTer

All 22 outdoor playing fields, which are part of Indepen-dent School District 15’s out-door facilities, are currently being scheduled through the Community Education De-partment. Fields will be open to the public through a permit process only, with the first day of availability starting April 12. Users must be registered and scheduled as part of the summer permit process.

Field and building use of school district facilities is governed by ISD 15’s Facility Use Policy 700 that outlines the permit pro-cess, rules and regulations, and fees related to use, be it prac-tice, games or tournaments. The ISD 15 School Board re-views the policies and proce-dures periodically. The policy can be found on the district’s web site at www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us, Resources>Community Resources>Facility Scheduling.

Use of outdoor fields are usu-ally requested through local athletic associations serving the area youth. The asso-ciations currently scheduled include St. Francis Baseball Association, St. Francis Fast Pitch Association, North Met-ro Soccer, Community Educa-

travis Fisher

all but two starters from last year’s team that went 17-3 in UMAC play.

Among the players is sopho-more Travis Fisher, a St. Fran-cis High School graduate from Cedar.

tion Recreation Department (for T-ball, baseball, softball), St. Francis Legion Baseball, and several local town base-ball teams. All users pay a fee of $9 per three-hour units of time for each use scheduled. Fees cover summer grounds staff, fertilizer, irrigation sys-tems, and general upkeep and maintenance of the facilities. The high school varsity and junior varsity programs have priority for field use and are scheduled first, April through the first week in June, general-ly in the afternoon hours. All other associations are sched-uled evenings and weekends.

For scheduling and permits, please contact Tom Larson, Director of Community Edu-cation and Maintenance Ser-vices, by phone at 763-753-7041 or by email at [email protected].

30 The Courier | April 2010 www.The-Courier.orgSports & Outdoors

763-753-4993St. Francis • 3128 Bridge Street

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Engine or Transmission Replacement

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Expires: 5/4/10. Not valid with any other offers. Good at Gerdin Auto & Tire in St. Francis. Coupon must be presented at time of service.

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763-753-6116www.sfcollision.com

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Visit us at the

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St. Francis Physical Therapy

St. Francis Mall

763-753-8804Ham Lake Physical

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Isanti Physical Therapy

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Call today for more information, Theresa at 763.213.1616 or email [email protected]

Fitness 15 • Sandhill Center23820 Dewey StreetBethel, MN 55005

HoursM, W, F 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. • T, Th 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

St. Francis u12 girls hockey ranked sixth in stateSumbitted by CaLLi SigFriniuSST. frAnCiS hoCkey

The U12 girls hockey team finished their regular season play with a 14-2-2 record and advanced to district play. District 10, which the girls play in, is noted as one of the toughest districts in the state. Heading into districts the team played the second and seventh ranked teams in the state and won the champion-ship. After taking first place at districts, they were ranked 6th in the state. From there they advanced to regional play in Richfield.

The girls won all three of the games in their bracket, one game going into four over-

the St. Francis u12 girls hockey team finished the season 14-2-2. SubmiTTed phoTo

Peewee hockey ends seasonSumbitted by deb Humannpeewee hoCkey

Thank you to coaches, managers, and parents of the Peewee C hockey team for a great season. The team took third place in the Dodge County Shootout and were contenders for the T-bowl in the South St. Paul Tournament, taking seventh place. The boys placed second in their league and competed in the District 10 tournament in February. They won most of their games but did not make it to the championship round. They ended the season with a 9-1 win over Rogers and a season record of 7-2-1.

Team members include Briar Mishler, Trent Lobeck, Andrew Humann, Mason Abraham, Preston Carlson, Conner Denny, Gunner Dupont, Ronnie Gall, Jacob Lohman, Kevin Reed, Mitchel Schultz, Elliot Stanaway; coaches Mitch Carlson, Barry Bourgoin, Dan Lohman, Justin Dupont; managers Sallie Mish-ler and Jodi Rasche.

the peewee C hockey team took third place in the dodge County Shootout. SubmiTTed phoTo Dance team

to hold tryoutsSumbitted by JiLL SaLoSfhS dAnCe TeAm

Tryouts for the 2010-11 St. Francis High School Compet-itive Dance Team (varsity and junior varsity) will take place at St. Francis High School’s back gym on May 17, 18, and 19, from 3:00-5:30 p.m. All young ladies who will be in grades 9-12 during the 2010-11 school year are eligible to try-out.

Middle school students will be considered if they feel they possess a skill level con-sistent with a varsity level team.

Athletes should come to try-outs wearing T-shirts, athletic shorts or shorts with tights un-der them, tennis shoes and/or technique shoes. Informa-tion packets are available in the SFHS athletic office. Call Coach Jill Salo at 763-213-1574 with questions.

times. The team was exhaust-ed but gave it everything they had and defeated North Metro 2-1. The team took second place at regions after a loss to Tartan, the number

the trinity Kings’ 7th and 8th grade boys basketball team of trin-ity Lutheran School in St. Francis took 6th place at the Lutheran Schools State basketball tournament February 26-28 at Concor-dia university in St. paul. the Kings won their first game over im-manuel Courtland, lost the second game to number one seed trinity Waconia, and won the third game over trinity First of min-neapolis, finishing with a win over King of Kings of roseville. in the final game against bloomington Lutheran, the Kings lost by three points in overtime and finished their season with an overall record of 18-4. the boys were coached by aaron deLong, matt deLong, and todd Johnson. SubmiTTed by TriniTy SChool

one ranked team.

The girls have been coached by Cory Denney, Tom Sig-frinius, Doug Folk, and Tom St. Marie for several years. They have always been told wherever they go, whether it is regular district play or an out of town tournament, that they are representing not only themselves but St. Fran-cis. People notice. The girls have very proud parents and families but were also sup-ported by many association members at their district and regional playoffs.

Life & Classifi ed31www.The-Courier.org The Courier | April 2010

eAsT BeThelsenior evenTs

Senior Dance

Come dance with us, we know how to have fun! Danc-es are from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Mr. Morgan will be the musi-cal entertainment on Friday, May 7. Jim Armstrong will play on June 4. The cost is $5 and includes lunch.

pancake Breakfast

All are welcome to the East Bethel Seniors Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, April 11, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Kookie’s pan-cakes, French toast, sausage, juice, coffee, and scrambled eggs, additional 50¢ per egg. Cost for breakfast is $4 for adults and $2 for children age 10 and under.

All events are held at the East Bethel Senior Commu-nity Center located one mile east of Highway 65 on 221st Avenue in East Bethel for the dance or pancake breakfast. |

OUR SAVIOUR’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

Worship With UsSundays at 8:00, 9:15, and 10:45 a.m.

Wednesday Power Up services at 6:30 p.m.

Join Us For… Divorce Support, AA/NA Meetings,

Men’s Groups, Women’s Groups, Family Events, Creative Stamping, Quilting + so much more.

19001 Jackson Street NE • East Bethel, MN 55011West County Road 22 south on Jackson Street

763-434-6117 email: [email protected] • www.oursaviourslc.org

EC

LA

St. Francis United Methodist Church3914-229th Avenue • St. Francis, MN

(Across from St. Francis Elementary and right by the hockey rink)stfrancis-umc.org 763-753-2273

God always loves youAnd we would love to grow

in God’s love with you.Sunday School for all ages 9:15 a.m.

Worship 10:30 a.m.

Our center is focused on good health and teaching others about healthy living!

If your need is to lose weight—join our Weight-Loss Challenge for 12 weeks or VIP One-On-One

Weight Loss Program for 12 sessions.Both weight loss options include:• FREE nutritional information• FREE metabolism tests and much moreWeight-Loss Challenge times are: 2:00 p.m. Tuesdays, 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays, and 6:00 p.m. Thursdays.

WMD WELLNESS CENTER3122 Viking Blvd. • Oak Grove

Call us at 763-753-3242 or come in and say hello, have questions—

email us at [email protected] or visit our web site at www.WMDWellnessCenter.com

Changing people’s lives one person at a time.

Wanda Donovan, Owner

MAsTer gArdenerBy CArOl BrAy isAnTi CounTy MAsTer gArdener

Tree selectionThe many different ways to buy a tree

This time of year I start check-ing the opening dates for my favorite nurseries. I really enjoy looking (and usually buying) some of the bare root plants that are offered for sale at the beginning of the gardening season. Last year, I bought a Contender peach tree. According to the Bai-ley’s representative, the tree should be fi ne for my garden in southwestern Isanti County. I’ll let you know if it survives the winter and if and when it starts produc-ing yummy peaches. Bare root is the least expensive type of tree to purchase for plant-ing. These plants have been dug up and there is no soil protecting the roots. Bare root plants are only offered at the be-ginning of the gardening sea-son. It is imperative to keep the roots wet (don’t drown them though) and plant as soon as possible. You can also buy shrubs, asparagus plants, strawberry plants, and other bare root—gener-ally with much luck.

You may also choose to pur-chase a containerized plant. Some trees are container grown and some are trans-planted into a container. You don’t need to be in such a rush to plant in containers, but you must keep them

watered. These plants are susceptible to becoming pot-bound or to have their roots circling the container. If I no-tice my container plant has roots circling the container I will slice off the bottom inch and cut away the outer edge of the plant. I do this to en-able the roots to spread out and for smaller roots to grow

and soak up sun and oxygen.

Balled and burlapped is the typical way one will buy a larger tree. These are expen-sive trees. Unfortunately, a large portion of the roots has been removed when the tree was harvested from the fi eld. These trees will take a lot of water and attention to re-cover from the transplant, so much so that it is more prag-matic to purchase a smaller tree that has more roots.

Don’t assume the planting depth on the containerized plant is correct. You may

have to remove some of the soil. For all trees—the root fl are should be at or slightly above the surface of the soil.

Several things to remember:

Because roots need oxy-gen, they don’t normally grow in compacted oxy-gen-poor soil.

The major roots usually lie less than eight to twelve inches below the surface.

Roots often grow outward to beyond the canopy of the tree or one to two times the height of the tree.

Water newly planted trees thor-oughly and often for the fi rst two or three years of the planting. Don’t for-get to water late into the autumn.

Mulch around your tree so the tree doesn’t

have to compete for water with grass (or weeds). The mulch shouldn’t come in contact with the tree, but should be in a donut shape about two feet out from the tree. The mulch should be about three to four inches deep.

Trees and shrubs should be selected for a site based on the ability of the plant to tol-erate the soil, light, climate, and conditions present at that location. |

File phoTo

Family mealtime—has it gone by the way of the dinosaur?SUBMITTED BY LILLIAN LEVINErn, lsn, Ae-C, isd 15 heAlTh serviCe depArTMenT

What is din-nertime like in your home? Is it convenient for family members to heat up their own meal in the microwave at dif-ferent times and retreat to their own corners of the house? Are you all eating on the run?

For many fami-lies, eating din-ner together has become a lost art—but it proves to be a simple, ef-fective way to re-duce the risk of youth substance abuse and to raise healthier children. Before family dinners are extinct, let’s make the effort to preserve family mealtime.

The facts are on the table: eating dinner together every night keeps the doors of communication open. It’s the perfect time and place to reconnect and to show your kids that they are your pri-ority. Sitting across the table is where and when you can fi nd out more about your children’s likes, dislikes, and daily life. Having this information can help you direct your children toward posi-tive activities and behavior, reducing the likelihood that they will get involved with alcohol, tobacco, and/or illegal drugs.

Why are family meal times important?

By eating with your children, it is more likely that meals will be healthier and nutritionally balanced.

File phoTo

ConTinued on pAge 35» MEAL TIME

32 The Courier | April 2010 www.The-Courier.orgLife

FAiTh lisTingsBethel Community Church23860 Dewey Street NW

Bethel • 763-434-9834

Catholic Church of St. Patrick19921 Nightingale Street NW

Oak Grove • 763-753-2011www.st-patricks.org

Cedar United Methodist Church17541 Jefferson Street NEHam Lake • 763-434-7463

www.cedarumc.com

Cross of Hope Lutheran Church5730-179th Lane NW

Ramsey • 763-753-2057 www.crossofhope.net

Family of Christ Lutheran Church & Christian Pre-School16345 Polk Street NE

Ham Lake • 763-434-7337www.foclutheran.org

First Baptist Church & Christian School K–12

22940 St. Francis BoulevardSt. Francis • 763-753-1230 www.fbcsaintfrancis.com

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church16180 Round Lake Boulevard

Andover • 763-421-8434 www.hopeluth.net

Living Hope Evangelical Free ChurchSt. Francis High School

PO Box 264St. Francis • 763-753-1718 www.LivingHopeEFC.org

Long Lake Lutheran Church3921 277th Avenue NW

Isanti • 763-444-5315 www.longlakeluth.org

Meadow Creek Church3037 Bunker Lake Boulevard

Andover • 763-427-4543 www.meadowcreekchurch.org

New Life Church17261 St. Francis Boulevard NW

Ramsey • 763-421-0166 www.newlifemn.org

Nowthen Alliance Church19653 Nowthen Boulevard

Anoka • 763-441-1600 www.nowthenalliance.org

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church 19001 Jackson Street NE

East Bethel • 763-434-6117 www.oursaviourslc.org

St. Andrew Lutheran Church 1450 237th Avenue NE

(Hwy. 65 & 237th Avenue) East Bethel • 763-434-7146

www.standrewlutheran-eastbethel.org

St. Francis United Methodist Church 3914 229th Avenue NW

St. Francis • 763-753-2273 www.stfrancis-umc.org

Trinity Lutheran Church, School and Latchkey/Childcare

3812 229th Avenue NW St. Francis • 763-753-1234

www.trinitysf.org

West Bethel United Methodist Church

1233 221st Avenue NE Cedar • 763-434-6451

Round LakeDentaL

Complete Family DentistryOpen Evenings

Nitrous Oxide Available • Cosmetic Dentistry Dr. Thomas Swenson

763-427-028513841 Round Lake Blvd. NW • Andover

2 Minutes N of Hwy 10 on Round Lake Blvd.

ST. FRANCIS CHIROPRACTIC OFFICEKendall W. Goodian, D.C.

3220 Bridge street • suite 107 • st. Francis

Chiropractic orthopedistSpecializing in Sports, Industrial and Auto Accident Injuries

Call 763-753-1277 for an Appointmentlocated in the st. Francis Mall 3/09

763-421-014113855 Round Lake BLvd nW

andoveR, Mn 55304

VSP ProVider

HouRs: Mon, THuRs, FRi 8:30-5:30 Tues, Wed 8:30-8:00

MediCAl direCTory

Grisé chiropracticDiane M. Grisé, D.C.3158 Viking Blvd. NWCedar, MN 55011763-753-0993Oak Grove Crossing Mall

Open Mon-Wed-Thurs 9:00 am-6:00 pm • Tues-Fri 9:00 am-Noon

Therapeutic Massage by LuAnn Smith C.M.T.

Hours by appointment • Gift certificates available

18975 Lake George Boulevard

1/4 mile south of Cty. Rd. 22 on Cty. Rd. 9

763-753-5717www.newlifeoakgrove.org

Nursery Provided

A place to Invite, Ignite, and Excite

others about Jesus!

A Night of Prayer, Praise and Revival

Sunday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m.

All are invited!Sunday Schedule Worship Services

9:00 a.m.

Sunday School and Bible Study

10:30 a.m.

Connor David Bittner was born October 11, 2009 at Mercy Hospital. He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 22¼ inches long. Proud par-ents are Rick and Naomi

Bittner of East Bethel. Connor is welcomed by grandparents David and Cheryl Anderson of East Bethel and Dick and Julie Bittner of Isanti.

Nolan Ryan Ingebritson was born January 30 at Unity Hos-pital. He weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 inches long. Proud parents are Trev-or and Clarissa Ingebritson of Nowthen. Grandparents are Ken and Nancy Henrikson of East Bethel, Gary Ingebritson of Oak Grove, and Rhonda Ingebritson of Wyoming. No-lan is welcomed by big sister Heidi, (16 months).

Conner David Bittner suBMiTTed phoTo

BirThs

Jane Jessica Rowles was born on February 27 at Cam-bridge Medical Center. She weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces and was 18½ inches long. Proud parents are Jessie and Marty Rowles of Isanti. Jane is welcomed by big brother Ben (21 months).

Alison June Van Dyke was born on February 25 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. She weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounc-es and was 21 inches long. Proud parents are Katie (Au-dette) and Derek Van Dyke of Winston-Salem, N.C. Katie is a 1998 graduate of SFHS.

Oakley Ray Richardson was born March 2. He weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces. Proud par-ents are Phillip and Del Ray Richardson of Oak Grove.

Elizabeth Leonora Moritz was born on March 15 at Cambridge Medical Cen-ter. She weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21¾ inches long. Proud parents are Da-vid and Becky Moritz of St. Francis. |

Alison June Van Dyke suBMiTTed phoTo

AArON CArPENTErAssoCiATe direCTor oF lAnd oF lAkes ChoirBoys

The Land of Lakes Choir-boys is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul (PJ) Fanberg as only the third ex-ecutive director in its 34-year history. Although new to the position of executive director, Fanberg’s tenure began as a choirboy in 1994 and devel-oped further when he was em-ployed by the organization as a Prefect in 2000. In 2008, Fan-berg was appointed General Prefect, where he assumed the duties of working with all of the boys in the organization as well as overseeing the train-ing and coordinating of all the Prefects with the Land of Lakes Choirboys.

Upon the announcement of Fanberg’s promotion to the position of executive director, Craig Carmody-Anderson, Founder of the Land of Lakes Choirboys, stated that he is “proud to have an alumnus in this position.” Anderson con-tinued, “PJ exemplifies all that

the Land of Lakes Choirboys stands for with its motto, ‘Mu-sic, Respect and Honor’. He understands the organization and what we are about—de-veloping boys into fine young men.”

Fanberg says of his appoint-ment, “Being handed the reins of this organization is an in-credible honor for me.” As a former choirboy, PJ grew up learning the very same les-sons the organization contin-ues teaching today. He speaks of his hope that the choir will be able to continue to offer to every boy the opportunity to sing. Sharing of his own story, he says, “If it wasn’t for the choirboys’ financial assis-tance, my family would not have been able to afford even the minimal cost of the pro-gram when I was a boy.” He also acknowledges that worry-ing about the finances at home and the family’s ability to pay is a lot of unnecessary worry for a nine-year-old. “They re-ally just need to worry about singing and being boys.”

Diane Kelly and Christie Gor-don, co-presidents of the Choir Service Organization (CSO) believe that, as a former choir-boy who has worked with the organization for many years, Fanberg intimately under-stands the benefits of the Land of Lakes Choirboys. They are confident that he can work to ensure that the time-honored traditions of excellence in music and leadership will not be forgotten but will be built upon in the future. “Parents look forward to working with PJ, keeping in sight that com-

mon goal of growing honor-able young men through the Land of Lakes Choirboys’ legacy of music, respect and honor.”

Needless to say, the entire Land of Lakes Choirboys’ family is excited to have Fan-berg as their new executive director, leading them into the future of developing boys into fine young men and setting the organization up for a suc-cessful and bright future.

To learn more about Fanberg and the Land of Lakes Choir-

boys, visit them online at www.lolcb.org or stop by the choir building located at 6437 Norris Lake Road, Elk River—between Nowthen and St. Francis on County Road 24. |

Land of Lakes Choirboys appoints new executive director

PJ Fanberg suBMiTTed phoTo

33www.The-Courier.org The Courier | April 2010 Classified

Next ISD 15 SCHOOL BOARD MeetINgS are: April 12 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m., Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m.; April 26 Dialogue with School Board 6:30 p.m., Organizational Meeting 7:00 p.m. at Central Services Center, Community Room, 4115 Ambassador Blvd., St. Francis. St. FRANCIS AReA CHAMBeR OF COMMeRCe next board of directors monthly meeting is April 21 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Community Center, next to St. Francis City Hall. The St. Francis Community Expo will be held on April 17, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at St. Francis High School. Visit www.stfrancischamber.org for more information.BNI – ReFeRRALS UNLIMIteD Meets every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. at the St. Francis Community Center, next to St. Francis City Hall. For more information check www.bni-mn.com.St. FRANCIS JAyCeeS will meet on the third Friday of every month during the fall, winter and spring months at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Francis City Community Center, located on 23340 Cree Street. For info, visit our web site at www.stfrancisjaycees.org. Walk-ins welcome.tOpS CHApteR MN #1774 meets every Wed. morning at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Francis Community Center next to city hall. TOPS stands for Take Off Pounds Sensibly and is a weight loss support group. Come check us out on Wed. mornings or visit www.tops.org.OAk gROVe SeNIORS meet the 2nd Wed. of the month at noon for potluck and a short business meeting, 4th Wed. of the month at noon for a kitchen help’s choice and short business meeting. BINGO follows each business meeting. For information about the club and events, call Harry Bearl at 763-753-2973.St. FRANCIS SeNIORS If you are 55 or older, come join us for some fun at the St. Francis American Legion. We meet on the 1st & 3rd Thurs. of each month, from noon to 3:00 p.m. For more information call President Ray Steinke at 763-753-1871.AMeRICAN LegION pOSt 622 – St. Francis General membership meet monthly, the 2nd Thurs. at 7:00 p.m. All members of the post are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information call 763-753-4234. AMeRICAN LegION AUxILIARy UNIt 622 St. Francis General membership meets monthly, on the 3rd Thurs. of the month at 7:00 p.m. All members of the auxiliary are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information call 763-753-4234.

St. FRANCIS AReA WOMeN OF tODAy meet the 1st Tuesday of the month at St. Francis City Hall. 6:30 p.m. is social time with the meeting starting at 7:00 p.m. For more information about the Women of Today, visit us at www.m age sale nwt.org or call Dana at 763-753-5010. St. FRANCIS DFL COUNty UNIt 17 meets on the 3rd Thurs. of each month at St. Francis High School at 7:00 p.m. For more information, call Ray Steinke at 763-753-1871.eASt BetHeL SeNIORS meet 3rd Thurs. of the month, 10:30 a.m. for business meeting and noon for lunch. 2nd Wed. is crafts, 9:00 a.m.-noon w/potluck at noon, cards and games until 2:45 p.m., celebrate birthdays of the month at 3:00 p.m. 4th Wed. crafts, 9:00 a.m.-noon, cards and games from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. followed by coffee and treats. Pancake Breakfast is held 2nd Sun. of each month, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Dance the 1st Fri. of every month, 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the center. Center is available for rent. For information, contact Mary Henrickson at 763-434-5274. All seniors are welcome to join; only $7 per year. NOWtHeN LIONS CLUB board meeting is 1st Thurs. of month at 6:30 p.m.; general meeting 3rd Thurs. of the month at 7:00 p.m. both at Nowthen City Hall. For more information please call Lion Judy at 763-753-6962.LIONeSS CLUB-St. FRANCIS meets monthly. 1st Wed., administrative board, and 3rd Wed., general membership meeting at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are held at St. Francis City Hall. For more information call Jean Schuldt at 763-753-1205 or Illa Torgerson at 763-753-2002.LIONS CLUB - St. FRANCIS meets three times during the month at the St. Francis American Legion. 1st Wed. board meeting; 2nd Wed. regular business meeting; 4th Wed. social & program. All meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Call Lion Brian Heichel for more information at 763-753-4415.OAk gROVe LIONS meet every 2nd and 4th Tues. of each month at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call Lion Tim Newell at 763-753-4492 after 6:30 p.m.LIONS CLUB-CeDAR/eASt BetHeL meets bimonthly, 1st and 3rd Tues., 7:00 p.m., at the Ham Lake VFW. Call Gary Larson at 763-434-9423. CeDAR/ eASt BetHeL LIONeSS CLUB meet every second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at Lioness Yvonne Johnson’s. Phone 763-434-6985.Have a meeting or event you would like listed? Call 763-753-7031 or visit www.the-courier.org for more info.

CounCil & Township MeeTings

Andover City CouncilMeets 1st & 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m.

1685 Crosstown Blvd. NWAndover, MN • 763-755-5100

Bethel City CouncilMeets 1st & 3rd Thursday 7:00 p.m.

165 Main St. • P.O. Box 64 Bethel, MN • 763-434-4366

Nowthen City CouncilMeets 2nd Tuesday 7:30 p.m.

19800 Nowthen Blvd. Anoka, MN • 763-441-1347

East Bethel City CouncilMeets 1st & 3rd Wednesday

7:30 p.m.2241 • 221st Ave. NE

East Bethel, MN • 763-367-7840

Oak Grove City CouncilMeets 2nd Monday 7:00 &

last Monday 7:00 p.m.19900 Nightingale St. NW

Oak Grove, MN • 763-404-7000

St. Francis City CouncilMeets 1st & 3rd Monday 6:00 p.m.

ISD 15 District OfficeSt. Francis, MN • 763-753-2630

Stanford Town BoardMeets 1st Monday 7:00 p.m.

Co. Rd. 8 (261st Ave NW)Isanti, MN • 763-444-6370

The Courier

AreA MeeTings & evenTs

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By Phone763-753-7031

Monday-Friday | 8:00-4:00 p.m.

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Monday-Friday | 8:00-4:00 p.m.

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4115 Ambassador Blvd. NW St. Francis, MN 55070

Classified AdsFirst 10 words FREE, each additional word is 25¢. Email addresses may be considered as two words.

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Place Your Classified Ad, Meeting or Event

ChildCareOpeNiNgS FOr SChOOl Age kiDS AND preSChOOlerS 1/2 off first week. st. Francis elemen-tary and Trinity school. Food pro-gram provided. very fun and loving environment. For more in-formation call lisa: 763-434-8090 or 763-458-1948. hours are 6:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. All ages welcome. references are available.

ST. FrANCiS liCeNSeD DAyCAre has openings with reasonable rates. i provide the one-on-one attention that your child deserves, Christina, 763-258-7282.

kiDS COuNTry ChilDCAre CeNTer, st. Francis, has openings for all ages. Tour today, earn Free care, 763-753-5010.

ChildCareST. FrANCiS liCeNSeD DAyCAre has openings 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. First week 1/2 off with enrollment. please call Ann for more informa-tion: 763-213-8467.

ST. FrANCiS liCeNSeD DAy-CAre All ages welcome, daily ac-tivities and crafts, fenced yard, food program, east Bethel Community school, sara 763-753-0021.

preCiOuS TiMeS leArNiNg CeNTer in st. Francis–call today, enrolling all ages, 763-753-4656.

ServiCeS piANO TuNiNg - violin, piano, and guitar lessons - Michael, 763-219-4883, [email protected].

ServiCeS peT NAil TriMS by Cleo’s C&C, $4, 763-434-8997.

leT ClASSiFieD ADS WOrk FOr yOu! The next issue of The Cou-rier will be delivered on April 7. deadline for classified ads is March 29. The first ten words are Free! A classified form is available online at www.the-courier.org or in our office. Call 763-753-7031 for more information.

FitneSSkeTTleBell, yOgA-FiT and personal fitness training classes starting soon. Call 763-267-2198 or visit our web site at www.ascen-sionbodyworks.com.

For leaSeSpACe FOr leASe 5,238 square foot office/warehouse space with hwy. 47 frontage in st. Francis, 763-753-6116.

For SalepOOl SAND FilTer, pump and timer, was for 18,000 gallon pool. All in good shape, $50 for the entire set-up. Call 763-753-1838 after 5.

GaraGe SaleSSChOOl DiSTriCT gArAge SAle—Technical, custodial equip-ment etc., chairs, desks, lockers, metal filing cabinets, outdated shop equipment, motors, various vintage maps, books, other older learning materials and much, much more. sale dates June 23, noon-6 p.m.; June 24, 4-8 p.m. at st. Fran-cis elementary. All items on display must be taken from the premises on the day of the sale.

MulTiply BleSSeD MOTherS OF MulTipleS Annual garage sale, saturday, May 1, 9 a.m.- noon at parker elementary on school street in elk river. Thousands of quality items; clothes of all sizes, preemies to teens and maternity; gently used items including cribs, strollers, car seats, toys, books, movies and so much more!

Issue DeaDlIne DelIvery2010

May 4/16/10 5/5/10June 5/15/10 6/2/10July 6/18/10 7/7/10

august 7/16/10 8/4/10september 8/13/10 9/1/10

Temperature Sensing For Today… and Tomorrow.

TemperaTure SpecialiSTS, inc.3175 Bridge Street NW

St. Francis, MN 55070-9612

763-753-2974 • FAX 763-753-5401 • 800-272-5709

manuFacTurer OF reSiSTance TemperaTure SenSOrS

We accept applications for employment and offer on-the-job training

1/07

It’s Garage

Sale Time!

Advertise here to spread the word to 14,000

readers about your sale.The next issue of

The Courier will be delivered on May 5.

Deadline for classified ads is April 23.

The first ten words are

FREE!A classified form is available online at

www.the-courier.org or in our office.

Call 763-753-7031 for more information.

34 The Courier | April 2010 www.The-Courier.orgLife

Trinity Lutheran Church, School, and Latchkey/Childcare 229th & Ambassador Boulevard

St. Francis, MNPhone 763-753-1234 • www.trinitysf.org

All are welcome to join us for

Sunday Worship Services at

8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School and

Bible Classes at 9:15 a.m.

“We treat your pets like our own”

St. Francis Veterinary Clinic763-444-9359

Doctors on staff Dr. Tracey ThomasDr. Jill HergenraderDr. Kelly PawlentyDr. Steve Kivisto

Two miles north of St. Francis on Highway 47Visit us on the web at www.sfvetclinic.com

• Small animal medicine, surgery and dentistry• Free initial puppy and kitten exams• Early morning drop off available by appointment• Evening appointments• Heartworm and Lyme testing• Microchip pet ID

Visit us at the

St. Francis Expo on April 17 at

SFHS!

IN OAK GROVE CROSSING3154VikingBoulevardNW

OakGrove

763-753-533626YearsofExperience

Complete Family DentalCare in a Relaxed

Atmosphere 8/09

Dr. Thomas John Knox

D.D.S.

New Patients

Welcome!

Sunday Services9:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Contemporary Service in the gym

9:45 a.m. Sunday School8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

Service in the Sanctuary

Wednesdays6:45 p.m. Youth Group

6:45 p.m. Kids’ AWANA Club 7:00 p.m. Bible Study & Prayer

Call for more information or additional Bible studies or

small groups

19653 Nowthen Boulevard NW, Anoka, MN 55303Intersection of CR 5 & 22 in Nowthen

For more information call 763-441-1600www.nowthenalliance.org

www.animalandexotic.com763-633-PETS

Located in the Time-Out mini mall, next to Play it Again Sports in Elk River off Hwy. 169

Dr. Jina Andrews

3 Year

Rabies & Distemper

$20 each

Saturday, April 1710:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

VISIT WEB SITE FOR MORE DETAILS

spinAl ColuMn By ViViAN pluMMer pTA, Andover physiCAl TherApy

got a charley horse?

The other day someone asked me where the term charley horse came from. I didn’t have an answer for him. Where did that term come from? Well, I Googled/Binged/Yahooed and searched it and found its etymology. Although not 100 percent confi rmed, the story goes like this: a Boston baseball player named Char-ley “The Hoss” Radbourne was running the bases and came up lame and fell to the ground. His teammate ran over to him and asked him (think Boston accent) “What’s da matta, Charley Hoss?” The birth of the phrase char-ley horse derived from that. Of course, the story has never been confi rmed and there are others out there.

Most of us suffer at one point in time from a charley horse or muscle cramp. Some of the

causes of muscle cramps can be dehydration, lack of cal-cium and magnesium, vigor-ous activity, and injury. Other common occurrences of mus-cle cramps happen while we are sleeping. Although there is no real known cause of night cramps, most are initi-ated with a sudden shorten-ing of a muscle.

Muscle cramps can be pre-vented or happen less fre-quently. Staying active is one way to prevent muscle cramps. Stretching before and after any activity is im-portant. Hydration is also im-portant. We should be drink-ing half of our body’s weight in ounces of water per day. Increasing our water intake during increased activity will help replenish lost electro-lytes. Making sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium in your diet is also important. Some sources of magnesium are present in greens, grains nuts and soy-beans. A magnesium sup-plement can also be taken. However, added magnesium can be hazardous for those who have diffi culty eliminat-ing magnesium (common in people with kidney insuffi -ciency).

Some very simple steps can be taken to prevent and lessen the affects of muscle cramps. See your doctor if the frequency in muscle cramp-ing increases. |

SUBMITTED BY LILLIAN LEVINErn, lsn, Ae-C, isd 15 heAlTh serviCe depArTMenT

Recent dietary research has uncovered different nutrient-dense foods that time and again promote good overall health. Coined superfoods, they tend to have fewer calo-ries, higher levels of vitamins and minerals, and many dis-ease-fi ghting antioxidants.

Some well-known superfoods are:

Dark green vegetables—broc-coli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, bok choy, asparagus, green beans, and kale are loaded with plant chemicals called indoles, which help reduce the risk of some cancers. They are also packed with vitamin A and C, iron, calcium and phytonutrients. Broccoli also boosts the immune system.

Salmon is a perfect substitute for meats. It is a good source of protein and Omega-3 fatty

acids. Wild salmon gets its red color from a powerful antioxi-dant called astaxathin. The Omega-3 fatty acids in salm-on and other fatty fi sh may help prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the body’s rate of blood clotting.

Berries are low in calories, high in fi ber, high in vita-min C and loaded with plant compounds that improve memory. Berries are high in antioxidants, which fi ght can-cer. Blueberries are high in potassium as well as vitamin C. When selecting berries, the darker they are, the more an-tioxidants they have.

Nuts—studies have consis-tently shown that nut eaters have lower rates of heart dis-ease. Walnuts are an excellent source of protein, B vitamins, antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids, a special type of fat that is essential for our bodies, but that the body cannot pro-

What are superfoods and how can they help your body?duce. Almonds are known for their ability to help lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Beans are notorious for their high fi ber content and are a part of the diet of people--from almost every corner of the globe—who live long and well. Beans are loaded with insoluble fi ber, which helps lower cholesterol, as well as soluble fi ber, which fi lls you up and helps rid your body of waste. They’re also a good, low-fat source of protein, car-bohydrates, magnesium, and potassium.

Oats also help reduce cho-lesterol. Research shows that one bowl of oatmeal per day can reduce cholesterol by up to 23 percent. Oats are also considered an excellent grain for diabetics as they have less impact on blood sugar levels than some other grains.

Spinach’s secret weapon, lu-tein, makes it one of the best foods in the world to prevent cataracts, as well as age-relat-ed macular degeneration, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the elderly.

Tomatoes contain high levels of lycopene, a powerful anti-oxidant, and as such helps to protect the cells in our bodies from damage.

Turkey is one of the leanest protein foods and is low in calories, making it an excel-lent healthy food choice. Tur-key also contains selenium which has been shown to inhibit cancer development, improve the immune system,

and aid in the metabolism of our thyroid hormone.

Sweet potatoes are a delicious member of the dark orange vegetable family, which lead the pack in vitamin A content. Substitute a baked sweet po-tato (also loaded with vitamin C, calcium, and potassium) for a baked white potato. And before you add butter or sugar, taste the sweetness that develops when a sweet potato is cooked—and think of all

the calories you can save over that loaded baked potato.

garlic/Onions—Finally, let’s not forget members of the Al-liaceae family of plants—on-ion, garlic and shallots. Gar-lic decreases bad cholesterol while increasing good choles-terol. Garlic has been shown to lower blood pressure. A number of studies have shown an inverse relationship between onion consumption and certain types of cancer. |

35www.The-Courier.org The Courier | April 2010 Life

Affordable lifestyle choices for seniors with the

comfort of community!All Denominations Welcome

Assisted Living•AssistedLivingandMemoryCare

apartmentsavailable

•24hourhomecarestaff

•Restaurantstyledining

…and much more

10955HansonBoulevardCoonRapids,MN55433

763-755-0320

Independent Senior Housing

•1&2Bedroomapartments(withfullyequippedkitchens)

•Laundryhookups

• Individuallycontrolledheat(includedinrent)

•Groceryandbeautyshopavailableatbothfacilities

…and much more

1800111thAvenueNWCoonRapids,MN55433

763-755-9299Call Today For A Tour

Full medical, dental, laboratory and surgical services for pets

763-753-6336Cty. rd. 22 & Cty. rd. 9 Amy Morgan, d.v.M.oak grove, Mn 55011 lisa Johnson, d.v.M.

Heartworm Special!Buy seven

heartworm pills, get oneFREE

Current exam and heartworm test required. offer expires 5/4/10. not valid with any other offers.

Fido’s Barber Shop19847 Orchid St. NW, Oak Grove

All Breed Professional Dog Grooming and

Personal Care BoardingDay and Evening Appointments

763-213-8143

Do you wish you had the energy your kids have?Stop by our booth at the St. Francis Expo on

April 17 at SFHS and ask us how we can help.

Offering

Massage Therapy with Savannah

HagenbeckTuesday through

Saturday 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Opp FamilyChiropractic P.A.

23168 St. Francis Blvd., Ste 600 next to County Market

763-213-0615Open Monday through Friday, Saturday by appointment.

Specializing in Sports & Family CareCertified in Pediatric Care

Accepting ALL major insurances www.oppfamilychiropractic.com

weddings

engAgeMenTs

russ and Barb Peterson of Isanti are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, ranae Erin Pe-terson, to Micah Joel Tanis, son of randy and Laurel Tanis of Chetek, Wiscon-sin The bride-to-be is a 2005

graduate of St. Francis Christian School and received her associ-ate of arts degree in office technology in 2009 from Maranatha Baptist Bible College of Watertown, Wisconsin. The groom-to-be is a 2002 graduate of Maranatha Baptist Academy and received his bachelor of arts degree in Biblical studies from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in 2006. He is currently pursuing a master of divinity degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth. The wedding is planned for May 29 at First Baptist Church of St. Francis. After honeymooning, the couple will reside in St. Francis. suBMiTTed phoTo

Gwen Zimbeck of St. Francis and Mike Lindemann of Edina were married February 5 in riviera Maya, Mexico. They will reside in Denver, Colorado A reception is planned this summer in Cedar. suBMiTTed phoTo

ray and Mary Carlson of Oak Grove and Dr. Michael and Betsy Berglund of Henning are pleased to announce the marriage of their children, Zandra rae Carlson and John Michael Berglund. Zandra is a 2003 graduate of St. Francis High School and a 2008 graduate of Northwest Technical College in Bemidji. She is em-ployed as a nurse at the Big Fork Valley Hospital in Big Fork. John is a 1999 graduate of Henning High School and a 2004 graduate of the University of Minnesota. He is employed with the Minne-sota Department of Natural resources Forestry Division in Effie. The wedding was held September 12, 2009. The couple resides in Big Fork. suBMiTTed phoTo

An occasion for a celebration! An open house for Theresia Whittlef, 95 years old, will be held Saturday, May 1 at Zion Lutheran Church of Crown from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. suBMiTTed phoTo

happy BirthdayTheresia

here are some interesting statistics:

Compared to teens that have frequent family dinners, those who rarely have family dinners are 3-1/2 times more likely to have abused pre-scription drugs or an illegal drug other than marijuana.

Girls who have five or more meals a week with their families are 1/3 less likely to develop unhealthy eat-ing habits, which can range from skipping meals to full-fledged anorexia or abusing diet pills.

Parental influence and in-volvement is an important tool in preventing substance abuse. Regularly sitting down for a meal with your children is one way to con-

nect with them and be in-volved with what is happen-ing in their lives.

The importance of regular family activities to share ideas and find out what’s happening is a great way for a parent to be involved, dis-cuss rules, monitor activities

and friends, and be a good role model. The benefits of eating together will last long after your meal ends, espe-cially if you make family mealtimes a regular activity. Take the family meal off the endangered species list and move it back to the VIP list! |

FroM pAge 31MEAL TIME

36 The Courier | April 2010 www.The-Courier.org

Your child deserves a school that is state and

nationally recognized.Find out more…

www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us

763-753-7041

Independent School District 15 St. Francis, Minnesota

Independent School District 15 will provide a quality educational system

for all, one that supports and prepares students to succeed.

You could have heard a pin drop if you were traveling the halls of East Bethel Community School on March 2. All students and teachers lined the halls of the school and spent time reading to-gether in celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday and National Edu-cation Association’s read Across America Day. Everyone read comfortably in their pajamas, while some students wore hats representing the famous Dr. Seuss story, The Cat in the Hat. It was a wonderful sight to see! suBMiTTed By eBCs sChool CliMATe CoMMiTTee

District 15 elementary schools celebrate I Love To read MonthCelebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthdaySUBMITTED BY DIANE KrOCAK-PETErSONsFe CoMMuniTy relATions CoordinATor

On March 2, the students at St. Francis Elementary wrapped up a month of special reading incentives and activities for “I Love To Read Month” by participating in a school-wide musical as-sembly. The assembly focused on Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the joy of reading. Each grade level shared a song that somehow related to the skill of reading. Kindergartners demonstrated their acquisition of letter sounds, a key component in reading. First and second graders sang from a song book that they illus-

trated demonstrating the ability to read the words. The cover page was designed in their technology class. Third graders sang and used sign-language to the song, Colors of the Wind. Fourth graders sang a song from the Broad-way hit, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Even fifth graders still enjoy being read to. In music class, Mrs. Humphrey read the book, Follow the Drinking Gourd,

which is also a song. Through the story and discussion, fifth graders learned that it was a crime in the 1800s to teach a slave to read. Fifth graders performed the song using two soloists to sing the verses: Dilan Miemetz and Kyle Waite. This song was written in 1830 and conceals a map to freedom for the black slaves. Other fifth graders who were featured were Natalie Beauto main narrator, James Benvie, Lucas Huseby, Carmen Kivisto, Tyler Merrifield, Sean Miller, Shelby Roering, Will Sitts, and Scott Steiner. The celebration was graced by a cameo appearance of the Cat in the Hat who jumped out of his own birthday cake! |

I Love to read Month at Cedar Creek Community SchoolSUBMITTED BY BECKY rOCK-ZUTZCCCs TeACher

Cedar Creek Community School students celebrated I Love to Read Month dur-ing the month of February. A variety of activities centered around the I Think I Can train theme. Students “D(ropped) E(verything) A(nd) R(ead)” at least twice each week. They wore T-shirts which had messages to read each Friday. There was a book walk one evening, where most students participating went home with a new book.

A special Dr. Seuss-themed lunch was planned on the last day of the month. The classes were treated to a variety of guest readers, including Mr. Hahn, Mrs. Kelly and the St. Francis Ambassador Royalty.

The culminating activity, a tug of war rope pull be-tween classes, was earned by the students after they read enough books to collectively encircle the school. A great time was had by all! |

The Cat In The Hat made a surprise visit to Cedar Creek Commu-nity School. While there, the cat read to students. This was a great way to celebrate I Love To read Month.

suBMiTTed By sAndy Benson, CCCs CoMMuniTy relATions CoordinATor

suBMiTTed phoTo

the courier - april 2010

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