The sweeping battlefields on which they displayed their valor as American soldiers fell quiet almost 70 years ago.

World War II veteran Ken Krueger of Blaine receives the French Legion of Honor from Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Commissioner Reggie Worlds Photo by T.W. Budig

But the people of France have not forgotten World War II veterans Ken Krueger of Blaine and John (Jack) Teman of Eden Prairie.

Krueger, 86, and Teman, 91, were presented the French Legion of Honor Feb. 15 at the State Capitol, the highest award France can bestow for meritorious deeds.

Krueger and Teman were honored at a Veterans Day on the Hill ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

“Thanks to their courage, France has been living in peace for the past six decades,” said Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Commissioner Reggie Worlds, who presented the medals to the old soldiers on behalf of the people of France.

Krueger, a former Army technician, served with the 92nd Signal Battalion in Gen. George Patton’s Third Army and participated in campaigns sweeping the American effort in Europe — the Normandy campaign to the Rhineland and beyond.

Krueger recently received three letters from friends in France who read in French newspapers the announcement of the awards.

“So more French people know me than here,” he said.

Although the guns long ago fell silent, Krueger remembers moonlight nights and being told by an M.P., carefully standing in the shadows, that there was a sniper down the road where Krueger was heading “‘and every half hour or so he (the sniper) was taking potshots,’” Krueger recalled.

Krueger remembers a harrowing drive down that road at high speed, slung low in the driver’s seat, peering through the steering wheel spokes ahead into the night.

“If he (the sniper) shot at me, I didn’t know,” he said.

Teman served as a second lieutenant in the 439th Transportation and Carry Company and like Krueger his progress marked the movement of the U.S. Army in battling the Nazis.

The campaigns Teman participated in ranged from the Rome campaign in Italy, to southern France and on into the German Rhineland.

“Those were hard times,” said Teman, who although needing some assistance, stood with a military bearing to receive his medal.

“What higher deeds than yours?” Worlds rhetorically asked the two soldiers, their coats now bright with slashes of French red.

There are about 380,000 military veterans in Minnesota.

With music and color, energy and delight, Madison Elementary School, Blaine, celebrated its many cultures staging its fourth annual multicultural night Feb. 16.

Performing the fan dance, Chang Mi Korean dancers wave colorful fans as they step and weave an artistic tapestry of dance. Photo by Sue Austreng

Some 150 people gathered in the gymnasium, transformed into a world stage, to watch an eclectic variety of traditional performances.

Russian opera singer Vladimir Pugachev opened the show, performing a selection of arias and accompanied by the Bethany Baptist Church Orchestra. Pugachev, an internationally-known performer, was in town last week performing in multiple venues around the Twin Cities.

Next, a pair of Dancin’ Feet cloggers took the stage to perform a selection of American Appalachian clogging and Canadian Buck clogging numbers.

The Chang Mi Korean dance and drum group performed next, doing four traditional dances.

The group was formed nearly 30 years ago as a way for Korean adoptees to learn about their heritage and enjoy weekly gatherings with blended families like their own.

For Madison’s multicultural night, the group performed a fan dance and a puppet dance, and the Sol Janggu and the Buk Chum, two dances performed while drumming.

The Champlin Park High School Step Team appeared next, dressed in military camouflage gear and stepping in high energy choreography.

Stepping is a fusion of African and African-American music and tradition.

Following the step performance, the Kids of Jerusalem danced the Dubka, a traditional Palestinian group dance, usually performed during special occasions, like weddings.

Finally, and perhaps most energetically, a pride of Vietnamese Lions took the stage.

Playfully mimicking the antics of hungry lions, Vietnamese dancers from the Hung Vuong Association of Minnesota delighted the crowd as beating drums, clanging cymbals and reverberating gongs accompanied them.

Following the 90-minute multicultural performances in the gymnasium, attendees could peruse a collection of Hmong crafts, handmade special gifts, traditional needle work and Mexican treats exhibited on tables near the school’s front entrance.

To see more photos of the night, click here.

Sue Austreng is at sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com

Legislation cracking the seniority-driven retention of teachers passed the Minnesota House Feb. 16 on a 68 to 61 vote.

Rep. Branden Petersen, R-Andover/Coon Rapids.

Rep. Branden Petersen, R-Andover, heard Democrats argue that his education legislation wasn’t ready, needed fixing.

But no one arose on the House floor to argue that the teacher seniority system should be untouchable.

Indeed, former chairman of the House Education Committee, Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, expressed regret over the perceived ducking of the issue by some union officials.

“There is a will to do something in the body (the House) on this issue this year,” Mariani said.

“Unfortunately, we’re going to play out the partisan divided.”

Rep. John Benson, DFL-Minnetonka, a retired teacher, said he had taken votes opposed by Education Minnesota, the teachers’ union, before and expressed a willingness to do so again.

But he predicted that DFL Gov. Mark Dayton would veto Petersen’s bill.

For his part, Petersen defended the work product, saying the bill had more than five hours of committee hearing time and that he expected to meet with the governor to discuss the bill.

They had already met once, he said.

“The privacy issue is a canard,” Petersen said of objections to the bill on data privacy grounds.

House Education Reform Committee Chairwoman Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, said the legislation mirrored a bill she worked on last year.

“Members, we are ready for true reform,” Erickson said.

A Senate version of Petersen’s bill has advanced through committee.

But Minneapolis Democrat Rep. Jim Davnie was less concerned over the escape of private data than that a teacher who loses seniority to another — a teacher they believe is no better than they — cannot find out exactly what made the other teacher apparently superior.

“That brings out the lawyers,” he said.

Under Petersen’s bill, school boards will be able to weigh skill evaluations and other factors, not just check the seniority list, in deciding which teacher gets laid-off during a budget crunch.

And seniority alone would no longer be the sole factor in calling teachers back.

Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher in a statement said he was disappointed over the passage of the bill.

As their right under current law, school districts and teachers can negotiate their own layoff procedures and about 40 percent of Minnesota school districts have this with their teachers, according to Dooher.

“It’s disappointing the House has passed this bill, which does nothing to address the real challenges facing our schools,” Dooher said.

“But it will make it easier for districts to shed seasoned teachers for their less-experienced, less-expensive colleagues. This is not about student learning, it’s about budget cutting.”

Still, Petersen’s bill was amended on the House floor by Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, to state that nothing in the bill permits school boards to use teacher pay as a basis for discharge or demotion.

None of those games, Davids said.

Rep. Kate Knuth, DFL-New Brighton, rose in support of Petersen’s bill, speaking of once failing a university test only to hear her instructor explain that it only matters to them that the subject be mastered by end of the course.

She applied the same precept to Petersen’s bill, she said.

House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, was satisfied over the bill’s passage.

“Seniority privilege should not trump student achievement,” Zellers said in a statement.

“Today decisions about who to fire, layoff and even promote are based solely on seniority and ignore teacher effectiveness. The Minnesota House today approved legislation that removes this rigid and outdated state law.”

City leaders aren’t warm to the idea of the Coon Creek Watershed District or any other agency leasing its vacant third floor office space at Blaine City Hall.

Coon Creek Watershed District Administrator Tim Kelly learned the simple reason why when he made such a request during a Feb. 16 city council workshop.

Robert Therres, public services manager, said 12 years ago that the Blaine City Council adopted a policy against leasing and had turned down other requests.

“We are looking for office space,” Kelly said. “If you have been to our offices, they are tired at best and wholly inadequate.” Coon Creek’s offices are currently located at 12301 Central Ave. N.E. in Blaine.

During discussion, Councilmember Russ Herbst suggested Coon Creek consider a partnership with the Rice Creek Watershed District.

“You both are renting buildings now,” Herbst said. “Maybe you should be in the same building. You might get a big cost savings.”

Councilmember Dick Swanson asked Kelly why he was making the leasing request. Kelly said state statues require the watershed to locate its offices within district boundaries.

In addition, Kelly said a provision in state statutes states the board’s meetings and office need to be available the public.

“One interpretation of that means we need to be in a public building,” Kelly said. Swanson said he didn’t want the city of Blaine competing with the private sector for office space.

However, Swanson did say if Coon Creek had a Minnesota Attorney General’s ruling that stated the agency had to be in a public building, he might consider renting out the city’s third floor space.

Councilmember Dave Clark wanted the council to hold fast to the policy in place and not consider renting out the third floor.

City Manager Clark Arneson asked Kelly if the Coon Creek Watershed District board was meeting at its current location. Kelly said that wasn’t the case.

“Our meetings are held at the Bunker Hills Activity Center [550 Bunker Lake Blvd. N.W. in Andover],” Kelly said. “They have been held there since the watershed district’s inception.”

Clark suggested watershed district could rent office space at another location, but use the Blaine City Council third floor meeting room for its board meetings.

Mayor Pro-Tem Katherine Kolb then asked Kelly if the Minnesota Attorney General’s office was reviewing state statutes to provide a definite interpretation.

“We have not made a request for an interpretation,” Kelly said, adding Coon Creek did talk to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, the state agency that has overall insight regarding water and soil resource protection. “They said there are almost no watershed districts with offices in public spaces.”

Tim Hennagir is at tim.hennagir@ecm-inc.com

With many of Ramsey’s roads approaching their 40th anniversary, the city is trying to figure out how to pay to reconstruct the deteriorating streets.

Approximately half the city’s roads were built between 1975 and 1985 and the roads will need to be reconstructed, said Public Works Director Brian Olson.

But the Ramsey City Council was not ready to commit to a franchise fee or other funding source for road improvements at its Feb. 14 meeting.

Mayor Bob Ramsey said before he would consider a franchise fee, which plainly is another tax, he wants to pursue other funding options first.

This is different than a tax as the county and school district would get a share of that, said Councilmember Jeff Wise.

Using a franchise fee would ensure everyone is paying an equal amount, he said.

According to Olson, residents would be paying $14 per month franchise fee on their gas and electric bills, totaling $28 per month, if the council approved the proposed fee.

Everybody with electric and gas services would pay the franchise fee for the road repair, not just homeowners and businesses, Wise said.

It would not impact property owners with undeveloped land, which generates zero road use, he said.

“The assessment process is archaic and a nightmare,” said Councilmember Randy Backous.

The current assessment system bases the amount property owners pay on the property’s frontage on the roads and the city only assesses for overlays, Olson said.

The proposed franchise fee would replace the assessments for road maintenance work, except reconstruction, he said.

Fifty percent of the road reconstruction costs would still be paid by benefiting property owners, Olson said.

The city will soon have to start rebuild three miles of roads per year that are 40 years old or older, he said.

A franchise fee “…would pull everyone into the equation equally. We all use the roads,” Backous said.

Hopefully, the city can reduce or eliminate the assessment, he said.

Councilmember Jason Tossey said he does not want to box the city into using a franchise fee or to a franchise fee amount at this point.

While the proposed franchise fee would be the fairest option, the city needs to keep the assessment policy for now and look at other funding options for future road improvements, he said.

The franchise fee may not keep up with the project costs, but he would support a fee over increasing the levy, Tossey said.

“There is not a perfect way to fund this,” said Councilmember Sarah Strommen.

Using a franchise fee is balanced and it will provide the city with some flexibility, she said.

“If we keep looking for the perfect solution, we won’t find it,” Strommen said. “We have a bill (for road reconstruction) coming due and we have to pay it.”

The council can also eliminate the franchise fee in the future, she said.

If the city uses a franchise fee, it needs to get rid of the assessments, said Councilmember Colin McGlone.

Keeping the assessment policy allows the city to issue assessment bonds for larger projects, Olson said.

“If the city gets enough franchise funds built up, it should not need assessment bonds,” Backous said.

“We are going to have pay for the roads at some point,” he said.

If the council doesn’t want to charge a franchise fee, then residents will have pay assessments, he said.

The council needs to go back and discuss other ways of cutting the budget to make it “lean and mean” and then have this discussion, said Ramsey.

Councilmember David Elvig agreed the council needs to look at the budget; it appears the majority of the council agrees with the franchise piece.

The city needs to continue this initiative and create a policy as well as look at a variety of ways to fund future road improvement projects, he said.

The council still needs continue investigate budget option and get public input, Elvig said.

“There is no good choice, but we can’t keep kicking it down the road because eventually it will hit a pothole and fall in,” Wise said.

Tammy Sakry is at tammy.sakry@ecm-inc.com

It was an evening of wine and epicurean delights in the Riverview Room of Anoka-Ramsey Community College Saturday evening.

Guests packed the Riverview Room at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Saturday for the Coon Rapids Lions Club wine and epicurean delights fund-raiser.

The Coon Rapids Lions Club was hosting its third annual extravaganza, one of the community service organization’s two biggest fund-raisers of the year – the other is the spring golf tournament at Bunker Hills Golf Course in early June.

According to Lori Anderson, who with fellow Coon Rapids Lions Club member Beth Janish was co-chairperson of the event, the idea for the event was originally just to have wine tasting.

Then it evolved to include restaurants serving food as in the Taste of Blaine and artisans selling their wares like Girls Night Out, Anderson said.

“It has become a grand cocktail party,” she said.

“We had about 216 people here this year.”

Total profit, including sales was about $3,600, although not all the expenses have been tallied yet, Anderson said.

This included $500 from the Wall of Wine and $680 from the silent auction, she said.

“All profits will go directly back to the community,” Anderson said.

The number of restaurants and wine vendors taking part were more than last year, according to Anderson.

There were 15 area restaurants for guests to sample food plus 12 wine vendors serving 82 different kinds of wine.

The Wall of Wine had up to 80 bottles of wine for people to choose from in return for a contribution of $20 to a Lions club project.

To determine where the money would go, the purchaser of the bottle of wine spun a wheel, on which were listed the organizations that the Lions club supports financially.

Organizations and programs benefiting from the Wall of Wine included Can Do Canines, Alexandra House, TLC Toys, ACBC Foodshelf, Hooked On Fishing Not Drugs, Wellness Van, Feed My Starving Children, the Coon Rapids Lions Club Foundation, Books for Bango and a host of other projects in which the club is involved.

Wines for the event were provided by MGM Liquor Warehouse in Coon Rapids from a variety of vendors.

Food was served by Famous Dave’s, Bennigans, Green Mill, Jimmy Johns, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Rose Garden, Bostons, Pizza Hut, Caribou Coffee, Hot Wok, Broadway Pizza, Dairy Queen, Harvest Grill, Olive Garden, Dickey’s Barbeque Pit and Feed My Starving Children.

Vendors at the extravaganza were All That Glitters, Bead Basics, Lou’s Stained Glass, Make Time To Relax massage therapy, Mary Dvorak glass artist, Miche’ Bag Diva, Noelle Maki Rollins artist, Orange Lily Florists, Premier Designs high fashion jewelry and spiritual readings by Rita.

Sponsors of the silent auction and Wall of Wine included Davanni’s Pizza, Panera Bread, Skyview Dairy, Texas Roadhouse, Steve and Terry Jankowski, Bill and Marcia Guthrie (Coon Rapids Lions Club members), Jessica Schultz (Coon Rapids Lions Club member), Dino’s, Applebee’s, Crow River Winery, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, The Well Sports Tavern, Dan and Beth Janish (Coon Rapids Lions Club members), Joel and Becky Anderson (Coon Rapids Lions Club members), Amy Majsterski/Tastefully Simply, Seth Bork State Farm Insurance, Coon Rapids Lions Club and an anonymous donor.

Music for the evening was provided by The Samplers, a jazz trio comprising Jared Waln on guitar, Josh May on trumpet/percussion and Justin Bazzini on saxophone/keyboard/percussion.

The Coon Rapids Lions Club was chartered in 1954.

To the Editor:

Thank you for the report on beginning to raise the Mississippi water level on or about Feb. 20 (as an Asian carp barrier).

Good time to get out and enjoy something that doesn’t happen every year, to be able to walk, maybe even skate up and down the river along the shore from the Rice Street beach in Anoka where an almost perfect ice skating rink formed this winter anchored to the sandbar.

The unusually high and fast moving water last year left a lot of sand buildup on the shore, followed by a long dry spell and lowering the water table in the fall must have worked pretty good for an ideal shoreline to walk along from the beach.

Something else cool to watch for at the Rice Street beach when the river water level begin to rise, is when the sandbar ice platform lifts away in one huge section.

If that happens to coincide with cocktail hour on the sandbar; when the migratory fly way group of ducks, geese, gulls and other birds have gathered there around sunset, the scene almost looks like watching a cartoon of a football field-sized barge leaving dock and floating off down the river loaded with Looney Tunes characters fighting for position to kick back for the ride.

Thanks again,
Jon and Mary Caine
Anoka

Next step is budget reform

To the Editor:

Unless you’ve spent the last 10 years under a rock, you know that Washington is dysfunctional. We are sitting on more than $15 trillion worth of debt and the House and Senate are unable to agree on a budget blueprint to guide and get our spending priorities in order.

Adopting a budget is one of Congress’ most basic responsibilities, which is why it’s so stunning to note that the United States Senate hasn’t passed a budget in over 1,000 days!

I was touring a local small business recently and an employee said to me, “if we ran our business like Congress, we’d all be in jail!” He’s right!

One way to buck this trend is by adopting a new set of principles and policies that will reform the way Congress and the rest of the federal government designs and adopts its budget, and, therefore, how it spends taxpayer money.

Recently, the House Budget Committee led by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) released a package of reforms that take important steps toward getting our nation’s fiscal house in order.

Taken piece by piece, these bipartisan bills have the potential to enact positive change for our country and most importantly, for you as a taxpayer.

I’ve been saying for some time now that we must focus on long-term solutions so that businesses and families can plan accordingly.

This means forcing Congress to abandon short-term fixes and initiate long-term planning. One way is to start looking at the big picture and the macroeconomic impact of all major legislation.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) does a fine job of adding up the cost of legislation; however, the rules under which it operates sometimes frustrate the solutions that our elected officials offer.

One proposed reform is to institute what is called “dynamic scoring.” This would require the CBO to take into account the macro impact of proposed legislation, both positive and negative – so that all of us, businesses and families, can better plan for the future.

Another piece of this budget reform package, the Legally Binding Budget Act, requires that Congress and the president agree on budget levels before we start to construct a budget.

Coupling this reform with the Baseline Reform Act, which would start each budget with a baseline of what was spent in the previous year, would help make accurate assessments going forward and aid in transparency.

If we’re able to look back at what was done poorly, and what was done well, we can make better decisions going forward. This would give us a more accurate look at the true cost of government.

Another reform that has broad support on both sides of the aisle is giving the president the power of an expedited line item veto.

The president, Republican or Democrat, should be given the ability to trim out wasteful spending. If the president receives a bill that is laden with pork and other unnecessary spending, he should be able to strike that individual item.

This also takes on the corrupt culture of Washington spending by placing even more checks over pet projects and the influences of special interests.

The bottom line is that Washington’s spending-driven debt crisis is out of control and in need of serious reform.

We can no longer sustain annual trillion dollar deficits that add to our $15 trillion debt, much of which we’ve amassed over the last decade.

It’s a bipartisan failure. Both parties have done their fair share. And, this means that there must be a bipartisan solution to fix this broken process.

This budget reform package is our opportunity to enact real, substantive reform. Some of these provisions have already cleared the House of Representatives with bipartisan support; the rest are expected to be voted on in the coming months.

It’s well past time to ensure accountability and transparency in the debate.  It’s my hope that we can make this process make sense again.

Congressman Erik Paulsen
R-Third District
Editor’s note: The Third Congressional District includes all but one precinct of the city of Coon Rapids.

School board caves in

To the Editor:

Looks like our school board has caved under pressure from the mighty gay and lesbian lobbyists.

It claims the new policy will help stop bullying. Bullying is just another label for it to stomp on our freedom of speech.

Our schools have become places where kids are not free to express their opinions on anything that might offend a gay, lesbian or a minority.

Our schools should be for teaching kids how to read, write, speak properly and learn enough so that they can have a decent future.

It seems the main goal in Anoka-Hennepin School District is to appease the vocal gay and lesbian activists. We don’t send our kids to school to have a teacher tell them it is OK to be gay.

These kids are vulnerable and can easily be swayed into that lifestyle when someone in authority tells them it is OK and normal – it isn’t OK or normal.

To say this policy is needed is a farce. Our kids don’t need to be taught about sexual orientation. Since sex education was introduced to our schools years ago, there has been a sharp rise in unwed mothers, abortions, sexually transmitted diseases and a whole host of problems.

Kids can’t learn in an environment where they are afraid to open their mouth for fear of offending someone.

The gays and minorities love the chance to run and report someone or something that “offended” them. It’s OK though if they offend someone like the 13-year-old who filed a lawsuit because the eighth-grade kids made fun of him because he was wearing high heels and scarves to school.

The gays are out looking for something to report and the schools are taking their side on all issues.  This new policy is just more fuel for them to get their way in our schools.

Marge Miller
Coon Rapids

Follow District 11 example

To the Editor:

Anoka-Hennepin School District recently adopted a respectful learning environment-curriculum policy (RLE-CP) in an effort to promote a safer learning environment for their students. This policy is replacing the policy that required neutrality in regards to sexual orientation.

This policy not only addresses bullying, but specifically bullying aimed at sexual orientation. This district has faced much tragedy in the last two years as a result of bullying and it is not alone.

Bullying is increasingly becoming an issue in schools nationwide and some states even lack legislation requiring schools to have policies addressing bullying at all.

Although the district has met with “opposition, misunderstanding and confusion” on their journey. It is setting a worthy example for other districts.

Not only has the district been proactive about student and teacher training about the new policy, but it is committed to the safety and well-being of their students. More districts should follow the example this district has set.

If schools do not confront the issue of bullying the problem will only get worse and result in more tragedies.

Stephanie Hayunga
Watertown, S.D.

It was a high school hockey game at an arena in a town where there has been high school hockey for more than 30 years.

A hometown player scored a classic breakaway goal to tie the game for his team. He got a loud round of applause from the crowd.

Then the local goalie made a diving stop as he slid across the crease to thwart a breakaway and keep the game tied. He also received a nice hand from local fans.

Then a player on the hometown team made an illegal hit and was called for a penalty as his opponent sprawled across the ice and into the boards.

The cheer was much, much louder and longer than for either of the other plays.

An impressionable 10-year-old youth hockey player told his grandfather that he thought it was a great hit. The grandfather answered, “Yes, but now our team is short-handed.” Still, the 10-year-old saved his loudest cheer for that play.

The other team scored a goal while the local team was short a player, broke the tie and went on to win the game.

That real-life scenario gives an idea how hard it will be to change the culture of high school and youth hockey where the loudest cheers often come when an opposing player is knocked to the ice.

But the Minnesota State High School League and Minnesota Hockey, the organization that runs youth hockey in Minnesota, made changes in their rules within days after Benilde-St. Margaret’s Jack Jablonski was paralyzed because of an accidental hit from behind in a junior varsity game Dec. 30.

Both organizations should be commended for making timely and needed rule changes. Now the battle will be to change that culture that has honored the big hit in a game more than a good goal, a good pass or a good save by a goalie.

A veteran Minnesota hockey official, while saying he thought the changes bordered on being a knee-jerk reaction because they were made so quickly without a chance for training, still thinks the changes were needed.

There will be some growing pains for players, coaches and officials, he said, but the game will be better.

The official, who began officiating youth games while he was a high school player and has officiated high school games for 13 years and college games for six years, says he has already seen a difference in play this season.

“I refereed two bantam games this week that were the best bantam games I have seen all year,” the referee said last week. “The focus wasn’t on hitting. It was on speed and moving the puck.”

Both the high school league and state youth hockey association put harsher rules in place for checking from behind, for boarding (a hit or trip that sends an opponent violently into the boards) and for contact-to-the-head situations.

Officials can enforce a game disqualification if they think a hit from behind is flagrant.

“There will be growing pains and it will be more of an adjustment for some,” the referee said. “There is more of a spotlight on officials and some might call a penalty [under the new rules] when it doesn’t need to be called. But in the long run it will be beneficial.”

The biggest criticism from some has been that the rule changes will take away “big” hits, something that’s been part of hockey in Minnesota for decades.

“But that’s not true,” said the referee. “I’ve seen some of the best hits since the changes. And we’ve got to change the culture.”

The spotlight on officials will shine even brighter the next couple weeks as sectional and state tournament play take place. There will no doubt be some criticism.

But both the Minnesota State High School League and Minnesota Hockey deserve praise for their actions to implement stricter penalties for dangerous hits.

In the long run those actions will make the sport of hockey, in the State of Hockey, a better game. And that should be the ultimate goal.

Editor’s note: This is an editorial from the ECM Editorial Board. The ABC Newspapers are part of ECM Publishers, Inc.

You know that old cliche that says “When March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb”? Well, for my family and I, March 2011 indeed came in like a lion.

On March 2, my younger brother was diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive form of lymphoma. On March 3, my youngest child reported that he may be deployed to Afghanistan with the Air Force. And on March 4, my husband lost his job. Uff-da! What a way to start the day. Or the week or the month or the year.

It became absolutely vital that we uncover the good in those challenging months that followed. During the trials we endured in those days, we learned to live life to the fullest. To embrace the wonder and joy of each new day. To celebrate even the smallest of victories.

Those celebrations were so vital, but sometimes felt so selfish, especially as Jeff endured the painful and abusive effects of his high-powered cancer treatment. How dare we celebrate life and count tiny accomplishments as victories? How could we see any good in any of this? But Jeff led the way, wearing neon-colored shoelaces to his chemo infusions just because he knew it would make nurses’ days bright.

Or unfolding paper medication cups and making them into flowers and then pinning them to the bulletin board in his hospital room, just because he knew it would brighten the room and give nurses something pleasant to look at when they came in to check his vitals. Or the time he alerted hospital staff to a wilting American flag, hoisted outside the window of his hospital room where he was receiving one of his intense 24-hour chemo treatments.

“We’re honoring the military. Shouldn’t we raise a nice, crisp flag?” he said to Mercy Hospital’s president, who visited Jeff after hearing about his observation. Sure enough the tattered flag was retired and a new one went up in time for Memorial Day.

Yep, Jeff showed us all how to see the good in life and live life to the fullest, even as he battled the cancer that ultimately consumed him. And get this: as my little brother crossed the threshold into his heavenly home Nov. 20, 2011, our good and gracious Lord reminded us of His renewing life-giving love with a fresh blanket of snow.

During the course of those many months of wonder and worry from March until the end of November, there were times when it could have been easy to become numb to small victories, to see only the dark side. It would have been easy to brush the small things aside, our eyes and hearts fixated on the bigger goal. Or maybe we could have been afraid to celebrate, thinking that we don’t deserve to celebrate until we reach the prize – remission for Jeff, a stateside assignment for my son, a new job for my husband. Or maybe we think we’re going to jinx ourselves by counting our chickens before they hatch. That’s not only misguided, it steals our joy!

If we did finally reach the big victory, our joy would not be diminished by having celebrated steps taken in the right direction along the way – or taking steps to create joy for others! And if we didn’t reach the goal, we might be heartbroken, but at least we would have fully embraced the journey every step of the way – and perhaps that is the real prize after all. After some distance traveled down life’s challenging lanes, tangible victory was won in the other two “in like a lion” attacks of the first week of March 2011: In June, my son’s deployment was canceled and just last week my husband landed a job.

And there were more joys, too: my daughter’s wedding, my older brother relocating here from Montana and my son’s purchase of his first house. As life goes on, the first steps of new journeys are taken and challenges will arise. But be sure to celebrate the small victories along the way. Once your eyes are open to victories of all sizes, you’re all the more able to see them in yourself – and in everyone else. There is no better feeling than to acknowledge someone else’s victories, especially the little ones they haven’t thought to celebrate.

Remind them of all the good in life and celebrate along with them!

This is the last of a four-part series about Bar-None Boys’ Ranch and its founders, Bob and Miriam Nolte.

The Noltes lived on the premises of Bar-None for 11 years. Their children, Robert, Richard, Ruth, Ralph, and Ron attended the St. Francis schools.

In 1965 Bob was appointed regional director of the VOA for a 10-state area.

With Bar-None well under way, Bob and Miriam moved back to the city with their family to re-establish the Volunteers of America’s urban presence in Minneapolis. There were still many things that needed doing.

A proclamation by Gov. Arne Carlson March 3, 1996 listed the VOA’s many accomplishments over its 100 years of service to the people of Minnesota.

They included services to adults and the elderly, homes for mentally disabled, mentally ill, chemically dependent; congregate dining for seniors; transitional housing for women and their families; home-delivered meals for persons 60 and over; semi-independent living services and supported living services; housing complexes for families, the handicapped and the elderly; assisted living communities and long-term health care facilities.

In addition, the Volunteers of America provides two correctional services, a pre-release and work-release correctional program serving men and a jail, workhouse, and work-release correctional program serving women.

The Noltes were instrumental in establishing these services.

Over their lifetimes they played no small part in bridging the gap between human needs and the resources of the public and private sector and in 1982 they received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the U of M Board of Regents.

Bob and Miriam Nolte retired in 1981 and built a home of their own in Remer where they lived during the summer months while wintering in Mesa, Ariz.

Of the Noltes, Russ Dunlop said, “Bob and Miriam were as much a unit as anyone I knew. Miriam was Bob’s alter-ego.

“Bob bore the idea of Bar-None and the vision of coming out here to St. Francis. Miriam, the practical one, would rein in his flights of dreaming.”

Their daughter-in-law, Sharon Esnough Nolte, a St. Francis graduate, remembers Bob and Miriam as being totally inseparable.

“They did everything together, 24 hours a day, and lived their job, seven days a week,” she said.

“Miriam was Bob’s passport. She had the degree in social work. Bob had completed a business degree and in 1968 received a BA in clinical psychology.

“Ironically, their roles were reversed. Bob planned the programs and Miriam took care of the financial end.”

Although Bob could fire people’s imaginations with his vision of Bar-None and inspire them to greatness through their generous contributions of time and money, he recalls a Miriam Nolte of long ago, dressed in her VOA uniform, soliciting money from bars in Minneapolis to build the original Bar-None at Dutch Lake.

“She often made $100 a night,” said Bob with a chuckle.

He referred to her as “a money collector with a master’s degree in social work.”

In 1996 the Noltes co-authored “A Ministry of Service in Minnesota 1896-1996.”

Although the purpose of the book was to commemorate the Volunteers of America centennial in Minnesota, it is largely autobiographical so closely were the lives of Bob and Miriam Nolte intertwined with the workings of the VOA.

Much of the information for this series of articles comes from their writings in that book.

Bob and Miriam celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in the spring of 1998.

The following December Miriam suffered a massive stroke and passed away at their winter home in Arizona.

I met Bob and Miriam Nolte at Northland Rec Lab over 25 years ago.

Now, well into his 90’s, Bob is still an active attendee at Rec Lab.

My own participation in this annual week-long event has given me the opportunity to know them both well.

I think of Miriam and Bob as dedicated humanitarians. They lived the VOA mission statement, illustrating the presence of God through all that they did — serving people and communities in need, and creating opportunities for people to experience the joy of serving others.

In my book, that’s what heroism is all about.

Editor’s note: June Anderson is a member volunteer of the Anoka County Historical Society.

The way our weather has been going, we could actually play baseball tomorrow.

It is also possible that we could have a monstrous snowstorm on the Twins’ opening day against Albert Pujols and the Los Angeles Angels when the two meet on Monday, April 9 for a 3 p.m. game.

Twins pitchers and catchers and others reported for spring training last weekend (Feb. 18) and sounds of another baseball season are indeed in the air.

I can hear that “Play Ball” all the way from Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla., to anywhere in Minnesota.

Last year is history and we quickly have forgotten our 99 losses. Right?

Target Field is still a draw and will again rank as one of the fans’ favorite ballparks in the Major Leagues.

The Twins have had 79 sellouts in 2010 and 59 sellouts in 2011 at Target Field.

The Twins have some of the most dedicated fans in Major League Baseball and it is likely that most fans, including this rabid one, have forgotten last year and see the playoffs in our future for 2012.

First on the agenda, bookmark the Twins official website at http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=min

Manager Ron Gardenhire’s Twins open the Grapefruit League spring training season at Hammond Stadium on Saturday, March 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Spring training tickets may be tough to find but check for tickets at http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/

Let’s read more about the Twins’ spring training site:

“The Twins are spending their 22nd spring training season at the Lee County Sports Complex in 2012.

“Spurred by the state-of-the-art facility, the Twins won the 1991 World Series after enjoying their most successful spring training camp in history as they posted a record-high 21 wins.

“The Lee County Complex is home to the Twins and their six minor league affiliates.

“It features five full and two half-fields, the centerpiece of which is a 7,500-seat stadium in which the major league Twins play their exhibition games and conduct some of their daily workouts.

“The main stadium was renamed Bill Hammond Stadium late in the 1994 spring season in honor of the deputy county commissioner who was instrumental in getting the complex built for the Twins.

“The sports complex is the home to two of Minnesota’s minor league affiliates, housing both the Miracle of the Class A Florida State League and the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Twins.

“Complete home and visiting clubhouses are included in the stadium proper, and complete facilities for the minor league teams are contained in a building adjacent to their playing fields.

“The Major League club’s administrative offices are located in the stadium, with the minor league department’s offices in the building adjacent to their fields.

“The complex also features two soccer fields, a softball complex and other athletic facilities for use by Lee County organizations, plus an eight-acre water-management lake for public fishing.

“The Twins trained in Orlando, Fla., from 1936 to 1990 (with the exception of the war years of 1943-45, when they conditioned in College Park, Md.), and their minor league clubs moved to Terry Park in Fort Myers in 1990, after headquartering in Melbourne, Fla., from 1964-89.

“The Lee County Sports Complex, a $14 million undertaking, was completed in February 1991.

“Lescher and Mahoney, an architectural and engineering firm based in Tampa, Fla., were the lead architects for the project, with design assistance from Ellerbe-Becket of Kansas City, Mo. Case Contracting Company of Plant City, Fla., was the contractor.

“The Twins and Lee County have a 20-year agreement for use of the complex.”

Hammond Stadium has a capacity of 7,500. Its outfield dimensions are 330 in left, 404 in center and 330 in right.

“The stadium address is 14100 Six Miles Cypress Pkwy, Ft. Myers, Florida. Easiest way to get to the park is: From I-75, take the Daniels Road exit west two miles to Six Miles Cypress Parkway; go south and the stadium is on the right.”

If you manage to take in some Twins games in spring training in 2012, you may be able to see these Grapefruit League teams: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals (World Champions in 2011), Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and the Washington Nationals.

To see a Grapefruit League 2012 master schedule, go to http://springtrainingonline.com/features/master-schedule.htm

If you happen to be in Arizona this March, you have the opportunity to see the Cactus League teams in action.

They include: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.

To see a Cactus League 2012 master schedule, go to http://springtrainingonline.com/features/master-schedule-cactus.htm

I have yet to see Hammond Stadium but hope to get there one of these years.

My last visit to a Twins spring training camp was at Tinker Field in the spring of 1987, the year the Twins won their first World Series championship.

I still recall the electricity that was in the air with the arrival of some new Twins players including Dan Gladden, Juan Berenguer and Jeff Reardon.

Spring training can definitely get those corpuscles hopping and a popping.

If you wish to find out something interesting about Major League Baseball spring training, go to Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_training

Spring training by major league teams in sites other than their regular season game sites first became popular in the 1890s and by 1910 were in wide use.

Early training sites include the St. Louis Cardinals in Hot Springs, Ark., and Tulsa, Okla., and the New York Yankees in New Orleans and later Phoenix, Ariz.

The Detroit Tigers are credited with being the first team to conduct spring training camp in Arizona.

The Philadelphia Phillies were the first of the current major-league teams to train in Florida, when they spent two weeks in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1889.

Editor’s note: Howard Lestrud is ECM online managing editor.

An investigation of alleged faulty work at the new Blaine senior high school was followed up at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Anoka County Taxpayers Assoc. Feb. 2. Blaine Mayor Roger Barnes and Councilman Don Knoll also attended the session to voice their concern over what was described as “health hazards.”

– 40 years ago, Feb. 18, 1972

Land plans, sewer, density discussed

Blaine city council met in a special study session Thursday with Marcia Bennett, Metropolitan Council representative, to discuss portions of Blaine’s comprehensive land plan in regard to the plan’s proposed density Police. If Blaine’s plan was not modified the plan would be disapproved by the Metro Council.

Outcome of the meeting was to revise the comprehensive plan, in effect, to maintain the center of Blaine in the rural service area for the present time, with a development density policy of one unit per 10 acres and a minimum lot size of 21/2 acres.

– 30 years ago, Feb. 19, 1982

Student survey raises parents’ ire

A Minnesota survey addressing student attitudes and behaviors about sex, drugs, suicide and child abuse has ruffled the feathers of parents in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

The survey, which is being administered statewide by the Minnesota Department of Education, was criticized at Monday night’s District 11 School Board meeting by parent Gwen Moore as being overly negative and suggestive.

– 20 years ago, Feb. 14, 1992

• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Memorial service for Lynn P. “Bud” Amundson, 77, Coon Rapids, took place Feb. 16 at Coon Rapids United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; children, Mark (Barb) Amundson, Gary (Terri) Amundson, Jill (Tom) Mullerleile; grandchildren, Jeff (Katie), Stephanie, Stacy, Sarah, Michelle, Bret, Kara, Matthew, Michael and Kadie; sister, Lorraine Bolton; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, David.

Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel.

Delphine Boettcher

Funeral service for Delphine Elizabeth Boettcher, 78, Dayton, took place Feb. 20 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Anoka. Rev. Mike Van Sloun officiated.

Boettcher died Feb. 15. She was born Sept. 27, 1933 in South Haven to Casper and Regina (Gohman) Kronenberg and was a retired supervisor at Cornelius.

She is survived by her children, Bill (Linda), Barb (Chuck) Burak, Diane (Jerry) Kujawa and David (Pam); grandchildren, Wesley and Nicholas Boettcher, Cori Tschida, Amy and Brian Kujawa, Jesse Schumacher and David Boettcher; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Joan (Cecil) Peterson; brothers, LeRoy (Judy), Corwin (Judy) and Robert (Linda); sister-in-law, Shirley Kronenberg; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; granddaughter, Amber Boettcher; parents, Casper and Regina Kronenberg; and brother, John Kronenberg.

Pallbearers were Wes, Nick and David Boettcher, Tony Tschida, Brian Kujawa and Jesse Schumacher.

Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Anoka. Arrangements were by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka.

David Brigman

Funeral service for David Keith Brigman, nine months, Andover, took place Feb. 21 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Anoka. Rev. Mike Van Sloun officiated.

He died Feb. 15 in Coon Rapids and was born May 26, 2011 in Fridley to Kenley Ward and Angela Marie (Intihar) Brigman.

He is survived by his parents, Kenley and Angela; grandparents, Frank and Judy Intihar and Barry and Mary Thomas; great-grandmother, Mary Pearl Brock; aunts, Cynthia Sturdivent and Becky Morgan; uncles, Kevin (Windy) Intihar and Jeff Boe; and cousins, Ian, Will, Lucy, Taylor, Jamie, Payton and Jashion.

Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Anoka. Arrangements were by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka.

John Cox

Funeral service for John Nicholas Cox, 80, Cambridge, formerly of Cedar, took place Feb. 18 at Church of St. Patrick, Oak Grove.

Cox died Feb. 12 at Grace Point Crossing. He was born Dec. 26, 1931 to Herbert and Elizabeth (Altman) Cox and was a retired supervisor at Federal Cartridge.

He is survived by his sisters, Mildred Gallagher and Marie Highberg; brother, Bill Cox; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald.

Interment was at the Church of St. Patrick Cemetery. Arrangements were by Gearhart Anoka Funeral Chapel.

Wallace Curtis

Funeral service for Wallace A. “Wally” Curtis, 84, Coon Rapids, took place Feb. 16 at Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel.

He is survived by his son, Mitch; stepdaughters, Mia (Kevin) Ott and Jami Pierson; grandchildren, Max, Georgia, Sophia, Garrett, Jamie and Forrest; brother, Jeffrey Curtis; sister, Diane (Ralf) Klosky; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Tracy Zimmerman.

Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel.

William Dickinson

Funeral service for William Henry Dickinson, 90, Coon Rapids, took place Feb. 21 at Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka. Dr. John Look officiated.

Dickinson died Feb. 17 at Camilia Rose Convalescent Center, Coon Rapids. He was born Dec. 14, 1921 in St. Francis to William Henry and Ida Viola (Tharp) Dickinson and was a retired from the maintenance department at Anoka State Hospital.

He is survived by his sisters, Esther, Ruby and Dorothy.

He was preceded in death by his companion, Beryl Morissette; parents, Ida and Bill; and siblings, Francis, Elsie, Berdina, Joseph and Ruth.

Interment was at Forest Hill Cemetery, Anoka. Arrangements were by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka.

Ruby Dimler

Memorial service for Ruby Dimler, 91, St. Paul, took place Feb. 18 at Gearhart Funeral Home, Coon Rapids.

Dimler died Feb. 3. She was born Oct. 26, 1920 in Blue Earth.

Interment was private at Morningside Memorial Gardens, Coon Rapids. Arrangements were by Gearhart Funeral Home, Coon Rapids.

Ann Holt

Memorial service for Ann (Greig) Holt took place Feb. 18 at Kozlak-Radulovich Chapel, Blaine.

Holt died Feb. 9. She was born in Wheaton,attended medical tech school in Minneapolis and worked for Western Union until her children were born.

She is survived by husband, John Holt; son, Jeff Holt of Boulder, Colo.; daughter, Wendy (Spiro) Payton of Louisville, Ky.; and grandchildren, Kennedy and Benjamin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leigh and Muriel Greig; and brother, Major Greig.

Arrangements were by Kozlak-Radulovich Blaine Chapel.

Dennis Jaksha

Funeral service for Dennis Carl Jaksha, 71, took place Feb. 18 at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, Bigfork.

Jaksha died Feb. 14. He was born in Hibbing and worked as a lithographer for Lund Press, H & S, Japs-Olson and Johnson Printing in Fridley.

He is survived by his mother, Marjorie; wife, Caroline (nee Shadley); brothers, William, Thomas and Charles; daughters, Laura (Bill) Jenson, Terri Dauplaise and Cari (Jon) Canning; grandchildren, Jeremy, Jessica, Carl, Liz, Helaina, Camille; and great-grandchildren, Jaycie and Adrianna.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carl; and brothers, David and Michael.

Arrangements with Kozlak-Radulovich Blaine Chapel.

Colleen Jones

Funeral service for Colleen M. Jones, 57, Coon Rapids, took place Feb. 23 at Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel.

Jones was a 30-year employee at Lynwood Nursing Home.

She is survived by her husband, Dean; children, April (Mark) Kent and Tom Jones; grandchildren, Amber and Jacob Kent, Cody Jones; father, Charles Tietz; sister, Karla Tietz; brother, Michael Tietz; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Donna Tietz.

Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel.

Nicholas Moore 

Funeral service for Nicholas Moore, 25, Fridley, took place Feb. 18 at Kozlak-Radulovich Blaine Chapel.

Moore was a member of the Minneapolis Mayhem rugby team and was working on his master’s degree at the University of Minnesota.

He is survived by his mother, Laura (Mitzi); sisters, Natalie (Kristen), Emily, Lindsay; “brother,” Michael; grandparents: Earl and Maryann Langlais, Jean Moore; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by father, Ian; and grandfather, John Moore.

Arrangements were by Kozlak-Radulovich Blaine Chapel.

Leslie Sarell

Funeral service for Leslie R. Sarell, 77, Blaine, took place Feb. 22 at Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel.

Sarell died Feb. 15. He was retired after 26 years with Target Corporation.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene; children, Dennis (Sharon), Debra (Marty) Humphrey, Doug (Chris), Ken (Dawn) and James; grandchildren, Timothy, Sarah, Brenah and Emily; brother, Edward; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his sisters and brothers, Miriam, Ernie, Helen, Albert, Ervin and Howard.

Interment was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements were by Washburn-McReavy Coon Rapids Chapel.

Ordean Stromgren

Memorial service for Ordean Axel Stromgren, 85, Ham Lake, took place Feb. 20 at Constance Evangelical Free Church, Andover. Revs. Randy Discher and Jim Scott officiated.

Stromgren died Feb. 16. He was born Aug. 22, 1926 in Isanti to Abel and Olive (Berg) Stromgren. He graduated from Anoka High School and was employed by Land O’Lakes for 50 years. He was a longtime, active member of Constance Evangelical Free Church in Andover and was a member of the Ham Lake Senior Citizen Group.

He is survived by his children, Tim (Linda) of South St. Paul, Dan (Linda) of Cambridge, Lori Stromgren and fiancé Chuck Maxwell of Cambridge, Vicki (Dale) Sanborn of Ham Lake; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; brother, Marvin Stromgren of Coon Rapids; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marilyn; brother, Wendell; and sister, Eunice Johnson.

Interment was at the Soderville Cemetery. Arrangements were by Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel.

Ethel Villella

Funeral service for Ethel M. Villella, 88, Isanti. took place Feb. 18 at Methven-Taylor Funeral Home, Anoka. Deacon Peter D’Heilly officiated.

Villella was a 29-year employee of Honeywell.

She is survived by her husband, William; children, Gregory Haggberg, Carol Haggberg-Fosvick, two grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; siblings, Chester Anderson, Myrtle Vansicle; and many nieces, nephews, other family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters.

Interment was private at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements were by Methven-Taylor Funeral Home, Anoka Chapel.

Kindergarden in Independent School District 15 starting in 2012-13 will be an entirely new experience. Every kindergardener in our district will be participating in an all-day, every-day model with no fee required.

Our elementary principals and teachers are extremely excited about this shift in the delivery of instruction. Early intervention has been an effective strategy for improving learning. With educational intervention, a solid argument is “the sooner, the better.”

As superintendent, I have the opportunity and responsibility to conduct teacher observations as part of our Quality Compensation (Q-comp) program. This year, in a post-observation with a first-grade teacher, I was once again reminded that the achievement gap starts early and is predictable.

She said within a few weeks she can establish which of her first-graders had attended all-day, every-day and which ones had attended every-day, half-day kindergarten. She also stated both our current kindergarten programs are preferred to the all-day, every-other day/every-other Friday model used in our district approximately eight years ago. She smiled and said, “All-day, every-day for all students would be the very best.”

Our teachers in our current all-day, every-day program have seen firsthand what an extended learning experience yields. Reading with expression, quality work on math and writing complete sentences with punctuation are just a few of the many positive outcomes.

Parents will have questions as we transition to this all-day, every-day model. Questions may surface related to the pace of learning, the logistics of lunch at school or even the fun or joy of learning. All of these and more will be addressed by teachers and principals as we move forward.

The one question parents will not have to answer is: “Can our personal household budget afford the enriched experience of an all-day kindergarden program?”

A second initiative in 2012-13 is the introduction of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) at the fourth-grade level in each of our three elementary schools. This five-year roll out plan will focus on comprehensive STEM offerings in grades four thruogh 12 by the 2017-18 school year.

These two projects will add to an already exciting elementary program that has adopted a new reading series yielding positive student growth. Our reading series features high-interest material coupled with increased rigor. The newly adopted reading program is generating positive reviews from instructors and administrators. Because the pace is uptempo and acquisition of knowledge is brisk, this reading series is appropriately named Journeys.

Our district engaged in a professional-development model that was recognized by the Journeys trainers as “extremely effective” when selected members of our staff were trained in June 2011. A particular advantage of our plan was the instructors who facilitated the additional training were already Teacher Academy mentors. As a result of their prior knowledge focused on assisting colleagues, the transition to reading mentors had a laser-like focus.

Our instructors are impressed with the wealth of resources available to shape our young readers. Use of the resources have encouraged hard work and have increased learning capacity. It’s exciting that the variety in this curriculum appears to keep students engaged and thirsting for more activities.

Smart boards have enhanced engagement in Journeys lessons and activities. For years, teachers have successfully manipulated flash cards with sounds and letters. In a technology-rich environment, these hand-held visual aids for learning have been enriched by big-screen, billboard-like, interactive displays for all students to see and shape. The “journey” is incredible.

You may have watched an investigative police show during the evening hours. Often these episodes use technology similar to smart boards as the tool that helps organize clues for the good guys. In comparison, our instructors help our students (the good guys) by using the smart board to reveal clues that will unlock the potential to read, read and read a bit more.

With that being said, consider asking our elementary students which instructional method they prefer. I’ll side with the smart board, and I’ll bet they will too. In a span of about three years, our district has become an example of how to acquire technology; more importantly, we have demonstrated how to implement teaching methodology electronically. Very few districts in the state have interactive smart boards in every elementary classroom. We have made that investment a priority to enhance educational activity.

The Journeys reading series incorporates decoding as a strategy for all students. They discover the answers to, “What is a root word?” “How is the word changed by adding a prefix or a suffix?” Acquiring decoding skills will increase understanding and prepare our children to perform well on local and state tests. The assessment available with this adopted reading program allows for a comprehensive look at where students are and where they are going in terms of achievement.

The importance of our children reading at grade level by third grade is imperative. There is no doubt: the new series is rigorous, the technology component is comprehensive, the teachers are continuing to refine lessons and the training of reading mentors has been well-worth the time and effort. Moving forward as a team of educators, parents, and community members, we can capitalize on these actions and continue to make our K-5 programing model the finest in the state of Minnesota.

Ed Saxton is the superintendent for the St. Francis Independent School District 15.

With the advent of the 2008 financial crisis, we heard more about the word “securitization” than anytime before. What is it, what does it mean and how did it affect the economy leading into 2008?

Securitization is the pooling of different types of contractual debt. Most often debt related to commercial and residential mortgages, credit card obligations, auto loans and other types of loans. These pools in turn are sold to investors as “structured investments” in the form of collateralized mortgage obligations (CMO), collateralized debt obligations (CDO) and various types of consolidated debt bonds. These pools contain tranches, which are a number of related securities that have different risks and rewards. The word “tranche” is the French word for slice. In short, these pools were and are slices and dices of underlying securities that are layered with some high and low quality obligations.

Securitized investments are supposed to pay back investors on the principal and interest on the debt of the underlying security. Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are backed by mortgage receivables and asset-backed securities are backed by other types of receivables. According to Nicole Gelinas in her book “After the Fall,” “this great invention in ‘securitization’—the packaging of long-term loans and other streams of future cash flows into securities—began with home mortgages.” This went back to the 1970s and in the 1980s and ‘90s MBS exploded.

As the structured investment market grew MBS were cut up into many different pieces and sold to investors all over the world. This slicing and dicing of MBS created an environment where should something go wrong, it would be nearly impossible to get to all these investors to renegotiate terms.

These structured investments were to have principal protection, contain tax benefits, provide better returns and be less volatile. In reality what happened, as we led up to 2008, was the revelation that these investments were complex and not well understood, there was a good deal of unsecured credit risk and there was lack of pricing and liquidity because of the inability to trade these investments in a deep and liquid market.

In “The Sellout,” Charles Gasparino writes, “By late 2006 market players estimated that nearly 80 percent of even the safest pieces of each CDO, the triple-A super-senior tranches, were packed with debt directly tied to the increasingly credit-challenged subprime mortgages, meanwhile, default rates, stable for the past five years, began to rise, at first gradually in the mid-2006 but then with great ferocity in the new year and beyond… The question in early 2007 wasn’t really if and when it would unwind but how much.”

As this giant market began to come unglued, many inside the official regulatory apparatus and those on Wall Street were unaware of the consequences that were yet to come. Part of the reason is because of much of what happened was not transparent in the financial system—this was especially true in the mortgage market as 2008 approached. Michael Lewis summed it up in his book “The Big Short.” Lewis states, “How long would it take before the people walking back and forth in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral figured out what had just happened to them?”

Quote of the Week: “A good knowledge of what happened in 1929 remains our best safeguard against the recurrence of the more unhappy events of those days. Since 1929 we have enacted numerous laws designed to make securities speculation more honest and, it is hoped, more readily restrained. None of these is a perfect safeguard. The signal feature of the mass escape from reality that occurred in 1929 and before–and which has characterized every previous speculative outburst from the South Sea Bubble to the Florida land boom–what that it carried Authority with it. Governments were either bemused as were the speculators or they deemed it unwise to be sane at a time when sanity exposed one to ridicule, condemnation for spoiling the game, or the threat of severe political retribution.” – John Kenneth Galbraith

Bart Ward is the chief executive officer of Ward & Co. Ltd. an Anoka based registered investment advisor – specializing in the management of stock and bond portfolios in companies which are listed on the NYSE.

Fire was seen by Hiram Willman, night watchman at Reed & Sherwood’s issuing from the roof of J. B. Brennan’s home at 2:30 this morning. Willman pulled the box at the factory and then blew the big whistle. Brennan was asleep in his chair and heard the whistle. He went out doors to see where the fire was, and found it was his own home. The firemen made a quick stop and only a part of the roof was destroyed.

– 100 years ago, Feb. 28, 1912

Fourteen hundred farmers, wives, children enjoy Commercial Club’s second annual dinner and program

The Anoka Commercial club’s second annual farmers’ day celebration doubled the attendance of a year ago.

Serving started at noon at the high school auditorium, where long tables were set, at each end of the parquet and two lines formed to “come and get it.”

– 75 years ago, Feb. 24, 1937

St. Francis township hearing for incorporation Tuesday

A fact-finding hearing on a petition to incorporate St. Francis township and a portion of Oak Grove township as a village will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Anoka county courthouse Feb. 27.

The hearing will be held before the Minnesota Municipal Commission, composed of Joseph Robbie, Minneapolis attorney, F. Robert Edman, Mendota Heights and Robert W. Johnson, Anoka county attorney.

– 50 years ago, Feb. 23, 1962

Burglars his four Andover businesses

Burglars broke into four business places housed in 16191 Round Lake Blvd., Andover, it was discovered about 7 a.m. Feb. 21.

The burglars, apparently in a hurry, dropped a check protector and other articles outside the building.

The building houses Semina, Inc.; Elcon Electrical Contractors; Lindquist Repair and Adcon Construction.

– 25 years ago, Feb. 27, 1987

• Compiled by Kelly Johnson

Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.

Incumbents have found themselves paired in three Anoka County legislative districts under the Minnesota Legislature redistricting plan released by a courts panel Tuesday.

In addition, the redistricting plan not only renumbers all the Senate and House districts in the county, it also creates two open districts in the county, one in the Senate and the other in the House, where there are no incumbents.

Under the redistricting plan for the Senate, incumbent Republican Michelle Benson, Ham Lake (R-District 49) is in new Senate District 31 with fellow Republican Mike Jungbauer, East Bethel (R-District 48).

Now that redistricting of the congressional and Minnesota Senate and House districts has been announced by a state courts panel, cities and counties now have a chance to redraw their district/ward and precinct boundaries.
Cities go first and those that have districts/wards and precincts have to have a new plan in place by Tuesday, April 3.
The Anoka County Board has scheduled a special board meeting for Tuesday, May 1 to vote on a new redistricting plan for the seven county board seats.
Redrawing wards/districts by cities and the county requires adherence to the boundaries of the new House districts.
Filings for the 2012 election begin Tuesday, May 22 and run through Tuesday, June 5.
The 2012 primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 14 and the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 6. 

District 31 includes a portion of Andover, Ham Lake, East Bethel, other northern and eastern Anoka County communities and parts of Isanti County.

In the House, Republicans Branden Petersen and Peggy Scott, both of Andover, who currently represent districts 49B and 49A, are potential GOP primary opponents in their new House District 35B, which includes portions of Andover and Coon Rapids.

And in the southern part of the county, DFLers Tom Tillberry, Fridley, and Kate Knuth, New Brighton, are both in new House District 41A.

Tillberry has represented Fridley and Spring Lake Park in District 51B, while Knauth has been in District 50B representing New Brighton and Arden Hills.

There is one open Senate seat with no incumbent in Anoka County – new Senate District 35, which includes Anoka, Ramsey, Nowthen and parts of Andover and Coon Rapids.

Incumbent Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, is now in House District 35A, still representing Anoka and Ramsey.

There is also one open House district in Anoka County, 37A, which includes portions of Blaine and Coon Rapids, as well as part of Spring Lake Park.

Spring Lake Park Republican Pam Wolf is the incumbent in new Senate District 37, while Rep. Tim Sanders, R-Blaine, finds himself in new House District 37B.

In the Senate redistricting, GOP Sen. Benjamin Kruse of Brooklyn Park, who currently represents District 47, which includes Brooklyn Park, Champlin and parts of Coon Rapids, is now in District 36, which still includes those three communities.

DFL Reps. Denise Dittrich, Champlin (47A) and Melissa Hortman, Brooklyn Park, (47B) have been put in House districts 36A and 36B, respectively, with portions of Coon Rapids remaining part of their two districts.

In the House, longtime Republican Rep. Tom Hackbarth, Cedar, moves from 48A to 31B.

Redistricting has carved the city of Coon Rapids into three Senate and four House districts, while the city of Blaine is in two Senate districts and three House districts.

Peter Bodley is at peter.bodley@ecm-inc.com

A couple of years ago, Allison Vatne, 16, made what she called minor, but significant lifestyle changes in order to be healthier.

Allison Vatne, 16, will be representing Andover at the Miss Teen Minnesota International Pageant in St. Cloud March 10-11. Photo courtesy of Vatne family

The Andover High School junior wants to share her message of health and wellness with many more people. One way she plans to do this is through the Miss Teen Minnesota International Pageant in St. Cloud March 10-11.

“I came to a point where I could either take the high road or the low road for my physical health to become the best person I could be,” Vatne said.

After seeing an advertisement looking for pageant contestants in the Anoka County Union, Vatne applied to represent the city of Andover in this competition. After she completed an interview process, she was selected to be one of 23 young Minnesota women in the 13- to 18-year-old teenager division and is now in the process of securing sponsors. To date, her sponsors are the Drs. Rensch and Beck Orthodontics office in Andover and The Parlour Salon and Boutique in Andover.

She must also design an advertisement about herself and her educational platform, which will be included in the pageant program.

Along with Vatne, there is one other contestant from Anoka County who lives in Spring Lake Park.

After a grueling two-day pageant that includes an interview with a judges panel about the contestants’ educational platform and three competitions for evening gown, fitness wear and fun fashion, judges will select one of the 23 girls to represent Minnesota at the final Miss Teen International competition in Chicago, Ill., in late July.

Family friend Kim Daninger, a health and wellness director at Medtronic, is assisting Vatne in training for the pageant and in developing ideas for spreading her message after the competition is over.

The pageant is only one way Vatne plans to spread the message of the “Lets Move!” campaign developed by First Lady Michelle Obama. She would like to organize a health expo similar to the health and wellness expo the Anoka-Hennepin School District recently hosted at Oak View Middle School. She would like her health expo to include motivational speakers, information on healthy living tips and local involvement from businesses and the Andover YMCA/Community Center.

One of Vatne’s teachers is helping her develop a website blog where she could share tips. She would like to be involved in the Andover Family Fun Fest parade. She would like to talk with the school district and local day care providers about their nutritional goals for children.

Vatne said her goal is to play a part in the First Lady’s goal of reducing the obesity rate in America, especially in children. According to LetsMove.org, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese.

“I think that is very significant and it’s obviously causing a lot of cause and effect problems,” Vatne said.

Dean Vatne said he and his wife Leslie are very proud of their daughter taking on this initiative.

“We’re very proud of her and really as much happy to see her pick up the interest in the whole healthy lifestyle programming,” Dean said. “We tried to set a good example for her, but more than anything else, she’s picked this up on her own and run with it…. It’s been a really positive experience for her.”

Dean Vatne was being both figurative and literal regarding his daughter running with this healthy lifestyle initiative. Since she made it a personal goal to be healthier, Vatne joined the cross country and track teams. She also has continued to take part in equestrianism, also referred to as horseback riding.

In addition to her athletic endeavours, Vatne is involved with the Youth Teaching Youth group that helps students be alcohol and tobacco free. She is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes group and she coaches elementary age kids for track running. At Andover High School she is involved with the speech and debate clubs and the Quiz Bowl team through 4-H.

Not surprisingly, Vatne would like a career in health and wellness. She will be meeting with health and wellness instructors during spring break college tours at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities so she can find out more about these schools’ programs and start to figure out what specific career she could pursue in this field.

Eric Hagen is at eric.hagen@ecm-inc.com