“I grew up with exchange students, so it’s pretty natural for me,” said Tina Gunderson. “It’s a pretty big commitment.”

Verholen arrived in America in August and enrolled as a sophomore at Upsala High School. Staying with another host family, she did not join the Gundersons until December, where she was able to take part in the holidays. See more in Sarah Lideen’s Dairyland Peach story.

PHOTO: Johanna Verholen instantly clicked with her host family and has been told she is very similar to her host mother. Pictured are front row (from left): Derek Bollig, Alan Gunderson holding Daniel and Jacob Gunderson. Back row: Johanna Verholen and Tina Gunderson. Not pictured: Kaitlynn Bollig.

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, Florida 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/spring_training/tickets.jsp?c_id=min&affiliateId=2935Q9YX1-1R0R3

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. It’s 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 2 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 Cuts, 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, Arkansas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma and the New York Yankees in New Orleans and later Phoenix, Arizona. 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, Florida in 1889.

Julie Cook, a Milaca math teacher, is, according to principal Troy Anderson, “doing the flipped method of teaching with her intermediate algebra classes.  The students watch the instruction via the video clip outside of class.  The students then have more work time with the expert during class time.
http://wiki.milaca.k12.mn.us/groups/msjuliecook/wiki/24f21/Chapter_6.html

Cook reports,” I have had positive reactions from most of my students. They like this method because they can watch the videos multiple times if needed and they are able to ask questions and work through the problems in class where I am able to help them. Of course, as with all new things, I had a few students that struggled with the change, but after a few weeks most of them are now telling me how much they enjoy it. Their scores have also shown the benefits of this approach.

She continued, “There are many kids that are quiet and even though they have questions they are afraid to ask, but with the added time they are given in class I am able to stop by and check on them and I am the one initiating the questions. I think, for some students, this is the best way for them to get help.

“Also, with the extra time in class I am able to see where the students are having troubles and able to address those right away to the whole class, instead of having them go home and struggle through the assignment.   There are still some students that don’t have access. Our school’s computer lab is open from 7:30-4:30.  This allows the students the ability to watch them before, after or during school. I have many students that watch these videos during their study hall as well. I also give the students access to my school iPad if they would rather watch the video in my room, but I only allow this during their study hall, before or after school.”

Duane Berkas , Director of Teaching and Learning, Columbia Heights Public Schools, explained, “We are seeing that technology can be a very powerful tool to engage students and provide multiple levels of support to them. Just yesterday I met with several high school and middle school math teachers who have been collecting data from students on what they feel makes a good or poor math teacher. The number one complaint has been the fact that teachers move on before they are ready. Film provides another way students can slow down instruction, repeat instruction, and review. It can a power tool for differentiation.”

Bob Noyed, executive director of Communication and Community Relations for Eden Prairie Schools, told me that the district has been doing a great deal with what is known as “flipped instruction.” This is the idea that teachers prepare an online lesson that students (and in some cases parents) watch ahead of time. Then, students can spend more time applying the ideas in the video.  Teachers also have more time to give individual assistance to students, since the overall presentation happened “online.”

Noyed  provided several examples: “Below is a link to content used to support the Algebra II curriculum at Eden Prairie High School:
https://podcast.ad.edenpr.org/groups/?q=ephs%20algebra%20II&s=all

Jay Haugen, Farmington superintendent told me “When we announced recently that every one of our eight schools would have one or more teachers involved in a flipped classroom pilot, I was amazed at the number of staff who came forward, and how many were already recording lessons for students. While this type of instruction is happening in all subjects areas, and all levels, at this point most seem to be in the areas of science and math.

“Initially, we will be making these lessons available on a DVD, or a take home iTouch, etc. This is needed for about 10% of students. Ultimately, as we work to customize education for every child, we will work to make sure every student has access to a mobile learning device, 24/7.”

Josef Haas, assistant principal, Delano Middle School explained,  “We currently have a seventh grade math teacher who is utilizing videos and the iPad with the free app “show-me” in order to share with her students the process of solving math problems that they did during class. The following is the link – and then you would have to click on the show-me links for the videos.
http://www.delano.k12.mn.us/middle-school/gradesdepartments/seventh-and-eighth-grade/ms-gorham/7-math?ltemplate=view&lcommtypeid=7

“Our math teacher likes this option because she can create this on her own time, and doesn’t not have to videotape herself while teaching the lesson. We are taking baby steps towards this, but she told me she has gotten great feedback from the kids who have gone on to watch the video. She anticipates more kids utilizing this option if the future once word gets out how it has helped their classmates out.

“On another note, I was just in a US history class, and they were using Edmodo, which is a school safe social media site to debate the Bill of Rights. I cannot give you a link to this, as it requires a password from the teacher, but this is another way to have more engagement in discussion because all students are giving their input at the same time – without interrupting each other.

“From an assistant principal perspective, I really like the way our staff is starting to utilize video, and social media in order to try to help more students learn, and engage more kids! Our students really like the idea of utilizing technology in order to help their learning process. I am hoping in the future, more and more teachers embrace the opportunity to utilize video in order to help students learn outside the walls of the classroom; to enhance what is happening in the classroom.

“Using another math example, I often hear the frustration in parents’ voices when they feel they are unable to help their child in Math – due to it being so long since they had math. The video affords the opportunity for the parent(s) and child to watch the video together to help with the process of solving the math problem. The video may trigger something in the parents’ memory that allows them to help their child more than they normally could; or if parents have to work late and cannot get home to help their child, the video is there (the child can watch it over and over, can pause it, rewind it, etc.).”

Casey Mahon, manager of Communications for Elk River wrote, “ We are using video more strategically to share school and district stories, as well as news.  We just finished a video www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBOTutBC-PQ&list=UUGqZbfa761P02LX5d8INS2A&index=2&feature=plcp that explains our Strategic Planning process, which we shared with all parents who have e-mails on file (10,000+).  Video can be a more interesting way to communicate stories, news, features, etc. “ The district also created a video showing how Parker Elementary Teachers used a “Flash Mob” to increase student interest in reading: www.youtube.com/watch? V=TVnazay5AYw&feature=related

Les Fujitake, Bloomington superintendent wrote, sent “three quick videos created by students. I’m including my one sentence assessment of each. Below that I am including a quick sentence about the actual YouTube channels the teachers are using. I think the channels are an excellent example of our integration. Because we have incorporated Google Apps for Education, our teachers have a place to organize and publish student work. It’s a fairly exciting application of our district tools.”

Teacher – Lee Gillis — YouTube Search Story – This video was made using a template tool on YouTube. It requires a student to come up with seven search terms to try and tell a story. Relevant to literacy skills and practical application of technology, this is a great example of integrated student work.
Chris – Search Story

Teacher – Todd Anderson
Social Studies Project – News Cast – The two videos below were created using only an iPad. It was recorded and edited on the device. Both are great examples of alternative methods for students to demonstrate their understanding. I particularly enjoy the various personality of the students are evident. It’s fun to see kids be creative and enjoy their learning.

Four Loggers – Student newscast demonstrating a particular point of view about Amazonian rain forest history.

3 Rubber Tappers – Another video demonstrating a different point of view about Amazonian rain forest history.

The Channels – Each of the videos below are contained within a teacher channel. These channels are en excellent example of how teachers are beginning to use the tools in Bloomington Apps to go beyond collaborative productivity. Teachers are leveraging tools that students use everyday to help engage students and provide relevant experiences that will apply to their day-to-day life outside of and beyond their school experience.

Olson Middle School This channel uses the YouTube Search Story for student “reports”. All collected in one place, it’s easy for students  to view and respond to each other’s work.

Oak Grove Middle School  This channel was created by a middle school teacher piloting iPads in the classroom. Each of the videos contained in this channel were created, edited and published using the iPad.

Lisa Hendricks, director of Partnership Academy Charter in Richfield, wrote, “Our school has three school-wide service learning days a year when every student goes out into the local community to provide service. At the end of the day we have a school-wide assembly to celebrate their great work of giving back.

“The Haiti video was created as part of a school-wide Service Learning project that was lead by the second graders called ‘Soles for Souls.’  Their goal was to collect 500 pairs of shoes for the children of Haiti.  They were actually able to collect 514 pairs of shoes! Students were very proud of reaching their goal to help children their own age so many miles away.

“Each grade level has a ‘flip-cam’ so teachers use video on a regular basis. For example, the fifth graders made a video to share their New Year’s resolutions titled ‘Your 3 Words’ where they had to share their goals for 2012 in just three words (the idea came from Good Morning America, apparently they do something like that every week)…..also, we have done slideshows and videos for Kindergarten and 5th grade graduation ceremonies.

“We have also used videos as part of our professional development for teachers.  We have found it helpful to record students computing math problems and be able to discuss as a professional learning community how our instruction needs to adapt to the needs of the child.  It’s a lot more beneficial when it is actually the students you teach!  We do it for many of the same reasons professional athletes watch film of the game to improve for the next game!

“Flipped education has been happening for the last couple of years but we are really seeing a huge increase in the application of computer screencasting as a way to flip the instructional model.  Here are a couple of examples
• Our Math teachers have been the pioneers, here is one of their Youtube channels.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mrhoffmanmathchannel?feature=watch
• Here is how an elementary art teachers flipping instruction
http://www.youtube.com/user/mrlundgren1

“Finally here is a page of examples of screencasting.  Some of these are flipped instruction and some are more like tutorials
https://sites.google.com/a/apps.edina.k12.mn.us/techresourcesforteachers/edina-academy

Jeffrey McGonigal, Anoka-Hennepin’s acting interim assistant superintendent, reported that a number of teachers in that district have created videos for students to watch before and after class, to help them master ideas.   For example: http://anoka.k12.mn.us/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=287038&catfilter=30687#showDoc

McGonigal showed me something called “HippoCampus,” which is offered through collaboration of the Minnesota State Department of Education, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and University of Minnesota. This website has hundreds of creative videos that are available free for educators, students and families:  www.hippocampus.org/myHippo/?user=myMnLC

Finally, West St. Paul Sibley High School teachers sent several videos they have created.  The first helps explain how they are replacing word problems with video problems. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh_0puziQog

Sibley teachers also are helping students make their own videos illustrating physics principles.  If you can explain something to others clearly and accurately, you know the subject well.

In talking with people from more than 30 districts and charters, I saw enormous creativity.  I hope we’ll find ways to share teachers’ best work around the state.

Joe Nathan, formerly a Minnesota public school teacher, directs the Center for School Change at Macalester.  Reactions welcome, jnathan@macalester.edu

On a 5-2 vote Tuesday evening, the Coon Rapids City Council adopted the prepay ordinance, which goes into effect Aug. 1.

Voting for the ordinance were Councilmembers Denise Klint, Melissa Larson, Paul Johnson, Bruce Sanders and Scott Schulte. Opposed were Mayor Tim Howe and Councilmember Jerry Koch. See more in Editor Peter Bodley’s ABC Newspapers story.

A number of area incumbent lawmakers are pitted against each other in the court redistricting plan released on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

House Majority Leader Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, was one area lawmaker who finds themselves in a new district also occupied by another incumbent. Sen. Ted Lillie, R-Lake Elmo, seen in the background at a recent press conference, is in a similar situation. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

In redistricting the state’s 134 House districts, the court created 15 open seats and 15 seats containing two incumbents.

Six of these pairings are Democrats versus Democrats; six, Republican versus Republican; and three Democrats versus Republicans.

Among area lawmakers, redistricting in the north metro has matched eight incumbent House members against each other.

In redistricted House District 35B, second-term Republican Rep. Peggy Scott of Andover finds herself matched against first-term Republican Rep. Branden Petersen of Andover.

In redistricted House District 38B, Republican third-term Rep. Carol McFarlane of White Bear Lake is matched against Republican House Majority Leader Matt Dean of Dellwood.

In redistricted House District 39B, third-term Republican Rep. Bob Dettmer of Forest Lake is matched against freshman Republican Rep. Bob Barrett of Shafer.

To the south, in redistricted House District 41A, three-term Democrat Rep. Tom Tillberry of Fridley is matched against third-term Democrat Rep. Kate Knuth of New Brighton.

In the Senate, redistricting paired a total of 16 incumbents and created eight open seats.

Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, is an area lawmaker matched against another incumbent by redistricting. Benson is matched against Sen. Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Incumbent Democrats face Democrats in two matches; Republicans face Republicans in four pairings, with Democrats facing Republicans in two matches.

Four area incumbent Republican state senators find themselves paired in the same district.

In redistricted Senate District 31, first-term Republican Sen. Michelle Benson of Ham Lake has been matched against third-term Republican Sen. Michael Jungbauer of East Bethel.

In redistricted Senate District 39, second-term Republican Sen. Ray Vandeveer of Forest Lake is paired against first-term Republican Sen. Ted Lillie of Lake Elmo.

Area lawmakers were scrutinizing the new redistricting plan this afternoon.

Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, hadn’t gotten beyond the congressional districts in pouring over the plan. As for the congressional districts, Michel thought the court had taken a “status quo” approach — not a lot of change.

Michel, who led redistricting efforts in the Senate, expressed a degree of regret that redistricting in the end was carried out by the court and not the legislature.

“We just had the unveiling,” Michel said.

Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, who chaired the redistricting committee in the House, saw a number of perceived inconsistencies in the court redistricting plan.

For one thing, Anderson thought the court broke its own stated policy in splitting as few communities as possible.

Indeed, the House redistricting plan split some 50 fewer cities than the court plan, Anderson said. “That’s pretty significant,” she said.

In terms of the congressional districts, Anderson thought it strange the court pulled the 4th Congressional District to the east to the

Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, is yet another area incumbent pitted against incumbent by redistricting. In Dettmer's case, the other lawmaker is Rep. Bob Barrett of Shafer. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

state line, thereby placing the only two Minnesota women in the U.S. House, Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and DFL Congresswoman Betty McCollum, in the same district.

In another congressional district decision, Anderson found it odd that the court pulled the city of Coon Rapids into the 3rd Congressional District.

The House, said Anderson, viewed the Mississippi River as a clear and natural barrier and thought Coon Rapids had little in common with communities across the river.

“I was puzzled by that,” Anderson said of the move.

In other area, Anderson said the court plan had twice the number of incumbent pairings that the legislative plan.

Moreover, she thought the population numbers did not bear out the court panel’s matching of Republicans against Republicans in 10 House and Senate seats.

As for shifts in political power,  the metro continues to gain political sway over Greater Minnesota simply because rural population is draining away, the metro population growing.

Indeed, a House district in Shakopee grew so much over the last 10 years its population matched that of a Senate district, Anderson explained.

Anderson indicated the frustrating thing about the redistricting process for her was that Democrats seemed unwilling to seriously discuss redistricting.

State DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin indicated support for the court’s plan.

“Today the courts released new maps that will mean changes for many Minnesota voters this fall. By all indications, these maps reflect the panel’s careful and thoughtful approach, which has resulted in a fair outcome,” Martin said.

Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, said she is reviewing the court’s plan.

“As I take the time to review the new district maps released today, what I will look for is fairness,” she said.

“The lines should not be skewed to help or hinder a particular party or an incumbent legislator. They should follow clear principles that address equal population, contiguity and compactness, minority representation, and preserving communities of interest,” she said.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, no longer lives within the 6th Congressional District.

The Minnesota political landscape changed on Tuesday afternoon with the release of a redistricting plan crafted by a five-judge, court

Redistricting has left 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, living in the 4th Congressional District. But Bachmann has indicated that she intends to seek reelection in the 6th. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

redistricting panel.

Because the legislature failed to produce a redistricting plan, the court took on the task of sorting the state’s 5.3 million inhabitants into political units that took into account changes in population while attempting to retain shared lifestyles of people living in the area.

The court panel, in a legal brief, spoke of the need to act in a cautious manner. See redistricting link.

In terms of congressional districts, the panel’s redrawn congressional map resembles the map that has served the state for the last 10 years.

The 1st, 7th, and 8th districts largely resemble their previous shapes.

The 8th District required a small change in population — an ideal congressional district in population was determined to be about 663,000.

In the 8th, that meant adding only about 2,600 more people, the panel noted. The court did this by altering a preexisting split in Beltrami County.

The 8th continues to be home to a number of Native American tribes, including the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in the southern district.

In the 7th District, on the state’s western side and which was about 37,000 underpopulated, the court pulled the district southwest by about 25 miles.

It deemed including the city of St. Cloud to the east outside the agricultural context of the 7th.

But in the metro area — 54 percent of the state’s population lives within the seven county metro — the court faced larger challenges in terms of adjusting for population.

For instance, the 2nd Congressional District was about 69,000 residents too big.

The 6th District — Bachmann’s district with the congresswoman’s home in West Lakeland Township — posed the largest population challenge of them all. The district was 96,000 residents too big.

So the court panel went to work.

It added part of Carver County to the 6th — Wright County remains wholly within the district — but removed a portion of Washington County.

In public hearings, the court was overwhelmingly urged to reshape the district as not to include both St. Cloud and Stillwater and other nearby communities located on the St. Croix River, the panel noted.

In addition, residents of the east metro area extending from the St. Croix River to the city of Woodbury described their community of interest as St. Paul and its eastern suburbs, the panel notes.

Because of this, the panel decided to remove this portion from the 6th District.

Because the court pulled the 4th Congressional District to the east over this area to the state line, Bachmann, as a resident of West Lakeland Township, currently lives in a congressional district represented by six-term Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum of St. Paul.

But Bachmann intends to run for election for a fourth term in the 6th District, according to media reports.

“I intend to run in the 6th district,” she told The Hill, a Washington publication.

“It’s essentially unchanged… I grew up in this district, went to junior high here, high school, college. Our children were born here, our business is here, our church is here,” she said.

The panel did not want to pull the 4th District to the west into the 5th Congressional District and Minneapolis — they noted St. Paul and Minneapolis have been in separate congressional district since 1891.

In the 3rd Congressional District in the western metro which was slightly under in terms of population, the panel pulled the entire city of Coon Rapids into it, noting Coon Rapids had been split before.

It also added the Carver County communities of Chanhassen and Chaska, among others, to the 3rd.

With the 2nd District — home turf of Republican Congressman John Kline of Lakeville — the panel removed the portion Carver County in the old district and used the Minnesota River to define the district’s southern border.

The redrawn 2nd peels off Le Sueur County to the south, adding that county to the 1st Congressional District.

Rice County is split with the 1st, with the 2nd gaining the whole of Wabasha County in the southeast corner.

The panel gained public input on redistricting, which it deemed “robust,” from court documents, hearings, public meetings.

“They comprise convenient, contiguous territory structured into compact units,” the panel said of its congressional redistricting plan.

The court panel, as part of its redistricting process, also reshaped the state’s 67 senate and 134 house districts.

The online information includes:

•             State redistricting maps
•             Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
•             Redistricting timeline
•             2011 Redistricting Guide

“All Minnesotans appreciate the excellent work done by these judges who are devoted public servants,” said Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

It is important to note that neither federal nor state candidates are required to live in the district in which they will run at this point in the election cycle.  Residency requirements for candidates differ depending on the office they seek.  State legislative candidates must reside in the district that they wish to represent by May 5, 2012 (six months before the election) and must be residents of the state for one year before the election (by November 5, 2011). Candidates for Congress do not have to ever reside in the district they seek to represent. They must be residents of the state on Election Day (by November 5, 2012), but do not have to be residents of the state before this date.

Residential address information for current legislators was provided on their affidavits of candidacy when they filed for office in 2010 including virtually all home addresses.  Note that candidates’ residential address information is private if they opted out of that requirement for security reasons as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 204B.06, Subd. 16, clause (c). Complete 2012 candidate filing information is available as a downloadable text file at: http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/media/CandDetails.txt?t=42166.59.

Informational guides for candidates that include residency requirements and filing deadlines for major and minor parties are available at: http://wwwncmt.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=138.

The Smiths — Kristi, Pat and their daughter, Ashley —adopted Wish six years ago through Northern Lights Greyhound Adoption. They describe her as an easy-going dog who likes people and gets along fine with their other dog, a red setter, and their two cats.

“They’re extremely easy to have around. They call her a 45 mile-an-hour couch potato,” Kristi said of the greyhound. See more in Associate Editor Joni Astrup’s Star News feature story.

PHOTO: Pat, Kristi and Ashley Smith at a Northern Lights Greyhound Adoption “meet and greet” event Feb. 11 at Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet in Elk River.