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In every contested city or township election covered by The Forest Lake Times, one incumbent was defeated as voters selected new leadership. While Forest Lake candidates had their own perspectives on how the race shaped up (read more in the front page story, “Split ticket in Forest Lake”), the new, re-elected and defeated council and board members in Linwood, Scandia and Wyoming had their own perspectives on why voters chose who they did – and what their municipalities should look like moving forward.
Scandiabroadstreet.zone(48036);
Following the trend of many local races, the Scandia mayoral race was a squeaker, with Planning Commission Chairwoman Christine Maefsky ousting three-term Mayor Randall Simonson by a vote of 1,261 to 1,157 – a margin of only 104 votes. Maefsky credited her aggressive ground game and door knocking as part of her success, as well as a message of what Scandia’s future could be that she thinks appealed

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Forest Lake residents honor the American flag during the posting of the colors at the Veterans Day Ceremony Nov. 11 at the Forest Lake Area High School.broadstreet.zone(48036);

Band director Barry Zumwalde conducts high school musicians in a salute to armed forces.

Paige Parrucci performs “Here Now,” an original song honoring veterans, during the event.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Letters will be accepted for the Open Forum for publication in the next available issue after receipt. Letters may be sent to Forest Lake Times, 146 N. Lake St., Suite 125, Forest Lake, or by e-mail to ryan.howard@ecm-inc.com. Letters should not exceed 250 words and must be signed with the writer’s name, address and telephone number. Deadline is noon Monday. The newspaper reserves the right to edit letters and assure that rules of libel and good taste are not violated.
A good decisionbroadstreet.zone(48036);
I frequent the new YMCA in Forest Lake and think about all of the initial opposition within the community. I can hardly find a place to park at the YMCA as it is packed in the evenings with children, families, and community meetings. It is a joy to see the community coming together.
Gloria Hage
Forest Lake
Big Labor over taxpayers
Last April, the Forest Lake School Board voted to protect

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Fare For All, a local non-profit food program created to make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable to all families will be selling holiday packs for $30 at the Forest Lake VFW on Nov. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. Each holiday pack includes an 8 to 10 pound turkey, a Hormel pork tenderloin, 2 lbs of Tyson chicken wings, pork sausage, two bags of green beans, and a pumpkin pie. There is no need to register in advance.
“Many families have been forced to cut back on fresh produce and lean meats because of ever-shrinking food budgets,” program manager Scott Weatherhead said in a press release. “The program is designed to help make affordable, healthy foods available to those families—especially during the holiday season.”broadstreet.zone(48036);
Fare For All sells packages of fresh produce and frozen meat at 37 locations throughout Minnesota. With prices ranging from $10 to $30 per package, Fare For

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Hundreds of Forest Lake residents are on a mission to make a lasting impact on children in need. They are looking beyond their own wish lists and packing shoeboxes for boys and girls around the world. For many of the children, it will be the first gift they have ever received.broadstreet.zone(48036);
During the week of Nov. 14 to 21, local residents will transform 90,000 empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope filled with school supplies, hygiene items, notes of encouragement, and fun toys such as a doll or soccer ball. Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, will deliver these shoebox gifts to children overseas living in extreme poverty or affected by war, disease, and natural disaster.
“This week, the Forest Lake community is focused on making a difference in the lives of children facing difficult circumstances,” Forest Lake volunteer Lorraine Wellman said in a press release. “There is no joy quite

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Teresa Benge
Amy Dronen
Betsy Swartout
Guest Columnists
What if you had an extra $8,000 to your name each year? Imagine the possibilities this extra money might offer — adding to your savings account, investing in home improvements, traveling with family or friends.broadstreet.zone(48036);
If you have diabetes and live in Minnesota, $8,000 is the average cost for diabetes medical expenses per person each year (adding up to a staggering $3.4 billion a year for all Minnesotans with diabetes). With the ongoing cost of diabetes monitoring supplies, medications and medical visits, diabetes treatment gets expensive. And, that doesn’t include the potential added costs of eating healthfully, having a safe place to exercise and purchasing other important self-care items, like shoes that fit well to prevent potential diabetes-related foot problems.
Yet, there are many ways to lower the cost of diabetes care, and we help those with diabetes do just that. As diabetes educators at Fairview Clinics Wyoming

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Running Aces Casino and Racetrack’s Laugh Your Ace Off Comedy Club will feature a November Thanksgiving week comedy show with headliner Mary Mack, featuring Angelo Vescio, and hosted by Ryan Kahl on Nov. 23. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
Headlining the show is folk humorist Mary Mack, known for performing her sometimes-musical comedy at festivals, colleges, clubs, casinos and “anywhere you can find a llama or a buffet line.” She has acted in cartoons, weird student films, and commercials that urge you to buy food for your hamster. Heard on radio shows and podcasts around the country, including Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast, The Bob and Tom Show, and American Public Media’s WITS, Mary played the leading character Dylan on Fox’s new late night cartoon Golan the Insatiable, season one. Her voice has also been heard in the cult favorite Aqua Teen Hunger Force on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Mack’s comedy (spotted with

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