Ranger, Husky teams see games postponed
The winter storm that blew through Minnesota over the weekend caused the postponement of the following games:broadstreet.zone(48036);
–Forest Lake boys basketball was set to host Duluth East on Dec. 16, a game that had been designated as Alumni Night in conjunction with the alumni tournament the next day. Alumni Night will instead be celebrated on Dec. 22, when the Rangers host St. Francis. The Duluth East game is rescheduled for Jan. 31.
–The Ranger Nordic skiing team missed out on a meet at Lake Elmo Park Preserve on Dec. 16. They instead opened their season at Elm Creek on Dec. 20.
–The North Lakes Academy boys and girls basketball teams were to play a doubleheader against Chesterton Academy on Dec. 16. The Toys for Tots drive that was matched with these games was held during a doubleheader on Dec. 20 instead.
–The Ranger girls hockey team missed two road
Category: The Latest From Forest Lake Times
Geri E. Anderson
Geri Anderson, age 49, of North Branch, passed away on Monday, December 19, 2016.
She is preceded in death by brothers, Greg Johnson, Matthew; mother, Lorraine Johnson; dogs, Shawny, Gabe, Cujo, Ginger, Bear and Allie.
She is survived by parents, Pete and Diane; children, Billy, Kayla (Will Packard); grandson, Matthew; sisters, Linda, Kellie, Laura; dogs, Tessa, Sadi and Hemi; many friends and those who she has been a mom and a sister to over the years. .
Memorial Services will be held at 5:30 p.m., Friday, December 30, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 31075 Genesis Ave, Stacy. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m., Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service, Friday at the church.
Kick team winning like ‘Maniacs’
1980s-themed routine is undefeated in 2016
Even within a high-energy sport like kick-dancing, the Forest Lake dance team cranks things up several levels.broadstreet.zone(48036);
The Rangers come out each meet in zany hot-pink and neon-blue exercise suits, and they leave each meet with the first-place trophy. In between, they put on a hyperactive “workout” themed routine set to an energetic mix of ’80s hits. Besides the requisite high kicks, the girls punch the air to “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” perform the well-known fast-step dance to “Maniac,” and when the music ends with the famous shout from “I’ve Got the Power!” the dancers seem to snap instantaneously into a muscle-flexing pose, which is always followed by a raucous cheer, a standing ovation, and, of course, an overall victory.
The Ranger kickers have won all four of their meets so far. Two invitational titles, at home and at Fridley, have been matched by wins
Za’s to be replaced by new pizzeria
Photo by Ryan Howard Za’s has lain dormant for weeks after an unexpected closure and sale. The space will be reopened as Pi Pizzeria.
After a closure of a few weeks at longtime Forest Lake pizza spot Za’s, the team behind Acqua and Meet Market has announced that the location will be the new site of a pizza restaurant called Pi Pizzeria.
Za’s was founded in the late 1990s by Paul Dueth and Patricia Haarman on the current site of Daniela’s Chocolates. The business later moved to a unit in the Park Place buildings, where it remained until closing unexpectedly in November. Dueth and Haarman sold Za’s to Sue Barrera and her husband Chris in late 2015.broadstreet.zone(48036);
Shortly before the announcement about Pi Pizzeria, The Forest Lake Times interviewed Sue Barrera, who said that she’d sold the business to the local restaurant group run by J.J. Maleitzke, Daron Close, Nicole Close and chef
Arliss Rose Banta (Plotnik)
Arliss Rose Banta (Plotnik), age 85, of Forest Lake, went home to be with her Lord on December 21, 2016.
Arliss had been an R.N. and nurse educator for many years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Kenneth; parents; children, Debbie and Duane.
Arliss is survived by her children, Keith, Kathleen (Dominic) Comerate, David (Beth), Mark (Cynthia), Douglas; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brothers, Kenneth (Beryl) and Rodney Plotnik.
Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Visitation 10 a.m. until the time of service. Spring interment at Wyoming United Methodist Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Hosanna Lutheran Church, Forest Lake.
Students speak out against teacher’s Facebook remarks
A group of current and former Forest Lake Area High School students began rallying for the termination of current high school Spanish instructor Kelly Wing last week after several screenshots of social media posts from 2014, attributed to Wing, were posted to social media. The content of the posts, which some have deemed homophobic or slut-shaming, has prompted the use of the hashtag #FireKellyWing on Twitter as students and alumni have publicized their cause in an attempt to force the high school to act.
The two most frequently shared Facebook posts were from the fall of 2014, from a profile that appears to be Wing’s. One, which linked to an article about Catholic priests debating ministry policies regarding homosexuals, featured some graphic language describing certain sex acts before an argument that sex acts should be used for procreation – “not disordered pleasure.”broadstreet.zone(48036);
“If these (homosexual) acts sound nice to you, then you
Ecumen hospice names new head of community outreach
Julie Keller has been named Community Outreach Director for Ecumen Hospice, focusing on the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities.
Keller will consult with patients, families and physicians in the hospice decision-making process and provide education on the benefits of hospice services. Ecumen Hospice is part of Ecumen, one of Minnesota’s leading providers of senior living and aging services.broadstreet.zone(48036);
Before joining Ecumen Hospice, Keller was Care Transition Coordinator for St. Croix Hospice in North Branch. She is a Licensed Practical Nurse with a degree from Pine Technical College in Pine City.
Ecumen Hospice is headquartered at 7561 9th Street N. in Saint Paul. For more information, call 651-714-0200 or email info@ecumenhospice.org.
Scouting for change
Submitted photo
The sixth grade Girl Scouts at LILA recently made tutus for a women’s and children’s shelter.
Good interest rate saves millions on facilities project
Taxpayers in the Forest Lake Area School District will see a smaller tax increase next year thanks to significant savings in interest rates for the school facilities project. The $143 million package of school building upgrades will provide a wide array of changes for the school district buildings, not the least of which is enhanced security within each school building.
According to Larry Martini, the district’s director of business services, the bond will cost taxpayers approximately 11 percent less than anticipated.broadstreet.zone(48036);
“We had originally estimated that, by the second year of the bond, a homeowner with a $200,000 house would see a $177 total increase in annual local school property taxes as a result of the passage of the bond,” Martini explained. “Because our district has an outstanding credit rating, and because of the better-than-expected interest rate bids we received for this project, the amount the district will have to pay in
David M. Berg
Loving Husband, Father and GrandfatherDavid Berg, age 71 of Marine on St. Croix, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2016.
David is preceded in death by parents, Sigwald and Millie; brothers, Peter and John; Chris’ mother, Carolyn.
Survived by wife, Jackie; son Chris (Lisa); grandson, Max; brother, Paul (Sharon), sisters-in-law, Mary and Gail; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of David’s Life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, December 23rd at Roberts Family Life Celebration Home, 555 SW Centennial Drive, Forest Lake, with visitation one hour prior.