Game in Timberwolves arena also anticipatedbroadstreet.zone(48036);
The Husky boys basketball team has a lot to look forward to this year. With a move to the new Twin Cities Athletic Conference bringing more balanced competition to the schedule, second-year head coach Mark Kosloski expects to see his team improve from its 4-22 finish last season.
“I think we’ve got returning players who played in my system last year, and kids who have put in a lot of time over the summer,” Kosloski said.
The TCAC is the largest conference in the state, with 22 members, mostly pulled from charter schools and academies. Boys basketball is the one sport in which all 22 members field a team. In the Huskies’ division, teams like AFSA and Liberty look to be good matchups.
The AFSA game will be played in the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx.
“We’re really excited about
Category: The Latest From Forest Lake Times
Lake Area Bank to collect winter-wear
Lake Area Bank is holding a mitten drive to collect winter-wear items for local children and young adults in need this winter. Through Dec. 23, each bank location will collect donations to be distributed to children and young adults via the Hats and Mittens organization. Suggested items include mittens, hats, and scarves. This community service supports Lake Area Bank’s passion of making a difference. Donated items can be dropped off at any Lake Area Bank location including White Bear Lake, Stillwater, Hugo, Forest Lake and Lindstrom – and at Lake Area Mortgage in Shoreview. For details of the campaign, visit www.lakeareabank.com.
Father/daughter vet connection provides for Lino Lakes learning
On Nov. 11, fifth grade teacher Amy Greenfield invited a special veteran to speak to her class at Lino Lakes Elementary STEM School. This special veteran was Amy’s dad, retired Air Force Police Officer Bob Rieckenberg. Rieckenberg was a member of the Air Force for four years including service during the Vietnam War.
For more than 10 years of the 18 that Mrs. Greenfield has been a teacher, her dad has spoken to her students. He teaches the kids why it is important to stand for the flag, how to properly salute the flag, and what people currently do to acknowledge the flag. He has brought his medals in, as well as different pieces of his military gear (gas masks, helmets, etc.) An important lesson Airman First Class Officer Rieckenberg teaches the students is how to greet soldiers and vets (you shake their hand, look them in the eye, and say
Madsen to cap 36-year career with 2017 retirement
In a letter addressed to school board members and read aloud at the Dec. 1 Forest Lake Area School Board meeting, District Superintendent Linda Madsen announced her retirement effective June 30, 2017.
Madsen began in Forest Lake as a student in 1965 and began a teaching career in the district in 1981, Her retirement will put a cap on a 36-year career with the Forest Lake Area School District.
“Having been a part of an institution for so long can make it difficult to know when to move on and let others lead the way,” Madsen said as she read from her prepared letter. “It is a delicate balance of what is best for the organization and what is best personally. I have always known I wanted to conclude my career in Forest Lake with enthusiasm, optimism, and energy.”
Madsen said that she is enthusiastic about what is happening in the district and
School Board approves multi-million dollar budget cut for 2017-18
At the Dec. 1 meeting of the Forest Lake Area School Board, board members voted to direct the administration to make budget reductions in the amount of $2.5 million for the 2017-18 school year.
Over the past several years, when budget reductions were necessary, school district administration has reviewed enrollment, staffing, and programs, and made recommendations to the School Board.broadstreet.zone(48036);
Moving forward, the Administrative Council, consisting of all building principals and district leadership administrators, will work through the “2017-18 Program Budget Reduction Process” and present a recommendation regarding specific cuts to the School Board for their April 6 meeting.
Rangers eye return to state tournament
Skaters enter 2016-17 with experience beyond their years
The girls hockey team has already begun play, earning a 2-2 tie at fifth-ranked Minnetonka and a 6-0 win over the Duluth co-op team at home. In those games, third-year head coach Todd Gutterman said, “we showed our youth. We have a lot of things to work out still.”broadstreet.zone(48036);
There is no dissonance to be discerned between those early results and Gutterman’s analysis – no more than can be found in the fact that the 2016-17 hockey squad is both young and experienced at the same time. Of 31 players listed on the varsity roster, there are four seniors and three juniors. Only three players graduated from last year’s team, which won the Section 7AA tournament and went to the state tournament.
That means there were not many spots to fill with new players, and many of the freshmen and sophomores bring extensive varsity experience.
“It’s
Winning “never seems to get old”
Photos by Deno Johnson
Young talent bolsters state-level Nordic squads
A lot of things never seem to get old within the Forest Lake Nordic skiing program. First, head coach Deno Johnson, who has been in charge since 1998. Second, the team, which always seems to find new talented youngsters to fill out its roster. And last but not least, winning: both the boys and the girls teams were among their respective top echelons in the state last year, with the boys taking fourth at the state meet and the girls eighth.broadstreet.zone(48036);
The boys team beat Stillwater for a place at the state meet on a tiebreaker, avenging an identical loss in 2003 that still has Johnson sore.
“It just shows that if you stick around long enough, the tables will turn,” he said.
Junior all-stater Ryan Mead led the boys team last year and is set to do so again.
“He has set some high goals for
Masquers’ newest production explores relationships
Photo by Jason DeMoeMasquers Theatre actors play out a family road trip scene from the upcoming “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!”
Everyone’s heard the famous rhyme “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage,” but the anatomy of a real-world relationship isn’t always so simple.
Exploring all aspects of what a relationship can be is the premise of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” the latest musical offered up by Masquers Theatre Company to take the stage Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 to 18 at the American Legion in Forest Lake at 355 W. Broadway Ave. .broadstreet.zone(48036);
“The show is put together as a series of vignettes exploring the different aspects of single life, dating, marriage and everything in between,” director Vanessa Agnes said. “Relationships in one form or another are something that we have all
Condos and townhomes are going green
Angie Hong
Guest Columnist
Drive by a group of condominiums in suburban Washington County and you’re likely to see acres of lawn with relatively uniform landscaping. One of the biggest benefits to living in a condo is having a property management company that takes care of drudgeries like mowing, shoveling and raking leaves. Because they are hiring out the work, homeowners’ associations usually stick with landscaping that is simple and easy to maintain. Recently, however, some local associations have begun to break the mold and are incorporating native plantings and rain gardens that don’t need to be watered and help to create habitat for pollinators and birds.broadstreet.zone(48036);
Evergreen Country Homes in Woodbury lies off Radio Drive, northeast of the Tamarack Nature Preserve. Last year, the association approached Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District to ask for advice in dealing with drainage problems on their property. Due to compacted clay soils and a berm along the
Laney “Laneybug” Marie Hays
Loving Daughter, Sister, Granddaughter, NieceLaney passed away, peacefully surrounded by family, on November 29, 2016. She was a strong warrior and fought courageously and now reigns victorious in Heaven with Jesus.
Laney is preceded in death by brother, Mambo; great-grandparents, Don and Lorraine Evenson, Jim Kinney, Gordon Peterson.
Survived by parents, Andrew and Nicole; siblings, Logan, Mason, Chloe; grandparents, Brad “Papa” and Barb “Amma” Turgeon, Gary “Bikey” and Kris Hays; aunts and uncles, Travis (Kalie) Turgeon, Ashley (Ike) Hartman, Amy Hays; cousins, Addy and Kellen Turgeon, Lucy, Wyatt and Ellie Hartman; great-grandparents, Bill and Lois Turgeon, Audrey Kinney, Emily Peterson.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, December 2nd at Roberts Family Life Celebration Home, 555 SW Centennial Dr., Forest Lake. A Celebration of Laney’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 3rd at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 9300 Scandia Trail N., Forest Lake, with visitation one hour prior. Private family interment at