Issuu

EAT, DRINK & CRANBERRY

Embrace the magic of the season’s favorite superfruit

Moving Communities forward. White Bear Lake Office | Hwy. 61 & 4th St. | 651.426.7172

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Wooded wonderland nestled on 1.7 acres featuring a spectacular home with a spacious main level including Erotas designed kitchen, TEA2 architecture designed 2-story addition, and a tranquil owner’s retreat with private spa-like owner’s bath and den. Sold for $930,000.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 “It’s not just a matter of learning about different communities and cultures from around the world, but really rooting it in who is a part of our community and celebrating all that is here. And it’s such a rich, diverse community—we haven’t run out of any topics yet.” —Tara Jebens-Singh, page 20

DEPA RTMEN TS

10 Cajeta Cravings New coffee shop pulls inspiration from classic Mexican flavors.

12 More Space for Doing Good White Bear Area Food Shelf opens Community Market.

14 450 Stories Vadnais Heights nonprofit empowers adults with disabilities.

FEATUR ES

16 Eat, Drink & Cranberry Embrace the magic of the season’s favorite superfruit.

20 Many Faces, Many Stories Local organizations join together to strengthen community through conversation.

TASTEMA KER S

28 Safer Plate Mahtomedi native Angie Nelson works to develop allergen-free meals.

I N EVERY I SSUE Editor’s Letter Noteworthy On the Town Last Glance

Photo: Chris Emeott

4 7 25 32

PAGE 10

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Joy

GIVE

Great for corporate and employee gifts, or anyone on your list! Our gift box collection features some of our favorite exclusive, local and Signature items. They’re the products we love best and are proud to share with our own friends and families. Order online at kowalskis.com or call 651-313-6870 to create a custom gift box.

C E L E B R AT I N G 40 YEARS! 11 Twin Cities Locations

kowalskis.com 3

White Bear Lake Area Schools FROM THE EDITOR Zoe Yates — zoe@loca lm edia .co

Join us! Why Be a Bear? Our students benefit from:

• Safe, nurturing and challenging environments. • Differentiated instruction. • Hands-on learning. • World language experiences. • Focus on academic, social and personal development of all students. • Career Pathways opportunities and College-level courses.

The holidays are my favorite time of year. Though spring is my pick for best season, and autumn is home to my ideal wardrobe—the holidays have that je ne sais quois, a certain indescribable sense of love and fulfillment that can rarely be found elsewhere. So, in the spirit of the holidays, this issue is highlighting some outstanding locals and organizations who are spreading light and love year-round. You don’t need to go far to find all the goodness. On page 12, writer Jennifer Pitterle shares some exciting news about the White Bear Area Food Shelf expansion. The food shelf has seen community need more than double since 2018 and has added a second location to increase its offerings for area residents. Then, meet a few of the representatives behind Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area, a volunteer collective that promotes inclusive and community-centered programming. I spoke with current chair Tera Jebens-Singh and past chair Jackie Reis on the origins of Many Faces, its impact and plans for 2024 (page 20). Other stories to look forward to? Head to page 10 if you’re in the mood for something sweet. Downtown newcomer Cajeta Coffee whips up drinks with traditional Mexican flavors. Or, for another story of food and family, learn the origins of allergy-friendly meal service Safer Plate on page 28. Until next time,

•

Enrollment info at isd624.org/enroll • E-NEWSLETTER - The Community e-Newsletter is sent out weekly, with alternating text and video editions. Subscribe by emailing communications@isd624.org. • STAY SOCIAL - Join White Bear Lake Area Schools’ social media circles - Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for 624 Fact posts and weekly video share-outs.

651-407-7500 isd624.org /isd624 4

On the Cover Eat, Drink & Cranberry, photo by Chris Emeott, page 16 See what we’re doing behind the scenes and around town! White Bear Lake Magazine @whitebearlakemag @whitebearlakemag

November/December 2023

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Photo: Chris Emeott

Check us out online!

VOL. 12 NO. 6 whitebearlakemag.com

publisher Susan Isay

editor Zoe Yates

managing creative director Renée Stewart-Hester

managing editor Hailey Almsted

digital editor Madeline Kopiecki

copy editors Kellie Doherty Sherri Hildebrandt

staff writers Jody Carey Mollee Francisco Emily Gedde Daniel Huss Jennifer Pitterle Rachel Schuehle Josie Smith Kristie Smith Zoe Yates

contributing writers Karen Alnes Christina Miller Brittany Tobin Mrkvicka Therese Sonnek

editorial interns Macy Berendsen Lily Schlobohm

editorial advisory board Karen Alnes, Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation Lisa Beecroft, Beecroft Marketing & Events Ellie Fuelling, White Bear Center for the Arts Dylan McDonough, Solid Ground Jackie Reis, Community Volunteer Marisa Vette, White Bear Lake Area Schools

senior managing art director Sarah Dovolos

art director Allison Nolden

graphic designer Yaz Lo

junior designer Jamie Klang

lead staff photographer Chris Emeott

production director Brittni Dye

production manager Lisa Stone

production coordinator Mimi Coz

senior account executives Cynthia Hamre Mary-Catherine Hartel Sara Johnson Abbie Kinn Kathie Smith

president Pete Burgeson

Before

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N OT E WO RT H Y

ABODE

TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME SNOWBIRDS

Illustration: Jamie Klang

AS W IN TER W EAT HER R ET UR N S , so do long

days spent away from home—with family and friends or, perhaps, in warmer climes. Winterizing is a task we’re all used to as Minnesotans, but, for snowbirds, there can be a bit more to it. To learn more about keeping homes safe and secure, we connected with certified home watch reporter Ana Cantell, owner of Snowbird Home Watch based in North Oaks. Cantell suggests planning ahead, so your home looks lived-in. Line up snow removal services, and decide whether to hold mail or have someone collect and forward it to deter home invaders. Setting up timer switches on lights is also a great idea, Cantell says. Avoid water damage by taking proper precautions. Cantell often recommends shutting off the water at the main supply valve; she will return weekly to check for damage, turning the water on and exercising pipes, appliances and water heaters before turning it off and

November/December 2023

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draining pipes. “These systems are not meant to just sit for months on end. They’re really meant to run,” Cantell says. Using and flushing these items weekly will ensure nothing gets stagnant. (Cantell suggests consulting a plumbing professional before deciding whether to turn off your water supply.) Regularly maintain your home and check in with your large systems—especially your furnace—prior to leaving. “A lot of people have remote and wifi-enabled monitoring of their AC and furnace, so they can change and set the temperature when they’re gone, which is great,” Cantell says. Even so, it’s important to ensure a person you trust is monitoring your home, so malfunctions are discovered quickly and there’s someone to help direct and let in repair professionals, Cantell says. —Zoe Yates For more information on how to protect your home when you’re away, visit snowbirdhomewatchmn.com.

N OT E WO RT H Y

GIVE

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The Greater White Bear Lake area is fortunate to have a rich legacy of local arts organizations, schools and churches, and civic organizations that provide food, transportation, family services, education, and yes, some fun for all ages! We encourage you to get to know our local nonprofit community to see first-hand the many ways they give back to our community. They thrive because of community members, who give back through donations and volunteering their time. This issue, we’re shining a spotlight on our wonderful community of people who give back, including our local nonprofit organizations and the generous donors and volunteers, who support these efforts. » Bear Boating » Children’s Performing Arts » Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation » Junior Achievement » Lakeshore Players Theatre » Mahtomedi Area Education Foundation » Mahtomedi Area Food Shelf » Northeast Residence/Hammer » Northeast Youth and

TA S T E

Family Services » Phoenix Alternatives » Rotary Club of White Bear Lake » Solid Ground

Happy Holiday Hospitality

» White Bear Area Historical Society » White Bear Area YMCA

This year, I’m hosting Thanksgiving for the

there is any left over, it makes a great next-

» White Bear Center for the Arts

first time in a very long time. Despite my

day lunch with a little chopped turkey on top.

» White Bear Lake Area

years of planning menus for events and my

Education Foundation

extensive culinary experience, I’ll admit I’m

Find the recipe for Turkey Day Quinoa

a little nervous. It’s likely there will be a few

on whitebearlakemag.com.

» White Bear Lake Area Food Shelf

new faces and a few dietary concerns to

The Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation spotlights a noteworthy local citizen or initiative in each issue. Learn more at gwblcf.org.

maneuver, too. Fortunately, one of my favorite holiday mainstays—Turkey Day Quinoa— can be enjoyed by most anyone. Quinoa means it’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and hearty for a meatless dish. That said, if

Rachael Perron is the culinary and branding director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications. Find more at kowalskis.com.

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Photos: Kowalski’s Markets; White Bear Center for the Arts

» Newtrax

l o ca l t i p s , t i d bits & in sig h ts

VIEW

A Celebration of all Artists Every winter, the Ford Family Gallery at White Bear Center for the Arts (WBCA) is full—from floor to ceiling— with artwork created by WBCA members. In this show, called the Members’ Exhibition, the artwork spans numerous media, including watercolor, pastel, oil, clay, wood, metal—and even dance and music. In 2022, dance instructor Jan Chamberlin’s ballet class performed a dance routine as part of the exhibit, broadening the idea of what it can mean to be a part of the show. Every WBCA member may submit a piece of artwork and have it displayed in the gallery, and often this is the first time an artist has the opportunity to exhibit their work. This year’s Members’ Exhibition will be available to view at WBCA from November 13 through January 17. The exhibit culminates in a

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community reception and holiday party where artists get to visit with each other and show their artwork to their

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friends and family from 4:30–8:30 p.m. on December 7.

Ellie Fuelling is the communications manager at WBCA. To learn more about the annual Members’ Exhibition, visit whitebeararts.org.

Artist Ingrid Hellevik and friends pose by Hellevik’s piece Fatigue in Blue, which was on display in the 2022 Members’ Exhibition.

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THE MENU

WHEN FLAVORS LIKE vanilla and

Cajeta Cravings New coffee shop pulls inspiration from classic Mexican flavors. by Emily Gedde

Juan Hernandez

white chocolate reign in coffee shops around the country, it can be difficult to stray off the beaten path when placing your morning coffee order. But White Bear Lake’s newest coffee shop is bringing a lesser-known flavor into the mix. Often referred to as Mexican caramel, cajeta de Celaya or just “cajeta” is a thickened caramel made of sweetened goat’s milk. It’s the signature taste of Cajeta Coffee, which opened on Fourth Street in downtown White Bear Lake this spring. Owner Juan Hernandez was born in the city of Celaya in the state of Guanajuato, where cajeta is considered a specialty. At the age of 10, Hernandez moved with his family to Rochester, Minnesota. Cajeta Coffee came out of Hernandez’ hopes to bring something different to the White Bear Lake coffee scene. “It’s been a long journey, and I’m happy we made it happen,” he says.

A New Dream

Hernandez spent much of his career in the food industry, and he always dreamed of opening his own restaurant. But that dream took a turn when he met his now wife, Catalina Morales. Morales’ penchant for coffee would change the course of his life. “She really liked coffee and took me to coffee shops,” he says. Soon, he was working at one. At Blackwater Coffee & Café in Maple Plain, he learned the ins-and-outs of coffee and different flavors. He eventually purchased an espresso machine to craft his own concoctions at home. Hernandez laughs at the memory of his late-night coffee experiments. “I’d make something at 9 p.m., and [Morales] would try it to see if it tasted good,” he says, adding how grateful he is for Morales’ support. “She loves coffee so much; she didn’t mind drinking a strong coffee at night. Open for Business

When Hernandez decided to open a coffee shop of his own, the pandemic exposed the challenges of renting a space. Several landlords, he says, were reluctant to rent to a first-time business owner. But in December of 2022, Hernandez found the perfect spot on Fourth Street. The process went smoothly, and Cajeta Coffee opened in March. “I was a little afraid at first that it would be too different, and people

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In the few months Cajeta Coffee has been open, Hernandez says he’s already been flooded with requests to open additional locations. “It is something I would like to do in the future,” he says. “But I’m going to focus on White Bear right now and work on adding more flavors.” The coffee shop owner says he’s proud of Cajeta Coffee and enjoys sharing the thought behind the coffee, different flavors and its bakery and food items to his customers. “White Bear Lake is a great community and has been so supportive of me. I’m happy people are liking what we offer,” he says.

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On the Menu

At Cajeta, Hernandez’ roots extend to more than just cajeta lattes. Other speciality drinks include the Mazapan Latte (think sweet and nutty) and Mexican Hot Chocolate. Homemade baked goods vary, though customers will often find conchitas (a type of sweet bread) and polvoron (a type of cookie) among banana bread and brownies. The limited food menu includes bagels, a breakfast burrito and breakfast torta and, for lunch, a ham torta and sincronizadas. Cajeta Coffee, 2179 Fourth St., White Bear Lake; cajetacoffee@gmail.com Cajeta Coffee MN

@cajetacoffeemn

PHILANTHROPY

More Space for Doing Good White Bear Area Food Shelf opens Community Market. By Jennifer Pitterle

the executive director of the White Bear Area Food Shelf four years ago, his ultimate dream was to work himself out of a job. But hunger in the east Metro hasn’t ramped down—not even close. “We went from having 14,000 visitors to the food shelf in 2019 to 33,000 visitors in 2022,” Petersen says. “The need has more than doubled.” While some of that increase can be attributed to better access—the food shelf has worked hard to make itself more welcoming, more dignified and easier to get to—more families in the area are hungry. Much of that is due to rising costs everywhere: food, rent and transportation are all more expensive. “For people who are living paycheck to paycheck, the paycheck just doesn’t go as far,” Petersen says. In addition to food shelf users, who are chronically food insecure, there are also many neighbors who have hit a rough patch: job losses, job reductions, medical

emergencies and so on. Petersen says long-term, systemic change is needed at the state and national level to truly fight food insecurity. The food shelf was founded in 1977; after growing out of several locations, it moved into its current Whitaker Street location in the late ’90s. When the pandemic hit, staff and volunteers pivoted to a curbside pickup model, which has helped get more food to more neighbors. “Having people come inside is just not as efficient,” Petersen says. But the downside is the missing human element. Neighbors aren’t able to chat with other shoppers and volunteers while they browse, and they’re not able to pick out their own food. “We want to offer freedom of choice,” says community resource coordinator Tracy Pierre. “People who have used the food shelf for years say this was their social time.” A longtime plan to secure a second location is now a reality, and a new Community Market will open to neighbors

Left: Tammy Parker and Lisa Hubinger packing boxes of food for the Food Delivery Program. Right: White Bear Lake Area Schools Back to School event.

in early 2024 at 2446 County Road F East, near Normandy Park Education Center. “It’s going to feel more like a retail space, to bring familiarity and dignity to our neighbors’ experience,” Petersen says. “They can walk in, shop and check out,” just like at a traditional grocery store. The staff has already minimized barriers whenever possible. “The food shelf is open to anyone, as often as needed,” Petersen says. “Food is a basic human right. It doesn’t matter where you live. There’s inequity when it comes to food access, period. There are food deserts in our own cities.” The second location will also offer wraparound services, where neighbors can meet on site with experts on rental assistance, county benefits like

November/December 2023

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Photos: White Bear Area Food Shelf

WHEN PERRY PETERSEN became

WIC, adult enrichment classes from the school district and more. “There are many people in suburban Ramsey County who don’t have the ability to drive to [service centers] in downtown St. Paul,” Pierre says. “This gives them an opportunity to connect with services where they live.” “We also really see this as a redistribution site for food in the community,” Petersen says. More than 40 percent of offerings at the White Bear Area Food Shelf are “rescues” from local grocery stores: fresh produce, overstocked deli items, meat and cheese, bakery and more. “There’s a lot of food that had historically gone to waste, and we’re getting it to people in a timely, safe manner, and with dignity.” White Bear Area Food Shelf, 1884 Whitaker St., White Bear Lake; 651.407.5310; whitebearfoodshelf.org

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HELPING HANDS How can you get involved with the White Bear Area Food Shelf? Executive director Perry Petersen outlines its top needs:

• Financial Donations: “With a $1 donation, we can purchase $8 worth of food,” Petersen says. “People’s monetary donations go a long way.” • Volunteering: “As we’ve expanded programs, we always have a need for volunteers. It’s more meaningful when people get to experience it and feel being part of the solution to hunger.” • Product Donations: This holiday season, the food shelf especially needs items that are harder or more expensive to source: hygiene products, diapers, ingredients for baking like sugar and spices, culturally connected foods and “fun” items like kids’ cereal.

VENTURES

450 Stories Vadnais Heights nonprofit empowers adults with disabilities. By Emily Gedde

AT MERRICK INC. , staff members say

finding a sense of purpose in what they do comes easily. The Vadnais Heights nonprofit provides day services to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities in Ramsey County, offering a mix of life enrichment, work and self-advocacy options. Merrick executive director John Wayne Barker says he leaves work each day knowing a difference is being made. “Soon, we’re going to be serving 450 people, so you have 450 stories of why it feels good to offer these services,” Wayne Barker says. “We empower and guide clients to realize their goals and dreams. If we do that every day, then we’re meeting our mission, and we’re improving the quality of life of our clients.” Merrick is the largest day program in Ramsey County with a 59-year history of leadership in person-centered planning, self-advocacy, meaningful work options, community inclusion, operational excellence and continuous innovation. Serving adults ages 21 and older, Merrick becomes a home-away-fromhome for clients and direct support professionals alike. Karen Herrera, Merrick’s development and communications director, says the average client tenure is 16 years, with a continuous

Top: Leon, a Merrick client works a plastic baler. Each year, the nonprofit organization diverts more than 1 million pounds of plastic from incinerators in the Twin Cities. Bottom: Jack and Sherry, clients enrolled in Merrick’s life enrichment program, make music together during music therapy.

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waitlist. “Clients choose us and, most of the time, our waitlist grows by word of mouth,” Herrera says. “Most staff go home at the end of the day with the satisfaction of knowing they make an impact on someone’s life.” The nonprofit offers life enrichment opportunities or meaningful work. The life enrichment option is intentionally broad to include anything except work and offers activities like pottery, painting, horticulture and sewing. “Those activities are not wage earning and engage the person and all five senses,” Wayne Barker says. “These options can be anything that improves, maintains or slows the decline of mental, physical and emotional health.” The work opportunities Merrick offers include on-site work, work crews that go to area businesses or direct employment where people can go straight from their home to a business paying minimum wage or higher. Herrera says Merrick supports people throughout their lives; as their needs and abilities change, the organization can help support that through the different work options.

The view’s better from here. Catch some rays with Maui Jim.

Photos: Chris Emeott

Economic Engine

Aside from traditional daily duties, Merrick also serves as a contributing member of the local community on many levels. “As a nonprofit, we’re also a small economic engine in our local community,” Wayne Barker says. As the holidays approach, so do some of the nonprofit’s favorite traditions. Clients partner with the Vadnais Heights Lions Club for a holiday food and toy drive, and Merrick employees participate through gift giving. “We do a lot of civic work that allows us to make the community better for everyone in a nonmonetary way,” Herrera says. “Giving back to our community is a big part of our culture,” Wayne Barker says. “It helps others understand the people we serve are more like us than not like us; the only difference is they have a cognitive or physical disability that limits their daily life activities, and that’s where our support comes in.”

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eat, drink &

CRANBERRY Embrace the magic of the season’s

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

favorite superfruit.

November/December 2023

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Written by Kristie Smith Photos by Chris Emeott

Cranberries for Thanksgiving sounds like a sequel to the children’s book Blueberries for Sal. In the classic story, Sal and her mother pick berries to can for the winter, a tradition of harvesting and the encounters of a child that leaves delighted readers with a hankering to wander fields, collecting buckets and stories of their own. Just across Minnesota’s eastern border, cranberry growers celebrate their own harvest traditions, raking through water-logged bogs to collect their crops for distribution all over the country. Wisconsin is the nation’s leading producer of cranberries. In fact, it is believed half of the world’s crop is grown in the Badger State, according to the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association (WSCGA). Though a wobbly, can-shaped gel at the holidays may be what pops to mind, the tart, red berry starts out growing on a shrub and trailing on vines in bogs supported by cool, marshy conditions. The cranberry flower produces young white fruits, which mature to their infamous deep red color before the fall harvest. Because they float—the cranberries are grown dry but harvested flooded—farmers learned long ago to flood their bogs and marshes, making fruit collection easier. Late September into early October, when autumn’s leaves complement the glowing red fruits, cranberry farmers wrap up their season in the fields. Though the harvest has finished this year, a Saturday road trip along Wisconsin’s Cranberry Highway will typically take curious cranberry lovers on a self-guided route about 50 miles long across central Wisconsin’s cranberry growing region. Amid the centuries-old cranberry beds, visitors can travel from Warrens (thought of as the cranberry capital of the state located just south of Eau Claire) to Wisconsin Rapids to see and sample the staple that will then find its way to Thanksgiving tables around the country. While on the road, make a stop at Wetherby Cranberry Company in Warrens, where the family has grown cranberries for more than 100 years. Then, visit the cranberry museum at Discover Cranberries to observe a 1920s-era cranberry sorting mill and fresh fruit picking line. Warrens Cranberry Festival takes place the last full weekend in September—and it celebrated its 50th anniversary celebration this year—so a visit at the peak of the season is always a taste-filled outing.

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Reap the Benefits These colorful fruits are native to North America and were introduced by Native Americans to the early colonists, who brought them to the European trade markets. The Algonquian tribes called cranberries sassamanash and used them for dyes and wound care, as well as part of a healthy staple of their diets, according to the WSCGA. With fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and polyphenols, it’s easy to see why they’re categorized by nutritionists as a superfruit. These heart healthy gems are packed with antioxidants and antimicrobial benefits. Research from the Cranberry Institute shows the flavonoids and phytonutrients in these little red fruits can help with obesity, hypertension and diabetes, as well as urinary tract infections. If fresh cranberries are hard to find, the Cranberry Institute suggests an 8 oz. serving of 27 percent or more cranberry juice cocktail to get an even swap of healthful benefits.

Let’s Face It In Stillwater, cranberry seed oil is the foundation of the products created by esthetician and Stillwater Skin & Medical Spa owner Amy Haugen, who started using the superfruit’s oil more than 15 years ago to help her with acne and dry skin. Her toxin-free, certified-vegan skin care line now includes nearly 30 products that incorporate cranberry seed oil to help with everything from skin cleansing

and rejuvenation to acne treatment, moisturizing and scar care. “Cranberries are rich in vitamins,” Haugen says. “Their seeds contain vitamins A and E, and Omega 3, 6 and 9. It takes a semi truck of cranberries to cold press out 1 gallon of seed oil.”

By the Numbers Cranberries pack a powerful punch and an interesting history. According to the WSGCA and the Cranberry Institute:: • More than 1,000 food and beverage products contain cranberries. In fact, it takes about 4,400 cranberries (10 pounds) to make a gallon of juice. About 5 percent of the nation’s crop is sold as fresh fruit, and the rest are turned into sauces, juices, dried fruit and other foods. • A barrel (100 pounds) became the standard measurement of production of cranberries because of the way they were packaged for shipping to markets in the United States and Europe, according to the Cranberry Institute. • Legend has it early European settlers called them “crane berries” because the flower of the fruit looked like the head and neck of the sandhill crane. • Henry Hall, a Revolutionary War veteran, is credited with planting the first commercial cranberry bed in Massachusetts in 1816.

a splash

OF RED

Cranberries should headline any and all of this season’s holiday get-togethers. “Cranberries are a family favorite for all occasions,” says Kristi Ryan, Lunds & Byerlys events and demo manager. Whether in a glass or on the table, these tart fruits are key features in some of Lunds & Byerlys favorite recipes. (And they look nothing like your grandmother’s canned variety!)

Cranberry Pomegranate Crostini (top right image) • 1 baguette • ½ cup fresh cranberries, finely chopped • ¼ cup pomegranate seeds • 2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped • 1 Tbsp. olive oil • 1 ½ tsp. honey • goat cheese • fresh orange zest • salt and pepper, to taste Cut a baguette into slices, and toast on a baking sheet in the oven. Next, mix together chopped cranberries, pomegranate seeds, chopped parsley, olive oil and honey. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread each baguette slice with goat cheese, and top with the cranberry pomegranate mixture. Add fresh orange zest over the top, and serve. Tip: This crostini is delicious with a cabernet sauvignon.

November/December 2023

Cranberry White Chocolate Blondies (bottom left image) Serves 16 • • • • • • • • • • •

cooking spray ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs, room temperature ¾ tsp. vanilla extract 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. kosher salt ⅛ tsp. ground cinnamon 1 cup frozen cranberries ¾ cup white chocolate, coarsely chopped • powdered sugar, for finishing Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray, and line it with parchment paper, allowing two long sides to hang over the edges of the pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking to incorporate between each addition. Whisk in the vanilla extract. In a second large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon. Using a rubber spatula, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in two additions, making sure there are no streaks of flour and the batter is smooth. Stir in the cranberries and white chocolate until evenly distributed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use a rubber spatula to smooth the top. Bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for two hours. Use the long sides of the parchment paper to lift the blondies from the pan. Cut the bars into eight equal squares, then slice the squares in half diagonally to create 16 triangles. Fill a small fine-mesh sieve with powdered sugar and lightly dust the blondies. Leftover blondies can be stored in an airtight container for up to five days.

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Sparkling Cranberry Cocktail (bottom right image) Serves 4 For the Cranberry-Rosemary Syrup: • 1 heaping cup fresh cranberries • juice of half a lemon • 1 cinnamon stick • ½ cup sugar • ½ cup water • 2 large sprigs fresh rosemary For the cocktails: • 4 oz. Cranberry-Rosemary Syrup, divided • 2 oz. orange juice, freshly squeezed • 1 750ml bottle Champagne, prosecco or sparkling white wine • quartered orange slices, cranberries and rosemary sprigs, for garnish To make the syrup, combine all six ingredients in a small saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Stir occasionally until the cranberries burst and release their juices, about five minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain into a glass jar, pressing gently on the cranberries to extract their juices. Transfer the syrup to the refrigerator to cool completely. To make one cocktail, fill a Champagne flute with 1 oz. Cranberry-Rosemary Syrup. Layer with ½ oz. orange juice and top with 6 oz. Champagne. Garnish with an orange slice, a few cranberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary. Repeat with the remaining cocktails, and enjoy!

Lunds & Byerlys, 4630 Centerville Road, White Bear Lake; 651.653.0000; lundsandbyerlys.com Lunds & Byerlys @lundsandbyerlys

Many FaCEs, Many sToRIEs

November/December 2023

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LoCaL oRGanIZaTIons JoIn ToGEThER To sTREnGThEn CoMMUnITy ThRoUGh ConVERsaTIon.

Illustrations: iStock.com; Photo: Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area

WR I TTEN BY ZOE YATES

It may have been an overcast spring afternoon when Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area hosted its first Wacipi to celebrate the Indigenous community—but inside Sunrise Park Middle School, the gym was a kaleidoscope of color, sound and life. Drum groups, including Sugar Bush and Tha Oyate Ota, shared songs while visitors of all backgrounds danced around the room in a joyful swirl. As the drums quieted, a group of four American Indian students from local schools stood at the room’s center. As part of a traditional blanket ceremony, the graduating seniors were bestowed a blanket, and event attendees lined up to celebrate and honor each student. Among the steady sprinkle of rain, it was a safe harbor where all could feel welcome. “[The blanketing ceremony] was very powerful and emotional, and I loved seeing everybody in the community getting up to go through the line and shake those young women’s hands,” says Many Faces’ former chair Jackie Reis. “When community traumas have happened, there’s healing that has to happen, work that has to be happening … in all directions. These types of events are by no means a one-and-done,” says current chair Tara Jebens-Singh. “They’re just a very scratching-the-surface beginning of the kind of big work that needs to happen.” This effort is one that Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area has taken on wholeheartedly. The collaborative currently includes 30 partner organizations, many of which organize inclusive community events both individually and as part of Many Faces. “It’s created this wonderful web throughout the community in all these different spheres—whether it’s the civic, the faith, the nonprofit,

educational spheres—of people having programs that focus on the themes that Many Faces supports,” says Reis, who represents the League of Women Voters and Rotary Club of White Bear Lake within the organization.

ThE RooTs Many Faces is a product of this time, rising in 2018 out of community conversations in White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi focused on the book A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota— a collection of perspectives written by 16 Minnesota authors that prompted discussion statewide. “It seemed to us like a real, ready-made entry point because so many other communities were doing it,” says JebensSingh who, at that time, worked as the adult programs coordinator for White Bear Lake Area Schools. Following these community

TAKING ACTION For individuals who want to be involved, attending a program is a great place to start, Jebens-Singh says. Donations are appreciated, and Jebens-Singh suggests folks look within the list of partner organizations to see if they are already a part of one of them; new representatives are always welcomed. “That’s a great entry point to be directly involved with the work that we’re doing,” she says. Many Faces programming is often the product of a community member’s interest in sharing with the greater community. “If you have a particular story or something that you or your family wants to share and you think that a Many Faces event would be a great place for you to engage with that—yes, look us up,” Jebens-Singh says. “We’re always looking to uplift the stories of the people who live here right now.”

The blanketing ceremony celebrated graduating seniors from local schools. From left, head female dancer Tawny Hale, Natane Tom (White Bear Lake High School), Chase Rustin, Faith Cichon and Abby Speckman (Stillwater Area High School), and head male dancer George Green. 21

conversations put on by the two school districts and the City of White Bear Lake, a program evaluation showed an “overwhelming” desire to have similar programs in the future. “From that, we realized that if we were going to continue to do this we needed to engage more partners,” Jebens-Singh says. In the first years, Many Faces developed three core programs: The Original People: Dakota and Ojibwe; Changing Traditions: European settlers; and Shifting Demographics: Baby Boom and migration. When the global pandemic and a renewed racial justice movement took root in 2020, the organization adapted and responded. In partnership with Minnesota Humanities Center, each quarter of 2021 brought a new program in a series called Conversations about Race. “It was a nice way to connect these issues that the whole world was grappling with, but in a very local and specific way,” Jebens-Singh says. As more organizations and their representatives joined Many Faces, the definition of what was possible evolved. “One of the real beauties of Many Faces is that it has been able to be organic and reflective and flexible depending on the partners that are around the table, the tasks at hand and the needs of the community,” Jebens-Singh says.

RIPPLE EFFECT In just five years, Many Faces has demonstrated that, together, much can be accomplished. “Collectively, there’s something that we can do that’s bigger than any one organization can do, and I think that the Wacipi was really a reflection of that kind of collective community work,” Jebens-Singh says. “It’s that kind of a thing that no one entity could put that on and have it mean what it meant.” Through bimonthly large group meetings, with committees and projectspecific task leaders meeting as needed, Many Faces and its member organizations have now been able to host more than 60 programs as a “collective volunteer community”—inspired by local input and emerging topics and strengths within partner organizations. “For me, the most positive thing is seeing the different partner organizations collectively working on community-wide events and issues and concerns and the ongoing rippling of those relationships,” Reis says. Programming broaches topics like accessibility, ethnicity and race, homelessness and LGBTQ allyship—with most events open to all ages. “We’ve tried to broaden the whole definition of inclusivity … to get to everybody, all of our neighbors who live here and to build that sense

of belonging,” Jebens-Singh says. A pillar of Many Faces is ensuring that every program is rooted in the Greater White Bear Lake community and directly affects and represents the people that live, work or go to school here, Jebens-Singh says, adding: “It’s not just a matter of learning about different communities and cultures from around the world, but really rooting it in who is a part of our community and celebrating all that is here. And it’s such a rich, diverse community—we haven’t run out of any topics yet.” Each September brings a new theme that Many Faces programs will look to during the school year. This year, the theme is Many Faces, Many Tables: Connecting Community and Culture Through Food, and Many Faces has plans to host community feasts and celebrations, conversations on books that focus on food, cooking classes and any other topic that recognizes food as a connecting force. “This kind of work allows us to prepare for the community we want to see in the future, and I think that’s really important because, in a way, it honors all that the folks have done to make this community what it is from the past,” Jebens-Singh says. “It’s our time now to make sure that we’re doing our part to keep that forward momentum going.”

November/December 2023

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Photo: Chris Emeott

Representatives of Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area at a September meeting at Mahtomedi District Education Center.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Join us at our

November 28, 6–9 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Sanctuary Fellowship Hall, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi.

“Joy ful Sip & Shop” Nov. 30th!

March 28, 6–9 p.m. at Willow Lane Elementary School, 3375 Willow Ave., White Bear Lake.

Hosted by:

Nourish! Connecting Community and Culture Through Food

Join in community at these free community feasts hosted in partnership with the Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative and Marnita’s Table. Featuring a menu with variety, including vegan options, these meals are meant to nourish mind, body and soul through conversation and good food. Interpretation, childcare and transportation are available with advance notice. To learn more and register, visit manyfaceswblarea.org.

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Windows Gutters

info@manyfaceswblarea.org manyfaceswblarea.org Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area

lo c al things to se e an d do

O N T H E TOW N

FEELING THE SEASON Celebrate the holidays in downtown White Bear Lake.

Photos: Downtown White Bear Lake Main Street Inc.

W H E T H E R H O LIDAY GIFT giving comes as a joy

or stress this season, a collection of events in downtown White Bear Lake is bound to add some festive fun to the task. The Holiday Open House returns from 5–8 p.m. November 16. Participating businesses will stay open later, offering sales and specials—with Santa Claus and carolers stopping into shops and lifting spirits. “The Holiday Open House just has a really festive and happy feel to it. Everybody who comes in is just in a really good mood,” says Cora Haugen, That Old Blue Door owner and Downtown White Bear Lake Main Street board member. “Last year, when the carolers came in and sang, I actually cried because it was kind of like a Hallmark movie.” Every Saturday could and should be considered Small Business Saturday—but, on November 25, downtown White Bear Lake takes it up a notch!

November/December 2023

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This Small Business Saturday event goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m (individual business times may vary). “Small Business Saturday is the most community supportive event of the year. People come out in droves to support small businesses,” Haugen says. Then, on Saturday, December 9, Winterfest is back with carolers (dressed in period costumes as they visit each store), Santa Claus and horse-drawn trolley rides. “It’s just a good time to get out, get some deals [and] get involved in the general, joyful atmosphere,” Haugen says. And don’t miss the Elf Hunt from December 14 to 16 at participating businesses. —Zoe Yates Downtown White Bear Lake Main Street Inc.; info@downtownwhitebearlake.com; downtownwhitebearlake.com Downtown White Bear Lake @downtownwhitebearlake

O N T H E TOW N Compiled by Macy Berendsen and Lily Schlobohm

LOCAL EVENTS

Star of the North Jazz Orchestra 11/12

A ROARING TWENTIES PARTY

This celebratory big band concert features Jen Burleigh-Bentz (of Broadway’s Mamma

Join a Gatbsy-style party with flappers and more at the Metropolitan

Mia!) in a salute to veterans, with popular

Ballroom. The event includes singer Mia Door, who specializes in vintage-

World War II-era standards and a medley

style singing. Ages 21 and older. 7–11:45 p.m. Metropolitan Ballroom, 5418

of service songs. All ages. Prices vary. 2 p.m.

Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org

Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley; courtney@beckworthgroup.com; dropitlikefscott.com

Fast Before the Feast 11/23 Three races are available for runners— Turkey Dash, 5K and 10K. Part of the race proceeds will be donated to help fight hunger in the local community.

All ages. Prices vary. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 4495 Lake Ave. S.; 651.440.9625; mnraces.com

She Loves Me 12/01–12/20 This charming musical is set in 1930s Europe, where two feuding perfume store clerks make an unlikely connection. It’s a heartwarming holiday story with twists and turns that will have you at the edge of your seat. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave.; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org

Jingle Bear 5K 12/02 Tie jingle bells to running shoes and join in the racing fun at the start of the holiday season. A special run for kids is also scheduled. All ages. Prices vary. 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

4495 Lake Ave. S.; 651.440.9625; mnraces.com

Candlelight Tours at Fillebrown 12/02, 12/08, 12/09 Explore the historic Fillebrown House by candlelight and revel in the holiday atmosphere with cocoa and cookies as guides share stories of the house and its past inhabitants. All ages. $12–$15. Tours start at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Fillebrown House, 4735 Lake Ave.; 651.407.5327; whitebearhistory.org

NOVEMBER 11

7–11:45 P.M.

November/December 2023

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Twin Cities Con 11/03–11/05 The returning Twin Cities Con is a celebra-

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An extensive exhibitor and artist list will be present the whole weekend, including special guests, such as Jason Lee from Almost Famous, Rachel Leigh Cook from

PIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

She’s All That and Timothy Zahn from Star Wars. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.335.6000; twincitiescon.com

Festival de las Calaveras 11/04 The 11th annual Festival de las Calaveras celebrates Dia de los Muertos. The festival features Twin Cities Latin music and art. Dancing, live music, spoken word, food trucks and more will all be part of the

Call Ahead to Reserve Your Pies!

Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat, StrawberryRhubarb, Dutch Apple, Apple-Pecan Pies ... from Pine Tree’s own recipes. Great selection of apple gifts, too!

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celebration. All ages. $12–$20. 6–11 p.m.

Pine Tree Apple Orchard

651.429.7202 | www.pinetreeappleorchard.com North of White Bear Lake off East Hwy. 96

The Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.338.2674; festivalcalaveras.com

European Christmas Market 11/25–11/27 Walk through an authentic European Christmas shopping experience inspired by German Christkindl Markets. Enjoy handmade gifts and unique foods. All ages.

10 a.m.–8 p.m. Union Depot, 240 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; stpaulchristmasmarket.org

Holidazzle 11/25–12/18 Holidazzle is back in Minneapolis for a festive holiday season. The popular Fulton Beer Garden, winter fireworks show, illuminated art installation and

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To have your event considered: email

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whitebearlakemag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Due to the fluidity being

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TA S T E M A K E R S

A Safer Plate Mahtomedi native Angie Nelson works to develop allergen-free meals. Written by Hailey Almsted

November/December 2023

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Angie and Liam Nelson

Find art classes for all ages and abilities

Photo: Chris Emeott

at WhiteBearArts.org IN JULY OF 2016 , Mahtomedi native Angie Nelson’s life was turned upside down. Just six months after the birth of her first child, Liam, she learned that he was allergic to four of the top nine major food allergens. “It was a really scary time for us,” Nelson says. As first-time parents, Nelson and her husband, Paul, tried to avoid allergies by feeding Liam peanut butter and other allergens at an early age—a recommendation from their pediatrician. “So I had given him peanut butter and mashed banana as a snack when he was 6 months old, and he had no reaction. Two weeks later, he broke out head-to-toe in hives, crying uncontrollably,” Nelson says. This reaction led to Liam’s allergen diagnosis; the family was to steer clear of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and milk. Since Nelson had been breastfeeding at the time, she had to eliminate all allergens out of her own diet. Trips to the grocery store meant reading every food label top to bottom; the Nelsons had to cook each meal from scratch and were left with limited options. Plus, the added fear of creating cross-contamination, eating out at a restaurant or going on playdates. “It was a tough time, and I do feel that we were blessed that we like to cook,” Nelson says. “We found recipes that are important to our family, such as my husband’s family pancake recipe that he grew up on, and we found out how to make it without eggs and milk. We played around in the kitchen to make [Liam’s] life as normal as possible.” Wanting to find better options for her family and others going through the same situation, Nelson, alongside chef Gilbert Junge, developed Liam’s by Safer Plate, a frozen meal company featuring four distinct meals that are free from the top nine allergens. “It’s kind of a long story, but my best friend and colleague is Greg Coley … He was the executive chef at a country club that Tom Nelson, Angie’s fatherin-law, was a member at,” Junge says. “They were discussing Safer Plate in its

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LIAM’S PANCAKES Contributed by Angie Nelson • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp. baking powder • 1 tsp. baking soda • ¼ cup applesauce • 2 ½ cups Ripple milk • 5 Tbsp. lemon juice • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract • pinch of salt Whisk all dry ingredients together then add applesauce, and stir. In a separate bowl, combine lemon juice and Ripple, and stir until it thickens to the consistency of buttermilk. Add “buttermilk” mixture to the other ingredients, and add vanilla and a heavy pinch of salt. Mix until combined. Some lumps are OK. Heat a greased pan (Use cooking spray, olive oil, butter or whichever is safe/pre-

Liam’s by Safer Plate Cheezy Rotini

ferred for your family.) over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add about ¼ cup of batter to the pan. Wait for bubbles on the top of the pancake to start popping, the pancake over. Serve with your favorite maple syrup, or top with Enjoy Life chocolate chips. *Note: Unlike Liam’s frozen meals, this recipe is not free of the top allergens. Please be sure to adjust ingredients as needed for you and your family.

THE BIG 9 While many foods are known to cause allergic reactions, a small group of foods known as “The Big 9” account for 90 percent of serious food allergy reactions, like anaphylaxis. These nine allergens include: eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat.

infancy, and Greg said to Tom that he knew the perfect guy to talk to, so I was introduced through Tom.” That was in 2019. At the time, Junge was the corporate chef for the Mayo Clinic. Now, Junge is the vice president of operations for Liam’s by Safer Plate and works on developing new allergenfree meals. Prior to developing the line of frozen meals, Liam’s by Safer Plate operated as a meal kit delivery company, for which Junge had developed more than 60 recipes. He’s taken some of those recipes and developed the Liam’s by Safer Plate meal options, including: Cheezy Rotini, cooked rotini in a dairy-free cheezy sauce with a side of broccoli; Tangy Pulled Pork, prepared pulled pork with barbecue sauce and sweet corn; Chicken Alfredo Rotini, cooked with chicken, rotini and Alfredo sauce with a side of broccoli; and Beef and Pea Pods, cooked beef in a Mongolian-style sauce with pea pods and rice. “A big part of our company is bringing convenience to families like ours, but it’s

also about normalizing food allergies, creating a new normal and making kids like ours and adults feel more confident about their allergies and to not feel so isolated and alone,” Nelson says. Junge amplifies that mission. “A lot of people think it’s not going to taste good, and they ask, ‘Why would you buy something that’s free of something that you’re used to getting?’ It’s something that we’re trying to change,” he says. “These items taste good. It’s not just for those that have allergies, it’s a healthier way of eating … The misconception of allergen-free food is that it isn’t tasty. It’s something that we want to let people know isn’t true.” Liam’s by Safer Plate can be found at all Lunds & Byerlys and Festival Foods locations, select Hy-Vee and Kowalski’s Markets across the Twin Cities, local co-ops and more. Liam’s by Safer Plate; saferplate.com Liam’s by Safer Plate @liamsbysaferplate

November/December 2023

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Photo: Liam’s by Safer Plate

then use a spatula to flip

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LAST GLANCE

Sailing at Sunrise When Mahtomedi hobby photographer Greg Karp scouts a great spot for a photo, he’ll return in the early morning or late evening to capture the scene at its best. This image, taken at sunrise at the Matoska Park boat launch, stood out to Karp for its clean composition, the arrangement of clouds and the layering of numerous sailboats. “I used to own a sailboat and enjoyed sailing on White Bear Lake. When I was taking pictures on this particular morning, I thought to myself, ‘It would be a good day to go sailing.’” In retirement, Karp has pursued photography in earnest, with a focus on local flora and fauna. —Zoe Yates

Photographer: Greg Karp

Title: Good Day to Go Sailing

Equipment: Canon EOS 90D, Tamron 18–400mm lens, Tripod Category: Community Activities & Events Award: Second Place

View more of his work on Instagram @gregkarp.photo.

To view other White Bear Lake photo contest winners, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

November/December 2023

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Hometown Hospitality With a Personal Touch

Call about our fall specials and to schedule a tour! (651) 429-9654

Scan the QR code to visit our website. 4615 2nd Ave. White Bear Lake CerenitySeniorCare.org

White Bear Lake - November 2023