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Dr. Meredith Kurysh
Specializing In Dentistry For Kids 14755 Victor Hugo Blvd. N. #103, Hugo, MN 55038 651-429-1205 www.sproutspediatricdentistry.com
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2017 VOL. 35 NO. 12 www.presspubs.com $1.00
EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC: Of the Stillwater ice castle PAGE 11
Blaine teacher and students recognized for sportsmanship BY SHANNON GRANHOLM EDITOR
BLAINE — Last spring, when first-grade teacher Judie Offerdahl received an email notifying her that she and her colleagues, Sarah Myhre and Shelby Baker, and their first-graders at North Pointe Elementary School were to be honored for a small act of kindness, she thought it was cool. However, after attending the Musial Awards event Nov. 19 at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis,
Missouri, she quickly realized what an honor it was. This year the Musial Awards, formerly known as the National Sportsmanship Awards, recognized nine recipients: North Pointe Elementary was the only award-winner in Minnesota. Last January, Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair SUBMITTED Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal in a playoff game. North Pointe Elementary School first grade teachers Shelby Offerdahl, a Circle Pines resident, knew her kids Baker (left), Judie Offerdahl, olympian Jack Sock and Sarah would be crushed, so she decided to use it as a Myhre pose for a photo at the Musial Awards Nov. 19. The teachers, along with their students, were recognized for a small act of kindness that went a long way.
SEE BLAINE TEACHER, PAGE 12
14th annual WinterFest set for Jan. 21
issues,” he said. “Then our landlord found out we wanted to move and offered to sell us this building.” With extra footage of the building not yet in use, Hansen said there is room to expand - though he doesn’t intend to use the entire building for the clinic necessarily. The staff is excited for the new space and says it allows for animals who don’t get along with other animals to be separated in the waiting room. Carly Jones, a veterinary
Cross-country ski lessons, fat bike demonstrations, wax demonstrations, snowshoeing, winter birding and a food truck will all be part the 14th annual WinterFest, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Experienced cross-country skiers and novices ready to learn are all welcome to the event with the Ride and Glide XC Ski Club, which will provide a day of free lessons, demonstrations and camaraderie. All levels of ski enthusiasts are welcome to sign up for lessons; skiers must be at least 14 years old. The day includes free one-hour lessons available at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Registration is required at www.rideandglide. org. As part of the festival, free classic and skate equipment will be provided by Joe's Ski Shop and the Ride and Glide Ski Club. Fat Biking equipment and demonstrations will be provided by Now Bikes and Fitness. Wax demonstrations and ski race videos will also be part of the day. Try snowshoeing free as part of WinterFest at Lake Elmo Park Reserve. Snowshoe the rolling hills, woods and prairies of the park. The snowshoeing area consists of a groomed trail along with vast spaces available for bushwhacking for those wanting their own space, to be more adventurous or those seeking a greater workout. Register with DIRO Outdoors through the Washington County Park’s webpage to reserve your snowshoes for a specific time, or show up at the park at the DIRO tent near the trailhead with an ID; if there are snowshoes available, check them out and go explore.
SEE ANIMAL HOSPITAL, PAGE 10
SEE WINTERFEST, PAGE 3
JOLENE FRID | SUBMITTED
The new lobby holds an inviting space to sit by the fireplace and additional area for children and pets.
Animal hospital expands in Lino Lakes BY JOLENE FRID CONTRIBUTING WRITER
LINO LAKES – Dr. Brian Hansen has moved his practice – Rice Creek Animal Hospital – to a much larger location just a short walk from the previous one. The clientele has grown substantially each year for the six years it’s been open and outgrew the original clinic space. The new location boasts 3,000 square feet in comparison to the previous location’s 1,500 square feet, and Hansen designed the floor plan
along with his wife Donnell, a veterinarian specializing in animal dentistry at a different clinic. “This was a bank, so the whole thing got gutted,” said Hansen of the new location. “We took about a month or two with some graph paper. We knew the dimensions of everything we wanted and how we wanted it to flow.” Hansen said he was originally going to buy the land across the street, at the corner of Hodgson Avenue and Birch Street, but it didn’t pan out. “We had some contractor
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