Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
White Bear Lake Classic & Vintage Boat Show
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
Saturday, June 21, 2025 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. White Bear Shopping Center
presspubs.com/boatshow Scan to Register Your Boat
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025 VOL. 43 NO. 34 www.quadcommunitypress.com $1.00
SPOTTED: Residents and students welcome summer PAGE 12
Local mom blooms urban flower farm
Mom hopes to find ‘village of moms’ through walks BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
A Hugo mom is looking to establish a village of moms who meet up at least twice a month to walk, talk and have fun. Nikki Krueger has two sons, 3-year-old Jaxon and 1-year-old Nash. She first heard about the Mom Walk Collective (TMWC) back in 2022 when she saw it on Instagram. At the time, there were no groups in Minnesota, so it fell off her radar. A couple months ago, it popped back into her feed, and
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
You name the flower, she grows it. Gina Kieger is an urban flower farmer whose business, Backyard Flower Farm LLC, now three years in the making, continues to germinate. “The business is growing naturally in the community, and it’s nice to see everyone enjoying fresh, locally grown flowers,” she said. Kieger, a 2001 White Bear Lake grad, has an interior design background. After she and her husband Jason had infertility struggles for several CONTRIBUTED years, she decided she wanted Gina Kieger to be a stay-at-home mom to her three children, now ages 10, 6 and 3. With her family complete, Kieger said, “I needed a little something for me.” She was scrolling on Pinterest one day when she stumbled upon a picture from Floret Flowers, a small family farm in Washington. “I thought, ‘those are the most beautiful rose snapdragons I have ever seen,’” she recalled. Kieger visited the business’ website and learned that the farm was situated on 2 acres. “I had no idea that you could grow that many flowers in such a small space,” she said. “I just dove into it. I love flowers, I love being creative and I know how to grow stuff … When I go in, it’s a little obsessive, but I’m all in.” As a stay-at-home mom, and with a background in retail and furniture sales, she was missing interaction with the community. In her first year, she focused on flower subscriptions. In addition to dropping off flowers at Humble Roots Boutique in Centerville, she tried out the Centerville Main Street Market. She signed up for the White Bear Lake Farmers Market but got waitlisted. “That was good, because there is a lot that goes into the timing of when things are going to bloom, what colors they are and what kind of plants they are. I didn’t have that down pat anyway to guarantee that I would have the maximum number of flowers that would look great together,” she recalled. “That was a learning year.”
she realized some groups were starting to establish in the state. As of press time, there are groups in Andover, Plymouth and Bloomington. In June, Hugo will be added to that list. Krueger signed up to be an ambassador for the organization and to arrange the walks. TMWC launched in June 2022 and began with groups in 30 cities across the U.S. The organization now has groups that have launched in over 350 cities in the U.S. and Canada. “I finally felt like I was in a
place where I could have the capacity to host one myself,” Krueger explained. “When I was postpartum with my (first child) I struggled … I have very close friends, they are amazing and supportive, but they don’t have kids. I’m the only one in my friend group that has kids, and so it just still felt isolating because they just don’t get what I’m going through in the moment.” SEE MOM WALK COLLECTIVE, PAGE 5
MUSIC ON THE LAKE RETURNS FOR SUMMER
SEE FLOWER FARM, PAGE 6 PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Circle Pines and surrounding area residents should get their lawn chairs ready. Music on the Lake—It’s Golden is set to return to Golden Lake Park at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12. The event is set to go through Aug. 21. Find more information and the list of performers on page 6.
Joe Lasiuta Service Manager
LINO LAKES 8121 Lake Drive
651.273.8100
www.LenferAuto.com Mon-Fri: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1226 quadnews@presspubs.com
AMAZING SERVICE SAVINGS
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
OFF
$599 OR MORE
$799 OR MORE
Invoice must total qualifying amount prior to tax. Not valid for tires or batteries. Cannot combine with other offers. Limited time.
INCLUDES
SEASONAL VEHICLE CHECK UP UP TO 5 QTS OF SYNTHETIC OIL Cannot be combined with any other offers Call or make appointment online.
25 $50 $ 75
$149 OR MORE
OFF
77
$
OFF
49
$ Scan here for your quick and easy appointment!
FULL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE
Exp. 6/30/25
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
Exp. 6/30/25
PRODUCTION 651-407-1253 artmanager@presspubs.com
WE FIX EVERYTHING!