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MOUNDS VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT: Board approves 2026-2027 summary budget PAGE 12
Shoreview son remembers: Parents faced injustice with grace BY CAROL BROWN-MILLS SPECIAL TO THE PRESS
John Suzukida has lived in Shoreview for 34 years, where he and his wife, Lori, raised their family. As a mechanical engineer, John spent 22 years of marketing and executive management at Trane Technologies, then spent years consulting for a variety of companies and organizations. In 2023, John was named Shoreview Citizen of the Year, recognizing his environmental efforts and numerous volunteer activities benefitting the community. But this year he quietly marked another
important anniversary. It has been 81 years since John’s mother and father were released from America’s concentration camps where they had been incarcerated during World War II. Now, John and his three living siblings, all U.S. citizens and college graduates, reflect on their parents’’ experience. Below, John shares the unforgettable events that have influenced his own hopeful outlook on life and our democracy. Q: Why do you feel it’s important to share this story now, 81 years later? A: This is a personal, his-
toric experience based on my parents’ written documents. Discussing a topic not always taught in school might leave a thoughtful audience with a different perspective and help avoid repeating mistakes of history. And if not now, when? I began speaking about this as a member of the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary Club. They encouraged me to speak more broadly, so since then, I have spoken to more than 2,000 people in many different venues over the last decade.
SEE SUZUKIDA INTERVIEW, PAGE 10
JOHN SUZUKIDA | CONTRIBUTED
Henry and Kayoko Suzukida, parents of Shoreview resident John Suzukida.
Celebrating the 4th with music
Voting begins: Best of Contest is here The nominations are in, and voting is open for Press Publications’ annual Best of the Press Readers’ Choice contest. 2026 Community members will vote for a wide variety of their favorites, including restaurants, doctors, schools, artists, of the Press services, events and much more. This year’s contest features more than 149 categories, including eight new categories: sweet shop, chicken wings, brat/ New hot dog, mocktail at a bar or restaurant, categories meal for the money, apple orchard, electrician company and dispensary. • Sweet shop The contest helps recognize exception- • Chicken wings al businesses, Press Publications Gener- • Brat/hot dog al Manager Patty Steele said. Winning a • Mocktail at a bar badge adds credibility to a business for or restaurant someone making a buying decision. • Meal for the “Six years strong and readers still money love to vote for their favorites in the • Apple orchard local communities, and businesses love • Electrician to be recognized by their customers,” company Steele said. “It’s also a great guide for • Dispensary our readers to take a look at the top three and decide to try somewhere new they might not have otherwise tried.” The contest continues to gain popularity each year. Voting is available 24/7 on the Press Publications website at presspubs.com/shoreview/bestof. Each reader may vote once per day. Voting ends at 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16. Winners and finalists will be recognized in a special section the first week of October. Winners will also be posted online.
BEST Shoreview Press
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Starting at 8 p.m., The Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band will play a 4th of July concert at West Park in White Bear Lake prior to the planned military flyover and fireworks display. Find more community events on the What’s Happening calendar on page 3. In honor of the 250th anniversary, see The Declaration of Independence on page 15.
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