Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2025
Scan for deals on page 2
VOL. 22 NO. 14 www.readthecitizen.com $1.00
SPOTTED AROUND TOWN: Photos from around the community PAGE 10
‘Best of’ contest voting open
July 15 - July 20
BY TYLER QUATTRIN PRESS INTERN
See special section Pages 8-9
The nominations are in, and voting is open for Press Publications’ annual Best of the Press Readers’ Choice contest. Community members will vote for a wide variety of their favorites, including restaurants, doctors, schools, artists, services, events and much more. This year’s contest features more than 150 categories, including 29 new or newly revised categories including: best art class, best beer selection at a liquor store, best bourbon selection, best spirits at a bar or liquor store, wine selection at a liquor store and bar, best assisted living, best chiropractor, best orthopedic clinic, best orthopedic doctor or surgeon, best physical therapy clinic, best senior care facility, best elementary school, best high school, best middle school, best teacher K to 5, best teacher 6 to 12, best wedding venue indoors, best wedding venue outdoors, best bank, best credit union, best hair stylist, best hair salon, best landscape company, best 2025 veterinary clinic - emergency, best veterinary clinic - general and best hardware store.
BEST
of the Press
FILE PHOTOS
Fete de Lacs brings festive energy to Centerville
The Citizen
SEE BEST OF, PAGE 2
Rejuvenated: Hugo man rehabs knees to run marathons Brian Lahr had doctor’s orders to never run again when he was 24. Wrestling injuries had damaged both knees to the extent that he said he was noticeably bowlegged Two decades later, the Hugo resident is not just jogging again but running marathons. This past April, Lahr was pounding the pavement at that Holy Grail for runners, the Boston Marathon. It was his fifth 26-miler in two years. “I felt like I had an opportunity to inspire those who have been told they can’t do something in life and who, like me, believed that lie,” said Lahr, 44, a financial advisor. Lahr’s first marathon was Grandma’s in Duluth in June 2023 where his time was 3:22:42. He has improved with each succeeding race: 3:07:55 at Kiawah
Island, South Carolina, in December 2023; 2:55:27 at Grandma’s in June 2024; 2:54:06 in Indianapolis in November 2024; and, having qualified to run Boston, he knocked off almost four more minutes with 2:51:34. The Boston experience was exhilarating, said Lahr, who placed 288th of 2,259 men in the 40-44 group and 2,510th of 28,809 overall. “Everyone running that race has a story and their own struggles they had to battle along the way. It was incredible hearing everyone’s stories. I pictured the endless sea of people as one giant family, running through life together. At the finish, runners who were total strangers were high-fiving, fist-bumping, and congratulating each other.” SEE MARATHON RUNNER, PAGE 7
$11.95 ANY $5 OFF purchase
STOP & VISIT TODAY!
Pizza & Salad Lunch Buffet
M-F from 11am - 2pm
excludes alcohol
Not valid with any other offers Expires 7/31/25
2023
2022
of the Press
of the Press
BEST OF THE PRESS
The Citizen
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1923
BEST OF THE PRESS
NEWS 651-407-1230 citizen@presspubs.com
SCAN HERE TO VIEW
Landscaping
The Citizen
(651) 407-1094 • 7095 20th Ave S • Centerville, MN Voted Best Pizza! CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 ppcirc@presspubs.com
WIDE ASSORTMENT OF TREES & SHRUBS
& PUB
837225
of $25 or more
CONTRIBUTED
A jubilant Brian Lahr at the Boston Marathon finish line.
16155 Forest Blvd, Hugo (Highway 61) • Visit us On
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
• 651-488-6707
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
837224
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR