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Mainstreet requests social district downtown
Vadnais Heights resident finds help on 4 legs BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
For more than 62 years, Jeff Carlson of Vadnais Heights has had Type 1 diabetes, a condition he said makes it hard to determine the level of glucose in his body. However, a new canine companion has provided not just support but also companionship in the form of his pet poodle Leo. “He’s saved me from going to the ER,” said Carlson, “and on a couple of occasions from what could have been a deadly situation if he hadn’t gone and gotten help.” Carlson initially adopted Leo from Prairie’s Edge Standard Poodles in New Ulm. The duo worked on public training through the American Kennel Club, ultimately passing the program, before starting with Can Do Canines. That program, based in New Hope, helps train and place service dogs for people living with disabilities. “When I first got him, I had to bring him in and do basic core abilities for a dog to work in public,” Carlson said. “I had to have him work with me and do intermediate-level training outside of Can Do Canines. The American Kennel Club has the prerequisites that a dog must be able to do well in public to be a good citizen, so we had that completed before we started the program.” Further training helped sharpen Leo’s service skills, which Carlson said come in handy when he experiences diabetic and glucose issues. “Being a diabetic alert dog, he had to go through a lot of pretesting to see how he interacted with me to make sure that it was a good fit,” he said. “Everybody who’s seen us in action has been amazed by the skill set he has for picking up diabetic and glucose issues.” Since graduating from the program, Carlson says the working relationship
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
WHITE BEAR LAKE — Mainstreet Inc. has asked the City Council to develop a downtown social district. Main Street Inc. serves the members that are located in the White Bear Lake Special Service Tax District. Social districts allow state-authorized communities to designate public areas in which people can carry and consume alcohol. Social district licenses are issued to participating establishments, which serve beverages in branded cups that can be brought outside and consumed within the defined perimeter of the social district. So far, the Minnesota Legislature has authorized Anoka, Stillwater and Shakopee to establish social districts. According to City Manager Lindy Crawford, Shakopee is implementing its social district this fall, but Stillwater’s launch is on hold to allow for further council discussions and continued public engagement. In a letter drafted to the council, Mainstreet President Kristin Cranmer wrote, “We believe the creation of a social district has the potential to enhance the vibrancy and economic vitality of the downtown and surrounding business areas by encouraging increased foot traffic, supporting local establishments, and offering a more dynamic experience for residents and visitors alike.” Crawford said the council must consider whether a social district aligns with the city’s strategic plan; how it would impact the public safety and public works departments; what economic impact it would have; what effect it
JEFF CARLSON | CONTRIBUTED
Jeff Carlson of Vadnais Heights has found a new form of help assisting him with his Type 1 diabetes: his service dog Leo.
SEE SERVICE DOG, PAGE 21
SEE SOCIAL DISTRICT, PAGE 9
Newspaper Carrier Day: Honoring the messengers this September BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
At Press Publications, a vital role that ensures subscribers get their newspapers on time is performed by the company’s news carriers. Come rain or shine, carriers power through to deliver the news to doorsteps throughout the week. One of them, Eli Schaefer, has been working as a carrier since he was 10. He said he has enjoyed his position ever since. “My older siblings delivered papers, so I followed in their footsteps,” said Schaefer. “It’s
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easy and flexible, too.” As a news carrier, Schaefer works approximately 45 minutes a week with a planned list of addresses and streets. “You kind of plan your own route,” he said. “Once you pick one, it’s yours. The route that you live on is the one that you’re going to be doing. It’s going to be a lot of knocking ERIK SUCHY | PRESS PUBLICATIONS on different people’s doors and Eli Schaefer delivering the papers.” Schaefer drops off newspapers year-round,
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relying on nothing but his own two feet, come rain or shine. “We’re supposed to walk because, as a carrier, you have to deliver it to their front step,” he said. However, dropping off papers isn’t the only joy Schaefer said he gets out of the job. He has even more fun meeting and connecting with the people he delivers to. “It’s a great way to get to know other people. I’ve actually gotten to do lawn work from meeting with them, because they need someone to mow their lawns and do other yard maintenance.
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