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CAREER EXPERTS: Aiming to launch ‘The Next Big Thing’ in January PAGE 22
Sounds of the season: Volunteers kick off Kettle Campaign BY MADELINE DOLBY QUAD COMMUNITY PRESS EDITOR
The sound of a ringing bell and the sight of a red kettle are familiar signs that the holiday season has arrived. Each year, Salvation Army volunteers take to street corners and storefronts to collect donations that support local families in need. “This is something we tend to do every November and December. It’s a great way for us to be out in the community, to be visible. The red kettle is
super iconic, because it’s been around for so long,” said Sophie Crowell, divisional volunteer relations director (Northern Division) for the Salvation Army. She noted that the red kettle is unique to North America, although the Salvation Army is worldwide. The campaign started in San Francisco in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee collected coins in a soup kettle to fund a Christmas dinner for the area’s poor. This year, the Red Kettle Campaign
will last through Christmas Day. There are 260 locations across the north metro that are participating in this year’s campaign. Funds raised during the campaign stay in the local community. Crowell said donations from the campaign goes “under the umbrella of food, shelter and care.” “Whatever someone’s needs are, if they need to visit the food shelf, we’re able to purchase SEE RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN, PAGE 8
FILE
Lions Bob Schug and Brian Teschendorf are among some of the Vadnais Heights Lions who ring bells for the Salvation Army.
City Council approves budget and tax levy for 2026 BY ERIK SUCHY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Winterfest returns
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Visitors to downtown White Bear Lake travel by horse-drawn carriage during the first Winterfest installment of the holiday season. A variety of Winterfest festivities, including Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, visits with Santa, Holiday Carolers, White Bear Lake Area Historical Society Festival of Trees, Elf Hunt, Ice Sculptures and the EAT! @ Banning 5th Street Soup Kitchen Benefit, will be returning this coming Saturday, Dec 13.
After several discussions and submissions from department heads, the Vadnais Heights City Council has approved its 2026 budget and tax levy. According to Finance Director Bob Sundberg, there will be a 1.4% increase in the city’s tax rate compared to last year, meaning property owners whose valuations did not rise will still see higher city taxes. “As property value determines the share of the levy allocated to each property, property tax increases vary widely depending on valuation changes,” Sundberg said. The proposed levy is set at $9,581,026, an increase of $805,797 over 2025. The city property tax on a medianvalued single-family home is expected to rise by about $11.25 per month in 2026, based on an estimated 6.92% increase in that home’s value. Sundberg said that figure represents the projected change in valuation for a typical median-value property. Assuming a 1.29% valuation increase, commercial office properties are projected to see an increase of about $8.74 per month — the median change determined by the county. The levy will fund three areas: the general fund, the capital improvements fund and debt service. Enterprise operations including water, sewer and surface water will continue to be supported by user fees and will not affect the levy. The city’s general fund remains its main operating fund, with the levy its most significant revenue source. For 2026, the proposed fund levy is $584,670 SEE CITY BUDGET, PAGE 20
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