Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026
848758
Home Décor, gifts, furniture, kitchen items, jewelry, pillows and more! Open Wed - Sat 2176 3rd St. White Bear Lake
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
VOL. 50 NO. 13 www.vadnaisheightspress.com $1.00
PUBLIC SAFETY: Vadnais Heights woman charged with child endangerment PAGE 6
Hockey players enter Flow-a-thon to raise funds BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
The helmets may come off, but the hockey hair is ready for prime time as players lace up for the first ever Flow-a-thon, a fundraiser that celebrates Mahtomedi’s finest hair while supporting future improvements to one of the outdoor rinks at the District Education Center (DEC). From mullets to playoff-ready curls, skaters are showing off their best f low — and asking the community to vote with donations. This fall, the Mahtomedi Youth Hockey Association launched a fundraising effort with the goal of raising $1 million by February 2027. “Those rinks at the DEC are all we have, so why wouldn't we make them the best they could possibly be?” asked Kristina Lucius, the hockey association’s fundraising director. “They are unique in that they are a school facility that is designed to be enjoyed by everyone in our community. From toddlers taking their first glide, to pickup games of all ages, figure skaters practicing their best twirl, and grandparents enjoying the echo of laughter … the DEC is truly a place for everyone. The goal is to have more consistent open ice for all in our community to enjoy.” From now until Jan. 25, the hockey association is raising funds for what it calls the “rink of dreams.” Improvements will likely be done in phases and could include expanding one of the rinks to
Ready, set, skate
FILE
The Vadnais Heights Parks & Recreation Department will host its Winter Shindig from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 at Community Park, located at 641 East County Road F. Attendees will enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, ice skating, snowshoeing and all things winter. Pre-registration is not required. The city’s GreenCorps member will also be there to chat about energy savings and the city’s upcoming Energy Action Kickoff Celebration planned for 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Vadnais Heights Commons.
SEE ‘RINK OF DREAMS’, PAGE 18
The Mothers Band goes on record at McNeely Music Center BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Local teen trio The Mothers Band is recording a studio album at the McNeely Music Center (MMC) in the White Bear Lake Arts District. The members—White Bear Lake Area High School seniors Freya Sanders, Luisa Maruyama and Holly Flood—have invited their friends and families to observe the recording process using MMC’s built-in educational technology. “It’s shocking; I feel really blessed,” said Sanders. “Little freshmen staying together led to this crazy opportunity.”
The Mothers Band began five years ago, when the trio sang together for their middle school’s awards ceremony. The following year, their school separately asked Maruyama and Flood to perform for the talent show. Neither wanted to perform alone, so they convinced Sanders to recreate their trio. “We hadn’t come up with a band name,” Maruyama remembered, “and then we were like, ‘The Mothers Band—because our mothers are always telling us to sing songs together.’” How does it feel to have a band named after you? According to Sanders’ mother, Christa Sanders, SEE MUSIC CENTER, PAGE 15
CONTRIBUTED
The Mothers Band (from left), Freya Sanders, Holly Flood and Luisa Maruyama, at the McNeely Music Center. The band is currently producing music tracks using the center’s cutting-edge recording technology.
Gift certificates available!
CLASSES - DIVE SHOP DIVE SERVICES AND RENTALS
PADI Certification, Scuba Equipment, Local and International Diving Trips
5960 Highway 61 N, Suite #4, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 | 651-653-1174 | midwestschoolofdiving.com CIRCULATION 651-407-1234 circ@presspubs.com
NEWS 651-407-1230 vadnaisheightsnews@presspubs.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
848977
Sunday - Monday: Closed Tuesday - Thursday: 10:30am - 6pm Friday: 10:30am - 5pm | Saturday: Noon - 5pm