Press Publications 4779 Bloom Avenue White Bear Lake, MN 55110
White Bear Lake Dental
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 9 CIRCLE PINES, MN
Specializing in cosmetic dentistry & same day crowns! DR. JOY JOHNSON
651-653-3802
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025
843895
4100 BELLAIRE AVENUE WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110
VOL. 50 NO. 2 www.vadnaisheightspress.com $1.00
BUSINESS : Vadnais Heights Economic Development Authority hosts HR Connections event PAGE 20
Student’s legacy lives on through gym at St. Jude’s BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
It’s been 14 years since John "Jack" Patrick Gunderson walked the halls of St. Jude of the Lake Catholic School in Mahtomedi, but his legacy of sportsmanship, kindness and inclusion still endures. “I’m grateful for the person he was, that he made meaningful connections wherever he was. That has fed us a lot of energy
getting through our loss,” said Jack’s mother, Dawn Gunderson. Last November, Jack’s life ended tragically at the age of 28 when he was struck by a vehicle. He attended St. Jude from kindergarten to eighth grade (2001-2011), later graduating from Mahtomedi High School in 2015 and Iowa State University in 2019 with a degree in civil engineering. While at St. Jude, he participated in various sports, including hockey,
golf, baseball, volleyball and basketball. Competing in the Catholic Athletic Association, he was known not only for his skill but for his unwavering sportsmanship. Fr. Michael Johnson, pastor of St. Jude’s, compares Jack to St. Carlo Acutis, an Italian Catholic who died at the age of 15, known for his use of digital media to promote Catholic devotion. “One SEE FOREVER 33, PAGE 7
SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Dawn and Greg Gunderson, parents of Jack Gunderson.
Century College celebrates big milestone for dental program BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Pumpkin patch prep
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Volunteers from Christ the Servant and Eternal Flame Lutheran churches teamed up to unload and place more than a thousand pumpkins at the temporary seasonal patch at 3676 Centerville Road in Vadnais Heights. A truck recently delivered a load from Pumpkins USA, an organization which sources its pumpkins for churches and civic groups, primarily from with the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. The pumpkin patch is open Monday through Friday from noon to dusk and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to dusk, through Halloween.
Thanks to a recent expansion at Century College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, the program was able to increase its enrollment by over 60%. The program is also anticipated to increase the number of patients it sees each year by 60%, reaching approximately 1,700 patients over the next 16 to 24 months. “This is a dream come true. It’s been long awaited,” said Century College President Angelia Millender. The college’s dental hygiene program began in 1995 with a cohort of 12 students. The program, which provides the knowledge and skills necessary to gain licensure and to practice as a dental hygienist, is highly competitive. The renovation expanded the clinic capacity from 12 to 20 chairs. The space is also used by the college’s dental assistant program. Per the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, the college is required to have one chair per student. According to Shannon Zurbey, director of the dental hygiene program, about 70 applicants applied for this year’s 20 spots. “I’m in close contact with the other programs around the state and everyone is doing what they can to grow their programs, even if it is just by a couple of students, but dentists out in the workforce are not going to feel those changes for another two years.” Construction of the $1.42 million expansion is a partnership between the college, the state of Minnesota, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation and community donors. Leaders involved in SEE CENTURY COLLEGE, PAGE 14
2nd month
NORTH STAR
FREE
MINI STORAGE
for non-drive-up units
on 180 sq ft or less, new customers only at the Vadnais Heights and Shoreview location.
VADNAIS HEIGHTS • SHOREVIEW
Gate Access (Daily):7:00 am - 10:00 pm
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
NORTH STAR 843813
3880 Labore Road, Vadnais Heights (651) 771-3880 | 483 W. County Rd E, Shoreview (651) 483-1100 www.northstarministorage.com
MINI STORAGE
PRODUCTION 651-407-1239 art@presspubs.com
Expires 11/30/25