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, JUNE 24, 2026
860136
4100 BELLAIRE AVENUE WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110
VOL. 131 NO. 37 www.whitebearpress.com $1.50
STATE CHAMPS: Mahtomedi baseball rolls to another title PAGE 22
A life of teaching, a retirement of giving BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Chris Quinn spent nearly two decades of her life teaching at Matoska International. Although she retired in 2017, she hasn’t gone far. Quinn, a longtime resident of White Bear Lake, just turned 74 and says she plans to substitute teach one more year. “I missed the kiddos and their energy. No two days were the same,” she explained. “I think I needed that energy back.” Quinn moved to White Bear Lake in 1987. She started her teaching career at Willow Elementary in 1999 before she transferred to Parkview Elementary (now Matoska) in 2001. During her fulltime career she taught fourth grade, Chris Quinn but as a substitute she fills in for kindergarten through fifth grade. She admits that third and fourth grade is her favorite age to teach. “They’re inquisitive, somewhat self-sufficient, and their energy is somewhat subdued, but it's still there,” she explained. After Quinn retired in 2017, it didn’t take long for her to return to the classroom. She started subbing in 2018 and did that until the pandemic hit and the district shifted to distance learning. She was eager to return however, when in-person learning returned. “As a teacher, you really need to roll with the
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Summer season water safety message Eric Sullivan, a supervisor with the Minnesota DNR’s statewide marine unit, presented a water safety message recently near the boat launch at White Bear Lake County Park to help kick off the summer season on area lakes and rivers. The use of properly fitting life jackets, exercising courtesy and patience at boat launches and resisting the temptation to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol were among the list of safety and informational tips he shared during the press conference.
SEE FORMER TEACHER, PAGE 12
Student encourages graduates to embrace change, remember roots The following speech was given by Ruby Stembridge, Class of 2026 student speaker at the Mahtomedi High School commencement ceremony. Stembridge plans to study international business at Loyola University Chicago. I have attended Mahtomedi my entire life. Whether you’ve been a student here since kindergarten or just transferred this year, there’s one scenario that I can say with relative confidence almost all of us have lived through. “How do you pronounce the name of Ruby Stembridge your town?” “It’s Mah-toh-mee-dye” “Oh, Mahtomedi? What’s your mascot?” “A Zephyr.” “WHAT on EARTH is a Zephyr!?”
Now, I have always felt a sort of pride for our niche little mascot. It’s not something popular or flashy, like the “tigers” or “gladiator,” something that automatically evokes fear in your opponents. When I explain what a Zephyr is to a relative, a coach from another school, or anyone I’ve seen in public wearing a Mahtomedi hoodie, people are usually a little confused. “The…god of the…breeze?” Honestly, I don’t mind. They don't have to understand what it is or why it’s important. A Zephyr is a soft, steady wind. Not a storm or something destructive. A Zephyr is something consistent. The soft, steady wind shows up and carries things from one place to another, even if we don’t always notice it happening. And the truth is, most of the time, we don’t.
2025
WINNER Best of the Press
Someone unexpected making your day with a smile and a hello in the hallway. Everyone going to support their peers in the State Tournament games. The Jazz Band cheering you up in the darkest days of winter by playing a rendition of Jingle Bells during lunch. We have found ways big, small, public, and private to be the soft, steady wind for one another, helping carry each other along. If you know me, you know I can manage school. I can handle essays, standardized tests, and presentations, but one thing I have never been able to handle is change, no matter how small. So, the idea of graduation—of everything changing all at once— feels too big to wrap my head around. It terrifies me. And I know I’m not the only one. When I look SEE MAHTOMEDI GRADUATION, PAGE 17
2nd month
NORTH STAR
FREE
MINI STORAGE
White Bear Lake Vadnais Heights
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 whitebearnews@presspubs.com
ADVERTISING 651-407-1200 marketing@presspubs.com
CLASSIFIED 651-407-1250 classified@presspubs.com
NORTH STAR 860141
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 7/31/26