Columns

Did you make a resolution for the New Year? How’s it working out? This early in the year some of us may still be on track to change our lifestyle.  Others of us may have already gotten off course or simply given up on our grand desire.  Research shows that up to 85 percent of New Year’s resolutions are never achieved.

Intending to shop locally, I searched for a card in downtown White Bear Lake before attending a family gathering for my Aunt's birthday last weekend. I've heard and read that more people in our country are living longer these days but I discovered it still hasn't gotten to the point where there is a birthday card section for 100-year-olds. While perusing the selection, I thought about combining a couple of 50th birthday cards but ended up finding a festively decorated card for a 1-year-old, with a conveniently open space in the design where I was able to add two zeroes with a matching color marker.

On Saturday night we attended a party at the Bald Eagle Lake home of Mark and Evelyn Duvall, in honor of Mark's 50th birthday. Evelyn is one of our graphic designers at the Press, and we share a love of skiing, on snow and water. Many of the partygoers were sailing enthusiasts and ice boaters. I have tried ice boating in the past and was interested in the chance to learn more. Sunday was a key day to be on the lake, with more than 15 ice boats reported on Bald Eagle. According to Tim Black, the two most commonly seen ice boat types in this area are the DN and the Nite. Nites can still be purchased new from White Bear Boat Works. Because of the low friction on the ice, ice boats can exceed up to five times the wind speed and more than double it in most cases. Ice boat speeds can exceed 70 mph. Later in the evening I enjoyed meeting Art Kutchera who last year skied more than 130 days in Telluride, Colo. At the bright age of 83, he hopes to ski more than 100 days this winter. Art is a retired 3M engineer and when he is not skiing, he can be found on his sailboat. Sailing has been a big part of our community's culture for longer than a century, and many boat builders have chosen to call the area home. As sailing, ice boating, kiteboarding, golf on the ice and other activities are centered on the lake, we will continue to define our community and attract people who want to live here, work here and play to the fullest.

A NEW VIKINGS Stadium is a perfect fit for the Arden Hills site.

Last week, you may have seen a letter from legislators from as far away as Minneapolis and Milwaukee sent to our Minnesota and Wisconsin members of Congress, opposing the construction of the bridge over the St. Croix Crossing.

A friend who is a police officer recently told me about the frightening, re-emerging trend among teens -  sniffing, huffing, bagging and skittling.  Sniffing, huffing or bagging is inhaling a chemical with the intent to get high. The chemicals used are common and entirely legal items found in almost every household, like air freshener sprays, paint, gasoline, markers, glue and freon from air conditioners.  It is happening more often than you think. According to the Partnership for a Drug-free America, 18 percent of all eighth graders have used inhalants to get high, but 9 out of 10 parents are unaware their children have used inhalants.

What is it about the social structure of adolescents that makes them want to minimalize — to the point of misery — people who are different from them?

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S our job as a community newspaper. Local businesses, churches, clubs and professionals need to make sure that every customer in the market knows their name and what they do.

Are you new to the community? Whether you are new to the area or returning home, we want to say welcome and help you more thoroughly engage in all our community has to offer. Press Publications is a family-owned and community-inspired source of information, available online and in the traditional printed format. If you're looking for activities or events, check out our community calendar page. Interested in local opinions? Look to the letters to the editor for a slice of community dialogue. We print 99.9 percent of all letters that are submitted and follow the standard guidelines. If you are a sports fan and have kids participating, we cover high school teams and activities running the gamut from hockey, tennis, football, golf, sailing, swimming and soccer, to club and academic groups. Are you interested in knowing what is going on in local goverment? Our stories cover city, village or township meetings, as well as issues with our school districts. If you have ever wondered what the neighbor is doing with their property and whether they received a conditional use permit, we try to answer that too; check out the public notices. Each week our professional journalists will bring together the key stories and features that affect you, through reporting that is consistently accurate. We can be a resource to help you celebrate loved ones by printing engagements, birth announcements and obituaries.