the city of Falcon Heights appears ready to make a deal with a national parking-fee company to charge for on-street parking near the Fairgrounds during the Fair the City Council reviewed a proposal from ParkMobile to charge around $25 a day to park on Falcon Heights streets during the Fair and what arrangement might be made for residents The task force surveyed parking during 2024 and estimated the city offered 800 to 1000 free parking spots to visitors A survey of Falcon Heights residents identified parking as their top quality-of-life issue during the Fair City Administrator Jack Linehan summed up the current situation as “price is free compliance is poor.” He said reve­nue from the fees could be used to hire temporary workers who would locate illegally parked vehicles freeing up police to focus on public safety But Linehan added that the revenue would be far more than is needed for enforcement and could be directed to other uses such as street maintenance He said $100,000 in revenue during the two weeks of the Fair would be a low estimate Linehan said ParkMobile has begun to dominate its industry and is now widely used and therefore widely recognized by the public Linehan said the company helped municipalities in the path of last spring’s eclipse manage parking when crowds descended on them and has contracted with cities hosting major sports events ParkMobile provides temporary signage in a variety of formats They receive a small percentage of the fee Drivers can also pay by phone or on the website depending how the city sets up their system council members discussed one obvious concern: People will drive a little farther out to where the parking is still free Linehan acknowledged it’s impossible to predict how far that would extend but noted that since the signage is temporary and would be provided by ParkMobile there is no cost to try different zones and prices the council appeared ready to adopt such a proposal The State Fair Task Force was scheduled to meet in mid-February and refine its proposal Linehan said the council would need to revise several city laws and recommended a public hearing Anne Holzman is a Bugle freelance writer who covers Falcon Heights government news Photo cutline: Depicted above is the 2024 Minnesota State Fair logo the city of Falcon Heights is considering establishing some paid parking on its city streets during the 2025 State Fair time and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" DONATE to the BUGLE RECEIVE our print edition by mail FIND our print edition near Park Bugle ARCHIVES (1974-2025) SUBMIT your event Here are our Bugle deadlines for the next three issues we appreciate when writers and readers submit their articles early Please note our publication dates represent when the newspapers go out for delivery Mail distribution of the paper may take up to several business days bulk drop-offs of the paper around town are usually completed two to three days after publication SUBMIT your story The Minnesota State Fair is still months away but one city is now planning to charge drivers to park on neighboring streets.The Falcon Heights City Council voted in favor of E-Meters Wednesday night the plan is to charge $25 to park on these streets during the fair starting in 2025 “It seems like the more important thing is to make a few dollars,” said Paul Eberhard you can see the water tower with the State Fair logo.“We love the fair; we look forward to it coming,” Eberhard said.This free on-street parking the street fills up by about 7:30,” Eberhard said “It fills up; there’s a lot of traffic people going up and down trying to look for a parking spot.” “Parking has been a long time challenge,” said Jack Linehan Falcon Heights city administrator.On Wednesday night the Falcon Heights City Council approved an ordinance to allow E-Meter parking with ParkMobile charging people to park on select streets by the fairgrounds during the 12 days of the State Fair.“We’re taking a lot of those notes a lot of really good feedback,” Linehan said.The impacted areas are the Northeast Quadrant neighborhood and the Northome neighborhood The city estimates it could bring in up to $200,000 a year that could be used for road projects and it’s a less chaotic experience for those who call this area home.“By adding a charge to it we’re hoping that will reduce the demand a bit too to kind of even out so there’s less circling of vehicles,” Linehan said.“It’s like it’s trying to solve a problem but I don’t know what that problem is,” Eberhard said.The Eberhards worry this makes it harder to reserve parking for visiting loved ones they have concerns about the city’s reputation.“We don’t want people to think bad of Falcon Heights for charging for parking and that’s going to happen,” Eberhard said. “The goal of this is not to be unwelcoming to the fair; we love fairgoers,” Linehan said The city is working on a plan to give people who live in these areas a “free resident pass” plus E-Meters could be expanded to other big events but all of that will be worked out through additional city meetings For more information on State Fair E-Meter parking, click here Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 Fairgoers crowd Liggett Street at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug 2024.Ben Hovland | MPR NewsGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories We have added it to a list of your favorite stories Thousands of fairgoers typically park on city streets in Falcon Heights for free. But a city task force is suggesting charging $25 per day for parking in nearby neighborhoods for the 12 days of the fair. They say the fair causes wear and tear on city infrastructure and a big demand on resources. “We get the expense of adding porta potties, the city spends city funds — that is, your tax dollars — on extra police and staff time,” task force member Georgiana May told the Falcon Heights City Council at a hearing Wednesday. “We haven’t been adequately compensated from the State Fair for these expenses.” MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. The task force said parking charges would bring in up to $200,000 in city revenue per year. The city council voted to amend Falcon Heights ordinances to allow for parking charges. They also voted to explore a contract with a parking fee app called ParkMobile. The company would provide signs for the streets; drivers would pay for parking through the ParkMobile app.  The task force suggested giving every household on the affected streets a parking pass. Speakers at the public hearing had mixed opinions. Some residents said they don’t want their visitors to have to pay a fee; others said it could add a burden for visitors who already struggle to afford a trip to the fair.  But some others who spoke said they like the idea of compensation for the strain that the fair can put on city resources and infrastructure. City Administrator Jack Linehan led the task force. He said Wednesday’s votes are the first steps toward a plan. “There’s going to have to be further action from the city,” Linehan said. “We’re going to have to figure out more items as we go.”  The council will meet again for further discussion next week. Residents would not have to pay. Officials say the plan could bring in $100,000 to $200,000. Falcon Heights is considering a plan that would require drivers to pay to park on some city streets during the Minnesota State Fair. The Falcon Heights City Council took the first step Wednesday to move the idea forward by approving a measure to modify city ordinance to allow for e-meters. The council also voted to explore a contract with ParkMobile, the vendor that provides app-based parking services in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester. A final decision hasn’t been made, said City Administrator Jack Linehan during Wednesday’s City Council meeting. “This is one step of many,” Linehan said. “If we do go down this path, there will be further action from the city. We are still building this.” The proposal calls for the city to charge $25 a day for those who park on streets in the Northome and Northeast neighborhoods during the 12 days of the fair. Residents living along the affected streets would be given one pass per household, allowing them to park for free as they do the rest of the year. The proposed change, which city officials said could bring in $100,000 to $200,000 in revenue for Falcon Heights, got mixed reviews from residents. Sue Majerus raised concerns about family members or friends having to pay the fee to visit. “One parking spot doesn’t do it for me,” she said. And when the mail carrier comes, “I hope he doesn’t have to pay $25 to park there.” Others such as Bob Haight, who has lived in Falcon Heights since 1991, supported the idea. “Falcon Heights has served as a parking lot for the fair,” he said. “I strongly support this resolution. It can’t happen soon enough.” The Ramsey County city that is home to the fairgrounds has been exploring the charge-for-parking idea for “quite a while,” Linehan said. A task force was assembled to study it. “We get wear and tear on our streets,” said task force member Georgiana May. “We have the expense of adding porta-potties. We spend money on extra police. We don’t get compensated from the State Fair for these expenses.” Some who spoke at Wednesday’s meeting said the charge would add an expense for people with low incomes looking to keep a visit to the fair affordable. Others said the city should make money off the fair. Some wanted to know whether the money would help offset street assessments or result in lower taxes. City officials hope, if enacted, that e-meters would improve parking compliance. The neighborhoods have about 800 spaces where e-meters would be used. Under the terms of the potential contract, Falcon Heights would keep $20 of the $25 collected, with the remainder going to ParkMobile. “As two former mayors said, it has been an ongoing struggle for this city to get adequate reimbursement from the State Fair,” said Council Member Paula Mielke. “It’s never going to happen. This is a way to cover costs and ideally create a revenue stream” separate from property taxes, she said. For now, the city would use e-meters only during the State Fair, but the ordinance could be amended annually to allow for their use with other events such as car shows. The City Council could take up the discussion at its next meeting, April 2. Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather. Twin Cities Suburbs Conservative board members had questioned the content of the books and curricula prompting criticism from the teachers union Ariel Lawhon and Imani Perry also are coming to Hopkins for the popular Hennepin County Library series Hyperlocal cable TV stations that broadcast everything from high school sports to city government meetings confront a perilous existence expect to start paying $25 a day for it in the near future Though street parking during the Great Minnesota Get-Together has long been free in Falcon Heights a plan to start charging daily parking fees is now moving forward in the city council council members approved two motions: one to change city ordinances to allow for electronic parking meters and another that allows the city to negotiate a contract with ParkMobile a city task force aimed at exploring the issue told the council that the high traffic generated by the fair causes "wear and tear" on city infrastructure and strains public resources The expenses come in the form of everything from extra police and staff hours to additional porta-potties and the city gets the bill without adequate compensation from the fair The proposal would bring up to $200,000 in revenue for the city annually However, according to FOX 9, the plan is seeing its share of local pushback, with residents describing it as "greedy" and "unwelcoming" during last week's "packed" hearing. The station notes that the proposal, which is still preliminary, calls for issuing parking passes for neighborhood residents. The council is set to meet again next week to continue exploring the plan.  It's not yet clear when the new parking system would go into effect if approved. saying he'd killed the mother of his child which features a swimming beach and splash pad the MN Senate conducts a yearly poll at the fair Anthony officials have agreed to once again have a police services partnership that will take effect next year The partnership is planned to begin on March 1 with a contract expected to be finalized by the end of this year Anthony Police Department (SAPD) provide 24/7 emergency response within Falcon Heights as well as begin a phased increase in daily patrols when officers become available Anthony Police Department has provided community-oriented policing services to the residents of Lauderdale for 30 years and to the residents of Falcon Heights,” said St “This renewed policing partnership with Falcon Heights will enhance the resiliency of the St Anthony Police Department by increasing the staff dedicated to serving all three communities while sharing the costs of high-quality community-oriented policing services.” SAPD will hire nine additional staff members as part of the partnership with the cost of the new positions being covered through contract fees paid by Falcon Heights Anthony Village and Falcon Heights have partnered in the past but that ended in 2017 after 32-year-old Philando Castile was shot and killed by a St Anthony Village police officer during a traffic stop in Falcon Heights back in 2016 Talks of renewing that partnership began after community engagement showed residents in Falcon Heights wanted the city to prioritize police services and opportunities to build a positive relationship in the community “We’re turning the page on a very tough point in history for both of our communities,” said Eric Meyer “This seems like one of those rare moments where you have a wound being healed and communities coming together again.” RELATED: Falcon Heights considering partnership with St. Anthony Village police “Meeting resident expectations for public safety services is a top priority of our City Councils,” said Falcon Heights Mayor Randy Gustafson Anthony Village and Lauderdale centered on community-oriented policing services will benefit all of us in the years ahead.” Anthony Village the equivalent of $878,000 annually for police services with the rate increasing up to $1.6 million annually as staff and dedicated patrol hours are added Falcon heights will contribute more than $263,000 each year for shared fixed costs and capital contributions in order to help any necessary upgrades for facilities according to a release announcing the partnership “Our intention when we go in there is to be a good partner and address the concerns of the community Anthony Village Police Chief Jeff Spiess told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS “We want the community in Falcon Heights to feel we’re their police department.” He explained his department will start providing 24/7 911 call service and 24/7 patrol coverage as staffing allows starting in March The partnership will grow in phases over several years The goal is to provide full service by 2027 Anthony Village is reportedly looking into the expansion of its current police facilities or creating an addition to the fire station in order to make a combined public safety facility As previously reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Falcon Heights ended its law enforcement contract with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office at the end of 2023 there is a pub known for friendly service and good eats Stout’s Pub & Grill offers a range of craft beers cocktails and a plethora of foods including tacos a nearby resident who worked in food service for over 20 years said he enjoys the service at Stout’s because he can tell the workers are treated well based on how long they have stayed and continued to work at the pub “They do a good job because they’re taken care of,” Zielske said Zielske said he feels like Stout’s creates a space for neighbors to gather “There’s not a single time I come here that I don’t recognize a neighbor,” he said owner of Stout’s and a Minnesota native originally from Owatonna opened the pub in 2011 with business partner Bob Gillen during the nationwide craft beer fad after noticing a lack of beer options in the neighborhood Schleif worked as a district manager for the Ciatti’s Italian Grill location in the building before buying the brand with the director of operations The two first rebranded the restaurant to Chianti Grill and moved it to a spot near HarMar Mall in Roseville They then renovated the Ciatti’s building in Falcon Heights and turned it into Stout’s Pub & Grill the two eventually brought foods like burgers into the restaurant’s menu mix Schleif said freshness is a priority when it comes to food at Stout’s The burgers are a customer favorite because of the way the pub cooks them on the griddle take care of your guests and take care of your employees,” Schleif said “I mean it’s not rocket science by any means.” A good customer experience is the main philosophy behind running Stout’s Well treated employees make happy customers has been coming to Stout’s regularly since he retired in 2015 He often orders a wild rice soup and a beer Vignalo said he has Irish heritage and the pub’s wooden interior makes him feel at home a bartender at Stout’s for more than 10 years said she hates when she experiences bad service at other businesses said the comfortable atmosphere and delicious wood-fired pizzas help bring her into Stout’s Kelly said she thinks the restaurant has the best fried chicken sandwich in St “A place like this is always where we meet friends Henry Stafford is a fourth-year journalism student at the University of Minnesota and an intern for the Bugle He is interested in community reporting and visual media Warm laughter filled a cozy hall at Falcon Heights Church on a February afternoon despite the chilly temperature outside Members of the Highland Friendship Club had gathered for their weekly arts and crafts class and there was friendly teasing as participants tried to wrap thin wires around small irregular rocks to make photo display stands Someone cracked a joke about the rocks’ resemblance to candy “We don’t want anyone going to the dentist,” one of the leaders said “No rocks in the mouth!” Another wave of laughter greeted her warning Some club members sat with their caregivers or with Highland Friendship Club volunteers Others worked independently; a few caregivers caught an hour of reading or chatting in their own circle of couches at one end of the room said a friend had suggested she join the club an original club member who lives closer by which was started in 2002 in the Highland Park neighborhood by two moms who recognized the social needs of their teenage children with disabilities and decided to organize a solution The club has grown into a busy program with three full-time staff and members across the metro and even out of state online and hybrid activities for teens and adults the club’s home base since moving there from downtown St But there are also gatherings at sports venues and the occasional event such as a show at the Ordway or a Twins game Executive Director Patty Dunn said club members must be at least 13 years old Unlike many services for youth with disabilities “there’s no transitioning out of Highland Friendship Club,” Dunn said A recent Wednesday started with a music class in the morning followed by fitness then a trip to a bowling alley and online bingo to wrap up in the evening Some club members said they attend the whole day on Wednesday; others just attend one or two activities per week and the club does extensive fundraising to help cover staff             Dunn said the activities are scheduled in three “semesters” per year but they try to “stay nimble” and take advantage of opportunities like a baseball game or a show that may come up later An online calendar and registration system alerts members to events Club members must find their own transportation Community Engagement Manager Mari Marks Mondanelli who leads the Monday arts and crafts class said she’s always looking for club volunteers to assist with office support Volunteers participate in the activities alongside club members both facilitating and engaging in friendship “They’re enhancing our members’ experience,” Mondanelli said said she started making cards at the club years ago “I fell in love with arts and crafts,” she said and then I got asked to lead.” Her duties include meeting with staff to plan activities compiling lists of supplies and making models to show the finished project As the class ended on that cold February afternoon some stayed and some arrived for the next activity There was a traffic jam at the door as hugs were offered and riders matched with rides The air was filled with check-ins as people called out To join the club or to volunteer or donate, please visit https://www.highlandfriendshipclub.org Anne Holzman is a Twin Cities freelance writer who is a regular contributor to the Bugle Photo cutline: Members of the Highland Friendship Club gathered recently for a day of activities and games once the soul of the Falcon Heights Fire Department One bright summer day in the early ‘oughts I cut up my leg with a chain saw in my backyard except to say that my next-door neighbor saved my leg and quite possibly my life by quickly applying a tourniquet to stem the flow of blood till the ambulance arrived I was very lucky that my neighbor happened to be the volunteer Fire Chief of Falcon Heights—Clem Kurhajetz All the citizens of Falcon Heights and Lauderdale were darn lucky for Clem’s 30-plus years of service from the 1980s till his retirement in 2014 two beloved dogs and a wealth of memories from fellow firefighters who served under or alongside him over the years rough exterior and an abrasive personality.” He fought for his people making sure they got access to the best training state-of-the-art safety equipment and the budget to do their job the right way He held strong opinions and wasn’t afraid to share them whether the audience was the city council or his own colleagues and we’ve all been praised by him,” remembered Kevin Anderson who worked with and for Clem over 33 years a onetime Falcon Heights firefighter who is now fire chief in White Bear Lake At other times he could be very kind and very supportive most of us would describe him as a character.” but one who was “a lot softer on the inside than he appeared on the outside,” said Jan That may be why his fellow firefighters kept reelecting him as chief ‘I’m not going to do it this year,’” Jan recalled “Then he’d come home from the meeting and say I got up to go to the bathroom and when I came back they had voted me in again!’” Clem kept getting re-elected because his colleagues respected him when he went over to the fire house to drink coffee rehash the week’s calls and strike up conversations with whoever stopped by—not just other firefighters city employees and the occasional neighbor “It was his unofficial open-door policy,” Anderson said Perhaps no one was more posi­tively affected by Clem’s common-­sense no-BS approach to his job than Dan Johnson-Powers current Brooklyn Park Emergency Management coordinator and a man who happens to be gay when Minnesotans were asked to vote on a constitutional amendment to essentially outlaw gay marriage Johnson-Powers made the extraordinary decision to “come out” in a meeting of the firefighters “Some didn’t react at all; others acknowledged it must have been tough to speak those words It isn’t right for the government to say who you can or can’t marry.’ “Those words went a long way to assuage my fears … If a grouchy old fire chief can find it in his heart to ensure all of his firefighters are treated the same then I have to believe that Minnesota can also vote no this fall.” (Which it did by the firefighting fraternity that loved you as their advocate and mentor and most certainly by your next-door neighbor whose ineptitude with power tools brought out the best in you one day many years ago I served under 2 great FHFD chiefs – Jerry Renchin and Clem Kurhaketz Anthony police officer fatally shot Philando Castile in Falcon Heights the two cities will resume their shared policing under a new arrangement that will also help St Anthony finance updated headquarters for their force          At their respective council meetings on Oct Anthony Village and Falcon Heights directed their staff to finalize a contract under which limited patrols and 24/7 call service will begin March 1 ramping up to full community policing starting Jan          The limited service in 2025 will allow St Anthony to hire more officers and reconfigure its staffing to accommodate the new duties The Falcon Heights City Council also authorized its staff to extend the current contract with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office to supply policing services through Feb          The City of Lauderdale also receives police services from St Anthony Village and recently renewed its contract for 2025 only so that the three cities can work out a shared agreement going forward          Falcon Heights City Administrator Jack Linehan said contract details with St but the budget for 2025 will reflect the more limited services staff will ask the council to approve the final contract          In a brief discussion before unanimously adopting the measure to move forward Falcon Heights council members thanked staff and community members in both cities who have devoted many hours of meetings to reaching the agreement Each spoke in turn about their relief at having settled the matter          “I’m optimistic about this partnership moving forward,” council member Eric Meyer said “and I’m honored to have played a small part in it.” Anne Holzman is a Twin Cities freelance writer who covers Falcon Heights government news for the Bugle Gophers to Cap Off Regular Season with Rocky's Run10/24/2024 10:52:00 AM | Men's Cross Country The public can sign up to participate in person on Friday Bert and Ernie no longer have a place at Falcon Heights Elementary School We’re talking about two humongous boilers that once provided heat to the school on Garden Avenue school staff bestowed on them those affectionate nicknames But now those boilers have joined Oscar the Grouch in the trash bin replaced with a new chiller and other state-of-the-art climate control equipment as part of a two-year capital expenditure project reshaping the physical plant at Falcon Heights Elementary School “I think we’ll name it Chilly,” joked Principal Beth Behnke as she sat in her office surrounded by cones and construction equipment on the last day of July This is the second straight summer that students and books have given way to hard hats and jackhammers at Falcon Heights which were remodeled in time for the students’ return last fall This summer’s second phase—besides the aforementioned HVAC overhaul—includes a new gym floor and an updated kitchen that will catapult the lunchroom “from the 1950s to 2024,” as Behnke put it That means a new cafeteria floor and all new appliances most notably an industrial dishwasher that will allow for the use of real dishes and cutlery again instead of the disposables they were forced to use for decades LED lighting is also being installed throughout the school promising a “nice and fresh and bright” ambience in the building Due to construction work proceeding until the last possible minute a traditional meet-and-greet for parents in late August has been scratched in favor of a Back-to-School picnic on Wednesday the picnic will feature visits by the local police and fire department along with games food and socializing on the school playground “We tried this last year and it was hugely successful,” Behnke said Enrollment for the new school year is about 450 students which is fairly consistent with the past 12 years of Behnke’s tenure as principal Kindergarten through third grades are divided into three sections of about 24 students each while fourth through sixth grades are two sections of 30 students apiece Bill Brady is copy editor and writer for the Park Bugle Photo Credit: Falcon Heights Elementary School Principal Beth Behnke started many mornings this summer meeting with construction crews as she oversaw the completion of a two-year remodeling project 38th Roy Griak Invitational Set for Friday9/19/2024 8:59:00 AM | Men's Cross Country The ten-race event starts with the Division I races at 10:00 a.m One man made military history by taking a flight more than a century ago.  Curtiss Field Park in Falcon Heights is named after Minnesota’s first large airport.  Brigadier General Ray Miller made a historic flight at Curtiss Field.  “I would argue not enough people know about Brigadier General Ray Miller,” Randal Dietrich with the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley said.  Miller and others pushed leaders in Washington to create an aviation military unit in Minnesota Miller and two others flew from Curtiss Field to Washington “They did receive that recognition of being the first nationally recognized National Guard unit in the country,” Dietrich said The 109th Observation Squadron was formed and it led other Air National Guard units in Minnesota Miller became known as the father of the National Guard.  “His contributions were so important to our state and to our nation,” Dietrich said.  she will have them write 'I wasn't thrilled about spending the money' as my epitaph one of the best parts of going to the Minnesota State Fair was patrolling the Falcon Heights neighborhoods near the fairgrounds There were times I snagged a prime spot within minutes and other times when I looked so long that I considered giving up.. Even if I had to park all the way over by Como Zoo The Minnesota State Fair announced a ticket price increase for 2025 that will see the price of admission reach $20 That same ticket cost $9 in 2005 and $12 in 2013 this isn't the 'more expensive' aspect that I alluded to in the headline (although it also fits the bill) The Minnesota Star Tribune is reporting that the city of Falcon Heights may start charging fairgoers a $25/day fee to park their car on their roads which would use e-meters to keep track of those who have paid and those who haven't has not yet been approved by the Falcon Heights City Council The Star Tribune reports the city as saying the change could make Falcon Heights $100,000-$200,000 in revenue. The article makes some good points about the cost the city takes on when the Great Minnesota Get Together is happening and notes that they are not reimbursed by the fair for those costs I can definitely understand where they are coming from and I don't begrudge them for pursuing the money to recoup those costs I will miss being a cheapskate and hunting for a spot I had been doing it for nearly 30 years so it will be sad to see the tradition go paying $45 just to park and get into the Fair is just wild to me My wife says that when I die, she will have them write 'I wasn't thrilled about spending the money' as my epitaph. What can I say- I am a cheapskate.\nRead More The Minnesota Star Tribune is reporting that the city of Falcon Heights may start charging fairgoers a $25/day fee to park their car on their roads - Number of tornadoes: 3\n- Maximum tornado scale: EF2 (111-135 mph)\n- Maximum tornado length: 9.6 miles\n- Maximum tornado width: 400 feet\n- Estimated property damage: None\n- Estimated deaths: None Paul’s Como neighborhood are subject to parking noise and traffic headaches during the Minnesota State Fair Ricé Davis appreciates living close to the Minnesota State Fair — something she said she didn’t even think about when she fell in love with a house in Falcon Heights in 1973 She walks the mile from her house to the main entrance Davis likes to sit on her front stoop and watch people About 2 million Minnesotans descend on Davis’ neighborhood each year to attend the Great Minnesota Get-Together on fairgrounds tucked next to tiny Falcon Heights and St The daily infusion of between 106,000 and 250,000 people turns the largely residential area into one of the most festive and crowded spots in the state The crush of fairgoers brings traffic that chokes roads and more than enough vehicles to pack the neighborhood street parking The fair also brings some degree of unsavory behavior by attendees like littering and urinating on private property something local officials have been working to alleviate many neighbors say they look forward to the fair excitement each year left home just as the sun was rising Thursday for a short trek to the main gate of the fair on opening day and being a little more worried about traffic when their teenager — who works at the fair — is on the road Some enterprising Como residents cash in on their location Annie Weeks stood outside a rental house she owns on Snelling Avenue near the fair’s main entrance Sunday The cost to park fluctuates between about $30 and $60 “One of my favorite things is that I’ve gotten to know all the neighbors in this neighborhood,” she said She said her regular job is flexible and when tenants are up for helping Nearby Falcon Heights doesn’t allow residents to turn their yards into paid parking during the fair “The fair doesn’t realize that we’re their largest parking lot,” said Mona McGarthwaite who is on the city’s State Fair Task Force along with nine of her neighbors Davis watched a car park illegally in front of her house “I’m just going to call the nonemergency line She watched another driver run the stop sign on her street The fair activity is not everyone’s cup of tea “I have neighbors who leave town,” she said Don’t want to have anything to do with it.” formed in 2023 with the aim of improving residents’ quality of life during the fair It has successfully pushed the city to increase fees for parking illegally during the fair improve parking signage and license pedicabs so the city can address issues if they arise Falcon Heights has also placed portable toilets in neighborhoods with heavy foot traffic and worked with the State Fair to add trash receptacles as well as lawn signs that remind fairgoers they’re in a residential area “The vast majority of people are very respectful,” City Administrator Jack Linehan said “The idea behind it is to help remind people that there’s people that live there and if you’re coming home Tuesday night at 11 o’clock from a concert just think about that as you’re walking to your car.” Under state law, the fair is not part of St. Paul or Falcon Heights. Owners of private property on the fairgrounds pay taxes to Ramsey County, but not to any city. The fair has its own police force. Linehan said Falcon Heights has a good relationship with the fair. The city, for example, stores its lawn equipment at the fairgrounds in the winter. “[We] try to help out each other as much as possible,” he said. In a statement, the State Fair said it values its partnership with its neighbors, regularly meets with them to discuss important issues and keeps city staff in the loop. “We understand that the Minnesota State Fair has a significant impact on our neighbors, including nearby residences, small businesses and the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus,” the statement said. But some think the fair could do more to acknowledge its neighbors. “People will say, ‘Why are you complaining, the fair’s always been there?’ but if you look at those attendance records that are being set, most of them have been since 2019,” said Paula Mielke, a Falcon Heights City Council Member. She estimates Falcon Heights provides between 800 and 1,000 parking spots for fairgoers and said demand has ballooned with attendance. “It’s just becoming more and more parking,” she said. Most residential streets don’t have sidewalks, causing safety concerns for pedestrians. Mielke said she’d like to see the fair offer some form of compensation to the city or its residents, such as a surcharge on tickets that could go to the city. Other residents have floated the idea of season passes or free admission. “When people want to say we have an economic benefit, no, we don’t. We don’t have a hotel here,” she said. “Our largest restaurant, Stout’s, shuts down and sells parking.” Greta Kaul is the Star Tribune’s built environment reporter. Doğukan Günaydin was arrested March 27 by plainclothes officers from the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis James Duane Ortley made his first appearance on four counts of second-degree murder and remains jailed on $2 million bail Three men were charged in a separate slaying that took place four blocks away several hours later McMurtrey won a special election Tuesday to represent District 3 on the Ramsey County Board Voters overwhelmingly supported Garrison McMurtrey in Tuesday’s special election to fill the vacant District 3 seat on the Ramsey County Board He is the first Black man to be elected to a county board in Minnesota history “Last night was a historic election and I’m really honored to be part of this moment,” McMurtrey said He received 2,206 votes, or 88%, defeating Joshua Bau, who received 298 votes, or 12%, according to unofficial results from Ramsey County elections officials McMurtrey is the district director for Democratic U.S Angie Craig and Bau works as a food shelf manager at Merrick Community Services McMurtrey had the DFL Party endorsement and said he would focus on economic justice He grew up in Mississippi and emphasized his experience in both the public and private sectors during the campaign “I’m really happy to see my message was able to resonate with folks across the district,” McMurtrey said The District 3 seat has been vacant since former Board Chair Trista Martinson resigned over the summer to lead Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy, which manages waste from the two counties. District 3 includes Falcon Heights and the St. Paul neighborhoods of Payne-Phalen, North End, South Como, Como, Frogtown, Hamline-Midway and St. Anthony Park. The Ramsey County Board has seven members who oversee a nearly $850 million budget and about 4,000 employees. Commissioners earn $104,077 annually, with the board chair making $109,338. Ramsey County has 536,000 residents and is Minnesota’s second-largest county. St The man was arrested early Saturday morning in Minneapolis and on Monday was charged with stabbing and killing the mother of his child but students are more diverse than they used to be and their families are choosing different kinds of schools An uninjured 2-year-old girl also was found in the home vsOz Memorial Weimer Win Oz Memorial8/30/2024 8:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country the ranking from the data-driven platform Niche helps everyone from young people just starting their careers or families to retirees decide where they want to live The report analyzes places of various sizes including cities with populations of 100,000 or more The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention combined with millions of resident reviews Niche said it analyzed thousands of communities to compile this year’s ranking. Community attributes considered in developing the list included the health of the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools and walkability, among others. (More on methodology.) the five best places to live in the United States are: Colonial Village you'll find the 21 best places to live in Minnesota Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Cloud Apollo sophomore Zili Lenzner ran to a seventh-place finish at the Class 2A state girls cross-country meet on Saturday at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights Paul Highland Park's Grace Lewis-Mosher won in a time of 18:11.8 Annandale's Sal Wirth took first in Class 2A with a time of 15:15 Marshall won the 2A team championship with 73 points Other SJP runners scoring for their team included Claudia Ruzanic in 91st (21:06.2) Sofia Pauly in 114th (21:59.8) and Ellen Bechtold in 123rd (22:12.6) Cathedral was led by freshman Enya Scanlon's 23rd-place finish (19:43.8) and seventh-grader Kaylee Prom's 26th-place finish (19:46.3) Other Cathedral runners scoring for their team were Tia Ward in 73rd (20:46.8) Lilly Jamison in 78th (20:52.8) and Katelyn Waldoch in 110th (21:42.3) Cloud Christian's Hunter Rademacher ran to a 19th-place finish with a time of 16:39.5 Winona Cotter's Erik Semling won in a time of 15:23.5 Roseville Area's Robert Mechura was first with a time of 15:03.7 Edina won the Class 3A boys team title with 106 points FALCON HEIGHTS — With its first state appearance under its belt since 1986 the Litchfield boys cross-country team is optimistic about more state experiences in the years to come behind a Class A All-State finish from sophomore Judah Allen placed 11th of 16 teams with 260 points at the Class A state team meet at Les Bolstad Golf Course on Saturday I’m hoping it impacts new runners and gets more interest in the program.” he acknowledged his teammates for staying committed to cross-country even if it may not be one of the more popular sports “We’ve had a lot of people quit cross-country in past years,” Swenson said … They’re fun to be around and they wanted it.” Swenson was the catalyst for not only pushing himself to work toward the state meet even when some of them were apprehensive about maximizing their effort into training “A lot of credit to August for getting this group on its feet,” Allen said Swenson’s leadership gave the Dragons an experience they will never forget One that head coach Julie Dengerud certainly will remember “It was fun watching them and the excitement they had.” Dengerud was one among many who got to be a part of a day where the weather was nearly pitch-perfect for competitive running It was partly cloudy with temperatures in the upper 50s That helped draw a large crowd into the Twin Cities The team’s top five scorers remain intact and the program graduates senior Anton Cox out of its lineup “I think we could do really well next year.” which got second- and third-place finishes from William Ahrens (15:35.8) and Kilen Cilek (15:49.5) won the Class A state team championship with 86 points That defeated Luverne’s 91 and Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran’s 122 Cotter/Hope Lutheran’s Erik Semling was the Class A state individual champion in 15:23.5 There were two area runners who finished in the 60s Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd senior Gavin Carl was 60th in 17:19.5 in his third state appearance Minnewaska senior Zach Palmer finished 66th in 17:23.8 in his first state run FALCON HEIGHTS — There is plenty to be excited about for the Minnewaska girls cross-country team in the future The Lakers made their first state appearance since 2021 and finished 13th of 16 teams with 249 points in the Class A state team meet at Les Bolstad Golf Course on a near perfect Saturday Minnewaska accomplished that feat with a lineup that features five underclassmen and two upperclassmen “It’s amazing to see the whole team succeed,” said junior Lauryn Ankeny She was an eighth-grader on Minnewaska’s state team in 2021 and made it as an individual in 2022 and 2023 “All these young kids have been doing great “We’re all going to be stronger and do even better next year.” Nori Song and Piper Citrowske-Lee were the top finishers for the Lakers placed 81st in 20:55.3.“We’ve been hoping for this for so long,” Citrowske-Lee said Citrowske-Lee is optimistic about the state of the program It has positioned itself to have the opportunity to get back to the state championship next year Winona Cotter/Hope Lutheran won the Class A state team championship with 116 points Redwood Valley scored 121 points to take second place and Rochester Lourdes came in third at 150 points captured the Class A state individual title in 18:17.2 She was followed by Mankato Loyola/Cleveland/St Clair’s Charlotte Meyer (18:24.0) and Cotter/Hope Lutheran’s Sonja Semling (18:49.8) The area saw three individual runners compete led by a Class A All-State finish from Litchfield’s Elsa Helstrom The freshman clocked a 19:44.7 to take 24th in her second state appearance Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd eighth-grader Brynn Gloege and Paynesville/Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa senior Madi Wendlandt also made state appearances Gloege had a 20:18.8 to finish 50th in her first state appearance Wendlandt finished in 20:36.6 to place 63rd in her third state championship Falcon Heights is among the Minnesota cities that have recently reduced parking minimums or the number of parking spots it requires developers to build The Twin Cities suburbs were built as spacious accommodations for a booming population as well as the rows of cars to ferry all those residents from home to work and back again the suburbs built parking — swaths of it for strip malls and apartment buildings Driveways and garages gave cars their own designated spots But as the cost of building housing has ballooned amid a major shortage some of those suburbs are rethinking the acres of asphalt set aside for cars Paul suburb Falcon Heights joined the ranks of metro cities that have recently reduced — though not eliminated — the minimum number of parking spots city code requires of some new developments Several cities had recently allowed developments exceptions to parking rules before they changed the code “We don’t want tons of underutilized parking lots in the city,” said Hannah Lynch Falcon Heights’ community development coordinator These changes have happened quietly compared to the splash that followed decisions by Minneapolis and St Paul in 2021 to stop requiring builders to add any minimum number of parking spots for new developments Advocates cheered the elimination of so-called “parking minimums” as a way to prioritize housing walkability and tax revenue over places to park cars Opponents worried it would make it harder to drive the City Council halved the number of parking spots apartment buildings require a large complex requires one space per unit while buildings of under 10 units require 1.25 per unit assuming they don’t have street parking nearby Lynch said the city’s old requirements were on the higher side and that many recent Falcon Heights developments have received variances that allowed them to build less than the previous minimum required parking She described the reduction as a way to cut down on unnecessary parking in the transit-connected city and leave it to developers to decide if they want to build more Not everyone agreed that the parking is unnecessary “I think it’s pushing something that’s idealist too soon,” Council Member Melanie Leehy said before the vote The discussion in Falcon Heights echoed arguments made earlier this year at the Minnesota State Capitol during hearings for the People Over Parking Act, a bill that would have eliminated parking minimums statewide Advocates for the statewide elimination of parking minimums argued space used for parking would be better used to build housing; that parking minimums require developers to spend tens of thousands of dollars to construct parking spots that drive up the cost of housing; and that the market is a better decider of the amount of parking needed than arbitrary government rules the founder of nonprofit advocacy group Strong Towns and a critic of parking minimums said the requirements are often mischaracterized as a ban on building parking space He said the rules are a relic of the zoning codes that characterized the fast development of suburbs in the mid-20th century Planners studying parking needs at the time would look to new and successful areas they might study a successful suburban shopping mall and count the parking spots to determine the number of spots per square feet required of retail in another city Everybody copies someone who copies someone who copies someone who copies someone,” Marohn said to arbitrary requirements that don’t fit cities’ needs A coalition including the League of Minnesota Cities and the City Engineers Association of Minnesota (CEAM) opposed the bill said his organization opposed the statewide bill’s blanket moratorium on parking minimums because it was too one-size-fits-all “It’s going to have unintended consequences when it comes to parking on-street people not being able to park their car when they really need to near their place of business or near their home,” he said He also listed concerns about snow plowing with more cars on the street and the ability of emergency vehicles to get down streets Culver said he feels differently about cities recalibrating their own parking minimums based on need and the number of cars that people own changes over time In 2022, Edina reduced its minimum parking requirements for certain types of developments, City Council Member Kate Agnew said. Agnew, who previously served on the planning commission, remembered much discussion was sparked by the Lorient building near 44th and France avenues. The debate was over whether or not a proposed restaurant could arrange for after-hours parking with neighboring businesses to accommodate its needs instead of building more, she said. Earlier this year, Richfield reduced parking minimums for multifamily areas and some other developments. Council Member Sean Hayford Oleary said he had originally pitched eliminating minimum parking altogether, but didn’t have the consensus to move ahead. He said he sees the recent reduction as a way to incrementally reduce unneeded parking. “We have to spend a lot of public dollars subsidizing housing to allow it to be built, so anything that makes housing more expensive to build that isn’t absolutely necessary, is something that we want to look at reducing,” he said. Hayford Oleary pointed to Aster Commons, a supportive housing facility that received a variance to build 11 parking spots for 38 units, with developers arguing many of the complex’s residents will be youth and young adults emerging from homelessness who are more apt to use transit and bikes than cars. The developer estimated savings of $800,000, achieved because the variance eliminated the need for an underground parking garage. Richfield resident Alex Asmus doesn’t agree with Hayford Oleary. As someone who has a degree in construction management, Asmus said he believes reducing parking minimums will give developers an incentive to build less parking than needed because it doesn’t generate much revenue for them. Asmus said the council’s emphasis on adding large apartment buildings has made parts of Richfield, including his once-quiet neighborhood, busier than they were designed to be, something he’s concerned lower parking requirements could exacerbate. Because many neighborhoods in Richfield don’t have sidewalks, pedestrians and kids on bikes use the streets, and more cars parked on streets present more obstacles. And in the winter, he said, snow plows struggled to get through. “Cars have just flooded into our neighborhood,” he said. “We have a lot of young children, when they try to exit their driveways on their bikes into the street, cars fly by and they can’t see a child coming out of their driveway. Because there’s so many cars parked, it’s hard to have that kind of visibility.” Conservative board members had questioned the content of the books and curricula, prompting criticism from the teachers union. Kaveh Akbar, Ariel Lawhon and Imani Perry also are coming to Hopkins for the popular Hennepin County Library series. Hyperlocal cable TV stations that broadcast everything from high school sports to city government meetings confront a perilous existence. Fairgoers wait in line for a seat in the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall on opening day at the Minnesota State Fair on Thursday 2024.Ben Hovland | MPR NewsPlayListenAfter 75 years Salem Dining Hall continues to be a family affair iconic stop for fairgoersGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall has continued to have a pull on its volunteers it was an unsaid understanding that helping out was mandatory if you were in confirmation class “It was almost a sin to miss church unless it was State Fair time and we were all hauled here to peel potatoes and chop vegetables,” he said church dining halls ran the Minnesota State Fair There was no such thing as fast food at the fair and the halls offered sit-down meals for farmers and fairgoers to rest MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all Fullscreen SlideshowPrevious Slide3 of 3.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}Volunteer server Niyjae Douglas records the order of Paul and Marietta Wood of Shoreview at the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall on opening day at the Minnesota State Fair.Ben Hovland | MPR News1 of 3.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}Fairgoers Helen Leslie (left) and Ron Goldser of Eagan are served their breakfasts at the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall on opening day at the Minnesota State Fair.Ben Hovland | MPR News2 of 3.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}Fairgoers enjoy breakfast inside the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall on opening day at the Minnesota State Fair.Ben Hovland | MPR NewsNext SlideThere were 26 church-ran dining halls in that decade only two remain — Hamline Church Dining Hall and Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall As Salem reflects on the last several decades they said the only way they could sustain their dining hall is through evolving with the changing fair guests Zieba’s dad and others got together to help save the hall “They were able to make some changes and bring the thing back to life again,” he said They cut the evening shift at the time because where they are located was known for early mornings and farm equipment There wasn’t too much traffic later in the day they have outsourced staff from other churches had guests volunteer and introduced new menu items Crowd numbers have not been an issue in the 21st century The concern now is ensuring the number of volunteers Pastor Eric Hoffer welcomes fairgoers to the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall on opening day at the Minnesota State Fair.Ben Hovland | MPR NewsSteve Johnson He describes Salem as a multi-generational family affair People continue volunteering because their parents did — or grandparents — but the number of active members from the north Minneapolis parish has dwindled we wind up figuring out some way to get the shifts covered and every job done “We’ve changed and adapted as the fair clientele has changed This is one of the few places where you can actually sit down.” follows the pattern of the average Salem volunteer She started working as a teenager at the dining hall and felt right at home there was a corner on the North End with community-style eating and comfort food She got married and became a teacher and was not able to return until 2012 The dining hall was a place that held many memories for her summers with her parents and friends — she knew she needed to come back Seventy-nine-year-old Marcia Peterson smiles as she rings up a fairgoer in the Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall on opening day at the Minnesota State Fair.Ben Hovland | MPR News“I wanted to carry on the tradition my mother was very instrumental in the fair,” Peterson said “I love our customers that come and say ‘Oh I come here every year’ — that is why I keep doing it I think maybe I won’t but I end up doing it anyway.” One thing that makes them stand out against the other food options — their Swedish Egg Coffee Zieba is the expert and took over the craft in the late 1980s The coffee delicacy has smashed eggs in the grounds and is boiled Zieba says he makes about 40 cups at a time He describes the dining hall's most popular item as mild and smooth and a must-stop for many morning fairgoers Zieba says he walks about 5 to 7 miles a day while perfecting the coffee Fullscreen SlideshowPrevious Slide1 of 2.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall coffee maker prepares a fresh batch of the hall’s signature Swedish Coffee at the Minnesota State Fair.Ben Hovland | MPR News2 of 2.css-1le8xi7-Slide-Slide > img{max-height:0px;width:auto;}Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall coffee maker shows how he mixes a raw egg with coffee grounds to prepare the hall’s signature Swedish Coffee at the Minnesota State Fair.Ben Hovland | MPR NewsNext SlideOther iconic menu items include the Swedish meatballs meatball sundae and a new item this year: the Swedish ice cream sundae This was invented by Peterson and consists of lingonberry jam and Swedish ginger cookie crumble Johnson says at the end of the 12 days of the fair it all comes down to the people who work to continue to showcase why dining halls are so important to hang on to “My 8-year-old grandson is chomping at the bit to work here A lot of it is the continuity of it … I walk into the building and I can almost feel the spirit of those people who were working here when I was a kid who have passed on The District 3 seat has been vacant since former Board Chair Trista Martinson resigned last summer to lead a multi-county recycling and energy program Voters in Falcon Heights and a swath of St. Paul will pick their next Ramsey County commissioner in a special election on Tuesday, Feb. 11 District 3 has been vacant since former Board Chair Trista Martinson resigned over the summer to lead Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Martinson was first elected in 2019 and became board chair in 2022 District 3 includes Falcon Heights and the St Vying to replace Martinson are Garrison McMurtrey, the district director for Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, and Joshua Bau a food shelf manager at Merrick Community Services The Ramsey County Board has seven members who oversee a nearly $850 million budget and about 4,000 employees Ramsey County has 536,000 residents and is Minnesota’s second largest county The Minnesota Star Tribune asked Bau and McMurtrey about their candidacies McMurtrey: I’m honored to be the DFL and labor endorsed candidate in this race and I’m running to center economic justice at the county it all feeds into the economic vitality of our community We must be bold and laser-focused in addressing disparities that exist I’m running so that we center this work and build for future generations Bau: I’ve lived and worked in the East Side of St I feel this neighborhood is particularly special because of how tight-knit the community is and how many different voices are represented I’ve spent time with small-business owners fellow nonprofit workers and community leaders to learn what my neighbors require and I would be honored to represent them on a political level Bau: My current and previous job running food shelves had me working directly with our neighborhood’s most vulnerable residents I’ve spent time getting to know them and finding out what they need not only for security but to thrive for themselves and their families McMurtrey: My work in both the public and private sectors passion for public policy and vision for helping my community thrive prepares me to be an effective member of the County Board from day one my lived experience of growing up in Mississippi and relying on county services brings a crucial perspective beneficial to this role McMurtrey: Ramsey County has more work to do to create a thriving community We are in a deficit of 15,000 deeply affordable housing We must prioritize the development of affordable housing There is also an opportunity along key corridors to invest in a multimodal transportation infrastructure to spur economic growth and connect our communities our services must be responsive to the community Bau: I think the board should take a look at budgets to lower property taxes find a more efficient way for snow removal find a holistic way to care for our unhoused neighbors and focus on safety and accessibility for public transit Early voting is already underway at the county election office Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Find your polling place on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office website. FALCON HEIGHTS — The Willmar cross-country teams saw its two senior stars wrap up their lengthy high-school careers on high notes on Saturday morning Sully Anez and Lauren Eilers both posted top-five finishes on a nearly perfect day for running at the Class AA state championship at Les Bolstad Golf Course “It was a pretty good day with beautiful weather and it was fun to be with the team,” Willmar head coach Connor Haugen said “It was bittersweet in terms of good results.” who maximized his rest leading up to the meet after an October where he battled through a prolonged illness 37.5-second race to place fourth and earn Class AA All-State honors That time marked his second fastest of the season His season-best run of 15:23.9 came in the Metro Invitational on Sept Anez finished behind the Class AA individual champion Sal Wirth of Annandale (15:15.0) Perham’s Bjorn Anderson (15:16.4) and Orono’s Owen Chapman (15:21.2) Wirth placed first after finishing fourth or better in each of the previous three seasons Eilers has also battled through an illness Eilers earned a second straight top-five finish She came in fifth at 18:28.5 to secure Class AA All-State honors It was the second fastest time she put together all year Paul Highland Park’s Grace Lewis-Mosher won the Class AA individual title in 18:11.8 and her teammate Claire Vukovics led a pack of runners before taking second in 18:22.3 Fairmont’s Macy Hanson was third in 18:24.3 and Chisago Lakes’ Annika Hall came in fourth at 18:25.8 “I was really happy with my time,” said Eilers who is verbally committed to Division I Lipscomb University Anez and Eilers have been in Willmar’s cross-country scene for what feels like an eternity Both runners have been in the program since seventh grade and each made five state appearances Anez had a top-six placing in his four most recent state appearances sixth in 2023 and filled in the fourth spot Saturday Anez captured four Central Lakes Conference championships won back-to-back Section 8AA championships in 2021 and 2022 and was the section runner-up in 2023 and 2024 “I definitely put a stamp in Willmar cross-country,” Anez said Eilers finished in the top 11 in her final four state appearances fifth in 2023 and fifth once more Saturday Eilers captured two CLC titles in 2023 and 2024 was the conference runner-up in 2021 and 2022 won back-to-back Section 8AA championships in 2023 and 2024 and was the section runner-up in 2019 “I am happy with all the work I put in to get my results,” Eilers said Haugen knows it will be difficult to replace not only Lauren Eilers She made four state appearances and her best finish at state was 12th in 2021 “The Eilers have been staples of the varsity team,” Haugen said “It’ll be hard to recover from them and not just for their times “Erin brings a smile to practice everyday and Lauren brings dedication to practice everyday.” That is another enormous loss for his program It is usually only juniors and seniors that are able to carry that load.” Paul Highland Park girls win the Class AA state team title with 53 points That beat Alexandria’s 86 points and Perham’s 93 points won the Class AA state team championship with 73 points That edged Perham’s 81 points and Mankato East’s 109 There were two other area runners who made their first state appearances Willmar sophomore Zach Engstrom was 92nd in the boys’ race in 17:11.3 New London-Spicer eighth-grader Kyla Vick clocked in at 20:15.4 to take 69th in the girls’ race Malecka sprinted across the finish line at Les Bolstad Golf Course in 46th place with a time of 16:36.1 the young Lakers' personal-best record in a 5,000-meter race His head coach William (Bill) Kvebak couldn't have been prouder of the freshman Malecka finished with the second-best time among the 20 kids in his grade "Running a PR on a course that is not easy is really impressive for any athlete much less a freshman," Kvebak said "Connor really attacks these meets with a maturity that belies his age He does not let the moment get to big for him and just really rises the to occasion." The gun for the start shot off at 10:45 a.m fans surround one of the first hills throughout the course The runners are bunched together with very little room to advance The closest race that mirrored that type of experience was the Section 8AA championships Malecka began to realize he was moving better than ever "It was a lot different since there were so many people running around me and different seeing so many people ahead of me," he said "I learned I might be even faster than I thought." Many members of the boys' team made the three-and-a-half-hour trip to cheer on their top sailor Rather than being a coach-and-athlete trip the Lakers turned it into a team experience "It was really fun to see all the support that his teammates brought down to the meet this weekend," Kvebak said "Quite a few of them either made the trip last night or decided to get up early and come down this morning I think he (Malecka) is inspiring his teammates to do some special things in the near future." Malecka is excited about what the future holds as he continues to excel in his running career His first trip the state championships hopefully won't be his last "It makes me want to improve more and hopefully get on the podium in the next few years," Malecka said "I was really excited to get a chance to race with so many fast kids and I really wanted to beat the other freshman I was racing against." Kvebak said Malecka making it to the state championship at his age is interesting and a program first The Lakers have been down to the cities before but it came from the legs of upperclassmen but they were juniors or seniors and nearing the end of their career so often their peers were either graduating or about to graduate and you might not have seen it inspiring others to really want to get better All it takes is one taste of competing against the best to realize anything is possible Malecka is geared up to be one of the top runners in the section for years to come But the trip has everyone on the team brainstorming about the future for Detroit Lakes boys cross-country Malecka might've been the boost the program had been looking for "Connor has a whole team believing they can also dream big," Kvebak said Mounds View became the first Minnesota city to require homeowners to discharge racist deed language before the sale of a home Mounds View, the first Minnesota city to require homeowners to discharge racist language buried in deeds before they sell their homes is celebrating a milestone: at least 100 homeowners have completed the process Officials say discharging the language is a symbolic step “How could we call ourselves an inclusive community with the words ‘This home shall not be sold to a non-white person’ buried in the deeds?” Mayor Zach Lindstrom said at the state of the city address Monday Racially restrictive covenants, found in deeds around the Twin Cities and Minnesota, were legally enforceable tools of racial segregation for the first half of the 20th century. They barred homes’ sale to, and sometimes even occupancy by, anyone who wasn’t white until 1948, when they became unenforceable. Mapping Prejudice a University of Minnesota research project uncovering these covenants has found more than 33,000 of them in Minnesota Many local cities have partnered with Just Deeds a coalition that helps cities and their residents learn about and discharge covenants the Legislature passed a law allowing homeowners to add language to their deeds that discharges racist covenants but doesn’t erase them from the record Mounds View was the first to pass an ordinance requiring it The city is also helping residents navigate the process Just because these covenants are no longer enforceable doesn’t mean they haven’t had long-lasting consequences said at a Mounds View City Council meeting this summer: Minneapolis homes with racial covenants are worth 15% more than those without And neighborhoods with covenants remain the whitest parts of the Twin Cities Mounds View residents Rene and Steven Johnson were troubled to learn from Mapping Prejudice that their house had racially restrictive covenants on them including a trip to the Ramsey County Recorder’s Office which not only contained race restrictions but barred unmarried couples from owning the home That helped lead to the ordinance requiring covenants to be discharged before sale The city has helped streamline the process of discharging covenants for residents. Residents can visit the city’s website to download a form, fill it out and bring it to City Hall, where staff will notarize and mail it. The city covers the cost, which could include postage and paying a notary. Johnson said her neighborhood is tight-knit and everyone she knows on her street has had their covenants discharged. While she and her husband aren’t planning to sell their home soon, she said they felt the step was an important one. “It’s just wrong. Words have power and words can heal,” she said. Falcon Heights is putting together a process to help residents discharge racially restrictive covenants, Council Member Paula Mielke said. The city, just north of St. Paul, had the highest number of racial covenants per capita in 1960 of any Ramsey County city, according to Mapping Prejudice. Mounds View ranks second. “The city administrator is setting up a process just like Mounds View, where people can come and our city staff will be able to help discharge the covenant,” Mielke said. “It will kick off on Human Rights Day, and after that, people can make an appointment to come.” The process will be voluntary, but Mielke said she hopes to see Falcon Heights pass an ordinance like Mounds View’s requiring the process before home sales. “It was racist then and it’s still racist now,” she said of the covenants. FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — Duluth East senior Anna-Britta Helmer was all smiles after her final appearance at the Class AAA state cross country meet on Saturday at Les Bolstad Golf Course. The multi-sport athlete for the Greyhounds shaved over 30 seconds off her time from last year’s race to finish in 18 minutes and 53.2 seconds—good enough for 22nd place and her ultimate goal of an All-State designation. For Helmer, the race on Saturday was a chance to close out her career on a high note while enjoying the company of her teammates. “Honestly, I was pretty relaxed,” said Helmer of her emotions before the race. “My main focus was just to have fun, because this is my last high school cross country race so I came into it not very nervous at all, and went out there and tried my best to have fun.” The strong finish by Helmer came despite employing a different approach to the race compared to others earlier on in the season. “Usually at some of our smaller races I have a tendency to not go out as hard and kinda just start in the back and then try to move up,” said Helmer. “But here I decided today I would go out a little harder than I typically do, just to try and get up more towards the front, and I think that worked really well for me today.” With Helmer leading the way, the Greyhounds finished eighth out of 18 teams with a score of 229. Wayzata, led by second-place individual finisher Maddie Gullickson, took first place as a team with 42 points. In the Class AA girls race, Hibbing senior Tara Hertling earned a spot on the podium with a 10th-place finish with a mark of 18:46.6. Her teammate, Avery Kukowski, took 20th with a PR time of 19:14.9 as the Bluejackets finished seventh with a team score of 198. The combination of individual and team success was a fitting way to close out her high school cross country career, according to Hertling. “It’s been really amazing, you know, being able to compete with these people that mean so much to me,” she said.. “Just being able to really execute the race meant so much.” The fast time on Saturday meant even more for Hertling after coming away disappointed last year with her result, leaving her a little nervous at the starting line. “I was a little scared, you know,” said Hertling. “I kind of didn't want a repeat, but you know I’m really just happy (I was able to) go out and just execute a good race.” The area’s top finisher across all three levels of competition was Chisholm freshman Olivia Pascuzzi in seventh place in the Class A race with a mark of 19:09.7. Fellow Section 7A competitor Taylor Covier of Greenway/Nashwauk took 20th place after completing the race in 19:42.4. Duluth East sophomore Nathaniel Bateman was admittedly unsure of what to expect entering his first appearance at the Class AAA state meet. The first-year varsity member was coming off of a strong showing at the Section 7AAA meet as the fourth-place finisher with a PR mark of 16:11.2, but nothing truly compares to the biggest race of the season. “It was really just a lot of anticipation,” said Bateman. “This whole season, it all comes down to this, and it’s been so fun and I was just hoping that I could do the best that I possibly could do, hopefully PR, but really just have fun out there.” While he narrowly fell short of his PR, Bateman turned in a strong debut performance as the Greyhounds’ top individual finisher with a time of 16:17.3 for 27th place. The race presented some early challenges for Bateman due to the sheer volume of runners, forcing him to adjust on the fly. “At the beginning I wanted to get out more in front, but I got caught behind a big pack and it was very crowded and there were a few spongy parts on the grass that were kind of slippery,” said Bateman. “But after the first kilometer I got kind of out in front more and I was able to actually have room to run.” “You really gotta fight for your spot,” he added. “I mean, just a little nudge just to get into your spot, but it’s tricky because you gotta watch where you step. If you trip, it could be bad.” The strong showing caps off what’s been a season to remember for Bateman, who was not part of last year’s state team. “It feels really great, this whole season has been so fun,” he said. “From not even being on varsity to now top on varsity is a crazy experience and this was something I was really looking forward to for the entire season.” The Greyhounds finished 12th out of the 18 teams with a score of 274. Cloquet sophomore Evan Rothamel paced the Lumberjacks in 27th place with a time of 16:22.7 as the Lumberjacks finished 14th, while Brenden Sylvester posted Grand Rapids' fastest time 16:41.7 to finish 53rd. The Thunderhawks finished 16th as a team. MPR News host Kerri Miller asks questions to the audience during the Rural Voice event at the State Fair on Monday in Falcon Heights.Kerem Yücel | MPR NewsPlayListenRural Voice at the Minnesota State FairGo Deeper.CloseCreate an account or log in to save stories but it didn’t discourage rural change makers who gathered at the MPR booth for a lively and hopeful town hall with moderator Kerri Miller The question before them: How is rural Minnesota changing and how are rural communities thriving in the midst of it shared his excitement over the potential for renewable energy and innovation in rural parts of Minnesota Other urgent issues mentioned: the need for more robust child care in rural areas the importance of mental health services and fresh ways to welcome newcomers The once-a-year fantasy land in Falcon Heights has some real-world applications if only we’d relax a little and let some Sham-Wow barkers into our curated commercial world the Minnesota State Fair has some good lessons on urban design the fair is practically Utopia for some urban planners with every attribute they think a livable city should have But does the fair have any lessons for real people who live in real cities Part of the joy of the fair comes from the casual amble across the fairgrounds with 100,000 of your fellow attendees you can get to any place on foot in a reasonable amount of time The throngs may slow your pace on a busy day and you may find yourself waiting for a parade to pass before you can continue You cross the street without consulting a light You never worry about someone blowing through a red light at 50 miles per hour but sometimes you need to drive to get to a walkable place (the Chain of Lakes There are 5,000 parking spaces in the lots around the fair a vast expanse no one would want in a downtown whether that’s ramps or unsightly lots on the perimeter of the central business district The shops and indoor bazaars like the grandstand and the Merchandise Mart are full of different wares from food to Spin Art to food to auto dealers to food No one goes to the fair for the purpose of getting a deal on satellite TV or buying a recliner or some salsa powder But we’d miss those booths and stands if they were gone Just like we miss diverse retail in the downtowns of Minneapolis and St Lesson: We know downtown is too classy for ShamWow barkers and Ginsuknife hawkers but why not put some in City Center or the Dayton’s project No reason to wait until Christmas for a pop-up retail area downtown The Emerald City pylon of the Agriculture/Horticulture Building the blocky white 1930s WPA tower of the 4-H Building with its big white letters that proclaim the dates of the fair for all to see (Not the most necessary piece of information but it’s tradition.) You can orient yourself wherever you are Lesson: Every town needs a landmark to help define itself The fair has a way of seeming old and new at every turn Even first-time visitors will know what’s obviously old even if you’re not an expert on architectural styles If you’ve been going to the fair year after year You can mourn the loss of things you remember from childhood like the Chun King cafe (it had air conditioning!) or the old train cars in the West End and you can still delight in what’s new and better such as the West End museum or the bathrooms by the DNR fire tower Lesson: All cities and towns are a mix of then and now They wither when the people who shape them by edict stop coming up with interesting things for “now,” and tear down most of “then.” Lesson: An entertainment district doesn’t have to be entirely upscale We’ll never get — nor would we want — a permanent carnival downtown but imagine a great Ferris wheel on the banks of the Mississippi perhaps part of a rehabbed Minneapolis Post Office complex with bars and a fair-style food court and maybe even some games of skill There’s always something clamoring for your attention to be honest — a mix of plastic backlit signs and old homely handmade ones Lesson: Many people would find fair-style signage in their neighborhood commercial nodes to be tacky but a commercial district with lots of neon and bright signage tells you it’s alive If you don’t want to drive, take a shuttle. According to the fair’s PR department, Metro Transit Express buses alone provided 241,000 rides to and from the fair in 2023. There’s mass transit within the fair, as well, if you count the free trolleys, the Skyride gondola cars and the SkyGlider chairs that float north-south. Lesson: Good mass transit means cheap, clean and safe. It’s a bit unfair to compare the fair’s mass transit experience to any real-world example, since the buses that serve the fairgrounds have a common destination and limited stops. And some, like the Park and Ride Express, are free. It’s like a nice big limo full of happy, chatty people looking forward to a good time, or coming back from a good time, and that is not always the bus experience. Perhaps we love the fair because it seems like the ideal small town. But it’s actually a carefully controlled project that bears little resemblance to actual cities, because no one lives there. Can you imagine having an apartment above Andy’s Grille, where they sing “Greased Lightning” every 20 minutes? After all, the fair is a nice place to visit. But you wouldn’t want to live there. Music She was as alluringly confessional as Joni Mitchell but not as musically intriguing “We remain committed to our mission of sharing Palestinian culture and cuisine albeit in ways yet to be determined,” its owners wrote Sally Wingert is by turns gentle and caustic in a show that shows God is the ultimate entertainer Check out the Minnesota Ice Festival Luminary Loppet Last year’s mild weather meant cancellations and early closings for many of Minnesota’s ice-dependent events and attractions But cold temps in the forecast portend plenty of frozen fun in 2025 Check out these cool happenings around the state Ice maze If you manage to find your way through the 18,000-square-foot ice maze, billed as the world’s largest, the annual Minnesota Ice Festival (produced by the eponymous specialty ice company) also has three ice slides, an ice-skating rink and themed ice bars inside TCO Stadium, along with an ice-sculpting competition. (Thu.–Sun. Jan. 10-Feb. 16 and Jan. 20, $13-$25, Viking Lakes, 2645 Vikings Circle, Eagan, minnesotaicefestival.com) Ice castles Ice castles have been part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival tradition since 1886 and this year’s cool construction brings more than 20 million pounds of ice to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds It’s packed with ice slides, caverns, tunnels, sculptures, bars, baths and thrones, plus there’s a pyrotechnic show. (Thu.-Mon. Jan. 10-Feb.17, $12-24, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 3818 Randall Av., Falcon Heights, icecastles.com) Since the 1980s, the community of Spicer, Minn., has come together to build its own modest ice castle out of blocks cut from frozen Green Lake. It’s part of the monthlong annual WinterFest, which includes an ice-carving competition and other cool activities. (Jan. 10-Feb. 9, Green Lake Saulsbury Beach County Park, 151 Lake Av. S., Spicer, explorespicer.com) Ice palace This west-metro ice palace is packed with tunnels and icy sled hills. Season passes are available for those who want to catch all the winter character meet-and-greets or special events for Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl Sunday. (Thu.-Sun. Jan. 11-March 2 and Jan. 20, $11-$23, 657 River St. N., Delano theicepalaces.com) Ice Sculpture Park The St. Paul Winter Carnival hosts an ice-sculpting competition on its first day and then displays the elaborate carvings in Rice Park for the duration of the festival. (Jan. 23-Feb. 2, Rice Park, 109 W. 4th St., St. Paul wintercarnival.org) Ice bars St. Paul-based specialty ice producer Minnesota Ice is creating a 50-foot ice bar for the Great Northern festival, set up outside Union Depot, serving drinks by local mixologists, breweries and distilleries. (Jan. 24-Feb. 1, 214 E. 4th St., St. Paul, thegreatnorthernfestival.com) Minnesota Ice is also bringing its Ice Bar Series to restaurants breweries and hotels across the metro area for long-weekend visits Downtown Rochester’s Peace Plaza becomes a frozen oasis during Social-ICE, which features ice bars with signature drinks, ice sculptures and DJs. (Feb.7-8, Peace Plaza, 1st Av. nd 1st St. SW., downtownrochestermn.com) Luminary Loppet This nighttime walk around Lake of the Isles, part of the City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival, glows with 1,000-plus ice luminarias shaped like globes, towers and pyramids. (Feb. 8, $15-$40, Lake of the Isles, Mpls., loppet.org) Ice fishing Of all the ice-fishing contests in the state, the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake is the Big One. Now in its 35th year, the world’s largest charitable ice-fishing tournament draws 10,000 anglers competing for $150,000 worth of prizes, including a new truck. (Feb. 1, $50, Gull Lake, Brainerd, icefishing.org) Ice carousel For the past several years, the I.C.E. Fest crew, led by the Zwilling family in Little Falls, Minn., has been creating record-setting ice carousels — giant circles of ice cut into a frozen lake and set (slowly) spinning. The hunger fundraiser also features curling and igloo building. (Feb.15-16, Green Prairie Fish Lake, 12636 Forest Road, Little Falls, mnicefest.org) Pond hockey Over the past two decades, the homegrown U.S. Pond Hockey Championships have become one of the country’s largest tournaments. Even ex-NHLers are drawn to Minneapolis’ Lake Nokomis to play hockey “the way nature intended,” as the tourney puts it, and compete for the Golden Shovel. (Jan. 22-26, Lake Nokomis, Mpls, uspondhockey.com) Polar Plunge Hardy souls can plunge through the ice into frigid waters to raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota at locations around the state this winter, starting Jan. 25 at Lake Minnetonka. (Locations statewide, plungemn.org) Ice climbing Sandstone is home to Minnesota’s first ice park, where climbers equipped with crampons and ice axes scale the “farmed” ice that covers a former quarry’s sheer walls. The annual IceFest features ice-climbing clinics, including for beginners, and gear demos. (Jan. 10-12, clinic costs vary, Robinson Quarry Park, 710 Old Wagon Road, Sandstone, sandstoneicefest.com) Rachel Hutton writes lifestyle and human-interest stories for the Minnesota Star Tribune. 2024 at 10:22 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Thousands crowd the streets of the fairgrounds as the 2012 Minnesota State Fair got underway Thursday MN — One of the biggest hurdles to attending the Minnesota State Fair is parking The public lots at the State Fair are first-come The good news is you can avoid it altogether by utilizing one of the dozens of free State Fair park-and-ride shuttles located throughout the Twin Cities metro area There are nine State Fair park-and-ride locations within the city of St Five are open on the weekends and Labor Day Children's Home Society & Lutheran Social Service Find a list of all State Fair park-and-ride locations here. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. It’s opening hour of the opening day of the fair At 7 a.m., the gates opened and the Great Minnesota Get-Together got going If the Minnesota State Fair is your thing the opening hours of opening day are a special sort of magic the crowds are manageable and most of the exhibits are still closed so you pretty much have the place to yourself pad after parents who had to load everyone and everything into the car before dawn to make it to Falcon Heights in time You can get right up to the rail of the Department of Natural Resources’ fish pond to look at the fish Nobody gets between you and the fish at 7 a.m most of the animals in the Miracle of Birth barn are still pregnant you’re in pole position to snag the first bucket The hardest part is waiting until the doors to the exhibits open at 9 a.m The lines to drop off entries for the Creative Arts competition stretched for hours last weekend This year’s blue ribbon pies and cookies and crop art and quilts and giant vegetables are going to be amazing Tim Walz didn’t put in his usual appearance at the gates since the opening day of the fair falls on the last day of the Democratic National Convention But Minnesota crop artists have ensured a wall-to-wall Walz presence anyway Minnesota’s governor joined Kamala Harris’ ticket one day before the deadline to register for this year’s crop art competition — just enough time to inspire a bumper crop of entries this year. Crop artist extraordinaire Teresa Anderson, who maintains the cropart.com site, is building a page of Tim Walz crop art entries If the fair is more of a long-distance spectator sport for you, read on in the Minnesota Star Tribune from now through Sept. 2. Jennifer Brooks is a local columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune. She travels across Minnesota, writing thoughtful and surprising stories about residents and issues. The incident was recorded on body camera and dash camera video, obtained by 5 INVESTIGATES in 2023 after a yearlong fight for data in the case  “(An) elderly man with his walker taken to the ground by a sheriff’s deputy on suspicion of being a suspect who just outran a car when the only similarity between them was that they were both Black,” Bosman said.Ramsey County declined to comment on the settlement which came before the Board of Commissioners in closed session earlier this month.Torrey-White’s attorney acknowledged the amount of the settlement might seem low to some observers considering other high-profile excessive force cases around the Twin Cities in recent years.“I think we could easily prove that they violated his rights,” Bosman said “I think we could prove that they used excessive force but what it comes down to is how long did they hold him and how badly was he hurt?”He said Torrey-White has not received an apology Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.“Mr Torrey-White will be all right,” Bosman said “We want to make sure that doesn’t happen to anyone else.”