East metro town briefs: Mahtomedi surveyed

Updated: June 30, 2012 - 9:33 PM

Town Briefs

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An overwhelming majority of Mahtomedi residents who responded to a city survey said they feel safe in their city.

When asked to describe how secure they felt, more than 98 percent of respondents said they felt "somewhat safe" or "very safe"; only 2 percent said they felt "somewhat unsafe."

The question was one of nine performance measures residents were asked to rate as part of the survey that developed after the city participated in the State Auditor's Performance Measurement Program.

Respondents also gave the city high marks for water quality, with 91 percent saying it was good or excellent. The city's quality of sanitary service and parks and recreation programs and facilities also earned favorable marks, with 87 percent rating them good or excellent.

On the low end of the scale, snowplowing earned high marks from only 67 percent of respondents. Just more than half rated the city's streets as good or excellent while 41 percent said they are fair or poor.

The survey results are posted on the city's website, www.ci.mahtomedi.mn.us.

Marine on St. Croix

Immigrant farm gets grant for training

AgStar Financial Services has awarded $10,000 to the Minnesota Food Association to help new immigrant farmers develop sustainable farming enterprises.

The food association operates Big River Farms in the Wilder Forest at Marine on St. Croix. Farmers learn such practices as crop rotation, cover cropping, composting and mulching, and earn organic certification.

Minnesota has the fastest growing population of Somali and East African immigrants, Karen from Burma, and Bhutanese in the United States. It has the largest population of Hmong outside of California and a fast-growing Latino community.

"Many come from agrarian cultures and want to farm in their new homes but face many barriers such as climate, bureaucracy, understanding programs, credit and marketing," said Glen Hill, executive director of the Food Association.

The association trains more than 300 metro-area farmers each year.

MAHTOMEDI

High school teacher wins national award

Mahtomedi High School math teacher Donna Forbes is one of 97 teachers nationwide named by the White House for a 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Forbes, who was inspired to go into teaching by her mother, received the honor last week while in Washington, D.C., participating in a professional development session.

The award is the nation's highest given to kindergarten through grade 12 science and mathematics teachers. Jamin McKenzie, an eighth-grade science teacher at Battle Creek Middle School in St. Paul, also received the award.

Forest Lake

Trail bridge opening observed Monday

The public can participate in the grand opening for the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail bridge at 2 p.m. Monday.

The observance will be held at the south end of the bridge at County Road 83 just east of Hwy. 61. People are encouraged to bring bikes, walking shoes, roller blades and whatever else is needed to use the bridge. They also can participate in the city's weekend Fourth of July festivities near Broadway Avenue.

For more information, call Mindy Leadholm at 651-430-4361 or e-mail her at Mindy.Leadholm@co.washington.mn.us.

white bear lake

Century baseball team has two All-Americas

Century College outfielder Zach Nielsen and pitcher Nick Fure were named to the NJCAA Division III All-America baseball team for the 2012 season. Nielsen, a freshman, was named to the second team and Fure, a sophomore, was named to the third team. Only 126 players earn All-America status each year.

Both players were named to the All Region XIII baseball team. The two helped Century compile a 39-17 record in the team's second season. Sophomore Justin Polak was named an NJCAA Exemplary Academic Achievement honoree for 2012.

Two schools compete for Middle Years nod

Two middle schools in the White Bear Lake Area School District have been accepted as candidates for the International Baccalaureate's Middle Years Program. District officials hope that Central and Sunrise Park schools will be fully authorized schools by the time the 2014-15 academic year begins. Students in the program are required to study their mother tongue, a second language, humanities, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical education and technology.

bayport

Mike Galowitz is new assistant fire chief

Mike Galowitz, a member of the city's fire department for the past 12 years, has been promoted to assistant fire chief. He takes over for Matt Bell, who held the position for the past nine years.

Galowitz will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the department, handle fire incident reports and serve as department secretary. He is a Stillwater resident who works full time as an analyst at Andersen Window Corp.

COTTAGE GROVE

Lutheran pastor joins Youth Service Bureau

The Rev. Jules Erickson of All Saints Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove has joined the board of Youth Service Bureau Inc., a counseling service that has offices in Cottage Grove, Stillwater and Woodbury.

Erickson has been an active supporter of the bureau. "It was time I gave back to this organization that does so much, it's an organization that just makes good sense," she said.

"Pastor Jules is an extremely engaged member of this community," said fellow board member Craig Woolery, director of public safety for the city of Cottage Grove. "Her work in South Washington County and the faith community mirrors the mission of Youth Service Bureau, focusing on improving the lives of families and youth."

Erickson joins nine other board members who represent the cities where they work.

Elementary students learn about recycling

Students at Cottage Grove Elementary School learned about recycling this spring in a schoolwide competition. Collectively, they gathered 3,965 pounds of recyclable materials during the four-week contest. Pod 4, consisting of third-graders and all-day kindergarten, recycled the most with 953.8 pounds.

newport

Mayor wins award for top service

The League of Minnesota Cities awarded the C.C. Ludwig Award to Newport Mayor Tim Geraghty during its annual conference June 21 in Duluth.

Given annually since 1962, the award is named for one of the League's former executive directors. It is presented for outstanding service, vision, statesmanship and commitment to the public good. It is the League of Minnesota Cities' highest honor for elected officials.

Geraghty was cited for finding ways to accomplish complex projects, building community partnerships and improving the quality of life. He has served as mayor of the town of 3,800 residents from 1994 to 2000 and from 2009 to the present. He also has been a City Council member.

Tim Harlow and Kevin Giles

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