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Forest Lake Times
LILA archery claims western national titles in historic feat
The Residence Inn by Mariott had all the makings for the best place to celebrate. The courtyard in the center of the grounds outside the hotel featured a swimming pool, hot tub, fire pit and a prime grill setup. Not to mention the pickleball court, or breakfast area that perfected the board and card game experience. The weather made the post-tournament cookout even better. It marked the first celebration of many with another party planned at Lakes International Language Academy in the coming week. After...
Forest Lake student athletes sign National Letter of Intent
Twelve more Forest Lake student-athletes signed their national letters of intent at a ceremony on Monday, May 8. Brianna Thompson (soccer at Hamline University), Brady Thompson (pole vault at the University of Wisconsin-Stout), James Oberholtzer (soccer at Bethel University), Vince Valentini (football at Bethel University), Jake Deeb (football at Gustavus Adolphus College), Bryson Mohs (baseball at Dakota County Technical College), Jake Tobritzhofer (baseball at the University of Minnesota-Morris), Marcos Gallegos (baseball at the College of St. Scholastica), Maddie Eichinger (dance at the College of St....
Progress: Ma and Paws Pet Grooming opens new shop in historic building
Marie Mottaz, owner of Ma and Paws Pet Grooming, had a change of career from a corporate setting to animal groomer years ago and hasn’t looked back. “I was kind of done with people, but I love dogs,” she joked. After pivoting in her career, she opted to go back to school to learn more about the grooming industry and better understand animal diseases in order to offer more specialized...
Progress: Yetzer’s Home Store opens Forest Lake location
New retail shops have been popping up in Forest Lake’s business corridor along 12th Street Southwest, with two major retail locations changing hands in the last year. In addition to craft store Michael’s, local home furnishings store Yetzer’s moved into 10,000 square feet of the Westlake Center strip mall late last year, holding their grand opening in November, welcoming more than 100 guests to the new location on its first day. Yetzer’s Furniture store has already been a fixture in Waconia for more than 82...
Progress: The Grillium expands into Scandia, to add pizza shop
It’s been not quite four years since Russ Rafi opened The Grillium, and in that time, he’s made an imprint in the Forest Lake area. He took over the former Meat Market restaurant in June 2019 before he could legally switch the name to The Grillium that fall. Almost exactly three years after Rafi opened his first restaurant off Broadway Avenue, he and his wife expanded their restaurant footprint by adding a new Scandia location. Previously, the restaurant had been Thirsty Buffalo Saloon, and before...
Progress: G2 Dental celebrates 40 years in business
Twenty years ago, Dr. Debra Wynia moved to the Forest Lake area to work for G2 Dental. Originally from Shoreview, Wynia had a passion for dentistry at an early age and knew that this would be the career for her. She has now been a part owner of G2 Dental for 17 years and took over full ownership three years ago. She and her husband made their home in Lindstrom, with their children attending school in Forest Lake. In addition to dentistry, she said that...
Progress: More than a century later, Tolzmanns still painting away
More than a century can age a place like Forest Lake. There were far fewer homes and more farmland, no freeways, and Forest Lake was mainly a resort town. Among the residents of the town was August Tolzmann, who started a business painting houses. Now 110 years later, his grandson Terry keeps on the family legacy. August’s parents came from Europe. They settled in Minnesota, with August later picking Forest...
Wetland banking ban still up for debate after planning commission tables topic
A vote by the Forest Lake planning commission to recommend a ban of wetland banking was paused after a public request made by Forest Lake-Comfort Lake Watershed District President Steve Schmaltz during the commission’s Wednesday, April 26 meeting. He was requesting a delay to allow for time to speak with city staff about the ordinance. The ordinance proposed to the Planning Commission would have prohibited wetland restoration and creation for the purpose of selling credits to developers, though it would have been allowed in areas...
‘Radium Girls’ offers a glimpse of reality
Following pandemic closures and restrictions at Forest Lake Area Schools, the theater program returned to the stage with light-hearted productions like “Seussical,” “Harvey” and “Newsies.” But the spring play this year will offer the actors a new challenge and the audience a glimpse of a true story. “I think it’s a really emotional show, and I think that everyone has done a really, really good job at taking those emotions to heart and really putting their hearts on stage,” said student director and junior Sasha...
New dock, allowing for more boat parking, to come to Lakeside
City, lake association put forth first effort in downtown plan A new docking system will soon be placed off of Lakeside Memorial Park after the city agreed to purchase a new dock system that will allow for more transient boat parking downtown during its Monday, April 24 meeting. The $48,321 docking system, purchased from hometown dock company Twin Cities Dock and Lift, could be put in before Memorial Day if...
Sports Briefs: Forest Lake Rangers baseball wins three of four & more
The Forest Lake Rangers baseball team, who started 0-5, has won three of their past four games and now sit seventh in the Suburban East Conference with a 3-6 record. Forest Lake shutout Irondale 18-0 on Wednesday, April 26, for their first win of the season. Then the Rangers took down Woodbury 5-3 on Monday, May 1, after losing 2-0 to Anoka two days earlier. Junior Gavin Goehner earned the win on the mound, and senior Jake Johnson earned the save. They then won 3-1...
Progress: Applewood Nursery settles into new home base
Since November 2004, Linda Curtis has lent her green thumb to her son Steve Curtis as he took ownership of Applewood Nursery and Landscape Supply. “I’ve always had gardens, but not on this magnitude,” Linda laughed. As general manager, she has picked up a plethora of knowledge about running a business that relies on the weather and temperament of plants, but knows to trust them and Mother Nature as seasons...
Forest Lake Rangers softball ‘coming back’ after tight losses
The Rangers take four in a row The Forest Lake Rangers softball team is driven this season by their goal of defending last year’s state title win, and the returning players know how challenging it may be to complete the two-peat and raise the trophy for a second time in school history. “It will be really hard, but that’s kind of what’s motivating us,” returning junior pitcher Hannah Tong said....
Jay Ekman leads Forest Lake Rangers boys hockey with experience
Newly hired head coach Jay Ekman brings a unique resume to the Forest Lake Rangers boys hockey team as the replacement for Jon Loo, who resigned from the position after nine years of leading the team. While this is Ekman’s first head coaching position at the high school level, he brings an extensive hockey background to the job. Ekman has been a Minnesota hockey scout for three years. He’s currently with the Chippewa Steel in the North American Hockey League after previously scouting for the...
Bus drivers, school district reach tentative agreement, likely averting strike
Bus drivers approve new contract, avert strike District to cut funding elsewhere to meet increased transportation budget Natalie Ryder Community Editor The Forest Lake Area School District bus drivers union approved its new contract agreement on Monday, May 1 averting...
Progress: New Forest Lake Pizza Pub to offer casual lakeside dining
Former Forest Lake resident and owner eyed former 3rd Gear spot for long time before making the jump After years of wanting to establish a location in Forest Lake, Pizza Pub franchise owner Jerry McConnell has his place: the former 3rd Gear Restaurant, located on the northern shore of Forest Lake’s second lake. Though the opening date has been pushed back due to delays in remodeling, McConnell is aiming for...
Forest Lake coaches Jon Loo and Dave Ostercamp resign from coaching positions
Editor's Note: Forest Lake announced the hiring of Jay Ekman as the new boys head coach hockey after press time. The Forest Lake Rangers varsity boys hockey and girls basketball head coach positions are vacant after Jon Loo and Dave Ostercamp resigned from their respective positions. Forest Lake High School athletic director Mike Hennen said both offered their resignations, but would not offer further comment about the situations surrounding either...
Rangers girls golf kicks off season with strong start, mentality
The Rangers see early success ahead of four events this week The Forest Lake Rangers girls golf team is off to a strong start this spring with a second-place finish at the first Suburban East Conference meet of the season at Tanners Brook Golf Course on Wednesday, April 19. Even though the result had been expected, Forest Lake coach Andrea Brischke said, the team vocally made it clear that they weren’t satisfied. ...
Sports Briefs: Forest Lake Rangers teams' starts this spring
The Forest Lake Rangers boys lacrosse team is 0-2 to start the season in the Suburban East Conference after falling 11-1 to East Ridge on Wednesday, April 19, and coming up short in a 6-3 loss to Cretin-Derham Hall on Friday, April 21. Senior Michael Mayer scored the Rangers’ lone goal against East Ridge, and both junior goaltenders Wyatt Mate and Derek Dahnke saw action in the blowout. Junior Ezra Lukas scored twice, and senior Elias Studier also chipped in a goal against the Raiders...
Forest Lake synchro team sees steady progression with goal of moving up
The Rangers won three of first four meets The Forest Lake Rangers synchronized swimmers know what they are up against this season in Section 1A with strong competition in Stillwater and Richfield, who finished first and fourth, respectively, in sections last year. Forest Lake coach Laura Davidson said the competition level to qualify for state is high, but the team’s average score in figures is higher than it had been...
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Forest Lake Times has been serving Forest Lake, MN since 1902. Published Thursdays by APG of East Central Minnesota with 24/7 local coverage found online at forestlaketimes.com
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