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WeCAN gears up for annual Spring Fest
WeCAN has announced that the organization will host Spring Fest 2024 on Thursday, May 9, at the Pique Event Center in Excelsior. WeCAN (Western Communities Action Network), is a small but mighty community nonprofit that provides support services to empower and equip individuals and families to reach stability and self-sufficiency. For 35 years, WeCAN has served low-income residents in the 12 cities of far western Hennepin County and acts as...
Orono appeals court orders, gets fire department ID number
The City of Orono is appealing the injunction order and both contempt orders imposed against it by Fourth Judicial District Court. All three orders relate to the city’s efforts to create its own standalone fire department, separate from the Long Lake Fire Department. The ongoing dispute between neighboring cities Orono and Long Lake relates to Orono’s efforts toward the creation of an independent fire department, despite having a joint fire agreement with Long Lake and the Long Lake Fire Department that runs through the end...
Extravaganza in black
With an expanded event space and a larger event, the third Black Gown Gala is coming back with a bang. The fashion show, hosted by the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce, has become an annual spring event in the South Lake Minnetonka area, drawing in community members for a night of local fashion and entertainment. Some of this year’s entertainment includes a performance by the Minnetonka High School Quartet and a live performance by chamber member Creo Dance Conservatory. ...
A safe place to stay
Editor’s note: This article mentions domestic violence. Six metro-based organizations are rounding up animal lovers who can foster a dog or a cat caught in a domestic violence situation for up to 72 hours. Fosters will be provided food, a fostering help hotline, toys and anything else needed to take care. People just need to have space their home for a short-term four-legged guest. “What we’re really looking for are...
Orono speech team racks up accolades
Team captain Madeleine Dore earned All-Conference Honors in two categories, Creative Expression and Humorous Interpretation; while McKenna Monger and Ruby Gehman were honored in Dramatic Interpretation; Simon Forbes and Sebastian Pikula in Discussion; Maya Haugen in Storytelling; Sophie Middleton in Prose; and captain Sydney Sloneker in Original Oratory. Earning Honorable Mentions were captain Addie Stavitzski and Oliver Berg in Creative Expression and Axel Duke in Drama. Head coach Barb Shofner...
ELECTION RESULTS: Edelson, Simonetti advance in Hennepin County District 6 election
Nearly 7,000 voters in District 6 of Hennepin County decided in an April 30 special primary which two candidates will appear on the ballot for the May 14 county commissioner special election. With all 66 precincts reporting, Heather Edelson and Marisa Simonetti will move on to the election. According to unofficial poll data from Tuesday night, Edelson received 44.27% of the vote and Simonetti grabbed 31.66%. Edelson is serving her...
Westonka celebrates winter academic, athletic success
The 2023-2024 winter sports and activities season brought a wave of “firsts’’ to Mound Westonka High School, as Activities Director Jeff Pederson highlighted during the April 15 Westonka School Board meeting. One milestone was the debut of sophomore Delaney Parker, who became the first female wrestler from MWHS to compete at the state wrestling tournament in the team’s second year of girls’ participation. Additionally, it was the first time that the Westonka Math League made it to the state tournament and the first time that...
Westonka golfers tee up for new season
The Mound Westonka boys golf team has kicked off its season with two conference meets and an invitational. The golfers enjoyed temperatures in the 60s at each meet, but this spring’s heavy winds proved challenging. Golf’s popularity has made its way to Mound Westonka, with the largest number of boys out for the team in 15 years. There are 33 boys participating in grades 7-12. This includes three golfers from last year’s varsity section team, many returning golfers, and a few new ones as well. ...
Local siblings to chair Alzheimer’s Association gala
Siblings Joe Boone of Shorewood and Ellie Langlas of St. Bonifacius are no strangers to Alzheimer’s and dementia, unfortunately. They lost both their grandmother and mother to the disease, and their grandfather and father both passed due to the stresses of caregiving for their spouses. That is why Boone and Langlas are committed to doing all that they can to see a world free of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Boone is managing partner at Water Street Partners in Excelsior and Langlas is a multilingual teacher...
Community Wellness Expo returns to Orono
The third annual Community Wellness Expo is returning to the Orono Activities Center on Thursday, May 2 from 5-7 p.m. The Expo is organized by Orono Community Education in partnership with Orono Healthy Youth and with support for district parent organizations. The event is free and open to all students, families, and community members to learn about community and wellness resources, explore local volunteer opportunities, and help with hands-on service projects with more than 50 organizations in attendance. ...
Otten Bros. announces company is now employee-owned
Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping, a longtime fixture in the west metro gardening community, has announced that it is now an employee-owned company. This is a significant milestone in the company’s 70 year history, established in 1953 by the three “Otten Brothers” (Bert, Joe, and Leonard), then owned by Leonard’s son, Cliff Otten, since 1975. Otten Bros. is proud to be a ‘problem solving’ firm, helping customers solve garden...
Totally into totality
Ahead of the total solar eclipse earlier this month, we shared the story of some area residents who were about to travel southward to view the total solar eclipse. While the sun and partial solar event here on April 8 were eclipsed by clouds and rain, a couple locals we connected with earlier were able experience totality. Sarah Wooderson-Cotant on the road with her husband Andy in Illinois called the total eclipse a “fabulous experience” and likened it to a 360-degree sunset. ...
Meet the Candidates: Hennepin County District 6 Commissioner
Six candidates are running for the open Hennepin County District 6 Commissioner seat. The candidates are Heather Edelson, Patrick Gage, Janet Kitui, Daniel Moret, Marisa Simonetti and Jen Westmoreland. A special primary to narrow the race down to two candidates will be April 30. The special election is on May 14. District 6 includes 66 voting precincts and contains areas of Deephaven, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka...
Mound looks to regulate watercraft rentals
Businesses seeking to offer motorized watercraft rentals in Mound will now need to pay a $200 annual license fee for the 2024 boating season. The city council recently adopted an ordinance and fee structure to regulate boat rentals in the community. The council initially deliberated on the ordinance during its March 26 meeting. Members subsequently ratified the ordinance, along with modifications to its fee structure, at its April 9 session. Deemed nominal by the council, the fee is not intended as a revenue source, but...
Final used book sale of 2024 slated at Westonka Library
The Friends of the Westonka Library are hosting a used book at the library on April 27 and 29. Since the library will be closing sometime this year, this will be the last sale in the near future. Donations of new and gently used books are now being accepted during open hours at the library. The group relies on volunteers to setup and manage the sale. If you’re interested in...
Society seeking museum hosts for three locations
The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society is seeking volunteer Museum Hosts to share their interest in the history of the lake area with visitors from around the world at their Excelsior, Wayzata and Westonka museums. Museum Hosts greet the public, answer questions and sell Lake Minnetonka history-related merchandise. No experience is necessary, but those interested in hosting are asked to sign up at www.lakeminnetonkahistory.org/museums to attend a training session at the museum/s of their choice. ...
DNR, Minnesota Twins offer free hats and discounted tickets
Anyone with a 2024 Minnesota fishing or hunting license can access a special ticket package with the Minnesota Twins this season. The special ticket package includes a free blaze orange wool-blend Twins cap and a ticket discount. The Minnesota DNR Days are back at Twins games this season, through a partnership between the Twins and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Minnesota DNR Days partnership includes seven games this...
Mound native takes stage in ‘Frog and Toad’
Actor Jay Goede will reprise his role as Frog in Children’s Theatre Company’s upcoming production of musical comedy “A Year With Frog and Toad” which runs April 23 - June 16, in Minneapolis. Having originally portrayed the character in the show’s debut production in 2002 and later on Broadway in 2003, Goede is excited to be returning to the role two decades later. “I never thought I would get a call from director Peter Brosius inviting me back to play the role of Frog,” said...
North Shore gymnasts shine at regionals
This weekend the Level 4-10 North Shore gymnastics boys team headed to Des Moines for the Region 4 Men’s Championship Meet. Before the competition got underway, Dale Bullivant, the Mens Director at North Shore Gymnastics was inducted into the Region 4 Hall of Fame! He has served as State Chairman of Minnesota and the last 8 years served as Region Chairman. His duties included creating rules, routines, & policies for USA gymnastics, running camps, and region championships. He is stepping down after 20 years of...
Rotary donates $9K to Maple Plain for park work
On March 25, the City of Maple Plain received a $9,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Orono to be used for improvements to Veterans Memorial Park. The Rotary Club raised these funds through their annual Party in the Park event, last June. The Rotary Club of Orono has a history of donating funds to Maple Plain for park improvements. Since 2018, the annual Party in the Park has raised over $50,000, of which nearly $40,000 has been donated to the city for Veterans Memorial...
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Laker Pioneer serves the Mound, Minnetrista, Spring Park, Navarre, Long Lake, Orono, Maple Plain, Independence and Minnetonka Beach communities. Published Saturdays by APG of East Central Minnesota since 1974. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.lakerpioneer.com
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