Chelsey Perkins
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chelsey.perkins@pineandlakes.com
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The last day of the year for Crosslake Community School (CCS) students ended with a cherry on top — literally. As a reward for good behavior, students turned school director Todd Lyscio and physical education teacher Lisa Schumacher into human ice cream sundaes. Lyscio and Schumacher were covered in ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles and even cherries as students cheered.
Those who attended the recent monthly forum, Chautauqua, at the Crosslake Community Center learned that a solid base of property taxpayers helps attract business growth, and business growth in turn attracts employees who will pay property taxes. Sheila Haverkamp, executive director of the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation (BLAEDC), explained the nuts and bolts of economic development and property taxes to 20 forum goers Wednesday, May 14. BLAEDC is a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission of expanding business opportunities and growing jobs in the lakes area.
Crosslake Community School (CCS) students might soon have the opportunity to continue their education in Crosslake all the way to graduation. School Director Todd Lyscio said CCS, which is currently K-8, continues to grow, and expanding the school to offer high school courses has been in the works for some time. “We have a desire to expand the school to an online format,” he said. “We’ve developed a model that’s not as common as a typical online (program).”
Pequot Lakes School Board Chair Kimberly Bolz-Andolshek presented figures related to school funding, budgets and teacher contract negotiations Monday, May 19. Bolz-Andolshek said she wanted to share with stakeholders the information the board uses when working on proposed budgets and developing offers for teacher contract negotiations. “This is the tough work we have ahead of us,” she said. “We represent the taxpayers, all of our staff and, ultimately, the educational system of Pequot Lakes.”
The two Lions Clubs serving the Crosslake area will soon become one club, consolidating efforts and solving long-standing confusion between them, members said. Chuck Cole, interim president of the Crosslake-Ideal Lions Club, said he believes the consolidation of the clubs, which will take the Crosslake-Ideal name, will benefit the community. “We do a lot of things together, so why not put it under one umbrella?” Cole said.
More than 300 lake association members, local government officials and water advocates of all stripes gathered at Cragun’s Resort May 1-2 to learn about challenges faced by the state’s freshwater lakes and rivers. The goals of the 2014 State of Water Conference, sponsored by Conservation Minnesota, the Freshwater Society and numerous state agencies, were to assemble leaders in water advocacy to work toward solutions, develop relationships and become educated on the issues.
After hearing the concerns of residents who live close to the existing gravel pit near Meyer Lake Road and County Road 1, the Fifty Lakes Planning Commission on Tuesday, May 6, moved ahead with approval of an interim use permit (IUP) for Anderson Brothers to erect a temporary asphalt package plant for a total of 30 days later this year.
Area grandparents received VIP treatment at Eagle View Elementary School on Friday, May 9. Treated to a program and refreshments, they also visited the second-grade classrooms of their grandchildren. Students sang songs, performed sign language, danced around a May pole and described their grandparents with adjectives inscripted upon construction paper leaves, which they used to build a tree. The program ended with grandmas and grandpas joining the students in the “Chicken Dance,” an annual tradition for the gathering.
In what has become an annual tradition, Pequot Lakes High School students on Wednesday, May 7, armed themselves with rakes, towels, paint brushes and other tools helpful to making their communities more beautiful places. The Day of Caring sent students across the district and beyond, from Pequot Lakes to Crosslake, from East Gull Lake to Pine River, to rake leaves, wash windows, apply fresh coats of paint and much more. “It’s nice to help out with people if they need it,” said sophomore Megan Morgan, who worked at Sibley Lake Park clearing leaves and pine needles.
Around 200 people attended the Earth Care Fair at Crosslake Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 26, to learn about innovative ways to conserve energy in their homes. Items on display included geothermal heating systems, solar electricity generators, closed-loop wells, energy efficient vehicles and solar-powered boat lifts. Vendors provided educational materials on environmental topics such as home energy audits, eco-friendly home design, water quality and shoreline restoration.