Considering the parks serve our youth demographics perhaps more than any other segment of the population, we have two seats on the 9 member commission reserved for youth.  Recently, two opening have become available and I’d like to ask if we could print an article in the school newspaper explaining this opportunity.

For those that serve, they will be directly involved with the analysis and decision making process for the entire parks and recreation system in Cottage Grove.  They will be responsible for reviewing and discussing parks, trail plans, recreation programs, playground designs, land management, natural resource management, ice arena activities, and much more.  Where recommendations are made to the City Council, these youth seats will have a vote. Meetings take place 9 times per year (two months on, one off) on Monday evenings at 7pm at City Hall and regular attendance is expected.  Serving on this commission is not only a great way to serve your local community but is also a valuable resume builder and provides great work experience.

Anyone wishing to apply may log onto the city’s website at www.cottage-grove.org and click on “e-forms” and “commission applications” or pick up an application at city hall.

Contact: 

Zac Dockter

Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Director

Phone: 651-458-2847

Fax: 651-458-6080

8635 W. Pt. Douglas Rd.

Organizers of an online effort in support of School District 833 Superintendent Mark Porter say their site has seen hundreds of visitors and that people concerned about Porter’s contract non-renewal have signed a petition.

Vicki Strong of Woodbury started the site, 833 Citizens in Support of Mark Porter, after the School Board voted last month not to extend Porter’s contract, which ends in June. She said it had 250 visitors and 30 signatures on Wednesday, the day the site launched.

The petition expresses support for Porter and calls on board members to explain why they did not renew his contract. The Dec. 15 contract vote was 5-2, with board Chairwoman Leslee Boyd and members Ron Kath, David Kemper, Tracy Brunnette and Marsha Adou voting in favor of not offering Porter an extension. Members Jim Gelbmann and Laurie Johnson voted against the non-renewal.

Boyd and other board members in favor said they could not speak publicly about specific reasons for their decision, citing employee privacy laws.

Strong has been joined by other District 833 residents in launching the website and petition. Bill Blass of Woodbury, who has helped Strong, was among citizens who spoke against the board’s decision at a Jan. 5 board workshop.

“Chair Boyd continues to say she doesn’t hear dissent,” Strong said. “She must walk in a different community than I do.”

Boyd did not respond to a request for comment on the petition.

Petition organizers are asking Porter supporters to attend the board’s next meeting, Thursday, Jan. 26.

Strong, who went to school in District 833, said the last seven or eight years have been good for the district. The administration worked well with the community to build East Ridge High School, she said.

But people are concerned about the “process” used to end Porter’s tenure, Strong said. No one is answering the main question, she said, about why he was fired.

Strong said the board, “that is openly bickering,” made a decision that was “harsh and quick.”

Porter is known for his integrity and honesty, she said.

There’s also not a lot of support for the board’s decision coming from staff members who are hesitant to speak out publicly, according to Strong.

Strong said she plans to deliver the online petition, and petitions from those who downloaded them to circulate for signatures, to Boyd at the Jan. 26 meeting.

The group’s website is at: 833citizensinsupportofmarkporter.weebly.com/index.html

By: Scott Wente, South Washington County Bulletin

With a 45-41 win over Simley, the Park boys basketball team is 1-0 for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

The victory, on Friday at Park High School, allowed the Wolfpack to match its win total from last year – just one game into the 2011-12 season.

“It was a good win. The guys worked really, really hard,” Park head coach J Schwartz said. “It was very special because it was the home opener and afterwards it was fun to say to the guys that we’re 1-0.”

On Dec. 7 of 2007, Park started 1-0 after beating Minneapolis Roosevelt 65-64 in the season opener on the way to a 9-18 record. Last week, Park achieved what it couldn’t the past three years, winning its opener by amassing a sizeable lead on Simley then holding on for the win in the closing seconds.

Park led 22-15 at the half and by as much as 13 points early in the second half, but the Spartans (0-1) chipped away, pulling within two points with under a minute to play. However, Park junior Justin Myers sank two clutch free throws to give the Wolfpack a four-point lead, 45-41, with 7 seconds remaining.

And all that was left was to celebrate.

“It felt fantastic,” Schwartz said. “Our guys were excited. They kind of celebrated like they won the state title. But, that’s how they felt and reacted to it.”

The win also helped the Wolfpack avenge a 50-49 loss at Simley last season.

“I think the guys have a chip on their shoulder,” Schwartz said. “Last spring and this summer and fall the guys worked unbelievably hard in the weight room and on the court with their skills. I think they feel they have something to prove a little bit.”

After going 1-26 in back-to-back years, Park is 2-52 the past two seasons. Schwartz said the team adopted the motto “Be the change” for this season. After losing the team’s top five scorers to graduation, Schwartz said he knows his team will only be able to change its course if it outworks teams.

He said he felt Friday was a good example of that.

“I think we beat them to nearly every loose ball and had a lot of energy baskets,” Schwartz said. “The intensity was great. We’re not the biggest, strongest, fastest team, but I’m very impressed by how hard these guys have worked. Every single day at practice they beat the heck out of each other and that’s one of the reasons we’ve improved.”

In the win, Park pulled down 53 rebounds – more than 20 more than Simley.

Myers, a 6’5” forward, led the way with a team-high 18 rebounds to go along with 11 points. Also, senior forward Anthony Tola had 10 points and 10 rebounds (six offensive) and senior guard Robert Briggs scored a team-high 12 points – nailing four three-pointers.

Schwartz said the three main things his team concentrated on in the preseason were defense, rebounding and avoiding turnovers.

“Giving up 41 points was fantastic and shows how hard they worked and how dedicated they are to defense,” Schwartz said. “We did a great job on the boards, too. That was great. We didn’t take a good job taking care of the ball. But, the guys know it and we’ll clean that up.”

Park was at North St. Paul on Tuesday, Dec. 6, after the Bulletin went to print. Next, the Wolfpack travels to Bemidji on Friday, Dec. 9, for its annual northern pilgrimage, where the team will play out-state squads on consecutive nights.

“The games will be tough, but you get on the bus and you can laugh and watch movies, then share the hotel together and bond a little bit,” Schwartz said. “Having fun is a good thing.”

Park High School student Tyler Cheslog will be awake at 3 a.m. Friday — and marching outside.

Cheslog and 23 of his fellow Air Force Junior ROTC members will commemorate Veterans Day by conducting a 24-hour vigil at the flag pole in front of the school building on 80th Street.

The students were inspired by the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and thought a local vigil would be a good way to honor military veterans, said Kathy Roby, the school’s Air Force Junior ROTC instructor.

The students earlier this week developed a march routine for the vigil and rehearsed how they will enter and exit the vigil at the one-hour shift changes.

They will wear formal ROTC uniforms and be dressed for the chilly weather.

“We’ve told them there’s a possibility there could be snow on the ground, but they’ve signed on the dotted line that this is what they want to do,” Roby said.

The students will be “at attention” during the vigil, so will not talk to anyone who stops to watch.

“They’re so excited about doing it because this is going to be something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” Roby said.

By: Kelli Moe – Staff Writer

On September 17, 2011 protesters from New York gathered in Lower Manhattan to express their anger over America’s corrupt financial system. Their mission: to occupy Wall Street.  What began as a small movement of a couple hundred people has now spread worldwide.  951 cities and 82 countries have now joined the cause. It has been only a month and there is no real end in sight.

     The protest itself emerged along with several other “Occupy” protest in numerous countries. It all started because people have become angry with the way that the government is treating its people. Banks and Corporations have become too corrupt and it’s destroying the fundamental beliefs America was founded on. Protestors envision a gloomy future and are not content to sit around and wait for the worst.  Today, a Wall Street trader earns about $1 million+ a year. To put that into perspective, that is more than a brain surgeon who earns about $600,000 a year. The average college student will end up with about $27,000 in debt after school, and that number will keep climbing.  Programs that were promised to Americans as a solution to their financial issues, such as Medicare and Social Security, have ended up becoming more of a problem than a safety net. All these things are what the protesters are fuming about.

     Supporters of the protest began to organize a base in Zucotti Park when police blocked off certain areas of the city. The protesters range from young students concerned for their future, to older people wanting to speak their minds. They are willing to stay however long it takes in order to get their message across. The message is clear; stop the economic and social inequalities between the richest 1% in America and the other 99% who are suffering because of it. On October 15th (a day they dubbed “Global Day of Action”) they marched from the park all the way to Times Square. They could not use megaphones to say their message, so instead they used a sort of people phone. One person would shout something out and the others would shout in unison. This led to a feeling of unity among the protesters. Other countries also organized small protests on that day to show their support. There have not been many complaints about the behavior of the protesters. That’s not to say there won’t be problems in the future, but the march and protest have been pretty peaceful so far. Police have made several arrests and had to use mace several times, but the protesters have been urging non-violence.

     People who oppose the protest criticize the movement for not having a real leader and being disorganized. Some call it “misguided” because they think that it’s really the people in Washington who are at fault. Some think that the rich deserve their money and shouldn’t need to pay any more taxes. They don’t see a need for the protest.

     Regardless of people’s views, the “Occupy Wall Street” protest shows that America is torn and something needs to be done to fix it. This protest is only one of the many to come if nothing changes. Time will tell if this is something that could impact the future of America, or perhaps even the future of the world.

Sources

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/occupy-wall-street-thousands-join-movement/story?id=14746030

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bca_1318287959&comments=1

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2011/10/07/why-occupy-wall-street/

http://www.indypendent.org/2011/10/11/impact-of-occupy-wall-street/ ]]> http://www.wolfpackpress.org/top-stories/wall-street-equals-war-street/feed/ 0 http://www.wolfpackpress.org/uncategorized/east-ridge-mourns-loss-of-braedon-hyland-in-car-crash/ http://www.wolfpackpress.org/uncategorized/east-ridge-mourns-loss-of-braedon-hyland-in-car-crash/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:11:42 +0000 Mr. Adams http://www.wolfpackpress.org/?p=2470

WOODBURY, Minn. – It’s a sad day for students at East Ridge High School in Woodbury after losing a fellow classmate. The family of 17-year-old Braedon Hyland told FOX 9 he was  considered brain dead following a car accident on Monday.
According to the Washington County sheriff’s office, Hyland was a passenger in a car driven by 17-year-old Blake Sowle, who was also taken to Regions with critical injuries. The Woodbury teens were driving west on South 15th St. around 7:30 p.m. Monday when they either ran a stop sign or didn’t see a Dodge Ram truck when they entered the intersection at Neal Avenue and the truck T-boned them.

An adult and three small children were in the truck involved in the crash, but no one in that vehicle was injured, police said.

Hyland was officially pronounced dead on Saturday. His family is planning a memorial for Monday night, and the school is also going to host a bonfire in his memory on Wednesday.

Braedon Hyland had a lot of friends, with some visiting the crash site to grieve and others coming together to make t-shirts in his memory ahead of Friday night’s football game in Cottage Grove.

Friends of the East Ridge senior have already started reflecting on his life by posting messages on Facebook . A group of girls who knew Braedon said he loved everyone and was every girl’s crush.

While details of the accident may be fuzzy, one thing is clear: Braedon Hyland will be forever remembered and forever loved.
Read more: East Ridge Mourns Loss of Braedon Hyland in Car Crash http://www.myfoxtwincities.com//dpp/news/east-ridge-remembers-braedon-hyland-oct-14-2011#ixzz1bALwMWth

The final day of homecoming began with Park Principal Craig Paul meeting separately with juniors and seniors after school leaders learned of plans by juniors to throw marbles at seniors taking part in a choreographed dance during an afternoon pep fest.

“It generated out of a safety concern,” Paul said of the meetings.

Paul said students were told misbehavior would not be tolerated and could cause pep fests later this year to be cancelled.

The pep fest went on without disruption Friday afternoon.

Park student athletes, musicians, dance team members and area youth athletic groups kicked off Friday evening’s homecoming activities with a parade from Kingston Park to the high school, as friends, family members and local residents cheered along the parade route.

Park football lost to White Bear Lake 48-7 Friday night at Wolfpack Stadium.

[Article from South Washington County Bulletin: http://www.swcbulletin.com/event/article/id/19092/]

(If you care to see the real robot in action, check out the film clip lower right.)