by Zoe Yates | Sep 1, 2026 | Featured
I recently ran into my favorite high school teacher at an area event. It’s remarkable when an important figure in your life reenters your orbit, and it simultaneously felt as though I was entering a past life—and like no time had passed at all. What surprised me in...
by Zoe Yates | Sep 1, 2026 | Education, Featured, People
The White Bear Lake area is home to a collection of incredible schools, with halls filled with exceptional young people already making their way in the world. Each year, we invite area school administrators to nominate some of these outstanding students, of which...
by Renée Stewart-Hester | Sep 1, 2026 | Education, Wellness
Activate grandparent mode when the family tree begins to grow. Becoming a grandparent is the threshold into a new stage of life. Who doesn’t relish the cherub baby stage or the out-of-the-mouth-of-babes younger years? As grandchildren get older, deep bonds can form as...
by Emily Gedde | Sep 1, 2026 | Education, People
The Minnesota Teacher of the Year semifinalist shares why he loves teaching. Jim Lane, a science teacher at Mahtomedi High School and 2025–26 Mahtomedi Teacher of the Year, was recently named a semifinalist for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year award, honoring his...
by Abigail Larson | Sep 1, 2026 | Education, Giving Back, Noteworthy
White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation (WBLAEF) has played a vital role in supporting area educators, families and students. This year, the foundation has officially surpassed $3 million in total distributions since its inception in 1993. As an independent...
by Zoe Yates | Sep 1, 2026 | Featured, Interior Design, Renovate
Molly Theno brings her century-old home back to life. Growing up on the peninsula in Dellwood, Molly Theno decided early on that she would live in the area for the rest of her life. “I’ve always been a White Bear kid,” Theno says. “[I] just don’t ever want to leave.”...
by Angie Hong | Sep 1, 2026 | Education, Noteworthy, Outdoors
It’s a sunny day in October, and a throng of exuberant sixth graders is spread out along the St. Croix River shoreline, gathering water samples, searching for aquatic macroinvertebrates and filling the air with a loud and joyous sound. Since 2021, Carpenter Nature...
by Kassondra Burtis | Sep 1, 2026 | Featured, Local Makers
Ben “The Baker” Neumann has a winding journey to baking success. At first glance, Ben Neumann’s resume might not look like the background of a bakery owner. The White Bear Township resident holds a degree in computer science, has served in the Army National Guard and...
by Abigail Larson | Sep 1, 2026 | Giving Back, Outdoors
What started in 1987 as a way to raise funds for charity has turned into a celebration that families return to year after year. Hosted by the Kramer-Berg American Legion Post 507 and Wildwood Lions Club, Punkinmania is an annual fundraiser, featuring festive...
by Amelia Reigstad | Sep 1, 2026 | Education, Noteworthy, Wellness
Empathy is the ability to recognize and understand the feelings of others, a key to building and establishing relationships, and a necessary tool to add to our communication toolbox. Here are a few strategies to build empathy: Listening to understand, not to reply, is...
by Zoe Yates | Sep 1, 2026 | Photo Contest
Former White Bear Lake Area Schools superintendent Michael Lovett has had a penchant for photography since purchasing his first camera with money from his morning paper route at the age of 12. Today, he enjoys taking photos that tell a story and capture enduring...
by Kate Overend | Jul 10, 2026 | Book Club, Wellness
Author Lisa Najarian encourages women to live their life with support instead of in silence. Friendship, emotional healing and honesty are the prevailing themes in author Lisa Najarian’s book, Girl, Unpack That!: The Trip That Changed Us and the Framework That...
by madeline | Jul 9, 2026 | Arts, Interior Design, Shops, Style
The artisan-led shop puts down roots in downtown White Bear Lake. Tiffany Downing didn’t initially plan to open a boutique. The crafter, originally from Hugo, simply found joy in creating anything that sparked her interest. “I had no idea at the time where it would...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Jul 7, 2026 | Arts, Restaurants
The free comedy showcase calls The Dugout Bar home on the first Thursday of every month. Nathaniel Hood first picked up the mic about 20 years ago for a college open mic and, to his recollection, absolutely bombed. “It was so bad that I didn’t go back up for another...
by Zoe Yates | Jul 1, 2026 | Best of White Bear Lake, Featured
