The Laker & Pioneer

17/08/2024

VOTE NOW!!

Kids & Grandparents

You can win great prizes by entering your favorite photo!

VOTING is Aug. 17 - Sept. 1

Sponsored by: Country Cat, Bobber's Marine,Farm Rite, and Farm Rite

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13/08/2024

The Aug. 13 primary will solidify the ballot for federal, state and county offices. The filing window for city and school district races opens on July 30 and closes on Aug. 13. The November general election is set for Nov. 5.

Local voters will see several races on the Aug. 13 primary ballot, most notably for U.S. senator.

08/08/2024

The Corn Days Festival at the Church of St. George in Long Lake celebrates its 54th year on Saturday, Aug. 10. As one of the oldest and largest festivals in the western suburbs, Corn Days promises a full day of family fun, delicious food, and live music from noon-10 p.m., with free admission for all.

The Corn Days Festival at the Church of St. George in Long Lake celebrates its 54th year on Saturday, Aug. 10.

06/08/2024

Residents of Mound, Minnetrista, and St. Bonifacius are gearing up for a night of community bonding and safety awareness as they join over 17,000 communities nationwide in celebrating National Night Out on Aug. 6. This annual event offers a unique opportunity for neighbors to meet each other and interact with local police and fire departments in a relaxed and friendly setting.

Residents of Mound, Minnetrista, and St. Bonifacius are gearing up for a night of community bonding and safety awareness as they join over 17,000 communities nationwide in celebrating National Night

01/08/2024

After issuing two orders of contempt against Orono within the last year, Hennepin County District Judge Laurie J. Miller ordered Orono to pay $81,929.42 in attorney’s fees to Long Lake on July 15. The sum is just shy of the $86,885.92 that Long Lake declared in April.

After issuing two orders of contempt against Orono within the last year, Hennepin County District Judge Laurie J. Miller ordered Orono to pay $81,929.42 in attorney’s fees to Long Lake

29/07/2024

Divers Sarah Bacon (of Mound) and Kassidy Cook won Team USA's first medal in Paris. The pair took silver in the synchronized springboard competition.

Mound resident and former University of Minnesota diver Sarah Bacon is among approximately 10,500 athletes from more than 200 countries who will participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, running

25/07/2024

This unique event promises an evening of exquisite wine tastings, live music, gourmet pizza, and exciting auctions, all in support of Crescent Cove, a hospice center for children and their families.

Everly Farms Winery, in partnership with the Northwest Tonka Lions, has announced that their second annual wine tasting fundraiser, “Corks for a Cause,” will be held at Minnetonka Orchard on

24/07/2024

Kids & Grandparents Photo Contest
You can win great prizes by entering your favorite Kids/Grandparents photo!
ENTER your photo(s) July 19 - Aug. 16
VOTING starts August 17-Sept. 1
Sponsored by: Country Cat, Bobber's Marine, Farm Rite, And Farm Rite

Click here for details: https://hometownsource.com/contest

22/07/2024

“I think it’s pretty amazing (being nominated for this award), and it shows just what we have at Orono. We’re well supported by our school district, we have great music teachers, I have great colleagues,” director Tim Arnold said.

Orono High School’s Wind Ensemble was recently named a finalist for The American Prize. Those that have heard the band play, whether at Orono’s graduation, at one of its in-year

18/07/2024

The production will feature a total of six shows spread across two weekends: July 19 at 7 p.m., July 21 at 2 p.m., July 26 at 7 p.m., July 27 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and July 28 at 2 p.m. The July 21 performance will also include American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. All shows will take place in the Westonka Performing Arts Center.

Westonka Community Theatre eagerly invites audiences to immerse themselves in a world of magic, whimsy, and love with its upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”

15/07/2024

In 2023, Mound’s municipal liquor store contributed $300,000 to the city’s operating budget, specifically allocated for street maintenance, thereby reducing the need for additional levies.

Buying a pack of craft beer or a bottle of wine at Harbor Wine and Spirits in Mound offers more than just something to look forward to come happy hour—it

10/07/2024

After being hired just two years ago in 2022, Orono’s Jane Kolar was named MSHSL’s 2024 Girls Lacrosse coach of the year. Her Spartans finished their season 12-3, Orono’s best record ever, after making it to the Section 2 Semifinals.

After being hired just two years ago in 2022, Orono’s Jane Kolar was named MSHSL’s 2024 Girls Lacrosse coach of the year. Her Spartans finished their season 12-3, Orono’s best

06/07/2024

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02/07/2024

Orono senior and team captain Madeleine Dore and sophomore McKenna Monger qualified to compete at nationals by placing in the top three in their categories at the NSDA district qualifying tournament in March. Dore will compete in Humorous Interpretation and Monger in Dramatic Interpretation. In addition, sophomore Maya Haugen will be competing in Storytelling, a supplemental category which did not require qualification, and seventh-grader Oliver Berg from Delano will compete at the Middle School National Tournament in Storytelling.

Four members of the Orono Speech Team are competing at the National Speech and Debate Association’s 2024 National Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

27/06/2024

The plumbing improvements include standard plumbing, floor drain installation, and concrete work. These additions are intended to allow for a laundry facility to be installed at Navarre Garage.

The Orono city council voted June 17 to improve plumbing at its temporary fire station, Navarre Garage, and to hire a new part-time firefighter, Stephanie Erven.

24/06/2024

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24/06/2024

The center is embracing its new vision of “a thriving community” by dedicating itself to a mission of providing a prosperous and supportive environment, culture, and space to enrich the lives of community members of all ages.

Over the past six months, the Gillespie Center has undergone a strategic overhaul under the leadership of a new board and interim director, Rhonda Nelson. This period of rebranding and

20/06/2024

The applicant, Barry Trebil, had requested permission to conduct two activities on his property: 1) To produce and bottle wine year-round for sale to local liquor stores and restaurants; and 2). To open the winery to 25 people at a time for drinking and tasting events on the property by reservation, for up to eight days a year in the early fall.

Minnetrista is set to welcome a new farm winery, though visitors won’t have the opportunity to purchase wine on-site. Following a lengthy discussion, the Minnetrista City Council narrowly approved a

18/06/2024

The OFD will operate out of two stations: a temporary storage facility, called Navarre Garage, located beside the Navarre water tower at the corner of Blaine Avenue and Lyric Avenue; and the repurposed old Public Works building on Kelley Parkway. While the OFD will respond to calls on land, the Long Lake Fire Department (LLFD) will answer calls that occur on or around Forest Lake and the North Arm portion of Lake Minnetonka.

As has been planned for months, the Orono Fire Department (OFD) will begin operations in the Casco Point and Tonkawa areas on July 1.

14/06/2024

The Harrisons Bay Association (HBA) is inviting Westonka residents and friends to join in its second annual CARPFest, a community event dedicated to raising awareness about carp overpopulation and its impact on local waterways. The concert on the bay will take place on Saturday, June 15, starting at 2 p.m.

The Harrisons Bay Association (HBA) is inviting Westonka residents and friends to join in its second annual CARPFest, a community event dedicated to raising awareness about carp overpopulation and its

13/06/2024

This year’s speed walk will take place on June 15 starting at 9 a.m. at MWHS. The family-friendly 1.2 mile event will conclude with an after-party with many kid-friendly activities.

At its May 28 meeting, the Mound Council was introduced to the BeLikeTommy Project, created by Kevin and Nicole Nash following the sudden and tragic loss of their son Tommy

10/06/2024

The Long Lake-Orono fire dispute hasn’t slowed down, and further mediation between the two cities will continue on June 17, with a trial set for January. The road to this point has been long, and recent developments have only complicated the situation.

Long Lake city council teamed up with local fir services experts to host its third “fire forum” event on May 29.

10/06/2024

As many home prices across the country continue to rise, Orono has joined Zillow’s ‘Million-Dollar’ cities list in 2024.

06/06/2024

Passengers will cruise over the lower lake’s “boat graveyard” while historian Scott D. McGinnis tells tales of the many boats that lie beneath the waters and the surprising way some of them got there. “Lady of the Lake” offers a delightful setting to learn about and experience the history of the area. Snacks and soft drinks are available for purchase and there is a full cash bar onboard.

The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society (LMHS) will present a history cruise, “Shipwrecks and Disasters on Lake Minnetonka” aboard “Lady of the Lake” in Excelsior, on Monday, June 10, at 6

06/06/2024

“These students were a joy to work with and develop as a singing ensemble,” said musical director Melissa Bray. “They came with many different levels of singing experience, and it is incredible how they worked together to make the music come alive. I love the growth and musicianship I saw throughout the entire rehearsal process that culminated in fantastic performances.”

Mound Westonka High School’s spring production of “Footloose” was recognized for its accomplishments in high school theater by the Hennepin Theatre Trust as a participant in the Spotlight Education program.

03/06/2024

Mound Westonka High School hosted the annual Scholarship Awards Night on May 15, when 75 scholarships worth over $344,000 from 52 different donors were awarded to 67 members of the 2024 graduating class.

Mound Westonka High School hosted the annual Scholarship Awards Night on May 15, when 75 scholarships worth over $344,000 from 52 different donors were awarded to 67 members of the

30/05/2024

“We have something for everyone,” said Sarah Haugen, creator, founder and CEO of Vitalist. “Our menu is plant forward with a Mediterranean flavor and contains no seed oils or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I’m a strong believer in the Mediterranean diet because it’s one of the longest standing diets that has been successful.”

Westonka residents with a taste for gluten-free, organic, real food will find their cravings satisfied at Vitalist by Sarah H, a newly opened restaurant on Shoreline Drive in Spring Park.

09/05/2024

Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. pointed out that there are several challenges with the city’s current water system, including substantial growth placing strain on the system, lack of storage to provide adequate redundancy in the event of failure or disruption to the primary system, greater maximum daily demand than what the south zone system can produce, wells being taken offline due to poor water quality, and regulatory requirements.

As Minnetrista’s population continues to grow, its water infrastructure needs an estimated $22 million in upgrades over the next two years.

29/04/2024

Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping, a longtime fixture in the west metro gardening community, has announced that it is now an employee-owned company.

22/04/2024

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 Friends of the Westonka Library are hosting a used book at the library on April 27 and 29.