Inside Track to the great outdoors
Inside track to the great outdoors in Lino Lakes
- Article by: KELLY JO McDONNELL , Special to the Star Tribune
- Updated: December 6, 2011 – 2:29 PM
A prominent naturalist will speak to parents of home schoolers to help infuse kids with a love of the outdoors.
Naturalist Maria Pierz guided a group of children as they explored the Wargo Nature Center together.
Sil Pembleton has a passion for the outdoors and works to share it with kids and parents, and that’s what she’ll be doing next week at Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes.
Pembleton, a naturalist who has written several wildlife books for children, among other endeavors, will be a guest speaker for the Home School Program presented by Anoka County’s Parks and Recreation Department. The program offers monthly environmental, recreational and natural history sessions for home school students and their families.
Pembleton “is a conservationist with a real connection,” said Jennifer Fink of the Parks and Rec Department. “She gets kids connected to the outdoors. … They are the people who are going to help us preserve and take care of the environment. We have to build it when they’re young.”
Pembleton’s Dec. 15 presentation will be aimed at parents. “The kids will be off doing some education classes at that time,” Fink said. “She’s working with the parents and offering them tips and ideas for how to get their kids engaged in the outdoors.”
Pembleton said that, while introducing kids to the outdoors is key, so is reaching their parents. “My program offers simple and fun things that parents can do who don’t feel extremely comfortable in the out of doors,” she said. “Parents and teachers are so influential in a child’s life, so if I can get them going … I’m happy.”
She said outdoor lessons build life experiences and can help children as students.
“They have a better understanding of science in school in the early years,” she said. “When you have the chance to play in the stream, or dig in the dirt, or watch the clouds, or build with blocks, it gives you this feeling of how things work.”
Pembleton and her husband, Ed, have always been passionate about nature, and they’ve pursued that passion for more than 30 years as educators, naturalists and conservationists.
During her career, Sil Pembleton worked at the Smithsonian Institution and was director of environmental studies at Hard Bargain Farm in Washington, D.C., an outdoor educational facility on the Potomac River. One of her favorite “disconnect” stories comes from her time there.
She was demonstrating how to milk a cow, and a young girl asked: “But where does the meat come out?”
“This was right in our nation’s capital,” Pembleton said with a laugh. “I had daily reminders of how disconnected the kids were. They had no idea that their food, their automobiles, their computers in the schools, come from the Earth. It’s all Earth material. We’ve just changed it so much it’s hard to recognize.”
Pembleton’s program includes giving parents a weather guide calendar that explains day-by-day what is going on in nature. She said it gives parents a “heads up” on what kinds of things they and their children can look for while outdoors.
“For example, in the calendar there’s a chart to help you figure out how fast the wind is blowing. You can start with bubbles! … It’s fun, but learning at the same time.”
Pembleton said she gets all sorts of parents at her programs. She notices that particularly young parents aren’t quite sure where to start.
“Every child needs to keep that sense of wonder,” she said, “and needs the companionship of one adult who can share it and rediscover the joy and the excitement of the world we live in. I want to help the parents feel adequate about sharing the simple, fun activities that they can do. … And the kids take it from there.”
Rehabbing Computers & Prisoners
- Article by: KELLY JO McDONNELL , Special to the Star Tribune
- Updated: December 3, 2011 – 9:32 PM
Minnesota Computers for Schools trains inmates to refurbish donated computers that are then sold to schools at a fraction of the cost of new equipment.
Prison inmates Carlos Smith, right, and David Collins refurbished computers for the Minnesota Computers for Schools program at the state prison in Stillwater. Last year, more than 3,400 donated computers were refurbished instead of being destroyed.
Photo: Courtney Perry, Star Tribune
What do Stillwater prison and a K-12 Minnesota school have in common? One has inmates doing hard time, and the other is dealing with hard times from budget cuts.
But there is other common ground.
The Minnesota Computers for Schools (MCFS) program is a non-profit organization that trains Stillwater Correctional Facility inmates to refurbish computers donated by local businesses. The computers are then shipped to K-12 schools across the state for a nominal fee.
“I think a lot of these offenders want to work on computers because they know that’s what is happening in the world,” said Tamara Gillard, executive director of MCFS.
In 1997, Gov. Arne Carlson had heard about a computers-for-schools program at a governor’s conference in California. “The corrections there had been a wonderful partner, and it was a win-win,” Gillard said. “It kept the inmates busy, learning valuable skills, and it’s a good part of restorative justice.”
One of the 30 inmates working recently in the Minnesota program on the third floor of a prison industries building was Carlos Smith, who said he was unfamiliar with computers when he started.
“It’s kind of like living in the Stone Age,” he said of computer-free cellblocks. Smith, who has a daughter, said he takes pride in rebuilding computers to benefit schoolchildren.
“It gave me an opportunity to do something that’s giving back,” said Smith, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence. “To be in prison, it’s a chance to make something out of a negative situation.”
Another inmate, Alveto Rivera, has been in the program since April and said workers feel inspired. “All of us, we fix them to the best of our ability.”
Though the program has been around for years — and some marketing is sent to area superintendents — there is still a need to get the word out.
“MCFS can save schools a large amount of money in their technology purchases,” Gillard said. “Our equipment includes tech support and a three-year warranty on computers. Schools can take this savings and possibly put it into curriculum expenses.”
In some instances, schools can purchase two to three refurbished laptops for the price of one new one.
“Many schools are having to cut teachers, transportation, major class subjects. … Schools can’t afford to keep the attitude that new technology is the best and only solution,” Gillard said.
On average, 35 or 40 inmates work in the program.
“We work hard with mentoring the inmates,” she said. “They apply like a normal job. They will eventually test out and work side-by-side next to a senior technician [an inmate who has been refurbishing for a long time].
“We do quarterly reviews with them. They have job expectations, and if they reach their goals, they get a raise each quarter. The inmates are giving back to the community through their work.”
All the old data is wiped cleaned from hard drives outside the prison walls before the computers reach the workers. The inmates do not handle any sort of data, Gillard said, nor do they have access to the Internet.
Once refurbished, the computers are placed in public, private or charter schools in Minnesota, as well as in educationally based nonprofit organizations. MCFS has worked with 121 schools across the state.
Timothy Brockman, supervisor of information systems at Forest Lake Area Schools, is one such client. He learned about the MCFS program at a conference and was impressed. He said the Forest Lake schools have been purchasing almost all of their computers from MCFS for more than five years now.
“We are extremely happy with all aspects of what we get — the quality of the equipment, the cost savings, the fact that it is green,” he said. “Money was a huge factor. We needed newer equipment, and we could not afford to purchase brand new equipment.”
Gillard said MCFS makes sure it meets the specific needs of each school or nonprofit. “We’ll build to that order if they need additional memory or a larger hard drive,” she said.
Another inmate, Rhon Butler, has earned compliments from program managers for his dedication. Under Department of Corrections policy, each inmate can work a maximum of four years fixing the computers.
“Computers are the future now,” he said. “If I could finish the rest of my time [in prison] out, I’d do it right here.”
Kelly Jo McDonnell is a freelance writer from Lino Lakes.
Holiday Funk-
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Home for the Holidays….and the wine.
Caution: Deer Crossing
Caution: Deer crossing
- Article by: KELLY JO MCDONNELL , Special to the Star Tribune
- Updated: November 23, 2011 – 12:29 AM
At this active time of the year for deer, officials and data offer a heads-up for motorists.
Photo: Brian Peterson, Star Tribune
There are an estimated 900,000 to 1 million deer in Minnesota.
That may be good news for deer hunters this season, but it’s not good news on the roads. “Autumn is the deadliest time of the year for deer/vehicle crashes,” says Nathan Bowie, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS).
During the three years through 2010, 7,751 deer-vehicle crashes were reported to the DPS. More than one-third occurred in October and November, resulting in 19 deaths, 15 among motorcyclists.
“That 7,751 number is probably on the low end,” said Bowie. “Imagine if Triple AAA or insurance companies came in with their numbers…. The 7,751 were just the ones reported to DPS.”
In Anoka County, there were 105 deer-vehicle crashes reported last year, causing 18 injuries and one fatality. Numbers for 2011 won’t be available until early next year.
Jeff Perry, park operations and natural resources manager for Anoka County, said it’s a busy area. “Based upon the quality and quantity of favorable deer habitat relative to other metro counties, Anoka County may be one of the most active for car/deer collisions,” he said.
Deer are generally most active during twilight and darkness, he said. “Drivers should be alert and prepared to quickly react to deer that are crossing roads,” he said. “Also, if a deer is spotted along a road edge or ditch, chances are pretty good that there is more than one deer and drivers should slow down and proceed with caution.
“I think in terms of the deer population index, over time, Anoka County numbers have been high,” said Perry. “I can only speak for our larger park units, where we actually do aerial surveys and analyses.”
There are 5,000 acres in the Lino Lakes, Columbus and Centerville areas that serve as a large refuge. The deer population there has been abundant over the year. “We’ve had controlled deer hunts in eastern Anoka County over the past 20 years,” said Perry.
The Anoka County Parks office says that as the metro area has continued to expand, parks have become enclosed with roadways and developments, isolating the deer populations. Natural predators have decreased; therefore the populations are swelling, and are beyond the carrying capacity of the land.
Result: More deer. And lots of deer crossing the roads.
Kelly Jo McDonnell is a Twin Cities freelance writer.
Drivers, beware: It’s deer season
Drivers, beware: It’s deer season
- Article by: KELLY JO MCDONNELL , Special to the Star Tribune
- Updated: October 22, 2011 – 10:09 PM
It’s that time of year again for deadly confrontations between driver and deer, which seemingly can appear out of nowhere.
“Deer do unpredictable things — like stop in the middle of the road or cross and quickly recross,” said Lt. Eric Roeske of the Minnesota State Patrol.
The state Department of Public Safety reported 7,751 deer-vehicle crashes between 2008 and 2010, with one-third of those occurring in October and November. Nineteen people died in those accidents.
In 2010 in Washington County, there were 94 crashes causing 13 injuries and much property damage.
There are two primary reasons for increased deer movement in the fall:
•Farmers are harvesting the last of their crops, particularly corn, thus pushing deer from their hiding places.
•The animals are passionately patrolling the region in search of mates.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) estimates there are 1 million deer in the state, so the odds of some jumping in front of startled drivers are pretty good.
Roeske offers these suggestions: “Drive focused and defensively by looking for reflecting deer eyes and silhouettes, especially during low-light time and in forested and farm areas.”
That’s common sense to many in Washington County who deal with the animals on a day-to-day basis.
Bryan Lueth, north-metro wildlife manager at the DNR, fields all sorts of calls from residents who have deer eating their gardens or crossing their neighborhood streets at dusk.
“Most of the calls come from the suburban areas, places where hunting has been prohibited by local ordinances,” Lueth said. “Deer hunting is our primary tool to manage populations. In the absence of hunting, the populations can grow unchecked. They grow beyond people’s tolerance.”
Lueth keeps an eye on the counties of Washington, Anoka, Ramsey and most of Hennepin. He said the population in Washington County, based on estimates, hasn’t been as overwhelming as in years past.
Peter Mott, manager of Lake Elmo Park Reserve, said plenty of deer still are around.
“We’re ideally situated to have a problem with deer,” he said. “It’s an interface of suburban development and the rural landscape.”
Mott explained that for the past 20 years they have done an annual deer survey. “We get up in a helicopter during the late winter, when there’s still snow on the ground, and count the number of deer residing in and around the boundary of the park. If we get over a magic number, I then call Bryan Lueth, and we begin to talk about working with the DNR to put on a special shotgun hunt.”
That hasn’t been necessary in the park since 2008.
Lueth said Washington County is so subdivided that it’s not rare to see folks who own five to six acres with a horse and some pasture. It can be an issue for hunters when they can’t get on the property.
If a community wants to remove deer outside of the hunting season, officials develop a deer management plan, including special removal permits. But Lueth says in most cases, it costs a lot of money.
“If a hunter is willing to take a deer, it sounds like a win-win instead of paying a sharpshooter $300 per deer to take them out.”
It’s “Boo” time!
It’s boo! time in Wyoming, Minn.
- Article by: KELLY JO MCDONNELL , Special to the Star Tribune
- Updated: October 18, 2011 – 2:27 PM
Jeremy Hastings, 26, has turned his family farm into a Halloween attraction.
Jeremy Hastings of Wyoming, Minn., an entrepreneur of all things scary, runs the Dead End Hayride on PineHaven Farm.
Jeremy Hastings has made a business out of things that go “bump in the night.”
A sudden loud, unexplained noise … A flickering shadow in the corner …
Have such old-fashioned scares been overtaken by the slasher genre?
Hastings doesn’t think so. “I took inspiration from other veterans in the haunted-attraction industry,” said the 26-year-old entrepreneur. “You can do without the blood and the guts and the gore and be amazed at the creepiness and how impactful it can be.”
Hastings remembers well the moment he was inspired to open his own haunted place. When he was 20, he was reading an issue of Hauntworld magazine, an industry publication for haunted house owners and operators. “I read an article about a farm in North Carolina, and the similarities between that farm and our farm was incredible,” remembered Hastings. “I hopped on a plane to North Carolina.”
The farm turned out to be Spooky Woods in High Point, N.C., run by Tony and Donna Wohlgemuth. “Within 45 minutes of being there, I was out to lunch with Tony and he was telling me everything I needed to know about opening a haunted place. I saw a lot of myself in Tony. It was really inspiring to me,” Hastings said.
Upon returning to Minnesota, he was armed with a passion and a plan. He was already helping with his parent’s PineHaven farm, a popular north-metro destination for pumpkins, fall festivities and old-fashioned farm fun. At the time, there was an existing haunted hayride being run on PineHaven by a third party.
“I was a bit frustrated in the fact that I thought it could be done better than it was,” said Hastings.
First, a haunted cornfield
He decided to try his hand at his own haunted project. He built a haunted cornfield attraction on the farm, and it gained instant popularity. So last year, Hastings and his haunted crew launched their first Dead End Hayride attraction at the PineHaven Farm. It’s now in its second season and growing in popularity.
Hastings’ passion is obvious as he talks about the project, and it’s evident in his staff as well. At 26, Hastings is the oldest of his crew.
“My makeup artist is 25, general manager is 23, show manager 23, lady who does admissions is 22, graphic designer is 21, web person is 23. … We’re all just really young.” He added that none of his staff is allowed to drive the tractors, since his insurance agent reminded him that they aren’t over 25 yet, so they aren’t covered by the policy.
But that’s a minor detail, according to Hastings. Many of his crew are his lifelong friends.
“We’re all really excited about it,” he explained. “I try to find actors who love to scare people, not just who want the job and collect a paycheck. People who really get an adrenaline rush from scaring people. Most of us, being younger, don’t have families of our own, so we put a lot of time towards it. I’ve got such loyal friends.”
This uncanny ability to get his friends excited about his venture started at a young age, said his mother, Sue Hastings. She said she noticed a tinkering ability as well in Jeremy, her second of five children.
“He was 15 years old when he helped his dad, John, build our pumpkin canyon,” she said. “That was one of the first big things they did for the farm. We’re still using it today.”
Jeremy — who has a full-time job as a machinist along with helping his parents on the farm — also keeps the farm’s animated pieces in good repair, and he’s created some of the farm’s attractions. “He built the dragon, and he’s still the only one that can operate it,” Sue Hastings said.
It’s been exciting to see Jeremy’s plan come to life, she added. “It is so cool to see someone so committed and believing in their dream, and able to convince a lot of close, good friends to help him. It’s pretty special.”
But is it all show, or are there some real haunts on the farm?
“We do catch weird things happening sometimes,” said Jeremy — like some spooks that just don’t seem to want to call it a night when the crew goes home.
“I remember one night we had killed all the power to the cornfield, but there was one light that stayed on in the field for 30 seconds, then flickered out.
“Now that’s weird.”
Kelly Jo McDonnell is a Twin Cities freelance writer
Life is about Transitions
Lino Lakes program helps inmates re-enter society
- Article by: KELLY JO McDONNELL , Special to the Star Tribune
- Updated: October 4, 2011 – 2:19 PM
The Transitions Program at Lino Lakes prison aims to get inmates ready for life outside and prevent a return to the inside.
Joe McCoy knows all about transitions and how difficult they can be.
McCoy is Transitions Program coordinator at the state prison in Lino Lakes, and making it easier for prisoners who have served their time to move back into society is what his program is all about.
“The reentry program started around 15 years ago,” McCoy said. “We now have it in all our facilities. We’re looking at getting these guys reintegrated into the community. It’s definitely a good thing.”
The program is part of the Department of Corrections’ efforts to cut down on a state recidivism rate of about 50 percent.
“The day they come into prison, we want them to start thinking about getting out,” McCoy said. “We want them to focus on making the best use of their time and the various program options.”
He explained that prisoners are able to get help with legal documents, learning processes they’ll need to know, and work on getting a photo ID or driver’s license.
When prisoners have one year left on their sentence, they are encouraged to attend a Transition Fair at the prison. The fairs are held at all the Corrections Department sites throughout the year.
At Lino Lakes, about 40 vendors from across the state took part at a recent fair. They included local business and support groups, such as the Minnesota Public Library, Alcoholics Anonymous, government agencies, public safety representatives, various housing vendors, and different faith-based programs.
“Events like the transition fairs are so important,” McCoy said. “It shows the guys that despite the rumors that they hear — that no one is going to help you — there’s lot of folks in the community that want you to succeed. The vendors come to spend the day with them, and that’s huge for the guys to see that.”
It was important for Herbert Hubbard. Hubbard was a union concrete worker; now he’s serving a sentence for a sex offense. He is due for release on Oct. 27 and attended the transition fair. “I was nervous at first, but after I talked to a couple of vendors, it made things easier. It’s definitely helpful,” he said.
He was trying to find information on the legal and economic challenges that ex-offenders face, and he hopes to get back into concrete work. “The program has been really helpful in my recovery also,” Hubbard said. “I’ve been doing treatment for the last two-and-a-half years. I’m in debt to them.”
McCoy said he has seen his share of success stories, as well as not-so-successful stories, over his 13 years with the Department of Corrections.
He recalled the time that he was at a local gas station and an ex-offender recognized him. He was working there and took pride in showing McCoy his driver’s license.
“It’s nice to see,” said McCoy.
“You like to see the guys out there being successful. But we also see the guys that come back. That’s why the program and the fairs are so important.
“Our goal is that [prisoners] become productive, taxpaying citizens. And stay out of here.”
Kelly Jo McDonnell is a Twin Cities freelance writer.
The role of a Grandparent
Kelly Jo McDonnell 