DISTRICT 911 – On Thursday night, Dec. 18, 2008, the District 911 School board expelled a student for one year and fired its head custodian.
Neither were easy decisions, according to Superintendent Bruce Novak.
Expulsion
A middle school student was expelled for one year (Dec. 11, 2008 to Dec. 11, 2009) for brandishing a pocket knife and threatening other students with it on a bus ride home Dec. 12.
Novak noted that in deciding to expel the student the district weighed the intent of the student and how it affected other students.
The parent(s) were brought in to discuss the issue, and agreed to the expulsion.
An alternative schooling option has been found for the student, Novak stressed. “We’re about trying to get help for the student and not cost him/her into the streets somewhere,” he added.
Custodian fired
Jerold P. Gambino was terminated as head custodian on Dec. 18.
Details surrounding the termination are not being released and were discussed during a closed session.
Gambino can choose to appeal the decision. If that occurs, it will go through arbitration. This process may take up to three months. If the termination is upheld, the reasons will be released.
Gambino has worked for the district over 12 years. He has been disciplined in the past for conduct issues and supervisory/management type issues, noted Novak.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Make a difference by buying Fair Trade gifts
Looking for a way to make a difference with your Christmas shopping?
Consider purchasing a Fair Trade item. A variety of home decor, kids toys, and jewelry are available at the City Center Market in Cambridge.
Choose a red leather purse shaped like a cat made in India. Or, how about a wooden jewelry box from Indonesia? Wooden nativity scenes were carefully carved on the West Bank, or opt for a stone scene from Peru. There are also silk scarves, handwoven baskets and colorful purses.
Shopping for kids? Pick a drum or a unique African instrument, or get a wobbly fish pen from Chili.
With the purchase of these items you are not only buying a gift the people on your Christmas list will love, but you’re supporting workers in Third World countries, noted Gayle Cupit.
As the City Center Market Board Chair, Cupit helped bring the Fair Trade gift items available through Ten Thousand Villages to the Cambridge store.
She’s passionate about the Fair Trade concept. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by artisans from more than 130 artisan groups in 36 countries. Each artisan is ensured a fair wage, which helps bring their own family out of poverty. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds goes back into the community as a whole, sometimes to construct a well and other times a school.
“When people are paid a fair wage for their products, they’re able to support their own families and the community as a whole,” noted Cupit.
The Cambridge co-op has always supported the Fair Trade concept, and has sought to stock their shelves year-round with items such as bananas, mangos, pineapples, coffee, rice, sugar, tea and spices through the Fair Trade market.
It’s a niche that keeps growing as does public awareness of where food comes from. Cupit also attributes the popularity of Fair Trade items to a growing awareness of poverty levels around the world and a realization that people can make a difference elsewhere by what they purchase at their local stores.
“We may be paying a little more for an item, but that little bit of extra cost can make a big difference in peoples’ lives,” Cupit noted.
And that ties in perfectly with the goals of the co-op, which seeks to support the immediate community, as well as the global community, Cupit observed.
She added that Fair Trade items are grown to greener standards and are often organic. “We need to take care of the earth. It’s the only thing we have,” she believes. “People who are closer tot he earth in Third World countries are able to appreciate that more. We’re not as close to the origins of our food.”
She urges folks searching for that last-minute gift to check out the Fair Trade items available at the City Center Market.
Gifts range from $2 to $50.
“A lot are inexpensive enough to make beautiful hostess gifts,” she pointed out.
“Live the co-op values. Support your local community by making purchases here while at the same time support our global community by sending money to areas of the world where kids don’t have enough to eat.”
Making kaisa grass baskets brings joy to Kalpana Rani in Hazigonj, Bangladesh.
Hazigonj is a small village in a very rural, chronically poor part of northwestern Bangladesh. Most people like Kalpana can only find poorly paid seasonal work during rice planting and harvesting times. They can sometimes earn a little more money by collecting firewood and carrying it for many kilometers in the hope of selling it for a few pennies.
In 1999 Mennonite Central Committee encouraged a group of women including Kalpana Rani to organize into a basket-making artisan group using local wild kaisa grass and their traditional basket-making skills. These baskets are now sold locally and exported to Ten Thousand Villages in Canada and the USA. The income from basket making is greater than rice paddy work, and it is steadier and more consistent throughout the year.
Kalpana says that she can now afford basic healthcare for her family, a good steady diet of nutritious food, and decent clothing. She smiles broadly when she says she can now afford to send her children to school since she can afford to pay for school fees, books and supplies.
* From tenthousandvillages.com
Consider purchasing a Fair Trade item. A variety of home decor, kids toys, and jewelry are available at the City Center Market in Cambridge.
Choose a red leather purse shaped like a cat made in India. Or, how about a wooden jewelry box from Indonesia? Wooden nativity scenes were carefully carved on the West Bank, or opt for a stone scene from Peru. There are also silk scarves, handwoven baskets and colorful purses.
Shopping for kids? Pick a drum or a unique African instrument, or get a wobbly fish pen from Chili.
With the purchase of these items you are not only buying a gift the people on your Christmas list will love, but you’re supporting workers in Third World countries, noted Gayle Cupit.
As the City Center Market Board Chair, Cupit helped bring the Fair Trade gift items available through Ten Thousand Villages to the Cambridge store.
She’s passionate about the Fair Trade concept. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by artisans from more than 130 artisan groups in 36 countries. Each artisan is ensured a fair wage, which helps bring their own family out of poverty. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds goes back into the community as a whole, sometimes to construct a well and other times a school.
“When people are paid a fair wage for their products, they’re able to support their own families and the community as a whole,” noted Cupit.
The Cambridge co-op has always supported the Fair Trade concept, and has sought to stock their shelves year-round with items such as bananas, mangos, pineapples, coffee, rice, sugar, tea and spices through the Fair Trade market.
It’s a niche that keeps growing as does public awareness of where food comes from. Cupit also attributes the popularity of Fair Trade items to a growing awareness of poverty levels around the world and a realization that people can make a difference elsewhere by what they purchase at their local stores.
“We may be paying a little more for an item, but that little bit of extra cost can make a big difference in peoples’ lives,” Cupit noted.
And that ties in perfectly with the goals of the co-op, which seeks to support the immediate community, as well as the global community, Cupit observed.
She added that Fair Trade items are grown to greener standards and are often organic. “We need to take care of the earth. It’s the only thing we have,” she believes. “People who are closer tot he earth in Third World countries are able to appreciate that more. We’re not as close to the origins of our food.”
She urges folks searching for that last-minute gift to check out the Fair Trade items available at the City Center Market.
Gifts range from $2 to $50.
“A lot are inexpensive enough to make beautiful hostess gifts,” she pointed out.
“Live the co-op values. Support your local community by making purchases here while at the same time support our global community by sending money to areas of the world where kids don’t have enough to eat.”
Making kaisa grass baskets brings joy to Kalpana Rani in Hazigonj, Bangladesh.
Hazigonj is a small village in a very rural, chronically poor part of northwestern Bangladesh. Most people like Kalpana can only find poorly paid seasonal work during rice planting and harvesting times. They can sometimes earn a little more money by collecting firewood and carrying it for many kilometers in the hope of selling it for a few pennies.
In 1999 Mennonite Central Committee encouraged a group of women including Kalpana Rani to organize into a basket-making artisan group using local wild kaisa grass and their traditional basket-making skills. These baskets are now sold locally and exported to Ten Thousand Villages in Canada and the USA. The income from basket making is greater than rice paddy work, and it is steadier and more consistent throughout the year.
Kalpana says that she can now afford basic healthcare for her family, a good steady diet of nutritious food, and decent clothing. She smiles broadly when she says she can now afford to send her children to school since she can afford to pay for school fees, books and supplies.
* From tenthousandvillages.com
Saturday, December 13, 2008
A transforming business
Shepherd's Choice was born out of owner Kathy Pususta's need for soothing skin products.
Twenty years ago, Kathy Pususta suffered from dry, chapped hands. After making a batch of soap to give away as gifts, she discovered it had transformed her skin.
"I stopped scratching all the time," Pususta recalled.
Intrigued, she continued experimenting with various recipes, branching out from soap to include lip balm, lotions and bath oil. Her core standard was that the item not dry out skin. Towards that end, she insists on using only natural ingredients and essential oils.
"Synthetic fragrances, colors and preservatives have no place in Shepherd's Choice products," said Pususta.
Sixteen years ago, she opened Shepherd's Choice, devoting one room in her home to a shop. Today she has expanded out to the barn on her East Bethel property that she renovated.
Assisting Pususta is her daughter, Nancy Holt of Pine City, whom Pususta had given up for adoption as an infant when she was 17. When Holt came looking for her biological mother five years ago, Pususta was delighted. She's amazed at how much they have in common. Holt shares her love of natural items, and began fashioning Shepherd's Choice products earlier this year.
Holt's son Miles is asthmatic, and his attacks are triggered by many of the preservatives found in soaps and other products. "So I got into natural soaps," Holt explained.
As an added perk, "I've noticed that I haven't had to use moisturizer in about a year."
Making small batches of soaps and lotions is a lot like making a cake, according to Holt. She begins by melting shea butter, beeswax, lanolin and other various oils. The mixture goes into a Kitchen Aid bowl, where it mixes for about one-half hour. During that time, Holt "babysits it", using a spatula to clean the sides as needed. During the last five minutes she adds the essential oils, turning Pususta's laundry room/work room into a spa. While the moisturizer mixture is still warm, Holt pours it into a plastic bag and cuts off one corner. She squeezes it into jars as one would do frosting, giving it the distinctive curves on top Shepherd's Choice customers expect.
When asked about popular products, Pususta mentions that her lanolin-rich moisturizer sells well in the winter. The bath salts penetrate sore muscles, and she uses it to ward off any cold she feels coming on.
The cinnamon soap is great for gardeners as it includes a pumice to help remove dirt. The body dressing doesn't leave an oily residue. The ear oil keeps ears from drying out after candling. And the laundry spot bar removes most stains, Pususta noted.
KNITTING CLASSES
In addition to selling the skin care products and soaps she is known for, Pususta's shop also includes rows of colorful yarn arranged around a large table. Every Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. is open knit night at Shepherd's Choice. Classes ranging from beginner to advanced are offered at other times. Pususta adds them as requested by customers. This fall, folks have learned to knit various sweaters and shawls. For one class, participants had the option of starting from the very beginning and dying their own yarn in Pususta's dye shop.
"The last 10 years have been very good for the knitting industry," noted Pususta.
She credits the rebirth to a change in attitude that occurred after Sept. 11, 2001. "People have started picking up more comforting things to do. They stay at home more."
To avoid competing with larger stores, Pususta has established a niche for herself by offering natural fibers, rather than synthetic yarns. Sheep on her farm are sheared each May during a festival open to the public. Alpaca yarn travels a short distance from Blue Sky Alpaca Farm in East Bethel. Materials from five larger commercial yarn companies fill the rest of her shelves.
This business is one that fits well with her values. "My childhood on a Mennonite farm instilled in me a deep appreciation for the environment, and pure, honest and wholesome living," observed Pususta.
Shepherd's Choice is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 763-434-7453 or browse shepherdschoice.com.
VISIT SHEPHERD'S CHOICE
• Annual open house: Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local crafters will be on hand with luxurious hand-made gifts (Hillside Honey, Baskets on 137th, Elizabeth's Handspun, beeswax candles, pottery and more). Bring a dish and a bottle of wine to share at 6 p.m.
• Annual Sheep Shearing Festival: Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
CONTACT
Call: 763-434-7453
Email: pususta@cpineternet.com
Browse: www.shepherdschoice.com
Go: Two and one-half miles east of Highway 65 on Viking Boulevard. 3356 Viking Boulevard, East Bethel.
Antique cash registers stolen
Barbers on Main offers $500 reward
The three antique cash registers that have graced the counter at Barbers on Main in Cambridge for over 15 years are gone.
They were stolen during a burglary that was discovered on Monday morning, Dec. 8, 2008.
The perpetrator(s) broke the deadbolt on the back door to enter the barber shop. The only items that were stolen were the three cash registers. The thieves even ignored the money bag.
All three dated from 1901 to 1904.
Barbers on Main owner Harold Yerigan estimates their values at about $2,600 each. Two registers came with the barber shop when he bought it in 1972. The other was a gift from his wife.
“It’s a bummer, that’s for sure,” said Yerigan.
He hopes to recover them, but acknowledges the chances are slim. Still, he wonders what the thieves could do with them besides sell them. In the hopes of tracking the registers down, Yerigan has contacted various auction houses and other places where they could be sold.
He’s also offering a $500 reward to anyone with information leading to the recovery of the three antiques. Call Yerigan at Barbers on Main at 763-689-2133 or the Cambridge Police Department at 763-689-9567.
“All we can do is wait and see if they show up,” said Yerigan.
Thief steals from non-profit
A catalytic converter was stolen off an Industries, Inc. van. Pete Brown, Industries Transportation and Safety Director, discovered the theft on Wednesday morning, Dec. 10.
To add insult to injury, the thief used the company’s own electric power to remove the converter, and then stole the extension cords that were powering up the company’s fleet.
“We’re a non-profit that serves people with handicaps,” said Brown. “That’s what really hurts.”
Industries, Inc. is located along Cleveland Street in Cambridge.
The cost to replace the catalytic converter is $1,000 – which will not be covered by insurance as the company’s deductible is $1,000. This means the repair work will come from the non-profit’s own budget.
Brown has this to say to the thieves: “You’re not hurting the company. You’re hurting the people with disabilities.”
To add insult to injury, the thief used the company’s own electric power to remove the converter, and then stole the extension cords that were powering up the company’s fleet.
“We’re a non-profit that serves people with handicaps,” said Brown. “That’s what really hurts.”
Industries, Inc. is located along Cleveland Street in Cambridge.
The cost to replace the catalytic converter is $1,000 – which will not be covered by insurance as the company’s deductible is $1,000. This means the repair work will come from the non-profit’s own budget.
Brown has this to say to the thieves: “You’re not hurting the company. You’re hurting the people with disabilities.”
Are you ready for the digital conversion?
Here is what you need to know about DTV
The biggest switch since color is coming to television on Feb. 17, 2009.
On that day, television stations will upgrade from analog to digital.
This transition will affect anyone who watches free over-the-air television (through a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears"). To continue watching TV, people must take action, and they should it soon, according to Katrina Kleinwachter of the Federal Communications Commission.
"A lot of people will be affected by the transition," Kleinwachter told the Isanti County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 3, 2008.
Isanti County is the area in the Twin Cities that will be affected most.
"Isanti County has the highest percentage of broadcast-only in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market," said Kleinwachter. The rate of those without cable or satellite is 38%.
Low income areas, seniors, the disabled, and rural residents tend to get their television signals through rooftop antennas or "rabbit ears" more than others.
She encouraged people to take a three-step approach. Apply, buy and try.
First, to assist people in making the transition, the U.S. Government is offering $40 coupons that will offset the cost of purchasing a digital-to-analog conversion box. Each household is eligible for two coupons. Boxes typically cost between $40 to 70. Get them by visiting www.DTV2009.com or call 888-388-2009.
These coupons should be used right away because they expire within 90 days, Kleinwachter pointed out.
Next, buy a digital-to-analog box and try setting it up before the switch on Feb. 17, Kleinwachter urged. To work, some systems may require a little tweaking that includes adjusting the rooftop antenna.
Kleinwachter stressed that this switch from analog to digital does not mean that people need a new High Definition television (HDTV). Rather, HDTV is only one type of digital television.
If a TV is older than five years, it will certainly require a digital-to-analog conversion box. TVs newer than that may or may not need one.
Anyone who uses an antenna or "rabbit ears" does need a digital-to-analog, Kleinwachter stressed.
What is the Digital TV transition?
Currently, many over-the-air stations are broadcasting in both analog and digital TV formats. After Feb. 17, 2009, full-power TV stations will broadcast only in digital.
Why are stations switching?
The switch is required by law.
At the consumer level, the switch will mean better sound and better picture, according to Kleinwachter.
Broadcasters will also be able to offer additional programming. For example, KARE 11 offers regular programming on 11.1, and a 24-hour weather channel on 11.2.
Because digital is more efficient technology, the switch will free up more of the spectrum. The analog stations that are no longer set aside for TV stations will be used for police, fire, and emergency rescue communications. It will also allow for a new generation of wireless devices, said Kleinwachter.
What should you do to be ready?
3 choices:
1) Connect your analog TV to a digital-to-analog conversion box. Boxes have a one-time cost that ranges from $40 to 70. The U.S. Government is offering two $40 coupons per household to pay for these boxes. Get yours by visiting www.DTV2009.gov or call 1-888-388-2009.
Note: You should not need a new antenna if you get good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with your existing antenna.
2) Buy a digital TV (a TV without a built-in digital tuner). You do not need a High Definition TV (HDTV) to watch digital broadcast television. You only need a digital TV (or an analog TV connected to a digital-to-analog converter box).
Note: You should not need a new antenna if you get good quality reception on analog channels 2-51 with your existing antenna.
3) Subscribe to a paid TV service. If your TV set receives local broadcast stations through a paid provider such as cable or satellite TV, it is already prepared for the DTV transition. Cable companies are not required to transition or switch any of their channels to digital.
Note: If you have an analog TV that does not receive local broadcast stations through your paid provider, you will need a digital-to-analog converter box to watch digital broadcasts on that TV.
For more information:
CALL: 1-888-CALL-FCC (voice) or 1-888-TELL-FCC (TTY)
BROWSE: DTV.gov
Saturday, November 22, 2008
ONCE HOMELESS, NOW HOUSED
New Pathways homeless program in Cambridge gives family hope.
It happened one day when Lisa and Tom Stoker were making supper. A Chisago County Sheriff's deputy knocked on the door and told them they had five days to vacate their home.
The news caught them completely by surprise.
And it came during the worst week of their lives.
Tom's dad had just died. Both their vehicles broke down. Lisa had lost the diamond in her wedding ring. And now they were losing the house.
"If you would have asked me if I thought I'd be out on the streets I'd tell you 'you're nuts,'" said Tom.
DOWN ON THEIR LUCK
The road leading up to the loss of their home had started in 2002. The Stokers had fallen behind on the mortgage payments on their mobile home in Wyoming. Their lender offered to refinance and tack on those late payments to the end of the loan. They were so glad to find a solution to the problem, neither Tom nor Lisa read the fine print.
It's a mistake they'll never make again.
According to the terms of the refinancing agreement, if the family was ever late again on a payment, the bank could take possession of their home. The legal stipulations regarding proper notice for a foreclosure and the ability of a homeowner to stay there six months during the redemption period before leaving no longer applied.
In 2005, Tom was taken off the job market by a vehicle accident. With two discs out in his neck and back, he wasn't able to return to work as a machinist. However, Lisa's job as a machinist paid the bills.
Two years later, Lisa found herself on the disability list. The rupture of cysts led to a hysterectomy. Not only was she out of work for four months, but her insurance coverage ran out.
The Stokers found themselves two months behind on mortgage payments.
And then came the knock on the door one October afternoon.
They never received a warning, just the news to get out.
STRUGGLING TO FIND A NEW PLACE
To begin with, Tom, Lisa and their two children who were still at home moved down the street to live with another daughter, her husband and two kids. "There were eight of us in a trailer," recalled Tom. It proved to be too many. "We were all starting to get on each other's nerves."
A friend caught wind of their trouble, and offered to sell them a mobile home at Castle Towers in East Bethel. Because it had sat empty, he asked that Tom fix the pipes that had frozen, get the water going, and pay the lot fees. The Stokers could pay him the $4,000 for the trailer itself when they had the money. Their 13-year-old daughter Savannah and 16-year-old daughter Nicole switched schools, and Tom, along with some buddies, made the necessary repairs.
They were there two months when the caretaker came up one day and asked what they were doing there. He requested that the Stokers fill out an application form – something Tom hadn't done in 20 years.
A mistake he made 15 years previously came to light, and they were kicked out of the mobile home park. Tom had purchased a "hot" car and been convicted of a felony.
Desperate, the family wasn't sure what to do next. They couldn't go back to their daughter's place, and didn't have other options. While online one night, Lisa stumbled upon information about New Pathways, a homeless program based in Cambridge.
They decided to drive up and check the place out. Tom admitted that they expected the kind of shelter you'd find in the Twin Cities. "We were all thinking we'd just jump back in the truck and leave," he noted.
Instead, the family felt welcomed by the staff members at New Pathways. They had found a place to stay.
PEOPLE HELP THEM THROUGH THE DARK DAYS
At New Pathways, families sleep at night in various churches. There are 13 church and a group of people in the program, which host the families one week. They provide sleeping arrangements and an evening meal. Depending on the size of the church, families may stay in a private room; other times, curtains separate them from each other.
The program can accommodate 24 family members at one time. (A family is defined as an adult with children.)
It took awhile for the Stokers to get used to shuffling between churches every week. And it was hard living out of suitcases and duffle bags.
At first, they admitted they were a bit nervous about being in a church, and paid attention to minding their Ps and Qs. But they soon relaxed. The volunteers at each church were open and friendly.
Looking back, Tom especially points to those volunteers as being the highlight of the experience. "We met great people every night," he said. "Everyone was trying to help in one way or another." Program participants and the volunteers would play cards and board games. They'd work on puzzles. They'd talk about life.
One night at Long Lake Lutheran, they sat up and played cribbage all night long.
The food was delicious – although there was one stretch where they ate pizza four nights in a row. The rest of the time, the meals were so good, Tom would head back to the kitchen and beg for recipes. He put on 20 pounds.
Leaving each church at the end of the week became difficult.
LIFE AT THE SHELTER
After nights spent in the church, Tom and Lisa would drop their daughters off at school. Then they'd head to the New Pathways day center in downtown Cambridge. The day center is stocked with information on jobs and housing vacancies.
It was there they'd take showers, signing up for specific time slots. They were also responsible for chores to keep the place clean and picked up.
Tom and Lisa focused on finding a place to live. Again, Tom's felony kept cropping up. Over a three-month period, the Stokers sent out 300 housing applications. Each was denied.
When they felt discouraged, the couple would head into the office of a New Pathways staff person, typically Mary Westlund's. When they walked out, their spirits were always lighter.
"They don't belittle you. They make you feel right at home," said Tom.
"I love that place," added Savannah.
The couple worked on completing the one-week-long Rentwise program. They learned about dealing with management and caretakers, how to maintain a property, and to always read the fine print. Their certificate of completion was included with their rental applications.
Tom also worked to expunge his criminal record, to no avail.
Families may participate in the New Pathways program for three months. As the end of their stay ticked closer, the Stokers began asking themselves if they'd have to divorce so that Lisa and the girls could find housing without the blemish of Tom's record.
The staff at New Pathways began using all their connections to find a place for the Stokers.
Finally, the manager of an apartment complex in Sandstone was swayed by a letter Mary wrote. She offered them a place with reduced rent.
"We were so excited," noted Lisa.
"We shot up there. I was in a huge hurry to get us regrouped, to get our family back together again," noted Tom.
Once there, they realized all they had with them were duffle bags full of clothes. They had no sheets. No beds. No dishes. No towels.
They used the tax refund they had received to pay three months worth of rent and their damage deposit. And then they headed to the Hinckley casino for a hot bath and to plan their next step.
The girls hit the arcade, and Tom and Lisa decided they could finally splurge a little. They each took $100 to try their luck at the slot machines. Unbelievably, it seemed their luck had finally changed.
They left $1,800 richer. It was enough to buy a kitchen table, chairs and a few necessities so they could move into their new home.
BACK HOME, AT LAST
Seven months later, the Stokers are still getting settled. They moved from the first apartment to a ground-floor one which is easier for Tom to access. Some of the bigger furniture items, such as their entertainment center, which they kept, is still in storage because it's been difficult to gather a group to help them move it in.
Savannah and Nicole are still making friends at their fourth school in one year.
Lisa got a job at the Family Dollar store in Sandstone, and although she missed a month of work due to complications from her diabetes, she has recently been promoted to manager. Tom is looking for a job that doesn't require repetitive work because of his spinal injuries.
Lisa and Tom both miss the woodworking shop they had in Wyoming. It's hard to visit their daughter and see their old home just down the street.
What they all miss the most is the community they had in Wyoming, their family and friends. Tom no longer has visitors dropping by their place for a cup of coffee and a chat. They're an hour drive from either Cambridge or Wyoming. There's not a whole lot to do in Sandstone, they noted.
"That's something that hit us when we moved up here. Boy, did we lose a big circle of security," said Tom. "Up here, its just us."
But for now, being together in their own home is enough.
PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS
About New Pathways and the Interfaith Hospitality Network:
• Since its inception in 2000, 301 families have been helped. In 2007, 34 families were assisted by New Pathways, including the Stokers.
• How it works: Families spend their evenings at area churches in one-week increments. Volunteers also spend the night at the churches and provide an evening meal. During the day, participants head to a day center in Cambridge. There they have meals, do laundry, shower, train, and search for jobs and housing.
• There are two sites. The IHN site in Cambridge serves Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties. The site in Brainerd serves Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena Counties.
• The local churches involved include: Cambridge Lutheran, Elim Baptist, Faith Lutheran, First Baptist, Grace Bible Fellowship, Long Lake Lutheran, New Hope Community, North Isanti Baptist, Oxlip Evangelical Free, Sts. Peter and Paul, Stanchfield Baptist, Trinity Lutheran and Cambridge United Methodist.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CALL 763-691-0121
BROWSE www.newpathwaysmn.com
EMAIL infonpi@newpathwaysmn.com
It happened one day when Lisa and Tom Stoker were making supper. A Chisago County Sheriff's deputy knocked on the door and told them they had five days to vacate their home.
The news caught them completely by surprise.
And it came during the worst week of their lives.
Tom's dad had just died. Both their vehicles broke down. Lisa had lost the diamond in her wedding ring. And now they were losing the house.
"If you would have asked me if I thought I'd be out on the streets I'd tell you 'you're nuts,'" said Tom.
DOWN ON THEIR LUCK
The road leading up to the loss of their home had started in 2002. The Stokers had fallen behind on the mortgage payments on their mobile home in Wyoming. Their lender offered to refinance and tack on those late payments to the end of the loan. They were so glad to find a solution to the problem, neither Tom nor Lisa read the fine print.
It's a mistake they'll never make again.
According to the terms of the refinancing agreement, if the family was ever late again on a payment, the bank could take possession of their home. The legal stipulations regarding proper notice for a foreclosure and the ability of a homeowner to stay there six months during the redemption period before leaving no longer applied.
In 2005, Tom was taken off the job market by a vehicle accident. With two discs out in his neck and back, he wasn't able to return to work as a machinist. However, Lisa's job as a machinist paid the bills.
Two years later, Lisa found herself on the disability list. The rupture of cysts led to a hysterectomy. Not only was she out of work for four months, but her insurance coverage ran out.
The Stokers found themselves two months behind on mortgage payments.
And then came the knock on the door one October afternoon.
They never received a warning, just the news to get out.
STRUGGLING TO FIND A NEW PLACE
To begin with, Tom, Lisa and their two children who were still at home moved down the street to live with another daughter, her husband and two kids. "There were eight of us in a trailer," recalled Tom. It proved to be too many. "We were all starting to get on each other's nerves."
A friend caught wind of their trouble, and offered to sell them a mobile home at Castle Towers in East Bethel. Because it had sat empty, he asked that Tom fix the pipes that had frozen, get the water going, and pay the lot fees. The Stokers could pay him the $4,000 for the trailer itself when they had the money. Their 13-year-old daughter Savannah and 16-year-old daughter Nicole switched schools, and Tom, along with some buddies, made the necessary repairs.
They were there two months when the caretaker came up one day and asked what they were doing there. He requested that the Stokers fill out an application form – something Tom hadn't done in 20 years.
A mistake he made 15 years previously came to light, and they were kicked out of the mobile home park. Tom had purchased a "hot" car and been convicted of a felony.
Desperate, the family wasn't sure what to do next. They couldn't go back to their daughter's place, and didn't have other options. While online one night, Lisa stumbled upon information about New Pathways, a homeless program based in Cambridge.
They decided to drive up and check the place out. Tom admitted that they expected the kind of shelter you'd find in the Twin Cities. "We were all thinking we'd just jump back in the truck and leave," he noted.
Instead, the family felt welcomed by the staff members at New Pathways. They had found a place to stay.
PEOPLE HELP THEM THROUGH THE DARK DAYS
At New Pathways, families sleep at night in various churches. There are 13 church and a group of people in the program, which host the families one week. They provide sleeping arrangements and an evening meal. Depending on the size of the church, families may stay in a private room; other times, curtains separate them from each other.
The program can accommodate 24 family members at one time. (A family is defined as an adult with children.)
It took awhile for the Stokers to get used to shuffling between churches every week. And it was hard living out of suitcases and duffle bags.
At first, they admitted they were a bit nervous about being in a church, and paid attention to minding their Ps and Qs. But they soon relaxed. The volunteers at each church were open and friendly.
Looking back, Tom especially points to those volunteers as being the highlight of the experience. "We met great people every night," he said. "Everyone was trying to help in one way or another." Program participants and the volunteers would play cards and board games. They'd work on puzzles. They'd talk about life.
One night at Long Lake Lutheran, they sat up and played cribbage all night long.
The food was delicious – although there was one stretch where they ate pizza four nights in a row. The rest of the time, the meals were so good, Tom would head back to the kitchen and beg for recipes. He put on 20 pounds.
Leaving each church at the end of the week became difficult.
LIFE AT THE SHELTER
After nights spent in the church, Tom and Lisa would drop their daughters off at school. Then they'd head to the New Pathways day center in downtown Cambridge. The day center is stocked with information on jobs and housing vacancies.
It was there they'd take showers, signing up for specific time slots. They were also responsible for chores to keep the place clean and picked up.
Tom and Lisa focused on finding a place to live. Again, Tom's felony kept cropping up. Over a three-month period, the Stokers sent out 300 housing applications. Each was denied.
When they felt discouraged, the couple would head into the office of a New Pathways staff person, typically Mary Westlund's. When they walked out, their spirits were always lighter.
"They don't belittle you. They make you feel right at home," said Tom.
"I love that place," added Savannah.
The couple worked on completing the one-week-long Rentwise program. They learned about dealing with management and caretakers, how to maintain a property, and to always read the fine print. Their certificate of completion was included with their rental applications.
Tom also worked to expunge his criminal record, to no avail.
Families may participate in the New Pathways program for three months. As the end of their stay ticked closer, the Stokers began asking themselves if they'd have to divorce so that Lisa and the girls could find housing without the blemish of Tom's record.
The staff at New Pathways began using all their connections to find a place for the Stokers.
Finally, the manager of an apartment complex in Sandstone was swayed by a letter Mary wrote. She offered them a place with reduced rent.
"We were so excited," noted Lisa.
"We shot up there. I was in a huge hurry to get us regrouped, to get our family back together again," noted Tom.
Once there, they realized all they had with them were duffle bags full of clothes. They had no sheets. No beds. No dishes. No towels.
They used the tax refund they had received to pay three months worth of rent and their damage deposit. And then they headed to the Hinckley casino for a hot bath and to plan their next step.
The girls hit the arcade, and Tom and Lisa decided they could finally splurge a little. They each took $100 to try their luck at the slot machines. Unbelievably, it seemed their luck had finally changed.
They left $1,800 richer. It was enough to buy a kitchen table, chairs and a few necessities so they could move into their new home.
BACK HOME, AT LAST
Seven months later, the Stokers are still getting settled. They moved from the first apartment to a ground-floor one which is easier for Tom to access. Some of the bigger furniture items, such as their entertainment center, which they kept, is still in storage because it's been difficult to gather a group to help them move it in.
Savannah and Nicole are still making friends at their fourth school in one year.
Lisa got a job at the Family Dollar store in Sandstone, and although she missed a month of work due to complications from her diabetes, she has recently been promoted to manager. Tom is looking for a job that doesn't require repetitive work because of his spinal injuries.
Lisa and Tom both miss the woodworking shop they had in Wyoming. It's hard to visit their daughter and see their old home just down the street.
What they all miss the most is the community they had in Wyoming, their family and friends. Tom no longer has visitors dropping by their place for a cup of coffee and a chat. They're an hour drive from either Cambridge or Wyoming. There's not a whole lot to do in Sandstone, they noted.
"That's something that hit us when we moved up here. Boy, did we lose a big circle of security," said Tom. "Up here, its just us."
But for now, being together in their own home is enough.
PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS
About New Pathways and the Interfaith Hospitality Network:
• Since its inception in 2000, 301 families have been helped. In 2007, 34 families were assisted by New Pathways, including the Stokers.
• How it works: Families spend their evenings at area churches in one-week increments. Volunteers also spend the night at the churches and provide an evening meal. During the day, participants head to a day center in Cambridge. There they have meals, do laundry, shower, train, and search for jobs and housing.
• There are two sites. The IHN site in Cambridge serves Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties. The site in Brainerd serves Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena Counties.
• The local churches involved include: Cambridge Lutheran, Elim Baptist, Faith Lutheran, First Baptist, Grace Bible Fellowship, Long Lake Lutheran, New Hope Community, North Isanti Baptist, Oxlip Evangelical Free, Sts. Peter and Paul, Stanchfield Baptist, Trinity Lutheran and Cambridge United Methodist.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CALL 763-691-0121
BROWSE www.newpathwaysmn.com
EMAIL infonpi@newpathwaysmn.com
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