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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 2012 Gem Lake Newsletter mail boy June, 2012 Volume 6, Issue 6 Gem Lake News Special Interest Articles: • Vera Auto Sales Doing Well in Gem Lake • Garlic Mustard--Get Rid of it! • City News Page 4 • The Honeymoon House Upcoming Recycling Dates: June 27 July 11 July 25 Gretchen Artig-Swomley, Newsletter Editor When Vera Auto Sales opened in Gem Lake August of 2010, it was the result of a lot of careful planning. Owners Giorgi Gochitashvili and Sally Ackerman had been watching the area for a while, impressed with the mix of nearby businesses and the value of the real estate. The married couple moved their existing auto sales business from Maplewood, because they wanted to be visible to more potential customers who were coming to the dealerships in the area to find their perfect car. Vera Auto had originally opened in Maplewood in August of 2008. Giorgi says he buys most of his cars from other dealerships, including Tousley Ford, and from the local auto auctions. He is careful to buy only cars he would want to drive. (continued on page 3) Vera Auto Sales Thrives in Gem Lake th Jessie Hart Leaves Gem Lake City Finance Director Jessie Hart resigned her position last month to move to another state. She has functioned as the Gem Lake Finance Director since 2007 and did a tremendous job of getting the city's financial reporting systems into 'tip -top' shape. "It wasn't by accident that Gem Lake came to be able to produce a timely and detailed budget, run of a variety of sophisticated reports and do the kind of forecasting that keeps the budget guesswork to a minimum," said Gem Lake Mayor Bob Uzpen recently. "Jessie worked hard to help us operate like a real city. I found Jessie to be the most competent and innovative Finance Director I have ever worked with." Jessie was an employee of White Bear Township and worked for Gem Lake through a shared services agreement. (continued on page 4) Gem Lake News Page 2 of 6 It's tough being a noxious weed these days. Everyone hates you and no one wants you in their neighborhood. It wasn't always this way with the garlic mustard plant. Brought by settlers from Europe to this country in the 19th Century, the plant was widely used for both food and medicine. Later it was viewed as an unwelcome invader of wooded areas, shading out native ground cover plants. Then the hammer dropped on garlic mustard. The State of Minnesota put it on the Noxious Weed list in 1999, the plant equivalent of the FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted List.' Like most of the 'criminal element' in the weed world, garlic mustard plants grow fast, spread easily and are hard to control. But like their partners in crime, the dreaded buckthorn bush, homeowners will greatly benefit the rest of their landscaping by working on sending this one "Up the River" to the yard waste bag. This plant is a biennial, with seeds that germinate in early Spring. During the first year, garlic mustard grows in a rosette shape close to the ground. The first year the rosettes have between three and eight The Garlic Mustard Plant: Hero to Villain in Less than 100 Years.... rounded leaves with scalloped edges. The second year the plants have alternate leaves, which are heart shaped or triangular. The plant produces a stalk that can be up to four feet high during the second year, with white flowers that form on the ends of the main stems. The plant can most often be found in shady areas and places that border woodlands. To get rid of it, hand pulling works best, especially if it's done at, or just prior to, flowering. To avoid damaging other plants, tamp down the soil after you do the weed pulling. Your next best option is to cut plants close to the ground, as flowering begins and before seed development. Power tools, such as weed whipping devices can be used on large infestations. Cutting too early, such as way before flowering, can cause re-sprouting of the plants. Don't send the waste on this one to the compost pile, since the temperature for most piles here in Minnesota will not get hot enough to kill the seeds. Also, be aware that the seeds from garlic mustard plants can be easily spread from place to place, even as you are trying to obliterate it. Whenever you are doing battle with your garlic mustard, be aware that a little guerilla warfare is going on. Those seeds have now attached themselves to your pants, shoes, tools, etc. You have to be careful to clean off anything that has touched the plant. Due to the plant's sneaky ability to attach itself to anything it touches, it can take up to five years to really get rid of it. Think of it as dieting after age 50... For more information on this and other noxious weeds, consult the Minnesota DNR web-site. Gem Lake News Page 3 of 6 Vera Auto Sales Thrives in Gem Lake (continued from page 1) "We specialize mostly in German and Japanese cars, high-end and also fuel efficient vehicles," says Giorgi. "I don't want to buy or sell anything that I wouldn't want to own myself." The company bought the facilities that once comprised the old HCO gas station and car wash, as well as the adjacent lot that now houses a new restaurant. After extensive renovations they opened up almost two years ago with the mission of selling only high quality used vehicles. "So far we have been growing at a pace that my wife Sally and I are comfortable with. We really want to keep everything a manageable size." In addition to managing the buying and selling of cars for Vera, Giorgi also exports cars and car parts to his native country of Georgia. (Located northeast of Turkey and south across the Caucasian Mountains from Russia.) Sally manages the administrative aspects of the business such as the accounting and the interaction with their tenants. Sally has a law degree from Hamline University and practiced law for six years. She is still a licensed attorney but now divides her time between running the businesses and taking care of their two children, Luca (15 months) and Sophie (almost 4). Giorgi came to the United States in 1998 as an exchange student hoping to pursue an education in agriculture from the University of Minnesota. Instead, he was sent as a worker to a dairy farm in Milaca, Minnesota. After a series of similar farm placements, Giorgi took the $200 in his pocket and set off for the big city he knew must be somewhere nearby. With no map and no knowledge of English, he made it to Minneapolis a few days later. He wasn't sure what to think of this strange new place he had landed. Eventually, Giorgi graduated from the International Program he came here to attend at the University of Minnesota. He later went on to obtain a Master's Degree from Hamline University. He met his wife at a masquerade ball thrown for Giorgi's graduation class in February of 2000. He had already been accepted into a graduate program at Hamline University. Sally lived nearby and the two started dating. After nearly seven years of courtship, the couple decided they needed to be together, no matter what country. They were married on New Year's Eve 2006 and again in fall of 2007. (Once in Minnesota and later in Georgia.) According to Sally, "The idea to open a car dealership grew organically after Giorgi developed the hobby of buying a car, fixing it in our garage in his spare time and then selling it to buy another. He would challenge himself a bit more each time, buying more and a more difficult vehicle to fix. Eventually, we decided to invest some money and make a business. It's worked out well and once we got our sea legs, we found that we were quite successful in our earlier Maplewood location." "During our first few years in business we watched the former HCO gas station site with interest," said Sally. " When we finally decided to expand and purchase our own piece of property, the site was still for sale. We felt that we were destined to own it, but looked far and wide for many months before finally settling on Gem Lake as our destination. Of great consideration was the fact that the entire site was too large for our small business. We jumped in with both feet anyway, saying why not become landlords too. And so, became SGS Holdings." (Named for Sally, Giorgi and Sophie, Luca wasn't around yet.) Sally and Giorgi act as landlords for the restaurant and the mechanics shop next door, which is another new enterprise for the couple. Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 Recycling Questions? Did your recycling bins get missed or only half emptied? If you have concerns or questions regarding the single sort recycling program in Gem Lake, there is a special number for you to call. Please direct your calls to the Customer Service Line at Waste Management. The phone number is 1-888-960-0088. Let them know you are calling from Gem Lake. National Night Out Scheduled for August 7 The 29th Annual "National Night Out" will be held on August 7 throughout the United States, with Gem Lake participating with a community gathering at Heritage Hall. "National Night Out" is designed to generate participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police- community partnership and heighten crime and drug prevention awareness. Last year's "National Night Out" campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities. In all, over 37 million people participated in last year's event. Gem Lake invites residents to meet their neighbors, gather crime fighting information from the Ramsey County Sheriff and enjoy food and refreshments from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on August 7 at Heritage Hall. Mark your calendar now. We hope to see you then. Traffic Troubles in Gem Lake The Ramsey County Sheriff's Department was active here in Gem Lake on Memorial Weekend. There were three DWI arrests during the three day holiday. One incident occurred near the intersection of Goose Lake and LaBore Roads. This person had two prior DWI's. Two other DWI arrests happened near the intersection of Otter Lake and Goose Lake Roads. One car was stopped for speeding and the other was stopped for driving south in the northbound lane and then failing to stop at the stop sign. Animals Gone Wild? If you have an animal control concern regarding either domesticated or non-domesticated animals in Gem Lake, you are directed to call 911. City News Page Gem Lake has a joint services agreement with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department to handle things like dangerous animals or wounded deer lying by the side of the road. City Clean Up Reveals Weird Stuff Volunteers who turned up for the City Clean up on May 5 ended up feeling a bit alarmed about all the discarded liquor bottles they found along city streets, especially down Goose Lake Road. Also found were a significant number of soda bottles, some still partially filled with liquids. This led to the circulation of some alarming information from the Police Department in the City of Huntsville, Alabama. According to police officer Billy Clardy of Huntsville, kids are putting Drano, and other things, with a little water into a plastic drinking bottles and leaving them capped and on lawns. The idea is that you will pick it up and put it in the trash, but things may not go as you planned. if this type of Drano filled bottle is moved and shaken just a little it can build up enough force to explode violently. The result has been some very serious injuries. The liquid also comes out boiling hot. Beware of plastic bottles in your yard that contain a cap and liquid. For more information on or verification of this topic go to: www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/bottlebomb.asp Jessie Hart Leave Gem Lake (continued from page 1) This allowed little Gem Lake to obtain access to a high level of expertise at a much lower cost. Gem Lake City Clerk Bill Short, who also works for White Bear Township had wonderful things to say about Jessie's tenure with the city. "Jessie is a bright, energetic and responsible professional. She takes her duties seriously and completes them to the best of her ability. She enjoys taking on new duties and does not shy away from challenges. Her outgoing personality is well suited to public presentations, which she does very well." Clearly, she will be missed by all. Jessie's duties will be assumed for the time being by another employee of White Bear Township. Gem Lake News Page 5 of 6 The Honeymoon House-A Gem Lake Legend It was just a modest little house, but for some it had rather magical and romantic qualities. Called "the Honeymoon House" it was home to at least six and maybe more newly married couples in the 1950's and '60's. The house was once located approximately where Mouldings, Doors and More is now, near the corner of County Road E and Highway 61. The topography of the area was different then. Highway 61 then ran in front of White Bear Floral, instead of west of the shopping center building that still exists to this day. It was much more of a residential area than it is now, with the homes of Henry Hoffman and his brother Bob Hoffman located nearby. The house itself was owned by Henry Hoffman and rented started about 1932 to the Wohletz family, the folks who came here to run the flower store. Despite very modest rent, the family no longer needed it after about 1952. "My parents (Henry and Elizabeth Wohletz) built a new house next to White Bear Floral after the realignment of Highway 61," said Lorraine Birkeland, who still runs the floral shop. (The picture at right shows Elizabeth Wohletz with her granddaughter Cindy in front of the Honeymoon House.) Henry Hoffman, later the first mayor of Gem Lake, had the house moved across County Road E and placed on Scheuneman Road, slightly north of the present day restaurant and a little north and east of Vera Auto. The move had become necessary due to the massive road construction project that changed the course of Highway 61. He then began renting out the little house to a succession of young couples. The house had two small bedrooms, a bath, a dining room and a tiny kitchen. The first honeymooners who rented the house were Millie and Bill LaBathe. Millie had grown up in Gem Lake. Her father, Charley Scheuneman, ran Scheuneman's Market on County Road E. (Now the site of the Gun Shop.) She and her husband moved in with her parents right after he got out of the Navy after World War II. Housing was in short supply at that time. They moved around a bit, including the downstairs portion of a duplex, before the small white house became available. "We were happy to get it. Houses were hard to find then." The couple spent one happy year there before the post-war housing boom allowed them to move into their own new house about a mile away. Millie remembers that the rent was only $35 a month then. The couples who followed included Wally and Betty Nelson, John and Linda Hurt, Dave and Joyce Hoffman, Rick and Shirley Arcand, Steve Hoffman and his wife, and probably others. (Dave and Steve Hoffman are the sons of Bob Hoffman, Henry's brother, Rick is the son of Dick Arcand, who was married to Henry Hoffman's daughter Shirley, and no, not everyone in Gem Lake is related.) Redevelopment in the Hoffman's Corner Area of Gem Lake caused the house to have to be m oved again. Shorty Urban, who married Henry Hoffman's daughter Vonnie had built the HCO gas station. The house, along with Freddie Roth's Tavern were both in the way. The Honeymoon House was moved about 1965, according to Rick Arcand. The tavern building was moved several years later, after Rick and Shirley bought it and made it their home. Both homes are now on Goose Lake Road, although they have been extensively remodeled. Rick and Shirley were the last couple to rent the little white house as honeymooners. They had one child when they moved there in 1968. At this point the little home had been placed in its current spot on Goose Lake Road and worked out just fine for the young couple, even after they had twins. "The kitchen was pretty small, but we probably would have lived there even longer. We moved after about a year because our home became available (the tavern building.) The Honeymoon House was inherited by Henry Hoffman's daughter Shirley Arcand when he died. She sold it to her son Patrick Arcand, Richard's brother, who lives there to this day. Only faint traces of the original building can be seen now, mostly on the east side. But, people who are familiar with the house like to think a little bit of the honeymoon happiness lives on there too.... Bob Uzpen-Mayor Phone: 651-492-5083 City Council Members: Gretchen Artig-Swomley Phone: 651-260-9742 Rick Bosak 651-426-9695 Jim Lindner Phone: 651-429-7597 The following Gem Lake Meetings will be held at Heritage Hall for the next few months: June 19, 2012 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. July 3, 2012 PLANNING MEETING CANCELLED Meetings: June and July 2012 Meeting Dates Your Gem Lake City Council The City of Gem Lake PHONE: (651) 747-2790 FAX: (651) 747-2795 City Hall Address: 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 GENERAL E-MAIL: City@gemlakemn.org Newsletter e-mail: gretchenas@comcast.net Kiki Sonnen: 651-747-2790, or Kiki.Sonnen@CO.RAMSEY. MN.US To report incidents for the Neighborhood Watch program or for information on that program contact Block Captain Chuck Watson 651-653-8319; Charles.Watson@bdk.com We’re on the Web! See us at: www.gemlakemn.org CITY OF GEM LAKE 4200 Otter Lake Road Gem Lake, MN 55110 July 9, 2012 City Council Workshop at 7:00 p.m. July 17, 2012 City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Tom Rasmussen Phone: 651-426-8854 For more information on meetings, city ordinances, recent events, perm it procedures, etc. please consult the Gem Lake web-site. The address is www.gemlakemn.org Each Gem Lake Newsletter is also posted on the web-site under the news section. Please email your ideas, comments and suggestions. See box at left for detailed contact information.