Sep 05, 2008 06:58AM

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

The Dakota Rail Regional Trail (DRRT?) at Shadywood looking East. This picture is from a few weeks ago. Beyond, the trail looked ready for paving.

Aug 26, 2008 12:38PM

Seton Channel Bridge

The Dakota Rail Trail crossing Seton Channel. They are still working on this bridge, and the guard rails are temporary.

Aug 08, 2008 09:11AM

Dakota Rail Regional Trail

Recently this trail has had sections of it paved in Mound, Spring Park and Minnetrista. I think it's really transformed the areas it runs through. I've seen rollerbladers, skateboarders and cyclists using this new resource. It's ideal for biking because there really aren't any hills, and you're usually sheltered from the wind.

We are waiting for the part of the trail in Downtown Mound to be sorted out. Unfortunately, the drivers in Mound still don't seem to follow our Crosswalk rules. As I understand them, if any pedestrian or cyclist is in any part of a cross walk, all traffic must stop. What I see happening is drivers driving at 30 mph giving little thought to stopping. I can deal with this and accept it however, what about children? Are they going to be able to cross at a crosswalk safely, in Mound?

There are some drivers here and everywhere else too, that cause me to repeat almost daily to my son; "Never trust a car". "Even while in a cross walk, watch both ways and don't expect a car to stop." While I would like Mound to belong to the children, and not the reckless drivers, there isn't much I can do about it. The city could issue a few tickets, and perhaps it all ready does, and I am not saying they aren't concerned. We see the signs in the road near the crosswalks, and the police officer near Grandview during the school year, so I know there's some effort being made. Perhaps I am appealing to the reckless drivers here. Children have a different perspective, and aren't part of "driving competition" that sometimes occurs. They don't cut people off, they don't tailgate. they don't pass someone to save a minute of time, and they don't speed. They just want to get from one side of Shoreline or Commerce to the other. They don't always make decisions like we do. They need drivers to give them a break.

Also I've noticed on our newly paved trail something that has in occurred other localities as well. The trail has little stop signs for the cyclists in places. The meaning to me seems clear. Stop and proceed when safe to do so. Right next to the stop sign is a cross walk crossing the road, which implies traffic must stop for cyclists. So who has the right of way? It's confusing, even for an adult. If I had to go one way or the other, I'd say the cyclists should yield. I do understand painting a cross walk on the road probably makes things safer. I'd guess less confusing might have its own merits too. What to do? "Never trust a car."

OK, bad drivers aside, this is really an improvement to the area and the City had and has some role in accomplishing it. My son and I rode all the way out to the WRA Park last night, and it was an easy ride. The section going West of Mound is really nice and still rural. The fall colors ought to be great.

Jun 10, 2008 07:55AM

The British Broadcasting Corporation in Mound

Local author Tom Rockvam being interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation in front of Green T Accounting's building:

This building was owned by the Andrews Sisters uncles for many years who operated the Sollie Store that sold groceries. The BBC was in town this day filming a movie about the life and careers of the Andrews Sisters.

May 27, 2008 12:04PM

The BBC in Mound

Local author Tom Rockvam has announced that the British Broadcast Corporation will be in Mound filming a movie about the life and career of the Andrews Sisters. The date of the BBC's appearance in Mound will be June 10th.

The public is being asked to show up at 10:00 AM at "The Andrews Sisters Trail" that is South of old Shoreline in downtown Mound and runs along Lost Lake.

The Andrews Sisters spent a significant amount of time in Mound, and it seems the BBC recognizes this.

Apr 21, 2008 10:09AM

Ice out on Lake Langdon and Loons visit

This weekend saw the ice going out on Lake Langdon which is defined by being able to navigate a pontoon boat around the edge of the lake within 50 feet of the shoreline and being able to cross the lake both east to west and north to south. This year's winter kill includes a higher than average amount of carp which I predict will not impact their population or cause them to be placed on the threatened species list. The creek, (Langdon Bay Creek or Sollies Creek, take your pick.) is flowing into Lost Lake at a rate of about 10 gallons per second.

The ducks have returned and seem to be doing what ducks do every Spring, and there's a huge flock of white aquatic birds on the lake that are probably pelicans. And I am pleased to announce that about 5 loons have stopped by today and I am officially proclaiming there presence on the lake again. Their calls have also been heard. 

And on this busy day, about 50 carp were seen moving upstream from Lost Lake into Landon Bay. Each year the creek is running, the carp will about this time, get confused and think they are Salmon, and fight their way upstream to spawn. While salmon die after they spawn, apparently carp do not.  

This entry has been updated.

Mar 26, 2008 07:57AM

Langdon Bay Creek Update

Langdon Bay Creek is about half open with the ice melted off of some of it. It appears to be flowing at a minimal rate, but I can't be sure about that. Langdon Bay's level may be low enough so that it hasn't breached the berm that sometimes forms at its headwaters. 

Also I have recently been informed that another name for the creek is: "Sollie's Creek". (I am uncertain about the correct placement of the apostrophe.) Named after the two Uncles of the Andrews Sisters. These uncles owned the Sollie Store located South of the Creek for many years.

Mar 22, 2008 02:21PM

Thank you for not running into me...

I'd like to thank the driver who passed me on the left while I was slowing to make a left turn off of Bartlett at Avon yesterday. Thank you for not running into the driver's side of my truck at around 2:00 pm Saturday when the roads were wet and it was snowing. I am sorry that my slowing down from about 25 mph to 15 mph in a residential area to make my left turn onto Avon could've delayed as long as 15 seconds, that surely wasn't my intent. Yes I was surprised to see you passing me in what I used to consider my neighborhood, until I realized I couldn't argue with physics and that Bartlett Boulevard between Shirley Hills and Shoreline belongs to those using it to get some place in a hurry. As I started my turn, there you were, like Richard Petty making that race winning pass. All I could do is stop in amazement and wonder, was that perhaps Jeff Gordon right here in Mound? A stock car racer once told me that their cars don't have rear-view mirrors, and it has something to do with never looking back. After I got over my shock at almost being in accident, I drove up to my house and tested my turn signal, thinking perhaps it was covered in that heavy wet snow that was falling or that it wasn't working? But that wasn't the case, it blinked OK. But all is well that ends well, and I am happy that you could continue on your way and know that you had saved yourself 15 seconds of travel time.

As I write this thank you to this unknown driver, I am reminded me of another near accident I was almost in. I was making a right turn off of Shoreline onto Chateau and was passed on the right. That taught me to block the break down lane of a road when making a right turn. Signaling a right turn may not count for anything. Physically blocking the break down lane where someone may try to pass, seems the safer thing to do. Some might say I am supposed to use the break down lane along that stretch of Shoreline, East of the old Hardee's, when making a right turn. I might say that it's too narrow to be a right turn lane given the width of my truck. Its narrowness might make things more dangerous if I use it as a turning lane. The reason I think it's not marked as a turning lane is not to save on paint, but because the road isn't wide enough to have a turning lane.

Unfortunately, I can't think of anything to make making a left turn in Mound any safer? Maybe I just won't make left turns anymore. I suppose it's normal to have differing opinions between people who live somewhere and people and who just want to get through somewhere as fast a possible. I am happy I haven't inconvenienced anyone by having an accident with them, as that might make them late for wherever it is they are going.

Mar 19, 2008 08:50AM

Westonka Horticulture Day

Barbara Blaha writes: "The next Westonka Horticulture Day will be held on April 5, 2008 at the Mound Westonka High School. This is one event you don't want to miss. Keynote speaker Jeff Gillman will dispel all those gardening myths and give you the answers you need to solve your garden problems. Over 16 workshops with topics such as lakeshore restoration, planting with annuals, beekeeping, septic mound plantings, native plants, and many more topics. We gather the best speakers available to bring a quality educational program." - Westonka Horticulture Day
Their website is at: http://www.westonkahort.org/

Mar 15, 2008 03:33AM

Tribute to Tyler Hill

Local resident Tyler Hill recently passed away while on a trip to Japan.    tylerhill.org

Mar 10, 2008 04:53AM

Watercraft Inspection internships - Milfoil is not our friend

Interns are wanted for the DNR's Watercraft Inspection program. Duties include:

These are paid positions, seemingly with the requirement that interns must receive college credit to be eligible for the job. The application is due by March 14th.  See more

Mar 03, 2008 05:07AM

Residents sue Orono schools

From the StarTribune: "Residents sue Orono schools, claim referendum not conducted correctly"
"Seven Orono School District residents filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that the district's recent $39 million bond referendum should have been conducted by mail instead of at a polling place in the school district's main office.

The suit claims that the west-metro district's Feb. 12 vote violated a state law that requires any referendum not held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November be carried out by mail, unless a district is in statutory operating debt."  More

Orono's voters approved a referendum by a vote of 1,845 to 1,713.

Feb 28, 2008 06:10AM

DNR returns disputed 52-inch muskie to Mound man

From the Bemidji Pioneer: "The agency has returned the 52-inch fish to a Mound angler who caught it through the ice of Lake Minnetonka on Jan. 13.

Tom James kept the muskie after checking the DNR's regulation booklet and finding the season was listed as closing Feb. 24. The agency actually had closed the season on Dec. 15, but James and many other anglers weren't aware of the change."    More

Feb 19, 2008 06:19AM

Presbyterian Homes buys Spring Park apartments

From the StarTribune: "Presbyterian Homes and Services has purchased a two-building apartment complex in Spring Park and plans to rent the 75 units to its employees and the public.

The $5.4 million purchase at Shoreline and Island drives in Spring Park was completed last month, said Mark Meyer, chief financial officer of Roseville-based Presbyterian Homes, which provides senior housing in the Twin Cities metro area."    More

Feb 01, 2008 07:56AM

Westonka to replace retiring School Board member

"Of the ten district residents who sought to be considered for an open seat on the Westonka School Board, seven have been selected to make a face-to-face pitch to the panel next month."  For more of the story about Westonka Schools:   Laker

Dec 04, 2007 07:09AM

Police Squad Car Auction

Nov 26, 2007 06:58AM

Emerald Lake

Nov 21, 2007 07:03AM

Mound's Parking Ramp

We are getting close to being able to tell the time from the new clocks downtown.   Bigger image

Mar 21, 2008 12:35PM

Required Minimum Distributions

The required minimum distributions rules for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) rely on IRS provided tables that use standardized life expectancies based upon your age. When using their tables (IRS tables) you use your age as of the end of the year to which the distribution applies, and the Fair Market Value of all your IRAs as of the beginning of the year.

CCH has an easy to use calculator here:  RMD   When using their calculator, you should enter your beneficiaries age if you have one. Because of the distribution rules that cover what to do when you don't have beneficiary, I recommend that you do have a beneficiary.

Mar 18, 2008 04:11PM

Stimulus Rebate and Dependents

People claimed on another's return do not qualify for the Stimulus Rebate. When deciding if parents should claim their child for one last year, the Stimulus Rebate should be considered. There are no age limits on the Rebate that I am aware of. We often compare the total tax a family would pay two ways. With them claiming their child and without them claiming the child. This often occurs when children are of college age. The potential $600 that they could get, if they have enough income, should be considered when figuring who should claim the child, MAYBE.

Part of my uncertainty here is caused by what I call the 2008 Make Up filing. I expect that those who missed out on this May's payment will still have chance at getting it later. According to the IRS, "If you're not eligible this year but you become eligible next year, you can claim the economic stimulus payment next year on your 2008 tax return."

So, if a child aged 18 is claimed by their parents for 2007, can they next year when filing their 2008 return, in effect claim that they are entitled to their $600, because they actually claimed themselves on their 2008 return, the period to which the Stimulus Rebate is tied to? If this is allowed, the parents can benefit from claiming them for one more year, and they can get the rebate. This is different than the rule that says, dependents can't get the rebate. I am not offering an opinion about whether this will be possible? I am asking for my readers comments on it.

Mar 18, 2008 10:31AM

Lease with Option to Buy Real Estate

I have a client who is renting out their former residence and giving the renter a $1000 credit per month towards the purchase of the house at the end of a 2 year lease. The question is, did my client really sell his house or is he leasing it out? There doesn't seem to be a hybrid answer where the $1000/month is treated differently from the rent payment. The IRS has I think in this case said that you have one or the other and that the total monthly payments are either all rent or all payments on the sale of the house. We ended up here, treating all the payments as rent income, based on the circumstances. I good description of the rules is available from CIRE Magazine:   Lease Option

Mar 16, 2008 10:46AM

Unrecovered costs at death in annuities and retirement plans

There's a question of what to do with the remaining basis of an annuity upon the death of its owner? In Minnesota many people receive Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) when they retire. I expect to see on their 1099-Rs a slightly larger Gross distribution than Taxable distribution. The difference represents a part of their unrecovered basis in the plan (of their after tax money). Where does this untaxed money go upon their death? I think it goes to their beneficiary when there is one.

I noticed a surviving spouse taking over the payments recently. The spouses 1099-R didn't show basis because the Gross distribution equaled the Taxable distribution. It seems we should either convince PERA to change how it does things, or find out what the remaining basis is and figure the basis recovered each your ourselves.

In looking into this issue if found this clear as mud support for my position:   Basis    Cornell who has this information is thanked. The problem with trying to understand it is with the IRS, who wrote what Cornall reproduces, who often fails to write in simple terms for normal people. I can also write that carrying forward and using this uncovered basis makes sense to an accountant because it balances the books. Because the money that was once taxed, is not taxed again.

"the deduction...   ...shall be allowed to the person entitled to such payments for the taxable year in which such payments are received." - The IRS

Mar 15, 2008 01:20PM

Reporting Sales of Covered Calls

Selling Covered Calls is when you own a stock and sell the right for someone else to "Call" it away from you and make it theirs, at an agreed upon price. If your stock is trading for $100/share, you might sell a call for sometime to buy it at $105/share. So, if the stock rises above $105 before the call expires, this other person will most likely buy it. If the stock prices rises to $110, they can buy it from you for $105 and turn around and sell it for $110, making a quick profit. So what would sell such an option for? The market will determine this. I'd say all calls have an expiration date.

It to me is similar to selling an option on land. You can sell an option for someone to buy your land at an agreed upon price for a certain amount of time. The question de jour is, how to report the money from covered call sales on your 1040?

If the Call expires worthless, that means it isn't exercised, you report the income as capital gain. If the stock is called away from you, you add it to your Gross Proceeds when you report the sale of the stock, you just had to sell, because it was called away from you.

Most Covered Calls are written for less than a year. So the next question is, is the income from an expired call Long or Short term gain? It has some attributes of both long and short term. If the stock is called, this money is treated the same as the underlying stock, so it would be long term if the stock has been held for more than a year. But in the case of an expired call, it seems a short term bet was made that the stock wouldn't rise much. That's a question this CPA wishes to look into another day, and I'd appreciated your comments hopefully with links that support your position.

Brokers are getting good about providing Realized Gain and Loss Summaries. If you receive one of these from your Broker to help you with your income taxes, and you have Covered Call Sales, ask the broker if they correctly treated the Sales by adding them to any stock that was Called? And then ask them to prove it to you, by showing how they came up with the basis numbers related to covered calls sales?

Thanks to: slcg.com

2008-09-05T19:05:27Z

Dakota Rail 006 Aug 2008

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

2008-08-27T00:47:03Z

Dakota Rail Trail

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

The Dakota Rail Trail Crossing Seton Channel

2007-09-24T20:55:09Z

Gales Woods North Entrance 092207

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

This is a hidden gem in Westonka. Gales Woods Park has a gravel road that one can bike on. It will be a good way to see the fall colors. The park has a little know north entrance pictured here, across from Long Lake on County Road 15. The entrance allows pedistrians and bicycles only.

2007-09-24T20:55:03Z

Island Park City Hall 092107

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

This is the old Island Park City Hall on the island. Mound is currently considering facility options.

2007-09-10T20:43:22Z

Navarre Dairy Queen 091007

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

This Dairy Queen has been here since at least the 1970s.

2007-09-10T20:43:17Z

Possible Loon Langdon Bay 091007

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

It's possible this a cormorant.

2007-09-02T02:50:52Z

Gales Woods Farm 083107

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

This is on County Road 110 West. They have sheep, cattle, turkeys and more. Admission is free.

2007-09-02T02:50:49Z

Trailer Court 083107

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

This is in Minnetrista along County Road 110 West. A developer is attempting to build a number of houses here that would replace the trailers.

2007-08-27T04:05:08Z

Langdon Bay 082607

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

This is looking east across Langdon Bay, from just south of the Dakota Trail

2007-08-27T04:05:05Z

Saunders Lake Bridge 082607

MoundWestonka.com posted a photo:

This is a hidden gem that bridges the east and west shores of Saunders Lake.