On Tuesday, September 5, Birch Grove Community School welcomed 51 K-5th grade students, the school’s highest enrollment since the free, public charter school opened in 2005. BGCS board members, staff, and the West End community in Cook County are happy with the steady growth that has been seen at Birch Grove over the past few years.

So, have you wondered what is “Minnesota Nice” or where it came from? Visitors and residents see evidence of the nice results at the ball and dog park recreation area. Lutsen volunteers and other paid workers helped install field gates and the dog refuse station. Users make sure both are maintained. Others completed the storage and concession stand building and installed electrical for lighting.

On September 9 there was a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Loons Nest Grand Opening held by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. Following the ceremony Bob Carlson, owner of Carlson Roasting Co. and the Loons Nest said, 'It has been a long journey with lots of challenges that come along with opening a coffee shop in a remote area surrounded by BWCA wilderness.”

Care Coordination for Persons with Disabilities and those 65 Years and Older Cook County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) is one of many county health and human services agencies across the state that contracts with managed care companies to provide Care Coordination for persons with disabilities and individuals aged 65 and older. The following plans, administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), offer Care Coordination as a benefit: Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO), Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+), and Special Needs Basic Care (SNBC).