Local Services

Training Trust, One Veteran, One Dog

How a Minnesota nonprofit pairs veterans with service dogs trained to support daily life after trauma. Article by Ann Schreiber | Photography by Provided Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans was founded in 2012 with a simple but powerful mission: to train service dogs for U.S. military veterans. Based in St. Paul, the nonprofit provides professionally trained service dogs at no cost to veterans living with PTSD and other disabilities. What began as work with therapy dogs for children with...

Arts + Culture

Moments Worth Remembering

A local photographer shares why everyday pet photos often become what families treasure most. Article by Ann Schreiber | Photography by Amanda Stamm There is something heartbreaking about realizing the photos you meant to take never happened. That is part of what drives Amanda Stamm, owner of Amanda LaRae Photography . While she photographs families of all kinds, her passion has always centered around pets and the people who love them. “Pets bring so much joy to our lives, and they are part...

Life + Culture

Building Brighter Futures 

Helping children with autism gain life skills through compassionate, play-based therapy Article by Ann Schreiber | Photography by Lisa Cline In Eagan and surrounding communities, families are quietly navigating challenges that often go unseen. For parents of children with autism, everyday moments like sitting at the dinner table, responding to a name, or walking safely past a pond can feel out of reach. And they are far from alone. Today, 1 in 31 children in the U.S. has autism , making early...

Life + Culture

A Path Of Her Own

Eagan scholarship recipient Maddy Hill is following her passion for the arts and encouraging others to do the same. Article by Haania Siddiqui | Photography by Lisa Cline Growing up with limited opportunities to explore the arts might have held others back — but not Maddy. She had less time to explore, yet found herself drawn to it even more. Attending a small private school meant that there weren’t many chances to expand her creative interests, but she somehow knew exactly what she wanted to...