Cecilia Borcherding is one of just 12 girls chosen nationwide in her age group
WAYZATA, Minn. — Ten-year-old Cecilia Borcherding is preparing to take her game from Minnesota to an international stage after being selected for a national girls futsal team traveling to Brazil this month.
Cecilia is one of just 12 girls selected from across the United States in the 10-year-old age group, earning a place on the roster following a competitive, multistage evaluation process.
Her journey began at an initial tryout in Minneapolis. After advancing through the first round, Cecilia was invited to a final selection camp in Richmond, Virginia, where she competed alongside 40 of the country’s top young players during three days of evaluations.
From that group, Cecilia earned one of the coveted roster positions.
Futsal is a fast-moving form of soccer played with four field players and a goalkeeper on a hard, basketball-style court. The game uses a smaller, low-bouncing ball and places a premium on close control, quick decisions and creativity in tight spaces.
In August, Cecilia will spend seven days in Brazil representing the United States alongside young players selected from communities throughout the country.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for such a young athlete, and we’re so proud of everything she’s accomplished,” her mother, Lauren Borcherding, said.
The trip will give Cecilia an opportunity to experience the sport in Brazil, a country with a deep soccer and futsal tradition, while training, traveling and building friendships with teammates from across the United States.
For a young athlete whose path began at a local Minneapolis tryout, the journey to Brazil represents a remarkable next step — and a proud moment for her family and the Wayzata-area community cheering her on.
Do you know someone doing something special in the Wayzata community? Whether it is a student achievement, athletic accomplishment, milestone, volunteer effort or another story worth sharing, we would be glad to hear about it. Send story ideas, details and photos to dan@wayzata.com for consideration in Wayzata.com community news.
Declaration of Independence (painting) 1818 by John Trumbull.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
State Rep. Patty Acomb visited the Wayzata City Council to provide a legislative update and receive thanks from city officials for her work on special tax increment financing legislation tied to Wayzata’s lakefront improvements.
Acomb, a DFL representative for House District 45B, serves as co-chair of the Energy Finance and Policy Committee and also serves on Ways and Means and Elections Finance and Government Operations, according to her Minnesota House profile.
City Manager Aurora Yager opened the discussion by thanking Acomb for supporting several bills affecting Wayzata, including special legislation related to tax increment financing, “She was a key part in helping us get the special legislation for TIF for Panoway,” adding that Acomb “fought so hard for us.”
Acomb said she appreciated the city’s partnership and the presence of local officials at the Capitol during the session.
In her remarks, Acomb described a closely divided Legislature where major proposals required support from both parties.
“In our very closely divided legislature, things that progressed and ultimately passed really needed to have bipartisan support, both last year and this year and I’m proud of the work we did accomplish.” Acomb said.
Among the session highlights, Acomb pointed to state action to stabilize HCMC, the creation of an Office of the Inspector General aimed at addressing fraud, and passage of a bonding bill that included local projects around the state.
While Wayzata did not receive a bonding provision it had sought, Acomb said the city was successful in securing an exception in tax increment financing legislation. She said the change allows Wayzata to include several elements of the Panoway-related lakefront project, including the Eco-Park, the Section Foreman House, and the remodeling of the Wayzata Depot park.
“We’re happy that we were able to do that to be able to partner with Wayzata on that really important project,” Acomb said.
Acomb also emphasized her opposition to state legislation that would have limited local authority over zoning and land use.
“One of the things that I have worked on hard this year is to ensure that local units of government, local cities maintain local control over land use and zoning,” Acomb said.
She said her background as a former Minnetonka City Council member shaped her view that city officials are best positioned to make local land-use decisions.
A council member asked how close the zoning bill came to passing and whether it could return in future sessions. Acomb said the proposal had bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and reflected a broader national push.
“It’s not going away,” Acomb said. “They’re gonna keep trying.”
Acomb said one concern with the proposal was that, despite being framed as a housing affordability measure, it did not guarantee affordability. She also raised concerns about infrastructure capacity in built-out metropolitan communities, including water and wastewater systems that may not be designed for significant density increases.
Acomb closed by encouraging continued communication between city officials and state lawmakers.
Jim Wilson, a member at the Wayzata American Legion, sent along photos of a shovel-nosed duck that has made herself comfortable on the Legion patio, where she appears to be nesting in one of the planters.
Image submitted by Jim Wilson.
A sign nearby explains the situation with the kind of charm only Wayzata can deliver:
“a duck has chose our plater to create a nest for her errs. please be kind and do not disturb.”
So stop by the Legion, enjoy the patio, say hello to friends, and take in one of those little scenes that makes Wayzata feel like Wayzata. Just be sure to give the nesting duck plenty of space, and let her corner of the patio remain quiet.
Local officials from several northern Lake Minnetonka-area communities gathered in late April for a regional forum focused on growth, zoning, public safety, infrastructure, taxes and water quality.
The forum was hosted by Rebecca Hawthorne, president of the League of Women Voters Lake Minnetonka/Plymouth Area, and featured Plymouth Deputy Mayor Clark Gregor, Wayzata Mayor Andrew Mullin, Orono Council Member Jon Schwingler, Medina Mayor Todd Albers, Corcoran Council Member Dean Vehrenkamp, Mound Mayor Jason Holt and Minnetrista Mayor Lisa Whalen.
Though each community faces different pressures, the discussion repeatedly returned to a shared concern: how cities can manage change while preserving local decision-making authority.
The forum was structured as a round-robin conversation, with officials from each community offering perspectives on shared regional issues. Wayzata.com has summarized the overall themes and sentiments expressed during the discussion.
Deputy Mayor Gregor said Plymouth is preparing for its next comprehensive planning process and is looking closely at housing affordability. He pointed to new housing projects in the city, including a development near Interstate 494 and Bass Lake Road expected to add nearly 1,000 units, with a portion set aside as affordable housing.
Mayor Mullin said Wayzata is largely built out, meaning most growth pressure comes through redevelopment rather than open land. He said the city has faced tension over density and remains focused on preserving local zoning authority.
Mayor Albers said Medina is in a different position as a suburban-edge community where development is expected to accelerate. He said state-level zoning mandates would not account for the different circumstances facing individual cities, including roads, sewer, water and public safety needs.
Council member Vehrenkamp described Corcoran as a community balancing growth with rural character. He said traffic is one of the city’s largest challenges, particularly as rural roads carry more pressure from new development. Corcoran also has the added complexity of being served by five school districts: Rockford, Buffalo, Rogers, Maple Grove and Wayzata.
Mayor Whalen said Minnetrista has about 9,300 residents and remains largely undeveloped, with only about one-third of the community developed. She said the city has experienced slow, steady growth of about 100 to 110 new homes per year, a pace she described as manageable. Like others on the panel, she said Minnetrista opposes state housing legislation that would restrict local control.
Council member Schwingler said Orono is primarily residential and has limited commercial land, making local planning decisions especially important as the city considers future development and preservation.
The forum also turned to public safety and municipal finances.
Several speakers described rising costs for police, fire service, staffing, fire stations, cybersecurity and fraud prevention. Communities discussed shared-service arrangements, fire district models, police recruitment and the challenge of maintaining services without placing too much pressure on property taxpayers.
Gregor noted Plymouth has rebuilt fire stations as it transitions from a volunteer and paid-on-call model toward more full-time staffing. He also said Plymouth had more than 5,500 fire calls last year, many of them health-related rather than fire-related.
Whalen discussed Minnetrista’s public safety partnerships, including police recruitment and fire service arrangements with St. Bonifacius and Mound. She said future fire partnerships may be necessary as recruitment becomes harder and costs rise.
Albers described Medina’s similar pressures, including fire-service partnerships and potential station needs tied to safety requirements.
Vehrenkamp highlighted Corcoran’s police department, retention efforts and the need to keep up with cybersecurity concerns.
Holt discussed Mound’s internal financial controls, including recent changes around city credit cards and receipt approval.
Several communities said cybersecurity is now a routine part of city operations, not a distant concern.
The lake and watershed discussion brought the communities back to their shared geography.
Officials described the region’s lakes, streams, wetlands and stormwater systems as deeply connected. Runoff from one community can eventually affect Lake Minnetonka, making water quality a regional issue rather than a city-by-city matter.
Mayor Charlie Miner discussed water quality in Long Lake and its connection to Lake Minnetonka, including efforts to address carp and sediment issues. Albers said Medina has pursued grants to reduce phosphorus loading into lakes, noting that water from Medina ultimately reaches Lake Minnetonka through the watershed system.
Vehrenkamp said Corcoran’s water issues include chlorides and agricultural runoff, while also noting that many farmers have buffers in place. Holt said Mound, with its extensive shoreline, has worked on stormwater efforts including rain barrels and drain adoption.
Whalen said Minnetrista is watching broader lake-use issues, including the balance between wake boats, canoes, fishing, shoreline protection and public access. She said the lake is heavily used and communities are trying to find rules that protect the water while remaining fair to those who use it.
Gregor said Plymouth works across multiple watersheds and has focused on chloride education, creek restoration and stormwater improvements.
Mullin said Wayzata has invested in stormwater treatment tied to its downtown lakefront improvements, including systems that capture and treat runoff before it enters Lake Minnetonka.
Near the end of the forum, each community was asked to identify a key opportunity or priority. The answers reflected the variety of communities represented: redevelopment, managed growth, preservation, small-town character, public campuses and fiscal discipline.
Taken together, the forum offered a regional view of issues often discussed one city at a time. Plymouth is planning for housing and business growth. Wayzata is managing redevelopment in a built-out lakefront community. Orono is weighing preservation and residential character. Medina, Corcoran and Minnetrista are balancing growth with infrastructure and rural identity. Mound is focused on communication, lake access and public improvements.
The discussion showed that northern Lake Minnetonka communities remain distinct, but increasingly face shared questions about growth, taxes, public safety and stewardship of the lake.
WAYZATA — The old cottonwood tree on Circle A Drive is gone, but the neighborhood legend that lived inside it has been given a new home.
For years, residents around Circle Drive have shared stories about Wise-Eddy, a small elf — or gnome, depending on the storyteller — believed by some neighbors to have resided inside the hollow of the towering cottonwood. The tree, described by residents as more than a century old, was recently cut down after concerns about its age and condition.
Image courtesy Diane Silikowski.
Rather than let the story end there, local residents Gordy Straka and Bill Berneking built Wise-Eddy a new house.
Neighbors recently gathered to dedicate the new home, turning the loss of an old tree into a small celebration of neighborhood lore, humor and continuity.
The Wise-Eddy story has become part of the fabric of the neighborhood, passed along with the kind of affection often reserved for old houses, familiar trees and quiet landmarks that become part of daily life. In a playful account written by Nan Sloan and Dean Knudson, Wise-Eddy was said to have taken up residence in the cottonwood in 1913 and watched generations of Wayzata life unfold from inside the tree.
Straka, described in the account as a local resident and self-proclaimed historian, helped keep the story alive as the tree’s removal approached. According to the neighborhood tale, Wise-Eddy had seen it all over the years.
Image courtesy Diane Silikowski.
The removal of the cottonwood marked the end of one chapter, but the dedication of Wise-Eddy’s new home offered neighbors a way to preserve the spirit of the old tree.
In a town where history often lives in depots, lakefront views, old homes and long-standing traditions, the gathering was a reminder that local history can also be found in smaller places — even in the hollow of a cottonwood tree, and now, in a handmade home built for an elf named Wise-Eddy.
WAYZATA — The City Council paused during its public forum this month to recognize the service of Graciela Gonzalez, whose resignation from the Charter Commission marks the close of more than two decades of involvement across some of Wayzata’s most influential boards.
Mayor Andrew Mullin noted that Gonzalez is among a small group of residents who can say they’ve served across four different commissions — including the Heritage Preservation Board, Planning Commission, Park and Trails Board, and most recently the Charter Commission. Her tenure stretched across multiple terms beginning in the early 2000s.
“In her 30 years of living here, Graciela spent more than 20 of them serving her community,” Mullin said. “Your influence and presence on our community has been felt over those two decades.”
Mullin described Gonzalez as a consistent presence in council chambers and a “steadfast advisor” on a wide range of initiatives, adding that her departure will be felt.
“We’re sad to see you leave Wayzata,” he said. “You’ve been a fixture here.”
He also pointed to a piece of local history Gonzalez recently shared — a Lakeshore Weekly clipping from 2001 documenting her initial appointment — noting that even at that time, others like Kent Howe and Judy Starkey stepped aside to make room for her service, a reflection of the regard she held in the community.
When invited to speak, Gonzalez kept her remarks brief, focusing less on her own tenure and more on encouraging others to get involved.
“It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve Wayzata over those many years,” she said. “I would just encourage anybody to step up and apply for a board or a commission — it’s a wonderful opportunity to make a difference.”
She added a simple reminder that underscored her years of civic involvement:
“We live here, and we should care about what happens.”
Gonzalez is relocating to a warmer climate, closing a chapter of service that spanned more than 20 years and left a lasting imprint on the city’s boards, commissions, and civic life.
In a rare show of unified concern across Hennepin County, Andrew Mullin and Jamie Baker have joined dozens of mayors and police chiefs in signing a joint letter urging continued funding and support for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
The letter—addressed to county commissioners—comes in response to recent public comments by Marion Greene, who stated she is “not willing to fund the sheriff to provide public safety for Hennepin County” and suggested that street-level safety should rest solely with local police departments.
For Wayzata’s leadership, that assertion prompted a clear and immediate response.
A Shared Responsibility
In the letter, local leaders emphasize that public safety across Hennepin County functions as a shared system—not a set of isolated departments.
“Public safety in Hennepin County is a shared responsibility, and the Sheriff’s Office is an indispensable part of that ecosystem,” the letter states.
That system includes critical services many residents rarely see but rely on daily:
911 dispatch
crime lab and forensic analysis
investigative support
regional task forces
Some cities, including smaller communities like Greenfield, rely entirely on the Sheriff’s Office for primary patrol services. Even in well-resourced cities like Wayzata, those county-level systems form the backbone behind local policing.
Why It Matters for Wayzata
Mayor Mullin and Chief Baker framed the issue in practical—not political—terms.
While Wayzata maintains a high-performing local police department, it does not operate in isolation. From major investigations to emergency response coordination, the city depends on county infrastructure that would be difficult—if not impossible—to replicate locally.
The letter underscores that point with real-world examples, citing the Sheriff’s Office response to major incidents across the county, including shootings, hostage situations, and complex forensic investigations.
Budget Context
The concern also centers on proportion.
According to the letter, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office accounts for approximately 6% of the county’s operating budget—a relatively small share for what local leaders describe as essential, countywide infrastructure.
“We need that investment,” the signatories write, urging commissioners to fund the office appropriately.
A System Under Strain
The letter also points to broader staffing realities across the metro.
Leaders note that the Minneapolis area already ranks among the lowest nationally in police staffing per capita. Removing or reducing the Sheriff’s role, they argue, would not shift responsibilities smoothly—it would create gaps.
“This is not a hypothetical,” the letter states, warning that without adequate support, crimes could go unsolved and emergency response systems could be strained.
A Regional Voice
The signatories span nearly every corner of Hennepin County—from Minneapolis to Minnetonka, Plymouth to Orono—reflecting a rare consensus among local governments.
For Wayzata, a city shaped by cooperation—from its earliest days along the north shore of Lake Minnetonka to its modern role within a regional network—this moment fits into a longer civic tradition.
Founded in 1854 as a small settlement along Dakota hunting grounds and later connected by rail and steamboat, Wayzata has long depended on shared systems—transportation, commerce, and public safety alike—to thrive.
Looking Ahead
For residents, the debate may feel distant—but its implications are not.
At its core, the issue is about how public safety is structured, funded, and sustained across a growing and interconnected region.
Wayzata’s leadership, alongside their peers, is making a clear case: the system works because it is shared—and preserving that system is essential to keeping communities safe.
Wayzata.com will continue to follow this story as Hennepin County officials consider budget priorities and the future role of the Sheriff’s Office.
“Providence Academy’s Maddyn Greenway added to her long list of basketball accolades by becoming a McDonald’s All-American. Greenway was honored with a ceremony at the Wayzata McDonald’s on Thursday night. Only the top 24 senior girls basketball players in the country are recognized as McDonald’s All-American’s. Greenway is averaging 35.5 points per game for the Lions this year and just last week passed the 5,000 point milestone. Next year, she will play basketball at the University of Kentucky. Greenway is one of 23 Minnesotans that have become McDonald’s All-Americans and is the sixth girls player in Minnesota to be recognized in the past six years.” via CCX Media.
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