St. Croix Valley - April 2026

A Vision to Endure

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Jared

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Stillwater

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FROM THE EDITOR

How can we live our lives with intention—and not only that, but beauty? It’s a question I’ve been considering throughout these long months of winter—a time that I’ve surmised is perfect for just that purpose. It’s easy to be caught in the flow of our lives and quite a bit harder to stop to create and enjoy the beauty in it. There is a bit of balance to be maintained, for sure, but I can’t help but continue to manifest the exciting opportunities my one, wild and precious life will hold.

The stories within this issue fall within that vein of intention. In the very first pages, you’ll hear from Afton furniture maker Tyrel Bleifus, who has tied his life and business deeply to the landscape of the St. Croix Valley. The way he perceives and works with nature—even naming his pieces after local bodies of water—can be a lesson to us all (page 10).

Speaking with the coaches and swimmers of the synchronized swimming team at Stillwater Area High School brought forth all the nostalgia of high school sports for me (page 14). Though (or perhaps because) I never passed level two swimming, I was deeply impressed by the commitment and passion of these swimmers, who practice up to four hours a day, six days a week. I hope you’ll join me in wishing them well as they pursue their sixth consecutive state championship title this May.

As the growing season fast approaches, I’m inspired by the work of Cimmaron Community Farm in Lake Elmo (page 28). The farm has a very wholesome, community-focused approach that brings free food and fantastic agricultural opportunities to area residents. Consider supporting your local farms this summer by joining a community-supported agriculture program. What dreams are you pursuing? Drop me a line at zoe@localmedia.co. Until next time,

Zoe Yates zoe@localmedia.co

As winter lingers and thoughts begin to turn toward spring, there’s no better time to embrace the warmth, comfort, and peace of mind that come with independent living at Saint Therese of Woodbury. Nestled in one of Minnesota’s most vibrant communities, our campus is a welcoming retreat where seniors can enjoy the beauty of winter without the burden of home maintenance.

Step outside your door and into a vibrant community offering:

• A warm saltwater pool and fitness center

• On-site bistro, library and Club Room

• Chapel and spiritual support

• Salon, barber shop and boutique

• Serene gardens and a therapeutic labyrinth

If your health needs change, a full continuum of care is available within the same familiar campus.

Come see for yourself why Saint Therese of Woodbury has been a trusted choice for 10 years.

VOL. 11 NO. 1

April/May 2026

PUBLISHER

Susan Isay

EDITOR

Zoe Yates

MANAGING CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Renée Stewart-Hester

MANAGING EDITOR

Hailey Almsted

DIGITAL EDITOR

Madeline Kopiecki

COPY EDITORS

Kellie Doherty and Sherri Hildebrandt

STAFF WRITERS

Mollee Francisco, Emily Gedde, Jennifer Pitterle, Alexandra Tostrud and Paige Udermann

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sarah Eral, Angie Hong, Rachael Perron, Lori Schaefer and Ben Thietje

DIGITAL INTERN

Danielle Gallus

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Abigail Larson, Diane Meyer, Kate Thompson and Avery Vrieze

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Nathan Hall, Hall Family Foundation ; Heather Logelin, St. Croix Valley Foundation ; Rosetta Peters, Brookside Bar & Grill ; Kristin Rohman Rehkamp, La Vie Est Belle ; and Margie Schmid, Sprout Nutrition and Coaching

SENIOR MANAGING ART DIRECTOR

Sarah Dovolos

ART DIRECTOR

Allison Nolden

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Jamie Klang

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Yaz Lo

LEAD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chris Emeott

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Brittni Dye

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Lisa Stone

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Mimi Coz

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Laura Bjorgo, Cynthia Hamre and Sara Johnson

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Rochita Chatterjee and Gina Neumann

PRESIDENT Pete Burgeson

To subscribe to St. Croix Valley Magazine , please visit localmedia.co. For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co, or call 612.208.6248. ©Local LLC 2026. All rights reserved.

Go Pro(tein)

Homemade protein shakes can be a great way to add a little nutrition to your diet, but they often fall flat when it comes to flavor and texture. To make protein shakes more flavorful and interesting, vary the liquid base, incorporate healthy ingredients for texture and added nutrition and experiment with flavor enhancers. This recipe offers 25 grams of protein per serving—with no added sugar— and tastes great.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Serves 1

» ¾ cup cold unsweetened almond milk

» 1 frozen banana, cut into chunks

» ¼ cup unsweetened whey protein powder*

» 2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

» ½ tsp. vanilla extract or paste

» 2 Tbsp. natural creamy peanut butter, plus more for serving

» chocolate shavings, optional

In the order listed, combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve topped with banana slices, chocolate shavings and a drizzle of peanut butter.

*When a plant-based protein powder is used, this recipe is dairy-free and vegan.

Rachael Perron is the culinary and branding director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications.

Heralds of Spring

Like prehistoric travelers, sandhill cranes fly overhead each spring, calling out to feathered friends ahead and down below. After spending their winter in Florida (They are literal snow birds!), these giant birds return to spend the warm months in fields and wetlands throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. The cranes are not only large—5 feet tall, with wingspans nearly 7 feet—but also ancient, with fossils dating back at least 2 million years. In Anishinaabe culture, the crane clan represents wisdom and equal communication.   Ready to watch the birds return? Visit Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, or Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area near Forest Lake to see sandhill cranes by the thousands, as well as ducks and waterfowl. Find trumpeter swans year-round at the St. Croix Boom Site near Stillwater or Sucker Lake in Vadnais Heights. Look for bald eagles, great blue herons and osprey along the St. Croix River in late spring.

Angie Hong coordinates the East Metro Water Education Program. Find her on social media @mnnature_awesomeness.

Tipping the Scales

Every spring in Hudson, Wisconsin, as the ice breaks and the river begins to peek through again, a particularly charming creature begins to reappear around town. He’s become something of a local folk hero. His name is Scrappy, and he’s made of garbage.

Not metaphorical garbage, mind you. Scrappy is an art project composed of actual trash pulled from the St. Croix River.

More than a decade ago, Scrappy was created by Twin Cities sculptor Mary Johnson for St. Croix RiverFest. Since his birth, he’s evolved into an annual community art project—part sculpture, part environmental statement and part neighborhood mascot. Each summer, volunteer artists comb the riverbanks, gathering bottle caps, lost sunglasses and any other mysterious items that might present themselves. After that, it’s a process of sorting, scrubbing and transforming those items into “Scrappy scales.”

The result is a pretty amazing sculpture that reflects both the creativity of Hudson and the impact this community has on its local environment. If you see Scrappy around town this spring, give him a wave. He’s made of trash, but he’s got a whole lot of heart.

Ben Thietje serves as the executive director of the Phipps Center for the Arts. Learn more at thephipps.org.

A Vision to Endure

Tyrel Bleifus shares his distinctive approach to furniture making.

By Diane Meyer

Afton furniture maker Tyrel Bleifus understands how to strike a balance between his imagination and the natural beauty of the earth. His business, Ty’s Timberworks, is grounded in a deep relationship with the trees he aims to give a second life. Each handcarved bench, chair and stool is molded with the unique character of the wood in mind. “I just want to live a peaceful life and bring beautiful things into the world,” Bleifus says.

Growing up in a family of tradesmen in southeast Minnesota provided an informal, yet formative, education for Bleifus. “My dad would let me grab all his plywood off-cuts and run off into the woods. He let me build whatever I wanted,” Bleifus says. This even included a three-story treehouse Bleifus built when he was just 8 years old.

His path led him away from woodworking for a time. He attended the University of St. Thomas, where he pursued a degree in psychology and business. Then he moved to Denver and worked in solar and user experience (UX) design. But in 2020, a move back to Minnesota with his wife, Jen, encouraged him to chart a new course, and he launched Ty’s Timberworks out of his athome workshop.

Bleifus considers it a duty and an honor to create art that endures, and chairs are his special passion. With each new creation, Bleifus is acutely aware of its potential to facilitate life’s precious moments. One such

Bottom: All Ty’s Timberworks pieces are named for bodies of water. This bench is from his Kawishiwi River Collection.

Tyrel Bleifus spends the cold months in the workshop, refining new designs and building up a stock to sell at area festivals and events when the weather warms.

piece, a St. Croix River Rocker, is integral to the Bleifus family routine; it’s the place where their young son is fed and nurtured. “[Trees] feel immortal,” Bleifus says. “They don’t beg to be beautiful, but in their function, they become that.”

Last year, about nine months before the birth of his son, Bleifus sustained a near-fatal injury while felling a tree. Using a chainsaw is a regular part of the job for Belfius, but he recalls a rare moment. “The tip of the chainsaw jumped and hit my left arm,” he says. The cut barely missed major arteries, and Bleifus clung to consciousness as he was rushed to the hospital. “I was very close to dying, and so I should have been thinking about that, but [instead] I was thinking, ‘What have I done? I work with my hands,’” he says.

In recovery, Bleifus found new ways to reconnect with his work. “I carved 100 spoons to try to get my hand to work again,” he says. Now, his hand is back to 100 percent ability. “Every time I finish something, I look at it, and I think, ‘You’re still able to make that.’ And I have gratitude,” he says.

Bleifus shares that his calling is not about making a good living, “but a good life.” His greatest hope is that his furniture will leave a mark—not in the interest of his own legacy, but for life’s continuation. “I’ll be gone, and no one will remember that I made it, but it’s almost like a moral thing: it has to endure.”

Ty’s Timberworks tystimberworks.com @tystimberworks

Discovering the Spirit of Minnesota

Jared and Melinda Hoke reflect on their journey to visit all 66 state parks.

By Zoe Yates

For the past 50 years, Marine on St. Croix residents Jared and Melinda Hoke have had a front row seat to Minnesota’s majestic beauty. Just outside the couple’s historic log home on the bluffs, the St. Croix River flows steadfast through the seasons.

It’s a sight they’ve come to appreciate all the more after completing a grand adventure to hike all of Minnesota’s 66 state parks. “You think you’re the center of your own story … you get out there, and you realize the story is so much bigger,” Melinda says.

The journey began during a difficult period for the Hokes. Following a surgery in 2008, Jared’s immune system “went into overdrive,” he says. Within a matter of days, he couldn’t walk. Jared was diagnosed and

treated for psoriatic arthritis, and it would take a full year of physical therapy to get him back on his feet.

Avid cyclists and hikers, the Hokes were familiar with Minnesota’s state park system, and visits to parks became key to Jared’s recovery. “I’d wheel him around before he was able to do his walking again,” Melinda says.

On one such trip, the Hokes discovered the Minnesota DNR’s Hiking and Passport Clubs, programs that encourage people to log miles at state parks while earning rewards. Each of Minnesota’s state parks (including recreation areas and some waysides) features designated Hiking Club trails. “That quest to hike all the parks became a pilgrimage through all of these layers of what Minnesota really is … the

history, the volunteerism, all of the peoples over 9,000 years who inhabited Minnesota, the resources, the geography, the cultures, the whole story,” Melinda says.

One step at a time, the Hokes embraced healing and exploration. Day trips to local parks became weekend trips across the state, where they hiked multiple 2- to 6-mile trails each day. Joined by their dog, Boomer, the Hokes found themselves exploring wide, secluded prairies in the west, traversing bogs in the north and climbing rugged terrain in the east.

Serendipitously, the final stamp on the Hokes’ passport came on their 30th wedding anniversary at one of their most-visited parks—William O’Brien State Park in Marine on St. Croix. On their way home from the last

leg of their trip, they squeezed in the 6.5-mile trail. Four years after starting their journey, the Hokes returned home exhausted, joyous and forever changed—with many stories to share.

That was back in 2014, but it wasn’t until 2025 that the Hokes devoted themselves to sharing their story, offering insight into the diverse cultural and ecological landscapes of Minnesota with a presentation that includes music, photography and words. Melinda encourages people to embrace not just the natural beauty of these places, but “the connection of the park itself to the history of Minnesota, to the cultures of Minnesota, to the spirit of who we are,” she says.

Read more at stcroixvalleymag.com.

Forget Me Not

A basement remodel by Moonstone Design & Build brings effortless elegance and functionality.

With a showstopping Lake Elmo lower-level remodel, Moonstone Design & Build shows that even the oft-forgotten spaces of the home can become favorites.

As homeowners Alicia and Paul Hanson chipped away at renovations of their cookiecutter new build, they hoped to create a lower-level space that was both sporty and organic, uniquely suited for every member of the family.

Now, the space satisfies all that a lower level requires and more, including a dry bar, game nook, gym and living space. But with an organic color palette, expansive textural design and high-end finishes, the basement has become a treasured part of the home. “One of the goals was to make it feel like it was on the main level,” says Lidia Valdivia, founder of Moonstone Design & Build.

A focal point of the design is a statementmaking dry bar with a quartzite slab backsplash and countertop. The flagstone arch over the bar matches the fireplace on the main level. “We were looking for ways to make them blend,” Alicia says.

The living space is full of character, with adorned floating wood shelves, framed sports jerseys and a foosball table, and is made especially distinctive by the addition of a lush, oversized pink couch. “It’s definitely a conversation piece that felt personal to the homeowners,” Valdivia says. “It brings

Ready to Redo?

For homeowners looking to begin a basement remodel, Lidia Valdivia’s first piece of advice is to avoid trends. In fact, she isn’t a fan of that word at all. The key is to select items that prioritize the homeowner’s comfort and unique style.

» Choose color: Painting walls or creating an accent wall can define a basement transformation. Consider combining neutral and bold colors. For a moody look, try color drenching with a dark blue or deep green. For an airy feeling, select colors that feel lighter and will make the space feel bigger.

» Mix materials: Adding textures like limewash, Roman clay, stone or wood, even as an accent, can really add to a room.

» Upgrade lighting: Many basements have low ceilings, and Valdivia suggests unique lighting treatments to improve the space. Layer lighting with lamps or sconces to make a space feel more intentional. Some options don’t need to be hardwired and use a battery-powered light.

» Add trim: Don’t skimp on the basement. Add trimwork to match the rest of your home, and make the lower level feel more aligned.

» Upgrade electrical outlet plates: Ditch the white plastic plates. Tie in other finishes in the room, and use black or brass outlet plates.

» Introduce character: Furniture choices will make or break a space. A colorful couch or patterned rug can breathe extra life into any room.

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a pop of color against a palette of whites and browns.” Here, the Moonstone team also put special attention on the walls, where vertical texture is achieved with a limewash finish, complemented by high, neutral curtains and a black-slatted TV wall.

Sculptural statements and textural variations in the bathroom elevate the space well

beyond cookie-cutter. A veined marble sink from Turkey is one of Valdivia’s favorite features of the entire project. “It’s a showstopper for sure,” she says. With an arched, fluted glass shower wall, brass finishes, pebbled floors and plastered walls in Roman clay, there is a layered complexity that feels anything but busy. Valdivia draws attention to another unique element—shared tiles on the bathroom’s floor and shower walls are distinctive in their layout, achieving both a dynamic and complementary appearance.

For Valdivia, this basement remodel is unlike any she’s ever done, and the result feels effortless. “This project challenged

me to think outside the box on the design,” she says. “The design was really fun, and it came together rather quickly and felt very rewarding.”

The Hansons couldn’t be happier. Since the renovation’s completion, the space has been home to many conversations and memories made. “We love it. [Valdivia] and her team did renderings of some of my drawings and really brought the vision of what both my husband and I wanted to life,” Alicia says.

Moonstone Design & Build moonstonebuilds.com @moonstone.mn

GREEN OASIS

Green Oasis delivers professional, family-focused outdoor solutions designed to elevate the way you live outside. From lawn care and landscaping to irrigation, pest control, decking and outdoor living features, our team provides dependable expertise to meet every homeowner’s needs. With experienced technicians, thoughtful design and a commitment to quality, your dream oasis starts here! Backed by strong customer satisfaction and a full range of services, Green Oasis is proud to serve families across Minnesota and Wisconsin—bringing comfort, beauty and lasting value to your outdoor spaces. Schedule a consultation with our worldclass designers at greenoasis.co.

COCOBELLO

Cocobello Interiors has been transforming homes since 2003 and has been voted Best Interior Design Firm in St. Croix Valley Magazine’s annual readers’ choice poll four years in a row. With a reputation for creativity, attention to detail and a deep understanding of how people live, we bring each client’s vision to life with style and precision. After more than two decades in business, Cocobello Interiors continues to stand out for exceptional craftsmanship, timeless design and a commitment to making every project extraordinary. Give us a call today at 612.599.8201 for a consultation, or visit cocobellointeriors.com.

MYHRA DESIGN GROUP

Myhra Design Group is an innovative landscaping company, specializing in creating art from the earth. With a unique blend of imaginative vision and natural elements, it transforms ordinary areas into extraordinary landscapes. Through meticulous planning and attention to detail, it crafts stunning outdoor spaces that seamlessly blend with the surrounding environment. The team’s expertise lies in creating visually captivating and functional outdoor areas that enhance the overall beauty and value of any property. With a passion for art and nature, Myhra Design Group brings the outdoors to life, providing clients with unforgettable outdoor experiences. Whether it’s a lush garden, a serene patio or a breathtaking pathway, it excels at turning the earth into a canvas for all of its artistic endeavors. myhradesign.com

IN SYNC

Written by Zoe Yates

Stillwater Area High School’s

Synchronized Swimming Team pursues championships and connection.

The routine begins in silent anticipation. On counts of eight, swimmers march to the edge of the pool in practiced steps. A whistle blows, the music starts and they begin their deck work, a series of movements that set the tone for the routine. The stillness gives way to a cacophony of cheers and shouts. Then, the swimmers dive, and the water swallows the sound. “All the world disappears, and you just have the music underwater and your teammates,” says Bella Chau, a Stillwater Area High School (SAHS) synchronized swimming alum who now competes at the University of Minnesota.

Synchronized, or artistic, swimming is in a league of its own. Few understand the grit it takes to compete in the sport—to fight and flow in the water, to engage every muscle with breath held and eyes open. But dozens of SAHS synchronized swimmers and program alums do. “[When] the time comes to perform, you have to take those goggles off; you have to get your hair up. You’re putting on a show,” says Juliet Schmit, assistant coach and former SAHS synchronized swimmer. “You’re trying to make it look easy, but it’s actually one of the hardest things that [you’ll] probably ever do.”

For generations, Ponies Synchro has been synonymous with excellence. In the 52 years since the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) hosted the sport’s first state tournament, the Stillwater team has never placed lower than second. And this May, the team aims to secure its sixth consecutive title. “Of course, you know, our end goal is to win a championship, but I don’t think that’s the only thing,” says head coach Kathy Henderson. “It’s what we’re working towards, but it’s also about community and family and fighting for each other.”

Henderson has devoted nearly 40 years to the SAHS synchro program as a swimmer and coach, and she’s not an outlier. Henderson’s predecessor, Judy Luzaich, coached the team for 45 years, from 1967 to 2012, and laid the groundwork for success in a rapidly changing environment.

Synchronized swimming was refined and restructured as recently as 2022, when the scoring rules were adjusted at the collegiate level to reduce subjectivity. But it’s not just the rules that have changed—the difficulty and expectations have risen exponentially. “The sport I swam in high school is so different [from] what we are swimming today. You can’t even compare,” Henderson says, recalling her years on the team from 1988 to 1991. “When I was a state champion as a senior, my routines would barely make it out of JV nowadays.”

SAHS swimmers today will practice up to 24 hours per week to hone strength and synchronicity, beginning the first week of March. It’s a mental game, just as much as a physical one. Building a tight core and refining breathwork underwater allows swimmers to fully extend their limbs and showcase graceful, artistic movements with their legs above the surface. “We have a lot to accomplish, and the girls know that. And they want to do well. They want to make each other proud,” Henderson says.

By April, swimmers are ready to showcase two components: figures and routines. Figures are a set of skills performed individually and judged on control, design and difficulty. Routines, performed as solos, duets, trios and teams, are scored for execution and artistic impression.

Swimmers synchronize their movements with teammates, keeping count and tracking their location with visual markers on pool walls as they navigate through lifts, turns and tricks, often upside down. “You’re fighting, you’re gritting, you’re just working your butt off, but above the water, you have to make it look beautiful,” Henderson says.

The score from each routine is combined with the average figure score of the swimmers involved and added to the team’s total score. “You might be swimming a solo or maybe a

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duet … but there’s a whole team that you’re swimming for,” Henderson says.

For as long as there’s been an MSHSL synchronized swimming tournament, there’s been a records board above the Stillwater pool. Years went by with no new additions, but the tide began to shift in 2019. “We won a lot of events,” Henderson says of the year before COVID-19, which was followed by a cancelled 2020 season. “But the second we got back in 2021, nobody could even come close to us.”

When the original board reached capacity, the community raised the funds for its replacement, which now displays the names of champion swimmers past and present—with room to celebrate the swimmers to come.

Seeing those names takes Chau, who swam on the team from 2017 to 2022, back to that very first championship win. Hearing the announcement, and the resulting cheers, sobs and feeling of togetherness, will always live

in her memory in slow motion. “I felt like I was in a movie. That feeling where time, like, stops,” she says.

SAHS senior and team captain Hailey Schmit, the top-ranked high school synchronized swimmer in the state since her seventh-grade year in 2021, grew up at that pool. In her childhood photographs, “You can see the board in the background, and it seems really empty,” Hailey says. “I’m so used to it being filled, you know, from these past five years. But it’s so weird to look at that and think, ‘That girl, that little 6-year-old girl right there, is going to be the next one with her name up there in all those categories. It’s still really surreal.”

For SAHS synchronized swimmers past and present, it’s the close bonds of teammates that will stand the test of time. “The community is very much like a family,” says Elaina Lokken, team captain and SAHS senior. “We get very close. Sometimes it’s like sisters, almost.”

For those who have had the opportunity to know and to love synchronized swimming, it often becomes a lifelong passion. “My entire adult life has been partially revolving around this team and making it be successful,” Henderson says. “I’m super proud of that, and I have loved every minute of it.”

She’s instilled this passion in her swimmers—and many of those swimmers’ children. The state synchro community is filled with former Ponies. “When you have coaches [who] believe in what they’re doing and pass that on to their athletes, I think it’s just contagious,” Juliet says. “There was that early-on dedication and love for the sport that just got passed on to so many generations throughout this community.”

Ponies Synchro sahs.stillwaterschools.org @poniessynchro

TRAVEL GUIDE

The perfect day trip.

Travel doesn’t always mean packing a bag and making flight reservations. The perfect day trip awaits throughout the greater Twin Cities area and beyond. Escape the everyday with a relaxing drive along winding roads, explore small town charm and point yourself away from your oft visited locales. Take a day tour off the traditional beaten path to discover natural vistas, beautiful venues and welcoming people—prepared for your visit in the most hospitable way.

Two Silo Winery & Vineyard

Make it a weekend worth savoring. Trade crowded city nights for vineyard sunsets at Two Silo Winery & Vineyard in Grant, Minnesota. Our 22-acre estate blends historic farmhouse charm with modern luxury, just minutes from the Twin Cities. Enjoy small-batch wines, curated tasting flights and elegant farm-inspired fare in a cozy, sophisticated setting. Extend your stay in our vineyard-view farmhouse, perfect for intimate gatherings or refined weekend escapes. Sip. Stay. Savor.

Cultivating Community

Written by Jennifer Pitterle —

A Lake Elmo farm offers a free market, garden plots and educational opportunities.

Just south of Lake Elmo’s quaint downtown, Cimarron Community Farm sits tucked inside the Cimarron Park mobile home community—an unexpected pocket of agriculture, connection and education. What began in 2010 as a grassroots effort to address food access has grown into a vibrant neighborhood hub under co-directors Madeline Esterl and Elise Hanson.

In 2020, Esterl and Hanson, both experienced in regional agriculture education programs and organizations, learned the farm was looking for new leadership. The space had existed for a decade, led by a team that recognized the importance of bringing healthy produce and food education directly into Cimarron Park, a neighborhood with few grocery options (what experts now call a “food desert”) and unique economic challenges. The original programming focused on cooking classes, garden plots and youth education, and although each year looked a bit different, Esterl says, “The mission had always been food-oriented in that neighborhood.”

When Esterl and Hanson took over operations, they jumped right in and began imagining what the farm could be. “We spent the fall, winter and spring cleaning things out, setting up the organization and getting people on board. It was an ‘if you build it, they will come’ thing,” Esterl says. The first growing season of the revitalized Cimarron Community Farm was summer 2021. “When we started, we were really enthusiastic about being organic farmers. Then, after getting to know our neighbors there, we found ourselves more activated by the education and

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Bottom Right: Along with classes and youth programs at Cimarron Community Farm, local families have another opportunity to dig in. Michele Roth and her grandson, Kash, are one of 14 Cimarron Park families with a free garden plot at the farm. Last year was Roth’s first time gardening, and she and Kash enjoyed visiting the plot daily to weed, water and watch their food grow.

community support aspect of the farm,” Esterl says. Instead of farming for its own sake, the work became about relationships.

That community-minded approach is woven through the programs now offered at Cimarron. Fourteen families receive free garden plots each year—a blend of experienced growers and beginners. “It’s a good opportunity for people to learn how to grow food,” Esterl says. Many families who immigrated from other countries also grow culturally significant crops, “that we [in Minnesota] don’t know about, and you can’t find in grocery stores,” she says.

During the growing season, residents can also come to the farm to pick up free produce, sometimes alongside pantry staples from partner food shelves, at its free farmers market, which serves between 70 and 120 families bi-weekly. Esterl says the free farmers market has turned into an informal gathering place. “People love just showing up … everyone just lingers and hangs out, and it’s a great community space,” she says.

Michele Roth, who has lived in Cimarron Park for 32 years, says the farm “offers a way for my neighbors and myself to enjoy fresh produce and to participate. Last summer was my first year of growing my own garden. My 4-year-old grandson, Kash, helped me and was so excited every day to go up to the garden, to water it and watch it grow.” Roth says Esterl and Hanson are “wonderful, and they work very hard.”

Young people are central to the farm’s mission. During summer day-camp-style programs for Cimarron Park residents, little kids learn to compost, cook, harvest produce

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and plant seeds. “They like anything dipped in ranch, so it’s an easy sell,” Esterl says with a laugh. Teens take on leadership roles, from farm-to-table cooking to communications and tending the crops themselves. In some years, up to 30 kids participate weekly over the summer—a remarkable number for a community of 500 households.

The experience matters deeply in a neighborhood where kids navigate both social and economic disparities. Esterl says, “They get to go back to school with their peers, and they get to say, ‘I have learned how to do all of these things.’”

Visitors are often surprised by the variety growing in the fields: more than 80 kinds of vegetables each season. Communitysupported agriculture (CSA) shares are available to purchase for the general public every summer, offering a way for neighbors to support the farm and local food access. Boxes

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•Inflammatory Bowel disease - Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

•Irritable bowel Syndrome and other digestive disorders

include everything from broccolini and Napa cabbage to winter squash. Looking ahead, the farm hopes to add more perennial crops, including rhubarb and other fruits, and to continue tending a pear tree that’s getting more abundant each year.

For nearby neighbors, getting involved and making a difference in local food access can be as simple as joining a CSA, volunteering at a farm event or stopping by the free farmers market, which is open to the public. “People engaging with our CSA is always an awesome way to invest in their neighbors,” Esterl says. And for those who come simply to pick up food—no payment, no questions asked—she has a clear message: “Money shouldn’t be a restriction to what you can eat.”

Cimarron Community Farm

cimarroncommunityfarm.com

Cimarron Community Farm

Bridgewater Bank

It began in 2005 with a vision to build an entrepreneurial bank where answers came quickly, opportunities were plentiful and the environment was optimistic. The goal was simple: create a bank where clients truly notice a difference. Nearly two decades later, that vision has grown to nine branches across the Twin Cities, including the recently opened Lake Elmo location.

For Cassie Laurvick, vice president of Commercial Banking at Bridgewater Bank, the expansion into the St. Croix Valley feels especially meaningful. “Many of us have strong ties to this area,” Laurvick says. “Lake Elmo and the surrounding communities value relationships, hard work and connection, and that reflects our approach to banking.”

The state-of-the-art Lake Elmo branch features welcoming meeting spaces for in-person conversations, a drive-thru and an ATM. But Laurvick says the most important feature isn’t physical. “It’s the relationship-based banking experience we provide,” she says. “Our dedicated team takes the time to understand each client’s unique goals and challenges. Then, we leverage our experience, knowledge of the local market and robust network to help clients succeed. We become a true partner in their success,” she says.

Bridgewater provides personal and commercial banking services, including lending solutions, deposit products and treasury management tools. “We take a holistic approach,” Laurvick says. “Whether someone is growing a business, planning for the future or managing complex finances, we want to be their partner throughout the journey, simplifying their banking experience so they can focus on what matters most.”

As a locally founded and locally led bank headquartered in the Twin Cities, Bridgewater emphasizes its ability to provide “the best of both worlds” as it offers the sophisticated products and services of a larger institution paired with the personalized, concierge-style experience of a bank built one handshake at a time.

“We’re incredibly proud to serve the St. Croix Valley and the East Metro,” Laurvick says. “For many of us, this is home. Being able to support the people and businesses in this community is a privilege we don’t take lightly.”

To learn more about Bridgewater Bank and discover how its local team can help maximize your success, visit BWBMN.com.

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A Day of Hope

Annual Earth Fest in River Falls, Wisconsin, highlights sustainable practices.

Celebrate Earth Day and sustainability at Earth Fest at the University of Wisconsin River Falls (UWRF) from noon–4 p.m. April 25. Organized by Hope for Earth (hopeforearth.org), the volunteer-led event for all ages brings together exhibitors, hands-on activities and music, drawing up to 2,500 attendees each year since its inception in 2022. “It’s an entirely free event. We really want to make sure the event is accessible,” says Mark Klapatch, Earth Fest chair and UWRF sustainability coordinator.

Attendees will have the opportunity to try local foods, meet area farmers and sample Green Skills mini-sessions. Sustainability in fashion will be a significant part of the event, with a Trashion Show, clothing swap and mending station. Guests are encouraged to make the most of helpful offerings like battery recycling, compost collection, prescription drug turn-in and well water testing. “Seeing a couple thousand people come together and just be in the same place and interested about wanting to make the world a better place, that’s really satisfying,” Klapatch says. —Zoe Yates

04.11

The Magic Flute & The Lost Prince Experience a family-friendly opera performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, designed to teach valuable lessons for children grades three to six. Performances are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at The Phipps Center for the Arts. scvopera.org

04.25

Bootleggers and Big Bands

This speakeasy fundraiser features food and prohibition-era cocktails, storytelling from true-crime writer Paul Maccabee and swing dancing from 7–11 p.m. at Scandia Creamery. Attendees are encouraged to come in 1930s-inspired apparel. scandiaheritage.org

04.26

Valley Eco Fair

This fourth annual event celebrates connection to the Earth, creativity and sustainability, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Pioneer Park. sustainablestillwatermn.org

05.08–05.10

Annual Pottery Tour

Explore the work of 68 local and international potters at the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour over Mother’s Day weekend. saintcroixvalleypotterytour.com

05.24

The Boil at Big Rock

This Cajun Feast and Celebration offers fun for all ages with animal visits, authentic dishes, fireworks and live music from 3–10 p.m. at Big Rock Creek. bigrockcreekwi.com

05.25

Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony

At 11:30 a.m. at the Stillwater Veterans’ Memorial, the City of Stillwater will honor veterans with a guest speaker, a laying of wreaths and a roll call of new pavers. stillwatermn.gov

Compiled by Abigail Larson and Kate Thompson

To have your event considered: email stcroixvalleymag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Please note that some events may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

$ 5 Admission OR $3 with Food Donation

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Junkin Market Days Spring Market

Shabby Chic Home Decor

Jewelry

Gourmet Foods

One-of-a-kind Finds

Vintage Antiques

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Our Mission: Possible Gala

More than 235 guests gathered at the JX Center in Stillwater for Sustainable Stillwater MN’s sold-out Our Mission: Possible Gala last fall. The event included community connection and networking, food and drinks, recognition of local sustainability leaders and a silent auction, along with a keynote address by Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown. The event raised more than $50,000 for the nonprofit to continue its work in building a resilient and sustainable St. Croix Valley.

To have your event considered: send date, time, location, photos, contact information and a brief description of the event to stcroixvalleymag@localmedia.co.

Written by Elizabeth Millard

PROTECTING YOUR HEART

A top cardiologist shares insights on key cardiovascular risk factors— including ones you can change for better health.

Although you can’t modify all the risk factors for developing cardiovascular issues, there are a few meaningful lifestyle changes that can help boost your heart health. We asked Joseph Browning, M.D., a cardiologist at HealthPartners Heart Care at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, to share the top three risk factors to keep in mind.

1. Family History

In terms of factors you can’t alter, family history is at the top. “There is a strong genetic component to coronary artery disease, and we look at not only who had that issue, but at what age they developed it,” Dr. Browning says.

For example, if a patients’ father had a heart attack in his 40s, it’s likely the patient will need to be monitored for heart issues more closely than someone without any family history. One positive note is that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help mitigate those genetic associations.

2. Physical Activity Level

Even without family history of heart problems, being sedentary can raise your risk of developing issues significantly, Dr. Browning says. That’s because a low physical activity level has been linked to high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol—all major factors in heart

health. Prolonged sitting even impairs the body’s ability to break down fat, so a patient may experience weight gain that further puts the heart at risk.

“You don’t need intense exercise all the time, every day to make a difference,” Dr. Browning explains. “You just need to make a dedicated effort to stay active. It’s never too late, and exercise can provide so many other benefits as well, like strength, flexibility and balance. Plus, it can lift your mood as well.”

3. Knowing Your Numbers

The earlier a patient can manage notable challenges like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, the easier it will be to keep cardiovascular health on track. Because of that, it’s important for even younger people in their 20s and 30s to ask their doctor about adding blood pressure and cholesterol checks to their annual physical.

“Getting a baseline about certain factors like blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and diabetes status can help you catch problems early, when they’re just starting,” Dr. Browning says. That’s important since many heart-related difficulties including high blood pressure and high cholesterol often have no symptoms and might be detected only when there’s a heart-related event. Checking in with your doctor on a regular basis can help you manage risk factors and keep your heart going strong.

The Colors of the Season

Bluebirds have a special place in Nancy Klinger’s heart. The area resident volunteers as a bluebird trail monitor at Belwin Conservancy in Afton and often brings her camera along while hiking the trails. “The term that I use to describe my photography is enthusiast. The term that I use to describe my love of bluebirds is fanatical!” Klinger says. On one April stroll, she heard a familiar “cheer, cheer, cheer,” and spotted an Eastern Bluebird with her beak full of nesting material. “I usually follow the rule of thirds for my bird photos, but I wanted her to be in the center of the shot,” Klinger says. “Isn’t she beautiful?” —Zoe Yates

Photographer: Nancy Klinger Title: The Joys of Spring Equipment: Canon EOS R7 with a Canon 100–500mm lens

Location: Belwin Conservancy Category: Wildlife Award: Second Place

To view other Lens on St. Croix Valley photo contest winners, visit stcroixvalleymag.com.

Seafood Season

NEVER ENDS

At Kowalski’s, we bring you the freshest seafood all year long, from catch to case in as little as 24 hours!

• We receive daily shipments of seafood from around the world, offering up to 40 choices every day!

• Most, if not all, of our seafood is directly flown to our processor, resulting in fish that is 5-7 days fresher than what may be found elsewhere.

• In 2019, Kowalski’s became the first retailer in the country to become a Smart Catch Leader, which promotes transparency and sustainability in the seafood supply chain.