August/September 2021

“With bread, all sorrows are less.” —Sancho Panza in Don Quixote

Isn’t that the truth? We believe baked goods make life better; and so do all the people showcased in this issue. Read the digital edition.

Brothers in the Sunset

We regularly feature photo submissions from our Lens on St. Croix Valley photo contest in the pages of St. Croix Valley Magazine and online.

 
St. Croix Baking Company owner, chef Charles Froke

St. Croix Baking Company owner, chef Charles Froke, was busy in the kitchen when I visited his shop on a Monday, a day it’s typically closed to the public. He’d been attending to a big bowl of some creamy, chocolatey creation when I arrived.

 

This past spring, St. Croix Valley residents and guests gathered to enjoy an enchanted evening at the Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo while raising funds to support the charitable work of the United Way of Washington County East.

 
Spirit of St. Croix Art Festival

Embrace Your Artistic Side

Spirit of St. Croix Art Festival Returns in 2021.

 
art fair

Come visit the St. Croix River town of Afton, Minn. on September 25th and 26th when the 43rd Afton Art in the Park, hosted by the Afton Area Business Association, will take place in Town Square Park.

 
Ruben Custom Sawmill

About four years ago, Matt Ruben and his family decided to pack their bags and move away from city life to Denmark Township, on a five-acre hobby farm. With a desire to start a business, Ruben had a few ideas in mind.

 
21 Roots goat

Local nonprofit 21 Roots Farm brings meaningful activities to people impacted by developmental disabilities throughout the St. Croix Valley community. With programming for both youths and adults, activities on the farm are as fresh as each new season since the farm’s start in 2019.

 
outfit collage

“Most people in the United States only wear about 20 percent of their wardrobes. That means that 80 percent of their clothes are languishing in their closet being unworn,” Nancy Dilts says.

 
man talking with his dad

Adult children between the ages of 30 and 50 can find it daunting to navigate the conversation minefield that is end-of-life care with their parents. So, we asked Dr. Jae-Woo Kim M.D.

 
Hudson Inclusion Alliance

Promoting a welcoming community where everyone is valued, the Hudson Inclusion Alliance (HIA) is a nonpartisan group of local youth, parents, business owners and residents seeking to pursue equity and inclusion in the city.

 

An emerging popular trend is the use of dried flowers to decorate the home, with a plethora of blooming beauties popping up everywhere.

 

The Dr. Greg Seftick Wilderness Scholarship was awarded to two Stillwater Area High School students, Adam Gaertner and Johnna Teegarden, this past spring. Each received a $1,000 award.

 
chocolate granola

For many of us, some form of cereal is a staple in the morning meal rotation. Boxed cold cereals and precooked grains are convenient and can be particularly nutritious when done right.

 
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World by Fredrik Backman

I’ve fallen in love with Fredrik Backman’s writing the same way he states in this book he wants his son to fall in love with words. “Like whirlwinds in your head. Like a punch to the gut.”

 
custom event décor

An organic idea born in 2020 blossoms into a growing celebration business for a Hudson mother/daughter team. Founders of Dot & Daisy, Jen Driscoll and Jordan Stewart, are creative by nature.