The Roundabout

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^{Newsletter Editor: Pat Mack}

Haskell’s Shuts Down Woodbury Store

^{By Pat Mack}

Haskell’s has closed its only wine and liquor store in Woodbury. “We are closed,” a sign taped on the front door states. “Thank you for your patronage!”

The store employed a total of 12 full-timers and part-timers, according to Katan Ratnam, the manager of Haskell’s Stillwater. Those employees were offered employment at Haskell’s 11 other metro locations.

Ratnam said the Woodbury store had lost money since the COVID-19 pandemic. Business bounced back a bit as the pandemic waned but not enough to make up for cost increases including rising rent. Stiff competition from the Total Wine & More superstore that opened in 2014 in Woodbury didn’t help.

“It was a culmination of things,” Ratnam said of the decision to close the store at 6445 Lake Road in July. “There were a lot of factors that went into it.”

The retailer has served Woodbury since 2001, Ratnam said. “Sad to hear they’re closing down for good,” one reviewer on Google stated. The first Haskell’s opened in downtown Minneapolis in 1934.

Woodbury Park Apartment Complex Sells For $55.5 Million

The Woodbury Park at City Centre apartment complex has been sold to a California company for $55.5 million, according to Finance & Commerce. A certificate of real estate value states JRK Property Holdings of Los Angeles bought the 22-building property. The seller was Stockbridge Capital Group of San Francisco. Woodbury Park at City Centre is located on the east side of Woodbury at 2150 Viking Drive. Built in 1999, the complex was renovated in 2016. The newspaper reports that more than 10 offers were made, demonstrating the faith the real estate industry has in Woodbury’s economy.

HVAC Company Moving from St. Paul to Woodbury

An HVAC company has opened a Woodbury location while it shuts down its store in St. Paul. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports MSP Plumbing, Heating and Air is giving up its location on Grand Avenue for a larger facility with more parking for its service vans at 2415 Ventura Drive in Woodbury. The newspaper states the Woodbury location opened Monday, while the St. Paul location will close later this month. MSP was founded in 1918 and has operated on the historic street in St. Paul since 1927.

Woodbury Police Target Retail Theft

The Woodbury Police Department arrested 11 people last week during a targeted effort aimed at stopping retail theft. The department stated in a Facebook post that its Community Impact Unit worked with ten retail managers for the eight-hour operation. More than ten police officers patrolled the retail areas and were assisted by three community service officers and reserves as well as Woodbury’s crime analyst who provided actionable intelligence.

Food Scrap Program Serving Woodbury Set to Expand

^{By Lyndsay Zadnik}

Woodbury residents can now do their part to make the future cleaner and greener by participating in a curbside Food Scraps Pickup Program.

Beyond Woodbury, the free program is available in several towns in Ramsey and Washington counties. On Oct. 1, expansion will reach 19 more communities in Washington County.

Sam Holl, facility manager of the county’s R&E Center in Newport, said the facility processes over 400,000 tons of trash every year, with an estimated twenty percent of the waste falling into the food scraps category. The program helps reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills by using high-tech robots that can pick through tons of trash to identify the specialized bags that contain food scraps.

Once identified and sorted, food scraps are sent to the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility, which is operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Shakopee. The facility turns the scraps into nutrient-rich compost and mulch, keeping the food out of landfills, helping to stem the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Andrea McKennan, program supervisor, notes that another benefit of the program is that it has created several jobs.

To participate, residents only need the specialized bag, provided for free, which can be placed in residential trash cans for pickup on their normal garbage day.

Food Scraps Pickup Program Supervisor Annalee Garletz emphasizes the importance of participating. “This is an amazing opportunity,” she said. “It’s really important to keep participating and engaging. This is a behavior change, a change of lifestyle habits.”

One of the most common questions asked is whether the bags are actually being sorted, and if they are making it to the facility. Garletz offers assurances that they are. “You can see the robots are continually learning. We’re teaching them as with AI networks,” she said. “We’re teaching them to recognize the bags and to continue to improve over time.”

Tours of the site are available and groups of all sizes are invited to see how the facility operates and how the food scraps are sorted and salvaged.

Voting Begins Tomorrow

Early, in-person voting and voting by mail begin tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 20, for the 2024 General Election. Voters in Woodbury will decide several key races including city council, state house, Congress, and president. In Woodbury, city hall is the site for early voting. For information on how to register, where to vote, and what’s on your ballot click here.

Discussion On Absentee and Mail Voting Planned

Braver Angels, a group dedicated to spurring civil discussion by people of all political persuasions, is holding an event about absentee and mail voting in Woodbury on Monday, Sept. 23. The 90-minute session begins at 7 p.m. at Jerry’s Foods, 7760 Hargis Parkway. The group hopes to bridge the political divide by bringing people together to gain a better understanding of key issues.

Vote Now To Name A City Street Sweeper!

Speaking of voting, your input is requested to name a street sweeper! The Woodbury Public Works Department, South Washington Watershed District and Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District have unveiled a list of finalists:

You can only vote for one! Polls are predicting a clean sweep! Or maybe we are just getting swept away with excitement.

Bailey Road and Settlers Ridge Parkway Roundabout Planned

The public can learn more about improvements planned for the intersection of Bailey Road and Settlers Ridge Parkway at an open house Tuesday, Sept. 24. The event will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Lake Middle School at 3133 Pioneer Drive in Woodbury. Washington County, in partnership with the City of Woodbury, plans to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists by creating a roundabout. Managing and treating highway drainage also is part of the plan.

Take Me Out To the Old (Very Old) Ball Game!

^{Submitted by the Woodbury Heritage Society}

Whether you are a history buff or a baseball fan there was ample action on Sunday at the Lake Middle School in Woodbury.

A vintage baseball game sponsored by the Woodbury Heritage Society featured a game between St. Croix Vintage Base Ball Club, the reigning champions in the Minnesota League, and the local team, the Woodbury Barnstormers.

The game is meant to mimic its pastoral origins, but it also retains its competitiveness. Reed Smidt, recreation operations manager for City of Woodbury, provided the appropriate setting among the trees & fields at Lake Middle School.

The players endured heat, humidity and wool uniforms. But nothing stopped them from fielding line drives, fly balls, and hard ground balls playing barehanded. Outfielders and infielders raced to try to snag a ball on the first hop or retrieve one that had bounced away.

Under 1860 rules, pitching was underhand. Balls caught on one hop were outs. Batters running to first pulled up to a stop, since running past the bag could result in an out, or “hand.” Catching a ball on one hop - no gloves allowed - was an out.

After a fast start, the Barnstormers succumbed to the veteran St. Croix team by a 13-6 score. Winning wasn’t the only goal. Living some history and building community, while entertaining Woodbury folks, were all accomplished.

"It was a lot of fun to have the opportunity to play baseball, having not done so since my youth, which was the case for most of our team!" said Mayor Anne Burt. "To be able to do this in a way that honored the historical version of the game at its roots made it even more fun."

“Once you step on the field and you try it, then generally you’re hooked,” Dr. Bill Schrankler said of the vintage game. He’s the Woodbury Heritage Society chair of the Vintage Base Ball Committee. “I think the history part of it and love of baseball is kind of what draws people in. You must have a love for the game to stand out in the hot sun wearing a wool uniform.”

Cow Chip Bingo added to the festivities. The field was divided into 100 bingo squares. Fans wagered by selecting a square. The winner was determined by Leslie, a fine Simmental cow who deposited her “meadow muffin” in a specific square. Leslie was herded on the bingo matrix by Cow Rancher Paul Krueger, while his mother, retired teacher Cindy Krueger, educated the crowd on cattle facts.

After fifteen minutes, Leslie did her duty and made the much-anticipated deposit. The lucky winner was long-time Woodbury resident and community volunteer, Judy Scheider, who declared how “happy” she was able to be part of the fun.

“Based on the support and attendee comments, the goals for a triumphant event were exceeded. Making history in Woodbury, adhering to history – and, therefore, celebrating it, is what matters,” reported the Woodbury Heritage Society members.

Free Kayaking In The Ravine Event Saturday

The BIPOC Connect Fall Kayaking in the Ravine event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. Equipment and launch assistance will be provided. The Washington County program is open to all and recommended for ages 12 and up. BIPOC Connect is a series of free get-togethers in Washington County Parks for all members of the community, with a focus on welcoming Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). For this kayaking event, register with Parks Equity Coordinator Elena Schewe by calling (651) 430-4333 or emailing [email protected].

Woodbury Resident Celebrates 100th Birthday

Woodbury resident Soon Lee celebrated her 100th birthday on Sept. 9 at Woodbury Senior Living. Lee celebrated with her family, friends and staff at her assisted living apartment building. She attributes her long life to following in her father's footsteps, eating well, staying active, and praying daily. She makes sure to get her steps in every day.

Donate Children’s Halloween Costumes

Your clean, gently-used children’s costumes are needed for this year’s costume swap. Donations can be dropped off through Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Washington County Environmental Center, 4039 Cottage Grove Drive. Additional donation sites across Washington County can be found here. The costume swap will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Wed., Oct 2, at the environmental center.

Reader Thankful For Tennis Court Resurfacing

Beth Schraeder writes to The Roundabout: Thank you to the city for resurfacing some of our city tennis courts. I have already enjoyed playing on them. They are surfaced beautifully! I suggest some signs or reminders would be helpful that bikes, scooters, or skateboards may ruin them quickly and are not allowed.

A Story From Our Friends At Eden Prairie Local News

At 99, WWII veteran takes to the skies for one more adventure

^{By Stuart Sudak | Eden Prairie Local News}

John Ehlert stood propped up by his walker, the wind tugging at his jacket on a recent morning as he prepared for another adventure – a short but meaningful flight in a bright yellow Boeing-Stearman biplane at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie.

At 99, the World War II veteran still lives independently in an apartment at Beacon Hill in Minnetonka and is gearing up to celebrate his 100th birthday on Nov. 27. Despite his age, Ehlert remains active and sharp, fiercely holding onto his self-sufficiency.

“Well, I’m alive and still on two feet,” Ehlert quipped when someone commented on how well he was doing for his age.

Ehlert was one of five people that took part in the Dream Flights program, which honors military veterans by offering them the chance to fly in vintage biplanes and share their stories.

Click here for the rest of the story.

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