The Roundabout

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our newsletter about Woodbury. Please share and encourage people to join our email list. It’s free and always will be! Donate to our cause if you’re able! We particularly hope to build our base of donors who contribute a set amount per month since these donations help us plan our budget. Could you contribute $10 a month? $20? $50? Click the button below if you can and choose the recurring option. Of course, we are happy to accept a one-time donation too. Thank you to everyone who has donated already!

Woodbury Weather via National Weather Service

^{Newsletter Editors: Pat Mack and Manali Shah}

^{Copy Editor: Beth-Ann Bloom}

^{[email protected]}

Equality Group Formed In Woodbury In Wake Of George Floyd’s Murder Calls Substitute’s Alleged Behavior ‘Despicable’

_{By Manali Shah}

In an email to Woodbury News Net, Dobgima stated, “We understand that racial harm occurred, and we want to express our deep sympathy to the students that experienced this traumatic event. We appreciate the school administration’s prompt response to address this incident and their ongoing efforts to provide a safe and inclusive environment to the students.”

South Washington County Schools has banned the individual from ever setting foot on district property again. W4J&E requested that the district continue to share regular updates on the investigation into the incident being conducted by the Woodbury Police Department. “We would also like to see ongoing support including but not limited to regular check-ins with affected students, counseling services and community forums if need be.”

The statement said the incident brought back memories that affected the community at large. Floyd’s murder in 2020 sparked protests and marches across the Twin Cities and around the world. Dobgima said he knew it was a moment to speak out against racism, which led him to create W4J&E. He launched the group on Nextdoor because he wanted his neighbors to support W4J&E and join the fight to change the status quo and promote equality. The group’s website can be found here.

Members of W4J&E also sent a letter to school district leaders. “While we remain extremely disturbed by what occurred, we want to express our support and appreciation for the district's swift, decisive action, and transparency,” the letter states. “Your transparency empowers thousands of families throughout the district, and around the Twin Cities, to talk about the impact of this incident and racial harm more broadly.”

W4J&E called on the district to use its “powerful position in our community to educate others, prevent future incidents of racial harm, and promote justice and equality for all.”

Prescott Places Police Officer Accused In Substitute Teaching Incident On Leave

The substitute teacher who allegedly reenacted the police restraint that killed George Floyd during a class at Woodbury High School, has been placed on administrative leave by the City of Prescott, Wisconsin.

The individual has been a patrol officer for the city for two years. A statement from the city and police department called the allegations “disturbing,” adding that “our deepest sympathies go out to the South Washington (County) School District, staff and students.”

He was off-duty when teaching at the school. The statement says an internal investigation will be conducted. The officer did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Temp Agency Drops Substitute Teacher Accused of Reenacting George Floyd Police Restraint

_{By Pat Mack}

The substitute teacher who is accused of reenacting the George Floyd police restraint at Woodbury High School is no longer employed by Teachers On Call. The temp agency supplied the substitute to the district and says in a statement it is "deeply concerned about the reported misconduct."

The school's principal said in a statement that the substitute teacher placed a student on the ground and reenacted the restraint used in the murder of Floyd in May 2020. His killing sparked protests of racial injustice in Minneapolis and around the world.

The teacher, who was a substitute in English classes, told students he was a police officer but the district does not believe he is licensed in Minnesota. School officials say he engaged in racially harmful actions including twisting a student’s arm behind the student’s back, showing pressure points on the chin, fake punching a student with his fist “really close” to the student’s face, mimicking holding up a gun and pointing it at students, and repeatedly making racially-harmful comments and telling sexist jokes.

Teachers on Call, a Kelly Education Company, said its substitute teachers undergo a rigorous screening process that meets the standards of the Minnesota Department of Education as well as screenings that exceed those requirements.

"This includes comprehensive background and fingerprint checks, which include searches of local, state, and national criminal records—including crimes against children—and a search of the National Sex Offender Registry," the company stated. "Our review system strictly adheres to all state and district requirements, prioritizing safety and security in educational environments. The substitute educator involved in the reported misconduct passed all required background screens before being placed on assignment."

The school district asked the Woodbury Police Department to investigate. Police Commander Tom Ehrenberg said the department is disturbed by the preliminary information it received, adding that the individual has no affiliation with Woodbury Public Safety.

"We value our relationship with the South Washington County School District and will continue to work closely with them," Ehrenberg said in an emailed statement. "The safety of the students, teachers, staff and our community is our top priority. We will investigate this incident to the fullest extent, while showing compassion to the students impacted."

Substitute Teacher Banned After Allegedly Reenacting George Floyd Restraint At Woodbury High

_{By Pat Mack}

On Monday, a substitute English teacher at Woodbury High School allegedly placed a student on the ground during class to reenact the police restraint used in the murder of George Floyd. It was just one of several “racially harmful” actions by the teacher, according to an email from the school and district to students, staff and families. The substitute has been banned from the district.

“I specifically want to acknowledge racial harm that occurred when the substitute teacher reenacted the prone restraint that resulted in the murder of George Floyd,” Sarah Sorenson-Wagner, Woodbury High School principal, stated. “This reported behavior is reprehensible. I am embarrassed, and I am sorry this happened to our students. We will take as much time as students need to listen and create open space for courageous conversations that lead to healing, action and education.”

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Police Release Name Of Woman Who Died

The name of the woman whose death prompted a police investigation has been released. Police say Samia Amare Al Ahad, 29, of Woodbury, died Oct. 9 at a residence in the 500 block of Woodduck Drive.

According to an emailed statement, Woodbury Emergency Medical Services were called to the home for a medical emergency at 8:36 a.m. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful.

In the statement, Police Commander Tom Ehrenberg stated: “Woodbury is still actively investigating all possibilities of how Al Ahad died. We will not be filing formal charges at this time.”

Police called the incident isolated with no threat to the public.

Woodbury Man Receives Prison Sentence For Embezzlement

Timothy Hill, Jr., of Woodbury received a one-year prison sentence on Tuesday for embezzling more than $144,000 from the Chick-fil-A restaurant he was managing at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, according to WCCO. The report states Hill was convicted of one count of wire fraud, while four additional counts of wire fraud were dismissed. He was ordered to pay almost $145,000 in restitution and will be on two years of supervised release after his prison sentence is served.

Early Voting In Woodbury On Track With 2020

As of Oct. 11, 3,952 votes have been cast at Woodbury City Hall in the first three weeks of early voting for the 2024 General Election. That compares to 4,061 votes cast during the same period in 2020. When mailed ballots are added to the votes cast in person at city hall, the total rises to 5,554 ballots cast, or about 10.58% of registered voters in Woodbury. Christie Piskura, Washington County’s elections division manager, said she expects high voter turnout and encourages people to make a plan to cast their ballots.

Our guide to the 2024 election has information and resources about where to vote, what’s on the ballot, and how to register. We also have coverage and links to forums for key races in Woodbury.

East Metro Concertmaster Began Playing Music Early

_{By Lyndsay Zadnik}

These days you can find her performing as concertmaster for East Metro Symphony Orchestra, a role she’s occupied since 2021. The orchestra’s first concert of its season, “Italian Symphony”, is at 3 p.m. Sunday at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Woodbury. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Three more concerts - “Jingle Bells Forever,” “Peter and the Wolf,” and “Beethoven’s Sixth” - will complete its season.

Majkrzak says being a concertmaster has compelled her to grow both personally and professionally, an unexpected benefit of the role. The concertmaster is the first chair violinist and also a vital musical leader with widely ranging responsibilities, from tuning the orchestra to working closely with the conductor.

When she first started working with the orchestra as concertmaster, she said, “People used to come to me with questions, and I would get defensive right away, but I think that was because I wasn’t quite comfortable in the role yet.”

After growing into her leadership position, she says she welcomes the interaction. One especially memorable moment was last season when she was performing as the soloist. Instead of waiting backstage for her part, she decided to sit in the back section for the first piece, which allowed her to form relationships with other musicians she hadn’t regularly had the chance to interact with.

“That’s when I got to know people that don’t usually talk to me, as a proximity thing. But people were asking me questions like, ‘What fingering do you do here?’ Or ‘Is this really the bowing?’ I was like, ‘This is what I want you to do all the time! Just because I’m sitting up front doesn’t mean you can’t ask me,” Majkrzak said. “It was nice to experience the orchestra from a different perspective, and I feel like we all got closer doing that.” 

Besides setting the tone for the group musically, Majkrzak is also focused on fostering a sense of camaraderie within the group. “I’ve grown a lot in this role. I really value how, as the leader, you’re responsible for creating the kind of community and culture that’s in the group.”

The EMSO musicians aren’t the only ones who have benefited from Majkrzak’s influence. Anna Salisbury, EMSO’s communications director said,  “Aja’s performance experience and interest in broadening EMSO’s repertoire has had a very positive impact on the professionalism of the orchestra.” Salisbury attributed increased interest in the orchestra’s performances and expanded reach in the community to Majkrzak’s leadership. 

Majkrak and conductor Craig Hara are the only professional musicians in the group, but she insists that doesn’t diminish the capabilities and talent of the volunteer musicians. She finds it inspiring that the orchestra members choose to spend their free time in rehearsal. She also enjoys working collaboratively with Hara to ensure the orchestra has a cohesive sound.

She does acknowledge that working in music professionally affords her a level of flexibility in her life, and the chance to focus all of her energy on her passion. When she’s not playing with the orchestra, she can be found playing several other instruments, and performing with her bandmates in the Cuban band ‘Charanga Tropical’.

One of her favorite memories was traveling to Cuba in 2015 with her band to record an album. They were able to record in an historic studio, where several well-known Cuban bands, including Buena Vista Social Club, had made albums in the past.

Majkrzak has big plans. She has her sights set on being a part of a full-time orchestra, with the Minnesota Orchestra being her ultimate goal. In the meantime, you can find her diligently working on fine-tuning this season’s performances.

Woodbury Chamber Seeks Award Nominations

The Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual awards. They include honoring a business, educator, everyday hero, public safety worker and nonprofit making a difference in the Woodbury community. The deadline for nominees is Nov. 18. For more information and to submit a nomination, click here.

Events of Note

Halloween Goat Yoga, yoga with goats in costume, Saturday, Oct 19th, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Hayloft in Hastings.

Sensory Friendly Ssscales, hike with a naturalist for adults and children who need a quieter calmer environment Saturday Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove

Let’s Pawty, a Halloween dog event, Saturday, Oct. 19 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Heritage Village Park at Inver Grove Heights.

East Metro Symphony Orchestra concert, Italian Symphony, Sunday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Dr. in Woodbury. Admission is free but donations are welcomed.

Welcome to Woodbury New Resident Event, Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at M Health Fairview Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive. This free event is sponsored by the City of Woodbury for residents who are new to the community and want to learn about city services, programs, initiatives, and events as well as resources available from nonprofit organizations in the area. Woodbury News Net will be there!

Courthouse by Candlelight, a tour of the historic Washington County Courthouse, Thursday, Oct. 24, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Stillwater. Tickets are $10 each.

Annual East Metro Collaborative Competition, robotics competition, Saturday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Woodbury High School. Dozens of area high schools will take part in the scrimmage event. The event is hosted by Math and Science Academy, East Ridge High School, Woodbury High School and Park High School with 28 other high schools registered to compete.

Día de Muertos Celebration (Day of the Dead), second annual Washington County Parks’ celebration of the holiday, Saturday, Oct. 26, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Nordic Center, 1515 Keats Ave. N in Lake Elmo. The event includes traditional Latin and Hispanic music, art activities, bilingual story time, and a hiking scavenger hunt.

Update on Woodbury News Net:

We are a non-profit organization creating a credible news source for Woodbury. Our leadership team includes Paul Huffman, Susan Kent, Pat Mack, Rich Radke, Kathy Saltzman, and Manali Shah.

Please continue to share this newsletter with friends and encourage them to join our email list. It’s free and always will be!

Please donate as generously as you can!
We are committed to offering our news and information for free! But we need help to cover expenses and reach sustainability. Please donate as generously as you can to help us build this fact-based source of news! 

Volunteer!
Wanna help us build this news source? We welcome volunteers! We need help raising money, spreading the word, and other tasks. [email protected]

Let us know what’s happening!
Send us your news items! We can’t promise we’ll use them all but we’d love to consider them! [email protected].