HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Editor’s Note: With the Thanksgiving holiday, we decided to send our weekly newsletter a few days early. This is the perfect week to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our readers and supporters. We started sending this weekly newsletter to 100 people in August, and we now have 2,200 people on our mailing list. THANK YOU!

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^{Newsletter Editors: Pat Mack and Manali Shah | Copy Editor: Beth-Ann Bloom}

^{[email protected] | www.woodburynewsnet.org}

Topgolf Breaks Ground On Woodbury Facility

Topgolf has broken ground on its three-story facility in Woodbury that will employ 350-400 people. The company expects the destination recreational development to open late next year. It will join a similar facility now open in Brooklyn Park.

"We're thrilled to break ground in Woodbury and expand Topgolf's presence in Minnesota,” the company’s Chief Development Officer, Chris Callaway, said in a news release. The venue will offer a new way for locals to connect, compete and play with friends and family while experiencing Topgolf's unique style of modern golf."

Topgolf will be located on 36 acres along the Metro Gold Line near the intersection of I-94 and I-494. The 68,000-square-foot facility will include 102 outdoor, climate-controlled hitting bays on three levels. Each bay will have lounge-type furniture or high-top tables. Topgolf’s Toptracer technology will trace the flight path of each golf ball providing distance and other metrics as well as options for virtual games.

A bar and restaurant will feature more than 140 HDTVs, fire pits, music and family-friendly programming. A private event space and rooftop terrace will be available for meetings and family gatherings.

Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt said residents and businesses are excited about Topgolf coming to the city. “We've been actively pursuing more recreational uses and play activities for our community, and Topgolf is a regional draw that will attract visitors from all over the region,” Burt said.

In 1979, Western Life Insurance Company constructed a building at the location. Since then, multiple tenants have leased space in the building, according to city documents. That building is expected to remain as office space.

When the city council approved the site plan in February, Eden Ventures, LLC, proposed the Topgolf facility as well as another business, Main Event, at the site. Main Event, billed as a place to eat, play virtual reality games, and bowl, will be housed in a one-story, 48,000-square-foot building and employ about 200 people. There is also a third commercial lot on the site that could be developed in the future.

Mayor: Another Great Year For Development In Woodbury

_{By Manali Shah}

“Woodbury still has a lot of room to grow and will grow for the next couple of decades,” Mayor Anne Burt shared with members of the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce last week.

The hour-long presentation covered a number of significant projects that were started in 2024.

“What a year!” Burt said. “But I say this almost every year. It’s because of the great talent we have in our city and staff.”

Burt said a big win for the city was the approval by voters of a sales tax referendum to fund a majority of the Public Safety Campus Project. The renovation and expansion will integrate medical, fire, police and emergency preparedness and provide more space to serve the growing city.

The $40 million Central Park renovation, with $17 million from state bonding, upgrades the indoor gathering spot. Co-located in the space will be The South Washington County Telecommunication Commission, ISD 833’s adult education and early Childhood and Family Education programs, as well as the library. The mayor expects the renovation will be completed by the fall of 2025.

Burt highlighted the city council’s strategic initiatives on drinking water, environmental stewardship and public safety. She is very pleased with the architectural design of the permanent water treatment plant, which broke ground last month. The facility will have a contemporary farmhouse facade and look more like a residential development than a municipal plant.

Woodbury also has a new Destination Marketing Organization. In April 2025 the website DestinationWoodbury.com will launch. The website will serve as a one-stop shop for things to do, community event calendar, and local tourism resources.

The new year will also see the beginning of the Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit from Woodbury to St. Paul.

New commercial developments include Amazon’s “last mile” facility near Settlers Ridge Parkway and Topgolf, a driving range and entertainment center at the southeastern corner of Interstates 94 and 494.

Affordable workforce housing is underway at Reserves at Settler’s Ridge and Meadows at Prairie Ridge.

In school district news Burt said that South Washington county schools have a lot of construction underway for several of their schools, including East Ridge and Woodbury high schools.

“The Math and Science Academy, the number one high school in Minnesota, has chosen to expand its 6-12 campus on Bailey Road, while the existing location on Radio Drive will house K-5,” Burt said.

The 2040 Comprehensive Plan guides the city in managing its growth over the next few decades.

Editor’s Note: Woodbury News Net is a member of the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce.

City Updates Development Map

The city's planning division has updated the interactive development map that highlights projects within Woodbury. The map will be updated as new development projects are received. City staff says to use the tool titled "Woodbury Active Projects," allowing users to jump directly to the desired project without taking the full virtual tour. If you have any questions about any of the active projects, please call 651-714-3533 or email [email protected].

Suspects In Major Retail Theft Case Arrested In Woodbury

A Connecticut couple accused of stealing around $1 million worth of retail merchandise from Lululemon was arrested at the Woodbury Lakes store, according to NBC News. The arrest occurred on Nov. 14. The complaint filed in Minnesota District Court states that the couple allegedly stole almost $5,000 worth of items from the Lululemon location in Roseville on Nov. 13.

Dog Gone Reading!

_{By Manali Shah}

Six-year-old Kai Luu read a book aloud to a certified therapy dog at R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury one night a few weeks ago. As Luu read, Abby, a Goldendoodle, stretched out on the carpeting and relaxed.

Luu’s dad, Thuan, listened and helped his son break up tough words into smaller, familiar words to make them easier to pronounce.

Luu insists that his dad sign him up for a reading slot each Tuesday evening. The program helps children in grades K-7 practice reading skills in 15-minute sessions with a canine companion.

“Dogs are friendly and non-judgmental and are glad to spend time with you," librarian Liz Gonzalez explained with a smile. “Also, therapy dogs have some training to meet and interact with a wide variety of people.”

Gonzalez said the program is very popular and offered year round, with some seasonal breaks. Depending on interest, four kids an hour read to Abby. On nights with two therapy dogs more children get a chance to read to the canine listeners.

Librarian Theresa Alessi added that there usually are kids at the library happy to fill in if someone who signed up misses their slot. The therapy dog and owner both volunteer their time. “Towards the end of the semester we see many more kids, even older ones,” she said. “Just mingling with the therapy dog helps them de-stress.”

Woodbury’s Heritage of Holiday Decorating

_{Margaret Wachholz | Woodbury Heritage Society}

You may think that your family has long standing family holiday traditions, but the Raths (pronounced Rotts) of Woodbury surely have you beat. There have been Raths living in Woodbury and celebrating Christmas since 1864.

For over a quarter of a century, the Raths family, one of the oldest families in Woodbury, has shared their holiday by decorating the Woodbury Heritage House. The Heritage House, built in 1870, was originally on the Raths farm before it was moved to Marsh Creek Park.

Nowadays the Heritage House, the only museum in Woodbury, is a symbol of community history for the residents of Woodbury. Here artifacts tumble against walls and floors bearing witness to the accidents, incidents, tragedies, and hard work that forged pioneer communities from the 1840s.

The annual tradition of decorating the Heritage House - is spearheaded by Sheila (Raths) Hause, board director of the Woodbury Heritage Society. She is the great-great granddaughter of Frederick and Sophia Raths, who immigrated from Germany in 1853 and came to Woodbury in 1864.

The Raths purchased their 160-acre farm in 1866 for $1,280, adjacent to what is now the intersection of Lake Road and Radio Drive. In 1870 they built an attachment to their log cabin home, which was preserved as the Woodbury Heritage House.

The decorating of Heritage House began as a way for the Raths family to come together and give Woodbury residents a visual treat for the holiday season.

“It never gets old to see the beautiful work of our family at the Woodbury Heritage House. Seven generations of the Raths family have been present to decorate the Heritage House each year, and traditionally we begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving, for the past 26 years,” Hause said. “This year, the family will gather on Saturday, Nov. 30 with the bows, garland, and wreaths in tow.”

Regardless of weather, their resilience and their rich deep history fuels their holiday decoration tradition to the delight of the Woodbury community.

A video feature by SWCT-TV on the Raths’ tradition can be found here.

I-94 Project Substantially Complete Tomorrow

The Minnesota Department of Transportation says the two-year, I-94 construction project from Woodbury to the Wisconsin border should be substantially complete tomorrow. That’s when eastbound I-94 between Century Avenue and the I-94/I-494/I-694 interchange will no longer be reduced to three lanes. Crews will still need to close the ramp from eastbound I-94 to Woodbury Dr./Keats Ave. North for up to three days to complete a bridge repair, as well as do another night of traffic stops to install a new overhead sign in the same area. The schedule for this work is still being determined.

The next major construction project in the corridor is scheduled to begin next summer or fall. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation expects to begin a bridge rehabilitation project on the eastbound and westbound I-94 bridges over the St. Croix River. Crews will build temporary crossovers and widen shoulders to shift traffic during the following construction season in 2026. Expect lane closures on I-94 during nonpeak travel times in 2025. Construction in 2026 is anticipated to require lane closures on both bridges. For more information, visit WisDOT's project website.

Popular EagleCam Expands To New Location

It’s a week filled with turkeys but another bird is creating a buzz in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has added another location and pair of bald eagles to its live EagleCam. The new camera will focus on the nesting behavior of a breeding pair of bald eagles that have successfully and consistently nested in the area for at least four years, rearing several broods of eaglets, according to a news release. The original camera will continue to show the territory that includes the previous eagle pair whose nest fell April 2, 2023. Both cameras can be viewed on the DNR website.

County Waiving Permit Fees On Black Friday

Washington County Parks will be waiving vehicle permit fees at its parks on the Friday after Thanksgiving to encourage everyone in our community to enjoy more time outdoors. One nearby option is hiking at Lake Elmo Park Reserve, which includes 2,165 acres, at 1515 Keats Ave. N. Other county parks can be found here.

Holiday Toy Drive Continues Through Dec. 12

Toys for Tots, a program led by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, has drop-off locations in Woodbury for new and unwrapped toys. Talamore Senior Living Woodbury and the American Legion Woodbury Post 501 have set up collection sites at the senior living facility as well as at the Valley Creek Mall near Keys Cafe. The toys are distributed as Christmas gifts to children in the Twin Cities. The drive continues through Dec. 12.

Events of Note

Woodbury Wobble 5K, Thursday, Nov. 28, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. This Thanksgiving Day turkey trot takes place at Colby Lake Park: 9715 Valley Creek Rd. With your paid registration you will receive a swag bag with sponsored items, There will also be the turkey scavenger hunt along the course that kids can complete for a small prize.

Blood Drive | Friday, Nov. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | M Health Fairview - Woodwinds Hospital Bloodmobile, 1925 Woodwinds Dr.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, starring 10th grader George Wellens of Woodbury as Rudolph, on stage through Dec. 28 at Stages Theater, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins. Limited tickets remain.

Coca Cola Holiday Caravan, Sun., Dec. 1, from noon to 3 p.m. The Coca-Cola truck will be lit up for the holidays at the M Health Fairview Sports Center, 4125 Radio Dr. Stop by to see the truck and get a picture with Santa printed onto a postcard that you can mail to a loved one. Free, family friendly event; bring the kids and help kick off the holiday season! Outdoor rink will be open for skating, weather dependent. Skating is free, skate rental is $7/pair.

A Christmas Carol, Dec. 6-30, Open Window Theatre, 5300 S Robert Trail #400, Inver Grove Heights.

Cookies and Crafts with Santa, Saturday, Dec. 7, at Eagle Valley Golf Course. Five sessions planned. Registration required. Santa takes a break from making toys to join the youth of Woodbury in decorating cookies, making a fun holiday craft, and taking pictures.

Christkindlmarkt, Saturday, Dec. 7th, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m. at Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter, 8390 Lofton Ave N, Stillwater. Specialty vendors and German foods as well as the Twin Cities Brass Band will be on hand.

Madeline’s Christmas, Dec. 7-15, Merrill Arts Center production, The Loft Stage, 4200 Pioneer Dr., Woodbury. This is musical, adapted from Ludwig Bemelmans’ delightful book, is a holiday treat for the whole family.

Holiday Lockdown, Dec. 7 and 14, at 7 p.m., A Big Blue Theatre and Merrill Arts Center production, at The Loft Stage, 4200 Pioneer Drive, Woodbury. A world premiere written by Thomas D. Nelson. It’s Christmas Eve, and Todd is working another long shift with his hard-nosed boss. A special delivery arrives, bringing with it an array of unique customers and the threat of a dangerous art thief. Once everyone is locked down in the tiny bookstore, Todd must work together with Officer Trixie to protect an extremely valuable artifact (along with themselves).

Jingle Bells Forever, East Metro Symphony Orchestra, Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 2499 North Helen Street. North St. Paul.

Children’s Concert and Carnival, Woodbury High School Orchestra, Sunday, Dec. 8, from 2-4 p.m. at the high school. A short concert in the auditorium will feature music from “Moana,” “Frozen,” “Lion King,” and “Cars.” A carnival with games and prizes begins in the cafeteria after the performance. Audience members are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character. Admission is free, donations are welcome ($5 suggested per family).

Winter Clothing Drive by the Woodbury Community Foundation continues through December 20. New and gently used outerwear to help keep students warm in the South Washington County School District are being collected.

New Year’s Eve Winter Camp, Dec. 31, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Lake Elmo Park Reserve. A winter adventure for kids ages 7-10 years old. Outdoor adventures including snowshoeing and/ or kick sleds, fire building, animal tracking as well as indoor crafts and games, hot chocolate, and s’mores. Space is limited.

Update on Woodbury News Net:

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