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

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Principal Hopes For Healing After Reported Racial-Harming Incident

_{By Manali Shah}

She invited parents of students in the three classes taught by the substitute to meet with her and other district officials in person, and she talked with the students as well. She quickly realized the students’ biggest concern was whether the teacher would ever return as a substitute.

“We are going to make sure that he never returns to our school and our school district,” Sorenson-Wagner told the students. “We have reported him to the police and the licensing board. He will not return!”

She said the meetings with students and parents made clear the substitute “caused great harm and damage” to the school community.

Sorenson-Wagner said students had trouble wrapping their heads about what was happening. “It was surreal,” she said. “The students used their best coping skills to get through the period. They didn’t want to make eye contact just to make sure that he would not engage with them. Many put on their headphones. They were stuck in the class and were waiting for it to end.”

In spite of the school’s no cell-phone policy, some students surreptitiously recorded the substitute while he taught. Once students brought her videos of the teacher’s actions, Sorenson-Wagner went to the classroom and escorted the substitute out of the building.

Sorenson-Wagner said that her role is to help heal. “Unfortunately this man has given public education a bad name. He gave teachers a bad name,” she said. “Teachers who are doing their job, a job they love.”

The community has been very supportive. Sorenson-Wagner has received hundreds of messages of support and only two negative emails.

She said she plans to continue to help students and families process what happened.

District’s Next Steps

South Washington County Schools is working with Teachers on Call, the vendor that supplied the substitute, to learn more about how it hires and conducts background checks. The district does not have an orientation program for substitute teachers and Sorenson Wagner said 833 is considering adopting expectations for substitutes in addition to providing them a copy of the district policy on racial equity.

Utility Worker Sustains Minor Burns In Fire

A utility worker sustained minor burns at a construction site fire in Woodbury on Tuesday. Woodbury Fire Chief Chris Klein said in a statement that emergency responders were called to the southeast area of Central Park just after 10 a.m. and found a fire coming from a hole in the ground. They determined the fire was related to utility work at the site. The utility worker was transported to the hospital by utility staff. As a precaution, Stonecrest Senior Living, YMCA and Stafford Library were evacuated. The fire was quickly extinguished and the evacuation order was lifted at about 11 a.m.

Fire Damages Townhome on Cornelia Trail

A fire just after midnight on Tuesday damaged a townhome on the 2500 block of Cornelia Trail. Woodbury Fire Chief Chris Klein said in a statement that firefighters found the deck of the unit fully engulfed in flames with the fire reaching the roof line. Klein said everyone in the eight-unit complex escaped without significant injury. The fire was contained to the exterior of the one unit with limited damage to adjacent units. The fire remains under investigation with no evidence of suspected arson.

Construction Of Child Care Center Approved

The Woodbury City Council last night approved a 13,780 square foot child care center. The Goddard School, with a capacity of 200 children, will be built at 645 Settlers Ridge Parkway.

“Goddard has been very successful in Woodbury, and we are looking forward to having our second location here,” Brad Coats of Goldridge Group LLC of Eau Claire, Wis., told the city planning commission on Monday. The commission recommended the council approve the project.

Goldridge is building the center. It will be operated by Rick and Shannon Gehrmann, who also are the franchise owners of the current school.

The first location has operated for five years at 4136 Radio Dr. It serves 180 children and is at a capacity. The school has a waiting list of 170 kids. Coats said the new center is expected to open in May of next year.

Goddard Systems, LLC, manages The Goddard School franchise system and is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The system includes 600 school franchises in 37 states.

Fitness Center Closing Next Month

Xperience Fitness in Woodbury is closing Nov. 18. A message to members noted the facility opened 16 years ago and stated the business and property owner have mutually agreed to end its lease at 1555 Queens Dr.

“While change is always part of life, this transition does not diminish the incredible memories we’ve created together,” the message stated.

Members are no longer being billed. They can transfer to the Roseville location, which will remain open.

I-94 Project: Traffic Switch, Reduction To Two Lanes

More major changes are coming for I-94 in Woodbury, including a traffic switch and a reduction to two lanes, as work continues on a $120 million construction project that stretches to the Wisconsin border.

Ramps reopen: By tomorrow, crews are expected to reopen the ramp from northbound I-494 to eastbound I-94 as well as the ramp from eastbound I-94 to southbound I-494.

Overnight stops: Oct. 28 through Oct. 30 traffic will be stopped for 10-15 minutes at a time from 1:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. between Century Avenue and Woodbury Drive. Crews will be installing overhead signs.

Single lane overnight: Beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30, eastbound I-94 will be reduced to a single lane between Century Avenue and Woodbury Drive to allow crews to shift traffic. By 5 a.m., Oct. 31, eastbound I-94 will reopen to two lanes on the east side of this stretch of the interstate.

Only two lanes: Then both directions of I-94 will be reduced to two lanes until the middle of November while crews construct a new center median.

More ramps reopen: On Oct. 31, the ramp from eastbound I-94 to Radio Drive/Inwood Avenue. North and the ramp from southbound Radio Drive/Inwood Avenue North to eastbound I-94 are expected to reopen.

Ramp staying closed: The ramp from northbound Radio Drive/Inwood Avenue North to eastbound I-94 will remain closed from Oct. 31 until the middle of November for additional work.

Ramps closing: From Oct. 31 to Nov. 9, the ramp from westbound I-94 to southbound I-494 and the ramp from northbound I-694 to westbound I-94 will close to allow the construction of a concrete median under the interchange.

The project is resurfacing the pavement and making other improvements on I-94 from Century Avenue to the Wisconsin border and is expected to be completed in late fall.

Gold Line Expanding To Downtown Minneapolis In 2027

By 2027, Metro Transit says people will be able to board a bus in Woodbury and travel to downtown Minneapolis without any transfers.

Officials announced the Gold Line bus rapid transit project will extend to downtown Minneapolis in three years. Gold Line buses will replace the existing Route 94 express buses that operate between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.

When it begins next year, the Gold Line will operate between Woodbury and St. Paul primarily on dedicated bus lanes on I-94 with stops at 16 stations.

Transit officials say the $505 million project will be substantially complete later this year. The expansion to Minneapolis will add about $20 million to the cost for buses and station construction.

East Ridge Girls Soccer Team Advances To State Semifinals

The East Ridge High School girls soccer team beat Maple Grove 1-0 on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the Class AAA state soccer tournament. Junior forward Reese Tovar scored the winning goal with only nine seconds remaining in regulation. “East Ridge dominated territorial play in the second half and that eventually resulted in Tovar’s goal on a shot from 13 yards after a brilliant feed from senior forward Ellie Wildman,” the tournament recap states. The Raptors last state tournament trip was in 2017. East Ridge faces Edina in the semis on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Woodbury Neighborhood Adds Creepy Cruise To Halloween Spectacle

_{By Lyndsay Zadnik}

The Great Pumpkin may not appear in Woodbury, but have no fear, The Haunted Oaks is chock full of Halloween treats not tricks.

The Woodbury neighborhood of Royal Oaks transforms into The Haunted Oaks filled with fun, spooky, larger-than-life displays as well as a haunted trail connecting north and south branches of Lamplight Drive. This year, a “Haunted Oaks Creepy Cruise & Scavenger Hunt” has been added on Monday night.

The creepy, family friendly cruise will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Ojibway Park. Organizers will hand out maps and scavenger hunt questionnaires to complete during the cruise through the neighborhood. A hearse will lead the funeral procession style caravan, ending up at 3rd Act Craft Brewery where prizes sponsored by the brewery will be awarded to those with the best decorated cars. Costumes are encouraged.

Royal Oaks resident Derek Schmidt has been diligently working on his Halloween display since April. Schmidt and his wife moved into the neighborhood in 2019 and started off with typical Halloween decorations, but 2020 Covid shutdowns allowed time to build more elaborate displays.

Today, his yard boasts a crew of 3D printed aliens, a 12-foot skeleton with his faithful pup Skully, and a truly ginormous skeleton breaking out of the garage roof, among many other eerie delights. People may even have spotted a vintage hearse parked in Schmidt’s front yard over the weekend.

Other fun-loving neighbors followed suit and Haunted Oaks was born.

Katie and Drew Rust have lived in their Lamplight Drive home for 21 years and currently have their home decorated in the theme “Dead End Truck Stop.” They have nothing but positive things to say about the fall festivities.

“This has turned us from just living on a block, not really knowing our neighbors, to a community with friendships and connections.” Rust said. “ We were close to moving out of our home, and have changed our minds, because we don’t want to leave this community.”

Schmidt reached out to local car club, Woodbury Wheels, an organization that has been around for four years and has done “holiday light cruises” in the past, and connected with Eric Galler to lead a Halloween cruise next Mon., Oct. 28.

“I was like, wouldn’t it be fun to do that same thing, but for Halloween? And they were all for it.” Schmidt commented. “I asked if they would be willing to work together because they know how car cruises work, and they handle that piece of it.”

Royal Oaks resident Justin Ropella said The Haunted Oaks “not only gave us opportunities to meet and make connections with other people in the neighborhood, but also all of the other neighborhoods in Woodbury.”

Ropella sums it up by saying, “It’s so much fun to see the community pour in and the Halloween spirit. We feel so lucky to have landed in a neighborhood like Royal Oaks where the neighborhood joins together to do something like this.”

Vote for People’s Choice In Halloween Home Decorating Contest

Based on the popularity of The Haunted Oaks, Royal Oaks residents are hosting Woodbury’s first city-wide Halloween Home Decorating Contest.

“We wanted to bring the holiday spirit and fun to all the homes and neighborhoods in Woodbury,” said Pam Van Muijen, who is organizing the contest.  

The public is invited to vote for the People’s Choice through October 26 at this link. Guest judges Mayor Anne Burt, City Councilmember Steve Morris, and Nathan Block, owner of Woodbury 10 Theater, will select the Best Theme and Most Family Friendly winners.  Local businesses have donated prizes and signs will be delivered to winning houses on Oct. 27.

Van Muijen noted there are 18 entries in this year’s contest and many residents are already talking about next year. To check out all the spooky houses located throughout Woodbury, she created this interactive map. 

More Halloween Events

Halloween Pumpkin Walk and Indoor Trick or Treating | Woodbury Senior Living | Woodbury Estates: 2825 Woodlane Drive | Friday, Oct. 25 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Costumed kiddos are invited to an indoor trick or treat event and an outdoor courtyard lighted pumpkin walk. Activities include crafts as well as photo opportunities for all. 

Trick or Treat at Jerry’s Foods | Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. - Noon | Join us for candy, giveaways, and surprises during our Halloween Creepy Crawl! Dress up in your favorite costumes.

BOO Bash: Trick or Treat at Kowalski’s Market | Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 4 – 7 pm | Family friendly trick or treat event. Costumes encouraged. The Woodbury Fire Department will be there with a firetruck and candy. Local high school theater students will be in costume inside the store to entertain kids.

Events of Note

Welcome to Woodbury New Resident Event, Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5 - 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!

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.

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