by Zoe Yates | Oct 1, 2025 | Entertain, Local Makers, Noteworthy, Recipes
Hickory Nut Pie is a staple of chef Cory Western’s holiday tradition. “This pie is special to me because of my Grandma Barb and Grandpa Jerry,” Western says. “They like to collect hickory nuts in the fall and shuck them in the winter, then gift them to me and other...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Sep 1, 2025 | Photo Contest
Photographers bring the St. Croix Valley into focus. Over the past year, residents have been cataloging local life around St. Croix Valley. This summer, these same shutter bugs shared some of their favorite shots in our Lens on St. Croix Valley photo contest. We can’t...
by Claire Krieger | Aug 27, 2025 | History
The city will commemorate its milestone anniversary throughout September. To celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary, Lake Elmo is hosting a centennial celebration in collaboration with Connect Lake Elmo. Situated halfway between St. Paul and the St. Croix River...
by Editorial Staff | Aug 15, 2025 | Photo Contest
From June 1–July 31, we invited you to submit your photos of the St. Croix Valley. Now, it’s time to vote for the Readers’ Choice! Scroll through our image gallery below and vote for the images you like best by checking the box. Voting is open from 8 .am....
by Editorial Staff | Aug 1, 2025 | Weddings
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life—filled with romance, the love of family and friends and, of course, all those wonderful, unforgettable details. At St. Croix Valley Magazine, we embrace celebrating local love stories, and we want to feature...
by Zoe Yates | Aug 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
How do you find community? It’s an important question—arguably the most important question there is. Who out there hasn’t felt a desire for a stronger community at one point in their lives? It’s a continuing effort for all ages, to find our people and a feeling of...
by Taylor Hamilton and Zoe Yates | Aug 1, 2025 | Arts, Noteworthy, Outdoors
A walk through the woods reveals a natural symphony: Birds chirp, the wind moves through the trees and water burbles in nearby streams. At Wild River State Park, a composer and musician is collaborating with nature to introduce new elements that invite visitors to...
by Zoe Yates | Aug 1, 2025 | Senior Living, Wellness
For caregivers, local support is essential. Betsy and Dick Ellis have lived in their quaint, two-story home on a cul-de-sac in Lake Elmo for more than 20 years. Like many in retirement, the Ellises have developed a comfortable routine. Upon waking, they share a meal....
by Ellie Heyerdahl | Aug 1, 2025 | Outdoors, Wellness
Roll out your mat! River Valley Yoga Festival returns for a fourth year. The idea for River Valley Yoga Festival came to Stillwater resident Allissa Obler in a dream. She then spent eight years researching and preparing and founded her own yoga studio, Mudita...
by Rachael Perron | Aug 1, 2025 | Noteworthy, Recipes
This recipe shines with its balance of crunchy, creamy and crispy textures and combination of sweet, nutty and fresh flavors. It’s also a great gluten-free alternative to crackers and cheese that will have your guests celebrating your good taste. Parmesan Walnut...
by Zoe Yates | Aug 1, 2025 | Education, People
Area students are using their unique skills and interests to make a difference. In this changing world, a community finds strength in the differences of individuals. The unique attributes and passions of each person add dimension and beauty to the whole, and there is...
by Zoe Yates | Aug 1, 2025 | Photo Contest
Karen Schulz was on a boat ride on the St. Croix River last summer with her husband when they came across several hot air balloons. “Trying to take a photo while in a small boat, rocking in the waves, can be a challenge,” the Stillwater resident says, adding that she...
by Zoe Yates | Aug 1, 2025 | Entertain, People
Neighbors gather in Stillwater’s North Hill neighborhood for an annual social. When Amy and Aaron Sonnek began their house search, they envisioned a tight-knit community much like the North St. Paul neighborhood Amy grew up in, where everyone looked out for each...
by Jennifer Pitterle | Aug 1, 2025 | Education, People
Stillwater educator Bob Manning brings alternative enrichment programs to students. Bob Manning has spent decades helping students connect classroom learning to the real world. As a former geography teacher and now a Career Pathways coordinator at Stillwater Area High...
by Zoe Yates | Aug 1, 2025 | Garden, Giving Back, Noteworthy
Stillwater resident Amy Sonnek was feeling disconnected from her community during COVID-19 when she found an opportunity to bloom. “I was searching online and somehow came across this Growing Kindness Project,” Sonnek says. The nonprofit has a mission to empower...
