Rosetta “Rosie” Peters is an extraordinary poet, storyteller and business owner, living in Marine on St. Croix. Since moving to the Valley in 2011,...
Community
Love Your Melon Pops Up at the Mall of America
The limited-time installation features exclusive customer experiences. Through March 2026, Love Your Melon (LYM) is back at the Mall of America with...
A Legacy of Loving Kindness
Metta Belisle lived her name. In Sanskrit, metta means loving-kindness—a philosophy she carried into every part of her life, from rescuing animals...
Finding Balance on the Bluffs
Architect Greg Elsner and his family tune into nature at their distinctive home in Taylors Falls. Greg Elsner brings a uniquely Minnesotan...
How Hometown Hero Outdoors Saves Lives
The local nonprofit is helping first responders, law enforcement, veterans and more through adventures in nature. Stillwater resident Chris Tetrault...
Treehaus Studio Blends Art and Ecology
Only 72 days after opening, the Natural Heritage Art Centre in Osceola, Wisconsin, was destroyed by a fire in January 2023. The destruction of the...
Taste of the Valley Raises Funds for the Community
Hudson Daybreak Rotary shared a dynamic selection of artisan food and wine at the Taste of the Valley event in Lakefront Park in Hudson, Wisconsin....
Hilltop Pumpkin Party Brings Fall Fun to Hudson
Hudson’s Hilltop Pumpkin Party and Rotary Halloween Parade is an autumn mainstay. It’s been 72 years since the first annual Rotary Halloween...
Fall Hike
After enjoying a fall hike at Arcola Bluffs, Stillwater resident Maribeth Lundeen stopped at Arcola Mills to capture this image of a small stream...
Lens on St. Croix Valley 2025 Winners
Photographers bring the St. Croix Valley into focus. Over the past year, residents have been cataloging local life around St. Croix Valley. This...
Lake Elmo Hosts a Centennial Celebration
The city will commemorate its milestone anniversary throughout September. To celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary, Lake Elmo is hosting a...
Readers’ Choice Voting for Lens on St. Croix Valley 2025
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...
Senior Spotlight Highlights Local Students
Area students are using their unique skills and interests to make a difference. In this changing world, a community finds strength in the...
Balloon on the River
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...
North Hill’s Annual Root Beer Float Social Grows Community
Neighbors gather in Stillwater's North Hill neighborhood for an annual social. When Amy and Aaron Sonnek began their house search, they envisioned a...
The Passport Club Fosters Real-World Connections
Stillwater educator Bob Manning brings alternative enrichment programs to students. Bob Manning has spent decades helping students connect classroom...
The Growing Kindness Project Is Blooming
Stillwater resident Amy Sonnek was feeling disconnected from her community during COVID-19 when she found an opportunity to bloom. “I was searching...
Little Moments Count
In the St. Croix Valley, a quiet revolution is underway—one bedtime story, lullaby and belly laugh at a time. The Little Moments Count initiative,...
Explore Your Best of St. Croix Valley 2025 Winners
Say hello to summertime and the results of our Readers’ Choice Poll. Summer is here, and you know what that means … we’re thrilled to congratulate...
Over the River and Into the Northwoods
Discover new adventures in western Wisconsin. When I moved to Polk County in 2021, I was hesitant. While I loved the idea of my tiny abode in rural...
