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STUDIO TIMETransporting Audiences to New WorldsBy Syndie Sorenson 8

December 2014

contentscontentsON STILLWATERLegacy in the MakingBy Peter McNiff10PHOTOS BY CURTIS DALEOur Favorite Works12FEATURE FAVORITESSome of Our Most Commented On Stories18

PHO

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IS D

ALE

e launched Stillwater Living magazine ten years ago with high hopes of later launching Hudson Living magazine. If, after a few years of getting to know the community, we were successful then we planned to launch Visit The Croix

which would service the tourism market up and down the St. Croix. Alas it wasn’t meant to be. We have felt loved from readers from the first issue through this one, but the business side of this publication has a short memory. After the recession advertisers were keen on social media and anything digital (read cheap) leaving those companies no budget to support a publication which cost so much to write, edit, shoot, print and distribute. So be it.

Stillwater Living found its voice largely through the efforts of a group of locals that would gather and discuss story topics, we credit that group for getting us “in-tune” with this community. Teri Brine, Cheryl Larson, Kevin Nyenhuis and Harry Ireton joined Curtis, Adam and me to brainstorm topics and concepts fit for Stillwater Living coverage. We appreciate all of their time and attention, we could not have found our way so quickly and accurately without them. Adam Swenson is an immensely talented man and he learned the craft of periodical editing right here in our sleepy little riverside hamlet. We established a rather high editorial bar in Adam’s time with us and the readers paid notice to the quality editorial product crafted under his watchful eye.

Along the way we worked with a handful of graphic designers who made the magazine look great – award winning great. Rob Johnson, with help from Laura Schmitt, set the tone for Stillwater Living’s initial style. His full time job and young family were more important, and rightfully so, than this project so we went in search of a suitable replacement. Kelly Milner took the reigns for two issues before introducing us to Rhonda Schrader who only lasted three issues (not a good idea to take a tone with Maureen), and finally we found Julie Thibodeau, whose babies trumped the magazine and she was gone after three issues. In the first year we bounced from designer to designer until we found Mark Raney – the man. He was a gem to work with, quality designs at 2:00 AM, I don’t know how he did it, but he absolutely did a wonderful job – for years. Mark even hung in there with us during the early months of the recession – it was a scary time. Julie Bourman is credited with keeping Stillwater Living alive in 2010. She not only designed the ads, at that time she also took control of the design of the entire magazine. An angel with the soul of an artist.

From the first cover to this issue we have Curtis Dale photography to thank for so many great images. He, along with his wife Jan, offered editorial concepts and support at events and throughout the community in ways that are too vast to cover in this small space – we owe Curtis a huge debt of gratitude. Along the way we met Verna Pitts, Aimee Christensen and Laurie Schneider who have contributed mightily to Stillwater Living’s aesthetic – best looking small-market lifestyle magazine in the world. We are grateful to Curtis, Verna, Aimee and Laurie.

As you can see – a great many people have played a role in making Stillwater Living magazine happen. The above mentioned names are just the folks that worked with us month in and month out. We’ve had so many freelance writers, Kelli Billstein, dive into stories and tell the tales that have graced our pages – too many to list. We are grateful to all of them.

What a long, strange trip indeed. As we close the magazine we choose to focus on the people and groups that came to our aid, the readers that took the time to write to us about a story that touched them, for us it was all about connecting with the readers – it was a good run.

Real Good Then

VOLUME 10, NUMBER 12, DECEMBER 2014

Copy EditorMaureen McDonough

PETER MCNIFFSYNDIE SORENSON

LAURIE SCHNEIDERLaurie Schneider Photograpy

JEFF BAGGOT

STEVE (SHOWCASE) SKALMAN

HAWK

editor’s note

Copyright 2014Watershed Publishing, Inc. all rights reserved.

Stillwater Living is published byWatershed Publishing, Inc.

P.O. Box 2302 Stillwater, MN 55082651-430-3143 [email protected]

W FEBRUARY/MARCH • 2011 $2.95

generous neighborsLessons in Community Living

generous neighbors33

SEPTEMBER 2014

yoga wateron the

MARCH • 2010 $2.95

MushMushAfton’s Arctic Explorers

JUnE • 2010 $2.95

JUnE • 2011 $2.95

A New GeNerAtioN of fArmers

AUGUST 2013

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on theSouth HillSouth Hillon theHomeHome

SEPT/OCT • 2011 $2.95

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JULY/AUGUST 2012 $2.95

Young LivesDarla Goble Mentors With Love

AUGUST 2013

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Mallards on St. Croix • Caminito Art Gallery FREE

Norm!everybody knows his name

4th Annual Benevolence IssueJAnUARY / FEBRUARY • 2010 $2.95

PREMIER ISSUE • JULY 2005 • $2.95

NOVEMBER 2013

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Bring on theWinter Wonderland

DECEMBER 2013

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Merry Christmas!

MAY 2014

HELLOSpring

River Market RefreshHow To: Healthy Soil

Meet the Pole Barn Studio

PresortedStandard

US PostagePAID

St. Croix Press

MAY 2008 • $2.95

Good Design Meets Environmental ResponsibilityARCHITECTURE GOES GREENARCHITECTURE GOES GREEN

PLUS INSIDE:• Fishing the Croix• Marathon in the Far East• Idol Fever Strikes Stillwater

OCTOBER 2014

Stillwater Rickshaw

Valley Chamber Chorale

Potters Without Kilns

SEPTEMBER • 2010 $2.95

Urban ExplorerDana Maltby

JANUARY 2006 • $2.95

PresortedStandard

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Brennan Swanson is the Back Flip Kid

JAN/FEB 2013 $2.95

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NOV/DEC 2012 $2.95

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AUGUST • 2011 $2.95

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OCTOBER 2006 • $2.95

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A Wing, a Prayer and the RiverExperiments in Aviation at EAA 54

OCTOBER 2006 • $2.95

decembeR 2005 • $2.95

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Do you hear what I hear


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JUNE 2014

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letters to the editor

Missing the Mark

Dear Editor,

When I opened my mail the other day I was shocked to see that the Nov/Dec issue of Stillwater Living had the phrase “Merry Christmas” on the cover. It struck me as insensitive and exclusionary.

In philosophical terms, I am a free thinker and we reject the notion of deities. Critical thought brings to light a significant lack of empirical evidence in support of deities and those of us that understand intelligent design call into question an all-mighty creator.

In terms of social grace, this phrase is offensive to any person that is enlightened, Jewish or simply non-Christian. It is a terrible headline!

David K.Stillwater

Dear David,

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and feelings about Stillwater Living magazine’s annual Christmas issue. We’re very proud of the Christmas issue, sorry that you find it so offensive.

A quick bit of research tells me that roughly 2.3% of the world’s population are Atheists, and while I don’t have any empirical evidence to support this notion, I believe an even lower percentage of folks in this community share your beliefs. I’d like to tell you to go start your own magazine and then print whatever you want – but I won’t. That would be insensitive and opinions are like belly buttons in that we all have one.

We are not a product or branch of a bureaucracy that overreacts to a lone voice. We hope you can appreciate that we celebrate the Christmas season in our way and you are welcome to stand along side of us and celebrate it in your way. If you want to send us your address I’ll pull you from the magazine’s distribution list next Christmas so you won’t be offended – we’re likely to continue publishing a Christmas issue.

real good then,-Peter McNiff

DECEMBER 2006 • $2.95

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Here are some of our most

commented upon stories that have

graced the pages of Stillwater Living

magazine over the years.

Some stories were more-well

written and others may have carried

a better aesthetic, however we chose

these due to their connection to our

wonderfully loyal readers. We hope

you enjoy this retrospective review.

Adam Swenson

Peter McNiff

Curtis Dale

S

JULY 2005 STILLWATER LIVING 19

St. Louis has the Gateway Arch, Chicago has the SearsTower, and New York has Lady Liberty. But for thosewho love Stillwater, one architectural icon beats themall: our historic lift bridge. Countless photographs,drawings and paintings all attest to the deep symbolicrole the bridge plays in our collective community consciousness. If the lift bridge were a symphony, it certainly would be our Beethoven’s Fifth.

It took $560,000 and an act of Congress to begin con-struction of the bridge in 1929, following nearly 25years of contentious debate over the bridge design(sound familiar?). Congressional action was neededbecause the bridge crossed railroad tracks and involvedtwo states. Congress, in a rare joint session, agreed thebridge could be built but stipulated that its use mustforever remain free to Minnesota and Wisconsin resi-dents. Its camelback style, known as a WattleHarrington design, is rare.

But for most Stillwater residents, all that is waterunder the bridge. What’s important today is that thebridge is a symbol of the character and history thatdrew many people to this city and continues to inspirethem today. One such resident, Mike Balay, says cross-ing the bridge from Wisconsin “is like going through atime portal.”

A native of Dallas, Balay chose to make Stillwater hishome in 1989. He runs his business, Mark S. BalayArchitects Inc., out of an 1853 home that has a stunningview of the lift bridge.

“The bridge is a beautiful and interesting thing,” Balaysays. “I think of it as Stillwater’s oldest antique.”

Stillwater resident and University of Wisconsin-RiverFalls communications instructor Pat Ferguson Hansonhas this to say about the bridge: “As one of the fewremaining aerial lift bridges still operating in the country, the bridge is wonderfully colorful. It’s the perfect place to take friends and relatives visiting fromother places.”

Hanson, who served on the Stillwater Arts Counciland is a former arts columnist for the St. Croix ValleyNews, particularly appreciates the bridge’s role ininspiring artists. “You can’t live in Stillwater for verylong without seeing how many artists it has inspired,”she notes.

Among those artists is Hanson’s husband, artist andteacher Jim Hanson, whose modernistic interpretationsof the bridge have graced the walls of local galleries inthe past few years.

“The bridge is such a part of the Stillwater scene.Most of the artists in the [St. Croix River] Valley havedone something with it at one time or another. It’s a

COVER STORY

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STILLWATER LIVING JULY 200520

good thing it’s not going to be removed,” says Jim Hanson.For Stillwater resident Kris Ferrari, the bridge help clinch her

family’s decision to move to the city a decade ago. “Themoment we pulled into the downtown area, I said ‘This iswhere I want to live.’ The bridge was an important part of thatfirst positive impression.”

But despite its beauty and impressive pedigree, the liftbridge faced an uncertain future. Many debated whether itshould be retired, in favor of a newer, bigger and more robust“super bridge” to accommodate the estimated 15,000 vehiclesusing it daily.

Happily, there’s good news afoot for fans of the lift bridge,which will celebrate its 75th birthday in 2006. Thanks to thehard work and persistence of many individuals, this grandold bridge is going to be preserved for future generations toenjoy. Beginning in August (just after Lumberjack Days2005), the bridge will be closed for 10 to12 weeks for $5 million worth of major structural repairs, including a newdeck, resurfaced sidewalks, new electrical work and a newhouse for the bridge tender.

“It will be inconvenient for a short time,” says Ferrari, “but itwill be worthwhile in the long run. I serve on the board of a

local daycare center, and enrollment is down because peopleknow the bridge will be out this fall. This is just something weneed to get through.”

When the lift bridge reopens in late fall, it will continue operat-ing in its current capacity until a new bridge is built farther downthe St. Croix River at Highway 36. Completion of the new bridgeis expected in 2010 or 2011, but only “if there are no hiccups,”says Stillwater Mayor Jay Kimble. At that point, all motorizedvehicles, except for the occasional emergency or maintenancevehicle, will be diverted to the new bridge, and pedestrians andbicyclists will have exclusive use of the historic lift bridge. Long-term plans call for the creation of a new loop trail involving bothbridges and the installation of a public boat access.

That plan should suit most Stillwater residents well. A studyof Stillwater residents conducted in the mid-1990s found that98 percent of respondents said they wanted a new bridge builtand the lift bridge preserved.

People like Balay, Ferrari and Hanson seem to personify thesurvey’s findings. Long a proponent of preserving the liftbridge, Balay says the time has come for a new bridge to serveas its companion. “I don’t see anything wrong with a newbridge if the old bridge stays,” he says.

A study of Stillwater residents conducted in the mid-1990’s found that 98 percent of respondents said theywanted a new bridge built and the lift bridge preserved.

BRIDGEOUT

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Julie Bourman

Jessie Wade Kelli Billstein


July

2005

Recipe for SuccessChef Christopher Ray shareshis insights and inspirations

IN PERSONCindy Bielke


Christopher Ray is an executive chef, teacher, culinary adviser, author andconsummate entrepreneur. He currently operates Five Course Catering, inpartnership with Jim Kyndberg, and the Bayport Cookery. Five CourseCatering is a customized catering service in which specially designed five-course meals are prepared and served in guests’ homes. Chef Ray, a

culinary adviser for the Minneapolis Art Institute and Le Cordon Bleu cooking school,has published two books on wild game cookery, including “Wild, Wild Cooking.” He isthe architect of JC’s Cooking for a Cure: Celebrated Chefs Wild Game Dinner, whichbenefits the Minnesota Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event is in honor of Chef Ray’s17-year-old son, James Christopher. We managed to get Chef Ray to briefly turn hisattention from the kitchen to talk about life matters, as well as culinary ones.

Where did you grow up and what food traditions most influenced you?I grew up in the Northwest, primarily in Seattle and Spokane, Wash. My first job wasan assistant manager at a waterfront café in Seattle. I walked through Pike StreetMarket, one of the better farmer’s markets in the U.S., each morning on my way towork. I got to know the butcher, the bakery owners, the fish vendors. I could see theirenthusiasm for freshness, for people and the show. That’s when I decided I wanted tobe a chef and to be part of that culture of high quality food and fun.

Why did you choose to make the valley your home?I was lucky enough to meet Tom Miller (now master chef at Kincaid’s restaurant inBloomington) in Spokane. He asked me to go with him to Minnesota in the early 1980s towork for Web Enterprises, which operated Winfield Potters at St. Anthony Main andCocolezone in Minneapolis. I eventually married a woman from northern Minnesota, andwe wanted to live in a beautiful place with good schools. This area was the perfect choice.We love the valley and its proximity to the metro area. We love the hills and the beauty.

Who are your favorite dinner companions?I’ve been fortunate to enjoy private lunches with chefs Charlie Trotter and PaulPrudhomme. But for dinner, my wife, Karen, is my favorite dinner companion.Unfortunately we don’t eat together very often because I work during meal hours.

What is your idea of the perfect meal?A meal someone else prepared. Invite me over for macaroni and cheese and I’ll appreciate it!

You’re an accomplished chef, author and entrepreneur. What is your mostsatisfying professional accomplishment?When nobody drafted me in the NBA (you need to be about seven feet tall and I fellabout 1 1/2 feet short!), I decided to become a chef, and I’ve done that. But it’s takenalmost the better part of 20 years to get comfortable with the knowledge that, no matter what you do in this business, you’re only as good as your last meal!

You've written two books about cooking wild game. Do you hunt?I’m not a hunter, but I love the beauty that god put here for us. Wild game was not utilizedvery much about 15 years ago when I wanted to find my own signature style. The prob-lem was I didn’t know much about how to cook it! I learned from others and eventuallydeveloped my own style and passion for wild game. It’s become a bit of a double-edgedsword, though, because some people think that’s all I cook, which isn’t the case at all.

Why do you love feeding people?Instant gratification! You sometimes work a day or two preparing something special,but one look on someone’s face after they’ve taken a bite tells you whether or not you’vebeen successful. I also like the fact that cooking is something you do with your handsand your heart. ■

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SHS looks forward toanother galloping seasonBY MARTHA PARSONS

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STILLWATER LIVING OCTOBER 200518

BY NANCY EIKE

COMMUNITYAT PLAY

WWhen Shelley Eckert first set her eyes on the antiquated and unsafe playground equipment at Stonebridge Elementary, she quietly said to her husband, Tom, “Before I leave Stonebridge that things gotta go.” With its frayed climb-ing net, out-dated metal slides, scarred tire swings, miniscule climbing wall, and an old wooden tower that left much to be desired, not to mention, out of code compliance, the old playground was aching to be replaced.

True to her word, a few years later, the old playground is gone. In its place is a beautiful new structure that pays tribute to the history-laden land where it resides, and is a testament to the woman who had a dream, and the com-munity that helped her make it a reality.

Shelly Eckert, parent of two Stonebridge Elementary students, and a self-professed take charge woman, is used to taking on projects and getting involved. But she was not used to taking on projects quite this large. “I’ve never been involved in building a playground before,” she says. This daunting task did not seem to bother Eckert at all. In fact, she seems to have thrived under the pressure. From managing a core group of 15 volunteers through the design, planning, and fundraising

Stonebridge Parents Salute the Past with a Vision for the Future


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EXPERIENCETHE VALLEY

Ridin' the Rails in StyleFive Courses and CabaretBy Karin Housley

W

december 2005 STILLWATER LIVING 33

the valley experience

Whenever I tell an out-of-towner that I live in Stillwater, they ask, “Don’t you have that dinner train out there? Have you ever been on it? What’s it called again?”

“The Minnesota Zephyr,” I reply. “Yes, it’s in Stillwater, and no, I haven’t.”

I guess I’ve always viewed the Zephyr as one of those things that only visitors do. How many born and bred New Yorkers spend their weekends going to the top of the Empire State Building? The way I figured it, the Zephyr was our little novelty, our hidden gem in the bluffs, but did I really need to ride it?

According to my editor, yes, I did, and I needed to do it for this issue. So Minnesota Zephyr—here I come.

Word on the street said to make reservations for a table of four, or you and your date could face hours sitting across the table from two complete strangers. Not appealing, so I called my parents and invited them to go with my husband and me.

Well, the street was wrong – you can make reservations for a single party of two. Too late – my parents were “planning on it.”

I did encounter a little surprise when the person taking the reservation asked what everyone wanted to eat. “But it’s two weeks away,” I said, “And I read here in your brochure that the train comes equipped with three modern on-board kitchens.”

Apparently modern on-board kitchens don’t translate to a full menu with daily specials. You have to order ahead from one of four different main courses – salmon, prime rib, rock game hen, and beef tenderloin. I ordered one of each, just for the experience.

On the day of, we arrived at the Stillwater Depot on the north end of Main Street a few minutes early, had a cocktail at the bar, and boarded the train.

The Zephyr consists of a locomotive and five Pullman dining cars circa 1940, each decorated with a different theme. As I sat down at our table covered in white linen and set with fine china, silver and crystal, I could barely contain my laugh-ter. Was this real? Am I really going to have a five course dinner on a train? The scene reminded me of something out of a black and white movie—I expected Bing Crosby or the Andrew Sisters to emerge any minute. Before I could croon “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” there they were, blowin’ reveille, the boogie woogie bugle boys, the Zephyr Cabaret singers.

Those first few notes transported us back in time, back to the day where there were no CDs, no satellite radios and no iPods. Just cabaret singers. Who knew I could remember all the words to Chattanooga Choo Choo? I was starting to like this new era.

“If I were an entertainer back then,” I asked my parents, “Who would I be? Betty Grable? Rita Hayworth? Do I have Bette Davis eyes?”

“Not exactly,” my dad said. “You’re a bit smaller than the pinup girls of that era.”“Hmmm. I didn’t know pinup girls were tall,” I said, playing to my blondeness. “Just what exactly did you people do for fun in those days?”

“We played the piano,” my mom said. “All good Lutheran children learned to play hymns, and that’s what we did for fun.”


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APRIL 2006 STILLWATER LIVING 23

Restaurateur of the YearCarrying on a Tradition of Great Food

BY SANDRA WHALEN In Person

Fans of Lake Elmo Inn know that owner and chef John Schiltz is always looking forward. This independent entrepreneurial drive has most recently earned him the first-ever Minnesota Restaurant Association’s “Restaurateur of the Year” award. While Schiltz is grateful to be selected for the honor from a large group of his peers, he takes the accolade in stride as he builds on more than 20 years of accomplishments for himself, for the St. Croix Valley, and for independent restaurants. A native of the Lake Elmo area, sixteen-year old Schiltz started at the Lake Elmo Inn as a dishwasher and cook. His early experiences at the 125-year old restaurant helped him transition from high school into the culinary program at St. Paul Technical College, where he is now featured as the only chef on the school’s “Alumni Wall of Fame.” His cooking skills led him to advanced positions at top hotels including Executive Sous Chef at the Minneapolis Hyatt and Executive Chef at the Des Moines Hyatt. He has also worked in San Francisco, Kansas City and San Antonio. In 1983, Schiltz was faced with a life-changing opportunity. Back in the Twin Cities for a wedding, he learned that his former boss, Ben Gorka, was putting the Inn up for sale. Though Gorka was initially resistant because of his age, Schlitz convinced Gorka to sell the business to him. The 27-year-old reopened the restaurant in December of 1983 and continued to build on Lake Elmo Inn’s reputation for hometown charm, good service and great food. As an independent business owner with national chain experience, Schiltz was soon struck by some new challenges, including higher costs for similar supplies. In response, he helped create Twin Cities Originals, a group of area independent restaurateurs that team up to exchange ideas and wield greater purchasing power. The group also promotes quarterly events, including discounted lunches and dinners to encourage consumers to try new restaurants. Members include top regional restaurants such as Fhima’s, Jax Café and Auriga. Schiltz also works with the Council of Independent Restaurants of America, founded nationally in 1999 to nurture independent restaurants across the country. Schiltz calls independent restaurants “a driving force” in the industry and an important part of the Twin Cities’ entertainment and hospitality venue. “Being an independent restaurant, we have to do a better job or get rolled over by the chains.” But he does see success in his activities: “The flavor of the Twin Cities is us.” The award-winning restaurateur’s second passion is promoting the area he calls home. Schiltz recently purchased the Lake Elmo VFW and is working to convert it into a premiere special event center for the region. When completed, it will hold up to 300 people for weddings, reunions, and celebrations. “It will have the wow factor for a bride, or for the corporate group . . . If we are a frontrunner in attracting people to the area, that’s great,” Schiltz added. “It will be done with taste and quality. Lake Elmo will be proud of what I do.” The presentation of the “Restaurateur of the Year” award occurred at a “Crème de la Crème” event in the Twin Cities on February 20th. The gathering raised funds for education and scholarships for upcoming restaurant and hospitality entrepreneurs. Established in 1881, the Lake Elmo Inn itself has won countless awards including best value, best special occasion location and best brunch in the Twin Cities for over 10 years, plus Mpls. St. Paul Magazine’s Top 10 Best Restaurants in 2005. It is located on 3442 Lake Elmo Avenue North and on the web at www.lakeelmoinn.com.

PHOTO BY CURTIS DALE

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ny visitor to Spike's Cobblecraft Shoe Repair will soon see that Spike Fleischhacker loves what he does. He is energetic and open and friendly, and one suspects that he probably whistles while he works. He's a strong man - that's a requirement for working with shoes - and

he has an engaging and soothing manner coupled with a gentle sense of humor. It just could be that this personable man is a genuine good example.

We've all heard of people who got an early start in their vocations and Spike is one of those. He started in the fifth grade, working with his father, who in turn had learned the trade by working with his older brother. Still a young man, Spike draws on more than six decades of family involvement with leather, and twenty-four years of being at the helm.

Spike came to the Valley Ridge Mall sixteen years ago, and for five years he contin-ued to operate his shop in White Bear Lake. Then he made accommodations for his growing family and pared down his work life to allow time for more involvement. He coached soccer, baseball, and hockey, and generally supported youth athletics over the years. These things take time and commitment, but are rich in rewards - friendships, challenges, lessons learned, satisfaction gained, and sense of fulfillment from helping guide young lives. Spike's demeanor suggests that all of these things came to him over the years. Now the kids are beyond the high school years, and Spike gets out on the golf course twice a week during the warm months, but there's a grandchild and with three children, it is likely that more will come.

Getting back to his business, Spike acknowledges what is somewhere in the back of everyone's mind, that were coming through a time with challenges for families and businesses of all sizes. Things are getting better, but we're all ready for "good" times again. Spike says that economic slowdowns mean fewer repairs for work-related items such as boots, but more for everyday personal items - shoes, gloves, purses. He does about the same amount of business, but it comes in smaller pieces.

Spike has seen changes in the business over the years. More shoes are designed to be discarded, and some rather quickly. But he says there are still a lot of people who will pay more to get a quality product, and they will maintain what they purchase. He says he loves to make old things look new, and a quick glance at the goods waiting for their owners bears that out. There are dress shoes, slippers, and boots of course, but also handbags, luggage, belts, wallets, gloves, and mittens, all looking like they've been cared for. Some of the shoes are dainty and delicate, and naturally, some of the boots have clearly been on a job site more than once. All ready to go on meeting their owner's needs as soon as they get back home.

When asked what makes a good day, Spike laughed heartily from the center of a warm smile. He quickly said "they're all good, some are even better than others." It’s a lesson in attitude we can all apply.

NOVEMBER 2009 STILLWATER LIVING 23

in person

Spike the Cobbler

BY CURTIS DALE; PHOTOS BY AIMEE CHRISTENSON

AMORE THAN JUST SHOES

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DECEMBER 2009 STILLWATER LIVING 23

in person

The Backyard Grocer

BY CURTIS DALE; PHOTO BY SHANNON CRIMMINS

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rench essayist and moralist, Jean de la Bruyere once said, “When a work lifts your spirits and inspires bold and noble thoughts in you, do not look for any other standard to judge by: the work is good, the product of a master craftsman.” By this definition, Bob Hagstrom is such a craftsman.

He and his wife Diane raised three girls and two boys on what was once a small dairy farm just west of Stillwater. Diane managed the household while Bob developed his construction business, Hagstrom Builder. Use of the old dairy farm’s out buildings came in handy for a home builder like Bob.

As the children grew up and became active teenagers, Bob and Diane followed suite. They quickly learned the ins and outs of supporting kids involved in high school sports. Bob developed a particular attachment to the cross country ski team (now called “Nordic skiing”) when his daughter participated in 1985.

Bill Simpson has been the head coach of the Nordic ski team since 1976, honored by placement in the Minnesota Coaches Hall of Fame. Bill runs an excellent program and it was likely his attention to detail and his kind disposition that caught Bob’s eye. A key to success in Nordic skiing is quality wax properly applied to skis. It didn’t take Bob long to recognize that Bill and the team could use some help in the waxing department.

Bob recalls with a smile, “We used to wax at the high school wherever we could find space.” The hassle factor that accompanies on-the-go waxing caught up with Bob and the coaches, and in time they created a more permanent site – Bob’s home. At this stage in his life, Bob had transferred Hagstrom Builder to one of his sons and the old out buildings on the farm weren’t seeing much use.

Thus, the wax shed was born. The family’s dog, tail wagging, welcomes guests when they enter. Inside the shed, there’s a potbelly stove situated in the corner that does more than simply throw off heat—it sets the tone in the shed, welcoming all who enter with a crackle and a whiff of oak. The fire provides a sense of calm, and Bob, the craftsman, feeds the flames with a log or two.

On average, the wax shed is open two nights a week during the skiing season. Three work benches have been converted to waxing stations with Bob manning one and assistant coaches or parents running the other two. Bill is there to greet parents and kids at the door. A man with an elephant’s memory, he knows the names and needs of the 135 kids in the program. Upon entering, he will greet you by name, noting you on his checklist. Then, without missing a beat, he’ll discuss how best to help you ski tonight.

“We make a major effort to get to know the 7th and 8th grade kids, and if they don’t have equipment we provide it,” says Bob. “Everyone starts where they are, we show the kids and parents how to care for the skis.” No detail is too small: binders holding skis together when not in use, carrying bags, fitting boots – you name it, they provide it. The wax shed itself offers the kids a sense of belonging to something bigger then themselves. Bill and the other coaches build on that with each individual athlete.

The walls of the waiting area in the wax shed are covered with posters made by kids who participated in years prior. The posters, dozens of them, cry “We Love You, Bob.” Photos of happy kids and a happy Bob, in his traditional Swedish outdoor garb, adorn each glitter-covered poster. It’s obvious that Bob values his relationship with the kids and their parents, and the posters offer evidence that the old craftsman and his wax shed have made a difference in hundreds, maybe thousands of lives.


in person

A Craftsman's TouchEveryone is Welcome at the Wax Shed

BY PETER MCNIFF; PHOTO BY SHANNON CRIMMINS

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Now You're Cooking

by peter mcniffphotos by aimee christenson

with Judy King

e are so happy to receive tips from readers about

potential story ideas. One such tip lead us to Judy King and her home-based kitchen cooking classes. We managed to pull some of our magazine staff together and have a ball creating a dynamic lunch together with Judy’s guidance. Each of us learned something new about preparing food in the process of creating a wonderful polenta with sausage and roasted vegetables. There were no leftovers.

Aimee generated some inviting images of our time in the kitchen and Judy was good enough to sit down for a little Q & A, enjoy.

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22 STILLWATER LIVING OCTOBER 2014

Reflections of a Bennie AbroadBy Emily Gould

South African Experience

left South Africa in the same condition as I found it: a country suffering from the legacy of apartheid, both racial and economic inequality affecting the majority of their population. I knew going into this four-month

adventure that I would encounter examples of the legacy, from extreme poverty to power disparities reflected by still-present conservative mindsets. Despite knowing what I was getting myself into and scratching the surface of South Africa’s history, nothing could have fully prepared me for what I would actually witness.

I held many expectations for what South Africa would be like and quickly learned that although some of them were true it was better to keep an open, adaptable mind. I expected to encounter poverty. I expected to be part of the minority of the population. I expected to be immersed in the city environment. I expected to go through struggles and feel frustrated at times. Most of all, I expected this journey to be a life-changing experience.

Sure enough, my expectations gave me a nice slap in the face. The quantity of people living in poverty and the accumulation of trash in the townships exceeded my predictions. The uncomfortable feeling of being in the minority of the population yet somehow still being more privileged because of the color of my skin was perplexing. Knowing I couldn’t escape the sound of the honking cars and the shouts of “Town! Town!” from the open window of the taxis along with the pungent sewer smells was often disheartening as I longed for the open meadows, pine forests, rivers and lakes back home. The idea of returning to the comfort of my flat after service was conflicting and troubling. Yet all these things were part of what made my time in South Africa a life-changing experience. In light of all these challenges, the people of South Africa were overflowing with kindness and joy. Yoliswa, who cleaned my flat every day at Langerry, was like a mother and a friend to me and the other girls in my flat. The idea of this woman cleaning up after us every day was uncomfortable, but once we took the initiative to talk to her and get to know her better, our relationship quickly skyrocketed. We grew to adore her so much that we made her a card and gave her chocolate on Mother’s Day. The staff at Missionvale Care Center was incredible to our group as they welcomed us to not only their worksite, but also their family. The staff constantly reminded me of the sacrifice my parents made to support me in traveling to South Africa and that

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At the Outing Lodge

E-mail: [email protected]: 651-439-9747Visit: www.outinglodge.com11661 Myeron Rd NStillwater, MN 55082

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Stillwater Living December 2014