Woodbury Magazine - February 2023

Class Acts

It’s the sticks and stones of everyday life that bring you to TRIA. Like the air-to-fakey that made your wrist go breaky. Whether you’re a professional snowboarder or ride the bunny slope on the weekend, you’ll receive the same expert orthopedic care and attention you need to get back in the game. It’s why you’re treated and how you’re treated by TRIA.

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FEBRUARY 2023

DEPARTMENTS

16 — Floor It

East Ridge High School student aims to grow the sport of floorball.

18 — Glorious Gray Embrace the natural beauty of gray and white hair.

22 — Creating Place Out of Space

The Airport Foundation MSP’s art program invites travelers to pause.

FEATURES

26 — Class Acts

Customize jewelry selections with colorful and timeless designs.

32 — World Traveler

From scuba diving to hiking volcanoes, Nancy Berg goes the extra mile for photography.

TASTEMAKERS

42 — Super Bowl Burger Board

Prepare for the big game with a tasty spread.

IN EVERY ISSUE

8 — Editor’s Letter 11 — Noteworthy 39 — On the Town 48 — Last Glance

Photo: Nancy Berg

FROM THE EDITOR

HAILEY ALMSTED — HAILEY@LOCALMEDIA.CO

The first time I went on an airplane was in ninth grade during a school trip to New York City. I was 14 years old, had only visited three other states aside from Minnesota (Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana) and was petrified of flying. After I made it through the initial terror that was TSA (What if I forgot to take my shoes off? What if my liquids were too large or the bag didn’t zip?), I felt a sigh of relief. And, once I saw the whimsical and beautiful clouds from the sky, it was love at first flight.

Since that first flight, I’ve had a desire to see as much as I can of the world. Although COVID-19 may have slowed my travels, I still have many trips on the proverbial books. At the top of my list? London, England; Banff, Canada; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Sydney, Australia.

In this travel-themed issue of Woodbury Magazine, I was lucky to talk to photographer Nancy Berg and her husband, Ryan, two of Woodbury’s most traveled residents. The couple has visited an astonishing 139 countries together and counting—and they’re sharing a few of their most treasured memories. Read World Traveler on page 32.

Also in this issue, my colleague Amy Overgaard and I had the pleasure of talking with representatives from the Airport Foundation MSP and Arts@MSP—two, intertwined nonprofits working to create memorable moments through arts, music, film and more throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Read Creating Place Out of Space on page 22.

Share your spring break travels and more with us, readers! Tag us on Instagram (@woodburymag), or use the hashtag #WoodburyMagazine to be featured. Happy traveling!

On the Cover Class Acts, photo by Chris Emeott, page 26

See what we’re doing behind the scenes and around town! Woodbury Magazine @woodbury_mag @wburymag

Photo: Rachel Nadeau

VOL. 19 NO. 6

woodburymag.com

publisher Susan Isay editor

Hailey Almsted managing creative director Renée Stewart-Hester managing editor

Hailey Almsted digital editor Madeline Kopiecki copy editors

Kellie Doherty Sherri Hildebrandt staff writers

Zoe Deal Mollee Francisco Emily Gedde Susie Eaton Hopper Daniel Huss Hanna McDaniels Josie Smith Kristie Smith

contributing writers Joyce Flynn Gretchen McNaughton Rachael Perron editorial interns Nicole Berglund Megan Hegenbarth

editorial advisory board Matthew Johnson , Anew Real Estate Group at Keller Williams, Woodbury Lions Club, Woodbury Community Foundation, Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce Marni Kanne , South Washington County Schools, SoWashCo Community Education Elizabeth Kriel , Jerry’s Foods Elizabeth Owens , City of Woodbury Margaret Wachholz , Woodbury Heritage Society, Woodbury Community Foundation, Woodbury Senior Living senior managing art director

Sarah Dovolos art director Allison Nolden junior designer Jamie Klang lead staff photographer Chris Emeott production director Brittni Dye production manager Lisa Stone production coordinator Mimi Coz senior account executives Brooke Beise Cynthia Hamre Sara Johnson Kathie Smith president

Pete Burgeson

To subscribe to Woodbury Magazine please visit: localmedia.co For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co or call 612.208.6248.

©Local, LLC 2023. All rights reserved.

DREAMING OF SPRING

WHILE THERE IS NOTHING like a gorgeous winter day in Minnesota, it’s this time of year when I find myself daydreaming of sunny spring days spent in the garden. Thankfully, that daydreaming also acts as a perfect time to accomplish spring planning. Here are some tips for how to use your daydreaming sessions to create the garden of, well, your dreams.

Write Down Your Goals

Take time to write out goals for your space. Maybe you’ll update the plants along your fence line, or this is the year you’re going to impress with decorative containers at your front entry.

Visualize and Plan

Once you have your goals, it’s time to start planning how to make them a reality. Get into the details, and visualize how you’re going to make it happen with plants and hardscaping,

plus budgets. I always start my research with a quick Pinterest search to find inspiration.

What’s New?

Every year, new and exciting plants hit the shelves at local garden centers that might just be the solution to one of your goals. A personal favorite of mine this year is Endless Summer® Pop Star® Hydrangea. The flower power on this hydrangea, especially for Minnesota gardens, is unbeatable. That plus the color, compact size and unique lacecap blooms add up to one pretty magnificent plant. Advice for where to plant Pop Star®? I love the impact that’s made when a couple are planted in a row along a walkway. Add one in a decorative container for that extra bit of showstopping garden magic.

Gretchen McNaughton is the communications and content specialist at Bailey Nurseries. Learn more at endlesssummerhydrangeas.com.

Photo: Bailey Nurseries

CITIZEN MEET A WOODBURY CHAMPION

Sometimes, a simple question is all it takes to launch a caring heart on a bigger mission. For over a decade, Claudia Millington has grown the Woodbury Citizens’ Academy (WCA) as a must-do program for future public servants and volunteers. Now entering its 14th year, the WCA boasts alumni with titles including mayor, state senator and nonprofit board member among many passionate volunteers.

A 35-year veteran of the banking industry, Millington was deeply engaged with the financial aspects of the community. But the busy buzz of corporate life was also isolating. “I lived here for 20 years before I knew what was going on; my kids were in school here, but I didn’t know the community,” she says.

In 2010, a retiring colleague at the bank asked Millington if she could take over her volunteering roles. With a smile, Millington recalls that it felt a bit like a voluntelling. She says, “She said, ‘I’m retiring, and I need you to take over.’” Her colleague’s trust proved well-founded as Millington went on to embrace leadership roles with various nonprofits while nurturing the WCA. The journey also energized her connection to the community. “That’s the nicest thing about being involved; you can see people totally,” she says.

Woodbury Heritage House Restoration

Our Woodbury Heritage Society owes a debt of gratitude for an astonishing group  of community volunteers! Over two memorable weekends, multiple individuals and businesses came together to make our restoration project a huge success. Through  the diligent work and devotion of our over 60 community volunteers, our goal to achieve restoration became reality.

Some of our volunteers knew very little about the Woodbury Heritage Society or the small white house on the corner of Radio Drive and Lake Road. But they all cared about working on a project that benefitted the countless school children, residents and visitors to our community that come to this marvelous historical site each year. Many local businesses committed

to help this project succeed, including Sherwin Williams Paint of Woodbury, Bailey Nurseries, Home Depot, Starbucks, the City of Woodbury and Matt JohnsonKeller Williams Premier Realty. Food for both weekends was donated by Kowalski’s Markets, Lunds & Byerlys and Cub Foods.

Not only did the Heritage House, built in 1883, get restored to its former glory, we shared a great camaraderie, a sense of community and pride in our heritage. The restored house will continue to benefit the many in the future who come to visit this significant historical home in Woodbury.

Joyce Flynn is the vice president of the Woodbury Heritage Society. Find more at woodburyheritage.org.

Photos: Claudia Millington, Woodbury Heritage Society

Kevin Gilboe is a volunteer with the Woodbury Community Foundation. Find more at woodburyfoundation.org.

Red Rock Township—created in 1858—was later renamed Woodbury Township in 1859 after Levi Woodbury, a New Hampshire Supreme Court justice and friend of the town’s first board chairman. For over a century, the land was owned by roughly 15 families who farmed and produced dairy products. Then, the area began to expand.

On Valentine’s Day 1967, the residents and town board of Woodbury Township met, deciding to incorporate the township as a village. It wasn’t until 1975 that the village was developed as the City of Woodbury. “The development and population growth qualified us to be called a city,” says Wayne Schilling, a member of the Woodbury Heritage Society and longtime Woodbury resident.

As we celebrate Woodbury’s 56th anniversary, Schilling observes that while the landscape has changed, the community continues to thrive. He says, “[The anniversary] gives us a basis of understanding the city. Though we have grown from 2,000 to over 80,000, it still is a community that works together and enjoys the land.” Much like it was back then. —Nicole Berglund

more information, go to woodburyheritage.org, or email Schilling at

The Love Hypothesis

Ali Hazelwood’s debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, is a love story unlike any other. The story follows Olive, a PhD student, who doesn’t believe in romance. However, her best friend, Anh, believes in fairytale love. Olive tries to convince Anh that she is, in fact, dating by kissing the first man she sees—which just so happens to be a hotshot, yet, rude professor, Adam Carlsen.

Adam agrees to be Olive’s fake boyfriend for the time being. At a convention gone wrong, however, Adam surprises Olive with his unwavering support, and this dating experiment starts to go wrong—or right?

This quick read is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Hazelwood’s future in STEM and contemporary rom-com novels is just getting started, and her second novel, Love on the Brain, was released this past summer.

Hailey Almsted is editor of Woodbury Magazine and enjoys reading as a pastime. Some of her favorite authors include Kristin Hannah, Sarah J. Maas and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

TASTE

Love is in the Air

My husband learned early on in our relationship that I had serious skills in the kitchen. I learned early on that he loved any pasta dish with chicken in it. This Valentine’s Day, our 31st together, I plan to make him this internet favorite and serve it with a simple green salad and a bottle of buttery chardonnay. Whether you call it by its popular name, Marry Me Chicken, or not, you’re sure to fall in love with this dish. Serve it over a bed of imported Italian linguine for soaking up all the delicious, creamy sauce.

Marry Me Chicken Serves 3–4

» Kowalski’s Italian imported organic linguine (from the Global Foods aisle), for serving

» 3–4 Cooks Venture boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 ½ lbs. total)

» 1 tsp. kosher salt

» ½ tsp. freshly ground Kowalski’s black peppercorns

» 6 Tbsp. flour

» 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

» 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

» 1 small shallot, peeled and thinly sliced

» 3 cloves garlic, minced

» ½ tsp. dried thyme

» ¼ tsp. dried oregano

» ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

» ¾ tsp. Kowalski’s organic roasted chicken

broth base, whisked with ¾ cup hot water

» 1 cup heavy cream

» 2 handfuls (approximately) baby spinach

» ½ cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese

» ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped

» fresh basil, torn, for garnish

Prepare pasta according to package directions; keep warm. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Meanwhile, season chicken evenly on both sides with salt and black pepper; dredge in flour, shaking off excess. In a large cast iron skillet (or another ovensafe skillet), heat oil and butter over mediumlow heat; sauté chicken in oil until dark golden-brown, turning once (about 2 minutes per side). Move chicken to a warm platter; keep warm. Add shallot to the skillet; cook until tender (1–2 minutes), stirring constantly. Add garlic, thyme, oregano and red pepper flakes; cook and stir for 30 seconds. Add chicken broth, then cream. Stir in spinach, cheese and tomatoes; cook until sauce is bubbly and starting to thicken (about 5 minutes), stirring often. Return chicken to skillet; flip chicken to coat in sauce. Bake chicken in preheated oven until cooked through (15–18 minutes). Serve chicken over warm pasta, garnishing with basil.

Rachael Perron is the culinary and brand director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications. Find more at kowalskis.com.

Photo: Kowalski’s Markets

Floor It

East Ridge High School student aims to grow the sport of floorball.

By Mollee Francisco

HUGO ROUVINEN may reside in the land of hockey, but for the East Ridge High School junior, floorball is life. And if Rouvinen gets his way, others will soon see his point of view as he works to grow the sport in the U.S. and, hopefully, start a professional team in Minnesota.

Hugo—who has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Finland—started playing floorball at 7 years old. At the time, his family lived in Finland, where the sport is wildly popular; in some cases, even more so than hockey. “Friends got me interested in [floorball],” he says. “I wanted to try it out.”

Floorball, which was invented in Sweden in the 1960s, is a noncontact sport that resembles floor hockey with players wielding sticks to score goals. Instead of a puck, a small plastic ball with holes in it (think Wiffle ball, but slightly smaller) is used. Each team has

five players and a goalie on the floor. “It is very fast paced, very much like hockey, very entertaining and fun to play,” Hugo says.

In the U.S., Hugo plays floorball two to three times a week with some local clubs in the Twin Cities. The 17-yearold, who is most often found at the position of left or right defender—and, from time to time, left or right forward—is a rising star in the sport. “I would like to think my strength is in stick handling and shooting,” he says.

In January 2020, Hugo played his first game on the U.S. National U16 Team in Sweden. “I have been part of the team ever since,” he says.

Last summer, he was invited to join the Florida Vikings—one of four semi-professional teams in the North American Floorball League—during

the league’s first season of play. After the six-week season ended, the Florida Vikings took home the Troy Cup.

In April, Hugo will represent the U.S. at the U19 Floorball World Championships in Denmark. “We just beat Canada for the first time in the history of USA floorball and qualified for World Championships,” he says. “I am very excited to represent the USA in the World Championships.”

Though massively popular across Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Switzerland and Germany, floorball is still relatively unheard of in the U.S. But Hugo is working to increase the game’s visibility. “I would like to see floorball grow and expand in Minnesota and in the USA,” he says. “I think [in] Minnesota— being the hockey state—floorball could gain tremendous interest … It is a great

Photos: Juha Rouvinen

Hugo Rouvinen (fourth from the top left) with the Florida Vikings semi-professional floorball team.

alternative or even an off-season practice to hockey.”

“Many of the [NHL] players and almost all the Finnish and Swedish players use floorball as part of their regular practice routine,” Hugo says.

Last fall, Hugo worked to offer open floorball practices and games in Woodbury. He is also hopeful that the North American Floorball League’s next expansion will feature a Minnesota team. (There are currently teams in Florida, Utah, Texas and California.) “We might have a team in Minnesota, which will make it easier for me to have games closer to home,” he says.

From Minnesota Women's Care

Introducing PamperSuite™

Minnesota’s First MedSpa Just For Moms-To-Be.

At Minnesota Women’s Care, we know a thing or two about pregnancy. We provide care to pregnant women every day – every step of the way – through one of life’s most amazing experiences. Now we’re making that journey even better.

Meet PamperSuite, our new medspa just for pregnant women. We have developed a variety of spa services that are safe for pregnant women. For instance, we have facials to bring out your glow and address your skin concerns. Our prenatal massage is designed to reduce anxiety and relieve muscle aches and pains. And when your energy is low, we have a cozy nap room. Plus, there’s more.

Learn more about PamperSuite. Visit mnwcare.com/pampersuite Phone 651-461-4770 or visit mnwcare.com/pampersuite

North American Floorball League; nafloorball.com

BEAUTY

By Kristie Smith

GLORIOUS GRAY is actually willfully white—when it comes to hair, that is. In fact, gray hair is a misnomer. The reality is that gray hair is the result of natural hair color mixing with white strands of hair. As we age, each hair follicle stops producing melanin. Without melanin— or color—hair grows in colorless. So, naturally dark hair blends with the new white strands to look silver or gray.

“I started getting gray in my later 40s,” Ginny Nelsen (81) of Inver Grove Heights says. “I was salt and pepper until my late 60s. I didn’t have a hard time accepting the color change, but it also helped to get compliments through it all.”

Exactly when those gorgeous locks start to “go gray” can depend on a number of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, nutrition, climate, hormones and even pollutants. But as stylist Pajar Vang of Pajar Hair Art (housed at Salons by JC–Woodbury) says, there are things to do to keep hair, especially as it begins to change, healthy and looking its best. She suggests “using the right products to strengthen the hair; using a good professional grade shampoo and conditioner, hair serums and leave-in treatments.”

Another pro tip: Always make sure to get a trim or cut every four to six weeks to keep growth in check and hair healthy.

Research shows hair doesn’t actually change texture as a person ages. Instead, the amount of oil secreted by sebaceous

CASE STUDY:

Greg and Holly found the possibility of building a new home intriguing... but had lots of questions that needed to be answered first...

Photos: Pajar Vang

glands decreases, causing the hair to become drier. To combat the effects of less oil, Vang offers tips like adding vitamin E, hydrating shampoos with antioxidants to stay bright and fresh and, occasionally, a clarifying shampoo to reduce toxin damage and build up. “Don’t be rough on wet hair, let it air-dry as much as you can and use less heat if possible,” she says.

For some, the intentional silver-color trend has been a gentle way to embrace the “gray,” especially during and postpandemic, but for others, that very visual reminder that aging is inevitable can be difficult. “I tell [my clients] that it’s a part of them, and instead of trying to hide it, embrace it because people are spending hundreds of dollars to look like them,” Vang says.

Anne (56) of Lake Elmo was in her 20s in college when her stylist suggested she start coloring her pops of silver. She says, “As I get older, the space between coloring sessions is getting shorter, so it’s definitely a time and money commitment.” She says if she were in her 20s today, she would get a little experimental with a variety of tints and colors as her white hair started settling in.

Pajar Hair Art and Salons by JC-Woodbury, 8160 Coller Way Suite D; Pajar Hair Art (Pajar Vang) @pajarhairart

Creating Place Out of Space

The Airport Foundation MSP’s art program invites travelers to pause.

By Amy Overgaard and Hailey Almsted

Photo: Jen Lewin

The Aurora by Jen Lewin

AN AVERAGE PERSON traveling through the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) may not notice the extensive collection of art scattered throughout the two terminals. But slow down, and you may begin to notice something beyond the bustling travelers or rolling suitcases.

When you arrive at the airport, you’re greeted by murals and installations in the parking ramps, like Interrupted Landscapes of the Incomer by photographer Steve Ozone, which features immigrant portraits displayed through punched metal panels. Walk into Terminal 1 and you’ll discover The Aurora by sculptor Jen Lewin, a 29-foot-high glass and metal sculpture that soars from baggage claim to ticketing, changing colors with the seasons and local weather conditions. Throughout the airport, some bathrooms are enhanced with colorful mosaics, and hallways are dotted with exhibits by local artists. Pass through at the right time, and you may also witness live performances from local musicians. And at any time, you can enjoy what’s showing at the See18 film screening room.

All of these experiences are available thanks to Arts@MSP, a partnership between the Airport Foundation MSP (AFMSP) and the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC). Program director Ben Owen says he seeks to “create place out of space,” using art installations, music and film to create memorable and meaningful moments throughout the airport for travelers to enjoy. Some of the art is commissioned and part of the airport’s permanent collection, while others are submitted into rotating exhibitions. It rotates 15 to 20 exhibits annually, which translates into approximately 4,600 pieces of fine art, and it works with local and regional artists.

This program supports the mission of AFMSP, a nonprofit which seeks to

serve the MSP community, to enhance the travel experience, exceed traveler expectations and support the aviation community.

AFMSP, which is the only foundation of its kind globally, was started in 1982 by leaders of the corporate hospitality and aviation industries, who wanted MSP to be a leading hub for major airlines—and one way to do that was to enhance the customer experience.

Stillwater resident and president and CEO of AFMSP Jana Webster says, in the beginning, the foundation simply paid for landscaping, signage and art in the airport and funded scholarships for aviation schools. “The foundation evolved as the airport grew—and the airport [has] grown a lot in 40 years,” she says. “Right now, we are the 17th largest airport in the U.S. Pre-COVID-19, we were at close to 40 million passengers a year … The foundation grew right along

with the airport, and so we expanded the types of programs and services.”

Vice president Laura Sartain of south Maplewood has worked to grow the volunteer program—one that initially saw more than 600 volunteers pre-COVID. Today, the foundation utilizes a relatively small staff and over 400 volunteers to run its operations—which include the Travellers Assistance program, tourism support, gambling operations, the MSP Animal Ambassadors program, grantmaking, community engagement events and an arts and culture department.

“We have our customer service volunteers, who work at information booths throughout both terminals. We have roving volunteers called Go Guides, and they walk throughout the airport looking for folks who need extra assistance,” Sartain says, noting that volunteers are around MSP seven days a week from 7 a.m.–

7 p.m. “The other big part of our program is the therapy animal program, one of the big obedience schools—All Breed Obedience—that trains new therapy dogs is in Woodbury.”

Featuring all types of breeds— ranging from Shih Tzus to great Danes—Sartain says the MSP Animal Ambassadors program is one of the largest therapy animal programs in the country. “We have almost 100 [therapy animal] teams … and they are in the terminals seven days a week,” she says, noting that the Los Angeles and Denver international airports are two other programs of its caliber.

“Having the ability to create programs and services that impact millions of people every year and that are so beneficial, not only on a global level, but also on a local level is so great,” Webster says. “And to create and help, especially

Photo: Steve Ozone, David Sherman Photography

Transitional Care

Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy

Woodbury

Transitional Care

Integrative erapies to Support the Healing Process

O ered for those who need to regain strength and independence after surgery, injury or illness and are in transition from home or hospital. Our experienced clinical team provides a spectrum of rehabilitation and therapy services on-site to restore individuals to their fullest potential. Also included in transitional care are customized integrative therapies, wellness and spirituality programs, including social activities, educational and intellectual programs, physical wellness activities, vocational programs and spiritual services. Visit our website for a full list of services and special features included in rehabilitation/therapy!

Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy

Woodbury Senior Living is pleased to o er a variety of Integrative Therapies to enhance your well being.

Memory Care

TransitionalCare

Integrative therapies, also known as complementary therapies, are a wide array of healing practices that fall outside purely pharmaceutical or surgical treatments but are intended to complement medical care.

Due to their proven results, their use is growing rapidly around the country.

The following therapies are free of charge.

Transitional Care

O ered for those who need to regain strength and independence after surgery, injury or illness and are in transition from home or hospital. Our experienced clinical team provides

PhysicalTherapy,Occupational Therapy,andSpeechTherapy

O

Memory Care at Woodbury Senior Living is available in both Woodbury Estates and Woodbury Health Care Center.

• At Woodbury Estates, this living option o ers comfortable, specialized care for individuals with memory impairments such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, while giving their families support and peace of mind.

• At Woodbury Health Care Center, this living option o ers comfortable, specialized care for individuals with memory impairment as well as complex medical needs.

pendenceeredforthosewhoneedtoregainstrengthandindeaftersurgery,injuryorillnessandareintransitionfromhomeorhospital.Ourexperiencedclinicalteam providesaspectrumofrehabilitationandtherapyservices on-sitetorestoreindividualstotheirfullestpotential.Also includedintransitionalcarearecustomizedintegrative therapies,wellnessandspiritualityprograms,including socialactivities,educationalandintellectualprograms, physicalwellnessactivities,vocationalprogramsandspiritualservices.Visitourwebsiteforafulllistofservicesand specialfeaturesincludedinrehabilitation/therapy!

• Guided Imagery: Using your imagination to direct your thoughts towards healing.

• Energy Based Healing Modalities: Gentle, non-invasive treatments that work to restore the natural ow and balance of the body’s energy system. In times of stress, injury or illness this energy system can become congested, blocked or unbalanced.

• Essential Oils: Extracts of plants that are used to restore balance to the body and emotions primarily through the sense of smell. The essential oils used at Woodbury Health Care Center are extracted from high quality, organically grown plants and blended by a certi ed aromatherapist.

Healing Music erapy

Memory Care

Memory Care

It includes the same level of support found within our skilled nursing care, with the added bene t of customized activities tailored to memory care individuals.

Each memory care unit is located in a monitored area within the building.

Our licensed sta is trained to understand the unique needs of the memory and work with each resident and their family members to customize a personal plan to maximize both self-motivation and functional independence.

MemoryCare MemoryCareatWoodburySeniorLivingisavailableinboth WoodburyEstatesandWoodburyHealthCareCenter.

•AtWoodburyEstates,thislivingoptiono erscomfortable,specializedcarefor individualswithmemoryimpairmentssuchasAlzheimer’sandotherformsof dementia,whilegivingtheirfamiliessupportandpeaceofmind.

• Gives the resident control in a situation

•AtWoodburyHealthCareCenter,thislivingoptiono erscomfortable,specialized careforindividualswithmemoryimpairmentaswellascomplexmedicalneeds. Itincludesthesamelevelofsupportfoundwithinourskillednursingcare,with theaddedbene tofcustomizedactivitiestailoredtomemorycareindividuals. Eachmemorycareunitislocatedinamonitoredareawithinthebuilding. Ourlicensedsta istrainedtounderstandtheuniqueneedsofthememoryand workwitheachresidentandtheirfamilymemberstocustomizeapersonalplan tomaximizebothself-motivationandfunctionalindependence.

• Enhances attention, memory, speech,

Healing Music erapy

• Creates an outlet for emotional expression

• Alleviates pain, stress, decrease symptoms of depression, enhances overall well-being

• Motivator and reward for physical activity

Minnesotans, have a sense of pride about this airport … It’s amazing.”

Sartain shares a similar sentiment. “It’s such an incredibly dynamic environment. Every day feels like a different place,” she says. Speaking to its volunteerism, she says, “Minnesota is such a strong volunteer state. Nearly 50 percent of residents volunteer in someway … If people are looking for a new, exciting opportunity, we are always welcoming people at the airport.”

The Airport Foundation MSP, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, 4300 Glumack Drive Suite D2040, St. Paul; airportfoundation.org

The Airport Foundation MSP @airportfoundationmsp

Left: Interrupted Landscapes of the Incomer by Steve Ozone

Below: AFMSP vice president Laura Sartain

At Woodbury Senior Living, we serve seniors and their families by encouraging them to thrive – by o ering a wide variety of wellness-focused services and activities while empowering them to live as independently as possible

At

Senior Living, we serve seniors and their families by encouraging them variety of wellness-focused services and activities while empowering them to live

Class Acts

Written by Hanna McDaniels Photos by Chris Emeott

Emeralds, sapphires and rubies, oh my! With spring approaching faster than we know it, adding gemstones to your jewelry is the perfect accessory for the season, plus a great way to add in a pop of color as the leaves and flowers bloom with vibrance in the next few months.If you aren’t in the spring mood yet, get in the Valentine’s Day spirit, and customize your jewelry with a pop of radiance. These gemstones can be a shining alternative to a diamond that would be a great addition to the month celebrating love.

Kristin Chao, a staff member at Johnson Jewelers specializing in advertising, trends and social media, says gemstones are a great way to add spice to your jewelry collection and that pieces are customizable to fit in a specific aesthetic.

There are two types of custom pieces at Johnson Jewelers—the first “customization” entails taking an existing piece that has already been manufactured and tweaking it with a different stone, adding

engraving or making the piece into different widths. A fully customized piece starts with a sketch that is later implemented into a 3D render. From there, the customer can improve the look or approve it—either route is turned into a beautiful, unique one-of-a-kind piece.

“We are seeing people play around with gemstones a lot, more than they were ever before. Our customers are throwing out the rule book as it was— people still love gemstones as a birthstone, but now people are just picking whatever color and gemstone they like,” Chao says. The influx in gemstone popularity has spiked a trend in upcoming styles. Many are intermixing gemstones with a variety of combinations and colors—some rubies and sapphires, or diamonds and emeralds. “The variety of gemstones makes it a more customized piece. The trends seem to be moving away from one huge stone on a tiny little piece,” Chao says.

For engagement rings and bridal pieces, many trends now are pointing back to the classic designs. “We are seeing customers wanting bigger bands that

we saw on our own mothers in the ’80s and ’90s, with a really impressive center stone,” Chao says. “... When they are making a really big purchase, they’re feeling like they want to go classic. They don’t want to take a risk on things that are trending for bridal pieces.”

Gemstones allow a ring to mimic classic designs and to be customized to a specific liking, and there are many great alternatives to even the classic diamond. “Colored gemstones to a lot of people have a little bit more personality. Maybe they are getting a birthstone of a loved one or even their favorite color,” Chao says. “Gemstones can add a bit more flare than the classic diamond. Also, if you’re looking for a really impressive piece, but it’s not in your budget, often we set it with a gemstone to make it affordable.”

Moissanite is the closest looking gemstone to the diamond—with a hardness of nine on the Mohs Hardness Scale, it is quite similar to the diamond in color and durability. Moissanite is also more environmentally friendly, as it’s not mined but instead is lab-made. The big difference is the sparkle the gemstone emits,

Left: “Sugarloaf” cabochon sapphire set in 10 karat yellow gold Right: Oval emerald in platinum three-stone ring

On left, from top to bottom: 1.69 carat oval morganite in a rose gold ring with a diamond halo (also bottom); oval emerald in platinum three-stone ring; swiss blue topaz set “East-West” in 14 karat white gold with diamond halo (also top right)

1.65 carat oval sapphire in platinum three-stone ring

in comparison to the diamond, moissanite actually has more sparkle.

“Moissanite has been getting really popular. In years past, it was cubic zirconia as our ‘fake diamond.’ The moissanite though has a lot of fire and a lot of sparkles. They also have more of a rainbow sparkle, whereas the diamond’s sparkle is considered colorless—it has a disco ball effect really. It’s ultra-ultra sparkly,” Chao says.

To ensure your custom jewelry

remains timeless, Chao’s advice is to stick to the big three gemstones: ruby, sapphire and emerald. “Those are the most classic; the color is unmistakable. When you see an emerald, you know it’s an emerald; when you see a ruby, you know it’s a ruby. Some other gemstones, like aquamarine or citrine, are beautiful, but they aren’t recognizable—so those sometimes read more as trendy than timeless,” Chao says. Customization has no rules though, so if a gemstone you love

isn’t in the big three, it can easily turn into a statement piece. For Chao, sapphire is her personal favorite gemstone, and she has a sapphire on her engagement ring, adding uniqueness and her own personality to a personal piece.

Johnson Jewelers of Woodbury Inc., 783 Radio Drive #100D; 651.735.4400; johnsonjewelers.com

Johnson Jewelers

@johnsonjewelersofwoodbury

Two carat old mine cut diamond in 18 karat yellow gold filigree setting

WORLD TRAVELER

FROM SCUBA DIVING TO HIKING VOLCANOES, NANCY BERG GOES THE EXTRA MIILE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

WRITTEN BY HAILEY ALMSTED PHOTOS BY NANCY BERG

Nancy Berg fondly recalls a time when photographers had to shoot with film cameras and cartridges—after all, it’s where she got her start as a wildlife photographer.

Nancy and her husband, Ryan, moved to Woodbury from Georgia in 1990. In her time here, Nancy has been a science teacher at Lake Middle School (which was Lake Junior High at the time), East Ridge High School and Woodbury High School. The couple raised their children, Ryley Berg (36) and Hallie Berg-Ruby (34), in Woodbury and visited 61 countries during their childhood. (Ryley has since stopped traveling, and Hallie has gone on to visit a total of 107 countries.) Nancy retired in 2016 and has spent much of that time traveling around the world, capturing wildlife, nature and unique cultures through her images.

“I took a photography class in the late ’70s, but back then it was all film. It was mostly black and white, and we processed it,” she says.

In 1978, the couple backpacked through Europe for three months and lived on $5–$10 per day—visiting 13 countries throughout

that period. They had never been on a plane, and neither Ryan nor Nancy had been on a subway or could speak foreign languages. “It took us six hours to get out of the airport [in France] because neither of us could read French or had been in an airport, and our resource was a book called Let’s Go Europe ,” Ryan says. But, “We still keep in touch with people that we met from that trip,” Nancy says.

In 1979, Ryan gifted Nancy a Canon SLR camera. “It was big stuff at the time,” she says. It wasn’t soon after when the couple began searching for the next big thing to photograph.

Nancy’s passion for wildlife photography begin in the mid-80s when she and Ryan would take trips from Georgia to Cozumel, an island in the Caribbean Sea, to scuba dive. “She started taking photos underwater, which is very difficult, and back then it was still film, so you had 36 shots, and you would get back and be home already, and you develop the photos and realize the setting was wrong,” Ryan says, expressing how lucky a photographer was to get at least one good shot.

DEEP DIVE

The practice of blackwater scuba diving is unlike any other scuba diving venture in the world. This form of scuba occurs at night in the open ocean, hundreds of feet below the surface, where divers are tethered to the boat via rope and large underwater lights are used to illuminate the spectacle. “The largest animal migration on Earth happens every night after midnight, where all of the animals from the really deep part of the ocean migrate near the surface to feed on plankton that’s available,” Nancy explains. She notes the practice is done mainly in Hawaii, off the coast of Miami and in the Philippines, where they were able to blackwater dive. New creatures are identified every day from this practice.

“You’re one to two miles off shore, and in the Atlantic [Ocean] you drift five to 10 miles at a time. And you take your big camera, with strobes and lights and your tank, and you backflip off the boat, try to get your bearings and let your eyes adjust,” Nancy says. Most of the “animals” coming to the surface are under half an inch large and macro lenses are needed to capture such creatures. “You’re drifting along and trying to keep the lights, and you have no reference point, and it’s black,” she says, “It looks like in the winter, when it’s snowing and your driving, and the snow is coming toward your windshield … Stuff is coming into your ears, your face. It’s extremely difficult.”

“It’s only for adrenaline junkies,” Nancy says. “I wouldn’t do it in the Atlantic [Ocean], but I would do it again in the Philippines, where the water is calm.”

For Nancy, who grew up in Wisconsin and studied zoology, being at the ocean was a feeling like she’d never had before. “It was incredibly intriguing to see the things I studied about and never actually saw in real life,” she recalls. When Nancy first started photography, all she had to go off of was the class she took in college. From there, it was a steep learning curve of understanding how to set the camera, getting the right lighting, capturing motion and more.

Fast forward a few years later to 1983, and the couple spent three months in South America, camping their way through the continent. “And we keep in contact with people that we met during that trip, too,” Nancy says. When their kids were just 5 and 7 years old, they took them to Indonesia for five weeks, visiting Singapore, Borneo, Bali, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. In 1997, they went on a five-week Tanzania safari trip with their children and friends, who also took their children on the trip. “It was five of them and four of us. We were on safari and photographing leopards, elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, the Maasai [Tribe] and Mount Kilimanjaro,” Nancy says. “We took our kids with us everywhere we went, so they’ve been all over.”

At the time of writing, Nancy and Ryan have visited 137 countries together. They’ve had experiences that not many other people in the world have had. In 2019, during a second dive trip in the Philippines—their first dive trip to the Philippines was in 2016—they went on a boat tour with professional photographers and leading underwater photographers, where Nancy captured whale sharks in the middle of the ocean. “There are six to eight divers, and and the whale sharks would go play in their bubbles,” Nancy says. “It was intentional. When we got back on the boat, we were all talking about it, and the dive master said they love to play in the bubbles, so it wasn’t a fluke. They’ve learned it, and they look forward to it.”

During a boat ride in the Gambia River in West Africa, they saw birds that they never knew existed. “We saw one bird that people go there just to see … We got pictures of it, and I didn’t even know how amazing it was … The boat driver went crazy and said, ‘I’ve hosted people five to seven times just to see that bird, you come in and you see it right away,’ and he said we were very lucky to see the Tiger Heron,” Ryan says. “He asked us to send him the photos, so he could use it for his profile photo.”

This past July, they visited Rwanda and Uganda to capture mountain gorillas, where they had to hike up the side of a volcano to

get to the gorillas’ natural habitat. “We got up there and, really, you don’t realize that they’re as human as they are. I wasn’t expecting it,” Nancy says. “The first one we saw was a momma gorilla holding a 2-week-old baby. She looked over at us, and I looked at her eyes and thought she looked just like any other momma. She was holding her baby and would let us see; she would pat it on the back and then reach for something to eat. It was just mesmerizing. Then, the big silverback gorilla rounded the corner, checked everything out, looked at us, and we looked at his eyes and you can tell he’s in charge.”

This past fall, they visited Mongolia, where Nancy photographed Mongolia’s golden-eagle hunters—a group of nomadic tribes in the Altai region who use the extremely rare skill of hunting with golden eagles. “It was incredible,” she says. “This has been happening for 6,000 years … To see the relationship between the eagles and

their trainers, it was something else … They treated their eagles like their children; they were pampered and there was definitely an attachment there.”

They’ve visited all 48 countries in Asia aside from two, all 33 Latin American countries, all seven Western European countries, plus many countries across North America, South America and Africa. As for what’s next on the books? They never quite know, as trips are typically planned anywhere from one week to one year beforehand. They’re always looking to visit new landscapes, including those across the states. Nancy and Ryan just got back from a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, where they photographed the aurora borealis and have more trips across the U.S. and the world planned for the future.

For the Bergs’ travel tips and to view more of Nancy’s work, visit woodburymag.com.

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT SOWASHCO SCHOOLS

Student groups join together to celebrate culture in the community.

SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOLS will host its second annual district-wide Black History Month celebration. Last year, members of Woodbury (WHS), East Ridge (ERHS) and Park High Schools’ Black Student Unions (BSU) displayed posters throughout the month of February, leading up to the big celebration.

“The theme was ‘Black Joy,’” says Olivia Alston, Community Culture liaison and BSU advisor for WHS and ERHS. Each BSU was assigned to make poster boards for two decades of Black culture in the U.S., which were on display. Students also sang the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and did a decades-themed fashion show, which includ-

ed African clothing. Alston adds, “A student and his father performed some jazz together, and we had the Park step team in addition to an African dance team.”

This year’s celebration will also take place in late February at ERHS, but the details are still being brainstormed by the students. Alston says, “It’s important for us as a community to be visible and to be joyous in celebrating Black history. While it’s important to acknowledge and talk about the struggles and oppression facing the Black community, it’s great to come together and show joy together. I think that’s radical within itself.” —Nicole Berglund

For more details and information, go to sowashco.org.

LOCAL EVENTS

Story Time Art

02/01–02/18

Bring the kids on Wednesdays and Saturdays to grow their love of art and reading. Ages 18 months–6. $77. 9:30–10:15 a.m. Kidcreate Studio, 1785 Radio Drive; 651.735.0880; kidcreate.com

Senior Book Club 02/10

On the second Friday of every month, join the book club to discuss a new title. February’s meeting will discuss The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Ages 55 and over. Free. 10:30 a.m.–noon. R. H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place; 651.731.1320; washcolib.org

Valentine’s Card Workshop 02/10

Create fun 3D cards with the kids just in

time for Valentine’s Day. Ages 18 months–6. $22. 9:30–10:30 am. Kidcreate Studio, 1785 Radio Drive; 651.735.0880; kidcreate.com

Godspell

02/17–02/19, 02/24–02/26

A group of people help Jesus Christ tell parables by using games, storytelling techniques and comedic timing. This musical is hosted by Open Door Community Theatre. All ages. $17 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. Times vary. King of Kings Luthern Church, 1583 Radio Drive; opendoorcommunitytheatre.org

Teen Career Conversation: Arts and Humanities 02/21

SoWashCo Libraries and CareerForce bring together a team of arts and humanities professionals to discuss their career paths. All ages. Free. 4:15–6 p.m. R. H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place; 651.731.1320; washcolib.org

AREA EVENTS

St. Paul Winter Carnival 02/01–02/05

There will be scavenger hunts, an ice fishing tournament, snow and ice sculptures and parades. All ages. Free. Times vary. Rice Park, 109 W. Fourth St., St. Paul; 651.223.7400; wintercarnival.com

WinterFest 02/04

Grab your hats and gloves and join the winter celebration at Loring Park, complete with s’mores, hot cocoa, a bonfire, music, face painting and more. All ages. Free. 1–3 p.m. Loring Park, 1382 Willow St., Mpls.; minneapolisparks.org

Daughter of the Regiment 02/04–02/12

Get ready for this incredible opera at the Ordway Center. Watch as aristocratic Marie falls for a villager and goes through obstacles in this romantic comedy. All ages. Starting from $106. Times vary. Ordway Center, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; 651.224.4222; ordway.org

The Little Prince Through 02/05

Based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, this play follows a young boy as he tells a stranded pilot about his intergalactic adventures. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. The Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Mpls.; 612.377.2224; guthrietheater.org

A Soldier’s Play 02/08–02/12

This thriller follows a murder and a series of interrogations that will question what sacrifice, service and identity mean in America. Ages 13 and over. Starting from $42.65. Times vary. The Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul; 651.224.4222; ordway.org

To have your event considered: email woodburymag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Due to the fluidity being experienced in the current environment, please note that some events/dates and even some business operations may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

Compiled by Nicole Berglund and Megan Hegenbarth

Valentine’s Card Workshop

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince 02/09–02/12

Experience the magic of Harry Potter live with the Minnesota Orchestra. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 612.371.5656; minnesotaorchestra.org

Mardi Gras Bar Crawl 02/18

It’s a green, purple and gold New Orleans-style celebration. Enjoy free beads and drinks at different bars around Minneapolis. Ages 21 and over. Starting from $7. 3–10 p.m. The Famous Brass Rail, 422 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; mardibarcrawl.com

To Kill a Mockingbird

02/19

Based on the book by Harper Lee, this classic tale is performed live on stage. Ages 12 and over recommended. Prices vary. Times vary. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepintheatretrust.org

Monster Jam 02/19

Witness a spectacular show with athletes and their 12,000 pound monster trucks. All ages. Prices vary. 3–5 p.m. U.S. Bank Stadium, 401 Chicago Ave., Mpls.; 612.777.8700; usbankstadium.com

Shen Yun 02/24–02/26

This vibrant display of classic Chinese culture returns to Minnesota. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepintheatretrust.org

Winter Beer Dabbler

02/25

Try beer samples from breweries across the country. Ages 21 and over. Prices vary. 3–6:30 p.m. Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul; 651.288.4400; beerdabbler.com

Muse 02/26

Muse returns to Minnesota for the Will of the People Tour. Evanescence and ONE OK ROCK will guest star. All ages. Prices vary. 6:30. Target Center, 600 N. First Ave., Mpls.; 612.673.1300; targetcenter.com

woodburymag.com

Super Bowl Burger Board

Prepare for the big game with a tasty spread.

Written by Emily Gedde

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY is on the horizon, and that means it’s time to prepare for a day full of football, commercials and, most importantly, food.

By the time February rolls around, the cold, short days have us eager for excuses to host a party, making Super Bowl celebrations the perfect reason to go all out. While the traditional chicken wings, taco dip and veggie tray are easy go-to’s for the big game, score a touchdown with a unique burger bar.

Rachael Perron, culinary and branding director for Kowalski’s Markets, shares inspiration for building a dreamy burger bar for the big game. Regarding the football festivities, she says, “We actually celebrate the Super Bowl in our stores pretty heavily.”

Don’t Fumble the Foundation

The foundation of any burger bar is the meat. Perron admits it’s not the most glamorous part of building a burger, but strongly feels it’s the most important. Kowalski’s Markets offers a variety of options to create delicious burgers— and has vegan and dairy-free options, too. It offers plant-based burgers and meatballs that are 100 percent vegan and dairy-free.

“They are made with extra virgin olive oil and absolutely no preservatives,” Perron says. “With a rich, meaty texture and incredible flavor, you won’t believe they’re made from plants. I love them, and I eat meat.”

Topping Touchdown

Once the base is secured, creativity can start flowing with the topping and condiments. Perron shares a few fun, unique ideas to top your burger:

• Kowalski’s Market organic black garlic barbecue sauce

• Deer Creek tequila habanero pimento cheese dip

• Onion dip or Buffalo dip

• Mike’s Hot Honey

• Stonewall Kitchen bacon onion jam

• Watercress

• Sprouts or microgreens

• Pickled, raw and caramelized onions

• Candied jalapenos

Board Blitz

Selecting your favorite foods is just the first step in crafting a stunning burger bar. Next, you have to build it. Fear not, they’re a cinch to assemble when you follow Kowalski’s five simple steps: Step 1: Condiments

Position condiments and other wet ingredients in bowls or jars on opposite sides of your board or in a triangle, away from the edge.

Step 2: Crackers, Cookies and Sliced Breads

Stack, fan out or layer individual servings of crackers, cookies and breads around the edges to create a border.

Step 3: Cheeses and Meats

Place larger/focal ingredients first. Place groupings of remaining items in groups of two or three across the board from each other. Swirl, pile and swoop single-serve portions near the appropriate pairings with little to no space between them.

Buffalo Bison Burgers with Blue Cheese Aioli

Photo: Kowalski’s Markets

Tuscan Gourmet Gorgonzola Burgers

Plant-Based Curry Burger with Curry Mayo

Photos: Kowalski’s Markets

Strawberry Mojito

Step 4: Snacks and Nuts

Pile small, loose pieces near the foods with which they pair best. Place them close to the center of the board to contain them. Keep color balance in mind as you place items. (Do not place items of the same color all in one area of the board).

Step 5: Fruits and Vegetables

Garnish with fresh food and a few inedible garnishes, if any. Place these in small groupings (do not scatter them over the entire board), filling any gaps. This helps to tie the board together visually.

Team Theme

Once it’s determined which teams will face off against each other on February 12, Perron suggests designing burger boards with team themes.

“Some examples could be the Green Bay Burger against an Oakland Burger, beer cheese versus a California

plant-based burger with avocado and sprouts, or Minnesota Burger versus a Buffalo Burger—it could be a Juicy Lucy versus buffalo-blue cheeseburger,” she says.

Cocktail Conversion

After the board is built, you’ll need something to sip on during the game. Anything that can be made as a batch and ahead of time is the route Perron suggests taking.

Blackberry Cucumber Cocktails Serves 2

» 8 blackberries, plus more for garnish

» 2 sliced and peeled cucumber, plus more for garnish

» 4 large mint leaves, plus more for garnish

» 3 oz. gin

» 3 oz. Kowalski’s simple syrup

» 2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice

Kowalski’s Markets, 8505 Valley Creek Road; 651.578.8800; kowalskis.com Kowalski’s Markets

@kowalskis_markets Kowalski’s Markets @kowalskismarket

» ice

» tonic water, to taste

» 2 lime wedges, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries, cucumber and mint; add gin, simple syrup, lime juice and ice. Shake to combine (at least 30 seconds); strain evenly into 2 lowball glasses over ice. Top glasses evenly with tonic water; garnish each glass with a small sprig of mint, a lime wedge, blackberries and sliced cucumber.

Strawberry Mojitos Serves 2

» 4 leaves fresh mint, plus more for garnish

» 5 fresh strawberries, plus more for garnish, stemmed and hulled (or up to 8)

» 8 oz. light rum, divided

» 4 oz. cold Lime Sour

» ice

» 4 oz. cold club soda

» 2 lime wedges, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint, strawberries and 1 oz. rum; add remaining rum, Lime Sour and ice. Shake to combine; strain evenly into two highball glasses over ice. Top glasses evenly with club soda; garnish each glass with a lime wedge, strawberry and a sprig of mint.

For eclectic burger recipes contributed by Kowalski’s Market, including Tuscan Gourmet Gorgonzola Burgers, Plant-Based Curry Burgers and more, go to woodburymag.com.

Photos: Kowalski’s Markets

Blackberry Cucumber Cocktail

SECOND PLACE: WILDLIFE & NATURE

Unique Mushrooms

Photograph at Markgrafs Lake showcases nature’s beauty.

“I TOOK THIS PICTURE on October 12, 2021, while on a walk around Markgrafs Lake. I was out walking around with my toddler. When we stopped at the shoreline to look at the water, I saw a few unique mushrooms and decided to take a few photos with my iPhone,” says Baylie DeLong, photographer of Markgrafs Mushroom, which won second place in the Wildlife & Nature category in the Focus on Woodbury photo contest. “I really enjoy taking photos of nature. I got my first camera when I was 14 and fell in love with photography. Nature photography has always been my main interest [and] focus. I really like to capture the simple and natural beauty that’s around us all the time.”

Photographer: Baylie DeLong

Title: Markgrafs Mushroom Equipment: iPhone 12 Pro Max Location: Markgrafs Lake

To view other Focus on Woodbury photo contest winners, visit woodburymag.com.