Woodbury Magazine - March 2023

LITTLE BAKERY BIG HEART

Special education teacher shares sweetness with the community

SPORTS INJURY

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This issue is all about what we bring to the plate. “A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” —Thomas Keller, American chef, restaurateur and cookbook author

FROM THE EDITOR

HAILEY ALMSTED — HAILEY@LOCALMEDIA.CO

One thing that makes our community such a special place to live in is the people who are our friends and family, neighbors and coworkers. Growing up in Woodbury and now working in the community, I have a unique bond to many of the people and places in the city.

Justin Atkinson has a similar bond to Woodbury; he’s also a native resident, who is now raising his family in the community and sharing a slice of his childhood through his film, Bobby’s Intermission. The movie is filmed primarily at Vali-Hi Drive-In, features local actors and actresses and touches on Atkinson’s own experiences throughout young adulthood. I had the pleasure of connecting with Atkinson over our love for the city—go to page 26 to read more about his story and the upcoming film.

Throughout this food-themed issue of Woodbury Magazine, we’re dishing up several stories that, we hope, will make you hungry for more. On page 16, meet husband-and-wife duo Steve and Deb Long, owners of 3rd Act Brewery, who discuss their love for craft beer. On page 30, writer Hanna McDaniels connects with Melinda Weiss, a local special education teacher, who shares her passion for baking with her students and the community. And you’ll find a few more tasty stories throughout our pages. We want to see what you’re dishing up! Show us your food snaps on Instagram using #WoodburyMagazine—we’ll share our favorite plates. See you next month!

On the Cover Memoo’s Macs, photo by Chris Emeott, page 30

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

Photo: Rachel Nadeau

Dr. James Erlandson

Dr. Marc Roehrich

Where visiting the dentist feels like visiting a friend.

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

Malena Larsen

Hanna McDaniels

Josie Smith

Kristie Smith

contributing writers

Nancy S. Collett

Kevin Gilboe

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

Family

The Byes Photo

SPEND A DAY THE VALLEY CREEK WAY

NESTLED ON 70 ACRES, Valley Creek Park had its official grand opening in August 2022. The park hosts a destination playground with three trail sections that connect different places to the park. Two of the trail sections, approximately 3/4 mile, connect the park to neighborhoods with one connecting the park to Valley Creek Road and the greater trail system. In addition to the paved trail sections, there are soft surface trails through the trees and prairie in the northeast section of the park that allow for exploration and a different experience. The park also has self-service trails running through prairies and evergreen forests.

“The playground includes unique features that allow it to fit into the Minnesota landscape,” says Michelle Okada, City of Woodbury Parks and Recreation director. With “more features than your average neighborhood park,” Okada says the playground is divided into sections for kids ages 2–5 and ages 5–12. “There are smaller features for the littles and bigger features for the older kids,” she says.

The Miller Barn, dating back to the 1920s, is the city’s only historic barn that’s preserved thanks to certain partnerships and jurisdictions—and is nestled right inside Valley Creek Park. With the interior now closed to the public, it functions as a fixture that is especially popular with photographers. “It serves as a neat feature for dimension,” Okada says. “It’s newly painted in a classic barn red, and it allows people to reminisce.”

The Headwaters of the Valley Creek Trout Stream, a high-quality trout stream with a naturally reproducing brook trout population, sits near the entrance of the park. Stormwater is treated before entering the stream, and additional infrastructure is in place to further reduce impacts.

—Nicole Berglund

Valley Creek Park, 1150 Valley Creek Road; woodburymn.gov

Photo: Brooke Schmitz

CITIZEN OF WOODBURY

Meet a Woodbury Champion

“I always knew I wanted to get involved,” Philip Eviston says. Now a senior at Stillwater Area High School, Philip has been on a mission to make an impact. Already engaged with five cause-based organizations at his school, Philip recently joined the Board of Directors for the Woodbury Community Foundation. Within his first few months with the foundation, he developed a new fundraising collaboration with Bridgeman’s Ice Cream Parlor of Woodbury.

“A particular cause that I’m passionate about is mental health; everyone has experience with it, and it affects people in different ways,” he says. In collaboration with a small group of faculty and peers, Philip led an initiative for the more than 3,000 students at his school to improve access to mental health resources. Recognizing the unique needs of his generation, he designed a “tech-forward but nonconfronting campaign” using QR codes. More than 1,000 of his peers have already scanned the codes to learn more.

Graduating soon with the class of 2023, Philip is looking forward to join more causes that match his passions. As for Woodbury, “I think it’s important for others to know how we value everybody in the community—it’s really about everyone,” he says.

GROW

A Successful Season

We all know that March is a hard one to predict. Are we going to see snowfall or be met with an early spring? I, for one, am hoping for an early spring! If that happens, here are some spring gardening to-dos that will help set your garden up for success all season.

Remove Winter Protection

Once we’re past the last frost, remove any winter protection you may have added to your plants. A little tip is to keep that winter

protection around. If you see a cold snap heading our way, which is almost guaranteed, add that protection back until the warm weather returns.

Remember to Water

Hopefully, your plants will have good moisture from snow melt and spring rain, but spring can be dry. Increase your watering when the warm weather returns, but check the soil before watering to avoid overwatering. Stick your finger in the soil at the base of the plant, and only water if the soil is dry. When you do, water your plants deeply and thoroughly.

Enjoy the Uniqueness of the Garden I’m frequently asked about specific care for

plants, and, while I wish there were miracle answers that worked across the board, the reality is each plant variety is unique and may require unique care to thrive. To help make sense of things, here are some general tips. Don’t prune your spring flowering plants like lilacs, magnolias or azaleas. Do prune your summer flowering shrubs, including panicle hydrangeas. Do apply fertilizer in early spring when you see new growth. Do remember to plant your spring bulbs, such as lilies, dahlias and gladiolus.

Gretchen McNaughton is the communications and content specialist at Bailey Nurseries. Learn more about care for your garden shrubs and trees at firsteditionsplants.com.

Photo: Philip Eviston

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

Something Fishy

Long before my family became the fish fanatics they are today, the only fish I could get any of them to eat was BeerBattered Cod. All fish lovers start somewhere! These days, I only fry fish at home once or twice a year. Even for me, the process is a little overwhelming. Going in, I just have to accept that I’ll be able to smell the cooking oil for a day or so afterward, and I’ll have to deal with the unpleasantness of disposing properly of said oil. I’d argue these small inconveniences are totally worth it.

There are three keys to a great fish fry. First is a light, crispy coating. Don’t open your beer (or other bubbly liquid) until just before you use it to maximize the

air bubbles in the batter. Second is temperature control (with a thermometer). Oil that’s too hot is likely to burn fried food; too cool and that same food will be greasy. Finally, there’s the choice of fish. I like the big flakes and clean taste of wild-caught Alaskan cod, but you can get equally good results with this recipe using other similarly textured white fish, such as catfish or tilapia.

Rachael Perron is the culinary and branding director for Kowalski’s Markets, where she specializes in product development and selection, culinary education and communications. Find the recipe for Beer-Battered Cod at woodburymag.com and more at kowalskis.com.

Photo: Kowalski’s Markets

PORTRAIT

Hipster Hack

Food blogger shares her passion for cuisine.

By Hailey Almsted

TARA GAZDIK is a creature of habit— but in 2014, she broke free from her comfort zone to start a food blog, where she would eventually try new restaurants and foods, and meet new people.

“… Once I find something I love, it tends to be my go-to, so I wanted to push myself to get out of my comfort zone,” she says. Her blog, Hipster Hack, started in 2014 when she was living in northeast Minneapolis; it was a way to try new things but also a creative writing outlet for Gazdik, who has a career in marketing. After feeling burnt out creatively from both writing one blog post a week and coming up with creative, innovative campaign ideas as her full-time job, Gazdik decided to step back. “When I started my @hipsterhackblog Instagram account and found the Minnesota foodie and food blogger community, I was completely rejuvenated [from] seeing all the amazing places that other people were attending,” she says. “My passion for writing about food returned.”

Gazdik’s Instagram account has been going strong since 2019, where she’s been immersed into Minnesota’s “foodie” scene. But her passion for good eats started much earlier. Gazdik recalls when her parents would let her and her older sisters, Ashley and Andrea, pick a restaurant to celebrate their birthdays. “That helped instill in me that food is an ‘experience’ and going out to dinner, especially with people you love, is something to be excited about,” she says.

“I actually grew up in Woodbury,” Gazdik says. “My family moved here when I was in third grade, back when there were more corn fields than houses … [I] moved back to Woodbury three years ago for my then-boyfriend, now husband.”

Gazdik now shares her passion with her husband, Tom, and says it’s what bonds them together. “I’m lucky that, like me, my

Photos: Tara Gazdik

GAZDIK’S GO-TOS AROUND TOWN

Burger: Tamarack Tap Room— specifically the Wagyu Mushroom & Swiss …

Pizza: I actually have three favorite spots: Ronnally’s [Pizza] has an amazing taco pizza; Punch Pizza has … amazing Napoli pizza … I also love a Davanni’s calzone! Another great Italian spot is Andiamo Italian Ristorante—great date night spot!

Coffee: I generally brew my coffee at home, but when in need, I love a latte from either Starbucks or Caribou. The coffee at Key’s Cafe is also really good.

Dessert: I’m more of a salty than sweet person, but I’m a sucker for a Dairy Queen Royal New York Cheesecake Blizzard or ice cream cake.

Cocktail: If you want a strong, classic cocktail, I’d definitely recommend O’Malley’s Irish Pub. Acapulco [Mexican Restaurant] has my favorite Mango Margarita (always blended) or Tamarack Tap Room for the best beer list.

partner’s love language is food and drink, so he never hesitates when I say, ‘Hey, do you want to try this place tonight?’”

Together, they’ve tried many different restaurants and cultural foods around Woodbury and the Twin Cities. In her early 20s, Gazdik says she traveled via food; her group of friends would host monthly “Cultural Cooking” dinners, where one country was chosen, and everyone would bring a dish from that country. “Now, having actually been to some of those countries, it’s obvious that our attempted replicas paled in comparison, but it all ties back to the love of creating an experience with food,” she says. “… I have a list of things I still have yet to try, and it grows every day ...”

hipsterhack.blog

@hipsterhackblog

Dr. Dan Ehrmanntraut, DDS

Dr. Steven Setterstrom, DDS

Steve and Deb Long with their daughter, Ashley (left).

Photo: Chris Emeott

The Third Act

Steve and Deb Long showcase their third act.

By Daniel Huss

STEVE LONG, CO-OWNER AND BREWMASTER at Woodbury’s 3rd Act Brewery, likens brewing beer to playing chess. “It’s easy to learn the rules,” he says. “But it’s hard to get good at it.”

Long has been brewing beer, whether privately or professionally, since 1980. The retired chemical engineer is a graduate of the Dakota County Technical College’s brewing and beer steward technology program.

“I’m good at science, and I’m good at creativity,” Long says. “To be a good brewmaster, you need to be good at both.”

Long’s 3rd Act Brewery beers start with Woodbury water. A reverse osmosis process clears the water of its chemicals and impurities. From there, Long will reconstitute the chemicals, matching the water’s chemical profile with water from a part of the world he’s hoping to duplicate.

Long is a traditionalist. If he’s making 3rd Act Brewery’s London IPA, for example, he’ll use a recipe that dates back to the 1890s. He’ll match London’s water profile, and he’ll buy hops and malt from businesses that not only operated during the turn of the 18th century, but operate now. “Yes, you can do that,” he says.

Does being that genuine matter? Long thinks so.

He notes that 3rd Act Brewery is one of the few breweries in the state that runs its taps directly off its “bright tanks”— this means that the beer has never been kegged, bottled or tapped. One end of the tap line is connected to a brewery tank; the other end pours beer into a glass. (A normal tap beer would go into a keg, not into bright tanks.)

Care to guess what makes for a bad beer? “Oxygen ages beer, and light gives it a skunky taste,” Long says. “Fresh beer is the best beer.”

GLOSSARY OF BEER

ABV: A measurement of the alcohol content of a solution (The higher the ABV, the stronger the beer.)

ABW: A measurement of the alcohol content of a solution

Ale: A beer fermented with top-fermenting-yeast (Warmer temperatures accompany the fermenting process. Ales are typically served at warmer temperatures than other beers.)

Astringency: The beer’s dryness or roughness

Body: A beer’s thickness

Fermentation: The process of converting sugar to alcohol

Hops: Green cone-shaped flowers of the hop (Humulus lupulus) plant and the source of a beer’s bitterness, aroma and flavor

IPA: (India Pale Ale) a style of beer that is typically hop forward in flavor and aroma

IBU: (International Bitterness Unit) a measurement of a beer’s hop bitterness (Beer with IBU numbers of 50 or greater is considered “hoppy.”)

Lager: Fermented with bottomfermenting yeast (Lagers are crisper tasting beers.)

Pilsner: An offshoot of a lager (It’s distinguished by its water and tends to be dry tasting. Pilsners are popular summer beers.)

Sour: An old style of ale known to be tart or tangy tasting

Stout: Dark roasted ales that can be bitter tasting

Photos: Chris Emeott

ALL IN THE NAME

The 3rd Act Brewery name is purposeful. Long started his chemical engineering career at Abbott Laboratories, followed by working at 3M. His wife, Deb, shares that three-step progression; she worked as a sales manager and then started her own printing brokerage business. Now, they work in a brewery— their brewery. For both of them, this is their third act.

All of 3rd Act Brewery’s beers are named after signature movie lines, which fits with the brewery’s theatrical name. “Brew it and They Will Come” is an American style lager. “Oh, That’s a Bingo” is a German dark wheat ale. “The Stuff Dreams are Made Of” is a Double IPA.

Yeast is a beer maker’s friend— and enemy.

“Ale yeast needs warm temperatures, and the process moves fast,” Long says. “Lager yeast needs cold temperatures, and the process is slow. IPAs need clean yeast.”

Temperatures in the heat exchanger, where hop breakdowns take place, can run from as hot as 212 degrees F to as cool as 55 degrees F. Controls are as precise as 0.1 degree F.

Grapefruit, pine and citrus flavors come from the hops. Banana and clove flavors come from the yeast.

“Brewers know what a beer is going to taste like before they make it,” Long says.

And? “Crazy doesn’t work,” he says. Unless, however, you’re craving a classic IPA infused with blood oranges.

As for the toughest beer to perfect?

“The hardest beer to make is a really good pilsner, and I’m not the only one to think so,” Long says.

3rd Act Brewery, 4120 Radio Drive; 651.998.2337; 3rdactbrew.com

3rd Act Craft Brewery

@3rdactcraftbrewery

@3rdActBrew

Christina Werman, DOKristin Lockhart, MD

Maria Vu, MD Jihan Abbott, DO

Focused & Individualized Healthcare for Women

Healing Through the Arts

A child life specialist helps children using her creative skills.

By Susie Eaton Hopper

AUDREY HAUGEN started dancing as soon as she could walk. She learned ballet, tap and any kind of dance. The Rochester, Minnesota, native went on to choir in elementary school, joined a theater troupe when she was 10 years old, taught dance and theater in middle school and continued to perform throughout high school. The arts were her life.

“I found personal growth and healing through that,” Haugen says. “I took on someone else’s story and became comfortable in my own skin by being in someone else’s,” she says, and she wanted to continue that. “The arts are a tremendous gift to people, much more than just entertainment.”

Now Haugen brings her artistic skills to work every day as a certified child life specialist at Shriners Children’s in Woodbury, where she’s worked for the last year and a half.

She studied child psychology at the University of Minnesota and earned a master’s degree at the University of Iowa. “Child life specialists exist to help support children of all ages through difficult situations, stress and trauma, often in a healthcare setting,” Haugen says.

“In my day-to-day practice, I incorporate play on a regular basis. For me, play includes improvisation, creativity, art, singing, dancing, being silly and anything else that the moment necessitates,” she says.

Often, she will work with a child who has had a traumatic medical experience and may be facing another one. “Together, we need to get to the bottom of what happened last time, what their perception and interpretation was of the event and find ways to effectively deal with those feelings and thoughts. Then, once they feel a sense of mastery over what happened, we work together to get prepared to do it again,” she says.

Photo: Audrey Haugen

“Sometimes, those sessions involve dolls and doctor kits, so we can ‘play doctor,’ sometimes, it involves launching Nerf darts at items that symbolize the stressors; sometimes, it’s squirting syringes of paint so the child becomes desensitized to syringes. The therapeutic play options are as vast as the imagination is rich,” Haugen says.

She also volunteers with Child Life Disaster Relief (CLDR) to help parents and children caught in disasters, including the war in Ukraine and Hurricane Ian. “Kids wonder, ‘When will things go back to normal? ‘Whoho will take care of me?’” Haugen says. She and others prepare documents that help empower parents and provide strategies and resources so kids can cope and feel safe.

“Audrey has a huge heart,” says former CLDR executive director Jean Cooper. “That combined with her knowledge of children, work ethic, professionalism and desire to make life better for all children made her a tremendous asset.”

“Children are the future,” Haugen says. “I wish for all children to be cherished and valued; that healthcare can be a place for psychological safety and healing for children, youth and families; that medical trauma is minimized as much as possible,” she says.

With all of her duties, she’s gaining more balance in her professional and personal life, and she’s just started to tap dance again. “It feels so good,” she says.

Child Life Disaster Relief; cldisasterrelief.org

Child Life Disaster Relief @childlifedisasterrelief

ACTIVE LIVING Gone Birding

your

apps, it’s birding season at Tamarack Nature Preserve.

By Kristie Smith

FOR MANY IN MINNESOTA , the sounds and sights of a robin or a goldfinch often herald early hints of spring; relief from Earth’s quiet winter slumber. At Tamarack Nature Preserve in Woodbury, volunteers have been busy cleaning out wood duck houses and sprucing things up ahead of the arrival of warblers, woodcocks, green herons, egrets, cedar waxwings and catbirds, among so many other birds that will soon call this great birding spot home.

“The preserve is a hidden treasure, without a building; it’s not your typical park,” says Minnesota naturalist and Woodbury resident Dana Boyle. The 169-acre wetland is surrounded by a bog or a fen, boardwalks and woodland trails, perfect for picking up birding as a hobby this summer.

“Common birds like the red-winged black bird are actually one of the first signs of spring. You hear ‘marieeee, marieeee’ all over the wetland. One of the best times for birding here is the month of May because it’s a celebration of birds; there’s a feast for the eyes and ears,” Boyle says. Just don’t forget your “bins.”

Bins, or binoculars as birders call them, along with a field guide or an app like Merlin Bird ID, are great tools to help a novice start noticing and identifying some of the melodious creatures that make Tamarack Nature Preserve their home.

“Birding” is the act of identifying and observing wild birds in their natural habitat. It increased in popularity among those looking for an outdoor hobby during COVID-19. People of all ages looked and listened for opportunities to get out of the house, making an impact on scientific discovery at the same time. “It’s a simple and inexpensive way to reconnect with nature,” Boyle says.

Apps can help new birders identify

what they hear or see. And for those interested in charting bird appearances, an app can track when and where a species is located, plus it connects others interested in spotting them, too. Boyle used the app iNaturalist to record her June 5, 2022, sighting of a hooded merganser at Tamarack Nature Preserve. Last May, she identified the American redstart at the preserve, a member of the warbler family, a sure sign of spring, she notes. Boyle took several photos of both birds, which she uploaded to the app, so others could see her chronicles. She says, “[The apps are] amazing because you don’t have to know a ton about what you’re seeing or even hearing.” Cellphones use sound-mapping technology, bringing up a search and suggestion of a bird just through the song it captures along the trail.

Another way to engage in this detailed hobby is to go out with someone who has been birding for a little longer. But there are protocols: Stay as quiet as you can, listen, be patient and look deeper into nesting areas without getting too close or disturbing the nature around you. Boyle says it’s important not to be intimidated if you forget what you learned last time or even last year; she says, “There’s a whole art to birding, including utilizing mnemonics. The barred owl sounds like it’s saying, ‘Who, who … who cooks for you.’” Many websites and birding apps note these mnemonics to help people with identifying different birds.

Getting started can be as easy as putting up a platform feeder in your yard to get more familiar with different species. As a competitive hobby, Boyle says serious birders will start a list of the species they want to see beginning in January, traveling all over the country to visit locations others have identified. They check it off their list and keep going.

To keep your own list, start by marking down (ticking) your spark bird (the species or moment that triggered your birding obsession). A good birder will pick up on some key birding terms, like SOB (the spouse of birder) or the one often left at home in search of a crippler (a beautiful bird) or mega (a bird

Grab

bins and

Photos: Dana Boyle

thought to be a very rare site).

While you walk through one of the southernmost stands of tamarack trees in the state, look high and low for warblers, who love tamaracks; just be careful not to leave with warbler-neck from stretching too hard, another term, which birders say is a real thing.

Boyle says the biggest time for warblers at Tamarack Nature Preserve are the months of May and October. Warblers’ main food source is insects, which they follow on their migration north, flashing their brilliant, molted colors along the way. When talking about birding, a certain or rare warbler sighting sits particularly well with other birders.

At Tamarack Nature Preserve, there’s a group of birders who search for warblers and other species. For Boyle, who has been birding with a group of engineers, technology specialists and a retired physician for about five years, it’s a passion. “We call ourselves the Volunteer Stewards of Tamarack Nature Preserve,” she says.

As part of their birding hobby, the Stewards partnered with the City of Woodbury to get new signage and boardwalks to help others navigate the preserve and to keep it free and open to the public. If you’re lucky, Boyle says, you’ll come upon one of the wood duck houses on “jump day”—a day after they’re born, ducklings hop out of their houses, and, because they can’t fly yet, they fall from a perch as high as 65 feet off the ground. As they hit the ground, their tiny, light bodies bounce back up, jumpstarting their digestive system. From there, they beeline toward water, where their mother begins teaching her babies to swim. But you’re going to want to be up early. The best time to observe jump day is to be ready by 7 a.m. So grab a cup of shade-grown coffee, a planting method that preserves forest canopies and in turn helps more than 42 North American species of migratory songbirds survive winter, and travel the trail, stretching your neck as you go.

Tamarack Nature Preserve, 1825 Tower Drive; 651.714.3500; woodburymn.gov

THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP

LOCAL FILMMAKER JUSTIN ATKINSON MIRRORS

HIS OWN STORY IN BOBBY’S INTERMISSION.

WRITTEN BY HAILEY ALMSTED

The year is 1989. A young Justin Atkinson visits Vali-Hi Drive-In for the first time with his mother, Jenifer Cloutier, to see Batman —an evening that ultimately altered the course of Atkinson’s biggest dreams.

“It blew my mind to see a movie outside with stars behind the screen and seeing a fantastical story with larger than life characters,” he says. “I remember also seeing Jurassic Park there, and that was the movie that made me

Photo: Justin Atkinson

want to make movies.” Thirty-three years later, Atkinson is using Vali-Hi Drive-In as the setting of his own feature film, Bobby’s Intermission

Atkinson, an Emmy Award– and Telly Award–winning director, has done professional videography work for the City of Woodbury and other local communities and area businesses, including Angelina’s Kitchen, Bridgeman’s Ice Cream Parlor and more. After graduating with a degree

in science, film/video and digital arts from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, he began creating short films and training videos for restaurants. Years later, he created his professional business, Justin Films LLC, where he works on films from start to finish—in the preproduction, production and postproduction stages.

“I still had the dream to make a feature film, and I decided this [past] summer was the time,” the Woodbury native

says. Atkinson wrote, produced, edited and directed Bobby’s Intermission; he also held open casting calls at the R.H. Stafford Library, where more than 90 local actors and actresses auditioned.

“There are so many people in the community who act and want to be in movies. I just had no idea, and the actors who auditioned were all incredible,” he says.

“It was really hard to pick who was going to play the characters. In some cases, I created roles for some actors because

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

A MIRRORED IMAGE

Bobby’s Intermission is a near mirror image of Atkinson’s own life. Atkinson grew up in Woodbury, often attending films at Vali-Hi DriveIn and got his first job in 2000 at Carmike’s Cinemas in Oakdale. It was at this job that he met his lifelong friends, including Matt Olson.

“We discovered that we shared a love for film scores and quickly discovered we had many more shared interest,” Olson says. Twentythree years later, they are still friends—Olson even helped in the production of Bobby’s Intermission

Olson says, “... When Justin asked if we’d be interested in helping with this film, I didn’t hesitate.”

“They were helping me out everyday ... but they found time and made time to help me out,” Atkinson says.

“These are the same friends I met working at the movie theater … My story is inspired by that experience and all those friends, who are my best friends. It has just been a wild, personal, emotional journey for me.”

I really wanted their energy and talent somewhere in my movie.”

Filming started on June 13, 2022, and wrapped this past winter. Atkinson says the cast truly brought his film to life. “The actors I cast took my characters and script and elevated it to a whole other level … It’s more than what I ever envisioned,” Atkinson says. “These characters I wrote are very important and very personal to me, and to see actors come in and bring them to life before my eyes was very emotional at times.”

“It was also emotional to see actors, in some cases, bring part of themselves into the role, too. Many of them told me they identified with the characters … It’s cool to hear that the characters

resonate with them on a personal level.”

Woodbury High School alumnae

Rommy Romero and Adriana Tokin both have dreams in filmmaking and acted in the film. Tokin, who is currently studying cinema at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, has been acting since the age of 10 and recently started pursuing acting in films. She says of the experience, “Justin is an amazing director, he was always super engaging with us. He is also very understanding of his actors and always made sure we were comfortable …”

Romero shares Tokin’s enthusiasm for the film. “My experience filming this movie has been so surreal,” says Romero, who plays Natalie. Romero

auditioned for the film with a dream of seeing herself on “the big screen” one day. “I didn’t realize how soon that dream would come true … [When] I got the email that I had gotten one of the main roles … I was over the moon excited,” she says.

For 12-year-old Spencer La Casse, the film is his first foray into the industry. Spencer, a Woodbury Middle School student, plays the supporting role of Jimmy. “I thought it would be a fun thing to do, and it gives me a good learning experience,” he says.

Also starring in the film—in the opening credits—is Atkinson’s wife, Meghan, and their newborn child, Ethan, who was born two months

Photo: Chris Emeott

Meghan and Justin Atkinson with their son, Ethan.

after Atkinson began filming. He says, “Becoming a father in the middle of shooting my first feature film has been enormously challenging …” It’s been Meghan’s support, as well as the support of other family and friends, that’s led him to continue this dream.

“It’s been really fun and exciting to see Justin live his dream over the past few months,” Meghan says. “He lights up when talking about the movie. It’s surreal to think that just a few years ago this was an idea, and it’s become a reality. I’m so proud of him.”

“I think about [Ethan] a lot when I’m making the film. I have a dream, and I want him to know, someday when he’s older, that if he has a dream, he can do

it,” Atkinson says. “You’re never too old to put in the work and make your dreams come true … When I tell him that someday, he can’t say, ‘Well, you never made that movie, Dad.’ But I did, and I want him to know that he can do it, too.”

Bobby’s Intermission is being tentatively released in summer 2023. For a film synopsis, visit woodburymag.com, and for behind the scenes and more information, visit justinfilmsllc.com.

justinfilmsllc.com

Justin Films @justinfilmsllc

Bobby’s Intermission

@bobbys_intermission

WHAT’S NEXT?

Atkinson is already working on his second feature film, a documentary titled Let’s All Go to the Lobby. “It’s a very famous thing, and it used to show at movie theaters, to go to the lobby to get popcorn,” he says, referring to the witty, cartoon intermission trailers.

Let’s All Go to the Lobby tells the story of the third-generation owner, Robbie Mack, of Film X Studios, which is known for producing intermission trailers. “It’s the story of the company and how it got started with [Mack’s] grandfather in 1919 and the challenges of running a business creating trailers like that. It’s another story about relationships and family,” Atkinson says.

Filming began just a week after Bobby’s Intermission began filming, and Atkinson drove to Chicago, then to Pennsylvania, to interview big names in film, including Mack and the owner of the Mahoning Drive-In, a drivein theater that shows 35 mm films. The documentary is still in production.

As for Bobby’s Intermission, Atkinson says he’ll be submitting the film to different film festivals around the country. “[I want] to try to get the movie shown in as many places and to as many people as possible,” he says. “The theme of the story is universal. It’s all about the power of friendship, and it’s more relevant now than ever.”

Photos: Matt Olson

Atkinson and the cast filmed primarily at Vali-Hi Drive-In over the latter half of 2022.

LITTLE BAKERY, BIG HEART

WRITTEN BY HANNA MCDANIELS PHOTOS BY CHRIS EMEOTT

Melinda Weiss has always had an intense love for baking and been in the kitchen since she was a little girl—a tradition she carried on from her mother and grandmother. “When my mother was a young kid, her grandmother would bake cupcakes, and then her grandfather, who was a police officer, would take them into town and sell them,” Weiss says.

This passion for entrepreneurship mixed in with the love of baking and sweetening the souls of their customers, carried onto Weiss. “My favorite job was in the bakery, and when I started baking on my own, I asked my friend, who actually sells her own sweets through For the Love of Cookies, to sell my macarons. My friend told me I should just start my own business,” says the Woodbury resident and mother of two.

Teetering on uncertainty, Weiss took the leap and started her business online—now her stress relief comes from the art of baking macarons. The business’s name, Memoo’s Macs, was born after her son, Jacob (10), started calling her Memoo when he was very little. “That name just stuck. Then I woke up in the middle of the night and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, that’s the name!’” Weiss says. With the epiphany of the new name— Memoo’s Macs—the business began to soar.

“When I originally started making macarons, they were such a pain because they are so tedious to make. I would throw away so many trays,” Weiss says, noting she still finds them difficult. After perfecting these sweets, she began to sell to a variety of customers. “Before my business, I’d give them to my neighbors and co-workers. Now, I have baby showers, weddings and birthday party orders,” she says.

“When my site took off, I was so excited. Last summer, I actually got into the Woodbury Resurrection Farmers Market,

Special education teacher shares sweetness with the community.

which is on Tuesdays; it was brand new this year, so it was the perfect place to test my products, and it was so much fun. I got giddy in the morning getting ready for it,” Weiss says.

Weiss notes her products are customizable, including color and flavor varieties. “I’ve done some really cute custom orders for people that have been really fun to make,” Weiss says. Her previous baking experience (She worked at Woodbury’s Gigi’s Cupcakes, where she decorated the cupcakes.), has given her many skills she can apply to Memoo’s Macs. “I was there the day it opened, and I really wanted to know what it was like working at a bakery and how to use all the equipment and what ingredients are used,” Weiss says. “When I had a stressful day at work, I’d love to go into the bakery and just decorate cupcakes. It was a huge stress reliever.”

Weiss also gets a lot of her macaron inspiration from a Facebook and YouTube site called Michelle’s Macarons. She often sifts through the comments to find recipes and other flavor profiles, and Weiss embraces the process of creating flavors for her sweet creations. The cookie part is called the shell, some of which consists of cocoa powder and cinnamon. The shells are then filled with a buttercream or chocolate ganache of some sort.

“Many people, when they make macarons, fill it with processed fillings, but I really try to make everything organic and by hand,” says Weiss. Memoo’s Mac’s bestseller is its salted caramel flavor. “I try to put out seasonal flavors along with classic flavors. Typically, I’ll put out Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter [boxes], and when summer comes around, I like to experiment with new flavors,” Weiss says.

“Macarons are also so extremely hard to make. I make the macarons the same way every single time, and sometimes they don’t turn out at the same time,” Weiss says. The baking process is so tedious that it often takes hours to make a batch. “You can only bake a tray at a time, and when I put them in the oven, I say a little prayer to the macaron god that they come out all right,” Weiss says.

Weiss also prepares gluten-free macarons and separates her baking area from her kitchen to avoid crosscontamination with bread and other gluten products.

Outside of Memoo’s Macs and baking, Weiss is a full-time high school special education teacher in Mendota Heights, a job that she loves just as

much as baking. “I went to the University of WisconsinStout for hospitality and tourism, but a year into my program, a family member was diagnosed with autism and at that time many people didn’t know what that was,” Weiss says. She worked as a special education paraprofessional one summer in college and absolutely loved it. From there, she changed her area of study to pursue her passion.

Weiss and her husband, David Weiss, now co-teach a program in Woodbury with about 40 kids with special needs on the autism spectrum, with cognitive disabilities and the like.

“People with disabilities deserve the chance to shine. All people, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, deserve the opportunity to work in their community where they can live, learn, work and show others how wonderful they are,” Weiss says. “Because I love service so much and working in the hospitality field, we opened a coffee shop about five years ago at Two Rivers High School [in Mendota Heights], and it was run by my students, and they are rock stars.”

Weiss doesn’t know what the future holds, but the biggest dream she has is to mix her two passions together to create something sweeter for everyone involved—even though it might be hard to create, just like making a macaron.

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A TWENTIES PARTY FOR 20 YEARS

Experience the glamour of the Roaring Twenties at Woodbury's Annual Friends Fest, one of Woodbury's largest community fundraisers. Dust off your flapper dresses and fedoras, and help us celebrate the Foundation's 20th year of philanthropy in our community.

This year's impressive fundraiser takes place at the Historic John P Furber Farm on Friday, April 28, 5:30-9:30 pm.

Join us for an evening of live jazz music, casino games (free with ticket), a silent auction, and more. All proceeds will go towards our charitable cause. So let's raise a glass and make it a night to remember!

For the past 20 years as one of Woodbury's leading charitable organizations, WCF has directly impacted and touched the lives

of Woodbury kids and families. Last year, we invested more than $100,000 in the community through partner funds, community grants, and programs.

Your charitable donations support our programs, including the new Public Safety Assistance Fund, to help families in crisis. Contributions fund our Woodbury Community Academy and Youth Engagement Academy to develop future community leaders. They support Woodbury Thrives healthy lifestyle initiatives and our Community Grants to help local kids struggling with mental health, food insecurity, and much more.

Sponsorships and tickets are now available. For tickets or to give donations to the Woodbury Community Foundation, visit: www.woodburyfoundation.org o scan the QR Code.

You are invited to join the Woodbury Community Foundation April 28 to celebrate 20 years of community impact

DATE: FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023

TIME:5:30-9:30PM

LOCATION: JOHN P FURBER FARM

TICKETS $45

Scan code to donate to WCF or get Tickets

NEW VOICES

Encore Wind Ensemble performs its spring concert.

THE ENCORE WIND ENSEMBLE is celebrating the diversity of up-and-coming composers with its New Voices show on March 4. The ensemble, a small band with one part/player, includes44 Twin Cities-based musicians. “It’s a competitive ensemble to join,” conductor Jerry Luckhardt says.

The New Voices performance is unlike the ensemble’s other shows. “I’m calling it New Voices because all the pieces we’re

going to play were written in the past decade,” Luckhardt says. Some were even written in the past two years. “We’re truly exploring new voices to the medium,” he says, including female composers as well as those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Luckhardt notes that the pieces tell a story and says, “It’s not music you might expect from a band. It’s new styles, new sounds. It’s fresh music.”

—Nicole Berglund

Entrance is free at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Woodbury. For more information, visit encorewinds.com.

Photo: Encore Wind Ensemble

LOCAL EVENTS

Good Morning Woodbury

03/02

Join the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce for a coffee and light breakfast before work, while connecting with local chamber members. Ages 18 and older. Free. 8–9 a.m. X Golf Woodbury, 8150 Coller Way Suite 500; 651.578.0722; woodburychamber.org

Cha-Cha-Chocolate Workshop

03/02

Bring the kids to create a clay model of cake. Ages 5–12. $22. 4:30–5:30 p.m. Kidcreate Studio, 1785 Radio Drive; 651.735.0880; kidcreate.com

Friday Morning Book Club

03/10

This month’s book pick is The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. All ages. Free. 10:30 a.m.–noon. R.H. Stafford Library, 8595 Central Park Place; 651.731.1320; washcolib.org

Business After Hours

03/21

Network with professionals over snacks and drinks, hosted by the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce. Adults recommended. Free. 4:30–6:30 p.m. Location TBD; 651.578.0722; woodburychamber.org

Fido Fanatic Workshop

03/23

Bring the kids to learn how to paint a pup, step-by-step. Ages 5–12. $42. 1–4 p.m. Kidcreate Studio, 1785 Radio Drive; 651.735.0880; kidcreate.com

AREA EVENTS

Minneapolis Home and Garden Show

03/01–03/05

Meet the experts, and get new inspiration for your home and garden. All ages.

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Dr. Thomas Dresen PROSTHODONTIST SPECIALIST

Adults $14 at the door and $12 online, Children 6–12 $4, Children under 5 free. Times vary. Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.209.4593; homeandgardenshow.com

Blues for an Alabama Sky

03/01–03/12

Watch as a group of friends face challenges and dream big together during the Depression era in Harlem. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Mpls.; 612.377.2224; guthrietheater.org

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

03/01–03/12

Witness the magical story of this Grammy award winner. Ages 14 and older recommended. Prices vary. Times vary. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepintheatretrust.org

Tots & Trains

03/01 and 03/15

Enjoy family fun with Tots & Trains at The Jackson Street Roadhouse & Museum. Adults can enjoy coffee and treats while kids can play in the open play area with train tables and interactive games. All ages. Tickets starting at $7. 10 a.m.–noon. The Minnesota Transportation Museum, 193 Pennsylvania Ave., St. Paul; 651.228.0263; transportationmuseum.org

Music and Mindfulness

03/02

Members of the Minnesota Orchestra teach mindfulness through performance and dialogue. Adults recommended. $23. 7 p.m. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 612.371.5656; minnesotaorchestra.org

A Tribute to Queen

03/02–03/04

Jonny James and the Hall of Fames, joined by Ben Bakken and Brianna Graham, pay tribute to Queen. Ages 5 and older. Prices vary. Dinner at 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Chanhassen Dinner

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.

Minneapolis Home and Garden Show

Theater, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen; 952.934.1547; chanhassendt.com

Irish Diplomacy

03/02–03/30

Every Thursday, come listen to the Irish Diplomacy at Finnegans. Enjoy a combination of electric and jazz performances. Ages 21 and older. 6–8 pm. Finnegans Brew Co., 817 Fifth Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.208.3374; finnegans.org

Artist Series Concert

03/09 and 03/23

Some of Minnesota’s most talented classical musicians perform music from past and present composers. All ages. $15, $10 for groups of 8 or more, $6 for students. 10:30 a.m.–noon. MacPhail Center for Music, 501 S. Second St., Mpls.; 612.333.0313; thursdaymusical.org

National Geographic Live

03/10–03/11

Experience breathtaking nature views accompanied by the Minnesota Orchestra. All ages. Prices vary. 8 pm. Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 612.371.5656; minnesotaorchestra.org

Maya Hawke

03/19

Musician and Stranger Things star performs her Tactless Tour show. All ages. Prices vary. 7 p.m. Fine Line, 318 N. First Ave., Mpls.; 612.338.8388; mayahawkemusic.com

My Fair Lady

03/21–03/25

Enjoy the classic tale of Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins live. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; 651.224.4222; ordway.org

Taylor Made

03/25

Come listen to Taylor Made as it features Michael Monroe and Dennis Spears in an homage to James Taylor and his music. All ages. $25 online, $2o for groups of 10 or more, $30 door. 7–8:30 pm. The Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway, Mpls.; thecapri.org

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Schedule an appointment today.

The Root of it All

Full-time blogger brings the taste of beets to plate.

Written by Hanna McDaniels

WHEN YOU’RE COOKING AND WANT to spice up your dish, a beet might not come to mind. Sometimes, the earthy red vegetable seems intimidating for its intense hue, but believe it or not, there are a lot of ways to incorporate beets into your dishes. Brenda Score, the blogger of A Farmgirl’s Dabbles and full-time foodie, says beets taste of nostalgia.

Score grew into the recipe maker she is today thanks to her childhood on a South Dakota farm. Recounting her times in the kitchen with her mother, she decided to go full time with her blog in 2010 to share her family-inspired recipes with the world. Online, she showcases an array of recipes along with her travels and the food world outside of her kitchen, but she can never get away from the nostalgia of cooking based on her childhood.

“One of my mom’s favorite things to eat is beets,” Score says, fondly recalling the days her family would go to a supper club, which served relish trays with beets—a popular dish at the time.

Score describes the flavor profile of a beet as earthy and sometimes even a bit sweet. “They aren’t cookie sweet—if you can think about a carrot being sweet, that’s what it is,” she says. Beets can be added to almost any dish, such as salads and sandwiches. “I like to eat beets with eggs in the morning, but I probably most often put them on a salad. But honestly, it’s great if you can just tuck them into a sandwich or a wrap. Some people even make hummus out of beets,” she adds.

With each dish, you can play around with pickling, boiling and roasting the beets. There’s also no right way to cut a beet. “You can dice them, slice them, quarter them, cube them, whatever works!” Score says.

There are also a few other colors of beets besides the iconic red. “There’s the red-purplish color beet that can be purchased year-round. They are best purchased in the summer or fall, but you can really purchase them any time throughout the year,” Score

says. There are also yellow, white and candy cane beets (also known as candy stripe beets). “Candy cane beets are cool because when you slice through them, they make this beautiful [candy cane-like] pattern that is great for plating,” she says.

SCORE’S NOTES ON BEETS

For beets that are tangier: When making the brine, use 1 ½ cups apple cider vinegar and ½ cup water.

To boil beets: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Trim and wash the beets, removing any greens. Add the beets to the boiling water, and cook for 30 minutes or until completely tender. A paring knife should easily slide in and out of the beets. Beets can vary greatly in size, and they are very dense root vegetables, so size will determine how long you need to cook them. Transfer the beets to a bowl of ice water, peel away the skins with your fingers (very easy to do!) and cut or slice as desired.

While you are out shopping for the perfect beet, Score says to look for a mediumsized varieties. “The mediumsized ones tend to be more tender than the larger ones. Beets can get pretty big from around tennis ball to baseball size. They should feel heavy for their size,” she says. If you notice that beets have greens attached, which is not common, Score recommends making sure that the leaves are still vibrant in color. It’s easier to tell how fresh they are based on if the greens are attached or not. “I would stay away from the ones that are overly large and if the pointy, bottom tip of the beet is hairy, it’s usually indicating that it’s a tougher beet,” she says. Though, when you are boiling, cooking and especially pickling a beet, the toughness of the beet doesn’t make much difference.

To roast beets: Wash the beets, and remove any greens. Drizzle with olive oil, and wrap in foil. Bake on a baking sheet at 400 degrees F for 45 minutes or until completely tender. Again, the size of your beets will determine cook time. A paring knife should easily slide in and out of the beets. Allow to sit for 10 minutes or so, peel away the skin and cut or slice as desired.

You can also use beet juice for cooking endeavors. Score’s favorite way to incorporate beet juice is with hard-boiled eggs. “It’s just so pretty looking, and this process doesn’t take long. You just pour that beet juice into your hard-boiled eggs, and let them soak long enough for that red color to soak up the egg whites. They come out that pretty pink color,” she says, noting she’ll eat them as is or served in a salad.

Photos: A Farmgirl’s Dabbles , Chris Emeott

PICKLED BEETS

Contributed by Brenda Score

» 3 cups sliced or chopped cooked beets (See notes.)

» 1 cup apple cider vinegar

» 1 cup water

» 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar

» 1 Tbsp. kosher salt

» ¾ tsp. whole mustard seeds

» ¾ tsp. whole black peppercorn

Slice or chop the prepared beets to your desired size—I usually chop into 1-inch cubes. Add them to a 1-quart jar, and set aside while you make the brine. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, mustard seeds and peppercorns. Bring mixture to a boil, and cook until sugar and salt dissolve. Pour the brine over the beets, making sure to cover them completely. Let cool to room temperature. Seal the jar/container, and place it in the fridge to chill. I recommend waiting until the beets are fully chilled to serve, but they will have a lightly pickled flavor after 15 minutes.

BEET PICKLED EGGS

Contributed by Brenda Score

» 8 hard-boiled eggs

» 2 cups picked beet juice (Use the juice from Score’s Pickled Beets recipe.)

Place hard-boiled eggs in a 1-quart jar that has a tight-fitting lid. Pour beet juice over eggs to cover completely. Place the lid on securly, and store in refrigerator.

Score’s tip: The eggs will not have a very noticeable pickled flavor after 12 hours but are extra pretty for salads, deviled eggs, etc. The pickled flavor will increase over time—allow one to three weeks for increased pickled flavor. These eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four weeks.

Photos: A Farmgirl’s Dabbles

ROASTED BEET AND ARUGULA SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Contributed by Brenda Score

For the roasted beets:

» 4–5 cups cubed (about ½ inch in size) peeled beets, from about 4–5 medium-sized beets

» 2 Tbsp. olive oil

» 2 Tbsp. honey

» 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt

» 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the cubed beets with the olive oil, honey, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes; stir. Roast for an additional 20 minutes, or until beets are fully softened and starting to caramelize. Remove from oven and let cool. You can roast the beets 1–2 days ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to use.

For the balsamic dressing:

» ½ cup balsamic vinegar

» 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

» 1 Tbsp. minced shallot

» 3 Tbsp. honey

» 2 tsp. Dijon mustard

» 1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt

» ½ freshly ground black pepper

Place all ingredients in a pint jar and shake vigorously to combine. Or use an immersion blender to blitz all ingredients until completely smooth, emulsified and lightly thickened. This can be prepared 1–2 days ahead of time.

For the salad:

» 5 oz. baby arugula

» 10 oz. pre-shredded carrots

» ½ cup crumbled blue cheese

» ½ cup coarsely chopped candied pecans

» kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

On a large platter or low wide salad bowl, evenly spread the arugula. Spread a layer of shredded carrots over the arugula, in the center, leaving a border of arugula showing at the outer edge. Then, add beets on top of the carrots, in the very center, leaving a border of carrots showing. You want to see all the layers distinctivly. Sprinkle salad with blue cheese and candied pecans. Add more salt and pepper, if desired. Drizzle a bit of the dressing over the top of the salad, if desired, and serve the remainder of the dressing on the side— or just serve all of the dressing on the side.

Transitional Care

Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy

Transitional Care

Integrative erapies to Support the Healing Process

Woodbury Senior Living

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!

Memory Care

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.

Integrative erapies to Support the Healing Process

A full spectrum of care options in a campus setting for 37 years.

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.

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

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!

• 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.

Memory Care

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

@farmgirlsdabble

Integrative erapies to Support the Healing Process

• 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.

Woodbury Senior Living is pleased to o er a variety of Integrative Therapies to enhance your well being. Integrative therapies, also known as complementary therapies, wide array of healing practices that fall outside purely pharmaceutical or surgical treatments but are intended to complement Due to their proven results, their use is growing rapidly The following therapies are free of charge.

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

• Guided Imagery: Using your imagination to direct your

• Energy Based Healing Modalities: Gentle, non-invasive and balance of the body’s energy system. In times of stress, become congested, blocked or unbalanced.

• Essential Oils: Extracts of plants that are used to restore the sense of smell. The essential oils used at Woodbury organically grown plants and blended by a certi ed aromatherapist.

• Gives the resident control in a situation

• Enhances attention, memory, speech,

Healing Music erapy

• 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.

• Creates an outlet for emotional expression

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

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

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.

Bene ts of Music Therapy

• Increase self-esteem &

• Gives the resident control where they seldom have

• Motivator and reward for physical activity 001560802r1

• Enhances attention, memory, and orientation

• Facilitates positive socialization

• Creates an outlet for emotional

• Alleviates pain, stress, of depression, enhances

• Motivator and reward

• Addresses spiritual needs

• Decrease disruptive behavior

Call

651-287-6505

Or schedule a tour online at

7012 Lake Road, Woodbury, MN

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

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

THIRD PLACE: CITY LANDMARKS

Gone Paddlin’

Resident captures the scenic Powers Lake.

HOBBY PHOTOGRAPHER RON HAWKINS captured this sweet photo of his “better half,” Dee, on a calm July morning at Powers Lake. New to Woodbury at the time, he says they “wanted to explore this gemof-a-lake by kayak, [and they] were not disappointed.” Hawkins enjoys taking photos and always has a camera ready for their outdoor adventures.

Photographer: Ron Hawkins

Title: Paddlin’ on Powers Lake

Equipment: iPhone 11

Location: Powers Lake

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

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Hand pain getting out of hand?

Start at Summit.

From carpal tunnel to fractures, if hand, wrist, or elbow pain is stopping you from doing what you love, start at Summit.

EASY TO START

Online scheduling

EASY TO BE SEEN

No referrals needed

EASY TO GET CARE

Orthopedic urgent care