CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
Rosie Peters shares the story of her recent heart attack, ritual and rebirth
Joy. Full.
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May your holiday season be full of happiness, kindness and, most of all, the joy of good food.
The Vision To See Banking Differently
Discover Bridgewater Bank.
10
A Space for the Future
The Manitou Fund Education + Arts Center seeks to connect the East Metro through creativity and educational programming.
14
From Stillwater to the Central African Republic
Ted Hooley’s humanitarian nonprofit brings care and healing to rural communities.
16
A Foraged Feast
Stillwater resident and volunteer Ruth Alliband cooks with wild ingredients.
23
Čhan té ináži
Rosie Peters shares the story of her recent heart attack, ritual and rebirth.
28 Mix It Up
Lucille’s
Photo: Chris Emeott
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from the EDITOR
It wasn’t until 2024 that I fully embraced my love for cooking. Historically, I find it difficult to enjoy activities that I’m not good at. My brain categorized cooking as a necessary, not-so-fun task for too many years. But when I started to find recipes that inspired and succeeded, when practice boosted my confidence and I was able to share my dishes at potlucks and dinner parties—using produce we grew and protein we harvested—something changed. Cooking can be fun!
So, when Ruth Alliband spread her favorite recipe books on her dining table during our recent conversation, my enthusiasm knew no bounds. The books spanned decades, cultures and cuisines, but all were focused on cooking with local, foraged ingredients. These are the books Alliband uses to curate the menu for her Forager’s Dinner, a repeat silent auction item at Sustainable Stillwater MN’s annual gala. Acorns, bison, catmint leaves and violets were all on the menu. Not to worry! We’re sharing Alliband’s story and recipes with you, Readers (page 16). I’m planning to bake her Cranberry Black Walnut Pound Cake for this year’s holiday festivities.
My favorite stories to share and read have always been profiles, and this issue is chock-full of them! In these pages, you’ll meet Ted Hooley, a Stillwater native (and descendant of a founder of Cub Foods) who founded Senitizo, a humanitarian nonprofit organization in the Central African Republic (page 14), and hear from Rosie Peters, a St. Croix Valley Magazine Editorial Advisory Board member, poet and restaurant owner in Marine on St. Croix, who shares the story of her recent cardiac episode in her own words (page 23). It’s a beautiful story of health, hope and spirituality.
If you’re like me and struggle to fully enjoy an activity until you’re a pro, I hope you’ll consider staying the course and trying something new—I know I will in the new year. Weather permitting, I’m itching to get out on my cross-country skis. It’s a new activity for me, and I’m excited for the adventures it will bring—even when I fall.
All the best,
Zoe Yates zoe@localmedia.co
On the Cover: Rosie Peters, page 23
by:
Photo: Chris Emeott
Photo
Chris Emeott
VOL. 10 NO. 5
December 2025/January 2026
PUBLISHER
Susan Isay
EDITOR
Zoe Yates
MANAGING CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Renée Stewart-Hester
MANAGING EDITOR
Hailey Almsted
DIGITAL EDITOR
Madeline Kopiecki
COPY EDITORS
Kellie Doherty and Sherri Hildebrandt
STAFF WRITERS
Mollee Francisco, Emily Gedde, Meredith Heneghan, Jennifer Pitterle and Paige Udermann
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sarah Eral, Angie Hong, Rachael Perron, Lori Schaefer and Ben Thietje
DIGITAL INTERN
Claire Krieger
EDITORIAL INTERNS
Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Nathan Hall, Hall Family Foundation ; Heather Logelin, St. Croix Valley Foundation ; Rosetta Peters, Brookside Bar & Grill; Kristin Rohman Rehkamp, La Vie Est Belle ; and Margie Schmid, Sprout Nutrition and Coaching
SENIOR MANAGING ART DIRECTOR
Sarah Dovolos
ART DIRECTOR
Allison Nolden
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Jamie Klang
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Yaz Lo
LEAD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Chris Emeott
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Brittni Dye
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Lisa Stone
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Mimi Coz
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Laura Bjorgo, Cynthia Hamre and Sara Johnson
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Rochita Chatterjee and Gina Neumann
PRESIDENT Pete Burgeson
To subscribe to St. Croix Valley Magazine , please visit localmedia.co. For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co, or call 612.208.6248. ©Local LLC 2025. All rights reserved.
Books and Bows
With experiential gifting maintaining its holiday footing and the inclination to eliminate clutter remaining strong, the gift of books can easily wrap up your holiday shopping endeavors. We’ve included titles that have received nods in our Noteworthy sections in St. Croix Valley Magazine and our sister publications (find more holiday book recommendations at stcroixvalleymag.com).
Known for his whimsical stories, David LaRochelle’s children’s book, Go and Get with Rex, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, follows Jack, Jill and Rex as they play a game with some very silly outcomes.
Houses That Can Save the World by Courtenay Smith and Sean Topham shows how creative thinkers are embracing new challenges in building and design. Along with practical ideas, the gorgeous visuals are ideal to serve as a coffee table book.
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy features Inti Flynn, part of a team of biologists who come to Scotland to reintroduce wolves to the landscape. This novel has mystery, conflict, romance and an intriguing cast of characters to keep readers hooked.
—Renée Stewart-Hester
Your Community, Your Vote
Let’s close the year with some exciting news. Best of St. Croix Valley is moving—to February! We think it’s a perfect fit. After all, February is the month of love, and we all adore our local businesses and service providers. Our 2026 annual readers’ choice poll will be better than ever, featuring
an all-new, voter-friendly platform at stcroixvalleymag.com and an entire month for readers to make their selections for their favorites in more than 70 categories, including our inaugural wedding section. Find additional details in our February/March issue and online. —Editorial Staff
Finding Balance
Occasionally, the hustle and bustle of everyday life can throw you off-kilter. When that happens at the Phipps Center for the Arts [PCA], we slow things down—way down—with tai chi. Led by certified instructor Mark Tomlinson, each session flows through gentle, low-impact movements that quietly build strength, flexibility and body awareness. Classes meet in the PCA’s cozy art studio every Wednesday and migrate to the front patio in the summertime. Beyond the physical advantages of
better balance and a lowered risk of falls, tai chi is a stress-melting reset for the mind. The deliberate pace invites you to think about breath, focus and let the day’s flurry fade into the background. This makes it an ideal practice for older adults, but newcomers are always welcome to join the circle as well.
Ben Thietje serves as the executive director of the Phipps Center for the Arts. Learn more at thephipps.org.
For the Valley. For Good.
Thirty years ago, guided by a vision of generosity and community, a group of civic leaders formed the St. Croix Valley Foundation to connect the Valley and grow generosity for generations. Three founders share reflections on its 1995 origins and why it matters today.
David Brandt, a Stillwater community leader, was a key voice in early talks. “We looked at many options and decided a community foundation—supported by local donors, managed for growth and focused on local needs— was best,” he says.
Orv Johnson believed the foundation should serve the whole region, emphasizing shared problems and desires. “We’re bound together by the river, not separated by it,” Johnson says.
Sarah Andersen, deeply engaged in civic life on both sides of the St. Croix River, brought energy and heart to the effort, often contributing to events with food and hosting gatherings until they could rent an office. “The foundation became the bridge,” Andersen says. “And the seeds we planted are still blooming.”
Their grassroots approach built the base of what is now the St. Croix Valley Foundation—over 500 funds, $120 million in assets, nine affiliates and more than $100 million in grants across six counties.
As founding board members and lifelong champions of the foundation’s mission, Brandt, Johnson and Andersen helped launch and live the vision. They have served on the board, dedicating time and resources for decades, and made legacy gifts to sustain the community spirit they inspired across the Valley.
Lori Schaefer is the director of marketing and communication at the St. Croix Valley Foundation. Learn more at scvfoundation.org.
A Space for the Future
The Manitou Fund Education + Arts Center seeks to connect the East Metro through creativity and educational programming.
By Zoe Yates
Photo: Chris Emeott
The renovation included the addition of an event and performance space on the north end of the building that features advanced audiovisual technology and soundscaping.
After two years and a multimillion dollar renovation, the Manitou Fund Education + Arts Center is ready to start a new chapter with community programming and education.
The 11,000-square-foot space in downtown Stillwater features innovative learning and event spaces with state-ofthe-art design, technology and soundscaping. Oliver Din, president and CEO of the Manitou Fund, says the intention is to foster local, interdisciplinary programming and bring the region together through arts, education, music and the environment.
The purchase of the building by the Manitou Fund was precipitated by dual needs from the community. The Zephyr Theatre, the building’s owner at the time, was in a pinch, and local charter school River Grove Elementary needed a temporary home. The building was redesigned to function as a teaching and community space, with classrooms and flex spaces, offices, an event and performance space, and a sprawling outdoor patio. Many of the interior spaces have been modified with skylights and interior glass walls to bring a bright, open feeling.
The Steinway D Grand Piano of accomplished Dellwood pianist and educator Reid Smith will also have a home in the building. “It’s a piano that was used by the community, and now it’s going to be used by the community and for the community here,” Din says.
Manitou Fund Education + Arts Center is part of a broader play by the Manitou Fund, a White Bear Lake-based charitable foundation, to elevate arts in the region through action. The building works in tandem with the McNeely Music Center in White Bear Lake, and people can listen, observe and record in both spaces simultaneously. Area musicians of all ages will have the opportunity to take lessons and engage with
recording
Photos: Chris Emeott
Bottom: A multimillion dollar renovation transformed the building, previously a train depot, into a modern space for education and the
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technology at McNeely; the Stillwater space will eventually be used for larger music performances by these students. “We’re just all one region. If we can stay close and strengthen all of this, I think we would all benefit,” Din says.
The Manitou Fund was created by Minnesota businessman and active civic leader Donald McNeely and his wife, Marjorie, in the 1960s to support humanities and the arts. When its endowment rose nearly $1 billion in 2019, the Manitou Fund became one of the largest charitable foundations in the state. It has put those resources to action. With the Manitou Fund Education + Arts Center, McNeely Music Center and the Wilder Forest property in May Township, the fund now has more than 55,000 square feet of charitable-use indoor spaces and 1,440 acres dedicated to nurturing the arts and environment.
Din is enthusiastic about seeing these spaces meet their full potential and is looking ahead to even bigger projects to come in the East Metro. “I’m a firm believer that we’ve got to take some risks here, and we really have to push the envelope,” Din says. “If we want to create a level of change and connection … it’s about providing not just the space but the vision and the opportunity, to create projects, create experiences that hopefully create a level of community inspiration.”
While the center won’t be open to the public daily, the plan is for the space to be a privately held community resource for unique programming and events. “We can all collaborate, learn from each other and raise the bar,” Din says.
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Top: Flex spaces throughout the building feature skylights and glass walls.
arts.
From Stillwater to the Central African Republic
Ted Hooley’s humanitarian nonprofit brings care and healing to rural communities.
By Jennifer Pitterle
Ted Hooley, a Stillwater native and the founder of humanitarian nonprofit Senitizo, grew up in a community that fostered generosity and service. “It was kind of like the ideal childhood,” Hooley says. His cousin, Erin Zauner, agrees. “We have very strong ties to the St. Croix Valley, and if you grew up here, you know how tight-knit the community is,” Zauner says. “Watching the example of our grandparents, parents, and aunts and uncles gave [him] a strong foundation for wanting to help people.”
Hooley’s path to humanitarian work started when he was a teenager at Stillwater Area High School. His time at Saint John’s University in Collegeville deepened that interest. “I ended up studying economics and Hispanic studies,” Hooley says. “I did a summer in Kenya
[in 2009], and that was when I really had this moment of realizing I didn’t know anything about the world.”
After graduate school and working in global health and humanitarian aid—including two years responding to the Ebola crisis in Liberia and Sierra Leone—Hooley realized he wanted to work where he could see direct impact. “Having that direct contact with the people that I’m working with is really essential for me,” he says. So in 2017, Hooley launched Senitizo, a nonprofit focused on health care in the Central African Republic (CAR), one of the world’s poorest and most fragile countries. “I wanted to start a locally based organization in one of these places but particularly in a place where it was extremely challenging … and where you
could try a lot of new things,” he says. Despite ongoing civil conflict, Hooley found CAR to be relatively low risk for humanitarian workers and fell in love with the people and their joy amid hardship. He now lives almost full time in CAR but returns to the United States often to visit his family and friends.
A main focus of Senitizo is maternal and child health, where the needs are urgent. Hooley says, “Thirteen percent of kids in CAR die before they reach age 5, and one out of every 100 women dies during childbirth.” Senitizo’s north star is keeping families together and making sure parents and children survive and lead healthy lives, so they can continue to participate in their communities. A key part of Senitizo’s model is empowering local staff. “We hire all Central
testing for HIV viral load for a
in anti-retroviral
Africans,” Hooley says. “The real wealth of the country is in the people.”
The nonprofit builds health networks to bring care closer to remote villages, where patients often walk 15 to 20 miles for treatment.
Even when he’s far from home, Hooley stays connected. “All my high school friends are still in Stillwater,” he says. “It makes a big difference to have that base.”
Many local organizations, including the Stillwater Rotary Club, have donated funds for infrastructure and equipment to Senitizo. “So many local people have been key supports from the very start.”
Senitizo senitizo.org
Senitizo
MED SPA + SKIN + LASER
NEUROTOXINS
DERMAL FILLERS
B12 INJECTIONS
FACIAL PDO THREADING
CO2 SKIN REJUVENATIO N
SECRET RF TREATMENTS
LASER HAIR REDUCTION
DR PRP TREATMENTS
CUSTOMIZED FACIALS
TATTOO REMOVAL
MICRONEEDLING
HYDRAFACIALS
DERMAPLANE FAT REDUCTION SKIN TIGHTENING
NEUROTOXINS
DERMAL FILLERS
B12 INJECTIONS
TATTOO REMOVAL
DR PRP TREATMENTS
CUSTOMIZED FACIALS
HYDRAFACIALS
DERMAPLANE
FAT REDUCTION
SKIN TIGHTENING
MICRONEEDLING
FACIAL PDO THREADING
CO2 SKIN REJUVENATION
SECRET RF TREATMENTS
LASER HAIR REDUCTION MEMBERSHIPS
*MAY
Left: Ted Hooley stands with four generations of women from the same family. The newest addition was the first to be born in a clinic.
Right: Routine
patient
treatment at a Senitizo clinic in Bangui, Central African Republic.
Ruth Alliband
Written by By Zoe Yates — Photos by Chris Emeott
A Foraged Feast
Master naturalist Ruth Alliband doesn’t let life in the suburbs stop her from making sustainable strides. The Stillwater resident of more than 40 years has passionately pursued ecological health on the West Hill and beyond, from declaring war against invasive garlic mustard to coordinating Sustainable Stillwater MN’s (SSMN) rain garden maintenance initiative.
“Her creativity and commitment are unmatched—from organizing flash mob rain garden cleanups to quietly supporting neighbors who need a hand,” says Andi Arnold, executive director of SSMN. “She brings fresh ideas and steady leadership that make a lasting impact on our community and environment.”
Ruth was born into a farming family in Northwest Iowa in the ’40s. Her father “did a little bit of everything” on their family farm. Her grandmother, Augusta Plagman, had some burr oak woods on her property, as did her uncles, Paul and Ted Plagman. The family would often have picnics on the bank of a little creek, “… and then my dad and I would go walking in the woods,” Ruth says. It was on these strolls that Ruth’s interest in flora and fauna bloomed.
“Growing up on a farm was an important pillar. Exploring the out-of-doors, learning
the names and calls of the local birds, finding out that some of the plants growing in our windbreak grove were edible,” Ruth says. When a relative mentioned that elderberry plants grew wild in the understory of the family’s windbreak, she began harvesting the berry clusters. “My mother and aunts would make elderberry jelly and, once, an elderberry pie,” she says.
“That’s a gift, having grown up in the country,” Ruth says.
During her undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa, she pursued sociology and met her match in Terry Alliband, an English student and Iowa native. It was the mid-’60s, and the Vietnam War was intensifying. “It seemed to us as if the Peace Corps might be an alternative to the draft,” Ruth says. “Two days after we got married, we filled out applications for the Peace Corps.”
In 1966, the pair joined 1,000 Peace Corps volunteers responding to a severe drought in the states of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh in India. For two years, the couple worked on self-directed community development projects in the district of Jhansi, in a village near the town of Chirgaon. Ruth’s work involved nutrition augmentation and public health. Along with connecting people with chronic diseases to area resources, she
STILLWATER RESIDENT AND VOLUNTEER
RUTH ALLIBAND COOKS WITH WILD INGREDIENTS.
Recipes
Cranberry Black Walnut Pound Cake
“From my recipe files. I substituted black walnuts for regular walnuts some time ago and now will not make this recipe unless I have black walnuts on hand. Recipe makes 12 to 16 servings.” —Ruth Alliband
• 3/4 lb. unsalted butter
• 1 lb. powdered sugar, sifted
• 6 whole eggs
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups cake flour, sifted
• 2 Tbsp. lemon rind, grated
• 1 cup black walnut pieces, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped
• powdered sugar for dusting
Heat oven to 300 F. Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch tube pan or Bundt pan; set aside. Cream the butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl, beating until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, continuing to beat. Add the lemon juice and vanilla. Gently fold in the flour, followed by the lemon rind, black walnuts and cranberries. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for about 90 minutes. Test by inserting a toothpick: it should come out clean. Cool cake in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes, then unmold and place on a rack to cool thoroughly. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar. Serve at room temperature.
Smoked Turkey and Acorn Soup
From The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen by Shawn Sherman. “It is, I think, one of the standouts of the dinner. It’s so
continued on page 20
Seeds Candied with Maple Sugar; and Squash Biscuits with Acorn Flour.
supported the development of kitchen gardens and sold fruit trees in the community. “[The trip] changed my life,” Ruth says. “A lot of what I’ve done probably piles on top of having been a Peace Corps volunteer.”
Ruth and Terry returned to India in the years that followed, working on and studying rural development. In 1981, Ruth earned a master’s degree in plant genetics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the Allibands and their daughter, Savanna, settled in Stillwater in 1984. Ruth was joined there by her second husband, Robert Bergfalk, in 1991.
Since retiring from a career in administration at the University of Minnesota, Ruth has been on numerous volunteer trips with International Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing. She’s been to Costa Rica, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Madagascar and Nepal—and Ghana, twice. “I don’t have a bucket list. It’s more like, ‘Surprise me!’” Ruth says.
Ruth has spent decades tending to the trails and gardens near her Stillwater home. Her interest and passion led friend Louise Watson, the former executive director of SSMN, to ask her to take care of Stillwater’s community rain gardens. Ruth took up the task and started by inventorying the gardens and finding volunteers to support the initiative. As the number of gardens on the inventory has grown, maintaining the gardens and educating homeowners has become almost a full-time job for Ruth.
“Ruth embodies the very heart of our mission,” Arnold says. “Her dedication to caring for Stillwater’s rain gardens not only protects our waters but also inspires our community to see the beauty and purpose in stewardship. Her leadership shows us how one person’s commitment can ripple outward, creating cleaner rivers, stronger ecosystems and a healthier future for us all.”
Forager’s Dinner
Cooking with foraged ingredients has remained a significant part of Ruth Alliband’s life, and her bookshelf is lined with a diverse selection of recipe books, many of which center around wild-harvested foods. Last year, while dreaming up a silent auction item for SSMN’s annual gala, Ruth recalls asking herself, “Why don’t I just do something?”
Her Forager’s Dinner became one of the most popular silent auction items of the night.
Last December, Ruth hosted the winning bidders for the Forager’s Dinner, which included four courses that highlighted ingredients that can be harvested wild in the St. Croix Valley.
Guests enjoyed an array of appetizers, including Candied Catnip Leaf BeforeDinner Mints, Caramelized Seed Mix and Chaga Tea. Smoked Turkey and Acorn Soup was served next, accompanied by Squash Biscuits with Acorn Flour. For the main course, Ruth made Indigenous Bison Tacos, Maple-Sage Roasted Vegetables and Wild Rice with Hazelnuts and Dried Blueberries. A Raspberry-Rose Hip Wojape Sauce brought a bright color and flavor to the plate. The meal concluded with a Cranberry Black Walnut Pound Cake and Vanilla Ice Cream with Violet Syrup.
She was assisted in the kitchen by relatives of her late second husband, who helped finish and plate the dishes while she entertained the guests. “One of my volunteers bought this package for her mother because it was her mother’s birthday,” Ruth says. “They enjoyed themselves a lot, and so did we!”
Ruth Alliband’s Forager’s Dinner returned as a silent auction item at this year’s Sustainable Stillwater MN Gala Mission: Possible, An Evening of Climate Action in October. Visit stcroixvalleymagazine.com to find recipes from the dinner.
Clockwise from right: Wild Rice with Hazelnuts and Dried Blueberries; Toasted Pecans Candied with Maple Sugar; Dried Rosehips; Toasted Sunflower
flavorful and so surprisingly good … The secret to this soup is the acorn flour. It adds a nutty flavor while thickening the broth. If this is not available, stir in the same quantity of hazelnut or corn flour.”
—Ruth Alliband
• 2‒3 turkey legs, smoked
• 5‒6 cups water
• ½ cup leeks, chopped
• ½ cup acorn meal flour
• maple syrup, to taste
• maple sugar, optional
• salt, optional
Put turkey legs into a soup pot, and cover with water by about 2 inches. Set over high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer until the meat is so tender it falls off the bones, about 20‒30 minutes. Remove the turkey legs, pull off the meat, and discard the bones. Return the meat to the broth, and add the leeks. Whisk in the flour, and return to low heat. Simmer until the soup thickens. Season to taste with maple sugar and salt.
Wild Rice with Hazelnuts and Dried Blueberries
“Adapted from Native Harvest by Barry Kavasch, a Connecticut ethnobotanist. We sautéd the hazelnuts used in these recipes in either walnut oil or butter to give them a toasted flavor. We drizzled Wojape sauce on top of the wild rice.”
—Ruth Alliband
• 2 cups wild rice, washed in cold water
• 5 cups water
• 2 wild onions (or regular onions), diced
• 1 cup shelled and dried hazelnuts, diced
• 2 cups dried blueberries
Combine the rice, water and onions in a large kettle, bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for approximately 40 minutes or until most of the water is absorbed. Add the hazelnuts and dried blueberries, mixing thoroughly. Steam, covered, for an additional 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot, and top with Wojape Sauce.
Wild Rice with Hazelnuts and Dried Blueberries
As snow blankets the ground and the air turns brisk, there’s no better time to embrace the warmth, comfort, and peace of mind that come with independent living at Saint Therese of Woodbury. Nestled in one of Minnesota’s most vibrant communities, our campus is a welcoming retreat where seniors can enjoy the beauty of winter without the burden of home maintenance.
Step outside your door and into a vibrant community offering:
• A warm saltwater pool and fitness center
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Written by Rosie Peters
by Chris Emeott
ČHAŊTÉ INÁŽIŊ
Rosie Peters shares the story of her recent heart attack, ritual and rebirth.
Rosetta “Rosie” Peters is an extraordinary poet, storyteller and business owner, living in Marine on St. Croix. Since moving to the Valley in 2011, she’s become a valued member of this community and has worked to build up the arts in the Valley—from founding a poetry collective to hosting workshops and open-mic events at Brookside Bar and Grill, where she is co-owner and operator. St. Croix Valley Magazine has the privilege of having her serve on our Editorial Advisory Board.
At just 46 years old, Peters experienced a cardiac event in May. Her symptoms—pain in her neck and shoulders, cold sweats, numbing down her arms— stacked up over a matter of days, coinciding with another important event in her life: obtaining a bison tail for her Haŋbdečeya, a sacred Dakota vision ceremony. Like many women who will experience a cardiac event, the varied symptoms led to a delay in seeking treatment. But she listened to her body and spirit and went to the hospital four days after her symptoms began; this decision (and her doctors) saved her life.
Peters asked to share her story in the hopes that her experience could save the lives of others in this community—and who better to weave these words than Peters herself? It’s the hope of Peters and all of us here at St. Croix Valley Magazine that this story encourages you to listen to your heart. —Zoe Yates, editor
Photos
DAKOTA DEFINITIONS
Haŋbdečeya: A sacred vision ceremony
Čaŋupas: Sacred ceremonial pipes carved from a type of red pipestone found only in Mni Sota.
Čhaŋté inážiŋ: heart attack
Pidamayaye: thank you
Wakaŋ Taŋka: the sacred or divine Wopida tanka: very grateful
My heart attack started on a Saturday, Mother’s Day weekend , about halfway through my double shift, with a numbing down my left arm. My neck and shoulders were bothering me from accidentally falling asleep in the recliner. I had been putting in some extra hours that week at Brookside in preparation for the holiday and the start of our live music and patio season. I just thought, “Man, I need a massage.”
On Sunday, the numbing sensation came back, on and off. I was looking forward to the hot tub and pool at Treasure Island. My beloved had gotten us a room there because we were picking up my bison tail for Haŋbdečeya on Monday. A bison calf visited my dreams that morning. I assumed it was because I was excited to go get the tail.
That March, I had called around to processing plants. I explained that I am Dakota, in the process of reconnecting with my culture, and a bison tail was needed for a special ceremony. My bison came through the line at Lorentz Meats in Cannon Falls and was hand-picked by the manager of the slaughterhouse floor.
As we left the plant, I said to my love, “Traditionally, I would’ve come to this differently. If there were women hunters, I know I would’ve hunted my bison myself. I would’ve seen it, touched it, looked it in the eyes and given thanks to it. I would’ve knelt on the ground beside it and offered tobacco. Speaking of …” I rolled the window down, opened a cigarette and
sprinkled tobacco on the gravel road. I said my prayers, gave thanks to the Bison, the plant manager, the journey—and thanked the Creator for everything.
We passed what would soon become a corn or soybean field. Miles of flat, freshly scarred earth, and I imagined what it looked like before colonization and desecration. I saw green and trees and birds and animals. I pictured beautiful harmony, when something in my periphery tugged me back to reality, to the flat and nothing in front of me. A tornado rose from the soil, made of wind and dust. I watched it form, swirling upwards, rising and rising, and then it just vanished. When it disappeared, I felt a rush of something go through my body, and I started crying. I cried and cried. Moments later, an eagle swooped down in front of us.
That night, I didn’t sleep well. Restless and turning, I woke in a sweat. As I paced, I looked out the window and blamed my restless spirit on the full Flower Moon. The next morning, I sat up and Googled, “Am I having a heart attack?”
I don’t know, but I swear my Bison saved my life. I know it was the emergency room and the hospital. It was the nurses and the cardiologist and the prayers and the surgery and the stent. I know they were all a part of it.
But it was also more than that.
I believe Wakaŋ Taŋka sent the spirit of my Bison to protect me and speak to me in a way I’d listen. I am a stubborn woman. I had to ask for help first in order to receive it. That meant I had to walk through the ER door.
My first nurse was a fabulous young man named Eric. I liked him right away because, “That’s my son’s name,” I said. “But he goes by Michael.”
“On a scale of 1–10, where would you rate your pain right now?” Eric asked.
“Hmmm,” I said, “About a five, maybe
Rosie Peters holds a staff made and gifted to her by a student in her Walking Into The Woods Poetry Cohort. Created from a sumac root, each of the staff’s trinkets carries special meaning. “The staff is a part of me,” Peters says.
six. But honey, you have to understand I have a very high threshold for pain.” I giggled at his raised eyebrow. “I’ve given birth to six children, three of which were completely natural. So, you see, Eric, my five or six is a little different than yours.”
“Fair enough,” he smiled, and I could tell he was a friend.
The ER doctor was also young, mid- to late-30s. He asked the “on a scale” question, and I told him the same thing. He asked me about my symptoms, and I started by telling him about my arm going numb on Saturday. “It’s Tuesday night. Why didn’t you come in on Saturday?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t know Saturday,” I said.
“Why did you come in tonight?” he said.
“Because I have six kids,” I said.
“You had six kids on Saturday,” he said. “What changed? Why now?”
“On Saturday, I thought the numbing was because I slept wrong,” I explained. “My neck had been bugging me for a few days, and I was just busy, man. I feel differently tonight.”
“What makes you feel differently tonight?” he asked.
“I can’t say,” I started to giggle—could see my bison’s tail, see my čaŋupas. I saw more that’s too sacred to write. “Just a feeling I have.” I could tell this man didn’t believe in magic, and I was running out of time. “Look here—listen,” I said. “I promise you, I don’t want to be here right now. I’m not a drug addict. I don’t even drink, and I, personally, don’t have time for any of this. I’m a busy woman, and I hate hospitals, but I’m here because I have a very strong feeling I need to be.
Something is wrong. Here.” I placed my closed fist on my chest.
“Well, what would you like us to do here tonight?” he asked.
“I’m having a heart attack,” I said. “So, I’d like you to please check my heart and make sure everything’s OK in there. It’s not gonna be.” I started laughing again. “And that’s OK because I know y’all are gonna fix me.”
He looked at Eric, ordered some tests and walked out the door. About 20 minutes later, the doctor came back in and sat beside me. I already knew what was coming. “Your blood test reveals that your tropes are elevated,” he said.
“What does that mean?” I smiled.
“That means you are being admitted and will be going into surgery in the morning when the cardiology team arrives,” he said.
I laughed so loudly. I imagined I was shaking the entire emergency department. “Wait. You mean to tell me I was right? My feeling was right?”
“Yes. It seems you’re having a heart attack,” he said.
“Well, it’s a damn good thing I listened and came in tonight, isn’t it?” I said.
He finally smiled, and I saw a glint of life in his eyes. “Yes, it is, Rosie. Thank you for coming in. You’re in the right spot.” He left the room. Eric laughed and said, “And we are gonna fix you, Rosie.” We exchanged a lazy high-five.
“I knew it, and I know it.” Love washed over me. Warmth. Then relief. The tears came. I stared at the ceiling, just giggling and crying, “Pidamayaye. That means thank you, Eric. Thank you so much.”
According to my doctors, I was close to death. My heart event was the widowmaker; they said—99 percent blocked. I’m 46 years old, very active, fit and healthy. At the time of my walk with Spirit, I was a smoker. I am no longer a smoker. I no longer work 90 hours a week as a small business owner, and I am making even healthier food choices. I am wopida tanka that I listened to Spirit, trusted my body, my instincts, my woman’s intuition, my Bison and walked through the doors of the ER. Grateful for this second chance.
This rebirth.
LIGHT HOUSE Yoga + Fitness shines the way to fresh starts.
Between the holidays, work commitments and the pressure of New Year’s resolutions, it’s easy to put yourself at the bottom of the list. But that’s exactly when self-care is essential.
“Making time for yourself helps you reset and recharge, and yoga offers a powerful combination of physical and mental benefits,” says Angela Eller, co-owner of LIGHT HOUSE Yoga + Fitness. “Carving out an hour for yourself can make everything else in your life feel manageable. When you make time for self-care, you’re not only improving your own health and well-being, but you also show up as your best self for the people around you. Yoga isn’t a luxury but a necessity, especially during the busiest seasons of the year.”
LIGHT HOUSE offers a wide variety of classes—from beginner-friendly practices and energizing power and vinyasa flows to fitness favorites, like Yoga Sculpt and its signature strength and cardio class, Torch.
But joining fitness programs can feel intimidating. “Don’t wait,” Eller recommends. “So many people want to wait until they’re more flexible, stronger or more in shape, but the truth is, you don’t need to change a thing before showing up. Come exactly as you are; everyone starts somewhere.” She notes their community is welcoming and judgement free, adding, “Try different classes,
different teachers. You might surprise yourself and stumble into a new style you love. That’s the beauty of starting; you never know what’s waiting for you.”
Eller and co-owner Sara Schultz understand new starts. Last May, the duo took the helm at LIGHT HOUSE. “When people walk through our doors, they feel so many things—at home, connected, empowered, energized, inspired, refreshed and more,” Schultz says. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be a place where transformation happens—inside and out—and to walk alongside people on their journeys.”
Join any membership with a six-month commitment between January 1–31 and receive the sixth month free. Claim your free first class and get two weeks for $25. 1000 Pearson Drive,
Mix it Up
The holiday season arrives each year with a colorful concoction of expectations and cultural norms. And, before Dry January encourages many sobercurious to embrace a different path, alcohol remains a significant character in the festivities.
Alexandra Zauner, a Lake Elmo resident and Stillwater native, has built a thriving business that proposes a different way to connect. Lucille’s Alcohol-Free Social Experiences is a nonalcoholic (NA) establishment in downtown St. Paul that includes all the ingredients for a good time, from ingredients to event hosting.
“I felt like (Alcoholics Anonymous) was exactly what I needed in the early stages of my sobriety,” says Zauner, who has been alcohol-free for 11 years. “But I wanted to create opportunities
for people to feel included and really empower people in a nonalcoholic space and beyond.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zauner began hosting alcohol-free workshops and events. As her curiosity and experience grew, she sought out NA beverages at Twin Cities retailers. She laughs at the irony of where she had to find them. “NA drink options were in the back of liquor stores, hidden among alcoholic options,” she says. “It wasn’t triggering for me, but for a lot of people, that’s probably not a great situation.”
Recognizing a need, she launched Lucille’s as a retail pop-up experience in October 2023. By January 2024, Lucille’s was selling products online. A storefront at 24 W. Seventh Place in St. Paul opened later that year, offering
Written by Emily Gedde — Photos by Chris Emeott
Alexandra Zauner
“I see that people are just so grateful, whether they are sober or just searching to explore what nights out or social experiences look like without alcohol, [Lucille’s] gives them a way to reconnect with themselves and others.”
Alexandra Zauner
NA beer, cocktails, spirits and wine. “I want to get delicious NA products in the hands of people who want more options and don’t even know where to start,” she says. “The intention with what I do is to build a really curated offering, answer questions, provide tasting opportunities and make it special and exciting.”
Today, Lucille’s is expanding beyond retail. With NA beverage options now more widely available in major retailers, Zauner is focusing on hosting alcoholfree social events, including bachelorette parties, corporate gatherings, mixology classes, and wine and cheese nights that bring people together in fun, meaningful ways. “These events are a fun way to make interaction about the people you’re with and less about the drinks, fuzziness and disconnection,” she says. “People tell me they worry it’ll be weird, but it’s only weird if you make it that way.”
Founding Lucille’s has been a reminder to Zauner that she’s not alone in her own sobriety—and others in her community are craving connection too. She adds, “I see that people are just so grateful, whether they are sober or just searching to explore what nights out or social experiences look like without alcohol, [Lucille’s] gives them a way to reconnect with themselves and others.”
PLANNING A SOBER CELEBRATION
There’s a whole new world of delicious options available for people looking to enjoy an alcohol-free holiday bash. Alexandra Zauner knows exploring options can be overwhelming. “We can help guide what you need, whether it’s for a celebration or just something to take home,” she says.
“Bubbles on New Year’s Eve is huge,” Zauner says, noting one of her favorite options is Copenhagen Sparkling Tea BLÅ, which is like a prosecco. Other favorites include Prima Pavé Grand Cuvée, similar to a crisp, sparkling white, and Oddbird Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, a dealcoholized chardonnay. You’ll still have all the celebratory bubbles, without imbibing.
To offer a fun twist when hosting an alcohol-free event, Zauner suggests having a signature mocktail and sending guests home with recipe cards.
She encourages people to look at alcohol-free events as an opportunity to be present, connect and learn something new about yourself and the people you’re with. “Anyone willing to host an alcohol-free event for friends and family is doing everyone a favor by giving them an opportunity to have fun in a different way,” Zauner says. “It’s a gift that’s easy to overlook.”
Visit stcroixvalleymag.com to find Zauner’s favorite winter mocktail recipes for your holiday celebrations.
Lucille’s Alcohol-Free Social Experiences lucillesbottleshop.com @lucillesbottleshop
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Ring in the new year with a beautiful smile from Carlson Dental Group.
Get that gorgeous, healthy, photo-worthy smile you’ve been wanting for 2026! Yes, we know the holidays are hectic, but there’s still time to get the dental care you need to look and feel your best for all your important gatherings. If you’re not feeling confident with your smile, you should meet the team at Carlson Dental Group.
Dr. Sarah Carlson built her dental practice on a foundation of exceptional care, cutting-edge technology and a patient-centered experience, which transforms patients’ smiles into a source of confidence and pride. “We go out of our way to help our patients prepare for special events and daily living,” Carlson says. Her team offers a full suite of cosmetic dentistry services, including veneers, bonding, clear aligners, tooth-colored fillings, whiteners and more, to bring out natural looking, bright smiles that beg to be shown off.
For more than two decades, Carlson has exceeded her patients expectations, and she continues to raise standards. “My team and I bring decades of experience and thousands of hours of high-level cosmetic and health-focused training to every appointment,” she says. Carlson is skilled at addressing a spectrum of cosmetic dental needs, such as missing, crooked, cracked, broken, worn down or hurting teeth, so you don’t have to be embarrassed or stay in pain.
Offering a positive dental experience is just as important as creating great outcomes. “We’re empathetic, great listeners and go above and beyond to treat our patients as though they were revered guests in our homes,” Carlson says. “We love connecting, and we feel a real kinship with our patients when we work together to help our patients meet their goals and create more reasons to smile.”
Schedule your consultation at 651.439.8840 or stillwaterbeautifulsmiles.com, and say hello to your beautiful smile!
CAROLS, COMMUNITY AND CHEER
Afton Village Holiday invites neighbors to embrace the magic of the season.
Afton receives a magical makeover during the holiday season as timeless tradition and community connection coalesce. The Afton Village Holiday returns over three weekends in November and December. “There’s nothing quite like strolling through the softly lit, candy cane-lined streets of Afton, pausing at a fire to warm your hands, and chatting with friends and neighbors,” says Heather Kiel, event coordinator for Afton Events.
Sponsored by the Afton Area Business Association (exploreafton.com), the festivities include crafting stations, a holiday market, musical performances, and special deals at local restaurants. In Town Square Park, visitors can enjoy free ice skating from dusk until
dawn and free horse and wagon rides from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 5 to 8 p.m. on December 5. The Afton Historical Museum is sponsoring a bake sale from 5 to 8 p.m. on December 5, and the Afton Historic Schoolhouse will host a holiday craft market throughout the Village Holiday.
The Holiday Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. on December 5 is the heart of the festivities. The Afton Area Business Association hopes all visitors will feel as though they have stepped into a holiday storybook, enjoying “a simpler, slower, more meaningful version of the holidays,” says Kiel. “There’s a true sense of belonging here.” —Diane Meyer
Orthodontic treatments for all ages. We offer comprehensive corrections as well as cosmetic improvements.
Schedule a complimentary consultation now. We love smiles!
Henseler & Kocian Orthodontics 2850 Curve Crest Blvd. Suite 230, Stillwater 651.439.8909 hkortho.com
Offering reliable, personalized and flexible dog care backed by 15 years of experience.
Customized services include daily walks and in-home sitting. Call or text to discuss your dog’s needs.
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JANUARY 17
CANDLELIGHT WINTER WALK
Embrace your local winter wonderland during an evening by the St. Croix River. The 1-mile walk will begin at the north end of Lowell Park, and hot cider will be served from 5 until 8 p.m. worldsnowcelebration.com
12.06
Murder Mystery Co.
Become a detective for the evening at the Stillwater Event Center and enjoy a thrilling night of immersive theater and a three-course meal. events.discoverstillwater.com
12.06, 12.13, 12.20
Annie’s Coffee Parties
Reserve your spot at a spectacular
Jul-themed party at the Gammelgärden Museum in Scandia, which will feature a holiday spread of Scandinavian snacks and desserts. events.discoverstillwater.com
12.13, 12.14
Craft and Gift Show
Delight in a unique holiday shopping experience at the Oak Glen Golf and Event Center, and enjoy beverages while you shop. allevents.in/stillwater
12.20
Home for the Holidays
The St. Croix Valley Opera invites the greater Stillwater community to celebrate the season at a festive concert, featuring holiday classics at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater at 7 p.m. scvopera.org
01.13–01.25
World Snow Celebration
Professional snow sculptors from around the world will bring their talents and creativity to Stillwater for this annual winter extravaganza. worldsnowcelebration.com
01.18
Uptown Brass
Visit the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin, to enjoy a concert from Uptown Brass, featuring five musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra. thephipps.org
01.28
Plant Bingo
The Hudson Flower Shop will host a fun-filled afternoon of bingo. Connect with fellow plant parents while having a chance to win houseplants and garden accessories. hudsonflowershop.com
Ready to find your new best friend?
Compiled by Diane Meyer and Avery Vrieze
To have your event considered: email stcroixvalleymag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Please note that some events may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.
A Window to Stillwater
For Stillwater resident Thomas Valine, taking walks around downtown Stillwater is a practice in creativity. “When I took this picture, I’d been experimenting with reflections on shopfront windows and was playing with window-related shots. The trolleys caught my eye as a cool subject,” Valine says. This award-winning photo features a unique view of the Commander Building through a trolley window. “In my opinion, the more layers of beauty and meaning a photo has, the more interesting and effective it becomes at creating an experience for the viewer,” he says. —Zoe Yates
LENS ON ST. CROIX VALLEY
Photographer: Thomas Valine
Title: Trolley Window
Equipment: Canon EOS R50 with an 18–150mm lens
Category: Abstract Award: First Place
To view other Lens on St. Croix Valley photo contest winners, visit stcroixvalleymag.com.
Talk
Thomas Pink, CFP®, AAMS®
Managing Director –Financial Advisor
Senior Portfolio Director Group (952) 476-3725 | thomas.pink@rbc.com
Tina Licari, CFP®, CRPC®
Senior Vice President –Financial Advisor
Senior Portfolio Manager –Portfolio Focus (651) 228-6929 | tina.licari@rbc.com
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