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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Alexis Stiteler centers her artistic practice on ethical sourcing and shared stories

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CONTENTS 8 Building Bridges Educator Claudia Hernandez supports multilingual students and families in the Stillwater area.

10 Heart and Soul Marine Community Library has been volunteer-led for 15 years.

13 Through the Looking Glass Alexis Stiteler centers her

Culinary Kismet, page 29

artistic practice on ethical sourcing and shared stories.

20 Buried History Pioneer Archeology unearths artifacts in backyards across the St. Croix Valley.

29 Culinary Kismet Fiddlehead Kitchen opens in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Editor’s Letter Noteworthy On the Town Last Glance

Photo: Chris Emeott

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WILD

SCENIC

Along the banks of the wild and scenic St. Croix River sits a historic town waiting to deliver your next Wisconsin weekend. Whatever your scene, discover it in Hudson.

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F R O M T H E E D I TO R

My interest in history began outdoors. Childhood explorations at Interstate State Park and beyond ended with pockets full of rocks and colorful glass, and a fascination with how landscapes and objects are carved by time. Even today, I’m drawn to adventures where the past is on full display. On a recent trip to London, a top excursion was visiting a sprawling garden cemetery, where I spent hours reading gravestones and information signs. Locally, one of my favorite hikes is Silverbrook Trail near Osceola, Wisconsin, which features the ruins of a historic Black-owned country club and abandoned copper mine (and a waterfall too!). So, when I learned about another history buff who has turned his passion into a serious operation, I knew it was a story we needed to share. Brandon Lewanski of Hastings runs Pioneer Archeology, where he pursues digs in the St. Croix Valley to uncover local stories through buried objects. Writer Findlay Drabant spoke with Lewanski to learn more about his experiences and discoveries over the last three decades (page 20). In learning his story, I’m reminded of my youthful interest in sifting for lake bed treasures at my grandparents’ house. I’d adorn a section of the yard with all my finds— pottery, aged glass and buttons—placed just so. Maybe it’s time I return to that slow, rewarding hobby again. Artist Alexis Stiteler is certainly embracing curiosity and memory in her own way. Each of her hand-drawn pieces of wearable art is connected to her travels, experiences and loved ones. In our recent conversation at her studio in Stillwater’s Brick Alley building, she shared insight into her deeply intentional sourcing and collaboration process (page 13). All this and more fascinating stories call this Arts and Culture issue home. Before I go, I want to take a moment to thank Christi Schmitt, who passionately shared ideas for two stories that both made their way into this issue. Let Schmitt be an inspiration to you to reach out to me at zoe@localmedia.co to share a glimpse into the goodness happening in your corner of the Valley. Until next time,

Zo e Yates

Photo: Chris Emeott

zoe@localmedia.co

C E L E B R AT I N G T H E S T. C R O I X VA L L E Y A R E A S I N C E 2 0 1 5 .

On th e Cove r:

P ho to by :

Alexis Stiteler, page 13

Zoe Prinds-Flash

Fin d u s on lin e: St. Croix Valley Magazine

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VOL. 11 NO. 4 October/November 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 Kassondra Burtis, Stacy Dahl, Findlay Drabant, Emily Gedde, Maura Keller and Alexandra Tostrud CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sarah Eral, Ashley Hausman, Angie Hong, Rachael Perron, Lori Schaefer and Ben Thietje DIGITAL INTERN Kate Overend EDITORIAL INTERNS Catherine Chapman, Isabella Kunc, Abigail Larson and Kate Thompson 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 Lauren Bjorgo, Cynthia Hamre, Wendy Hendricks and Sara Johnson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rochita Chatterjee, Alyssa Grages 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 2026. All rights reserved.

N OT E WO RT H Y

Lori Maxfield and Barbara Heitkamp of the Washington Conservation District enjoy the new boardwalk at Irving & John Anderson County Park.

Fall at the Phipps

an iconic Minneapolis band that helped define American alternative rock. Yet, his decades-long career as a visual artist is equally compelling. This fall, the Phipps Center for the Arts is thrilled to present his first retrospective. Open now through November 1, the exhibition spans the full arc of Mars’ creative life: early drawings, experimental acrylics, pastel work and haunting, richly detailed oil paintings. Also showing at the Phipps this autumn are the toy-like sculptures and mixed-media works of sculptor Jeremy Jones and stunning figurative ceramics of Kamron Legred in what promises to be a strong and interesting group of exhibitions.

Lee Ann Pomplas is the arts engagement director at the Phipps Center for the Arts. Learn more at thephipps.org.

Let’s Go Leaf Peeping Walk along the boardwalk at Irving & John Anderson County Park in southeastern Isanti County, and you might think you’ve stepped into a Dr. Seuss story. The wooden path winds through a tamarack bog, high and dry above the spongy, wet ground. Visit the park in October, and enjoy the unique experience of floating through a forest of gold. Leaf peeping is a favorite pastime throughout the St. Croix Valley. As days grow shorter and temperatures cool in the fall, the chlorophyll in trees and plants breaks down faster than it is produced. As a result, the green fades and the yellow and orange pigments from carotenoid compounds emerge. Sugar and red maples turn orange and red, while silver maples in floodplains along rivers and streams turn yellow. Oak trees develop rich, deep shades of red and brown and will hold their leaves long into the winter.

Tamaracks, meanwhile, are the only conifers in our region that turn yellow and lose their needles in the winter. Fall is also a beautiful and bug-free time to explore local prairies. Late bloomers, such as asters, bottle blue gentian, goldenrods and sneezeweed, will hold their flowers long into October, while native grasses, such as big bluestem, Indian grass and switchgrass, turn red and gold. To plan your leaf-peeping adventures, check out the Minnesota DNR Fall Color Finder (dnr.state.mn.us) or Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report (travelwisconsin.com), which are updated weekly.

Angie Hong coordinates the East Metro Water Education Program. Find her on Instagram at @mnnature_awesomeness.

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Artwork: Chris Mars; Photo: Angie Hong

Chris Mars is known to music fans as the drummer for The Replacements,

Up Your Appetizer Game Be it artful charcuterie arrangements, bitesized nibbles or chips and dip, the best part of a meal is often the appetizer. So why not make apps the star of the show? Marissa Mullen can help you do just that in her newest cookbook. I’ll Bring the Apps offers creative takes on classics, unique morsels sure to become favorites and advice on everything from building a full meal of appetizers to mapping out a beautiful cheese board. With the holiday season approaching, this lighthearted and flexible style of eating is suitable for hosting anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s a simple morning spread for overnight guests or a lavish New Year’s Eve soirée, I’ll Bring the Apps can provide a combination of appetizers that will hit the spot.

Photo by Spacecrafting

Sarah Eral is the project coordinator at Hudson Area Public Library. To learn more about library programs and services, visit hudsonpubliclibrary.org.

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Building Bridges Educator Claudia Hernandez supports multilingual students and families in the Stillwater area. By Zoe Yates

Oak-Land Middle School in Lake Elmo is dedicated to ensuring all students thrive. Key to this mission is Claudia Hernandez, a student, family and community engagement specialist who stepped into the brand-new role in 2023 with a clear vision of supporting multilingual (ML) Hispanic Latino students and their families. In only a few years, her presence at OakLand has created waves of change for the school’s ML learners. Hernandez, who grew up in Oaxaca, Mexico, has lived in the United 8

States since 2005 and worked for Stillwater Area Public Schools since 2017. While she is a district employee, 90 percent of her time is utilized at Oak-Land, where she has an office and spends much of her day in classrooms with ML students. “For me, a very important aspect for this role is to build relationships, so that’s why I go to the classroom and be present in the students’ daily life,” Hernandez says. Elodie Sontgerath, an ML English teacher at Oak-Land, remarks that Hernandez has helped bridge the gap between home and

school for students by ensuring their academic, emotional and social needs are met. “The joy on our students’ faces when she walks into the room says more than words ever could,” Sontgerath says. At Oak-Land, Hernandez is empowering ML students to become leaders. In the 2024–25 school year, she co-taught a Youth in Government class that included five ML students who completed a school language survey and met with lawmakers at the state capitol. Since 2023, Hernandez has led stcroixvalleymag.com

Photo: Chris Emeott

Claudia Hernandez

MORE THAN

a continuing partnership with StoryArc, which supports students in creating podcasts and presenting them to their families and communities. “She challenges her students out from being silent observers to voices of change,” says Ann Giardino, former Oak-Land principal. Hernandez works directly with families to navigate economic, language and technological barriers. She frequently helps parents schedule their first parent-teacher conferences and navigate the extracurricular activities registration platform. And Hernandez does not hesitate to extend her work beyond the scope of a school day. She has partnered with Washington County to secure free sports physicals for students without insurance, helped families when their heat went out midwinter and delivered groceries and meals to families during Operation Metro Surge. “She is one of those people [who] is constantly moving the needle,” Giardino says. As the community heals, Hernandez is focusing on the good: seeing students embrace opportunities, grow in their learning and sign up for sports are accomplishments worth celebrating. “When families come and then just tell me, ‘Thank you for helping, and it made a big difference,’ I feel like … I’m doing my job,” she says. In a translated nomination letter for the district’s Partnership Award (for which Hernandez was recognized in April), one of her students shared, “We love you very much, and, without you, this school wouldn’t exist … even though you don’t have a class, you are a teacher to me. You are my favorite teacher.” Giardino calls Hernandez “a beloved member of our community,” sharing that she was bestowed the Spirit of Oak-Land Award in 2025. “What she does, without taking any type of recognition, is continuing to be a role model for what we need to be doing in the Stillwater school district … she’s a superstar,” Giardino says.

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Heart and Soul Marine Community Library has been volunteer-led for 15 years.

On many fair-weather days during the school year, the town of Marine on St. Croix swells with the chatter of children as they make their way through town to their library. For select hours during the school year, the doors of the volunteer-run Marine Community Library open for the children. It’s a routine beloved by both the students, who have their own library cards and are often known by name, and the broader community. Lynn Bjorkman, Marine Library Association co-chair, shares that folks in town adore watching the kids come down the hill, taking in that weekly reminder of all that community action made possible. “Many people will say that [the library is] the hub, or it’s the heartbeat. I think it’s kind of the soul,” Bjorkman says. It’s been 15 years since volunteers took leadership of the Marine Community Library, a shift necessitated by Washington County’s announcement in 2011 that it would close its Marine branch. Due to immediate community support of financial gifts and volunteer hours, the library, a fixture of the community since 1968, was never at risk of closing. Residents of Marine on St. Croix, May Township and Scandia came together to relaunch the Marine Library Association (MarLA), a nonprofit volunteer organization that manages the library’s committees, finances and operations. “People just jumped in and started working really hard, and they built something beautiful,” Bjorkman says.

Students from Marine Village School enjoy special library hours at Marine Community Library, where they can use their laminated library cards (complete with their own signatures) to check out books.

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Photos: Marine Community Library

By Zoe Yates

A negotiated agreement with Washington County ensures Marine Community Library’s continued use of the county’s booklockers and inclusion in the interlibrary loan system, Bjorkman shares. The City of Marine on St. Croix generously provides the space for the library and public programming at Marine Village Hall. Today, 80 volunteers staff the library three hours a day, six days a week. These community members also fill nine active committees and pursue broad and inclusive programming, which now includes frequent author talks, a documentary series (in collaboration with the Marine Film Society) and River Radio, a podcast hosted by Marine residents Gayle Knutson and Jim Maher. “It’s people that care so, so much, and do such great work,” Bjorkman says. The Marine Community Library is a collaborative effort that is characteristic of the area, which is also home to a volunteer fire department, Marine Mills Folk School and the Marine Village School, which was created by residents in 2022 after Stillwater Area Schools closed Marine Elementary School in 2017. In Marine on St. Croix, that can-do attitude is “in your DNA,” Bjorkman says. “Everybody’s very aware of what other people are doing and how much work it takes to accomplish those things.” It was the passion and support of dedicated community members, led by the first librarian, Grace Grady, that saw the establishment of Marine’s first library nearly 60 years ago. Some still remember the sign on Grady’s desk that read “Absolutely No Silence” and communicated her intention for the library to be a community hub. Decades since her passing, her hope and heart remain. Last year, the library expanded its bookshelf capacity by 25 percent, and MarLA was recently awarded a capacity-building grant from the St. Croix Valley Foundation. “If she could see it today, she’d be doing cartwheels,” Bjorkman says, adding that Grady’s legacy is shared with the librarian’s friend, Elizabeth Jordan, who bestowed a significant gift upon Grady’s passing in 2001. “There is [a] very soulful wish, I think, for everybody in this community to honor a beautiful vision like that, and to perpetuate it.” Marine Community Library marinecommunitylibrary.org Marine Community Library

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Through the Looking Glass

ALEXIS STITELER CENTERS HER ARTISTIC PRACTICE ON ETHICAL SOURCING AND SHARED STORIES.

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Photo: xxxxxxxxx

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Left: Much of Alexis Stiteler’s work features hand-drawn illustrations on natural fibers. Right: Alexis Stiteler in her gallery store.

Photos: Zoe Prinds-Flash; Moch Hahn of Cadis

lexis Stiteler’s life is rooted in art, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I don’t think that there’s ever been anything else that I’ve really wanted to do,” she says, sitting in the center of her studio and showroom, drinking black tea from a mug made by a ceramicist friend. Her work surrounds her, hanging from the studio’s tall brick walls, tucked into cabinets and laden over tables. Each chore coat, field trouser, scarf and pillow is adorned with hand-drawn imagery—tributes to the meaningful people and places in her life. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Stiteler called many corners of the country home—from Texas to New York—before settling her life and business at The Brick Alley in Stillwater, where she resides with her partner, Derek, and rents a studio space. The iconic building, redesigned by architect Michael McGuire in the 1970s with artists in mind, is a magical setting aligned with Stiteler’s practice. “I just love the quality of the building and how it feels in here. Having this space and getting to share [McGuire’s] work alongside my work feels really special,” she says Stiteler’s heart and intention find a home in each of her pieces, which contain drawings of objects that hold meaning in her life. “Certain objects take front stage and are something that I repeat a lot, because [there are] certain people that I’m thinking about a lot in that moment or places or just different memories I’ve had,” she says. Grapes honor her grandmother’s memory. Horses celebrate her grandfather’s joy. Ceramic vessels hearken to her time at The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Two dogs resemble her current canine companions. Lemons are tied to the aunt who inspired Stiteler to pursue her own artistic practice. While objects are repeated in her work, they aren’t replicated. “I read somewhere [that] every time you recall a memory, the memory changes. And so I will often stcroixvalleymag.com

draw something from an original source object—either the object itself or a photograph of it—and then after that, I just draw from my memory or from the last drawn objects. So it kind of abstracts itself over time,” she says. As Stiteler evolves, so does her art. She has already noticed birds becoming more present in her work since settling in the Valley. At her recent exhibition, Solutio, at Calyx Studios in Brooklyn, New York, Stiteler couldn’t help but notice a difference in how she moves through the world as a Midwesterner. “They ask me what Minnesota’s like, and I say that I get to see sometimes six eagles in a day,” she says. From the soaring eagles and towering bluffs to a handmade cup brimming with tea and the patinated wood door handles of her

Visit Alexis This August, Alexis Stiteler transitioned her studio into a gallery store. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, the shop features a curated selection of work from area creatives alongside Stiteler’s art. “I’m really excited about it. I’ve got a very cool little collection of people I’m … bringing in, and it’s going to be really fun to figure it all out,” she says.

deepen over time as it is exposed to sunlight. Cherry wood is known to do the same. “It’s just this cool, beautiful, special daybed that, with time, will shift with the person based on where they have it in their home, and will, in 10 years, hit its stride,” Stiteler says. Where an art piece lives and with whom are important parts of its character, she shares. “It almost becomes collaborative with the person who takes the thing home because it isn’t just about my work. It becomes about how they live with it, because that is going to influence the story of that piece,” she says. This story begins before a piece is purchased and even before it is adorned by Stiteler’s hand. The fabric that she works with is 100 percent American made by growers

and makers selected for their methods and ethics. Organic cotton farmed in Texas is milled in North Carolina, then woven on a historic loom and naturally dyed in Pennsylvania. A sewer in New York City works with Stiteler to design patterns, then cuts and sews each garment. When the pieces arrive in Stillwater, Stiteler adds her touch with hand-drawn imagery, using a carbon black dye sourced from wood waste pigment from sustainable furniture makers. “In the ’40s, it used to be that you’d go to a department store, and they would sit down and tell you all of these steps in the clothing [production] process, and it’s just not a part of our conversation anymore,” Stiteler says. “Even when we’re making art, we don’t talk stcroixvalleymag.com

Photos: Zoe Prinds-Flash

building, Stiteler is embracing the character of this place. It’s a slower movement, imbued with intention, that echoes in the lines of her art. “We live in such a mass-produced society right now. To be able to see somebody’s hand is so valuable,” she says. A daybed, made in partnership with Stephanie Lunieski of Lefty Design Co., showcases this intention beautifully. Crafted from cherry wood for Stiteler’s crossdisciplinary exhibition, A Tie That Binds, at Prospect Refuge Gallery, the piece resembles the curves of The Brick Alley and is adorned with wood-burned imagery. Like the historic space Stiteler calls home, the piece will evolve. The tone of the kakishibu (fermented persimmon)-dyed, natural latex cushion will

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Friends in the ceramics community and what some might call destiny drew Alexis Stiteler to the Midwest. “My mom had [road-tripped] through Minneapolis in the ’70s when she was young, and so she had always talked about, like, ‘Oh, if I hadn’t met your father, I would have moved to Minneapolis,’” the Pennsylvania native says. She associated the city with another realm of possibility and made it a reality.

Holiday Market

about where our materials are coming from. I think that our work carries a story, and every part of that story is important.” Stillwater resident Mike Helke, a longtime friend of Stiteler’s and art department chair at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, says he admires the ways she folds her values into her work—and how true it is to who she is and what she loves, from her beloved dogs to her penchant for old cars. (She currently drives an ’85 Nissan King Cab.) “What she’s doing—there’s really nothing practical about it. It’s the opposite of fast-fashion … This collision between that older work and this newer, wearable work, embedded with these other values, it’s really enriched what she’s doing.” Every step of the process occurs near a place Stiteler’s family has called home, a callback to her layered artistic and personal journey. “I’m working in a way that feels really respectful of everybody whose time is involved … It’s not just me talking about my work. It’s me talking about all of this work,” Stiteler says. “It feels more like a group project, and it makes me feel less isolated in my own practice.” Creating and refining these systems hasn’t been easy, but it’s an effort that Stiteler enjoys. “That’s my favorite part of this work, finding people who are thinking cleverly about ways to improve the world … I love getting to support projects that I think bring beautiful things into the world,” Stiteler says. “It’s like, ‘How far down the rabbit hole can I go?’” Alexis Stiteler alexisstiteler.com @ahkzzel

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Photo: Mafic Ocean for Prospect Refuge Gallery

Discover The Brick Alley at the second annual Holiday Market from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. November 22, featuring a selection of artists and businesses tabling in the nooks and halls of the historic building. Curated by Alexis Stiteler, the lineup is distinctive and refreshing; from candlemakers and silversmiths to vintage collectors and knitters, the market is abundant with treasures and giftable, handmade items.

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BURIED HISTORY Pioneer Archeology unearths artifacts in backyards across the St. Croix Valley.

Hastings archeologist Brandon Lewanski says most people are shocked by how much history rests beneath the grass in their own backyards. When he approached one 83-year-old Hastings resident, Lewanski says, “She thought we were nuts when we told her that we’re going to find a ton of stuff in her yard.” The woman had lived there since 1962. But with the homeowner’s permission, the artifacts Lewanski unearthed painted a vivid picture of the property’s original owner. Among the discoveries were about 20 teapots and a complete absence of beer or other liquor bottles. To Lewanski, that suggested the homeowner had likely been a teetotaler at one point. Lewanski did a different kind of digging and, through the home’s original deed, discovered it first belonged to Hastings founding father, Harvey Gillitt. Gillitt owned multiple businesses downtown and the steamboat Adelia, though Lewanski says, “He lived very humbly for somebody that was of his stature.” The current homeowner was stunned.

Pioneer Archeology finds (from left to right) include a Galena Illinois Pottery storage vessel (c. 1850) a bitters bottle (c. 1855), a Rockingham tea pot (c. 1860) and a 2 gallon jug with Albany slip brown glaze found (c. 1855).

This is exactly the kind of hidden history Lewanski uncovers through Pioneer Archeology, an operation dedicated to preserving local history “one piece at a time.” Lewanski, an auto technician by trade, traces his fascination with archeology back to his father, Jim Lewanski, who worked in construction and regularly unearthed bottles and other artifacts on job sites. His father would bring items home, and eventually, the two began going on digs of their own together. “We’ve been doing it for over 30 years,” Lewanski says. Though Pioneer Archeology, founded in 2014, is not a family business, Lewanski’s father still occasionally joins digs. Lewanski also works alongside Peter Whitaker, a detectorist who uses a metal detector to help identify where items are buried. “We kind of have a harmonious team … he metal detects, and I dig for the other stuff,” Lewanski says. Pioneer Archeology excavates a wide variety of sites, including old dumps and roadbeds, 22

but privy digging is Lewanski’s specialty. “A privy is an outhouse,” he says. “Everybody had outhouses back in the day before they had indoor plumbing.” But the structures weren’t only used as bathrooms. Lewanski says families also treated them as trash pits. Once an outhouse was filled, families would dig a new hole a few feet away and start over. Lewanski says that, when excavating a backyard, he can often trace how a household changed over time. “You can tell if they had kids right away or if they were elderly or sick,” he says. “You can really get a big picture as to what was happening in the household.” When scouting potential dig sites, Lewanski often looks first at the architecture. “I kind of know the date of the house just by looking at [it],” he says. Greek Revival homes and other historic designs provide clues about a property’s age; the older the house, the more likely it dates back to a time when privies were commonplace. As Lewanski’s work has gained traction, stcroixvalleymag.com

Top: Many of the bottles found by Pioneer Archeology include embossed markings or maker’s marks that reveal the object’s age and use. Bottom: Pioneer Archeology specializes in privy digs. In the past, privies, or outhouses, were also used as a household’s trash pit, which often makes them treasure troves for historic artifacts.

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many property owners have asked him to dig on their land. Other times, Lewanski simply knocks on the front door of promising properties to ask for permission. He says he never excavates a property without approval, private or otherwise. The digs are at no cost to homeowners, and ownership of found artifacts is negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Pioneer Archeology’s debut was a privy dig at an old schoolhouse in Afton during the annual Afton Strawberry Festival. It quickly turned into a community event, with 500 people turning out to watch. “We dug almost no ink bottles … which is strange for a schoolhouse,” Lewanski says. Instead, they found crockery, beer bottles, whiskey bottles and snuff jars. Children from the crowd even helped to wash off artifacts as they were pulled from the ground. A pocketwatch recovered from a roadbed in Point Douglas stands out as one of Pioneer Archeology’s more notable finds. The group was granted permission to excavate sections

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Top: Metal detecting allows the Pioneer Archeology team to discover a wide variety of historic artifacts, including (pictured) bugels, a Civil War-issued plate, a clay penny pipe and a pipe windcap dating to the late 1700s.

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Bottom Left: From left to right, Austin Alle, Jim Lewanski, Peter Whitaker and Brandon Lewanski

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Bottom Right: Brandon Lewanski uses a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system by Easy Radar U.S.A. to locate potential dig sites through nondestructive radio waves.

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along Military Road, originally built in the 1850s, during reconstruction work in 1995. “It was in this little case,” Lewanski says. “We opened it up, and the thing crumbled. It had a pure silver backing on it with the picture of a Quaker. There was still a little card in there, and it was all in German.” Lewanski believes the watch likely belonged to a German immigrant involved in building the road. “He probably brought that back from his home country,” he says. Many of the artifacts Lewanski unearths eventually make their way back to the people who live above them. “They’re completely blown away by it,” he says. Other items have been donated to local historical organizations and exhibits, including the Afton Historical Museum and the Pioneer Room at Hastings City Hall. Pioneer Archeology has no shortage of future projects. Lewanski says he hopes to dig in Bayport; Prescott, Wisconsin; and a schoolhouse outside of River Falls, Wisconsin, which shares an owner with the Afton schoolhouse. He would also like to organize more community digs like the one at Afton, where people gathered around to watch history being unearthed in real time. “I’m kind of pioneering a new way of archeology that’s more community interactive and … friendly for people that want to learn about history,” he says.

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Written by Zoe Yates — Photos by Chris Emeott

Culinary Kismet

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

Fiddlehead Kitchen opens in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.

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It has been a whirlwind journey for Marlee Crave and Sarah Mittelstadt, the chef-owners of Fiddlehead Kitchen—and one they’ve been lucky enough to experience together. Three years after launching Fiddlehead Kitchen in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, the duo opened a restaurant of their own in downtown St. Croix Falls in August. There, they continue to embrace what has made them a beloved part of the area’s food scene: accessible, sustainable and tasty food made with local ingredients. “We’re only serving you things that we really love … and we are super excited for you to eat it too,” Crave says. It’s a remarkable step in a journey that began years ago, when farming brought both women out to Polk County in 2017 (Mittelstadt) and 2020 (Crave). When their paths crossed while working at Farm Table Restaurant in Amery, Wisconsin, the connection was immediate. “I felt very at home with Sarah,” Crave says. “We’re kind of like sisters.” Their shared passion for local food and sweet friendship set the foundations for a dynamic business partnership. After the

closure of Farm Table in January 2023, they decided to start their own venture and moved into a small kitchen at The Barred Owl, a cocktail lounge and wine bar in Balsam Lake, that May. Using the small kitchen to their advantage, the duo released a new menu every two weeks and pursued pop-ups across the Valley at farmers markets and private events. The approach caught on, and people made it a point to try every menu—inspired Indian and Italian fare, flavors of Portugal and a Thai takeover—each distinct yet quintessentially Fiddlehead. “The guiding principle is always what is locally and seasonally available,” Mittelstadt says. Tracing Fiddlehead’s ingredients is simple, as meat and produce come almost exclusively from a collection of local farms, including Blackbrook Farm, Cosmic Wheel Creamery, First Acre Farm (owned by Crave’s husband, Andy Donovan), Northwood Mushrooms, Peterson Craft Meats and Whetstone Farm. “That whole added layer of what we serve being local,

seasonal, from people that we know, even just contributes to adding more value to the dining experience,” Mittelstadt says. The St. Croix Falls restaurant’s menu shares similarities with what customers have grown accustomed to enjoying from Fiddlehead— with greater consistency and table service. The winter menu is more rooted in worldwide cuisines, and abundant local produce will be the focus during the summer growing season. Still, the regular menu will shift based on ingredient availability. “You’ll want to look at the menu before you go because we probably will post something new every week or two,” Mittelstadt says. With help from their community and a grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the duo purchased a century-old building on St. Croix Falls’ main street that had been shuttered for a decade. “We take a lot of pride in the fact that we are putting a lot of life and love back into [the building], and it’s … a really cool space to welcome people back into,” Mittelstadt says.

Page 30: Clockwise from left: Cucumber Salad, Maple Miso Roasted Cabbage, Mushroom Burger, Cheese Curds and Thai Green Curry With Veggies. Left: Natural colors and textures are central to the design of Fiddlehead Kitchen’s new restaurant in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Right: Sarah Mittelstadt and Marlee Crave

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Calm and whimsy are defining characteristics of the restaurant, which seats 60 inside and 40 on the patio/pocket park. True to its name, Fiddlehead is painted in shades of green with kitschy tile accents. “We want it to be a very happy place,” Crave says. The team embraced the building’s historic character—keeping the tin ceiling and crown molding—and introduced a more midcentury modern feeling in the design and furnishings. Natural light and an abundance of plants were essential, and the addition of a window near the kitchen is a favorite element. “So that we can see light and not be vampires,” Crave says jokingly. Theirs is the latest project in a St. Croix Falls revival. Home to Wisconsin’s oldest state park and a longtime destination for recreation, the city’s arts and culinary identity has bloomed in recent years. “I think it fits us 32

really well,” Crave says. “The local food culture here is really growing, and … St. Croix Falls really feels like the anchor of this small but proud movement.” “Sarah, I think, is an incredible chef … and Marlee is just a spectacular baker,” says Rhonda Couchigian, a St. Croix Falls resident and steward of 123 South Washington. “There’s an energy and playfulness between the two of them. I mean, they’re just really lovely women.” Crave and Mittelstadt are looking to curate an environment that’s welcoming to all, whether you’re coming straight from work or celebrating an anniversary. “It is a shame that sometimes local chef-driven food can be classified in a way that feels inaccessible to people because I think it’s the complete opposite. It’s like, I picked this out of my garden. It is the humblest thing. I just don’t think

that there should be a class or any barriers to eating it. It’s our food,” Crave says. Burger Night from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays kicks off Fiddlehead Kitchen’s week. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner service. Reservations will be taken for the first dinner seating, followed by a first-come, first-served approach. “We’re really excited to create a space that has a feeling of community and feels like you’re in our house … getting nourished and just really gaining something from the experience,” Mittelstadt says. “It’s our hearts on a plate.” Fiddlehead Kitchen fiddleheadkitchenwi.com Fiddlehead Kitchen WI

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Left: The Cucumber Salad features locally grown cucumber swirled in a soy-chili dressing, served with sticky rice and topped with black sesame seeds. Right: The Hibiscus Punch and Matcha Whisky Highball are highlights of the cocktail menu at Fiddlehead Kitchen, which also includes a curated selection of wine and beer.

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O N T H E TOW N

Reconnect With Nature

Photo: Washington County

It’s time to gather under the moonlight at Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

As the air chills and the season begins to slow once again, Washington County Parks (washingtoncountymn.gov) invites residents to disconnect from daily demands and reconnect with nature at its Full Moon Forest Bathing Walk from 6:30– 8:30 p.m. on October 25. Registered participants meet at Lake Elmo Park Reserve’s Eagle Point Lake Trailhead and embark on a guided experience led by David Motzenbecker of Motz Studios. “As participants move through the darkened woods guided by moonlight, they are invited to slow down, engage their senses and connect more deeply with nature,” says parks coordinator Sara Armstrong. “Guided reflections and mindfulness practices inspired by the moon and seasonal transition are woven throughout the experience.” stcroixvalleymag.com

Shinrin-Yoku, also known as forest bathing, is a Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature with the intention of slowing down and mindfully engaging the senses, Armstrong says. “Research shows that mindful time in nature can help reduce stress, improve mood and support overall well-being,” she says. Washington County Parks hosts seasonal forest bathing experiences honoring equinoxes, solstices, full moons and more, and Armstrong says the October event is one of its most memorable. “Our hope is that participants leave feeling refreshed, grounded and more aware of the benefits nature offers, along with a renewed appreciation for our local parks and the value of simply slowing down and appreciating the power of nature at night,” she says. —Hailey Almsted 37

O N T H E TOW N

10.03–10.04

Rivertown Fall Art Festival Celebrate autumn with food, live entertainment and more than 200 artists at this annual festival from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. in downtown Stillwater. greaterstillwaterchamber.com 10.10–10.11

Apple Festival Enjoy family fun, hayrides, live music, pick-your-own apples and wildlife programs from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Carpenter Nature Center’s Minnesota campus in Hastings. carpenternaturecenter.org 10.16

Historical Society Speaker Series

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The 2026 season comes to a close with a real-life relative of Amelia Earhart. Spend an evening with Nancy Earhart Burt, who will include a mix of theater and history in her presentation at the Prescott History Center. travelwisconsin.com 10.18

Nature Sketching Art Class Learn pen-and-brush sketching techniques and practice nature drawing with artist Dorothia Rohner during this workshop from 1–4 p.m. at the Outing Lodge in Stillwater. outinglodge.com

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The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society Step back in time at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin, and experience thrillers performed in the style of a classic radio broadcast at 2 p.m. thephipps.org 11.07

C’mon out... This is the place to make you smile. 38

Apples for everybody! Apples Apples in in pies, pies, doughnuts, doughnuts, rollovers, muffins, muffins, bread bread and and cider. cider. FUN for for the the whole whole family FUN family with withaacorn cornmaze mazeand and pick-your-own pumpkins. pick-your-own pumpkins.

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Discover unique finds from vendors, including art décor, crafts and gifts, at this free seasonal craft show from 10 a.m–4 p.m. at the Stillwater Armory. events.discoverstillwater.com 11.13

Chicken Wire Empire Enjoy the skilled songwriting and dynamic musicality of a Wisconsin bluegrass band from 7–9 p.m at the Historic Auditorium in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. thehistoricauditorium.com

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Fall Craft and Vendor Show

Nature Sketching Art Class

11.21–11.22

Christmas at the Courthouse Celebrate the holidays with family activities, handcrafted gifts and Santa visits from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. Sunday at the Historic Courthouse in Stillwater. washingtoncountymn.gov 11.26

Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet Celebrate Thanksgiving without cooking at this holiday buffet featuring classic seasonal dishes from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at Afton House Inn. aftonhouseinn.com

Your community bank for over 115 years. Compiled by Catherine Chapman and Isabella Kunc 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.

LAST GLANCE

Swan Stretch Area photographer Lisa Townsend embraces winter on the open water of the St. Croix River. “I love my time spent with the swans,” Townsend says. This particular morning, the light was just right as a swan flapped its wings, she says, adding that the swan’s colors and gaze are her favorite elements of this award-winning image. —Zoe Yates

L E NS ON ST. CROIX VA L L EY Photographer: Lisa Townsend Title: Early Morning Swan Stretch Equipment: Canon R5 with a 600mm lens Location: St. Croix River in Hudson, Wisconsin Category: Wildlife Award: First Place

To view other Lens on St. Croix Valley photo contest winners, visit stcroixvalleymag.com.

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St. Croix Valley - October 2026