11 minute read
Out & About
from The Lowdown
12 THE LOWDOWN www.presspubs.com OCTOBER 2021
STILLWATER FARMER’S MARKET
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When: 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays, through Oct. 23. Where: Riverview Parking Lot, 3rd and Pine Street (across from Historic Courthouse). Details: Assortment of organic food, vegetables, crafts, fruits and local specialties. Contact: localharvest.org/ stillwater-farmers-market.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, Friday, Oct. 1, Saturday, Oct. 2, and Sunday Oct. 3; 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Where: The Zephyr Theatre, 601 Main St. N. in Stillwater. Details: Students ages 13-18 perform one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Tickets $10/adults; $7 under 18; 5 and under free.
Contact:
stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org.
FALL FAMILY NIGHT HIKE
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. Where: Lake Elmo Park Reserve, 1515 Keats Ave. N. Details: Enjoy night hiking along 5.5 miles of lighted cross-country ski trails. Free with vehicle permit. Contact: co.washington. mn.us/parks.
RIVERTOWN FALL ART FESTIVAL
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3 Where: North Lowell Park, Downtown Stillwater. Details: Street Croix Valley’s largest juried art festival features the works of more than 150 artists from around the country, food vendors, beer tent, live music, culinary arts. Contact: 651-430-2306 or rivertownartfestival.com.
NOOKS & CRANNIES TOUR
When: 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Where: Washington County Historic Courthouse, Pine and Third Streets in Stillwater. Details: Behind the scenes guided tour of the courthouse. $10/person; registration required. Contact: 651-275-7075 or co.washington.mn.us/hc.
BREWERS AND BOURBON BAZAAR
When: 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Where: Avalon Riverboat in Stillwater. Details: Annual Fundraiser for Stillwater Sunrise Rotary includes numerous brewers and restaurants. Tickets $55, includes commemorative tasting glass, food item and beer and bourbon samples. Contact: brewersbazaar.com.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Where: Marine Mills Folk School, 550 Pine St. Marine on St. Croix. Details: Artist marketplace with handmade art for sale, demonstrations by local artists, a sheep herding demonstration with real dogs and sheep, free classes, and cake. Free and open to the public.
Contact:
marinemillsfolkschool.org.
MARINE FIRE AND AMBULANCE STREET DANCE
When: 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2. Where: Downtown Marine on St. Croix. Details: Annual familyfriendly fundraiser for the Marine fi re department. Contact: marineonstcroix.org.
BAUBLES, BANGLES AND BLING
When: 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Where: Community Thread, 2300 Orleans St. W. in Stillwater. Details: One-of-a-kind jewelry, handbags and fashion scarves for sale. Proceeds benefi t Community Thread programs for older adults. Saturday is buy one, get one free. Face masks required. Contact: 651-439-7434 or communitythreadmn.org.
WOLF HOWL
When: 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8. Where: Wildlife Science Center, 22830 Sunrise Road NE. in Stacy. Details: Sit around a bonfi re and learn about the center’s resident wolves, mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, lynx and raptors. All ages outdoor event. Contact: 651-464-3993 or wildlifesciencecenter.org.
NASHVILLE NIGHTS
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8. Where: JX Event Venue, 1232nd St. in Stillwater. Details: Monthly singer/ songwriter series featuring Tommy Howell. Doors open at 6 p.m., music at 7 p.m. Tickets $10, general admission. Contact: one23events.com.
GUIDED BIRD HIKE
When: 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Where: Big Marine Park Reserve, 17495 Manning Trail N., Marine on St. Croix. Details: Learn to identify birds that call the St. Croix Valley home and contribute to citizen science data by completing bird count surveys. Trail conditions vary. Free with parks permit. Contact: co.washington. mn.us/parks.
BELWIN 50-YEAR CELEBRATION OPEN HOUSE
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Where: Belwin Conservancy, 1553 Stagecoach Trail S. in Afton. Details: Spans Belwin’s 1,500 acre property. Contact: 651-436-5189 or belwin.org.
HARVEST FEST AND GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF
Stillwater. Details: Community festival featuring giant pumpkin weigh-off, pumpkin drop, and pumpkin regatta on the St. Croix; live music, beer and wine garden, chili cook off, vendor market, and kids activities. Contact: harvestfeststillwater. com.
SUBMITTED
When: 7, 7:45, and 8:30 p.m. Thursdays Oct. 7 and Oct. 14. Where: Washington County Historic Courthouse at 101 Pine Street W. in Stillwater. Cost: $10 per person. Reservations are required; call 651-275-7075 to register. Details: Tours are limited to 12 participants and one tour guide, for those ages 10 and older. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Face masks are required for vaccinated and unvaccinated participants. Masks can be provided upon request. Join the group for a unique experience walking the halls of the Historic Courthouse at night by candlelight. Explore the areas typically closed to the public, including the basement, sheriff’s residence, and the 1900s county jail. Learn the history behind this historic site and listen to some fun, slightly spooky stories along the way. Contact: For more information go to www.co.washington.mn.us/parks.
ANDA FLAMENCO COMPANY
When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10. Where: The Zephyr Theatre, 601 Main St. N. in Stillwater. Details: Authentic Spanish fl amenco performance by local dance company. Tickets $20 general admission. 2-hour performance with intermission.
Contact:
stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org.
TELESCOPES ON THE TERRACE
When: 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12. Where: Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd St. N. Details: Astronomer-led discussion followed by opportunity to gaze at the night sky through telescopes. Free; registration required. Contact: washcolib.com.
HAUNTED HISTORY TROLLEY TOURS
When: various times, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 14-29. Where: Stillwater Zephyr Theatre, 601 N. Main St. Details: Tour Stillwater by trolley with live actors telling true stories of the city’s haunted past. $42 ticket includes tour, cocktails, movies, scavenger hunt, bonfi re, s’mores, and prizes. Contact: 651-280-7299 or mywahooadventures.com.
SOURDOUGH FROM START TO FINISH
When: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Where: Christ Lutheran Church, 150 5th Street Marine on St. Croix. Details: Two-session class to learn the secrets of making sourdough bread without commercial yeast. Class begins Friday night with the fermenting process. Registration required; $90.
Contact:
marinemillsfolkschool.org.
STILLWATER FALL CRAFT AND GIFT SHOW
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23. Where: Stillwater Area High School, 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N. Details: 140 crafters and vendors with holiday décor and gifts, clothing, jewelry, home décor, treats, candles, ceramics. Health and beauty, art work and more. Free admission. Contact: rsgdevelopment.com.
TRADITIONAL SCANDINAVIAN SPOON CARVING
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. Where: Marine Mills Folk School, 550 Pine St., Marine on St. Croix. Details: Introductory class to learn to carve a medium-sized cooking or serving spoon. Registration required; $85.
Contact:
marinemillsfolkschool.org.
TRICK OR TREAT ON MAIN STREET
When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. Where: Downtown Stillwater. Details: Kids can dress up and trick or treat at participating businesses.
GARDEN MARKET CRAFT SALE
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6. Where: Bayport Public Library, 582 4th St. N. Details: Affordable gifts, houseplants, dried botanicals, silent auction, seed giveaway, live music and more to benefi t Washington County Master Gardeners.
Contact:
washingtoncountymg.org.
GUIDED BIRD HIKE
When: 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. Where: Pine Point Regional Park, 11900 Norell Ave. in Stillwater. Details: Learn to identify birds that call the St. Croix Valley home and contribute to citizen science data by completing bird count surveys. Trail conditions vary. Free with parks permit. Contact: co.washington. mn.us/parks.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
When: 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Where: Centennial Elementary, 4657 North Road in Circle Pines. Details: Light breakfast, crafts, cookie decorating and visit with Santa for kids ages 2-10 and their families.
Therapy dog bridges disconnect between law enforcement and citizens
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR
Over the course of her career, Rookie, a 2-yearold Labrador retriever, will greet and impact thousands of lives.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Offi ce (WCSO) is likely one of the fi rst agencies in the state to have a certifi ed therapy dog paired with a law enforcement offi cer working in the fi eld.
Rookie is a part the WCSO’s Crisis Response Team, an initiative that was launched in October 2020.
“Whether it’s meeting a preteen with emotional concerns or a veteran struggling with daily life, Rookie provides a friendly tail wag and head for them to scratch, which helps them focus on the help we are able to provide,” said Rookie’s handler, Detective Matt O’Hara.
Where it all began
The idea to add a therapy dog within the agency originated as a way to improve health and lower stress within the workplace. Last April, the agency started to research the idea and found several law enforcement agencies across the nation that had successful therapy dog programs that went beyond their four walls and helped the community.
A retired deputy told the sheriff’s offi ce about Freedom Service Dogs (FSD) of America, a nonprofi t organization that custom-trains dogs for people in need. FSD trains dogs to serve veterans with posttraumatic stress as well as clients with disabilities. (See freedomservicedogs.org for more information).
After several emails, phone calls and a few virtual meetings with FSD staff, O’Hara traveled to the FSD training facility in Colorado in June to meet Rookie and see not only if he was a good fi t for Rookie, but if Rookie would be a good fi t for the WCSO. O’Hara and Rookie are FSD’s fi rst team to serve in law enforcement.
“The meeting was only a few hours long, but we knew we had found the perfect dog,” O’Hara said.
O’Hara then returned to Colorado in July for a week of training. O’Hara said the training was mainly for him, as Rookie is his fi rst certifi ed therapy dog. Rookie, however, had already been training for her mission since she was a young pup.
SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Since Rookie was originally trained as a service dog, she is really in tune with how people are feeling. If she notices someone is anxious, she will put her paw on their foot or rest her head on their lap.
Amanda Vallo, FSD director of client services, said O’Hara is and continues to be an amazing part of the team. “He really was the one who had the forethought and vision for how this team would work and has already been putting that vision into practice,” she said. “(During the placement process) he was able to give a specifi c example of a woman in the community who was making an inordinate number of non-emergency 911 calls. Matt has reported that with the arrival of Rookie, that number has been greatly reduced. A Rookie visit is now the service she needs.”
What Rookie does
Rookie tags along with O’Hara on crisis follow up visits with people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, homelessness or a substance/chemical abuse issue.
“We'll go out and visit with them, try to work on fi nding resources for them and get them connected to the help that they need,” O’Hara explained. “We have the connections with social workers, hospitals, to be able to ensure that the people that we are working with are getting the help they need and not slipping through the cracks.”
Having Rookie there can help people open up. “Talking about somebody's mental health can be extremely stressful for somebody, and the addition of Rookie kind of gives us something else to talk about as we go through that,” O’Hara explained. “We can talk a little bit about what's going on in their life, what we can do to help and they get to hang out with a dog for a while.”
Rookie also makes her rounds to law enforcement staff and will visit inmates and possibly schools in the future. Rookie is also around for crime victims who visit the sheriff’s offi ce.
O’Hara recalled that while he and Rookie were making their rounds at the Washington County Fair, every day they would stop and visit one of the ride operators. It didn’t take long, but the operator opened up about his struggle with homelessness and was touched by his interactions with Rookie. “He said that dog changed his life,” O’Hara said. “It just really bridges that gap and that disconnect in between law enforcement and the citizens.”
Since Rookie was originally trained as a service dog, she is really in tune with how people are feeling. If she notices someone is anxious, she will put her paw on their foot or rest her head on their lap or in their hands.
Rookie knows both verbal and hand commands, and her reward is food. “When she is working with me, she is always looking for her next treat,” O’Hara explained.
When Rookie is not on the job (wearing her vest), she goes home with O’Hara and does everything any other dog would do — That is, except going into the kitchen, where she has a bad habit of counter surfi ng.
Lead Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.
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