Editor's Notebook

Starbucks Plans, Dickey’s Fire, Library vs. Jail Bookings: Editor’s Notebook

Here are a few items that came across my desk lately.

Following is a roundup of news and notes from Woodbury this week. A dumpster fire broke out at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Woodbury a little after 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21. An employee placed hot ashes in the dumpster, which was in a room inside the building, said Woodbury Fire Cmdr. John Wallgren. The fire was contained to the dumpster and nobody was hurt, he said. It was extinguished quickly. The Starbucks next to Potbelly Sandwich Works in Woodbury Village has plans for a small addition. The item is set to go before the Planning Commission on May 6 and the City Council on May 22, according to Janelle Schmitz, Woodbury planning and economic development manager. Chad Lubbers, manager of the R.H. Stafford Library in Woodbury, gave an update…

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Kris Janisch

5:59 pm on Monday, May 6, 2013

Yeah, it is a drive thru for Starbucks. Here's a note from the Planning Commission's meeting tonight: The Robert Muir Company, on behalf of Starbucks Coffee, has submitted an application for an Amended Conditional Use Permit and Amended Site and Building Plan approval for their store located at 7230 Valley Creek Plaza. The applicant is proposing to add a 600 foot addition to the existing store, …   more ›

A Sense of Place: 10 Years for Woodbury’s Central Park

The facility will soon mark its 10-year anniversary. Share your photos of Central Park here.

A decade ago, a group of residents wanted to create a community gathering place in Woodbury. Today, the Central Park facility functions as the hub of the city. It was a unique concept 10 years ago, said Cheryl Hurst, a Woodbury City Council member at the time who championed efforts to get it built. “They knew that we didn’t have a downtown, per se,” said Hurst, who now lives in Florida. “So it was trying to meet the needs of the community—to have a sense of place in the heart of Woodbury.” On Saturday, Nov. 17, the city will mark the 10-year anniversary of Central Park. Washington County will also celebrate the anniversary of the R.H. Stafford Branch Library, named in honor of late County Commissioner Dick Stafford.        Related: Central…

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Kris Janisch

8:21 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012

It's that "related" link posted here. And it's today!   more ›

Tie or Re-Tie the Knot (for Free) at the Washington County Fair

Tenth Judicial District Judge Greg Galler, who will perform the ceremonies, came up with the idea.

Washington County fairgoers will have the chance to get married—or have their wedding vows renewed—for free during the fair, set for Aug. 1-5 at the fairgrounds near Lake Elmo. The ceremonies will take place on a hill overlooking the Washington County Master Gardeners Fairest Garden. Bergmann's Greenhouse and Farm Market is landscaping and decorating the area where the ceremonies will be held. Tenth Judicial District Judge Greg Galler, who came up with the idea and will perform the ceremonies, said in a release said that wanted to make the fair even more memorable for those who attend.  “I love the demographics of the fair. It is a good gathering spot and the ceremonies are something everyone can enjoy whether they participate or observe…

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Greg Galler: Weddings by Judges

Washington County District Court Judge Greg Galler writes about the assortment of people Minnesota law allows to officiate weddings.

Did you know that many judges regularly perform weddings? Sometimes people think that only religious officials (like pastors, priests, or rabbis) can perform weddings. Minnesota allows a fairly broad assortment of people to officiate at weddings including court administrators and retired judges. Officiating at weddings is one of the more enjoyable things that judges get to do. It is also a good way for people to see that judges can be friendly, flexible, caring and even humorous individuals. Unfortunately, most people only see judges in court when life has taken a bad turn. There are very few court cases that involve joyful times. For this reason many people view judges as only being stodgy, exacting and humorless. Not only do many judges …

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Angela's Angle

Woodbury Wedding Etiquette

A few tips—and plenty of opinions—as you plan for your big day.

Is your son or daughter getting married? Maybe you’re a blushing bride-to-be, furiously practicing calligraphy and pinning dreamy decorations on Pinterest. As wedding season blossoms with trendy bridal bouquets, remember to be conscientious to family. That’s right. Contrary to occasional bridezilla behavior depicted on Say Yes to the Dress, a wedding should accommodate more than personal desires—unless you’re eloping to Las Vegas. Remember the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding? That movie illustrated a wedding being about more than two people. It’s about family. When you marry, you create a new family. But you also extend existing families. And chances are that your family has devoted years of time and energy into helping you become who you …

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The ‘Central’ Spot for Weddings in Woodbury

Central Park over the past few years has seen the number of weddings held there double.

When Central Park was built in 2002, planners never envisioned it would become a hot spot for weddings. But over the past few years the number of weddings held at Woodbury’s indoor park has doubled, according Blaine Beck, facility rental coordinator. There were 70 weddings at Central Park in 2011, and with 65 already scheduled this year, he expects to far exceed last year’s total. “It was never planned or imagined that it would be used every weekend for what it is now,” Beck said. “That was the last thing they had in mind. … It’s turned from a banquet room in the basement into a really cool, unique venue.” Lydia Rex, of Eagan, was married at Central Park on June 18, 2011. She said she chose the spot—and booked it before she talked to her …

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