In this week of winter solstice, Christmas and Kwanzaa, we approach the end of a long, strange year with a mix of sadness, hope and tangled up holiday lights.
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Tamarack Nature Preserve Park & Boardwalk Reopening Celebration
Smack dab in the middle of bustling, suburban Woodbury, the Tamarack Nature Preserve is a hidden gem containing the southern-most tamarack swamp in Minnesota. A community event Oct. 16-18 will include a virtual tour and water pollution mystery game.
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Inspiring a Land Ethic
There are degrees and kinds of solitude. An island in a lake has one kind; but lakes have boats, and there is always the chance that one might land to pay you a visit. A peak in the clouds has another kind; but most peaks have trails, and trails have tourists. I know of no…
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The day the kingdom rested
Once upon a time, there was a great big busy kingdom that was marvelously filled with magic. Rocks split open, allowing crystal clear water to pour out for the villagers to drink; trees oozed with liquid that turned to sugar when it was cooked; and tiny crystals fell from the sky every winter, covering the…
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Wet basement? Sorry, no app for that.
The sun is out, the snow is melting, and someday soon you may go downstairs and discover that your basement is wet. What should you do? First, it is important to determine why your basement is wet. When we first bought our 1870s home in Stillwater, water poured into the basement every time it rained.…
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WaterBar offers a unique opportunity to share and hear new stories
“Growing up in Jamaica, my family had a deep connection with the land and the ocean where we lived,” says Angelo Williamson. “When I moved to the United States, I felt a strong sense of identity as a Jamaican. When other people looked at me and saw me as a black, African-American man, that was…
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A story that keeps on telling
Gather round close and lend me your ear, shoulder to shoulder near the fire’s warm light. Watch sparks from the flames dance into the air – bright stars below meeting bright stars above. You might not believe the tales that I tell. You may have forgotten the magic of this world. Close your eyes, rest…
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What will your land look like 20 years from now?
In 1972, Bob and Marilyn Rosenquist bought themselves a piece of the American dream – 40 acres of farmland in eastern Hugo with rolling hills and plenty of woods. Marilyn came from a big farming family in South Dakota and soon the couple was raising 16-17 cattle, with a couple of horses and kids in…
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Take Me to the River offers fresh opportunities to enjoy art and nature
Last week, I had a day off of work and wanted to do something fun with my son, spend some time outside, maybe see some art. Also, the dog needed a walk. With luck, a solution presented itself in the form of the Franconia Sculpture Park, located just south of Hwy 8 on Hwy…
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The Power of the Universal Experience
“Look!” I yelled backward into the house as I flung open the front door and ran barefoot out into our yard. “Charlie, Gary, come see!” Across the street a brilliant rainbow arched across the sky, perfectly framing the cross and brick of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Two blocks further down the road, the rainbow poured…
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East Metro Water 