Booster Days wrapped on Sunday. Also, our Summer Food & Drink Issue dropped this past week, which you can read about here and here. 

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This Week's Paper (E-Edition) | Pastor's Viewpoint | Natural Connections

Hudson

Hudson Rotary’s ‘Flying Flags’ Program

The Hudson Rotary Club is thrilled to announce the launch of its “Flying Flags” program, an initiative designed to foster community pride and patriotism throughout the St. Croix Valley. This exciting program invites residents and businesses to join in displaying American flags on six designated flag holidays each year, creating a vibrant and united visual celebration of our national spirit.

The “Flying Flags” program is a major fundraiser for the Hudson Rotary Club, supporting a variety of health, humanitarian, and youth service programs locally, nationally, and internationally. For an annual fee of $100 per flag, participants can have a beautiful 3’x 5’ American flag placed in front of their home or business for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Patriots Day, and Veterans Day. The Hudson Rotary Club, assisted by local community groups, handles all aspects of flag installation, display, maintenance, and storage.

“Our vision is to make the ‘Flying Flags’ program a beloved tradition in Hudson,” said Isaac Grover, Flying Flags Committee Chair. “By participating, you are not only showing your pride and patriotism…”

Key Features of the Program

- Honor and Remember: Subscribers can honor our country, military personnel, veterans, and fallen service members. Sponsorship options are available to purchase flags in honor of veterans.

- Celebrate Community: The goal is for every holiday in Hudson to display community togetherness, pride, and patriotism with American flags visible from any point in the city.

- Contribute and Collaborate: Proceeds support local nonprofits, food assistance, mental health programs, scholarships, and international humanitarian efforts, including the “End Polio Now” program by Rotary International.

How It Works:

- Flags are delivered and installed by Rotarian volunteers 1-3 days before each holiday and picked up 1-3 days after, weather permitting.

- A metal pipe, flush with the ground, will be installed in your lawn to hold the flagpole. For locations without a lawn, an 18” steel plate will be provided.

- New subscribers must register at least ten days before the next flag holiday to participate.

How to Participate:

- Residents and businesses can sign up for the “Flying Flags” program online at hudsonrotaryclub.org or contact Isaac Grover at [email protected] or (715) 377-0440.

- “We encourage everyone to share this initiative with friends, neighbors, and colleagues,” added Grover. “Let’s cover Hudson in red, white, and blue this Independence Day and every flag holiday thereafter!”

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Mark Your Calendar for RiverFest

Hudson’s 12th annual St. Croix RiverFest celebration is set for July 16 - 20. Hudson will celebrate the St. Croix River with this annual summer “Party with a Purpose” with activities designed to inspire people of all ages to actively celebrate the river while recognizing the need to protect the river’s health and beauty.

RiverFest kicks off with the annual River Cleanup on Tuesday morning, July 16 at 10am. The river cleanup is the “purpose” for the RiverFest celebration. Cleanup participants meet at Lakefront Park Bandshell and then collect trash along the riverfront. Lunch will be provided for cleanup crews at Picnic Point at the south end of Lakefront Park. Following lunch at 11:30am, Carpenter Nature Center will present animal ambassadors.

This year the Hudson Rotary Environmental Committee is organizing an exciting new program. The Minnesota DNR Invasive Carp field team will be at RiverFest from 3-5pm on July 16th with a demonstration of the equipment and techniques they use to control these voracious and prolific-breeding species of carp in the bay north of the Hudson dike. The Minnesota DNR, Wisconsin DNR, National Park Service and Wild Rivers Conservancy will have display booths with information and demonstrations.

On Tuesday evening, families with young children will enjoy The Toonies Enviro-fun Puppet Show at the Lakefront Park Bandshell at 6:30pm. The popular FREE family-friendly movie “Migration” will start at dusk at the Lakefront Park Bandshell. Bring a picnic blanket and watch the movie under the stars. Pre-movie kid-friendly fun and games will be provided by Hudson Area Public Library from 7:30-9pm.

On Wednesday, July 17th there will be a Water Quality Panel Discussion following the regular meeting of the Hudson Daybreak Rotary at 7:30am. Also, on Wednesday from 1-4pm, the Carpenter Nature Center will host a Family Fun Open House at their Wisconsin Campus.

The St. Croix Valley Community Band concert is on Thursday, July 18th at the Hudson Bandshell. This is one of the highlights of RiverFest. Partner organizations will have booths with information and demonstrations before the concert starting at 6pm. The Concert begins at 7pm and will include musical selections that celebrate our wild and scenic St. Croix River.

Other Riverfest activities include: storytime, learning sessions with Mr. Mick and crafts at the Hudson Area Public Library; a foraging walk; a paddle at Willow River State Park; and on Saturday, July 20th there is a Native American Celebration at Lakefront Park and Native American Cuisine cooking class and meet and greet with Anne Thundercloud.

A complete list of RiverFest activities and event details are available at StCroixRiverFest.org or on Facebook.

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In North Hudson, a new Italian restaurant

Giovanni’s Italian Ristorante is now open. Where Mama Maria's Italian Ristorante once resided, there is now a new Italian restaurant on 800 6th St. North Hudson. Feast on homemade Italian pastas, pizzas, and more in our inviting dining room. With a full bar and warm atmosphere, every visit promises a memorable experience. Join today for a taste of Italy's finest food, entrees and drinks.

River Falls

Meet Local Farmers, Explore and Learn: Co-op Farm Tour 2024

Plan your perfect summer daytrip that combines exploring, learning, and eating locally grown food! The Co-op Farm Tour is a unique opportunity to visit farms in your area, meet the farmers who bring fresh food to your table, and inspire one another to support our local, sustainable food system. On Saturday, July 13 from 10 am to 4 pm, 16 local farms will open their gates and barn doors to the public to share this experience with you. The tour is a self-guided event and free for anyone to attend, with free activities and demonstrations as well as interactive activities, such as u-pick berries, available for a fee.

Farms include four urban locations in Minneapolis, several in eastern Minnesota, and more in western Wisconsin. Tour-goers can choose to visit a few or several in one or more areas. “Our goal is to create a free day of family fun that offers options for every age and ability,” says the planning committee.

“Creating curiosity around food and the people who grow and make it is a great way to foster an interest in trying new foods, and learn the importance of buying local wherever and whenever possible.”

Participating farms have different activities available, with details available at coopfarmtour.com, including:

- Demonstrations, guided tours, wagon rides, and kids’ activities.

- U-pick berries.

- Tastings, farm goods available for purchase, and food trucks.

The Co-op Farm Tour is a great way to learn what it takes to get food from the field to your plate. The free guided tours, interactive activities, and games make it a family-friendly event that many of us look forward to all year. It’s the ultimate farm-to-table learning experience!

Visit coopfarmtour.com for more information, including maps, details, recommended routes, and more.