Bill's Gun Shop & Range Hudson was welcomed as the newest member of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau with a ribbon cutting.

Located at 1920 Crest View Drive, Bill's Gun Shop & Range Hudson is a full service retail gun store and range that sells guns (new, used, trade, and consignment), ammunition, accessories and has rental availability for the gun range and guns. They also provide a variety of classes from beginner to advanced users.

Present at the event were, front from left, Chamber Ambassadors Pennie Peterson and Pete Keskey, owner John Monson, Chamber President Kim Heinemann, and Chamber Ambassadors Traci Leffner and Joel Larsen. Back row from left, Chamber Ambassadors Tom Bordenave, Bjorn Nesvold, Ron Revere, Andrew Nilssen, and Paul Simmons.

For more information call (715) 690-1198 or visit www.billsgs.com. 

The HUDSON Raider Varsity CHEER & STUNT Team brought home a 1st Place Trophy on Saturday, Dec. 8th. They traveled to Des Moines, Iowa for the 2012 UCA Hawkeye Championship at the Iowa Events Center. The Raiders brought home the Division Win and also received a bid for the 2013 National competition in Florida.

Their next competition will be this Saturday, Dec. 15th at the University of Minnesota Cheer Championship, Williams Arena.

Pictured back row, left to right, Ashley Denn, Erikka Haft, Katie Weeks, Rachael Montgomery, Kayla Van Allen, Jagger Karls, Chelsea Reilly, Angela Vergara, Kiersten Barnhardt, Emma Moen. Second row, left to right, Kiersten Bryant, Kayla Mitich, Tiana Wolf, Katie Barber, Mike Wright, Ryan Evens, Maddie Woodley. Front row, left to right, Shelbi Wold, Ashley Balfanz, Sydney Parsons, Curtis Guhl, Gavin Goeltz. The team is coached by Suzi Robole.

Hudson Fire Chief Jim Frye (left), St. Croix EMS Chief Kim Eby and Hudson Police Chief Marty Jensen drew locations for their annual Salvation Army bell-ringing competition, whicih will take place on Dec. 26, 2012.

The three have a friendly side bet as well as trying to get the most donations. The chiefs and their crew members will be at the following locations from 3-7 p.m.:

• County Market - St. Croix EMS
• Family Fresh - Hudson Fire
• Walmart - Hudson Police 

Please come out and support the Salvation Army with your local public safety officials.

Local women's fitness studio Lady Katherine will be part of KSTP channel 5 "Best of 2012" special airing the day after Christmas (12/26/12) at 3pm.

The Twin Cities Live crew visited Lady Katherine's Hudson studio in June this year and it the segment was so popular that is going to be aired again as part of this special program highlighting the most popular shows of the year.

In the 6 minute segment reporters interview owner Katherine Fossler, several students, and participate in a Pole Dance for Fitness class.  More information at www.lady-katherine.net 

On December 1-2, 18 out of the 26 members of the Hudson School of Gymnastics Girls Competitive Team headed down to Kenosha where they participated in the USAG Wisconsin State Championship. 

The team, Levels 4-6, have been competing in qualifying meets since September.  The girls traveled to South St. Paul, Forest Lake, and Buffalo for their chance to qualify for the state meet.  These girls work very hard every week to be competitive.

The hard work paid off as most of the team headed to the state meet earlier this month.  Competitors are divided into their levels and age within their level.  There was one member competing in the Level 6 division, Emilee Evavold (11, River Falls).  Emilee placed 9^th on uneven bars, 12^th on balance beam, 12^th on floor exercise, and 12^th all-around. 

The Level 5 competitors were Kayla Belany (10, Hudson), Caroline Erickson (9, Hudson), Megan Michaels (10, Hudson), Katherine Milbrandt (11, Hudson), Emma Newman (12, Hudson), and Isabelle Wiste (11, Hudson).  Kayla scored her personal best in vault in which she tied for 12^th, uneven bars, balance beam placing 12^th, floor, and all-around.  Katherine placed 3^rd on vault, 12^th on beam, and 9^th all-around with her personal best scores, earned her personal best on the floor, and placed 11^th on the uneven bars.  Emma tied for 2^nd on the vault with her personal best score.  Emma also received personal best marks on the bars and all-around.  Isabelle scored her personal best on vault, giving her a 6^th place medal, and also received 10^th place on bars and 12^th place all-around.

The Level 4 competitors were Alicia Belany (9, Hudson), Emma Buth (9, Hudson), Stevie Christopher (11, Stillwater), Addisyn Harris (11, Hudson), Savannah Harris (12, River Falls), Meg Kretschmer (8, Hudson), Emma O’Neil (9, Hudson), Allison Osterhues (10, Somerset), Ashley Peterson (8, Stillwater), Maddison Reidenbach (7, Hudson), Amber Robey (9, Hudson), Grace Seifert (10, Hudson), and Ava Wilber (8, Hudson).  Alicia received her personal best all-round.  Emma placed 12^th on floor.  Stevie placed 12^th on uneven bars and 11^th on floor.  Addisyn placed 1^st on vault and 12^th all-around with her personal best all-around score.  Meg score her personal best on vault which gave her a 5^th place medal.  Allison received her personal best score on balance beam.  Ashley placed 7^th on vault.  Maddison received a 9^th place medal for vault and tied for 11^th place on the floor.  Amber  placed 11^th on vault, scored her personal best on uneven bars to place 6^th, she tied for 8^th on the floor, and placed 10^th all-around.

The state competition was successful, fun, and a great experience for all the girls. 

Other members of the Hudson School of Gymnastics Girls Competitive Team are Kaitlyn Auge, Julie Hammer, Jane Briese, Harper Hamilton, Avaree Harris, and Maya Neuenschwander.  The team has a few meets left this season one in Woodbury, one in Wisconsin Dells, and a home Friends and Family meet. 

Hudson School of Gymnastics is located at 2760 Enloe Street.  For more information, you can find them on their website at http://www.hudsongymnastics.com/, on Facebook, or by phone at 715-381-8145.

Coldwell Banker Burnet agents from the Hudson office participated in Realtor Ring Day for the Salvation Army on Friday, Dec. 7. Agents manned the red kettles at County Market in Hudson and Wal-Mart in New Richmond. 

"We take pride in giving back to the communities that we serve," said Sara Nielsen, Coldwell Banker Burnet sales associate.

Coldwell Banker Burnet, a leading residential real estate brokerage headquartered in Edina, Minn., serves Minnesota and western Wisconsin.  The company, which was founded in 1973, operates 24 offices and has 1,700 sales associates throughout the market.  For more information, please visit Coldwell Banker Burnet’s Web site at www.CBBurnet.com or call 952-820-HOME (4663).  Coldwell Banker Burnet is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company.  NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices.

Public health advocates in St. Croix Countyhave a reason to celebrate.  The Wisconsin Department of Health Services released a report showing that fewer Wisconsin kids are smoking than ever before.

The 2012 Wisconsin Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) reports that smoking among Wisconsin youth has hit an all-time low.  The study, a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Department of Public Instruction, showed a 26 percent decrease in high school rates and a 36 percent decrease in middle school rates since 2010.

High school smoking decreased from 17.7 percent in 2010 to 13.1 percent in 2012 and middle school smoking fell from 3.9 percent to 2.5 percent in the same timeframe.  The study took place in the spring of 2012, and included 40 high schools and 42 middle schools.

“We have come such a long way in the fight to keep our kids from heading down a path of horrible tobacco addiction,” said Mary Boe, Coordinator for Western Wisconsin Working for Tobacco-Free Living (W3TFL) and member of Healthier Together-St. Croix County Tobacco Task Force.  “Back in 2000, a third of high school students were current smokers, and 12 percent of middle schoolers were also smoking.  Today’s report demonstrates remarkable progress and offers further evidence that the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program works.”

Representatives from W3TFL said the decrease means that more Wisconsin youth will live longer, healthier lives and that the state will see substantial health care savings down the line.  Furthermore, fewer kids smoking means fewer kids at an increased risk of developing smoking-related diseases like cancer, heart disease and pulmonary diseases.

According to projections from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK), these numbers mean that nearly 200,000 fewer kids alive today will grow up to become addicted adult smokers. Additionally, CTFK estimates the state will save nearly $3.4 billion in health care costs, with nearly $500 million in Medicaid savings alone.

“While this report is incredibly exciting, the fight to protect our kids from tobacco’s deadly grip is not over,” said Boe.   “The industry continues to evolve, looking for new ways to hook kids so it’s more important than ever that our state continue to invest in tobacco prevention and control efforts to make sure these hard won gains are not lost and this trend of success continues.”

To view the YTS facts sheets and to learn more about Wisconsin’s tobacco prevention and control efforts, visit www.dhs.wi.gov/tobacco.  For more on local tobacco prevention and control efforts visit www.w3tfl.org.    To find out how to get involved with Healthier Together-St. Croix County, a collaborative effort to improve the health of Saint Croix County, call 715.246.8363.

Quick Tobacco Facts:

• Smoking-related diseases kill nearly 7,000 Wisconsin lives each year
• Tobacco costs the state $4.5 billion in health care costs and lost productivity annually
• The tobacco industry spends $233 million annually to market its products in Wisconsin
• Wisconsin currently spends $5.3 million on tobacco prevention and control efforts each year

Assist in intake process for clients and/or provide referral information to individuals and/or families in crisis or emergency situations.

The YMCA Adult basketball league is now accepting team registrations for the league. League begins January 20th and runs 10 weeks on Sunday evenings. Please contact Trevor Kodesh at 651-259-9660 at the YMCA.

For the past several weeks a cat has taken residence in a window well under our deck. It comes and goes. It's quite skiddish, will take off if we get too close to the window from the inside. Because of allergies and hoping that the cat will return to it's rightful home, we have not fed it. If it looks familiar, or if it's your pet, feel free to contact us at 715-386-3232.

Local youth fitness organization, Tri to Change the World
(TCW), delivered 29 bikes and 3 scooters, all with helmets, to the Lakota Indian Nation just in time to give 32 children a happier Christmas holiday.

Through the work of local Hudson children and others around the nation, TCW raised funds over the summer to procure bikes that would eventually go to families who cannot afford to purchase bikes themselves.

Founded by the sister and brother team of Emma and Rob
Moody, both EP Rock students in Hudson, TCW is a 501c3 organization that encourages activities that promote fitness. The charity also raises funds to help the under-served in Hudson and around the nation. 

Bolstered by a $1000 grant from Hudson First Presbyterian
Church and the Presbytery of the Twin Cities, TCW gathered used bicycles and refurbished them.

Through a partnership with Art Doyle’s Spokes and Pedals in downtown Hudson, the foundation also provided helmets for every bicycle.

They then loaded a trailer and truck and made the 1200-mile round trip to get the bikes to Wanblee, SD in time for Christmas morning.

Members of the Lakota Nation honored the children who
delivered the bikes by presenting them with a handmade quilt that displays the traditional Oglala Lakota national symbol.

TCW is in the initial planning stages of hosting a youth
triathlon to be held in Hudson in May 2013 to help raise money for another bike distribution at the end of the year.

Each summer TCW issues a summer challenge that goes from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It encourages children to swim, bike and run as much as they can.

Youth who accept the challenge set a personal goal in one or more of the triathlon sports, and then solicit financial pledges from family and friends. Pledges go to fund projects like the December bike distribution.

Previous summer challenges have funded BRIDGE for Youth with Disabilities.

TCW also funds swim lesson scholarships through the YMCA Swim Academy.

Those who are interested in learning more about the
organization can visit the foundation’s website at www.tritochangetheworld.org.

Interested in a career in the fire service?

Learn life skills, gain leadership experience and make new friends.

The Hudson Fire Department explorer program is currently recruiting for new members. Come learn about the explorer program and see if it is for you. 

If you are between the ages of 15 and 18 and interested in the fire service, we are holding an open house at the Hudson Fire Department 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Press release 

Squire House Gardens in Afton, MN, announces they will host a series of Saturday afternoon gardening presentations during January and February.

The Winter Weekend Garden Talk and Tea series will feature lively and informative discussions moderated by renown landscape artist and shop owner, Martin Stern.  

Complimentary English tea and treats will be served. The first event will be held Saturday, January 12 at 1 p.m. 

Entitled NOURISHING THE SPIRIT, the afternoon will feature a slide show, discussion and complimentary English tea. 

“More than the abundance of beauty, flowers and vegetables produced, the garden and gardening provide unseen benefits. Healing and comfort, release of stress and worry, and an awe of the natural world are a few of the unspoken aspects of gardening sometimes experienced. Renown landscape artist Martin Stern will share his beautiful slide images and lead a discussion on this topic.”

Additional Garden Talk and Tea events include:

Saturday, January 19 - 1 p.m.

Vita Sackville-West and Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Explore this lush, exotic paradise. Readings and slide show.

Saturday, February 16 - 1 p.m.

Newly Introduced Perennial Plants

Guest speaker Mike Heger, Ambergate Gardens.

Learn about the best new plants for 2013 and how they can enhance your landscape. 

Saturday, February 23 - 1 p.m.

Gardening in the Shade

Tips from a garden designer on how you can successfully plant a lavish shade garden. 

Squire House Gardens is located at 3390 Saint Croix Trail South in Afton, MN RSVP's for Garden Talk and Tea are appreciated. 

Please RSVP via email at info@squirehousegardens.com or by calling 651-436-8080. For more information, visit squirehousegardens.com.

The Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau celebrated the opening of Hello the Houses new retail location in downtown Hudson at 226 Locust Street (the former location of the Hudson Star-Observer). Owner Chris Dillingham has been an interior designer for over 10 years. The retail store, open Thursday – Sunday from 10am-6pm, features over 20 vendors selling vintage, consignment, repurposed home decor and furniture, original art work and accessories. Present for the ribbon cutting were, front from left Chamber Ambassador Barb Zimmerman, vendor Teri Larsen, owner Chris Dillingham, vendor Gayle Singewald, and Chamber Ambassador Pete Keskey. Middle row from left, Chamber Ambassadors Traci Leffner and Pennie Peterson, employee Maggie Hall, building owner Jon Picard, Chamber President Kim Heinemann and Chamber Ambassador Dawn Marquart. Back row from left, Chamber Ambassadors Joel Larsen, Tom Bordenave, Pat Millfelt, Bjorn Nelson and Ron Revere. For more information call 715-381-6702 or visit www.sayhellothehouse.com.

THE LAW FIRM Eckberg, Lammers, Briggs, Wolff & Vierling, PLLP is pleased to announce Thomas R. Lehmann has joined the firm and will be practicing out of the Stillwater, Minnesota office.  His practice includes municipal law and business litigation. Tom is the City Attorney for the City of Mendota and is the City Prosecutor for the City of Lilydale.

Tom brings with him over 20 years of experience in business litigation, real estate, family law, estate planning, business formation and municipal law. He specializes in litigation “I’m looking forward to concentrating my practice to Washington County and joining a talented group of attorneys at Eckberg Lammers” comments Lehmann.

Tom serves on the school board and as Treasurer for the Stillwater Area Public Schools and is the district liaison for the Schools for Equity in Education and TIES. Tom also contributes to the community by coaching girls softball, soccer, and basketball through the St. Croix Valley Athletic Association.  He also assists those in need through Dakota County Legal Aid and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services.

Tom Weidner, a Partner at Eckberg Lammers stated that, “Eckberg Lammers provides comprehensive legal services in Minnesota and Wisconsin. As a result, we are fortunate to grow and bring on talented attorneys who will continue to provide quality representation for our clients.” 

Any qualified elector unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place on Election Day may request to vote an absentee ballot. A qualified elector is any U. S. citizen who will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day who has resided in the ward or municipality where he or she wishes to vote for at least 28 days before the election. The elector must also be registered in order to receive an absentee ballot. 

TO OBTAIN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT YOU MUST MAKE YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING.

Contact your municipal clerk and request that an application for an absentee ballot be sent to you for the primary or election or both. You may also request an absentee ballot by letter. Your written request must list your voting address within the municipality where you wish to vote, the address where the absentee ballot should be sent, if different, the date of the election, and your signature. 

Special absentee voting application provisions apply to electors who are indefinitely confined to home or a care facility, in the military, hospitalized, or serving as a sequestered juror. If this applies to you, contact your municipal clerk.

You can also personally go to the Clerk's office, or other specified location, complete a written application, and vote an absentee ballot during the hours specified for casting an absentee ballot.

CITY of HUDSON

• Nancy Korson, Clerk 
• 505 Third Street, Hudson, WI  50416 
• (715) 386-4765 Ext. 140
• Regular Office Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm 
• The City will also be open on 2/14/13 & 2/15/13 until 5:00pm. 

VILLAGE of NORTH HUDSON

• Becky Milbrandt, Clerk
• 400 7th Street N, Hudson, WI  54016
• (715) 386-5141
• Regular Office Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm
• The Village will also be open on 2/14/13 & 2/15/13 until 5:00pm. 

TOWN OF HUDSON

• Vickie Shaw, Clerk
• 980 County Road ‘A’ Hudson, WI  54016
• (715) 386-4263
• Regular Office Hours: Monday-Wednesday 9:00am-4:00pm
• Also open: 2/14/13 & 2/15/13 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm 

MAKE YOUR WRITTEN REQUEST FOR A MAILED ABSENTEE BALLOT EARLY!  Military electors should contact the Municipal Clerk regarding the deadlines for requesting or submitting an absentee ballot. 

THE FIRST DAY TO VOTE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE IS FEBRUARY 4, 2013.  The deadline for voting an absentee ballot in the Clerk’s office is 5:00 pm on February 15, 2013. 

The Municipal Clerk will deliver voted ballots returned on or before Election Day to the proper polling place or counting location before the polls close on February 19, 2013.  Any ballots received after the polls close will be counted by the Board of Canvassers if postmarked by Election Day and received no later than 4:00 P.M. on the Friday following the Election.

The Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau welcomed The Ugly Sister Boutique as a new Chamber member. The women’s boutique shop, located at 419 2nd St in downtown Hudson, offers women's boutique women’s clothing, handbags, jewelry, accessories, and gifts. Present for the ribbon cutting were, front from left, Chamber Ambassadors Pennie Peterson and Barb Zimmerman, owner Kim Miles, employee Nancy Grube, and Chamber Ambassadors Marcia Laces and Traci Leffner. Back row from left, Chamber Ambassadors, Jill McNamee, and Ron Revere, Chamber President Kim Heinemann, and Chamber Ambassadors Jeremy Lilyquist, Dawn Marquart, and Pat Millfelt. For more information call (715) 386-2000 or visit www.uglysisterboutique.com.

Film critic Scott Nehring will speak to Hollywood professionals at the GATE3 Conference in Beverly Hills, California, on changing the tone of Hollywood films

HUDSON – Wisconsin-based author and film critic Scott Nehring will be one the celebrities, teachers  and creative leaders speaking at the GATE3 Conference in Beverly Hills, California, February 2, 2013. 

GATE (Global Alliance of Transformational Entertainment) is a non-profit organization founded by actor Jim Carrey and spiritualist Eckhart Tolle to bring together creative minds from across the entertainment industry to work on bringing positive and uplifting content to films, television and other media. Nehring was invited by GATE to discuss story structure during the Transformational Story Conference portion of the event. He will speak to a crowd of professional screenwriters, producers and directors.  As an outspoken Christian and conservative, Nehring will be the only representative of his faith at the event.

“I’m a firm believer that one of the biggest problems in our society,” Nehring says, “is that we have cut off those we disagree with. Instead of shunning each other, we need to keep talking and find common ground. As a Christian who’s worked with the Christian film industry, I believe we can work with those in the New Age movement on things like producing films with less violence, or having fewer demeaning productions. We may be rivals on some significant issues, but we don’t need to be enemies.”

Nehring’s film reviews have been published online by FoxNews, Reuters, USAToday and numerous other online new resources, and can be found at GoodNewsFilmReviews.com. He is author of You Are What You See: Watching Movies Through a Christian Lens, which details his understanding of story structure and teaches how to read movies.

For more information on the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (GATE) or to obtain information on how to attend the GATE3 Conference, go to http://www.gatecommunity.org.

Heartland Montessori School invites the general public to a presentation given by Kate Goar, Elementary Guide, on Thursday, January 24, 2013 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, about the characteristics of the Elementary child, the purposes of the Elementary environment, and how the rich curriculum offers opportunity beyond the Common Core State Standards. What is Montessori Elementary? seeks to answer questions you might have about the program as you consider pursuing a Montessori education for your child.  Please RSVP to the office (715) 426-0350 or info@heartlandmontessori.org, Adults only.  For more information about Heartland Montessori School, please go to www.heartlandmontessori.org

The Hudson Winter Gala tickets are now on sale and the Hudson Rotary Clubs are preparing to provide the community an evening they won’t soon forget. Set for the evening of Feb. 16, this event offers a perfect Valentine's Day activity if not a great winter outing.

The evening includes a sampling of foods from restaurants in the area including The Agave Kitchen, Pier Five Hundred, Seasons Tavern, Green Mill and The West Wind, with desserts from Perkins. Guests will experience a silent and live auction along with multiple raffle opportunities. The raffles include the "red, white and brew" which offers three walls of winnings – a wall of red wine, a wall of white wine or you could win a wall of brewed beers.  A fourth raffle includes an iPad mini!

Proceeds from the gala are shared by Hudson's Daybreak and Noon Rotary clubs and are used entirely to benefit local youth organizations and community causes. Every year the Hudson Rotary Clubs present thousands of dollars back into the community with grants and scholarships.

Tickets are $50 and the event will begin at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at YMCA Camp St. Croix.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit HudsonWinterGala.org.