For many in the Hudson community, the YMCA is a place to work out, go swimming, or play pickleball. But the Y offers so much more than that — from youth programs to camps to a sense of community for those who gather there. And Chris Kost is a big reason for the impact the YMCA has had on the local community over the past decade.

Chris became the executive director of the Hudson YMCA in 2015, and has also been active in the Hudson community in the past decade. He's a member of the Hudson Daybreak Rotary and has volunteered with the Golden Rule Initiative, both of which have helped strengthen the Hudson community. In fact, Chris was named the Community Volunteer of the Year by the Hudson Chamber in 2023.

On this episode of St. Croix Stories, Chris joins to share about his passion for volunteering, what his childhood was like as the son of a pastor who moved frequently for work, and dives deeper into all of the great offerings that the Hudson YMCA provides.

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If you asked James Wildman as a kid what he wanted to be when he grew up, a police officer probably wouldn't have been his first answer. He grew up with a bit of a distrust for law enforcement, but later realized that he could help change the way people view police officers by becoming one himself.

After a four-year stint in the marine corps with his twin brother — where he met his wife, also a twin — James' career led him to the St. Croix Valley area. He worked a few different jobs, including at a correctional facility, before applying for an opening with the Hudson Police Department. He's been with the department since 2008, and in recent years he became the Community Engagement Officer. In that role, he's helping bridge the gap between the Hudson Police Department and the Hudson community.

On this episode of St. Croix Stories, Officer Wildman shares more about his journey from Mississippi and Louisiana to Hudson, where he, his wife, and their three daughters call home. He also shares more about his proudest moments as a police officer, discusses the Citizens Police Academy, and much more.

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When Richelle and Gary Jader first moved to Third Street in Hudson, they were warned about living on "Halloween Street." But it's been another holiday that has made the Jaders' home stand out.

For the past six years, Richelle and Gary have been the stewards of the Santa Mailbox, a red mailbox that sits in front of their house and receives hundreds of letters to Santa each year. Some of the letters are merely transactional -- a list of toys a kid wants -- but others are more heartfelt and stir up emotions in Santa's helpers, Richelle and Gary. Both kids and adults alike have shared their letters in the Santa Mailbox.

This holiday season, be sure to bring your letters to Santa to the red mailbox at 1221 Third Street in Hudson, and Richelle and Gary will make sure you get a response from the big man himself. And be sure to check out the book inspired by the mailbox, titled "The Santa Mailbox," available online or at Chapter2 Books in Hudson.

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In an ideal world, we’d all go about life as our true authentic selves, living how we want and not necessarily caring about how society might define us. But for many people, embracing their authentic self isn’t that simple. That journey of self-discovery can take a long time for some people, including today’s guest, Christina Rose.

Christina joins St. Croix Stories to share more about how she came to embrace her true authentic self at 35 years old. After marrying her high school boyfriend and starting a family, Christina eventually realized she needed to live life on her own terms. She came out three years ago and has since rewritten her life’s story.

Part of that journey included starting her own business, Christina Rose Coaching, where she helps empower others — including many in the LGBTQIA community — to find their authenticity and overcome challenges similar to the ones she faced. On this episode, Christina she shares tips with anyone listening about how you can take your next step on your self-discovery journey, talks about how she got involved with a former St. Croix Stories guest (Hudson Pride), and how she thinks Hudson can continue to make strides to become a more inclusive community.

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Sheri Marnell has a passion for helping other companies thrive, and she gets to do that every day in her role as the director of the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center. The SCVBIC is an incubator for local companies that are looking to either get their business off the ground or grow their company before eventually graduating to their own space. One of the best parts about the center: almost all of the companies that graduate end up staying in the St. Croix Valley region.

On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, Sheri talks more about what the Business Innovation Center is, the ways in which it helps companies grow and thrive, and discusses some impressive statistics about startups in the St. Croix Valley area.

To learn more about the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center or to see if it might be a good fit for your young company, visit www.stcroixinnovation.org.

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At just 90 square feet, there isn’t a lot of room to operate inside of Joe to Go. But while the footprint of what owners Jess and Suzi Higgles affectionately call “the hut” is small, it’s filled with big ideas and big flavors.

On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, hear from Jess and Suzi to learn all about Hudson’s smallest coffee shop — and the big hearts of the married couple that run it. With coffees in hand, Jess and Suzi talk about their venture of owning their own business, share how they come up with the unique and ever-changing drink menu, ponder the challenges of having three people work inside such a confined space, and reflect on the importance of the community they’ve built over the years. 

Joe to Go is located near Plaza 94, parked in a lot between Coulee Road and Ward Ave. near the Hudson Bowling Center.

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"Treat others as you want to be treated" is one of the basic interpretations of the Golden Rule, which has other variations throughout different cultures and religions. No matter the translation, the basic principle is the same: be kind to others.

Hudson mayor Rich O'Connor fondly remembered learning about the Golden Rule as an elementary school student. Fast forward to 2019, and Mayor O'Connor opted to declare Hudson the Golden Rule City after seeing how our society had become increasingly divided. Along with the help of Pastor Larry Szyman and others, the Golden Rule Initiative has helped spread that message throughout Hudson through yard signs and other work. 

On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, Rich O'Connor and Larry Szyman join to share more about the Golden Rule initiative, give their insights on the response from the Hudson community, and share more about the upcoming Booyah event on Oct. 5 that brings people together over food and festivities. 

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The mission of the St. Croix Valley Foundation is simple: to enhance the quality of life in the St. Croix Valley. The foundation does that by offering numerous grants and scholarships to residents in six counties and two states in the St. Croix Valley — and it's based right here in Hudson at the new Alliance Center, a hub for local nonprofits (including former podcast guests Operation HELP and the Hudson Area Backpack and Food Program).

On this week's episode, Angie Pilgrim and Heidi Herron from the St. Croix Valley Foundation join the podcast to share more about the foundation's work. They give more detail on the types of scholarships and grants that are offered, talk about why they enjoy working for a nonprofit, and even read a few testimonials of previous scholarship winners whose lives were changed by the St. Croix Valley Foundation.

To learn more about the St. Croix Valley Foundation, head to scvfoundation.org.

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Nestled into the woods in a quiet part of Hudson is the beautiful new building of the Carpenter Nature Center, which also has a location in Hastings, Minn. The center's two campuses are home to animals, hiking trails, and education materials for kids and adults alike. Each of the two locations boasts hundreds of acres of land that provide a great escape right in our own backyard.

On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, we're joined by Jen Vieth, Carpenter Nature Center's executive director, and Abbey Holden, the center's outreach coordinator and animal care coordinator. The two share more about the history of the Carpenter Nature Center, talk about how each of them fell in love with animals at young ages, discuss many of the free activities and opportunities available through the CNC, and much more. 

The Carpenter Nature Center's Hudson campus can be found at 279 South Cove Road. The Hastings campus is located at 12805 St. Croix Trail South.

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The Hudson School District has faced challenges in recent years. From the debate over a new high school to the COVID-19 pandemic that forced schools to go remote, tough decisions had to be made in order to do what was best for the Hudson students. Making those tough decisions isn't always easy, but it's something Jamie Johnson has learned to do as the president of the Hudson School Board.

On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, Jamie joins to talk about his time on the board, how his longtime career as an attorney helped prepare him to be school board president, and shares about what the next five years might look like for the Hudson School District. He also talks about the additional volunteering he does in the local community, and offers some words of advice for parents as the 2024-25 school year approaches.

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