Rebecca Mariscal
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Rebecca Mariscal joined the Hudson Star Observer as a reporter in 2016. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in communication and journalism.
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After more than 30 years in the River Falls Public Works department, and holding nearly every position there, Operations Superintendent Terry Kusilek is officially retired. "I still don't know if I'm ready to retire," Kusilek said on his last day. "It was a hard decision to walk away." Kusilek had his last day last week, but he didn't slow down, said Operations Director Mike Stifter. With the snowfall at the beginning of the work, Kusilek still kept busy.
Several racks of jewelry fill the space of Momma's Bling Thing in Riverwalk Square on Main Street: necklaces, bracelets and earrings, all $5. Run by Joan Toth of Ellsworth, with some big help from daughter Niki Wood, the store sells Paparazzi Jewelry, a six-year old company based in Utah that works through independent consultants. All its jewelery is $5, except for a special line based off its top consultants. "The company is really about empowering women, giving them something to do and make themselves who they can be," Toth said.
In a far off kingdom, there is a castle full of ladies-in-waiting, and waiting and waiting, for the prince to marry, so they can as well. In The Phipps' production of "Once Upon a Mattress" the subjects of a royal kingdom cannot marry until their prince does, but the queen is making that difficult. With each prospective princess, the queen concocts a new impossible test, leaving the prince, and his people, single against their wishes. The musical is a humorous retelling of the fairy tale, where a princess passes the queen's test by feeling a pea under her mattress.
In his 40-year career, Dan Davison has worked nearly every position at River Falls State Bank, starting as a teller in 1978 and working his way up to bank president for the last 25 years. "I joke that I know how to use every machine but the coffee maker," Davison said. After so many years with the bank, Davison will be retiring this year in March. "I think it's the right decision for me and the right time at the right time and the right decision for the bank at the right time," Davison said.
Area stylists have a new option for salon space, one they can call their own. Owned by Darcie and Dave Rochon, Escape Salon Suites at 2421 Hanley Road offers stylist spaces for lease. "Each one of the stylists that are here are their own individual business," Darcie said. They set their own prices, Darcie said, and they run their businesses in their own way. Darcie said the salon is an option for stylists to move out on their own, or ones who live in Wisconsin and work in Minnesota to have a space closer to home.
A 100,000-square foot Mayo Clinic could be coming to Hudson in the future, pending conditional use permit approval by the city. The clinic would be built on a 9.2 acre-site off Stageline Road, north of the Hudson 12 Theatre near the intersection of Interstate 94 and Highway 35. If approved, the clinic would include 60-75 clinic rooms, six to eight operating rooms and four procedure suites. It will offer both clinic functions with primary and speciality care providers, as well as outpatient surgical services.
From a young age, Jennifer Belz knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. "I was your typical little kid that liked animals," Belz said. Her parents encouraged her interest in math and sciences. From there, she followed a straight and narrow path to her goal. "Anything that could get me closer," Belz said. Belz completed her undergraduate studies at UW-River Falls. "I always really liked the area," she said. "I like the town and kind of always wanted to be there."
Amid a busy year for the region, Hudson saw a strong year of development in 2017, one of its strongest in recent years. "Development in general, not just on the home side, has been really robust," Community Development Director Mike Johnson said. From new development to alterations after storms, surrounding areas like River Falls and New Richmond also saw an above-average number of permits issued. Hudson
When the Superbowl came to the nearby Twin Cities in 1992, nearly every hotel, motel and bed and breakfast room was booked the week leading up to the big game. These days, hotels aren't the only ones opening their doors to the crowd of fans. Hudson had about 20 Airbnbs up for rent in the weeks ahead of the game, with several specifying rental for Super Bowl weekend. About half of those were still available the Monday before Super Bowl. Prices ranged from $150 a night to more than $7,000.
Mindy Leadholm, formerly of Hastings, has been a Vikings fan her whole life. Not even crossing the river into Packer territory could change that. "It was the hardest thing for me to think about moving to Wisconsin as a Viking fan," Leadholm said. Changing her license plate to Wisconsin was especially difficult, but she lessened the blow with a speciality license plate — SKOL MN.