Newsletter

The Hudson City newsletter is a quarterly publication published by the City to keep residents and businesses informed about upcoming events, departmental news, and important seasonal reminders.

Hudson City Newsletter - Fall 2022

2022 Issue 3: Fall


Hudson WI - 325x250

Did you know?

Growth in Hudson during the 1850s and 1860s was due largely to the lumber industry. Sawmills were established throughout the St. Croix Valley over time.



In this issue:


A Note from the Mayor

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We're Going Digital!

The Hudson City Newsletter will be moving to a mainly electronic version, with limited printed copies available at City Hall, the Hudson Library, and several local businesses. 

If you’d like to sign up to receive the newsletter digitally, you can do so on the Notify Me page, and sign up for other alerts as well! 

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Active Development Projects: New Interactive Map


Wondering about active development projects going on in the city? The City of Hudson now has an Active Development Projects interactive map! 

With this web-based application, users can search for development projects, read a brief description, view plans, check development statuses, and find developer contact information.

Test drive the interactive map today!

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Hudson's Mobile AppMobile App

Hudson Mobile is the official mobile app for the City of Hudson, Wisconsin. The app provides a connection between the City and its citizens and visitors. Enjoy convenient access to news, meeting schedules and agendas, payments, city alerts, notifications, and more.

Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, you’ll enjoy convenient access to all the information you need to live, work, and play in Hudson. 

You can download the app on Android or Apple.

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Remember, Wipes Clog Pipes!

Don’t believe the labels! Flushable wipes actually clog our sewer system and cause tens of thousands of dollars in repair costs.

A wipe being dropped into a toilet with a red circle and a slash through the circle.These items need to be placed in the trash, NOT the toilet:

  • Disinfecting wipes 
  • Paper towels 
  • Baby wipes 
  • Towelettes 
  • Mop refills

Please, please, PLEASE stop flushing these! 

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Public Works Updates

Sunset on the St. Croix RiverPhoto Credit: Lorrie Shortridge

Emerald Ash Borer 

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), was first reported in Hudson in July 2018, in the commercial area along I-94.  Since then, city staff has begun to see an increase in infected trees throughout the City.  

If citizens are wanting to save their Ash Tree, staff strongly encourages you to begin treatments.  Symptoms of EAB-infested trees include thinning or dying branches in the upper canopy, branch sprouts along the trunk and main branches, outer bark flecking (lightening) from larvae feeding by woodpeckers, and vertical bark splits. 

The City will continue to remove those infected trees located on the boulevards and public land as we’ve done over the past several years.  For more information on EAB please visit the City of Hudson website at hudsonwi.gov/583/Emerald-Ash-Borer

Stormwater

As fall quickly approaches, staff would like to remind residents to keep grass clippings and leaves out of the storm drains.  Yard waste in the streets and storm drains ruins rivers, lakes, and streams as the waste decays in the water using up oxygen and releasing pollutants that can kill plants and other organisms. The leaves can also cause localized flooding and clog storm drains, which increases maintenance costs.

3rd St. Hill 

The 3rd St. Hill reconstruction project has been postponed to 2023 due to a $175,000 shortfall for the base bid. There were not sufficient capital funds to pull from other projects to cover the cost difference, therefore staff recommended rebidding the project this fall for a spring construction.

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Back-to-School Safety Tips and Checklist

City Hall lit up with Christmas LightsPhoto Credit: Bryan Leonard

Whether your children walk, bike, ride the bus, or get driven to school, it’s important to talk as a family about ways to stay safe. Depending on your situation, use the resource below from the Hudson Police Department as a checklist to make sure your family is safe and prepared for the school year.  

Walkers

Review your family’s walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child.

  • Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic
  • Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections
  • Stay alert and avoid distracted walking

Bike riders

Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding the bike route to school with your child.

  • Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in a single file
  • Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street
  • Stay alert and avoid distracted riding
  • Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing

Bus riders

Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them.

  • Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus
  • Teach your children to stand 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb
  • If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other
  • Get the facts on bus safety from Injury Facts

Driving Your Child to School

Stay alert and avoid distracted driving.

  • Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure
  • Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street
  • Never pass a bus loading or unloading children
  • The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus

Teen Drivers

Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens. Fortunately, there is something we can do. 

  • Teens crash because they are inexperienced; practice with new drivers every week, before and after they get their license
  • Set a good example; drive the way you want your teen to drive
  • Sign the New Driver Deal, an agreement that helps define expectations for parents and teens

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2022 General Election InformationSeveral buttons that say Vote held in someone's hand

Don’t forget! The General Election for 2022 is on November 8. 

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

All information on ballots, registration, and absentee voting can be found at www.myvote.wi.gov

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Hail Guide

If you’re still dealing with hail damage, your building permit requirements will depend on which Hudson you live in out of the five municipalities. Visit stcroixwi.wgxtreme.com to confirm your municipality. 

The City of Hudson does not require or issue building permits per municipal code 106-6 D, or provide inspections for the replacement of roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and doors. For your benefit, keep records of the date products were installed, along with the make and model of the specific products.

Per municipal code 124, no person shall engage in direct sales within the City of Hudson without being registered for the purpose. Applications, license fees and background checks are required for each individual performing direct sales within the City of Hudson. Learn more

Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code: Chapter SPS 321.24 speaks of exterior wall covering requirements. Chapter SPS 321.28 speaks of the requirements to provide weather protection for roofs. Materials installed should meet the standards listed in these sections of the code. These materials should be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions to uphold the product’s warranty.

Specific questions or circumstances not addressed within these code chapters may be directed to the building inspectors. View the full Guide for Hail Damage.

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Ready for Booyah?

Brisk October weather. A bowl of piping-hot stew. Friends, family, neighbors. That’s Booyah!

Everyone is welcome at this community- building Booyah on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Weitkamp Park. The team behind Hudson’s Golden Rule project planned the free event. Food and drinks are available for purchase. 

The Booyah feast takes center stage, but there’s also a slate of games and activities for kids, including visits from some favorite book characters, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Cat in the Hat. The city’s police and fire department will have emergency vehicles for people to explore.A Bowl of Booyah

Booyah is a thick stew cooked outdoors for hours over open kettles. Many ethnicities claim ownership of the tradition, but it’s now firmly rooted in the upper Midwest, particularly in northern Wisconsin.

Booyah is a staple at fundraisers, festivals, and outdoor parties. But a Booyah feast is more than a hearty stew. It represents tradition and community pride.

Like a Booyah, vibrant communities have key ingredients. For a Booyah, that means chicken, beef and pork. For communities, that means core values like respect, compassion, and empathy. We’ll have plenty of all those ingredients at this special event.

In addition to Booyah (which also can be purchased in larger takeout containers), there will be hot dogs, chips, baked goods, drinks, and beer for purchase.

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Small Business Feature: Wolfy's Butcher Shop & Deli

A picture collage of various meats and meals available at Wolfy'sA picture collage of the staff at Wolfy's

Wolfy’s, located in downtown Hudson, wants to be your family’s butcher. Co-owned by Anthony and Shana Blanco, Wolfy’s is a deli and butcher shop serving up primal cuts, choice cuts, and plenty of options for quick meals. 

Anthony has been a butcher for over 30 years and previously owned a shop in California. His goal is to make sure the meat he serves is as sustainable as possible. In addition to high-quality cuts, most of the meats for the deli sandwiches have been smoked, brined, and baked in-house. 

Chef Jonathan Radford makes salads, soups, and desserts. The shop also employs a great staff of high school kids and others who run the counter. Between Anthony, their manager, Joe, and Chef Jonathan, there are over 110 years of butcher experience under one roof! 

Community involvement is the name of the game at Wolfy’s, and they try to showcase other businesses in the community whenever possible, including Croix Valley barbecue sauces and Brueske’s Bread. They relish seeing the same families walk through the door time and again. Wolfy’s hopes that in the years to come, they can see many Hudson families grow along with them.

Wolfy’s knows that the back-to-school season is beyond hectic.

When you’re in a rush, but still want to put a good meal on the table, pick up some of their take and bake items: Meatloaf, shepherd’s pie, pasta bake, cheesy chicken enchiladas, and more! 

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Want Your Business Featured?

A family of two women and two young girls posing for a picture inside Wolfy's.

Visit the Alerts Page for the latest news alerts and requests for submission. 

Our next request period will come before the fall newsletter. Check in early November! 

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Upcoming Events

The Jefferson Day House decorated for HalloweenPhoto Credit: Bryan Leonard

The Lion in Winter

When: Fridays - Sundays, Sept 16 - 25
Where: The Phipps Center for the Arts
Details: Purchase as part of a Choose Your Own or Theater Only subscription package. Single Tickets are $15 for youth (under 18), $20 regular or $30 premium. 
More >> 

Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival 

When: Sept 24 10-5, Sept 25 10-4 
Where:  Lakefront Park, Downtown Hudson
Details: Enjoy an interactive art experience at the Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival and prepare to be inspired! Free admission.
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Hilltop Pumpkin Party 

When: Sunday, June 19, 12-2 p.m. 
Where: Camp St. Croix -345 Riverview Drive
Details: This free family fun outdoor event at YMCA DayCroix includes horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin decorating, petting zoo, costume contest, and more.
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Hudson Rotary Halloween Parade

When: Monday Oct 31, 4:30 p.m. (signup); 5:15 p.m. (parade start)
Where: Raider Stadium at Hudson High School; 1501 Vine Street
Details: Bring your kids to the 69th annual Hudson Halloween Day Parade. Trick-or-Treaters will receive goodie bags, and top 5 “Best Costumes” in 5 age groups will win cash prizes.
More >> 

Lakefront Park decorated and lit up by Christmas lights

Lakefront Park and Bandshell decorated and lit up by Christmas lights looking towards the St. Croix.Photo Credit: Kris Poston

Have a Hudson Holiday

When: Saturday Nov 5 - Tuesday Jan 31
Details: Join us in having a Hudson holiday with a variety of activities all season long! 
Hudson businesses will participate in a window decorating contest (Nov 16 - 25), kids can search for photos of Santa and fill out their passports  (Nov 5 - Dec 6) for prizes, and  they can see him Light Up Hudson (Nov 25) with thousands of twinkling lights in a lavish holiday display.
More >>

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Send us your snaps!

Several dozen white pelicans in the St Croix River while snow falls.Photo Credit: Lorrie Shortridge

If you have an eye for the city, we want to add your photography to our newsletter! We’re seeking submissions for future issues. 

If you want to share your photos of Hudson with us (all seasons needed), please send them with any photo credit you’d like to see, including a URL, to newsletter@hudsonwi.gov

We’ll need some beautiful shots of Hudson in winter, like the one you see here, but share anything that you think shows Hudson at its best! 

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