Live! from North Woods and Waters
Join us each month at 7:00 p.m. for an hour of stories celebrating the cultures, people, and natural beauty of the watershed. Live! from North Woods and Waters alternates between showcasing the work of many artists in an open mic format, and focusing on a single presentation to dive deep into a single topic. In the past, we’ve hosted poets, children’s book authors, novelists, fiber artists, naturalists, historians, and more.
Visit the North Woods & Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area’s YouTube Channel to watch past presentations.
Live! from North Woods and Waters 2025-2026 Season
March 17, 2026
7PM – 8PM
“NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley 2026: The Seed Keeper”
FEATURING
“The Seed Keeper” author Diane Wilson and Franconia Sculpture Park Executive Director Alex Legeros
Hosted by Thomas Wayne King and the North Woods and Waters’ Board
Tune in for a conversation between author Diane Wilson and Franconia Sculpture Park’s director and Big Read Committee member Alex Legeros.
In partnership with ArtReach St. Croix, Franconia Sculpture Park, area libraries and other program partners, NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley will center Diane Wilson’s novel “The Seed Keeper”—a river story. The author’s connection to, and expressions of, a river are profound. The natural spaces of the St. Croix Valley are compelling influences on local creatives including on the author herself.
A month of multi-disciplinary programs will kick-off with a Write-In with Diane Wilson and Arrow Broken Poetry Collective on April 1. During April, you will find film screenings, writing workshops, two exhibitions at ArtReach and a traveling exhibit of Crop Art for one week at a time at 8 library locations from St. Croix Falls to Hastings. Learn more at artreachstcroix.org.
NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest with additional support from the Human Family Unity Foundation.
Register now for Live! from North Woods and Waters on Tuesday, March 17. Upon registration, you will be provided with a Zoom link.
February 17, 2026
7PM – 8PM
“Listening for Home: Natural Sounds, Local Voices and Music”
FEATURING
Featuring Laurie Allmann and JG Everest
Hosted by Thomas Wayne King and the North Woods and Waters’ Board
Technical Support by LuAnn Werner
On February 17, Live! From North Woods and Waters will bring together two artists who have recently completed year-long residencies in the St. Croix watershed. Both artists pursued projects exploring themes through the creative use of sound and audio.
North Woods and Waters’ 2024–2025 artist in residence poet/writer Laurie Allmann will share stories and diverse perspectives from The Local Voices Project, a series of engaging audio interviews with area residents exploring their personal history, culture, relationship with the land, and sense of place.
Multi-disciplinary artist and composer JG Everest, who spent 2025 in residence at Wild River State Park, will offer insights from his work creating remarkable “sound gardens” in outdoor settings that allow people to experience places in new ways. He will also reflect on the value of the natural soundscape—including the rare quality of silence—that was instrumental in his own experience of the watershed. Join us for this lively and thought-provoking program!
Register now for Live! from North Woods and Waters on Tuesday, February 17. Upon registration, you will be provided with a Zoom link.
January 20, 2026
7PM – 8PM
“From Suppression to Sovereignty: The 1970s–1980s on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation (LCO)”
FEATURING
Lori Taguma, enrolled member, LCO
Thomas Wayne King, author and moderator
Julie Kilpatrick, board member, North Woods and Waters
Join the next Live! from North Woods and Waters event on Tuesday, January 20, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Our special guest will be Lori Taguma, an independent producer and writer, and enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibway (LCO) located east of Hayward, WI.
In conversation with author Thomas Wayne King, Lori will share the story of the LCO Band’s evolution as told by her mother, Sylvia Bradklin-Baker, in her book, From Suppression to Sovereignty; the 1970’s-1980’s on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation. Published in 2017 when Sylvia was in her 70s, the book documents the changes she witnessed from 1965 to 2009 while she worked for the LCO.
Get ready for an enlightening conversation that will shed light on the LCO Band’s past, present, and future!
Sylvia Bracklin-Baker is the author of the 2017 book, From Suppression to Sovereignty; the 1970’s-1980, on the Lac Courte Oreilles, which documents the changes she witnessed from 1965 to 2009 while she worked for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe (LCO). She is an enrolled member of LCO, was born in 1938, and raised in Whitefish, WI. Sylvia left Whitefish for a time as a young adult and returned to LCO in 1965. She has been an active member of her community in various roles: the first employee and director of HeadStart, LCO; executive administrator, LCO; member, LCO Land Use Committee; executive secretary, Native American Indian Women’s Council, Turtle Lake, WI; and secretary, Ain Dah Ing program, Spooner, WI.
At LCO College, Sylvia served as executive secretary to the college president, office manager, book store manager, personnel director, campus manager, and more. She retired in 2009 after 25 years at LCO College. Currently, Sylvia works at the Kinnamon School Visitor Center and Museum where she transcribes and archives tribal historical documents.
Lori Taguma is Sylvia Bracklin-Baker’s daughter. She is an independent producer and writer, and enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibway (LCO) located east of Hayward, WI. Lori was born in Chicago, IL, and attended Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school in Utah, and schools in Hayward and Kauai, HI. Lori graduated in 1999 from the University of CA–Berkley in American Studies. She moved back to LCO in 2006 to work for her community. Lori has worked as a grant writer, doula, higher education assistant, and general manager of LCO Public Radio. Currently, she works with Comprehensive Community Services in Behavioral Health for LCO.
Register now for Live! from North Woods and Waters on Tuesday, January 20. Upon registration, you will be provided with a Zoom link.
November 18, 2025
“Capturing a Sense of Place: Two Artists, Two Approaches”
Tune in from 7PM to 8PM on Tuesday, November 18 for a moderated conversation with author and photographer Greg Seitz and interdisciplinary artist and choreographer Victoria Bradford Styrbicki. The two will discuss the unique ways in which they capture a sense of place and how they use their work to connect with audiences, communicate complex issues, and inspire people to act.
Greg Seitz grew up on the banks of the St. Croix River in Stillwater, Minnesota, and has explored the river, its tributaries, and watershed all his life. He is the founder and editor of St. Croix 360, a website dedicated to sharing river stories weekly. With artful prose, a strong sense of place, and attention to detail, Greg covers topics such as conservation, recreation, history, arts, and more in order to inspire and inform environmental stewardship and cultural connectivity. He is currently working on a “deep map” about the human and natural history of the entire St. Croix River watershed. This in-depth exploration of the region will be published by the University of Minnesota Press in 2028. He is a 2025 Artist in Residence at Pine Needles and the Artist in Residence at Osprey Wilds. He lives in May Township, Minnesota, with his wife, poet Kate Seitz, two children, dog, and guinea pig.
Victoria Bradford Styrbicki is an interdisciplinary artist and choreographer whose work bridges movement, visual art, and environmental storytelling. Through her platform A House Unbuilt, she creates performances, installations, and community-based archives that connect people and place across the Mississippi River watershed and Gulf Coast. Her practice often transforms systems of communication—such as signal flags, oral histories, and choreographic scores—into embodied languages of care, repair, and resistance. Styrbicki’s work has been presented nationally in museums, galleries, and public spaces, exploring how art can listen, respond, and move within the landscapes it inhabits.
Register now for Live! from North Woods and Waters on Tuesday, November 18. Upon registration, you will be provided with a Zoom link.
October 21, 2025
“All About Sandhill Cranes”
Don’t miss the first episode of Live! from North Woods and Waters on Tuesday, October 21, when our featured guests will share their unique insights about sandhill cranes.
Lauren Thomas, Wisconsin DNR Natural Resources Educator, will discuss what a year in the life of a sandhill crane looks like in Wisconsin, including detailed information on the life history of this charismatic species. She’ll also discuss habitat management on Crex Meadows, and local migration and viewing information.
Marty Harding, author and former NWW Board Chair, and Gary Noren, photographer, will read a portion of their new book, “Fam: The Remarkable Story of a Canada Goose Adopted by Sandhill Cranes.” This true story, which took place near the couples’ home in Chisago City, MN, has captivated the hearts of both children and adults. The messages of love, inclusion, and belonging are coupled with fascinating information about cranes and geese, making it an excellent resource for naturalists, educators, and counselors.
Tune in at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, for Live! from North Woods and Waters.
Explore Previous Live! Presentations
Northwest Sands Auto Tour: April 2025
April 29, 2025 – Take a virtual road trip across the Northwest Sands!
Michael Koutnik, Brian Finstad, Jane Anklam, and Dave Peters share details about their passion project: the Northwest Sands Auto Trail (NWS Auto Trail). This travel way crosses the Continental Divide, centuries of human habitation, and epochs of earth history.
Working with granted support from Wisconsin Humanities Council and Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, points of interest along the auto trail come alive through shared stories, maps, and photos. The Live! presentation includes an overview of the mobile guide, which allows users to take a deeper dive into the history, ecology, geology, culture and recreational opportunities as they explore the Northwest Sands Ecological Landscape via this auto trail.
You’ll come away with the resources and encouragement to plan your own NWS Auto Tour!
Visit the NWS Auto Tour website.
Video link will be provided soon.
Steamboat Comin': March 2025
March 18, 2025 – Go on a voyage to the rivers of our past and hear the fascinating tales of long-ago steamboats! The Virginia first braved the Mississippi in 1923 when it reached St. Paul, with the Palmyra entering the St. Croix in 1838 with a trip to what is now St. Croix Falls. From invention, to innovation, immigration, and navigation, take a river cruise with former river pilot Dallas Eggers as he brings our steamboat history to life.
About Dallas Eggers in his own words: I was born in Prescott, and have lived for short periods in other places, but always returned. I have spent a huge part of my life on the St. Croix River paddling, rowing, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, lifeguarding, and fishing. I even worked on the MV Sioux delivering coal to the Allen S King plant. I have had a varied work career from seed corn industry worker, roller skate rental store, deckhand and Coast Guard river pilot, and finally a teacher for 29 years. As I traveled several thousand miles of our inland waterways I saw the good, and the bad, and marveled at the history involved. I am passionate about history, and am honored to serve as the President of the Prescott Area Historical Society. I now teach Zoom classes of 1-1/2 hour duration for the U of M on Steamboats, Logging on Midwestern Rivers, Immigration by Steamboat and Towboats.
Video link will be provided soon.
Stories from the Headwaters of the St. Croix River: February 2025
February 18, 2025 –
Stories from the Headwaters of the St. Croix River moderated by Thomas Wayne King and he reads from his new anthology, “Boots, Blooms, Barks and Baaas! Anecdotes of Northland Life and Lore.”
For over 50 years, the people of Solon Springs, Wisconsin, have worked together to preserve the town’s rich history through the Solon Springs Historical Society and Museum. On February’s “Live! from Northwoods and Waters” two lifelong residents—whose families have called this area home since the 1800s—will share stories from the headwaters of the St. Croix River.
The Historical Society operates a museum, which was the ancestral home of John Swanberg, President of the Solon Springs Historical Society and Museum. John will tell us how the historical society was formed, how its volunteers bring history to life, and what you will experience when you visit this jewel in the woods of Northern Wisconsin.
Video link will be provided soon.
Laurie Allmann: January 2025
January 21, 2025 – As this year’s Artist-in-Residence, Laurie has been writing new works inspired by the St. Croix watershed as well as connecting with youth and adults to help them tell their own unique stories. Laurie brings a particular magic to her presentations, rooted in her own love of this place.
We invite you to get your favorite beverage, find a comfy chair, and sit back for a winter’s hour as Laurie tells you what this residency is all about. She’ll read some selections of new poetry and share perspectives from the amazing people she has met through “Local Voices” interviews, one-on-one mentorships with youth, and community-based writing workshops. You’ll also learn about upcoming opportunities for you to take part, whether a novice or experienced writer.
Dr. Marcia Bjornerud: December 2024
December 10, 2024 – Geologist Marcia Bjornerud
Marcia Bjornerud is a structural geologist whose research focuses on the physics of earthquakes and mountain building. She combines field-based studies of bedrock geology with quantitative models of rock mechanics. She has done research in high arctic Norway (Svalbard) and Canada (Ellesmere Island), as well as mainland Norway, Italy, New Zealand, and the Lake Superior region.
Bjornerud is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and has been a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of Oslo, Norway and University of Otago, New Zealand. A contributing writer to The New Yorker, Wired, the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times, she is also the author of several books for popular audiences including Reading the Rocks: The Autobiography of the Earth, Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World, and Geopedia: A Brief Compendium of Geologic Curiosities. Timefulness was longlisted for the 2019 PEN/E.O.Wilson Prize for Literary Science Writing, and was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize in Science and Technology.
Alyssa Auten: November 2024
November 12, 2024 – From logging to yo-yos with Alyssa Auten, a local graphic designer and historian, with a specialty in exhibit creation and experience marketing.
Yo-Yos may arguably be the most popular toy of all time, and the small village of Luck, Wisconsin was at the epicenter of the craze! From 1946 to 1965, millions of the world-famous Duncan Yo-Yos were manufactured (up to 70,000 a day!) in a factory along what is now the Gandy Dancer Trail. Today, MacDonald & Owen Lumber Company operates out of the original Duncan Yo-Yo factory and is honoring the unique history through a public exhibit and mural.
In 2023, Auten was hired by MacDonald & Owen to create an exhibit exploring Luck’s vast lumber heritage. After a year of research, writing and design, the exhibit is now on display in a trail-side pavilion next to the factory! It explores the history of logging in northern Wisconsin, the story of the Duncan Yo-Yo craze, and the lumber companies that have operated in the original factory. “I now know more than I ever thought I would about yo-yos and their unexpected history in Luck, WI, and it’s such a great story!” – Auten
Dr. Dave Mills and Author Carol Dunbar: March 2024
March 19, 2024 – Dr. Dave Mills and Author Carol Dunbar
A native of Wisconsin, retired Dr. Dave Mills gave some background on his manuscript, Cow Tales: Memories of a Rural Animal Doctor, and described a shocking scene along US Highway 53 from a chapter titled The Mad Axe Man. Dave also shared some of his adventures fly fishing the Namekagon River in January.
Carol Dunbar is a working writer and former actor, playwright, and coloratura soprano who left her life in the city to live off the grid. Her first novel, The Net Beneath Us, won the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award and her second novel, A Winter’s Rime, was released in the fall of 2023. Carol read excerpts from her various writing.
Silverbrook Mansion and the St. Croix Valley Country Club: February 2024
February 20, 2024 – The Silverbrook Mansion and the St. Croix Valley Country Club, with Haley Prochnow, President of the St. Croix Falls Historical Society.
Wisconsin Interstate State Park was once the site of a storied mansion and estate that provided respite for Black residents of St. Paul’s Rondo Neighborhood during the struggle to save it from urban renewal initiatives in the 1950s and 1960s. This program provided a detailed look at the St. Croix Valley Country Club, the owners, Annabelle and James Rideaux, as well as, the property’s construction to its demolition in 1974. Haley Prochnow started researching this virtually unknown part of watershed history in 2021, and the work to preserve this story is still underway today.
“This research project began as an exploration of what I thought might have been a haunted house, local lore, and legend. Search for “Silverbrook” and you will find rumors about the mansion as home to gangsters, a brothel, generations of teens trespassing for parties, and ultimately enough notoriety for a lifetime. However, this is not where my research guided me, and the truth is far more fascinating.” – Haley Prochnow
St. Croix 360: January 2024
January 23, 2024 – Greg Seitz of St. Croix 360
On Tuesday, January 23, we featured Greg Seitz, the founder, editor, and publisher of St. Croix 360, an independent online news source that has covered the 7,700-mile St. Croix watershed since 2010. Followers of St. Croix 360 got a behind-the-scenes look as Greg talked about his experiences with St. Croix 360 and read from his book, “River of Refuge: Poetry and Essays.”
Thomas Wayne King, Solon Springs WI, and long time member of St. Croix Writers, read from one of his recent books, Red Pump Chronicles, and told stories about “Granda Gideon’s Walk.” Gideon (Roi) King, Tom’s paternal grandfather and skilled lumberjack from eastern Quebec Province, Canada, lived a wild, adventurous life during his years in the St. Croix Watershed, circa 1870-1916 which offers many true, fascinating tales.
This edition of Live! also featured poet Rebecca Swanson, also from the Spooner, WI area, who presented her new original poem “Driving the Queen.”
Dave Peters: Sand and Fire, September 2023
September 19, 2023 – “Sand and Fire” – Dave Peters
Heidi Barr & Ryan Rogers, Wightman, Dunbar & Bye: February 2023
Join Thomas Wayne King as he introduces us to two watershed authors: Heidi Barr, who reads from her new book, “Collisions of Earth and Sky: Connecting with Nature for Nourishment, Reflection, and Transformation” and Ryan Rodgers, who shares photos and stories from “Winter’s Children: A Celebration of Nordic Skiing.” Three other writers – Clayton Bye, Carol Dunbar and Barry Wightman read selections from their works.
Crime and Maple Syrup: March 2023
March 28, 2023 – Crime and Maple Syrup
In the eclectic style that has become the hallmark of “Live! from North Woods and Waters,” this month’s broadcast featured St. Croix writer Jeff Esterholm reading scenes from “Set the Control for the Heart of the Sun,” his contribution to More Groovy Gumshoes: Private Eyes in the Psychedelic Sixties. The evening also celebrated the return of the maple syrup season with Moderator Thomas Wayne King reading selections about maple syrup from his literary collections. Rather than reading this time, Author Debbi King shared simple maple syrup recipes.
Open Mic Night: November 2022
November 22 – Open Mic
This beloved format for “Live! from North Woods and Waters” returned with Thomas Wayne King as moderator, and featured a host of storytellers who shared their poetry, prose, music, and other artistry with all of us.
Engaging Youth in Water Ecology: October 2022
October 25, 2022 – Engaging Youth in Water Ecology
Do you want to engage youth and launch them on a positive lifelong relationship in environmental stewardship? LEEP is a comprehensive lake ecology education program aligned with Wisconsin state standards. LEEP’s goal is to help students appreciate the value, vulnerability, and interconnectedness of our beautiful natural resources.
Rivers Are Alive is a K-12 environmental education program offered in partnership by the Wild Rivers Conservancy and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway throughout the St. Croix watershed in every season. Rivers Are Alive offers engaging, hands-on science field trips, meeting students in the classroom, at the river, at a local park, or other locations in the St. Croix watershed. Some of our special events beyond field trips include teacher workshops, Wild River Journey – a paddle boat experience, and our annual Youth Summit each April.
For the Love of the Watershed: June 2022
“You think one person can’t make a difference, you remember me!” – Lorrie Otto, WI conservationist, led successful effort to ban DDT.
All throughout the St. Croix Watershed, trained stewards are improving the health of our rivers and lakes at the local level and having some fun as well (the water is the best place to be in summertime!). From specialized research to app-enhanced monitoring, to edible invasives, native plant lore, and tree-planting, to kayak education adventures, we have a variety of interesting projects and events happening.
June 28th presented watershed stewardship events and projects taking place throughout the St. Croix watershed. We had two watershed steward groups represented: St. Croix Watershed Stewards and the Washington County Conservation District Stewards. We will highlight some current projects in the watershed funded by a recent award from Grinnell College and individual stewards will be available to answer questions so anyone interested can volunteer on a project or even start their own project for the health of the watershed!
Open Mic Night: May 2022
This month we were honored to hosted storytellers of the watershed at “Open mic night.” Featured in this program are: Lynne Moratzka, Robb Grindstaff, Steve Fox, K.M. Waldvogel, Debbie King, and Tom King.
The Five Mile Tower Fire: April 2022
Our April 26th show spotlighted The Five Mile Tower Fire, presented by Bill Matthias, Brian Finstad, and Jonathan Moore.
April 2022 marks the 45th anniversary of one of the most significant wildfires in Wisconsin history. The Five Mile Tower Fire began between the Namekagon and Totagatic Rivers in Washburn County on Saturday, April 30, 1977. Over the next 17 hours, the fire consumed an area covering 13,000 acres and 15 miles long. More than 1,600 people were involved in helping control the blaze, including WI DNR employees, local firefighters, private citizens, and students from local schools. The fire ended the next day along the Upper St. Croix River near Gordon, WI. Join us at the next Live! from North Woods and Waters to hear from Bill Matthias, author of the book, Monster Fire at Minong: Wisconsin’s Five Mile Tower Fire of 1977.
NEA Big Read: March 2022
This month’s focus was on the NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley. The Big Read was presented by ArtReach St. Croix in conjunction with core program partners including Valley Bookseller, Stillwater Public Library and other library branches located between St. Croix Falls, WI and Hastings, MN.
Project lead Heather Rutledge highlighted the upcoming April 2022 programs built around An American Sunrise, a book of narrative poetry by U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, a Muscogee Creek Nation writer. Heather was joined by four of the Poets of Place, lower St. Croix poets who were selected for a pilot program designed to amplify the power of poetry in the region. Heidi Barr (Lindstrom), Mike Forecki (Osceola), Lee Kisling (Hudson) and River Urke (River Falls), each read their work during NWW Live!
Watch the recording of the event here.
The Grand Footpath and the Northwest Auto Sands Tour: February 2022
On February 22nd, historian and storyteller Brian Finstad, soil scientist Jane Anklam, and GIS consultant Mike Koutnik presented an exciting new project: The Northwest Auto Sands Tour!
Soon you’ll be able to tour the backroads of Wisconsin, traversing the Northwest Sands Ecological Landscape, a large area of glacial outwash that extends on a trajectory from just outside of Bayfield, Wisconsin to Wolf Creek, just north of St. Croix Falls.
Learn how ecological and culture have formed this unique and fascinating region: This drought prone landscape, prior to settlement and fire suppression was frequently swept by wildfire, maintaining a unique and globally significant “barrens habitat.” Being high, dry, and open land, as well as extending on a trajectory between the Lake Superior and St. Croix watersheds, the Northwest Sands were utilized as a conduit of travel for Native people and early European settlers since time immemorial until the coming of the railroads. The French referred to this route as “Le Grand Chemain” or “The Grand Footpath.” Other early names were “Trail to LaPointe, St. Croix Trail, Bayfield Trail, and the Great Trail to the Folle Avoine Country.” This route was mapped as early as 1820 by the Cass Schoolcraft Expedition and eventually became a large segment of the St. Paul to Bayfield Stage Coach Line in 1859.
The auto trail experience will follow the modern roads that most closely approximate the historic travel route, and in doing so will connect together the various barrens habitat wildlife areas and interpret geological, ecological, historical, and cultural points of interest in between. Project planning has been made possible through a grant of the Wisconsin Humanities Council.
Open Mic Night: January 2022
This month’s open mic hosted writers, poets, and artists from thought the watershed.
Tell Your Story on Live!
Have something to say, show, or perform? Do you know a great storyteller? We want to hear from YOU! Send a brief bio and a short description of what you’d like to present to info@northwoodsandwaters.org.
