Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Golden Valley’s planning chief just earned statewide recognition
Coming up on the Golden Valley Patch calendar: Connect and Play
Morning Golden Valley! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How Golden Valley’s planning chief just earned statewide recognition
- How a Golden Valley grad landed at a UN climate summit
- How one act in Golden Valley is stretching Toys for Tots donations
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Golden Valley? Post it to Golden Valley photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Find out what's happening in Golden Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Golden Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 44 and low of 20 degrees.
- Wednesday: Cloudy; breezy in the p.m., temps: high: 40, low: 26.
- Thursday: Winds gusting past 40 mph, with a high of 34 and low of -5 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
1. Minnesota Planner of the Year works for Golden Valley (hometownsource.com) — Golden Valley residents can take pride in Community and Economic Development Director Emily Goellner, who has been named Minnesota’s 2025 Planner of the Year. Her leadership on local initiatives, regional planning, and tribal engagement is drawing statewide recognition while directly shaping Golden Valley’s growth, equity work, and economic development priorities. 
2. Golden Valley resident goes to UN climate conference (hometownsource.com) — A young woman who grew up in Golden Valley just returned from the UN’s major global climate conference, where she observed negotiations and researched climate migration and justice. She describes emotional conversations with frontline communities and urges Minnesotans, especially in the Midwest, to recognize their outsized role in climate impacts abroad.
3. Stranger pays it forward with Toys for Tots gifts (kare11.com) — A stranger’s generosity at a local Target helped double a Toys for Tots donation, boosting the Marines’ holiday toy drive serving Twin Cities kids. Golden Valley residents can still help them reach their 230,000-toy goal by dropping off gifts—especially for ages 11–15—at KARE 11’s station on Olson Memorial Highway.
4. Melrose Foundation funds GCSAA show for 18; GCSAA updates BMP tool (turfnet.com) — Golden Valley gets a nod on the national golf stage as Spring Hill Golf Club equipment manager Ian Naus is selected for the 2026 Melrose Equipment Management Experience, sending him to the GCSAA Conference in Orlando. The article also details how the Melrose Foundation funds education for turf professionals and explains recent upgrades to GCSAA’s best management practices tool for golf course superintendents nationwide.
📸 Around Golden Valley
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Golden Valley
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Connect and Play
Webber Park Community Library , 4310 Webber Parkway , Minneapolis
10:30 am - Coffee and Conversations
North Regional Community Library , 1315 Lowry Avenue North , Minneapolis
11:00 am - Drop-in Tech Help
North Regional Community Library , 1315 Lowry Avenue North , Minneapolis
1:00 pm - Drop-in: Flu Vaccine Clinic
North Regional Community Library , 1315 Lowry Avenue North , Minneapolis
2:00 pm - Job Search Assistance
Golden Valley Library , 830 Winnetka Avenue North , Golden Valley
2:00 pm - Sit and Create: Puppet Pals
North Regional Community Library , 1315 Lowry Avenue North , Minneapolis
3:00 pm - RMS Band Concert
Robbinsdale Middle School , 3730 Toledo Ave N , Robbinsdale
4:30 pm - Community Candle Lighting
Capp Center St. Paul , 1375 St. Paul Ave , St. Paul
4:45 pm
Wednesday December 17
📣 Golden Valley Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Bloomington Business Connections
Friendship Village of Bloomington
8:00 am - Creative Expression Sessions With zAmya Theater Project
Minneapolis Central Library , 300 Nicollet Mall , Minneapolis
8:30 am - MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshop: December
CareerForce in Minneapolis North - Second Floor
9:00 am - Drop-in Computer Lab
Minneapolis Central Library , 300 Nicollet Mall , Minneapolis
10:00 am
Tuesday December 16
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- We think our cat Milk Mustache “Milky” escaped this weekend.
We haven’t been able to find him today. :( He is as pictured but a little chunkier with black and orange claw covers on his front paws. Hoping… (Nextdoor Duluth St) - Can one donate pet treats to a local food shelf?
These were on super clearance at a grocery store and would like these to go to thise in need? (Nextdoor Thotland Terrace)
Ok Golden Valley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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