🌱 Patch AM: Will anyone save Maple Grove’s Chalkfest after the business group dissolves?

Hey there, Maple Grove! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Will anyone save Maple Grove’s Chalkfest after the business group dissolves?
• What surveillance video revealed about the Maple Grove Benihana shooting charges
• How a fake Maple Grove home showing led to a life sentence

Also on today's calendar: Bring the Family & Ring in 2026 EARLY at D&B.

Today's riddle: What did the little needle say to the mother needle when it brought home a failing report card? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: A bit of freezing drizzle, with a high of 35 and low of 32 degrees.
• Friday: Cloudy, temps: high: 38, low: 33.
• Saturday: Mainly cloudy, with a high of 42 and low of 13 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

1. Maple Grove businesses speak on potential loss with Chalkfest's future in jeopardy (kstp.com) — Maple Grove’s popular Chalkfest, a major draw for downtown businesses and visitors, is in limbo after the Maple Grove Business Association announced it’s dissolving. Local shop owners and restaurants fear losing a big revenue boost, while city officials are meeting with nonprofits to see if someone can keep the free street art festival going by next June.
   

2. Man wearing 'man purse' opened fire at Maple Grove Benihana: charges (fox9.com) — Maple Grove residents now have more details on last month’s shooting inside the Benihana on Fountains Drive, where a man was shot in the groin but survived. Prosecutors say video shows the suspect retrieving a gun from a crossbody bag during an argument before firing, and he’s now charged with second-degree assault and held on $250,000 bail.
   

3. Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Maple Grove Realtor Murder (ccxmedia.org) — A man has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the killing of a Twin Cities realtor who was lured to a fake Maple Grove home showing on New Year’s Eve 2019. Prosecutors say she was abducted from the Maple Grove property and later found dead in Minneapolis, after years of trials and appeals that deeply affected her family.
   

4. Hagens, Zellers Named to Team USA for 2026 World Juniors (nhl.com) — A hometown connection is heading to the world stage: Maple Grove native Will Zellers has made Team USA’s roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship, which starts Friday in Minnesota. Zellers, a University of North Dakota standout and Bruins prospect, recently scored twice in a pre-tournament win over Germany, giving local fans extra reason to tune in.
   

📸 Around Maple Grove

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 Maple Grove

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 28

• Drop-in Tech Help
  Maple Grove Library , 8001 Main Street , Maple Grove
  12:30 pm

Wednesday December 31

• Bring the Family & Ring in 2026 EARLY at D&B
  Dave and Buster's - Maple Grove (map) 11780 Fountains Way Maple Grove MN 55369
  4:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• New Year's Holiday
  Maple Grove, MN Calendar , 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway N , Maple Grove
  7:00 am

📣 Maple Grove 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

Thursday December 25

• City Hall Closed - Holiday
  Champlin, MN Calendar , 11955 Champlin Drive , Champlin
  8:00 am
• Kandiyohi County Law Library Legal Advice Clinic
  Kandiyohi County Law Library , 505 Becker Ave SW , Willmar
  12:00 pm
• Holiday - Christmas Day — City of Rogers, MN
  22350 S Diamond Lake Rd , Rogers
  1:00 pm
• Planning Commission
  Council Chambers , 7550 Sunwood Drive NW , Ramsey
  7:00 pm

Friday December 26

• Escape Room
  Plymouth Library , 15700 36th Avenue North , Plymouth
  1:00 pm
• Computer and Tech Help
  Plymouth Library , 15700 36th Avenue North , Plymouth
  2:00 pm
• The Christmas Pickle
  Bunker Hills Event Center , 12800 Bunker Prairie Rd NW , Coon Rapids
  5:30 pm
• A Christmas Carol...More or Less
  Yellow Tree Theatre , 320 5th Ave SE , Osseo
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 27

• Soma Yoga for Adults
  Champlin Library , 12154 Ensign Avenue North , Champlin
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Maple Grove PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• AnnapurnaBlue Heath and Wellness — (952) 405-0342
  You Are The Sun ~ Costa Rica Women's Retreat ages 35 - 70+

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Found a set of keys on the sidewalk.
  Please message with a description of the keys you lost and let’s get them back to you. Update: Owner found, keys returned. (Nextdoor Boundary Creek East)

• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Bakery Wrapper / Clean Up in Maple Grove. Apply here.
• Osseo Area Schools posted a job opening for MGSH Adapted Hockey Assistant Coach in Maple Grove. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Maple Grove here.

Ok Maple Grove! 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 guess I’m not as sharp as I thought.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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