Biz briefs: Edible Arrangements opens at Tamarack Village

Edible Arrangements has opened a new location in Woodbury at the Tamarack Village shopping center on Hudson Road and Radio Drive.

The store, which sells fruit sculpted to look like floral arrangements, opened Tuesday, just in time for Christmas, which owner Candace Schmitt expects will be one of the busiest times for the franchise.

Schmitt hired a staff of seven for the store's opening, but said during peak times, such as around Valentine's Day, she could hire as many as 15 people to help with sales, making the arrangements and deliveries.

Edible Arrangements is located in the same building of Tamarack Village as Pei Wei Asian Diner in a previously unoccupied space, said Hans Rasmussen, president of the Robert Muir Company, which owns the property.

Schmitt, whose background is in human resources and staffing, said she decided to open a franchise in May. The store's delivery area stretches from Bloomington to Roseville and as far east as the St. Croix Valley in Wisconsin, she said.

PINZ is named 'Best New Center' PINZ, one of the anchors of the Oakdale Marketplace just southeast of Hwy. 5 and Interstate 694, recently received a "Best New Center" award from the Bowler's Journal International, a 97-year-old magazine devoted to bowling.

The PINZ center, which opened in 2009, includes a bowling alley, arcade, laser tag and pub.

This year marks the 26th annual Bowling Center Architecture and Design Awards, with awards given in 10 categories.

"We are very pleased with the recognition of PINZ and for contributing so much to Oakdale's quality of life," Mayor Carmen Sarrack said in a release.

Met Council OKs $1.17 million for Oakdale Mall Although the redevelopment of Oakdale Mall has been delayed by six months, the project remains well funded.

The Metropolitan Council recently approve an Oakdale application for $1.17 million from the Livable Communities Demonstration Account.

Of 11 grants given this year by the Met Council, the Oakdale grant was the largest. The grant will help pay for the demolition of the mall.

In September, the city also received a $1.38 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to help fund infrastructure around the mall.

Chamber names interim director After a three-week search, the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce has named Todd Streetar as interim director.

Chamber board President Greg Nygard said he thinks the interim position will last through March, while the board puts together a job posting for the permanent position, which opened when Jennifer Severson left in November.

Nygard said the board interviewed a handful of applicants before choosing Streetar, former mayor of Lake St. Croix Beach and chair of the Lower St. Croix Valley Community Foundation.

Lakeland Hospital gets DiaSorin Inc. employee funds DiaSorin Inc., a medical manufacturing company based in Italy with its North America location in Stillwater, recently announced it was donating its employee fundraising efforts to the Lakeview Hospital Foundation.

The company raised more than $8,000 for the hospital.

"These funds will go toward our greatest needs fund to help cover the costs of medical equipment and supplies that aren't currently budgeted for," Jim Bradshaw, the foundation's board chair, said in a release.

Council votes to extend lodging tax The Stillwater City Council voted recently to extend the 3 percent lodging tax for at least three more years.

From 2008 through Dec. 1 of this year, the tax generated more than $450,000 to fund the Stillwater and Oak Park Heights Convention and Visitors Bureau, which promotes the area as a tourist destination.

Emma L. Carew