The Citizen

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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

First black judge in Washington County history

‘True friends’ mark 35 years of marriage BY SHANNON GRANHOLM EDITOR

BY ELIZABETH CALLEN STAFF WRITER

HUGO — Robin Udstuen was John Udstuen’s first and only girlfriend. The Hugo residents have now been married for 35 years. “I am real proud to say I have been with one woman,” John said. Robin grew up in Vadnais Heights and John in Roseville. The two met at Country Kitchen when John was 15 and Robin was 18. John was working as a dishwasher and Robin as a waitress. John explained that one night while he was walking home after work, he was struck by a drunk driver. “He ran me over and almost killed me. I was in the hos-pital for about a month,” John recalled. It was then that vRobin started showing up to visit him while he was recovering. “It was amazing. She was there almost every day, It just as much as my family. She just never left,” he said. “It ng. started out where she was concerned about a human being. ming After I got out of the hospital, she eventually started coming nship.” over to my house and it just evolved into a dating relationship.” g a nice Robin said, “He was just a nice guy and I was just being person. My nature is to care for everyone all the time. I was there to help out and be a friend.”

STILLWATER — The walls of the Washington County Courthouse judicial chambers are lined with portraits of former judges, most of them white and male. There are no black judges pictured, but once Judge Juanita Freeman’s photograph is added to the collection, there will be. Former Governor Mark Dayton appointed Freeman as a 10th District Court judge after Susan Miles announced her retirement last fall. Freeman previously worked as a senior assistant Hennepin County attorney in the adult prosecution and child protection divisions. She said she was surprised to learn that she made history by accepting the appointment, thereby becoming the fi rst black judge to serve in

SEE LOVE STORY, PAGE 15

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SEE FREEMAN, PAGE 15

American Legion Post 620 dishes up ‘The Post’ BY SHANNON GRANHOLM EDITOR

HUGO — American Legion Post 620 patrons will soon find many more homemade options on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Next month, Chris and Emily Salerno, of Mounds View, plan to open their restaurant, The Post, inside the Legion. “We have been talking for a long time about how to expand our kitchen, how to bring in people for some good food and good times,” said Post Cmdr. Greg Burmeister. “When I fi rst brought this up to the executive board, they said, ‘No way, this will never work.’ I talked to Chris, and he said, ‘Let me cook them a meal.’ He came in, made the rigatoni and a couple of bites

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in they said, ‘You guys do what you gotta do.’” Manager Stacey Carlson said, “They were sold.” “We have been talking and dreaming about starting our own restaurant for so long now. Chris has just been itching to get his own place,” Emily explained. Chris added, “Once you have been in a kitchen for so long, it becomes part of your DNA.” In addition to Chris’ 20 years of experience as a chef, he grew up in an Italian home and started crafting dishes at a very young age. Originally from New York City, he attended school at Tulane University in New Orleans. “I went for a sports management degree and became a chef,” he said laughing. After he graduated, he

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moved back to New York City to fi nd a career in line with his degree. He later moved back to New Orleans, where he thought he would remain. “A friend of mine managed a fine-dining supper club and I asked him if he could find me a job. He said he could get me a gig as a back waiter ... he said the only (job) he had available in the kitchen was a dishwasher, so I took it. I was the sous chef at the restaurant a year later.” Shortly after Chris started working at the supper club, Emily did too. Emily hails from Minnesota, but moved to New Orleans for the warmer weather. Eventually, the two decided to move back to Minnesota to raise a family.

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Chris and Emily Salerno, of Mounds View, plan to open their restaurant, The Post, at American Legion Post 620 in Hugo.

SEE THE POST, PAGE 11

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