Lindsey Moreland is an author, an artist, and a motivation speaker — all of which have helped her show that people with autism are capable of doing lots of amazing things. When Lindsey was diagnosed with autism at 28 months old, it changed her family's world. But her parents and sister have been her biggest support over the years, and the Morelands have teamed up to become autism advocates together.

That has included writing a book about the impacts autism has had on their family, and speaking at galas and events. Lindsey has gone on to write several children's books in a series called "Little Lindsey," helping educate kids and their families about autism.

In addition to working at Target in Hudson, Lindsey is an accomplished artist and poet, who recently had some of her work selected in a competition. She shares about her superpowers she's gained from her autism on the latest episode of St. Croix Stories. Plus, she shares her views on the popular TV show "Love on the Spectrum," recalls what it was like when Target CEO Brian Cornell her her inspiring story, and more.

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Like many kids, Chris Mick had dreams of being an astronaut. He started taking steps toward that goal, including making the drive from California to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. But some hurdles wound up ending his dream of going into space, including the fact that he grew to be too tall to be an astronaut. Despite that, Chris' love of space never wavered.

Fast forward to today, and Chris has been educating the Hudson community about space for many years. He's a regular speaker at classrooms all throughout the Hudson area, sharing his passion for space with kids of all ages. He also has brought space programming to the Hudson Area Public Library, where he now works full-time as a librarian.

Chris' love of space has led to some amazing opportunities, including the chance to visit launch sites and the opportunity to interview Buzz Aldrin, Scott and Mark Kelly, and more. He's taken those experiences and brought them back to Hudson, where he's shared them with many others and helped spark curiosity about space for residents young and old. Chris' many years of service as a STEM educator ultimately earned him the Volunteer of the Year award from the Hudson Chamber, and he continues to get locals excited about space.

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Is The Garage Bikes and Brews a bike shop first, or a brewery first? If you ask co-owner Stephanie Johnson, the answer is: both. Stephanie is a River Falls native who married a fellow River Falls native, Matt. The duo co-own The Garage, which opened in 2020 and is set to celebrate its fifth anniversary. The space offers a unique vibe where visitors can enjoy a beer — brewed by Stephanie and Matt's son Ellis — while also watching bikes get fixed behind the bar.

On this episode of St. Croix Stories, Stephanie shares more about how a wrist injury eventually fueled her passion for cycling as an adult, which ultimately became a family business. She also talks about the challenges of opening The Garage during the pandemic, discusses the music scene hosted at The Garage, and shares her favorite places to ride her bike in the St. Croix Valley.

The Garage is also participating in the Bluegrass, Bourbon & Brews Festival in River Falls as a host venue, and will be hosting many other musical acts throughout the summer. You can find a full list of events here.

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Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.