Woodbury’s new city administrator is a Woodbury resident with over 20 years of experience in local government, according to the city.

Jeffrey Dahl was announced as the new city administrator by the Woodbury City Council on Wednesday. After months of searching and narrowing down the selection of candidates to five, Dahl was chosen as the right fit. Dahl will start his position with the city July 28, once he is approved by the City Council during their June 11 meeting, according to a press release.

Jeffrey Dahl (Courtesy of the City of Woodbury)

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to work for such a strong organization in the city I call home,” Dahl said in the press release. “The city of Woodbury has great staff who care about the community and offer excellent service and connection to the residents of Woodbury. I look forward to working with staff and the City Council to build upon this commitment to be a premier community where everyone can live, work, and thrive.”

The council searched nationally for a new administrator with search firm Baker Tilly. Each of the five candidates was interviewed by the City Council, city staff and community members before the city council reached its final decision, according to the release.

Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt said in the press release that Dahl is a personable, strategic thinker and knows Woodbury well, making him a positive addition to serve Woodbury.

“I’m excited to welcome Jeffrey to the city of Woodbury team,” Burt said in the release. “We had an incredibly talented pool of applicants and Jeffrey impressed us all with his experience, his passion for public service and his approach to the job.”

Since 2016, Dahl has served as the city manager and HRA executive director for the city of Wayzata. In the past, he has been an assistant city administrator and economic development director in the city of Chaska and a city administrator and development services director for the city of Osseo, according to the release.

Dahl’s work in local government began through a community development internship with Woodbury in 2005, according to the release. He has a master’s degree in Political Science with an Urban Studies/Planning emphasis and a bachelor’s in International Relations from the University of Minnesota.

For close to 10 years, Dahl has lived in Woodbury with his wife, Christine, stepdaughter Camila and son Jack, according to the release.

After serving the city of Woodbury for 21 years, current Woodbury City Administrator Clint Gridley will retire from his position June 6.

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By MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — A graphic designer testified Wednesday that she was so traumatized after Sean “Diddy” Combs held her over a 17th-floor apartment balcony that she sometimes screamed in her sleep afterward.

Bryana ‘Bana’ Bongolan, 33, a friend of Combs’ former longtime girlfriend Cassie, said the 2016 assault at Cassie’s Los Angeles apartment caused a bruise on the back of her leg, along with back and neck pain. It also left her emotionally scarred, she told the jury.

“I have night terrors and paranoia and I would scream in my sleep sometimes,” said Bongolan, a creative and marketing director who runs her own art agency.

Her testimony came in the fourth week of evidence presentation by prosecutors as they seek to prove that Combs oversaw a racketeering organization composed of his employees and associates as he physically and sexually abused women for two decades.

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and other charges that, if convicted, could send him to prison for 15 years to life.

Bongolan is the latest woman to testify that the hip-hop mogul acted violently toward her and Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who already testified for four days about the abuse she incurred. Other witnesses described seeing him physically abusing women.

Cassie testified that she saw Combs bring one of her friends back over the railing of a balcony at her apartment in the early morning.

Cassie said she was asleep in her room when she awoke to the episode.

“I saw him bring her back over the railing of the balcony and then throw her onto the patio furniture,” Cassie testified.

When Bongolan recalled the attack, she said Combs barged into Cassie’s apartment, lifted her up and put her on the rail. She said she feared that she would plummet to her death as she pushed back against Combs.

“I was scared to fall,” she said. Combs was yelling at her throughout the ordeal, Bongolan said, estimating he held her over the railing for 10 to 15 seconds.

She said Combs then threw her onto balcony furniture. Adrenaline helped her power through the ordeal, Bongolan said. She recalled getting up immediately after being thrown down.

Bongolan said Cassie, who was sleeping in the bedroom, then came out and asked Combs: “Did you just hang her over the balcony?” Told that Bongolan’s ex-girlfriend was also in the apartment, Combs swiftly left, Bongolan said.

Bongolan said she has lasting effects from Combs assaulting her.

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“I have nightmares and I have a lot of paranoia and I used to scream a lot in my sleep, but it’s dissipated a little bit,” she testified.

Part of her paranoia, she said, includes opening doors carefully and peeking into rooms before going inside, and she added that she had a nightmare as recently as a few days ago.

Bongolan said Combs gave her drugs on three or four occasions, including ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and G, a substance she understood was the depressant GHB.

She said she also did drugs about once a week with Cassie when Combs wasn’t around.

Bongolan, testifying in response to a subpoena from prosecutors, was granted immunity after she initially said she would refuse to answer questions and invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. She was at least the third witness given immunity to testify.

Darts, a Dakota County nonprofit that provides social services for adults 55 and older, appointed the fifth president in its 51-year history this week.

Mike Lavin was announced as the new president of Dakota County aging service provider DARTS on June 2, 2025. Lavin is the successor to Ann Bailey, who held the role for 10 years and will retire July 1, 2025. (Courtesy of DARTS)

Mike Lavin stepped into the role of president on Monday, adding West St. Paul to the list of Dakota County communities he’s served.

“It is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to lead an organization with such deep roots in the community,” Lavin said in a news release from the nonprofit. “I am committed to continuing to build on the mission and values of DARTS as we maintain our dedication to older adults and caregivers.”

Prior to his appointment at Darts, Lavin spent some 30 years with YMCA of Greater St. Paul and YMCA of the North, taking on roles including senior director of childcare, vice president of operations and senior vice president of product growth, according to LinkedIn.

Lavin also served as executive director for YMCA locations in Eagan and Hastings, where he helped to establish youth sports leagues.

During his tenure with the Y, Lavin also helped create ForeverWell, a program that offers group exercise classes and social events for older adults. The program is now offered at YMCAs nationwide, according to the release.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and current Hastings resident, Lavin first began with Darts as a volunteer. He and his wife, Laurie Lavin, spent the last 10 years doing volunteer yardwork for the nonprofit.

Filling shoes?

For the past 10 years, Darts was led by Ann Bailey.

Darts former president Ann Bailey at the nonprofit’s offices in West St. Paul on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Bailey will retire on July 1 after 10 years as president of the aging services organization. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

Also a former Wisconsinite, Bailey learned of Darts in 2002 when her father was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease.

A unique trajectory, Bailey went from a caregiver receiving Darts services to a financial donor, then board member before being appointed president in June 2015.

RELATED: Ann Bailey offers advice, reflects on 10 years in Dakota County aging services

Under her leadership, the nonprofit introduced new programs and served thousands as it expanded its services to all of Dakota County and now includes southern Washington County and southern Ramsey County.

In a recent conversation with the Pioneer Press, Bailey shared her hopes for her successor.

“A lot of times people say, ‘Who will fill your shoes?’ I don’t want them to fill it. I want them to pick up the pair next to mine and walk their own path.”

Bailey will officially retire from the organization July 1.

“With a deep commitment to values and purpose-driven leadership, the board and I are confident that Mike is a good fit for Darts and Darts is a good fit for Mike,” Michele Engdahl, chair of the board of directors, said in the release. “We look forward to him continuing the legacy of excellence that Ann has built.”

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By Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service

Here’s a burger with an Italian touch. Tender, ground white meat chicken patties are generously topped with fragrant, rich pesto sauce and nestled between slices of rustic Italian Ciabatta bread. The traditional pesto is made with a blend of fresh basil, aromatic garlic, toasted pine nuts, premium olive oil, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. This vibrant sauce is readily available in jars at your local supermarket.

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The Ciabatta bread, hailing from the Veneto region in Italy, boasts a light, airy texture with large, soft air pockets, perfectly complementing the burger with its delicate crunch. It’s easily found at most grocery stores. For a quick and refreshing side, pair your burger with a simple coleslaw made from ready-to-eat fresh coleslaw mix available in the produce section.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Be sure to look for ground white meat chicken breast.

Any type of thick bread can be used instead of ciabatta bread.

Once the burger is in the skillet, do not move it for 4 minutes to allow it to form a crust.

COUNTDOWN:

Prepare ingredients.

Saute burger.

While burger sautes, make coleslaw.

SHOPPING LIST:

To buy: 3/4 pound ground chicken breast, 1 small container pesto sauce, 1 package ciabatta bread (4 slices needed), 1 can olive oil spray, 1 medium tomato, 1 small head lettuce, 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat coleslaw mix.

Staples: olive oil, salt and black peppercorns.

Pesto Chicken Burger

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

3/4 ground chicken breast
4 tablespoons prepared pesto sauce, divided use
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 slices ciabatta
Olive oil spray
1 medium sliced tomato
2 lettuce leaves

Add ground chicken to a bowl with 2 tablespoons prepared pesto sauce. Mix well to blend the two together. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Shape into burgers about 4 inches round and 1/2- inch thick. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully move the burgers into the skillet. A simple way to do this is with a wide metal spatula. Saute burgers for 4 minutes. Do not move the burgers until the 4 minutes are up. Turn the burgers over and saute another 4 minutes. A meat thermometer should read 165 to 170 degrees.

Meanwhile, spray cut sides of ciabatta with olive oil spray and toast in a toaster oven or under the broiler. Place cooked chicken burgers on cut side of 2 breads. Spoon remaining 2 tablespoons pesto sauce on top of each burger. Place 1 tomato slice on top of pesto sauce. Cover the tomato with lettuce leaves. Close with top of roll and serve.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 511 calories (43 percent from fat), 24.4 g fat (3.8 g saturated, 11.4 g monounsaturated), 131 mg cholesterol, 47.9 g protein, 29.2 g carbohydrates, 3.6 g fiber, 655 mg sodium.

Quick Coleslaw

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

2 cups washed, ready-to-eat coleslaw mix
1/4 cup reduced fat salad dressing

Add coleslaw mix to a bowl with the dressing. Toss well to combine all ingredients. Divide in half and serve with the burgers.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 41 calories (44 percent from fat), 2.0 g fat (0.2 g saturated, 0.7 g monounsaturated), 2 mg cholesterol, 1.0 g protein, 5.4 g carbohydrates, 1.8 g fiber, 22 mg sodium.

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