August 2010 Volume 16 Number 8
Your Community News & Information Source
Restaurateurs bringing variety, more jobs to Lowertown
National Poetry Slam comes to St. Paul Page 3
Sample St. Paul Event Guide Page 4 Photo by Marina Castillo
Lenny Russo at Heartland Restaurant and Farm-Direct Market, which he is preparing to open this summer at 289 Fifth St. E., St. Paul. Bill Knight Contributor
A
decade ago, downtown dining options were far more limited than today. However, with the increase in the downtown’s residential population, which some estimate to be near 10,000, that has changed. In recent years restaurants have become prevalent along St. Peter Street and Seventh Street, and are now growing in numbers in Lowertown. “What we’ve got is a good critical mass,” said chef and restaurant owner Lenny Russo, who is planning to open Heartland Restaurant and Farm-Direct Market at 289 Fifth St. E. later this summer. “(With) more people living here...the light rail is coming in
and the (possibility) of the Saints stadium coming in next to our building, it’s just going to get better.” That optimism, shared by other new restaurateurs, and the charm of Lowertown are some of the reasons for the new restaurants in this neighborhood.
A perfect location
“For us the key is having the right location and the opportunity to purchase the real estate,” said Russo, who looked at nearly 60 properties in the greater northern loop of Minneapolis before settling on Lowertown. He began his search after a deal fell through to buy the property of his former location in St. Paul’s Mac-Groveland neighborhood.
“We created a wish list of all the things we wanted and this had it, with the exception of outdoor seating,” he said of the Lowertown property. “The trade-off for that are the windows that surround the entire place and the atrium that goes up like seven stories.” His biggest challenge has been financing, which set the project back about three months. “We were able to get the financing, but not get the terms we wanted,” he said. “We were hoping to be open in the spring but now it looks like the end of summer.” Russo calls Lowertown the “the wheelhouse of our demographic, because we specialize in local food, and that’s what the Farmers’ Market is all about.” His restaurant is
across the street from the market. Russo will phase in the hours of operation, beginning with dinner service Tuesday through Sunday in the main dining room. Banquet seating will open at the same time. “I’m hoping to phase in brunch service on Friday and Saturday when the Farmers’ Market is open, but we’re not going to do that until we know how to do it well,” he said. The new restaurants in Lowertown are also creating more jobs, with about 15 new hires for Russo’s operation alone. About 25 people will work at Heartland, which is nearly twice the number employed at his former location.
Downtown Dining / Page 7
New park planned for Mississippi riverfront Page 6
F uller Files Lowertown documentary
Work on a documentary on Lowertown is about half completed, according to Dan Bergin, producer. The documentary deals with the origins of Lowertown, when it was a hub of warehouses and manufacturing, but concentrates on recent decades when the area was revitalized by a grant from the McKnight Foundation. Bergin plans to complete the one-hour documentary in early 2011 and show it on Twin Cities Public Television. He also plans to have it available on DVD, the web, and the Minnesota channel of Twin Cities Television.
Dorms added to Lowry
Your community news and information source
by Roger Fuller
Two floors of the Lowry Hotel at Fourth and Wabasha will be converted into dormitory-style living quarters for students at McNally Smith College of Music. Each unit
is being remodeled to include a full bathroom and kitchen. Recreational and study areas will be available to serve the 100 students expected to live there. McNally Smith has about 700 students enrolled in two- and fouryear programs.
Music in Mears
Music in Mears will offer live music and movies at 6 p.m., Thursdays at Mears Park. The concert schedule includes Minor Kingdom and Zoo Animal on Aug. 5, Unknown Prophets and The Spectaculars on Aug. 12, and Halloween Alaska with Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps on Aug. 19. The Aug. 26 program is yet to be announced. Movies begin at 9 p.m. and include “The Birds” on Aug. 5, “Jailhouse Rock” on Aug. 12, “Grey Gardens” on Aug. 19 and “O Brother Where Art Thou” on Aug. 26.
Friends of Mears Park volunteers
About 80 downtown residents have volunteered to maintain small flower gardens at Mears Park. Del Case, coordinator of the program for Friends of Mears Park, said each participant commits to planting flowers and caring for them during the summer. Most of the plots are near shade trees.
District 17 election
Eleven people were elected to two-year terms of the CapitolRiver Council/District 17 board of directors. They are Chris Beckstrom, Claudia Cackler, Ed Coleman, Julio Fesser, Rod Halvorson, Karl Karlson, Ellen McPartlan, Troy Parkinson, John Patton, Anderson Perryman III and Anabel Wirt. They will join eleven members elected last year to two-year terms, ten people representing downtown organizations
and corporations, and three at-large members. The group meets at 7:30 a.m., the third Wednesday of the month at the skyway level of the US Bank Center.
Central Library events
Central Library Book Club will feature “The Latehomecomer” by Kao Kalia Yang at 10:30 a.m., Thurs., Aug. 12. The History Book Club will discuss “The Guthrie Theater: Images, History and Inside Stories” by Peg Guilfoyle at 2 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 26. Movies shown at dusk in the Library courtyard facing Kellogg Boulevard include: “Mad Hot Ballroom” on Aug. 6 and “Sabar” on Aug. 13. Open computer lab is available at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, and job search assistance is offered at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.
National Night Out
A National Night Out event will be held at
Mears Park 6-8 p.m., Tues., Aug. 3. The annual nationwide event is intended to help neighbors get to know one another and promote crime prevention. Members of law enforcement agencies will give tips on making the neighborhood safer, and the event will feature music and prizes.
City Passport events
City Passport senior citizen center on the mezzanine level of Alliance Bank Building will host the following activities in August: Happy Birthday party at 2 p.m., Mon., Aug. 9; a current events discussion at 11 a.m., Fri., Aug. 20; Bingo at 10:30 a.m., Wed., Aug. 25; ice cream floats at 1:30 p.m., Fri., Aug. 27; a ladies tea at 2:30 p.m., Mon., Aug. 30; a coupon project at 1 p.m. on Mondays; and the Baby Knit Club at 1 p.m. Thursdays. Movies shown at 1 p.m. Thursdays include “Under-
world Evolution” on Aug. 5, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” on Aug. 12, “The Blind Side” on Aug. 19 and “The Man Who Knew Too Much” on Aug. 26.
Work underway for interpretive center at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary
Contaminated soil at the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary is being removed to make way for a new interpretive center, according to Sarah Clark of the Lower Phalen Creek Project. Clark added that East Side Youth Conservation Corps is weeding the sanctuary and removing invasive species. Also, the St. Paul Garden Club made a grant for a Rain Garden in the sanctuary. The entrance is on East Seventh Street near Payne Avenue but most people reach it by heading east at Fifth and Broadway at the Gillette building until they come to the Commercial Street intersection.
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F uller Files
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Tot Lot needs help
St. Paul’s Soap Boxing Slam Poetry team
Poetry slam returns to St. Paul
The St. Paul Poetry Slam team is about to defend the title it won at last year’s National Poetry Slam. This year’s slam will be held in St. Paul, Aug. 3-7. Matt Rucker, coach of the local team, said about 80 four-member teams will take part in two competitions during the preliminary rounds. The 20 teams with the highest scores will move on to the semifinals, held at the Artists’ Quarter, Fitzgerald Theatre, History Theatre and McNally Smith. The finals will be at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Judges will be selected at random from the audience. The St. Paul team includes Sierra De Mulder, Sam Cook, Guante, Khary Jackson and Shane Hawley. About 5,000 people are expected to attend. For more details, visit www.nps2010.com.
The flooring of the Tot Lot at Fourth and Sibley in Lowertown is beginning to weaken, according to the environmental committee of CapitolRiver Council/District 17. Chris Beckstrom, cochair, suggested a Friends of the Tot Lot group be formed to address the issue. He added that the St. Paul Conservancy could be a possible source of funding. Jim Olson of the Conservancy said the group is a nonprofit that improves parks in the St. Paul area. He said when the Conservancy’s work at Lilydale Park is completed, it will be able to consider other projects.
Union Depot update
The historic Union Depot in Lowertown is scheduled to be renovated by 2012 to serve long distance trains to Seattle and Chicago. It served
trains from the 1920s until 1971, when the Midway Amtrak station was built. About $130 million of the $240 million project has been committed. The project includes stabilizing the structure, historic preservation and renovation. When completed, the Depot will also serve Greyhound and Jefferson buses and the light rail transit line to Minneapolis.
Taste of Minnesota evaluates event
Taste of Minnesota owners will be evaluating the results of last month’s event, which charged admission for the first time. Visitors purchased tickets for $20 or $30 to an event that had been free since the early ’80s. Andy Faris of Taste said the admission revenue allowed Taste to have five music stages, and improve musical selections and the variety of food vendors.
Some of the long-time food vendors reported less business this year. Faris said a happy medium must be found between the ticket price and what the Taste offers. He added that the annual Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis charges admission.
Black Dog events
Black Dog Café, 308 Prince St., will host a First Friday event 4-6 p.m., Fri., Aug. 6. From 6-9 p.m., many artists from area studios will open their doors to the public in conjunction with the event. Participating studios are in the Northern Warehouse, Tilsner, Jax and Lowertown cooperative, all within a block of the cafe. The CapitolRiver Council/District 17 holds the event to help residents get better acquainted.
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S ample St. Paul Children’s Museum “The Wizard of Oz,” the first officially licensed and sanctioned traveling educational exhibit based on the beloved film classic, is featured through Sept. 12. Visitors will journey through child-size reproductions of memorable sets from the movie, such as the colorful Land of Oz, the Witch’s Castle and Emerald City. Tickets are $8.95. The museum is located at 10 W. Seventh St., St. Paul. For more information, call 651-2256000.
Ordway Center for Performing Arts “The Gospel at Colonus” is featured Aug. 5-11 at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul. This performance retells Sophocles’ classic tragedy “Oedipus at Colonus” through the medium of modern gospel. Taking up the dramatic tension and emotional turmoil of classical tragedy and
infusing it with inventive performances and a musical montage, this soul-stirring production features the sounds of the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Legendary Soul Stirrers, and The Steeles. Tickets are $27-$80. For more information, call 651-224-4222 or visit www.ordway.org.
History Center “The Beatles! A OneNight Stand in the Heartland” is presented through Sept. 12 at the Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. The Beatles perfomed only once in Minnesota, on Aug. 21, 1965. This exhibit features images taken by Bill Carlson, of frenzied fans, close-up images of the band and concert images, some of which have never before been seen. The exhibit also tells the story of a young photographer who got the experience of a lifetime, a local concert promoter who chose not to advertise the concert
Your community news and information source for fear crowds might get out of control, and the lucky fans who did attend. “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom” - This exhibit features more than 6,000 square-feet of artifacts, interactive displays and innovative multimedia experiences that reveal the lives and stories of the men and women who came of age during the Depression and World War II, and who went on to create the phenomenal postwar boom. The exhibit features first-person narratives in recorded interviews, images, film and audio. “MN 150”- Meet 150 people, places, events and things that sparked significant change within Minnesota and beyond. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students, and $5 for children ages 6-17. The Center offers free admission on Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. For more informa-
tion, call 651-259-3000 or visit www.mnhs.org.
History Theatre Sample Night Live, a sampling of local productions, is featured at the History Theatre at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month, except February. The format features 12 acts per night, including theater, film, dance, improv, visual arts, folk and opera. The next performance is Aug. 4. Tickets are $20. The History Theater is located at 30 E. Tenth St., St. Paul. For more information, call the box office at 651-292-4323.
Science Museum “Dead Sea Scrolls: Words That Changed the World.” - This exhibit, featured through Oct. 24, offers a rare opportunity to witness one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. The Dead Sea Scrolls include the earliest known Biblical writ-
Photo courtesy of Miami Children’s Museum
“The Wizard of Oz,” the first officially licensed and sanctioned traveling educational exhibit based on the beloved film classic, is featured through Sept. 12.
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S ample St. Paul ings. The 2,000-year-old authentic text fragments are steeped in scientific, religious and cultural significance. Complementing the exhibit is “Arabia,” showing in the Omnitheater. This film offers a look at Arabia’s culture, history and religion. Tickets are $28 for adults and $22 for children ages 4-12 and seniors age 60 and older, or $34 and $28 respectively with admission to the Omnitheater. The Science Museum is located at 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. For more information, visit www.smm.org or call 651-221-9444.
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through Aug. 28 for the University of Minnesota Showboat Players’ summer production of “Triumph of Love,” by Pierre Marivaux. The comedy follows a princess who, on her quest to return her crown to its rightful owner (the young scholar Agis, who has been taught to loathe and distrust women since birth), must disguise herself as a man. Concealed identities, confused affairs and a confounded love triangle abound. The evening includes olios and Showboat’s signature vaudevillesque musical numbers. For dates and ticket information, call 651-227-1100 or visit www.showboat.umn.edu.
Artists’ Quarter
The Artists’ Quarter, located in the Historic Hamm Building at Seventh Place and St. Peter in downtown St. Paul, offers live entertainment throughout the month, including jazz bands, poetry nights and the popular B-3 organ night, held at 9 p.m. every Tuesday. For more information, call 651-292-1359 or visit www.artistsquarter. com.
Nine Nights of Music
Central Library
Free performances are offered Tuesday evenings at the Minnesota History Center Plaza, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W. Lively music will get your toes tappin’, and dance instructors from the Tapestry Folkdance Center will help you get movin’. Pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. Come early and take advantage of free admission to museum galleries, 5-8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances
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will be held indoors in the 3M Auditorium. For more information on the following performances, visit www.mnhs.org/historycenter • Aug. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m. - National Night Out with Vic Volare and the Fabulous Volare Lounge Orchestra, Swing • Aug. 10, 6:30-8 p.m. - Mi Tierra, eight-piece ensemble, Mariachi • Aug. 17, 6:30-8 p.m. - The Butanes Soul Revue, seven-piece ensemble, Rhythm & Blues/ Soul • Aug. 24, 6:30-8 p.m., Kevin Anthony and the Twin City Playboys, Cajun/Country • Aug. 31, 6:30-8 p.m. - High 48s, Traditional Bluegrass Summer nights of movies and dance are offered through mid-August at Central Library, 90 West 4 th St., and Landmark Center’s outdoor dance floor, 75 W. 5 th St. Thursdays will be dedicated to dance and Fridays to movies. Each week will feature a different dance theme. Instructors from local dance studios will demonstrate moves from the latest dance crazes, 5:30-6:30 p.m., with dancing offered 7-10 p.m. on an open-air dance floor next to the
Landmark Center, on the site of the winter skating rink. Music will be provided by a local band. On Friday evening, the dance theme continues with a dance-related movie shown in the Kellogg Boulevard Courtyard outside the Central Library. Movies are shown at dusk. For more information on the following events, contact 651-222-3242 or friends@the friends.org. • Aug. 5 - Ambassadors of Swing • Aug. 6 - “Mad Hot Ballroom.” In this compelling 2005 documentary, the students of several New York City elementary schools learn ballroom dancing and compete in a citywide dance competition. • Aug. 12 - Afrobeat band The New Primitives • Aug. 13 - TBD
ies, is offered through Aug. 26 in Mears Park in downtown St. Paul. Concerts are offered 6-9 p.m., Thursdays, and movies will be shown following the concerts. Each event will feature food and beverages from local restaurants, as well as displays from local merchants and artists. For more information, visit www.musicinmears.com.
Minnesota State Fair
The Great Minnesota Get-Together, takes place
Aug. 26-Sept. 6 in St. Paul, featuring Minnesota’s finest agriculture, and industry. Everything edible on a stick can be found at the fair, along with a giant Midway, a kidway, free music, Grandstand concerts, animals, parades and much more. Tickets are $11 (free for kids age 5 and under). Bargain days and discounted tickets bought before the Fair are available. For more information, visit www. mnstatefair.org.
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Between Jobs: Connect to Today’s Job Market Using LinkedIn for Job Searching 6:30 p.m. Tues. • August 3
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Using Networking to Unlock the Hidden Job Market 6:30 p.m. Tues. • August 17
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Identifying Transferrable Skills and Online Job Search Tools 6:30 p.m. Tues. • August 24
Rice Street Library • 1011 Rice St., St. Paul • 651-558-2223
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Downtown St. Paul Voice - August 2010 - Page 5
R iver Connections New park planned for Mississippi riverfront
Your community news and information source
Scherer Brothers Lumber site to become newest park in Mississippi National River Recreation Area significantly higher acreage of parkland along the river than Minneapolis, our sister city is also concerned with providing more access to the great river. For example, in June, its Parks board
Tim Spitzack Editor
W
hile St. Paul proudly claims to have more Mississippi River riverfront than any other river town, and a
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acquired about 11 acres to create what will become the newest park in the Mississippi National River Recreation Area, a 72-mile corridor along the river from Dayton to Hastings that is managed by the National Park Service. The site, located on the east bank of the Mississippi River upstream of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge and Boom Island Park, was purchased for $7.7 million from the Scherer Brothers Lumber Company. Once developed, this new park will provide more river access, as well as a connection to the bike trail corridor in downtown Minneapolis. The majority of the funding — $5.3 million — came from the Legacy Act’s Parks and Trails Fund. About $1.7 million came from the Regional Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund, and $700,000 from 35W bridge condemnation funds from parkland purchased for the new 35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis.
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Plans are underway to transform this former lumberyard and storage facility into a park offering public access to the Mississippi River.
A competition for parkland
According to the St. Paul Riverfront Corporation and St. Paul Parks and Recreation, St. Paul has 26 miles of shoreline and 4,200 acres of riverfront parkland. These amenities are part of the Great River Park, a concept introduced in 2006 to link existing parkland within the river corridor. Minneapolis has 15 miles of shoreline and 598 acres of riverfront parkland. It also has its own plan to further develop the riverfront. Named the Above the Falls Master Plan, it calls for continuous park and trail development along both banks of the river from the Plymouth Bridge to the northern city limits and North Mississippi Regional Park. Since the plan’s adoption in 2000, parkland has been developed or improved on both banks, and several trails on the west bank have been completed. Riverfront protection in Minneapolis dates to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when the city secured land for parks from St. Anthony Falls south to Minnehaha Falls and the St. Paul border. From the early 1970s through the late 1980s, the Minneapolis Park Board developed the Central Riverfront from St. Anthony Falls to the Plymouth Bridge, and in 2000 began work on the riverfront north of the falls. The newest parcel being developed has been a
lumberyard and lumber storage facility since the 1930s.
History of the site
According to company history, Scherer Brothers Lumber Company dates back to the logging boomat the turn of the twentieth century, when the vast red and white pine forests of northern Minnesota were harvested and the timber was floated down the river to various mills. The Scherer Brothers — Munn and Clarence — capitalized on what the lumber companies considered waste: the logs, or deadheads, that submerged to the bottom of the river during frequent log jams. They, like other “deadheaders,” probed the river bottom for the sunken logs, pulled them from the water with a hook and chain attached to a winch on a boat, and sold them to local mills. In 1929, Munn and Clarence Scherer purchased a lumber mill from their brother-in-law, Joe Leuer, and operated there until moving to the present site in 1934. Business was difficult in the early years during the Great Depression, and the brothers typically found themselves without cash and without business prospects. Nonetheless, they hung on and were tenacious in protecting their enterprise. For example, one day while Clarence and Munn were harvesting deadheads from the river, two men rowed out to meet them
in a small boat. The men showed them a document of an alleged transaction they just completed that gave them rights to all the deadhead logs in the Mississippi River. They informed them that from that day forth they would have to pay them $5 per thousand board feet of lumber for all deadheads harvested. Clarence glanced at the paper, and then at the man, and reached for a short pole. “Mister,” he said. “I don’t know who you are and I don’t know where you come from, but when a man is a crook it does something to his face, and there’s something wrong with your face. Now if you’re trying to put me out of business, I think I’ll drown you first.” As he made a rush for the two visitors, they quickly jumped back in their boat, rowed to shore and were never seen again, at least by the Scherers. From the 1930s to 1940s, deadhead logging on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Lake Mille Lacs produced some 22 million board feet of lumber. Of this, Scherer Brothers estimates they sawed about 15 million board feet. One jam site alone produced about 1.5 million board feet of white pine. Today, Scherer Brothers makes dozens of building products and offers builders and remodelers a service for nearly every aspect of building. A redevelopment timeline has not yet been set.
B usiness Downtown Dining / from page 1
The appeal of Lowertown
Chef Amy Shipshock, who heads up the patisserie and baking department at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Mendota Heights, said there could be several reasons for Lowertown attracting new restaurants. “For many years, people have had to go to Minneapolis for a nice evening out and it seems they now don’t want to drive that far, especially if they have had some wine or spirits with dinner,” she said. Shipshock, who has been in the culinary industry for 10 years, believes people are looking for unique, privately owned establishments and are attracted by the charm of Lowertown. “People are looking for something smaller, a quaint place where you can have a glass of wine
Your community news and information source and some type of tapas, a small bite of something (appetizer),” she said. “And customers like to support local restaurants with someone trying to make a go of it on their own.” She discounted that trendy cuisine is a guiding force in the type of restaurants being started today. “A person who is opening a restaurant has likely had something, the cuisine for example, in their head for years,” she said. “And the types of their food offerings are usually guided by market research in order to see what is available and what is selling.” She also said people who eat out frequently are becoming more interested in and more knowledgeable about food. “In Minnesota, we are becoming a food mecca because we can now compete with, on a small scale of course, the Chicagos of the food world because of the award-
winning chefs we have here,” she said.
Sushi and tempura
By the end of the year entrepreneur Henry Chan, 31, plans to open his fourth Shanghai Bistro – this one at 255 Sixth St. in Lowertown. His other locations that serve American-Chinese cuisine are in Woodbury and Hudson and Eau Claire, Wis. This 150-seat operation will employ about 80 people, while another restaurant on the second floor of the same building will have a JapaneseAmerican theme, with a sushi bar, a tempura bar and a nightclub. “Right now there is a parking ramp (on the street level) so it’s hard to visualize,” he said. “The ramp will be redesigned for cars to go to the second level and all the street level parking will be made into the restaurant.” Chan has quite a bit of experience opening
restaurants. His first, in 2004, was a sushi bar in Eau Claire, followed four years later with a similar venture in Woodbury. Two years after that, it was back to Wisconsin for his third restaurant, in Hudson. Growing up in Eau Claire, Chan worked with his parents and a mentor to learn the restaurant business. He said he isn’t guided by industry trends but rather has a great deal of confidence in his spontaneous decisions. “Seeing that building and others in the area and the people living there and what is coming, well, it just felt right,” he said. “This is a great spot. Dave (Brooks, the building owner) was behind us. And there’s nothing like that (building) in St. Paul.” Even though he faces a major remodeling project — the building was con-
demned before Brooks bought it – Chan is upbeat about his future. He plans to be his own general contractor on the remodeling and hopes to open next year. He estimates the project will
cost about $1 million. “It would cost someone else about six to seven million,” he said. “But because we’re able to source things ourselves, that will save us a ton (of money).”
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N ews Briefs La Familia expo to feature job fair
A job fair is the newest addition to the 8 th annual La Familia expo, held Sat., Sept. 12. The expo is also moving to a new location—the Wellstone Center/Neighborhood House on the West Side. The event had been at the Xcel Energy Center since its inception but is moving to be closer to the heart of the most established Latino neighborhood in the Twin Cities. It will feature numerous displays, entertainment and informational session, including health and the environment. La Familia is produced by West Side-based Aguilar Productions and features attractions for the entire family. It is held in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15). Companies interested in exhibiting at La Familia should contact Aguilar Productions at 651-665-0633 or aguilarproductions@ msn.com.
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Million Acorn Challenge
West Side-based Great River Greening is inviting school, community and neighborhood youth groups to collect as many acorns as they can between Aug. 16 and Sept. 30 to be used to help restore rare oak woodland forests along the St. Croix River Valley. The challenge — one million acorns collected — will culminate on Oct. 2, with a Great Weigh-In party, featuring the official acorn weigh-in, an acorn planting and free food. To receive a registration packet with information on rules, guidelines and acorn collection tips and techniques, or with questions, contact Mark Turbak at 651-6659500, ext. 11, or mturbak@greatrivergreening. org.
Volunteer opportunities • Ramsey County Community Human Services has volunteer opportunities for peo-
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ple age 18 and older. For more information, contact 651-266-4090 or volunteerservices@ co.ramsey.mn.us. • Minnesota Literacy Council - Volunteers are needed to tutor adult learners, assist in an adult classroom and teach basic English and GED classes. For more information, contact Allison at 651645-2277, ext 219, or volunteer@themlc.org. • St. Paul Public Schools - Volunteers are needed to tutor elementary students in the St. Paul Public schools in reading and math. Under the guidance of a classroom teacher, volunteers assist students one-onone or in small groups. For more information, contact Connie at 612617-7807 or e-mail cerickson@voamn.org. Volunteers age 55 and older are eligible to receive free supplemental insurance, mileage reimbursement and other benefits through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), sponsored by Volunteers of America of Minnesota. • The Minnesota Reading Corps is seeking reading tutors for the 2010/2011 school year. The program provides free, one-on-one tutoring to children age three through third grade. Minnesota Reading Corps members receive a living stipend, reimbursement for college (up to $5,350) and health insurance (for fulltime members). For more information or to apply
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online, visit www.MinnesotaReadingCorps.org or call 1-866-859-2825.
HHW collection
Ramsey County’s household hazardous waste collection site at Bay West, located near the State Capitol at 5 Empire Dr. in St. Paul, is open year-round. Dropoff is free for residents of Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Hennepin, Anoka and Carver counties with a photo I.D. If you drop off an old mercury thermometer, you can receive a new digital thermometer for free. You can also receive a free, reusable 2.5-gallon container to hold used motor oil. Items accepted include, but are not limited to, aerosol cans (no empty cans), paint (no empty or dry cans), antifreeze, paint stripper and thinner, batteries, fluorescent lights, used motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, kerosene, weed killer, products with mercury, such as thermometers, and wood preservatives. Appliances and electronics are not accepted. For hours of operation and more information, call the Ramsey County Recycling & Disposal Hotline at 651-633-EASY (3279) or visit www. co.ramsey.mn.us/ph (click on Home & Yard and then HHW Information & Collection Sites).
Rice Park tours
Rice Park tours are offered at 10 a.m., Wednesdays Aug. 4 and 18, and Sept. 1 and 15, at
Landmark Center’s visitor information center. The tours feature an exclusive look inside each building surrounding the park, including the St. Paul Hotel, the St. Paul Central Public Library, the James Jill Hill Reference Library, 317 on Rice and The Ordway Center for Performing Arts. The tours are free but space is limited and reservations are required. To reserve space, call 651-292-3276 or email jhernandez@ landmarkcenter.org.
Documentaries sought for ‘1968 Film Festival’
Saturday Live returns to Central Amateur and profes- Library
sional filmmakers alike are invited to share their stories about one of our country’s most turbulent years — 1968. The Minnesota Historical Society is seeking 10-minute documentaries for its “1968 Film Festival” competition, which is open to filmmakers of all levels and includes $10,000 in prize money. Topics may be local, national, personal or political. Interested filmmakers must register at www. the1968project.org by Sept. 10. There is no fee to register. Films will be judged by a panel of historians and film professionals. Winning films and awards will be presented at the “1968 Film Festival,” held Sept. 25 at the Minnesota History Center. Registrants receive special discounts on the “Documentary Nuts and Bolts” classes offered by IFP-
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The popular Saturday Live series will continue this August with weekly performances at the St. Paul Public Central Library, 90 W. Fourth St., St. Paul. The following programs begin at 11:15 a.m. For more information, visit www.sppl.org. Aug. 7 - Hunter Marionettes will present its cast of intricate, handcrafted marionettes. Aug. 14 - Remarkable Reptiles will present a lively fast-paced program that teaches about the world of reptiles using live animals. Aug. 21 - Magician Matt Dunn will perform his comedy magic show, featuring a live rabbit and audience participation. Aug. 28 - Dazzling Dave will entertain and teach about the Yo-Yo, one of the world’s oldest toys.
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Minnesota and access to and use of photographs, video footage and documents from the Society’s archives and collections. Award-winning films will be posted at www.the1968project. org. Winners from the 2009 Film Festival can be viewed there as well. “The 1968 Project” is developed by the Minnesota Historical Society in cooperation with the Chicago History Museum, the Atlanta History Center and the Oakland Museum of California.
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