Downtown St. Paul Voice Dec. 2020 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

Downtown St. Paul

The Angel of Bethesda Page 3

Volume 26 | Number 12

Three Questions for B Kyle, executive director of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce

Editor’s note: this new series provides insight from community leaders on the top issues of the day. COVID-19 has posed a significant challenge to the business community, particularly retailers and the hospitality industry. What are their top needs in the next 3-6 months to navigate these uncertain times? This is an excellent question and one I spent a good deal of time considering. I also contacted my friend Liz Rammer at Hospitality Minnesota to get her input. The local retailers, restaurants and hospitality are on their knees. No delicate way to say it. They are facing historic economic hardship due to the pandemic and associated risk-mitigation strategies. These sectors represent nearly 300,000 workers and the

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Holiday EVENT GUIDE

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and yes there are festive events to celebrate this holiday season. See page 4

• LIVE & VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES • HOLIDAY LIGHTS DISPLAYS • A HYGEE HOLIDAY • FLOWER SHOW • MUCH MORE...

Three questions / Page 5

December 2020

Bundle up for farm-fresh favorites Indoor market canceled. Outdoor market goes on. Tim Spitzack Editor

ome November, hundreds of St. Paulites know its time to visit Linda and Mike Noble at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market. The week of Thanksgiving they drive to Fifth and Wall streets to pick up a fresh holiday turkey from the Nobles, who raise the birds and other livestock on their organic-certified farm near Kenyon, Minn. The Nobles have gained quite a following over the past 20 years—upwards of 800 customers—for their poultry, beef, pork, lamb and other products. They are among the hearty vendors who sell year-round at the market despite whatever Mother Nature throws at them. This year they’ll be joined by other growers who normally retreat indoors when a cold chill fills the autumn air. For the past dozen years, the St. Paul Growers’ Association has offered an indoor market during the winter months. It began in the former Golden’s Deli at 275 E. Fourth St., and three years ago moved to the nearby Market House Collaborative. For the past two years, they also had a site at Union Depot. That will change this year because the Association couldn’t find a space big enough for proper social distancing during the pandemic. Winter market / Page 6

It’s complicated: no easy answers in addressing homelessness Tim Spitzack Editor

y recent conversation with downtown resident John Higgins hints at the complexity of homelessness, a crisis made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of winter. Having once been homeless, Higgins now finds himself fearful of those experiencing the plight he once faced.

After fleeing a violent roommate in 2012, Higgins found himself living under a bridge in Portland, Ore. To make matters worse, he was also undergoing treatment for cancer and hepatitis C, which made working nearly impossible. With no job and no cash, he quickly realized how difficult it was to find stable housing. Today, he is trying his best to carve out a better future for himself. He is on rent

subsidy and food stamps and is working with a social service agency on job training, but his physical disabilities limit his options. Equally challenging, he said, is the lack of safety he feels in his adopted city. Since moving to St. Paul in 2015, he has seen the homeless population grow and has witnessed an increase in drug trafficking and violent behavior. He said he regularly finds people in his building stealing laun-

dry or trying to break into apartments, and when he confronts them some get aggressive, others run away. “I agree we need to help these people,” he said, “but I don’t feel safe anymore.” Higgins understands that being homeless forces people to do things they might not otherwise do, and that some unsheltered people—by no means all—experience mental illness or addiction. He said he helps when he can.

He even carries Narcan nasal spray, an FDA-approved treatment for those suspected of having an opioid overdose, and has used it four times on people in downtown St. Paul. He believes creating more affordable housing is the answer to helping the homeless but says housing units for them should include on-site drug counseling and health services.

On the front line The City of St. Paul, Ramsey County and countless organizations and foundations have long been working to solve the crisis, which worsened this summer. According to David Katzenmeyer, program supervisor of Project Recovery and Street Outreach at People Incorporated Mental Homelessness / Page 2

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Homelessness from page 1

Health Services in St. Paul, the people living in the large downtown tent encampments that were so visible this summer and fall are the chronically homeless, and many struggle with mental health and addictions. In his nine years working with People Incorporated’s street outreach program in both Ramsey and Hennepin counties, he has seen the number of unsheltered people climb ever higher. He and other outreach workers visit people on the street and

other places to provide supplies—tents, sleeping bags, food, warm socks—to meet their basic needs and offer resources to find additional help. “Nobody’s experience is the same,” he said. “This job has helped me be a more empathetic person. It’s a privilege to be a helping person in someone’s life when they need it.” It can also be a challenge to help people find the services they need. “The vast number of peo-

ple I know who are homeless value safety and dignity,” said Katzenmeyer. “They work really hard just to stay alive and meet their basic needs. People want help. The most common misconception I hear is that these people don’t want help. I’ve never found that to be true. Almost everyone I’ve talked to has tried to access services but has had a bad experience or not gotten the help they need.” Katzenmeyer said the lack of affordable housing is the biggest culprit, saying there is simply not enough of it. Ramsey County maintains a priority list to help con-

nect people to openings in housing programs, but that process is slow-moving. “There are 1,200-1,300 people on the waiting list,” he said. “It can be several months before a housing opportunity comes up.” And when it does, it’s often difficult to find the people who are on the waiting list. He said he and other outreach workers in his organization provide their phone numbers to the County so they can call them for help. When they do, they try to track down that person, which is harder these days because the places people normally go to escape the elements are

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Page 2 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - December 2020

closed or have reduced hours due to the pandemic. Public libraries and light rail trains are the most common places, he said. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 8 million low-income households in the U.S. pay at least half of their income toward housing; housing is deemed affordable when it does not exceed 30 percent. Federally funded public housing programs offer rent subsidies to eligible people with a low income but only one in four eligible households receive it due to lack of funding, according to the Alliance. Furthermore, people in low-income households are typically unemployed or underemployed due to limited education, a gap in work history or a criminal record, and often have unreliable transportation, poor health or a disability. These and other factors can make it difficult to get a lease. “While there is some increase (in homelessness) due to COVID, this is a reality every winter,” said Katzenmeyer. “A study in January 2020 showed there were 338 unsheltered people in Ramsey County.” That mirrors the County’s estimate this fall of approximately 300. The County made strides this fall at providing more shelter space when it leased the Bethesda Hospital building in St. Paul from M Health Fairview in October, resulting in 100 beds for the homeless. That move garnered a mixed response from the public. During an Oct. 8 community meeting hosted by Ramsey County, some neighbors to the Bethesda property supported the plan, but far more opposed it, citing safety concerns. Fairview is closing both Bethesda and St. Joseph’s hospital in downtown St. Paul, and the shelter at Bethesda is expected to open Dec. 1. This summer, the City of St. Paul has provided more police patrols at local parks to help connect homeless people with the resources they need, and to monitor for trouble. It also increased trash collection at local parks. Katzenmeyer credits the City for these efforts. “They’ve worked hard to mitigate the negative consequences of the encampments,” he said. “The whole community recognizes this is a critical issue and crisis that we’re not going to enforce our way out of. The silver lining of the COVID pandemic is that it’s raising awareness to an issue that’s

been around a long time.” Even though Katzenmeyer believes that creating more affordable housing is the key to addressing the issue, he acknowledged that expanding housing takes a long time and is reliant upon finding landlords and developers who are willing to participate.

Ramsey County leadership In November, Keith Lattimore became the first director of Ramsey County’s new Housing Stability Department, which seeks to consolidate housing services and programs, and reduce racially-based economic disparities in the county. Lattimore is responsible for building the department and working with others to support people experiencing homelessness. Before starting his new role, he was director of the MNChoices and Aging & Disability Services division of Social Services. Lattimore also served as operations chief for the Homelessness and Housing Stability Branch of the county’s Incident Management Team during the COVID-19 pandemic. He joined Ramsey County in 1998 as a correctional officer and was promoted several times, including serving as superintendent of Boys Totem Town. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to build this new department in collaboration with a strong team of partners,” said Lattimore in a statement. “This is an important step to better position and align our organization’s resources to best help those experiencing homelessness and combat our housing crisis.” Lattimore holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/sociology and business administration from St. Cloud State University and is studying toward a Master of Business Administration degree at Ashworth College.

Help for vets On Veterans Day, Governor Tim Walz, announced that the Suburban Metro Area Continuum of Care (SMAC), which includes Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Washington counties, received federal designation for ending homelessness among veterans. While there are still homeless veterans across the state, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Veter-

C ommunity issues ans Affairs have determined that the five counties have largely ended homelessness for this group. SMAC is the sixth of 10 jurisdictions in the state of Minnesota to do so. The West Central, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast Continuums of

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Care previously reached that milestone in 2017 and 2018, and the River Valleys (Southeast) Continuum of Care in 2019. The remaining four Continuums of Care in the state are still pushing toward that goal. Since the initiative began

in 2014, more than 2,100 homeless veterans in Minnesota have been housed. This includes 500 in 2019, the highest number ever housed in one year. The progress is due to the joint efforts of a coalition that includes the Minnesota Department of

VIEWPOINT

The Angel of Bethesda

The Angel of Bethesda sculpture was created by Paul Granlund. Tara Flaherty Guy Contributor

hen I learned recently that Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul would be closing, I was happy to read that the old hospital would almost immediately be repurposed as a homeless shelter. It was a near perfect answer to the county’s and city’s desperate effort to find an additional 100 beds before the approach-

ing winter. The COVID-19 pandemic had swelled the population of unsheltered people in the city. Outdoor encampments had sprung up, a heartbreaking sight, in the shadow of the beautiful Cathedral of St. Paul. Though relieved by the timely solution, my heart squeezed a little to hear of Bethesda’s closure as a hospital. Just north of Minnesota’s capitol building sitting high

on its hill, Bethesda has been a beloved local hospital since 1883, and a second home to my family all my life. I was born there on the maternity floor, where my mother worked as an OB nurse for a quarter-century. My grandma died there 27 years later to the day, on my birthday. It was from Bethesda that my dad was gently discharged to go home for the last time after his dialysis stopped buying him time and started stealing it, and it was where my brother lay in a coma for weeks, recovering from a traumatic brain injury. His bed was on the same floor where, as a kid, I used to visit my mom and all the new babies. Bethesda Hospital has always felt like home to me. Best of all, though unknown to most in St. Paul, is the Angel of Bethesda, a nearly hidden treasure, a mysterious, floating sculpture just outside the hospital entrance. Inscribed on its base are words from the Gospel of John: “Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of invalid folk—blind, halt, withered —waiting for the moving of the water, for an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water. Whosoever then

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Veterans Affairs, Minnesota Housing, the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, county Veterans Service officers, emergency shelters and several private, public and non-profit or-

ganizations. The statewide Homeless Veterans Registry is a key component. It creates individual housing plans based on each veteran’s specific challenges. Once on the Registry, veterans are typically housed within four months. As of Nov. 10, the

Registry included the names of more than 300 veterans who are experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. For more information on the program, call 1-888-5465838 or visit www.minnesotaveteran.org.

first stepped in, after the troubling of the water, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.” John 5: 2-14 I have loved the healing angel since I was a little girl, when I used to stop on every visit to swish my fingers in its pool, almost like the holy water at the Cathedral. The angel wasn’t always able to heal my loved ones, which puzzled me when I was little, but I loved it anyway. It occurred to me that with the county assuming control of the property, soon the building, the grounds and presumably the angel would be patrolled by hired security. I decided to visit the angel one last time, as I had visited so many other loved ones at Bethesda through the years. I went at night and found the angel still there, unchanged, ethereal in the twilight. It has the grey-green

patina of weathered bronze now, after so many seasons poised there, still and graceful above the rippling pool. Canted downward with its carved flowing garments floating improbably in the air behind it, the angel reaches one hand down to trouble the water, its face upturned. Its other hand is lifted palm upward in graceful supplication, or perhaps welcome, I always thought. On the evening I visited, a slender new moon limned the angel’s contours in silver, and the evening star hung in the indigo sky, its reflection gleaming in the pool. I lowered myself to sit on the marble ledge, dipping my fingers in the water as always. I looked up at the angel’s familiar face, the planed angles strong and masculine, the eyes unfathomable in their shadowed hollows.

“Change is coming,” I said softly. I sat quietly thinking of the generations of St. Paul families who had passed by the angel, seeking renewed life and health from Bethesda, like in the scripture verse. I thought of the new people who would soon arrive, harboring the same hope. I wished them well. Reaching out, I touched the angel’s outstretched hand in farewell. It was chill and damp from the little fountain in the pool and the autumn night air. “There will be new ones to heal now,” I whispered. I rose to leave, then paused to offer up a silent prayer that the unsheltered ones who would be coming would find in Bethesda the welcoming home that I always had. My visit complete, I returned to my car and headed for home.

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Downtown St. Paul Voice - December 2020 - Page 3

H oliday Event Guide

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GLOW Holiday Festival at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds More than a million holiday lights, a 100-foot illuminated tree, icicle and art installations, a gingerbread house, and many other attractions are featured at the GLOW Holiday Festival, a new event being held through Jan. 3, 2021, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. This festival was created with the pandemic in mind. Rather than rubbing elbows with other revelers, participants drive a milelong course through the fairgrounds to view the bright and festive seasonal displays. GLOW features a gigantic, illuminated gift box, a disco light show, a tribute to Prince, lighted woodland and farm animals, sELFie Plaza for picture-taking, and Charity Flame & Art Park, which highlights local charities and artists. GLOW will host several special nights, including Amity Night, Latinx Night, Hanukkah Night, Indigenous Peoples Night and Kwanzaa Night, and $2 from each ticket will benefit

Artwork by Tanya Cook

a local charity, including Second Harvest Heartland, Urban Ventures, Outfront Minnesota, Angel Foundation, Autism Society of Minnesota, Emma Norton Services, National Independent Venue Association,

and more. Hours are 4:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Entry is timed for every 15 minutes. Allow 40 minutes. Tickets are $46 per vehicle and must be purchased in advance at www.

glowholiday.com. Oh yes, if you’re still lamenting that you missed out on your favorite foods at the State Fair this year, you’re in luck. You can find a selection of them at the food court.

Ordway events The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is presenting the following virtual holiday experiences. Tickets for each can be purchased at www.Ordway.org. A (Virtual) Christmas

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with The Griswolds: an evening with Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28. Chase and D’Angelo, the actors who played Clark and Ellen Griswold in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” will share fan-favorite clips from the movie, reveal their favorite memories from making the movie and answer questions from the audience. Tickets are $25. The Hip Hop Nutcracker, 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27. A dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, are part of this virtual performance that follows Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons of the holiday season. Tickets are $20. A Virtually Celtic Christmas, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 18. Holiday classics, traditional Irish carols, heartwarming duets, full orchestral sounds and wonderful choirs will sweep you away to the warmth and glow of Christmas in Ireland. Filmed at the National Opera House of Ireland, “A Virtually Celt-

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H oliday Event Guide ic Christmas” features leading tenor Michael Londra and special guests, including West End star Zoë Rainey, The Irish Concert Orchestra, Valda Choral Group, The Presentation Choir, and “Artemis Fowl” Creator Eoin Colfer. Tickets are $25. For $35 you can get a link to the performance and have a DVD of it mailed to you. For $50, you get the link, DVD and the chance to meet the artists in a Zoom session. “The Night Before Christmas: In Concert,” Dec. 19-31. Minnesota’s three-time Grammy Awardwinning group Sounds of

Blackness will present a virtual concert featuring family-friendly holiday favorites in styles ranging from R&B and hip hop, to jazz, blues and gospel. $15 per household.

A Hygge Holiday Circus Juventas, 1270 Montreal Ave., St. Paul, will present its first-ever holiday performance Dec. 5-13. Headed for a holiday ski trip up north, a group of young people suddenly find themselves in a broken-down car with a snowstorm on the way. Seeking shelter and cell phone reception, they find a remote cabin, shrouded in

Three questions from page 1

outlook remains troubling. Hotel occupancies are going down again now that summer travel is behind us, and restaurants will struggle to survive until April. All need more federal assistance. Top needs continue to be relief: grants, more PPP (Paycheck Protection Pro-

gram) money, and tax holidays (property, sales, etc.). Unused CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) dollars could be redirected within the state as well. Along with funding, what these sectors need is a return of consumer confidence. This requires

Your community news and information source winter mystery and magic. As their odyssey takes them deeper into the woods, they discover that a cozy cabin and close friends are all one needs to kindle the spirit and warm the heart. Majestic forests filled with playful woodland creatures, snow fairies, mischievous elves, and the comfort of good friends highlight this hygge—a Danish term loosely translated as “cozy”—holiday celebration. The show runs 70 minutes without intermission. Guests must wear a mask at all times. Entry times will be staggered to ensure social distancing and each party will be at least

six feet apart. Tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for ages 10 and younger. For more information, visit https:// circusjuventas.org/holidayshow-2020.

that all of us play our part in supporting these sectors by following guidance and shopping/eating/staying/ investing here—locally— when possible.

I have a slew of companies that have done amazing things this year. A great example is Podiumwear, our hometown sports apparel company. They retooled and are now manufacturing custom face masks. Another is a senior assisted care facility that refinanced their loan and saved over $8,000/ month. They turned that savings into pay raises for 40 staff members serving long-

With challenges come opportunities. Can you share a story of one or more St. Paul businesses that have responded to the crisis by implementing new or innovative programs?

St. Paul Hotel

your imagination. Tickets are $100; includes a 3-course meal. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. To reserve tickets, call 651-228-3860 or visit www.saintpaulhotel. com.

A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play, Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 3-20. The producers of “It’s A Wonderful Life” live radio play are presenting something new this year at the St. Paul Hotel. They have adapted the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” into a radio drama to present on stage. The performance features actors and sound effects to help guide

The hotel is also hosting holiday teas through Dec. 31. Each 2-hour event is fashioned after an English afternoon tea and consists of a variety of sandwiches, savory, scone and two tiers of sweets. A pianist entertains throughout. Cost is $50 per person. To reserve tickets, call 651-228-3860 or visit www.saintpaulhotel.com.

term patients. The holiday shopping season is here. How can people best support local retailers? First off, retailers are considering safety and security first—for employees and customers alike. It is very important to boost consumer confidence, and retailers are doing all they can to provide safe and se-

Union Depot In year’s past, Union Depot at 214 4th St. E., has offered an annual holiday tree lighting ceremony and movie night with fireworks, a European Christmas Market, holiday bake sale and the North Pole Express holiday train. This year all events are virtual. Visit www.uniondepot.org/holiday to view the tree lighting ceremony (7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4),a presentation of the North Pole Express, and for ways to shop for holiday baked goods and items made by local artisans.

cure shopping experiences. To help answer this question, I talked to large and small retailers alike. Consumers are looking for contactless pay options, adherence to mask policies in the stores, curbside pick-up, even direct delivery where possible. Ultimately, support our regional and state economy by shopping local!

UNION DEPOT FOR THE

Enjoy the Hub from home.

For everyone’s safety, Hub for the Holidays will be virtual this year. Watch the Holiday Tree Lighting and a message from the North Pole Express from your couch. Shop the European Christmas Market and Holiday Bake Sale from home. Join us in celebrating the season a little differently with this year’s Virtual Hub for the Holidays.

Find dates and times at uniondepot.org/holiday. Downtown St. Paul Voice - December 2020 - Page 5

B usiness

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Winter market from page 1

The market has always had outdoor vendors throughout the winter, primarily those who sell meat, like the Nobles. Those vendors enjoy the cold temps because it’s easier to keep their products cool, and they don’t need to lug a side of beef inside. According to the market’s manager David Kotsonas, the early winter months are the most popular at the outdoor market. Beginning in late November, the atmosphere turns festive, abuzz with folks buying farmfresh items and tasty pies for holiday dining, as well as Christmas trees, wreaths, swags and more. When the calendar turns to a new year, crowds begin to thin out, which is one reason the Association began offering an indoor market. The other reason is because the vendors were clamoring for it. “The first year we had the indoor market the line was out the door,” said Kotsonas. Now that the indoor market has been canceled, he said more vendors are willing to brave the elements.

That includes Mary Falk, of LoveTree Farmstead Cheese in Grantsburg, Wis. The longtime vendor has sold both indoors and out, and said the outdoor winter market has actually been more successful for her. “The indoor market was nice for the holidays,” she said, “but to tell the truth, we always did better outside.” She moved indoors to help that market get established but found that many vendors dropped off throughout the winter. Last year as the season dragged on, she said the number of vendors dwindled to four. Selling outdoors in the winter, however, is not without its challenges. In past years Falk had her samples freeze, which was not good for customers wanting to taste-test her variety of fresh and aged cheeses made from cow’s or goat’s milk. She won’t have to worry about that this year because food sampling is not allowed during the pandemic. She also sells organic goat’s milk soap. Additionally, Falk said the

Submitted photo

Dillon Noble bags a holiday turkey for a customer at the winter market. actual selling experience can be much different as well. “One really frigid winter we were doing drive-by cheese deals,” she quipped. “Customers would drive up, we’d throw cheese in their car and they’d throw cash at us and drive off.” Falk expressed sincere appreciation for the many customers who continue to support the growers. She

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

Church of St. Matthew 510 Hall Avenue, St. Paul

The Church of Saint Matthew invites you to share in this very holy season and offers the following services. We expect and welcome visitors. Your presence and your prayers will enrich our community. For safety of everyone Saint Matthew’s follows all Covid-19 recommendations. To learn more about us, please call the church office at 651-227-9793 or visit us at st-matts.org or www.facebook.com/churchofstmatthew.

Thanksgiving Day - November 26, 9:00 am - Mass in person ADVENT & CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE: Nov. 28-Jan. 10 Each Weekend of Advent: Saturdays at 4:15 pm - Mass in person Sundays at 10:15 am - Mass online Observance of the Feast of Immaculate Conception 7:00 pm Mass, Monday, December 7 (no Mass on Dec. 8) Individual Confessions Saturdays, December 12 and 19 (after 4:15 pm Mass) Monday, December 21, 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 22, 5:30 pm Parish Reconciliation Sunday, December 20, 2:00 pm Christmas Masses Thursday, December 4:15 pm - Mass in person Friday, December 25, 10:15 am - Mass in person Friday, December 25, 10:15 am - Mass online Feast of the Holy Family Saturday, December 26, 4:15 pm Mass in person Sunday, December 27, 10:15 am Mass online New Year’s Eve Thursday, December 31, 4:15 pm - Mass in person NO Mass on Friday, January 1 Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord Saturday, January 2, 4:15 pm - Mass in person Sunday, January 3, 10:15 am - Mass online Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, January 9, 4:15 pm - Mass in person Sunday, January 10, 10:15 am - Mass online Page 6 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - December 2020

encourages them to come to the winter market and offers this friendly advice: dress warmly. “One year I surveyed my customers and not one of them were wearing longjohns,” she said. Some of those customers were young, thin men who were visibly cold. “I was dressed warm and was feeling pretty smug until I realized I have more natural insulation. I’m a cheese maker!” This year has been a challenge for the market, as it has for so many businesses and other organizations. When the pandemic hit, customer traffic dropped dramatically but slowly climbed during the summer. “We were down 50 percent in the spring when it all started, but it got better,” said Kotsonas. “Overall, we’re down about 20 percent, both with customer traffic and the number of vendors.” Linda Noble, who is also on the Association board, credited Kotsonas for his work in helping the market remain open through the pandemic and for finding new measures to keep it

safe. Early on, the market installed handwashing and sanitizing stations, established a face mask policy, and began using two tables at each stall to create more separation between the vendors and their customers.

A family affair During the winter, Linda and Mike Noble arrive at the market around 8 a.m. to get ready for customers. Sleet? Snow? Bitter cold? No problem. They are always there. “We only missed once in the past 20-plus years,” said Linda. “That was two years ago, and it was white-out (snow) conditions. The entire market was closed.” When southerners visited the Twin Cities in 2018 for the Super Bowl, many were shocked, she said—and pleasantly surprised—to find an outdoor farmers’ market being held in the heart of a Minnesota winter. For Linda and her family, it’s normal and they’ve learned to deal with the cold. Her tactics include dressing in layers, wearing good boots and gloves (with hand warmers), and staying busy during

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their 5-plus hour shift. “I may not look cute and in fashion,” she said, without regret. “I dress to stay warm and dry.” The Nobles also have a few other tricks to help ensure successful transactions. They keep extra pens in warm places for those who want to write a check, and their tablet wrapped in a heating pad so it’s ready to accept credit card purchases. Son Dillon and his wife Sovannah help Linda and Mike both on the farm and at the market. The market holds special significance for the young couple. Sovannah, who is from St. Paul and grew up near the Cathedral, met Dillon at the market one summer day. Their romance quickly blossomed, and Linda began noticing Sovannah hanging around more and more often. When winter arrived and she saw that Sovannah rode her bike to the market to visit Dillon, she knew there was something more to their relationship. It was a fitting place for Dillon to find love because he has spent so much time there. He’s been helping his parents at their booth since he was five. Linda said she is particularly grateful for the opportunity the market—and their loyal customers—continue to offer them. “It allows us to farm the way we want to farm,” she said. “It’s been very rewarding.” The outdoor market is open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. each Saturday during the winter, beginning Dec. 5. The Christmas tree lot is open Nov. 27-Dec. 22. Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Nov. 27 and Saturdays and Sundays, and noon-8 p.m., MondayFriday. To enhance the shopping experience, the market will have patio heaters to help warm customers who get a little too chilled. If you’re interested in purchasing fresh, locallyproduced food this winter, Kotsonas offers a note of encouragement: “Come on out. You might be surprised at what you will find at the market, even in the frozen tundra.” While it’s possible that you’ll see Kotsonas roaming around the weekend market, it’s more likely he’ll be watching the activity from the window of his office on the market grounds. Cozy warm.

N ews Briefs

Your community news and information source

{ THE FULLER FILES } Holiday lights – downtown parks will twinkle with lights this holiday season but Rice Park will be without its traditional holiday tree this year. Lighting of the trees within Rice Park and Kellogg Mall Park is being sponsored by the St. Paul Downtown Alliance, and Friends of Mears Park will sponsor the lights at Mears Park. CapitolRiver Council District 17 has elected the following to 2-year terms on its board of directors: Joe Baierl, Tiffany Brace, John Ganey, Jess Grams, Bill Huepenbecker, Richard Johnson, Lee Knutson, Mia Laufer and Amy Lee. The Hmong Cultural Center, 375 University Ave., has acquired a 1,200-squarefoot space on the same block to accommodate a museum that will feature interactive displays, cultural artifacts and a small theater. The Playwrights’ Center is leaving its longtime home on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis and relocating to a 19,500-square-foot

warehouse/office building at 710 Raymond Ave., St. Paul. It will remodel the space to include a 150-seat theater, rehearsal studios, classrooms and community gathering spaces. Formed in 1971, the center helps playwrights develop new works and connect them to approximately 100 partnering theaters. It has worked with many notable playwrights over the years, including the late August Wilson, when he lived in St. Paul. The occupancy rate of downtown office space is 91 percent, according to a recent survey by the Building Owners and Managers Association, up slightly from 2019. The increase is due, in part, to some office space being converted to residential. Bigos Management, for example, purchased Cray Plaza and will convert 219,000 square-feet of office space to residential. More affordable housing is on the way. Developer Reuter Walton plans to build a 5-story, 2-building complex at 1825 University Ave. The

by Roger Fuller

project will have 243 units, ranging from studios to 3 bedrooms. Of those units, 27 are for households making less than 30 percent of the area’s mediam income; 83 are for families making less than half the median; 58 units are for those with less than 60 percent; and 75 units for less with less than 80 percent. M Health Fairview plans to close two clinics the first week in December: the downtown clinic next to St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Grand Avenue location. Its Midway clinic, damaged during the summer riots, will reopen in early December. Fairview recently closed the rehabilitation unit at Bethesda Hospital and is now renting the building to Ramsey County for use as a homeless shelter. While Fairview will be closing the hospital at St. Joseph’s, its mental health services will remain at that location. The rest of the space will be rented to other health providers and social service organizations.

Gift Certificates Available!

Two legislators serving downtown residents were re-elected by a landslide, and in January will begin their fourth decade of representation. Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL, District 65) was re-elected by just over 81 percent of the vote, and Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL, District 65B) by nearly 80 percent.

Tax Help Needed MOHS TAX SERVICE, 1771 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, is hiring for the upcoming tax season. Fax resume to 651-699-8638 or call 612-721-2026

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Downtown St. Paul Voice - December 2020 - Page 7

Destination: Downtown & Lowertown A Guide to Shopping, Services and Entertainment

A12

Penfield/Lunds

The Chiropractor

St. Paul Dental Center

Lancer Service

F17

F Atlas Staffing

G16

G14

Kat Keys

G PARK SQUARE

I US BANK CENTER

J12 K

Great River Dental

K LOWERTOWN LOFTS & APTS.

Subtext Bookstore

CHS Field

WALL

SIBLEY

ROBERT

WACOUTA

M16 Master Framers

Shop locally and support the businesses that support our community

Atlas Staffing G14 189 7th Place E., 651-222-5894 atlasstaffinginc.com Providing the BEST employees

Great River Dental J12 375 Jackson St. Ste. 200 651-222-0983 greatriverdental.com Providing complete dental care, including implants

Master Framers M16 262 E. 4th St., 651-291-8820 www.masterframers.com www.facebook.com/MASTERFRAMERS Custom picture framing and restoration since 1959 Subtext Bookstore K6 6 5th St. W. 651-493-2791 subtextbooks.com St. Paul’s independent bookstore

Kat-Key’s Lock & Safe St. Paul G16 249 E. 7th St. 651-292-1124, www.katkeys.com Repairs, replacements, safe moving/ delivering, rekeying, master key system setup, door hardware/door closer installation and more.

The Chiropractor A12 523 Jackson Street, Suite 105 St. Paul, MN 55101 | 651-287-0935 www.thechiropractormn.com Chiropractic Adjustments Acupuncture | RockTape Techniques Massage Therapy

To advertise on this map, call 651-457-1177

Page 8 - Downtown St. Paul Voice - December 2020

Lancer Service Auto Care F17 270 E. 8th St. 651-224-0267 www.lancerservice.com www.facebook.com/lancerservice Defining the future of auto care… unlike any other.

St. Paul Dental Center E7 30 E. 7th St., Ste. 101 651-227-6646 www.stpauldentalcenter.com We provide comprehensive family dentistry. Map Map base base courtesy courtesy of of the the Capitol Capitol River River Council Council