Downtown St. Paul Voice November 2022

Downtown St. Paul

Justice education center coming to St. Paul

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

History buffs, future leaders, and anyone looking to better understand how government works will soon get their fill of knowledge, thanks to the United States District Court of Minnesota’s largest ever public outreach project: a justice and democracy center. The approxi mate $1.9 million project will open in March on the first floor of the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in downtown St. Paul. Its creation is part of a larg er remodel of the courthouse, which is also slated to be complete at that time.

The 1,700-square-foot center will have five permanent exhibits and one rotating exhibit, each covering a topic on the justice system or Minne sota court history. The theme of the first rotating exhibit will be “Duluth Lynchings and the Failure of the Rule of Law.” The center will have kiosks with oral histories of judges and the courts, historical artifacts, interactive activities and demonstrations, guided tours, and space for workshops.

The center is being built in the area now occupied by the intake counter. HGA, a Minneapolis-based

General election is Nov. 8

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

The time to exercise our right to vote is upon us. Our voter’s guide covers the state, county and municipal candidates that represent voters in the Downtown St. Paul Voice distribution area. Also included on the Nov. 8 ballot are candidates for U.S. Representative District 4, governor, sec retary of state, attorney general and other county offices. Candidates without infor mation were given multiple opportunities to respond.

Due to redistricting, Minnesota Senate District 65 and House District 65B now in

clude the northern portion of West St. Paul, in addition to the West Side, downtown and other parts of St. Paul. Some polling loca tions may be different than last year. To find your polling location, visit pollfinder.sos. state.mn.us.

To vote in Minnesota, residents must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on elec tion day, and a resident of Minnesota for 20 days. Register to vote in advance to save time at your polling location. To register online, visit mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us. For more information on elections and voter registration, call the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office at 651-215-1440 or visit www. sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting.

Candidates / Page 2

St. Paul invests in library safety, seeks new director

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

More security will be added to St. Paul public libraries in the coming months thanks to $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding that was ap proved by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter in late July. The move is in response to library workers who have been calling for increased safety measures in recent years. This comes at a time when the city is seeking a new leader to suc ceed Library Director Catherine Penkert, who resigned in midSeptember. She worked for the City of St. Paul for 14 years and served as the library director for five years.

“Libraries are public spaces, and everything that happens in the community and in other pub lic spaces can happen in a library, too,” said interim director Barb Sporlein. “The City’s framework for community-first public safety includes deep public engagement, research, tracking and analysis of real-time data, and cross-sector collaboration of stakeholders. This

Library safety

New owners of Wabasha Street Caves dredge up St. Paul’s sordid past

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

After nearly two years of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the renowned Wabasha Street Caves has risen from the ashes and is once again of fering tours that highlight shady stories of St. Paul’s history.

Minnesota native Faith Pon and husband Raymond purchased the property in

September 2021 from Steve and Donna Bremer and have been working hard to get the business back on track. The Bremers operated the popu lar tour company, event center and dance hall for 30 years. The Pons rehired most of the Bremers’ dozen staff members.

“They [the Bremers] took it as a sign from God,” said Faith. “COVID shut them down, then they got every thing back up and COVID

shut them down again, and they decided it was time to retire…. We were looking to invest in our own busi ness and it just hit every thing we were looking for – from a café to a bar to a leasing venue, as well as the public tours.” Previously, Faith worked in real estate and property management for more than ten years and Raymond was an engineer.

The caves are perhaps best known for the variety of sea

sonal and year-round tours. Some are walking tours within the caves and others travel around St. Paul in a motorcoach or bus. A few others are offered exclusively to private groups.

The Historic Caves Tour is the most popular, and the Gangster Tour comes in at a close second. They also offer the Ghost and Graves tour, Lost Souls tour, and the kid-friendly Troll Tales tour. Each uses historical

facts and lore. However, they have taken liberties with the script for the new “Spirits and Shady Ladies” tour, a year-round mile-long walk ing tour that sheds light on the brothels of St. Paul’s for mer “sin district.” As of press time, this tour had sold out for 12 weekends in a row.

“All of our tours are done in character,” said Faith. “We have professional actors that work with us. The only time you get a non-character tour

is with the Historic Cave Tour.”

The venue has a 12,000-square-foot space that can be reserved for weddings, birthday parties and other private events. It includes a fireplace, bar, stage and dancefloor, and enough room to comfortably seat 230. The Caves’ popu lar swing dance nights have returned as well on Thurs days. Each dance includes a

Sample St. Paul

Minnesota Senate District 65

Sandy Pappas

Occupation: Nonprofit executive director for For ward Global Women

Political party: Demo cratic Farmer Labor

Political experience: Cur rent member of the State Senate, past member of the State House of Representa tives

Top priorities: Invest ing in infrastructure such as roads and affordable hous ing, securing paid sick and safe time for all workers, and creating a pension plan for low-wage workers.

Candidate statement: “I’m optimistic that with a

Minnesota Senate becoming Democrat-controlled along with the House and Gover nor, that the progressive is sues I’ve been working on for years will be seriously con sidered. This includes more state support for affordable housing and childcare, legis lative funding of our schools that includes the cross subsi dy for special education and English language learning, real criminal justice reform, and seriously addressing cli mate change. I’m also pre pared to rigorously defend reproductive rights in our state. I have the experience, passion and success record to make significant progress for all of us.”

Website: sandypappas.com

Paul Holmgren

Political party: Republi can; did not respond

Minnesota House District 65B

María Isa PérezHedges

Occupation: Director of mentorship for the Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project

Political party: Demo cratic Farmer Labor

Political experience: A member of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board Public Engagement Advisory Task Force, People of Color and Indigenous Caucus lead for the Min nesota #Insulin4all chapter, and alumna of the Wilder Foundation Community Equity Program.

Top priorities: Healthcare access, education equity, af fordable housing, creative and regenerative economics and environmental justice.

Candidate statement: “I am running because the time is here and now for commu nity-centered leadership. It shouldn’t be so hard to live in District 65B, yet we contin ue to face skyrocketing hous ing costs, the price gouging of prescription drugs, a col lapse of small businesses core to our neighborhoods, and an inequitable and defunded education system. We need leaders grounded in our community to expand on a future-focused vision for the next generation, and those are the voices our team is bringing with us to the Capitol.”

Website: www.peoplefor mariaisa.org

Kevin Fjelsted

Political party: Republi can; did not respond

Ramsey County Commissioner District 5

Bill Hosko

Occupation: Owner of Hosko Gallery & Framing (2 downtown locations), Music Forest Café, and The Homestead center for ages 55 and older.

Political experience: past board member of the Capi tolRiver Council and the West Side Community Or ganization; co-chair of Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee and Bylaw Re view Committee member for CapitolRiver Council

Candidate statement: “Over many years, my inter est and opinions on so many issues covered the Farm ers Market, Union Depot, West Publishing, Pedro Park, to my warning what bring ing ‘honor system’ LRT to downtown would do. Year after year, crime and antisocial behavior rises, prop erty taxes are increased, and our commissioners keep

awarding themselves pay raises. Now 100K yearly for part-time jobs? Good grief. At nearly 60 years old, I’ve had a wonderful life and have much gratitude. I’ve been self-employed 32 years and I still look forward to each day. I remain 100% independent/non-partisan and will be your best public servant.”

Website: billhosko.com

Rafael E. Ortega

Occupation: Ramsey County Commissioner

Political experience: Ramsey County Board for 27 years; chair of the Board or Chair of the Regional Rail Authority for most of those years.

Top priorities: To protect the most vulnerable in our community, including peo ple who are without food or housing, and to address the underlying issues that cause these problems. To improve our transit so everyone can get to where they need to go safely and reliably. To continue to improve our economic infrastructure so Ramsey County can attract and retain our best busi nesses and our best work

ers and we can reduce the tax burden on homeowners and businesses. I’m particu larly focused on RiversEdge downtown and Rice Creek Commons in Arden Hills.

Candidate statement: “Since COVID hit, I have focused on three areas. I led the Food Security Commit tee and helped appoint our first Food Security Coor dinator. We opened three shelters in my district. We created the HRA levy to pro vide new money for housing every year, and with the city, we will provide $74 million for housing this year. To address violent crime, we have hired 40 county staff, including specialists in the 911 call center and social workers. I will continue to provide steady leadership in these areas. I will also con tinue to advocate for better transit, jobs and develop ment in the East Metro and make sure all residents have access to our services.

Website: www.ramsey county.us/your-government/ leadership/board-commis sioners/rafael-e-ortega-dis trict-5

History Center

345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 mnhs.org

Our Home: Native Min nesota is the featured ex hibit. It includes historic and contemporary photo graphs, maps and artifacts. Learn how Minnesota’s na tive communities have main tained cultural practices, teachings and values.

Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition is featured through April 2, 2023. Learn about areas of forensic science and engage in inter

Permitting.” The Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thurs.Sun. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $8 for children ages five to 17.

History Theatre

30 E. 10th St. St. Paul 651-292-4323

Historytheatre.com

“Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story” is presented on select dates through Oc tober 30. Set in 1959, young musician Buddy Holly rises to the top of the music in dustry in just four years. It’s

1899, a young immigrant woman is hired to serve as a “a second girl” following the death of Mr. Warner’s wife. The young woman fears that she may be dismissed from the job if Mr. Warner – a strict Christian – learns about her Jewish heritage. The play is a humor- and joy-filled musical. Tickets start at $48, with discounts for seniors, those under age 30 and students.

Landmark Center 75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225

Original Broadway cast, photo by Andrew Eccles “Six” is presented through Nov. 6 at the Ordway Center.

4. Kick back with staff and community members at this 1990s-themed celebration. $150.

Ballet Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Musser Cortile. Dancers from Ballet Co.Laboratory will perform excerpts from the company repertoire.

Landmark Live: Turn , 8-10 p.m., Fri day, Nov. 18, in the F.K.

Weyerhaeuser Auditorium. Enjoy a concert from this Americana band, mainstays of the Minnesota music scene. Cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.

Walker | West student concert, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20, in the Musser Cor tile. The students of Walker | West Music Academy will perform music in a variety of

styles from their repertoire. Free.

MN Children’s Museum

10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 mcm.org

The Amazing Castle, is the featured exhibit through Jan. 8, 2023. Travel back in time to a magical place where medieval storybook

Your

S ample St. Paul

characters come to life. Ex plore eight themed areas and get to know the characters that make the castle a com munity.

Imaginopolis: Nature Remix is a new exhibit. Visi tors are transported into a se cret forest where everything is recognizable, but with a whimsical twist. Pretend to bake sweet treats in a squir rel’s house, create a home from oversized leaves and fish scales, and more.

Halloween Spooktacu lar, 6-9 p.m., Oct. 29-30. Trick or treat and enjoy other activities at this “ohso-fun, not-so-scary” event. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes.

The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Sun. Tickets are $14.95. Admis sion is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required. The next free date is Nov. 6.

MN Museum of American Art 350 Robert St. N. St. Paul 651-797-2571 mmaa.org In Our Minds, is on dis play in the museum’s win

The artwork was created by 19 students from the St. Paul Conservatory for Perform ing Artists and explores the theme of metaphorical rising sea level.

Ordway Center

345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 ordway.org

“Six” is presented on se lect dates and times Oct. 25-Nov. 6. Tickets start at $55.50.

“Songs of the Universal” is presented 7:30 p.m., Fri day, Oct. 29. Tickets start at $25.

“Beauty and the Beast” is presented 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 30. Tick ets start at $41.

Park Square Theatre

20 W. 7th Place St. Paul 651-291-7005 parksquaretheatre.org

“Fire in the New World” is presented through Nov. 6. Private eye Sam Shikaze fights crime and discrimination in Vancouver’s Japantown in the years following World War II. When the Japanese-

Schubert Club

302 Landmark Center 75 W. 5th St. St. Paul 651-292-3268 schubert.org

Courtroom concerts at the Landmark center take place noon-1 p.m. Perfor mances include pianist Lau ra Caviani and saxophonist David Milne Thursday, Oct. 27 and Lumina Women’s Ensemble, Thursday, Nov. 10. Free.

Anne Sofie von Otter and Kristian Bezuiden hout will perform at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 1, and 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Ordway Center. Tickets start at $28.

“Enigma: a 360 degree video experience” is pre sented by Spektral Quartet at 9 p.m., Nov. 4-5, at the Bell Museum.

Merz Trio performs at 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 13 at St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ. Tickets start at $23.

A performance from the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber En semble will be presented on the Schubert Club website at 7:30 p.m.,

Nov. 29-30, at the Schubert Club Music Museum in the Landmark Center. Tickets start at $5.

Science Museum of Minnesota

120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 smm.org

Nature All Around Us is presented through Jan. 22, 2023. Discover the hidden worlds and rich ecosystems within familiar places and explore the natural world’s interconnected engineering solutions: how trees cool neighborhoods, how streams carry storm water away from homes and how spending time in nature keeps people healthy.

Cardboard City is a tem porary exhibit on display through Nov. 13. Visitors may build with cardboard.

Omnitheater films“Backyard Wilderness” is presented through Jan. 31, 2023. Peek inside dens, nests and ponds to meet the crea tures that live there.

“Dream Big” is presented through Dec. 31. Explore engineering marvels from around the world and learn how engineers push the limits of innovation in un expected ways.

“Stellar Tours Digital Telescope Show” is pre sented at 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, through Nov. 20. Guests can choose their own space tour and glimpse the farthest reaches of the universe.

Omnitheater tickets are $9.95. Free for children age 3 and under.

Sensory Friendly Sunday is hosted the first Sunday of the month. Visitors can ex perience a lights-up, sounddown Omnitheater show at 10 a.m. The program was created in consultation with the Autism Society of Min nesota. Admission is free for personal care attendants when visiting with a client.  Museum tickets range from $9.95-$34.90, with discounts available for those with limited incomes.

Union Depot 214 4th St. E. St. Paul 651-202-2700

uniondepot.org

“Boonion Depot” is held 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30. Visitors can create pumpkin crafts, dance to a DJ’s tunes, trick-or-treat and more. The first 500 kids under age 12 will receive a tote for candy. Visitors are encouraged to dress in cos tumes.

Other events include Yoga Sculpt, Virtual Noon Yoga, Free Wednesday Night Yoga, Saturday Morning Yoga, Games Galore, Trivia Night at Station 81 and Riffs, Rails and Cocktails.

Xcel Center

199 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-726-8240

xcelenergycenter.com

Smashing Pumpkins , 6:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4. Tickets start at $45.

Keith Urban, 7 p.m., Sat urday, Nov. 5. Tickets start at $45.50.

17th Anniversary Sale Nov. 1-19

Your community news and information source

Library safety

from page 1

investment will expand the library’s capacity to practice a community-first approach to public safety in librar ies throughout the city. We expect that lessons learned from this project will also in form the approach to safety in other city services.”

The new funding will al low for an assessment of cur rent safety measures and the creation of a comprehensive public safety plan. The city is currently seeking contrac

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tors to complete those proj ects and expects both to be complete by spring 2023. In addition, the money will support hiring several safety specialists, a newly created position. It’s anticipated that at least six specialists will be hired to work across the 13 public libraries. The city ex pects to hire the specialists in the spring, following the completion of the assess ment and comprehensive plan.

The George Latimer Cen tral Library is one of three branches that already has re sponded to safety concerns by contracting with a private security firm. The other two branches are Rondo and Rice Street. Staff reports have included incidents of drug-use, indecent exposure, threats of violence and more. In response, the library sys tem has established some new safety measures.

“We had to modify spaces and implement safety pro tocols directly related to the pandemic itself to keep staff and patrons safe while we

THE FULLER FILES } by Roger Fuller

Tax levy - The St. Paul City Council has set a max imum tax levy for the city at $199.9 million for 2023, a 15.3% increase over this year. The council may reduce the amount by the Dec. 7 deadline. A truth in taxa tion hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6. St. Paul Public Schools have 5% fewer students enrolled this year than last.

K-12 enrollment is 30,521, down by about 1,500. The decline is due, in part, to fam ilies sending their children to charter schools, private schools or home schooling.

The Capitol Area Archi tectural Planning Board will take final action in late November on its new guide lines concerning the removal or modifications of statues and monuments on the State

Capitol grounds. For more information, visit https:// mn.gov/caapb.

The St. Paul Zoning Board has pledged its sup port of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to build a series of islands in Pig’s Eye Lake using sand dredged from the river. The Corps said the project will prevent future erosion of the shore line. Friends of Pig’s Eye has

continued to provide critical community services at our libraries,” said Sporlein. “As the community experiences extreme challenges brought on by the pandemic, includ ing an epidemic of substance use, a housing crisis and worsening economic condi tions, those same challenges can impact the public spaces in our libraries. When library users are unable to abide by our code of conduct, we re spond accordingly.”

Recently, a woman at the George Latimer Central Li brary was touched on the arm without permission in

the back stacks. The wom an swiftly removed herself from the situation and the offender was banned from the library for six months. The back stacks on the sec ond and third floor are now closed to the public; people must ask employees to get resources from that area. Sporlein said she doesn’t yet know when that area will reopen to the public. While nothing is set in stone until the assessment and comprehensive plan are complete, Sporlein said sev eral ideas are already being discussed, such as more con

tracted security, updating safety-related procedures, modifying access to certain public spaces, adding more security cameras and mir rors, and reorganizing floor layout to increase visibility.

“The library’s vision is to create a St. Paul where all people can feel seen, safe and welcome,” said Sporlein. “That goes for staff, library users and partners. We will continue to prioritize safety so that our dedicated staff can continue to provide the spaces, resources and pro gramming our communities need now more than ever.”

opposed the plan on envi ronmental grounds.

Under the recent St. Paul Downtown Improvement District’s Safe and Clean program, street ambassadors helped enhance the 40-block area by cleaning out 375 gar bage cans and helping rough ly 1,500 people find their way through the district.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is expected to name a new chief of police in early November. The 38-member police examining commit tee has offered the mayor five candidates for consider ation. Four are from within

the department, three are women and two are people of color. The candidates are Pamela Barragan, com mander of the community partnership unit; Axel Hen ry, commander of narcot ics, financial intelligence; Kurtis Hallstrom, senior commander of the eastern district; Stacy Murphy, as sistant chief; and Jacqueline Bailey-Davis, police staff in spector in Philadelphia, Pa., who inspects department policies and procedures.

Amtrak no longer requires passengers to wear masks aboard the Empire Builder, which connects Chicago and Seattle with stops in St. Paul.

Kyatchi restaurant in the Northern Warehouse building, 308 Prince St., has closed permanently. It still operates its restaurant in South Minneapolis.

Laughcamp Comedy Club, 490 N. Robert St., will present Gianmarco Soresi, Nov. 4-5; Dwayne Perkins, Nov. 11-12; Aaron Weber, Nov. 18-19; and Maggie Far ris, Nov. 23 and 25.

Zeitgeist and 113 Com posers Collective will per form the music of Alvin Lu cier Nov. 17-20 at Studio Z, 275 E. 4th St.

St. Paul Farmers Mar ket will hold its Thanksgiv ing Market 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23, featur ing locally grown products for a Thanksgiving feast.

Subtext Books, 6 W. 5th St., will present Peter Geye, author of “Ski Jumpers,” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 16. Ramsey County His torical Society will present History Revealed: Italians on St. Paul’s East Side, with John Andreozzi via Zoom at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10. For more information, visit rchs.com/calendar.

American Legion Post 8 is hosting a Veterans Day walk at 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11 to honor all veterans. The walk begins at the Veteran’s Service Building at the State Capitol, 20 W. 12th St., and travels to and from down town St. Paul. Walkers are encouraged to carry a U.S. flag.

The new reading series Midwest Mystery Works is hosting Matt Goldman in conversation with Pioneer Press books editor Mary Ann Grossmann at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 21 at Axels, 1318 Sibley Mem. Hwy., Mendota.

Justice Center

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architecture firm, is the contractor and Split Rock Studios, a St. Paul-based design agency, will design the exhibits. The center was originally slated to open this fall but the date was pushed back due to supply chain is sues. It is now expected to be completed by January 2023, with a grand opening in March, when remodeling of the entire first floor of the courthouse is complete.

“Civics education has kind of been on the decline for a number of decades,” said Rebeccah Parks, public information officer for the U.S. District Court of Min nesota. “People just don’t understand how government even functions or what the court even does…. There’s a broad range of student and community events that the Court has always done, and now this is an extra defined space they [groups] can use.”

The center will be a hot spot for school field trips and

other community groups, such as Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. Courthouse officials estimate 5,000 stu dents in grades 4-12 will visit the center annually for field trips, camps and workshops. Additionally, they will work with school officials to cre ate lesson plans that meet Minnesota State Social Studies Standards. The goal is to improve student civics knowledge by 30%. This will be measured by a biannual assessment of students in each grade range. According to the National Association of Educational Procurement, less than a quarter of all 8th graders tested at or above the basic standards in civics since the late 1990s.

The federal courthouse has long held Court Camp, a 5-week credit-recovery program for high school students, and the Just the Beginning program, which helps high school students explore career opportunities

in judiciary work. Students in these programs will be able to visit the new justice and democracy center when visiting the courthouse for mock trials and other activi ties. The center will also be open to the public during normal courthouse hours, when not reserved by groups.

The project was spear headed in 2017 by thenChief Judge John Tunheim.

Approximately $1.2 million in federal funding was se cured in 2020 to build the center’s infrastructure, in cluding $435,000 from nonappropriated funds from the district court. The remain ing funds were received from private donations this year to fund the exhibit instal lations, website design and more.

Minnesota will be the fourth state in the country to have a justice and de mocracy center, following New York, Missouri and California. Work is under way to create another center at the Minneapolis court house, making Minnesota the only state with two jus

The center will be a hotspot for school field trips and other community groups. Courthouse officials estimate 5,000 students in grades 4-12 will visit the center annually for field trips, camps and workshops.

tice and democracy centers. The Minneapolis center is expected to be completed in 2024 or 2025. That center will be 2,700 square-feet and include the same ex hibits as the St. Paul center and more. A website for both centers will go online

following the St. Paul cen ter’s grand opening, featur ing an array of programs, lessons, judge interactions, tours and games.

“Civic education, like all education, is a continuing enterprise and conversa tion,” said U.S. Supreme

Court Chief Justice John Roberts in a prepared state ment. “Each generation has an obligation to pass on to the next, not only a fully functioning government responsive to the needs of the people, but the tools to understand and improve it.”

On the sidewalk

I met Betty sitting outside on the sidewalk.

Betty spends a lot of time there. She lives in the build ing next door, a place for older folks who need a lot of help and don’t have a lot of money. At some point, Betty lost both legs below the knee. She wears a curly wig pulled down low on her head, and is usually smoking a cigarette, accompanied by a few other residents from her building. I walk by Bet ty’s building a lot.

“How are you doing to day?” I always ask the resi dents as I pass.

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

The building is made of brick, in a pattern that looks like weaving. This has led my husband, Peter, and me to privately call it the “basket building,” and its occupants

P ostscriptthe “basket cases.” I know it’s not nice but it’s what we do.

“Doing great! How are you?” Betty and most of her companions reply. There’s usually a gathering of resi dents, most of them in wheelchairs, and they always say they are “doing great!” as they smoke their cigarettes, speaking of things I will never know about.

One day, Betty was alone.

“I don’t actually know your name,” I confessed.

“I’m Betty.”

“I’m Carrie.”

“Nice to meet you, Car rie.”

Then, yesterday, I was on my way to the drugstore, and there was Betty, sev eral blocks from the basket building, with her wheel chair parked and facing the

street.

“Hello, Betty!”

“Oh, hello!”

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” I said.

“Oh, it is!” she agreed.

“What’re you looking at?” Betty gestured across the street, toward the small park with trees, and taller build ings in the background. There were flowers in the foreground and a brick walk way in the park.

“It’s beautiful, don’t you think?” she asked. “The whole thing. It’s a beautiful picture.”

I was in no hurry to get to the drugstore, I realized, gazing across the street. It was late afternoon, the sun shining through the trees, the bricks were shiny and the

flowers were in full bloom. Betty was right. It was beautiful, and I would have walked right past it without a glance.

“I sometimes sit here and just look at it,” Betty told me. “One day, they had a wedding here.”

“Oh, that would be a great place for a wedding,” I said.

“Uh-huh,” Betty agreed.

“What was your name again?” she asked.

“Carrie. Like the Stephen King novel.”

“Oh, yeah!”

I stood there in silence for a long moment, taking in the scene.

“Well, I’ll see you around, Betty,” I finally said. Betty smiled at me.

As I headed down the

sidewalk, I took one last look back at her. She was sitting in a patch of warm autumn sunshine, her eyes focused on the scene across the street. She had a smile on her face and a peacefulness about her that I only manage for mo ments in a day – if I’m lucky.

I don’t know a thing about Betty, and when I see her on the sidewalk in her wheel chair, smoking her cigarettes, I’ve been pretty quick to as sume that hers is not a happy life.

I had to wonder if, in her place, I would have wheeled myself three blocks just for a sight that pleased me, just to sit in the sun, just to take in the beauty.

I hope so. Till next time.

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Harvest Bounty

Downtown St. Paul

Thanksgiving Market

Wed., Nov. 23 | 9 am-3 pm

turkeys, pies & more

the freshest food in town.

calendar at: stpaulfarmersmarket.com

Recompensa de la cosecha

Downtown St. Paul Saturdays 7 am-1 pm Sundays 8 am-1 pm

5th St. E.

Mercado del Día de Acción de Gracias

Miércoles, 23 de noviembre | 9 am-3 pm Pavos frescos, pays y más Estamos aceptando órdenes todavía

El otoño está en el aire y es el tiempo de la generosidad de la cosecha en el mercado. Visite el mercado de su vecindario para adquirir manzanas, calabazas, carnes, quesos, flores y grandes ofertas en productos locales que son los más frescos de la ciudad.

The new “Spirits and Shady Ladies” tour is a mile-long walking tour that sheds light on the brothels of St. Paul’s former “sin district.”

Caves

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Calendario de eventos en: stpaulfarmersmarket.com

big band playing 1930s-era music. The lineup for No vember includes: Westwind Swing Band, Nov. 3; MN Jazz Orchestra, Nov. 10; Bend in the River Big Band, Nov. 17; and Swing Beat Big Band, Nov. 25.

The caves themselves are the result of silica mining that occurred in the mid1800s. Since then, they have been used for a large brewery, a mushroom farm, and the notorious gangster nightclub, Castle Royal. Some believe the caves are haunted due to the strange and out-of-the ordinary oc currences that happen there.

Faith said she is proud they’ve been able keep alive the unique venue that holds a special place in St. Paul history.

The caves are located at 215 Wabasha St. S., St. Paul. For more information or to book a tour, visit wabasha caves.com or call 651-2241191.

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