South St. Paul Voice October 2022

On the Road Again festival returns Oct. 1

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

South St. Paul

Seeking perfection on the pitch

Disengaged

How a decrease in volunteerism is affecting our community

County gives green light to new SSP library

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

South

St. Paul’s kick-off to fall begins October 1 when the On the Road Again Festival rolls in. Events are held 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday along Southview Boule vard and nearby side streets. For those new to the city, the festival was first organized in 1990 to cel ebrate the completion of a 2-year street, water and sewer project on Southview Boulevard. Those busi ness owners organized the event as a way to thank the community for supporting them during construc tion. The festival has since evolved into an annual event. Here’s this year’s lineup. Details were accurate as of press time. For more infor mation, contact Steve at 651-4572774.

Arts and Crafts Flea Market, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 100 ven dors will offer bargains on vintage and handcrafted items.

Booya, 11 a.m. until the last ladle is dished out. Community chefs use secret recipes to prepare a combined 700-800 gallons of stew as they compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. Sample their con coctions then cast your vote. Judg ing begins at noon. The reigning champion is Hockey Day Booya. For more details, contact Brenda at 651-528-8904.

Lions Club Beer Garden and Raffle, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., at 9th and

Tim Spitzack Editor

You can see it across our community and across the country. Fewer and fewer people are investing their time in charitable organizations that help to improve society. This disengagement threatens to fray the safety nets that pro vide food and clothing for people facing economic hardships, tutors for children struggling in school, temporary housing for the homeless, assistance for senior

citizens, and the list goes on. While the drop in volunteers was most evident dur ing the height of the COVID-19 pan demic – when many were forced to step away for safety concerns – the trend be gan long before the pandemic first reared its ugly head.

According to the 2018 report “Where are America’s Volunteers? A Look at Amer ica’s Widespread Decline in Volunteering in Cities and States,” volunteering across the nation has declined dramatically since

Volunteerism / Page 2

After years of planning and de bate, South St. Paul is now set to get a new county-owned library at 7th and Marie Avenue. On Sep tember 6, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners voted 4-2 to move forward with the $11.3 mil lion project. Just three weeks earlier, the board was split over a debate on funding. They originally set aside $4.7 million for the project, antici pating receiving the remaining $6.6 million from Minnesota Legislature. When that funding didn’t material ize following the 2022 legislative ses sion, the board was left with a hard decision. In the end they decided to use American Rescue Plan funds to make up the difference. Those funds were originally slated to build a new recycling facility and make improve ments to the Dakota County law enforcement center.

The new library will have specific areas for children, teens and adults, a programming room, community room, reading garden, a central op erations desk and will be fully acces sible. The interior will feature a wall collage of South St. Paul’s history.

The final design of the 16,000 square-foot facility was approved in July. It was created by BKV Ar chitects. Shoreview-based Donlar Construction has been named as the contractor. The County expects to break ground on October 4, with

School district puts levy request on November ballot

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Although Special School District 6 slashed $1.4 million from its 2022-23 budget, it’s still short of cash and this fall will ask voters for more funds to avoid additional cuts that could affect class sizes, staff ing, programming and ex tracurricular activities.

The district is placing a

levy request on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. This levy would replace the 2017 voter-approved levy that annually provides $792 per student through property taxes. Now the district is asking taxpayers for an ad ditional $108 per student.

The ballot will have two questions. The first will ask to raise the levy to $900 per student to avoid cuts to programs, staffing and ac

tivities. The second asks for an additional $250 per stu dent to fund academic and mental health support, ex panded programming, and increased career and college readiness opportunities for students. The first question must pass for the second to pass. Based on a medianvalued home of $275,000, a homeowner would pay an additional $348 annually if the first question passes, or

$444 if both pass.

The district says state funding for education has not kept pace with increased operating costs for schools and that the district’s current levy is the 35th lowest in the metro area’s 43 districts. It sits $608 below the metro average of $1,400. Since 2020, the district has been awarded approximately $8 million dollars in CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief,

and Economic Security Act), CRRSA (Coronavirus Response and Relief Supple mental Appropriations Act) and ARP (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to support operations through the 2024-25 school year. When that money is gone, the dis trict will need to make cuts if it doesn’t close the gap through the proposed levy increase.

JoAnn Ellingboe is one of several Umbrella Project volunteers who use plastic shopping bags to create sleeping mats for the homeless.

To

Volunteerism

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the early 2000s. Published by The Do Good Institute at the University of Mary land, the report revealed that Minnesota was among 32 states to have experienced a significant decrease in vol unteerism during the study period. A December 2021 Gallup poll of 811 adults nationwide confirms that volunteerism continues to slide: 56% volunteered in 2021, down from the 20-

year high of 65% in 2013.

Here’s a look at how non profits in our community rely on volunteers, and areas in which they need help. Sta tistics reflect pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, and year-to-date as of August.

Neighbors, Inc. oper ates a food shelf, Clothes Closet and other social ser vice programs for people in Northern Dakota County. Last year it fed more than

14,000 people and provid ed clothing to nearly 150 households. This year they have seen a 30% increase in requests for food assistance.

“Throughout our 50 years of serving the community, we’ve been fortunate to have strong volunteer support,” said spokesperson Heidi Sa tre. “We have long-term vol unteers who have supported Neighbors for decades, new volunteers who want to get involved in service, and vol unteers who come and go as their schedule permits.”

In March 2020, Neigh bors made the difficult de cision to suspend its vol unteer program during the pandemic in the interest of the health and safety of its volunteers. Staff stepped in during that time and gained a new appreciation for the contributions its volunteers provide. Leadership also used that time to stream line services. For example, they created an online selfscheduling system for volun teers; developed off-site and at-home “Mission Booster” volunteer projects; and made efficiency improvements to the physical spaces.

volunteers to apply to join us in providing opportunities for our neighbors to thrive,” said Satre. The greatest need is for Spanish-speaking vol unteers.

For more information about volunteering, visit neighborsmn.org/volunteer.

DARTS has seen a sharp decline in both number of volunteers and volun teer hours in recent years. In 2019, more than 1,000 volunteers provided a total of 14,500 hours of volun teer service. Last year those numbers dropped to 643 volunteers providing fewer than half the hours. The decline continued this year, with only about 350 volun teers providing 5,100 hours so far. DARTS offers services that help people in North ern Dakota County live in dependently. This includes transportation, home repair, outdoor chores, respite care for primary caregivers and a host of other services.

Kallestad, communica tions specialist. “These fac tors cause high demand for DARTS’ services…. Those relying upon fixed incomes are increasingly looking to DARTS because we have affordable options.”

DARTS also serves youth by partnering with nearly 50 schools for its Learning Buddies program. With school closures during the pandemic, the tutoring pro gram for elementary school students has been greatly af fected, seeing a 10% decline in volunteer help. To adjust, DARTS developed virtual options that benefit both the students and the volunteers who are still not comfortable visiting schools in person.

The agency’s greatest volun teering needs are for its new Group Respite program, tech buddies and folks who can do snow removal for se niors.

“This fall, volunteers are returning to classrooms to help with in-person volun teering as well.”

Service organizationsUntil this summer, South St. Paul had two active ser vice clubs. Now it is down to one. After more than 60 years of community service, the Rotary Club of South St. Paul/Inver Grove Heights disbanded in June due to dwindling membership. The club was a long-time sponsor of Kaposia Days and other community groups and events. Left standing is the South St. Paul Lions Club. Established in 1946, the club annually donates tens of thousands of dollars and much volunteer time to local causes. Recipients include public and parochial schools, youth programs, Relay for Life, Kaposia Days, On the Road Again, and individu als in need. To commemo rate its 75th anniversary last year, the club pledged a 3-year, $75,000 donation to the City of South St. Paul to support the renovation of the Kaposia Landing Pavil ion.

“We always welcome new

“The percentage of older adults in our communities continues to rise – nearing 20% – and the pandemic has reinforced older peoples’ de sire to live at home as long as possible,” said Megan

“The South St. Paul Li ons Club is one of the larger Lions clubs in the area,” said club president Rich Engels. “We are holding steady at just over 60 mem state-of-the-art public class day pre-school Experiential school busing St. Paul culture emphasizes building,

To volunteer or for more information, visit dartscon nects.org or call 651-4551560.

bers, but recruitment of new members is a challenge for us. Although we have been able to recruit a few great new members recently oth ers have stepped away or passed away. Our member ship overall is getting older. I can’t say that this [recruit ing difficulty] is due to the pandemic. It’s a trend that is a long time in the making.”

The club holds din ner meetings at 7:15 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month (SeptemberMay) at Concord Lanes, 365 Concord Exch. N. Guests are welcome. To learn more, visit ssplions.org.

In an effort to recruit vol unteers for multiple groups and organizations, the City of South St. Paul held its first-ever Resource Fair in mid-August to showcase the many organizations, clubs and activities available in the community. About 150 people visited booths of more than 20 groups. Com munity affairs liaison Deb Griffith was pleased with the turnout and said the event may be held twice a year in the future.

Griffith helps organize hundreds of volunteers an nually for city events and the South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force. Events include

the citywide food drive, Blooming Parks, Streets in Bloom, a bike sale, Earth Day Expo, Adopt a Street, events held during Kapo sia Days and On the Road Again festival, Community Grams, Fill the Backpack campaign, the Great Hal loween Get Together, Recy cling Pumpkins – The Task Force Way, tree lighting cer emony, Read Across South St. Paul and more.

“I have not reduced any programs due to lack of volunteer help,” said Griffith. “With that said, some changes have taken place due to staffing. For instance, we were not able to volunteer for the senior citizens Thanksgiving Din ner because there was not enough staff at the school dis trict to prepare the food…. The youth were still willing to volunteer in the commu nity with cleans ups, doing activities for and/or with the seniors in the community.”

For more information about volunteering with the city, contact Griffith at Deb. griffith@southstpaul.org or 651-554-3230.

Volunteers are also needed in a variety of roles with the South St. Paul School Dis trict, including lunchroom clean-up, field trips, assisting

teachers with preparing proj ects, and providing individu al lessons in speech, reading, math and comprehension. The District suspended volunteer programs when schools were closed during the pandemic and it’s been difficult to get people to re turn. Currently, there are not enough volunteers to fill all needs, said Danette Childs, communications coordina tor for the district. To vol unteer, call 651-457-9400 or visit sspps.org.

One area group that has successfully adjusted to the trend in micro-volunteering (short-term projects) is the Umbrella Project at the Thompson Park Activity Center, 1200 Stassen Ln., West St. Paul. The group of retirees was formed in 2007 with just three members and today has grown to more than 30.

“This has been extremely successful and is one of the greatest programs at Thomp son Park Activity Center,” said spokesperson Lisa M. Grathen. “It’s a really cre ative take on volunteering. Members can choose which projects they want to take part in…. The purpose of the group is to partner with other organizations to fill needs.”

The program stemmed

from the national conversa tion of how the retirement of Baby Boomers will impact the economy and society. Wanting to turn that narra tive into something positive, Umbrella members began talking about the benefits Boomers can have on their communities by giving back.

While several projects happen simultaneously, one of the most popular is the group that has found a cre ative use for plastic shopping bags. Members take the plas tic and crochet it into sleep ing mats, which are donated to organizations that help the homeless. Other projects have included food drives for Neighbors, Inc., mentoring refugee families through Lu theran Social Services, and providing cards of encour agement to be delivered with Meals on Wheels.

One challenge the pro gram faces is getting men to volunteer. Currently, all members are female.

“We’ve tried hard but can’t get any [men],” said Gra then. “If any are interested in creating a group, I’ve got a great guy to lead it.”

All projects are determined by the group. To learn more, attend their next meeting

on October 10, or call 651403-8300. The group meets 10-11:30 a.m., the second Monday of each month.

Simple ways to reengage

According to Civic Champs, a public benefit corporation founded in 2019 to “ignite volunteer service, strengthen nonprofits, and improve lives and communi ties,” today’s volunteers are looking for ways to directly interact with the people ben efitting from their volunteer service, and many are look ing for short-term projects, which reduces the likelihood of “volunteer burnout.”

Data from the U.S. Bu reau of Labor and Statis tics show that the greatest number of volunteers in the United States are age 35-54. The least likely to volunteer are ages 20-24. Retirees are another source for the volunteer pool, and that demographic will be come increasing larger in the coming years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 10,000 Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are reaching retirement age each day, with

the entire generation reach ing age 65 or older in 2030. Based on the 2020 Census, the nation has about 73 mil lion Boomers.

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines for awhile and are ready to reengage, or are looking to volunteer for the first time, connect with a nonprofit that supports a cause that’s near and dear to your heart. Most offer micro-volunteering oppor tunities, which can improve the community, and perhaps your health. According to the Do Good Institute’s report and numerous other studies, volunteering has been shown to improve a person’s emotional, mental and even physical health. In addition, it helps improve interpersonal relationships by building trust, providing social interaction, promot ing teamwork and allowing people to learn new skills.

Of course, not all volun teering is done through an organization. Many people find joy in helping a neigh bor by mowing their lawn or shoveling their sidewalk, visiting the elderly or mak ing a meal for the sick, or contributing to the needs of their faith community.

ommunity

On the Road 1

Southview. Quench your thirst at the Lions Club beer garden and take part in their raffle at 2:30 p.m., at 820 Southview Blvd.

Pickle Contest, judging

begins at 2 p.m. Contestants will compete in three catego ries: sweet, dill and hot. To enter the contest, drop off your pickles by 11 a.m., Sat urday, Oct. 1 at Southview

66, 725 Southview Blvd.

Giant Car Show , 10 a.m.-4 p.m., between 9th and 12th avenues and on side streets. Check out the wide array of vintage cars and trucks to admire shiny chrome, custom detailing and other meticulous works

of restoration. Great Neighbors’ Duck Race, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Heats are held every 15 minutes. Winners of each heat will compete for a $500 grand prize. Ducks are available for $5 each and can be pur chased at Neighbors, Inc.,

222 Grand Ave. W., local businesses or at the event.

The event also features Delbert the Duck mascot, a coloring contest and more. For more information, call 651-455-5000 or visit www. neighborsmn.org.

Live music, 1-4 p.m., at 8th Avenue and Southview Boulevard. Vivian Hayes and the Lamont Cranston Blues Band will perform. Food, face painting and oth er activities will be featured throughout the festival area.

Halloween events are back! October 8 is Na tional Costume Exchange Day. Join the South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force and the South St. Paul Public Library for the 3rd Annual Great HallowGreen Costume Exchange. To participate, drop off gently used, laundered cos tumes at the library dur ing normal business hours through Thursday, Oct. 6. In exchange, you’ll receive a “New to You” ticket which you can bring to the library on Saturday, Oct. 8 to ex change for a costume that is new to you. Once all tickets are redeemed, remaining costumes will be available to others who bring a dona tion for Neighbors, Inc.

The Youth Task Force is sponsoring Boo Grams for Halloween. Like the Jingle Grams in December, Val.A.Grams in February, May Day Yah Grams in May, Boo Grams will bring a smile to someone’s face. They can be sent to anyone who lives or works in South St. Paul. Messages can be up to 100 words and may be used for encouragement, to share happy news, wish someone a good day or a Happy Hal loween, etc. Halloween Boo Grams forms are available at www.southstpaul.org (on the event’s calendar), at South St. Paul City Hall, 125 3rd Ave. N., or by contacting Deb Griffith, Community Affairs, at 651-554-3230 or Deb.griffith@southstpaul.

org. Cost is $6 per gram, or 2 for $10. Return completed forms to City Hall, along with a check made payable to the Mayor’s Youth Task Force by October 26. All Boo Grams and some tasty treats will be delivered on Saturday, Oct. 29. Proceeds benefit activities hosted by the task force.

The 21st Great Hal loween Get Together will be held 5-7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 31 on Marie Avenue. This free event provides a safe and fun trick or treat ing trail between 4th and 7th avenues. Businesses, organizations and groups are invited to set up a booth to hand out treats and play games. Volunteers and mon etary donations are needed.

For more information or to donate, contact Deb Griffith at 651-554-3230 or Deb. griffith@southstpaul.org.

Compost Your Pump kin the Task Force WayPartnering with the South St. Paul Recycling program and Wakota Federal Credit Union, task force members will be composting pump kins 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Nov. 5 at Wakota Federal Credit Union at 12th and Southview. While the dump ster will be there all weekend, task force members will be there on Saturday to remove pumpkins from vehicles and place them into the compost bin. The event is free.

Joe

Wills, Trusts & Probate Business Planning Estate Planning Personal Injury Real Estate

We join you in celebrating On the Road Again

To reach us, call 651-451-9743 or visit www.TaurinskasLaw.com

P. James Taurinskas Attorney, Minnesota & Wisconsin

Brian J. Taurinskas Attorney, Minnesota & Wisconsin

Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist 5684 Bishop Avenue, Suite 200, Inver Grove Heights (located inside Key Community Bank)

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ews Briefs

Library events

Fall Book Sale, October 10-15. Children’s and adult materials available for pur chase; $1 bag sale all week.   Book Club , 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 18. The title discussed is “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” by Ben Fountain. Visit tinyurl. com/SSPbookclub for more information.

Fiction Basics , 6-7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24. Thinking of writing a novel? Learn how to create memo rable settings, exciting plots, and develop interesting and believable characters with

depth and complexity. Pre sented by Loft Literary Cen ter. Registration required. Geared toward adults.  Toddlers Takeover, 1011 a.m., Friday, Oct. 7 and 21. Early literacy activities for toddlers ages three and younger. Siblings welcome.

Storytimes for 2s-6s , 10:30-11 a.m., each Tues day through November. Stories and activities to help toddlers and preschoolers develop early literacy skills. Ages 2-6. Siblings welcome.

Storytimes for Ba bies, 10:30-11 a.m., each Wednesday through Novem

ber. Ages birth to 2.  Teen Fandom Club , 6-7:30 p.m., each Monday through November 21. Watch anime, play games, share artwork and discuss your favorite fandoms with other teens.

Meeting dates

The South St. Paul City Council meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month in the council chambers at City Hall, 125 3rd Ave. N. For agendas and city council member contact information, visit

www.southstpaul.org or call 651-554-3284.

The Special School Dis trict 6 School Board meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month. For agendas and school board member con tact information, visit www. sspps.org or call 651-4579400.

The South St. Paul Lions Club meets at 7:15 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month (September - May). For more informa tion, visit https://ssplions. org.

New librarypage 1

the library opening in spring 2024. The city is responsible for site preparation and will modify 7th Avenue to be a one-way street with angled parking. After the library is complete, the city plans to find a new use for the exist ing building.

Talks to build the new library began in 2016 after a study showed it would be more cost effective to build a new library than update the existing one. The cur

rent 11,800 square-foot public library is 95 years old and hasn’t seen any ad ditions since 1964. Many of its mechanical systems are hard to replace and the space has been deemed too small for the number of ac tivities and resources offered at modern libraries. It’s one of only four city-owned li braries in the Metro Area. For more information, visit southstpaul.org/481/Futureof-SSP-Library.

The annual Police versus Fire charity hockey game is held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8. at John V. Hoene Arena, 60 Emerson Ave. W., West St. Paul. Following the game, a taco bar, raffles, prize giveaways and music will take place at Dunham’s, 173 Lothenbach Ave., West St. Paul. Cost is $5; ages 6 and under free. Proceeds will support the fight against breast cancer.

Bowling and a movie field trip, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20. This fun filled day for ages 6-12 starts at Doug Woog Arena with games, followed by bowling and a pizza lunch at Drku la’s in Inver Grove Heights, and a movie at a local the ater. Cost is $42. Register at southstpaul.org or in person at City Hall, 125 3rd Ave. N. For more information, call 651-366-6200.

Enjoy higher interest and up to $15 in ATM fee refunds1 when you qualify each cycle.

It’s easy to qualify.2

• $100 minimum deposit to open

• No minimum balance requirement

• Enroll

Southview Shopping Center 12th Ave. and Southview Blvd., South St. Paul 651-450-1270 www.sspangelos.com

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY). Daily Balance Method is used to calculate interest on account. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the principal balance in the account each day. All accounts subject to approval and applicable terms, fees, and charges. Fees may reduce earnings.

Refer to our Deposit Rates for current interest rates and annual percentage yields based on designated balance tiers. When linked to Power Savings, the interest earned within Power Checking does not compound since it’s automatically transferred to Power Savings. Interest rates are variable, and rates may change a er the account is opened. Rates are accurate as of 09/01/2022.

1Domestic ATM fees are refunded to the account once the Power Checking qualifications are met; if you have a linked Power Savings your ATM fee refunds will post directly to the Power Savings account.

This material is developed by and is property of the St. Paul Publishing Company and may not be reproduced, copied, published, exhibited or otherwise used without written consent of the St. Paul Publishing Company. © St. Paul Publishing Co. 2007.

2The qualification cycle (monthly statement cycle) ends on the fourth Wednesday of each month. On this day, transaction counts are finalized and interest is paid. Transactions that have posted and cleared are no longer in pending status. Any transactions pending when the Power Checking qualification cycle ends will not be included in the current cycle.

Terms: Prepayment by credit card required for firsttime advertisers. When billed, payment is due in full in ten days of run date on invoice. Invoices over 30 days past due will be assessed a $3 rebilling charge. If payment is not received in 30 days St. Paul Publishing 651-457-1177 651-457-1077 St. Paul Voice La Voz Latina Downtown South St. Paul

History Center

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

mnhs.org

Our Home: Native Min nesota features historic and contemporary photographs, maps and artifacts. Visitors learn how Minnesota’s Na tive communities have re tained cultural practices, teachings and values. Other exhibits include “Then Now Wow,” “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Grainland” and “Weather Permitting.” The Center is open 10 a.m.4 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. 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. Part bio-musical, part rock ’n roll concert, guests will learn about the late star and hear some of his biggest hits. Tickets are $20.

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

landmarkcenter.org

“History Play: Alvin Karpis: The Last Public Enemy #1” is presented 7-9 p.m., Oct. 6-7, and 2-4 p.m., Oct. 9, at the F.K. Weyerhaeuser auditorium.

Alvin “Creepy” Karpis was the last 1930s gangster to be named public enemy #1 by the FBI. The play explores his life, the Barker-Karpis gang’s infamous kidnappings and Karpis’s fate after his tri al at the federal courthouse in St. Paul. $10.

Ballet Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the Musser Cortile. Dancers from Ballet Co.Laboratory will perform excerpts from the company repertoire. Free.

Courtroom Concerts –The following free concerts are held at noon: Julia and Irina Elkina, Thursday, Oct. 13; Mill City String Quar tet, Thursday, Oct. 20; Laura Caviani and David Milne, Thursday, Oct. 27.

Light in the Well, 2-3:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 16, at the F.K. Weyerhaeuser audi torium. This multi-sensory music event weaves together music with real-life stories of

people with disabilities. Res ervations required. Free.

Annie Mack concert , 8-10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21, at the F.K. Weyerhaeuser auditorium. A cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Saint Paul Civic Sym phony Concert, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23, in the Musser Cortile. Free.

Gangster Ghost Tour, 6-9 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26. Cross paths with the ghosts of gangsters and long departed judges and see Landmark Center through the eyes of St. Paul’s most fa mous and infamous inhabit ants. Tours depart every 15 minutes and last one hour. Tickets are $10. Advance purchase required. Tickets are available through Oct. 1.

Great Pumpkin Hallow een Festival, 1-3 p.m., Sun day, Oct. 30, in the Musser Cortile. Enjoy Halloween festivities including live en tertainment, crafts, treats and a costume parade. Free.

MN Children’s Museum 10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 mcm.org

The Amazing Castle ,

is featured through Jan. 8, 2023. Travel back in time to a magical place where medieval storybook char acters come to life. Explore eight themed areas and get to know the characters that make the castle a commu nity.

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.

Imaginopolis: Nature Remix opens Oct. 1. 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.

Other exhibits and activi ties include The Scramble,

The Studio, Creativity Jam, Sprouts, Backyard, Our World, Forces at Play, Su per Awesome Adventures, Imaginopolis and the Tip Top Terrace.

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 Oct. 2.

History Center

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

Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition is featured through April 2, 2023. Visi tors can learn about areas of forensic science and engage in interactive crime-solving exercises. View original manuscripts, period arti facts, and investigative tools used by Sherlock Holmes.

Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Gen eration,” “Then Now Wow,” “Grainland” and “Weather 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.

Ordway Center

345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 ordway.org Ordway Inside Out , 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1. Experience a free Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra concert streamed live from the Ordway Concert Hall onto a giant screen in Rice Park. Renowned pia-nist and com poser Conrad Tao will lead a program built around Wolf gang Amadeus Mozart’s Pi ano Concerto No. 24. Food trucks will be available at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

“The Stranger” is pre sented 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, and 3:30 p.m., Oct. 16. Tickets start at $42.

“Six: The Musical” is presented 7:30 p.m., October 25-28, and 2 and 7:30 p.m., Octo ber 29-30. Tickets start at $55.50.

Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition at the Minnesota History Center

S ample St. Paul

Park Square Theatre

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

parksquaretheatre.org

“The Humans” is pre sented through October 9. Both funny and chilling, the play follows three-gen erations of the Blake family as they assemble for Thanks giving and navigate the chal lenges of everyday life.

“Fire in the New World” is presented October 19-No vember 6. Private eye Sam Shikaze fights crime and dis crimination in Vancouver’s Japantown in the years fol lowing World War II. When the Japanese-American wife of an ambitious real estate developer goes missing, Sam is on the case in this savvy detective caper.

RiverCentre

175 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651- 265-4800

rivercentre.org

American Craft Made, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., October 7-8, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., October 9. Shop hand made items from more than 150 artists from across the

country. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Show Me Reptile Show, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Satur day, Oct. 15. Tickets start at $10; free for children 12 and under.

Science Museum of Minnesota

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

smm.org Nature All Around Us is presented October 15-Janu ary 22, 2023. Discover the

hidden worlds and rich ecosystems within familiar places and explore the nat ural 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.

Omnitheater films“Into America’s Wild” is presented through October 14. Explore fantastical wild places and the human con nection we all share with the natural world.

“Backyard Wilder ness” is presented October 15-January 31, 2023. Peek inside dens, nests and ponds to meet the creatures that live there.

“Dream Big” is presented through December 31. Ex plore engineering marvels from around the world.

“Stellar Tours Digital Telescope Show” is pre sented at 2 p.m., Satur days and Sundays, October 15-November 20. Guests can choose their own space

tour and glimpse the far thest reaches of the universe.

Theater tickets are $9.95, with discounts for children and seniors.

Museum tickets are $19.95, with discounts for children and seniors.

Union Depot 214 4th St. E. St. Paul 651-202-2700 uniondepot.org BooNion Depo is held 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday,

Oct. 30. Visitors can create pumpkin crafts, dance to a DJ, trick-or-treat and more. The first 500 kids under age 12 will receive a tote for can dy. Visitors are encouraged to dress in costumes.

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.

Seeking perfection pitch

John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer

The fact that prep foot ball is back and in full swing delights players and fans alike, but there are oth er sports activities in session as well. Scores of student athletes are competing in cross country, tennis, swim ming and diving, volleyball and soccer. We can’t cover them all, but we are pleased to highlight the South St. Paul High School boys and girls soccer teams.

Noe Cuenca is in his first season as head coach of the boys team. After chasing his dream of playing baseball in the Mexican Leagues, Cuenca started his soccer coaching career in 2010 at a community center in White Bear Lake. The players he coached included his son, Kevin Cuenca, who was the Packers goalkeeper from 2018-2020. When the head coaching job became avail able after the 2021 season, Noe applied and was offered the job.

“I enjoyed my tenure as a coach at the commu nity center, but we would see the players only twice a week,” said Cuenca. “Work ing with the high school kids five days a week has given me an opportunity for a more hands-on approach and that speeds up the development

of the pitch.

“Rodrigo is very talented, a polished leader and leads the team with six goals. He has good feet, makes great passes and he knows how to finish at the net,” said Cuen ca. “Uriel is also capable of creating offensive oppor tunities and we are blessed that we will have him for two more years.”

The midfielders play a crucial role on any soccer team. They are responsible for transitioning play – im peding the opposition as they attempt to enter the defensive zone and igniting the offense as it transitions into the opponent’s defen sive zone. Senior captain Owen Mylchreest, junior Henry Andrade and sopho more Tomas Ochocki lead that group.

“Owen is just plain tough and takes great pride in keeping our defensive zone clean,” said Cuenca. “Henry is a student of the game and a polished passer. Tomas is lightning fast with or with out the ball and is an accu rate passer. All three of them are all over the field.”

Defensemen include ju nior captain Anthony Rome ro and senior Logan Olson, and the starting goalkeeper is junior Erick Dominguez.

“Anthony reads the game very well and craves disrupt ing the opposition and Lo

ball well and is a very vocal leader shouting out instruc tions to his teammates.”

Coming off a 5-11-1 re cord in 2021, the Packers won their first four games, then suffered two losses against archrivals Two Rivers (0-1) and Mahtomedi (1-2, with the winning goal scored in the last 15 seconds).

“I think we have great potential if we continue to work together as a team,” said Cuenca. “I am fully enjoying this job. It’s not always about the wins and losses, it is also about how we can impact young people’s lives in a positive way.”

Cuenca has latched on to this coaching opportunity in a big way and is fully en gaged as the leader of this team. The 2021 team was outscored 70 goals to 28. Through half of the 2022 schedule, the Packers have outscored their opponents 18-11. That is a remark able about-face, and a good deal of the credit falls on the shoulders of Cuenca.

After a stint as head coach of the boys team, Tom Hart is now in his fifth season as head coach of the girls team. As if that were not enough, he is also head coach of the girls track and field team. It is fair to presume that Hart is often left to dine on leftovers at home.

4-5. He is not surprised. The varsity roster includes five se niors, five juniors and eight sophomores.

“We knew in August that we would be a very young team,” said Hart. “Consider ing our youth, we are com peting at a high level, and I learned very early in the season that there is no quit in this group at any point in any game.”

He offered two examples. Trailing Bloomington Ken nedy 3-0 at halftime, the Packers roared back in the second half and won 5-4. Ten days later, at Visitation, the Blazers had a seemingly comfortable 3-1 lead before

eled by sophomores Scarlett Johanson and Anna Schaefer.

“Scarlett is speedy, fearless and tenacious and has scored four goals for us,” said Hart. “Anna is quiet but her preci sion and pinpoint accuracy with her passes and her shots on goal speak loudly, and she leads the team in scoring with six goals.”

Juniors Meghan Cole beck and Glory Johanson have also made significant contributions to the Packer offense. Colebeck has scored three goals and assisted on three more, and Glory Jo hanson has netted three goals as well.

Midfielders include soph omore Bailey Vesper and the

by junior Ava Waska and seniors Inga Oelerking and Mary Balza.

“Ava is soccer savvy and a tactician in the defensive end of the field,” said Hart. “Inga and Mary are seasoned veterans and both of them are very vocal shouting out instructions to their team mates.”

The Packers feature two sophomore goalkeepers : Miyah Geffre and Lily Pachl. Hart said that each mir ror each other in terms of toughness and fearlessness, and both have made several crucial saves.

“We lost several seniors to graduation last year, but this young group has made sig

Senior Kylie Evazich is a midfielder and handles most corner kicks.

Halloween memories from days of yore

Lois Glewwe Contributor

Going trick or treating on Halloween night in the 1950s and 1960s was much different than it is to day. In those days there was no fear of children receiving poisoned candy or being kidnapped off the street. As soon as the sun set on Oc tober 31, hundreds of kids would stream out of their homes and venture out into their own neighborhoods and anywhere else they could get to before it was too late.

Few costumes were bought at a store. Instead, moms would either sew a costume, or kids would make do with what they could find a home. My Mom sewed me outfits for a little Dutch girl, Little Bo Peep and, one unforget table year, a bright yellow pa jamaed Wee Willie Winkie, complete with nightcap. Most kids settled for being a pirate with a homemade eye patch or a gypsy with bright ly rouged cheeks, lots of jew elry, and a long skirt with a colorful top. Many was the

year when the charming costumes were hidden un der snow pants and a heavy jacket because temperatures dropped below freezing, or pouring rain drove kids home soaked to the skin. No matter the weather, however, the night’s festivities were never canceled.

There were also no Hal loween lights or displays in those days that I can recall. People simply turned on their front light and groups of kids would gather on the steps and shout, “Trick or treat! Money or eats!” People went through bag after bag of candy – usually full-size bars, which were the only ones available – or a bushel of apples, or a mound of popcorn balls. There were a few jack-o-lanterns but not many, and nearly every neighborhood had at least one spooky house with no lights on, and rumors flew about the old witch who lived there and ate children for dinner. A few boys might be brave enough to make it to the front porch and ring the bell, but they’d scream and run for their lives if any

one actually responded.

The collection bag of choice was usually a pil lowcase, and many years I remember filling mine two or three times as my friends and I covered the whole town, running up and down the blocks and hitting every house. I don’t remember any houses not participating, which meant a kid could collect a lot of candy in a few hours. When your bag got full, you’d quickly take a detour home to dump your goodies in a big bowl or box your mom had ready and then head back out on the street to start all over. I also don’t remember ever seeing a parent or adult walking with their kids. That just didn’t happen. It was a night only for the kids.

What many parents did do, however, was dress up themselves. It was always a wonderful surprise when someone answered the door wearing a mask and cos tume. You had no idea that Mr. or Mrs. So and So had such imagination.

In many ways, the entire community was in on the

fun, which lasted from about 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Most peo ple turned off their lights off by about 8 p.m., after run ning out of candy.

Today, it’s hard to imag ine getting three pillowcases full of candy bars and other treats. As an only child, the only ones I ever shared my bounty with were my par ents, but I was pretty stingy about what they could take. I’m sure teachers suffered for weeks afterwards from oversugared students, whose lunches always included at least one candy bar from Halloween. That candy of ten lasted close to Christmas time.

As I reflect on my child hood Halloween outings, I’m amazed that I’ve never once had a trick or treater at my door. When I first moved into my neighborhood, I was excited for Halloween night. I bought and carved pumpkins and lit them on the front steps, put out deco rations and had lots and lots of candy – but not one kid. I suppose it’s because I’m the only house at the end of the street and most of the kids

The author in 1955 wearing her little Dutch girl costume, which was made by her mother.

in the neighborhood live in apartments, where trick or treating is often confined to their neighbors in the build ing. I have since given up on the hope of getting a few kids at my door and no lon

ger turn on my front light on the big night. Yet, it always makes me a bit nostalgic as I think of Wee Willie Winkie running through town so many years ago.

Luther Memorial Church 315 15th Ave . N . 651 451-2400 luther-memorial.com

• St . Augustine ’s Catholic Church 408 3rd St N 651 45 5 1302 holytrinitysspmn.org

• First Presbyterian 535 20th Ave N 651 451-6223 fpcssp.org

• Woodbury Lutheran Wakota Ridge Campus 255 W. Douglas St. 651-739-5144 woodburylutheran.org

• South St. Paul Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist 140 6th Ave N 651 455-0777

• Grace Lutheran Church 1 49 8th Ave S 651 451-1035 grace-ssp.org

Worship

Holy Trinity Catholic Church Catholic church 749 6th Ave S 651 455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org

• Clark Memorial United Church 779 15th Ave N 651 451-7278 clarkgraceucc.org

• St . Sava Serbian Orthodox church 357 2nd Ave S 651 451-0775 www.stsavamn.org

• Saint John Vianney Catholic Church 789 17th Ave. N. 651-451-1863 info@sjvssp.org

• Sf. Stefan Romanian Orthodox Church 350 5th Ave N 651 451-3462 sfantulstefan.org

• St Mary ’s Coptic Orthodox Church 501 6th Ave S 651 455-8947 stmarymn.org

Ready for some frightfully good fun?

Mark Gallagher Contributor

As a little boy, Adam Peck was fascinated with the scary part of life. By age 3, he was cutting out shapes of monsters from pa per grocery bags and soon had a large collection that he carried around to cre ate spooky scenarios. As he grew, a few of his uncles would terrify him with hor ror movies but he came to really like those flicks. By age 13, Peck was helping organize haunted houses at churches in Cottage Grove and Inver Grove Heights. The following year, he started working for a local haunted house and hayride business.

“After doing that for one season, I was certain this is what I should do,” said Peck. “I just kind of caught the bug.” Ten years ago he started his own production company, “Haunt Armada.”

His original vision was sim ply to build camaraderie be tween a group of people who

loved attending and working at Halloween venues. That led to Peck and three of his business partners operating a haunted house out of a pole barn. Since the barn wasn’t climate controlled, they were limited to the amount of time they could operate.

Today, the company has expanded by opening No where Haunted House, a 2-building, 20,000-squarefoot scare-a-thon that opened in mid-September near South Robert Trail and I-494 in Inver Grove Heights. One building in the complex is a haunted house with five zones of frightful fun, and the other has a Halloween-themed minia ture golf course and an ar cade with dozens of games.

Tickets start at $20.

“This building was always in the cards,” said Peck. “It’s an indoor attraction where we have more control over things, and we are less at the mercy of the elements.

There were plenty of times when we would be rained out at our former location.

We slowly got to talking and planned out this whole thing…. We are going to be one of the only all-indoor haunted attractions in Min nesota.”

The venue will be open at other times of the year as well, including Christmas and some other holidays. Each holiday will have its own scary theme. For ex ample, you might find freaky elves at Christmas, creepy cherubs on Valentine’s Day, and zombie leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day.

“We brought in some things from the previous at traction, but pretty much for this entire attraction we’re starting from scratch,” said Peck. “Probably 80% of ev erything is going to be brand new. We will redo some of our old costumes and masks, but for the most part all of the animatronics (lifelike ro bots) and all the set design pieces will be brand new.”

Most of the animatron ics have motion sensors that, when triggered, lead to a 20-second animation.

Some of the animatronics are built from scratch and programmed; others are pur chased from vendors already preprogrammed.

Peck also said Nowhere Haunted House plans to emphasize charitable giving.

“We are going to have a couple different nights where we collect winter clothing for kids,” he said. “We are also going to do a Halloween costume drive for lower-income families who can’t necessarily afford to buy Halloween costumes for their kids. They will be able to come here and pick out a free costume.”

They also plan to offer free admission for a few hours early on Halloween night when kids can come in and trick or treat in a safe space. That zone will not have a scary theme. Nightly, they’ll collect non-perishable do nations for Neighbors, Inc. food shelf.

“I have been doing Hal loween productions for about 25 to 26 years,” said Peck. “I’ve been trying to get a little more creative

and innovative during those years and am also trying to accumulate more stuff to enhance our attractions. I think we have gotten better.

We’ve learned that every year is a learning experience, and we always try to improve.”

For more information, visit nowherehauntedhouse.com.

The Nowhere Haunted House crew promoting their venue this summer at a community event.

Neighbors, Inc.

Charlie Thompson President & CEO

time for you as you prepare for the 15th Annual Great Neighbors’ Duck Races. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.

Delbert (DD): It is my pleasure.

CT: How did you become involved with Neighbors?

me up with food from the food shelf, clothing from the Clothes Closet and other es sential items. Everyone was kind and welcoming.

CT: How did you become involved with the Duck Races?

Charlie (CT): Delbert, I know this is a very busy

When I arrived at Neigh bors more than five years ago, one of the most intrigu ing things I learned is that we had a mascot: Delbert the Duck. In honor of our 50th anniversary, Delbert agreed to sit down with me for an interview. He shared how he became our mascot and other thoughts. Below is an edited transcript of our (tongue-in-bill) conver sation.

P ostscript

The Redhead and Cat

Here’s the thing: I’m not superstitious.

It all started when I was in Mexico, visiting a gallery, and saw a painting across the room. The composition was striking. The bottom third was black and the top two-thirds were filled with a deep blue sky and great white clouds rising from the horizon. A bare tree stood on the right side, and on the left was a full moon. I felt pulled into the gallery and across the room to see the picture, and that’s when the figures in the foreground became clear.

Standing beside the tree

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

were a woman and a cat. The woman had brilliant red hair. The cat was small and gray, and I felt something in me stir.

“The Redhead and Cat,” the painting was called. My best girlfriend, Angel,

DD: I worked for many years directing barge traffic. I was injured on the job in 2007 and then the financial crisis hit. My life took an un expected turn for the worse. A friend of mine mentioned that his great-grandmother, Virginia Milbert, volun teered at Neighbors and that they help people during hard times. I went to Neighbors the next day and they set

DD: In 2008, after get ting back on my palmate [a duck’s feet], I saw a banner hanging in South St. Paul advertising the first annual Duck Races. I was so excit ed that I started training. I swam up and down the river to get in shape for the race. I went to Neighbors and told a volunteer I wanted to enter the race. The volun teer, to my surprise, called

John Kemp (he was the ex ecutive director at the time) and asked him to come up and meet with me. John ex plained that it was a rubber duck race not an actual duck race. Sensing my disappoint ment, John invited me to be the honorary starter for the race. I took him up on the offer. At the event, children (and adults) came up to me and asked to have their photo taken with me. They laughed and gave me highfives. It was an incredible experience. After the event was finished, John came up to me and offered me the job of mascot for Neighbors. I was thrilled. I said yes and

I have been showing up at events ever since.

CT: After 15 years of serv ing as our mascot, you look better than ever. How much longer do you think you will serve as the mascot?

DD: I want to let you in on a secret. In honor of Neighbors’ 50th anniversary, I had some work done and I feel better than ever. Just like the Duck Races, I think I will be around for years to come. That reminds me, I want to invite everyone to come out to the Duck Races at On the Road Again, Oc tober 1. I look forward to making more memories and supporting Neighbors!

my biggest support to me when I started writing, had been a redhead, and my cat, Lucy, my muse every step of the way, was a small gray cat. They were both now long dead, but there they were, in front of this blue sky with the rising moon in the background.

I’m not superstitious, but having those two looking over me as I wrote seemed like a good idea. I brought the painting home to the U.S. and finally got around to hanging it up just the other day.

That’s when funny things started happening.

I’ve been grumpy. It’s nothing big, nothing im portant, just the usual stuff that adds up, like paper cuts, working with no appar ent progress, feeling alone,

wondering if I’m on the right track. Wondering if there is a track at all. That sort of thing.

It wears at the soul when hopefulness starts to fray, and instead of facing the day with excitement, I just feel tired.

As I hung the painting, I tipped my head back and lost my balance. My favor ite reading glasses slipped off my head and onto the floor just in time for me to catch myself and step on them. Crunch.

I grumbled. They were prescription glasses. Grum ble.

The next day, still grumpy, I sat down at my computer and, to my surprise, found I had typed:

] am rtrtuyi]ng rto “What the heck?!” I tried

again.

] am rtrtuyi]ng rto I unplugged my keyboard and plugged it in again. I got the same results. The keyboard was unusable. I grumbled again. I reached for a pen to take notes. My hand felt wet. The pen had exploded, and my hand was covered in ink.

this wonderful day. Sure, it’s corny, and it’s been said so many times that sometimes it loses its meaning, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

This time when I’m sit ting at my desk, this time is sacred. It is short. It is pre cious. And I am a fool not to rejoice in the little time I have.

It wasn’t until then that I remembered the painting on my wall.

Honestly, I’m not super stitious but I did ask them, after all. Directly or indi rectly, I asked my two loyal companions to help me, to both encourage me and, I guess, show me the error of my ways when I got lost, when I was grumpy, or failed to remember what matters.

What matters is the glori ous journey. What matters is

So, Angel and Lucy are watching over me. They might be doing no more than that. Perhaps, from time to time, they take a more active hand and pro vide me with a much-needed reminder of what a great fool I can be. Restifo