St. Paul Voice May 2024

BUSINESS DARTS turns 50

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

In commemoration of its 50th anniversary, DARTS recently unveiled its new logo and slogan: “creating connections that enrich aging.” What hasn’t changed is the nonprofit’s unwavering commitment to helping older adults lead safer and more fulfilling lives. DARTS will celebrate its milestone anniversary this summer with an open house at its headquarters at 1645 Marthaler Ln., West St. Paul, and a birthday bash fundraiser is slated for August 1 at the Wexford event center in Hastings.

The nonprofit was established in 1974 as part of a community education program designed to transport older adults to Inver Hills Community College for learning opportunities. Its name was an acronym for Dakota Area Resources and Transportation for Seniors but in 2008 the organization rebranded to just DARTS to better reflect its expanded services. Today, the organization offers private transportation, home cleaning and caregiver support services to seniors in Northern Dakota County.

“When you look at our 50-year history there are services that have ebbed and flowed depending on some of the changing landscape,” said DARTS president Ann Bailey. “Looking at the next 50 years, we will continue to

Cinco de Mayo fiesta returns May 4 with signature parade

West

Side pride and the rich heritage of Mexican culture will be on full display during this year’s Cinco de Mayo fiesta on the West Side, held 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, May 4, on Cesar Chavez Street between Robert and Ada. This is the second year the West Side Boosters, a nonprofit youth sports organization, has organized the regionally renowned and community favorite event that dates to

1985. Formerly, it was organized by the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, which cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and chose not to revive it. Some 4,000-5,000 people are expected to join in on the fun.

The colorful, lively parade is making a comeback this year, and Sunny Sauceda is traveling from San Antonio, Tex., to headline on the main stage. New this year is a dog show. A commemorative button

CULTURE Plans underway for Latino heritage museum

Leonor Villasuso Rustad Contributor

If all goes as planned, Harriet Island will be the site of a new museum focused on the arts, history and cultural heritage of Minnesotans of Mexican and Latin American heritage. Heading the project is Aarón Johnson-Ortíz, an artist, muralist and cultural manager who began the arts program at CLUES in 2019 and managed it for three years. CLUES is a social service agency that serves the Latino population in the Twin Cities.

Johnson-Ortíz has been working on the museum project since 2015 and has created his own nonprofit, (Neo)Muralismos de México in Minnesota, to oversee it. In recent years, (Neo)Muralismos organized a series of meetings entitled “Imagining Futures” seeking feedback from directors of Latino and Mexican museums and cultural centers from across the United States, local artists and members of the West Side community. The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago offered much advice on museum design and its collection, and many local artists have offered to donate work to the museum. Several Latino businesses and individuals have already donated funds to support construction of the proposed $28 million project.

Museum plans call for two spacious art galleries to present exhibitions by

Cord-cutting threatens cable access programming

Jake Spitzack

Staff Writer

Access to televised city council meetings, candidate forums, school performances and community news is being threatened by the cord-cutting trend – people cancelling their cable television service in favor of purchasing video streaming subscriptions.

Town Square Television, a nonprofit of the Northern Dakota County Communications Cable Commission, which serves West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Lilydale, Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, Sunfish Lake and Eagan, is projecting a 7% decrease in revenue this year alone due to the trend.

Like other cable access stations, it has been funded by mandatory fees paid by cable providers since the 1970s. Cord cutting has caused some major cable companies to stop cable TV operations in the state and focus more on providing broadband internet and telephone services. The problem is that broadband companies are not required to pay fees to city and county cable commissions. To restabilize budgets for public education government programming and allow networks like Town Square TV to spend less time fundraising and more time cover -

ing local news, a bill – the Equal Access to Broadband Act – is currently making its way through the state legislature. If approved, it will allow cities to collect fees from broadband providers for using public streets and rights-of-way to sell their services to homeowners. The bill would also ensure that broadband internet service is made available to every home in every city in the state no matter how difficult

it is to install. In Minnesota, more than $650 million in federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Act funds is available to help broadband companies build out broadband in towns across the state.

“It’s very possible that cable TV as we know it now will be winding down in the next few years, and everybody will be a broadband company,” said Town Square Television executive director Jodie Miller. “You can see that Comcast and all the other big cable providers are offering streaming products in tandem with their cable service, and they’re putting devices in people’s homes so they can watch video without a cable box. So that’s the trend and this [proposed bill] is really just continuing or restoring the funding that we’ve

Latino museum / Page 3

DARTS / Page 5

Cinco de Mayo / Page 2

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Photo by Pat Watson, Cinco de Mayo 2023

Festival Season is Back

designed by Bob Nash can be purchased by contacting the planning committee at info@westsidecincodemayo. com. A button is not required for admission to the fiesta. Proceeds support the West Side Boosters youth sports league.

The following events were accurate as of press time but are subject to change. For updates, visit westsidecincodemayo.com.

Parade

The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Wabasha and Cesar Chavez and travels down Cesar Chavez to Ada. About 70 groups will participate, including local schools, organizations and businesses. Artist Jesse Ramirez was named grand marshal and will be marching behind the AM Vets Post #5, Ko -

rean War Vets and Latino Peace Officers. He is an avid volunteer for West Side organizations and has created several murals in the neighborhood. The parade hasn’t been held since 2019.

“When we started organizing this two years ago the parade was a big thing people asked about,” said committee chair Santino Franco. “It’s something special the community has been asking for and we’re going to be able to provide it.” It’s being coordinated by Tiffany Rivera-Prescott, who oversaw the parade when it was organized by the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation.

Entertainment

Four stages will be set up on the fiesta grounds. The Tex Mex Experience Mainstage at State and George

will feature Saul y sus Tremendos, noon-12:45 p.m.; Dos Coronas, 1-1:45 p.m.; Prestigio del Norte, 2-2:45 p.m.; Los Rebeldes, 3-3:45 p.m.; and Sunny Sauceda y Todo Eso, 4-5 p.m. The R&B Stage at Robert and Cesar Chavez features Ray Covington, noon-12:45 p.m.; Jordan Johnston, 1-2 p.m.; Fresh and Fonky, 2:153:15 p.m. and 4-5 p.m.; and DJ Saint, 3:30-4 p.m. The West Side Stage near Cesar Chavez and Ada will feature Cuautli, 12:30-12:45 p.m.;

Sheila Carbajol, 1-1:45 p.m.; Goro, 2-2:45 p.m.; Zen Rosalia, 3-3:30 p.m.; Lena Sol, 3:30-4 p.m.; and Ty Prophecy, 4-5 p.m. The Cultural Performances Stage at Parque Castillo features a jalepeno contest, 12:301 p.m.; Riverview School mariachi, 1-1:30 p.m.; Los Alegres Bailadores children show, 1:30-2 p.m.; elote eating contest, 2-2:30 p.m.; grito contest, 2:30-3 p.m.; and Los Alegres Bailadores pre-professional and profes-

sional group, 3-3:45 p.m. A Family Zone will be set up in Parque Castillo featuring two bounce houses, activities with staff from the Science Museum, Ordway Theatre and St. Paul Fire Department, face painting, caricatures and more. An artisan market with 80 vendors and

25 food vendors will also be onsite.

Car show

Dozens of fine-tuned and freshly polished lowriders, hot rods, motorcycles and other custom cars will line the festival streets all day. The car show returns to 179 E. Robie St., with more categories to win trophies, including best muscle car, truck and SUV. Last year’s show had about 50 vehicles and this year’s is expected to have more due to the expanded categories. Sign up starts at 9 a.m. and winners are announced at 2:30 p.m. Cost to register is $10 in advance or $20 on event day. There is no hydraulic bounce competition this year. For more information, call Brad at 651-248-9811.

Softball tournament

An adult softball tourna-

ment will take place at Gilbert de la O Field behind the Wellstone Center throughout the day. Those interested in competing must register their team by April 26. Preliminary games are held on Friday, May 3 and teams will compete for the winner’s trophy on Saturday. The tournament has been organized by the Boosters since 1988. Cost to register is $175 per team.

The cornhole tournament is not returning this year.

Dog show

The inaugural “Fun Dog Show” will be held 1-5 p.m., in the El Burrito parking lot near the intersection of Robie and State streets. Watch different types of bulldogs proudly strut their stuff for trophies in 25 different classes and the chance to win a $500 prize. Admission is free. Cost to register a bull-

Photo by Pat Watson, Cinco de Mayo 2023 car show

dog is $25 and can be done in advance or at the event. For more information, call Santo at 651-404-9740.

Security

St. Paul Police will provide onsite security during the event.

“Our number one priority is to have a great Cinco de Mayo where everybody is safe and enjoying themselves,” said Franco. “To grow the event in the future, it starts with safety in 2024.”

Three shootings at the event over two years – in 2017 and 2018 – took some of the shine out of the fiesta, which in recent years regularly drew more than 60,000

people from the community and region. Franco said the Boosters plan to organize the event for the foreseeable future and would like to see it return to a similar scale as it once was. The nonprofit was able to undertake this hefty event because of a $1.4 million grant they received from the state’s Explore Minnesota tourism department in summer 2023 to fund cultural events. In addition to making sure Cinco keeps thriving, they will use some of the funds for their annual Football Fiesta in September in conjunction with Mexican Independence Day. “We have some grand

ideas and being able to have this grant money helps with whatever we want to do,” said Franco. “Maybe we’d love to see it [Cinco de Mayo fiesta] be a two-day event. We plan on growing it and eventually having some great musical acts and being a draw for other communities to come see…. The [West Side Cinco de Mayo] team is special. It’s pretty much all West Siders and everybody is committed to bringing Cinco de Mayo to the West Side for the West Side.”

The celebration, always held the weekend around May 5, once attracted more than 100,000 attendees over

An architectural rendering of the proposed museum.

Latino museum

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local and visiting artists; an outdoor sculpture park and mural garden; public programming for music, folk art, poetry and dance classes; historical displays with an emphasis on the West Side Flats; gardening spaces; and a greenhouse with interactive exhibits about medicinal plants, crops, and culturally specific flowers and plants.

During Hispanic Heritage

Month last year Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL, 65B) announced that she had submitted a proposal for state funding for the museum. She described the museum to other legislators as a place where visitors would be able to learn about the rich history and culture of the Latino community in Minnesota and how it has enriched the state, while also being a place

where all Minnesotans can gather.

The proposal calls for the museum to be located on public land, specifically Harriet Island Regional Park. The park is on the West Side Flats, where the first Hispanic immigrants in St. Paul settled and later were displaced from their homes in the 1960s after the City of St. Paul condemned the area due to constant flooding and poor living conditions found there.

“Latino artists have made

a full weekend of events and had been called one of the top 10 largest Cinco de Mayo fiestas in the nation. It was first organized by the former Concord Street Business Association (later renamed the Riverview Economic Development Association) and grew from a small community festival to a regional attraction. However, it became too much for the small nonprofit to manage and in 2009 the event was transferred to the St. Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation, which also organizes the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The foundation eventually reduced the festival to one day then stopped

significant contributions to art and culture in Minnesota, but their work is underrepresented in museums and galleries,” said Pérez-Vega in a recent interview. “We must establish the first Museum of Latino Art in Minnesota to close that gap and give Latino artists the recognition they deserve.” Pérez-Vega was raised on the West Side by parents of Puerto Rican heritage. She is a hip hop artist and owns the record

organizing it after cancelling for two years because of the pandemic. In 2022, a small Cinco de Mayo event was organized on the West Side by Reis Romero, a former volunteer with the traditional Cinco de Mayo West Side St. Paul.

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) commemorates the unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla, in Mexico’s state of Puebla, of a struggling Mexican army over Napoleon III’s massive French army in 1862. This was the first time the French Army had been defeated in decades. Although the French regrouped and overtook Mexico City, the Puebla

company SotaRico. She was elected to the State House in 2022.

St. Paul-based 4RM+ULA is leading the design of the building. The company is owned by Paola SánchezGarret, an Afro-Latina architect of Dominican descent. The initial design was completed last March for the 25,000-square-foot museum and is expected to be finalized in 2025. If the funding materializes, con-

battle is remembered for the euphoria it created, as well as the hope and patriotism, not just in Mexico but among Mexicans living in California at the time. The Union Army was keeping a close eye on the Mexican wars during this time for fear that the French would assist the Confederacy during the Civil War.

The West Side Booster Club was established in 1970 and provides athletic opportunities for youth of all abilities and financial statuses. To volunteer at the fiesta, call Ana at 612-219-5203. For more information, visit westsidecincodemayo.com.

struction would begin the following year and be finished in 2027. For more information, or to donate to the project, visit mnlatinomuseum.org.

The Latino community in Minnesota is the largest minority group in the state. According to the 2020 Census, 345,640 people identified as Hispanic/Latino, about 6% of the state’s population.

Town Square TV

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always had.”

Even if the bill passes, it likely would take at least a year before Town Square TV and others would see cash inflow from broadband providers. That’s why they’re continuing to seek other sources of revenue, which hasn’t been as successful as hoped.

“In 2023, we had a very ambitious goal to get 28% of our revenues through earned revenue sources [fundraising], and we achieved about 15%,” said Miller. “This year, our goal is 41% of our budget to be coming from those earned revenues.”

Miller and South St. Paul Mayor Jimmy Francis testified in support of the bill before the House Commerce Committee in mid-March, and in early April spokespeople from the Minnesota Association of Community Telecommunications Administrators (MACTA) presented information to the House State and Local Government Committee.

“It has shaken down to be

a partisan bill,” said Miller, a MACTA committee member. “In the two votes that have happened so far, all the Democrats have voted yes, and all the Republicans have voted no. The Democrats have the majority in the House and the Senate, but the Senate majority is only one senator, so we need to have every Democrat senator supporting the bill across the entire state when it goes to the Senate floor. It’s not going to be an easy task. The major opponents are the cable industry and the broadband industry, and they have the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce supporting them…. “It’s unfortunate,” she said, “that the state chamber signed on in opposition, but they don’t like regulation and they don’t like fees so that’s why they’re opposed.”

Opponents to the bill argue that the proposed fees will be passed along to streaming service consumers, which would ultimately raise internet costs. Currently, cable companies are required

to pay a 5% franchise fee and a 2.25% public education government fee on their video production revenue to cable commissions. The latter is paid to networks like Town Square to support local programming. Commissions typically use the franchise fee to cover costs of staffing, equipment, programming, and the repair and maintenance of public rights-of-ways.

MACTA is heading up the bill in partnership with The League of Minnesota Cities, which represents morethan 800 member cities. Miller said the bill has support from 135 public, education and government stations across the state, many local chambers of commerce, the League of Women Voters, school districts, nonprofits and a handful of other organizations. Sen. Matt Klein (District 53, DFL) and Rep. Rick Hansen (District 53B, DFL) are co-sponsoring the bill and other local legislators have pledged their support, including Sen. Sandra Pappas (District 65, DFL) and Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (District 53A, DFL).

“Currently in northern Dakota County, both Cen-

turyLink and Comcast are using the streets and rightsof-way to sell their private services, but CenturyLink is not paying any franchise fees or public, education and government fees to the cities, and Comcast is only paying on the rapidly declining portion of their cable TV portion of their bill,” said Miller. “Meanwhile, Town Square Television is distributing our video with no paywalls for everyone to watch online, on their phones, on their iPads, and we know that we have many, many viewers who are not cable TV subscribers any longer…. It [the bill’s approval] would be a true lifeline for us to go forward. It would basically allow the tradition that we’ve had for 44 years to continue on into the future.”

Miller has worked at Town Square TV since graduating from college and has been executive director for 30 years. The Northern Dakota County Communications Cable Commission was formed in 1982. Five years later it established the Northern Dakota County Community Television Cor-

poration to manage the public access station. In the early 2000s, that was renamed Town Square Television.

The Town Square team has 12 fulltime employees and its programs air on channels 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19. It covers a wide array of local programming including Game of the Week [sports], government meetings, election candidate coverage, community events, concerts and its Insight 7 news show. As a public access network, anybody can visit its studio at 5845 Blaine Ave. E. in Inver Grove Heights to check out video production equipment and create their own show to be aired. Likewise, people can edit prerecorded content at the studio or submit a completed program. Programs are accepted firstcome, first-served and aren’t discriminated against based on content. For more information, call 651-352-6100 or visit townsquare.tv.

The studio features conference and office space, a recording area with new cameras, five editing suites with the latest software, portable camera equipment, newly

updated control room equipment and more. Courses and workshops are held to teach people how to create shows. One popular public access show that airs weekly is “Scenes from a Hat,” a comedy improv show.

Town Square also has a production truck for covering news in the community and works with clubs such as Two Rivers Tech Warriors to help cover school programming and organizations like The Uptake, a nonprofit news organization, to cover meetings at the State Capitol.

Next year, the Town Square staff hopes to upgrade its master control center so it can offer closed captioning, stream its five cable channels on demand as well as on the current channels, and integrate with other streaming platforms like Apple TV and Roku.

For more information on the Equal Access to Broadband Act, which is included in the House Commerce Committee Omnibus Bill (HF4077), visit mactamn. org/policy-advocacy/ legislative-advocacy.

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ask ourselves what we need to do to help tomorrow’s seniors feel like they’re aging the way they want to. What people needed in 1974 is different than what people need now.”

Bailey herself learned of the organization through personal experience. Her dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was getting to the point where he couldn’t live by himself any longer. While exploring options, someone suggested she call DARTS. She made the call and was connected with a caregiver coach, who listened to her concerns and offered resources to help her father. She was so impressed with DARTS that she eventually joined its board of directors. She served in that role for five years before becoming the organization’s fourth president in 2015.

‘As the population continues to age there just aren’t as many workers, so that means more care is falling to  a family member,’ said Bailey.

nificant other without a break then you become isolated. You can become angry, resentful, constantly worried, and wear yourself down.”

The Breathing Space program, launched two years ago, pairs volunteers with older adults – many struggling with memory issues –so their caregivers can have a 4-hour break and seniors have a chance to socialize.

It’s held 10 a.m.-2 p.m., each Wednesday, at Augustana Lutheran Church in West St. Paul and Easter Lutheran Church in Eagan. According to Bailey, nearly 20% of the population in Minnesota is age 60 or older and caregiver support is becoming increasingly necessary.

“As the population continues to age there just aren’t as many workers, so that means more care is falling to a family member,” she said. “If you’re the primary caregiver and you spend 100% of your time with your sig-

DARTS has implemented several new programs in recent years to keep adapting to the times. The Tech Buddies program launched this year to connect older adults with younger people who can help them with electronic devices and other new technology. It’s an offshoot of Learning Buddies, which for 27 years has placed older adults in elementary and middle school classrooms to assist with students’ learning. Also new this year is Café y Conversaciones, a monthly social and game hour at DARTS for Spanishspeaking seniors. DARTS has recently recruited more Spanish-speaking staff and considers this new effort an opportunity to learn how DARTS can best support the Latino community. The next event will be 2-4 p.m., Monday, May 20. The nonprofit has also gotten feedback this year from older adults in the LGBTQ+ community on ways the organization can better serve them.

DARTS is funded through grants, fees for services and donations from businesses and organizations. For example, the South Robert Street Business Association and the owners of several apartment buildings help cover operating costs for the West St. Paul LOOP, a bus service that seniors can use every Wednesday for $2 for shopping and appointments.

“If we don’t have programs like DARTS that are able to offer a variable rate [services], those who have plenty are able to age well but those who are on tighter budgets have to make choices,” said Bailey. For others, she said it’s more about safety than money, because some seniors try to complete household chores that put them at the risk of injury.

During the pandemic, DARTS transportation services came to a screeching halt and about half of its home cleaning services were put on pause. During that time, its volunteers regularly called clients who were no longer receiving services

DARTS recently adopted a new logo and added a wrap to its bus.

just to check in on them, and they helped other community organizations like Neighbors Inc., which was struggling with the lack of volunteers. The DARTS grocery shopping program also made a comeback during the pandemic, allowing seniors to provide a shopping list to a volunteer who would place the order online, pick it up, deliver it and put the groceries away at the senior’s home.

“The hallmark of our first day is still very much the hallmark of who we are today,” said Bailey. “We do our work through community partnerships, and by listening to the community when we bring in a new program or expand to a new area. We involve communities to see what they need and how we can best deliver it…. Throughout all the iterations of our mission statement the word ‘connection’ has always been there.”

For more information, call 651-455-1560 or visit dartsconnects.org.

DARTS volunteers in action in the early days.

MN Children’s Museum

10 7th St. W.

St. Paul

651-225-6000

mcm.org

“Wild Kratts: Creature Power” is the featured exhibit through May 12. Explore the secret lives of animals in habitats around the planet and go on a mission to foil a villain’s nefarious plans.

Other exhibits and activities include “The Scramble,” “The Studio,” “Creativity Jam,” “Sprouts,” “Our World,” “Forces at Play,” “Shipwreck Adventures” and “Imaginopolis.”

Tickets are $14.95. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required, and tickets are limited. The next free date is May 5.

MN History Center

345 W. Kellogg Blvd.

St. Paul

651-259-3000

mnhs.org

“Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow” is a new exhibit featured through June 9. It features art, artifacts and photographs highlighting Black resilience and resistance from the end of the Civil War through World War I.

“The Life & Art of Charles M. Schulz” is featured through June 9. Explore Schulz’s roots in Minnesota and his role as the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip and its beloved cast of characters.

“Our Home: Native Minnesota” features historic

and contemporary photographs, maps, and artifacts that show how Minnesota’s native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values.

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

“Blended Harmony: the Kim Loo Sisters” is showing May 4-26. Starting at a young age, this quartet from Minneapolis gained popularity

during the swing era and performed across the country, on the silver screen of Hollywood, and overseas at USO shows. This new musical is an homage to family, love, their Chinese Polish American heritage, and the bond these talented sisters shared through their lives on and off the stage. Tickets start at $30, with discounts for students.

Landmark Center

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

landmarkcenter.org

BandWidth Community Band Festival, noon-6 p.m., Sunday, April 28. Volunteerbased ensembles in Minnesota perform marches, concert band classics, pop, Broadway and jazz. Free.

St. Paul Civic Symphony’s Annual Mother’s Day

Concert, 1 p.m., Sunday, May 12. Free.

MN Museum of American Art

350 Robert St. N. St. Paul 651-797-2571 mmaa.org

“Hazel Belvo: For Love,” an exhibit in the Nancy and John Lindahl Gallery, features more than 60 pieces from Belvo’s 70-year career

Photo by Rich Ryan

as an artist. It is on display 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ThursdaySunday, through May 26.

“Together,” is a new exhibit on view through October 13. It consists of mixed media artwork created by 10 Minnesota artists with the help of their children.

“El Vaiven,” is a skyway installation in windows above Robert Street in downtown St. Paul. Created by Zamara Cuyún, it’s a dreamscape based on a real Mayan landscape in Guatemala and features a series of characters including Gucumatz the feathered serpent and Ixchel the moon goddess.

Ordway Center

345 Washington St. St. Paul

651-224-4222 ordway.org

Minnesota Opera will present “La Bohème” May 4-19 (from $40) and “NOOMA,” an opera for babies, May 31-June 1 ($5).

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts: Coleman’s Afro-Cuban Concerto, Saturday, May 4; Schubert’s The Great C Major Symphony with Richard Egarr, May 10-11; Julie Albers plays Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D, May 17; Richard Goode plays Mozart’s Piano Concertos Nos. 18 and 23, May 24-25. All concerts start at $12.

Vendemos y compranos articulos de ninos en buena condicion!

TaikoArts Midwest , 7 p.m., Sunday, May 12. Energetic performances that combine music, dance, culture and pure athleticism. From $27.

facil y rapido vender sus articulos, sin cita previa pago instantaneo aproveche un BONUS de para comprar Ahorre en grande con nuestra amplea seleccion ropa y calzado

Accesorios y equipos de bebe precios muy accessibles 651-300-0684 | ecochicoresale.com Robert St. #7a, West St Paul Descarge un gratuito para despejar sus closets a Junior's y maternidad

“Accordo with Silent Film,” 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 14. A laid back evening of silent movies with original live music. From $32.

Davina and the Vagabonds, 7 p.m., Friday, May 21. From $39.

Science Museum of Minnesota

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

smm.org

“Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed” is on display through September 4. Presented in English and Spanish, it features more than 200 authentic artifacts, hands-on activities, lifelike simulations and more.

Virtual Reality Transporter - Use the VRT to hurtle through the cosmos at fantastic speeds, scuba dive into prehistoric seas, and join the astronauts of Apollo 11 as they moonwalk for the first time. $9.95.

Omnitheater films: “Deep Sky,” through June 30. Embark on a journey to the beginning of time and space and view images captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Tickets are $9.95. Free for children ages 3 and under.

“Recombination,” 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. The film features the work of fractal artist Julius Horsthuis and seven of his favorite musicians.

Sensory Friendly Sunday is the first Sunday of the month. Visitors can experience a lights-up, sounddown Omnitheater show at 10 a.m. The program was created in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota. Admission is free for personal care attendants when visiting with a client.  Museum tickets are $29.95 for adults and $19.95 for ages 4-17.

Camp Bar and Cabaret

Camp Bar and Cabaret, 490 N. Robert St., will host the following comedians: Brad Sativa, May 3-4; Mandee Mckelvey, May 1011; Vince Carone, May 1718; and Mike Brody, May 24-25.

Grad rates drop for SPPS Class of 2023

Graduation rates at St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) dipped last year, which school officials say is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year’s graduates were freshmen in the 2019-2020 school year and remained in distance learning for most of their sophomore year. Their junior year was also disrupted by increased staff and student absences due to

illness.

According to a recent report from the Minnesota Department of Education, 68% of SPPS students graduated in four years in 2023, down about 7% from the previous year. That figure does not include the district’s summer graduates. When they are included, as they have been in past years, the graduation rate for 2023 was 73.4%. This data marks the third consecutive year of declines in the district’s 4-year graduation rate, down

from a 6-year high of 78.3% in 2020.

SPPS has several programs in place to increase on-time graduation rates, including academic support classes for ninth graders at all high schools, increasing access to student internships, certifications and work-based learning opportunities, and offering multiple credit recovery options, including online and experiential learning programs.

To view the report, visit education.mn.gov, click the

I

painting, repairs

Data Center link, then Minnesota Report Card.

Garden club plant sale

culture or landscape design. To donate plants or for more information, contact Carol Mladek at 651-457-2564.

Sospiri di Follia

mission projects. For more information, call 651-4525683.

HANDYMAN MR. LARRY FOR HIRE

I do painting, repairs & cleaning of homes and apartments

The South St. Paul Garden Club is having its annual plant sale 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, May 18 at 1900 Burma Ln., South St. Paul. The sale includes seedlings, perennials, shrubs, raspberry and strawberry plants, rhubarb, hostas, lily bulbs and garden art. Proceeds will be used to fund a field trip to Dodge Nature Center for South St. Paul kindergarten students. The club annually donates $2,000 to the South St. Paul Educational Foundation for this purpose. Another $200 is set aside for a scholarship for a South St. Paul high school senior pursuing a career in horti-

Sospiri, an early music ensemble based on the West Side, will present a concert of vocal and instrumental chamber music on the theme of madness at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 27 at Olivet Congregational Church in St. Paul. For tickets and more information, visit www.sospiri.org.

Rummage sale

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 700 Wesley Lane, Mendota Heights, is holding its annual Spring Rummage Sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, April 27. Proceeds will be used to fund

Book sale donations

Friends of Wentworth Library is accepting donations for its Spring Book Sale April 28-May 2. Books, DVDs and CDs may dropped off in the large meeting room at Wentworth Library, 199 Wentworth Ave. E., West St. Paul. The sale will be held May 4-8. Hardcover books are $1, paperbacks and DVDs 50 cents and CDs 25 cents. A bag sale is held on Wednesday. Cost is $5/bag 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and $2/ bag 2-4:30 p.m. A preview sale is held 2-5 p.m., Friday, May 3 for Friends members. Nonmembers may join at the door for $10.

Public Art St. Paul hires new executive director

Public Art St. Paul, a nonprofit that uses art to beautify the city and promote civic engagement, has hired Mohannad Ghawanmeh as its president and executive director. He succeeds Colleen Sheehy who retired in March after leading the organization for nine years.

Ghawanmeh’s track record includes leadership roles with various arts organizations across the country. Most recently he was executive director of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, a Philadelphia-based Arab arts organization. His efforts there earned him the Arts and Culture Appreciation Award at the 2023 Philadelphia Welcoming Awards ceremony. Prior to his time in Philadelphia he led Melnitz Movies, a film event program at UCLA, where he earned his doctorate in Cinema and Media Studies. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 10 years working in the Twin Cities as co-founder of the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, director of the inaugural Minneapolis St. Paul Italian Film Festival, a filmmaker and faculty at Dunwoody Institute of Technology. Ghawanmeh was born to Palestinian parents and moved to Minnesota to attend Minnesota State University-Mankato, from which he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Ghawanmeh will oversee the nonprofit’s many programs. Over its 37-year history, it has commissioned and produced several projects including Sidewalk Poetry, Minnesota Rocks, Western Sculpture Park, PopUp Meeting, Bee Real Bee Everywhere, CREATE: The Community Meal, and the long-running City Artist-in-Residence program. Last year it launched the Wakpa Triennial Arts Festival, bringing nearly 100,000 people together over 84 days to experience art projects and programs at 40 sites across the Twin Cities. Wakpa earned fifth place in USA Today’s Best New Festivals poll.

“I am privileged to lead such a storied organization as Public Art St. Paul, whose collaborative community-centered artworks have adorned its great city and surroundings, transforming streets, parks and neighborhoods,” said Ghawanmeh in a statement. “I am humbled by the trust instilled in me to render (the organization’s) workings and projects into means for continual and incremental service to the peoples and people of St. Paul, by way of empowerment, accountability, ingenuity, commitment and respect.

I am excited to uplift the city I once called home, to connect and reconnect, to walk its streets, to boat its great river, and to trot its splendid greenspaces as I concertedly envision art of St. Paul for all.”

Thompson Park Activity Center

Unless noted, all activities take place at Thompson Park Activity Center, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul.

Events are for ages 55 and older. To register, call 651403-8300.

Paint Like the Masters, 1-3 p.m., Monday, May 6, 13 and 30. Paint your personal rendition of a landscape, still life, floral or portrait. $50 for three sessions. An additional supply fee of $30 is due at class. Registration required.

Right Size Your Home, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 9. Discover how to find the perfect family-centric location, “right size” your living space, ensure safe accessibility or how to transition to senior housing. Registration required. $3.

Nature Sense with Eloise Dietz: Birds on the Move, 10-11:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 14. Witness the seasonal return of migratory birds to Minnesota and explore Thompson Park’s woodlands, prairies and lake. $10.

Alive and Kickin’ , 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, May 22. An hour of ’70s music. Registration required. $10.

DIY for the Environment: Landscaping for Clean Water, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Thursday, May 23. Learn about the design and implementation of rain gardens, native gardens and shoreline restoration using native plants.  Registration required. $5.

Thompson Lake CleanUp, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Thursday, May 23. Help clean the trails and shore-

lines in the park then enjoy a light lunch. Free.

Dakota County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue presentation , 1-2 p.m., Wednesday, May 29. Discover some of the latest equipment and techniques that help residents stay safe and secure throughout the summer. $3.

Hand & Foot card club, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Wednesdays, May-August. Registration required. $15. Bean Bag Toss, 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesdays, May 1-June 26. $7.

Bocce Ball, 9:45-10:45 a.m., Mondays, May 6-August 26. Registration required. $15.

Libraries

The following events are held at the George Latimer Central Library, 90 W. 4th St. When registration is required, call 651-266-7000. The library will be closed May 26 and 27 for the Memorial Day holiday. Visit sppl.org/events for more information.

Free creative workshops led by local artists are held 6-7 p.m. each Wednesday in May. May 1, Spoken Word, led by Desdamona; May 8, Poetry Belongs to Everyone, led by Sun Yung Shin; May 15, Songwriting, led by Kashimana Ahua; May 22, Spoken Word and Slam Poetry, led by Kyle Tran Myhre; May 29, 5-7 p.m., Open Mic Celebration

where workshop participants can celebrate their creations.

PJ Storytime , 6:30-7 p.m. each Wednesday. Children are invited to wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal or comfy blanket.

Baby & Toddler Storytime , 10:30-11:30 a.m., each Thursday. Includes reading books, singing songs and playtime.

Learn 3D Printing, 2-3 p.m. each Friday. Learn the basics of operating the Library’s Ultimaker S3 and Lulzbot Mini 3D printers. Registration required.

Learn Laser Engraving, 2-4 p.m. each Saturday. Learn the basics of operating the library’s Universal VLS 3.50 laser engraver/cutter. Registration required.

Historical Building

Tour, 4-5 p.m., Saturday, May 11. Enjoy a guided tour of George Latimer Central Library, designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style and completed in 1917.

Learn to Sew, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 4 and 18. Bring your own sewing machine or use one of the library’s. Some fabric and notions are available for you to use. Registration required. Craft Circle, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 22. Bring a project to work on, or start a new one with materials at the library.

Riverview Library, 1 E. George St. The library will be closed May 26 and 27 for the Memorial Day holiday. Visit sppl.org/events for more information.

West Side Writers, 2-3 p.m. each Wednesday. Participants of all skill levels bring in pieces of written work, offer each other feedback, and discuss the craft of writing.

Teen Wednesdays, 3:305:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Games, snacks, art and more for ages 12-18.

Chess Club, 6-7 p.m., each Thursday. Open to chess players ages 8-18 of all skill levels.

Family Storytime, 10:3011:30 a.m., each Friday. Songs, stories, fingerplays, puppets and more.

Riverview Book Club , 6-7 p.m., Monday, May 13. The title is “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” by Shehan Karunatilaka.

Wentworth Library, 199 Wentworth Ave. E., West St. Paul, is hosting the following:

El Dia De los Ninos y Libros, 5-7 p.m., Monday, April 29. The free event, geared for youth ages 2-13, features books, food, crafts and more.

Chickens, Chickens, Chickens, 10-10:45 a.m., Saturday, May 11. Learn about chickens as you get hands on with a hen, a

rooster, and even some baby chicks. Presented by Dodge Nature Center. Geared for ages 4 and older.

Build with Train Tracks, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 15. Use your imagination to build the ultimate train track with a variety of tracks, bridges, train stations and more. Geared for ages 2 and older with their caregivers. Siblings welcome.

Bike Rodeo, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sunday, May 19. Learn bike safety and instructional basics. The event features a short bike ride around the pond near the library, free youth helmets (while supplies last) and other fun bike-related activities. Registration required through the City of West St. Paul: https://secure.rec1.com/ MN/west-st-paul-mn/ catalog.

Union Depot

The following events are held at Union Depot, 214 4th St. E. For more information, visit uniondepot.org/ event-calendar.

St. Paul Art Crawl, April 26-28. Shop local artists, listen to live music and enjoy specials and happy hour at Station 81 restaurant. Hours are 5-9 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday; and

noon-6 p.m., Sunday. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour, 3-8 p.m., Friday, May 3. The event features the 2816 Empress steam locomotive, a mobile exhibit that highlights the history and future of the railroad. Activities on the South Lawn, weather permitting, include the Puffer Belly Express, a miniature version of the 2816 Empress. Free. Concessions and vendors available in the Waiting Room.

Riffs, Rails and Cocktails, 5-7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 2. Drink specials begin at 5 p.m. and live music at 6 p.m.

Lowertown Trivia Night, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 at Station 81.

Public tours of the depot, 11 a.m.-noon, May 9 and 23, and noon-1 p.m., May 18.

Red Cross Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, May 18.

Free yoga classes are offered 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9-10 a.m., Saturdays.

Games galore, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. each Wednesday. Giant-size games are available or bring your own. Free. All ages.

- Prepare and serve breakfast and lunch for students. Starting base wage $16.50/hr. Custodian - Perform cleaning, event set-up/cleanup, and

Kids Club Supervisor - Lead a school-age child care program in one of our elementary buildings and supervise paraprofessional staff. Full-time, 12-month. Starting base wage $21.50/hr. (DOQ). For more information and to apply: sowashco.org/careers

Looking forward, looking back

May is a busy month for Dakota County. In particular, it’s a time when many road and pedestrian safety projects get rolling. Below are updates on projects that are already underway or scheduled in northern Dakota County. As busy as we are, though, we are not too busy to take an important

Volunteer In Your Community Lutheran Social Service of MN is seeks volunteers age 55 or over in your area to provide companionship to older adults or mentor school-age children. Volunteers commit to regular weekly hours for a tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement. Contact us at 888 205 3770, or AmericorpsSeniors@ lssmn.org for more information and to make an impact in your community.

Joe Atkins Dakota County Commissioner

look back at some local history that should never be forgotten.

Road and pedestrian safety projects taking place this year include:

• Placing the finishing touches on the roadwork

on Oakdale in West St. Paul

• Pavement preservation on Butler Avenue in South St. Paul to extend the road’s useful life and save tax dollars in the long run

• Crafting the design, with neighborhood input, for upgrades on Butler Avenue in West St. Paul, set for construction in 2025

• School safety projects in South St. Paul and West St. Paul, the most significant being along Delaware near Two Rivers High School, but also near local elementary schools

• Installation of a median on Wentworth at Humboldt in West St. Paul to enhance pedestrian safety

• Presentation for public review of potential pedestrian safety projects on Southview Boulevard in South St. Paul

• Trail improvements to the River to River Greenway, the largest of which is in Mendota Heights at Valley Park, to encourage bicyclists and pedestrians to use trails and avoid roads and traffic. Pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have been increasing for the past 15 years, recently reaching their highest number since 1981, with more than 7,500 people killed. Dakota County is fo-

cused on reversing this tragic trend locally.

Thompson County Park

Dakota County’s Thompson Park at Highway 52 and Butler Avenue in West St. Paul celebrates its 50th year in June. The park is getting better with age. In addition to recent changes, including the addition of an accessible play structure and significant lake improvements, further enhancements are in the works. They include improvements to the Dakota Lodge building, a better connection to Kaposia Park across Highway 52, and natural area restoration.

Natural area preservation

One of the last and most spectacular natural areas of large oaks in West St. Paul is about to be permanently preserved – and not developed – thanks to a grant from the State Lottery’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Dakota County is creating a contiguous eight-acre preservation area along the borders of West St. Paul and South St. Paul. This is the first outdoor heritage grant

ever received for a project in West St. Paul.

Happy birthday, West St. Paul

Founded in 1889, after splitting off from South St. Paul, the City of West St. Paul celebrates its 135th anniversary this year.

We won’t forget

May 18 will mark three months since the tragedy in Burnsville that took the lives of officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and firefighter/EMT Adam Finseth. Those impacted still deserve all the prayers, thoughts and support we can muster. I’m confident, though, that Paul, Matt and Adam would be the very first to remind us not to forget those in our Dakota County public safety family for whom 2024 is a milestone anniversary.

This year brought the 50th anniversary of the Bellows Court Apartment Fire that involved every fire department in Dakota County and took the lives of West St. Paul firefighters Erling Armstrong, Richard Neikirk and John Heuer in January 1974. It also brings the 10th anniversary of the loss of Men-

dota Heights Police Officer Scott Patrick in 2014; the first anniversary of the loss of Inver Grove officer Ben Bidon last May; the 130th anniversary of the loss of Hastings Police Officer Albert Jacobson in 1894; and the year we honored Dakota County Sheriff’s Deputy Luther Klug with a memorial highway named for him. The last few months of 2023 rang in the 100th anniversary of the loss of Rosemount Officer John McDermott, the 90th anniversary of the loss of South St. Paul Officer Leo Pavlak, and the 30th anniversary of the loss of Eagan Investigator Louis Jeska. Please take a moment with me to keep in your kindest thoughts our fallen first responders, their families and their colleagues. Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Joe Atkins represents District 2 on the Dakota County Board, which includes South St. Paul, West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights. Elected chair of the board in 2024, he welcomes feedback. To share comments, concerns or questions, contact him at Joe. Atkins@co.dakota.mn.us or 651-438-4430.

Augustana Lutheran

1400 Robert St. S. West St. Paul 651-457-3373 augustana.com

B eth Jacob Congregation

1 179 Victoria C u rve M endota Heights 651-452-2226 beth-jacob.org

Cherokee Park United

3 71 Baker St W., St. Paul 651-227-4275

c herokeepark u nited.org

Community Christ the Redeemer

1 10 Crusader Ave W West St Paul 651-451-6123

c credeemer.org

Crown of Life Lutheran

115 Crusader Avenue W. West St. Paul 651-451-3832 colwsp.org

Faith United Methodist 1530 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul 651-457-5686 faithumcmn.com

Holy Family Maronite 1960 Lexington Ave. S. Mendota Heights 651-291-1116

HolyFamilyEvents.org

La Puerta Abierta UMC

690 Livingston Ave. St. Paul 651-558-1896

M izpah River Ministries

1 530 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul

6 51 - 399-5783

O ur Lady of Guadalupe

4 01 Concord St ., St. Paul

6 51 - 228-0506

o lg catholic.org

Restoration Hope Church

121 Butler Ave. W. (Heritage Middle School) West St. Paul, 612-254-480 restorationhopechurch.com

Riverview Baptist

14 Moreland Ave. E. West St. Paul 651-457-3831

riverviewbaptist.net

Salem Lutheran

1 1 Bernard St ., West St Paul

6 51 - 457-6661

s alemluth.org

S pirit of Hope Catholic

2 035 Charlton Road

S unfish Lake

6 51-760-8353

s piritofhopemn.org

S t. A nne’s Episcopal

2 035 Charlton R d.

S unfish Lake

6 51 - 455-9449

s aintannesmn.org

St. Elizabeth Orthodox 125 Congress St E St. Paul 651 - 424-0814 seocc.org

St. George Antiochian Orthodox 1250 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul 651-457-0854

saintgeorge-church.org

S t. Matthew Catholic 4 90 Hall Avenue St. Paul 6 51 - 224-9793

s t-matts.org

St. James Lutheran 460 Annapolis St. W. West St. Paul 651-457-9232

saintjameslutheran.com

St. Joseph’s Catholic

1 154 Seminole Ave West St Paul

6 51-457-2781

c hurchofstjoseph.org S

Dawn Wambeke President & CEO Neighbors, Inc.

The impact our community has on Neighbors, Inc. is simply inspiring. Although our donors, volunteers and local businesses and organizations make a difference to our clients daily, they went above and beyond to support Neighbors, Inc. during one of our largest annual campaigns: the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign. We challenged our community to help raise $350,000 in financial support or through food donations, with each pound of food contributed equaling $1 toward the campaign. Through a partnership with the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, your support was able to go even further. The more we raised, the more the council distributes to our food shelf. To

P ostscript

Useful

I had a discouraging day yesterday. I don’t expect anyone to keep track – heck, I can’t keep track half the time – but I got another rejection of my book from another editor with another publishing house.

I’ve read stories of how long it has taken well-known authors to sell their first novels. A publisher must put a lot of money into a new book and the odds are slim that a writer’s first book will ever earn that money back. Publishers know this so they are understandably cautious. You’d think I would be used to rejection by now. Before I was even able to have my book read by publishers, I had to find an agent, and

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

they are swamped with letters from writers who want the same thing I do: to see their book out in the world. Now that I have my wonderful agent, Annie, she’s putting a lot of time into editing and working to sell my book, and she makes no money at all until the book

date, the Minnesota FoodShare has distributed more than $18.5 million to participating organizations.

We are proud to announce that Neighbors Inc. raised a total of $221,910.89 in financial contributions and 82,071 pounds of food that will directly go toward making an impact through our hunger relief programs and food shelf operations. This direct support is seen by our staff and volunteers every day, but I’d love to share a story from one of our clients to showcase just how vital this support is for our community:

“I have had a great experience with Neighbors. They have been there for me during tough times, providing me with food when I needed it most. As a Type 1 diabetic, access to food is crucial for

sells. It’s a long process. Everything takes months and months, and in the meantime, I keep writing, because that’s the only part of the process I have any control over at all.

So, when I got an “update” from Annie yesterday, I knew from the subject line of the email it would not be good news. The note read:

“Hi Annie, Thank you for the opportunity to read Carrie’s work. She is a talented writer, and I love the premise for this, but I didn’t connect with the characters quite as strongly as I’d hoped. It is with regret that I am a pass, but I hope you land the perfect home for this (or perhaps already have!).”

I added this rejection to a file I keep with the previous rejection letters. Sometimes I read the comments later and, generally, I don’t get too

my wellbeing, and Neighbors has been a lifeline in ensuring that I am taken care of. I’ve had really good experiences with the people at Neighbors, and they have definitely been willing to help me out. Especially the intake. Every time I call, they are always able to get me in, and never give me any issues, and I can always get food. I appreciate everything they do to support individuals like me during challenging times.”

Support for our food shelf and hunger relief programs does not stop at food donations and financial support. One of Neighbors Inc.’s greatest strengths comes from our grassroot volunteer support, which dates to 1972 when this beautiful organization was established. It started with five

discouraged. But yesterday I did.

I was grumpy, and felt more than a little sorry for myself, so I took a day off. Instead of writing, I went for a long walk. As I was walking, I suddenly thought of my best friend, who died seven years ago. She was only 50, and I never met a person who was more alive. I thought of how she would chew me out for wasting even part of one day feeling sorry for myself.

“Take a teaspoon of cement, Princess, and harden up!” she would have said.

She was very good about saying things like that whenever I complained that what I was doing was too difficult. I miss her no-nonsense advice and her never-ending encouragement.

“I sure could use you now,” I thought.

At that moment I realized

local area churches providing assistance to the families of those affected by job loss when the stockyards closed. Today, our 250-plus volunteers continue to clock in to make a difference in our clients’ lives. No greater example of this dedication to serving our community can be found than through Virginia Milbert, one of the founding community members of Neighbors Inc. Virginia loved to tell the story of how her husband, Howard, convinced her to volunteer for one year at Neighbors, Inc. More than 50 years later she was still volunteering weekly in the Clothes Closet Thrift Store. Over the years Virginia received numerous awards and recognition for her service to our community including Legacy Volunteer and

I had lost sight of a really important thing. I write because it makes me happy, but the reason writing makes me happy is because I think the stuff I write might be useful. Maybe my writing will make somebody smile. Maybe someone will feel less alone. Maybe it will be used to line the bottom of a birdcage. But whatever happens, I’m hoping it will be useful

Longest Serving Volunteer awards from Neighbors, Inc. and the Service to Others Humanitarian Recognition award by the Rotary Club of South St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights. Sadly, Virginia passed away on March 11 at the age of 106. She lived a transformative life of service that contributed to the success of Neighbors Inc.

I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of you who support the critical work we strive together to achieve.

You are invaluable and truly make a difference in the lives of hundreds of families.

As always, I’d love to connect. You may reach me at dawn@neighborsmn.org, 651-272-1135 or by stopping by our facility at 222 Grand Ave. W., South St. Paul.

in some small way. It’s not really about me. Or, as my beloved friend would say when I got too full of myself, “Buy some lumber, build a bridge and get over yourself!”

She was good at that, as I mentioned. She was good at reminding me of what matters and, seven years later, she is still so very useful. Till next time.

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number.

3. Make a voluntary contribution. Join the many loyal readers who have made a voluntary contribution of $10 to $100 or more to help us achieve our purpose. Thank you for your support! St. Paul Publishing Company | www.stpaulpublishing.com | 651-457-1177

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