St. Paul Voice May 2023

The St. Paul

Sample St. Paul

Wall that Heals comes to STA

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Whilemany may never get the chance to make the hallowed walk along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. – created in 1982 to honor more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War – this month St. Thomas Academy (STA) is giving people the chance to do the next best thing. STA is hosting The Wall That Heals May 26-29 at the school, 949 Mendota Heights Rd., Mendota Heights. This threequarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be open to the public around the clock, from 2 p.m., May 26, to 2 p.m., May 29. An education center featuring several exhibits about the Vietnam War will be set up near the wall.

The traveling wall bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War. Just like the actual memorial, names are listed in chronological order based on date of death. Names with a cross next to them are soldiers who were missing in action when the memorial was built. Those with a diamond next to them are soldiers who were missing in action but whose remains were later found.

The 375-foot-long wall is arranged in a V-shape and increases in height to seven-and-a-half feet at its highest point. This gives visitors the illusion that the wall is rising above them as

Wall that Heals / Page 2

Cinco de Mayo fiesta making a comeback

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

TheWest Side took a hard hit in 2020 when the pandemic forced the cancellation of the neighborhood’s wildly popular Cinco de Mayo festival. At that time, the St. Paul Festival and Her-

Storm Chaser

Tim Spitzack Editor

When the calendar flips from April to May, Valarie Namen starts to get a bit antsy. It’s not from spring fever. No, it’s quite the opposite. She wants bad weather and is normally planning a trip to find it. For the past 13 years, the Mendota Heights native has

West Side Boosters president seeks to boost the club’s bottom line

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

itage Foundation, which had organized the celebration since 2009, indicated it would be back, but that never happened under their leadership. Last fall, members of the West Side Boosters Club saw the writing on the wall and began planning to resurrect the event, albeit on a much smaller scale. The Foundation declined to say why it dropped the event.

To the relief of many, the cherished Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will return this year 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, May 6, at Parque Castillo, 149 Cesar Chavez St. The event will feature bands, a lowrider show, softball tournament, 40 food and vendor booths, and more. Proceeds will go toward youth sports programs sponsored by the Boosters Club.

“It’s exciting to be able to do this and to know it’s run by the community,” said club president Bob Cruz. “We’ve had a lot of people reach out to do this…. A lot of vendors

Shortly after being named president of the West Side Boosters in January, Bob Cruz did something unprecedented in the club’s 53-year history: he applied for a grant. Yes, it’s taken this long for the Boosters to use one of the most common fundraising tools but it’s not surprising. Many small nonprofits that are led entirely by volunteers shy away from grant writing because it is time-consuming and can be a daunting experience.

As of press time, Cruz was waiting to find out if he received a grant from USA Football to buy football shoulder pads. Now with some experience under his belt, he will apply for other grants this summer to offset the high cost of purchasing hundreds of pieces of equipment for all the sports they offer: football, flag football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and cheerleading.

“We’ve been doing this [sponsoring youth sports] all these years just by selling tacos, beer and concession food,” said Cruz, who previously was club vice president for nine years. “To keep growing the way we need to, we have to figure out a way to get bigger amounts of money.”

The club serves about 400 kids each year and Cruz hopes to double that number within five years, which will

traveled across the country searching for that ominous natural phenomenon that most people pray they’ll never experience: a tornado.

Namen has seen dozens of tornados in her lifetime and hopes to see many more. She is among the rare breed who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to achieve a goal. As proof, she is a member of the Zero Meter Club,

which is a storm chaser’s way of saying they have been far, far closer to a tornado than one should be.

The reason people chase storms varies. Some do it for scientific investigation. Some to capture media coverage. Some for the adrenaline rush. Others, like Namen, do it to satisfy their deep curiosity of storms and to witness the magnificent

power of nature, and to capture those images on film.

Namen’s fascination with storm chasing was piqued by the 1996 blockbuster, “Twister.” She found herself doing more and more research on storm chasers and the powerful effects of tornados and soon discovered there were – and still are – many tour operators that cater to people like her.

One day she made the call.

“My first tour was in 2010,” she said. “I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, so I went alone. Unfortunately, we got skunked.”

Things improved from there, however. In all her years of storm-chasing she has seen a tornado in all but three tours. Most outings are quite eventful, with one producing seven tornados.

“When you see one coming it’s just mind-boggling to watch,” said Namen. “The cloud formations are stunning. You have these moments that are so amazing, like the sunsets you see after a storm. It’s crazy-cool stuff that you get to witness.”

Most tour groups are small and travel together in

Cinco de Mayo / Page 5

West Side Boosters / Page 4

Storm

Wall that Heals

from page 1

they make the walk. The wall has 140 highly reflective synthetic granite plaques that allow visitors to see their own reflection behind the seemingly countless names of the fallen.

Staff from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the nonprofit that built the memorial in Washington, D.C., will be onsite to lead

volunteers, educate visitors and ensure the atmosphere is reverential. One of the staff is Herb Reckinger, a South St. Paul native who graduated in 1970 along with some of the siblings of those whose names are now on the wall. Visitors can receive paper and a graphite pencil with which to trace the name of a loved one.

The Wall that Heals was built in 1996 and has since traveled to more than 700 communities. It’s transported in a 53-foot covered trailer that, when parked, is used for the educational exhibits. While at STA, it will feature digital photos of Minnesota service members whose names are on the wall, digital photos of local Vietnam veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died, educational videos about the history and impact

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of the wall, a replica of the In Memory plaque, a map of Vietnam, a chronological overview of the Vietnam War and more. For more information about the program, visit www.thewallthatheals.org.

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area are memorialized on the wall. They are: David Auge and Johnnie Anderson from the West Side and Timothy Kapoun and Raymond Reeves Jr. from West St. Paul. Alumni from St. Thomas Academy are Peter Troy, Patrick Murray and Richard Walsh III.

Acacia Park Cemetery

Established in 1925, the 75-acre park offers a pristine beauty and strategic location that was recognized by our state’s earliest settlers. Pilot Knob, the plateau on which Acacia Park is situated, was an early 19th Century viewing point for such frontiersmen as Zebulon Pike and Josiah Snelling.

A Day of Remembrance

Memorial Day

is

May 29

Our beautiful cemetery is conveniently situated on the Pilot Knob plateau above the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers in Mendota Heights. We are proud of our majestic scenery and natural environment that is uninhibited by upright monuments, which creates a stunning park-like setting. We have provided quality, personal service to families since 1925. We offer the following options to our families:

• Sections specifically designed for casket or cremation burial

• Convenient no-interest pre-payment plans for three years

• No-obligation information and tour of the cemetery grounds

• Markers, vaults, vases and urns for purchase

• Newly developed cremation gardens

• Serving all faiths

2151 Pilot Knob Road, Mendota Heights | 651-452-1555 | www.acaciaparkcemetery.org

A total of 1,074 members of the U.S. Armed Forces from Minnesota died during the Vietnam War. The location of their names on the wall can be found at vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces.

Storm Chaser

from page 1

an 8-passenger van, staying in hotels along the way and eating at odd hours. They typically travel to states in the infamous Tornado Alley – Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas – where the storm season runs from mid-April to mid-June. It’s not uncommon for them to drive 4,000-5,000 miles on a week-long trip for the chance to witness a secondsor minutes-long tornado. While the adrenaline is high when one is spotted, the days and hours leading up to that moment can be monotonous and dull. It’s been described as “extreme sitting.”

“It’s hurry up and wait, a lot like the military,” said Namen, who as a young woman spent three and a half years serving in a U.S. Air Force military police unit in Athens, Greece.

Namen was drawn to law enforcement at an early age. After graduating from Henry Sibley High School (now Two Rivers) in Mendota Heights, she earned a bachelor of science in law enforcement from Mankato State University (now Minnesota State University, Mankato). After college she

enlisted in the Air Force. Back in the states she was a Hennepin County sheriff’s deputy for seven years. In 1998 she started her 20-year career with the St. Paul Police Department and served in several roles before retiring in 2018, including police officer, patrol, vice, narcotics, family violence and supervisor of the mounted patrol.

A dangerous hobby

Namen saw her first tornado on May 31, 2011, in Campo, Colo.

“It was amazing,” she said.

“It was all open fields, and we watched the entire development of the storm, from the super cell to the wall cloud to the tornado forming and touching down. It was picture-perfect in that the sun and blue sky were behind it. It was very slow moving and took about 30 minutes to go from one side of the road to the next. Then a rainbow came out and a perfect white tornado dropped next to it.”

Her group was safely 8 miles behind the tornado, which caused no damage since it was out on the open plain.

The most imminent dangers of storm chasing include

being struck by lightning, large hail or flying debris, as well as threats related to flooding and downed power lines. Few chasers have been killed by a tornado itself. Most injuries result from auto accidents, from hydroplaning to hitting – or swerving to miss – animals or other debris on the road.

“It’s not the tornados that kill,” said Namen, “it’s the debris.”

The largest tornado Namen has ever witnessed was in El Reno, Okla., and it was a doozie. It was one of the widest tornados ever recorded, reaching 2.6 miles wide, and it’s the one that put her in the Zero Meter Club.

The multiple-vortex tornado touched down 6:03 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2013, and traveled 16 miles in 40 minutes over mostly open terrain eight miles southwest of El Reno. Wind speeds were clocked at 302 miles per hour, among the highest ever observed. The tornado claimed the lives of eight people, including four storm chasers, the first known deaths in the nearly 70-year history of storm chasing. Three of the men were doing research and one was an amateur.

Namen recalled that she and her group were about 10 miles behind the massive storm when the tornado suddenly switched directions.

“We were going south and the tornado turned east, cutting off our route to the south,” she said. “Now we were going toward the tornado, which is not what you want to do. The best place to be is behind a tornado. They can go straight. They can go left or right, but they can’t stop and reverse.”

As Naman and her group were traveling down the highway, they watched with amazement as the storm started dropping multiple

tornados. She said the main tornado instantly morphed from a quarter-mile wide to nearly 3-miles wide in the span of three minutes. Debris filled the air.

“We drove past a farmhouse and saw the roof get ripped off,” she said. “It dropped right in front of us and we drove right over it.”

She was in the passenger seat during the storm and at one point the intense pressure from the storm blew out her window.

“My first thought was does everyone have their seatbelt on because if we lose more windows we might lose people,” she said. “But everyone kept their cool. It wasn’t until we got out of range and pulled over to inspect the vehicle that we knew it had been a close call.” Remarkably, there was very little damage to the vehicle.

Namen has traveled with several tour operators over the years. She is adamant about picking ones that put safety first and don’t accept adrenaline junkies. Tours last 7-10 days, with an average price

of $2,200. Each day starts with a briefing by the tour guide and a meteorologist. The group might spend half the day chasing the storm before the conditions are right for it to spawn a tornado. As they cruise along, the group can view charts and graphs that the meteorologist uses to track the storm and learn about the science of tornados and how to predict them.

Namen said many tornados occur in the mid- to lateafternoon, so groups arrive in a predicted tornado location well ahead of that time. Then the waiting begins. It’s during this time that she and others take photos and video of cloud formations, eat and find other ways to pass the time.

Chasing tornados has given Namen a new-found respect for the raw power of nature. For anyone interested in observing a tornado, she

recommends using a reputable tour company. She stresses not to do it on your own. If you happen to be on the highway and see a tornado, don’t try to outrun it. She said to get out of your car and lie down in the lowest place possible, such as a ditch. Here’s more sage advice from a member of the Zero Meter Club.

“Don’t stop under an underpass,” said Namen. “That’s the worst thing you can do because wind speeds increase as they are funneled through them. The chance of your car getting picked up or you getting sucked from your vehicle is now 10 to 20 times worse.”

Publisher & Editor: Tim Spitzack

Copy Editor: Leslie Martin

Staff Writers: Jake Spitzack John E. Ahlstrom

Contributor: Roger Fuller

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For questions regarding news or advertising, call 651-457-1177

Photo by Valarie Namen

Valarie Namen near a tornado in R ozel, K an.

West Side Boosters

from page 1

put an even deeper strain on the club’s coffers. Most programs are for grades K-8 but some cater to older youth as well. The Boosters never turn anyone away due to lack of money. As a result, about 40% of its current participants aren’t paying registration fees. Those fees are covered through fundraising. He also noted that registration numbers haven’t waned one bit since the pandemic. In fact, volleyball

registrations have increased 30% since 2022.

“We put a lot into the kids and have high expectations of them,” said Cruz. “What I constantly say is that it’s not just coaching, we’re giving kids life lessons…. We try to keep kids off the streets and try to make sure kids graduate high school, go to college and break the cycle of all this trauma that keeps going on.”

Some of the Boosters’

teams have built a formidable reputation in the eyes of their opponents in recent years. In November, the eighth-grade football team won its ninth consecutive league championship – a state record. As members of the North Suburban League, they have consistently beat out teams in Andover, Stillwater and Brooklyn Park to maintain that streak. The seventh- and eighth-grade flag football team has also had success on the field. In January 2018, 2019 and 2020, they won a tournament hosted by the Minnesota Vikings. As a prize, the team received an allexpense-paid trip to the Pro Bowl each year. The youth were able to watch the game, meet NFL players and –perhaps the most thrilling part – play in a flag football tournament. Cruz said the event hasn’t been held for two years because of the pandemic, but he expects it to

St. Paul's Best SecretKept

return this year. In February, the 12U flag football team won nationals in Florida.

The West Side Boosters is governed by an all-volunteer 5-member board of directors. The club derives its revenue by selling concessions at sporting events and hosting taco feeds and other fundraising events at local

bars, including Shadey’s Bar on the West Side and North 40 Tavern in West St. Paul. It formerly received proceeds from charitable gambling at local bars but stopped opertating at those sites in recent years due to a drop in revenue.

“I want to start raising a lot more money to provide

for these kids to be able to do a lot more college visits in state and out of state,” said Cruz. “My biggest thing is seeing these youth be successful, good people out in the community.”

To get involved, contact Cruz at boosters.westside@ gmail.com.

Cinco de Mayo

from page 1

are people who grew up in this community. We’re giving them an opportunity to thrive, and giving the community a chance to come out and have a good, safe time.”

Music will be presented all day. The line-up is: Kalpuli Huitzillin, 10 a.m.; REGAL and Camila 11 a.m.; Los Alegres Bailadores, noon; Mariachi Lucero 1 p.m.; Chico Chávez Orchestra 2 p.m.; Shayla Carbajal, 3 p.m.; Tequila 2023, 4 p.m. Several food trucks will be on site throughout the day.

Bags and balls will fly at 10 a.m. when the first round of the adult softball and cornhole tournaments kick off.

A lowrider show featuring 30-40 vehicles also kicks off at 10 a.m. Some of the vehicles will participate in a hydraulic bounce competition. Awards will be given in several categories.

Portions of State Street and South Clinton Avenue will be closed off for the event and St. Paul police officers will provide security. Local restaurants will also

host specials and entertainment throughout the weekend.

“Please come out and celebrate with our community,” said Cruz. “Now it’s [the event] not so big. We’re trying to bring it back to the West Side. Come celebrate our culture.” He said the Boosters will organize the event again next year if they can get enough sponsors. As of press time they had 18 sponsors this year.

“The community is pretty psyched about getting it back,” said West Sider Debby Luna, who has helped organize events for the fiesta in the past. “Hopefully each year we’ll get a little bigger. A parade is probably going to be the first thing they [the Club] will shoot for having next year. Not to the caliber it was, but some kind of little parade… If a lot of people want it to happen, then hopefully more people will jump on board to help make it happen.”

The Cinco de Mayo festival was first organized in 1985 by the former Concord

Street Business Association (later renamed the Riverview Economic Development Association). It grew from a small community festival to a regional two-day event that attracted more than 100,000 people. After becoming too much for the small nonprofit to handle, the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation took over its management and made it a one-day event. The celebration formerly took place along Cesar Chavez Street between Wabasha and South Robert Street, and featured a colorful parade, lowrider show, jalapeno eating contest, food and musical entertainment. For more information on this year’s celebration, visit westsideboosters.com/cincodemayo.

Other events

The 2023 Cinco De Mayo 5k Family Run will be held 3:45-4:45 p.m., Saturday, May 6, at Joseph’s Grill, 140 Wabasha St. Hosting the event for the 21st year is the Minnesota National Latino Peace Officers Association, Minnesota State Chapter. Participants will either travel a 3.1-mile scenic route along Harriet Island or

choose a virtual option and run anywhere, anytime. Registration is $40 before April 30, $45 before May 5 and $50 the day of the race. Register at andersonraces.enmotive.com.

Latin Music Fest continues at the Minnesota Music Café, 501 Payne Ave.

K-Libre 24 will perform 6:45-10:45 p.m., Saturday, May 6. To purchase tickets, visit Vitalculture.com.

The St. Paul Saints will host fireworks and Latin music in honor of Cinco de Mayo following its May 5 game against the Nashville Sounds. The game starts at

6:30 p.m. For more information, visit saintsbaseball. com.

Wabasha Street Caves , 215 Wabasha St. S., St. Paul, is hosting a Latin Dance Night, Friday, May 5. Cost is $10. For more information, visit wabashastreetcaves. com.

File photo by Marina Castillo

The lowrider show will feature 30-40 vehicles, some of which will compete for prizes in the hydraulic bounce competition.

Fitzgerald Theatre

10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul

651-370-2953

first-avenue.com

The New Pornographers, 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 3. Tickets start at $35. An Evening of Bharatanatyam by Alarmel Valli, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 6. $27.50.

Minnesota History Center

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

Our Home: Native Minnesota includes historic and contemporary photographs, maps and artifacts. Visitors learn 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. The Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thurs.-Sun. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $8 for children ages five to 17.

History Theatre

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

Historytheatre.com

“The Defeat of Jesse James” is presented April 29-May 28. Set in 1876, this mix of honky-tonk cabaret and wild west show reenacts the infamous outlaw’s rise and fall, with a grand finale set in Northfield, Minn. Tickets start at $48 for adults.

Landmark Center

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

landmarkcenter.org

St. Paul Civic Symphony’s Annual Mother’s Day Concert, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, May 14. Free.

MN Children’s Museum

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

Framed: Step into Art is featured through May 7. Step into the 3D world of four well-known paintings, view famous prints and parodies of the Mona Lisa, and replace Mona Lisa’s face with your own.

Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out is the new featured exhibit May

Kickoff to Summer at the Fair returns May 25-28. The event includes food, brews, music, shopping, free parking and family fun at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $12.50 in advance online; children age 4 and under are free. Save $3 when you buy in advance. For more information, visit mnstatefair.org/kickoff-to-summer.

20-September 3. Learn about emotions, memory and imagination through interactive and digital experiences.

The Backyard: The Mud Zone is a new exhibit opening in an outdoor space in late May. Mix dirt and water to create different types

of mud, mix up a gourmet muddy meal in the mud kitchen, and use catapults and air cannons to launch mud at various targets.

S ample St. Paul

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

The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays. 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 7.

Ordway Center

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

Minnesota Book Awards ceremony, 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 2. $22.

Minnesota Opera presents “Don Giovanni,” May 6, 11, 13-14, 18 and 2021. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m., Sundays.

The Schubert Club presents The Kanneh-Masons, 6 p.m., Sunday, May 7, at Rice Park. Free.

Singing the World Awake, 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 12. Tickets start at $25. No One Stands Alone: a community celebration of youth music, 2 p.m., Sunday, May 21. Free.

Happy Hour Concert: Mozart’s Paris Symphony with Jonathan Cohen, 6 p.m., Thursday, May 25. $20.

Express Concert: Mozart’s Paris Symphony with Jonathan Cohen, 8 p.m., May 26-27. Tickets start at $12.

RiverCentre

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

Fraser Festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, May 20. This sensory-friendly festival supports autism programs and services, and features face painting, a virtual reality activity, carnival games, silent disco and more. Food vendors will be present. Free.

Minnesota Bridal and Wedding Expo , 12:30-5 p.m., Sunday, May 21. Free tickets can be found online. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Schubert Club

302 Landmark Center

75 W. 5th St. St. Paul 651-292-3268

schubert.org

Museum Mini: Christian Adeti, 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 1, on the Schubert club website. Learn about

the djembe – a West African instrument – in this free, 15-minute interactive session.

140th Anniversary Celebration Concert by the Kanneh-Masons, 3 p.m., May 7, at the Ordway Music Theatre. Tickets start at $36.

Spotlight On: Patricia Hampl – “Writing My Way into Music,” 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, at Summit Beer Hall. $33.

Courtroom Concerts are held at noon on Thursdays at the Landmark Center. All are free. Upcoming concerts include Isles Ensemble, May

4, and Clara Osowski (mezzo soprano), Casey Rafn (piano) and Steve Staruch (tenor), May 11.

Science Museum of Minnesota

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

Exquisite Creatures is on display through September 4. Explore the planet’s biodiversity by viewing preserved animal specimens arranged in intricate patterns.

Community Curators is a temporary exhibit on display through June. Each month, community artists, educators and organizers interpret items from museum collections alongside their own work. It also features conversations with curators about the selected objects and their meaning to their cultural community.

Artist at Pine Needle Gallery is a temporary exhibit featuring work from a variety of artists at the Pine Needles cabin on the St. Croix Watershed Research Station property.

Omnitheater films –“Born to be Wild,” through June 10. Join scientists who are rescuing and raising orphaned orangutans and elephants throughout Kenya and Borneo.

“Wings Over Water,” through September 4. Follow the migrations of winged creatures as they return home to raise the next generation of waterfowl.

Stellar Tours Live Digital Telescope Show, Wed.Sun. at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Choose your own space adventure and experience the Omnitheater’s new Digistar 7 projection system. Omnitheater tickets are $9.95. Free for children ages 3 and under.

Museum tickets range from $9.95-$34.90, with discounts available for those with limited incomes.

Xcel Center

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

xcelenergycenter.com

Blink-182 , 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 4. Tickets start at $115.50.

93X Twin City Takeover starring Disturbed, 6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 6. Tickets start at $35.

Shania Twain, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 17. Tickets start at $258.

Janet Jackson , 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 30. Tickets start at $25.95.

Street projects get underway

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Bright orange construction signs seem to magically appear as quickly as the last layer of snow melts, and this year is no exception. Here are some road projects in the works for this summer that will affect travel.

West Side

Reconstruction on Curtice Street East between Woodbury and Andrew streets will take place MayOctober. The project, which includes work on the water and sewer main, was originally scheduled for last year but was delayed due to supply chain issues.

Work on the sanitary sewer on Water Street and Plato

Boulevard is being done to expand sewer capacity and meet the demand for new development. Construction takes place this spring and continues through fall of next year. Work includes removing and replacing sanitary sewer lines and constructing a new lift station. Traffic signal improvements will be made this fall at the intersection of Cesar

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Teachers wanted! Noon-5 p.m., Mon.-Thurs., $17 per hour. Summer Program Teacher: June 1-Aug. 31, with potential to continue into the school year. Afterschool Teacher: start May 15. Plan and lead fun, educational activities for youth, particularly those in under-resourced communities, in an after school setting. Curriculum training is provided. Must be at least age 18 to apply.

Base Camp, PT staff, $16 per hour. Guides: fun activities, flexible schedule, year-round, evenings & weekends.

Youth Career Exploration - PT Coordinator: $17 per hour, 4 days (20 hours) per week; deliver career-focused opportunities to middle-high school youth, provide support to Exploring posts and volunteers. Must be at least age 21 to apply.

To apply, please visit: https://northernstarbsa.workbrightats.com/jobs/

What Matters Most?

Chavez, State and George streets. Work includes upgrading signals to allow for real time monitoring, installing audible pedestrian push buttons and adding traffic cameras.

West St. Paul

The intersection at Thompson and Oakdale will be closed May-November while a single-lane roundabout is created. Portions of Thompson and Oakdale Avenues will also be closed until October to allow for pavement resurfacing and construction of trails to the sides of each street.

A sidewalk will be added to the north side of Thompson Avenue and a multi-use trail on the south side, from Robert Street to Hwy 52. Likewise, a sidewalk will be built on the west side of Oakdale Avenue and a multi-use trail on the east side, from Thompson Avenue to Butler Avenue. Trails will also be built on both sides of Oakdale, from Wentworth to Thompson.

Thompson Avenue from Robert Street to Hwy 52 will be restriped to include a continuous center turn lane.

A mid-block crossing will be added on Thompson and reconstruction of a portion of the River to River Gre -

enway will take place near Thompson County Park.

The City of West St. Paul and Dakota County have partnered on this project to address traffic and safety concerns.

A sidewalk will be added along Bidwell Street between Thompson and Butler avenues. Bidwell will be narrowed to 32 feet by removing and replacing the east curb line between Thompson Avenue and Orme Street. As a result, parking will no longer be allowed on the east side of Bidwell from Thompson to Orme. The City was awarded a Safe Routes to School grant to finance 80% of the project. Adjacent property owners will not be assessed. All driveways will receive a new concrete apron between the sidewalk and street, and any disturbed driveway or turf will be restored.

West St. Paul has partnered with the City of St. Paul to reconstruct Annapolis Street from Smith Avenue to Kansas Street over the next two years. This year, work will take place from Smith Avenue to Robert Street, and in 2024 from Robert Street to Kansas Street. Work includes adding on-street bicycle lanes between Smith and Oakdale avenues and filling in concrete sidewalk gaps

on both sides of the street. Improvements will also be made to the intersection of Annapolis Street, Charlton Street and Dodd Road, and to the sewers and watermain. Annapolis Street was last reconstructed in 1966. Mill and overlay project to city streets includes minor curb and gutter repair, two inches of milling, two inches of new asphalt, and pavement sealing. Work will be done to the following streets:

• Allen Avenue from Carmel Street West to Thompson Avenue West

• Betty Lane from Delaware Avenue to East cul-desac

• Carmel Avenue West from Allen Avenue to Thompson Avenue West

• Christine Lane from Smith Avenue to Charlton Street

• Galvin Avenue from Runge Lane to Emerson Avenue

• Marywood Lane from Mendota Road to North cul-de-sac

• Pine Ridge Drive from Crusader Avenue to Marywood Lane

• White Oaks Drive from Delaware Avenue to East cul-de-sac

West St. Paul and Dakota County are seeking community feedback on final design concepts of a trail to be constructed on the south side of Butler Avenue from Robert Street to Sperl Street and on the north side of Butler Avenue from Sperl to Highway 52. The design is expected to be completed next year, with construction taking place in 2025. In addition to trail construction, work includes repaving Robert Street and making pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection at Sperl Street and Stassen Lane.

Now Accepting Applications

Paraprofessional - Work with students in a classroom assisting teachers, before/after-school child care OR supervise groups of students. Full-time or part-time. Starting base wage $19.63/hr. (DOQ).

Bus Drivers - Safely transport students to and from school. Paid training & CDL certification. Starting base wage $22.90/hr. (DOQ).

Nutrition Services - Prepare and serve breakfast and lunch for students. Starting base wage $16.50/hr. Custodian - Perform cleaning, event set-up/clean-up, and ensure safety of buildings. Full-time starting base wage $21.76/hr. Part-time and seasonal starting base wage $16.80/hr. (DOQ).

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 EOE

The perfect gift for an elderly parent

Our experienced team of nurses understands the unique needs of seniors and offers gentle, compassionate care to help them feel their best. From routine nail trimming, care of fungal toenails, corns/calluses, we have the knowledge and expertise to address foot care concerns to optimize health in the comfort of your home.

Call 651-829-3944 TheFootNurse.Net

N ews Briefs

‘The Best idea’ applications

The Mendota Heights Community Foundation is accepting applications for its first community grant, offering up to $3,000 for “The Best Idea” to enhance life in the city. Applications must be received by May 1 and will be evaluated for ideas that improve quality of life, strengthen community connections, use innovation, leave a lasting impact and build community pride. To apply, pick up an application at City Hall. Winners will be announced June 1.

Rummage sale

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 700 Wesley Lane, Mendota Heights, is hosting its annual rummage sale 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, April 29. Proceeds will be used to fund mission projects. For more information, call 651-452-5683.

Arbor Day event

The City of Mendota Heights is hosting an Arbor Day event 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 29. Residents are invited to participate in a citywide cleanup, clean storm drains and volunteer to plant a Pocket Pollinator Garden at Valley View Heights Park. They may also register to win prizes, including a 10-gallon container tree and a compost

bin or rain barrel. For more information, visit mendotaheightsmn.gov.

Plant sale

Ramsey County Master Gardeners will host their annual plant sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, May 20 at Church of the Holy Childhood, 1435 Midway Pkwy., St. Paul. The sale includes a large selection of native plants, vegetables, several varieties of tomatoes, herbs, annual and perennial flowers, houseplants, quality garden gloves, and more. Proceeds support Master Gardener community and youth education programs in Ramsey County. For more information, visit RamseyMaster Gardeners.org/plantsale.

Parks and Rec

The Music in the Parks concert series returns to Market Square Park, 720 Main St., Mendota Heights, in May with three Wednesday evening performances. Each begins at 6 p.m. Concerts are: Patience Band on May 3, Diane Zilverberg Duo on May 17 and Timeless on May 31.

A pickleball tournament will take place 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, May 20 at the Marie Park courts, 1780 Lilac Lane. Player levels are self-assigned and games are not officiated.

Touch a Truck is held

Letter to the Editor

Unfair treatment for Alzheimer’s patients

In March I had the privilege of going to Washington D.C. with the Alzheimer’s Association to meet with the office of my congresswoman, Angie Craig. I advocate for all people with dementia, but especially for my late husband, Ralph. I wish I’d had more time with him. Ralph lived with Alzheimer’s for nine years.

Thanks to our bipartisan champions in Congress, we’ve made great progress advancing research on Alzheimer’s and other dementias, providing hope to families like mine. And now with FDA approval of Alzheimer’s treatments that slow its progression, our hopes have been lifted even higher. However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services  (CMS), the federal agency that runs Medicare, is blocking access to these and future treatments. This is unfair. This drug is too late for my husband but should be available to other families. I am calling on Rep. Craig to tell CMS to change this inhumane policy. Delays are unacceptable. Every day without access to FDA-approved drugs, more than 2,000 people nationwide transition to a more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s where they are no longer eligible for treatment. This class of treatments has clearly proven to delay progression, extending time in the early stage of Alzheimer’s when individuals can still participate in daily life. Please don’t allow people living with dementia, and their families, to be treated like this. I ask Rep. Craig to speak out on this injustice so that others have more time than I had with Ralph.

Kae Lovaas Jewell Mendota Heights

10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, May 13 at Mendakota Park, 2111 Dodd Rd. Explore fire trucks, police cars, commercial mowers, plow trucks and more. The event also features games, photo opportunities, refreshments and food trucks.

Bike Rodeo

West St. Paul Parks and Recreation is holding a bike rodeo 1-3 p.m., Sunday, May 21 at Garlough Park, 1800 Charlton Ave. This all-ages event includes bike safety instruction, youth helmet giveaways (while supplies last), and a short bike ride. Free.

Appliance pick-up day

Curbside appliance pickup is available to residents of Mendota Heights and West St. Paul 8 a.m.-noon, Monday, May 8. Call J.R.’s Advanced Recyclers at 651454-9215 by May 5 to make a reservation. Cost is $25 for the first appliance and $10 for each additional appliance.

TPAC events

Unless noted, all activities take place at Thompson Park Activity Center, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul. To register, call 651-403-8300.

Watercolor Painting Introduction, 1-3 p.m. Mondays, May 1-22. $66 for four sessions.

Nature Sense with Eloise Dietz: Spring Birding Hike, 10-11:15 a.m., Tuesday, May 2. $12.

British History: James I, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 9. Register at least five days in advance. $8.

Dakota County 101, 11

a.m.-12:30 p.m., Thursday, May 11. Content includes the top 10 historical things residents should know about Dakota County. $3.

Dakota County Historical Society Tour, 11 a.m.12:30 p.m., Monday, May 15, at the Dakota County Historical Society, 130 3rd Ave. N, South St. Paul. $3.

Paint Like Bob Ross , 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday, May 22. $50, includes materials.

Mystery Book Club , 10:30 a.m.- noon, May 9. $10 annually to participate in the monthly discussions.

WSP K-9 grant

The West St. Paul Police Department K-9 unit is competing with other K-9 units in the state to see who can get the most votes on Aftermath Service’s social media platforms in one week, May 25-June 5. Aftermath Services, a national biohazard remediation and trauma cleanup company, will award a grant ranging from $250$2,500 depending on how the department places. If the West St. Paul Police Department wins it will use the grant to purchase a vest, toys, food and training supplies for its two K-9s. People can vote by commenting the name of their police department on Aftermath’s daily K-9 unit grant posts. Votes can be submitted once every 24 hours on Aftermath’s website, and Facebook and Instagram pages.

DARTS programs

DARTS 9th Annual Fundraising Breakfast is held 7:30-9 a.m., Wednesday, April 26 at Mendakota Country Club. All are in-

vited to this free event. Register at DARTSBreakfast. givesmart.com or by calling 651-455-1560.

Cycling enthusiast Rick Anderson is hosting his 15th annual bike sale noon4 p.m., Saturday, May 13 at Superior Service Center, 14580 Glenda Dr., Apple Valley. Proceeds benefit DARTS and Kids ‘n Kinship. The sale will feature 450 bikes ranging in price from $20-$500. For more information, visit www. ricksbikesale.com.

DARTS is seeking volunteers for its Tech Buddies program, which pairs volunteers with older adults to provide technology assistance with laptops, smart phones, tablets, smart TVs and other devices. Volunteers are also needed to provide spring cleanup for seniors. For more information, contact DARTS

at info@darts1.org or call 651-455-1560.

Mortgage help

HomeHelpMN offers mortgage assistance to homeowners who have missed payments due to reduced hours, layoffs, business closures and other causes related to the pandemic. HomeHelpMN can provide up to $50,000 to pay eligible past-due expenses. The money does not have to be paid back. To find out if you’re eligible, visit https://homehelpmn.org or call 800.388.3226.

Dalton named interim director at Neighbors, Inc.

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Donna Dalton, who has more than 20 years’ experience in nonprofit management, has been named interim executive director at Neighbors, Inc. She was placed in that role in midFebruary by Mighty Consulting, the St. Paul-based search firm that Neighbors, Inc. has retained to help its board of directors find their next executive director. After six years with the organization, executive director

Charlie Thompson resigned from Neighbors, Inc. in January to lead a nonprofit in the state of Washington.

Dalton has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University. After working as a grant writer, she joined the St. Paul Foundation, and for a decade advised families and businesses on their charitable contributions. She then served 13 years as executive director at the Mortenson Family Foundation, where she approved grant funding

Get to Know Neighbors

By Heidi Satre

In this month’s “Get to Know Neighbors” series, we will highlight our newest program: financial empowerment, which offers services to help improve financial well-being and security.

The program offers free, one-on-one personal financial counseling and educa-

to communities across the state.

As interim director, Dalton will work to ensure things continue to run smoothly at Neighbors.

“I’m just here to be the bridge to ensure that it continues fully functioning until the new executive director is named,” she said. “It’s a competitive market right now so we’re uncertain how long we’ll keep the job posting open, but we’re aiming to name the new executive director by June or July.”

Neighbors is seeking an experienced professional

tion to help participants achieve a personalized goal, such as achieving control of debt, building savings, monitoring and improving credit, making major purchases, protecting resources and planning for the future. Our Financial Empowerment Center features computer kiosks, printers, scanners and a fax machine and is staffed 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Participants are assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. Appointments can be

who understands the organization’s values – respect, generosity and inclusion –and can manage a team of employees and volunteers to deliver its services. The director is also responsible for budgeting and maintaining the financial well-being of the organization.

“The staff team [at Neighbors, Inc.] is really strong,” said Dalton. “They know the work really well and know the community really well, but the amazing volunteers are probably what have struck me the most about the organization….

requested with a certified financial counselor. We have two counselors on staff, and services are offered in both Spanish and English. We also offer free notary services.

Since its inception, the Financial Empowerment Program has aided many participants. One family began visiting Neighbors last fall to address the rising cost of food. With the help of a counselor, they created a spending plan that included paying for food as well as saving for a future emer -

The identity of community is really woven throughout this entire organization.” Neighbor’s, Inc. provides food, clothing, financial assistance and more to residents in northern Dakota County. It relies on dozens of volunteers to operate its food shelf, Clothes Closet thrift store and other programs. This isn’t Dalton’s first foray into South St. Paul. She has faint memories from her childhood of riding in her father’s truck to the Stockyards to sell cattle. She recalls it was a loud, busy and smelly place.

gency. Six months later, the primary vehicle they used to get to and from work broke down. They used the money they had set aside for emergencies to fix the car. The mother reported it was the first time they had been able to pay for a car repair without borrowing money. For more information about our Financial Empowerment Program or to request an appointment, visit: www.neighborsmn. org/financial-empowerment.

Donna Dalton

P ostscript

Dog Friends

My husband, Peter, is trying to impress a local collie.

Peter knows better than this. He had a collie for many years. Collies are not easily impressed. They have their own priorities and their own agenda and if it happens to coincide with yours, you can pretend they did something on your behalf – but you’d be lying to yourself.

The current object of Peter’s affection is named Lassero and lives on a road Peter takes every day on his hike. Peter met the collie one day when the dog was sticking his head through the curtains

Lawsuits, marijuana and transit projects

How should Dakota County use a $10 million legal settlement from a multi-state lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors? To what degree should local governments control the sale and use of recreational marijuana, if the state legislature legalizes it as expected? What is the future of transit in northern Dakota County? These timely topics are addressed in this column, along with a dash of local history and a call for reader input to guide our future decisions.

Opioid lawsuit and settlement

The State of Minnesota, Dakota County and local cities were part of a multi-state lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors, which was recently settled for $26 billion. This money will be divided among states, counties and cities through 2040. The approximate amounts that local jurisdictions are expected to receive from the settlement are as follows: Dakota County: $9.8 million; Apple Valley: $664,000; Burnsville: $1.1 million; Eagan: $812,000; Inver Grove Heights: $487,000; and Lakeville: $626,500.

Only cities with populations over 30,000 will receive settlement funds, which explains why South St. Paul, West St. Paul and Mendota Heights are not on the list of recipients. I found this allocation unfair, since smaller communities are among the hardest hit

he called out, “Lassero!” but the collie ignored him.

Peter decided to bring treats. He brought a cookie and put it on the windowsill. The collie did not come. On the way home, Peter checked the windowsill. The cookie was gone. Peter did this for several days running.

“Maybe Lassero’s owner is finding the cookies,” I said. “Maybe he is throwing them away!” Peter was not convinced.

The next day, he went out and bought corn chips.

“If he didn’t like cookies, he’s not going to like corn chips!” I said. “He’s waiting for organic sun-dried beef chips.” Peter looked as if he was considering this.

“I could take chicken,” he said.

“You can’t take chicken on your hike!” I figured there wasn’t much Peter wouldn’t do to capture this dog’s affection.

corn was still there but one piece had been moved. It was now in tiny, wet pieces. Apparently, Lassero didn’t like popcorn either.

Some dogs will do anything for affection. Some will give you affection once they figure you’ve earned it. And some are always going to play hard to get. I had a feeling that Lassero might not be in the market for more friends, but I didn’t want to break this to Peter.

realization still hurts.

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

of its owner’s house. Peter learned his name from the collie’s owner and went on to assume that he and the collie would be fast friends. From then on, as Peter walked by,

Then one day, Lassero was at the open window. Peter offered him a cookie. Lassero ignored it. He put it down on the sill. The pooch poked it with his nose. He eventually ate it but did not seem excited.

“I don’t think Lassero likes cookies,” Peter concluded.

oid lawsuit and settlement, visit www.co.dakota.mn.us/ HealthFamily/ChemicalHealth/Opioids/Pages/default.aspx.

State proposals with local impact

Joe Atkins Dakota County Commissioner

by the opioid crisis. Indeed, here in Dakota County the data shows South St. Paul, West St. Paul and Hastings sustained among the most significant harm from the opioid crisis.

As Dakota County decides how to use our portion of the settlement, I am advocating for funds specifically for South St. Paul and West St. Paul to be used for prevention efforts and for our highly effective Drug Task Force partnership with the two communities. The partnership recently seized more than 250,000 illicit fentanyl pills in a local bust. My latest online survey seeks input on how the opioid settlement funds ought to be allocated. Questions also address other county issues, plus high-profile state proposals that will have significant impacts on counties. Those wishing to weigh in can take the survey at www.surveymonkey. com/r/LC6F9JT.

In the last year, opioids were involved in the greatest number of overdose deaths among Dakota County residents. Across the country, fentanyl is now the No. 1 cause of death among Americans ages 18-45. For more information about the opi-

Then he had an idea. “Popcorn! Dogs love popcorn even more than beef!”

He packaged up some popcorn and put it in his backpack. “Lassero!” he called. The dog didn’t answer. Peter left popcorn on the windowsill. On his way back, he checked. The pop-

Even though it sounds funny, it’s a little sad. I’ve been ignored and ghosted by folks I thought were my friends. I realized – a little too late – they were not actually my friends. They already had friends, and I wasn’t one of them. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dog or a person. The

“You have lots of dog friends,” I reminded my husband. There’s Reacher, who he calls the “Reacher Creature,” a giant canine that jumps up in delight when he sees Peter. There’s Bucky, who has very short legs and lies down on the sidewalk when Peter talks too long with Bucky’s owner. There are several tiny dogs who walk on his route every day and bark in excitement every time Peter goes by. And somewhere, just behind the curtains of his home, is Lassero, ignoring Peter every day.

“Lassero doesn’t know what he’s missing,” I told Peter. And he doesn’t. Till next time.

This is the time of year when local communities and counties keep a keen eye on what’s happening at the State Capitol. Set to finish work by mid-May, the legislature is expected to make key decisions on issues that could have massive local effects. For instance, it is anticipated the legislature could legalize adult use of recreational marijuana this session. Already, local governments across Dakota County are looking at what this means and to what extent to impose regulation. Likewise, there are several proposals to raise the metro sales tax, chiefly to fund transportation and transit, such as extension of the G Line, a bus rapid transit route down Robert Street in West St. Paul. To weigh in, take my survey or contact me at 651-438-4430 or Joe. Atkins@co.dakota.mn.us.

135 years ago this month

In 1888, the first electric monorail in Minnesota history attracted over 100 dignitaries to northern Dakota County for a test ride, then spurred a mystery that has yet to be solved. On May 9, 1888, massive steel trestles that were erected in South St. Paul in the ravine between Bryant and Central Avenues carried a single car 1,260 feet on an elevated track as it ascended west from Concord to 16th Avenue, where passengers on

board hung high in the air before returning. Created by Dakota County-based Enos Electric Railway, the monorail ride was orchestrated to convince St. Paul City Council members to hire their company to build a monorail connecting St. Paul and Minneapolis. Enos won the job. Then the mystery began. For some reason, the investor group never accepted the contract and the company suddenly disbanded and disappeared, in spite of capital stock valued at $2 million (nearly $100 million in today’s dollars).

Speaking of history, students at South St. Paul Middle School are proposing to save the historic Armour Gates, located at the corner of Hardman and Armour in South St. Paul. The massive gates once provided entry to the largest meatpacking facility in the world. It was also the largest building in Minnesota when it opened in 1919. Armour employed as many as 4,000 people at the plant and expended nearly $90 million annually for livestock, the equivalent of $1.3 billion in today’s dollars. Armour grew so big that when the first Fortune 500 list debuted in 1955, the company ranked No. 7. The next 10 smaller companies on the list were Gulf Oil, Mobil, DuPont, Amoco, Bethlehem Steel, CBS, Texaco, ATT, Shell Oil and Kraft. While Armour closed in 1979, the gates remain as a reminder of the hard work many local women and men – including my own grandfather – made to better the lives of their children and grandchildren.

Think Spring!

It's

Summer Schedule Begins May 28

Monday

May

Healthy

Thursday,

“Come

‘The Sap is Running’

Maple syruping: the true harbinger of spring

Tim Spitzack Editor

It’sSaturday, Mar. 25 and I’ve just come inside from tapping four large maple trees in my backyard.

“Well?” asks my wife before I’ve even kicked off my slushy boots.

“The sap is running,” I happily exclaim.

“Really?” she replies, as if she doesn’t believe me. After a long winter that has dumped about 90 inches of snow, she, like many others, has reason to believe that spring might never arrive. Indeed, it has taken its own sweet time. Normally, I tap the trees in early March and boil down the sap into delicious maple syrup around the first day of spring: March 20. I’m a good 10 days behind schedule. In years like these, an old John Denver lyric inevitably comes to mind: “Springtime is rolling ’round slowly. Grey skies are bringing me down.”

As difficult as it is to wait

it’s equally amazing what happens when the sun finally chases away those grey skies. Its nourishing effect brightens our spirits and warms even the coldest of hearts.

With the sap running, I know it won’t be long till the leaf buds get the nutrients they need to pop forth, and then April showers will usher in May flowers. Dutchman’s breeches, jeweled shooting star and spring forget-menot are early bloomers in the woodlands and meadows. In our yards, crocus, tulips and daffodils are the first to brighten our landscapes. And what a joy it is to see them return.

A hike along the Mississippi on tree-tapping day gave me more reason for hope. As I stood silently at the river’s edge, the sights and sounds of nature surrounded me and stirred my senses. Songbirds chirped, ducks and geese flew overheard, and in the distance was a flock of gulls. At once, a thousand rose and quickly

simultaneously swirled outside to in, then landed again. I was amazed they could fly in such a frenetic pattern without hitting each other. The river was open and the sound of its waves lapping against the shoreline was music to my ears. Just two weeks earlier I had crosscountry skied down the bluff and made tracks along this then-frozen section of river.

Maple syruping

I took up maple syruping three years ago and have been working to perfect the craft ever since. For me, it has become my true harbinger of spring. It’s a time when I’m able to spend an entire day outdoors – and a full day it is. Over my backyard firepit I’ve built a temporary oven using concrete blocks. On it I place a boiling pan, the remnant of a slow-cook roaster that fizzled out a few years ago. I light the fire at 6 a.m., sit down on a wooden bench and begin to feed split oak into the small flames.

making the warmth of the hungry fire especially inviting. In the east, the rising sun splashes ever-changing hues of pink and red on the clouds. Soon, the cheerful melodies of songbirds drown out the soft crackle of the fire.

Once I get a good bed of coals, I pour a few gallons of sap into the pan – another 12 gallons await nearby in white plastic buckets. Throughout the day, I never venture far from the makeshift oven. I may do a few chores, but mostly I enjoy my time by the fire. As the sap boils, steam rises from the pan and I must wave

do. Around 10 p.m., I “finish” the sap inside on the stovetop and use a hydrometer to make sure it’s at the proper temperature. Once done, I put cheesecloth over a pitcher for one final straining of the now-gooey syrup. Finally, I pour the syrup into 8-ounce bottles waiting on the counter, and with delight lick the drips that hit my fingers and the side of the pitcher. The rich maple flavor is wildly delicious and sweet as candy. With the bottles filled, I hold them up to the light and marvel at the natural golden goodness, and in them I see the stack of blueberry pancakes that awaits me in the morning. Weather conditions dictate when tapping can begin. For sap to run, it must be above freezing during the day, and is best when it dips below freezing at night. Some people use a metal spike to hold a plastic collection bag. Others use a plastic tap attached to a hose leading to a covered bucket. That’s the technique I learned from my mentor in maple syruping: Bud Trost, a former chief of police in West St. Paul. Bud was in his sunset years when I first met him, yet spry and active. He’d shuffle into my office a few times a year with his ever-present walking stick to give me information he

wanted published on the local VFW and American Legion groups in which he was involved. Years later he began attending my church, and it was then I learned that he and his family were maple syrupers. One day I visited his home and he graciously shared tips and techniques that would make my first tapping successful. He gave me four buckets, taps and lines, which I still use today. Sadly, Bud passed away the following year, but his memory lives on. Now, each spring when I pull the equipment from the shelf in my garage, I still see the bright twinkle in his eye and the half-smile that always graced his face. I recall his kindness and generosity and remember that maple syruping is not only a great way to celebrate spring, but also an opportunity to share with others.

Top: The boil down begins.

Bottom: The hose and bucket system.