St. Paul Voice June 2023

Wakpa Arts Festival makes debut Page 5

The St. Paul

New ‘Wrestaurant’ opening soon

Page 6

Explore West St. Paul Days returns June 8-10

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Asea of people will soon flood the streets of West St. Paul to celebrate the city and the people, businesses and organizations that tie it together. Explore West St. Paul Days takes place June 8-10 featuring events new and old. The festival is the latest iteration of Celebrate West St. Paul Days, which was held each May for more than three decades and had its last hurrah in 2019. The nonprofit’s 8-member volunteer board of directors canceled the event in 2020 due to the pandemic and in early 2021 made the hard decision to dissolve because of a sharp decrease in sponsorship and volunteers.

This is the second year the West St. Paul City Council has stepped forward to organize a community celebration. The event is funded largely through sponsorships. Sponsors include the South Robert Street Business Association, Mississippi Valley Montessori School, Cherokee Service, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Skadron Animal Hospital, US Bank, Southview Animal Hospital, Sports Clips of West St. Paul, Beissel Window and Siding, Stremski State Farm Insurance Agency, El Rey – 94.9 FM and Oakdale Apartments.

Here’s the schedule of events. Details were accurate as of press time. For more information, visit explorewsp.com.

City Open House - Festivities kick off 5-8 p.m., Thursday, June 8

Explore WSP / Page 2

EVENT GUIDE

Your Guide to Summer in the City

Summer fun kicks into high gear on Memorial Day and goes full force through Labor Day. In this guide you’ll discover music and movies in the parks, fairs and festivals, and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities. Summer is here. Enjoy it!

Summer events / Page 7

Changes in store for city parks, facilities

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Nowthat the nice weather has finally returned, people are flocking to area parks to enjoy some fun in the sun. Cities in our distribution area continue to invest in their parks and recreational facilities. Here are projects happening this summer.

Bidding is expected to take place this summer for a new playground to be installed at Harriet Island Regional Park next summer. The playground was originally scheduled to be constructed this summer but the project was delayed in order to complete stormwater management work and provide additional community engagement opportunities. Several community engagement events have taken place since spring 2022 and construction documents are now being created. The proposed site plan for the new playground includes an age 2-5 play area, age 5-12 play area, informal play area with nature elements, sand play area, and several zones for seating and gathering. Play features may include climbing pods, a spinner, and perhaps even a zipline. The $928,000 project is funded by the Legacy Parks and Trails Fund Design work is underway to improve trail connections at Como Regional Park with St. Paul’s Grand Round trail network. The process will prioritize connections around Como Lake, picnic pavilions, McMurray Fields and Woodland Outdoor Classroom areas over those within the

Parks / Page 4

West Side ice cream shop has new owners, expansion plans

Jake Spitzack

Staff Writer

As the warmth of the summer sun intensifies, people young and old will be delighted to find dozens of fun flavors of ice cream at Le Fresuchii Neveria, which recently opened at 197 Cesar Chavez St. The ice cream parlor had been home to La Michoacana Pink Ice Cream since late 2019, but two new

owners recently gave it a complete overhaul that included cosmetic renovations, a new name, refined menu and vision for community engagement. With the reincarnation complete and more plans brewing, the owners are determined to keep the shop flourishing for years to come.

“We wanted to strike with our own brand and our own image as a friendly, high quality ice cream shop

experience,” said co-owner John Babcock. “We’ve got some plans in the works to expand the menu to include some unique things that nobody else in the Twin Cities has. It’s going to be a take on some traditional Mexican favorites but with a big ‘wow.’”

The once bright pink shop was given a hefty makeover in a matter of weeks. Work included painting the exterior and interior, adding decorative siding, creating

a photo backdrop inside, installing a new sign and installing a kiosk for ordering. The shop features many flavors of ice cream derived from Mexican treats such as tres leche cake and Gansito (Mexican Twinkie). Classic favorites such as bubblegum and chocolate are stocked as well. In addition to adding flavors, the new owners helped tweak existing ones to better capture the intended flavor. Adults may want

to give the tequila option a try – don’t worry, they won’t need to check your ID. The shop also specializes in popsicles made with fresh fruit and will soon have molds to freeze them into fun shapes.

The shop also offers snacks such as nachos, corn in a cup or on the cob, and smoothies, and it will soon have pints and quarts for those who want ice cream to bring home.

“This summer we will

keep trying to bring people together,” said co-owner Andrea Cruz. “We will have DJs and events, and we will be working on getting mascots.... The fun part is we won’t just be waiting for people to come. We will be outside showing people that we’re here and that they can come in here and enjoy what we have and have a good time.”

Explore WSP

with an open house at South Metro Fire Station 1, 1650 Humboldt Ave. It will feature 40-50 booths representing nonprofits, businesses, schools and more. Visitors can explore police and fire vehicles and get a chance to soak city leaders in a dunk tank. Free food will be available, and the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights Rotary club will be dishing out free root beer floats. Janelle Burrell Trio will perform live music during the entire event.

K-9 Demo - See a demonstration from the West St. Paul Police Department’s two K-9’s, Cecil and Bear, 5:30-6 p.m., Friday, June 9 at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. The K-9 unit also needs your help. It’s competing with other K-9 units in the state to see who can get the most likes on social media in one week, May 25-June 5. Aftermath Services, a national biohazard remediation and trauma cleanup company, is offering grants ranging from $250-$2,500 to the

top vote-getters. If the West St. Paul Police Department wins a grant it will be used to purchase a vest, toys, food and training supplies for its two K-9s. People can vote once every 24 hours on Aftermath’s website and Facebook and Instagram pages. Good for Gary concert and fireworks - Good for Gary, a cover band that plays dance hits old and new, will perform 6-9:30 p.m., Friday, June 9, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. Food trucks will be on site starting at 5:30 p.m. A firework display follows at 9:45 p.m.

West St. Paul ParadeView colorful floats, marching bands, emergency vehicles and more during the festival’s parade, which gets rolling at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 10. It departs from the intersection of Minea and Charlton streets near Garlough Elementary and travels north along Charlton to Harmon Park. A quiet zone (no lights, horns or sirens) is located on Charlton

Street between Langer Circle and Emerson Avenue.

Environmental and Arts Fair - Shop from artisan vendors, view and purchase artwork by local artists, speak with environmental experts and more, noon-3:30 p.m., Saturday, June 10 at Harmon Park, 230 Bernard St. W.

Explore 1800 Oakdale Ave. - El Destino Market and Clothesline Laundromat, 1834 Oakdale Ave., are hosting a community event 2-6 p.m., Saturday, June 10. It will feature a bouncy house, face painting, photo booth, free book buggy, and free churros and games. El

Destino will sell tacos for $2 and Clothesline will offer free washes. The laundromat will also hold 33 drawings for a total of $700 in laundry coupons, including one coupon worth $100. Mariachi Alma de Mexico will perform at 3 p.m., Northern Fire Dynamic at 4 p.m. and Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli Aztec dance group at 5 p.m. Kids Connection - The Residents of Color Collective (ROCC) youthled leadership program, ROCC Climbers, is hosting activities for youth 2-6 p.m., Saturday, June 10, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. Kids can create friendship bracelets, participate in painting, dancing and poetry, and play a variety of games. Free turkey and vegetarian hot dogs and hamburgers will be available until 5 p.m. or until the food runs out.

PopROCKS concertThe band PopROCKS will perform 7-10 p.m., Saturday, June 10, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. The energetic performance includes dance party jams, flashy choreog-

raphy and special effects. Arrive early to purchase a preconcert meal and drinks. Food trucks will serve dinner and treats 6-10 p.m. Adults may purchase drinks at the beer tent.

West St. Paul Rider - A community bike ride will depart from Garlough Park, 1800 Charlton St., at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, June 11. Participants may join the 4-mile short route or the 20-mile route. The short route travels through West St. Paul. The long route encompasses the short one and continues along the Mississippi River. Both routes include water and snack stops. The event is free, but registration is required. Donations will be accepted to support Residents of Color Collective, a local nonprofit that serves underrepresented communities. For more information or to register, visit weststpaulreader.com/rider.

Citywide garage saleFind bargains on gently used items during the citywide garage sale, held June 8-10. For a list of participating locations, visit explorewsp. com. To host a sale, register online for $10.

Ice cream

from page 1

Word about the shop may spread rather quickly, thanks to its brand-new ice cream truck that will begin travelling around the metro area in June. The truck is a school bus that was painted and equipped with a kiosk system and a long freezer that can store all the many flavors found in the store. The new owners plan to

open more branches of Le Fresuchii around the metro area in the coming months and said they are working hard to gain the reputation as having the best ice cream in the Twin Cities.

“It’s all homemade and comes directly from our ice cream-making shop right to the store,” said Babcock.

“When you’re in our store and you’ve got an ice cream cone in your hand it’s just a moment in time where you forget all the stuff that’s going on outside the door and you’re in a happy place.”

Cruz hails from Veracruz, Mexico and has lived in the metro area since 1999. Babcock, who has a master’s in business administration from the University of Minnesota, is a Hopkins native. They both have other full-

time jobs but can be seen at the shop on some weekends and during special events. The shop is open 10 a.m.9 p.m. daily and has seating inside and on the sidewalk. Neveria is Spanish for ice cream parlor, and Fresuchii is a play on the Spanish word for strawberry. Its mantra is “Life is better when you eat ice cream.” For more information, call 612-636-4911 or visit or visit www.lefresuchii.com.

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NATURE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, and Cottage Grove

Free trails open daily, sunrise to sunset

Meet us June 10 at the West St. Paul Environmental and Arts Fair! 651.455.4531 | DodgeNatureCenter.org

John Babcock and Andrea Cruz

‘When you’re in our store and you’ve got an ice cream cone in your hand it’s just a moment in time where you forget all the stuff that’s going on outside the door and you’re in a happy place,’ said Babcock.

Parks

from

Zoo, Conservatory, or golf course areas. Community engagement remains open through September. A final design is expected to be approved by June 2024. Funding for the regional park plan update has been secured from a Parks and Trails Legacy Grant. For more information, visit engagestpaul. org/como-trail-master-plan.

The final draft for a 4.7mile off-street regional trail on Summit Avenue was recently completed and is expected to be approved by the St. Paul City Council and Metropolitan Council by the end of June. The approximately $12 million project is being funded by a Parks and Trails Legacy fund grant program administered through the Metropolitan Council. The trail will run between Mississippi River Boulevard and Kellogg Boulevard West. Its construction is part of the Met Council’s 2040 Regional Parks and Policy Plan. For more information, visit engagestpaul. org/summit.

In late March, the City of St. Paul’s Parks and Recreation department announced the final design for Pedro Park. It features a shelter, cafe tables, bench seating, a play area, plaza, pet zone, pocket gardens, fountain/splash pad and a diagonal path through the park. It may feature a bee lawn, which includes lowgrowing perennial flowers and grasses that provide food and nesting spaces for bees and other pollinators.

The city will work with the nonprofit Friends of Pedro Park and the St. Paul Parks Conservancy to find the funds for the build-out of the nearly half-block park.

During the fundraising process, the City is expected to add a few park features, such as grass, trees and benches. No timeline is set for when the park will be complete. For more information, visit www.stpaul.gov and search Pedro Park.

The schematic design for phase two of the Changsha China Friendship Garden at Phalen Regional Park was completed in early January and construction work is expected to begin this

summer. Work includes creating a Hmong Plaza, including culturally significant features. The Hmong Plaza is an important element in the China Garden because many Hmong in Minnesota claim Changsha as their ancestral home, and a large Hmong community lives in the Phalen Park area. This $888,000 project is being funded by an Arts and Cultural Legacy Grant and state bonding. For more information, visit stpaul.gov/ phalenchinagarden.

West St. Paul

Work is underway at the southern part of Marthaler Park. Improvements include a new parking lot and trails, new picnic shelter and playground, restroom building, fishing dock and security features such as lighting and cameras. This city project is partially funded by Dakota County and a DNR recreation grant, and will be complete by this fall. A major buckthorn removal project was recently completed at Garlough and Marthaler Parks. This project was a partnership between the City, Dakota County and

Great River Greening.

The West St. Paul City Council is updating its park system plan from 2000. The new plan will be complete in mid-summer, and will guide future park improvement projects and budgeting.

Community engagement to date has consisted of a stakeholder meeting and an online survey to learn how residents use the city’s many parks. The City will hold focus group meetings and pop-up events in the parks in the coming months to gather more feedback before approving the new plan.

Mendota Heights

Work is underway to install two dugouts at Civic Center Field, Victoria Highlands and Valley Park. First and third baseline fences are also being built at Valley Park. Work on all projects is expected to be complete by late spring. Additionally, the infield at Civic Center baseball field will be renovated in August. Work on the $40,000 project includes a survey of the existing field, stripping and regrading, and replacing the foul ball fences. The field will be closed for

the remainder of the year following project completion.

Reconstruction of Roger’s Lake Skate Park will happen this summer. The final design for the new skate park was approved in early May following two community surveys. The new park will include a quarter pipe, jump box, wedge, grind rail, pyramid section, bank ramp, spine, half pipe and grindbox, and the existing 13,200-square-foot asphalt pad will be replaced with a 8,000-square-foot concrete pad. The new pad and modular features will be coated with a Skatelite surface material to provide a quieter and more desirable riding surface. Work will begin on the approximately $300,000 project in the coming weeks and is expected to be complete by September.

The playground at Valley View Heights Park is being renovated this summer. It was last updated 17 years ago but not all of the equipment was replaced at that time. Final plans for renovations were approved in late March following an open house and several community surveys. The new playground will

have swings, a climbing feature, at least two slides, a covered canopy over the deck area, at least two vinylcoated steel benches and engineered wood fiber surfacing. Work is underway on the approximately $75,000 project and it’s expected to be complete by October.

A new warming house is expected to be built at Wentworth Park this summer. The $100,000 project is currently out for bids. The design will be similar to the warming houses at Marie Park and Friendly Hills Park. Additionally, the city is submitting a grant to the United States Tennis Association to reconstruct the tennis courts at Wentworth Park. The approximately $90,000 project includes creating two newly paved and lined asphalt tennis courts, and new chain link fences.

Willow Eisfeldt was named recreation program coordinator in mid-March. Eisfeldt has a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and previously worked as a recreation manager for Chileda Inc. in La Crosse, Wisc.

First ever Wakpa Art Festival begins June 24

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

St. Paul’s newest art festival is making its debut this month. Organized by Public Art St. Paul, the Wakpa Triennial Art Festival will be held over 12 weeks – June 24-Sept. 16 – and feature 35 temporary free public art installations throughout St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as some ticketed gallery and museum projects. Wakpa, the word for “river” in the Dakota language, was chosen, in part, because rivers signify connectedness. All artists in the festival are from Minnesota and are working from the theme “Network of Mutuality,” inspired by a phrase from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” that speaks to social justice, mutual care and interdependence.

An opening ceremony will be held 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, June 24, at Raspberry Island in St. Paul. It will feature a Dako-

ta prayer and round dance with drumming that’s open to the public, led by Oyate Hotanin, a nonprofit indigenous arts and social justice organization. The group will also create a flower mosaic on the lawn, and the Buffalo Weavers will perform live music. Additionally, in honor of Public Art’s 15th anniversary of its sidewalk poetry contest, some of this year’s 15 winners will read their poems at the event.

“The Wakpa Triennial festival has been an idea that’s been gestating and building for about five years, with really focused project team building and planning since the beginning of 2020,” said Executive Director of Public Art St. Paul Colleen Sheehy. “In the earliest days we viewed it as an opportunity to lift up our amazing art scene here that is full of really talented artists and art organizations, and show how artists can help us reflect on where we live. It definitely shifted into a much more urgent project about recovery and rebirth for the Twin

Cities after the pandemic hit in 2020 and was followed by George Floyd’s murder and civic unrest…. It’s going to be an explosion of creativity. We want everyone to explore and rediscover their cities again in a new way, looking through artists’ eyes.”

Pramila Vasudevan is developing a project called “Prairie | Concrete.”

It will feature public events in several St. Paul parks this summer, including dance performances inspired by plant life. Vasudevan is trained in classical and contemporary Indian dance, electronic media and political science. In 2004, she founded Aniccha Arts, an experimental collaborative that produces site-specific performances.

Monica Moses Haller’s latest iteration of her ongoing work “Listening to the Mississippi” will feature several listening stations along the river that invite participants to engage in multisensory experiences. Her work spans media, including photography, video, sound, writing,

Excerpt from the poem “Breathe Deep and Sing” by Gwen Westerman

View the poem at https:// publicartstpaul.org/wakpadefinition/

installation and design. Part of her recent project explores the eroding wetlands of the Louisiana coast, where her mixed-race Creole family has owned land for six generations.

Xavier Tavera has created “Evocation of a Latin Dance Club,” a sound and sculpture installation that commemorates the culture of Nuevo Rodeo, a nightclub on Lake Street in Minneapolis that burned in the uprising that

followed George Floyd’s murder. He hopes to install his work at the site of the former nightclub, where he often attended dances and concerts, and even played drums in a band. A photographer, filmmaker, sculptor and installation artist, Tavera is co-founder of Grupo Soap del Corazon, a Latinx collective based in the Twin Cities.

Angela Two Stars (Dakota,

Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) is planning a participatory sculpture honoring the buffalo as an important relative of Dakota people. She is considering sites in Minneapolis for her project. Two Stars is executive director of All My Relations Gallery, a project of the Native

Our river— It calls to us, it beckons us, our dreams flow along with it. Its water shapes us, embraces us, and is our first medicine.

Wakpa festival / Page 7

Wrecktangle Pizza spin-off to open near Palace Theatre

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Theformer Wild Thymes sports bar and grill space on West Seventh Place, which has been vacant since 2017, is finally getting a new tenant. Wrestaurant at the Palace is expected to open in mid-July featuring Detroit-style pizzas, small plates, appetizers and a full bar. The owners currently operate three Wrecktangle Pizza branches in the Minneapolis area.

“This has been in works for about a year,” said Wrecktangle Pizza co-owner Jeffrey Rogers. “It’s not going to be Wrecktangle Pizza, but there will be wrecktangle pizzas…. I’m super excited to be in St. Paul. It’s been a huge goal of ours and we want to be part of the community. Eventually we’d love to have a Wrecktangle proper over here but for now this is an amazing opportunity.”

The Palace Theatre is owned by the City of St. Paul and co-managed by First Avenue and JAM Productions, who wanted the

new restaurant’s menu to include more than pizza. Rogers, a chef for more than a decade, was willing to cooperate. He has long wanted to open a restaurant named “Wrestaurant” and is now eager to have fun with the menu. While it wasn’t dialed in as of press time, he hinted that the small plates will be more elegant than what a pizza joint typically offers.

The space is being remodeled, including refurbishing the terrazzo flooring, installing a window for pick-up orders and adding a state-of-the-art oven. When complete, the space will seat about 15 and have a 40-seat bar offering specialty cocktails such as the Grape Ape – a drink also served at the Loon Café in Minneapolis. The restaurant will also have a 30-seat private dining room available for rent, and a 65-seat patio in the courtyard on Seventh Place.

“Our most popular pizza is the shredder pizza,” said Rogers. “That has pickled jalepeno, pepperoni, Romano cheese and Crybaby Craig’s whipped honey.”

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Another is their awardwinning breakfast pizza.

“We were asked to be in a competition for the Good Morning America TV show [in February] and the theme was “Pizza with a Twist” so we brought our very nice breakfast pizza, which is essentially biscuits and gravy on a pizza. We won that competition in New York so that’s now definitely one of our best sellers. It’s probably my favorite pizza on the menu.”

Detroit-style pizza is characterized by its thick yet airy crust and often has cheese and toppings layered on before baking it and topping it with sauce. This inverse order prompted people to call it red-top pizza when it first became popular. Detroitstyle pizzas are rectangular, harkening back to the days when Detroit’s auto industry was in decline. Apparently, the manufacturers of the rectangular pans made to catch nuts and bolts on the assembly line found a new market for their overstock by selling the pans to pizza kitchens.

Wrecktangle pizza offers that style with a twist.

“Our pizza is far from a traditional Detroit-style pizza but it’s in that same vein. It’s a larger piece of focaccia bread with the rest of the toppings on that and then in a pan,” said Rogers. “It seems like it’s going to be heavy but it eats light, and it’s way different than what

people had around here before we came…. It [traditional Detroit-style pizza] doesn’t travel super well and the sauce seems to run off so there’s a big problem to me structurally.”

Wrecktangle Pizza was founded in December 2019 by Jeffrey and Alex Rogers. Lucky for them, the pandemic that began about

three months later did little to stunt their growth. They now have branches in Minneapolis – Malcom Yards, Lyn Lake and the North Loop – and they recently purchased a food truck to cater events. The new restaurant, located at 33 W. 7th Pl., will be open daily. For more information, visit wrecktanglepizza.com.

Sat., June 10 • 1-2:30 pm

St. Stephen's Church West St. Paul corner of Charlton and Wentworth

Everything is FREE!

This event is like a huge rummage sale, only better because EVERYTHING IS FREE. That's right, FREE! Stop by to find a treasure, or if you have something to give away, register for your own space. Visit bit.ly/SpringGiveawaySPV or contact tim@ststephenswsp.org for more details.

Southview Animal Hospital

2000 S. Robert St. West St. Paul www.SouthviewAnimal Hospital.com

651.455.2258

Sunday, June 18

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St. Paul Voice

Your community news & advertising source since 1966 1643 S. Robert St., West St. Paul 651.457.1177

Wrecktangle’s award-winning breakfast pizza

Wakpa festival

American Community Development Institute in Minneapolis. She is also a public artist and curator.

Mona Smith is working with the MN Museum of American Art to present a video related to a forthcoming solo exhibition at the museum. A multimedia artist and filmmaker, she is cofounder of Healing Place Collaborative and owner

of Allies: Media/Art. She is also the former program coordinator for the National Indian AIDS Media Consortium. She shares the history of Dakota people through her art exhibitions, collaborations and restoration of Dakota landmarks.

Aaron Dysart has created a fiberglass sculpture called Commune that may be installed at Lower Land-

ing Park in Lowertown. The sculpture has two sections spaced 50 feet apart. One part is tree roots and stump, the other is trunk and branches. A concave form called an acoustic mirror will cap each end of the trunk and allow audience members to communicate across the distance without raising their voices. As City Artist for Public Art St. Paul, Dysart collaborates with city departments to create art in urban spaces and advise on major initiatives.

St. Paul Public Art has planned four “critical conversations” for this summer in partnership with other organizations. The events will be facilitated by various organizations and the topic of the conversations will be varied. The goal of the events is to give people the opportunity to reflect on issues facing their neighborhoods and talk about what kind of changes they want to see. The first critical conversation will be held 6 p.m., Monday, July 10, at the Minnesota

Humanities Center building. The topic will be about indigenous issues.

“The advantage of having this be a long run festival and exhibition is that everyone has three months to get around to see the different projects,” said Sheehy. “St. Paul and Minneapolis are fantastic cities. They’re beautiful, and they have vibrant neighborhoods and cultures.

I think we’re going to see our cities anew and fall in love with them again. We’ve been

Summer events

from page 1

Music and Movies

Music in the Parks, Mears Lunchtime Series

from page 1 Summer

- Free concerts are held noon-1 p.m. at Mears Park every Tuesday and Wednesday, June 6-Aug. 16. No shows are held June 21, or July 3-4. The lineup features Matt Hannah, June 6; Trevor McSpadden, June 7; The Jugsluggers, June 13; Handsome Midnight, June 14; Old Guys Play the Blues, June 20; Sweet Rhubarb,

June 27; Stevens Family Band, June 28; Barlow with Bionik & Eric Mayson, July 11; My Cousin Dallas, July 12; Cassandra Cole, July 18; Rosie Rossi, July 19; St. Suburbia, July 25; Qlivia, July 26; Mellifera, Aug. 1; Joan of Profile, Aug. 2; Capital City Wind Ensemble, Aug. 8; Dale & Kathleen, Aug. 9; TBD, Aug. 15; and The Fairlanes, Aug. 16.

Lowertown Sounds is a free concert series presented

on Thursday nights in Mears Park, 221 5th St. E. Concerts run 6-9:30 p.m., and guests are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the show. The lineup features Good Morning Bedlam, June 1; Turn Turn Turn, June 8; Kiss the Tiger, June 15; Nur-D, June 22; The New Standards, July 13; Craig Clark Band, July 20; Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers, July 27; Jaedyn James, Aug. 3; Salsa Del Soul, Aug. 10; Run Westy Run, Aug. 17; and Flamin’ Oh’s, Aug. 24.

Summer Market Now Open!

through some hard times, but I think we still have a lot of great things here and good momentum to build on.”

The festival, to be held every three years, will have a new theme each year chosen by Public Art St. Paul. At least 80% of the artists will be people of color. For more information on this year’s festival, pick up a printed booklet at Public Art St. Paul, 381 Wabasha St. N., or visit www.publicartstpaul. org/wakpa.

Photo by Andrea Canter, www.andreacanterartworks

The Twin Cities Jazz Festival returns to Mears Park June 23-24.

Summer events

from page 7

Food trucks will be onsite at each performance. For more information, visit www.lowertownsounds.com.

Bands on the Boulevard is a free, outdoor concert series featuring Minnesota musicians at the Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. Concerts will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays in June and July. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and arrive early for pre-show dancing, activities and food from various food trucks. Activities and crafts will begin at 6:30 p.m. The lineup features Ecuador Manta, June 20; Dred I Dread, June 27; NUNNABOVE, July 11; Barbaro, July 18; and The Northerly Gales, July 25. For more information, visit www.mnhs.

org or call 651-259-3000.

Summer Nights in Rice are free concerts held 5-7 p.m. on select Thursdays in Rice Park, 109 W. 4th St.

This year’s lineup features Twin Cities Latin Band, June 22; International Reggae All-Stars, July 13; Moonlight Serenaders, July 27; Pete Whitman Quartet, Aug. 10; Natania & Ticket to Brasil, Aug. 24; and Jimmy “Primetime” Smith Blues Band, Sept. 7. Groovin’ in the Garden free concerts are held 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday, June

7-July 26 at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr. The lineup is Innocent Reggae Band, June 7; 13 Arrows, June 14; Ty Pow & The Holy North, June 21; Red Eye Ruby, June

28; Flowtus, July 5; Mubbla Buggs, July 12; Eleganza, July 19; and Flamin’ Oh’s, July 26. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Guests are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

Minnesota Sinfonia will hold a Family Pops concert at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 22, at Como Park, and 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 27, at Roseville Central Park Amphitheatre.

The City of Mendota Heights presents free concerts at 6 p.m. at Market Square Park, 720 Main St. The lineup includes Timeless, May 31; KidsDance, June 14; Tiger Ries, June 28; Cole Allen and Sena Erhardt, July 12; The M & M Show, July 26; Helium for Liftoff trio, Aug. 9; Matt Graunke and the Crow River Rebellion, Aug. 23; and Skippin’ Stones, Sept. 6.

Breathing Space

Recharge and Take a Break

EAGAN

Where: Easter Lutheran Church

When: 2nd & 4th Fridays

Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM

WEST ST. PAUL

Where: Augustana Lutheran Church

When: 1st & 3rd Thursdays

Time: 10:00AM - 2:00PM

Revved UP performs 6:30 p.m., Aug. 11, at Mendakota Park, 2111 Dodd Rd.

The City of West St. Paul outdoor movies schedule features “DC League of Superpets,” 9 p.m., July 14, at Harmon Park, 230 Bernard St. W.; and TBD (community vote), 8:30 p.m., Aug. 25, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. For more information, call 651-552-4100.

Union Depot Drive-in movies will be held in Lot D, located near Kellogg Boulevard, on Friday, June 23 and Friday, Aug. 25. The title in June is “Jaws” and in August, “The Incredibles.” Each event features a chance to win a prize basket. Concessions will be available. Tickets are $15 per vehicle. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit uniondepot.org/depotdrivein.

Fairs and Festivals

The Flint Hills International Family Festival is held 6-10 p.m., June 2, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m., June 3, at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., and surrounding areas. Friday, June 2 is Strings and Salsa Night and includes performances by The String Queens, Rene Thompson and Salsa del Soul. Saturday is Family Arts and Culture Day and will feature $5 performances by Lightwire Theatre and The REMINDers. Koo Koo Kanga Roo perform a free closing concert outside at 3:15 p.m. School week is held May 30-June

2. Free Metro Transit passes to the festival are available for download. For more information, visit ordway.org/ festival.

Union Depot Train Days will take place 10 a.m.-4 p.m., June 3-4 at Union Depot, 214 4th St. E. The free event includes a new exhibit featuring photos of steam locomotives, train equipment tours, model trains, familyfriendly activities and more. For more information, visit uniondepot.org/traindays.

WaterFest is held 11 a.m.-4 p.m., June 3 at Lake Phalen Park, 1600 Phalen Dr. This free, family festival offers an opportunity to learn about the importance of water management, wildlife habitat, and the unique ecological features of the region’s watershed. Experience activities on and around the water with Voyageur canoe and sailboat rides; paddleboats, canoes and kayaks for checkout, fishing lessons, a fishing contest with prizes, water games, climbing walls, a jump castle, arts and crafts, face painting and lawn games, a water bar featuring water flights, the Passport Odyssey with prizes, performers, food trucks and more. For more information, visit www.rwmwd. org/get-involved/waterfest or call 651-792-7950.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival returns to Mears Park June 23-24 for its 25th anniversary. The mainstage lineup is Camille Thurman with the Darrell Green Quartet,

6 p.m., June 23; Paquito D’Rivera and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience, 8:30 p.m., June 23; Davina & the Vagabonds, 6 p.m., June 24; and Christian McBride, 8:30 p.m., June 24. TPT Stage performances include Nabate Isles, 5:30 p.m., June 24; and Tribute to Butch Thompson, 8:30 p.m., June 24. For more information, visit www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com.

Midtown Blues & Funk Fest, formerly the Lowertown Blues & Funk Fest, will be held noon-10 p.m., Saturday, July 22 at Dual Citizen Brewing, 725 Raymond Ave. Concerts are free and the lineup features Walter Trout, Corey Stevens, Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers, The Jellybean Johnson Experience, Kendra Glenn and Lisa Wenger. For more information, visit www.lowertownbluesfestival.com.

The Dakota County Fair takes place Aug. 7-13 at the Fairgrounds, 4008 W. 220th St., Farmington. Highlights include musical entertainment, demolition derby, midway rides, talent contests, grandstand shows, car and livestock shows, historic village and food. For more information, visit www.dakotacountyfair.org or call 651-463-8818.

Minnesota State Fair takes place Aug. 24-Sept. 4 at the State Fairgrounds, 1265 N. Snelling Ave. The Fair showcases Minnesota’s finest in agriculture, art and industry, hundreds of con-

Owners Dan and Noelle Mortensen

The Flint Hills International Family Festival is held June 2-3 at the Ordway Center.

cession stands, a giant Midway, Grandstand concerts, giveaways, animal and product demonstrations, parades and much more. Grandstand concerts include: The Black Keys with special guest The Velveteers, 7 p.m., Aug. 24 (from $69); The Chicks with special guest Wild Rivers, 7 p.m., Aug. 25 (from $77); Keith Urban with special guest Lindsay Ell, 7 p.m., Aug. 26 (from $52); Boyz II Men and Chaka Khan, 7 p.m., Aug. 27 (from $34); Happy Together Tour featur-

ing The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV and The Cowsills, 7 p.m., Aug. 28 ($33); Brandi Carlile with special guest Wynonna Judd, 7 p.m., Aug. 29 (from $79); Yung Gravy with special guest bbno$, 7 p.m., Aug. 30 (from $29); Duran Duran with special guests Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC, 7 p.m., Aug. 31 (from $77); Jonas Brothers, 7 p.m., Sept. 1 (from $77); The Current featuring The

Hold Steady with special guests Bob Mould Band and Dillinger Four, 7 p.m., Sept. 2 (from $27); MSF 50th Annual Amateur Talent Contest Finals, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 3; and Blippi, 3 p.m., Sept. 4 ($16). For more information, visit www.mnstatefair. org.

IndiaFest is held Saturday, Aug. 12. Details were not available as of presstime. The free event typically features performances from Asian Indian dance groups, Indian cuisine from local restaurants, Bollywood music, cultural displays, activities and games, along with an Indian bazaar. For more information, visit www.iamn. org or call 651-321-3421.

Deutsche Tage, returns for its 65th year, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., June 10, and 11 a.m.5 p.m., June 11 at the Germanic American Institute, 301 Summit Ave. The event features authentic German food and beer, musicians and dancers, family-friendly games and more. This year’s theme is “German Innovation.” Admission is free. Adults may purchase $5 wristbands for beer and wine purchases. German folk-wear or fairy tale attire

is encouraged. For more information, visit www.gaimn. org or call 651-222-7027.

Irish Fair of Minnesota, is held Aug. 11-13, at Harriet Island, 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd. This event celebrates Irish heritage through music, dance, Gaelic sports, children’s activities, a Celtic marketplace, cultural displays and Irish food and drink. Bands performing over the weekend include Gaelic Storm, Socks in the Frying Pan, JigJam, Doolin, Screaming Orphans, Clare Cunningham and Wild Colonial Bhoys. Real Irish Comedy Tour will also perform Friday and Saturday. Hours are 3-11 p.m, Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday. Single day passes are $20, with discounts for youth and seniors. Weekend passes are $40, with discounts for youth and seniors. Free for youth under age 13. For more information, visit www.irishfair.com or call 651-645-0221.

Mendota Days is held July 7-8. It will feature live music on Friday, including Elvis music from 1-4 p.m. A parade kicks off at noon on Saturday, starting at St.

Peter’s Church on Highway 13 and ending just after the VFW, and a car show will be held 1-4 p.m. The event will also feature a beanbag tournament, bouncy house, arts and crafts, food trucks and more. For more information, visit cityofmendota.org.

Como Park

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr., features flora and fauna from around the world, including giraffes, gorillas, lions, tigers, the ever-popular polar bear and more than a dozen botanical gardens. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Thurs., and 10 a.m.-6

p.m., Fri.-Sun. Admission is a suggested donation of $3. For more information, visit www.comozooconservatory. org or call 651-487-8201.

Como Town amusement park is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wed.-Sun. with kiddie rides, family rides and thrill rides, including the Soaring Eagle zip line, which travels 420 feet across the park, peaking at 85 feet.

Cafesjian’s Carousel is open at the park 11 a.m.4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. This historic carousel features 68 horses and two chariots that have been

S ummer Event Guide

Summer events

from page 9

fully restored to the way they looked when new in 1914, and a fully restored organ that plays waltzes, marches and popular tunes. Tickets are $3; infants under age one ride free. Enjoy free rides on May 30, June 27, July 25, Aug. 29 and Sept. 26. For more information, visit www.ourfaircarousel.org or call 651-489-4628.

Japanese Obon Festival is 3-9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20 on the grounds of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The event features martial arts, singing, dancing, drumming, food, lantern lighting and more. A shuttle will run

from 1930 Como Ave. to the festival. The last drop off is at 10 p.m. Tickets go on sale in July and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $5 for ages 13 and up, $3 for ages 3-12 and 65 and older. Free for children under 3.

Summer Flower Show at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory runs through Oct.

1. Angelonia, torenia, impatiens, petunia, verbena and pentas will be on display. Blue Siberian iris drifts border the edge of the pool and bright chartreuse hostas and heucheras accent the purple and blue flowers.

Recreation

Take a Kid Fishing weekend is June 9-11. Ages 16 and older may fish for free without a license if accompanied by a youth or child age 15 or younger. Great shore fishing opportunities abound on the Mississippi River, Lake Phalen in St. Paul, Pickerel Lake in Lilydale, and Thompson and Marthaler lakes in West St. Paul. For more information visit, www.dnr.state.mn.us/ takeakidfishing or call 651296-6157.

River cruises - Padelford Riverboats, moored at Harriet Island, 205 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd., feature daily narrated 90-minute public sightseeing cruises through Oct. 15. Themed cruises

include Father’s Day cruise, margarita cruise and more. Prices vary. For more information, visit www.riverrides. com or call 651-371-5305.

St. Paul baseball - The St. Paul Saints have a full schedule of zany promotions all summer at CHS field in Lowertown, 360 N. Broadway St. Fireworks are featured at Friday home games and on Monday, July 3. For a complete schedule of games and events, visit www.milb. com/st-paul.

Safe Summer NightsThe St. Paul Police Department is collaborating with the Safe Summer Nights organization to offer free hot dogs and hamburgers, beverages and outdoor activities at parks and recreation

centers throughout the city. Events are Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. The schedule is: Griggs Recreation Center, 1188 Hubbard Ave., June 13; McDonough Rec Center, 1544 Timberlake Rd., June 15;  Battle Creek Rec Center, 75 S. Winthrop St., June 29; MLK Recreation Center and Hallie Q. Brown, 270 N. Kent St., July 13;  El Rio Vista Recreation Center, 179 E. Robie St., July 20; North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 N. Albans St., Aug. 10; and Duluth and Case Recreation Center, 1200 Duluth St, Aug. 17. For more information, visit www.stpaul.gov or call 651-266-5485.

The West St. Paul Pool, 92 West Orme St., is open June 10-Aug. 27. Hours are noon-7 p.m., Mon.-Fri., and noon-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. Admission is $6. For more information, visit www. wspmn.gov and search “pool” or call 651-552-9650.

Historical tours

The Sibley Historic Site is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, May 27-Sept. 4 at 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors ages 65 and older, $6 for children 5-17, free for children 4 and under. Memorial Day and Labor Day hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Sibley Historic Site will host the  Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste event 3-8 p.m., Saturday, June 24. The event features singing and dancing demonstrations that celebrate French Canadian, Canadian and French culture. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.dakotahistory.org/ events.

Historic Fort Snelling is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thurs.-Sat., through June 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wed.Sat., June 10-Sept. 3, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thurs.-Sat., Sept. 4-Oct. 31. Memorial Day weekend hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. It is closed on Labor Day. Tickets are $12

for adults; $10 for seniors ages 65 and up; $8 for children 5-17. Children 4 and under are free.

Alexander Ramsey House , 265 S. Exchange St., is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month. Summer dates are July 1, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2. A 60-minute guided tour is offered each hour.

The James J. Hill House at 240 Summit Ave. in St. Paul offers 60-minute guided house tours 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Thurs.-Sat., and 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sundays. Tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors ages 65 and up; $8 for children 5-17. Children 4 and under are free. For more information, visit mnhs.org.

Walking tours - The Landmark Center is offering 60-minute guided walking tours, Wednesdays at 10 a.m., June through August. The following tours are free, but reservations are required.

It Happened Right Here: St. Paul’s Origins tour explores downtown and provides stories about the city’s first settlers. The tour is held the second Wednesday of each month, departing from the Kellogg and Robert Street entrance to Kellogg Park.

The Great River tour travels along the Mississippi, highlighting buildings and locations that helped make St. Paul the city it is today. This tour is held the third Wednesday of each month, departing from Upper Landing Park at Shephard Road and Eagle Parkway.

The Rice Park tour circles one of St. Paul’s most iconic parks and observes the surrounding buildings that gave the park its central role in city events and celebrations. The tour is held the fourth Wednesday of each month. It departs from the Landmark Center at 75 5th St. W. For more information, visit www.landmarkcenter.org or call 651-292-3276.

Take a Kid Fishing weekend is June 9-11.

STA names new president St. Thomas Academy

alumnus Brian Ragatz has been named president of the academy. He assumes his duties July 1, succeeding Kelby Woodard, who has been named president of the Cristo Rey Network of schools.

Ragatz currently serves as president of the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, an organization working to bolster academic performance and admissions in Minnesota’s preK-8th grade Catholic schools. Under his leadership, the organization secured more than $32 million in multi-year funding to increase the organization’s support of Catholic school leaders, expanded the number of Catholic grade schools served from 78 to 156, implemented a transformative literacy initiative in 58 schools, and launched a mental health and wellness initiative. Ragatz previously served as principal of St. Odilia, St. Thomas More and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic schools. He

began his education career teaching social studies and religion at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School. He also has taught education courses as an adjunct professor at both the University of St. Thomas and St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Ragatz has a bachelor’s in social science with a minor in secondary education from St. John’s University and a master’s in educational administration from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. He earned his educational specialist/Minnesota K-12 principal’s license in 2021 from the University of St. Thomas. Ragatz also served as second lieutenant and chaplain candidate in the Army National Guard for four years after graduating from college.

Tour de Rec

The City of West St. Paul will have free games, activities and arts and crafts for youth ages 6-12 at parks this summer. No registration required. Hours are 1:30-2:30 p.m. The traveling program will be at Thompson County Park June 13; Wentworth Park June 20; Southview Park June 27; Mendota Elementary July 11; Harmon Park July 18; Mendakota Park July 25; and Garlough Elementary Aug. 1.

Central Library events

All St. Paul Public library locations will be closed June 19.

Baby & Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m. each Thursday. Ages 3 and under.

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, call 651-266-7000.

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, call 651-266-7000.

Saturday Vibe eventsFlint Hills Festival, 10 a.m.4 p.m., June 3; Artists in Bloom Storytime, 11 a.m.noon, June 3; Pride Storytime, 11 a.m.-noon., June 10; Driveway Tour Puppet Show, 1-2 p.m., Saturday, June 24. Ages 6 and under.

Drawing & Coloring Circle , 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 7. All materials provided.

Level Up: Summer Edition , 2-4 p.m., Saturday, June 10. Enjoy video games, arts and crafts, and more.

Library After Dark: Game Night, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 14. Play board games and card games

in the Magazine Room on the third floor. All ages.

Summer Kickoff Party, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, June 17. Gather in the courtyard along Kellogg Boulevard for craft activities, outdoor art, music and prizes. The schedule is: craft activities and story stroll, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; face painting, 10 a.m.-noon; Way of the Monarch Puppet Show, 11 a.m.-noon.

Craft Circle , 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 28. The group meets the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Optimist of the Year; WSP Sings

Mark Quinn, principal at Moreland Arts & Science Magnet School, has been named Optimist of the Year by the Optimist Club of West St. Paul. Aline Kies, who nominated him for the award, described Quinn as caring, kind, energetic, happy and optimistic. Quinn received a plaque, gift card and balloons and was invited to ride in the Explore West St. Paul Days parade on June 10. The Optimist Club will conduct West St. Paul Sings on June 14. The contest will have two divisions: age 13 to 20 and age 21 and older. The top two from each division will advance to Minnesota

ROGERS MASONRY

Sings, held Oct. 7-8 in Fairmont. The state competition awards $32,000 in cash and prizes to the winners. For more information, visit www.minnesotasings.com.

The Optimist Club of West St. Paul meets 5-6 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at Dunham’s Food and Drink in West St. Paul. Guests are welcome.

Park restoration

Dakota County is hosting a park restoration event 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, June 21 at Thompson County Park, 360 Butler Ave. E., West St. Paul. Volunteers are needed to plant native plants, water new plants, spread mulch and more. For more information, contact Garrett Zaf-

Volunteer In Your Community

Lutheran Social Service of MN is seeking volunteers age 55+ 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. Please contact Brinn Krabbenhoft at 651.310.9455, or Brinn.Krabbenhoft@ lssmn.org for more information and to make an impact in your

fke at 651-438-4635 or garrett.zaffke@co.dakotamn.us.

Student notes

Sarah Miller earned a bachelor of arts in biology, summa cum laude, from St. Scholastica-Duluth.

Nathaniel Demlow was named to the honor’s list at Concordia UniversityNebraska.

DARTS

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. For more information, contact DARTS at info@darts1.org or call 651-455-1560.

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TPAC events

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.

Community Flea Market and Food Trucks, 10 a.m.2 p.m., Wednesday, June 28. The Flea Market is free. Food trucks will sell concessions 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Nature Sense with Eloise Dietz: Aquatic Life in Thompson Park Lake, 1011:15 a.m., Tuesday, June 6. $12. Register at least one week in advance.

British History: the crusades, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 13. $8. Register at least five days in advance.

What is Fascism?, a 4-session class, 9:30-10:45 a.m., Monday and Tuesday, June 5, 6 and June 12, 13. $25 for four sessions.

Muffins with West St. Paul Mayor David Napier listening session , 9:3010:30 a.m., Thursday, June 8. $3.

Incontinence: Explanation & Solutions, 10-11 a.m., Tuesday, June 20. $5.

Northfield Historical Society Museum Tour and

lunch at Ole Store Restaurant. $87, includes transportation, guide and lunch. Register by June 9. Departs TPAC at 9:15 a.m. and returns at 4:30 p.m.

Mystery Book Club , 10:30 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, June 13. This group meets the second Tuesday of each month. $10 annually.

Computer Center , 9 a.m.-noon every Monday. Volunteer mentors assist with hand-held and homebased technology questions. Free. No registration necessary.

WSCO events

The West Side Community Organization, 209 Page St. W., is hosting the following events:

Our Side: an open house for equitable development, 6-8 p.m., Thursday, June 8. Visit www.wsco.org/ourside.

West Side Voices Forum, 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 13. Visit www.wsco.org/voicesjune23.

West Side Juneteenth Celebration, noon-4 p.m., Saturday, June 17 at Parque

Castillo, 149 Cesar Chavez St. Visit www.wsco.org/wsjuneteenth.

June art fair in downtown

St. Paul highlighting West Side artists. Date and time were undetermined as of press time. Visit www.wsco. org/calendar.

Schroeder, ALMAS receive Public Health Achievement award

ALMAS, a student group at Two Rivers High School, and Susan Schroeder, deputy director at Neighbors, Inc., are recipients of Dakota County’s 2023 Public Health Achievement award. ALMAS was recognized for its community service, leadership development and academic achievement of its students. ALMAS members have presented to city councils and legislators on how vaping has become an epidemic among youth, and political leaders have responded with new ordinances and laws. ALMAS most recently created a three-part video series featuring youth and their questions about the dangers of vaping.

Schroeder has worked at Neighbors, Inc. in South St. Paul since 2018. The nonprofit provides emergency

STA vehicle breaks record

The St. Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle team has added yet another achievement to its long list of accolades. In mid-April, the 11-member team competed in the Shell Ecomarathon Americas at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and broke the Shell Eco-marathon Americas’ urban-concept hydrogen-fuel-cell record. This is the team’s first hydrogen-powered vehicle. The 237-pound, one-person car has a carbon fiber body and a 1,000W hydrogen fuel, with an efficiency of 118 miles per cubic meter of hydrogen (equivalent to 1,430 miles per gallon of

assistance and essential services to low-income residents in northern Dakota County. Schroeder works to improve existing services and look for new opportunities to help others. Through Neighbor’s

gasoline). Next up, the team will race the car June 9-11 at the Quebec City Supermileage event at Laval University, where it will be the only high school team to compete against college teams. In addition to the hydrogen-powered vehicle, the team also designed and built a battery-electric prototype vehicle, which came in fourth at the Ecomarathon with a best result of 254 mi/ kWh. Team members are Huy Do, Eric Zauha, Charles Davis, William Boland, Gabriel Grady, Cason Rivera, Henry Batzler, Greta Westlake, Charlie Meyer, Jack Orme and Sam Martin.

Hunger Relief Program, she has helped make services more equitable, welcoming and efficient. She and her team also helped establish six Neighbors Express sites to increase healthy food ac-

cess in the community. To make the food shelf more welcoming to Spanish speakers, Schroeder worked with an AmeriCorps member to create a Spanish-language outreach video.

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 Church & School 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 w ww.olg catholic.org

Riverview Baptist 14 Moreland Ave. E. West St. Paul 651-457-3831 www.riverviewbaptist.net

Salem Lutheran 1 1 Bernard St West St Paul 6 51 - 457-6661 w ww.salemluth.org

S pirit of Hope Catholic 2 035 Charlton Road S unfish Lake 6 51-760-8353 w ww.spiritofhopemn.org

S t. A nne’s Episcopal 2 035 Charlton R d. S unfish Lake 6 51 - 455-9449 www.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 www.saintgeorgechurch.org

S t. Matthew Catholic 4 90 Hall Avenue St. Paul 6 51 - 224-9793 w ww.st-matts.org

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

www.saintjameslutheran. com

St. Joseph’s Catholic 1 154 Seminole Ave . West St . Paul 6 51-457-2781 w ww.churchofstjoseph.org

S t. Paul’s United M ethodist 700 Wesley Lane Mendota Heights 651-452-5683 stpaulsmn. org

S t. Paul Mennonite F ellowship 3 71 Baker St. W S t. Paul 6 51-291-0647 w ww.saintpaul m ennonite.org

St. Stephen’s Lutheran 1575 Charlton St. West St. Paul 651-457-6541

w ww.ststephenswsp.org

The team with its awards and record-breaking vehicle (right).

Community County updates

Thank you to the more than 100 residents who attended the town hall meetings I held in late April in West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights. Because the meetings took place on Earth Day, I kicked them off by talking about Dakota County’s energy conservation efforts, which save taxpayers $300,000 annually, plus the County’s work to protect our water and nearly 12,000 acres of quality natural areas. We also discussed the County’s new bison herd in Rosemount. I mentioned the herd might be growing soon, which proved true, with two calves born in recent weeks.

My next town hall meeting is on Thursday, June 8 at 9 a.m. at the Dakota County History Museum in South St. Paul, with special guest South St. Paul Police Chief Brian Wicke. All are welcome.

Bison - The grand opening for the public to see Dakota County’s new bison herd is 4-6 p.m., Wednesday,

Joe Atkins Dakota County Commissioner

June 7, at Spring Lake Park Reserve in Rosemount. Dakota County’s grant-funded American bison are part of the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd, which aims to restore the nation’s official mammal. This conservation herd currently numbers about 160 in Minnesota, including the now 10 here in Dakota County. The bison play a crucial role in restoration of the 150 acres of prairie on which they roam at Spring Lake Park Reserve. For those who cannot attend the grand opening, the herd is already viewable from the trail that runs through the

reserve, which is just 20 minutes from South St. Paul and West St. Paul.

Volunteers - Thank you to all the volunteers helping with the bison effort as well as so many other Dakota County activities. More than 2,500 volunteers logged 23,000 hours of service in the past year, saving Dakota County more than $700,000.

Top 10 healthiest counties - Notwithstanding the fentanyl crisis that is sparing no county in the state, Dakota County ranks among Minnesota’s 10 healthiest counties and among the healthiest in the nation, according to a just-released national report by the University of Wisconsin.

Safe routes to school

- Partnering with several schools in South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan and Inver Grove, Dakota County is enhancing opportunities for students to safely walk and bike to school. For example, we are working with the cities of West St. Paul

and Mendota Heights and Two Rivers High School – as well as impacted homeowners – on proposed pedestrian improvements along Delaware Avenue. The project proposes a trail addition and pedestrian crossings from Highway 62 to Marie Avenue.

Concord Boulevard pedestrian safety - Significant input from neighbors and local business owners is guiding an effort to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along County Road 56 (Concord Boulevard) from Interstate 494 in South St. Paul south to Highway 55. Dakota County is working with the cities of South St. Paul and Inver Grove on this project, which is expected to improve crossing safety at up to 15 intersections along the busy street.

Great River GreeningThank you to Great River Greening for hosting an event at Two Rivers High School in Mendota Heights to plant and seed native grasses and wildflowers along Dakota County’s River to

River Greenway. More than 4,000 sustainable plants are now in the ground and will be in bloom this summer and fall.

Libraries break record - In the past year, a recordsetting 129 library systems nationwide surpassed one million digital checkouts, with readers checking out a total of 555 million e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines. Voracious readers in Dakota County and at our partner libraries in the Twin Cities ranked in the top three in North America for checkouts, trailing only the massive library systems in Los Angeles and Toronto.

Butler Avenue project - Together with the City of West St. Paul, Dakota County hosted a well-attended open house for residents to provide input about a proposed road project that will dramatically improve the street’s surface and extend Butler Avenue’s pavement life by several years between Highway 52 and Robert Street. The project also proposes

a multi-use trail and improvements at the intersection of Sperl Street and Stassen Lane to enhance pedestrian and traffic safety. Construction is expected in 2025.

Park restoration in West St. Paul - With support from grant funding, Dakota County is pairing with Great River Greening and the City of West St. Paul to remove invasive species like buckthorn that threaten the native forest along our River to River Greenway, which runs from South St. Paul to Mendota. Garlough and Marthaler Parks are the primary beneficiaries of this work in 2023. The dense buckthorn crowds out native shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and small trees. Removing the invasive species is crucial to restoring native habitat along this much-used greenway. Next month we will take a look at more local projects and services, including two nominated for prestigious national awards.

Neighbors, Inc.

Clothes Closet Thrift Store

As one of the original services offered by Neighbors, Inc., the Clothes Closet Thrift Store has had tremendous support from our community for more than 50 years. Community and church groups have organized benefit fashion shows on its behalf, volunteers have organized large-scale rummage sales to support it, local supporters have cleaned out their closets to donate to it, and much, much more. Having been a staple in the community for so long, the Clothes Closet has also seen its fair share of changes. Throughout its history, it has moved locations seven times and changed names at least twice. So, what does the Clothes Closet look like today?

Located on the upper level of the Neighbors building, the Clothes Closet provides essential items to our com-

munity at low- to no-cost. For people experiencing need, gift cards are available as a money saving tool through our Financial Empowerment program. The Clothes Closet also operates as a thrift store, selling items at affordable prices. Clothing items range from $1-$5, and in most cases an entire outfit can be purchased (head to toe) for under $15. Proceeds from store sales are used to help fund the programs and services at Neighbors. Store hours are 9 a.m.4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesdays. It is also open the third Saturday of each month, 9 a.m.-noon.

Merchandise in the Clothes Closet is based entirely on generous donations from our community. Donations can be dropped off at Neighbors during store hours. When dropping off items, please pull into a parking space to unload your vehicle. Carts are available to assist with bringing items in to the building.

The Clothes Closet focuses on the following essential items: clothing, footwear, bedding, towels and kitchenware. For a complete list of accepted donation items, visit: neighborsclothescloset. org. Donation receipts are

provided to donors.

As with many of the service programs at Neighbors, volunteers are involved in the day-to-day operations of the Clothes Closet. Our volunteers help take in and process donations, organize the store, manage inventory, create beautiful window displays and process sales. The volunteers are supported by two staff members – one full-time and one part-time. This group of hard-working people does an incredible job of maintaining the best thrift store around.

Saints home game

Do you know of someone in our community who has done something noteworthy or has a fascinating background? Let us know. Contact Tim: 651-457-1177 tim@stpaulpublishing.com

email us at info@stpaulpublishing.com and request your FREE e-subscription to our community newspapers. Once a month you’ll receive an email with a link to view our latest edition. It’s as simple as that! You will never receive more than one email a month and our distribution list is confidential and is never shared with other parties. All subscription requests will be entered into a June 1 drawing for tickets to one game in June. Winner will be notified by

Simply

History Theatre

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

Historytheatre.com

“The Defeat of Jesse James” is presented through 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

Dellwood performs noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, on Musser Cortile. Free.

Lazerblade performs noon1 p.m., Wednesday, June 28, on Musser Cortile. Free.

MN Children’s Museum

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

Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out is the featured exhibit through September 4. Learn about emotions, memory and imagination through interactive and digital experiences.

The Backyard: The Mud Zone is a new outdoor exhibit. 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.

Other exhibits and activities include The Scramble, The Studio, Creativity Jam, Sprouts, Our World, Forces at Play, Shipwreck Adven-

tures 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 June 4.

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,

What Matters Most?

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

Ordway Center

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

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra presents Mozart’s Paris Symphony with Jonathan Cohen, 6 p.m., May 25, and 8 p.m., May 26-27, and Season Finale: Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony with Gabor TakacsNagy, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., June 9, and 8 p.m., June 10. Tickets start at $12.

The String Queens , 7 p.m., Friday, June 2. Tickets start at $23.

Lightwire Theater’s “The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen,” 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, June 3. Tickets start at $5.

The ReMINDers, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, June 3. Tickets start at $5.

Ordway Inside Out: Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, 8 p.m., Friday, June 9, at Rice Park. Free.

Rooted: Hip Hop Choreographers’ Evening, 6 p.m., Sunday, June 11. Tickets start at $18.

Nate Bargatze: The Be Funny Tour , 7 and 9:30 p.m., June 16; 5 and 8 p.m., June 17; and 8 p.m., June 18. Tickets start at $48.64.

Palace Theatre

17 7th Place W. St. Paul 612-338-8388 first-avenue.com

Love and Rockets , 8 p.m., Monday, June 5. Tickets start at $59.50.

Schubert Club

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

schubert.org

A recording of Spotlight On: Patricia Hampl – “Writing My Way into Music,” will be presented on the Schubert Club website 7:30 p.m., June 22 and 29. Tickets are $10.

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 in the lobby 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.

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 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

Brooks & Dunn, 7 p.m., Saturday, June 3. Tickets start at $35.75. The Cure , 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 8. Tickets start at $65. Alabama, 7 p.m., Thursday, June 22. Tickets start at $25.

Erykah Badu, 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 30. Tickets start at $80.85.

The String Queens perform at the Ordway at 7 p.m., Friday, June 2.

P ostscript

Taking pictures

I like taking photos when I’m out of the country.

Photographing things in Mexico is effortless. I’ll never understand the nuances of every festival or ritual, but I can enjoy the pageantry and the color and the incredible effort and artistry that goes into creating so much beauty.

Then I come back up north and look at the mud. It’s a big change.

The skies were overcast for the first five days after my return from Mexico. The temperatures were unseasonably low. There was some rain. There might even have been some snow, if you count the white, pellet-like things that dotted the sidewalk. Maybe it was sleet. Maybe it doesn’t

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

matter.

“What is this?” I asked an innocent passerby. He shook his head disapprovingly.

“I have no idea.”

And I realized that I was terribly spoiled. Taking pictures in Mexico took no skill at all. I decided I needed to start taking pictures right here at home.

The first day wasn’t a great success. The sun stayed stubbornly behind a cloud. The few blooms that were out had been nipped by the frost. I took a photo of some branches against the gray sky and a carved stone pillar covered in green lichen. The lichen was vivid green after sleeping all winter. It seemed about as happy as lichen can be, and so I figured I could make more of an effort.

The next day I happened upon some crocuses forcing their way through the muddy soil. The crocus is not a showy flower, but their sheer numbers were amazing. I found a handful of daffodils blooming in a spot where they caught the occasional bit of sunshine.

The third day was colder than ever. I headed out the door for my walk and turned right around, went inside and put on warmer clothes. The sky was dark in

the middle of the afternoon.

I photographed a hydrangea, left over from the previous year, bleached and brittle, shaking in the chill wind.

I wanted to photograph one of the oldest houses in the neighborhood through the fence, but a row of garbage cans was in the way. I contorted into a strange position, and a woman walking by looked at me curiously.

“I’m trying to take pictures,” I told her. “Even on the gloomy days.”

“Well, this is a good house to photograph when it’s gloomy,” she replied. The house looked menacing under the heavy clouds.

On Sunday, I went to church. A new pastor had been hired while I was in Mexico, and he preached a good sermon. The choir was especially strong. And, sometime in the middle of the service, a little bit of sun crept out. I looked up and

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saw the stained glass.

“Oh, look,” I thought.

“Finally, some color.”

After the service, I climbed the wooden stairs to the balcony and looked through the vibrant stained glass. It was all the color I had been missing and I felt a lot better.

I’m not sure if the new minister would approve, but those windows did more for my soul than his sermon and the beautiful music put together. Those windows gave a sermon of their own. They lifted my spirits and made me remember how much unseen beauty there is – all the time.

They reminded me that it’s not what I’m looking at that matters – it’s what I’m looking through. Looking through eyes trained to see

beauty, I see beauty everywhere.

I left the church, thanking the windows on my way out.

Till next time, Carrie