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Volume 58 | Number 2
Winter fun returns in February Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
D
Your Community News & Information Source
February 2024
Displaced but not forgotten New report addresses West Side Flats displacement
espite the mild weather, several annual winter festivals are planned in February and will offer loads of outdoor fun. Here’s what’s on tap. Details were accurate of press time. Check websites before you go for the latest updates. Mendota Heights Frozen Fun Fest - The Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its third annual Frozen Fun Fest February 9-11. Here’s the line-up. Some events require registration. For more information or to register for events, visit mendotaheightsmn.gov/ frozenfunfest. Coloring contest, Feb. 5-11. Color a wintery masterpiece for a chance to win prizes. Coloring sheets can be picked up at Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, or found at mendotaheightsmn.gov. Drop off completed coloring sheets at City Hall during normal business hours or in the outdoor utility bill drop box at City Hall after hours. Sheets can also be picked up and dropped off at any Frozen Fun Fest event. Medallion Hunt begins Monday, Feb. 5 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 13, or until the medallion is found. Search the City’s public parks for the medallion. The winner receives a Minnesota-themed gift basket valued at $200. Daily clues will be posted at 9 a.m. on the City’s website and at facebook.com/MHParksandRec. Ice Block Party, 4-6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, at Friendly Hills Park, Winter fests / Page 4
Minnesota Historical Society photo
Water Street on the West Side during the flood of 1952. Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
T
he West Side Community Organization (WSCO) is hosting an open house, Sunday, Feb. 11, to discuss the continuing repercussions of displacement that occurred on the West Side Flats in the 1950s and ’60s. The event will take place 1:30-4:30 p.m., at the Wellstone Center, 179 E. Robie St., and include small and large group discussions about living on the West Side,
and a presentation about the lasting harms caused by the displacement. The meeting is open to all West Siders and, importantly, the descendants of the people who were displaced. Childcare and refreshments will be provided. To register or for more information, visit wsco.org/flatsdiscussion. “At this community event, people affected by displacement on the West Side will come together to share their story and build power together as West Side Flats / Page 3
Augustana is hosting ICONS art exhibit Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
A
ugustana Lutheran Church in West St. Paul is hosting ICONS in Transformation, an art exhibit by acclaimed abstract expressionist Ludmila Pawlowska, through March 31. The traveling exhibit has toured churches, cathedrals and museums in Europe and the United States and features more than 100 pieces of contemporary artwork. It’s dedicated to the people of Ukraine and all artist proceeds from sales will support the United Nations Relief Agency and CARE International. Pawlowska grew up in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, where teachers identified her as an artistic child prodigy. She moved to Moscow at age 15 to attend an academy. Twenty years ago, she left Russia to open an art center in Sweden. In Russia, she had been forced to limit her work to socialist realism, the party-enforced painting style. In Sweden, her work originally focused on realistic and abstract natural beauty, but when her mother passed away she began a spiritual journey that brought her to Russian monasteries. She fell in love with their iconographic artwork and has worked in that style ever since. “The icons were like a window to God,” she said in a press release. “I knew my mother surrounded me and could hear me. She could read my letters to her. After every image was done, I felt a sense of relief. I was finding my own way to God. All the art over these last years has been a ICONS / Page 5
Minnesota Warriors turn hockey into healing Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
I
n late December, 20 disabled veterans took to the ice at the West St. Paul Ice Arena to face Two Rivers High School alumni in a charitable hockey game. The veterans are members of Minnesota Warriors Hockey, a South St. Paul-based nonprofit serving disabled
veterans from all branches of the military, including combat veterans. It was the organization’s first showcase in West St. Paul, and even though it was a one-sided loss for the veterans, the team captain said they had a good turnout and will do it again next year. “We got worked over pretty good, but it was a fun skate,” said Minnesota
Warriors team captain Kris Baker. “They [Two Rivers] said they were bringing in the alumni, so we were expecting some 30-year-olds, but I think the oldest person they brought out was, like, 21 and I think he was playing for the Gophers club team.” Baker is a lifelong South St. Paulite who grew up playing hockey at Doug Woog
Arena when it was still called Wakota Arena and only had one rink. He served in the Army for nearly 12 years and has been in the Army Reserves ever since. He has a bad ankle and foot as well as some psychological trauma from his military experience. He joined the Warriors team about three years ago to stay fit and improve his mental health.
“It’s literally my therapy for anything I’ve got going on in my life,” he said. “It’s not just hockey. For a lot of us this is a good reason to keep going…. I encourage anybody who’s interested and can qualify to please look us up and come see what we’re about. We’re a real open group of folks.” Warriors’ director of business operations James
Bracken served five years in the Navy and seven years in the Reserves before relocating from California to Minnesota and joining the organization about two years ago. He has issues with his hearing from his time in the service and is grateful to have made friends through the program since he has no family in the state. MN Warriors / Page 2
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MN Warriors from page 1
“What’s great about it is there’s a lot of common ground already,” he said. “We already know much of what each other have been through based on brief overviews of what we did in the military, so you already feel familiar with everybody on some level, and that really helps to build those relationships.... Some of us are a little older and some a little younger, but you’ll find someone to fit in with, guaranteed.”
To join Minnesota Warriors, veterans must be honorably or generally discharged and have a 10% Veteran’s Affairs disability rating or higher. All hockey team members are considered “standing” players – even if some are on prosthetic limbs – and they don’t use any special equipment or handicap rules. Teams operate out of Duluth, St. Cloud, and the Twin Cities metro area. The metro area has about 100 members across its three
teams, which are divided by skill level. Baker said they’ve had players who are firsttime skaters and some who have junior or semi-pro experience. Teams typically practice once or twice a week and members can attend as many or as few as they’d like. Exhibition games against local schools and hockey associations are held about once a month and consist of 20 Warrior players. Many of the events are fundraisers to pay for ice rental, equipment, travel expenses and more. The group has also received funds from the Minnesota
Wild’s Split the Pot raffle event, the Hastings-based United Heroes League and Richfield-based Hendrickson Foundation. “We have self-appointed coaches and captains,” said Baker. “Any coaches who want to come help out, we’re more than happy to host them and let them put us through the ringer in practice.” The Warriors select its best players from across the state to compete nationally against Warrior teams from other states. One of Baker’s best memories as a Warrior was his first tournament,
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Warriors’ director of business operations James Bracken, shown here, said the team competes locally in charity tournaments and nationally against other Warrior teams. the national championship in Pittsburgh, Penn., where he and his metro teammates beat Minnesota’s St. Cloud team in the semifinals to move onto the finals. Although they lost to a Michigan team that year, Baker led his team to gold last April when the event was held in St. Louis, Mo. He said that was also a very special moment. The upcoming national championship will be held in April in New Jersey. Warriors Hockey is sanctioned by USA Hockey and has programs in 23 states. Minnesota’s program was founded in 2010 by Andy Qualy and offices out of the former Cunningham’s sporting goods store on Thompson Avenue in South St. Paul. USA Hockey also sanctions sled, blind, and special hockey teams. Qualy has since moved to Colorado. “The primary mission isn’t to build ultra-competitive teams,” said Bracken, the director of business operations. “It’s to get people out
on the ice and get them in a group of supportive folks that all want to play hockey.” On Feb. 3, the Warriors will compete at Prairie Island Arena in Red Wing. In May, they will host Minnesota’s national tournament, the Hendrickson Foundation tournament at the Super Rink in Blaine. In the next 5-10 years, they hope to travel to a Nordic country and do some international exhibition games or tournaments there. For more information, visit mnwarriors.com. “We’re always looking for volunteers for various events we do to help us out,” said Bracken. “I can’t say enough how appreciative we are when people step up to do that because it does make a big difference. It takes a lot of work and folks to maximize the value from our fundraising events and we’re aiming to grow in the future. We would love it if more folks from the local community would come out and help.”
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West Side Flats from page 1
neighbors,” said WSCO communications manager Genevieve Roudané. “We’ll be looking at data that illustrates these histories of displacement and gentrification on the West Side and work together to come up with recommendations for how to stop future displacement and housing insecurity on the West Side.” WSCO’s research team, Research in Action, has been working on a report addressing displacement for about a year and expects to complete it by the end of 2024. The report will include recommendations for righting the wrongs created by displacement. Preliminary ideas include a formal apology from the institutions that caused the displacement, monetary reparations, plaques and public art memorializing community leaders, and establishing a housing inheritance fund for down payment assistance and home rehabilitation. The
fund would be similar to the recently created Rondo Inheritance Fund for St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, an African American community that was demolished in the 1960s to make way for I-94. According to Roudané, the report will contain data that WSCO can use to guide its actions over the next decade. “Our goal in working with community members to write our next 10 Year Community Plan is to envision the neighborhood we deserve – one where we can breathe clean air, afford to stay in our homes, and see our local businesses grow and thrive,” she said. The Flats neighborhood was built in the mid-19th century in the Mississippi River floodplain immediately south of Downtown St. Paul. Immigrants of many different nationalities settled there, creating a diverse albeit low-income community with substan-
dard housing. The neighborhood was plagued each spring by flooding that damaged homes and sometimes caused illness due to contaminated water. No substantial effort was made by the city to protect the neighborhood from the rising river and, following a devastating flood in 1952, the St. Paul Port Authority developed a plan to demolish the neighborhood and create the Riverview Industrial Park in its footprint. In 1962, the city began buying and tearing down the approximately 480 homes located there. By ’63, the last residents of the Flats had been displaced, and shortly thereafter the city created a floodwall to protect the newly built industrial park. Some displaced residents claimed they weren’t fairly compensated for their homes. Many former residents have recalled over the years that the Flats was a tightknit neighborhood where people looked out for each other and there was no need to lock their doors. According to the Minnesota His-
The St. Paul Voice is published monthly and delivered to 16,500 homes and businesses in St. Paul’s West Side, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Lilydale & Sunfish Lake. Publisher & Editor: Tim Spitzack Copy Editor: Leslie Martin Staff Writers: Jake Spitzack John E. Ahlstrom
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torical Society, it was also home to more than 100 family businesses. Today, the West Side remains racially, ethnically and economically diverse. More than half the residents are people of color and half of those are Latino. WSCO reports that 40% of the residents have incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty threshold. About 20% were born outside the
United States and one third speak a language other than English at home. “Our community is what makes us great. We like to brag that ‘The West Side is the Best Side,’ and it’s true,” said Roudané. “Neighbors from many walks of life are involved in every one of our projects at the West Side Community Organization,
and we invite the community to continue to attend our upcoming events and workshops.” WSCO’s “Stories from the Flats” photo exhibit, unveiled in late 2022, illustrates personal testimonies from people forced from their homes. To view the exhibit, visit wsco.org/wsflatsgallery.
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St. Paul Voice - February 2024 - Page 3
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Winter fests from page 1
2360 Pueblo Ln. Lace up your skates or snowshoes and grab some s’mores and cocoa. Food trucks will be on site. Youth ice fishing demonstrations, 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 10 at Roger’s Lake Park, 1000 Wagon Wheel Tr. Youth ages 14 and under can learn to ice fish from experts. Registration is required. Free. Valentines in the Village and Cupid’s Crawl, 5-8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10, at Market Square Park, 720 Main St. Visit several local businesses to collect entries for raffle baskets, and visit the enclosed tent to enjoy a magician 5-5:45 p.m. and live music 6:30-8 p.m. Puzzle competition, 9 a.m.-noon, Sunday, Feb. 11, in the gymnasium at Mendota Elementary, 1979 Summit Ln. Teams or individuals will race to finish a 500-piece puzzle. Each member of the winning team will receive a puzzle to take home. Free. Registration required.
Winter Fun Fest The annual Winter Fun Fest in West St. Paul returns 2-5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at Dodge Nature Center, 1701 Charlton St. People of all ages are invited to take part in outdoor activities including sleigh rides, snowshoeing, boot hockey, ice golf, otter sliding, kicksledding and more. Visitors can also join a medallion hunt for the chance to win a prize package, or simply watch the festivities while kicking back by a crackling bonfire. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The event is free and no registration is required. For more information, visit dodgenature center.org and search “winter fun fest.”
St. Paul Winter Carnival The St. Paul Winter Carnival kicked off Jan. 25 but Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe won’t overthrow King Boreas until Feb. 3 so there’s still time to enjoy the nation’s oldest and coldest winter festival. Here’s a lineup of the remaining events. For
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updates, visit wintercarnival.com. Vulcan Snow Park at the Fairgrounds, through Feb. 4. Visitors will find a snow maze, snow mountain playing area and the artistic creations of master snow carvers who competed in the Minnesota State Snow Sculpting competition that wrapped up Jan. 28. The large, frosty sculptures are always stunning to see and make for a great photo backdrop. Admission and parking are free. Additionally, the Multi-block Ice Carving Competition at Rice Park wrapped up on Jan. 27, but the sculptures remain on dis-
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play through Feb. 4. Ice Fishing Tournament, through Feb. 4. Download the FishDonkey mobile app and search “winter carnival” to join. Prizes will be awarded to the top anglers in 10 categories. St. Paul Scavenger Hunts, through Feb. 4. The North Wind Hunt has 30 clues that take you to 30 places in St. Paul. The West Wind Hunt at Phalen Park is designed for families. The South Wind Hunt features 30 clues that can be solved from the comfort of your home. The East Wind Hunt is the most challenging and includes a collection of puzzles to solve from various St. Paul locations. Gangsters and Ghosts Walking Tours, through
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Feb. 4. $20-25. For tickets, visit cyncitytours.com. Winter Carnival Memorabilia Display, Feb. 1-3, at the Landmark Center. Hours vary. Knowledgeable volunteers will share stories of the Carnival. “Frozen” Family Fun Night, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Landmark Center. The event features a meet-and-greet with Ana, Elsa and Kristoff from 6-7 p.m., story time and “Frozen” singalong, snow activities with junior royalty and more. Free. Rondo Night, 5-9:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 1 at Landmark Center. The event features music and art from BIPOC artists, food and drawings for prizes. Winter Carnival’s Day of Good is Friday, Feb. 2. The day will have many opportunities to donate food, blankets or blood, and spread cheer into the community. The Northwind Titan Trooper will be parked at the Landmark Center to collect donations for the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. Bring non-perishable food items and new or gently used mittens and hats. St. Paul Bouncing Team tryouts, 6-9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 2 at Landmark Center. Free. Kids’ & Family Day, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3 at Landmark Center. Kids will be able to play, watch performances, participate in art and craft activities, and more. Vendors will also be on site. Free. The Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade will weave its way through the city beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3. The route goes from West 7th at Smith Avenue, to 5th Street, to Washington, to 4th Street
at Rice Park. After the parade, follow Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe to the steps of the Central Library for the ever-dramatic overthrow of Boreas. Stick around afterward for fireworks and music. The Vulcan Victory Dance is 7:30-11:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3 at InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront, 11 E. Kellogg Blvd. The band High and Mighty will perform beginning at 8 p.m. $25. Doggie Depot, 10 a.m.3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3 at Union Depot. Stop by for the crowning of the Canine King & Queen, giveaways, interviews with pet experts and more. Free. Friday Night Party Zone, 4-10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3 at Rice Park. Join PJ the DJ for a dance party in the huge warming tent. Berners in the Park, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3 at Rice Park. Friendly dogs of the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of the Greater Twin Cities will join the fun for Kids’ and Family Day. Visitors may pet and play with them. Free. BEAR’ly Open Golf on Ice, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3 on White Bear Lake. Play a round on a course on the frozen lake. Proceeds benefit the White Bear Lake Food Shelf. Register at www.bearlyopen.org. The buttons for this year’s carnival were designed by Kao Lee Thao. The cost is $5 for one and $19 for the collector’s 4-pack. A limited edition 4-pack with a commemorative glittery snowflake pin is also available for $20. Buttons may be purchased at Cub Foods and other local retailers, or online at wintercarnival.com.
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ICONS from page 1
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spiritual journey.” Traditional iconography dates to about 1,500 years ago and uses realism loaded with abstraction to represent the divine. For example, eyes are often exaggerated to illustrate spiritual depth. Pawlowska’s style is characterized by using many layers of paint to produce highly textured artworks. She uses a variety of paint types to create special lighting effects and also implants fossil-rich limestone that’s native to her hometown in her art. She even occasionally plunges a saw blade through her pieces to create spirals, crosses and other patterns that invite the viewer to look within it. Her exhibit will be on display alongside a collection of traditional icons, which were made at a monastery workshop in Russia in the years following Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953, when a measure of religious freedom had returned to the country.
Pawlowska’s style is characterized by using many layers of paint to produce highly textured artworks.
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Iconography is most popular in Orthodox churches and is used as a part of religious worship. The art is often kissed or has candles lit in front of it as a sign of respect, although it’s not about worshipping the artwork itself but what is seen through it. An ancient prayer practice involves keeping your eyes wide open toward the artwork and taking in what the image visually communicates. This style of artwork saw a resurgence in the 20th century, due in part to the work of the French postimpressionist artist Henri Matisse. Pawlowska’s inspiration for the exhibit comes from Matisse’s comments following his first visit to Moscow: “The artist’s soul
emerges in these icons like a mystical flower. It is through them that we should learn to understand art. I have seen artwork from the churches of many different countries, but nowhere have I met such powerful expression, such a feeling of mystery… everywhere the same luminosity and devotion....” Guided tours are available Sundays, noon-3 p.m., except March 17. Self-guided tours are available noon-3 p.m., Mon., Tues., and Thurs., and noon-6 p.m., Wed. Groups of 10 or more should contact info@augustana.com. Admission is free. Some artwork is available for purchase and a portion of proceeds will go to Augustana Lutheran. For more information, visit augustana.com.
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S ample St. Paul
Fitzgerald Theatre
10 Exchange St. E. St. Paul 612-338-8388 first-avenue.com
“Criminal” live podcast is presented at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9. Tickets start at $35.
Children’s Museum 10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 mcm.org
Wild Kratts: Creature Power is a new exhibit featured Feb. 3-May 12. Explore the secret lives of animals in habitats around the planet and go on a mission to foil a villain’s nefarious plans. Other exhibits and activities include “The Scramble,” “The Studio,” “Creativity Jam,” “Sprouts,” “Our
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World,” “Forces at Play,” “Shipwreck Adventures” and “Imaginopolis.” Tickets are $14.95. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required and tickets are limited. The next free date is Feb. 4.
History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 mnhs.org
“Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow” is a new exhibit featured Feb. 3-June 9. It follows Black advancement from the end of the Civil War through World War I and features art, artifacts and photographs highlighting Black resilience and resistance in that time. “The Life & Art of Charles M. Schulz” is featured through June 9. Explore Schulz’s roots in
Minnesota and his role as the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip and its beloved cast of characters. “Our Home: Native Minnesota” features historic and contemporary photographs, maps, and artifacts that show how Minnesota’s native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values. Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow,” “Grainland” and “Weather Permitting.” Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $8 for children ages five to 17.
History Theatre 30 E. 10th St. St. Paul 651-292-4323 Historytheatre.com
“Handprints,” through Feb. 18. A powerful and vibrant autobiographical
Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo returns to the Xcel Center Feb. 2-3. story written and performed by one of the Twin Cities’ most renowned theater artists, Greta Oglesby, based on her book, “Mama ’n ’Nem, Handprints on My Life.” Tickets start at $25, with discounts for students.
Landmark Center 75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225 landmarkcenter.org
Courtroom concerts. The following are free and held
noon-1 p.m. on Thursdays: Isles Ensemble, Feb. 8; Gao Hong and friends, Feb. 15, ANCIA Saxophone Quartet, Feb. 22; and Third Coast Percussion, Feb. 29. Urban Expedition: Australia and New Zealand, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 11; France, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25. Enjoy authentic music, food, dance and crafts. Free. Ballet Tuesday, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13. Ballet Co.Laboratory performs
excerpts from their repertoire. Free. Mosaic Festival: Dance and Music of World Cultures, noon-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18. $4-6. Martisor-Romanian Spring Traditions and Crafts, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25. Free. KidsJam: Third Coast Percussion, 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 29. Learn about other cultures through music, dance and interactive activities. Geared toward
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S ample St. Paul ages 5-12. Free but registration is required.
MN Museum of American Art 350 Robert St. N. St. Paul 651-797-2571 mmaa.org
“Hazel Belvo: For Love,” a new exhibit in the Nancy and John Lindahl Gallery, features more than 60 pieces from Hazel Belvo’s 70-year career as an artist. It is on display 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, through May 24. “Currents” is a group exhibit on display through Feb. 25 in the Securian Gallery. It features works from artists with disabilities. “El Vaiven,” is a new installation in the skyway windows above Robert Street and in Skyway 28 over Wabasha Street at 4th Street in downtown St. Paul. Created by Zamara Cuyún, it’s a dreamscape based on a real Mayan landscape in Guatemala. It features a series of characters including Gucumatz the feathered serpent and Ixchel the moon goddess. “Off the Deep End,” a digital mural printed
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on vinyl, is on display in the Jackson Street skyway bridge between 4th and 5th streets through Mar. 15. The artwork was created by 19 students from the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists and explores the theme of metaphorical rising sea level.
Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 ordway.org
Minnesota Opera presents Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love,” through Feb. 4. When young villager Nemorino’s dream of winning the beautiful Adina’s heart is on the rocks, he turns to a traveling purveyor of patent medicines and California citrus in search of a love potion. After drinking every last drop of an unusually zesty “elixir,” Nemorino feels his luck might just turn around. From $25. St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts: Haydn’s “Midday” Symphony, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 2; Alina Ibragimova plays Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 9, and 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb.
10; and Haydn’s Salomon Symphony: “What Makes it Great” with Artistic Partner Rob Kapilow, 7 p.m., Feb. 16-17. Tickets for all concerts start at $12. Shruthi Rajasekar: Parivaar - A Celebration of Community as Family, 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18. $36. Jamecia Bennett and Friends, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 23. From $32. Leanne Morgan, 7 p.m., Feb. 24, and 4 p.m., Feb. 25. From $51. Cantus and Canadian Brass, 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25. From $38.
Palace Theatre 17 7th Place W. St. Paul 612-338-8388 first-avenue.com
Sebastian Bach, 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24. From $59.
Park Square Theatre
20 W. 7th Place St. Paul 651-291-7005 parksquaretheatre.org
Broadway Songbook: Broadway in Love, Feb. 16-18. This concert features songs from popular musicals such as “South Pa-
cific,” “Show Boat,” “Rent,” “Wicked” and more. $40.
RiverCentre
175 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651- 265-4800 rivercentre.org
Minnesota Roller Derby, 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3. From $16. Twin Cities Bridal Show, noon-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25. Shop dozens of wedding service providers. Tickets are sold in three time blocks: noon-2 p.m., 1-3 p.m., and 2-4 p.m. $15.
Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 smm.org
“Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed” is on display through Sept. 4. Presented in English and Spanish, it features more than 200 authentic artifacts, hands-on activities, lifelike simulations and more. Entomology pinning workshop, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Feb. 9-17. Learn how to scientifically pin and prepare your lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) specimen for
display. Ages 18 and older. Tickets start at $93 and include museum admission. Virtual Reality Transporter, through December 2026. Use the VRT to hurtle through the cosmos at fantastic speeds, scuba dive into prehistoric seas, and join the astronauts of Apollo 11 as they moonwalk for the first time. $9.95. Omnitheater films. Tickets are $9.95. Free for children ages 3 and under. “Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope,” through Feb. 29. Follow the world’s most famous living ethologist as she inspires people to make a difference in the world around them. “Asteroid Hunters,” through April 7. Meet the engineers and scientists fighting to protect Earth from this cosmic danger. “Stellar Tours: A Star is Born,” 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Wed.-Fri., and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sat.-Sun. Follow the life cycle of a star using the Omnitheater’s new Digistar 7 projection system. “Recombination,” 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. The film features the work of fractal artist Julius Horsthuis
and seven of his favorite musicians. Sensory Friendly Sunday is the first Sunday of the month. Visitors can experience a lights-up, sounddown Omnitheater show at 10 a.m. The program was created in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota. Admission is free for personal care attendants when visiting with a client. Museum tickets are $29.95 for ages 18+ and $19.95 for ages 4-17.
Xcel Center
199 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-726-8240 xcelenergycenter.com
Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 2-3. From $26. Madonna, 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13. From $110. Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull and Ricky Martin, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16. From $54.95. MERRIAM PARK
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St. Paul Voice - February 2024 - Page 7
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Student notes Southern New Hampshire University: Nao Xiong, dean’s list; Cameren Steinhoff and Allison Marlow, president’s list Berry College dean’s list: Samuel Bormann University of WisconsinSuperior dean’s list: Baylee O’Donnell St. Norbert College dean’s list: Alexis Bonfe Miami University dean’s list: Nolan Andres, Emily Schlinger, Penny Sedgwick Loras College dean’s list: Margaret Rosen University of Wisconsin-Stout dean’s list: Elaina Blazei, Seon Dittman, Andrew Domler, Mike Tschida, Lydia Wagner
Eastern Connecticut State University dean’s list: Natasha Frisch University of WisconsinWhitewater dean’s list: Wyatt Baker Concordia University, Nebraska honors list: Nathan Demlow South Dakota State University dean’s list: Zakary Olafson University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire dean’s list: Charlie Rogers, Katie Schlinger, Danica Kellogg, Nick Ball, Ben Kirkwood, Ash Rundquist Belmont University dean’s list: Henry Bitzer Iowa State University graduate: Hunter Vossen, bachelor of science, man-
agement Marquette University dean’s list: Kathleen Eldredge, Caroline Doran, Sarah Dyrhaug, Ted Lawder, Lizzy Roszkowski University of Nebraska Lincoln graduate: John Carpenter, bachelor of arts from the College of Arts and Sciences. University of Wisconsin-Madison dean’s list: Bella Kaplan, Andrew Walsh, Charlise Morgan, Nicholas Apitz, Audrey Chaussee, Elizabeth Dreelan, John Harms, Finn McEllistrem, Robin Moody, Veronica Morse, Joseph Schwirtz, Karissa Tschida, Rachel Ziskin, Katherine Meyers, Nick Wendt
Dakota County Library ends overdue fines Dakota County Library users are no longer fined for returning items late. The change was approved as part of the county’s 2024 operating budget and applies to all age groups. Anyone who was previously blocked from checking out items has been unblocked. Items are still expected to be returned by their due dates. Most items overdue by 42 days or more will be considered lost and the replacement cost will be billed to the account. In 2022, the library removed overdue fines for youth, which resulted in
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more children’s items being checked out, more youth receiving library cards, and items being returned at a similar rate. Library staff anticipate a similar effect with the removal of adult overdue fines. For more information, visit dakotacounty.us/library and search “fine free.”
Library events The following events are held at the George Latimer Central Library, 90 W. 4th St. The library will be closed February 19. Baby & Toddler Storytime, 10:30-11:30 a.m. each Thursday for ages 3 and under. Learn 3D Printing, 2-3 p.m. each Friday. Registration required. Call 651-2667000. Winter Carnival Fun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3. Winter-themed crafting, historical Winter Carnival slideshows, and hot cocoa while supplies last. Sewing with Susan, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., February 3 and 17. Learn to sew. Machines and some fabric and notions supplied. Read and Dance with Ballet Co. Lab, 11 a.m.noon, Saturday, Feb. 3. Storytime with costumed dancers and a chance to win free tickets to “Puss in Boots.” Book Talk: “Bring Warm Clothes,” 2-3 p.m., Satur-
day, Feb. 3. Led by Peg Meier, a longtime award-winning reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Learn Laser Engraving, 2-4 p.m. each Saturday. Registration required. Call 651266-7000. Level Up at the Library, 3-5 p.m. each Wednesday. Enjoy video games, arts and crafts, and tech. Headshot Photography, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7. Learn how to take a great headshot. Camera available. Drawing and Coloring Circle, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7. All materials provided. PJ Storytime, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7. Kids are invited to wear PJs and bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. The Bug Show, 11 a.m.noon, Saturday, Feb. 10. Learn all about bugs. Learn to Sew with Ella, 2-4 p.m., February 10 and 24. Sewing machines available, or bring your own. Registration required. Call 651-266-7000. Historical Building Tour, 4-5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10. A guided tour of George Latimer Central Library. Game Night, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 14. Play board and card games at the library. All ages. Mini-Maker, 11 a.m.-
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E B E N E Z E R DAY B R E A K O F S T. PAU L 651-326-4889 | EbenezerCares.org/Ebenezer-DayBreak-St-Paul Daily or weekly programs available • 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday-Friday Elderly Waiver | Veteran’s Administration | Private Pay | Alternative Care Grants
boy a w Kno ves o l o wh g? to sin
Located inside the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub 45 W 10th St., Suite 3440, St. Paul, MN 55102 Send him to Boychoir Bootcamp!
©2024 Fairview Health Services 10665
Page 8 - St. Paul Voice - February 2024
Create music, make friends & have FUN! Boys entering 1st - 5th grade August 12-16, 2024 | $250 www.boychoir.org
N ews Briefs noon, Saturday, Feb. 24. Hands-on STEM and arts program for families with young children. All materials provided. Craft Circle, 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28. Bring a project to work on or start a new one with supplies from the library. The following events are held at the Riverview Library, 1 E. George St. Chess Club, 6-7 p.m. each Thursday. Open to ages 8-18 of all skill levels. Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m. each Friday. Includes stories, puppets, songs, rhymes and activities. West Side Writers, 2-3 p.m. each Wednesday. Participants bring in pieces of written work, offer each other feedback, and discuss
Your community news and information source the craft of writing. Teen Wednesdays, 3:305:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Games, snacks, art and more for ages 12-18. Riverview Book Club, 6-7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 12. The title is “How High We Go in the Dark” by Sequoia Nagamatsu. Petite Concert for Young Families, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 24. An informal, interactive concert for ages 5 and under.
Scams and fraud presentation A presentation on scams and fraud is held at 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 26 at DARTS, 1645 Marthaler Lane, West St. Paul. Attendance is free but registration is required. Adults aged 60 and older
may qualify to receive a Samsung Tablet at no cost (quantities are limited). Preregistration is required. To register or for more information on the presentation and to see if you qualify for a free tablet, call DARTS at 651-455-1560.
Union Depot The following events are held at Union Depot, 214 4th St. E. For more information, visit uniondepot.org/ event-calendar. Doggie Depot, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3. Petfriendly vendors for shopping, rescues for adopting, and the crowning of the St. Paul Winter Carnival’s Canine King Boreas and Canine Queen of Snows. Free. POP CATS, 11 a.m.-5
Looking to buy a home? Help is available. Submitted by Minnesota Housing, the state’s housing finance agency
T
here’s no doubt about it, buying a home is a worthwhile investment, but it can also be a challenge getting in the door. That’s why Minnesota Housing is here. We work with a network of lenders across the state to help homebuyers get the mortgage financing and down payment and closing cost loans they need. If you think you make too much to qualify for a Minnesota Housing program, you may be surprised. Depending on your household size and where you live, you can earn up to $142,800 and still be eligible for a Minnesota Housing first-time homebuyer program. Has anyone ever told you that you need to put 20% down to buy a home? This is not necessarily true. In fact, some mortgages require as little as 3% down. Also, Minnesota Housing has down payment and closing cost loan assistance programs for those who qualify. This spring, Minnesota Housing is launching a new down payment program for first-generation homebuyers. The First-Generation Homebuyer Loan Program will offer additional down payment and closing cost assistance loans. If you and your parent or legal guardian have never owned a home or lost a home due to foreclosure, you may qualify for this special program. If you are not a first-generation homebuyer or make more than $142,800 a year, Minnesota Housing may still have programs for you. Visit mnhousing.gov to learn about all of Minnesota Housing’s loan programs. Homebuyer education - First-time homebuyers must take a homebuyer education class before using a Minnesota Housing program. Classes are available at little or no cost. You’ll learn about the entire homebuying process, from financial planning to purchasing a home to what to expect as a new homeowner. Even people who’ve owned a home before say they find these classes valuable.
pm., Saturday, Feb. 17 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 18. Cat adoption, arts and craft activities, and other activities for cat lovers. $15-$55. Riffs, Rails and Cocktails, 5-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 1.
Chair Re-glue
p.m. each Wednesday. Giant-size games are available or bring your own. Free. All ages.
Trivia Night at Station 81, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14 and 28. Free. Games galore, 10 a.m.-8
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Volunteer In Your Community
Since 1912 www.rascherplghtg.com
651-224-4759
712 S. SMITH AVE. ST. PAUL, MN • LIC. 059432
Lutheran Social Service of MN is seeks volunteers age 55 or over in your area to provide companionship to older adults or mentor school-age children. Volunteers commit to regular weekly hours for a tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement. Contact us at 888.205.3770, or AmericorpsSeniors@ lssmn.org for more information and to make an impact in your community.
Now Accepting Now Accepting Applications Applications
Summer and School-year Positions School-year Positions Available Available
PARAPROFESSIONAL - Work with students assisting classroom
teachers, before/after-school child care OR supervise groupsin of a classroom Paraprofessional - Work with students students. Full and Part-time positions available. Starting base wage assisting before/after-school child care OR $19.63 perteachers, hour (DOQ). supervise groups of students. Full-time or part-time. BUS DRIVERS - Safely transport students to and from school. Starting wage $19.63/hr. (DOQ). Starting base base wage up to $22.90 per hour (DOQ). Paid training and certification. BusCDL Drivers - Safely transport students to and from NUTRITION SERVICES - Prepare serve breakfast and lunch Starting for school. Paid training &and CDL certification. wage students. Starting base wage $16.50 per hour. $25.00/hr. (DOQ). CUSTODIAN - Perform cleaning, event setup and clean up, and Nutrition Services - Prepare and serve breakfast and ensure safety of buildings. Full and part-time positions available. Full-time base wage $21.76 per hour. Part-time/seasonal lunch for starting students. Starting base wage $16.50/hr. base wage starting at $16.80 per hour (DOQ). Custodian - Perform cleaning, event set-up/cleanKIDS CLUB SUPERVISOR - Lead our Club Program Full-time (school-age starting up, and ensure safety ofKids buildings. child care) in one of our elementary buildings. Supervise base wage $21.76/hr. Part-time and seasonal starting paraprofessional staff. Full-time, 12-month position. Starting base wage is $21.50 per hour (DOQ). base wage $16.80/hr. (DOQ). For more information and to Kids Club Supervisor - Lead aapply: school-age child care sowashco.org/careers program in one of our EOE 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
We also encourage you to speak to a homeownership advisor who can offer guidance based on your situation. Advisors can guide you through the homebuying process, give you tips to improve your credit score, and much more. Financial counseling helps you understand your credit, reduce your debt, and create a budget and savings plan. To learn more about available resources on homebuying, visit mnhousing.gov and search “Homebuyer Education.” Ready to make a move? Our network of participating lenders can answer questions about our programs, program eligibility and which one may work best for you. To find a Minnesota Housing participating lender, visit mnhousing.gov and search “Directory.” Make sure to let the lender know you are interested in a Minnesota Housing loan program. Wherever you are on your homeownership journey, our programs and resources could help you get in the front door. In connection with Single Family Division loan programs, Minnesota Housing does not make or arrange loans. It is neither an originator nor creditor and is not affiliated with any lender. The terms of any mortgage finance transactions conducted in connection with these programs, including important information such as loan fees, the annual percentage rate (APR), repayment conditions, disclosures, and any other materials which are required to be provided to the consumer are the responsibility of the lender.
LENTEN AND EASTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE Church of Saint Matthew • 510 Hall Avenue, St. Paul www.st-matts.org • (651) 224-9793 Here the love of Christ shall end divisions. All are welcome.
Weekend Mass Times Saturdays – 4:15 pm Sundays – 10:15 am
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 14 – 7:00 pm
Stations of the Cross
Mondays during Lent – 7:00 pm Tuesdays during Lent – 12:30 pm
Saint Matthew’s Fabulous Fish Fry ALL Fridays during Lent 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Communal Reconciliation Service Sunday, March 17 – 2:00 pm
Palm Sunday
Saturday, March 23 – 4:15 pm Sunday, March 24 – 10:15 am
Holy Thursday, March 28 7:00 pm
Good Friday, March 29
Stations of the Cross – Noon Good Friday Service – 3:00 pm
Easter Vigil, Saturday, March 30 7:00 pm
Easter Sunday, March 31 10:15 am
The Church of St. Matthew is a Catholic community that is a visible expression of God’s love.
St. Paul Voice - February 2024 - Page 9
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Neighbors, Inc. Dawn Wambeke President & CEO
The impact of relationships and family on Neighbors, Inc.’s mission is immeasurable. Relationships with the community are at the heart of our mission as we strive to provide highdignity stability services including hunger relief, a Clothes Closet Thrift Store, resource and referral, Holiday Gift Program, and most recently our financial empowerment services that help lift families out of poverty.
Our organization was founded by local churches and dedicated volunteers who were committed to families in our community. From this strong foundation emerged a nonprofit that today serves nearly 65,000 individuals annually and is supported by 17 staff, a 15-member board of directors and hundreds of volunteers. Volunteers allow Neighbors to achieve our mission
Postscript
Making Progress “Perfection is the enemy of progress,” according to Winston Churchill. We’re in the time of year when we try to do too much, change too quickly. Already expectations are lowering, and reality is setting in. The sky is gray, the temperatures cold, and I am coming to grips with the fact that I cannot eat toffee every day. (At least, not a lot of toffee every day.)
Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com
It’s the late-January new year letdown.
every day. Our volunteers build relationships with our community members and lift the spirits of those in need, while greatly expanding our capacity to improve lives. Volunteers connect to Neighbors through relationships: relationships with their families, their neighbors, their houses of worship, their schools and beyond. Neighbors is fortunate to have built longlasting relationships with our volunteers, including some who have volunteered for 20 years or more. Last year alone, Neighbors was supported by 609 volunteers who provided 21,758 hours of service. Our staff are highly connected in our communities and are a trusted ally that families rely on daily. Neighbors is a pillar of support and unity in our com-
munity and is well known as a place people turn to for help. Our staff provide person-centered services and focus on meeting immediate needs while empowering individuals to move toward self-sufficiency. Those serving on our board of directors are also highly connected in our communities and bring a broad range of expertise and a strong network of relationships to strengthen and broaden the impact of our mission. Through their relationships, they connect us with other nonprofits, donors, businesses, experts, future board members, and countless connections to ensure that Neighbors achieves our strategic goals and mission. Neighbors is extremely fortunate to have an invaluable community of donors.
We strive to build and maintain strong and trusting relationships with individual donors, businesses, foundations and government. Our supporters are essential for Neighbors’ sustainability, effectiveness and impact. They allow us to achieve our mission and ensure we meet the critical needs of the families we serve. We are truly grateful for the generosity of our donors. They inspire us every day to strive for greater impact. Local nonprofit and government human services agencies bring another critical element of relationships to Neighbors. We are fortunate to have a strong network of Dakota County nonprofits that offer complementary missions, expertise and resources. Through collaboration, Neighbors can offer more holistic and
comprehensive services to our community and avoid duplication or gaps in service delivery. As a nonprofit, we cherish and rely on our relationships with our volunteers, board, staff, donors and community partners to achieve our mission and ensure that families receive the critical services that are vital to their wellbeing. On behalf of Neighbors, Inc., I thank all who help us achieve our mission. You are invaluable to our work, and you make a positive and lasting impact in the communities we are honored to serve. As always, I’d love to connect. You may reach me at dawn@neighborsmn. org, 651-272-1135 or just stop by. Stay connected with our latest updates by visiting neighborsmn.org.
More people die this time of year than on average. I imagine they make it through the holidays, finish off the toffee, take down the tree, look out at the gray weather, decide the New Year is not looking significantly better than the previous one and give up the effort to keep on living. I spoke with my grouchy friend yesterday. This is the same grouchy friend who has cursed my cheerfulness in the past – and is a source of unflagging pessimism – so I should have known what was coming. He says there is no cause for rejoicing in
the new year. He says the days are growing longer, and that means intolerable heat is around the corner. He says any promises he makes to himself will be broken. “I gave up goals and dreams in the summer of 1971,” he says. He thinks I am a fool. I think he’s right. And I believe this may be one of my best qualities. Because the older I get, the less seriously I take myself. I used to obsess over not looking my best, walking around with spinach in my teeth or toilet paper on my shoe or a tag hanging out the back of my shirt. I used to beat myself up (usually hours later, while doing the dishes or
trying to fall asleep) for some dumb thing I said – something that someone could have taken the wrong way. “Ack!” I’d yell aloud while washing my vegetable steamer. “Why did I say that!” Accepting that I’m foolish removes this burden. If I don’t take myself too seriously, I can’t expect anyone else to either. If I accept that I am imperfect and just treat myself with love, I can hope folks will follow suit. I might wonder (as I did last night), what I am doing in the kitchen at one o’clock in the morning eating the last of my sister’s homemade toffee. “Should I really be doing this?” I might ask myself.
But now I answer, “Who wants to know?” And there is silence. It turns out that no one cares if I stay up too late eating toffee. There is no editorial committee reviewing my statements from the previous day, informing me of how they might have been more clever or less embarrassing. As a result, I feel a lot more free. I can make that phone call, not knowing what I will say until I say it. I can have a conversation with a stranger – not caring so much about what they think of me but letting them know that I am interested in them. But the key to all of this – to any of this – is action. I have to forgive my gaffes and blunders in advance and do something rather than nothing. I have to do something if I am to make any progress at all. Today, I am doing situps. I can only do a few. My form is terrible. I cannot see how this will ever make me stronger. But I’m doing them anyway. And, while it’s much too early to tell, it’s possible that I’m making progress. Till next time.
St. Matthew’s 35th Annual
Dine-in & Curbside-to-go Table service for dine-in, no buffet line
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459 S. Robert St., St. Paul 651.222.2943 • St. Paul Voice
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Every Friday Feb. 16-Good Friday Mar. 29
Serving Time: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Baked and/or fried wild Alaskan pollock, baked potato, vegetable, cole slaw, roll and dessert. Grilled cheese or spaghetti available as non-fish option. Beer, wine and pop available for purchase Adult meal $15 fish / $13 non-fish. Cash, check or card. Children’s meals at reduced price Dine-in: enter at Door 5 at the rear of the church Curbside-to-go line off Humboldt Ave. onto Robie St. For more information, visit st-matts.org
St. Matthew’s Social Hall, 510 Hall Ave., St. Paul Page 10 - St. Paul Voice - February 2024
Tax Help Needed MOHS TAX SERVICE, 1771 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, is hiring for the upcoming tax season. Email resume to info@mohstax.com
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Celebrating Dakota County’s legacy: a vision for 2024 As the newly elected chair of the Dakota County Board for 2024, I’m profoundly honored to serve in a year that marks a significant milestone: the 175th anniversary of Dakota County’s founding in 1849. Anniversaries, especially significant ones, offer a chance to reflect on our past, learn from it, and chart an even more successful course forward. Dakota County’s heritage predates its formal establishment by centuries and this heritage continues to influence our course to this day. Our very name comes from the Dakota people, who have deep roots here, spanning a millennium. Dakota means “friends” or “allies” and the word from which it is derived, “wódakota,” signifies an approach rooted in respect and responsibility, humility and honor, courtesy and compassion. Directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, these principles of wódakota have long made Dakota County work. We will
Joe Atkins
Dakota County Commissioner
remain steadfastly centered around these values in 2024. Wódakota means that we will respect and honor our residents and taxpayers by continuing to provide and enhance exceptional services at an exceptional value. It means that our extraordinary employees – the backbone of our operations – will continue to drive this excellence in service delivery through courtesy, responsiveness and compassion. It means that as county commissioners we will value and work with our frontline partners – our city officials, school board members, legislators, community organizations, and volunteers – to efficiently deliver topnotch service. For those who prefer more
Honest Repentance
concrete terms, here are some specific examples. A budget that delivers exceptional value. Over the past six years, Dakota County is the only county in the U.S. to have earned the nation’s top county awards for public safety (2018), public health (2020) and infrastructure (2023), while simultaneously being home to the lowest county property taxes per capita of any of Minnesota’s 87 counties and being debtfree. Expect continued fiscal responsibility and excellent service delivery for 2024. Community services that work. In 2024, Dakota County’s grant-funded Crisis and Recovery Center will be built at our Northern Service Center in West St. Paul, providing a crucial resource for individuals and families navigating mental health crises. We will also provide a better bridge from homelessness to housing stability, and a new grant-funded substanceabuse team will focus on
prevention, saving lives and money by getting ahead of addiction. Elections that ensure accuracy. Our elections officials will coordinate multiple elections in 2024, including the presidential election, prioritizing security and efficiency. Libraries that enhance accessibility. Dakota County’s libraries get more visits per capita than any other metro county’s libraries, with two million visitors checking out over five million materials in the last year alone. This will only increase with the opening of our 10th branch, the Kaposia Library in South St. Paul, on February 20. Kaposia will offer significantly improved services and accessibility, with half the funding for its construction coming from outside grants. Parks, trails and pedestrian safety. The final segments of nearly 60 miles of greenways that began 30 years ago in South St. Paul and West St. Paul will finally be finished
later this year, providing pedestrians and bicyclists safer travel between South St. Paul and West St. Paul to Hastings and Burnsville. Public safety protection. In 2024, Dakota County will continue to run the county jail; we will collaborate with local cities on Dakota911 as well as our Electronic Crimes Unit, SWAT, and Drug Task Force; and we will continue to handle all felony prosecutions for every city and town in Dakota County. We will also continue to pair up social workers with West St. Paul and South St. Paul police to help respond to calls involving mental health, improving safety for all involved. Putting more service in service centers. Continued innovation, with more convenient services like license plate tab kiosks and digitized property records for enhanced accessibility and ease of use will continue to be the hallmark of our service
centers in 2024. Sustainable operations. New turbines at the County’s 123-year-old Byllesby Dam will double the dam’s electricity production in 2024, yielding $1 million a year in revenue, and making us the only county in the country that generates more electricity than it uses. Other grantfunded energy and conservation projects will save the County more than $8 million over the next 20 years while reducing greenhouse gases by 4.57 million pounds annually. Transportation safety. Optimizing safety for both motorists and pedestrians is the focus of more than a dozen projects that will improve county highways, bridges and crucial intersections across the county in 2024. I welcome input on how we can make Dakota County an even better place in 2024 and for generations to come. I can be reached at 651438-4430 or Joe.Atkins@ co.dakota.mn.us.
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WANT TO BUY A H ME IN 2024?
Feb. 14 - Law Feb. 21 - Chaos Feb. 28 - Faith Mar. 6 - Repentance Mar. 13 - Purification Mar. 20 - Salvation Sunday Worship 9:00 am Sunday School (Pre-K-5th grade), 10:15 am Youth Bible Study (grades 6-12), 10:15 am Adult Bible Class, 10:15 am Worship with Contemporary Music Mondays, 6:30 pm
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St. Paul Voice - February 2024 - Page 11
55+ Affordable Senior Housing
617 S. Stryker Ave., St. Paul WELCOME TO STRYKER, a brand-new apartment building with 57 units of AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING for seniors. 75% of the units are reserved for those with incomes below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI). An additional 14 units are reserved for those with incomes below 50% of AMI. Vouchers are accepted.
Rental InformaƟ E 1 hƟůŝƟĞƐ͗
INCOME REQUIREMENTS EFFICIENCY: 30% AMI = $15,648-$26,100 / Rent = $652/mo. 30-50% AMI = $26,100-$42,504 / Rent = $1,087/mo.
Consists of 33 e
ONE-BEDROOM: 30% AMI = $16,776-$26,100 / Rent = $699/mo. 30-50% AMI = $27,960-$42,504 / Rent = $1,165/mo.
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ĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů͗ ● SMOKE F ● Kī Ɛtree ● tͬ ůĂƵ ● Elevator ● ŽŵŵƵŶ ● PaƟŽ ǁŝƚ ● Dishwas
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FEATURES • Smoke-free community (smoking is not allowed anywhere on the property) • Off-street parking available (19 parking spaces available for residents only) • Water/sewer, garbage/recycling, electricity/heat included in rent • Laundry room on every floor
• Dishwasher in every unit • Elevators • Community room • Patio with garden and picnic area
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TODAY! stryker@fleethamadvantage.com | 612-477-3364 StrykerSeniorHousing.com We do not discriminate against any person because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, handicap, or familial status. Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 coordinator available. MN TDD 800-627-3529
Page 12 - St. Paul Voice - February 2024