St. Paul Voice Dec. 2020 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

The St. Paul

Crusaders finish strong Page 4

Volume 54 | Number 12

Pandemic prompts WSP man to make one more run at sharing holiday cheer Tim Spitzack Editor

ringing holiday cheer to the community has nearly killed Gordy Waldhauser—more than once. In 1997 while removing holiday decorations from his home at 434 Marie Ave. W., West St. Paul, he lost his footing, fell from the roof and landed on his truck, resulting in a broken arm, ribs and collar bone. In 2018 while using a long pole to string lights on trees in his half-acre yard, the now 77-year-old slipped and fell from a ladder. He broke the upper humerus bone near his shoulder and today has a titanium plate holding it together. While recovering from that injury, he suffered a heart attack. When he had heart bypass surgery in 2000, the nurses told him he must have more than nine lives. His wife Pat agrees. Despite those brushes with death, Gordy was back on his ladder and roof this year pursuing his holiday decorating tradition. Pat, too, had a close encounter once. As she was checking a string of lights for damages, a bulb blew up in her hand, giving her a slight burn. “I’m done!” she snapped at Gordy, exasperated. “You’re trying to kill me.” She later returned and finished the job. Why do they risk it? “It’s a good chance to brighten some people’s spirits at the holidays,” Holiday lights / Page 5

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Holiday EVENT GUIDE

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and yes there are festive events to celebrate this holiday season. See page 6

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December 2020

Santa sets up shop in Mendota Heights Tara Flaherty Guy Contributor

hen Santa Carlucci took the sacred Oath of Santa Claus years ago, he pledged to create happiness, spread love, make dreams come true, and bring Christmas cheer to all, especially children. What he could never have anticipated was that someday he would have to execute that high-minded mission during a global pandemic, with no personal contact with his followers. As 2020 draws to a close, Santa Carlucci’s mission has crystallized: rescuing Christmas. In service to the many children experiencing social isolation, and the complete disruption of their young lives, he and his missus will be reaching out virtually to do just that throughout this Christmas season via Zoom, from their new Santa shop in an office complex in Mendota Heights. Long before he became arguably the premiere Santa-for-hire in the Twin Cities, Santa Carlucci (Carl Immediato in his private life) heard the siren-song of Santa Claus. It came 27 years ago, after Carlucci experienced a Scrooge-like middle-of-the-night epiphany in the fall of 1993. “Some might call it a nightmare,” he recounted with a chuckle during a recent visit. “I awoke, literally in a cold sweat from a dream in which I was contemplating all the good things I had in my life, and seeing clearly that I had never given anything back.” Casting about for a way to be of service to the community, he recalled Santa Carlucci / Page 8

It’s complicated: no easy answers in addressing homelessness Tim Spitzack Editor

y recent conversation with downtown resident John Higgins hints at the complexity of homelessness, a crisis made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of winter. Having once been homeless, Higgins now finds himself fearful of those experiencing the plight he once faced.

After fleeing a violent roommate in 2012, Higgins found himself living under a bridge in Portland, Ore. To make matters worse, he was also undergoing treatment for cancer and hepatitis C, which made working nearly impossible. With no job and no cash, he quickly realized how difficult it was to find stable housing. Today, he is trying his best to carve out a better future for himself. He is on rent

subsidy and food stamps and is working with a social service agency on job training, but his physical disabilities limit his options. Equally challenging, he said, is the lack of safety he feels in his adopted city. Since moving to St. Paul in 2015, he has seen the homeless population grow and has witnessed an increase in drug trafficking and violent behavior. He said he regularly finds people in his building stealing laun-

dry or trying to break into apartments, and when he confronts them some get aggressive, others run away. “I agree we need to help these people,” he said, “but I don’t feel safe anymore.” Higgins understands that being homeless forces people to do things they might not otherwise do, and that some unsheltered people—by no means all—experience mental illness or addiction. He said he helps when he can.

He even carries Narcan nasal spray, an FDA-approved treatment for those suspected of having an opioid overdose, and has used it four times on people in downtown St. Paul. He believes creating more affordable housing is the answer to helping the homeless but says housing units for them should include on-site drug counseling and health services.

On the front line The City of St. Paul, Ramsey County and countless organizations and foundations have long been working to solve the crisis, which worsened this summer. According to David Katzenmeyer, program supervisor of Project Recovery and Street Outreach at People Incorporated Mental Homelessness / Page 2

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Homelessness from page 1

Health Services in St. Paul, the people living in the large downtown tent encampments that were so visible this summer and fall are the chronically homeless, and many struggle with mental health and addictions. In his nine years working with People Incorporated’s street outreach program in both Ramsey and Hennepin counties, he has seen the number of unsheltered people climb ever higher. He and other outreach workers visit people on the street and other places to provide supplies—tents, sleeping bags, food, warm socks—to meet their basic needs and offer resources to find additional help.

“Nobody’s experience is the same,” he said. “This job has helped me be a more empathetic person. It’s a privilege to be a helping person in someone’s life when they need it.” It can also be a challenge to help people find the services they need. “The vast number of people I know who are homeless value safety and dignity,” said Katzenmeyer. “They work really hard just to stay alive and meet their basic needs. People want help. The most common misconception I hear is that these people don’t want help. I’ve never found that to be true. Almost everyone I’ve talked to has tried to access services

Tent encampment at Kellogg Park in downtown St. Paul. but has had a bad experience or not gotten the help they need.” Katzenmeyer said the lack of affordable housing is the biggest culprit, saying there is simply not enough of it. Ramsey County maintains a priority list to help connect people to openings in housing programs, but that process is slow-moving. “There are 1,200-1,300 people on the waiting list,” he said. “It can be several months before a housing opportunity comes up.” And when it does, it’s often difficult to find the people who are on the waiting list. He said he and other outreach workers in his organization provide their phone numbers to the County so they can call them for help. When

they do, they try to track down that person, which is harder these days because the places people normally go to escape the elements are closed or have reduced hours due to the pandemic. Public libraries and light rail trains are the most common places, he said. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 8 million low-income households in the U.S. pay at least half of their income toward housing; housing is deemed affordable when it does not exceed 30 percent. Federally funded public housing programs offer rent subsidies to eligible people with a low income but only one in four eligible households receive it due to lack of funding, according to the Al-

liance. Furthermore, people in low-income households are typically unemployed or underemployed due to limited education, a gap in work history or a criminal record, and often have unreliable transportation, poor health or a disability. These and other factors can make it difficult to get a lease. “While there is some increase (in homelessness) due to COVID, this is a reality every winter,” said Katzenmeyer. “A study in January 2020 showed there were 338 unsheltered people in Ramsey County.” That mirrors the County’s estimate this fall of approximately 300. The County made strides this fall at providing more shelter space when it leased

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the Bethesda Hospital building in St. Paul from M Health Fairview in October, resulting in 100 beds for the homeless. That move garnered a mixed response from the public. During an Oct. 8 community meeting hosted by Ramsey County, some neighbors to the Bethesda property supported the plan, but far more opposed it, citing safety concerns. Fairview is closing both Bethesda and St. Joseph’s hospital in downtown St. Paul, and the shelter at Bethesda is expected to open Dec. 1. This summer, the City of St. Paul has provided more police patrols at local parks to help connect homeless people with the resources they need, and to monitor for trouble. It also increased

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C ommunity issues trash collection at local parks. Katzenmeyer credits the City for these efforts. “They’ve worked hard to mitigate the negative consequences of the encampments,” he said. “The whole community recognizes this is a critical issue and crisis that we’re not going to enforce our way out of. The silver lining of the COVID pandemic is that it’s raising awareness to an issue that’s been around a long time.” Even though Katzenmeyer believes that creating more affordable housing is the key to addressing the issue, he acknowledged that expanding housing takes a long time and is reliant upon finding landlords and developers who are willing to participate.

Ramsey County leadership In November, Keith Lattimore became the first director of Ramsey County’s new Housing Stability Department, which seeks to consolidate housing services and programs, and reduce racially-based economic disparities in the county. Lattimore is responsible for building the department and working with others to

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support people experiencing homelessness. Before starting his new role, he was director of the MNChoices and Aging & Disability Services division of Social Services. Lattimore also served as operations chief for the Homelessness and Housing Stability Branch of the county’s Incident Management Team during the COVID-19 pandemic. He joined Ramsey County in 1998 as a correctional officer and was promoted several times, including serving as superintendent of Boys Totem Town. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to build this new department in collaboration with a strong team of partners,” said Lattimore in a statement. “This is an important step to better position and align our organization’s resources to best help those experiencing homelessness and combat our housing crisis.” Lattimore holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/sociology and business administration from St. Cloud State University and is studying toward a Master of Business Administration degree at Ashworth College.

Help for vets On Veterans Day, Governor Tim Walz, announced that the Suburban Metro Area Continuum of Care (SMAC), which includes Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Washington counties, received federal designation for ending homelessness among veterans. While there are still homeless veterans across the state, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have determined that the five counties have largely ended homelessness for this group. SMAC is the sixth of 10 jurisdictions in

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the state of Minnesota to do so. The West Central, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast Continuums of Care previously reached that milestone in 2017 and 2018, and the River Valleys (Southeast) Continuum of Care in 2019. The remaining four Continuums of Care in the state are still pushing toward that goal. Since the initiative began in 2014, more than 2,100 homeless veterans in Minnesota have been housed. This

includes 500 in 2019, the highest number ever housed in one year. The progress is due to the joint efforts of a coalition that includes the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota Housing, the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, county Veterans Service officers, emergency shelters and several private, public and non-profit organizations. The statewide

Homeless Veterans Registry is a key component. It creates individual housing plans based on each veteran’s specific challenges. Once on the Registry, veterans are typically housed within four months. As of Nov. 10, the Registry included the names of more than 300 veterans who are experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. For more information on the program, call 1-888-5465838 or visit www.minnesotaveteran.org.

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 Writer: John E. Ahlstrom

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Education That Suits Your Student SCHOOL CHOICE DIRECTORY

Visit www.stpaulpublishing.com/schoolchoice to explore these schools and for tips on how to choose a school that best fits your student's and family's needs.

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Academia Cesar Chavez 1801 Lacrosse Ave., St. Paul 651-778-2940 www.cesarchavezschool.com Achieve Language Academy 2169 Stillwater Ave. E. St. Paul 651-738-4875 www.achievemn.org St. Paul City School PreK-12 260 Edmund Ave., St. Paul 651-225-9177 www.stpaulcityschool.org

COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES St. Paul College 235 Marshall Ave., St. Paul 651-846-1600 https://saintpaul.edu

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St. Croix Lutheran Academy 1200 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul 651-455-1521 www.stcroixlutheran.org

Church of St. Matthew 510 Hall Avenue, St. Paul

The Church of Saint Matthew invites you to share in this very holy season and offers the following services. We expect and welcome visitors. Your presence and your prayers will enrich our community. For safety of everyone Saint Matthew’s follows all Covid-19 recommendations. To learn more about us, please call the church office at 651-227-9793 or visit us at st-matts.org or www.facebook.com/churchofstmatthew.

Thanksgiving Day - November 26, 9:00 am - Mass in person ADVENT & CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE: Nov. 28-Jan. 10 Each Weekend of Advent: Saturdays at 4:15 pm - Mass in person Sundays at 10:15 am - Mass online Observance of the Feast of Immaculate Conception 7:00 pm Mass, Monday, December 7 (no Mass on Dec. 8) Individual Confessions Saturdays, December 12 and 19 (after 4:15 pm Mass) Monday, December 21, 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 22, 5:30 pm Parish Reconciliation Sunday, December 20, 2:00 pm Christmas Masses Thursday, December 4:15 pm - Mass in person Friday, December 25, 10:15 am - Mass in person Friday, December 25, 10:15 am - Mass online Feast of the Holy Family Saturday, December 26, 4:15 pm Mass in person Sunday, December 27, 10:15 am Mass online New Year’s Eve Thursday, December 31, 4:15 pm - Mass in person NO Mass on Friday, January 1 Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord Saturday, January 2, 4:15 pm - Mass in person Sunday, January 3, 10:15 am - Mass online Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, January 9, 4:15 pm - Mass in person Sunday, January 10, 10:15 am - Mass online St. Paul Voice - December 2020 - Page 3

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Crusader teams flourish amid the pandemic John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer

n early August, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) announced that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there would be no football or volleyball seasons in 2020. That decision was met with disappointment by students and coaches alike. The pressure came to bear and on Sept. 21 the MSHSL reversed its decision and announced that seasons for both sports would commence on Sept. 28. Among the protocols associated with the reprieve included limiting the number of games and matches played, social distancing at practices and on school buses, the wearing of masks and regular COVID-19 testing. Despite those distractions, the St. Croix Lutheran Academy football and volleyballs teams have flourished. At the conclusion of the 2018 season, Carl Lemke’s legendary 24-year run as the head coach of the Crusader football team came to an end and the baton was passed to 35-year-old Adam Frey. Frey’s debut season did not materialize in the manner he hoped and the Crusaders limped home with a 2-8 record. But to his credit, Frey trusted his instincts, kept his faith and, lo and behold, his 2020 squad came within a whisker of an undefeated 6-0 regular season. What unfolded in 2019 was not particularly surprising. A precipitous drop in numbers began in 2018 and

just 38 kids showed up for Frey’s first practice in 2019. “Going into the season, I was fully aware that we were going to be up against it,” said Frey. “We had a small senior class and four kids who started on both sides of the ball in 2018, for different reasons, decided not to play.” The 2019 team also faced a daunting schedule that included state champion SMB and Fridley, another state tournament entrant. “We were a junior laden team and we took our lumps,” Frey said. “But the kids were resilient, and to their credit they got valuable experience and always played with heart to the final whistle.” The senior laden 2020 team was disheartened when the MSHSL announced the cancellation of the season. When the reprieve came along, Frey was optimistic that the Crusaders could “compete and cause some damage.” St. Croix opened the season with a 35-28 victory over Richfield and followed that with consecutive victories over Minneapolis Southwest, Columbia Heights and Bloomington Kennedy. Eager to extend their winning streak to five, the Crusaders traveled to Minneapolis Washburn on Nov. 7. Trailing 39-29 in the fourth quarter, Washburn scored a late TD and then executed a successful onside kick that led to another TD and, for the Crusaders, a heartbreaking 43-39 loss. Undaunted, St. Croix ended its regular season with a game at St. Anthony,

a team they lost to by a score of 27-0 in 2019. The Crusaders were dominate from start to finish and came home with a 26-6 victory. The key to the Crusader offense was senior captain Zach Longueville, who was in his second season as the starting quarterback. St. Croix featured a balanced attack with a near 50-50 ratio between rushing and passing. “Zach is a phenomenal athlete who can run and pass and rise to the occasion to create something out of nothing,” said Frey. “He’s a vocal leader on both sides of the ball and leads the team with five interceptions.” Senior captain Zach Arndt has been the team’s leading rusher for the past two seasons and was also responsible for calling the defense from his linebacker position. “I don’t where we would be without the two Zach’s,” said Frey. “Arndt is a downhill runner and a boisterous team leader. A shoulder separation that he suffered early in the Washburn game cost us.” Senior Sam Hahm, a transfer student from Colorado whom Frey mentored as a fourth grader in his first job as a football coach, also contributed from the running back position and led the team in tackles. Senior Lucas Dahlke centered the offensive line and, according Frey, did not muff a snap in the pistol formation all season. The guards were juniors Charlie Prestagaard and Taeyun Kang. Senior captain Connor Mielke, who anchored both

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the offensive and defensive lines, was one of the tackles, and sophomore sensation Evan Valleau, at 6’3” and 230 pounds, the other. Senior tight end Micah Boehm was a productive receiver and blocker. Seniors Andy Raasch and Lukas Blomquist are the wide receivers. “At 6’5” and 180 pounds, Andy is a great target and leads the team with eight touchdowns,” said Frey. “Lukas is also a speedy and reliable receiver.” The Crusaders play a 4-3 defense. The starting tackles were senior Isaiah Steber (265 pounds) and sophomore Brandon Demulling (250 pounds). The defensive ends were Dahlke and Mielke.

Sophomore Jack Thome, along with Hahm and Arndt, were the linebackers. With the exception of sophomore safety Joe Kurata, a native of Japan, the Crusader secondary included three others who played both ways: Longueville and Boehm at cornerback and Blomquist at safety.

Volleyball Under the dual leadership of Rachel Grev, now in her 22nd season as head coach, and her lead assistant, Ryan Grev, the St. Croix Lutheran Academy volleyball program continues to ride along on a lofty plateau. Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, the Crusaders are currently undefeated (90) and on the precipice of

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The Crusader volleyball team was a perfect 9-0 with two matches left in the regular season.

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another Tri-Metro Conference title. As is her custom, Rachel Grev is quick to deflect the credit for the success of the program away from herself. “I have been blessed to coach very good athletes who are willing to put in the long hours and the hard work necessary to improve individually and as a team,” she said. “We’ve had great continuity in that regard.” She also tips her hat to the other Coach Grev, who doubles as her husband, and the newest member of the coaching staff, Kelsey Kowitz, a 2015 St. Croix alumnus. “Ryan is a master at breaking down video and teaching the technical parts of the Crusaders / Page 11

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Holiday lights

ROGERS MASONRY

from page 1

said Gordy. “I thought about not doing it this year but with the pandemic I decided I should.” The tradition dates to a happenstance encounter in 1983 when the Waldhausers were living in Inver Grove Heights. An aging neighbor told Gordy he was no longer decorating for the holidays and asked if he wanted his considerable array of decorations. Gordy said sure, and he’s been adding to that collection ever since. When the couple moved to West St. Paul in 1988 they brought their holiday cheer—and supplies—with them. Their display grew larger with each passing year. Their home has won multiple decorating awards and is on many Holiday Lights tours. “We get a lot of limos and big tour buses driving by. We’ve even had helicopters,” said Gordy. Last year they watched as one couple jumped out of a limo and walked up to a lighted display on their lawn. The man bent to one knee and proposed. “That was really neat to see,” he added. In mid-October, Gordy gets to work and will spend several hours each day untangling cords, repairing displays, and stringing lights. Since retiring five years ago, he can now do it all at a much more relaxed pace. He has two 3-car garages on his property—one is heated and attached to the house—and it’s there that he stores his decorations, as well as under his deck. Packed in the various spaces are a full nativity scene, Victorian carolers, Santa, snowmen and a host of other emblematic items. If you’re wondering whether Gordy is anything like Clark Griswold from the holiday classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” the answer is yes. “We spent all day decorating and then went to Signal Hills to see the movie; that’s when Signal Hills was an indoor mall and had a movie theater,” said Gordy. “We were laughing hysterically. We could relate to everything going on.” The couple have two children and five grandchildren who occasionally lend a hand but most of the work is done by Gordy. Only once did he hire a decorating company to help string some lights.

“They didn’t do a good job and were expensive,” he said. The Halloween blizzard of 1991 gave him his biggest challenge. That storm produced nearly three feet of snow and made placement of his figurines difficult. “It was our worst-looking display,” he lamented. It’s evident that Pat is ready to let the tradition go. She has spent her fair share of time checking lights and painting displays to keep them looking good as new. During our interview she told Gordy that he can’t buy any new decorations this year, yet his eyes brightened when he talked about the post-season half-price sales at his favorite supply center, Menards. “If he buys anything else, I’ll have to hurt him,” she said, rolling her eyes. On Thanksgiving Day they will flip a switch and light up the neighborhood for perhaps the final time. While they’ve had some vandalism over the years— one group of kids stole an elf figurine, took pictures of it at various locations around the city then returned it with a booklet showing the photographic proof—most people are respectful and courteous while at their property. Some have even given them donations, which helps offset their considerable electric bill for the 40,000 lights that shine nightly from Thanksgiving Day through the 12 days after Christmas. In the past their electric bill was $700$800 but in recent years has been around $500. The savings come from using newer energy-efficient LED lights and stringing fewer lights because they’ve removed some trees from their yard. What will determine if this year is indeed the last? “My health,” said Gordy, plainly. It’s possible that next summer he might talk to a neighbor or someone else and ask if they would like to have his decorations—pay it forward, if you will. But this winter, he and Pat will enjoy the festive glow of lights on their snow-covered lawn and the sparkle in the eyes of all who look upon their magical holiday display. “It’s a labor of love,” said Gordy. And one that has been enjoyed by many.

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Saint Paul College named one of America’s Top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute! Saint Paul College, A member of Minnesota State

Document available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by contacting 651.846.1547 or AccessResources@saintpaul.edu. Saint Paul College is an Equal Opportunity employer and educator.

St. Paul Voice - December 2020 - Page 5

H oliday Event Guide

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GLOW Holiday Festival at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds More than a million holiday lights, a 100-foot illuminated tree, icicle and art installations, a gingerbread house, and many other attractions are featured at the GLOW Holiday Festival, a new event being held through Jan. 3, 2021, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. This festival was created with the pandemic in mind. Rather than rubbing elbows with other revelers, participants drive a milelong course through the fairgrounds to view the bright and festive seasonal displays. GLOW features a gigantic, illuminated gift box, a disco light show, a tribute to Prince, lighted woodland and farm animals, sELFie Plaza for picture-taking, and Charity Flame & Art Park, which highlights local charities and artists. GLOW will host several special nights, including Amity Night, Latinx Night, Hanukkah Night, Indigenous Peoples Night and Kwanzaa Night, and $2

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from each ticket will benefit a local charity, including Second Harvest Heartland, Urban Ventures, Outfront Minnesota, Angel Foundation, Autism Society of Minnesota, Emma Norton

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minutes. Tickets are $46 per vehicle and must be purchased in advance at www. glowholiday.com. Oh yes, if you’re still lamenting that you missed out on your favorite foods at the State Fair

this year, you’re in luck. You can find a selection of them at the food court.

Ordway events The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is pre-

senting the following virtual holiday experiences. Tickets for each can be purchased at www.Ordway.org. A (Virtual) Christmas with The Griswolds: an evening with Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28. Chase and D’Angelo, the actors who played Clark and Ellen Griswold in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” will share fan-favorite clips from the movie, reveal their favorite memories from making the movie and answer questions from the audience. Tickets are $25. The Hip Hop Nutcracker, 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27. A dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, are part of this virtual performance that follows Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on a dream adventure battling a gang of mice, visiting the land of sweets and learning the lessons of the holiday season. Tickets are $20. A Virtually Celtic Christmas, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 18. Holiday classics, traditional Irish carols, heartwarming duets, full orches-

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tral sounds and wonderful choirs will sweep you away to the warmth and glow of Christmas in Ireland. Filmed at the National Opera House of Ireland, “A Virtually Celtic Christmas” features leading tenor Michael Londra and special guests, including West End star Zoë Rainey, The Irish Concert Orchestra, Valda Choral Group, The Presentation Choir, and “Artemis Fowl” Creator Eoin Colfer. Tickets are $25. For $35 you can get a link to the performance and have a DVD of it mailed to you. For $50, you get the link, DVD and the chance to meet the artists in a Zoom session. “The Night Before Christmas: In Concert,” Dec. 19-31. Minnesota’s three-time Grammy Awardwinning group Sounds of Blackness will present a virtual concert featuring family-friendly holiday favorites in styles ranging from R&B and hip hop, to jazz, blues and gospel. $15 per household.

The hotel is also hosting holiday teas through Dec. 31. Each 2-hour event is fashioned after an English afternoon tea and consists of a variety of sandwiches, savory, scone and two tiers of sweets. A pianist entertains throughout. Cost is $50 per person. To reserve tickets, call 651-228-3860 or visit www.saintpaulhotel.com.

Union Depot In year’s past, Union Depot at 214 4th St. E., has offered an annual holiday tree lighting ceremony and movie night with fireworks, a European Christmas Market, holiday bake sale and the North Pole Express holiday train. This year all events are virtual. Visit www.uniondepot.org/holiday to view the tree lighting ceremony (7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4),a presentation of the North Pole Express, and for ways to shop for holiday baked goods and items made by local artisans.

A Hygge Holiday

Circus Juventas will present its first-ever holiday performance Dec. 5-13.

Circus Juventas, 1270 Montreal Ave., St. Paul, will present its first-ever holiday performance Dec. 5-13. Headed for a holiday ski trip up north, a group of young people suddenly find themselves in a broken-down car with a snowstorm on the way. Seeking shelter and cell phone reception, they find a remote cabin, shrouded in winter mystery and magic. As their odyssey takes them deeper into the woods, they discover that a cozy cabin

and close friends are all one needs to kindle the spirit and warm the heart. Majestic forests filled with playful woodland creatures, snow fairies, mischievous elves, and the comfort of good friends highlight this hygge—a Danish term loosely translated as “cozy”—holiday celebration. The show runs 70 minutes without intermission. Guests must wear a mask at all times. Entry times will be staggered to ensure social distancing and

each party will be at least six feet apart. Tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for ages 10 and younger. For more information, visit https:// circusjuventas.org/holidayshow-2020.

St. Paul Hotel A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play, Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 3-20. The producers of “It’s A Wonderful Life” live radio play are presenting something new

Cardboard boxes — flatten Gift boxes Cards & envelopes Catalogs & magazines Paper cartons Bottles Metal cans

this year at the St. Paul Hotel. They have adapted the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” into a radio drama to present on stage. The performance features actors and sound effects to help guide your imagination. Tickets are $100; includes a 3-course meal. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. To reserve tickets, call 651-228-3860 or visit www.saintpaulhotel. com.

Holiday Flower Show at Como The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s annual Holiday Flower Show is presented Dec. 5-Jan. 3, 2021 at the Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr., St. Paul. It will feature colorful Cortez Burgundy and Golden Glo poinsettias and a variety of other plants, including rosemary, coleus, scented geranium, yellow walking iris and lemon trees. For more information, call 651-4878201.

St. Paul Winter Carnival Mark your calendars, the 135th St. Paul Winter Carnival will be presented Jan. 28-Feb. 7, 2021. While this year’s event will not include the traditional parades, or events in Rice Park, a new twist is being put on several signature events. For example, the ice carving competition and the snow sculpture contest will both take place at the State Fairgrounds, where the public may view the creations while driving through the grounds. The Family Days will be virtual, featuring entertaining performances, educational seminars, arts and crafts lessons, storytelling sessions and more. All can be enjoyed online from the warmth of your home. As always, the majority of the carnival events will be held outdoors, and this year all will abide by COVID-19 protocols for social distancing and mask wearing. Pop-up concerts will be held in parking lots and establishments around St. Paul, Frozen Family Fun Night will take place at Keg and Case, and the Securian Financial Winter Run and the Winter Carnival Softball Tournament are both scheduled. The festival has also created three scavenger hunts that highlight St. Paul parks, landmarks, and other notable attractions. Volunteers are needed to help with the Carnival. To lend a hand or to learn more about this year’s carnival, visit www. wintercarnival.com.

Stringed lights Garland & tinsel Plastic bags & utensils Batteries Bubble wrap & plastic air pillows Electronics Artificial trees Wrapping paper Ribbons & bows Tissue paper Know where it goes at www.dakotacounty.us, search Recycling Guide. St. Paul Voice - December 2020 - Page 7

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Santa Carlucci from page 1

the bell-ringing Santas he had loved while growing up in New York City, and approached the Lake Street Salvation Army station to sign on as a bell-ringer. A computer engineer for Control Data at the time, he persuaded his boss to allow him Fridays off, and donning a red pullover and a drugstore Santa hat, he jumped in with both feet, bell-ringing at Target on the post-Thanksgiving “Black Friday” in 1993. “I was hooked!” said Carlucci. “I got such an overwhelming response, and such a feeling of goodness doing it, I kept on ringing, all season long, for eight years. I still do it now.” Over the years, he embellished his costume, cultivated his luxuriant mane of white hair and his real beard, performed at his company’s Christmas parties, and branched out into new volunteer venues with hospitals and churches. In 2001, as he was ringing outside Target, an entirely different sort of epiphany occurred. “I was there just ringing

my bell when this beautiful woman in a long fur coat comes out of Target, walks right over to me and says, ‘You’re gorgeous, who handles you?’” Bemused, Carlucci took the business card she pressed on him and discovered that she was Deborah Rosenberg Charloff, vice president of Minneapolis’s Caryn Models, a world-renowned modeling agency. “I thought it must be the good Lord’s way of letting me know I had finished my penance and could move on to building a business,” he said. And so he did. While continuing to volunteer and perform commercial assignments for the Caryn Agency he began building his own Santa business. Early on, Carlucci also noticed that the Minnesota Santa community seemed disorganized, so he offered his business acumen to the ad hoc professional association. In so doing, he helped develop it into the 120-member “North Star Santas” group of today, a

Santa Carlucci and Jenny Lynn Claus vibrant fraternal organization that meets regularly for personal and professional support, fellowship and mentoring. With his professional network growing, Carlucci sought out training sessions,

conventions and other opportunities for learning and improving his shtick, then began training and mentoring new Santas himself. In 2010 he found and partnered with Cheryl Saxrud, his original Mrs. Claus.

They shared years of success together as friends and partners until she passed away in the spring of 2018. Later that summer when the Minnesota Renaissance Festival contacted Carlucci to confirm their return that fall,

he hesitated. Bereft from the loss of his dear friend, he decided to take a long shot and email all of the regular Festival players, seeking a new Mrs. Claus. He struck gold. He discovered the perfect new partner in Jenny Lynn (Beck), who had always been an enthusiastic fan and informal costumed participant at the Festival. She jumped at the chance to work with Carlucci, having dabbled in theater since childhood. The two instantly clicked in an almost soul-mate connection, and soon it was full immersion into North Pole culture for the new Mrs. Claus. “She’s a natural!” said Carlucci of Jenny Lynn. After success at the Festival, the duo launched into the Christmas season that immediately followed, attending family gatherings, company parties, country clubs and hospitals. Since that time they have driven thousands of miles crosscountry to various conventions, Renaissance Festivals, and training sessions, constantly honing their characters, patter, stage business and prop ideas. With all that time on the road, Carlucci

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A rts & Culture considers himself blessed, thanks to an understanding and generous real-life wife who doesn’t mind that he has an auxiliary missus. “She tried being Mrs. Claus in the beginning, but it just wasn’t for her,” he said. “She’s very patient with all my absences.” The duo has, of course, visited Santa Claus, Indiana — a real town with its own zip code—which is home to the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame, into which Carlucci was inducted in 2017. “It was a tremendous honor,” he said of being chosen by a select panel for his community service, contribution to the Santa world, length of service, uniqueness of career, and charity. Jenny Lynn’s name will soon be officially inscribed there also, joining Carlucci in the “Santa Claus Oath Book.” A visit with the pair reveals the deep connection they share as they continuously banter and bicker affectionately, always in character. Like most older folks with more than a few turns on the odometer, each had experienced plenty of life, love and loss before fate brought them together. As a result, they share a kind and openhearted demeanor, welcom-

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ing smiles and listening ears. This stands them in good stead in their line of work, but not only with children at Christmas. Perfect strangers are drawn to them, too. Adults seem to regard the duo as a benevolent blend of confessor, therapist and sometimes surrogate parents. “One day at the Renaissance a biker guy in leather, with skulls tattooed all over his body, came up to us to say hello. He started sharing his story with us,” said Carlucci. “He told us how he’d lost his wife at a young age and had been working hard as a trucker ever since to take care of his little boy who had special needs…. He ended up asking if we could say a prayer together.” Jenny Lynn added, “Sometimes people just need someone to listen.” Then there are the less spiritual experiences, such as the time they were at Como Zoo for a photo shoot and visited the primate house. As Carlucci approached the glass-walled enclosure, the dominant male gorilla— apparently seeing him as a possible rival for the female simians’ affection—charged him aggressively, slamming into the glass wall to scare him away. Once his heart rate slowed, Carlucci incorporated the incident into his

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depth and breadth of experience. “It helped me remember why little children are sometimes scared of me at first,” he said. “Apparently I look like a big scary animal! It was a good reminder to be gentle in my approach.” And gentle he is. When parents ask him to refer to his naughty list for a child by tipping him off ahead of time to certain transgressions over the past year, he declines. A few experiences with guilt-stricken, hysterical kids crying and fleeing the room have taught him that nothing good comes from shaming children. Their soft spot for children is made manifest in their volunteer work, which comprises approximately 30% of their work. “We visit the Amplatz Children’s Hospital (in Minneapolis)—usually not until the end of the season, because it can be so emotionally draining,” said Carlucci. “When the only gift a little kid wants is to stop hurting, that’s tough to take.” Sometimes Jenny Lynn has to distract the children while Santa collects himself and leaves momentarily to

“check on Blitzen” who is parked outside. It is in these moments that Carlucci keeps what might be the most important promise contained in his Santa Clause Oath: “I acknowledge that some of the requests I will hear will be difficult and sad…there lies an opportunity to bring a spirit of warmth, understanding and compassion.” It’s in that spirit that Santa Carlucci and Jenny Lynn Claus will offer their special brand of Christmas cheer to children whose families can’t gather together this year. Virtual visits may be arranged by emailing yoursantatoo@ gmail.com or visiting their affiliated nationwide website— Bit.ly/3mIy02R—and scrolling down to find him. Costs start at $45 per visit.

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Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO

The holiday season is once again upon us. Looking back to my childhood, I remember counting down the days until Christmas morning. I could not wait to wake up early and rush to the Christmas tree where gifts would be waiting. I see this in my own children as well. They get excited about anything having to do with Christmas. Having experienced the

Postscript

Early Snow

This has been a year that defies explanations. I spoke with my parents a week or so ago. We have used Zoom and other types of video to communicate but, more often than not, I just call up my dad, he puts me on speaker, and we chat as we always have. My parents were about to go skiing. They live in the north, but they don’t live on the North Pole. It was much too early to cross-country ski, but they’d had an early snow

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and my mom decided they should give it a try. “You know what’s going to happen,” I told them.

season as a child, and now father, it has become abundantly clear that one of the lessons of the holiday season is patience. Whether it is holiday lights, carols, the cool weather followed by snow, or candy canes, symbols of the season are all around us. They remind us that Christmas (and other holidays) are drawing near. For some, that means making a list, checking it twice and wrapping gifts for under the tree. The anticipation builds for weeks. The waiting can be agonizing. Kids may bargain with their parents to open just one gift before Christmas. They will make promises in an attempt to get what they want. They will persist until one day, finally, that glorious morning arrives. As children, learning to be patient was necessary because the days seemed to tick by so slowly. I am reminded that the lessons of patience learned as a child are instructive today as adults. Unlike the deadline of Dec. 25, many of the challenges today that demand patience do not have a set deadline. Some of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet. They may be unemployed or have lost wages due to

the pandemic, illness, or the need to stay home to school their children. As they struggle to put food on the table or pay the utility bill, the idea of gifts under the tree may be a far-off thought. Yet, the pressure and expectation is ever present. As they face these challenges, Neighbors is here to help with food, holiday gifts and many other services. Patience is also running thin due to the pandemic that now appears will take longer to overcome than initially thought. Much like the child who wants “just one” gift before Christmas morning, many of us want to gather for one event together, a visit with family or happy hour with friends. While the child receiving a gift early may be innocent enough, we are finding that these social gatherings are not. We must call upon patience like never before to get through these challenging times. This holiday season will be like none we have experienced before. As you celebrate, I hope you are able to do so joyfully, safely and patiently. I wish you and yours a merry Christmas, happy holidays and prosperous New Year.

“Uh-huh,” my dad said. “First the snow is going to stick to the bottom of your skis, then the leaves are going to stick,” I said. “You’re going to be stuck in place!” I felt like the voice of doom, truth-telling to my very experienced 80-some-year-old parents. “Yeah,” my mother admitted, “I’m sure you’re right.” I could tell this would not deter her for a minute. My husband Peter and I were preparing for a visit from my former brother-inlaw Jason. This is the first visitor we’ve had in eight months and the visit precipitated a lot of housecleaning. There are places we just don’t get around to cleaning until

father-in-law, is 94 and failing. Jason rented a car and is driving all the way from California to Wisconsin to see him, even though he’ll have to visit his father through a window. Even though he’ll have to drive through some early winter storms to get there. Even though his dad, who now weighs only 100 pounds and can no longer speak, may or may not recognize him when he gets there. For quite a while I’ve been trying to let go of expectations. People say that holding too tightly to our expectations only leads to unhappiness, but I’ve always had a hard time letting them go. I like the idea that I have

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we are confronted with the prospect of company. “The baseboards in the bathroom were filthy!” Peter informed me. “Your desk is covered in dust!” I replied. We cleaned places we hadn’t looked at closely in three-quarters of a year so that we could entertain Jason, who spent almost the entire time on our patio, which Peter had swept for the occasion. Peter made his famous enchiladas, and I made my Aunt Betty’s apple squares, and it was a lovely evening. Peter built a fire and we sat around and talked until much later than I usually stay up. Jason’s father, my former

some idea of where my life is headed and what is going to happen next. A few hours after I spoke with my parents, I saw a photo on Facebook of my mom on her skis in the woods. Their house was nowhere in sight so they must have made it some distance. I’m sure it wasn’t great skiing—but that wasn’t really the point, was it? If this year has taught me anything it’s that maybe I need to let go of some of my expectations of how things work. This isn’t the year for them. I looked again at the photo of my mom. She’s skiing in the early snow and smiling. Till next time.

Winter Gear Drive at Neighborhood House Neighborhood House is accepting gently used and new hats, gloves, scarves, coats, and other winter gear. Children’s coats and boots are greatly needed. Bring donations to the Wellstone Center, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.,

Monday-Friday. While the doors are locked to the public, you call the front desk at 651-789-2500 and an employee will meet you to accept your donation. The Wellstone Center is located at 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul.

If you would like to receive winter clothing and accessories, call 651-789-2500 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, to schedule a time to visit the Wellstone Center and get your winter gear.

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Crusaders from page 4 game,” she said. “And Kelsey’s specialty is the defensive side of the game. Both of them are invaluable.” The 2020 sextet was bolstered by the return of seven varsity players who were instrumental in leading the Crusaders to the conference championship in 2019 before bowing to Concordia Academy in the section semi-finals. Experience and depth played key roles in the team’s success this season. “We have eleven players on our varsity roster this season and we use all eleven of them in our in-match rotation,” said Grev. “Due to injuries and other circumstances, most of them have played multiple positions at the varsity level and can step right in if needed.” The Crusaders’ strength was their defense. Senior captain Hannah Little was in her second season as the libero and a team captain. “She brings a lot to the table,” said Grev. “She’s a

great digger, spot-on with her passes to the front row and a team leader.” The defensive specialists are three-year starter Clare Longueville, sophomore Ilah Little and senior captain Allie Kom, the lead setter. “Clare and Ilah read the hitters very well and cover a lot of territory on the back end,” said Grev. “Allie, as our primary setter, is adept at distributing the ball to our hitters.” The Crusaders were also dangerous along the front line. Juniors Caleigh Schroeder and Katherine Beekman were the outside hitters. “For the past two seasons, Caleigh was unable to play volleyball while rehabbing the two torn ACL’s she suffered in back to back seasons playing basketball,” said Grev. “But she’s got her ‘hops’ back. Katherine has been with us since she was a freshman and has an allaround game.” Seniors Abby Harper and

Amelia Thiel also saw action primarily as outside hitters. Six-foot senior Luci Hauge was the starter at middle hitter, and 5’11” sophomore Haley Orvik and 5’10” junior Abby Tollefson also got playing time in that role. “Luci is in her second season as a starter and has great hands and finds open spaces on the other side of the net,” said Grev. “Haley is becoming a force as well and Abby contributes, too.” The Crusader volleyball team, like most sports teams in the country at every level, has not fully escaped the perils of the pandemic. Fortu-

nately, none of the players have contracted the virus, but four were exposed and forced into quarantine. For one game, the team was left with just seven players—six on the court and a seventh on the bench. “It was something we had never gone through before,” said Grev. “Our middle hitter, Luci Hauge, became our setter for that match and a few others played out of their normal positions, but we stayed together and won.” Despite not knowing if there would even be a season in 2020, Grev was confident

that if they did get an opportunity to play the Crusaders had the potential to be very good. To this point at least, they have fulfilled that prophesy.

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STA expands inclusion efforts Rick Stevson, the associate director of admissions at St. Thomas Academy, is now also the school’s director of inclusion and outreach. Following the social unrest in the Twin Cities this summer, Stevson began leading the school’s diversity outreach task force. The committee is charged with evaluating how racial tensions and occurrences of inequality are handled at the school, and how the Academy can ensure that everyone feels

Garcia signs letter of intent St. Paul Humboldt senior Xavier Garcia signed a Letter of Intent to play basketball at North Central University in Minneapolis. Xavier is the son of Gil Garcia, proprietor of Signal Barbers in West St. Paul, and his wife Jodi.

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St. Paul Voice - December 2020 - Page 11

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A tribe is defined as a group of people having a common character or interest. In today’s day and age it has also come to mean supporters and we invite you to be one of ours. Since 1966, we’ve proudly and effectively covered the issues most important to our community. We ask our loyal readers to consider donating a small amount to help us continue publishing community news that informs, entertains and inspires. Could you send $10 a year...or more? Every dollar helps. To contribute, mail your check to St. Paul Publishing Co., 1643 S. Robert St., Suite 60B, West St. Paul, MN 55118, or call us at 651-457-1177 with your credit card number. Mailed subscriptions are available for $21.50 per year.

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