St. Paul Voice December 2022

The St. Paul

Youth crisis center now open in MH

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Dakota and Washington Coun ties recently partnered with Nexus Family Healing to open Aspen House, a residential facil ity for teens needing a temporary place to live. The center opened in late October at 2031 Victoria Rd. S. in Mendota Heights in an existing building and is estimated to annu ally serve 100 youth who might oth erwise end up homeless.

Youth ages 12-18 are referred to Aspen House by county social servic es or juvenile probation services and may stay up to 90 days while their family situation is resolved, or foster care is found. The 6,336-square-foot home has 12 beds, a kitchen, dining and lounge space, and therapy and conference rooms. About 20 Nexus employees provide professional men tal health care and other services, and an ISD 197 teacher works full-time onsite to provide educational in struction. The building was formerly used as an intermediate care facility for persons with intellectual devel opmental disabilities. The counties spent $1.475 million refurbishing the building and updating safety and accessibility features.

Youth in crisis sometimes end up in hospital emergency rooms or ju venile probation centers, said Nexus Family Healing Executive Director Nicole Mucheck. The need for tem porary housing is so great that some teens whose family members were ex periencing a crisis have been placed

Your Guide to Experiencing the Magic of the Season

Final design of Riverview Library completed

The most wonderful time of the year has arrived and along with it a wide array of festive events that will help you experience the magic of the season – all just minutes from your home. Our annual Holiday Event Guide helps you make the most of it. Frosty fun begins here.

Borrell named West Sider of the Year

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

In early November, the West Side Community Organization held its an nual meeting and present ed Agustina Borrell with the West Sider of the Year award, which honors a resi dent who has demonstrated leadership on a major issue or made valuable contribu tions to the community.

A mother of three, Borrell

makes it a priority to support West Side schools and be in volved in her children’s edu cation. She is a member of the Parent Teacher Organi zation at Cherokee Heights Elementary and Humboldt High School and has volun teered in many ways at those schools, ranging from pro viding translation services to serving food at events. She is also a longtime member of several community garden ing groups, including the

Capitol View Communal Garden Association and the Free Farm Stand Network, both of which grow food and give it away free. Following the closure of the commu nity garden at Stryker and Elizabeth in 2019, Borrell received permission from the owner of Icy Cup to start a garden on the boulevard near his business at George and Stryker. At that garden, vegetables often mysteri ously disappear overnight,

which is just fine with her.

On top of her volunteer ism, Borrell works full-time as a chef and part-time as the caretaker of her apartment building.

Perhaps the biggest way Borrell has helped the West Side community is through small acts of kindness, often for people she doesn’t know. Over her years of commu nity involvement, she has

WSP begins study for community center; Hy-Vee property still in flux

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

The West St. Paul City Council has approved a market and de mand feasibility study to determine what it would take to build a com munity center. The decision was sparked by residents who packed the council chambers on October 24 in hopes of persuading the City to hold off on selling what they say is the perfect site: the 9.5-acre, former Hy-Vee property at 150 Thompson Ave. E. The City pur chased the property in August and has until mid-December to transfer it to a developer that shares the city’s goals for the site. If the transfer isn’t made, the city may back out of the contract, or attain full ownership of the site and all the costs and tax burdens associated with it. The city will hire a consultant this winter to conduct the $7,500 study. It will be completed by summer 2023.

“I know that they [city council members] are aware that the people of West St. Paul and the surround ing area want a community center,” said Catherine Dahl, spokesperson for the group of community mem bers. “I’m just not sure how much thought they’ve given to where it will be placed if this [former Hy-Vee] land is developed before we see the results of that feasibility study.”

Discussions of a community cen ter have ramped up in the past few

Holiday Event Guide / Page 7

Agustina Borrell

Final design of Riverview Library is now complete

Tim Spitzack Editor

In early November, St. Paul Public Library (SPPL) unveiled its final design for the renovation of the historic Riverview Library on the West Side, which hasn’t been updated in more than 40 years. Now it needs to find the money to begin the work. SPPL is partnering with The Friends of the St. Paul Public Li brary, a nonprofit advocacy and fundraising organiza tion, to secure city, state, federal and private funds for the estimated $4.65 mil lion project.

The renovation is designed to complement the style of the library, which was built in 1917 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Located at 1 George St. E., it is one of three Carnegie libraries in St. Paul. The building is slated to receive a new wing on the north and west sides that will add about 30% more space, bringing the total to ap

proximately 11,000 square feet. The main entrance will be moved to the southwest corner near the intersection of George Street and Hum boldt Avenue. The current entrance will be turned into an outdoor reading plaza and performance space, and a garden will be added to the building’s east side. Design features include a glass-lined front entrance, comfortable seating, small study rooms, a wellness room, a com munity room and public art that celebrates the West Side neighborhood. All books and materials – and restrooms – will be on one level. Mechanical systems will also be upgraded.

In the 1950s, the inte rior was altered to lower the ceiling in the main reading room and remove most of the original interior fea tures. The building was again renovated in the late 1980s to add an ADA-accessible entrance and elevator, and to bring back many of the original design features. LSE Architects was selected a year

This rendering shows the new wing that will be added to the north and west sides of the build ing. It will add about 30% more space, bringing the total to appoximatley 11,000 square feet.

ago to provide design, com munity engagement, and construction services for the new project. This spring LSE presented two concepts for consideration. For more information, visit sppl.org/ transforming-libraries.

“I’m immensely excited about transforming River view Library into a space that better serves the needs of our West Side commu nity,” said Library Board Chair and Councilmem

ber Rebecca Noecker in a released statement. “The new building design and floor plan make the library a more inviting, dynamic, and accessible community space where all community members can feel welcome. I appreciate the many neigh bors who provided input to guide the development of the building design in a way that reflects the needs and vibrant cultures of the West Side.”

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.

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Advent and Christmas 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.

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, November 24 – 9:00 am (livestreamed)

Saint Paul Civic Symphony Concert Sunday, December 4 – 3:00 pm

ST. PAUL

PUBLISHING

COMPANY 1643 So. Robert St., West St. Paul, MN 55118 651-457-1177 | info@stpaulpublishing.com | www.stpaulpublishing.com The St. Paul Voice assumes no responsibility for the opinions expressed by contributors and for the validity of claims or items reported. Copyright St. Paul Voice 2022. All rights reserved in compliance of Federal Copyright Act of 1978.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Vigil, Wednesday, December 7 – 7:00 pm Thursday, December 8 – 7:00 pm

Christmas Bake Sale, Boutique and Tea

Saturday, December 10 – 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Sunday, December 11 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Santa Breakfast Sunday, December 11 – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Communal Penance Service Sunday, December 18 – 2:00 pm

Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24 – 4:15 pm (in-person)

Christmas Day

Sunday, December 25 – 10:15 am (in-person and online)

Let

Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God Vigil, New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31 – 4:15 pm (in-person) New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1 – 10:15 am (in-person and online)

You may participate online: Facebook (www.facebook.com/churchofstmatthew) or YouTube (www.youtube.com/churchofstmatthew)

The Church of St. Matthew is a Catholic community that is a visible expression of God’s love.

The interior will feature ample seating and art that celebrates the West Side neighborhood.

in facilities outside of their county or even out of state, far from family and friends, which can be isolating.

“The counties reached out to us, knowing our area of expertise is in youth residen tial services,” said Mucheck. “If we [Nexus] can offer that safe, short-term placement so other [long-term social service] systems can help youth, then we want to be able to meet that need in the community.

“Some kids may only need a few days for a respite as they wait for a court date,” she added. “Some may need longer and need to stay the full 90 [days] if they look for long-term placement options, foster care, things of that sort… The difficulty with adjusting to an out-ofstate or out-of-county place ment is that at times it just puts a further burden on the system as well as on the youth’s family.”

In the past year, several new initiatives have been launched to bolster mental health care in Dakota Coun

ty. This trend may have been accelerated by the pandemic, which slashed the capacity of many hospitals and other institutions that would typi cally help residents dealing with mental health issues.

Most recently, the county be gan designing a new mental health facility which may be built on its Northern Service Center campus at 1 Mendota Rd. W. in West St. Paul. In addition, a social worker has been placed within most city police departments in the county to offer services to people in crisis.

“It’s vitally important that we as a county provide a place for kids to be when they’re going through some of the toughest times in their life and they can’t be at home,” said Dakota County Commissioner Laurie Halv erson in a released statement.

“We want to make sure they are safe and cared for, and they can get the services they need immediately. I’m really proud of Dakota County for making this part of our com munity.”

Founded in Minnetonka in 1972, Nexus Family Healing operates centers in Illinois, Maryland, North Dakota, and 13 cities across Minnesota, including Al bert Lea, Bemidji, Brainerd, Mankato and St. Cloud, and the Southeast Regional Crisis Center in Rochester, which serves youth and adults across 10 counties in southeast Minnesota. Nexus is headquartered in Plymouth.

“I really do like the col laborative work with the

counties and other provid ers, and that ability to come together to solve problems in very creative ways,” said Mucheck. “Ultimately, that problem-solving is making a difference in somebody’s life. You know that you’re directly impacting the youth within your community and helping those families to en joy one another. That’s really what it’s about. Just having that community that comes and works together to help support one another when times are hard and difficult.”

Toys for Teens at MHPD

The Mendota Heights Police Department and the Scott Carver Dakota Community Action Partnership have teamed up to collect gifts for ages 10-18 this holi day season. Popular items are bean bag chairs, skate boards, snowboards, blankets, travel pillows, phone cases and chargers, tie-dye kits, arts and crafts, LED lights, sporting goods, hygiene items and cosmetics, music, movies, books and essential clothing items. Un wrapped gifts may be dropped off any time through December 11 at the Mendota Heights Police Depart ment, 1101 Victoria Curve. You may also choose gifts from the CAP Agency Wish List at CAPAgency.org and they’ll be shipped free.

Academia Cesar Chavez 1801 Lacrosse Ave., St. Paul 651-778-2940

Great River School 1326 Energy Park Drive St Paul MN 55108 651-305-2780 enroll@greatriverschool.org www.greatriverschool.org St. Paul

Aspen House has

beds,

kitchen, dining and lounge space, and therapy rooms.

Community center

months. In late September, West St. Paul City Man ager Nate Burkett presented some preliminary data to the city council at a work session. It was determined that a community center would likely require at least three acres and would take two to six years to complete, depending on amenities and funding. It’s anticipated that a center with amenities similar to the YMCA, which was located on the Hy-Vee site for more than 50 years, would likely cost $3.5-$5.5

million. The YMCA had an indoor pool, exercise and program rooms, and child care facilities.

“It [the YMCA] was really very much a community hub and there was a good deal of community spirit that hap pened in structured ways,” said Dahl. “A lot of people in the area agree that there is a call for something similar to replace the old YMCA. There were things for all different ages. It really was a multi-generational place and it helped to build the com

munity across generations. That’s what we’re hoping for again.”

Dahl and other residents encouraged the City to seek a partnership with the cit ies of South St. Paul and Mendota Heights to build the center, saying residents from each community used the YMCA. Burkett said the city is interested in partnering with other cities and organizations to create a regional attraction and is including that option in the feasibility study. That said, councilmembers noted that the city has already reached out to the YMCA, ISD 197 and Mendota Heights in the

past year and nothing has materialized. The city could also seek state and federal funds.

The YMCA sold the prop erty to Hy-Vee in 2019. The city purchased it from HyVee to have better control over what is developed on the site. The City envisions multi-family housing, res taurant and retail space, a transit stop, plaza and pro gram space, green space, amphitheater, playground, pavilion, and a promenade along the pond.

The feasibility study is the first step to determine if a community center could be part of the development.

WE CAN HELP...and so can you!

Are you looking for a way to connect with your community? Do you have a desire to volunteer but don't know where to start? Welcome to the West St Paul/Mendota Heights Rotary. Rotary is a non-political, non-religious organization made up of people of all cultures and backgrounds. We believe we share a responsibility to create lasting change in our ourselves, our community and across the globe. If you would like to learn more about your local Rotary club, join us Wednesday, December 7 at 7:30 am at the Copperfield Restaurant, 735 Maple St., Mendota Heights, for breakfast or a cup of coffee and meet the members of the West St Paul/Mendota Heights Rotary. RSVP to Alan Ruvelson at aruvelson@msn.com so we can let the restaurant know how many people to expect. We hope we see you there!

Concord St St. Paul 6 51 228-0506 w ww.olg catholic.org

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

Salem Lutheran

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

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

“There’s been enough in terest in the community that I think we owe it to them to do a feasibility study,” said West St. Paul Mayor Dave Napier. “This has been a hot topic for a while, even be fore the Y decided to close the doors in West St. Paul. I want to calm the water by saying, “Hey we hear you. We’re going to be respon sible and we’re going to do an actual assessment, which we’ve never done.’ I believe West St. Paul will be part of anything moving forward, if it does. And if it doesn’t, then we learned, and we’ve done our due diligence as leaders of our city.”

“Ours is a Service of Sincerity”

Johnson-Peterson

Riverview teacher awarded

Riverview Elemen tary teacher Jackelyn Doyle-Eustice received a $500 teaching award from the Minnesota Council on Economic Education. Doyle-Eus tice has worked in the St. Paul School district as a 5th-grade teacher and Social Studies con tent specialist for six years. She has an un dergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a master’s in urban education from Metro politan State University.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

St. Stephen’s Lutheran 1575 Charlton St. West St. Paul 651-457-6541 w ww.ststephenswsp.org

become a central nerve with in the neighborhood’s net working hub. Her friends, and friends of friends, of ten reach out for assistance when seeking housing or employment. She can gen erally point them in the right direction or find someone who can. She also has been known to voice her opinion at meetings regarding topics affecting the neighborhood or its schools. For example, she spoke out on the clos ing of the Montessori pro gram at Cherokee Heights Elementary, which was an nounced in January.

“Most of the people that I connect with are people who are either new in the community or don’t have access to some services,” said Borrell. “There are a lot of parents and people from the Spanish community here on the West Side who don’t have access to – or know how to use – a computer, and a lot of services and ap plications that they have to do need to be done online. Because of the language [barrier], they come to me and ask if I’m able to help them. I do it because when

I got here [to the U.S.] I did not know English either. I understand why it’s so hard when you’re not able to un derstand what other people say or are unable to express yourself. I just believe that if somebody is asking for help it’s because they really need it. If I cannot help, then I will try to connect them with somebody who might be able to help.” Borrell is a native of Mexico. She moved to California in 1993, and to the West Side in 2001.

Borrell was nominated by friend and fellow volunteer Sue LeTourneau for her countless hours of volunteer work at West Side schools and community gardens.

“She not only participates in events and activities on the West Side but engages others in the community to do so as well,” said LeTourneau in her nomination letter. “She does all of this while working full-time and raising three

daughters with her husband Nicholas. Agustina, with her enormous heart, has been a thoughtful, hardwork ing, fun and positive force on the West Side for many years, reaching out to her community in small and big ways, making vital connec tions and strengthening the fabric of our neighborhood.”

Borrell said volunteerism has become part of who she is, and she has no plans to stop anytime soon. Asked what she likes best about the West Side, she replied that it’s the people.

“I know there are a lot of people on the West Side who have a really good heart,” she said. “I do not have any siblings here in Minnesota but I do have lots of friends who have treated me as fam ily and given me so much. Sometimes I try to give back just because people are being very good to me.”

Next summer’s Twin Cities Jazz Festival will be memorable in more ways than one. It marks the 25th anniversary of the event and the swan song for its founder and executive director. Steve Heckler will retire at the cul mination of the 2023 event and pass the baton to Dayna Martinez, who will succeed him as executive director.

Martinez comes to the Twin Cities Jazz Festival from the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, where she most recently served as vice president of program ming and education. She has served in many roles at the Ordway. She began working in development and the box

office then spent several years as contract manager. Since 2012, she has also served as director of the annual Flint Hills Family Festival, held at the Ordway. She has a bachelor’s degree in music from Avila University and a master’s in performing arts

management from Colum bia College-Chicago. She serves on the boards of the St. Paul Festival Association and the Minnesota Present ers Network and is actively involved in the Association of Performing Arts Profes sionals.

Heckler founded the Jazz Fest in 1999 as a small sin gle-day event in downtown Minneapolis. He grew it into one of the largest free civic jazz festivals in the Midwest. Today, the festival is held in St. Paul at Mears Park and other downtown venues. The 2023 event is held June 2324. For more information, visit twincitiesjazzfestival. com.

Twin Cities Jazz Fest names new executive director

Dayna Martinez

Warriors, Crusaders and Cadets make post-season runs on the gridiron

John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer

There are 360 high school football teams in Minnesota and, unlike their college counterparts, all become bowl eligible at the end of the regular sea son. The attrition process that starts in earnest in midOctober is unrelenting. By the time the Prep Bowl un folds at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 3, 348 teams will have turned in their gear – and just 14 teams in seven divisions will be left to compete for the coveted state championships.

All four of the prep foot ball teams in the St. Paul Voice distribution area have reasons to hold their heads high. The Harding/Hum boldt Knighthawks, in their second year as a co-op team, completed their regular sea son with a marvelous 7-1 record. Because of a contro versial fight that erupted at the conclusion of their final game of the season at St. Paul Johnson, both teams were ruled ineligible to par ticipate in the post-season. It was an unfortunate inci dent, but that single misstep cannot undo the exceedingly positive effort orchestrated by the Knighthawks’ head coach Andre Creighton and his football team.

Over the past five seasons, the Two Rivers High School football team has not fared well in the win-loss column. The lone victory in the 2022 regular season was a 20-15 triumph over St. Louis Park on Sept. 16. Two Rivers head coach Tom Orth is no stranger to witnessing in spirational performances in the post-season. The 2013 team finished the regular season with a 4-4 record and

was seeded fifth in the Sec tion 3AAAAA tournament. They beat Hastings 28-21 in the quarterfinals, toppled St. Paul Central 20-7 in the semifinals and then traveled to St. Thomas Academy (STA) to take on the #1 seeded Cadets. After getting hammered 31-0 by STA a month earlier, the Warriors responded with an historic 38-14 victory to advance to the state tournament.

Two Rivers opened the 2022 Section 3AAAAA tour nament at Hastings on Oct. 25, just 18 days after they were pummeled 42-6 by the Raiders. In the rematch, Warrior quarterback Johnny Youness opened the scoring with two touchdown passes in the first quarter and Two Rivers led 24-14 at halftime. The Raiders countered in the third quarter with two touchdowns to take a 28-27 lead, but Two Rivers senior Gabe Goldenman responded with a three-yard plunge in the fourth quarter and the Warriors were victorious, 33-28.

Next up, the Warriors traveled to Bloomington Kennedy to take on the #2 seeded Eagles in the section semi-finals. For the first three quarters, it was a nip and tuck defensive struggle. An 11-yard touchdown by Goldenman in the second quarter and a field goal put the Warriors ahead 10-7 en tering the fourth quarter.

End of defensive struggle. There were six touchdowns scored in the fourth quar ter, three by each team. With 2:04 left on the clock, Kennedy scored to stretch their lead to 28-17. The Warriors responded with a touchdown with 1:10 to go to climb within 28-25 and then forced a turnover. A

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one yard toss from Golden man to Owen Watson with seven seconds to go sealed the victory, 32-28. The joy ride ended with a 45-0 loss in the sectional title game to a marvelous and well-rested STA squad, but the stories and memories that unfolded over the course of those two weeks will remain vivid and rehashed for many years to come.

That brings us to the St. Croix Lutheran Academy, home to one of the win ningest prep football pro grams in the Twin Cities over the past two decades. Carl Lemke is no longer at the helm, but his successor, Adam Frey, is fervent is his desire to lead the program to a similar plateau. Two years ago, the Crusaders came within a victory of advanc ing to the Prep Bowl and that remains Frey’s ultimate goal.

The Crusaders opened the 2022 season with a narrow 17-14 loss to Concordia Academy. The following week, the team traveled to Breck and blew out the Mus tangs, 41-14. As pleased as Frey was with the victory, a nightmare of season ending injuries to key players ac companied the victory.

Starting quarterback Marco Rodrigues and safety Michael Josephs-Tobias were both felled by ACL injuries and another starter broke his collarbone.

“Our injury list actually started before the season did,” recalled Frey. “We lost our second-string quarter back in the middle of the summer. Our best receiver Andrew Beekman suffered a second torn ACL, but he has gutted it out with a brace.”

Because of a lack of num bers on the varsity roster,

two-thirds of the starters play positions on both sides of the ball. With those inju ries at Breck, the Crusaders have lost starters at 12 of the 22 positions. The team end ed the regular season with a 3-5 record.

Since the beginning of the season, the Crusaders have utilized a run-first offense and, for the most part, it has been successful. For the season the Crusaders have rushed for 2,072 yards on 320 carries, a sparkling, 6.5 yards per carry. Seniors Jack Thome and Evan Valleau have carried the load. With out a seasoned quarterback, the team has thrown just 21 passes for 143 yards.

The Crusaders opened post-season play with a semifinal game at the #2 seed in Section 3AAA, Minneapolis Henry and prevailed 44-25. On Nov. 4, they once again traveled to Breck, this time with the section champion ship on the line. The defense was hearty and Crusaders did enough on offense to win the Section 3AAA title, 14-6.

“I can’t exaggerate how proud I am of our defense,” said Frey. “Jack and Evan have been phenomenal on both sides of the ball and so have Noah Rathje and Har ley Owen. They are great players who never want to come off the field.”

On Nov. 12, the Crusad ers traveled to Burnsville to face Fairmont in the quar terfinals of the Class 3A state tournament. Fairmont opened the scoring on a 67-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brendan Schmidtke to Landen Mey erderk. St. Croix running back Evan Vallaeu responded with a 66-yard touchdown to tie the score. But the un dersized and undermanned

Crusaders couldn’t keep pace. The final was 49-7. Ironically, it was 11 years ago that Fairmont and St. Croix Lutheran met in the Class 3A championship game. Fi nal score: St. Croix Lutheran 34, Fairmont 32.

St. Thomas Academy (STA), under the leadership of head coach Dan O’Brien, once again finds itself in the midst of a run at a state championship. Now in his fifth season at the helm, the Cadets’ overall record dur ing his tenure is 50-4 (37-1 in the regular season, 9-0 in sectional play and 4-3 in the state tournament).

The 2022 team entered state tournament play with a record of 10-0, outscoring their opponents 432-70. Senior running backs Love Adebayo (993 yards on 108 attempts) and Savian Hart (1,132 yards on 128 carries) led a lethal running attack, averaging nine yards per carry. Quarterback Maximus Sims chipped in by complet ing 49 passes on 82 attempts for 633 yards and six touch downs.

In our preseason football preview article, O’Brien summed up his assessment of the Cadets this way: “I think we are in good shape at the specialist positions, but losing seven out of eight interior linemen to gradua tion does not bode well. Our season will likely depend on how well we shore up both sides of the ball.”

Well, the results are now in, and coach O’Brien could not be more effusive in his praise of those who toil in the trenches.

“On the offensive side of the ball, senior Gavin En gelbert and juniors Emilio Gomez, Teddy Knapp and Max Anderson have been terrific,” said O’Brien. “On

the defensive side of the ball, we have had great leadership from seniors Jeff Cragg, Jon ny Miller, Bennet Kotok and Jackson Cercioglu.”

One of the most refreshing components about O’Brien’s coaching style is his unique perspective that what is most important to him is not the wins and losses but rather the overall well-being of those who play for him.

The Cadets have lost three games in the state tourna ment under O’Brien’s watch. All three were to the eventual state champion: Owatonna in the state championship game in 2018; Chaska in the state championship in 2019; and Mankato West in the state quarterfinals in 2021.

On Nov.12, the Cadets traveled to Woodbury High School to take on Mahtome di in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament. The Cadets had defeated the Zephers 28-14 in the regu lar season and O’Brien was aware that it is not easy to defeat a team as well-round ed as Mahtomedi twice in the same season.

Both teams scored on their first possession and the score was 14-7 Mahtomedi late in the fourth quarter. It was old fashioned football.

Zepher running back Carey Bohmert rushed for 276 yards on 46 carries and STA’s running back, Love Adebayo and Savian Hart, each went over 100 yards as well.

It was STA’s Jonny Miller who picked up a muffed snap on a punt and scored to send the game into over time. Both teams had op portunities to win it, but it was Bohmert who broke the plane on fourth and goal from the one-yard line and won it for the Zephers. The final was 20-14.

Photo by Michael Murray

STA running back Savion Hart (above) and teammate Love Adebayo each rushed for over 1,000 yards this season.

GLOW Holiday Festival

CHS Field will be trans formed into a winter won derland Nov. 23-Jan. 1. The GLOW festival features more than a million lights, a 60-foot-tall tree, Charity Flame, and much more. Vis itors can hang out at sElfie Plaza, enjoy a 150-foot tube slide, play on the Penguin Playground, navigate the Reindeer Run maze, roast up a tasty treat at Smores Stations and more. Some activities have an additional cost. Tickets are $20.75 for adults, $12.75 for children ages 5-12, and must be pur chased in advance at glow holiday.com. Entry times are reserved every hour starting at 5 p.m. each night. Ticket holders can enter at any time within the allotted hour and stay as long as they like. The last reserved entry time is 8 pm. GLOW closes at 9 p.m., Sunday-Thursday, and 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday.

James J. Hill House

Holidays on the Hill tours are held Nov. 25-Dec. 31. Check out both floors of the 1910 Gilded Age man sion of railroad titan James J. Hill. Admission includes self-guided access to holi day-themed exhibits and a 60-minute guided tour high lighting holiday stories and memories from both the Hill family and their staff. Tours

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Holiday Flower Show, Dec. 3-Jan. 8, in the Sunken Garden. This year’s show will feature a white poinsettia accented with other handselected plants.

Ice Castles

Ice Castles return to New Brighton this year. Visi tors can enjoy ice slides, ice sculptures, an ice bar and more. Tickets go on sale Nov. 28. For more informa tion, visit icecastles.com.

Germanic American Institute

Christmas in Germany, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 3-4, 301 Summit Ave. Free. This is the institute’s annual open haus, but with a new name. Guests can experi ence some of the traditions of German Christmas. Taste Lebkuchen cookies baked by the GAI Damenklub, drink Haus brewed Glüh wein (mulled wine) and lis ten to German carols sung by the Minnesänger Chorus and 4Winds quartet. Season al goods will be sold outdoors by various vendors, Weih nachtsmarkt style. For more information, visit gaimn.org and search “Christmas.”

HANDYMAN

Christmas in Germany dinner is held 5-8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10. Enjoy a holiday program and a multi-course dinner catered by Lake Elmo Inn. Tickets are $80.

Stammtisch Christmas Lunch is held 11:30 a.m.noon, Tuesday, Dec. 13. $15, registration required. Attend ees can register for dine-in or curbside pick-up. There will be a short Christmas program with readings and songs for those dining in.

Schmidt Lofts Holiday Market

At least 30 artists will be selling their work from booths 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 25-26, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 27, in the Brewhouse of Schmidt Artist Lofts, 900 W. Seventh St.

St. Paul Hotel

“It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” is pre sented Dec. 1-23. The clas sic 1946 Frank Capra film has been adapted into a radio drama for the stage. The performances feature actors and sound effects to help guide the audience’s imagination. Tickets start at

$89 and include 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 Afternoon Tea, 1-3 p.m., Wed.-Sun., Dec. 1-30. Events feature a tea time fashioned after Eng land’s afternoon tea, a sea sonal chef-inspired menu and live piano music. The

event will not take place Dec. 24 or 25. $60.

Art House North

Sara Groves Christmas Show, 7:30-9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 9 at Art House North, 793 Armstrong Ave. W. Sara Groves and her band

will play music from her Christmas records, among other originals and covers. Complimentary Brake Bread desserts and decaf Dogwood coffee are served. Doors

Holiday

events / Page 8

Happy

The GLOW festival will transform CHS Field into a winter wonderland Nov. 23-Jan. 1, 2023, with festive displays.

open at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $45 through Nov. 28, and $55 on later dates. VIP tickets are available for $75 and includes 45 minutes with Sara beginning at 6 p.m., additional dessert, ci der and coffee, and a T-shirt. For more information, visit arthousenorth.com/events.

Circus Juventas

“Solstice” is presented Dec. 9-18, at the Big Top located at 1270 Montreal Ave. As forest creatures pre pare for the great winter solstice celebration, a ripple runs through the frosted wood. Jack Frost has gone missing, swept away to the lair of the Summer Sor cerer, who is determined to usher in an age of eternal heat. Only the caretakers of the seasons can free Jack in time to stop the sorcerer and bring in winter. Shows start at 7 p.m., Fridays, 1 and 7 p.m., Saturdays, and 1 p.m., Sundays. $25-$45.

Holiday Family Concerts are held Dec. 1 and 3 featur ing classical music, Christmas carols, Chanukah tunes and more, including Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from

“The Messiah,” a selection from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” and an original arrangement of Ukrainian carols. Performances are 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1, at First Covenant Church, 1280

Arcade St., St. Paul, and 2-3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. For more information, visit mnsinfonia.org.

Union Depot

Union Depot, 214 4th St. E., St. Paul, is hosting the following holidays events.

European Christmas Market, Nov. 25-Dec. 18, on the East Plaza. Visitors can shop for handmade crafts from more than 20 local vendors, drink Glüh wein (spiced mulled wine), taste European inspired delicacies, and participate

in family friendly activities. Admission is free. The event is based on the festive openair Christkindl Markets that spring up in Germany, Austria, and other European countries during the Advent season. Hours are 4-9 p.m., Fridays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat urdays, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays.

Tree Lighting and Movie Night, 5-9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3. Attendees should gather in the waiting room at 5 p.m. for free cider, craft stations, light-up wand give aways for kids, the St. Paul Winter Carnival 2023 but ton reveal and more. The Mistletones will present a holiday concert at 5:30 p.m. Tree lighting is at 7 p.m. in the North Plaza, followed by fireworks and a holiday sing-along. The movie “Elf” is presented at 7:30 p.m., in the waiting room. Visi tors are encouraged to bring blankets for seating. Free.

Holiday Bake Sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, in the waiting room. Shop from more than 30 local bakery and food ven dors and enjoy musical per formances. Free gift bags are given to the first 200 people to arrive.

Minnesota Sinfonia

Tree lighting and movie night takes place 5-9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at Union Depot.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, 5-8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 12. The train shows up at 7 p.m. and pres ents a 45-minute concert. Arrive early to shop and view model trains. Visitors will have a chance to receive giveaways.

The North Pole Express, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 2-4 and 8-11. Take a short train ride to the North Pole to meet Santa and his elves. Tickets are $36 for adults and $26 for children age 12 and under.

St. Paul Parks & Rec.

Holiday events take place at rec centers across St. Paul Dec. 10, 13 and 15. All events are free, but registra tion is required for most. For more information, visit stpaul.gov and search “win ter events.”

Dinner with Santa, 5:307 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, at Duluth and Case Recre ation Center, 1020 Duluth St. Families can enjoy food, crafts and a visit from Santa.

Santa’s Workshop, 5:308 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Battle Creek Recreation Center, 75 Winthrop St. S. Kids ages 6-18 may purchase and wrap gifts for their par

ents, siblings or friends. All gifts will be under $1. Limit of $10 per child; cash only.

Parents must stay in a wait ing area while their child is in the workshop.

Community Holiday Dinner, 6-7:30 p.m., Tues day, Dec. 13, at Hazel Park Recreation Center, 645 Ha zel St. N. Families can enjoy a light dinner (while food supplies last) and holiday activities.

Winter Wonderland , 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, at North Dale Recreation Center, 1414 St. Albans St. N. Ages 12 and under. Visi tors can take part in activities and enjoy a visit from Santa.

Once Upon a Holiday Movie Night, 6-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, at Phalen Recreation Center, 1000 Wheelock Parkway E. Visi tors may wear their pajamas and bring their blankets. Hot chocolate and snacks will be provided.

Open Window Theatre

“Nicholas,” is presented Dec. 2-29 at Open Win dow Theatre, 5300 S. Rob ert Tr., Inver Grove Heights. This play dives into the inspiring story of the real-

life Father Christmas, St. Nicholas of Myra, who lived during the fourth century. His adventurous life of faith, combined with his heroic gen erosity and humble service of the less fortunate, would eventually become the basis for our modern-day Santa Claus. Tickets are $28, with discounts for students and se niors. For more information, visit openwindowtheatre.org.

O’Shaughnessy Auditorium

The following take place at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University, 204 Randolph Ave., St. Paul.

St. Paul Ballet presents “The Nutcracker,” 7 p.m., Dec. 2, and 2 and 7 p.m., Dec. 3. Pay what you can; sug gested adult donation of $35.

Katie McMahon presents Celtic Christmas 2022 , 7:30, Friday, Dec. 9. Enjoy traditional Christmas carols, stories and lively Irish dance. McMahon will be joined on stage by her band, singers and the Rince na Chroí Irish Dancers. $5-$28.

Ballet Minnesota presents “The Classic Nutcracker,” 7 p.m., Dec. 16, and 2 p.m., Dec. 17-18. $5-$45.

By Ezra Jack Keats

The annual Holiday Flower Show is held Dec. 3-Jan. 8, 2023, in the Sunken Garden at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.

651-225-6000

The Amazing Castle is the featured exhibit through Jan. 8, 2023. Travel back in time to a magical place where medieval storybook characters come to life. Ex plore eight themed areas and get to know the characters that make the castle a com

Imaginopolis now fea tures Nature ReMix. Visi tors are transported into a se cret forest where everything is recognizable, but has a whimsical twist. Pretend to bake sweet treats in a squir rel’s house, create a home

My thanks to everyone for your support in the race for Mendota Heights City Council. Running for office is a team effort, and I deeply appreciate the support of both my long-time and my new friends. It was a team win and it

Thanks to every resident who welcomed me

sations showed that the people of Mendota Heights did their homework and that meant deeper, more informative discussions. They were exactly what I needed to hear so I can sity, and the opportunities you want heard by

My pledge to represent you and voice your concerns remains my top priority. I am certain that working together we can keep all that’s special about Mendota Heights as we move into a strategic vision for the continued health

Reach out to me with your concerns and questions. I can best meet the needs of the city

MN Children’s

ample St. Paul

from oversized leaves and fish scales, and more.

Other exhibits and activi ties include The Scramble, The Studio, Creativity Jam, Sprouts, Backyard, Our World, Forces at Play, Super Awesome Adventures, and the Tip Top Terrace.

The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Sun. Tickets are $14.95. Admis sion is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required. The next free date is Dec. 4.

MN Museum of American Art

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

“In Our Minds” is on dis play in the museum’s window space through Jan. 8, 2023. Presented in partnership with Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, this ex hibit celebrates art-making as a form of research, improvisa tion and play.

“Off the Deep End,” a digital mural printed on vinyl, is on display in the

Jackson Street skyway bridge between 4th and 5th Streets through March 15, 2023. The artwork was created by 19 students from the St. Paul Conservatory for Perform ing Artists and explores the theme of metaphorical rising sea level.

Ordway Center

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

“Beauty and the Beast” is presented at select times Nov. 30-Dec. 31. Tickets start at $41.

Christmas with Cantus: Into the Light, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16. Tickets start at $25.

Park Square Theatre

20 W. 7th Place St. Paul 651-291-7005 parksquaretheatre.org

“The Snowy Day” is presented Dec. 1-23. Cel ebrate the joy of the seasons through a child’s eyes in this new, ensemble-driven

production that explores connections to water and the changing of the seasons. Ticket pricing varies based on date.

RiverCentre

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

Minnesota Hmong New Year 2022-2023, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Nov. 26-27.

St. Paul Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show, 1-8 p.m., Dec. 2; 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Dec. 3; and 9 a.m.4 p.m., Dec. 4. Shop more than 190 exhibitors. Tickets are $15 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12 and free for children five and under.

Minnesota Roller Derby, 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Roy Wilkins Auditori um. Tickets start at $12.50.

Schubert Club

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

KidsJam: Journey

through Afro-Brazilian Music with Ticket to Bra zil, 10:30 a.m., Nov. 29-30, at the Schubert Club Music Museum. Tickets start at $5.

Harpist Bridget Kibbey, Schubert Club’s 2022-2023 featured artist, and Alexi Kenney, violin, will perform at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 1, and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 2, at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. Tickets start at $28.

Museum Mini: Kevin Newton, 10:30 a.m., Mon day, Dec. 5. Kevin Newton of Imani Winds will play the French horn and teach about how it works. This is a vir tual event. Free.

Accordo concert , 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 5 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Tickets start at $28.

Songs of the Season: Car ols by Minnesota Compos ers, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Landmark Center. Free.

Digital concert series: A performance of Anne Sofie von Otter and Kristian Be zuidenhout will be featured on the Schubert Club web

site at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15. Tickets are $10.

Science Museum of Minnesota

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

Nature All Around Us is presented through January 22, 2023. Discover the hid den worlds and rich ecosys tems within familiar places and explore how trees cool neighborhoods, how streams carry storm water away from homes, how spending time in nature keeps people healthy, and more.

Omnitheater films“Backyard Wilderness” is presented through January 31, 2023. Peek inside dens, nests and ponds to meet the creatures that live there.

“Dream Big” is presented through December 31. Ex plore engineering marvels from around the world and learn how engineers push the limits of innovation in unexpected ways.

Omnitheater tickets are

$9.95. Free for children age 3 and under.

Sensory Friendly Sunday is hosted the first Sunday of the month. Visitors can ex perience a lights-up, sounddown Omnitheater show at 10 a.m. The program was created in consultation with the Autism Society of Min nesota. Admission is free for personal care attendants when visiting with a client.  Museum tickets range from $9.95-$34.90, with discounts available for those with limited incomes.

Xcel Center

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

Disney On Ice presents “Find Your Hero,” 7 p.m., Dec. 8; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Dec. 9; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m., Dec. 10; and 1 and 5 p.m., Dec. 11. Tickets start at $20.

Trans-Siberian Orches tra, 3 and 7:30 p.m., Fri day, Dec. 23. Tickets start at $49.50.

{ THE FULLER FILES

Visit St. Paul and the RiverCentre Authority are seeking a new president and CEO. Terry Mattson, who has served in that role for nine years, is departing when his contract ends in February 2023. The organi zation has launched a search for his successor, who must have experience in market ing, relationship-building and tourism.

Listening House - A district court judge has re moved a hold on the plan for Listening House of St. Paul to build a daytime shelter for homeless people at the site of the former Red’s Savoy restaurant at 421 E. 7th St. Listening House is now free to proceed with the project and access $1.4 million in tax increment funding from the city. Business owners in the area had filed a lawsuit to halt the project, citing possible nuisance at the site.

Listening House closed its shelter at 296 7th St. ear lier this year after neighbors complained about unsavory behavior by some of the people who used the facility.

The Justus Ramsey Stone House on West 7th Street is the subject of a demolition application filed by Moe Sharif, owner of Burger Moe’s restaurant. The house, built in 1855, is located on the side patio of Burger Moe’s and has a partially collapsed wall. Historic St. Paul, the Historic Irvine Park Association and the Fort Road District 9 council sup port the preservation of the house. Some preservationists have suggested the building be dismantled and reas sembled at a different site. The Heritage Preservation Committee will review the matter and decide whether

to support the demolition.

Mississippi River Learn ing Center - A final design has been finalized for the proposed Mississippi River Learning Center at Crosby Farm Regional Park. The center would be owned by the city, which would lease space to the National Park Service, Wilderness Inqui ry and other river-related tenants. Over the next six months, organizers will develop ideas for commu nity programming and seek funding. For more details, visit greatriverpassage.org. St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation has named the recipients of its annual Facing Race Awards, which honors people and organi zations that work to elimi nate racism. They are Angela Hooks, founder and execu tive director of the nonprofit Black on Black Development and Entertainment; Txong pao Lee, executive director of Hmong Cultural Center; Lulete Mola, co-founder and president of the MN Black Collective Foundation; and Classie Dudley, president of the Duluth NAACP and executive director of Com munity Action Duluth.

NEOO Partners Inc., a downtown St. Paul-based commercial real estate firm, recently received the New Kid on the Block Award from the St. Paul City Coun cil, honoring a business that has opened in St. Paul within the last five years. The firm was founded by D’Angelos Svenkeson and Denetrick Powers.

Construction has begun on the Gold Line, a $505 million bus rapid transit route between St. Paul and Woodbury. The line will op erate between Union Depot

} by Roger Fuller

in downtown St. Paul and Woodlane Drive Station in Woodbury, with stops in Oakdale, Landfall and Ma plewood. It will offer service every 10 or 15 minutes and is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

The Hamm Clinic has moved from the historic Hamm Building to the Comcast building at 10 River Park Plaza on the West Side. The clinic occupies half of the seventh floor, increas ing its space from 8,300 square feet to 13,000 square feet. The nonprofit mental health clinic was founded in 1954 by Margaret Hamm Kelley, granddaughter of Theodore Hamm of the Hamm brewing family. It is currently looking for a permanent executive direc tor. Linda Ewing is serving as interim director. PAK Properties plans to convert the Hamm Building from office space to residential.

The Girl Scouts of Min nesota and Wisconsin Riv er Valleys has received a $4.2 million gift from philanthro pist MacKenzie Scott. It is part of $84.5 million that Scott gave to the national organization.

Victoria Theatre , 825 University Ave., received $1 million in state bonds to support renovation of the century-old theater. Organizers have raised $4.3 million toward the $5.5 mil lion project. The renovated theater will have a 120-seat auditorium with remov able seating, and classroom and gathering spaces. The Frogtown Neighborhood Association, the Center for Hmong Arts and Historic St. Paul have worked together to save the building from demolition.

St. Paul Parks and Rec reation has waived fees for basketball and other indoor sports for ages 9-18 for three years. This is made possible through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Visitors at the winter ver sion of the St. Paul Farm ers Market at 5th and Wall streets will stay toasty thanks to new overhead heaters at the market. The project was made possible by a $20,000 federal grant. The winter market is held 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays, beginning Dec. 3.

Laugh Camp Comedy Club, 490 N. Robert St., will present comedians Steve Gillespie, Dec. 2-3, Jessi Campbell, Dec. 9-10, Ali Sultan, Dec. 16-17, and John Bush, Dec. 30.

East Side Freedom Li brary will present a History Revealed program via Zoom at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 8. Adam Bledsoe will discuss activism in African Ameri can history. For more infor mation, visit esfl.org/events.

Community Christmas trees will shine brightly at two downtown locations this winter: at Rice Park, courtesy of The Salvation Army, and at Union Depot, on its lawn. A tree lighting ceremony at the Depot is held December 3.

The skyway walking group meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays near the security desk at the First National Bank building. The group travels a mile and a half through the skyways at a ca sual pace. No meeting Nov. 22.

Minnesota Sinfonia will present its annual holiday concert at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1, at First Covenant Church, 1280 Arcade.

The loss off a legend

Leslie Martin Staff Writer

Weiming Lu, the internationally renowned ur ban planner who was instrumental in revitalizing St. Paul’s Lowertown, died on October 4 at age 92. A native of Shanghai, China, Lu grew up in poverty and fled with his family to Taiwan because of political unrest. After obtaining a degree in civil engineering he moved to Minnesota to obtain a master’s degree in structural engineering at the University of Minnesota. He went to work for the city of Minneapolis and helped create the Nicollet Mall and the skyway system. At a time when cities were bulldozing older buildings for roadways and highways, Lu promoted historic preservation and the re-envisioning of downtowns. The title of his book summarizes his approach, “The Tao of Urban Rejuvenating: Building a Livable Creative Urban Village.”

Lu headed the Lowertown Redevelopment Corp. (LRC) for many years and was instrumental in the effort that preserved historic buildings in St. Paul’s 16-block warehouse district and transformed them for residential use. His designs also promoted the arts and green space. Lu was active in the develop ment of Mears Park, Union Depot, St. Paul Farmers Market, the Saints baseball stadium and major proj ects in cities worldwide. He was a popular lecturer and wrote extensively on urban planning topics. After retiring from LRC, Lu served as St. Paul’s host to visitors from around the world looking to make their cities more livable and sustainable.

Christmas carols and holiday favorites will be performed.

SteppingStone Theatre will present, “The Snowy Day” based on the book by Ezra Jack Keats, Dec. 1-23, at Park Square Theatre. Per formances will be held Dec. 2-4, 10-11, 17-18 and 2023.

Penumbra Theatre, 270 N. Kent St., will present its annual Christmas show, “Black Nativity,” Dec. 1-24. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m., Wed.-Fri.; 2 p.m., Saturdays; and 4 p.m., Sun days.

Saint Paul Civic Sympho ny will present “East-West / North-South,” a concert of symphonic music from around the globe, at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4 at St. Mat thews Catholic Church, 510 Hall Ave., St. Paul. It features “China Dreams” by Bright Sheng (East); Symphony No. 8 by Lud wig van Beethoven (West); “Reedbird” by Emilie Doo little (North); and Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4 by Heitor Villa-Lobos (South).

Learn new skills. Make media. Share your story. Become a member today.

Visit us at spnn.org or 550 Vandalia St Suite 170 Saint Paul, MN 55114

St. Paul City

School

215 University Ave. W., St. Paul

building, leadership and character growth.

West Siders call for acknowledgement of historic displacement

Genevieve Roudané Communications manager West Side Community Organization

On Sunday, Nov. 6, St. Paul residents gathered near the site of the old West Side Flats neighborhood to remember the strength of their past community and make a call for justice nearly 60 years after the City of St. Paul demolished hundreds of homes to make way for an industrial park. Neigh bors say it is time for an of ficial acknowledgement of what happened on the Flats and to take steps to build a future where communities of color do not dispropor tionately face displacement.

The old West Side Flats was the first neighborhood for many immigrants arriv ing in St. Paul during the first half of the 20th century.

“What made this commu nity special was that grow ing up, we really were truly diverse,” said Don Luna. “We were represented by Lebanese, Syrian, African American, Native American, Hispanic, Jewish cultures, and then just a pocket of Anglos. There was a com monality and a common bond. We had come there to the community in different vessels, but we were all in the same boat. We were all dirt poor. You didn’t have to lock your doors because there was nothing to steal – that’s how I rationalized it. But I also think it was more of we looked out for each other.”

The original West Side Flats were located on the lowlands along the Mis sissippi River immediately

south of downtown St. Paul. Due to its proximity to the river, residents regu larly faced severe flooding. Frances Mudek remembers watching the basement of her childhood home flood every spring.

“We’d open the basement door to see how far the water had come up,” she said. “And every time we opened it, we could see it rising and rising and rising. When it came to the top of the step, that’s when my father decided that we needed to move the fam ily to higher ground.”

She said water contami nation from the flooding would cause people to get sick, and many felt they had no choice but to move.

“We were almost forced to move, like all the other people of the Flats, unfor tunately,” Frances said. “I’m sure we would have stayed there forever otherwise, be cause the people who lived down there were happy down there.”

Despite the regular flood ing, no flood wall or levee was put in place to protect the people of the Flats. Resi dent Irene Sticha still feels the heartbreak of having to pack all her belongings and move in with a family friend.

“Why didn’t they put up the flood wall before?” she wonders. “That would have helped us stay in our homes. They didn’t think of us. I don’t know why. They just told us we had to go. Every thing we had was ruined.”

By the end of the 1950s, local officials from the City and the St. Paul Port Au thority made the decision to vacate all residents from

the Flats.

“They wanted the land,” said Refugio Simon Men dez. “The city was using the floods as a reason to move everybody.”

Linda Castillo, whose house on Minnetonka Street was demolished to make way for Highway 52, remem bered it this way.

“The Port Authority came in 1959 and they told us they were going to buy up the land because the land was no good, and they were going to move us up the hill, and they were going to pay us for the houses, which they didn’t. My mom and dad went back to our house and they already had the bull dozer in the middle of the house.”

After the homes were demolished, the City built a floodwall to protect the newly developed Riverview Industrial Park. In 1965, Highway 52 was built. To day, this area is surrounded by the St. Paul Airport, freight train routes, facto ries and incinerators, causing cumulative environmental harm to a neighborhood that remains one of the City’s most diverse.

The Minnesota Histori cal Society reports that 480 homes and buildings were destroyed on the Flats, dis placing 2,147 people. In short, it killed a community, said West Side Flats resident George Avaloz. “Every other year they had the flood down here and the city or the state never did anything about it. And then they made my family move because they were going to build the in dustrial center down there.

And then they put the flood control in. There should be some kind of acknowledge ment of what they did, in stead of just wiping it under the rug. Because as time passes, everybody forgets. It was really an injustice, what they did to the Mexicans down on the old West Side. To make them move like that, and not compensate them, and give them the bare minimum. What they did to destroy a community like that is wrong. It’s really wrong.”

To date, there has been no formal recognition or redress of the displacement and demolition of the West Side Flats.

“This year marks the 60th anniversary of displacement, and today we publicly and collectively call into memory

the harm that was done,” said Monica Bravo, execu tive director at the West Side Community Organi zation (WSCO), the neigh borhood district council. “How many families were not fairly compensated for their homes? What oppor tunities for generational wealth building were cut short? What was the cultural cost of dispersing one of the city’s most diverse neighbor hoods? Who benefitted from this displacement? How will future development in our neighborhood avoid repeat ing the mistakes of the past, and work towards truly eq uitable opportunities for all West Siders?”

The November 6 event included the unveiling of a photo exhibit featuring por traits of people who grew up

on the Flats, and their sto ries. Guest speakers includ ed St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, West Side resident Linda Castillo, local artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales, and a team from Research In Action, a local group launching an investi gation into the history of the Flats, the displacement, and the impacts it continues to have on the neighborhood today.

Foot Care

Photo by Minnesota Historical Society

A family on Water Street surveys damage from the 1952 flood.

Photo by Elizabeth Leonardsmith Refugio Simon Mendez, who grew up on the West Side Flats, remem bers when his family was forced to move. “They wanted the land,” he said. “The city was using the floods as a reason to move everybody.”

Neighbors, Inc.

Charlie Thompson President & CEO

Virginia Milbert, a founding member of Neighbors, Inc., recently shared her favorite story from the past 50 years of our organization.

Early on in our history, she was volunteering in the Clothes Closet. A parent came

in with two sons. The older boy was wearing a pair of worn-out shoes. In fact, they had cardboard attached to the bottom of them. The younger boy did not have shoes at all. The parent inquired about shoes for the boys and Vir ginia went to work.

P ostscript

Shelley’s Hats

Recently we attended the memorial for my husband Peter’s oldest sister, Shelley. Shelley went through a long battle with cancer, and Peter lost his second sister in two years.

Shelley’s husband died at the beginning of the pan demic and she moved 900 miles across the country to live near her kids. Almost immediately she learned that she was gravely ill. She moved in with her son, Joel, and daughter-in-law, Dani, and never left.

Shelley had several opera tions that did not go well,

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

then chemo, which did not make her feel better, and fi nally she died peacefully, sur rounded by the family who loved her so much. Mean while, all the things she had

They were able to locate shoes for the older boy. The younger boy initially thought that he was going to have to wear his older brother’s shoes (the ones with cardboard in the bot tom). Virginia assured him that she would find him a pair of shoes. She asked what size and the parent replied “Three,” and the boy said he wanted cowboy boots.

Virginia went to the back room to find the boy a pair of size three cowboy boots. She saw a pile of women’s shoes then she saw a slightly smaller pile of girls’ shoes. She looked in the small box of men’s shoes and the even smaller box of boys’ shoes.

She thought to herself that she was not going to find any shoes his size, let alone cow boy boots. She went back to the men’s box of shoes and dumped them out. There she saw a pair of small cow boy boots. She looked closer: size three.

Having found what the boy wanted, she went back to where the family was waiting. The boy’s eyes lit up as she presented a pair of nearly new, size three cow boy boots.

After 50 years of service, Virginia has never forgotten that experience. That story exemplifies our mission: Providing opportu nities for our neighbors to

thrive by connecting volun teers to people in need.

As we finish our 50th year, I want to thank everyone for being part of the Neigh bors’ community. Whether you are a volunteer, donor, community partner or staff member, your time, talent and treasure is what makes Neighbors possible. You are all a part of – as the first minutes read on January 13, 1972 – “the Association for Personal Help.” You are Neighbors.

This year has offered us many opportunities to share stories, welcome back vol unteers and staff from years gone by and, above all, serve our neighbors in need. The

need for Neighbors is as im portant as it has ever been. We are experiencing record numbers in our hunger re lief program. Our Financial Empowerment Program is seeing more and more peo ple in need of services. Our Clothes Closet is selling and giving away essential items five days a week.

As we look to our 51st year, we do so during chal lenging times. We also do so knowing that our commu nity will continue to support our work. To that end, here’s to Neighbors and here’s to our community. Thank you for always being there to help a neighbor during their time of need.

packed up in the moving van remained in a storage unit.

Shelley was a woman of style, a striking beauty all her life. She dressed in bright colors, coordinating every outfit with care, and whenever the occasion called for it, she wore a hat. So, I thought I’d wear a hat to her memorial.

I am not generally a hatwearing person, but I like to dress up, and a day dedicat ed to remembering Shelley seemed like an occasion that called for it. I ordered a fancy black hat.

Peter liked the idea, and emailed Dani.

“Did Shelley have some other hats you could bring to the service that people could wear if they wanted?” he wrote.

Cities to adopt budgets in early December

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Budget meetings for cit ies in the St. Paul Voice distribution area will be held in early December. Here’s a brief recap of each budget.

The St. Paul City Council will adopt its 2023 budget at its Dec. 7 meeting. The truth in taxation hearing will take place at 6 p.m., Tues day, Dec. 6. The preliminary budget is $781.5 million, about $40 million more than 2022. The largest increase, approximately $31 million, is in the general fund which finances the core functions of the city. If approved as-is, the owner of a median val ued home of $261,800 will pay an additional $226 per year in property taxes.

The West St. Paul City Council will adopt its 2023 city budget at its Dec. 12 meeting. The preliminary budget is approximately $43.9 million, about $8 million more than 2022.

Projects attributed to this increase include sewer and water projects, street pav ing, and turf replacement in the Regional Athletic Center dome. Other factors include hiring two police officers, one street mainte nance technician and one engineering technician. If approved as-is, the owner of a median valued home of $288,489 will pay $1,871  in city taxes, $244 more than 2022.

The Mendota Heights City Council will adopt the 2023 city budget at its Dec. 6 meeting. The preliminary

budget is about $18.68 mil lion, $1.57 million more than 2022, an approximate 9% increase. One of the largest bumps in the general fund is in the engineering de partment, which saw a 33% increase mostly due to the addition of an assistant city engineer position. The parks department saw a near-12% increase due to several natu ral resource projects slated for 2023, and the recycling budget increased by $10,380 — about 33% — because of increased work hours for the recycling coordinator. If ap proved as-is, the owner of a median valued home of $513,350 will pay $1,887 in city taxes, about $105 more than 2022, an approximately 5.8% increase.

He got no response. This was unlike Dani. Dani has the biggest heart of anyone I know. When Shel ley was in the nursing home for several months, Dani organized it so that Shelley had a visitor every single day she was there. Dani planned parties for Shelley’s birthday, took her to all of her doctor appointments and cooked for her every day.

“I screwed up,” Peter said. “I didn’t mean to make more work for Dani.”

I decided to wear my hat, regardless. I knew that Peter’s ex-wife planned to attend, which caused me a twinge of concern. She is a reserved and sensible person – two adjectives rarely applied to me – and was unlikely to show up in headgear the size

of a hula hoop. No matter, I thought. Shelley would have liked it.

On the day of the me morial, we walked into the funeral home and saw Dani wearing a hat. Next to her was her daughter, also in a hat. As I entered the lobby, I saw hats on the back of the chairs, over the lamps, sitting on the tables. They were everywhere, and they were all Shelley’s hats.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to do it,” Dani confessed. “That’s why I didn’t answer you. They were all in storage. But one day, I had a couple of hours, and I said, ‘what the heck!’ I had to empty about a third of the storage unit until I got to this huge washing-machine box. It was

filled with hats and hatboxes. I started to empty it, but I couldn’t reach the bottom. So, I climbed in and kept emptying it. Then I couldn’t get out!”

Dani didn’t tell us how she eventually got out of the washer box. It was ap parently not dignified. But the result was magnif icent. Every woman wore a hat. Everyone took their hat home as a memory of Shel ley, and I can only imagine how delighted she would have been.

Funerals tend to end up looking alike, and we all go to too many of them. But no one will ever forget the sea of colorful hats, a little bit of Shelley in every one. Till next time.

Henry named chief of police

The City of St. Paul has tapped a St. Paul native and 24-year veteran of its police force as its new chief of police. Commander Axel Henry began a six-year term on November 19. He suc ceeds interim Chief Jeremy Ellison, who led the depart ment following the June 1 retirement of former Chief Todd Axtell.

Henry joined the depart ment in 1998 after serving three years with the Roseville Police Department. During his tenure with St. Paul Po lice, he has served as a patrol officer, sergeant, commander in the Central District, and senior commander of the city’ busiest district – the Eastern District – from 2016

to 2019. He has also served in command positions in the Office of the Chief and Family and Sexual Violence Unit and was logistics chief for St. Paul’s emergency response at the start of the pandemic. Since 2019, he had been commander of Narcotics, Financial Intelli gence & Human Trafficking. Henry holds a bachelor’s in business administration and accounting, and a master’s in educational leadership and administration from the University of St. Thomas. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Command College at FBI Quantico and University of Virginia Master’s Program, and the Wilder Foundation’s James P. Shannon Leader ship Institute.

Student Notes

University of Minne sota Duluth dean’s list: Cole Glenna, Abigail Go tham, Carter Henry, Jacob Boehm, Justin Ciletti, Cole Jacobs, Ana Lopez-Hernan dez, Madisen Tuhy and Lau ren Youness

Tech buddies needed at DARTS

DARTS is seeking vol unteers for its new Tech Buddies program, which pairs volunteers with older adults in the community to assist with assorted technol ogy needs, including smart phones, TVs, tablets and more. For more information, contact Linda at volunteer@ darts1.org or 651-455-1560.