St. Paul Voice Jan. 2021 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

The St. Paul

School Choice Guide Understanding your options when choosing a school

School Choice Guide

St. Paul gets amped up

Page 6

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Volume 55 | Number 1

New year brings big changes to ISD 197 high school Tim Spitzack Editor

fter decades of efforts by students, alumni and other district residents to change the name of Henry Sibley High School, the ISD 197 School Board (Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, Eagan) voted unanimously to do so at its Dec. 7 meeting. A group will be formed to recommend new names—and possibly a new logo and mascot. The former name was deemed inappropriate based on historical accounts of how Henry Sibley, Minnesota’s first governor, treated Native Americans when he was in the military. ISD 197 Superintendent Peter Olson-Skog and his staff are working to develop a process to help establish the new name. It will include guiding criteria, timeline and related costs, and ways to solicit community input. Discussion on the renaming process will likely occur at school board meetings in January. Meeting dates are Monday, Jan. 4 and Tuesday, Jan. 19. Olson-Skog said the District received 200 emails from the public in support of the name change and 20 against it, and that school administrators support the change. While Sibley’s name is deeply seated in Minnesota history, many believe that some of his unscrupulous actions should preclude his name from being used on a public high school. After researching the matter, the Board agreed. District policy has two Henry Sibley / Page 3

Your Community News & Information Source

January 2021

McNamara named West Sider of the Year

Submitted photo

Tim Spitzack Editor

hose who know Maria McNamara understand that she is passionate about seeing all members of society treated fairly. Her commitment to social justice helped earn her the West Side Citizens Organization’s (WSCO) annual West Sider of the Year award, presented in late November. The award, given since the 1970s, recognizes an individual who contributes to the community through volunteerism or leadership

on a major issue. For more than two decades McNamara has worked on local projects to promote racial equity, some of which have grown beyond the West Side. McNamara was nominated by the Rev. Matthias Peterson-Brandt, her pastor at Cherokee Park United Church on the West Side. When he first came to the church 18 months ago he quickly learned that McNamara was deeply entrenched in the neighborhood and was an invaluable McNamara / Page 2

WSP begins search for new city manager Tim Spitzack Editor

The search for a new West St. Paul city manager officially gets underway on Jan. 4. The West St. Paul City Council has hired the Mercer Group to conduct a national search to find a successor to City Manager Ryan Schroeder, who is retiring. Mercer Group is the same firm the City hired four years ago to find Schroeder. It will receive up to $16,500 plus expenses to create a recruitment profile, advertise the position, review resumes, screen and interview candidates, and negotiate a contract. Following the resignation of his predecessor Matt Fulton, Schroeder was appointed interim city manager in Jan. 2017 and named city manager that May. When his retirement was made public at the Nov. 23 city council meeting, Mayor Dave Napier and other council members praised Schroeder for his service and expressed their gratitude to him for postponing his retirement until his successor comes on board. The application deadline is Jan. 29. The City Council will select four semi-finalists by Feb. 15 and interviews will take place shortly thereafter. The Council will interview the top candidates Mar. 12-13 and make its selection by Mar. 15. It expects to have a new city manager on board by mid-May. The city manager is the chief administrative officer of the city and is responsible for managing city affairs and staff, and ensuring that the City Charter, laws, ordinances, resolutions and policies are enforced.

Want to learn a new skill this winter? Community Ed can help Tim Spitzack Editor

ne ancillary benefit of the COVID-19 pandemic is that many people have had more time to pursue new hobbies and interests. If one of your New Year resolutions is nudging you in that direction, the adult education program of Tri-District Community Education can help. A collaborative of ISD 197 (West

St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan), Special District 6 in South St. Paul and ISD 199 in Inver Grove Heights, TriDistrict has a wide variety of opportunities available for its winter/spring season, which begins Jan. 4. Both in-person and online courses are offered, including the popular Paint like Bob Ross, Winter Photography, Taxes and Retirement, Four Keys to Cutting College Costs and Selling Your

Home Successfully. Like most everything else in the world, adult ed classes took a hit once the pandemic began in earnest last March. Tri-District was in the middle of a season and was forced to shut down more than two-thirds of its classes. The rest quickly transitioned online, which filled a need but was not as satisfying for many. Adult and Family Program Director Jon Gerster

said people are longing to return to in-person learning, yet not all are comfortable doing that just yet. This fall, numbers returned to near normal levels, with about two-thirds returning to inperson classes. “They are glad to have classes to go to,” said Gerster of the adult learners, many of whom are repeat customers. “We have to continue to adapt, think positive, and be there for the community.”

The fall season typically attracts the most participants, with 40-45 classes offered, compared to 30-40 in the winter/spring season and 20-25 in the summer. In 2019, the adult ed program served more than 1,700 participants. In 2020, that number dropped by half, as of early December. Joan O’Connell of Mendota Heights discovered community education when she received its catalog in the

mail many years ago. As she paged through it, she was pleasantly surprised to find so many interesting activities. Her two daughters were young at the time and she signed them up for an ice skating class. Now that they are grown, she is attracted to the classes for adults. For the past 10 years she has taken a variety of courses that have helped her do everything Community Ed / Page 4

P eople

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McNamara from page 1

resource for connecting him to issues and people in the community. He nominated her primarily for her commitment to social justice but noted that she is also active in the congregation in other ways, including serving on the church council. McNamara’s journey to St. Paul was a circuitous one. She grew up near Boston, Mass., in a small colonial town that she described as “very white, very homogenous, and fairly conservative.” After receiving a degree in theater from the Univer-

sity of Massachusetts, she set off for New York City, where she worked for 10 years, most notably with the Jim Henson Company helping design and build Muppet characters. In 1984, she moved to St. Paul’s West Side and married St. Paul native Paul Martin, with whom she has three daughters, and now one granddaughter. She found work as a prop master with the Minnesota Opera and settled into her career and raising a family. Her first impression of the West Side

was that it “felt welcoming and interesting. Everything about it was diverse.” That diversity intrigued her, and soon she was getting to know many people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In 1995, she joined forces with a small group to create the West Side Family Center to support the many cultures found in the neighborhood. “As a white person trying to navigate that situation in that environment, and understanding the cultural dynamics and power dynamics, was very disturbing and very enlightening at the same time,” she said. To better understand is-

sues surrounding race, she became involved with ASDIC Metamorphosis, a then-West Side based nonprofit that hosts antiracism dialogue circles. She attended one of its meetings at Cherokee Park United and it changed her perspective. “It gave me a better understanding of race,” she said. “I wanted to do more, so I took training to become a facilitator.” A dozen years ago she helped start the Overcoming Racism Initiative at Cherokee Park, a program that has since morphed into a citywide coalition called the Facility Racial Equity Collaborative. That group

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quickly outgrew the church. Last year it was held at Metropolitan State University and attracted nearly 500 participants. She has continued to stay active with ASDIC on the West Side. “She is a staunch advocate for racial justice and has been big in Cherokee Park’s advocacy in those ways,” said Peterson-Brandt, adding that “she personifies the West Side’s tight-knit relational aspect and forwardthinking of bringing others along.” McNamara has been active in the neighborhood in many other ways. She has served on the board of directors for WSCO and Neighborhood House, and was active with the West Side Youth Farm and past programs that supported area youth, including All Around the Neighborhood and Monday Night Live. She said it’s a joy that her own daughters are strong advocates for racial justice, and that some youth she worked with many years ago are now giving back to the community as adults. “I see them taking on leadership roles in the neighborhood, being vocal and being engaged on the street,” she said. Through it all, she said she has “learned the difference between doing with people instead of doing for people.” The quote by the late Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone—”We all do better when we all do better”— is particularly meaningful to her and aptly sums up her views on racial equality.

“I don’t see how it can be any other way,” she said.

New awards At its annual meeting in November, WSCO presented two other awards, both new this year. Videos of each award presentation, including the West Sider of the Year, can be found at https:// www.wsco.org/2020-awardrecipients. The Spark of the West Side was given to Payton Ortiz, his mother Anna Wolff and Grandfather Dan Wolff. The award honors a person or group that sparked joy on the West Side during the past year. The trio accomplished that by placing more than 1,400 pinwheels throughout the neighborhood. The colorful, spinning decorations were meant to be a symbol of hope to those struggling with isolation, stress and sadness during the pandemic. Jesus Ramirez received the Heart of the West Side award, given to someone who demonstrated an outstanding act of community service or volunteerism. Ramirez spent countless hours creating a large-scale Calavera, also known as a sugar skull, one of the most iconic symbols for the Day of the Dead, a holiday that originated in Mexico and is now celebrated in many countries in Latin America. He created the artwork in an empty lot near Robert and Cesar Chavez streets as a community altar where people could go to honor those lost to COVID-19.

classes start January 11 A Saint Paul College education will cost you less and give you more. Our tuition is among the lowest anywhere, and many financial assistance options make it even more affordable. With over 100 degree, diploma, and certificate programs, Saint Paul College offers many paths to achieving your career goals.

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Henry Sibley from page 1

criteria for naming a school after a person: a significant achievement or contribution, and good character. The Board concluded that Sibley fails the character test for his actions regarding the Dakota. The district has nearly 150 American Indian students. Sibley was involved in the fur trade and at one point was in a de facto marriage with Red Blanket Woman, granddaughter of a Mdewakanton Dakota chief. They had a daughter together. Having befriended the Dakota people, he ultimately used that relationship to manipulate the people into giving up their ancestral land. During the War of 1862, Sibley participated in the national efforts to decimate the indigenous peoples, which led to the largest mass execution in United States history. The Board invited two representatives from the Minnesota Historical Society to its Nov. 16 meeting to help members better under-

stand questionable actions that Sibley made while in the military. Kevin Maijala, senior director of learning initiatives for the Society and former site manager of the historic Sibley House in Mendota, told the Board that the events of the War of 1862 were an act of genocide, and that Sibley was involved in broken treaties with the Dakota, which defrauded them of money and forced them from their land. Nonetheless, he said, “No one should doubt his importance to Minnesota history. His role cannot be erased by a name change. The legacy is hardly cut-and-dried as hero or villain.” Dr. Kate Beane, director of Native American Initiatives for the Society and a Dakota woman whose ancestors lived in Black Dog Village (present day Eagan), said Sibley helped orchestrate broken promises and deceptive agreements with the Dakota prior to the 1851 Treaty of Mendota and Traverse de Sioux. She said he

played a key role in coercing Dakota leaders to sign the treaty, which resulted in funds being diverted from the Dakota to fur trading companies, and $50,000 to Sibley himself. Following the War of 1862, 400 Dakota were arrested and 303 were convicted and sentenced, she said. President Abraham Lincoln reduced the number of convictions to 265 and allowed 38 to be hanged. “My grandparent’s grandparents were forced out of their homeland here by

Sibley’s army,” said Beane. “They were human beings. This is close history, and it’s very personal. Our Native kids attend this school, and they deserve to feel a sense of pride in themselves, and in their school, both.” Allicia Waukau Butler, American Indian cultural liaison for ISD 197, relayed comments she received from many American Indian students at the high school and their parents, as well as her own personal experiences. “Some won’t send their

child to Henry Sibley because of the name alone,” she said. “I’ve talked to high school students and they have really reiterated that having Henry Sibley as the namesake of the school, they feel like they are invisible…. They feel like the name is demeaning.” She became emotional when sharing the reason why she pulled her own daughter from the district. “My daughter wore a medicine pouch to school and it

was attempted to be taken away from her because the teacher asked about it. My daughter opened it and there was tobacco in it, which was ceremonial tobacco. She was going to take her medicine pouch away, which would be like taking someone’s cross, or if you were to say to someone, ‘Take that hijab off because it is not appropriate in our school. It doesn’t respect our religious belief.’” “I know our school district can do better,” she added. “I know our teachers are willing to be better, but it takes our school board to really stand up and say this is OK (to change the school’s name).” Superintendent Olson-Skog also shared his perspective as the district’s administrator. “Having a name on the side of the building doesn’t take away our responsibility to teach about (that person’s) history, and all of their history,” he said, adding that it’s the administration’s “moral responsibility” to look for the “absence of narratives. We will do a better job of teaching the multi-perspectives of history.”

Wishing you a safe & healthy new year!

Education That Suits Your Student SCHOOL CHOICE DIRECTORY

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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.

CHARTER

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

PAROCHIAL

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

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Ramsey County to review study on Boys Totem Town study on the historical and archaeological significance of an 80-acre parcel that housed Boys Totem Town juvenile detention center before it closed in 2019 will be submitted to Ramsey County in the coming weeks. The county owns the property but has not yet determined its fate.

The county will use the report to guide future planning efforts. The site overlooks an area by the Mississippi River and Pigs Eye Lake that prior to 1837 was the Mdewakanton Dakota’s Kaposia Village. Approximately 70 acres are undeveloped. The study is a collabortive effort of the Lower Phalen Creek Project, Boys Totem Town Land Preservation and 106 Group,

a cultural resource consultation firm. It was funded through a $9,980 legacy grant awarded through the Minnesota Historical Society. Lower Phalen Creek Project was founded in 1997 as a partnership between residents of Lowertown and St. Paul’s East Side to work on environmental projects between Lake Phalen and the Mississippi River. Its efforts are directed by an 8-mem-

ber board of directors and an advisory council of citizens representing the area. One of its most notable projects is the development of the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary near Lowertown. This year it hopes to complete fundraising efforts to build the Wakán Tipi community center in the sanctuary. Wakán Tipi means Dwelling Place of the Sacred in the Dakota language.

It’s official. The Saint Paul Saints are now a AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The Saints were established in 1993 as a member of the independent Northern League, playing at Midway Stadium. The team later joined the American Association and in 2015 moved to the newly built 7,000-seat CHS Field in Lowertown. During their tenure as an

independent club, the Saints led the league in attendance 17 times. The Twins, whose AAA affiliate was in Rochester, N.Y., used CHS Field this past season as a rehab site for its players. The cost for trash collection in St. Paul will increase by about $7 annually. Beginning in January, the cost range is $59.53 per quarter for every other week pick

up of a 35-gallon cart, and $101.23 for a 96-gallon cart. Viking River Cruises plans to begin passenger service to St. Paul this year and will dock the first of four ships at Lamberts Landing in Lowertown on July 23. In September 2022, the line will offer a 15-day cruise between St. Paul and New Orleans.

The St. Paul Jaycees, a service group formed in 1929, has disbanded but its charitable foundation will remain operational. The Foundation has an $800,000 fund to support community projects. The Jaycees had been active supporters of the St. Paul Winter Carnival and several other community events.

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Community Ed from page 1

from organizing photos to learning how to register for social security benefits. She continues to participate in her favorite course, tap dancing. Disappointed when inperson classes were canceled this spring, the situation did not deter her from trying something new. She enrolled in an online course this summer and found it to be both enjoyable and convenient, since she could participate from the comfort of her home. “It’s a great service,” she said of community education. “It’s very convenient

and affordable, and nice for the community. I highly recommend it. It’s been great.” The upcoming winter/ spring season will offer an equal number of in-person and online classes, and start dates vary. Most of the inperson classes are held weekday evenings at various locations in South St. Paul, West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights. Many are one session only, others may last 10 or more weeks. Classes range from $12-$20, though some are more. For more information, visit https://tridistrict.ce.eleyo.com or call 651-403-8312.

Student notes

Minnesota State-Mankato graduates: Peter Fischbach, bachelor of science in management information systems; Mohamed Konate, bachelor of science in accounting University of Mississippi dean’s honor list: Kaitlin Sophia Wilhoit

St. Norbert College dean’s list: Amanda Reding Colgate University dean’s award with distinction: Catherine Van Meter University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate: Olivia Wilwert, master of science, health science

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New electronic vehicle network gets underway Tim Spitzack Editor

wners of electric vehicles (EVs) have good reason to be amped up. In the coming year they’ll have access to scores of new public charging stations across St. Paul and Minneapolis. Beginning this spring, the Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network is building 70 charging hubs across St. Paul and Minneapolis to accommodate and encourage greener transportation. Half will be located in downtown St. Paul and the surrounding neighborhoods: West Side, North End, Frogtown, Dayton’s Bluff and Payne-Phalen. Each station will feature four or five curbside chargers along public streets. Two will be for public use and two will be for a new car-sharing service that is also being developed. The chargers being installed provide 25-30 miles of charge per hour. Some stations will have an additional Direct Current Fast Char-

This sketch shows the planned design of the curbside charging sites. ger that provides 250 miles of charge per hour. While the fee to charge a vehicle has not yet been set, the Network plans to keep costs low and charge just enough to cover electricity use and maintenance costs. Users will likely be able to pay at the hub or through an app. The hubs will begin to open for use this summer and construction of others will continue throughout the year. All hubs will be open

by the end of 2022.

EV car-sharing HOURCAR, a local nonprofit that already offers a traditional car-sharing service, will add a one-way EV service, and a two-way service that will include charging hubs at 25 apartment complexes around the metro, particularly those with low-income residents. The 150 EV car-share fleet will begin with 50 vehicles

this summer and be at full strength by the end of 2022. The one-way service allows users to pick up and return a vehicle anywhere within the service area. The two-way service requires bringing the vehicle back to the station from which it was rented. That service is expected to begin late this year or early 2022. Both methods require an annual membership with HOURCAR, and an addi-

tional per minute usage fee, and you must be at least age 18 to join. HOURCAR’s current model has different plans but its most popular one is $65 annually and includes user fees by the quarter hour. Pricing for each EV plan has not yet been determined but will likely be near the current rates of approximately $10/hour. The Network is led by the City of St. Paul, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, HOURCAR, and East Metro Strong. It received a $6.7 million grant from the U.S Department of Energy to support the project, and Xcel Energy will provide up to $4 million of electrical infrastructure. The Network will promote the stations through its partnership with 10 local organizations whose job it is to share information about the benefits of electric vehicles and car-sharing, and to identify obstacles people may face while using this service. For more information, contact 651-266-6855, charginghubs@ci.stpaulmn.

us or visit www.stpaul.gov/ ev. According to the Electronic Vehicle Institute, the U.S. had more than 1.3 million electronic vehicles on the road in 2019, accounting for 2.6% of new car sales. The Tesla Model 3 was by far the top seller, besting the second place Chevrolet Volt by 38%. Rounding out the top five were Tesla Model S, Nissan LEAF, and Toyota Prius Prime. These five models accounted for nearly 60% of total EV sales. According to the Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network, EVs have 62% fewer emissions than gas-powered vehicles.

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E ducation

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School Choice Guide Understanding your options when choosing a school

ooking for a new school for your student? Registration deadlines are approaching, so now is the time to do your homework. Families have many choices: public, magnet, parochial or charter. This primer will help you understand the differences among them so you can select the best school for your child.

Public schools Public schools are funded through taxes and are operated by local school districts and a board of education. Each student is guaranteed enrollment and is assigned a school near where they live. Bussing is free for those outside of walking distance. Minnesota has open enrollment, which allows families to apply to any school. Families that apply to a

school not assigned to them are responsible for their own transportation. When selecting a public school, families may want to consider class sizes, student-teacher ratios, academic progress and extracurricular activities.

used in all classes, such as environmental or STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Families should ask about the school’s focus, transportation options and if there are additional fees for field trips or supplies.

Magnet schools

Charter schools

A magnet school is part of the public school system but has curriculum focus that is

Private groups can get a charter to operate a school that uses alternative teaching

Academia Cesar Chavez (ACC) is a tuition-free community-based elementary charter school

Call 651-778-2940 Academia Cesar Chavez School admits students of any race, color, creed, religion or national or ethnic origin. Authorizer: University of St. Thomas. Dana Peterson, Director of Charter School Authorizing, 651-962-4372

1801 Lacrosse Ave., St. Paul, MN 55119 • www.cesarchavezschool.com Page 6 - St. Paul Voice - January 2021

Parochial schools Parochial schools are operated by a church or religious organization and have a curriculum that includes religious instruction. Class sizes and student-teacher ratio are usually small but tuition can be high. Parents should ask about tuition, scholarships, transportation, religious requirements or expectations, and if there are any additional expenses for uniforms or supplies.

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methods and innovative curriculum. These schools typically have a smaller student population and a lower student-teacher ratio. They are required by law to have open admission and recruit from all segments of the community. If the school does not meet academic performance requirements, the charter is revoked and the school is closed. Parents should inquire about the teaching methodology used, how academic progress is measured, if there are any special enrollment requirements or fees, and if the site is the school’s permanent location.

•StCroixLutheran.org/USA Programa Gratuito de Día Completo para Pre kinder y Kinder •OPEN ProgramaHOUSE Inmersión Dual de Español e Inglés TOURS •AND Programa Fuerte de Lectura •WED, Programa de Cuerdas FEB 10 • Programa Gratuito Después de la 8:30-10:30A Escuela y Servicio Antes de la Escuela •SAT, Programas FEBDespués 13 de la Escuela de Mariachi y Baile Folclórico 10:00A• Clases de Música, Arte y 2:00P Educación Física • Deportes • Transporte Gratuito • Fuerte Compromiso Familiar • Programa Gratuito de Verano

Schools in the St. Paul Voice area Charter Academic Arts High School Environmental focus 9-12 60 Marie Ave. E. West St. Paul 651-457-7427 www.academicarts.org Dakota County Alternative Learning School North Intermediate School District 917 high school 10-12 150 Marie Ave. E. West St. Paul 651-423-8259 www.isd917.k12.mn.us River’s Edge Academy Expeditionary learning 9-12 188 Plato Blvd. W. St. Paul 651-234-0150 www.riversedge academy.org

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Llamar al 651-778-2940 La Academia Cesar Chávez acepta estudiantes de cualquier raza, color, credo, religión u origen étnico o nacional. Authorizer: University of St. Thomas. Dana Peterson Director Charter School Authorizing, • Admissions@StCroixLutheran.org • StCroixLutheran.org/Tour (651)of455-1521 651-962-4372 1200 Oakdale Avenue, West St. Paul, MN

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E ducation St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists 9-12 16 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-290-2225 www.spcpa.org

Public/Magnet Schools Cherokee Heights Elementary PreK-3 Montessori Community school, through grade 5 694 Charlton St. St. Paul 651-293-8610 www.spps.org/ cherokeeheights Creative Arts High School 6-12 65 Kellogg Blvd. E. St. Paul 651-292-3480 www.spps.org/ creativearts Riverview West Side School of Excellence K-6 dual immersion (English/Spanish) magnet 160 Isabel St. E. St. Paul 651-293-8665 www.spps.org/riverview Humboldt High School 6-12 environmental science magnet 30 Baker St. E. St. Paul 651-293-8600 https://www.spps.org/ humboldt Open World Learning Community 6-12, expeditionary learning magnet 640 Humboldt Ave. St. Paul 651-293-8670 www.spps.org/open Friendly Hills Middle School 5-8 701 Mendota Heights Rd. Mendota Heights 651-403-7600 friendlyhills.isd197.org Garlough Environmental Magnet Elementary School K-4 1740 Charlton St. West St. Paul 651-403-8100 garlough.isd197.org Henry Sibley High School 9-12 1897 Delaware Ave. Mendota Heights 651-403-7100 henrysibley.isd197.org

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Crown of Life Lutheran School PreK-8 115 Crusader Ave. W. West St. Paul 651-451-3832 www.crownof lifemn.org St. Croix Lutheran Academy 6-12 1200 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul 651-455-1521 www.stcroixlutheran.org St. Joseph’s Catholic School Pre-K-8 1138 Seminole Ave. West St. Paul 651-457-8550 www.stjosephwsp.org St. Thomas Academy 6-12, Catholic, all-male military/leadership 949 Mendota Heights Rd. Mendota Heights 651-454-4570 www.cadets.com

St. Paul Voice - January 2021 - Page 7

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Student-athletes shine while negotiating the pandemic John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer

t took awhile, but all five of the high schools in our distribution area—Sibley, Humboldt, St. Croix Lutheran Academy (SCLA), Visitation and St. Thomas Academy (STA)—were given the green light to participate in fall sports. As the coaches, players and parents would agree, however, it was not prep sports as usual. Schedules were shortened and the pandemic protocols included adherence to social distancing and practicing in small group pods. Students and coaches alike were also susceptible to virus testing on a daily basis and there were no state tournaments, and for many there was no post-season at all. And yet, after interviewing a dozen or more coaches, the unanimous opinion among that fraternity was nothing but positive. “In mid-August it appeared that there would be no fall seasons at all,” said

SCLA football coach Adam Frey. “When the decision was made to go forward with a shortened season, our kids were ecstatic to put on the pads and get after it.” As is nearly always the case, the student-athletes responded in a positive way. We pause to give some welldeserved visibility to some who made the most of their opportunity to compete and earned post-season accolades. The STA soccer team, coached by Brian Kallman, recorded a 6-3-1 record and finished second in the Metro East Conference (MEC). Four Cadets were All-Conference honorees: senior center midfielders Will Guttery and Aidan McGill, junior center forward Mathew Zander and junior goalkeeper Seth Moore. McGill was also named to the Class A All-State team. Junior defensive stalwart Henry Murray earned AllConference Honorable Mention and he, along with Zander and Moore, will cap-

tain the 2021 team. The STA football team, under the guidance of head coach Dan O’Brien, finished 6-0 and captured the Section 3AAAAA title. O’Brien’s three-year record at STA is a scintillating 29-3. Eight Cadets received All-District laurels: quarterback Baker Redding, running back Danny McFadden (who averaged 148 yards rushing per game), offensive linemen Joe Vascellero and Leo Bluhm, linebacker Jamie Smith, and defensive linemen Oscar Berg and Garrison Solliday. Solliday, a captain and a three-year starter, is also one of the finalists for the Mr. Football Award. Underclassmen Love Adebayo, Grady O’Neill, Mark Rogalski and Jackson Cercioglu received All-Conference Honorable Mention. The Sibley boys soccer team, under the leadership of coach Terry Doud, finished the MEC season with a record of 4-4-2. All-Conference honorees included seniors Brandon Morris II

St. Thomas Academy defensive line stalwart Garrison Solliday (#54) earned All-District honors and is a Mr. Football finalist. (center defender) and Cesar Godinez (center midfielder) and junior Antonio Olivares Zuniga (forward attacker). “Brandon’s calling card is speed and he was also named All-State Honorable Mention,” said Doud. “Cesar controlled the game at midfield and Antonio was our spark in the offensive zone.” Juniors Jack Heidelberg and Thomas Hoffman were

named team captains for the 2021 squad. The Sibley girls soccer team, under first year head coach Carle Cheesebrough, ended their season 4-3-4. Highlights included beating South St. Paul for the first time in ten years and finishing in second place in the EMC tournament. Sophomores, Sarah Wagner (center midfielder), Lainey

Pick (center midfielder) and Sydney Potter (goalkeeper) earned All-Conference laurels. Potter gave up just seven goals all season and in three consecutive games in the conference tournament shutout Mahtomedi, HillMurray and Hastings. Emily Collins, Natalie Parnell and Julia Taurinskas were All-Conference Honorable Mention.

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The Humboldt boys soccer team, coached by John Pucci, had another marvelous season, finishing 7-3-3. The Hawks’ City Conference record was 5-1 and the only goal that senior goalkeeper Diego Kroonblawd relinquished in conference play was in the 1-0 loss to Central. Senior midfielder Joe Deuitch, senior attacker Eh Ler Moo, Kroonblawd and junior defender Yah Naing Oo earned All-Conference honors. Deuitch was also named to the Class A AllState first team. Ya Naing Oo and Hser Pwe Htoo were named captains for the 2021 team. The Humboldt girls soccer team finished at .500 (5-5) and placed two girls on the City All-Conference team: senior attacker Paw Htee, who scored ten of the MERRIAM PARK

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team’s 19 goals, and their versatile senior centerback Htee Htee Say. “Paw and Htee provided great leadership and were the backbone of our team and we are going to miss them,” said head coach Jessica Adame. “Sophomore Ka Paw and several other players made great strides this season and we will be leaning on them to lead our team in 2021.” For the second straight season, the SCLA volleyball team finished the Tri-Metro Conference season with a perfect 8-0 record. “This group was a very resilient bunch,” said head coach Rachel Grev. “Because of the COVID protocols, we played one match with just seven players—and we won.” Seniors Hanna Little (libero) and Clare Longueville (defensive specialist), junior

Carleigh Schroeder (outside hitter) and sophomore Ilah Little (defensive specialist) were named to the Tri-Metro All-Conference team. Seniors Allie Kom (setter) and Luci Hauge (middle hitter) were named All-Conference Honorable Mention. After a 2-8 season in 2019, the SCLA football team turned things around in a dramatic way compiling a 5-2 record and finishing runners-up in Section 4AAA. The team was rewarded with six seniors making the All-Conference team: Zach Arndt (two-time captain), Lukas Bloomquist (first year playing football), Sam Hahm (Colorado transfer), Zach Longueville (MVP-quarterback), Connor Mielke (keyed offensive and defensive lines) and Andy Raasch (receiver).

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Anna Farley (100 Fly) and Elizabeth Burke (200 Free); and ninth-graders Melissa Remick (Diving), Grace Nilsson (100 Breast), Iris Huerta (100 Fly) and Tessa Lindstrom (500 Free). The more you talk to the coaches about the 2020 high school student-athletes, the more you learn that those who are least affected and inconvenienced by the COVID-19 pandemic are the kids themselves. They are willing to abide by the stringent protocols and the inconveniences presented by the pandemic because they love to compete and, even more so, because their lives are enriched by the interaction and camaraderie they share with their teammates.

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there be no swimmers in an adjacent lane.” All of the swimming meets were virtual in nature meaning that teams, coaches and swimmers were all on the honor system recording the times of their competitors. Despite those inconveniences, the Blazers had a very productive season. Based on times, 15 Visitation swimmers earned Tri-Metro All-Conference recognition: senior Sophia Mattaini (100 Fly); juniors Libby Fischer (50 Free), Mary Harrington (100 Breast), Olivia Johanns (50 Free), Madelyn McGrath (100 Breast) and Marta Pursley (500 Free); sophomores Greta Hinds (50 Free), Ella Passe (200 Free), Lucy Berg (100 Fly),

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All-Conference Honorable Mention recipients included Micah Boehm, Taeyon Kang, Joe Kurata and Jack Thome. A fall sports roundup would be incomplete without the Visitation girls swimming and diving team. In 2019, the Blazers won their seventh consecutive Class A State Championship and their eleventh since 2005. In each of those years, Nate Linscheid served as the team’s head coach. “It has been an interesting season for everyone involved,” said Lindscheid. “We competed in seven dual meets and not once were our swimmers in the same pool as our opposition. Social distancing also required that

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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.

St. Paul Voice • Downtown St. Paul Voice South St. Paul Voice • La Voz Latina St. Paul Voice - January 2021 - Page 9

C ommunity

Your community news and information source Nancy Brady President

Reaching her dream through strength and determination During one of her regular trips to El Burrito Mercado on the West Side, Neysla discovered Neighborhood House, located across the street. Shortly after enrolling in its Beginner English classes, she saw a photo on a bulletin board in the hallway that inspired her. It had dozens of smiling people, some holding small American flags, others a document. Everyone looked different but they all had something in common: they were new citizens of the United States. “I think that for all the people who come here to the United States...all of us have this dream of becoming citizens,” she said. Neysla started her journey toward that dream in 2018

Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO

s I reflect on the year 2020, it would be really easy to write about COVID-19. Without a doubt, it was the story of 2020 and will continue to be into 2021. Instead of looking back on the virus, I would like to share with you the many positive happenings at Neighbors over the past year, some of which

were a direct result of the virus. The year got off to a fairly typical start. As the holiday season concluded, work returned to normal. Clients were shopping in the food shelf and customers were finding great deals in the Clothes Closet. Volunteers were assisting throughout the op-

by taking citizenship classes at Neighborhood House. After weeks of studying, she was becoming more confident and feeling hopeful for the future. Then tragedy struck her family. “The last day I went to class was on Nov. 6 of last year,” she said. “On the night of that same day in Texas, one of my sons was killed. He was 34 years old. It was a very sad episode. I didn’t go back to school. This event in my life that hit me so hard—I lost track of everything.” Before long, her citizenship test date was just around the corner. “It seemed impossible because of this pain that I had,” she said. “I thought, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I have to achieve it’ because it was also a dream that my son had.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her test date was pushed back a month, giving her some extra time. “I said, ‘I’m going to give it my all’ and I started studying,” she said. Her husband and two sons supported her along the way, encouraging her and helping her study. The hard work paid off. She passed her test this fall and is now officially a United States citizen. “I comment on [my son] because there are people who sometimes under some circumstances give up on achieving things,” she said. “I want people to know that it is possible. I mean that one can really make an effort and that one can

move things forward. I am still in a process…but I feel proud of myself and I think that my son, wherever he is, will feel proud of me because, despite this hard thing, I was able to do it.” Now that she is a citizen, a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. “I feel more confident, I feel better,” she said. “I am happy.” She credits Neighborhood House for playing a part in her success. “My achievement is the achievement of [Neighborhood House] as well,” she said. “I highly recommend [the classes].” Neysla sees several benefits with her citizenship, the first of which is her right to vote. “I can help the community with my vote to decide for the future of this country, and as a Latina in our community,” she said. “This year was the first time I voted and I am proud of that, not only for myself but for our entire community because it is a way for our voice to be heard.” Through unimaginable pain, Neysla has demonstrated incredible strength and determination to reach her dreams. And now she is setting her sights on a future goal. “Hopefully someday I can help other people too,” she said. “Once classes are up again, I will continue going in order to learn more English because I need it, especially if I want to help others someday.”

erations. Everything was humming right along. When March arrived, Minnesota Food Share swung into high gear. It is the biggest food and fund drive of the year. Little did we know at the time that it would prove to be a recordbreaking year. The community provided more support in the form of food and funds than any previous March campaign. As March rolled on and turned to April, we were learning more about the virus and what we would need to do to adjust our operations. That is when the first of many significant changes began to take shape. We started to remodel our food shelf. Prior to the remodel, the food shelf was laid out in a way that maximized the

complex in West St. Paul, helping us get food to people more efficiently. Soon we will have a new fully funded refrigerated van to support our food transportation efforts. Neighbors’ event calendar looked quite different in 2020. Local parades were cancelled, with one notable exception. In June, we held a parade to honor founding member Virginia Milbert’s 103rd birthday. Several vehicles drove by her home to wish her a very happy birthday. Our annual Duck Races also looked different. Instead of racing down Southview Boulevard, we kept the ducks close to home in a pond at our building. The event went virtual and the community helped

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amount of shelving in the space. That configuration, however, made it difficult to maintain proper social distance in the pandemic. The staff came together and formulated a plan that opened up the space and promoted healthy food choices, as well. The new layout was completed, and a new sink, tables and floor were added. In addition, we enhanced our recycling efforts by adding organics to the list of items being recycled. We made additional improvements to how we provide food support. Thanks to a partnership with DARTS, we initiated a food delivery service. Our volunteers are now making several deliveries each week. We also opened our first satellite food shelf at an apartment

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us achieve a record number of “duck adoptions,” with proceeds supporting our mission. History will recall 2020 for the pandemic. However, at Neighbors we will recall the year as transformative for all the reasons listed here and many more. We will also remember it as a year that our community stepped up its support of neighbors in need. I look forward to continuing the tradition of neighbors helping neighbors in 2021 and beyond. Stay connected with Neighbors all year long. Visit neighborsmn.org, and our Facebook page and YouTube channel. From all of us at Neighbors, have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021.

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Postscript from page 12 a fancy gathering. Instead, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll remember the excitement of hearing the doorbell ring and getting to chat with a neighbor on our front stoop. Our memories from this year will be of the same homecooked meal, the same

routine, the same clothes worn, the same neighbors greeted from across the lawn, the same dogs on my walkâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. We will remember. I might miss the excite-

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C ommunity

Postscript

Lower expectations

very year, a chorus of folks urges us to lower our expectations for the holidays—buy less, consume less, worry less about having a picture-perfect holiday, and spend more time reflecting on what the holiday means to us. This year, it seems, we finally get a chance to do that. I was recently asked about my childhood holiday memories, and I had a couple of vivid ones. I saw my very young self sitting on the wooden stairway of the farmhouse where my mother grew up. There were far too many people to sit at a table—too many to sit at all, even after all the folding chairs were called into service and the couch was filled to capacity. Seating was distributed on a strict seniority basis. All my cousins and I were lined up on the stairs leading to the second floor, one above the other with our plates on our laps. This was a fine arrangement, except that the farmhouse

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had only one bathroom and this stairway led to it. The stairway was narrow and some of my relatives were not, so we would lean over as far as we could (plates still on our laps) so the elderly relatives could make their way to the facilities at the top of the stairs. That’s one good memory. Here’s another. The year I turned five, I had chicken pox at Christmas. I spoke to my mother recently about that year. “Oh! That was a miserable Christmas,” she said. And I’m sure, for her, it was. But my memory is not of fes-

tivities missed. My mother stayed home with me on Christmas Eve and all I remember is the small Christmas tree my parents put in my bedroom. My memory is not of being terribly sick, but of seeing those shining Christmas lights every time I opened my eyes, and feeling loved and special enough to have my very own tree. I’ve been telling my husband, Peter, that we are making good memories now. Of course, he and I are not working in a hospital or trying to teach school or dealing with grumpy retail customers. We are home all the time except for our onceevery-other-week trip to the grocery store, which is beginning to feel more like an exotic adventure every time we do it. We are seeing no one so we can continue to visit Lori, who continues to fight cancer. Peter cooks something for her every week and I read her a bit more from a book. I know we will remember this time. We won’t have memories of a foreign landscape or a breathtaking performance or Postscript / Page 11

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