The St. Paul
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Volume 56 | Number 5
Street projects revving up Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
W
ith spring comes road construction season, and this year several projects will impact travel around the West Side and downtown. Repair and resurfacing work will be done to the Robert Street/Hwy 3 Bridge, the George Street Bridge, and the Robert Street Viaduct near Cezar Chavez and King Street East. Each project will last 6-8 weeks, and each bridge will be closed during construction. These projects are part of a larger plan to significantly improve Robert Street between Annapolis Street and Fillmore Avenue. Work on Robert Street will begin in 2025 or 2026. Design plans will be presented this summer for public feedback. Wabasha Street between Kellogg Boulevard and 7th Street will be reconstructed from June to November. The $10 million project includes replacing pavement, and improvements to sidewalks, curbs, parking bays and underground utilities. A segment of the Capital City Bikeway will also be added to the west side of Wabasha Street. The first segment of the bikeway was completed in 2017 along Jackson Street from University Avenue to Kellogg Boulevard. Work is also being done to I-94 between Marion Street and Mounds Boulevard, and I-35E between I-94 and University Avenue. This two-year project began in 2021 with work between Western Avenue and Marion Street. This spring and summer, Street projects / Page 3
Your Community News & Information Source
May 2022
Back to the Basics Annual West Side fiesta canceled for third year; community group to host local event
File photo by Marina Castillo
Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
W
hen the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation announced in late March that the West Side’s annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta would be canceled again this year, the third year in a row, a group of West Siders rose to action to organize a small-scale event in its stead.
“Unfortunately, the challenges created by COVID have continued to force us to have to postpone the event for 2022,” said Lisa Jacobson, foundation president, in a prepared statement. “It takes many months to plan Cinco de Mayo, and with the protocols in place as recent as the beginning of March there simply wasn’t enough time to create a large community celebration. Cinco de Mayo / Page 2
Coming to a park near you Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
A
s the days grow longer and the weather more agreeable people will begin flocking to area parks for some fun in the sun. This year they’ll find new amenities but will also contend with construction projects. Here’s what to expect. Work will begin May 14 to remove invasive vegetation and add pollinator plants along a mile-long segment of the River to River Trail running through Garlough and Marthaler Parks in West St. Paul. The vast majority of the $177,700 project is being funded by a state grant in partnership with Dakota County. The city and county will each contribute $10,000. Work is expected to begin this summer and continue into next year. The $2.1 million Marthaler Park renovation has been delayed until spring of 2023 in hopes of receiving new funding. While the City of West St. Paul already has enough funding for the project, it recently applied for a $300,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources to upgrade amenities. The project includes a new parking area, picnic shelter, playground, fishing pier, trailhead building and restroom. It also includes shoreline restoration and rehabbing the sledding hill. Park space near the West St. Paul public pool at 92 W. Orme St. may see some improvements this summer or fall, including new playground Parks / Page 3
Free community dinners offered at Faith UMC in West St. Paul Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
F
aith United Methodist Church, 1530 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul, has partnered with the Minneapolisbased nonprofit Loaves and Fishes to provide one free dinner per month for anyone in the community. Their kickoff meal was held April 20 and the church plans to grow the program as participation increases, with a goal
of operating once a week by June. “Part of our goal is to help feed the community, but the other is to become a connecting place for people who like to do service and outreach,” said the Rev. Marianne Ozanne. “John Kemp is one of our members and was formerly an executive director for Neighbors, Inc. He knew that this program was providing community meals in Inver Grove Heights and St.
Paul but that there was nothing in West St. Paul, and this is an area that could use it.” Meals are provided for curbside pick-up 5:30-6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month. The next date is May 18. The church plans to make about 100 meals for this event and expand the program as staffing allows. In the future, in-person dining may be available. “It depends on how quickly we can get additional vol-
unteers,” said Ozanne. “If we have a lot of organizations or people who are really interested in volunteering then we’ll be able to increase our meals quicker. We want to be intentional that we don’t grow too fast because we don’t want our volunteers to burn out.” A team of about 15 volunteers cook and distribute the meals, and three trained church members ensure that food safety standards are
met. Individuals can pick up as many meals as they need, but meals are available first-come, first-served. The church purchases food at a discount through Loaves and Fishes. Meals are different each week, based on what’s available. The church will seek grants and donations to cover food costs and may partner with local groups in the future to provide nonfood items such as personal hygiene products and cloth-
ing. For more information, call 651-457-5686 or visit faithumcmn.com. The Loaves and Fishes free meal program was founded in 1982 with one dining site each in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Today, the program provides thousands of meals daily across the state. For more information on Loaves and Fishes and its other meal sites, visit loaves andfishesmn.org.
C ommunity Cinco de Mayo from page 1
It is our hope that everyone will take an extra step to enjoy the West Side, to shop at stores and eat and drink at the restaurants from the West Side neighborhood the week of May 1-9, as we look forward to 2023.” The foundation, which also organizes the St. Paul Winter Carnival, has managed the 37-year-old event since 2009. Spearheading the smaller event is Reies Romero, a former volunteer with the
traditional Cinco de Mayo West Side St. Paul. “I decided to facilitate a Cinco event because it was in my heart to do so,” said Romero. “I caught wind of it [the cancelation] a little sooner than others because I was part of the Cinco organizing board for six years before COVID…. This is a grassroots effort to bring the community together for a small function of family, heritage, history, healing
Memorial Day is May 30
Your community news and information source and peace. The people want a Cinco festival to happen and our community deserves one. We will come together in the spirit of our ancestors, culture and infinite resilience.” The celebration will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, May 7 at Parque Castillo, 149 Cesar Chavez St. A variety of DJs will provide music including DJ Francisco, DJ Supreme, and DJ the DJ. The event will also feature performances by Cuauhtli Day and Aztec drummers and dancers, a display of about 50 lowriders, food
trucks and a softball tournament. To register for the tournament, held 8 a.m.-4 p.m., contact Carlo at carlofranco.stp@gmail.com. Organizations contributing to the event include Twin Cities Omega Zulu, the Mobile Jazz Project, Remixed Events, West Side Boosters, Indigenous Roots and Restoration, Inc. Some individual businesses will also host events. Mariachi Lucero will perform 5:308:30 p.m., May 5 at Boca Chica, 11 Cesar Chavez St. El Burrito Mercado, 175 Cesar Chavez St., will have its
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popular corn stand and patio open May 5 and 7, weather permitting. “They (SPFHF) reached out to the businesses and we shared our thoughts,” said Milissa Silva, co-owner of El Burrito Mercado. “We were very concerned about safety and violence and felt it still needed to be addressed before having another festival. Our family felt it was a good decision [to cancel] for this year.” The Cinco de Mayo fiesta isn’t the only event that’s been canceled this year due to ongoing concerns with COVID-19 and other factors. Grand Old Days and the Festival of Nations will not happen either. The Cinco de Mayo festival was first organized by the former Concord Street Business Association in 1985 (later renamed the Riverview Economic Development Association). It grew from a small community festival to a large regional two-day event that attracted more than 100,000 people. After becoming too much for the small nonprofit to handle,
the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation took over its management and made it a one-day event. The celebration typically takes place along Cesar Chavez Street between Wabasha and South Robert Street, featuring a colorful parade, lowrider show, jalapeno eating contest, food and musical entertainment. Cinco de Mayo (May 5) commemorates the unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla, in Mexico’s state of Puebla, of a struggling Mexican army over Napoleon III’s massive French army in 1862. This was the first time the French Army had been defeated in decades. Although the French regrouped and overtook Mexico City, the Puebla battle is remembered for the euphoria it created, as well as hope and patriotism, not just in Mexico but among Mexicans living in California at the time. The Union Army was keeping a close eye on the Mexican wars during this time for fear that the French would assist the Confederacy during the Civil War.
909 Bayard, St. Paul. MN 55102
Acacia Park Cemetery Established in 1925, the 75-acre park offers a pristine beauty and strategic location that was recognized by our state’s earliest settlers. Pilot Knob, the plateau on which Acacia Park is situated, was an early 19th Century viewing point for such frontiersmen as Zebulon Pike and Josiah Snelling.
A Day of Remembrance Memorial Day is May 30
Please join us at 10 a.m. for a Memorial Day Celebration at Acacia Park
Our beautiful cemetery is conveniently situated on the Pilot Knob plateau above the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers in Mendota Heights. We are proud of our majestic scenery and natural environment that is uninhibited by upright monuments, which creates a stunning park-like setting. We have provided quality, personal service to families since 1925. We offer the following options to our families:
• • • • • •
Sections specifically designed for casket or cremation burial Convenient no-interest pre-payment plans for three years No-obligation information and tour of the cemetery grounds Markers, vaults, vases and urns for purchase Newly developed cremation gardens Serving all faiths
2151 Pilot Knob Road, Mendota Heights | 651-452-1555 | www.acaciaparkcemetery.org Page 2 - St. Paul Voice - May 2022
E conomic Development WSP turns its attention to improving sidewalks and trails
Your community news and information source
Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
T
hose who enjoy walking or biking city trails or rely on them to get to work will be glad to learn that the City of West St. Paul is seeking ways to make its trails and sidewalks safer and more accessible. This spring, the City hired the design firm Kimley-Horn
to review and revise its Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, adopted in 2011, and this summer, meetings will be held to solicit community feedback to proposed updates. The project is funded by a $30,000 SHIP grant from Dakota County and is expected to be completed by late fall. One of the most recent improvements to the trail
Street projects
system has been along the River to River trail. Last year, the City and Dakota County partnered on a $615,000 project to connect Garlough and Marthaler parks. The majority of the work was completed last year and the project came in about $145,000 under budget. In February, the City Council approved spending almost
$82,000 to plant trees near Garlough Environmental Magnet School, add benches along the trail, and add a plaza area near the entrance to the disc golf course. Work is expected to begin in June and be completed this fall. This summer, a sidewalk is being added along the western side of Bidwell between Crusader and Marie avenues,
and a new crosswalk will be made on Charlton Street at Garlough Elementary. The work is part of a larger street project that will narrow Crusader by four feet between Bidwell and Robert streets. It is being partially funded by a Safe Routes to School grant from Dakota County. The street project includes curb and gutter, sewer
improvements, water main replacement, new driveway aprons, lighting and adding a sidewalk on the north side of the street. Assessments range from $5,000 to $7,500 per homeowner. Eureka Construction was awarded the approximate $2 million project. Work is expected to begin in June and be completed by October.
structed. The project includes a shared pedestrian and bike lane through the viaduct. The lane will be separated from the roadway by a concrete barrier and connect the Sam Morgan Regional Trail along Shepard Road to the Capital City Bikeway. Other improvements include work to the RiverCen-
tre and Xcel Energy Center loading dock access ramps, utility work and adding artwork and landscaping. The $39 million project will take two and a half years to complete. Work on the 39-year-old 3rd Street bridge includes replacing the bridge and
road segment of Kellogg from Broadway to Mounds Boulevard, upgrading intersections, and adding dedicated turn lanes and trails on both sides of the bridge. The approximately $74 million project is expected to be completed by November 2025.
sections of both interstates will be reconstructed. The $27 million project includes improvements to ramps, storm sewers and sidewalks. Construction is expected to begin this summer on
the 21-station Gold Line bus rapid transit route along I-94 between St. Paul and Woodbury. It begins with utility work, such as relocating private and public utilities. Heavy construction is
set to begin this fall on the $505 million project and be completed in 2025. Two bridge projects on Kellogg Boulevard are expected to receive funding this year, with construction beginning in 2023. The 85-year-old bridge and viaduct near the RiverCentre will be completely recon-
Parks
dent surveys. The new policy requires names to be based on a geographical location, subjects of historical significance, or a person who helped develop the park. A new one-third mile gravel trail and retaining wall will be added to Lower Landing Park this summer. The city plans to bid the approximate $300,000 project this spring and construction is expected to take place over the summer. The project received a $250,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources and the remaining funds are from MNDOT. Lower Landing Park is a 21.4-acre space located in Lowertown near Shepard Road and Sibley Street. The city of St. Paul is seeking community feedback for
a new play area at Harriet Island Regional Park. A survey is open through the end of May at engagestpaul.org/ harriet-island. The nearly $1 million project is expected to break ground in spring 2023. In other news, the city council passed an ordinance in January allowing stronger alcoholic beverages in certain parks. Previously, alcoholic drinks were limited to 3.2% alcohol by volume. Now, they may contain up to 5.5%. This applies to picnic shelters at Cherokee Park, Como Park, Harriet Island, Raspberry Island, Upper Landing Park, City House, Highland Park and Phalen Park, Rice and Arlington Athletic Complex, McMurray Athletic Complex and Dunning Fields.
from page 1
from page 1
equipment and the addition of a sand volleyball court. The City will seek public feedback in May or June. The park is expected to receive a formal name in the near future. Earlier this year, the West St. Paul City Council approved a policy for naming parks. This was in response to recent requests to name a few unnamed park areas, including the “Art Park” at Oakdale and Butler, and the “Pool Park” near the City’s outdoor pool. In the past, no such naming policy existed and parks were named by the City Council using feedback from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and resi-
Correction notice: It was reported in the April issue that David Kotsonas was manager of the St. Paul Farmers’ Market for 11 years, when in fact he was manager at the St. Paul market for five years and director of the Rochester Farmers’ Market for six years.
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Denney Wright takes the reins of the Visitation soccer program John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer
I
t was in mid-March that we learned that Mikki Denney Wright had been hired as the new head coach of the Visitation soccer team. Her complete resume was not included with the press release – that would have taken several more paragraphs – but it was enough to reveal that the Blazers’ soccer program is in the trusty hands of an experienced and competent leader. Mikki Denney grew up in Omaha, Neb., the middle child of Mike and Bonnie Denney’s three children. Her brother Rocky was three years older and her brother Luke four years younger. Their father served as head wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha for 34 years. Mikki was five years old when she was introduced to soccer and she instantaneously made it her first love. By the time she was an eighth grader, her prowess on the pitch had mushroomed
Mikki Denney Wright and she was moved to enroll at Marian High School, a private Catholic school in Omaha with a first-class soccer program. “Looking back on it, I would have to say that attending Marian was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she said. “It was a mission-based all-girls school and beyond my studies, it became apparent to me that women are as equally equipped as men for leadership roles.” Denney was on the varsity team all four years and was team captain as a senior. Her position was center midfielder and she thrived as the team playmaker. More often than not, it was she who
made the decision where to distribute the ball. In each of her four seasons at Marian, the team reached the state tournament championship game. They were victorious twice. The University of North Carolina has served as the kingpin of Division I Soccer for four decades. Since the institution of the NCAA national soccer championships in 1982, the Tar Heels have won 22 titles, all under legendary coach Anson Dorrance. Now 71 years old, Dorrance’s record at Chapel Hill is 1061-142 and counting. Little wonder that Denney had North Carolina at the top of her college wish list. In 1990, she received a Christmas gift from her parents that included a summer camp in Chapel Hill. It turned into a transformational event. “It was so exciting. I got on an airplane for the first time in my life,” she recalled. “Everything about the place was as I expected it and I was thrilled when Coach Dorrance offered me a scholar-
ship to become a Tar Heel.” According to many observers, there is nothing more critical in the coaching genius of Dorrance than his ability to recognize and recruit great players. Denney played alongside two of the greatest women soccer players in American history: Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly. Lilly played on the United States National Team from 1987 to 2006 and scored 130 goals, second only to Hamm, who registered 158 in a career that spanned 1987 to 2004 (Hamm’s record was subsequently surpassed by Amy Wambach with 184). As a freshman at North Carolina in 1992, Denney suffered a broken leg that cost her the second half of the season. But she was on the field in 1993 and contributed to the second of back-to-back Tar Heel championships. Over the course of those two seasons, North Carolina’s record was 48-0. In the 1993 national championship game – her last – the Tar Heels defeated Duke 9-1.
With her family still in Nebraska and unable to attend her games regularly, she made the decision to transfer to a school closer to home. She had three teams on her list – Vanderbilt, Michigan and Minnesota. “I saved my last visit for Minnesota and I immediately fell in love with the place,” she said. “Sue Montague had started the program there and was still the head coach. Erin Chastain, who is now the Gophers head coach, was by my side on my recruiting day and she sealed it with a beautiful note she left in my travel bag.” Because of the broken leg she sustained as a freshman, Denney received another year of eligibility and ended up playing three seasons with the Gophers. She was the team captain and an AllBig Ten selection in 1995 when the Gophers won the Big Ten championship. She graduated with a psychology major from the University of Minnesota and earned a master’s degree from the University of Denver. She coached club soccer
in the Denver area but was ecstatic in 1999 when she received an offer to become an assistant soccer coach at the University of NebraskaOmaha, where her Dad was still the wrestling coach. “I was able to get my feet wet as a coach and it was great to be at home with my family for a year,” she said. “We won the conference championship and I was offered an assistant coaching job at the University of Missouri.” It was during her threeyear stint at Missouri that she met Shane Wright, a Texas Tech grad who was playing minor league baseball in the area. They married in 2002. “After the 2002 season, I felt that I was ready to lead a Division I program,” said Denney Wright. “Deep down, I was aware there might be an opening at Minnesota and when that opportunity arrived at my doorstep it stirred my soul.” When she took over the program, the Gophers were struggling and in need of a rebuild. She and lead
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S ports assistant Kate Cordis were disappointed that so many good high school players in Minnesota were going to school outstate. “Our first order of business was to close our border and keep those kids at home,” said Denney Wright. “It’s hard work. You need to identify the skilled players, show interest in them by attending their games and making home visits, and finally convince them they
Your community news and information source will have a great experience at Minnesota.” They were rewarded for their hard work when they won the Big Ten title and reached the Sweet 16 in 2008. The Gophers had another terrific season in 2010. “It was a miserable early November and eight inches of snow fell the night before we were scheduled to play Texas A&M on our field,” said Denney Wright. “J Robinson, the wrestling coach,
sent his entire squad across the street to shovel off the snow in the soccer stadium. It paid off with a 2-0 victory that sealed our second Sweet 16 appearance in three years. During her nine-year tenure as the Gopher head coach, Shane and Mikki had two sons, Forrest (now 12) and Duke (10). Shane’s real estate job requires much travel and after the 2011 season Mikki decided it was time for her to concentrate
on being a mother. She continued to coach at the club level. When Jay Miller, the previous coach at Visitation, told her that he was resigning, the opportunity piqued her curiosity. Now it is a done deal and she – and Visitation – are fully on board. She was quick to point out that Visitation is the only all girls high school in Minnesota. She has put together
a staff that includes former Gopher captain Emily Peterson McDevitt as her lead assistant, and Amy Muchlinski Smith, a teammate of Denney Wright’s at Minnesota, as the JV head coach. “Visitation is a missionbased school and that is very
powerful for me,” she said. “Our first goal is to build family and unity and then to build champions. All I can ask of our players and our coaches and our community is to strive to be the best version of you.”
New book dives deep into the Mississippi River discovered what he had been searching for. The book was published by Beaver’s Pond Press in St. Paul. To read an except, visit www.thomasbecknell. com. Red Wing native Kari Vick provided illustrations.
Tim Spitzack Editor
L
ike many others, Thomas Becknell struggled in 2020, a turbulent year rife with political unrest, social injustice and a global pandemic. To make sense of the madness, he turned to two old friends: books and the Mississippi River. “Both have been my refuge from – and engagement with – the world,” he writes in his new book, “Enchantments of the Mississippi: A Contemplative Journey of Time and Place.” While the book explores the significance of various aspects of the river (bridges, confluences, bends, bluffs and field), it stems from the personal heartache and challenges that the author experienced in recent years: divorce, the loss of a home, fading friendships and his aging body. Within its pages, Becknell explores both physical and emotional landscapes and even wades into deep waters to address the sacredness some people find along the river. When Becknell shared his feelings of desolation with a friend one day, the man suggested he turn to the river. The notion frightened him because rivers had been a source of “holy terror” for him, a result of emotional scars formed during his childhood, when his maternal grandmother flung herself from a bridge into the Ohio River to escape her depression. Sadness runs deep in his family. His mother also lost her battle with despair years later. Despite his fears, Becknell took his friend’s advice and embarked on a journey that would make him intimate with the river and its people, past and present, and provide fodder for his own literary contribution to the world. Born in Ohio and raised on the plains of Eastern Wyoming and Nebraska,
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Thomas Becknell Becknell developed a love of literature early on. He moved to the Twin Cities after receiving his Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Iowa. Now retired, he spent his career teaching literature and writing to college students in St. Paul. Given his professional background, it was only natural that he enlisted his favorite authors and poets to help him tell the overarching story of the river. In one section, he takes an imaginative stroll with Henry David Thoreau, Herman Melville and Samuel Clemens, referencing their thoughts through quotes and excerpts of their work. However, it is clear from Becknell’s writing that his own words have power, too. He is a lover of language, and he wields it well. He illuminates the “enchanting” landscapes found in the river valley with phrases that evoke emotion and conjure up vivid images. His inquisitiveness is contagious, and much can be learned from his searching, historical research and willingness to ask deep questions. Becknell began writing the book in 2017 in his apartment in the Pioneer Building in Lowertown and finished it at his new home in South St. Paul, where he moved in 2019 with his new bride, Pamela. During the writing process, he explored significant river sites locally and many others downstream in Illinois and Missouri. Any-
Now hiring for multiple positions! one who loves the river will know the places he visited, but his personal observations present the locales in a new light and make one want to hop on the Great River Road to experience them anew. Becknell returned from his travels with a suitcase full of research and individual experiences, but it was at Kaposia Landing on the bank of the river in South St. Paul where he eventually
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An air guitar epic about finding your community and your inner rock star!
AIRNESS MAY 11 – JUN 5
By Chelsea Marcantel | Directed by Angela Timberman
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! parksquaretheatre.org 651.291.7005
St. Paul Voice - May 2022 - Page 5
S ample St. Paul
Fitzgerald Theatre
10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul 651-370-2953 www.first-avenue.com
“Dog Man: The Musical” will be presented at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30. Tickets start at $29.50.
History Theatre
30 10th St. E. St. Paul 651-292-4323 www.historytheatre.com
“Runestone! A Rock Musical” is presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sundays, May 7-29. Swedish immigrant Olaf Ohlman digs up a rock in 1898 that has “a story on carved runes,” which tells that the Vikings were the first Europeans to set foot in Minnesota. He is praised for his discovery but controversy soon erupts and his life is turned upside down. Step back in time with this whimsical rock ’n’ roll musical. Tickets start at
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$45, with discounts for seniors, those under 30, and students. An online streaming option will be available May 23-29. Streaming tickets are $25 for an individual and $40 for a household.
History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 www.mnhs.org
“Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II” is a new exhibit on display through July 3. It looks at immigration, prejudice, civil rights, heroism, and what it means to be an American. “Art Speaks” is on display through July. It presents more than 160 paintings, sculptures and photos collected over the past 15 years and invites Minnesotans to explore the intersection of art and the history of the state. “Our Home: Native Minnesota” shows how Minnesota’s native communities have retained cultural
practices, teachings and values. “Votes for Women” is an online resource available on the History Center website. Learn about extraordinary women, the ratification of the 19th Amendment and more. “Black History, Black Voices” is an online resource available on the History Center website. Learn about Black history and the contributions Black Americans have made to Minnesota. Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow” and “Weather Permitting.” The Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ThursdaySunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students and $8 for children ages five to 17.
Landmark Center
75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org
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Neal Skoy, Julia Valen and Michael Terrell Brown are ready to rock out in “Airness,” presented May 13-June 5 at Park Square Theatre. Opera, and actor/vocalist Bradley Greenwald will perform in concert noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, April 27. Free. May Day Tea Party is held 1-4 p.m., Sunday, May 1. Kids and parents can enjoy tea or juice and snacks. Limited seats are available. To reserve a seat, call 651292-3063. Star of the North Concert Band will perform 7:30-9:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 4. Free. Violinist Francesca Anderegg and pianist Mat-
thew McCright will perform in concert noon-1 p.m., Thursday, May 5. Free. “CARE: Reimagining Justice” is held 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 7. Visitors can share a story about an injustice they’ve experienced in their life and what justice looked like to them in that situation. The stories will be shared (with consent) in the Landmark Center. Choice Cinema Series: “In the Footsteps of Gordon Parks – Half Past Autumn” is presented 1-3
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p.m., Saturday, May 7. Learn about the life and career of Gordon Parks, who was a photographer, novelist, journalist, poet, musician and filmmaker. $5. Classica Chamber Players (formerly Hill House Chamber Players) perform in concert noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, May 11. Free. Choice Cinema Series: “In the Footsteps of Gordon Parks – The Learning Tree” is presented 3-5 p.m., Sunday, May 8. Newt Winger, an African-American teen in small-town Kansas in the
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S ample St. Paul 1920s, largely shrugs off the racial prejudice of his time and place. His calm and selfcontrolled perspective is in direct opposition to that of his quick-tempered friend, and when he witnesses a murder he realizes that reporting it to the police could jeopardize both his friendship and his life. $5. Choice Cinema Series: “In the Footsteps of Gordon Parks – Leadbelly” is presented 7-9 p.m., Friday, May 13. This biography of Huddie Ledbetter follows the trouble-prone AfricanAmerican blues singer and guitarist, better known as “Leadbelly,” as he deals with racism in his era and finds peace in his music. $5. “CARE: Exquisite Crankies” is held 1-3 p.m., Sunday, May 22. Visitors learn about crankies, a form of puppetry used to tell stories. This event explores the sense of imagination.
MN Children’s Museum 10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 www.mcm.org
“Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails” is on dis-
play through May 8. Travel to the Island of Sodor with Thomas and his friends to solve a variety of challenges, climb into Thomas’ cab, load freight into train cars and fix Percy’s wobbly wheel. “Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep: Shear Genius” is on display May 28 through this fall. Visitors can use iconic inventions at Wallace & Gromit’s home, blast off in Wallace’s bright orange rocket, tend sheep at Shaun’s farm and create their own stop-motion animation. “Shipwreck Adventures” is a new permanent exhibit. It includes a sunken pilot house and 20-foot-long decaying ship hull based on a real sunken ship, a diver training area and an interpretation of the natural landscape of Lake Superior’s north shore. Other exhibits and activities include The Scramble, The Studio, Creativity Jam, Sprouts, Backyard, Our World, Forces at Play, Super Awesome Adventures, Imaginopolis and the Tip Top Terrace. The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wed.-Sun. Tickets are $14.95.
Your community news and information source
Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 www.ordway.org
“Legends and Lies” is presented 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 29. Cantus and the Bach Society of Minnesota use music to tell the story of the mischievous Till Eulenspiegel as he crossed a battle-weary Europe during the Thirty Years’ War. Tickets start at $12. “Accordo with Silent Film” is presented 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 10. Tickets start at $28. “At the Summit: B Minor Mass,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 14. The Bach Society of Minnesota, celebrating its 90th season, presents Bach’s transcendent setting of the traditional mass, his crowning achievement in a lifetime of sacred composition. Tickets are $35 with discounts for students and children under 12.
7:30 p.m., April 28-30, and 2 p.m., May 1. Set in the landscape of Chile’s Atacama desert, this play takes the audience on a metaphoric quest beginning with two strangers searching for the remains of children killed by the Pinochet regime. Tickets start at $16. “Airness” is presented May 13-June 5. Five oddball rock fanatics travel to dingy bars and cramped stages
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Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org
“Real STEM Stories” is a temporary exhibit in-person and online. Learn about
professionals working in the STEM field. “Action for Earth” is held through May. It features exhibits associated with climate change. Omnitheater films are “Dinosaurs of Antarctica,” and “Under the Sea.” Theater tickets are $9.95, with discounts for children and seniors. Museum tickets are $19.95, with discounts for children and seniors.
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across the nation vying for a place at the National Air Guitar Championship. Tickets start at $16.
PRESCHOOL - 8TH GRADE OPENINGS
holytrinityssp.org 651.455.8557
745 6th Ave. South St. Paul
Working ahead or catching up? We have you covered. Classes start May 23, May 31, and June 27 With more than 200 courses available, there is something for everyone this summer at Saint Paul College.
Enroll at saintpaul.edu/summer Document available in alternative formats by contacting 651.350.3008 or AccessResources@saintpaul.edu. Saint Paul College is an Equal Opportunity employer.
Saint Paul College, A member of Minnesota State
St. Paul Voice - May 2022 - Page 7
N ews Briefs Student notes University of Minnesota Twin Cities dean’s list: Claire Allen, Lily Byrnes, Emma Forouhari, William Gannon, Carly Gegelman, Nicholas Martinez, Jenna Osborne, Lucy Pilgrim-Rukavina, Samantha Salmen, Isabel Schleper, Katherine Burke, Hannah Bursey, Holly Ann Eastman, Charles Gannon, Angel Hernandez Lopez, Joseph Juliette, Nicholas Kettler, Jennifer Malay, Anna Mayer, Collin McEllistrem, Macy Mingo, Selena Moreno, Steven Nickson, Adrienne O’shea, Christian Ramirez, Ashley Rascher,
“Ours is a Service of Sincerity” Since 1927
Your community news and information source Jack Redpath, Rachel Sechter, Justina Shenouda, Andrew Stringer, Xander Thomas, Grant Weis, Thomas Conrin, Baird Doud, Adam Gardner, Joshua Johnson, Noelle Lynch, Natalie Meyers, Anja Nilles, Croix Raney, Josephine Thune, Sarah Wege Simmons University dean’s list: Frances Zigmund
Tour de Rec Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation hosts its Tour de Rec program the first Thursday of each month throughout the school year, featuring games, sports and crafts for youth and families. The next event takes place 6-7 p.m., May 5 at Mendota Elementary gymnasium, 1979 Summit Ln., Mendota
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Vis teacher awarded Visitation teacher Kristen Piehl recently won the Seagate Excellence in Science Mentoring Award, which recognizes an outstanding science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teacher who finds creative ways to nurture students’ interest in scientific research and discovery. Teachers are nominated by students, parents and school staff. Award recipients receive $1,000, a trophy and a Seagate hard drive. Each teacher’s school or science program also receives $1,000. Visitation will host Camp
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Invention July 11-15. This program for children in grades K-6 uses hands-on STEM activities to build confidence, leadership, perseverance and resourcefulness, and encourage entrepreneurship. For more information or to register, visit invent.org/camp.
Respite volunteers simply spend time with the adult for 2-4 hours per visit. To volunteer or for more information, contact Linda at 651-455-1560 or volunteer@darts1.org.
DARTS events
Dakota County Environmental Services is hosting an outdoor gear swap noon-3 p.m., Saturday, April 30 at Thompson Park Activity Center, 1200 Stassen Ln., West St. Paul. Items to bring include tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, skiing/snowboarding equipment, biking accessories, hiking poles, binoculars, headlamps, flashlights, etc. To confirm acceptable items, contact environ@co.dakota.mn.us.
DARTS is hosting its 8th Annual Fundraising Breakfast at Mendakota Country Club 7:30-9 a.m., Thursday, April 28. The event includes a complimentary breakfast and presentation by guest speaker Rick King, chairman of the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Donations will help DARTS continue to serve area seniors and their families. DARTS is also seeking volunteers to provide spring cleanup chores for seniors, and respite care for a caregiver of an older adult with a chronic illness or disability.
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Spring Art Crawl The St. Paul Spring Art Crawl, which began in late April, continues with the following events. All venues give visitors the opportunity to meet artists and view – and buy – their work.
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Some locations will feature food and music. Hours are 6-10 p.m. Friday; noon-8 p.m. Saturday; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, unless noted. For more information, visit stpaulartcollective.org. West 7th Street Arts District will host its event April 29-May 1 at the Schmidt Artist Lofts, 900 W. 7th St. The Friedli Gallery at 943 W. 7th will have a special showing, and the Keg and Case Market at 928 W. 7th St. will feature a variety of events. Sunset Dance Art, 750 Laurel Avenue, will host a pop-up gallery with eight artists, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, April 30. Raymond Arts District will host its event May 6-8. Visit The Dow Gallery, 2242 W. University Ave., and the studios of artists living in the Dow building, and artists at the Midway Triangle Building, 2500 University Ave. Lowertown Arts District will have open studios and events May 13-15 at the Lowertown Lofts Artist Coop, the Northern Warehouse, the Northwestern Building, 262 Studios, the Tilsner Artist Coop, Creators Space and Union Depot. The Rossmor building will host its event June 2425. MERRIAM PARK
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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.
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Academia Cesar Chavez 1801 Lacrosse Ave., St. Paul 651-778-2940 | www.cesarchavezschool.com St. Paul City School PreK-12 260 Edmund Ave., St. Paul 651-225-9177 | www.stpaulcityschool.org
PAROCHIAL
St. Croix Lutheran Academy 1200 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul 651-455-1521 | www.stcroixlutheran.org
COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES
St. Paul College 235 Marshall Ave., St. Paul 651-846-1600 | https://saintpaul.edu
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We will drop off a container or dumpster for you and haul it away once it's filled. If you prefer to save money, you can haul your trash to our refuse and recycling station. We accept all items in large or small quantities. We also offer many sizes of roll off containers, from 10 to 40 cubic yards.
St. Paul-based fence & deck contractor currently hiring carpenters and laborers. Experience a plus but not necessary. Pay scale based on experience. Send resume to Kellerres@aol.com or call 651-646-5404 for an application.
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N ews Briefs
Your community news and information source
Candidate watch Elections will be held this fall for seats in Minnesota Senate District 65 and House of Representatives District 65B. Both districts include the West Side, downtown and the northern portion of West St. Paul. Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL), now in her 10th term, is seeking reelection. Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL) is not. The St. Paul Voice will include details on at least one candidate each month leading to the primary election in August. The filing deadline is May 31. Our election guide, published in our November issue, will include profiles of all candidates for these offices.
Anna Botz West Sider Anna Botz is vying for the House of Representative seat in District 65B. Botz’s priorities include environmental sustainability, law enforcement reform, protecting children from sex offenders and trafficking, and affordable housing. The DFL candidate would work toward creating poli-
Anna Botz cies that make industrial sites more eco-friendly and sustainable, and hold corporations accountable for environmental damages or injuries to individuals. “The most important issue I’m focused on is regulatory capture (form of corruption of authority), because the exploitation of human beings and the planet is widespread, occurring in so many industries,” said Botz. “I see this as an existential threat, and one that I’m not hearing addressed.” Botz also supports clean water practices in agriculture and is in favor of banning no-knock warrants. She
would work to pass HF 226, a bill creating stricter consequences for people charged with a sexual offense. Additionally, she supports ranked choice voting and affordable housing initiatives. Botz is a native of South St. Paul and received an associate of arts degree from Inver Hills Community College. She has owned her own photography business for more than a dozen years. She has also volunteered with the nonprofit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, which provides a free professional remembrance portrait to parents suffering the loss of a baby. In 2014, she, her husband, and two children volunteered for eight months in Australia with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms on water conservation projects. She now lives on the West Side and has been involved with youth summer camps, block club leadership, the West Side Arts Fest and more. For more information, visit Annaforhouse.com.
CHOICE Cinema Series:
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New Building Opening this Fall! St. Paul City School is building a new facility one block west of the capital at University Ave. W. and Marion St. We will have Pre-K through grade 12 under one roof! The new building features state-of-the-art classrooms, gymnasium, green space/playground, cafeteria, community space, and a community center. We're now enrolling. Call today or enroll online!
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• New state-of-the-art facility • Free public charter school • Small class sizes (25 or fewer) • Full day pre-school and kindergarten • Emphasis on community • Environmental Ed / Experiential Learning programs • Free school busing in St. Paul for Pre-K-12th grade • Free breakfast & lunch available • Special education services • English language learning services • School culture that emphasizes relationships, community building, leadership and character growth.
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Visit www.isd197.org or call 651-403-7030 St. Paul Voice - May 2022 - Page 9
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Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend time with some friends from college. The four of us had not been together in about 25 years.
We shared about our families and jobs and spent time touring the college campus where we met, trading stories from that time together.
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Augustana Lutheran 1400 Robert St. S. West St. Paul 651-457-3373 www.augustana.com Beth Jacob Congregation 1179 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights 651-452-2226 www.beth-jacob.org Cherokee Park United 371 Baker St. W. St. Paul 651-227-4275 www.cherokeepark united.org Community Christ the Redeemer 110 Crusader Ave. W. West St. Paul 651-451-6123 www.ccredeemer.org
Page 10 - St. Paul Voice - May 2022
It didn’t take long before we were making new memories, and it was as if we had never gone our separate ways. Even though so much has changed in each of our lives, the bond we formed so many years ago continued to strengthen during our time together. When I reflect on the history of Neighbors, it is not unlike the bond I share with my college friends, only with Neighbors it is a bond with the community. During the past 50 years, Neighbors has adapted to the needs of the community we serve. We have moved our operations on several occa-
sions and made changes to our programs and services. Our volunteers and staff have changed, as have the people we serve. One of the constants has been the bond of our organization with the community we serve and our neighbors in need. Through the years, in crisis and celebration, Neighbors has provided opportunities to thrive. Service to our community is at the foundation of what we do each day. That dedication to community service is what drives Beth Skwira, Neighbors’ director of mission advancement, to show
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Crown of Life Lutheran Church & School 115 Crusader Avenue W. West St. Paul 651-451-3832 www.colwsp.org Faith United Methodist 1530 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul 651-457-5686 www.faithumcmn.com Holy Family Maronite 1960 Lexington Ave. S. Mendota Heights 651-291-1116 www.HolyFamily Events.org La Puerta Abierta UMC 690 Livingston Ave. St. Paul 651-558-1896
up to work every day. It is also driving her to take on a new role as the next executive director of the South St. Paul Educational Foundation. Beth will be missed at Neighbors. However, the community will continue to benefit as she assists with investing in the education of future generations of students. As for Neighbors, we will continue to evolve and support our neighbors in need. We will do so in part by promoting current team members and hiring new ones. Heidi Satre, who has been with us for more than seven years and oversees our events, marketing and communications, is our new community engagement director. She will manage a team
that focuses on our external relationships, volunteers, donors and community partners. Susan Schroeder has been promoted to associate director and manages our programs and services, advocacy efforts, and supports the day-to-day operations and strategy of Neighbors. Together, we will continue to work toward a day when all are nourished. While returning from my visit with my college friends, I reflected on our time together. Yes, we are older and grayer; but we are still pillars of support for each other. The same is true of Neighbors. At 50 years and going strong, we are a pillar of support for the communities we serve.
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Jimmy Francis
and I'm interested in learning about good things happening in your community. To share your stories and good news, call me at 651-321-8348.
Our Lady of Guadalupe 401 Concord St. St. Paul 651-228-0506 www.olgcatholic.org
St. Anne’s Episcopal 2035 Charlton Rd. Sunfish Lake 651-455-9449 www.saintannesmn.org
Riverview Baptist 14 Moreland Ave. E. West St. Paul 651-457-3831 www.riverviewbaptist.net
St. Elizabeth Orthodox 125 Congress St. E. St. Paul 651-424-0814 seocc.org
Salem Lutheran 11 Bernard St. West St. Paul 651-457-6661 www.salemluth.org
St. George Antiochian Orthodox 1250 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul 651-457-0854 www.saintgeorgechurch.org
St. Joseph’s Catholic 1154 Seminole Ave. West St. Paul 651-457-2781 www.churchofstjoseph.org
St. Matthew Catholic 490 Hall Avenue St. Paul 651-224-9793 www.st-matts.org
St. Stephen’s Lutheran 1575 Charlton St. West St. Paul 651-457-6541 www.ststephenswsp.org
Spirit of Hope Catholic Community 2035 Charlton Road Sunfish Lake 651-760-8353 www.spiritofhopemn.org
St. Paul’s United Methodist 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
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Postscript
My Grouchy Friends
I have a weakness for grouchy people. I have a couple of friends I would describe as perpetually grouchy and, I’m not quite sure why, but I think they’re good for me. To clarify, I’m not fond of being around people who are in the habit of deliberately messing up their lives. I think everyone has known at least one person like this, and it’s hard to watch. I see the train coming down the tracks. I hope my friend will alter course. I try not to be too bossy as I suggest it might be a good idea to get off the tracks. I nervously watch the train barreling straight for them. “Um, don’t you think it might be a good idea to, maybe, do something a little different? Because a train will come down these tracks sooner or later, and when it does…”
Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com
My ideas are always rebuffed: There is no time. There is no energy. There is no need. Then I have to watch the crash, extend my sympathies, and listen to long explanations about how none of this was preventable and how life is terribly unfair. That is no fun. But being grouchy is different. My grouchy friends tell me that I am crazy for always believing things will work out. Grouchy people assure
me that there is something within them – their DNA, their upbringing, their carefully cultivated beliefs about how the world works – that justifies their pessimism. For some reason, this is like catnip to me. I’ve been trying to understand why. My husband, Peter, tells me I should steer clear of people who are not positive. Peter would like me to be around people who, if they are not quite as upbeat as I am, at least have a sunny view of the world. But I keep looking at folks who are surrounded by storm clouds and wanting to keep them company. Maybe I am some sort of competitive optimist, trying to conquer the most challenging pessimist to earn another notch in my optimist’s belt. Maybe it gets tiresome always hearing from people who believe as I do: that we are generally as happy as we make up our minds to be. Maybe I like hearing the opposing view to assure myself that, yes, I really do believe this stuff.
Or maybe (and I worry this might be the case) optimism is like one of those religions where, in order to believe, you have to convince others to give it a try. I think it might be a little of all of the above. It might also be that I am genuinely curious. What would happen if I expected the worst? Would anything change? Because being optimistic invites injury. Plans fail. People disappoint. Not everything works out as I hope.
To be optimistic is to be vulnerable. And I don’t actually think I started out as an optimistic person. I just allowed myself to be hopeful and discovered that things worked out, even when – especially when – it didn’t look as if they would. And so I kept on hoping. Becoming optimistic was like building a muscle. Hope resulted in more things to be hopeful about. My grouchy friends guard against injury by keeping
their hopes low. Their pessimism protects them from disappointment. I try to explain that pessimism is an indiscriminate herbicide – it kills both the crops and the weeds. But, so far, my attempts to convert my grouchy friends to optimism have failed. It doesn’t matter. I know I’m right. I couldn’t be an optimist and think otherwise. Till next time.
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1407 Robert St. S., West St. Paul 351 Robert St. S., St. Paul 536 Clay St., St. Paul
Not valid on firewood or with any other coupons, specials or offers. Exp 5/31/22.
Garden Center 50 East Crusader, West St. Paul (Next to Cub Foods) SouthviewGardenCenter.com | 651-455-6669 St. Paul Voice - May 2022 - Page 11
Coming Soon! Coming Soon!
Join Us! Center for Rescue Veterinary Care Center for Rescue Veterinary Care Original building, renewed purpose. Center for Rescue Veterinary Care Original building, renewed purpose. OpeningOriginal in the previous Southview Animalpurpose. Hospital location, building, renewed Southview Sanctuary will be a dedicated space to serve animals Opening incare the previous Animal Hospital location, needing through Southview local animal rescure organizations Southview Sanctuary will be a dedicated space to serve animals (Select days by appointment only) Opening incare the previous Animal Hospital location, needing through Southview local animal rescure organizations Southview Sanctuary will be a dedicated space to serve animals needing care32 through animal rescure Westlocal Mendota Roadorganizations
Opening May 5
Looking forHeights, a new Inver Grove MNcareer? 55057 32 West Mendota Road Join our Grove team! Now accepting resumes. Inver 55057 32 West Heights, MendotaMN Road Follow along Facebook for Do you love animals andon want to be part ofupdates a growing,on fast-paced Inver Grove Heights, MN 55057 Southview Sanctuary and to learn more! animal hospital that provides excellent care? If so, we invite you www.facebook.con/SouthviewAnimalHospital Follow along onexpansion, Facebook for updates onHospital to join our team. Due to Southview Animal Southview and toavailable: learn more! has the Sanctuary following positions
Let’s start the conversation! Want to work for a diverse, rewarding industry? BankCherokee is looking for talented staff to handle jobs ranging from lead teller and consumer banking to customer service, and more.
Now Hiring!
Follow along on Facebook for updates on www.facebook.con/SouthviewAnimalHospital
Southview Sanctuary and to learn more! Care) Veterinarian (Associate, Overnight Emergency/Urgent www.facebook.con/SouthviewAnimalHospital Veterinary Technician Tech / Kennel Assistant Customer Service Representative
To apply, send resume to Kparish@southviewanimalhospital.com
Southview Animal Hospital
Full-service veterinary medical facility 2000 Robert St. S. West St. Paul
Visit our website and explore a new career in banking! www.bankcherokee.com/careers
Southview Sanctuary Center for Rescue Veterinary Care Clinic 32 W. Mendota Road Inver Grove Heights
Call 651-455-2258 or visit southviewanimalhospital.com
BankLocal. WorkLocal. BankBetter. Equal Opportunity Employer
Member FDIC
Advance your career. Advance YOU! Fast track your way into the finance industry with the SIE Certification.
Contact us at 651-379-5837 or outreach@gesmn.org.
GESMN.ORG Page 12 - St. Paul Voice - May 2022