South St. Paul Voice July 2023

South St. Paul

Summer music, movies, festivals

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Neighbors, Inc. names new CEO

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Nowcaptaining the cadre of staff and volunteers at Neighbors, Inc., is Dawn Wambeke, who has 23 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and was recently named the nonprofit’s new executive director.

“I am truly inspired by the tremendous, long-standing community support that Neighbors has from their volunteers and supporters,” said Wambeke. “For 51 years, with the unwavering support of their community, Neighbors has been able to provide highly dignified person-centered basic needs services including food and clothing, and today they have expanded their scope with the launch of financial empowerment services. I am thrilled to join their incredible work, and I look forward to getting connected within the community.”

Wambeke has a bachelor’s in psychology from Southwest State University and a mini master of business association for nonprofit organizations program from the University of St. Thomas. Previously, she served as executive director of Advance Opportunities, a Marshall, Minn.-based nonprofit that provides employment and training for adults with developmental disabilities. She has also directed and managed economic empowerment programs for Twin Cities-based organizations including CAPI USA, Pillsbury United Communities and Emerge.

Neighbors, Inc. / Page 2

Longtime library director passes the baton

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Metzen Realty celebrates 75 years

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Overthe past 75 years, South St. Paul-based Metzen Realty & Associates Co. has seen its fair share of changes in the housing market, from sky-high interest rates of the 1970s and ’80s – peaking at more than 16% in October 1981 – to the housing market collapse in 200708, to the steep climb in home values in recent years. Yet through it all, the company has continued to help people realize their dream of home ownership.

The company was founded in 1948 by Floyd Metzen. Today it is owned by his great grandson Travis Metzen, who is busy planning an anniversary celebration to be held later this year. While nothing was nailed down as of press time, Metzen hinted that the event could include food and activities, and likely happen at a site that has more parking than the Metzen office building at 412 Southview Blvd.

12 as director. Honora Greenwood Rodriguez, who has been the adult services librarian since 2011, will succeed her.

As a new library building rises from the ground at Seventh and Marie, Dakota County has found a new leader to usher in the next era of library services in South St. Paul – and staff didn’t have to look too far to find her. Longtime South St. Paul Library Director Kathy Halgren will retire this month after serving the library for nearly 24 years, including 11 as adult services librarian and

Rodriguez started as support staff in 2007 and became adult services librarian when Halgren became director in 2011. She will become director of the city-owned library in July, then on January 1, 2024, when the library becomes an official branch of the Dakota County Library system, she will be its branch manager. Her initial

“We have extreme gratitude for all our loyal customers who have given us repeat business,” said Travis Metzen. “The local community has been a huge part in that.”

The company helps people buy and sell commercial and residential properties and offers appraisal services. Since Travis Metzen took the reins in 2017, he has hired another appraiser, additional agents and support staff. He has also kept

Prospective homebuyers see signs of hope as market levels out

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Anear 30% decline in home sales across the Twin Cities and a leveling of listing prices suggest good news for those looking to purchase their first home, and folks seeking larger homes.

The median sales price of $367,000 in April was down 0.7% from a year ago – the first such decline, however

slight, since 2012. The average time on the market increased by nearly two-thirds, to 45 days, and inventory levels shrank 4.5%, to 6,155 units. The Twin Cities market currently has about 1.5 months’ supply whereas a balanced market has four to six months.

Median sales price in South St. Paul increased by 4.6%, from $282,000 to $295,000. Homes sold nearly twice as fast as last

year, in 14 days compared to 26.

Market trends in the Twin Cities Sales in St. Paul decreased 28.6% while sales in Minneapolis fell 36.4%. Sales of single-family homes fell 31.5%, condos declined 36.1%, and townhomes dropped 14.4%. New construction home sales rose 20% while existing home sales were down 32.9%. The

decrease in overall sales in the Twin Cities can, in part, significantly fewer listings compared to last year, a decrease of about 28%. Rising interest rates have impacted affordability but those, too, are leveling out. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage in 2022 jumped from 3.22% in January to 7.08% in October. Today, rates are hovering around 6.8%.

Rental properties

Rent for apartments in St. Paul has stayed relatively consistent since April last year. According to a recent report by HousingLink, median rent for 1-bedroom units increased only 1%, to $1,007; 2-bedroom units increased 3%, to $1,340; and 3-bedroom units increased 2%, to $1,698. Construction of affordable housing continues in the metro and

surrounding areas. Affordable housing in St. Paul is identified as costing 60% of the area median income (AMI) and “deeply affordable” housing as 30% of the AMI. Currently, 83% of vacant properties are affordable, 56% are available for 50% AMI and none are deeply affordable. There are 4.2% fewer rental properties available compared to last

Metzen / Page 4

Library / Page 3

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

Honora Rodriguez and Kathy Halgren

An up-close look at our national mammal

year but 1,479 multifamily units have been permitted for new construction, a 79% increase from last year.

Minnesota Housing loan programs for homebuyers

Minnesota Housing, the state’s housing finance agency, offers several loan programs to help Minnesotans achieve their dream of homeownership. It has programs for first-time and repeat homebuyers.

New developments

The Vaquero, a 5-story 170-unit apartment building, is expected to break ground this summer or fall

The Start Up program is for first-time homebuyers. If you’ve never owned a home or it’s been more than three years since you’ve been a homeowner, you may be considered a first-time homebuyer. If you’re not a first-time homebuyer but want to refinance your home, the Step Up program might be the right option. The agency also offers downpayment and closing cost loan op-

at the corner of Concord Exchange and Grand Avenue in South St. Paul. Developer DRS Investment VIII, LLC, in partnership with Master Properties, will bring plans to the the City Council for approval by late September. The building will have 34 affordable units available at

tions. Start Up and Step Up program first-mortgage loans can be combined with Minnesota Housing downpayment and closing cost loans of up to $18,000. Program income limits are now up to $142,800 statewide.

Homeownership education classes may be required for some homebuyers using Minnesota Housing’s mortgage loan programs, and is usually available at little or

50% AMI, heated underground parking, a swimming pool, rooftop patio, community rooms and exercise facilities.

The Backyards apartment building is expected to open this November at 205 Concord Exchange N., South St.

Paul, next to the newly constructed Yards apartments. It will feature 111 marketrate units, including 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, a rooftop deck, underground parking, fitness center and business center. The exterior will have artwork depicting

historic landmarks of South St. Paul and the Mississippi River. The developer is The Beard Group of Hopkins, which also created the Yards. The Backyards project was expected to open sooner but was delayed due to supply chain issues.

no cost to the homebuyer. The Minnesota Homeownership Center can connect you with a homeownership advisor who will guide you through the homebuying process, provide tips to improve your credit score and more. To find a homeownership advisor, visit www. hocmn.org/find-an-advisor.

The Homeownership Capacity Program offers financial coaching to help you

Neighbors, Inc.

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651-399-4304

plan for homeownership. This program can help you understand your credit, create a budget, reduce debt and create a savings plan. For personalized financial coaching, visit the Homeownership Capacity Program provider list at www.mnhousing.gov by searching “Homeownership Education.”

Minnesota Housing works with local lenders who can answer questions about pro-

being and security. Additionally, the organization operates a holiday gift assistance program during the wintertime holiday season.

gram eligibility and help you understand the features of the various programs. Contact a participating Minnesota Housing lender at www. mnhousing.gov and search “Find a Lender.” Be sure to let the lender know that you are interested in a Minnesota Housing loan.

To learn more about Minnesota Housing’s loan programs, visit www.mnhousing.gov.

needed food and clothing. Today it serves communities in northern Dakota County.

1560 Livingston Ave. Suite 101, West St. Paul Hogar Automóvil Seguro de Vida 651-457-6348

Wambeke will oversee 16 staff and dozens of volunteers across the four programs that the nonprofit operates. The organization’s oldest programs are the Clothes Closet thrift store and the food shelf. Located on the upper floor of the Neighbors building at 222 Grand Ave. W., the Clothes Closet provides clothing and essential home items for low- to no-cost, based on need. The

food shelf, located on the lower level, offers in-person shopping, curbside pick-up, delivery and distribution events. In the past year, it has seen about 2,000 visits per month, a significant increase compared to the 500 it saw during busy months prepandemic. The nonprofit’s newest program is its Financial Empowerment Center, which offers free services to help improve financial well-

Wambeke is the nonprofit’s sixth executive director. She succeeds Charlie Thompson, who held the position for six years and resigned in January to lead a nonprofit in the state of Washington. The first executive director was Bob Adams, who served from 1975-1995. The organization was founded in 1972 by six local churches with the goal of helping people who

“Dawn’s experience in nonprofit fundraising and as an executive director made her an excellent choice for the position,” said Neighbors, Inc., board chair Beth Baumann. “The search committee was also impressed by her enthusiasm for our organization and the community we serve.”

For more information about services provided by Neighbors, Inc., call 651455-5000 or visit neighborsmn.org.

Library

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duties include hiring someone to fill her current position and overseeing construction of the new library, slated to open in February 2024. Follow construction updates at southstpaul.org/ library.

“She’s [Rodriguez] very passionate about South St. Paul and loves serving this community,” said Halgren. “She’s very enthusiastic about our new building and what it will provide to our residents…. One thing always remains when working in a library – and that’s public service. You need to have that drive to help the people in your community be the best they can be.”

Student notes

State University of New York at Potsdam: Alexis Ritter earned a bachelor of fine arts in art education (PreK-12).

College of St. Scholastica: Krystal Johnson earned a bachelor of arts in social work. Amber Feig, Janet Roehlen and April Terlinde were named to the dean’s list. St. Lawrence University: Cameron Buhl earned a bachelor’s in performance and communication arts. University of Iowa: Carmen Skwira earned a bachelor of science in public health.

Garden tour

The South St. Paul Garden Club will host its summer garden tour 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday, July 9, featuring gardens in South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights and Ea-

Rodriguez has a bachelor’s in English from the Univeristy of Minnesota and a master’s in library and information sciences from the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, and has already been attending library board meetings alongside Halgren. Her previous library experience includes two years as a student library worker at the Children’s Literature Research Collection.

Halgren, a native of Duluth, developed her love for library science while moonlighting as a library worker at what is now Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington. She went on to get a master’s in library and information services from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as an adult services librarian

gan. Tour maps and wristband sales are offered at two starting locations: 9 Apfelridge Ct., South St. Paul, and 1203 Duckwood Tr., Eagan. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 the day of the tour. For more information, call Carol at 651-442-7225 or email kab2300@hotmail. com.

Block party

First Presbyterian in South St. Paul is hosting a block party 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, July 22 at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, near the intersection of Wentworth and Oakdale. The event features food trucks, a raffle and the chance to win cash prizes.

Library events

Book Club for adults, 7-8 p.m., Thursday, July 13. The title is “A Woman Is No Man” by Etaf Rum.

at New York Public Libraries for two years. Longing for wide open spaces over the concrete jungle, she relocated back to the Midwest and landed a job at the Joseph Mann Library in Two Rivers, Wis. In her three years there, she witnessed the construction of a new library – the Lester Public Library. She joined the South St. Paul Library in 1999. As one can imagine, she has seen many changes during her career.

“Libraries are very different now compared to when I started because they’re much more technology driven,” said Halgren. “I would say they are community centers more than they are a quiet place. They are a center for people to learn whatever they need to learn to make their lives better.”

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/SSPbookclub.

Meeting dates

The South St. Paul City Council meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month in the council chambers at City Hall, 125 3rd Ave. N. For agendas and city council member contact information, visit www. southstpaul.org or call 651554-3284.

The Special School District 6 School Board meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month. For agendas and school board member contact information, visit www. sspps.org or call 651-4579400.

The South St. Paul Lions Club meets at 7:15 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month (September -May). For more information, visit https://ssplions.org.

Halgren recalled helping put barcodes on the library’s entire collection when the library got its first self-service check-out machine in 2012, as well as teaching computer classes to a large group of people curious about a new thing called the internet. She began a book discussion group for adults and an adult reading program – now called Winter Reads – both of which continue today. She was also successful in getting grants to enhance services, including one in 2014 to build the children’s play and learn station on the second floor; one in 2016 to begin the 300 Books Before Kindergarten program, and one in 2019 to open a pop-up library in the community. Most recently, she received a grant to send a staff member to a confer-

South St. Paul Southwest Lioness-Lions Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at Angelo’s Italian Restaurant,

ence to learn how to collect, evaluate and present data to emphasize the library’s value in the community.

One of the biggest challenges she faced as director was adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, which abruptly forced the cancellation of many programs. During that time, the library began offering virtual programs, provided curbside material pick up, handed out take-and-make kits, and started other programs that met social distancing protocols. Many hybrid programs continue today. Halgren noted that library attendance was strong before the pandemic and that it is beginning to trend upward again, although it hasn’t fully recovered.

“I was so proud of our

1203 Southview Blvd., South St. Paul. This group of women serves the community through fundraising and volunteering.

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library staff during the pandemic,” said Halgren. “That [virtual programming] technology was a godsend because we now have another way of communicating. It definitely has its shortcomings but in a pinch it’s awfully good to have the ability to connect virtually now.”

Excitement surrounding the new library building is expected to boost attendance. The new library will have a community room, reading garden, historic collage and more. Halgren said its construction was first discussed in 2016 and she is proud to be on the team that helped make it a reality. In retirement, she plans to write a novel, dust off her harp and piano, and reconnect with her family’s roots in Sweden.

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Editor: Tim Spitzack

Copy Editor: Leslie Martin

Staff Writers: Jake Spitzack John E. Ahlstrom

Marketing Manager: Jake Spitzack

Contributors: Roger Fuller Delivery: Independent Delivery Service

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the agency up to date with the latest technology in the industry. Most recently, the firm expanded into the Wisconsin market, and Metzen has goals to expand to other new markets as well.

“The pandemic actually did the opposite of what most people would have thought [in the housing

industry],” said Metzen. “Even though the world shut down there was a weird culmination of very low interest rates and low inventory, so it created a very hot market. That was one of our busiest years in existence since we’ve been established.”

The market remains strong for sellers because of the low inventory of homes on the market and the high demand from new homebuyers entering the market.

This combination continues to create stiff competition and Metzen said buyers should be willing to act fast because properly priced homes are selling within a matter of days.

Single family homes under

$450,000 continue to see the highest demand, he said.

The median-priced home in South St. Paul is $295,000.

Rising interest rates over the past year have helped keep home values from rising at the record pace of recent

years. Metzen’s advice for first-time homebuyers is to connect with a local agent who understands the neighborhood in which they want to live.

“We’ve progressively grown almost every year in the six years of my ownership,” said Metzen. “The personability and family-like feel sets us above. We give everyone the attention they deserve. We make them feel almost as if they’re our only client.”

For more information, call 455-2214 or visit www.metzenrealty.com.

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Larry Danich , Nathan Mills, Travis Metzen, Alexander Hogan, Kayelynn Metzen

A look at the significance of the Armour Gates

Tim Spitzack Editor

It’sbeen 33 years since the wrecking ball tore into the long-vacated remains of the Armour & Co. meatpacking plant in South St. Paul. Swing after swing, the once 22-building complex that sprawled across 47 acres was reduced to a pile of rubble. When the dust settled, all that remained were the red stone gates through which thousands of people had passed every day on their way to work.

The City of South St. Paul purchased the property in 1989 to incorporate into a planned industrial park that would encompass the Armour & Co. and Swift & Co. meatpacking plants and other operations of the former stockyards. In 2006, the City Council approved development plans for BridgePoint business park, and at that time chose to keep the historic gates intact.

Today, however, the gates are literally standing in the way of developing the last parcel of the Armour property. Their position in the triangular-shaped lot makes it impossible to construct a building that meets size requirements for the business park, and the gates are not in good enough shape to be moved. The conundrum has created tension between those who favor economic development and those who support historic preservation. As reported in our June issue, a community effort is underway to save the gates and potentially use the land around them for a park.

Preservationists say that the gates are the last vestige of the most significant era in the city’s history, representing deep ties to industry, immigration and the city’s growth. Armour and Co. was, after all, an economic giant that once operated 33 meatpacking plants in the

United States and employed 60,000 people. The South St. Paul plant, which opened in 1919 with 2,000 employees, was the company’s largest and was reported to be the most modern meatpacking plant in the world. It was also the largest industrial plant in the Twin Cities at that time – and a melting pot. The company, like its rivals, heavily recruited workers from European countries. At its peak, the plant employed 4,000 people representing 20 ethnic groups, including Polish, Croatian, Serbian, Romanian, Slovakian, Irish and German. It even had its own branch of the St. Paul Public Library to assist those who wanted to learn, and those studying for citizenship.

With its state-of-the-art equipment, the plant was indeed a busy place, able to process nearly 1,900 head of livestock each hour. During WWII, it operated around

the clock and called on workers to make sacrifices –namely losing overtime pay – to support the war effort. Following the war, a labor dispute between unions and meatpacking companies across the country quickly surfaced over wages. The result was a nationwide strike of the country’s largest meatpackers. On March 16, 1948, picket lines formed at the gates of the plants, including those in South St.

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Paul. The strike dragged on and eventually got ugly. In South St. Paul, there were skirmishes between strikers and South St. Paul police officers and soldiers of the National Guard, whom Minnesota Governor Luther Youngdahl had called in to quell the violence. The strike lasted 67 days.

Stockyard operations changed dramatically in the 1960s with the opening of regional packing plants

across the country, thus eliminating the need for the larger central plants. Locally, Swift closed in 1969 and Armour in 1979. During those tumultuous years, South St. Paul watched as its economic base eroded and many of its residents lost their livelihoods.

If the Armour gates could talk, they’d have many stories to tell – and they’d be told in many different languages and dialects.

History Theatre

30 E. 10th St. St. Paul 651-292-4323

Historytheatre.com

“Glensheen” is presented July 8-23. Set in 1977, this dark musical unravels the mystery of an heiress and her night nurse who are found dead in the Glensheen mansion in Duluth. Tickets start at $30.

Landmark Center

75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225

landmarkcenter.org

Music on the Cortile events are offered each Wednesday, noon-1 p.m., on Musser Cortile. This month’s lineup features Lazerblade, June 28; Jaspar Lepak, July 12; and Jeff Ray, July 26.

The Landmark Center offers 60-minute guided walking tours Wednesdays at 10 a.m. through August. The following tours are free, but reservations are required: “Rice Park,” June 28 and July 26; “St. Paul’s Origins,” July 12; and “The Great River,” July 19. For more information, visit www. landmarkcenter.org or call 651-292-3276.

MN Children’s Museum

10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000

mcm.org

“Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out” is the featured exhibit through September 4. Learn about emotions, memory and imagination through interactive and digital experiences.

“The Backyard: The Mud Zone” is a new outdoor exhibit. Mix dirt and water to create different types of mud, mix up a gourmet muddy meal in the mud kitchen and use catapults and air cannons to launch mud at various targets.

Other exhibits and activities include “The Scramble,”

“The Studio,” “Creativity Jam,” “Sprouts,” “Our World,” “Forces at Play,” “Shipwreck Adventures” and “Imaginopolis.”

The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays. Tickets are $14.95. Admission is free the first Sunday of each month; reservations are required and tickets are limited. The next free date is July 2.

MN History Center

345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul

651-259-3000 mnhs.org

“Our Home: Native Minnesota ” includes historic and contemporary photographs, maps and artifacts. Visitors learn how Minnesota’s Native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values.

Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow,” “Grainland” and “Weather Permitting.” Open 10 a.m.4 p.m., Thurs.-Sun. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $8 for children ages five to 17.

MN Museum of American Art

350 Robert St. N. St. Paul

651-797-2571

mmaa.org

“

Im/perfect Slumbers” is on display through August 20 in the M’s window galleries and skyway entrance. Guest curated by M artistin-residence Katya Oicherman in collaboration with Curator of Exhibitions Laura Joseph, this multidis-

ciplinary series of installations captures the historical and contemporary state of sleeping and being in bed.

“Colonial Traumas ,” is an installation in Skyway 28 over Wabasha Street at 4th Street in downtown St. Paul. Created by Luis Fitch, the mural features colorful, vinyl cut-out skulls that represent the complexity of identity, place and belonging for people of mixed-race descent.

“Off the Deep End,” a digital mural printed on vinyl, is on display in the Jackson Street skyway bridge between 4th and 5th Streets through March 15, 2024. The artwork was created by 19 students from the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists and explores the theme of metaphorical rising sea level.

Ordway Center

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

“

Ordway Inside Out: Finding Her Beat ,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 15, at Rice Park. This event includes a live Taiko drumming performance followed by a screening of the locally based documentary “Finding Her Beat.” The film tells the story of women making their way in the world of Taiko drumming, which had been off-limits to women for thousands of years. Directed by Minnesotans Dawn Mikkelson (multi-Emmy Award winner) and Keri Pickett, award-winning filmmaker,

photographer, author and artist. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free.

Palace Theatre

17 7th Place W. St. Paul 612-338-8388 first-avenue.com

Trevor Hall and The Great In-Between , 6:45 p.m., Wednesday, June 28. Tickets start at $39.50.

Park Square Theatre

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

Park Square is offering a 1.5-mile guided walking tour that highlights the many buildings associated with renowned Minnesota writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, July 13, at The Commodore, 79 Western Ave. Proceeds go toward the cost of reopening Park Square Theatre. $40.

RiverCentre

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

Twin Cities Tattoo Festival, noon-10 p.m., July 14; 11 a.m.-10 p.m., July 15; and noon-7 p.m., July 16. More than 200 tattoo artists from around the world will offer tattoos and participate in contests. Weekend passes are $65 and one-day tickets are $30. Tickets are cashonly and only available at the door.

Science Museum of Minnesota

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

“Exquisite Creatures” is on display through September 4. Explore the planet’s

biodiversity by viewing preserved animal specimens arranged in intricate patterns.

STEM Adventure Saturdays is a new program featuring themed activities in the galleries and interactive presentations from community members. Themes are: Water, through July 7; Air and Space, July 8-Aug. 4; Dinosaurs, Aug. 5-Sept. 1; and Backyard Science, Sept. 2-Oct. 16. Each theme will begin with a kickoff event featuring special activities. The kickoff for Air and Space Festival is 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday July 8.

Omnitheater films : “Wings Over Water,” through September 4. Follow the migrations of winged creatures as they return home to raise the next generation of waterfowl.

“The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness,” through October 18. Meet polar bears, Porcupine caribou and people who have called the vast arctic region their home for thousands of years.

Xcel Center

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

Erykah Badu, 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 30. Tickets start at $80.85.

Dude Perfect, 6 p.m., Sunday, July 2. Tickets start at $29.75.

Bryan Adams, 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 3. Tickets start at $26.

Cirque Du Soleil, 7:30 p.m., July 13-14, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., July 15, and 1 p.m., July 16. Tickets start at $54.

Thomas Rhett, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 27. Tickets start at $60.

Madonna , 8:30 p.m., Sunday, July 30. Tickets start at $70.

History Theatre presents “Glensheen” July 8-23.

S ummer Events

Music, movies and festivals

Music in the Parks, Mears Lunchtime Series - Free concerts are held noon-1 p.m. at Mears Park every Tuesday and Wednesday through Aug. 16. No shows are held July 3-4. The lineup: Barlow with Bionik & Eric Mayson, July 11; My Cousin Dallas, July 12; Cassandra Cole, July 18; Rosie Rossi, July 19; St. Suburbia, July 25; Qlivia, July 26; Mellifera, Aug. 1; Joan of Profile, Aug. 2; Capital City Wind Ensemble, Aug. 8; Dale & Kathleen, Aug. 9; TBD, Aug. 15; and The Fairlanes, Aug. 16.

Lowertown Sounds is a free concert series presented on Thursday nights in Mears Park, 221 5th St. E. Concerts run 6-9:30 p.m., and guests are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the show. The lineup: The New Standards, July 13; Craig Clark Band, July 20; Molly Maher & Her Disbelievers, July 27; Jaedyn James, Aug. 3; Salsa Del Soul, Aug. 10; Run Westy Run, Aug. 17; and Flamin’ Oh’s, Aug. 24. Food trucks will be onsite at each performance. For more information, visit www.lowertownsounds.com.

Bands on the Boulevard is a free, outdoor concert series featuring Minnesota musicians at the Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. Concerts are held 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and arrive early for pre-show dancing, activities and food from various food trucks. Activities and crafts will begin at 6:30 p.m. The lineup: NUNNABOVE, July 11; Barbaro, July 18; The Northerly Gales, July 25; Ecuador Manta, August 1. For more information, visit www. mnhs.org or call 651-2593000.

Summer Nights in Rice are free concerts held 5-7 p.m. on select Thursdays in Rice Park, 109 W. 4th St. The lineup: International Reggae All-Stars, July 13; Moonlight Serenaders, July 27; Pete Whitman Quartet, Aug. 10; Natania & Ticket to Brasil, Aug. 24; and Jimmy “Primetime” Smith Blues Band, Sept. 7. Groovin’ in the Garden free concerts are held 6-8 p.m. every Wednesday at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr. The lineup: Flowtus,

July 5; Mubbla Buggs, July 12; Eleganza, July 19; and Flamin’ Oh’s, July 26. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Guests are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

The City of Mendota Heights presents free concerts at 6 p.m. at Market Square Park, 720 Main St. The lineup: Cole Allen and Sena Erhardt, July 12; The M & M Show, July 26; Helium for Liftoff trio, Aug. 9; Matt Graunke and the Crow River Rebellion, Aug. 23; and Skippin’ Stones, Sept. 6. Revved UP performs 6:30 p.m., Aug. 11, at Mendakota Park, 2111 Dodd Rd.

The City of West St. Paul outdoor movies schedule features “DC League of Superpets,” 9 p.m., July 14, at Harmon Park, 230 Bernard St. W.; and TBD (community vote), 8:30 p.m., Aug. 25, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. For more information, call 651-552-4100.

Midtown Blues & Funk Fest, formerly the Lowertown Blues & Funk Fest, will be held noon-10 p.m., Saturday, July 22 at Dual Citizen Brewing, 725 Raymond Ave. Concerts are free and

the lineup features Walter Trout, Corey Stevens, Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers, The Jellybean Johnson Experience, Kendra Glenn and Lisa Wenger. For more information, visit www.lowertownbluesfestival.com.

Mendota Days is held July 7-8. It will feature live music on Friday, including Elvis music from 1-4 p.m.

A parade kicks off at noon

on Saturday, starting at St. Peter’s Church on Highway 13 and ending just after the VFW. A car show will be held 1-4 p.m. The event will also feature a beanbag tournament, bouncy house, arts and crafts, food trucks and more. For more information, visit cityofmendota.org.

The St. Paul Food Truck Festival returns to Union Depot 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat-

Worship Guide

urday, July 22. Located in parking lot C, 390 E. Kellogg Blvd., the event features 60 food trucks, live music, beer/ seltzers and nonalcoholic beverages, games for all ages, a doggie station and more. The music lineup is Whiskey Stone, 11a.m.-2 p.m.; Skitzo Phonic, 2:30-5:30 p.m; Tyte Phitt, 6-9 p.m. For more information visit www.mnfoodtruckfestival.com.

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• Clark Memorial United Church 779 15th Ave N 651 - 451-7278 clarkgraceucc.org

• St . Sava Serbian Orthodox church 357 2nd Ave S 651 - 451-0775 www.stsavamn.org

• Saint John Vianney Catholic Church 789 17th Ave. N. 651-451-1863 info@sjvssp.org

• Sf. Stefan Romanian Orthodox Church 350 5th Ave N 651 - 451-3462 sfantulstefan.org

• St Mary ’s Coptic Orthodox Church 501 6th Ave S 651 - 455-8947 stmarymn.org

Walter Trout will perform July 22 at the Midtown Blues & Funk Fest.

An up-close look at our national mammal: the American bison

Tim Spitzack Editor

For the first time in nearly 150 years, American bison are once again roaming the prairie along the Mississippi River. Our nation’s national mammal was reintroduced to Spring Lake Park Reserve in northern Dakota County last fall and the 8-head herd has already expanded by 50% – four calves were born this spring. Today, the herd allows us to get a glimpse of what the natural prairie looked like in ages past and to observe first-hand how bison benefit the landscape.

Over the past decade, Dakota County has been working to restore about 150 acres of the reserve to its native habitat by removing invasive species and doing controlled burns to promote the growth of wildflowers and other plants. Today, the bison are lending a hand –or a hoof, as it were. They boost the ecosystem by grazing on grasses, thus giving wildflowers the chance to flourish. Their hooves embed wildflower seeds into the soil, helping promote plant growth. As wildflowers increase, they attract more pollinators, which in turn help create a healthy habitat that supports other insects and animals.

Dakota County worked with the Minnesota Bison Conservation Herd Partnership to bring the bison to Spring Lake Park Reserve last October. The partnership, which includes the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Zoo and the Zoll-

man Zoo, seeks to establish a herd of 500 bison around the state that have no cattle genes. The Spring Lake Park project was made possible by a $560,000 Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant and about $851,000 in state bonding.

As Dakota County developed its reintroduction project, it received support from the Tribal Historical Preservation Office of the Upper Sioux Community. Bison were instrumental in the lives of Indigenous communities, who used them for food, clothing, fuel, tools and shelter. They also hold spiritual significance for Indigenous people. Millions of bison once roamed North America but were decimated by Westward Expansion. As European settlers pushed west, the bison population lost grazing ground and was hunted nearly to extinction. By the late 1880s, only a

few hundred remained in the U.S.

The bison at Spring Lake Park Reserve roam free within three large fenced-in paddocks, and are periodically moved between the paddocks. The public may view the bison by hiking or biking along the Mississippi River Greenway trail through the lower park reserve at the western side of the park. Parking is available at the Fahey Trailhead at 13690 Pine Bend Trail, Rosemount.

Facts about the American bison

Information from the U.S. Department of the Interior

• The American bison was named the national mammal on May 9, 2016.

• Bison are the largest mammal in North America. Male bison (bulls) weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand 6 feet tall, while females (cows) weigh up to 1,000 pounds and reach a height of 4-5 feet.

• Cows begin breeding at the age of two and have just one calf at a time. For

males, the prime breeding age is six to 10 years. Bison calves weigh 30-70 pounds at birth. Most are born from late March through May and are orange-red in color, earning them the nickname “red dogs.” After a few months, their hair starts to change to dark brown and their characteristic shoulder hump and horns begin to grow.

• The average lifespan is 10-20 years.

• You can judge a bison’s mood by its tail. When it hangs down and switches naturally, the bison is calm. If the tail is standing straight up, watch out, it may be ready to charge. No matter what a bison’s tail is doing, remember that they are unpredictable and can charge at any moment.

• Bison are fast. They can run up to 35 miles per hour

and are extremely agile and can spin around quickly. They can jump high fences and are strong swimmers.

• Bison wallow in the dirt to deter biting flies and help shed fur. Male bison also wallow during mating season to leave behind their scent and display their strength.

• Bison have poor eyesight but excellent senses of smell and hearing.

• Cows and calves communicate using pig-like grunts. During mating season, bulls can be heard bellowing across long distances.

• Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the U.S. where bison have lived continuously since prehistoric times.  In 2021, Yellowstone’s bison population was estimated at 5,450, making it the largest bison population on public lands.

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Dakota County photo

Neighbors, Inc.

By Heidi Satre Director of community engagement

Get to know Neighbors

It’s Christmas in July at Neighbors! July is typically the month we begin planning for the upcoming holiday season, including our annual Holiday Gift Program. It was one of the first programs Neighbors offered and has been a tradition since the first distribution event in 1974, when clothing, gifts and food were handed out at the Armory in West St. Paul. The program has taken many

Farmers Market

The South St. Paul Farmers Market is back and we look forward to another great season of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, seeing community members, and creating community at the market.

Programs this year include the Community Booth, where organizations and groups highlight community activities and opportunities;

P ostscript

Footprints

“They put in a new sidewalk,” my neighbor said, “and the first thing that happened was a cat walked across the cement and left little footprints.”

My neighbor was amused. “I hope they leave them. They’re so cute!”

I thought those prints would probably survive. No one was going to take the trouble to cover up a few cat prints on the sidewalk.

A few years back, they started putting poetry on sidewalks, laid right into the cement. I stop and read

different shapes and adapted throughout the years to best serve our neighbors in need.

Today, our Holiday Gift Program continues to serve people in need during the holiday season with toys and gifts for children and gifts for seniors age 65 and older. Here is an overview of how the program connects generous community sponsors with families experiencing need.

In early October, families and seniors experiencing a

the Unique Container Contest, where residents compete for having the most unique container to bring home their produce; and Ring the Bell, where lucky residents are selected to ring the bell to start the market. We will also host other activities under the theme of reduce, reuse and recycle, and we encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags to eliminate plastic bags at the market.

I want to ask the poet, “Can you tell me the rest of the story?” But there is no more. I’m sure the poet would be disappointed in me but I like reading the poetry anyway.

Some pavement was replaced recently, and a leaf landed on it. There remains a perfect leaf print, and I took a picture of it. If I see the cat prints, I’ll take a picture of them, too. I’m proud of that cat, leaving its mark.

financial need complete an online application to receive gifts. Each applicant completes a wish list of 4-5 items, giving suggestions of what types of gifts they would enjoy. (Think of a letter to Santa.) At the same time, individuals and groups sign up online to sponsor a family. Neighbors anonymously matches families with sponsors and shares the families’ wish lists with them. We try to match all of the families and seniors

New this year is the Power of Produce (POP) program that allows youth to have direct conversation with farmers, participate in educational games and demonstrations, and be exposed to new fruits and veggies. Each week, youth may visit the POP Booth and do an activity. In return, they’ll earn a $3 token they can use to purchase fresh produce at the market. Different ac-

requesting assistance and, thanks to the generosity of our community, we have successfully been able to do that so far.

We notify sponsors of their matches around midNovember. After receiving their family’s wish lists, sponsors shop for gifts then deliver them to Neighbors within three weeks. Once we receive the gifts, we notify the families to pick them up. Neighbors delivers gifts to families who lack trans-

tivities will be held weekly throughout the summer.

POP is a pilot program of Dakota County Public Health and the St. Paul Farmers Market. South St. Paul was selected due to the engagement and energy of its market and its patrons.

The City of South St. Paul thanks Dakota County Public Health and the St. Paul Farmers Market for selecting

portation. The entire program is wrapped up before Christmas so families can enjoy the holiday together. One of our grateful gift recipients had this to say: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have made my family’s Christmas so very special. It was a rough year for me, and knowing my kids will get the Christmas they deserve brings tears to my eyes.”

our city to kick off the POP program in Dakota County.

The South St. Paul Farmers Market in held 2-6 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Wakota Federal Credit Union parking lot at 12th and Southview. For more information on the market or these programs, contact Deb Griffith at 651-554-3230 or Deb.griffith@southstpaul. org.

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

the poetry on my walk. I’ll ponder for a moment or two, then move on. I’m not great with poetry. It fills me with questions that have no answers.

Several years ago, I was camping in the northeast corner of New Mexico. I took a guided hike that showed prehistoric tracks. The tracks were made by dinosaurs when that piece of land, now desert, had been right at the edge of an ancient sea that stretched

all the way to Canada. The land by the shore of this sea was jungle. The interpretive signs said there were a lot of animal tracks right there because it was easier to walk on the beach than through the dense jungle. Just like today, creatures liked walking along the beach. The sand was dense, with a lot of clay in it, and many of those prints were filled in and eventually turned to solid rock. The tracks on display in this park were estimated to be 200 million years old.

I tried to imagine leaving footprints that lasted 200 million years. I failed.

But the most interesting part to me was one particular dinosaur track where the paleontologists said the

dinosaur had slipped. They knew this because dinosaurs held their tails aloft and only touched them to the ground when they needed extra stability – if they were going to fall. And that’s what happened. A dinosaur was walking along this beach –I’m going to imagine it was a nice sunny day – the sand (with all that clay in it) was slippery and…whoops!

She slipped and caught herself in the nick of time with her tail. Then she kept walking. We don’t know what happened after that one moment in time – that moment that happened 200 million years ago. Just like the poems in the sidewalk, there is no more. But today we can still see her tracks.

I love that.

The cat prints and the poetry and the leaf print in the cement will not last 200 million years. I’ve no idea if the planet will be here that long. But they will last longer than the poet who wrote the words or the cat who left the prints or the tree that dropped the leaf. And I think that is, somehow, wonderful.

I’d like to leave a small print somewhere. Nothing big. Nothing ostentatious. Maybe just a book that is in print for a few years before it disappears. That would be nice. Maybe just a record of a time when I slipped and –at the last moment – caught myself. Till next time.

C ommunity

While opinions differ about the state legislature’s signature accomplishments this session, there is no disputing that the past five months at the State Capitol marked the most impactful legislative session in decades. This proved true in a profound way for counties, too. Below are a few key state legislative changes that will significantly affect county services and costs for residents of northern Dakota County.

$5 million for public safety - One-time state funding of $5 million to Dakota County will be used for purchase and replacement of safety equipment and for work on the county jail. Local cities are receiving public safety funding as well. The State also approved a larger reimbursement to counties, including Dakota, that handle probation services. This will ease the burden on local property taxes.

Property taxes - Six million dollars a year in additional County Program Aid from the State to Dakota County will help hold down county property taxes for 2024. Dakota County currently is home to Minnesota’s lowest county property taxes, per capita, out of the state’s 87 counties, and additional state aid will help allow this to continue. The homestead exemption and other tax credits were also tweaked to help hold down property taxes for homeowners.

$6 million grant for mental health crisis center - The State awarded Dakota County a $6 million grant to help construct a crisis and recovery center in West St. Paul. The project will help people get mental health care locally, offering a welcoming place for mental health assessment, support and shortterm residential treatment. Thank you to local legislators for their work on this project, which will be located next to the Dakota County Service Center on Mendota Road.

$2 million for Thompson County Park - Dakota County also received a state grant to continue improvements at Thompson County Park near Butler and Highway 52, with a focus on accessibility and natural resource protection.

Transportation and housing - Over $20 million annually will flow directly into Dakota County for additional investments in roads, bridges, transit and affordable housing. Local cities will receive additional funding for these purposes

Joe Atkins Dakota County Commissioner

as well. To pay for this increase in funding to local governments, the legislature approved a one percent increase in the sales tax metrowide as well as new retail delivery fee.

Cannabis - Legalization of marijuana for adult use will impact local governments in ways we are still researching. For good or ill, the new law places limits on local control of where and how marijuana can be grown, distributed and sold.

In other, non-legislative news…

Public safety town meeting - South Metro Fire Chief Mark Juelfs and South St. Paul Police Chief Brian Wicke joined me for a public safety-focused town meeting recently. Thank you to Chiefs Juelfs and Wicke as well as everyone who participated in a lively discussion focused on activity in South St. Paul and West St. Paul. This was my third town meeting in the last two months and the feedback from more than 130 attendees guides my work as county commissioner. For anyone unable to join me at a town meeting, I can always be reached at 651-438-4430 or Joe.Atkins@co.dakota. mn.us.

Road repair vote - In June, the Dakota County Board voted to award more than $10 million in road repair work across Dakota County. The bids received were very competitive and came in $1.2 million under preliminary estimates. The largest of 19 different projects starts in South St. Paul and extends south into Inver Grove Heights, but there are also projects in West St. Paul, Mendota Heights and elsewhere across the county. Local cities are also starting up significant road preservation and repair projects.

Garlough mural project and bison earn national awards - Dakota County projects are receiving prestigious national awards on July 23, including the Garlough Tunnel mural created by elementary school students in West St. Paul and

our new bison herd at Spring Lake Park Reserve in Rosemount. The National Association of Counties selected the nation’s top projects, out of over 3,000 counties nationwide.

Baby boom - Dakota County’s bison herd grew from eight to 12 over the past two months, with the birth of four calves. Our grant-funded American bison project is part of the

Minnesota Conservation Herd, which aims to restore the nation’s official mammal to 500 animals here in Minnesota.

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Thank you Sen. Klein for supporting family caregivers and workers.

After nearly a decade of advocating, Minnesota will become the 12th state to offer paid family and medical leave. This program will help alleviate family caregivers’ financial, physical, and emotional stress, while also helping them remain in the workforce and support their families.

AARP and the Minnesotans for Paid Family and Medical Leave Coalition thank Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, and lawmakers for this historic win and their much-needed support of family caregivers and all workers.