South St. Paul Voice August 2023

South St. Paul

The Coop

A South St. Paul tradition for six decades

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

WhenBob and Karen Hanson purchased the building at 157 3rd Ave. S. as a real estate investment more than two decades ago, they had no inclination that the transaction would turn them into restaurateurs. Today, with the help of their son, Joel, the family is furthering the legacy of one of South St. Paul’s oldest eateries: The Coop, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this fall.

When the couple bought the property, which housed The Coop, three apartments and a 4-car garage, they planned to keep the Coop’s longtime manager, but he soon moved on. Then Bob and Karen dove headfirst into the restaurant and quickly learned everything about its operations. It proved to be a good place for Joel, their daughter Chelsea, and their friends to work while in high school; Joel even met his wife there nearly ten years ago when she was a waitress. Eventually, Karen left her nearly 30-year career as a paralegal to focus on the restaurant and continues to help manage it. Joel, however, is now running the show, with plans to one day officially take ownership of the restaurant that is best known for its mouth-watering chicken, burgers, coneys and ribs. They still make their own coney and barbeque sauce using the recipe dating to 1963.

School district making changes to IB, band and career path programs

City staff seeks direction on Armour gates property

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

OnJuly 10, the South St. Paul City Council held a work session and discussed, among other things, the future of the long vacant 3.75-acre property at 450 Hardman Ave., home to the historic Armour Gates. For years, the city has been trying to sell the property to a developer, but the gates have posed a problem. With a recent public petition drive to save the gates, city staff are now seeking direction from the council on how to proceed.

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

With summer reaching its halfway point on August 7, the thoughts of many parents will soon be shifting to the coming school year. Here’s a look at what has been happening at South St. Paul schools this summer and what to expect for the new school year.

Special School District 6 is phasing out the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme components of the International Baccalaureate (IB)

and is looking for new ways to improve student outcomes. Only about one-third of students met or exceeded grade level standards in math and reading last year. The secondary school will continue to offer the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11-12, and the district is partnering with Inver Hills Community College to offer concurrent courses that generate both high school and college credit.

Based on community feedback for more programming in the arts, band will be offered to all fifth grade

The City’s Economic Development Authority (formerly called the Housing and Redevelopment Authority) purchased the property in the 1990s and over the years has been unsuccessful in finding a developer to buy the parcel for light industrial use. In recent months, South St. Paul Middle School history teacher Mark Westpfahl and his students gathered more than 2,000 signatures on a petition that urges the city to save the gates and possibly create a park around them commemorating the once bustling stockyard operations.

The July 10 work session document said Westpfahl and his students haven’t yet brought their petition to the council, but that city staff are aware of it. The document also said that, upon the council’s request,

Keeping the Peace at Kaposia Elementary

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

PeaceMaker Minnesota, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing bullying and harassment in schools, recently held its fifth annual charity golf tournament and raised about $20,000 for its endowment for its work in South St. Paul. The fund is now valued at more than $132,000 and is generating

annual payouts. In addition to covering a portion of the costs for a peace guide at Kaposia Education Center, portions of the fund may also be used by the school to purchase resources that support PeaceMaker’s mission.

Leah Young began as the peace guide at Kaposia in the fall of 2021 and will return this fall for her third year. She works 10 hours a week helping students work

through personal challenges and conflicts with their peers. She is at the school during lunch and recess hours, when many conflicts are known to arise, and occasionally talks with students in those settings, but typically a school aid or teacher will ask her to intervene after they witness an incident between students. When Young addresses an issue with a student, she uses an

intervention strategy she’s trained in called collaborative problem solving, which helps students build skills and come up with their own ideas on how to address their problems.

“Kids will come up with all sorts of solutions,” said Young. “You just have to ask them how each would work until you arrive at one that might actually work, and then you help set up a plan

with that one.

“It’s a really, really hard time to be a kid,” she added. “They’re coming off a few really tough years and I think their families are too, so you see kids who are coming in really stressed out and oftentimes lacking in skills of conflict resolution and social emotional regulation.”

PeaceMaker Minnesota executive director Dan McNeil said there has been

some talk about expanding Young’s hours at Kaposia Education Center, which serves nearly 600 kids. The program at Kaposia dates to 1997, when South St. Paul Public Schools received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to underwrite training and staffing of two full-time restorative justice

The Coop / Page 4

Armour Gates / Page 4

Back to School / Page 2

Stock photo: Metro Creative Graphics

Based on community feedback for more programming in the arts, band will be offered to fifth grade students this year.

Back to School

from page 1

students at both Kaposia Education Center and Lincoln Center Elementary as a part of their regular music class experience. In preparation, the district is conducting an instrument drive, inviting families to donate gently used instruments, including flutes, clarinets, trumpets,

trombones, saxophones and percussion bell kits.

A new course, Introduction to Trades, will be offered for ninth and tenth graders, providing instruction in carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills. Students in grades 11-12 will also be able to take courses

in heavy-duty truck, total auto care and medical careers through Intermediate District 917 and Dakota County Technical College. Next year, the TriDistrict Centers for Advanced Professional Studies will add an agriculture, natural resources and sustainability program. Current programs are in healthcare and medicine, transportation business and technologies, business and

entrepreneurship, IT and computer science, and urban education.

Construction work at the Secondary building over the summer has included lighting improvements and the repainting of the competition gym. Work at Kaposia Elementary includes installing new lighting in the common area and resurfacing the playground.

The district recently ad-

A sticky situation at Stickney

Safety issues plagued South

opted Pathway to Packer Promise, an initiative that addresses achievement concerns, expands programming and prioritizes investment in academic and mental health support. Middle school staff have also created new programs for bullying prevention, conflict management skills, and college and career exploration.

New district staff members

include Tina Moses, director of technology, Amy Winter, executive director of equity and learning, and Brandon Willcox, K-12 instructional coordinator.

The first day of school is September 5 for grades 1-5 and 6 and 9, and September 6 for grades 7-8 and 10-12. Kindergarten begins September 7 and preschool begins September 11.

St.

Paul’s first school building

Tim Spitzack Editor

You’veheard of school closures in Minnesota due to blizzards and extreme cold. But what about high winds? That’s what educators dealt with in the early 1900s at Stickney School, South St. Paul’s first public school building.

Located near the site of the present-day secondary school, Stickney was the first of five red brick school buildings constructed in South

St. Paul in the late 19th century. The others were Lincoln, Gladstone, Sibley and McGrath. The push toward having new school buildings was championed by eager city leaders who had formed their own school district shortly after the City of South St. Paul became incorporated in March 1887. Before then, school was held in houses and administered by Dakota County.

Christian Zinck was awarded the contract to build all five schools, and Stickney was the first to open in 1887. It was named after the founder of the St. Paul Union Stockyards Co., Alpheus Stickney, who do-

nated land for the school.

It turned out administrators didn’t adequately plan for the city’s explosive population growth. As a result, they had to renovate the school just three years later. They added a 2-room addition in 1890 then a second story later that same year.

Things were going swimmingly until 1903, when a janitor discovered a crack that ran the entire length of an outside wall. School officials conferred and decided the best course of action was to use timbers to prop up the wall. Undoubtedly, some of the most adventurous students thought they were given a new climb -

Fill the Backpack campaign begins August 1

The South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force will kick off the 23rd annual Fill the Backpack campaign on August 1. The campaign provides backpacks and school supplies for students in need who attend South St. Paul schools.

We begin collecting supplies at the many Night

Publisher & Editor: Tim Spitzack

Copy Editor: Leslie Martin

Staff Writers: Jake Spitzack John E. Ahlstrom

to Unite celebrations on August 1. Residents are encouraged to bring their donations to their neighborhood get-together. Task force members will collect them, fill the backpacks and deliver them to the schools. Each year we receive hundreds of notebooks, pencils, markers and crayons at these neighborhood block parties, and from other groups and individuals.

Marketing Manager: Jake Spitzack

Contributors: Roger Fuller Delivery: Independent Delivery Service

call 651-457-1177

ing structure for playtime during recess. A year later a building inspector came out, viewed the structural deficiency, and shook his head. He scribbled notes and went back to his office. A short time later he issued a citation that the building be condemned. That put school administrators in a tight spot. There was no plan for where else to educate the students, so they continued holding classes at Stickney, much to the chagrin of the teachers. Legend has it that nerves heightened whenever breezes increased in intensity. When the winds got wild, classes were dismissed. And when that happened, it

On average, the task force fills about 200 backpacks with basic school supplies and distributes them to the elementary and secondary schools. We are gearing up for another 200 backpacks this year as well.

If your child needs a backpack with supplies, or only school supplies, contact your child’s school. The school will get you what you need.

If your business, organiza-

is likely that the howling of the wind was drowned out by the howling of the happy students.

Classes resumed at Stickney in the fall of 1904, but the following spring – during the windy season – enough was enough. The

tion, group or family would like to donate supplies, drop them off at South St. Paul City Hall, 125 Third Ave. N., attention Deb Griffith. Monetary donations are accepted at City Hall as well, or you may mail them to the address above. Checks should made payable to the City of South St. Paul – Fill the Backpack Campaign.

For a list of needed supplies, visit the events calendar at

school closed that April and was eventually demolished to make room for Central High School, which opened in 1907. The closure of Stickney has forever since put an end to “Wind Days” for South St. Paul students. We hope.

www.southstpaul.org and click on August 1. The task force thanks everyone in advance for their donations to the campaign. Every donation helps ensure that all South St. Paul students start the school year right. For more information on the campaign, contact Deb Griffith, community affairs liaison, at deb. griffith@southstpaul.org or 651-554-3230.

E ducation

Peacemakers

from page 1

planners, a position similar to peace guides. One planner was assigned to Lincoln Center and one to Kaposia. The following year, offending students at those schools who previously would have been written up or gotten detention because of a conflict were instead brought into a restorative circle with those they hurt. The worker at Kaposia, Stacy Elliot –now a 2nd grade teacher at Kaposia – operated peace circles after school for youth in the upper grades. In this setting she taught them how to intervene in conflicts with other students, create a peaceful environment on the playground and at recess, and how to pass on social and emotional skills to younger students.

“We had 1,900 writeups in the very first year I was there and when I left in 2010 we had 315,” said John Laliberte, former Kaposia Education Center principal. “Kids felt like they

were being listened to and they appreciated that…. I’m thankful that Terry Bretoi [current Kaposia principal] made a request to garner a peace guide again because I think it’s helpful and I think it’s needed in this world of ours.” Laliberte, who is in his second year of being board chair of PeaceMaker Minnesota, joined Kaposia as assistant principal in 1994 and became principal in 1998 when the grant for fulltime restorative justice planners had already expired. At that time, he was determined to bring someone back to the school to do work similar to what Elliot did. He eventually turned to the South St. Paul Restorative Justice Council, which was founded in 1998 by former South St. Paul High School English teacher Darrol Bussler. Before disbanding in 2021, the Council helped raise funds for a peace guide at both Kaposia Elementary and Lincoln Center.

It costs about $25,000 a year to employ a peace guide at a school for 10 hours a week and the school must pay 10-20% of that amount. Last year the South St. Paul endowment fund paid $2,750 and this year it will pay $3,750. PeaceMaker is committed to raising $16,250, leaving the school with $5,000 left to pay.

“It’s such an honor to be present for the kids’ learning and growth,” said Young. “They’re letting you into an important part of their life and it’s really rewarding to see them have success [with a plan we talk about].”

PeaceMaker sent a survey to South St. Paul teachers at Kaposia last May to learn if having a peace guide was helpful. Those who responded support the position and said they often don’t have the time themselves to dig deep into student conflicts.

“The long-term goal of peace guide work is for young people to become adults who are equipped to talk through differences and to live in community with one another,” said executive

director McNeil. “We are seeing results. All seven of the teachers who responded to surveys this spring at Kaposia Education Center said they agree or strongly agree that the students seen by the peace guide have improved [behavior] and that the peace guide helped improve the learning environment. Six of the seven teachers said that their stress level, in relation to their students’ behavioral issues, has been reduced.”

This year, PeaceMaker Minnesota is also employing a peace guide at schools in St. Paul, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center and Champlin. Leah

Apartment for Rent

South St. Paul HRA

Young returns to Kaposia Elementary this fall for her third year as a peace guide.

The Coop

from page 1

“We don’t want to take all the credit because there’s all the people who came before us that did a darn good job,” said Karen. “We credit the people in South St. Paul for really supporting the restaurant all these years…. We get compliments a lot about how our employees are good with customers and I love that. When I go onto Yelp and see someone left a review that the food is amazing that’s great, but when I read a review saying that our employees were amazing, that’s even ten times better for me.”

The building was constructed in 1903 and the Hanson’s have made several improvements to it since as-

suming ownership. In 2008, they won prize money from the River Heights Chamber of Commerce through a community vote for a small business to get a makeover and used the funds to get new signage, paint the interior and more.

“The appearance of the Coop, especially inside, is a night and day difference from when we bought it,” said Karen. “When we bought the restaurant the focus [theme] inside was chickens. There were just hundreds of chickens everywhere, and we’ve kind of transitioned more to South St. Paul history. Don’t get me wrong, we still have a lot of chickens, but we also have

a wall inside that’s all this historical stuff about South St. Paul… People love that wall.”

Other improvements throughout the years have included replacing countertops and appliances, minor demolition to create more food preparation space, and hiring local artist Jaclee Slaba to paint a few more chickens on the building and to create the sign out front that points to South St. Paul landmarks as well as some faraway places such as Canada and Iowa. Slaba also helps tend the many flowers outside the restaurant. In 2018, the city placed a half wall along a portion of Southview Boulevard when that street was being reconstructed, and that wall now helps define the restaurant’s 3-table patio space.

Armour Gates

from page 1

staff are willing to explore whether creating a park in the Bridgepoint Business Park should be a priority in the City’s parks and recreation system and worth the investment. The City is now in the process of updating its Parks and Recreation master plan. If the land becomes a park, the city will lose tax

The Coop opened in 1963 under ownership of Lorraine Fitzgerald. In 1968, brothers Dick and Stan Gapinski purchased it and Dick operated it until the Hansons took over in 2001. The building had previously housed a grocery store that operated under several different names and owners throughout the decades.

“They [the Hansons] didn’t mess it up,” said Dick Gapinski, with a wry laugh. “They’ve made some nice improvements. Frequently, new owners will try to change things up too much, but they’ve done a good job. It’s nice to see [the restaurant still there].” Gapinski noted that he still eats there occasionally, and that his son opened a similar restaurant – The Rooster BBQ Deli –

more than 30 years ago at 979 Randolph Ave. in St Paul, so he still has a tie to the industry.

The Coop participates in the annual Kaposia Days parade, and this year was Karen’s second year on the Kaposia Days board of directors. She is a South St. Paul native, and Bob grew up in Inver Grove Heights. Joel Hanson returned to the restaurant in 2006 and now, he’s got his eye on the future.

“We’re looking at perhaps adding some new menu items and I think we’re going to try to expand our catering business,” he said, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to focus more on online sales. “Now that we do so much online takeout and delivery, we want a product that

can withstand being boxed up for 20 minutes and brought somewhere. We’re appreciative of the community and our employees and staff. We’re glad we made it through COVID and we’re going to keep delivering good food with good customer service.”

On Friday, Aug. 11, Bob and Karen’s grandkids will host The Local Lemon community lemonade stand at the Coop and hand out free lemonade and treats. Karen had the honor of naming the new leamonde stand. Her nomination was selected via community vote. Other customer appreciation events will also be scheduled throughout the rest of the year. For more information, call 651-455-7566 or visit thecooprestaurant.com.

revenue. It’s been estimated that a 40,000-square-foot office-warehouse building on the site would have a total property value of $4.5 million and produce an estimated $150,000 in annual property taxes, with about $40,000 of that total benefiting the city and about $32,500 going to the school district. The position of the gates on the triangular-

to older adults or mentor school-age children. Volunteers commit to regular weekly hours for a tax-free stipend and mileage reimbursement. Please contact Brinn Krabbenhoft at 651.310.9455, or Brinn.Krabbenhoft@ lssmn.org for more information and to make an impact in your community.

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shaped lot has made it difficult to find a buyer for the site, which is best suited for a 35,000-50,000-square-foot building. City staff noted that if the gates are restored and remain onsite without the creation of a park, they could explore alternative development approaches for the property that would work around the gates.

This isn’t the first time conversations about saving the gates have arisen. At work sessions over the past few years the city council

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and staff determined that relocating the gates would cost upwards of $175,000, and their restoration – not including roof replacement – would be nearly $205,000. On the flipside, it would cost about $25,000 to demolish them. The City previously requested $350,000 in state funds to assist with relocation and restoration of the structures but was only awarded $50,000. That wasn’t nearly enough so the City ultimately relinquished the funds back to the State. The 1918 brick and limestone structures once served as the entry point for thousands of people going to work at the Armour & Co. meat packing campus.

N ews Briefs Library gets new name

It’s official. The new library under construction at Seventh and Marie avenues will be called Kaposia Library when it opens in early 2024. The name is a nod to the Kaposia Village of the Mdewakanton Dakota, who lived along the Mississippi River in the area that is now South St. Paul. The branch will be the 10th in the Dakota County Library system. Before selecting the name, county staff consulted with tribal historic preservation officers from several Indigenous communities. For more information, visit dakotacounty.us and search kaposia library.

Library events

For more information or to register, call 651-5543240 or visit southstpaul. org/library.

Altered Book Art, 6:308 p.m., Monday, Aug. 21. Repurpose a worn book into a one-of-a kind accordion style journal using collage materials, scissors, glue and more. Geared toward adults.

Registration required.

Book Club , 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3. The title

Luther Memorial Church 315 15th Ave N 651 - 451-2400 luther-memorial.com

• St . Augustine ’s Catholic Church 408 3rd St N 651 - 45 5 - 1302 holytrinitysspmn.org

• First Presbyterian 535 20th Ave N 651 - 451-6223 fpcssp.org

• Woodbury Lutheran Wakota Ridge Campus 255 W. Douglas St. 651-739-5144 woodburylutheran.org

• South St. Paul Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist 140 6th Ave N 651 - 455-0777

• Grace Lutheran Church

1 49 8th Ave S 651 - 451-1035 grace-ssp.org

is “The Minnesota Stories of Sinclair Lewis” by Sinclair Lewis. Visit tinyurl. com/SSPbookclub for more information.

Relay For Life

Relay For Life, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, begins at 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5 at Lincoln Center Elementary, 357 9th Ave. N. The goal is to raise $25,000 to help fight cancer. At Relay For Life, community members take turns walking around the school’s track lined with luminaria. Cancer survivors will make the first lap of the day then be joined by caregivers of cancer patients. The event also includes local entertainers. For more information or to make a pledge, visit cancer.org and click the Relay for Life link.

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 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, visitsspps. org or call 651-457-9400.

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

South St. Paul Southwest Lioness-Lions Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, 1203 Southview Blvd., South St. Paul. This group of women serves the community through fundraising and volunteering.

Student notes

University of NebraskaLincoln dean’s list: Ryan Hurdt, Keeley Williams

Hamline University dean’s list: Jaime Hernandez Portillo, Carter Viner, Dawson Shanley, Gerardo Landaverde, Nevaeh Van Horn and Pricilla Lopez Serrano

University of Dallas dean’s list: Maximilian Hastreiter

SSP man completes advocacy training

Nicholas Kelley of South St. Paul knows what it’s like to live with a disability. Now, thanks to recent training, he also knows how to advocate for other people with disabilities. Kelley, who has autism, recently completed an advocacy training course through Partners in Policymaking, learning the history of disability and self-advocacy movements, inclusive education, supported living, competitive employment and ways to influence county, state and federal legislative processes. A highlight for Kelley

Worship Guide

was meeting his state senator, Matt Klein, at the State Capitol.

The next training session begins in September. Anyone interested in attending must register by July 31. The cost is covered by a federal grant and childcare and respite allowances are given. Mileage is reimbursed and meals are provided. Sessions are held at the Crowne Plaza Aire in Bloomington. For more information or an application form, visit bit.ly/class41website or contact Brenton Rice at 651-242-6589 or brenton@togevents.com.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church Catholic church 749 6th Ave S 651 - 455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org

• 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

Fitzgerald Theatre

10 Exchange St. E. St. Paul

612-338-8388

first-avenue.com

Comedy performances:

Bored Teachers, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11. Negin Farsad, Hari Kondabolu, Mo Rocca and Cristela Alonzo, Friday, Aug. 18. Tickets start at $35.

Landmark Center

75 5th St. W. St. Paul

651-292-3225

landmarkcenter.org

Music on the Cortile: Jeff Ray, noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, July 26.

The Landmark Center is offering 60-minute guided walking tours Wednesdays at 10 a.m. through August. The following tours are free, but reservations are required: “Rice Park,” July 26 and Aug. 23; “St. Paul’s Origins,” Aug. 9; and “The

Great River,” Aug. 16. 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 featured through Sept. 4. Learn about emotions, memory and imagination through interactive and digital experiences.

Live life pain free, naturally!

“The Backyard: Mud Zone” is an 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 Aug. 6.

MN History Center

345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 mnhs.org

The Life & Art of Charles M. Schulz is featured through June 9, 2024. Explore Schulz’s roots in Minnesota and his role as the inspiration and artistic talent behind the “Peanuts” comic strip and its beloved cast of characters.

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

The Minnesota Historical Society offers Historic West End Walking Tours Aug. 5, 12 and 19; and Summit Avenue Walking Tours July 29-30, Aug. 6, 12-13, 1920 and 26-27. Tickets range from $14-20 and must be purchased online.

MN Museum of American Art

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

“Im/perfect Slumbers” is on display through Aug. 20 in the M’s window galleries and skyway entrance. Guest curated by M artist-in-residence Katya Oicherman in collaboration with Curator of Exhibitions Laura Joseph, this multidisciplinary series of installations captures the

historical and contemporary state of sleeping and being in bed.

Im/perfect Slumbers Community Day, 10 a.m.3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 12. This event for all ages features workshops and activities throughout the day, including Poetry with Yuko Taniguchi, Dream Pillow with Amoke Kubat, curatorguided tours of the Im/perfect Slumbers exhibit, Rest as Resistance Poster Screenprinting with Peng Wu, and An Un-Making with Rachel Breen. Most events have limited capacity and registration is required.

“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 Mar. 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: The Song Poet,” 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 11, at Rice Park. View a video of “The Song Poet,” which was performed

The Life & Art of Charles M. Schulz is now on display at the Minnesota History Center. Explore Schulz’s roots in Minnesota and his role as the inspiration and artistic talent behind the “Peanuts” comic strip.

live in March at Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis. The performance tells the story of a Hmong family forced to live as refugees during war. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Free.

Palace Theatre

17 7th Place W. St. Paul

612-338-8388

first-avenue.com

Clutch , 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 2. Tickets start at $47.50.

RiverCentre

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

rivercentre.org

Show Me Reptile Show, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Saturday, July 29. Learn about a variety of reptiles, amphibians and exotic mammals, shop reptile care supplies, and have the chance to purchase a pet. Tickets are $8-12. Free for ages 12 and under.

Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) Information Session & College Fair, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 15. This free event features information from dozens of CTCL-member institutions.

Science Museum

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

smm.org

“

Exquisite Creatures” is on display through Sept. 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: Air and Space, through 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 Dinosaurs is 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5.

Artist at Pine Needle Gallery is a temporary ex-

hibit featuring work from Jim Grafsgaard, last year’s artist-in-residence at the Pine Needles cabin on the St. Croix Watershed Research Station property.

Omnitheater films: “ Wings Over Water ,” through Sept. 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.

Friday Museum Nights features blockbuster movie showings on the Omnitheater screen every Friday night at 7 p.m. through October. Upcoming shows: “Spaceballs,” July 28; Night at the Museum, Aug. 4; “Land Before Time,” Aug. 11; “Jurassic World,” Aug. 18; and “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” Aug. 25.

Stellar Tours Live Digital Telescope Show, Wed.Sun. at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Choose your own space adventure and experience the Omnitheater’s new Digistar 7 projection system. Omnitheater tickets are $9.95.

Free for children ages 3 and under.

Sensory Friendly Sunday is the first Sunday of the month. Visitors can experience a lights-up, sounddown Omnitheater show at 10 a.m. The program was created in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota. Admission is free for personal care attendants when visiting with a client.  Tickets start at $9.95.

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

Thomas Rhett, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 27. Tickets start at $98.

Paramore , 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 2. Tickets start at $70.

Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire , 7:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 4. Tickets start $62.

Nickelback, 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 7. Tickets start at $101.

Sam Smith , 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16. Tickets start at $25.50. Pearl Jam , 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31. Tickets start at $162.

than

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The Urban Explorer

E xploring our regional amenities

Tim Spitzck Editor

Whathas five humps, stands 50 feet tall and is the color of a sunkissed lemon? Since you glanced at the photo accompanying this article, you know the behemoth in question is the Giant Slide at the Minnesota State Fair, one of the most iconic attractions of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, which begins this year August 24.

For more than 50 years, the slide has offered thrills for young and old alike. And there’s one thing for certain, you don’t see any frowns on the faces of the approximately 300,000 annual riders who zip down the 170-foot-long slide in a handful of seconds.

The ritual begins with purchasing a ticket for $4, grabbing a felt mat on which to slide, then climbing 100 steps to the top (which does make some frown and huff).

A recorded message repeatedly reminds those waiting

in line of the proper riding position: sit up straight and keep legs straight out. Then the fun begins. The slide’s first wave elicits the most screams, which are amplified by microphones strung over the 30-foot-wide attraction. The remaining humps play tricks as well, especially on those who’ve already devoured too many cheese curds, Pronto Pups and other foodstuffs on a stick. And then, just like that, the thrill is over. Riders deposit their mats and walk away with either a new summertime experience, or another notch in their Giant Slide belt. Those who didn’t pay attention to the sliding instructions might even have their own special souvenir –a slight burn on their elbow, much like a carpet burn. No one seems to mind though. It’s simply a lesson learned for their next trip down.

Fred Pittroff introduced the slide to the Minnesota

State Fair in 1969 and it’s been a permanent fixture ever since. Rides back then cost 25 cents, and the mats were made of burlap. The California native grew up with a love for amusement parks and fairs. By age 15 he was selling hot dogs on a stick (in true State Fair style) at a park in Newport Beach, Calif. Ten years later he met a man from an amusement park in Santa Cruz and learned that his giant slide was the park’s most popular ride. That meeting changed

the trajectory of Pittroff’s career. Up to that point, he had worked in his family’s printing business and moonlighted at fairs on the weekends, selling hot dogs. Before long, Pittroff was manufacturing and operating giant slides across the country. His father-in-law, who owned a scaffolding business, helped him build his first slide, and from the late 1960s through the ’80s Pittroff built 42 slides. He also operated 10 of them for several years, eventually

selling most. The only ones under his control are at the Minnesota State Fair and the Wisconsin State Fair. The company no longer builds slides.

Pittroff’s business has always been a family affair. Fred, who still works each fair, has been responsible for manufacturing, sales and operations, and his wife, Beverly, managed administrative duties until her death in 2010. She passed away on the last day of the Minnesota State Fair and a

memorial bench has been placed near the slide in her memory. Today, their daughter Stacey and her husband Robert Barona manage operations. They met at the Fair in 1993 and, fittingly, were married at the top of the Giant Slide on opening day in 1996. In 2015, Fred Pittroff was named a Living Legend by the National Independent Concessionaires Association and in 2017 was inducted into the Minnesota State Fair Hall of Fame.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota State Fair

Outdoor music, movies, fairs and festivals

Music in Mears ParkFree concerts are held noon1 p.m. at Mears Park, 221 5th St. E., every Tuesday and Wednesday. The lineup features 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, a free concert series, is 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. The lineup features 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.

Summer Nights in Rice are free concerts held 5-7 p.m. on select Thursdays in Rice Park, 109 W. 4th St. The lineup features Pete Whitman Quartet, Aug. 10; Natania & Ticket to Brasil,

Aug. 24; and Jimmy “Primetime” Smith Blues Band, Sept. 7.

The City of Mendota Heights presents free concerts at 6 p.m. at Market Square Park, 720 Main St. The lineup includes 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 will show an outdoor movie at 8:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 25, at the West St. Paul Sports Complex, 1650 Oakdale Ave. The title was unavailable as of press time. For more information, call 651-552-4100.

Union Depot will host a drive-in movie in Lot D, located near Kellogg Boulevard, on Friday, Aug. 25. The title is “The Incredibles.” The event features the chance to win a prize basket. Concessions will be available. Tickets are $15 per vehicle. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit uniondepot.org/depotdrivein.

The Dakota County Fair

takes place Aug. 7-13 at the Fairgrounds, 4008 W. 220th St., Farmington. Highlights include musical entertainment, demolition derby, midway rides, talent contests, grandstand shows, car and livestock shows, historic village and food. For more information, visit www.dakotacountyfair.org or call 651-463-8818.

IndiaFest is held Saturday, Aug. 12. This free event features performances from Asian Indian dance groups, Indian cuisine from local restaurants, Bollywood music, cultural displays, activities and games, along with an Indian bazaar. For more information, visit www.iamn. org or call 651-321-3421.

Irish Fair of Minnesota, is held Aug. 11-13, at Harriet Island, 200 Dr. Justus Ohage Blvd. This event celebrates Irish heritage through music, dance, Gaelic sports, children’s activities, a Celtic marketplace, cultural displays and Irish food and drink. Bands performing over the weekend include Gaelic Storm, Socks in the Frying Pan, JigJam, Doolin, Screaming Orphans, Clare

Cunningham and Wild Colonial Bhoys. Real Irish Comedy Tour will also perform Friday and Saturday. Hours are 3-11 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday. Single day passes are $20, with discounts for youth and seniors. Weekend passes are $40, with discounts for youth and seniors. Free for youth under age 13. For more information, visit www.irishfair.com or call 651-645-0221.

Japanese Obon Festival is 3-9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20 on the grounds of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. The event features martial arts, singing, dancing, drumming, food, lantern lighting and more. A shuttle will run from 1930 Como Ave. to the festival. The last drop off is at 10 p.m. Tickets go on sale in July and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $5 for ages 13 and up, $3 for ages 3-12 and 65 and older. Free for children under 3. Minnesota State Fair takes place Aug. 24-Sept. 4 at the State Fairgrounds, 1265 N. Snelling Ave. The Fair showcases Minnesota’s

finest in agriculture, art and industry, hundreds of concession stands, a giant Midway, Grandstand concerts, giveaways, animal and product demonstrations, parades and much more. Grandstand concerts include: The Black Keys with special guest The Velveteers, 7 p.m., Aug. 24 (from $69); The Chicks with special guest Wild Rivers, 7 p.m., Aug. 25 (from $77); Keith Urban with special guest Lindsay Ell, 7 p.m., Aug. 26 (from $52); Boyz II Men and Chaka Khan, 7 p.m., Aug. 27 (from $34); Happy Together Tour featuring The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV and The Cowsills, 7 p.m., Aug. 28 ($33); Brandi Carlile with special guest Wynonna Judd, 7 p.m., Aug. 29 (from $79); Yung Gravy with special guest bbno$, 7 p.m., Aug. 30 (from $29); Duran Duran with special guests Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC, 7 p.m., Aug. 31 (from $77); Jonas Brothers, 7 p.m., Sept. 1 (from $77); The Current featuring The Hold Steady with special

guests Bob Mould Band and Dillinger Four, 7 p.m., Sept. 2 (from $27); MSF 50th Annual Amateur Talent Contest Finals, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 3; and Blippi, 3 p.m., Sept. 4 ($16). For more information, visit www.mnstatefair. org.

Mystery on the Mississippi, 6:30 p.m., July 27, August 17 and Sept. 21. Who killed Buzz Masterson? Guests are invited to help solve the mystery aboard the Jonathan Padelford Riverboat during a 2-hour cruise. The interactive performance is set in the 1980s, so wear attire from that era. $30. The cruise departs from Harriet Island. For more information, visit parkconnection. org.

Summer Classic Block Party, 4-10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19 at Keg and Case Courtyard, 928 W. 7th St. The event will feature performances from Heiruspecs, Maria Isa, and the Unknown Prophets, plus DJs, a car show, food, beer and other entertainment. For more information, visit heiruspecs. com.

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For nearly 60 years, we’ve been keeping you informed of community issues, business openings, arts and entertainment happenings, residential and commercial developments, and much more. Our community has changed much in recent years and we want to make sure we are addressing the issues that matter most to you. If you have a suggestion for something we should cover, email us your thoughts.

We welcome leads on societal issues, local residents with a fascinating background, businesses that are celebrating milestone anniversaries, etc.

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Neighbors, Inc.

Dawn Wambeke President & CEO

I am honored to provide my first column on behalf of Neighbors. It has been an incredible first few weeks since I joined Neighbors’ beautiful mission on June 12. I write today as our staff and volunteers are returning refreshed from a week-long holiday break. This morning, we shared stories of wonderful

times spent with family and friends, weddings celebrated, time spent in nature, and recharging downtime. We shared what an amazing and unique opportunity it is to collectively rejuvenate to bring even more energy and unwavering commitment to the communities we serve. We wish to commend and

thank the board of directors for their great support and caring of Neighbors’ staff and volunteers to allow us this time.

I would like to share a high-level overview of some of the wonderful opportunities I have experienced so far and a preview of some of the things we are excited about as we look to the future.

First, the support of our community is absolutely amazing. I have had the honor of meeting many wonderful people, including volunteers, community members, business people, local officials, chamber of commerce members and people we serve. I truly appreciate the warm welcome. I cannot tell you how inspired I am.

Remembering Harold “Red” Leonard

Tim Spitzack Editor

Fury Motors in South St. Paul hosted a traditional Irish wake on June 28 for its founder Harold “Red” Leonard. More than 1,200 family and friends gathered to share laughter and tears as they congregated near Leonard’s casket, which rested between two of his prized vintage automobiles: a 1959 Plymouth Fury and a 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury. Leonard passed away on June 22 at age 95. Until the end, one could find him greeting customers and doing administrative tasks at the dealership he founded in 1963.

Leonard was born in 1928 to Thomas and Barbara Leonard of South St. Paul, the third of five children. Like his father, Leonard had red hair, and his father’s nickname, “Red,” was given to Harold almost immedi-

ately after his father’s death when Leonard was 17.

Leonard’s senior year was monumental for another reason as well. It was then that he met Jeri Lee from St. Paul while visiting Kaposia Park one day. Enamored of her beauty, he quickly struck up a conversation and was thrilled that she showed an interest in him. Their romance blossomed and survived an early challenge when Red went overseas during the Korean War to serve in an anti-mine and tank unit with the U.S. Army. They married shortly after his return and began building a life together. They had two sons, Tom and Jim, and were wed 58 years when Jeri passed away in 2012.

Red loved the city of South St. Paul and chose to build his career there, but it took some time to find his niche. After a brief stint in the accounting department at 3M, he landed a job with

the Desoto division of the Chrysler corporation. From there he became operations manager of Adamson Motors in Rochester, Minn. In 1963, he returned home and purchased the Chrysler Plymouth dealership in South St. Paul with, as the story goes, $5,000 in his pocket, one car on the lot and four spark plugs. He renamed it Fury Motors after Fury, the strong stallion of the 1950s eponymous book series by Albert G. Miller. The name was Jeri’s suggestion, which she later thought was a bad idea. Red liked it, though, and the name stuck.

Today the dealership is owned and operated by Tom and Jim Leonard, who joined the dealership in 1988 and 1991, respectively. In 1999, Fury expanded from its original location at 740 Concord St. N. – now Fury motorcycle and used car dealership – to a new

I would like to shine a spotlight on one of the original founders of Neighbors, Virginia Milbert, as we had the absolute joy of celebrating her 106th birthday recently. Virginia inspires us every day to bring our absolute best. She continues to volunteer at Neighbors every week in our Clothes Closet Thrift Store. When asked, she shared her vision for Neighbors to continue to stay person-centered and focus on our amazing volunteers and their dedication to our mission. On behalf of Neighbors’ board of directors and staff, we wish to thank Virginia for her tremendous dedication and commitment to the agency she helped established 51 years ago. It is because of her and so many

others who have given their time, talents and dedication, that we have the honor and privilege of serving the community today.

Second, it has been a wonderful opportunity to see Neighbors’ services and staff in action. Wow – where to even start. I am humbled by the incredibly long legacy and foundation of providing highly dignified, personcentered services across all of our programming. From our choice model food shelf shopping experience to our beautiful boutique-style Clothes Closet to our individualized free Financial Empowerment services, Neighbors’ staff and volunteers take our mission to heart to provide opportunities for our neighbors to

thrive.

As we reflect and honor the incredible foundation of Neighbors, we are excited to share that we are embarking on our next three-year strategic planning process. This is a vibrant time for our organization to reflect, energize and dream of the future.

I have enjoyed meeting so many of you. And for those I have not yet met, I look forward to meeting you soon. Feel free to reach out to me at dawn@neighborsmn.org, 651-272-1135, or just stop by. I would love to connect. Thank you again. I am honored to join Neighbors’ and be a part of a tremendously supportive community. Stay connected with Neighbors’ latest updates at neighborsmn.org.

building at 1000 Concord St. S. In 2005, the brothers purchased a dealership in Stillwater, and another one in Waconia in 2022. Red kept an office at the South St. Paul dealership and enjoyed watching his sons grow the business, which turns 60 this year.

According to Tom, their father was always there to lend a hand, and advice, when needed.

“He was happiest when we

were all working together,” he said. “That was his pride and joy. He turned over the reins in ’96 but always kept a close eye and gave us freedom to make mistakes. He was an amazing mentor and a wicked-smart man. And his recall of details of South St. Paul history was always spot on.”

As Red pulled back from the business, he and Jeri spent more time with their

five grandchildren and at their cabin in Balsam Lake, Wis. Those closest to him say he was an honest businessman, dedicated family man, and that he loved goodnatured teasing, which kept the atmosphere light at work and home.

“He was quick-witted, and his teasing nature was always so funny,” said Tom. “For him, it was always about family.”

Submitted photo

Leonard’s casket between two of his prized vintage automobiles: a 1959 Plymouth Fury and a 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury.

“Sustainability” is one of those buzzwords that everyone seems to think is important but which often means different things to different people. For Dakota County, we define and measure our sustainability chiefly through an economic and environmental lens. Today’s column will explore these measures more closely.

Economic sustainability

- The tumult surrounding the raising of the U.S. debt ceiling – and what could have been a catastrophic national default – consumed the news for much of 2023. This got me wondering whether our nation has ever been debt-free. I searched back nearly two centuries to find a period of zero national debt. In 1835, President Andrew Jackson fulfilled a campaign promise to make America debt-free. It lasted one year.

The State of Minnesota has never been debt-free. Borrowing money since its founding in 1858, the State first issued bonds to finance the construction of the Min-

Joe Atkins Dakota County Commissioner

nesota State Capitol. While the debt amount fluctuated over time, it has never been fully eliminated. Contrast this with Dakota County, which has now been debtfree since 2016. Indeed, we are one of the only county governments in the nation with zero debt.

One can argue over whether there is “good debt,” such as for items with long useful lives, like a maintenance garage or dam. However, there is no question that Dakota County’s run of seven years without debt places us in a more sustainable position than virtually any other gov-

Postscript

So Much

I heard him yelling before I saw him. Was there a fight? Should I be worried?

When I finally saw him, he was standing alone in front of the church, his possessions loaded into a shopping cart. It appeared he was trying to navigate the steep hill. And he was yelling. His face was flushed and his voice loud. I walked until I stood on the sidewalk in front of him.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

He stopped yelling immediately. He looked sur-

ernment entity. Not having to pay principal and interest on debt saves our taxpayers millions of dollars annually.

This has enabled the Dakota County Board to invest these dollars elsewhere – in roads, bridges, parks, public health and public safety, for example – while also holding county property tax increases to under two percent annually for the past decade. Mind you, Dakota County’s achievement is not simply due to prudent financial decisions. We also benefit from excellent partners, like local cities, with which we work closely to deliver necessary services. We are aided by an army of dedicated volunteers who provide more than $700,000 annually in donated service. Finally, we are extraordinarily successful at securing outside grants to fund projects and services. All of these diverse collaborations further strengthen our sustainability as an organization.

Environmental sustainability - On July 21, Dakota County received the nation’s

he looked as though he had been living without a home for a long time.

“He said I was an animal!”

His eyes darted past the clump of trees that delineates the church property. I could see no one. Maybe there was someone just out of sight. Maybe there was no one. It probably doesn’t matter.

I looked back at him. He looked as if he might cry.

“Well, you’re not,” I said.

top county award for environmental sustainability. While our selection for this prestigious award was largely driven by national attention surrounding our reintroduction of the American Bison in Dakota County’s Spring Lake Park Reserve, this hardly tells Dakota County’s full story on environmental sustainability.

More impactful will be when Dakota County’s upgraded turbines at the Byllesby Dam go online in a few months. The megawatts generated will add so substantially to our existing solar array that Dakota County will generate more than twice the amount of electricity that we use each year. I am not aware of any other county in the country that can make this claim. We also save more than $300,000 annually through efficient building design standards and operations and have dramatically improved the energy efficiency and cost effectiveness of our County fleet, including everything from squad cars to

away as if I weren’t there, or they speak over my shoulder, never meeting my eyes. This man looked directly into my eyes and watched me closely.

“You are absolutely not an animal,” I told him firmly.

I saw his shoulders drop as if he was setting down a heavy weight. The person or phantom behind the trees seemed to be forgotten. He continued to look at me.

snowplows, while simultaneously reducing emissions.

This is on top of an effort begun by Dakota County in 2002 to permanently preserve and protect top quality natural areas and wetlands countywide. To date, these efforts have resulted in nearly 12,000 acres of woodlands, wetlands and prairies permanently protected for current and future generations to enjoy. This has entirely been through acquisition from voluntary sellers, largely using outside grant funds and has been accomplished entirely without any use of eminent domain.

The County’s sustainability efforts also extend to environmental restoration. For example, one county project is underway in West St. Paul, where a lake and creek in the heart of the community will soon be fully restored and protected. Buried beneath the former municipal golf course and dumped on for decades before that, our Thompson Oaks Restoration project near Oakdale and Thompson will revital-

there was nothing more I could do.

We all carry so much.

ize green space, daylighting a long-buried creek and adding waterfall features, a boardwalk and looping trails to the County’s Riverto-River Greenway. This greenway stretches from South St. Paul to Mendota.

Lest anyone think the project is all for show, the largely grant-funded effort will also replenish groundwater, reduce downstream flooding and remove contaminated soil and waste, resulting in dramatic water quality improvements. This is key because the site handles 25 percent of West St. Paul’s stormwater. All told, various filtering features will prevent 45,397 pounds of sediment and 93 pounds of harmful phosphorus from reaching the Mississippi River each year, as well as untold amounts of trash, oils and trace metals that will also be filtered out.

The grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the Thompson Oaks Restoration project is set for 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 21, and all are welcome to join us.

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

prised, as if his yelling had been happening in a private place and he hadn’t expected anyone to notice. His eyes wild and his clothes torn,

He looked at me in a peculiarly intense way, as if to determine whether I could be trusted to tell the truth.

I’d seen this look from time to time in homeless people. Some won’t make eye contact at all. They look down or

I didn’t know what else to say, so I patted my heart and told him, “And I want you to know that I care.”

I held his eyes for a moment longer then headed home. He might have said something after that. It sounded as if he was trying to say something but I knew

All the way home and for much of that night, I thought about that lonely man with the shopping cart and his outrage at being called an animal. He was indignant and afraid and desperate for it not to be true and, maybe for just a moment, he was reassured it was not true because some random older woman on the sidewalk told him so. Life is so precarious sometimes.

Later that night, lying in bed, I told my husband, Peter, about the man and what I’d said.

“You are kind,” Peter told me.

I don’t know if that’s true or not but I know for certain that strangers have helped me when I needed help, and kind words have changed my day from terrible to something better, something more hopeful. I think of the many people I can never pay back and I hope I can pay forward some of the kindness I’ve been shown over all the years of my life.

More than anything, when I think about that lonely man fighting off his demons, I realize I have no idea how it feels to face anything as large or as terrifying as that man faces every day. And for that, I am terribly –and selfishly – grateful. Till next time.