South St. Paul Sample St. Paul Page 6
Volume 20 | Number 11
Your Community News & Information Source
November 2023
Resurgence at Central Square
Development options for the Armour Gates site
Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
P
rograms at Central Square are thriving two years after the City of South St. Paul and South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) ended their nearly 20-year joint management agreement for the community center, 100 7th Ave. N., and the school district is spearheading more ways to grow. The management agreement ended because the center had experienced a decline in membership for eight years and was placing a financial strain on both entities, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was decided that the school district would assume full ownership of the center and operate it under its Community Education department. “The commitment we made [when assuming full ownership] was continuing and growing the senior center, and getting the gymnastics and aquatics programs back up and running,” said Community Education Director Jeanne Zehnder. “If you asked us two years ago if we thought we’d accomplish all of that we probably would have laughed and said, ‘we want to,’ but it really has come to life.” Last year, the gymnastics program had more than 1,000 participating youth, ages 18 months-14 years, and this summer the Center launched a year-round pre-teen gymnastics program. Staff hope to begin a Central Square / Page 3
Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
VOTER’S GUIDE Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
L
ines of people will soon stream to polling booths to exercise their right to vote. South St. Paul Public Schools is holding a special School Board Election on Tuesday, Nov. 7, to fill the vacancy resulting from the unexpected passing of Bernie Beermann. The candidate elected will fill the remainder
Election / Page 8
I
n early October, the South St. Paul City Council held a work session to discuss several topics, including the future of the property at 450 Hardman Ave., home to the historic Armour Gates. There was consensus among city staff that creating a park at the site – as called for by a petition with more than 2,000 signatures that was created by a South St. Paul Middle School history teacher – would not be ideal due to the industrial nature of the surrounding area and because it’s not called for in the city’s parks master plan or comprehensive plan. The council is considering plans from three developers that have expressed an interest in building on the site. All include an option to preserve one or both gatehouse structures if the city maintains responsibility for their upkeep. Cobra Holdings has submitted plans to build an office-warehouse facility to accommodate the growth of Cobra Transportation, currently located at 235 Hardman Ave. S. The concept requires that the southern gate be relocated so the Gates are parallel to Armour Avenue rather than perpendicular. Based on similar developments Armour Gates / Page 2
SSP city council considers street naming request Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
F
or the first time in nearly 10 years the South St. Paul City Council has received a request to rename a street. It came from friends of Dale Schenian, the owner of City Auto Glass who passed away in late August. The request didn’t call for a specific street to be renamed
but did ask that it be near Schenian’s business at 116 Concord Exchange South, or near a school because of his support of South St. Paul athletics. Schenian grew up in South St. Paul and made significant philanthropic contributions to several organizations, including the South St. Paul Open Foundation. He also covered the cost of renam-
ing the Wakota Arena as Doug Woog Arena, and was co-founder of the Canterbury Park racetrack in Shakopee. At a recent city council work session, city staff reviewed the city’s policy for street naming, created in 2014, and the council’s options for responding to the request. They need to decide if they would rename a
major street or minor street or give one an “honorary name.” Renaming a major street would require the support of the majority of the property owners whose addresses would be affected by the change. Some logistical challenges with recordkeeping would need to be addressed since many records are tied to property addresses. Renaming a minor
street with no addresses on it would simply require city council approval. An example of this is Kaposia Boulevard, which runs alongside the school district’s practice fields and has no businesses or houses on it. Issuing an “honorary street name” would also only require city council approval. It would entail adding a white street sign with the
honorary street name near a street’s official green street sign. Such a process has its challenges, as the City of St. Paul discovered. While the St. Paul City Council had previously approved many honorary street names, the city discontinued the practice in 2017 over concerns that it causes confusion for
Street renaming / Page 2
C ommunity
Armour Gates from page 1
in the city, staff estimate a total market value of $2.3$2.9 million and total property tax revenue of $75,000$95,000 annually. Interstate Development has expressed interest in developing two small officewarehouse structures at the
site, each with about an acre of paved exterior storage area. Under this plan, the gatehouse structures would either be retained as is or demolished and the materials reused for development. Estimated total market value is $650,000-$750,000, with
Street renaming from page 1
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$18,000-$22,000 in property tax revenue annually. Langer Development envisions a 40,000 square-foot multi-unit office-warehouse building at the site. Designs call for preservation of the northern gate and deconstruction and reuse of material of the southern one. The estimated total market value for this project is $3.375-$4.8 million, and
$110,000-$160,000 annually in property tax revenue. The 3.75-acre site has been vacant since the City’s Economic Development Authority purchased it in the 1990s. It’s been difficult to find a buyer, partly due to controversy surrounding demolition of the Gates and the shape of the triangular lot. At work sessions over the past few years the
city council and staff determined that relocating the gates would cost nearly $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, which would be the developer’s responsibility. 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.
residents and first responders. South St. Paul does not currently have any honorary street names. South St. Paul’s policy states that a street can be renamed to honor an individual or organization that contributed a significant portion of the cost of renovating the public street or
adjacent developable land or to honor an individual who has significantly served the community for at least 10 years. When a street is renamed to honor someone who has served the community, the renaming cannot occur until one year after their death or the end of their service. If approved,
the entity requesting the renaming is responsible for all costs. Renaming requests are reviewed by the planning commission, which will hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to the city council, which has the final say. The policy was developed after a longstanding local business, Mathias
Die, requested that a short street near their property be renamed “Mathias Avenue” to honor the company’s financial investment in the community. The request was approved. The South St. Paul City Council will review the matter at an upcoming city council meeting.
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South St. Paul HRA The South St. Paul Voice is published monthly and distributed to 8,500 homes and high traffic businesses in South St. Paul. Publisher & Editor: Tim Spitzack Copy Editor: Leslie Martin Staff Writers: Jake Spitzack John E. Ahlstrom
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Page 2 - South St. Paul Voice - November 2023
149 8th Ave. S., South St. Paul 651-451-1035 Advent Celebration Wednesday, December 13 - 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. Candlelight Service 10:00 p.m. Christmas Day Celebration 10:00 a.m. New Year’s Eve Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. “To you is born a Savior, Christ the Lord!”
C ommunity
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Central Square from page 1
competitive team in the next few years that would act as a feeder program for the secondary school’s gymnastics team. The Center also now offers an 8-week dance program for students in grades 5-6 as well as a fall dance line program for young adults. Most recently, the department hired an aquatics director. Pool programming, including swimming lessons and family swim times, are expected to begin in January. Memberships at the senior center have increased in the past few years and now sit at 237. All the classic programming such as penny bingo, craft time and SSP Buzz (social time) remained when the school took full ownership of the center, and now members can also sign up to go out to lunch once a month and go on trips together with a community education employee. Last summer, 80 seniors boarded a bus and visited Lake
Geneva, Wis., where they stayed for two nights. In mid-October, a group went Fort Atkinson, Wis., for two days and one night. “We’re happy to call Central Square home and be in the heart of the community and offer what they’re [residents] asking,” said Zehnder. “Anybody can walk in and give us an idea and we’ll work hard to get that in place…. I’m really proud of the care and compassion and relationships that our small but mighty 5-person team has.” Central Square continues to be a distribution point for free Take ’n’ Bake meals, a program operated in partnership with Kitchen Coalition as an initiative of Second Harvest Heartland. It began during the pandemic to help restaurants stay open and retain their employees. Each week, 900 meals are prepared by restaurants and commercial kitchens and delivered to Central
Square where anybody can pick one up for free. Meals are single serve or family size, and there are typically 1-4 options. They can be picked up on weekdays after 3 p.m., although Zehnder said they are typically gone by Wednesday evening. The Center also still operates Fare for All, a program that offers groceries at a discounted rate. The next date is 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 21. A wide variety of free adult basic education courses are held at Central Square through Community Education, including language, citizenship and academic classes. The computer lab was recently updated to accommodate people taking their General Education Development (GED) test there. “I think our community has come to realize the benefits of community education and what we can offer,” said Zehnder. “Community education is all about lifelong learning and since we’ve moved to Central Square it’s a place where our community can come together
Submitted photo
Last year, the gymnastics program had more than 1,000 youth, ages 18 months-14 years. This summer the center launched a year-round pre-teen gymnastics program, and in the next few years staff hope to begin a competitive team that would act as a feeder program for the high school’s program. to learn, grow and socialize. We’re thrilled to be here and feel like we’re where we belong.”
The Center’s operations are funded through state levies and federal funds received by Community Education
and Adult Basic Education. For more information, call 651-306-3632 or visit communityed.sspps.org.
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E ducation
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SSP students follow the yellow brick road
M
ore than 80 students across seven grades at South St. Paul Secondary have joined forces to whisk people into a mesmerizing land filled with mystical characters, a yellow brick road and a young woman wearing a pair of magical ruby-red shoes. The South St. Paul Theatre Department will present “The Wizard of Oz,” at 7 p.m., Nov. 10, 2 and 7 p.m., Nov. 11, and 7 p.m., Nov. 12, at the Secondary School, 700 2nd St. N. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Cost is $8 for students and $10 for adults. Admission is free for seniors. “It’s a fun, classic children’s tale that also has a lot going on under the surface for the adults to enjoy,” said South St. Paul theater director Eric Holsen. “It will have all the songs you’re used to plus some new ones you probably haven’t heard before.” The musical is based on
the famous 1939 film of the same name and the book by L. Frank Baum. It hasn’t yet hit the South St. Paul stage under Holsen’s leadership because of the technical challenges it presents, such as complex special effects and numerous fast set changes, but it has always been on his bucket list. He knew this year’s talented students were up to the task. Each of the five lead roles is cast with two students. Audiences will see different faces on stage depending on which of the four performances they attend. Most of the students have years of experience in the school’s theater program and have previously held lead roles. Lilly Rosengren (grade 12) and Kaylee Contreras (11) will be Dorothy for two performances each. Rosengren had a lead role in last fall’s allschool play “Little Shop of Horrors,” and Contreras was Matilda in the show of the same name in summer 2022. Xaden Gullickson (12) and Tre Allen (11) will be the
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Each of the five lead roles is cast with two students. Pictured here are Lilly Rosengren, Kaylee Contreras, Wyatt Hren, Xaden Gullickson, Tre Allen, Cat Sundly, Zacchaeus Yang and Jordan Danich. they’re out for five days, and that’s our entire run.” Holsen said the musical is similar to the movie and that teams of students have been hard at work crafting costumes and more than 20 different backdrops to bring the show to life. Maggie Tuhy, an eighth grader, has been selected as stage manager. Altogether, 62 students will perform on stage and 21 will be behind the scenes
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working on lighting, sound and more. “Our cast is grades 6-12 and we get kids from all those grades onstage and backstage,” said Holsen. “We work with everyone from third graders to adults in our two summer shows, so I just see a whole lot of advantages to working with a wide range of ages [on one play]. I think the younger people bring a lot of energy
and freshness and the older ones bring their experience and a lot of mentorship for the younger kids.” Due to play rights, livestreams of the performances are banned so you can expect the auditorium to be full of other friendly faces eager to see the students shine under the spotlight. For more information, visit sspps.org.
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Tinman. Gullickson was in last spring’s performance of “Tempest” and Allen was the voice of the man-eating plant in “Little Shop of Horrors.” Grace Kliniski (12) and Wyatt Hren (10) will perform as the scarecrow. Klinkiski is an experienced dancer who played Ariel in last spring’s presentation of “Tempest,” and this will be Hren’s biggest role yet. The cowardly lion will be played by Cat Sundly (12) and Zacchaeus Yang (11). Sundly was a lead role in last year’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof ” and Yang transferred to South St. Paul this fall from Arkansas, where he was involved in theatre. The wicked witch will be played by Paige Schlagel (12) and Eliana Klaehn (8), and it will be each of their biggest roles yet. “Double casting works great,” said Holsen. “We get opportunities for more students to be in bigger roles. Another big part of it is, post-COVID, we always have to think about happens if someone gets sick. Even now, if somebody gets COVID the day before the show
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B ack in Time
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Remembering Rudy Lange: a veteran with a passion for pigeons Tim Spitzack Editor
I
n the early 2000s, you could often find Rudy Lange at Central Square Community Center enjoying a game of cards. Although his 80-year-old hands likely ached with arthritis he could still shuffle the deck and deal to his companions. Seeing him in those days one would never guess he was a decorated war vet who parlayed his passion for pigeon racing into a way to serve his country. Rudolph Lange was born January 5, 1917, in Halle, Germany, and immigrated to South St. Paul with his parents six years later. He lived in the city the rest of his life, marrying and having two sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and enjoying a long career as a firefighter with the city of South St. Paul. The only time he lived elsewhere was during World War II. In 1935, at age 18, Lange received an odd letter in the mail. It was allegedly from Adolph Hitler, asking him to return to his homeland to serve in the German army. Now a longtime U.S. citizen, Lange ignored the letter but did not escape the ensuing war that would grip the world a few years later. In February 1941, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and went on to serve five years on active duty and 18 years in the Army Reserves. Lange had a typical childhood with days occupied by
Lange was assigned to the Army Signal Corps and sent to Fort Monmouth, N.J., to train at the Army Pigeon Center with the 280th Signal Pigeon Company.
portant messages, many of which were credited with winning battles and saving lives. The Signal Corps furnished 54,000 pigeons to the Armed Services during WWII, and several were awarded hero pigeon status, including G.I. Joe, which saved 100 British troops and countless civilians in Calvi Vecchia, Italy. The pigeon flew 20 miles in 20 minutes carrying an order to cancel the scheduled bombing of the city, which had been under German control but
school, a paper route and any sport that was in season. He also formed an unusual hobby as a youngster after meeting an elderly man from England who lived three blocks away and kept and raced pigeons. That relationship fueled Lange’s lifelong love for the birds and the sport and ultimately influenced his military service. Lange was assigned to the Army Signal Corps and sent to Fort Monmouth, N.J., to train at the Army Pigeon Center with the 280th Signal Pigeon Company. Due to their unique homing skills and ability to fly long distances with ease, carrier pigeons were used extensively in World War I and II for reconnaissance and to transport im-
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regained by Allied forces. Lange served in the South Pacific, rising from the rank of sergeant to technical sergeant, then attended Officers Training School and was promoted to first lieutenant with military intelligence. One of his stations was in London, England, and it was there he met Englishman “Pop” Noterman, who served as a liaison advisor between civilian pigeon racers and the military. One of Noterman’s birds, named Duke
of the Twin City Racing Pigeon Club and often assisted other clubs by picking up crated pigeons from the airport and releasing them from various locations for 500- and 1,000-mile races. He also provided birds for numerous ceremonies, including the opening of the Science Museum of Minnesota and during Vikings and Twins games. Lange died June 13, 2005, at age 88, and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
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of Normandy, is said to have carried the first report of the successful landing of Allied Forces on the beach of Normandy. Lange served 21 months overseas, then returned home and served in the Army Reserves, retiring as captain. He was also active with VFW Post 295 in South St. Paul. He and wife Ruth built a house on Seventh Avenue South and raised their family there. He continued racing pigeons as a member
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Calendario de Yields eventos Annual Percentage (APYs)en: are effective as of 10/01/2023 and subject to change without notice. Rates may change after the account is stpaulfarmersmarket.com opened. Your actual APY may vary based on your actual account balance and activity during your statement cycle. 2Advertised introductory interest rates and APYs are fixed for 12 months after the account is opened. After introductory period, the rate may change. Limit one promotional account per customer. Minimum balance to obtain the APY is $25,000.00. Requires new money not already on deposit with MidWestOne Bank. Matured MidWestOne Certificates of Deposit can be deposited into this account and will qualify as new money. The bank reserves the right to deny deposit accounts over $5,000,000.00. See a Personal Banker for current rates and account terms. Minimum balance to avoid $10.00 service fee is $25,000.00. Fees could reduce earnings. 3National average APY is 0.42% and represents the average of the $2,500.00 product tier as of June 20, 2023, as calculated by the FDIC. Certain exclusions apply.
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A rts & Entertainment
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Patti LuPone will perform at 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 19, at the Ordway Center.
Landmark Center 75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225 landmarkcenter.org
Consortium Carissimi Concert: Madrigals of Northern Italy, 3 p.m., October 28-29. This classical music concert will feature a selection of madrigals, a form of secular vocal music composition that originated in Italy during the 14th and 16th centuries. Tickets start at $10. Great Pumpkin Halloween Festival, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29. Festivities include a kids’ DJ, magician, face painting, costume parade, treats and crafts, including the chance to decorate your own trick-or-
treating bag. Once Upon a Time gala, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Nov. 3. This annual fundraiser for the Landmark Center will feature a reception, dinner and programming about the city of Paris. $150. Landmark Literati “Grace & Grit: The History of Ballet in Minnesota,” noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8. Local author Georgia Finnegan, founder of Saint Paul City Ballet, shares her book on the history of ballet in Minnesota. Free. Courtroom concerts, held noon-1 p.m. on Thursdays, includes Irina and Julia Elkina (piano duo), Nov. 9; and Clea Galhano (recorder) and Jacques Ogg (harpsichord), Nov. 16. Free.
KidsJam: Speaking in Tongues, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Nov. 16-17. Three musicians from different cultures will teach about the people, cultures and musical traditions from their homeland. Musicians are Sowah Mensah from Ghana, Marc Anderson from Minnesota and Gao Hong from China. Free, but registration is required. Geared toward ages 5-12. Landmark Live concert featuring Phillip-Michael Scales, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 17. Tickets are $20 online or $25 at the door. A cocktail hour with complimentary refreshments and a cash bar begins at 6:45 p.m. Ballet Tuesday, noon1 p.m., Nov. 21. Ballet Co.Laboratory performs
Photo by Rahav
excerpts from its upcoming season. Free. 45th Annual Old-Fashioned Holiday Bazaar, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 30. The event features gift items handcrafted by area artists, including jewelry, woodwork, paintings, décor, woven and wearable art, handmade lotions, soaps and more, festive music and treats. $5.
MN Children’s Museum 10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 mcm.org
“Ball-o-rama” through Jan. 21, 2024. Experiment with velocity, gravity and acceleration through 10 interactive stations. Other exhibits and activities include “The Scramble,”
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“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 October 1.
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 creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip and its beloved cast of characters. “Reframing our Stories,” is a new addition to the “Our Home: Native America” exhibit. It’s on display through October 2025 and features dozens of recently discovered historic photos of Minnesota’s Native communities and stories about them as told by Native people. “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. Other exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” “Then Now Wow,” “Grainland” and “Weather Permitting.” The center is 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.
A rts & Entertainment History Theatre 30 E. 10th St. St. Paul 651-292-4323 Historytheatre.com
“The Boy Wonder” is presented on select dates through October 29. This musical explores the work and life of Harold Stassen, a progressive leader elected as the youngest governor of Minnesota in 1938, as well as the birth of the United Nations. Tickets start at $30, with discounts for students. “I Am Betty” is presented on select dates Nov. 25-Dec. 23. Discover the story of Betty Crocker, a fictional character who has been admired and scorned for a century as people grapple with questions regarding women’s role in American society. Tickets start at $30, with discounts for students.
MN Museum of American Art 350 Robert St. N. St. Paul 651-797-2571 mmaa.org
“Hazel Belvo: For Love,” is a new exhibit opening Nov. 4, in the Nancy and
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John Lindahl Gallery. It features more than 60 pieces of artwork from Hazel Belvo’s 70-year career as an artist. It is on display 10 a.m.4 p.m.,Thursday-Sunday. through May 24, 2024. “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. “It’s Okay to Laugh” is an installation in the skyway windows above Robert Street. Created by Jose Dominguez, it features colorful vinyl creatures that play hide and seek with passersby. “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
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra presents Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., Nov. 3, and 7 p.m., Nov. 4. Tickets start at $12. Minnesota Opera presents Cuzar La Cara De La Luna, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 4, 9 and 11 , and 2 p.m., Nov. 12. Tickets start at $34. Schubert Club presents Milos (guitar), 7:30 p.m., Nov. 18, and 3 p.m., Nov. 19. Tickets start at $36. Patti LuPone concert, 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 19. Tickets start at $68. St. Paul Chamber Orchestra presents Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Gabriel and Jeffrey Kahane, 7 p.m., Nov. 24-25, and 2 p.m., Nov. 26. Tickets start at $12. Leo Kottke performs guitar, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28. Tickets start at $57.99.
Schubert Club
302 Landmark Center 75 W. 5th St. St. Paul 651-292-3268 schubert.org
FamilyJam: Speaking in Tongues, 10 and 11:15 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 18, at Schubert Club Music Museum. The event features a 25-30 minute concert from three musicians from different cultures, as well as instrument demos and other hands-on experiences with the musicians. Musicians are Sowah Mensah from Ghana, Marc Anderson from Minnesota and Gao Hong from China. Free, but registration is required.
Science Museum 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 smm.org
Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed is a featured exhibit returning to the Science Museum for the first time since its debut in 2013. It’s on display through Sept. 4, 2024. Presented in English and Spanish, it features more than 200 authentic artifacts, hands-on activities, lifelike simulations and more. Green Card STEM Voices is a temporary exhibit on display in the Community Gallery through the end of the year. Learn about the life journeys of 30 Afghan
youth. Entomology Pinning Workshop, 5:45 p.m., Oct. 27, and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Oct. 28. Learn about the scientific study of insects, the entomology collection at the Museum and the basics of how to prepare your own specimens for display. Classes are one hour long and participants will bring home a Death’s-head Hawkmoth that they pin. $140. Museum admission included. Omnitheater films: “Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope,” through Feb. 29, 2024. Follow the world’s most famous living ethologist as she inspires people to make a difference in the world around them. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), 7 p.m., Oct. 27. Alien (1979), 7 p.m., Oct. 28. “Recombination,” 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights. The film features the work of fractal artist Julius Horsthuis and seven of his favorite musicians. 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 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. Museum tickets are $29.95 for ages 18+ and $19.95 for ages 4-17.
Xcel Center
199 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-726-8240 xcelenergycenter.com
Queen + Adam Lambert, 8 p.m., Oct. 27-28. Tickets from $238.84. Tool, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 31. Tickets from $79. Eagles, 6:30 p.m., Nov. 17-18. Tickets from $249. Jonas Brothers, 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 19. Tickets from $44.95. Pentatonix, 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 25. Tickets from $79.
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South St. Paul Voice - November 2023 - Page 7
E lection 2023 Election from page 1
of Beermann’s term, which expires January 2027. Our voter’s guide covers the candidates running for the position. To vote in Minnesota, residents must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and a resident of Minnesota for 20 days. The polling place for all voters for this election will be at the Lawshe Museum, 130 3rd Ave. N. The poll will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Register to vote in advance to save time at your polling location. To register online, visit mnvotes.sos.state. mn.us. For more information on elections and voter registration, call the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office at 651-215-1440, or visit www.sos.state.mn.us/ elections-voting or https:// www.southstpaul.org/226/ Registering-to-Vote.
South St. Paul School Board Kim Humann Background: “I am a mother of three South St. Paul students, a substitute
Your community news and information source teacher in our district and a volunteer in our community. I have a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina, a bachelor’s from Concordia College-Moorhead and I grew up on the West Side of St. Paul. Before leaving the workforce to focus on my family, I worked as a business office coordinator for an assisted living community for almost 10 years where I managed human resources, accounts payable and accounts receivable, in addition to managing a team of five.” The recent levy and future budget needs: “I am incredibly thankful that the community passed last year’s learning levy. This already has allowed the school district to act on many crucial supports for our students effective this school year. Our future budget needs are a real concern as our district’s predicted enrollment drops each year due to sinking birth rates. I am willing to advocate for our district to get a more equitable distribution of state educational funding to help balance our budgets.” Funding extracurricular programs: “Extracurricular programming in our schools
is an asset for our students. Students involved in EC are more focused on community, teamwork and academics. I think our district does a good job trying to make EC programming accessible to all students and a big part of that is due to the amazing support of our community, the various sports associations we host and a special thanks needs to be directed to the SSP Open Foundation.” LGBTQ+ policies: “LGBTQ+ policies, like all policies in our district, need to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and community. Individuals in our district deserve to be treated with respect. There is no place for discrimination or harassment in SSD 6.” Security in the schools: “Safety and security are huge topics to address, but are absolutely necessary for our students and staff to be able to focus on the work of education. I think the recently implemented ‘I Love You Guys’ training will make our buildings safer by streamlining for staff and students what actions to take in specific situations. Additionally, sharing that language and when various types of drills
take place with our families and students helps unpack some of the anxiety that exists.” Contact: KimHumann ForSSP@gmail.com, www. KimHumann.com Beth Johnson Background: “I am a 33year resident of South Saint Paul. My husband and I are proud parents of three daughters who all graduated from South St. Paul Secondary and have all earned college degrees. While raising our daughters we were active community members. We coached softball, I was a scout leader off and on totaling 15 years, and was a member of the Kaposia Education parent group, including time as the president. My career was in education. Besides the years as an educator, I worked in several environments with marginalized youth. I am a recent retiree from South St. Paul Schools, where I spent 23 years as a special education teacher.” The recent levy and future budget needs: “The recent levy was crucial for South St. Paul schools due to inequitable
state school funding. It was very concerning how close the levy results were. Communication and relationships between the school district and the residents need to be strengthened. Future budgetary needs include building community engagement, safe and secure schools, supplies for teachers, and strong and appropriate professional development.” Funding extracurricular programs: “Extracurricular activities are needed but are not guaranteed in schools. All students should be able to participate. It is a hard call if the funding for the activities should be provided by the school. I believe those that participate should take on the majority of funding with booster type clubs covering expenses for those that need financial assistance.” LGBTQ+ policies: “All students need to be respected and cherished for who they are and not disrespected or hated for what others think about them. This includes those a part of the LGBTQ+ communities. We need strong policies regarding the safety of said students
Luther Memorial Church
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
315 15th Ave. N. 651-451-2400 luther-memorial.com •
Catholic church 749 6th Ave. S. 651-455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org •
St. Augustine’s Catholic Church
Clark Memorial United Church
408 3rd St. N. 651-455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org •
779 15th Ave. N. 651-451-7278 clarkgraceucc.org •
First Presbyterian 535 20th Ave. N. 651-451-6223 fpcssp.org •
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox church 357 2nd Ave. S. 651-451-0775 www.stsavamn.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 149 8th Ave. S. 651-451-1035 grace-ssp.org
Page 8 - South St. Paul Voice - November 2023
that ensures they are not afraid to attend school, are not bullied while at school, and have safe environments such as restrooms, hallways and locker rooms. The policies need to include clear and concise consequences for students and staff that can not abide by the expectations.” Security in the schools: “In general, South St. Paul schools are secure. There have been measures taken and strategies introduced that make them secure. The issue of safety and security stems from what happens within the schools when there is unsafe behavior. There needs to be clear and concise measures that need to be followed when unsafe behaviors happen. There also needs to be consequences for offenders of the rules and expectations within school. The consequences can be before/after school detentions, in school suspensions and/or restorative practices. It is my firm belief that youth need and crave high expectations that lead to them developing empathy and a strong future.” Contact: mnbethj@gmail. com
Saint John Vianney Catholic Church
Worship Guide
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
E lection 2023 Dan Vick Background: “I have worked in the automotive industry for over 15 years and am master certified through Volkswagen as a service advisor. I graduated from South High in Minneapolis and studied business management at Minneapolis Community & Technical College.” The recent levy and future budget needs: “The future budget will require responsible accountability. I don’t believe continually hiking taxes is the route to continue on. There are many grants available that would be worth looking into.” Funding extracurricular programs: “Extracurricular program funding is an essential task that I will work hard for as it keeps children and the community engaged.” LGBTQ+ policies: “Everyone has a right to a safe and inclusive learning environment. I will ensure policies are made to protect this right for all.” Security in the schools: “Safety and security for all students is a personal top priority of mine. No parent should need to worry about the safety of their child while at school.”
Your community news and information source Contact: dan.vick3930@ gmail.com John Wilcox Background: “Age 49. Married to Kathy. Five children and two grandchildren. Insurance agency owner. Former 25-year employee of a local municipality. Past board member of the 48xxyy Project, involved with the Minnesota Special Olympics, adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America and active in my local parish as an adult leader.” The recent levy and future budget needs: “Today, our school funding system is infinitely more complex, but still based on that one, powerful idea: that education is a public good and paying for it ultimately falls on the taxpayers. We owe it to our residents to provide data and much public discussion to make sure it is a sound investment in our students that is coming out of the pockets of the residents we serve. We need to present facts and data that require the investments from our district residents and not use the word ‘cuts’ as a bargaining chip. We all see the benefits of a child’s education but districts also need
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to be financially accountable and transparent.” Funding extracurricular programs: “Participating in extracurricular activities like clubs, sports or a job helps build life skills in students and plays a vital role in school districts. We must not lose sight that the main goal and top priority is that of education. The students and residents should have quality education provided by our school district and, although important, activities are not the face of the district.” LGBTQ+ policies: “Every student should be treated with dignity and respect with who they are. Parents are regarded as a student’s first educators and many of life’s teachings should be taught within the home. Anytime we put priorities on
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what teachers are required to teach that has zero impact on education, we put less focus on learning. Politics should be kept out of the classroom and the jobs of our educators is to teach.” Security in the schools: “School security is procedures followed and measures taken to ensure the security of school buildings, classrooms, and other school facilities and properties. Security creates a safe environment for our students and staff. Schools are an environment where all should feel safe and that should be another top priority. Teacher safety may not be watched Over 40 years of service!
as closely as students’ sense of well-being, but most are coming to realize another hard truth: many educators do not feel completely comfortable in their classrooms. Teachers have lim-
ited time and resources and we must make sure their safety is just as important as that of students.” Contact: john.randal. wilcox@gmail.com, 763360-3300
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N ews Briefs
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Library events For more information or to register, call 651-5543240 or visit southstpaul. org/library. Storytime for 2s-6s, 10:30-11 a.m., each Tuesday. Stories and activities that help develop early literacy skills for toddlers and preschoolers. Ages 2-6. Storytime for Babies, 10:30-11 a.m. each Wednesday. An interactive story
time designed for newborns and babies age 2 and under, with their caregivers. Toddlers Takeover, 10-11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 3 and 17. Early literacy activities for ages 3 and younger. Bath Bombs, 6:30-8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 6. Create your own bath bombs using Epsom salt and essential oils. Registration required. Geared toward ages 12 to adult.
South St. Paul Book Club, 7-8 p.m., Thursday Nov. 9. The title is “The Daughters of Yalta” by Catherine Grace Katz. Visit tinyurl.com/SSPbookclub for more information. Geared toward adults.
The South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force is investing in our community in a variety of ways, whether it is for
service hours, something to do or because it is fun. We like feeling the connectedness and the satisfaction of making our community a better place to live, learn, work and play. Last month, youth had the opportunity to attend a Youth Fair to learn more about the task force, and many will be joining us to give back to the community. Over the next few months, we’ll be helping at a variety of events. We hope you can
Neighbors, Inc. Dawn Wambeke President & CEO
I would like to take this opportunity to showcase our Financial Empowerment Center. We launched this innovative program in July 2022 with thoughtful input from our board of directors, people receiving services, and experienced staff. After more than 51 years of pro-
viding high dignity basic needs services (food, clothing, holiday gift and meaningful resource and referrals), we are excited to add financial empowerment services to help our neighbors on their journey to achieving greater economic stability. Neighbors has two accredited financial counselors on
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, visit sspps. 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 (September
- May). 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.
join us. Recycle Pumpkins the Task Force Way - This event is a favorite of task force members. As part of the South St. Paul Thinking Green campaign, we’ll be collecting pumpkins 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Wakota Federal Credit Union’s parking lot at 12th and Southview, and compost them for free. Don’t forget to remove candles. Painted pumpkins cannot be accepted. The dumpster will be
there all weekend for those who can’t make it when task force members are there to help. South St. Paul Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner - South St. Paul senior citizens are invited to a Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimming on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the South St. Paul Secondary School, starting at 4:30 p.m. The event is a partnership between the task force
and the South St. Paul Lions Club, South St. Paul School District Senior Program, community volunteers and generous donors. Task force members and their friends will help serve the meals and clear tables. Light Up the Square, a fun celebration to kick off the holiday season, will take place at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 26, at Central Square Community Center. Join Mayor James Francis, Santa,
Mrs. Claus, Frosty, Santa’s elves and task force members for some cocoa, candy canes and caroling around the community tree. The countdown to the lighting of the tree begins at 6 p.m. Elf CommUNITY Grams will be available in November for December delivery. For more information on these projects, or to join the task force, contact Deb Griffith deb.griffith@southstpaul.org or 651-554-3230.
staff who meet the education and experience requirements of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education. Our Financial Empowerment services provide free personalized, oneto-one coaching and education to help improve the financial well-being of people in our community. Financial well-being means having financial security and financial freedom of choice, in the present and in the future. Services include advice on managing money and debts; budget development; obtaining a copy of and understanding credit reports and scores; financial educational materials and workshops; digital literacy education and training; career counsel-
ing and connecting persons to home ownership services. Neighbors is one of only 15 referral partners in the Twin Cities metro that can help get buyers “Habitat Ready.” Small sums grants are available for qualified individuals served by Neighbors. They are intended to be personcentered, collaborative grants individuals can use to meet their goals. Examples include paying for a class, licensure, tools, building credit, and emergency savings. Our small sums grants are flexible dollars made available by the generous support of our community donors. In fiscal year 2022-23, our new financial empowerment programming provided: • A newly renovated se-
rene Financial Empowerment Center complete with computers, printers/fax and a cozy, comfortable conference space that allows our neighbors to discuss their financial hopes and dreams with our counselors • 294 hours of financial counseling to 349 households • Financial and digital literacy and skill-building classes in the community, taught by our AFCPE accredited financial counselors and held at our local Adult Basic Education facility, and secondary and vocational schools • Small sums grants As we look to the future, we are thrilled to explore
growing our Financial Empowerment services, such as enhanced employment and training services, expanding home ownership services and increasing the number of individuals we can serve with our small sums grants. This service is free and open to the public. Feel free to share information regarding our Financial Empowerment services with those who may be interested. We truly appreciate your support in helping raise awareness. As always, I’d love to connect. You can reach me at dawn@neighborsmn.org, 651-272-1135 or just stop by. Please stay connected with Neighbors’ latest updates at neighborsmn.org.
Craft and bake sale Luther Memorial Church, 315 15th Ave. N., South St. Paul, is hosting a craft and bake sale 8:30
a.m.-2:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4. Chicken wild rice soup and pie will be served beginning at 11 am.
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Our publishing company exists to foster a sense of community through informative news articles, interesting and inspiring feature articles, and valuable advertising. We ask for your support in helping us achieve our mission. Here are three ways you can support your family-owned community newspaper. 1. Subscribe to our FREE e-editions for expanded coverage. When you request our FREE e-editions, you will receive one email a month with a link to our four different publications. We won’t contact you more than that, and your information will not be sold or shared with third parties. Request our e-editions at info@stpaulpublishing.com. This is an easy, no-cost way to show you care about community journalism. 2. Subscribe to our printed editions. Get every issue mailed to your home or business for just $25/year per publication. To subscribe, mail your check to St. Paul Publishing Co., 1643 S. Robert St., Suite 60B, West St. Paul, MN 55118, or call 651-457-1177 with your credit card number. Please be sure to include the full name and mailing address for delivery, as well as your phone number. 3. Make a voluntary contribution. Join the many loyal readers who have made a voluntary contribution of $10 to $100 or more to help us achieve our purpose. Thank you for your support!
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C ommunity
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Postscript
Talking to Strangers
I got anxious again today. I think I’m getting better at leaving anxiety behind, and then anxiety says, “Not so fast! We have more work to do.” Usually, this has to do with my writing: “Is it good enough? Does she hate it?” But not always. Sometimes I’ll post something on Facebook and someone will take offense. Since I make an effort to never post anything controversial or unkind, this always shocks me and makes me wonder if I have any idea
12 most surprising things about Dakota County What do Rosa Parks, Ted Geisel, and Taylor Swift have in common with Dakota County? As children, Ms. Parks, Dr. Suess, and Ms. Swift each described themselves as “invisible.” All were quiet and reserved, preferring to let their work and actions speak for them. Likewise, county government is often described as the “invisible layer of government,” where we generally let our work and actions do the talking. Unsurprisingly, this approach frequently leads to some degree of astonishment among residents when they hear all that Dakota County does. Below are the dozen things about Dakota County that surprise our residents most. 1. A huge public safety role. Dakota County handles every felony prosecution for each city and town in Dakota County, runs the county jail, and collaborates with local cities on Dakota911, making our 9-1-1 emergency response faster and more efficient. We handle more than 50,000 intake and crisis calls a year, while creating places like Aspen House in Mendota Heights, which provides a safe place for kids in crisis. County social workers also partner with local police to make responding to mental health calls more effective and safer for all involved. 2. Clean water guardians. Dakota County teams up with the state to protect our drinking water and prevent its exportation elsewhere. Twice in the past four years there have been proposals
Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com
how I sound when I write. Since writing is pretty much all I do, this concern starts to bang around in my brain like a kitten knocking things off the shelf.
Joe Atkins
Dakota County Commissioner
to ship our limited water to desert southwest states like Arizona. We have prevented this from happening. 3. Metro’s most popular libraries. Dakota County libraries get more visits per capita than libraries in any other county in the metro area. Two million visitors checked out four million materials in 2022 alone. Next year, a 10th library, currently under construction in South St. Paul, will join our Dakota County library system. 4. A vast network of roads, bridges, parks and trails. Dakota County maintains 81 bridges, 134 traffic signals and 440 miles of county roads, like Thompson, Delaware, Oakdale, Southview and Concord. We oversee a 5,000-acre park system, including Thompson County Park in West St. Paul and our River to River Greenway connecting South St. Paul, West St. Paul and Mendota Heights, welcoming more than a million visitors annually to our parks and trails. 5. Award-winning preservation. With support from significant grant funding, Dakota County’s awardwinning land conservation
“What was I thinking?” I wonder. But I don’t actually remember thinking anything at all. I’ll make comments I imagine are helpful or clarifying and end up offending someone and wondering why I didn’t just remain silent. The best thing to do at this point is to take a walk. On my walk, I usually encounter a few homeless people. The Catholic Church nearby feeds them and provides other services, so there are usually a handful of folks – who have some kind of problem that I have never had to deal with – waiting in the summer heat or the winter cold for the doors to open so they can get the help they need. I talk to these folks as I walk by. Some of them ig-
nore me. Most of them smile and return the greeting. But occasionally I meet someone who just stares at me, like, “What is her story?” And the funny thing is that they assume I have one. “It’s going to be cooler tomorrow!” I announced yesterday to a gentleman sitting on the steps. Only as I got closer did I notice he had his head under his T-shirt. He pulled it out when he heard me. “It’s going to be really cool,” I repeated to the confused-looking fellow. “Much cooler than normal!” He stared at me as if I was speaking in code. I could tell that – whatever he thought of me – he assumed I knew what I was talking about. He
thought I had it together. He had no way of knowing how many days I wondered if hiding under my own Tshirt might not be the best strategy. I realized by then that he had some cognitive problem but felt I needed to wrap up the conversation anyway, just for the sake of politeness. “So, you take care, OK?” I waved and headed off, realizing I had just embarrassed myself in front of a man who was hiding under his own T-shirt. We’re all making up stories for one another without knowing what the real story is. The story I make up for myself when I’m anxious is
that I’m failing – somehow, somewhere – and no one has told me how or why. But I have no idea why that man was hiding under his T-shirt, and I’m betting his reasons were a lot better than mine. By now I know that my anxiety is a mood, that it will pass. As uncomfortable and demanding as it is in the moment, it’s almost impossible to remember after the fact. Walking helps. And talking to people, even folks who seem a little confused, helps as well. It is cooler today – just as I promised the fellow on the steps it would be. I’m going to put on my shoes right now and talk to some strangers. Till next time.
program has permanently preserved 12,000 acres of pristine woodlands, wetlands and natural areas since it began in 2003. 6. We own a dam. Our 123-year-old Byllesby Dam on the Cannon River in southern Dakota County provides crucial protection to thousands of residents and businesses downriver, including the entire city of Cannon Falls. 7. Best in renewable energy. In 2024, Dakota County will generate twice as much electricity as we use each year, with 100 percent of the electricity we generate coming from renewable energy sources. I am not aware of any county government in the nation that has achieved this milestone. Upgraded turbines at Dakota County’s Byllesby Dam will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of over 4,000 homes and will bring in roughly $1 million in annual revenue to the county. 8. Most productive volunteers. In the last year, more than 2,300 volunteers contributed 23,500 hours in 177 service opportunities, helping Dakota County provide quality services and activities for residents, at a value of $672,545 in services completed. Thank you to all our volunteers for helping us provide terrific services while still holding down property taxes. 9. Top schools. Every high school in Dakota County ranked in the top 10 percent of Minnesota high schools, according to recently released U.S. News and World Report rankings. Dakota County works closely with our local schools on
a variety of efforts, including nutrition, energy, literacy, and waste reduction programs. 10. No tax increment financing. Dakota County does not offer tax breaks to bring businesses here. We consistently hear from the business community that our low property taxes – the lowest county property taxes per capita in Minnesota – along with our great schools, workforce and infrastructure, are enough to attract and retain businesses. 11. Debt-free. For a seventh straight year, Dakota County is one of the only counties in the nation with zero debt. By not having to pay principal and interest on debt each year, Dakota County is able to hold down property taxes while still investing in services like public safety, transportation, libraries and parks.
12. Tops for safety, health and sustainability. Out of over 3,000 counties nationwide, Dakota County earned the top county award in the nation for public safety in 2018, for public health in 2020, and for sustainability this year. This unprecedented level of achievement makes us the only county in the country to have earned all three of these top county awards. As mentioned earlier, county government is sometimes described as “the invisible layer of government.” I hope columns like this can help make Dakota County’s efforts more evident to those for whom we work. Joe Atkins represents District 2 on the Dakota County Board, which includes South St. Paul, West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights. He welcomes feedback. To share comments, concerns or questions,
contact him at Joe.Atkins@ co.dakota.mn.us or 651-4384430.
Volunteer In Your Community
Lutheran Social Service of MN is seeking volunteers age 55+ in your area to provide companionship 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.
"The best way to teach your kids about income taxes is to eat 30% of their ice cream." Bill Murray
Richard "Tiger" Schmitt, CPA
Highway 62 & Dodd Road, Mendota Heights tigertax@citilink.com
Call 651-454-0141 South St. Paul Voice - November 2023 - Page 11
50 Years of School-based Health For 50 years, Minnesota’s Health Start program has provided students with high quality medical, mental, and behavioral health services directly within their schools. Minnesota Community Care has proudly operated St Paul Health Start clinics since 2003. The program was one of the first in the nation, and has made medical care more affordable and accessible to thousands of students. Over the years, this has led to better health outcomes, increased attendance, and higher graduation rates.
Help us celebrate 50 years of care in your community!
Schedule an appointment today by calling (651)233-8951 Call line is open 8 – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday
Page 12 - South St. Paul Voice - November 2023
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