South St. Paul Honoring 90 SSP Women Leaders Page 12
Volume 18 | Number 2
Coach McCollister blends two passions: Africa and basketball John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer
Your Community News & Information Source
February 2021
New housing complex coming to Concord Exchange and Grand Ave.
I
n 2013, Matt McCollister, an attorney and now the head coach of the South St. Paul High School boys basketball team, represented Thomas Nyambane in the aftermath of an auto accident. In the process, the two forged a friendship that would eventually lead to McCollister becoming the head coach of the Tanzanian National Basketball Team. Nyambane, a native of Kenya and a medical doctor, was practicing in Brooklyn Center at the time. After he moved back to Kenya, he invited McCollister to come to his hometown of Kisii for a visit. Even before McCollister met Nyambane, a vacation to Africa was a high priority on his “Bucket List.” He eagerly accepted the offer and his stay there was an enlightening experience. On his flight home he wondered if there might be a way to combine his two passions: Africa and basketball. His first step was to send an email to the Basketball Federation of Kenya to inquire about the possibility of developing a Kenyan National Basketball team. Kenya balked at the idea but that didn’t deter him from sending similar inquiries to several other African countries. “I received positive responses from four different countries,” he recalled. “I put Tanzania on the top of my list for two reasons: it neighbors Kenya, and the beautiful and enchanting island of Zanzibar is just a two-hour McCollister / Page 4
An architectural rendering of The Yards, a 263-unit apartment complex. Tim Spitzack Editor
T
he northwest corner of Concord Exchange and Grand Avenue will soon be home to a 263-unit apartment complex named The Yards, a nod to the former stockyards that were founded in 1886 and drove the city’s economy for nearly a century. Work will get underway this year to demolish an existing office building on the property and build a 154-unit apartment, to be completed by the end of 2022. A second building with 109 units will be built in 2023 and 2024. Most of the units will be studio and 1-bedroom. The complex will be the second hous-
ing development in an area that was once the city’s main commercial corridor. The Drover, a 67-unit apartment building, went up in 2018 directly across Grand Avenue. Currently, a skyway connects it to the building being demolished. The skyway will be removed during demolition and not replaced. The Beard Group of Hopkins has been working on the project for at least one year. President and CEO Bill Beard told the South St. Paul City Council at its Dec. 21 meeting that his market study revealed, “much, much more of a demand than what we ever dreamed it would be.” At that meeting, the Council unanimously approved a preliminary The Yards / Page 3
Food delivery for the homebound Tim Spitzack Editor
Homebound seniors and others can get food delivered directly to their home through a new service offered by Neighbors, Inc., which runs the food shelf for residents in Northern Dakota County. While the program began in response to COVID-19, it has now become a regular program of the nonprofit. Neighbors began a trial program in March through a partnership with West St. Paul-based DARTS, a nonprofit that provides services for older adults and their families, then began operating the program independently this fall. It has proved to be a safe and effective way to deliver food to those unable to visit the food shelf. According to spokesperson Heidi Satre, about 100 people use the delivery service monthly. All items available for pick-up at the food shelf are available for delivery, including boxed and canned food, frozen meat, fresh produce, milk and hygiene products. The ordering process is identical. Participants place orders in advance then call 651-4555000 to schedule a time to pick up their food or have it delivered. Neighbors currently offers only curbside service at the food shelf, 222 Grand Ave., South St. Paul. All orders are prepackaged. Deliveries are usually made the day after the order is placed. Food packages are placed curbside, with no interaction with the driver. The program
Food delivery / Page 2
A ‘Sass’ Act for 50 years Klondike Kate program commemorates half-century milestone
Tara Flaherty Guy Contributor
T
his year’s St. Paul Winter Carnival will celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the Carnival’s most beloved characters, “Klondike Kate,” and all the gaudy ladies who have filled those shoes. The story of the original
Klondike Kate is a rollicking saga of triumphs and tribulations of a long and storied life. Born in Kansas, Kathleen Eloise Rockwell was a feisty, independent-minded young lady who sought show business opportunities in the Yukon during the Gold Rush around the turn of the last century. She was making a name for herself
as a tap-dancer with a great line of patter and dynamic stage presence when she met a struggling bartender and waiter named Alexander Pantages. He assisted her evolution into a full-fledged performer and the two embarked upon a scandalously tempestuous relationship that became legendary in the Yukon. Eventually, he
callously jilted her to marry another, inadvertently enhancing her fame as a “woman-done-wrong.” Pantages would eventually go on to build an empire of Vaudeville theaters across the West and Midwest, including the one in Minneapolis that Klondike Kate / Page 6
Shelley Pabst of South St. Paul is the reigning Klondike Kate.
N ews Briefs Student notes Hamline University dean’s list: Jasmin Espitia, Ben Path and Carter Viner The State University of New York at Potsdam president’s list: Alexis Ritter Augustana University dean’s list: Beata Benson Bradley University dean’s list: Ryan Krech and Maeve Mellen
Library events The Winter Reads adult reading program takes place through February.
Your community news and information source This reading program offers the chance to win prizes by reading books of your choice then writing a brief review online. For details, call 651554-3240. Spice Samplers - Free samples of spices will be periodically available throughout February during library hours, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Book Club discussion, 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 on Zoom. The title is “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones. To register or for
more information, call 651554-3240 or visit www.ssplibrary.org. Stories with Miss Amy, 10:30 a.m., every Tuesday in February. These 20-minute sessions are streamed on Facebook and feature stories, songs, rhymes and movement. Visit www.facebook. com/ssplibrary. Take & Make for Kids: Snowy Day Tissue Paper Art - Reserve a Take & Make kit to make a colorful creation using tissue paper and snow. The kit includes
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directions and supplies. Registration opens at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 8 at www. ssplibrary.org for pickup Feb. 16-19. Kits are for youth ages 3-12. Take & Make for Kids: Fluffy Snowman Slime Reserve a Take & Make kit to make a snowman out of homemade slime. The kit includes directions and supplies. Registration opens at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 22 at www.ssplibrary.org for pickup Mar. 1-5. Kits are for youth ages 5-12.
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Dave Chapman is one of the volunteers who supports the new delivery service.
Food delivery from page 1
is supported by volunteer drivers who use their own vehicles. Many of these drivers are the same people who have provided rides to medical appointments and other critical meetings through Neighbors’ transportation service, which has been temporarily suspended due to social distancing protocol. Neighbors was founded in 1972 and today serves more than 600 families a month. It relies on food and financial donations to serve people in South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Lilydale and Sunfish Lake. Donations can be dropped off at the food shelf between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. To find out which items are most needed, call 651-455-5000.
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COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES St. Paul College 235 Marshall Ave., St. Paul 651-846-1600 https://saintpaul.edu
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The Yards from page 1
plat, conditional use permit and a site plan. It also deviated from recommendations of the city’s former development plan for the area that was finalized in 2004. That plan states that all new developments in the area must resemble early 1900s brick and stone style buildings to accentuate the historic feel of the district. In recent years, the Council has softened its stance on the quasi-historic look of new buildings. The Drover apartment building has a modern look, and the Beard Group’s design is also modern. The Yard’s exterior will be engineered wood siding and the lower 2-level parking structure will be concrete masonry block. Its elevator tower will have a limestone veneer. The building will have glowing LED strips along the roof and sidewall on the east and south sides. They will be lit from dusk to midnight or 1 a.m. The complex will include an indoor lounge, fitness center, crafting area, pool, rooftop
patio and dog park. The parking garage will have one space for each bedroom unit and an additional 26 stalls for guests. In addition, there will be 30 new on-street spaces on Concord Exchange. The building being demolished was built in 1889 by John O’Brien, who ran a tavern there. Drover’s Bank purchased it in 1912 and later renovated it. Cenex eventually bought it and remodeled it in the 1970s, including the exterior façade. In those days many of the buildings in the area were demolished in the name of urban renewal. The Council approved a conditional use permit to allow the building’s footprint to exceed 10,000 squarefeet, its height to exceed 50 feet, and the height of street lighting to exceed 16 feet. The building will be just shy of 59 feet tall. The elevator tower will rise above the roof, bringing the total height to 67 feet, which is 17 feet higher than The Drover.
The project includes new sidewalks on both Concord Exchange and Grand, a public plaza on the corner, and slant parking along Concord Exchange. To accommodate the new parking spaces, the distance between the curb and building will be narrowed. Currently, that distance is approximately 15 feet and includes a 6-foot sidewalk and an area with trees, benches and streetlights. The distance will be reduced to eight feet, with a mandatory six-foot sidewalk. The developer will do additional streetscaping and add retaining walls and several trees to the 4-acre site, which was owned by the City’s Economic Development Authority. The Beard Group paid $1.6 million to acquire the lot, and $1.15 million for the privatelyowned building on the corner. Total development cost is projected to be approximately $60 million. The Beard Group can use up to $3.7 million in TIF financing from the city. The city offers this tax subsidy to help fund costs related to acquisition, demolition, environmental and soil remediation,
The building being demolished was built in 1889 by John O’Brien. This photo was taken after Drover’s Bank purchased it in 1912. utilities and parking. The Council also waived a setback requirement that buildings be at least 40 feet from a bluff. At the Dec. 21 meeting, City Planner Michael Healey told the Council that the State is expected to soon change its definition of what constitutes a bluff and that under the new definition this site will no longer be labeled as a bluff.
“The middle of the site is technically a bluff, even though you wouldn’t really know by looking at it,” he said. He added that some
vegetation will be removed from the site to allow for a storm sewer line, and retaining walls will be added to the property.
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McCollister from page 1
boat ride off the coast of Tanzania.” In September 2015, McCollister made his first visit to Dar es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania, to meet with the officers of the Tanzanian Basketball Federation. His initial goal was to find and develop basketball players. Over a two-week period, he conducted daily 8-hour clinics that involved more than 200 kids. In its previous life, Tanzania’s lone indoor regulation basketball facility served Dar es Salaam as a garage for the city’s maintenance vehicles. The playing surface is cement and there are numerous leaks in the roof. “When it rains, the surface gets a little slick,” said McCollister, “but we have a mop squad that includes the coaches, and unless it really rains hard we keep on playing.” Before departing the country, a final contract was drawn up and signed by both parties. All of McCollister’s
expenses—flights, in country transportation, lodging and meals—are paid by the Federation, but he does not receive a salary. Starting in 2016, McCollister has made two annual visits to Dar es Salaam for two weeks each in April and September. On every trip, McCollister hauls along three large duffel bags of basketball gear. He is humbled and grateful for the donations he’s received from Dick’s Sporting Goods and high schools across the state, including South St. Paul. “On our visits, the Federation provided us with a van and a driver, and we travel far and wide to conduct several one- and two-day clinics,” said McCollister, who also handles public relations. “Fortunately, the ‘business’ language of Tanzania is English. When I’m in country we get lots of exposure in the newspapers and on television. As the job has evolved, I have become more of a CEO than a coach.”
Submitted photo
In September 2017, the American Ambassador Inmi Patterson and Tanzanian officials stopped by for a visit with McCollister. McCollister learned early on that in developing countries the most important step in putting together a quality national team is to get promising prospects into colleges in the United States. In January 2016, Samson
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Bidon became the first Tanzanian student to make that step when he enrolled at the North Platte Junior College in Nebraska. “Samson had a terrific experience and his coach just loved him,” said McCollis-
ter, “but it ended in tragedy when the young man drowned in a canoeing accident the following summer.” In September 2017, a local coach in Tanzania contacted McCollister and invited him to take a look at Atiki Ally, a
16-year-old prodigy. “What impressed me the most was how much he improved in just the two weeks we worked with him,” said McCollister. “He loves the game and he’s got all of the physical tools that coaches
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crave: speed, length and athleticism.” Ally has not disappointed. He enrolled in the London Preparatory Academy in Toronto, Canada in January 2018. He is now a senior and currently the #1-rated college recruit in all of Canada. Tanzania is about the same size as the state of Texas and its culture remains tribal. Ally belongs to a tribe near Lake Victoria, which is several hundred miles inland. Last November, McCollister and his brother boarded a plane in Dar se Salaam for the two-hour flight to an airport near Lake Victoria. It did not take long for them to discover two highly skilled 18-year-old tribal members, each nearly seven feet tall. McCollister, who has developed a cordial rapport with numerous college coaches, will work hard in the next few months to help those two young men get an opportunity to play college basketball in the United States. If he is successful, they will become the eighth and ninth Tanzanian student-athletes
to fulfill that dream. McCollister’s dream is that someday they will play basketball for their home country in the Olympics. McCollister is now back in the United States and has turned his energy and focus on coaching the South St. Paul Packer boys basketball team. Last season, his first at the helm, the Packers finished 18-10. The 18 victories were the most recorded by a South St. Paul team since 1970. “I love this place and it’s been an awesome experience for me and my fellow coaches,” said McCollister. “Everyone from (athletic director) Chad Sexauer to the teachers and the parents and the student body have been so supportive.” The Packers lost two starters who were instrumental in last season’s success. Marcus Brown graduated, and Maxsamus Wilson, a Division I prospect, transferred to Hopkins High School. Despite those losses, McCollister is optimistic about his squad. Junior Alonzo Dodd, who
Submitted photo
In November, McCollister discovered three Tanzanian players—each nearly seven feet tall—in the village of Mwanza. averaged 25 points per game and has received inquiries from 20 Division I schools, returns, as does senior Marquise Gleb, who averaged 15 points per game for the Packers.
“Alonzo has no weaknesses. He’s a terrific three-point shooter, he’s explosive going to the bucket and getting to the free throw line, and he’s a good defender,” said McCollister. “Marquise is strong
and athletic and was the MVP of the football team. He’s a proven leader and comes to play every night.” Speaking of transfers, the Packers got a couple of their own: junior Shawn West transferred from North St. Paul and junior Devin Newsome and his family moved to South St. Paul from Fresno, Calif. “Shawn is a left-handed sparkplug who earned AllConference honors as a sophomore,” said McCollister. “Devin is very athletic and will fit right in with this bunch.” The Harmon twins, Ramontay and Ramontre, both juniors, will play key roles. According to McCollister, “Tay” is the better shooter and “Tre” is the better defender and rebounder. Junior Keon Moore and senior Jaylon NiemannBurnett, who received AllDistrict laurels as a tight end and defensive lineman on the football team, round out McCollister’s 8-man rotation. “Keon defends well and passes well and is willing
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to do the dirty work under the basket,” said McCollister, “and Jaylon is the closest thing we have to a post player, and we will need him to crash the boards on both ends of the floor.” Although the Packers are undersized compared to most successful programs, they will more than make up for that deficiency with their athleticism and speed. “We will play fast, a style of basketball that I love,” said McCollister. “We will full-court press from the opening tip off and hopefully utilize our quickness to force turnovers.” Team assessment: The Packers were ranked #7 in the Class 3A pre-season poll and are 3-0 with decisive victories over Hastings, Mound Westonka and Henry Sibley. The state tournament is within their grasp. With the pandemic still raging, it is disheartening that fans are unable to support this team live, but the overriding silver lining is that these young men are getting the opportunity to play.
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Klondike Kate from page 1
bears his name. But it was the miners in the Yukon— who routinely showered the flamboyant dancer with gold nuggets and gold dust when she performed—who nicknamed her “Klondike Kate,” providing the model for the St. Paul Winter Carnival’s beloved “mistress of merriment and song.” Shelley Pabst of South St. Paul is the reigning Klondike Kate. She fell in love with “the Kates” the first time she
saw them in the mid-1990s. She had recently relocated from her home state of Indiana and heard them as they passed below the window of her downtown St. Paul apartment, singing from their parade float. “From the very first time I saw the Klondike Kates in the Winter Carnival parade, I knew I just had to be a Kate one day,” said Pabst during a recent visit. Last winter, after audi-
tioning for the third time, her dream came true when a nine-judge panel selected her out of seven contestants to be the 2020 Klondike Kate. Her reign, along with almost all of last year’s royalty, will extend through 2021 because COVID-19 forced the cancellation of most of last year’s appearance schedule. A Kate may participate in hundreds of events during her tenure, including community festivals and visits to nursing homes, hospitals and other charitable organizations. “A few appearances last
less than an hour, but most of them will last longer than that,” said Pabst. Each year, up to ten aspiring Kates are evaluated in an oral interview, which can be a little unnerving for someone like Pabst who considers herself an introvert. “I’m crazy shy,” she said with a smile, a fact that seems counterintuitive, given the ebullient, robust Klondike Kate persona. “They bring you in, all the judges are there around the table, and then it’s just you there, all alone, selling yourself.” What they’re looking for
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in the ideal Klondike Kate is a sparkling personality, a genuine ability to connect with a crowd, and a strong— not necessarily professional—singing voice. The voice is secondary, as it was with the original Kate, who was primarily a dancer. Reigning as Klondike Kate is not for the faint-hearted. This strictly volunteer position requires a tremendous commitment of time, energy and money. “Each lady is completely responsible for all of her own expenses, and we all create or purchase our own costumes,” said Pabst.” Their fancy, elaborate costumes generally include extravagant elements like sequins, feather boas, garters, corsets and fancy hats, making them quite costly. Kates also fund their travel expenses to festivals throughout the five-state area, and occasionally out of
the country. Last year, Pabst traveled with the royal court to Winnipeg, Manitoba to appear in the city’s annual Festival du Voyageur, a sister festival to the Winter Carnival. The trip happened right before COVID restrictions went into effect. “We do hold fundraisers during the year to try to help out with some expenses, and the reigning Klondike Kate is allowed to have a sponsor,” said Pabst. “My incredible sponsor is St. Croix Hospice, who has committed to me for both years.” For the women inducted into the “Royal Order of Klondike Kates,” involvement is more than a yearlong reign. Each must sign on for a five-year commitment as an “active Kate” to support the subsequent reigning Kates. For many, five years is only a start. Most remain active with the organization for years.
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Women inducted into the “Royal Order of Klondike Kates” sign on for a five-year commitment to support the reigning Kate at community events throughout the year. “It’s a full-on sisterhood, like meeting 20 great sisters you never knew you had,” said Pabst. Shar Salisbury, 1997’s
Klondike Kate, agrees. “Once a Kate, always a Kate,” she said. “They are a wonderful group of ladies.” Salisbury also fell under
the Klondike Kate spell at first sight and determined to become one herself. “It was a dream come true,” she said of her reign.
“You’ve got to have heart…. It’s all about making that special connection with people.” Many of the Kates had a
similar initiation into the magic. “I saw my first Klondike Kate in 1977,” said Darice Koepke, who reigned in 2007. “The royalty had gone by and all of a sudden all the adults started cheering, and here comes this woman dressed like a Gunsmoke Saloon Girl, singing her heart out. I specifically recall asking my mom, in absolute awe, who that was. When she told me it was Klondike Kate, I told her that’s what I wanted to be when I grew up.” This year’s virtual staging of some of the traditional Carnival gatherings, like the Klondike Kate Cabaret, has been challenging, but organizers have been nimble and imaginative in their response to pandemic constraints. “The Winter Carnival was created in 1886 to show the world how St. Paul embraces winter,” said Deb Schaber, president and CEO of the Saint Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, which produces the Carnival. “We believe we’ve created a schedule of events for our 135th anniversary that our Carnival creators would be proud of and our current-day fans can
enjoy safely. The majority of our 2021 events will be held outdoors and all will abide by COVID-19 required protocols, such as social distancing and mask wearing.” As for the Kates, like their dauntless heroine, these troupers believe the show must go on. To that end, preliminary plans are in the offing to stage a gala revue later this fall to properly celebrate their 50 years of history, fun and staying power. “Once you become a Kate and meet the ladies that wore the sash before you, you start to see the bricks they have laid to help pave the way for the Kates that came after them,” said Koepke. “It is genuinely an honor to be a part of that legacy, and to continue to help pave the way for new Kates.”
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St. Paul Winter Carnival returns Jan. 28-Feb. 7 Tim Spitzack Editor
T
he mere fact that the St. Paul Winter Carnival is taking place offers a glimmer of hope that this year will be better than the last. In 2020, the plug was pulled from nearly every event near and far. The Carnival is bucking that trend, which is not surprising since its origin is one of feisty defiance. It began in 1886 in response to reports from newspaper correspondents who visited the city during the winter of ’85 and returned home to tell their readers that St. Paul was “another Siberia…unfit for human habitation.” To prove them wrong, hearty St. Paulites began a winter festival, which this year marks its 135th return. The pandemic, however, continues to wield its influence. In response, Carnival organizers have moved many signature events to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and will present them daily Jan. 28-Feb. 7 at the new DriveThru Ice & Snow Sculpture Park. The entry fee starts at $20 per vehicle, and each pass includes a swag bag filled with goodies and the chance to win prizes through I Spy Bingo. You can also play Winter Carnival Trivia via the Winter Carnival app, and cast a vote for your favorite snow or ice sculpture. The following themed days include special swag bag items with the purchase of a
vehicle pass, or some other entertainment. Hours are 4-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To order tickets or for more information, visit www.wintercarnival.com. Northern Soda Days, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5. Receive a 4-pack of locally made Northern Soda along with twisty straws and koozies (insulating sleeves that keep beverages cold). Crayola Experience Family Day, Jan. 30. Receive two passes to Crayola Experience Mall of America, activity packs, two GoGo squeeZ pouches, and other snacks. National Hot Chocolate Day, Jan. 31. Receive two mugs, hot chocolate mix, and Milkman chocolate milk. Bring your own thermos of hot water to enjoy the treat. “The Croods: A New Age” Day, Feb. 2. To commemorate the release of the movie “The Croods: A New Age,” goody bags include popcorn, candy and Croods swag. St. Paul Saints Day, Feb. 4. Receive two Saints caps. Also, look for the team’s “ushertainers” and their infamous mascot, Mudonna, along the route. Minnesota Twins Day, Feb. 6. Receive two Twins beanies. Vulcan Torchlight Night (after 5:30 p.m.), Feb. 6. The Vulcan Krewe will entertain with special attractions
and performances. Cost is $35 per vehicle; includes one swag bag. Minnesota Made Day, Feb. 7. Enjoy locally made treats.
Citywide events This year’s Carnival will not include the traditional parades or events in Rice Park, and changes have been made to other activities. All events will abide by COVID-19 protocols for social distancing and mask wearing. Most events are free. For a full line-up, visit www.wintercarnival.com. • Family Days will be virtual, featuring entertaining performances, educational seminars, arts and crafts lessons, storytelling sessions and more. All can be enjoyed online from the warmth of your home. • Pop-up concerts will be held in parking lots and establishments around St. Paul. • Securian Financial Winter Run and the Winter Carnival ice fishing tournament are scheduled. • New this year are three scavenger hunts that highlight St. Paul parks, landmarks and other notable attractions. • The fifth annual Fire & Ice Winter Carnival Art Show will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 7 at AZ Gallery, 308 Prince St. in the Northern Warehouse. The Carnival is organized by the St. Paul Festival and
Brrritos!
Photo by Molly Steinke, Nemer Fieger
“Vulcanstein,” created by Royal and Supreme Order of Snow and Sand Sculptors and Shovelers, won the 2020 snow sculpting contest. Team members were Jonathan Baller, Joshua Baller and Curtis Cook. Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit that also produces the Cinco de Mayo West Side St. Paul fiesta. The Winter Carnival typically attracts more than 250,000 visitors and infuses $2 million to $3 million into the local economy.
Buy a button Support the Carnival by purchasing a Winter Carnival Button. The cost is $5 each or $19 for a 4-pack.
Each purchase allows you to register for prizes, including the grand prize of $1,000 cash. Artist Adam Turman created four designs that reflect the history of the Carnival and winter activities in Minnesota. • The St. Paul Skyline button includes the State Fair arch to commemorate this year’s drive-through event at the State Fair-
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grounds. • The Klondike Kate on a toboggan button honors the Klondike Kate program, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The toboggan featured on the button was fashioned after one Turman used as a child. • The King Boreas and Vulcanus Rex on snowmobiles button. Turman designed the snowmobiles on this button to resemble the Scorpion snowmobiles made in Crosby, Minn. • The Seven Hills of St. Paul button shows popular winter activities: ice fishing, snowmobiling, sledding, cross-country skiing, and ice hockey. It also features snow sculptures and a moose. Turman is an artist, muralist and printmaker from Minneapolis. He got his start as an artist by making gig posters for bands playing at venues in the Twin Cities, drawing influence from the bold, graphic style of ’80s art and comics. He started his professional studio practice in 2003 and today specializes in colorful art screen prints and commissioned pieces, including logos, illustrations, murals and paintings. His murals can be found throughout the Midwest, and his prints are in private collections worldwide.
A rts & Entertainment
Courtroom concert series The Schubert Club will present its popular Courtroom Concert series online in 2021 featuring a mix of full video concerts of new programs as well as archival audio recordings of past concerts held in the historic Landmark Center’s Courtroom 317. The performances are free and may be viewed at https://schubert.org. Schubert Club ComposerIn-Residence deVon Russell Gray is presented Feb. 11; “Latin America: A Miracle of Faith” by Border CrosSing Feb. 25; Gao Hong, pipa, and Issam Rafea, oud, Mar. 11; Jeffrey Van’s “A Ring of Birds” April 1; PaviElle French April 8; Artaria String Quartet May 6.
Ethnic programs Landmark Center presents Urban Expedition: Ghana, beginning at 1 p.m., Feb. 7. This free virtual presentation includes music, dance, crafts and traditions of the people of Ghana. It will be available for 30 days at www.
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landmarkcenter.org/urbanexpedition/. The 2021 Balkan Festival will be held virtually, beginning at 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 21. Presented in partnership with Ethnic Dance Theater, the celebration will bring to life the rich traditions of the Balkan region. The event will be online for one month at www.landmarkcenter.org.
urally 7; the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, an internationally renowned rock ensemble of bagpipers, guitarists, keyboards and drummers; Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra, an 11-piece salsa group from New York City; and MOJO and the Bayou Gypsies, with its all-original mojo music. To view the concerts, visit www.Ordway.org.
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Winter Weekends with the Ordway, a weekly concert series featuring five musical acts, is available for streaming Fridays through Sundays through Feb. 21. Tickets are pay-what-you-wish, including free, per household device. Acts include Grammy-nominated Stray Cats founder and bass player Lee Rocker; a capella group Nat-
The History Theatre is streaming “All the Way with LBJ” through Feb. 4 at www. historytheatre.com. This is a 30-minute audio segment of the full-length play “Favorite Son: The Humphrey Perspectives,” based on the 1968 meeting between Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and President Lyn-
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don B. Johnson just before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill. The recording includes a short interview with playwright Jeffrey Hatcher and a 20-minute post-show discussion with former Vice President Walter Mondale, historian Hy Berman and Hubert’s son “Skip” Humphrey. The play was first produced at the History Theatre in 1997.
Doggie Depot This year’s Doggie Depot will take place virtually on Feb. 6 at uniondepot.org/ doggiedepot. The event features “doga” (yoga with your dog), a visit from local dog influencer, Murrow the Frenchie, the crowning of this year’s Canine King and Queen of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, pet rescue opportunities and information from pet vendors. The event is sponsored by the Animal
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The Minnesota History Center has reopened with a timed entry ticket reservation system. Exhibits include: Then Now Wow, Weather Permitting, Minnesota’s Greatest Generation and Our Home: Native Minnesota. Tickets are $812. To order, call 651-2593015 or visit www.mnhs. org/historycenter. A limited number of tickets are available for walk-ups. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 11 a.m.4 p.m. Sunday.
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South St. Paul Voice - February 2021 - Page 9
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Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO
Like children in so many families, my children have been distance learning due to the pandemic. Recently, my 11-year-old son came to me and said, “Dad, I am so distracted.” He then broke down, and we had a moment. I tried to comfort him and learn more about what he meant. It turns out, when he was using his tablet computer he was getting caught up with the myriad of apps and games available at our fingertips. At the conclusion of our talk, I thanked him for being honest and coming to discuss this challenge. In addition, what I wanted to say is: Welcome to
Happy Valentine’s Day! This month, the South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force is hosting the new community program called SSP CommUNITY Grams. It’s a great opportunity to share positive and fun messages with others in the community. Our first delivery will be on Valentine’s Day. CommUNITY Grams can be sent to friends, family members, coworkers, an
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the club. I get distracted, too. Perhaps you can empathize. Modern life has no shortage of distractions. You need not look any further than your smartphone or any other connected device. We are bombarded with notifications, pop-ups and apps, all designed to appeal to our basic instincts. Life has always had distractions, even before we carried around a Super Computer in our pocket. Whether at home, the office or out in the community, opportunities abound to steal away our attention from one task and have us pay attention to something else. During the pandemic, how we interact with each other and the world has changed, and so has the level of distractions. All around us you see evidence of people having more “free” time because of the pandemic. People are tackling at-home projects at an unprecedented rate. Whether it is painting the house, cleaning out the garage or taking up a new hobby, people are finding ways to make the most of the pandemic situation. Neighbors is no different. Yes, we are busy meeting the needs of our community and we miss having volunteers, clients, customers and others in the building. Simultaneously, the current environment has required us to re-focus our
efforts on how we provide services and engage people. You can see it in our enhanced food support programs. In addition to the food shelf, we have added a delivery option and a satellite location. Soon we will add a refrigerated vehicle that will provide us more flexibility in transporting food. Changes in the Clothes Closet also illustrate how we are pivoting to focus on essential needs. Moving forward, we will narrow the items we offer so we can better serve our Neighbors in need. We are making room for more clothing and will now offer items for all seasons year round. Additionally, we have increased the space for dishes, pots, pans and other essential kitchen items. We will continue offering bedding and towels. These changes will streamline our Clothes Closet so that whether you are shopping for low-cost items or are receiving items for free through our certificate program, you will find what you need for home, work and school. Distractions happen all around us. At their best, they are the kind that allow us to build community and engage with one another. The pandemic has given Neighbors opportunities to implement new and exciting ways to serve the community. We look forward to welcoming our neighbors back when it is safe to do so. Until then, be safe and we will see you soon.
elderly neighbor, or anyone else living within the city limits of South St. Paul. These are intended to be a positive way to share words of encouragement or happy news, or to wish someone a good day or a Happy Valentine’s Day. Each message can be up to 100 words. The cost is $6; two for $10. Proceeds will benefit the annual youth activities hosted by the task
org, South St. Paul City Hall, 125 3rd Ave. N., or by contacting Deb Griffith at 651-554-3230 or deb. griffith@southstpaul.org. Complete the form and return it and the fee to City Hall. The CommUNITY Gram will be placed in a Valentine’s bag along with some tasty treats and be delivered to the recipient’s front door. The program will abide by
force, including Swimming Under the Stars, Please Come to My Neighborhood, Fill the Backpack Campaign, the Great Halloween Get Together, and the SSP Annual Food Drive for Neighbors, Inc. The deadline to submit a CommUNITY Gram is Feb 10. To participate, get a form from the event calendar at www.southstpaul.
COVID-19 restrictions for community programming. If this program is successful and embraced by the community, we will expand it to include birthdays, anniversary, graduations and more. For more information on the program or the South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force, contact Deb Griffith at 651-554-3230 or deb. griffith@southstpaul.org.
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Postscript
Swedish Surprise
My 2021 calendar is hanging from the closet door. Every year I’ve lived in this house, I’ve had a cloth calendar, hung from a dowel. My mother’s mother always had a cloth calendar hanging in the farmhouse kitchen. As soon as the year was over, the calendar would be conscripted into use, usually to cover cinnamon rolls as they rose, to keep them moist until they were large enough to put into the oven. Arriving at the farmhouse and seeing “1963” covering a slew of soon-to-be-baked sweet rolls was a wonderful sight and I will forever associate those cloth calendars with the anticipation of sweet things. I guess that’s why I have one now. It’s good to anticipate sweet things in the coming year. My 2021 calendar is from Sweden. The names of the
Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com
months are written in Swedish, surrounded by wildflowers identified in Swedish. My grandmother was a Swede so I thought this was appropriate. But the real reason I ordered the calendar was that it was the only one I could find with legible dates. Apparently, cloth calendars are once again in vogue, and I had more choices than in past years, many in jazzy and colorful patterns. Unfortunately, the graphic de-
signers responsible for these works of art did not seem to expect anyone to use the calendar for actual reference. I use the calendar to find the date, evidently an antiquated idea. The calendars I found required a strenuous search to locate, say, the month of April amidst all the artwork, and there was no easy way to tell how many weeks there were from April until a date in May. While attractive, the calendars wouldn’t be very useful, until used to cover sweet rolls. Nevertheless, this calendar looked more legible in Swedish than any I found in English, so I ordered it. It wasn’t until it arrived that the problem became apparent. Instead of seven columns for the seven days of the week, there were eight, with an additional column on the left for half the months and on the right for the rest. Someone finally explained that this column told me what week of the year it was. Saturday is in red, so it is possible to get one’s bear-
ings—but not without considerable effort. Even before the calendar arrived, the year seemed filled with more uncertainty than any I can remember. There is a careless confidence that comes with the making of plans. In the past, I have looked at my calendar and imagined I had some idea of what would happen in the weeks to come. Because the dates were neatly lined up, I couldn’t imagine
life becoming disordered. This year, that whole idea seems a little preposterous, because I never really knew what would happen in the coming week—that was the lesson I learned in 2020. This year, I won’t be nearly so confident as Januari turns to Februari and then Mars. Of course, I am optimistic, as always. I am hoping this new year will bring sweet things. But now I’m thinking that having my
weeks laid out oddly—with the months written in a foreign language, surrounded by flowers I can’t identify— may be an appropriate way to look at the coming year. This year may require some translation. It may require a little study. This whole year is a big Swedish surprise waiting to happen. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Till next time.
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Honoring 90 South St. Paul Women Leaders
Zoe Giguere Francis, longtime city treasurer
This month’s honoree joins the roster of 90 South St. Paul women whose lives are being shared with the community in tribute to the first 90 women to vote in the U.S. following ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Aug. 27, 1920. Those 90 women from 1920 are not all identified but we honor today’s female leaders on their behalf.
Lois Glewwe Contributor
G
iguere was born in 1901, one of 10 children, and grew up on a farm near Spaulding, Mich. After her father died in 1918, her mother moved the family to South St. Paul, where some of her siblings had relocated. Zoe attended South St. Paul High School her junior and senior years and graduated
in 1921. She enrolled in State Normal School in St. Paul to become a teacher, and after graduation began her brief teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Milroy, Minn. Zoe gave up teaching and in 1924 married Herbert “Bert” Francis on her birthday, Nov. 26. He was a firefighter in South St. Paul, and they had four children together: Jeanne, Herb, Muriel
and Kay. The young family lived on 12th Avenue North in South St. Paul, where Zoe loved to cook, bake and sew. She volunteered with the PTA and Cub Scouts, and her family parish, St. Augustine’s. She also helped with the war effort between 1942 and 1945 by working at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in New Brighton. Tragedy struck when her husband Bert suddenly died
Francis, grandmother of current Mayor Jimmy Francis, served as city treasurer for 17 years.
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1966 Benson Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55116 Page 12 - South St. Paul Voice - February 2021
of a heart attack in 1952, leaving Zoe to raise her children as a single parent. She secured a job at the city assessor’s office and began her career as a civil servant. Six months later co-workers suggested she run for city treasurer. Family members and friends helped her campaign door-to-door and she won the office. She was elected eight consecutive times and served for 17 years. She was also treasurer of the South St. Paul School Board. Zoe loved working with people and enjoyed all phases of her job as city treasurer. Solving a problem with figures was a challenge she enjoyed. She was also known to help out in other departments at City Hall when needed, and enjoyed playing an active role in the city’s government. She became good friends with her co-workers and often remarked how lucky she was to be working with such a fine group of people. Zoe was proud to live and work in South St. Paul. Zoe believed that women should have an equal chance in the business world. She became a charter member of the South St. Paul Chapter of Business and Professional Women, and in 1953 became the club’s president. After a decade of faithful service in civic and charitable endeavors, she was awarded “Woman of the Year 1963.” The club was instrumental in fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment. Members launched a letter-writing campaign to encourage legislators to vote in favor of the bill, hosted meetings to educate the public, and marched at the State Capitol. She saw no reason why anyone would
object to an amendment that provided equal rights to men and women. Zoe was always ready to lend a helping hand, as evidenced by her work on fundraisers for the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. She participated in drives to support Divine Redeemer hospital, and church work at St. Augustine’s Church and St. Theresa Guild, where she was a long-time member. She also liked supporting local businesses. She purchased all her clothing and jewelry at Mary Adams and Gertrude’s, two fashion stores in town. In 1970, after serving the citizens of South St. Paul for 17 years, this matriarch of the Francis family retired to spend time with her children and their families. She had 18 grandchildren, including South St. Paul’s current mayor, Jimmy Francis. She traveled yearly to San Jose, Calif., to stay with her daughter Muriel Schlichting and family, and also traveled to Canada, Ireland and England. Zoe continued to volunteer into her 90s. At that time, she told one of her daughters that she walked to the senior center to serve coffee to the “old people.” In 2001 she was awarded the City Council’s first “Centurion Award.” At 100 years old, Zoe was the last living member of South St. Paul’s class of 1921. She passed away in November 2006, just shy of her 105th birthday. Her family grew to include 24 great-grandchildren, who lovingly remember her as “GG.”