South St. Paul Voice Feb. 2022 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

South St. Paul Arts & Entertainment

Cattle on Concord

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Volume 19 | Number 2

Stretching your meal budget at Central Square Tim Spitzack Editor

Your Community News & Information Source

The joy of throwing pots Local potter finds solace in his craft

No, it’s not your imagination. Trips to the grocery store have become increasingly more expensive. With inflation as high as it’s been in nearly four decades, we paid 6.1% more for groceries from 2020-2021, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Those feeling the pinch of rising food prices will be happy to discover the free and discounted food programs available at Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Ave. N., South St. Paul. Free Take ’n’ Bake Meals - South St. Paul Community Education has partnered with Minnesota Central Kitchen, an initiative of Second Harvest Heartland, to offer free take ’n’ bake family dinners. The meals are fully prepared by Fhima’s Restaurant in Minneapolis and are available in single servings and for a family of four, all you need to do is warm them up. Each week, about 500 servings are prepared and delivered to Central Square by 2 p.m. on Monday. South St. Paul residents may pick up meals while supplies last through 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. For more information on other food assistance resources available through Second Harvest, visit 2harvest.org/get-help, or call 651-484-5117. Fare for All, a low-cost, mobile grocery program, provides food packages for sale once a month at Central Square. The packages contain fresh Meal programs / Page 2

Tromiczak shows off one of his latest creations. Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

itting atop Bircher Avenue is a Civil War-era house that’s home to Joe Tromiczak, a potter who for nearly four decades has navigated the often-turbulent waters of the artistic lifestyle. Since 2011, he has operated Bircher Hill Pottery from a studio behind his house, where he turns out mugs, pitchers, teapots and other handcrafted items. Tromiczak has experienced many highs and lows during his career, all of which have led to a deeper contentedness with his art, he said. His journey began in 1974 when a roommate at the University of Illinois-Rockford

New coalition addresses community issues Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

new committee of local church leaders and city representatives has been formed to organize public events designed to strengthen and celebrate diversity in the city. The group was formed in December and held its first event January 17 at Luther Memorial Church to commemorate Martin

Luther King, Jr., Day. The coalition was organized by Deb Griffith of the City’s community affairs office. Over the past few months, she met with local pastors and found that they and their congregations have a desire to help promote positive change. Their first gathering was a breakfast meeting with Mayor Jimmy Francis and the leaders of five local churches, some of whom

are new to the community. The group determined it would be beneficial to meet bi-monthly to discuss the community’s most pressing issues and to find ways to address them. This will include hosting future public events and community discussions. All are welcome to attend the meetings and events. To get involved, contact Griffith at 651-554-3230 or deb. griffith@southstpaul.org.

invited him to the school’s pottery room one Saturday afternoon. After throwing his first pot he was hooked. He went on to earn a bachelor’s in fine arts, with a major in ceramics and a minor in photography. After graduation he returned to his hometown of Minneapolis. Tromiczak worked as a retail manager for a few years while refining his pottery skills by taking night courses at the University of Minnesota. One evening, he caught wind that veteran potter Peter Leach occasionally accepted students for a mentorship program. Intrigued, he drove to meet Leach on his farm near Cannon Falls. He found Bircher Hill / Page 3

February 2022

South St. Paul Police adds community service officer Tim Spitzack Editor

The South St. Paul Police Department recently hired Kevin Gonzalez as a part-time community service officer (CSO). He is a graduate of Mounds View High School and is pursuing a law enforcement degree at North Hennepin Community College. He also works part-time with the St. Anthony Village Police Reserve program. The hiring of Gonzalez brings the number of South St. Paul community service officers to three, and the department is looking to fill three more budgeted positions. CSOs are uniformed positions but are not sworn-in law enforcement officers. Their primary duties include park patrol, enforcing parking laws, animal control, transporting prisoners and providing support services for the department. There has been some turnover recently with CSOs, a position which is often a pathway to a career in law enforcement. In October, Antonio Cortez resigned to become a full-time peace officer with the West St. Paul Police Department, and Cassandra Ciupik was recently hired by the Blaine Police Department. Additionally, Emma Keding is in training to become a full-time officer with the South St. Paul Police Department. The other community service officers are Mohamed “Mo” Yussuf and Ryan Pavlak. Of the South St. Paul Police department’s 31 sworn-in officers, 12 were once CSOs.

N ews Briefs Student notes The State University of New York at Potsdam president’s list: Alexis Ritter Bradley University dean’s list: Ryan Krech Southern New Hampshire University president’s list: Chantel Wood

Library events Winter Reads - The library’s adult reading program continues through February. Participants read or listen to any book of their choice then write a brief review to be entered into a

Your community news and information source weekly prize drawing for a gift card to the Black Sheep Coffee Cafe. Entry forms are available at the library, 106 3rd Ave., N., and at www. ssplibrary.org. Book Club, 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10. The title is “The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson. The group will meet in person and on Zoom. For more details, visit tinyurl.com/SSPbookclub. Storytelling for Parents and Caregivers, 6-8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 28. COMPAS teaching artist Beverly Cottman will share storytell-

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ing tips in this interactive workshop that celebrates the ancient art of passing along traditions. Registration required. Geared for adults.

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, visit www.southstpaul.org or call 651-554-3284. The Special School District 6 School Board meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth

Monday of each month. For agendas, visit www.sspps.org or call 651-457-9400. The South St. Paul-Inver Grove Heights Rotary Club meets at 12:15 p.m. each Wednesday. For more information, visit https:// rotary5960.org/clubInfo/ south-st-paul-inver-groveheights. The South St. Paul Lions Club meets at 7:15 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month (September May). For more information, visit https://ssplions.org.

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Meal programs from page 1

fruit, vegetables and meat, priced at up to 40% off retail prices. Cost is $10 for a produce pack (3-4 fruits and 3-4 vegetables); $11 for a mini meat pack (3-5 frozen meat items); $25 for a mega meat pack (7-9 frozen meat items); $20 for a produce and meat combo pack. The program is open to everyone and no pre-registration is required. The next sale is 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 22. For future dates, visit www.fareforall.org or contact 763-4503880, fareforall@thefoodgroupmn.org. Metro Dining Club - Those not wanting to cook every day may purchase a Metro Dining Club card, which offers two-for-one dining discounts at nearly 140 metro area restaurants. The cards cost $25 and are available at the South St. Paul Senior Center, located at Central Square. For more information, contact Linda at 651-3063632.

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Your community news and information source ing primarily marathons and graduations. By 1990, and after a number of moves around the county, Tromiczak had a wife and two kids and had returned to Minneapolis. He became the primary caregiver of his kids while his wife worked as a nurse. However, she continued to encourage him to follow his passion. “My wife said if you clean one area in the basement you can get a potter’s wheel,” said Tromiczak. “Within a week I had it cleaned… I never

wanted to get into it [pottery] as just a hobby. It was and still is my passion.” Soon after, he purchased an electric kiln and was throwing pots at home. Eventually he had enough items to host a sale, held in his living room. Its success sparked the desire to move to a bigger house where he could have his own studio. “In the process of throwing, you’re always starting with a lump of clay,” he said. “Anybody who has a passion knows that [the

process] is something that’s intuitive. Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m making when I start, and I just see where it goes.” Tromiczak typically has four sales a year, in April, July, October and December. He also sells his work at the Sogn Valley Craft Fair and other venues. Locally, you can find his work at the Black Sheep Café on Southview Boulevard, and also at www.bircherhillpottery.bigcartel.com.

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Tromiczak behind the wheel. Throughout his career he has continued to travel across the country and internationally from page 1 on photo assignments, shoothe wasn’t accepting students, that served as his pottery stubut as fate would have it, an dio. For the next four sumopening occurred two weeks mers he lived in a loft of the HANDYMAN HANDYMAN later because another student railroad car and soaked in MR. LARRY FOR HIRE MR. LARRY FOR HIRE cancelled. Leach called Tro- the knowledge of his menI do painting, repairs painting, repairs12 miczak to see if he was still tor.I do Tromiczak worked & cleaning of homes & cleaning homes interested, and he quickly hours a week of around the and apartments andstudio apartments accepted. That summer, Tro- farm and in return for Window Washing Washing miczak packed his bags and room,Window board and use of the Gutter Cleaning Cleaning moved to Leach’s property, potteryGutter equipment. To make and Repairs and Repairs which included a farmhouse ends meet, he took freelance Insured Insured and renovated railroad car photography assignments. 651-399-4304 651-399-4304

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Boys — and girls — set sights on State wrestling tournament John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer

ecause of the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place in the fall of 2020, the 2020-21 South St. Paul High School wrestling team did not conduct its first practice until Jan. 4, 2021, and the state tournament was pushed back to April. With the pandemic seemingly under control, Don Nihart’s grapplers were looking forward to normalcy for the 2021-22 season. “We had 61 wrestlers – including 15 girls – in grades 7-12 report for our first practice on November 9,” said Nihart, who is celebrating his 20th season as the Packers head coach. “We got back the full use of our wrestling room and, fortunately, we have been spared any severe COVID disruptions.” The makeup of the squad is a bit younger and a bit more inexperienced than most of Nihart’s teams. That is due mostly to the fact that some seniors with considerable varsity experience have been, for differing reasons, unable to wrestle this season. Captains Nixon Stroud and Will Nihart, along with Duffy Gallegos, are the only three seniors who have wrestled in varsity matches on a consistent basis. “It is disappointing that those kids are not with us, but we are excited that a whole host of talented underclassmen are getting an

opportunity to gain valuable experience that will pay dividends down the road,” said Nihart. “We are now a young team with a bright future, and we are getting great leadership from our sophomore team captains Andrew Bonk, Shane Schwab and Andrew Schwab.” Although it is too early to crystal ball who will represent the Packers in the 14 weight classes in the postseason, Nihart has seen enough to give us a rundown of the possibilities. Individual records to date are in parentheses, followed by the head coach’s comments: 106 – Shane Schwab (10-4), sophomore. “He was undersized last year at this weight, but he’s bigger and stronger this year and may be state tournament bound.” 113 – Kaine Vinson (6-6), sophomore. “This is Kaine’s first year on the varsity and he has earned this opportunity.” 120 – Tomas Ochocki (44), eighth grade. “Tomas has been a part of our summer program for two years and has blossomed in his first season on the varsity team.” 126 – Andrew Schwab (14-5), sophomore. “Andrew is Shane’s twin brother and both of them have been a part of our program since kindergarten. He was a state qualifier last year and is currently out with a concussion, but we hope to get him back soon.”

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132 – Nixon Stroud (128), senior. “Nixon was a state prelim qualifier in 2021 and we hope to get him to the Xcel Center in March.” 138 – Caelan Stroud (12-9), sophomore. “Caelan was also a 2021 state qualifier and his off-the-charts competitiveness is his calling card.” 145 – Nate Berchtold (18-9) sophomore. “Nate made it to the state tournament as an eighth grader, was a state prelim qualifier last season and we are expecting a lot from him going down the stretch.” 152 – Will Lechko (613), sophomore. “Will really stepped it up a notch this summer and his hard work in the wrestling room is paying off.” 160 – Sam Bremner (129), junior. “Sam has developed a ton in the course of the season and is certainly a candidate for our Most Improved wrestler.” 170 – Osmine Chavez (6-7), sophomore. “Due to a lingering illness, Osmine was forced to sit out last season. It’s great to have him back. He’s a strong kid and getting better and better each day.” 182 – Will Nihart (23-4), senior. “Will is bigger and stronger and has moved up from 160 where he wrestled at last season. He’s a 4.0 student and may follow his Dad’s footsteps and attend Augsburg College next fall.” 195 – Charlie Reyes (53), freshman. “Charlie has also wrestled at 220. He’s a hard worker and has a bright future.” 220 – Andrew Bonk (114), sophomore. “Andrew has been out with a broken

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Will Nihart, 182 pound senior captain who has a 19-4 record in dual meets, pins his Richfield opponent. hand, and we hope to get him back soon. We miss his presence and leadership every day.” 285 – Camron Goldschmitz-Reno (6-4), sophomore. “Camron weighs about 240 pounds and he is doing his best to learn how to wrestle as a heavyweight.” As we go to press, the Packers dual meet record stands at 9-5, with nine dual meets to go. On February 10, the Packers will host East Ridge, Cretin Derham Hall and St. Paul Central in a quadrangular meet at the high school. “That will be our traditional Senior Day event,” said Nihart. “We will pause to honor our small but elite senior class that has provided quality leadership and worked so hard during these difficult times.” The Section 4AA team competition will commence at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 19 at Cretin Derham Hall and the individual competition at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 26 at Chisago Lakes High School. The State Wrestling

Tournament will take place March 3-5 at the Xcel Center in St. Paul.

Girls wrestling The ground-breaking girls wrestling team is on a mission. Under Coach Nihart’s leadership, the program has played a positive role in establishing girls wrestling as a sanctioned sport by the Minnesota State High School League. For many years, girls have been allowed to compete against boys on the wrestling mat, but on March 3, 2022, the Xcel Center will host the first ever Girls Wrestling State Tournament. There were 149 girl wrestlers statewide who registered for the 2020-21 season. In 2022, that number jumped to 250. South St. Paul leads the list with 15 girls, followed by 13 at Bemidji and 11 at Mora. Statewide, 99 high schools have at least one female wrestler. “We have included girls in our summer programs for several years and I am proud of the role we have played

in expanding those wrestling opportunities,” said Nihart. “It truly helps that [athletic director] Chad Sexauer, has been on board all along.” On February 19, girl wrestlers in Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 will gather at Hastings to participate in the South Sectional. Girls in Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 will do the same at St. Cloud Tech High School in the North Sectional. The top two in each of the ten weight classes will advance to the state tournament. The inaugural state tournament will not include team competition. “Desmond Radunz and Teresa Tonda have done a great job coaching our girls team,” said Nihart. “We feel that we will get five or six girls to state.” Those in the mix to make history include eighth grader Vivian Diaz at 100 pounds, senior captain Duffy Gallegos at 107, sophomore captain Gisele Gallegos at 114, eighth grader Leila Reid at 120, Cashawn Brooks at 132 and ninth grader Ella George at 235.

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B ack in Time

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The first redevelopment project on Concord Street Lois Glewwe Contributor

riting about Jefferson School for last month’s South St. Paul Voice made me reflect on two of the most significant development decisions made by city officials in the last few decades. The first involves Marie Avenue. It was 1953 when construction of Jefferson School began on what would become 21st Avenue North between Southview and Marie Avenues. Real estate developer Mike Kassan had begun buying up farm property on the western border of the city and was creating the new residential neighborhood that would be called Oak Park. At the time, Marie Avenue west of 15th Avenue was a one-lane dirt road, and 21st Avenue did not yet exist. As planning moved forward to grade and pave both Marie and 21st, the question arose in the press and in city council discussions about whether or not the city should extend Marie Avenue west all the way to Oakdale, and thus to Robert Street in the rapidly developing neighboring city of West St. Paul. Local businesses on both Marie Avenue and Southview Boulevard were interested in seeing access to their stores open to traffic from West St. Paul. Many felt the city should negotiate with the owners of the

farm and orchard west of the new 21st Avenue and buy enough property to extend Marie Avenue. However, that sentiment was not really considered by city leadership. John Badalich, then city engineer, told a reporter in one of several articles that the city didn’t want all that traffic coming in, especially on a road next to the new school being built on 21st and Marie. Despite the complaints of the merchants on Marie and Southview, the city stood firm and Marie Avenue was stopped at the new 21st Avenue North. As late as 1989, the topic came up at city council meetings as South St. Paul’s isolated retail business districts on Marie and Southview were cut off from easy public access but there never was the political will to open up the city to “all that traffic.” Ten years after the Marie Avenue decision, the Chamber of Commerce sent a resolution to the city council asking for the creation of a total urban renewal plan for Grand and Concord, the city’s main commercial district adjacent to the stockyards. Plans moved forward, and when Swift & Company closed in 1969 urban renewal took on a whole new significance as the Swift plant was demolished. Between 1969 and 1972, more than 136 buildings on Grand and Concord were bought out and demolished under urban renewal. As part of the planning for

that renewal, a decision was made to move the railroad tracks to the western edge of the Mississippi River. Since 1886, the tracks had run directly east of the Exchange Building along the length of the city. At the same time, the city urged Dakota County to build a brand new 4-lane highway through South St. Paul showcasing open land for development on what was now renamed Concord Exchange. The dedication of the new 4-lane Concord Street in 1972 was cause for a huge celebration. It wasn’t long before it became apparent that the plan had not brought new shoppers to Concord Street. Instead, it simply made it possible for metro area traffic to speed through South St. Paul without ever stopping. In subsequent years, when citizens fought to achieve public access to the Mississippi River, their efforts were thwarted on every hand by the railroad, which now owned all access to the river in South St. Paul. Ironically, it wasn’t until the past few years that the city and county acted on the concerns that the 4-lane highway had revealed and spent years and millions of dollars to turn the road back into two lanes, with bike paths and sidewalks — all in an effort to bring shoppers to town once again. Decisions, decisions. As the saying goes, hindsight is often 20/20.

This 1953 photo shows the grading of 21st Avenue North from Marie Avenue to Southview, where the new Jefferson School was being built.

The new four-lane Concord Street opened in 1972. Crowds gathered to cheer on the cattle as they led the processional to the new highway. In 2022, the city and county are just finishing up a long process to restore Concord to two lanes and increase access to Concord businesses once again.

The Chamber of Commerce sent a resolution to the city council asking for the creation of a total urban renewal plan for Grand and Concord, the city’s main commercial district adjacent to the stockyards. Plans moved forward, and when Swift & Company closed in 1969 urban renewal took on a whole new significance as the Swift plant was demolished.

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S ample St. Paul

Fitzgerald Theatre

10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul 612-338-8388 www.first-avenue.com

Paula Poundstone will perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5. Tickets start at $36.50. Ronny Chieng will perform at 9:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11. Tickets start at $35.

History Theatre

30 10th St. E. St. Paul 651-292-4323 www.historytheatre.com

“Not for Sale” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, Feb. 5-27. Late 1950s and early ’60s Arnold Weigel, a rising star in the Twin Cities real estate business, puts his career on the

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line when he begins to represent families of color as they attempt to buy homes in the all-white neighborhoods of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Tickets start at $35, with discounts for seniors, those under 30 years old and students. An online streaming option will be available Feb. 21-27. Individual streaming tickets are $25.

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

“Art Speaks” is a new exhibit that opens Feb. 26. It presents more than 160 paintings, sculptures and photos collected over the past 15 years and invites Minnesotans to explore the intersection of art and the history of the state.

“Our Home: Native Minnesota” - Learn how Minnesota’s Native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values, and an essential connection to home. The Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ThursdaySunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students and $8 for children ages five to 17.

Landmark Center 75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org

The St. Paul Civic Symphony will perform “Hot & Cool Classics,” celebrating the 2022 St. Paul Winter Carnival, 1-3 p.m., Jan. 30. Free. Ballet Tuesday is held noon-1 p.m., Feb. 8. Enjoy

“Art Speaks” opens Feb. 26 at the Minnesota History Center, featuring more than 160 paintings, sculptures and photos of Minnesota. a free ballet performance and demonstration from the Ballet Co.Laboratory.

“Urban Expedition” events are held 1-3 p.m. on Sundays. Learn about Ghana

on Feb. 13, China on Feb. 20 and Greece on Feb. 27.

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S ample St. Paul MN Children’s Museum 10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 www.mcm.org

“Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails” is on display through May 8. Families travel to the Island of Sodor with Thomas and his friends. Children solve a variety of challenges, climb into Thomas’ cab, load freight into train cars and fix Percy’s wobbly wheel. The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wed.-Sun. Tickets are $14.95.

MN Museum of American Art 350 Robert St. N. St. Paul 651-797-2571 www.mmaa.org

The following exhibitions are only on view from outside the Pioneer Endicott building, installed in the windows on Robert and 4th streets, and in the Ecolab entrance in the skyway. “Sutures” is on display until Feb. 20, 2022. The exhibit displays work from artists creating photo- and filmbased art that expands upon still and moving images.

Your community news and information source

“Transformation: Art from the Inside” will also be on display until Feb. 20, 2022. The exhibit features artwork by incarcerated people that reflects their personal transformations and restorations.

Palace Theatre

17 W. 7th Pl. St. Paul www.first-avenue.com/ venue/palace-theatre 651-338-8388

Punch Brothers will perform at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 25. Tickets start at $30. Walker Hayes will perform with MacKenzie Porter at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 29. Tickets start at $25. The Suburbs will perform at 7:30 p.m., Saturday Feb. 12. Tickets start at $30.

ship Cat Show” is presented 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Jan. 29 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Jan. 30. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children under age 10 and seniors over age 65. The “Classic Spectacular” gymnastics invitational is held 5-9 p.m. Feb. 4, and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 5-6. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children, seniors and veterans. The MSHSL Girls State Gymnastics Tournament is held Feb. 18-19. Class AA will begin at 11 a.m. and Class A will begin at 6 p.m. on both days. The Twin Cities Bridal

Show is held at noon Sunday, Feb. 27. Tickets start at $15 and must be purchased in advance at www.theweddingguys.com.

Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org

“Days of the Dinosaurs” is now on display. View dinosaurs and fossils from around the world in brandnew exhibits, movies and the recently expanded Dinosaurs & Fossils gallery. “Ultimate Dinosaurs”

is on display through April 10. Learn about dinosaur discoveries and scientific research to show how continental drift altered the landscape of the ancient world. “Science is All of Us” is presented through March. Take a cultural and scientific look at race throughout history with paid and free virtual, hybrid and in-person learning opportunities at the museum. Science Fusion events: Native Americans in STEM runs Jan. 31-Feb. 12. Latinx Americans in STEM runs Feb. 21-March 5. Omnitheater films are

“Dinosaurs of Antarctica” and “Dino Dana.” Theater tickets are $9.95, with discounts for children and seniors. Museum tickets are $19.95, with discounts for children and seniors.

Xcel Center

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

Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 28-29. Tickets start at $16. The MSHSL Girls State Hockey Tournament is held Feb. 23-26.

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RiverCentre

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

The MCCA State Cheerleading Competition is held 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 29. Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for students K-12. “The Saintly City Cat Club Annual Champion-

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South St. Paul Voice - February 2022 - Page 7

C ommunity Celebration Brace yourself for the ‘Coolest Celebration on Earth’

Your community news and information source

St. Paul Winter Carnival held Jan. 28-Feb. 6 Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

ejoice! The St. Paul Winter Carnival resumes in-person festivities this year. It will include traditional favorites such as snow-carving competitions and parades, as well as a few new activities, including a beard-growing competition and Ice Palace Minecraft event. Events are held at various downtown venues including the Landmark Center and Rice Park, and at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. The Winter Carnival is presented by the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit that also produces the Cinco de Mayo festival on the West Side. The Winter Carnival began in 1886 and is said to be the oldest winter festival in the United States. In a typical year, it attracts an estimated 250,000 visitors who shell out a combined $2-$3 million.

Here’s a guide to the signature events. The information was accurate as of press time but is subject to change. For more information, visit www.wintercarnival.com.

Minnesota State Fairgrounds For a full afternoon of fun in the winter sun, visit the Vulcan Snow Park. From Jan. 28-Feb. 6, visitors will find a snow maze, snow mountain playing area and the artistic creations of master snow carvers participating in the Minnesota State Snow Sculpting competition. The large, frosty sculptures are always stunning to see and make a great photo backdrop. Additionally, the 2022 Krewe and Vulcanus Rex LXXXIV will be introduced to adoring fans at 10 a.m., Jan. 29, on the Baldwin Stage. Vulcan Fun Day is Jan. 30. To ward off the winter chill, enter the 37th annual St. Paul Winter Carnival Fire & Ice Run/Walk on Jan. 30. Adults may enter the 5K or 10K for $60. New this year is a kid’s run for $20. Also new this year

is the NoK (pay not to run) for $50. All participants will receive a long-sleeved shirt, mug, Carnival button and a coupon book. Pick up your swag 3-6 p.m., Jan. 27 at Run N Fun, 868 Randolph Ave.

Landmark Center Not all events require bundling up and braving the elements. Toasty fun can be found inside the Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth St. The jigsaw puzzle contest returns 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Jan. 29. Come watch teams of puzzle enthusiasts race to complete a 500-piece puzzle in two hours. $60 per team. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. The St. Paul Civic Symphony will present a free concert at 1 p.m., Jan. 30. Kids and Family Day is 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Feb. 5, featuring cultural entertainment, arts and crafts, pick-aprize bingo and more. Rice Park Rice Park will once again serve as the central location for many festivities, including live music, ice-carving competitions, and the culmination site of two parades.

Photo courtesy of St. Paul Winter Carnival

The snow sculpting competition returns to the State Fairgrounds. The King Boreas Grande Day Parade will hit the streets 2-4 p.m., Jan. 29. It starts at Smith Avenue, proceeds down West 7th Street, and ends at Rice Park. Dozens of bands, floats and, of course, the newly crowned King Boreas and his Royal

Family will be there. The Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade will weave its way through the city 5:30-7:30 p.m., Feb. 5. The route starts at 5th and Wacouta, travels westbound down 5th Street and ends at St. Peter Street by Rice Park.

After the parade, follow Vulcanus and his Krewe to the steps of the George Latimer Central Library for the ever-dramatic overthrow of Boreas. Stick around afterward for fireworks and live music. The Multi-Block Ice Carv-

The World is a Great Big Place We proudly cover just a tiny portion of it. Community news specifically for community-minded people in... • Downtown St. Paul • The West Side • West St. Paul • South St. Paul • Sunfish Lake • Lilydale • Mendota Heights

To submit news or advertising to reach 37,500 homes in the greater St. Paul area and the Latino market of the Twin Cities, call 651-457-1177. Check us out at www.stpaulpublishing.com. Page 8 - South St. Paul Voice - February 2022

C ommunity Celebration

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ing competition is Jan. 27Jan. 29, and the single-block competition is on Jan. 30. Winter Carnival Music Series performances are: The 23rd Hour, 5-7 p.m., Jan. 28; Austin Healy, 7:30-10 p.m., Jan. 28; DJ Bakeshow Baker, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Jan. 29; Lipstick-NDynamite, 8-10 p.m., Jan. 29; Legacy of the Loud, 2-5 p.m., Jan. 30; DJ Angel Maldonado, 6-10 p.m., Feb. 3; R Factor, 6-10 p.m., Feb. 4; Bomber + Tara, 4-5:30 p.m., Feb. 5; Them Pesky Kids, 6-10 p.m., Feb. 5.

Other events A digital ice fishing tournament runs through January. To participate, anglers must download the FishDonkey mobile app and join the Winter Carnival group. Prizes will be awarded to the winning angler in 10 different categories. Cost is $15. Four scavenger hunts are available through the Goosechase app through 5 p.m., Feb. 6. All team members who finish a scavenger hunt will receive a small prize. Cost to register is $20 per team. The North Wind Hunt has 30 clues that lead to various locations of interest in St. Paul. The West Wind Hunt is designed for kids and includes clues that will lead teams around Como Park. The South Wind Hunt challenges teams to discover

Wishing a happy Valentine’s Day! The South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force will be delivering CommUNITY Grams for Valentine’s Day again this year. Last year, the task force introduced SSP CommUNITY Grams for Valentine’s Day and delivered more than 110 grams throughout the community. It was so successful that we expanded the program to in-

basha, Suite 320. Tickets are $22 to attend and $30 to attend and play bingo. Doggie Depot returns to Union Depot 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Feb. 5. The event includes the crowning of Canine King Boreas and Canine Queen of Snows, giveaways, interviews with pet experts, Dog Yoga and more. Klondike Kate Cabaret and Royal Guards’ Rock the Palace - Join the Klondike Kates at 8 p.m., Jan. 29 at the M Street Café in the Saint Paul Hotel for an evening of song and entertainment and to meet 2022 Klondike Kate Tina Hacker. The 10th anMERRIAM PARK

PAINTING Photo courtesy of St. Paul Winter Carnival

Shelley Pabst of South St. Paul passes along the title of Klondike Kate to Tina Hacker. Due to the pandemic, Pabst held the title for two years. 30 wintry things. The East Wind Hunt is the most difficult and requires teams to solve puzzles and locate objects at different locations. The Walking Gangster Tour of Downtown St. Paul is a 1-hour stroll that dips in and out of buildings and skyways and explores crime and corruption from the City’s past. It starts at Hepcat Coffee in the Osborn 370 building at 370 Wabasha St. N. The Haunted Walking Tour of Downtown St. Paul

is a 1-hour walk inside and outside, with a guide telling spooky stories. It starts at Infor Commons, 380 St. Peter St. Cost of each tour is $20 per person. The Carnival’s inaugural beard-growing competition runs through Feb. 4. There are three categories: clean shaven, lumberjack and freestyle. The top winner in each will receive a prize. The 45th Annual Championship & Household Pet Cat Show is held Jan. 29-

clude Kaposia Days Grams, Boo Grams for Halloween and Jingle Grams during the winter holiday season. The program provides an opportunity to share a positive message with family and friends living in South St. Paul. CommUNITY Grams can also be sent throughout the year for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or to share a note of encouragement.

This month, we’re calling the grams Val♥A♥Grams. A form is available by visiting the events calendar at www.southstpaul.org, South St. Paul City Hall (125 3rd Ave. N.) or by contacting Deb Griffith at 651-5543230 or deb.griffith@southstpaul.org. Once the form is completed, return it to City Hall by February 8. Cost is $6 per gram, or two for $10. Your Val♥A♥Gram will be placed in a Valentine’s bag with tasty treats and delivered to the recipient’s door on Saturday, Feb. 12. All proceeds will fund community activities hosted by task force, including Swimming Under the Stars, Please Come to My Neighborhood, the Kaposia Days children’s parade, Fill the Backpack campaign, the Great Halloween Get Together, and the South St. Paul Annual Food Drive for Neighbors, Inc. For more information on the CommUNITY Gram program or the South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force, contact Deb Griffith, Community Affairs, at 651554-3230 or deb.griffith@ southstpaul.org.

30 at the RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd. Hours are Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost is $4 for adults and $3 for seniors and children. Drag queen bingo is held 7-10 p.m., Feb. 2, at the St. Paul Event Center, 400 Wa-

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nual Rock the Palace at the Royal Guards party will take place in the upstairs ballroom. Tickets are $15. Winter Carnival Ice Palace Minecraft event, Jan. 30. Winter Carnival Historian Bob Olsen has created a recorded lecture on the history and engineering of the regal abodes. Minecraft players will use the lecture to learn how create their own ice dwellings in a special arctic biome. Cost is $5 to enter the contest.

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South St. Paul Voice - February 2022 - Page 9

C ommunity

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Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO

I watched the documentary “The Beatles: Get Back” recently. It uses footage of The Beatles’ recording sessions from 1969 that led to their famous rooftop concert at London’s Savile Road. The documentary captures John, Paul, George and Ringo creating iconic songs like “Let

It Be.” It also shows them struggling and, at one point, details George Harrison’s decision to leave the band, only to return a few days later. It is fascinating to observe these iconic artists creating music from what appears to be thin air. The documentary, which

came out this past November, is evidence of the legacy the band still has today, more than 50 years after the album “Let It Be” was released. They have stood the test of time for many reasons in addition to the strength of the music itself, including their passionate fan base and the way they have continued to provide relevant material in the form of remastered albums, interviews, books, performances by the surviving members of the band and, of course, this most recent documentary. Neighbors does not have the worldwide fame of The Beatles. However, for the past 50 years, we too have affected the lives of countless people, although in differ-

ent ways than the Fab Four. Neighbors’ fans are also passionate and are dedicated to serving our community in a variety of ways. Dating back to the first food shelf at St. John Vianney Church, the community has made food donations a priority. Whether it is Burt Seeker (whose donation seeded our endowment fund) or a former client who gave back once their situation improved, monetary donations are another way fans support our work. Donated clothing and household goods stock the shelves of our Clothes Closet. Last and not least, thousands of individuals throughout our history have provided the gift of time in the form of volunteering.

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Our “fans” may not scream every time we perform our services, but they are dedicated all the same. We have remained relevant through creativity and the ability to reinvent the organization as the needs of our community change. During the past 50 years, Neighbors has provided a variety of programs and services. In the beginning, it was common for Neighbors to help with babysitting or make a phone call to check on a neighbor. We have served meals, given rides, provided furniture and sponsored social gatherings. Today we continue to provide relevant and innovative programs and services. Our food shelf has expanded to include food delivery,

Neighbors Express satellite food shelves and curbside pickup. The Clothes Closet Thrift Store is focused on providing low- and no-cost essential items for home, work and school. Our newest program, Financial Empowerment, addresses issues of economic disparity by providing financial counseling and support. These are just a few of the ways we have evolved to meet today’s needs. The Beatles rose to fame because they provided a new sound and a new look that people were receptive to. In its own way, Neighbors did the same thing. Now, 50 years later, both continue to be relevant and supported by their fans.

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Waiting lists change and may be open. Please call the property to inquire. Albright Townhomes Minneapolis Bell Lofts Minneapolis Chancellor Manor Burnsville Cornerstone Creek Apartments Golden Valley For developmentally disabled individuals. Dale Street Place St. Paul Diamond Hill Townhomes Minneapolis East Town Apartments Minneapolis Elliot Park Apartments Minneapolis Franklin Lane Apartments Anoka Hamline St. Paul Hanover Townhomes St. Paul Haralson Apple Valley Hilltop Manor Eveleth Hillside Gardens Proctor Hopkins Village Apartments Hopkins Lincoln Place Apartments Mahtomedi North Court Apartments Sandstone Oakland Square Minneapolis Olson Townhomes Minneapolis Park Plaza Apartments Minneapolis Prairie Meadows Eden Prairie Ramsey Hill St. Paul Raspberry Ridge Apartments Hopkins Roseville Seniors Roseville Slater Square Apartments Minneapolis Spirit on Lake Minneapolis Talmage Green Minneapolis Trinity Apartments Minneapolis Trinity on Lake Minneapolis Unity Place Brooklyn Center Vadnais Highland Townhomes Vadnais Heights Veterans and Community Minneapolis Housing - Sober Housing Brustad Place, aka Veterans East Minneapolis Visitation Place St Paul Willow Apartments Little Falls Woodland Court Apartments Park Rapids Page 10 - South St. Paul Voice - February 2022

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St. Augustine’s Catholic Church

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

357 2nd Ave. S. 651-451-0775 www.stsavamn.org •

Concordia Lutheran

Saint John Vianney Catholic Church

255 W. Douglas St. 651-451-0309 concordia-ssp.org •

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789 17th Ave. N. 651-451-1863 info@sjvssp.org •

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140 6th Ave. N. 651-455-0777 •

Grace Lutheran Church 149 8th Ave. S. 651-451-1035 grace-ssp.org

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FREE Local Shuttle and Same Day Service on Most Repairs! South St. Paul Voice - February 2022 - Page 11

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Postscript

Bad Jokes My Uncle Andy recently turned 90, and it was hard to imagine what a guy would like for his 90th birthday. Getting a lot of new stuff at age 90 doesn’t sound very appealing. Andy is in the process of getting rid of stuff, a job made more challenging by the fact that neither he nor his wife, Bea, have any children to fob the stuff off on. Andy and Bea live in the farmhouse where my mom was raised, and we were stumped when the subject of a 90th birthday present came up. “What does Andy like?” I

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

asked my mom. “Bad jokes,” she answered. “How about a book of bad jokes? We could make one as a family.” I put out the call for bad

jokes on the family’s Facebook page. At first, I heard nothing. I don’t know many jokes and was worried I’d have to make a joke book by myself in time for the party in the small country church near the old farmhouse. Then I got an email from my cousin Sarah. What do you a call a deer with one eye? A one-eyed deer. What do you call a deer with no eyes? No eye deer!

Mr. Bigger’s Baby! He’s just a little bigger. I was flooded with jokes. Shaggy dog jokes, knockknock jokes, and Ole and Lena jokes. I got lots of jokes about farms since Andy is a retired farmer. What did the cow say to the calf? It’s pasture bedtime. Before it was over, I had a book filled with terrible jokes sent in by Andy’s family. I was glad we had done it, glad my family had come through, glad they’d all chipped in to give Andy something to laugh about on the occasion of his 90th. The New Year is upon us, and I don’t think I’m the

And the floodgates were opened. What’s brown and sticky? A stick. Who’s bigger? Mr. Bigger or Mr. Bigger’s Baby?

only one who needs a little more to laugh about. I usually have no trouble finding the upside, but lately there seems to be more bad news than I can process in any given day. It’s easy to believe, looking out on the gray weather and reading the dire news, that this year might not bring all the good things I hope for, that this year might let me down, that there might not be as much to look forward to as there has been in past years. And I guess that’s where bad jokes come in. Andy broke his leg not too long ago and is still using a walker to get around. We wonder how long he and Bea will be able to stay at the farmhouse on a lonely country road outside of town. But

as I sat there watching Bea and Andy laughing at terrible jokes and eating birthday cake, I realized they understood all of this. For me, most of what makes a good year good, and a bad year bad, has nothing to do with the big picture. Most of it has to do with how I feel and behave in any given day, at any given moment. And sometimes, all that is needed to change that moment is a reason to laugh. Sometimes all that is needed is to laugh for no reason at all. People say they pick their nose, but I feel I was born with mine. For no reason at all, that made my day.

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