South St. Paul Voice Jan. 2021 by St. Paul Publishing Co.

South St. Paul Volume 18 | Number 1

Attendance rate down at SSPHS during pandemic Tim Spitzack Editor

hese days, students need not show up at a school building to be marked present. In an age of distance learning, logging-in remotely produces the same effect. The problem is that fewer high schoolers in South St. Paul are doing just that. Chad Schmidt, director of learning at South St. Paul Public Schools, said attendance percentages at the high school have been in the 70 percent range thus far this school year, down from the normal range of the upper 80s. The lower grades have been affected as well, but not as severely. Attendance percentages in the elementary and middle schools have been in the 90-plus range. Normal is mid to upper 90s. Schmidt said the district is watching this closely and has instituted new efforts to engage students and turn the numbers around. Nonetheless, it’s been a challenge this year to accurately monitor student progress. Normally, the district conducts Universal Screening each fall to get a benchmark for where students are at academically. With one-third of the students in full-time distance learning this fall, students didn’t participate at levels achievable during in-person instruction. “Universal screening is a dipstick of how our students are doing,” said Schmidt. “It’s a general assessment of general math ability and general School district / Page 3

Your Community News & Information Source

January 2021

Enthusiastic new council member seeks to promote community unity

Tim Spitzack Editor

hen Pam Bakken takes her seat at the South St. Paul City Council chambers on Jan. 4, she will get her first taste of life as an elected official. She joins Todd Podgorski as the newly elected members of the Council. While Podgorski returns to familiar territory—he served on the Council from 20112018, surrendering his seat in an unsuccessful bid to become a Dakota County Commissioner—this

is Bakken’s first foray into public life. It was her love of the community and a desire to see her neighbors unite for the common good that prompted her to campaign. Bakken received just over 21 percent of the vote, and Podgorski nearly 20 percent, to unseat incumbents Joe Forester and Bill Flatley. Bakken has lived in South St. Paul for 25 years and has come to call the city her home. In 1995, she married Chris Bakken—current IB Pam Bakken / Page 2

City adopts new budget Tim Spitzack Editor

At $21.5 million, the city of South St. Paul’s 2021 budget is approximately $435,000 higher than last year, meaning the owner of a mean valued home of $207,540 will pay $1,311 in city taxes, or $73 more than in 2020. The largest increase was in the general fund, now at $10.7 million. This fund, which finances the core functions of the city, is being increased by $537,680. The 2021 property tax levy is $13.5 million, an increase of $567,335, or 4.37% higher than 2020. The South St. Paul City Council approved the budget at its Dec. 7 meeting by a 6-1 vote. Councilmember Bill Flatley, who lost his bid for reelection, was the lone dissenting vote. He, like all other council members, praised the staff for their diligent work on the budget but said he wanted to see further cuts. The Council’s goal was to present a flat budget this year. One of the highest ticket items is the Concord Street Improvement project: $14 million is allocated for 2021 and the same amount will be spent in 2022. The $32 million project includes reconstruction of 3.5 miles of Concord Street from I-494 to Annapolis Street and other improvements, including new sidewalks and trails, retaining wall improvements, and storm sewer and public utility replacement. For project updates, visit www.concordstreetssp.com.

Want to learn a new skill this winter? Community Ed can help Tim Spitzack Editor

ne ancillary benefit of the COVID-19 pandemic is that many people have had more time to pursue new hobbies and interests. If one of your New Year resolutions is nudging you in that direction, the adult education program of Tri-District Community Education can help. A collaborative of Special Dis-

trict 6 in South St. Paul, ISD 197 (West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan) and ISD 199 in Inver Grove Heights, Tri-District has a wide variety of opportunities available for its winter/ spring season, which begins Jan. 4. Both in-person and online courses are offered, including the popular Paint like Bob Ross, Winter Photography, Taxes and Retirement, Four Keys to Cutting College Costs and Selling

Your Home Successfully. Like most everything else in the world, adult ed classes took a hit once the pandemic began in earnest last March. Tri-District was in the middle of a season and was forced to shut down more than two-thirds of its classes. The rest quickly transitioned online, which filled a need but was not as satisfying for many. Adult and Family Program Director Jon Gerster

said people are longing to return to in-person learning, yet not all are comfortable doing that just yet. This fall, numbers returned to near normal levels, with about two-thirds returning to inperson classes. “They are glad to have classes to go to,” said Gerster of the adult learners, many of whom are repeat customers. “We have to continue to adapt, think positive, and be there for the community.”

The fall season typically attracts the most participants, with 40-45 classes offered, compared to 30-40 in the winter/spring season and 20-25 in the summer. In 2019, the adult ed program served more than 1,700 participants. In 2020, that number dropped by half, as of early December. Longtime participant Joan O’Connell discovered community education when she received its catalog in the

mail many years ago. As she paged through it, she was pleasantly surprised to find so many interesting activities. Her two daughters were young at the time and she signed them up for an ice skating class. Now that they are grown, she is attracted to the classes for adults. For the past 10 years she has taken a variety of courses that have helped her do everything Community Ed / Page 3

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Pam Bakken

from page 1 language arts teacher and assistant coach at South St. Paul High School—and the couple quickly purchased a small home and started their family. At that time Pam worked in fundraising for her alma mater, the University of Minnesota, from which she earned a bachelor of arts in history. As their family grew, their needs began to change. With two young sons and twins on the way, they purchased a different home in South St. Paul. This one had more space but needed major renovations. They enlisted the help of her father, an experienced carpenter and home builder, and many others to transform the house into their home. And they continued to fill it with children. They have six: five sons and one daughter. The eldest is in the Navy and the youngest is in fifth grade. All have attended or are now enrolled in public schools in South St. Paul, and it was through the schools and youth sports

that Bakken first got involved in the community. She has been active with several booster clubs and most recently was the PTA president for four years at Lincoln Center Elementary, stepping down when she decided to run for office. After their twins were born, Bakken opened PB&J Licensed Family Childcare, LLC, in her home in 2006. This allowed her to meet other families in the community and gain perspective to the challenges that businesses face in the city and abroad.

Learning the issues Due to COVID-19, Bakken’s campaign experience was atypical. She focused on sharing her strengths and goals on her campaign page on Facebook, and by distributing about 4,000 door-hangers around town. Like most politicians this year, she chose not to knock

on doors due to safety concerns, but that’s not to say she didn’t have conversations with many people. While in the neighborhoods, homeowners often approached her to share their concerns. What she learned was they are worried about crime, particularly an increase in vehicle break-ins and theft, and that they have a love for city amenities, namely the library and Central Square Community Center. The community center, currently in a state of transition, is near and dear to Bakken’s heart. It is a joint venture between the City of South St. Paul and the South St. Paul school district, and it has been losing money. Discussions are underway to determine its future. Bakken supports the idea of keeping it as a community center and possibly expanding it to include more year-round opportunities for youth, perhaps adding an indoor game room and an outdoor skate park, as well as mentoring and tutoring services. She also supports building a new library at the Central Square site, the prevailing option

under consideration by the City, and looks forward to working with the council and the school district to determine the best use of that space. “Of course, it all takes money,” she acknowledged, and funds are tight these days for the City. “But I think there are grants out there to support it (the community center).” Another way to fill city coffers and widen the tax base is to attract more businesses, and help the existing ones be successful. “I want to make sure we have good relationships with our business owners in town,” she said, “particularly those on Concord Street (who are facing a 2-year reconstruction project). We need to get more business on Concord and make sure the district survives.” She added that attracting new commercial property owners will benefit both the city and school district alike. She praised the city’s Crime Watch program and encourages more to get involved with it to help reduce crime.

“I’ll work with the South St. Paul Police Department to see how we can address it (crime),” she said. “I want people to feel safe in their community.” Bakken continues to operate a full-time daycare and volunteer, including with the city’s Blooming Parks program, where she helps maintain plantings at Grandview Park. Why take on added responsibility at this point in her life? “My husband says, ‘you always need a project,’” she said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. “I like to stay busy and invest in the community. It energizes me to be able to make an impact locally.” Her frustration with the political division so prevalent in the United States was another factor that influenced her decision to run for office. She is a firm believer that change begins locally and is accomplished by people working together. She believes that she can make the biggest impact by serving on the city council. When she tells longtime

residents that she has lived in the city for 25 years, they often quip, “Oh, you’re new in town.” Does that make her feel like an outsider? Not at all. “It has everything to do with getting involved in your community,” she said. “When you give of your time, your community becomes your own. South St. Paul is my home.” She encourages others to get involved, and to roll out the welcome mat to those who relocate to South St. Paul. In a campaign statement she submitted to the South St. Paul Voice for our voter’s guide she said, “If elected I would like to focus on community engagement activities that celebrate our diversity while promoting unity and inclusiveness, promote new business while being mindful of the environment, and partner with our law enforcement to address public safety in our community.” She also said, “I pledge to listen to residents and support their concerns.”

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School district from page 1

reading ability.” The District uses this screening, along with MCA test scores, to assess students. With MCA testing canceled last spring due to the pandemic, the District has even less data at its fingertips to gauge student progress. This has prompted teachers and administrators to shift gears and dig deeper into individual assessments of students. One key factor is attendance, and there are many things that affect it, said Schmidt. For those in distance learning, the drop in the district may be due to some families not having adequate access to the internet and technology. Families facing food and housing insecurity and job losses may affect attendance rates as well. The District provides a Chromebook to each student to support online learning and a large portion of textbooks are now digital for grades six and higher, a trend that has been evolving over the past decade. In the lower grades, about half the materials are digital versus printed. The District has learned much about distance learning since it was thrust into the new realm last spring. Over the summer and fall, teacher-led teams have reviewed class curriculums to prioritize subject matter. Schmidt stressed that nothing was cut. Rather, some curriculums were adjusted to ensure that the most important topics are getting the attention they deserve. “We’re working to better develop relationships with students by asking questions and observing them,” said Schmidt. “We care

deeply about our students and families and we want to see our students be successful. We are working hard to develop relationships so they can master the priority standards. And we’re helping each child feel safe so they can develop life-long learning skills.” Special District 6 will remain in distance learning through at least Feb. 1 for preschool and elementary and Feb. 15 for middle and high school. District administrators will continue to monitor COVID-19 health recommendations and decide by Feb. 5 if distance learning will continue past Feb. 15 for the upper grades. The week of Jan. 4 the district will survey families of elementary and preschool students to gauge their interest in having students return earlier using a hybrid or in-person model. Free meals are still available. Families of students at Lincoln Center and Kaposia Elementary can pick up meals at their school 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, and families of secondary school students can pick them up 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.

School district revises budget A decrease in Voluntary Pre-K enrollment (preschool for 4-year-olds) and a drop in fees received through student activities, admissions and medical assistance revenue have prompted the South St. Paul School Board to revise its current budget.

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At its Nov. 23 meeting, the Board approved revisions to the General Fund and the Community Education Fund. The General Fund now has projected revenue of approximately $43.2 million and expenditures of $44.3 million, a $1.1 million deficit. The Community Education Fund has projected revenue of approximately $1.6 million and expenditures of nearly $1.7 million, a deficit of nearly $43,000. In addition, the Board approved transferring $200,000 from the General Fund to the Community Education Fund to support Emergency Care Programming, a required program of the State that charges the school district with providing care during the school day for students not attending school in person. Additionally, Kids’ Choice, which typically operates year-round in each of the elementary school buildings and provides programming before and after school, on non-school days and during the summer, has not been offered this year due to the pandemic. The District did receive approximately $1 million of CARES Act funding to cover additional costs related to COVID-19. One simple way residents can support the District is by completing the one-page Educational Benefits Form. The form is used by state and federal agencies to allocate funding to school districts. Those who complete the application may be eligible for a variety of discounts on athletic/activity fees, school meals and more. Apply online or download the application at www.sspps.org, or call 651-457-9429 to complete it over the phone.

Submitted photo

Tap dance continues to be a popular class at Tri-District Community Ed.

Community Ed from page 1

from organizing photos to learning how to register for social security benefits. She continues to participate in her favorite course, tap dancing. Disappointed when inperson classes were canceled this spring, the situation did not deter her from trying something new. She enrolled in an online course

this summer and found it to be both enjoyable and convenient, since she could participate from the comfort of her home. “It’s a great service,” she said of community education. “It’s very convenient and affordable, and nice for the community. I highly recommend it. It’s been great.” The upcoming winter/

spring season will offer an equal number of in-person and online classes, and start dates vary. Most of the inperson classes are held weekday evenings at various locations in South St. Paul, West St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights. Many are one session only, others may last 10 or more weeks. Classes range from $12-$20, though some are more. For more information, visit https://tridistrict. ce.eleyo.com or call 651403-8312.

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South St. Paul Voice - January 2021 - Page 3

S ports

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Student-athletes shine amidst the pandemic John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer

t took awhile, but all of South St. Paul High School’s fall sports teams were eventually given the green light to participate. As coaches, players and parents would agree, however, it was not prep sports as usual. Schedules were shortened and adherence to pandemic protocols included social distancing and practicing in small group pods. Students and coaches alike were also susceptible to virus testing on a daily basis and, finally, there were no state tournaments, and for many there was no post-season at all. And yet, after interviewing a half dozen coaches, the unanimous opinion among that fraternity was nothing but positive. “In mid-August it appeared that there would be no fall season at all,” said head football coach and athletic director Chad Sexauer. “When the Minnesota State High School League made the decision to go forward

with a shortened season, the coaches and especially the kids were thrilled to get the opportunity to assemble with their teammates and represent their school.” The football team opened the season on Oct. 9—five weeks later than normal— with a satisfying 20-13 victory over Holy Angels, a perennial Class 4A power. “It was obviously a season like no other,” said Sexauer. “In addition to the pandemic and the other distractions, we had a host of injuries. We lost our best player, Quinn Christoffersen, with a season-ending injury in the first quarter of the first game, and five days later in practice we lost our starting quarterback, Brandon Ogren.” Despite finishing the season with a 2-5 record, Sexauer was elated with the determination and pride his team exhibited each and every day. Seniors Colten Becker (running back and linebacker) and Jaylin Niemann-Burnett (tight end and defensive line) earned All-District laurels. Senior

Marquis Gleb contributed at quarterback, wide receiver and free safety and was named the team MVP. Junior Grace Gerten, whom we featured in our December issue after she set a Metro East Conference diving record, was the key performer for the girls swimming and diving team, coached by Sara Fischer and her assistant Kari Kriewell. Gerten earned All-State and All-Conference laurels. Seventh grade diver Kaitelynn Threatt earned All-Conference Honorable Mention, as did sophomore Anna Erickson (50 Free) and ninth grader Abbygail Nunez (50 Free). Team MVPs were Gerten (diving) and Nunez (swimming). As is its custom, the girls soccer team was competitive in the tough and wellbalanced Metro East Conference. The Packers finished 5-5 with three of the losses by a single goal. “I was very proud of how our kids went about their business and bonded together,” said head coach Thomas

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Hart. “We adapted to the unusual circumstances, had some fun, and most of all were thankful to get the opportunity to play.” Senior Makenna Dearing and juniors Leanna Froeming and Gabby Owens earned All-Conference recognition. All-Conference Honorable Mention awards were accorded to senior Melody Podgorski and juniors Kayla Matuzak and Mia Labrosse. Dearing was also named to the Class A All-State second team. Podgorski was the offensive MVP and Froeming was the defensive MVP. Due to pandemic protocols, the boys and girls cross country teams were unable to compete head to head against other teams. “It was a bit awkward as individual teams would run

Senior captain Makenna Deering earned All-Conference honors and was named to the AllState second team.

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S ports the same course at different times of the day,” said head coach Jenna Haack. “And when our time came we were essentially competing against ourselves.” The Packers’ roster was loaded with promising kids in junior high and Haack is confident that her young team will mature and show marked improvement next season. Junior Evan Hanson earned All-Conference Honorable Mention. The team’s Rookie of the Year was seventh grader Jackson Schultz. Seventh grader Rosario Ruiz was the girls MVP and Han-

Your community news and information source son was the boys MVP. Facing a difficult schedule that included only members of the Metro East Conference, the boys soccer team went winless during the regular season. “Obviously things didn’t go the way we wanted,” said head coach Rob Murphy. “We were a young and inexperienced team, but we became more competitive over the course of the season.” The Packers did indeed display signs of maturity in the Section 3A playoffs with consecutive victories over St. Croix Lutheran (4-

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Senior Clarice Gustafson and junior Rylee Casalenda received All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition. The team MVP was senior Arianna Chiarella. Sophomore Olivia Bonk was named Most Improved, Casalenda Miss Hustle, and senior Ariana Bergeson received the Leadership Award. The more you talk to the coaches about the 2020 high school student-athletes, the

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team. With just three returning regulars, the numbers were down and the varsity roster consisted of just eight players. “The closest we came to a victory was an amazing fiveset match against Hastings in our opener,” said coach Jane Cornell. “Sadly, our season was shortened to just seven matches after we were forced to spend the last three weeks in quarantine due to COVID exposure.”

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3) and Chesterton Academy (1-0). And then, right on cue, came the October blizzard that ended the soccer season. Senior goalkeeper Kevin Cuenca was named to the All-Conference team and senior Matthew Ayoub and ninth graders Anthony Lopez and Henry Andrade received All-Conference Honorable Mention. Owen Mylchreest, Ryan Hurdt and Gilmer Benitez-Arriaza will captain the 2021 team. None of the fall sports teams was affected by the COVID pandemic as tellingly as the Packer volleyball

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School Choice Guide

ooking for a new school for your student? Registration deadlines are approaching, so now is the time to do your homework. Families have many choices: public, magnet, parochial or charter. This primer will help you understand the differences among them so you can select the best school for your child.

tion options and if there are additional fees for field trips or supplies.

Charter schools Private groups can get a charter to operate a school that uses alternative teaching methods and innovative curriculum. These schools typically have a smaller student population and a lower student-teacher ratio. They are required by law to have open admission and recruit from all segments of the community. If the school does not meet academic performance requirements, the charter is revoked and the school is closed. Parents should inquire about the teaching methodology used, how academic progress is measured, if there are any special enrollment requirements or fees, and if the site is the school’s permanent location.

Public schools

Understanding your options when choosing a school

Public schools are funded through taxes and are operated by local school districts and a board of education. Each student is guaranteed enrollment and is assigned a school near where they live. Bussing is free for those outside of walking distance. Minnesota has open enrollment, which allows families to apply to any school. Families that apply to a school not assigned to them are responsible for their own transportation. When selecting a public school, families may want to consider class sizes, student-teacher ratios, academic progress and extracurricular activities.

Parochial schools Parochial schools are operated by a church or religious organization and have a curriculum that includes religious instruction. Class sizes and student-teacher ratio are usually small but tuition can be high. Parents should ask about tuition, scholarships, transportation, religious requirements or expectations, and if there are any additional expenses for uniforms or supplies.

Magnet schools A magnet school is part of the public school system but has curriculum focus that is used in all classes, such as environmental or STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Families should ask about the school’s focus, transporta-

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C ommunity

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Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO

s I reflect on the year 2020, it would be really easy to write about COVID-19. Without a doubt, it was the story of 2020 and will continue to be into 2021. Instead of looking back on the virus, I would like to share with you the many positive happenings at Neighbors over the past year, some of which

were a direct result of the virus. The year got off to a fairly typical start. As the holiday season concluded, work returned to normal. Clients were shopping in the food shelf and customers were finding great deals in the Clothes Closet. Volunteers were assisting throughout the op-

Katie Lowe Board Chair

Greetings. Let me take a moment to introduce myself. I’m Katie Lowe, incoming board chair of the River Heights Chamber of

Commerce for 2021, and I am honored to serve in this role. I work as an executive director of YMCA of the North. I have two kids and

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erations. Everything was humming right along. When March arrived, Minnesota Food Share swung into high gear. It is the biggest food and fund drive of the year. Little did we know at the time that it would prove to be a recordbreaking year. The community provided more support in the form of food and funds than any previous March campaign. As March rolled on and turned to April, we were learning more about the virus and what we would need to do to adjust our operations. That is when the first of many significant changes began to take shape. We started to remodel our food shelf. Prior to the remodel, the food shelf was laid out in a way that maximized the

amount of shelving in the space. That configuration, however, made it difficult to maintain proper social distance in the pandemic. The staff came together and formulated a plan that opened up the space and promoted healthy food choices, as well. The new layout was completed, and a new sink, tables and floor were added. In addition, we enhanced our recycling efforts by adding organics to the list of items being recycled. We made additional improvements to how we provide food support. Thanks to a partnership with DARTS, we initiated a food delivery service. Our volunteers are now making several deliveries each week. We also opened our first satellite food shelf at an apartment

complex in West St. Paul, helping us get food to people more efficiently. Soon we will have a new fully funded refrigerated van to support our food transportation efforts. Neighbors’ event calendar looked quite different in 2020. Local parades were cancelled, with one notable exception. In June, we held a parade to honor founding member Virginia Milbert’s 103rd birthday. Several vehicles drove by her home to wish her a very happy birthday. Our annual Duck Races also looked different. Instead of racing down Southview Boulevard, we kept the ducks close to home in a pond at our building. The event went virtual and the community helped

us achieve a record number of “duck adoptions,” with proceeds supporting our mission. History will recall 2020 for the pandemic. However, at Neighbors we will recall the year as transformative for all the reasons listed here and many more. We will also remember it as a year that our community stepped up its support of neighbors in need. I look forward to continuing the tradition of neighbors helping neighbors in 2021 and beyond. Stay connected with Neighbors all year long. Visit neighborsmn.org, and our Facebook page and YouTube channel. From all of us at Neighbors, have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021.

enjoy being outside with my family and cozying up with a good book. I am involved in Rotary, the South Robert Street Business Association and the Tri-District Community Education Advisory Council, and am passionate about ensuring all people feel welcome in our communities. Whatever path this past year has taken you down, we know and understand there have been challenges and

triumphs for all. People and businesses alike have done and seen things that we never thought possible or experienced before. We’ve worn masks everywhere. Some businesses have, unfortunately, closed their doors, some have added doors, some have created outdoor spaces, while some have added new lines of products or services to adapt to the pandemic, all while trying to do their best to keep their busi-

nesses afloat. Through it all, Chamber members have had the bond and opportunity to call upon each other in times of need. The River Heights Chamber has hosted blood drives and provided tools, resources and virtual webinars to help our valued businesses navigate the swells and support the wonderful people of our business community. The River Heights Chamber of Commerce has centered our efforts around partnership, supporting our business community during all times, especially now, and working together to accomplish more than we can alone. Now is not the time

to go at it yourself; it’s the time to band together and forge ahead with a common goal: grow your business. Whether that’s growing your connections, building relationships, learning how to do something different from another business that has tried it already, or having a team of professional leaders advocate on your behalf, the River Heights Chamber of Commerce has you covered. Thank you for all you do to support local businesses. We look forward to “seeing” you and continuing our partnership in the new year. Take care and be well.

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L I B R A R Y

E V E N T S Call 651-554-3240 or visit www.southstpaul.org/library

Stories with Miss Amy, 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12, 19 and 26. These 20-min-

ute sessions are streamed on Facebook and feature stories, songs, rhymes and move-

Postscript

Lower expectations

very year, a chorus of folks urges us to lower our expectations for the holidays—buy less, consume less, worry less about having a picture-perfect holiday, and spend more time reflecting on what the holiday means to us. This year, it seems, we finally get a chance to do that. I was recently asked about my childhood holiday memories, and I had a couple of vivid ones. I saw my very young self sitting on the wooden stair-

Carrie Classon CarrieClasson.com

way of the farmhouse where my mother grew up. There were far too many people to sit at a table—too many to

Goodbye 2020. Hello 2021! By Deb Griffith

In determining the topic of this column, I like to review articles from the past. Here is how the January 2020 article started. “Welcome 2020! It is

going to be a fantastic and eventful year for South St. Paul. In addition to Kaposia Days, On the Road Again, Skate and Swimming community events, we’ll see three elections, including the Presidential Election

ment. Visit www.facebook. com/ssplibrary. DIY Birdfeeder Take & Make Kits. All ages may reserve a Take & Make Kit to make a birdfeeder. Registration opens Dec 28 at www. ssplibrary.org. Pickup dates are Jan. 4-8. Take & Make for Kids: Fairy Winter Wonderland. Youth ages 5-12 may reserve a Take & Make kit to make a magical winter wonderland for a fairy or favorite figurine. The kit includes supplies and directions, but not the figurine. Registration opens Jan. 11 at www. ssplibrary.org. Pickup dates

are Jan. 19-22. Take & Make for Kids: DIY Conversation Hearts Banner. Youth ages 4-12 may reserve a Take and Make kit to make a banner using wooden hearts. The kits contain directions and supplies. Registration opens Jan. 25 at www.ssplibrary.org. Pickup dates are Feb. 1-5. Winter Reads adult reading program. This reading program offers the chance to win prizes by reading books of your choice then writing a brief review online. For details, call 651-554-3240. Start the New Year with Meditation, 7 p.m., Tues-

day, Jan. 5 on Zoom. Learn and practice simple meditation techniques. Registration required. Call 651-554-3240 or visit www.ssplibrary.org. Winter Bird Watching, 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 11 on Zoom. Learn some birding basics and how easy it is to set up a bird feeding station. You’ll also hear about Project FeederWatch and how to get started in a community science project. Participation is as easy as watching a bird feeder. Registration required. Call 651-554-3240 or visit www.ssplibrary.org. Book Club discussion, 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 14 on

Zoom. The title is “Bohemian Flats” by Mary Relindes Ellis. To register or for more information, call 651-5543240 or visit www.ssplibrary. org. Curbside pickup - South St. Paul Public Library has dialed back in-person services to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Curbside pickup is available for reserved materials. The library is also are accepting appointments for public computer use for up to 30 minutes a day, as well as use of the copier. For more details on these services, call 651-554-3240.

sit at all, even after all the folding chairs were called into service and the couch was filled to capacity. Seating was distributed on a strict seniority basis. All my cousins and I were lined up on the stairs leading to the second floor, one above the other with our plates on our laps. This was a fine arrangement, except that the farmhouse had only one bathroom and this stairway led to it. The stairway was narrow and some of my relatives were not, so we would lean over as far as we could (plates still on our laps) so the elderly relatives could make their way to the facilities at the top of the stairs. That’s one good memory.

Here’s another. The year I turned five, I had chicken pox at Christmas. I spoke to my mother recently about that year. “Oh! That was a miserable Christmas,” she said. And I’m sure, for her, it was. But my memory is not of festivities missed. My mother stayed home with me on Christmas Eve and all I remember is the small Christmas tree my parents put in my bedroom. My memory is not of being terribly sick, but of seeing those shining Christmas lights every time I opened my eyes, and feeling loved and special enough to have my very own tree. I’ve been telling my husband, Peter, that we are

making good memories now. Of course, he and I are not working in a hospital or trying to teach school or dealing with grumpy retail customers. We are home all the time except for our onceevery-other-week trip to the grocery store, which is beginning to feel more like an exotic adventure every time we do it. We are seeing no one so we can continue to visit Lori, who continues to fight cancer. Peter cooks something for her every week and I read her a bit more from a book. I know we will remember this time. We won’t have memories of a foreign landscape or a breathtaking performance or

a fancy gathering. Instead, we’ll remember the excitement of hearing the doorbell ring and getting to chat with a neighbor on our front stoop. Our memories from this year will be of the same homecooked meal, the same routine, the same clothes worn, the same neighbors greeted from across the lawn, the same dogs on my walk— as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. We will remember. I might miss the excitement of a different kind of life but I know I will remember the small, good things in this year of lower expectations. Till next time.

with many new voters, the 2020 Census, in which we’ll be looking to count every bellybutton living in South St. Paul, and of course, celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the first women to vote in the United States after the ratification of the 19th Amendment. It is going to be one busy year for our community.” Then March hit and everything changed. Words like “fantastic,” “eventful” and “celebrating” would not be ones I would now use to describe 2020. Instead, I would use “challenging,” “put on hold,” “canceled,” “flexible,” “uncertain,” “time will tell,” or my favorite, “Plan B.” Plan B required thinking outside the box in a year unlike any other. While many of the community events were canceled, including Kaposia Days, On the Road Again, the Great Halloween Get-Together and Swimming Under the Stars, many other events were tweaked,

re-worked or re-created. Take the 2020 Census, for example. It takes place every 10 years and needed to continue. Census workers continued doing their job, and with a few tweaks the response rate was turned from a downward trend to surpassing the 2010 results. In 2010, 76.8% of residents self-responded. In 2020, 79.2% of residents responded. This was good news for both the City of South St. Paul and the State of Minnesota, which also saw an increase in reporting. A celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first women to vote in the United States was to take place on Aug. 27 but plans for monthly events were put on hold and ultimately postponed until 2021. Instead, we went with Plan B. We lit up Lawshe Park, the site of the first vote, and acknowledged the 90 women who voted 100 years ago with luminaries. The park

glowed with luminary bags and gold and purple lights. Many people walked, biked and or drove by to see them. In addition, the series of articles “Honoring 90 South St. Paul Women Leaders” began. This series was not part of the original plans but has been a fascinating way to honor women leaders in South St. Paul. It will continue until August. The goal is to have a celebration at Lawshe Park in August 2021. The 2020 elections were unlike any other, but in South St. Paul they were successful and beautifully managed. We also created new events and activities. Swimming Under the Stars could not take place this summer but that did not stop the Mayor’s Youth Task Force and the community from coming together (in small groups) to offer “Please Come to My Neighborhood this Summer.” For six weeks, South Metro

Fire, the South St. Paul Police Department, Terri the T-Rex, Ashes Fire Truck staff and task force members visited neighborhoods to help share a little joy. It was a Plan B and was very well received. The team visited for birthday parties, to cheer up youth who were missing their friends, and simply as a special surprise for the neighborhood. We adapted it in October to replace the Great Halloween Get-Together and visited neighborhoods on Halloween day. City Council and task force members handed out treats to the children. Let’s not forget the annual community tree-lighting ceremony. We went with a virtual lighting event, followed by a parade of cars. Mrs. Claus and her elves handed out treats, and children had the opportunity to see Santa, Frosty and Mrs. Claus. So, which words will be most appropriate to describe 2021? I think that I am sticking with Plan B for now.

South St. Paul Voice - January 2021 - Page 9

E conomic Development

Your community news and information source

New electronic vehicle network gets underway Tim Spitzack Editor

wners of electric vehicles (EVs) have good reason to be amped up. In the coming year they’ll have access to scores of new public charging stations across St. Paul and Minneapolis. Beginning this spring, the Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network is building 70 charging hubs across St. Paul and Minneapolis to accommodate and encourage greener transportation. Half will be located in downtown St. Paul and the surrounding neighborhoods: West Side, North End, Frogtown, Dayton’s Bluff and Payne-Phalen. Each station will feature four or five curbside chargers along public streets. Two will be for public use and two will be for a new car-sharing service that is also being developed. The chargers being installed provide 25-30 miles of charge per hour. Some sta-

This sketch shows the planned design of the curbside charging sites. tions will have an additional Direct Current Fast Charger that provides 250 miles of charge per hour. While the fee to charge a vehicle has not yet been set, the Network plans to keep costs low and charge just enough to cover electricity use and maintenance costs. Users will likely be able to pay at the hub or through an app. The hubs will begin

to open for use this summer and construction of others will continue throughout the year. All hubs will be open by the end of 2022.

EV car-sharing HOURCAR, a local nonprofit that already offers a traditional car-sharing service, will add a one-way EV service, and a two-way

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service that will include charging hubs at 25 apartment complexes around the metro, particularly those with low-income residents. The 150 EV car-share fleet will begin with 50 vehicles this summer and be at full strength by the end of 2022. The one-way service allows users to pick up and return a vehicle anywhere within the service area. The two-way

service requires bringing the vehicle back to the station from which it was rented. That service is expected to begin late this year or early 2022. Both methods require an annual membership with HOURCAR, and an additional per minute usage fee, and you must be at least age 18 to join. HOURCAR’s current model has different plans but its most popular one is $65 annually and includes user fees by the quarter hour. Pricing for each EV plan has not yet been determined but will likely be near the current rates of approximately $10/hour. The Network is led by the City of St. Paul, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, HOURCAR, and East Metro Strong. It received a $6.7 million grant from the U.S Department of Energy to support the project, and Xcel Energy will provide up to $4 million of electrical infrastructure. The Network

will promote the stations through its partnership with 10 local organizations whose job it is to share information about the benefits of electric vehicles and car-sharing, and to identify obstacles people may face while using this service. For more information, contact 651-266-6855, charginghubs@ci.stpaulmn. us or visit www.stpaul.gov/ ev. According to the Electronic Vehicle Institute, the U.S. had more than 1.3 million electronic vehicles on the road in 2019, accounting for 2.6% of new car sales. The Tesla Model 3 was by far the top seller, besting the second place Chevrolet Volt by 38%. Rounding out the top five were Tesla Model S, Nissan LEAF, and Toyota Prius Prime. These five models accounted for nearly 60% of total EV sales. According to the Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network, EVs have 62% fewer emissions than gas-powered vehicles.

Join our Tribe... Support Your Community Newspaper! A tribe is defined as a group of people having a common character or interest. In today’s day and age it has also come to mean supporters and we invite you to be one of ours. Since 1966, we’ve proudly and effectively covered the issues most important to our community. We ask our loyal readers to consider donating a small amount to help us continue publishing community news that informs, entertains and inspires. Could you send $10 a year...or more? Every dollar helps. To contribute, mail your check to St. Paul Publishing Co., 1643 S. Robert St., Suite 60B, West St. Paul, MN 55118, or call us at 651-457-1177 with your credit card number. Mailed subscriptions are available for $21.50 per year.

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P eople

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Honoring 90 SSP Women Leaders Grace Patterson English: top Twin Cities executive, business owner, world traveler and community volunteer Lois Glewwe Contributor

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 August 27, 1920. Those 90 women

from 1920 are not all identified but we honor today’s female leaders on their behalf.

hen a person lives for 100 years mostly in the same community, she gets to know hundreds of people in various organizations and activities. I knew Grace Patterson English for many years but had no idea of her many accomplish-

ments. She was born on Nov. 19, 1919, in Huron, S. D., to Joseph and Helene Patterson. The family moved to South St. Paul, and Grace graduated from South St. Paul High School in 1937. Her first job was in Washington, D.C., in 1938, as a secretary for the National Youth Administration, a New Deal agency designed to provide

work and education for young men and women. She earned $50 a month. Two years later she took her first airplane ride, departing from South St. Paul’s Fleming Field in a plane with no doors. The following year she married Robert English and together they established the English Funeral Home in South St. Paul. It later became English Meeker, then

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English, Meeker, Kandt. It is now Kandt-Tetrick. Grace enjoyed traveling, and was in Havana, Cuba, on the night in 1959 that Fidel Castro blew up a power plant there. Grace worked for Ecolab in St. Paul, and her family recalled that in 1968 she would come home from work and head out to serve beer and hamburgers at a booth at the State Fair. In 1973 she became the first woman to be named to an administrative position at Ecolab. Four years later she was promoted to assistant vice president of National Accounts for the Magnus Division. In 1979 she was named one of the top 10 women executives in the Twin Cities by Twin Cities Business magazine. Grace and Bob had four children: Kathleen, Corinne, Lee and Bob. The family traveled often. After Grace retired from Ecolab in 1980 she traveled to the Holy Land. In 1989, she published her first book, “My God and I.” A devout Christian, she served as a church deacon, led Bible study classes and coordinated activities for seniors. She volunteered for a number of community organizations and loved to read, meet new people and stay in touch with friends and fam-

ily. Grace also excelled at needlework and won many ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair each year. Bob English passed away in 1997. Five years later she published her second book, “Prayers of Grace.” When she was 89 she had her Christmas card photo taken while she was riding a camel. On the occasion of her 70th high school reunion in 2007, she was thrilled when asked to ride with some classmates on the back of a convertible in the Kaposia Days parade. She loved to ride the carousel at Como Park, and her family and friends treasured her generous nature, loving guidance and penchant for fun times. In 2016 she sold her condo and car and moved to Timber Hills senior living in Inver Grove Heights. Three years later she finished her third book, “Bible Verses for Life’s Journey.” For her 100th birthday, Grace had four parties in six days. She loved every one of them and appreciated the many cards, emails and calls she received. It was a wonderful tribute to her life. Grace passed away on Sept. 30 at the age of 100. Her contributions to the community will be remembered for many years to come.