South St. Paul Arts & Entertainment
A rapid resurgence
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Volume 17 | Number 3
City to conduct study for new pedestrian bridge
Your Community News & Information Source
Time to Lend a Hand
March 2020
Management firm selected for public housing complexes Amy Johnson Staff Writer
Minnesota FoodShare month begins Mar. 1
Amy Johnson Staff Writer
N
S
outh St. Paul has received a grant from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, administered by Dakota County, to conduct a feasibility study for a new pedestrian bridge at Kaposia Landing. If approved, the bridge will be at Bryant Avenue, at the southern end of the park. The existing Bryant Avenue bridge will also be evaluated to see if integrating trails and sidewalks on either side of the bridge would make it safer. Pedestrian accessibility has been an issue since the park was developed, said Chris Esser, they city’s director of parks and recreation. The purpose of the bridge is to provide a safe walkway to trails and other amenities at Kaposia Landing. “We’re still trying to figure out the optimal design, whether that be an attachment on the bridge or something completely separate,” said Esser. The $26,000 grant will be used to hire an engineering consultant, who will conduct a six-month study by engaging the public and collaborating with the county. It will solicit feedback from residents and those considered to be SHIP priority populations, including seniors, children, low-income households and individuals with a disability. Feedback will be sought at open houses, pop-up events and informational booths at
Photo by Neighbors, Inc.
Amy Johnson Staff Writer
M
innesota FoodShare Month is upon us, which means it’s time to pitch in to help stock local food shelves. Taking place Mar. 1-April 12, Minnesota FoodShare Month is the state’s largest grassroots food and fund drive. Residents, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to participate to help keep 300 food shelves supplied for the year. In March 2018 and 2019 alone, the campaign collected more than 10 million pounds
Bridge study / Page 2
of food, and a total of $17.8 million has been received since 2018, all of which is distributed to food shelves in the state. The Neighbors, Inc., food shelf serves residents of Northern Dakota County with two food distribution programs. The first is a monthly visit option, where guests can choose from a variety of grocery items, and the second is a daily visit option called Neighbors Express, where guests can get fresh fruits, vegetables and bread. Last year the FoodShare / Page 3
ath Management Company has replaced CommonBond Communities as the new property manager for South St. Paul’s Nan McKay and John Carroll buildings, which have a combined 296 low-income housing units. The City hired Nath to be a full-time service agent, while the city will maintain fiscal oversight, said Ryan Garcia, South St. Paul’s economic and community development director. The city will oversee the federally funded housing program and take care of all the financial details, including budgeting, capital improvements and program reporting. Nath will be the point of contact for residents and handle the application and leasing processes, general tenant relations and property maintenance. Nath will assign five full-time staff to the two properties, including an administrator, assistant administrator, caretaker, and a maintenance technician for each building, and is preparing for the transition by updating data in housing management software, training staff and assessing building systems and processes. “We are eager to have a successful transition that ultimately benefits residents,” said Garcia. There has been much transition with the housing program in recent years. The City signed a two-year contract with ComPublic housing / Page 2
A taste of the tropics in SSP John Molene Contributor
F
or the past four years José Colon has been dishing out Puerto Rican entrees to patrons in the Twin Cities from his food truck business, El Jibarito. This winter, he parked the truck to concentrate on running a new restaurant by the same name. It opened Nov. 19 in the former T&T Galley space at 901 South-
view Blvd. in South St. Paul and features the same items offered from his food truck, but a much more extensive menu. First, the name. A jibarito is a sandwich made with plantains instead of bread. Colon’s version uses doublefried and mashed plantains filled with steak, grilled onions, cheese, lettuce, tomato and the house sauce. Other favorites include the mofongo con carne frita,
similar to the jibarito but with deep-fried pork, and a roast pork, ham and chicken dish called tripleta. Pastrami, veggie bean jibarto and pork sandwiches are also available. For starters, guests can choose from nine options, including crispy fried plantains, corn fritters stuffed with cheese or pork, and potato balls filled with shredded pork. Sides include rice
El Jibarito / Page 2
Photo by El Jibarito
After finding success with his food truck, Colon decided to open a sitdown restaurant. It features the same food but a more extensive menu.
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El Jibarito from page 1 and beans, and rice with pigeon peas. Desserts include flan and a Puerto Rican cake. You can wash it all down with passion fruit juice, Kola Champagne or Coco Rice soda. “This is 100 percent Puerto Rican food,” said Colon, who does most of the cooking along with his wife Mary. The flavors and seasonings are different than other Latin American cuisine, and the food is not spicy.
El Jibarito owner José Colon serves up one of his restaurant’s signature dishes, a mashed and double fried plantain steak sandwich.
“I opened the food truck because there was no Puerto Rican food around,’ said Colon. ‘When I hear the people say, ‘you should open a restaurant,’ I opened the restaurant.”
Serving Pre-K-12th graders in St. Paul Metro
Bridge study from page 1
community events like the Kaposia Days festival. The study is set to be completed July 31. The city will then apply for state and federal transportation grants to help fund the bridge’s construction.
“I opened the food truck because there was no Puerto Rican food around,” said Colon. “When I hear the people say, ‘you should open a restaurant,’ I opened the restaurant.” Colon is no stranger to South St. Paul. Twenty years ago, he worked as a mechanic for several years at South St. Paul Automotive, then ran his own repair shop for 13 years. However, food service was in his blood and he decided to make a
career change. He learned the trade by working a few years alongside his father, who operates a restaurant by the same name in his native Puerto Rico. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Take out is available. Colon will continue to operate the food truck on the weekends during the summer. He also offers catering. For more information, visit www.eljibaritofoodtruck.com.
Public housing from page 1
monBond just one year ago after ending its own in-house program but quickly noticed a variety of problems, including late rent statements to tenants and invoices to vendors, and maintenance issues. CommonBond chose to end the contract, saying its accounting and reporting software didn’t work properly with those used by the city and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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FoodShare
from page 1 nonprofit distributed more than one million pounds of food, and the number of people who visited increased by 13%. About 600 households a month visit the food shelf, with 145 families us-
ing Neighbors Express each day. The organization also helps connect low-income seniors and families to local, state and federal food programs. Neighbors, Inc. is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon-
day to Friday. For more information or to donate, call 651-455-5000 or visit www. neighborsmn.org. The South St. Paul school district partners with Neighbors, Inc. and Second Harvest Heartland to provide free food to any enrolled student. Foods include cereal,
rice, pasta, peanut butter, canned chicken, tuna, soup, fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, milk and more. There are no income guidelines and registration is not required. Families in need can also receive food any time of the month by contacting their school’s family support
worker, offered in partnership with 360 Communities. Students often take home food from school “pantries” on evenings and weekends when school food programs are not available. South St. Paul’s Community Campaign has a goal of raising 55,075 pounds
of food—which is the area’s zip code—for Neighbors, Inc. Food will be collected at the schools, area businesses and by community organizations. To volunteer at Minnesota FoodShare, visit https:// www.mnfoodshare.org/volunteer.
FOOD DRIVE:
food and/or monetary donations. Grant money is allocated to food shelves based on ranking, so the generosity of donors during the month of March is critical to keeping the shelves stocked at Neighbors, Inc. Locally, the need is there. More than half of the 2,050 school lunches served each day at South St. Paul schools are part of the free and reduced lunch program. Through partnerships with Neighbors, Inc., Second Harvest Heartland and the South St. Paul Public Schools, free food is provided to any family with a student enrolled in the South St. Paul School District. Thanks to a partnership with 360 Communities, students may also receive
food from school “pantries” on evenings and weekends when school food programs are not available. In 2019, Neighbors, Inc. distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to more than 8,000 families in northern Dakota County. This is an increase of 13% in just one year. Most who visit Neighbors for food are at or below the poverty level. Additionally, one in 10 families with children in Minnesota struggles with hunger, and 38% of the people served at Neighbors are under the age of 18. The number of seniors served account for 14% of the households. In early March, we need help delivering promotional door hangers throughout the
community, and on Saturday, Mar. 21 with collecting donations. Residents may also drop off donations that day, 10 a.m.-noon, at Southview Shopping Center, 1209 Southview Blvd. This is the time for the entire community to come together to help us meet our food drive goal. If each South St. Paul resident donates just 2.5 pounds of food—equal to a couple of cans of peas, a box of macaroni, or a box of oatmeal—we will make our goal. Monetary donations are also accepted and are counted as part of the total. Make checks payable to Neighbors, Inc. To get involved, contact Deb Griffith at 651-554-3230 or deb. griffith@southstpaul.org.
One Can, Two Can, Who Can? You Can! The South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force is rolling out the annual communitywide food drive campaign in March. This year’s theme is “55075-One Can, Two Can, Who Can? You Can!” Our goal is to raise 55,075 pounds of food for the Neighbors, Inc. food shelf, which serves more than 500 families in northern Dakota County each month, providing a week’s worth of food (about 110 lbs.) each visit. March is Minnesota Foodshare Month, a time when food shelves from across the state engage in a friendly competition to see who can raise the most pounds of
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Rags to Riches
The rapid resurgence of Packer basketball John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer
O
n Feb. 11, the South St. Paul High School boys basketball team defeated Hill Murray 73-69, elevating their record in the East Metro Conference to 7-5. That equals the number of conference victories the Packers compiled in the past decade (2010-2019), when their composite record was 7-153. There are numerous reasons for this incredible turn-around but none more so than head coach Matt McCollister. McCollister’s journey to becoming the head coach for the Packers was a circuitous one. The fact that he was not a star player on his basketball team at New Prague High School in southern Minnesota did not deter him from falling in love with the sport. As a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the fall of 1999 he had
not yet decided on a major, but he knew one thing for sure—he wanted to be a basketball coach. His first step was to write a letter to Larry McKenzie, the legendary head coach at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis. When he didn’t get a response, he wrote him another letter. McKenzie apparently appreciated his tenacity and invited him to come to the school for a visit. “We talked for a half hour and he offered me an opportunity to scout future opponents,” McCollister recalled. “I figured that was a great place to start. He liked my work and within a couple of weeks he invited me to become a member of the coaching staff.” For four years, McCollister commuted daily from River Falls to North Minneapolis during the basketball season. Under McKenzie, the Patrick Henry Patriots
won four consecutive Class AAA state championships (2000-2003). It was an eyeopening experience for McCollister. “We had some great players on those teams and there was no shortage of big-time college coaches making recruiting trips to Patrick Henry,” he said. “I met Rick Pitino (then at Louisville) and Tom Izzo (Michigan State) and several others.” One of those contacts led to a one-year assistant coaching job at Eastern Arizona Junior College in the mountains of northern Arizona. “I really enjoyed my year there,” said McCollister, “but in the summer of 2005 school beckoned. I returned to Minnesota and enrolled in law school at Hamline University.” He received his law degree in the spring of 2008 and his first gig as an attorney was with the TSR Injury Law Firm in Bloomington. Af-
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Captains, left to right, Marquise Gleb, Marcus Brown and Alonzo Dodd. ter a two-year hiatus from coaching, he rejoined McKenzie’s staff, this time at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield. In 2010, McCollister landed his first head coaching job at the Breck School in Golden Valley. He inherited a five-win team and, in his third year, led the Mustangs to a 19-win season and earned a Section Coach of the Year award. After three years at Breck, there was a two-year stop at St. Croix Prep in Stillwater before he found his “dream job” as the head coach at Brooklyn Center High
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And what made it even more special was defeating Minneapolis North, then coached by McKenzie, in the Section 5AA championship game. “We loved Brooklyn Center and we loved the kids we were serving,” McCollister said. “But with three kids (of his own) seven and under, it was time to think of my family.” McCollister had purchased a home and opened his own law office in Mendota Heights in 2015. Last spring when he heard the South St. Paul job was open, it was his wife Tracy who suggested that he apply
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School in 2015. “There is something very gratifying about working with under-served and under-privileged kids,” said McCollister. “That mantra was instilled in me during the time I spent with Coach McKenzie at Patrick Henry. Our job as coaches is not confined to basketball. It’s also about helping kids succeed academically and socially.” He speaks fondly of his four seasons at Brooklyn Center. The highlight on the basketball side was the school’s first state tournament appearance in 35 years.
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for it. “Tracy pointed out that the drive to Brooklyn Center is 40 minutes or so and the drive to South St. Paul is only eight minutes,” he said. “The time was ripe to think of her and the kids and so I applied.” His interview with Athletic Director Chad Sexauer in April 2019 went well. “I was blown away by his positive demeanor,” said McCollister. “When I was talking about the culture we hoped to instill in the program, he finally stopped me and said, ‘Why do you keep saying ‘we?’ That’s when I told him that I have two assistant coaches who have been with me for many years and are integral to our success.” Ross Wetternach, who starred at Patrick Henry and played at Chicago Loyola, has been with McCollister since 2011. River Falls classmate Steve Priestly, a St. Paul Harding graduate who still holds the St. Paul City Conference scoring record, has been on the bench with McCollister every game since he became a head coach. The three were hired in May and went right to work. “We watched film and
quickly learned that there was plenty of talent to tap into,” said McCollister. “We had several open gyms in June and July that gave us an opportunity to work with the kids, get to know them and roll out our expectations.” The coaching staff believes it is important to interact with the players on an almost daily basis. At each of his coaching stops, the team regimen has included study halls with academic advisors available. The first official practice unfolded on Nov. 25. It didn’t take long for the “new” Packers to make a bold statement. They opened the season with five consecutive victories. As the season progressed, the coaching staff settled on an eight-player rotation. 6’2” sophomore Alonzo Dodd fills up the stat sheet almost every game and leads the Packers in scoring at 25 points per game. “Alonzo can play the point or the off guard,” said McCollister. “He is shifty and ambidextrous and loves to play fast, take it to the hoop and get to the foul line. And he’s also an excellent student.”
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6’3” ninth grader Maxsamus Wilson is a transfer who started as an eighth grader for McCollister at Brooklyn Center last season. When he learned that the coaching staff was moving to South St. Paul, he said he wanted to go there, too, and his mom has made it work. He’s averaging 12 points and a team leading six assists per game. “Maxsamus is a great kid and his basketball IQ defies his age,” said McCollister. “Gopher recruiters are already showing interest. He’s very respectful and often spends time at our house to study and play video games with our kids.” 6’2” junior Marquise Gleb is as polished on the football field as he is on the basketball court and generally draws the assignment of guarding the opponent’s best player. He is averaging 15 points per game. “Marquise is another A/B student and a true leader on and off the court,” said McCollister. “He’s tough on the boards and is also a good three-point shooter.” The lone starting senior is 6’7” Marcus Brown, who is averaging ten points per game and, according to Mc-
Collister, is the team’s best pure shooter. “Marcus is eager to learn and very coachable,” he said. “He is a strong kid and is making his presence known on the boards and as a defender.” 6’5” sophomore Anthony Faulk is making great strides in his development and is seeing considerable playing time. “Anthony has a physical presence and may be our best rebounder,” said McCollister. “He is humble, he works hard and his future burns bright.” The Harmon twins— 5’10” sophomores Ramontre and Romontay (the coaches call them “Tre” and “Tay”) – and 5’11” junior Jamar McDowell fill out the Packers’ eight-man rotation. “Tre and Tay are relentless on the full court press and they are our best on-the-ball defenders,” said McCollister. “Jamar has a nice shot and can take it to the hoop and is also a good free throw shooter.” To no one’s surprise, the community of South St. Paul and folks elsewhere have taken notice of the dramatic upswing in the fortunes of Packer basketball. The 2019-
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20 squad is the fastest team to record ten victories in a season since the 1970 team, which finished runners-up in the state tournament exactly 50 years ago. In a recent interview, team captains Marquise Gleb, Marcus Brown and Alonzo Dodd each commented on the new coaching staff. “The impact was immediate,” said Gleb. “First and foremost, they assured us that we were much better players than our record showed and the reason they push us so hard is because they want us to realize our potential.” Dodd said, “They expect us to work hard on every facet of the game. To maximize our potential, we must pay as much attention to defense as we do offense.” What are their goals for the remainder of the season? “That’s an easy one,” said Brown, speaking for the three of them. “We want to win our section and go to the state tournament. It won’t be an easy road. We will have to play our very best to make it
happen.” As we go to press, the Packers are 16-8 with two games remaining on the schedule. According to McCollister, the two teams likely to provide the stiffest test in Section 3AAA are Richfield and Holy Angels. “These kids have responded in a big way and have every right to celebrate the season,” he said. “But now is not the time to get complacent. Our immediate goal is to put on blinders, refocus and play our best basketball in March.” Team assessment: Nothing in sports resonates with fans more than “rags to riches” stories and the rapid resurgence of the Packer boys basketball program certainly qualifies. They are a very young team with just one senior starter—the best is yet to come—but the stars are aligned. We think this Packer squad will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1970 team’s trip to the state tournament with one of their own.
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Grace Lutheran Church • WELS 149 8th Ave. S., South St. Paul 651-451-1035 Pastor Thomas Hartwig Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Lenten Services 4:30 & 6:30 p.m. Beginning Ash Wed., Feb. 26
Serving Time: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Baked and fried fish, baked potato, vegetable, cole slaw, roll,Lutheran beverage and dessert Grace Church
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149 8th Ave. S., South St. Paul Adults $12 • Seniors $11 • Age 6-12 $6 • Under 6 FREE Credit cards 651-451-1035 accepted Thomas Hartwig TABLE SERVICEPastor - No waiting in a buffet line! Beer, wine and pop available for purchase
Sunday Worship $1 off drive up to-go orders ona.m. Hall Ave. 9:00 Wednesday Lenten Services St. Matthew’s Social Hall, 510 & Hall Ave.,p.m. St. Paul 4:30 6:30 South St. Paul Voice - March 2020 - Page 5
Maundy Thursday Services 4:30 & 6:30 p.m.
A rts & Entertainment
Fitzgerald Theater
10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul 651-290-1200 https://thefitzgerald theater.com
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 8 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 1. $29.50$49.50. Kamasi Washington, 8 p.m., Wednesday, Mar. 4. $35. National Geographic Live – Mark Synnott, 2 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 8. $25-$45. An Evening with Gaelic Storm, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 17. $41-$46. Welcome to Night Vale, 8 p.m., Monday, Mar. 23. $32.50. Gary Gulman: Peace of Mind, 8 p.m., Friday,
Mar. 27. $20-$35. Gregory Porter, 8 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 29. $49.50$79.50.
History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 www.mnhs.org
“First Avenue Stories of Minnesota’s Mainroom,” through May 3. Since 1970, First Avenue & 7th St. Entry have been at the heart of the Minnesota music scene. This exhibit celebrates the musicians, employees and regulars who have called First Avenue their rock ‘n’ roll home. Museum tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $6 for children ages five to 17. Free on Tuesdays, 3-8 p.m.
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Women in Music Conversation with PaviElle French, 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 3. The World War II Round Table will discuss “Operation Varsity: 75th Anniversary,” 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 10. Another discussion, “The Chief of Staff for Eisenhower,” will take place 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 24.
St. Paul’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held noon-2 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 17. It begins at Mears Park in Lowertown and ends at Rice Park.
Music history trivia, 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 10.
Electoral College,” 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 21. $16.
Recovering Chippewa City, 7-8 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 17. Staci Drouillard will discuss her book, “Walking the Old Road: A People’s History of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe.”
Inspiration of Youth, 7:30-9 p.m., Mar. 2-3. Visit the James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., to hear the Hill House Chamber Players’ seasonal theme, “Inspiration of Youth.” $12-$23.
Rosemarie Zagarri, history professor, will discuss “The Murky Past and Contested Future of the
Irish Heritage tours will be held at the James J. Hill House 10-11 a.m., Tuesday, Mar. 3. Reser-
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vations required. Special “Irish Heritage Weekend” tours will be held 10 a.m.5 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 14 and 1-5 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 15. $6-$10.
nesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. and 1-2:30 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 14. $8-$10.
Mental Illness and the Victorian Mind tours at the Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., 7-8:15 p.m. and 8:309:45 p.m., Friday, Mar. 13. $11-$12.
Ramsey After Dark, 7-8:15 p.m. and 8:309:45 p.m., Friday, Mar. 27. Take the “Crime and Justice” tour at the Alexander Ramsey House, which details the famous murder trial of 1859. $11-$12.
“Votes for Minnesota Women” tour at the Min-
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75 W. 5th St., St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org
“Superman Becomes Lois Lane,” through Mar. 1. See the gender transition story of Bob Sylvester, former president of the St. Paul City Council, as he becomes Susan Kimberly. $20-$53.
Courtroom concerts: Border CrosSing, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 5; Artu Duo featuring Ruth Marshall on cello and Garret Ross on piano, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 12; Duo Ihana featuring Jesse Nummelin on cello and Rie Tanaka on piano, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 19; William Howard on piano, noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 26.
“Not for Sale,” Mar. 21-Apr. 12. The story follows Arnold Weigel, a rising star in the Twin Cities real estate business as he puts his career on the line to represent families of color when buying homes in all-white neighborhoods. $20-$53. “Not in Our Neighborhood,” Mar. 25-Apr. 5. William and Nellie Francis, both civil rights advocates and leading citizens in St. Paul’s growing African-American community, dared to move from their home in the Rondo neighborhood to an all-white neighborhood. $20-$53.
Urban Expedition: Indonesia, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 8. Music, dance and crafts that celebrate the culture of Indonesia. Ballet, noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 10. See excerpts from Ballet Co.Laboratory repertoire. A Day of Irish Dance, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 15. Day two of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration will take place 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 17.
Urban Expedition: Poland and Hungary, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 22. Music, dance and crafts that celebrate the culture of these countries.
Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 www.ordway.org
TaikoArts Midwest will present “HERbeat: Taiko Women All-Stars” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 29. $27-$42. Sphinx Virtuosi, 3 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 1. The nation’s top Black and Latino classical string soloists, Sphinx Virtuosi, returns with their new program, “For Justice and Peace.” $16-$26.
11. $39-$69.
21-29. $23-$133.
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s “Seventh Symphony: What Makes it Great?” with Rob Kapilow, 8 p.m., Mar. 1314; “Xplorchestra: Calling All Horns,” 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Mar. 21; Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony with Pekka Kuusisto, 8 p.m., Mar. 27-28 and 2 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 29. Ticket prices vary.
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Sunday, Mar. 22. $58$68.
Danú, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Mar. 20. $32-$42. Classic Albums Live: Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Green River,” Saturday, Mar. 21. $39$70. Edward Tulane, Mar.
“The Color Purple” Broadway musical, Mar. 31-Apr. 5. $48-$112.
Palace Theatre
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Atmosphere, with the Lioness, Nikki Jean and DJ Keezy, 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28. 18+. $35-$45. Eric Nam, with Frenship, 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 29. $40. Drive-By Truckers, 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 14. 18+. $29.50-$45.
Howard Jones Acoustic Trio, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Mar. 4. $37-$58.
Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org
“Apollo: When We Went to the Moon” runs through May 10. This exhibit chronicles the Space Race, a time when the U.S. and Soviet Union competed to see who would reach the moon first. The film “Apollo 11: First Steps Edition” is showing at the Omnitheater through May 10, and the world premiere of “Ancient Caves” takes place at 7 p.m., Friday, Mar. 6. Museum tickets are $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for children and seniors. Omnitheater tickets are $9.95 and $8.95 respectively.
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Daniil Trifonov on piano, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 10. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Mar.
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N ews Briefs
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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
Healthy Cooking for Everyone, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, Mar. 4. Learn about healthy eating, planning meals and working together in the kitchen. Each class will feature a different dish with all ingredients provided. All ages and abilities welcome. Registration required. Bob Ross Paint-along, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Mar. 9.
Registration for community garden begins The City of South St. Paul is accepting registrations in March for community garden plots. Returning gardeners may register on Mar. 2, residents on Mar. 17, and AFFORDABLEHOUSING
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all others April 1. For more information, call 651-3666200 or visit Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Ave. N., South St. Paul.
Neighbors’ Food Fight 2020 The 2020 Great Neighbors’ Food Fight competition and fundraiser features delicious burgers from eight local restaurants. Supporters can purchase a card, try the burgers and cast their vote to help determine the winner. Proceeds from card sales go to the emergency and supportive service programs at Neighbors, Inc. Over the past six years, more than $30,000 has been raised for Neighbors through this competition.
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Paint along with a Bob Ross lesson that covers specific techniques like brushwork or creating evergreen trees. Presented by Bob Ross certified instructor Kristi Nelson. Registration required. Rock, Rattle and Rhyme, 6:15 p.m., Mondays, Mar. 9, 16, 23, 30. Through books, music and movement, children learn social skills, listening comprehension and the foundations of reading. For ages three and under and their caregivers. Storytime, 10:15 a.m., Tuesdays, Mar. 10, 24, 31. Stories and activities that help develop early literacy skills. Ages two to six. Siblings welcome. Clay Cupcake, 10:30-11:20 a.m., Wednesday, Mar. 11. Learn how to make a cupcake out of clay. Ages three to 12. Registration required. Teen Summer Job Application Workshop, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 12. Drop in any time to get help with your online application or résumé from a Dakota County Careerforce specialist. Bring names of your prospective employers. Ages 14 to 18. Book Club, 7 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 12. “The Map of Salt and Stars” by Zeynab Joukhadar will be discussed.
Low-waste Living, 6-8 p.m., Monday, Mar. 16. Learn to live a low-waste lifestyle by cutting the amount of trash you generate. Stories at Lawshe Memorial Museum, 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, Mar. 17. The Dakota County Historical Society and South St. Paul Public Library are collaborating for a special storytime that helps make history come alive. Siblings and daycare groups welcome. Ages two to six. Spaghetti Strength, 2-3 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 24. Investigate the characteristics of spaghetti noodles and test their strength, similar to what engineers do when considering materials for structures like buildings and bridges. Ages six and up. Book and Craft, 11-11:45 a.m., Thursday, Mar. 26. After listening to “This is the Nest that Robin Built,” create bird nests inspired by the Denise Fleming book. Ages two to eight. Registration required. Smartphone Photography, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Mar. 30. Learn how to take a great photos with your phone, what editing apps to use, and how to share, print and keep your images safe. Bring your own device. Registration required.
The contest runs through Mar. 31. Cards are $40 each and include one designated burger at each of the participating restaurants: B-52 Burgers & Brew, BLVD Bar + Grille, Cherokee Tavern, Hamburguesas El Gordo, Inver Grove Brewing, Jersey’s Bar & Grill, Kaposia Club and Mississippi Pub. For more information or to purchase Food Fight cards, visit www.neighborsmn.org.
opment program, centered on leadership, strategy, customers, measurement, workforce, operations and results. To achieve the award of Merit, River Heights completed an in-depth organizational self-assessment to identify, prioritize and address improvement opportunities.
Fare for All Express Fare for All Express is held 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 24 at Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Ave. N. This cooperative food-buying program offers up to a
40% discount on monthly groceries. Packages of fresh fruits, vegetables and frozen meat are available. For more information, call 651-3666200 or visit www.southstpaul.org.
Vista Prairie at River Heights awarded River Heights Senior Living Community, 744 19th Ave. N., South St. Paul, recently received the Award of Merit for Performance Excellence in Aging Services from LeadingAge Minnesota. The award recognizes commitment to quality and continuous improvement. Performance Excellence in Aging Services is a continuous learning and devel-
Student notes Minnesota Connections Academy: Carter Leitch was named student of the month College of St. Scholastica dean’s list: Jenoveba Cabral, Kyla Ledger University of North Dakota dean’s and president’s list: Lauren Bryan Hamline University dean’s list: Elizabeth Lowe
Western Governors University (Salt Lake City, Utah) graduates: Becky Ridley, bachelor of science in business management; Katherine Museus, bachelor of science in nursing. University of NebraskaLincoln dean’s list: Marcus Molumby, Patrick Schmidt and Samantha Welle
English classes South Suburban Adult Basic Education offers free classes at West Heights Area Learning Center, 150 Marie Ave. E., West St. Paul, to help people age 17 and older learn English and improve literacy skills. To register or receive more information, call 651- 306-3632.
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N ews Briefs
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First-to-vote tradition continues South St. Paul City Hall started absentee balloting on Jan. 17 to celebrate its strong connection to this year’s 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. Women in South St. Paul were the first in the country to cast ballots after ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. The amendment went into effect on Aug. 26, and the next day an estimated 80 South St. Paul women made history by casting their ballots in a city election. South St. Paul Mayor
Jimmy Francis and Dakota County Commissioner Kathleen Gaylord were the first to cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential nomination primary election. Since their ballots were received before regular business hours it’s plausible that they were among the first in Minnesota and perhaps the country to cast ballots in the primary. “This is an exciting opportunity to recognize the women of South St. Paul,” said Gaylord in a statement. She is a South St. Paul resident, former mayor and the
city’s longest-serving female elected official. Francis has deep family roots in South St. Paul. His great-grandfather served as mayor from 1905-06 and his grandmother Zoe Francis served as city treasurer and was involved in the suffrage movement. “We’re proud of the fact that South St. Paul women were the first in the nation to vote after the 19th Amendment was ratified,” Francis said. A community event is planned for late summer.
Dakota County Commissioner Kathleen Gaylord and South St. Paul Mayor Jimmy Francis were the first to cast a ballot.
‘Vote for Quilts’ opens Mar. 10 at Lawshe Museum The Dakota County Star Quilters will present their 25th annual quilt show, “Vote for Quilts,” in conjunction with the Hastings Spiral Piecemakers, Mar. 10 to April 3 at the Dakota County Historical Society, 130 3rd Ave. N. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursdays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays. A donation of $5 is encouraged to support the museum. In addition to members’ quilts on display, the show
includes a small-quilt auction and quilting-related items for sale in the museum gift shop. This year the quilt show celebrates the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment for Women’s Suffrage. At 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, Laura Nagel will give her lecture “Quilting for the Cause.” Nagel will use her collection of antique quilts and quilt tops to share “herstories” of women’s impact on the American scene.
She will describe how 19th century women plied their needles to express their political opinions, raise funds and bring about social change, specifically the right to vote. Cost is $8, and includes Nagel’s lecture and museum entry. To reserve tickets or for more information, call the Dakota County Historical Society at 651-552-7548 or Quilt Show Chair Karen Asmundson at 651-247-6524 (evenings) or visit www. dcsq.org or www.dakotahistory.org.
Presidential nomination primary is Mar. 3 If you support a major political party, head to your local polling place on Tuesday, Mar. 3 to vote for your preferred candidate for president of the United States. Currently, four major parties represent Minnesota but only the DemocraticFarmer-Labor and Republican parties have contending candidates for the 2020 presidential election. Each party’s chair has chosen the candidates. If a candidate drops out before the primary, the ballot will remain unchanged. Minnesota
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passed legislation in 2016 authorizing a presidential nomination primary to replace the caucus system. Voters will choose between two separate ballots, the Democratic Party or Republican Party. The ballot will only include candidates in the upcoming presidential election. The regular primary, happening in August, will include other offices. Anyone can vote if registered in Minnesota. To find your polling place, visit https://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/.
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Academia Cesar Chavez 1801 Lacrosse Ave., St. Paul 651-778-2940 www.cesarchavezschool.com Achieve Language Academy 2169 Stillwater Ave. E. St. Paul 651-738-4875 www.achievemn.org St. Paul City School PreK-8 260 Edmund Ave., St. Paul 651-225-9177 www.stpaulcityschool.org
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C ommunity
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Jennifer L. Gale president
A new partnership River Heights Chamber of Commerce is now partnering with Minnesota Chamber of Commerce on Small Business Federation to give our members double the benefits.
Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO
As a child in southeastern Minnesota I experienced firsthand the food support systems provided by the government. My family benefitted from SNAP (“food stamps” at the time), government commodity programs and free school lunches. I am grateful that these programs helped my parents put food on the table.
“We are proud to add your voice to our strong membership through our Small Business Federation membership,” said Doug Loon, president of the Minnesota Chamber. “This alliance aims to empower small companies, leverage grassroots strength and engage you as we work together to grow Minnesota’s economy.” What does this mean for our members? In addition to local Chamber benefits, you receive exclusive benefits of the Small Business Federation, such as grassroots influence, networking and events, and access to more resources and products. The Minnesota Chamber’s vision is a future for business that improves the lives of all Minnesotans. Yes, they along with us, speak for employers, but the good work that we all do—and more importantly, that our members do—helps
maintain our cherished quality of life in Minnesota. For the last 115 years, the Chamber has provided the business community a collective voice and successfully shaped Minnesota’s environment to help businesses thrive and grow within our state. Together, we are Minnesota’s largest broad-based business organization, representing more than 2,500 companies and more than a half-million employees throughout Minnesota. The Chambers help advance public policy that grows jobs and the economy and provide valuable services to members so they remain and grow in Minnesota. For more details on the Minnesota Chamber’s Small Business Federation and the River Heights Chamber, visit www. riverheights.com.
Today, the need for food support is great in northern Dakota County. The availability of healthy food in our communities has an impact on all of us. We know that proper nutrition results in a stronger workforce, better educational outcomes for our children, better health for us all, and reduced disparities among communities. The communities that Neighbors supports, which includes South St. Paul and West St. Paul, have some of the lowest incomes in Dakota County. The free and reduced lunch rate throughout the county averages 28%. In the area we serve, that rate ranges from 41-67% of the student body at any given school. At Neighbors, we are responding to the need for additional food support in a variety of ways. Our food shelf served more than 16,500 individuals in 2019, an increase of 13% over 2018. Our newly created daily food distribution program, Neighbors Express, offers produce, bread and other staples to help individuals and families who are between visits to the food shelf. The number of people served in this program has tripled since it began last October. We also provide food
support in the form of a summer meal program for youth, distribution of the Nutritional Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS) and the administration of a monthly food distribution at Kaposia Elementary. We are able to provide this support because of the community’s generosity. Each year we participate in Minnesota FoodShare’s March Campaign. It is the largest food and fund drive in the state. For Neighbors it is a time to raise tons of food and thousands of dollars, all of which helps sustain our ability to help people year-round. If you are interested in participating in the campaign, visit www.neighborsmn.org. In spite of headlines about a booming economy and record unemployment, we know that members of our community are struggling. They are struggling because of the high cost of housing, medical expenses, low-wage jobs and other factors. One way to help our neighbors is to ensure that they have healthy food to eat each day. With the support of our community this month and every month, we will do our part to help our neighbors thrive by connecting them to the food support they need.
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Waiting lists change and may be open. Please call the property to inquire. Albright Townhomes Minneapolis Chancellor Manor Burnsville Cornerstone Creek Apartments Golden Valley For developmentally disabled individuals. Dale Street Place St. Paul Diamond Hill Townhomes Minneapolis Elliot Park Apartments Minneapolis Franklin Lane Apartments Anoka Hamline St. Paul Hanover Townhomes St. Paul Haralson Apple Valley Hopkins Village Apartments Hopkins Lincoln Place Apartments Mahtomedi Oakland Square Minneapolis Olson Townhomes Minneapolis Park Plaza Apartments Minneapolis Prairie Meadows Eden Prairie Ramsey Hill St. Paul Raspberry Ridge Apartments Hopkins Slater Square Apartments 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 Page 10 - South St. Paul Voice - March 2020
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B ack in Time
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Oliver Edmund Clubb South St. Paul’s most famous diplomat Lois Glewwe Contributor
O
liver Edmund Clubb was born in South St. Paul at the turn of the 20th century and went on to an illustrious career in the Foreign Service, holding posts in the Far East and China. His career ended when he was accused of being a Communist by Sen. Joe McCarthy during his 1950s campaign to “out” alleged members of the Communist Party working in the U.S. government. Although Clubb was completely cleared, he left the Foreign Service and spent the next 30-plus years as a university professor, esteemed lecturer and published author. Clubb was born on Feb. 16, 1901. After his father, the first Oliver Edmund Clubb, passed away in 1906, his mother Lillian Nichol Clubb took him and his siblings Lester and Elva to Grant County, Wis., to live with her cousin Ralph
Frank, a widower with three children of his own. The family returned to South St. Paul a few years later. Clubb graduated from South St. Paul High School at midterm 1916-17, and at age 17 enlisted in the military and served in World War I. After the war he attended the University of Washington, and later the University of Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1927. The next year he joined the Foreign Service of the U.S. government. His career in the Foreign Service lasted nearly 24 years, with all foreign posts in Asia, mostly China. Clubb first served in what was then called Peking as a language officer, then in the Consulate General in Hangzhou on the Yangtze River at the time of the Great Flood in 1931. A second assignment to Peking was marked by the outbreak of the SinoJapanese War in 1937. On Dec. 5, 1941, two days before the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor, Clubb, then in Indochina, was seized by occupying Japanese forces and held for two months in solitary confinement, then another six months in prison. He was eventually part of a prisoner exchange between the Japanese and the allied forces. Despite his imprisonment Clubb volunteered to return to China and spent the rest of the war and the immediate postwar period in the Far East, Manchuria and China. Returning to the United States after a three-year separation from his family, Clubb was assigned to Vladivostok, Russia, and promoted to the rank of Consul General, serving there from 1944-46. Three years later he was named Consul General at his last overseas station in Beijing. When the U.S. left that country during the Communist takeover by Mao Zedong, he returned to Washington, D.C. and became Chief of State China desk.
In 1950-1951, McCarthy investigated and condemned Clubb during the senator’s famous hunt for what he believed were secret Communists in government positions. Clubb was deemed a security risk by the State Department Loyalty Board and suspended. One cause for his suspension was the recollection of Whittaker Chambers, who, as part of FBI inquiries related to the Hiss Case, had recalled Clubb’s visit in 1932 to the offices of the New Masses, an American Marxist magazine closely associated with the Communist Party. Clubb was delivering a letter from Agnes Smedley, a wellknown left-wing American journalist in China. Clubb denied any wrongdoing by delivering the letter, the contents of which he did not know. Clubb won an appeal for reinstatement but then resigned after deciding his career was finished. After
Oliver Edmund Clubb retirement from the Foreign Service, he undertook a new career as a writer and academician. He lectured and taught at several American universities and wrote many books and hundreds of articles on his experience in Field Service. Clubb and his wife Mariann had two children, Oliver E. Clubb, Jr., and Zoe Mariana Gleysteen, and lived in
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New York City. He died May 9, 1989, two years after he was inducted into the Otto Bremer South St. Paul Hall of Excellence. He was not well enough to attend the induction ceremony but sent fond greetings to his hometown. His brother Lester, who had farmed in Inver Grove Heights, represented the family at the commemoration.
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H ome Improvement Planning a home project?
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Avoid these three common DIY mistakes With the arrival of spring comes the itch to make home improvements and oftentimes homeowners jump in before fully researching how to do the job right. Here are three common DIY mistakes to avoid. 1. Failure to secure permits Many renovation projects require permits before a project can commence. Some may even require additional permits as the project advances. If permits are not secured, homeowners may be fined and the project may be nixed, regardless of how much money the homeown-
er has spent up to that point. Before beginning a project, always contact your city to determine if any permits are required. 2. Overestimating your abilities DIY television shows make home renovation projects look easy, but reality suggests otherwise. Even online tutorials tend to make jobs appear easier than they are. Homeowners should fully research the time, tools and materials required for their project, and consider soliciting help from a friend with construction experi-
Think Spring!
3. Incorrect materials Oftentimes, DIYers do not choose the correct materials for the job, which leads to substandard quality, and oftentimes extra time and money to fix. Also, a variety of tools are needed for any project. Trying to complete a job without the proper tools will lead to frustration and a trip to the hardware store or rental center to purchase the tools needed. Those lacking tools should include that cost into their budget.
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For more information, call 651-675-4465 *
Repayable when ownership changes or you move from the property. You may be required to repay the loan if you refinance your home or take out a home equity loan.
Page 12 - South St. Paul Voice - March 2020
Projects that boost home value Front door - Be sure to match the door’s style with the style of the house. Kitchens - New counterHANDYMAN tops, cabinetry and flooring MR.transform LARRY FOR can one HIRE of the most-widely used repairs rooms in I do painting, the&house. cleaning of homes Bedrooms - Create an adand apartments ditional bedroom in an attic Window Washing
or basement Windows - Energy savings help offset the replacement cost for those who plan to stay in their home. Patios and decks – Both offer more space for living and entertaining. Adding an outdoor kitchen also increases a home’s value. Garage door – A new garage door adds great curb ap-
peal. If that’s too expensive, a good cleaning and new coat of paint on an existing door makes a big difference. New landscaping - Installing a walkway, stone planters, mulch and shrubs are ideas to consider. Dying landscape should be replaced.
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Home, Auto, Business, Financial Services 651-457-6348 Branch and Bough Tree Service and Landscape Care
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Demolition and Construction Waste | Trash & Lawn Debris Furniture & Appliances | Tires and much more We will drop off a container or dumpster for you and haul it away once it's filled. If you prefer to save money, you can haul your trash to our refuse and recycling station. We accept all items in large or small quantities. We also offer many sizes of roll off containers, from 10 to 40 cubic yards.
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