South St. Paul Arts & Entertainment
Back in Time
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Volume 16 | Number 3
Mississippi River
Hidden Falls and Crosby Farm regional parks to be improved Tim Spitzack Editor
Your Community News & Information Source
March 2019
After 8 decades, SSP quilter still churns out impressive heirlooms
Deb Griffith South St. Paul Community Affairs Liaison
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ew trails, improved park access and habitat restoration are among the many improvements the City of St. Paul plans to make to Hidden Falls and Crosby Farm regional parks in the coming years. The City is using feedback from an online survey and several community meetings held last year to create a new master plan to guide improvement projects for the parkland, located along the east bank of the Mississippi River. The plan will be submitted to the Metropolitan Council in mid March and approval is expected in June. Nearly half of all park users drive to the park and the majority of others get there by bike or on foot, according to more than 900 responses to the online survey and feedback at community meetings and events. With the high number of people walking, running or biking to the park it’s not surprising that trail improvement topped peoples’ wish list. Observing birds and wildlife, and picnicking were the other most popular uses, which led to the public asking for more ways to access the river, and for better management of invasive species within the parks. They also desired upgraded restrooms. Priority projects of the plan include the following. For more information, visit www.stpaul.gov and Regional parks / Page 9
Youth spearhead annual food drive
Photo by Chuck Nowlen
Master quilter Jeannette Root displays her prized “Poppy Wreaths” in her South St. Paul home. This is the only quilt she has ever reserved for display purposes only. All others are intended for regular use.
The creations of Jeannette Root featured in Star Quilters show at DCHS Lawshe Museum Chuck Nowlen Contributor
isn’t a hobby for 86-year-old JeanQuilting nette Root. It’s her passion. It’s her muse. It may very well be part of her DNA.
At age 5, Root got her first taste of quilting from her grandmother, and the art form has helped keep her incredibly active ever since. She absolutely beams when speaking of her craft. “It’s addictive and incurable,” said Root, who co-founded the Dakota County Star Quilters group in 1995. “Some people gamble. Some people drink. Some people waste their time Jeannette Root / Page 3
arch is right around the corner and the South St. Paul Mayor’s Youth Task Force is rolling out the Annual 55075 Food Drive Campaign. This year’s theme is 55075–A Community in Action. Our goal is 55,075 pounds. In 2018, Neighbors, Inc. distributed nearly one million pounds of food to more than 5,600 families in northern Dakota County. Ninety-nine percent of clients visiting Neighbors, Inc. are at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. One in five families in Minnesota with children struggles with hunger, and 39 percent of clients at Neighbors, Inc. are under the age of 18. These are some powerful numbers. Why March? Donations of food/ funds during the month of March is critical to keep the shelves stocked at Neighbors, Inc. “We count on the generosity of our donors during Minnesota FoodShare in March to help us provide for the hungry all year long,” said Susan Schroeder, director of mission fulfillment at Neighbors. “It is a needed boost between times of increased need.” March is the designated month when food shelves from across the state engage in a friendly competition to see who can raise the most pounds of food and/or monetary Community food drive / Page 8
Local food shelves ready for FoodShare push Campaign runs Feb. 25-April 7 Chuck Nowlen Contributor
A
s this year’s Minnesota FoodShare Campaign gains steam through April 7, local food-shelf teams are hustling and ready with donation sites, tips for firsttime users, strategies to battle stigmas and myths, and
ever-evolving ways to meet clients’ nutritional needs. In food-shelf circles, this time of year is a 6-week Super Bowl. “We literally wouldn’t be able to sustain if we didn’t participate in the FoodShare campaign,” said Joan Schlecht, director of programs at Neighborhood House, whose two main food support outlets serve several areas in St. Paul. “It’s
actually critical because it extends our ability to purchase foods throughout the year. It also gives us greater variety in both the food and the services we offer.” Neighborhood House operates the Wellstone Center Food Market, 179 Robie St. E., and Highland’s Francis Basket Food Market at Sibley Manor, 1293 W. Maynard Dr. Scott Andrews, food pro-
grams manager at Neighbors, Inc., is also big fan of FoodShare month. “Donations tend to drop off in January and February,” said Andrews of his food shelf at 222 Grand Ave. W., South St. Paul, which serves several communities in northern Dakota County, including West St. Paul and Mendota Heights. “FoodShare inspires people to get in the giving mood again.”
Launched in 1982, the Minnesota FoodShare campaign sponsors food and funding drives in concert with community groups, businesses and faith organizations to stock about 300 food shelves statewide. Once donations are received, FoodShare allocates funding to participating food shelves, based in part by their respective money- and food-donation totals during each year’s
campaign. Andrews and Schlecht agree that changing social attitudes and years of outreach, partnership-building and operational updates have helped boost their groups’ inventory and client outreach in recent years. Last year, for example, the Neighborhood House food support program disFoodshare campaign / Page 2
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Foodshare campaign from page 1
tributed more than one million pounds of fresh produce and food market items to its clients, up from 810,262 pounds in 2017. The Neighbors, Inc. Food Shelf, meanwhile, provided food and bakery items to nearly 62,000 clients in 2018, up from 52,905 clients the year before.
Tips for firsttime users Schlecht and Andrews offer three basic tips for new clients: • Check requirements before you visit. Emergency help is typically available on the spot, but in general one major visit is allowed each month. Monthly visits are intended to supplement SNAP food benefits, daily fresh produce and bakery item programs, weekly bonus items, special food assistance for seniors, school lunches and other assistance. Monthly food limits at some shelves vary according to the number of people in a household. Other rules may also apply. For details, contact:
• Neighborhood House, 651-789-2500, http:// neighb.org/program/foodsupportprogram • Neighbors, Inc., 651455-5000, https://www. neighborsmn.org/services/ food-shelf • Be prepared for a detailed initial meeting. First-time visitors will need identity and address verification for themselves and their household members. They will also likely be asked additional questions to determine if other types of assistance are available for them. Neighbors, Inc., for example, also runs a Clothes Closet Thrift Store and a Support Services program. Neighborhood House offers programs on housing, community health and insurance, education and youth leadership. After the first meeting, future monthly visits are typically much quicker. • Plan for post-visit transportation, especially those from large households. “Be aware that you’ll get a lot of food every month,” said Andrews. “Many realize when they’re done that
they might be leaving with something like 100 pounds of food. So it’s good to have transportation home figured out – and maybe help unloading – before you get here.”
Stigmas and innovation Although they’re fading, myths and stigmas still exist for food shelf users. “Nobody likes being in this situation,” said Andrews. That’s why both Neighbors, Inc. and Neighborhood House have designed their food outlets, and staff and volunteer teams to be as welcoming and supportive as possible. Many visitors are surprised to find that many food shelves resemble smaller versions of retail grocery stores and food co-ops, with tall, neatly packed shelves; large freezers and coolers; user-friendly lighting and signage; modern shopping carts; courteous and helpful staff and volunteers; preweighed food; and efficient weigh-in and check-out stations. Schlecht said the term “food shelf ” has been strategically replaced by “food market” at the Wellstone and
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The high degree of community generosity is evidenced by the overflowing donation barrels at Neighbors, Inc. after last year’s FoodShare campaign. Francis Basket sites to further de-stigmatize the visitor shopping experience. Wider public recognition of the social costs of wasted food and nutrition-based chronic diseases has brought more fresh fruits and vegetables into the donation mix as well. In addition, culturally oriented foods – staples for Asian, African, Latino and Eastern European visitors, for example – are also on the rise. Another operational evolution is the “food rescue” partnerships with retail groceries, as well as donation and programming partnerships with area farmers’ markets, social service agencies, schools, colleges and others. “Besides getting people food and making people feel welcome, building relationships is our No. 1 goal,” Schlecht says.
Going mobile Schlecht mentioned mobile public food distributions as a potential area for expansion areas. Neighbor-
hood House has already begun experimenting with truck deliveries to community gathering places around St. Paul. Five events are held June through October, followed by one each month from November through May. The summer events, which resemble a farmers’ market, are set up outdoors at the Wellstone Center, the Francis Basket site, John A. Johnson Elementary School and Dayton’s Bluff Elementary School. The winter events are held in the Metropolitan State University Community Room on Seventh Street East. Second Harvest Heartland, also based in St. Paul, is another collaborator in mobile distributions and many other local food shelf initiatives as well. “We distribute 5,000 to 12,000 pounds of food to between 150 and 250 families at each of them,” said Schlecht of the mobile events. “Sometimes the food can be gone in less than an hour.”
What’s the X factor in all of this? Volunteers, of course. Without them, none of it would be possible. Neighbors, Inc. boasts about 1,400 throughout the year. Neighborhood House has about 155 per week, with as many as 15 student interns helping out every semester, too. “They just want to help people,” Schlecht said of her group’s volunteers. “They just want to be sure people’s needs are met.” Volunteers were certainly well-represented during a morning visit to the South St. Paul Food Shelf during late-January’s Polar Vortex deep freeze. About a dozen volunteers of all ages and stripes took turns unloading a huge semi-truck, hustling in and out of wind chill that was at least 10- or 20-below. It speaks volumes that none of them – not one single volunteer –agreed to have his or her photo taken to give their work some recognition.
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The South St. Paul Voice is published monthly and distributed to 8,500 homes and high traffic businesses in South St. Paul. Publisher & Editor: Tim Spitzack Copy Editor: Leslie Martin Advertising Manager: John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer: John Molene
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Jeannette Root from page 1
at football games. We quilt.” Root’s South St. Paul home is filled with numerous eye-popping examples of intricate treasures she’s sewn. Many are draped over custom wooden racks crafted by her late husband Arnold. “Last Christmas I put quilts all over the floor and told my grandchildren to take whatever one they wanted,” said Root with a chuckle. “I got rid of 26 that day. That’s how you make room for more. Then I realized that I still had probably 150 around the house.” About a dozen of Root’s most prized creations are featured through Mar. 15 at the Dakota County Star Quilters’ 24th annual Quilt Show at the Dakota County Historical Society, 130 3rd Ave. N., South St. Paul. Work by other Star Quilters is on display as well. That group meets monthly for a host of activities, including guest speakers and themed demonstrations and sew-ins. Often, they create loads of charity donations
for the homeless, children in crisis, the mentally ill and others in need. Root emphasizes that with rare exceptions even the group’s most technically accomplished and visually stunning masterpieces are not intended only for display. “Quilts are meant to warm your soul – and your body,” she said, citing her craft’s origins of giving new life to spare bits of household fabric. “So when I make one and give it away, I expect it to be used. That’s what they’re there for.”
Learning early Root’s home, which she and Arnold dubbed “Root’s Roost,” is located on the last remaining lot carved out of the 50-acre Brown Swiss dairy farm formerly owned and operated by her father, Louis Nauer. Root’s mother Marie quilted there. So did both of her grandmothers, one of whom lived on the farm with the family.
Her maternal grandmother Kathrine Moser loved going to country-style quilting bees and one day started bringing 5-year-old Jeannette along. The youngster would usually sit under the enormous quilt frame while the women around her stitched and talked. “Every once in awhile my grandmother would give me a needle and let me stitch a little bit,” said Root. “I’m sure now that afterward she redid a lot of what I’d done. I didn’t notice then. I just thought it was fun.” Root went on to raise five kids of her own: Rosemary, Stephen, Teresa, Peggy and Bob. She was a church organist for a long while and was happily married for 47 years. Arnold died in 2000. Quilting, of course, stayed with Jeanette all along. “I did all of these things and quilted for my sanity’s sake,” she said. “Quilting was always sort of my resting place.” Eventually, she became president of the St. Paulbased Minnesota Quilters, Inc., which put her in touch with guilds, clubs, shows and shops all over the state. During one trip, Root and
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‘Quilts are meant to warm your soul – and your body,’ said Root. ‘So when I make one and give it away, I expect it to be used.’ Janet Schuetze, Barb Boyd and Jolene Graham decided to form their own group. When they approached the Dakota County Historical Society for permission to put up membership posters, they were asked to organize a quilting show there ASAP. Five months later, in February 1995, the first annual Star Quilters show debuted without a hitch. Root describes herself as tending toward the traditional in her work, but she’s always willing to experiment with the latest “wild” fabrics and colors, as well as the full spectrum of new methods and styles. Don’t assume that Root is hard-wired to old-fashioned hand-sewing and treadlemachine quilting technology. When this reporter arrived for a recent interview, the first thing Root showed off was the brand new, fully loaded, computerized Bernina sewing machine in her work room.
“Some say it’s not authentic quilting unless you do it the old-fashioned way,” she said. “But I know for a fact that my grandmother – if she would’ve had this kind of machine, she would have used it because it’s a timesaver. Plus, this thing does everything but wash the dishes.”
Quilt show This year’s Star Quilters show – guided by the slogan “Color Makes Me Happy” – features a continuous quilt auction, where visitors can bid on their favorites each day; a boutique bargain store stocked with fabric and other items; and presentations by Blue Earth master quilter Mike Ellingson. The show is free but a donation to the Dakota County Historical Society is requested to help defray operating costs. Show hours through Mar. 15 are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thursday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, contact the Historical Society’s Lawshe Museum at 651-552-7548 or visit www. dakotahistory.org. For more information on the Dakota County Star Quilters, visit www.dcsq.org or contact Tiffany Wong at tiffanyw@trueworldgroup. com. The group is always open to new members, and you don’t have to be an expert like Root to fit in. Many skill levels and ages are represented. Root said some are drawn to the group’s charity component, while others are mostly interested in the fellowship. It’s a highly accepting collection of women eager to bring out the best in everyone, and men are certainly welcome, too. “We all learn from each other, each and every one of us,” said Root. “In fact, I think that’s the main thing.”
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Denny Tetu: revered coach, teacher and mentor Part II John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer
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n the spring of 1957 three events converged that shaped Denny Tetu’s adult life. After several attempts to land a job as a teacher and coach failed to materialize, out of nowhere came the opportunity to do both at South St. Paul High School. On May 31, he married his college sweetheart, Peggy Smith, and a few days later graduated with a liberal arts degree from Macalester College. At age 21, Tetu’s life was in order and he was energized and excited about what lay ahead. “I could tell right away that South St. Paul was a vibrant community,” he said in a recent interview. “Immigrant families were drawn there by the promise of work in the stockyards and our vital and dynamic school system was blessed with great support from parents who
wished for their kids to get the sort of education that had eluded them.” In late August 1957, Tetu officially became the third member of the varsity football coaching staff, joining Julie Arnquist and legendary head coach Steve Silianoff. “People run out of superlatives when they talk about Silianoff,” said Tetu. “Part of it was because he was a war hero and a great coach, but it was his sincerity and modesty that impressed me. He never took credit for anything. He always deflected it toward his assistant coaches and the players. And he was also beloved as a teacher and mentor.” It was the talented and undefeated 1956 B-squad that had moved Silianoff to submit a request to the school board to add a third varsity football coach. The board agreed to do so, and it was Tetu and the kids he coached who were the beneficiaries. When that B-squad team showed up as seniors
Peggy and Denny Tetu in 1958, they put together one of the most memorable seasons in the history of the program. The Packers outscored their eight opponents in the mighty Suburban Conference 195-20 and recorded six shutouts. They had gone more than a month without yielding a single point when Mounds View ended the streak in the final game
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of the season. Tetu, now 83, recalls the details of individual plays that unfolded 61 years ago as if they occurred yesterday. “We got a foolish roughing-the-passer penalty in the final seconds of the game that moved the ball to the one-yard-line,” he said. “And it still took them three more plays to get into the end zone. What a marvelous
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“I attended two St. Cloud games and studied the three formations they utilized on offense,” said Tetu. “The more I watched, the clearer it became that the plays called in a particular formation were all designed to attack the same hole. We had two great linebackers – Jim LeClair (later a member of the Cincinnati Bengals) and Jim Van Horn. Once they recognized the formation, they knew where the play was going and we sprung the 13-7 upset that cost them the state championship.” Tetu spent 16 seasons as a Silianoff assistant and an additional seven years under his successor Eugene Cherney. At the end of the 1957 football season, young Tetu switched his focus to hockey, as the new B-squad coach and a varsity assistant to another Packer legend, Lefty Smith. “Lefty’s strength was his charismatic personality that resonated with the players,”
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and unselfish team that ’58 bunch was.” In addition to coaching players on the practice field, Tetu became Silianoff’s lead scout. In this high tech era, schools routinely exchange game film that coaches can instantaneously load up and break down to prepare for their next opponent. A half century ago there was none of that as scouts traveled to the location where a future opponent was playing and tediously took notes and recorded information that would assist in formulating a game plan. Tetu got so good at it that he was invited to write an article about the art of scouting for a local football periodical. His most memorable effort came in 1967, when he was assigned to scout the unbeaten and #1-ranked team in the state, St. Cloud Tech. With a pedestrian record of 3-4, the Packers were prodigious underdogs as they prepared to play Tech in the final game of the season.
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S ports said Tetu. “He was a promoter and the perfect head coach for a hockey program as dominant and visible as ours. Although we didn’t win it, the Packers advanced to the state tournament in eight of his 11 seasons as the head coach.” In 1968, Smith was lured away to start a Division I collegiate hockey program at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. He served as the Irish head coach for 19 years and remained part of the school’s athletic department until his death in 2012. “There were just two of us – Dave Metzen and I – who submitted applications to succeed Lefty as the South St. Paul head coach,” said Tetu. “The school board selected me by a vote of four to three.” Undeterred, Metzen became superintendent of the South St. Paul School District and later served for numerous years as a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. “I’ve told Dave many times that the true beneficiaries of that 4-3 vote were the South St. Paul school system and the University of Minnesota, both of which would have been denied his effective leadership had he become the hockey coach,” said Tetu. Lefty Smith left behind a program with a championship pedigree, and Tetu felt the pressure from day one to deliver. Although his 1969 team won the Suburban Conference title, they entered post-season play with a mediocre record of 10-
Your community news and information source 7. They made amends by sweeping three games in the regional to earn a berth in the state tournament, which had moved that year from the St. Paul Auditorium to the Met Center in Bloomington. As luck would have it, the Packers’ first round opponent was none other than Greenway-Coleraine, the two-time defending state champion led by the great Mike Antonovich. “It was an incredible game. With 19 seconds left to go in regulation and skating a man short we scored to win it 4-3,” recalled Tetu. “In the semi-finals we lost to the eventual champion Edina. That set up the third-place game against Roseau, and believe it or not we scored with exactly 19 seconds to go to win that game by the same score of 4-3.” During his 9-year tenure as head coach, Tetu’s overall record was a scintillating 154-54-5. The Packers won or shared the Suburban Conference title six times and made three state tournament appearances. His best team, the 1973 squad, was 22-0 when they faced Henry Sibley in the regional championship game. “We had beaten them twice during the regular season,” said Tetu, “but they were a very good team and we lost a heartbreaker, 3-2. It’s was a tough one to swallow, but that’s sports, and you learn from it whether you win or lose.” After 21 years of coaching hockey at South St. Paul High School, Tetu called it quits at the end of
the 1977 season. “It was a great ride. The ’77 team was basically an allsenior team and I thought it was the right time for me to move on,” he said. “I was preceded by Lefty Smith and succeeded by Doug Woog. That’s pretty good company.” Tetu’s coaching career was not over by any means. In 1978, the Minnesota State High School League sanctioned girls softball, and Tetu agreed to serve as the South St. Paul’s first head coach. He enjoyed immediate success. “There were several quality summer softball leagues in South St. Paul and we definitely benefited from that,” said Tetu. “We came out of the chute on fire and won conference championships in 1979, 1981 and 1983.” His 1979 squad won the regional championship and advanced to the state tournament in Bloomington. The Packers were clearly in the mix for the title and returned home with the third place trophy. “That was a dream team,” said Tetu. “We were particularly strong on defense, and our pitching carried us all season. Those kids were very special and I still see members of that team.” Not to get lost in the shuffle is the incredible run Tetu had as a history instructor. He taught American and world history at the high school from 1957 to 1993. He also played a key role in spearheading the International Baccalaureate program when it was instituted in 1968. The program,
which has been in place for more than five decades, allows students who pass an I.B. course to earn college credits. Typical of a soul who is as organized as Tetu, it is not surprising that a good portion of his ninth grade I.B. classes involved instruction in the rudimentary art of taking notes, preparing outlines and writing essay tests – all important elements to master for students who wish to succeed at the collegiate level. “Teaching I.B. courses was the most stimulating teaching I have ever done,” said Tetu. “The kids in those classrooms were there because they wanted to be and it was impossible to not respond in kind to their dedication and enthusiasm.” In 1969, Tetu wrote his Master’s degree thesis on his adopted hometown. It’s entitled, “Birth of a City, South St. Paul to 1910,” and the original manuscript is in the South St. Paul Public Library. In the summer of 1992 the State of Minnesota created a program to encourage teachers in their mid-to-late fifties to retire by offering to pay for their health insur-
ance until the age of 65. Tetu thought it was a “cash cow” that he could not ignore and he retired at the end of the 1992-93 school year, at the age of 57. In the fall of 1994, the girls hockey program was launched at the high school, and Dave Palmquist, the new head coach, lured Tetu out of retirement to coach the B-squad. He did so for two seasons. In the summer of 1996 tragedy struck his family, and prevented him from returning to coaching. Tetu’s 13-year-old granddaughter Jenny Pennington was struck and killed by lightning while on a family vacation. His eyes moisten even now as he relates the story. Tetu was scheduled to return as the Bsquad coach for the 1996-97 season but he said the idea of working with girls the same age as Jenny on a daily basis was just too much for him to deal with so soon after her death. So he hung up his skates. Still robust in their early eighties, Denny and Peggy Tetu live active lives. They love to travel – they wisely slipped off to Hawaii just before the January polar vortex arrived – and are ful-
ly engaged with their family. Their two daughters and their husbands live nearby, as do their four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. “We love them all,” said Denny. SPV-MammaMar2019V-Eng.qxp_Layou
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Thompson Trucks and Parts, Inc. 316 Malden St. 455-9300 • MidWestOne Bank 835 Southview Blvd. 451-2133 • State Farm Christopher Kisch 625 Southview Blvd. 455-9700
Metzen Realty and Associates Co. 412 Southview Blvd. 455-2214 • Central Square Community Fitness Center “Where South St. Paul comes together” 100 - 7th Ave. N. 306-3690
Support South St. Paul & Shop Locally!
School Choice Directory Academia Cesar Chavez 1801 Lacrosse Ave., St. Paul 651-778-2940 www.cesarchavezschool.com
Saint Agnes School 530 Lafond Ave., St. Paul 651-925-8803 www.saintagnesschool.org Athletics Calendar: http://trimetro. org/public/genie/5/school/2/
St. Croix Lutheran Academy 1200 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul 651-455-1521 www.stcroixlutheran.org St. Paul City School PreK-8 260 Edmund Ave., St. Paul 651-225-9177 www.stpaulcityschool.org
For a link to explore these schools and for tips on how to choose a school that best fits your student’s and family’s needs...
Visit www.stpaulpublishing.com/schoolchoice.html South St. Paul Voice - March 2019 - Page 5
S ample St. Paul
Fitzgerald Theater
10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul 651-290-1200 www/fitzgeraldtheater. publicradio.org
The SteelDrivers, 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 2. The Grammy Awardwinning bluegrass quintet The SteelDrivers will be joined by special g u e s t s Ni c k e l & Ro s e . $33-$45. National Geographic Live, 7 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 21. Guest is Mirey Mayor, a former NFL cheerleader and daughter of Cuban immigrants who grew up in Miami. She is now a primatologist, explorer and Emmy Award-nominated wildlife correspondent for the National Geographic Channel. $15-$45.
Your community news and information source
The Second City: Made in America (Some Assembly Required), 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 23. The famous comedy troupe The Second City will present a revue that celebrates what makes Americans tick. $25-$55. “Terrible, Thanks for Asking Live,” 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 30. This theatrical presentation of Nora McInery’s podcast, which explores people’s complicated feelings, will feature live music and multimedia storytelling. $25-$30.
History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 www.mnhs.org
“Somalis + Minnesota,” through June 9. The
exhibit showcases Somali culture, from traditional life in Africa through the massive migration that began in the 1990s, to today’s large, well-established Minnesota Somali community. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, and $6 for children ages 5-17. Free on Tuesdays, 3-8 p.m.
History Theatre
10 E. Tenth St., St. Paul 651-292-4323 www.historytheatre.com
“Stewardess!,” through Mar. 3. In 1958, Mary Pat Laffey begins work as a stewardess for Northwest Orient Airlines. She and her female cohorts put up with endless weight checks, are prohibited from marrying or wearing eyeglasses, and must retire when they turn 32.
SAVE THE DATE... 100th Anniversary Celebration August 23-25
Photo courtesy of Giant Screen Films
“Cuba” opens Mar. 1 at the Omnitheater in the Science Muesum of Minnesota. The film explores Cuba’s history, art and science. Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and the second wave of feminism, this play tells the story of one woman’s fight over the span of 20 years to transform the lives of the women – and to change the consciousness of the men – with whom she works. $20$42, with discounts for seniors and students. “Sisters of Peace,” Mar. 23-April 14. Four sisters – Brigid, Jane, Rita and
Kate McDonald – grew up in a large Irish farm family in Hollywood Township, Minn., and each became a Catholic nun and devoted her life to teaching and peace activism. $20-$42, with discounts for seniors and students.
Mar. 3. Explore Romanian music, dance, crafts and traditions. Free.
Landmark Center
St. Paul Ballet will present a free performance noon-1 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 12.
75 W. 5th St., St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org
Urban Expedition, Romania, 1-3 p.m., Sunday,
NOW OPEN!
Schubert Club will present free concerts at noon, Thursday, Mar. 7, 21 and 28. Admission to the Schubert Club Museum is free 4-8 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 7.
BURGERS, SANDWICHES, PIZZA & MORE! Weekend Breakfast Fri. 8-10:30 am Sat.-Sun. 8-11:30 am
Sarma, Lamb, Pork on a Stick | 4 Great Bands Kids' Entertainment: Face Painting & Balloon Girl
456 Concord Exchange S., South St. Paul 651-350-7743
Friday Night Fish Fry - $12.99 after 4 pm Three 4 oz. pieces of baked or deep fried cod served with your choice of potato, homemade coleslaw and rye bread.
Saturday Night Prime Rib Dinner
Weddings | Graduations | Reunions Picnics | Funeral Luncheons Company Events & more
Croatian Hall & Grounds
445 Second Ave. So., South St. Paul 651-451-1453 Hrvatski Dom Association CHARITABLE GAMBLING B-00146
Page 6 - South St. Paul Voice - March 2019
PULL TABS DAILY
after 4 pm Served with seasoned green beans or vegetable of the day, your choice of potato and a dinner roll. King Cut $24.95; Queen Cut $21.95.
S ample St. Paul
Your community news and information source ous scandals in American sports history, when eight players from the Chicago White Sox conspired to fix the 1919 World Series. $50-$130. Cherish the Ladies, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 21. The Irish-American supergroup will perform its hits. $32-$42. Cantus vocal ensemble concert, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Mar. 22. The concert explores themes of adolescence, companionship, parenthood, masculinity and morality. $23-$43.
Photo by Tyrone Domingo
Contra-Tiempo is coming to the Ordway Center on Saturday, Mar. 9. The group’s Latin social dance performance infuses elements of salsa, Afro-Cuban and urban dance styles. St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration, 10 a.m.5 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 16, The Irish Music & Dance Association will present regional and local Irish entertainment, Irish dance, Celtic vendors, Irish cuisine, pipe bands and children’s crafts and entertainment. $5-$7. Day of Irish Dance, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 17. Join the Irish Music & Dance Association for a day of Irish Dance. $5-$7. Urban Expedition, Great Britan, 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 31. Explore music, dance, crafts and traditions of Great Britan. Free.
Ordway Center
flying umbrellas, fabrics in the wind, giant kites and balloons, and more. $21-$28.
345 Washington St. St. Paul 651-224-4222 www.ordway.org
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concerts: Christian Zacharias Plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., Friday, Mar. 1; Jonathan Biss Plays Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, 11 a.m., Friday, Mar. 15 and 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 16; Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, 8 p.m., Friday, Mar. 29 and 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 30. Air Play, 11 a.m., Saturday, Mar. 2. A circusstyle adventure that uses
Concordia Choir concert, 4 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 3. Concordia Moorhead presents The Concordia Choir with the SingersMinnesota Choral Artists. $17-$42. Contra-Tiempo, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 9. $22-$42. A Latin social dance performance that infuses elements of salsa, Afro-Cuban and urban dance styles. $22-$42. “The Fix,” Mar. 1624. Minnesota Opera will present the story of one of the most notori-
7 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 19 (from $60); Tori Kelly, 8 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 21 (from $35); St. Paul and the Broken Bones, 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 23 (from $30); Jenny Lewis, 8 p.m., Friday, Mar. 29 (from $30); Bob Mould Band, 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 30 (from $16.50).
Park Square Theatre
20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul 651-291-7005 www.parksquaretheatre.org
Classic Albums Live presents “A bbey Road,” 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 23. Musicians will perform the tracks from this classic Beatles album, note for note, cut for cut. $31-$57.
“Antigone,” through Mar. 3. A reimagined, devised, adaptation of this classic Greek drama explores civil disobedience, fidelity and a family torn apart by pride. $20-$60.
The Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 24. $37-$58.
“The Skin of our Teeth,” through Mar. 3. Meet the Antrobus family of contemporary and prehistoric New Jersey, who have survived ice, floods, war, family strife, political conventions and other
Dream Theater concert, 8 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 28. $48-$89. Boyz II Men concert, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Mar. 31. $58-$111.
calamities with their hope intact. $20-$60.
Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org
Game Changers, through May 5. A handson exhibit that explores the history of gaming. Museum tickets are $18.95 for adults and $12.95 for children and seniors. Omnitheater tickets are $9.95 and $8.95 respectively. “Cuba,” Mar. 1-Aug. 4. This Omnitheater film explores Cuba’s rich architectural heritage, which dates to the 16th century. Meet a student at the Cuban National Ballet School, the largest ballet academy in the world. Dive deep into Cuba’s coral reefs with a team of marine biologists. Discover this nation’s history, art and science.
Palace Theatre
17 W. 7th Place, St. Paul 612-388-8388 www.palacestpaul.com
Concerts: James Blake, 8 p.m., Monday, Mar. 4 (from $43.50); the Revivalists, 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 9 (from $40); Vince Staples, 8 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 16 (from $32.50); Bob Weir and Wolf Bros,
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Bach’s Double Violin Concerto Thursday, March 28, 7:00pm
Haydn’s Surprise Symphony with Jonathan Cohen
Humboldt High School, Saint Paul
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South St. Paul Voice - March 2019 - Page 7
N ews Briefs
Your community news and information source
Community food drive from page 1
donations. Additional grant money is allocated based on ranking. Overall, the March campaign helps stock nearly 300 food shelves statewide. How can you get involved? Join the youth in the community to help get the word out and donate. In the first half of March, donation
door hangers will be available to deliver throughout the community. We need help delivering them. We are going green this year and will not be providing bags to place your food in. Please place your donation in your own bag or box. On Saturday, Mar. 23,
Food fight competition
Cards can be purchased at www.picatic.com/foodfight2019 or at the Neighbors, Inc. office, 222 Grand Ave. W., South St. Paul, during regular business hours. For more information, visit www.neighborsmn.org/ events.
Neighbors, Inc. is hosting its fifth annual Food Fight competition through Mar. 31. To participate, purchase a card for $30, enjoy a burger at five restaurants, then cast your vote for the winning burger. Participating restaurants are: B-52 Burgers & Brew (The Hangover Burger); BLVD Bar + Grille (BLVD Bourbon Bacon Burger); Jersey’s Bar & Grill (Cheesiest Burger in MN); Kaposia Club (Stockyards Burger) and Mississippi Pub (All American Burger). Proceeds support the emergency and supportive service programs at Neighbors, Inc.
Student notes University of MinnesotaCrookston: Hannah Handwerk received a bachelor of science in management with high distinction. Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.: Maeve Mellen and Ryan Krech were named to the dean’s list. The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth: Christian
we’ll have volunteers at Southview Center collecting food donations from 10 a.m. to noon. We also have volunteers available to pick up donations. Are you part of a neighborhood group, book club or community organization that can help us collect nonperishable food items for the campaign? We invite you to join us. We are excited to
announce a new partnership with the South St. Paul Police Department and the Doug Woog Arena. Mark your calendar for April 6 for Cram the Cruiser Food Drive and Skate. Members of the police department will be collecting non-perishable food items in their police cruiser, as well as skating with the community. Let’s Cram the Cruiser!
Rund was named to the dean’s list. University of NebraskaLincoln dean’s list: Marcus Molumby and Patrick Schmidt.
Community preschool
Senior activities The Senior Center at Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Ave. N., South St. Paul, hosts a variety of activities for older adults, including penny bingo, classic and current movies, cards and specialty activities. Membership is not required to attend these activities. Membership is $10/ per year and includes a subscription to the bi-monthly newsletter.
The South St. Paul Community Preschool program at Kaposia Education Center and Lincoln Center has limited openings and is accepting registrations for the current school year for children who were age 3 or 4 by September 1. Register online at www.ssppreschool. tridistrictce.org or at the Family Education Center, 104 5th Ave S., South St. Paul. Voluntary PreK classes for 4-year-olds are free at Kaposia Education Center and Lincoln Center. Classes for 3-year-olds are available at both sites at a reduced cost and with scholarships available. For more information, call 651-457-9418.
Community garden plots Looking for a place to grow organic vegetables? Consider renting a plot at the community garden at the First Presbyterian Church of South St. Paul. The church is also seeking volunteers to assist with its plot that provides fresh produce for the Neighbor’s Inc. food shelf. Master Gardeners of Dakota County teach organic gardening methods to plot renters and also plant a demonstration plot. Cost is $35 for a 10-by-15-foot plot and $45 for a 10-by20-foot plot. For more information on helping with the food shelf garden or renting a plot, call Julie at 651-459-5607 or the church office at 651-4516223, or visit http://www. fpcssp.org/serve/community-garden/.
Free English classes South Suburban Adult Basic Education offers free classes at 517 Marie Ave. South St. Paul, to help people age 17 and older learn English and improve literacy skills. To register or receive more information, call 651306-3632. Page 8 - South St. Paul Voice - March 2019
Now is the time for individuals, corporations, schools, organizations and the entire community to come together to help us reach our goal for this year’s South St. Paul Food Drive. If each South St. Paul resident donates just 2.5 pounds of food –equal to a couple cans of peas, a box of macaroni, or a box of oatmeal – we will make our goal of
L I B R A R Y
55,075 pounds. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, make checks payable to Neighbors, Inc. Monetary donations will be counted as part of the total. To get involved, contact Deb Griffith at 651-554-3230 or deb. griffith@southstpaul.org. Can we count on you to be part of the 55075–A Community in Action Food Drive?
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, Wedneday, Mar. 6. This hands-on cooking class provides advice on healthy eating, planning meals and working together in the kitchen.. Registration required. Book discussions - “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi is the title discussed in March. Meetings are held 1 p.m., Wednesday, Mar. 13, and 7 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 14. How to Write a Will, 6-7:30 p.m., Monday, Mar. 18. Get free, practical advice on how to write a will from Estate Planning attorney Ryan McLaughlin of McLaughlin Law, LLC. The presentation covers wills, power of attorney, health care directive, trusts, guardianship and more. Native American Beadwork, 6-8 p.m., Monday, Mar. 25. Artist Julie Kastigar Boada of the Fond du Lac nation will discuss the art of beading and help participants make a beaded pouch. Registration required. Rock, Rattle, and Rhyme, 6:15 p.m., Monday, Mar. 11, 18 and 25. Ages birth to 3 are invited to enjoy rhymes, songs, sign language, books and play time that teaches early literacy and socialization skills. Storytime for ages 2-6, 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, Mar. 12 and 26. Participants will read, write, sing, play and enjoy stories and activities that develop early literacy skills. Stories at Lawshe Memorial Museum, 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, Mar. 19. The Dakota County Historical Society and South St. Paul Public Library are collaborating for a special storytime that makes history come alive. Ages 2-6. Ozobots for Homeschoolers, 11 a.m.-noon, Friday, Mar. 1. Draw a path with markers to make an Ozobot, a mini robot. Ages 5 and older. Woven Cup Creations, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Mar. 13. Learn how to weave by making a cup to hold pencils, markers or other supplies. Registration required. Ages 6-14. Spring Make and Take, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Mar. 14. Create your own basket of spring-inspired crafts. Ages 3-12. International Day of Forests Celebration, 6:307:30 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 21. Listen to a reading of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” and take part in crafts, games and activities that celebrate the ways forests sustain and protect us. Ages 6-14. Playful Parenting: The Not Fighting Workshop, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Mar. 23. Learn storytelling, improvisation, theater and creativity techniques for better communication, less stress and more creativity at home. Youth ages 6 and older with their caregivers.
C ommunity
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Regional parks from page 1
search Hidden Falls Crosby Farm master plan. • Expand the park near the former Ford plant site • Add rustic nature trails to create 5-mile loops, as well as other trails that go to the river • Develop managed mountain bike trail loops • Add new trails from Watergate Marina to Lower Crosby Farm • Add cross country ski trails • Improve and extend trails at Hidden Falls, and improve the trail from the pavilion to the falls • Redesign bike and pedestrian trails along entry roads • Develop better methods to control those who don’t keep their dog on a leash • Improve parking areas at Hidden Falls, and sight lines at Mississippi River Boulevard entrances • Relocate the Hidden Falls parking lot and realign the parkway to create more park space • Increase parking lot surveillance • Improve Shepard Road crossing
• Add a canoe launch at Crosby Farm Park • Add paddling and water safety programming • Develop a rustic group tent camping area for permitted events • Restore the lawn near the Hidden Falls Pavilion to accommodate group events and other gatherings • Construct a new naturebased play area • Improve the boardwalk and fishing pier • Invasive species management • Manage stormwater runoff by constructing conveyance systems and planting vegetation • Restore native floodplain meadows, wetland areas and Hidden Falls Creek to improve water quality and habitat. To fund the plan’s highest priority projects, the City has requested $500,000 from Parks and Trails Legacy funds – $100,000 in 2019 and $400,000 in 2020 – and will seek State Capitol Improvement Project (CIP) funds and additional legacy funds for future projects.
Sketch courtesy of the City of St. Paul
This sketch shows some of the priority projects for Hidden Falls and Crosby Farm regional parks.
Learning Center A preliminary study is also underway for building a River Learning Center at Crosby Farm Park. This is a separate project led by the Great River Passage Initiative of the City of St. Paul. The center would provide year-round programming to promote the culture, history and ecology of the Mississippi River. It may also serve as the head-
quarters of the National Park Service’s Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. For more information, visit https://greatriverpassage.org/ projects/.
Park history Hidden Falls Regional Park, named after its small spring-fed waterfall, dates to 1887. It was improved significantly in 1936-37 during
a WPA project, and again in the 1960s. It is used primarily for hiking through primitive areas, boat launching, picnics and viewing the falls. Crosby Farm Regional Park is named after Thomas Crosby, an English im-
migrant who farmed 160 acres in the area near today’s Shepard Road and I-35E. The St. Paul Port Authority purchased the land in the early 1960s and leased it to the City for park use. Today, its primary uses are hiking/ running, picnics and fishing.
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Come to Church!
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., Mar. 6
South St. Paul Voice - March 2019 - Page 9
C ommunity
Your community news and information source
Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO
T
his month we are focusing on business and commerce. I thought it would be fitting to shine a light on a business component of Neighbors, Inc. Neighbors’ Clothes Closet Thrift Store has been around since the founding of Neighbors, Inc. in 1972. In a recent
Jennifer L. Gale president
South Washington County Schools, serving the communities of Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Afton, Denmark and Grey Cloud Townships
DO YOU WANT: • Evenings, weekends and school breaks off? • A starting wage of $13.71, $15.45, $17.30 or $18.23 per hour? • Access to affordable health insurance? • To participate in the Public Employee’s Retirement plan? Then a job with District 833 may be for you! We are now accepting applications for the positions listed below. Part-time and full-time opportunities are available! PARAPROFESSIONAL - Work directly with regular or special education students assisting a classroom teacher OR supervise large groups of students. Starting base wage $15.45 - $15.95 per hour. BUS DRIVERS - Safely transports students to and from school; starting base wage $17.30 - $20.35 per hour. NUTRITION SERVICES - Prepare and serve breakfast and lunches for students; starting base wage $13.71 per hour. CUSTODIAN - Perform cleaning, event setup/clean up and ensure security of buildings; starting base wage $18.23 per hour. (Custodian positions are year-round and do not have the summer or other non-school days off.) Please visit our web site for specific job information and to apply: www.sowashco.org EOE
Page 10 - South St. Paul Voice - March 2019
meeting with the store manager, Yudi, she raved about a new show she was watching on Netflix. It is called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. For those unfamiliar with it, it centers around Marie Kondo meeting with people to help them declutter their homes. Ever since learning about this show I have been running into other people who have said how it is impacting their lives for the better. The question I now receive is, how has the show impacted the store? The truth is, donations have been increasing. Is it due to the show? It is hard to say. What I can say is that donations support those in need throughout our community. When you donate to the store we are able to sell the items and raise funds that support the mission of Neighbors, Inc. Additionally, for those in our community who have emergency needs for clothing and household items, we provide vouchers that allow them to shop free of charge. You can’t go wrong when you donate your gently used clothing and household items to Neighbors. The store is successful not only because of material donors.
The River Heights Chamber has several committees that play an important role in its operations, and one of the most visible is our group of Ambassadors, local business volunteers committed to promoting Chamber activities, membership and community events. The 2019 Chair of this committee is Heidi Satre, marketing and events manager at Neighbors, Inc. She describes the Ambassadors’ role as, “similar to a hospitality committee. We are responsible for welcoming new members, helping facilitate member-to-member connections and representing the River Heights Chamber in the community.” Ambassadors come from the public and private sector, for profit and nonprofit agencies, small businesses and large corporations. They support the activities of area businesses and civic organi-
Dedicated volunteers who are here each and every day are the reason we are able to give so much of the income from sales back to the mission. You will find volunteers sorting and pricing items as well as ringing up sales at the cash register. They are what sets the Clothes Closet Thrift Store apart from other retail stores. I am grateful for all they do in support of our community. Eventually, I watched an episode of Tidying Up. It was interesting and I can see why people enjoy it. If it helps generate more donations to Neighbors, I am all for it. As I said to Yudi at the time, it’s great that people are using this as an opportunity to declutter and donate. On the other hand, if you are hunting for a thrift store treasure, with new merchandise arriving daily, now is a great time to shop. Don’t forget: March is Minnesota FoodShare month. You can find more information about how you can help raise pounds of food and dollars to support the Neighbors, Inc. food shelf in this month’s issue of The Voice.
Ambassadors visit at Twin Cities Drum Collective, a full service and custom manufacturer of drums based in South St. Paul. zations by attending their grand openings and ribbon cuttings, anniversary celebrations, groundbreakings and other commemorative events. They visit with new
FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ®
businesses in the community to welcome them and share benefits of the Chamber. “Being involved in the Ambassador Committee is a great way to expand your network and it’s a lot of fun to visit a variety businesses and organizations in our community,” said Satre. “I’ve learned a lot about business
fields I wasn’t previously familiar with just from our Ambassador visits. It’s a great way to get to know your community!” To schedule a visit from our Ambassador group, contact Colleen Murphy at Colleen@RiverHeights.com or 651-451-2266.
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H ome Improvement
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Improvement projects that boost home value A
s the days get longer and spring draws near, many homeowners find themselves planning for renovations to their home and outdoor spaces. While it’s tempting to follow the newest trends, homeowners should focus on projects that make the most financial sense in the long run, especially if they plan to move one day. Here are some projects that add the greatest return on investment (ROI). • Front door - A new steel door on the front of a home can have a large impact on the resale value of a property. Be sure to match the door’s style with the style of the house. • Kitchens - New countertops, cabinetry and flooring offer the biggest ROI and are much appreciated by homeowners. An attractive kitchen can encourage
prospective buyers to overlook some of a home’s less attractive features. • Bedrooms - Creating an additional bedroom in an attic or basement makes use of wasted space and can increase home value. • Windows - Window replacement offers high ROI. Energy savings help offset the replacement cost for those who plan to stay in their home. • Outdoor kitchen Many homeowners are looking to use their yards as an extension of interior living areas. Outdoor areas for cooking, dining and entertaining can be custom built or created from prefabricated modular units that require a smaller financial commitment. • Patio and Decks - Homeowners without a patio will find that adding one can increase a home’s value. Ex-
perts at Space Wise, a division of Extra Space Storage, say refinishing or repairing a patio, or building a new one, offers strong ROI. Decks can be a cost-effective solution to gain an outdoor living space. Remodeling magazine’s 2018 “Cost vs. Value” report indicates that an $11,000 deck can add about $9,000 in resale value to the home, recouping around 82 percent of the project’s costs. • Garage door - A new garage door will add great curb appeal to your home. If that’s too expensive, a good cleaning and new coat of paint on an existing door makes a big difference. • Landscaping - Installing a walkway, stone planters, mulch and shrubs are ideas to consider. The National Association of Realtors says an outdoor makeover with landscaping can net 105 percent ROI.
• Home maintenance projects - There’s little advantage to improving aesthetic appeal if the home has structural or maintenance issues. Siding re-
placement, HVAC system repair or replacement, a new roof, and basement dampness prevention solutions should be considered before
other projects. Many buyers have a strict budget and are looking for properties with little or no maintenance issues.
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South St. Paul Voice - March 2019 - Page 11
B ack in Time
Your community news and information source
A look at the story behind Mr. Lawshe’s museum Lois Glewwe Contributor
I
have to admit I am still surprised when a local resident tells me they’ve never been to the Dakota County Historical Society’s museum on Third Avenue North, next to the South St. Paul Library. Many will give me a perplexed look that says, “Why would I go there? I don’t even know what’s inside.” By the time they’re done talking to me, they know what they’ve
been missing. The Lawshe Memorial Museum is decidedly one of the city’s treasures. It is the only county facility we have in the city and it attracts researchers and visitors from across the region. No matter the time of year, it showcases area history, through permanent exhibits and changing shows on specific events, such as the recent Dakota County in World War I display. The Great Hall has both a floor mural of the county in map form and a colorful
wall mural that depicts the history of the county, from its earliest days to the 20th century. The museum hosts an annual quilt show, artist exhibits and has been transformed at times into a movie theater, banquet hall, dance floor, stage for musical events and site for public gatherings. The library and its work rooms overflow with well-organized collections of family histories, census records, newspapers, photographs, and published
histories of the area. Staff can help visitors find a clue to a family mystery, an obituary, a wedding announcement, or some other document. There really is no place quite like it in the area. The Dakota County Historical Society was founded in 1939 under the leadership of Fred Lawshe, who came to South St. Paul in 1918 to teach industrial arts at South St. Paul High School. He and his wife Mabel married in 1921 and both were involved in youth programs
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Mabel and Fred Lawshe dressed in historical costume for this portrait for their 1959 Christmas card, taken by South St. Paul photographer Rein Werner. Fred Lawshe founded the Dakota County Historical Society in 1939. He is honored through his namesake, the historical museum and Lawshe Park, just kitty-corner from the museum. in the city and through their affiliation with the First Presbyterian Church of South St. Paul. Lawshe was fascinated with archaeology and finding artifacts, especially those left behind by the indigenous people who founded the Kaposia Village in the 1820s in what is present day South St. Paul. He collected tools and arrowheads and was an active supporter and proponent of the reburial of any human remains unearthed during excavations by a developer. He often gave presentations to display his artifacts and share his knowledge with adults and children alike. As membership in the society grew over the years, supporters often met to consider locations for an exhibit hall for their growing collection. World War II brought a halt to the Society’s operations, but in 1947 they began meeting again and searching for exhibit space within the county. Finally, in 1954 they obtained a room in the west wing of South St. Paul High School and hosted their first exhibition there. Three years later that space was overflowing and the Society persuaded the City to give them space in the basement of City Hall on Third Avenue North. The new museum opened
on April 16, 1957. Lawshe retired from teaching the following year and devoted himself full time to serve as director and curator of the museum. Over the next 14 years the Society took over more space at City Hall and was soon using the entire south end of the basement for exhibit space. Hundreds of school children and families visited and were introduced to the history of South St. Paul and Dakota County by Lawshe, who loved to share stories and talk of his archaeological finds. As the museum’s popularity grew, society members began contacting the Dakota County Board of Commissioners frequently to urge them to create a historical museum and library for the county, and in the late 1970s they conceded. On April 1978, today’s Dakota County Historical Society’s Fred Lawshe Memorial Museum on Third Avenue North was dedicated, and its collections continue to educate and amaze visitors. Unfortunately, Fred Lawshe passed away on November 22, 1971 and was not able to see the opening of this unique treasure house of history that now bears his name.