South St. Paul
A Friend of the River Page 8
Cenex building makes National Register Page 12
Volume 18 | Number 10
Your Community News & Information Source
October 2021
Harvest time at the Farmers’ Market Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
T Shawnee Krueger
Krueger keeps a watchful eye on student safety Jake Spitzack Staff writer
P
arents of school-age children will be happy to know that South St. Paul Public Schools has someone specifically devoted to the health and safety of its students. COVID coordinator Shawnee Krueger is working on a districtwide effort to mitigate the spread of the disease within the schools. Her duties include gathering state and federal health information for district administrators, tracking positive cases in the district, notifying families of exposure incidents, making arrangements for distance learning, screening students and staff for symptoms, and giving guidance on all COVIDrelated questions. Previously, she had been a school nurse at Kaposia Education Center. When the state shut down in March 2020 Krueger became the communication liaison between Krueger / Page 3
Artwork by Jaclee Slaba
Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
C
oncord Street business owners suffering through the current 2-year road construction project can truly understand the origins of the On the Road Again festival. The festival was organized in 1990 to celebrate the completion of a 2-year street, water and sewer project on Southview Boulevard. Those business owners organized the event as a way to thank the community for sup-
porting them during construction. The festival has since evolved into an annual event. Although canceled last year due to the pandemic, it returns this year 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 2. Booya and most of the other traditional festivities will take place on Southview Boulevard, unless otherwise stated. The following events were accurate as of press time. For more information, call 651-457-2774. On the Road / Page 2
he St. Paul Farmers’ Market, which operates a location at Southview and 12th Avenue in South St. Paul, continues to chug along amidst the driest conditions in over a century and shifts in customer shopping behavior due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these and other challenges, in October you’ll find a wide array of fresh meat and produce, as well as colorful pumpkins, gourds and other fall favorites. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, Ramsey County has experienced the 10th driest year in the past 127 years, with almost five inches less precipitation than normal. The drought has stunted crop growth and reduced normal yields, which in turn has limited the number of vendors at the downtown market and its 19 satellite locations. “Many vendors used to sell at six or more markets per week,” said David Kotsonas, manager of the St. Paul Farmers’ Market. “[This year] the families who would sell at multiple markets have reduced the number they attend by 20-30%.” Kotsonas added that lingering effects from the pandemic have made it difficult for many vendors to hire enough workers, which further limits their reach. He also said the change in shopping behavior has benefitted some more than others. “I would generalize and say that
Farmers’ Market / Page 3
Two funeral homes unite, will remain family-owned Jake Spitzack Staff Writer
T
wo well-established funeral homes in South St. Paul came together this summer when Klecatsky & Sons Funeral Home acquired Kandt-Tetrick Funeral and Cremation Services on July 26. This gives Klecatsky & Sons four
locations: two in South St. Paul and one each in West St. Paul and Eagan. KandtTetrick funeral directors Jeff Kandt and Paul Tetrick will remain and the Kandt-Tetrick name will stay on the South St. Paul chapel for the foreseeable future. Owners of each company view this change as a merger as much as a sale.
“We’ve been competing funeral homes for many years but have always held mutual respect for one another,” said Kandt. “It seemed like this was a natural progression based on the circumstances. We were much happier to sell it to them than an outside company. Staying local, Funeral home / Page 3
The new team includes (left to right) Paul Tetrick, Josh Oxendale, Jeff Kandt and Bob Westrup. Also pictured is Jolie, a grief support dog.
A rts & Culture
Your community news and information source
On the Road from page 1
Arts, Craft and Flea Market, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 4th Avenue to 7th Avenue. More than 75 vendors will offer bargains on vintage and handcrafted items. Booya, 11 a.m. until the last ladle is dished out. Community chefs use secret recipes to prepare a combined
700-800 gallons of stew as they compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. Sample their concoctions then cast your vote. Judging begins at noon at 820 Southview Blvd. The reigning champion is The Booya Crew. Beer Garden, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 9th and Southview.
Quench your thirst at the Lion’s Club beer garden and take part in their new raffle at 2:30 p.m. Pickle contest, judging at noon at 8th Avenue. Contestants will compete in three categories: sweet, dill and hot. To enter the contest, drop off your pickles by 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 2 at Southview 66, 725 Southview Blvd. Car Show, 10 a.m.-4
p.m., from 9th Avenue to 12th Avenue and side streets. The owners of more than 100 vintage vehicles will show off their treasured cars and trucks. Stop by to view the shiny chrome, custom detailing and other meticulous works of restoration. Great Neighbors’ Duck Race - Neighbors, Inc., a nonprofit serving people in northern Dakota County, is hosting its popular fund-
raiser 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 9th Avenue and Southview Boulevard. Heats are held every 15 minutes. Winning ducks from each heat will receive a prize and be eligible for the final race and the grand prize of a Weber SmokeFire wood pellet grill. The event also features Delbert the Duck mascot, a coloring contest, crafts, duck tattoos and games. Ducks are available for $5 each and can be pur-
chased at Neighbors, Inc., 222 Grand Ave. W., local businesses or at the event. For more information, call 651-455-5000 or visit www. neighborsmn.org. Live music, 1-4 p.m., 8th Avenue and Southview Boulevard. The Alley Ratz will perform. Food, face painting and other activities will be featured throughout the festival area.
Logo artist’s work around town South St. Paul artist Jaclee Slaba, who also goes by Rembrandt’s Sister, designed the firstever On the Road Again logo, which incorporates various aspects of the festival: a car tire, beer, leaves and a spoonful of booya. Her handiwork is visible throughout the community. Slaba created the South St. Paul Strong mural on the Farmers Insurance building, as well as murals on Black Sheep Coffee, Maple Tree Day School and other local businesses. Most recently, she created a 20-by-50-foot pavement mural (left) that is part of Lincoln Center Elementary Sensory Park.
Fall Festival
Saturday, October 2, 2021 Festivities: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Southview Blvd. Side Streets • South St. Paul
ARTS & CRAFTS FLEA MARKET
Over 100 craft & flea market vendors. Get a jump on your holiday shopping. 8 am - 5 pm
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Start serving at 11 until gone. We typically serve around 700 to 800 gallons. Judging at Noon Contact: Brenda Books (651) 528-8904
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10 am - 4 pm Southview Blvd between 12th & 9th Ave Including Side Streets Sponsored By: So. St. Paul Lions, Sieben & Cotter Trial Lawyers, Black Sheep, Bugg’s The Garden Bar
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9th & Southview 11 am - 5 pm 820 Southview Blvd 2:30 pm Sponsored by: City Auto Glass, People for Hansen, Linda Jaeger Accounting, Gino Ward Insurance Agency, Quick-Serv Bring your best sweet, dill or hot pickles to Southview 66 by 11am on Saturday October 2nd. Judging at Noon
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Page 2 - South St. Paul Voice - October 2021
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Krueger from page 1
Dakota County and the district regarding health and safety information. During the summer, she also worked as a nurse when the elementary schools joined forces to offer emergency childcare at one building. It was at that time she was named co-chair of the district’s Employee
Your community news and information source COVID Preparedness committee and later became the COVID coordinator. She said her biggest challenges last year were helping families understand symptoms and enforcing safety measures for months on end. With COVID symptoms being similar to those of the flu, common cold and allergies, it was difficult for parents to discern whether or not they should send their
Farmers’ Market from page 1
attendance was down by 20-30% during 2020 due to the pandemic but sales were up,” said Kotsonas. “It seems people came to the market without other family members, but they also purchased more. Meat sales spiked for market vendors during the time when the larger processing plants closed due to the virus. Some reported selling a year’s worth in three weeks.” Kotsonas said attendance has increased by 2530% over the past year and that there’s been an increase in the amount of tokens purchased with credit and debit cards.
“So far this year we have reimbursed our vendors $50,998 of SNAP benefits and $25,469 in Market Bucks,” he said, an increase of 93% and 31% respectively from the same period from 2020. The market is operated by the St. Paul Growers Association, established in 1854. Each location sells locally grown food and other specialized products from independent growers and makers. The South St. Paul market closes September 29 but the downtown market remains open. Hours are Saturdays 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
children to school. “South St. Paul Public Schools did a great job of layering our mitigation strategies this past year, based on the latest information we had,” Krueger said. “We had a lot of plexiglass up at main points in our buildings, face coverings were required inside buildings, and many of our sports teams were grouped into pods to minimize spread and close and Sundays 8 a.m.-1p.m., at 290 5th Street E. in Lowertown. The downtown market has a slew of promotions this fall, including free coffee from the donut shop for everyone who arrives before 9 a.m. Customer appreciation weekend is October 2-3, featuring free coffee all day and drawings for market merchandise. A station will be set up October 23-24 for kids and adults to decorate (not carve) pumpkins, and customers are encouraged to dress up and trick-or-treat at all market locations October 30-31. A special Thanksgiving market is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m., November 24. For more information, call 651-227-8101 or visit www. stpaulfarmersmarket.com.
contacts. The challenge was when some people didn’t think we needed to have all of these mitigation strategies in place. It was when people became relaxed or thought that the steps in place didn’t apply to them or their children when we had health challenges. I tried to emphasize that while you might get COVID and survive, you don’t know that others you come in contact with will be
as lucky. It wasn’t just about individual needs and wants, but encouraging everyone to think about others in their actions and behaviors as it relates to COVID.” The district’s mitigation strategies changed this year to allow for full in-person learning. Face coverings are required for everybody in each school building, and staff and students are still encouraged to stay home or go
home when not feeling well. Krueger has bachelor’s degrees from North Central University and Rasmussen University. She is currently in graduate school pursuing a nurse practitioner degree at Frontier Nursing University. For more information on the district’s COVID safety plan, visit www.sspps.org or call 651-457-9485.
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from page 1 if possible, was a priority for us.” Tetrick has ties to both companies. He worked for Klecatsky & Sons for 18 years before becoming co-owner of Kandt-Tetrick in 2003. The sale was due in part to issues Kandt-Tetrick was facing in relation to staffing challenges and having to outsource cremation services. Joseph Klecatsky established his first funeral home in 1926 on West 7th Street in St. Paul, and in 1955 opened a chapel in South St. Paul. Following his death, sons Tom and Dick took over the business and renamed it Klecatsky & Sons. In 1986 they expanded to Eagan and brought on Tom’s son-in-law Bob Westrup and Josh Oxendale as funeral directors. The company now employs seven full-time and one part-time funeral directors across the locations. They also recently hired Becky Danich as a funeral director, and Jolie, a 7-month-old grief support dog. The Kandt family has operated in South St. Paul since 1957.
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South St. Paul Voice - October 2021 - Page 3
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Your community news and information source
1970 Packer basketball team to be feted by the SSPHS Hall of Fame John E. Ahlstrom Staff Writer
D
uring the 1960s and 1970s, South St. Paul was recognized as one of the premier hockey “hotbeds” in the State of Minnesota. If the Packers failed to advance to the state tournament, it was considered a lousy season. In the winter of 1969-70, however, the boys on the ice sheet were forced to share center stage with the boys on the hard court. The 1969-70 South St. Paul High School (SSPHS) basketball team raced its way not only to the state tournament but to the state championship game. Ken Fladager, a member of the SSPHS Hall of Fame, served as the head coach of the basketball team from 1948 to 1966 and led the Packers to berths in the single class state tournament in 1952 and 1962. Both teams
Q U A L I T Y S I N C E 1 9 8 5
advanced to the state title game, with the ’52 squad losing to Hopkins and the ’62 squad losing to St. Louis Park. Fladager’s top assistant, Don “Chick” McLain, succeeded him as the head coach in 1967. In his second season, the Packers carved out a 14-6 record and finished runners-up in the rugged Suburban Conference, but the 1968-69 team took a step backward with a pedestrian record of 9-10. “That 9-10 record is a bit deceiving,” said Todd Mettler, who was a sophomore on the 1968-69 team. “We had just one senior and a slew of juniors. We gained some notice by winning our last four games and we were actually ranked 18th in the final state poll.” The Packers opened the 1969-70 season with a starting lineup that included four seniors and a junior (Mettler). McLain installed a 1-2-
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1969-70 campaign with convincing victories over Mounds View and Kellogg and then ran into a buzz saw. Coon Rapids beat South St. Paul, 72-61. It was a giant wakeup call. The Packers dug in and didn’t lose another game in the regular season. With a 11-1 record, they shared the Suburban Conference title with Stillwater, whose only conference loss was a 60-41 drubbing unleashed by the McLain quintet. Balanced scoring was a key component to the Packer’s success. Peterson averaged
19 points per game, Stovie 18.8 points per game and Virgin 17.8 points per game. Mettler averaged just six points per game, but the point guard distributed the ball to the tune of over 10 assists per game. For the season, South St. Paul defeated its opponents by an average score of 73-53. South St. Paul was the first team to place three players on the Suburban All-Conference first team: Peterson, Stovie and Virgin. Senior Steve Jancaric, who replaced Jacobsen in the starting lineup after he suffered a bro-
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ing fundamentals. When I was a sophomore I was gangly and awkward and could only use my right hand. By the time I was senior I could shoot a left-handed hook shot as smoothly as my right.” By 1969, the Suburban Conference and the Lake Conference were considered the two toughest conferences in the state. The Suburban Conference had grown to 13 teams and that meant that each team would face each of the other 12 teams just once per season. The Packers opened the
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2 offense with a double post that featured 6’6” Brian Peterson and 6’5” Mark Stovie under the bucket. Kurt Virgin, 6’2”, and 6’4” Wally Jacobsen were stationed on the wings and Mettler, at 6’2,” was the point guard. “When I look back at all of the quality coaching I received, it gives me pause,”said Virgin, who went on to coach high school basketball for 35 years. “When we were in ninth grade, the varsity coaches would stop down and watch our games and dish out advice and encouragement.” Mettler said, “Coach McLain installed the perfect offense to fit our personnel. We had two strong players down low and two really good shooters on the wings. It was my job to distribute the ball to them and let them do their thing.” Peterson added, “McClain was meticulous in emphasiz-
379
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Academia Cesar Chavez 1801 Lacrosse Ave., St. Paul 651-778-2940 www.cesarchavezschool.com St. Paul City School PreK-12 260 Edmund Ave., St. Paul 651-225-9177 www.stpaulcityschool.org
COLLEGES / UNIVERSITIES St. Paul College 235 Marshall Ave., St. Paul 651-846-1600 https://saintpaul.edu
PAROCHIAL
St. Croix Lutheran Academy 1200 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul 651-455-1521 www.stcroixlutheran.org
S ports ken arm at mid-season, and Mettler received Honorable Mention. In the District 14 playoffs, the Packers defeated Rosemount, St. Paul Park, Hastings and White Bear Lake to earn a spot in the four-team Region 4 tournament. They defeated St. Paul Murray 6844 in the semifinals and then dispatched New Prague in the title game 54-31 to advance to Minnesota’s final one class state tournament. In the state quarterfinals, Peterson scored 36 points to lead the Packers to a decisive 97-61 victory over Park Rapids, then the team cruised to a 68-54 victory over Robbinsdale in the semifinals. In the first two games of the tournament the Packers shot a whopping 62.5% as a team. The local media types liked what they saw. The iconic Pioneer Press columnist Don Riley described the team this way: “The South St. Paul Packers are as smooth as a baby’s kiss and as irrepressible as a Pacific wave, a sheer delight for basketball purists.” Stillwater head coach Wes Niemi said, “They operate so coolly and effectively that you sometimes wonder if they are simply a high school team. The Packers play chess with you. They move around until they have you where they want you and then, zap, they lower the boom. I could watch them play all night.” The first quarter of the championship game did not unfold in the Packers’ favor as Sherburn raced out to a 12-2 lead. South St. Paul was within five points at the end of the quarter (17-12) but was outscored 26-16 in the second stanza and trailed 43-
Your community news and information source 28 at halftime. The Packers clawed back in the second half and were within three points, 54-51, after three quarters but Sherburn pulled away in the fourth quarter and prevailed 78-62. “All of the work we put into the third quarter maybe tired us out some,” said Virgin. “I didn’t help things by fouling out a few seconds into the fourth quarter on an over-the-back call on a rebound. I guess it wasn’t meant to be. But playing with my teammates in front of 18,000 fans for three straight days at Williams Arena was an incredible and lasting experience.” Four Packer players were named to the All-Tournament team: Virgin, Peterson, Stovie and Mettler. Between the Coon Rapids loss in the third game of the season and the loss in the state title game, the Packers pulled off a 23-game winning streak, a Suburban Conference title and a unforgettable run in
the state tournament. Peterson played three years of college basketball at Augsburg College and Stovie and Virgin had stellar basketball careers at St. Cloud State University. As seniors, both earned All-Conference honors and Stovie was named the MVP of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference. All of the joy and wonderment the players experienced as members of the 1969-70 basketball team took a huge blow to the solar plexus when their teammates Glenn Novack and Steve Jancaric
and Kurt Virgin’s sister, Carrie, were killed in a train/ automobile accident in December of 1971. That tragedy occurred a half-century ago but it still lingers fresh in the hearts of their families, their teammates and the South St. Paul community at large. The 1969-70 basketball team will be honored by the SSPHS Athletic Hall of Fame at their annual induction ceremony at 4:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 8 in the David Metzen Scholarship Hall at South St. Paul High School.
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Restrictions apply. Discounts may vary. Not available in all states. See your agent for details. Insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange and other affiliated insurance companies. Visit farmers.com for a complete listing of companies. Not all insurers are authorized to provide insurance in all states. Coverage is not available in all states. Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, a Washington domestic company: 3120 139th Ave. SE, Ste. 300 Bellevue, WA 98005.
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S ample St. Paul
Fitzgerald Theatre
10 E. Exchange St. St. Paul 612-338-8388 www.first-avenue.com
“Wits” comedy and music show will host a reunion performance with special guests at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 1. Tickets start at $35.
History Center 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-259-3000 www.mnhs.org
“Sinclair Lewis: 100 Years of Main Street” - Discover the legacy of Sinclair Lewis, an author from Minnesota whose literary works and social critiques of American life ring true today.
“Extraordinary Women” - Walk among extraordinary Minnesotan women who changed their communities. “Our Home: Native Minnesota” - Learn how Minnesota’s Native communities have retained cultural practices, teachings and values, and an essential connection to home. The Center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ThursdaySunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students and $8 for children ages five to 17.
Landmark Center
75 5th St. W. St. Paul 651-292-3225 www.landmarkcenter.org
History Plays will perform “Obscenity on Tri-
Your community news and information source
al: The Case Against Dr. Charles Malchow” at 7 p.m., October 7-8, and 2 p.m., October 10, in the F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium. The play explores the repercussions of the Comstock Act of 1873. Tickets are $10. The Great Pumpkin Halloween Festival will take place 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 24. This free event features a kids’ DJ, crafts, treats and a costume parade. Adults and older kids are invited to attend the Gangster Ghost Tour, held 6-9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28. Participants will be guided through the shadowy halls of Landmark Center to hear from the “ghosts” of Police Chief “Big Tom” Brown, Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, Ma Barker and others. Tickets are $10,
“Theatre of the Macabre” will bring classic tales of hauntings and horror to Park Square Theatre October 29-30. and space is limited. Reservations are required and can be made online or by calling 651-292-3063.
MN Children’s Museum 10 7th St. W. St. Paul 651-225-6000 www.mcm.org
“Storyland,” featuring children’s literary classics, opens soon; a date wasn’t available as of press time. Other exhibits and activities include The Scramble, The Studio, Creativity Jam, Sprouts, Backyard, Our World, Forces at Play, Super Awesome Adventures, Imaginopolis and the Tip Top Terrace. The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wed.-Sun. Tickets are $14.95.
MN Museum of American Art 350 Robert St. N. St. Paul 651-797-2571 www.mmaa.org
The following exhibitions are only on view from outside the Pioneer Endicott building, in-
stalled in the windows on Robert and 4th streets, and in the Ecolab entrance in the skyway. “Many Waters: A Minnesota Biennial” is on display through October 2. The exhibit examines ways artists across the state are engaging with water. “Sutures” will be on display starting October 30. The exhibit displays work from artists creating photo- and film-based art that expands upon still and moving images. “Transformation” will also be on display starting October 30. The exhibit features artwork by incarcerated people that reflects their personal transformations and restorations.
Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul www.ordway.org 651-224-4222
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives will perform at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 24. Tickets start at $58. The Home Fires will be performing a pre-show event in the Ordway lobby at 6:45 p.m.
New Frame Shop Now Open
Park Square Theatre
20 W. 7th Pl. St. Paul www.parksquaretheatre.org
“Theatre of the Macabre” will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29-30. It features classic tales of hauntings and horror, including ghost stories, songs, classic literary scenes, and storytelling from the works of Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare and others.
Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul 651-221-9444 www.smm.org
Days of the Dinosaurs, opens October 21. View dinosaurs and fossils from around the world in brand-new exhibits, movies and the recently expanded Dinosaurs & Fossils gallery. Current Omnitheater films include “Oceans: Our Blue Planet,” and “Volcanoes: Fires of Creation.” “Dinosaurs of Antarctica” begins October 21. Theater tickets are $9.95. Museum tickets are $19.95. Each offers discounts for students and seniors.
New Frame Shop
Xcel Center
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404 Southview Blvd., South St. Paul 651-340-0314 • (c) 651-353-5021 facebook.com/frameshopssp • @FrameShop SSP
Page 6 - South St. Paul Voice - October 2021
Eagles will perform at 8 Over 28 years of custom picture p.m., October 1-2. Tick404 Southview Blvd., S ets start at $126.
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Dude Perfect will perfacebook.com/frameshopssp • form at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 29. Tickets start at $25.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Luther Memorial Church
315 15th Ave. N. 651-451-2400 luther-memorial.com •
Catholic church 749 6th Ave. S. 651-455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org •
408 3rd St. N. 651-455-1302 holytrinitysspmn.org •
779 15th Ave. N. 651-451-7278 clarkgraceucc.org •
St Augustine’s Catholic Church
Clark Memorial United Church
First Presbyterian
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox church
535 20th Ave. N. 651-451-6223 fpcssp.org •
357 2nd Ave. S. 651-451-0775 www.stsavamn.org •
Concordia Lutheran
Saint John Vianney Catholic Church
255 W. Douglas St. 651-451-0309 concordia-ssp.org •
South St. Paul Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist 140 6th Ave. N. 651-455-0777 •
Grace Lutheran Church 149 8th Ave. S. 651-451-1035 grace-ssp.org
789 17th Ave. N. 651-451-1863 info@sjvssp.org •
Worship Guide
Sf. Stefan Romanian Orthodox Church 350 5th Ave. N. 651-451-3462 sfantulstefan.org •
St Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church 501 6th Ave. S. 651-455-8947 stmarymn.org
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A Friend of the River Blythe named superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
M
innesota’s least known national park has a new leader who will soon be rolling up his sleeves and getting to work on helping the park get the respect and attention he believes it deserves. Tucker Blythe was named superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) in mid-August and begins his duties October 4. He succeeds John O. Anfinson, who retired on
January 3. Craig Hansen, superintendent of Grand Portage National Monument in northern Minnesota, was interim superintendent. MNRRA is a unit of the National Park Service that encompasses a 72-mile corridor along the Mississippi in the Twin Cities. Established in 1988 as a partnership park with state, county and municipal agencies, it has struggled to achieve both
local and national recognition. In an interview upon his retirement, Anfinson said the biggest challenges MNRRA staff face are helping guide responsible development along the riverfront and getting people to know that a national park exists in the Twin Cities. Those challenges now fall squarely on the shoulders of Blythe, who is no stranger to the Park Service or the river itself. Over the past 24 years he has held leadership positions at 10 units of the National Park Service, most recently as superintendent of Ulysses S. Grant National
Historic Site near St. Louis, Mo. He was attracted to the MNRAA job for several reasons. “The park is different than any park I’ve worked in and I’m looking forward to the challenge it will bring me professionally,” said Blythe in a recent interview. “I’ve had a connection to the river my whole life.” That connection began with his birth and upbringing in the land of blues and barbeque: Memphis, Tenn. Years later, he met a woman from Coon Rapids, Minn., and they married in Brainerd, where her parents now
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Page 8 - South St. Paul Voice - October 2021
live. The couple is looking forward to being closer to her extended family, many of whom live in the Twin Cities. It seems Blythe’s personal and professional life has never strayed far from the river. One of his many Park Service duties was as acting deputy superintendent at Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis. For the past 2½ years the couple has lived in that city while he was employed at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Blythe has a bachelor of arts in historic preservation from Mary Washington College in Virginia and a master of arts in communication from Wichita State University in Kansas. Over the course of his career, he was also a business owner for nine years, an experience that should benefit him while working with developers and other businesses in the MNRRA corridor. “It wasn’t something that nurtured my soul but it gave me a different perspective on things,” he said of his time as a State Farm insurance agent. “I understand that government work is very much different than private business. I’m always thinking, ‘What would the small business owner be thinking?’” Several projects in St. Paul alone are on the drawing board that will alter the riverfront in the coming years. The biggest proposal is the RiversEdge development, a public-private project that includes housing, office space and a park. Developer AECOM wants to build a roughly $800 million development that features four towers filled with 50 condo units, 350 apartments, 160 hotel rooms, office space, and retail and entertainment venues. A key component of the project is The Park at RiversEdge, a 9-acre park built
on a land bridge over Shepard Road and connecting to the river. Ramsey County is seeking $26 million in state funding for acquisition, design and construction. Also along the riverfront is the proposed 1.5-mile river promenade, often referred to as the river balcony. It’s part of the City of St. Paul’s Great River Passage plan, which was adopted in 2013 and provides guidance for development along St. Paul’s 17 miles of riverfront. The promenade would extend from Union Depot to the Science Museum and feature restaurants, retail shops, gathering spaces, sweeping views of the river valley, and connections to the river. In September, James Corner Field Operations, a New York-based urban design and landscape architecture firm, was selected to design the balcony. The final design, cost estimates and proposed construction timeline will be completed by June 2022. One of Blythe’s biggest opportunities lies with the creation of the proposed River Learning Center near the Watergate Marina in Crosby Farm Regional Park. The project is a partnership with the City of St. Paul, Mississippi Park Connection (a nonprofit that raises funds for MNRRA), Great River Passage Conservancy and others. The group hopes to have a schematic design by the end of the year, and the center could open as early as 2024. The Park Service would relocate its office there from downtown St. Paul, and rangers would lead environmental and educational programs from the center, including boat trips on the river and bike outings on the nearby regional trail. The nonprofit Wilderness Inquiry, which hosts outdoor adventure experiences, would also be
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a tenant and operate its Canoemobile from the center. Canoemobile is a floating classroom aboard a 24-foot Voyageur canoe, where students learn about science, history, geography and culture. Work is also underway on another interpretive site in the area: the Wakan Tipi visitor center at the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary near Lowertown. The Lower Phalen Creek Project is working with St. Paul’s Great River Passage Initiative to construct a 9,000 square-foot building featuring classrooms, exhibit and
gallery space, and a community gathering area. The center will be used to educate people about the ecology of the area, and how the Dakota people once used the land and the nearby Wakan Tipi cave. Wakan Tipi translates to “dwelling place of the sacred” in the Dakota language. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2022. The Wakan Tipi center will be part of the newly created East Side River District, a Great River Passage Conservancy-led project. The goal of the district is to “heal a compromised land-
scape,” connect people to the river and land, and protect sacred and significant sites. This area of St. Paul currently has both heavy industrial sites and parks and open spaces. It is also part of the Mississippi flyway bird migration route. Blythe and his wife Sandy purchased a condo along the riverfront in St. Paul and are looking forward to hiking the many trails in the park with their dog Lucy. Tucker also enjoys biking and birding and will be doing those activities when he can get away from his job, which at first will consume much
of his time as he gets up to speed on issues big and small. His first weeks and months will include meetings with the park’s many partners and stakeholders, including the Native American communities. “I’m going to come in and listen and learn,” he said. “I’ll be getting out into the park to learn about the park, and out into the community to learn about the community.” He appreciates the groundwork that has been laid by current park staff — approximately two dozen full- and part-timers — and those who came before them. He’s also
thankful that Anfinson, his predecessor, is still involved in efforts in the park as a volunteer. He’s known him for six years and will draw upon his breadth of knowledge about the park and the Upper Mississippi River. “My long-term goal is to get people to understand that the river [in the Twin Cities] is part of the National Park Service — and what we do to preserve it,” said Blythe. “It’s an important National Park Service site.” Minnesota’s most wellknown national park is Voyageurs, near International Falls. Comprised mostly
of water, the park is popular with fisherman and boaters of all types. Other sites in Minnesota managed by the National Park Service are the Grand Portage National Monument, Pipestone National Monument, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the North Country National Scenic Trail. For more information on MNRRA, check out the exhibits or talk to a ranger at the Mississippi River Center, located inside the Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, or visit www.nps.gov/miss.
Library events
Cookbook Club: Nadiya Bakes, 7-8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 18, on Zoom. Join other South St. Paul Foodies in baking from the same cookbook. This class will use “Nadiya Bakes” by Nadiya Hussain. Registration required.
lish the Alternative Learning Center, the international baccalaureate program, a partnership with Dakota County Technical College, and the South St. Paul Educational Foundation.
St. Paul. The event includes a guided tour of the high school at 3:15 p.m. and a buffet dinner by Tinucci’s at 5 p.m., with a cash bar. Cost is $25 or less. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Evenson Sturm at mesturm1@gmail.com.
Suicide prevention meeting
South St. Paul Secondary, 700 N. Second St. The free event includes a resource fair, meal and speakers on mental health topics. For more information, visit www.save. org.
Meditation for Current Times, 6:30-8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 4, on Zoom. Learn meditation techniques that can help reduce stress, anxiety and improve concentration. Registration required. Fall Bird Watching, 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 7. In this virtual bird talk with bird expert Amy Simso Dean, you’ll learn about local birds, how to set up a bird feeding station, birdwatching tips and how to participate in Project Feeder Watch. Registration required. Fall Bird Walk, 10-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 9. Bird expert Amy Simso Dean will offer advice on how to find and identify birds. The walk departs from Lions Shelter at Kaposia Landing. Binoculars are available upon request. Registration required. Book Club discussion, 7-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14, on Zoom. The title is “Little Deaths” by Emma Flint. For more information, visit ssplibrary.org. MERRIAM PARK
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SSP Secondary cafeteria named Metzen Hall The cafeteria at South St. Paul Secondary school has been renamed The David R. Metzen Scholarship Hall in recognition of a longtime superintendent. A ceremony and open house will take place 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 13 at the school, 700 2nd St. N. David R. Metzen graduated from South St. Paul High School in 1960 and went on to receive post-graduate degrees at the University of Minnesota. He returned to South St. Paul as a principal and served as superintendent from 1982 to 2000. During his tenure he helped estab-
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Class of ’61 reunion South St Paul Class of 1961 will hold its 60th class reunion Thursday, Oct. 7 at the Croatian Hall in South
Student notes Southern New Hampshire University president’s list: Chantel Wood
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South St. Paul Voice - October 2021 - Page 9
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Neighbors, Inc. Charlie Thompson President & CEO
T
he Great Neighbors’ Duck Races are back on October 3 at the On the Road Again festival in South St. Paul. That can mean only one thing: it is time to talk about our holiday gift program. That’s right, the annual gift-giving season will soon be upon us and prepa-
rations are already underway to bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of children and seniors throughout our community. To put you in the holiday spirit, I have a story that I believe will bring a little joy to your day. The Thompson house-
hold practices the Catholic faith tradition, so much so that one of my brothers is a priest. At a recent get-together, he was talking with my 6-year-old daughter about St. Nicholas. She was listening intently, taking in every word he had to say. When he finished speaking, she sat back in her chair, took a moment to reflect, and drew her conclusion. “So, St. Nicholas is Santa Claus. That means St. Nicholas is the only living saint in the whole wide world.” The room fell silent as we all contemplated what she just said. The Neighbors’ holiday gift program provides much more than gifts to children and seniors. It helps keep the spirit of the season alive in
our community. Our neighbors in need of holiday support receive much more than gifts of toys, sports equipment and essential needs. They receive faith, hope and love. Faith in their community. Hope that tomorrow will be better than today. Love from their family. It truly is a special time of year. In order to provide faith, hope and love, we need you, our community, to help St. Nicholas this year. We need individuals, families, companies and faith communities to sponsor (formally called adopt) children and seniors in need of holiday support. You will join hundreds of people who have helped bring joy to families like this one: “Words cannot explain
The return of Halloween events
Postscript
Taking no chances
The renovations to our new home continue. We didn’t expect to be refinishing the floor, but when we tore up the flooring that was buckling and warping in the summer humidity, we discovered the original parquet, spattered with paint, underneath. A man named Michael showed up with the biggest floor sander I have ever seen, looked disapprovingly at the paint sprayed all over the parquet, and declared that it should sand clean without a problem. My husband, Peter, told Michael he was
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retired, and Michael told us he was retired as well. “What did you used to do?” I asked. “Sand floors!” he said, as if that was obvious. “And now you sand floors
Page 10 - South St. Paul Voice - October 2021
how grateful my son and I are for your care this season,” wrote one parent. “A lot of the world is struggling right now, perhaps even you all are facing some challenges. I am beyond blessed to see that there were people who were willing to donate gifts despite all the pain and uncertainty of this year. The gifts my son will open on Christmas day are so accurate, personalized and perfect for him! You all were able to purchase all of his favorites! These items were toys that he would basically have to imagine playing with while watching YouTube, or enjoy when he would go to nursery, etc. So, for making this Christmas amazing we both say thank you. I wish
our identities were not hidden, but it’s OK because it fuels our belief that you were our Pandemic Season Angels.” If you are interested in becoming a “Pandemic Season Angel,” you can sponsor a family in need of holiday support. Requests to sponsor a family begin October 1. For more information, visit www.neighborsmn. org. Click on Donate, then Holiday Gift Program. If you are in need of holiday support, visit our website, click on Services, then Holiday Assistance. Whether you are giving or receiving this holiday season, know that Neighbors is here to provide opportunities for you to thrive all year long.
and youth activities. Compost Your Pumpkin the Task Force Way - Partnering with the city’s recycling program and Wakota Federal Credit Union, task force members will accept pumpkins for composting 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Nov. 6 at the Wakota Federal Credit Union at 12th and Southview. While the dumpster will be there all weekend, members of the task force will be there that day to help remove pumpkins from your vehicle and place them in the compost bin. This is a free service. For more information on these events, contact Griffith at 651-554-3230 or Deb. griffith@southstpaul.org.
at heart. “Have you ever hated any of your clients?” I asked Michael the next morning. “What did you do?” he asked. I showed him. “It won’t show, will it?” Peter asked. “The polyurethane will cover it, won’t it?” I waited for Michael to reassure us. “I don’t know,” Michael said. “Guess we’ll find out.” And he fired up his sander. A few minutes later he called out, “Come here!” I ran to the kitchen. The oil was gone. “I knew you could do it!” I said, although I had been anything but sure. “Stay off the floor!” Michael yelled. And I did. Till next time.
We are excited to announce the return of Halloween community events. The Halloween Skate at the Doug Woog Arena will take place 2-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 24. This free event includes fun Halloween music and lights, a costume contest (for safety on the ice, no Halloween masks are allowed but face painting is ok), prize drawings, treats, and trick or treating. Skate rental is free with a nonperishable food donation to Neighbors, Inc. In addition, Kaposia Days Ambassadors will join us, and Blades-nMotion skating school will offer a fun demonstration and a special prize drawing.
The Great Halloween Get Together returns to Marie Avenue 5-7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 31. This free event — in its 20th year — offers a safe and fun trick-or-treat trail, located between 4th and 7th avenues. Businesses, organizations and residents are invited to register to have a booth, provide games or hand out treats. Volunteers are also needed. Monetary donations are needed as well to purchase treats. The task force sponsored CommUNITY Grams on Valentine’s Day and during Kaposia Days, and now we’re offering Halloween Boo-grams, which can be
sent to family, friends, coworkers and others in South St. Paul. The message can be up to 100 words. They are intended to share words of encouragement, good news, a Happy Halloween, or other well-wishes. The form is available at www.southstpaul.org (see event calendar), at City Hall, 125 3rd Ave. N., or by contacting Deb Griffith, community affairs liaison, at 651-554-3230 or Deb.griffith@southstpaul. org. Deadline is October 26. Task force members will deliver your Boo-gram, along with some tasty treats, on Saturday, Oct. 30. Cost is $6 each, or two for $10. Proceeds will benefit the Mayor’s Youth Task Force
in your retirement?” “But only when I want to!” he clarified. Michael was right, and the paint cleaned right up, revealing not oak floors, as we had thought, but an intricate pattern in teak. Michael didn’t finish sanding on that day, which happened to be a Friday, but said he’d be back Monday morning. “Don’t walk on it in bare feet,” he cautioned. “Your feet might have oil on them.” I didn’t think I had particularly oily feet, but I was taking no chances and made sure I had slippers on every time I touched the beautiful raw wood floor. “Peter! You dropped a piece of popcorn!” I scolded, scurrying to retrieve an errant kernel. I tell you all this so you’ll understand how dreadful I felt
about what happened next. We like peanut butter, the kind that’s made with peanuts and nothing else. That kind of peanut butter separates, with the peanuts at the bottom and the oil at the top. You may think you can imagine what happens next, but it’s even worse. When opening a new jar, I use one beater on my hand mixer to stir, but, when I did this on Saturday, the GFCI on the electrical outlet popped. “Darn!” I said. “Try another socket,” Peter said. And so I did. What I didn’t do was turn off the mixer before plugging it in. The jar spun madly out of control and, in a moment, there was peanut oil every-
where — all over me, all over the countertop, all over the cupboards. The only really important thing was that there was peanut oil and peanut butter all over the raw teak floor. I didn’t move for a long moment, hoping what had just happened would somehow rewind and be undone. “Quick! Get a towel!” Peter said, snapping me out of it. I wiped it up and scrubbed it with detergent and hot water. Then I did it again. Then one more time. I turned a fan on and let it dry all night, and in the morning it was every bit as bad as I feared it would be. I tried to imagine what I could have done that could be worse. “Maybe India ink,” I thought. “India ink might be worse.” I was sick
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Empowering events and community connections By Tana Douville and Kirsten Partenheimer
F
or more than 50 years, Minnesota Housing, the state’s housing finance agency, has worked to provide Minnesotans access to safe, decent and affordable housing and to build stronger communities across the state. They do this in part through their homeownership and home improvement programs that help Minnesotans buy and fix up homes and stabilize neighborhoods, communities and families. However, just offering the programs alone isn’t enough if the borrowers who need them aren’t always aware of who is eligible, what is available and where can they apply. While Minnesota has one
of the highest homeownership rates in the country, there is a large disparity in homeownership by race: Black and Indigenous households and households of color have a homeownership rate of 44% compared with 77% for white households. However, many homebuyers, including firstgeneration homebuyers and households of color, may feel discouraged by barriers such as credit scores or saving for a down payment. Minnesota Housing works to provide information and outreach through many opportunities, and one that has been vital has been participating in and supporting community events. This year, working safely within state COVID guidelines, our staff have masked up and taken part in 11 com-
munity events. Most years Minnesota Housing has a table with brochures at an average of 50 events around the state, and staff spends much of the year traveling to talk to as many Minnesotans as we can about our homeownership and home improvement programs. Most of the time we invite local lenders and real estate agents to join us to answer questions about the homebuying process. When people stop by at an event, they get answers on how to start the application and qualification process for a home loan, and information on Minnesota Housing Start Up and Step Up home purchase and downpayment and closing cost loan programs, which allow qualified Minnesotans to borrow up to $17,000 to
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use toward their downpayment and closing costs. Minnesota Housing event staff are passionate about housing and building stronger communities. They say meeting prospective homeowners is one of the best parts of their jobs. They hope these conversations help people consider that homeownership could be an option for them. So, if you’re ever at an event and you see our bright blue and green logo and energetic staff, stop by and say hi! You’ll leave with more than just a brochure in your hand; you’ll have a vision of your next home in your heart. Tana Douville is a housing program specialist and Kirsten Partenheimer is a business development representative in the single-family Division of Minnesota Housing. A tribe is defined as a group of people having a common character or interest. In today’s day and age it has also come to mean supporters and we invite you to be one of ours. Since 1966, we’ve proudly and effectively covered the issues most important to our community. We ask our loyal readers to consider donating a small amount to help us continue publishing community news that informs, entertains and inspires. Could you send $10 a year...or more? Every dollar helps. To contribute, mail your check to St. Paul Publishing Co., 1643 S. Robert St., Suite 60B, West St. Paul, MN 55118, or call us at 651457-1177 with your credit card number. Mailed subscriptions are available for $21.50 per year.
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Cenex building makes National Register Lois Glewwe Contributor
S
urely every kid raised in South St. Paul has been asked about the “checkerboard” building on North Concord, the one with the large multicolored squares. I remember riding past it as a child and imagining it to be a huge game board. Built between 1955 and 1957, it is the former headquarters of the Farmers Union Central Exchange or Cenex Harvest States Cooperative, now called CHS, Inc. CHS is a diversified energy, grains and foods company owned by farmers, ranchers, cooperatives and thousands of stockholders. The cooperative opened its first office building in South St. Paul in 1934 at 1200 N. Concord, now the site of Minikahda Storage. For a number of years, Cenex also had offices in the former Drover’s Bank Building on the northwest corner of Grand and Concord, across from the Stockyards Exchange. That build-
The former Cenex headquarters at 1185 N. Concord has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its modernist architectural style. Its most notable feature is the famous checkerboard patterns that adorn both ends of the building. ing was demolished this year to make way for a 264-unit apartment project known as The Yards. Additions were made to the North Concord building in 1963 and again in 1971 before the company
moved to its current campus in Inver Grove Heights. Andrea Pizza, architectural historian with Deco Cultural Services, LLS, in South St. Paul, was working with the Minnesota Depart-
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ment of Transportation on an architectural study of the property before the improvements. Her work included evaluating other structures on North Concord, including the Farmers Union
Central Exchange. In January of this year, Pizza submitted an application on behalf of the property owners to nominate the famous checkerboard building to the National Register of
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Page 12 - South St. Paul Voice - October 2021
Historic Places. Approval came in May. The 58-page application notes the unique features of the building, including the bold color geometric relief on the north and south sides, as well as other details that make it an example of the modern, or modernist, movement in architectural design. Ellerbe Architects designed the structure and Graus Construction Company was the builder. The application also describes the construction materials, and includes floor plans before and after renovations. One interesting detail inside the building was a mural that adorned the entry wall on the main floor. The remarkable work of art had 3D that highlighted the regions where Cenex operated. South St. Paul now has four buildings on the National Register: the Stockyards Exchange, the Serbian Home, St. Stefan’s Romanian Orthodox Church and the Cenex North Concord Exchange Building.