Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Home Tour

660 E. 4th St.

950 Margaret St.

211 Earl St.

771 E. 6th St.

229 Earl St.

245 Maria Ave.

   The 2009 Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Home Tour will be held on Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 26th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  It is part of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Home Tour sponsored by the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Home Tour is free of charge and open to the public. The complete listing of all the homes on the tour will be found in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Home Tour Brochure which can be picked up at the library.
   The Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Home Tour features beautiful homes, including 211 Earl Street, 229 Earl Street, 950 Margaret Street, 771 East 6th Street, 660 East 4th Street, and 245 Maria Avenue. Three of the homes are also featured on the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Home Tour. On the days of the tour you can start the tour at any of the homes.
   Volunteers are needed to help with the Home Tour.  Volunteering consists of greeting people at the door to give out brochures and information about Dayton’s Bluff, and helping the homeowners for a few hours either day.  If you are interested, please email Karin@DaytonsBluff.org or call Karin at 651-772-2075.  
   For more information on  the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Home Tour visit www.msphometour.com.

Spring Vacant Home Tour on Sunday May 17

      The Dayton’s Bluff Vacant Building Committee (DBVBC) has announced the Spring Dayton’s Bluff Vacant Home Tour, which will be held on Sunday, May 17.  The goal is to showcase some of the vacant homes in our neighborhood and, hopefully, to find buyers for them. Six to eight homes will be featured on the tour.
   The DBVBC was formed in 2007 just as the early fallout from the sub prime crisis began to emerge.  Initially, the group’s goal was to provide neighborhood input on the city’s decisions when to (or when not to) demolish vacant properties in the Dayton’s Bluff area.  The idea was to stop the city from tearing down vacant properties just because they were vacant.
  Dayton’s Bluff Vacant Home Tour is an alternative to vacant house demolition.  Homes of all sizes, some in move-in shape, some in need of a lot of work will be included on the tour.  The tour will feature a wide range of these homes and it is an opportunity to see the options available in our neighborhood.
   Mark your calendars: The Vacant Home Tour will be on Sunday, May 17.   Anyone who would like to help out with the tour or get involved with the Dayton’s Bluff Vacant Home Committee is welcome to join.  We need your help.  Please contact Karin DuPaul, at Karin@daytonsbluff.org or call Karin at 651-772-2075.

Dayton's Bluff Community Meeting

   The next Community Meeting is Thursday, April 2 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the meeting room at the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council, 798 East 7th Street at the corner of 7th and Margaret   The Dayton’s Bluff Community Council holds its Community Meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month.  The purpose of the meeting is to work with block clubs and neighborhood residents on problem properties, criminal and nuisance behavior, code enforcement issues and any other neighborhood issues, concerns, and/or new ideas for improvement in Dayton’s Bluff
.    If you can get me the addresses of problems ahead of time I can get them to the police and code enforcement.  Then they can bring information about the problems to the meeting. All Dayton’s Bluff residents are welcome to attend. If you need more information email Karin@DaytonsBluff.org or call Karin at 651-772-2075.

Block club meetings

  * Wilson Avenue Block Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Mounds Park United Methodist Church, at Earl and Euclid, at 6:30 p.m.
  * Lower Dayton’s Bluff Block Club Kickball meets on the second to the last Tuesday of each month at Dayton’s Bluff Rec Center at 800 Conway at 6:30 p.m. Kids and parents are welcome. Kids play, parents talk.
  * Margaret Rec Center Block Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Margaret Rec Center, at Margaret and Frank, at 6:30 p.m.
  If you wish to have your block club listed, or need information about starting you own block club, please contact Karin at 651-772-2075 or Karin@DaytonsBluff.org.

Bethlehem Lutheran Activities

    The Eastern District Police host their monthly meetings for community members at 722 Payne on the corner of Payne and Minnehaha Avenues. One is on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and the other on the third Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m. In April the meetings are on the 15th and 17th.
  The meeting is intended as a time to listen to and address people’s concerns about crime and other issues on the East Side.

Photo by Angela DuPaul March Dayton’s Bluff Take a Hike hikers stopping for a photo op at the overlook at Mounds Blvd and Plum. L to R: Sharin Schroeder, LeeAnn Pomrenke, Rich DuPaul, Karin DuPaul, and David Goldsmith.

   Dayton’s Bluff Take a Hike occurs on the first Saturday of most months. The next hike is Saturday, April 4. We meet at 10:30 a.m. in Indian Mounds Park at Earl St. and Mounds Blvd.
   We’ll hike from Mounds Park to the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary and then walk along the Bruce Vento Recreational Trail through Swede Hollow Park to the new East Side Heritage Park. Along the way we will share stories and learn some local history of the area. The hike is about four miles long with some moderately rough terrain. Transportation will be available to return to Mounds Park, or you may hike back.
   Join us and explore some of our parks and the regional trail. For more information contact Karin at 651-772-2075 or Karin@DaytonsBluff.org.

Sixth Annual Plant Sale and Exchange

Dayton's Bluff Preservation Evening

   Have you repaired or restored your home? Redecorated a room? Rebuilt a porch? Or done any other home project? We are asking residents to bring their stories, pictures, picture boards, scrapbooks, etc. on big and little home repair projects to share. For the last six years residents have brought photos, picture boards, and stories about kitchen, bathroom, porch, whole house projects or any other project. Call Karin at 772-2075 or email Karin@DaytonsBluff.org if you have projects you would like to share with others or for more information. 
   See the May issue of the Forum for more information about this event.

April at the Mounds Theatre

Trinity Catholic Pre-School Rates 4 Stars

East Side Restorative Justice Program

By Sage Holben
   How often have you found graffiti in your neighborhood; looked out a window only to observe someone using your fence as a urinal; or dread nights when your neighbor’s porch becomes an all night party place? Have you ever wanted to talk with the offender and say how you feel when you see continued tagging and graffiti on the garages and utility boxes; how you feel when your child sees public urination or how exhausted you are in going to work the next morning after listening to one more night of slamming car doors and loud music or talking until 3 am?
   Many times these situations are taken care of by the police. Sometimes city departments take care of the problems. What is missing is the voice of the victim, whether the victim is one resident or a block of neighbors. The beginning of the East Side Restorative Justice Program began a year ago with a conversation between retired Totem Town staffer Tom Russ and Community Prosecutor/Assistant City Attorney, Tony Tedesco.
   Restorative Justice is a program that brings an offender and victim together to have a dialogue about the effects of the offender’s actions. Both must be willing to meet in a respectful manner. They meet with two trained facilitators and they may bring support persons. This could be a friend for moral support or neighbors who can also speak to the actions.
    Several purposes are served in this meeting. One is to give victims an opportunity to speak to the offender. It offers the offender, who already has to have taken responsibility for his or her negative actions, to offer an apology. It also can be the beginning of healing for the neighborhood. Some of that happens when the offender is offered and takes the opportunity to reintegrate into neighborhood life by making amends through volunteering. It may be repairing something that was damaged, such as removing graffiti; it might be helping to rebuild a retaining wall.
   Attitudes often change in the restorative justice process. Offenders, who on the street may have acted arrogantly and aggressively, most often demonstrate submissiveness and connect the human side of their action once face to face with those they have offended. Studies have proven that compensation to the community teaches a much greater lesson than a fine or a few days in lock-up. Lower rates of recidivism have also been demonstrated with restorative justice participation.
   The newly formed East Side Restorative Justice Program is seeking volunteers who would commit to training as meeting facilitators. Training is being set for June. If you are interested in facilitator training, contact Patty Lammers at patty.lammers@visi.com or Tom Russ at 612-387-5511. The Minneapolis Restorative Justice program, which conducts restorative justice circles, invites observers. If you are interested to see how a session works, call Tom Russ, 612-387-5511 for dates, times, and registration.

Looking back a quarter of a century to April 1984

By Steve Trimble
      This month I decided to go back a quarter of a century and look at what appeared in the April 1984 issue of the Dayton’s Bluff District Forum. I thought it would be interesting to see what had remained somewhat the same and what had changed after twenty-five years.  Here is what I found:
   There were several articles on the front page that suggests that these were some of the more important events—or at least the most interesting. There was a review of the first annual “East Seventh Boardwalk” that was held to promote the business community. It was sponsored by the East Seventh Area Business Association (ESABA). The evening was started out with a slide show given by local historian Steve Trimble-is he still around?
   People were given a “game board” and visited twenty different local businesses that all had some treats such as cookies, cheese or beverages. The Monopoly-looking game boards were checked off and if a person visited all the sites, they could take part in a drawing for door prizes that included $25, free dry cleaning, decorative water faucets and art prints.  It was hoped that in the future local businesses would stay open late one weekday for what they were calling “Why Not Wednesday.”
   Only two of the twenty groups participating remain today. They are the Dayton’s Bluff Housing Services that was then at a different location and Pat’s Barber Shop which has been bought and is now Testa’s Barber Shop. 
   The front page of the April 1984 issue was also adorned with a picture of Frank J. Gangi who lived at 1051 Mclean. He had just been honored as “Minnesota Soldier of the Year”  by the Army National Guard.  Gangi, a full time recruiter for the Guard, was also in the running for the National Soldier of the Year and although he did not win, he placed very highly in the competition.
   Another page one featured person was Lt. Mike Smith who was in charge of the Dayton’s Bluff  “Team Police Headquarters” that had just opened at 699 E. Seventh. This was a new form of local policing designed to decentralize management of the patrol division.  People were invited to an open house at the headquarters.
   There were also two short pieces on the front-below the fold, as they say. One stated that Ed Krahmer, an active local resident, was being added to the board of directors of Christ Child Center, now known as Merrick Community Services.  The second announced the opening of the new Battle Creek Bank-now gone- on Hudson Road just west of the Sunray Shopping Center.
   The inside pages featured a variety of local news articles.  There had been a special election for vacant council seats that was written up. Those elected were Chris Richter, Timothy Bardell, Rev. Geri Solomon and Dick Taylor.
   The Dayton’s Bluff Community Council was given plenty of space in 1984. There was a regular column by its president Roger Curtis. There was also a regular feature called “Council Member Spotlight” and this time it gave short biographies of Harold Morrison, Sheryl Sinn and Jim Meyer. Anyone know where they all are now?
   Like today, the Council dealt with local issues of housing, zoning, crime and other issues. There was an article headlined  “Community Council Meeting Highlights—something that many people think should be started again.  Here’s what was covered twenty-five years ago:  
   Harold Harman reported on a meeting with representatives of the Red Cross to discuss services given to fire victims.
   One local resident named David Thon asked for a zoning variance that would allow him to build a duplex on the back of his lot on Eichenwald Street.  The Council voted to deny the request and it never happened.
   Planning and Economic Development came to the Council to promote citizen participation in the Old Harding Place project- an-ill conceived plan thought up when the St. Paul school board tried to sell off the building and property of the old Mounds Park Junior High. It was proposed to fill the site with housing.
   Other organizations were given space to promote their activities. One of them was ESABA, mentioned above. It no longer exists, but there is currently an attempt to form a new business group in our community.
   The association reported that the “flower committee” had done planting around the new trees on East Seventh-I’m pretty sure they are all dead now. Plans were being made for the upcoming ESABA banquet and dinner and the group was planning a cruise on the Jonathan Paddleford.
   The East Side Improvement Coalition was concerned with crime and a developing negative image of the community and wanted the media to report positive happenings. CARE (Citizens Affecting Racial Education) said it was making progress dealing with backlash from racial incidents in the neighborhood and working with schools. Seems like history-or at least the neighborhood concerns-really does repeat itself.
   There was a two-page spread titled “Houses Are the Foundation of a Neighborhood’s Heritage”.  It was to be the first of a series of articles on Dayton’s Bluff historic houses and buildings and featured information on eleven different structures. I wrote that one and I’m still scribbling away many years later.
   “Bluff Business Briefs” was a series that introduced some of the area entrepreneurs to readers. Something like that might be a good idea now. How about some of you doing short write-ups about places you know about?
   The ones written up in April 1984 on or near Seventh street were: the Wearhouse, a second hand shop, Granny’s Statues, which sold greenware and ceramic supplies and Greco’s Back-Door Bakery which specialized in Italian goodies.
   In other sections of the area the Business Briefs examined A-Accuracy Lock and Key at 1051 Hudson Road and the Fanci-Freeze, which is still operating as the Earl Street Dairy Queen. All the rest have vanished. Maybe we should have called the column Brief Businesses of the Bluff.
   There was also a separate article on the seventh year anniversary of the opening of Leo’s Chow Mein. Leo Ng, who was pictured, came from Hong Kong and started serving Cantonese food out of an old gas station. It’s still there, although Leo has retired.
   The three recreation centers-yes there were three at the time-always sent in news.
   Margaret Recreation Center was having a talent show, had started a “jazzercising” class and would sponsor an Easter egg hunt.
   Dayton’s Bluff Rec, under the direction of “Big Mike” Devilliers was also hiding Easter eggs, wanted people to sign up for men’s softball and announced the first annual family bonfire.
   Mounds Park Recreation Center-this is the one that got axed by the city-reminded folks that birthdays were celebrated the third Thursday of every month and that a wrestling program was imminent.
   Incidentally, when Mounds Park Rec was shut down, the city promised that the other two would always remain.  Something to remember these days.
  Twenty-five years ago, nearly a full page was given to reports from area schools, written by students.  Another good idea that should be brought back. Talk to your kids and see if they would be willing to volunteer.
   The various activities occurring included puppet shows, bake sales and collecting Campbell soup labels.  Do they still do that? There were short reports of dances, field trips and “Spirit Weeks” that included pajama days and backwards day.
   Karin DuPaul, who is still very active in the community, contributed a column called “50 Years Ago on the Bluff”—which now would be 75 years ago.  It was filled with interesting tidbits of the society at the time. Perhaps some of our readers could call and encourage her to start writing the column again.
  There was an announcement of an amateur photo contest.  NHS was offering a number of educational workshops where area residents could learn to improve their homes
   It was interesting to see that the District Forum, then edited by Kay Woitas, consisted of 12 pages.  That was possible because many neighborhood and area businesses advertised. Unfortunately, almost all of them no longer exist.
   The advertisers on or near Seventh Street included the Arcade Frame Studio, The Plumbery, Mautz Paint, Tower TV, Swanson Drugs, Margaret Face to Face Counseling, Anderson Electric, Fish City, Roma Bakery, and St. John’s Hospital, whose full-page ad reminded readers of their commitment to St. Paul!
   Annie’s Liquors and Foods at Third and Maria has disappeared, Earl Street Drugs is now a grocery store and Spectrum Images is in the suburbs.
   Rogers Printe Shoppe has remained and expanded.  Shar Lee’s old restaurant still serves food but now it is Asian cuisine at Samai. Vern’s Cleaners is under new ownership and called Storchak’s Dry Cleaning and the Q, a gas station, is no longer in business, but there is a similar enterprise called Super USA.
   There it is in short form. Lots of changes, some continuity. I doubt that I will do this kind of story again, but you can read old District Forum issues on microfilm at the Minnesota Historical Society if you want to know more.  And if you get active in Dayton’s Bluff maybe twenty-five years from now, someone will mention you in a similar retrospective.

CLUES welcomes new board members

April 1, 2009 – CloudyChannel Communications announced today that it is in the process of removing all billboards from the Dayton’s Bluff area – sort of.  Actually only the advertising is going.   Billboard advertising revenue is way down due to the recession and the fact that advertisers are starting to realize no one reads them.     So instead, CloudyChannel is mounting photovoltaic (solar) panels on all their billboards in order to generate electricity. The electricity will be used to charge batteries that will power the billboards’ lights at night and on cloudy days so the panels can be operated 24/7.     The first panels were mounted on the three billboards near the intersection of Earl St. and Hudson Road (see photo above).  A neighbor was quoted as saying, “Well they’re still ugly as all get out but at least they won’t be falling apart every time we get a little wind.  I hope.”

Top: These are some of the many fine specimens of ashtrys that willl soon be on display in the new Ashtray Museum opening on April 1st in Dayton's Bluff.  Above: A close-up view of a classy alligator ashtray from Florida.

April 1, 2009 - A few ghosts may be fun but too many ghosts can get downright annoying.  That was the case at the Mounds Theatre recently.  So who’re ya gonna call?  These ghost busters had to thin the herd a bit, but don’t worry, there are still plenty of spirits in residence.  For more details check out www.ghostbustin911.com.

Set of 12 Dayton's Bluff postcards available

The Dayton’s Bluff area has always been picturesque.  It has so many scenic views—and now they are available in postcards! There are 12 different scenes, including  the Seventh Street Improvement Arches, the Mounds Park Pavilion, the Scenic Overlock at Mounds Park, the Margaret Recreation Center, the Stutzman Block and seven others.    A set of 12 is $10—only $5 for Dayton’s Bluff residents. Buy one to keep and one to send. Photography and printing of the postcards was donated by Dayton’s Bluff resident Steve Trimble. All proceeds support our local paper, the Dayton’s Bluff District Forum. Call 651-772-2075 for more information

Amazing Grace Assembly of God
1237 Earl St.
651-778-1768    
Sun 9:30 am - Sunday school all ages
Sun 10:30 am - morning Worship
Sun 6:00 pm - evening Worship

Hmong Asbury United Methodist  
815 Frank St.  
651-771-0077

Bethlehem Lutheran Church  
655 Forest St.  
651-776-4737
Sun 9:00 am - Morning Service
Sun 10:15-11:15 am - Sunday School & Bible Hour
Sun 11:15 - Hmong Service

Faith Temple - Templo De Fe
1510 Payne Ave
651-778-0096
Sun 10:30 am - Spanish Bilingual Service
Sun 6:00 pm – Spanish Bilingual Service
Wednesday family night

Mounds Park United Methodist 
1049 Euclid St. 
651-774-8736
9:15 am -  Sunday School, 4-year-old through Adult
10:30 am - Worship

Our Savior’s Lutheran  ‘LCMS’
674 Johnson Pkwy 
651-774-2396
Sun only - 8am Worship, 9:20 education hour
Sun 10:45am - Worship

Sacred Heart Catholic Church  
Iglesia Sagrado Corazón
840 E. 6th St.
651-776-2741
Sat 4:00 pm English Mass &
   5:30 pm Spanish Missa
Sun 9:00 am English Mass &
   11:00 am Spanish Missa
Mon, Wed, Fri 8:00 am Mass

St. John of Saint Paul Catholic Church
977 E. 5th St.  
651-771-3690  
Mon-Sat. 8:00 am – Mass
Sat 4:15 pm - Mass
Sun 9:00 am, 11:00 am - Mass

St. John’s Outreach Ministry
1154 E. 7th St.  
651-771-7639
Sun 9:30 am - Sunday School
Sun 10:45 am - Worship
Wed 7:00 pm - Bible Study

St. John Ev. Lutheran  
765 Margaret St.
651-771-6406
Sun 9:30 am - Worship
Thurs 6:30 pm - Worship