| Dayton's
Bluff District
Forum December
2006
Volume 19, No. 10 |
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Santa Claus Comes to Dayton’s Bluff
and is Happy
to Find the Children Nestled all Snug in Their Beds
“Preparing for Kindergarten” Class off to a Great Start at Dayton’s Bluff ECFE The year of life before traditional kindergarten begins for five year olds presents challenges both for children and for parents. For many years the Dayton’s Bluff Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) Program offered a class specifically designed to help parents and kids meet these challenges. Children were helped to be ready to be joyfully successful in the first year of their K – 12 formal education. Parents were ready to support the academic, social, emotional, and physical development of their children as they began their school years. Unfortunately, for several years Dayton’s Bluff was unable to provide this class due to reductions in Minnesota State Funding. (The State of Minnesota is the primary funding source for all ECFE. ECFE is unique to Minnesota and not currently available in any other state.) Fortunately, the Minnesota legislature slightly increased ECFE funding in the last legislative session. As a result, Dayton’s Bluff ECFE is once again offering “Preparing for Kindergarten.” By focusing on a group of children who are all age eligible for kindergarten the following school year, the curriculum can emphasize the developmental tasks that are important for these children to master as they begin school. The four year olds will be developing their knowledge of themselves, their families, and the world they live in. They will extend their vocabularies, conversation, and story telling skills as they work on reading readiness. They will sort and group and build and compare, solidifying the foundation of math understanding they will build on throughout their educations. They will increase their ability to pay attention and to interact positively and productively with other children and adults. They will learn that school is a wonderful place to learn and grow! The parents will also have a curriculum that concentrates on the specific issues in the year of life before kindergarten and in the following year. They will think about typical development of four and five year olds.and explore ways of supporting the fullest possible development of each child. They will also focus on school issues and think about identifying the school that they think is right for their child and their family, whether public or private. They will learn about the school choices within the St. Paul Public Schools and how to apply to the school of their choice. They will learn about preschool screening, parent – teacher conferences, transportation, report cards or other ways of describing school progress, homework, school nutrition, the importance of volunteering and many ways to volunteer. They will understand their role in their kids’ school lives. They will explore “first day jitters” and jitter relief. Parents who are sending a child to kindergarten for the first time will benefit from the experience of other parents in the group who already have one or more children in school. Parents who have previously participated in this kind of class describe it as the best part of their ECFE experience! There are still a few openings for parents and children in the “Preparing for Kindergarten” class and other ECFE classes at Dayton’s Bluff. Call 651 293-5343 for more information or to register. The Historic Mounds Theatre
Brings Jean Shepherd’s
A Christmas Story returns live on stage to the Mounds Theatre this December for nine performances. It’s everyone’s favorite story of Ralphie and his quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. All the delightful moments you fell in love with in the film version are brought to life. This holiday classic was first produced by the Portage for Youth at the Mounds Theatre in December 2004 and has been a great success for the last two years. Most of the members of last year’s cast are returning because they enjoyed it so much. Many of the actors live right here in Dayton’s Bluff. Come and see if you can spot a neighbor. Create or continue a holiday tradition at the Mounds Theatre. A Christmas Story is appropriate for all ages and there is discount pricing for children. Tickets to the play make a great gift for those “hard to buy for” individuals on your shopping list. Spend an evening or afternoon with your friends and family watching this warm-hearted play before the hustle and bustle of Christmas sets in. Christmas will be here sooner than you think. Purchase your tickets now. Don’t delay and be disappointed. Performances: December 1, 2, 8, 9,15 & 16 at 7:30 p.m. December 3, 10 & 17 at 2:00 p.m.. Tickets: Ticket prices are $15 Adults; $10 Student/Senior (55 and over); and $5 Children (12 and under). Visit www.moundstheatre.org for a ticket order form or call 651-772-2253 and leave your name and number. Someone will call you back to take your order. All profits from A Christmas Story benefit the Portage for Youth. The Mounds Theatre is located at 1029 Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55106 Metropolitan State Hosts Free Holiday Concert Metropolitan State University presents “Holiday Pops Family Concert” as the second of a five-concert series of the Minnesota Sinfonia conducted by Jay Fishman, on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. in the university’s Auditorium, 700 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul. The concert is free and open to the public. The concert includes holiday favorites, and features Young Artist Competition junior winner Dereck Huang performing Camille Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Concert seating is first come, first served. For special accommodations call Disability and Special Services at 651-793-1540 (voice) or 651-772-7687 (TFY). This concert is the second in a series of five free performances at Metropolitan State by the Minnesota Sinfonia, thanks to a grant from the Anna M. Heilmaier Charitable Trust. The next concerts are on Fridays, Jan. 12, Feb. 2 and March 2. Metropolitan State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, provides high-quality, affordable education programs for adults seeking baccalaureate and master’s degrees. It is the only state university in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Be Your Own Boss The next Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Entrepreneur Class is starting in April 2007. This program helps start-up and young businesses on the East Side. All East Side entrepreneurs are welcome. Class training lasts approximately 8 weeks and includes topics such as operations management, marketing, financial management, one to one assistance with creating a successful business, and preparing a business plan, plus 8 hours of one on one time with the instructor. Those who successfully complete the course and locate their businesses in target neighborhoods are eligible for ongoing business support services. Some examples of businesses started by people who have previously taken this course include graphics, photography, food service, restoration of wood furniture and works of art, custom floral design for weddings and events, and exterior and interior painting. The course is sponsored by the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council and the Neighborhood Development Center. There is a small registration fee based on a sliding fee scale. The next session will start in April 2007 and class size is limited. Please email or call Karin at Karin@Daytonsbluff.org or 772-2075 for an application. Dayton's
Bluff Community
Meeting The next Community Meeting is Thursday, December
7, 2006 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. New
Book Published about the Eastside In addition to a brief review of Eastside history starting 12,000 years ago, the book discusses how New Urbanism and Smart Growth redevelopment principles guided the transformation of a polluted and underutilized part of St. Paul to a $600 million project complete with a new 2.5 mile road on the Eastside. The Phalen Corridor project has received 20 regional awards. The Phalen Corridor is published by the Eastside Neighborhood Development Company and available at the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council for $15.00. It can also be ordered from the East Side Area Business Association at 900 Ocean St. St. Paul, MN 55106. Order ten or more and the price is $10.00 each. All proceeds go to the Merrick Community Food Shelf. Greening Dayton’s Bluff will
hold a planning meeting for the 2007 growing season on Wednesday,
January 24, 2007 at 798 East 7th Street at 6:30 pm. Please come and
learn more about Greening Dayton’s Bluff and help plan activities for
the new year. Some of the Greening highlights from 2006 include
gardening workshops, spring plant swap, free plants for public spaces,
garden tour, buckthorn removal, and discounts for Greening Dayton’s
Bluff members at local stores and garden centers.
For more information call Karin at 651-772-2075. New Hours for POP's Cafe POP’s Cafe has been changing its hours around and may
have confused a few folks with the various options displayed on
their door. Cafe owners say the actual new hours are as
follows: New
Margaret Rec Center Tot Lot
Dayton's
Bluff Recreation Center 800 Conway St. 651.793-3885 Director: Jody Griffin jody.griffin@ci.stpaul.n.us Fall Program is out! (Sept.-Dec. 2006 Events & Activities) Stop by the center to pick up your copy or visit us on line at www.ci.stpaul.gov/depts/parks New this Fall – On-line registration for parks and recreation classes, trips & sports. Parent Tot Play Time - Mon., Wed., Fri.’s, 10 am-12 pm, Ages 0-5, Free Adult Lunch Time Volleyball & Basketball - Thursday’s, 11 am-1 pm; $1/week; On-going; No children Teen Club - The group meets on Tuesday’s 5-7 pm & Thursday’s from 5:30-7:30 pm. Free, New members are welcome. Adult Volleyball – Fri., 6-8:45 pm, $1 per week, on-going Movie Mystery Nights – Mon./Wed.’s, 6-8 pm, All ages, Free Jump Roping Club – Wed.’s, 5:30-6:30 pm, Ages 6-17, $12 for 12 sessions Badminton – Tuesday’s 6-8 pm, $1 per week through Nov. 14 Community Block Club Meetings – Last Monday of each month, 6:30-8 pm. All are welcome! Express Baby Sign Parent Workshop – Th., Nov. 9, 9:30-10:30 am, Ages 6-24 months, $10 per family Dear Santa - Let the Dayton’s Bluff elves help your little one get this year’s wish list to Santa. Upon registration you will receive a Dear Santa Wish List for your child to complete. Return it by Dec. 8. Santa will write your little one a letter and mail it directly from the North Pole. Register during programming hours. Free Evening At The North Pole – Th., Dec. 21, 6:30-8 pm, Ages 8 & under, $4 per person including adults MAD SCIENCE CLASS - Heredity – Th., Dec. 7, 6-7 pm, Ages 9-13, $6, 1 session ABRAKADOODLE CLASS - Icky, Slimy, Gooey – Th., Dec. 28, 9-5 pm, Ages 7-12, $48, 1 session ONCE UPON A STAR CLASSES - Rockin’ Like A Rock Star – Tu., Dec. 12, 5:30-6:30 pm, Ages 5-12, $16, 1 session FIELD TRIP Parent Permission slips are required. Must register prior to trip. Youth under the age 8 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs - Tues., Dec. 19; 9 am-12 pm; $12.50
Local history provides a context for the space around our lives; it gives us a perspective on who we are and how we relate to those who lived here before us and those who will occupy our house and place in the next generations. Local history is an antidote to our ego that would have us assume-particularly on the daily level-that history begins and ends with us. There are many evidences of the past in our day-to-day lives, but perhaps none is so obvious-yet so remarked-as the place names of the city, especially the names of the streets and the parks. -Donald Empson That is the reason that the author of the quote seen above wrote The Street Where You Live: A Guide to Places Names of St. Paul. It was originally printed in 1975, and now a new, revised and expanded edition from the University of Minnesota Press has just hit the bookstores. Two neighborhood residents were acknowledged in the forward, as follows: “Karin DuPaul, long-time Community Organizer for the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council, helped sort out some of the more obscure aspects of this delightful neighborhood,” and “Steve Trimble, venerable historian of St. Paul and Dayton’s Bluff, contributed a number of facts that percolated their way into several entries.” Since Empson is coming to Dayton’s Bluff this month, we thought it would be a good idea to start printing the items that directly relate to our community. Below, you can read his general overview of the neighborhood and get a sense of his energetic and often humorous writing style. Starting in the next issues of the Forum, readers will be able to find out the origins of the names of our community’s streets and parks. The following is found on pages 71 and 72 of The Street Where You Live: “Dayton’s Bluff. This early east side neighborhood extends roughly between Payne Avenue and Johnson Parkway, between Minnehaha Avenue and Mounds Park. “Lyman Dayton (1810-1865) was born in Connecticut and worked as a merchant in Providence, Rhode Island, before coming to Minnesota in 1849, where he became one of the leading real estate speculators in early St. Paul. In a revealing sketch, written some fifty years after his death, Dayton is described as six feet tall and weighing 300 pounds, attired in an outfit consisting of a high hat with an immense brim, a long coat, a velvet vest with white embroidery, and a colossal watch chain. Usually in financial difficulty, Dayton often put his land in the name of a third party so his creditors could not confiscate it. “Notwithstanding these eccentricities, another source recalls him as a man ‘possessed of great energy, kindhearted, and public spirited.’ He was an important figure in the development of St. Paul, and had he lived into the real estate boom of the 1870’s, he would have been one of its richest men. The present day department store family is not directly related. Dayton Avenue is named for him, as is the town of Dayton in Hennepin County. Maria and Bates are named for his wife. “A 1930’s report on housing conditions in St. Paul described Dayton’s Bluff as: ‘Comprised of one of the first residential sections in town, originally settled by those of German extraction who built sound homes. In recent years the inhabitants have been of a transient nature who have permitted the homes to deteriorate rapidly, the original soundness of construction alone saving the structures from utter ruin.’ "Dayton’s Bluff residents have established a historic district, enthusiastically restoring the old homes within this multifaceted community." Meet
Author Donald Empson at POP’s Cafe Email Karin@Daytonsbluff.org or call Karin at 651-772-2075 to register for this event. You can pick up recycling bins at 798 East 7th Street at
the corner of 7th and Margaret. Call 651-772-2075 to be sure someone is
in the office. By Ed Lambert One of the characters in the “Prairie Home Companion” movie is a long-time homeowner in Dayton’s Bluff. Bob Douglas shows up in several scenes, including in the beginning of the movie as band members and others are preparing for the “broadcast” of the show. He’s the one handing out music sheets to the musicians, wearing a hat and a bright Hawaiian shirt.
Bob has lived on Eichenwald for 28 years in, what is now, a townhouse association of 4 units. The street is only one block long and lies 3 blocks East of Maria between 6th and 7th Streets. The building was constructed in 1892 and, when Bob first acquired it with other members of a then cooperative, it had 8 units. A number of long-time Dayton’s Bluff people have lived there, including Steve Trimble, the recognized Dayton’s Bluff historian who has published many articles in the Forum. Bob and wife Susan, along with Jerry Flannery and Jean Henjum, are the only members of that initial group still living there. Bob’s “day job” is as the Coordinator of Recycling and Central Receiving (Physical Plant Department) of St. Thomas University where he’s been employed for some 25 years. However, it’s his alter ego as a musician that got him in the movie. Bob Douglas is an accomplished mandolin player, who also plays the guitar and the “spoons,” and has been doing that professionally in the Twin Cities for over 30 years. He was a member of the first Prairie Home Companion “House Band” (The Powder Milk Biscuit Band 1976-82) and has toured overseas and in much of the U.S. as a musician. Back in the 70s he was involved in the formation of a musician’s group on the U of M West Bank, known as the June Apple Music Co-op. It included Pops Wagner, Charlie McGuire, Dakota Dave Hull, Shawn Blackburn, Bob Bovey, and Jerry Rau, among others. Their goal was to help each other by sharing information, booking help, and promotional efforts rather than competing with each other. It was a good experience for some of them; for others it did not work as well. But it led to all of them developing long time associations with each other in a variety of contexts and venues over the years. Music has long been a big and fulfilling part of Douglas’ life, and still is. In addition to playing in the Twin Cities with various groups, he has also played in Dayton’s Bluff venues such as Swede Hollow Café and the Mounds Theatre. He was part of the first Ceille (Irish dance with Irish music) done at the Mounds Theatre on March 19, 2004 (see the Forum for March and April of 2004). The Ceille was a fundraiser for the DB Community Council and was a huge success. St. Paul’s traditional Irish Band, “Barra,” was the focus of the evening’s dancing (a 5-piece Irish Ceilli band, www.barraband.com). Barra means Summit in Gaelic, and is part of the term (Barra en Teampaill) which refers to an area on the South bank of the river Liffey in Central Dublin seen as the Cultural Quarter of Dublin. With a population of about 3000, the area has preserved its medieval street plan and is the location where Handel’s Messiah was first performed April 13, 1742. The Messiah is performed annually there, on the same date at the same location. Douglas has also played with Laura McKenzie among other national figures; and was a “caller” for many years with a Square Dance collective and at Contra Dance events. He still plays with such groups, but is not often a caller these days, and can be seen and heard at the Tapestry Folkdance Center’s ethnic dance events in South Minneapolis. Another place he can be found, for the last four years, is at the annual Bluegrass Festival in Grand Rapids, Minnesota each June. Lloyd LaPlant, a well-respected guitar player in his 70s who lives in Grand Rapids, hosts the Festival. LaPlant is especially well known for his handcrafted instruments. The LaPlant name is inlaid in abalone and mother of pearl on some of the finest sounding guitars and mandolins to be found anywhere. He made Douglas’ mandolin as well. The June Festival draws 4-500 people, many of whom bring their RVs and tents and stay on site for the 3-day event. Douglas says there is a young phenomenon, Sam Miltich (now 21 years old), who plays an astounding Gypsy Jazz Guitar at the Festival and is not to be missed. Look for the “Clearwater Hot Club” if you go to www.clearwaterhotclub.com. On a more local note, Bob is the Music Coordinator of his church, Hope Christian Fellowship in Shoreview. Called “Hope Has Good Folk,” this Sunday evening concert series held several times each year is in its sixth year (www.hopemn.com.) Bob gets together with some faculty and staff each Thursday at noon to play “fiddle tunes” for their own pure pleasure on the campus of St. Thomas. For the last three years, he has also played at the annual fundraiser and “Country Fair” held by Nativity Catholic Church in St. Paul. Listen carefully, on a quiet night near Metropolitan State University and you might hear a bit of his mandolin singing lightly on the breeze over Dayton’s Bluff. Amazing Grace Assembly of God 463 Maria St. Paul, MN 55106 651-776-7210 1 block North of Metropolitan State University Sun 8:00 am – Free Community Breakfast 9:30 am, - Worship service Sun 10:45 am - Education for all ages Handicapped accessible ALL ARE WELCOME!
Mounds Park United
Methodist Worship times are subject to
change. Please call ahead to confirm. Would you like your child to participate in a Christmas program? We are having one at Mounds Park United Methodist Church at 1047 Euclid St. at Earl. It’s a great way to learn about the real meaning of Christmas! We welcome all interested families to participate. We will practice on Saturday, December 9 and share the program during the church service on Sunday, December 10 at 10:30 a.m. We invite you to stay for Jesus’ birthday party immediately following the service. Maybe this could be a new tradition for your family! For more information call Patrice Waters at 651-793-5176. Dayton's
Bluff History Bought and Sold on the Internet I’ll admit it. I spend some time almost every day checking out what’s for sale on ebay. And I’m willing to bet that many of you readers have also participated in or at least looked at the world’s largest electronic auctions site. So what does this have to do with history? Well, in this article, I decided to deal with—well, historic deals. Because I am somewhat of a cheapskate—my children might leave out the “somewhat”— I mostly just look. But for this issue, I’m going to write about a few old postcards I did decide to go after. These display our neighborhood heritage. They illustrate the past and often reveal interesting information about our community. It is often hard to put a precise date on a postcard. One guideline is found on the back. At first, people were not allowed to place messages on the address side. That’s why you sometimes see things written on the front of older cards. After 1907 they had “divided backs” with some sort of line down the middle. The right side was reserved for the address and the stamp. I remember my parents using the term “penny postcard.” It turns out that up until 1917, you only needed a one cent stamp for a postcard—after that the price doubled. So there’s another guideline that can help you date a card. Unless, of course, the person saved old cards and mailed them years later. One kind of item I find most interesting is one that is called a “real photo postcard,” often identified in the good old ebay listing with the acronym RPPC. These are what they sound like—actual pictures of people or places that are printed on photo paper. I have recently won three of them, and each seems to have a nice story to go with it. Let’s start with the one that is surely the most unique. Not even the Minnesota Historical Society has it in their collections. It is an RPPC (remember what that means?) of Carver’s Cave. The description said it was from 1910—a close, but not totally accurate guess from the seller.
I recognized the ebay visual. It was the same photo used in the St. Paul Pioneer Press article I had read while researching an article on the 1913 re-opening of Carver’s Cave. It was going for a little more than I usually pay, but it was hard to pass on such a unique image. I ended up with the wining bid. When it arrived, I discovered a few things. The divided back card had never been mailed. There were paper remnants on the back—it had obviously been in an album. On the back, in pencil, was written “Carver’s Cave. St. Paul. Near Mound Bluff Park along the Mississippi.” The reopening of the historic cave drew huge crowds from St. Paul and the surrounding area. A gate was put up to keep out the curious and the competing groups who wanted to be in charge took turns putting locks on it. So here’s my educated guess. Someone decided to take a photo of the gated cave and probably sold them to onlookers. This is the only one so far to surface. Another recent purchase is one of Sacred Heart Church. Once again, I’ve never seen this particular photo before. As you can see, this is the old frame church that was replaced in the 1920’s. The date on the postmark is unreadable, but above the message is written “St. Paul Minn Aug 14-11.” While it may not show up in the paper, you can even see the telephone and/or electric lines strung from the poles. On the bottom, typed in white letters is the following: “5281. Sacred Church Heart and Parsonage. St. Paul, Minnesota.” It seems that this was part of some sort of series. A series of church photos? Of scenes of Minnesota? I’m open to ideas if you have any suggestions. Finally, there is a real photo postcard of St. John’s Hospital in St. Paul-it says so in white hand lettering on the bottom. For those new to the neighborhood, the site is where Metropolitan State University stands today. The photo on the card shows two structures. The one on the left was originally the home of the Willius family. It was purchased in 1910 and converted into a twenty five-bed hospital. The first two floors were for patients and the third floor provided living quarters for the nurses. When the bigger brick building on the right was constructed in 1911, the old building was kept for a nurses’ residence.
One reason I wanted this image, is because it seemed to be made right after the new construction - notice that the grounds have no small trees or even grass. I may have been wrong, since the postmark reads July 12, 1916. Then again, the hospital may have made a big run and these were sold for many years in the gift shop. It is addressed to Mrs. Theo Zipf of Hutchinson, Minnesota and the message reads: “It has been a long time since I have but we have been so busy that a person don’t think of writing. What do you think of our hospital and nurses home? Wish I could be in the country during the hot months. Well, how are all you folks? Wished I could see the baby. Write when you can. Love, from your friend Louise F.” The phrase “our hospital and nurses home” seems to suggest that the sender worked there as a nurse or was in the hands-on school of nursing that most hospitals had at the time. Either Louise was forgetful or short on money, because on the bottom, there is a blue line that says “returned for postage.” Let me assure you I am no postcard expert. But we do have one in the community. Our newspaper editor, Greg Cosimini, who has searched flea markets, antique shows and postcard shows. He says that Bluff postcards are surprisingly easy to find and fairly inexpensive, costing between 50 cents and $15.00 with the typical price being about $3.00. If you want to see some of Greg’s postcard collection, log onto the Community Council’s website at www.daytonsbluff.org. Scroll down the page and on the left you’ll see “Culture and History.” Click on it. Then scroll down again until you find “Postcards from Dayton’s Bluff.” While many academics scoff at the usefulness of on-line auctions, I am grateful for them. These cards were all located in other states, probably found in sales I never would have attended. By the way, I know that we live in a competitive world; however, could you do me a favor? Please don’t bid for any Dayton’s Bluff items against anyone named Enoch on ebay. That was my great-grandfather’s name, and I use it as part of my on-line buyer identification. Thanks. The Continuing Saga of the Indian Mounds Park Sculpture
By Steve Trimble “’The Wave’ Stirs Up Neighbors.” That is was the headline on the front page of the November 12th Pioneer Press local news section. The article went on to say that there was a debate over a new sculpture that Public Art St. Paul (PASP) had placed in Mounds Park near McLean Street. The problem with their rendition of what was happening is the seeming desire to focus on conflict and the need to offer incredibly simplistic explanations. But your local monthly paper can go into more depth. “And now,” as radio commentator Paul Harvey always says, “here’s the rest of the story.” Incidentally, Mexican artist Javier del Cueto apparently calls his work “The Usumacinta River Visits the Mississippi.” The reason people have been referring to it as “The Wave” is because someone phoned the PASP office and were told that was the name. And, after all, it does kind of look like a wave. Ever since the sculpture made its appearance in the park, e-mails expressing various opinions have proliferated. Some were printed in last month s Forum. In reality, very few of them were of the “I love it” or “I hate it” variety. Most of the critical e-mails focused not on the quality of the art, but on its placement, while the others generally supported the idea of the art piece in the park, without referring to where it should be. There were questions about the process that brought the sculpture to its current location. According to the president of the District Council, they were contacted by PASP and invited to submit some locations in Dayton’s Bluff that would make good spots for public art. The Council submitted a number of sites, but didn’t specify exact locations, “nor did they get to pick which locations were selected. Perhaps most importantly, we didn’t approve specific pieces for installation,” stated one e-mail. A group of people decided to have a meeting, which was hosted at a Mounds Park area home on October 25th. Around twenty folks showed up to talk with Christine Podas-Larson, president of PASP. She acknowledged her own feeling that it might be better if the sculpture was moved closer to the bluff. It was agreed that the neighbors should set up a group - open to anyone - that would explore other locations in the general area. Christine made it clear that any new locations found should be all right with her group, the city and the artist. Also, to keep in line with the earlier process, it should be submitted to the Dayton’s Bluff District Council. One attendee later recalled: “It turns out that the sculpture has been incorrectly installed…. Christine said that the artist would be appalled to see this in its current state.” She sympathized with concerns about the sculpture’s site and related the fact that “the artist himself selected a second possible location just a few yards away - right behind the looping sidewalk and more directly in front of Mclean.” A day or two later, Podas-Larson sent an e-mail to the organizer of the meeting: “Thanks to the neighbors who were there to work out a solution,” she began. “As reflected in your notes and confirmed by my recollection of the meeting, here is the game plan… The sculpture will be correctly installed whatever the site… We will consider alternate locations along Mounds Boulevard, to be explored and proposed by a group of neighbors.” She added that there were certain guidelines that had to be followed, such as being on the bluff side of Mounds Boulevard, along the walking path and with the river visible in the background. The proposed sites will be sent to various entities for approval—the District Council, and the artist “for his consideration and selection. He may approve or not, any or all of the alternate locations presented. If he approves more than one, the final choice will be the District Council’s.” That week a group of neighbors met and on that cold and windy day looked at several sites. Photos of the potential sites were taken and later a resident photo-shopped the sculpture into each so people could get some idea of what it might look like there. These were sent out via e-mail to as many area folks as possible. They sent in their top three picks. It looked as if there would soon be a win-win solution. One resident wrote of a chance meeting on Monday, October 31 with Christine Podas-Larson. She was in Mounds Park, looking at two new locations that PASP decided it would consider moving the sculpture to. “Approached [by two homeowners]… Christine was very mindful and considerate of their point of view to relocate the sculpture so that it would not diminish their view. They all seemed to agree upon [a new site near] the current location.” However, things did not continue to go smoothly. The District Council received an e-mail detailing a resolution that had just been passed by the board of PASP: “The stone sculpture was created through Public Art Saint Paul’s International Stone Carving Symposium for Mounds Park bluff, near McLean Street. This site had been reviewed and approved by the Dayton’s Bluff Council, Saint Paul Public Works and Parks, and the City Council and offered to the artists of Minnesota Rocks! as an option for sculpture installation. Absent a Dayton’s Bluff Community Council invitation to leave the sculpture in its current location, Public Art Saint Paul will remove the sculpture on November 30, 2006.” This “all or nothing” approach that required support of the sculpture’s “current location” upset quite a few already ruffled feathers. As you might expect, new e-mails started to fly again. One of them, referring to the October 25th meeting read, in part: “The attendees were told that the artist, who was very sensitive to the fact that some of the community was upset about the current location, was open to considering other locations…. A considerable amount of effort was expended by those in the community that felt the strongest about the situation. Apparently, this was all for naught.” Another said: “We have attempted to offer a win/win solution... Were our efforts in vain? Where is the sincere effort on PASP’s part to work with us? If the community had been involved, we wouldn’t be in this controversial situation now which has escalated to an ‘uproar’ status.” Others were not that upset and repeated their desire to have the art in the park. “We appreciate what the sculpture has done to help us be more thoughtful and perceptive about our neighborhood, our community, and our beautiful river bluff environs,” one typed. “Over time, we have become more attached to the sculpture and it is becoming an integrated part of our environment. We also are honored to have a sculpture by a Mexican artist in our community.” It is unclear why PASP seemed to have changed its position. No public explanation for the ultimatum was ever offered to the community. Nor did any representative of the group show up at the meeting of the Dayton’s Bluff Council when it met on Monday, the thirteenth of November. That evening, after a discussion of over an hour, the Council ended up passing two motions. The first one reaffirmed the earlier motion to keep the sculpture. The second motion stated that they would continue to work to see if the piece can be moved within Mounds Park to a spot that works for the neighbors and the artist. Both motions passed with wide margins. As this paper goes to press, the final outcome is unclear. The Council has pledged to continue negotiations that may or may not be successful. Hopefully, most people will end up agreeing with the final decision. The hope for the best was expressed by one resident’s cyber message: “We have the potential to grow into a cohesive community! I sincerely hope that when this is finally resolved we continue our dialogue about what we envision! I believe in the end all the dialogue has allowed us to connect - it’s the beginning potential to be a vibrant community who is not afraid of vibrant debate.”
By Ed Lambert Photography is a marvelous way to “see” the world and its people. Capturing special moments, scenes, or circumstances has been called a science and an art. For Lou Michaels it is definitely an art and a passion. Lou recently moved to the Eastside and has contributed some very useful photos to the Forum over the past few months. We see him often in Dayton’s Bluff as his daughter, Holly Feldman, lives here with her family. His work also appears in this issue. Michaels moved to the Twin Cities area from Detroit some 25 years ago to ply his trade and his passion in photography, as well as in community video/TV, and sports talk radio. He had a popular sports talk radio show in Detroit for 20 years or so, and still occasionally sits in for Larry Fitzgerald on KMOJ’s sports talk show. He recently sold a sports talk and Internet broadcasting show, he created locally, which had a web site where you could also find sports photos. Go to www.minnesotasportsupdate.com Photography is his main interest, however, and his professional quality work shows it, as well as the national and international awards he has won for his work. One of his favorite local sports photos was taken in November, 2004 and appeared on the front page of the South St. Paul Voice. It shows Jeff Miller, a senior for the South St. Paul Packers High School Football Team running down a field. The photo was modified such that it looked like a Norman Rockwell painting and was nominated for a state award. It was among the top finalists in that competition. Lou has provided photos locally to a number of newspapers in addition to the Forum; such as, the Sun Focus (northwest suburbs), The Voice (Westside, W.7th St., and points south), The Downtowner (downtown St.Paul), La Voz (a Spanish language paper), Insight News based in North Minneapolis, and the Hmong Times, among others. He has also done work for local TV stations and a number of sports oriented publications. Sports photography is his favorite because he likes action shots, but he also does portraits, news photos, fashion shots, landscapes, weddings, and just about any type of photography you can think of. Back in Detroit as a young person, Lou got into photography largely through the efforts of his dad and Tony Spina, the Chief Photographer for the Detroit Free Press at the time. Spina became Lou’s mentor and he’s been hooked ever since. Canon equipment is his choice and he has a variety of cameras and the loads of accessory pieces one needs to be a working professional. Spina taught him the special value of photos and how to stay mindful of that fleeting opportunity to capture the essence of something. In short, how to “see” something that may pass unnoticed to the casual observer. Lou is a bundle of energy and ideas who has won awards for his work in radio and cable TV, as well as for his photography. His motto, “we cover all the angles,” reflects that. Focused on photography now, you can check out his web site at www.louthephotoguy.com or reach him via email at lou@inet7.net. Look for more work from Lou the Photo Guy, in various local publications in the months and years ahead. He’s easy to spot as he looks like he could be the late actor Tony Randall’s twin brother. Volunteer Editor Needed! A volunteer
editor is needed for the print edition of this paper. Pagemaker
experience is a
plus. Call Karin at 651-772-2075.
Greetings from SPPD Eastern
District, Letter
to the Editor The November issue proved to me that the Forum is unlike any other newspaper available to me as a resident of East St. Paul or St. Paul as a whole, for that matter. The poignant eulogy written by and about the Lieb family warmed my heart. You bring a small town feel to an inner city community! I couldn’t help wondering what other stories I might have missed by not receiving my paper. When I called the number provided in the paper, I spoke with Karin who informed me that volunteers deliver the paper and that the paper itself is non-profit. Learning that all the people involved with the paper were volunteers and that it has existed long before I moved to this neighborhood 20+ years ago, I was surprised to know that I could pay a $12.00 per year subscription fee and receive the paper in the mail. (I guess it is mentioned in the box on the back page). I first thought…. How could anyone do all this with the cost of postage, time, materials… and then it occurred to me that my donation to your paper would not only get me my long sought after mailed delivery, but a tax write-off! I spend more than $5.00 a week on lottery tickets (to support the Environment Programs/General Fund, of course), buy cookies, candy and anything else that comes to the door as a fundraiser and never know what happens to the additional dollars I give after I have eaten all my goods!. In the world today where people give their money to non-profit organizations only to have most of it be paid out for administration, I applaud you for your efforts and thank you for providing the East Side connection to our past and our future, voluntarily. Keep up the good work. Not only does our community need volunteers just like all of you, our world revolves more easily because of you! Please accept my donation. $12.00 for delivery. I look forward to receiving my Forum in the mail. J. Cook Maria Avenue
By Ed Lambert
Dan Monson, a 1969 Harding High School graduate, has the only store in Minnesota that stocks the popular Siamese fighting-fish known as the “Super Beta.” Available at $25.00 each, the colorful males are very aggressive and will attack each other if placed in the same bowl. In the wild, they live in puddles and jump from puddle to puddle seeking females; fighting any males they meet along the way. He also has a variety of the graceful and colorful Longtail Betas for $3.99 each, among many other remarkable and affordable fish. These Longtails are non-aggressive and tend to swim casually and slowly, looking a lot like small colorful scarves waving and weaving about in the water. Raising Hand-Fed Cockatiels Monson now carries lots of birds, which was not the case last year, and specializes in raising hand-fed Cockatiels; using his own mixture of birdseed from a recipe he got from a prominent long-time breeder. These have proved popular as the hand feeding conditions them to the close presence of people so they can easily be held on the finger, or placed on your shoulder, staying there to interact with you. It is easy to imagine the fun a child, or anyone, can have with such birds. Cockatiels are about the size of a robin with a lovely “Crown” spray on the head, and a relatively long tail. Competing with large super stores can be challenging for a neighborhood pet store; even this rather large one in Dayton’s Bluff. Dan the Fishman is also the Bird Man to his bird loving customers. For both groups, and those who get other pets from Dan, he provides hard-to-find and much appreciated personal service. Some think of him as their Pet Counselor and “Doc” because he helps them keep their pets thriving and healthy - no small feat to anyone who has seen a deeply disappointed child discover a pet fish, bird, or small reptile has just died. His customers, neighbors, and friends also recognize his store as a kind of information center for pets lost in the area, and a big help to those looking for someone to take their pet when they can no longer take care of it. He won’t keep the “lost” animals, but will help you find them, or find them a home. You’ll find a surprising variety of supplies, equipment, and other items for pet owners in his store; and find Dan in his store 7 days a week most weeks. However, at this time he does not have regular hours that are the same each week. He does plan to post regular weekly hours sometime after the New Year. Calling the store at 651-778-2323 will either get you Dan, or his voicemail with the specific store hours for that week. If you call or drop in, ask him about his free “Fish Starter Kit;” an information item every first time fish owner will want. Oh…and ask to see (and hear) the famous “Hissing Cockroaches” he keeps in a special tank in the closet for the local Cub Scout troop.
They
Watched the Glow on the Brewery
The annual “Watch the Glow of the Setting Sun on the Red Brick Brewery” event was held on Friday, October 13th. It was a cool and cloudy evening. About twenty people stood at Swede Hollow Henge waiting and hoping that the sun would break through the clouds and do its magic on the red brick walls of the former Hamm’s Brewery. At this time of year the angle of the evening sun makes those bricks seem to glow. Josh McKrown, a Minneapolis Technical College student, spoke about the architecture of the Hamm’s Brewery and about the breweries in Milwaukee. Joe Sanchelli and his sister Nellie Mazunkiewicz shared stories from their youth in Swede Hollow. The group finally gave up and moved to the picnic held in a nearby yard. There they were joined by other fans of Swede Hollow Park. Joe Sanchelli entertained everyone with music on his keyboard. The food was great in the cool evening air. The Culver’s Chili ready hit the spot. Suddenly, the sun did break through to give a brief but spectacular show upon the 100+ year-old bricks before sinking below the horizon. Friends of Swede Hollow is already starting the planning for next year’s “Watch the Glow” event, which will be held in late September when the weather should be more cooperative. Watch the Forum for more information in the coming months. Coordinator for New
Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Walk Program PT regular for 1 year, flexible hours, $15-20 per
hr. Need active walker with understanding of healthy lifestyle.
Outgoing, self-starter, works well with all people, bi-lingual in
Spanish or Hmong a plus. Some evenings and week-ends. College
degree and/or related experience preferred. Send resume to Dayton’s
Bluff Community Council, 798 E. 7th St., St. Paul, MN 55106 or email to
Karin@daytonsbluff.org by December 15. New Pastor at St. John's Catholic Church
Local Protesters Demand Justice in Oaxaca By Mary Turck Minnesota and the state of Oaxaca, Mexico connected at the Mexican Consulate at 797 East 7th Street in St. Paul in November as protesters repeatedly demonstrated in front of the consulate, demanding an end to repression in Oaxaca. Since mid-June, protesters led by teachers in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico have demanded the ouster of the state governor, Ulises Ruiz, because of corruption and abuse of power. During the occupation of radio stations, streets, and most of downtown Oaxaca (the capital city of the state of Oaxaca), the Popular Movement of the People of Oaxaca (APPO) maintained a commitment to nonviolence. Opponents, including local police and officials, met the protest with violence that took the lives of more than a dozen people, including striking teachers and a U.S. journalist. The journalist, Brad Will, was shot by local government officials October 27. Military forces, sent by the federal government to end the protests, occupied Oaxaca October 29, causing four more deaths and arresting about 50 people. In response, protesters gathered at Mexican consulates around the world, from London to New Zealand, from Rio de Janeiro to New York – and in Minnesota. Luce Guillen-Givens, one of those demonstrating in St. Paul, said that Minnesotans came together to support the APPO protesters. Eduardo Cardenas explained that, “What’s going on in Oaxaca is an example for so many of us of how a pueblo [people] can come together in an incredibly organized way and stand up to the oppression that they feel, and do it for some months, and face the retaliation they have faced. They are an example and inspiration for us, who believe in what they are fighting for – for honest representation in their government and their leadership and a real democracy, an opportunity to have their needs listened to and met.” Five people were arrested at the demonstration at the Mexican Consulate here in Dayton’s Bluff, possibly because demonstrators had not applied for a permit, but no arrests were made at a larger demonstration November 8, which did have a permit. Both demonstrations were nonviolent. A St. Paul city ordinance passed in 2005 requires that all demonstrations involving more than 25 people apply to the police department for permits and pay an application fee. Prior demonstrations at the consulate have been ordered to disperse by St. Paul police, even though fewer than 25 people were present, with police telling participants that any demonstration of any size was prohibited unless a permit was issued. Local activists pointed out that other demonstrations around the city do not result in either police challenges or arrests. Vigils and demonstrations take place regularly at various locations in St. Paul, from the Wednesday afternoon Lake Street Bridge peace vigil, to the Friday protests at Snelling and Summit against Israeli occupation of Palestine, to the frequent anti-abortion protests at the Planned Parenthood clinic on Ford Parkway. CLUES Recognizes Community Leaders and Leading Organizations Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) recognized outstanding community leaders and leading organizations at its recent 25th Anniversary Celebration. Honored individuals and organizations included: Maria Gonzalez, CLUES volunteer; John Reed, Minneapolis police officer, Esperanza Guerrero Anderson, president emeritus of Milestone Growth Fund; Mario Duarte, publisher of La Prensa de Minnesota; Dr. Sara Velasco, HealthEast Salud Integral; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. More than 300 guests attended the event at the McNamara Alumni Center on Thursday, November 9. The keynote speaker for the event was Colleen Reitan, president and COO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Reitan’s speech titled “Working together to improve the health of Minnesota’s Latino community” addressed the importance of health coverage for all Minnesotans. The following is a description of the awards given: · 2006 Comadre of the Year – Maria Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a family strengthening volunteer who has gone above and beyond in working with CLUES’ client families. Her outreach and group facilitation has helped some of CLUES most at-risk families find hope and wellness. · 2006 Compadre of the Year – John Reed. Reed is a crime prevention specialist working with CLUES’ sexual assault program, serving as a link between staff and case investigators. He is committed to serving the Latino community and fighting inequality in our system. · 2006 Lifetime Recognition award – Esperanza Guerrero Anderson. Guerrero Anderson is founder and president emeritus of Milestone Growth Fund, a venture capital financing company supporting minority entrepreneurs. She is recognized for her efforts in advancing economic development, wealth creation and prosperity in the Latino and other diverse communities. · 2006 Lifetime Recognition award - Mario Duarte. Duarte is founder and publisher of La Prensa de Minnesota. Duarte is dedicated to informing and educating the Spanish-speaking community in Minnesota, especially youth, about local national and international affairs. · 2006 Community Builder of the Year – Dr. Sara Velasco. Dr. Velasco is Site Director of HealthEast Salud Integral, Minnesota’s first private Latino clinic. With a growing number of patients, Dr. Velasco’s care and dedication to wellness continues to raise the bar for the quality of care for Latinos. · 2006 Business of the Year – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota is a longstanding support of CLUES in its mission to enhance the lives of Latinos. They provide support on various levels including volunteerism, sponsorship and partnership on special projects. · 2006 Community Collaborator of the Year – Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota is dedicated to mobilizing financial services for Minnesota’s Latino community. Because of their efforts, Latinos have greater access to and are more educated on financial services including home mortgages, loans, accounts and more. CLUES is Minnesota’s premier provider of behavioral health and human services for the Latino community. Celebrating 25 years of service, CLUES provides a continuum of five linguistically appropriate and culturally proficient core services: Mental Health, Chemical Health, Elder Wellness, Education and Employment. CLUES has three service sites in St. Paul and Minneapolis. A community builder and catalyst for change, CLUES provides services that holistically advance and enhance the quality of life of Latinos in Minnesota. In 2005, CLUES had over 26,000 client visits and 12,000 calls for information and referrals. Visit www.clues.org to learn more. “Get Fit Twin Cities" Get a jump-start on healthy habits in 2007 with a fun, team-based health and fitness challenge for residents of the Twin Cities, "Get Fit Twin Cities". This is an opportunity to set physical activity and/or weight loss goals and to work with your family or friends to achieve them during the first four months of the new year. Mayors Chris Coleman and R.T. Rybak will join an all-star cast of community leaders in promoting the four-month "Get Fit" challenge starting with kick-off events in early January. A final dual-city event (rumored to be a "tug of war" on Lake Street/Marshall Street bridge) will be the climax of the challenge. Other special events (dances, skating competitions and some surprises) will take place each month. Teams can register via the Internet starting December 1, 2006 and the "Get Fit" challenge will run from January 15 to May 15, 2007. Registration will be open until the end of March. Participants can form teams of 2-10 adults from their home, neighborhood, workplace or social club. "Get Fit" teams will receive useful ideas, incentives and access to fitness and nutrition resources. Team captains will receive special incentives and will be responsible for monthly reporting of their team's progress on goals. Anyone 18 years or older can participate. The entry fee is $5.00 but the first 10,000 registrations will be free, so get your team together and register now! All registered participants will receive a "Passport to Fitness" to access free or reduced rate fitness and nutrition opportunities throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul. For more information, see http://www.getfittwincities.org Online St. Paul Moms Group is Four Years Old A national online network of Mothers, called Mothers & More, founded a local chapter in St. Paul in April of 2002. They have 175+ chapters coast-to-coast, including one in London, England. Functioning as a support group for Moms, including single Moms, it has a number of member benefits, including Mom’s Night Out and a free bi-monthly publication you can check out at http://www.orgsites.com/mn/mothersandmore-stpaul. The St. Paul based group has members throughout the metro area and generally meets twice monthly from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Their December 11 meeting focuses on “Frugal Moms: living on one salary.” That one is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Midway Library, 1558 W. Minnehaha, near Snelling. There’s also a book club meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Coffee Grounds Café on Hamline at 7:00 p.m. However, no December book club meeting is planned. For more info, contact the prospective member coordinator at 6751-204-2107 or edecourt@comcast.net. Interested Moms are asked to join the national organization ($45 annual dues), which also makes you a member of the local chapter. |
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