2004 Community Council Board election candidate profiles
The Dayton’s Bluff Community Council Board of Directors totals
18 members of which 16 represent four sub-districts and two are
At-Large positions. Sub-District representatives must be
residents of that particular Sub-District while the At-Large Director
can be either a resident of Dayton’s Bluff, a business owner, or even
the manager of a local business or organization.
All of the current Board openings are for two (2) year
terms. Following is a list of this year’s candidates and the
information they provided about themselves.
At-Large
Donavan Cummings
Donavan moved into Dayton’s Bluff in 1988 and became a
Dayton’s Bluff Community Council Board member in 1989. Over the years
he has represented the Community Council on a number of city committees
including the Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) Committee and the Phalen
Corridor Steering Committee. Donavan’s goal is to continue work on the
Phalen Corridor and CIB committees. He will work on the mixed-use
redevelopment of the 7th and Atlantic area in the next 2 years. He sees
coming up with the right mix of housing and new jobs, and funding for
the Community Council as challenges facing our community.
Sub-District
B
Jean Comstock
Jean has served on the board for one term. She has
lived in Dayton’s Bluff since 1982 and currently resides on the 700
block of 6th Street. She has a BA from North Dakota State
University in Computer Science. She has worked as a technical
writer for 30 years. While serving on the board she would help
diverse ethnic communities work together on community goals, continue
improvement in appearance of the neighborhood, support existing local
businesses to improve appearance and encourage new businesses.
Challenges the community is facing: She thinks the community is
becoming more and more diverse. She believes the Community
Council can do immense good in helping these different groups to get to
know each other, and come together as a united community to improve
neighborhood appearance, neighborhood safety, and help all our
children.
Erin Stojan
Erin has lived in St. Paul for more than six years and
recently moved to Dayton’s Bluff. She is currently employed as an
Energy Program Organizer with Minnesotans for Energy-Efficient Economy
and residing on the 600 block of Bates Avenue. She graduated from
Hamline University with a BA in Political Science and Environmental
Studies. While serving on the board she would like to learn more
about the neighborhood, work with her neighbors, and give back to the
community. Challenges the community is facing: housing,
zoning, crime, greenways.
Sub-District
C
Greg Auge
Greg is a returning candidate. He has served on the
board in the past. He attended Harding High School and has lived
on the Eastside for 53 years. He currently resides on the 900
block of Conway Street and works with Cub Foods as a Department
Head. While serving on the board he would like to improve
communication with parishes on the Eastside. Challenges the
community is facing: vacant homes and crime
Paul Godfread
Paul has a BA from Saint Olaf College and has lived on
Wakefield Avenue for 2 years. Paul is an active member of Greening
Dayton’s Bluff and has helped out with the Neighborhood Clean up.
Paul’s goals as a board member include helping lower the vacancy rate
of buildings in Dayton’s Bluff, increasing community involvement,
bringing new businesses in and encouraging local business. Crime and
distressed properties are the challenges that Paul sees the community
facing.
Krystal Myers
Krystal resides on the 900 block of Euclid Street.
She was born and raised in Austin, Minnesota. She moved to
Dayton’s Bluff in 2001. She is currently employed at Fairview
Medical Center as a Registered Nurse. While serving on the board
she would like to help out and get involved in the Arts and Culture
Committee and do whatever she can to help the organization.
Challenges the community is facing: crime and safety, youth
values, restoration, housing, and new people in St. Paul.
Jody Parr
Jody has lived in the Twin Cities for 11 years and
currently resides on the 900 block of Third Street. She graduated
from theUniversity of Minnesota with a Bachelors Degree and a Master of
Education. She has been a schoolteacher in St. Paul for the past
two years. She recently bought her first home in Dayton’s Bluff.
While serving on the board she is interested in creating
and expanding programs for youth (both educational and recreational)
and in crime prevention and building neighborhood community.
Challenges the community is facing: She believes we, as a
community and as individuals, don’t know or understand each
other. There is a lack of trust. She would love to see
stronger block clubs and other activities that bring people
together. Drugs/drug use and the sale of them are huge problems.
Nuisances like slashed tires are also important to address.
Pamela Yang
Pamela recently moved to the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood
and resides on the 800 block of Fourth Street. She has a Bachelor
Degree in Management Information Systems and a Masters Degree in
Software Design and Development, and is GIS technician certified. She
would like to see residents work together and get the block she is on
cleaned up. Challenges the community is facing: lack of
participation and involvement.
Sub-District
D
Linda LaBarre
Linda has lived on the Eastside of St. Paul most of her
life. She recently moved to Dayton’s Bluff and resides on the 60
block of Maria Avenue. She graduated from Metro State U with
a BA in Social Science. She is currently employed as an office
manager with Friends of the Mississippi River and is a member of the
Minnesota Frisbee Association. While serving on the board she
would like to turn the vacant lot near Mounds Blvd and Mounds Street
into a community garden or park area and put a stop sign on Mounds
Blvd. Challenges the community is facing: growth in area,
airport violations and regulations.
David Murphy
Dave has been on the board for around 6 years. He
has served as a member and as president. He grew up on a farm
near Belle Plaine, Minnesota. He went to college at Southwest
State University. He has lived in Dayton’s Bluff for 20 years
with his wife Jane Prince and son, Sam, who is now attending college in
Maine. He currently resides in Mounds Park. While serving
on the board he would like to help clean up the neighborhood so
Dayton’s Bluff would be one of the best areas in St. Paul to live
in.
Vote for your Community
Council representatives
The Dayton’s Bluff Community Council Annual Meeting and
Election will be held on Monday, October 18. Polls are open from 9:00
a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at 798 East 7th Street at the corner of 7th and
Margaret.
A Pot Luck will be held between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. The
annual meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. where the results of the
election will be announced.
Come for the Pot Luck Supper, bring a dish to share, and
stay for the annual meeting. Find out what the Dayton’s Bluff Community
Council is all about and have supper at the same time.
Any Dayton’s Bluff resident age 18 or over is eligible to
vote. Voters can cast ballots for their Sub-district Representatives
and for an At-Large seat. Write-in candidates are also permitted.
Absentee ballots may be requested. All requests for
absentee ballots must be made at least ten (10) days prior to the
election, in writing and signed by the voter. All absentee ballots
shall be mailed by the Council at least seven (7) days before the
election to the residence of the voter requesting the absentee ballot.
Each ballot is accompanied by two envelopes prepared so
that the larger is return addressed to the Election Overview Committee
and marked so that the name, address, and signature of the voter should
be written on the back of the envelope.
The smaller envelope, which contains the ballot, should
remain unmarked. Put the ballot in the smaller envelope, put the small
envelope in the larger envelope with the Council’s address on it and
return it. The unmarked small envelope will be put in the ballot
box.
Absentee ballots must be received in the Community Council
office by 7:00 p.m. on October 18, 2004.
Barra
returns for another District Council fundraiser
There is no need to wait until St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy
Irish dance music. Back by popular demand, St. Paul’s favorite
Irish band Barra returns to the Mounds Theatre this October, once again
presenting a traditional Irish ceili.
It all happens on Saturday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Rd. Tickets are $7.00 in advance, $8.00 at
the door. Children under 12, accompanied by adults, are free.
This concert is being held as a fundraiser for the Dayton’s Bluff
Community Council. For information or tickets, call Karin at (651)
772-2075.
If you attended the show in March, you already know how
much fun an Irish ceili can be. If you missed the last show, now
is your chance to experience Irish music and dance at its energetic
best.
Barra (Gaelic for summit or top of) has a focus on
performing traditional Irish dance music as well as ballads, songs and
listening tunes with the design of carrying on the ceilidh band
tradition.
The band features Karie Oberg (vocals); John McCormick
(accordion and bagpipes); Deborah Martin (fiddle); Paul Garding
(guitar/vocals); and Dave Cammack (bodhran/tinwhistle/accordion/step
dancing).
Earl St. Bridge nears completion
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Photo
by Toni Thomas
The new Earl St. Bridge is
scheduled to open this November after being closed for nearly two
years.
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Grocery Give-Away
A Grocery Give-Away will take place on Saturday, October 16 from 10:30 a.m.
to
noon at
Mounds Park United Methodist Church,
Euclid and Earl. Free produce, dry goods and bread items will be
given to anyone who can use them. No registration or sign-up is
necessary.
Sponsored by United Methodist churches on St. Paul's east side.
Attention
all crafters and bakers
Mark your calendars! HealthEast Care Center & Residence – Marian of
Saint Paul is getting ready for the annual Holiday Boutique and Bake
Sale on Friday, November 19, 2004. We are looking for individuals and
vendors to display and sell their handmade items from all over the
community. Last year was our biggest year ever! All tables are reserved
at only $20 each, so you don’t want to miss out.
Marian of Saint Paul is located at 200 Earl Street, across
from Indian Mounds Park.
To make reservations or get more information, call
Robert Johnstone or Jodi Auger at (651) 771-2914.
New Metropolitan State
University Library opens October 9th
Metropolitan State University will hold the Grand
Opening of its new Library and Learning Center on Saturday October 9 at 10:30 a.m.
There will be many exciting family-oriented activities
such as food galore (including ethnic desserts), kid’s games, local
celebrities, storytellers, live music and art exhibits.
Other activities will include: IT and online
learning demonstrations, alumni/faculty networking, special exhibits
from the Saint Paul Police and Fire departments, tours of the new
Library and Learning Center including the Dayton’s Bluff Branch of the
Saint Paul Public Library, and a walk through the largest book you’ve
ever seen.
Register to win fabulous prizes including a trip for four
to Disneyworld, home and family electronics, family memberships to the
Science Museum and Minnesota Zoo and many, many more.
The first 500 people in attendance will receive free book
bags.
You will not want to miss this historic event.
The Grand Opening is being sponsored by the Metropolitan
State University Foundation, 3M Foundation and the University
Activities Board.
Rummage
sales
Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center
The Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center at 800 Conway will
hold a community garage sale on Saturday, October 2nd, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mounds Park United Methodist
Mounds Park United Methodist at Euclid and Earl will hold
its fall rummage sale on Saturday
October 9th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As usual it will have
lots of clothes and household items for sale and include Auntie’s
Attic, a bake sale, lunch and the Oval Room. For more details
call 774-8736.
St. John’s Catholic Church
St. John’s Catholic Church at 977 E. 5th St. will hold a
rummage sale on Friday October 15th
and Saturday October 16th. For more information call
748-8533.
Dayton's Bluff Take a Hike
Dayton’s Bluff Take a Hike meets on the first Saturday of every
month at 10:30 a.m. in Indian Mounds Park at Earl Street and Mounds
Blvd. Join us on October 2
for the next hike.
We hike from Mounds Park through Swede Hollow Park and
then walk the length of the Bruce Vento Recreational Trail to its end,
near Phalen Park.
The hike is about 6 miles with some moderately rough
terrain. Trans-portation will be available near Johnson Parkway
and Maryland to return to Mounds Park or you may hike back if you
wish.
Join recreational trail supporters and explore this
recreational trail. The paved trail runs from East 7th Street and Payne
Avenue through Swede Hollow to Phalen Park. Dayton’s Bluff Take a Hike
started in December of 1990 and over the years hundreds of people have
attended these events.
For more info, call 776-0550.
Fall Festivals
Saint Casimir Church
Saint Casimir Church at Forest and Geranium will hold its
Fall Festival on Sunday, October 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
There will be a silent auction, raffles, games for the kids and a roast
pork dinner ($8.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids 6-10).
First Lutheran Church
First Lutheran Church, 463 Maria, will hold its annual
Fall Festival on Saturday October 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
There will be games, crafts, food and a silent auction. For more
details call 651-776-7210.
Volunteer at the Marian
Center
1:1 Visits
Reading Stories
Gift Shop Clerks
Receptionist Assistant – help at the receptionist desk during the
employee break times
Dining Room Assistants
Chapel Service Escorts
Physical Therapy Escorts
Recreation Programs Assistants
Arts & Crafts Leaders/Assistants
Bird Feeding and Cleaning Assistants
Outings Assistants
Men’s Discussion Group Leader
… And much more!
Volunteering can be very rewarding and open opportunities
to you that you never dreamed of. If you are interested in joining our
wonderful team of volunteers, please contact Robert Johnstone,
Volunteer Services Coordinator at (651) 793-2116.
Happy Birthday, Lyman
Dayton
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Photo by Karin DuPaul
It was a small but spirted group that
attended Lyman Dayton’s 194th birthday party. Left to right: Sage
Hoben, Steve Trimble, Heather MacLaughlin, her son Henry MacLaughlin
Johnston, and Chris Geurts.
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The sounds of “Happy Birthday, Lyman Dayton” rang out near
Third Street and Mounds Boulevard at the end of August. In spite of the
damp weather, a small but spirited group of neighborhood residents,
some of whom are shown in the photo above, were celebrating the 194th
birthday of the man for whom the area is named.
It was the inaugural event of what is hoped to be a series
sponsored by the recently formed Dayton’s Bluff Heritage and Happiness
Club. The activity took place on the grounds of what used to be the
Lyman and Maria Dayton home, located in the empty lot above Mounds
Boulevard between 3rd Street and Conway.
Those who showed up shared potato salad and other food, swapped
stories and discussed plans for future gatherings. Other communities
have large, well-attended festivals. Dayton’s Bluff used to, and it is
hoped that get-togethers such as this might spark an interest in
re-starting the “Festival on the Bluff” or some similar event in the
future.
Mounds
Park pavilion party
As most of you know, the historic prairie style pavilion
at Earl and Mounds Boulevard in the heart of Mounds Park has undergone
major renovation and people can once again go in the handsome brick
structure. The work has been completed for some time, but there has
never been any event to mark the work that has been done.
That’s why the Dayton’s Bluff Heritage and Happiness
Committee has announced the second in its series of neighborhood
celebrations—the “Pavilion in the Park Party.” It will be held on Tuesday, October 12th, which by
happenstance is also (or used to be) “Columbus Day.” It will start
around 6:00 p.m. and go until dusk.
Everyone is welcome. It will be a potluck, so please bring
a dish or two to pass. You will also need to provide your own plates,
blankets or chairs, etc. People are encouraged to bring guitars or
other instruments for an impromptu talent show. If there is
interest, there may also be a short Mounds Park history walking tour.
Let’s have a good turn out for what will probably be the
last outdoor event until spring. For more information call Karin DuPaul
at 772-2075, or just show up at the pavilion. Reservations are not
necessary
"Land of Oz" offers a
mystical and enchanted evening
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Photo by Robert Johnstone
As in past years, children are invited to the Marian Center for
Trick or Treating in the Land of Oz on Thursday, October 28 from 6 to
7:30 p.m.
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Dress up in your Halloween best and hit the yellow brick
road! At HealthEast Care Center & Residence – Marian of Saint
Paul’s annual Land of Oz, kids are invited into the magical world of
Dorothy, the Wicked Witch of the West, and all the other characters
from the Wizard of Oz. If you stopped by last year, you know what a
wonderful time your children had.
Residents will be passing out tricks and treats to kids 12
and under on the evening of Thursday, October 28th from 6:00 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. No one over 12 years of age will be allowed to trick or
treat. Admission to the event is donation of a canned good item or
$1.00 per child. All proceeds go to the local food shelf at the Merrick
Community Center.
If you would like to donate wrapped candy or help set up
the props for this event, please contact Robert Johnstone or Jody Auger
at (651) 771-2914. Thank you in advance!
HealthEast Care Center & Residence – Marian of Saint
Paul is located at 200 Earl Street.
One man's trash is another
man's treasure at recent Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Clean Up
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Photo by Nachee Lee
Depending on your
definition of treasure, this man struck it rich by finding a
slightly used Budweiser sign at the Dayton’s Bluff Neighbohood Clean
Up.
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The Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Clean Up was held
on September 11th. Dayton’s Bluff Community Council Board members,
residents, friends, and Reentry Services Sentence to Service played an
important role in the clean up. Neighborhood participation was very low
this year. We are looking for ways to make the clean up more successful
in the future. Let us know if you have any ideas. Email
Karin@daytonsbluff.org or call 651-772-2075 with your ideas.
The day started with a long train blocking the entry into
Ray Anderson and Sons yard with a line of people wanting to get to the
clean up. Once the train moved the clean up got rolling. The weather
was great for the clean up and all of the volunteers did an excellent
job. Some people did find treasures in the Free Stuff reuse area.
Volunteers included Paul and Miranda Godfread, Cassandra
and Chip Moe, Carla Riehle, Jean Comstock, Chee Vang, Steve Duerre,
Jacob Dorer, Donavan Cummings, Sharon McCrea, Dave Murphy, Ed
Overmeyer-Kolb, Nachee Lee, Greg Le May, Roger Schaefer, and a Sentence
to Service crew. Dianna from Eureka Recycling was on hand to answer
questions about recycling and Eureka’s other programs. If I missed
anyone I am sorry and please let me know. We appreciate everyone that
helped.
A number of local businesses supported our efforts by
supplying food, beverages and services. We would like to express our
appreciation to Subway Sandwiches at East 7th Street and Willius,
Burger King at East 7th Street and Maria, Cub in SunRay Shopping
Center, M and H Convenience Store, Byerly’s at 1959 Suburban, Culver’s
at 2065 Old Hudson Road, and Holiday Gas Station at 1477 East
Minnehaha.
Throughout the year Sentence to Service crews have picked
up trash and litter from the streets and parks here in Dayton’s Bluff.
Earlier this year we had a mini clean up in a Good Neighbor Code
Enforcement area in Dayton’s Bluff. All and all a lot of clean up
activities have happened in Dayton’s Bluff this year. We could not have
done it without all of the help!
A
Short History of Dayton's Bluff - Chapter 3: The Confluence of Cultures
By Steve Trimble
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Minnesota Historical
Society
A Dakota village patined by Seth Eastman (1808 - 1875)
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Popular media often portrays the
interactions between Native Americas and pioneers as one of hostility.
Lately, however, researchers have looked more carefully at the evidence
and have found that there was usually a time during which the power
relationships were generally balanced and interactions were mutually
beneficial.
Historians use the term “Middle Ground” to describe this
short-lived era. With fairly equal power, relationships were usually
friendly and mutually beneficial. The people of Kaposia — the
Mdewakanton band of the Dakota — generally welcomed the newly arrived
soldiers and settlers, traded with them and frequently visited the
frontier city of St. Paul.
The “Middle Ground” period in the St. Paul area probably
extended from the 1830s to the late 1840s. But what is the reality
behind the academic label? Who were the people who lived in the bend of
the Mississippi? What were they like? What did they do? How did
different cultures get along? Answers to these questions are hard to
find, but examining the available biographical information provides
some idea of the residents and their interactions.
The social relations included romance and as a result
there was some intermarriage. The mixed blood population came to be
called the Metis and their culture was a combination of
European-usually French- and Indian. One of the most well known Metis
was Joseph Renville, who was born in Kaposia in 1779 to a Dakota mother
and French trader.
Renville was educated by a priest in Canada and his
ability to read and write several languages let him work with a variety
of people. He first worked for an English fur company, traveling and
buying furs and living in Kaposia during the winter. He helped found
the Columbia Fur Company in 1822 and when it was purchased by the
American Fur Company he went to western Minnesota.
As an officer with a contingent from Kaposia, Renville
fought in the War of 1812. They were on the British side. He helped
translate portions of the Bible into Dakota. Historian Edward Neill
said that “previous to the ratification of the Treaty of 1837,”
Renville was, “perhaps the most prominent citizen in Minnesota.”
This treaty was a turning point for the city of St.
Paul and the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood. As more and more European
settlers came to what would become Minnesota, the power relationships
shifted and the Dakota world began to change. The hunting and trapping
was no longer good because the growing population exhausted the supply
of deer and beaver.
The Dakota began to feel that it made sense to cede the
land east of the Mississippi in exchange for promises of food and cash
annuities. Big Thunder, Kaposia’s leader, headed a Native American
delegation that signed the finalized agreement in Washington D. C. in
September 1837. Kaposia was then moved to the west side of the
Mississippi.
Even before the treaty was signed, European settlers were
starting to encroach on Native American land. On June 9, 1837, a
delegation from Kaposia came to Fort Snelling and complained to Major
Taliaferro, the Indian agent, that that people were moving into the
Dakota territory before the treaty had been ratified.
Years later a man named Isaac LaBissoniere confirmed that
as early as 1836, a |