Above: National Night Out Poster Contest winners from Dayton’s Bluff Elementary School and some of the prizes.  Photo by Karin DuPaul Below: Joseph Hamm’s winning poster.

A brief Hmong history lesson

By Nachee Lee, Executive Director, Dayton’s Bluff Community Council
   According to Hmong historians and studies, about five thousand years ago the ancestors of the Hmong lived along the lower reaches of the Yellow River in China. Wars and persecution from other groups forced the Hmong to flee their homelands southward to Indochina; now consisting of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma.  The Hmong left China around the end of the nineteenth century to settle near the tops of mountains in Indochina.
   The journey of Hmong people from China to Indochina was long, hard and difficult. The long journey resulted in hardship, changes, sacrifice, starvation, and death. According to Hmong elders and folktales, during this journey many Hmong faced punishment and separation. Families headed different directions.  They had to walk over steep mountains and through narrow gorges. Many people, particularly the elders, could not survive the long journey. Many died and were buried along the way. Women and children were exchanged and traded for food. Those who studied and had knowledge about Hmong history know this experience as the “Trail of Tears”.  In today’s Hmong death ceremonies people still mourn this.  Despite all of these hardships, many Hmong had survived and reached their destinations.
     The Hmong became strong fighters for the United States against the Communists from 1960 to 1975. For this period, life for the Hmong was not the same. They were constantly moving again and facing a situation similar to the trek from China to Indochina.  Families lost members, wives lost husbands, and children lost aunts and uncles. As a result of supporting the United States in this war about thirty thousand Hmong died.
   The situation got even worse when the United States decided to pull out their troops from Vietnam and Southeast Asia in 1975.  As soon as the United States pulled out, Laos fell to the Communists, and then Pro-American Hmong became a favorite target for the Communists. Pro-American Hmong villages, houses, and fields were burned down, the animals were slaughtered, and Hmong leaders were chased down and killed.
   Luckily, many Hmong managed to flee through the jungles of Laos and crossed the Mekong River to Thailand for a short-term refuge. They waited in refugee camps to be placed in countries that would want to take them in. The United States, Canada, and France were among the first to accept many Hmong families to their countries.  These countries are also first choices for most Hmong because of their affiliation in Laos. Thanks to all the churches, organizations, and family sponsors, today there are large concentration of Hmong in California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Carolina.
   The word “Hmong”, to the Hmong, means “blooming fertile.”  In China, Hmong is known as “Miao” meaning “agriculture”, to identify the first group of people who knew how to grow rice and corn in the rice paddies.

Enter Dayton's Bluff garden contest
   Greening Dayton’s Bluff will hold a garden contest this summer. Be on the look out for outstanding gardens in your area. Then either  email Karin@DaytonsBluff.org or send your nomination to: Dayton’s Bluff District Forum, 798 East 7th Street, Saint Paul MN  55106. Include the address, name of the gardener, description of garden, your phone number and the phone number of the gardener. The judging will be in the late summer.
   We are also looking for judges for the garden contest.  If you are interested call Karin at 651-772-2075.

Grocery Give-Away
   A Grocery Give-Away will take place on Saturday, July 17  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. 

Charlotte's Web auditions at the Mounds Theatre
   The heart-warming classic Charlotte’s Web comes to life on the stage this summer at the Mounds Theatre as part of the newly formed Performing Arts Youth Conservatory.
   Auditions are open to children in grades 4 through 12 and will be held on Monday July 5 and Tuesday July 6, from 6 to 9 p.m.  Registration is not necessary.  Simply show up.
   Actors should prepare a monologue and a short musical passage.
   Rehearsals will run July 7 through August 18.  Performances are August 19 through 22.
   Youth who are cast will not only rehearse the production but will also participate in workshops about acting, dance, voice and auditioning.  There will be a $35 registration fee for students accepted into the program.
   If you are interested in helping with costumes, lights, sets or the many other aspects of the play, please contact the theatre.
   The Mounds Theatre is located at 1029 Hudson Road, Saint Paul, MN 55106.  For more information please call 651-772-2253 or visit their website at www.moundstheatre.org.  

Swede Hollow Cafe changes hands

Wes Linstrom is the new owner of the Swede Hollow Cafe.  Photo by Karin DuPaul

   Wes Linstrom is the new owner of the Swede Hollow Café at 725 East 7th Street. Wes plans to keep things about the same and in time increase the items on the menu and the café hours. Wes comes to the café with years of restaurant experience and is happy to have the opportunity to own the Swede Hollow Café.
   The Swede Hollow Café opened its doors on July 1, 1996 and is a well-known destination drawing in people from all over the Metro area. Newspaper and magazines have featured articles about the excellent food served at the café. In nice weather you can dine in the gardens next to the café.  They are open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Next time you go to the Swede Hollow Café say “Hi” to Wes and welcome him to the neighborhood.

Learn how to start your own business
   Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Or, have you started one and are realizing that you need more education to make it successful? If so, sign up for the Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Entrepreneur Training and Support Program. This program helps start-up and young businesses on the East Side. All East Side entrepreneurs are welcome.  East Seventh Street is a good place to have your business. There are a number of storefronts available now. Also check out the Earl-Hudson area if you are looking for business space.
   The next class will start in September 2004. Classroom training is eight weeks and includes topics such as operations management, marketing, financial management, and preparing a business plan. In addition, the class provides approximately eight hours of one-to-one assistance with creating a successful business. Those who successfully complete the course and locate their businesses in target neighborhoods are eligible for ongoing business support services.
    Some of the businesses that people who took the course have started 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. Class size is limited so get your application in today.  Please call  Karin at 772-2075 for more information or an application.

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 July 3 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. 

Life along the river

Kinetic Kitchen Dance Series starts July 3rd at Mounds Theatre

The Mounds Theatre and presenter Sarah LaRose invite you to attend a new tradition in dance, the “Kinetic Kitchen”.  This dance series will showcase dances and choreography by professional artists from the Saint Paul and Minneapolis arts communities.     To kick off this event, we are excited to present CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, the Christopher Watson Dance Company, Matt Jenson’s New and Slightly Used Dance, and solo dances choreographed by Stacy Pottinger and Sarah Hauss.  The first of eight performances to be presented at the Mounds Theatre in the next year will take place on Sat. July 3rd at 8 p.m.    We also look forward to showcasing youth performers in our “Kinetic Playground” dance series.  The first “Kinetic Playground” will take place on Sat. Aug. 7th.  This concert will showcase youth performers from the Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Hastings and Burnsville communities. We are excited to bring Ballareteatro Dance Theatre, Youth Dance Ensemble, Riverbend Dance Arts and CAAM Chinese Dance Theater to Saint Paul audiences.    The “Kinetic Kitchen” and “Kinetic Playground” dance series offers a wonderful opportunity for youth, emerging choreographers and established dance companies to come together to present their artistic visions.  Sarah LaRose, presenter, looks forward to opportunities for both performers and audiences to enjoy dance at the Mounds Theatre for years to come.  Audiences from throughout the metro area will now have an ongoing opportunity to

view and enjoy dance in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood.    Tickets for all “Kinetic Kitchen” and “Kinetic Playground” performances are $10 each.  Tickets may be purchased at the door the night of the first performance on July 3rd, 2004.  Reservations for these performances are being taken by the theatre; please call 651-772-2253 for details.    The Mounds Theatre is located at 1029 Hudson Road.  Please visit www.moundstheatre.org for more information about this and other events sponsored at the Mounds Theatre.  Visit www.leavehome.com/kinetic for more information about the series.

Do it  yourself: Discovering  your home's history

By Nick Duncan
   When Amy Handford agreed to show her home on the Dayton’s Bluff Home Tour last month she wanted to include a brief history of her house for tour attendees.  But where to begin?  Handford was fortunate in that her home had been included in a historical review of the Dayton’s Bluff district done in the early 1980s, so she knew something of it’s past.  “When we bought the house all we knew was the name of the family that had built it and the year it was built, “ said Handford.  “The historical review gave us some very good information but nothing too detailed.  I talked to some family members of the past owner and they gave me some information but I wanted to know more.”
   Like Handford, many of us would love to know more about the history of our homes.  When was it built and by whom?  How much did it cost to build?  What did the original owners do for a living?  Where were they from?  What did your home look like 100 years ago?  Was the second floor layout always that way or did someone do some remodeling at some point?  Was that back bedroom always a bedroom or did it used to be a pantry?  Was that garage originally a horse barn or was it built later?  Remember, there were no cars 100 years ago.  By researching the history of your home it may be possible to answer some of these questions.

Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood
   Most of the homes in our neighborhood are built on a tract of land originally developed for residential use by land speculator Lyman Dayton in the 1850s and 1860s.  Dayton’s Bluff quickly grew from a small colony of well-to-do businessmen, who built large homes along the ridgeline overlooking downtown St. Paul, to a mixed income development with homes of a wide range  of styles and sizes stretching well eastward from the river bluffs.
   If you live in Dayton’s Bluff chances are that your home was built in the later part of the 1800s or early in the 1900s with the oldest homes generally being located nearer the Bluff itself.  In the late 1800s Dayton’s Bluff was considered one of the preeminent neighborhoods in St Paul.  Many of the city’s most wealthy and influencial citizens called Dayton’s Bluff home.  This included Railroad magnet James J. Hill who resided on Dayton’s Bluff in the 1890s while his famous mansion on Summit Avenue was being completed.   At the same time, the 1880s saw St Paul’s population explode.  An influx of immigrants from Germany, Ireland, and Scandinavia flooded into the city.  Many of these new Americans also built homes on Dayton’s Bluff, although, at a much more modest level than their wealthy counterparts. 
   The diversity in home size and home style is easily Dayton’s Bluff’s most noticeable architectural characteristic.  Take a quick drive down any street in our neighborhood and it will quickly become apparent that Dayton’s Bluff is truly a melting pot of architectural style.  One notices that on virtually every block there are one or two large Victorian style homes sandwiched between a variety of smaller houses in an assortment of architectural styles and characteristics.   But, regardless of your home’s size or grandeur, there is a very good chance that it has a rich and interesting history.

Getting started
   So how do you begin your house history research?  There are a variety of resources available right here in St Paul.   We talked to some experts and have outlined some resources for beginning your research.
    
Building permits
   “The best starting point when researching your home’s history is with the building permit,” says Jim Sazevich, St Paul’s preeminent House Historian.  From 1883 forward every house built in the city of St Paul required a building permit.  90% of these permits still exist.  The building permits include information on everything from dates of construction, original dimensions of the house, and additions to the house.  The Ramsey County Historical Society now holds the permits.  But, in order to obtain a copy of the original building permit for your home, you must first get the Building Permit number and year of construction from the City of St. Paul License-Inspections and Environmental Protection Office (LIEP) at 350 St. Peter Street, Suite 330, in downtown St. Paul.
   Once you have obtained the Building Permit number and date call 651-222-0701 to request the copy.  The Ramsey County Historical Society charges a $12.00 fee for each permit copy you request.
 
Abstracts/Deeds
   Another important source for discovering the history of your house is the home’s abstract. The abstract is the document that records all legal transactions associated with a given property. A lot of valuable information can be gained just by examining the abstract.  Not only can you find out who owned a certain house, when and for how long, but many times you can also find out who built the house and if and/or when it has undergone extensive renovations.  It’s a very good source to begin to find out more about the people who once inhabited your home.  Most people were given the abstract of their home upon its purchase.  If you’re a homeowner you already have access to your homes abstract.  If your home does not have an abstract and is Torrens property, you can look up documents pertaining to the history of your home and lot at the Ramsey County Property Records and Revenue Department at 50 West Kellogg Blvd.

City directories
   There are city directories for St. Paul going back as far as 1856.  These directories are far more than your run of the mill telephone books.  They list the names of all the adults in a household along with their professions.  From 1929 forward the city directories even “cross index” so one can look up a listing by address not just the last name of the occupant.  These directories are a great source if you want to know more about the past owners of your home.  The Minnesota Historical Society Library has St Paul Directories going back to the 1860s.  They also have an early but selective directory, the Dual City Blue Book, which also has a reverse index.  The Library has those directories for the years 1885-1923.  The MNHS Library is located in the Minnesota History Center at 345 Kellogg Blvd and is open to the public.  It is the single best resource for discovering your home’s history.

Census records
   If the city directories don’t provide enough information on the past residents of your home maybe it’s time to check out the census records.  Every ten years from 1790 forward there was a federal census taken across the county.  For the years 1850 to 1930 these census records are on microfilm at the Minnesota Historical Society Library.
   Tracey Baker, MNHS Librarian and resident House History expert encourages researchers to look at the census for their house.  “In the census you’ll learn about how many people lived in your house, where they and their parents were born, their ages and occupations, “ says Baker.  “It’s amazing to discover that a house you consider cozy was once a home to a family of eight children.” She adds.

Plat/Insurance maps
   Over the years there has been a number of detailed maps of St Paul.  These maps, mostly made by insurance companies like the Sanborn Company, include detailed drawings of every structure within the city.  This includes the Dayton’s Bluff area.  If you want to see the footprints of your home 100 years ago, if you want to know if the porch was originally open, this is the place to look.  Again, these maps are available on microfilm at the MHS Library.

Newspapers
   Over the years St Paul has been home to a variety of newspapers.  This includes citywide papers along with local community papers.  Sazevich points out that included in the pages of many of these newspapers are a variety of articles that can be very helpful in your home history research.  Events such as births and deaths are recorded and, in many cases, new buildings and even the doings of certain local architects were reported on.  Again, these papers are available on microfilm at the MNHS Library.

Photos
   The Minnesota Historical Society has photographs of many houses.  To search the collection you can visit the Library or view their Visual Resources Database online (http://collections.
mnhs.org/visualresources).  The Ramsey County Historical Society also has some photographs of the neighborhood.  If at all possible, talk to previous owners, neighbors or long time Dayton’s Bluff residents.  There’s a good chance your home made the background of at least a couple of pictures in someone’s family photo collection.
   This certainly is not a complete list of sources for researching your home’s history but hopefully it will offer a good stepping off point for you to begin your work.   Most of these resources are free and open to the public.  The Minnesota Historical Society Library is open Tuesday 12-8 and Wednesday thru Saturday 9-4.

Dayton's Bluff Rec Center July and August Events

Historic Leithauser Lofts

Meet Joanna, your new Dayton's Bluff Librarian

This article was originally featured in The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library Newsletter, Summer 2004. It is reprinted here with permission.

   You may recognize Joanna Brookes as the librarian who drove the Bookmobile. She will now be the friendly face greeting you at the new Dayton’s Bluff Branch Library.
   Joanna is a third-generation librarian. “When I was a little kid, I spent a lot of time in libraries. My mother is a librarian-she’s now a law librarian in Hennepin County. My grandmother was a children’s librarian in Wichita, Kansas. I guess libraries are in my blood.” She received her Masters in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, and began working at the Saint Paul Public Library in 1997.
   In 2001, she left to live in Manchester, England for a year with her husband, working in libraries overseas as well. “It’s a little different there. For one, there aren’t as many modern amenities as we have here, like public internet access.  They also don’t have as many new books, but they did treat them with slightly more care, using thicker book jackets, not as disposable as ours.”
   What does she miss most about England? “Their amazing gardens. And the countryside.” Not that she drove; she let her husband, a native Brit, handle the driving. “I was petrified of driving there, but after driving the 2-ton, 30 foot-long Bookmobile, I think I might be able to handle it now.”
   She and her husband moved back because she missed Saint Paul, and better opportunities were available here.  They moved into their new house just a year ago.
   On her bookshelves, you’ll find titles by Bill Bryson, Po Bronson, Anne Tyler, and Ian McEwan.  “And mysteries. Anything suspenseful.” In good weather, you might find her working in her garden. “We inherited the garden with the house. And since I haven’t managed to kill anything off, I’m willing to keep working at it.”
   She’s also a novice chef, enjoying making pizzas from scratch and trying out new soup recipes.  “I picked up this daily soup cookbook from the library’s discard pile. It just looked like an interesting book. I haven’t had a bad recipe yet!” Especially tasty, she says, are the recipes for the Mexican tortilla soup—really spicy—and the corn chowder.
   As the new Dayton’s Bluff manager, Joanna is most excited about the partnership with Metropolitan State University and the chance to work under the same roof and share the collection. She’s looking forward to meeting the families and students of Dayton’s Bluff.
   What is something that might surprise people about librarians? “We don’t expect people to be quiet all the time!”  So come and visit the new Dayton’s Bluff branch, and don’t be afraid to shout out a warm welcome to the new library manager.

Summer Reading Fun at the new Dayton’s Bluff Branch Library

Welcome to the Dayton's Bluff Branch Library

This article was originally featured in The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library Newsletter, Summer 2004. It is reprinted here with permission.

   Saint Paul Public Library’s newest branch, Dayton’s Bluff, opened on May 10. It features a large, family-friendly collection of books and materials, with approximately 70 percent of it geared towards families and young children.
   The Dayton’s Bluff Branch Library shares its home with the new library of Metropolitan State University on East Seventh Street and Mounds Boulevard. A special card will be issued to neighborhood residents who wish to use Metropolitan State Library services and collections. University students will also benefit from access to the popular materials and children’s services available through the Dayton’s Bluff Branch.
   The collection at Dayton’s Bluff has had a huge boost due to the fundraising efforts of The Friends [of the Saint Paul Public Library]. We would like to thank the F. R. Bigelow Foundation, the Mardag Foundation, and the Saint Paul Foundation for contributing $200,000 for collection purchases and funding a new Homework Center, scheduled to open later this year.
   The collection at Dayton’s Bluff has a lot to offer families and students. The children’s collection has a wide selection of picture books, rhyming and phonetic books, and storytime kits targeting babies to children age 5. Non-fiction books are available on subjects such as space, dinosaurs, pets, dancing and other exciting topics.
   The teen collection features fiction and non-fiction topics such as health, cars and college exams. Over a third of the teen collection is dedicated to graphic novels-a new, contemporary format combining visual art, narrative and dialogue.
   In the adult collection, the largest portion serves new immigrants and non-English speakers with topics such as GED and citizenship preparation, guides on money management, employment, housing and more. The library also has an ample large-print book collection.
   Of course, you’ll find the usual library materials here-magazines, CDs, DVDS. The library is thrilled to offer the community the latest in technology such as free Internet access and info-packed databases. Exciting children’s events and author readings are on tap, so be sure to check the library’s latest news at www.sppl.org.
   Mark your calendars: The Grand Opening for both the Dayton’s Bluff and Metropolitan State libraries will be held on Saturday, October 9.  It promises to be a memorable time!

Dayton's Bluff Restaurant Review

The Clothes Line - True Colors

By Sarah Ryan
   On July 4, 2002, National Public Radio’s Neal Conan asked New Orleans-born trumpet player Wynton Marsalis about how he could look so cool, dressed as he was for the performance he was about to give in New York City’s Battery Park across from the Statue of Liberty. Marsalis, artistic director of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, answered this way: “That’s part of our music. It’s important for us to be clean and to represent ourselves well. And to understand that there are some things that you want to maintain in your culture. Some things you want to change. But some things you want to maintain. And one is the seriousness and respect for your audience and for your profession.” He explained that having grown up in Louisiana’s heat and humidity, he actually likes the steamy weather.
   The orchestra was performing for free that day at the “Still Standing Strong” concert, part of the city’s first Independence Day celebration since the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. The musicians were wearing crisp blue and white striped shirts, dark neckties accented with red, khaki pants, and navy blue suspenders. I heard the live broadcast of the concert on my kitchen radio. The music reminded me of the times I had lived in New Orleans and in New York City. I miss the Southern climate and just about everything else about New Orleans. New York has a lot to offer, too. The World Trade Center was the last city landmark I visited before moving to St. Paul in the early 1990s. But the part of the broadcast that impressed me the most was the way the musician explained his manner of dress.
   As clothing and accessories bearing U.S. flag motifs proliferated on a wave of national emotion in the months following the September 11 attacks, I found myself reflecting on those things in our culture that are worth maintaining and what there is that needs to change. When United States President George W. Bush announced on May 24, 2004 that his administration, “as a fitting symbol of Iraq’s new beginning,” will seek the permission of an autonomous Iraqi government to demolish the Abu Ghraib prison outside of Baghdad, he was acknowledging something in the human culture that needs to change. The President was responding to reports that U.S. military personnel had tortured and humiliated their prisoners there. One of the tactics U.S. forces used against their prisoners at Abu Ghraib, a facility that had been a scene of torture under Saddam Hussien’s regime also, was to strip them of their clothes.
   New York City’s clothing designers stage trend-setting “Fashion Weeks” every year in early February, when they present previews of their fall collections, and again in early September when they introduce what they have in store for the coming spring. In February 2001, French-born women’s fashion designer Catherine Malandrino, who is said to adore “everything Americana,” rekindled fashion’s love affair with the stars-and-bars theme by carrying it to new levels of audacity with wardrobe selections that lent U.S. flag imagery an in-your-face attitude. One example: a dress, slightly gathered at the back of the waist, that looks like two pieces of Old Glory stitched together and slashed in the center to create a deep, wide V neckline when draped poncho-style over the model. A single white star on a patch of navy blue accents the hemline that falls just above the knee.
   The following month, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan honored Wynton Marsalis, the bandleader, Grammy Award winning recording artist, and Pulitzer Prize winning composer by appointing him as a UN Ambassador for Peace. The duty, according to Mr. Marsalis, entails “coming up with ideas that you think might help the cause of elevating humanity, and drawing attention to things that are inhumane, and to injustice. Using whatever resources you have to be a part of the ascendance of humanity, instead of the decline.” Marsalis’s priorities are fighting racism and promoting education. His greatest resource is the New Orleans jazz culture. As he explained in an interview for the Academy of Achievement in January 1991, the band functions like a democracy. “Each person has the right to play what they want to play, but the responsibility to play something that makes everybody else sound good.”
   Days before the September 11 attacks, fashion designers launched another Fashion Week. Catherine Malandrino, recognizing that sometimes “the seen-it-all fashion crowd needs to be taken out of its element,” debuted her spring collection on Sunday, September 9 at the Apollo Theater in New York City’s Harlem district, a predominantly African American and immigrant neighborhood. The Apollo is famous for its history as a venue for great jazz performers — an ideal backdrop for her swingy runway show of 1940s-style pant suits, dresses, and gowns. After the towers fell that Tuesday morning, the rest of the Fashion Week shows were rescheduled or cancelled and the already brisk demand for flag fashions exploded. Clothing retailers donated supplies and profits from the sales of their newly stocked flag-motif inventories to the relief efforts.
   At the time of the attacks, Wynton Marsalis, who always irons his clothes before he goes on stage, was on the road with his orchestra’s “United We Swing” tour. He told Cleveland Public Radio’s Bobby Jackson in an October 2001 interview that “there’s a strange thing about this tour. I pick out the tour music. I have to pick out about 105 songs to travel with. Before we went on this tour, and that was before September 11, for some reason I put “Stars and Stripes Forever” in the book and we never play that…. I remember picking out this song and saying to myself, ‘Why am I picking out this song because we’ll probably never play it.’” Things turned out differently.
  Sarah Ryan lives in the Dayton’s Bluff Community. You can reach her by e-mail at sr@lakecast.com or send mail to the Dayton’s Bluff District Forum, 798 E. 7th Street, St. Paul, MN  55106

Elder's Wisdom, Children's Song - Karin DuPaul

Karin DuPaul is surrounded by Ms. Kressin’s Dayton’s Bluff Elementary third grade class. They proudly display the quilt they made for Karin.

By Karin DuPaul, Dayton’s Bluff Community Organizer
   This is the third in a series of articles about the Elder’s Wisdom, Children’s Song project under the leadership of Larry Long at Dayton’s Bluff Elementary School. The students worked on the state standards for speaking, listening, reading and writing during the process. Larry Long led the children as they practiced interviewing skills and talked about the importance of learning and respecting the elders of the community.
   I went to visit the class and thank the children for the beautiful job they did when they chose me as their elder. The children read their story about me and sang the song about me “Pick Up, Pick Up”. The children said they had a big surprise for me. They give me a present wrapped in paper that reminded them about National Night Out.  Inside was a beautiful quilt that they made for me. Each child had created a square to represent parts of my life. This is a wonderful gift that will always remind me of the wonderful experience I had with Ms. Kressin’s third grade class. Then we had cookies and juice and the children showed me some of their schoolwork.

Interview
    My name is Karin Dorothy DuPaul. I am named after my great grandmother, who came from Sweden. My middle name Dorothy came from my aunt. I was born November 27, 1943. Every four or five years my birthday is on Thanksgiving. Instead of having birthday cake I have pumpkin pie.
    I was born in South Dakota. I lived on a farm. We had a garden and I liked to pick fresh carrots and radishes. We washed them at the well house, and ate them. We had chickens, sheep and one cow. We sold milk to the neighbors. When we came home from church on Sunday we would have chicken dinner. I thought the little chicken house would make a great playhouse, but my grandpa didn’t think so.
   When I was four and a half we moved to St. Paul. My house looked like a barn. People called it the barn house. My family included my mom and dad, three sisters and two brothers. I went to Hancock School in the midway area of St. Paul. I liked art and recess. The school had tall ceilings and dark wood. I felt small in that big building with all those people around. I went to Hancock from kindergarten through the eighth grade. Then I went to Wilson High School. In high school my favorite subject was history.
     I guess typing was fun in the old days; we had typewriters instead of computers. I worked in the office at a lumberyard. That is where I met my husband. We got married in 1965. We bought a house in the Summit University area. Then my daughter Angie was born. I did daycare for five families. We moved to Dayton’s Bluff in 1977.
   Over the years I have worked on many projects around the neighborhood. I wrote the first walking tour booklet because I wanted everyone to see that Dayton’s Bluff is a great place to live. I got interested in the history of the area and wrote more booklets so others could learn the history. We formed a group called Upper Swede Hollow Neighborhood Association. I also belong to a group called Friends of Swede Hollow. We take care of the parks in the area.
   I work at the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council. We started a newspaper so people can have pride about the place they live. We also help people organize block clubs. Block clubs work together on projects. One project they work on is National Night Out. It is a special night that happens every August. Neighbors get together and celebrate the good things that are happening.
   Words of Advice: Reach out to people. Treat people with respect. Make the effort to go and introduce yourself to your neighbors. Start a block club that works together to make the neighborhood better and build a true community.

Song
“Pick Up, Pick Up”
(Inspired by Ms. Karin DuPaul)

I was born in South Dakota
Lived with my grandparents
when Dad went to war
When he came home
moved to Minnesota
From a small town
to the small town of St. Paul

(Chorus)
Pick up, pick up, pick up
The trash in the neighborhood

Came to St. Paul on a train, at night
Heading down the street from the railroad depot
Saw my first streetcar
Wow! Couldn’t believe it
Without railroad tracks
how could that streetcar go
(Chorus)

We found our home
on the east side of the river
In Dayton’s Bluff
a small town of it’s own
Not far from Upper Swede Hollow
This is the place we now call home
(Chorus)

It¹s a place, you can be yourself
The kind of place we are looking for
Where people seem to get along
with each other
Trust and respect. We have that more.
(Chorus)

I want you to be the best you can be
To know your neighbors
to create community
Take back the streets
plant flowers in the boulevard
Pick up the trash and junk
it’s not that hard
(Chorus)

I like to write, it’s my favorite thing
For the District Forum
the voice of community
I like to learn about things I don’t know
We will work together to make it so
(Chorus)

Words & music by Ms. Virginia Kressin’s third grade class of Dayton¹s Bluff Achievement Plus Elementary School and Larry Long.

Quick Fix New World Monetary System

By Glen Mansfield
   In my many years researching the cause of manmade atrocities I discovered hunger and economic strife to be the primary causes of most past and present crimes, revolutions and wars. In view of this and in light of the well planned method used to cause the horrific results of the 9-11 terrorist attack on our nation I was sure there was more to the attack than what President George W. Bush said, ”They did it to disrupt our way of living.”
   With doubts of our president’s truthfulness, I began searching for a more realistic cause to the attack and discovered that prior to the attack many leaders of developing countries, some with delinquent loans to our nation’s financial institutions located in the now downed Twin Towers, told of hunger and economic strife and asked for more loans, but their requests were denied. This refusal led me to believe that hunger and economic strife is what fueled the 9-11 attack.
   My suspicions were reinforced when a year after the attack an Arabic man with broken English called a radio talk show and stated, ”The Pentagon was hit because that’s where war plans are drawn and the World Trade Center was hit because of world hunger and economic strife and sanctions which add to that hunger and strife”.
   Many believe the rich are responsible for world hunger and economic strife but that’s not entirely so. The primary cause of world hunger and economic strife stems from the inadequately structured monetary system in which money is backed by precious metals, resources and productivity. Such backing, of which many countries have little or none of, thus produce hunger and economic strife for many people in those countries.
   Also as a result of this inadequate structure there not only are many more people than jobs but many existing jobs pay wages far below the cost of living, thus hunger, homelessness and economic strife among the many unemployed and working poor. In addition to all the above, NAFTA doesn’t work as seen in many companies relocating to other countries, to reap the bounty of cheaper labor, lower taxes and so on.   Also, our own method of tax and spend is also a failure as seen in the many service and program cuts. In addition to all of the above, money breeds many murders, such as murder for insurance, murder for inheritance and murder so the crime victim doesn’t tell who did it.
   To begin the end of all economic strife and monetary suffering, I, an inventor of life saving devices, also invented a quick fix modification to the monetary system which works for all people all the time and sent it to President George W. Bush asking that he not seek revenge nor war but that he and all leaders recognize the plight of the world’s needy and recognize the inadequate structure of the monetary system as being largely responsible for that plight.  Upon this recognition I asked that all leaders diligently work to enact my proposed quick fix New World Monetary System in which money is no longer backed by precious metal resources nor productivity but backed on the well being of mankind, thus an abrupt end to world hunger and economic strife.  Modifying the monetary system, I wrote, is feasible and workable.
     Case in point: Long ago when world leaders realized that the barter system didn’t work they created the monetary system.  Through the centuries the world wide monetary system has been restructured many times to become the ill structure we have today causing a magnitude of suffering by a multitude of people.
   In spite of all the economic suffering above, and knowing that violence only begets more violence and that terrorism will only end upon the resolution of discontent, President George W. Bush trash canned my peace proposal and set the world on a non-ending course of many more deaths and destruction.
   In view of this and the fact that none of the candidates running can change anything, I find it necessary to seek the elective office of President.
   In holding that office, I will invite all leaders to swiftly work with me in modifying the monetary system in which money is no longer backed by material things as it is today but backed on the well being of mankind. This backing of their New World Monetary System will open the doors to a New World Bank.
   Once the Bank is created, world leaders, after their fiscal tax and spend, can submit their countries’ domestic economic shortfalls to the governors of the Bank who will print and grant the money requested. Money from the Bank will assist leaders and the public in paying off all debts owed in the old system of today, and will enable leaders of developing countries to buy goods from industrialized nations in order to modernize their countries thus ensuring jobs and a strong economy in all countries.
   Money from the Bank will also enable leaders to provide the public with free education plus affordable dental and medical. The Bank will also enable leaders to enact a full employment program plus provide supplemental checks for today’s low-income earners thus increasing their income to meet the cost of living, thus an abrupt end to world hunger and economic strife, thus a great reduction in today’s many crimes, terrorist acts, revolutions and wars.
   While world leaders are working on the details of the New World Monetary System, I will enact my conventional platform in which the government will do more to assist inventors with designing, manufacturing and marketing their product or device.  Thus many new consumer goods will be created which will spur consumer spending, thus jobs and a strong economy.
   My platform also addresses the world’s exceedingly high population and urges planned parenthood. It also calls for an end to the development of virgin lands and calls for total recycling and has an aggressive energy and transportation program.
   My platform also calls for the people of Palestine and Israel to seek not revenge but a future in dividing the land in dispute so all can live in peace as good neighbors. As for Iraq, the people who want to govern the country should write their platform for the office sought and let the people vote. Assuming there is peace throughout the campaign process, U.S. troops should pull out and stay out as long as there is peace. With Best Wishes for World Peace,
Glen Mansfield
Dayton’s Bluff resident, inventor and former candidate for mayor of St.Paul

Meet the Candidate
Join
Glen Mansfield
for an
Afternoon of Entertainment and Enlightenment
Sunday July 11, 2004
2 p.m.  Free
Mounds Theatre
1029 Hudson Road
Saint Paul, MN 55106

Writer Susan Williams - no happily ever after

By J. Wittenberg
   When I sat down with the writer Ms. Susan Williams to characterize her fictional stories, she told me they were “happy as hell.”
   Indeed, one review trumpeted their prevalence of gloom. Her most recent work involves a biracial man falling in love at mid-life.
   “I would have an easier time getting published if my stories had happier, lighter endings,” Ms. Williams said. The Great River Review recently published her fiction in April.
   Since 1988, Ms. Williams has been teaching at our own dear Metropolitan State University, including freshman writing, the short story, and introduction to creative writing. She has also instructed at the Loft on and off for the past 5 years. Her writing has been published by Nimrod Press, and in 2003, she placed 2nd in that publication’s annual fiction contest.
   “They flew me down to Tulsa, where I was wined and dined,” Susan said, before adding – “ I visited the rich homes of would-be writers.”
   It turns out a New York agent read her story in Nimrod and was interested in her work, but concluded at last that it was “too dark and disturbing.”
   “There’s no money in short stories, unless it is a novel in stories,” Susan declared.
   Ms. Williams has also published her poetry in New Rivers Press in 1987, and she won the MN Voices Award with her collection called Dying Old and Dying Young.
   Ms. Williams is also currently in the mix to win the ‘Fish Contest’ in County Cork Ireland. Indeed, this woman’s work has Continental reach!
   Susan’s greatest inspirations are Alice Munro, Joan Didion, and Roland Flint. She received her Masters of English at the U of M, where she has also taught at the night school. Ms. Williams has worked in business as an editor, and she’s performed weekly book reviews for Minneapolis Public Radio, from 1987-92, before returning to teaching at Metropolitan State.
   Of her students today at Metropolitan State, she said – “It is the unlikely ones who often turn out to be very talented writers; the ones who don’t think they’re all that good. But writing overall, is not improving with the personal computer. Out of an average of 22 students in a writing class, two or three have a real spark. Most do not write very well, it’s a whole different era now.”
   Susan mentioned that more public readings should be offered at Metropolitan State, but conceded that “building an audience is a slow process.” She suggested that our fine paper should be the steadfast announcer of such events. Indeed, with all cultural differences aside, for any community’s true progress to be declared, literature and literacy must take a higher place in our daily lives.
   Ms. Williams is forging on as a writer and I hope more accolades come her way. She is appearing again in the spring/summer issue of the Great River Review, which contains her latest work called The Visit. I recommend you seek out her work at any independent bookstores, which do need your business. And indeed, delve into the new Metropolitan State library, and see if this fine new resource offers any of her work.
   “I’m dying to retire,” Susan declared. “The sooner the better. I want more time just to write.”

Marian Center honors WW II veterans at special ceremony

Above: Brigadier General Mark Ness, Commander, MN Air National Guard with Catherine “Kay” Brueggeman.  Below: WWII Veteran Rudy Schovanec.

   There wasn’t a dry eye during the playing of Taps. These courageous men and women, who fought in World War II, wiped away tears during an emotional tribute held at HealthEast Care Center and Residence - Marian of St. Paul at 200 Earl Street. It was standing room only at the special Memorial Day ceremony honoring about 50 WWII veterans who live at the Marian Center and Residence.
    Their frail hands clung tightly to the American flag, which they so bravely struggled to defend 60 years ago. These veterans, who fought on the beaches of Normandy to the battlefields in the Pacific, sat side by side, many in wheelchairs and in poor health. Among them: a general, a cook, a gunner, a medic, a nurse and a pilot. They are among the rank of 73,000 remaining WWII veterans in Minnesota.
   Commander of the Minnesota Air National Guard, Brigadier General Mark Ness, told the veterans gathered at Marian, “You answered the call. You gave service to your country. This country is stronger because of you. You are the heroes among us.” One by one, he called out their names during a special roll call and they were handed a flag. They also observed a moment of silence for the veterans from the Marian Center who had died.
   During the ceremony, they gave a send-off for Catherine “Kay” Brueggeman, a Marian independent-living resident and WWII veteran. Brueggeman was a Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Nurses and served at the front lines during WWII. This Memorial Day, she was privileged to be an honoree at the World War II Memorial dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C. on May 29. During Kay’s visit, First Lady Laura Bush gave Kay a personal tour of the White House.
   Brueggeman told her fellow veterans at Marian that as long as she lives she’ll remember the casualties she treated from a German prison camp. Here were young men whose legs and arms had been amputated by the Germans because the men had complained about a sore foot or an arm injury. She said, “This cruelty of war has stayed with me all these years.”
   Other veterans shared their wartime memories as well. One veteran recalled how they picked him off the battlefield and told him he would never live to see his grandchildren. The aging veteran told the group at Marian that he sure “fooled them.”
   During the special event, the local veterans watched videos of WWII battles, listened to music from the 1940s and enjoyed snacks reminiscent of that era, including a special cake made from a World War II recipe without butter or eggs.
   HealthEast Care System is a community-focused, non-profit health care system.
   Locally owned and operated, HealthEast is the largest health care provider in the Twin Cities’ East Metro area  with approximately 7,500 employees and  more than 1,300 physicians on staff.

Volunteering at the Marian Center

  We are seeking caring individuals of all ages and groups to spend some time with our Elders. Whether you have an hour or two, or several hours of time you can donate per month, we’d love to hear from you. Here’s what we currently have to offer:
Visiting or reading 1 to 1 with our Elders
Beauty Shop Helpers
Chapel Services Helpers
Recreation Programs Assistants for
   Arts and Crafts and/or Group
   Activities
Musical Entertainers (singers, play the
   piano or organ, or any musical
   instrument)
Men’s Discussion Group Leader
Grocery Shopping Helper
And so much more!
   Are you a High School student? You can get credit for volunteering! Many schools require a number of hours in “Community Service”. By volunteering at our facility, you will get extra credit, gain experience in Senior Care, contribute to the community and have fun ... all at the same time.
   Volunteering is very rewarding to every   one of all ages and opens opportunities 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.

Thank you from the Community Council
   The Dayton’s Bluff Community Council’s computer crisis is solved.  For the past several weeks, staff computers were ineffective and not working.  Thanks go out to Deluxe Carpet Company on East Seventh Street and a few other neighborhood businesses for making monetary contributions to help the organization purchase new and upgraded computers and parts.   With the new and efficient computers, staff are able to go back to their normal operation. 
   The Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council is a community-based non-profit organization located in Dayton’s Bluff, St. Paul with the mission to advocate for the community, advise government, provide information, and undertake action to promote, cultivate, and set in motion conditions, programs, and ideas for the recreational, housing, educational, economic, and social needs for the betterment of the community.  The organization provides programs and services such as crime prevention, citizen participation, recycling, neighborhood clean up, code enforcement, green space, buckthorn removal, business entrepreneur classes, and neighborhood home tours to the community.
   If you would like to make a contribution to support the organization and its efforts, please send your tax-deductible donation to, 789 East Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN  55106.  We are also looking for board and committee members.  If you have some spare time and want to make a difference, contact us at 651-772-2075.  Community of color members are strongly encouraged to participate.
   To learn more about the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council, please visit our website at: www.daytonsbluff.org

Remembering President Ronald Reagan

By Nachee Lee
   When I came to this country in the 1980s I had no idea who Ronald Reagan was.  The first time I saw him on TV, as a new refugee who didn’t understand or speak a word of English, by the look of Reagan’s face and presentation my instinct told me that he would be special and a lot of people would like and respect him. Later, I learned that he was the president of this country, and he was also a movie star. 
   Since I’ve learned more about Ronald Reagan I started to watch some of his movies.  As a young person I always idolized and was intrigued by cowboy movies.  Ronald Reagan is one of my cowboy idols next to Paul Newman.  Personally, I’m not a person who is involved much in the political arena, but I believe that Reagan had set a new precedent for the Republican Party. In my spiritual belief, only good and holy people tend to live and have a long life.  Reagan had lived 93 years on earth.  To me, this says a lot. 
   On Friday, June 11, 2004, I showed my honor and respect to Ronald Reagan by thinking about him while I was passing out flyers in the neighborhood. Many people might have taken that day off from work to honor him, but I had to inform the residents at Third Street and Griffith about a housing plan for the vacant lot next to Parkway Little League.  The housing plan is to build four new homes at the lot.