September of 1783, the Montgolfier brothers launched an unmanned hot-air balloon from Versailles.  Louis XVI had decreed that the first flight had to be flown with animals.  A duck, a sheep, and a rooster became the first air travelers.  After an eight-minute flight, they were found still alive.  The sheep was found peacefully eating grass.     On November 21, 1783 for the first time in recorded human history, we leave the confines of the Earth’s surface and take flight among the birds.  Over 400,000 Parisians, including Louis XV and Marie Antoinette, witnessed as the Marquis François d’Arlendes and Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier flew in the very first flight in a Mongolfier built hot-air balloon.  This flight lasted 25 minutes and covered 7 miles.    On January 7, 1785, Blanchard and Jeffries make the first crossing of the English Channel by balloon.  This flight included the very first airmail letter!      January 9th, 1793 after moving to America, Jean-Pierre Blanchard piloted the first known balloon flight in North America in Philadelphia, PA.  George Washington witnessed this flight.     In February of 1962, the Wiederkehr family from Minnesota began to take their place among these trailblazers to the clouds in Aviation’s Lighter-Than-Air category. This St. Paul family has been flying for thirty-five years.  Their first involvement with hot air balloons was February of 1962 when Raven industries brought three balloons to the St. Paul Winter Carnival, World’s First Hot Air Balloon Race.  At that time there were only approximately six hot air balloons worldwide.  They got involved in the chase.  After the great success, the family worked to make the ballooning event an annual Winter Carnival affair.

You Could Win a Hot Air Balloon Ride

     This is a once in a life time opportunity. For a donation of $5.00 or more,  you will help keep our paper in business and have a chance to win an exciting hot air balloon ride. 
     The Dayton's Bluff District Forum has been back in business since August 2000. It is important for our community to have its own community newspaper, and the board of directors is dedicated to keeping the Forum alive and viable. 
     We need the residents and friends of Dayton's Bluff to be partners in this endeavor. A community newspaper requires volunteers, financial donations, and revenue generated by advertisements. We need people to work on all aspects of the paper, such as writing and photography, and we need the funds to print the paper. 
     A donation of $5.00 or more is suggested, but not required to enter or  win. Drawing to be held this spring.

City-Wide Traffic Calming Summit

   A first of its kind event is coming to Saint Paul May 16 – 19: a four day series of events, co-sponsored by the City Council, district councils, and many others, focusing on traffic calming and pedestrian safety.  The events ranging from a bus tour to workshops and speeches.  Residents of all ages are encouraged to attend and learn how to “take back their streets.”
   A highlight of the Summit will be keynote speaker and workshop leader David Engwicht of Brisbane, Australia.  Engwicht, an author and world-renowned innovator of “second generation” traffic calming solutions, will be introducing the Neighborhood Pace Car program to Saint Paul.  The Pace Car program encourages neighbors to model good driving behavior and “set the pace” for others; the program is already a success in several cities across the nation.
   For a complete schedule or more information, contact Don Ludemann at 651-266-8567.

Candidates Are Off and Running For Mayor
by Mike Bemis

   The city’s election season got underway on the evening of March 21, when the St. Paul Republican City Committee convened its caucus for all wards.  The meeting was held at the St. Paul Technical College, located at 235 Marshall Avenue.  While several candidates placed their bids for a seat on the St. Paul School Board, no one from the Republican Party has stepped forward yet to proclaim their candidacy for Mayor.
       Not so on the Democratic side of the ledger.  Over the last couple of months, several Dems have thrown their hats in the ring.  Listed in alphabetical order are the candidates to date: Jay Benanav  (D), currently a city council member representing ward 4; Jerry Blakey (D), also now a city council member, representing ward 1; Randy Kelly (D), who at this time holds a seat as a state senator representing Senate District 67; Bob Long (D), formerly a city council member but now employed as an attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered; and Bobbi Megard (D), who also used to be a city council member, but who now sits on the boards of several non-profit organizations. Also in the running is an independent candidate, Bob Kessler, whom the City of St. Paul most recently employed as the Director of the Office of License, Inspections and Environmental Protection (LIEP).  Kessler, a 28-year veteran of city hall, resigned from his position so that he could campaign full time.
   Each of these six candidates maintains a web site and readers may consult them for full details regarding individual backgrounds, stand on various issues and other pertinent information.  The following web site addresses are listed in the same oorder as the candidates themselves were above: www.jayforstpaul.com; www.blakeyformayor.com; www.randykelly.com; www.longforstpaul.com; www.megardformayor.com; and www.kesslerformayor.com.  Citizens who do not have computer access are advised to visit any of the St. Paul Public Library branch libraries, where public internet access is made available.
    Incidentally, the incumbent Mayor, Norm Coleman(R), has announced that he will not seek reelection for a third term. 
     For those citizens wishing to participate in the electoral process, the DFL caucus for ward 6 will be held at Hazel Park Middle School and ward 7 will be held at Harding High School on Tuesday, April 17.  Other dates to mark on the calendar include the filing deadline for candidacy for mayor, July 17; the primary election, September 11; and the general election, November 6. 

Awards Banquet Features Inspiring Dayton's Bluff Resident

   The Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council has hosted Micro Entrepreneur Neighobrhood Development Center training classes since 1993.  The classes are designed to help people start their 
own business.  Each year a banquet is held by Neighborhood Development Center to honor people who have taken the class and started a business. 
   The 6th Annual Entrepreneur Recognition and Awards Banquet was held at Bandana Square on March 17, 2001.  The evening started with a social hour, followed by dinner and the award program.  Dayton’s Bluff resident and Micro class graduate Rob Chalmers gave an inspirational speech on attitudes and perceptions.  Rob’s business is People Magic, a motivational speaking and educational training firm.  US Senator Paul Wellstone gave the Keynote Address.  Wellstone was deeply moved by Rob’s Speech.
Senator Wellstone is a long time supporter of the Micro Entrepreneur Training Program and small businesses 
   The Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Small Business of the Year is Webb Lake Software, a Dayton’s Bluff business since 1997.  The proprietors are Tamara Coalwell and Fred Hathaway.  Their business provides quality end-to-end internet solutions to businesses.
   The Twin Cities Small Business of the Year Award went to Tortilleria la Perla a manufacturer of fresh corn tortillas owned by Jose and Noemi Payan.  The Runner Up was Hmong Diversified Industries a light manufacturing business owned by Tsong Sawh Lo.  The Community Impact award went to the Golden Thyme Coffee Shop owned by Mychael and Stephanie Wright.  The Small Business of the Year Start-Up Award went to Andy’s Garage, a café at University and Fairview owned by Dee and Sande Traudt.

Neighborhood Conference Calls Residents to Action

 The Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood  Housing Service brought a number of Dayton’s Bluff residents and staff people to the Community Leadership Institute; Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, North Central District Conference at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.  Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation was established by an Act of Congress in 1978 and is affiliated with the Neighborhood Housing Services network.  There are 9 states in the North Central District and residents from each state attended.
   The theme for the Community Leadership Institute Conference was Resident Action: Catalyst for Community Change.  Participants from Dayton’s Bluff include Julie Benick, Karin DuPaul, Jim Erchul, Julie Gugin, Sharon McCrea, Mary Poe, Nieeta Presley, Lisa Probst, Yai Vang, and Anna Young. 
   The conference featured a number of excellent workshops that are geared to active community residents and staff people who work on improving communities.  Mary Poe stated, “I enjoyed the hands on part of the classes.  And I enjoyed meeting people from different states and learning new ideas from them.”  When Sharon McCrea was asked about the conference she said, “The experience at the Hilton Hotel should be nation wide.  We could stop the drug lords.  We should become united communities across the nation and live in peace and harmony with our neighbors.  We need to bring in strong leadership to our youth of tomorrow.”

Good Neighbor Program Gearing Up

   On March 15th Good Neighbor Code Enforcement volunteers got together and learned about the next steps for the program.  The evening was highlighted with a Saint Patrick's Day theme including green food and door prizes.  In this coming season “Thank Yous” will be given to residents who have kept up or who have improved their property and Good Neighbor volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in a monthly Good Neighbor drawing.
   The Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council (DBD4CC), and the City of Saint Paul have formed a partnership to clean up Dayton’s Bluff!  This program serves as a kind of early warning system that give residents a heads up to code problems, before the code enforcement officials are involved
    The neighborhood identified two focus areas for increased code enforcement.  We still need citizen volunteers to work with their neighbors on reducing blight and getting problem properties cleaned up. 

Good Neighbor Clean Up

If you live in the Good Neighbor target areas you can participate in the April 28 2001 clean up.
The target areas are:
- Between Mounds Blvd., Forest, Hudson Road, and East 7th St.
- Between Johnson Parkway, the railroad tracks, Earl and East Minnehaha. 
FREE refuse dumpsters will ve available but you must reside in the target area to participate.  This will serve as an early warning as well.  Increased code enforcement will follow, so please use this opportunity.  Bring picture ID or Excel Energy statement to participate.  There will be a charge for some items.
NO APPLIANCES, BRUSH, YARD WASTE, OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

   The 2001 Dayton’s Bluff Home Tour is being held on Saturday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, May 6 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The tour is once again being run in conjunction with the Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour. Two homes, 951 Burns Ave. and 654 East 4th St., both built in the early 1900s, are part of both tours. 
   Dayton’s Bluff is expanding its part of the event into a neighborhood tour that will include a variety of homes and commercial buildings. Among the houses are two 1890s Victorian style homes in the midst of restoration, a restored 1891 Queen Anne mansion, a duplex from last year’s tour that is now at a new location and a modern dome home. A Victorian commercial block and a 1920s theater undergoing renovation complete the tour. 
   This year’s Home Tour is an excellent opportunity to relive the history of Dayton’s Bluff while learning about the community that exists there today and getting a glimpse of what it will be like in the future. 
   The Home Tour is free and is being sponsored by the Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council, the Upper Swede Hollow Neighborhoods Association and the Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services. A brochure and map will be available at all participating locations during the tour. For more information, visit or call the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council office at 798 E. 7th St., 651-772-2075 or check the Dayton’s Bluff website at www.daytonsbluff.org/2001HomeTour.html.

Home Improvement Problems

   This month’s column deals with a variety of home improvement problems
frequently encountered when renovating older homes. I’d like to thank Bob
Raddatz of Raddatz and Sons Construction for help in answering these
questions.
   Q.   I’ve spent several weekends painting my house using an alkyd primer and a latex topcoat. No matter how thoroughly I clean the brushes, they’re always rock-hard by the next time I’m ready to paint. What am I doing wrong?
   A.  Not all brushes have the same “cleanability”. Cheap brushes with hollow-filament bristles are nearly impossible to clean. You should own two sets of brushes-one for latex, one for alkyd paint. Why? Because changing between paint types makes cleaning progressively more difficult. Residue left on the brush from one kind of paint acts like glue for the other.  The most effective brush cleaning involves three simple steps. With an oil-based (alkyd) paint, start with a solvent, like paint thinner or mineral spirits. Work the solvent into the center of the brush, where all the paint is stored, and then wash the sides. Continue rinsing the brush with fresh solvent until the brush is clean. Finish up with a final washing of soap and water.
   When working with a water-based (latex) paint, start with detergent and water. Household cleaners that contain petroleum products (check the label for “petroleum distillates”) are the most effective. Because many manufacturers have added resins to their water-based paints they are similar to those used in oil-based paints, you’ll also need to rinse the brush in thinner. Finally, rinse out the solvent with soap and water. After cleaning, spin-dry the brush and then shape its bristles with a brush comb. When the brush is nearly dry, replace it in its keeper (which protects the shape and keeps the bristles straight).
   Q.  I’m planning to renovate my kitchen. Does it make more sense to install wood flooring before or after the cabinets have been put in? 
   A.  The timing depends on your choice of flooring. I prefer installing unfinished wood flooring before the base cabinets go in because it’s faster and makes for a better-looking job. Even with tongue-and-grove flooring, the last row of planks must be face-nailed and if the cabinets are installed later, they will hide that row. The flooring will be sanded and repaired before finishing, but you should protect it during construction with masonite squares held together with duct tape.
   Prefinished hardwood or laminate floors should be installed after the cabinets. The factory-applied finishes are tough enough to withstand ordinary foot traffic, but you don’t want to subject new floors to
construction-grade abuse.  With a laminate floor, you also need to be careful with the finish but more important, the floor needs to be installed so it can move, or float, which it can’t do if it’s sitting under a kitchen’s worth of cabinets.
    Q.  I would like to install new vinyl flooring in our bathroom without removing the existing sheet vinyl flooring. Also the flooring is heavily textured. Should I use a self-leveling compound? 
   A.  It’s always best to remove the old flooring before installing a new one. Or, if you can build up the floor without doing any harm, lay down 1/4" thick underlayment-grade plywood before installing the new floor.  But if the old flooring is firmly attached and it makes more sense to leave it in place, you can use a floor-leveling compound as long as the existing flooring isn’t cushion-backed and it is fully glued down. (However, it will still be more vulnerable to indentation.) Use a compound made specifically for embossed floors, such as Armstrong’s S-199 liquid underlayment.  Most floor-leveling compounds require that the floor be completely stripped of any wax, grease or dirt. The next step is to pour a small amount of leveler on the floor and spread it out with a trowel, applying it at a 45-degree angle to the embossing. The trowel should be held at a very low angle (about 15 degrees). Remove any material from raised areas. One coat works for most flooring, but some may need a second coat, which you can apply when the floor is completely dry.

If you have a question that you would like answered, please write me at:

Dayton’s Bluff District Forum
Attn. Ask Amber
798 East 7th Street
Saint Paul, MN 55106
Or e-mail your question to: askamber1@hotmail.com
————————————
All answers given herein are solely the opinion of the writer and not the Dayton's Bluff District Forum nor the writers or advertisers or the people and businesses included in the column.  Amber's answers will be
researched in depth and are accurate as opinion, but not neccesarily fact.

Bluffing with Science
Electricity in the Walls
by Greg Cosimini

   Sooner or later the owner of an old house will probably venture into its walls. Many unusual things inhabit those spaces and most are relatively friendly. But one creature has to be handled very carefully, our friend, Mr. Electricity. 
   First a word about playing with your home’s electrical system: DON’T. Electricity is perfectly safe when handled correctly. When handled incorrectly there can be some unfortunate side effects such as fire, electrical burns and death. The most likely cause of death won’t be from a spectacular shower of sparks. Instead, it will come from electricity scrambling the electrical signals in your heart, preventing it from beating. That will spoil your whole day unless the paramedics show up quickly with a defibrillator. 
   Other than that electricity is harmless. It is made up of electrons that individually couldn’t hurt a flea. But when they gang up in “volts” and get pushed around by “amps”, they can turn nasty. So what should you do if encounter a wire in a wall? DO NOT TOUCH IT. Even if you think the power is off, a dead wire is a lot like an “unloaded” gun. They both occasionally kill people. 
   You may have heard that it’s safe to touch just one wire, especially the so-called neutral wire. Not so. Although electrons usually travel in wires, they have been known to take shortcuts through people’s bodies at the most unexpected times and places, rendering them really and quite sincerely dead 
   Okay, all that being said you’ve taken apart a wall. What will the wiring be like? Many of the houses in Dayton’s Bluff were built in the very early part of the electrical age when there were few codes and anyone could and did try their hand at installing the wiring. As a matter of fact, there is a good chance that amateurs have messed with the wiring in your house no matter what its age, so expect the unexpected. 
   In some of the oldest houses you will see individual wires strung on ceramic posts. Although wires typically occur in pairs, it is possible that its partner is in the opposite wall and they meet at the ceiling light. Or you may see one or two wires just running through the walls or tacked onto a stud, possibly taking a side trip to a switch or outlet. Sometimes wires were run through old gas pipes that connected to gaslights later converted to electrical fixtures. Newer wiring usually has individual wires protected in rigid metal conduit, flexible spiral metal cabling or embedded in nonmetallic cables. 
   While modern wires are color-coded with green for ground, white for neutral and black or colored for “hot”, older wiring often had its own unique coding scheme. Popular ones were: all black, all white, all dirty gray and the ever popular, wires that change color in mid-run. Older wires had insulation made of cloth that either provided food for mice or just got brittle and fell off with age. Almost all wires are made of copper, except for an ill-advised attempt in the 1970s to use aluminum. 
   Other things to watch out for are switches, outlets and light fixtures that may be wired incorrectly. Although these things should be insulated and/or grounded, it is possible to get isolated objects that are electrically hot, which can create some very odd and dangerous electrical situations. Don’t even get me started on old fuse boxes, auxiliary fuse boxes, junction boxes containing soldered wire connections and junction boxes hidden inside of walls. None of these are good things to encounter. 
   So let’s summarize. While you might be tempted to play with your home’s electrical wiring, it is much better to look but not touch. There are too many unknowns. Call a professional electrician or else have a good insurance policy so there will be money to hire one after you’re gone.   And do not, I repeat, do not, run a reciprocating saw through a wall that may contain live wires. If you are lucky, a fuse or circuit breaker will blow. If not, you’ll never have to worry about another mortgage payment. 
---------------------------------------------------
Bluffing with Science will appear at random times in the Forum.  It will attempt to relate topics in science and engineering to life in Dayton’s Bluff. That is the goal, not a guarantee.  Please send questions, comments or suggestions for future columns to the Dayton’s Bluff District Forum, Attention: Greg Cosimini, 798 E. 7th. St., St. Paul, MN 55106.

Cooking in the Bluff 
    by Shiela Johnstone

Cheapskate Stew; B.L.T. Salad with Basil Mayo

For this edition I have chosen a low-sodium, hearty beef vegetable stew. You can use the leftovers you have on hand.

Cheapskate Stew

 Ingredients:
 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
 1/2 onion, chopped
 3 stalks celery, chopped
 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
 2 cups water
 3 carrots, chopped
 8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked
 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
     Salt to taste
     Ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
1) Brown the hamburger meat with onion
    and celery. Drain (if it is fatty hamburger
    meat).
2) Add water and carrots, then cook ‘til 
    carrots are beginning to get tender. The
    carrots will be crunchy unless you cook
    them a fairly long time.
3) Add leftover vegetables, macaroni,
     tomato sauce, Italian spices, plus salt
    and pepper to taste, and simmer until the
    flavors blend and all ingredients are 
    warm.

  Nutrition value at a glance:
  Calories 516
  Protein 28g
  Fat 25g
  Sodium 563mg
  Cholesterol 85mg
  Carbohydrates 45g
  Fiber 6g

B.L.T. Salad with Basil Mayo Dressing
This is a tangy, crunchy salad with all the things you love about the wonderful B.L.T. sandwich!

Ingredients:
1/2 pound bacon
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
4 medium slices French bread, cut into ½ inch pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound romaine lettuce - rinsed, dried, and torn into bite-size pieces
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered

Directions:
1) Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. 
   Cook over medium high heat until 
   evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set 
   aside, reserving 2 tablespoons of the 
   drippings.
2) In a small bowl, whisk together the 
    reserved bacon drippings, 
    mayonnaise,  vinegar and basil and let
   dressing stand, covered, at room 
    temperature.
3) In a large skillet over medium heat,
    toss the bread pieces with the salt and
    pepper. Drizzle with the oil, continue
    tossing and cook over medium-low
    heat until golden brown.
4) In a large bowl mix together the
    romaine, tomatoes, bacon and 
   croutons. Pour the dressing over the
   salad and toss well.

Nutrition value at a glance:
Calories 563               Protein 10g
Fat 47g                       Sodium 1373mg
Cholesterol 46mg     Carbohydrates 27g
Fiber 4g

Did you know?
   If you want to slice deviled eggs perfectly, dip the knife in warm water first. Then the slice will be smooth and no yolk will stick to the blade.
   If you have comments, suggestions, a special recipe that you would like to share, or you are looking for a special recipe, feel free to contact me through the Dayton’s Bluff Forum.

Write to: 
Shiela Johnstone 
Dayton's Bluff District Forum 
P.O. Box 600511 
St. Paul, MN 55106 

Email: shiela@qwest.net 
Or call: 651-772-2075 (Dayton's Bluff Community Council Office) 

Till next time, bon appetite. 

Metro State Celebrates Asian American Heritage Month

   Although May is the official month for the Asian American Heritage celebration, April has been designated as such at Metro State since the university’s spring semester ends April 30. 
   April 13 - Professor Ling-Chi Wang, a scholar of Asian American history will give a lecture entitled “The State of Asian Americans in Higher Education:  Issues and Strategies in the New Millennium.”  Professor Wang is the Ethnic Studies Department chair at the University of California, Berkeley.   The program will be in the Auditorium from 10:30a.m. to Noon.  Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
   April 18 and April 25 - A display of East Asian arts and crafts will be displayed in the Founders Hall reception area from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Refreshments from countries of that region will be provided and a drawing for prizes will take place on site.

Dean's Honor List

   Kelly Ann Treanor, a Maria Avenue resident, was on the  University of St. Thomas Dean's Honor List for the fall 2000 term.  Students named to the list have maintained a minimum of a 3.5 grade-point average.

Housing Stability Forum
by Caroline Snyder

   A forum on the link between housing stability, school performance and community well-being was held on February 27th at Metro State University.  Represented at the meeting were people from the community, Dayton’s Bluff/Achievement Plus Elementary School and government agencies along with special guest speakers Professor Will Craig, from the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, U of M and Dayton’s Bluff Community Council Housing Organizer, Mary Poe and Researcher Laura Davis.  It was followed by an open discussion by all who were in attendance.  Metro State and the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council sponsored the event.
   “Giving people a chance” is the goal of Housing Organizer Mary Poe as she embarks on the task of placing people in homes and apartments affordable to the disadvantaged and homeless.  The housing stability issue directly impacts the stability of school attendance and achievement of our children.  Out of a caseload of approximately 205 families, 86 families were placed in the Dayton’s Bluff Elementary School attendance area.  The correlation between employment, permanent residency and children’s academic success cannot be overemphasized in a community.  The “stabilizing factor “ with regard to housing is achievable in the granting of rent subsidies applicable to both home and apartment renters.  In addition applicants have access to trained volunteer mediators to resolve landlord/tenant problems and access to buyer training and home buying opportunities.  To sustain a certain level of housing stability, a community must provide jobs, affordable housing, access to transit and quality education in our schools.
   “In my opinion we need to expand our assistance possibilities,” relates Mary.  We need more case management follow-up to deal with problems before they arise.  We need more monies for emergency situations and more homeowners in the community to get involved with the plight of the homeless and disadvantaged.   A supportive role by the community to the special needs and concerns of this transient population, will help to bring about some tangible results in creating a healthy environment for the families of our community. 
   “There are some areas of accomplishments which should not go without recognition.”  Dayton’s Bluff “Achievement Plus” program  has initiated the before school programs, the health and dental programs and the after school activities which are all conducive to implementing good physical and mental health for the children.  “Achievement Plus" is alive and well trying to assist in the personal welfare of the students outside of the classroom.  The families involved in the stability project are benefited directly through the Achievement Plus program.  Dedicated staff and volunteers have brought significant positive change in the successes of this program.
   Mary relates the special involvement of a landlord in the area who has committed to a “clean-up/fix-up” policy to properties which he recently purchased.  He is also dedicated to working with present tenants to avoid conflicts.  He  realizes the need for mutual empowerment within the landlord/tenant community.  He will undoubtedly be a good ally to all parties in positive communications.
   Mary has an agenda which will keep the project ambitious and ongoing.  “Generating more community involvement by having more of  the forum type meetings held at Metro State University to accommodate a larger population would be encouraged.  Educating the community in order to provide more communication and dispel misunderstandings and concerns.  Promote better relations between landlords/tenants through workshops and seminars are other tools to encourage a positive outlook for the neighborhood and future residents of the community.”  Mary has already done some promotional work on her own.  She has a luncheon with her clients at least once a week to keep an ongoing relationship of trust and caring.  Whenever possible she will personally assist families with simple tasks such as grocery shopping and making arrangements for transportation.
   Mary has achieved a relationship with her clients that has brought a meaningful change in their lives through her dedication to their housing needs and concerns.
   Mary Poe is the Housing Organizer for the “Children’s Stability Project” which is a Dayton's Bluff District 4 Community Council three year project terminating in December 2002.  It is funded by the McKnight Foundation, Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services and Ramsey County.  For more information 

Letter to the Editor

   Recently, the major newspaper in Saint Paul had an article highlighting one of our neighborhood schools. Sadly, the article focused on the negatives instead of the positives. So often, attention is given to the negative aspects of schools.
Your article, “Trinity Catholic School ... where Respect is key to Learning”, in the March 2001 issue was encouraging for readers to see positive things are happening in a school right in our neighborhood.
   It was refreshing to see an article focusing on the wonderful things Trinity, a school in our Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, has and is accomplishing.
With thanks,
Kelley Wakem

Notices

Hour Dollar Meeting
Hour Dollars will have an informational meeting at the Mounds Park United Methodist Church on April 10th at 10 a.m. or 7 p.m.   The orientation meetings last approximately 2 hours.  The church is located at 1049 Euclid Street, St. Paul.  For additional information or childcare call 651-635- 8680.  Visit our web site at www.hourdollars.org .

EVENTS AT MARGARET RECREATION CENTER 
1109 Margaret Street 
St. Paul, MN 55106 
(651) 298-5719 

Rec Check Club 
Rec Check is a free after school recreation service with a check-in component for children in grades 1-6. Registration is required and space is limited. Monday through Friday 3-6 p.m. Free 
Free Play
During regular building hours, we have many games and equipment which may be checked out for your enjoyment. Items include: table games, balls, ping-pong, tennis equipment, cards, etc. 
Teen Night 
The first Friday night of every month will be just for Margaret teens. School I.D.must be shown, ages 13-17. A variety of activities will be offered, including basketball 
Block Club 
All neighborhood residents are invited to meet with other community members to discuss crime and other neighborhood issues. Meetings are the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. 
Margaret Booster Club 
This group specializes in fund raising, community events, assisting with programs and team sports. Parents and residents are welcome to join. Meetings are the 2nd  Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Margaret Ree. Center. 

MERRICK COMMUNITY SERVICES PRESENTS
2ND ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER
SUNDAY, MAY 6TH
11:30 A.M.- 3P.M.
Venetian Inn
2814 Rice Street
Little Canada

BENEFITING
Merrick Community Services Programs

Tickets $6.50 Adult
$4.50 Child under 12
All you can eat!!!!

Tickets may be purchased at the door
OR Call
Merrick Community Services
(651) 771-8821

Dayton's Bluff Neighborhood Home Tour
Mark your calendar.
May 5th and 6th
Interested in Helping?
Call Karin at 772-2075

Good Neighbor Code Enforcement 
Volunteers Needed
Call Karin at 772-2075

Advertise in the Dayton's Bluff District Forum
Call Karin at 772-2075

Take a Hike 
     Dayton's Bluff Take a Hike on the first Saturday of every month meet at 10:30 AM in Indian Mounds Park at Earl Street and Mounds Blvd. We will hike from Mounds Park through Swede Hollow Park and then walk the length of the Bruce Vento Recreational Trail (formerly the Phalen Creek Recreational Trail) to its end, near Phalen Park. Along the way we will share stories and learn some local history of the area. The hike is about 6 miles with some moderately rough terrain. Near Johnson Parkway and Maryland, transportation will be available 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 information, call 776-0550. 

Free Acting Classes for Adults
Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center
800 Conway Street
651-793-3885
Tuesday nights at 6:00 p.m.
Join us. It's fun!

Off-Leash Dog Area Task Force Meetings
The Saint Paul Parks Commission established the Off-Leash Dog Area (OLDA) Task Force to provide feedback to the Commission on how successfully the report, “Recommendations on the Establishment of Off-Leash Dog Areas in Saint Paul,” is being implemented.  The Task Force has established a meeting schedule for the year 2001.  All meetings are open to the public and comments will be taken at every meeting.

MOMS Club
     Ever feel like you're the only mother who stays home? You are not alone! Come meet other at home mothers at the MOMS Club. 
     The MOMS Club is a national nonprofit organization with hundreds of chapters across the country. We are just for the at-home mother of today! 
     Local chapters have monthly meetings with speakers and discussions, park play days, holiday family parties, outings for mothers and their children, and activity groups like playgroups, arts n' crafts, a monthly MOMS Night Out, and babysitting co-ops. We also do service projects to help needy children. 
     Our activities are during the day, when mothers-at-home need support, and mothers may bring their children with them to our activities.
     For more information about our chapter call Tracie Lemke at 651-771- 5834.