Mayor Randy Kelly (third from the right)  was among the dignitaries at the HealthEast Residence groundbreaking ceremony.   Ward 7 Councilmember Kathy Lantry is to his left and Mounds Park resident and activist Al Clausen is to his right.  Photos by Greg Cosimini

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 10 to celebrate the construction of the HealthEast Residence - Marian of Saint Paul.  Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly was on hand to participate in the groundbreaking and celebration.     The facility, which is planned to open in the spring of 2003, will feature 71 units of independent/congregate living, 56 units of assisted living and a 3,400 square foot chapel.  The community will offer eloquent dining rooms, lounge areas, activity rooms, sports pub, gardening room, family dining, and a library.

The new development will be built on the same campus as the existing HealthEast Care Center - Marian of Saint Paul, which offers advanced skill nursing, boarding care and assisted living.     The facility is being developed through an arrangement between HealthEast Care System, Governmental and Educational Assistance Corporation (GEAC), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Earl St. - Hudson Road Streetscape Plans Revisited

   Nearly five years ago, a community meeting was held at the Tuscany Grill on March19, 1997 to present a possible plan for a new streetscape in the area of Earl St. and Hudson Road.   Tom Dobbs of the architectural firm of  Hays - Dobbs PA presented a number of drawings that depicted what the area could look like in the future. 
 

This picture shows a marketplace that could be created next to the I-94 noise barrier.

   There was a great deal of interest in this plan at the meeting but little action was taken. The only noticeable results were the installation of some storefront windows and an awning. To implement this or any other  plan will require the cooperation and support of local businesses, residents, community groups and the city of St. Paul. 
   There is renewed interest in this plan at the beginning of 2002 as various changes take place in the area, such as the planned reopening of the Mounds Theater, the recent changes in ownership of several businesses, and the fact that Hudson Road is no longer a bus route.  Other things are happening nearby including the building of a senior apartment complex at the old Johnson Bros. Liquor Store site, the building of a senior residence at HealthEast - Marian of Saint Paul near Mounds Park and the planned renovation of the Mounds Park Pavilion in 2003.  

Lower Phalen Creek Project
 

Lower Phalen Creek was once a spring fed stream flowing from Lake Phalen through a deep ravine and into a low delta on the Mississippi River floodplain. Surrounded by forests and wetlands, the creek formed a natural corridor for migrating songbirds and other wildlife traveling between the Mississippi and Phalen Chain of Lakes. Native American tribes offered prayers and held councils in the nearby caves and a small Dakota trading village called Kaposia was located at Lower Phalen Creek's confluence with the Mississippi River.     As European immigrants settled in the area, much of the natural landscape disappeared. Lower Phalen Creek was buried by the railroads, and the creek's delta was filled and used as a rail yard. The bluff-tops became the Railroad Island and Dayton's Bluff neighborhoods of St. Paul's East Side. The ravine became known as Swede Hollow, and waves of new immigrants lived in a shantytown there until the 1950s. By the 1970s railroad use declined, and the abused floodplain was abandoned.     Today, Lower Phalen Creek is primarily a storm sewer, its water largely comprised of rain and snowmelt that has become polluted by contaminants on our city streets and sidewalks. Swede Hollow has been made into a park, and neighborhood activists are working to improve its ecological quality. The floodplain is struggling to health as nature reclaims the industrial wasteland, but the valley floor still acts as a barrier keeping East Side neighborhoods from downtown and the Mississippi River.     Despite many years of degradation, an exciting revitalization effort is underway for the Lower Phalen Creek area offering hope for the community that surrounds it. This effort - called the Lower Phalen Creek Project - is a multifaceted, community-driven initiative to restore the area's remaining environmental assets and use the work as a springboard for broader neighborhood improvement and urban revitalization.

Mounds Theater Renovation Begins
 

A small Bobcat is being used on interior and exterior demoltion work at the Mounds Theater.

Portage for Youth Markets Portage Pals Doll
by Raeann Ruth

   A new handmade, soft-body doll with distinctly Asian features is carrying big expectations as she is introduced to the public this month.
   The new doll, with the Hmong name “Lia,” is the brainchild of a Saint Paul nonprofit organization called The Portage for Youth.  Lia came into this world last year when The Portage for Youth designed a soft fabric doll that reflected the Asian features of the girls who come to the program for after school and summer activities each day.

Lia was an instant hit with the girls.  When girls weren’t “sneaking out” the one-of-a-kind doll for private playtime, Lia generated a lot of discussion among the girls and program staff about how dolls differ between the Southeast Asian and American cultures and the absence of “play” dolls for children of different cultures.    Many traditional immigrant families have dolls only for decoration or display of traditional dress.  There were no dolls available to hold and dress and play with.  The play dolls that were available where starkly “mainstream American” in features and dress.  “Every girls need a soft, cuddly doll they can relate to,” said Portage founder and executive director Raeann Ruth.  “There are Groovy Girl™ or Lilly™ dolls on the market but they’re not quite right for kids from Asian immigrant or refugee families.  We’ve done a lot of research and found that there are no similar dolls available.  We believe Lia is a first.” The Portage for Youth is a nonprofit after-school and summer arts, education and enrichment program for girls and young women ages 8 to 15 living in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of Saint Paul.

   The organization hopes to make the dolls available for purchase by Asian families and parents with children adopted from Asian countries.  Sales of the dolls will also help generate revenue to support The Portage’s programs.
   “With the often uncertain fundraising environment, we were looking for ways to be less dependent on donors,” Ruth said.  “If the doll sales catch on, it could make The Portage more self-sufficient financially”
   Another unique feature of the project is that the dolls themselves are being handmade by sewers from immigrant families living in the Dayton’s Bluff area.  “The first batch of dolls is actually being made by mothers of girls who participate in our programs,” Ruth said.  “We supply the materials and patterns and the women are able to do the work from home earning as much or more than they can outside the home.”
   The doll itself sells for $29.95 with 50 percent of the price going to support Portage for Youth programs.  One-third of the purchase price is paid to the sewers who manufacture the dolls.
   Lia is the first of what Ruth hopes will be several “Portage Pal” dolls.  Additional dolls for African and Latino girls are already in the discussion stages.  Portage Pal dolls are currently being marketed only through the organization’s website at http://www.theportage.org/dolls where buyers can order and pay for their purchase over the Internet.  “We’ve secured patent and trademark rights to the design and will be trying to develop other outlets for the doll,” said Ruth.  “We have a quantity discount in hopes that local retailers catering to Hmong and other Asian immigrant and refugee families will stock the doll.  We’re also pitching the product to specialty catalogers.”
   For more information about The Portage for Youth or the “Lia” Portage Pal Doll, visit the website at http://www.theportage.org or call or write The Portage at 965 Fremont Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55106, (651) 772-8674 phone, (651) 772-4669 fax or email Raeann@theportage.com.

Hamms Grain Elevator Comes Down
 

The last portion of the Hamm Brewery grain elevators, the head house, was taken down on Friday, November 16, 2001 at 10 a.m.   See the video on YouTube.

Bluffing with Science
Ghost Bluffers, Part 4: Ghost Photos?
by Greg Cosimini 

   For the last three months I've been talking about how to detect ghosts using various types of equipment such as cameras.  Shown below are some photos I recently took at the Mounds Theater while it is being renovated. Do they show ghosts?  Study the pictures for a bit and then read the discussion that follows. 
 

   All of the above photos were taken with a digital camera using a flash.  There was no heat in the theater so the temperature was below freezing. The three pictures on the left were the only ones out of about 40 taken on two different days that showed any "ghosts".  My purpose in taking the pictures was to document the renovation so I did not have any other ghost hunting equipment set up.
   I suspected that the white clouds might be my breath rather then ghostly ectoplasm.  To test this hypothesis I returned to the theater on two other days and purposely blew my breath in front of the camera as I snapped the photos.  About half of the pictures displayed some sort of cloud. Three of the best are shown on the right. While the clouds in both sets of photos share certainly similarities, they are also different in some ways. 
   So do the photos on the left show ghosts and the ones on the right show condensed water vapor?  Or area they all water vapor, or ghosts? There really isn't enough information to make such a determination. I took many photos in the theater with the same camera during warmer weather and never got any clouds, only a few orbs. On the other hand, I've been told that any ghosts in the theater would be more active once the renovation began because they would be disturbed by all the commotion. 
   I've already been assured by some people that I have real ghost pictures. Being a skeptic, I need a lot more proof, even if I did take the photos with my own camera.  As usual, there are no easy answers. 
   To view similar sorts of photos, visit these websites: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/9114/mound.html This site shows a ghost at Mounds Park. 
http://www.artbell.com/ghosts21.html This is Art Bell's web site. It is lot of fun to wander through if you keep a very skeptical outlook. 
--------------------------------------------------- 
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.

   The Dayton's Bluff Home Tour will be held on May 4th and 5th, 2002.  A number of  homes are already signed up for the tour but a few more are still needed.  Volunteers are also needed to help before and during the tour. 

Here are the homes tentatively scheduled to be on this year's Dayton's Bluff Home Tour: 

Jeff & Kelly Wallis 
629 Greenbrier

Nick Duncan 
1044 Wilson

Tom & Laura Dobbs 
734 East 3rd Street

Dave & Becky Holm 
382 Maple

Steve Garetez 
700 East 3rd Street

Sean & Jennifer Dunn 
338 Maple

Bob Parker
935 Hudson Road

Upper Swede Hollow Neighborhoods Association
800 East 3rd Street

Contact  Karin at 651-772-2075 for more information.

Letters to the Editor

Prairie Plantings Unnatural for Mounds Park

   I am responding to Julia Archer's comments in the December issue. [Editor's note: see below]  I live across the street from these plantings and do not enjoy them at all. I have been here for 30 years and remember better uses of the Park.  I was very, very sorry to see the green turf go.  I don't even know who made this happen.
   I prefer turf to facilitate human, recreational activities.  I like seeing people in a public inter-city park.  Much more needed than this ugliness called a prairie which it is not and never can be.  This is city not country.  The alleged 'natural' plantings are not.  Natural means spontaneous, unfettered.  What has happened in Mounds Park is manipulated, forced and anything but 'natural'. Again this is city not country.
   I am certain there are ample flowering areas in Mounds Park to support benign wildlife.  I don't know why anyone would want to cultivate a habitat for fox, hedgehogs, skunk, raccoon, rodents and other nuisance animals.
   I prefer the green turf for its wide, visual expanse; for providing a safe and open space for all sorts of activities in all seasons.
  Yes, Ms Archer, we do need beauty, vitality and diversity in these trouble times for PEOPLE.

Cordially, 
Helen Morgan

[Editor's note: The following letter was published in the December Fourm.]
Native Prairie is a Natural for Mounds Park

Dear Editor, 
   Recently I received a survey seeking my opinion: do I or do I not enjoy the Native Prairie Grass plantings in Mounds Park? This topic is so close to my heart that I wanted to take the opportunity to answer the survey in a public forum. YES, I do enjoy the native planting. In fact, I would enjoy seeing more public park space restored to its original Minnesota wild flowers and grasses. Here are three reasons why:
1. Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat. 
   We city humans can buy our imported foods from the grocery store. Our homes contain materials from all over the world but our urban wildlife neighbors must find 100% of their food and shelter in our neighborhoods. Too much green turf and our wildlife cannot find sufficient resources to survive and thrive. Besides us humans, here are a few examples of our wild neighbors who must have biodiversity to survive: bumblebees, butterflies, birds, bats and bunnies. All of these creatures are remarkably beneficial to us in some way, and that’s only one letter of the alphabet.
2. A Healthier Environment.
   Green turf is a high maintenance ground cover. For example, it must be cut regularly. The mega- mowers we use burn gas, spew toxic exhaust and create very high noise levels. Natural planting and landscaping is low maintenance. After all, native plants are ideally suited for our climate. And let’s remember, it needs far less water and no pesticides whatsoever to remain healthy! Our embattled environment is already very stressed. I believe responsible citizens must encourage every possible restorative action, especially a relatively simple action such as encouraging native plant growth.
3. Beauty!
   Minnesotans seem to have a great fondness for the rich colors, smells and textures of nature. I’m very fond of the changing seasons. Since the Mounds Park planting sprouted 2 years ago, I’ve watched the flowers move through spring, summer, fall and winter. Yes, I also enjoy the brown stalks of fall and winter. I’m reminded that we are all part of the same cycle of life. I know that the dying plants carry the seeds of new life. By comparison, acres of green turf seem dull and monotonous. And oh, how we all need beauty and vitality and diversity in these troubled times! So I say again: YES! Let those native areas prosper! Please voice YOUR opinion. You can email the Mounds Park Association at moundspark@earthlink.net or this paper.
Sincerely, 
Julia Archer
Mounds Park

Moundstock 2002 is Coming in June

Moundstock 2002 will be held on June 22, 2002 at Indian Mounds Park.

Join the Fun:
Any food, arts or crafts vendors interested in participating in Moundstock 2002 should contact Raeann Ruth as soon possible at raeann@theportage.com or 651-772-8674 for more information. Volunteers are needed both before and during Moundstock 2002. Additional sponsors are always welcomed. 

Didn't attend Moundstock 2001?  See what you missed!

What: The Portage for Youth invites you to a free outdoor concert.
           This is the second year of a signature community event for
           Saint Paul's East Side with local blues bands,  art and crafts vendors,
           entertainment for the whole family, food and much more.

Where: Beautiful Indian Mounds Park 

When: Saturday, June 22, 2002
             11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Why: It's a fundraiser for the Mounds Theatre Renovation Project.
          Once completed, this old 1920's movie theater, will become a 
          performing arts center and will provide a new music venue for 
          Twin Cities Artists and Musicians.
         "IT TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO RAISE ONE THEATER"

Cost: FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE

Keep checking the Portage for Youth website for updated  information.

Recycling Days for Dayton's Bluff

   All recycling days in Dayton's Bluff are on Tuesday unless otherwise noted.  Recycling should be on the curb by 7:00 a.m. If you have any questions call 651-772-2075.

January: 4 (Friday), 15, 29
February: 12, 26
March: 12, 26
April: 9, 23
May: 7, 21
June: 4, 18
July: 2, 16, 30
August: 13, 27
September: 10, 24
October: 8, 22
November: 5, 19
December: 3, 17, 31

The Origins of Valentines

Dear Amber,
   We are having a Valentines party at school.  I was wondering, how did the practice of giving Valentines originate? 
Sincerely,
Dorothy Radman

Dear Dorothy,
    That's a good question.  Here's your answer.
Amber

AMERICAN VALENTINES

Valentine Writers.  After 1723, American valentines began to grow with the import from England of valentine "writers."  A writer was a booklet containing a vast array of verses and messages that could be copied onto gilt-edged letter paper or other decorative sheets.  One popular writer contained not only "be my valentine" type verses for men to send, but also acceptance of "answers" which women could return.  Here is an example:

Valentine
 A short time since I danc'd with you,
And from that hour lov'd you true;
Your pleasing form, your charming air,
Might with a fabl'd grace compare;
Your accents, so melodious sweet,
Still on my ear does seem to beat;
And "tis the first wish of my life,
To win my Delia for a wife;
Deign, my sweet maid, a line to send,
And may love's saint my plea defend.

Answer
Your Valentine is very kind
Nor did a cool reception find;
Your company gave me delight,
When I danced with you t'other night;
Then mutually we did incline,
Our hearts to love, my Valentine.

From then on, Valentines became less artistic and over ornamented.  During the Gay Nineties they were adorned with garish spun glass, mother-of-pearl, imitation jewels, or silk fringe.  Proof of the less attractive, cheap-looking valentine is seen in the "vinegar valentine."  John McLaughlin, a New York printer, created these comic valentines that were printed on cheap paper in crude colors.  His messages made fun of old maids, teachers and others.  Comic designs done in 1870 by the American cartoonist Charles Howard were called "penny dreadfuls" --a perfect name for them because they sold for a penny and the designs were dreadful.

The first U.S. made valentines were crafted by a Mount Holyoke College student, Miss Esther Howland.  Her father, a stationer in Worcester, MA, imported valentines every year form England.  Esther, however, decided to create her own valentine messages.  Around 1830 she began importing lace, fine papers and other supplies for her valentines.  She employed several assistants and her brothers helped market her "Worcester" valentines.  As one of our first successful U.S. career woman her sales amounted to about a hundred thousand dollars annually--not bad for the 1830's.

In our century we have seen a change from the heavy sentimentality of earlier days to what can best be described as a light touch.  Nowadays a valentine usually accompanies a more elaborate gift of candy, flowers, perfume, etc.

American school children (such as yourself) usually celebrate St. Valentine's Day with a party at school.  Prior to the party the children make a decorated box with a slot in the top.  During the party the children distribute valentines to their classmates' Valentine's box.

Valentine cards are manufactured on an enormous scale today that range from the sentimental to sophisticated to humorous valentines.  There is a valentine for everyone--sweetheart, spouse, children, parents, teacher and even your pet!  In terms of the number of greeting cards sent, Valentine's Day ranks second only to Christmas.

Other Valentine Customs

A young girl was supposed to marry, eventually, the first eligible male she met on this day.  If a girl was curious and brave enough, she could conjure up the appearance of her future spouse by going to the graveyard on St. Valentine's Eve at midnight.  She would then sing a prescribed chant and run around the church twelve times.

In England, little children went about singing of St. Valentine and collecting small gifts.  It was also customary to place valentines on their friend's doorsteps.

Symbols Found on Valentines

Ribbons, Laces and Frills

Ribbons and frills have been associated with romance since the days of knighthood, when a knight rode into battle with a ribbon or scarf given him by his fair lady.  The dictionary states that the word "Lace" comes from a Latin word meaning to "snare" or "noose".

Cupid

Cupid was one of the gods of mythology.  In Latin, the word Cupid means "desire."  Cupid is typically represented as a chubby, naked, winged by or youth with a mischievous smile.  He possessed a bow with a quiver of arrows by which he transfixed the hearts of youths an maidens.  Cherubs are descendants of Cupid.  They are depicted as lovable little winged creatures without arrows and quivers. Cherubs were typically not mischievous like Cupid.

The Rose

The rose, which is undoubtedly the most popular flower in the world, speaks of love and has been the choice of lovers in every century.  If you rearrange the letters of the word rose you get Eros, the god of Love.

Hands

A lady's hands was a favorite decoration that depicted "femininity."  Its beauty was enhanced by adding a frilly cuff and a jeweled ring on the third finger.  Clasped hands represent those of Queen Victoria and prince Albert and were symbols of the friendship between their countries of Germany and England.

Turtle Doves and Love Birds

It was thought that birds chose their mate for the year on February 14.  Dove and pigeons mate for life and therefore were used as a symbol of "fidelity."

Puzzik

Puzzik - circa 1840.  A puzzik is a quaint sort of homemade valentine that was a sort of puzzle that the receiver had to solve. Not only did she have to decipher the message, but also to figure how to refold the paper once it was opened.  The order of the verses was usually numbered, an the recipient had to twist the folds to determine what was being said.

Daguerreotype

Dagurreotype - popular from 1840 to the Civil War.  An old time tintype was found in the center of a card surrounded by an ornamented wreath.  Another type was  "mirror valentine" which had a small mirror placed in the center to reflect the happy face of the receiver.

Rebus

Although it had many forms, a rebus usually was a romantic verse written in ink with certain words omitted and illustrated with a picture.  Meant to be a riddle, they were not always easy to decipher.

Watch Papers

Popular when men carried pocket watches, these were made to fit the back or front of a pocket watch.

So, Dorothy that's a quick overview of Valentine's Day.  Hope this answers your question.

TO EVERYONE IN THE DAYTON'S BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD - HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY.

Amber

 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 neccessarily fact.

Be Your Own Boss
Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Entrepreneur Training and Support Program

   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 residents are welcome.
   Class training lasts approximately 16 weeks and includes topics such as operations management, marketing, financial management, one to one assistance with creating a successful business, and preparing a business plan.  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.  It is sponsored by the Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council and the Neighborhood Development Center.  There is a small registration fee based on a sliding fee scale.  The next session will start in March and class size is limited. 
   Please call Karin at 772-2075 for more information and for an application.

Notices

Recycling
   Recycling bins and lawn signs are available at 798 East 7th Street.    If you have a neighbor who does not recycle, talk to them about it. Recycling can reduce your trash by at least 40%.  In Dayton’s Bluff last year recycling tonnage (the total pounds of recycling) was down from previous years.  We are working to increase recycling in Dayton’s Bluff.  If you have any questions call 772-2075.

Community Police Meeting
   The Eastern District Police host a monthly meeting with community members to listen to and address people’s concerns about crime and other issues on the East Side. 
   The community meetings are held at the Eastern District police office at 722 Payne on the corner of  Payne and Minnehaha Avenues.

Basic Skils and ESL Tutoring forAdults
   Free tutoring is available for adults on the East Side of St. Paul.  Tutoring is being offered in basic reading, basic math, GED Prep, and English as a Second Language. 
   We are also looking for volunteer  tutors.  Training and materials are provided.  Both opportunities are on-going. 
  For more information on becoming a tutor or if you or someone you know needs assistance with basic skills or English Language skills, call East Metro Learning Center at 651-778-0111 

Dayton's Bluff Up-Front Gardens
   Up-Front Gardens is a Minnesota State Horticultural Society program promoting gardening in the front yard and boulevard.  These gardens add beauty to the neighborhoods, make it easier for neighbors to stop by to chat, and can be seen all hours of the day. 
   Are you a Gloves-on-Gardener who takes joy in tending your front yard garden and the smiles it brings to the neighborhood?  The Minnesota State Horticultural Society would 
like to add your address to their growing list of  “Up-Front Gardens” in Dayton’s Bluff and across the city and state.  There are no requirements other than adding a discreet 6 inch sign to your garden that lets viewers know where to go on the Internet for more Up-Front Garden addresses and chat with those who might say hello while you’re working in the garden.  You would become part of a group of gardeners dedicated to beautifying our region. 
   Here in Dayton’s Bluff we have a lot of front yard gardens.  We are compiling a list of gardeners names and addresses of the Dayton’s Bluff Up-Front Gardens.  Please call Karen at 651-772-2075 if you have an Up-Front Garden or if you are interested starting a front yard garden. 

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! 

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.