If all goes well, the lighting and sidewalk construction currently under way along east Seventh street, from the Swede Hollow bridge to Margaret street, should be completed by mid-November.
 This much anticipated project includes replacing the aged trolley pole lighting system with an ornamental twin-lantern lighting system and reconstructing the sidewalk for future tree plantings. The ‘bent straw’ style light poles installed over some of the project area are providing light to the area pending receipt of the permanent light poles by the contractor.
 The trolley pole lighting had become unstable due to age and the poles were in danger of falling. The need to remedy this situation provided an opportunity to improve the character of east Seventh street and after several meetings with the community this was the design option selected.

Nine candidates seek District Council seats

  The Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council election will be held on Monday, October 16.  Polls are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 798 E. 7th St.  Any adult resident of Dayton’s Bluff is eligible to vote.
  Write-in candidates on election day are permitted. All candidates, except for At-Large positions, must be residents of Dayton’s Bluff.  At-Large representatives can be anyone who resides, owns property, owns a business or operates a business in Dayton’s Bluff.
   Candidates who filed an application by the September 18 deadline are profiled below.  Each candidate was asked to state their personal background, goals and accomplishments they would like to achieve, and challenges they see facing the community.

At-Large - Entire Dayton’s Bluff area (two seats open):
   Donavan Cummings (6th St.) – Background: Involved in community for 12 years. Served on more committees than can count!  Goals: Continue seeing improvements in crime, housing and other neighborhood issues.  Challenges: Shortage of quality affordable housing.

Subdistrict B – Lower Bluff, west of Forest St. (three seats open)
   Kellie Charles (6th St.) - Background: New resident since July.  1993 - Miami University - BA Journalism and Political Science; 1997 - William Mitchell College of Law - J.D.; Hennepin County Public Defender since 1997; AFSCME executive board member since 1995. Goals: I am new to the area and like it a lot. I’d like the opportunity to learn more about the community and offer a fresh perspective. Challenges: Again, being new to the neighborhood, I am uncertain as to the greatest challenges, but am eager to participate in working toward creative ways in meeting those challenges.

   Eugene Piccolo (Maple St.) - Background: Born and raised on Dayton’s Bluff. Moved back six years ago.  BA - Political Science and History; MA – Education Administration; Experience - Teacher, principal, superintendent, non-profit executive director, lobbyist, assistant commissioner State Board of Ed., pres.of USHNA, co-chair of 6th St. Task Force, 2nd VP of DBCC, DBCC rep. to Phalen Corridor Initiative, Capital City Traffic Calming Alliance Member, District 4 code enforcement pilot project steering committee member. Goals: Develop small area plans for various neighborhoods; expand code enforcement program to whole district; develop strategic directions/action plans for council; increase neighborhood involvement in council.  Challenges: Stabilization and rehabilitation of housing stock; absentee landlords who take little interest in their properties; revitalization of commercial areas; low level of academic achievement at Dayton’s Bluff School; airport noise, traffic volume, pedestrian safety, transit improvements, neighborhood safety.

Subdistrict C – East of Forest St. between I-94 and 6th St.  (two seats open)
   Gregory Auge (Conway St.) – Background: 49 years old; member of Sacred Heart parish and now serving on that Parish Council.  Goals: To listen to my neighbors and to listen to the Community.  Challenges: To reduce crime on the East Side.
   Paul Bruski (Earl St.) – Background: BFA in Communication Design from the College of Visual Arts (CVA); currently a full time faculty member at CVA and In-House Graphic Designer. Moved to Dayton’s Bluff with my wife last October. Father grew up in Dayton’s Bluff. Goals: I would like to see the corner of Earl and Hudson revitalized; the Johnson Brothers site utilized for the good of the neighborhood; build a strong sense of community among neighbors.  Challenges: Continued airport noise, air pollution (Pig’s Eye), crime and lack of maintenance by the city (Mounds pavilion, rusting bridges, etc.)
   Terry Bryne (Conway St.) – Background: Army Vet, ROMP member, block club captain, ex-military law enforcement, ex-volunteer EMT, experienced with e-commerce and other technology/business arenas for small/micro business. Goals: See a reduction in nuisance crimes and violent crime. Find a way to increase small business opportunities and draw in larger commercial ventures. Reduce nuisance properties.  Challenges: Everything from broken glass on the sidewalks to a rise in violent crime. Demographics are changing constantly. We need to work to preserve safety/quality of life opportunities for the disadvantaged.
   Greg Cosimini  (Euclid St.) – Background: Lived in Dayton’s Bluff all my life and been on the council for 2 years.  I’m active in many of its activities and the webmaster of our web site. I also helped to bring a neighborhood newspaper back to Dayton’s Bluff. Goals: Increase communication throughout Dayton’s Bluff so we can tackle our common problems and appreciate our diversity; Support the revival of the Earl St.- Hudson Road area so it can again become an important part of Dayton’s Bluff.  Challenges: Get more people to take an active part in neighborhood activities; make Dayton’s Bluff Elementary School into a school of which we can be proud; eliminate this neighborhood’s inferiority complex.

Subdistrict D – South of I-94, including Mounds Park (two seats open)
   Steven Duerre (Bates Ave.) – Background: BS Math & Bacteriology; residence in Dayton’s Bluff: 9 yrs; employed at MN Pollution Control Agency. Memberships: Water Environment Federation, Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association. Goals: Decrease crime, increase sense of community.  Challenges: reluctance of people to get involved/volunteer.
   David Murphy (Burns Ave.) – Background: Landscape Technology – Hennepin Tech; 15 years in Mounds Park; Harding P.T.S.A.; Small business owner.  Goals: To make a stable, vibrant diverse community; to improve the quality of life.

Hamm/Stroh grain elevators being used

 Over the last two and a half years many people have had different ideas about the Hamm/Stroh Brewery.  You hear some say save this beautiful landmark, others say clear the site.  Some say it should be in public ownership, others say let the owner continue to develop it (this will save the taxpayers millions).  There are some people who would lead you to believe that the Hamm/Stroh grain elevators are vacant, when actually they are full of corn and soybean from farms near Wanamingo, Minnesota.
 

Homes moved in Dayton’s Bluff

 Recently, a large beautiful 3-story duplex was moved from 397 Bates to 636 Bates.  The house was originally owned by Winslow Dunn, an Attorney for the Hamm Brewery. The move started on a Thursday afternoon when the home was moved to the corner of Bates and East 7th Street.  The next step started at 3:30 in the morning when the house was moved up East 7th Street then down Greenbrier to the corner at Maury.  This was a spectacle worth seeing.  The entire rim of the house was outlined in lights and moved like it was in parade.  A small group of Dayton’s Bluff residents walked with the home along its route.  The house sat until 8:00 am when the movers started the journey down Maury to a lot on Bates.  This part of the trip was much more delicate with the narrow street, the trees, and the steep hill.  They carefully inched down the street.  Some neighbors brought their lawn chairs to watch the house being moved.  A crew of six people carefully guided it to its new site.  The house was recently purchased from Metropolitan State University by the Upper Swede Hollow Neighborhoods Association.
 

Dear Editor;
I would like to encourage St Paul residents to become informed about the upcoming referendum for St Paul Public Schools.  During the November elections residents will have an opportunity to vote on a referendum that will raise some much needed funds for St Paul Public Schools.  The Committee for World Class Schools has a website (www.yesforspps.org) that has great information.  For example, a typical St Paul elementary school would get an extra $170,000 a year that goes directly to the school and how the money is spent is determined by the Site Council whose membership includes parents, school staff and community members.  St Paul is the only district in the Twin Cities metro srea without referendum funding.  Please take a moment to learn more about the referendum before Election Day, it’s important to all of our children.  Thanks!

Julie Benick, parent 
(Julie’s children attend Harding high and Parkway elementary schools)

Acting Classes in Dayton’s Bluff

Two ongoing acting classes will begin in September.  The Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center Theatre, which has hosted a number of performances for the community, will be the location for Acting for Adults on Tuesday evenings and Acting for 9-13 Year Olds on Thursday evenings.  Both classes will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and will be taught by Matthew Vaky.
 Vaky, former member of the Guthrie Acting company, is the newly appointed artistic director of the Dayton’s Bluff Theater.  In addition to this artistic director duties, Vaky also teaches at the Guthrie and at City Academy.  His theater credits include acting and directing at the Illusion Theatre, The Mixed Blood, SteppingStone Theatre, The Playwright’s Center, The Bryant Lake Bowl, the Minnesota Fringe, and the Guthrie.  He directed the improv comedy hits Yard Sale and Yard Sale 2000 which will be remounted at the Bryant Lake Bowl in October.  His most current project is directing a play, Dvorak Discovery, for the Minnesota Orchestra which will open at Carnegie Hall in New York on October 27.  He will also be performing his one-man play, The Bench Play, at the Acadia Theatre in Minneapolis.
 Classes begin Tuesday, September 19 for the Acting for Adults class and Thursday, September 21 for the Acting for 9-13 Year Olds.  Both sets of ongoing classes will explore acting, improvisation, and script creation.  Public showings will be held on November 14 and 16 with a long-term goal of a production in February.  A $5 registration fee is required, but no experience is necessary—just a desire to learn, have a good time, and act for the community.  Call Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center for more details at 651.793.3883.

Upcoming Events at Margaret Community Recreation Center
1109 Margaret Street
Phone 651.298.5719
TTY 651.266.6378

Basketball Registration will be held October 16-27 for ages 5-17.  Please call for fee information

Field Trips
Register for field trips at least one week in advance.  All field trips require a signed permission slip for youth ages 17 and under.  Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  All field trips have limits on the number of participants that may go.  Call or stop in for more information.

Science Museum Thursday, October 19 from 12:00-4:30 p.m.  Tour the new Science Museum and learn exciting things about the Mississippi River.  K-6.  FREE

Hillside of Horrors Wednesday, October 25 5:00-9:00 p.m.  FREE.  Join us for a scary tour of the Hillside of Horrors at Highland Pavilion in St. Paul.  This haunted house is sponsored by St. Paul Parks & Recreation.  Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate.

Special Events
Halloween Program Thursday, October 26 from 4:00-5:00 p.m.  Join us for a Halloween party with games and prizes.  Ages 12 & under.  FREE

Halloween Safe House Tuesday, October 31, Margaret Community Recreation Center will be open as a “safe house” for neighborhood youth from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

New director at HealthEast Care Center, Marian of St. Paul
 by Caroline Snyder

Steve Tonsager became the new Director at Marian of St. Paul in April of this year.  He lives on the East Side of St. Paul with his wife and four children.  Steve is a Lutheran minister specializing in the chaplainry of elders and has a degree in biochemistry as well.  He likes to jog and play tennis, and is a student in the evenings at the American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.  Steve has been in the field of administrative health care for the last 10 years and is developing an integrative health care model at Marian of St. Paul to better manage chronic illness and pain by incorporating complementary therapies with traditional medicines.

Complementary medicine is not intended to replace traditional Western medicines.  Complementary therapies can assist with improving the management of chronic health problems.  The use of Tai Chi, massage, herbs, meditation, and acupuncture are examples of complimentary therapies.  Complimentary medicines or treatments have proven to result in avoidance of other costs by keeping someone healthy and avoiding lengthy hospitalization.

Long term care is very regulated and stifles creativity.  Therefore, a paradigm shift must occur in order to create values which are the “right values.”  A revolutionary change in philosophy within nursing homes must take place so that residents will become more empowered to make their own decisions relevant to their health care.  Delivery of services by the staff would become more flexible and more creative if there is more input from the residents.  Studies have proven that the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of the residents are better fulfilled if residents participate in their own health care management.  Positive interaction with staff and administration will be conducive to good health care and will result in a “non-institutional” environment for the residents as well as promoting the philosophy of “living not dying” within nursing home facilities.

This is an exciting time for Steve, and under his direction, Marian of St. Paul may truly be thought of as a “healing community that values the whole person.”