Volume 17, No. 4 www.daytonsbluff.org June 2004 Inside This Issue: Family friendly Dayton’s Bluff Garden Contest...... Page 2 Mounds Theatre...... Page 3 Branch Library opens for business Vento Nature Sanctuary...... Page 3 By Steve Trimble Memorable MN Meals...... Page 4 There was a lot of activity at 645 East Seventh Street on Saturday, May Little questions...... Page 5 15th, as a new neighborhood institution was officially launched. And, as one The Clothes Line...... Page 6 rock group once put it, “It’s been a long time coming.” For the first time The House...... Page 6 in anyone’s memory, Dayton’s Bluff residents had easy access to a library. Suzanne Nielsen, writer.....Page 7 It was not really the first time. Back in the day, as young people say, there New CLUES Building...... Page 8 was a branch library for the general public at Van Buren School, located on the grounds of today’s Dayton’s Neighborhood Bluff Elementary. In the early years of the twentieth century, there were Sale and Car several such branches. The new library had actually opened Wash its doors five days earlier. The Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, shown here with Dayton’s Bluff Community Coun- Saturday open house, labeled ”Kid’s cil member Sharon McCrea (l) and Community Organizer Karin DuPaul (r), Kick Off,” was an event designed to took a turn as a celebrity reader and then entertained children with his guitar The Dayton’s Bluff Community showcase the new building and to playing and singing. Photo by Greg Cosimini Council will be holding a preview a summer reading program Neighborhood Sale and Car Wash on called “Track it Down At Your at least according to the many kids in school mostly used inter-library loan Saturday, June 12. The Neigh- Library.” attendance, was Magical Mia. She programs and electronic technology borhood Sale is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. performed a series of musical and that drew on area library collections. th According to the staff, the library at Hamm Park, located at East 7 has approximately 12,000 books and magical illusions using colorful However, as the student body Street and Greenbrier. The Dayton’s other materials, such as videotapes, butterflies and silk streamers. boomed, the University decided to ask Bluff Car Wash is from 10:00 a.m. to DVDs and magazines. The librarians Mixed in with the noises of kids and the Legislature to include a library for 2:00 p.m. at the Budget Tire Shop at visiting crowds was the muffled sound them in the bonding bill. This is when th said that they had assembled what they 705 East 7 Street. called a “family-friendly” collection, of electric power tools. Even though the idea of having a building that The Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood with around 70% of the holdings aimed the library is open for business, a few housed both a university and a Sale will feature many great items for at parents and children. areas still need finish work and community library surfaced. While the the home and family. This is an open The Kick Off, which ran from 11:00 molding was being installed full story is too long to include here, it event, and if you have something to a.m. to 2:00 p.m., was filled with throughout the day. The community can be said that it took a decade of sell, each family participating is asked activities. The day started with area meeting room is not yet completed and effort to overcome various legislative for a $10 donation to help cover City Council member Kathy Lantry the homework center will not be and financial barriers to finally make advertising and other expenses. For taking a turn as a “celebrity reader,” opened officially until next January. the dream a reality. those who are selling items, set up in followed by Library director Gina La Until then, it will be a quiet spot for A special library card will be issued Hamm Park at East 7th and Greenbrier Force, who settled into the reading people to read books and magazines. for neighborhood residents that will is at 8:00 a.m. on the 12th. chair just before noon. So how, after decades of neglect, did allow them to use some of the more Or if you have items you want to Other activities featured the Teddy the neighborhood finally get a branch than 100,000 items owned by get rid of and do not want to spend the Bear Band, vocal performances by facility? A little background may be Metropolitan State University. The day selling, donate them to the Voce Fresca, a choral group and a visit helpful. Starting in the 1920s, the Dayton’s Bluff library will be open Dayton’s Bluff Community Council by Mayor Randy Kelly. The highlight, earlier-mentioned branch facilities in every day except Sunday. For and they will sell them as part of their schools were discontinued and information on hours or other fundraiser. This is a great way to clear neighborhood libraries were opened. questions, call 651-793-1699 or visit out clutter and find new treasures. Except in Dayton’s Bluff, of course. www.stpaul.lib.mn.us. Come meet your neighbors! Call the The community was always told that There must have been several Dayton’s Bluff Community Council at there was no need for one, since the hundred people visiting throughout the 651-772-2075 for more information. downtown library was so close. Close, late morning and afternoon. The maybe, but not really convenient. comments were all very positive. So for years, residents and their While the small parking area was Fly the flag on various groups, including the Dayton’s filled, many families were seen Bluff Community Council, tried to arriving on foot and walking away Flag Day convince city officials of the need for with bulging book bags. June 14 a neighborhood library. What finally If the Saturday May 15th event is any led to the successful undertaking was indication, the Dayton’s Bluff library the proposal for a unique university- will be a very positive and popular community collaboration. local landmark. Remember Dad on It seems that Metropolitan State Many city library activities will now University, which had come to the be easily accessible to local residents. Father’s Day Dayton’s Bluff area, had the dubious For example, Summer Reading June 20 A young Dayton’s Bluff resident, distinction of being the largest such Program Performers will be at the Dyamond Jarrett, reads one of the institution in the nation without a library every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. new library’s new books. major library building. Instead, the starting July 7. Page 2 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum June 2004 Enter Dayton’s Bluff 2004 Home Tour was a big success Landscape Ecology garden contest Awards Program Greening Dayton’s Bluff will hold a nominations garden contest this summer. Be on the look out for outstanding gardens in LEAP into spring and nominate your area. Then either email yourself or a neighbor for encouraging [email protected] or send your nature in the yard! nomination to: Dayton’s Bluff District The Landscape Ecology Awards Forum, 798 East 7th Street, Saint Paul Program (LEAP) was developed by MN 55106. Include the address, name the Ramsey-Washington Metro of the gardener, description of garden, Watershed District to recognize local your phone number and the phone landowners, including private number of the gardener. The judging residences as well as public and will be in the late summer. commercial properties that use good We are also looking for judges for land management practices to preserve the garden contest. If you are and improve water quality and natural interested call Karin at 651-772-2075. resources. Top properties are ones that use Johnson Brothers Volunteers help out at one of the homes on the 2004 Dayton’s Bluff Home Tour. Minnesota native plants in the Left to right: Rich DuPaul, Carla Riehle, Colleen Ashton and Susan Rust. landscape to create buffers and natural site senior housing Photo by Karin DuPaul habitats, have areas where rainwater project to begin soon The weather was great and hundreds of people visited Dayton’s Bluff during is infiltrated, and require limited use the Home Tour and marveled at the beautiful homes and great people in our of fertilizers and pesticides. neighborhood. Winners will receive an attractive Construction on the new senior sign to be placed on their property, a housing project on the old Johnson Homeowners mentioned that they were very happy about meeting neighbors who they did not know before the Home Tour. Home Tour highlights included plaque, a gift certificate for native Brothers site at 1145 Hudson Road plants, and recognition in local should start around July 1. the Arts and Craft show at the Mounds Theatre. Thank you to everyone who helped make the tour a great success. newspapers and on the District The project consists of a four-story website. apartment building to be built on 4.5 This year the Minneapolis – St. Paul Home Tour was sponsored by the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP). The City of Saint Applications are due July 1st. acres of land, with 160 independent Winners will be selected in mid- senior housing rental units. The new Paul did not sponsor it as in past years. Brett from the NRP called the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council and asked us to participate in the tour. We were very September. To obtain an application development will include 109 or to learn more about good land underground heated parking spaces, 51 happy to be able to be part of the Home Tour once again. Brett and his co- workers were very helpful in making this a great event. We are looking for management practices, please visit surface parking spaces, elevator, www.rwmwd.org or call Bill homes to be on the tour next year. If you have any ideas call Karin at 772-2075. laundry facility and common gathering Bartodziej at 651 704-2089. space. Another amenity is the open space adjacent to the new building. Hauser Dance in Concert at Mounds Theatre The apartment building will have Dayton’s Bluff When: Saturday, June 26 - 7:30 p.m. one and two bedroom affordable and Sunday, June 27 - 2:00 p.m. (matinee)* market rate apartments. Take a Hike Where: Mounds Theatre, 1029 Hudson Road, St. Paul, MN 55106 Tickets: General admission $5.00; Children, seniors & students free Dayton’s Bluff Take a Hike meets Grocery Give-Away Reservations: Phone - (612) 871-9077; Email - [email protected] on the first Saturday of every month A Grocery Give-Away will take * An ASL interpreter will be available at the Sunday 2:00 p.m. performance. at 10:30 a.m. in Indian Mounds Park place on Saturday, June 19 from at Earl Street and Mounds Blvd. Join 10:30 to noon at Mounds Park United Hauser Dance in Concert is both fresh and unique with a wide range of original us on June 5 for the next hike. Methodist Church, Euclid and Earl. choreography by Artistic Director Heidi Jasmin. The concerts are an exciting We hike from Mounds Park through Free produce, dry goods and bread conclusion to a two-week residency in the Dayton’s Bluff area, which is partially Swede Hollow Park and then walk the items will be given to anyone who can funded by St. Paul Companies, Inc. Foundation and the Metropolitan Regional length of the Bruce Vento Recreational use them. No registration or sign-up Arts Council from an appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature. Trail to its end, near Phalen Park. necessary. Sponsored by United The concert includes Ms.Jasmin’s “Suite Byrd” as a memorial to her friend The hike is about 6 miles with some Methodist churches on the East Side. Charlie Byrd. The three pieces are performed to his lyrical and jazzy guitar moderately rough terrain. Trans- music. Her humorous work “Tongues” is a wild trio to the raw and gutsy sounds portation will be available near Editor Wanted of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. The eerie solo created for dancer John Agurkis titled Johnson Parkway and Maryland to for the “Framed”, with music by the modernist composer George Crumb, is one of Ms. return to Mounds Park or you may Jasmin’s most dramatic works to date. Company members will also do a group hike back if you wish. Dayton’s Bluff improvisation. Join recreational trail supporters and Ms. Jasmin will offer a lively pre-show talk about how to view dance, and the explore this recreational trail. The District Forum. concert will be followed by a question and answer session with the dancers and paved trail runs from East 7th Street Fun job, no pay. audience members. Diversity and imagination have always been emphasized in and Payne Avenue through Swede the Hauser aesthetic bringing contrast and variety to all of their programs. Hollow to Phalen Park. Dayton’s Bluff Adobe Pagemaker For two weeks preceding the concert series Hauser Dance is excited to be Take a Hike started in December of offering scholarships to children and teens for community workshops taught by 1990 and over the years hundreds of experience useful. Heidi Jasmin, Jane Kahan and Maxine Hughes at Dayton’s Bluff Elementary people have attended these events. Call 651-772-2075 School. Those students will also perform a short piece in the company concerts. For more info, call 776-0550.

Dayton’s Bluff District Forum 798 East 7th Street Saint Paul, MN 55106 Church Directory Phone: 651-772-2075 FAX: 651-774-3510 First Lutheran Church E-mail: [email protected] Monthly Circulation: 6,000. Also available online at www.daytonsbluff.org This 463 Maria Ave. is a publication of Hopewell Communications, Inc. and is intended to provide a St. Paul, MN 55106 forum for the ideas and opinions of its readers and to be an instrument for 651-776-7210 developing community awareness and pride. No material contained in this paper Located one block north of may be reprinted without consent of the editor. Guest articles and letters to the Metropolitan State University editor are welcome and may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 651- 774-3510. The Dayton’s Bluff District Forum is delivered to every home in the Sunday Services Dayton’s Bluff area. If you live outside this area, subscriptions cost $12 and may 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. To place your church in be arranged by calling 651-772-2075. Coffee & Fellowship the Forum directory, Board of Directors: Allen Clausen, Greg Cosimini, Robert Johnstone, Debra Vos, 9:00 a.m. call 651 772-2253 and Karin DuPaul. Editor: Greg Cosimini. Layout by Greg Cosimini. All are welcome! Next issue: July 2004. Deadline for material: June 10, 2004. June 2004 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum Page 3 Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary update By Sarah Clark The 27-acre floodplain at the foot Buckthorn removal was started in of Dayton’s Bluff is in the midst of early April and restoration work will being transformed into the Bruce Vento continue through the spring. With the Nature Sanctuary, Saint Paul’s newest buckthorn down, the area may look park. Land for the sanctuary was stark to some people. However, once purchased in November 2002, and a restoration is completed, nearby community partnership known as the residents and visitors will enjoy Lower Phalen Creek Project has been improved views of the Mississippi working with Saint Paul Parks and River valley and the sight of beautiful Recreation on a multi-year effort to prairie flowers. clean up soil contamination, document cultural and historic resources on the Summer plans feature youth land, and restore the area’s native Conservation Corps, wetland Dayton’s Bluff Community Council members Chris Geurts (l) and Jacob Dorer wetland, forest and prairie ecosystems. planting (center) look over surplus plants at the recent Plant Swap held in the gardens Thanks to a variety of grants, Restoration work on the sanctuary near the Swede Hollow Cafe. Photo by Karin DuPaul including $400,000 from the U.S. itself is also being launched this year. Environmental Protection Agency, soil In late spring, the land will be “rough Coming to the Mounds Theatre remediation work is slated for graded” for the wetland, trails and completion this spring. Restoration other features that will one day make Creativity camps June Events activities are now beginning, starting the sanctuary a prime destination for with work on an area outside the visitors from the East Side, Lowertown CLIMB Theatre, the area’s premier First up is the play “The Night Larry boundaries of the sanctuary — Indian and from all around the Twin Cities. traveling children’s theatre company, Kramer Kissed Me.” It will be offered Mounds Park. Crews from the Community Design has partnered with the Mounds on June 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 24 Center’s East Side Youth Conservation Theatre to offer an arts experience that and 25 at 8 p.m. and on June 13 and Bluff restoration begins Corps will be spending much of their your child will never forget! 20 at 2 p.m. All tickets $15. Invasive buckthorn has long plagued summer on the sanctuary, removing There are two one-week sessions. th Then on June 5 at 2:00 p.m., the the Mounds Park overlook area. This buckthorn and garlic mustard, and Register for one or both. Camps run movie “D-Day: The True Glory” will exotic plant chokes out native planting the new wetland area with from 9a.m.- 4p.m. during the weeks be shown. Tickets are $9 at the door, vegetation and does not have the long vegetation provided by grants from the of July 5th-9th and August 2nd-6th. The $8 in advance and $7 each for advance root systems needed to stabilize soil. Minnesota Department of Natural camps are open to children in grades group sales of 10 or more. The City of Saint Paul and the Lower Resources and Minnesota K-6. The cost is $75. Financial aid Saturday June 12th brings a benefit Phalen Creek Project are currently Environmental Initiative. information is available. Campers concert for the Mounds Theatre working on restoring the Mounds must bring their own sack lunch. featuring Porkchop and Los Overlook bluff by removing buckthorn Coming this fall — an innovative Young artists explore the Sneetchez. The concert will run from and replanting the native bedrock bluff acorn collection project performing, visual, and literary arts 7 to 11 p.m. with a ticket price of $6 prairie. The goal of this effort is to As part of the restoration work, the through drama, music, dance, story at the door. stabilize the bluff so it does not Lower Phalen Creek Project is making, painting, drawing, and more. Finally, Hauser Dance in Concert continue to erode soil into the wetland launching a fun, educational project Whole-brain learning at its best that will be presented on June 26 and 27. area being created on the Bruce Vento that will involve schools in restoring connects a single theme to a full week See the article on page 2 of the Forum Nature Sanctuary below. The restored the burr and pin oak communities on of discovery! Maximum attendance is for details. prairie will also provide excellent the sanctuary. Project partners are 75 youth. Contact the Mounds Theatre for habitat for the many birds that use the reaching out to schools on the East For more information or to register, more intormaton at 651 772-2253 or Mississippi River as a migration Side, in downtown and throughout the call Shad (651) 453-9275 Ext 10. visit www.MoundsTheatre.org. corridor. metro area to lend a hand by collecting acorns from selected parks and natural areas, packing the acorns in wet sand Dayton’s Bluff Rec Center June Events and taking part in an acorn planting event on the sanctuary in spring 2005. This is a partial list of activities. For a Mon.-Thurs., June 14-24; 1 - 2:30 pm; OVER 40 CO-REC VOLLEYBALL Free; 8 sessions; Limit 10 Tues, June 8; 11:30 am - 2 pm; $1wk; For more details on these activities, complete list and more information and or to get the latest information on the registration visit the Dayton’s Bluff 10 weeks DANCE FOR TEENS Recreation Center at 800 Conway St. or sanctuary’s transformation, visit (Ages 13-17 yrs.) call 793-3885. ADULT VOLLEYBALL www.phalencreek.org, or leave a T/Th, June 15/17; 5 - 6 pm; Free; 4 Fri.’s; 6 - 8:45 pm; $1/wk; On-going message for the Lower Phalen Creek sessions; Limit 15 PARENT & TOT PLAY TIME (Ages 5 Project staff at 651/771-1152, & under) MOVIES OF THE PAST extension 132. YOUNG AMERICA SCHOOL SELF Mon., Wed. & Fri.’s; 10 am - 12 noon; Tues., June 15; 12:30 - 2:30 pm; Free; DEFENSE / CHEER AMERICA Free; On-going 10 weeks (Ages 5 & up) MUELLER MORTUARY Cheerleading: Mondays, June 14 RUN, JUMP & THROW 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL Self Defense: Wednesdays, June 16 (Ages 3-5 yrs.) (Ages 9-14 yrs.) . PARKWAY CHAPEL 8 weeks; $5/week Tues., June 22; 6 - 8 pm ; $6; 6 Mon., June 21-July 25; 11 am - 12 pm; 835 Johnson Parkway $12; 6 sessions sessions HOME SAFETY TALK (8-14 yrs) at East Seventh Street Th, June 24; 6:15 - 7:15 pm; Free Saint Paul, Minnesota 55106 MOVIES FOR TINY TODDLERS KIDS KICKBALL (Ages 2-5 yrs.) Grades K-5 (’03-’04 school year) MOVIE THEME WEEKS (651) 774-9797 Tues., June 22; 10:30 am - 12 pm; Free; Thurs., June 24; 10 - 10:55 am - grades M-Th ; 3 - 5 pm; Free 8 sessions K-2; 11 - 11:55 am - grades 3-5; $9; 6 FAX (651) 778-9677 June 14-17: Mice week sessions June 28-July 1: Sports week THE BLUFF WIND ENSEMBLE LAKE MORTUARY (Ages. 11-18 yrs.) MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF 4738 Bald Eagle Avenue ADULT CO-REC KICKBALL Tues., June 22; 6 - 7 pm; $16; 8 “DAMN YANKEES” at Third Street Wed., June 16; 6:15 - 7:15 pm; $50/ sessions Wed., June 23; 6:30 pm; Free team; 6 weeks White Bear Lake, Minnesota 55110 BABYSITTING JOB FAIR FIELD TRIPS BOARD GAMES (Ages 11 & up) WATERWORKS WATER PARK at Mon., June 21; 6:30 - 8 pm; Free; 8 (651) 429-4944 Wed., June 9; 6:30 - 7:30 pm; Free Battle Creek Regional Park weeks Fri., June 18; 10 am-3 pm; Fee: $6 FAX (651) 429-7748 CHILDREN’S CREATIVE DANCE FOR THE AGELESS MOVEMENT CAMP ROLLERSKATING AT WOODDALE Call anytime for service T/Th, June 15/17; 6:30 - 7:30 pm; $16; (Ages 7-12 yrs.) Fri., June 25; 12-3:30 pm; Fee: $6 or information 4 sessions; Limit 20 Page 4 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum June 2004 Memorable Minnesota Meals -- -- Part II: More about Hot Dish and Booya

By Steve Trimble tied in a cloth bag is lowered into the The hot dish saga started in last pot on a string. The next day, usually month’s issue concludes and the story around noon, people show up to buy of booya is revealed. the booya and socialize. A harder question to answer is how Hot Dish did it become a state food tradition? The hot dish tradition is very flexible Few people attending Minnesota and even ethnic foods have been booyas are aware that several other assimilated. Along with noodles, places consider this food to be their “Italian Hot Dish” includes oregano, own. The Dictionary of American mozzarella cheese and a jar of Ragu Regional English offers several Spaghetti Sauce; “Mexican Hot Dish” spellings and says the derivation is has hamburger, bacon, two cans of from the Canadian French word for tomato soup and two teaspoons of chili broth and soup (p. 340). America powder; “German Hot Dish” contains Cooks agrees and says, “hunters in the hamburger, onions, rice and Michigan woods practically live on a sauerkraut; “Polish Hot Dish” is made kind of hunter’s stew, variously called of chicken, celery, mushroom soup ‘Boulyaw’, ‘Bouyou’ or ‘Booyah.’ and, of course, one package of cooked Cut up whatever meat is available, Neighbors at a recent Beech Margaret/654 Block Club pot luck dinner line up Polish noodles. directions say, add water, either salt for, you guessed it, hot dish. Sorry, no booya today. Photo by Karin DuPaul Hot dishes have continued to change pork or bacon, onions and any as new food products and new vegetables, except the cabbage family. was traditionally made at the end of because of a new addition to youth technologies are introduced. Spam Cook all day, if possible, on the back the summer when the garden slang. Many of them now write or came onto the market in the 1930s and of the stove.” vegetables were bountiful.” shout “booya” which for them means- by the 1940s often appeared as a hot But there are other explanations. However, advertisements for the roughly translated- “in your face.” dish ingredient. Another important One of the strongest contenders are the New Prague Heritage Days speaks of The keyword booya now brings up kitchen landmark occurred in 1954 French-influenced Belgian Walloons traditional Czech foods, including hundreds of references, including one when “tater tots” were invented and of Wisconsin who claim booyah- potato dumplings with sauerkraut, and rock band. I contacted the booya.com soon appeared in hot dishes. Today spelled with an “h” on the end-belongs booya. They are backed up by a site and the Webmaster said it had you can find vegetarian mixtures, and to them. In fact, food historian Therese contributor to a 1958 Minnesota state nothing to do with food. He added that recently a publication even had a Allen relates that several different centennial cookbook, who said: “a top if there were a Minnesota food recipe for Tofu Potato Hot Dish made families told her that it was one of their favorite would be the booya or company that made it, he would be with garlic and two packages of soft- relatives who invented the dish. “Vomachka” as we Bohemians call it, willing to sell the domain name. pressed tofu. According to one story, a teacher in made from the gizzards of hearts and There is hope for those who hunger Today, hot dish has emerged as a a one room school suggested they have ducks.” for the taste of booya after the fall symbol of Minnesota. Books of hot a fund raising picnic in 1906, and “it I am convinced that there must be a events are over. I found booya recipes dishes and even hot dish mysteries was decided that a thick chicken soup connection between these various in several Minnesota cookbooks. The have been published. Garrison Keillor (known as chicken bouillon)... would booyas. The spellings are too similar Sokol Cookbook, a publication of a St. convinced people from all over the be offered for sale. He went to put an to be a coincidence. But I am not Paul Czech and Slovak group, has country to come to a hot dish supper. ad in a paper and supposedly was convinced that they got their name “Backyard Booya.” It contains soup As part of his inaugural festivities, asked how the word “bouillon” was from the French word for boil. I think bones, neck bones, stewing chickens Governor Jesse Ventura held a potluck spelled. Not knowing how to read that it more likely derives from and oxtails, with a mixture of lunch and asked supporters to bring a French, he spelled it as it sounded, b- bouillabaisse—a French stew of fish vegetables, including cabbage. hot dish. o-o-y-a-h, and that’s the way it has that was also popular in Belgium. A Kitchen Creations, a 1981 suburban Perhaps the last word should be been ever since.” less expensive version was made with Eagle’s Club cookbook, had two given to Howard Mohr, the author of Apparently there is some form of chicken— thus the Belgian “chicken recipes for booya. The first was said How to Talk Minnesotan. “You will booya in Canada and there are booyah.” The Belgians who came to to make 10 to 15 quarts; the second, sooner or later come face to face with references to a food, though not an Wisconsin probably interacted with with its 25 stewing hens, 20 pounds Minnesota’s most popular native food, event, called bouya among the Cajun Czech and Polish immigrants located of beef and at least 10 pounds of soup hotdish,” he says with his and Creole populations in Louisiana. in the same region. I have seen one bones, a cabbage and a rutabaga characteristic gentle humor. “It can The dish must be good, because I reference saying the Belgians learned would serve a hundred. Both of them grace any table....Hot dish is found an Internet ad for a Hawaiian polka from the Czechs and they, in followed the tradition of putting constructed on a base of canned cream restaurant named the Rusty Harpoon turn, discovered and adapted booya. pickling spices in a cloth or cloth bag of mushroom soup and canned offering “their famous Louisiana French immigrants moved into and lowering it into the kettle on a long vegetables. The other ingredients are Cajun-style bouya.” Canada—and then south to Michigan. string. as varied as the Minnesota landscape.” So how did booya get to this state? Immigrants came to Louisiana from Whatever its origin, booya is a Even within Minnesota there are Canada and France itself, possibly celebrated part of the state’s food Booya various ethnic groups claiming they accounting for the Creole and Cajun heritage. As one Minnesota folklorist On almost any fall weekend as you brought it. The 1938 WPA Guide to connections. puts it: “Booya stands in a class by drive around the Twin Cities, you can Minnesota, referring to St. Cloud, Do I have proof to back up common itself, distinguished not only by the see somewhat cryptic signs like says, “those of Polish descent in the sense? Not a lot yet, but let me offer food but also by certain traditions: the “Booya... Sunday ...Highland Park.” western part of the city, delight in two fragments. A 1916 St. Olaf way the basic recipe is handed down, Since there are many non-Minnesotans colorful church festivals at which they College cookbook had a page of what the secrecy of the vital seasonings, here, I should probably answer the feast on bouja (meat and vegetable they called “common French cooking methods of preparation and specialized question “what in the world is booya?” stew) of their ancestors.” terms.” Among them was “Bouille— gender and age roles.” before trying to explain how it became An Internet booya recipe explanation A stew.” Also, in 1940 the Baltimore But its importance may be best another part of our state’s food makes a further claim: “This dish came Sun attempted to figure out the origins shown in a September 2001 obituary heritage. from Poland and has been part of of booyah and they decided it was “a of a man who lived in the St. Cloud The word booya means both a thick Central Minnesota’s tradition since the corruption and shortening of the area. It read: “Othmar was a member stew and an event, sponsored as a depression when churches began French bouillabaisse.” Obviously, of St. Joseph’s Church... where he fundraiser by churches or other local serving it, partly to make a little money further research is needed. served for many years as an usher, was organizations. For a booya, people and partly to help feed people well and One side note: online research on a member on the cemetery board, and gather the day before to cut up huge cheaply.” booya has become very complicated helped prepare booya.” amounts of meat and vegetables that A Duluth cookbook disagrees, will be put into in one or more 60- telling its readers that: “This is a very gallon kettles. Men take shifts cooking rich, thick vegetable soup made on the Advertise in the Dayton’s Bluff District and stirring throughout the night. At a Iron Range for many years by Forum -- Call 651-772-2075 critical point, a bag of secret spices immigrants of Finnish background. It June 2004 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum Page 5 Little questions about big issues Increasing gas prices are Part II: Energy and the Economy wake-up call for Minnesota By Eugene Piccolo Product), foreign trade balances, the Energy - Is Clean Energy and a prime rate, bond yields, futures trading By State Representative Sheldon Johnson Municipal Owned Utility in Saint or quarterly earnings estimates of The news last week that gas prices are expected to rise and then stay at record Paul’s Future? corporations. levels over the summer should not come as a shock to anyone. After all, we’ve While the President and Congress For most folks, however, the been hearing for years that the days of cheap gas and, by extension, cheap energy, continue debating a National Energy economy is a little more tangible and are over and that our energy future is going to be more expensive. Policy ... for three years and counting real. It is about having a decent paying What’s troubling, however, is how little we’ve done to address this issue. For … folks at City Hall and in other job, paying the rent/mortgage and the years, energy experts have been warning us about the shrinking supplies of fossil quarters have begun a serious auto loan, being able to afford health, fuels and the need for alternative sources of energy. The problem is that their discussion about Saint Paul’s energy child care and gas, putting food on the warnings have fallen on deaf ears. Or maybe just indifferent ears. future. table and paying for all the things that Hopefully, this latest spike in fuel prices will change that. The root causes One of the events generating the have become “necessities” of life in aren’t going to go away. This time, the spike is being caused by a cutback in oil discussion is the June 2006 expiration American society and putting a little production from OPEC and a refinery fire in Texas. However, market of the franchise agreement between the aside for the future. In other words - manipulation isn’t going to disappear in the future because there’s not a lot we City of Saint Paul and Xcel Energy. it’s about having a decent standard of can do to prevent it, outside of reducing our demand for oil. And that’s not going The franchise agreement spells out the living. to happen until we find alternatives to oil and get serious about conservation. terms that Xcel is expected to meet for The recent report, WORKFORCE The good news is that we’re closer than we think to finding legitimate being the ‘sole provider’ of electric and FIRST, released by Growth & Justice, alternatives to foreign oil. Emerging technologies, many of which would utilize natural gas service to the residents and a think tank for Minnesota economic products and resources grown here in Minnesota, offer the potential to provide businesses in Saint Paul. policy that focuses on what works, not our state with most of our energy needs by the year 2020. These new technologies The expiration of the franchise political ideology, defines the most would also do it in way that would allow Minnesota’s economy to remain agreement and a recently important economic question facing competitive with the rest of the world. commissioned study by the City Minnesota as: However, if we’re to have any hope of reaching that goal, we need to act now. Council “to review and analyze the • How can the Minnesota economy The first step will be to develop an energy policy for the state that will emphasize City’s energy plan and activities” continue its enviable record of locally-derived and locally-developed energy sources to meet nearly all of provide the opportunity for questions superior growth, while Minnesota’s future energy needs, something we don’t have. The goal of the to be raised about the energy future of dramatically increasing the policy should be to generate 50 percent of Minnesota’s energy needs from sources the city. Questions like: number of Minnesota workers native to the state by 2010, and the vast majority of our energy needs from • Should Saint Paul create a who can support their families on Minnesota resources by 2020. municipal (citizen) owned electric their incomes? The hardest part of putting together a coherent and workable policy will be and/or natural gas utility rather The report states: “ Despite an marshaling the public will necessary to commit to it. That will take visionary than renegotiating a new enviable track record of outperforming leadership, something in short supply in this state. franchise agreement with Xcel the nation’s economy, Minnesota still I also think it would be in our state’s best interest to give priority to resources Energy? has too many workers in low-wage derived from agricultural production or those found in rural Minnesota, such as • What should be the sources of our jobs who cannot support their family alternative fuels like E-85 ethanol-gas and biodiesel made from soybean oil, energy for Saint Paul - clean and at a basic-needs level.” According to methane-from-waste, biomass fuels, and further development of solar and wind renewable energy like wind, solar, the report the best route to economic power. That’s key because the answers to our energy needs don’t lie in building bio-mass, etc. or traditional growth and decent standard of living more large coal- and nuclear-fired power plants. Rather, we need to focus on energy from coal and nuclear, is through more education and skills energy resources of our own etc.? training. It proposes that the state make Conservation also needs to be part of the solution; otherwise we’ll never get To learn more about clean energy a major commitment to raising the there. The first step in this area would be to free up more generating capacity by and the idea of a municipal owned number of Minnesotans with “ post- embarking on an aggressive energy conservation campaign. utility in Saint Paul contact: secondary degrees or market-driven Right now, Minnesota is at the end of the energy pipeline. As long as that is www.Clean-Energy-Now.org skills training” – an additional 250,000 the case, we will continue to be held hostage to energy supplies in the Persian people over the next 10 years.. Gulf, Texas oilfields, and the Alaskan North Slope. The Economy – Is a decent standard To learn more about how Minnesota However, if we begin today, we can put Minnesota on the right path to energy of living possible for all can make a decent standard of living independence so that future generations won’t have to lurch from energy crisis Minnesotans? possible for all Minnesotans while to energy crisis as we have been doing for the past 20 years. If you watch CNBC or listen to most achieving economic growth and economists and politicians you would economic justice contact: Growth & Feeling left out? Want to know what’s going on in the neigh- think the economy was: the Dow-Jones Justice at 612 872.1460 or at borhood? Join the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council average, the GDP (Gross Domestic www.growthandjustice.org Call 651-772-2075 New wave of Hmong refugees, Part II: More Hmong culture and etiquette

By Nachee Lee, Executive Director, skins fully clothed, having diapers on cousins, or even clan leaders in name. It is intended to signify the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council children, and keeping their children important decisions. Before making a maturity of the person. After the According to the Pioneer Press, inside the house or back yard most of decision, most Hmong elders like to naming, it is thought that the recipient Mayor Kelly announced that there time. They never experienced having receive a second opinion. This is will be blessed with good fortune. Most might be as many as 5,000 new Hmong playgrounds and parks in which because they do not want to be held Hmong men prefer to be called by their refugees coming to Minnesota children can play. solely accountable for what might turn adult name. It is common for Hmong beginning this summer. Anyone who Again, here are more tips about out to be a wrong decision men and women to have the same is new to the Hmong, or has forgotten Hmong etiquette. When dealing with a Hmong family, names. about their first experience with It is very common for Hmong confidentiality is considered to be a Before entering a Hmong home, Hmong refugees in the early 1980s, families to visit one another without very important issue. However, within always ask the person who opens the might be interested in learning a few setting up an appointment. Sometimes the family itself, confidentiality may door if visitors are allowed to enter the things about the culture of our soon- a family will just show up at the door not be thought of as all that important. house. Traditional family have a to-be new neighbors. without warning and expect a warm Family members share their shaman perform a ritual called, “Ua Many of the new Hmong families welcome. It is considered rude and experiences and quite often seek Neeb Caiv” or “Caiv”, where a woman will go through a period of cultural inappropriate to tell the visiting family support from one another. has just given birth to a newborn. This shock and homesickness. Some will that you do not have time for their visit. Most traditional Hmong elders, means visitors are not allowed to enter often wear light clothing, even in When it comes to most decision- especially men, do not want strangers the house or wear shoes and carry winter, which may appear unusual to making, it might take a Hmong person and/or women to touch their heads, or handbags when entering the house, in many Minnesotans, because they are a while to come up with a response to those of their children, due to their the case of a newborn, due to used to a hot and tropical climate where a particular situation. Usually the religious beliefs and personal values. traditional belief. their everyday clothing is shorts, t- father makes most of the decisions for Most traditional Hmong men take on Also, watch for a taboo sign set on shirts, and sandals. Many of them are the family. But sometimes the male an adult name after they are married a stick in front of the Hmong door. not used to constantly wearing tennis head of the immediate household may and have their first child. The adult shoes and boots, having children’s involve relatives, including uncles, name, “Npe Laus”, is added to the first HMONG, page 7 Page 6 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum June 2004 The House By Mary Petrie six have sufficed? Does our seven- Last year, our family took a deep, year old really need Hyped-Up Super frightened breath and bought The Power Sugar Man cereal? How about House—a rambling three-floor, ninety those hip new jeans for me? The year old entity, with a fabulous view. overflowing bags in front of me A big house has a big appetite and suddenly screamed: “We Are Eating we’re not talking dessert. No cream Up the Minutes Of Your Life.” or froth here: those front steps need Yes, they ate up the next ninety, as I replacing (cracked) and the pillars cleaned out the fridge to make room Cristy’s Bridal at 995 Arcade St. is next door neighbor to the Polish American must come down (rotting). Yes, we for the new and slogged through the Club, a longtime favorite location for East Side wedding receptions and other noticed the mold on the balcony and house, shoveling things in their slots celebrations. Photo by Sarah Ryan no, haven’t forgotten that one must and starting the laundry machine. paint trim every few years. Thus began my eight-week Add to the hungry house those extra consumer fast, during which I bought The Clothes Line -- mouths my husband and I created – only food and flowers and, most the real, eating kind. Two adults, three importantly, during which I took big June Weddings children, two dogs and the occasional long cleansing breaths and began to frog or fish call Mound Street home rethink my role as consumer—as main By Sarah Ryan now. We have school lunches to pack; purchaser for the hungry house and her I’ve never been to a wedding at nice weather.” Orders start in summer camp fees, art class tuition, seven creatures. which no one has cried, fainted, had February, Adriana explains, swimming lessons, and more. We are For eight weeks, I borrowed books fun at the reception, or taken because a customer plans on three what I most feared as a feminist in and made a list of items we might pictures. I did all of those things at fittings before her dress can be college: a typical, middle-class consider buying in May. For eight my sister Mary’s first wedding 17 finished. March is the busiest American family, with a mortgage and weeks, I was the steadfast “no” to any years ago this month. My older month. mini-van. request for toys, clothes, and books. The demands and distractions of For eight weeks, I passed on the sister and I wore pink bridesmaids’ Who are your customers? daily life make it easy to get sucked sidewalk shop bargains and drove right dresses with dropped waists and “Usually the bride comes in with her into the consumer vortex. Although I by garage sales. I bit my lip when my square-cut necklines. A friend of sister or mother. Sometimes people can’t say I’m liberated from favorite shoe store hung out a sign: my Mom’s made all of our dresses see our shop from the street and purchasing cycles, my eyes were 30% off. A decent paint sale at on her home sewing machine. Two stop in. Or customers are referred recently, finally opened to the Sherwin Williams meant we might be months later, Mary had her first to us by word of mouth.” psychological and political able to give my porch-turned-office the baby. This August she’s expecting What do you like best about complexities of my particular role as pale lilac I longed for. I passed. My twins. your work? “It’s not routine. consumer. husband, John, suggested that just I don’t know anyone who’s There’s always something My path to liberation began with a maybe we do the annual garage sale getting married this June, but it’s different.” The sewing machine near science-fiction moment, the day weekend when those well-heeled busy season at Cristy’s Bridal. I whirrs in the back room. “We all I suddenly experienced our house as a Summit Avenue folks sold their cast giant, living entity, sucking in goods offs. Maybe next year. recently picked up one of their fliers love what we do. And we love to and burping out garbage. That fateful A strange thing happened over those at the Rainbow grocery store. The see happy customers. It’s an March morning, I opened the front eight weeks. The children eventually leaflet advertises “tailoring y emotional time for them. They get door and out spit three children and embraced the challenge: there were alteraciones” for special occasions, excited when they see their dresses armloads of items: backpacks, a no requests for Burger King or Polly accessories, and gifts. on the third fitting.” basketful of toddler toys for the car Pocket dolls. Nobody missed the Bell-shaped gowns trimmed with When did you open this shop? ride to school, two sheets of netting weekly skirmishes over whether or not beaded brocade, bows, lace, and Cristy’s Bridal moved from Payne for a kid’s school project, worn clothes toys were included in that grocery store tiny fabric flowers fill Cristy’s Avenue to its present location on for the Goodwill, library books, run. I discovered that I already had storefront window. Beneath the Arcade near Case Avenue last pajamas to return to Target, a plenty of spring clothes and that little pink neon OPEN sign the December. They make wedding manuscript to copy at Kinkos, an essay Merrick fit nicely into his older dressmakers have arranged dresses, quinceaneras, prom to drop off with a friend, garbage to siblings’ hand-me-down jackets. My toss, bottles and paper for recycling. office functioned just fine in its calm children’s formalwear around a dresses, first communion and Five hours later, I returned and the shade of pale green, thank you. wedding bouquet of cream-colored baptismal clothes, and can provide house opened up to receive me – and My most striking realization was satin rose buds. The flower girl’s all the accessories. The coffee table six bags of groceries (of course, we’d somewhat sobering: loading up on dress has a little cape; the ring- is stacked with three-ring binders have to return to the store two days items was only half the battle and bearer’s tiny tuxedo has white satin full of photographs of models in later), 15 new library books, bags of issue. Indeed, while my personal lapels and a matching pleated formalwear. Customers can browse paper products and office supplies shopping stopped, spending did not. cummerbund. the displays for ring cushions, veils, from Target, the now dirty basket of During those eight weeks, I also wrote Adriana, her mother Cristina, and tiaras, cake toppers, wine bottle rejected toddler toys, garbage from the checks for childcare, registered and her grandmother, also named covers, stemware, invitations, and van (half chewed animal crackers and paid for select summer activities for Cristina, are Cristy’s Bridal at 995 more. their packaging), three adorable children, met membership dues for Arcade. I met Adriana and her Adriana’s grandmother sews dresses for our kindergartener given professional organizations, paid for to me by the friend who took the essay, gas, electricity, water and more, forked mother when I brought in some from her own patterns. The finished ten copies of the manuscript from over cash for an acupuncture jeans that were too long. After white dresses hang from the walls. Kinkos, and a must-have pair of Old treatment, donated money to the Adriana pinned my pant hem, she Customers may order materials Navy boot cut black jeans found at elementary school and Clouds in Water agreed to answer a few of my through the shop or supply their Goodwill while dropping off worn Zen Center, and bought presents for questions. Before Cristina left, her own patterns and fabric. Cristy’s clothing. birthdays, anniversaries, and daughter and I sat in the custom tailors every garment. On the front steps, I cast a furtive, weddings. comfortable couch and chair near Where do your customers guilty look at the surrounding houses. Clearly, I was not on a consumer the front of the shop. I asked them get married?“Mostly around here. The windows across the street glared fast. But I had stopped the thoughtless if they were busy this time of year. Some of our customers have their at me, accusing. What do the and unnecessary spending that was so The mother and daughter smiled at receptions at the hall next door. neighbors think, watching this daily easy to do—easy because what’s each other, then looked at me. “Yes. Sometimes they don’t even notice parade of objects? I closed the door, simpler than saying “yes” when a child only to face the mountain of materiality whines for candy? Easy because that’s This is a busy time of year,” Adriana it until they’re walking out our and the two hours it would take me to the way our culture runs: buy, buy, said. door. They look up and see the sign, simply put things in their place while buy. There are ads on athletic field Why are there so many June and end up having their reception keeping then-fourteen month old fences, billboards crowding the weddings? Either the answer is there.” I asked her the name of the Merrick alive at the same time. As skyline, spending temptations on the obvious or Adriana is as baffled as hall, because I hadn’t noticed it ei- for the items that would now demand back of the cereal box—even the I am. She smiles broadly. “I don’t ther. Again, she smiles broadly. my time and energy: did I really need know. It’s summertime. There’s “The Polish American Club.” ten copies of that manuscript or would HOUSE, page 7 June 2004 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum Page 7

HOUSE HMONG Suzanne Nielsen - a local writer (continued from page 6) (continued from page 5) organic politically correct and This sign usually looks like a cross with an East Side state of mind environmentally friendly juice- with some live green leaves, or sweetened cereal for which one dishes sometimes just a bunch of green By J. Wittenberg monthly column called “Cool Dead out those extra dollars. The public leaves. Usually, there is a white and Suzanne Nielsen is a writer of liter- People” - a collection of essays on folks school has a ‘school store’ and vending black woven octagon shaped basket ary fiction whose work is deeply rooted whom she feels more should have the machines. The Zen Center peddles made of bamboo or plastic with the in our own East Side of St. Paul. Of- privilege to know. This column can be calligraphy and pots after Sunday green leaves. When you see this sign, ten her work concerns stories of the read online for Double Dare Press at service. You can even purchase new do not knock or enter the house; just working poor. www.doubledarepress.com. Ms. teeth, hair, breasts, stomach and a simply leave. This means that no I recently had the pleasure to read Nielsen has taught creative writing at really young butt if you have a nice visitor may enter the house or disturb one of her latest endeavors, titled the Loft, both for adults and children. chunk of change in your pocket. the family; the house is protected from “Nora’s Needs”. Truly, I broke out She has studied chemical dependency During my stab at abstaining, I saw bad spirits. They are afraid that with laughter at much of her moving, counseling for a decade, and is a Met- how much I spent! But every time I inviting you in might invite bad spirits honest prose, of indelible, sometimes ropolitan State grad of ’95. Besides her paid a bill or supported a cause, I in as well. brutal imagery. tutoring, she is currently undertaking debated: was this where I wanted my Hmong, especially elders, often “We stabbed centipedes in her base- her doctorate in education at Hamline money to go? Who got the cash – the perceive police officers as bad news ment with a wire hanger that we undid University. small guy or big corporation? Was I and scary authority. When an officer and used like a whip. When Nora As to listing her primary source of living within my means or did the knocks on the door, they will often pierced the bugs in the center of their inspiration, she named George Single- credit card company Gnomes smile panic. Most of the time they will not bodies, they would arch their backs ton, and also mentioned notable every time they saw my name on their let the police officer enter their house. while moving their legs in a million Dayton’s Bluff authors Alison Mcghee mystical roster? Of course, this They would first like to consult with directions until they finally gave into and Susan Williams. newfound introspection and selectivity their relatives, especially a clan leader death,” Suzanne writes in Nora’s voice. Ms. Nielsen’s short story “8 Days” still meant: We Are Eating Up The or someone who has knowledge of the This talented writer deserves greater was published in a literary journal Minutes of Your Life. Instead of solid legal system. Most of all, they will recognition, I dare say. Sometimes her called ‘Splunkerflophouse.’ Further- stuff to assemble, store, and toss, I was hesitate to say anything or will not language is salty, but genuine, no doubt more, Suzanne has had her work ap- awash in less tangible endeavors: respond to any questions. They are due to her experience of our ever so pear in over 50 publications. Her large seeking the least expensive route to all afraid of giving wrong information gentle East Side. Her work is often array of creative work also includes ends, searching out locally owned especially if their English is limited. gritty, littered with broken down cars, poetry, which I hope she continues, and businesses to frequent, and debating Thanks to my readers for sharing shattered glass, windows blocked out may such efforts find more venues in the merits of each dollar spent against their insights and appreciation. by plywood, glitters of shards that which they can be shared. In an ex- later personal needs—and the greater “glowed like diamonds in the sunlight.” ample of her vivid verse she writes: social good. Whew. Chasing Merrick She writes of poverty and “white “Just east of the river/ a mom sorts as a hundred dollars worth of frozen trash,” the sort we’ve all known or seen through day old/ bakery with tattooed food melted on the kitchen counter America Votes one time or another. Suzanne writes of tears/ dripping down her cheek... hunt- suddenly seemed like a nice stress-free Over 600 people took to the streets a woman whose lips “flapped through ing for bargains with eyes that/ are way to spend an afternoon. on Saturday, May 8th for Minnesota’s her toothless growl,” and “foaming drowning in their own pools/ of dis- May has come and gone, and I’m Election Action Day, registering from the comers of her mouth,” and of content.” officially back to task – able to take voters, signing up volunteers and nightmares displaying a large “German This summer, Suzanne is planning part in the ritual of spring spending: canvassing door-to-door across the Shepherd, with the head of old Mrs. to work on her fiction: a novel-in-sto- seeds, flowers, fresh clothing, and state. Launching an unprecedented Nephling running after me, all her teeth ries. sales. Only this spring, I’m asking grassroots movement to increase voter in place.” When I asked her to characterize her why so many of our annual participation, Minnesota America Certainly, I could see parts of old St. writing, she said - “Place is prevalent, cornerstones involve shopping— Votes and its partner organizations Paul in her prose: in phrases such as as is the working class. The charac- school supplies in autumn, holiday joined together to begin a massive, six “grandma’s porch surrounded in pretty ters sort of take over. I write from that gifts in winter. Yes, I still have my month-long coordinated statewide lace,” in “communion dresses and perspective. It’s what I know.” In sum- packets of Morning Glories to plant voter registration and mobilization bingo,” of what may bring one to ming up, she remembered a quote from and I bought gloves because the rake effort. Heaven, and of stomachs “the size of her husband, who said in referring to gives me splinters. But we seemed America Votes had about 25 the Indian mounds at the park.” She her work: “You can take the girl out of to have lost the fast food habit and I canvassers who registered about 55 writes of Earl Street, and how can one the East Side, but you can’t get the East can report that my clothing costs (for new voters that day in Dayton’s Bluff. not think of this great thoroughfare as Side out of the girl.” all five people!) thus far have been Canvassers also worked in Payne- nostalgic, if not “edenesque.” Oh to If you are inclined toward literature, zero. I’m foraging through what we Phalen and the Greater East Side. take a drive down Earl, in all it’s splen- attend her reading of her latest work already own more thoroughly and Nationwide, they reached about dor! at the historic streetcar station at the thinking twice about what I feed this 10,000 volunteers. And overall, Suzanne is a writing tutor at Metro- corner of Lexington and Horton, but a house and my family. organizations involved with America politan State’s Writing Center, and has stone’s throw from Como Park, on If I’ve drawn any conclusion, it’s Votes have already registered more been writing for Whistling Shade, a June 26, from 2-5 p.m., at an event that being in the position to think than 250,000 new voters nationwide. literary press, where she tackles a associated with Double Dare Press. carefully about how one spends an May 8th was just the beginning. adequate income is, in itself, a central Dayton’s Bluff and East Side residents privilege. My own mother’s mental can expect to see canvassers quite a meanderings were much different—a bit between now and November. To get Leo’s Chow Mein single parent of three, she spent her involved, please call 651-645-1515 or time figuring out which necessity to visit www.minnesota.act4victory.org. We specialize in Chow Mein, do without and agonized over the slim “This coalition is nothing less than years when state money fed and housed extraordinary,” said Donald Fried Rice, her children. Even so, we were fed McFarland, State Director of Egg Foo Young and clothed and flourished. Although Minnesota America Votes. “I’ve never poor by American standards, my seen so many committed people childhood sparkled compared to most coming together to make a difference Dine In or Take Out others. In 2002, the World Summit so early in the Minnesota election on Sustainable Development reported season. Today is truly about Lunch Buffet that half the world’s population lives empowering people.” 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on less than two dollars a day. Held six months before Election Two dollars! Day, Election Action Day marks the $4.25 Those are the children who I’ll be kick-off of a national effort across 17 Hours 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. thinking about the next time I stand in states to register 250,000 new voters, line at Starbucks for my larger, two- contact one million voters about the 6 Days a Week dollar, skim milk caramel latte. coming elections, and recruit 10 million volunteer hours. In Minnesota, 1059 Hudson Road progressive organizations will knock (651) 771-0305 Register to Vote on over 700,000 doors statewide. Page 8 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum June 2004 CLUES building under construction on E. 7th St.

Chicanos Latinos Unidos En Servicio focal point at CLUES new site will be (CLUES) embarked on a new era of the Latino Learning Institute as a service when the agency held its reflection of our commitment to breaking ground ceremony at 3 p.m. on improving literacy and the educational Friday, May 7th for its new office attainment of Latino children and building located at 797 East Seventh adults. Street in Dayton’s Bluff. The BWBR Architects designed the new Honorable Carlos Sada, Consul two-story, 21,500 square foot building General of Mexico in Chicago, was the that will be located in the heart of St. special guest for this event. Paul’s growing Latino community. The new location will allow CLUES Krauss Anderson Construction to meet the needs of over 14,000 Latinos Company is slated to finish the project now living on the East Side while in late 2004. The project is being maintaining a presence on the West managed by Sterns & Associates, LLC. Side, the traditional home of Latinos in Since 1981, CLUES has been Minnesota. CLUES will keep its Elder providing linguistically appropriate and Services at Our Lady of Guadalupe culturally proficient services to Latinos Church, on the West Side. in Minnesota. In 2003, CLUES had Half of the building will house the over 18,500 client visits. In July 2003, CLUES administration and four of its CLUES received the Helen Trías five core programs: Mental Health, Rodríguez Award in recognition for Chemical Health, Education and being selected the National Health Care Employment. The rest of the space is Affiliate of the Year by the National being leased to a mix of commercial, Council of La Raza, this country’s retail and nonprofit organizations. The largest Latino advocate group.

Right: An architect’s drawing of the CLUES building as it will look when com- pleted. Top: Dignitaries gather for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new CLUES building on May 7. Bottom: Construction began a few days later with comple- tion scheduled for late this year. Photos by Karin DuPaul