Monitor

29/07/2025

By Chad Kulas, Midway Chamber of Commerce Executive Director - On June 22, 2015, I drove to the Spruce Tree Centre on a rainy Monday morning for my first day at the Midway Chamber of Commerce. It seems like most Chamber directors stay between three to seven years, so it feels a little surprising to celebrate my 10th anniversary.
I can think of several sayings about the passage of time, notably how 10 years have gone fast. But as I reflect on the past decade, so much has happened, and aspects of 2015 feel like a lifetime ago.
Occasionally someone will ask me to predict what the Midway will look like in five or 10 years. In order to consider the future, I look at the past and am reminded how the Midway’s history is always changing. Any snapshot of 10 years can show a dramatic difference, and these past 10 years have been no exception. Several new housing and mixed-use buildings have popped up, especially near station stops. When I started, our Ambassadors met at O’Gara’s; I think about that now when I go to Yum! Kitchen and Bakery.
But if I was to answer the question of what will change in the next 10 years, a few sites will be redeveloped. I think of the CVS and WestRock, as a couple examples of attractive sites that will get repurposed with both most likely to add many more jobs. Ten years from now, we will not only have Phase I of United Village complete, with a hotel, restaurants and office space, but we will probably have at least one more phase complete.
The past 10 years have been unforgettable for me. The Midway is a unique place filled with people who love it, and I’m lucky to be one of them. Here’s to many more memories and progress as we strive for a stronger Midway.
https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/heres-to-10-years-with-the-chamber,114728?

On June 22, 2015, I drove to the Spruce Tree Centre on a rainy Monday morning for my first day at the Midway Chamber of Commerce. It seems like most Chamber directors stay between three to seven …

27/07/2025

READ ABOUT... A summer of exchanges and remembrance - St. Paul celebrates its Japanese connections with August events. Teens say family court shouldn't force them to have relationship with dad. "There's a problem with the court and a problem with our dad," they say. Group worried over loss of daycares. Kickstarter launched for R.I.S.E. the playing card game. Chad Kulas celebrates 10 years with the Midway Chamber of Commerce. Ward 4 candidates share priorities, plans; special election Aug. 12. 'The Bubbles Man' leaves legacy of peace - Monitor columnist dies in his sleep July 1. AND MORE in the print edition or online.

Molly Coleman and Carolyn Will were endorsed on Monday, July 21, for the Ward 4 Special Election by the SP Historic Preservation Political Committee (SP HPPC).   The special election will be …

25/07/2025

By Dr. Artika Tyner, [email protected]

Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJ) is proud to unveil our newest educational innovation: RISE: The Playing Card Game. It is more than just a game. RISE is a powerful tool designed to spark exploration of Black history and culture while cultivating essential leadership skills. Centered around the theme “I Choose to R.I.S.E.,” it calls on individuals to step up and make a meaningful difference in their communities.
R.I.S.E. stands for Respect, Integrity, Self-awareness, and Engagement. These four core qualities define impactful leadership and form the foundation of strong, vibrant communities.
On the face of each card, there is a Black difference maker from a Supreme Court Justice to an innovative community organizer. Some of the prominent figures on the cards are: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson. Before her, a Black woman had never served on the Supreme Court of the United States. She forged her own path through hard work and determination. Then, B.B. King whose musical stylings were groundbreaking. He inspired a new generation of musicians on what music could be, rather than what it was. Playing with soul, he shaped the blues according to his own personality and influenced millions throughout his accomplished career. Also, Ella Baker, who organized for civil rights actions and protests for more than 50 years. She received little recognition, however, preferring to do her work behind the scenes, keeping the focus on change.
https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/i-choose-to-rise,114724?
More in the July print edition or online.

Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJ) is proud to unveil our newest educational innovation: RISE: The Playing Card Game. It is more than just a game. RISE is a powerful tool …

25/07/2025

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/a-summer-of-exchange-and-remembrance,114733?

More in the July print edition or online.

a personal account Eighty years ago in the summer of 1945, it would have been difficult to imagine celebrations of Japanese culture and heritage in the Como Park neighborhood of St. Paul. But …

24/07/2025

The Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) applauds the school board’s decision to ask local voters to increase school funding by approximately $37.2 million per year over the next 10 years.

"The levy referendum would provide Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) with much-needed revenue to stabilize district finances, retain and attract high-quality educators, and preserve essential programs that support student success," says SPFE. A recent SPPS survey shows community support, with nearly 75% of residents backing these three priorities.

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/educators-say-november-ballot-measure-critical-to-protecting-st-paul-public-schools-students,115132?

The Saint Paul Federation of Educators (SPFE) applauds the school board’s decision to ask local voters to increase school funding by approximately $37.2 million per year over the next 10 years. …

24/07/2025

Ramsey County trained me and other volunteers to mount heat and air quality sensor devices on our vehicles and drive planned routes throughout the county three times daily – morning, afternoon, and evening. Each drive took around an hour. A two-person team gathered data. We turned on the air conditioner, kept to the speed limit, and followed our route with acute attention to detail. The relaxing, leisurely drive around St. Paul bubbled with conversation and new sights, heretofore hidden in plain sight.
In total, the Twin Cities project covered approximately 400 square miles, enlisted 128 volunteers driving 34 routes, and involved 227,127 measurements.
Results arrived six months later and yielded unsurprising data to many of us in the environmental community: higher temps on average for developed urban areas (downtowns, for example); industrial areas transferred higher temps to nearby residential areas; and trees, green space, and lakes and waterways offered high temperature alleviation.
The study also produced maps that showed heat pockets (heat islands). More in the July print edition or online.

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/new-study-gets-urban-heat-islands-on-map,114725?

Happy Summer! I was born on July 4th, much to the chagrin of my younger sister. “Everybody celebrates Rennie’s birthday,” she said, dejectedly, beneath thick, swollen braids, …

24/07/2025

The St. Paul area is in a child care crisis, with five centers closing over the past year. Center operators, teachers and families are mobilizing to seek solutions, working with local elected officials.
Children’s Center Montessori, 1536 Minnehaha Ave., is one of the latest closures. School supplies and fixtures were sold in late June. The center had operated since 1971, providing child care and Montessori education for children up to age six.
Children’s Center Montessori was founded in 1971 by John and Elaine Rademacher. Gretchen Harkins, director and teacher, is John and Elaine’s daughter. She had been teaching full-time since 1991 and was director since 2002.
Many area families had more than one generation of children there.
The Midway center and Children’s Country Day School in Mendota Heights are the latest to close. Others that have already shut their doors are Sandcastle Early Learning Center in the West End, Hallie Q. Brown in Summit-University, and St. Catherine University’s Early Childhood Center in Highland. The centers that are closing or have closed have more than 150 years’ combined experience in serving children and families. Hallie Q. Brown’s early childhood program, believed to be one of the oldest in the state at 96 years, closed in January.
Some of the closings have happened suddenly, giving families limited time to find new options.
A group of more than 80 people gathered in June to discuss the child care crisis. More in the July print edition or online.

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/group-worried-over-loss-of-daycares,114734?

The St. Paul area is in a child care crisis, with five centers closing over the past year. Center operators, teachers and families are mobilizing to seek solutions, working with local elected …

23/07/2025

Teens say family court shouldn’t force them to have relationship with dad -
‘There’s a problem with the system, and a problem with our dad.’

Ethan* and Mason* have told professional after professional that they don’t want to see their dad.
And now, because they won’t go, the 16-year-old and 13-year-old might be put in an out-of-home treatment facility, a remedy typically reserved for delinquent juveniles.
The Special Master assigned to the family court case, Jennifer Joseph, is also considering blocking them from seeing or talking to their mom at all for 30-120 days, and reversing custody to their father.
Neither of the teenagers have had contact with the police outside of issues with their father. There have not been any allegations that they get into fights, abuse drugs or alcohol, or gotten into trouble. They play on sports teams and maintain their grades, yet they might be put into full-time treatment, a move advocates across the country have called out as extreme measures for custody cases.
Laws have been passed in Colorado (HB24-1350), Arizona (SB 1372), California (SB 331, Piqui’s Law), Tennessee (HB940 / SB 722), Utah (HB 272, Om’s Law), and New Hampshire (HB 306) prohibiting courts from ordering reunification treatments that are unregulated, coercive, or lacking in scientific support – particularly those that sever children from safe, bonded parents or ignore the behavior of abusive parents. A similar bill is making its way through the Texas legislature (HB 3783).

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/teens-say-family-court-shouldnt-force-them-to-have-relationship-with-dad,114061?

More in the July print edition or online.

Ethan* and Mason* have told professional after professional that they don’t want to see their dad. And now, because they won’t go, the 16-year-old and 13-year-old might be put in an …

23/07/2025

Banding together --
Minnesota Music Resistance provides new meaning to art and activism.
Members of Minnesota Music Resistance believe music can be used as activism. Founding members of the organization came together with a shared passion for music and a shared dream of seeing political change in their community. MMR was created shortly after the 2024 election as a way to connect people through music and to allow members to take a stand against authoritarianism.
MMR’s mission to fight authoritarianism hits home to founding member Claire Luger, who spent years in the Middle East as a practicing Muslim after graduating from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
“I’ve lived in a country where authoritarianism was a thing,” Luger said. “There was a king and it’s just a bad deal.”
More in the July print edition or online.
https://www.longfellownokomismessenger.com/stories/banding-together,115259?

Members of Minnesota Music Resistance believe music can be used as activism. Founding members of the organization came together with a shared passion for music and a shared dream of seeing political …

23/07/2025

Textile Center in Southeast Minneapolis is known far and wide as a hub of excellence for all things fiber, and has been for more than 30 years. As of Friday, May 30, 2025, it’s also a place where shoppers can find secondhand fiber supplies at reasonable prices.
The newly opened Stashery is a re-purposed Textile Center classroom that is well-named. Director of Operations Erin Husted said, “Most people involved in fiber arts have a stash of yarn, fabric, or whatever their passion happens to be. It’s easy to over-accumulate, especially if you’ve been working in a medium for years. But if you’re just getting started, or you’re on a budget, the costs of new fiber materials can be daunting.”
Husted’s introduction to the work of Textile Center was through their twice-yearly garage sale back in 2022. Members and supporters contribute materials for this event, which is hotly anticipated in the Twin Cities’ fiber community. She said, “We get phone calls weekly with people asking if they can donate secondhand materials, but we haven’t had a way, other than the garage sales, to sell them. With the opening of The Stashery, Textile Center will be able to offer affordable, secondhand fiber supplies year-round.

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/sustainable-second-hand-textiles-now-at-the-stashery,114726?

More in the July print edition or online.

Textile Center in Southeast Minneapolis is known far and wide as a hub of excellence for all things fiber, and has been for more than 30 years. As of Friday, May 30, 2025, it’s also a place …

23/07/2025

Why are you the best candidate for this position?
Chauntyll Allen: As a lifelong resident, youth advocate, school board member, and organizer, I’ve spent decades working on the front lines of public safety, education, housing, and economic justice. I don’t just talk about equity, I’ve built coalitions, pushed policy, and stood up in difficult moments to make real change. I’ve led through countless situations that required deep listening, accountability, and action. My campaign is powered by working people, not special interests. I will continue to center the voices of those most impacted by city policy and fight for systems that truly serve everyone. I’m running to continue serving my community and delivering results that improve people’s lives.

Carolyn Will: I have lived in Saint Paul for 33 years, in four different wards. I raised my family here, and I love Saint Paul. I bring a strong business mindset to this position. I own my boutique public relations agency, CW Marketing & Communications. Through my work, I have put together partnerships that have supported our local businesses and nonprofits. Last summer, I brought together the owners of the empty building at Grand Ave and Victoria (former Pottery Barn), the Saint Paul Chamber and Grand Avenue Business Association, to produce a gorgeous window gallery displaying 30 years of Circus Juventas costumes, to recognize their 30th Anniversary. 36 costumed mannequins and props brightened and energized an empty storefront block, once a focal point.

Molly Coleman: I’m a lifelong Saint Paulite, mom, legal nonprofit leader, and champion for economic justice and a democracy that works for all of us. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in public schools, government, and the nonprofit sector and have been both a union member and an employer. I’ve balanced budgets, and made hard decisions about how to prioritize competing needs when resources are tight. I’ve done policy work at the local, state, and national level, built coalitions, and proven my ability to communicate effectively about important issues. As a City Council Member, I would lead every day with a belief in the city of Saint Paul: our history, our present, and all we are capable of being.

More in the July print edition or online.

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/voters-guide-ward-4-council-member-candidates-election-on-aug-12,114730?

The Monitor partnered with the League of Women Voters, and we’re reprinting items from www.vote411.org. Here are the responses of the candidates who responded by our deadline. (Note: Molly …

23/07/2025

Melvin Giles aimed to bring peace to the world, and he set about doing that by planting gardens and over 50 peace poles in St. Paul.
The respected Frogtown and Rondo elder, age 66, died in his sleep on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at his Woodbury home.
“I think the biggest difference we all can make is just being who we are and kind of like letting our inner light shine. I try to live the four agreements of being truthful with my word; not taking things personal; not making assumptions and just doing the best I can,” he told a group of students from Open World Learning Community in St. Paul through a program entitled Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song organized by troubadour Larry Long of Minneapolis in 2014.
“Melvin was a living example of these words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world,’” said Long.
“Melvin conquered fear through prayer and blowing Peace Bubbles. ‘Bubbles, not bullets,’ he would say. Whenever there was tension in the room Melvin would stand up and blow bubbles. Immediately the stress would subside. Folks would start to laugh and begin to listen to each other, instead of fighting.”
His nephew Anura Si-Asar pointed out that Melvin started using bubbles to bridge a gap of distrust between the Black community and the St. Paul Police Department in the late 1990s by offering police officers bubbles for the domestic calls. “He thought that giving kids bubbles and even blowing bubbles when investigating domestic violence in residential settings would help children to decompress from the tension/stress and possibly create a healthier perception of police officers,” said Si-Asar.
“Melvin believed that peace was something we could grow, like a seed in the ground, if we nurtured it with care and intention,” observed his niece Angel Giles- Jordan. “Through the Peace Poles, he gave people a place to pause, reflect, and recommit to that vision.”

https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/melvin-giles/
More in the July print edition or online.