Local author releases timely novel ‘Crosshairs on Castro’

John J. Harrigan hopes historical thriller helps readers understand decades of mistrust between Cuba and U.S.

by Tesha M. Christensen

As Cuba opens back up to Americans, a local author is hoping to help people understand what happened between the two countries five decades ago.

“With President Obama’s initiative in opening up to Cuba,  ‘Crosshairs on Castro’ is a timely book that I hope everyone will read,” remarked John J. Harrigan.

His recently published historical thriller, “Crosshairs on Castro,” weaves an assassination plot around the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

The book revolves around Army lieutenant Charlie Parnell, who is blackmailed into the scheme by CIA rogue agents. Masquerading as an Irish journalist, he enters Havana only to meet danger at every step. He must elude his Cuban watcher, the tantalizing Isabel Fernandez, who learns his true identity just as the crisis erupts. While she debates what to do, Castro prepares for invasion, throwing Havana into chaos and cutting off Charlie’s escape route. He and Isabel must scramble for their lives.

The book is available in either paperback ($12.95) or Kindle ($4.50) on Amazon.com. Locally, it can be purchased at the Underground Music Cafe at 1759 Hamline Ave.

“In 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis came within an eyelash of destroying the bulk of Western Civilization in a cascade of nuclear blasts,” observed Harrigan. “Throughout much of the 1960s and 1970s, the CIA devoted enormous energy trying to assassinate Fidel Castro. What I did was create a fictional assassination story and weave it around the real life historical drama of the Missile Crisis. Nobody has ever done this before.”

Harrigan added that these events of 1962 may have happened long ago, but they did a lot to shape the long half-century of distrust between the two societies.

“We can’t remove that distrust unless we understand why it happened. ‘Crosshairs on Castro’ uses historical fiction to address that issue,” stated Harrigan.

ADDICTED TO HISTORICAL FICTION

This is Harrigan’s third historical novel.

“I’m addicted to historical fiction,” admitted the Falcon Heights resident.

Harrigan earned a Ph.D. from Georgetown University. He spent 30 years at Hamline University where he taught political science, chaired the department, served as assistant dean of Liberal Arts, and authored several textbooks.

“When the chance for early retirement appeared, I grabbed it in order to learn the craft of writing historical thrillers,” said Harrigan.

His debut thriller, “Patron Saint of Desperate Situations,” was praised as “excellent” by the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2007.

“The Patron Saint of Desperate Situations” is built around the plane crash that killed iconic U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone. His second novel, “The Jeeptown Sock Hop” is an exploration of the homelife during the Korean War of the early 1950s, seen from the eyes of a white boy who falls for a black girl in a town deeply split by racial and class divisions.

“One thread links these stories,” remarked Harrigan. “I want to help people feel what it was like to live through these critical moments. Histories can tell us what happened in the past, but only novels and movies can get us to feel what it was like.”

EXPERIENCE ENHANCES NOVELS

Earlier in his career, Harrigan spent three years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as a U.S. Foreign Service cultural affairs officer. “I loved Brazil and would go back in a heartbeat if I had a good reason to go,” said Harrigan. He still speaks Portuguese fluently, has close Brazilian friends, reads the literature, and listens to the music. Harrigan also taught courses on Brazilian movies for Hamline’s senior OLLI program.

The heroine of his first novel is a Brazilian immigrant single mom living in Minnesota who is devastated by Wellstone’s death. A somewhat minor character in his second novel “Jeeptown Sock Hop” is a nun from Cape Verde with a Portuguese accent who has a huge impact on the novel’s 15-year-old protagonist.  The heroine of “Crosshairs on Castro” is a young Cuban mother.

“Without my experience in Latin America, I never could have created these characters,” noted Harrigan.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING NOVELISTS

Harrigan advises aspiring novelists to keep writing and submitting their pieces to appropriate venues.

But most of all, he encourages them to seek feedback.

“I’ve found an invaluable source of critiques in the Minneapolis Writers’ Guild,” said Harrigan. “Local authors can submit pieces to us. If we have openings and the work holds some promise, we will critique it.”

 In exchange, the authors also have to critique other peoples’ writings.

“It’s amazing how much one can learn in the process of critiquing somebody else,” remarked Harrigan. “Having a first rate group like this examine your work is infinitely more useful than paying several hundred dollars to some ‘expert’ to review it.”

He recommends using the Meetup website as a starting place for finding local critique groups.

“Whether it’s an epic poem or an article on a local sport’s team, you simply have to strive to write the most compelling piece that you can,” said Harrigan.

He is polishing off his next book, “Spiderwoman,” a thriller-caper built around a woman’s reaction to her soldier-son’s death in the Iraqi War.

Harrigan and his wife Sandy met while he lived along Hewitt in the Midway. They split their time between St. Paul and Bonita Springs, Fla., and work hard to remain a presence in the lives of their four adult sons and their children.

For more, browse www.harriganbooks.com or http://www.cubahopes.blogspot.com.

Transit for Livable Communities working to better Midway Como

For Executive Director Jessica Treat, definition of ‘transit’ is about movement

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
A trip to Europe planted a seed that grew into a planning career for Midway resident Jessica Treat.
Treat grew up in suburban Bloomington, MN and then attended college in Tempe, AZ, a place of massive urban sprawl. When she had the chance to travel to Europe, she saw how things could be different.
Photo left: When Treat bicycles with her six-year-old daughter from their home on Snelling to her sister’s house in Falcon Heights she heads all the way over to Lexington because she doesn’t feel safe biking on Snelling. (Photo submitted)
Back home, she enrolled in a planning class. “I learned that the environment we have around us is of our choosing,” Treat observed. “If you want to have a place that’s oriented towards cars that’s what you’ll get, but you don’t have to.”
She also learned it takes a community to agitate for change.
Treat brings those lessons to her position as the executive director of Transit for Livable Communities (TLC), 2356 University Ave. W. She was named to the position this past January.
“Transit for Livable Communities is very enthusiastic about this next chapter for our organization,” said board chair Adam Welle. “Jessica Treat is a smart, strategic leader and a passionate advocate for transit, bicycling, and walking in the region. Under her direction, Transit for Livable Communities will be well-positioned to advance our mission, grow our impact, and create positive change in Minnesota.”
Different level of vitality in the streets
Treat comes to Transit for Livable Communities from St. Paul Smart Trips where she had served as executive director since 2007. In addition to her eight-year tenure at St. Paul Smart Trips, she previously worked at the Midway Transportation Management Organization and served as the executive director of the Lexington-Hamline Community Council.
It was during her stint with the community council that she was propelled into the discussion about Twin Cities transit. Residents were debating what should be built at the southwest corner of Lexington and University. They wanted something that would work well with future transit. In the end, the Wilder Foundation building was constructed.
For Treat, the definition of “transit” is a broad one. While some think of transit as being about trains and buses, Treat defines it as “movement.”
She pointed out that big box stores are spread out and by their nature don’t lend themselves to tight-knit communities. But when you have bus stops and train stops that people are walking or biking to, they rub shoulders with strangers with whom they might not otherwise interact.
“There’s a difference,” Treat insisted. “There’s a different level of vitality in the street.”
Health and equity benefits
Treat is also passionate about transit because it offers her the ability to impact climate change directly. When she bikes, when she walks, when she rides the bus or the train, she’s able to limit her footprint and be kinder to the environment.
“The impact of personal transportation on the environment is important,” Treat stated.
Then there are the health benefits of transit that are important to her. “We live very sedentary lives in the United States and have significant problems with obesity and diabetes,” she pointed out. Transit offers a way for people to build physical activity into their day. “If you take the bus, you have to walk or bike a bit,” she said.
There’s also the equity side to transit. Owning and operating a car costs about $8,000 a year, which isn’t affordable for many, she observed. Transit gives people options to get to jobs and school.
Gaps in the Midway Como transit system
As a 12-year Midway homeowner, Treat has seen the big transit changes that came with the Green Line. She is looking forward to the start of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) A Line down Snelling in June. (Watch for article in next Monitor on the A Line.)
“It’s a significant change and the first in the region,” pointed out Treat.
But there are still some gaps in the system where things need to be buffed up. In particular, there are some bus lines that would benefit from greater frequency, especially at night and on the weekends.
Treat is paying attention to changes that will come with the proposed soccer stadium and hopes that it will include bicycling improvements.
There are also places where there are no sidewalks, such as in the industrial areas.
There’s a significant gap in one’s ability to get from the Midway to downtown Minneapolis via bicycle. The industrial areas and rail lines create real challenges there, according to Treat.
Snelling presents a barrier for those trying to cross it, despite the recent improvements of curb cuts and a wider median. The biggest problem is simply that vehicles don’t stop at crosswalks, she pointed out. That’s a city-wide issue.
When Treat bicycles with her six-year-old daughter from their home on Snelling to her sister’s house in Falcon Heights, she heads all the way over to Lexington because she doesn’t feel safe biking on Snelling.
And she gets nervous when she bikes along Pierce Butler or Energy Park Dr. because there aren’t designated bike lanes, and she can hear the cars close by.
Charles Ave., however, is a great roadway to bike on, and Treat would like to see more bicycle boulevards like it in the city. The roundabouts at intersections help slow cars down and allow bicyclists to avoid stopping.
“As a woman and a mom who rides, I’d like to see protected bike lanes,” Treat remarked, such as those in Minneapolis with some kind of barrier between cars and bikes. She’s not alone. TLC has heard from other women who feel the same way.
Lobbying efforts
Founded in 1996, Transit for Livable Communities is dedicated to transforming Minnesota’s transportation system to strengthen the community, improve health and opportunity for all people, foster a sound economy, and protect natural resources. TLC is the largest transportation advocacy organization in the state, with nearly 10,000 advocates and members, and a staff of 8 employees. TLC promotes a balanced transportation system that encourages transit, walking, bicycling, and thoughtful development.
TLC has been active this spring lobbying at the 2016 legislative session, pushing lawmakers for new investments in all modes of transportation in the Twin Cities, suburbs, and Greater Minnesota.
They’ve partnered with groups pushing for better streets and bridges. “I don’t like potholes anymore than a driver does,” Treat stated.
She added, “It’s an exciting time for the work we’re doing.”
Lutheran Social Services honored as transport leaders
Earlier this year, TLC recognized a number of organizations, including Lutheran Social Services (2485 Como Ave.), for their work as Transportation Leaders. Through a variety of ways, Lutheran Social Services is supporting transit, biking, and walking.
The benefits for companies are many, according to Treat. When employees are physically activity, they are healthier and more productive. Transit, biking and walking help people save money, as well.
Some companies certified as transportation leaders offer transit passes at discounted rates. Others make sure they have a place to store biking gear and have a shower available. Others make a point of stating on their websites how to get there via car, bike and transit.
Treat pointed out that millennials want to live in a place where they don’t necessarily have to own a car. “How you get around is part of the benefits package,” said Treat.
Learn more at www.tlcminnesota.org.

Article appeared in the May 2016 Monitor Saint Paul.

Local residents push Minneapolis Parks to ban use of pesticides

Russ Henry, Sean Connaughty, Ryan Seibold among those who support an organic park system in Minneapolis

(Photo above) Standish-Ericsson residents Sean Connaughty speaks to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board on Mar. 16, in favor banning Roundup. He was one of 40 people who attended the meeting in support of organic gardening. “I will maintain vigilance on behalf of Lake Hiawatha and continue to work to get an effective mitigation system for our storm sewers to stop the incredible trash problem,” said Connaughty, “and will observe behaviors on the land that affect the water and wildlife. I am reaching out to the Governor to see if the lake can be helped in our states efforts to clean up our waters.” (Photo submitted)

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

Local residents are pushing the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board to ban pesticide use on park land.

The group gained a small victory on Mar. 16 when the Park Board Operations Committee agreed to discontinue the use of herbicide treatments in neighborhood parks where glyphosate (or Roundup) is the active ingredient.

The full park board is expected to vote on the issue during their Apr. 6 regular board meeting.
Over 1,500 people have signed a petition calling for a pesticide ban, 800 plus via a Move-On online petition, and 700 in person at last year’s Monarch Festival.

More than 40 people attended the park board meeting in support of the ban, and 19 spoke for a transition to organic parks.

Park Board uses 150 chemicals
Leading the charge against pesticides is Longfellow resident and business owner Russ Henry.
 
Standish-Ericsson residents Sean Connaughty speaks to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board on Mar. 16, in favor banning Roundup. He was one of 40 people who attended the meeting in support of organic gardening. “I will maintain vigilance on behalf of Lake Hiawatha and continue to work to get an effective mitigation system for our storm sewers to stop the incredible trash problem,” said Connaughty, “and will observe behaviors on the land that affect the water and wildlife. I am reaching out to the Governor to see if the lake can be helped in our states efforts to clean up our waters.” (Photo submitted)

Henry owns a full-service organic gardening company named Giving Tree Gardens and is the chair of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council.

“Longfellow and Nokomis neighborhoods are filled with parks where the Minneapolis Park Board currently allows and encourages pesticide use,” said Henry. “Folks are often surprised to learn that the Park Board is using Roundup and a list of more than 150 dangerous chemical herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.”

Henry is pushing for a complete pesticide ban and believes it would go a long way to improving water quality in Minneapolis parks.

“Invertebrates like bees and butterflies, amphibians, fish, and small mammals all live at the water’s edge in our parks. In bodies of water near intense uses of pesticides, such as at Lake Hiawatha, no more frogs are singing in the spring, and the beach is closed much more then it’s open due to water quality concerns.

“If we were to switch to organic management of spaces it would go a long way toward healing damaged bodies of water and encouraging wildlife to thrive.”

Standish-Ericsson resident Sean Connaughty spoke for the lake during the Mar. 16 meeting. He talked about the struggles Lake Hiawatha is facing and symptoms of sickness he has observed, including the high phosphorous levels, toxic algae blooms, and disappearance of amphibians. Connaughty believes that one of the reasons driving this problem is that the land around the lake is occupied by a golf course that uses a whole array of chemicals, including Roundup, “to treat the turf surrounding this delicate and threatened ecosystem.”

Connaughty added, “The parks can lead the way to more sustainable land use practices that can serve as a model for the community and help restore the balance to our natural systems which need our help, and which we need to survive as a species.”

He is disappointed that this new ban is limited to neighborhood parks, and will not affect chemical use at golf courses, ball fields, or regional parks.

Friends of Lake Hiawatha founder Ryan Seibold also supports the switch to organic parks. “Parks should be safe and healthy for us all,” said the father of two young children.

“The soils beneath our feet should be increasing in ecological services,” Seibold said, “instead of degrading due to micro-organism die-off from broad spectrum pesticides. The frogs and ducks deserve cleaner water and land without chemicals. And, our children should be able to play and run in landscapes where there isn’t a posted sign that says ‘keep off’ because it’s too poisonous.”

What’s the harm in using Roundup?
Over the past seven years, there have been more than 2,400 uses of pesticides in the parks.

However, Henry pointed that the Park’s Pesticide Fertilizer manager report does not include all of the chemicals applied to golf courses, as the tracking is still being done by paper there and is not digital.
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world today. The U.S. is the largest consumer, using approximately 20% of the world’s Roundup, Monsanto’s flagship product. The latest reliable figures from the U.S. Geological Survey record 280 million pounds of Roundup were used in 2012, nearly a pound for every American.

Henry referred to a Global Research article showing that over the years a large body of independent research provides a sound scientific rationale to confirm that glyphosate is toxic and poses more serious health risks to animals and humans. Among the many diseases and disorders, non-industry studies identified Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism,  infertility, miscarriages, and neural tube and birth defects. It is a causal agent for a variety of cancers: brain, breast, prostate, lung and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other disorders include chronic kidney and liver diseases, diabetes, heart disease, hypothyroidism, chronic respiratory illness, and leaky gut syndrome.

Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Roundup is a probable human carcinogen. Increasingly, world-wide national health ministries are taking a hard second look at glyphosate’s health and environmental dangers, and efforts are underway to ban the herbicide. The Netherlands, Bermuda, and Sri Lanka have either banned or imposed strict limits on Roundup. France has banned its use in gardens. Brazil, Germany, and Argentina are considering legislative bans.
A review of existing data sponsored by Moms Across America found that out of 21 drinking water samples analyzed, 13 had glyphosate levels between 0.08 and 0.3 ug/L, well below the EPA’s limit, but significantly above the European Union’s limit of 0.1 ug/L.

“A few extremely powerful agricultural chemical companies have poured millions of dollars into research at major universities to convince policy makers that their products should be pronounced mostly safe, should be left relatively unregulated, and should be adopted as standard practice,” observed Henry.

“This has led to people adopting ecologically damaging aesthetic preferences at home such as the use of pesticides to enforce a mono-cropped grass lawn.

“This poisons the homeowner, kills the forage for bees and butterflies, and damages the soil making it easier for weeds to grow back.”

The Park Board is not convinced
Henry is proposing that the Park Board do its landscaping the old-fashioned way, by hand. “We’re already paying staff to be out there spraying; we might as well just have them mechanically removing the weeds with tools or by hand,” he said.

“To transition to organic,” Henry said,” we need to replace chemical fertilizers that encourage weeds with liquid compost extract that can be sprayed on to help encourage microbes in the soil which feed plants naturally.  A transition to organic throughout the parks system shouldn’t happen overnight, but it should begin immediately.”

District 5 Commissioner Steffanie Musich expects the board to discuss other aspects of the Minneapolis Parks Herbicide Use Report 2016 as part of its budget planning process this year. She is concerned about the “significant costs associated with the recommended changes to staffing levels to further reduce our use of pesticides that cannot be accommodated in this year’s budget.”
The board will also be exploring the use of goats to control invasive species at two sites within the regional park system.

“Along with my colleagues, I support the MPRB’s work to continue reducing the amount of pesticide used within the system by directing staff to follow our Integrated Pest Management Policy,” said Musich. “I am also happy to support our naturalists and friends groups working throughout the city in educating park visitors about ways they can reduce the use of chemicals on their properties, too.”

However, Henry is concerned that the current park board commissioners do not support organic parks, with the exception of Commissioners John Erwin and Brad Bourn, and points to the comments made at the March meeting.

“The more commissioners spoke, the more it was apparent that a transition to organic parks won’t happen unless we elect new commissioners,” said Henry.

“Commissioners Annie Young, Steffanie Musich, Anita Tabb, and Jon Olson all stated that they believe pesticides will always need to be used in Minneapolis Parks. Vice president of the park board Scott Vreeland went a step further to let folks know that he thinks the Minneapolis Park Board should never transition to organic management.”

Henry encourages people to contact commissioners to share their opinions.

“I will continue to engage with neighbors to bring the message of transition to the Minneapolis Park Board,” said Henry. “Many residents feel that it’s time to move away from pesticides in our entire park system, and I will work to lift up their voices till they ring in the commissioners ears.”

Discover your creative side at local youth summer camps

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

Imagine you are a zookeeper, junior sleuth or engineer. Get lost in a colossal cardboard maze. Learn how to make a Rube Goldberg machine, ice cream, fused glass, and Lego movie. Hone your soccer and German skills. Rollerski, canoe, and dance.

That’s just the start of the youth camp options available in the Twin Cities area. Browse below for more information on some of the camps offered locally.

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ARTICULTURE
A variety of art disciplines and mediums with themes like Claymation, theater, art car, or food as art offered for ages 4-18. Five-day, half- and full-day sessions available.
Cost: $117-270
612-729-5151
http://www.articulture.org
BALLARE TEATRO
Calling all lost boys (and girls!), it’s time to crow during the Neverland camp. Or, join characters from Eric Carle books, Disney Dance, Neverland, Monsters, Where the Wild Things Are, Dr. Suess, Superheros, and Star Wars, during these four-day camps for ages 3 to grade 1.
Cost: $120-130
http://www.ballareteatro.com/
CIRCUS JUVENTAS
Explore international circus arts at Circus Juventas. Five-day, full-day sessions offered for ages 6-18. Or make your own camp with Circus Sampler Days.
Cost: $395
651-699-8229
http://www.circusjuventas.org
FORT SNELLING
Be an adventurer like Davy Crockett. Explore like Huck Finn. Experience the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Be a soldier for a day. Or, try out what life as an archeologist is like. Camps range from one day to one week.
$60-$250
612-341-7555
http://www.mnhs.org/summercamps
MINNEHAHA ACADEMY
A variety of athletic, academic and enrichment programs are offered, including woodworking, Lego robotics, puddlestompers, geocaching, movie making, sailing, painting, rocket science, guitar, and more. Half- and full-day, one- to three-week weekday sessions. Camp Minnehaha, a full day camp for pre-k to grade 8, includes daily devotions, games, indoor and outdoor activities, daily swimming lessons and a weekly off-campus activity.
Cost: $36-500
612-728-7745, ext. 1
http://www.minnehahaacademy.net
YMCA
Explore the variety of Y Summer Programs at over 60 metro-area locations. Programs include flexible three-, four-, and five-day options. There’s something fun for everyone from preschool through grade nine.
Cost: $80-350
http://www.ymcatwincities.org/child_care_preschool/summer_programs/

IN THE TWIN CITIES
ADVENTURES IN CARDBOARD
Construct giant castles, get lost in colossal mazes, build suits of armor and more during these five-day, full-day sessions for ages 8-17. Eight weeks offered at five different parks.
Cost: $320
http://julianmcfaul.com/
612-532-6764
ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY
Unleashed summer campers entering grades 3-10 spend a full week immersed in animal learning and fun. Camp sessions are held in St. Paul and Golden Valley (as well as three other locations).
Cost: $300
http://www.animalhumanesociety.org/camps
763-489-2220
ALEXANDER RAMSEY HOUSE
Solve mysteries of the past in this three-day History Detective Camp for ages 11-13. Or, young ladies ages 9-12 can step back in time in a unique Finishing School for Young Ladies day camp.
Cost: $200-$220
612-341-7555
http://www.mnhs.org/summercamps
ART START
Got pre-school children ages 4-5 years? Register for “A Start with the Arts”. “Camp CREATE” is offered for youth ages 13 years and older. Select classes are taught by professional artists from multiple arts disciplines— music, creative movement/dance, and visual arts. As a result of participating in this 5-day immersion experience, youth gain artistic knowledge and skills, learn about the people, geography, and environment of a place and create art works and performances inspired by the culture. Week 1, Galapogos; Week 2, Cuba. Includes options in drawing/painting, mosaics, puppetry, construction arts, movement/dance, weaving, clay jewelry, music and mixed media.
Cost: $140-$270.
651-698-2787.
http://www.artstart.org/summer-immersion
BLACKHAWKS OF ST. PAUL
Blackhawks offer several exciting half- and full-day soccer camps for players ages 5-18 that encompass a wide variety of activities and skills. Specialty camps focus on specific skills such as ball control, shooting, and goalkeeping.
Cost: $75-175
651-894-3527
http://blackhawksoccer.org/
CAMP COMO
Spend some time Monkeying Around with your primate pals; discover your creative side with Adventures in Art; take an African Adventure right at Como; or, try on the hat of a zookeeper or gardener in Behind-the-Scenes! Como’s camps include “behind-the-scenes” experiences and meeting Como’s plant and animal ambassadors up-close! Five-day, half-day sessions. Extended care available. In partnership with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM), Como also offers summer camp opportunities for youth, ages 8-18, with autism.
Cost: $117-150
651-487-8272
http://www.tinyurl.com/p3u4lqv
CAMP SUNRISE
Camp and canoe while learning leadership and teamwork skills in a seven-day resident camp for youths age 13-18 who live within the city limits of Minneapolis or St. Paul. Held on the St. Croix River in Rush City and organized by YouthCARE.
Cost: free
612-338-1233
http://www.youthcaremn.org
CONCORDIA
LANGUAGE VILLAGES
Experience cultural and language immersion;15 languages to choose from. Resident camp for ages 6-18 and half-day programs offered.
Cost: $240-$4,400
1-800-222-4750
http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org
CREATE SOMETHING GREAT AT FRIENDS SCHOOL
From junior sleuths to budding lawyers to young artists, there are seven weeks of adventures and summer fun planned for ages 4-14 at the Friends School of Minnesota. Weekdays, half- and full-day.
Cost: $100 to $440
651-621-8941
http://www.fsmn.org
DODGE NATURE CENTER
Explore prairies, wetlands and woodland trails during full- and half-day, four-day camps offered for students entering 1-8 grades. Shorter sessions available for ages 3-6.
Cost: $42-255
651-455-4531
http://www.dodgenaturecenter.org/
FARM TO TABLE
Make butter, ice cream and bread while learning about science, agriculture, and history at the Bruentrup Heritage Farm in Maplewood. Plus, students will play old-time games like townball and do arts and crafts. Three four-day sessions offered in July and August.
Cost: $150
651-748-8645
http://tinyurl.com/bhf2016
FOCCI MN CENTER
FOR GLASS
From fusing to casting to glass blowing, ages 9-18 are introduced to the mesmerizing medium of glass through immersive half-day, five-day experiences.
Cost: $375-420
612-623-3624
http://tinyurl.com/foci2016
GERMAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CAMPS
Speak, hear, sing, and create in German while exploring subjects ranging from history and art to science and music during five-day, half-, full- and extended-day sessions for grades K-2 at the Germanic-American Institute.
Cost: $130-270
651-222-2979
http://gai-mn.org
GIBBS MUSEUM OF PIONEER AND DAKOTA LIFE CAMPS
Travel back in time and learn about life in the 1800s. Explore seasonal Dakota activities including the maple sugar camp, wild rice village, life in the tipi, hunting games, methods of travel, language and song during the Say It In Dakota Camp. Three-day, half-day camps. Two-hour day sessions for ages 6-13 only $19.
Cost: $99
651-646-8629
http://www.rchs.com
HAMLINE YOUNG WRITERS
High school students ages 15-18 can explore the craft, prepare for college, and connect with other young writers in the Twin Cities while working closely with Hamline Creative Writing faculty and published authors.
Cost: $400
651-523-2476
http://www.hamline.edu/gls/youngwriters/
JUGHEADS JUGGLING CAMP
Half-day, five-day sessions for beginners through experts ages 8-18 enhance hand-eye coordination, boost concentration, and build self-confidence.
Cost: $110
612-229-3348
http://jugheads.com
LEONARDO’S BASEMENT
Girls and boys ages 6 to 17 can design and build their creative ideas, mixing art, science and technology during partial-day, weekday camps. There are more than 88 classes available over ten weeks. New this summer: Star Wars week.
Cost: $185-370, scholarships available
612-824-4394
http://www.leonardosbasement.org
LOPPET ADVENTURE CAMPS
Roller ski, mountain bike, canoe and more during adventure camps for ages 9-13 at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Equipment provided during the full-day, five-day sessions.
Cost: $200
612-604-5330
http://loppet.org
MILL CITY MUSEUM
Play music, get creative, bake bread and construct books while exploring the rich culture of the Minneapolis riverfront district. Campers aged 9-11 will explore a new experience each day at four arts centers, including Mill City Museum, the Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Center for Book Arts and MacPhail Center for Music.
Cost: $225-$250
612-341-7555
http://www.mnhs.org/summercamps
MINNESOTA WALDORF SCHOOL
Experience good, old-fashioned summer fun at Minnesota Waldorf School summer camp. Outdoor games, natural crafts, water play, gardening, caring for the school’s chickens, and much more are offered on a beautiful 8-acre campus. For children ages 3.5 to 5th grade.
Cost: $150/wk (half day); $270/wk (full day).
651-487-6700 x202.
http://mnwaldorf.org/summercamp
SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA
Summer programs for youth ages 3 to 16 combine science, art, drama, and literature in ways that encourage kids to actively discover and examine concepts for themselves. Programs also offered at the Lee & Rose Warner Nature Center, the state’s oldest outdoor environmental education facility.
Cost: $60-345
651-221-4511, 651-433-2427
http://www.smm.org/classes
SPIRIT TAE KWON DO
Fun, exciting camps that combine physical fitness and education are offered throughout the summer for school-age kids. Register early for discounts.
651-428-6170, 651-428-6172
www.istkd.com
ST. PAUL ACADEMY
Make Rube Goldberg machines. Take a writing workshop entitled: “A Week at Hogwarts.” Learn about 3D printing and movie-making. Debate, play chess, take competitive math, debate, or learn how to be a better leader. Twelve options at SPA cover a broad range of academic, arts, and enrichment activities for grades 2-12. The Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth offers the ExplorSchool for students in grades 4-6.
Cost: $169-425
651-698-2451
http://www.spa.edu/about_spa/summer_programs_2015/
STEM CAMPS
Use LEGO bricks, gears and motors to construct and program robots, or produce their a LEGO movie using the latest Stop-Motion Animation software. Opt to learn to code or create your own video game. Math Addvantage offers five-day, half-day camps for grades 2-8.
$215
http://mathaddvantage.com
STEPPING STONE THEATER
Learn about devised theater, music, and other performance art forms during these one- to two-week, half- and full-day sessions for those pre-K to grade 12. A sliding scale scholarship program is available for all on-site summer camps.
Cost: $125-475
http://steppingstonetheatre.org
ST. PAUL BALLET
Summer at St. Paul Ballet is a time to do something new that you’ve always wanted to try. Programs include workshops and camps for ages 3-22. It’s a time to try out classical ballet, as well as other genres of dance such as flamenco, modern, and some surprises. Weekly and drop-in classes offered throughout the summer ($8.50 to $20).
Cost: $75-1,800
651-690-1588
www.spballet.org
ST. PAUL URBAN TENNIS
Located all over the St. Paul map, St. Paul Urban Tennis offers summer camp programs for all age groups. In addition to tennis lessons, they offer SPUT Sampler Camps ($45) which offer a condensed version in 4 days of their acclaimed summer program, with a high dose of tennis instruction for players just starting out with the sport.
Cost: wide range.
http://stpaulurbantennis.org/ 2011-summer-program.php
TEXTILE CENTER CAMPS
Sew, knit, felt, dye and more. Take home completed fiber items from three- and five-day, half-, full- and extended-day sessions for ages 6-18.
Cost $87-370
612-436-0464
http://textilecentermn.org/summer-camps
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list of every camp in the Twin Cities. If you would like to be included in next year’s guide, please send us detailed information on the camp.

This article appeared in the April edition of the Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Affordable townhomes planned at Riverview and E. 54th St.

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

Four buildings, with four units each, are included in the preliminary site plan for E. 54th St. and Riverview Rd. The two-story townhomes will be owned by the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, and will help young families transitioning from homelessness.

Sixteen affordable-housing townhome units will be built next year at E. 54th St. and Riverview Rd. in the Morris Park neighborhood.

According to Dean Carlson of Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), the units will be offered to young families that have recently been homeless.

The average age of the adults are 18 to 24, and the children are typically under age 5.

There are over 6,200 families on the MPHA wait list, with wait times ranging from three to seven years. In 2015, nearly 1,300 families sought refuge in a shelter in Hennepin County.

According to Dean Carlson of Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), the units will be offered to young families that have recently been homeless. The average age of the adults are 18 to 24, and the children are typically under age 5. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

The new townhomes will be built on land that is currently owned by the city of Minneapolis, land that was cleared of two-story single-family houses by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in preparation for widening Hiawatha Ave. years ago.

The development is adjacent to Riverview Senior Apartments.

Kat Vann served on the original task force that worked with Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative to construct the affordable senior housing building. At the time, the task force envisioned adding affordable housing for families next door, she recalled. Vann is delighted to see that happening now.
“It’s so inspiring to me,” Vann said.

Ward 12 Council member Andrew Johnson pointed out that a community garden is planned for the backyard of the townhome area. “I see it as a great way to bring the seniors together with the young families,” he remarked.

Two-story buildings won’t have basements
The plan for the townhome development was presented to neighborhood residents during a meeting at Morris Park Recreation Center on Tue., Mar. 22. The event was organized by the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association and Council Member Andrew Johnson.

About 30 residents gathered on Mar. 22, to learn about the affordable housing development the city is pursuing at E. 54th St. and Riverside. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

The city received four proposals for the site, and a review committee evaluated them according to how well they met development objectives. Among those on the committee were NENA Executive Director Becky Timm and Johnson’s Senior Policy Aide Suzanne Murphy.

Two of the proposals included large, multi-story buildings, something that neighborhood residents had said they didn’t want during a meeting held last September, pointed out Johnson.
The MHPA proposal also provides the green space and affordable housing residents said was important, he added.

The majority of units in the development will have two or three bedrooms, and one will have four bedrooms, pointed out architect Paul Mellblom of MSR Design. One will be handicapped accessible.
There will be a total of four four-unit buildings. The two-story-tall buildings will not have basements.
Each unit will have a front and back porch. In the back of the buildings there will be a play area, small shed, and community garden.

The townhomes will range from two to four-bedroom units. Public benefits include a community garden and play structure. (Illustration provided)

The plan is to keep as many trees on the site as possible and to plant shrubs to screen the back of the development from the Riverview Apartments. Rain gardens will be disbursed around the site to manage stormwater, said Mellbloom.

MPHA will handle outside maintenance and lawn care.
Small dogs will be allowed with a deposit.

Units will be inspected by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Residents will pay 30% of their income for rent, with a minimum of $75 a month.

Through the Stable Families Initiative, job training and education will be provided to residents to raise income and increase self-sufficiency, pointed out Mikkel Beckman, who is a shared Minneapolis and Hennepin County employee. Residents will also receive training on basic home maintenance, such as how to change a light bulb and whether something is best suited for the sink garbage disposal or the trash can.

Carlson pointed out that MHPA operates 6,000 public housing units, and works with neighborhood organizations both during the development process and once a unit is occupied. A property manager will handle any complaints from residents or neighbors.
“If there’s an issue, we’ll be there,” he said.

Too many cars on Riverside
There will not be any garages at the site. Instead, sixteen uncovered parking spots will be provided along the roadway that leads into the Riverview Apartment building, one for each unit.
Some attendees at the meeting expressed concern about the number of parking spots.

“I’m very concerned about the parking on Riverside,” said local resident Greg Lemay. “We want our neighborhood to be as safe as it was before. I don’t see that happening.”

Carlson responded that MPHA manages 750-scattered-site housing units, and on average there is less than one car per unit.

Council member Andrew Johnson added that $1,000 for a used car is a massive expense for a family that has recently been homeless. It’s the site’s proximity to the lightrail station at the VA that makes it beneficial for an affordable housing project.

Hiawatha Lane resident Ileen Johnson pointed out that while the residents may not have more than one car, their visitors will all be parking on the street.

Riverview Apartment resident Jean Haworth appreciates the “no parking” signs that were put up following the September meeting, and said that the parking situation has been better when people obey the signs.

Parking in the area is complicated by its proximity to Minnehaha Park, which is located a few blocks to the west.

Apr. 22 deadline for comments
Neighborhood residents have until Apr. 22 to submit comments to the city’s community planning and economic development (CPED) department. They can be funneled through NENA or council member Andrew Johnson’s office.

The city council is expected to award exclusive development rights to MPHA in late May, and finalize construction drawings in February 2017. Construction will be complete by July 2018, and units are expected to be fully occupied by August 2018.

Saint Paul STRONG pushes for more community engagement

Among other issues, group concerned about how Midway soccer stadium being handled

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Members of Saint Paul STRONG are tired of being invited to city government meetings after the decisions have already been made.
They’re working to do something about it.
“Saint Paul STRONG was formed because too many big decisions—like the one to provide permanent property tax relief to major league soccer or the new Comcast long-term contract—happened with virtually no public input,” said founder John Mannillo.
Photo left: Community members interested in seeing more transparency and community input attended the Saint Paul STRONG event in January 2016. (Photo courtesy of Saint Paul STRONG)
The community-led organization is dedicated to improving open and representative government in St. Paul by encouraging and supporting open and transparent public processes at city hall, engaging and empowering resident participation, and building a stronger, more inclusive St. Paul.
Photo right: Saint Paul STRONG members Linda Winsor of Save Our Neighborhoods and Somali-American activist Kassim Busuri participated in a Jan. 7 forum to discuss ways to create a more open process at City Hall that was sponsored by Saint Paul STRONG. (Photo courtesy of Saint Paul STRONG)
Launched in October 2015, the steering committee includes diverse community leaders, such as former City Council member and Ramsey County Commissioner Ruby Hunt, Roy Magnuson of the St. Paul Federations of Teachers’ executive board, disabilities activist Rick Cardenas, Hmong-American activist Pa Chua Vang, former state Representative Andy Dawkins, Somali-American activist Kassim Busuri, former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger, Linda Winsor of Save Our Neighborhoods, former City Council candidate Ed Davis, NAACP vice-president Yusef Mgeni, and former City Council candidate and American Indian activist David Glass, in addition to Mannillo, a downtown businessman.
Dawkins: more engagement
A member of former St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly’s cabinet, Dawkins said he worked hard to make sure his department was in regular touch with the community and was transparent.
Dawkins said, “The goal I have for Saint Paul STRONG is simple: More public engagement!”
Dawkins represented a part of the Midway area from 1987 to 2002 as the DFL state representative and is married to former State Senator Ellen Anderson. One of his sons is a freshman at Hamline, and the other is a junior at Central High School.
Dawkin’s always been a proponent of third parties and is the founder of Coalition of Third Party Organizers. He was the Green Party of Minnesota nominee for Minnesota Attorney General in the 2014 election.
Dawkins believes that St. Paul suffers from being a “one-party town.”
“I see the need for more transparency/accountability/citizen involvement in St. Paul city politics,” stated Dawkins. “Under our strong mayoral system too much city council work is just ratifying the mayor’s wishes.”
He pointed to the soccer stadium as an example.
“How many of us, as members of the public, knew the City Council took a vote to ask the Minnesota Legislature to give the billionaire owner of the for-profit soccer team tax exemptions?
How much money are we giving up by treating the land as owned by a non-profit? How many of us members of the public showed up at the mayor’s soccer stadium forums only to learn there was no time for public comment? When will we get a chance to learn if making the surrounding area a TIF (Tax Increment Finance) district will impact the city’s STAR program? How much will it cost us taxpayers to do the infrastructure investments owner McGuire has requested?”
Photo right: (L to R) St. Paul City Council members Dan Bostrom, Jane Prince, and Dai Thao, participated in a Jan. 7, 2016 forum to discuss ways to create a more open process at City Hall that was sponsored by Saint Paul STRONG. John Mannillo, at right, helped found the organization in order to increase the amount of public input on city decisions. (Photo courtesy of Saint Paul STRONG)
Ruby Hunt, a former St. Paul Council Member from 1972-1982, is also concerned about how the city has handled the Midway site for the soccer stadium.
“It was approved that day without any opportunity for citizen participation,” said Hunt.
The list of grievances on the Saint Paul STRONG website that affect the Midway-Como neighborhood include:
• The decision to offer permanent property tax forgiveness for soccer stadium, then supporting a Met Council proposal to prevent the public from any access to knowledge and negotiations of internal decisions.
• The Black Bear Crossings legal decision to award $800,000 to a private owner put out of business and the subsequent cover-up.
• Tax dollars committed to the construction of new bikeways without comprehensive public input.
• Community’s need to file a lawsuit to have three Saint Paul LRT stations built in minority/transit dependent areas of the Green Line.
Find more at http://www.saintpaulstrong.com/.
Hunt: checks and balances needed
A former Mac-Grove resident, Hunt currently lives at Episcopal Homes in the Como-Midway neighborhood. Her concerns don’t end with the soccer stadium.
“I am concerned about the way the Consent Agenda has been used over the last several years to pass items without any discussion unless a member requests that it be taken from the Consent Agenda for discussion,” remarked Hunt. “Rebecca Noecker made that request recently. It was a request for approval of a contract for outside legal services. However, as I understand it, this was for a contract that already had been awarded but which should have first been approved by the City Council.
“I hope this sends a message to the administration that they should follow the proper procedures,” Hunt said.
Another issue Hunt sees has to do with notifying district councils when city agencies are proposing development in their districts.
This early notification system has been in place since the establishment of the district councils some 40 years ago, Hunt pointed out. In the Grand Ave. parking meter issue, the district council didn’t hear about it until it was found to be an item in the Mayor Chris Coleman’s proposed budget.
“Having played a part in establishing a strong mayor-strong council form of government for St. Paul, I want to see the mayor and council each play their respective check and balance roles in governing the city,” said Hunt.
Mannillo: City Council abusing transparency and accountability
Mannillo believes that Saint Paul STRONG is needed because of the lack of open government on the municipal level. “As a one-party town, it has abused transparency and accountability, to benefit political goals and to the detriment to good public policy,” Mannillo said.
Saint Paul STRONG represents the entire city. It is non-partisan, and will not support specific candidates or specific issues.
“We support public process,” stressed Mannillo.
In October, the five incumbent City Council members and two new Council members were invited to endorse Saint Paul STRONG’s six principles of openness, accountability, and a more vibrant public process. All seven council members did so.
“We are optimistic with two new Council members working with like-minded incumbents, we will see attention paid to transparency and openness,” said Mannillo. “All the Council members have subscribed to our principles and will be held accountable for their decisions.”
Saint Paul STRONG is work­ing to expand its avenues of communication and plans to work with Community Councils, as well as offer input to the mayor and City Council. “This should be embraced by the city administration as a valuable tool to build consensus with the public,” noted Mannillo.
He said that Saint Paul STRONG will encourage the exploration of new election policy to increase voter turnout.
“We will make our city administration more visible. Our focus will continue to address public process,” Mannillo stated. “We will continue to shed light on the public process and related information that has not been available in the past.”

Article appeared in the March 2016 Monitor Saint Paul.

Seeds for Edmund Edible Alley germinating in Hamline Midway

NCFA’s alley garden will be a place neighborhood residents can forage for berries, plums and more

Article by TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Photos submitted
It may be cold outside, but the seeds for the Edible Edmund Alley are germinating.
The Edible Edmund Alley along Edmund near the intersection of University and Snelling will be a mini-forest garden.
Set in this high-traffic area of St. Paul, the garden will provide a source of free fruit to hundreds of food insecure people living in the neighborhood.
“The Edible Edmund Alley is the perfect synthesis of our garden and foraging programs. It will provide a resource that will demonstrate how to build and maintain a forest garden, teach how to identify and harvest wild foods, and grant free fruits to low-income people,” said North County Food Alliance (NCFA) foraging coordinator Maria Wesserle.
Founded in 2013, NCFA is a non-profit organization based in the Twin Cities that seeks to increase access to food and share food with people in need. Increasing access is accomplished through weekly foodshares, wild food foraging workshops, community gardening, and community meals.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables are vital to a healthy diet,” pointed out Wesserle.
“Unfortunately, a diet rich in fresh produce is more expensive than one high in processed foods, making it cost-prohibitive for many people. Fresh foods (which spoil easily) are also more difficult for food shelves and soup kitchens to carry.
“This is why North Country Food Alliance focuses on providing fresh produce to low-income communities.”
Berries and plums
NCFA has rescued tens of thousands of pounds of overstock food from farms, grocery stores, and distributors and donated it to people in need.
NCFA also builds gardens in urban areas in the Twin Cities. According to Wesserle, the produce from these gardens is donated to organizations that serve low-income people, such as homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food shelves. There are currently gardens in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Richfield.
“So far, these gardens have grown only annual vegetables – things like kale, tomatoes, and beets. However, since the start of the program we have been looking for plots that would be available for long-term projects so that we could grow perennials such as fruit trees,” said Wesserle.
In the winter of last year, a community member (who wishes to remain anonymous) approached NCFA about building a mini-forest garden on a piece of property owned by her and her husband. “After visiting the parcel and meeting with the community member, we at NCFA decided it would be a great project to invest in,” stated Wesserle.
NCFA began fundraising last fall and raised $850 for the project. The organization also hopes to receive a $400 grant from SeedMoney.
The newest garden will be located on 800-square-feet bordering an alley. Before planting commences this spring, unwanted trees such as Siberian elms need to be removed. Once that is complete, workers will amend the soil and plant seedlings.
“We plan on planting native fruit trees and shrubs such as juneberries, wild plums, and aronia berries,” said Wesserle.
Neighborhood benefits
This garden will serve the needs of the community in several ways.
NCFA will provide free educational opportunities for residents to get involved in the process of planting and maintaining fruit trees and perennials.
Donation-based foraging workshops will be offered that explain how to identify, harvest, and prepare wild foods.
The garden creates a location where passersby will be free to pick the edibles.
Plus, fruits will be donated to the Keystone Community Food Shelf based in the neighborhood.
“NCFA makes nearly all of its money from door-to-door canvassing. This is an effective way to let people know what’s happening in the area, and to recruit volunteers,” observed Wesserle. NCFA informs people about activities through social media, email lists, and flyers.
Benefits of foraging
Wesserle doesn’t know of any other foraging forests based in alleyways but pointed out there are several public edible forest gardens throughout the U.S., specifically one in Seattle, WA and one in Asheville, NC. There is also a permaculture plot at the Tiny Diner Farm in south Minneapolis that is privately run for the Tiny Diner restaurant.
What are the benefits of foraging in a city?
“The main benefit is accessibility. You don’t need to own a car or travel long distances to state forests or parks,” said Wesserle. “Most likely there are delicious edibles right outside your doorstep!”
Safety is a substantial concern of Wesserle’s when teaching foraging, be it in an urban or a wild environment.
“Ingesting the soil and dust of contaminated areas is the primary way people are exposed to dangerous chemicals,” she noted. “Reduce the risk of exposure by washing harvested foods, peeling roots, and peeling off the outer layers of leafy foods. Fruits tend to absorb fewer contaminants than leafy vegetables or root crops.”
NCFA typically holds six foraging workshops a year, one each month from May through October.
“The program has grown substantially in the past year, with registration overflowing and people being put on waiting lists,” said Wesserle. “From this, I would say there is a large interest in learning to forage.”
For more information, call 612.568.4585 or email info@northcountryfoodalliance.org.

Article appeared in the January 2016 Monitor Saint Paul.