Local Culture

Neighborhood NewsGreen Space & The RiverLocal Culture

Great Playgrounds and Great Communities

“What makes a great playground?” is not unlike the question, “what makes a great community?” Among the joys of being a grandparent is spending time at playgrounds that we once enjoyed with our own children. On this particular outing, the first place our almost two year old grandson headed was one of several slide options. He chose to go down head first, protected by winter gear that slowed him down substantially and a grandparent waiting with open arms at the bottom. After time on the slide it was onto the swings with choices for toddlers that provide the freedom of swinging without the risk of an injury for a child who hasn’t quite developed the skills of holding on tight. Next, it was over to a horse planted in the ground with a spring as its feet. Like with the swings and slides, the horse was surrounded by sand to cushion any fall. 

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Neighborhood NewsLocal Culture

Letter to the Editor: Thank you for the great work you are doing

I am writing to this fine community newspaper of ours to thank you for the great work you are doing to inform our corner of the city of the many and varied points of interest: places to go and enjoy activities, businesses offering services to aid people of all ages in a variety of needs, articles and columns for children and adolescents written by them, stories of people’s lives and especially writings that speak to the importance of creating a community of equality, of inclusion, of equal rights for everybody. I especially want to point out and thank Tim Johnson whose column on creating a non-racist society has been and continues to be so thoughtfully written, and done so without judging, without finger-pointing, usually starting with a personal story with which we could all identify and then elucidating on the theme to assist us in seeing the underlying message, the bigger picture, the lesson to be learned.

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Neighborhood NewsGreen Space & The RiverLocal Culture

Evidence for Giant Prehistoric Flood discovered in St. Paul

Highland Creek is among the more obscure streams in St. Paul, largely because it has been diverted underground by city engineers. But this stream has long harbored a secret—it was the scene of a giant prehistoric flood. Much of the evidence has been lying around in plain sight for years, but the dots have never been connected. Until now.

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Neighborhood NewsArts & CultureFeatureLocal CulturePublic Interest

“Rep who Raps” readies for album release, return to session

Better known to some by her stage name, Maria Isa, and by others as Representative Perez-Vega of House District 65B, Maria Isa Perez-Vega has a lot on her plate this February.

“The Rep who Raps” is more than living up to her nickname this year as she is releasing her latest album, “Unlock the Chamber,” on February 12, the same day that Minnesota’s legislative session kicks off in St. Paul.

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