February 27, 2024 Rebecca Noecker 2 min read Columns, District Perspectives, Rebecca Noecker, St. Paul City Council

Housing, Economic Growth and More – The Year Ahead for the St. Paul HRA

I’m honored to have been chosen by my colleagues to chair the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). The HRA is responsible for much of the work I believe is critical to building a fair and just community – creating more affordable housing and keeping our small businesses strong. To make sure people at all income levels can afford to live in St. Paul, we need many more affordable homes of many more types and sizes in all of our neighborhoods. To keep our neighborhoods strong, we need to support the small businesses that are at the heart of them.

February 27, 2024 Global Arts Plus 2 min read Global Arts Plus, St. Paul Public Schools

GAP Creative Writers ready to share their stories

This spring, GAP Creative Writing students will publish their work in each issue of the Community Reporter between March and June. Their work will range from long-form articles (starting with Tallulah’s stunning piece about “Seussical”) to bite-sized memoirs to poems and stories. We are so excited to share their stories with you.

February 27, 2024 Tim Johnson 3 min read Building Community, Columns

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.

February 27, 2024 Letter to the Editor 3 min read Building Community, Columns

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.

February 26, 2024 Community Reporter 1 min read

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.

February 26, 2024 Damian Goebel 0 min read

New movie filmed on West 7th

The Pioneer Press reported on January 22 that a new movie was being filmed at locations in Minnesota, including along West 7th. Crews were seen filming at Keenan’s Bar, among other places throughout the city, in January and February.

February 26, 2024 Damian Goebel 0 min read City of St. Paul, St. Paul Parks and Recreation

St. Paul Ice rink updates

To no one’s surprise, the City of St. Paul Department of Parks and Recreation has decided to end skating season early this year.

February 26, 2024 Damian Goebel 1 min read

Minnesota Yacht Club festival announces acts, ticket sales

The Minnesota Yacht Club festival, a two day music festival taking place at Harriet Island Regional Park, announced the acts slated to play at the inaugural festival on July 19-20. The first night will be headlined by Gwen Stefani and Alanis Morisette while night two will be capped with a performance from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Bands like The Black Crowes, The Offspring, Hippo Campus, Joan Jet, The Hold Steady, Soul Asylum and more will be featured in sets throughout the two days of the festival.

February 26, 2024 Damian Goebel 0 min read City of St. Paul, Ramsey County, St. Paul Public Schools

U.S. Department of Labor initiative to improve opportunities for St. Paul young people

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the second cohort of its Youth Systems Building Academy, an innovative effort to increase and enhance employment opportunities for youth. The 10 additional communities, including a program in St. Paul, and their partners will receive individualized training and tailored technical assistance from the department to help develop, test, implement or scale systems that engage and support young people entering the workforce.