Woke at the Playground

When asked, the grandparent I met at Thompson Park in West St. Paul said he was from the West 7th Area of St. Paul. There…
A Friendly Reminder to Take Care of Yourself

I don’t know about you, but 2025 came in hot, and somehow, it’s already almost over. We’ve made it through the State Fair (and all…
Origin Story, Part the Fifth: The Delusion of Downtown St. Paul

There is a misconception that the City of St. Paul grew out of a downtown district. Through the 1800s nothing could be further from the…
Make sure your treats do not haunt you this Halloween

By Yaroslav Owens-Pochinka, MD Zombies, skeletons and vampires rise once more. Homes transform into haunted graveyards, crawling with spiders and bats. Spooky season is officially…
Highland District Council October 2025

Recycling drop off assistance for seniors on October 4 Our volunteers are available on Saturday, October 4 to assist seniors who need help transporting unwanted…
A Day in the Life of the SPFD

The woman next to me brushed tears from her eyes, and stared gloomily ahead as we rushed toward United Hospital. We were in the back…
R.I.P. Carl Bentson 10-27-1974 to 12-18-2024

Sunday, August 3, 2025, 5:45 p.m. West 7th’s C.S.P.S. Hall was emptied out. Lights down, chairs and tables folded and put away. The band was…
Origin Story, Part the Fourth: Les Français arrivent avec les Ojibwés

In the 1500s eight thousand years of Dakota way of life and territorial integrity in Minnesota was challenged by European colonial powers. Following Christopher Columbus’…
The Air We Breathe

The kayaks sat on top of our car. Tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear, food and everything else one needs for four days in the Boundary…