Help wanted: Feeding the hungry in Twin Cities

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Neighborhood House started with people collecting groceries for Russian immigrants who came to America in 1897.  The immigrants came without food, shelter or jobs, in the midst of a worldwide depression.

Today, Neighborhood House is the largest single food shelf site in Ramsey County, distributing more 3000 pounds of food daily from the main location at 179 W. Robie in St. Paul and five satellite sites.

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Circus of the Heart celebrates adoptions

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“If families would take one extra child, all children in Minnesota would have a home,” said Toni Conner, a single foster parent of three teenage boys.  “We have issues right here in Minnesota that need to be taken care of.” Ms. Connor said the adoptive process is long and not inviting but rewarding.On Sunday, November 6, the Department of Human Services kicked off National Adoption Month by honoring parents who have adopted children and highlighting children who are still waiting.  Beth Voigt, communication manager of DHS, estimated that 800 to 1000 people attended the Circus of the Heart Event at the Prom Center Facility in Oakdale.As of September 1, 823 children are under state guardianship in Minnesota. Of those, 339 children are in need of immediate permanent families. Teens wait the longest to be adopted and make up one-third of the 339 children. Siblings (26 percent are siblings) also are hard to be place.A teen spokesperson for the event, Yves Spies, who was adopted 11 days short of his 18th birthday said, “It is very stressful for teens to go from home to home.  We need a home just as much as these little children here today.  I actually asked myself did I really want to be adopted.  Now I can look forward to coming home from college because I have a family to come home to. People take having a family for granted.”“We started this program 14 years ago,” said Minnesota Human Services commissioner, Lucinda Jesson. Continue Reading

“Keep the wild in your heart not in your homes”

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“What happened in Zanesville, Ohio was a tragedy!  That one particular day could have been avoided.,” said Tammy Theis, the director and founder of Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota. “Ohio does not have a law on possession and buying of wild animals.  Prior to the incident, the owner of that facility had been cited on animal abuses and neglect plus illegal possession of firearms.”In 2005 a law was passed in Minnesota, Minnesota Statute 346.155, which prohibits the ownership of exotic cats, bears, and primates.  “It is a good law,” said Theis.  “And it is only as good as it is enforced.  You can purchase animals with a click of a button on the Internet, but you cannot possess these animals.”“It was a fluke that lead me into providing a sanctuary for wildcats.” said Theis, “I had wanted to be a corporate executive in the advertising business after graduating from St. Thomas College.  One day I was next door to a photo shoot of baby tigers, when I began to see the abuses of these animals and I started advocating for better treatment of cats.  The more I advocated the more involved I became.  Not in my wildest dreams, did I think I would be leading an organization for wildcats.”Wildcat Sanctuary was established in 1999. The no-kill sanctuary provides life long care to 100 cats on 40 acres of land. They do not buy, breed, trade nor use the animals for commercials uses.  It is the only accredited wildcat sanctuary in the Midwest region, according to Theis.  They have four paid staff and 50 volunteers. Continue Reading

Eat Local Farm Tour on July 30

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Nine Twin City-area co-ops are sponsoring an Eat Local Farm Tour on Saturday, July 30. The tour will include eleven farms in a 100-mile radius of the Twin Cities.“Because our population is far removed from agriculture, we wanted people to meet the farmers and get to know the story behind their food,” said Kari Binning, market and media manager at Mississippi Market Co-op. The foods to be viewed are bison, turkey, beef, cheese and vegetables.“Our turkey farm was started in 1939 by our grandparents, Dale and Fern Peterson,” said John Peterson, turkey farmer from Ferndale Farm and Market in Cannon Falls, 30 miles south of Twin Cities. Peterson family at turkey farm. (Photo by Dave Ferguson)“Our turkeys are free range and in pastured grasses.”  Peterson said. He said their farm was not certified organic because of high food costs but that they do not use antibiotics or pesticides.  At the peak of their season in July, 80,000 turkeys are cared for on 140 acres of land.Nine co-ops are promoting local food from local farms.  They are Eastside, Lakewinds, Linden Hills, Mississippi Market, River Market, Seward, St. Continue Reading

Dar’s Double Scoop Ice Cream Shop: Proud of Rice Street

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UPDATED 7/13 – “We are the neighborhood,” said Kevin Barrett, owner of Dar’s Double Scoop Ice Cream Shop on Rice Street in St. Paul.  On a Saturday night, three police officers plus Latino, Hmong, white and black families filled the shop. Barrett has a large volume of people for businesses along Rice Street accommodating 200 to 400 customers a day.  “I don’t make the most money but I have the most people,” said Barrett.  “I get frustrated with the media writing bad stories about the Eastside.  It is just a handful of people who make trouble.  I know many good stories of struggling families.  I’ve had only one incident in my shop.  I am proud of this area.”Dar’s Shop opened July 28, 2005 after just three and half months of remodeling.  Friends helped come up with the 50s décor idea.  “When I am having a hard day, someone will come in and say we are so glad that you are here in the neighborhood,” said Barrett.“I knew I wanted a family business,” said Barrett.  “That crossed diverse neighbors and all barriers.”  Ice cream and the North End neighborhood was the answer for his concept of a new business. He said he went up and down Rice Street 50 times before deciding on the 1046 Rice Street location.The challenge of running a business has been that Rice Street is not a destination for most travelers and food supplies have gone up in price.  “My advice for someone wanting their own business is to have a reserve of money for unexpected expenses. There is an up and down to business,” said Barrett.  “I worked a fulltime job for three years to keep my ice cream shop going.  I didn’t have the heart to raise my prices but did after three years.”With the upcoming Rice Street Festival, July 27 to 31, Dar’s Ice Cream will sponsor the kickball tournament,the 4th annual car show, and the Hmong queen, Sheila Vang for the festival’s royalty coronation.  In the past, Barrett has sponsored boy scouts and badminton teams in the area.Of 34 to 36 flavors of ice cream, cake/ice cream and black walnut are the most popular.  The shop also serves pizza, with the German sauerkraut, sausage and onion being well liked.  “I use all of my sauerkraut between hot dogs and pizza,” said Barrett.  The complete menu includes Italian sandwiches and hot dogs.Dar’s Double Scoop hours are 11 to 9 everyday of the week.  Stop by 1046 Rice Street or call 651-487-4073 7/13 CORRECTION: Dar’s is in the North End neighborhood. Continue Reading

“Good Morning” from the Edge Coffeehouse in St. Paul

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“Good morning is my favorite thing to say,” said Patricia Y, owner of the Edge Coffeehouse on University Avenue.  “And now that I own my own business I get to say it often.” “My customers are loyal and local.  They live in the area,” said Patricia Y.  “They are artists, lots of nonprofit people, businesses, politicians, and activists.”She goes by YaYa, a nickname given to her after a long job interview in 2001.  “I was bored and kept saying ya-ya and at the end of interview they wanted to call me YaYa, said Patrica Y.  “The whole time I worked there, people never did know my real name.”The Edge Coffeehouse was started in February two years ago.  “The coffee shop has been owned by four or five different people,” said Ya Ya.  “At one time it was Susie’s, Prairie Star, and finally The Grind.”  Since 1987, YaYa has lived in Prospect Park and would frequent the coffeehouse. Later she started working at the coffee shop part time and then fulltime.  The previous owners wanted out of the business and YaYa bought it. YaYa wanted to serve more than a good cup of coffee.  The Edge provides breakfasts and lunches.  Sample soups are potato sausage, chicken tamale, and southwest nacho cheese. Sandwiches and a bakery are offered.  “I make fudge with a secret lethal ingredient,” said YaYa.  “Also people tell me that they dream about my egg salad and it so simple to make.”Recently, YaYa has been catering boxed breakfasts and lunches; as many as 50 to 75 have been ordered at a time. “What I like best is working for myself,” said YaYa.  “It is anti-establishment and anti-corporate rat race.” She laughingly says, “I refuse to work seven days a week.”The Edge Coffeehouse, 2399 University Avenue W, St. Paul is open Monday through Friday, 7-5 p.m.  Saturdays, 8-1 p.m. and Sundays 9-1 p.m. with live blue grass or old time music jams.  Call 651-641-1656. Continue Reading