Bridgeland Angler, October 2008
The leaves are turning, the squirrels are scrambling and there’s plenty of interesting Bridgeland news to report. Here’s what’s new in our community:
Congratulations to two Prospect Park residents, David Mura and Elaine Tyler May, who are each celebrating newly published books. Mura, a writer, speaker, performer and teacher, is out with his first novel, Famous Suicides of the Japanese Empire, published by Coffee House Press. The novel tells the story of Ben Ohara, a third-generation Japanese-American, as he struggles to uncover and understand his family’s troubled past. For information about Mura’s other published works and his reading schedule, visit www.davidmura.com.
Tyler May, a professor of American studies and history at the University of Minnesota, is the co-editor, along with writer Patricia Hampl, of Tell Me True: Memoir, History, and Writing a Life, published by Borealis Press. The collection contains 14 essays by Hampl, May and others that explore the intersection of memory and history.
Congratulations to the many high school students in the Bridgeland area who were selected as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. Named from South High School were Maars V. Beltrand y Rudquist, Molly R. Hensley-Clancy, Patricia L. Mullaney-Loss, Margaret E. Nichols, Graham D. Smith, Laurel A. Starr and Linnea A. Yeazel. In addition, Patrick Henry student Lucia Carver from the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood was named, as was St. Paul Academy senior Joe Beck, from Seward.
The Minneapolis Rowing Club, whose boathouse is located at 2968 West River Parkway, is celebrating the success of two of its members: Matt Schnobrich and Martha Kuzzy.
Schnobrich, a St. Paul native and graduate of the University of Minnesota, competed on the U.S. eight-man rowing team at the Olympics in Beijing, winning the bronze medal. And in July, Kuzzy was a member of the eight-woman U.S. Juniors team, which won the gold medal at the 2008 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. The U.S. women’s team came from behind to defeat world champion Romania.
For more information about the Minneapolis Rowing Club, visit www.mplsrowing.org.
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Are you an alum of Sanford Middle School? If so, you’re invited to an all-class reunion on Friday, Oct. 24, 6–9 p.m. at the school, located at 3524 42nd Ave. S. Organizer Vicki Jones said the evening will give folks a chance to visit with old friends, share stories and learn about the current student body. There will also be musical entertainment, food, memorabilia and more. To help out, get in touch with Vicki Jones at 612-668-4914 or email liaison0102@yahoo.com.
On Sept. 28, the folks at Prospect Park United Methodist Church, 22 Orlin Ave. SE, held a celebration dinner to honor Tom Sengupta, pharmacist and owner of Schneider Drugstore, 3400 University Ave. SE, for his many contributions to the community. In addition to taking care of residents’ health care needs, Sengupta hosts monthly town hall forums where candidates and community members can discuss their concerns and issues, as well as seasonal sing-alongs.
Proceeds from the dinner were donated to the Southeast Seniors Block Nurse Program, the charity selected by Sengupta.
In other church news, First Congregational Church is holding its popular fall rummage, treasure and bake sale on Saturday, Oct. 11, 9–4 p.m. The church will be full of clothes, furniture, housewares, books and antiques, as well as excellent baked goods and homemade soups.
This month, we remember two people who passed away recently. The first is Charles Backstrom, a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota who lived for many years on Arthur Avenue Southeast in Prospect Park. Backstrom died on Sept. 4 at age 81 of complications related to Parkinson’s disease.
Backstrom was a pioneer in the science of political polling, and his research led to the use of instant polling on election days. In addition to teaching at the university for 35 years, Backstrom worked for Rep. Don Fraser, Sen. Hubert Humphrey and President Jimmy Carter.
The second person we’d like to remember is Clete McGovern, longtime director of the band at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Dinkytown. McGovern died Aug. 21 at age 85.
The Bridge received a letter titled “Thoughts from the Clarinet Section upon the Passing of Clete McGovern.” The author wrote:
“For generations of Southeast and lower Northeast kids, the St. Lawrence Band was a glittering attraction … comprised of kids of many faiths from both the area’s public and Catholic schools.” The band, the author continued, would march for several hours each Tuesday night, followed by “kids on bikes or on foot, and neighbors with baby strollers and dogs.” The band also marched each year in the Aquatennial parade and in many small-town parades throughout the state.
The author called McGovern “the pied-piper of this great and wonderful band. Everyone who ever wore the uniform of the St. Lawrence band will pause upon hearing of the passing of Clete McGovern, and then smile at the warm memories of those simple days when we were young.”
The fall session of Pratt Community Education classes begins the week of Oct. 6. Classes include fitness, dance, writing, languages, current affairs, home improvement and more. Those interested may register by phone, mail, online or at Pratt, 66 Malcolm Ave SE. For a full list of classes or more information, visit www.mplscommunityed.com or call 612-668-1100.
Do you have community news you’d like to share? Contact Linda Lincoln at lmlincoln@comcast. net or at 612-379-4301.
last revised: September 30, 2008