December 2017        Smaller footprint. Stronger community.       TransitionASAP.org        District 12, St. Paul, Minnesota
In this issue:

Let's keep the North cold: story below.  Photo by Madeline Harpell 
 
 
Transition Tap at Urban Growler
nullTuesday, December 5, 7-9:00 pm 
2325 Endicott. 
Relax and float sustainability ideas with new friends. Look for the table with the "t" sign. 

The Arizona Desert in Bloom:
A photo tour with the Garden Club 
Tuesday, December 5
7:00 pm social,
7:30 pm program
St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 2136 Carter Ave.
 
Are you feeling tired of being chilly, or missing our spring blooms? Join Abby Marier and the garden club for a look at Arizona's beautiful winter blooms. Info.

Free webinar:
Exploring REconomy Ecosystems 
Thursday, December 7, 9:00-11:00 am 




As leaders of their own REconomy projects, Jay Tompt (left) and Nenad Maljkovic host an online workshop to explore how to mobilize local capital, support new kinds of  enterprise p rojects, and transform the entrepreneurial culture of
 our world. If you missed Jay's workshops at our national transition gathering last July, now's your chance to catch up. 
Join the interactive conversation.   
Free, but  requires registration . 
  
Let the Rivers Run Free! A benefit for Line 3 Water Protectors  
Friday, December 8, 9:00 pm - midnight
Dubliner Pub, 2162 University Ave W, St. Paul. Join like-minded folks to support those defending Anishinaabe lands and waters from Enbridge's pipeline projects in northern Minnesota. Music includes Langer's Ball, the Wooden Shoe Ramblers, the Bolt Weevils, and SisterTree. $10 suggested donation.  Info.

Phenology Walk workshop 
Saturday, December 9, noon-2:00
2500 County Road E.  
At Three Rivers Silverwood Park, help design a walk for observing signs of seasonal change. Learn about the U's Mobile Phenology Lab.
RSVP.

Harp music at the Finnish Bistro
Sunday, December 10, 11-1:00
The sparkling strings of Stephanie Classen.
 ___________________________________

Shop the CEZ for gifts with soul
Visit the Creative Enterprise Zone in the University-Raymond area. Gift ideas:

A paperweight made by you in a one-session glassblowing  class  ($60) at Vandalia Glassworks. Or shop for ornaments and other wonders: 550 Vandalia, suite 205.

A gift membership ($55) to the  St. Paul Tool Library,  755 Prior Avenue North, suite 9.

Local foods, cards, and handmade gifts at the  Hampden Park Co-op.  

Earth-friendly building toys from YOXO . Find kits for animals, vehicles, and robots... and parts for open-ended creative play.

Nostalgic finds from MidModMen ,  
 
At E&L Bindery, 708 Vandalia, find hardbound journals with marbled covers ($30-$50 range) and tiny $5 triangle books, ready for your ideas inside.

For foodies: a solar oven from Solavore.... or a restaurant gift card: Naughty Greek (brand new!), Foxy Falafel, Keys, Caffe Biaggio, Dubliner Pub (now with full menu)

For coffee lovers: True Stone Roasters, Work Horse Coffee Bar, or Dogwood Coffee (try the Roaster's Choice sampler).

For quaffers: a beer sampler from Bang Brewing, Black Stack, Lake Monster, and Urban Growler.


Or go playful with a CanCanWonderland gift card, a PuzzleWorks double date, or tickets to Celtic Junction or Gremlin Theatre.
Put your money where your values are
If you'd like to help grow a more local, sustainable economy, you have buddies to learn with. Eighteen people, mostly from St. Anthony Park, gathered in November to start exploring ideas for investing local rather than using Wall Street mechanisms like mutual funds and IRAs. All are welcome to the next meeting.
 
Local Economy Group: Second meeting
Monday, January 22, 6:30-8:30 pm 
Lori's Coffee House, 1441 Cleveland Avenue North, St. Paul

Led by Sherman Eagles and Pat Thompson, the group wants to develop options that fit people of various income levels, ages, and distances from retirement. So far, members are researching:
Some were drawn to this subject after learning about the Transition-related "REconomy" approach. (Learn more in a webinar December 7, at left.) For background, read Sherm's article " How can we keep our investments close to home?"   in last month's Park Bugle, or email him at seagles@softwarecpr.com.

Visit the Transition Town home page to download the "Local Investment Options" list, compiled as a starting point for this learn-as-we-go group. 
Emergency preparedness: It takes a village
by Mindy Keskinen 

In the Chicago heatwave in 1995... [people in some] communities with low
trust and high levels of crime were too frightened to open their windows
or doors, or leave their homes to go to local cooling centers, and-- since 
neighbors didn't check on neighbors-- hundreds died, whereas in... neighborhoods characterized by high levels of trust and active 
community life, the risk of death was much lower. 
--David Fleming, Lean Logic, 2016  

Imagine an extended heat wave, a flood, or a windstorm that knocks out power for days. We all know these risks are higher with climate change. Would we be ready, as a neighborhood and as individual households? If the danger grows, how would we decide whether to "shelter in place" or get out-and are we ready to help others who might need it? At a neighborhood meeting November 28, we heard from three experts on these subjects. Read more in our report in the January Park Bugle and on the Stay Safe website.



"Hero support" is part of Lucy Angelis' job as coordinator for St. Paul's emergency management department. In a disaster, emergency managers create order from the chaos caused by a tornado or windstorm, flood, fire, earthquake, or violence such as terrorism or an active shooter. As agency officials set priorities for responding, these managers translate the whats into hows, so the boots on the ground--the heroes--have the direction and the supplies they need. 

Remember Bilbo Baggins? Dave Crawford quoted the famous hobbit: "You can never have too many pocket handkerchiefs when you're going on an adventure." Crawford is a natural resources management consultant who also advises on disaster preparedness. So, in addition to handkerchiefs, what should we pack in a "bug-out" bag to grab if we're leaving home in a hurry? Crawford explained what to pack and why. (Better yet, pack two bags: one with supplies for core needs, one with less essential items. Both bags can also serve us well if we end up sheltering in place.) 

What skills could we personally bring to an emergency situation, and what could our neighbors bring? Planning and training on the local level is Kris Grangaard's specialty as a Community Emergency Response Team trainer for Falcon Heights. Learn about the nine-week program through Ramsey County: the next session runs Wednesday evenings, March 14-May 9, 2018. 

Thanks to our co-sponsor, the SAP Community Council, and to the SAP Community Foundation for financial support.

Mindy Keskinen is a book editor and co-editor of  the bimonthly  Transition Times ASAP.
Keep the North Cold 
by Madeline Harpell

Askov Finlayson is a trendy, locally-focused men's clothing store, and although it is not located in St. Anthony Park--or St. Paul for that matter--their work in climate change as a local business is inspiring.  In 2013 they released the  Keep the North Cold campaign.  It is a celebration of Minnesota not as the midwest but as the  North. We all know that life in the North is defined by the four seasons we experience. And our wardrobes, habits, and favorite traditions depend on what it's like outside, especially the cold, cold winters.

The folks at Askov Finlayson think one major way of celebrating our Northern identity is doing what we can to protect the environment from climate change. As a small, local business, they created the  North line to make their impact. For every item purchased, they donate to organizations that are leading the world in discovering solutions for climate change. One of their key partners is Climate Generation , an organization that gives young people amazing opportunities to gain climate change literacy and leadership through education programs and expeditions. 

Climate change is already making an impact on our Minnesota winters. We are all eyewitnesses--we can feel them getting warmer.  Keep the North Cold is an example of how anyone can take responsibility to help save and celebrate the North. It will take collective effort for such a grand celebration. As long as we keep  creative and work together, we can  Keep the North Cold for future generations. 


Madeline Harpell 
is an interdisciplinary artist, Transition Town intern, and University of Minnesota student majoring in design, communication, and cultural studies. 
Stay in touch! 
Join our mailing list: email us at Communications@TransitionASAP.org. 
Visit our Facebook page and group .   On Twitter, we're @transitionasap1. 
Submit news & views: email the editors,  Mindy Keskinen and Madeline Harpell.
Logo by Pat Thompson. Transition "t" and Bee by Regula Russelle. 
The Transition Town - All Saint Anthony Park initiative grew from the Energy Resilience Group, a subcommittee of the Saint Anthony Park Community Council's Environment Committee. Visit the SAPCC website to learn more about Saint Paul's District 12 neighborhood projects, including the Creative Enterprise Zone. Lend a hand!   Our purpose:  To raise our understanding in Saint Anthony Park of climate change, the limits of fossil fuels, and the adaptation of our community that is possible and positive.   What's a Transition Town?   It's a community starting the transition from a fossil-fueled, energy-intensive way of life to a more satisfying, locally oriented community with increased stability in disruptive times.