Park Bugle

With warm temperatures and sunny skies, St. Anthony Park basked in the glow of its Fourth of July parade. This year’s parade touted more than 50 units. “What a great day we had!” said Marie Lister, parade coordinator. “This was one of the longest parades we’ve had, and all of your costumes and dancing moves made it a parade to remember!”.

Whether you own an older home, a newer home, or something in between, understanding how your home uses energy can make a big difference in comfort, costs and long-term planning. This summer, the District 12 Community Council has launched a free online home energy course to help homeowners make informed decisions about energy improvements, comfort and home performance.

This July 4th marked the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Great Britain. And with that milestone came a notable, celebratory event in St. Anthony Park: The staging of the annual 4th in the Park parade. One of the Twin Cities’ last remaining July Fourth parades, this year’s larger-than-average march in SAP boasted more than 50 units during a sun-drenched day. “What a great day we had!” said Marie Lister, parade coordinator.

In partnership with the Capitol Region Watershed District, District 10 is coordinating new dates for Lake Como cleanups. The first one was held on July 21 and a second cleanup is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 19. District 10 provides volunteer t-shirts, trash-grabbers, rakes, buckets, nets, trash bags, and nitrile gloves for those who need them. Or, feel free to provide your own gear. Registration is not required, but it helps us plan and communicate if changes come up.

One person’s clutter is another person’s treasure. And this fall, neighbors across St. Anthony Park will once again turn driveways, garages and front yards into one of the community’s favorite annual traditions. The St. Anthony Park Community Garage Sale returns Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 19, with households throughout the neighborhood opening their yards to bargain hunters, collectors and curious neighbors.

Next-door neighbors Charlie Lawson and Mike Van Keulen could never have imagined that inviting a few friends to enjoy a barbecue and music in their adjoining backyards would grow into a communitybased metro-wide blues festival. But that’s exactly what happened. SAP Backyard Bluesfest #13 will be held on Friday, August 7 (6–10 p.m.), and Saturday, August 8 (11 a.m.–10 p.m.) at Dual Citizen Brewing, 725 Raymond Ave. in St. Paul. Admission is free and music enthusiasts of all ages are welcome.

Less than 15 years ago, Amanda Weber was one of 5,000 Minnesota 4-H kids displaying their projects in the 4-H building at the Minnesota State Fair. Today, the St. Anthony Park native oversees the ultimate 4-H project — a massive two-year, $35 million remodeling of the venerable building itself. Now known as Amanda Kieffer, she is a senior engineer for TKDA, a St. Paul-based engineering, architecture and planning firm.

Kristin Anderson, specialist in architectural history, will begin her fourth year of monthly St. Anthony Park history presentations at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept.15, at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church, 2323 Como Ave. The fall line-up begins with a look at the Old Muskego Church, located on the Luther Seminary campus, 2481 Como Ave. Always an interesting building with a fascinating history, Muskego is receiving a new focus as the fate of the seminary campus is being determined.

The St. Anthony Park Area Seniors (SAPAS) and the Saint Anthony Park Community Foundation both reported receiving generous bequests from Charlotte Clarke, a longtime St. Anthony Park resident who died in December 2024. In a news release, the two nonprofit groups said Clarke’s monetary gifts will assist the finances of each organization. Each organization said it is receiving about $1 million from Clarke’s trust estate.

Housing developments now under way in Falcon Heights, Lauderdale and St. Anthony Park require coordination with a political entity that doesn’t necessarily follow political boundaries: the watershed authorities. Current housing proposals at Fairway Commons in Falcon Heights (1644 W. Larpenteur Avenue) and on Luther Seminary land in Lauderdale and Saint Paul must follow guidance from the Capitol Region Watershed District to manage stormwater and promote water conservation.