The Angler
In this month’s “Angler,” we have the pleasure of recognizing some true heroes in our midst, people who have provided remarkable care and service to our community. –
Credit for the most dramatic act of heroism this past month goes to Marcy-Holmes resident and fire captain Jeremy Norton and his crew of firefighters from Fire Station 11 at 229 SE Sixth St., who fought a very serious fire at the home of Ted Tucker and Penny Petersen, 319 SE Fifth St., on July 17.
The fire began some time shortly after 2 p.m., and Norton said it looked as though it might have started on the back porch, where Tucker and Petersen had a grill. “It could have been any number of things,” said Norton. “It’s been so dry, it doesn’t take much to get a fire going.”
Norton said it was extremely lucky that the fire trucks were in the fire station, which is two blocks away, when the fire broke out, as they could have been out doing other work. “When we pulled up, the whole back porch was just rolling [in flames],” he said, adding that within another four minutes, the side of the house next door would have caught fire. Because of Norton’s quick thinking and his crew’s incredible efforts, the fire was out in about two hours, and most of the house was saved.
Norton and his family live just around the corner from the site of the fire. “I’ve always liked working near where I live,” he said. “There’s that sense of community service and a connection to things, which is nice. It’s great to be involved, helping out in my neighborhood.”
Ted and Penny, by the way, are doing well and did not cancel their plans just days later for a vacation in Iceland. They did, sadly, lose one of their cats in the fire, but their other three cats were found safe.
Read more about the fires and see Jesse Dhein’s photos at www.readthebridge.info/node/2064. –
Another hero we’re honoring this month is Prospect Park resident Darla Wexler, who just retired from her job as a visiting nurse with Southeast Seniors after more than 18 years.
Southeast Seniors is a community organization dedicated to providing services to people ages 65 and over so they can live safely and independently in their own homes. In addition to organizing volunteers who visit seniors to provide companionship and assistance, Southeast Seniors provides health seminars and visits from nurses and home health-care aides.
Wexler has been the primary nurse for Southeast Seniors almost since it began 19 years ago. She said that, on average, she usually had about 65 clients, who needed help with such things as getting nutrition advice, managing medications, treating chronic illnesses and receiving foot care.
Wexler said that one of the most rewarding parts of her job was helping people to be able to die at home, instead of in a nursing home. “We always feel like it’s been a major success if someone who wanted to die at home was able to do so,” she said.
Wexler, who has lived in Prospect Park for over 30 years, said it was a difficult decision to retire but that she’s looking forward to spending time with her three grandchildren and taking part in volunteer work, especially assignments that draw on her medical experience.
For more information on Southeast Seniors, check out their website at www.seseniorsmpls.org –
Longtime Southeast Minneapolis resident James Youngdale died June 18, at age 88. Youngdale was a teacher, author and peace activist who ran for Congress five times during the 1950s and 1960s, twice winning the DFL primary. He was a dedicated pacifist who campaigned for disarmament, economic justice for rural America, opposition to the Vietnam War and other progressive policies.
Born in Iowa and raised on a farm near Benson, Minn., Youngdale graduated from Carleton College and served in the Navy in World War II. After his military service, he returned to the farm and became involved in rural economic issues. After his final congressional campaign in the 1960s, he moved with his wife, Margaret, and two sons to Minneapolis, where he entered the Ph.D. program in American Studies at the University of Minnesota.
After graduating, Youngdale taught at several institutions, including the University of Minnesota, Mankato State, Augsburg and St. Thomas. He also wrote several books on the history of American populism.
Youngdale is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margaret, his son Eric, and son Mark and daughter-in-law Linda Hoppe, who live in the Como neighborhood with their three daughters. Services were held July 28 at the First Unitarian Society, 900 Mount Curve in South Minneapolis. –
Congratuations to a hero in our schools, Leo Bulger, who has been named the Minnesota School Social Worker of the Year for 2007. Bulger, who worked at Tuttle and Pratt schools, was nominated for his work on an anti-bullying program at Tuttle. Bulger will be moving with other Tuttle staff members to work at Pratt school this fall. –
Another local figure providing an important community service is pharmacist Tom Sengupta, owner of Schneider Drug Store, 3400 University Ave. In addition to providing important medical advice, Sengupta hosts a monthly salon for the neighborhood, providing an opportunity for people to share their thoughts about local issues. On June 20, National Public Radio reporter Michael May, son of Prospect Park residents Elaine and Lary May, featured Sengupta and his salons in a story he did for NPR’s “Day to Day” program. To hear the complete story, go to www.npr.org and search with the keywords “Tom Sengupta.” –
And finally, my friends in Prospect Park tell me they would like to make sure we wish a very happy birthday to longtime Southeast resident Roger Page, who turns 90 on Aug. 14. Happy birthday, Roger! –
If you have community news you’d like to share, please email Linda Lincoln at lmlincoln@comcast.net or call her at 612-379-4301.
last revised: August 15, 2007