As senior pastor of Vista Lutheran Church, the consolidated congregation of Prince of Peace Lutheran and Wooddale Lutheran, I’ve heard quite a few tales in regards to the influence of the massive stained-glass window of Christ on the former Prince of Peace constructing on Hwy. 7. Whether for devoted congregation members or these simply driving by, this piece of sacred artwork helped individuals mirror on their relationship with God and their neighbors.
Like many church buildings throughout the nation, the Prince of Peace constructing is being torn down in order that new life may rise. We are delighted that nonprofit equitable housing developer Commonbond Communities will use this website to construct 120 much-needed reasonably priced housing models and an reasonably priced baby care middle.
However, we have now not forgotten in regards to the sacred artwork of this constructing. We have included a number of the smaller stained-glass home windows into our consolidated sanctuary. And in response to neighborhood pleas, together with one on this paper (“The building can go, but save the stained-glass window,” Readers Write, June 13, 2021), we’ll delicately disassemble the massive stained-glass window and safely retailer it. We hope to go it alongside to a different congregation in order that it would proceed to enchant others for years to come back.
Before taking down the window, we’ll mild it one last time on the night of Sunday, April 24. We invite the neighborhood to affix us outdoors the previous Prince of Peace constructing (8115 Hwy. 7) for a reception at 7:30 p.m. and brief service and lighting ceremony at 8 p.m.
The Rev. Heidi Zimdars, St. Louis Park
GOVERNMENT SPENDING, SAVING
The April 5 on-line article “Rochester City Council OKs $2 million bid to fix downtown sidewalks” presents an ideal instance of what’s mistaken with authorities spending on this state. The article explains that the issue dates to the set up of the sidewalks, presumably by town of Rochester, in 1980 utilizing an insufficient grouting methodology. It then goes on to say that, of the $2.6 million price ticket for correcting this drawback, town should spend solely $50,000, with the steadiness coming from the state-funded Destination Medical Center (DMC) program. Incidentally, the Rochester Post Bulletin reported the price range as $2.95 million with $2.9 million earmarked from the DMC program. This is a neighborhood drawback, domestically brought on, whose resolution advantages town of Rochester and nobody else; why on earth ought to the taxpayers of Minnesota pony up almost $3 million to repair it?
A separate article on April 6 in regards to the extension of a freeze on pupil mortgage funds says that 43 million Americans owe a mixed $1.6 trillion in pupil debt, and there’s a robust motion to forgive this debt (“Biden set to extend freeze on student loan payments”). Not a shock when our political leaders give the instance they do: Don’t hassle attempting to determine easy methods to earn the cash to pay for what you need or want — that point is much extra productively spent determining easy methods to get another person to pay for it!
Timothy Coyle, Roseville
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Attention legislators and engaged residents: The $9 billion-plus surplus within the newest price range forecast is considerably of a mirage. The newest message from Lori Sturdevant is extra actuality than skepticism (“A skeptic’s view of the state surplus,” March 21).
That’s why it is smart to depart a minimum of $2 billion and even $3 billion on the underside line as unspent whenever you head home in May. There’s already sound coverage in place that requires a portion to enter price range reserves. But, there’s sufficient money to fulfill about half of the governor’s advice to return on to taxpayers as a result of that is one-time cash. There’s additionally sufficient money to supply some everlasting however modest revenue tax cuts by increasing the decrease tax brackets as a result of that helps all taxpayers, and perhaps there’s sufficient for a small discount within the top-tier bracket. But it is smart to train warning as a result of the Federal Reserve Board seems severe in breaking inflation by greater rates of interest.
Finally, I’m snug that the prevailing political local weather will divide different cash between the general public security and family-leave priorities.
And all is mostly effectively within the land of 89-year-olds.
Gene Lahammer, St. Louis Park
The author is a former Associated Press Capitol reporter and member of Star Tribune Editorial Board.
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I do not want a state tax break, and there are many different middle-income individuals like myself who do not both. There are numerous wealthy individuals who gather Social Security who don’t want a tax break on it. Social Security revenue is rather like some other revenue. It is the totality of 1’s revenue that needs to be thought of in determining an individual’s tax price, not the supply.
Likewise, I do not want a fuel tax break. Gas tax breaks will solely encourage extra driving, which is able to drive up demand, which additional drives up costs. Gas taxes assist create incentives for individuals to search out various technique of transportation, as many are doing already.
Sure, there are people who find themselves hurting from inflation, however these persons are probably not paying a lot in taxes anyway. If Republicans really wish to assist people who find themselves hurting, they need to goal reduction to these individuals. They pay lip service to wanting to assist the working class whereas the options they suggest assist themselves greater than they assist the needy.
Meanwhile, providers that assist all of us, equivalent to faculties, transit, public well being, reasonably priced housing, environmental safety, and so forth., endure due to insufficient funding. I’m joyful to pay taxes, as a result of my life is healthier as a result of providers that taxes pay for.
Lois Braun, Falcon Heights
SOLAR ENERGY
As I learn the commentary “Lessening the urban/rural solar divide” (Opinion Exchange, April 7) it introduced one other suggestion to thoughts.
My husband and I are proponents of doing what we will to lower our carbon footprint, together with driving a hybrid automobile and in 2018 putting in solar panels on the roof of our home. I imagine strongly in using extra sustainable energy sources, particularly solar. But as somebody who grew up on a dairy farm and appreciates the fantastic thing about the agricultural panorama, the location of solar farms saddens me. As famous within the earlier commentary, planting native vegetation underneath the panels is one resolution.
But I might recommend: Why not make the most of the roofs of the various giant buildings constructed on rural (and concrete) land as an alternative? The warehouses, distribution facilities and retail facilities might accommodate an enormous variety of panels. Plus they’d already be conveniently situated close to {the electrical} grid. Give companies the tax incentive to take action. It would deliver in additional solar-generated power and protect the fantastic thing about our rural landscapes.
Debra Avenido, St. Paul
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What a shock that within the resolution to lessening the city/rural solar divide, all of the solar arrays nonetheless find yourself in rural areas. The authors simply do not get it that rural individuals round city areas have completed their half in supplying solar fields. We have sufficient of them to take a look at. From the very starting, the principles had been written in order that the city areas did not must see them, the arrays might be put within the county subsequent to the place the power was wanted.
There continues to be time to do the precise factor. St. Paul has the Ford website and Minneapolis has the Upper Harbor Terminal website. Both websites are on the river. What might be higher for the river than to fill these websites with pollinator-friendly perennials underneath solar panels? You simply must be glad with the revenue you’ll be able to earn there by doing the precise factor.
Darcy Kroells, Green Isle, Minn.
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