Thoughtlessly green?

Sainted: Cub Foods for building its beautiful store on the East Side at Maryland and Clarence. The investment in this area of St. Paul, which has a large number of seniors and handicapped residents, is much needed.

Tainted: The city of St. Paul and the developer of the Cub Foods site who, apparently in the name of political correctness and the “green” agenda, mandated that 50 percent of the parking spaces normally reserved for seniors and the handicapped at the main entrance be reserved instead for high-mileage “efficient” cars, thus forcing those who really need the close-in spaces to struggle through the ice and snow.

Perhaps it would be better if those who made this decision would stop patting themselves on the back for having a “social conscience” and start having a physical presence in the lot to help those they have put in danger.

Lee Runyon, St. Paul

For a vet, workers were ‘full of grace’

SAINTED

On Feb. 13, five of us went out for brunch to Gulden’s Restaurant in Maplewood. One of us was Edward Haider, author of the book, “Blood in Our Boots,” and an active community speaker about World War II events surrounding his prisoner-of-war experiences, including the Thousand Mile March in Germany.

During his long imprisonment, a German guard asked the soldiers if they would like a rosary from Pope Pius XII. All the prisoners said yes. Ed carried that rosary in his pocket for 68 years — ever since the day he received it. It even broke a few years ago, but he had it encased in a small velvet pouch no bigger than a current-day silver dollar.

Around 8 p.m. Feb. 13, he noticed the rosary was missing from his pocket. Absolute despair set in. I called the restaurant and asked to speak to the owner, Mike, to ask him if he found this odd piece anywhere. He said, “To be honest, Bonnie, I did see it and I asked if anyone knew what it was or who it belonged to. No one knew, and it got tossed out. I’m really sorry. I will try to find it and call you back.”

Realizing the importance of the object to Ed, Mike called back and said he couldn’t find it, but that he would wear old clothes and dig through the trash in the morning before the garbage men came.

However, that evening, all Gulden’s employees joined in a search for the missing artifact. Lo and behold, they found it that night before everyone left.

I took Ed to Gulden’s the next morning to pick up the rosary. Ed tried to offer money to the staff as a reward. No one would take any.

The best thing I can do now is to tell the story of the restaurant workers who are “full of grace” and have the gratitude of an 89-year-old vet for their unselfish and caring attitude about something that can mean so little to most and so much to one person.

Bonnie Berger, Roseville

SAINTED

Although the St. Paul Winter Carnival has drawn to a close, the larger-than-life presence of the Vulcan Krewe will not soon be forgotten at World Cultures Magnet School in St. Paul.

Arriving in their trademark fire engine and dressed head to toe in full regalia, the entire Vulcan Krewe made a very memorable appearance to visit classes in honor of I Love to Read Month. I contacted these vivacious representatives from the Winter Carnival to visit our school and read to students to promote literacy, and their presence in two of our classrooms far exceeded even my greatest expectations.

Reciting a lively rendition of “Dinosaur vs. Bedtime,” the Vulcans stirred up an excitement about reading that many educators can only dream of witnessing. Even though their visit was several weeks ago, on Feb. 1, I am still completely humbled and amazed by the generosity and goodwill they showed in coming to our school to read, pass out coloring books and interact with students.

The Vulcans brought a lot more than just spirit to our school that day, and for that I am extremely grateful. Thank you, Vulcans!

Morgan Bray, Maplewood

The writer is volunteer coordinator at World Cultures Magnet School.

SAINTED

On Feb. 13, my husband and I ate at Joseph’s Restaurant on Wabasha Street before going to a 7:30 p.m. musical performance at the Ordway. At 7 p.m. the manager (Jonathon Miller) called a cab for us. After waiting 20 minutes, and no cab, Jonathon called a different cab company. Fifteen minutes passed; no cab. We never had trouble getting cabs from Joseph’s before.

Jonathon offered to take us there in his own car. He went the extra mile to get us to the Ordway. Thank you, Jonathon, you are a wonderful human being and have delicious food.

Dennis and Betty Schramm,

Inver Grove Heights

SAINTED

Sainted to the person who found my son’s cell phone in the parking lot of Cub Foods in Maplewood and turned it in. You could have had yourself a new phone, but you did the right thing, and you are appreciated. And sainted to the person at Cub who called my cell phone to report that you had it. I would have liked to thank you in person.

Gail McNertney, Hugo

SAINTED/TAINTED

I was a patron with my family at IHOP in Oakdale early on Feb. 12. Sainted are the hard-working employees, who were very busy.

They worked well and were very polite while members of a gymnastics team were out of control, screaming and yelling in the ladies restroom while patrons were trying to enjoy their meal. I couldn’t even leave the restaurant without them nearly running me over.

These young girls were old enough to know better. Tainted not only to the girls’ team, but also to the 10 adults supervising them who could not control them better.

Kelly McDonald, Oakdale

SAINTED

I wanted to give a big thanks for Mike and Tim at Carpets Plus Color Tile on Hudson Road in Woodbury.

On Feb. 12, while driving home on I-94 eastbound, my steering locked up, my engine began to overheat and my battery light went on. I safely got my car parked in the parking lot of Carpets Plus Color Tile, where I thought an auto body store was located, as well.

While waiting for my father-in-law to come pick up my wife, son and me, I stopped in the store. I mentioned I was having car troubles, and both offered to take a look. They helped diagnose and install the part after I went and bought it. When asked what I could get them, they said nothing, just to pay it forward. Thanks so much, Mike and Tim, for making my day a lot better.

Tim Bowman, Woodbury

SAINTED

On Super Bowl Sunday afternoon, I was driving in downtown St. Paul when my car battery died. Traffic was heavy because of the Winter Carnival and the opera, and I was blocking one lane of St. Peter Street for several minutes when Paul and two of his friends pulled alongside in a big pickup and offered to help.

They tied a rope to my car and towed me several blocks until we found an empty parking spot on the street. From there, I was able to walk to my workplace to look up the number of a towing company.

Thank you, Paul, for stopping. You made what could have been a huge nightmare into a relative inconvenience. I wish you and your friends all the best.

Nina Fan, Falcon Heights

SAINTED

I would like to saint the senior staff at the West Seventh Activity Center for the wonderful accomplishment of their first “Senior Prom.” Its theme was Valentine’s Day, and the whole gym was decorated in red and pink hearts and balloons. The Golden Tones orchestra of nine musicians, who also play every Wednesday for the senior dance, were superb, especially their rendition of “My Funny Valentine.” They were all dressed in dark coats for the “prom” and played flawlessly for more than two hours. The delicious chicken dinner was catered by Magnolias restaurant on Payne Avenue and was served by the staff and volunteers. The punch bowls never got empty, the coffee urn didn’t run dry and the cake for dessert was exceptional.

I couldn’t have asked for a better “prom.” I didn’t attend one during high school — it was during World War II days — but we have gone to six others in our “senior” days. This was a standout. Thank you again, staff.

Georgia Adkins, West St. Paul

SAINTED

I would like to thank Dr. Charles Mead, his wife, Audrey, and everyone at Mead EyeCare & EyeWear in Woodbury for their endless generosity and kindness. I volunteer at the Woodbury Health Care Center cleaning eyeglasses and doing minor repair work. Audrey not only gave me lessons in simple eyeglass repair, but the clinic donated all of my supplies — screwdrivers, cleaning cloths and solution, rubber bands and a variety of screws.

On more than one occasion, they’ve donated a frame if a resident’s frame has broken, and have taken care of any repairs I couldn’t handle. They do this all out of the kindness of their hearts. This all means so much to me, as well as the residents of the Care Center who can’t always get out to get their glasses fixed. Woodbury is lucky to have such a wonderful and selfless group of people. Mead EyeCare & EyeWear also accepts previously worn glasses and donates them to the Lions Club.

Karen Erickson, Woodbury

TAINTED

Because we are a “Capital” city, I am thinking this is the reason we get unsolicited credit card requests that come, it seems like daily, but maybe it is only every other day.

The height of audacity is that they then request that I “please recycle.”

I just wish they would not send these mailings to me and recycle these letters themselves.

Hugh O’Kane, St. Paul

Copyright 2011 Pioneer Press.