News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Thursday December 25th 2025
Home$ Sweet Home$? At What Co$t?
By Frank Erickson
I must admit I have a habit of searching out the Sunday Star Tribune “Homes” Section; it feeds my twisted joy to see the prisons in which certain people are locked from having to have such a perfect- state of the art-, huge, expensive home. What an excessively stressful burden this must be. And how come only white people have the featured homes in the Tribune”'s “Homes” Section.
The featured home on Sunday June 2nd features was the “weekend home” of a Hennepin County Judge and web designer. Now they will have two homes that will sit empty as they drive their cars on Twin Cities freeways. They are both in their 60”'s, their “weekend home” is a 1,800 square feet Frank Lloyd Wright-looking structure near Pepin, Wisconsin.
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Somalia”'s 53rd Year of Independence Celebration on Lake Street
Somalia”'s 53rd Year of Independence, July 1st, 2013, was celebrated by a mix of hundreds of people on Sunday June 30th recognizing the political and cultural significance while enjoying great weather on the closed-off portion of Lake Street between Blaisdell and Pleasant Avenues. Many BYI members took part and some were organizers of the event.Â
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Keep citizen journalism alive!
Skunk and Racoon
By Peter Molenaar
It is now forty years since I held title to 16 acres near Lake Milac. Many of us had chosen to go “back to the land”, in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. We all had our share of sublime moments, but survival became an issue for most of us.
Was it the full moon and stars which heightened awareness as he walked the dead end gravel road to “the farm” that night? Bloop, bloop, bloop, the sound echoed from the flooded culvert below. What the ”¦ the fight or flight response was intense but instantly suppressed as Skunk emerged and approached directly. The young achieved enlightenment while she sniffed his feet.
Many moons later, while sitting upon a beach in Powderhorn Park, he was visited by Racoon. The warm breath touched the calves of his legs lightly beneath. Serenity and wisdom prevailed. Yet two Native youth came forth to issue stern warning against such composure. Ironic?
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