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Deb Pleasants, Writer
Deb Pleasants worked as a probation officer for 15 years prior to becoming a stay-at-home-mom. In addition to caring for her son, she is a freelance writer and citizen journalist. She resides in St. Paul with her family.
Red Balloon: An independent bookstore for the child in all of us
It’s 10:15 on Tuesday morning. More than sixty moms, dads, grandparents and nannies have brought their infants to the Red Balloon Book Shop—one of the few remaining independent bookstores in Saint Paul. Adults and babies sit on the floor, eyes transfixed on storyteller Sara Walker as she energetically moves across the room, weaving stories, music and games together. Tuesday morning is story time for infants and the audience is mesmerized. MORE »
Archbishop Desmond Tutu applauds PeaceJammers
“Aren’t they just fantastic?”
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu may have been this weekend’s headliner; however, the real stars were the 350 teens, mentors and advisors attending the April 12-13 PeaceJam conference—the PeaceJammers. MORE »
Privatizing St. Paul Rec Centers
At first glance, Orchard Recreation Center looks like any other rec center in Saint Paul. However, when you approach the front doors you quickly notice the difference. Taped to the door, is a letter from the City of Saint Paul Division of Parks and Recreation that reads: MORE »
Plans for Central Corridor LRT make some business owners uneasy
“As a business owner and a property owner, I’m against it.” Kathy Stransky expressed her hostility over the proposed Central Corridor LRT slated to stop outside her front door. Stransky and her husband Tom together own Midway Used and Rare Books in Saint Paul. The store has sat on the corner of Snelling and University for the past 43 years—and the Stranskys have owned it for 27 of those years. MORE »
After 33 years, Women's Advocates Inc. is still a good neighbor
When Raeone Loscalzo became executive director of Women’s Advocates Inc., she followed in the footsteps of a handful of visionary women determined to put an end to domestic abuse. As the first battered women’s shelter in the nation, Women’s Advocates has always strived to empower women. “Our mission is eliminating violence in the lives of women and children,” says Loscalzo. MORE »
