Community Corner

Neighbors Eat, Unite and Dodge the Weather

Gatherings at Mendota Elementary and Marie Park drew dozens of residents from surrounding neighborhoods.

It was short but sweet.

About a dozen groups held Night to Unite events Tuesday night in Mendota Heights. Wind and rain, however, ended any gatherings that were still going on at about 7:30 p.m.

Sue Doffing and Ina Pfefer organized a 6 p.m. gathering at Mendota Elementary School. Principal Steve Goldade let them use a microphone, tables and the building, in case of rain.

Doffing said last year she and Pfefer wanted to put a Night to Unite event together, "but the date came and went.

"This year we said, 'We're doing it. Rain or shine.'"

Yes, the rain came. But more on that later.

Mendota Heights firefighters John Mendez, Gordy Skjerven, Ron Katzenmaier and Capt. Scott Goldenstein stopped by with a fire truck to talk to the residents at the school.

Some people—including Mel and Ceil Schommer and Laura Kahnke Moor—mingled near a table of entrees and desserts, including Pfefer's chocolate chip cookies. 

The Schommers have lived near Mendota Elementary for about 23 years. Ceil said they live in a cul-de-sac and thought this was a good opportunity to get together with others.

Laura Kahnke Moor said nowadays it's sometimes difficult to meet people.

Ceil Schommer and Moor attend Church of St. Peter in Mendota Heights. They stood near neighbors sitting on picnic tables until Doffing called Moor's name.

She won a $15 gift certificate to Teresa's Mexican Restaurant.

Doffing said businesses donated about three dozen door prizes for the event.

"I wanted to thank you so much for doing this" Kate Dayton told Doffing as she picked up a 3M gift pack of tape, sandpaper and Post-it notes

About a mile away at Marie Park, Paula Kraus and Stephanie Levine were signing families up for a door prizes.

Levine said she has attended the Overlook Road/Marie Park-area Night to Unite event for 14 years and has been in charge of it for many of those years. Kraus and Levine actually combined their separate Night to Unite gatherings.

"I like to bake and she likes to get door prizes, so it's a symbiotic relationship," Levine said.

Julie and Tom Weisbecker said this was the first time they had been to the yearly event in the park.

Why did they attend? "It was near home and it had bars," Julie said before laughing. She and Cathy Resell used to live in the same neighborhood in South Minneapolis.

"It's because of you that we moved here (to Mendota)," Cathy said to Julie. 

Nearby, Shawn and Molly Meyer stood with their 7-year-old son, Charlie. They've attended the event for several years with Charlie; Harrison, 5; and Eleanor, 3.

Just then little Eleanor ran up to them as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled overhead. As raindrops started to fall, families started to move toward their cars.

Molly said people in the neighborhood are busy in the summer, and this was a "good time to catch up."

More Night to Unite coverage:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Mendota Heights