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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

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Home Care In St Paul, MN

Home Care St Paul, MN

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Landmark Center in St Paul, MN gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in St Paul, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care St Paul, MN

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”

Gloria285054

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in St Paul, MN?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care St Paul, MN

Types of Elderly Care in St Paul, MN

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care St Paul, MN
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers St Paul, MN
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Harriet Island Regional Park in St Paul, MN with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care St Paul, MN
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Meritage or visit Burbank Livingston Griggs Mansion, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care St Paul, MN

Benefits of Home Care in St Paul, MN

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in St Paul, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care St Paul, MN

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your MN's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care St Paul, MN

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in St Paul, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care St Paul, MN

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers St Paul, MN

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Seven Hills Senior Living
  • Iris Park Commons Assisted Living by Episcopal Homes
  • Summit Hill Senior Living
  • The Waters of Highland Park
  • New Perspective Senior Living
  • Highland Park
Home Care St Paul, MN

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care St Paul, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in St Paul, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care St Paul, MN

Latest News in St Paul, MN

St. Paul apartment residents raise health, safety concerns over homeless encampment

Residents at the Waterford Bay Apartments in St. Paul, Minnesota, say they have both health and safety concerns after a homeless encampment next door has continued to grow for months.Back in August, city crews cleared a homeless encampment at Pig's Eye Park, and many of the campers denied offers of shelter, moving near the intersection of Shepard Road and Randolph Avenue by the apartment building instead.Dave Zerwas has lived at the complex for over four years in a unit overlooking the camp. He says often he watches smoke wafti...

Residents at the Waterford Bay Apartments in St. Paul, Minnesota, say they have both health and safety concerns after a homeless encampment next door has continued to grow for months.

Back in August, city crews cleared a homeless encampment at Pig's Eye Park, and many of the campers denied offers of shelter, moving near the intersection of Shepard Road and Randolph Avenue by the apartment building instead.

Dave Zerwas has lived at the complex for over four years in a unit overlooking the camp. He says often he watches smoke wafting up from fires at the encampment.

"Burnt plastic basically getting piped into your apartment; it's bad," he said. "I had the medics out at my place last week."

Another resident, Oliver Heskin, purchased two air purifiers in hopes of improving air quality inside. Heskin showed WCCO videos of industrial air purifiers set up along the hallways of the complex.

Other residents have documented drug use and damaged cars. Dani Anderson moved into the apartments in August, right as the encampment boomed. Anderson says she never would have moved in if she knew what was happening across the street.

"I stopped biking because I am afraid of going and something happening," she said. "I don't really feel safe."

Anderson says she no longer walks her dog down the street and she's often worried her car will be broken into.

The St. Paul City Council voted last week to implement a 60-day pause for outreach before clearing camps and plans to open both temporary and permanent shelter sites.

For Zerwas, the lack of action is frustrating.

"I don't feel like it's going to change," he said. "What I know about city government and the bureaucracy of it is, nothing moves quickly and the likelihood of them moving [the camp] out in January, as they say they are going to, it's just not going to happen."

A spokesperson for Mayor Kaohly Her said her administration plans to move forward with clearing the encampment, but didn't share a timeline.

"We continue to plan for the coordinated transition of the encampments at Randolph and l'Orient, with outreach teams connecting each individual at the encampment to shelter, housing, and services," the spokesperson said.

In the meantime, Zerwas is moving to another unit on the other side of the complex to try to distance himself from the smoke. Anderson is hoping to leave altogether, though she says the price tag could be steep.

WCCO reached out to Waterford Bay Apartments about their concerns, but has yet to hear back.

  • In:

    St. Paul finds funding to keep Hourcar running after abrupt closure

    Mayor Kaohly Her announced Thursday that St. Paul would use the funding, which came largely from staff vacancies in the Department of Public Works, to restart the service in St. Paul. The city will use another $140,000 already committed to Hourcar, bringing the total to $300,000.“We are the first to commit more dollars, but we hope that others will join us,” Her said during a Thursday news conference, calling on cities to find money to support Hourcar, citing the longstanding partnership with Minneapolis.Without fun...

    Mayor Kaohly Her announced Thursday that St. Paul would use the funding, which came largely from staff vacancies in the Department of Public Works, to restart the service in St. Paul. The city will use another $140,000 already committed to Hourcar, bringing the total to $300,000.

    “We are the first to commit more dollars, but we hope that others will join us,” Her said during a Thursday news conference, calling on cities to find money to support Hourcar, citing the longstanding partnership with Minneapolis.

    Without funds from other cities, the cars would likely be only available to be dropped off and picked up in St. Paul, according to a city spokesperson.

    Hourcar announced earlier this month that its last day of operations would be Oct. 15, just a week after the nonprofit’s board made the announcement. In a statement, Hourcar’s leadership cited reduced federal funding and rising insurance costs as the reasons for a $625,000 deficit that appeared insurmountable.

    The St. Paul money to keep the car-share going will last only a few months, Her said, but she hopes it will keep car-sharing functional until legislators can try to pass a bill that would put Hourcar into the Metropolitan Council’s portfolio, and potentially subsidize the service with state funding.

    “We need a bridge” to get the service through while legislators advocate for funding," said state Rep. Katie Jones, DFL-Minneapolis, who has said she plans to sponsor a bill to fund Hourcar next session at the Legislature, along with Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis.

    Noah Velick, a former Hourcar employee who organized a rally and petition to save the service, said people across the metro benefit from Hourcar. People in suburbs use Hourcar vehicles too, and residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul use the cars to get to appointments, visit friends and family and run errands in the suburbs.

    Her is hopeful the service could restart soon. The city has issued a request for information, due in two weeks, to begin the process of selecting a new contractor to run the service. Once St. Paul has a contractor, the rest could come together fast. Electric car-charging stations are still intact and St. Paul owns the leases for all 167 of the Hourcar vehicles, and has been storing the cars on city property for the last two weeks.

    Mavericks Fall to No. 9 Concordia-St. Paul

    MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (10-14, 8-8 NSIC) lost to No. 9 Concordia-St. Paul (19-5, 14-2 NSIC) 3-0 on Tuesday, falling 18-25, 21-25, 17-25 at Taylor Center. The Mavericks finished with 33 kills and a .158 hitting percentage, while the Golden Bears totaled 41 kills and hit .248.Avery Klein led the Mavericks with nine kills and added seven digs. Jadyn Lester finished with 26 assists and five digs. Olivia Sturgis re...

    MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State volleyball team (10-14, 8-8 NSIC) lost to No. 9 Concordia-St. Paul (19-5, 14-2 NSIC) 3-0 on Tuesday, falling 18-25, 21-25, 17-25 at Taylor Center. The Mavericks finished with 33 kills and a .158 hitting percentage, while the Golden Bears totaled 41 kills and hit .248.

    Avery Klein led the Mavericks with nine kills and added seven digs. Jadyn Lester finished with 26 assists and five digs. Olivia Sturgis recorded eight kills while hitting .400 and added two block assists. Addison Foor collected a team-high 10 digs and added six kills.

    SET ONE

    After Klein and Avery Rosenberg kills helped the Mavericks stay even early, Audrey Waterman served back-to-back aces during a three-point Concordia-St. Paul burst that moved the visitors in front 5-2. The Mavericks worked back within 9-8 behind Lester and Foor kills and a Golden Bear attack error, but CSP took the next six points, including two Kelsey Cooper kills and a Makenna Nold kill, to extend the lead to 15-8. MSU got kills from Foor, Klein and Lily Riese as they cut the gap to 18-13, but CSP pushed back to 22-14 with consecutive Cooper kills. After Sturgis' kill and Morgan Bjella's service ace helped the Mavericks reach 23-17, the Golden Bears closed the set 25-18 on Nold's kill.

    SET TWO

    MSU worked through a point-for-point start and moved ahead 9-7 when Bjella served an ace after a Foor kill and a Concordia-St. Paul attack error. CSP erased an 11-9 deficit with four straight points, including an Audrey Waterman ace and a Mehlayna Straub kill, before the Mavericks responded with three straight points, including kills by Riese and Klein, to lead 14-13. The teams continued trading points to 17-17, but the Golden Bears scored the next three on two Makenna Nold kills and an Audrey Waterman kill to go in front 20-17. The Mavericks closed within 23-21 on consecutive Klein kills, but Straub put Concordia-St. Paul at set point and Kaydence White finished the second set at 25-21.

    SET THREE

    Minnesota State trailed 4-2 early in the third set before Riese put down a kill and Kaelyn Wieland served them through a run to an 11-4 lead, including an ace, four Sturgis kills and a block by Sturgis and Klein. Concordia-St. Paul stopped the run and later erased a 13-7 deficit, scoring nine straight points behind Marta Leeland's serve to move in front 16-13. Addison Foor's kill and a CSP service error helped the Mavericks get back within 18-16, but Concordia-St. Paul answered with six straight points to reach 24-16. Rosenberg extended the set with a kill before CSP closed it 25-17.

    Up next, the Mavericks volleyball team visits Augustana on Friday, Oct. 30 at Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

    Stay up to date on all Maverick Athletics news by downloading the Maverick mobile app for exclusive content, gameday notifications, schedules, rosters and more. Fans can also follow @MinnStAthletics on Instagram and X and like the Minnesota State Mavericks Facebook page.

    He tells stories through scrapbooking

    My name is Craig Barrett and I have been a letter carrier at Elway Station in St. Paul, MN, since 2002.I’ve been scrapbooking and competing at the Minnesota State Fair for more than 20 years and have earned 54 ribbons for my entries.I got into the activity by accident. There used to be a company that sold supplies through scrapbooking parties, and a friend brought me along to one. I make my own greeting cards and thought some of the tools they had might be useful for that.It turned out that I brought home not only ...

    My name is Craig Barrett and I have been a letter carrier at Elway Station in St. Paul, MN, since 2002.

    I’ve been scrapbooking and competing at the Minnesota State Fair for more than 20 years and have earned 54 ribbons for my entries.

    I got into the activity by accident. There used to be a company that sold supplies through scrapbooking parties, and a friend brought me along to one. I make my own greeting cards and thought some of the tools they had might be useful for that.

    It turned out that I brought home not only some new equipment but also a new pursuit.

    I really appreciate the patience, creativity and attention to detail that goes into scrapbooking, which is the craft of preserving, presenting and arranging photos and other mementos in an album.

    In the digital age, I still find joy in the tactile work of arranging photos and ephemera on a page.

    Along with the thrill of competition, I love scrapbooking as a way to capture the important times in my life.

    At the 2026 state fair, I received a first-place ribbon in the heritage category and earned the coveted sweepstakes award for best in show for the fourth time.

    The two-page layout that won tells the story of my father, who operated the boilers used to heat the College of St. Catherine — now St. Catherine University — in St. Paul during the 1950s. I combined family photographs with historical images of the campus to bring his story to life.

    For me, preserving memories is more than a hobby; it’s a way to capture stories, celebrate my family history and challenge myself creatively.

    Sometimes I like to bring postage stamps into my work. I recently made a book to celebrate the Postal Service’s 250th anniversary and used some old stamps with George Washington and Ben Franklin on them. I also used the Letter Carriers stamps from 1989 to tell the story of my own career with USPS.

    I spend a lot of time thinking about scrapbook ideas while I’m casing the mail and making deliveries, and it’s exciting to craft those thoughts into something artistic and meaningful.

    “Off the Clock,” a column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits, appears regularly in Link.

    Corps of Engineers, city of Wabasha, Minnesota, reach milestone with river sand management

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and the city of Wabasha, Minnesota, reached a major milestone last week in the management of Mississippi River sand removed from the navigation channel.The city and Wabasha Port Authority removed the first loads of sand from temporary storage islands on the river near Wabasha. A process nearly a decade in the making, the milestone demonstrates what can happen when government at every level works together to find shared solutions that work for everyone....

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and the city of Wabasha, Minnesota, reached a major milestone last week in the management of Mississippi River sand removed from the navigation channel.

    The city and Wabasha Port Authority removed the first loads of sand from temporary storage islands on the river near Wabasha. A process nearly a decade in the making, the milestone demonstrates what can happen when government at every level works together to find shared solutions that work for everyone.

    “This day has been 10 years in the making, and I want to thank everyone involved from [City of Wabasha] Mayor Emily Durand and Port staff working on this project, our Army Corps partners, and our private sector partners; the Kohners; LS Marine; Chuck Dillerud, and the Port Authority,” said John Friedmeyer, Wabasha Port Authority president. “It’s a great day for Wabasha!”

    The agreement was years in the making and the first of its kind for inland waters within the United States. Following the release of the Corps’ draft dredged material management plan in 2017, Corps staff and city leadership worked together to find a solution to where to place nearly 250,000 cubic yards of sand dredged from the Mississippi River near Wabasha annually. The solution, known as a Section 217 agreement, allows the Corps of Engineers to pay the city a tipping fee to manage the sand removed from the river during Corps dredging operations.

    Bob Edstrom, St. Paul District project manager in charge of the river sand management planning efforts, emphasized the importance of the win-win-win solution. “The plan allows the city of Wabasha to focus on where to best use the sand, and it allows the Corps of Engineers to focus more of our energy on long-term planning efforts that ensure the navigation channel continues operating safely for the shipment of America’s crops grown right here in the Upper Midwest.”

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