A finished person is
a boring person.
Anna Quindlen
b. 1953, author/journalist

In memory of the first responders and families of Gaza indiscriminately/intentionally assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"Slava Ukraini
Слава Україні!
Vive l’Ukraine libre, vive l’Europe démocratique. Claude Malhuret/ politique français


origin story: west seventh street, saint paul, mn

“Origin Story of Fort Road/West Seventh Street,
the Township/City of Saint Paul,
the Territory/State of Minnesota,
Glacial Age Forward”

Fall 2025: Second (enhanced!) printing August 2025.
All proceeds benefit non-profits. Price $30

  1. Purchase and pick up your book through the
    Federation/District 9 Community Council
    Tuesday, September 23rd 4pm-6pm (Waldmann Brewery 445 Smith Ave N

  2. Also through Terrace Horticultural Books (THB). Option for mailing extra.

  3. Preview (not sales) available at Google Play Books Partner Program!

  4. Reference Collections
    providing a comprehensive and authoritative resource for researchers, students, professionals, and the general public.:

    • University of Minnesota
    • Immigration History Research Center
    • Minnesota Historical Society
    • Ramsey County Historical Society
    • City of Saint Paul Libraries
    • Dakota County Libraries (Minnesota)
    • Minnesota Department of Transportation Library
    • University of St Thomas Libraries
    • Gustavus Adolphus College Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library
    • Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota
    • Germanic American Institute

“Origin Story” Media!

  • Episodic serialization in the Community Reporter!
  • Episodic serialization: The Minnesota Scholar, semi-annual journal of the Minnesota Independent Scholars Forum
  • PBS documentary "We Are the River" to be aired Fall 2025. Trailer (On-camera interview March 24)
  • Friday, January 23: @ C.S.P.S. Hall! Sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies Registration. Back by popular demand!
  • TBD: presentations at county historical societies, Owatonna and Redwood Falls

2025 Past events:

  • August 17: Germanic-American Institute Cafe
  • June 5, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies Registration @ C.S.P.S. Hall!)
  • May 9: Mannillo/Friday Lunch Forum
  • April 29 Presentation at the Fort Road Federation/ District 9 Community Council’s annual meeting, Summit Brewery, 910 Montreal Cir.
  • March 14, Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota at its historic C.S.P.S. Hall (383 Michigan, sokolmn.org,).
  • March 24, The West Seventh Library and Keystone/West Seventh Community Center (265 Oneida)
  • February 27 West Seventh Library and Keystone/West Seventh Community Center
  • February 18 Saint Paul Rotary Club (University Club)
  • Front page feature in the Community Reporter (November 28, 2024) and My Villager (January 6, 2025)
  • Outreach to libraries and historical societies is complete with advanced copies distributed and accepted gratis.

Email for information: joe@josfland.com

Origin Story: Table of contents and more information

At the end of 2024, 380 advanced histories were published. All proceeds, over $14,000, benefited West Seventh’s C.S.P.S. Hall’s Legacy Fund. The first printing sold out thanks to enthusiastic demand in the West End and beyond. Each book was inscribed “Thank you for (contributing to and) supporting the history of immigrants and volunteers of W7!”

 A second printing of 500+ was printed August 2025 with all copies dedicated to non-profits to support their misssions.


Kiosk: Guides for learning (2024) Website

Restored, reformatted, and revised with 200 guides to promote learning, middle school through returning adult--with translations in 38 languages! Non-ChatGPT, non-Bard; non-AI.

Kiosk guides for learning
is a freely accessible educational environment that offers strategies to recognize and realize learning objectives. We accept individual differences without regard to ability and creed; sexual and affectional orientation; caste, tribal and national affiliation; individual, familial and collective history. Dates from 1996.


112 Leech StreetAging Gardens Website

I sold my bluffside home of 40+ years in 2022 when my partner Steve and I moved next door to a house and gardens we built over four years. The Website Aging Gardens is both a summary of the construction and an inventory of the perennials, ground covers, bushes, trees, cacti and houseplants over the years.

Minneapolis/Saint Paul Home Tour, April 30/May 1, 2022.

Minneapolis Star Tribune, HOME & GARDEN section, August 19, 2022:
St. Paul garden tour founder is all about creating Zen in his garden
... By Nancy Ngo


Recognition:

Community service and volunteer activities.

Media:

MN Public Radio "Music with Minnesotans"; "MN State Capital" documentary;
KARE-TV  "Summer Backyard (Garden) Tour"; Czech Radio

 



CV/Resume

Professional activities including research and development of Online educational resources