Como Park Zoo

The first zoo in St. Paul was started when the city of St. Paul received a gift of three deer. Due to the addition of more animals, the zoo was moved from Harriet Island to Como Park and it became Como Park Zoo.

Significant zoo building construction occurred during the 1930s under the federally funded Works Progress Administration (WPA) and again in the 1980s. Today the zoo features Como Harbor, a recently opened new seal and sea lion habitat, a large cat exhibit, aquatic life, primates, birds, African hoofed animals and a polar bear exhibit. Como Park Zoo is home to 9 of the 10 animal species most visitors to zoos would like to see. There are over 2 million visitors to the zoo each year and admission is free.

Professional Development from the American Chemical Society

For over three decades, Lu Ann Sidney has served as the principle of LNS Consulting Services in Victoria, Minnesota. Many of her clients have relied on her technical expertise as well as her marketing knowledge. Through on-the-job learning at 3M Company and other companies, she honed her skills in project management, technical writing, and presentations, both on-line and in-person.

These same experiences can be gained through courses offered by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Leading experts in the scientific community offer courses in “soft skills” needed for management and technical advancement. Courses in chemistry such as analytical, computers/statistics/engineering, and regulatory/environmental are also available. These courses are offered to all, virtually or in-person. Registration is required and credit cards are accepted. On-site training is also possible through ACS.

Unique Plants and Consulting Services

For more than 20 years, Lu Ann Sidney has worked as the principal of LNS Consulting Services, located in Victoria, Minnesota. She has worked with a number of medical device manufacturers around the world advising them on radiation sterilization and materials selection for devices for electron beam sterilization. In addition to managing projects and sourcing materials, Lu Ann Sidney is an avid observer and protector of nature. One of the rare plants she is protecting near her house is Monotropa Uniflora, known as Indian Pipe.

The plant is waxy white, but sometimes has black or pink coloration. It does not contain any chlorophyll. Since it is mycorrhizal with trees, it gets its energy from photosynthetic trees. No sunlight is therefore required to grow and the Indian Pipe can grow in dark dense forest areas,

Lu Ann has maintained a perimeter around the Indian Pipe plants near her house to keep the plants growing since propagation is difficult.

A Visit to Vikingskipshuset, Bygdoy

The Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset) on Bygdoy near Olso, Norway, contains three of the best-preserved Viking ships from the 9th century.  The bodies of high-ranking chieftains were transported on these ships on their last voyage to the kingdom of the dead.

The Osberg ship of the attached photos was unearthed in 1904 under blue clay and stones in a 20-foot high burial mound.  The intricately carved ship contained the remains of two women and numerous artifacts.  Although partially broken up and compressed, the Oseberg ship was reconstructed and contains about 90 percent of its original wood.

A Visit to the Kon-Tiki Museum

In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian explorer, and his 5-man crew set sail across the Pacific Ocean in the Kon-Tiki raft.  Heyerdahl believed people from South America could have reached Polynesia in pre-Columbian times and he set out to demonstrate this.  The successful voyage covered almost 5,000 miles from Peru to Polynesia and proved Heyerdahl’s theory was indeed possible.

Thor Heyerdahl wrote a bestselling book about the expedition.  A documentary film about the voyage won an Academy Award in 1951.  The original Kon-Tiki raft is located in the Kon-Tiki Museum at Bygdoy in Oslo, Norway.  This was not the last adventure for Thor Heyerdahl.  He embarked on several similar expeditions over subsequent decades.

Kvernes Stave Church in Norway

Not too far outside Kristiansund, on the way to the Atlantic road, stands the Kvernes Stave Church.  Probably built in the first half of the 14th century, it is one of the smallest and youngest of the Norwegian stave churches.  The nave measures only 52 x 25 ft and the choir, only 23 x 25 ft.  The ornately painted interior of the church contains a choir screen with the crucifix and royal coat of arms, a baroque pulpit, and an altarpiece from 1475.  Although rebuilt several times, the Kvernes Stave Church is a lovely and accessible example of a Norwegian Stave Church.

WRCMN Tips for Injured, Orphaned Animals

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota
Image: wrcmn.org

Lu Ann Sidney has spent nearly 24 years with LNS Consulting Services in Victoria, Minnesota. As principal with the company, she oversees materials selection for medical devices, as well as aspects of electron beam and gamma radiation processing, project management, and manufacturing. Beyond her efforts at LNS, Lu Ann Sidney is an active philanthropist and animal lover. In addition to her work with organizations such as the Prairie Dog Coalition of the US, she is a supporter of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota.

The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRCMN) provides individuals with a number of helpful tips when it comes to encountering injured or potentially orphaned animals. If possible, the center encourages individuals to safely contain and bring in injured animals, as the location lacks ambulatory services. Similarly, individuals can bring in any animals crawling with worms, ants, or flies.

The organization’s website, www.wrcmn.org, provides a depth of information when it comes to safely containing animals, particularly grounded bats. Of course, individuals should not approach animals that pose a physical threat to humans, such as herons or foxes. In these situations, a person should call WRCMN at 641 486-9453 and determine the most prudent course of action, which may involve contacting local animal control.

Uninjured orphaned animals that are discovered in a safe location should be left alone until further notice from WRCMN or local authorities, though it is important to make sure the parent is not nearby. Meanwhile, orphaned animals on or near busy roadways should be contained and removed from the area as soon as possible.

A Look at Prairie Dogs and the Prairie Dog Coalition

With over 35 years of experience in the product and process development field, Lu Ann Sidney serves as the principal of LNS Consulting Services. She founded the Minnesota-based consulting firm in 1996. Lu Ann Sidney’s activities outside of work include support of the Prairie Dog Coalition, led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Prairie dogs are highly social animals that have developed a complex language system they use to communicate and keep their fellow colony members aware of any approaching dangers. The species also plays an important role in promoting biodiversity by digging intricate tunnels that are used by a variety of other animals, including jackrabbits, burrowing owls, salamanders, and toads.

In addition to supporting other animals, the prairie dog enriches and aerates soil through burrowing activities. The animals further benefit the soil by adding natural fertilizer, which leads to healthy vegetation growth an increased plant and animal diversity around the colonies.

However, despite their intelligence and the important role they play in the ecosystem, prairie dogs are often viewed as pests. Sadly, the animals are routinely shot, poisoned, and buried in land development projects.

The HSUS Prairie Dog Coalition fights to protect these important animals through various programs that protect the prairie dog habitat. The coalition also finds new homes for threatened colonies and educates the public about the importance of the species.

Prairie Dogs – A Keystone Species for the Prairies

Prairie Dogs
Image: nwf.org

Drawing on more than 35 years of experience in chemistry-based positions, Lu Ann Sidney is the principal of the Minnesota-based LNS Consulting Services, through which she helps clients select materials for gamma radiation processing and medical devices. Outside of these responsibilities, Lu Ann Sidney supports numerous non-for-profit organizations, including the Prairie Dog Coalition of the Humane Society of the United States.

The Prairie Dog Coalition is comprised of scientists, concerned citizens, and nonprofit groups that collaborate to protect and preserve prairie dog populations via advocacy training and by promoting conservation projects. Prairie dogs are a keystone species integral to their ecosystem, which is the primary reason for the coalition’s efforts. Keystone species have low functional redundancy, meaning that no other creature can take their place should they become extinct or disappear from the area. This forces the entire ecosystem to change dramatically and threatens biodiversity.

Most keystone species consist of predators vital to controlling various prey populations, but they can also include herbivores like elephants, antelopes, mice, and shrews. Prairie dogs are considered such because their presence benefits roughly 150 other species and maintains grasslands. They are a source of food for eagles, coyotes, and the black-footed ferret, the latter of which is critically endangered. Moreover, their burrows provide shelter for the black-footed ferret, as well as other animals like the tiger salamander and burrowing owl.

Day Fish Company

Mom and I took a drive around Stanchfield and Braham, Minnesota, on November 1, 2018.  We decided to check out the Day Fish Company that supplied the lutefisk for the Cambridge Lutheran Church lutefisk supper.  Day is a small town, actually just a few buildings, northwest of Cambridge.

We were kindly invited in for a tour of the lutefisk operation.  Dried cod from Norway is soaked in lye solution in plastic-lined stock tanks until it “feels right.”  The gentlemen said they delivered 750 lbs. of lutefisk to the Cambridge Lutheran Church for the supper the day before.  The smell was pretty strong.  My coat still had an odor of lutefisk a day later!