Susan Lenfestey is a regular contributor. She lives in Lowry Hill.
Just as the hangover from the November election was starting to fade, here comes another round of political cocktails, merriment or not. A doozy of a caucus arrives Feb. 3, with candidates for county board, county attorney, senate and governor all seeking endorsement.
Caucuses for statewide races tend to draw larger crowds than city races and can be more contentious. But until the Minnesota Legislature finds the moxie to do away with them, it remains our civic duty to show up. Paula Chesley explains what to expect at the upcoming caucuses elsewhere in this issue.
If you need a post-caucus palate cleanser, take heart. The 22nd annual Luminary Loppet returns to Lake of the Isles on Feb. 7. If you have never walked across an icy lake on candlelit paths or under a canopy of hanging ice globes, prepare to be dazzled by the beauty of winter and the magic of lowercase ice.
If you love the warmth of community in the middle of a cold winter night, this is your chance to be part of it. Volunteers are needed to help turn thousands of buckets of lake water into ice luminaria and to light the candles that glow inside them. It is a chilly task and a metaphor for so much else.
There are many other volunteer roles as well. Visit loppet.org sign up. Hurry. Much of the freezing begins in early January, and slots fill quickly.
Whether you are a creator or a spectator, the Luminary Loppet is a reminder of why we endure, and even love, our winters and why our city remains a great place to live, despite its challenges and caucuses.
