Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: Warming up
This week, there's a fair amount of public discourse about whether or not a fence around a vacant 8th Street lot will deter crime. But I'm bringing you a slightly different angle looking at why the city would pay for a fence on private property in the first place. You'll also learn about a fun new March Madness-y shop local initiative, meet the Teacher of the Year and find a ton of stuff to do this coming week.
And now, news:
CITY
Why the Catholic diocese stands to win big with city lease
Simplified: In a heated public meeting Monday night, residents pushed back against the city's plans to lease, and then fence in, a vacant parking lot adjacent to the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House. But beyond concerns about the efficacy of a $70,000 fence in deterring crime, conversations Monday evening also revealed key details in how the proposed agreement came to be and why, if approved, it has potential to be a win for the lot's owner: the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls.
Back up. How did we get here?
This all rose to the public consciousness a few weeks back when the Sioux Falls City Council advanced a proposal to enter a five-year lease agreement with St. Joseph Catholic Housing – a subset of the diocese.
Why it matters
- Initial conversations started between the city and St. Joseph Catholic Housing began out of a shared desire to address the high number of police calls to the parking lot. Planning Director Jeff Eckhoff said one of the first ideas was for the city to purchase the property, but the diocese wasn't ready to sell.
- That's in part because, as Eckhoff notes, they know the property "will become more valuable" as new development continues to move east of downtown – including the potential Riverline District just south of the shelter.
- Chancellor Thad Pals also said the diocese wants to keep the lot, though the lease would give the city first dibs if the lot and/or the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House ever go up for sale – something Pals said he doesn't see happening any time soon, but is "always a possibility."
- He also told Sioux Falls Simplified after Monday's meeting that he also doesn't foresee the diocese paying to put up a fence around the parking lot.
"In a nutshell, we're a nonprofit," Pals said. "Putting up a fence there isn't really part of our mission."
- City Councilor Rich Merkouris also noted that he'd "love if the Catholic diocese would build the fence tomorrow," but seeing as they won't, he said the city has "no choice" but to take some sort of action to reduce crime in that spot.
"They have more leverage than we do," Merkouris said.
So, what exactly are the wins for the diocese?
COMMUNITY
This new 'shop hop' event brings March Madness to local retailers
Simplified: More than a dozen local retailers are banding together to encourage folks to check out local businesses in the month of March after a particularly slow start to the year.
Why it matters
- The "March Madness Shop Hop" includes 14 local businesses, and anyone who visits each location in the month of March will be entered to win a grand prize with contributions from each participating retailer.
- The event was started by Christi Petersen, owner of Seasoned Style. Petersen said she's seen not only fewer sales but also fewer customers coming through her doors. She's hoping the Shop Hop will bring more foot traffic for her and fellow business owners.
- The hope is the month-long Shop Hop will not only create a fun experience for shoppers, but also give them a chance to learn more about what options are available to them in local shops rather than big box or online retailers.
"We've become such an online society," Petersen said. "We forget that interaction – that sense of community, supporting fellow people in your community with their businesses – makes and impact that you don't realize."
How does the "shop hop" work?
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Shoot your shot.* This week is your last chance to register to be a part of the YMCA's 95th Annual Tri-State Basketball Tournament, one of the longest-running basketball tournaments in the country (literally an older tradition than the NCAA's March Madness, which started in 1939).
- Boys and girls in grades 2nd through 8th grade are eligible to register, and games will be played March 21 and 22 in gyms throughout the city. There will also be a 3-point contest on Saturday in-between morning and afternoon games. Learn more and register here before the March 1 deadline.
- Avera pilots clinic-based food pantries. Avera Health is teaming up with Feeding South Dakota to offer food for patients who experience food insecurity. The pilot program is happening at Plaza 1 on Avera's Sioux Falls campus specifically for pediatric and obstetric patients, as well as a pilot program in Parkston, S.D.
- Meet the Teacher of the Year. The Sioux Falls School District this week announced Bruce Rekstad, Očéti Šakówiŋ Owáuŋspe Instructor at Washington High School, is the 2025 Teacher of the Year. Rekstad has been teaching in the district for 23 years. Here's a snippet from his nomination form:
- "By weaving heritage into the curriculum, (Rekstad) creates a space where students feel connected and proud of their identity. Mr. Rekstad not only educates the broader school community but also instills pride and confidence in his Native students, showing them that their culture is valued and celebrated."
EVENTS
Stuff to do: Feb. 26-March 4
- Try all the fun drinks.* Mash Madness is back in downtown Sioux Falls starting March 1, and new this year, there are three separate categories to quench your thirst: craft beer, craft cocktails and craft non-alcoholic drinks. With more than two dozen new drinks to try, you can basically taste something new (and support a different local downtown business) every day for the month of March. Find the full lineup here.
- Start your day at Startup.* Learn from local business leaders and make new connections at Startup Sunrise, an event Startup Sioux Falls hosts the first Wednesday of each month. This month's topic is marketing, and attendees will hear from Strategie Founder Tanna Soukup and The Video Lab Founder Caleb Hoover. It all kicks off at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 at Startup Sioux Falls. More details here.
- Celebrate Mardi Gras. Swamp Daddy's has all the Fat Tuesday fun this coming week, starting with the inaugural Children's Mardi Gras Parade at noon Saturday and continuing that evening with a Masquerade Ball from 7 to 10 p.m. More details on the parade here and ball here.
- Hang out with Midtown Coffee Radio Hour. Sioux Falls' coziest radio show reconvenes on the Icon Lounge stage Thursday evening for "Midtown Cough-ee Takes a Sick Day." Find more details and snag tickets here.
- Raise awareness for rare diseases. Friday is Rare Disease Day, and nonprofit Rare by Design is teaming up with Sanford to host an open house event at the Falls Overlook Cafe with hot chocolate, cupcakes and coloring activities. You can also see both the Falls and the Arc of Dreams lit up in rare disease colors. More details here.
- Dance with me, I'm Irish. The Old Courthouse Museum is hosting a free Ceili (pronounced KAY-lee) Dance Thursday evening. You can learn how the Irish social dance is done, and you can dance to live music while someone calls out the moves. More details here.
*Denotes a paid listing
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
WANT TO HELP MORE PEOPLE FEEL THIS SMART?
Support Sioux Falls Simplified
Here are a few ways to ensure this smarter, easier local news outlet is here to stay:
- Forward this to a friend. Sharing is caring, and the best gifts are the ones that make your life easier – like this smarter, easier local news.
- Become a member. Consider buying into a smarter Sioux Falls by becoming a member and offering financial support to the no B.S. journalism you've been reading here.
- Give a one-time gift. Not ready to commit to a membership? That's OK! If you want to help in a smaller way, you can give a one-time gift here.
- Advertise with us. Tell the "simplified" story of your business to your target audience. Want more info? Reach out to megan@sfsimplified.com.
Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Dakota Adventure Supply, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, Panther Premier Print Solutions, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Great Plains Zoo, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
Oh, by the way
Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️
