Our Authors & Contributors

Anne Holzman is a freelance writer and editor in Bloomington, Minnesota. She lived in St. Anthony Park for many years and got involved in the Bugle upon discovering that the editor at that time lived next door to her on Scudder Street. She has covered city and political news and written features for the Bugle for about 20 years now. She has also worked for the Pioneer Press and is on the editorial staff of Korean Quarterly. She started her reporting career after college at The Hawk Eye in Burlington, Iowa. When she’s not hounding news, Anne plays violin in the St. Paul Civic Symphony, indexes books occasionally, gardens, and enjoys family life with her spouse and three teen/young-adult children.

Christie Vogt is a freelance writer based in St. Paul. She has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector as well as in communications and marketing. Her work has focused on social services, education, health, community development and youth development.

I've lived in Lauderdale for 52 years. Began serious birdwatching in 1987. Made trips to Nova Scotia, Churchill (Manitoba), Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Peruvian Amazon, as well as the Dry Tortugas and Pacific seabird cruises. For several years, gave presentations on birds and birdwatching. Wrote a memoir titled "The Birdman of Lauderdale." I'm more of a local, Minnesota birder now. I enjoy watching my feeders and getting out with a group of friends every week.

Dave Healy is a 33-year resident of St. Anthony Park and a retired college teacher and administrator (Bethel College and the U of M) and editor (The Writing Center Journal, Public Art Review, Park Bugle). He and his wife of 48 years have two married sons and three grandchildren. In 60 years as a baseball fan, he has never caught a foul ball.

Eric Erickson has been teaching and coaching in the St. Paul Public Schools since 1995. In 2000, he moved into the Como neighborhood and began teaching social studies at Como Park High School. Additional activities at Como include coaching track and field, leading AP Government students on a Washington D.C. trip, and being the "Voice of Como" at athletic events and on the morning announcements. Erickson previously coached basketball and soccer, guiding the 2013 Cougar boys' soccer team to the state championship. Erickson began writing for the Bugle in 2014.

Janet Wight began writing travel articles for the Bugle in 2017 and monthly feature stories in early 2022, highlighting local residents, businesses and events. She has had a lengthy and diverse career in corporate accounting and financial analysis. Her hobbies include reading, walking, planning trips and listening to podcasts. Janet has lived in Como Park since 1992.

I am a registered dietitian who is passionate about celebrating and enjoying food, while also nourishing our bodies in a healthy, balanced and responsible way. I think our society has made food, nutrition, and feeding yourself so complicated, and I love to help others sort through all of the information that is out there, get back to basics, and tune into what their own, individual-self is needing. Outside of ‘food talk’ I love all things outdoors: camping, hiking, running, skiing, biking; curling up with a good book and a cozy chai latte; and being crafty. Oh, and writing too!

If you're like me, you're always looking for opportunities to continue to learn, travel and write. I hope to never lose the spark that made me interested in writing in the first place - finding real places with real people and personality that make me want to pay a visit. Thirty years ago, I started a small publishing company the day after landing in Providence, RI for an overnight trip. Starting from there, I worked on a variety of publications from Honeymoon Destinations, MeetingSource to Active Travel Index. Today, I hope to fill my days with interesting writing assignments – and books, lots of books!

I cover all the angles and I make people smile with the lens cap on. Just started my 60th year as a pro photographer. It all started back in my home town of Detroit, Michigan. At 19, my first job was a small birthday for my friend Sheldon and I received a check for $150. That’s where it all started. I did small jobs so I could buy a newer camera. I was the high school photographer and in college for the college paper. I have a degree in photography. I had my own studio called “Photos by the Photo Guy” and over the years it became mostly photos for newspapers and magazines. I made the big jump to the digital world after moving to the Twin Cities 35 years ago and started my own website. My website is called “Lou The Photo Guy” and I still work with several newspapers here in the Twin Cities including: The Park Bugle; The Villager; Insight News Media; and freelance for the SPPS. I was inducted in the National Press Club in Washington D.C. I’m also a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association, Milwaukee Press Club and NPPA. The equipment I have used from the start of my photo journey is Canon from film to digital. My website is https://www.louthephotoguy.com/ and my email is LOUTHEPHOTOGUY@GMAIL.COM  As I say it “I have had a love affair for over the past 60 years covering many stories and meeting great people on my journey from just everyday people to the top dogs all over”.

Mary Mergenthal, a past Bugle editor, has for many years been the Bugle obituary editor, operating from her home.

Mindy Keskinen brings her editorial background to a project she shares with Pat Thompson: coordinating the Park Bugle's column from the local group Transition Town – All St. Anthony Park. The column features a variety of local voices on climate and resiliency topics. Working toward a "smaller footprint, stronger community" since 2013, TT-ASAP finds neighborhood-based ways to take action on climate change: learn more at TransitionASAP.org and drop in on a monthly meeting. Open to all, the group is part of a larger movement of municipalities transitioning from fossil-fuel-based ways of life to more eco-friendly, equitable practices. To browse their past columns by topic, visit TransitionASAP.org/park-bugle-columns. They welcome your ideas: reach Mindy at communications@transitionasap.org or Pat at transportation@transitionasap.org.

Pat Thompson is a member of Transition Town – All St. Anthony Park who spends her time thinking about and working on transportation, gardening, and community-ownership. With Mindy Keskinen, she coordinates the Park Bugle's column from TT-ASAP, featuring a variety of local voices on climate and resiliency topics. Working toward a "smaller footprint, stronger community" since 2013, the group finds neighborhood-based ways to take action on climate change: learn more at TransitionASAP.org and drop in on a monthly meeting. Open to all, the group is part of a larger movement of municipalities transitioning from fossil-fuel-based ways of life to more eco-friendly, equitable practices. To browse their past columns by topic, visit TransitionASAP.org/park-bugle-columns. They welcome your ideas: reach Pat at transportation@transitionasap.org or Mindy at communications@transitionasap.org.

Sarah Clark is a parent, writer, Minnesota Master Naturalist, violin teacher, and volunteer.  She lives in St Anthony Park with her spouse, two kids, and (too many?) pets. 

Susan’s collection of essays, Guess What’s Different, was published in May of 2022 by Malarkey Books. She is an assistant non-fiction editor at Pithead Chapel. Nominated for Best of the Net, twice for a Pushcart (2017, 2022), and twice for Best Microfiction, her work was selected to appear in the 2022 Best Microfiction Anthology  She holds an MA in Education and an MFA from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. She now tutors and occasionally teaches. You can find her work at susantriemert.com.