Minneapolis Elections Office Reminds You: Pre-register by October 16 for the November 6 General Election

New to the neighborhood? The Minneapolis Elections Office reminds you to plan ahead and pre-register for the November 6 General Election.

Pre-register to vote by 5:00pm October 16:

·   Print, complete and sign a Voter Registration Application.
·   Deliver or mail it to your local election office.
·   You will receive a postcard telling you where to vote.
·   You will save time at the polls.
 
Use these tools at the MN Secretary of State website to:
·   Check Your Registration.
·   Check Your Absentee Ballot.
·   Find Your Polling Place – map and photo, Sample Ballot, information on candidates & ballot questions.
 
Questions?

In Minneapolis, email judy.schwartau@minneapolismn.gov
Judy Schwartau, CERA, Election Specialist, City of Minneapolis Elections

Minneapolis Rated 'Gold' as a Walk Friendly Community

Walk Friendly Communities is a national recognition program developed to encourage towns and cities across the U.S. to establish or recommit to a high priority for supporting safer walking environments.

The WFC program will recognize communities that are working to improve a wide range of conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access, and comfort.

They designated Minneapolis as a Gold-level community due to the city's excellent planning policies, high level of staff commitment to pedestrian safety, and pedestrian campaigns and events.

Reader Photo - Stone Arch Bridge

Reader Tom Carrier took this from his balcony on the Minneapolis Riverfront.  Nice work Tom, thanks for sharing!

Week 21 at the Mill City Farmers Market

September 29 was a picture perfect day for Oktoberfest.  :)

Volunteers Needed for October 10 Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST

From a September 26 Third Ward e-newsletter:

Greetings!  We need volunteers to help with the 2012 Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST.

We are searching for people that are willing to help and be a part of this great event!  Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST is on Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 at Nicollet Island Pavilion, 40 Power St, Minneapolis from 5:30-9:00 PM.

We are looking for volunteers to help at the sign-in tables.  Vendor Set up from 1:00-5:00pm.  General Public Sign-In from 4:00pm-8:00pm.  

If you would like to volunteer at the Third Ward NeighborhoodFEST, please contact Diane Hofstede's office at 612-673-2203 or email diane.hofstede@minneapolismn.gov with your name and contact information.

Please let us know if you are able to help, we cannot do this without you!

Thank you, 

Diane Hofstede
Minneapolis City Council-3rd Ward
350 South 5th StreetRoom 307Minneapolis, MN 55415-1383
Diane.Hofstede@minneapolismn.gov
612-673-2203

Tonight - 2012 Twin Cities Black Film Festival at St. Anthony Main Theater (4 days)

Now celebrating its 10th year, the 2012 Twin Cities Black Film Festival promises to bring the excitement of independent film to a whole new level.

This year the Twin Cities Black Film Festival is hosted and sponsored by The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul and will showcase cinemas' most provocative work at the St. Anthony Main Theater, September 27-30.

For the full lineup click on the Press Release link below, or visit the web page link below:

Twin Cities Black Film Festival Press Release

Twin Cities Black Film Festival web page

Twin Cities Black Film Festival official site

Final Free 'Boot Camp in the City' is Saturday, September 29, at Gold Medal Park

The FORTÉ staff would like to remind you that their final complimentary 'Boot Camp in the City' this coming Saturday morning, September 29, at 9:30am.  It's an outdoor class at Gold Medal Park, and open to anyone - so please feel free to being as many guests as you want.

Vikings and "The Purple Path" Both Rack Up a Big Win

The Vikings weren't the only success story this past Sunday.  Mayor Rybak's 'railgating" idea for a game day food truck line up along 5th Street  - a.k.a. The Purple Path - turned out to be a big winner, too.

We walked over around 11:00am, and the sidewalks were packed with both fans on their way to the game, as well as downtown residents looking for a tasty snack on a gorgeous Sunday morning.  (We ran into neighbors from The Bridgewater, Zenith and Stone Arch Lofts.)  Several vendors said it was so busy they ran out of product, and I was lucky enough to get the last Lobster Roll from the Smack Shack.

"A Minute In Minnesota" Featuring Scenes from the Minneapolis Riverfront

From MinnPost photographer Justin Donais:

Week 20 at the Mill City Farmers Market

There was an impressive turnout for MCFM's 2nd Annual Bread Contest, which took place during the September 22 Market.  Sadly, my Garden Harvest Bread was not a winner, but it sure was fun checking out all the entries. There's a lot of talented bakers out there! :)

MCFM's Second Annual Bread Festival is This Saturday!

Here's a fun opportunity to show off your favorite bread creation :)

Mill City Farmers Market, Mill City Museum, and Gold Medal® Flour are teaming up again to create an exciting celebration of bread-baking in America! This event will be the second annual event spotlighting the healthy goodness and nourishment of bread-baking.   

2012 Bread Contest

sponsored by Gold Medal® Flour

Enter your home-baked bread

Second annual bread-baking contest!

Enter in the Quick Bread or Yeast Bread categories
and have your goodies judged by a panel of experts.

To pre-register and get more info follow this link.

Living Social Offer for Local D'Lish Cooking Classes

Have you been thinking about how fun it would be to take a cooking class at Local D'Lish, 208 North 1st Street, but just haven't gotten around to registering?  Well, here's a little nudge to get you going!  Per a recent e-newsletter, they'll be running a promotional offer through Living Social on September 24, 25, and 26.  Buy coupons on the Living Social website, and then choose the class(es) on Local D'Lish's website. 

So many classes to choose from, and it's a nice gift idea, too.  Yum :)

Audition September 22 for the October 10 NeighborhoodFest on Nicollet Island

The Third Ward Neighborhood Fest! takes place October 10 from 5:30pm-9:30pm at the  Nicollet Island Pavilion. 

There will be exhibits featuring businesses, restaurants, services, neighborhood groups, local talent, city and county projects, and new developments in the community.

You can earn a spot in the talent show by auditioning on September 22 at the MPRB headquarters.

Tonight - "Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront"

"Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront” - Central Riverfront Master Planning with the MPRB

When: Monday, September 17, 2012 / 6:30PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Mill City Museum (main floor commons)

Join your neighbors and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board in shaping the future of the Central Riverfront of Minneapolis.  It’s been more than two decades since the last Master Plan for this part of the river was completed.  Learn about potential projects, the planning process, and how local residents can assist in shaping the future:

-- Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Commissioners Anita Tabb, Liz Wielinski and Scott Vreeland will discuss the past, present, and ideas for the future of the Central Riverfront.

-- Andrew Caddock, MPRB Project Manager, will review the Master Planning Process and highlight opportunities for the future at key parks. The end result of this process will be a new Master Plan for the Central Riverfront.

-- “Open Mic”: Engage the MPRB in a question & answer session.

-- Parks that may be impacted include: Boom Island, Father Hennepin Bluffs - Upper & Lower, Mill Ruins Park, Water Works Park (old Fuji Ya site)

All residents, from both sides of the Central Riverfront, are encouraged to attend.

---------------------------------

Co-Hosted by Mill District Neighborhood Association & Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Underwritten by Mill City Times

Crown Hydro Update

Proposed Hydroelectric Plant Developers Continuing Efforts to Avoid Termination of Federal License

By Doug Verdier

On Sept. 5, Crown Hydro’s legal counsel in Washington, D.C. filed a progress report to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) outlining “further engineering and concept analysis of the development of the project within the current licensed project boundaries, and in a location owned by the federal government under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Office.” These efforts are intended to determine “if there were any fatal flaws in the project concept in the new location.”

The primary engineering issues address the feasibility of using the existing tailrace and whether a tailrace tunnel could be constructed from a location under the parking lot next to the lock headwall to a shaft to be constructed with a new outlet below the Stone Arch Bridge. According to the filing, Crown Hydro claims that the Stone Arch bridge footings “are spread footings excavated into the sandstone and may be avoided during the construction.” This statement is intended to address concerns that construction could endanger the structural integrity of the Stone Arch Bridge. Crown’s proposed design called for a new tunnel to be drilled underground between two of the bridge arch supports.

The filing states that Crown is obtaining estimates from contractors for tunnel work and masonry and intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed location. Their intent is to apply for another amendment to the license issued by FERC in 1999, which has been amended several times as the proposed location of the project has shifted.

Crown Hydro’s developers were notified on June 14, 2012 that FERC intended to initiate proceedings to terminate the license for the project “because over 13 years have passed since issuance of the license, the licensee has failed to complete construction of the project as licensed, and its previous filings have failed to show that it can do so in the near future.”

The St. Paul District Corps of Engineers, which controls the lock and dam and area where the new hydro plant powerhouse would be built, noted in March 15, 2012 that “the new alignment [of the project] raises additional concerns” in addition to those previously expressed that need to be addressed.

Download the Crown Hydro Progress Report...

View the Crown Hydro Tracking Page...

Week 19 at the Mill City Farmers Market

Kare 11 joined a throng of happy shoppers at the September 15 Market.

Fall Fashions Have Arrived at Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes recently held a Fall Fashion event at their 1026 Washington Avenue South location, complete with models, wine, music, jewelry and of course a lovely array of fun styles just in time for the new season.

West River Parkway Closure for September 16 Minneapolis Bike Tour

Time: 7:00am - 2:00pm

According to the MPRB's site, West River Parkway will be closed on Sunday, September 16, for the Minneapolis Bike Tour.

Parkways will open up after the last rider has finished riding the parkway - for more information about the route, please visit www.minneapolisbiketour.com.

A complete list of parkway closures through December 2012 is available online.

Monday Night - "Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront"

"Shaping the Future of the Minneapolis Riverfront” - Central Riverfront Master Planning with the MPRB

When: Monday, September 17, 2012 / 6:30PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Mill City Museum (main floor commons)

Join your neighbors and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board in shaping the future of the Central Riverfront of Minneapolis.  It’s been more than two decades since the last Master Plan for this part of the river was completed.  Learn about potential projects, the planning process, and how local residents can assist in shaping the future:

-- Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Commissioners Anita Tabb and Liz Wielinski will discuss the past, present, and ideas for the future of the Central Riverfront.

-- Andrew Caddock, MPRB Project Manager, will review the Master Planning Process and highlight opportunities for the future at key parks. The end result of this process will be a new Master Plan for the Central Riverfront.

-- “Open Mic”: Engage the MPRB in a question & answer session.

-- Parks that may be impacted include: Boom Island, Father Hennepin Bluffs - Upper & Lower, Mill Ruins Park, Water Works Park (old Fuji Ya site)

All residents, from both sides of the Central Riverfront, are encouraged to attend.

---------------------------------

Co-Hosted by Mill District Neighborhood Association & Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Underwritten by Mill City Times

Tonight - Open House at Blast Blow Dry Bar

Time:  5:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Blast Blow Dry Bar, 940 Washington Avenue South

We are thrilled to join your community! Please gather in celebration at our new Aloft Minneapolis location for cocktails and appetizers.

There will be blowout looks to view and drawings for amazing blast products.