Washington Avenue Reconstruction Update

Via a December 3 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

All lanes now open on Washington Avenue

Starting today at 10:30 a.m., westbound lanes on Washington Avenue reopened to traffic between 3rd and Portland avenues. All westbound and eastbound lanes are now open and major construction work is complete for the season on Washington Avenue.

.

Crews will continue to remove construction related signage through the weekend and will paint turn arrows at 5th Avenue and additional striping on 3rd Avenue Monday. This may require some short term lane closures. The lane reductions on 3rd Avenue near Washington related to City of Minneapolis work will remain until the middle of next week.

.

Thank you for your patience as we worked to reconstruct and improve this important route these last few months.

.

Winter travel considerations

As you navigate the reconstructed roadway over the winter months, please keep in mind:

- Some orange cones and barriers will remain in place this winter. This is to help traffic and plows safely navigate the partially reconstructed road.

- Sidewalks will remain open through the corridor and will be maintained by the City of Minneapolis.

.

Cycle track to remain closed

The new cycle track (off-street bike path) will remain closed over the winter until new traffic signals with bike-specific lights are installed early next year. This is to ensure the safety of bicyclists and other road users. If you are traveling by bike in the area, you may consider choosing an alternate route such as:

- 2nd Street for traveling east or west 

- 3rd Street for traveling east

- 4th Street for traveling west

- West River Parkway for traveling east or west

.

All these routes run parallel to Washington Avenue and have dedicated bicycle infrastructure.

.

Looking ahead to 2017 work

Reconstruction of eastbound lanes on Washington Avenue will begin in spring 2017. At that time, a new detour will begin for eastbound traffic following Hennepin Avenue, 4th Street South and Portland Avenue. 

Washington Avenue will remain open to westbound traffic throughout 2017, though some short-term lane reductions on that side of the road are possible. Westbound work yet to be completed includes:

- Installing permanent curb and pedestrian ramps at the northeast corner of 3rd and Washington avenues

- Completing new sidewalk and cycle track between 3rd and 4th avenues

- Greening and landscaping elements

.

Thank you for following our regular email updates about this project. They will be less frequent over the winter, but will pick back up again as project work begins in 2017.

If you have any questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out using the contact information below.

Contact us

Project website: www.hennepin.us/washingtonavenue
Project email: washingtonave@hennepin.us
Project phone: 612-543-3722
 
Project engineer:
Stanley Lim, P.E
stanley.lim@hennepin.us
612-596-0292
________________________________________
See active projects on our interactive road construction map.

Learn more about how transportation is connecting people to places.

Nominations Sought for Annual "Third aWards"

Join Council Member Frey for his 3rd annual State of the Ward Address and Third aWards. Awards of the year will be given for Leader, Local Business, Neighborhood Project/Initiative, and Youth Leader.
 
“The Third aWards are a chance to acknowledge our amazing residents and small business owners that help make the Third Ward a dynamic place,” said Council Member Jacob Frey. 
 
Winners will be revealed the night of the event. All nominees will be recognized and presented with a certificate of nomination. Individuals interested in making a nomination should write a brief description of the accomplishments that deserve recognition.

Please submit Third aWards nominations via email, fax (612-673-3940) or mail to Council Member Jacob Frey, 350 South 5^th Street, Room 307, Minneapolis, MN  55415 by Friday, January 27, 2017. 

Streets Near US Bank Stadium Closing for December 1 Vikings Game

Via a November 30 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

Streets near U.S. Bank Stadium closing for Thursday’s Vikings game

A few streets will close near U.S. Bank Stadium for Thursday’s Minnesota Vikings game, which starts at 7:25 p.m.

Beginning at noon today, Wednesday, Nov. 30, the following street will close:

• Chicago Avenue, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.
Beginning at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 1, the following streets will close:
• Fourth Street from Park Avenue to Interstate 35W.
• Norm McGrew Place from Third Street to Fourth Street.

These street closings are for traffic safety and security needs related to a large stadium event. All streets will reopen approximately one hour after the completion of the game.

November 26 - Small Business Saturday

Please join us in supporting our neighborhood businesses!  :)

Road Closures for November 24 and 26 Races

The following parkways will be temporarily closed November 24 and 26 for these events:

November 24 – Turkey Day 5K - 7:00am to 11:00am – West River Parkway - N 4th Ave to 11th Ave S.  (See the Turkey Day 5K website for additional race course info.)

November 26 – Moustache Run – 8:30am to 1:00pm - Main Street - 6th Ave SE to Plymouth Ave., West River Parkway - Plymouth Ave to E 38th St, Stone Arch Bridge (There are 4 races, see the Moustache Run website for additional race course info.)

Please note, the duration of the closures is subject to change based on the event's start and finish times.

A complete list of current and upcoming parkway closures is available online.

Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet announces new retail partnership: Love From Minneapolis

Via an e-newsletter from Meet Minneapolis:

Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet announces new retail partnership: Love From Minneapolis
 
Celebrates Small Business Saturday with Minnesota artists, music and specials
                                                           
Meet Minneapolis proudly announces a new retail partnership with Love From Companies at Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet, the city’s visitor information center. Love From Minneapolis now provides all merchandise available at the store located at 505 Nicollet, Suite 100. In celebration of the new partnership, Love From Minneapolis and Minneapolis Visitor Information celebrate Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, 2016, with special extended store hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and giveaways, light refreshments, live music and local artists:
 
• Artist Barbara Sculati featuring handmade Nordic Gnomes based on Scandinavian folklore (https://www.facebook.com/barbara.sculati)
• Artist Julie Steller featuring Sweater Mittens and Mini-Mitten ornament gift-with-purchase of $30 or more throughout the store while supplies last
• Artist Kim Gordon/Open Cupboard Design featuring Gnome Luminaries (http://www.opencupboarddesigns.com/)
• Entertainment will be provided by Laurel Kaeferlein, who will be singing classic holiday songs from 10 a.m. to  1 p.m. (http://www.laurelkaeferlein.com/).
• Drawings for gift certificates including Cooks of Crocus Hill ($50 gift card), Love From Minneapolis (two $50 gift cards) and iCandy Sugar Shoppe ($25 gift card) – sign up for a chance to win in the store during Saturday’s event!
 
More information on Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet and Love From Minneapolis, as well as the event, can be found at http://www.minneapolis.org/mvi. Love from Minneapolis has a new Facebook page, as well: https://www.facebook.com/LoveFromMPLS/.
 
Located directly across 5th Street from the Nicollet METRO light-rail train station, Meet Minneapolis partnered with CenterPoint Energy to occupy a 5,000 square-foot corner on the street level of the CenterPoint Energy building beginning in 2015.
                  
ABOUT LOVE FROM MINNEAPOLIS
Love From Minneapolis is owned and operated by Love From Companies and is part of a distinctive family of retail concepts that aim to provide our customers with a unique shopping experience. Whether you are visiting one of our stores or combing our website for the latest in delightful Minnesota Made merchandise, we hope your experience is fun and inspiring.
 
Founded in 1979, our first “store” was actually a kiosk located at the shops on St. Anthony Main in Minneapolis, Minn. 36 years later, our company has expanded beyond our dreams to include 21 stores in Minnesota and Chicago along with a wholesale division. Love From Companies has come a long way since our paper kiosk days: we currently sell everything from authentic Minnesota Made art, Made in Minnesota foods, candy, gifts and heritage goods.
 
It has always been our mission to provide our customers with an extraordinary shopping experience with gifts that capture lasting memories reflective of the culture and lifestyle of the areas in which we passionately operate.
 
ABOUT MINNEAPOLIS VISITOR INFORMATION ON NICOLLET: SHOP. MOVE. FIND.
Minneapolis Visitor Information includes three services in one convenient location – at 505 Nicollet, Suite 100:
                                                                                          
• Shop: Partnering with Love From Companies, Love From Minneapolis offers Minnesota-made artistic retail products, as well as unique souvenirs and gifts. 
• Move: Move Minneapolis (formerly the Commuter Connection) provides services to commuters, carpool information, transit passes, schedules and maps, MnPass and bicycling commuting information and accessories. Visitors seeking help with transit options should make this their first stop downtown.
• Find: Meet Minneapolis staff is available to answer questions, share visitor maps and provide suggestions about things to do in Minneapolis and the surrounding area. It is also a starting point for tours of the city. A social media command center located on-site will be activated during busy event and convention times, and to provide Minneapolis partner businesses a place to connect with visitors. The Visitor Information Center in the Minneapolis Convention Center remains open and available to provide similar information to visitors and convention attendees.
 
Plus, Minneapolis’ famous Mary Tyler Moore statue is located inside the building at 505 Nicollet, Suite 100. Stop by to take photos with Mary and use #MaryinMpls on social media!
 
Regular hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. (except for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 16, 2016, the store will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
 
ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.
 
Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of the Destination Marketing Association International.
 
CONNECT WITH US!
Online: http://www.minneapolis.org/ and for deals & exclusive experiences: http://go.minneapolis.org/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meetminneapolis/
On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/meetminneapolis/
#askMPLS: Use this hashtag to get answers to all your Minneapolis questions from our team!

Sorting out our waste problem: Insights from Hennepin County’s waste sort study

Via a November 21 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Sorting out our waste problem: Insights from Hennepin County’s waste sort study

Food, other organics were a quarter of the trash

Our best opportunities to increase recycling and reduce our trash are increasing organics recycling and preventing food waste, recycling more paper and cardboard, and increasing recycling of materials at drop-off locations. These are the recently released findings of a waste study conducted earlier this year.

Food is the most prevalent material in the trash by far. Steps you can take to reduce food waste include using up all of the food that you buy, practicing meal planning, understanding the date labels on food, and properly storing your food. As we enter the holiday season, residents can use holiday parties and dinners as an opportunity to learn about preventing the waste of food and other organics. Find resources at savethefood.com.

Study identified opportunities to increase recycling

The waste study involved sorting residential trash from Minneapolis into new categories to get better, more specific information about what could be recycled now but is not, and to identify opportunities to increase recycling in the future.

The study identified some clear opportunities to increase recycling:

• Recycle organic waste: Food and compostable paper made up about 25 percent of the trash in the study. Diverting these materials to recycling is the biggest opportunity to reduce our trash.
• Recycle more paper and cardboard: Only 14 percent of the trash was materials that could have been recycled, but the study found that we could be recycling more paper and cardboard.
• Use drop-off options: Materials that can be recycled – just not in curbside recycling programs – made  up about 7 percent of the trash. Clothing ‭can be brought to donation centers for reuse and ‭recycling, plastic bags and film can be recycled at many ‭grocery and retail stores, and there are drop-off options ‭to recycle electronics, mattresses and scrap metal. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬For information about what can be discarded where, visit  www.hennepin.us/greendisposalguide.

Focusing on waste prevention

The study also found that there’s still a lot of trash in the trash. Several materials in the top 10 list  of items in the trash don’t have good reuse or recycling markets. They include diapers, pet waste, non-recyclable plastic and paper, home improvement waste, and small items (those that are less than half an inch in size).
‬‬‬‬
Reducing the amount of waste that residents generate in the first place is the most impactful waste management practice. From using reuseables to avoiding single-use, disposable items, to buying used items, there’s plenty we can to do create less waste.
Planning for progress
‭
In 2015, 46 percent of waste generated in Hennepin County was diverted to recycling or organics recycling. Although recycling has increased steadily over the past five years, there’s still a lot more we can do to increase recycling and reduce waste.‬‬‬‬‬

In 2017, Hennepin County will develop a solid waste master plan ‭in response to the Minnesota ‭Pollution Control Agency’s Metropolitan Solid Waste Management ‭Master Policy Plan. ‭Together, these plans will provide statewide and county-‭specific strategies to meet 2020 goals and lay the foundation for ‭achieving a long-term vision. The data from this waste sort, along with an extensive public engagement process, will inform the development of the county’s master plan.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Find a fact sheet, summary and full report at www.hennepin.us/solidwasteplanning.

Scenes from the November 19 Mill City Farmers Market

A treasure within a treasure - that's the Mill City Farmers Market within the Mill City Museum. A growing base of local shoppers has substantiated the expansion of indoor Market dates, and you have three to look forward to in December - the 3rd, 10th and 17th. These are all great opportunities to not only fill you grocery list, but your gift giving list as well. 

If you missed Jeff Nistler at the Nov 19 Market, you can order a fresh Christmas tree (to pick up at the December 3, 10 or 17 Market) by emailing nstlrfrm@frontiernet.net or calling 612-816-3653.

If there's a dog owner on your gift list, you can't go wrong with a container of ox tails from Barkley's Bistro.

Milly the goat!

Alma Cafe and Hotel: WOW!

Earlier this month I got a sneak peak at the new Alma Cafe & Hotel. In a word - WOW - guests are in for quite a treat! There has been a lot of press on Alex's culinary accomplishments, but I'm going to focus on the hotel.

Owners Alex and Margo Roberts

The architectural scale model from James Dayton Design was on display during our meandering tour through the building, and local artisans who worked on the project were on hand to provide insight.

Eamonn McLain from Marvin Freitas and Talin Spring worked on the furnishings and decor.

There are six rooms on the second floor, and one handicap accessible room on the main floor. All have modern appointments with hints of the past; minimalist, yet cozy, and each with its own special touches plus a hidden surprise or two.

The bathrooms have organic personal care products by Margo's company, Bespoke Body and Wellness. The soothing scents add to the relaxation and romance of each room. (I came home with samples, so I'm not just saying they're wonderful - they really are.)

In the bar and Cafe area, guests can watch their meal being prepared in the open kitchen. The Cafe serves an all-day, a la carte menu. The newly re-opened Restaurant (not pictured) features a 3-course fixed price menu (dinner only).

You can also reserve a private party area.

Alex and Councilman Jacob Frey

Alma Cafe and Hotel is located at 528 University Avenue SE.  Follow them on Facebook to keep up to date on their events, menu, etc. Phone: 612-379-4909

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Seeks Developer for Scherer Bros Site

Via a Nov 17, 2016, e-newsletter from the Mpls Park and Recreation Board:

An artistic rendering envisioning the future Scherer site and rebuilt Hall’s Island

Request for Qualifications issued in search of qualified team to redevelop ‘Parcel D’

Developer submissions due December 15 at 4 pm

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is seeking a creative and qualified real estate developer to participate in the revitalization of a former lumberyard on the Northeast Minneapolis riverfront. 
 
The Scherer Bros site contains 11.7 acres of land directly north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The site is part of the RiverFirst Initiative, which envisions private development of 3.55 acres spanning the northwest corner of the property (currently identified as ‘Parcel D’). Parcel D sits next to the recently opened Mississippi East Bank Trail as well as a future riverfront park leading to a rebuilt 4-acre Hall’s Island in the Mississippi River.
 
See the resources linked below for more details on the vision for the site:
 
Scherer Bros Site Concept Design
Scherer/Hall’s Island 3D Fly-Through Animation
Scherer Bros Site – Parcel D Development Project Page
Scherer Bros Site – Hall’s Island Project Page

Site History and Next Steps

The MPRB purchased the Scherer site for $7.7 million in 2010. Since then, the land underwent pollution remediation, hosted several popular concerts and had a section of a mile-long bike and pedestrian trail paved through it.
 
The selected development team will work with a 15-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and the MPRB to create a concept plan with an innovative design that helps activate the park. The CAC is comprised of stakeholders who will share insight and resources and serve to build and sustain relationships between the community, the development team and the MPRB.
 
Interested developers must submit a summary of their qualifications. The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and accompanying information about the site and redevelopment goals may be found on the MPRB Project Bidding Page.
 
The deadline for submission is 4 pm on December 15, 2016.

Winter Hazard Awareness Week and 2016-2017 Snow Emergency Information

It’s winter hazard awareness week, and we may see snow in parts of the area on Friday. Before then, here is information about the county’s snow and ice removal efforts and what you can do to stay safe on winter roads.

The county's role is to plow its roads

There are 66 plow routes, with crews coming out of five stations across the county. These routes help us cover the more than 2,200 lane miles of county roads.

The first shift may start as early as 2 a.m. What we do varies based on the weather. In some cases, we may apply anti-icing chemicals. If the snow is coming down and sticking to the pavement, the goal is to make all travel lanes passable before traffic gets heavy with the morning commute.

Keep in mind that traffic affects snow plowing operations. That's one of the reasons why we start so early. Plowing and clean up take longer when traffic is congested. And, the number of vehicles on the road can affect the length of time it takes for roads to get clear of snow and ice.

Drivers have a role, too

Be cautious when driving in winter weather. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
• Plan ahead for snow days – give yourself extra time
• Know the road – when weather is good, learn where the road curves, how many turn lanes there are and other qualities of the road
• Be patient – slow down and give plows room to work
• Never use cruise control or get distracted in your driving –  keep your eyes on the road, as well as hands and feet ready to respond

Remember, just because a road is plowed, it doesn’t mean it is OK to speed up. The de-icing materials crews are spreading as they plow need time to do their work.

SNOW EMERGENCY! You know it's inevitable, so you might as well get familiar with the drill... If you didn't receive the 2016-2017 Minneapolis Snow Emergency Brochure in the mail, you can find snow emergency information online. And, here's a helpful video:

Current Hennepin County Advisory Board Openings

Via a November 15 e-newsletter from Hennepin County:

Current Hennepin County Advisory Board Openings

The members of these boards help make a difference by advising commissioners on issues, programs and policies. Participating is a great way to make sure that citizens’ perspectives and expertise are represented in the ongoing work to fulfill the county’s mission.

All interested citizens are welcome to apply for membership on a board. Current board vacancies are listed below; click on the links for duties, meeting schedules and other information for each board. Note that legitimate expenses related to serving on an advisory board (which may include child care, travel and parking) are reimbursable.

Applications are due December 31 and the board will interview qualified applicants in January 2017.
• Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council (PDF) - 10 open positions
• Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin Board (PDF) - 2 open positions
• County Extension Committee (Minnesota Extension Service (PDF) - 1 open position
• Human Resources Board (PDF) - 1 open position
• Library Board (PDF) - 5 open positions
• Lower Minnesota River Watershed District Board (PDF) - 1 open position
• Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board (PDF) - 3 open positions
• Three Rivers Park District (PDF) - 1 open position
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Board (PDF) - 10 open positions

For more information, contact Yolanda Clark, Board Clerk’s office, 612-348-3257 or visit www.hennepin.us/advisoryboards. 

Sunday, November 13 - Free Sambusa, Chai, and Hugs in Loring Park

Via an e-newsletter from R.T. Rybak, President and CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation:

Free Sambusa, Chai, and Hugs

In the face of threats during and after the election, many of our Somali neighbors have shared they have been overwhelmed by an outpouring of support. To thank those who are standing with them in very uncertain times, the Coalition of Somali American Leaders, with the support of The Minneapolis Foundation, is hosting Sambusa Sunday this Sunday, November 13, from 4-5:30 p.m. in Loring Park. It's a neighborhood gathering where the Somali community is giving out, in their words, "free sambusa, chai and hugs." It's not a rally and no big speeches.

The Foundation encourages our friends and donors to join us in Loring Park on a sunny fall day, visit with your neighbors, and join us in the work we have always done, bringing together people, resources and ideas to build a stronger community. We will keep striving toward the ideal of OneMinneapolis – a place where every person has the opportunity to thrive, and where everyone is involved in the work of building a community we can all be proud of. Please join me and The Minneapolis Foundation in support of these values. #OneMpls 

November Public Programs at North Mississippi Regional Park

Via a November 9 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Early Birding - Saturday, Nov 12 9:00am-10:30am
Join us for a morning of bird watching at North Mississippi Regional Park.
We will hike through prairie, woodland and along the river
while keeping our eyes and ears open for our feathered friends.
Binoculars provided if needed. Meet at the Kroening Interpretive Center.
FREE All Ages (kids under 12, must be accompanied by an adult)
Register online Activity# 71025
 
Nature’s Black Friday Fun - Friday, Nov 25 11:00am-3:00pm
Ditch the mall crawl and opt outside this year! We’ll have both
naturalist led and self-guided nature exploration activities.
Hike, build a fort, go on a scavenger hunt, play games and more!
Activities will be based out of Kroening Interpretive Center. FREE for All Ages.
Register online Activity# 71029

Arts and Animals Sunday, Nov 27 1:00pm-3:00pm
Your opportunity to meet some MN animals up-close and personal with your
family. Then, get inspired by nature's beauty as you make art work to take home.
Activities will be based out of Kroening Interpretive Center. FREE for All Ages.
Register online Activity# 71030
________________________________________

Visit North Mississippi on the Weekends
Explore a different seasonal theme in the park each weekend for free!
 
Naturalist’s Nature Table
Every Saturday between 11am-3pm stop by the Nature Table to learn more about each topic with a naturalist through activities and a craft.
 
Family Funday
Sundays are about learning and enjoying nature while spending quality time as a family every week from 12:30-3:30pm.
 
Like North Mississippi on Facebook to discover our weekend themes and stay in the loop about what’s happening in our park!

Learn more about North Mississippi Regional Park at our website.
________________________________________

Contact:
Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park
4900 Mississippi Court Minneapolis, MN 55430
Phone: 612-370-4844
Email: NorthMississippi@minneapolisparks.org

'Spirit: Made Here' Launch Event Planned For December 8

Twice per year, Made Here fills windows and other underused spaces throughout WeDo with art made by local artists. The project has grown from visual displays in windows to live performances, artist markets, pop-up galleries and a lot more.

Since it launched in 2013, Made Here has produced more than 336 window displays in commercial spaces, making it the largest initiative of its kind in the country … and that presence has mattered! Nine downtown commercial spaces have been leased since participating in Made Here. And more than 390 artists have worked as part of the project to make WeDo a more visually-vibrant destination for everyone to enjoy.

Spirit: Made Here fills over 30 window displays with art that interprets the theme “spirit.” All displays are on view from December 8, 2016 through March 30, 2017. Enjoy a warm cup of cocoa while on a tour through the Cultural District made bright (literally) by art.

The launch of Spirit: Made Here coincides with 5 to 10 on Hennepin, featuring an artists’ market, street performers and live music on the Northern Lights Stage presented by Jack Link’s!

Here’s a rundown of the launch activities:

Launch Reception:
5:00-8:00pm Minneapolis City Center atrium (light appetizers and cash bar)

The Northern Lights Stage presented by Jack Link’s
5:00-6:30pm Spotlight Education student performance
5:45-6:00pm Welcoming remarks
6:30-8:00pm Spoken word by Kulture Klub Collaborative
6:45-7:00pm Tours of Spirit: Made Here installations

Local Artists’ Market
5:00-8:00pm Featuring more than 15 artists and makers + free flu shots

Local Nonprofits Participating in Give to the Max Day, November 17

Launched in November 2009, GiveMN helps nonprofit organizations of all sizes reach new donors, increases giving through fun and engaging campaigns and significantly reduces overall fundraising costs. It is an independent 501(c) (3) supporting organization of the Minnesota Community Foundation. Donations through the GiveMN.org site to nonprofit organizations are tax deductible and irrevocable.

The scheduled giving period for Give to the Max Day 2016 is underway! All gifts made using GiveMN.org through November 16 will be scheduled to process on November 17, making those donations eligible for all Give to the Max Day prizes!

Here are some local nonprofit organizations to consider, along with the links to their GiveMN page:

Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition
https://givemn.org/organization/Minneapolis-Bicycle-Coalition

Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership
https://givemn.org/organization/minneapolisriverfrontpartnership

MacPhail Center for Music
https://givemn.org/organization/Mac-Phail-Center-For-Music

The Loft
https://givemn.org/organization/Loft

Open Book
https://givemn.org/organization/Open-Book

Minnesota Center for Book Arts
https://givemn.org/organization/Minnesota-Center-For-Book-Arts

The Southern Theater
https://givemn.org/organization/The-Southern-Theater

Mill City Commons
https://givemn.org/organization/Mill-City-Commons

Mill City Museum (via MN Historical Society)
https://givemn.org/organization/Minnesota-Historical-Society

The Film Society of Minneapolis/St. Paul
https://givemn.org/organization/Mspfilmsociety

People Serving People
https://givemn.org/organization/Peopleservingpeople

House of Charity
https://givemn.org/organization/Houseofcharitymn

YouthLink
https://givemn.org/organization/YouthLink

St. Stephen's Human Services
https://givemn.org/organization/St-Stephen-s-Human-Services

Friends of the Mississippi River
https://givemn.org/organization/Friends-Of-The-Mississippi-River

Friends of the Skyway Senior Center
https://www.givemn.org/organization/the-friends-of-the-skyway-senior-center-incorporated

High Tech Kids
https://www.givemn.org/organization/high-tech-kids 

Election Day Information

2016 Election Day Voting

All 132 polling places in Minneapolis will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

You need to vote at your assigned polling location. Not sure where that is? Find out at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

Need to know more about what you're voting on? Find out what is on the ballot and starting in late September download a copy of your sample ballot at http://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/BALLOT

Mayor's Update: 2017 Budget Focus: Community Partnerships for Public Safety

Via a November 7 e-newsletter from the office of Mayor Hodges:

2017 Budget Focus: Community Partnerships for Public Safety

Public safety — being safe on the streets, at work, in your home, anywhere and everywhere you go — is the most important thing that I work on as Mayor. It’s the most important thing that all of us — police officers, firefighters, police chief, fire chief, city attorney, licensing, City Council, and I — work on at the City of Minneapolis. And all of us know that in the 21st century, policing alone, as necessary as it is, is not sufficient: in the 21st century, the community must be involved as full partners if every person in every neighborhood is to be, and feel, safe.

For years, I have heard from community members that they want to partner with the City and with our Police Department in keeping their neighborhoods safe on the ground. This is why I invest nearly $1 million in several community-based strategies to enhance public safety in the City of Minneapolis’ 2017 budget that I proposed earlier this year.

These are the highlights of those strategies:

• I have funded $200,000 for a mental-health co-responders pilot program. Trained mental-health professionals will be paired with three highly-trained police officers to respond with sensitivity, understanding, and compassion to public-safety calls where someone may be experiencing a mental-health crisis. This is the public-safety initiative that community members have most often asked me for.
• In addition, I have funded $290,000 for a strategy called Group Violence Intervention. It teams community, law enforcement, educational and social services to offer support and resources to the most violent offenders who desire to leave violence behind, and relentlessly holds accountable those who do not. This is a violence-reduction strategy that has been put to use successfully in other cities. We have already received a federal grant of $250,000 to implement it this year, and I propose adding more resources in 2017 to expand it next year.
• I have also funded $500,000 for collaborative, community-driven, public-safety strategies in two locations with high levels of youth violence: the West Broadway Corridor and the neighborhood in and surrounding Little Earth. We will provide technical and financial resources for residents and business owners of these areas, and the community-based organizations that serve them, to decide for themselves what on-the-ground, downstream, public-safety interventions will best improve public safety there. I know of no other city that is providing resources directly to community members to design and implement the strategies that they think will keep them safe.

I am working with the City Council to pass these investments, and many more that I have proposed for 2017 to enhance public safety, by December of this year. Fully 70 percent of the new, ongoing investments that I propose in the 2017 budget are dedicated to public safety. I have made many more investments in public safety and public trust that I will tell you more about soon.

These public-safety investments join others that I propose for 2017 in running the city well and in managing the great growth that we are seeing all around our city. As I said in August when I proposed the 2017 budget, rising to the imperatives of good government, growth, and public safety is increasingly one and the same thing in our 21st-century city. To me, innovative, community-based, public-safety strategies are a terrific example of community and government working together as partners not only to keep people safe, but to manage our growth and run our city well for the benefit of all of us.

Sincerely,
 
Mayor Betsy Hodges

Street Closures near US Bank Stadium for Sunday's Vikings Game

The City of Minneapolis will close streets around US Bank Stadium for the Noon Vikings game:

Beginning at 5:00am Sunday, the City will close:
- Chicago Avenue, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, the City will close:
- Fourth Street from Park Avenue to Interstate 35W.
- Norm McGrew Place from Third Street to Fourth Street.

These street closings are for traffic safety and security needs related to a large stadium event. All streets will reopen about one hour after the completion of the game.

Reminder! "Fall Back" Saturday Night, November 5

Hopefully most of your devices will automatically update, but if you have manual alarm clocks, appliance clocks, etc., don't forget it's "Fall Back" tonight, November 5. Will this archaic practice ever go away?