Hennepin County Board Adopts Updated Bicycle Plan

Via an April 14 Hennepin County News Release:

Hennepin County board adopts updated bicycle plan

Hennepin County and Three Rivers Park District worked together to update a county-wide bicycle plan that reflects current and growing use of cycling in the region. The plan, called the Hennepin County 2040 Bicycle Transportation Plan, will guide the county’s work to expand the bikeway system, improve safety for people who bicycle, walk or drive, increase bicycling for transportation, and improve the health of county residents.

This plan, replaces the 1997 plan. Since 1997, the county has made great progress in enhancing its bicycle transportation network. It has built and funded more than 136 miles of new bikeways and closed 59 gaps in the bicycle network. Bicycle commuting has doubled in Hennepin County since 2000 from 0.8 percent to 1.6 percent of trips to work.

The plan includes 45 strategies and more than 170 action items that address infrastructure, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. The plan also recommends the continuation of current county practices that contribute to the goals of the Hennepin County Pedestrian Plan and the Transportation System Plan.

Bicycle usage and interest continue to grow in Hennepin County. Transportation costs have increased and there is greater public concern about the environmental impacts of transportation. There is also a greater emphasis on active living and the public health benefits of bicycling.

Goals of the county bike plan:
•Quadruple the number of bicycle commuters from 2012’s 12,000 people to 48,000 people by 2040
•Complete an average of 20 miles of the bikeway system each year.
•Close an average of five bikeway gaps each year
•Achieve an access level where 90 percent of homes in Hennepin County are within one-half mile of a bikeway or within a mile of the enhanced bikeway network by 2040
•Move toward zero bicycle deaths
•Halve bicycle crashes per capita from 2010 levels by 2040

Development and implementation

Hennepin County will lead implementation of the plan, but also partner with other agencies and cities. This plan is a guide for supporting the vision of increasing bicycling within Hennepin County. Implementation of the plan requires additional action by the county board through the annual capital appropriations and cooperative funding agreements.

Development of the plan began in spring 2013, with community engagement activities throughout the plan drafting process. The plan was available for public comment in fall 2014 and winter 2015. It has been revised based on comments received.

For more information or to view the full plan, visit www.hennepin.us/bike.

STEP-UP to Provide Job Interview Experience to Over 1,600 Youth April 13-16

Via an April 9 Press Release from the City of Minneapolis:

Minneapolis Youth Employment Program STEP-UP to Provide Job Interview Experience to Over 1,600 Youth

Over 400 Twin Cities Business Professionals to Provide One-on-One Mock Interviews with Youth at Minneapolis Convention Center April 13-16

Thursday, April 9, 2015 (Minneapolis)  – April 13-16, over 1,600 Minneapolis youth and 400 Twin Cities business professionals will descend on the Minneapolis Convention Center for four nights for the annual [we don’t know how many years these have been happening] STEP-UP youth employment program ‘Mock Interviews.’ Directed by AchieveMpls, these practice job interviews match  professional business volunteers one-on-one with  over 1,600 Minneapolis youth who are preparing for summer internships at top Twin Cities companies through the City’s STEP-UP youth employment program.

Interviews are scheduled from 4:45 - 6:15 pm each night at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Meeting Room 200, 1301 Second Avenue South.  Interviewers include Richard Davis, STEP-UP co-chair and U.S. Bancorp Chair, President and CEO;  Hilary Marden-Resnik, UCare Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer; and Rich Renikoff, Wells Fargo Regional Director and Senior Vice President.

“Preparing our young people for the workforce is something we are all responsible for,” said Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. “The STEP-UP program is one way we are making sure these young people are in the picture of our workforce, which is crucial to the success of all of us. I want to thank all of the people who are making a personal commitment to help our kids succeed and ensuring that no genius is left on the table.”

“The time to think about tomorrow’s workforce is today. The STEP-UP program is one of the top initiatives in the country for preparing our students for tomorrow’s jobs,” said Todd Klingel, President and CEO, Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. “By participating in the ‘Mock Interview’ process, you are not only providing a wonderful service to some incredibly courageous young people—you are also ensuring a bright future for our entire community.” 

Founded in 2004, the City of Minneapolis STEP-UP youth employment program has created over 20,000 valuable workplace experiences for Minneapolis youth ages 14-21. Managed in partnership with AchieveMpls and with support from the Minnesota WorkForce Centers, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and Project for Pride and Living (PPL), STEP-UP recruits, trains and places Minneapolis youth in jobs with a wide range of top Twin Cities businesses, nonprofits and public agencies, building a stronger future workforce for our knowledge-based regional economy. STEP-UP serves populations that face the greatest barriers to employment, particularly youth from low-income families, youth of color, youth from recent immigrant families, and youth with disabilities.

Prior to the ‘Mock Interviews,’ each STEP-UP program applicant completes 7-12 hours of work readiness training depending on their age and grade level. The trainings, directed by AchieveMpls and certified by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, are focused on developing 21^st Century skills such as communication, problem solving, professional conduct, workplace ethics, interview skills, and resume writing.

In a bustling Minneapolis Convention Center hall, with their work readiness trainings completed, interns put their new skills to the test in what for many is their first professional job interview.  Following the interview, business volunteers coach each STEP-UP intern, modeling professionalism and providing candid feedback to help interns strengthen their skills and confidence. 

“This will be my third mock interview,” said Lulu B., a returning STEP-UP Achieve intern and aspiring doctor. “I really like connecting with the interviewers. They help me think about my strengths and challenges. They also help me prepare for the kind of professional work environment I should expect.  It really feels like a real job interview with a professional company.”

The 400-plus business volunteers will include employees from Accenture, Alina Health, Ameriprise, Best Buy, Fraser, General Mills, Target, Thrivent, US Bank, Wells Fargo and several other businesses and organizations.  Learn more about STEP-UP from the City of Minneapolis’ website or the AchieveMpls website, or follow STEP-UP activities and events all year long on Twitter with hashtag #STEPUPMpls.

Parkway Closures for April 11 for Goldy's Run

The following parkways will be temporarily closed April 11, 2015 for the Goldy’s Run 10 Mile:

8:00am to 2:00pm – East River Pkwy - West River Pkwy between 22nd Ave S and Broadway St NE – Main Street between 6th Ave SE and Hennepin Ave.

Please note that 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.

Interim Report of West River Parkway Mudslide Survey Reponses

Via an April 7 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter:

The online survey for the repair of the West River Parkway Failed Slope has received over 750 responses!  Although the survey will remain open until April 10, we have posted an interim report with all comments received. Please visit the project page or go to www.minneapolisparks.org/currentprojects and select “West River Parkway Slope Repair” to review the interim report under the "What's New" tab.

Franklin Avenue Bridge Reconditioning Update

Photo credit: Bill Klotz

Via the Hennepin County Website:

Reconditioning of the Franklin Ave Bridge (County Road 5) over West River Parkway and the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.

The Franklin Avenue Bridge spans West River Parkway and the Mississippi River. This historic structure will be rehabilitated over the next two construction seasons.

The new bridge deck will incorporate safe, modern, multi-modal features such as separated on-road bicycle facilities, protected pedestrian walkways, overlook nooks, and architectural lighting.

The "below deck" concrete rehabilitation is anticipated to begin in April 2015. The bridge will be open during the 2015 construction season.

For travelers using West River Parkway and the easterly river edge trail under the Franklin Avenue Bridge, there may be some travel impacts as they complete the overhead concrete rehabilitation.

In 2015 the contractor will manufacture "precast" bridge deck panels that will be placed during the 2016 bridge closure. These panels will be made at a site, adjacent to the river, just south of the Washington Avenue Bridge. This will allow use of river transportation to float these panels down the river, and these segments will then be hoisted by water borne cranes into their final positions.

Deck removal and replacement will occur during the 2016 construction season with the goal of reopening the bridge in September 2016.

Hennepin County has established detour signing plans using alternative routes for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists during the bridge deck replacement phase. The alternative routes will be well communicated in Spring 2016.

Project layout and cross section (PDF) 

Update on Friday, April 10, 2015 at 3:33PM by Kim Eslinger

Work will begin on the Franklin Avenue bridge starting Monday, April 13, 2015 with bike lane and sidewalk closures. Pedestrians and bicyclists will still be able to cross the bridge.

Permit surveyors will be taking measurements with a snooper truck underneath the bridge deck. The snooper needs access to the outside edges of the bridge to do the work.

Bike lanes and sidewalk will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The eastbound bike lanes and sidewalks will be closed the first half of the week, and the westbound the latter half of the week.

Pedestrians can cross the bridge on the sidewalk that is open. A signed detour will be provided.
Bicyclists  should use road lanes during this closure.

Drivers should pay extra attention for redirected bicyclist and pedestrians in the area during this closure. Share the road signs will be posted on the bridge.

Vehicle traffic will be maintained in both directions during this work.

David Frank Named New Director of City of Minneapolis Economic Policy and Development

Via an April 6 Press Release from the City of Minneapolis:

David Frank Named New Director of City of Minneapolis Economic Policy and Development

Monday, April 6, 2015 (Minneapolis, MN) – Today, City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Director D. Craig Taylor announced his appointment of David Frank as the new Director of Economic Policy and Development.

“David has been an outstanding and stellar member of our team here at the City for a number of years,” said Mayor Betsy Hodges. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and a shared vision for ensuring all people are contributing to, and benefiting from, our economic development and prosperity. I look forward to his leadership in this new role at the City.”

“I am constantly amazed at the level of talent and commitment we have in our economic development team,” said Council Member Lisa Goodman. “David is proven leader with the right mix of private and public sector development experience to lead this important division at the City.”

As CPED’s Manager of Transit Oriented Development, Frank has managed and coordinated the City’s transit oriented development activities since 2011.  He has played instrumental roles in the City’s efforts to reopen Nicollet at Lake Street, redesign Nicollet Mall, and redevelop the Midtown Farmers Market site while maintaining a focus on advancing the equity and development goals for the City.  Prior to working for the City, Frank served as the Director of Development at Schafer Richardson, Inc.

“David has proven he has a strong understanding of what Minneapolis needs to support investment that grows businesses, jobs and the City’s tax base.  He is excited and committed to working with our great Economic Development team to leverage current and find new resources to achieve these goals,” said D. Craig Taylor Director of Community Planning and Economic Development for the City of Minneapolis. “I am confident that with his 20 plus years of real estate and development experience and excellent track record working across the enterprise and with stakeholders on complex projects, he will do an excellent job.”

As Director of Economic Policy and Development, Frank will manage CPED’s division of Economic Policy and Development which includes the department’s divisions of Business Development, Business Licensing, and Minneapolis Employment and Training.  Some of the key programs run by these divisions include Great Streets, which cultivates and sustains Minneapolis’ commercial districts through systematic programming, the Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP), which provides business consulting services to support new business development, retention and growth to small and medium sized businesses, and STEP-UP, Minneapolis’ jobs program for youth ages 14-21.

“I am so pleased to have David Frank step into this role to lead our Economic Development team,” said Council Member Lisa Bender. “David’s experience and vision will help harness the creative energy of our whole community to build on our assets and create a better future for Minneapolis.”

The division of Economic Policy and Development includes a staff of approximately 65.

“I am glad to have this chance to work with our great team on the City’s efforts to grow employment and business development opportunities for everyone in Minneapolis,” said David Frank. 

Frank currently serves on the 2020 Partners Steering Committee, as the President of the North Loop Neighborhood Association and as a Board Member of the Minnesota Fringe Festival.  In 2009, he was appointed by the City Council to serve on the Ballpark Implementation Committee.  Frank also guest lectures at the University of Minnesota and other local organizations on urban design, historic preservation, planning and development issues.

New Arab American Theatre Works Launches Summer Festival in Minneapolis

Minneapolis (April 3, 2015) — This summer, New Arab American Theatre Works will produce a three-week festival of new Arab American productions by three locally accomplished Arab American theatre artists. Hosted by Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, this first-of-its-kind Twin Cities festival will run June 26 - July 12, 2015.

New Arab American Theatre Works is a new collective of Minnesota-based Arab American theatre artists founded by Taous Claire Khazem, Kathryn Haddad, and Mohammed Yabdri. With a wide variety of strengths as writers, performers, educators, and theatre makers, these artists have been presenting work locally, nationally, and internationally for more than 20 years. New Arab American Theatre Works was created to present new works by Arab Americans, filling a void in the local and national theatre scene where Arab American artists lack opportunities to present their own stories.

Three new works will be produced for the festival, and will run in repertory June 26 and July 12:

Road to the City of Apples
By Kathryn Haddad

Road to the City of Apples tells the story of Ahmed and Khairy — two undocumented Palestinians on a road trip from New Jersey to Wisconsin. Their individual stories intertwine as they discover the meaning of friendship and cope with changing cultural norms — both American and Arab on their winding road to an American dream. The Israeli occupation, gay rights, American treatment of Arabs and Muslims, and the plight of undocumented immigrants are explored in this show.

In Algeria They Know My Name
By Taous Claire Khazem. Directed and dramaturged by Zaraawar Mistry

This one woman show is based on Khazem’s experiences and interactions living in Algeria from May 2008 to August 2011. She explores intercultural communication, cross-cultural marriage, trying to make a living as an artist in Algeria, and living with the in-laws. 

A Clown in Exile
By Mohammed Yabdri with Noah Bremer

Mohamed Yabdri's tragic clown goes on a journey to overcome his sense of cultural inferiority. After searching the world for a place to call home, he discovers that his dreams sit on the wings of a paper plane. A Clown in Exile premiered at the Alliance Française in Minneapolis, MN and went on to perform in Paris at the Algerian Cultural Center, at the National Theatre of Algiers, at the French Cultural Institutes of Oran, Tlemcen and Constantine, Algeria, and at the 2013 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

These three works will present a diverse range of perspectives about the Arab experience for audiences. The core group of artists come from diverse backgrounds, including Lebanese, Berber, Arab, Algerian, White American, Christian, and Muslim. Arab Americans in the community will have an opportunity to see themselves represented on stage and those from outside the community will see representations of Arabs by Arabs. The festival will also give new perspectives to the public when thinking about the meaning of “Arab,” “Middle Eastern,” and “Muslim.”

The New Arab American Theatre Works Festival runs June 26 - July 12, 2015 at Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S. 4th Street, Minneapolis. More information is available at newarabamericantheatreworks.com. Tickets will go on sale on May 26. Tickets are $15 per show, free for residents of 55454 area code, $35 for a 3 show pass, or $25 for a 2 show pass.

Each weekend will include all three productions with audience talkbacks after performances.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Taous Claire Khazem is a fiscal year 2015 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

"The Public Domain" about Four Survivors of the 35W Bridge Collapse Now Playing at the Lagoon Cinema

Filmed in Minnesota, The Public Domain is set five years after the 2007 35W bridge collapse. The lives of four people, impacted by the tragedy and on the run from their personal demons, intersect in a waterfront bar operating in the shadow of the bridge.  The name of the bar is THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

Playing thru April 9 at the Lagoon Cinema.

We're a Week Away from the 34th Annual MSPIFF!

More info

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Announces Array of Events to Celebrate National Park Service Centennial and National Park Week

Via a March 31 News Release from the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area:

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area Joins Find Your Park Movement

National Park Service Kicks off Centennial Campaign, National Park Week

SAINT PAUL, MN – Writer Wallace Stegner called the National Park Service America’s best idea, and in 2016 that idea is turning 100. The Mississippi National River & Recreation Area – the greater Twin Cities own national park – is joining parks, programs and partners across the country in launching a campaign to celebrate the National Park Service’s Centennial and setting the stage for the agency’s second century.

Spearheaded by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the centerpiece of the Centennial celebration is a public awareness and education campaign titled “Find Your Park.” With more than 400 national parks throughout the United States, including five in Minnesota, the campaign encourages everyone to explore, learn, discover, play and be inspired in all of our national parks (FindYourPark.com). Beyond vast landscapes, the campaign highlights historical, urban, and cultural parks, as well as the National Park Service programs that protect, preserve and share nature, culture, and history in communities nationwide.

The Mississippi National River & Recreation Area and its nonprofit partner the Mississippi River Fund will lead the Centennial campaign effort locally. Activities for all ages begin in 2015 and will continue throughout the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary year in 2016, including special events and opportunities for recreation, education, resource protection and enhancement, and volunteering.

“The Centennial and Find Your Park campaign represent a tremendous opportunity for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area,” said John Anfinson, the park’s superintendent. “They will help us introduce this national park and all it has to offer those who don’t know us.”

“Find Your Park” is the theme for this year’s National Park Week, April 18 – 26. A schedule of local activities is available at nps.gov/miss or missfund.org. Here is a sample:

- Find Coldwater Spring. Walk the trials to Coldwater Spring and Reservoir, count how many migratory birds species you can see, or get your picture taken by a National Park entry monument, as individuals and families have done for generations. Address: 5601 Minnehaha Park Drive South, Minneapolis. Just south of Minnehaha Falls.

- Spring Flower Hunt (April 18, 9:00 a.m.). Join representatives from the Minnesota Native Plant Society and National Park Service at Coldwater Spring to discover spring ephemerals and other flowers at Coldwater Spring.

- Ranger on Call (anytime). A newly launched program in partnership with Nice Ride and the Mississippi River Fund. Whether you walk, ride your bike, or rent a Nice Ride, enjoy this audio tour that leads you along the pathways near the mighty Mississippi. Check out rangeroncall.com.

- Ranger River Talks (April 18, 19, 25, 26). Mississippi River Visitor Center at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

- Storytime with a Ranger (April 21, 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) Mississippi River Visitor Center at the Science Museum.

- National Junior Ranger Day (April 25, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.). Make your own fishing lure, talk with “Jacques le Voyageur” about paddling the Mississippi before Minnesota became a state, learn how to properly fit a personal floatation device, or try dressing up like a Park Ranger, and earn your own Mississippi Junior Ranger badge. Mississippi River Visitor Center at the Science Museum.

- Earth Day in the City: Minneapolis River Gorge Cleanup (April 25, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., two locations). Hosted by Friends of the Mississippi River. See fmr.org/participate/events.

For more information on the local Centennial celebration and National Park Week and to get involved, visit nps.gov/miss or missriverfund.org.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 407 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more

About the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area. The National Park’s 72-mile boundary stretches along the Mississippi River from Dayton and Ramsey, through Minneapolis and Saint Paul, to just south of Hastings. It includes a range resources, from historic sites like Fort Snelling and unique landmarks like St. Anthony Falls, to public parks, navigation structures and natural areas. While working to protect the river’s ecosystems and water quality, the park offers an array of educational activities. These include ranger-led canoe, biking and hiking programs and the school programs “Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures” and “Big River Journey.” Find us at nps.gov/miss.

About the Mississippi River Fund. The mission of the Mississippi River Fund (MRF) is to strengthen the connection between people and the Mississippi River and to build support for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. Discover MRF at Missriverfund.org.

Long List of Neighborhood Restaurants are Participating in the April 30 Dining Out for Life®

Founded in 1985, The Aliveness Project is a local nonprofit organization and community center providing on-site meals, food shelf options, integrative therapies, and vital services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS throughout Minnesota. 75% of their members live in poverty and depend on The Aliveness Project for daily meals.

This year, 200 Participating Restaurants in the Twin Cities, Duluth, Lanesboro, and Mankato have agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds to The Aliveness Project.

Last year's Dining Out for Life raised over $257,000 in donations from generous restaurants, sponsors, and 37,000 individual diners. This April 30, the goal is $275,000 and 40,000 diners. 

In our riverfront neighborhoods, the following restaurants are participating:

Mattie's on Main, J.D. Hoyt's, Sawahtee Thai Restaurant, Wilde Roast Cafe, Zen Box Izakaya, Day Block Brewing Company, HauteDish, The Smack Shack, Black Sheep Pizza, The Butcher Block Restaurant, Ginger Hop Restaurant, Kramarczuk Sausage Co., North East Social, Red Stag Supperclub, Republic Seven Corners and Sapor Cafe/Bar.

Traffic Alert - 5th Street Downtown Closure - Update

Via a March 27 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Four blocks of 5th Street close to traffic next week

Crews will be making changes that will improve how people get around downtown, whether they’re driving, walking or biking

On Monday, a section of 5^th Street South by the new stadium will close, and crews will begin modifying 6^th Street so it can handle that displaced traffic. In the meantime, drivers will need to follow posted detours.

The affected four-block section of 5^th Street South between Park Ave and 11^th Avenue is one-way westbound. It runs tandem to 6^th Street, which is now one-way eastbound. Along with closing 5^th Street to traffic, crews will add one westbound lane to 6^th Street. The new westbound lane of 6^th Street is expected to open by the end of the construction season, handling the traffic that used to use 5^th Street.

This work is being performed by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which is coordinating it with the City. After 5^th Street closes to traffic, crews will remove the roadway and make the area part of the stadium construction site. When the stadium project is completed, the area that was once 5^th Street will include off-street bike paths. The skewed intersections along 5th Street and the concrete and chain-link barrier presently separating 5^th Street and 6^th Street will be removed, making it easier for people on foot to get around.

During this construction, the City plans to add two new traffic signals on 6^th Street at 9^th Avenue and 10^th Avenue. These signals will include audible pedestrian signals, countdown pedestrian crosswalk timers and other features. Some existing signals will be similarly upgraded.

Currently, 5^th Street handles traffic exiting from westbound Interstate 94. A joint project by the City and the Minnesota Department of Transportation will move the exit ramp from 5^th Street to 7^th’Street. Since 7^th Street crosses the entire length of downtown, traffic exiting here will have better access to downtown Minneapolis events, stores, restaurants, businesses and other destinations. Construction of the new 7^th Street exit ramp will begin this summer, with the switch from 5^th Street exit to a 7^th Street exit taking place in summer 2016.

Click here for more information on these and other street construction projects.

Click here for real-time information for lane closures and construction in downtown Minneapolis.

Traffic Alert - Hennepin Ave/First Street Downtown

Via a March 27 City of Minneapolis e-newsletter:

Portions of Hennepin Avenue and First Street downtown close for utility work Monday

Closures will last for up to two weeks

Southbound Hennepin Avenue just south of the bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis will close to traffic on Monday, along with a block of Second Avenue North, so crews can upgrade utilities beneath the roadway.

CenterPoint Energy is in the process of replacing a natural gas distribution pipeline in downtown Minneapolis.

Starting Monday, March 30, the following streets will be closed:

• Southbound Hennepin Avenue will be closed at First Street for approximately one week. Traffic on southbound Hennepin Avenue will be detoured west onto First Street, then south onto First Avenue and then east on Washington Avenue. First Street will remain open to traffic during this construction.
• Second Avenue North will be closed from Second Street North to First Street North for two weeks.

The CenterPoint Energy project is expected to last much of the construction season and will involve more street closures and lane restrictions. For more information, go to CenterPoint Energy's construction zone website. 

Click here for updated information on street closures and lane restrictions throughout Minneapolis.

Click here for real-time information for lane closures and construction in downtown Minneapolis.

Bohemian Flats Exhibit Opens April 30 with Free Program at Mill City Museum

"Remembering the Bohemian Flats: One Place, Many Voices" explores the many perspectives on the people and the conditions of this early immigrant neighborhood adjacent to the Mississippi River.

Through photographs, newspaper clippings, maps and surveys, visitors can "journey" down the 79 steps from the bluffs to the flats, and see how a community in the middle of the city could simultaneously be at the margins of the river, of society, and of historical memory.

Exhibit opening, April 30, 6-8 p.m., at the Mill City Museum.

The exhibit will open with a program by State Archaeologist Dr. Scott Anfinson who will discuss urban archaeology projects along West River Parkway including Bohemian Flats, the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and the Federal Reserve Bank. University of Minnesota students Rachel Hines and Stefanie Kowalczyk will be on hand to discuss how they turned student research into an exhibit. Complimentary East European food from Kramarczuk’s and a cash bar by D’Amico Catering will be available.

"Remembering the Bohemian Flats: One Place, Many Voices" began as a senior thesis by University of Minnesota undergraduate Rachel Hines who earned the Elden Johnson Prize for the best senior thesis in archaeology. Three of Ms. Hines’s project advisors brought the project idea to a University collaborative sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Study and the Minnesota Historical Society. Undergraduate and graduate students delved into the local archives, and Rachel Hines and Stefanie Kowalczyk turned this wealth of research into an exhibit. A website featuring a blog and the student research papers will be available at http://riverlife.umn.edu/engagement/boflats_mcm_exh/.

"Remembering the Bohemian Flats: One Place, Many Voices" is located in the museum’s central Mill Commons, and is free and open to the public during regular museum hours. It is on view April 30-Nov. 1, 2015.

The exhibit is funded in part by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008.

MPRB Survey Re: West River Road Slope Failure/Mudslide

Via a March 26 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter:

Please take a survey regarding the design of the permanent repairs of the slope failure/mudslide along West River Parkway that occurred on June 19, 2014.  The survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XW38ZS9. 

The project will be bid in mid-April and repairs are scheduled to begin in mid-June.  Construction is expected to take 3 - 4 months.  West River Parkway will re-open when repairs are complete. 

Deborah Bartels, Registered Landscape Architect
Project Manager – Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
2117 West River Road
Minneapolis MN 55411 -2227
dbartels@minneapolisparks.org
612-230-6438 direct

Minneapolis Milliner Celina Kane of Hat Make Featured in Minnesota Monthly

Thanks to Celina Kane of Hat Make, Minneapolis women now have a new option for making a fashion statement.  Celina is the daughter of Brenda Langton and Tim Kane, owners of Spoonriver, where she recently debuted her new line of hats.  Learn all about it in this Minnesota Monthly article.

In addition to the website, you can follow Hat Make on Facebook.

The Cynthia Froid Group Invites You to Two Private Screenings at the MSP International Film Festival

Volunteers Needed to Serve on Community Advisory Committees

Via a March 24 Minneapolis Park and Rec Board e-newsletter:

Applications are now being accepted for open positions on multiple community advisory committees.

Those interested in volunteering can find more information and an application for each advisory committee below. Individuals should submit the application by the due date in order to be considered. Applications are also available by calling Customer Service at 612-230-6400.

Green Line Extension (Southwest LRT) Community Advisory Committees

This year the Southwest LRT Project Office is working with project partners, consultants, public artists and the community on Southwest LRTstation design, public art and landscaping plans. This work includes integrating public art into each station design and developing landscape designs for the Kenilworth Corridor between West Lake Station and Penn Station. The MPRB is to appoint community representatives to two committees:

Southwest LRT Station Art Committee
•Committee Charter [PDF] and Application [PDF] - Due April 3, 2015

Southwest LRT Kenilworth Station Art and Landscape Committee (KSALC)
•Committee Charter [PDF] and Application [PDF] - Due April 3, 2015

Appointment notifications will be made shortly after April 3.

Blue Line Extension (BLRT) Community Advisory Committee

The METRO Blue Line Extension (BLRT) Community Advisory Committee is to provide guidance to the BLRT Corridor Management Committee on community issues during the engineering and environmental phases of Southwest LRT project development. In addition, the committee will advise the Hennepin County Community Works Steering Committee for elements regarding station area planning, other infrastructure investments and elements that may be implemented post revenue service. The MPRB is to appoint one community representative to this committee:

BLRT Community Advisory Committee
•Committee Charter [PDF] and Application [PDF] - Due April 15, 2015

Appointment notifications will be made shortly after April 15.

MPRB Urban Agriculture Activity Plan, Project Implementation Team

The urban agriculture activity plan was developed through an extensive community engagement process and contains recommendations related to policy, facility, program, and service improvements to better support urban agriculture within the parks. The work of this team is to guide the plan’s implementation for many years ahead.

The MPRB is to appoint three Minneapolis residents to this team:
•Team Charter [PDF] and Application [PDF] - Due April 20, 2015

Appointment notifications will be made shortly after April 20. 

Contact:

Ginger Cannon, Planning Division
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Office: 612-230-6413
gcannon@minneapolisparks.org

News Release from University of Minnesota Health

New nurse-led clinic in Minneapolis poised for downtown revival

Recent legislation helps University of Minnesota Health launch its first clinic with nurses at the helm
 
MINNEAPOLIS – March 23, 2015 – In the heart of Minneapolis’ rapidly evolving Downtown East neighborhood, a new clinic led by nurses opens April 6 to treat patients and teach the next generation of care providers.

With help from recent legislation that allows the most highly educated clinical nurses to practice independently from physicians, this new primary care clinic operated by the University of Minnesota School of Nursing is modernizing health care infrastructure for the state’s fastest growing city.
 
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment in health care. We are seeing growing numbers of nurses leading, delivering and coordinating care. They’re on the frontlines treating chronic conditions, diagnosing common problems and educating patients,” said Brooks Jackson, dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School. “Our University of Minnesota Health Nurse Practitioners Clinic is the latest example of how we’re evolving to this new care model.”

The legislation, which passed with an overwhelming majority, aims to reduce health care costs and alleviate a growing shortage of primary care providers by allowing nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists and nurse anesthetists to practice more autonomously.

Nurse-led clinics could significantly improve people’s access to qualified care providers. In urban centers, these care providers can improve patient flow across the health care system. That’s because nurse practitioners and other highly trained nurses are able to accommodate common health needs, like diabetes, women’s care and pediatric milestones, making room for more involved consultations at area doctors’ offices.

In addition to nurse practitioners, the clinic will be a training ground for an inter-professional team including clinical pharmacists, undergraduate nursing students and other primary care providers. When a patient presents complex symptoms, the clinic’s nurses are able to refer that person to leading specialists within the University of Minnesota.

“When we look at the new stadium, the apartments and condominiums, and the employers moving into the Downtown East area, we see an opportunity to serve a vibrant, diverse and growing community,” said Connie White Delaney, dean of University of Minnesota School of Nursing. “This clinic – and the legislation that helped make it a reality – is paving the way for a healthier Minnesota.”

The clinic is located at 814 S. 3rd St., Minneapolis, MN, 55415. For appointments starting April 6, call 612-888-9792 or visit www.umnhealth.org/np.

About University of Minnesota Health

University Of Minnesota Health Represents collaboration between University of Minnesota Physicians and University of Minnesota Medical Center. Working together, we provide exceptional care in a wide range of specialties at our hospitals, clinics and in community‐based facilities throughout the region. Visit: www.UMNHealth.org

About University of Minnesota School of Nursing

The University of Minnesota School of Nursing offers three graduate programs and one undergraduate program serving a total of 950 students. Its Doctor of Nursing Practice program is the third largest in the nation, preparing nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, public health nurses and other specialists. The school is a leader in nursing research and discovery.  

To make an appointment (after April 6), call 612-888-9792

Learn more at:  umnhealth.org/np

University of Minnesota Health Nurse Practitioners Clinic Facts
• First nurse-led clinic in the University of Minnesota Health system
• First clinic opened by the University of Minnesota School of Nursing
• One of five nurse-led clinics in the region
• 2,600 square feet
• Onsite lab
• Five clinic exam rooms
• Initially staffed by two nurse practitioners, a clinical pharmacist, three staff
• 300 yards from the entrance to the new Vikings Stadium
• One block north of the Downtown East station served by the blue and green lines
• Opened at the invitation of RS EDEN, a regional provider of affordable housing and other social services, which runs a 100-unit facility in Downtown East

34th Annual Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival runs April 9-25

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