Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
You know summer is winding down when the first pumpkins of the season arrive, which they did at the September 8 Mill City Farmers Market. There are still seven more outdoor markets left this year, so be sure to take advantage of them!
Milly the goat!
Now through October, iHeart Radio will be giving away daily prizes to those who choose to leave the car at home and take the bus, light rail or Northstar train instead.
You could win concert tickets, sporting events tickets, gift cards to restaurants and more! Find out more at ditchthedrive.org.
Buses will replace Blue Line trains September 14-17
Buses will replace Blue Line trains beginning Friday, Sept. 14 through Monday, Sept. 17 during a partial shutdown of the METRO Blue Line to allow for scheduled maintenance.
Beginning at 8:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, buses will replace Blue Line trains from Mall of America to Fort Snelling station in both directions.
Then at 5 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, buses will replace trains from Mall of America to Terminal 2 station in both directions.
Trains will resume by 3:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 17.
During the disruption, customers can board replacement buses near each affected station.
Work being conducted includes airport tunnel repair work, fire detection equipment installation, repair work on curved track near 28th Street and more.
See maps for boarding locations.
Sign up for Rider Alerts to stay up-to-date on planned (and unplanned) closures!
Our 2019 Budget Must Reflect Our Priorities
As Vice President Joe Biden often said, "Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value."
On August 15, Mayor Jacob Frey presented his proposed 2019 budget. Now it will our job - as the City Council, and as a community - to study his ideas, suggest improvements, and make our budget the best reflection of our values that it can be.
My initial take: the Mayor got this budget discussion off to a great start, and deserves a lot of credit for a job well done. There's a significant investment in affordable housing, attention to racial equity in home ownership, business ownership, and financial power, civilianization of some police roles that could be better performed by specialists than by sworn officers, investments in clean energy, supportive for community public schools, and new approaches to snow removal, among just a few of the priorities from his today's speech.
Because of anticipated revenue from the new licensing fee schedule approved last month, and a sustained pace of growth, Mayor Frey was able to propose these investments with a relatively modest levy increase of 5.63%. A homeowner whose property value stays the same for 2019 would actually see their property taxes go down, not up. Since we initially thought that investments like these would have required a levy increase twice as high, I'm glad that's where we're starting the conversation.
You can see the details online this year as we strive to make the budget process more transparent than it's ever been. I'm very interested to hear your feedback, and to work with you in the coming months to hone this document into the budget our city needs and deserves. Email me at Steve.Fletcher@minneapolismn.gov or send me a comment on my Ward webpage.
Check Out My Updated Ward Webpage -- and Follow Me on Facebook & Twitter
We recently updated the Ward 3 webpage on the City website, and I encourage you to take a look.
Whether you're looking to get in touch with me or my Council Office, or find out specific information about a City process or project, I want my City Council webpage to be a go-to resource for everyone in Ward 3. We have added an interactive map of Ward 3 resources and landmarks, and a new City Resources page with links to commonly-requested information. Take a look, and if there's something missing here that you think would make a useful addition, send me those ideas.
For more news and updates from me and my office, please follow me on Facebook and on Twitter!
Ward 3 Business Owners: I Want to Hear From You
As your City Council Member, one of my top priorities since taking office has been to support the creation and development of quality jobs and small businesses in every part of Minneapolis. I sit on the Economic Development and Regulatory Services Committee, and I strongly support the work of our Business Development team and Small Business team.
I want to find out more about the businesses that are already operating in our Ward, so I am requesting your participation in a short survey that I am conducting out of my Council office.
Your responses will help give us a better understanding of the economic activity in the Ward and how the City of Minneapolis can help your business thrive.
This survey is entirely voluntary, and we will not publish any individual responses without your permission; only aggregate data. It should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.
You can access the survey online via Google Forms at this URL: https://bit.ly/2mGP4JA. I would greatly appreciate your participation.
City Leaders, Community Partners Outline Action Plan to Assist People Living in Homeless Encampment
Mayor Jacob Frey joined Native American community leaders, social service providers and other government partners in announcing an action plan to help people living in a growing homeless encampment near Hiawatha and Cedar avenues in south Minneapolis.
The City and its partners are united in efforts to help connect people living in the encampment with critical resources and long-term solutions, including stable housing, health care and social services. Here are key elements of the coalition’s 100-day action plan that began Aug. 23:
How to help
The community response to the encampment has been swift and generous. Leaders within the Native American community are organizing donation collections. Find out how to help at franklinhiawathacamp.org.
City Celebrates Grand Opening of Samatar Crossing
I was so glad to be able to take part in the ceremony celebrating the opening of Samatar Crossing on August 23! This is a beautiful connection between the Cedar-Riverside community and Downtown, and a beautiful legacy for Hussein Samatar, who worked tirelessly to build bridges between communities. It was an honor to stand beside Hussein’s family, Mayor Jacob Frey, Council President Lisa Bender, Council Member Abdi Warsame, Transportation and Public Works Chair Kevin Reich, and all of the Public Works staff who made this a reality.
The City’s Public Works Department repurposed the former Fifth Street exit ramp to downtown Minneapolis into a welcoming pathway over Interstate 35W. Samatar Crossing features separate pathways for people walking and biking and new pedestrian-scale lighting. There are also plans for additional landscaping and public art along the crossing between 11th Avenue South and 15th Avenue South. The City has issued a call for artists and seeks up to three artists to collaborate on the design of an iconic public artwork for the crossing.
Samatar Crossing is named after the late Hussein Samatar, a former Minneapolis School Board member and the first Somali-American elected to public office in Minneapolis.
Public Utilities Commission Pulls Funds from Crown Hydro Project
On August 16, the Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to order Xcel Energy to terminate their grant contract with Crown Hydro. This is a significant victory for our community, and communicates clearly what we've been saying for a long time: that Crown Hydro's proposal is incompatible with the city's vision for a river that is accessible to everyone as a community benefit for all.
Both Mayor Jacob Frey and I have worked with our city's Intergovernmental Relations staff to achieve this ruling, and I'm hopeful that it signals a turning point in the fight against Crown Hydro's ill-conceived proposal. I'm grateful for the work of many in our community - especially Kjersti Monson and Friends of the Lock & Dam - who have worked to raise awareness on this issue and build a vision for what that stretch of river could mean to our community. I'll keep working to protect and improve a riverfront we can all enjoy.
Primary Voting Reaches Historic High in Minneapolis; City Hiring Election Judges for November General Election
Minneapolis served 93,534 voters in the August 14 primary election - the city’s highest turnout in a midterm primary since 1970!
Absentee ballots accounted for nearly 16 percent of total turnout this year, a sizeable increase compared to prior midterm election years, though most voters continued to cast ballots on the day of the primary. Minneapolis voters cast 78,540 ballots at the polls on Election Day, accounting for 84 percent of the final tally.
The City of Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services Division needs temporary election judges up to full-time from October 9 to November 9, 2018.
We are opening multiple Early Vote Centers for the week before Election Day (Tuesday, October 30, through Monday, November 5) and need election team members who will train for up to three weeks, then serve voters at one of four Early Vote Center sites. In addition, Elections & Voter Services needs staff for mail, Absentee Ballot Board, and warehouse operations during this period.
These roles require strict attention to detail and comfort assisting and serving diverse populations and languages. Second-language fluency in Hmong, Oromo, Somali, or Spanish is particularly desired.
If you are interested in this temporary position, please fill out the short application for the Seasonal Elections Support Specialist I position!
Help Shape our City's Transportation Action Plan
How do you travel around Minneapolis? The City wants to know and encourages you to take part in an online survey. Share your current travel habits and thoughts on what improvements could be made to the city’s transportation options and infrastructure. You can also enter to win one of two $25 gift cards if you complete the survey.
Public Works will use the information as it drafts the City’s Transportation Action Plan, which will guide City priorities for transportation projects and policies over the next 10 years. Over the next year, Public Works will work with the community to develop and gather feedback on the draft of the Transportation Action Plan. In fall 2019, Public Works will present the Transportation Action Plan to the City Council for approval.
Current work on the Transportation Action Plan will also identify specific actions for the City to take toward transportation goals and policies outlined in Minneapolis 2040, the City’s draft comprehensive plan. The City Council will vote on Minneapolis 2040 by the end of the year.
Work on the Transportation Action Plan will also support the City’s Complete Streets Policy, Vision Zero commitment, Climate Action Plan goals and commitment to equity. To take the survey, learn more about the plan and review the draft community engagement plan, go to minneapolismn.gov/gompls.
City Seeks Volunteers for Bicyclist & Pedestrian Counts September 11-13
Minneapolis Public Works is gearing up to conduct its Annual Bicyclist and Pedestrian Count, and you can help! Volunteers are needed to count the number of bicyclists and pedestrians at several locations around the city. The main days for counting will be September 11-13. All count shifts are from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Bicyclist and pedestrian counts are conducted in order to understand the impact of non-motorized traffic on streets, sidewalks, and trails. Accurate counts enable the City to plan and build for bicyclists and pedestrians, while tracking what’s successful and what should be done differently.
If you’re interested in volunteering for any of these counts, register online or contact Chris Kartheiser at Chris.Kartheiser@minneapolismn.gov 612-673-2544.
Minneapolis Public Works is also teaming up with Hennepin County this year, offering new counting locations outside of Minneapolis in first-ring suburbs. If you are interested, you can register online by visiting www.menti.com and entering the code 67 00 90 or by contacting Emily Kettell at Emily.Kettell@hennepin.us or 612-543-1963.
City Settles with McDonald’s to Pay Workers $20,000 Owed Under Minimum Wage Ordinance
The City of Minneapolis has entered into a settlement agreement with the McDonald’s franchise at 210 E. Lake St. to ensure workers are paid more than $20,000 in back wages and penalties owed under the City’s minimum wage ordinance.
The City’s Civil Rights Department discovered widespread underpayment of wages at the McDonald’s location after being alerted to the problem by community partners.
The Civil Rights Department will conduct a training for managers at the fast food restaurant. A separate roundtable discussion with ownership, managers and workers is also required as part of the settlement, creating a safe space for all to discuss workplace concerns.
The City’s minimum wage ordinance took effect Jan. 1, 2018, requiring large businesses with more than 100 employees to pay workers $10 an hour. On July 1, 2018, the minimum wage in Minneapolis increased to $11.25 for large employers and $10.25 for small employers (with fewer than 100 workers).
The tiered phase-in schedule requires large businesses to pay a $15 minimum wage by 2022 and small businesses by 2024.
Violations of the minimum wage ordinance can be reported by calling 311 or filling out an online form, or in person at City Hall, Room 239.
The ordinance supports the City’s goals of promoting inclusive economic growth by reducing economic and racial disparities. For more information about the ordinance, visit minimumwage.minneapolismn.gov, call 311 or email minwage@minneapolismn.gov.
City Council Approves Layout for Hennepin Downtown Reconstruction Project
The City Council has approved the layout for a reconstruction of Hennepin Avenue from Washington Avenue South to 12th Street — a redesign intended to make the street more functional for all travel modes. The layout is consistent with a concept developed and approved by the City Council in 2016.
Highlights include:
The project team will now begin a detailed design phase and continue community engagement. For more information and to sign up for project updates, visit the Hennepin Downtown project website.
Submit a Route Idea for 2019 Open Streets
The City of Minneapolis and the City’s Open Streets event organizer, Our Streets Minneapolis, are seeking route ideas for the 2019 season. Applications are due Sept. 21.
Applicants can also share their interest in being a local route host. Routes that have had Open Streets events for the last two years do not need to apply for 2019 and will be considered along with other route ideas.
Open Streets Minneapolis encourages people to contact Nick Ray Olson, the organization’s event and program director, at 612-785-0722 or nickray@ourstreetsmpls.org before submitting a route idea.
Goals for Open Street Minneapolis events include fostering community connections, celebrating the city’s diversity, inspiring healthy living, supporting local businesses and promoting active transportation.
More than 101,000 people participated in Open Streets events in 2017. For more information on this year’s events, visit www.openstreetsmpls.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Good Morning Ward 3 at Kramarczuk's
Join me for my next Good Morning Ward 3 on Wednesday, September 26!
Our guest speaker will be Minneapolis Fire Department Chief John Fruetel, who will discuss plans for a new Mobile Health Care Provider pilot program and a Mobile Integrated Healthcare study in partnership with Hennepin County to provide a variety of healthcare and social services to our city.
Council Member Fletcher holds regular open community office hours at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays at a rotating neighborhood coffee shop in Ward 3 for constituents to drop by, ask questions, and raise any issues you see in the community.
Coffee With Your Council Member
All are welcome! RSVP on Facebook or just show up. If you want to discuss a specific issue or project, email matthew.crockett@minneapolismn.gov and we'll add you to the agenda.
Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for all the details on future scheduled events, or contact our office at 612-673-2203.
Neighborhood Event Calendars
Want to know what's happening around Ward 3? Check out these event calendars!
TPT's Minnesota Experience is debuting this month with a feature on Minneapolis' milling history. Here are the following dates and times:
I rolled into the September 1 Mill City Farmers Market around 9am, just in time to get my share of the tastiest apples currently available. Below, Brian Fredericksen of Ames Farms holds one of the last First Kiss apples from this years harvest. Anticipating the demand, he plans to plant more First Kiss trees, and cut back on other varieties, such as the Zestar.
The young farmers from Urban Roots always bring their A game to the market - fantastic produce beautifully displayed.
Below, Hunger Solutions, an organization that connects hungry people with local help, hosted a table to introduce shoppers to their programs. They work with both state and federal government to advance programs that tackle hunger on the large scale. They also work with food banks and shelves to distribute food on the smaller scale.
Milly the goat!
Via an August 28 News Release:
Voting for top downtown green spaces now open for 2018 DID Greening & Public Realm Awards
The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) today announced the public voting for the 9th annual Greening & Public Realm Awards is now open.
The Greening Awards, a DID initiative since 2010, celebrate outstanding examples of greening and placemaking that improve public space in Downtown Minneapolis. Winners will be selected by public vote at mplsdid.com/greeningawards. The vote will be open Aug. 28 through Sept. 14.
This year, 36 finalists were selected from more than 60 unique nominees through an interactive public nomination process. These finalists were divided into 12 categories based on the project’s characteristics and size. Among the finalists selected were 15 new nominees—a continued sign of the growing diversity of greening in the downtown area—as well as 14 past winners. Seven of last year’s 12 winners are nominated again this year—including eight-time winner Loring Greenway.
“Our greening awards finalists annually highlight the incredible variety and breadth of public and private greening we enjoy here in our downtown,” said Steve Cramer, Mpls Downtown Improvement District President & CEO. “Thank you to all who enhance our public realm through your efforts—going above and beyond to help make our downtown welcoming and extraordinary.”
Winners will receive a commemorative Greening Award created by Wood from the Hood, a Minneapolis-based company that reclaims discarded trees from urban neighborhoods and creates high-quality wood products. Each award will display the year the award was issued.
The DID Greening Awards are intended to inspire all to work toward making downtown greener and more vibrant. DID’s mission through the Greening Awards is to encourage all downtown businesses and organizations to participate in the greening effort.
The public is encouraged to vote by visiting mplsdid.com/greeningawards and clicking on the interactive vote link. Each category will showcase the finalists along with a photo of each location for easy viewing and identification. This year’s 12 categories include the following finalists:
Small Activated Space
Small Green Space
Large Activated Space
Large Green Space
Façade Greening
Public Art
Outdoor Café
Streetscape Greening
Streetscape Green Infrastructure
Entryway Greening
Public Realm Improvement
Best Neighborhood
* New Nominee in this category
The public is encouraged to not only vote on a winner for each category but to also celebrate greening on social media year-round. Send your greening photos to @MplsDID on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #GreenAwardsMpls.
For more information, visit www.mplsdid.com/greeningawards.
Via an August 24 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:
New survey offers an opportunity to give feedback on initial concepts for various park areas.
You're invited to participate in a survey about preliminary planning concepts for the following areas of Mississippi Gorge Regional Park:
The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is updating its 10-year Transportation Action Plan to meet the transportation vision and policies outlined in Minneapolis 2040, the City’s draft Comprehensive Plan. Minneapolis 2040 provides the foundation and supporting policy from which the Transportation Action Plan will be developed.
Streets in Minneapolis serve a lot of people. The Transportation Action Plan will guide us in ensuring that City streets foster safe and efficient transportation options. Additionally, the Transportation Action Plan will help us select transportation projects and guide the design of projects on all streets in the city over the next 10 years. The plan will also help the City increase equity in the transportation system, address climate change challenges, and support our Complete Streets Policy and commitment to Vision Zero. Multiple components that are interrelated will be integrated into one Transportation Action Plan. The Plan components will include:
Good planning leads to successful outcomes. The Transportation Action Plan will update and build off Access Minneapolis, the City's existing transportation policy plan. We've accomplished much of what was outlined in Access over the last 10 years.
A few highlights include:
Throughout the next year, the Public Works will conduct extensive community engagement to hear your ideas on how we should improve our transportation network. Information regarding future outreach events will be outlined on the Transportation Action Plan website. Public Works will seek City Council approval on the Transportation Action Plan in fall 2019.
We are in the early stages of developing the Transportation Action Plan, but there are many ways to be involved now:
Minneapolis 2040: What is next?
The public comment period closed on July 22. Staff are reviewing comments which will inform changes to a revised draft plan that will be released in late September. The revised draft will be taken under consideration by the City Planning Commission in late October and the full City Council in December. The approval process will include a formal public hearing at which anyone can submit written comment or speak in person. Specific dates and times will be announced later this summer.
To view public comments that have been received visit the Minneapolis 2040 website. Comments received by email and meetings will be posted at a later date.
The Mill City Farmers Market 2018 Harvest Social is just around the corner!
This annual event will take place Sunday, September 9, 4:30p - 7:00p inside the train shed connected to the Mill City Museum.
The Harvest Social is MCFM's single fundraiser of the year and supports the work of their new Charitable Fund. Vendor fees cover just 25% of the MCFM operating budget, and they rely on our community, sponsors and individuals to achieve the Market’s goal of Growing a Healthier Community.
Tickets are still available! Can't attend? Please consider making a donation online.
New this year! Check out this new online store with items to bid on (buy it now) before the auction.
Stop by the Info Booth when shopping at the Saturday or Tuesday night Markets to learn more.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Editor's Note: I can personally attest to the value the MCFM adds to our neighborhood. Since moving downtown in 2009, we've made it a priority to support them. When you attend the Market you can feel the community. These farmers and makers are so much more than "vendors" - they are friends and a trusted source of information. I have so much respect for their hard work, perseverance and spirit. Kim :)
Sunday, September 16, 8 am
Start-finish at Boom Island Park
Come experience the beautiful parkways that make Minneapolis the best place to bike in the country by participating in the 2018 Minneapolis Bike Tour! Spanning the Grand rounds Scenic Byway System, the Minneapolis Bike Tour is a family-oriented, recreational tour that is great for all ages and abilities.
The tour will take place on Sunday, September 16, at 8 am, with a picturesque start and finish line area at Boom Island Park, 724 Sibley Street NE. There are two routes to choose from; 16-mile and 32-mile, both of which are closed to motorized traffic. All routes include stops with refreshments and bike mechanics.
Stick around after the ride to enjoy live music, beer for participants 21+ (must show ID), courtesy of local Utepils Brewing, food from local vendors, exhibitor booths and bike tour merchandise for sale.
Check out our tour video on our Minneapolis Bike Tour Facebook page and sign up to ride today!
The Minneapolis Bike Tour was created to bring cyclists together and support bike-related initiatives. Proceeds from the tour will benefit bike safety and education events for Minneapolis youth as well as bike trail improvement projects throughout the system.
UPDATE: Upcoming overnight closures
• Overnight closures on I-94 now scheduled for Aug. 25, 27, 29 and 30
• Upcoming overnight closures on I-35W now planned for early to mid-September
Upcoming public event
• Join us! Franklin Avenue Open Streets: Sun, Aug. 26
Details on each update are provided below.
________________________________________
UPDATE: I-94 overnight closures scheduled Aug. 25, 27, 29 and 30
Progress continues on the new bridges that we are constructing and we need some overnight closures of I-94 this weekend and next week. Please note that the closure dates and times have changed since last week’s update.
• On Sat, Aug. 25, starting at 12:01 a.m., westbound I-94 will be closed between I-35W and I-394. The detour route is SB I-35W to WB Hwy 62 to NB Hwy 100 to EB I-394. The road will reopen by 7 a.m the same day.
• On Mon, Aug. 27, beginning at 10 p.m., eastbound I-94 will be closed between I-394 and I-35W. The detour route is WB I-394 to SB Hwy 100 to EB Hwy 62 to NB I-35W. The road will reopen by 5 a.m. Tue, Aug. 28.
• On Wed, Aug. 29, beginning at 10 p.m., westbound I-94 will be closed between I-35W and I-394. The detour route is SB I-35W to WB Hwy 62 to NB Hwy 100 to EB I-394. The road will reopen by 5 a.m. Thu, Aug. 30.
• On Thu, Aug. 30, beginning at 10 p.m., eastbound I-94 will be closed between I-394 and I-35W. The detour route is WB I-394 to SB Hwy 100 to EB Hwy 62 to NB I-35W. The road will reopen by 5 a.m. Fri, Aug. 31.
________________________________________
UPDATE: I-35W overnight closures planned for early to mid-September
There will be upcoming overnight closures on I-35W tentatively planned for early to mid-September. Additional details will be available as dates are finalized.
________________________________________
Join us!
The Franklin Ave. Open Streets public event in Minneapolis is this Sun, Aug. 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 35W@94 project staff will have a booth set-up at the event near the intersection of Franklin Ave. and Oakland Ave.
The project staff will be available to answer questions and provide information about upcoming construction activities that could impact access to local roads.
Make sure to stop by!
________________________________________
More about this project
To learn more, including all current traffic impacts and detour routes, visit the project website at: www.mndot.gov/35w94.
Metro Transit bus routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, and to sign up for Rider Alerts, visit: www.metrotransit.org/35W.
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, visit: http://www.mvta.com/.
________________________________________
Stay Connected
• Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/mndot and Twitter: @mndotnews
• Email the project team at: info@35w94.com
• Call the project hotline at: 612-284-6125
For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit: http://www.511mn.org/ or dial 5-1-1.
Via an August 21 News Release from Meet Minneapolis:
Public Invited to a Parade on Nicollet Celebrating Military Veterans and The American Legion
The American Legion’s return to Minneapolis for its 100th National Convention will bring an estimated 10,000 attendees to the city
Nicollet will be buzzing with the most excitement its seen since Super Bowl LIVE when approximately 3,000 members of The American Legion march through downtown Minneapolis on Sunday, August 26. The public is invited to line Nicollet for the parade that starts at 5th Street and continues to 12th Street, as these military veterans join in a community celebration to mark their 100th National Convention, which takes place at the Minneapolis Convention Center. In addition to honoring the wartime veterans who are marching, parade watchers will be treated to an extravaganza that includes floats, marching bands, color guards and horses.
“It’s an honor to once again bring this respected organization to Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center,” said Meet Minneapolis President and CEO Melvin Tennant, who noted the city last hosted The American Legion in 2011. “This year cements the strong historic ties Minneapolis has to The American Legion. It’s a relationship we value, as this group of two million members continues to highlight Minneapolis as a great place to visit and conduct business.”
Minneapolis was the backdrop for the organization’s first national convention in 1919. Sunday’s historic parade is the largest public event marking the organization’s 100th National Convention, which will be held August 24-30, with an anticipated 10,000* attendees in downtown Minneapolis. Two additional public events will be a color guard competition Friday, August 24, and a band competition Saturday, August 25.
Details for Public Events:
The American Legion’s 100th National Convention will continue its legacy of work that began in Minneapolis, advocating on behalf of veterans, including extensive work on the original GI Bill and the post 9/11 GI Bill providing more education benefits for veterans.
“The American Legion, founded by returning World War I veterans, held its first national convention in Minneapolis in November of 1919. At that convention, patriotic American service members laid the foundation of what would become our nation’s largest veteran service organization,” said Denise Rohan, National Commander of The American Legion. “Today, with more than 12,000 posts around the world, The American Legion is proud to kick off its Centennial Celebration in Minneapolis – right back where it all began.”
*Anticipated attendance numbers provided by The American Legion and subject to change.
Workers will install new decking in the coming weeks
The Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge rehabilitation project is making good progress, although long lead times for steel and timber decking did cause some delay. The bridge is still expected to reopen this fall, likely in early October.
Steel repairs continue this week with sandblasting and painting of the lower steel structure, followed by deck installation on half of the bridge in the coming weeks. Please continue to follow the posted pedestrian and bike detours and stay out of the construction area.
The Mississippi River East Channel below the bridge is closed to all boat traffic until the bridge reopens, so the Paddle Share kayak return station has been relocated to the Boom Island Boat Launch.
Via an August 21 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:
Minneapolis Public Works is gearing up to conduct its Annual Bicyclist and Pedestrian Count, and you can help! Volunteers are needed to count the number of bicyclists and pedestrians at several locations around the city. The main days for counting will be September 11-13. All count shifts are from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Bicyclist and pedestrian counts are conducted in order to understand the impact of non-motorized traffic on streets, sidewalks, and trails. Accurate counts enable the City to plan and build for bicyclists and pedestrians, while tracking what’s successful and what should be done differently.
If you’re interested in volunteering for any of these counts, register online or contact Chris Kartheiser at Chris.Kartheiser@minneapolismn.gov 612-673-2544.
Minneapolis Public Works is also teaming up with Hennepin County this year, offering new counting locations outside of Minneapolis in first-ring suburbs. If you are interested, you can register online by visiting www.menti.com and entering the code 67 00 90 or by contacting Emily Kettell at Emily.Kettell@hennepin.us or 612-543-1963.
Via an August 21 News Release:
Music is available at no cost to library users!
This week, Hennepin County Library is amplifying its online music platform, MnSpin, with more than 70 additional albums by local artists. The new work includes standouts such as Atmosphere and Brother Ali, and brand new acts launching their first records. Added to the 50-plus albums shared last year, the whole curated collection of local artists’ albums is available to library patrons and music seekers worldwide.
Inspired by models already cranking on library websites based in places like Seattle, Portland and Nashville, Hennepin County Library staff worked last year with Madison-based MUSICat to create a platform to accept submissions from musicians, and make the tracks available via the library’s website.
Good for musicians, good for listeners
Since the December launch, library patrons and others have streamed and downloaded more than 20,000 songs. In a musician survey last spring, three-quarters of respondents said that participating in MnSpin had brought more attention to their music.
“We have been so pleased by the enthusiastic reception MnSpin has received, and by the benefit to our participating musicians,” said Library Director Lois Langer Thompson. “We hope that by participating in our rich and diverse local music scene, we will continue our work to make the library inclusive and welcoming to more people in our community and beyond.”
A playlist picked for you
For the latest round, the library worked with seven volunteer curators and three staff members to cull almost 300 contributions down to about 70 additions to the collection.
10 curators included local music leaders and library staff members who have deep roots in the Twin Cities music scene:
Dan Gaarder, a performer with the Jayhawks, Trailer Trash and the Roe Family Singers
Maria Jette, vocal performer of classical and contemporary music
Brianna Lane, singer-songwriter and executive director/co-founder of The Warming House
Andrea Pierre, founder/co-host of radio talk show The Discourse on 98.9 KRSM
J.D. Steele, member of The Steeles and director of the MacPhail Community Youth Choir
Malik Watkins, aka MaLLy, independent hip-hop artist. Performer and teaching artist
Bo Weber, alternative/pop solo artist and creator of the online publication, Music In Minnesota
Jonathan Copeland, Hennepin County librarian
Alyssa Kuglin, Hennepin County Library staff
Murphy Baker, Hennepin County Library staff
Watkins, a new curator this round, said the picks that made the collection were pretty clear-cut. MnSpin presents opportunities for artists and for the library, he said.
“Some people say all exposure is good exposure, but I think MnSpin is a new spin on how the library is perceived, too,” he said. “It’s a good way to give people a different perspective on the library, and that [the library is] paying attention to how music is consumed. It’s just another avenue for folks to explore. It gives everyone a seat at the table, that their interests are being met.”
A ticket to listen
Your Hennepin County Library card is a ticket to stream or download music from MnSpin; and music lovers everywhere can discover and stream music created in our hometowns. For decades, Minnesotans have been musical innovators. Hennepin County Library is proud to play a part in spreading the word about new, sometimes undiscovered, and always varied music that is constantly being created in Minnesota.
The final MnSpin collection includes, rock, hip-hop, folk, country, R&B, jazz, international music, children’s music and more. Some of the artists who contributed work in 2017 are back again with new albums.
The artists being added to MnSpin include some who have been recording and performing in major venues for years, and others who are brand new to the Twin Cities scene.
PaviElle French, known by her music fans simply as PaviElle, decided to enter her album, Fear Not, after hearing about MnSpin by word of mouth.
“Growing up, I was really into music,” she said. “I grew up in the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul and went to Lexington Library a lot to check out CDs and books. I thought that was really cool they were adding local people because I discovered a lot of music at the library.”
It’s important to offer access to music for free to listeners, she said.
“I appreciate being able to put it out to the public like that. I think it’s great access for people who can’t necessarily pay for it or can’t go to a show. I hope the program itself grows and that it continues to spread to more libraries. … Things like that keep the library alive and keep learning alive.”
Thanks to the Friends
MnSpin would not be possible without help from the Friends of the Hennepin County Library, the system’s funding partner, which along with other support, provided a $200 per-album stipend for each act.
Find the names of the other inaugural artists at MnSpin, or browse from hclib.org/arts-culture.
Please contact us for connections to curators and participating musicians.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County Library website at hclib.org.
Via an August 17 Press Release:
zAmya Theater Project announces SECOND CHANCE, a new play that explores what a second chance looks like for people experiencing homelessness. SECOND CHANCE was created by weekly workshops (primarily people experiencing homelessness) with playwright Carlyle Brown, choreographer Leah Nelson and theater artists Bianca Pettis and Esther Ouray. SECOND CHANCE is directed by Maren Ward.
Who deserves a second chance? And who decides? SECOND CHANCE explores the concept of what it means to get a second chance in life. A woman has a criminal charge that has been following her around and she can’t seem to get rid of it no matter what she tries. We hear her plea to the Council of Second Chances and the audience weighs in on whether or not she gets a second chance. What would you decide?
SECOND CHANCE will be performed by Stayci Bell, Charles Hilton, Caroline Mannheimer, Greg Tromiczak, Arminta Wilson, D. “Lurch” Yundt, Shannon Kemp, Tahiti Robinson, Sol Moran, Robert Blood, Calvin Wright, Annette Bryant, David Schnell, and Kamp Welch.
SECOND CHANCE is the culmination of ACTivation: Changing the Conversation on Homelessness Downtown. ACTivation is zAmya’s year-long residency at the Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central on Nicollet Mall. The goal of the residency is to engage library patrons experiencing homelessness in creative projects which will build relationships between homeless and housed patrons of the library and, by extension, Minneapolis – particularly downtown employees and residents. Activities have included weekly workshops and performances on Nicollet Mall.
It is said in the housing advocacy world that people with criminal backgrounds are the hardest to house. The phrase Second Chance is a term housing advocates use to refer to this challenge. Second Chance implies there is someone who messed up. With this housing or this job we’ll give that person a Second Chance at life. As it is now, these Second Chances are hard to come by. While we generally believe in the idea of serving time and paying dues, our systems do not support this idea. As the truth gets louder around racial covenants in housing practice, Criminal Justice System as the new Jim Crow, huge racial disparities in shelters and on the streets – it must be asked – was there ever a first chance? Maybe it is America that needs a Second Chance to fulfill the dream for all Americans?
These are the questions and contradictions that fuel the latest project of zAmya Theater Project, a company embedded in St. Stephen's Human Services, a social services agency devoted to ending homelessness. Created by actors who have experience with homelessness, zAmya’s plays tell stories related to this vital issues that increase awareness and understanding and build the public knowledge and will to address this problem. As with all zAmya productions, SECOND CHANCE will include humor, song and spoken word.
SECOND CHANCE is created with support from Hennepin County Library, Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, National Endowment for the Arts and the Carolyn Foundation.
SECOND CHANCE will run September 11, 12, and 13 at noon and September 14 at 5pm at the amphitheater outside of Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Avenue. All performances are free, but donations are gladly accepted. More info is available at ststephensmpls.org/learn-advocate/zamya.
zAmya Theater Project is a unique creative process that brings together homeless and housed individuals to create and perform a theatrical production. zAmya turns “homeless” from a word back into a person. Or persons. Living, breathing, laughing, singing persons. Who act — yes, act — in entertaining, genre-defying productions that are guaranteed to change your mind, if not your life.
zAmya Theater Project uses creativity, collaboration and community-based theater to build understanding and connection between citizens with and without experience in homelessness toward a vision of a community with safe, stable, affordable housing options for all. zAmya is a Sanskrit word that means “aiming for peace”.
We’re continuing to make progress on some of the new bridges we’re constructing. As a result, we need some overnight closures on I-94 and I-35W later this month. If you’re interested in watching progress of the I-35W and I-94 interchange, we have good news for you, views from our project webcam are now available.
Details on each update are provided below.
As work progresses on the new bridge that will carry traffic to/from the downtown exits over I-94, we need to set bridge beams in preparation of deck construction. To do this, some nighttime highway closures are needed and scheduled for the following dates:
We’ve installed a project webcam at the north end of the construction area. From the webcam you can see progress being made on:
There will be additional overnight closures on I-94 and I-35W in late Aug. and early Sept. Additional details will be provided in future email updates as dates are finalized.
To learn more, including all current traffic impacts and detour routes, visit the project website at: www.mndot.gov/35w94.
Metro Transit bus routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, and to sign up for Rider Alerts, visit: www.metrotransit.org/35W.
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority routes will be impacted as a result of construction. For updated route information, visit: www.mvta.com.
For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit: http://www.511mn.org/or dial 5-1-1.
The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul announces the 7th annual CZECH THAT FILM, a series of contemporary Czech cinema showing August 24-26 at the Film Society’s St. Anthony Main Theatre Screen #3.
Notably, 2018 marks 100 years since the formation of the sovereign nation of Czechoslovakia, 50 years since the Prague Spring reform movement, and 25 years since the formation of two sovereign nations: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
Via an announcement from RecruitMilitary:
Veterans Job Fair Thursday at TCF Bank Stadium: Jobs for Military Spouses
Recently, the President signed a bill to provide expanded federal job opportunities to military spouses. This new bill is part of an executive action being taken to promote military spouse hiring across the federal government, and the nation at large.
According to a recently released report from the Council of Economic Advisers, “American military spouses, who number approximately 690,000, are a diverse population. Like their active duty husbands and wives, they come from varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, and bring a diversity of skills to the labor market. But military spouses face a particular challenge: they often find their labor market activities, including choices over whether to work, how many hours, and in what occupation, to be subject to the geographic and temporal constraints imposed by their active duty spouse.”
This Thursday, August 16, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and RecruitMilitary are providing Minneapolis-area military spouses and veterans the opportunity to explore new career opportunities at the Minneapolis Veterans Job Fair at the TCF Bank Stadium from 11am to 3pm. The event will feature nearly 60 exhibitors looking to fill hundreds of job openings – with military spouses and transitioning military personnel as two of their top hiring targets. Facebook Event
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 4:51PM