Free Valentine’s Eve Wedding Ceremonies by Hennepin Judges

Via a February 3 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Fourteen Fourth Judicial District judges invite couples to register for free wedding ceremonies on Valentine’s Eve, over the noon hour.

“As a bench, we wanted to help celebrate the holiday in a unique way – and to help people easily remember their anniversaries in the future," said Honorable William Koch. "This was a fun event for us, and allowed us to give a little back to our military members and first responders, as well as general members of the public.”

For registration information, please visit the Fourth Judicial District website.

WHEN:

Friday, February 13, 2015
11:30 a.m. Pre-ceremony check-in
12:00 p.m. Program starts

Welcome – Honorable William Koch, Fourth Judicial District
Music performed by Fourth Judicial District judges
Weddings will occur approximately every 15 minutes.

WHERE:

Hennepin County Government Center
300 South Sixth Street
Skyway-level reflection pool

WHO:

Military, first responders and civilian couples will be married in Hennepin County by 14 judges. The event spotlights positive outreach to the citizens of Hennepin County about District Court, the Resident and Real Estate Services department's services, and the Government Center.

For more information visit district court's website at www.mncourts.gov/district/4/. 

In the News - February 2, 2015

CSM PLANS TO REMOVE DEPOT HOTEL'S WATER PARK FOR MORE ROOMS

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2015/01/22/depot-renaissance-hotel-waterpark-demolition-plans.html

COMMUTERS WILL LOSE 5TH STREET IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS TO VIKINGS STADIUM

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/290150641.html

COMMUTE FROM I-94? HOPE YOU AREN'T ATTACHED TO FIFTH STREET

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/morning_roundup/2015/01/commute-from-i-94-hope-you-arent-attached-to-fifth.html

NEW BIKE LANES PLANNED FOR VIKINGS STADIUM

http://finance-commerce.com/2015/01/new-bike-lanes-planned-for-vikings-stadium/

SANCTUARY IS NOW CHEF CO-OWNED

http://mspmag.com/Blogs/Dara/January-2015/Patrick-Atanalian-Buys-A-Restaurant/

AWASH IN APARTMENTS, NORTH LOOP GETTING SOME NEW CONDOS

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/290154081.html

THIS LOCK HELPED BUILD MINNEAPOLIS. NOW IT'S CLOSING.

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/01/21/minneapolis-lock-and-dam

THIS IS HOW CHANGE BEGINS: FORUM ON CLOSURE OF ST. ANTHONY LOCK

http://riverlife.umn.edu/2015/01/this-is-how-change-begins-forum-on-closure-of-st-anthony-lock/

UPDATE: NEW DESIGNS FOR SUPERIOR PLATING SITE IN NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS GET A NOD FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TASK FORCE

http://www.startribune.com/blogs/289305311.html

WASHINGTON AVENUE PROJECT PAVES THE WAY FOR FUTURE ROADS

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/290402101.html

FREY PRESENTS WARD 3’S GOALS FOR 2015

http://www.mndaily.com/news/metro-state/2015/02/01/frey-presents-ward-3%25E2%2580%2599s-goals-2015

MINNEAPOLIS SCULPTURE GARDEN AND COWLES CONSERVATORY'S NEW LOOK ADVANCES (IMAGES)

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2015/01/27/minneapolis-sculpture-garden-cowles-new-look.html

SCULPTURE GARDEN CONCEPT MIXES WILDNESS, FORMALITY

http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/289931251.html

Opinion - Defending Minneapolis Parks

By David C. Smith

For decades, public and private parties have claimed that they just need a little bit of Minneapolis parkland to achieve their goals. And now even Governor Dayton has joined the shrill chorus of those who think taking parkland is the most expedient solution to political challenges. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is justified in examining very skeptically all desires to take parkland for other purposes and in rejecting nearly all of them categorically.

Read the article here...

Crime Alert - Burglaries of Dwellings in the Mill District

2 burglaries of condos in occured within a few minutes of each other this weekend:

MPD ACTION ALERT - Case No. 15-036013

Please read "Footnotes" below *before replying* to this note.  Your first point(s) of contact for the referenced location:

Crime Prevention Specialists Ahmed Hassan: 612-673-5164 Ahmed.Hassan@MinneapolisMN.gov and Carla Nielson 612-333-9242 Carla.Nielson@MinneapolisMN.gov

=================================================

CASE SUMMARY:

Incident Location: 0001** Portland AV S

Date and Time:  1/31/2015 1:57:00 AM - 1/31/2015 2:05:00 AM

Primary Offenses:  Burglary Of Dwelling

Public Information:

Officers responded to a burglary of dwelling in progress.  Suspect was GOA, and victim had limited suspect description.  Nothing was taken.  Victim was given a blue card.

RECOMMENDATION:  CASE CONTINUED PENDING FURTHER INFORMATION OR LEADS. ...

Arrested Parties, if any (name - age / Address AptNo City, State Zip):

NOTE: Any persons arrested in this incident were not necessarily charged with the listed offenses. Use the link provided below for a more complete explanation of the format of these alerts if anything is unclear.

=================================================

NOTE: Asterisks (**) indicate that a street address has been masked, and the incident took place on the “100 block” ,e.g., 0041** Stevens AV S took place on the 4100 block of Stevens Av S. We do not include the full address of incident locations in order to preserve the privacy of victims.

********************

MPD ACTION ALERT - Case No. 15-036201

Please read "Footnotes" below *before replying* to this note.  Your first point(s) of contact for the referenced location:

Crime Prevention Specialists Ahmed Hassan: 612-673-5164 Ahmed.Hassan@MinneapolisMN.gov and Carla Nielson 612-333-9242 Carla.Nielson@MinneapolisMN.gov

=================================================

CASE SUMMARY:

Incident Location: 0007** 2 ST S

Date and Time:  1/31/2015 2:07:00 AM - 1/31/2015 2:31:00 AM

Primary Offenses:  Burglary Of Dwelling

Public Information:

A burglary of Occupied dwelling occurred at the above address. The unknown suspect entered the occupied dwelling, damaged the exit door lock and took the listed items.  The B of I responded to the scene. ...

Arrested Parties, if any (name - age / Address AptNo City, State Zip):

NOTE: Any persons arrested in this incident were not necessarily charged with the listed offenses. Use the link provided below for a more complete explanation of the format of these alerts if anything is unclear.

=================================================

NOTE: Asterisks (**) indicate that a street address has been masked, and the incident took place on the “100 block” ,e.g., 0041** Stevens AV S took place on the 4100 block of Stevens Av S. We do not include the full address of incident locations in order to preserve the privacy of victims.

Updates from the Minneapolis Parks Foundation

 

From a January 30 Minneapolis Parks Foundation e-newsletter:

R.T. Rybak, Liz Hawn join Board of Directors

On January 13, 2015, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation named Liz Hawn and R.T. Rybak to its 20-member Board of Directors. Hawn, a community leader and philanthropist, and Rybak, former Minneapolis Mayor and Executive Director of Generation Next, assumed their three-year Directorships at the Parks Foundation’s annual meeting. Read More >>
 

A new look at the West Bank

The St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board approved a fresh vision for the West Bank of St. Anthony Falls earlier this month. Called Changing Relationships to the Power of the Falls, the Interpretive Vision builds on a landmark 2009 vision for the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Zone, and follows a 2013 East Bank interpretive plan. Read More >>

Congratulations to Neighborhood Businesses Recognized by Hennepin County for Their Recycling Efforts

Via a January 29 Hennepin County News Release:

Hennepin County recognizes 40 businesses for their extraordinary leadership in recycling

Hennepin County is pleased to recognize its 2014 Environmental Partners for their leading efforts to recycle and divert organic waste from the trash through composting, sending food scraps to local farmers to feed animals, or by donating edible food. By creating and sustaining strong recycling programs, these 40 businesses help conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the local economy.

The business sector generates more than half of the total waste in Hennepin County, and studies show that about one-third of that waste is food and food-soiled paper. Initiatives by businesses to increase recycling are critical to meeting the county’s recycling goals and will be required for most companies in the county starting in 2016.

“As a healthcare organization, our mission is to improve the health of our community,” said Wesli Waters, sustainability program manager for Fairview Health Services, a 2014 Environmental Partner. “By implementing sustainability initiatives such as recycling and composting, we are able to conserve resources, which improves the health of the environment, and ultimately the health of our communities. While these programs are important to not only our employees, patients and community, they also help Fairview conserve valuable financial resources.”

Businesses become eligible to be recognized as Environmental Partners by completing an application that details their recycling programs, which are then verified by Hennepin County’s Environment and Energy Department staff during site visits. Businesses that demonstrate that they’ve met the Environmental Partner standards receive recognition decals to post at a visible location at their business and are listed in the Environmental Partners Directory on Hennepin County’s website. In addition to the Environmental Partners program, the county offers grants up to $50,000, free labels and signage, and professional staff assistance to help businesses start or improve recycling programs.

Thank you and congratulations to all of Hennepin County’s 2014 Environmental Partners:
•APA Medical
•The Bakken Museum
•Barbette
•Barrio – Edina
•Bread & Pickle
•Brave New Workshop
•Bryant Lake Bowl
•Butter Bakery Café
•Caffetto Coffee House
•The Cookie Cart
•Common Roots Café  and Catering
•Cozé Flats
•Donaldson Company
•Dunn Brothers – Freight House
•Edina Cinema
•Edina Grill
•Fairview Southdale Hospital
•Gastrotruck
•Gigi’s Café
•Gumball Collective
•IDS Center
•International Dairy Queen
•Joseph Catering
•Kid Zone Child Care Center
•Lions Tap
•Mason’s
•MSP Airport
•Mill City Clinic
•Minnesota Twins
•Open Arms
•Pat’s Tap
•Red Stag Supper Club
•Salut Bar Americain – Edina
•Solhavn
•Solhem
•Soltva
•Tennant Co.
•University of Minnesota Medical Center - West Bank and East Bank
•Wedge Community Co-op

Learn more about the Environmental Partners Program at www.hennepin.us/environmentalpartners or by calling 612-348-9195.

Izzy's 2015 13 Days of Giving, February 1 - 13

For a second year, Izzy's Ice Cream is paying it forward with their "13 Days of Giving", February 1 - 13.  Each day a different organization is featured (3 days have 2 organizations) and $2 from every single scoop cone or cup sold that day is donated to the organization.  This year's organizations are:

Open Arms of Minnesota
Autism Society of Minnesota
People Serving People
Roots for the Home Team
Youth Link
Fresh Air KFAI
Cycles for Change
Cookie Cart
Dangerous Productions
Milkweed Editions
Restart, Inc.
Twin Cities Pet Rescue
Friends of the Mississippi River
St. Stephen's Human Services
NPH USA
Guthrie Theater Foundation

They are also hosting a Silent Auction/Movie Night on Thursday, February 12, from 7:00pm - 9:00pm at the Riverview Theater (3800 42nd Avenue South).  All proceeds from the silent auction and movie night will be distributed equally among the organizations.

Here's What's on the Menu at the Film Society of Minneapolis St.Paul

Boyhood Now playing thru February 5 | 2014 MSPIFF Official Selection | Oscar Nominee We're delighted to bring back the 2014 MSPIFF Official Selection and Oscar Nominee, Boyhood. Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater's groundbreaking film tells the story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, and newcomer Lorelei Linklater, Boyhood charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film  has before....read more Awake: The Life of Yogananda Now playing thru February 5 Extended Run | Minneapolis Theatrical Exclusive An unconventional documentary about the Hindu Swami who brought yoga and meditation to the West in the 1920s, and authored the spiritual classic "Autobiography of a Yogi," which has become a spiritual classic used by yoga lovers and philosophers everywhere, and bears the distinction of being the only book Steve Jobs kept on his iPad!...read more Roméo and Juliette February 1 at 1:00pm series: Opera on Screen Tony Award winning stage director Bartlett Sher makes his European opera debut with this production of Roméo et Juliette, one of the most famous and moving love stories in all of opera. Tenor superstar Rolando Villazón sings opposite young Georgian soprano Nino Machaizde, one of the newest darlings of the opera world.  ...read more The Jingle Dress February 6 - 12 2014 MSPIFF Official Selection | MN Made MN Theatrical Exclusive At its heart, The Jingle Dress is a contemporary story of a Native American family that moves from their rural home on the reservation in northern Minnesota to the faster paced urban environment of Minneapolis....read more WonderWomen: Rocks in My Pockets February 2 at 7:00pm | February 4 at 7:00pm series: WonderWomen On Screen Lativa's Oscar submission for Best Foreign Language Film!  Latvian-born artist and filmmaker Signe Baumane tells five fantastical tales based on the courageous women in her family and their battles with madness. With boundless imagination and a twisted sense of humor, she has created daring stories of art, romance, marriage, nature, business, and Eastern European upheaval-all in the fight for her own sanity....read more The Babadook Now playing thru February 5 Extended Run | MN Theatrical Exclusive | #StudentGiveaway When William Friedkin, director of The Exorcist, calls it the most terrifying film he's ever seen, one should take note. Directed by a former apprentice of Lars Von Trier, the film follows a single mother who struggles to control her son's fear of a monster he believes is coming to kill them both: the Babadook....read more Two Days, One Night February 3 at 7:00pm Oscar Nominee | Members-Only Free Screening This screening is full, but stay tuned for more Members-Only Free Screenings in the future! For the first time, the Dardenne Brothers have teamed with a major international star, Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, and the result is another masterwork of humanism.  ...read more WonderWomen: The Works of Suzan Pitt February 9 at 7:00pm series: WonderWomen On Screen For three decades, Suzan Pitt has been an internationally renowned creator of beautiful, strange and fiercely original animation. Collected here in this program are four of Pitt's pioneering and unforgettable masterworks. ...read more

Should Gov. Dayton Punish Minneapolis Parks Over Southwest LRT? - Mill City Times Poll

Our Governor is proposing to slash the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board budget over its engineering studies of the Southwest LRT project (see statements from Dayton & MPRB below).  What do you think?

Vote here, it only takes 1 click!

Inaugural Mpls Lantern Fest To Bring Community Together and Illuminate Downtown On February 21

Via a January 27 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Downtown Council:

MINNEAPOLIS (January 27, 2015) — The Minneapolis Downtown Council and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre announced today the inaugural Mpls Lantern Fest will take place Saturday, February 21 from 5-8 p.m. at Cancer Survivors Park in downtown Minneapolis.

The event will be a culmination of free workshops at various Minneapolis locations throughout February, at which participants of all ages and abilities will be able to create their own paper lanterns with the help and direction of In the Heart of the Beast teaching artists. Participants may build their own lantern at a workshop, then pick up their lantern on February 21 and take part in an illuminated movement beginning at 6 p.m.  Participants may take their lanterns home afterwards.

“We’re excited to introduce the Mpls Lantern Fest and start a new tradition here in Downtown Minneapolis,” said Leah Wong, vice president of events and marketing, Minneapolis Downtown Council. “Activities and events are a big part of creating a consistently compelling downtown experience, an initiative of our Downtown 2025 Plan. The Mpls Lantern Fest will be a great way to bring our downtown neighborhood and Minneapolis community together.”

Food, beverages and live entertainment will be on hand at Mpls Lantern Fest, which celebrates lighting the winter night. Lantern festivals date back to Chinese dynasties as early as 200 BC. They have since become gathering events in Europe and across the world, where children and adults alike build their own illuminated lanterns, and come together as a community.

The event is free and open to the public. Spectators and those who participated in workshops are encouraged to join us for free entertainment and festivities at Mpls Lantern Fest.

“At In the Heart of the Beast, our mission is to bring people together for the common good through the power of puppet and mask performances,” said Catherine Jordan, interim executive director, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. “Mpls Lantern Fest not only brings people together, but it allows us to embrace the heart of winter while ushering in the warmth and illumination of spring. We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to shine light on our great downtown.”

Participate in a Workshop and be part of the experience:

• Lyn-Lake: Saturday, Feb. 7 (1-3 PM), Saturday, Feb. 14 (10 AM-12 PM) | Hosted by Intermedia Arts Gallery (2822 Lyndale Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55408)
• North: Tuesday, Feb. 12 (5-8 PM) | Hosted by Juxtaposition Arts (1108 Broadway Avenue W, Minneapolis, MN 55411)
• Northeast: Saturday, Feb. 14 (2-5 PM) and Sunday, Feb. 15 (12-3 PM) | Hosted by ArtShare (Grace Center, 1500 6th Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)
• Powderhorn: Tuesday, Feb. 17, Thursday, Feb. 19 and Friday, Feb.20 (6-9 PM) | Hosted by In the Heart of the Beast (1500 Lake Street E, Minneapolis, MN 55407)
• Uptown: Wednesday, Feb. 18 (6-8 PM) | Hosted by First Universalist Church, Chalice Room (3400 Dupont Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55408)
• More to be announced

In the Heart of the Beast teaching artists Nicole Amaris, Eric Avery, Amy Ballestad, Bart Buch, Seth Eberle and Sandy Spieler will lead the workshops teaching participants how to build lanterns. All supplies will be provided. Participants are welcome to come and go during the allotted timeframe or stay as long as desired during the workshops in order to complete their projects. Artists on hand will do demonstrations and walk participants through the process of creating a lantern.

At Mpls Lantern Fest on Feb. 21, teaching artists will mobilize giant lantern puppets inspired by constellations —including a bear (rendering at right), rabbit, loon, fox and crow—that will provide artistic light and lead the movement. Participants will take their own lanterns and follow their teaching artist during the movement at Cancer Survivors Park.

For more information on the Mpls Lantern Fest and workshops, visit DowntownMpls.com/mplslanternfest.

About the Minneapolis Downtown Council:
 
Founded in 1955, and one of the oldest central business associations in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council (MDC) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The MDC’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit DowntownMpls.com.

About the 2025 Plan: 
 
The Downtown 2025 Plan strives to achieve 10 initiatives that will help leaders and citizens build on Downtown’s assets and guide Downtown Minneapolis’ development. These include doubling downtown’s residential population, transforming Nicollet Mall into a must-see destination, creating a compelling and walkable environment around the clock, leading the nation in transportation options, ending street homelessness, forging connections with the University of Minnesota and more. For more information on the 2025 Plan and its initiatives, visit 2025Plan.com, BeInBusinessDowntownMpls.com and MinneapolisIdeaeXchange.com. The 2025 Plan is a Minneapolis Downtown Council initiative established in 2010.

Charter High School May Open in Downtown East, To Be Named "Mill City High School"

According to a report from The Journal, the Mill City High School plans to enroll up to 200 9th- and 10th-grade students for the 2015­–2016 school year. The school will offer students a “global classical studies” theme.

Read the Journal story

More Coverage in the MSP Business Journal

Friday Morning - Mississippi River Forum: "Hold the Salt, Please: Chloride Pollution in our Waters"

Mississippi River Forum: "Hold the Salt, Please: Chloride Pollution in our Waters"

Friday, January 30, 8 – 9:30 am

McKnight Foundation, 710 Second Street South, Suite 400

Happy winter, Minnesota! We seem to love (hate?) our extreme weather here, and our public works crews make it possible even to bicycle through the nastiest of wintry conditions. But many Minnesotans don’t realize that road and sidewalk salt is polluting our waters. When snow and ice melt from roads, parking lots and sidewalks, the salt we apply to those surfaces goes with it, washing into our lakes, streams, wetlands and groundwater. It takes only one teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute 5 gallons of water. Once in the water, there is no way to remove the chloride that comes from salt; at high concentrations, chloride can harm fish and plant life. In the heart of a cold Minnesota winter, come share a cup of coffee and pastry—and learn how road salt is impacting our water resources, what we can do about it and how the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is addressing the issue. Presenters Brooke Asleson and Rachel Olmanson are Watershed Project Managers with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Light breakfast provided. Free. RSVP to lark_weller@nps.gov. (Please be prepared to sign in at McKnight's front desk and get a visitor pass.)

Local Employment Opportunities

Zen Box - Host/Hostess

Oliive & Co. - Web Developer, Graphic Designer

Webster School - If you are interested in working at Webster, please join Ginger Kranz, Webster Principal, for a hiring information session. Learn more about the vision for the school, the opportunities, and the role of and expectations for staff.

Wednesday, January 28th, 4:00-5:15, at the Davis Center, 1250 W. Broadway, Conference RoomS1-433 (south tower, first floor).

OR

Thursday, January 29th, 4:15-5:30, at Ramsey Middle School, corner of 50th & Nicollet, (enter through the door off of the 50th street parking lot).

Historic Hollywood Theater Project Takes Step Forward

The Community Development Committee approved a Legacy Grant for restoring the historic Hollywood Theater last week.

Download staff report...

Minneapolis Parks Foundation Names R.T. Rybak and Liz Hawn to 20-member Board of Directors

Minneapolis, Minn. – On January 13, 2015, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation named Liz Hawn and R.T. Rybak to its 20-member Board of Directors. Hawn, a community leader and philanthropist, and Rybak, former Minneapolis Mayor and Executive Director of Generation Next, assumed their three-year Directorships at the Parks Foundation’s annual meeting, when community leader Sue Bennett was also elected Chair of the Board.

“Liz and R.T. bring expertise in city-building and philanthropy, coupled with an extraordinary commitment to community development and equity, as well as a deep love for Minneapolis and our parks,” says Bennett. “We are pleased that they bring these qualities to an already enthusiastic and visionary Board of Directors, and together we are ready to expand our impact on Minneapolis Parks through an expanded mission, renewed community partnerships, and resolve to support our parks through meaningful advocacy and philanthropy.”

Rounding out the Parks Foundation’s full 20-member Parks Foundation Board of Directors are: Stuart Ackerberg, CEO, Ackerberg Group (Secretary); Mark Addicks, General Mills; Daniel Avchen, CEO, HGA Architects (Past Chair); Dorothy Bridges, Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (Treasurer & Chair-Finance Committee); Robert Bruininks, President Emeritus, University of Minnesota (Chair-Development Committee); John Crosby (Vice Chair-Development Committee); Caren Dewer, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute Minnesota; Tom Evers, Executive Director, Minneapolis Parks Foundation; Tom Fisher, Dean, University of Minnesota – College of Design, Joseph Gibbons, First Vice President, Boyd, Bencini, Gibbons & Associates – Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management (Chair-Governance Committee); Shawntera Hardy, Director, Fresh Energy; Sarah Harris, Managing Director, University of Minnesota Foundation-Real Estate Advisors (Vice Chair); Mary McCarthy; Tom Paul, Chief Consumer Officer, UnitedHealthcare; Thomas Pohlad, General Manager, Porsche of Minneapolis; Connie Remele; Paul Reyelts, Retired CFO, Valspar Corp.; Tene Wells, Principal, Tene Wells Consulting. Liz Wielinski, President of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and Jayne Miller, Superintendent of Minneapolis Parks, remain ex officio Directors.

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation, which partners with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is an independent 501c3 dedicated to community investment in the nation’s top park system. The Parks Foundation’s signature projects are the RiverFirst Initiative and Water Works, two design-based adaptive reuse parks projects on the Minneapolis riverfront, and the Next Generation of Parks Lecture Series. Beginning in 2015, the Parks Foundation will also provide key philanthropic support for park enhancements in our neighborhood parks, with a special attention to under-resourced communities; invest in pilot programs and activities that provide new opportunities for people to better connect to each other and our city through their parks; and champion the value of parks and the Minneapolis Parks System through community conversations around national and international park trends and engage volunteers in community-wide, high-impact volunteer activities.

For more information or to support our work, please visit MplsParksFoundation.org.

# # #

Major Funding for MPF is Provided By:

The McKnight Foundation | The Minneapolis Foundation | General Mills

George Family Foundation| Curtis L. Carlson Foundation

--
Janette Aldrich Law
Director - External Relations
MINNEAPOLIS PARKS FOUNDATION
4800 Minnehaha Avenue South
Minneapolis MN 55417

PHONE 612-822-3407

Sunday - Caring for Water: Photography of Cordelia Pierson

First Congregational Church and Cordelia Pierson present:

Caring for Water: Photography of Cordelia Pierson

On exhibit January 4 - February 22, Fellowship Hall

Public reception: Sunday, February 1, 11 am-12:30 pm

500 Eighth Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

You are welcome to a reception on February 1 from 11:00 to 12:30 for Caring for Water, a photography show open until Feb. 21 in the church's Fellowship Hall. Photographer Cordelia Pierson selected 15 photos – several from the Mississippi in Minneapolis. Representatives from nonprofit environmental groups working on water issues have been invited to share informally some ways people can help care for Minnesota's waters: Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Sierra Club, and Friends of the Mississippi River.

Thursday Night - The State of the Ward and Third aWards at Nye's

Time:   6:30pm to 8:30pm

Location:  Nye's Polonaise Room, 112 East Hennepin

Please R.S.V.P by calling 612-673-2203 or emailing zack.farley@minneapolismn.gov.

Join Council Member Jacob Frey for his 1st annual State of the Ward Address and Third aWards.  Awards will be given for Leader of the Year, Local Business of the Year, Neighborhood Project/Initiative of the Year and Youth Leader of the Year.
 
“The Third aWards is a time to recognize our amazing residents and small business owners that help make the Third Ward a spectacular place.” Council Member Jacob Frey.

The State of the Ward and Third aWards will take place Thursday, January 29, 2015 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Nye's Polonaise Room, 112 East Hennepin. Please R.S.V.P early by calling 612-673-2203 or emailing Zack at zack.farley@minneapolismn.gov

Encore Apartments Moving Forward?

Sherman Associates launched a website, and put up a sign on the property at 9th Ave S & 2nd St S last week.  While not a guarantee the luxury apartments will be built, it's at least a small step forward.

[Pic of the Week] Dark Water

[Reader Pic] Guthrie & Gold Medal

From reader Eric Rach at www.facebook.com/ericrachphotography