The St. Anthony Zouaves

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Sunday, April 14th, 1861, two days after the first shots of the Civil War were fired upon Fort Sumter; Governor Alexander Ramsey was visiting Washington D.C. when the news broke and became the first to offer troops to President Abraham Lincoln in order to quash the rebellion. Lt. Governor Ignatius Donnelly was notified of the situation and two days later, sent out a proclamation calling for one infantry regiment consisting of ten companies. At the time, many up-and-coming Minnesota communities had their own volunteer militias, and these militias would come together at Fort Snelling to form the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

1864 painting "The Brierwood Pipe" by Winslow Homer depicting two Zouave members of the 5th New York Volunteer Infantry.

As one of the state’s older towns, St. Anthony was well-prepared for the call-to-arms. On July 12th, 1856, the Falls City Light Guards formed and would march around the town practicing their drills. No conflicts arose during this time, so the militia disbanded. In 1859, a twenty-two-year-old Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth formed the United States Zouave Cadets in Chicago and traveled across the East Coast and Midwest preforming drills in front of interested crowds. Zouaves, phonetically pronounced as ‘zwav,’ were a French North African light infantry regiment that became a popular model for militias across the world.

Brigadier General George Morgan, 1863Col. Ellsworth introducing Zouaves to the U.S. mixed with the large population of French-Canadian immigrants in St. Anthony was the perfect recipe for a new local militia to form. At 8:00pm on August 3rd, 1860, twenty-two citizens attended a meeting hosted by Col. Richard Chute in his building, the first building of the University of Minnesota, in what is now Chute’s Square. Other notable attendees were George Eastman, one of the first entrepreneurs to utilizes the power of the falls, George Morgan, owner of the first foundry in the town and would later become a brigadier general in the Civil War, and John Gilfillan, a lawyer, congressman, University Regent, and one of the founders of the Minneapolis Public Library system. Hours later, the St. Anthony Zouaves were born. After the militia’s constitution was drafted, guidelines for admission were set, such as a payment of fifty cents, all members must acquire a uniform within thirty days of admission, and a height requirement of at least 5’6". A month later, the militia moved their meeting place to a hall located above a hardware store owned by John S. Pillsbury.

After months of meetings and many fundraising events, the Falls Evening News noted in the December 14th edition of their newspaper that “the Company has been drilling twice a week for the last four months. From the accounts which leak out, some of the maneuvers must look ludicrous to a looker-on. They all go to make up the drill. Look to your laurels, Chicago,” a not-so-subtle jab at Col. Ellsworth’s United States Zouaves Cadets. As the months continued on, a rival militia formed across the river in Minneapolis, with Capt. W.D. Washburn at the helm. Surely this was the first account of the legendary Pillsbury-Washburn rivalry.

A member of the 11th New York Regiment wearing a Zouave uniform, 1861.Wednesday, April 17th, 1861, the day after Lt. Governor Donnelley sent out a request to the militias of Minnesota to form an infantry regiment, the St. Anthony Zouaves held a meeting after they practiced drilling to inform their group of the call-to-arms. Six days later, the company held an election to determine who would lead their group. George Morgan was elected to the position of Captain, John Gilfillan became the 1st Lieutenant, and George Pamroy became 2nd Lieutenant.

While the other militias to report to Fort Snelling arrived in their uniforms, the St. Anthony Zouaves reported in their civilian clothing, black slouch hats, black trousers, and red flannel shirts. It is not known why they did not show up in their uniforms, but it is likely that they were embarrassed to show up wearing their Zouaves colors, as traditional Zouaves uniforms consisted of a fez, an embroidered vest, and red baggy pantaloons. During the following month, Company E, as they were now called, were a popular sight at Fort Snelling when they drilled, and civilian spectators would make the trek to the fort just to see the Zouaves in action. Their popularity grew, and on May 21st, 1861, they were invited to a dinner hosted by the ladies of Nicollet Island where they presented the Company with a handsewn American flag that they would carry throughout the duration of the war.

34-star silk American flag, handmade by women in St. Anthony in May 1861 and given to the 1st MN Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

Of the eighty-nine St. Anthony Zouaves members, thirty-six committed to the original ninety-day deployment. Five were transferred, seven were discharged for disability, twelve were wounded in battle, six were killed, one lost a leg, one died from effects of the war, and four served for the length of the war, holding on tight to that Nicollet Island-made American flag. 

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Twin Cities Volunteer Spends Three Weeks in Poland at Ukrainian Refugee Center

Article by Becky Fillinger

Alexandra Sasha Sakurets spent three weeks volunteering at a makeshift refugee center in Poland for Ukrainian refugees. Her day jobs in the Twin Cities are ICU nurse at M Health Fairview and owner of a MedSpa - she also has a young family. What compels a person to leave the comfort of her home to help war refugees? We talked to Sasha about this very noble impulse and how you can assist in the ongoing war efforts.

Sasha with medical donations at UM Fairview

Q:  Why was it important to you to provide medical aid to Ukrainian refugees?

A:  When the war began it felt like the bombing was happening here in Minneapolis and not somewhere far on the other side of the globe. I could not sleep; I could not eat… I woke up with the news and fell asleep with the news - at the same time writing frantic messages to my classmates still living in Ukraine. Every cell in my body was telling me to go and help. As a medical professional, I felt like it was my duty.

Q:  Was there a typical day during the time you spent in Poland? What type of medical interventions did you provide? 

A:  We opened a clinic and pharmacy inside a vacant shopping mall which was converted into a refugee center in a matter of one day. The vast majority of our work was to treat and provide medications to the refugees. Many were coming across the border straight from bomb shelters and cellars. These people had missed their vital medications for a week or more, which exacerbated their chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, seizure disorders, kidney disease, schizophrenia and many more. Many refugees had acute illnesses acquired as a result of living in underground bomb shelters and root cellars for weeks without sanitation and in cold winter conditions. We saw many refugees with pneumonia, urinary tract infections and skin lesions. Some had concussions, shrapnel wounds, broken toes and other wounds resulting from running away from bombs. There were only five of us, so we worked 12-hour shifts with 30-minute overlap to cover 24 hours without days off for the first two weeks. A few more team members arrived and we were able to transition to 8-hour shifts - still without days off - but that felt like such a relief.

Sasha and her team

Supplies packed for the flight

World Central Kitchen set up shop in the refugee center – they fed us all our meals – I’m eternally grateful to them. The refugee center held sleeping space for 2000 people on army cots, plus 500 more spaces with blankets on pallets set on the floor. Some nights we ran out of pallets and children slept on their coats and suitcases. We treated 250-350 people daily in the clinic. The refugee center had 5000 refugees come through the center in the first 24 hours, and every 24 hours thereafter for the time I was there. From the U.S., we brought large amounts of over the counter medications. Other medical supply donations were coming into the refugee center daily. Part of our work was to sort through the donated medical supplies and separate the items which we needed at our clinic from the items which were needed on the frontlines and in hospitals in Ukraine.

Food provided by World Central Kitchen

Refugee receiving medical care

Resting in a refugee center

Q:  What group organized your volunteer time in Poland?

A:  A group of five Americans who were born in the former USSR formed the first team of an organization called Global Disaster Relief Team (GDRT). Only one of us spoke fluent Ukrainian, mine is marginal, the other three team members spoke only English and Russian. My involvement with the group came together very quickly. At times, it was very frantic! I flew to New York where my best friend Rita from childhood met me. I had to transfer airports in New York for my flight to Germany. We had planned to go to lunch because I had a good four hours between flights. When Rita picked me up, she anxiously tried to talk me out of going. I convinced her that I had to do this for myself and for Ukraine. I was dropped off at JFK where I met four complete strangers. A month later we were family.

Q:  You have a young family here in Minnesota. What did you tell them about why you were going to assist refugees?

A:  I told them that sometimes in life we have to do things out of the most irrational state of mind. It is a voice of our higher conscious self and if we do not listen, we cannot continue to our next level of spiritual development. They were worried and disappointed that they had to spend spring break at home. That kind of a reaction is normal for teenagers.  

Q:  You were born in Zhitomir, Ukraine. When and how did you emigrate to the U.S.?

A:  My parents, grandmother, older sister, our dog and I came to Minnesota in 1989. After living in Europe for about six months while awaiting the interview at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, we received the status of political refugees for being persecuted for our religious beliefs as Jews. About two million Jews left the Soviet Union during the 80s and 90s. We were welcomed by the Jewish community of the Twin Cities. The Jewish Federation rented our apartment for us and furnished it with used furniture. They assigned to us a host family - Phyllis and Buddy Harris - who welcomed us to their congregation and taught us Jewish customs. Phyllis threw my very first birthday party at a bowling alley when I turned 13; I can still remember how happy I was that day. She would pick me up on her day off to run errands with her and go to lunch, I loved that so very much. I remember the smell of leather in her brand-new Cadillac and thought someday when I grow up, I will be a volunteer like Phyllis. We also had two English tutor volunteers who came to our home to teach my parents English. I want to express my deepest gratitude for everyone who helped us to make Minnesota our new home.

Vest depicting what languages the volunteer speaks.

Q:  Talk to us about languages in your life. Russian was your first language. How was the Ukrainian language treated in your schools? Were you able to communicate effectively with the refugees? 

A:  In the central part of Ukraine where I was born, I heard mostly Russian growing up. All street names, signs, announcements in public transportation were in Russian. In my school all subjects were taught in Russian, we had English three times per week starting in 1st grade and Ukrainian was taught as a third language. Because I was Jewish, I and other Jewish classmates did not study Ukrainian because of our nationality. Our nationality was written in the school profile so that all teachers would know who was Jewish in the classroom. I am not exactly sure why in the 80s Jewish children did not study Ukrainian because my parents both read and spoke Ukrainian well, my Jewish grandparents learned Yiddish as their first language at home, Ukrainian as their second language and Russian as their third. The Russians tried to wipe out all traces of Ukrainians – including our language. The spoken Ukrainian language was treated with a negative connotation. Outside of schools, if you printed a book in Ukrainian, you could be imprisoned. You can see how within just a few generations under Soviet rule Ukrainian language in central Ukraine was eradicated almost completely.  

Q:  Was your employer here in the Twin Cities receptive to your desire to spend three weeks providing medical assistance abroad? 

A:  Since graduating from the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota I have worked at the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center. The hospital went through a few name changes but the essence stayed the same - to provide state of the art, evidence-based medical care while conducting research which guides medical protocols. After 25 years of working at M Health Fairview, I call it my home and my co-workers my family. After reaching out to my management, it took 24 hours to get a leave of absence from HR. I received the tightest hugs from all my coworkers when I stopped in a day before my flight to Poland. I also own a MedSpa called Art of Eternal Beauty in NE Minneapolis. My clients were understanding with having to reschedule their Botox appointments for when I returned. All of my loyal customers patiently waited for me to return from Poland for their treatments. My clients and supply reps donated funds, clothes, toys and household goods for the refugee families who were staying at our house. I still have refugees living with my family. Please note that all tips at my MedSpa are donated to organizations which directly go to needs of Ukrainians. I am so blessed to work with such amazing people!

Medical supplies packed in Minnesota

Q:  Have you been involved in other efforts to assist the Ukrainians in their invasion by Russia?  

A:  When I returned, my coworkers began to gather medical supplies and equipment which the hospital no longer needed. A Minnesota nonprofit called MATTER donated 10 pallets of medical supplies for us as well. So far between M Health, Hennepin Health and MATTER, we have collected 20 pallets (traveling by sea) worth of supplies, as well as about 100 large duffels (traveling by air) and delivered directly to Ukrainian hospitals. All the sorting is done in our “domivka” that is what we call our Ukrainian American Community Center. We raise funds for the Ukrainian non-profit Stand With Ukraine Minnesota. The funds are used to purchase the items that we cannot get for free via donations. We purchased a number of ambulances, tourniquets, blood clotting powders and wound vacuums - these items are much needed in a time of war.

My husband organized a community of supporters who were born in Belarus now living in the U.S. called Belarussian Americans. The organization was founded in 2020 to help children of Belarussian parents to learn Belarussian – a number of schools teaching Belarussian language opened that year. Once the Russian invasion of my beloved Ukraine began, a number of young men from Belarus came to Ukraine to fight alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Soon there were enough to form their own battalion called Kastys Kalinovky. My husband, Pavel, along with other Belarussians living in the U.S. began to raise funds to supply the Kalinovsky battalion fighters with bullet-proof plate carriers, boots and army fatigues. Pavel has personally delivered to the battalion three times since the war began. 

Q:  How may our readers assist your efforts?

A:  I am blessed to be a part of a community who helps with sorting and packing medical supplies. When the war began the outpouring of support was ample. Now that Ukraine is not in the news on every channel at all hours of the day, the world went on to live their normal lives. But Ukrainians’ lives are not back to any sense of normalcy. My closest supporters who are in it for the long haul are Mykola Sarazhynskyy, Dr Tanya Melnik, Oksana Gren and Natalia Panchuk. They are the steady force behind the engine of our supply operation. There are many ways for your readers to help:

- Would you like to sort medical supplies with us? Message me on Instagram @artofeternalbeauty.

- Stand With Ukraine Minnesota needs donations and help with ongoing events. 

- Eternal Beauty MedSpa donates all tips to Stand With Ukraine MN and Belarusian Americans.

- Protez Foundation helps supply free prosthetic limbs to Ukrainian children, soldiers and civilians who have lost limbs during the war.

- Attend the Visit with Ukrainian Heroes Receiving Prosthetic Care in MN event, August 7th at the Ukrainian American Community Center, 301 Main Street. 

Mill City Times Endorses Don Samuels for Congress

When the voters of the 5th Congressional District first elected Ilhan Omar, Donald Trump was well into his presidential term. His very first executive action was the Muslim Ban, and so the election of Ilhan Omar – a Somali refugee and one-term state representative – was a meaningful assertion of our values. Three and a half years later, and well into the first half of Joe Biden’s presidency, it’s time to reassert our values once again. This is why we are endorsing former north Minneapolis Council Member Don Samuels to serve as our next US Representative. 
 
With Democrats controlling the House by a narrow margin, and the Senate by an even more narrow margin, we find it distressing that Ilhan Omar votes so often with her most extreme counterparts in the Republican party and against President Biden’s agenda. From voting against the President's Infrastructure Bill, to voting against crucial bills to support Ukraine in its battle against Russian invasion, to voting against securing our Capital after the Jan 6 Insurrection, Ilhan Omar is increasingly out of step with other Democrats and the majority of her constituents. With democracy imperiled abroad and at home, we need Congressional representation that will collaborate with other Democrats to enact legislation in an increasingly extremist political environment.
 
In contrast to the approach taken by our current representative, Don Samuels led our city through a polarizing debate about whether we would eliminate our police department by arguing instead for a “Both / And” approach. We need to transform policing, he argued, but we also need police. If we are to diffuse the dangerous political moment nationally, we need Samuels’ “Both / And” approach to leadership.
 
Don Samuels has a credible record we trust to provide innovative, practical solutions that will bridge divides. Samuels came to this country as an immigrant from Jamaica with a scholarship to Pratt Institute of Design and very little else. He grew up in an impoverished neighborhood, and made a commitment to continue to live in an impoverished community wherever he found himself. Because of this, Samuels does not speak for  communities he has little connection to: his understanding of the issues remains nuanced and authentic, and he knows what can make a dramatic difference versus what is merely drama.
 
Samuels began his career as a toy inventor, then led the research and design departments of some of the biggest toy companies in the market, and finally he opened his own small design firm. In a district where 80% of us broadly agree, we should select our representative based on who will deliver results. When the City of Minneapolis received $118 million in federal dollars during the 2008 recession, Samuels worked with his city council colleagues to bring $100 million to North Minneapolis. More recently, inspired by the tragic killing of Philando Castille (and as an offshoot of his micro-grant non-profit) he launched Lights On, a first-of-its-kind program that transforms a broken tail light traffic stop into an opportunity for police officers to render aid in the form of vouchers. In contrast, our current Congressional representative has had little success moving bills into law, and can only claim bringing in $17 million in earmark money already set aside for our district, while voting against several hundred million that will come via the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
 
As one of the safest Democratic seats in the country, August 9th is the primary vote that will – in the absence of some extraordinary intervening event – decide the entire election for Minnesota’s 5th District Congressional seat. We encourage our readers to vote for Don Samuels and ensure it is his name that appears on the November ballot. Samuels is someone who will think beyond the easy platitudes, who will work hard to bring federal resources to our region and appeal to much needed voters in neighboring districts, and who will negotiate across differences to heal our fractured nation. A vote for Don Samuels is not only a vote for better representation, it is a vote for less divisive and more productive politics.

8/1/07: The 35W Bridge Collapse

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

August 1st, 2007, 5:30pm. A twelve-year-old Michael, along with his family and friends, just sat down to enjoy their last meal at the original location of Totino's Italian Kitchen at 523 Central Avenue NE before the popular restaurant moved to Mounds View. I ordered the usual, mostaccioli with a meatball and a pizza for the table to share, the best pizza I've ever had, I might add. We were reminiscing about the many good memories that have taken place here at the restaurant over the last fifty-six years, from family holiday parties to picking up a couple meatball subs on the way home from work. 

Shortly after we began eating our main course, we noticed emergency vehicles from Columbia Heights, then Forest Lake, then Hudson, Wisconsin hauling it down Central Avenue. We were clueless as to what was going on, but it was obvious something very bad had happened. We asked our waiter if they heard anything, and they said a bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River but didn't know which one. We all thought it was the Stone Arch Bridge, the second oldest continuously used bridge over the entire Mississippi, but word quickly spread that it was the I-35W Bridge.

Photo courtesy of MNHS

Photo of the collapse on the East bank, courtesy of MNHS

I personally took this photo on the East bank near Metal-Matic

The original Interstate 35 West Bridge was completed in 1967, the same year the Silver Bridge in Ohio collapsed and killed forty-six people. At the time, 35W reached South Minneapolis with the rest of its route in the city to be completed in the next ten years. The main use of the new bridge, at first, was as a detour for the 10th Avenue Bridge as the city was debating what to do with it. In 1968, 35W reached the I-94 Commons, and in 1973, the interstate was completed up to the point where I-335 was supposed to connect, between East Hennepin and Broadway, but local neighborhood leaders nixed that plan. Now that the 35W route through Minneapolis was nearing completion, the bridge over the Mississippi River was getting more use. It was built to carry 66,000 vehicles per day, and by 2004, 141,000 vehicles were crossing the bridge each day.

The continuous deck truss bridge was unfortunately designed in a way that if a single portion of the bridge failed, the entire bridge would fail, and that’s exactly what happened on August 1st, 2007, at 6:05pm. At the time, the bridge was in the middle of its third renovation, with previous renovations expanding the total number of lanes from four to eight and adding another 13% of dead weight to the overall structure. During this third renovation in 2007, sand and gravels piles were placed on the bridge deck adding tons of extra weight, and on top of that, it was the middle of rush hour with an estimated 100 vehicles on the bridge at the time it collapsed. At 6:05pm, one of the gusset plates, which holds the metal truss beams together, folded in half like a piece of paper as they were half as thick as necessary for the structure, and the entire bridge fell straight down into the Mississippi River.

One of the gusset plates, courtesy of MNHS

August 1st, 2007, 6:55pm. We arrived back home from Totino’s and my father and I, along with a neighbor, decided to ride our bicycles to the middle of the Stone Arch Bridge to witness the scene. There were rumblings that it could have been a terrorist attack, so local authorities ushered everyone off the bridge. We made our way to Second Street SE and followed the crowd. Police tape stopped the crowd at Eight Avenue SE, so we stopped for a bit and continued to the overpass bridge on University Avenue before making our way to the Third Avenue Bridge and back home. A day we will never forget.

Heroic efforts by civilians and off-duty and on duty first responders saved 144 people from the wreckage, and sadly, thirteen people passed away. One of the many stories of heroism from that evening involved a school bus transporting fifty-two children. As the bus was teetering on a section of the bridge, a staff member on board, Jeremy Hernandez, made sure every child safely exited the bus through the back door and off the bridge. That very door is currently on display at the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul in a small section dedicated to the history of the bridge collapse.

The school bus door with the signatures of those who were inside the bus, courtesy of MNHS

A memorial for the victims and survivors of the collapse is located along West River Parkway, across from Gold Medal Park, and it features thirteen pillars with the names of the victims on them and a wall behind the pillars listing the survivors of the catastrophic event.

The 35W Memorial, courtesy of kmfiswriting.com

Construction of the new and current 35W Bridge, also known as the Saint Anthony Falls Bridge, began on December 17th, 2007, and was complete on September 18th, 2008, three months ahead of schedule. This $234 million bridge was equipped with a state-of-the-art de-icing system, 323 sensors that monitor the condition of the bridge, and LED lights that illuminate the deck and undercarriage of the bridge. The lights underneath even change colors for special occasions: purple for the anniversary of Prince’s death, rainbow for Pride, red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July, green for Eid al-Fitr, orange for Halloween, and purple and gold when the Vikings finally win the Super Bowl…

The current bridge at night, courtesy of MnDOT

Fifteen years ago, a tragic catastrophe happened in our city of Minneapolis. The community came together, and everyday citizens became heroes. I encourage you all to pay a visit to the I-35W Bridge Memorial this month and reflect. Find those memories of where you were when you first found out, think of those who were courageous enough to risk it all to save the people who were on the bridge that day, and remember those who perished on August 1st, 2007. 

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History and M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of St. Thomas. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and the Minnesota History Center. Additionally, he has been a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 10+ years.

Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

July 30 at the Mill City Farmers Market

I was so happy to find fresh celery at the Dawn2Dusk stand. It is sweet and tender and fantastic in veggie smoothies.

New broth varieties from Superior Provisions: Mushroom and Vegetable.

Welcome to our newest neighbors - Forte on the Park apartments, recently opened at 1125 S 2nd Street.

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza July 31-August 6

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, August 2 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

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MNspin Musician of the Week: Katy Vernon

Thursday, August 4 from 12-1pm 

Katy Vernon is a London born singer songwriter. Resume highlights include being named the Winner of Best Acoustic Performer By City Pages, the Eric Stokes songwriting award, and Kerrville Folk Best new song award. Her most recent record ‘Suit Of Hearts’ was named album of the year by Ukulele magazine as

well as landing on several local best of lists. She was also a finalist for Best International Ukulele player!

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Minnesota Orchestra: Summer at Orchestra Hall

Sunday, July 31 and Saturday, August 6th (see calendar for daily times)

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Summer at Orchestra Hall is a new take on the Minnesota Orchestra’s traditional summer festival, celebrating the Orchestra’s home in the city and its proximity to the revitalized Peavey Plaza. The community is invited to participate in special food experiences and free entertainment by outstanding local performers at Peavey Plaza. Complete list of upcoming performances.

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Arena Dances: Thermal Modern Dance

Friday, August 5 at 6-7p & 7:30-8:30p

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THERMAL is a dialogue – through movement, form and sound – centered on Earth’s changing environment. With the effects of climate change here - Thermal invites viewers to slow down and appreciate our natural surroundings while simultaneously delivering a sense of urgency to act and anxiety to what might happen next. https://www.arena-dances.org/thermal/.

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Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre 

Saturday, August 6 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm

Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.

For a complete calendar of Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

4th Street Reconstruction Project Update - July 29

4th Street Reconstruction Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis is reconstructing 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and 4th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. The reconstruction will include wider sidewalks, improved crossings, a new bi-directional off-street bike path on the north side of the street, lighting, trees, and planting beds. Construction is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

What's Happening Next Week? 

Roadway reconstruction is near completion!

• Paving of all roadways, sidewalks, and trails has been completed.
• An additional lane on the north side of the roadway is now open to local access.
• Crews are finalizing signals and lighting and are cleaning up the construction zone in preparation for the roadway opening in early August.

*Please note that the construction schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. 

What to expect during construction?

• During roadway construction, 4th St. will be closed to through traffic between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access will be maintained from 2nd Ave. N to 1st Ave. N. 
• Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction. Be aware of your surroundings when walking or biking near the construction zone. 
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.

Stay connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/fourth-st-n-and-s/  

Provide questions, comments or concerns on the interactive map: https://zan.mysocialpinpoint.com/4thstreetreconstruction

Email the project team: info@4thstmpls.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-412-9774

MacPhail Announces August 2nd, 3rd and 11th Concerts at Water Works

Enjoy three MacPhail Center for Music concerts at Water Works in August!

MacPhail at Water Works "Summer Sing" Choir Concert

MacPhail at Water Works Dementia Friendly Sing-a-long

MacPhail at Water Works Broadway Sing-a-long

New Art Exhibit, Natural Selections, Opens at The Mill Yard August 7th

 

Natural Selections

Opening Reception Sunday, August 7, 4:00 - 6:00PM

Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 S 2nd Street

Join us at The Mill Yard opening reception for wine, beverages, snacks and beautiful art. Local popular food truck Taqueria Victor Hugo will be out front.

The new show runs from August 7 - November 2022

Artists featured at this show: 

• David Baer
• Emily Donovan
• Dyan Padgett
• Ingrid Restemayer
• Opening Reception Only - Maggie and Tom Jaszczak

Artist Details

David Baer

In 2015, David Baer took the leap from working as a creative director/graphic designer to finally listening to his heart to become a "maker" full time. He and his wife, Linda, own Reveal Original, a furniture, lighting, home accessories and sculpture design and manufacturing studio with an industrial style mixing hardwoods, metal and reclaimed materials. They specialize in handcrafted pieces custom made to be functional, durable and versatile.

untitled, David Baer

Emily Donovan

Emily Donovan is a Minneapolis based artist who uses natural materials in her art, exploring interactions in nature and the origins of color. She graduated from the University of Minnesota where she studied Visual Arts and Art History and is a recipient of the Minnesota State Arts Board’s Artist Initiative Grant in 2015, 2019 and an Artist Support Grant in 2021. Emily loves to travel and recently completed artist residences in Cusco, Peru and Salzburg, Austria. She also enjoys collaborating with local gardeners and naturalists to learn more about plants in Minnesota.

Pink Thistle by Emily Donovan

Dyan Padgett

Dyan Padgett received a BA in Studio Art from DePauw University and an additional five years of rigorous, academic study at The Atelier in Minneapolis. Her work combines the fine drawing and design of the European Academic tradition with a vibrant and more contemporary composition and color sensibility, seamlessly blending the classical with the current. She is interested in art as a vehicle for bringing awareness to our natural environment while building community.

Essentials by Dyan Padgett

Stare by Ingrid RestemayerIngrid Restemayer

Ingrid Restamayer is a fiber artist and printmaker originally from North Dakota, now based in Minneapolis. Her mixed media artwork incorporates traditional hand-embroidery techniques, on hand-dyed papers and hand-pulled prints – process-intensive fine art mediums combined through collage.

Maggie and Tom Jaszczak

Maggie Jaszczak is a ceramic and visual artist originally from Canada. She completed her undergraduate studies in Canada and earned her MFA in Ceramics from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis in 2013. 

Originally from Minnesota, Tom Jaszczak received a BA in Visual Art and a BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Bemidji State University. In the fall of 2015 Tom began a 3-year residency with his wife Maggie at the Penland School of Craft. In 2018 Tom and Maggie put down permanent roots in Shafer, MN where they live in a farmhouse and work in a barn style studio.

Candle Holder with Swans by Maggie Jaszczak

Pasta Bowl with Pink Stripe by Tom Jaszczak

Voting for 2022 DID Greening and Public Realm Awards Opens Today

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) announced today that public voting for the 2022 Greening and Public Realm Awards is open.

The Greening and Public Realm Awards, a DID initiative since 2010, celebrates 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 public vote will be open July 26 through August 15.

Finalists were divided into seven categories based on project size and characteristics. Among the finalists selected were 11 new nominees – a sign of growth in the downtown greening efforts - as well as 9 past winners.

"All efforts to enhance our downtown environment deserve to be celebrated,” said Steve Cramer, Mpls Downtown Improvement District President & CEO. “We appreciate all the greening efforts done to enhance our downtown environment, and this year’s winners went above and beyond to help beautify our streets. The work being done throughout the community help make our downtown vibrant, extraordinary and welcoming to all that live, work and play in Minneapolis.”

Winners will receive a commemorative Greening and Public Realm 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 and Public Realm Awards are intended to inspire all to work toward making downtown greener and more vibrant. DID’s mission through the Greening and Public Realm Awards is to encourage all downtown businesses and organizations to participate in greening efforts.

The public is encouraged to vote by visiting mplsdid.com/greeningawards and using 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 seven categories include the following finalists:

Small Green Space: Gateway Park, Government Plaza South, RBC Gateway Plaza Minneapolis, Convention Center Plaza

Entryway and Outdoor Café: The News Room, 5th Avenue Lofts, The Freehouse, Barrio

Large Green Space: Loring Park, Water Works Park, The Commons, Gold Medal Park

Public Realm Improvement: RBC Gateway/Four Seasons, 7th Street Bus Lane, Elliot Park Skatepark, Prince Mural

Public Art: Prince Mural, X Games Mural, It’s the People, Bob Dylan Mural

Best Neighborhood: Loring Park, North Loop, Elliot Park, Downtown East + West

Activated Space: Peavey Plaza, The Alley Project, Elliot Park Skatepark, Mill City Market

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.

Hot Pick for the Coming Week: The Last Babushka at Theater Latté Da

Article by Becky Filllinger, photos provided

The Last Babushka is currently being workshopped in Theatre Latté Da’s NEXT Festival 2022 in Minneapolis. We talked to playwright Amy Wheeler about this new work and the short window to attend the workshop. If you loved The Babushkas of Chernobyl, you must see this new work. Get tickets today!

Q:  The Babushkas of Chernobyl is a beautiful, multiple award-winning documentary that has many themes – among them the pull of ‘home’ and risk-taking to live a self-determined life. Does your protagonist in The Last Babushka learn the same lessons or something different?

A:  Our protagonist, Nadia, is a punk rocker in her 20’s who feels like she’s lost everything to this place. And in many ways, she has - family members who've died from cancer, likely from radiation exposure over time. She’s sad, angry, lost, untethered - and raging through her music. She enters the Exclusion Zone as an opportunist, in survival mode. But underneath that impulse, she is seeking to understand her troubled past and relationship to this place. The Babushkas confront and challenge her, share their stories, and she opens up to them. Ultimately, it’s a matriarchal reconciling.

Amy WheelerQ:  Has Holly Morris, the filmmaker of The Babushkas of Chernobyl, read your new work? Have you been in touch with her?

A:  Holly and I have been friends for many years, and she worked the film in residence at Hedgebrook on Whidbey Island, where I was Executive Director. So, I was on the exciting journey as she traveled to Chernobyl to interview the Babushkas. I remember when she first met them in 2013 - as a journalist on assignment for a Slate Magazine piece about the 25th anniversary of the accident. And in 2014 when she encountered the Stalkers, young people who are sneaking into the Zone illegally to react a video game and search for artifacts. 

When Holly sought me out to bring the film to the stage, I jumped at the chance! I could already see the three main characters onstage - they are so robust and full of life and stories. What fascinated me as the theatrical question is: what can we learn from these women, while they are still with us, about living in sync with nature? How do we live with an invisible threat and stay connected to each other and the land? They have this deep, intrinsic connection to their homeland - the place, its history and culture - that I haven’t yet experienced as an American. But I find I crave that experience. One character refers to them as the "center of the earth” - and they are.

Natalie NowytskiWhat also inspires me is telling a cross-generational story set in this post-Apocalyptic place that has also become a thriving green world. So, my collaborator Natalie Nowytski and I are drawing from the film’s transcripts, and creating an imagined story around the Babushkas’ stories.

Our piece is set prior to current events in Ukraine. As we witness Russia’s war on Ukraine, we're amazed at the people’s courage and resilience. When you get to know the Babushkas, you understand that the fierce love of homeland is intrinsic to who Ukrainians are and always have been.

Q:  I think your musical score will be delightful – bursting with Ukrainian folk tune melodies. How many musical numbers are in the play?

A:  Well, this is a workshop which means we’re revising the script and writing new music as we speak! And the music is mystical, haunting, energetic - a mash-up of traditional Ukrainian village folk music with punk rock and contemporary folk. A cross-generational blending of the two worlds of the piece. My co-creator, Minneapolis-based composer Natalie Nowytski, is an extraordinary first-generation Ukrainian-American musician and performer who brings her ancestral connection to the music. Her grandmother, Oksana Bryn, was her voice coach - classical and opera. The folk music is something she grew up with as a byproduct of being raised Ukrainian. Natalie told me, “I don't know that anyone ever really taught it to me - it just always was."

Q:  Thriving in a toxic environment – another theme from the documentary – must surface in your play. Perhaps there are lessons we can all learn from living in toxic environments, not all of which are caused by pollutants? 

A:  Yes, there’s so much to learn from the Babushkas - these women who’ve lived on the most toxic land on earth their whole lives. They were evacuated in 1986, then snuck back in to live there illegally for the past 35 years. They live off the land - gardening, raising animals, foraging for mushrooms. And the land is thriving because of the small human footprint: nature is taking over; extinct animals are coming back into the Zone. Scientists are studying them to learn about the long-term effects of radiation on humans. And remarkably, statistically they’ve outlived other evacuees who didn’t return. 

Q:  What days are your reading at Theater Latté Da? How do we purchase tickets?  

A:  Theater Latté Da's NEXT Festival readings of The Last Babushka are on July 30th and August 1st at 7:30pm. Go here for info and tickets: https://www.latteda.org/next-festival-2022.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I don’t currently have a website, but I’ve launched a new venture during the pandemic to build the audience for playwrights and new work for the stage. Play Club is a "book club with a theatrical twist." We read and discuss a play-a-month by a featured playwright, then members meet the playwright via Zoom for a conversation and Q&A. I’d love for people to know about it. Here’s the link: https://www.theplayclub.org/

And if your readers would like more info on Natalie, her website is https://www.natalien.com/. The bandcamp site is https://natalienowytski.bandcamp.com/album/amerikana.

Mill City Times Endorses Martha Holton Dimick

By David Tinjum, Publisher, Mill City Times

On August 9th, primary voters will decide which two candidates for the Hennepin County Attorney position will move on to the general election in November. Michael Freeman currently holds the seat and is not seeking reelection. In a crowded field of 7 candidates, there is one stand out candidate who will deliver both safety and sensible reform–Martha Holton Dimick. She is endorsed by downtown council members Michael Rainville and Lisa Goodman, and Mayor Jacob Frey, among others.

Dimick has a unique set of life experiences that make her the most qualified person for this seat. Crucially, she is the candidate with the most relevant professional resume. Dimick has not only worked as a Hennepin County prosecutor and served as a violent crimes judge, she has also actually managed an office of prosecutors as the Deputy City Attorney in Minneapolis. With crime at historic levels across Hennepin County, more than ever we need a County Attorney who requires no introduction to the many facets of the job, and someone who can successfully work with all public safety partners. 

Her ability to collaborate with community partners is another unique qualification she brings to this seat. Dimick was hired to serve as the community prosecutor for North Minneapolis during the Murderapolis years by then Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar. Crime was near record highs and “no one trusted the police or the prosecutors” according to Dimick. By the time she left that job for appointment on the bench, crime had fallen to record lows in North Minneapolis. Dimick says there is no secret to reducing crime given proper resources: you must create partnerships between the community, the police, and county social service providers as a broad coalition, not individual stakeholders pointing fingers at one another. 

Certainly, reform is needed, and Dimick is the person who can do this work without throwing the entire prosecutorial system into chaos. As a Black woman born and raised in Milwaukee during a time of particularly rampant crime and racism, who moved to North Minneapolis where she has lived for over 20 years, Dimick has a credibility others lack. Justice, accountability, safety – none of these things are theoretical or removed from Martha Dimick’s daily life. 

More than that, she has decades of professional experience to know where and how prosecutorial discretion can make a difference. For example, Dimick recently pointed out that keeping lower level felony immigrants from ICE detention and removal can be as simple as charging them for 364 days, rather than the more common default sentence recommendation of 365 days – 365 automatically triggers ICE involvement, 364 days does not. It’s refreshing to have a candidate with simple, practical answers that balance accountability and compassion, rather than someone ready to give up the notion of doing the job of prosecuting entirely to make a point.

Those of us living and working Downtown know that now is not a moment to indulge in experiments that other cities are rejecting. It is not time to elect another politician who will hide when difficult issues arise. Now is the moment to elect Martha Holton Dimick, a woman who can serve all of us who need a reprieve from the violence that is affecting our quality of life and the prospects of a city we love. 

- David Tinjum, Publisher, Mill City Times

July 23 at the Mill City Farmers Market

A colorful array filled our July 23rd shopping basket from the Mill City Farmers Market. Tip: If you're looking to kick your soup up a notch, try adding a generous squirt of Maazah Hot Chutney. It will take it from delicious to WOW! :D

Love seeing kids at the Market - so important to learn about nutrition and where food comes from at a young age.

Rachel of Mary Dirty Face Farm tops off the blueberry containers. 

New product from Pure Ginger for You: ginger iced tea.

Louisa Podlich of A MANO (far left in green bibs) creates decorative and functional ceramics, including kitchenware, plant pots and ornaments. She'll return the Market on August 20th.

Weekly Events at Peavey Plaza July 24-30

Green Minneapolis is excited to host these events, free and open to all!

YWCA Minneapolis Yoga on the Plaza

Tuesday, July 26 from 5:30-6:30pm

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Flow into summer with FREE yoga classes at Peavey Plaza (weather permitting). Bring a water, mat and towel. Members and nonmembers are welcome to attend. Nonmembers that attend receive a FREE three-day trial fitness pass to any of our three fitness locations. Plus, join YWCA Minneapolis as a member for just $15! Registration recommended

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MNspin Musician of the Week: Mary Bue

Thursday, July 28 from 12-1pm 

Mary Bue is a songwriter, Nada yogi, traveler, runner, vegan, retreat guide, music + yoga teacher based out of Minneapolis, often roaming this beautiful world. Named Best Songwriter of 2020 by City Pages, her music touches upon archetypal themes of the human condition: love, loss, triumph, dreams,  and the natural world. A longtime student of yoga and psychology, Mary weaves sacred subject matter into her songs, seeking of deeper levels of consciousness, and deep concern for the environment mixed into her sometimes crass, real-world hue.

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Minnesota Orchestra: Summer at Orchestra Hall

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 28, 29 and 30 (see calendar for daily times)

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Summer at Orchestra Hall is a new take on the Minnesota Orchestra’s traditional summer festival, celebrating the Orchestra’s home in the city and its proximity to the revitalized Peavey Plaza. The community is invited to participate in special food experiences and free entertainment by outstanding local performers at Peavey Plaza. Complete list of upcoming performances.

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Children’s Theatre Company Story Theatre 

Saturday, July 30 at 12-12:30pm & 12:30-1pm

Join Children’s Theatre Company for summertime fun at Peavey Plaza! Through imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, music, and family engagement, we’ll explore beloved children’s books together. Laugh, dance, and discover along with your family and friends.

YWCA Minneapolis Family Yoga Class

Saturday, July 30 from 1-1:45pm

Join YWCA Minneapolis for Free Family Yoga at Peavey Plaza. In this body-friendly space for all ages, families and fitness levels, we’ll combine breathing and yoga poses with joy and creativity. Come ready to explore balance, find strength and softness and connect our minds and bodies. 

For a complete calendar of Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, visit greenminneapolis.org/events.

Amy Simso Dean, Founder of The Kestrels Birding Group

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Amy Sisco Dean

Starting out as a new birder can be daunting – Where do I go? Will I be safe? I know nothing about birds but I’m interested. Meet Amy Simso Dean, founder of The Kestrels. We talked to Amy about the group’s inclusive policies which makes it easy for women and non-binary individuals to enjoy birding experiences without fear or self-doubts.

Q:  The Kestrels was formed in 2021 to create a safe and inclusive birding experience for women. Can you tell us more about this idea?

A:  The Kestrels focus is on creating a safe space and a shared community for anyone who identifies as female or non-binary - that is what we mean by an inclusive birding group for women.

Women birders face a few different challenges. For some there are safety issues - they don’t feel safe birding alone - for obvious reasons - or meeting up with a male birder or birders they don’t know.

The birding world also has traditionally been a very white male dominated space - the trip guides, leadership in organizations, who you see profiled in magazines, etc. So, for some it is a comfort issue - they don’t feel they are heard or taken seriously as a birder in male-dominated settings (and let’s be honest, sometimes they aren’t).

Others don’t feel comfortable because they are a new to birding and this group just feels more accessible. For others it is just another way to connect with like-minded people. Granted not every space is like that and not every woman feels that way. Have men joined our outings? Yes, for sure. But, our focus is creating a safe space for this population.

Q:  Why was the group named The Kestrels?

A:  We played around with a few different names. We wanted our name to tie to Minnesota birding and be as inclusive as possible. So, we voted on names until we narrowed it down. The American Kestrel is one of the few raptor species where the female looks distinctively different from the male. She’s a badass little predator so a great mascot for some badass birders.

Q:  How often do you hold events?

A:  We try for at least one event per month whether that is a meet-up to go birding, an event with another organization (like a tour of The Raptor Center or a Birds and Beers meet-up) or trips that we organize. Last winter a group of us went up to the Sax-Zim Bog for some delightful (and very cold: -30) winter birding. We also have a wine-tasting party where all the wine has to have a bird on the label.

At the Sax-Zim Bog

Wine-tasting party

Q:  The events seem fun and educational! Is there a vetting process to join?

A:  We have a series of membership questions to join our Facebook group. We do have a very small website, but right now almost all our communication and planning happens through the Facebook group.

Q:  I started researching inclusive outdoor groups after finding Kestrels and there are so many groups across the country working towards similar goals of creating intentional safe outdoor spaces. Will Kestrels expand to include people with mobility or vision issues?  

A:  People with vision, hearing or mobility challenges are already welcome to join. We try to explain trail and parking conditions for all our outings so that people can make informed decisions. When we hear of outings - like a recent birding outing for people with mobility challenges that I led through another organization - we let our members know. Or a friend of mine runs a group specifically for LGTBQ+ and BIPOC birders and we’ll let our members know about those events.

Q:  How may we follow the group’s news?

A:  The best way to stay up to date is through our Facebook group. People can also reach out to us at TheKestrelsMN@gmail.com and check out our website, KestrelsMN.com. We hope to see you at an upcoming event. 

4th Street Reconstruction Project Update - July 22

4th Street Reconstruction Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis is reconstructing 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and 4th Ave. S in downtown Minneapolis. The reconstruction will include wider sidewalks, improved crossings, a new bi-directional off-street bike path on the north side of the street, lighting, trees, and planting beds. Construction is underway and is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.

What's Happening Next Week? 

Roadway reconstruction is near completion on 4th St. between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave.

• Paving of all roadways, sidewalks, and trails has been completed on the project corridor.
• Beginning Tuesday, an additional lane on the north side of the roadway will be open to local access.
• Crews are finalizing signal, lighting and landscaping work and will be cleaning up the construction zone in preparation for road opening in early August.

*Please note that the construction schedules are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. 

What to expect during construction?

• During roadway construction, 4th St. will be closed to through traffic between 2nd Ave. N and Hennepin Ave. Local access will be maintained from 2nd Ave. N to 1st Ave. N. 
• Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction. Be aware of your surroundings when walking or biking near the construction zone. 
• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.

Upcoming Events

4th Street Weekly Stakeholder Meeting 

Weekly project newsletters are sent out weekly and virtual stakeholder meetings occur bi-weekly. Join us at the next stakeholder meeting to get project updates, talk with project staff and get your questions/concerns answered.

Upcoming Stakeholder Meeting:

July 29, 9-9:30 a.m.

Teams Meeting: Click here to join the meeting

Stay connected

There are multiple ways to get information including email updates and ongoing stakeholder meetings. Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/fourth-st-n-and-s/  

Provide questions, comments or concerns on the interactive map: https://zan.mysocialpinpoint.com/4thstreetreconstruction

Email the project team: info@4thstmpls.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-412-9774

Bridge 9 Improvement Project Update

Bridge No. 9 was constructed in 1922 by the Northern Pacific Railroad to carry freight over the Mississippi. The City of Minneapolis acquired this bridge in 1986 and converted the bridge to a pedestrian use bridge in 1999. The bridge currently provides a Mississippi River crossing for the Dinkytown Greenway bike trail.

Beginning in July 2022, the City of Minneapolis started making repairs and improvements to Bridge 9, Pier 5.

Latest project news

Construction Update Meeting (online meeting)

Virtual monthly project stakeholder meetings will be held at 9:30 am the 1st Thursday of each month using Microsoft Teams. Please use the link below to join the meeting.

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or join by entering a meeting ID Meeting ID: 213 161 635 706 Passcode: KyceBr

Or call in (audio only)

+1 612-428-8778,,6668421#   United States, Minneapolis

Phone Conference ID: 666 842 1#

These meetings help us to give you more detailed information about work progress on a monthly basis and to have discussion on any concerns or questions you have about the project. Please send an email or give a call to the project engineer if you have difficulty using the link above.

If no one joins the meeting within 15 minutes the meeting will end, but you can still contact the meeting coordinator via phone or email:

Rich Revering, Design Team Project Manager; 612-718-8412 or Richard.Revering@Bolton-Menk.com

Schedule

Construction activities for Pier 5 repairs started in July 2022. The scheduled completion date is December 1, 2022.

Traffic Impact

West River Parkway is scheduled to be open for vehicular traffic subject to occasional one-way traffic w/ flaggers during certain equipment and material loading operations. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic are open to traffic, with pedestrians sharing the bike path through the project area.

Current work

For the month of July, the following construction operations were performed: Setting up traffic and erosion and sediment controls and driving H-pile and Sheet pile to prepare for forming and pouring concrete foundations and encasement of the pier.

Coming up

For the month of August, the following construction operations are scheduled: Forming and pouring concrete foundations and pier encasements.

Stay Connected

For more details and to sign up for email updates please visit the Bridge 9 Improvement project webpage.

Project Engineer: Petru Vizoli, 612-673-2368, Petru.Vizoli@minneapolismn.gov

Proposed MPRB 2023 Tax Levy to Serve Youth in Crisis, Build Safer communities, and Care for Park Assets

At its July 20 meeting, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioners voted unanimously to support a 2023 tax levy increase request to the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) of 6.16 percent to maintain current park service levels and to invest in youth, safety and security, and care for park assets. If passed by the BET, the levy increase for the MPRB will result in a 1.1 percent increase in city 2023 property taxes overall, which amounts to an approximate $18 annual increase in property taxes - less than $2 per month - for owners of a median value home.

“This Board is focused and committed to our youth, particularly those who are in crisis, to providing safe parks, and to streamlining and maximizing how the parks are taken care of,” explained Meg Forney, MPRB President.

The proposed tax levy includes three distinct elements: 

• The first is to maintain current service levels, including $260,000 needed to support the MPRB’s 2021 six-year arrangement with the city for the historic $2.6 million youth investment that began in 2022, and $576,000 to offset the State of Minnesota Local Government Aid funding decrease due to the current legislative session ending without passage of a new tax bill.
• The second element is $389,000 for system equity investment largely due to the activation and increased use of parks within the downtown service area and regional park system. This investment will provide for increased safety and security with the addition of two Park Police Officers and the conversion of Part-Time Park Patrol Agent hours to two full-time Park Patrol Agents.
• The third element is $443,000 to support the Board adopted Strategic Direction to care for park assets to meet evolving needs and practices. This investment will provide professional staff, two Project Managers and one Systems Analyst, to identify and implement asset lifecycles to maximize maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and capital investments.

“We have the places and services to enrich the lives of every Minneapolis resident. We use racial equity tools and criteria for budgeting park investments and recreation funding, to ensure services and investments are directed to those who need them the most,” said Al Bangoura, Superintendent for the MPRB.

Currently, of every dollar homeowner’s pay for property taxes, 7.6 cents go to the MPRB.

As required by State Law, the BET sets the maximum tax levy for the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Municipal Building Commission and the Public Housing Authority on an annual basis. The BET is scheduled to set these maximum property tax levies on September 21, 2022. 

If approved by the BET, the Superintendent will present a balanced 2023 recommended based on a 6.16 percent property levy increase on October 12, 2022. There will be public comment opportunities October 26, November 2 and 16, and December 7 and 14. The Board will consider the Superintendent’s budget and adopt the 2023 tax levy and 2023 budget on December 14, 2022.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is an independently governed park system featuring 180 park properties totaling 6,817 acres of land and water. It provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the environment.  Its Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, waterfront access, trail system, neighborhood parks, recreation centers, recreation amenities and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, visit, play and work. An estimated 29.6 million annual visits are made to the nationally and locally acclaimed park system.

YWCA Minneapolis Unveils Kid-Designed, Community-Built Playground in Midtown

The YWCA Minneapolis Midtown, 2121 E Lake Street, is the most visited YWCA Minneapolis facility, averaging more than 13,000 check-ins per month, over the past six months, in what is perhaps the most economically-challenged and culturally-diverse community in the city. This community is finding the YWCA vital to their lives - in the form of child care, youth programs, fitness and social awareness.

In 2017, YWCA Minneapolis Midtown playground equipment was deemed no longer safe and it was removed. Since then, the space has been a simple outdoor play area for our young participants. 

Last week, Welly Health PBC and KABOOM! partnered with YWCA Minneapolis to build a playground at their Midtown facility in the heart of the Corcoran neighborhood. Together, they are dedicated to ensuring all kids have equitable access to places to play so they can learn and thrive to help end playspace inequity.

Here is a clip of KARE11's coverage.

Photo credit: Rachel Palomo, YWCA Senior Marketing Specialist

"Play is essential to healthy development, and we are dedicated to supporting the communities where we live, work and play to live life to the fullest," said Laura Conlon, Vice President of Marketing at Welly. "We are excited to see this new project come to life and support kids in the community where Welly was founded and with amazing partners like YWCA Minneapolis and KABOOM!.”

Because Welly was founded in Minneapolis, this project with YWCA Minneapolis hits home to the full team and community. Together, Welly and KABOOM! are committed to ensuring that children in the Early Childhood Education program at YWCA Minneapolis will have the opportunity to experience the simple joys of childhood that begin on the playground. In April, Welly donated $120,000 to support the design and construction in the resurging Midtown community. Members of the program, including children, participated in the design and planning process in May, culminating in an unveiling of the completed playspace July 15 at YWCA’s Midtown location - for use by YWCA Minneapolis.

YWCA Minneapolis has been building an inclusive community, furthering racial and gender equity, empowering women and girls to be leaders, and improving health and wellness for over 130 years. From health access to racial justice, the leaders of YWCA Minneapolis have long been at the forefront of change. Last year alone, YWCA programs helped 720+ children receive high-quality, anti-bias education, 5,000+ individuals learn about civic engagement and how to combat racial inequities, 1,250+ girls and youth become creators of change in their community, and 24,200+ fitness members achieve better health and wellness. YWCA Minneapolis has been building stronger and more open-minded communities for 130+ years.

“These challenging times make capital expenditures like play spaces almost unimaginable, but thanks to this exciting partnership with like-minded organizations like KABOOM! and Welly, YWCA Minneapolis is able to give our children precisely what they deserve and need - a play space that provides a foundation for social-emotional connection. Play is essential, and our children later draw upon skills for collaboration rooted in play in their lifelong learning journeys. Our gratitude for this partnership will be enduring.” – Shelley Carthen Watson, President and CEO, YWCA Minneapolis.”

“Playgrounds are an iconic and important part of childhood. They’re not only where kids collect some of their best memories, but also where crucial skills are developed that nurture their physical, mental, and emotional well-being,” said Danielle Turnage, vice president of development at KABOOM!. “KABOOM! is thrilled to work with Welly to build a new playspace in Minneapolis to ensure that kids have a place designed just for them, where they can play, learn, and unlock their greatest potential.”

Last year, YWCA Minneapolis served more than 30,000 people in our community through high-quality programs and advocacy focused on racial justice, early learning, youth development and wellness. To learn more, visit ywcampls.org or join the conversation at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Small Business Spotlight: Kobi Co., Mother/Daughter Co-Founders, Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory

The pandemic gave birth to many things – check out this mother/daughter business that arose from the stress of distance learning! We talked to Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory about the origins of the business, sticking to their intentions and their delightful self-care products.

Q:  Please tell us about the formation of Kobi Co. What are the core tenets of the business?

A:  Kobi Co. was founded in 2020 by 17-year-old Kobi Gregory, my daughter, as self-care ritual to help her cope with the stress of distance learning during the pandemic. The candles started selling - Kobi’s hobby turned into a full-on business and it was time for me to step in and help manage. It was great timing for me as well - I was burned out by a long career in corporate finance. I’ve been securing partnerships and new retails spots throughout Minneapolis and focusing on growing the company.

Throughout every step of our growth, we’ve remained intentional. We believe businesses bear a responsibility to take care of their customers, to be stewards of the planet, and to do their part to create a more just and equitable world. We believe in taking care of ourselves, so we can go out into the world and make some good trouble. We believe in Black Girl Magic. We believe mental health, especially Black mental health, is paramount. We believe self-care doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming, or reserved for a privileged few. We believe music has the power to heal. (Especially Prince’s music.)

At Kobi Co. we are committed to giving back. A portion of our profits go toward our annual scholarship for BIPOC women, and our limited edition #BlackLivesMatter candle supports families affected by gun violence and police brutality. We will always do our part to uplift fellow Black-owned, women-owned companies, especially if they’re Minnesota grown (like we are), and we aim to provide a gender-affirming, LGBTQ+ aligned, antiracist workplace.

Q:  Is it difficult to separate business discussions from mother/daughter discussions?

A:  To be quite honest, this is something we struggled with for quite some time - especially in the beginning. Needless to say, it would make for a very long and hard day. This is the most time we’ve spent together - ever (since Kobi was a toddler). It was hard for me not to bring up her not doing the dishes or doing some chore as we were working together. I found myself parenting her while she was working and neither one of us liked it. Kobi was discovering her new found skills as a business owner and wanted me to respect her as a business partner. I had a lightbulb moment when I heard her sharing her ideas and knowledge about the business in a pitch meeting. I was so impressed, I immediately saw her in a different light - a knowledgeable, capable partner. So today, we are super intentional about separating work/home discussions - and talk parent/family business outside of the office. It’s all about work/life balance. 

Q:  Each of your candles comes with a curated playlist – please tell us more. Why the combination of scent and music?

A:  We want our candles and music to foster a calming, restorative vibe. We want you to be your best self, do your best work, and be the best friend, steward, and ancestor you can be. We are Minneapolis born-and-raised, and you can feel the hometown pride throughout all of our products, our relationships, and our dope taste in music.

Q:  Who creates the playlists? Do you feature local musicians?

A:  Kobi here. Sometimes I’ll let my mom add a few of her faves from the olden days, but funny enough we have the same music taste. I love a lot of old school songs.

We absolutely feature local musicians: Of course, our #PurpleRain candle has tons of Prince on the playlist. Our #♥️Minnesnowta candle has the most variety of local MN musicians, and our recently released #Feelin’GoodAsHell candle has a lot of Lizzo (and yes, we consider her local since she lived here for over five years!).

The Angel Essence candle was created in honor of Erika De Salvatore.

Q:  The Angel Essence candle has a lovely backstory. Please tell us about it. How did Erika De Salvatore assist Kobi Co.? 

A:  In 2020 we were accepted into Target Corporation’s pro bono program. Target found and assigned a dream team to work on a rebranding project for Kobi Co.

It was an amazing experience for us, to have insight to what real, professional creatives do on a day-to-day basis. It was a blessing for us to be on the receiving end of their amazing work. We worked together closely/remotely for over three months (this was during the height of Covid) so we never got to meet in person, but that didn’t stop us from bonding over mutual admiration. This incredible team of amazing women worked as hard for Kobi Co. as they did for Target. Shortly after the project wrapped, we learned one of the project team members, Erika De Salvatore, passed away (she was the biggest Kobi Co. fan - as shared by her colleagues and family). 

It hurt us more than we could have imagined. We felt for her husband, small children, family and friends. We were so grateful for the love she had shown for us we felt super compelled to do something to honor her legacy. Upon attending her funeral service, we learned her family asked that in lieu of flowers, friends and family could support Kobi Co. Needless to say, we were beyond moved at this beautiful gesture. We were compelled to find a way to honor her legacy - we consulted with her family and colleagues and learned her favorite fragrances. The Angel Essence candle includes scents of vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli and citrus.

Q:  Besides candles, what other products does Kobi Co. offer?

A:  We offer 3-in-1 sprays (body, room + linen), bath bombs, bath salts, and wax tarts.

Q:  Where can we find your products? How may we follow your news?

A:  We are currently sold at the Mill City Farmers Market, Electric Fetus, all eight Patina stores, all three Down in the Valley stores, MinnyRow Market, and Lutunji’s Palate.  Please follow us on social media - Facebook and Instagram.

Kobi Co. is popular with Mill City Farmers Market shoppers. Photo: Mill City Times