Pandemic Both Challenges and Inspires Hennepin History Museum Staff

Article by Doug Verdier

When COVID-19 closed the Hennepin History Museum to the public on March 14, 2020, Museum Curator Alyssa Thiede was deeply disappointed. But the pandemic also inspired the current Local Heroes exhibit itself and motivated her to create an exhibit that paid tribute to healthcare workers.

“The situation also presented a creative opportunity to reimagine how to organize and offer exhibits to the public in a safe and accessible way,” Thiede said. “The pandemic created a number of new and different challenges to developing an exhibit as well, because access to many resources suddenly was cut off.”

With libraries and archives closed, Thiede reached out to people in the healthcare community as primary sources for ideas on what to include. “Marie Manthey, a nurse who sits on the Heritage Committee of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing was a valuable resource,” said Thiede. “She helped me connect with experts in the healthcare field, as well as several retired nurses who volunteer at the Hennepin Medical History Center Museum at HCMC.”

The evolution of the exhibit was truly collaborative. “So many people contributed, since access to libraries and other sources were not available,” said Thiede. “The stories they shared helped make the exhibit more experiential and personal.”

The interviews and research helped identify and narrow down the individuals, organizations, places and timeframe that the exhibit would emphasize.

“From the beginning, I knew that I didn’t want to focus too much on the big names that people already know,” said Thiede. “I wanted to celebrate the more unsung healthcare heroes. That’s why you’ll see a lot of women, people of color and other less known individuals featured throughout the exhibit.”

Above, Dr. Charles E. Dutton’s Medical Bag, circa 1900. Dr. Charles E. Dutton was the last surviving member of the first class to graduate from the University of Minnesota’s Medical School in 1889. He practiced medicine in downtown Minneapolis until 1935, but continued to treat patients out of his home almost until the time of his death in 1955 at the age of 94. He was also well known as the first doctor in Minneapolis to make house calls out of an automobile. His medical bag, pictured, includes a stethoscope, speculum, forceps, steel calipers, anesthesia mask, trephine, bone saw, scalpel, syringe and needle, and many other tools. After use, instruments that required sterilization would have been boiled in the copper chamber in the lower compartment of the medical bag. Hennepin History Museum Collections. Gift of Mrs. Charles E. Dutton.

When it came to selecting the artifacts to be part of the exhibit, Hennepin History Museum’s own in-house collection was invaluable. Other items are on loan from the Hennepin Medical History Center at HCMC, which is not currently open to the public.

At the same time, the physical layout of the Local Heroes exhibit had to be designed in a way that would allow visitors to feel comfortable and safe going through the museum when it was open again. Consideration of how many people could go through at the same time, what direction they would go and how to arrange exhibits for the best visibility all were reviewed. One element in the layout of the exhibit was the use of  portable hospital dividers to separate portions of the displays. These not only served a social-distancing function, but also added to the healthcare atmosphere of the gallery.

A bonus in all this, Thiede explained, was a renewed emphasis on providing exhibit content online for visitors who were not yet comfortable going to a museum during the pandemic. “I had been thinking for a couple of years about how to create online content in addition to a physical exhibit,” she said. “The pandemic pushed that idea higher on the priority list. It actually was something of a silver lining to everything else.”

Thiede explained that the museum had not previously explored in detail what resources would be needed to give it the necessary level of online capability. This required some experimentation to see how virtual content could look and be engaging to viewers.

“With Local Heroes we are offering for the first time both a physical exhibit as well as an online version of the entire exhibit, including full text, photos of each artifact, and images of the people and places featured,” Thiede said. “We are learning from this first online offering and look forward to viewer and visitor feedback so we can improve the online experience going forward. Having the exhibits available online will make them available to a wider audience. Our plan is to provide an online version of all future exhibits. We want to share the historic stories with as many people as possible!”

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The Local Heroes exhibit is scheduled to run through September 11, 2021.

While the Hennepin History Museum is once again welcoming visitors, masks are required by persons age 6 and older. Also, visiting this museum requires the use of stairs. In addition to the physical exhibit, Local Heroes is also available online at www.hennepinhistory.org.

Hennepin History Museum is located at 2303 Third Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55404.

Current hours are: Thursdays, 10a–3p; Fridays, 10a–3p; Saturdays 10a–5p.

Limited free parking is available in the rear of the building.

Admission: Adults $8, Seniors/Students $5, Free for Members an Children age 6 and under

The Pier in the River

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Mill City Times photo from 2014, taken shortly after a number of blocks fell into the river.Many people who enjoy the Minneapolis riverfront throughout the seasons have more than likely noticed an old stone pier jutting out of the river, but what’s the story behind it? Every year, more bricks seem to fall into the river, and it is only a matter of time before the Mighty Mississippi erases all memory of this mysterious pier.

Going back to the early years of Minneapolis, in 1855 when the Hennepin Avenue Bridge became the first permanent crossing to go over the entire Mississippi, the needs of the city were met. However, the city was quickly growing, and when Minneapolis unified with St. Anthony, it became clear that more river crossings were necessary. One of the new bridges that was to be built would become the 10th Avenue Bridge. It connected 6th Avenue SE to 10th Avenue S. Since there is currently a 10th Avenue Bridge just downstream, I will be calling this bridge the Old 10th Avenue Bridge for the sake of this article.

The Old 10th Avenue Bridge from 1906

A painting of a similar view by Arnold Ness Klagstad from 1937

In 1874, the short-lived Kansas branch of the King Bridge Company completed the Old 10th Avenue Bridge. It consisted of a two lane 1,100-foot-long iron deck truss on top of five stone piers, and served pedestrians, carts and wagons for about sixteen years. In 1890, the Twin City Rapid Company installed a street car line on the bridge, which just happened to be a stone’s throw away from the spot where their new steam power plant would be built only thirteen years later. Since it was an iron bridge and not a much stronger and sturdier steel bridge, it did not exactly provide the safest experience when crossing the river. Once automobiles found their way to the area, they were also allowed to cross the bridge, and only a couple decades later, in 1934, the bridge was closed for good.

World War II saw a great need for raw materials, so the unused bridge ended up being torn down for scrap in 1943. During its almost seventy-year existence, the Old 10th Avenue Bridge was a daunting sight that connected the east side of the Minneapolis riverfront to the west side. While it might not have been the safest bridge, it saw Minneapolis grow from carts and wagons to street cars and automobiles. It served as an important river crossing for the city and eventually contributed to the U.S.’s war effort. Nowadays, it’s hard to picture the bridge in its heyday, but the lone stone pier in the river acts as a gateway into its once boisterous life. Let’s just hope we can all cherish the pier while it lasts.

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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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 5+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Local Leader: Representative Ilhan Omar

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Get to know your Congressional Representative! We talked to Rep. Ilhan Omar in April about how she likes to spend her free time, family pets and how she shrugs off the haters.

Rep. Ilhan OmarQ:  Representative Omar, how do you spend your weekends and free time in Minneapolis - do you have time to visit parks, museums and restaurants?

A:  Yes, I do like to visit all those places if I am not doing any sort of Congressional work. For the majority of the time, we have activities scheduled in my district to visit with constituents. My staff allows me to have some personal time to hang out with my teenage kids and my husband in visiting restaurants and parks. This past weekend my son and I went to go see a movie. This was the first time I was in a movie theater in over a year and that was really exciting.

Q:  What movie did you see?

A:  We saw a movie called The Marksman. It is about a man who lived on the Arizona border who helps a young mom and her son escape the Coyote. The mom ends up getting shot and she asks the Marksman to protect her son. The whole movie is about him trying to make sure this kid is safe and it's a pretty cool movie. It was really, really eye opening for my son, and two of his friends, who are the children of my childhood friends. 

Rep. Omar with TeddyQ:  Do you have a pet?

A:  Yes, we have a yellow lab. Teddy is five months old right now and it's pretty exciting and fun to watch him grow.

Q:  What do you wish more people in your district, and Minnesota in general, knew about Somali Americans?

A:  It's an interesting question. I would say that Minnesotans, at this point, know a lot about Somalis.  What I hope that those who report about Somalis would tell people about Somalis is that we are not that much different than everyone else you know. We are people who have an aspiration to have a better life, to see our kids get an education and to have a solid footing in society. We tend to be entrepreneurs and business-focused and we place a high value on education. And we are very family-oriented - we're intergenerational oftentimes in the spaces we live in. I was raised by my grandfather, so my father, my grandfather, and my mom's brothers and siblings and I all grew up in the same household and that's traditionally what you will find. We are a very religious and faithful people, and we are very communal so we love caring for our neighbors, for our community and giving back to one another.

One of the beautiful things I think of, being a Somali in Minnesota, is knowing that you are never going to be in need if there's a Somali person nearby. I have never walked to a place, even as a young person, without a Somali person stopping their car and asking if I needed help. Everybody does that, when we see elders carrying bags from the grocery store, we stop and help. 

Q:  What a great answer! I wish that we call could live in a community with those attributes. I'm going to shift gears a little bit. You have described yourself as an intersectional feminist. Please tell us a little bit more about this idea.

A:  I think it's out of the understanding that many of the barriers we face as women don't stop with just our gender – it intersects with color and class barriers as well. There is a lot more to overcome, than just gender discriminations. Take someone like me – my identities as a Muslim woman, as a black woman, as an immigrant woman, all intersect in my fight for liberation. It’s a fight that's rooted in solidarity, because we tend to understand that liberation for one is liberation for all.

Q:  You're a frequent target, I don't have to tell you this, of conservative news media. How do you build up resilience to shrug it off?

A:  I don't know, I think the easy answer is, I was built this way.

Q:  I’m thinking like Lady Gaga?

A:  I think, overcoming so many challenges in life sort of prepared me, more than many people are prepared to be in this space, but I think for me it's knowing that there is progress being made in the work that I do.  It’s why I am in the position that I’m in and that purpose is to give voice to people who have been marginalized and left out of sitting at tables where decisions are made. I try to fight for the policies that you wanted someone else to fight on your behalf, when I get the opportunity to do so. Everything else I see as a distraction and it really doesn't fit into the work that I need to do. And, I think on more of an emotional level, I know that, as my dad used to say, it's hard to hate - up close - the people who have negative things to say about me. Those people have not had a personal interaction with me, so I know that the hate isn't genuine and it's not rooted in reality. I live in reality and don’t pay attention to those people or their comments.

Q:  How do you prefer to engage with constituents?

A:  We engage with our constituents in all ways, on all levels. My favorite obviously is face to face having a conversation and being in dialogue with the person. I believe in the idea of co-governance - representative democracy should be rooted in that, and so the closer you are to your constituents and the more dialogue you're engaged in and with your constituents you have the ability to have fluency in their day-to-day struggles and concerns. You can be a better representative and a better advocate for them if you understand your constituents. But in the realities of COVID-19, we do a lot of meetings and interactions virtually. I try to use my social media platforms to engage and there are more avenues available to us, than what was traditionally available to politicians before my time.

Q:  Thank you for speaking with us. What are your social media platforms?

A:  Here’s my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – please follow me! Call my Minneapolis office with any concerns too - (612) 333-1272.

The Meeker Island Lock & Dam

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

On the Mississippi River, where Minneapolis and St. Paul meet, an abandoned structure lies just beneath the waves. Between the shore and the navigation channel are the remains of the Meeker Island Lock and Dam, originally named Lock and Dam No. 2. While it was not operational for a very long time, the impact it had on the utilization of the river from St. Paul to Minneapolis is tremendous.

Screenshot from Google Maps showing the remnants of the lock.

During the mid-1800’s, paddle boats started to make the trek up the river and line the shores of St. Paul, bringing resources and people looking for a new home. While it was possible for boats to reach Minneapolis, it was a very dangerous trip. The eight-mile stretch from St. Anthony Falls to where the Minnesota River flows into the Mississippi was dotted with small islands and rapids with an elevation change of 110 feet. To take advantage of the power St. Anthony Falls was generating for the lumber and flour milling industries, Minneapolis needed to be connected to the transportation network that the river created. In 1898, after roughly fifty years of negotiations, the construction of two lock and dams, one near the Ford Bridge for St. Paul to harness electricity with, and the other near the Lake St. Bridge for Minneapolis, commenced. This would raise the level of the river and hide all those islands and boulders that made navigation very risky.

The Meeker Island Lock and Dam was the first to be built, and it was completed in 1907. On May 19th of that year, the Itura became the first boat to pass through the new lock, and the Meeker Island Lock and Dam became the first lock and dam on the entire Mississippi. During its short lifespan, the lock and dam would see anywhere from 200,000 to 475,000 tons of lumber a year pass through, which was the main use of the lock. The only other industry to use the lock was tourism and transportation. During the early years of the lock, the Army Corps of Engineers annual reports estimated that $15,000 worth of excursion business passed through the lock per year.

Photo of its construction, looking down stream with the Lake St. Bridge in the backgroud.

Photo of its construction, looking up stream.

Shortly after the Meeker Island Lock and Dam was completed, construction for the second dam, just downstream, began. Halfway through its construction, hydropower technology progressed so much that these two lock and dams would not be able to handle the new technology that was required for hydropower. Because of this, a new plan was agreed upon. In 1912, just five years since the Itura passed through its doors, the Meeker Island Lock and Dam shut down and was partially dismantled to make way for the new Lock and Dam No. 1. Not only would this new and larger lock and dam raise the river level even more in the river gorge, it would provide an immense amount of electricity. A man by the name of Henry Ford quickly realized this would be a perfect opportunity to open a new automobile factory and approached the city of St. Paul to strike a deal. I think we all know what happened after that.

Post card of the completed lock and dam.

While the Meeker Island Lock and Dam was only in operation for five years, it opened the river for safe travel up to Minneapolis, and laid the ground work for the current iteration of Lock and Dam No. 1, also known as the Ford Dam. The milling industries in Minneapolis were going to grow no matter what, but if it wasn’t for the idea that first popped up before the Civil War to install a series of locks and dams between the Twin Cities, it’s hard to believe that Minneapolis would eventually become the Mill City.

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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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 5+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Gamut Gallery announces Setting the Groundwork Exhibition by Reggie LeFlore

Via a recent e-announcement from Gamut Gallery

May 28 - June 26, 2021

Setting the Groundwork– a solo exhibition by Reggie LeFlore exploring his take on the multidimensional elements of creating, storytelling, and relationships with space and time.

A city is constructed for utilitarian purposes but for many artists, it is an eternal canvas or stage that, when used correctly, has the ability to stimulate dialogue within communities and abroad. Reggie LeFlore’s solo exhibition, Setting the Groundwork, incorporates his awareness of and appreciation for the multifaceted perspectives and practices of art in the public sphere to interrogate the power of space in the built environment and its connections to the natural world.

Informed by his everyday interactions and collaborations with folks in the community, organizers, graffiti writers, curators, and fellow artists, LeFlore’s work embraces the nuances and complexities of street art, guiding him throughout his creative projects. While Reggie primarily uses spray paint and hand-cut stencils to create vivid, large-scale portraits and imagery, intentionality and subjectivity, unconditional to medium, provide him the space to examine the various layers of identity and legacy of cultural abdundence. Boundless to the constraints and aesthetic expectations, Setting the Groundwork showcases LeFlore’s exploration of storytelling and the strength and healing that comes from sharing our ancestry and honoring it. 

Setting the Groundwork is Reggie LeFlore’s visual autobiography. Through the use of six portraits, each representing a different chapter of creativity in his life, viewers will have the opportunity to get a look into his inspirations as a child and to his collaborations across his life, highlighting his connections to community and the environments that surround it. Each foundational portrait represents a piece of LeFlore’s methodology, supported with elements containing his past, future and his current bookmark resounding on identity, afrocentricity and purpose. These experiences and influences create a larger than life, bold, vibrant story; a mural per se of his life, from his roots in Omaha to his life in Minneapolis.

ABOUT REGGIE LEFLORE

Reggie LeFlore is a visual artist who creates to praise individual and collective stories through human portraiture.  His inspirations are drawn from the concepts and philosophies of Street Art culture and Illustration – using aerosol, acrylic paint and various graphic design techniques to construct pieces in varying styles, scales and surfaces. Reggie uses visual arts to amplify both his surrounding environments and the narratives contained within them.

MEMBERS ONLY PREVIEW NIGHT: Friday, May 28th //  6-8pm

Reserve your spot or become a member today!

• 1 hour reserved tour sessions • Pre-sale tickets required, book your pre-sale today • 15 visitors per tour • Masks required • Please stay home if you are feeling unwell

PUBLIC OPENING NIGHT: Saturday, May 29th // 6-10pm • $7

• 45 minute reserved tour sessions • Pre-sale tickets required, book your pre-sale • 15 visitors per tour • Masks required • Please stay home if you are feeling unwell

ARTIST TALK: Thursday, June 24th // 6-8pm • $10

A multifaceted conversation and a look into the mind of Artist Reggie LeFlore, hosted at Gamut Gallery.  • Limited tickets available - pre-sales available soon • Masks required • Please stay home if you are feeling unwell

GALLERY & GIFT SHOP OPEN HOURS 

FREE open hours: Wednesday - Friday, 11am - 6pm; Saturday 11am - 4pm

Gamut Gallery is open with capacity restrictions for in-person viewing of the exhibition. We are available by appointment, please request an appointment 48 hours in advance.

Cynthia Froid Group Potted Herb Giveaway at the May 1 Mill City Farmers Market

Mill City Farmers Market's 2021 Season kicks off this Saturday, May 1, 8a-1p.

Market sponsor Cynthia Froid Group will be on hand from 10a-Noon handing out complimentary potted herbs from Green Earth Growers for their annual opening day neighborhood appreciation day.  Thank you, Cindy and Team! :D

Here is a link to the list of vendors you'll see at the May 1 Market.

FINNOVATION Lab Seeking Fourth Cohort, Tackling Social Issues Affecting Minnesotans Today

Via a recent News Release:

FINNOVATION LAB SEEKS FOURTH COHORT TO JOIN THEIR GROWING COMMUNITY OF SOCIAL IMPACT ENTREPRENEURS

Nine individuals will receive a $50,000 living stipend, curriculum tailored to building an impact enterprise, and an ecosystem of support

FINNOVATION Lab announced a fourth cohort of their Fellowship Program which aims to support and empower social entrepreneurs who have bold ideas for sustainable, positive impact. The Program is accepting applications April 15 - May 15, seeking nine new individuals ready to address the biggest issues affecting Minnesotans. The nine-month program will start in September and provide early-stage social entrepreneurs with a $50,000 living stipend, $3,000 health care stipend, tailored curriculum, access to an ecosystem of advisors and mentors, and dedicated workspace.

Applicants should have a strong tie to Minnesota, a deep understanding of a social or environmental issue they want to solve and an idea for how to tackle the issue through entrepreneurship. All areas of impact are welcome. The Fellowship Program will provide tools and guidance as the entrepreneurs develop innovative social business models. Entrepreneurs who are already operating their businesses are invited to apply if they have not been working full-time on the venture for one year or more, or if they are pursuing a major change to the service or product offered.

The Fellowship Program will continue to use a hybrid model, originally put into effect as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting a portion of education online with key in-person touchpoints. Curriculum focuses on leadership development, business planning and modeling, and systems-level analysis for social change using design thinking methodology. Fellows are expected to dedicate 35 hours each week to the program, allowing participants, often for the first time, to focus their energy on diving deeper into exploring a problem and a potential solution. The group will learn, experiment, and turn their ideas into reality.

"This past year presented new and unexpected challenges to communities across the entire nation,” said Connie Rutledge, CEO at FINNOVATION Lab. “We know there are entrepreneurs who have ideas to solve the challenges facing Minnesotans today. We invite them to join our community to gain invaluable experience and guidance to turn those ideas into impact businesses."

Since launching in 2018, the Fellowship Program has fostered the next generation of social impact leaders, guiding them to create sustainable social enterprise models. Alumni of the program have amassed great accomplishments both during and following their time in the Fellowship Program. A few highlights include:

• Nick Alm (Cohort 1 Fellow): Co-Founder and Executive Director of Mossier, launched an LGBTQ-focused online learning platform to encourage more inclusive workplaces.
• Mohamed Malim (Cohort 2 Fellow): Founder of Epimonia, partnered with a Somali youth basketball league to create apparel that was featured at New York Fashion Week.
• La’Shante (Shaunie) Grigsby (Cohort 2 Fellow): Founder of Flava Café, signed a lease on a location in Frogtown that will open for business in Fall 2021.

Cohort 3 wraps programming in June 2021. This group was pushed to work and think differently due to headwinds from the pandemic and social unrest in the Twin Cities.

“Running a social impact business is extremely important yet challenging work, especially when life as we know it is disrupted and resources become even more limited,” said Jacquie Berglund, Founder of FINNOVATION Lab. “The Fellowship Program has been successful at pushing social entrepreneurs to harness their passions, while teaching the practical skills and logistics to turn those passions into functioning businesses. Our community needs these types of ventures to thrive now more than ever.”

The fourth Cohort will be selected by a group of community leaders and alumni of the Fellowship Program. The Program is made possible through generous support from the Bush Foundation, known for its commitment to innovation and creative problem solving. Dedicated workspace and business resources are available to fellows in the FINNOVATION Lab space within the FINNEGANS House at 817 5^th Ave S. Minneapolis 55404.

More details about FINNOVATION Lab and the Fellowship Program, including application information and eligibility requirements, is available at Finn-Lab.com.

Gentleman Forager Launches EATS: A Wildly Unique Outdoor Kitchen Catering Service

Via an April 26 News Release: 

Gentleman Forager is pleased to announce its new catering service aimed at accommodating large events. Gentleman Forager EATS is a new crave-worthy outdoor kitchen run by veteran Twin Cities Chef Taylor O’Brien, and an impressive multitude of weekly guest chef pop-ups. The ever-changing menu—from mouth watering meats and vegetarian shawarma to morel mushrooms on a stick—is all expertly prepared using wild and wildly delicious ingredients.

Mike Kempenich“Running a kitchen, especially a workspace as complicated as a pop-up outdoor grill, is incredibly hard. There are so many additional tasks and a mountain of challenges that a chef must overcome,” said Gentleman Forager President Mike Kempenich. “And that’s exactly why we hired Chef Taylor. The guy is confident, creative and extremely dedicated to his craft. He is hardworking with an upbeat vibe, and we are excited to have him command this ship.”

“I am humbled and thankful about starting this new chapter in my culinary escapades,” said O’Brien. “The style of the kitchen, the freedom of the menu, the outdoor environment, the challenging non-traditional equipment, the unique foods—all of it—Is very exciting.”

O’Brien has many years of experience in the culinary arts working for iconic restaurants such as Manny’s Steakhouse, Barbette, Butcher and the Boar, The Sample Room, Oxcart Alehouse and more. Along his journey, he has picked up a lot of knowledge, so much that he has created a journal containing more than 400 delectable, lip-smacking, satisfying recipes. O’Brien is now eager to deliver his food creations to hungry crowds via Gentleman Forager EATS. Such recipes could include: Porcini Crusted Filet Mignon, a premium steak cut rolled in a kosher salt, cracked pepper and porcini mushroom spice blend; Morels on a Stick, professionally skewered morel mushrooms grilled tender; and much more.

“I love being a chef because excellent food makes people happy and comfortable. Big smiles from blissful guests intoxicates me with feelings of contentment I've never experienced elsewhere.” said Taylor. “This is going to be a lot of fun. Wild ingredients breed wild ideas to meld into my recipes. The delicious food we dish out is sure to impress. Please come check us out, we’d love to serve you.”

Gentleman Forager EATS will debut its new catering service at Hook & Ladder Theater’s 2021 urban outdoors summer concert series called Under The Canopy. The outdoor kitchen will cater every concert in the series. The food stand will be easily and conveniently accessible for those looking for a full meal, appetizer or snack while attending any of the shows which will run weekends from May 1st through early October in downtown Minneapolis. Learn more at: www.thehookmpls.com.

ABOUT GENTLEMAN FORAGER

For more than a decade, Gentleman Forager (GF) has been building a recognized, and respected brand in the wild food industry. Their mission is to revolutionize the way mushrooms, and other wild foods, are integrated into consumers' lifestyles. Foraging for wild mushrooms in remote forests, as well as cultivating exotic, specialty mushrooms is how the business got its start. The company also focuses on guiding wild mushroom-hunt outings and teaching wild mushroom identification courses. GF often collaborates with food-industry businesses to develop delicious creations and menu items using wild and wildly unique ingredients. They enjoy endorsing fun and interesting people, places, things and activities by creating and sharing engaging articles, videos and social media content. Hosting fun events, running an outdoor catering service, and selling their unique products and services with a smile is what they do.

Mike Kempenich—also known as “The Gentleman Forager”—is the company owner and President. He is an exotic mushroom cultivator, forager, instructor and wild foods distributor from Minneapolis Minnesota, sometimes described as a leader in the locavore dining, wild foraging, and vertical urban-farming movements. Kempenich is also the founder and Chief Marketing Officer of a retail company called Forest To Fork, which specializes in specialty mushroom cultivation and retail sales of mushrooms and other wild food products. His companies are dedicated to propagating top-quality specialty products; delivering excellent customer service; practicing sustainable and organic production techniques; and supporting commercial foragers, farmers and cultivators. Learn more at: www.gentlemanforager.com and www.forest-fork.com. 

FINNEGANS Brew Co. Celebrating Grand Re-Opening with May Day Festivities, as it Returns to Taproom Programming and Extended Hours

Via a News Release from FINNEGANS Brew Co.

May 1 Celebration to Include New Beers, Popular Favorites, Good Food, Music, and Social Entrepreneur Pop ups

Shake off cabin fever and join FINNEGANS Brew Co. for our May Day celebration as we welcome back our community of fans of local craft beer and doing good.

Enjoy pints of your favorite FINNEGANS brews and our latest releases, live music from Irish Diplomacy, social entrepreneur pop ups, Chicks on Wheels food truck, entertainment from Wild Rose Cloggers, and bagpipers from Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band. 

As a special opportunity, FINNEGANS Tap Room and Courtyard will host Breathe99 as it demonstrates the latest in facial mask technology and offers special deals on the B2 Mask named one of Time Magazines Top 100 Inventions of 2020. Similar to FINNEGANS mission of turning beer into food, Breathe99 works with non-profits and community-based organizations to better serve older populations, people with pre-existing conditions and those at higher risk due to health disparities. 

"We are excited to partner with FINNEGANS to make the re-opening event as safe and fun as possible for staff and patrons. Vaccines should give us all a reason to be hopeful; however, we still don't know about the long-term impacts of the variants, which is why our protective B2 Mask is one of the best methods to help ensure social businesses like FINNEGANS stay open today and in the future." Says Max Bock-Aronson, Co-Founder and Designer Engineer at Breathe99.

FINNEGANS will also be accepting food and other household donations for the House of Charity and St. Stephen’s Human Services. See the full list of accepted supply donations here. 

Learn more about the FINNOVATION Lab through connecting with the CEO, Connie Rutledge, and members of the FINNOVATION Fellowship Program and their mission to prepare changemakers to lead and launch sustainable social enterprises.

“We are so excited to be re-opening our doors officially – we are expanding our days and hours of operation and starting up taproom programming with hopes that we will not be forced to close again. Our Grand Re-opening will be a festive and joyous day in true FINNEGANS style, giving back to our community, connecting with social impact entrepreneurs, and of course our new summer beers and food from local favorite, Chicks on Wheels food truck.” Says Jacquie Berglund, Rambunctious Social Entrepreneur & CEO of FINNEGANS Brew Co, FINNEGANS Community Fund, and FINNOVATION Lab.

The lineup of summer favorites is varied and aims to please the palates of beer connoisseurs and casual sippers alike. Those taking center stage on May 1 include: 

• Tile Factory: A Citrus forward Mosaic IPA with just the right amount of bitterness
• Tipped Cow: A refreshing Belgian-inspired Saison
• Bella Pilz: An Italian-style Pilsner, perfect for summer.
• Blood Orange Pilsner: A dry Pilsner brewed with blood orange puree and notes of grapefruit and orange.
• Kicked To The Herb: A Pale Ale brewed with hemp seeds and Citra, MN grown Zeus and Chinook hops to push the aromas of the hemp seed.

  * * * * * Schedule of Events * * * * *

1–9pm  Tap Room and Patio Open

2–4pm  Music from Irish Diplomacy

3–5pm  Social Entrepreneur Showcase

    4pm  Brian Boru Irish Band

2–5pm  Paint a Planter or May Day Basket

5–6pm  Wild Rose Cloggers

.

FINNEGANS Brew Co. Tap Room and Brewery will continue its commitment to the safety and well-being of its customers, ensure all COVID-19 precautions are met, and will now equip all team members with Breath99 face masks. 

About FINNEGANS Brew Co.  

FINNEGANS – Founded in 2000 in Minneapolis, FINNEGANS is a self-sustaining and inspirational social business with a mission of turning beer into food. Through sales of its ever-expanding roster of beers, FINNEGANS has created an innovative business model driving the company to create community wealth through FINNEGANS branded products, events, promotions, and strategic partnerships, FINNEGANS Brew Co. sponsors the FINNEGANS Community Fund, a (501(c)3) non-profit. The Fund supports hunger alleviation programs in every market where FINNEGANS is sold, which includes MN, WI, ND, and SD. Now, is there a better reason to raise a pint of FINNEGANS? 

About Breathe99 

Breathe99 is the Minneapolis startup behind the B2 Mask - one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020. Their impact-oriented business model strives to empower people to lead full, healthy lives through access to innovative and sustainable health products and services. For more, visit breathe99.com. 

Doug Verdier's April 22 Third Avenue Bridge Project Photos

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project. He has also been documenting the Third Avenue Bridge refurbishment project.

Work on the base of the Third Avenue Bridge pier near West River Parkway has been clearly evident to pedestrians and cyclists in recent weeks. One lane of the parkway is now reserved for non-vehicular traffic, and area residents and visitors can get a close-up look at progress on the lower section of the pier base.

Metal-reinforced wooden forms are pictured here awaiting installation around the base prior to pouring concrete into the forms. Each form has been constructed specifically for the location it will be placed around the base.

A view beneath the bridge shows the extent of preparation for pouring concrete.

A closer view of the reinforcing elements attached to the existing base before the concrete is poured to form the new exterior surface.

Work on the bridge deck and vertical elements of the structure is ongoing, as is work beneath the arch. This particular section is within the Horseshoe Falls area.

Fiery Sky Over Minneapolis by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow: 

This photograph is from a photo shoot the week of April 18th. As the sun was setting the clouds began turning bright orange with a golden hue. I have edited several photographs from that evening. In this image my purpose was to feature the fiery sky. I fully edited the image at least three times, thinking that for a balanced photograph I should not only feature the sky but bring out detail in the buildings in the foreground. Finally I realized that the foreground was not what drew me to the image. It was the sky that was the main attraction. The dark foreground focused my eye on the sky. That said, I also liked the sun’s reflection in the windows on the buildings. So while keeping the exposure down on the buildings, I worked to reveal the reflection of the sun's rays in the building windows on the left and right. I hope you enjoy this photograph as much as I do. You can see more of my work at:  www.traveltheglobephotography.com.

Update on West River Parkway Closures

Via an April 21 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Sections of West River Parkway have been impacted throughout the last two years due to numerous construction projects. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appreciates the public's understanding and patience while these critical projects to repair and improve public infrastructure are performed. Please stay away from areas where work is taking place and follow all posted detours and signage.

* * * * * Bridge Projects * * * * *

3rd Avenue Bridge Reconstruction

4th Avenue N-Portland Avenue; May 3-17

The parkway and adjacent trails will be closed to all traffic between 4th Avenue N and Portland Avenue from May 3 to May 17, 2021. The closure is necessary for the reconstruction of the 3rd Avenue Bridge by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This section is also tentatively scheduled to close again for the 3rd Avenue Bridge project from July 5 to July 19, 2021.

Please visit the Hwy 65/3rd Avenue Bridge Reconstruction website for more details.

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10th Avenue SE Bridge and Bridge #9 Repairs

13th-22nd Avenues S; Reopens April 30, closes again last week of July - September 1, 2021

The parkway is closed to motor vehicle traffic between 13th Avenue S and 22nd Avenue S until April 30, 2021 for the rehabilitation of 10th Avenue SE Bridge by the City of Minneapolis and repairs to Bridge #9 (the bike/pedestrian bridge serving the Dinkytown Greenway) by the University of Minnesota. Trail traffic is rerouted onto the parkway while bridge work continues above the trails.

That section of parkway is tentatively scheduled to close again beginning the last week of July until September 1, 2021 for Bridge #9 repairs and site restoration.

Many of Approximately 20 Farmers' Markets in Minneapolis to Begin Opening Spring Markets May 1

Approximately 20 Markets in “Farmers Markets of MPLS” Collaborative to Open Spring Markets, Offering Shoppers Fresh, Seasonal Foods While Also Supporting Local Farmers and Small Food Businesses

Many of the approximately 20 farmers’ markets in the Farmers Markets of MPLS collaborative will open their spring markets May 1, with others opening later in the month and in June. Four of those markets held Winter Markets from November through later this month. The Spring Markets opening will bring many favorite growers and other vendors back, as well as introduce shoppers to new vendors and their products.

Some of the new vendors include Wild Sorrel (body products made with Horner’s Corner maple syrup); Perennial Pantry (Kernza flour); BIPOC-owned farmers’ brands Ever Wild Herbal Company (apothecary products), Pure Ginger for You (raw, cold-press juices made with local, organic produce), and Live Organically (certified organic vegetables). The nonprofit Urban Roots youth farm and conservation program will also introduce its new collection of native perennial plants.

Spring Market Locations:

Audubon Mini Farmers Market, Thursdays, 4-7pm, June 10 through September 30

Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church parking lot, 2654 Johnson Street NE at 27th Ave NE, Minneapolis,  https://sites.google.com/audubonneighborhood.org/audubon-neighborhood/farmers-market

. . . . .

Camden Farmers Market, Saturdays, 10am-2pm, June 5 through August 28th

Salem Lutheran Evangelical Church, 4150 Dupont Ave N, Minneapolis, https://www.thenewmpls.info/farmers-market

. . . . .

East Isles Farmers Market, Thursdays, 4-8pm, June 24 through September 23

1420 The Mall, Minneapolis, https://www.eastislesfarmersmarket.com/

. . . . . 

Farmers Market Annex, Saturdays and Sundays, 7am-1pm, April 24 through October 31

200 E Lyndale Ave North, Minneapolis, http://www.farmersmarketannex.com/

. . . . . 

Four Sisters Farmers Market, Thursdays, 11am-3pm, June 3 through October 28

1414 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, https://www.facebook.com/foursistersmarket

. . . . . 

Fulton Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm, May 15 through October 23

4901 Chowen Ave South, Minneapolis, http://neighborhoodrootsmn.org/about/fulton/

. . . . . 

Kingfield Farmers Market, Sundays, 8:30am-1pm, May 16 through October 24

4055 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, http://neighborhoodrootsmn.org/about/kingfield/

. . . . . 

Linden Hills Farmers Market, (schedule is TBD and whether it will be online curbside only)

2813 W 43rd St, Minneapolis, https://www.lindenhillsfarmersmarket.org/

. . . . . 

Midtown Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8am-1pm, May 1 through October 30

Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, http://midtownfarmersmarket.org/

. . . . . 

Mill City Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8am-1pm, May 1 through October 30

750 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, https://millcityfarmersmarket.org/

. . . . . 

Municipal Minneapolis Farmers Market, Daily, 6am-1pm, May 1 through October 31

312 E. Lyndale Ave. North, Minneapolis, www.mplsfarmersmarket.com

. . . . . 

Nicollet Mall Farmers Market, Thursdays, (time is TBD), June 4 through October 29

Nicollet Mall, 9th Street through 6th Street, Minneapolis, https://farmersmarketsofmpls.org/nicollet-mall-farmers-market/

. . . . . 

Nokomis Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 4:30-7pm, June 16 through September 29

5167 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, http://neighborhoodrootsmn.org/about/nokomis/

. . . . . 

Northeast Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9am-1pm, May 15 through October 16

629 2^nd Street NE, Minneapolis, www.northeastfarmersmarket.com

. . . . . 

Plant Based Farmers Market, Sundays, 11am-3pm, May 1, 2021 through April 30

1729 North 2nd Street, Minneapolis, https://www.facebook.com/plantbasedpopupmarket/

. . . . . 

Stevens Square Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 2-6pm, June 30 through October 13

Nicollet Ave & E Franklin Ave (SE corner of church parking lot), Minneapolis

. . . . . 

Tiny Diner Farmers’ Market, Thursdays, (time and schedule are TBD)

1024 E 38th St, Minneapolis

. . . . . 

Untiedt’s Garden Market, Mondays – Saturdays, 11am – 6:30pm and Sundays, 11am – 6pm, (dates are TBD)

3711 W 44th St and 6024 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis  https://www.untiedts.com/

. . . . . 

West Broadway Farmers Market, Fridays, 3-7pm, June 18 through October 1

2034 West Broadway Ave N, Minneapolis  https://westbroadway.org/farmersmarket/

. . . . . 

Many of the markets accept EBT and Market Bucks. To view an interactive map, visit https://farmersmarketsofmpls.org/find-a-market/interactive-map/. All markets practice stringent COVID-19 protocols to ensure a safe experience for shoppers, growers and staff, and some offer online pre-ordering and pre-payment for a contact-free shopping experience. Farmers Markets of MPLS continues to work gathering surveys and statistics for vendors and markets through the Farmers Market Metrics Project. Some 2019 statistics gathered by the organization relating to its Minneapolis markets include:

• 78 percent of vendor businesses are owned or operated by women.
• 71 percent of vendors donated leftover produce to hunger relief programs.
• 11,200 agricultural acres are owned, leased, or managed by Farmers Markets of MPLS vendors.
• 3,720 kids spent Power of Produce tokens.

About Farmers Markets of MPLS

The Farmers Markets of MPLS collaborative was formed in 2017 as a means to build a more connected, accessible and effective market systems, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, University of Minnesota, Homegrown Minneapolis, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other market supporters. All the nearly 30 farmers’ markets operating in the City of Minneapolis are members of Farmers Markets of MPLS, a collaborative that works together on marketing, data collection, advocacy, and general support for member markets. For more information about the organization and markets, visit https://farmersmarketsofmpls.org/.

About the Farmers Market Metrics Project

The Farmers Market Metrics Project is a three-way partnership between farmers markets, local government, and the University of Minnesota. The project is designed to improve the capacity of the markets in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro region help market managers quantify their contribution to the regional food system. FM 360 provides scalable, adaptable data collection tools and data that allow market managers to customize metrics and reports for existing partners and prospective funders.

Fashion Week MN 2021

Sarah Edwards of Fashion Week MN sits down with Brianna Rose to discuss Fashion Week 2021, inside tips on hot designers and fashion in the time of COVID-19.

PPP Updates from Brian McDonald, District Director U.S. SBA’s MN District

Article by Becky Fillinger

Brian McDonaldWe spoke to District Director Brian McDonald of the SBA one year ago about the newly announced COVID-19 relief programs. We caught up with him to revisit what has changed with relief resources, important dates and how Minnesotans may receive assistance.

Q:  How have the federal COVID-19 relief programs helped the smaller small businesses and those who are independent contractors, including artists and musicians for example? Do they apply for the loans in the same way as traditional small businesses? 

A:  The SBA has multiple COVID-19 relief programs that have been helping small businesses, non-profits, sole proprietors and independent contractors. Made available last year, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and Paycheck Protection Programs have had billions of dollars added to them by Congress in the last several months. Key changes have also been made to allow more people to take advantage of them. 

Q:  What changes has Congress made to the Paycheck Protection Program and EIDL that would be of interest to Minnesotans? 

A:  The PPP keeps workers on payroll and connected to their benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This past February, the SBA, working with the Biden-Harris Administration, implemented five PPP changes to achieve more equitable access to this program, anchor neighborhoods especially in low to moderate income and rural areas, and help families to build wealth: 

• Revision to the PPP Funding Formula for Schedule C filers (i.e. independent contractors, sole proprietors and other eligible self-employed individuals) so they can see a greater benefit by utilizing gross income rather than net profit in their calculations.

• Fairer access for people with prior convictions by eliminating the PPP eligibility restriction for those with certain felony convictions within the previous year.

• Allowing those who have struggled to make and are delinquent on federal student loan payments, to apply for a PPP loan.

• Provide clarity that Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) can be used as an identifier for a business owner, allowing all persons lawfully residing in the U.S. to have access to the PPP.

• Provide a 14-day exclusive window where lenders could only submit PPP applications for small businesses and non-profits with 20 or fewer employees.

Additionally, the PPP Extension Act of 2021 signed into law by President Biden on March 30, 2021, extended the PPP for two months to May 31, 2021, and provided an additional 30-day period for the SBA to process pending loan guaranty applications submitted on or before May 31, 2021.

Lastly, the SBA announced it will more than triple the maximum amount small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Beginning April 6, 2021, loan eligibility will increase from 6-months of economic injury up to a maximum of $150,000 to 24-months of economic injury up to a maximum of $500,000.

Q:  What are your perceptions of how the relief programs were administered in Minnesota?   

A:  The SBA Minnesota District Office continues to aid and provide guidance to small business owners and non-profits across the state. Almost 100,000 Minnesota small businesses have gotten approval for PPP loans as of last week totaling over $4.7 billion; approximately 41,780 EIDL loans also reached eligible small business entities providing more than $2.3 billion. We’re grateful for the positive feedback we have received.

We are also extremely grateful to our SBA Resource Partners, including SCORE Mentors, SBA Women’s Business Centers and the Small Business Development Centers business advisors who provide free, one-on-one assistance to small business owners and potential applicants; connecting small businesses with real people who can work with them every step of the way is making a big a positive impact.

Q:  Are there new relief programs this year? 

A:  The Economic Aid Act and American Rescue Plan Act have delivered more relief for small business owners. Primarily, the two widely known programs that will soon launch to assist some of the hardest-it industries are the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, which has $16.2 billion available for grants to eligible entities as well as the Restaurant Revitalization Fund which includes a $28.6 billion Congressional appropriation to assist businesses where people assembly for the primary purpose of being served food or drink.

Targeted EIDL Advance also is new and provides businesses in low-income communities with additional funds up to $10,000 to ensure small business continuity, adaptation, and resiliency. Potential applicants for this program do not need to take any action; the SBA is reaching out to those who qualify.

Q:  Thank you for speaking with us again. How can we stay current on the SBA news?  

A:  The best way to stay up to date on vital economic aid news is to sign-up for updates at www.sba.gov/updates. If you’re on Twitter, you can also follow the SBA nationally at @SBAgov and the Minnesota District Office at @SBA_Minnesota.

The Twin City Rapid Transit Company Steam Power Plant

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

While wandering across the Stone Arch Bridge and enjoying the downstream view of the Mississippi River gorge, it is hard to miss the four smoke stacks rising from a red brick building on the east bank. The Twin City Rapid Transit Company Steam Power Plant, now known as the Southeast Steam Plant, has played a very important role in the growth of Minneapolis. The original owners of the plant, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company, decided to construct the building in 1903 near the old 6th Avenue Bridge to provide electricity for their rapidly growing company.

The power plant circa 1906Back tracking a few decades, in 1875, Thomas Lowry bought the failing Minneapolis Street Railway Company and began to finance a project to lay rail on both sides of the river. These tracks would provide public transportation for thousands of Minneapolis residents. Lowry soon bought the St. Paul Street Railway Company and merged the two to make the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. In 1892, the company successfully transitioned from horse powered rail cars to electric powered, and soon averaged 5.5 million riders per year. The high demand created a big problem for their few steam power stations throughout the cities, so Lowry and his New York investors made the decision to build a power station on the east bank of the river, just beneath St. Anthony Falls.

The power plant, which was designed by the Chicago firm of Sargent and Lundy, began construction in December of 1902, and was up and running one year later in December of 1903. While its sandstone bedrock foundations and limestone and red brick walls are a common sight throughout the city, the Second Renaissance Revival style of the building was not. It may not be as ornate as Carnegie Hall or the Dresden Opera House, but it is still an example of remarkable local architecture. On the other side of its imposing façade, generators and boilers ran day and night to power an extensive streetcar system that rivaled San Francisco’s. When Minneapolis converted to buses in the early 1950’s, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company sold the power plant to Xcel Energy, then known as Northern States Power Company, and in 1976, its current owners, the University of Minnesota bought the plant to help power their Twin Cities campus.

The importance of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company Steam Power Plant was recognized on October 18, 1994 when the National Park Service added the building to the National Register of Historic Places. Within a half mile stretch of the Minneapolis riverfront that includes St. Anthony Falls, the Guthrie Theater, and the 35W Bridge, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company Steam Power Plant often gets overlooked. When you visit the University of Minnesota or see old streetcar tracks at the bottom of potholes that seem to pop up every Spring, you’ll be reminded of a cornerstone that helped connect the entire Twin Cities and contributed to Minneapolis’ growth.

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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 lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 5+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Earth Week - Taking Action to Help Pollinators

By Rick Margl, Board Member – Great River Coalition

It appears that spring is here! Of course there might still be a relapse or two (remember 2018?), but time is finally on our side. Walking the woods trails, one sees the first sprouts and buds peeking out - trillium, marsh marigold, hepatica and pussy willow among the rest. The sky and the branches above us are ornamented with newcomers’ colors, flights and song. Look close, the first brave pollinators can be seen scouting the new season, searching for food and nesting opportunities. Ah, spring!

And yet. In this traditionally hopeful season a nagging dirge of disturbing tidings won’t let us rest easy. Amidst the troubles plaguing our world the balm that we seek from the natural world is seemingly more at risk with each passing day. A recent study of ground-nesting bees in Ontario found that individual bees exposed to crops treated with the commonly used neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid dug 85 percent fewer nests and produced 89 percent fewer offspring. Other studies have shown that neonics negatively impact songbird migration and whitetail deer reproduction.

Minnesota’s state bee, the rusty-patched bumblebee, has disappeared from over 90 percent of its historical range. The western Monarch population is down by over 95 percent. Across our state the MN Department of Agriculture’s groundwater monitoring program regularly finds evidence of pesticide contamination.

But enough gloom and enough doom. What can we do about it?

How You Can Help Pollinators

First and foremost, plant forage species – native wildflowers and milkweed. You can find more information on recommended plant species (and other pollinator supporting tips!) on the websites of the Xerces Society, the University of Minnesota Bee Lab and the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources.

Enhance bee habitat by having some areas of bare, undisturbed soil in your yard for ground-nesting bees. Leave dead hollow-stemmed plants in your garden over the winter and into early summer to provide cover for stem-nesting bees. Houses for cavity nesting bees can be made or purchased.

Another great way to support healthy and sustainable pollinator populations is to better manage the use of pesticides.  Always check bee toxicity before use and avoid application near food or nesting sites.

As part of an effort to curtail the use of pollinator-toxic pesticides, Minnesota State Representative Samantha Vang recently submitted a bill (HF718) that would allow cities to ban a group of pesticides that the MN Department of Agriculture has labeled as lethal to pollinators. Fifty Minnesota cities have passed resolutions pledging to prohibit application of these pesticides. More information on challenges facing pollinators and on the proposed legislation can be found in a recent Star Tribune article.  

At the federal level, two bills have recently been submitted that would provide critical protections for pollinators. The Monarch and Pollinator Highway Act of 2021 would fund grants supporting the planting of pollinator-friendly native grasses and wildflowers along roadside rights-of-way. The Monarch Act of 2021 will fund efforts to restore and manage critical foraging and nesting habitat for devastated western U.S. monarch populations. More information can be found on the Xerces Society website.

As citizens, it’s our right and our responsibility to advocate and take action to protect the environment on which we and future generations are indisputably dependent. Please, take the time to research the issues and then contact your state and federal representatives to voice your support for these bills.

Another great way to help pollinators is to join the Great River Coalition for the 6^th annual Earth Day Virtual 5K Bee Run/Walk/Bike on April 17^th through 24^th. This annual event is being held virtually this year in order to ensure the safety of our participants, volunteers and vendors. It’s still a fun way to stay healthy and contribute to efforts to support pollinators and protect the environment of the Mississippi watershed.

So don those bee costumes, grab your kids, your friends and the family dog. Get outside and enjoy the spring weather and the beautiful scenery of Twin Cities parklands. We’re looking forward to seeing your pictures posted on the GRC’s Facebook and Instagram sites. Registered participants will receive sweet swag and a chance to win super prizes! Check out the GRC website for more information: https://www.greatrivercoalition.com/2021-virtual-bee-runwalk.

The Great River Coalition is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that advocates for preserving, protecting and promoting the historic, commercial and environmental significance of the Mississippi River, the City of Minneapolis and its relationship to the people and their communities.

Northern Lights.mn Announces Spring Howl Telethon

Via an April 16 Press Release from Northern Lights.mn:

The annual fundraiser to benefit Northern Lights.mn goes virtual on May 21, 2021 showcasing artists and sharing memories

Northern Lights.mn announces a new date for the Spring Howl Telethon, a live televised variety show produced by Northern Lights.mn partner Minnesota Community Network Channel 6 (MCN6) to support the Northern Spark festival and Northern Lights.mn artistic programming.

In light of the Derek Chauvin trial and possible verdict in late April, Northern Lights.mn is moving its Spring Howl Telethon to May 21. Spring Howl is a free virtual community event for all to attend and will be broadcast live on May 21, 2021, 7:30 - 9 pm on MCN6 and the Northern Lights.mn Facebook page.

Spring Howl Telethon will dazzle with improv performances, musical interludes, stories of long nights at Northern Spark from festival artists over the years, green-screen shenanigans, suspenseful prize drawings, kazoos, and a performative telephone operator. It is a Telethon, after all. Starring: 

• Host John Gebratatose from HUGE Theater and Black Out Improv!
• A house band!
• The Northern Spark Kazoo band led by Scotty Reynolds!
• Ifrah Mansour as Spring Howl Commissioned Poet!
• Sami Pfeffer as Telephone Operator! 
• Prizes! 

Spring Howl Telethon supports the artistic programming of Northern Lights.mn, the producers of the beloved Northern Spark festival, Illuminate the Lock and Art(ists) on the Verge fellowship among other projects. RSVP to our FaceBook event to get frequent updates on the line up!

Spring Howl Telethon - May 21, 2021, 7:30 - 9 pm
Register for FREE - FREE to watch live on MCN6 or Facebook
Register now and make an early donation to be eligible for door prizes drawn throughout the event. Including: 

• A selection of spirits from Crooked Waters distillery
• A $100 gift certificate to Solo Vino in St. Paul
• A year of beer from Fulton Brewery
• More to come!

Northern Spark Background

Northern Spark is a late-night, participatory arts festival that lights up the Twin Cities in early summer. In 2021, the festival takes new forms: in the mail, online, and in person in St. Paul, MN during a two week span of time. 

In past years during Northern Spark, tens of thousands of people gathered throughout the city on one night to explore giant video projections, play in temporary installations in the streets, and enjoy experimental performances in green spaces. 

From dusk to dawn the city surprised you: friendly crowds, glowing groups of cyclists, an unexpected path through the urban landscape, the magic of sunrise after a night of amazing art and experiences. In 2018 we introduced a two-night model, so people could experience the artful magic of Northern Spark for two nights until 2 am.

As our city still grapples with the effects of COVID-19, the 2021 festival will support artist projects that encourage our communities to safely connect and inspire the kind of experimental, surprising experiences we love at Northern Spark.

Northern Spark is produced by Northern Lights.mn, a Twin Cities non-profit arts organization whose work ranges from large-scale public art platforms like Northern Spark to Art(ists) On the Verge, a year-­long mentorship program for 4 emerging artists working experimentally in public space. We support artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere, such as at St. Paul's Union Depot (Amateur Intelligence Radio), "choir karaoke" at the Minnesota State Fair (Giant Sing Along) and Illuminate the Lock, artist installations inside and around the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam on the Mississippi River. Our work helps audiences explore expanded possibilities for civic engagement through art.

Bee prepared for Earth Week

St. Kate’s campus to support pollinators in 5K Bee Run

By Emily Cox

As St. Kate’s gears up to host the 2021 St. Paul 5K Bee Run in partnership with the Great River Coalition, plans have been adjusted accordingly to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions. Still, in support of pollinators and the Great River Coalition’s mission to create Pollinator Pathways, the run has marched onward in the face of the restrictions. Taking place from April 17 through the 24, it will be entirely virtual, allowing participants to go at their own pace alongside family and friends.

“Running a race is often a very social event,” explained St. Kate’s Track and Field Coach, Shannon Houlihan, who has been helping plan the run, “While there are some people that love to race and want to run for the competitive aspect, a lot of people want to run to have fun with friends or family.”

Though participants are unable to gather together, it does mean that anyone can register for the race and show their support, regardless of where they are currently living. 

“It allows alumnae or students who are living at home this semester to participate,” Houlihan pointed out, a silver lining amidst the disappointment of being unable to compete in person.

The virtual run also opens up the unique opportunity for participants to decide how they want to compete, by running, walking, biking, or any combination thereof. They can take it slow or shoot for a new personal record, but the important aspect for Houlihan and the rest of the team behind the Bee Run is having fun.

“It will really be focused on getting outdoors,” Houlihan stressed, “and getting active with your own family or your roommates.  I personally believe it's very important to still be active despite the restrictions we have in place for COVID, so this is a great event to allow people to get outdoors and moving in a very safe environment.”

Additionally, the architects behind the run wanted to find other fun ways to involve the community, despite the inability to gather together in person. One such idea manifested in creating multiple patterns for quirky and bright Bee Costumes participants can make at home to show their support for pollinators and get into the spirit of the run.

St. Kate’s Apparel, Merchandising & Design department put together the patterns, students using their creativity to make unique designs that celebrate the natural wonder of bees. 

“We always look to engage our students,” said department chair and associate professor, Anupama Pasricha, “and provide them opportunities that will facilitate their professional and civic engagement.”

A look at the Bee Costume patterns

“Sustainability is a strong focus area in our department and fashion curriculum,” Pasricha continued, acknowledging how the fun Bee Costumes support pollinators and the environment in more ways than one. “We believe that all design thinking and work should use a sustainability paradigm. That makes sense for people, planet, and profit.”

“We highly encourage costumes!” Houlihan said. “Seeing a bee out for a run will bring a smile to anyone’s face, and will help bring some awareness to the need to protect our pollinators to help make a better future for all of us. “

If you are interested in participating in the Bee Run and showing your support for local pollinators, see the flier below to learn how to register. For more information on the Great River Coalition and their partnership with St. Kate’s, click here.

Local Leader Spotlight: Brock Hunter, Founder, Veterans Defense Project

Article by Becky Fillinger

Brock HunterHow do we best serve our military veterans who find themselves in Minnesota criminal courts? Sometimes we need to adopt a holistic approach to provide the appropriate services and supports called for in the situation. Meet Brock Hunter, Founder of the Veterans Defense Project, who is helping on a national and local level, to provide veterans the support they need.  

Q:  Why is Veterans Court important to you?

A:  My interest in veterans in the criminal justice system originates with my own military service overseas as an Army scout. I returned home and experienced some difficulties reintegrating back into civilian life and for a period of time I acted out in ways that could have led to criminal convictions. I was ultimately able to reintegrate and find new purpose in my life while going to college and law school. After law school, while working as a public defender in the Minnesota courts in the late 1990s, I recognized the large number of veterans coming through the criminal justice system. At the time, they were mostly Vietnam veterans, many of whom had been cycling through the criminal courts regularly since they had come home from Vietnam. 

With the terror attacks on 9/11/2001, we went to war again and are still at war 20 years later. Over the course of the last two decades, I have witnessed more and more veterans of these current conflicts flowing into the criminal justice system, just as their Vietnam predecessors did. This generation is unique, however, from other previous generations of veterans. Without a draft, we have fought what have now become our longest wars with small all-volunteer military force, recycling the same troops back into combat over and over again to an unprecedented degree. These multiple deployments translate into higher levels of PTSD and related conditions, which, untreated often lead to veterans to act out against the very communities they risked their lives to protect and land them in the criminal justice system.

Q:  Please tell us about the Veterans Defense Project.

A:  The Veterans Defense Project is a public policy advocacy and education organization dedicated to helping the criminal justice system do a better job this time around than it did with past generations of veterans. The VDP arose out of my frustrations in defending my veteran clients in the criminal courts. The justice system, as an institution, lacked understanding of the issues that drive combat veterans to criminal behavior or how to best address those issues to break the cycle of recidivism and help restore veterans as assets to their communities, rather than ongoing liabilities. 

Around 2005 I began doing educational presentations to criminal justice professionals and then in 2007 I helped draft and pass Minnesota's veterans sentencing statute, MN Stat. 609.115, Subd. 10, which was only the second such law in the country. The following year the U.S. Supreme Court cited our law in a landmark case, Porter v. McCollum, the first time our highest court addressed the relevance of combat trauma in criminal sentencing.  In the wake of the Porter decision, those of us that worked to pass Minnesota's legislation were contacted by advocates across the country who were interested in pursuing similar legislation in their own states. In the years since, we founded the Veterans Defense Project and have helped a number states draft veterans sentencing legislation, published a book Defending Veterans in Criminal Court, been invited to brief policy makers, from the Obama and Trump administrations, to the leadership of the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, and trained thousands of judges, attorneys and other criminal justice professionals.

Veterans Treatment Courts are a product of the evolution of this approach. They are modeled on other specialty courts, like drug courts and mental health courts that have been around for three decades, or so. The philosophy of these courts is to serve as an intervention tool for offenders whose criminal conduct was driven by underlying mental health and/or substance abuse issues by working to treat those issues, rather than just punishing the symptoms. When done right, the offenders are incentivized to undertake challenging treatments and to be held accountable while they get their center of gravity back beneath them, get back on their feet, and get moving forward in life. The Veterans Defense Project helped establish the first Veterans Treatment Court, in Hennepin County, in 2010. We worked with other counties in the Metro area to establish courts over the next few years. Today, there are more than a dozen formal Veterans Treatment Courts across Minnesota.  Some of them, in rural areas, serve multiple surrounding counties.  

Q:  What is happening with veterans’ sentencing in Minnesota?

A:  The Veterans Defense Project's current priority is passage of the Veterans Restorative Justice Act (VRJA), an updated "Version 2.0" of Minnesota's original decade-old veterans sentencing statute. This bill is currently making its way through the Minnesota legislature and it addresses key issues that will help improve and standardize our State's Veterans Courts and expand access to veterans in all Minnesota jurisdictions.  

Though not yet passed in Minnesota, VRJA has already garnered significant interest on a national level. The Veterans Defense Project was invited to help brief the Trump Administration and key members of Congress last year to support passage of the Veteran Court Coordination Act, which was signed into law in the fall of 2020. This new federal law provides for significant additional funding for Veterans Treatment Courts across the country. The Department of Justice will administer the funds and will likely require that states adopt standards based on the VRJA to access them. Groups in several states, including Virginia, Florida, Texas, Iowa, and Nebraska have expressed interest in the VRJA and are moving forward with introducing similar bills in their own legislatures.

Q:  How can we help?

A:  We encourage those who support the passage of the VRJA in Minnesota to contact your legislators and encourage them to pass it, ensuring Minnesota remains at the forefront of doing better by our veterans, ensuring they are reintegrated as assets, rather than ongoing liabilities, to the communities they once served to protect.

Q:  Thank you for this important work. How may we follow your news?

A:  Please do!  Readers can learn more about the Veterans Defense Project at our Facebook page and at our web site, veteransdefenseproject.org.