The Mill City Times Interview: Stephanie Meachem, VP of Operations, Landmark Creations

Article by Becky Filllinger

Sea turtle and seahorse, part of the MN Zoo's Nature Illuminated drive-thru experience

Stephanie MeachamLooking for new drive-through neighborhood holiday displays this year? From the safety and warmth of your car, check out Nature Illuminated at the Minnesota Zoo. We talked to Stephanie Meachem, VP of Operations for Landmark Creations, the local company which designed and created the jaw dropping collection of illuminated animal inflatables, on display until January 17th.

Q:  How much lead time does Landmark Creations need to complete an order on the scale of Nature Illuminated? 

A:  Our standard lead time for custom shapes is 4-6 weeks. It can be 6-8 weeks or more during a busy period, but since we rely so heavily on the event and trade show industries, COVID-19 has made 2020 a very tricky year for us. We were fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the Minnesota Zoo on their project this winter, as it allowed us to stay busy in a precarious time while being able to perform a large number of shapes more quickly than would otherwise be possible.

Q:  How many inflatables did you create for Nature Illuminated?  

A:  We created over 32 displays for the Nature Illuminated exhibit, and the project happened over the span of three months, the majority happening in October and November.

Red panda from Nature Illuminated 

Snow monkey from Nature Illuminated 

Q:  Are the inflatables recyclable?

A:  Inflatable materials are not recyclable per se, but they tend to last for many years when taken care of. We’ve heard of some customers repurposing the material from their displays (e.g. backpacks), but the freezing techniques that would be required to break down the material itself in order to recycle it is prohibitively expensive. The fan systems and installation hardware can certainly be reused for other displays/needs.

Q:  I watched the online video of the production of the red panda inflatable. How are the pieces put together?

A:  Our inflatables are sewn together using industrial sewing machines. It can take weeks to create one animal.

Dala horse at the American Swedish Institute  

Q:  Do you have a favorite inflatable from the commissioned work you’ve done?

A:  We’ve made over 7300 different shapes since I’ve been with Landmark Creations (it’s been 30 years!), so trying to pick a favorite is like picking a favorite child - and they’re all so different. I can’t even pick a favorite from this Minnesota Zoo group! I’ll share some other inflatable works that we’ve done. 

Q:  What backgrounds do your employees have - art, design, engineering?

A:  Our team of 22 employees has very diverse backgrounds, as you can imagine. We have 3D designers, artists, tailors, fabricators, and a host of other talent. While we don’t have any full-time engineers currently on-staff, we’ve had to learn many engineering disciplines on-the-job. We typically partner with an engineering firm when a customer has a project that requires complex rigging outside the scope of our normal displays.

Q:  What’s next for Landmark Creations in 2021?

A:  I sure hope a wide-scale distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, so the event industry can get back to business. In the meantime, we're open to working with organizations and event coordinators who need to find creative ways to promote to or entertain the masses safely. Because inflatables are easy to transport, they’re a great fit for outdoor events that need to travel, or for stores/brands who need to catch attention from a distance. You can easily stay up to date with the happenings at Landmark Creations by:

• Following us on Facebook
• Following us on Twitter
• Subscribing to our newsletter

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Editor's Note - For more photos of Nature Illuminated, check out this recent MPR article: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/12/03/photos-its-lit-minnesota-zoo-illuminates-nature-for-drive-by-exhibit?fbclid=IwAR04sTgSMCjbnqxxNL4o3amQ7CpTD6IrG3fG3e7FGWgyZJO-UHaOsiNI6Kg

November 2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Sign Up for Adult Sports Leagues in Minneapolis Parks This Winter!

Via a December 4 e-announcement from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) anticipates adult sports leagues returning to action this winter with an emphasis on health and safety.

MPRB staff is monitoring guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health on a daily basis and will comply with any Executive Orders issued by the Governor. League rules and guidelines have been developed around recommendations from public health experts. At this point the MPRB is planning on hosting adult sports leagues with modifications in place to help protect all league participants while offering opportunities to compete, have fun and be healthy in the parks this winter.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adult Sports

Check out the links below to find an adult sports league that works for you:

Basketball

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, January-March

Where: All leagues at Central Gym

Leagues: Women's Tuesdays, Men's Tuesdays and Thursdays

Season: Eight weeks scheduled

Cost: $600

Outdoor Broomball - Coed and Open Leagues

Warming Rooms will not be available for the 2021 season. Benches will be provided outside.

When: Sundays-Thursdays, January-February

Where: Bryn Mawr, Logan, Longfellow, McRae, Windom NE

Leagues: Six-player or eight-player teams

Season: Seven weeks scheduled

Cost: $360

Outdoor Broomball - Men's and Women's Leagues

Warming Rooms will not be available for the 2021 season. Benches will be provided outside.

When: Mondays-Thursdays, January-February

Where: Bryn Mawr, Logan, Longfellow, McRae, Windom NE

Leagues: Six-player or eight-player teams

Season: Seven weeks scheduled

Cost: $360

Outdoor Hockey

Warming Rooms will not be available for the 2021 season. Benches will be provided outside.

When: Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays, January-February

Where: All leagues at Armatage Park

Leagues: Men's Competitive or Rec league, Women's league; all leagues 4-on-4 with no goalies

Season: Five weeks scheduled

Cost: $290

Volleyball

When: Mondays-Thursdays, January-March

Where: Kenwood, Luxton, MLK, Nokomis, Northeast

Leagues: Co-Ed Mondays-Thursdays, Women's Mondays

Season: Eight weeks scheduled

Cost: $373

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Officials Needed!

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is always looking to hire more officials for any of the sports listed above! Earn extra cash and stay involved in the sports you love!

To apply or learn more information please contact Kent Brevik at kbrevik@minneapolisparks.org or 612-230-6488.

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Recreation Fee Assistance

Minneapolis residents who cannot afford instructional fees because of economic need may apply for fee assistance through the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Fee Assistance Program. 

"Who Brought the Humbug?" December 12, 2020

Ricci Milan, professional tap dancer, brings his annual holiday show to us virtually this year on December 12 at 7:30PM.  Who Brought the Humbug? is part SNL and part Sesame Street – it will entertain and lift the spirits of the whole family. Ricci explains in his interview with Brianna Rose that ‘bringing people back up’ in 2020 is a higher calling - connecting family and community though an energetic fun filled production is a work of joy. We believe!!!   You can watch and interact live or, with a ticket, watch the replay for 7 days.   Friends, let’s support this endeavor which took months to plan and produce. 

Watch the Official Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v4mTfX90C4&feature=youtu.be

Sneak Peek: "Partyline"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9sDYJffeQ&feature

Show & Ticket Information

https://www.humbug.show/

https://www.humbug.show/tickets

The Mill City Times Interview: Allison Kaplan, Editor-in-Chief, Twin Cities Business Magazine

Article by Becky Fillinger

In an editor’s note, Ms. Kaplan argues that now is the time to reimagine Minneapolis – we need big, audacious ideas to remake our city. We talked to her about how this might happen and how we can all contribute to the discussion. 

Q:  Allison, we at the Mill City Times took your challenge and have been pondering the big, audacious changes we can strive for in Minneapolis. Is Twin Cities Business collecting the ideas for a future meeting of the minds? 

Allison KaplanA:  A few people have reached out with interest in furthering the conversation. We welcome the opportunity to brainstorm with anyone who brings a fresh perspective to our downtown challenges.

Q:  In one of its blog posts on the topic of transforming cities, Nokia states, “One approach we use in our consultations with cities is the quadruple helix methodology, which identifies four stakeholder groups that need to be at the table: universities, industry, government and civil society. If these groups can share their dreams and visions and get on the same page, then you have a much better chance of making change happen.” Do you think we have coordination with these four groups in the Twin Cities? 

A: I do think the stakeholders share the same goal: a vibrant downtown where people live, work, and recreate. I’ve always found it telling that even when you talk to suburban leaders and developers - who could be seen as competitors to downtown - they, too, want to see downtown Minneapolis thrive because it reflects positively on the entire metro area. Downtown is the heart of the city and the stronger it beats, the better it is for recruiting talent, national events, tourism, culture and commerce. So yes, I think the desire is there, the issue is who makes it happen, and how.

Q:  The Nokia article mentions that hundreds of books have been written on the topic of pulling all the stakeholders together to transform cities, but that one thread that runs throughout is that most groups start with an examination of what is wrong in a city. In the book Appreciative Inquiry by F. J. Barrett and R. E. Fry, they make a really interesting observation that many people start from what they call a “deficit base.” In other words, they start by examining with what’s wrong. They suggest a better strategy is to get the stakeholders to recognize where working together collaboratively has built good things in the past. This creates energy and reinforces investment in the common effort. In your opinion, could we start the discussion on positive past projects? Can you think of some to start the discussion? 

A:  I love this theory and agree - we’re quick to go negative; it’s easy to dwell on what’s wrong. We all know what’s wrong. More constructive would be looking at examples of the good. In recent history, I think you have to start with the Super Bowl. On the coldest of January days, Nicollet Mall was packed!! Outdoor concerts, street vendors, fat tire biking down the mall, ziplining across the river. It’s wasn’t just out-of-state football fans engaged in these activities - it was locals who hadn’t been downtown in years and wondered, why can’t it be like this all the time? We’ve proven time and again we are great hosts, whether it’s a convention or NCAA tournament. But we need to think more about the every day. Holidazzle (pre-pandemic) is another good example. The way this annual festival has evolved in Loring Park draws crowds day and night and puts many local businesses - food vendors, breweries, product makers - on display.

Q:  We have the Brave New Workshop here in Minneapolis. John Sweeney, owner and professional brainstormer, has led many brainstorming and innovation workshops across the country (and the world). Could one step forward be to engage him to lead a session with all stakeholders on what has worked well in the past?   

A:  What a great idea! That’s along the lines of what I was proposing in my column - we have so many talented creatives, entrepreneurs, and big thinkers right here in town. We have so much pride in our companies, our culture, our natural resources and our ability to weather harsh conditions. Let’s get everyone together - including, but not limited to, the key agencies and leaders already working day in and day out on downtown. Fresh perspective can be constructive. We’d all benefit from a big, audacious group brainstorm.

Q:  How can we start to collect ideas?

A:  People can feel free to email me directly, akaplan@tcbmag.com.

Red Cow & Red Rabbit Restaurants Get In The Holiday Spirit!

Luke Shimp’s Restaurants To Offer Holiday Meals For Curbside Pick-Up, Free Meals To Service Industry Employees and More This December

Red Cow and Red Rabbit restaurants are getting into the holiday spirit this season with plenty of holiday offerings, joy, and goodwill.

With the holidays just around the corner, Red Cow and Red Rabbit are offering heat and serve Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners for curbside pick-up. Available now for online pre-order, choose from a beef tenderloin or fried chicken dinner. Each comes with their own assortment of delicious sides and dessert. If you have a smaller gathering, all the menu items are available a la carte to create your own custom meal along with a variety of snacks to add to your order. Christmas dinners must be pre-ordered by December 20th for curbside pick-up at Red Cow Uptown on December 23rd from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve dinners must be ordered online by December 27th for curbside pick-up at Red Cow Uptown on December 30th from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Something fun awaits you at all six Red Cow and Red Rabbit locations. Each store is doing their part to spread some holiday cheer by decorating their storefront windows with festive holiday displays. Snap some selfies with the family when you visit your favorite location to pick-up your takeout.

Red Cow and Red Rabbit are also doing their part to give back this holiday season. Tuesday, December 8th is National Bartender Day and to honor those working in the restaurant industry, all Red Cow and Red Rabbit locations will be offering a complimentary meal to anyone that works in the restaurant industry from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Simply call the location most convenient for you, share your restaurant name and place your order from the featured service industry menu found on social media. Staff must present a 2020 paystub and an ID when picking up your meal.

“2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, but especially for those in the restaurant industry,” said Luke Shimp, Owner of Red Cow and Red Rabbit. “We want to do our part and give back to an industry and community that has done so much for our family.” Red Cow and Red Rabbit has also partnered with The Sanneh Foundation to support their Food Distribution Program and help distribute holiday meals to local families on Tuesday, December 22nd. The Sanneh Foundation is a Minnesota non-profit that serves the needs of diverse, urban and immigrant populations by offering nationally recognized programs that strengthen the educational, physical, social and emotional development of Twin Cities youth — primarily low income students of color.

For more information, to place an order for takeout or to order a holiday meal, visit redcowmn.com or redrabbitmn.com.

Daily Dazzle: Holidazzle this Weekend Includes Santa Zoom Meet-and-Greets

Via a December 2 e-announcement from the mpls downtown council:

Holidazzle Weekend 2 Includes Santa Zoom Meet-and-Greets

Join us virtually this weekend, December 3 thru December 6

Join us virtually each weekend this holiday season as we bring Holidazzle to you, wherever you are. This week is again full of activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Kick back and enjoy virtual activities and entertainment with you and yours each week with Holidazzle now through December 20.

Santa Zoom meet-and-greet sign-up starts today at 10 am

Santa is visiting Holidazzle this week and will offer FREE Zoom meet-and-greets on Saturday, December 5 from 9 am – 1 pm. Sign up opens at 10 am on Thursday, December 3 at www.holidazzle.com/santa2020. Tell Santa your wish list, take a screengrab and enjoy a brief conversation with Santa virtually. Santa will also hold meet-and-greets on Saturday, December 19, with signups for that date launching Thursday, December 17 at 10 am.

Yeti is coming to Peavey Plaza

The Holidazzle Yeti is making an appearance at Peavey Plaza beginning this week. The Yeti, a Christopher Lutter-Gardella creation, will be at Peavey Plaza with support from the Mpls Downtown Improvement District from December 3 through December 13. Plus, Christopher will be doing a special DIY mini-yeti craft demonstration this Saturday. Look for that demonstration on www.holidazzle.com/craft and on Holidazzle’s Facebook page.

The Holidazzle Show presented by Comcast

Join us weekly for The Holidazzle Show presented by Comcast. Episode 2 of The Holidazzle Show launches today and brings your favorite Holidazzle activities to you in your home. Join us this week for a great show at www.holidazzle.com/show, including:

• A Santa visit from the North Pole
• Shop local spotlight: Cabin Customs, Northern Drift and Simple Trends
• Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue
• Holidazzle Yeti artist Christopher Lutter-Gardella
• American Ice Theatre holiday skating performance
• Musical performance by Minnesota Chorale

Interact on social and you could win Holidazzle gift packages

Energize your Holidazzle experience this year with a special Energized Viewing Experience brought to you by Xcel Energy! We’re giving away Holidazzle packages that feature Holidazzle hats and mugs, paint-it-yourself ornaments, warm beverages, sweet treats and energy-efficient light bulbs. Plus, once per week one winner will receive a Supercharged package that includes an ecobee3 lite thermostat. Just like Holidazzle on Facebook or Instagram and tag three friends in our gift package post, and you will be eligible to win a prize package to enjoy while you’re taking in Holidazzle this season. Look for giveaways each week.

HoliTivities brought to you by Xcel Energy

You can enjoy fun, free activities thanks to the HoliTivities brought to you by Xcel Energy. The HoliTivities feature virtual puzzles, Holidazzle-themed coloring pages, BINGO, I Spy, card games, origami, paper snowflakes and more. More HoliTivities will be available throughout the four weeks of Holidazzle so check back regularly.

Santa Story Time

Santa is joining us each week for a special reading of holiday stories. Stop by www.holidazzle.com/santa or Holidazzle’s Facebook page each Sunday for a Santa story time. This week, Santa is reading “The Mukluk Ball.” Remember you can also get a phone greeting from Santa at the North Pole—check Holidazzle.com for the phone number and give him a ring!

Holidazzle Music: Minnesota Chorale

It is a longstanding tradition that the Minnesota Chorale performs each year at Holidazzle. Join them for a special virtual performance this week. Catch their performance in The Holidazzle Show, then watch the full performance on www.holidazzle.com/music or tune in on YouTube with the keyword “Minneapolis Holidazzle”.

Sunday’s DIY Demonstration: Third Daughter Restless Daughter

This week’s Holidazzle DIY demonstration features Third Daughter Restless Daughter. Wone and Youa Vang will be doing a cross-stitching demonstration. You can watch the demonstration or participate by purchasing the cross stitching kit at www.holidazzle.com/craft.

How to Holiday

We’ve got holiday resources for you at Holidazzle.com, including a music playlist, where to find classic holiday and winter movies, a recipe collection and more. Make Holidazzle your stop for preparing to celebrate wherever you are.

Catch us on YouTube

All of Holidazzle’s virtual content is on Holidazzle.com, and you can also find our videos on our new YouTube page using the keyword “Minneapolis Holidazzle”. Xfinity customers, find The Holidazzle Show on YouTube with the Xfinity X1 voice remote. Say “Minneapolis Holidazzle” into your Xfinity X1 voice remote, and you’ll find all available episodes ready for viewing.

Share your #Holidazzle memories with us

We want to hear from you this holiday season! Share your favorite Holidazzle photos and videos with us by using the hashtag #Holidazzle on Instagram.

Visit www.holidazzle.com or follow Holidazzle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to enjoy this year’s virtual content.

Hennepin Gallery Reopens with Digital Exhibit Exploring Cultural Heritage

Via a December 2 e-announcement from Hennepin County:

A return to art! Hennepin Gallery reopens with digital exhibit exploring cultural heritage

Cultural heritage is explored in vivid color by two artists in Hennepin Gallery’s latest exhibit opening December 1, Principles of Posterity.

The Hennepin Gallery, closed due to COVID-19, is reopening with an online exhibit to share the two artists’ works and statements about their process and practice. View the online exhibit.

Both Mayumi Amada and Marlena Myles share their cultural heritage through a variety of materials, representing their sense of place, identity and home. The juxtaposition of personal perspectives in their artwork creates an open middle ground to consider commonalities.

The artists both present complex ideas and themes but do so in a way that invites audiences in with relatable materials and storytelling.

Artists’ statements

Mayumi Amada “I am Japanese – my cultural heritage informs my work. Living away from my home country and looking at it from a distance, I find many valuable characteristics in Japanese culture: In the ways of thinking, in the sense of value, and also in the arts, design, and in architecture."

Marlena Myles “I am a Native American (Dakota, Mohegan, Muscogee) digital artist located on my traditional homelands here in St Paul, Minnesota. I use my art to celebrate the language and culture of my Dakota people, as well as help the public understand and relate to the significance of our oral traditions, history and representation through Native Art.”

 

Online activities

To immerse audiences in their work more fully, Mayumi Amada and Marlena Myles have created interactive hands-on elements that visitors can engage with at home:

• Video workshops – Accompanying the artist’s work are accessible video workshops. Each artist provides a tutorial that uses paper and other materials found at home.
• Downloadable templates and coloring pages  

Forecast Public Art and Hennepin County Multicultural Arts Committee (HCMAC) Partnership

Forecast Public Art and HCMAC have partnered over the past 13 years to bring artwork from a variety of cultures to the Hennepin County Government Center. Forecast Public Art, a non-profit arts organization, activates, inspires and advocates for public art that advances justice, health, and human dignity.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department and Hennepin County Multicultural Arts Committee, and is a project of Hennepin County Communication and Engagement Services.

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.

The Great Northern 2021: January 28 – February 7

Via a recent e-announcement from The Great Northern:

The Great Northern is proud to announce its 2021 original programming, occurring across ten days in coordination with legacy winter events City of Lakes Loppet, Saint Paul Winter Carnival, and the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships.

“The 2021 festival will include conversations, arts and cultural programming, and activities designed to create human and environmental connection,” said Kate Nordstrum, executive and artistic director of The Great Northern. “We examine our changing climate creatively—through walks, art, music, writing and storytelling. These poignant and visceral experiences will hopefully personalize the issue for attendees and inspire them to become advocates in their own networks and communities.”
 
With a mission essential to the wellbeing of the Minnesota community, particularly during this challenging and socially isolating time, The Great Northern will continually evaluate best practices related to COVID-19 to ensure a safe experience for all. All events have been designed in full compliance with safety guides put forward by the Minnesota Department of Health and are subject to change.

The full schedule of 2021 original programming is now available at thegreatnorthernfestival.com. 

Help Shape the Future of Hennepin, First Avenue Northeast

Help shape the future of Hennepin, First Avenue Northeast

Hennepin County is developing a plan for roadway improvements on Hennepin and First avenues (County Road 52) between Main and 8th streets in Minneapolis and is seeking feedback.

The project team will be looking at all modes of transportation in the area, including driving, walking, biking and rolling.

Visit the project website to take the project survey and explore the virtual tour. Your feedback will help share the future of Hennepin and First.

Participate in a community listening session on December 10. Register to participate.

Coimatan Announces December Initiatives to Promote Local Small Businesses

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Vasiliki PapanikolopoulosMinnesotans Unite is now Coimatan. We talked to founder, Vasiliki Papanikolopoulos, about the successes of the organization and upcoming holiday events.

Q:  When we spoke earlier this year you had just formed Minnesotans Unite - to help bring business to local retailers and create a network of support among small merchants. The organization has been renamed Coimatan. Why the name change? 

A:  Minnesotans Unite started with a focus on retail small businesses like you mention, and when we joined forces with the national effort Save The Eats to also support culinary small businesses, my team and I were running two parallel initiatives with two different names. When Save The Eats came to a close, it was an opportunity to bring it all together under one roof, so we merged Minnesotans Unite and Save Twin Cities Eats into Coimatan. Coimatan is inspired by the word community in both English and Greek (and as I am Greek-Cypriot-American/Minnesotan, it was an ode to both cultures). 

Q:  We're still in the pandemic - which may stretch throughout 2021. What have you learned in the months since you started the organization? Any successes to share with us? 

A:  Starting Coimatan in the midst of the pandemic has been challenging in some ways and easier in other ways. I have learned quite a bit - the most important being that I must meet others where they are, including both consumers and business owners. With the pandemic, priorities are constantly in flux and focus is dispersed, so creating value throughout the pandemic's evolution and its impact is top of mind. To date, we have partnered with over 50 small businesses, and to me that means at least 50 small business owners (some have co-owners) that we've successfully connected with. These small business owners trust us to bring about a collective movement to shop local and I don't take that responsibility lightly.

Q:  Is Coimatan creating holiday buying opportunities with local small businesses?

A:  The short answer is yes, two opportunities! Recently, we released a Shop Local Bingo, where those who call B-I-N-G-O receive prizes from our participating small businesses in an interactive game and leave knowing some fun facts about small businesses. The second opportunity is A Night In to Celebrate, where we've gathered retail and culinary small businesses and local talent for what we hope to be a heartwarming and entertaining night in for guests.

The longer answer is that the Coimatan philosophy aims to promote shopping local beyond just Small Business Saturday or on a holiday - shopping local in our mind is a conscious lifestyle that contributes to the community and builds connections to our neighbors all year round, whether we are buying the next morning's coffee or on the search for a cool bathroom towel.

Q:  Are there other opportunities to learn more about your organization or the businesses you support?

A:  Oh, yes! Our website contains all the information about our participating businesses and the over 100 BIPOC small businesses we've created a directory for, as well as upcoming events and experiences. Facebook and Instagram are two easy ways to also learn more about Coimatan and the latest from our participating businesses, all in one place.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  People may subscribe to our newsletter to stay in touch - we just sent a newsletter introducing A Night In to Celebrate, and our plan is to continue building it out as the place where we share upcoming events, experiences, product launches, and most importantly local business stories.

The Mill City Times Interview: Professor Joseph Underhill, Augsburg University

Article by Becky Fillinger

Professor Joseph UnderhillProfessor Joseph Underhill heads up the River Semester at Augsburg University, a truly unique educational experience. He has taken students out on the Mississippi River for the past fifteen years studying the impact of human activity on the river ecosystem and meeting with guest lecturers and local activists in communities all along the expanse of the river. We talked to him about the program and how all of us can stay more connected to our precious river resources.

Q:  Please tell us about River Semester at Augsburg University. Did you design the program?

A:  The River Semester is a unique research and educational expedition that travels, primarily by canoe, down the length of the Mississippi River. When I moved to the Twin Cities in 1998 to teach at Augsburg, I began looking for ways to get students out on the river. This started in 2000 with a 5-day trip that was part of an expedition organized by the Audubon Society. Twenty years later, the program now spends 100 days traveling from the Headwaters at Lake Itasca down to St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, and ending at the Gulf of Mexico. We take around 20 people in four large Voyageur canoes, camping, cooking meals, conducting field research, holding classes, visiting sites, and hearing from guest speakers.

The program runs in the Fall term from approximately August 30th to December 10th. Students in the program take a full semester of courses in a range of disciplines, primarily in Environmental Studies and interdisciplinary Social Science. The River Semester is a regular part of the programming offered by Augsburg University’s Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE). 

Over the course of the fall term, participants paddle for around half the time, camping on islands or campsites on shore, and covering three main sections of the river - the Headwaters (Lake Itasca to Bemidji), the Upper Mississippi (Twin Cities to the Driftless region), and the Lower Mississippi (from Vicksburg to the Gulf of Mexico, including a stretch of the Atchafalaya River). The remaining time is spent in field research at locations along the river, with transit in vans between different river stretches and field stations. There are more extended layovers in the St. Louis area, and in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

In addition to their learning of course content, students gain leadership skills and a greater sense of self-confidence, resilience, and vocational discernment. By stripping away the protections and forms of insulation found in “normal life," the students are made directly and intimately aware of the variability of the weather, with increased appreciation for what climate change can really feel like. The upside of these challenges is that they provide frequent opportunities for participants to experience the hospitality of residents and “River Angels” along the way. Over the years we have been hosted by numerous churches, homes, and organizations. This experience - so different from dominant discourses around animosity, danger, and polarization these days - provides some basis of optimism about human kindness. The program sees this as one of its main values, and many students noted how pleasantly surprised they were to receive such generous hospitality.

Q:  Will the program be offered in 2021?

A:  Yes, the next expedition will be in the Fall Semester of 2021, with the next group of students heading up to Lake Itasca on September 1st. We have future trips planned on an annual or biannual basis, depending on the level of interest and student demand. We are currently recruiting the next crew, with students coming from all over the country. Any undergraduate students interested in applying should go to www.augsburg.edu/river to start their application, and they can contact me (underhil@augsburg.edu) to discuss options and find out more about the program.

We've had some international guests as well, from Germany, Israel, Jordan, Portugal and Norway, and see more potential for involving international students and researchers on future trips, since interest in the Mississippi River extends well beyond our borders.

Q:  You're a proponent of experiential and interdisciplinary learning. River Semester is a first-class example. Do you consult with other universities or corporate entities (or other organizations) on the benefits of this type of learning?

A:  We work with a number of amazing partners in bringing this opportunity to our students, and lots of folks are seeing the value in this kind of applied, hands-on learning combined with a rigorous academic course of study. We work with Wilderness Inquiry - a national leader in outdoor learning - as our outfitter, and are connected to several networks in higher education that do work on rivers and with these kinds of experiential, immersive programs. These include the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), and a newly formed group of river studies schools and programs, organized in collaboration with the River Management Society. We see this kind of teaching and learning as crucial to preparing students to navigate the challenges of the 21st Century, and to acquire the kind of synthetic knowledge and integrative skills needed to tackle the complex environmental and political problems we are currently facing.

We've also received support from companies like Pentair, to support the participation of students of color in STEM education, which reflects the value they see in this kind of education. I do get questions from other faculty about setting up these kinds of programs. I haven’t done any paid consulting on this, but there is a fair amount of interest out there in developing similar programs for undergraduates. 

Q:  One core area of your expertise is environmental politics. What can a person do locally - politically - to address environmental issues?

A:  Well, in the Twin Cities we are blessed with a rich array of organizations - like the Mississippi Park Connection and the Friends of the Mississippi River - that do great work on behalf of the river and communities living along it. I definitely recommend that folks join and support these organizations and contact your local legislator to find out what river-related legislation is in the works. We've had great strides in improving water quality in the Mississippi, but we still have a long way to go. And there are ongoing issues of environmental injustice with BIPOC communities still bearing the brunt of the effects of pollution and forced removal from traditional homeland along the river. I'd say pick a project, a specific topic and roll up your sleeves and get to work. There's no great mystery to it - it's just a matter of prioritizing the stewardship of the world around us, which most definitely includes the Mississippi River. Change comes slowly, but it does come. 

Q:  Since most of us cannot enroll in River Semester, how might we immerse ourselves in learning more about the Mississippi River?

My recommendation is first to spend as much time along or on the river as you can, whether that is walking, biking, boating, or just sitting on a bench by the shore. There is always something to learn, something new to observe, and there is always some peace and solace to be found there as well. If you're so inclined, and have the resources, there are plenty of river tour companies, including some of the big paddle boats that offer cruises. The Paddle Share program in the Twin Cities is another really innovative way for folks to get out on the water. And there is endless reading one can do, including travelogues, histories, and fiction. A few good sources to start with include Calvin Fremling's Immortal River, Gwen Westerman and Bruce White, Mni Sota Makoce, Eddy Harris' Mississippi Solo, John Anfinson's The River we have Wrought, and John Mcphee's "Atchafalaya" in his book The Control of Nature.

Q:  Your program is so impressive! How can we follow news about you and the River Semester programs?

A:  During our expeditions we post on Facebook, Instagram, and the River Semester YouTube channel fairly regularly, with updates on our latest encounters and adventures along the way. You can check out those pages for examples of what we've done in the past, including some nice videos made by past students on the trip.

River Matters: Doug Snyder, Executive Director, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Doug Snyder provides an overview of the changes over time to the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities and his organization’s role in the efforts to clean up and revitalize the Minneapolis Riverfront.

Meandering Through Time: An extended history of the 1982 Thanksgiving Day Fire

With Michael Rainville Jr., Hosted by Brianna Rose

The tragedy of the fire was followed by the gratefulness that no civilians were hurt and the realization of what could have been. If the fire happened one day before, there would have been many casualties from the thousands of workers in the buildings and in their vehicles during rush hour.

Related: When Firefighters Saved Downtown - The Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire

Mill City Times Invites You to Share Christmas Ornament Nostalgia

Every year is a walk down memory lane as the Christmas tree transforms into a glowing and sparkly vision, loaded with ornaments acquired over decades. Much like Thanksgiving 2020, Christmas 2020 will be different for many of us, and it has me more nostalgic than usual.

We imagine many of our neighbors are feeling the same way, and after a year filled with angst, we thought it would be uplifting to give Mill City Times readers the opportunity to share photos of treasured Christmas ornaments and the stories behind them.

Pictured above is a box of Shiny Brite glass ornaments, which my parents acquired in the late 1940's. They came into my possession after my mother's passing in the early 90's, and I've been decorating our trees with them ever since. Over the years I've watched in horror as four of the twelve have shattered to smithereens on the hardwood floor. Makes me wonder how these delicate things survived a household with nine kids!

Those of us who've been around the block a few times remember when safety wasn't "priority #1" - cars without seatbelts, lead-based paint, etc. These ornaments always remind me of a short-lived Christmas treat we loved as kids, giving no thought to how germy and potentially deadly they were: unwrapped hard candies the size, shape, color and flavor of a cherry; impaled with a metal hooked "stem" so they could be hung on the tree (and removed by grubby little hands, licked, and then re-hung with a sly giggle...) Aah, memories.

We invite you to share your ornament memories! Send your story and picture(s) to kim@millcitymedia.org. I will post them on our website, and share on Facebook.

Best wishes for a safe, healthy and holiday season!

Kim :)

Letter to the Editor: More Proof the Minneapolis 2040 Plan Was Never About Improving the Economy of The City, The Wellbeing of City Residents, or Reducing the City’s Carbon Footprint

Dennis Paulaha, PhD - Great River Coaltion

The question that will not go away whenever the Minneapolis 2040 Plan is discussed is: Was the 2040 Plan intended to help the residents and the economy of the city, and to decrease the city’s impact on global warming, or was it nothing more than a plan to support the less than successful Metro Transit System by letting developers and investors tear down single family homes and replace them with rental units?

Given that neither the Minneapolis City Council nor the City Planning Department was able to show residents how eliminating single-family zoning would improve the health, incomes, and wealth of homeowners, how eliminating single-family zoning would reduce the affordable housing problem for either potential homeowners or renters, or how eliminating single-family zoning to intentionally increase the population and population density of the city while destroying green space would not increase the city’s carbon footprint, the recent push to use language in the 2040 Plan to relax the requirements governing the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or “granny flats,” adds more weight to the argument that the 2040 Plan is all about busses.

Over the years, accessory dwelling units have at times been allowed and at other times prohibited. Currently, they are allowed, but with restrictions. 

One of the current zoning-code restrictions is that backyard dwelling units, whether they are used for granny or rented out as a source of income, can be constructed only on owner-occupied one- and two-family properties. 

Other restrictions are related to building code requirements covering fire and sound separation between units, the rise and run (steepness) of stairways, headroom requirements, access to utilities, and the percentage of a single-family property that can be covered with buildings.

Such safety restrictions have limited the number of accessory dwelling units in the city, partly because they add to the cost of constructing ADUs, partly because of limited green space, which is why most accessory dwelling units are built on top of renovated garages, or, in some instances, have replaced garages.

 A proposed amendment to the city’s zoning code will eliminate virtually all zoning-code restrictions on ADUs, allowing accessory dwelling units to be added to non-owner occupied properties and not be limited to properties with one- or two-living units. 

The idea is to expand the accessory dwelling units idea into a world of “tiny homes.”

And by altering the zoning code so builders of the tiny houses that will cover up even more green space in the city do not have to pay fees for sewer access ($2,485) and park dedication ($1,659), the construction of the tiny houses or newly defined accessory dwelling units will be more profitable for the builders and investors who, once again, end up being the primary beneficiaries of the 2040 Plan.

There are more details in the amendment, all of which make it easier and more profitable for developers and investors to buy and tear down single-family homes and replace them with multi-unit rental buildings.

The bottom line is simple: By being able to add one more rental unit to a property with a multi-unit rental building, the income stream from rents increases.

Which means developers and investors will be able to pay more for single-family homes they will tear down, which means more single-family homes will be demolished, which means the hope of owning a single family house in Minneapolis will increasingly be there only there for the very wealthy.

And so, the question is: What does the accessory dwelling units amendment have to do with supporting the Metropolitan Transit bus system?

A lot.

As everyone should know by now, replacing owner occupied single-family homes with rental units replaces city residents who do not normally use city busses with renters who are more likely to do so. 

By making it profitable to tear down even more expensive single-family homes, there will be even more potential bus riders.

An allowing a massive expansion of tiny homes also brings more renters into the city, meaning it also increases the population of likely bus users.

How does a plan that will knowingly lead families who can afford to buy single family homes to leave the city help the city’s economy? It won’t.

How does a plan that increases the city’s population and population density while decreasing its green space reduce the city’s carbon footprint? It won’t.

How will young people who are happy being renters today be able to become homeowners in the future? They won’t, unless they move out of the city.

The sad truth is, the Minneapolis 2040 Plan is not a plan for the future. It is a plan to accommodate today’s young singles with little or no regard for their future. And, as should have been expected, the huge building boom for apartments is not lowering rents; it is increasing rents.

Is there an alternative for those who are worried about affordable housing, where affordable housing is defined as renting, not owning?

There is, and it is already in place.

The Southwest Light Rail Transit Line, even though completion is years away, has already led to plans to build large rental complexes, and some condo buildings, within walking distance of the new stations. Will that lower rents inside the City of Minneapolis? Not likely. 

Is it a solution to the affordable housing problem in Minneapolis? It is if city politicians and planners accept the fact that it is impossible to drive down rents by gutting the city without changing the city in ways most will regret and that are irreversible, and, equally important, if they accept the fact that a plan that puts people first will make use of the interaction between the city and its suburbs, which is, at least on paper, the function of the light rail system.

In the end, the accessory dwelling units amendment is one more step down a path that, instead of solving problems, leads Minneapolis away from doing what can be done to make one of the world’s great cities even better. 

This Small Business Saturday, Shop Artist-made Goods at Northrup King Building

Via the December e-newsletter from Northrup King Building:

Tis the season to shop! And the artists at Northrup King Building welcome you for many Holiday Hours to shop goods like:

Clockwise from top: Fringe & Fettle Ceramics, Worker B,  Megan Moore, EverArt Designs,  Melissa Helene Fine Arts and Photography And more! Our Holiday Hours are listed below.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is this Saturday, November 28, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM! Shopping local has never been so critical in helping our diverse communities thrive. Moreover, never has an artistic pick-me-up been so welcome: We're all tired of staring at our familiar walls! With that in mind, we hope you'll consider stopping at the Northrup King Building this weekend for your holiday shopping. Studios and galleries will be open for perusal. Do keep in mind that artists set their own hours, if you'd like to visit a particular studio, we recommend you contact the artist to ensure they'll be open for you. You can use our directory to do so.  Masks required at all times in the Northrup King Building. Social distancing will be enforced.

Holiday Hours

Can't make it for Small Business Saturday? No prob! We've got Holiday Hours galore to fit your schedule. We hope to see you at one (or many!) of these shopping opportunies.

Masks are required at all times while shopping at the Northrup King Building, and open studios (and their visitors) must comply with state and city regulations regarding COVID-19, which limits the number of shoppers allowed in a studio/gallery at any one time. Due to the ever-evolving nature of the pandemic, public building hours are subject to change.  Artists and businesses will continue to set their own hours or availability; we encourage you to contact artists ahead of time to ensure they will be open and operating during our extended hours. You can use our online Studio Directory to do so.

Little Sisters of the Poor House for the Aged

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

If you were to stand on the corner of Second Street NE and Broadway, you would notice a new apartment building being built on the southwest corner of the intersection, a recently opened independent living facility for Catholic Eldercare on the southeast corner, another apartment building on the northwest corner, and standing amongst these new developments on the northeast corner is one of the older buildings that can be found in Minneapolis. Stonehouse Square has provided quality living space for over forty years, but the building is much older than that.

A Catholic religious order known as the Little Sisters of the Poor first came to Minneapolis in 1889 with the goal of opening a home for the older citizens of Minneapolis. Once they were settled in, they hired local architect Frederick G. Corser, who also designed Westbrook Hall at the University of Minnesota and served as the architect for the Minneapolis Fire Department. Throughout his career, Corser was more concerned with functionality than decoration, and he stayed true to that when designing the Home for the Aged.

Little Sisters of the Poor Building, 1967

The first phase of construction took place in 1895 when Corser built a three-and-a-half story wood framed, yellow brick building and an attached chapel. The Little Sisters of the Poor and its residents quickly outgrew that facility, and in 1905, Corser came back to make an addition, the east wing. Even though Corser paid more attention to a building’s function, he still wanted his addition to look original, and he did just that.

The Sisters and residents once again outgrew their building, so in 1914, plans to construct a west wing were made. This time, the Sisters went with the firm Kees and Colburn who used steel, brick and tile. However, in order to stay true to the original building and out of respect for Corser, the exterior was made with yellow bricks and wood framing. This turned out to be a great idea as it blended in perfectly with the existing building.

1948 photo of a sister helping a resident with physical therapy.

The Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged, also called St. Joseph’s Home, provided top notch care and great facilities for their residents for over eighty years in Northeast Minneapolis. However, as the years went on, the building kept deteriorating and newer standards and codes meant that the Sisters would have to spend a fortune to bring the building up to code. 1977 was the last year this building housed the Sisters and their elderly residents before they moved to a new location over in St. Paul.

When the Sisters left for our neighboring city, it was a huge loss for the surrounding neighborhoods. However, Northeast Minneapolis did not have to wait too long for a new senior care organization to take root in the area. Just a couple blocks away down Second Street, Catholic Eldercare opened their now named Albert J. Hofstede Care Center in 1983, and they picked up where the Sisters left off.

2019 photo by Mark Peterson for the Northeaster.

The Minneapolis Housing and Redevelopment Authority purchased the Home for the Aged in 1977, and the next year it was included in the National Register of Historic Places. Soon after, a private developer bought it with the intent of preserving the historic architecture for years to come and renovate the interior. They even kept the original brick and wrought iron fence that borders the property. After the successful renovation, the seventy-one-unit building was ready to house residents once again, and to this day, the building provides excellent living for Northeasters.

There may currently be a development boom in Minneapolis, but during this Thanksgiving week I’m thankful that I live in a city where the old and new can coexist in a way that creates a unique atmosphere and character that makes Minneapolis, well, Minneapolis.

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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.

Watch: Episode 3 of Milling About with Brianna Rose

Original air date: November 16, 2020

This episode features speakers and content you’ll not want to miss:

• Dan Turpening, professional accordionist, Owner of The Accordion Shoppe
• Doug Snyder, Executive Director, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO)
• Heidi Amouta, Co-owner, Minneapolis Boxing Club
• Be That Neighbor interview of Erik Sather, Co-owner and Butcher, of Lowry Hill Meats
• Michael Rainville, Jr., with an extended history of the Thanksgiving Day Fire of 1982

What topics would you like to see covered on the show? Milling About with Brianna Rose is a production of Mill City Times, and we cover topics of interest to our readers. We focus on local entertainers, small businesses, neighborhood stories, Mississippi River connections, local food producers and history - and are open to suggestions! Please email Becky Fillinger, executive producer, at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com to suggest ideas or to be a guest on the show.

Wishing John Anfinson, Superintendent, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area a Happy Retirement

The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) Superintendent, John Anfinson, will retire at the end of the year. I can't recall which function we were attending when I first heard John speak, but I was an immediate fan and have held him in the highest regard ever since. Those are some incredible shoes to fill!

More about John.