Voices of Experience at MacPhail Center for Music

Voices of Experience, a choir for adults, ages 55 and older, is offering an ‘interim open’ session in January and February at NO COST to participating singers. Additionally, there will be no auditions to be a member for this interim session. The choir will work on a short program of love songs to be performed at one or two outreach mini concerts. Choir members do not need previous choral experience.

The interim session will have six rehearsals on Tuesdays, beginning January 11, 2011, from 10-11:30am at MacPhail Center for Music.

Voices of Experience was created last fall as a collaboration with The Minnesota Choraleand MacPhail Center for Music. Dr. Mary Kay Geston, an associate professor of music at Northwestern College in St. Paul, is the ensemble’s conductor.

To register or for more information, call MacPhail Center for Music at 612-321-0100, or Melissa Falb at 612-767-5438.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

December 31 is a Great Day to Give Blood!

The Red Cross Blood Donor Center at 1201 West River Parkway is open from 6:45am to 1:15pm on Friday, December 31.  Click here to make an appointment.

What is the most common blood type? According to AABB's website, the approximate distribution of blood types in the U.S. blood donor population is as follows:

 O Rh-positive - 39 percent
 O Rh-negative -  9 percent
 A Rh-positive - 31 percent
 A Rh-negative -  6 percent
 B Rh-positive -  9 percent
 B Rh-negative -  2 percent
AB Rh-positive -  3 percent
AB Rh-negative -  1 percent

Note: Distribution may be different for specific racial and ethnic groups and in different parts of the country.

In an emergency, anyone can receive type O red blood cells, and type AB individuals can receive red blood cells of any ABO type. Therefore, people with type O blood are known as “universal donors,” and those with type AB blood are known as “universal recipients.” In addition, AB plasma donors can give to all blood types.

January, 2011, is National Blood Donor Month. 

Update on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 10:55AM by David Tinjum

CORRECTION:  Kim called this morning to schedule an appointment and learned that, contrary to the info on their web site, the Red Cross Blood Donor Center will be closed on New Years Eve.  She'll try for next week, you can too.

China Wok added to the Order-In Dining Link

We recently received direct mail advertising from China Wok, and gave them a try.  The experience was positive on every count: the person taking the order was cheerful, they delivered in half the time estimated, the delivery person was friendly and the food was great.  I should also mention that we called 5 minutes past their posted delivery hours, yet they were happy to accommodate us.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Mill City Commons' 2010 Holiday Food Drive and Fundraiser is a Success

Linnea Tweed, Executive Director of Mill City Commons, shared successful results of this year's "TURKEY, DRESSINGS, and EXTRA HELPINGS" food drive and fundraising event:

"We were able to provide all the fixings for holiday dinners for 50 families in the Jordan Neighborhood, and we had enough money to add over $300 of food to their food shelf. Jeff Hamm, the Store Manager at Rainbow Foods, 3505 W Broadway, was an amazing help. This is the second year they've helped us. His staff was so friendly and helpful - they kept telling us how wonderful we were to do this. They looked for the best buys so we were able to spend about $38 per family for their holiday meals including a whole turkey or ham (we purchased 25 of each). Jeff had his bakery bake 50 pumpkin pies for us - he said it was cheaper than selling us the ingredients.  It truly was heart warming.

We loaded an SUV with sweaters, hats mittens, gloves, scarves, some winter shoes and jackets and delivered them to People Serving People.  We also delivered gifts to Exodus House for their annual Holiday Event and took a load of children's clothes and other small gift items to Mary's Place for their residents.  They have many (almost 200) homeless children in families living there."

Below, some of the 50 pies that Rainbow Foods Store Manager Jeff Hamm made sure his bakery prepared fresh the morning of the deliveries.

This initiative started 3 years ago when Mill City Commons members Delia and Tyrone Bujold were enjoying a glass of wine with friends.  They came up with the idea to do food baskets for families in need.  Their goal that first year was 25 dinner baskets - but within a few days of spreading the word, they had enough money to do 50.  Last year they decided to use Mill City Commons as the contact point so that donations could be tax-deductible.

Delia consulted Fr. Michael O'Connell for ideas on where to deliver these baskets the food.  Fr. O'Connell currently serves as Pastor of the Church of Ascension in North Minneapolis, and Delia has known him since he was Basilica Rector.   He recommended the Jordan New Life Community Church because of it's expansive outreach program. 

Many of us want to do something good at the holidays, but are strapped for time, don't know where to start, etc.  People like Delia and Tyrone, along with the volunteers from Mill City Commons, make it effortless for the rest of us to help.  Just write a check and you've given a less fortunate family a Christmas dinner, or helped stock a foodshelf - it's that simple. 

Dave and I look forward to being involved with this fundraiser next year. 

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Winter Pet Care Tips - An Ongoing Series from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM

This is the sixth installment of Pet Tips from Curtis L. Sanford, DVM.

Housing:
It is best to keep pets indoors during the winter months, but if this is not possible, outdoor pets must be provided with shelter. Their home should be elevated off the ground to prevent moisture accumulation and have a door of some kind to keep out winter winds, sleet, and snow. Shelters should be insulated or heated. Water sources may be heated to permit constant access to unfrozen water; thermal units designed specifically for this purpose are readily available. Outdoor pets require extra calories to keep warm. Feed your pet according to its needs when the temperature drops. In severely cold or inclement weather, no pet should be kept outside. Indoor pets should have sleeping quarters in a draft-free, warm area with their bed or mattress elevated slightly off the floor.

Roaming cats:
Roaming cats, as well as house pets and wildlife, may climb onto vehicle engines for warmth during cold weather. Be sure to check under the hood before starting your vehicle and honk the horn to startle any animals seeking shelter inside.

Frostbite and snow removal salt:
Snow and salt should be removed from your pets paws immediately. Frostbitten skin is red or gray and may slough. Apply warm, moist towels to thaw out frostbitten areas slowly until the skin appears flushed. Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible for further care. Frost bite usually occurs on the extremities; such as the ears, tail and toes but using fleece or other body coverings will decrease possible frost bite on other parts of the body. Snow removal products should be stored out of the reach of pets and small children as their toxicity varies considerably. We recommend to cover feet with rubber boots or other foot covers to keep off salt and snow while walking outdoors. If your pet will not tolerate foot covers, then vigorously washing off the snow and salt with tepid water will prevent irritation to the pads, hair and skin of the feet.

Dr. Sanford is a Veterinarian and Owner/Founder of Minneapolis Veterinary Hospital in the Mill District.   He can be contacted at 612-746-0300 or mplsvet@live.com.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Check Out the Guthrie Theater on YouTube

In addition to their recently posted "Guthrie Theater: 2010 in Pictures" video, there are a number of other interesting items.

For instance, did you know you can rent a costumefor Halloween through CostumeRentals - all costumes are from past productions of the Guthrie Theater and Childrens Theater Company.

You can also view performance samplings, staff interviews and more.   As of this posting, there were 98 Guthrie YouTube videos available.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

"Enjoy the Holiday" MacPhail Community Youth Choir Winter Concert

Everyone we've played this for has thought it was an awesome new take on a holiday song, totally fresh. Can't wait for it to be released next year. That girl has serious talent.

Directed by J.D.Steele, the concert included pop, jazz, gospel and East African selections as well as compostions by members of the choir.

The MacPhail Center for Music is located in the Historic Mill District of Minneapolis.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy! 

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Mill City Commons Offers January Savings on New Memberships

During the month of January, 2011, Mill City Commons is offering $100 off household memberships.  As an added bonus, members who join in January will have their membership extended through March 2012.

Mill City Commons is a unique neighborhood organization offering members a variety of interesting activities, in addition to other benefits.

For more information, please contact Executive Director Linnea Tweed at 612-455-3329, or email linneatweed@millcitycommons.org.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

The Line - an Additional Source for Information About our Neighborhood

I recently subscribed to a weekly online magazine called The Line.  

The Line "tells the story of the new economy in The Twin Cities - a narrative of creative people and businesses, new development, cool places to live, and the best places to work and play." 

From a front page drop down menu, you can select what area of Minneapolis you'd like to read about.  For example, the December 15 edition had an article about The Soap Factory under the Riverfront/Mill District section.

While the Riverfront/Mill District section doesn't have frequent entries, it's still another interesting source for information about our neighborhood.

It's the Holidays in the Mill District!

From now thru December 31, we'll be posting random shots from around the neighborhood that capture the Holiday Season.  Enjoy!

From the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Snow Emergency and Parking Restriction Updates

Just received this from Ruth at the office of City Council Member Lisa Goodman -

Minneapolis has declared a Snow Emergency beginning today, Dec. 20, 2010. To make the transition from Winter Parking Restrictions to Snow Emergency rules, drivers may start moving their cars off of Snow Emergency Routes and on to EITHER side of the non-Snow Emergency Routes beginning at 4 p.m. today, Dec. 20.

Winter Parking Restrictions, which ban parking on the EVEB side of non-Snow-Emergency routes, are not in effect during this Snow Emergency. However, beginning at 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 23, Winter Parking Restrictions will resume.

This latest Snow Emergency will be the 5th of the season. Minneapolis received more than 24 inches of snow in December, making it the 5th snowiest December recorded in the metro area.  Since more snow began falling this morning, City crews have been plowing and treating streets to keep them drivable. Now that a Snow Emergency has been declared, Snow Emergency parking restrictions will take effect beginning at 9 p.m., Monday, so crews can plow the 1,000 miles of streets as wide as possible. That’s the equivalent of 3,200 “lane miles” of streets that need to be plowed—enough to plow a lane from Minneapolis to Anchorage, Alaska.

It is imperative that drivers follow Snow Emergency rules and move their cars out of the ways of the plow. It’s in everyone’s best interest to follow the parking rules so plows can do the best job possible and folks can avoid a ticket and tow. Working together, City crews can deliver the high-quality plowing services that residents demand.

Snow Emergency parking rules
 
Last Night, Dec. 20 , 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.  (Day 1)
Do not park on EITHER side of a Snow Emergency route until the street is fully plowed (completely cleared and plowed to the full width of that side of the street).

Tonight, Dec. 21, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day 2)
Do not park on the EVEN side of a non-Snow Emergency route, or on EITHER side of a parkway until the street is fully plowed.

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Day 3)
Do not park on the ODD side of a non-Snow Emergency route until the street is fully plowed.

Thursday, Dec. 23 - 8 a.m. (“Day 4”) - Return to Winter Parking Restrictions
Between 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, and 8 a.m., Friday Dec. 24, people can begin moving their cars from the EVEN side of non-Snow Emergency Routes to the ODD side to be in compliance when the Winter Parking Restrictions resume at 8 a.m. During Winter Parking Restrictions, parking is banned on the EVEN SIDE of non-Snow Emergency Routes. Drivers still need to follow all posted NO PARKING signs.

Winter Parking Restrictions were put into effect Friday, Dec. 17 in Minneapolis to ensure reliable access for emergency vehicles after a record December snowfall. Parking is banned on the even side of non-Snow-Emergency-routes until April 1, unless conditions allow the City to lift the ban earlier. Parking is allowed on both sides of Snow Emergency routes and parkways, and the ODD side of non-Snow Emergency-routes, unless otherwise posted and provided a Snow Emergency has NOT been declared. Drivers parking in Minneapolis must follow these Winter Parking Restrictions, or they could be ticketed and towed.

For more information on Snow Emergencies and Winter Parking Restrictions, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow.

Announcing Our Mill District Community Cornerstones

Yesterday we issued a press release announcing our Mill District Community Cornerstone awards -

http://www.prweb.com/releases/Mill-District/Minneapolis/prweb4911264.htm -

a project we've been working on for some time.  Initial reactions from two of the first four:

"We are very fortunate to be part of such a vibrant neighborhood and cultural corridor and to partner, as we often do, with MacPhail Center for Music, the Guthrie Theater and Open Book on programming for youth and families. Thank you, Mill City Times, for your support and enthusiasm" said Laura Salveson, Director of the Mill City Museum.

“MacPhail Center for Music is proud to be a part of a neighborhood that values the arts, education and community. We are not only committed to excellence in music education for all ages and abilities, but offer a sense of community and belonging for people who love music.” Paul Babcock, president and COO of MacPhail Center for Music offered.

These organizations were among the first to commit to our neighborhood during its revitalization, and have played a huge role in the growth and vibrancy of our community. They highlight our role as the historical and cultural center of Minneapolis, and they draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to our neighborhood each year.

The Community Cornerstone awards will be announced bi-monthly throughout 2011, and will include well known, and lesser known organizations, all of which play a vital role in the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Visit the Mill District Community Cornerstone page...