Twin Cities Assembly Plant and Beyond

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

This past Friday, January 15, 2021, John Reinan wrote an excellent article for the Star Tribune about the Saint Paul Ford Plant’s sand mine located 100 feet below the factories. His reporting on the St. Peter sandstone, which is 99% silica, perfect for glass making, piqued my curiosity in the Ford Plant, something I have driven by hundreds of times, but knew little about.

Henry Ford first established his automotive business in Minnesota in 1912 by building a ten-story Model T assembly plant on the corner of Fifth Avenue N and Fifth Street in Minneapolis, which still stands today, across from Target Field. Ford saw the potential the Twin Cities had to help his business grow, and in 1925, Ford moved his Minneapolis operations to the newly constructed Twin Cities Assembly Plant in the Highland Park Neighborhood of Saint Paul.

The plant in 1926

The 160 acres of land next to the powerful Mighty Mississippi River combined with the abundance of sand, easy rail access, and central Midwest location was just too good to pass up. Ford had all the resources he needed to establish his new plant. Once completed in May of 1925, the first vehicles to roll off the assembly line were the Model T and Model TT pickup truck. A year later in May of 1926, the sand mines were in full operation. A separate mine was located further down the river along Shepherd Road, and by the time sand mining stopped in 1959 over four miles of tunnels were dug out.

During the early years of the Plant, vehicles would be lowered down on a freight elevator, rolled out of the tunnel system, and loaded onto barges to be shipped down the Mississippi. To this day, the elevator shaft and mine lay relatively untouched. While very rusty, the electric rail cart system still lines the floor and a smaller sand elevator is still intact. With humans and nature intervening throughout the decades, all but one entrances to the mine are permanently sealed off.

One of the mine tunnels, 1938

The mining operation, 1939

At its peak, the Twin Cities Assembly Plant covered 1.5 million square feet and included a cutting plant, rail yard, water treatment plant, steam plant, hydroelectric power station, and a glass factory that featured two 2,600°, 300-foot-long glass furnaces.

Throughout its eighty-six-year history, the Plant only shut down production three times. Between 1933 and 1934, vehicle production stopped, and from 1933-1937, the sand and glass operation was put on hold, both as a result of the Great Depression. Civilian vehicle production stopped once more when the United States entered World War II. During this time, T-17 and over 5,000 M-8 armored cars were produced at the Plant for the war effort.

Celebrating the 2,000,000th Ford made in Minnesota on October 6, 1956

The Plant shut down its mines in 1959, but some of that space was still in use. A seismograph station run by the University of Minnesota was located underneath the Plant mine, and in the Shepherd Road mine, the Halloween attraction “Tunnel of Terror” operated there until 2004. The Ford Motor Company updated the Plant in 1962, which ushered in a new era for the Plant that saw three new building rise and more efficient assembly lines installed. Because of these improvements, the Plant began producing its most famous vehicle, the Ford Ranger, a compact pickup truck, starting in 1982.

1984 Ford Ranger

In January of 2006, Ford instituted a restructuring plan that included many plant shutdowns, and the Twin Cities Assembly Plant was one of them. The Plant produced 300,00 Rangers in 1998 and that number dropped to 120,000 in 2005. Its 4-cylinder engine was no match for the better V6 engines, and Minnesotans wanted more power in their pickups. Four months after Ford announced the eventual closure of the Plant, they delayed it until 2008. Later, it was once again delayed, this time until December 22nd, 2011. That day, the final vehicle, a Ford Ranger, rolled off the assembly line and the Plant shut down for good.

Rendering of the new Highland Bridge project

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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.

The Mill City Times Interview: Doug Snyder, Executive Director, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Article by Becky Fillinger

Doug SnyderThere are three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Most of our Mill City Times readers live in the geography covered by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO). We spoke to Doug Snyder, Executive Director of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization about ways to get involved to protect our rivers and drinking water, their Sustainable Communities partnership with the University of St. Thomas, and seeing projects to fruition. 

Q:  We recently spoke to one of the MWMO Water Stewards, Michelle Spangler. Please tell us more about the program and how citizens may become Stewards.

A:  The MWMO has been partnering with Freshwater since 2016 to train and support Minnesota Water Stewards (formerly known as Master Water Stewards). The Minnesota Water Stewards program trains, certifies and supports community leaders to prevent water pollution and educate community members about conserving and protecting water. Stewards perform many hours of service in the watershed each year, doing a variety of things, including: leading or participating in community cleanups, invasive species removal, maintaining raingardens, and conducting community outreach to educate community members about ways to protect water quality and habitat.

As a Water Steward, Michelle got a grant from the MWMO to organize and support the NE Stormdrain Challenge in the summer of 2020. She partnered with the Audubon Neighborhood Association and the City of Minneapolis to educate, engage and motivate residents all over northeast Minneapolis to take responsibility for keeping their stormdrains clean and keep many pounds of pollution out of the Mississippi River.

More information about the Minnesota Water Steward program is available on our website or at minnesotawaterstewards.org.   

I want to mention that applications for our Community Grants are available now – see information here to apply. Community Grants are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects. The grant amount may not exceed $5,000, no matching funds are required, and we can offer help for those completing the application. 

Q:  We typically think of watershed projects during warmer months. How do MWMO projects continue during winter months?

A:  Yes, some types of work can continue over the winter, such as installation of pipes and underground tanks; however, most of the types of work on the surface need to be installed during the growing season. Therefore, most of our capital projects are scheduled from around April 1 until the ground freezes or there is too much snow. One project that has taken advantage of the good late fall/early winter weather this year is the Northern Columbia Golf Course and Park Stormwater BMPs project. You can follow this project online at mwmo.org/columbia.

Columbia Golf Course drains

And, of course, we do public information seminars throughout the year. Coming up, we have a free workshop on managing ice and snow without over applying salt –register here.

Q:  Is MWMO part of Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts? If so, how do you work collaboratively with other watershed districts?

A:  Yes, we are a member. Two years ago, the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts (MAWD) opened its membership to other Watershed Management Organizations. We joined in 2019. Even prior to joining MAWD, MWMO partnered with other watersheds (and our members, nonprofits and state agencies) to create training opportunities, public engagement events, and coordinate planning and project review.

Q:  You have a large list of active projects - one that jumped out to me with the UST Sustainable Communities Partnership project. Can you tell us more about it?

A:  Yes, the Sustainable Communities Partnership Project is run through the Sustainability office at the University of St. Thomas (UST) and it partners UST courses with government and nonprofit organizations to do projects that support and advance sustainability-oriented work in those organizations. Over the last few years, several UST courses have supported the work of the MWMO by doing projects that help increase staff understanding of various issues related to watershed protection and management. A few examples of recent projects include:

• A senior capstone class that researched possible industrial uses for captured stormwater and considered cost-effectiveness and ecological impacts of stormwater reuse systems in the urban environment. 

• Development of curriculum units and supporting materials for teaching K-12 students about stormwater best management practices.

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• Evaluation of the effectiveness of various graphics related to stormwater best management practices in order to recommend most effective graphics and appropriate use.

• Research and analysis of different land-use scenarios for the conversion of vacant lots in the MWMO to better understand opportunities to manage stormwater runoff and connect pollinator habitat across the watershed. 

This program gives students real-life experiences in sustainability work and benefits the partner organizations by increasing capacity to conduct research and complete projects that advance the work of the organization. We have enjoyed and benefited from this partnership. More information about our partnership is available on the UST website: https://www.stthomas.edu/osi/scpprojects/completed-scp-projects/mwmo/

Q:  What do you enjoy the most about your work with the MWMO?

A:  Prior to coming to the MWMO, I worked for the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. There I worked with grants, planning and regulatory programs such as the Wetland Conservation Act. While we do similar things here, what I enjoy most is that we also get to create programming and build projects. We go through feasibility, design, financing, bid, construction, and operations and maintenance. It’s fun to see a completed project, monitor it, and know we’ve done something that improves where we live.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Please sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Small Business Spotlight: Kolman & Pryor Gallery

Article by Becky Fillinger

When was the last time you visited an art gallery? Get ready to experience “Orange” at the Kolman & Pryor Gallery. An antidote to winter’s grays, blues and whites – check out the vibrant artwork included in this show. Anita Kolman and Patrick Pryor tell us all about the inspiration for the show and when you may personally view the art, explore the unique meanings to you and interact with the artists.

Kolman & Pryor Gallery is located in Studio 395, Northrop King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE   

Q:  Tell us about the exhibition “Orange,” the fourth show in your ongoing Color Series.

Anita KolmanA:  Begun in 2018, The Color Series explores the artist’s color palette. The gallery’s artists have long been interested in exploring their relationship to color, as artists, and as viewers, and as collectors. The first exhibition’s emphasis was on the color White, in the second in 2019, Red was the focus, and the third exhibit in 2020 showcased artwork emphasizing the color Yellow. For 2021, we challenged our gallery artists to incorporate the color Orange into their artwork.

Looking specifically at this year’s show, Betsy Ruth Byers incorporated a bright orange into the sky of her work with great success. Cameron Zebrun continues his prolific exploration into painted wood sculptural forms. Kate Casanova has expanded her masterful use of materials and colors with four new table top sized sculptures. Jodi Reeb created a 36 inch rosette wall sculpture made of aluminum and tinged tangerine with enamel paint. Jil Evans pushes and pulls at the space within the canvas in new color combinations that feel fresh and new, yet firmly anchored in her current practice. The work of Kelly Jean Ohl and Julie Snidle radiate warmth on the two orange walls of the gallery painted for this show.

Q:  What feelings do you get from the art in this show?

Patrick PryorA:  There is an orange glow in the gallery right now, and it feels like a warm comfort when you walk through the doors. We painted two walls orange, each exhibiting artist incorporated the color orange into their work, and there are orange lines on the wood floors of the gallery, a remnant of the building’s history as the Northrup-King Seed Company, that tie the entire show together. We are impressed with the successful outcome of our artists who took up the challenge of using orange in their work. We hope our visitors will enjoy it as much as we do!

Q:  Does the choice of “Orange” communicate a central idea for the show?

A:  Orange is the unifying theme of this year’s Color Show, similar to the themes in previous shows with the colors White, Red and Yellow. The chosen color is the unifying theme for each of our shows in the series as well as the challenge to our artists to interpret that theme in ways that seem most relevant to them.

Color in general is rich with meaning, and our current Orange Show, like our other color shows in years past, invites multiple interpretations. Orange is a powerful color which has often been used historically. Ancient Egyptians used a yellow-red hue made from the mineral realgar in tomb paintings. In the 18th century, artists used yellow-red tones to depict the robes of Pomona, the goddess of fruitful abundance. After the fruit became more common in northern Europe, and the first synthetic orange pigment was produced in the 1800s, Pre-Raphaelite painters and Impressionists used the color to heighten the effects of natural light.

For us personally, as curator and gallerist, we appreciate the warm comforting glow of reflected orange light coming from the artworks (and the lines on the floor) that communicate a sense of hope and safety. Orange is also the color of highway warning signs, construction barriers, and over-done spray tans. Orange is a fruit, an everyday object. Nothing rhymes with orange. It is alone and unique. We like the tensions of opposing meanings and appreciate the opportunity to present them to our audiences.

All of these properties of orange provided significant opportunities for our gallery artists to connect to Orange as a central theme. We invite our gallery visitors to develop connections between this theme and their personal contexts, too.

"Watershed" by Betsy Ruth Byers

"15 Piece Hand Carved White Specimen" (hand carved clay) by Kelly Jean Ohl

Q:  Will the gallery be open for visitors to see the exhibit in person? If yes, what COVID-19 precautions will be in place?

A:  The gallery is open to the public on Saturdays from noon to 4:00 pm and on the first Thursday of each month from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm We always look forward to welcoming visitors at other times by appointment.

The entire Northrup King Building, including our gallery, will be open from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Saturday, February 13. That evening some of the artists in the show will welcome gallery visitors at a special reception from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

We require masks when visiting the gallery, we ask visitors to social distance when in the gallery, and we provide hand sanitizer to anyone who requests it. These COVID-19 precautions are followed throughout the Northrup King Building.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Our website, kolmanpryorgallery.com, always has the latest information about our artists and our shows. You can also find our news about Kolman & Pryor Gallery on social media, specifically on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

January 15 Ward 7 Updates from Council Member Lisa Goodman

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Our office has received a number of inquiries about where things stand with COVID Vaccinations. This topic continues to evolve but here is current information we want to share with you.

Vaccines are being distributed in a phased approach (what follows is a potential timeline for distribution).

• Phase 1A: Distribution will focus on healthcare workers and long-term care residents. (December 2020)
• Phase 1B: Distribution will focus on other critical workers. (1^st Quarter 2021)
• Phase 1C: Distribution will focus on adults with high-risk medical conditions and people 65 and older. (End of 1^st Quarter)
• Phase 2: Vaccine distribution will have a continued focus on critical populations and the general population. (2^nd/3^rd Quarter 2021)
• Phase 3: Distribution will focus on the general population. (3^rd Quarter 2021 and after)

Things to note:

• The first vaccines will be given by injection. They will require two doses given several weeks apart.
• The vaccine will be free with or without health insurance
• The first vaccines were approved under an emergency use authorization. The authorization requires each vaccine is proven safe and effective
• The first vaccines are not expected to be approved for use in children and those who are pregnant or nursing. More data is needed about how the vaccine affects these groups.

Additional Information is available on the City’s Web Page

• http://www2.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/vaccines. This page will be updated regularly as new information on the vaccine and timing are known.

Video of Hennepin Healthcare Heroes rolling up their sleeves and getting the vaccine.

• https://www.facebook.com/hennepinhc/videos/320028242419228

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Vaccinations Begin for Minneapolis First Responders

Emergency medical services providers from the Minneapolis Fire Department, Police Department and Metro Transit have started getting their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. All health care employees are in the first groups to receive the vaccine. This group includes those holding emergency medical service or paramedic certifications.

The vaccine is safe and effective. The COVID-19 vaccines have been developed faster than any other in history because of the commitment and funds made available. Every COVID-19 vaccine has undergone the same clinical trials and approvals that other vaccines have. Fortunately, researchers have been working on vaccines for the coronavirus family for years, so they didn’t have to start from scratch. As researchers worked intensely to develop and test the vaccine, they were transparent in sharing data, holding live hearings and pausing trials if it was important to slow down.

How the vaccine works

Different types of COVID-19 vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types, the body is left with a supply of “memory” cells that will remember how to fight off the virus in the future without us having to get the illness. The first shot starts building protection. A second shot a few weeks later is needed to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer. Find more about how the vaccines work on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Sometimes after vaccinations, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.

It takes about two weeks after the second dose to build up protection, so full protection occurs about six weeks after the first vaccine dose.

Who’s next for vaccinations?

Vaccines will be available to other high-risk groups, such as essential workers and older adults, as well as the general public in phases over the next few months. While COVID-19 vaccination is not required, these health care workers trust the science behind the vaccine and understand that getting vaccinated is one more way to help protect themselves, their families and our communities.

More information will be provided about when and how you can get vaccinated.

Even though it will take some time for everyone to get vaccinated, you can help stop the spread of the virus right now by continuing hand-washing, distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding high-risk situations.

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Find Free COVID-19 Tests; Help Stop the Spread

The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 saliva tests. Testing is encouraged and available to everyone, whether or not you have symptoms. Testing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent exposing your loved ones to the virus. Do not eat, drink or use tobacco products for 30 minutes before taking a COVID-19 saliva test.

Columbia Manor Golf Course, 3300 Central Ave. NE 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays Jan. 11, Jan. 25

Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St. Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays Jan. 9 and Jan. 23

Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays Jan. 16 and Jan. 30

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 21 and Jan. 28

You can expect to get your test results in about two business days.

More free COVID-19 saliva tests

Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S., Exhibit Room E 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends Make an appointment here. Find instructions here.

Native American Community Clinic, 1213 E. Franklin Ave. 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Appointments required: Call 612-872-8086 to schedule an appointment.

Southside Community Health Services, 324 E. 35th St. 2-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Appointments required: Call 612-821-3548 to schedule an appointment. You can expect to get your test results in about two-three business days. Same day testing can be done for health care workers, first responders and essential workers.

Find a current list of free COVID-19 tests on the City website.

Resources

The COVID-19 test is free, and you do not need insurance for the test. If you need medical care but don’t have health insurance, the Minnesota Department of Health offers resources to find low-cost health care or health insurance.

If you can’t attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you. The State is also offering free at-home saliva tests. Any person in Minnesota can order a saliva test kit from the COVID-19 Test at Home program.

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Get the Snow Emergency App, and Sign Up for Snow Emergency Alerts

Residents, workers and visitors have several ways to learn when Snow Emergencies are declared and what to do. The City advises drivers to put many of these tools to use, not just one or two. The more ways you use to learn about a Snow Emergency, the more prepared you will be, and the less likely you will be towed.

When a Snow Emergency is declared, parking rules take effect so plows can clear the streets and emergency vehicles and other cars can get around and park. Plowing the streets completely requires vehicles parked on streets to move. 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.

Get the app, sign up for alerts

The Minneapolis Snow Emergency app tells you if a Snow Emergency has been declared and puts all the parking rules right in the palm of your hand. It has a street lookup so you can see the parking rules in detail by entering an address or using the device’s location services.

The app tells you where you can and can't park on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of a Snow Emergency. It also features a quick call button that connects you with the Minneapolis Snow Emergency hotline and buttons to sign up for emails and text alerts or to find Snow Emergency information on the City's website at www.minneapolismn.gov/snow.

Watch this video about the Snow Emergency app, and find more information about Snow Emergencies on the City's website.

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When it Snows, Remember to Shovel Your Sidewalk

Sidewalks are a critical part of Minneapolis’ transportation system, and they should be open for everyone. Here’s a refresher on the City’s rules: Minneapolis ordinance requires property owners of houses and duplexes to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall. All other property owners must clear their sidewalks within four daytime hours.

Clearing snow and ice from sidewalks helps people of all ages and abilities safely walk or roll to where they need to go. This is a primary mode of transportation for many people in the city, so it’s important to be a good neighbor and help them out.

In addition to relying on complaints reported to 311, City inspectors will also actively look for sidewalks that aren’t shoveled. Failure to shovel and maintain your sidewalk could result in a warning letter and, if left uncleared, a bill for the City to remove snow from your sidewalk. An average bill is about $239.

Call 311 to learn more about resources available to people who may need help clearing their sidewalks.

Find more information about snow clearing on the City’s website.

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City Leaders Highlight Extensive Recovery Efforts and Outline Priorities for Addressing Challenges in 2021

City leaders provided an overview of the City’s response to the pandemic and civil unrest in 2020 and outlined priorities for moving forward as Minneapolis continues to face the impacts of these unprecedented challenges.

Staff presented the “Minneapolis Forward: The Path to Recovery and Transformation” report to the City Council’s Policy & Government Oversight Committee. The states of emergency orders resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest following the killing of George Floyd disrupted many lives and put an enormous strain on the City’s resources. Orders related to the emergencies closed more than 1,700 businesses and caused more than 144,000 Minneapolis residents to request unemployment benefits. The civil unrest following Floyd’s death caused more than $350 million in damage across the city.

The City enterprise responded to the crises by working creatively with policy makers, community partners and other levels of government to respond to the needs of residents and businesses. Moving into 2021, City leaders are committed to prioritizing work that both flattens the pandemic curve and addresses the disparities in Minneapolis that have been widened by the pandemic.

The City will receive a direct allocation of the federal emergency rent assistance approved as part of the recent stimulus package. Ensuring all these funds are made available to Minneapolis residents will be a top priority this year.

“The economic downturn caused by the pandemic and civil unrest have disproportionately impacted communities of color in Minneapolis. These events of 2020 have both magnified and deepened existing disparities making the need for immediate community resources exceedingly clear,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “The work our Minneapolis Forward: Community Now Coalition has done over the last year will be substantially bolstered by this federal emergency rent assistance, allowing us to build back and recover with equity and inclusivity at the forefront.”

“2020 was one of the most challenging years in Minneapolis’ history,” said City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins. “The amazing staff from multiple departments throughout the City have responded with urgency, compassion and a commitment to equity. This report highlights the incredible partnerships developed with community members through the Community Now Coalition and others from the philanthropic and business communities that all continue to come together to help Minneapolis move forward.”

By the numbers: The City’s response to the crises

• Over $26 million invested in immediate response and relief, millions more in reduced taxes and fees.
• $4 million for COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment.
• $4.8 million to community organizations supporting housing stability, food access and business assistance.
• $5 million in direct relief payments to small businesses and renters.
• $13 million invested in response to the increase in homelessness.
• $42 million in reduced property values, which resulted in refunds for taxpayers.
• $1.6 million in abated taxes.
• $1.8 million in waived fees, such as business licenses, demolition permits and utility charges.

Impacts to Minneapolis residents, businesses in 2020

• 29,352 COVID-19 cases; 350 deaths.
• Over 100 homeless encampments.
• Over 144,000 unemployed.
• Over 1,700 businesses ordered closed.

Over $350 million damages to private property and businesses during civil unrest.

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Emergency Regulation Caps Third-Party Food Service Delivery Fees

Mayor Jacob Frey has signed into law Emergency Regulation 2020-20, capping third-party food service delivery fees at 15% in Minneapolis. The move makes Minneapolis the first Minnesota locality to implement such a regulation. As current market conditions drive restaurants to rely on third-party food service delivery platforms to compete, some restaurants incur delivery fees as high as 40% of the price of the customer order.

Under the new law, a third-party food delivery platform will not perform any service for or disclose any information about a licensed food establishment without the consent of the licensed food establishment and will not be allowed to charge any additional fee to a licensed food establishment that the licensed food establishment has not voluntarily agreed to pay.

Violations of the new law could be subject to misdemeanor prosecution. Continued violation will be a separate violation for each day that the third-party food service delivery platform is found to be in violation.

Under the regulation, restaurants may choose to pay a higher commission or supplemental fee for additional products and services offered by any third-party food delivery platform.

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Full Third Avenue Bridge Closure Has Begun

The Third Avenue Bridge is fully closed to traffic through November 2022. Motorists, transit riders and people walking and bicycling will need to use alternate routes across the river during this time.

Detours

The detour for motorists and walkers is the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and for bicyclists is the Stone Arch Bridge. Visit the Metro Transit website for bus detour and schedule information. 

The historic Third Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls opened in 1918. It is in need of significant repairs. The bridge carries Third and Central avenues, which are part of Highway 65.

Construction began in May 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in August 2023.

Visit MnDOT's project webpage to learn more about the schedule, impacts to your commute, rehabilitation and preservation efforts, and what the bridge will look like when the work is done.

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Governor Announces New Dial Back for COVID-19 Protocols

As the COVID-19 situation improves by nearly every metric across Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz announced measures that loosen restrictions on important parts of daily life. The governor also urged Minnesotans to protect the progress made over the past month.

The announcement came as tens of thousands of Minnesotans have received their first dose of the vaccine, COVID-19 cases are down, hospital bed use is declining, and kids are heading back to the classroom.

COVID-19 is spreading more slowly across Minnesota than two months ago. Recognizing our progress but understanding we need to remain cautious, the governor is adjusting the dials and opening more activities and sectors of the economy. Starting Monday, Jan. 11:

• Indoor dining at bars and restaurants can open at 50% capacity with a maximum of 150 people. Parties of no more than six people must remain 6 feet from other parties, reservations are required, and establishments must close dine-in service by 10 p.m. The City’s local Emergency Regulation limiting service at the bar area will remain in effect, and customers will not be allowed to be seated at the bar area in Minneapolis establishments.
• Gym capacity remains capped at 25% but maximum capacity increases to 150, and classes can increase to 25 people assuming distancing can be observed. Machines and people must maintain 9 feet of distance. Face coverings are required.
• Outdoor events and entertainment continue at 25% capacity, but maximum capacity increases to 250 people. Social distancing is required.
• Indoor events and entertainment such as bowling alleys, movie theaters and museums may open at 25%, with no more than 150 people in each area of the venue. Face coverings are required, and they may not offer food service after 10 p.m.
• Youth and adult organized sports have resumed practice as of Jan. 4, and games resume Jan. 14 with spectators. They must follow the appropriate capacity limits for indoor or outdoor venues. Inter-region tournaments and out-of-state play are discouraged.
• Pools opened on Jan. 4 for some activity and may now open, like gyms, at 25% capacity.
• Wedding receptions and other private parties may resume with limits. If food and drink are served at the event, then they are limited to two households or 10 people indoors and three households or 15 people outdoors. If there is no food or drink, they are covered by event venue guidelines. Any related ceremony – like a wedding or funeral ceremony – is guided by rules for ceremonies and places of worship.
• Places of worship remain open at 50% capacity but without an overall maximum capacity.

Learn more about the State's response to COVID-19.

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COVID-19 Situational Update as of January 13, 2021

Situational updates: Minneapolis

• There are 30,181 cases in Minneapolis and 350 deaths. The total number of cases increased by 3.2% over the previous week. Hospitalizations increased by 1.1% and ICU admissions increased by less than 1%.
• Over the past two weeks, there have been about 125 new cases per day on average. This is an increase from the previous week where we saw less than 100 cases per day on average. Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• After dipping below 25 per 100,000, the seven-day rolling average rate for Minneapolis is again over 25 per 100,000 and increasing. This is likely driven by holiday gatherings and travel.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 12 regarding masks remains in effect. The regulation requires people to wear face masks in all indoor public places.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• There are 440,354 cases in Minnesota out of over 6 million tests completed. There have been 5,774 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 91,596 cases and 1,449 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The State uses a color-coded map to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases. As of Jan. 6, Minnesota is reporting 31 cases per 100,000 and Minneapolis is at 26 cases per 100,000.
• In the past week, the State health department identified five cases of the new B.1.1.7 SARS CoV-2 variant in Minnesota (first detected in the UK). This variant is thought to be 50 to 70 percent more transmissible than the variant currently circulating in the US. The State will continue to work with the CDC to conduct surveillance to determine how prevalent the new strain might be in Minnesota.
• MHD encourages everyone to sign up for the State’s COVIDaware MN exposure app. The app notifies you if you may have been exposed to COVID-19 by anyone else using the app. The app complements, but does not replace, case investigation and contact tracing.
• The statewide mask mandate remains in effect. People are required to wear masks in all indoor public places where people gather and some outdoor venues where physical distancing is difficult.
• Governor Walz’s Emergency Order 21-01 went into effect on January 11. Details are available on the City’s Guidance for Restaurants, Bars and Breweries and Distilleries web page and summarized below
• Bars and restaurants can offer indoor dining at 50% capacity, with a maximum of 150 people. The same requirements are in place for outdoor dining. Seating at bar counters in Minneapolis is not allowed per Mayor Frey’s Minneapolis Emergency Regulation 2020-17.
• Gyms and fitness centers can operate at 25% capacity, up to 150 people.
• Indoor events and entertainment are allowed at 25% capacity, up to 150 people.
• Outdoor events and entertainment are allowed at 25% capacity, up to 250 people.
• Public pools are allowed to operate at 25% capacity.

Health Department Incident Command updates

Case investigation/Contact tracing

• MHD continues to conduct follow-up on individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, as well as contact tracing at workplaces and with exposed individuals. Of the cases in Minneapolis, 62% have been interviewed and 2.2% have refused. Thirty-four percent of cases have been lost to follow-up and 1.8% of new Minneapolis cases still need to be interviewed.
• Twenty-one percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents have been conducted in a language other than English, representing over 15 different languages.
• We have 56 active case investigators, including three non-MHD enterprise staff and 17 AmeriCorps staff. Case investigators are interviewing an average of 90 cases per shift and making an average of 148 calls per shift, plus conducting workplace and other contact follow-up.
• Contact tracers give isolation and quarantine guidance to those who test positive for the virus and those who have been exposed. A 14-day quarantine still offers the greatest amount of protection against virus transmission. In certain situations, you may end your quarantine after 10 days, or after seven days with a negative COVID-19 test result. Detailed guidance is available on the State’s COVID-19 website.

COVID-19 vaccination

• MHD has provided 524 vaccinations to date and is anticipating giving another 200-300 doses this week to EMS providers, residents of assisted living sites, urgent care staff, and those working at COVID testing and vaccination sites.
• After being vaccinated, continuing to wear a mask, washing your hands and keeping your distance is important to help stop the pandemic.
• 3,846 responses were received via the COVID-19 Vaccination Perspectives Community survey. The responses will help us better understand thoughts, emotions and perceptions about the vaccine and the results will influence vaccine communications and delivery when the vaccine is rolled out to the community.
• Recordings of the Health Department’s weekly vaccine briefings can be found on the COVIDVaccination Channel.
• The State will receive $51 million in federal funding for vaccination efforts, $22 million of which is anticipated to come to Local Public Health (LPH) Departments. We believe that the State will urge LPH Departments to increase their vaccination efforts.

COVID-19 Testing

• In the past week, 74 COVID-19 saliva tests were provided at two events at Columbia Manor in Northeast Minneapolis and at Sabathani Community Center in Powderhorn.
• To date, MHD has hosted a total of 36 COVID-19community testing events and provided 3,698tests. 869flu shots have been distributed at nine events. These totals do not include events hosted by partners where we supplied staff or provided other support.

Upcoming free COVID-19 saliva testing events:

• Columbia Manor,3300 Central Ave. N.E., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 25.
• Sabathani Community Center, 310 East 38th Street, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on January23.
• Hennepin United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 21 and 28.
• Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on January 16and 30.
• Free saliva testing is also offered at three local sites hosted by the State health department. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing web page to register and find more information.

O Minneapolis Convention Center-9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

O Brooklyn Park Starlight Center -9 a.m. to7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

O Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport -7 a.m. to 7p.m. seven days a week.

• The State is also offering free at-home saliva tests. Any person in Minnesota can order a saliva test kit from the COVID-19 Test at Home program. The test will be delivered to your home with rush shipping.
• The City's testing web page offers the latest information on testing sites and guidance about what to do while you wait for COVID-19 test results. Staying away from others while you wait for your results is extremely important, especially if you have any symptoms. The web page has short videos in multiple languages explaining how to quarantine and isolate effectively.

MHD distribution of saliva test kits

• The Health Department is offering free saliva testing kits to community partners, organizations and businesses. After you request saliva testing kits, a staff member will contact you for more information. Virtual training on how to administer the tests is offered upon request.
• Examples of organizations and businesses that have been provided tests include mosques, PICA/Head Start, community clinics, local restaurants, and Minneapolis Public Schools.

Responding to community needs

• We continue to receive requests from community organizations and residents for personal protective equipment as well as at-home saliva test kits. This past week, we received 21 new requests and are currently coordinating delivery logistics. Saliva testing kits and other supplies may be requested through the COVID-19 Requests and Inquiries form on the City’s COVID webpage.
• We are responding to many requests about COVID-19 vaccine distribution from community members emailing our COVID19@minneapolismn.gov account.
• The Health Department is still recruiting volunteers from across the City enterprise to help at future MHD-sponsored COVID-19 testing and vaccination events. Anyone who is interested in serving in this way can fill out a brief survey. Staff who volunteer will receive training and personal protective equipment. Please help us promote this opportunity among City employees.

Businesses

• During the last week, Health inspectors responded to seven new food safety/sanitation/COVID-19 complaints. A majority of these complaints were related to enclosed outdoor seating restrictions. Health inspectors provided education and technical assistance to help businesses properly configure their outdoor seating areas.
• Routine inspections have been temporarily suspended, but inspectors continue to follow-up on complaints and outbreaks, and conduct plan review inspections for construction projects. Many inspectors have been reassigned to support COVID-19 contact tracing and case investigation efforts.

• We completed a final plan review inspection of the Cub Foods store located at 2850 26th Ave South. The facility is set to re-open in mid-February.

The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.

MNspin Virtual MN Music Events, January 21 and 28

Via an e-announcement from Friends of the Hennepin County Library:

​​​​​​Just as cabin fever is beginning to settle in, MNspin is coming to your rescue with two showcase concerts – livestreamed directly into your home. In collaboration with the Hook & Ladder Theater & Lounge and sponsored by Friends of HCL, the library proudly presents MNspin Virtual Fest: Live from the Hook at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, and Thursday, January 28.

Scroll on for band line-up and links to register for FREE. Please join us as we celebrate the most recent addition of 93 local Minnesota artists to the library’s MNspin streaming platform in 2020. Thanks to the financial support of library Friends like you, listeners can now enjoy more than 300 albums – from country to rock, hip-hop to classical, and so much more, all free via MNspin!

MNspin Virtual Fest

Live from the Hook – Part I

Thursday, January 21, 7pm

Livestream Performances by:

Nur-D
Wax Lead
Superior Siren

Music Videos from:
Erik Koskinen, Kiss the Tiger, Mae Simpson Music, Radio Drive, Red Eye Ruby, The Trappistines, TWAIN, and more

Register

MNspin Virtual Fest - Live from the Hook – Part II

Thursday, January 28, 7pm

Livestream performances by:
Fanaka Nation
Kiss the Tiger
Venus DeMars

Music Videos from:
ExactlyNo, Mary Bue & The Monarchy, Moss KWA, Waltzing on Waves, and more

Register

The Mill City Times Interview: Verónica Jaralambides , Marketing Consultant, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Article by Becky Fillinger

Verónica JaralambidesWe are fortunate in Minnesota to have so many beautiful state parks – with many options for winter recreation. We talked to Verónica Jaralambides, Marketing Consultant at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, for safety tips and suggestions of state parks to clear your mind and stretch your legs.

Q:  A lot of us will be looking to get outside and hike throughout the winter months for mental and physical fitness. Can you give us general tips for winter hiking? 

A:  Getting outside for a dose of fresh air and vitamin D, however small, is crucial during long winter months. As you point out, it has a major impact on mental health, as many studies have confirmed, and it’s a good way to stay active. Winter has its own charm, with a white blanket covering everything.

It’s no news that it can get very cold in Minnesota. My mantra? There’s no bad weather, just bad clothing. The secret to a warm, happy outing? Layers, layers, layers. Avoid cotton at all costs, as it holds humidity and, if you’re wet, you’ll be cold. Ideally, you can get a hold of wool base layers: Wool helps regulate your body temperature, the same way it does for sheep. There are countless options out there and it’s no longer a challenge to find something good on a budget, with many brands and outdoors outfitters offering seconds or return items at significant discounts. Always carry a backpack so you have somewhere to put your clothes as you shed layers while hiking. When it’s very cold, I like to have hot pouches (available at most gas stations) that you can place in your gloves and socks. Mittens will keep you warmer than gloves, as your fingers will generate more heat if they are not separated. I typically carry my liner gloves in my pocket, in case I get too warm.

In your backpack you should also carry water, snacks, a flashlight, a map, and an emergency blanket. In short, pack to be out for the duration. What you have along and how well you dress are key to keeping you safe. Whatever the mishap, as long as you’re prepared, it won’t become an emergency. Here’s your basic safety gear and to-do list: 

- Whatever season you hike in, always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

- Stay hydrated to stay warm. Bring your own water, as most outdoors water spigots are shut down in the winter.

- Carry more snacks than you think you’ll need. Make sure you have plenty of calories. If you’re going on a longer hike, having an emergency meal and a way to cook it is also a good idea. Some energy bars freeze solid and become jaw breakers. Keep these in your pockets close to your body to keep them warm and also pack some food that will not freeze.

- Even if you don’t start late in the day, carry a flashlight or headlamp, should you find yourself out while dark.

- For the same reason, carry an emergency blanket.

- A map is only useful if you know how to use it and you know where you are at all times. Learn how to read it and make sure you pull it out often and compare with signage you see on trails. A lot of us are reliant on phones to tell us where we are. In the winter, electronics don’t hold a charge as well and you could find yourself without a reliable electronic map. You may also be out of service range, depending on where you are.

- If you have a small battery pack you can get to keep your phone charged, bring it along.

- If you don’t know the ice thickness, don’t venture on frozen water.

- Test your gear close to home, where you can get to safety.

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Take into account slippery conditions, as well, especially after warm days when snow melt becomes ice on the cold ground. I find well-traveled trails to be a bit slick as well, and many times I choose to walk on the side, in the deeper snow. Which brings us to footwear. If you don’t know the conditions of the trails you’ll be hiking, just bring an alternative choice of footwear in the car. For instance, my winter hiking boots are great if I’m hiking on packed or plowed trails, and I like to have my winter boots if the snow is soft or I’m planning on treading through deep snow. Depending on the temperature and trail conditions, your regular hiking boots should work as long as you have warm non-cotton socks. Your footwear should be larger than your regular street shoe size: If your toes don’t have enough room, they will not get proper circulation and you’ll be colder. Ice cleats are also recommended for extra grip. It took me a while to master them as it didn’t come naturally, but the penguin walk helps a lot with balance.

For a lot of us with nine-to-fives, winter also means that the only chance to get out is in the dark. If this makes you uncomfortable, look for lit trails. Full moons on clear nights can be stunning and a good way to illuminate your way. Always have a headlamp along, but be mindful of light pollution—the brighter the lights, the less stars you and other hikers will see. Being able to stargaze before bedtime is another appeal of winter hiking. It can be intimidating to walk in the dark in an unknown area. If you let your eyes adjust to the darkness, you’ll see it’s not as dark. Keep an ear out for night creatures, like wolves howling. The quieter you are, the more you’ll notice.

On the Gateway State Trail

Minneopa State Park Falls

Q:  Road trips are not just for sunny summer days. I visited Frontenac State Park last week and hiked the Sand Point Trail. For winter hiking, what are some favorite trails within 1-2 hours of the Twin Cities? 

A:  First, make sure to check the latest recommendations from Gov. Walz about travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have a few state trails within the Twin Cities Metro Area, including the Gateway, Luce Line, and Minnesota Valley State Trail. Glacial Lakes, Sakatah Singing Hills, and Goodhue Pioneer State Trails are a short drive away, making them perfect destinations for day trips. Make sure to check mndnr.gov/trails to learn about trails conditions, specifically if they are groomed for other winter activities, such as cross-country skiing or snowmobiling. Every state park has so many different things to offer and I love each of them for different reasons. Within a 2-hour drive of the Twin Cities Metro Area, you can visit Charles Lindberg or Mille Lacs Kathio State Parks, or travel south to Rice Lake, Flandrau or Minneopa State Parks. West of the cities you can visit Sibley, Lake Carlos, or Monson Lakes State Parks. Just like for state trails, check online ahead of time to get your winter map and check what trails are available for hiking.

You will need a permit for your visit to Minnesota state parks. Plan ahead and get it online at mndnr.gov! You can get a day permit for $7, or a year-round permit, good for 12 months, for $35. Your permit will give you access to all 75 Minnesota State Parks and recreation areas.

Hiking passport

Pro tip: You can join the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Hiking Club. The Hiking Club will take you on hikes at different state parks around the state looking for passwords. Once you locate the passwords, you’ll get rewards along the way, including patches and free nights of camping.

Q:  How can we stay up to date on state hiking trail news?

A:  Sign up for our Minnesota State Parks and Trails newsletter, the Trailblazer. You’ll receive the monthly newsletter with insider information to discover and enjoy new destinations and activities. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Foraging during the winter with Tim Clemens, Ironwood Foraging

When is it safe to venture onto the ice?  We talked to Lisa Dugan, Boat and Water Safety Outreach Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources about this topic. In our discussion, Lisa discusses early winter safety tips, snowmobile and ATV advice and equipment you’ll want to have with you on the ice.  Remember – ice is never 100% safe.  Thank you Lisa for giving us this timely information!

"Winter Birding 101" with Dudley Edmondson & Monica Bryand

From the Minneapolis Parks Foundation:

Next Generation of Parks Event Series Presented by Minnesota Public Radio News

Join us via Zoom Saturday, February 6, 3:00pm, for Winter Birding 101, featuring Dudley Edmondson, renowned wildlife photographer and author, and Monica Bryand, founder of Urban Bird Collective.

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s Next Generation of Parks Event Series goes all aflutter on Saturday, February 6, at 3:00PM, with Winter Birding 101. This virtual event will feature Dudley Edmondson, renowned wildlife photographer and author of The Black and Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places, from his base in Duluth in conversation with Monica Bryand, a St. Paul-based wildlife photographer and founder of Urban Bird Collective. The event is free, family-friendly, and pre-registration is recommended via Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link.

“This winter bird conversation will help people figure out what that bird is outside their kitchen window,” says Dudley Edmondson. “We'll talk about the most common birds seen in Minnesota backyards when the snow flies. We'll also discuss binoculars for beginners, ways to attract birds to your feeder, and best field trips for winter birdwatching.”

Edmondson first met Monica Bryand when she “invited him to talk to the Urban Bird Collective about what it is like for BIPOC folks to feel safe in nature," she says. “This event will help take away the mystery around birdwatching – one of the most accessible and rewarding activities that get us outdoors and connecting with nature, even in winter.”

In addition to learning about the hardy “snow birds” that stick around through our coldest months – including Northern cardinal, Red bellied woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, and white-breasted nuthatch and a visitor in the winter months the dark-eyed junco – audiences will also get a better understanding of what bird watching is, what amenities are available, and where BIPOC and LGTBQ people can find community in the outdoors. The event is coproduced in partnership with The Great Northern Festival.

“Access to nature is one of the most essential ingredients for good physical and mental health, and Minneapolis and our surrounding communities have a lot of greenspace that many consider free and open to everyone,” says Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. “Yet invisible but perceivable barriers exist for people of color. Dudley Edmondson and Monica Bryand are reframing who has access to parks and public spaces and striving to open access for Black, Indigenous, and people of color to the natural places where birding can become a transformative experience.”

Pre-registration on Eventbrite is recommended…

About Our Speakers

Dudley Edmondson is an author, public speaker, and filmmaker whose passion is nature and getting people of color outdoors. He speaks regularly on his books and his career as a wildlife photographer. His clients include educational institutions, state and federal agencies, and environmental non-profits. His photography career spans nearly three decades and his work has been featured in galleries and in nearly 100 publications around the world, including the state specific flora and fauna field guides by author Stan Tekiela to Bird: The Definitive Visual Guide, by Audubon (DK Publishing) London, UK. To see more of his photographic work, follow him on Instagram.

Monica Bryand is a Latina who is passionate about the environment and crazy for birds. She loves capturing their beauty and sharing them with others. She started her photography business just by sharing her pictures with friends and then was asked to put together cards and framed photos as gifts. She is also the Executive Director of Urban Bird Collective, which was founded in 2018 to support birdwatchers of all different skill levels in leading walks in our own neighborhoods. The Urban Bird Collective works to create safe and welcoming spaces for all communities with a focus  on Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the LGBTQ Communities and more – to come out and explore birding and the outdoors.

Minneapolis Parks Offer Winter Fun for Everyone

Via a January 9 e-newsletter from Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Winter Fun for Everyone - Sign up for Winter Programs!

Virtual Nature Club

Every Monday Jan 11 to Feb 15 from 3-4pm
Go behind the scenes to meet the Park Board’s ambassador animals; play games; and create activities that you can bring outside to your nearby park! For ages 8 to 12

Nature Playtime

Wednesdays Jan 6 to Mar 24 from 9:30-10:30am
Bring your little one outside for imaginative play activities curated by a naturalist. Discover seasonal themes, cultivate curiosity, and encourage exploration!
For kids up to age 8 with an adult, this is an Adult/Child interactive experience.

Family Funday Saturdays Jan 16 to Mar 27 from 1-3pm Explore seasonal themes through self-directed: scavenger hunts, nature walks, and interactive skills development such as bird watching or animal tracking. All ages and experience levels welcome to enjoy the outdoors! Winter Challenge First Thursdays each month from 5-7:30pm Like an outdoor escape room with nature challenges! Build forts, maneuver through obstacles, and learn how to start a winter campfire. Fun for all ages Stargazing Second Thursdays each month from 6:30-8pm Spend an evening with the stars. Join a naturalist on a socially distanced navigation of the night sky. For ages 8 and up

* * Hikes * *  Noticing Nature Third Thursdays each month from 6-7pm Tap into your senses as you explore the park, after dark with a naturalist guide. Reset your mind and body, tune in to the rhythm of the season, and practice noticing nature. For ages 8 and up Northern Life Saturday Jan 16 from 10:30-11:30am Explore outdoors on a socially distanced wildlife walk with a naturalist guide! Fun for all ages Urban Canines Tuesday Feb 16 from 1-2:30pm Discover what life is like for the foxes and coyotes in our city during a socially distanced naturalist guided hike. For ages 18+ Nature Art Colors and Ice Saturday Feb 20 from 10:30-11:30am Create murals of color, paint pictures in the snow, sculpt snow figures and create beautiful mini ice castles outside. Fun for all ages

* * Snowshoeing * *  Birding on Snowshoes Saturday Feb 6 from 10:30am-noon A socially distanced bird watching snowshoe trek along our prairie, woodland, and river trails with a naturalist guide! For ages 8 and up Valentine's Day Snowshoeing Sunday Feb 14 from 6:30-8pm Get your heart pumping on a snowshoe hike along tree-lined river trails and warm up around a winter campfire. For ages 18+ Full Moon Snowshoe Hike Thursday Feb 25 from 6:30-8pm A socially distanced snowshoe hike under the full moon along the Mississippi River, through the woods and across the prairie with a naturalist guide! For ages 8 and up

Pre-registration is REQUIRED for all participants
there are a limited number of spots available for each program

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Adventure Hubs

Located in 14 parks across Minneapolis!

Find FREE fun this winter in the parks

Kids, teens, families, adults – everyone’s welcome!

This winter, explore the parks in fresh ways with free supplies and materials for a range of self-guided activities: snowshoes, trekking poles, fort building, outdoor art, winter tree ID, bird watching or animal tracking.

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Nearby Nature

Free self-guided activities add to outdoor fun!

Look for signs with nature quests, challenges and activities at local parks across Minneapolis! Updates on locations and activities can be found on the Neighborhood Naturalist Facebook page.

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Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park

4900 Mississippi Court, Minneapolis, MN 55430

Phone: 612-370-4844, Email: NorthMississippi@minneapolisparks.org

The Mill City Times Interview: Lian Shen, Director and Barbara Heitkamp, Communications Specialist at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory

Article by Becky Fillinger 

As I walk over the Stone Arch Bridge, I often look over at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory and wonder what goes on there. If you’re curious like me, I have answers! Barbara Heitkamp and Lian Shen give us the history of the laboratory and a description of the world class research being conducted in our neighborhood. 

Q:  When was the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) established? 

Barbara:  The idea of the University hosting a research facility on Hennepin Island was first explored in the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until the arrival of Lorenz Straub, a new Civil Engineering faculty, in 1930 that the idea truly began to take shape. Straub was fascinated with the use of experiments and physical modeling to help inform engineering design, particularly as it pertains to hydraulic structures in rivers (dams, levees, flood control, etc).

Barbara HeitcampOnce Straub saw the position of the St. Anthony Falls adjacent to Hennepin Island, he wanted any lab design to take advantage of the 50-foot drop of water over the falls. His design allowed for a supply channel directly from the Mississippi River that would divert up to 300 cubic ft/second (about 2,200 gallons per second) river water through the building gravitationally.

Straub was able to secure funding from the Works Progress Administration in 1935 and ground was broken to build the lab in 1936. The building was dedicated in November 1938, and Straub was installed as the first director (he took a break for a period for WWII, but served as the director until his death in the early 1960s).

Q:  Tell us about the mission of the SAFL.

Barbara: Our mission is threefold:

• To advance fundamental knowledge in engineering, environmental, geophysical, and biological fluid mechanics by conducting cross-cutting research that integrates disciplines in science and engineering;
• To benefit society by implementing this knowledge to develop physics-based, affordable, and sustainable engineering solutions to major environmental, water, ecosystem, health, and energy-related problems; and
• To disseminate new knowledge to UMN students, the engineering and scientific community, and the public by educational and outreach activities and partnerships with government and industry.      

Let’s put it another way - SAFL is committed to conducting cutting-edge research as it pertains to fluids (e.g. water and air) across different disciplines, but it's not only about forwarding knowledge in the field. It's also about applying new knowledge to help address major concerns and problems as it pertains to the environment, ecosystems, energy and health. We regularly work with different stakeholders across the University, other institutions, and in industry and government to provide applied solutions and approaches to problems. We also recognize the importance of telling these research and application stories to all different types of audiences, be it other researchers, government officials, or the general public. We take seriously the training of the next generation of scientists and instilling in them the value of speaking to their work to various audiences - to better tell the stories of what they do and why it's important.  

Lian ShenQ:  What is it like to lead SAFL?

Lian:  Leading the SAFL is an amazing experience for me every day. I always feel thrilled standing inside the building and looking at the historic pictures on the walls and the magnificent waterfall outside of the windows. Some of the experiment facilities are older than me and some are brand-new equipment generating high-quality experiment data. It is a great honor for me to be part of this world-renowned laboratory.  

Q:  What projects are underway now at SAFL that we would easily understand?

Barbara: SAFL is operating at a reduced capacity due to the pandemic, but we have established processes aligned with the University’s “Sunrise Plan” that allow us to continue research.

Current projects include:

Investigating the impact of boat wakes on lake bottoms and shorelines: As recreational boating continues to grow in Minnesota, so do some of the boat wakes associated with larger recreational watercraft. There is concern about the impacts of those wakes (and propeller wash) on lake bottoms and shorelines. We crowd-funded over $130K this summer and fall to begin a data collection program looking to measure wake energy propagation from different types of watercraft toward lake shorelines. You can read more and see the latest updates here.

Assessing the use of permeable pavement for reducing road salt use: In the winter, we are all familiar with seeing road salt being distributed on the roads. However, the chloride in road salt can eventually infiltrate embankments and pollute groundwater and nearby waterways. One alternative method to salting being explored and tested is using permeable pavement where incoming precipitation infiltrates into the ground versus pooling and freezing on the road. A final project report just came out – you can read a summary of findings here.

New grant looking to develop novel imaging techniques to better understand wind/atmospheric flow:  One of our faculties was recently awarded a $1+ million National Science Foundation grant to develop some new imaging techniques to better understand flows in the atmosphere – looking at phenomena such as snow settling (think better snow accumulation forecasts!), pollen dispersal, and flows around wind turbines (to help reduce inefficiencies and boost power production). Read more about it here.

A view of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory from the Stone Arch Bridge. Photo: Pat O'Leary

Q:  Who are the researchers at SAFL - U undergrads, U grad students, individuals from other institutions? 

Barbara: Our researchers include faculty and their graduate student research groups from various departments across the University (most within the College of Science and Engineering) as well as our own dedicated applied research team. That team provides assistance with faculty projects as well taking on their own applied research projects. We have approximately 18 affiliated faculty, around 40 graduate students (plus an additional 10 or so post-doctoral researchers) and 15 applied researchers.

We unfortunately don’t host many undergraduates in the building, although some faculty may hire an undergraduate helper here and there. We also usually hire some undergraduates to help in our shop (we have our own full machine and fabrication shop on site) throughout the year and in the summer, usually have a few open paid internships for undergrads as well.

We routinely host visiting researchers, be they from other academic institutions or from industry. SAFL has a unique blend of experimental facilities and expertise that make it attractive for lots of other researchers and one of my favorite inside jokes is that we are more well known internationally among academic circles then we are in downtown Minneapolis!

The Outdoor StreamLab is an experimental channel (viewable from adjacent Water Power Park) used for research involving the interactions of flow, sediment and vegetation. Photo: SAFL

Q:  How does SAFL make a difference? 

Barbara: SAFL recently celebrated its 82 year anniversary, so if there is one trait that truly makes SAFL unique, is that it has the ability to grow and evolve to meet the current needs of society. While other academic institutions have pieces of what SAFL has in terms of facilities and resources, our facilities plus our experienced staff and legacy of research is something that really makes SAFL shine.

Because we have the ability to use experiments, physical models, field campaigns and numerical modeling to address research questions, we really can approach issues from a variety of angles, which helps boost confidence in the end research ‘product’ so to speak. The University of Minnesota hallmark is “Driven to Discover” and that is reflected in making sure we do research that looks to help improve our lives, including living more sustainability and better managing our natural resources.

SAFL manages and operates a full-scale research wind turbine located near Rosemount, MN. Photo: Pat O'Leary

Our research focus has broadened significantly since the early years of the laboratory, and that’s because we shift to address what people are concerned about and the environmental issues of the day. We have projects looking to improve water quality in both urban and rural areas, we look at mitigating flooding issues in southern Minnesota by better understanding the impacts of climate change on the watershed and the existing geology and land practices, we built our own wind energy field research station to better advance the technology and improve accessibility to what has emerged as one of the most competitive renewable energy sources, and as referenced above with the boat wake work and hydropower work.

Q:  What excites you most about where SAFL is headed/going?

Lian:  It is exciting to work with our talented and dedicated faculty, researchers, students and staff to tackle so many scientific and engineering problems on the environment, renewable energy and human health.  There are many things that excite me, such as seeing new students in their orientations, students graduating, and new faculty and staff members joining the lab. Before the pandemic, it always gave me a nice surprise when I saw new experiments started in the Lab. Currently because of COVID-19, the Lab is operating with limited resumption of research activities. Research still goes on in the Lab under the state and university guidance with great care given to the health and safety of researchers. Some of our faculty and students are performing research on COVID-19 directly, and have obtained groundbreaking results on the mechanism of disease indoor airborne transmission. I very much look forward to the day when the Lab is fully reopened after the pandemic is over. By that time, SAFL will enter a new era for research and education.

SAFL's largest 'flume' or channel can use up to 300 cfs (cubic feet per second) of Mississippi River water for research projects.

Q:  In non-pandemic times, do you offer tours?

Barbara:  We do! We host one general public tour each month, usually the third Wednesday or Thursday of the month. People can sign up using the University of Minnesota events calendar.

Q:  How may we stay current on SAFL news?

Barbara: You can stay current by visit the news section of our SAFL website or through our social media on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or our YouTube Channel.

Small Business Spotlight: Boludo

Article by Becky Fillinger

Chef Facundo De FraiaWhere can you get mouthwatering pizza and empanadas, in the same restaurant? Check out Boludo – coming soon to the Mill District. We talked to Chef Facundo De Fraia about plans for his second location, his Argentinian childhood memories, and the secret to his buttery and flaky doughs.

Q:  Welcome to East Town! What should we look for in your second Boludo location, opening soon at 530 S 4th Street?

A:  Boludo Downtown will bring the same menu options as our Nicollet location. The Downtown location has more space for social distancing and for people to be indoors while waiting for their orders. With the opening of the new location, we will be launching our new website www.boludo.com (coming soon), which will make online ordering much easier.

Q:  Facundo, we love to tell the immigration stories of our local entrepreneurs. You are originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Please tell us about your journey to Minneapolis.

A:  In 2017 I came to Minnesota from San Diego, where I had an Argentinian restaurant called Che Calavera, to help my childhood friend Daniel Del Prado in the opening of his restaurant, Martina. After showcasing the empanadas in his menu, I opened Boludo Nicollet. It’s been an amazing 3-year ride to be here in Minneapolis and share my food with these wonderful people.

I became I permanent resident in March 2004 and am filing for U.S. citizenship this year. I didn’t apply for citizenship before because I would have had to give up my Argentinian citizenship to become a U.S. citizen. Two years ago, that law changed and now you can have dual citizenship. 

Q:  The Star Tribune called you "the dough whisperer." What is the secret to your buttery and flaky empanada crusts?

A:  The most important ingredient is love. Working with dough requires a lot of attention, good energy and presence. Experience is also very important. You need to understand how to handle the dough and know whether it needs more or less water. As for water, the key is ice cold water. And the last thing is quality ingredients such as unbleached flour.

Q:  What is your earliest food memory?

A:  My earliest memory of food is helping my grandma – my abuela - cook in her house in Buenos Aires. I must’ve been six years old. It’s such a beautiful memory. She used to sing tango and had a beautiful voice. The cooking together, her singing, the sun coming in from the window...it’s one of my favorite memories. The energy and love that she put into her cooking was absolutely contagious. That’s how I fell in love with cooking.

Facundo cooking with his grandmother

Q:  For customers new to Boludo, what do you recommend on their first visit?

A:  For your first visit and every visit after that, please come in with positive energy. We don’t allow bad energy at Boludo! Then, I would recommend trying one pizza and one empanada. 

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Please follow our Instagram account. All our latest news is there. Come visit us Tuesday through Sunday 11am to 9pm. Gracias totales!

2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

The Mill City Times Interview: Dianne Walsh and Peter Zenner, Co-Chairs of the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts

Article by Becky Fillinger

What do condo associations do? Well, they collect monthly fees, sponsor events for residents and manage the ongoing maintenance of their buildings. Would you believe that a local one also puts together art exhibitions and purchases permanent art collections? Meet Peter Zenner and Dianne Walsh, Co-Chairs of the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts. Their story is innovative, inspiring and a masterclass for other associations to emulate.

Dianne WalshQ:  What is the history of the Art @ The Bridgewater rotating art program?

Dianne: In 2014, a small group of Bridgewater residents started exploring the possibilities of rotating art throughout the building. We started by touring art programs at other condo buildings. Then in 2015, we officially formed the Bridgewater Neighbors and Friends of the Arts and hired Alison Price as the curator of our new Art @ The Bridgewater program. Alison is an artist at Northrup King Building and has an extensive network with the artist community in the Twin Cities.

Peter ZennerQ:  Please tell us about the program’s development.

Peter:  Our first exhibit was unveiled in July 2016, and since that time we have shown a total of 15 exhibitions spotlighting over 160 Twin Cities’ artists. Since the beginning, we have sold $217,000 of art benefiting over 75 artists. The program is completely self-sustainable and is at no cost to the HOA. Our expenses are paid through a 30% commission on all sales as well as donations and sponsorships. The Art @ The Bridgewater program has been very successful.

Q:  How has the Bridgewater Lofts community responded?

Dianne:  The Bridgewater Lofts community loves the program. We did a survey last year and 97% of respondents were in favor of the rotating art program and were willing to financially support the program by purchasing art and making donations. You hear from the community when the walls go bare between exhibits. Everyone looks forward to the next exhibit with anticipation!

Q:  You’ve now started a Bridgewater Art Acquisition program. Please tell us about it.

Dianne:  Because of the success of the rotating art program as described by Peter, in 2017 the Board determined that having art in the building was important to the Bridgewater and asked the Art Committee to start a permanent collection.

In 2018, the Art Acquisition Committee began the selection process. It prepared a list of artists in three categories - ceramics, painting and sculpture. At a community forum, the homeowners voted on their favorite artists after seeing multiple samples of their work. The art committee then chose works by the five selected artists and presented the artists and their pieces at a reception in 2019. Thus the Bridgewater Collection was formed! The collection is on display in the lobby alongside the rotating collection.

The Board then asked for additions to the collection in 2020, specifically selected for the recently remodeled Community Room. Because of the pandemic and the inability to meet as a community, the Committee selected the artists and pieces, but also because of the importance of homeowner input into the collection, the Art Community conducted a Zoom presentation to the community seeking approval. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the Art Committee then submitted to the Board for approval which was granted. The Committee is now in the process of acquiring the selected works.

Past artists represented in the collection are Warren MacKenzie, Maren Kloppman, Leila Denecke, Michael Schmidt and Peter Vanni. New artists include Lisa Nankivil, Ellie Kingsbury, Randy Johnston, Jan McKeachie Johnston, Jodi Reeb, Bob Carls, Brendan Kramp and Denise Tennen. Bridgewater Lofts homeowners are proud of their collection. Each piece is separately marked as owned by the residents.

Sample pieces that have been displayed at the Bridgewater:

White Water Lily Beauty by Vicki Underland-Rosow

A Recipe for Poems by Wendy Shragg

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Wet Evening on the Riverfront by Coreen Johnson

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Untitled Land 19 by Kimberly Tschida Petters

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Slice by Shannon Joy Potter

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2 by 2 Olive & Black, Wipe off Citron, Remnants x1 by Beth Dorsey

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Q:  What’s on the horizon? Are you open to mentor other organizations or homeowner groups on art exhibitions or acquisitions?

Dianne:  With COVID-19, 2020 was a difficult year. Pre-COVID-19, we had receptions for each opening, serving wine and appetizers and introducing the artists to the Bridgewater community. We hope to return to this practice later in 2021. In 2020, those receptions have been conducted via the Zoom platform with artist presentations. We had also planned outreach to other buildings in 2020, but placed those plans on hold. We would be open to collaboration with other HOA groups.

Q:  When is the next opening exhibition? How may we follow your program? 

Peter:  The next Art @ the Bridgewater exhibit will open on January 29, 2021, again by Zoom, and we will have a virtual art opening where residents and other Mill District neighbors can see the artwork and ask the artists questions. For more information or to participate, please email bnfacommittee@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.

Doug Verdier's Third Avenue Bridge Photos from January 6-7, 2021

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.

Since the Third Avenue Bridge was closed to all traffic, bikes and pedestrians on Monday, construction activity on the bridge has increased significantly. Wednesday morning saw a tower of red steel framework being erected on the bridge, which was fascinating to watch.

In the two photos below, a section of the structure is being lifted by crane into place atop the growing tower:

Workers guiding the new section into place before attaching it to the growing tower.

As of Thursday, January 7, the horizontal arm of the construction crane was attached.

Minneapolis Ice Rink Updates from MPRB

Via a January 5 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Rinks are opening across the city!

Locations:

At the time of this notice, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has opened ice rinks for skating and hockey at the following locations: 

• Bohanon Park - hockey and skating
• Hiawatha School Park - skating
• Lake Hiawatha - skating 
• Lake of the Isles - hockey and skating
• Longfellow Park - skating 
• Lyndale Farmstead Park - skating
• McRae Park - hockey
• North Commons Park - hockey and skating
• Pearl Park - skating
• Sibley Field Park - skating

MPRB staff continue to build rinks at other locations - including broomball rinks. A total of 39 rinks are slated to open: slightly fewer than in previous years, due to impacts from COVID-19.

• Track the ongoing status of rinks with the Ice Rink Daily Status Map.
• Check the Ice Rink Flyer to find all outdoor rink locations and addresses
• Get more details on the MPRB website.

COVID-19 Guidelines:

Please remember to keep at least 6 feet between yourself and other skaters. The MPRB also recommends that skaters wear a face mask or face covering. Additionally, Executive Order 20-103 requires that all non-organized hockey games be limited to members of the same household.

Update: Warming houses at ice rinks:

Warming houses are currently closed by Executive Order. Once open, they will be available at the locations below. Free loaner skates are not available this year.

• Bohanon Park 
• Lake of the Isles 
• Lake Hiawatha
• Longfellow Park  
• Logan Park
• Lynnhurst Park
• North Commons Park
• Windom Park

Sports leagues:

Registration is open for youth and adult outdoor hockey leagues and adult outdoor broomball leagues; use the links below to browse options and register.

Youth Hockey Registration

Adult Broomball and Hockey Registration 

The Mill City Times Interview: Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director, MSP Film Society

Article by Becky Fillinger

We have a cultural cornerstone within a stone’s throw of the Mill District – the MSP Film Society. We talked to Executive Director, Susan Smoluchowski, about this year's 40th anniversary of the International Film Festival, the organization’s successful pivot during COVID-19, and the many reasons we should celebrate and support their enduring status as an exhibitor of the best independent cinema.

Susan Smoluchowski

Q:  Please tell us about the origins of the MSP Film Society.  

A:  The MSP Film Society was established in 1962 as the U Film Society, by the legendary Al Milgrom, as one of the first art houses in the country to present independent and international film. Today, we are widely recognized as the foremost exhibitor of local, national, and international independent cinema in the region, offering a wide array of the best of such films 365 days a year. And we continue to do so this year through our virtual cinema programs, which can be found at MSPfilm.org

1981 Minneapolis Film Festival program coverOur primary identity is as the organization producing the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, with origins going back to 1981 when a group of local cinema lovers launched the Minneapolis Film Festival.

Since the mid-eighties, when it became known as the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF), the festival has operated under the umbrella of the MSP Film Society. Moving into its 40th year in 2021, MSPIFF is one of the longest running film festivals in the country, our community’s collective annual rite of spring, a treasured gathering for film lovers, filmmakers and the growing international communities throughout the state, and an enduring and increasingly important cultural establishment. People often tell us that they plan their year around our festival!

Q:  When did you get a home at SE Main Street in Minneapolis?

A:  We had been looking for a new location off the campus of the U of MN for a while, and had an opportunity to bring MSPIFF to the St. Anthony Main Theatre for a test run in 2008. The location proved to be a great draw, creating more prominence and a heightened profile for our organization at a time when the riverfront was beginning to bustle again with new residents and businesses, providing access to and opening MSPIFF up to brand new audiences. 

The next year, we settled down by the river permanently, a move that launched an audience expansion period for our organization that has yet to dwindle. Our membership and donor base grew from 200 in 2010 to 3000 in 2019, and our annual attendance grew by 150% during that same period, to an approximate 85,000 in 2019.

We have significantly expanded our film programs over the past 10 years as well, with year-round offerings of the best in international and independent films, as well as several new film series, including our annual Cine Latino festival. In fact, we have grown so much that we are now exhibiting films out of a number of venues besides our hub at St. Anthony Main, including the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis, the Landmark Theater in St. Paul, and during MSPIFF in Rochester, too.

Q:  How has MSP Film Society adapted to business as usual in times of COVID-19? 

A:  COVID-19 may have put a damper on the growth, but not for long (says she says she…). 

Our theme for the 2020 MSPIFF, or MSPIFF39, selected in late 2019, was the prescient ADJUST YOUR VIEW. On March 13, 2020, just one month before the festival’s anticipated launch and a few days after the lineup was announced to the press, Governor Walz issued an executive order in response to COVID-19 limiting public gatherings and urging us all to stay at home for the next few weeks. Out of concern for the safety and well-being of our staff and audiences, we cancelled all of our live theatrical programming and took a moment to regroup. In a quick pivot - and incredible burst of creativity and will on the part of our small and dedicated core staff - we reimagined the festival in just a few weeks as MSPIFF39 Redefined – A Virtual Film Festival. We offered 50 new feature length films and as many shorts representing 40 countries, on a newly developed virtual platform, and managed to engage a viewership for the films and attendant filmmaker conversations topping 20,000. 

Since then and throughout 2020, we continued presenting the best in new international independent cinema, and films of relevance to our community and to the times, including our newest series We The People: Required Watching, or in October Cine Latino en Casa, on our virtual platform at mspfilm.org.

As you will imagine, this shift has come with many challenges. But we were determined to not disappear from view, keep our amazing staff gainfully employed, do our best to continue to bring films from around the globe to our audiences especially during this period of isolation for us all, and support the work of talented filmmakers in a moment of upheaval for artists everywhere.

This said, the virtual world that we now inhabit is a competitive one, and we have deliberately kept our virtual cinema prices low for maximum access. In fact, we offer many of our film programs free of charge or pay-what-you-can. And we are proud to say that film viewership alone has exceeded 30,000. In addition, all of our filmmaker conversations, which have drawn an astonishing participation of 50,000+ since April, are free of charge.

Although we are elated to have found a way to maintain a connection with our audiences and members, the financial repercussions for our organization have been significant. In 2020, earned revenues, or ticket sales, are down by more than 85% compared to 2019. 

So, what has allowed us to stay above water and given us the impetus and capacity to continue offering our unique content in these confounding times? The fact that, along with our audiences and members, our individual donors, corporate sponsors and institutional funders have continued to believe and invest in our organization, supporting us and pivoting with us this year in impressive numbers. Our motto - We do it for you. We can’t do it without you! - has a particular resonance in this year of all years.

Q:  You're about to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MSP International Film Festival. Congratulations!  Any memorable milestones you'd like to share? 

A:  The annual MSP International Film Festival is a singular and significant cultural event, introducing films and filmmakers from across the globe, as well as local filmmakers, to Minnesota audiences. Each year our festival presents some 250 new documentary and narrative feature length and short films representing more than 100 cultures and countries, films that are otherwise simply not available to audiences in the region.

Over its 40 years, visiting guests have included directors, actors and film artists of note such as Louis Malle, Jean-Luc Goddard, Werner Herzog, Terry Gilliam, Deepa Mehta, Agnieczka Holland, Tippi Hedren, Steve James, the Coen Brothers, and so many others. Most often, however, our guests are emerging filmmakers, whose films we discover at festivals around the world, who are gathering critical acclaim and awards, and who are on a path to making names for themselves. In recent years we have presented films by and hosted promising new filmmakers from countries with longstanding film industries like Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, India, Iran, England, The Czech Republic, Poland, China, Japan and Germany, but also and importantly from countries with lesser-known or burgeoning industries including Iceland, Finland, Cuba, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Algeria, Turkey, The Balkans, Greece, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Australia and Chile, to name a few.

This spring, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the MSP International Film Festival. How could we not? It will simply look a little different from the event that we had anticipated a short year ago. Holding no illusions that we can safely return to the St. Anthony Main Theatre complex this spring, we have decided to move forward with plans for a virtual/hybrid MSPIFF40. Of course, we hear from many of our members and patrons that they cannot wait to see our films again in a darkened theater in the company of friends and strangers. On the other hand, we hear from many of the same that they have sought out inspiration, and even solace, from our virtual film offerings. And in this year of seclusion, when those of us who so love to travel the world cannot, we are proud to offer the next best thing: a little virtual global travel from the comfort of your living room. 

MSPIFF40, slated for May 13-25, 2021, will be hosted primarily on our virtual platform at mspfilm.org, but we are also planning some in-person outdoor events, if COVID-19 restrictions allow. Since the summer, and as we always do, we have been culling the offerings at national and international film festivals - many of which have also gone virtual this year - to find the best new films to bring to our audiences. And we have received nearly 1000 film submissions, each of which our selection committee will view. We anticipate an exciting line-up of some 100 new documentary and narrative films, and 100 shorts, representing as many cultures and countries, and scores of virtual conversations with filmmakers from around the globe. 

Q:  How does the Board of Directors interact or assist with your mission? 

A:  All members of our Board of Directors (currently 16) play key roles in strategic planning and financial oversight, and as ambassadors, advisors, advocates, promoters of our mission and vision, and as sponsors of our programs. Board terms are three years, renewable once. All of our past Board members remain invested in our organization in many ways, joining our Industry Advisory Council of 25 individuals who live around the world and work in the global film industry, whose role is to connect us with and advocate on our behalf within that industry. Others serve on our active Cine Global Advisory Group, now counting 100+ Minnesota residents representing some 50 countries and cultures, who are academics, transplants working for multinational companies, community leaders, activists, diplomats and others with an interest in and knowledge of international film.

Q:  Tell us more about the Filmmaker Conversations.

A:  Our Filmmaker Conversations happen live on Zoom. They are free to anyone and registration links can be found on the page for each film/event. Here is a link to an upcoming conversation for the film First Daughter and the Black Snake, which is part of The Great Northern festival.

These conversations are also simulcast live on Facebook, which anyone who follows us can access on their own feed, or find by going to our page. Some of our ongoing programs and special screening series have their own pages on MSPfilm.org and anyone can register to join the zoom conversations: We the People: Required Watching, The Great Northern: Climate Action Films.

Also, past conversations are archived and available for viewing anytime on MSP Film Society's Facebook page  and our YouTube channel.

Q:  Are there volunteer opportunities now?

A:  Yes, especially as we move deeper into planning and presenting the 40th anniversary of MSPIFF. We have always relied on our enthusiastic volunteers to help us present MSPIFF, in a variety of capacities from marketing to promotions to operations to programming assistance, and this year will be no different. Anyone who is interested in joining us should reach out to info@mspfilm.org.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We keep our website up to date and please do follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter! We also have a weekly eNewsletter – sign up on our website to follow our news.

The Third Avenue Bridge and the Stories It Holds

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

On January 4th 2021, the Third Avenue Bridge has closed for repairs for just the second time in its history. Since its opening in June of 1918, Minneapolis has made it a point to give the bridge attention when it desperately needs it. 103 years later, and this still rings true. While this historic bridge will be closed for nearly two years, the repairs and enhancements will allow us to enjoy one of Minneapolis’ riverfront landmarks for the next fifty years.

1917 photo of the bridge under construction.

Photo of the newly completed bridge from 1918.

In a city where bridges are vital for commerce and leisure, it was very important for Minneapolis to adapt to transportation advancements, such as the introduction of automobiles and streetcars. The Lower Bridge, or Old Tenth Avenue Bridge, was not built to handle the weight of cars and large trucks, so plans were put in place to construct a new bridge that will connect the central riverfront. With Central Avenue turning into a business and cultural hub, the city planned to connect Central Avenue on the east side of the Mississippi River to Third Avenue on the west side.

Frederick Cappelen, the City Engineer for Minneapolis who also designed the Prospect Park Water Tower, was tasked with the project. This was a challenge not only because Central Avenue and Third Avenue do not align with each other, but also the rock formation that makes up St. Anthony Falls was weakened from a previous tunneling venture gone bad forty-five years prior. This lead Cappelen to design the bridge in a reverse s-curve shape, which made it the longest of its kind in the world, a title it still holds. Other features of Cappelen’s bridge that give it its iconic look are the seven Melan arches with open spandrels and Classical Revival ornamentation on the pilasters and piers. When the project was completed in June of 1918, it cost $862,254, or roughly $14.86M after inflation. Originally, the bridge was known as the St. Anthony Falls Bridge, but over the years, that name fell out of favor.

1940

1965

In 1939, ornamental metal and concrete railings were added, but the first major renovation came in the late 1970s. The bridge was in very rough shape and all signs pointed to demolition. Officials were adamant about keeping the bridge, and in order to achieve that, everything above the arches was replaced. The newly improved Third Avenue Bridge opened in November of 1980, and four years later, Prince included an homage to the bridge when filming his movie Purple Rain.

The easier and cheaper thing to have done in 1978 would have been to demolish the old bridge and build a more modern version. Thankfully, city officials thought it would be best to keep the historical aspects of our riverfront as it transitioned from heavy industry to some of the best parkland in the world. The landmarks of our riverfront - the Stone Arch Bridge, Pillsbury A-Mill and Mill City Museum - aren’t just cool to look at, they contribute to our identity, our story, no matter how big or small.

In fact, eighty-eight years ago to the day, January 4th, 1933, the Third Avenue Bridge was a getaway route for quite a few robbers. The headline of the Wednesday issue of the Minneapolis Star read “Rob Mail of $100,000 Cash. Three Forces of Detectives Hunt Bandits.” Eight gunmen smoothly stole three registered mail pouches from the Milwaukee Depot, jumped into two cars, and made their way across the Third Avenue Bridge. Reports say they then took a right turn onto University Avenue and sped off towards Saint Paul, a known safe haven for gangsters during this era. The Minneapolis Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Milwaukee Railroad Special Police were unable to track down the bandits and the estimated $175,000 they stole, which is over $3.5M after inflation. Quite the haul. It’s little stories like this one that are saved from being lost to time with the preservation of our own historical landmarks.

Rendering of the current project from MnDOT

Forty years after the first shut down and the Third Avenue Bridge has closed once again for repairs and restoration. The work being done isn’t just mending what needs to be fixed. Lighting on the bridge deck will be improved, the railings, pilasters, and spandrels will receive a historic facelift, and the sidewalks will expand into thirteen-foot multi-use paths. If everything goes to plan, this smoother, safer, historic bridge will reopen to the public in summer of 2023 - ready for more stories to be made and remembered.

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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.

Unintended Consequences by Ric Rosow

Submitted by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

This photograph was taken in October when the Army Corp of Engineers lowered the Mississippi River. The theory is, with no scientific evidence to say otherwise, that the loss of water pressure in the riverbed allowed mountains to rise west and south of the city. It was not widely noticed since so many of us were self quarantining as a result of COVID-19. Those who did not quarantine thought they were hallucinating and were afraid to tell others. I have heard a report that Buck Hill grew higher and a pond lost all its water. Alas, it was short lived when the Corp raised the level of the river.

You can see more of my work at: www.traveltheglobephotography.com.

Small Business Spotlight: The Greenery Minneapolis Plant Shop & Mercantile

Article by Becky Fillinger

Meet Melissa (Mel) Anderson, owner of The Greenery Minneapolis Plant Shop & Mercantile, a stellar new small business addition to the Mill District at 1029 Washington Avenue S. Visit Mel’s shop to find items to create a home sanctuary for the cold winter season ahead of us. 

Melissa AndersonQ:  What about the Mill District appealed to you for a new business location? 

A:  I've always loved downtown. The beauty of the Mill District is that although you still get the hustle and bustle of downtown, it's actually quite peaceful here. Honestly, it was by sheer serendipity that I got this space! My lease was nearing its end at Midtown Global Market and I saw an ad while weighing my options. I wasn't sure if it would even be possible but I cast my hook and the management at Green Rock bit. Turns out this was everything I'd imagined and more. The neighborhood is clearly growing and everyone has given me such a warm welcome - plus the windows in this space are hard to beat for all the plants.

Q:  You’re a Native entrepreneur. Is it important to you as an indigenous small business owner to incorporate under-represented cultural perspectives into your business?

A:  Indeed. Thank you for asking this question. I myself am both Lac Courte Oreilles and White Earth Ojibwe. I understand that I've been given the opportunity to set an example, change the narrative, and shift the perspective on what a modern female Native entrepreneur looks like. As the space progresses and while the primary focus will still be a plant shop, I wanted to provide the same opportunity for other makers to have a platform to showcase their work since I have more than enough space in what will become the Mercantile piece of the store. Collectively, Natives are multifaceted and have a wide variety of interests outside of stereotypes and I want the shop to be reflective of that. Not only will there be works by other Native entrepreneurs, but it will be open to BIPOC and LGBTQIA makers as well.

Q:  We’re looking forward to seeing the build out of the Mercantile! What merchandise or goods are offered at The Greenery Minneapolis Plant Shop & Mercantile?

A:  We will always have an assortment of houseplants, pots, soils and plant care products. As our build out progresses, our vendors will offer a wide variety of goods, from macramé pieces, bath and body products, teas, tinctures and art. It will be an ever-changing piece of the store as we have rotating vendors. You'll have to come in and see what's new each time. Each vendor handcrafts their products and no two pieces will be alike. By early spring we will be offering cut flowers and vases to make your own bouquets. It's going to be a labor of love.

Q:  Making our homes more of a sanctuary is more important than ever. Do you believe that plants can help?

A:  Yes! They are the epitome of bringing the outdoors in and caring for something, through nurturing and watching it grow. It's a never-ending learning process to find the plant that works for you, and you'll find that people bond over plants and nearly everyone who has a plant, has a plant story. Whether it's been gifted, they still have it from a beloved family member's service from years ago, or they propagated it themselves. Plants do bring a sense of wellbeing, can bring a feeling of pride, and they will always be in style. Plants defy trends.

Q:  Will you have any Grand Opening specials? 

A:  We will! Since the pandemic has turned everything upside down, we're hoping things open up enough to allow us to have our Grand Opening this spring. Stay tuned!

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Instagram, Instagram, Instagram! @thegreenerympls, also Facebook.

Welcome 2021!

Wishing our neighbors all the best in 2021. May we each pass a cup of kindness.

Video by Yam Haus.