The Mill City Times Interview: Julie Steller, Owner/Creative Director of Steller Handcrafted Goods

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Looking for unique, locally handcrafted gifts?  Want to hear of a business that is busy during the pandemic? We talked to Julie Steller about keeping her staff employed during the pandemic and her new venture with local nonprofits.   

Q:  Tell us about Steller Handcrafted Goods.

A:  Steller Handcrafted Goods is a small, local company based in NE Minneapolis. We are known for our repurposing of quality wool and cashmere sweaters, Swedish Braid jewelry & Nordic designs as well as our impeccable workmanship. Our products are sold in our shop, on our website and in other stores around the country. I am a late bloomer in the business world - even though I have been a maker my whole life I did not start Steller Goods until my mid 50's!

Julie Steller

Q:  You’re an upcycler of textiles. Do you have tips for others who might like to begin a creative upcycling journey?

A:  It is great fun to hunt for lovely textiles and think about how one could give them a new life of usefulness. I fell in love with a pair of repurposed wool sweater mittens, and that started me on my journey. Once you begin repurposing, you begin to see all kinds of opportunities. I even repurposed a huge piece of the Metrodome roof!

The plan for the Metrodome roof panel was to use it for durable mitten palms, but it was so slippery (Teflon-coated fiberglass!). We ended up making patches to put on mittens made in Minnesota Twins, Vikings and U of M Gopher colors (the three teams who played in the Dome). We made key fobs, too. It was a lot of fun. We still have some Twins and Gopher mittens and key fobs available.

Steller Nordic mitten

Q:  When did you open your studio? Anything new with your product line?

A: I worked out of my home for many years, moving from kitchen table to extra bedroom to the entire basement! In November of 2019 we moved into our studio at the Waterbury Building in NE Minneapolis. We were so excited to be a part of the Arts District and have a small storefront in the space we share with Janel Schelzel and Salted Artist. Unfortunately, when COVID-19 hit our building was shut down and I was back to my house. We also had to stop production as we saw all of the stores that carry our products close and all our fall events get cancelled. This was a heartbreaking time, especially when I had to tell all of my seamstresses that they were furloughed. 

Dog collarsI must say that what came next was quite a whirlwind: suddenly there was a need for face masks - LOTS of face masks. Because we are a small business we were able to pivot, and soon were making 100's of cotton face masks! My team was amazing, wholeheartedly throwing all their energy into meeting the need. This enabled me to hire my whole team back, plus three more people! Because no stores were open, we set up a self-serve Front Porch Shop at my house as well as on the website. It was a bit of a whiplash experience, from despair to frenetic production! 

Another amazing development is that we have been asked to partner with two local nonprofits - Support The Cities and Involve MN - to make neck gaiters for people facing homelessness this winter. Last year they bought them off Amazon, but decided to see if a local business could make them for less – turns out we can make them for half the cost! If I hadn't had the experience of scaling up to make 1000's of face masks I think I would have said "no" to this need, but because of all that has transpired we said "yes" and have already begun sewing the 8,000 neck gaiters they are raising funds for. As face masks are now more available, that work has slowed; so this is a huge blessing for my team (17 women and one man!) to provide work for the next few months. 

Some of the team have pivoted back to the products we are known for: mittens, elf hats, purses and cashmere wrist warmers. Our shop is open three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 10a-3p) and by appointment, for safely distanced shopping. We are rebooting our website and all new product goes up the end of this week, just in time for this crazy cold snap!

Cute elf hat!

Q:  Do customers make suggestions for new products? BTW, I would love a lanyard for my keys made of the Swedish braid.  

A:  We love doing special orders for folks using sweaters that are dear to them but no longer wearable. This memorabilia work is often very moving, taking a sweater that belonged to a loved family member and creating mittens, hats or purses that will be a reminder of that person. We do this work year-round, with November 15 the deadline for being finished by Christmas.

We also love to hear ideas for new products (especially if they involve Swedish braid!). Our Face Mask Lanyards idea came from one of our customers, and now we can't live without them!

Q:  How can we follow your news?

A:  Website: www.stellergoods.com, Instagram and Facebook.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

The Mill City Times Interview: Audrey Liquard, Zero Waste Advocate

Article by Becky Fillinger

Audrey Liquard is an Assistant County Attorney in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. When she’s not making our community safer, she’s also a zero waste lifestyle proponent. In our interview, she teaches us more about this philosophy.

Audrey purchases items in bulk, using her own containers, as a means of cutting down on packaging waste.

Q:  How did you become interested in a zero waste lifestyle?

 A:  I’ve always been an advocate for the planet and all its beings. I love the outdoors and all the gifts it gives us. The average American creates 4.5 pounds of trash PER DAY! Those numbers are not sustainable for our beautiful planet, its future, or generations to come. We can work to reduce that number by making small but meaningful changes. 

I went to an environmental high school in Apple Valley, called the School of Environmental Studies at the Minnesota Zoo and learned a lot about trash: how we make it, where it goes, and how to reduce it. Reducing waste forces us to examine our choices, look closely at how things are produced, and ask questions of producers. We are in a powerful position as consumers. When we reduce our waste, our lives become simpler, and we are more in touch with our planet and our health. We realize all the connectedness. There are many resources today to show us how to reduce waste. Two of my favorites are Bea Johnson and Lauren Singer. Check them out! 

Q:  What does zero waste lifestyle mean to you?

A:  To me, the zero waste lifestyle is a process that takes time to develop. Not everyone has to be “zero waste,” (I’m not), but everyone can be “less waste.” We can do that by looking at the actual trash we make and asking ourselves: Is there another place for this other than the trash? What sustainable option could I have used instead of this disposable item? Did I really need this? The ZWL makes us more aware of our daily choices and that awareness will show us remarkable things! Instead of mindlessly throwing things away, we realize that there is no “away,” and we see the world, and our choices, differently. 

Q:  How can our readers get started on a zero waste lifestyle?

A:  Like I said above, start to examine your own trash and ask yourselves those questions. Most trash is created in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Small, simple changes make a big impact. Does your trash contain plastic produce bags? Try investing in reusable mesh bags instead. Does your trash contain packaging from food such as a pre-packaged bag of dried beans, or meat? Try bringing your own containers to the grocery store and filling them up in the bulk section. (You can weigh your own containers so that you don’t pay for the weight of them!) Co-ops are especially friendly towards this style of shopping. Is your recycling overflowing with paper grocery bags? Try bringing canvas bags. Tissue paper? I love using my cloth bandanas, they are much softer on the nose. Menstrual products? Try a Diva Cup and cloth pads. It depends how much waste you are hoping to reduce, but there truly is an alternative for everything we throw away! Get creative, and if you can’t think of it, just ask!

Note:  You can also see Audrey’s tips on the MCN6 television show, Milling About with Brianna Rose, where she will share monthly tips on reducing unnecessary waste. Look for Audrey in Episode 4, set to air December 17.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Southern Theater Announces A440 Fest – A Music Video Festival Starting October 20

A440 Fest – A Music Video Festival Starting October 20

Support music and enjoy six weeks of live concerts from The Southern Theater. A440 Fest is a music video festival to benefit The 30 Days Foundation and to directly support local and regional bands and artists. This is not live streaming - these are low capacity shows with professional audio/video recording and post-production.

Each band will release a concert video to the public that can be viewed on YouTube and used by the band for promotion.

Pay a 'Virtual Cover Charge,' buy tickets to the show or watch later YouTube! For information and tickets: https://www.a440fest.com.

3rd Ward Updates from Council Member Steve Fletcher

Ward 3 Friends -

This election is important, and I’m encouraging everyone to vote early. Learn about all of your options at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov -- and further down in this newsletter.

Here’s my voting story:   

I’ve voted in every election since I was eligible except one. One year, a close relative had a medical emergency the night before election day (we thought at the time it was a heart attack), and my wife and I rushed out of town to the hospital.    

Luckily, he was OK. Also luckily, the election I missed on that harrowing day was a primary without any competitive races in my district. I still didn’t like the feeling of missing my chance to vote. I would never risk missing this election.   

I always used to vote on election day. Now I vote early, so that if the first week in November doesn’t go as planned, my vote will still be counted. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we should be prepared for things to not go as planned.  

I voted by mail this year. It was easy, and I received confirmation within three days that my vote has been received and will be counted. It’s a great option!

What’s your voting plan?  

En avant,  

Steve

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City Council Approves $3 Million Investment in Low-Barrier Housing

This year, the COVID pandemic has deepened the crisis of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in our city, and the City Council has received urgent pleas from across the city to do everything we can to address this crisis.

Last month, I shared info in my newsletter about an initiative called Indoor Villages, a pilot project that was created to meet the urgent need to for shelter and supportive services for people in Minneapolis experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

Today, I'm pleased to share that the City Council approved a little over $3 million in funding for low-barrier, supportive housing, including nearly $2 million in CARES Act funds for operations for the Indoor Villages project, to be operated by Avivo. 

The Indoor Villages project will be a low barrier shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The model is unique in that it will be comprised of 100 tiny shelters located inside a warehouse building. Each resident will have their own individual living space. The program is intended to create a safe, secure and service-rich environment where residents can connect with wrap-around services designed to connect people to permanent housing.

The City Council previously approved the use of CARES Act Emergency Solutions Grant funds for a 50 bed culturally specific shelter for Native Americans, a 30 bed women's shelter, and a 30 bed medical respite shelter.

We also authorized a loan of up to $1.25 million from the Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) Preservation Fund to Avivo to support the acquisition and preservation of two properties with 103 transitional housing beds, and another 10-unit NOAH property.

We know that these projects alone do not match the scale of the crisis, and there are many more people who will still face a lack of shelter with winter approaching. We will continue to work with Hennepin County and the state to provide shelter for everyone in our community, and encourage the creation of more low-income housing across Minneapolis.

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MinneapolUS Strategic Outreach Initiative Seeks to Decrease Violence in City

The City of Minneapolis is piloting a new initiative to decrease violence with “violence interrupters” on the streets in neighborhoods now. Outreach workers for the MinneapolUS Strategic Outreach Initiative de-escalate situations before they become violent, support behavior change for people at the highest risk for violence and help communities heal. By identifying and interrupting conflicts and working to promote community healing, the initiative is intended to break the “contagious” aspects of violence such as retaliation.

The interrupters wear bright orange “MinneapolUS” t-shirts highlighting the initiative’s purpose: to address the root causes of violence together as a community. The Minneapolis Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention initiative complements existing outreach organizations’ work already on Minneapolis’ streets, employing a specific approach built on the idea that violence is a public health issue. This approach is rooted in the power of Minneapolis communities. At the same time, it draws from strategies like Cure Violence, which has been effectively implemented across the globe.

New Community Safety Page on City Website 

City staff have created a new page on the City's website to gather and share information on our efforts to reimagine and transform Community Safety, as we committed to do with our resolution in June.

The new site can be accessed from the City’s homepage, or directly using this link:

www.minneapolismn.gov/community-safety

The content on that page is just the beginning -- staff are hard at work on a much more expansive version that will consolidate content from across the City, including plans, reports, data, visuals and other materials related to this high-priority work. That should be ready very soon, so keep an eye on that page for more, soon.

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Community Meeting on Surveillance Technology and Facial Recognition -- Thursday, October 22

This summer, I introduced ordinance work to increase transparency and accountability in the City's use of surveillance technology, in partnership with the ACLU of Minnesota and other privacy advocates. As part of that work, today, I introduced a separate ordinance to address the use of facial recognition technology.

On Thursday, October 22 at 5pm, I will be co-hosting a public forum to share information about the policy options under consideration, take questions with a panel of experts, and hear your input on the use of facial recognition and other surveillance technology in our city.

You can RSVP for the event on Facebook here.

You can learn more about this effort and the coalition advocating for it at https://postme.mn/.

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(Virtual) Coffee With Your Council Member

My community office hours are now at 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays on Microsoft Teams or by phone. Drop in to ask questions, discuss any issues you see in the community, or just have a chat with your neighbors.

Thursday, October 29, at 5:00 P.M.

Thursday, November 5, at 5:00 P.M.

Thursday, November 12, at 5:00 P.M.

Click to join in Microsoft Teams  or by phone: 612-276-6670, 933 303 746# 

Anyone can join a Microsoft Teams web meeting. A free software download may be required, depending on how you join the meeting (computer, Android or Apple device).

If you have questions or a topic to discuss, please email Mikayla.Smith@minneapolismn.gov prior to the meeting.

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Election Day is November 3: Make Your Plan to VOTE

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Early voting began on September 18, and more than 90,000 voters have already cast ballots! The City has issued more than 155,000 requested ballots out to voters.

ALL Minnesota voters are encouraged to vote by mail this year, but you can still vote in person, either early or on Election Day. Voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.

Early Vote Locations

Now through Monday, November 2:

• Minneapolis Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
• Hennepin County Government Center, 300 6th St. S.
• Click through to the the Elections & Voter Services website for hours.

Opening on Tuesday, October 27: 

• Urban League Twin Cities, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.
• Longfellow Park Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S. 

The hours for these locations will be as follows:

• Tuesday, October 27 through Friday, October 30: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 31: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 1: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, November 2: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Vote By Mail

Apply online NOW to receive a General Election ballot in the mail. If you have already applied, no need to apply again. Instead, look up your application to see the status.

Staff recommend that you apply for a ballot no later than 14 days before Election Day. This gives you the best chance to get your ballot in the mail and still have time to mail it back or drop it off.

Return your ballot in person

Locations open now through Election Day:

• Minneapolis Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave. -- parking lot
• Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave. S. -- tent at 2nd Ave. & 12th St.
• Hennepin County Government Center, 300 6th St. S. -- inside the skyway level OR outside (drive-up) at 625 S. Fourth Ave.

These nine additional locations will open on Monday, October 19:

• Victory Memorial Ice Arena Parking Lot, 1900 42nd Ave. N.
• UROC Parking Lot, 2001 Plymouth Ave. N.
• Firefighters Hall & Museum Parking Lot, 664 22nd Ave. NE.
• Kmart Parking Lot, 10 W. Lake St.
• St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church Parking Lot, 3450 Irving Ave. S.
• Longfellow Park Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S.
• Bethel Lutheran Church Parking Lot, 4120 S. 17th Ave.
• Mount Olivet Lutheran Church Parking Lot, 5025 Knox Ave. S.
• Bossen Field Park Parking Lot, 5701 S. 28th Ave.

Hours are available on the Elections & Voter Services website here. Important items to remember when returning your ballot:

• Ballots cannot be dropped off at polling places on Election Day. 
• All ballots dropped off in person must be received by 3 p.m. on Election Day.
• If you are returning a ballot for someone other than yourself, please be prepared to show identification (with name and signature) and complete brief paperwork.

Return your ballot by USPS (postal service)

Use the postage-paid envelope to return your ballot. We recommend mailing your completed ballot back at least 7 days before Election Day to ensure your vote counts. Your ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day (November 3) and received in the mail within 7 days (by November 10).

Return your ballot by package delivery service (UPS, FedEx, etc.)

You may also return your ballot using a service of your choice. You will be responsible for any additional charge. Please note: If you return your ballot using a package delivery service, your ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day (November 3).

For more information, go to https://vote.minneapolismn.gov!

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Free COVID-19 Tests and Flu Shots Coming Up

The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 tests and flu shots. All are welcome. You do not need insurance for the test. The flu shots are covered by insurance. If you have insurance, bring your insurance card for the flu shot. If you don’t have insurance, the flu shot is free.

• Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 Second St. NE Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14
• Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at Hennepin United Methodist, 511 Groveland Ave. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
• Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at Shiloh Temple, 1201 W. Broadway Ave. N. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
• Free COVID-19 tests at St. Peter’s AME, 401 E. 41st St. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 Make an appointment if possible, or register onsite.

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

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City Seeking Comments on Proposed Rules, FAQs on Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance

Earlier this year, the City Council passed and Mayor Frey signed into law a Freelance Worker Protections ordinance to help prevent the exploitation of freelance workers, including many self-employed entrepreneurs who work as independent contractors. Under the ordinance, businesses that hire certain freelancers for their work in the City of Minneapolis must confirm their agreement in writing. This is an ordinance I spent a lot of time on with my colleagues in collaboration with the City's Workplace Advisory Committee.

The City of Minneapolis has drafted frequently asked questions and rules documents to provide general guidance to freelance workers and those who hire freelancers about their rights and responsibilities under this ordinance, which takes effect January 1, 2021. Public comments about the clarity and substance of information in the FAQs and rules documents can be submitted online, and are due by December 31st.

For more information about the freelance worker protections ordinance, visit the City’s website at http://minimumwage.minneapolismn.gov/wagetheft.html. 

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Neighborhoods 2020 Next Steps and Timeline

Now that the public comment period has closed on the Neighborhoods 2020 draft program guidelines, the Neighborhood & Community Relations Department is reviewing the 244 public comments received and creating a summary. The comments and summary will be available on the Neighborhoods 2020 webpage before the City Council takes action.

Next steps

• Nov. 5: Public Health and Safety Committee public hearing and presentation
• Nov. 13: Full City Council vote
• Nov. 16: Budget Committee presentation to discuss program allocations

By voting on the program guidelines before the budget, the City Council can discuss the funding needed to implement the program as designed. Over the next few weeks, NCR will send out more information as it becomes available. 

Find City Council meeting calendars, agendas and decisions on the City of Minneapolis’ Legislative Information Management System (LIMS).

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University Ave & 4th St. SE Resurfacing Next Week

Minnesota Department of Transportation crews will resurface University Avenue and Fourth Street between I-35W and Central Avenue in Minneapolis.

Motorists should watch for lane closures between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, Monday, Oct. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 22. The lanes will reopen each day after work is complete.

The bike lanes and parking areas will be closed. Bicyclists and motorists will have to share the road during resurfacing.

3rd Ave. Bridge Scheduled to Close in January

MnDOT also continues its work on refurbishing the Third Avenue Bridge.

The bridge will close in early January so crews can replace the driving surface and make other repairs. The bridge is scheduled to reopen in November of 2022, and the project will be complete in spring of 2023.

Residents can learn more about the project and the bridge at two virtual open houses next month.

• 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12
• Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17

To register and learn more about the project, please visit the project web page:  http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy65andthirdavebridge/

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Online Community Meetings for Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network

Learn more about the new Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network by attending online community meetings, or share your input and suggestions through this online survey. The network will include electric vehicle charging hubs and a new electric vehicle car sharing service powered by renewable energy and available to community members. Input received from the community will help shape the design of the service.

Online community meetings To join an online meeting, please RSVP before the event at www.stpaul.gov/EV. Both meetings will be recorded and uploaded to the project website if you can’t attend.

• Minneapolis meeting: 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26.
• Saint Paul meeting: 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Additional insights from community members will be collected through an online survey through Nov. 13 at www.stpaul.gov/EV and through engagement activities hosted by local community organization partners.

The Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network (TCEVMN) is a project being developed by the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, HOURCAR and Xcel Energy. The EV mobility network is anticipated to launch in 2021.

More information can be found at www.stpaul.gov/EV.

October 16 7th Ward Update from Council Member Lisa Goodman

I am very happy to share with you that today the City Council voted unanimously to approve up to $1,972,950 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the Indoor Villages project. Avivo has been authorized to operate this new shelter concept and it is scheduled to open by December 31, 2020.

The Indoor Villages project will be a low barrier shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The model is unique in that it will be comprised of 100 tiny shelters located inside a warehouse building. Each resident will have their own individual living space. The program is intended to create a safe, secure and service-rich environment where residents can connect with wrap-around services designed to connect people to permanent housing. Indoor Villages is a model that is well designed for the COVID-19 pandemic, as it allows for more social distancing and provides personal space for residents. It may also better serve people who do not feel comfortable staying in a traditional shelter setting by giving them their own secure, separate spaces. Avivo’s operations will include client intake, shelter staffing, coordination of daily meals, mail distribution and security. Avivo is a critical partner to the City in addressing homelessness, mental health and substance abuse, undoing racism and addressing economic and health disparities.

The City anticipates that the novel coronavirus COVID-19 will continue to affect the metropolitan area for the foreseeable future and requires safe alternatives to unsheltered homelessness particularly as winter approaches, to reduce reliance on COVID-19 unsafe, overcrowded indoor alternatives like doubling up. The Indoor Villages proposal is eligible for CDBG-CV funds for operations under the public services category. The State of Minnesota and Hennepin County have also provided funding for this project. The State recently approved $2 million in funding to stand up additional shelter capacity before winter and Hennepin County approved $2.2 million in CARES funds. The Indoor Villages project team is in discussions with a private owner to lease space located at 1251 N Washington Ave as the site for this project.

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Lunch with Lisa Returns in a Virtual Format

After a six month hiatus, we are thrilled to be bringing back our Lunch with Lisa constituent gathering in a new, covid safe environment.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 (12:00 – 1:00)

Please join us as we welcome Metropolitan Council Member, Robert Lilligren,

President and CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI)

Robert will share about the amazing work being done to build a 21st Century American

Indian Community including their work on the American Indian Cultural Corridor.

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Please RSVP to Judy Sherin if you plan to join us.

judy.sherin@minneapolismn.gov or call 612-673-2207

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To join the event, just click the link below and you will be directed to the virtual event!

 Join Lunch with Lisa Event: October 28

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Reminder: Fall Street Sweeping Begins October 20

Crews will sweep streets across Minneapolis to keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains before winter and ending up in our lakes and rivers as much as possible.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city. During the four weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean about 1,000 miles of city streets. To make sure crews can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance so streets will be clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 19, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow posted parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.

Click here for the Street Sweep Interactive Map/Schedule

Read more and find ways to stay informed about the parking rules.

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2020 Collection of Leaves and Bundled Brush Ends Week of Nov. 16

Garbage day in the week of Nov. 16 is the last 2020 collection for leaves, brush and other yard trimmings. Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on garbage day.

Yard waste must be in compostable bags – paper (Kraft) or compostable plastic – or unbagged in a reusable container 32-38 gallons in size, at least 26 inches high, with sturdy handles. Reusable containers are lifted and emptied by hand; they must be easily managed. Yard waste is not allowed in City-provided containers.

Preparing yard trimmings and leaves

• Less than 40 pounds.

Preparing brush

• Less than 40 pounds.
• Less than 3 feet long.
• Branch size less than 3 inches in diameter.
• Must be bundled with string or twine (no wire or tape).

Reusable containers

• Less than 40 pounds full.
• Between 32 and 38 gallons in size.
• At least 26 inches high.
• Must have sturdy handles.

Which bags can be used in the program?

• Compostable plastic bags labeled with the BPI logo.
• Paper (Kraft) bags.

Bags marked “biodegradable” or “degradable” do not meet the State law and are not accepted.

It’s against the law and bad for our lakes to rake leaves into the street.

Anyone who has questions about leaf and brush pickup can call 612-673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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Update on Early Voting Turnout and Preparations for Election Day

Early voting continues at a record pace in Minneapolis. As of the end of the day Oct. 14, 82,941 early votes have been received for the 2020 election.

Early voting statistics

Breakdown of the 82,941 early votes received:

• 53,018 mailed in mail ballots.

• 14,466 mail ballots dropped off in person.

• 10,109 in-person votes at Elections & Voter Services.

• 5,348 Minneapolis votes cast at Hennepin County Elections.

Registered voter count as of the morning of Oct. 14: 271,049. This number will continue to change up until (and on) Election Day as the County processes voter registrations.

Early voting options between now and Election Day, Nov. 3

The City recommends applying for a mail ballot no later than Oct. 20 to ensure you have enough time to receive and return your ballot and putting your voted mail ballot in the mail no later than Oct. 27. Ballots will count if they are postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received in the mail no later than Nov. 10. If you would rather drop your ballot off in person, you may do so until 3 p.m. on Election Day.

• Mail ballot drop-off locations. All open for drop-off 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (extended and weekend hours begin Oct. 19).

•  
  • Minneapolis Election & Voter Services, 980 E. Hennepin.
  • Minneapolis Convention Center.
  • Hennepin County Government Center, 300 Sixth St. S.
  • On Monday, Oct. 19, nine more Minneapolis drop-off locations will open (for Minneapolis voters only). All sites will be open on Election Day through 3 p.m. – the deadline for returning a mail ballot in person.

• Early in-person voting at Early Vote Centers
  • Open now: Minneapolis Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.
  • Open now: Hennepin County Government Center, 300 Sixth St. S.
  • Opening Oct. 27: The North Early Vote Center will be at the Urban League Twin Cities, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.
  • Opening Oct. 27: The South Early Vote Center will be at the Longfellow Recreation Center, 3435 36th Ave. S.

Check the Status of Your Ballot

https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/AbsenteeBallotStatus.aspx

• All voters can use this online tool to track the status of their absentee ballot, showing when the ballot is issued, when it is received back (after voter submits), and whether accepted or rejected.

Voting on Election Day, Nov. 3

To make voting safer during the pandemic, 50 polling places have changed locations. Be sure to use the online polling place finder to look up your polling place before you head out to vote.

All polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and until all voters in line have been served on Election Day. There will be COVID-19 safety protocols in place at each polling location. Additionally, sergeants-at-arms will be deployed to all polling places.

Due to a recent court decision, mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received in the mail by Nov. 10 will be counted. This means the election results on Election Night will be partial, unofficial results.

Stay informed

For more voter resources, including the 2020 Voter Information Guide available in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong, visit vote.minneapolismn.gov.

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New Mail Ballot Drop-Off Site Opens at the Minneapolis Convention Center

Voters who want to return their completed mail ballots directly to election officials can now drop them off at the Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S. People can walk, bike or drive there to return their ballots.

The Minneapolis Convention Center ballot drop-off tent is at the corner of Second Avenue and 12th Street. Voters who arrive by car can either enter the drive-through drop-off area on Second Avenue or park along 12th Street and walk over to the tent. Voters on bike or foot can head directly to the tent on 12th Street.

Learn more about drop-off hours.

For voters who speak Spanish, Hmong or Somali, the City’s 2020 Voter Information Guide is now translated and in an electronic format.

Find more voting resources.

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MinneapolUS Strategic Outreach Initiative Seeks to Decrease Violence in City

The City of Minneapolis is piloting a new initiative to decrease violence with “violence interrupters” on the streets in neighborhoods now. Outreach workers for the MinneapolUS Strategic Outreach Initiative de-escalate situations before they become violent, support behavior change for people at the highest risk for violence and help communities heal. By identifying and interrupting conflicts and working to promote community healing, the initiative is intended to break the “contagious” aspects of violence such as retaliation.

The interrupters wear bright orange “MinneapolUS” t-shirts highlighting the initiative’s purpose: to address the root causes of violence together as a community. The Minneapolis Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention initiative complements existing outreach organizations’ work already on Minneapolis’ streets, employing a specific approach built on the idea that violence is a public health issue. This approach is rooted in the power of Minneapolis communities. At the same time, it draws from strategies like Cure Violence, which has been effectively implemented across the globe.

Watch the Oct. 13 news conference on the initiative.

Visit the City website for more information about the City of Minneapolis Office of Violence Prevention and its other programs. 

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City Council Begins Review of Proposed 2021 City Budget

The City Council's Budget Committee has begun reviewing departments' proposed 2021 budgets and will continue through November. The City Council is scheduled to vote on budget adoption Dec. 9.

Mayor Jacob Frey's proposed budget calls for a 5.75% maximum levy increase. With a 12% increase in the overall tax base growth, three-quarters of Minneapolis residential property owners will see a decrease in their property tax bills with the median-valued household set to experience a $59 yearly decrease.

Public hearings on the proposed 2021 City budget are planned for Nov. 16, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. Visit the City’s website to learn more about the mayor’s recommended budget, key dates in the approval process, FAQs and more. You can also watch a series of videos on the City’s budget process.

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Neighborhoods 2020 Next Steps and Timeline

Now that the public comment period has closed on the Neighborhoods 2020 draft program guidelines, the Neighborhood & Community Relations Department (NCR) reviewed the 244 public comments received and is creating a summary. The comments and summary will be available on the Neighborhoods 2020 webpage before the City Council takes action.

Next steps

• Oct. 22: Public Health and Safety Committee makes notice of intent for public hearing.
• Nov. 5: Public Health and Safety Committee public hearing and presentation.
• Nov. 12: Budget Committee presentation to discuss the program allocations and base funding amounts.
• Nov. 13: Full City Council vote.

By voting on the program guidelines before the budget, the City Council can discuss the funding needed to implement the program as designed.

Over the next few weeks, NCR will send out more information as it becomes available.

Find City Council meeting calendars, agendas and decisions on the City of Minneapolis’ Legislative Information Management System (LIMS).

Read more about Neighborhoods 2020.

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$50 Off Adoption Fees at Minneapolis Animal Care & Control Oct. 19-23

Up to 25 approved adopters will get $50 off cat or dog adoption fees from Minneapolis Animal Care & Control Oct. 19-23 thanks to Bounce. If you’re interested in adopting, view cats and dogs available for adoption and then make an adoption appointment by calling 311 or 612-673-6222. Due to COVID-19, the shelter is closed to the public and all adoptions are done by appointment only.

More about the Bounce Home With Your Adopted Pet campaign

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control is teaming up with North Shore Animal League America and Bounce Pet Hair & Lint Guard for a Bounce Home With Your Adopted Pet campaign. Throughout October, Bounce Pet is sponsoring adoptions at participating North Shore Animal League America shelter partners nationwide, covering up to $25,000 of adoption fees. Up to 500 approved adopters nationwide will receive:

• $50 off their adoption fees.
• A full-size sample of Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard.

A downloadable checklist co-authored by Bounce and North Shore Animal League America aimed at getting adopters ready for their new lifestyle so they can enjoy their new furry friends without worry.

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Minneapolis Animal Care & Control Offering Vaccinations by Appointment

If your pet needs to be vaccinated, Minneapolis Animal Care & Control offers low-cost pet vaccinations by appointment. Minneapolis residents can sign up for an appointment using this form or by calling 311 or 612-673-6222.

Services available by appointment:

• Rabies vaccination: $10.
• DA2PP (distemper combination for dogs) vaccination: $10.
• PRC (distemper combination for cats) vaccination: $10.
• Microchip: $10.

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control offers low-cost pet vaccinations by appointment to follow safe COVID-19 guidelines and ensure there aren’t too many people in the shelter at one time. Because of capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, this is only open to residents of Minneapolis who have or buy a current pet license.

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Free COVID-19 Tests and Flu Shots

The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 tests and flu shots. All are welcome. You do not need insurance for the test. The flu shots are covered by insurance. If you have insurance, bring your insurance card for the flu shot. If you don’t have insurance, the flu shot is free.

Free COVID-19 tests at St. Peter’s AME, 401 E. 41st St. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 Make an appointment if possible, or register onsite.

Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at Shiloh Temple, 1201 W. Broadway Ave. N. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24

Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at Hennepin United Methodist, 511 Groveland Ave. Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7

Free COVID-19 tests and flu shots at East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 Second St. NE Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14

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

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of October 14, 2020

Situational updates: Minneapolis

• There are 11,987 cases in Minneapolis and 252 deaths. The total number of cases increased by 4.8% over the previous week. Hospitalizations increased by 2.3% and ICU admissions by 2.2%.
• Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Persons under age 35 still make up close to 60% of cases over past week, but we are starting to see a slight increase in numbers among ages 65 and older. Average daily cases continues to be in the 70’s, with two days of over 100 cases diagnosed in the past week (last time that happened was in July).
• 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.
• Mayor Frey’s Emergency Regulation No. 17 regarding bars and restaurants remains in effect. The regulation closes bar areas in restaurants, nightclubs, and indoor spaces of entertainment. Food and beverages can be served tableside while patrons are seated and patrons can approach the bar to order as long as they don’t congregate.

Situational updates: Minnesota

• There are 115,943 cases in Minnesota out of over 2.3 million tests completed. There have been 2,180 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. The state has started to present both antigen (probable cases) and PCR tests (confirmed test). There are 30,923 cases and 955 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is using a color-coded map to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. As of October 5 the State is reporting 18 cases per 100,000 and Minneapolis is at 16 cases per 100,000. These numbers put both Minnesota and Minneapolis in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19. The City rates are below the State, which may be a reflection of a testing push by MDH in greater Minnesota.
• Minnesota is currently in Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan for reopening.
• Governor Walz’s 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.
• Restaurants may increase the number of patrons at a table from six to ten. Patrons do not need to be related or live in the same household.
• The Minnesota Department of Health issued new guidelines that allow indoor visits at most long term care facilities that have not had new COVID-19 infections in the preceding two weeks and that the infection rate in the surrounding county is no more than 10%.
• The state has also issued guidance limiting the number of visitors a resident can have at one time as well as the length of the indoor visit.

Health Department Incident Command updates

Case investigation/Contact tracing

• The Health Department is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 22 investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. The new AmeriCorps staff are in training and are shadowing current contact tracers. Of the 11,987 cases in Minneapolis, with no changes in the percentages interviewed, refused or lost to follow-up. Thirty-six percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents have been conducted in a language other than English.
• Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) continues to monitor and evaluate a return to in person learning. MHD is working closely with MPS for case investigation and contact tracing.

Communications

• MHD staff, in partnership with Communications and NCR, created new isolation and quarantine handouts and videos in multiple languages. The materials provide guidance for those who test positive for COVID-19. The materials are available on the City’s coronavirus Print Resource web page.
• Isolation and quarantine flyer (PDF) - English, Hmong, Somali, Spanish
• Isolation and quarantine videos – English, Hmong, Somali, Spanish
• Please share these materials widely through your networks.

Community testing and flu shots

• Last week, MHD teamed up with the MN Department of Health and Stairstep Foundation to provide 737 tests over two days (360 tests on Thursday, October 8, and 377 tests on Friday, October 9) at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in North Minneapolis. Of those tested, 56% reported their race as White, 10% Asian, 14% Black and 9% Latinx. Forty-five people were positive which represents a 6% positivity rate.
• Hennepin County provided 81 tests on Thursday, October 8, at Masjid An-Nur Mosque in North Minneapolis. Eleven people tested positive which represents a 14% positivity rate.
• MHD is exploring options for expanding COVID testing through the winter and spring, including looking at saliva tests that can be distributed directly to residents or used at pop-up testing sites. We received some sample saliva tests from the State to familiarize staff with the process.

Upcoming testing events

Test results are usually available in two business days.

• Masjid An-Nur Mosque, 1729 N. Lyndale Ave. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 Somali interpreters will be available. Register onsite.
• Phelps Park, 701 E. 39th St. 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 1-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 (Flu shots available on Friday) Spanish and American Sign Language interpreters will be available. Register onsite.
• St. Peter’s AME, 401 E. 41st St. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 Pre-registration is available, or register onsite.

COVID-19 Vaccine

• Information and planning on COVID vaccination efforts are ramping up. MHD has regular, weekly planning and coordination calls with MDH and our regional Healthcare Coalition. In addition, we continue to schedule community presentations and listening sessions with neighborhood associations and community groups about the COVID vaccine.

Businesses

• Over the last week, Health inspectors completed 97 food safety routine inspections, which included reviewing COVID-19 preparedness plans and ensuring implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols. Health inspectors also responded to 13 food safety and COVID-19 complaints from 311. Health inspectors connected with six businesses with reported COVID-19 positive employees/patrons to provide customized information and assistance.
• Stories from the field: health inspectors are hearing from business owners they are concerned about loss of business, frustration when they follow COVID-19 guidelines and other businesses do not, difficultly minimizing risk and being overwhelmed with the volume of information.
• Many business owners are concerned about the financial impacts of the downturn. They express concern that they will not be able to make it much longer. One owner indicated he is behind $10,000 to $40,000 a week.
• Business owners who have implemented COVID-19 precautions express frustration at other owners who are not taking precautions as seriously.
• A business that is doing everything right; they have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and are following distancing, mask wearing and other guidelines, had an outbreak. They expressed frustration about the difficulty limiting their COVID-19 risk. Although they are doing everything right they can still be publicly named as having an outbreak associated with their business.
• Businesses often work with skeletal crews when an employee tests positive. Adding to the stress of working short-handed, the volume of online COVID-19 resources can be overwhelming.

Halloween messaging

We are sharing a lighthearted flyer on Halloween COVID-19 safety.

Food insecurity

• MHD received word of a $88,017 grant from Hunger Solutions to continue the Powderhorn Park weekly food distribution through the end of 2020. This event, co-hosted by MHD and Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR), continues to operate on Fridays, serving 200-400 primarily Latinx community members. The grant will fund the purchase of food, hygiene products, volunteer stipends and equipment, and other supports for the Corcoran Neighborhood Association to help continue this event.

Personal protective equipment

• MHD continues to promote safety by distributing masks to community requestors. In the past week, staff distributed 1,800 masks to community organizations and first responders.
• Staff are proactively reaching out to community groups, small businesses, multi-family housing, and in-home care providers to distribute current inventory of masks. Additional supplies of masks and sanitizer will be purchased with CARES funds to support these organizations and residents.

Find COVID-19 tips for staying well and travel guidelines on the Health Department web page.

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

MPRB Announces Fall Nature Programs for Adults

Via an October 16 e-announcement from the Minnepaolis Park and Rec Board:

Get Outside and into Nature!

Programs are based out of the Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park, located at 4900 Mississippi Court, Minneapolis, MN 55430. Email: NorthMississippi@minneapolisparks.org

Fall Tree Identification

Friday October 23     10-11:30am

What can you learn from a leaf? During this season of change, the world is awash with colors from the trees, but is a leaf enough to identify a tree? Walk the park with a naturalist to observe and learn about this impressive color change while taking a closer look at tree leaves and using a dichotomous key to identify different species you find.

Ages 18+ Pre-registration is REQUIRED, there are a limited number of spots available. This program takes place outside. Please dress for the weather.

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Noticing Nature Hike

Tuesday October 27     5-6pm

Get outside for a peaceful walk through the park to observe and track the seasonal happenings of plants and animals with a naturalist guide. Reset your mind and body from over-stimulation and become grounded in nature while appreciating its ever-changing elements. Socialize, exercise and contribute to the study of Phenology all while socially distancing!

Interested youth ages 12+ welcome. Pre-registration is encouraged, there are a limited number of spots available. This program takes place outside. Please dress for the weather.

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Trail Trekkers

Saturday November 7     10-11am

Spend the morning walkin' or a rollin' on park paths with a naturalist guide in search of nature's treasures during this outdoor program for adults with developmental disabilities. Come enjoy the exploration - who knows what we may find!

Ages 18+ Pre-registration is encouraged, there are a limited number of spots available. This program takes place outside. Please dress for the weather.

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Noticing Nature Twilight Hike

Tuesday November 24th     5-6pm

Get outside for a peaceful walk through the park to observe and track the seasonal happenings of plants and animals with a naturalist guide. Reset your mind and body from over-stimulation and become grounded in nature while appreciating its ever-changing elements. Socialize, exercise and contribute to the study of Phenology all while socially distancing!

Interested youth ages 12+ welcome. Pre-registration is encouraged, there are a limited number of spots available. This program takes place outside. Please dress for the weather.

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During ALL in-person outdoor programs:

- Participants must agree to wear a face covering.

- Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from staff and individuals from other households at all times.

- Complete a self-assessment of health prior to attending.

- Participants with any signs of illness are to stay home.

Search all Nature Programs 

October 15 Water Works Photos from Doug Verdier

Editors Note: Mill District resident Doug Verdier continues to document the progress of the Water Works project.

Landscaping and structural work has been the focus of efforts at Water Works Park this week. Beautiful Fall weather enhanced the atmosphere.

Handrails custom built for stairs throughout the park were delivered and await installation.

An artifact from one of the former mill buildings has been placed beneath the First Street bridge in the woonerf.

Supports have been installed on the north side of the First Street bridge to accommodate a new pedestrian walkway that will be similar to the one on the south side. A sidewalk will eventually be constructed to Third Avenue on this side of the street.

Great weather for laying new blacktop on West River Parkway.

Pedestrians are already enjoying the newly paved trail along West River Parkway.

It takes a lot of dump trucks to deliver the amount of asphalt needed for the roadway.

Rolls of sod await installation in the park.

Landscape workers installing sod. This view is from First Street looking toward the river.

The Mill City Times Interview: Lisa Keitel, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area National Park Volunteer and Minnesota Master Naturalist

Article by Becky Fillinger

Lisa KeitelWe met up with Lisa Keitel at her Listening Program at Coldwater Spring. She shares with us the history and programs at this very beautiful, accessible local park.

Q:  Can you tell us the history of Coldwater Spring?

This area at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers has been a significant and important place for eons. That is one of the reasons it is special to me. It is a place I visit often. It is part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area National Park. MNRRA is a national park running 72 miles along the Mississippi River corridor.

Here is further information from the MNRRA website:

Unlike most other national parks, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a "partnership" park. The park owns only 67 acres of the 54,000 acres within our borders. The rest is composed of city parks, regional parks, a state park, a national wildlife refuge, state scientific and natural areas, along with private businesses and homes. We work in partnership with those other units of government to bring additional services to both them and visitors and to preserve and protect the natural and cultural history of this great river.

This area served as an important crossroads for Native Americans and traders using both the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers for commerce and travel.

During the construction of Fort Snelling U.S. soldiers camped at Coldwater Spring, making it the first American settlement in Minnesota. By 1825, construction of the fort had been completed and soldiers had moved from Coldwater into the fort. The area around the spring, however, continued to attract traders, Native Americans, and a small village developed that serviced the trade at the site.

The spring also continued to provide water to the new fort and the later Upper Post. The fort initially relied on horse-drawn water wagons and eventually railcars to deliver water from Coldwater Spring up until the 1870s. By 1879, the fort was expanded under Secretary of War, Alexander Ramsey. The fort's expansion demanded a more efficient water supply system and, in 1880, the Army established a formal waterworks at the spring. Coldwater served as the water source for the Army until the 1920s when the Army turned to the City of Saint Paul to supply water for the fort. The property was last home to the Bureau of Mines: Twin Cities Research Center. The buildings were constructed primarily during the late 1950's through the early 1960's.The Research Center developed significant mining safety equipment, mining technologies and mineral extraction processes used worldwide. The labs there also analyzed the composition of some of the moon rocks brought to Earth by the Apollo moonshot missions. Federal funding for the Bureau of Mines was permanently eliminated in 1996; by 1997 the buildings were vacated and gradually fell into disrepair. They remained vacant until their demolition in 2011.

Coldwater Spring was added to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in January 2010, with the goal of restoring the landscape to an oak savanna/prairie complex. An extensive renovation, which included the removal of twelve buildings and the restoration and seeding of twelve acres of prairie and one acre of wetlands, began in early 2011 and was largely completed by August 31, 2012. During the course of the restoration more than 1,000 trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers were planted on the property. The restoration work, however, will continue for many years.

Q:  You lead a listening tour at Coldwater Spring. What is the goal of that program?

Creation of the Listen to Coldwater program was a way to get folks out to the park, in small groups, safely, to explore nature in a new way. I am a birder, and leading bird walks during COVID-19 was, and is, not safe. A group, even a small group, walking around together tends to clump close together. And if I am trying to point out a bird, it is most helpful if you can stand next to me and get the same field of view. I thought about how to be outside safely. Sitting socially distant and paying attention to the birds that are in the area would work. In Listening to Coldwater, we talk about softening your senses and broadening your vision to full field of view. We tune into our hearing, acknowledge the loudest sounds, and set that aside. We listen for more - the softest sound or the bird call that is furthest away. We sit in silence for 10 minutes and I point out the various bird calls or squirrel chatter and the direction the sound is coming from. I’ll write what we are hearing on a white board. At the end of our quiet time, I’ll talk more about the birds we heard. It’s always a little risky, we are at the mercy of the birds flying by and sometimes it is very quiet. My favorite this season was hearing and identifying the squeaky bike wheel.

Q:  You're a Master Naturalist. Please tell us about this credential - how did you become one?

The Minnesota Master Naturalist program is offered through the University of Minnesota Extension. It involves 40 hours of course work – classroom training and field trips - about one of the three major biomes in the state. “Big Woods, Big Rivers” focuses on the diagonal biome from the southeast to the northwest portion of the state and the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. “Prairies and Potholes” focuses on the prairie lands in the west and southwest part of the state. “North Woods, Great Lakes” is just that, the northland and Lake Superior.

Volunteers work 40 hours or more each year in a variety of ways. Stewardship Projects involve activities such as invasive species removal or restoration projects.

Education/Interpretive Projects include public presentations of natural resource information, educational materials development, or leading hikes.

Citizen Science Projects have volunteers gathering data and returning it to researchers to support the research projects – such as Monarch larval monitoring, plant or animal counts, eBird, or water quality monitoring.

My volunteer hours are primarily in Education and Outreach. I love sharing what I know about birds and what I have learned about our region to all ages. Being with people as they get that spark of insight or sight of a new bird gives me great joy.

I am a volunteer with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. I work with the park and their nonprofit partner, Mississippi Park Connection. MPC strengthens a life-long connection between people and the Mississippi River through youth education, environmental stewardship and community engagement.  

Q:  What wildlife are we likely to encounter at Coldwater Spring?

Coldwater Spring is a great place for wildlife viewing. The birds are amazing. It is a consistent spot for seeing the brilliant blue Indigo Bunting in the summer. Many interesting (and hard to identify) sparrows find the restored oak savannah and open prairie a critical stopover during spring and fall migration. The hawks, Turkey Vultures and Bald Eagles are often seen soaring overhead. Deer, coyotes, and turkeys are frequent visitors.

Q:  Is Coldwater Spring open year-round?

Yes. Coldwater Spring is open 6am to 10pm all year. Visit it all at all times of the year! The open areas with leafless trees in the late winter makes birding a bit easier. Comparing the early spring prairie to the full-blown late summer bloom of prairie wildflowers is breathtaking. Winter gives you a chance to see what has been traveling the trails with their tracks in the snow.

Q:  How can we follow what is happening at Coldwater Spring? 

Check out two new announcements! I recommend you give the hiking trails a try and also help us with the bird count. 

New Hiking Trail Loops at Coldwater Spring

These new trail loop descriptions from the National Park Service are practically poetic! Let them whisk you away to a serene naturescape, then whisk yourself away to Coldwater Spring to experience them in person. Explore tallgrass prairie and the historic springhouse on the Baltimore Oriole Loop, oak woodland and bluff top oak savanna restoration on the Scarlet Tanager Loop, and the Mississippi River floodplain on the Indigo Bunting Loop. For trail loop descriptions and map: https://parkconnection.org/blog/2020/10/new-hiking-trail-coldwater-spring-minnesota.

Global Big Day at Coldwater Spring

Coldwater Spring, 5601 Minnehaha Park Drive S. Saturday, October 17, 8 am – 4 pm

Help the National Park Service identify birds at Coldwater Spring using eBird, a free app that will help them collect a one-day snapshot of birding populations on a global scale. This activity is great for novices, pros and everyone in between. For information: https://parkconnection.org/events/2020/10/17/global-big-day.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Holidazzle Announces 2020 Virtual Experience

The mpls downtown council announced today that the 2020 Holidazzle will take place virtually this holiday season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and continued concerns around public gatherings.

The event, which typically takes place in Loring Park, will move online and offer holiday-themed activities and interactive engagement. A full schedule will be released in early November.

With public health a top priority, moving Holidazzle online will still offer holiday fun for all ages and abilities.

“This was a difficult decision, but the right decision. Our community’s health and well-being are most important as we head into the holiday season,” said Leah Wong, vice president of external relations, mpls downtown council. “We are excited for the virtual experience Holidazzle will provide as you and yours celebrate with us wherever you are.”

In addition to Holidazzle, the Mpls WinterSkate ice rink in Loring Park will take the season off to prioritize public health. Mpls WinterSkate, produced by the mpls downtown council in partnership with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, has provided a refrigerated sheet of ice, complimentary skates for use, and a heated warming house for the community and visitors to enjoy.

About Holidazzle:

The 2020 Holidazzle is managed and produced by the mpls downtown council. Holidazzle is an annual holiday tradition in mpls downtown  that offers free programming and activities for all ages and ability while also highlighting local people, places, and products that make our community unique. For more information, visit www.holidazzle.com and follow along on social media through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #Holidazzle.

About the mpls downtown council:

Founded in 1955, and one of the most historic central business associations in the nation, the mpls downtown council (mdc) is a membership-based entity that works to create an extraordinary downtown. The mdc’s collaborative developments of Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan was designed to help downtown businesses, community leaders, and citizens build on downtown assets and implement future goals. For more information, please visit www.mplsdowntown.com.

MPRB to Celebrate the Owámni Falling Water Festival throughout November

Via an October 12 e-announcement from Minnepolis Park and Rec Board:

Virtual Owámni Falling Water Festival programs and activities offered all throughout November

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is taking the 2020 Owámni Falling Water Festival virtual!. This event has typically taken place the last Saturday in July or the first Saturday in August over the past seven years. The event has grown in popularity with more than 3,000 people in attendance in 2019.

The MPRB has pinpointed the month of November, which is Native American Heritage month, to turn the Owámni Falling Water Festival event into a month of virtual programming. During November we will offer opportunities for people to continue to learn about Dakota and Indigenous culture, share Dakota/American Indian culture with the broader Minneapolis community, and make the Indigenous cultures more visible. Look for the following activities throughout the month:

• Honoring the area as a Dakota place and place of learning through various virtual exhibits, arts, demonstrations, music performances, and presentations.
• Working with groups such as NACDI (Native American Community Development Institute), Minnesota Historical Society, and Minneapolis Institute of Arts to highlight current Native American exhibits that are on display in the surrounding communities.
• Showcasing Native American cooking demonstration with local Native restaurants and cooks.
• Native artists offering a virtual art demonstration or leading a virtual native art hands-on art activity  
• Presenting virtual native music performances.

All activities will be on the MPRB website. For dates, times and other details, visit https://www.minneapolisparks.org/activities__events/events/owamni_falling_water_festival/

October 22 YogaFlow at Aria Event Center to Benefit The BeliEve Foundation

Registration: YogaFlow to Benefit The BeliEve Foundation

Join YogaFit, Diane Afrooz & DJ Omaur for a YogaFlow class at Aria Event Center, 105 North 1st Street in the North Loop, on Thursday, October 22nd, for a $10 donation-based class. All proceeds go to The BeliEve Foundation.

The BeliEve Foundation helps grieving families in Minnesota facing hardship after the death of their child by providing immediate and practical financial assistance and partnering with other organizations to offer ongoing emotional support and healing. Since their launch in June 2019, they have helped 63 families and gifted $155,000. 100% of donations go directly to families – the founders cover all administrative costs.

Aria Event Center

DJ Omaur @omaurbliss will provide music throughout the night, and Diane Afrooz @dianesandragons will be leading you through your flow.

After class, MINNEØATS a will be selling their fresh granola products. MINNEØATS is a specialty oatmeal business founded to serve others and build community through delicious bowls of oatmeal.

The event is 6:30p-8:30p, with yoga staring at 7p. Bring your Yoga mat and something to drink. You are welcome to bring any additional Yoga props yourself i.e. blocks, straps, etc.

The IDS Center

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Minneapolis is very fortunate to have such a picturesque skyline. The buildings come together nicely, from the Foshay Tower to the in-progress Eleven Condominiums, to guarantee striking views from every angle. The pinnacle of our skyline, tallest building in the city, and subject of this article is the IDS Center; the catalyst of skyscraper construction in Minneapolis.

In 1963, architect Ed Baker was chosen to design a twelve-story quarter block office building on 8th Street and Nicollet Mall. Investors Diversified Services (now Ameriprise Financial) agreed to join as the anchor tenant four years later, and later that year Dayton Hudson Corporation (now Target Corporation) came aboard as a co-anchor tenant. With two major tenants, the project expanded to a fifty-one-story tower complex that would take up the entire block, and award-winning architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee were brought in to work with Ed Baker. Johnson was ecstatic about the project’s location. He cited its central downtown location, Nicollet Mall, the skyway system, and its close proximity to Dayton’s and Donaldson’s. Because of this, he wanted to make this project the new epicenter for Minneapolis.

1971 photo of the IDS Center under construction, taken from Boom Island.

1971 photo of the IDS Center under construction, taken from the corner of Royalston Avenue and Holden Street.

At this time in the skyscraper architecture world, many people were getting sick of the typical big, boxy, bland looks of many office buildings across the United States. In order to make his project stand out and create something the city would be proud of, Johnson chose to utilize asymmetry, use volume over mass, and rejected ornamentation. This ultimately led to the “zog” design, as he called it, with the zigzagging corners of the main tower, the use of chrome coated semi-mirrored glass, and the famous crystal court.

The construction lasted from 1969 to 1972, and when it was completed, it rose 792 feet and fifty-seven stories, with fifty-two of them available for occupation. Along with the main tower, a nineteen-story tower was also made for the Marquette Hotel, an eight-story annex building was built along Marquette Avenue, a two-story retail building was put on Nicollet and 7th, and connecting all the buildings is the seven-story Crystal Court.

Postcard from 1975While designing the Crystal Court, Philip Johnson drew inspiration from Venice’s San Marco Plaza. He wanted this space to not only be a place to gather and relax, but he also sought to make sure there was efficient pedestrian flow, which led to another game-changing feature of the complex; skyway connections on all four sides. Johnson was able to foresee how popular and important skyways would be in Minneapolis, as he wanted to decrease the amount of vehicle traffic downtown and move it to the skyways. When designing the skyway entrances, he made it a point to not have them lineup with the ground level entrances, which created a better flow around the Crystal Court. In 1972, there were only seven skyways in Minneapolis, and none of them were connected. Once the IDS Center skyway connections were complete in 1974, the skyway system connected eight blocks in downtown.

Crystal Court in 1975

Minneapolis skyline, 1976

In 1983, the fifty-first story observation deck was closed and converted in more office space, and fifteen years later, the Crystal Court underwent a multiple award-winning renovation by HGA Architects which included a grove of olive trees and white benches. After featuring in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the IDS Center has hosted many film crews since. Gary Busey’s Fooling Around, Prince’s Purple Rain, The Mighty Ducks, Tim Allen’s Joe Somebody, and Charlize Theron’s Young Adult all filmed scenes in the Center. The Crystal Court also hosted President Bill Clinton in 1994, and has been the media headquarters for the 2008 Republican National Convention and Super Bowl LII.

My favorite fun fact about the IDS tower is that every floor has thirty-two corner offices, which means there are over 1,500 corner offices in the building. Surely that’s a world record! There might be a day when the IDS Center is no longer the tallest building in Minneapolis, but its indispensable presence in downtown has been and will always be vital for the area’s success.

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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.

Nation's first permanent Memorial to Survivors of Sexual Violence celebrated in virtual ceremony Oct. 10

Memorial now open at Boom Island Park

The public is invited to join victims/survivors and allies to celebrate the completion of the nation’s first, permanent, public memorial to honor survivors of sexual violence, located at Boom Island Park, with a virtual event on Saturday, October 10, at 10 am. Keynote speakers include Tarana Burke, activist and founder of the Me Too movement, and V (formally Eve Ensler), activist, author and playwright best known for "The Vagina Monologues." 

 View the event on Facebook Live  

View the event on YouTube 

Due to COVID-19, this is a virtual event, not an in-person gathering. However, the Survivors Memorial is now open to the public and can be visited any time. Boom Island Park is located along the Mississippi River at 724 Sibley St. NE, Minneapolis. The memorial is located at the south end of the park, between the playground and bridge to Nicollet Island.

Sarah Super launched the initiative for the memorial to honor survivors of sexual violence in 2015, only weeks after her ex-boyfriend broke into her home, hid in a closet, then woke her at knifepoint and raped her. He was sentenced in Ramsey County to 12 years in prison for his crime.

The Memorial was inspired by the hundreds of stories survivors shared with Super after she publicly identified herself as her ex-boyfriend's rape victim. Super was also inspired by the work of Dr. Judith Herman, one of the country's leading experts on psychological trauma and abuse.

“When I first spoke out about being raped, a lot of people said and did nothing. Their silence taught me that there is no such thing as a neutral response to sexual violence. A response will either be hurtful or healing. Silence is not neutral. Silence supports the perpetrators and never the victims," states Super.

"The Memorial is one way community members have taken a stand and voiced their support for those who've been victimized. Our goal was to break the silence and respond to sexual violence and rape culture as a community in solidarity with victims/survivors."

The Memorial design team includes: Sarah Super, landscape architects Joan MacLeod, Rachel Blaseg, and Jennifer Germain of Damon Farber Landscape Architects, a landscape architecture and planning firm based in Minneapolis, and mosaic artist Lori Greene of Mosaic on a Stick. 

The Memorial is a symbol of the community’s solidarity with victims/survivors. Their experiences are honored using two metaphors: a ripple effect and mosaic. The circle of benches is intended as an invitation for dialogue. The ripple effect seen in the seating platform and extending into the landscape signifies the multiplying power of survivors' voices; when survivors tell their stories, they unconsciously inspire other survivors to tell theirs, who inspire others to tell theirs. The mosaics symbolize that broken pieces can be put together to create something whole and beautiful. (more detail on the design elements below)

Notable donors to the Memorial include Gloria Steinem, V (formally Eve Ensler), Nora McInerny, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and the law firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates.

The Memorial team also thanks JE Dunn - memorial construction and Propel Nonprofits - fiscal sponsor.

Visit www.survivorsmemorial.org for more information.

A Glorious Week for our Local Plein Air Artists!

Article by Becky Fillinger

Take a walk across the Stone Arch Bridge and you’ll often see plein air artists at work. While on a walk one morning during this past beautiful week, I found three working at their craft on the Marcy Holmes side of the bridge.

Shelly Hall told me that this bonus week of wonderful temperatures and colors must be appreciated. She noted that for her, plein air painting will be coming to a close as the weather cools. “Enjoy nature – it is the most healing thing we have now.” Smart advice from Hall.

Shelly Hall

Artist James Turner said that day’s light was perfect, and added “The sunshine illuminated and bounced off dogs, people, buildings and the bridge.”  He told me that the three artists I spoke with are members of two plein air artist organizations - the OPM - Outdoor Painters of Minnesota and the Minnesota Figure Study Collaborative.

James Turner

Georgia Kandiko is mostly a studio painter (an award-winning and juried painter) but loves the comraderie of plein air artists. “It is really fun to be out here creating and collaborating with my friends!”

Georgia Kandiko

Take the advice of these creative painters – enjoy this windfall weather we’re experiencing – and stop and talk to these masters along the way. 

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

September 2020 by the Numbers from Cynthia Froid Group

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

Statement Boutique in the North Loop is One of Many Retailers Offering Fashionopolis Week Specials Thru October 11

Article by Becky Fillinger

Fashionopolis Week kicked off on October 5 and runs through October 11. Check out the full list of over 35 participating retailers to shop for local deals and savings. TCF Bank is a major sponsor of the event and notes that small businesses are the backbone of our community, and encourages us all to shop in our own neighborhood.

Mill City Times dropped in on Statement Boutique in the North Loop at 212 3rd Avenue N to speak with owner Molly Blanski. Molly welcomes everyone to come by and shop her boutique’s collections. (If you are uncomfortable entering the store, they offer curbside pickup.) She stocks fashions from some of the best female creativists in Minneapolis - all of their graphic t-shirts and sweatshirts are locally made by amazing women. 

In the photo below, she shows us fashions from Monique Maxwell and Michelle Brusegaard.

Need election-inspired jewelry? She has that, too!

Molly is very impressed with the effort that MSP Magazine put into the week of events. “They have orchestrated an event that supports local businesses in a safe way. 2020 required creative approaches to the event and they have succeeded.” Statement Boutique is fully stocked and celebrating Fashionopolis with a sale - save 20% on Fall fashions in the store through Sunday, October 11.  

Other North Loop retailers participating in Fashionopolis include D.Nolo, MartinPatrick3 and Queen Anna House of Fashion.

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Mill District Resident Doug Verdier Shares October 6 Photos of Mississippi River Drawdown Project

Article and photos by Mill District resident Doug Verdier

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lowered the Mississippi River level in Minneapolis to conduct periodic inspections of the Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls Locks and Dams beginning October 3, it offered local residents and visitors a unique opportunity to see the riverbed between the Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls Locks. It also provided a window for examination below the rivers usual water line of the Stone Arch Bridge, which is currently projected for mortar repointing on the entire bridge, repair and replacement of stone, and additional repairs as needed. Construction on the Stone Arch Bridge is currently scheduled by MnDOT to begin in Fall 2022 through Spring 2024.

Following are October 6, 2020 photos of various locations between the locks that were visible during the drawdown of the river.

View from the Stone Arch Bridge overlooking the downriver basin of the Upper Lock. Water levels between the locks was lowered about 12 feet.

Looking back upriver toward the Upper Lock location. Stone Arch Bridge crossing the waterway.

Minneapolis Public Works employees spent hours removing debris from the exposed riverbed.

A bicycle brought up from the riverbed by Minneapolis Public Works employees.

Some of the debris removed from the riverbed included bicycles, skateboards, lawn chairs, a toolbox and many other items (mostly metal, which could not be immediately identified).

The East Bank looking down river toward the Lower Lock and Dam. People explored the riverbed to see what treasures they might find. More than one person had a metal detector.

Remnants of a long-gone bridge support exposed below the usual water line.

The darker lower portion of the piers of the Stone Arch Bridge are usually underwater.

Engineers preparing plans for the bridge repairs used a drone to get images from a variety of angles including beneath the bridge while they had the opportunity. The helipad for the drone was set up in an area that is normally under water.

The Mill City Times Interview: Chefs Sammy McDowell and Jocie Thomas on Their Version of the Ghost Kitchen Concept

Article by Becky Fillinger

Ghost kitchens, professional cooking facilities set up for the preparation of delivery-only meals, have arrived in the Twin Cities. Last week saw the announcement of Kenwood Food & Beverage housing four restaurants out of one Uptown location - Chicken Republic, Venice Salads & Bowls, Shakee Shakee and Red Cow. Other local ghost kitchen collaborations are less ambitious but every bit as pioneering to the partners involved. We talked to Chefs Jocie Thomas of Gravy Babies and Sammy McDowell of Sammy’s Avenue Eatery about their version of the ghost kitchen concept.

Sammy McDowell of Sammy’s Avenue Eatery and Jocie Thomas of Gravy Babies

Q:  Sammy, you’re hosting Gravy Babies out of your restaurant. Why was this important to you?

Sammy:  I realized that small minority restaurant businesses may not have the resources to launch a fully independent restaurant. So, we use one location to house multiple restaurants to reduce overhead costs for everyone, and we can also offer different cuisines to our community and fan base. Gravy Babies happens to be our first one!

Q:  Jocie, is this your first restaurant venture?

Jocie:  No, I was the owner of The Cozy Kitchen in St. Paul. It was a one woman show – looking back I needed a solid team and it didn’t help that the rent doubled on my space. I wasn’t prepared for the increasing expenses and all the roles I had to play.

Q:  How did this collaboration come about?

Jocie:  Sammy was a customer of mine and he loved my “Southern-style Slap Yo Mamma” cooking. He asked if I was interested in doing a collaboration that would allow me to test the waters again.

Q:  How does the ghost kitchen concept work for you two?

Jocie:  Sammy allows me to use his kitchen on Sundays. We start at 11AM and end around 4PM. The menu changes weekly and I’ll post the upcoming food choices on Facebook. I also send out mass texts to all my followers. We offer mainly takeaway, but also offer delivery and some people choose to dine in. Sammy not only lets me use his facility, he’s there taking orders and bagging meals to go. When it is super busy for me, he limits the number of orders he’ll take for his own business. I’m so very grateful for this overwhelmingly kind gesture from Sammy.

Sample of a Gravy Babies' Sunday Supper. This one featured oven roasted turkey and dressing with all kinds of sides. Some serious comfort food!

Q:  What would you like to tell other restaurant owners who might be hesitant to venture into ghost kitchening?

Jocie:  Start small with a few items that you have perfected – you want to have a following. For me, peach cobbler was a tried and true item. Also, any meat that I cook, smothered in gravy, is a hit item. Most critical, find a good partner – someone who of course is interested in a successful business venture, but who also cares about people and the community. For me, the collaboration is going great. I can see old faces from the Cozy Kitchen and meet new customers from Sammy’s base. I bring in new business for Sammy – it’s so good for both of us.

Sammy:  This has been a very pleasant journey for me. I’ve been able to learn, grow and expand into other cuisines. It is also very cost effective during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it creates more options for your customer base, how can it be anything but good?

My next collaboration is with Aaliyah Rose of Miss Garrett’s Vegan Soul – she’ll ghost kitchen out of our Central location on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Check out all this good food that we’re making in one location! Call 612-236-4882 to order!

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

Downtown Photos by Ric Rosow on Display in the SmartArt Rotating Art Program at the Convention Center

Article and photos by Mill District resident Ric Rosow

As a long-time resident in the Mill City area, I’m delighted to take part in the SmartArt Rotating Art  Program at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The program “Call for Art” seeks to highlight the spectacular visual art created by local artists…with a cultural or geographic perspective that is unique or appropriate to Minneapolis. Art Force requested submissions of original, two-dimensional artwork by Minneapolis artists. I’m thrilled to exhibit four of my pieces: Brilliant Downtown on the River, Moon Hiding in Downtown, Brilliant Downtown Sky, and After the Game.

I live in the Mill City District and each photograph in the exhibit is a view from our neighborhood. While there are many lovely photographs taken every day in this area, I look for unique scenes that are unlikely to be replicated anytime soon. While sunset and sunrise occur every day, while the river and downtown buildings change only slowly, the time of day, the season, the temperature, cloud cover, and other factors affect what we see. I see the cityscape as the canvas and the editing software as my paintbrush. I combine both to create beautiful pictures that depict downtown Minneapolis.

In Brilliant Downtown on the River, above, I took a daytime river scene and turned it into a neon light show.

In this photograph named Moon Hiding in Downtown, my goal was to capture the moon in a position partially behind a downtown building. I did that. But I also captured a surprising element of another building that I did not initially notice. It was so surprising that I had to use my binoculars to make sure it was really there and not an unreal artifact in editing the photo. See if you can find it.

I edited Brilliant Downtown Sky to bring color to a foreboding cloud formation.

In After the Game, I concentrated on highlighting the glow of lights all around the city as that was what attracted me to take the photograph in the first place.

The photographs are each 54” x 36”, printed on canvas and mounted in a floating black frame.

Book Talk: Minnesota's Black Community in the 21st Century

Book Talk: Minnesota's Black Community in the 21st Century

Saturday, Oct. 24^th

11-12:30pm

Online Event

Building off the pioneering volumes of Walter R. Scott which highlighted the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans in Minnesota by professions during the pre- and post-Civil Rights era, the book "Minnesota’s Black Community in the 21st Century" underscores what African American success looks like by vocations in Minnesota in the 21^st century. Members of Minnesota’s Black Community Project will discuss the making of this book and how this timely book contributes to the history of Minnesota.

Register for this event.

Hosted by Hennepin County Library Special Collections.

The link to the live online discussion will be emailed to registrants in advance.