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.

Library Program: Abandoned Rail Lines in Hennepin County

The Spectral Railroad: Abandoned Rail Lines in Hennepin County

Tuesday, Oct. 20^th, 7-8pm

Online Event

Everyone knows that most of our popular recreational trails were once railroad lines, but few of us are aware of the many abandoned right-of-ways scattered across the state.

Two lines in particular ran through the center of Hennepin County.  Though abandoned now for over 85 years and overrun or reworked by relentless development and population growth, many traces of these long forgotten rail and streetcar lines are still visible in unlikely and surprising places.

Librarian Ted Hathaway will lead you on this hunt for “ghosts” in the heart of the suburban landscape.

Register for this event.

A link to join this presentation will be sent to registrants a few days before the start of the program and again just before the start.

Episode 2 of Milling About with Brianna Rose to air October 15

Article by Becky Fillinger

Brianna RoseMill City Times is continuing our adventure with cable television. The first episode of Milling About with Brianna Rose debuted on September 17, and we apologize that many of you were unable to view it on that date as the time slots were changed. We promise to do a better job of informing our audience of all changes. Additional viewing opportunities for Episode One on MCN6 are scheduled for the following dates and times: October 5 and 6 at 5PM, October 8 and 9 at 8PM, October 12 and 13 at 5PM.

The second episode of Milling About with Brianna Rose will first air on MCN6 on Thursday, October 15, at 8:00 PM. Replays follow for one month from the first air date on Thursdays and Fridays at 8PM, and Monday and Tuesdays at 5PM. The second episode will feature content you’ll want to see:

• Martha Archer, Executive Director of the Mill City Farmers Market 
• Toby Grace, local comedian
• Sarah Peters, Director of Northern Lights MN
• Claudia Kittock, Board President of Be That Neighbor, and Neighbor of the Month, Iqbal Abdi
• Michael Rainville, Jr., with a history of the Beltrami Park/Maple Hill Cemetery
• Xiaoteng “X” Huang of Pinku Japanese Street Food

What topics would you like to see this show cover? We like to feature local entertainers, small businesses, neighborhood stories, Mississippi River connections, local food producers and history - but are open to suggestions! Please email Becky Fillinger, producer, at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com to suggest ideas or be a guest on the show.

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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. 

2020 POSTERS for PARKS Show Goes Virtual, Saturday, October 17

Minneapolis parks-inspired posters from local artists to be available online starting at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17

Posters for Parks, a popular local artist event benefiting Minneapolis public parks, will go virtual this year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event’s organizers, including LoveMplsParks and the Minneapolis Parks Foundation's People for Parks Fund, have opted to create an e-commerce site, PostersForParks.org, where posters from 33 local artists will be available for sale.

Posters for Parks 2020 includes 33 artists showcasing their parks-inspired prints, available at PostersForParks.org for $45 each. Sales begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2020, and will continue through October 24 unless all posters are sold earlier.

The Posters for Parks Show will feature a virtual kick-off cocktail hour on Saturday, October 17, starting at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom. The event will include live music with DJ King Otto, cocktail mixing with the Parks Foundation's own Jennifer Downham, and will feature all 33 original posters produced for this year’s event. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance via Eventbrite; registered attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a free poster and there will be an opportunity to vote for their favorite poster for the People’s Choice Award.

Like in previous years, proceeds from the event will be shared equally. Half of all sales will go toward efforts of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation's People for Parks Fund to support community-driven projects and ideas in Minneapolis public parks. The other 50 percent will go to the artist.

“While we’ve needed to make some modifications to the Posters for Parks Show this year, we are working hard to ensure we can still hold this incredibly fun and engaging event, even from a distance,” said Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. “Over the past several years, this event has grown into something truly special for local artists and people who use and love Minneapolis's award-winning parks. We look forward to holding the event again this year and making the posters from these talented local artists available online.”

To learn more about the event and to RSVP for the kick-off cocktail hour on October 17, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/posters-for-parks-show-2020-registration-121384956673.

Ongoing Free COVID-19 Testing Available Mondays and Fridays in Cedar Riverside

The Mill City Times Interview: Dr. Elaine Evans, Assistant Extension Professor and Bee Researcher, University of Minnesota

Article by Becky Fillinger

The Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota has maintained an internationally recognized research, teaching and outreach program on honey bees for 102 years! We talked to Dr. Elaine Evans, Assistant Extension Professor and Bee Researcher, to find out what we can do to help protect our precious pollinators.

Dr. Elaine Evans

Q:  What should Minneapolis residents do to help the bees in winter? Any yard or garden preparations?

A:  Please leave the leaves. Don't cut back perennial stems until next spring. Leaving a layer of leaves on top of the ground can help to insulate bees as they spend the winter underground. Other bees nest in stems and won't be emerging until spring or early summer. They need their stems. You can also create stick and leaf piles in untended corners of your garden to help create areas for bumble bees to live next year.

Q:  What types of bees are in Minnesota?

A: Minnesota has over 460 different species of bees. They vary greatly in size and include every color of the rainbow. We have bumble bees, leaf-cutter bees, sweat bees, plasterer bees, oil bees, carder bees, blood bees, yellow masked bees, mining bees, and many others.

Q:  Have we lost pollinators locally?

A:  We don't know the status of most of our bees. The bee group we know the most about are bumble bees. One out of three bumble bee species in Minnesota is of conservation concern. This is seven out of twenty-three species. Only one has official protection as a federally declared endangered species: the rusty patched bumble bee. This is also our state bee! We do still see rusty patched bumble bees in Minnesota, but their populations have dropped dramatically compared to twenty plus years ago. In contrast, Ashton's cuckoo bumble bee has not been seen anywhere in Minnesota since the late 1990s.

Q:  How can we stay current with your work at the UMN Bee Lab?

A:  There are many ways! To keep up with what we are doing at the UMN Bee Lab, you can subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and two Twitter accounts - https://twitter.com/CariveauLab and https://twitter.com/UMNBeeLab_Squad. 

I can also recommend a couple great podcasts that focus on pollinators:

The Bee Report, http://thebeereport.buzzsprout.com/

PolliNation, http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/

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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: Kristy Ornelas, Project Coordinator for Women of the Mississippi

Article by Becky Fillinger

The National Park Service (NPS) made a call out to highlight women’s influence on parks - “the visionaries and trailblazers who dared to imagine a different future” - in celebration of the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Locally, the Mississippi Park Connection (MPC) and Mississippi National River and Recreation Area answered the call by collecting the stories and highlighting the women who’ve had an impact on the Mississippi River, which became Women of the Mississippi River. Kristy Ornelas, AmeriCorps VISTA Service Member, tells us about the genesis of the project and how the resulting interactive map and stories continue to grow. We wish her all good things in her emerging career. 

Kristy Ornelas 

Q:  Kristy, I know you’ve been involved in a very interesting project. Please tell our readers about the Women of the Mississippi project.

A:  This project is very much a collaboration between Mississippi Park Connection (MPC), my employer, and the National Park Service (NPS). The Women of the Mississippi River project commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment by highlighting women who have had great impact on the Mississippi River in Minnesota, particularly in the Twin Cities corridor. Our aim is to contribute to the larger narrative of the history and interpretation of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. In 2018, I did a semester on the river (called River Semester at Augsburg University) paddling her for 100 days and it was the worst -  and the best - experience of my life thus far. I discovered a passion I never knew existed within me and that journey changed my whole life. Since then I have sought out stories and people that can relate to my experiences because before that semester, I thought the outdoors was not a place for people that look like me. That is simply not true! That is why this project is so important to me, because it will hopefully help others see that the Mississippi River and her surroundings were influenced by not only women, but women of color. They, too, have a space in the outdoors and have contributed to all her glory. Their stories must be heard, acknowledged, and shared.

Q:  How did you come to work on this project? Did you design it?

A:  At the start of 2020, the National Park Service made a call for parks across the nation to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. All across the country, parks are commemorating in their own way. Locally, this inspired us to look for stories about women connected to the Mississippi River, and thus came the Women of the Mississippi River. Anna Waugh, my direct supervisor, had started collecting names of individuals who impacted the River. She also had some volunteers who had agreed to write some stories. When I began my service year as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Mississippi Park Connection, Anna handed the project over to me. When I took over the project, I began coordinating more volunteers, getting more names, and decided the direction of the project. I envisioned an interactive map and NPS staff helped me achieve just that and improve my project.

Ramona Kitto StatelyQ:  The interactive map is such an interesting and useful tool – congratulations! Did you interview the living representatives mentioned in the project?

A:  Thank you. Yes! I personally interviewed Ramona Kitto Stately and Congresswoman Betty McCollum who were both amazing and have incredible stories. Some of the volunteers also interviewed women such as Peggy Lucas and Sharon Sayles Belton. A lot of the women are historical figures and thus could not be interviewed, but the volunteers did an incredible job researching them.

My interview with Ramona Kitto Stately impacted how I view the river and made me rethink everything I had learned about Minnesota history. Conversations with her always left me with questions about what else textbooks had left out and what textbooks had lied about. Her story made me respect the water for all that it is. The Mississippi River is not just a body of water, but rather an entity with her own story that has also been colonized. Ramona showed me there is still so much I have to learn about the land we call our home and about my own identity. I am extremely grateful to and for her.

Betty McCollumCongresswoman McCollum inspired me to want to keep working on environmental efforts. Her story reinforced what Ramona had taught me, that the river we all love has her own story. Congresswoman McCollum’s story taught me the amount of work that has been put into the river and not only the importance of it, but its impact as well.

Q:  How is the project funded?

A:  Mississippi Park Connection felt that this was an important project to invest in. The funding came through the generous support of our donors and members. People volunteered to research and write the stories and we very much appreciate it because The Women of the Mississippi River project would not be possible without them. If you’d like to donate or become a volunteer, you can learn more on our website parkconnection.org.

Q:  How are you letting the public know about the project?

A:  MPC’s Instagram has several posts promoting the project and there are some occasionally on our Facebook page too. One of our posts had a comment from a teacher who was excited to share this project with his students. That validated my hopes for this project! I was super excited to read that and realize the potential of this project as a teaching tool. It is also featured on MPC’s monthly newsletter. There are also several opportunities for people to find out about our volunteer opportunities in the park while social distancing. The project is also hosted on the National Park Service page and we are hoping that more media outlets will pick it up. We also look forward to park rangers incorporating these stories into their interpretative talks on their tours such as the Lock and Dam other programs on the river. We’ll post updates on the project on our social media and at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area National Park site, too.

Q:  Kristy, what's next for you?

A:  The hope for the Women of the Mississippi River project is that it continues to grow and inform. As for me, I will finish my AmeriCorps VISTA service year at MPC next June and do not know where life will take me from there.  I am open to all of the possibilities ahead of me either here in Minnesota or elsewhere. My aspiration is to continue working in the outdoors and continue to uplift marginalized voices. I hope I encounter new opportunities as my service year ends in 2021! 

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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. 

October 2 7th Ward Update from Council Member Lisa Goodman

My office has received many inquiries as to the City Council’s plan regarding the future of policing and the proposed community engagement plan for public safety changes and improvements. Today the City Council voted unanimously to approve the following outline for the public to weigh in on policing, police responses, public health-oriented violence prevention, law enforcement reforms and/or changes to protocols and practices.

In addition to this plan, the Public Health & Safety Committee of the City Council has noticed a public hearing/public comment period at the start of their next meeting next Thursday, October 8 at 1:30. Information on how to participate will be shared in a separate new article below.

The process is divided into four parts:

• Phase One (October 2020 - December 2020):  A community survey and public forums focused on the current model of community safety and opportunities for changes, with a synthesis of initial themes presented to the Council in early December along with a draft vision for consideration and adoption by the Council
• Phase Two (January 2021 - March 2021):  Public forums where community members can review and confirm the themes and goals established in the first phase plus a deeper dive into ideas for a new public safety model to help inform draft recommendations of actions steps to realize the established vision and goals
• Phase Three (April 2021 - May 2021):  Opportunities to offer feedback on draft recommendations at public forums and online
• Phase Four (June 2021 - July 2021):  Recommendations will be refined and finalized, incorporating community feedback gathered throughout the engagement process, with a final report to the Council on strategies for building a new model for community safety

The process is guided by the principles of accessibility, and meaningful and inclusive engagement. It will be open to all community members who wish to participate.

Recommendations made through this process will focus on but may not be limited to intermediate policy changes, investments and partnerships that support a public health approach to community safety, alternatives to policing, and research and engagement to inform the potential creation of a new Department of Community Safety. There will be a review and analysis of existing models, programs, and practices that could be applied in Minneapolis.

This process will build on the work already underway to refine and improve our 911 response and shift certain calls for help to responders other than MPD. It will also identify resources needed to support recommendations.

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Share Your Input on Public Safety at the First Public Comment Session on October 8 at 1:30pm

The Public Health & Safety Committee of the City Council has set a public comment period at the beginning of its next meeting to hear from the public about public safety.

Public safety public comment period 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8

To comment at the committee meeting, sign up in advance on the City website.

The City has an obligation to ensure all its public meetings comply with the law and that full and fair access is available to anyone interested in participating. State statute requires us to provide a minimum of three days public notice prior to a public comment period.

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Fall Street Sweeping Begins October 20

Crews will sweep streets across Minneapolis next month to clean the streets before winter to keep leaves and debris out of the storm drains 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.

Ways to stay informed of the parking rules:

• “No Parking” signs – City crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. However, the “No Parking” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking after the signs are removed. Vehicles not in compliance with “No Parking” signs may be ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.
• Social media – The City will use Facebook and Twitter to post periodic street sweeping updates and information.
• Phone calls to residents – In addition to the “No Parking” signs that will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City will make about 3,000 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street will be swept the next day. There’s no guarantee that the calls will reach everyone, so residents should be sure to check the various ways to be aware of the rules, and watch for signs.
• Interactive web feature – Folks can use a feature on the City’s website to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The Street Sweeping Schedule Lookup will be available on the City’s website once we get closer to the start date. The fall street sweep takes four weeks, and visitors to the website will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the four weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept.
• Videos – Street sweeping is explained in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong on the City’s YouTube channel and on Minneapolis City TV. Residents who have friends or neighbors who speak these languages are encouraged to share links to the videos.

Clean streets mean a healthier environment

Minneapolis is known for its sparkling lakes and waterways, and we want to keep it that way. That’s why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City’s top priorities. Street sweeping is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves and debris from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers. It also helps keep our neighborhoods clean and livable.

Minneapolis streets are swept completely curb to curb with enforcement of parking rules once in the spring, and again in the fall. Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings, or other debris into City streets – it’s bad for our lakes and waterways, can cause safety hazards, and is against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river, and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.

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Federal District Court Ruling Reinstates October 31 Deadline for 2020 Census

A federal court has ruled that the timeline for the 2020 Census must be extended for an additional month to Oct. 31. Due to disruptions caused by the pandemic, the original deadline of July 31 was initially extended to Oct. 31 to provide additional time to count residents, but it was later adjusted and reduced by a full month to Sept. 30.

Now with the federal court ruling, the Oct. 31 deadline is reinstated.

What does this mean?

This ruling means the U.S. Census Bureau will continue through Oct. 31 with door-knocking and following up with households that haven’t responded.

The census occurs once every decade, determining where $1.5 trillion in federal resources are distributed for transportation, housing, schools, health insurance, social service programs and infrastructure, including nearly $15 billion for Minnesota.

The data collected by the census also determines political representation. With Minnesota at risk for losing a congressional seat, a thorough and accurate census count is vital to the safety, success and future of our city and state.

We all count, so we must all be counted.

Read more.

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Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote

With just weeks left to go until the Nov. 3 election, it’s a good time for everyone to make sure they’re registered.

If you’ve never voted before and need to register, now is the perfect time. If it’s been more than four years since you last voted, or you’ve moved or changed your name since you last registered, you’ll also need to re-register. Any 17-year-old who will be 18 on or before election day may also register to vote now. Minnesotans can check their voter registration status before re-registering.

As of the State primary Aug. 11, Minneapolis had approximately 260,000 registered voters. That’s about 85% of the estimated number of voting age citizens* (18 or older) in the city, which means approximately 45,000 potential Minneapolis voters are not yet registered.

Registering and voting by mail

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail to avoid contacting others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports this and other CDC and Minneapolis Department of Health recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year. Voters applying to vote by mail who have not registered will get registration information with their mail ballot.

The City recommends applying for a mail ballot at least 14 days before Nov. 3 election.

Voters can also register in-person when voting early or at their polling place on Election Day. However, registering in advance of reduces the time spent there and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

More information is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov.

*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 1‐Year Estimate of Minneapolis Citizen Voting Age Population (CVAP)

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Mayor Jacob Frey Outlines More Detailed Plan for Proposed 2021 City Budget

Mayor Jacob Frey has released his finalized 2021 budget proposal for the City of Minneapolis.

With a limited 5.75% maximum levy increase and 12% increase in the overall tax base growth, three-quarters of Minneapolis residential property owners will see a decrease in their property tax bill with the median-valued household set to experience a $59 yearly decrease.

Despite the COVID shortfall, Frey’s 2021 budget proposal includes a $7.2 million increase in ongoing funding for affordable housing work, his top priority. That new, ongoing support includes a major boost to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was previously funded at $800,000 on an ongoing basis.

The ongoing funding commitment for affordable housing represents another record-setting benchmark for Frey who has invested in housing initiatives at the highest levels in city history in both of his first two years. The ongoing funding allocation also makes permanent the Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative – a program launched by Frey that, to-date, has ended or prevented homelessness for more than 2,000 kids in 745 Minneapolis Public School families with elementary school-aged children.

To support rebuilding and recovery efforts for businesses impacted by COVID and civil unrest, Frey will be allocating $5 million in one-time TIF funding for the Commercial Property Development Fund (CPDF) along with $500,000 in ongoing funding for the CPDF, at least $400,000 in supports for the Minneapolis Forward Community Now Coalition, and $250,000 ongoing funding for the Green Energy Cost Share program specifically for economic recovery.

The budget also invests in several safety beyond policing priorities and violence prevention work, including an expansion of the mental-health co-responder program, $2.5 million for the MinneapolUS violence interrupters initiative, and $300,000 of ongoing funding to support the continued implementation of the recommendations from the Mayor’s opioid task-force, including the First Step hospital-based overdose intervention program. Funding is further expanded by $50,000 to pilot a peer recovery initiative in partnership with the Minneapolis Fire Department.

Frey utilized a combination of an enterprise-wide hiring freeze, across-the board reductions in spending, an early retirement incentive, and broad departmental reorganization mandates to maintain current service levels while minimizing layoffs to 19. As Frey explained last month during his address, the hiring freeze will allow for flexibility in future planning and annual savings across the enterprise, including over $11 million from the Minneapolis Police Department.

The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) voted to adopt the maximum levy Sept. 23.

A link to the 2021 budget book can be found here.

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Office of Violence Prevention Developing Initiative to Interrupt Violence

You may be seeing violence interrupters out in our neighborhoods, wearing bright orange “MinneapolUS” t-shirts. The Minneapolis Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention is developing a new initiative modeled after successful global efforts like Cure Violence. The model complements existing outreach organizations already on our streets, employing a specific approach built on the idea that violence is a public health issue. 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.

How does it work?

Using informal mediation, non-physical conflict resolution and interruption expertise, trusted community members will work on our streets to stop conflicts before they happen and as they happen. They’ll also work to foster healing and mobilize communities to reject violence through strategies like awareness building, community gatherings and peace walks.

These trusted community members on neighborhood-specific teams have themselves experienced violence or are familiar with the impacts violence has on communities. They have strong relationships with young adults, neighborhood members, community leaders and service providers.

They will also work to connect people to jobs, housing, mental health and chemical dependency services, and other resources and supports.

Watch the City website for more information about this initiative and the Office of Violence Prevention as it becomes available.

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More Electric Vehicle Charging Hubs Coming to Minneapolis, Saint Paul in 2021

The Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network (TCEVMN) has been awarded $6.7 million by the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) as part of its Advanced Innovative Vehicle Technologies program. The TCEVMN, led by the City of Saint Paul in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, HOURCAR and East Metro Strong, will build 70 charging hubs in the two cities, primarily in the public right-of-way. These hubs, powered by renewable energy, will provide public charging for electric vehicles and will also host a new, one-way electric vehicle car-sharing service operated by local nonprofit HOURCAR. The award was the third largest in the DOE’s $139 million announcement and will be administered by the Lung Association.

Xcel Energy will provide up to $4 million of electrical infrastructure for the project as part of a Public Utilities Commission-approved package of electric vehicle pilots.

Read more.

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Vision Zero Traffic Safety Update, More Speed Limit Yard Signs Available

This year has seen a surge in requests for community traffic safety and traffic calming along with more reports of reckless driving and speeding.

The City is committed to reaching Vision Zero: having zero traffic deaths and severe injuries on our streets. Traffic staff have been working to respond to the safety requests in a fair and equitable way while recognizing the urgency of the current challenges. Public Works is also working on updated procedures related to neighborhood traffic calming, so that community members can better understand how decisions are made. A draft of those procedures will be available for public comment this winter.

The City continues to ramp up investments in traffic safety by implementing the 2020-2022 Vision Zero Action Plan. The 2020 Vision Zero Annual Report highlights recent work including:

• Lowering speed limits.
• Launching the Vision Zero traffic enforcement working group focused on safety and racial justice.
• Preparing quick safety improvements for high injury streets including converting a section of Lyndale Avenue North from four lanes to three, and making additional safety improvements at more than 30 intersections this year.
• A capital budget request for expanded improvements in 2021 and 2022.

Pick up a “20 is Plenty” yard sign

More “20 is Plenty, Slower is Safer” yard signs are now available for pickup while supplies last. Help get out the word about new, safer speed limits. You can pick up a yard sign at four locations:

• North: 2710 Pacific St. outside the main Public Works gate.
• Northeast: 1809 Washington St. NE outside the fence at Jefferson Street and 18th Avenue.
• South: 27th Street just east of Longfellow Avenue near the Public Works gate.

Southwest: 6036 Harriet Ave. S., at the southwest corner of 60th Street and Harriet Avenue.

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Early Voting Begins for November 3 Election

Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 18 for the Nov. 3 general election. Ballots may be cast early by mail or in person at the Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave.

The City is mailing 114,873 requested mail-in ballots to Minneapolis voters. Voters who applied early should allow seven to 10 days for their ballot to arrive. Voters who applied this week should allow 15-20 days for their ballot to arrive.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging voting early by mail, and Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services supports this and other CDC and Minneapolis Department of Health recommendations to make sure every voter in Minneapolis can safely cast their ballots this election year.

Changes to voting by mail

Any Minnesota voter can vote early; no reason is needed. However, due to a recent court action, some of the requirements for voting by mail have changed. These affect witness requirements and the deadline for returning your ballot.

• If you are registered to vote at your current address you will not need a mail ballot witness.
• If you have moved, changed names or need to register for the first time, you will need a witness to sign your mail ballot envelope.

A voter’s ballot will count as long as it is postmarked on or before Election Day (Nov. 3) and is received in the mail no later than seven days after Election Day (Nov. 10). This is a change from previous election law requiring mail ballots to be received by Election Day. Please note that if voters deliver their ballot in-person to the Elections & Voter Services office, it still must be returned by 3 p.m. on Nov. 3.

For the Aug. 11 State Primary, a court decision allowed an individual voter to return an unlimited number of other voters’ mail ballots. For the general election, this decision has been reversed, and voters may only return mail ballots for up to three other voters. When returning another voter’s ballot, identification with name and signature is required and paperwork must be completed. More information on how to vote by mail is available at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.

Voting at the Early Vote Center

The Early Vote Center, 980 E. Hennepin Ave., makes early in-person voting more convenient for Minneapolis voters. It’s especially helpful to people who need language support or other special accommodations, such as curbside voting. While we are in a pandemic, voting early can help people avoid lines and crowds at polling places on the day of the election.

The Early Vote Center’s hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The center will have extended hours for the final two weeks of voting, including Saturday and Sunday hours. For the last seven days of early voting, the City will open two additional Early Vote Centers. All early voting hours and locations are posted on the Elections & Voter Services website: vote.minneapolismn.gov.

Voters can save time by taking these three steps

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote, or pre-register at least 21 days before the election. Voters can register or check the status of their registrations at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/register.
2. Download and complete the absentee ballot application form in advance and bring it when you go to vote early. Find the request form at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/bymail.
3. Look at a sample ballot ahead of time; even bring it to refer to when you go to vote. Find your sample ballot at vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot.

State law allows voters to bring materials into the polls to help complete their ballots — and the sample ballot is the single, best tool available for this purpose. By downloading and printing their sample ballots (which are customized to their specific ward and precinct), voters can practice marking their ballots. They can bring this marked-up sample ballot as a reference to the voting booth when completing their official ballots. This is the best way to reduce the time spent waiting in lines.

Elections website has a new look

Just in time for the Nov. 3 general election, the City’s Elections & Voter Services website is out with a new look and improved functionality. Check it out at vote.minneapolismn.gov.

The new features include:

• Simpler design and improved organization make it easier to find what you want.
• More compatibility with smart phones.
• Improved search tool.

Handles increased website traffic more effectively.

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COVID-19 Situation Update as of September 30, 2020

Situational Updates: Minneapolis

• As of September 30, there are 10,868 cases in Minneapolis and 245 deaths. The total number of cases increased by 5% over the previous week, however there has not been a similar increase in hospitalizations and ICU admissions. Hospitalizations increased by 3% and ICU admissions by 1%.
• The average daily number of cases increased by 20 cases per day compared to the previous two weeks. Minneapolis-specific daily case counts and demographics are available at www.minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard.
• Community transmission accounted for 25% of all cases this week, down from 40% in the first two weeks of September. Despite the recent decrease, the high level of community transmission is still concerning. Community transmission means that a person’s infection cannot be traced to a known case or a specific activity. Increased community transmission makes it more difficult to conduct effective contact tracing and prevent further transmission.
• There continues to be a high number of cases in the 18-22 year old age group. Cases in this age range represent 73% of cases among those 15-24 years old diagnosed in September. This increase has coincided with the return of college students to campuses across the city.
• The CDC has canceled the CASPER survey because of the hostile reception these teams received in Minnesota communities. Given the uncertainty of the situation and the impact the incidents had on team members, CDC decided to demobilize the entire team. Results of the CASPER survey may have led to a better understanding of how COVID-19 is spreading in Minnesota and how it is affecting people. That kind of understanding may have helped improve multiple aspects of the pandemic response.
• 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

• As of September 30, there are 99,134 cases in Minnesota out of over 2 million tests completed. There have been 2,036 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota. There are 27,728 cases and 936 deaths in Hennepin County.
• The MN Department of Health is using a color-coded map to track a seven-day rolling average of new cases in Minnesota. As of September22, the State is at17.2casesper 100,000andMinneapolisisat17.4cases per 100,000. These numbers put both Minnesota and Minneapolis in the orange category, which represents accelerated spread of COVID-19. Rates have increased significantly in both the city and the state over the past two weeks.
• 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.

Health Incident Command updates

Businesses

• Over the last week, Health inspectors completed 79 food safety routine inspections, which included reviewing COVID-19 preparedness plans and ensuring implementation of COVID-19 safety protocols. Health inspectors also responded to three food safety and COVID-19 complaints from 311. Health inspectors connected with three businesses with reported COVID-19 positive employees/patrons to provide customized information and assistance.
• Inspectors conducted a bar sweep of 18 bars on September25 and completed two follow-up visits on September 26 to ensure that violations were addressed. The sweep was conducted in response to increasing COVID-19 cases among young adults.
• Environmental Health staff responded to a complaint at the Salvation Army indicating that residents were not wearing masks. 200 masks were distributed to help rectify the problem.
• Environmental Health staff are working with other City departments on housing options for people experiencing homelessness.
• Representatives from the State and the City, including Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant, have met with the Vikings regarding their request to increase the number of fans at games held in U.S. Bank Stadium.

Case investigations/Contact tracing

• MHD is conducting over 50 case investigations and contact follow-ups per day for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, there are 22investigators, including six non-MHD enterprise staff. Of the10,868cases in Minneapolis, 85.5% have been interviewed,2.2% have refused,10.2%have been lost to follow-up, and1.9% are new cases that still need to be interviewed. Twenty-six percent of interviews of Minneapolis residents are in a language other than English.

Community testing and flu shots

• On Saturday, September26, 90 people were tested at the Abubakar Islamic Center in South Minneapolis and 99 people were tested at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church. The latter event was focused on men recently released from incarceration but was open to everyone. On Tuesday, September29, 223 COVID-19 tests and 221 flu shots were given at Eastside Neighborhood Services.
• Going forward in2020 and 2021, MHD is exploring ways to utilize employees across the City enterprise to help support community testing events and other COVID-19 response efforts.

Halloween messaging

Thanks to Council Member Palmisano for sharing this fun Halloween resource from the Harvard Global Public Health Initiative. This interactive website provides guidance depending on color coded COVID-19 risk levels by county. Minneapolis risk level is orange which means accelerated spread. Recommended activities include a neighborhood candy hunt or trick or treat drive by.

Upcoming testing events

• Masjid An-Nur Mosque, 1729 N. Lyndale Ave. 2:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 Somali interpreters will be available. Register onsite.
• New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Bryant Ave. N. 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 2-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 Pre-registration is available soon, or 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 soon, or register onsite.

Test results are usually available in two business days.

Homeless encampments

• MNDOT closed the Hiawatha encampment on September 29. MHD staff and outreach workers helped move people from the encampment to shelters, hotels, and other safe spaces.
• The Health Department continues to work closely with the Park Board, Hennepin County, and other partners including Healthcare for the Homeless to respond to the needs of those living at encampments across the city. Healthcare for the Homeless is currently making weekly visits to all encampments to offer supplies and services including COVID-19 testing and flu vaccinations.

Personal protective equipment

• MHD continues to distribute personal protective equipment, including N95, surgical, and cloth masks as well as hand sanitizer, to community requestors. This past week, staff distributed 3,280 masks and 226 bottles of hand sanitizer. There were fewer requests compared to previous weeks, which may reflect a stabilizing supply chain for these products, although partners continue to engage in community distribution. Recipients include small businesses, religious organizations, and other community sites such as the YWCA on Lake Street which hosts a weekly food shelf and hygiene product distribution.

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.

MSP Film Society's 8th Annual Cine Latino Film Festival to be Experienced From Home

The MSP Film Society has announced the 8th Annual Cine Latino Film Festival will return as a virtual festival, October 15-22. Cine Latino will come to you - as CINE LATINO AT HOME / EN CASA!

Rare Drawdown of Mississippi River Below St. Anthony Falls Taking Place the Week of October 5th

Reposted from Mississippi Park Connection's website:

During the week of October 5, you will have a rare opportunity to see what parts of the Mississippi River looked like before it was altered by the lock and dam.

On October 5, the US Army Corps of Engineers will begin the process of lowering the river’s water level immediately below St. Anthony Falls. The purpose of drawing down the river is to allow for intermittent inspection of infrastructure that is normally underwater. The last drawdown occurred more than a decade ago, in 2008!

Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam will be open to the public for viewing the river on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM! There will be knowledgeable park rangers and volunteers to help interpret the river and answer questions.

The river will be at the lowest level on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 6 and 7), and then slowly refill on Thursday until it returns to the normal level later in the week.

The drawdown of the Lower Saint Anthony Pool will nearly restore that part of the river to its natural flow. Most notably, viewers will be able to see rapids in the river that once stretched from St. Anthony Falls to the Minnesota River, until engineering of the river for industrial and navigational purposes altered the flow. One of the most exciting things to see is the Stone Arch Bridge as it was intended, which is much taller than it appears. The lowered water level will also expose footing for the 10th Ave. wagon bridge and portions of William de la Barre's 1879 dam foundation.

Parade Ice Garden Open Skate and Adult Open Hockey Returns in October

Via a September 29 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

The Parade Ice Garden is located at 600 Kenwood Parkway

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is excited to announce the return of open skating, open hockey and pro’s ice figure skating! Starting the week of October 4th, you can lace up your skates and enjoy the skating at Parade Ice Garden.

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Open skate will consist 25 skaters on the ice at a time, and participants under 12 years of age must have 1 parent/guardian on the ice with them. A waiver must be on file prior to skating. Sign up through SignUp Genius. Pay upon arrival via credit card, check or exact cash.

Admission: Adults and Youth: $3, Seniors: $2.75 and Kids Under 5: Free

• Monday and Wednesday (Ages 54 and younger): 3pm-4pm
• Tuesday and Thursday (Ages 55 and over): 12pm-1pm

To reserve a spot to skate

Open Skating waiver

*  *  *  *  *  Adult Open Hockey  *  *  *  *  *

Must be 18 years old.  Open Hockey will consist of 24 skaters on the ice at a time, with 20 skaters and 4 goalies per session. Social distancing is not enforced during play. A waiver must be on file prior to skating. Sign up through SignUp Genius. Pay upon arrival via credit card, check or exact cash.

Admission:  $5 skaters, goalies play for free 

• Monday, Wednesday and Fridays: 11:30am-1pm
• Thursdays: 7:45am-9:15am

To reserve a spot to skate  

Open Hockey waiver

*  *  *  *  *  Pro's Ice Figure Skating  *  *  *  *  *

A unique program that allows figure skaters to practice on their own or with a skating professional. A waiver must be on file prior to skating. Sign up through SignUp Genius. Pay upon arrival via credit card, check or exact cash.

Admission:  $14 for 60 minutes

To reserve a spot to skate

Pro’s Ice waiver  

Contact

Phone: 612-370-4904, Email: arenas@minneapolisparks.org 

October is ‘Neighbor of the Day’ Month – Check Out These Great Neighbors!

Article by Becky Fillinger

What makes a good neighbor? Be That Neighbor polled our community and found many traits. Here are just a representative sample of responses: 

• A good neighbor welcomes, embraces and supports new arrivals and established people and businesses in the community.
• A good neighbor is dependable, generous and helpful.
• A good neighbor pays attention – If I see something, I do something.
• Good neighbors respect each other and console each other.
• Good neighbors build connections and care for the ones who are lonely, sick, hungry or down and out
• A good neighbor asks themselves, “How can I heal my community?”

We also asked for nominations of exemplary neighbors. October is Neighbor of the Day month and we will highlight one exemplary neighbor per day. Be sure to visit the Be That Neighbor Facebook page every day in October to learn more. Here’s the line-up of those we recognize in October:

Lowry Hill Meats, Muna Mohamed, VJ Smith, Mill City Times, Louisa Montague, Abdirizak Bihi, The Lift Garage, Katie Miller, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, Wildflyer Coffee, Sisterhood Boutique, Cynthia Froid, Kevin Grewe, Pow Wow Grounds, Hippy Feet, Iqbal Abdi, Loaves and Fishes, Lou Burdick, Liz Kane, Afro Deli, Jim Stolley, Mahamed Salad, Cookie Cart, Joe and Heidi Amouta, Jerry Croxdale, Pimento Jamaican Kitchen, Camille Burke, Bobby & Steve’s Auto World, Ute Buehler, Emily Organ and Theresa Scarbrough.

We’re just getting started! Know a good neighbor? Submit your nomination to Claudia Kittock, Be That Neighbor Board President, at cjkittock@gmail.com.

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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 29: MnDOT Historian Shares Third Avenue Bridge History

Join MnDOT historian Katie Haun Schuring and the project team for a conversation spanning the history of the Third Avenue Bridge. Learn about early 20th century Minneapolis, the bridge design, interesting features and construction methods used during this time.

*  *  *  *  *  *  REGISTER *  *  *  *  *  *

This free virtual presentation will be on Tuesday, September 29 from 5:30-6:30pm. An interactive question-and-answer session will take place after the presentation. If you’re not able to attend, a second virtual presentation is planned for late fall. More information on this second opportunity will be available in the coming weeks.

Check out more bridge history on the Third Ave. Bridge project page. Through facts and photographs, explore the unique design, construction and legacy of this historic bridge.

Register for Meet Minneapolis' September 30 Webinar, Featuring Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo

Wednesday, September 30

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Featuring Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo

Meet Minneapolis hosts monthly webinar updates, and for this month's update they will take a deeper look at public safety, the latest impact of the pandemic, and provide key data and insights that are the basis of a strategic recovery plan for this critical economic industry in Minneapolis.

The Tourism and Hospitality industry is integral to the Minneapolis economy, representing more than $8 billion in metro area visitor spending and supporting nearly 36,000 workers in the city in 2019. The coronavirus pandemic has brought us to a standstill – keeping our visitors, convention attendees and sports fans at home and temporarily halted critical incremental spending at our airport, restaurants, shops, attractions, hotels and meeting and convention facilities.

Even though it will look different - people will travel again. For Meet Minneapolis, restoring confidence among residents and visitors is critical for Minneapolis to continue being a vibrant, diverse and active city where we all love to live, work and play.

This webinar will cover:

• Public Safety Update
• Q & A with Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo 
• Research Update
• Meet Minneapolis Recovery Plan

*  *  *  *  *  REGISTER  *  *  *  *  *

Doug Verdier's Third Avenue Bridge Photos from September 25, 2020

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

Much progress on the repair of concrete on the Third Avenue Bridge piers was seen during the past week.

The above photo shows workers constructing forms as part of the application of new concrete around the base of the pier. Deteriorated concrete has been removed and new rebar is in place. This pier is close to SE Main Street.

View of the same pier showing where deteriorated concrete has been removed from around the base.

Near the center of the span, workers are assembling platforms beneath and within the arch to allow access to other areas within the structure and the underside of the arch itself. The red objects in the photo on each of the platforms are stacks of plywood with red edges that will be used as repair work continues. Similar platforms can be seen under the arch at the far end of the bridge in this photo.