Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

The general election is Tuesday, November 2. Do your part to ensure a good turnout by considering the following:

• Do you know where your polling place is? Precinct 7 in the SE Como neighborhood, for example, had a change in polling place this year from the Elections Warehouse to Van Cleve Park. If you are unsure of where to vote, click HERE to go to Hennepin County’s precinct finder.
  
• Are you registered to vote? You can find out by going to www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections and clicking on “Voter Registration Lookup”. You can register to vote at your polling place by providing one of the forms of identification required by Minnesota law.
  
• Do you need a ride to the polls? In the Twin Cities metro area, the non-partisan Rides to the Polls Coalition will provide free rides to and from the polling place. Fully accessible vans are ready to meet the needs of all people, including those who use wheelchairs, scooters and walkers. Space is limited, so call or email now to schedule a ride: 1-877-507-4337 or jeff@mncn.org.
  
• Do you know what’s on your ballot? The general election ballot includes races for U.S. representative, governor and lt. governor, secretary of state, state auditor, attorney general, state senators, state representatives, county and judicial offices, and the Minneapolis school board. In addition, there will be a Minneapolis City Charter ballot question on the handling of redistricting in the city.

Minneapolis 311 will be available extended hours, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to serve voters while the polls are open on Tuesday. Minneapolis voters can call 311 for information on how to register and where to vote.

Eastside Non-Profit Spotlight: Sustainable Revolution Project

The Sustainable Revolution Project is a Northeast Minneapolis-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting simple, energy-efficient solutions by creating innovative, sustainable opportunities in the public and private sector. They build sustainable homes, offer Green Work Force training, and provide consulting services to homeowners and contractors on sustainable building techniques.

One of the major focuses of their mission is environmental service learning programs to educate youth and communities. Their SEED (Sustainable Environmental Education) Program is teaming up with inner city schools to educate kindergarten through 12th grade students on sustainable technologies. They use on-site and classroom instruction to empower youth to make sustainable choices that positively impact their communities. SEED will be working with Edison High School this year on a pesticide reduction program for the school’s athletic fields.

Sustainable Revolution Project is located at 1330 Quincy Street NE. For further information about their mission and services, call 612-481-2346 or go to sustainablerevolutionproject.org.

Fall Street Sweeping

Street Maintenance’s Fall sweeping and leaf removal program began the last week in October and will continue through approximately the third week in November. To ensure that the streets get thoroughly cleaned and your car doesn’t get towed, please note the following:

• “No Parking” signs will be posted the morning of the day prior to actual sweeping. Signs will be removed following the completion of sweeping.
  
• Business and commercial areas will be given priority sweeping each day so as to restore critically needed parking as soon as possible.
  
• Enforcement and towing will begin at 8:00 a.m. the day of the sweeping.
  
• City Ordinance prohibits the raking of leaves into the street. Leaves entering the city’s sewer system can negatively impact water quality in our rivers and lakes.

To find out the sweeping schedule for your street, go to “Street Lookup” on the City of Minneapolis website. If you don’t have internet access, just call the Ward One office at 612-673-2201 and we’ll provide the schedule for you.

Welcome new SE Como Student Neighborhood Liaison

The University of Minnesota’s Office of Student and Community Relations sponsors a Student Neighborhood Liaison Program. Its mission is to improve the livability of the neighborhoods near the U of M campus by partnering with neighborhood organizations and residents to bridge the gap between students and their neighbors. The student liaisons facilitate block meetings and share resource information about responsible party hosting, being a good neighbor, city ordinances and landlord/tenant rights. They also organize and host social and community service events, such as the annual Como Cookout.

Student liaisons can offer assistance in improving relations between long-term residents and student renters. If you have concerns about a house or apartment with student renters or issues with a chronic party house in your neighborhood, use the Liaison Lookup to identify and contact the appropriate liaison.

The new liaison for 22nd, 23rd and 24th Avenues SE north of Como is Kelsey Peterson. Contact her at pete6747@umn.edu with any issues and concerns or just to introduce yourself and offer a welcome to the neighborhood.

Parking Lot & Sidewalk Maintenance Workshop

Elevated levels of chloride from road salt have the potential to severely impact our watershed, rivers and lakes. The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) is offering a FREE workshop on Winter Parking Lot & Sidewalk Maintenance that will present information on how to mitigate the effects of de-icing materials on the environment without compromising safety or effectiveness.

The workshop is geared toward staff maintaining private/public walkways and parking lots, snow removal contractors, landscapers, property managers, and snowplow drivers. Participants also have the option of receiving Level One Certification in Snow & Ice Control Best Practices from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which would allow them to be listed on the MPCA website as a certified practitioner.

The workshop takes place Thursday, December 9, 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the St. Anthony City Hall, 3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony. There is no charge for the workshop and it includes a complimentary lunch. Registration is required by Wednesday, December 1. For further information and registration forms, go to http://www.mwmo.org/educationtrainings.html.

NE Showcase

Come take a closer look at the Public Schools in Northeast Minneapolis. If you are pondering your child’s school options or just want more information about what public education in our community has to offer, be sure to attend this fun event on Saturday, November 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Edison High School Community Gym, 700 22nd Avenue NE. There will be plenty of free activities for parents and kids. The following schools will be represented:

• Edison High School (9-12)
• NE Middle School (6-8)
• Marcy Open School Magnet (K-8)
• Pillsbury Community School (PK-5)
• Sheridan Arts Magnet (PK-8)
• Waite Park Community School (PK-5)

As an added bonus, the newly relocated Morris Park Players will be performing “Annie” on the Edison stage at 2 p.m. on November 13. Watch for Edison students and staff in the cast. For further information about tickets and reservations, call 612-724-8373 or reserve online: http://www.morrisparkplayers.org/tickets/ Come for the Showcase, stay for the show!

Edison High School Open House

Tuesday, November 30, Thomas Alva Edison High School will throw its doors open to prospective new students at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to attend and check out all the exciting offerings, including Junior Achievement, Robotics and their new International Baccalaureate program. The evening will include free hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream floats and gym activities. All are welcome!

Free Radon Detection Kits

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, but it is 100% preventable. Radon problems can be easily fixed. An invisible, odorless, radioactive gas, radon can be found in many homes across Minnesota but can only be discovered by testing.

The Minnesota Department of Health has donated more than 250 radon test kits that will be given way free on Friday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pick up your free kit at Minneapolis Development Review, 3rd Floor, 250 S. 4th Street while supplies last (one per household). Beginning November 1, radon detection kits will be available for $9 each at Minneapolis Development Review.

Save The Date:

It’s Not Easy Being Green – Or Is It?
Tuesday, November 9, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. The Northeast Minneapolis Chamber invites you to attend an informational session to learn about no or low cost loan and grant programs for Minneapolis businesses ready to go green. To register, call 612-370-9100.

SECIA Annual Meeting
Tuesday, November 9, at Van Cleve Park. 6:00 p.m. social hour, 7:00-9:00 p.m. meeting. Elected officials, including CM Reich, city staff and members of the U of M District Alliance will be among the guest speakers.

Nice Ride Neighborhood Workshop
Tuesday, November 9, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Join your neighbors to offer input on where a Nice Ride station should be located in Northeast Minneapolis. If you are unable to attend, you may submit comments and suggestions to ideas@niceridemn.org.

NE Network
Thursday, November 11, 7:30-8:45 a.m. This month’s topic is “Shop Local / Flavor of Central”. Click here to RSVP.

Children’s Safety Seminar
Saturday, December 4, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Waite Park Community Council is sponsoring a safety seminar for parents and K-5 children. The seminar will be conducted by the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center and will include a discussion of personal boundaries and age-appropriate information and activities for children. The event is hosted by Waite Park Wesleyan Church, 1510 33rd Avenue NE. Pre-register at childsafety@waiteparkchurch.org.

Holiday Train
Saturday, December 11, 8:00-10:00 p.m. Join East Side Neighborhood Services, the Northeast Minneapolis Chamber and CP Railway representatives for activities, entertainment and food. Bring non-perishable food and money donations to benefit East Side Neighborhood’s food shelves. The event takes place at the Canadian Pacific Railway Shoreham Yard, 2800 Central Avenue NE.

Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

This fall continues to be an exciting, productive time for Eastside neighborhoods. The SE Como neighborhood’s 2nd MIMO (Move-In/Move-Out Waste Reduction Project), timed with the start of the University of Minnesota semester, was a ringing success and diverted 9,141 pounds of reusable material from the waste stream. This neighborhood has also welcomed two schools into the newly-reopened Tuttle School building – Heritage Academy and Tatanka Academy.

The Holland neighborhood is also bustling. Edison High School has been reinvigorated with three hundred new students, a vital Community Education program, and the newly arrived Morris Park Players, who will open their new season with a production of Annie. Across the street from the school, Jackson Square Park is the home to a new installation of Musical Art Sculptures, a generous gift of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club. These innovative pieces are a wonderful addition to the park and have proven from the moment they were in the ground to be an irresistible magnet to kids and adults alike. Meanwhile, sculptor James Brenner’s Double Flux and Innovation Backstop continue to progress and will be dedicated later this fall.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and a number of Eastside businesses are donating a portion of their sales to AccessAbility, Inc. to recognize their work this month. AccessAbility is a Northeast non-profit headquartered in the Mid-City Industrial neighborhood. This organization has provided opportunities for self-sufficiency for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment since 1948. For further information about their work, go to www.accessability.org.

New Musical Instrument Installation in Jackson Square Park

Residents of the Holland neighborhood have seen many exciting upgrades at Jackson Square Park in recent years, including new play equipment, the installation of In Flux, and the slowly rising Innovation Backstop. The newest development is the installation of seven outdoor musical instruments, generously donated by the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club as part of their mission to have a direct, positive impact on their community. These large, colorful, free-standing instruments were dedicated on September 24. The instruments will offer students and community members the opportunity to engage in creating musical sound, while a related University of Minnesota study will involve Edison students in monitoring and assessing the impact of the presence of these instruments in our community. Much thanks to the Rotary Club, Minneapolis Park Board, Knutson Construction, Doug Schmitt from Schmitt Music and John Vandermyde Sr. (Edison class of ’58) for making this project possible.

Rake, Rattle & Roll!!

The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches’ HandyWorks program offers free leaf raking for residents 60 years and older in Southeast and Northeast Minneapolis. Volunteer groups of 5-6 will help elderly neighbors by raking their leaves in late October through early November, weather permitting. If you are interested either in receiving services or volunteering to help out your neighbors, please contact Molly Chandler at 612-721-8687 or mchandler@gmcc.org. Please help spread the word about this service to your senior friends and neighbors!

A Mission to Serve

East Side Neighborhood Services was established 95 years ago with the express purpose of serving the influx of Slavic immigrants to Eastside Minneapolis neighborhoods. This venerable non-profit organization continues that mission today and has expanded it to include a wide variety of services to seniors, children, families, immigrants and refugees. Their many programs include:

• Menlo Park Academy, an accredited city high school that provides education, life and work skills development, and social services for youth ages 15-20.
  
• Camp Bovey, a summer resident camp for boys and girls ages 8-14.

• Eastside Employment Network, with skill training classes and services for both jobseekers and prospective employers.
  
• Northeast Child Development Center (NECDC), comprehensive childcare and pre-kindergarten programs for children ages 6 weeks-6 years.
  
• Senior programs, including Employment & Community Outreach, Adult daycare, transportation services, and a Senior Center.
  
• East Side Thrift Store, providing free or low-cost clothing and household goods. The Thrift Store is currently seeking donations of usable winter coats (especially children’s sizes) for its Annual Coat Give-Away, which will be held on Mon, Nov. 1, at 1700 2nd St. NE.

For more information about the services offered or to volunteer to help forward East Side Neighborhood Services’ significant mission, please call 612-781-6011.

Proposed City-County Environmental Facility Update

The City of Minneapolis now has a web page for information related specifically to the proposed City-County Environmental Facility at 340 27th Ave NE. The web page contains an overview of the proposal, site map and Frequently Asked Questions. Other information, such as the traffic study, environmental test results, etc., will be posted as it becomes available. To check out the web page, go to http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/solid-waste/solid-waste_city-county

City staff will present the results of their traffic study of the Lowry and University Avenue area at the Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association (HNIA) general meeting on Thursday, October 14, 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Firefighters’ Hall & Museum, 664 22nd Ave NE.

Recycling News

Many of us are trying to cut back on paper bag use by taking our own bags to the grocery store. If you find that that practice leaves you short of paper bags for separating your recycling, the City of Minneapolis has an alternative for you. You may use wastebaskets, pails or corrugated boxes for separated paper, plastic or cans. These alternative containers should be 10 gallons or less and there must be a city recycling sticker on at least one side of the container.

The Ward One office has a supply of recycling stickers, so if you need some, just give us a call at 612-673-2201. We would be happy to mail or drop them off for you.

Community Education at Edison

Edison High School is a lively learning place both day and night. The home of the Tommies and the Morris Park Players is now home to Community Education also. Edison High School, 700 22nd Ave NE, opens its doors on Wednesday nights this fall for a variety of Community Education classes, from “Tai Chi & QiGong” and “iPhone Applications” to “Travel Photography” and “Zumba”. To register, visit www.mplscommunityed.com or call David Warnest at 612-668-1515 for further information.

Save the Date:

Weed It and Reap NE Clean-up
Thursday – Saturday, October 7-9, 8 a.m.-5p.m. Volunteer for the NE Chamber-sponsored community clean-up days. Volunteers will be supplied with vests, gloves and garbage bags and assigned to pick up debris near local businesses, parks, boulevards and streets. For further information, visit www.minneapolischamber.org/weedit or call 612-378-0050.

NE Network
Thursday, October 14, 7:30-8:45 a.m., at Eastside Food Co-op. This month’s topic is After the Bridge: What’s in Store for Central & Lowry? Click here to RSVP.

PEN Fundraiser
Wednesday, October 20, 5-7 p.m., at Sen Yai Sen Lek. Enjoy free appetizers, a cash bar and an opportunity to help raise funds to advertise the upcoming NE School Showcase.

Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

In May of this year Bicycling magazine named Minneapolis America’s best bike city. They singled out our more than 120 miles of bikeways, many bike amenities and strong, vibrant bicycling community as key factors in their designation.

It’s great to see our City acknowledged as a bicycling hotspot, but it doesn’t mean the job is done. Much work remains to enhance and increase our bikeways. As an example, 2010 and 2011 promise to be big years for Eastside bicycling. Five bike boulevard projects are coming our way – 5th Street NE and the 5th Street SE Bikeway, 22nd Avenue NE, the 18th Ave NE Bikeway and the President’s Bike Boulevard. These bikeways will employ a variety of curb and pavement changes, including landscaped traffic circles, lane striping, pedestrian lights, curb extensions and speed bumps. There will also be some innovative new technologies employed, such as bicycle counters and a new stoplight with bicycle signals. These projects will add approximately 10 new miles to Minneapolis’ bikeways.

Public input remains an essential piece of developing bicycle plans and policies. A draft of the Minneapolis Bicycle Master Plan was released a few weeks ago. This plan establishes goals, objectives, and benchmarks to improve safety and mobility for bicyclists and also increase the number of trips taken by bicycle. It’s available online at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bicycles/bicycle-plans.asp. The first of five public meetings was held at Edison High School on August 30.

If you were unable to attend that meeting, you can still make your voice heard by completing the online survey about the Draft plan at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MinneapolisBicycleMasterPlan.

Reduce Energy Use & Save Money

Community Energy Services, a full service residential energy program, has been implemented in several Eastside neighborhoods, including Audubon, Logan Park, SE Como, Waite Park and Windom. This program offers educational workshops, home energy visits, and more to identify simple ways to reduce energy use and save money. Participants have the opportunity to receive up to $400 of materials, including low flow showerheads, compact fluorescent light bulbs, gasket seals and other items for at a cost of $30.

CEE will be issuing an RFP to all neighborhood associations in September to be included in the next phase of the program. If you’re interested in seeing this program come to your neighborhood, encourage your neighborhood association to apply.

Grant Writing Workshop for Neighborhood Groups

As budgets get tighter and resources scarcer, more neighborhood groups have looked to grants from various sources to fund their work. If this is the case in your neighborhood, you may want to check out a free half-day workshop – “Grant Writing for Neighborhood Groups” – that is being sponsored by the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA). The workshop takes place Tuesday, September 28, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 451 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul. This free workshop offers the opportunity to network with colleagues from other neighborhood groups, find out about new funding resources, and learn what funders look for in reviewing grant applications. For further information, contact Sara Bielawski at biel0032@umn.edu.

Local Food Resource Hubs

A collaboration of individuals and organizations, including Gardening Matters, Northpoint Health and Wellness Center, St. Olaf Community Campus and City of Minneapolis, are working together to develop neighborhood-based local food resource hubs that would support growing, selling and preserving of food by households, community gardeners, and urban farmers all within their community. This concept was inspired by a presentation by Ashley Atkinson, Greening of Detroit, during the 2010 Community Garden Spring Resource Fair this March.

There will be several events Sunday, Sept. 12 – Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the St. Olaf Community Campus, 2901 Emerson Ave N., including a Hoophouse building workshop and presentations about the Detroit Garden Resource Collaborative. This Gathering is free and open to the public; anyone interested in helping to form a localized partnership around food growing, preservation, distribution, consumption, and waste management accessibility is encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Gardening Matters at 512-492-8964 or visit www.gardeningmatters.org.

Upcoming Northeast Network

The September Northeast Network meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. This month’s topic will be issues of waste and waste disposal in and through Northeast Minneapolis, considering such questions as:

• What kinds and how much waste does our community generate? Where does it go?
  
• What kinds of human health impacts do different components of the waste stream have? How can we reduce them?
  
• What kinds of legislative proposals or public programs are in the works to address our mounting waste issues?
  
• What kinds of practical steps can individuals and businesses take to lessen the load?

Panelists will include:

• Susan Young, Director, City of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling
  
• John Jaimez, Organics Recycling Coordinator with Hennepin County Environmental Services
  
• Kathleen Schuler, MPH, Co-Director, Healthy Legacy of the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, Sept. 7. Click here to RSVP.

Proposed Minneapolis-Hennepin Environmental Center

Since 2005, representatives from the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County have been discussing the potential of the City and County partnering on a household hazardous waste facility in the City of Minneapolis. Currently Hennepin County operates facilities in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park.

However, participation data collected by Hennepin County has shown that only approximately 5% of Minneapolis residents utilize these facilities on a regular basis. Both the City and the County felt that more convenient access would increase participation by Minneapolis residents, to reduce the amount of improperly disposed of waste ending up in the river, ground and air.

In June 2010, the City began the process of evaluating the environmental and public purpose of the property at 340 27th Ave NE as a potential location for a Minneapolis-Hennepin Environmental Center. The evaluation includes environmental investigations and a traffic study to analyze traffic flow in the area.

There have been three public information meetings about this proposed site over the summer. Upcoming meetings will review the traffic study. In addition, the City of Minneapolis is in the process of developing a website so that the public may be further informed about the proposed site, environmental study, traffic study and details about further public meetings. For information about upcoming meetings, the traffic study and/or the website, please feel free to contact the Ward 1 office.

Back To School Notes

Edison High School rolls out its new International Baccalaureate (IB) program this fall. This challenging academic program encourages students to think from an international perspective while developing an understanding of their own cultural and national identity. The emphasis on interdisciplinary learning requires studying across six disciplines: native language, second language, individuals and societies, mathematics, computer science, experimental sciences and the arts.

Morris Park Players, a venerable community theater group, has relocated to Edison High School. Their first production in their new home will be the musical Annie, opening November 5.

Save the date for the Edison Homecoming & Octoberfest: Friday, September 24. Game time is 5 p.m. Octoberfest is in Jackson Square Park following the game. The entertainment will include the musical talents of the Edison Alumni Band, Pop Bang and King Custom & the Cruisers.

This year’s Edison Community BBQ was a resounding success for the fourth year in a row! Approximately 1100 community members, staff, students and parents visited and enjoyed brats, burgers, chicken and more. Principal Carla Steinbach and the Edison staff extend a big thank you to all the community members and sponsors who showed their support.

8th Annual Como Cookout

The Como Cookout is Sunday, September 19, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Van Cleve Park. This annual event includes an array of games from Frisbee golf to carnival games to human bingo, as well as a resource fair and food, lots of food!

East Side Thrift Store

Thrift stores offer a great way to practice the mantra of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The East Side Thrift Store, located at 1928 Central Ave NE, is a non-profit operation run by East Side Neighborhood Services. The store offers clothing for all ages, accessories, jewelry, housewares, antiques, collectibles, books and much more. For further information, check out the website at www.esns.org.

MIMO Neighborhood Free Store

Southeast Como Improvement Association (SECIA) runs their temporary Free Store at the U of M ReUse Warehouse at 29th & Como Aves SE through Saturday, September 11. This is a pilot reduce, reuse, recycle project funded by a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The goal is to reduce the large amounts of curbside waste left after the Move-In/Move-Out cycles at the University of Minnesota. The store is open 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For further information, go to www.secomo.org.

Waite Park Fall Fest & Push Cart Derby

The Waite Park Fall Fest is Saturday, September 11, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Waite Park. It’s a fun-filled day of music, food, park events, kids’ games and the Second Annual Push Cart Derby.

Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

Bridges are essential infrastructure in a city bisected by a river, a fact was brought home with a vengeance with the 35W Bridge collapse in 2007. It’s being brought home again this summer as the Camden Bridge is closed for reconstruction.

Built in 1975, the Camden Bridge had deteriorated by 2004 to the point that it needed repairs to maintain public safety. When American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (http://www.recovery.gov) funding became available in 2010, the City of Minneapolis decided to go ahead with the necessary repairs now rather than wait until the bridge deteriorated to the point that it needed complete replacement. The bridge has been closed since April and is on track to reopen sometime between the last week in August and the first week in September. While the five months of closure have been a trial for many of us, this project is being completed relatively quickly and will mean significant savings of maintenance costs in the future, since City crews had been spending approximately one month a year on painting and deck patching.

Bridges don’t just span rivers. The St. Anthony Parkway Bridge, which is scheduled for replacement, runs over the Burlington Santa Fe Railway Co. (BNSF) Northtown Rail Yard. A Warren through truss bridge that was built in 1925, it is currently structurally deficient and fracture critical. Public Works has assembled the funding for this project from a number of sources and is working on a final design. As part of this process, there will be several public meetings on various aspects of this project. One of the important aspects of the project that needs to be weighed is the impact it will have on two historic resources: the bridge itself and St. Anthony Parkway. Please don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have questions or concerns to voice on this project.

Jackson Square Park Innovations

Phase II of the Holland Gateway project is taking shape this summer. Sculptor James Brenner, who previously created In Flux for the southeast corner of the park, has turned the Edison High School auto shop into an artist’s studio. From this convenient location he will be fabricating and installing Innovation Backstop in the park itself, Double Flux across the street at the Basin, and a brand new Edison sign on the northwest corner of the Edison campus.

This ambitious project represents a collaboration between a number of stakeholders, including Holland Neighborhood Improvement Association, NRP, the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the Firefighters Hall & Museum. The backstop itself celebrates both the high school’s namesake, Thomas Alva Edison, and Firefighter Louis Rober, who is credited with bringing the sport of softball to Minneapolis. It promises to be the most unique softball backstop in the state, perhaps in the world. Go to www.chicagosculptureworks.com to check out the artist’s renderings of the various pieces or just stop over at Jackson Square Park to watch the progress.

Shoreham Yards Update

Keep up-to-date on the progress of the Shoreham Yards clean-up at a new website: http://www.shorehamrepository.com This website offers access to technical documents related to clean up activities at the site, as well as contact information for Canadian Pacific, Ashland, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and more.

4th Annual Edison Staff, Parent & Community BBQ

Save the date – Thursday, August 26 – for this annual community get-together. The grills will be going from 3-7 p.m., under the supervision of Legendary Grill Meisters Niles Schulz and Shaun Wakaruk and a host of helpers and community sponsors. It’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, greet the Edison staff, students and parents, and while away a summer evening. The event takes place right outside of Edison High School on 22nd Ave NE, between Quincy and Monroe.

National Night Out – Tuesday, August 3

No doubt your block or neighborhood’s plans for NNO are in full swing, but if you have any last minute questions, requests or concerns, or if there is anything we can do to lend support to your event, please don’t hesitate to give the Ward One office a call at 612-673-2201.

We Want You Back Campaign

Mpls Public Schools and the Youth Coordinating Board have joined forces to raise public awareness about the dropout crisis in Minneapolis and enlist the entire community’s help to resolve it. We Want You Back is a grass-roots effort to identify, connect with and ultimately invite un-enrolled young people to complete their credits and get their diploma. Saturday, September 11 is the citywide door-knocking event. We Want You Back Wants You!
Visit www.wewantyoubackmpls.org to learn more, sign up and help out.

Edison Junior Achievement Honors

Congratulations to the Edison students who took 4th place in the Junior Achievement National Competition of the Year on Tuesday, July 20. Their Edison Tommie Co., which created and marketed a cookbook triumphed over 20 other teams from the United States and Canada, all of whom went through district and state competitions before getting to the national level.

Central Corridor Business Assistance

Northeast Neighbors & Business Association is offering assistance to businesses affected by the Central Corridor construction project. They will waive advertising fees for any business located on the Central Corridor construction route through December 2010. Contact Shelley Leeson at northeastnba@live.com for further information.

Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

You may have noticed recent television and billboard public service announcements on behalf of Be The Match Foundation. Did you know that that organization is part of the National Marrow Donor Program which is located in the Mid-City Industrial neighborhood of Ward One? NMDP maintains a database of 13 million bone marrow and cord blood donors and facilitates over 5—transplants per month.

NMDP started with 34 employees when it opened its doors nearly 20 years ago and has grown to employ 700 people in its NE Minneapolis location. NMDP has recently launched the Phoenix Initiative, a plan to modernize their transplant support systems. This upgrade would cut in half the processing time for critical transplant patients seeking donors.

NMDP requested funding assistance from the City of Minneapolis to facilitate this program. At the Community Development Committee meeting on May 18, my colleagues and I voted in favor of issuing $80 million in 501c(3) Tax-exempt and Taxable Revenue Bonds to finance the technology improvements. The full Council gave approval on May 28.

This exciting development is a win-win on a number of fronts:

• NMDP’s mission to make bone marrow and cord blood donations available more quickly will be greatly enhanced.
  
• The additional 95 employees they expect to add in 2011 and 400+ employees by 2019 will boost the economic vitality of NE Minneapolis.
• The City will make a profit of $50,000 per year in fees above and beyond the repayment of the $80 million.
• This additional $50,000 in annual revenue will support the City’s small business assistance programs.

“Buying Into The City” NE Home Tour

Looking to purchase a home? Attend the “Buying Into The City” NE Minneapolis Home Tour on Sunday, June 13. The tour starts at the Rogue Buddha Gallery, 357 13th Ave NE. Pick up your map, enjoy refreshments, talk with neighbors and learn about homebuyer programs and resources 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Then from noon – 3:00 p.m. you may tour at your own pace a variety of homes that are for sale in Northeast Minneapolis. For further information, go to www.livemsp.org.

Wells Fargo Home Preservation Workshop

Are you a Wells Fargo or Wachovia mortgage customer facing mortgage payment challenges? If so, Wells Fargo invites you to get the answers you need at a free workshop June 5 & 6, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., at Minneapolis Convention Center. Meet with a Wells Fargo representative who will confidentially discuss your financial concerns and options. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to see if you’re eligible for a loan modification under the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program. Call 1-800-405-8-67 or go to www.wfhmevents.com/leadingthewayhome for further information and to register for the workshop. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Start Planning Now for National Night Out

National Night Out 2010 is Tuesday, August 3 and now is the time to start making preparations on your block for the night that brings neighbors together. Minneapolis wants to make it easy for block clubs and neighbors to get started now on their plans. The City of Minneapolis asks that you register your event, even if you are not blocking your street, so that they can track the success of National Night Out. Go to www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/nno or call 311 for further information and easy registration. If you want to close your street for your event, street closure is free when you apply by July 14. You need the permission of 75% of your neighbors to be approved for street closure – please have their names and addresses (you don’t need signatures) when you apply.

Graco-Edison Robotics Team

Congratulations to the Graco-Edison T.E.R.T.O.L.A. Robotics Team 2513 for another year of achievement. This year’s team made it to the semi-finals at the MN 10,000 Lakes Championship held at the University of Minnesota’s Williams Arena. Their final rank was 16 out of 63.

Last year’s Graco-Edison T.E.R.T.O.L.A. Robotics Team 2513 (photo below) also covered themselves in glory, going to the Regional Semi-Finals in Michigan.

Graco, which is headquartered in NE Minneapolis, sponsors the Robotics team at Edison. Robotics combines science, technology, engineering and imagination as teams from 12 countries learn leadership and collaboration skills while they design, build and program robots to perform specific tasks in competition with each other.

Turfgrass Maintenance Workshop

Do you have concerns about managing lawns and turfgrass while reducing the environmental impact? Mississippi Watershed Management Organization and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are sponsoring a free training workshop on best practices for managing turfgrass on Wednesday, July 21, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Topics covered in the workshop will include selection and application of fertilizer, best practices for turfgrass management and pesticide application tips. The workshop will be held at St. Anthony City Hall, 3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony. For questions or to register for the workshop, contact Erica Sniegowski at 612-465-8780, ext. 206 or esniegowski@mwmo.org.

Recreational Fire Update

During the summer months, many people enjoy recreational fires in their backyards. Please keep in mind, however, that there are specific City ordinances that must be followed so that you may enjoy your fire safely. Ward One, along with several other Wards, the Minneapolis Fire Department and Regulatory Services, funded an informational utility bill insert that went out with the June water bills to explain the rules for recreational fires. If you have questions or concerns about the rules surrounding recreational fires, please give us a call at 612-673-2201.

2010 Celebrate Northeast Parade

Save June 22, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. for the Celebrate Northeast Parade. This year’s parade follows a 13-block route down Central Avenue and will feature 120 entrants, including marching bands, community organizations, Artshare’s Parade Project performance art piece and community royalty.

Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

May is an exciting month for the First Ward. Art-A-Whirl, the annual celebration of the Northeast arts scene, has become a signature event for our neighborhood. It’s a great opportunity to put our best foot forward as we welcome thousands of art lovers to explore the many studios and galleries located in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. May’s also a great month to learn about newer arts groups like Artshare and rediscover historic treasures like the Hollywood Theater.

As you are probably aware, May also brings another month of potholes. Due to specific weather conditions that occurred this past winter, the pothole season is worse than usual this year. In response to the high volume of needed work, the City Council in April approved an additional $500,000 to double the number of repair crews for a 6 to 8 week period this spring.

First Ward residents who want to report potholes now have three options: call 311, go online at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/311 or call the Ward One office.

Finally, I am pleased to announce that in response to neighborhood concerns, the Ward One office worked with the Elections Department to find a new voting location for Precinct 1:7. Residents of SE Como have been voting at the Elections Warehouse since Tuttle School was closed. Many residents reported that that location was hard to find and lacked sidewalks and sufficient exterior lighting. Our effort to find a new location was successful and the City Council today approved the multipurpose room at Van Cleve Park as the new Precinct 1:7 voting location.

Art-A-Whirl May 14 - 16

The largest open studio and gallery tour in the United States is coming up May 14-16. Over 500 artists participate in this annual Northeast celebration of the arts. For maps and information, go to www.nemaa.org or visit one of the two Welcome booths during the event: 13th Ave NE & Marshall or Quincy St. NE & Broadway.

Art-A-Whirl at Edison High School

Edison High School will be a trolley stop during this year’s Art-A-Whirl and will also join the festivities with art exhibits, food and musical performances. If you are interested in exhibiting your art at this exciting new venue, go to Edison's Art-A-Whirl page.

Artshare NE Parade Project & Fundraiser

Get your parade on… literally! Artshare, a NE Minneapolis community arts group, is facilitating 4 free workshops to guide Northeast neighbors in creating and building wearable “floats”, masks and banners in preparation for the Northeast Parade. Folks of all ages and backgrounds are invited to participate in the workshops and parade and represent the diversity of the Northeast community.

Workshops will be held from 11:30-3:00 p.m. at Edison High School on the following Saturdays: May 29, June 5, June 12 and June 19. For further information, contact Jennifer Arave (612) 432-1512, artsharene@gmail.com

Artshare will also be hosting a fundraiser to support the Parade Project on Sunday, May 23 at Grumpy’s, 2200 4th Street NE. Come enjoy the music, meet the artists and participate in the raffle and silent auction. For further information, contact Abby Rae LaCombe (217) 494-8422, abbyrae.lacombe@gmail.com

Hollywood Theater Open House

When the Hollywood Theater opened on October 26, 1935, the marquee pronounced it “The Incomparable Showcase of the Northwest.” A prime example of the neighborhood movie theaters of the 20s and Hollywood boasts a signature Art Deco style inside and out. The theater was designated a local historic landmark in 1990 and purchased by the City of Minneapolis in 1993.

The building is for sale and Audubon Neighborhood Association and the City of Minneapolis are sponsoring an open house for the general public on Saturday, May 15, noon-5:00 p.m. at 2815 Johnson St. NE.

2nd Precinct Open House

In recognition of Police Week, the entire community is invited to the 2nd Precinct Open House on Monday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be information displays from Bomb Squad, Minneapolis Fire Department, Horse Patrol, Ambulance and SWAT Team. Come have a snack and learn more about your Police Department.

Weed It & Reap

May 6-8, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Gather your co-workers, neighbors, friends and families together and help pick up debris near local businesses, sidewalks, boulevards, area parks and neighborhood streets. Northeast Chamber supplies vests, gloves, garbage bags and area assignments. You receive t-shirts, food and thanks. Call 612-378-0050 for further info.

Save The Date:

Block Club Training
May 27, 6:00 p.m.

When neighbors connect, stronger communities result. If you are interested in learning about or getting involved in a block club, you can attend a training at the 2nd Precinct. For further information, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Carol Oosterhuis at 612-673-2874.

Northeast Parade
June 22, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Entrant applications are due May 10 and sponsors are still needed. For further information, please call the NE Chamber at 612-378-0050

Message from Council Member Kevin Reich

I am honored to have the opportunity to represent Ward One and I look forward to working with you over the next four years. I forward this newsletter as an opportunity to communicate with you in on a monthly basis and offer you information about issues both at City Hall and in our ward.

I have been appointed to the following committees: Community Development, Transportation & Public Works (Vice-chair), Zoning & Planning, and Taxes (chair). These are appointments that will ably position me to work to bring people and resources on behalf of both Ward One and the City of Minneapolis. With your help, we can continue to make this a great place for everyone.

Council Member in the Ward

I encourage you to contact me to ask questions and share your viewpoints. I will be setting up regular Ward One office hours beginning in May and will keep you informed of that schedule, but I am also always happy to meet with you at a either at City Hall or at a convenient location in the ward. Just give the Ward One office a call at 612-673-2201 or email me at kevin.reich@ci.minneapolis.mn.us.

I also encourage you to attend the next Northeast Network on Thursday, April 8 to talk about transit planning in Northeast Minneapolis. I will be sharing some information about potential plans for streetcars on Central Avenue and will be joined by Michelle Dibblee of Transit for Livable Communities and Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein. The Network is 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Eastside Food Co-op, 2551 Central Ave NE.