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.