Covering life, work, and play in the Historic Mill District and Downtown Minneapolis Riverfront neighborhoods. Have an opinion, local news or events to share? Contact us.
Simon Parrish, owner of the Northeast Tea House gives us his take on creating an urban oasis dedicated to the joy of tea service. Our Small Business Spotlight highlights how his shop is one of few producing fresh matcha and the gongfu service is guaranteed to produce a sense of calm into your day.
Illuminate The Lock: Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard will be on display February 18-20, 6-8:30 PM. In this segment of Milling Around, Brianna Rose interviews artist Moira Villiard. Moira (pronounced "Mee-Ree") grew up on the Fond du Lac Reservation in Cloquet, MN and is a Fond du Lac direct descendent of mixed settler and Indigenous heritage. She works in painting, surrealism, community-engaged and public art and recently in animation. Moira explains that the art installation honors all our relatives, human and nature based and the sacred resilience of Native women. The event is free but tickets are required.
With the welcome news that vaccinations have begun against the coronavirus, we also know the demand for vaccine far outpaces the supply. The entire distribution process will take time.
While we wait throughout this process, public health experts remind us to keep protecting ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors by doing what works:
Thanks for your patience. We will end this pandemic together.
The Biden administration has announced plans to increase the supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped to states by 16% over current levels for at least the next three weeks. Minnesota is expected to receive nearly 11,000 additional doses each week under the new allocation.
The announcement comes after requests from Gov. Tim Walz and other Midwestern governors for more vaccine to be distributed by the federal government. The Centers for Disease Control had originally allocated fewer than 70,000 doses to Minnesota – not enough to vaccinate priority populations including healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and Minnesotans 65 years of age and older.
Walz announced a goal to have 90% of every dose arriving in the state administered within 72 hours and 100% within one week.
Setting up ways people will get vaccinated
The State is standing up pilot vaccination clinics around Minnesota to test ways of getting more doses to people once more vaccine comes from the federal level. The State is also continuing work with health systems, smaller clinics and community pharmacies to help expand the ways Minnesotans will get vaccinated.
Learn more about the State's vaccine distribution plan.
On Jan. 18, the State launched a vaccination pilot program at nine sites across Minnesota. These initial clinics will set the State on a path for a more extensive network of vaccination clinics in Minnesota communities as the federal government increases vaccine supply. Because this is a limited pilot program, vaccine demand is outpacing available doses.
The pilot program is for Minnesotans 65 and older, pre-K-12 educators and staff (who will work directly with their program or school), and child care workers (who will be randomly selected and notified).
Appointments are extremely limited, and no walk-ins will be accepted.
Besides the pilot clinics, Minnesota health care systems are also providing limited vaccine doses to their patients 65 and older. Health care providers are developing systems to let their existing patients know when they can make an appointment for a vaccine. Providers will contact patients with this information; Minnesotans should not contact their health care providers directly right now.
While waiting to be vaccinated you can help stop the spread of the virus by continuing hand-washing, social distancing, wearing a mask, getting a free test and avoiding high-risk situations.
Learn more about State distribution plans for the vaccine.
The Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory found the variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as the P.1 variant first identified in Brazil in a specimen from a Minnesota resident with recent travel history to Brazil. This case marks the first documented instance of that variant in the United States. Eight people in Minnesota have now been identified with the variant first identified in the United Kingdom.
The new variants appear to spread more easily, but there is no sign yet that they are any different in terms of how sick people can get or how they affect any particular person.
Keep protecting yourself and your loved ones by wearing a mask, staying 6 feet from anyone you don’t live with, avoiding gatherings, washing your hands often, staying home if you feel sick or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and getting tested.
Learn more from the Minnesota Department of Health website.
The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 saliva tests. Testing is encouraged and available to everyone, whether or not you have symptoms. It’s one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent exposing your loved ones to the virus. Do not eat, drink or use tobacco products for 30 minutes before taking a COVID-19 saliva test.
The State of Minnesota especially asks these people to get tested:
Free COVID-19 tests
Columbia Manor Golf Course, 3300 Central Ave. NE 4-7 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25
Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 2-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 and 20
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe building, 1308 E. Franklin Ave. 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, 1301 10th Ave. N. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27
You can expect to get your test results in about two business days.
More free COVID-19 saliva tests
Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S., Exhibit Room E 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends Make an appointment here. Find instructions here.
Native American Community Clinic, 1213 E. Franklin Ave. 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Appointments required: Call 612-872-8086 to schedule an appointment.
Southside Community Health Services, 324 E. 35th St. 2-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Appointments required: Call 612-821-3548 to schedule an appointment. You can expect to get your test results in about two-three business days. Same day testing can be done for health care workers, first responders and essential workers.
Find a current list of free COVID-19 tests on the City website.
Resources
The COVID-19 test is free, and you do not need insurance for the test. If you need medical care but don’t have health insurance, the Minnesota Department of Health offers resources to find low-cost health care or health insurance.
If you can’t attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you. The State is also offering free at-home saliva tests. Any person in Minnesota can order a saliva test kit from the COVID-19 Test at Home program.
The City of Minneapolis is committed to a goal of safety for everyone in Minneapolis. On June 12, 2020, the City Council passed a resolution committing to creating a transformative new model for cultivating safety in Minneapolis.
Since then, internal work groups and key stakeholders have been exploring ways to develop an integrated community safety response that works for everyone.
Three pillars of community safety
The City’s realignment to provide a holistic community safety response will take place in phases over time with much staff, partner and community participation. It focuses on three main areas:
Some of the work in progress includes:
Stay up to date
Stay updated on this work by visiting the City’s community safety webpage. This source will have updated information on the three focus areas. Information will also be shared out over a variety of channels in many languages.
Staff will present regular community safety updates at City Council meetings. The first is a Health Department presentation on the first phase of engagement around public-health-oriented violence prevention. This presentation will include a summary of the online survey, stakeholder interviews and focus groups you were invited to take part in. Staff from the City Coordinator’s Office will also provide an update on the alternatives to police response work rolling out this year. Watch the Jan. 21 presentation to the Public Health & Safety Committee on the City’s website.
Situational updates: Minneapolis
Situational updates: Minnesota
Health Department Incident Command updates
Case investigation/Contact tracing
COVID-19 vaccination
Minnesotans 65 and older can schedule an appointment at one of these nine pilots sites online at www.mn.gov/vaccine or by phone at 612-426-7230 or 833-431-2053. No walk-ins are accepted. New appointment slots will be made available every Tuesday. If no appointments are available, you may be able to add your name to a waitlist for each site.
Community Vaccination Perspectives and Outreach
COVID-19 Testing
In the past week, 104 COVID-19 saliva tests were provided at three community based events.
COVID testing in Minneapolis has dropped by about 20% compared to the last quarter of 2020. Despite the vaccine roll-out, it is important to get tested. Please help us promote the following events:
Upcoming free COVID-19 saliva testing events:
MHD distribution of saliva test kits:
Responding to community needs
Businesses
• Health inspectors followed up with seven food safety/sanitation/COVID-19 complaints, two of which were related to non-compliance with the current bar and restaurant COVID-19 restrictions.
• While routine health inspections are temporarily suspended, inspectors have been re-assigned to support COVID-19 contact tracing and case investigation efforts. They also continue to assist with the delivery of COVID-19 saliva test kits to businesses requesting them.
The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.
Experience the Twin Cities has launched new Twin Cities Valentine's Day gift boxes, featuring locally-curated items from hot cocoa bombs and truffles to craft beer items and lip balm. The four gift box options make unique Valentine's gifts that support small Minnesota businesses, and they're perfect for kids, chocolate lovers, beer fans, and beauty connoisseurs.
An image of the Grandmother moon (Nokomis), fire, earth, water, and the jingle dress dance entwined in swirling colors, Madweyaashkaa celebrates the resilience of Indigenous women on a spectacular scale.
|
|
|
Via a January 26 e-announcement:
Rhythmically Speaking (RS) is thrilled to premiere our first original screendance February 26th, 2021 from 7-8pm via Zoom. Like many a performing arts company, the good people of Rhythmically Speaking have embraced COVID-necessitated pivots to learn new skills and ways of sharing art: for us this last few months, it’s been figuring out how to make dance films outside! We are proud to be premiering RadioBody: The Screendance Iteration virtually with our home audience before submitting it to dance film festivals across the country! The screening event will also feature peeks into the creation process and a Q&A with the artists.
Originally undertaken with a February 2021 stage show at Amsterdam Bar & Hall in downtown St. Paul in mind (which will now occur February 2022), The RadioBody Project is a collaboration with local composer Mike Lauer exploring the jazz sensibilities and human toil and triumph embedded in the work of pioneering alt-electronic band Radiohead. Thanks to their rich, multilayered rhythms, unique harmonies and long-form jams, their songs are often covered by jazz composers. A favorite band of RS Artistic Director Erinn Liebhard, when she began to discover this connection between Radiohead and jazz, she felt compelled to explore it through movement.
Together, composer Lauer and AD Liebhard selected one song from each major Radiohead album for the stage show, and from those, selected three to explore for the screendance iteration of the project: “Knives Out” from album Amnesiac (2001), “High and Dry” from The Bends (1995), and “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” from In Rainbows (1997). Lauer recorded his original renditions of these songs for the film, playing guitar and rounding out the ensemble with bass guitar and cello (Greg Byers), saxophone (Andrew Long), and drums (Ben Erlich). The rest of the artistic personnel include our company of seven dancers and videography team TJ Tronson and Cully Gallagher of Flywheel Media Productions, who braved the Minnesota Winter for outdoor, wilderness film shoots: the main of which we were lucky enough to be among landscapes covered in rare, beautiful rime ice!
There are a total of 100 Zoom sign-ins available for this premiere event, reserved through Eventbrite. A donation of $15-$20 per person watching is suggested, and can be made at our GiveMN page. 10% of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the scholarship fund of Hopewell Music North: we are thrilled to be building a multi-faceted partnership with them to help better access to jazz music and movement learning experiences on the North side of Minneapolis. Dance, Jazz and Radiohead fans alike, we hope you’ll join us for this event!
Using the rhythm that is at our shared human core to groove together, Rhythmically Speaking cultivates vibrant, embodied human connection. Since our founding in 2008, we've gotten 350+ artists and thousands of audience members grooving together through presentation of 95 original and remounted works and over 30 workshops and other events.
By Representative Phyllis Kahn, Vice President, Great River Coalition
My life as described in this work, has been devoted to advocating two propositions:
1) we will all be better served when good science informs public policy and 2) scientific advancement will be facilitated if public policy makers appreciate the role of science and support it more fully.
One of the worst current problems is the prevalence of climate deniers in public policy decision positions with the most important one recently occupying the White House. We also have participants from industries that should be regulated, i.e., those that effect health or the environment, assuming the position of regulators.
A clean economy, protection of the environment, cyber security, the effects of toxic waste dumping as just a few examples, need a thoughtful, balanced and informed perspective. And while we are talking about balance, we need to add the importance of including the voices of women in the discussion.
The combination of science and public policy seems to have greater relevance today. We saw the increased interest of the public as evinced by the March for Science events in DC and in many localities including St. Paul. Also important is the creation of a new political group, 314 ACTION, designed to encourage scientists to seek political office.
We are also seeing increased political polarization of scientific issues such as global warming, emphasized now by Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord.
What is it like to try and do science in the political scene? In my first election, rather than emphasizing the women's issues that had sparked my interest in politics, I concentrated on the importance of having someone with an understanding of science in office. (My credentials include a BA in physics and a PhD in biophysics and some years of research in molecular genetics.)
I do need to point out that in the 2016 election, both PhD credentialed scientists in the Minnesota Legislature were defeated.
Scientific and technological advances have been an important part of human development ever since the first Neolithic Farmer started to analyze conditions necessary to improve her agricultural practices for increased crop production leading to better nutrition and survival. As human interactions have increased in complexity and become dependent on more political interaction, science and technology has become increasingly important to each part of our political system; legislative, executive and judicial and at each level of government, federal, state and local.
A noted authority on science policy once wrote, “State and local governments employee science and technological knowledge in much the same way as the American populace employees the English language--On a daily basis, unquestioningly, and at less than technically attainable standards of performance.”
A traditional politician often takes a rather short term view of most public policy issues. It becomes difficult for him to consider issues which may not be significant in 10 or 20 years or perhaps a millennium, when his next election is in six months. In addition, the immediate consequences of actions are always awarded a higher perceived importance than any possible long-range problem.
It is not surprising that the general public feels uncomfortable in areas requiring scientific knowledge and that the politician reflects this discomfort to an even greater degree. The pressure of making a wrong decision on a subject she knows little about and understands even less appears to be an avoidable risk.
Folks on each side point out the inability of anyone without years of training in complex sciences to comprehend the full ramifications of any such decision. It is argued that it is far better and safer to political bodies to do nothing and to let the experts, i.e., the regulatory agencies on one side or tobacco companies, chemical companies or drug manufacturers decide.
A part of the problem is that the hopes of society have been raised and scientists have appeared to promise more than they can deliver. We are all familiar with the “man on the moon” speech, some variation of the plea that the same talent that put a man on the moon could get him to work on time, keep him out of jail, end pollution on earth and so on ad infinitum.
The additional complication is that these problems are often the province not of the federal government but of some murky intermediate stage of city, county, regional or state government. Local levels of government face an increasing number of problems with heavy scientific and technological content in the areas of healthcare, land management, pollution, nuclear power and other energy problems, waste management, transportation and even social issues in either rural or urban settings.
The scientists in the public view, take on conflicting roles. One is that of the neutral technician who produces the knowledge and lets others use it. Tom Lehrer expresses this in one of his songs:
“Once the rockets are up
Who cares where they come down?
That's not my department
Says Wernher von Braun.”
At the opposite pole are the scientists who think of all knowledge residing with themselves. The solution then appears to be to find a broker and translator to the public policy makers and relieve the decision-makers of the responsibility of evaluating technical competence. In this simplistic model, the best minds are assembled; they ask thoughtful questions; they reach solid conclusions and resolve the conflicts between any conflicting technical views. The public decision maker then confidentially adopts as policy the wisdom so delivered. These are models for the implementation of scientific decisions mainly conceived by scientists and so far unused in the real world as a replacement for the traditional political process.
Government uses and needs science and even appreciates it's need for science but the basic principles of running government have been derived by people trained in law with little understanding of the scientific method and thought processes.
The political – legal mind must make a decision even with inadequate data and in the absence of reason, will settle for ideology, a comparison of alternatives, political acumen or even “Gut reaction”. However, the scientist without data will most often remain silent or feel that she has forfeited her credentials to speak as a scientist. This fundamental difference in the decision-making process is perhaps the most difficult for either the scientist or the politician to understand.
The situation becomes even more complicated for the politician when confronted with conflicting scientific advice. Disagreement can occur from basic scientific evidence or from the implications imputed to this evidence or even the political orientation of the scientists producing the data.
With the issue of climate change, we see even the small minority of climate deniers given scientific credence because it fits into someone's personal agenda.
How can we integrate sound science and public policy ? Even if we become expert at distinguishing cases of sound science from cases of junk science, in the public policy arena, scientific evidence is only part of the policy puzzle.
Public officials will also want to factor in social, economic, financial, logistical and political information into the decision-making process. Most frustrating to many scientists is the situation that just because the scientific evidence is sound doesn't mean it will be the sole determinant of the direction of public policy.
Part of the problem is diverse public policy opinions on the appropriate responses to science and technology policy issues, concerning the best strategies of balancing health, safety and environmental concerns against economic considerations, or the cause of productivity decline and the most effective means of stimulating innovation.
The necessary creative dialogue requires better education for its participants at all levels. There is a strong argument for judges to understand the subject matter of any dispute they are to resolve. The courts should understand the technical issues well enough to convey the implications of their decisions to the professionals in the agencies. This is also true of the responsibility of legislators for their statutory enactments.
Executive agencies are usually the repository for informed experts, and this makes the current administration's attack on the science-based executive agencies all the more alarming.
The scientific and industrial establishments have delivered the message that American scientific and technological advances have built the American way of life. Yet there is also the realization that we face serious problems in maintaining this way of life; including the establishment of new safe energy supplies, with attention to the problems of climate change, to dispose of solid or hazardous waste, to protect endangered species and enhance economic development while maintaining international competitiveness.
Despite some disillusionment, indications are that the public still retains great faith in science and technology and even still naïvely believe that technological fixes can be found for almost all the ills of the world. Our citizens, believing in participatory democracy, want to control the important forces serving their lives; Thus, the desire to control science and technology.
The imposition of public controls on science and technology must be done within a democratic social ethic. This means by lawyers, scientists, engineers, farmers, government officials and academics. There is an enormous job in both mutual education and translation on our hands.
Via an e-announcement from The Great Northern:
The Great Northern will feature keynote conversations, live podcasts, film screenings and other thought-provoking formats that allow us to explore our changing climate through the lenses of culture and heritage, the economy, and social equity. See below for a round-up of climate-focused events January 28 – February 7.
Climate Action Films: Earth, Water, Air, Fire / Jan 28 – Feb 7
A series of films speaking to essential issues in the climate conversation based around the four elements: Earth, Water, Air, Fire. In partnership with MSP Film Society.
A Conversation on Climate Science, Policy and Justice with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson / Jan 28
"The most influential Marine Biologist of our time" (Outside) Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (co-creator of the podcast How to Save a Planet) kicks off The Great Northern’s climate solutions series with a conversation on climate science, policy and justice with MPR’s Dan Kraker. Copresented with Westminster Town Hall Forum. Register
Stokeyard Outfitters: Thermaculture Tour / Jan 28
Join local sauna experts for a virtual live tour of the hottest backyard saunas in North America—and beyond. Presented by Stokeyard Outfitters in partnership with the Great Northern.
On Being with Krista Tippett and J. Drew Lanham / Jan 28 podcast release, Jan 31 broadcast
Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, New York Times bestselling author, and National Humanities Medalist Krista Tippett interviews poet, teacher, birder and conservationist J. Drew Lanham, author of The Home Place—Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature (Milkweed Editions) for a special episode in partnership with The Great Northern.
Learn more
Climate Solutions Lunch time Series / Feb 1–5
A series of virtual panels engaging perspectives on climate solutions. In partnership with Greater MSP, MBOLD, Project Drawdown, Minnesota Design Center, Minnesota Humanities Center, MPR News, Climate Generation, and The Nature Conservancy.
Learn more
Diane Wilson: The Seed Keeper / Feb 7
In this exclusive book preview, Diane Wilson discusses The Seed Keeper, a work of historical fiction centered on the true story of the forced march of Dakota women and children in Minnesota in 1862. In partnership with Milkweed Editions, hosted by MPR’s Brandt Williams.
The Great Northern Blog & Podcast
Enjoy a series of writing debuts and conversations on our newly launched podcast and blog.
* * * * * View full list of events * * * * *
About The Great Northern
Funding for The Great Northern is generously provided by sponsors including the McKnight Foundation, Askov Finlayson, U.S. Bank, Minneapolis Foundation, Nature Valley, Minnesota Public Radio, Greater MSP, iPondr, Carlson Family Foundation, Meet Minneapolis, Climate Generation, Caribou Coffee, Weinstein Hammons Gallery, Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, and Sahan Journal, along with community partners and individual donors.
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.
Exterior masonry on the Water Works pavilion wrapped up this past week. The scaffolding and plastic sheeting are gone, revealing the new brickwork and windows on the building.
Workers put final touches on new windows on the First Street side of the pavilion. A new street light pole has been installed as well.
This side of the pavilion building will open out onto a grassy area where outdoor eating and activities will be available. A row of trees seen on the right of the photo shields the area from First Street traffic.
Panoramic view of the cranes now in place on the Third Avenue Bridge as construction ramps up. With the bridge now closed to all traffic, pedestrians, bikes, etc. until November 2022, construction activity has increased significantly.
View of the three large cranes as seen from the path along the river in front of Water Works Park.
Article by Becky Fillinger
Check out the new 100% vegan, gluten-free, celiac-safe restaurant in the North Loop – Hark! Cafe! We talked to co-owners Katherine and Lisa about the inspiration for their café and what treats to try on your first visit.
Lisa (left) and Katherine
Q: Please tell us about your history as friends and how that led to Hark! Café.
A: We met at Oberlin College in 2009, where we became best friends bonding over a shared love of Homestarrunner.com, doughnuts, and Ben Folds. At Oberlin we both went vegan out of concern for the environmental impact of the animal agriculture industry and our love and compassion for the lives affected by this industry. The name Hark! is an homage to the Harkness co-operative at Oberlin, which we belonged to and love dearly. We’ve dreamt of creating a vegan food business together since joining Harkness Co-op. After Katherine was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2017, we wanted to create a completely vegan and gluten-free cafe where we could guarantee there would be no cross contamination.
Hark! Cafe is located at 430 N 1st Avenue, #150, in the historic Kickernick Building
Q: What discussions did you have about opening a restaurant at this time in this location?
A: From the beginning we wanted to open our cafe in downtown. We love this neighborhood, and are excited to be a part of its reinvigoration. The timing is truly just a matter of fate! After months of searching for the right location and negotiating our lease, we ended up signing our lease the day Minnesota went into lockdown in March 2020. Safety for our employees and customers has always been of the utmost importance to us. We opened doing take-out only and will continue to focus on that, and not open for dine-in until we feel it is safe to do so. The creativity and flexibility with our menu has been heavily discussed during this time as well! Highlighting dishes and drinks that might be more exciting for people to get as take-out, dishes that travel well, and food that is comforting above all else. We are also focusing on curating and providing special pre-order menus. We have ones for Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl coming up!
A Mini Key Lime
The Bagle Sandwich
Q: Please let us know about the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day menus. What should we try on our first trip to Hark! Cafe?
A: Our special seasonal coffee drink is a chocolate orange mocha, and it is a must-have. Pair that with a bagel sandwich, and grab a bit of dessert for later - like our mini key lime!
Q: Delicious ideas - how may we follow your news?
A: Our Instagram and Facebook are great places to follow us! Visit us - Hark! Cafe is located at 430 N 1st Avenue, Suite 150. Hours are 7am-4pm Tues-Fri, and 8am-3pm Sat-Sun.
Article by Becky Fillinger
Brianna RoseThe January episode of Milling About with Brianna Rose will first air on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 8PM on MCN6. The show replays for a month every Thursday and Friday at 8PM and Monday and Tuesday at 5PM.
The January show has something for everyone, from magic to art to meditative practices:
When is it safe to venture onto the ice? We talked to Lisa Dugan, Boat and Water Safety Outreach Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources about this topic. In our discussion, Lisa discusses early winter safety tips, snowmobile and ATV advice and equipment you’ll want to have with you on the ice. Remember – ice is never 100% safe. Thank you Lisa for giving us this timely information!
Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.
This past Friday, January 15, 2021, John Reinan wrote an excellent article for the Star Tribune about the Saint Paul Ford Plant’s sand mine located 100 feet below the factories. His reporting on the St. Peter sandstone, which is 99% silica, perfect for glass making, piqued my curiosity in the Ford Plant, something I have driven by hundreds of times, but knew little about.
Henry Ford first established his automotive business in Minnesota in 1912 by building a ten-story Model T assembly plant on the corner of Fifth Avenue N and Fifth Street in Minneapolis, which still stands today, across from Target Field. Ford saw the potential the Twin Cities had to help his business grow, and in 1925, Ford moved his Minneapolis operations to the newly constructed Twin Cities Assembly Plant in the Highland Park Neighborhood of Saint Paul.
The plant in 1926
The 160 acres of land next to the powerful Mighty Mississippi River combined with the abundance of sand, easy rail access, and central Midwest location was just too good to pass up. Ford had all the resources he needed to establish his new plant. Once completed in May of 1925, the first vehicles to roll off the assembly line were the Model T and Model TT pickup truck. A year later in May of 1926, the sand mines were in full operation. A separate mine was located further down the river along Shepherd Road, and by the time sand mining stopped in 1959 over four miles of tunnels were dug out.
During the early years of the Plant, vehicles would be lowered down on a freight elevator, rolled out of the tunnel system, and loaded onto barges to be shipped down the Mississippi. To this day, the elevator shaft and mine lay relatively untouched. While very rusty, the electric rail cart system still lines the floor and a smaller sand elevator is still intact. With humans and nature intervening throughout the decades, all but one entrances to the mine are permanently sealed off.
One of the mine tunnels, 1938
The mining operation, 1939
At its peak, the Twin Cities Assembly Plant covered 1.5 million square feet and included a cutting plant, rail yard, water treatment plant, steam plant, hydroelectric power station, and a glass factory that featured two 2,600°, 300-foot-long glass furnaces.
Throughout its eighty-six-year history, the Plant only shut down production three times. Between 1933 and 1934, vehicle production stopped, and from 1933-1937, the sand and glass operation was put on hold, both as a result of the Great Depression. Civilian vehicle production stopped once more when the United States entered World War II. During this time, T-17 and over 5,000 M-8 armored cars were produced at the Plant for the war effort.
Celebrating the 2,000,000th Ford made in Minnesota on October 6, 1956
The Plant shut down its mines in 1959, but some of that space was still in use. A seismograph station run by the University of Minnesota was located underneath the Plant mine, and in the Shepherd Road mine, the Halloween attraction “Tunnel of Terror” operated there until 2004. The Ford Motor Company updated the Plant in 1962, which ushered in a new era for the Plant that saw three new building rise and more efficient assembly lines installed. Because of these improvements, the Plant began producing its most famous vehicle, the Ford Ranger, a compact pickup truck, starting in 1982.
1984 Ford Ranger
In January of 2006, Ford instituted a restructuring plan that included many plant shutdowns, and the Twin Cities Assembly Plant was one of them. The Plant produced 300,00 Rangers in 1998 and that number dropped to 120,000 in 2005. Its 4-cylinder engine was no match for the better V6 engines, and Minnesotans wanted more power in their pickups. Four months after Ford announced the eventual closure of the Plant, they delayed it until 2008. Later, it was once again delayed, this time until December 22nd, 2011. That day, the final vehicle, a Ford Ranger, rolled off the assembly line and the Plant shut down for good.
Rendering of the new Highland Bridge project
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
About Michael Rainville, Jr.
A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.
Article by Becky Fillinger
Doug SnyderThere are three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Most of our Mill City Times readers live in the geography covered by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO). We spoke to Doug Snyder, Executive Director of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization about ways to get involved to protect our rivers and drinking water, their Sustainable Communities partnership with the University of St. Thomas, and seeing projects to fruition.
Q: We recently spoke to one of the MWMO Water Stewards, Michelle Spangler. Please tell us more about the program and how citizens may become Stewards.
A: The MWMO has been partnering with Freshwater since 2016 to train and support Minnesota Water Stewards (formerly known as Master Water Stewards). The Minnesota Water Stewards program trains, certifies and supports community leaders to prevent water pollution and educate community members about conserving and protecting water. Stewards perform many hours of service in the watershed each year, doing a variety of things, including: leading or participating in community cleanups, invasive species removal, maintaining raingardens, and conducting community outreach to educate community members about ways to protect water quality and habitat.
As a Water Steward, Michelle got a grant from the MWMO to organize and support the NE Stormdrain Challenge in the summer of 2020. She partnered with the Audubon Neighborhood Association and the City of Minneapolis to educate, engage and motivate residents all over northeast Minneapolis to take responsibility for keeping their stormdrains clean and keep many pounds of pollution out of the Mississippi River.
More information about the Minnesota Water Steward program is available on our website or at minnesotawaterstewards.org.
I want to mention that applications for our Community Grants are available now – see information here to apply. Community Grants are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects. The grant amount may not exceed $5,000, no matching funds are required, and we can offer help for those completing the application.
Q: We typically think of watershed projects during warmer months. How do MWMO projects continue during winter months?
A: Yes, some types of work can continue over the winter, such as installation of pipes and underground tanks; however, most of the types of work on the surface need to be installed during the growing season. Therefore, most of our capital projects are scheduled from around April 1 until the ground freezes or there is too much snow. One project that has taken advantage of the good late fall/early winter weather this year is the Northern Columbia Golf Course and Park Stormwater BMPs project. You can follow this project online at mwmo.org/columbia.
Columbia Golf Course drains
And, of course, we do public information seminars throughout the year. Coming up, we have a free workshop on managing ice and snow without over applying salt –register here.
Q: Is MWMO part of Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts? If so, how do you work collaboratively with other watershed districts?
A: Yes, we are a member. Two years ago, the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts (MAWD) opened its membership to other Watershed Management Organizations. We joined in 2019. Even prior to joining MAWD, MWMO partnered with other watersheds (and our members, nonprofits and state agencies) to create training opportunities, public engagement events, and coordinate planning and project review.
Q: You have a large list of active projects - one that jumped out to me with the UST Sustainable Communities Partnership project. Can you tell us more about it?
A: Yes, the Sustainable Communities Partnership Project is run through the Sustainability office at the University of St. Thomas (UST) and it partners UST courses with government and nonprofit organizations to do projects that support and advance sustainability-oriented work in those organizations. Over the last few years, several UST courses have supported the work of the MWMO by doing projects that help increase staff understanding of various issues related to watershed protection and management. A few examples of recent projects include:
• A senior capstone class that researched possible industrial uses for captured stormwater and considered cost-effectiveness and ecological impacts of stormwater reuse systems in the urban environment.
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of various graphics related to stormwater best management practices in order to recommend most effective graphics and appropriate use.
• Research and analysis of different land-use scenarios for the conversion of vacant lots in the MWMO to better understand opportunities to manage stormwater runoff and connect pollinator habitat across the watershed.
This program gives students real-life experiences in sustainability work and benefits the partner organizations by increasing capacity to conduct research and complete projects that advance the work of the organization. We have enjoyed and benefited from this partnership. More information about our partnership is available on the UST website: https://www.stthomas.edu/osi/scpprojects/completed-scp-projects/mwmo/
Q: What do you enjoy the most about your work with the MWMO?
A: Prior to coming to the MWMO, I worked for the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources. There I worked with grants, planning and regulatory programs such as the Wetland Conservation Act. While we do similar things here, what I enjoy most is that we also get to create programming and build projects. We go through feasibility, design, financing, bid, construction, and operations and maintenance. It’s fun to see a completed project, monitor it, and know we’ve done something that improves where we live.
Q: How may we follow your news?
A: Please sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Article by Becky Fillinger
When was the last time you visited an art gallery? Get ready to experience “Orange” at the Kolman & Pryor Gallery. An antidote to winter’s grays, blues and whites – check out the vibrant artwork included in this show. Anita Kolman and Patrick Pryor tell us all about the inspiration for the show and when you may personally view the art, explore the unique meanings to you and interact with the artists.
Kolman & Pryor Gallery is located in Studio 395, Northrop King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE
Q: Tell us about the exhibition “Orange,” the fourth show in your ongoing Color Series.
Anita KolmanA: Begun in 2018, The Color Series explores the artist’s color palette. The gallery’s artists have long been interested in exploring their relationship to color, as artists, and as viewers, and as collectors. The first exhibition’s emphasis was on the color White, in the second in 2019, Red was the focus, and the third exhibit in 2020 showcased artwork emphasizing the color Yellow. For 2021, we challenged our gallery artists to incorporate the color Orange into their artwork.
Looking specifically at this year’s show, Betsy Ruth Byers incorporated a bright orange into the sky of her work with great success. Cameron Zebrun continues his prolific exploration into painted wood sculptural forms. Kate Casanova has expanded her masterful use of materials and colors with four new table top sized sculptures. Jodi Reeb created a 36 inch rosette wall sculpture made of aluminum and tinged tangerine with enamel paint. Jil Evans pushes and pulls at the space within the canvas in new color combinations that feel fresh and new, yet firmly anchored in her current practice. The work of Kelly Jean Ohl and Julie Snidle radiate warmth on the two orange walls of the gallery painted for this show.
Q: What feelings do you get from the art in this show?
Patrick PryorA: There is an orange glow in the gallery right now, and it feels like a warm comfort when you walk through the doors. We painted two walls orange, each exhibiting artist incorporated the color orange into their work, and there are orange lines on the wood floors of the gallery, a remnant of the building’s history as the Northrup-King Seed Company, that tie the entire show together. We are impressed with the successful outcome of our artists who took up the challenge of using orange in their work. We hope our visitors will enjoy it as much as we do!
Q: Does the choice of “Orange” communicate a central idea for the show?
A: Orange is the unifying theme of this year’s Color Show, similar to the themes in previous shows with the colors White, Red and Yellow. The chosen color is the unifying theme for each of our shows in the series as well as the challenge to our artists to interpret that theme in ways that seem most relevant to them.
Color in general is rich with meaning, and our current Orange Show, like our other color shows in years past, invites multiple interpretations. Orange is a powerful color which has often been used historically. Ancient Egyptians used a yellow-red hue made from the mineral realgar in tomb paintings. In the 18th century, artists used yellow-red tones to depict the robes of Pomona, the goddess of fruitful abundance. After the fruit became more common in northern Europe, and the first synthetic orange pigment was produced in the 1800s, Pre-Raphaelite painters and Impressionists used the color to heighten the effects of natural light.
For us personally, as curator and gallerist, we appreciate the warm comforting glow of reflected orange light coming from the artworks (and the lines on the floor) that communicate a sense of hope and safety. Orange is also the color of highway warning signs, construction barriers, and over-done spray tans. Orange is a fruit, an everyday object. Nothing rhymes with orange. It is alone and unique. We like the tensions of opposing meanings and appreciate the opportunity to present them to our audiences.
All of these properties of orange provided significant opportunities for our gallery artists to connect to Orange as a central theme. We invite our gallery visitors to develop connections between this theme and their personal contexts, too.
"Watershed" by Betsy Ruth Byers
"15 Piece Hand Carved White Specimen" (hand carved clay) by Kelly Jean Ohl
Q: Will the gallery be open for visitors to see the exhibit in person? If yes, what COVID-19 precautions will be in place?
A: The gallery is open to the public on Saturdays from noon to 4:00 pm and on the first Thursday of each month from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm We always look forward to welcoming visitors at other times by appointment.
The entire Northrup King Building, including our gallery, will be open from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Saturday, February 13. That evening some of the artists in the show will welcome gallery visitors at a special reception from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
We require masks when visiting the gallery, we ask visitors to social distance when in the gallery, and we provide hand sanitizer to anyone who requests it. These COVID-19 precautions are followed throughout the Northrup King Building.
Q: How may we follow your news?
A: Our website, kolmanpryorgallery.com, always has the latest information about our artists and our shows. You can also find our news about Kolman & Pryor Gallery on social media, specifically on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Our office has received a number of inquiries about where things stand with COVID Vaccinations. This topic continues to evolve but here is current information we want to share with you.
Vaccines are being distributed in a phased approach (what follows is a potential timeline for distribution).
Things to note:
Additional Information is available on the City’s Web Page
Video of Hennepin Healthcare Heroes rolling up their sleeves and getting the vaccine.
Emergency medical services providers from the Minneapolis Fire Department, Police Department and Metro Transit have started getting their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. All health care employees are in the first groups to receive the vaccine. This group includes those holding emergency medical service or paramedic certifications.
The vaccine is safe and effective. The COVID-19 vaccines have been developed faster than any other in history because of the commitment and funds made available. Every COVID-19 vaccine has undergone the same clinical trials and approvals that other vaccines have. Fortunately, researchers have been working on vaccines for the coronavirus family for years, so they didn’t have to start from scratch. As researchers worked intensely to develop and test the vaccine, they were transparent in sharing data, holding live hearings and pausing trials if it was important to slow down.
How the vaccine works
Different types of COVID-19 vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types, the body is left with a supply of “memory” cells that will remember how to fight off the virus in the future without us having to get the illness. The first shot starts building protection. A second shot a few weeks later is needed to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer. Find more about how the vaccines work on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Sometimes after vaccinations, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.
It takes about two weeks after the second dose to build up protection, so full protection occurs about six weeks after the first vaccine dose.
Who’s next for vaccinations?
Vaccines will be available to other high-risk groups, such as essential workers and older adults, as well as the general public in phases over the next few months. While COVID-19 vaccination is not required, these health care workers trust the science behind the vaccine and understand that getting vaccinated is one more way to help protect themselves, their families and our communities.
More information will be provided about when and how you can get vaccinated.
Even though it will take some time for everyone to get vaccinated, you can help stop the spread of the virus right now by continuing hand-washing, distancing, wearing a mask and avoiding high-risk situations.
The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 saliva tests. Testing is encouraged and available to everyone, whether or not you have symptoms. Testing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent exposing your loved ones to the virus. Do not eat, drink or use tobacco products for 30 minutes before taking a COVID-19 saliva test.
Columbia Manor Golf Course, 3300 Central Ave. NE 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays Jan. 11, Jan. 25
Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St. Noon-4 p.m. Saturdays Jan. 9 and Jan. 23
Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays Jan. 16 and Jan. 30
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Ave. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 21 and Jan. 28
You can expect to get your test results in about two business days.
More free COVID-19 saliva tests
Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S., Exhibit Room E 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends Make an appointment here. Find instructions here.
Native American Community Clinic, 1213 E. Franklin Ave. 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Appointments required: Call 612-872-8086 to schedule an appointment.
Southside Community Health Services, 324 E. 35th St. 2-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Appointments required: Call 612-821-3548 to schedule an appointment. You can expect to get your test results in about two-three business days. Same day testing can be done for health care workers, first responders and essential workers.
Find a current list of free COVID-19 tests on the City website.
Resources
The COVID-19 test is free, and you do not need insurance for the test. If you need medical care but don’t have health insurance, the Minnesota Department of Health offers resources to find low-cost health care or health insurance.
If you can’t attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you. The State is also offering free at-home saliva tests. Any person in Minnesota can order a saliva test kit from the COVID-19 Test at Home program.
Residents, workers and visitors have several ways to learn when Snow Emergencies are declared and what to do. The City advises drivers to put many of these tools to use, not just one or two. The more ways you use to learn about a Snow Emergency, the more prepared you will be, and the less likely you will be towed.
When a Snow Emergency is declared, parking rules take effect so plows can clear the streets and emergency vehicles and other cars can get around and park. Plowing the streets completely requires vehicles parked on streets to move. It’s in everyone’s best interest to follow the parking rules so plows can do the best job possible, and folks can avoid a ticket and tow.
Get the app, sign up for alerts
The Minneapolis Snow Emergency app tells you if a Snow Emergency has been declared and puts all the parking rules right in the palm of your hand. It has a street lookup so you can see the parking rules in detail by entering an address or using the device’s location services.
The app tells you where you can and can't park on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of a Snow Emergency. It also features a quick call button that connects you with the Minneapolis Snow Emergency hotline and buttons to sign up for emails and text alerts or to find Snow Emergency information on the City's website at www.minneapolismn.gov/snow.
Watch this video about the Snow Emergency app, and find more information about Snow Emergencies on the City's website.
Sidewalks are a critical part of Minneapolis’ transportation system, and they should be open for everyone. Here’s a refresher on the City’s rules: Minneapolis ordinance requires property owners of houses and duplexes to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall. All other property owners must clear their sidewalks within four daytime hours.
Clearing snow and ice from sidewalks helps people of all ages and abilities safely walk or roll to where they need to go. This is a primary mode of transportation for many people in the city, so it’s important to be a good neighbor and help them out.
In addition to relying on complaints reported to 311, City inspectors will also actively look for sidewalks that aren’t shoveled. Failure to shovel and maintain your sidewalk could result in a warning letter and, if left uncleared, a bill for the City to remove snow from your sidewalk. An average bill is about $239.
Call 311 to learn more about resources available to people who may need help clearing their sidewalks.
Find more information about snow clearing on the City’s website.
City leaders provided an overview of the City’s response to the pandemic and civil unrest in 2020 and outlined priorities for moving forward as Minneapolis continues to face the impacts of these unprecedented challenges.
Staff presented the “Minneapolis Forward: The Path to Recovery and Transformation” report to the City Council’s Policy & Government Oversight Committee. The states of emergency orders resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and unrest following the killing of George Floyd disrupted many lives and put an enormous strain on the City’s resources. Orders related to the emergencies closed more than 1,700 businesses and caused more than 144,000 Minneapolis residents to request unemployment benefits. The civil unrest following Floyd’s death caused more than $350 million in damage across the city.
The City enterprise responded to the crises by working creatively with policy makers, community partners and other levels of government to respond to the needs of residents and businesses. Moving into 2021, City leaders are committed to prioritizing work that both flattens the pandemic curve and addresses the disparities in Minneapolis that have been widened by the pandemic.
The City will receive a direct allocation of the federal emergency rent assistance approved as part of the recent stimulus package. Ensuring all these funds are made available to Minneapolis residents will be a top priority this year.
“The economic downturn caused by the pandemic and civil unrest have disproportionately impacted communities of color in Minneapolis. These events of 2020 have both magnified and deepened existing disparities making the need for immediate community resources exceedingly clear,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “The work our Minneapolis Forward: Community Now Coalition has done over the last year will be substantially bolstered by this federal emergency rent assistance, allowing us to build back and recover with equity and inclusivity at the forefront.”
“2020 was one of the most challenging years in Minneapolis’ history,” said City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins. “The amazing staff from multiple departments throughout the City have responded with urgency, compassion and a commitment to equity. This report highlights the incredible partnerships developed with community members through the Community Now Coalition and others from the philanthropic and business communities that all continue to come together to help Minneapolis move forward.”
By the numbers: The City’s response to the crises
Impacts to Minneapolis residents, businesses in 2020
Over $350 million damages to private property and businesses during civil unrest.
Mayor Jacob Frey has signed into law Emergency Regulation 2020-20, capping third-party food service delivery fees at 15% in Minneapolis. The move makes Minneapolis the first Minnesota locality to implement such a regulation. As current market conditions drive restaurants to rely on third-party food service delivery platforms to compete, some restaurants incur delivery fees as high as 40% of the price of the customer order.
Under the new law, a third-party food delivery platform will not perform any service for or disclose any information about a licensed food establishment without the consent of the licensed food establishment and will not be allowed to charge any additional fee to a licensed food establishment that the licensed food establishment has not voluntarily agreed to pay.
Violations of the new law could be subject to misdemeanor prosecution. Continued violation will be a separate violation for each day that the third-party food service delivery platform is found to be in violation.
Under the regulation, restaurants may choose to pay a higher commission or supplemental fee for additional products and services offered by any third-party food delivery platform.
The Third Avenue Bridge is fully closed to traffic through November 2022. Motorists, transit riders and people walking and bicycling will need to use alternate routes across the river during this time.
Detours
The detour for motorists and walkers is the Hennepin Avenue Bridge and for bicyclists is the Stone Arch Bridge. Visit the Metro Transit website for bus detour and schedule information.
The historic Third Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River near St. Anthony Falls opened in 1918. It is in need of significant repairs. The bridge carries Third and Central avenues, which are part of Highway 65.
Construction began in May 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in August 2023.
Visit MnDOT's project webpage to learn more about the schedule, impacts to your commute, rehabilitation and preservation efforts, and what the bridge will look like when the work is done.
As the COVID-19 situation improves by nearly every metric across Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz announced measures that loosen restrictions on important parts of daily life. The governor also urged Minnesotans to protect the progress made over the past month.
The announcement came as tens of thousands of Minnesotans have received their first dose of the vaccine, COVID-19 cases are down, hospital bed use is declining, and kids are heading back to the classroom.
COVID-19 is spreading more slowly across Minnesota than two months ago. Recognizing our progress but understanding we need to remain cautious, the governor is adjusting the dials and opening more activities and sectors of the economy. Starting Monday, Jan. 11:
Learn more about the State's response to COVID-19.
Situational updates: Minneapolis
Situational updates: Minnesota
Health Department Incident Command updates
Case investigation/Contact tracing
COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 Testing
Upcoming free COVID-19 saliva testing events:
O Minneapolis Convention Center-9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
O Brooklyn Park Starlight Center -9 a.m. to7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.
O Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport -7 a.m. to 7p.m. seven days a week.
MHD distribution of saliva test kits
Responding to community needs
Businesses
• We completed a final plan review inspection of the Cub Foods store located at 2850 26th Ave South. The facility is set to re-open in mid-February.
The City specific COVID email address is: COVID19@minneapolismn.gov.
Via an e-announcement from Friends of the Hennepin County Library:
Just as cabin fever is beginning to settle in, MNspin is coming to your rescue with two showcase concerts – livestreamed directly into your home. In collaboration with the Hook & Ladder Theater & Lounge and sponsored by Friends of HCL, the library proudly presents MNspin Virtual Fest: Live from the Hook at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 21, and Thursday, January 28.
Scroll on for band line-up and links to register for FREE. Please join us as we celebrate the most recent addition of 93 local Minnesota artists to the library’s MNspin streaming platform in 2020. Thanks to the financial support of library Friends like you, listeners can now enjoy more than 300 albums – from country to rock, hip-hop to classical, and so much more, all free via MNspin!
Livestream Performances by:
Nur-D
Wax Lead
Superior Siren
Music Videos from:
Erik Koskinen, Kiss the Tiger, Mae Simpson Music, Radio Drive, Red Eye Ruby, The Trappistines, TWAIN, and more
MNspin Virtual Fest - Live from the Hook – Part II
Thursday, January 28, 7pm
Livestream performances by:
Fanaka Nation
Kiss the Tiger
Venus DeMars
Music Videos from:
ExactlyNo, Mary Bue & The Monarchy, Moss KWA, Waltzing on Waves, and more
Article by Becky Fillinger
Verónica JaralambidesWe are fortunate in Minnesota to have so many beautiful state parks – with many options for winter recreation. We talked to Verónica Jaralambides, Marketing Consultant at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, for safety tips and suggestions of state parks to clear your mind and stretch your legs.
Q: A lot of us will be looking to get outside and hike throughout the winter months for mental and physical fitness. Can you give us general tips for winter hiking?
A: Getting outside for a dose of fresh air and vitamin D, however small, is crucial during long winter months. As you point out, it has a major impact on mental health, as many studies have confirmed, and it’s a good way to stay active. Winter has its own charm, with a white blanket covering everything.
It’s no news that it can get very cold in Minnesota. My mantra? There’s no bad weather, just bad clothing. The secret to a warm, happy outing? Layers, layers, layers. Avoid cotton at all costs, as it holds humidity and, if you’re wet, you’ll be cold. Ideally, you can get a hold of wool base layers: Wool helps regulate your body temperature, the same way it does for sheep. There are countless options out there and it’s no longer a challenge to find something good on a budget, with many brands and outdoors outfitters offering seconds or return items at significant discounts. Always carry a backpack so you have somewhere to put your clothes as you shed layers while hiking. When it’s very cold, I like to have hot pouches (available at most gas stations) that you can place in your gloves and socks. Mittens will keep you warmer than gloves, as your fingers will generate more heat if they are not separated. I typically carry my liner gloves in my pocket, in case I get too warm.
In your backpack you should also carry water, snacks, a flashlight, a map, and an emergency blanket. In short, pack to be out for the duration. What you have along and how well you dress are key to keeping you safe. Whatever the mishap, as long as you’re prepared, it won’t become an emergency. Here’s your basic safety gear and to-do list:
Take into account slippery conditions, as well, especially after warm days when snow melt becomes ice on the cold ground. I find well-traveled trails to be a bit slick as well, and many times I choose to walk on the side, in the deeper snow. Which brings us to footwear. If you don’t know the conditions of the trails you’ll be hiking, just bring an alternative choice of footwear in the car. For instance, my winter hiking boots are great if I’m hiking on packed or plowed trails, and I like to have my winter boots if the snow is soft or I’m planning on treading through deep snow. Depending on the temperature and trail conditions, your regular hiking boots should work as long as you have warm non-cotton socks. Your footwear should be larger than your regular street shoe size: If your toes don’t have enough room, they will not get proper circulation and you’ll be colder. Ice cleats are also recommended for extra grip. It took me a while to master them as it didn’t come naturally, but the penguin walk helps a lot with balance.
For a lot of us with nine-to-fives, winter also means that the only chance to get out is in the dark. If this makes you uncomfortable, look for lit trails. Full moons on clear nights can be stunning and a good way to illuminate your way. Always have a headlamp along, but be mindful of light pollution—the brighter the lights, the less stars you and other hikers will see. Being able to stargaze before bedtime is another appeal of winter hiking. It can be intimidating to walk in the dark in an unknown area. If you let your eyes adjust to the darkness, you’ll see it’s not as dark. Keep an ear out for night creatures, like wolves howling. The quieter you are, the more you’ll notice.
On the Gateway State Trail
Minneopa State Park Falls
Q: Road trips are not just for sunny summer days. I visited Frontenac State Park last week and hiked the Sand Point Trail. For winter hiking, what are some favorite trails within 1-2 hours of the Twin Cities?
A: First, make sure to check the latest recommendations from Gov. Walz about travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have a few state trails within the Twin Cities Metro Area, including the Gateway, Luce Line, and Minnesota Valley State Trail. Glacial Lakes, Sakatah Singing Hills, and Goodhue Pioneer State Trails are a short drive away, making them perfect destinations for day trips. Make sure to check mndnr.gov/trails to learn about trails conditions, specifically if they are groomed for other winter activities, such as cross-country skiing or snowmobiling. Every state park has so many different things to offer and I love each of them for different reasons. Within a 2-hour drive of the Twin Cities Metro Area, you can visit Charles Lindberg or Mille Lacs Kathio State Parks, or travel south to Rice Lake, Flandrau or Minneopa State Parks. West of the cities you can visit Sibley, Lake Carlos, or Monson Lakes State Parks. Just like for state trails, check online ahead of time to get your winter map and check what trails are available for hiking.
You will need a permit for your visit to Minnesota state parks. Plan ahead and get it online at mndnr.gov! You can get a day permit for $7, or a year-round permit, good for 12 months, for $35. Your permit will give you access to all 75 Minnesota State Parks and recreation areas.
Hiking passport
Pro tip: You can join the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Hiking Club. The Hiking Club will take you on hikes at different state parks around the state looking for passwords. Once you locate the passwords, you’ll get rewards along the way, including patches and free nights of camping.
Q: How can we stay up to date on state hiking trail news?
A: Sign up for our Minnesota State Parks and Trails newsletter, the Trailblazer. You’ll receive the monthly newsletter with insider information to discover and enjoy new destinations and activities. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
When is it safe to venture onto the ice? We talked to Lisa Dugan, Boat and Water Safety Outreach Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources about this topic. In our discussion, Lisa discusses early winter safety tips, snowmobile and ATV advice and equipment you’ll want to have with you on the ice. Remember – ice is never 100% safe. Thank you Lisa for giving us this timely information!
From the Minneapolis Parks Foundation:
Next Generation of Parks Event Series Presented by Minnesota Public Radio News
Join us via Zoom Saturday, February 6, 3:00pm, for Winter Birding 101, featuring Dudley Edmondson, renowned wildlife photographer and author, and Monica Bryand, founder of Urban Bird Collective.
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s Next Generation of Parks Event Series goes all aflutter on Saturday, February 6, at 3:00PM, with Winter Birding 101. This virtual event will feature Dudley Edmondson, renowned wildlife photographer and author of The Black and Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places, from his base in Duluth in conversation with Monica Bryand, a St. Paul-based wildlife photographer and founder of Urban Bird Collective. The event is free, family-friendly, and pre-registration is recommended via Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link.
“This winter bird conversation will help people figure out what that bird is outside their kitchen window,” says Dudley Edmondson. “We'll talk about the most common birds seen in Minnesota backyards when the snow flies. We'll also discuss binoculars for beginners, ways to attract birds to your feeder, and best field trips for winter birdwatching.”
Edmondson first met Monica Bryand when she “invited him to talk to the Urban Bird Collective about what it is like for BIPOC folks to feel safe in nature," she says. “This event will help take away the mystery around birdwatching – one of the most accessible and rewarding activities that get us outdoors and connecting with nature, even in winter.”
In addition to learning about the hardy “snow birds” that stick around through our coldest months – including Northern cardinal, Red bellied woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, and white-breasted nuthatch and a visitor in the winter months the dark-eyed junco – audiences will also get a better understanding of what bird watching is, what amenities are available, and where BIPOC and LGTBQ people can find community in the outdoors. The event is coproduced in partnership with The Great Northern Festival.
“Access to nature is one of the most essential ingredients for good physical and mental health, and Minneapolis and our surrounding communities have a lot of greenspace that many consider free and open to everyone,” says Tom Evers, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. “Yet invisible but perceivable barriers exist for people of color. Dudley Edmondson and Monica Bryand are reframing who has access to parks and public spaces and striving to open access for Black, Indigenous, and people of color to the natural places where birding can become a transformative experience.”
Pre-registration on Eventbrite is recommended…
About Our Speakers
Dudley Edmondson is an author, public speaker, and filmmaker whose passion is nature and getting people of color outdoors. He speaks regularly on his books and his career as a wildlife photographer. His clients include educational institutions, state and federal agencies, and environmental non-profits. His photography career spans nearly three decades and his work has been featured in galleries and in nearly 100 publications around the world, including the state specific flora and fauna field guides by author Stan Tekiela to Bird: The Definitive Visual Guide, by Audubon (DK Publishing) London, UK. To see more of his photographic work, follow him on Instagram.
Monica Bryand is a Latina who is passionate about the environment and crazy for birds. She loves capturing their beauty and sharing them with others. She started her photography business just by sharing her pictures with friends and then was asked to put together cards and framed photos as gifts. She is also the Executive Director of Urban Bird Collective, which was founded in 2018 to support birdwatchers of all different skill levels in leading walks in our own neighborhoods. The Urban Bird Collective works to create safe and welcoming spaces for all communities with a focus on Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the LGBTQ Communities and more – to come out and explore birding and the outdoors.
Mill City Times | 35W Bridge Memorial | Mill District Block Party | Mill City Media
Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 7:03AM
