ETBP Annual Meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 16, at Noon via Zoom

Please join us for our Virtual Annual Meeting on ZOOM:

https://zoom.us/j/615302401?pwd=NmgyalVhSC9DdGVkR0wyMGpjZDR6UT09

Meeting ID: 615 302 401
Password: 011827
+13126266799 (Chicago)

When: Thursday, April 16
Time: Noon-1:00 pm

Description:

The riverfront of East Town is referred to as the Mill District. Originally a place designated exclusively for industrial purposes—it now features mixed uses and is poised to become a leading regional destination. This forum will provide an intriguing historical review and update on the many projects that are being developed in 2020.

Presenting Sponsor: Minnesota Vikings

Feature Presentation/Panelists:

• Paul Bauknight, Project Implementation Director, Minneapolis Parks Foundation
• David Stevens, Site Manager, Mill City Museum, Minnesota Historical Society
• Mark Andrew, President, Friends of the Lock and Dam

Presentation Agenda:

1. Welcome to Zoom Meeting + Orientation (Dan Collison) (2-3 Minutes)
2. Call to Order, Introductions (John Campobasso) (5 Minutes)
3. Sponsor Recognition, Announcements (Dan Collison) (5 Minutes)
4. Partnership Report (Steve Cramer, CEO, mpls downtown council-DID) (5 Minutes)
5. Year in Review (Christie Hantge) (5 Minutes)
6. Casting Vision for the Year Ahead to Next Business Forum Season (Dan Collison) (5 Minutes)
7. Recognition of Outgoing Board Members (John Campobasso) (2 Minutes)
8. Board Candidate Election (John Campobasso) (3 Minutes)
   There are five candidates running for the ETBP Board of Directors:
   • Brent Hanson – Wells Fargo
   • Mike Noble – Normandy Inn
   • Brian Maupin – Allied Parking
   • Kelly Rice – Cassia / Augustana Care
   • Charlie Boeckenheuer – Minnesota Vikings
9. Feature Presentation: (Moderated by Dan Collison) (25 Minutes)
   • Paul Bauknight, Project Implementation Director, Minneapolis Parks Foundation
   • David Stevens, Site Manager, Mill City Museum, Minnesota Historical Society
   • Mark Andrew, President, Friends of the Lock and Dam
10. Adjournment (John Campobasso) (2 Minutes)

Council Member Steve Fletcher's March 28 Newsletter

Focusing the City's COVID-19 Assistance Efforts to Fill the Gaps

This historic pandemic has taken center stage in the work of the city, and rightfully so. We have the opportunity, right now, to save thousands of lives by creating distance between each other and slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

We’re all together in this, but we’re not all experiencing the same hardships. We’re all experiencing loneliness and fear that can be hard to manage. Some of us are sitting in isolation in homes for which we don’t know how we’re going to pay the rent or mortgage. Some of us are workers who have been laid off and are navigating unemployment insurance for partial relief, while some of us are freelancers whose contracts have all been cancelled and who don’t qualify for unemployment insurance, waiting to learn what if any support will be available. Some of us are struggling to shelter in place for lack of shelter. Some of us are business owners scrambling to figure out how to recover from being forced to close, and sadly, some are deciding that recovery is not within reach.

We’re all one community, and we need to do whatever we can to help each other through this. The city obviously has limited resources compared to the magnitude of people's needs in this time, and we need to be smart about how and where we step up with solutions. Luckily, Hennepin County, the State of Minnesota, and the US Congress have all taken steps to help people through this disruption.

So I have two asks for you. First, please take full advantage of the state and federal programs that are designed to help you. Second, please get in touch with me to let me know if you’re not finding the help you need. We need to know where the gaps are in the other safety nets, so we can target our local work to the people who most need it. Below, you’ll find links to information that will help you find resources and support. Stay home, stay connected, and stay positive. 

En avant,

Steve

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My Previous COVID-19 Updates:

• Tuesday, March 24
• Wednesday, March 18
• Monday, March 16
• The City's Coronavirus resource page
• COVID-19 News & Resources

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On Thursday, the Minnesota legislature passed a $200 million COVID-19 response package, and on Friday the U.S. House passed a $2.2 trillion national response package that had previously passed the Senate.

The state package includes:

• $31 million in emergency shelter and housing supports;
• $30 million in child care grants;
• $11 million in grants to tribal nations
• $9 million to food shelf programs; and a
• $200 million COVID-19 Minnesota response fund that can be used to protect Minnesotans and maintain state agencies' operations.

You can read much more detail in this document from the MN House Research Department (PDF) and in this story from Minnesota Public Radio.

The federal package includes:

• $500 billion in loans and guarantees to businesses, state and local governments, including about $1.2 billion for Minnesota’s general fund;
• $377 billion in federally guaranteed loans for companies with less than 500 employees;
• $260 billion in emergency unemployment insurance, which extends coverage to four months, raises the weekly benefit by $600 (on top of the state benefit), and covers self-employed and part-time workers
• $150 billion for health care providers, including direct grants to hospitals;
• $300 billion in direct, one-time payments to individuals capped at $1,200 per person, (less for those who earned above $75,000 in 2019) and $500 per child for some families;
• and billions for disaster relief, schools, transportation systems, veterans, food stamp beneficiaries and others.

You can find answers to many Frequently Asked Questions from the New York Times here, and from Minnesota Public Radio here.

As we learn more about the details of these aid packages, and as the state and federal governments continue to respond to this public health crisis and its effects on everyone's lives, I am looking for gaps that the City can fill.

Please contact me with your ideas and input for how the City can focus our resources on those in our community who fall through the cracks in the federal and state assistance programs. Email me at Steve.Fletcher@minneapolismn.gov or contact my office at 612-673-2203.

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The historic 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed to all traffic beginning Monday, March 30 for repairs. It is currently expected to reopen next summer (2021) by August 1.

Note: Beginning Monday, March 30, West River Parkway will also close between 13th Ave South and 22nd Ave South for up to five days due to 10th Ave Bridge construction activities. The closures will be in place between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

When this project was first announced in early 2019, Public Works staff estimated the project closure duration to be approximately 12 months.

After hiring a contractor last summer and working through a detailed analysis and scheduling with utilities, the staging requirements to build a 50-year fix made schedule changes necessary. The utility work also took more effort than originally anticipated. And, finally, there is some work that cannot be done during the winter, so the closure was moved to this spring so that we did not have two winters of full closure.

This closure will now overlap with the 3rd Avenue Bridge closure. I am disappointed that the project schedule has slipped, but I am hopeful that we can make up time in the winter if the weather cooperates, and minimize how long both bridges are closed at the same time.

Public Works will continue to monitor the schedule and leverage opportunity to improve on this schedule, and will be supporting people’s travel needs throughout. For the 10th Avenue project, drivers will be detoured to the I-35W bridge. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be detoured to Bridge #9.

Contractors will be replacing the bridge deck and other deteriorating concrete components. The City remains in close communication with contractors if adjustments need to be made as a result of impacts from COVID-19. Once construction work is completed, the bridge will feature two-way vehicle traffic with protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks. 

The 90-year-old bridge was last rehabilitated four decades ago and is a key connection over the Mississippi River, carrying about 10,000 vehicles and hundreds of pedestrians every day. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

In addition to the bridge rehabilitation work, the City is also installing a new water main underneath the river. It replaces a 1949-era water main that was suspended from the bridge structure. Learn more about the 10th Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation and Water Main Project and sign up for project updates by visiting the project’s website.

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The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will close sections of West River Parkway and Main Street Southeast during Minnesota’s stay at home order to allow more space for trail users to follow social distancing practices and limit the spread of COVID-19.

The riverfront parkway closures will begin by 5 p.m. Friday, March 27, and remain in place until 5 p.m. Friday, April 10.

• West River Parkway will close between Plymouth Avenue N and 11th Avenue S. One lane will remain open to provide access to the Stone Arch Bridge Parking Lot and parking serving 200 2nd St. S. 
• Main Street SE will fully close between Hennepin Avenue and 3rd Avenue SE. Merriam Street will also be closed. The eastbound lane of Main Street will close between 3rd and 6th Avenues SE. The southbound lane of 6th Avenue SE will also close between Main Street SE and the Stone Arch Bridge. 

Once the closures go into effect:

• Parkway roads will be dedicated to two-way pedestrian traffic.
• Walking paths will be dedicated to two-way pedestrian traffic.
• Bike paths will remain bike paths in their current direction if applicable.
• Modifications may occur during the closure.

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With the early warm spring weather and with social distancing due to COVID-19 leaving downtown quieter than usual, road and sidewalk construction on Hennepin Avenue downtown will begin next week from 7th St. to 12th St. 

Utility work including Xcel, fiber, water, and storm sewer work will be going on in all areas of the project, and is nearing completion on the south end of the project from 7th to 12th streets.  The utility and development work is now ramping up on the north end of the project.

Sign up for email updates and see the latest project updates on the project website here.

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Next week, the City Assessor’s office will start mailing this year’s property tax assessments.  These always generate some questions, and I thought especially at a moment of heightened financial anxiety for many, I wanted to remind everyone what those assessments mean.

By state law, your 2020 Property Tax Assessment is backward-looking, based on comparable property sales from October 2018 through September 2019. It is not an attempt to guess what this week’s economic volatility might mean for your property value. It’s also important to remember that your 2020 assessment does not tell you how much your property tax will go up or down. Your property tax assessment impacts the share of the city’s total property tax levy that you’ll eventually pay.

The City Assessor gave a detailed presentation on this. You can find a link to the report and watch the video of the presentation on the marked agenda for this week’s Ways and Means Committee.

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I normally hold regular open community office hours at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, at a rotating neighborhood coffee shop in Ward 3 for constituents to drop by, ask questions, and raise any issues you see in the community. 

While we are keeping social distance, I will hold my community office hours by phone instead. 

Wednesday, April 1, 4:00 - 6:00 P.M.

If you have questions or a topic to discuss, email Aurin.Chowdhury@minneapolismn.gov to schedule a 15-minute phone call this Wednesday between 4-6pm.

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for all the details on future scheduled events, or contact our office at 612-673-2203.

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The public comment period is open for the Neighborhoods 2020 draft program guidelines on neighborhood programming and funding to support the City’s 70 neighborhood organizations in 2021 and beyond. The draft program guidelines follow the vision to preserve Minneapolis’ neighborhood organizations and create equitable communities in which all people are valued, communities are engaged and leadership mirrors the diversity of the city.

The public comment period has now been extended by 90 days, to July 15. 

We had originally worked with a couple of neighborhoods to organize a Ward 3 meeting on April 1^st because the deadline for public comment was nearing, and we wanted to make sure there was an event in a convenient location.

Now that the deadline has been delayed, and all meetings are in convenient locations online, we’re encouraging everyone to join NCR’s online meeting on April 2^nd. 

We’ll assess later in the Spring whether a Ward 3 meeting makes sense closer to the new deadline.

Public Meeting on Recommended Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines

Thursday, April 2 from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.

Teleconference via Skype -- click here to join!

Neighborhood & Community Relations Department staff will post the video from this meeting online afterwards for those unable to attend. Check out the project page here.

I’m still happy to meet (virtually) with anyone who wants to discuss the Neighborhoods 2020 proposal. Contact my office to set up a time, and let’s connect. 

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Our Public Works Department recently released the draft of the City's Transportation Action Plan, and it is now open for public comment through April 22. 

You can read the plan, see maps, and comment online at http://go.minneapolismn.gov

Public Works staff are also planning online open houses to get your input on the plan and interact in real time - mark your calendar for:

• Wednesday, April 8th, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on the City of Minneapolis Facebook Page 
• Monday, April 13th, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. online, details TBA

Follow the City of Minneapolis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated! Use #gompls to share your feedback with us. 

The Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan is a 10-year action plan to guide future planning, design, and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways we move around the city. The plan will identify specific actions for the City and our partners to take to implement the transportation vision outlined in Minneapolis 2040.

If you have feedback or ideas about how you walk, bike, bus, drive, scooter, roll, ride, or otherwise get around your neighborhood, I strongly encourage you to comment on this plan in the next month!

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Good Morning Ward 3

WHEN: (Tentatively) Wednesday, May 20 from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: Kramarczuk's, 215 E. Hennepin Ave.

WITH: Andrea Brennan, Director of Housing Policy & Development

Rescheduled from March:

Our City recognizes that we have an affordable housing crisis, and we are moving aggressively to adopt policies and direct City funds to address it. On March 18, I'll be joined by Andrea Brennan, Director of Housing Policy and Development in the Department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), for a conversation about our City's housing policies and programs. Join us to learn more about how we're working to make affordable housing available to more Minneapolis residents.

Doug Verdier Shares March Photos of the Water Works Project

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

Construction work at Water Works Park site continues, with intensified work on outside areas.

Workmen attaching insulation panels to pavilion exterior walls.

Forms in place for pouring of concrete below intersection of S 1st Street and 5th Avenue near future South Plaza area.

Forms laid along West River Parkway.

Another view of the forms in place along West River Parkway.

Additional view of the forms in place along West River Parkway.

View of the forms in place along West River Parkway with the Crown Roller Mill building in the background.

Workers constructing forms in the spot that will become a grassy area above former the Columbia Mill ruins.

Extended Comment Period on Neighborhoods 2020 Program Guidelines

Via a March 27 e-announcement:

Program guidelines comment period extended through July 15

Dear Neighborhoods 2020 stakeholders,

Our country, city and communities are faced with an unprecedented public health crisis. The COVID-19 outbreak has drastically disrupted systems, the capacity of organizations and everyday life. We at NCR have been working with many of you, with community partners and many City departments to get public health and safety information out to the most vulnerable in our community.

We know that many of you have been doing similar work for your neighborhoods, and we very much appreciate both your commitment to your communities and your patience while waiting for news about the status Neighborhoods 2020.

We recognize that community members and neighborhood organizations are currently focused on these pressing matters, and more time will be needed to fully engage the community about Neighborhoods 2020. The Neighborhoods 2020 steering committee balanced the importance of moving this initiative forward with the challenges for neighborhood and community-based organizations to engage residents in a meaningful way.

For these reasons, the public comment period on the Neighborhoods 2020 program guidelines has been extended 90 days until July 15, 2020. The guidelines are now expected to go before City Council for a vote by mid-August.

• How to leave a public comment

The extended 90-day comment period also allows us to more fully engage the public in our city, and we are asking all interested organizations and Minneapolis residents to use this time to create a meaningful dialogue. NCR neighborhood specialists are available to help organizations that request assistance.

During the extended public comment period, NCR will expand our outreach and hold additional virtual public meetings. More information will be available as these meetings are scheduled.

We are also still moving forward with our April 2 informational meeting, it will now be in a virtual, webinar format. Staff will present information about the guidelines and participants will be able ask questions via the chat feature.

To join this meeting:

• Ensure that your device can connect to the Skype broadcast (try the link below).
• Join the Neighborhoods 2020 informational Skype broadcast on April 2 at 6 p.m. here.
• The meeting will be recorded and available at minneapolismn.gov/neighborhoods2020 within 24 hours of the event.

The coronavirus outbreak introduces a lot of uncertainty to the process. For that reason, the Neighborhoods 2020 steering committee will continuously reevaluate the situation and may make further changes to this time frame. I thank you all in advance for your patience and understanding as we all work to support our residents and our city.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your neighborhood specialist or NCR at ncr@minneapolismn.gov.

Regards,

David Rubedor

Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations
ADA Title II Coordinator
City of Minneapolis – Neighborhood and Community Relations
Crown Roller Mill, Room 425
105 5th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Office: 612-673-3129
David.Rubedor@minneapolismn.gov

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Assumes Operations at The Commons on April 1

Via a March 27 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

On April 1, 2020, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will officially assume operations at The Commons, the 4.2-acre park in downtown Minneapolis at 4th Street South and Portland Avenue. Green Minneapolis, a non-profit conservancy, has operated The Commons through an agreement with MPRB since May 2019, and before that with the City of Minneapolis.

Park operations include ongoing maintenance such as lawn and garden care and trash removal, security, and public programming. The change in operations results from a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling on January 20, 2020, which upheld a 2019 Hennepin County ruling that prohibits the City from operating and managing a park.

“The Commons is a vibrant community asset, and we're committed to keeping it that way,” said MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura. “As MPRB assumes operations, our staff will provide service levels comparable to those used at Loring Park, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and other MPRB parks in and around downtown.”

In the time that Green Minneapolis has operated The Commons, the park welcomed more than 500,000 dedicated visitors annually and featured more than. 150 free public programs.

“The MPRB appreciates the work that Green Minneapolis has put into The Commons,” said Board President Jono Cowgill. “Going forward, the park will continue to be an attractive destination for Minneapolis residents, downtown workers and visitors. I’m confident that Superintendent Bangoura and MPRB staff will develop a balance in assuming responsibilities at The Commons that allows us to uphold the MPRB mission and maintain delivery of core services throughout the entire park system.”

Green Minneapolis will continue its management and operations at Peavey Plaza and other downtown sites, along with its stewardship of street trees downtown.

Public Impacts at The Commons as of April 1

Hours: The Commons will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight, per Ordinance PB-2-33 for MPRB parks in developed areas.

Security: The Minneapolis Park Police Department will patrol at The Commons from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. as part of its operations at all MPRB parks in the downtown area. Between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., the Minneapolis Police Department will deploy officers as requested through 911.

Programming and activities: MPRB will share plans at a later date.

Background:

2014: The City of Minneapolis acquires land for The Commons through the Ryan Companies, which built the park as part of the U.S. Bank Stadium project for the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority.

Summer 2016: The Commons opens as a 4.2-acre park managed and operated by Green Minneapolis through an agreement with the City of Minneapolis. As a non-profit conservancy, Green Minneapolis raises funds to support the park’s annual budget.

2017: The City conveys ownership of the park’s land to the MPRB, which in turn leases it to the City.

2019: A Hennepin County ruling requires MPRB to operate the park beginning on May 1. MPRB contracts with Green Minneapolis to continue operations at The Commons. The County’s ruling is challenged at the Minnesota Court of Appeals. MPRB partners with Green Minneapolis in summer programming at The Commons.

January 2020: The Minnesota Court of Appeals upholds the ruling for MPRB to assume operations at The Commons.

April 1, 2020: Operations at The Commons transfers from Green Minneapolis to the MPRB.

Earth Day 50: A Great Wind Blowing

"A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache."

Catherine the Great

By Diane Hofstede

First Earth Day: April 1970

Because there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment. In spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson, Senator from Wisconsin, created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. An estimated 20 million people gathered!

Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day continues to grow as a worldwide phenomenon focused on promoting clean living and a healthy, sustainable habitat for people and wildlife alike. Celebrating Earth Day serves as a conscious reminder of how fragile our planet is and how important it is to protect it.

The 50th year celebration of Earth Day is on April 22, 2020

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is Climate Action.

The enormous challenge — but also the vast opportunities — of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.

Worldwide, the issue of our changing climate and the actions that we, all of us, can take, today and on a daily basis to make a difference. If not for ourselves, but for future generations, our children and grandchildren and the children that are in our dreams.

Due to our challenging and changing environment all of the Earth Day celebrations in Minneapolis have been cancelled as organized activities, however each and every one of us can grab a bag and go to into our community, along our river’s edge and clean up our environment.  By our collective actions we can celebrate our home! We do not have option 2 for a second home!  We have Mother Earth!

Livestream Concert Series, Keep Music Live, Produced at Crooners Supper Club for At-home Audiences Begins April 3

April 2 update (via a MinnPost article):

Crooners, which until yesterday morning planned to launch a monthlong streaming concert series, “Keep Music Alive,” this Friday, has put that on hold. After Gov. Tim Walz announced his stay-at-home order, which took effect Saturday, musicians started contacting Crooners saying they wanted to postpone.

Crooners and its partners – the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Jazz88 and Jazz Central Studios –agreed to delay the shows. Meanwhile, artists will be paid. Jazz Fest ED Steve Heckler said in a statement, “What we have decided to do is pay all of the artists who agreed to be in the series and who were announced last week, and re-book them for the series when we feel safe to do so.” Payment will be made from a start-up fund that now exceeds over $25,000.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

Via a March 26 Press Release:

Livestream Concert Series, Keep Music Live, produced at Crooners Supper Club for at-home audiences begins April 3. Twin Cities Jazz Fest, Jazz88 and Jazz Central Studios Partnering with Crooners to support music community sidelined by COVID-19

Crooners Supper Club - in partnership with the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Jazz88 and Jazz Central Studios - is launching a new livestream concert series Keep Music Live, with the near-term goal of giving Twin Cities musicians impacted by COVID-19 policies an opportunity to perform and earn desperately needed income. The series launches on April 3, and, as of April 8, will offer five distinct concerts a week, livestreamed and broadcast for at-home audiences only, Wednesday to Sunday at 7pm (with some variations). SEE PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE BELOW.

A fund administered by the non-profit Twin Cities Jazz Festival will underwrite the free concerts with the help of viewers willing to contribute. Spearheaded by a group of local music supporters led by Mike and Donna Wolsted, the Keep Music Live fund is beginning with a start-up amount of $25,000, to which livestream audiences can contribute in order to make the fund self-sustaining over time.  All artists performing in the series will receive market-rate payments. Excess funds (if any) will go into a trust administered by the Twin Cities Jazz Festival for the support of local musicians in dire need of financial help.  The initiative’s overarching goal is to provide a mechanism during the current period of closures to keep audiences and artists connected, and to provide an income source to numerous top-tier Twin Cities musicians who find themselves completely sidelined by the Coronavirus pandemic.  Donations will be taken on-line at www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com in a fund earmarked for this initiative.

“We put out a call for support to our patrons to get this started, and the response has been amazing,” said Twin Cities Jazz Festival executive director Steve Heckler.  “We are mobilizing and uniting a Twin Cities music scene deeply concerned about the immediate and long-term impact on our local musicians.”

Crooners Supper Club is providing its staff and facilities at no cost to the effort and will derive no income from the livestream performances, as they will be performed without an audience. “We are asking all concert participants to follow our health protocols,” says Crooners owner Mary M. Tjosvold, who owns Mary T. Inc., a health care line of businesses. “Staff and musicians will be screened when they arrive, and we will observe social distancing on stage and off when the shows are produced.”

Jazz88 (KBEM 88.5 FM) is serving as a primary sponsor for Keep Music Live and will broadcast on the radio and livestream most of the concerts on the schedule and will archive all the concerts on the schedule. The shows will also be available for on-demand viewing on a later date, proceeds of which will be directed to the artists involved, with a smaller portion earmarked for the Keep Music Live Trust. 

The concerts will be broadcast and livestreamed at no cost to viewers, After the April 3 launch, the shows will air five nights a week starting Wednesday April 8. The musicians and shows being programmed for Keep Music Live come from Crooners expansive palette of musical styles. “The artists we are programming are among our favorites at the club,” says Crooners music director Andrew Walesch. “They perform with us regularly, are familiar with our operation, and are beloved in town. As we move forward, we are going to add a few national names who have played the club, as long as they can safely make it here. As with our regular programming, we thrive on a mix of styles, sensibilities and generations. That diversity is what we’re striving for with Keep Music Live.”

Leveraging Crooners’ quintessentially Minnesota setting, the shows will be broadcast from the Dunsmore Jazz Room stage, framed by appealing views beyond the stage of the wooded shores of Moore Lake. The 60 to 80-minute-long programs will often include interviews with artists, as well as Q&A’s with artists, bands and cultural leaders in the Twin Cities. Ian Walesch is the series producer.

The Keep Music Live series helps kick off Minnesota Music Month, which is being observed by numerous organizations including The Current which was forced to postpone this year’s Minnesota Music Summit but is actively promoting local bands throughout the month.

photo credit Crooners

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE*

WEEK 1

Fri Apr 3, at 7pm - "Sibling Revelry" with Jennifer Grimm and Reed Grimm featuring Joe Cruz

Fri Apr 3, at 8:30pm - “Friday Night Jazz” with The Sightless Quartet featuring Cody Steinmann, Graydon Peterson, Joe Strachan and Ben Ehrlich

Sat Apr 4, at 7pm - "Stream Songs" with Maud Hixson and Rick Carlson

Sun Apr 5, at 7pm - "Get Happy!" The Harold Arlen Songbook with a Wizard of Oz Sing-Along with Prudence Johnson and Dan Chouinard

WEEK 2

Wed Apr 8, at 7pm - Pat Donohue and Friends From Along the Way

Thur Apr 9, at 7pm - "Tableaux: Works of Ravel, Debussy and More Get Jazzed" with Laura Caviani, David Milne, Chris Bates and Dave Schmalenberger

Fri Apr 10, at 7pm - "Arne Sings Andy" Arne Fogel interprets the Andy Williams Songbook

Fri Apr 10, at 8:30pm – “Friday Night Jazz” with Adam Harder Nussbaum Quartet, with Adam Nussbaum, Nelson Devereaux, Ted Godbout and Ted Olsen

Sat Apr 11, at 7pm -  “Moonshadow: Michael Monroe Sings Cat Stevens”

Sun Apr 12, at 7pm - “Easter Sunday with Robert Robinson” featuring Sam Reeves  

WEEK 3

Wed Apr 15, at 7pm – “An Evening of Show Tunes” with Tyler Michaels King, Sasha Andreev, Aimee K. Bryant, Evan Tyler Wilson and Suzie Juul with Louis Berg-Arnold on piano

Thur Apr 16, at 7pm - Miss Myra and the Moonshiners

Fri Apr 17 at 7pm – “Mick Sterling Presents an Acoustic Night of Billy Joel”

Fri Apr 17, at 8:30pm – “Friday Night Jazz” with Paul Harper's Shrewd Quartet featuring Paul Harper, Kevin Daley, Charlie Riddle and Dean White

Sat Apr 18, at 7pm - "I Am Women, Hear Me Roar" with Lori Dokken, Patty Peterson, Debbie Duncan, Judi Vinar and Rachel Holder

Sun Apr 19, at 7pm - An exciting headliner to be announced soon 

WEEK 4

Wed Apr 22, at 7pm - "The Music of Patsy Cline" with Joyann Parker

Thur Apr 23, at 7pm - To be announced

Fri Apr 24, at 7pm - The Debbie Duncan Quartet
Fri Apr 24, at 8:30pm – “Friday Night Jazz” with the Steve Kenny Quartet featuring Steve Kenny, Levi Schwartzberg, Ted Olson and Miguel Hurtado

Sat Apr 25, at 7pm – “Songs of Spring” with Andrew Walesch featuring Dave Karr and Special Guests

Sun Apr 26, at 7pm -- To be announced

*Schedule is subject to change

The five-year old Crooners Supper Club is located just north of the Minneapolis border, on Central Avenue (6161 Highway 65) in Fridley. With its definitive no-side-conversations listening policy and retro supper club ambiance, Crooners programs an eclectic mix of jazz, R&B, gospel, soul, funk, folk, roots-rock and country.  In addition to its three distinct concert stages – The MainStage, The Dunsmore Jazz Room and the Lakeside Café (in warmer months) - Crooners recently added a piano lounge in its bar area, Maggie’s, with vest-pocket stage for informal late-night lounge shows. Many shows postponed since the State-mandated shut-down of public assembly businesses on March 17 have been temporarily rescheduled for May. To watch, or for more info visit www.croonersmn.com, www.facebook.com/croonersmn, or call 763-760-0062.

Riverfront Parkway and Road Closures Begin March 27 to Help Trail Users Maintain Social Distancing

Closures on West River Parkway and Main Street SE in effect March 27-April 10

Following Gov. Walz’ Emergency Executive Order 20-20 Directing Minnesotans to Stay at Home, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) President Jono Cowgill and District 1 Commissioner Chris Meyer announced today that sections of West River Parkway and Main Street SE will close to allow more space for trail users to follow social distancing practices to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The riverfront parkway closures will begin by 5 pm Friday, March 27 and remain in place until the end of the Emergency Executive Order on Friday, April 10, 2020 at 5 pm. MPRB Commissioners are working with staff to consider additional parkway closures in the Minneapolis park system during this time.

“I am thrilled we’re able to open road and parkway segments next to our busy central riverfront park, and I look forward to announcing additional parkway closures soon,” explained Jono Cowgill, President of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “This has been a collaborative effort with the City of Minneapolis in response to the people we serve and their need for social distancing within parks and public spaces.”

Once the closures go into effect:

• Parkway roads will be dedicated to two-way pedestrian traffic.
• Walking paths will be dedicated to two-way pedestrian traffic.
• Bike paths will remain bike paths in their current direction, if applicable.

West River Parkway

West River Parkway will close between Plymouth Avenue N and 11th Avenue S. One lane will remain open to provide access to the Stone Arch Bridge Parking Lot and parking serving 200 2nd St. S. Modifications may occur during the closure.

Map of West River Parkway Closure [PDF]

Main Street SE

Main Street SE will fully close between Hennepin Avenue and 3rd Avenue SE. Merriam Street will also be closed. The eastbound lane of Main Street will close between 3rd and 6th Avenues SE. The southbound lane of 6th Avenue SE will also close between Main Street SE and the Stone Arch Bridge. Modifications may occur during the closure.

Map of Main Street SE Closure [PDF]

Exceptions and Conditions

• Emergency vehicles will be allowed on closed sections of parkways and streets at all times.
• Service, delivery and sanitation vehicles will be allowed on closed sections of parkways and streets as part of their regular operations. Vehicle drivers will be required to move and replace barricades.
• Access to residential buildings and residential parking facilities on closed sections of parkways and streets will be maintained.
• Intermittent construction vehicle access related to the Water Works project will be allowed. Water Works is under construction near Stone Arch Bridge on West River Parkway.

Social Distancing

The Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control offer the following guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19:

• Do not use parks if you feel sick or have symptoms, including fever, body aches, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat.
• Cover your cough with your elbow, don’t cough into your hands.
• Wash your hands immediately before and after visiting a park or trail.
• Maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other people that are not a part of your household.

Stay Updated

Visit minneapolisparks.org/coronavirus for parkway closure updates and other MPRB FAQs, including facility closings and activity cancellations. Receive timely email updates by visiting minneapolisparks.org/subscribe, entering your email and selecting the “COVID-19” topic in the “News Updates” section.

Northern Lights.mn Announces Spring Howl: a Virtual Art Experience

Via a March 26 e-announcment from Northern Lights.mn:

Artists Hawona Sullivan Janzen and Kathy McTavish are hard at work preparing for this year's virtual Spring Howl.

Buy your ticket today to experience for an alone / together reading and listening experience in times of sudden change.

How it works: 

• Spring Howl: a virtual art experience will be available to view and hear online from April 4 - 30th from any internet-connected device at any time of day. 
• Tickets are now on sale through April 23rd.   
• Ticket holders will receive a link to access the project within 3-5 days of ticket purchase. 
• The project includes an ever-changing and a static experience

We need a good Howl now more than ever.  Join us online in the month of April to witness this work, and discover something about yourself and our world through verse. 

Spring Howl: a virtual art experience
Available online April 4 - 30 
Last call for tickets on April 23 

FINNOVATION Lab Continues “Force For Good” Mission: Open Applications for Cohort 3 Social Impact Entrepreneurs

Via a March 25 Press Release:

FINNOVATION LAB CONTINUES “FORCE FOR GOOD” MISSION, ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIRD COHORT OF SOCIAL IMPACT ENTREPRENEURS

Nine individuals will be supported by a $50,000 stipend, workspace, and tailored curriculum to focus on turning their bold ideas into impact businesses

FINNOVATION Lab, the champion of changemakers who believe in solving systemic social problems through the power of business, announced a third cohort of the FINNOVATION Fellowship Program, with applications being accepted April 1-May 15. The goal of the Fellowship Program is to empower social impact leaders in Minnesota and beyond. The nine-month program provides early-stage social entrepreneurs with a $50,000 living stipend, $3,000 health care stipend, dedicated workspace, tailored curriculum, and access to an ecosystem of advisors and mentors.

FINNOVATION Lab is seeking individuals with a tie to Minnesota who have bold ideas for sustainable, systems-level change. The Fellowship Program supports entrepreneurs with a passion for generating lasting social impact through innovative business models, including traditional corporations, benefit corporations, or non-profit enterprises. All areas of impact are welcomed including education, health, environment, hunger, poverty-alleviation, or any field that creates positive change across the region. Applicants should have identified and have a deep understanding of a social or environmental issue they want to solve and be committed to developing an idea for how to tackle the issue through entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs who are already operating their businesses are not a good fit for this program.

For both its first and second cohorts, the Fellowship Program attracted a highly competitive pool of applicants. Individuals who applied for the second cohort, which wraps programming this summer, were diverse across race, gender, and education: 57% identified as people of color, 63% female or non-binary, 18% LGBTQ+, and 38% as the first in their family to attend college. Similar to the second cohort, the pool of applicants for this group will be narrowed down to nine fellows.

“With each new batch of applicants, it gets harder to select a final group of fellows,” said Connie Rutledge, CEO at FINNOVATION Lab. “We’ve seen a lot of incredible ideas to address social problems through unconventional methods, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to foster growth for the leaders behind those ideas."

Curriculum is focused on leadership development, business planning and modeling, and systems-level analysis for social change using design thinking methodology. The Fellowship Program is often the first time participants can focus their energy on diving deeper into exploring the problem and a potential solution — learning, experimenting, and turning their idea into a reality. Alumni of the Fellowship Program have amassed some impressive achievements, including winning the Impact Venture division of the MN Cup, expanding a flagship conference, securing corporate customers, and managing an accelerator program in Greater Minnesota.

“Seeing our fellows turn their innovative ideas into fully operating and impactful businesses is truly inspirational,” said Jacquie Berglund, Founder of FINNOVATION Lab. “With each new cohort of fellows, we are more energized to continue on with our mission of being a force for good.”

Outside of the Fellowship Program, FINNOVATION Lab announced two national partnerships in October 2019 —SKU (Impact SKU) and SEED SPOT — allowing the organization to support purpose-driven businesses at various stages of growth.

The Fellowship Program, which will run mid-September 2020 through mid-June 2021 for this third cohort, is made possible through generous support from the Bush Foundation, known for its commitment to innovation and creative problem solving. Dedicated workspace and business resources are available to fellows in the FINNOVATION Lab space within the FINNEGANS House at 817 5th Ave S. Minneapolis 55404.

More details about FINNOVATION Lab and the Fellowship Program, including application information and eligibility requirements, is available at Finn-Lab.com.

About FINNOVATION Lab

FINNOVATION Lab is an inclusive workspace and community inspiring social change, growth, innovation, and experimentation. From educational programs to unique events, FINN Lab empowers social entrepreneurs to make a positive change in the world through the power of business. For more information, visit Finn-Lab.com.

The Mill City Times Interview: Captain Casidy Anderson, Community Risk Reduction Officer at Minneapolis Fire Department

Article by Becky Fillinger

Emergency response teams can’t work from home. A global pandemic doesn’t keep fires from starting and dedicated municipal workers must respond. Last week’s Central Avenue fire required Minneapolis Fire Department firefighters to work long hours to extinguish the fire. Mayor Jacob Frey calls the MFD "indispensable" in tragedies we see every week and during extraordinary circumstances, like the coronavirus outbreak.

One of the MFD’s dedicated staff is Casidy Anderson, Staff Captain and Community Risk Reduction Officer. We spoke to Captain Anderson about her role in the Minneapolis Fire Department.

Left to right - FMO (driver) Aaron Banks, Captain Sean Churchill-Weekes, Firefighter Milagros Ramos, and Captain Anderson

MCT:  What do your day to day activities consist of?

CA:  The job title “Community Risk Reduction Officer” started replacing “Fire Safety and Prevention Educator” in many fire departments about 15 years ago. The reason for this is because firefighters typically respond to more than just fires – in fact, the number of fires that we respond to has gone down significantly over the years. In addition to fires, firefighters respond to medical calls, hazardous material spills, vehicle accidents, specialized rescues, emergencies in the water (such as lakes and rivers), and much more! For that reason, the typical “fire educator” now educates the public not only on fire safety and fire prevention, but also other topics such as emergency preparedness, slip and fall prevention, evacuation planning, and sometimes basic medical-skill training such as first-aid and CPR. We teach “risk reduction” skills to reduce injury and loss from many types of accidents and disasters.

Much of my job from day to day requires interfacing with the public: classroom visits teaching kids about fire safety and fire prevention, fire station tours for groups of all ages, speaking events and businesses, tabling with information at community events, talking to tenants in multi-unit high-rises, and more.

The umbrella of the job has widened significantly over the years. Not long before I took this position, the job was strictly about teaching young children about fire safety and fire prevention. Fast forward to today - our outreach includes children, adults, businesses, faith communities and more!

With COVID-19, I am now working entirely remotely, trying to reach out to people via newsletter, email, sharing best practices from local and far away communities, dropping activity books off at places for kids and families to access, and other tasks that minimize interacting face-to-face with the public.

I’ve started the process of seeing how firefighters in the stations can read a story book to children via video – either in real time or pre-recorded. I’ll let the Mill City Times know in advance of the storybook scheduling. COVID-19 is definitely challenging us to think outside the box and be creative and innovative with our outreach!

MCT:  Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic – any advice or tips you’d like to offer readers?

CA:  We’ve all heard the basic things many times – the recommendations by the CDC are to stay home as much as possible, wash hands frequently and maintain social-distancing. The CDC and health departments are the experts on this subject, so turn to them for the best information!

I am not shifting over to COVID-19 activities exclusively. I’m still focusing on fire prevention and other risk-reduction outreach; however, I will include updated tips to stay healthy during COVID-19 as part of that outreach. I’ll be taking information from the CDC and Minnesota health departments in that messaging.

That being said, a few people had contacted me wondering what they as a community could do to help – and it’s such a catch-22 because we all want to help, and yet the directive to “stay home” makes it difficult! So, I started looking at what other communities are doing – particularly on the east and west coasts where the virus is a bigger problem. Here is one of the articles I found when researching how neighbors, friends, and families can help each other out during this time. To help vulnerable neighbors, someone suggested having a shared spreadsheet where neighbors/friends/etc. could log what some basic needs are, and then people could take on one of those items and sign up to help. For example, let’s say my elderly neighbor needs house supplies. I could list that need on the spreadsheet, and someone could adopt that need and when they are at the store, pick up a few items for that neighbor, and drop it at their front door. Maybe another neighbor has a vulnerable immune system or an underlying medical issue and cannot leave their home. It’s a start at looking out for one another.

Captain Anderson leading a fire station tour with a group of Head Start families in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.MCT:  Do you target any special groups or demographics for risk reduction?

CA:  Yes. I am deliberate about reaching out to our immigrant population, people with disabilities, and people in transition - such as those moving from shelters to independent living. For example, imagine living in a country where you’ve never used a modern stove or oven, and moving here where everything is different, including how you cook! Unattended cooking (stepping away from the stovetop when it’s on) is the #1 cause of home fires. Teaching people how to cook safely prevents a lot of fires! Or imagine being deaf or hard-of-hearing and living in a home that does not have appropriate smoke-alarms with strobe lights or alerting devices to wake you when you’re asleep. It’s important that we reach out to people who are at higher risk for fires, and I’m thoughtful about that.

MCT:  Are there any blind spots in the city’s risk focus that warrant additional attention or modification?

CA:  That is something I try to take time to analyze year to year. In general, the top causes of fires and fire-related injury and death have remained consistent for decades (both nationally and locally): #1 cause of fires are unattended cooking – which is 100% preventable by just being more careful in the kitchen. The #1 cause of fire-related death is falling asleep with a cigarette (although in the last few years unsafe heating, such as space heaters left on too long or too close to something, have vied for that #1 spot). That being said, it’s important to look at the data from year to year to see if there are any trends happening that we should focus on to keep people safe.

MCT:  Who is accountable for results in your work?

CA:  It’s a team effort! Although we have a small team of people who are assigned to “community risk reduction” as their primary job – myself and my colleague David Carson, who was just added to this position earlier this year (prior to that it was just me) – we rely on the fire station personnel to help with community events, station tours, and even school visits. The MN State Fire Marshal Office leads the charge to connect all the fire department community risk reduction specialists in the State of Minnesota. We have regular meetings and share ideas and resources.

But people in risk-reduction collaborate across jurisdictional boundaries as well. I’m part of several teams of people whose primary job is prevention and risk reduction. We all collaborate on some level to help and support each other: Minneapolis Police, Health, Regulatory Services, Emergency Management; as well as networks of people from other cities and states.

MCT:  How do you work with neighborhood associations?

CA:  I rely a lot on partnerships with MPD Crime Prevention Specialists to connect with neighborhood associations. They send out fire-related safety information for me as needed. I’m also available to speak at neighborhood association meetings, and have been invited to do that, particularly when there is a pressing fire-related concern in the neighborhood. Minneapolis Communications handles most notices to the neighborhood associations.

MCT:  Do you hold Zoom meetings (or other free videoconferencing) with citizens?

CA:  I have not held Zoom meetings as part of this job. However, with COVID-19 I have attended more Zoom meetings in the last two weeks than I have in my entire 20-year career with MFD! I anticipate holding Zoom meetings as part of my outreach if the directive to social-distance and stay at home continues for a while.

MCT:  Is your department more concerned with risk prevention or mitigation?

CA:  MFD prioritizes both prevention and mitigation. Prevention is incredibly important, because most fires can be prevented by teaching people about the causes of fires, and safer habits that lead to less fires. Although I stated that the #1 cause of fires is unattended cooking, to be specific, the #1 cause is PEOPLE. People cooking carelessly. People leaving the candle burning when they leave the house. People discarding a cigarette, still hot, into a pile of dry brush. If we can teach people to have safer habits, we will reduce fires drastically and we have seen the number of fires drop with these efforts. But mitigation is incredibly important too! The MFD is prepared to respond to every fire, medical, and hazardous emergency that we are called to. We are the biggest fire department in the State of Minnesota, serving the largest population, and our response times are incredibly fast. We want the public to have a toolbox of prevention knowledge and empower them to be safe at home and at work, but when emergencies happen, know that MFD will be there quickly!

MCT:  Thank you Captain Anderson for your time and commitment!

CA:  Thank you for sharing our story. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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About Becky Fillinger

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

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

Mpls DID Deploys Hand Washing Stations Throughout Downtown

Via a March 24 Press Release from the Minneapolis Downtown Council:

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District today announced the deployment of hand washing stations throughout the downtown core.

At a time where hand cleanliness is a crucial necessity for the public’s overall health, this initiative placed 10 hand sanitizing stations throughout downtown. The dual-sink units will include water, soap and paper towels.

Locations were placed along Hennepin/1st Avenues, Nicollet, and between 4th and 5th Streets, and locations are subject to change.

“This is a critical time for our community to have accessible handwashing locations,” said Steve Cramer, President & CEO of the Mpls Downtown Improvement District. “The DID identified portable handwashing stations as an important resource during these evolving times. The DID remains committed to doing our part to best support our downtown community as we navigate together.”

“Having publicly-accessible handwashing stations is a policy priority expressed by the Mpls City Council’s resolution during declared emergencies,” said Ben Shardlow, Director of Urban Design for the Mpls Downtown Improvement District. “This initiative is a way we can help provide service to the downtown community.”

The below map shows the locations of the handwashing stations.

About the Mpls Downtown Improvement District

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) is a business funded non-profit focused on creating a more vibrant downtown. DID leads and collaborates on programs that make downtown safer, cleaner and greener. DID convenes people across sectors and jurisdictions to work on issues of mutual interest; develop innovative solutions to complex public space challenges/opportunities including strategic activation and seek continuous improvement of ongoing programs including the ambassadors. For more information, visit www.mplsdid.com.

Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Offers Tips on Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Offers Tips on Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak

March 24, 2020 (Minneapolis) – Public health events such as infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19 can cause emotional distress and anxiety. Feeling anxious, confused, overwhelmed, or powerless is common during an infectious disease outbreak, especially in the face of a virus with which the general public may be unfamiliar. As part of our agency’s strategy to react to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheriff Hutchinson directed the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office’s TriWellness unit to develop resources to help our employees deal with the stress of this challenging time. He then asked that these resources be shared with the public.   “The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted life for everyone and caused enormous stress and anxiety,” said Sheriff David P. Hutchinson. “Studies have shown that stress and anxiety can have many negative effects on a person’s overall health, which is why I created the TriWellness unit to help my employees stay mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy. At a time like this, everyone deserves a little help coping with stress, which is why we are sharing these resources with you today.” TriWellness’ Tips for Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in. Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include: Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones Changes in sleep or eating patterns Difficulty sleeping or concentrating Worsening of chronic health problems Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs Irritability Increased depressive symptoms Increased anxiety symptoms Coping Tips People that are feeling emotional distress related to COVID-19 can take actions to help support themselves and others. Set a limit on media consumption, including social media, local, or national news. Stay active. Make sure to get enough sleep and rest. Stretch, exercise, and make time to unwind. Stay hydrated and avoid excessive amounts of caffeine or alcohol. Eat healthy foods when possible. Connect with loved ones and others who may be experiencing stress about the outbreak. Talk about your feelings and enjoy conversation unrelated to the outbreak. Read, listen to a book on tape. Take a bath, shower, or practice meditation. Do something nice for someone else. Practice gratitude and choose a positive mindset. Get accurate health information from reputable sources, including the Centers for Disease Control or the Minnesota Department of Health, or your local healthcare provider. COVID-19 Hotlines: (Health questions: 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903) (Schools and child care questions: 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504) If you’re experiencing emotional distress related to COVID-19 and you are in Hennepin County, please call Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies (COPE) at 612-596-1223. If a child 17 or under is experiencing problems, please call Child Crisis at 612-348-2233. More information about these services can be found here. If somebody is in immediate physical danger, please call 911. Outside of Hennepin County, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) or your local crisis line. For coping tools and resources, visit the Lifeline website or Vibrant Emotional Health’s Safe Space. There are many things you can do to support your child: Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand. Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is okay if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you. Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand. Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities. Be a role model.  Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members. For Responders: Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions: Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event. Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt). Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic. Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book. Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19. Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak. Hennepin County Resources Still Open COPE (adults, 18+) (are not conducting visits right now): (612) 596-1223 (phone calls only at this time, no face to face crisis assessments until further notice) Child Crisis (children, 17 years and younger): (612) 348-2233 Withdrawal Management (Detox): (612) 348-4111 Reentry House (Crisis Housing for Adults): (612) 869-2411 Opportunity Center (Food, Mental Health Care, Showers, Lockers, Phones – 7am-4:30pm): (612) 204-8300 St. Steven’s Emergency Homeless Shelters: (612) 874-0311 Mental Health Center (telephone diagnostic assessments, therapy, and psychiatry) (612)596-9438 Mental Wellbeing Virtual Meetings/Support Groups Online AA meetings Love Lines (spiritually specific crisis line): (612) 379-1199 MN Warm Line Peer Connection: (844) 739-6369 Emotions Anonymous (International Online Weekly Meetings) Support Group Central (virtual support groups) For Families COVID-19 Resources for Families Helping Children Cope with Emergencies Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource Checklist to Get Ready Mental Health & Crisis Numbers (24/7, free and confidential) Call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Text HOME to 741-741 for Crisis Text Line Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66-746 for the Disaster Distress Hotline Call 1-800-488-7386, text START to 678-678 or click here to chat with The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ youth) Call 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22-522 to connect with The National Domestic Violence Hotline TXT4LIFE- Crisis text line

Be That Neighbor: The Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade

Article by Claudia Kittock

We are living in very uncertain times. The new normal is not yet defined. We are offering a challenge to each and every one of you. Join us in creating the new normal. Join us in being the neighbor we hope moves in next door. Join us in changing the conversation of the new normal. Let’s make it about what we can be and then let’s all join together to make that new reality happen.

For most of us, our inconveniences are just that, inconvenient. For many of our neighbors, there are life altering changes that can include lack of health care, and an inability to get food. As Paul Wellstone so famously said, "When we all do better, we all do better." How can you help your neighbors do better?

We have set up a Facebook group, the Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MinneapolisVolunteerBrigade/. It will list volunteer opportunities, people willing to volunteer, and community needs including financial support. Money is needed to feed people, but please know this is not a fundraising campaign. There will be many ways to help our neighbors in the months ahead.

Our community has enormous resources and a huge heart. Help! Visit the Facebook group and find what you can do. Spread the word! Make sure your Facebook friends know about this group. Post needs that you know about. Let’s make this moment in our history one when we all stood up. We ARE stronger together!

Join us in the Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade.

The Mill City Times Interview: Dancing Bear Chocolate

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dancing Bear Chocolate is in the final weeks leading up to opening their Northern Chocolate Studio at 4367 N Thomas Avenue in the Victory neighborhood. The coronavirus pandemic has shutdown much of the state.  Small businesses are still attempting to move forward, and in the spirit of supporting our community we will continue to report on how businesses are adapting. We sat down with the owners – practicing good social distancing - Joe Skifter and Steven Howard, to talk about their new space and their dreams for the business.

MCT:  What’s the anticipated opening date for your new space?  You had mentioned in other interviews that it won’t be a traditional retail location. What do you envision for your studio space?

JS:  We hope to be open the week before Easter, with the gelato/ice cream and treat window in operation at that time. We are at the mercy of COVID-19 right now so we will open for business as soon as we can. All construction is on pace to be finished mid-April. New windows and doors have been installed. We’re using all safety precautions to move ahead with our construction and to protect our crew. Currently we are planning on having the store open Thursday and Friday 3PM to 7PM and Saturday 10AM to 4PM. During warmer weather we will add hours of operation for the walk-up gelato window on Sunday and summer holidays.  During December, we plan to be open every day leading up to Christmas. We are planning to close the store for the month of January, reopening in February for Valentine’s Day.

SH: We’ll use the studio for fulfilling our online orders. Our space is wide open – the new windows are very large - with work tables and shelving separating retail from the kitchen. We want our customers and neighbors walking by to see what we are working on. We imagine it as a very interactive space – with demonstrations and classes. You’ll also see orchids in the window – we grow them at home and see them as adding to the beauty of the studio.

Joe Skifter and Steven Howard

MCT:  What’s the history of this building?

JS:  The structure was built in 1929 as a grocery store. In the 1940’s, it was a Spudnut Donut location.  Children would carry out trays of donuts and sell them door to door in the neighborhood. It then became the office of Dr. Vern Steffens, a dentist from the late 60’s till the 90’s. After that a local church ran a maternity assistance clinic at the location, aiding new mothers and babies. It sat vacant for a number of years.  I saw the real estate listing on New Year’s Day 2018 and knew it would be the perfect location for our dream of owning a chocolate shop. 

SH:  Every prior business here took care of the neighborhood – whether it was groceries, dental work or helping moms. We’re going to keep that pattern unbroken. We are actively looking for photos and stories of any of the earlier businesses and services at this location. Please contact us – we’ll share your stories too.

Dancing Bear Chocolate building design

MCT:  Steven, you’ve worked in chocolate in the past. You worked in desserts and pastries at RSVP Cruise Lines, D’Amico Cucina and you were a chocolatier on Nantucket Island. You also opened KoKoa Chocolatier in Tulsa OK, which grew to three locations. Was Dancing Bear Chocolate always in the back of your mind as the Minnesota entrepreneurial business you wanted?  

SH:  Some of my other positions were also very entrepreneurial. KoKoa, a chocolate-themed restaurant in Tulsa OK, started with one location and grew to three. For Dancing Bear, I want this to not just be an entrepreneurial business venture but also be a place for happiness and wonder. I’m envisioning a real Willie Wonka customer experience. It is certainly a goal to open the studio with my husband, Joe.

JS:  We want this to be a center of neighborhood experiences and activities. This is our future and we want to make a connection with every customer. **

MCT:  What is your formal chocolate education? 

SH:  I’m a self-taught chocolatier and executive pastry chef with over 20 years of experience.

MCT: A Yahoo small business article advises chocolate startups to start small and build a demand before investing in a big commercial space or expensive equipment. Have you followed this path?

JS: We are in our 3rd year of operation - we have taken a ‘go slow’ approach to this project. Selling online and through pop-up shops gave us the momentum to move forward with our own retail space and studio. We realize that we do not have unlimited funds and the funds we do have need to used wisely. We own the building which will keep our monthly expenses down.  The cost of the renovation is about double what we originally thought. A grant from the Victory Neighborhood Association has been very helpful in the renovation of our building.

MCT: How do you introduce customers to your products?

JS:  Well, we launched the company in 2018 without a retail location. We did pop-up sales at Chameleon Shoppes at Gaviidae Common and at Open Book. We’ve sold via Etsy.com. We have a strong social media presence with Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. We’ve sold wholesale and also donated product at many charitable events. 

SH: Most recently, we donated chocolate to go along with the meals Emilys F&M provides for people unable to venture out for meals during the coronavirus shutdown.     

MCT:  Empire Chocolates, a chocolate startup, describe their customer as “passionate about the arts - creative and sociable, they enjoy galleries and attend fashion events, they celebrate cultural and artistic icons they admire.” They have certainly drilled down to a specific an understanding of their customer? Who is your customer?

SH:  Our customers are all over the map. We all know that Minneapolis is an incredible foodie town - like Empire we have customers who fit the chocolate aficionado description. Our studio is also across the street from Loring Elementary School and Victory Park. We meet a lot of moms and families! We don’t want to price ourselves out of the market. Our chocolate and pastries will be accessible. Great chocolate does not have to be a luxury item. We meet our customers where they’re at. My main goals with the chocolate is that it taste delicious and create wonder, happiness and love – which can happen at many price points.

MCT:  What is behind the company name?

JS:  The name we chose for the business - Dancing Bear Chocolate – and the names of many of our products, have interesting stories. Steve is a fan of all things related to polar bears. He wanted the name and logo to be a dancing polar bear with a Northern Star. We hope our logo inspires hope, love and kindness. The logo also acknowledges our Minnesota roots. Our creations will often feature bears, hearts and stars. You’ll have to come by and check out our “Kodiak” bar and Bear Paw brownie. We hope to inspire our customers with joy and happiness through our products. Our customer reviews to date have told us that we’re meeting our objectives!

MCT:  What have been your biggest challenges? Have you found a way to overcome them?

JS:  We have had many challenges along the way, especially since taking on our building renovation. We had to re-zone our building from Office-Residential to Commercial-Retail, which was the original zoning for the structure. We had the good fortune of connecting with Zoe Thiel, Manager of the Minneapolis Small Business Team. Zoe has helped us immensely. We could pick up the phone and call her for advice and she always responded quickly. We took every setback in stride and continued to move forward. Failure was not an option and conquering each challenge is an unbelievable feeling of accomplishment. I said in an early conversation with Zoe, about the zoning challenges, that Minneapolis has been an incredible place for me to live, she has never let me down and I believe this is not the time she will.  I’m happy to say that Minneapolis did not let us down.  By the way, Under the Minneapolis 2040 plan, which Dancing Bear Chocolate did not fall under, it will be a lot easier to improve properties as well as to start and operate businesses in Minneapolis.

MCT: Do you handle corporate accounts? Custom orders?

SH:  Yes and Yes. This past holiday season, we received an order for 38 corporate gift baskets. We can incorporate corporate logos on chocolate pieces. Once we are in the studio, our capacity will skyrocket. Our cakes are all custom designed and made to order. 

MCT:  What’s on your wish list for 2020 and beyond?

JS:  We see a full line of Dancing Bear provisions. It could include honey, lemon curd, take and bake scones, sweet and savory crackers, etc. We see cooking classes by area chefs and artisans.

SH:  I feel that we birthed the business two years ago. We’re now growing it and putting it on the right path. Of course, the business will allow us to continue to support the charities important to us. Those are Polar Bears International and Open Arms of Minnesota. We live a few blocks from here. We’ve been blown away by the community outreach to us, even at this point. When we needed to rezone, the number of neighbors stepping forward to help was tremendous. Our goal is a bright, loving future for the business and our greater community.

**During our meeting, Joe Skifter saw a neighbor looking in the new windows. He opened the door to speak to her and give her an update on the business.

Coming Event

MCT:  Anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

DBC:  Follow our social media – come by for a gelato or chocolate in April – we look forward to meeting you!

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About Becky Fillinger

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

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

Drop-off sites to Collect Materials for People Supporting COVID-19 Response

Donations needed - please share this message!

Hennepin County has created drop-off locations for items needed to protect people responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

Staff working in quarantine operations, as first responders, in public health, and in clinics and hospitals are running low on supplies that keep them safe and help them continue their work protecting our community.

Priority items needed include:

• Protective face wear – N95 or N100 respirators, PAPRs and surgical masks
• Nitrile gloves
• Tyvek coveralls
• Tyvek foot covers
• Eye protection (wrap arounds or chemical splash)

Drop off site for Sunday, March 22

Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Hennepin County 
Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation
3000 North Second Street
Minneapolis, MN 55441

Drop off sites (starting Monday, March 23)

Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily

Hennepin County 
Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation
3000 North Second Street
Minneapolis, MN 55441

Adult Correctional Facility
1145 Shenandoah Lane North,
Plymouth, MN 55447

Southdale Library
7001 York Ave. South 
Edina, MN 55435

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For donation questions contact: 

Michael Tupy

763-614-0503

Michael.Tupy@hennepin.us

West River Parkway Workday Closures Between 13th and 22nd Avenues S March 30-April 3

West River Parkway is scheduled to close between 13th Avenue S and 22nd Avenue S for up to five days beginning Monday, March 30. The closure will begin at 9 am and end at 4 pm each day.

The closure is necessary for construction activities related to the repair of the 10th Avenue Bridge. For more information on that project, please visit the City of Minneapolis 10th Avenue Bridge Repair website.

MSP Film is Open For Business...Online! Featuring Exclusive Online Screenings of Award Winners

A message from MSP Film Society:

WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS - ONLINE!

Though our daily in-house cinema programming is temporarily suspended and the 2020 MSPIFF disrupted for now, we are busy looking for creative ways to bring film viewing opportunities to you, our amazing members and patrons!

In this spirit, we are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to watch two extraordinary new films from the comfort of your rocking-chair, couch, yoga-mat or kitchen table: The 2020 MSPIFF official selection Bacurau, by Brazillian filmmakers Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho, and 2019 SXSW Audience Award winner Saint Frances, by director Alex Thompson and writer/star Kelly O'Sullivan. 

Neither film will be otherwise available for public rental or sale for several months, but we are partnering with independent distributors Kino Lorber and Oscilloscope Laboratories to bring a brave new alternative cinematic experience to film fans in our community! In collaboration with our industry peers, we’re making a program of films accessible to you now for home viewing. Details for accessing the films is below.

Your financial participation will directly support MSP Film as we reassess, plan for the future, and uphold our commitment to bringing our community together through the very best in international independent cinema. Thank you. We do it for you and couldn't do it without you. 

Enjoy the shows!

Saint Frances

Audience Award Winner:

SXSW, L.A. Outfest

Chicago Critics Film Festival

American Film Festiva

.

Flailing thirty-four-year-old Bridget (Kelly O’Sullivan) finally catches a break when she meets a nice guy and lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances (played by a scene-stealing Ramona Edith-Williams). But an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication.

Bacurau

2020 MSPIFF Official Selection

.

A few years from now... Bacurau, a small village in the Brazilian sertão, mourns the loss of its matriarch, Carmelita, who lived to be 94. Days later, its inhabitants notice that their village has literally vanished from online maps and a UFO-shaped drone is seen flying overhead. There are forces that want to expel them from their homes, and soon, in a genre-bending twist, a band of armed mercenaries led by Udo Kier arrive in town picking off the inhabitants one by one.

FREE MUBI TRIAL WITH MEMBERSHIP!

Did you know that all MSP Film Membership levels include an exclusive trial access to MUBI, a curated independent film streaming service? The higher the Member level, the more free days of streaming independent international cinema! More info.

To get in contact with anyone from the MSP Film Society, please email us at info@mspfilm.org, as there are no staff on-site to answer phones. 

MPRB Parks and Trails Are Open for Your Enjoyment

Via a March 20 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board:

Parks and trails are open!

While the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Boards's recreation centers and programming buildings are closed, there's still plenty to do outdoors!

Going outside to take a walk, ride a bike or just sit and breathe fresh air can be helpful during stressful times. If you are out with others or encounter others using the same amenities, please be mindful of social distancing and maintain a safe, appropriate distance.

The Minneapolis park system was planned so that nearly every resident can get to a park in about a 10-minute walk. You're probably familiar with your neighborhood park - did you know Minneapolis has 161 of them, most with paved paths? Regional parks offer opportunities to explore the city's lakes, creeks, river and natural areas: Scroll down to find one near you. 

Pets are welcome - but they must be on a leash.

In early spring, many wildlife species are protecting their young, so keeping dogs leashed is especially important.

Off-leash dogs are welcome at MPRB's seven dog parks - if their owner has a permit. Get details on off-leash dog-park permits and several options for purchasing them.

Signs of spring

While you're out, look for early spring plants emerging. MPRB gardening staff report that: 

Magnolia buds (which resemble pussy willows) are beginning to swell.

Skunk cabbage may soon start to show up near near the Mississippi River in Minnehaha Regional Park.

Snowdrops (also known as galanthus, pictured here) are due for an appearance.

Regional parks, trails and parkways near you

North Minneapolis

• Above the Falls Regional Park - including  Orvin “Ole” Olson Park, West River Parkway
  
  
• Luce Line Trail runs from near Parkers Lake in Plymouth through Theodore Wirth Regional Park to I-394 near Bryn Mawr Meadows Park
  
  
• North Mississippi Regional Park
  
  
• Shingle Creek Trail runs along Shingle Creek from Webber Park west to Brooklyn Center
  
  
• Theodore Wirth Regional Park and Theodore Wirth Parkway 
  
  
• Victory Memorial Drive runs from Theodore Wirth Regional Park to Webber Park
  
  
• West River Parkway runs along the west bank of the Mississippi River from Plymouth Ave. N to Godfrey Parkway

Northeast/Southeast Minneapolis

• Above the Falls Regional Park - including Edgewater Park, Gluek Park, Marshall Terrace Park, Sheridan Memorial Park
  
  
• Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park - including B.F. Nelson Park, Boom Island Park, Father Hennepin Bluff Park, Historic Main Street Park, Nicollet Island Park, Stone Arch Bridge, West River Parkway
  
  
• Northeast Diagonal Trail runs from Hennepin Ave. and Stinson Blvd. to Walnut St. past Gross Golf Club
  
  
• Ridgway Parkway runs from Stinson Blvd. to St. Anthony Blvd. next to Hillside Cemetery
  
  
• St. Anthony Parkway runs from North Mississippi Regional Park to Stinson Parkway 
  
  
• Stinson Parkway runs from St. Anthony Parkway to New Brighton Blvd.

Downtown Minneapolis / U of M

• Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park - including Bluff Street Park, Boom Island Park, First Bridge Park, Mill Ruins Park, Nicollet Island Park, Stone Arch Bridge, West River Parkway 
  
  

• East River Parkway runs along the east bank of the Mississippi River from the University of Minnesota to Eustis Street

• West River Parkway runs along the west bank of the Mississippi River from Plymouth Ave. N to Godfrey Parkway

South Minneapolis

• Minnehaha Creek Park and Minnehaha Parkway along Minnehaha Creek
  
  
• Minnehaha Regional Park
  
  
• Mississippi Gorge Regional Park - including  Bluff Street Park, Bohemian Flats, East River Flats Park, Franklin Terrace Dog Park, Riverside Park, West River Parkway 
  
  
• Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park - including Lake Hiawatha Park and Lake Nokomis Park 
•  
• West River Parkway runs along the west bank of the Mississippi River from Plymouth Ave. N to Godfrey Parkway

Southwest Minneapolis

• Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park - including Beard’s Plaisance, Bde Maka Ska Park, Brownie Lake Park, Cedar Lake Park, Cedar Lake Regional Trail, Dean Parkway, Lake Harriet Park, Lake of the Isles Park, Lyndale Park, William Berry Park, William Berry Parkway 
  
  
• Kenwood Parkway runs from Lake of the Isles Park to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
  
  
• Kings Highway runs east of Lyndale Park and Lakewood Cemetery
  
  
• Minnehaha Creek Park and Minnehaha Parkway along Minnehaha Creek

Stay Informed on MPRB news re: COVID-19

• Visit minneapolisparks.org/coronavirus for updated FAQs and cancellation listings.
  
  
• Subscribe to email updates at minneapolisparks.org/subscribe. Enter your email and select the COVID-19” topic in the “News Updates” section.

Minneapolis Police Precinct 1 Informational Alert

Via a March 19 e-alert from the Minneapolis Police Department, First Precinct:

Business Crime Prevention Alert

The 1st Precinct suggests the following recommendations to help reduce the opportunity for crimes to occur during this emergency declaration.

We are asking all residents of 1st Precinct to report suspicious activity to prevent the potential of burglaries of business by calling 911.

Be aware of your surroundings.

FOR BUSINESSES If your business is closed during the emergency declaration review your security plan, remove any cash and valuables. Remember to make sure your security system is functional, accessible and is armed in the event of an incident. Check all lighting. Update the list of emergency contact if law enforcement personnel need to communicate with you. 

Additional tips below to safeguard your business during a very difficult time. 

• BURGLARY PREVENTION
  • Make sure all outside entrances and inside security doors have deadbolt locks. If you use padlocks, they should be made of steel and kept locked at all times. Remember to remove serial numbers from your locks, to prevent unauthorized keys from being made.
  • All outside or security doors should be metal-lined and secured with metal security crossbars. Pin all exposed hinges to prevent removal. Use shrouds around the deadbolt to prevent prying.
  • Windows should have secure locks and burglar-resistant glass. Consider installing metal grates on all your windows except display windows.
  • Remove all expensive items from window displays at night and make sure you can see easily into your business after closing.
  • Light the inside and outside of your business, especially around doors, windows, skylights, or other entry points. Consider installing covers over exterior lights and power sources to deter tampering.
  • Check the parking lot for good lighting and unobstructed views.
  • Be sure your safe is fireproof and securely anchored. It should be kept in plain view. Leave it open when it’s empty, use it to lock up valuables when you close. Remember to change the combination and all business access codes when an employee leaves your employment.
  • PLEASE REFER TO THIS ALERT FOR FURTHER TIPS

For questions, contact:

Renee Allen, Crime Prevention Specialist
Minneapolis Police Department, First Precinct
renee.allen@minneapolismn.gov
(612) 673-5163