Homelessness: Facts Matter When Talking About Crime & People Experiencing Homelessness

Article by Claudia Kittock

Facts matter. Experience matters. Opinions must be treated as just that, opinions. The recently expressed opinion that “Many of Downtown East’s problems are ‘crimes of opportunity’ and stem from homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues," is just that, an opinion. Is it based on facts? Is it a helpful narrative, or is it an opinion, masquerading as a fact that will cause real harm to the most vulnerable among us?

If you are someone experiencing homelessness you are more likely to be the victim of crime than to be a perpetrator. Opinion? In December, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) concluded homeless individuals are far more likely than the general population to be victims of violent crime. In their latest report, “Vulnerable to Hate: A Survey of Bias-Motivated Violence against People Experiencing Homelessness in 2016-2017,” the NCH documented at least 112 anti-homeless attacks that occurred in the United States in 2016 and 2017, and analyzed 1,769 reported acts of violence committed against homeless individuals from 1999-2017. Of the 1,769 violent acts, 476 victims lost their lives as a result.

NCH studied attacks that occurred in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

A 16-year-old young man I have known for several years was thrown out of his home for being gay. His parents wanted nothing more to do with him. He slept on the light rail for 4 months with a suitcase that contained all his worldly goods. As difficult as it was to sleep, he fell asleep one night only to find his suitcase had been stolen while he was sleeping. Sixteen, alone, without anything but the clothes on his back. Should I be scared of this young man because he is experiencing homelessness, or should I be horrified at the circumstances that led him to that moment?

A new report by homeless charity Crisis has revealed the shocking level of violence and intimidation homeless people face.

Researchers speaking to people sleeping outside found: 

• More than one in three have been deliberately been hit, kicked, or experienced some other form of violence while homeless.

• Over one in three (34%) have had things thrown at them. 

• Almost one in 10 (9%) have been urinated on while homeless. 

• More than one in 20 (7%) have been the victim of a sexual assault. 

• Almost half (48%) have been intimidated or threatened with violence whilst homeless.

• Six in 10 (59%) have been verbally abused or harassed.

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People experiencing homelessness are often pulled into the criminal or juvenile justice systems for misdemeanor offenses related to attempts to survive on the streets. They may be prosecuted for things like shoplifting or for publicly engaging in basic life activities like standing or sleeping — activities that would never be an offense when done in one’s home. Unhoused people are often segregated from society; are subjected to laws that make it illegal to be poor or have their property legally stolen; receive a criminal label; refused a place to sleep; denied food, bathrooms, and healthcare; are verbally abused; have their existence denied; and sometimes, are attacked by housed community members with a bias against homelessness. This dehumanization leads to the marginalization of people experiencing homelessness and leaves these groups unprotected.

$2.50 is the difference between a loitering charge or not. I can spend a day in a coffee shop because I can afford to pay for coffee. Someone experiencing homelessness that came into a coffee shop to try to warm up but cannot afford a cup of coffee, can get charged with loitering and then may likely be trespassed from the premise. When I meet some of my homeless friends for coffee, they are afraid to arrive before I do because they are quite certain they will be asked to leave if I am not there to make sure they get a coffee. 

What about the concern that having people experiencing homelessness in your community makes you less safe? In a recent analysis of 11 city-sanctioned homeless villages of tiny homes in Seattle and Portland, Ore., it was found that crime rates went down in five of those neighborhoods, stayed about the same in four and went up only in two. A 2013 randomized controlled trial in a housing-first program in Vancouver, British Columbia, showed that providing market-rate apartments around the city to homeless mentally ill people reduced crime. A Washington Post analysis of research concluded, “On average, researchers have found supportive housing facilities servicing the homeless and other vulnerable populations rarely lead to higher crime rates.”

The irony is that housing for the homeless isn’t the cause of crime; it’s the solution to it. Study after study shows that even those homeless individuals with severe mental illness or suffering from addiction have lower rates of criminal behavior once they have a roof over their head. Building shelters and housing will deter crime and protect lives, not cause crime.

The vast majority of people who have substance abuse, mental or physical health conditions, criminal records, etc. are housed. While there may separately and collectively be things that people experiencing homelessness deal with at a high rate, they are still a small minority of people to struggle with specific conditions. We have compassion for housed people who struggle with addiction and mental health issues. Why not for people who are too poor to afford housing or to access health care?

Have you noticed the language I use - people experiencing homelessness, as opposed to homeless person? It is deliberate and taught to me by people far wiser than I. I would be horrified to be defined by the worse moment of my life. Being homeless tends to be transitory for the vast majority of people. It is a moment in time. Imagine being known as “drunk John" for the rest of your life based on your time of excess drinking in college. We wouldn’t stand for it. It isn’t accurate and it isn’t relevant.

Friends of the Mill District recently began holding a series of Community Conversations throughout the Mill District. The three leaders of this conversation are people who work to provide support for people experiencing homelessness. Lieutenant Grant Snyder, police liaison for people experiencing homelessness, Katie Miller, mental health advocate with the police department, and Joe Kreisman, chair of Align Minneapolis, formerly the Congregations to End Homelessness. Each of these experts about their work, but most of the sessions are question-answer format. We have had two of these conversations in two different condo buildings, and the reviews were glowing. Once the Coronavirus concerns pass, we will resume these conversations. In the meantime, if you are interested in being part of these conversations, contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com. It is not too early to begin to schedule a conversation in your building.

We need to have fact-based conversations. We need to decide who we want to be as a community. We need to create the neighborhood we want to live in, one filled with kindness and compassion with room enough for all. 

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Community Update from Ward 3 Council Member Steve Fletcher

Editors note: We've reached out to elected officials and community leaders for updates to the new issues facing Downtown Minneapolis residents. We will be publishing these updates and notices until the Coronavirus emergency subsides. Send updates to dave@millcitymedia.org

Friends -

I'm full of gratitude to our community during a challenging time. I'm seeing local businesses taking steps to protect their employees and customers, Minneapolis city staff and leaders stepping up in big and important ways, and lots of individuals offering help to neighbors. Thank you!

The city’s first responsibility is to maintain critical services. Some of the unseen emergency preparedness work that we do day to day will pay dividends this month, as redundancies in our water filtration system and other critical infrastructure ensure that tap water is still freely flowing and safe, garbage is still collected, first responders are available for emergencies, and more.  I’m very proud of our city staff, who are working tirelessly to maintain a high level of service while adapting to pandemic protocols. For more, the city’s website has a page dedicated to COVID response. http://minneapolismn.gov/emergency/coronavirus

Like all employers are advised to do, we’re encouraging city employees who can do their jobs from home to do so. That includes my own Ward 3 office staff, who will be available by phone and e-mail, and continue to do great work supporting Ward 3 constituents.

We’ll also be canceling or postponing all non-essential in-person meetings, and looking for ways to engage more online. More details on this are below.

Today, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared a local public health emergency to respond to the threat posed by COVID-19. Under City Ordinances, the mayor is granted additional powers, authorities, and responsibilities upon the declaration of a local emergency.

The mayor’s declaration, which I support, must be voted on by the city council within 72 hours. Mayor Frey has requested that the emergency declaration remain in effect as long as the State of Minnesota peacetime emergency declaration remains in effect. 

Under this declaration, Mayor Frey is closing or limiting access to bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and coffee shops in Minneapolis and will be in close communication with state leadership on the process. Operations will be limited to delivery, takeout, and drive thru orders. The new rule will be effective and enforceable starting at noon tomorrow. This is a tough decision, but the right one, and necessary. 

Consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the city will halt issuance of new permits for any gatherings of 50 or more people. The local emergency declaration will also allow Minneapolis Emergency Management to request and coordinate aid and resources from jurisdictional partners.

Last week, our Public Works director announced that the city would suspend water shutoffs for non-payment for the month ahead. Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy have pledged the same for their utilities. Additionally, USI Wireless and Comcast have opened up their public wi-fi hotspots for free access.

Mayor Frey and Council President Bender have also been in contact with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office regarding eviction enforcement in Minneapolis.

While we continue to coordinate with private partners and government partners at every level on the healthcare response, we’re simultaneously coordinating to craft an economic response to cushion the blow for small business owners, freelancers, and tipped employees. Here's some valuable information on state #COVID resources for workers and small businesses. Unemployment Insurance will help employees who lose hours or are laid off. Small Business Disaster Loan info will be available there as soon as the federal government releases guidelines. https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/    

In the meantime, anything you can do to orient whatever consumer spending you’re doing toward neighborhood local businesses, know that they’re all in need of our support right now, and will be when we’re on the other side of this, too.

We have some difficult days ahead. Stay healthy, help others where you can, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. My office is here to help, as are many other community resources. Call (612) 673-2203 or e-mail steve.fletcher@minneapolismn.gov with requests, ideas, and feedback. We’ll get through this together, as a community.

En avant,

Steve Fletcher

Ward 3 City Council

A Fort in Paradise: Part III

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Part II of this three-part series looked into how Fort Snelling came to be and its role in the U.S. Civil War and the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862. Established to protect the fur trading in the area, the Fort provided a sense of safety for immigrants who were moving West. As European-American communities started popping up in close proximity to the Fort and throughout the Upper Midwest, the need for Fort Snelling diminished. Once the Civil War started, Governor Ramsey was the first to volunteer troops to President Lincoln in support of the Union. Thousands of troops were trained at the Fort during this time and many played important roles in the battles of First Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg.

The Fort also played a role in the U.S. – Dakota War as over 1,600 Dakota women, children, and elders were forcefully marched along the Minnesota River and put into concentration camps just below the Fort during the winter of 1862-63. Fort Snelling became the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Department of the Dakota in the 1870s, and served during the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the Philippine-American War from 1899 – 1902. From 1882 – 1888, the Fort was home to the famed Twenty-Fifth United States Infantry Regiment, a segregated African American unit, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

1919 photo of nurses teaching wounded soldiers crafts.

During WWI, the Fort became a processing and officer training center for thousands of troops. In September of 1918, the Medical Department of the US Army took over the Fort and it acted as a General Hospital. With 1,200 beds available, an all-woman Army Nurse Corps helped many people during the Spanish Flu outbreak, and when that subsided, they helped veterans who returned home after WWI. The nurses also acted as occupational therapists for many of the veterans by playing games with them and teaching them crafts. Once the war was over, Fort Snelling became known as the “country club of the army.” There were swimming pools, a polo team, and many other activities during this time. Thanks to the Civilian Conservation Corps, many of the Fort’s buildings were restored and a reception center was built to aid with the processing of new recruits.

Over 300,000 men and women went through Fort Snelling during WWII. While many of them were sent to different bases for basic training, some training did occur at the Fort, such as training for Military Police and Military Railway Service soldiers. The Fort played a very important role during this war as it was home to the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Here, over 6,000 Japanese Americans were taught the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese languages and cultures in order to aid in interpretation and interrogation, and help intelligence workers.

1944 photo of Japanese translators at the Fort.

Once WWII came to an end, so did the need for Fort Snelling as a military site. It was decommissioned by the War Department on October 14th, 1946. Most of the Fort’s land was taken by various federal agencies, and in 1960, the existing structures of the Fort were listed as National Historic Landmarks. This marked the beginning of its transition into a historic and educational site.

Picture of the inside of Fort Snelling taken in 1972.

For eighteen years, archaeologists meticulously excavated the area of the original fort. At the time, the only original structures that were left were the Round Tower, Commanding Officer’s House, South Battery, and Officers' Quarters. In 1970, the Minnesota Historical Society opened the Fort to the public as a historic site with interpretation of what life was like back when the Fort was active. By the early 1980s, over 500,000 artifacts were uncovered, and two dozen structures, buildings, walls, were reconstructed to make Fort Snelling appear as it did when it was first made in the 1820s. Since then, Historic Fort Snelling has welcomed school groups, tourists, and locals alike and introduced them to the history of one of the most important sites in this land we call Minnesota.

Now is also an important transition time for Historic Fort Snelling. Beginning this spring, a two-year process will begin to transform existing buildings, that are located outside of the Fort’s walls, into a new visitor center with exhibition and event space. Additionally, new landscaping that brings the entire site together will be added, and there will be no story left untold from the many different peoples who have called this land home.

1942 photo of soldier maneuvers on skis at the Fort.

This three-part series is just the tip of the iceberg of the history of Bdote and Fort Snelling, and that’s even an understatement. Dred and Harriet Scott once resided within these walls as enslaved persons, Dakota leaders Little Six and Medicine Bottle were hanged here, and the 99th Infantry Battalion, a group of Norwegian-speaking soldiers, were trained here to fight on skis and snowshoes during WWII. These stories and many more are waiting to be explored. Once the weather warms up and the earth is healthy again, plan a trip to Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote. If you’re lucky, I just might be your guide. 

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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.

Resources for Coronavirus-Related Cancellations, Closures and Misc. Updates

We've started a list of resources to verify events and venues that have been declared cancelled, postponed, temporarily closed, etc., along with other miscellaneous updates related to COVID-19. We will continue to update this list.

COVID-19 updates from City partners

Minnesota Stay at home except for essential needs order  Minnesota Department of Health guidance for all Minnesotans Hennepin County COVID-19 information Metro Transit schedule impacts Minneapolis Public Schools COVID-19 resources Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board COVID-19 FAQs and updates  Meet Minneapolis #WeGotThisMPLS campaign Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District City of Saint Paul COVID-19 information University of Minnesota COVID-19 updates

https://www.minneapolis.org/covid-19/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Learn%20More&utm_campaign=Leisure-Email

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/full-list-all-41-types-of-business-activities-under-mandatory-closure-in-minnesota-because-of-covid-19-outbreak?fbclid=IwAR14WFbM5l_KJxm2iR11RpkV8ykBKk--pVAMH0n9rq1Omd1z0EQzSVT859U

http://www.startribune.com/first-ave-other-music-venues-will-shut-down-through-march-due-to-crowd-limits/568798312/?fbclid=IwAR0VIN5WAdYdhoS9skS63oUfXsSI3xlQa4NWEDuBUCKFII1Z0I_XfyC-utk

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https://www.kare11.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-related-cancellations-postponements-and-impacts-in-the-twin-cities/89-42ce761f-ef95-4135-a1b6-ec10ad310bc4

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https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/heres-everything-in-minnesota-that-has-been-canceled-postponed-by-covid-19

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https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-st-paul-minneapolis-schools-events-canceled/

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https://www.minneapolis.org/covid-19/

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https://kstp.com/news/disruptions-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/5672421/?cat=1%3Fxafd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KSTP-TV&fbclid=IwAR09d3tspbUrDuZPe1Sk5XIlSLXPIcQpG9jKS-4sv7aaXq4KzkXOJHAY9ps

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https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2020/03/walz-orders-all-minnesota-schools-to-close-for-8-days-35-cases-of-covid-19-now-confirmed/

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https://www.minneapolisparks.org/coronavirus-covid-19-information/

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https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html

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https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/03/13/coronavirus-updates-the-latest-covid-19-headlines-from-march-13-2020/?fbclid=IwAR1NOfacY-XB1kZELBEwrNCDOBy0OzB5X9HeZgJtl1Ufyr2eEdLarNpchiE

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http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/updated-list-coronavirus-cancellations/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=031620_MDaily%20(1)&utm_content=cta1&spMailingID=17088113&spUserID=MTMwMDQzMzExMDk4S0&spJobID=1840877514&spReportId=MTg0MDg3NzUxNAS2

10th Avenue Bridge and Watermain Project Update - March 13, 2020

The 10th Avenue Bridge will be closed and detours will be in effect for approximately 18 months, until Summer 2021. This project will rehabilitate the historic 10th Ave SE bridge over the Mississippi River and W River Pkwy. A new water main will be installed under the river as part of the project. More info.

* * 10th Avenue Bridge is closing for repairs March 30, 2020 * *

Latest Project News

- Road closure signs were installed on March 9, 2020 to announce the upcoming closure on March 30th.

- The contractor will begin bridge deck removals in April 2020.

Construction Update Meeting - March 20

Project staff will hold a construction update meeting at the Seven Corners Apartment Building (Community Room) at 1400 S 2nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55454. Members of the public are invited to attend and hear updates on construction progress and speak with project staff on Friday, March 20, 2020 at 10:30 am.

For more information, please see the latest construction update.

Photo: City of Minneapolis

What to Expect

- The bridge will be closed to all traffic including, vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians beginning on March 30, 2020.

- The bridge closure and detours will be in effect for approximately 18 months, until Summer 2021.

- Work requires the use of heavy equipment that will increase noise, vibration, and dust in work areas.

- Access to adjacent apartments and businesses will remain open during the construction activity.

- Changes to the University of Minnesota’s University Ave Circulator Bus (Route 122).

For more information on this project contact:

Bridge Contact: Meseret Wolana, meseret.wolana@minneapolismn.gov or 612-673-3527

Water Main Contact: Peter Pfister, peter.pfister@minneapolismn.gov or 612-661-4906

10thavebridge.com

City Council Should Approve Application for Federal Grant

On March 4 the Minneapolis City Council Public Safety Committee voted to not apply for a Federal Grant to fund a possible future increase in the number of sworn officers in the Minneapolis Police Department. The full Council should revisit this decision.

By Editorial Board Mill City Times

How We Got Here. Last year Minneapolis saw a major increase in violent crime AND 6,000+ 911 calls that were not responded to in a timely fashion, or at all, due to an understaffed police department AND a heated debate at City Hall over the need to add more officers.

The Police staffing issue was easily the most contentious topic in the annual City budgeting process. As part of a compromise, the City Council agreed to commission an independent, third party study (due later this year) to determine the proper number of sworn officers in the MPD. The intent was was admirable, especially in the political climate of today: let’s use a fact-based approach to setting our police budget.

An Increased Need for Police Officers? Over a twelve month period from mid-2018 to mid-2019, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo reported over 6000 instances in which no police were immediately available to respond to a Priority 1 call, such as a shooting, rape, missing person, assault, or a drug overdose. When a Minneapolitan is in life threatening danger, they have an understandable expectation that the police will show up.

The Vision Zero initiative in Minneapolis aims to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on city streets by 2027.  An average of 95 people are killed or severely injured in traffic crashes on streets in Minneapolis each year. Minneapolis has four traffic investigators to handle follow-up on the most serious accidents and ZERO traffic enforcement officers. These facts should be of interest to any person who lives or works or owns a business, rides a bike, busses or light rail, or crosses city streets as a pedestrian. How will we reach the goal of zero deaths each year without someone to enforce existing, and new Vision Zero laws & rules?

An Opportunity for Outside Funding Should We need More Officers. For the 1^st time in 3 years, the Federal Government is offering Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants meant to help law enforcement agencies to hire more community policing officers, to acquire new technologies and equipment, to hire civilians for administrative tasks, and to promote innovative approaches to solving crime. City staff worked to prepare the grant proposal so as to be prepared.

An Opportunity Squandered? Minneapolis has the opportunity to apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services that could pay for hiring, training and deploying 10 new traffic officers over three years. The city’s contribution would be about $4.6 million to match the grant and cover other expenses. If the grant was awarded, Minneapolis could assign the 10 new police officers to handle traffic matters (moving us toward our Vision Zero goals) and potentially free up police officers to handle more of the unanswered Priority 1 calls.

2 facts to keep in mind when it comes to this grant:

- The grant, if awarded this fall, can be rejected by the City Council when the successful applicants are notified later this fall - Should the result of the aforementioned staffing study conclude that the police are currently staffed at the right level, the grant can be rejected by the City Council with no penalty.

- The City can decide to go back to previous staffing levels at the end of the grant period (3 years) should the need for the additional officers decline.

The 4-2 vote to not apply for the grant – was on a motion by Council member Steve Fletcher and backed by Public Safety and Emergency Management Committee members  Alondra Cano, Phillipe Cunningham and Jeremiah Ellison. The vote sends the matter back to city staff — effectively killing the proposal, since the grant application deadline is later this month.

Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo are in favor of applying for the grant. Downtown business leaders have also expressed dismay at the Council’s decision to not pursue the grant. Chief Arradondo describes the level of police officer staffing as ‘hemorrhaging and broken’.

Right now, the City of Minneapolis is conducting a large study to review police staffing. Results of the study are not expected until September. Mayor Frey has indicated that he’ll follow the recommendations of the study.

“If that study says that we should be adding additional officers, it’s common sense that we should allow for assistance in paying for those officers," said Frey. "Why would we turn down money that we could use to both benefit public safety and not add burden to taxpayers?"

Minneapolis needs to pursue whatever avenues of crime prevention and increased public safety are available to the community. Commission studies, study the results, look at alternative means of crime prevention, investigate police procedures, recruit diverse community voices in seeking solutions, review crime and traffic data and yes, apply for grants that would fund additional officers on the street. Minneapolis can always staff at lower levels if that is the recommendation of the police staffing study. We can’t reject grant money that we didn’t seek.

Mill City Times recommends recommend reaching out to your City Council member to urge them to support applying for the Community Oriented Policing Services federal grant.  It’s a risk-free move that could save the City a significant chunk of tax dollars.

FINNEGANS Celebrates St. Patrick's Day and Taproom 2nd Anniversary with a Long Weekend of Festivities

Come celebrate not only one, but two big events at FINNEGANS' St. Padddy's Day and Second Anniversary of the taproom - starting Friday, March 13th. Here's the 5-day lineup:

FRIDAY March 13: Open from Noon to Midnight
BEER RELEASE! 3:17 to Cologone -a Kolsch collaboration with La Doña Cervecería!
Live Music by Caskmates

SATURDAY March 14: Open from 11AM-12AM
BEER RELEASE! Barrels of Life Series- 2nd Cerise
A barrel aged ale, aged in Cabernet Barrels on a bed of tart cherries.
1-4pm: Pot O Gold Putt Putt
1-8pm: Polar Pedal Pub: $20 per rider Pedal Pub Twin Cities
1-9pm: LIVE MUSIC

SUNDAY March 15: Open 3PM-11PM
4-6pm Live Music by Rock Creek Song Dogs
6-Close- Irish Dancers!

MONDAY March 16: Open- 3PM- 11PM
7-9pm: St. Patricks Themed Trivia by Trivia Mafia

TUESDAY March 17 - St. Patricks Day: Open 10AM- 12AM
Second Anniversary of our Taproom!
1-8pm: Polar Pedal Pub, $20 per rider
4-7pm: The Current will be live in the Taproom!
7:30-8:30pm: Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band

Need more detail about our events? Check out our calendar!
http://finnegans.org/schedule/

Here is a look at the Polar Pub! Pedal Pub https://www.pedalpub.com/twin-cities-mn/route/polar-pub/

Looking for a place to stay for all your weekend shenanigans here at FINNEGANS? Elliot Park Hotel, Autograph Collection and FINNEGANS have a weekend deal for you!
https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1581114192039&key=CORP&app=resvlink 

The Mill City Times Interview: Brenda Langton, Founder and Development Director – Mill City Farmers Market

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

For over 40 years, Brenda Langton has led the organic and healthy food movement in Minnesota through award winning restaurants and by founding the Mill City Farmers Market (MCFM). We sat down with her during the March 7th Winter Market.

Mill City Farmers Market founder Brenda Langton with Martha Archer, Executive Director and Jenny Heck, Market & Social Media Manager

MCT:  You’re the founder of the Mill City Farmers Market. Can you tell us more about the beginnings of the market in 2006?    

BL:  Actually, I was blessed with being able to ask for help from others to build the market. As I was building my new restaurant Spoonriver, I discovered the Chicago Plaza space and realized that it would be ideal for the MCFM. We’re very grateful for seed money that was provided by the Wedge Coop. I then went to work recruiting other people and sponsors to get it rolling and doing the work to make the market a reality.  

MCT: Did anything happen that you did not anticipate?

BL: Yes, the city didn’t want us to have a farmers market. We were going to have artists and other non-farmers as vendors at the market - items other than food - and the licensing and city officials didn’t know how to deal with us. They basically hoped that we would go away. We persevered because we knew that building a healthy community was the right thing to do at this location. We celebrate our 15th anniversary this year. We’ve seen tremendous growth in residential and commercial spaces in the area – which is terrific because the farmers need our support and people need fresh organic food. 

MCT:  Your earliest tagline was Healthy Foods, Local Farmers. Has your vision endured? 

BL:  It has endured. We’ve gone beyond just a tagline. We just updated our Strategic Plan for 2020-2023.  I’m pleased to share our new guiding principles:

• Farmers – Held farmers succeed because they are the foundation of our food system
• Market – Curate and sustain a vibrant, financially viable marketplace for all
• Programs – Empower a healthy community through experiential learning and access to nourishing food
• Partners – Advance the local regenerative food system through innovative leadership, strategic partnerships, and sustaining donors and stakeholders
• Capacity – Ensure that MSFM and MCFM-CF (Charitable Fund) are sustainable organizations with the financial and organizational capacity to support our mission and impact

The Market just doesn’t happen by magic each Saturday. We host over 5000 people a day in the summer. It takes a lot of planning to make it successful and financially viable and our team wants to be prepared for each individual market day, and also for the future. 

MCT:  “Spoonriver has never been just a restaurant.”  “Relationships have always been at the heart of our business. Our mission has been to build a healthier community through the meals we serve.” Is MCFM a way for you to sustain and grow the relationships built by your restaurants?

BL: Yes, I love to build community. I’ve worked directly with local producers and growers for over 40 years. I love to engage with all the different partner organizations that can lift up organic farming and healthy eating. Ultimately, we can only do what we can do in our community. The rest of the country is dealing with so much - I feel that by addressing local issues we can help our community work collaboratively on the issues closest to home.  

Jeff Nistler of Nistler Farms grows sweet corn, squash, melons and tomatoes. He also sells honey and quick breads, as pictured here.MCT:  How do you spot opportunities for innovation? 

BL:  I love reading, hearing and listening to anything that is regenerative to the soil. If it will help our climate and food producers, it is front and center with me. I learn something new and perhaps it combines with my prior knowledge for something new altogether. I try to get engaged with good organizations that are doing good and we can learn and work together. I’ve never been a person who lives in the past. It’s always forward for me.

MCT:  MCFM is clearly more than a traditional farmers market where consumers meet the local producers of their food. That is very important, but when I looked at the MCFM website I am surprised at all of the ancillary programs. Tell us about the other things that MCFM does.

BL:  I’m very proud of them. Other programs include:

Next Stage Grant – We designed the Next Stage Grant to provide funding to local, sustainable farmers and other food producers who experience hardship or are improving sustainable farming or growing toward the “next stage” of their local food businesses. We started this grant program in 2013. The inception of the Market’s Charitable Fund in 2017 has allowed the MCFM to nearly double its grant awards to over $122,000 in just two years and expand the pool of grantees to local farmers and food makers throughout the region.

One of our grants went to Prairie Hollow Farm. Pam Benike, the farmer, suffered a serious back injury. Our grant allowed her to purchase a standing potting table and a Japanese-designed Paper Pot Transplanter. We’ve learned that sustainable farming also includes sustaining the physical health of the farmers. With our $1800 grant, she is able to continue farming.*

We’re also purchasing CoolBot units for our vendors. Refrigeration is very expensive. Our farmers were throwing away (or leaving in the fields to rot) valuable product that could be saved with an inexpensive cooling unit. I want to buy one for every farmer! Flowers stay fresher longer, vegetables don’t wilt so easily, everyone comes out ahead with a little bit of inexpensive refrigeration.

Mill City Gives – This is our food donation, or “gleaning” program. MCFM has been working with volunteers from Augsburg University’s Campus Kitchen since 2013, collecting excess produce from farmers at the end of the market day. Farmers donate fruits and vegetables that didn’t sell, CSA boxes that didn’t get picked up, etc. Starting in 2018, we are able to compensate farmers for their donated product thanks to a generous sponsorship from Delta Dental. Volunteers collect over 5,000 pounds of MCFM produce that they deliver to families and individuals in low-income housing in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Any leftover produce is used in Campus Kitchen’s community garden lunch, the campus food shelf or for their Sunday night cooking class which teaches low-income and first-generation college students how to prepare healthy and delicious dishes using the fresh vegetables.

River, a MCFM day staff member, demonstrated a recipe at the March 7 market Mill City Cooks - Our goal is for every visitor to prepare at least one meal per week using ingredients from our farmers.  As part of this mission, MCFM offers free 20 to 30-minute professional cooking classes every Saturday between 10 and 11 AM. Classes are in the train shed patio area in the summer and across from the Information Booth in the winter. Today’s recipe is Mason Jar Vinaigrette. We encourage our guests to use #WeeklyMarketMeal to show us your meals.

Meet Your Vegetables - This is another of our experiential programs. It is a nutrition and public health internship in partnership with Allina Health. Designed for undergraduate students, interns work to create healthful, seasonal recipes to sample at the Market. They also complete a community engagement project focused on nutrition or food access. The internship requires a minimum of 120 hours, which is completed between May and October.  Students work alongside chefs, farmers, health care providers and non-profit professionals, giving them the opportunity for mentorship and career development in related fields.

Mill City Kids - Formerly called the Power of Produce, this free program teaches kids about healthy food choices and introduces them to farmers.  Kids ages 3-12 can sample a seasonal fruit or vegetable at the Mill City Farmers Market’s information booth.  After sampling, they earn a $2 market token that can be used to purchase produce at the market.

Zero Waste - In 2009, MCFM became the first Zero Waste Farmers Market in Minnesota! MCFM is proud to be a Zero Waste Market, where all the “waste” generated at the market from food sales, samples and events is composted or recycled. We have a 98% landfill diversion rate.

Community Booths – We are happy to offer other non-profits and local businesses space to share their good work through tabling at the market. MCFM receives lots of interest from local organizations interested in having a presence at the market, and we typically accommodate one or two organizations each week.  We give preference to healthy food, agriculture, cooking, environment, wellness and Mill District neighborhood organizations.

Heidi Skoog of Serious Jam at the March 7 market.

MCT: NPR published a study in 2019 that there were too few farmers to populate the market stalls and too few customers filling their bags with fresh produce at the 8600 nationwide markets, and as a result some markets were failing. Is the MCFM profitable? How healthy is the MCFM?      

BL: We are in relatively good financial health. MCFM lost a few sponsors and I working to recruit others.  Our Harvest Dinner in September is our annual fundraising event.  We fund our grants program with some of the proceeds from the dinner. We have vendor fees, which we want to keep low and the third leg of our financial picture is sponsorships. One of my jobs is to find ways to partner with vendors and sponsors in a meaningful way. An example is CoBank. Mike Romanowski, President of CoBank, is on our charitable fund board and the bank will be a sponsor of the market. CoBank is a national cooperative bank providing loans and other financial services to farmers, agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. They have a knowledge sharing program that will benefit all of our farmers. Our interests intersect on many levels.   

We do measure visitors to the market.  We remain about the same year after year – we haven’t lost visitors. We have a very loyal clientele. We know that there is a notion that MCFM is expensive. If you buy organic, our pricing is in line with what you would find at a brick and mortar organic food grocer.

MCT:  How do you select the vendors for the MCFM? 

BL:  We have a Vendor Advisory Committee. We’re selective - we want the right mix. We curated the market from the beginning. We don’t want to offer too many of any one item, such as cheese. We’re currently looking for fruit vendors. We have a good mix because we’re thoughtful.  

MCT: Can you give us an update on the collaboration between Birchwood Cafe and the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) to open a new restaurant in the Spoonriver location?

BL: We’re very excited to see Birchwood and the MFU partnering again. It is not a new relationship – they collaborate at the Farmers Union Coffee Shop at the State Fair. The new Mill City restaurant will continue to build awareness of the need to support Minnesota farmers. I’m not helping with any part of it. They're all very capable business people and it should be open by the summer. MCFM looks forward to MFU as a sponsor.  

MCT:  How is social media handled for MCFM?  

BL:  Jenny Heck, Market and Social Media Manager – she handles our social media on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

We’re looking for more people to help post on social media. We have so many stories to tell! If it helps the farmers, we welcome it. Please follow us and post photos and comments from your trips to the MCFM!

MCT: As a true local visionary, what’s next? 

BL:  I’m a Senior Fellow at the U’s Center for Spirituality and Healing. The next class will be offered next winter. I see myself consulting more in the future. Right now, I’m happy with the market and it is incredibly nice to have more free time for once in decades.   

MCT:  Other thoughts?

BL:  We’re very grateful that people meet their friends for coffee at the market. It’s fun here – the music, the coffee, the pleasant atmosphere. But we encourage them to also bring their shopping list. I guarantee the lettuce you buy here is going to taste a lot better than you find in traditional grocery stores, and you’re helping local farmers stay in business. 

*Mill City Times reached out Pam Benike of Prairie Hollow Farm. “A year ago I was trying to figure out how to spend the rest of my life and support my family if I could no longer farm. My surgeon told me that my back injury would not allow me to ever squat or bend in the future. I plant and grow year-round in hoop houses and in the ground. The grant from MCFM allowed me to have a future in farming. I can pot and plant standing up. The grant allowed me to continue in my livelihood. It was way more than the money – it was the idea that people cared about me and invested in my future.”

Pam Benike with a standing potting station.

Transplanter in use at Prairie Hollow Farm.

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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. 

Information about COVID-19 and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Via a March 9 e-announcement from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

You have likely heard news about the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and that the Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is taking the situation seriously and actively monitoring the situation in partnership with the City of Minneapolis Health Department and the City of Minneapolis Office of Emergency Management. Our priority is to the health and safety of our park visitors and employees. Throughout the park system, maintenance crews are increasing the cleaning of communal surfaces, including door handles and drinking fountains, in our park buildings. 

The City of Minneapolis is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health, which is leading the statewide response to COVID-19. Any decisions around MPRB operations and services will be coordinated with city and state emergency and public health officials and will communicated to the public in a timely manner.

In the meantime, the Minnesota Department of Health encourages everyone to take the same precautions as they would take to avoid colds and flu. 

What can Minnesotans do to protect themselves?

The best available guidance for avoiding coronavirus disease 19 is to take the same precautions you take for avoiding colds and flu:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your cough and sneeze. Cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you’re sick.
• Stay informed. Visit the Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) websites often.

How should I prepare?

• As always, be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home. Keep enough food, regular prescription drugs and other necessities on hand in case you need to stay home and are not able to easily go out.
• Make plans to care for sick household members.
• If you’re planning travel, check the CDC website for updated travel advisories.

As a reminder, seasonal flu is circulating in Minnesota. It’s never too late to get your flu shot, which will help protect you and those who are too young to get the shot.

Videos

These videos from Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm offer basic information about coronavirus disease 19 and resources for additional information and updates.

• English video
• Spanish subtitles
• Chinese subtitles

MacPhail Spotlight Series Explores Personal Side of Beethoven for 250th Anniversary - April 4

Via a March 9 Press Release:

MacPhail Spotlight Series: Anatomy of Genius uses personal letters and contemporary accounts to piece together the life of the genius composer – April 4

Regarded by many as the greatest composer of all time, like many creative geniuses, Beethoven struggled with the highs and lows of a creative life. MacPhail Spotlight Series: Anatomy of Genius shines a light on the lesser-known sides to the famous figure.

“Everyone knows something about Beethoven,” explains Mischa Santora, artistic director, MacPhail Spotlight Series. “But it was the struggles he endured throughout his life that made him a symbol for perseverance and victory which was reflected in his music. We’ve put together a program of three pieces that explore musical intricacies and stylistic evolution over the course of his life, performed by MacPhail teaching artists and members of the local music scene. The music will be interspersed with Beethoven’s letters to provide a fuller picture of the artist and genius.”

The program will feature “Septet in E-flat major, op.20” performed by Nina Olsen, clarinet; Allison Akins, horn; Marc Levine, violin; Chi-Chi Bestmann, viola; Rebecca Merblum, cello; Fred Bretschger (guest artist), bass, followed by “Piano Trio No. 1, op. 70 (Ghost)” with Marc Levine, violin; Julia Elkina, piano; Rebecca Merblum, cello, and conclude with “Piano Sonata No 30, op. 109” performed by Richard Tostenson.

MacPhail Spotlight Series: Anatomy of Genius will be held Saturday, April 4 at MacPhail Center for Music’s Antonello Hall (501 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis) at 7:30 p.m. A pre-concert lecture will be held one hour before at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for seniors (ages 55 and older) and youth (ages 6 through 18), and may be purchased by calling 612-767-5250 or by stopping by Student Services at MacPhail locations in Minneapolis, Chanhassen, Apple Valley or White Bear Lake.

The MacPhail Spotlight Series showcases the exceptional talents of MacPhail teaching artists and special guests, providing an intimate listening experience in MacPhail’s state-of-the-art Antonello Hall and locations throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. Under the artistic direction of Mischa Santora, this premier performance event is brought to life with collaborations from some of the Twin Cities’ finest artists.

MacPhail Center for Music is committed to transforming lives and strengthening communities through music learning experiences that inspire. Each year, MacPhail opens its doors to more than 16,000 students offering programming for all ages, backgrounds and abilities, at locations in Minneapolis, White Bear Lake, Chanhassen, Apple Valley and Austin, as well as 104 community partnerships across the Twin Cities and online at MacPhail Online. MacPhail has a 113-year history of excellence, promoting life-long learning and building long-term relationships between students and teachers. For more information, visit www.macphail.org.

The MPRB Invites You to Spring into Volunteering!

The Minneapolis Park and Rec Board Invites You to Spring into Volunteering!

Volunteers make a vital difference to people, parks and our community. Recruitment for Spring and Summer programs is happening now! Visit one of the pages below to learn more about current and ongoing volunteer opportunities.

Spring Sports Coaches (baseball, softball, tee ball and track & field)

Bike Adventure Program Volunteers

Track & Field Meet Volunteers

Park Ambassadors

Garden Volunteers

Summer Soccer Coaches

Click here to receive more information or to express interest in MPRB volunteer opportunities. Call (612) 230-6493 or email recvolunteers@minneapolisparks.org with questions.

Ballet Co.Laboratory Celebrates the Music of Queen and Legacy of Freddie Mercury in new ballet, Freddie – Break Free, Premiering at the Cowles Center for Dance in April

Ballet Co.Laboratory celebrates the music of Queen and legacy of Freddie Mercury in its new ballet, Freddie – Break Free premiering at the Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts on April 10, 11, 17, 18, and 19. This rock ballet features a collaboration of local artists including Queen tribute band Ready Freddie.

Ballet Co.Laboratory’s 90-minute ballet is set to live Queen music with choreography by Zoé Emilie Henrot that reaches outside the classical ballet dimensions with poise and spunk. Freddie – Break Free cannot be categorized as an evening at the ballet or an exhilarating concert experience. Rather, audiences will experience a blurring of boundaries, a taste of artistic collaboration, and in the words of Freddie Mercury, a “theatrical event.”

“The overarching theme of this production is to inspire everyone to break free and celebrate their own unique self,” revels Henrot. In true Freddie fashion, this ballet will encourage audiences to interact with the performers by singing along to the music and dancing in their seats. This will be like no other night at the ballet.

February 2020 by the Numbers

Downtown real estate market update from Cynthia Froid Group:

In the News - Downtown & the Riverfront Neighborhoods

Our weekly digest of stories about Downtown Minneapolis and the Central Riverfront neighborhoods:

WEEK OF MARCH 9, 2020

Minneapolis City Council committee nixes applying for federal grant for more cops
A Minneapolis City Council committee voted against applying for a $1.3 million federal grant that would have allowed the hiring of 10 new officers to beef up traffic enforcement citywide.

Downtown Minneapolis restaurant tightens security after shooting inside wounds worker
The gunfire occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Breakfast Bar of Minnesota at 319 N. 1st Av. during what police said was a physical confrontation between a customer and the staff member.

Storage containers are a lifeline for homeless in Minneapolis
People can leave their things in the containers and go about their day.

Transit ridership in Twin Cities metro area declined slightly last year
Local bus usage continues to dip, but light-rail use up.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wants to keep Mark Ruff as city coordinator
The city coordinator is the highest ranking nonelected position in city government, advising elected officials and managing seven departments.

Construction Update: The Dayton's Project
The 1.2 million square foot project has made significant progress since we last visited. While the office space has been largely ready for tenants to begin building out, the retail and amenity space is where we saw the most progress.

14 Developments to Watch
Executive vice president of AIA Minnesota Mary-Margaret Zindern and editor of AIA Minnesota’s Architecture MN Chris Hudson cued us in on some projects and key takeaways the Metro should be keeping on eyes for the next 10 years.

Game-Changing Commercial Real Estate Developments
The luxury condos, hotels, and office towers elevating the Twin Cities skyline.

North Loop company doubles in size, attracts big banks as customers
Minneapolis company attracts bigger banks with its system for signing up customers.

Bells will ring across Minneapolis for Minnesota Orchestra's new summer festival
Goodbye, Sommerfest. Hello, Summer at Orchestra Hall.

Art Exhibitions Coming to the Twin Cities This Spring
Find all the inspiration you need locally to bring renewed creative energy to your life (even if the snow sticks around).

The Loneliest Office in Minneapolis
What’s it like to work 10 hours a day in a glass cube 235 feet above downtown?

Restaurant Roll Call - The latest openings and closings
What's open, what's closed and what's still to come in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Billy Sushi to Open in May in the North Loop
Billy Sushi will be the name of the new restaurant that will be located at 116 N 1st Avenue. The name comes from the man behind the project, Chef Billy Tserenbat.

The Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in the Twin Cities
Let's go to breakfast, people. In the mood for a three-hour mimosa fest? Classic hash browns? Something with a little kick? A morning sugar rush? We've got it all. Rise and shine!

Now open: Stilheart delivers quality cocktails (en masse) to the North Loop
When news arrived late in 2019 that a new effort from the folks at Lawless Distilling Co. and Bittercube Bitters was destined for the North Loop, our spirits warmed just thinking about what Stilheart Distillery and Cocktail Lounge might hold in store when its doors finally opened.

Visit the In the News Archive...

The Week Ahead in Mill City

Each week we provide an easy to reference list of events and activities for the week ahead in the Historic Mill District and Minneapolis Riverfront Neighborhoods.  Have an event to share?  Submit your events here...

Monday, March 9

• March 9, 2020, Monday - BikeMS Night at Surly
• March 9, 2020, Monday - Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Assoc Land Use + Development Committee Public Meeting
• March 9, 2020, Monday - NT Live: Cyrano De Bergerac at St. Anthony Main Theatre (thru March 11)

Tuesday, March 10

• March 10, 2020, Tuesday - Women's History Month Networking Event at US Bank Bancorp
• March 10, 2020, Tuesday - Perpich Arts High Literary Arts presents "out of the blue" at Open Book
• March 10, 2020, Tuesday - Tour the Xcel Energy Plant

Wednesday, March 11

• March 11, 2020, Wednesday - Vegan Taco Party! at Cooks of Crocus Hill
• March 11, 2020, Wednesday - St. Anthony Fall Laboratory Tour
• March 11, 2020, Wednesday - Transportation Action Plan Open House at Central Library

Thursday, March 12

• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Women Run the Cities X Mill City Running Event
• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Firefighters for Healing 2020 Chili Cook Off at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Minnesota Cuban Film Festival at St. Anthony Main
• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Legacy Speaker Series: Why the 2020 Census Matters to Minnesota
• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Jennifer Glaws' Jagged Moves presents Touch Code at The Southern Theater (thru March 14)
• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Women with Vision: Then and Now at Walker Art Center (thru March 15)
• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Meet the Makers: Charcuterie & Beer Pairing at Inbound BrewCo
• March 12, 2020, Thursday - Paint Your Own Pet at Aloft Minneapolis

Friday, March 13

• March 13, 2020, Friday - Latin Night at Sauce By Dulono's
• March 13, 2020, Friday - WeRunMPLS Pop Doc Night at
• March 13, 2020, Friday - Dinner Date at Cooks of Crocus Hill
• March 13, 2020, Friday - SIP 'N BLOOM - St Patty's Celebration Workshop at Graze Provisions + Libations

Saturday, March 14

• March 14, 2020, Saturday - Hike: Eagles of the Mississippi at Kroening Interpretive Center
• March 14, 2020, Saturday - Doing Good Together Pop-Up at Lakes & Legends Brewing Company
• March 14, 2020, Saturday - LepreCon St Patrick's Crawl Minneapolis
• March 14, 2020, Saturday - March Madness Triathlon at The Firm MPLS
• March 14, 2020, Saturday - Washburn A Mill Tour at Mill City Museum
• March 14, 2020, Saturday - Taste Twin Cities Downtown Minneapolis Skyway Tour
• March 14, 2020, Saturday - Logging & Lumber Family Day at the Mill City Museum
• March 14, 2020, Saturday - Hurray for Fish! with Ellen Ferrari at MCBA

Sunday, March 15

• March 15, 2020, Sunday - Northeast Farmers Market Winter Market
• March 15, 2020, Sunday - Minneapolis Vintage Market at Minneapolis Institute of Art
• March 15, 2020, Sunday - Luck o' the Irish Tea at Nicollet Island Inn
• March 15, 2020, Sunday - MacPhail Concerto and Aria Concert

River Hub: News from the Minneapolis Riverfront

Our weekly digest of news relating to the Minneapolis Riverfront, in collaboration with The Great River Coalition:

WEEK OF MARCH 9, 2020

Park commissioners push back on idea for ‘promenade’ over St. Anthony Falls
A Hennepin County official has a dramatic plan to elevate the region’s status for architecture: a wishbone-shaped walkway above the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis.

Solution for a scourge? University of Minnesota scientist is progressing with carp-killer tool
DNA-altering project is gaining attention as potential advance against invasive carp.

My internship highlight: Planting hundreds of native trees on a tiny metro river island
Being an intern at FMR comes with many perks. One is being able to participate in volunteer habitat restoration outings.

Volunteers-In-Park: Sue
Meet Sue, a volunteer at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

Sunday Deadline: Job Openings at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Applications for summer internships are due by March 15.

Visit the River Hub Archive...

Great River Coalition Shares Notes on Recent Pollinator Research and 5th Annual Earth Day Bee Run/Walk & River Cleanup

Article by Rick Margl, Board VP with the Great River Coalition

Impact of Climate Change on Pollinators

One of the most daunting challenges of our time is to understand society’s impact on the earth’s climate and to develop means to mitigate and, eventually, reverse the damage we’ve collectively imposed on our environment. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the five warmest years recorded since 1880 have all occurred since 2015. The two-degree increase in surface temperature experienced since 1880 represents an immense amount of additional heat in our oceans and atmosphere.  That extra heat is driving regional and seasonal temperature extremes, reducing snow cover and sea ice, intensifying heavy rainfall, and changing habitat ranges for plants and animals—expanding some and shrinking others.

Credit: NASA/NOAA

Some people struggle to understand how climate change is impacting their daily lives. Unfortunately, for farmers who rely on native bees for pollination of food crops, the impact is already sadly apparent. In a recent issue of ScienceDaily magazine, Peter Soroye and other researchers at the University of Ottawa in Ontario describe how their research has confirmed that bumblebees are declining at a rate “consistent with a mass extinction” and that declines show a direct correlation with warming temperatures in North America and Europe. Analyzing data on 66 bumblebee species over a 115-year period, they were able to identify population declines by locality and compare to warming trends over the time period. They found that in the course of a single human generation, the likelihood of a bumblebee population surviving in a specific locale has declined by an average of over 30% globally and 46% for North America. Climate change is affecting pollinators and all of us who depend on them - we all have a part to play in reversing it.

Genetically Engineered Bacteria Protecting Honeybees

Credit: Stephen Ausmus, USDA Agriculture Research ServiceA significant threat to honeybees across the globe is a phenomenon referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder, in which the majority of worker bees abandon a colony, leaving the queen and a small number of nurse bees to care for the immature bees. A number of factors are suspected to play a part in collapse disorder, including Varroa mites (seen in the photo), pesticide pollution, viral infections, poor management practices, lack of quality forage and other stressors. Given the global importance of honeybees in food production, many researchers are working on developing solutions to the disorder. Scientists at the University of Texas-Austin recently announced a promising approach that employs genetically engineered bacteria that live in the guts of bees. The bacteria act as biological factories producing medicines that protect the honeybees from Varroa mites and deformed-wing virus. Way to go science!

How You Can Help Pollinators

One great way to support healthy and sustainable pollinator populations is to minimize the use of pesticides. Check bee toxicity before use and avoid application near food or nesting sites.

In an effort to curtail the use of pollinator-toxic pesticides, Minnesota State Representative Jean Wagenius recently submitted a bill (HF1255) that would allow cities to ban a group of pesticides that the MN Department of Agriculture has labeled as lethal to pollinators. Issues regarding the proposed legislation are further described in a recent Star Tribune article. As citizen advocates, research the issue and then make your opinions known by contacting your state representative to voice your support! Spread the word about threats to pollinators!

Another way to help pollinators is to join us for the 5th Annual Earth Day Bee Run/Walk & River Cleanup on April 18th at Boom Island Park. Family-friendly (bring those strollers!) and dogs are welcome on a course that travels through one of the city's most historic and naturally beautiful areas. Before and following the 5K learn about efforts to protect pollinators, and enjoy live music, entertainment, and 50th anniversary Earth Day festivities. Take part in an organized river cleanup.

The Great River Coalition is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that advocates for preserving, protecting and promoting the historic, commercial and environmental significance of the Mississippi River, the City of Minneapolis and its relationship to the people and their communities.

Refined Performance + Rehabilitation Opens in Former Key North Space

Via a March News Release:

Old Town Minneapolis got a brand new fitness facility in November 2019 when Refined Performance + Rehabilitation opened in the former Key North boutique space at 515 First Avenue Northeast.

Owner Chad Scheitel found Old Town to be the perfect location for their fitness facility, as it complements the nearby massage and yoga studios and will serve the many residents currently residing in and moving into the area.

Chad ScheitelThe gym offers state-of-the-art training equipment including cardio, free weights, TRX, Sorinex basecamp racks, kettlebells, and more.

Members use a key card to access the gym seven days per week from 5 AM – 11 PM, and may work out independently or hire one of the gym’s personal trainers. Staff hours are by appointment.

Chad Scheitel holds a Bachelors degree in Health Promotion Science from Augsburg University and an MA in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota. He has 19 years of experience as a personal fitness trainer.

Breanne GrannChad’s wife, Breanne Grann, provides chiropractic services at the gym, and has 10 years of experience. Dr. Grann earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University.

Amara KamaraA third team member, Amara Kamara, holds a BA in Exercise Science from Tulane University, with 21 years of personal training experience.

Specials include a free one-week trial and $99 for three personal training sessions.

Visitors interested in touring Refined Performance + Rehabilitation should call 612-559-4923 or email info@refinedmpls.com to make an appointment.

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Meet Minneapolis to Give Away a Chevy Equinox at Twin Cities Auto Show This Weekend

Via a March 4 News Release from Meet Minneapolis:

Meet Minneapolis and Select Heartland Chevy Dealers have teamed up to give away a two-year lease on a Chevy Equinox at the 2020 Twin Cities Auto Show. The Grand Prize will be awarded on the morning of Saturday, March 7 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Five finalists will be randomly selected and must be present for a chance to win the brand-new SUV.

Event Information
- Drawing will be held at 8:15 a.m., on Saturday, March 7 at the Minneapolis Convention Center
- March 7 is the opening day of the 2020 Twin Cities Auto Show with the doors opening at 10 a.m.

Sweepstakes Details:
Only one entry per person. No purchase necessary to win. Open only to legal residents of Minnesota, as well as Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Must be 21 years or older at the time of entry. Some residency restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. The five randomly selected finalists eligible for the grand prize must be present for the live drawing on Saturday, March 7 to win.

*For full sweepstakes information and rules, including eligibility, prize descriptions and other details, click here.

“Your Table is Ready: Dining Out in Hennepin County through the Decades” in Hennepin Gallery March 4 through May 26

Via a March 4 announcement from Hennepin County:

“Your Table is Ready: Dining Out in Hennepin County through the Decades” in Hennepin Gallery March 4 through May 26

Hennepin Gallery is celebrating our love of food and fine dining in the new exhibit, “Your Table is Ready: Dining Out in Hennepin County Through the Decades.”

Thanks to the Hennepin County Library Special Collections, the Hennepin Gallery exhibit features menus, photographs, postcards and more celebrating the restaurant scene from the 1880s through the 1970s. Do you remember the lavish Minneapolis restaurants like The Nankin or Charlie’s Cafe Exceptionale? Do you still visit the iconic Murray’s and the northeast favorite, Jax’s Café? How about the first drive thru or drive in?

Through times of prosperity and times of shortage -- World War I, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and World War II – Minnesotans continued to eat out. Even with the advent of fast food, fine dining continued to flourish because many of these restaurants served more than just food: They featured stimulating, opulent interiors and memorable live entertainment. Eating out was an experience.

We hope you are hungry because your table is ready. Come to the Hennepin Gallery and enjoy.

About the Hennepin County Library Special Collections

The Hennepin County Library Special Collections at the Minneapolis Central Library houses over 1,000 local menus from the 1880s to today. View more menus online in the Library’s Digital Collections www.hclib.org/digitalcollections.

Interested in donating menus to the collection? Contact specialcoll@hclib.org.

This exhibit is presented by Hennepin County Library Special Collections.

The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A-Level, 300 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis.