File - Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association

SENA NEWS
The Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association Newsletter
Volume 21, Number 4, August/September 2013 • www.standish-ericsson.org
Summer Storm Wreaks
Havoc in Standish and
Ericsson
National Night Out,
August 6
The 30th annual National Night Out is
Tues., Aug. 6. Even if your block didn’t register to have your street blocked off, you can
still have a National Night Out party. Just
gather your neighbors in someone’s yard.
The party can be as simple as serving lemonade and cookies. The important thing is to
get out and meet your neighbors. Neighbors
who know and
watch out for
each other help
take a bite out
of crime!
G o to w w w.
minneapolismn.g ov/nno
for party ideas
and clip art.
The 2013 SENA Annual
Meeting will be held
in November this year.
Check the next issue
of SENA News for more
details.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE…
Canoeing Minnehaha Creek........................4
Salon38.............................................................5
Four Generations of Roosevelt Pride..........6
Homebuyer Assistance Funds......................7
Roosevelt Library Reopening.......................7
The Standish and Ericsson neighborhoods were among
those hardest hit by the storm that took out power and
knocked down trees all over Minneapolis on the night of
Fri., June 21. Parts of the area were without electricity
until Wednesday. Many streets were blocked Friday
night, but after neighbors pitched in to clear them, most
were open by Saturday noon. Still, tree branches lined
the boulevards for a couple of weeks before the City
collected them.
Lake Hiawatha Neighborhood Festival, August 7
Don’t forget the neighborhood festival at Lake Hiawatha Park (2701 E. 44th St.) on Wed.,
Aug. 7, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Kids can enjoy pony rides (under 10 years old), face painting,
hair painting, games, an inflatable water slide, and a 5-in-1 sports moonwalk. There will be a
family fitness challenge and talent contest—please pre-register for both by calling 370-4930.
You can also take part in a raffle and medallion hunt. Besides all the fun, food will be for sale
by vendors.
The Minnesota Lynx WNBA team will have a booth at the festival. They will bring their inflatable basketball pop-a-shot, have giveaways for kids, and make available entries to win free
tickets and other fun prizes.
At-home or in-store retail businesses can sign up to have a table at the festival by e-mailing
[email protected]. More volunteers are needed on the day of the festival. Look for the latest
festival information at www.lhrc.freeservers.com/festival.htm.
Traffic Alert: If 28th Ave. is still undergoing
construction from 40th St. to 46th St., past
Lake Hiawatha Park, do not use 28th Ave. to
get to the festival. You can approach the park
from the east on 44th St. and from the west on
43rd St. Plan to park on a side street and walk.
Construction equipment closed off streets even before
fallen branches did. Here, the Baker’s Wife cow looks
over a normally busy intersection.
Senior
Activities
Activities for seniors
that occur on specific dates are listed
in the calendar. The
following are recurring social activities.
(1) The Nurse Is In
at Bethel Lutheran Church (4120
17th Ave. S., 729-5499) on Thursday
mornings. Seniors can chat over coffee
and cake, have a blood pressure check,
or schedule a pedicure. (2) Tuesday
Morning Ladies Social meets at Sibley
Park (19th Ave. S. and E. 40th St., 3704954) at 9:30 a.m. Free! Come join
the group to chat, have some laughs,
and enjoy great discussions over coffee and homemade treats. The group
meets “downstairs” in the art room.
No meeting in August. (3) Congregate
dining 1:15 p.m. Monday–Friday,
Holy Cross Lutheran Church (1720
E. Minnehaha Pkwy.). Call 729-6668
three days ahead. $3.50. (4) Creativity
and Conversation, an art group for
women, at Bethel Lutheran Church
(4120 17th Ave. S., 729-5499) every
Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. Bring whatever project you
would like to work on. There will be
coffee and treats and, of course, good
conversation.
SENA NEWS
The Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association Newsletter
SENA News is a bimonthly publication of
the Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association (SENA). It is made possible by
funds from the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), Minneapolis Community Participation Program (CPP), and
individual donations. Copyright ©2013
by SENA.
Ann King and Judy Peacock
Co-Editors
Heidi Sonsteby, Photo Editor
Address correspondence to:
SENA
1830 E. 42nd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55407-3461
Phone: (612) 721-1601
Website: www.standish-ericsson.org
E-mail: [email protected]
SENA News is available in alternative
formats (e.g., large type) upon request.
Community Events Calendar
August
1
Congregate dining and blood pressure checks, Holy Cross Lutheran Church (1720 E. Minnehaha
Pkwy.), 12:00 noon. (See Senior Activities on this page.)
“Inocente,” (2013 Oscar winner for best short documentary) fundraiser for courageous heARTS,
Riverview Theater (3800 42nd Ave. S.), 5:00 p.m.
6
National Night Out. Get your neighbors together and have a party!
Carnival at The Waters of Minnehaha (3733 23rd Ave. S.), 3:00 -5:00 p.m. The Half Pint Horse
Foundation will be there with their horses! Everyone welcome.
7
Lake Hiawatha Festival, Lake Hiawatha Park (2701 E. 44th St.), 5:00–8:00 p.m. (See p. 1.)
12 SENA Board meeting, 1830 E. 42nd St., 7:00 p.m., handicapped accessible
14 Nokomis Healthy Seniors Health Program: “Medicare D: Do I Have the Right Plan for My
Needs?” Speaker: Walgreens Pharmacy. Nokomis Square Cooperative (5015 35th Ave. S.), 1:30
p.m.
24–25 LoLa Art Crawl, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (See p. 4.)
27 Senior blood pressure checks, Standish Green (2210 E. 40th St.), 12:00 noon
29 Caregiver Support Group, Bethel Lutheran Church (4120 17th Ave. S.), 1:00 p.m.
September
3
5
Senior congregate dining, Sibley Park (19th Ave. S. and E. 40th St.), 11:30 a.m. (See p. 7.)
Congregate dining and blood pressure checks, Holy Cross Lutheran Church (1720 E. Minnehaha
Pkwy.), 12:00 noon. (See Senior Activities on this page.)
9
SENA Board meeting, 1830 E. 42nd St., 7:00 p.m., handicapped accessible
11 Nokomis Healthy Seniors Health Program: “Declutter: Tactics We Can All Use,” Speaker: Diane
Bjorkman, Gentle Transitions. Nokomis Square Cooperative (5015 35th Ave. S.), 1:30 p.m.
13–15 Autumn Daze Festival, St. Helena Catholic Church (3204 E. 43rd St.). (See p. 5.)
19 Cub Scout Pack 38 open house, St. Helena Catholic School (3200 E. 44th St.), 6:30 p.m. (See p.
7.)
24 Senior blood pressure checks, Standish Green (2210 E. 40th St.), 12:00 noon
26 Caregiver Support Group, Bethel Lutheran Church (4120 17th Ave. S.), 1:00 p.m.
Neighbor to Neighbor
• Neighbors on the 3800 block of Standish Ave. would like to say a big “Thank You!” to their
neighbor Walter, who (at 96) serves as the neighborhood historian and gardener. He even
shovels his neighbors’ walks in the winter.
• Two separate Standish homeowners offered a huge thank you to all the firefighters who donated
their time to help residents cut up huge trees. One said that this not only helped residents but
also the Park Board, which was able to pick up damage from the storm already cut and ready
to go! It also eliminated the potential hazard for neighborhood children, prone to climbing
on the fallen trees, of getting seriously hurt from a cracked and falling tree! The other resident
said that neighbors followed the firefighters’ lead and banded together to tackle tree damage
from the storm. “Had the firefighters not set an example, I would bet my neighbors probably
wouldn’t have worked so hard.” Thank you, firefighters!
• Erin and Orion would like to thank their neighbors in the 25th Ave. and 40th St. area for their
kindness and generosity after June’s big storm. “Getting to know the wonderful people around
us has been the definite silver lining amid all the damage.”
If you would like to recognize the thoughtfulness of a neighbor, send an e-mail to [email protected] with “Thank You” in the subject line.
Join Scouting Today!
Visit Cub Scout Pack 38 on Thurs., Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. at St. Helena Catholic School (3200
E. 44th St.) to learn about upcoming fun and exciting adventures. Pack 38 will camp, hike,
climb, shoot, fish, and camp (more than once!). “We will build cool things with tools, play
new sports and games, learn about nature and wildlife, practice being good citizens, and so
much more,” says Cub Master Dan Fehler.
Pack 38 welcomes all boys, from kindergarten to 5th grade, regardless of special needs or ability to pay. For more information or to join at any time, contact Dan Fehler at 724-6284 or
[email protected].
2
Reception for Potential SENA Board
Members
Committee
The SENA Board is hosting an invitation-only hors d’ouerves and
wine reception for potential board members in September at Citizen
Café (2403 E. 38th St.). If you’re interested in serving on the SENA
Board, or in exploring the possibility, and you would like an invitation, please contact a SENA Board member and ask to be invited. If
you don’t know a Board member personally, you can call the SENA
office at 721-1601 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
UPDATES
The Business, Development, and Transportation Committee
meets the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Meetings are held as needed for the Communications Committee, Newsletter Subcommittee, Graffiti Task Force, Housing
Committee, and Quality of Life Committee. Call the office
(721-1601) for more information.
Meetings are generally held at the SENA Office, 1830 E. 42nd St.
Third Consecutive Gold Win for
SENA News
A Fine Day to Go Garage Sale-ing
For the third consecutive year, SENA News has received a Gold
Award for Neighborhood Newsletters from Neighborhoods USA
(NUSA). NUSA is a national nonprofit organization committed
to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. The
award was presented during NUSA’s annual conference held here
in Minneapolis in May. Newsletters were awarded points based on
criteria that included layout, consistency, content, relevance, and
overall appearance.
“We are very proud to receive national recognition for our great
neighborhood newsletter,” says Neighborhood Coordinator Shirley
Yeoman.
RHS Mosaic Festival
The 11th Annual Standish, Ericsson, and Corcoran Neighborhood Garage Sale
brought many visitors to the three neighborhoods on Sat., June 15. It wasn’t too
hot, and the rain held off until late afternoon. Groups of people wandered alleys,
and parking was hard to find on some streets. The garage sale not only provides an
opportunity to recycle clothes and household goods but also builds a sense of community among neighbors.
Roosevelt High School’s
Mosaic Festival on May 17
featured many booths from
different cultures and a stage
for performances. This year,
the festival was supposed to be
held outside, but rain forced it into the gym. Ethnic foods could be purchased both
inside the building and outside from food trucks.
•
SENA News gratefully acknowledges a donation from:
Selling S.E.N.A. for 20 years!
Jay Anderson
A new gift shop, Doodle Bird Design and Gifts, opened in June
at 2803 E. 42nd St. It features locally made art and gifts. See
facebook.com/doodlebirddesign.
(612) 819-7555
3
[email protected]
C
Parks &
Environment
Memo
LoLa Art Crawl,
August 24–25
Canoeing Minnehaha Creek
by Sharon Parker, LoLa Media Volunteer
Tips from the Minnehaha Creek
Watershed District
Each year since 2009, the League of Longfellow Artists (LoLa)
invites the public into many artists’ home studios as well as independent neighborhood businesses to celebrate artistic expression in our
community. Always on the last weekend of August, and beginning
to rival the State Fair as an end-of-summer ritual—at least for our
corner of the city—this year’s LoLa Art Crawl takes place on Aug.
24 and 25, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days.
The LoLa Art Crawl has grown each year, and this year’s roster of
participants now stands at 155 artists, up from 120 in 2012. The
number of sites is not yet finalized, but looks to be about 70 or so.
Ericsson resident Jim Foreman is returning for a third year with the
crawl. He appreciates “the growing sense of community” that LoLa
fosters. Among the works the painter-photographer is preparing
for this year’s event are “unusual images of musicians, landscapes,
abstracts, and florals.”
Among the many artists to join LoLa for the first time this year is
glass artist Brian Western, who lives in Standish. Brian makes sun
catchers, mobiles, and jewelry inspired by natural forms like leaves,
fish, and insects. “I’ve always been fascinated with the curl of leaves
and leaves dancing in the wind,” he says.
The League of Longfellow Artists is an artist-organized, all-volunteer
association dedicated to raising the visibility of local artists and to
building a true sense of community for artists in Greater Longfellow, which is the area defined as Cedar Ave. to the Mississippi River
and E. 28th St. to the Crosstown. It includes both the Standish and
Ericsson neighborhoods.
For more information, including a full list of participating artists,
and to download a map (available mid-August), visit www.lolaart
crawl.com.
The Minnehaha Creek flows 22 miles from Lake Minnetonka to
Minnehaha Falls, winding through tranquil woodlands, dense
urban landscape, residential areas, and scenic park land. Under the
right conditions it affords paddlers a beautiful adventure through
the urban wilderness.
Paddling the entire creek typically takes five or six hours, although
you may want to tackle it in pieces. The creek starts at Gray’s Bay
in Minnetonka, where it flows through undeveloped wetlands
and natural areas. It becomes more urbanized as you float through
Hopkins and St. Louis Park, more residential as it snakes through
backyards in Edina, and is flanked by trails and parkway through
Minneapolis. There are mandatory portages at Browndale Ave. and
W. 54th St. in Edina, and, depending on conditions, you may need
to walk around certain low-clearance bridges.
The creek is narrow and winding, so it’s important to know how
to navigate a canoe, especially during rapid flows. In addition to
portages and sharp turns, you may encounter downed trees or debris.
Ideal creek flows are between 75 and 150 cubic feet per second.
When the current is too fast, there is a higher chance of tipping the
canoe or sustaining an injury. When it is too slow, you may find
yourself doing a lot of portaging and hiking through the water!
Conditions can change rapidly, especially after rainfall. You can
find real-time creek flow information at www.minnehahacreek.org.
Paddlers through St. Louis Park will find some new creek features
that enhance the experience. This winter the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) restored more than 3,000 feet of creek
between Louisiana Ave. and Meadowbrook Road, returning curves
to the previously straightened channel and restoring surrounding
wetlands. This work extended the restoration completed in 2009
behind Methodist Hospital, and paddlers in this area will find deeper
pools, more bends, better wildlife, and more scenic surroundings.
You can find a detailed canoeing map at www.minnehahacreek.
org/canoe. Rental canoes and kayaks are available through the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, University of Minnesota
Outdoor Rentals, Hoigaard’s in St. Louis Park, and REI’s three
Twin Cities locations.
Always wear a life jacket when paddling the creek, even if it seems
too shallow for danger. Store your valuables in something waterproof
and wear clothing that dries easily. Bring water and sunscreen. And,
of course, have a blast enjoying the great outdoors on this beautiful
community asset.
Brian Western and leaf made
from recycled glass.
Floral abstract created by
Jim Foreman.
4
Business Feature
Salon38
by Sybylla Yeoman Hendrix
the salon are hydraulic, which allows them to accommodate most
wheelchair models. This, along with the ramp to the building,
makes Salon38 a handicap-friendly business. The 38th St. door to
the salon is locked because it also provides access to the residents’
apartments, and, while The Waters offered to unlock it during
business hours, Nancy did not want to compromise the security
of the building. When you arrive, just knock on the door or ring
the bell, although the camera inside the salon means someone is
almost always ready and waiting to open the door for you.
Nancy warns that the phone system can be a little strange, but if
you call 238-2710, they will always get back to you to schedule an
appointment. Both women are experienced professionals (Nancy
has been working in the field for 30 years, Karissa for 15), and
they make a point of being trendsetters, in a full-service salon
(hair styling, coloring, permanents, and straightening as well as
manicures, pedicures, and waxing) that carries professional hair
and beauty products.
Nancy looks forward to Salon38’s future in the neighborhood.
The growing number of children means that young families are
moving in and keeping the neighborhood alive. She encourages
anyone who is shy to give the salon a try and to bring their children in for a great haircut and some free candy. Salon38 is open
Wednesday through Saturday (9:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m., walk-ins
welcome) and Sunday through Tuesday by appointment only.
Website: www.nksalon38.com, phone: 238-2710.
The Waters of
Minnehaha, a senior living community, sits at the
corner of 23rd
Ave. and 38th St.
On the ground
floor of The Waters is the professional, friendly,
and neig hborhood-oriented Salon38, owned by Karissa Lash and Nancy Root.
Nancy Root.
Both Nancy and her manager, Karissa Lash, live a few blocks from
Salon38. Karissa lives in the house where she grew up, which just
happens to be across the street from Nancy’s house. When Nancy
moved into her home in 1988, it was clear to both her and her husband that the neighborhood was in transition, but which way the
transition would go was not apparent. Then the Standish-Ericsson
Neighborhood Association was formed, and Nancy says she has
seen a revitalization that has kept her here through the years.
Nancy has worked most of her career in the Standish Neighborhood. She spent many years at the East 42nd Street Salon, which
was once located at 42nd St. and Cedar Ave. When the owner
moved the salon out of the neighborhood, Nancy estimates that
she lost about 30% of her clients. Some of them are now returning
to her since Salon38 opened at 3733 23rd Ave. S. two years ago.
In 2008, Nancy was forced to take a leave of absence when her
husband was diagnosed with cancer. After he died, she took care of
his business in St. Paul, only occasionally working with her former
clients. When Nancy started looking for a space for her own salon,
a neighbor pointed out that The Waters had included space for a
salon in its new building and was looking for a business to fill it.
Salon38 moved in shortly after the space was ready for occupancy.
Many of Salon38’s clients are residents of the building, and Nancy
and Karissa are always sensitive to their unique needs. The sinks in
Salon38 at 3733
23rd Ave. S.
Events at Roosevelt Library
Autumn Daze Festival,
September 13–15
Now that Roosevelt Library (4026 28th Ave. S., phone: 543-6700)
has reopened, adults and kids can once again enjoy ongoing activities
and special events. Here are a few for August:
• Act Out for Kids: Playmaking. Thurs., Aug. 1, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
For children entering grades 3–5. A Guthrie teaching artist shows
how to create plays from children’s literature, myth, and legend.
Registration required.
• Read to a Dog. Sat., Aug. 10, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Young readers can
cuddle up with a dog and practice reading aloud.
• LEGO Mania! Thurs., Aug. 15, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Build wild
creations beyond the imagination!
Roosevelt Library is open noon to 8:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays
and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays.
The 30th annual Autumn Daze Festival held at St. Helena Catholic
Church (3204 E. 43rd St.) will take place Friday evening through
Sunday afternoon, Sept. 13–15. All neighborhood residents are
invited to come and enjoy its many activities.
The festival will feature foods of many kinds, rides, live and silent
auctions, games of chance and of skill, rummage-sale items, quilt
bingo, music, and other familyfriendly events. It runs from 6:00 to
10:00 p.m. on Friday, 10:00 a.m. to
10:00 p.m. on Saturday (with a parade
starting off the morning), and 10:30
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
®
5
Neighborhood Feature
Roosevelt Pride Through Four Generations
by Sam Ridenour
after WWII. Although there is undoubtedly a bit of family history
with Roosevelt High School, the choice of high school was anything
but automatic for Paul and Penny's son Ethan. All but two of his
closest friends will be going to other high schools, and in the years
since his parents graduated in 1988, Roosevelt acquired a reputation
as a somewhat rough school.
“Even five years ago we would have said, ‘Well, he’s not going to
Roosevelt,’” admits Penny. “But in the past year, we’ve started to
hear a lot more positive things.” So the family included Roosevelt on
their school tour list, and that, says Paul, is what really changed their
thinking. “The teachers all seemed so dedicated to the kids,” he says.
“When a kid feels appreciated and honored, they’re going to do well.
And the students we met all said they felt like they belonged there.”
Ethan knew Roosevelt was the right choice as soon as he entered
the building. “I felt welcome,” he says. Other aspects that appealed
to him were the smaller class sizes compared to other high schools,
as well as lots of big windows. “And,” he smiles, “the teachers were
all so nice.” Plus, he and his friend Harrison are planning to start a
custom bike business—they even have a name picked out: H & E
Bicycles—and they’re hoping that Roosevelt’s automotive mechanics
classes will help provide them with skills and resources that they can
adapt to bicycle building.
And so 85 years after Ethan’s great-grandfather Kenneth Anderson
rooted for the Teddies, Roosevelt pride is being renewed in the Nelson family. And to friends and neighbors who might still wonder if
Roosevelt is the right school for their kids, Penny has this to say: “I
just urge people to visit the school and see for themselves. Talk to
the principal, tour during a school day, and see what it’s really like.”
On Monday morning, Aug. 26,
Ethan Nelson will most likely ride
his bike, one he built himself, from
his family home in the Minnehaha
Neighborhood to his chosen academic home for the next four years,
Roosevelt High School (4029 28th
Ave. S.). At the risk of getting ahead
of the story, it’s worth noting that
he will graduate in 2017, exactly
85 years after his great-grandfather
Kenneth Anderson donned his own
Roosevelt cap and gown with the
Ethan Nelson with a photo of
class of 1932.
his great-grandfather Kenneth
In 1932, the country was mired Anderson.
in the Great Depression, so young
Kenneth joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and constructed
log bridges and park buildings throughout northern Minnesota.
After serving his country in WWII, he returned home to his wife and
infant daughter in South Minneapolis and to a steady union job at
the Ford plant in St. Paul. But although he had traveled the world, his
love for his neighborhood and former high school remained strong.
“Dad’s favorite thing at Roosevelt was the choir,” recalls his daughter
Sandy. “He always loved to sing. And he used to recite Chaucer in
Old English that he learned from his English teacher!”
Sandy also sang in the choir at Roosevelt, from which she graduated
in 1961. She remembers the school being a very popular choice in
those years, with enrollment reaching over 2,300 students. “We had
so much pride in our school!” she says.
Her husband, Jerry Nelson, graduated from Roosevelt in 1952. He
lived two blocks from the school, so it was the natural choice and
an easy walk for him. But by the time Jerry and Sandy met, married, and had three school-age sons of their own, they lived closer
to Washburn High in Southwest Minneapolis.
Paul, the middle son, started out at Washburn, but most of his friends
went to Roosevelt, so he transferred after the first year. That turned
out to be the right choice for Paul, who developed many lasting
friendships during his years there. “I would say my closest friends
from Roosevelt are still my closest friends today,” he says. He also
met his future wife, Penny, there, although they didn’t begin dating
until after college.
Now Paul and Penny Nelson are raising their own family in the very
same house Paul’s grandfather, Kenneth Anderson, came back to
Paul, Ethan, Penny, Jerry, and Sandy Nelson.
Colvin Roy Steps Down
As chair of the City of Minneapolis Transportation and Public
Works Committee, Colvin Roy has been involved in issues about
road repavement, sewers, garbage, light rail, and other services that
are necessary but not always exciting. She has long been concerned
about airport noise and served on a national committee about noise
policy. The Standish and Ericsson neighborhoods thank Sandy for
her many years of service and wish her well.
Sandy Colvin Roy, who has represented Ward 12 on the City
Council since 1997, announced in June that she would not run for
reelection. Although she believed she could win against her challengers, she decided to retire after four terms.
Colvin Roy helped to bring about many changes in the 12th Ward
that have improved the Standish and Ericsson neighborhoods. The
most recent was her leadership in fixing the timing of the signal lights
on Hiawatha Ave. She also was instrumental in bringing about the
change to single-sort recycling, and she championed the renovations
of the Roosevelt and Nokomis libraries.
Erratum
The last issue of SENA News gave an incorrect Web address for
Lindsay Walz. It should be www.courageous-hearts.org.
6
Renovated Roosevelt Library
Reopens
Events at the Parks
Saturday, June 1, was
the day the Roosevelt
Library (4026 28th
Ave. S.) reopened to
the public after being
closed 15 months for
renovation. A crowd
of excited adults, teens,
and children gathered
outside the building
at 9:30 a.m. After remarks by city, county,
and library officials, the Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin
doors opened at 10:00 cut the ribbon, and the people streamed in.
a.m., and the people
streamed in.
The crowd was jubilant at the sight of the redone interior. The
Mission-style design and decoration of the 1927 building has been
maintained and even improved upon: increased natural light, refurbished windows, faux skylights, window seats, wall sconces, and
warm mahogany wood trim everywhere.
People who had attended planning meetings prior to the renovation
were gratified to see that many of their suggestions had become a
reality, most notably the 500 square foot Roosevelt Room, which
was added to the back of the building. The room has doors that can
be closed for privacy and a large display screen, which make it ideal
for community meetings.
One goal of the renovation was to upgrade technology. Roosevelt now
has WiFi access so patrons can use their laptop
computers and other mobile devices in the library.
There are 12 iPads that
can be used within the
building and more public
These kids wasted no time finding something to
desktop computers.
read and a comfortable place to sit.
Improvements extend to
the exterior of the building as well as the interior: three benches
for reading/visiting, a new fence, a new sidewalk, new landscaping
with a variety of perennial flowers and plants and lawn space, and
a new bike rack.
Hagen, Christensen & McIlwain Architects (located at E. 42nd
St. and Cedar Ave. S.) engineered the renovation, and the project
budget was $3.2 million. Funding came from the citywide 2000
library referendum.
Lake Hiawatha Park
(27th Ave. S. and E. 44th St., 370-4930)
Preschool classes. Little Lakers meets Monday through Friday,
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from Sept. 12 through Dec. 17. You can
sign up for one, two, three, four, or all five days! Registration
begins Aug. 5 at 6:00 p.m.
Soccer. Fundamental soccer for ages 3–4 is on Wednesday, 4:30
to 5:15 p.m., Aug. 28 through Oct. 2. Soccer for kids in K–grade 1
is Wednesday, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Aug. 28 through Oct. 16. Soccer
for kids in grades 2 and 3 is Wednesday, 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., Aug. 28
through Oct. 16. Registration is required for all soccer programs.
Yoga for adults. The class meets 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., every
Saturday year around.
Sibley Park
(19th Ave. S. and E. 40th St., 370-4954)
Senior luncheon. The first one of the fall will be Tues., Sept. 3,
at 11:30 a.m. Cost: $7. Request to be on a mailing list to receive
information about monthly trips and luncheons.
Fall sports. Football, soccer, cheer, and volleyball registrations
are ongoing for K–12th grades. Practice will be in mid-August,
with games in September and October. Volunteer coaches and
paid officials are needed for all sports; apply in the park building
or call Brian at Sibley for more information.
After-School RecPlus Child Care Program. Kids in grades K–6
are eligible to register for the school-year program (2:00 to 6:00
p.m., Monday through Friday on school days). Leama and her
staff of fun experts will provide a multitude of activities, crafts,
and fun. Call Leama for more information or stop by Sibley to
check out the program and be given a tour.
Preschool programs. These are for kids ages 3–5. They run
Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call for more
details or stop by to see the program in action and speak with
the coordinator, Diane!
Gift cards. The Park Board has gift cards for sale. The minimum
is $5, good for any program in the parks system.
Like us on Facebook. We love Corcoran, Powderhorn, and Sibley
Parks! And visit www.minneapolisparks.org for more information
or visit Sibley for paper programs and flyers.
Homebuyer Assistance Funds
Available in Standish
The City of Minneapolis Advantage Program is making funds available that can provide up to $10,000 in assistance for purchasing a
home. The goal of the funds is to reduce the primary loan payment,
including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, to a maximum of
28% of the prospective owner’s monthly income.
This program is available in Minneapolis neighborhoods with a
higher rate of foreclosures, including Standish (but not Ericsson).
Income guidelines apply and the owner must occupy the home. The
Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) is administering the program.
For more information or to request an application contact the HousingResource Center–South (3749 Cedar Ave. S., 722-7141) or visit
the GMHC website at www.gmhchousing.org.
7
The crowd gravitated to the gleaming new bookshelves and the “refreshed”
collection.
SENA
Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association
1830 E. 42nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55407-3461
President's Corner
Trees
NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES MN
PERMIT NO. 94429
Sam Newberg
Our neighborhood has mature trees, some of which date to (or
even predate) the first homes and businesses built around 100 years
ago. Some of the trees in the Minneapolis Parks date to the 1880s,
when H. W. S. Cleveland laid out the plan for the system. Most of
our streets are (still) lined with mature or semimature trees. I’ll go
out on a limb (pun intended) and say the most redeeming quality
about Minnehaha Ave. is its tree canopy. Storms and disease always
threaten, and we need to do what we can in our power to replant and
maintain good variety when disaster hits.
We moved into our home in 2004 and promptly lost a back yard elm
to Dutch elm disease at considerable cost. We have since planted an
Accolade elm in the front yard and an Autumn Blaze maple in the
back yard, one tree as each child was born to our family. I obsess
about them a bit, pruning and watering diligently, about which my
family pokes fun at me a bit. I can handle it. After all, in four short
years, the elm already shades a good portion of the front lawn, and
the maple is growing fast and holds the promise of someday shading
my back patio.
Maybe that is our lesson. Hope and promise. We’ve lost some beloved trees and we have to move on. Let’s seize this opportunity to
reorganize our yards around a new tree. Let’s plant a new generation
of boulevard trees to bring beauty to our residential streets and our
commercial nodes. We plant today for the promise of more economic
and spiritual value tomorrow, and a little welcome shade.
Trees define places. Think about
it: the sturdy grandeur of Redwoods in northern California,
the gnarly Live Oaks in central
Texas, the majestic lonesomeness of Joshua Trees in southern
California, and even the London
plane that lines the streets and provides welcome shade in so many
cities.
Here in Minneapolis, at the confluence of the prairie and forest,
beloved trees include a variety of oaks, maples, pines—and the list
goes on. That’s what makes storms like the one on June 21 so devastating for our neighborhoods. We lost a lot of trees that evening,
and with them, we lost a part of ourselves. For some neighbors, it
will take generations to replace the shade and beauty the tree canopy
provided, and that is hard to reckon with.
Trees can be measured financially. A healthy tree canopy can help
sell homes faster; cities with better shade have shown more resilient
housing values; and commercial areas with shade have higher sales.
Trees also provide spiritual value. Just consider the Banyan tree in
Hinduism, the Christmas tree, and the Tree of Knowledge. Trees are
a symbol of life and rebirth; they provide beauty and shade in the
summer, turn glorious hues in the autumn, lose their leaves and seem
to die in winter, and like a miracle, bloom again in spring.
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