Neighborhood notebook

By Mary O'Regan, Jake Weyer and Dylan Thomas

ARMATAGE

PARK THEFTS: Jerry Peterson, Armatage Park director, noted that there has been an increase in thefts from cars in the parking lot at Armatage Park. Incidences have occurred mostly from 2–4 p.m. when parents are picking their kids up from school.

FESTIVAL: Board members voted to hold the Armatage Summer Festival on July 22.

GARAGE SALE: The board has agreed to hold a garage sale event over Memorial Day weekend with Kenny neighborhood.

 

February 25, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood

Schools Notebook

By Dylan Thomas

District speaks through MPS Communicator
A new source for information on contract talks between the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT) and Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) drew a mixed reaction after its debut in early December.

Board of Education Chair Pam Costain said The MPS Communicator would be published “as needed” to report information on ongoing negotiations for a 2007–2009 teachers’ contract.

“We’re in a really important time, and it’s important to have the facts,” Costain said.

MFT President Robert Panning-Miller dismissed Costain’s claim that the newsletter was unbiased.

“It definitely has skewed the information and has misinformation in it,” Panning-Miller said.

The district began posting The MPS Communicator on its website (www.mpls.k12.mn.us/) in early December. Its communications office expected to have a space on the website where parents could sign up to receive The MPS Communicator by e-mail later in the month.

December 17, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Principal named Area C assistant superintendent

Marianne Norris, principal of Bethune Community School in North Minneapolis since 2002, was named assistant superintendent for Southwest-area public schools Oct. 3.

Norris will oversee the 24 schools in Area C, which includes all of Southwest and parts of South Minneapolis. During her first few days on the job, Norris was meeting with school principals and leadership teams across Area C.

"We want to bring all the resources that we can to each individual school … and support them to increase student achievement," she said.

October 22, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

A guide to upcoming neighborhood garage sales

By Shira Kantor

It's a sure sign of summer when Southwest residents start peddling personal items out of their garages and yards. Several neighborhoods will host annual garage sales later this month and in June. Here's a snapshot of area garage sales and registration information.

Armatage

The Armatage Neighborhood Association's annual garage sale will span two days this summer, Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sale locator maps will be available at the Armatage Park building, 2500 W. 57th St.

The Armatage Community and Montessori School PTA will host its “Foster's Garage Sale” separately on Friday, May 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale, to be held at Armatage Community School at 2501 W.

May 8, 2006
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood

Neighorhood notebook

By Staff report

ARMATAGE

COMPETITOR WEBSITE: Noah Schuchman, president of the Armatage Neighborhood Association, wrote a letter to Jane Paulus of Edina Realty, asking her to stop publicizing armatagenews.com, a website that provides information about the neighborhood. “Given the absolute lack of actual information about the Armatage neighborhood,” he wrote, “your self-promotional mailing and website are incredibly misleading.” He asked her to find other ways to participate in the neighborhood and leave distributing information up to the neighborhood association, which has a site at armatage.org.

September 24, 2007
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Read more stories about: Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood

Three SW projects nominated for city urban environment awards

By Anna Pratt

The 32nd annual Committee on Urban Environment (CUE) Awards recognizes Minneapolis projects that considered community input in design and function, Thursday, May 6, 5-7:30 p.m. at the Historic Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave. S. -- a venue that is among the 21 finalists.

At least three Southwest projects, the Linden Hills Library, East Calhoun Tot Lot, and 3rd Avenue Bridge, are also among the finalists.

CUE, a volunteer organization, rewards urban, architectural or environmental design; historic preservation; streetscapes; neighborhood improvement; parks and open spaces; public art; special events; and personal achievement that contribute to urban quality, aesthetics and livability.

April 15, 2004
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Staff

ARMATAGE

MASSAGE ROOM: The Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA) sent a letter to William O'Neill, the owner of the building that houses The Massage Room, 5410 Penn Ave., a parlor that has been under suspicion of prostitution. In the letter, president Noah Schuchman asked for the business to be evicted. "Residents of the Armatage neighborhood do not tolerate prostitution and we have great concerns about properties and property owners who do," he wrote.

Around this time, the Massage Room closed and O'Neill wrote back, "We share your concern for keeping the Armatage neighborhood safe, and wholeheartedly agree that what took place at the Massage Room was completely unacceptable."

October 22, 2007
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Southwest Super-sized

By Anna Pratt

Several new homes rising on teardown sites

An increasing number of Southwest homes are in the path of bulldozers as property owners look to replace aging properties with larger, suburban-style homes.

Property owners involved in teardown projects say some of the older homes, despite their historic charms, are in such bad shape they're not even worth saving.

The teardown trend has concerned some community leaders who say the new homes, often dubbed McMansions, don't blend in with the character of neighboring properties. Some span entire lots, dwarfing their neighboring structures.

Fulton resident Lynn Steele who lives near several new constructions said the new properties would fit better in the suburbs.

 

June 5, 2006
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Read more stories about: Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Mary O'Regan and Dylan Thomas

FULTON

BLEND AWARD WINNERS: The Fulton Neighborhood Association (FNA) has selected three winners for its Buildings and Landscapes Enhancing the Neighborhood through Design (BLEND) Awards. The award recognizes builders, architects and designers whose projects are in line with the current neighborhood aesthetic. The winners are Choice Wood Company for a 3,200-square-foot home built at 5308 Russell Ave. S.; Reuter Construction and Bryan Anderson Architecture for an addition to 5257 Washburn Ave. S.; and Choice Wood Company for renovation at 2515 52nd St. W. An awards ceremony will take place during the FNA meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12.

August 27, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood

The rise of Southwest's blue thumbs

By Jake Weyer

A primer on building your own rain garden

Backyard puddles and basement flooding used to be the norm when it rained at Kathleen Davies' Linden Hills home.

"Now I don¹t have either," she said. "And I don't have to mow."

These days, wetland plants in Davies' backyard rain garden drink the water that used to gather in pools on her lawn or drain into her basement. The master gardener for the University of Minnesota Extension Service also planted a rain garden in her front yard to prevent water from running into the street and ending up in Lake Calhoun.

 

May 21, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood

50th Street's restriping -- has it worked?

By Robyn Repya

New design has calmed speeds and some tempers. Is it a model for Southwest thoroughfares?

As a battle and as a finished product, West 50th Street represents the rare effort that calmed speeds -- and perhaps calmed many critics' tempers.

Instead of a speedway designed to move as many drivers as fast as possible, the area's safety-conscious neighbors fought for a design that reduced speeds -- and ultimately reduced the number of lanes, from four to three, including a center left-turn lane.

Other neighbors didn't define "livability" quite the same way. The design reduced on-street parking -- which angered some enough to counter the "Slow down on 50th" signs with ones reading "No parking, no businesses, no neighborhood."

Now

November 11, 2004
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Moving billboards out of the neighborhoods: an ordinance that worked

By Scott Russell

City plan has swapped hundreds of neighborhood ads for a few more in the urban core

Outdoor advertising companies have removed more than 217 billboards from Minneapolis neighborhoods in the past decade, swapping them for fewer but more visible locations downtown and along freeway corridors.

The 1993 city billboard ordinance was designed to reduce the number of neighborhood "posters" -- the 12-foot-by-25-foot signs typically found on top of the mom and pop grocery stores and other commercial buildings -- in exchange for 14-foot-by-48-foot "deluxe paints," the new industry standard, in new downtown and freeway locations, said Steve Poor, city zoning supervisor.

 

June 10, 2004
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Art Condition

By Southwest Journal Staff

'The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle'

In 1947, Betty McDonald created her timeless "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle" stories. Now a student at Whittier's Watershed High School, 2344 Nicollet Ave., Celeste J. Busa, is helping to bring this series to life at the Children's Theatre Company, 2400 3rd Ave. S. Busa, a freshman, plays Mary O'Toole, a girl who hates to wash the dishes. With the help of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's kindness (and a dash of her magic), she just may end up enjoying her chores.

"The Magic Mrs. PiggleWiggle" runs at various times through Sunday, June 20. Tickets are $15-$28. For tickets or more information, call 874-0400 or log on to www.childrenstheatre.org.

'Red Hot Art'

The Stevens Square Community Organiz

May 13, 2004
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood

Business Buzz

By Southwest Journal Staff

Business related issues going on in and around Southwest Minneapolis

25th & Hennepin Caf Ibiza opens Friday, Oct. 17 at 2528 Hennepin Ave. S., in place of Pasqual's Uptown, which recently closed. Caf Ibiza is a high-end European-style espresso bar, said owner Yasser Ebrahim.

"The place is dramatically changed," he said. "The whole atmosphere of the place is really bright."

Ebrahim has repainted the space in vibrant oranges and blues, has a new bar made of cherrywood and features free wireless Internet connections. He said the smoke-free Caf Ibiza would cater to business professionals, students and families.

"Most of the coffeeshops here cater to younger, punkish looks," he said.

 

October 2, 2003
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Biffs spiffed

By Scott Russell

The 110-year-old historic restrooms at Lake Harriet will reopen Sunday July 14 amid red balloons, a barbershop quartet, lemonade and cookies and general fanfare -- the labor of love of a group calling itself the "Spiff the Biffs" project.

The 1892 Harry Wild Jones-designed restrooms closed in 1991. The citizen's "Biffs" campaign -- formally known as Lake Harriet Historic Restroom Renovation Project -- began in 1995.

The restrooms are the oldest buildings in the Minneapolis park system, along with the superintendent's building in Loring Park, according to the Spiff the Biffs committee.

 

June 17, 2002
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Map Quest

By Bob Gilbert

Kenny man collects 150 years worth of maps that chart the march of humanity through Southwest Minneapolis

Collecting antique maps of Minneapolis has been Bob Gosselin's hobby since 1996. The oldest of his approximately 40 maps are from 1839, and his anthology runs through the 1850s to all the way to 1997.

Individually, they are quaint documents of what Minneapolis once was. Collectively, they are mile markers tracing the history and economic development of the city -- especially of the Kenny neighborhood where Gosselin resides.

Gosselin's Sunrise Drive home was built in 1953, but the 51-year old researcher did not move in until 1986.

July 22, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

New Southwest legislators energized, realistic

By Jim Chase

State Representatives Frank Hornstein and Paul Thissen are freshmen at the state legislature, but savvy about working the system -- and surviving being in the minority

"Did he do his Wellstone?" asked Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Kelliher -- a Bryn Mawr state representative just elected Minority Whip, the number-two House Democrat -- was talking about one of her newest colleagues, Rep. Frank Hornstein.

Indeed, Hornstein had done his Wellstone -- and his Jesse Ventura. A cheerful, outgoing man, the Southwest Minneapolis legislator does impressions for his guests and colleagues, and occasionally for visiting journalists. "I can't quite get Pawlenty," he lamented. "Not distinctive enough."

 

February 20, 2003
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Armatage

+ July 1, 6:45–7 p.m., 5400 block of Penn Ave.

Two juvenile males were leaving a park when a male suspect began following them. One of the victims was talking on his cell phone when the suspect allegedly approached and demanded the phone.

July 14, 2008
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Rooms for rent, but not many takers

By Dylan Thomas

Few choose private housing for RNC

KINGFIELD — Ryan Foltz was among the dozens of Twin Cities homeowners who hoped to get in on a rental bonanza when the Republican National Convention came to town.

Like many others, Foltz found rumors of a gold rush were a bit exaggerated.

In the spring, he logged onto Craigslist and posted his three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in the Kingfield neighborhood for rent to convention-goers who couldn’t or didn’t want to find a hotel room. Asking price: $1,000 a night.

July 14, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Republican National Convention

Crime notes

By Christopher Greising

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG
Oct. 22, 7:20 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 3200 block of Bryant Ave.
An unknown suspect burglarized the residence of a 37-year-old man, stealing a sword collection.

Oct. 22, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 3200 block of Bryant Ave.
An unknown suspect burglarized the residence of a 25-year-old woman. The suspect forced his/her way into the residence by unidentified means and removed the victim's laptop computer.

November 19, 2007
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Less SAFE? Fewer crime-prevention teams to cover neighborhoods

By Robyn Repya

In response to proposed state budget cuts, the Minneapolis Police Department sliced its Community Crime Prevention/SAFE teams in 5th Precinct (Southwest) neighborhoods from five to three -- meaning fewer civilian-officer teams covering 20 area neighborhoods.

SAFE teams serve in pairs of sworn officers and civilian crime prevention specialists (CPS) and are the primary contact for Southwest residents to the police department in responding to crime trends, assisting in block club training, providing business and home security checks and workshops and focusing on problem properties.

Citywide, 25 SAFE teams were reduced to 14.

May 15, 2003
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah McKenzie, Dylan Thomas and Jake Weyer

CARAG
SUPER SALE: The CARAG Super Sale, the neighborhood’s annual garage sale, is scheduled for May 17 from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. The deadline for registration is May 14. For more information or to register, visit www.carag.org or call 823-2520.

KINGFIELD
BOARD ELECTIONS: New Kingfield Neighborhood Association (KFNA) board members were elected at the organization’s annual meeting April 21, including Marie Wolf, Chris DeParde, Jeff Shaw, David Buchanan, David Potosky, Dave Sadoris and Mark Brandow. Arthur Knowles, Niki Stavrou, Mary Hunter and Ben Kristensen are no longer on the board.

May 5, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

The buzz

By Jake Weyer and Mary O'Regan

43RD & NICOLLET

Husband and wife photography team John Barber and Stephanie Rau are moving their 36th Street and Grand Avenue studio to a new space at 4244 Nicollet Ave.

The Kingfield residents' new studio is under construction and scheduled to be complete by mid-December. It replaced the former Never Enough Thyme catering building.

"We just kind of outgrew our space and wanted to stay in the neighborhood,"
Barber said.

Barber and Rau's business is called Rau+Barber and specializes in commercial photography. Their clients include Target and Best Buy.

December 3, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood

Civic Beat

By Kari VanDerVeen

Using grants to go green
Armed with $1,000 and a plan, a handful of community groups will work to make the city a little greener.

As part of the city’s “Mobilizing Citizens for Grassroots Climate Change” program, 20 community organizations each received $1,000 grants for their plans to encourage residents to reduce energy use. Recipients of the grants were announced during the July 9 meeting of the City Council’s Health, Energy and Environment Committee. They include neighborhood organizations, churches, recreation centers and nonprofit organizations. A few projects on the diverse list include:

• The Kingfield neighborhood will use handheld electricity calculators to measure the electrical usage of residential appliances in one month. The data collected will be used to promote energy savings for all residents in the neighborhood
newsletter.

July 30, 2007
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Read more stories about: Republican National Convention, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Jake Weyer, Mary O'Regan, Dylan Thomas

Editor’s Note:The Southwest Notes section provides a snapshot of neighborhood issues and activities. Reporters and contributing writers include summaries of important actions at neighborhood organization meetings, but this section is not limited to neighborhood group activities — other community events and noteworthy issues are also included. If you have neighborhood news to share, please e-mail us at swjournal@mnpubs.com.

ARMATAGE
GAS STATION REMODELING: The Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA) has agreed to write a letter stating they do not oppose the remodeling of the BP gas station on 60th Street and Penn Avenue. The station is attempting to turn from a gasoline and repair shop into a full-fledged convenience store. They’re adding more fuel pumps, eliminating the repair shop and revamping the carwash. The store will sell hot dogs, nachos, sandwiches, lottery tickets and other items typical of a convenience store.

July 2, 2007
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Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Robberies spike in the 5th Precinct's 2nd sector

By Jake Weyer

Eleven robberies were reported in the 2nd sector of the Minneapolis Police Department's 5th Precinct between Oct. 15 and Oct. 27, most of them in the Lyndale neighborhood.

The 2nd sector includes East Calhoun, CARAG, Lyndale, East Harriet, West Calhoun and Linden Hills. One of the recent reported robberies was on Hennepin Avenue between East Calhoun and CARAG, another was in Kingfield, two were in CARAG and seven were in Lyndale.

Suspect descriptions vary. Some of the reported robberies involved one suspect, others involved as many as four. Some suspects were reportedly armed.

November 6, 2006
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

New community-crime-prevention supervisor at 5th Precinct

By Robyn Repya

As of Dec. 26, Sector Lt. Marie Przynski will be the new 5th Precinct officer supervising Community Crime Prevention/SAFE efforts for the West Calhoun, Linden Hills, East Calhoun, CARAG, Lyndale, East Harriet and Kingfield neighborhoods.

Przynski will replace Brad Sporny, who will be transferred to the 3rd Precinct in Southeast Minneapolis. Sector Lieutenants work with civilian crime-prevention specialists.

Przynski has most recently worked as a professional development unit supervisor for officer training but has been an officer for 21 years. She previously worked as a civilian involved in community policing. She has also been a sector lieutenant with Northeast Minneapolis' 2nd Precinct and worked for eight years in the North Side.

December 23, 2004
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

Not your average Joe's

By Carla Waldemar

The Age of Enlightenment arrived in Kenwood in 1986. That’s when the Pellizzer brothers opened their haute scoop shop, Sebastian Joe’s. Before that, we Goths were content to eat ice cream from square supermarket cartons.

It all started when a “moment of truth” hit the brothers while visiting Boston’s Little Italy. They carried the message home and started proselytizing with the handmade stuff of their Italian heritage, making the world of frozen desserts a far, far better place.

July 14, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

What's broken? - Trolley track potholes

By Adam Epperson

With a dull thud, a silver Hyundai Sonata drove slowly over the streetcar tracks at Linden Hills Station. A valley of potholes, which clutter the area surrounding the trolley tracks on Queen Avenue South and West 42nd Street, was to blame.

Mary Boldischar, a Linden Hills resident, said the potholes force her to slow down to 5 mph as she crosses the tracks, so she does not damage her car.

“We try to drive around them as long as there are no other cars in the oncoming lane,” Boldischar said.

July 14, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

South, Southwest students National Merit Scholars

UPDATED July 17, 2008, 2:47pm

By Dylan Thomas

LINDEN HILLS — Two students from Southwest High School and another two at South High School were awarded National Merit Scholarships in July, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) reported.

South students Jonathan Fraatz and Emma Liss and Southwest students Claire Richards and Nicolas Wilson each won college-sponsored scholarships of between $500 and $2,000. The scholarships can be renewed for up to four years at the college or university each student attends.

Fraatz will study engineering at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Liss will study social work at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., MPS reported. Richards will attend Boston University to pursue medical studies and Wilson will study software development at Grinnell College in Grinnell

July 14, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

A leader in LEED design

By Cristof Traudes

A look at Linden Hills’ first home built with LEED in mind

LINDEN HILLS — Green isn’t just for the suburbs anymore.

In January, Minnetonka unveiled the Live Green, Live Smart Sustainable House, a project that showed off a new phase in environmentally friendly building — a LEED-certified home.

It was an “ooh” and “aah” moment. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has been around for years, but it had focused primarily on rewarding commercial developments for sustainable building practices. The U.S. Green Building Council now has started rewarding green homes, too.

June 30, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Parks update

By Cristof Traudes

MPRB president defends Cedar Lake comments

Tom Nordyke, president of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, is miffed after a recent newspaper report on the use of lakefront land on the southeastern corner of Cedar Lake.

Nordyke lives in one of more than a dozen homes there whose backyards reach toward — or into — the lake. The catch is that some of the land closest to Cedar actually is property of the Park Board and thus public land.

June 30, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Southwest freshman wins language camp scholarship

LINDEN HILLS — Southwest High School 9th-grader Grant Jolstad was selected for a scholarship to attend Concordia Language Villages this summer, Heather Vick, assistant director for enrollment and outreach, said.

J

June 16, 2008
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Green digest

By Cristof Traudes

Illegal sewer connection possible source of substance found in Lake Calhoun

While investigating reports in April of an unknown milky white substance seeping into Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis Public Works inspectors discovered an illegal, undocumented storm sewer connection to a swimming pool at the nearby Minikahda Club. That connection is now viewed as the probable origin of the substance.

Pools aren’t allowed to drain into storms sewers, said Bradley Blackhawk, chief inspector for utility connections. In this case, he said the city didn’t even know the connection existed.

June 16, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah McKenzie

KENWOOD

ELECTIONS: Mike Bono replaced Gary Bennett as chair of the Kenwood Isles Area Association (KIAA) Board of Directors following officer elections in June.

Bennett did not run for re-election.

Pat Scott was re-elected vice chair, and Roy Williams was re-elected treasurer. The KIAA Board of Directors had yet to find a permanent replacement for the secretary position recently vacated by former Board Member Kathy Williams.

June 16, 2008
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Read more stories about: Republican National Convention, Kenwood neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

CVS plans to submit application for Linden Hills store this month

By Jake Weyer

LINDEN HILLS — Developers of a CVS/pharmacy planned near 44th Street & France Avenue expect to submit their development application to the city by mid-June.

The store would replace the former Almsted’s Sunnyside Market building and an adjacent gas station.

Representatives from Velmeir Companies, the national pharmacy chain’s developer, have met with Linden Hills community members twice to discuss plans. After considering resident feedback from the first meeting in April, developers made some changes to the roughly 13,000-square-foot building’s design and presented the revisions at the second meeting in May.

The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) hosted the community meetings, which have been well attende

June 2, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Civic beat

By Steve Pease

Rybak takes on spokesman role for Democratic mayors

As if heading Barack Obama’s Minnesota campaign wasn’t keeping him busy enough, Mayor R.T. Rybak is now the voice of America’s Democratic mayors.

The former journalist has been elected vice president for communications of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors (NCDM), and will tout the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s “urban agenda,” at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver Aug. 25–28 and beyond. This agenda includes preventing youth violence, creating green manufacturing jobs and cultivating leadership that will advance “better policies” for the country, according to a news release on Rybak’s new post.

July 14, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Business Buzz

By Reporters

24th & Hennepin

Uptown's National Karate School, 2409 Hennepin Ave. S., closed the end of January, rerouting students to their other Twin Cities locations, primarily the Tangletown location at 4608 Nicollet Ave. S.

School Director Jeff Sidner said the Hennepin Avenue location had been doing poorly for a while. He said students had a tough time finding the studio and a place to park. "We haven't given up on that area, we're just doing without it for now," Sidner said.

The school teaches all different levels of karate and self-defense techniques. For more information, visit www.nationalkarate.com/so-mpls/.

n

March 18, 2004
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Raise my taxes!

By Lynnell Mickelsen

One small lawn sign, one small step

I started seeing the orange lawn signs a few weeks ago: first one in St. Louis Park, then a handful in Linden Hills, Kingfield and Lyndale. And then, holy cow, suddenly two popped up in nearby Edina.

"Happy to Pay for a Better Minnesota," the signs read, in various shades of orange and white. At the bottom is a Web address: www.betterminnesota.org.

In the last six weeks, at least 900 of these signs have gone up in various yards in Minneapolis and points as far-flung as Willmar and Duluth. They have been erected by citizens who believe that neither taxes nor government are dirty words -- that you get what you pay for, and it's time to change the terms of the state budget debate.

 

May 1, 2003
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

What is the I-35W Access Project?

By Scott Russell

A $153 million plan to revamp I-35W access in south Minneapolis is now heading to city, county and state policymakers for review and approval.

Work could begin by late 2004, planners say.

Those who support the project argue it would provide needed access and revitalization for Lake Street, provide safer spacing between freeway ramps and provide other amenities like a new pedestrian bridge at 34th Street. Starting over would risk getting a worse deal, they say.

Critics say the project spends a lot of money for unknown benefits, fails to set serious transit goals and only paves the way for future freeway expansion. They fault a process they say was set up to get a predetermined result.

November 18, 2002
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood

Low rent

By Beth Wohlberg and Robyn Repya

Renters are underrepresented on neighborhood boards -- is too little neighborhood time and money spent on 44 percent of the city's population?

Brian Elliott rented a condominium in West Calhoun for almost five years. When he first moved to the neighborhood, he attended a few neighborhood group meetings but then quit going.

"I never expected to be in the neighborhood for very long," he said. "Not because I didn't want to live there, but because I wanted to buy a house."

Elliott just moved into his Kingfield home, and even before he was an official resident, he attended the neighborhood's annual meeting.

 

November 4, 2002
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Read more stories about: Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

Banding together for a common cause

By Cristof Traudes

Linden Hills entrepreneur Eric Utne launches Community Earth Councils initiative to inspire groups to take action on environmental, social justice issues

To save the world, switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Move your thermostat down two degrees in the winter and up two degrees in the summer.

Use only Energy Star-labeled appliances.

Use less hot water.

Dump the dryer; use a clothesline.

Unplug electronics when you’re not using them.

July 28, 2008
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Green report

By Cristof Traudes

Another bump in the road for compost pilot program

Linden Hills’ compost pilot program has hit another snag.

“Unfortunately, I can load it on the trucks. I just can’t put it anywhere,” said Susan Young, director of the city’s Solid Waste and Recycling division.

Young has spearheaded the project, which would bring curbside collection of compost to Linden Hills. The City Council gave its green light more than seven months ago, but collection had to be put on hold until the state approved a change in a law to allow Source Separated Organics (SSO) — pizza boxes, paper towels, etc. — and yard waste to be combined in the same container.

Legislative approval came at the end of May, at which time Young said brochures would be printed within days and pickups could begin by the beginning of July.

But then she found out she had no place to take the compost.

July 28, 2008
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What's broken? - Intersection at 44th and Xerxes

By Adam Epperson

A resident of the Linden Hills neighborhood is trying to take action with the city to fix the intersection at 44th and Xerxes.  

In e-mails forwarded to the Southwest Journal, Kristin Kleinschmidt wrote to members of the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council board about the “very dangerous intersection,” citing street parking problems. Parking was allowed too close to the intersection, making it difficult for bicyclists and pedestrians to see when passing through, she said.

“There’s a stoplight there and at least the residents nearby seem to think it is a perpetual problem,” said Linea Palmisano, chairwoman of the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council board. “I know myself, while walking the dog every night, that there’s always car guts all over the place. And they’re not the same car guts, there’s new car guts — like random pieces of plastic, the orange of a break lights, pieces of bumpers.”

The city has been aware of the problem in the past, as there have been several attempts to make the intersection less hazardous.

“I know that in the past they tried to make it a no-turn-on-red light, but that didn’t work and they took that down,” Palmisano said. “But it seems to be somewhat of a problem. I know that this resident who has been contacting us about it has been contacting the city to see if they can put in a traffic study to see what can be done about it, but we don’t know if that’s actually being done.”

July 28, 2008
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Green report

By Cristof Traudes

Linden Hills Festival goes ‘zero waste’

What’s a neighborhood festival without balloons? Linden Hills residents just found out.

This year’s annual festival, held May 18, was almost entirely “zero waste” — meaning there mostly was no use of noncompostable and nonrecyclable items such as some plastics, Styrofoam and rubber.

That meant no foam cups. No plastic lids. No straws.

Overall, it also meant no problems.

Keiko Veasey, vice chairwoman of the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC), was in charge of keeping the celebration running smoothly despite the lack of some festival staples. She had to make sure all participants hosting booths or events within the festival would ab

June 2, 2008
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Online, on-leash and together at last

By Britt Aamodt

Every business begins with an idea … and a story.

The story of Sidewalk Dog began with two dogs, two women, a guidebook, a so-so day job and a lemon.

Ali Jarvis, a Linden Hills resident, knew she wanted a dog. But apartment living didn’t recommend itself to the hole-digging, puddle-jumping big galoots of her youth. So, after a little research, Jarvis settled on the fairly petite cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Known for its docility and sweet temper, the King Charles spaniel can also claim the stamp of royal patronage. England’s King Charles II populated not only his palaces, but also his portraits with the cuddly spaniels.

Jarvis named her puppy Luc. He was the apple of her eye.

May 19, 2008
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5th Precinct hires new crime prevention specialist

By Jake Weyer

The Minneapolis Police Department’s 5th Precinct filled its crime prevention specialist (CPS) roster in early July after running short-staffed for five months.

Amy Lavender, a former 911 operator, dispatcher and supervisor, completed the three-person team. She’s the new CPS for the precinct’s third sector, which includes the Fulton, Lynnhurst, Tangletown, Windom, Kenny and Armatage neighborhoods.

CPSs are not officers, but civilians who work with residents, neighborhood organizations and businesses to identify crime trends, develop crime-prevention strategies and resolve complaints about problem properties, among other duties. The 5th Precinct has a CPS for each of its three sectors.

Lavender, who has a degree in criminal justice from Metropolitan State University, worked in 911 for more than a decade and had been interested in a CPS position for years. She said her past job was rewarding, but she prefers getting out and talking to people.

“I got to do a lot of that in 911 of course,” she said. “But I like the one-on-one, or in-person face-to-face interaction.”

July 28, 2008
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The geothermal alternative

By Jonathan Cowgill

Mike Otto started his company in 1992 in Rogers, Minn., building decks with a saw and hammer.

Now he’s drilling 80-foot-deep wells in Linden Hills to install one of the first geothermal home heating systems in the Minneapolis area.

“Nobody used to ask about geothermal options; now, just about every call we get people are enquiring,” Otto said. “We have three geothermal projects slated right now, one here and two in St. Paul.”

Otto has expanded his business to cover most of the metro area. He operates out of an office in the CARAG neighborhood, on 31st & Fremont.

Geothermal systems — which use the steady temperature of groundwater to heat and cool buildings — are becoming more attractive to homeowners who are gutting their heating and cooling systems, or substantially remodeling their houses. The cost of the system is $30,000. This includes both heating and air-conditioning. The cost of heating and cooling for a year in a geothermal home is around $800. Otto’s company, Mike Otto Construction Inc., has calculated that the system pays off itself after 10 years.

July 28, 2008
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Green report

By Cristof Traudes

Despite drought, water quality steady in 2007

If you’re looking to take a dip in Lake Calhoun or Lake Harriet this summer, have at it.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s lake-monitoring program released its grades for 2007, and it appears little has changed from 2006.

Lake Calhoun dropped to an A- from an A, while Lake Harriet rose to an A- from a B+. The Lake of the Isles held steady at a C. Grades are based on water clarity, nutrient levels and algae growth during the open water season, according to a news release from the district.

Because of below-average rainfall around this time last year, the results came as a surprise to Uadi Singh, the district’s water quality specialist.

“Typ

May 19, 2008
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Blazing a trail on composting

By Anne Geske

Stop, sort and throw — that’s what some Minneapolis coffee shop customers are learning to do as they bus their breakfast leftovers: bottles and cans in one bin, food scraps and food-soiled paper in another. These days, diners and restaurants alike are chomping at the bit to do their part for the environment.

“It’s not that hard to do,” says Danny
Schwartzman, owner of Common Roots Café, 2558 Lyndale Ave. S., which began composting when it opened last July. “We started from day one. For us, it was just one of the operating premises we started working under.”

May 19, 2008
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Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

May 19, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Principal recognized for community engagement

BRYN MAWR — Principal Beth Russell of Anwatin Middle School was recognized for her community engagement work in April with a national award from the MetLife Foundation.

The MetLife Foundation Ambassadors in Education Award is given annually to a public school teacher or principal who excels at building community partnerships in each of 25 cities, including Minneapolis. Anwatin received a $5,000 grant in honor of Russell’s achievement.

The Ambassadors in Education Award is a program of the National Civic League. Awards are given to teachers and principals on alternate years.

May 19, 2008
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Surviving a century

By Jake Weyer

Como-Harriet streetcar celebrates 100 years on the rails

Just as it was done a century ago, Jim Vaitkunas rang the signal bell, released the heavy, hissing brakes and ratcheted the throttle lever back a couple clicks.

Minnesota Streetcar Museum’s streetcar number 1300 effortlessly lurched its 23-ton frame forward; its steel wheels clanking a familiar rhythm down the one mile of track between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun.

May 5, 2008
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Lieutenant says farewell to MPD’s 5th Precinct

By Jake Weyer

Three and a half years doesn’t seem like much time at any job, but in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), anything more than a couple years in one position is noteworthy.

So when Lt. Marie Przynski left the 5th Precinct, where she’s worked since Christmas 2004, to take a job as commander of the MPD’s Narcotics Unit, it should have come as no surprise to anyone.

“She’s been here 40 months, which is a long time to be a sector lieutenant in the city,” said Insp. Kristine Arneson.

But for community members who have developed a close relationship with
Przynski during her stint in Southwest, the news was hard to take.

April 21, 2008
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CVS/pharmacy proposal draws big community response

By Jake Weyer

LINDEN HILLS — Roughly 140 Southwest residents, most from Linden Hills, showed up at a community meeting April 8 to voice their opinions about a CVS/pharmacy planned for Sunnyside & France
avenues.

The meeting marked the start of a community process, organized and hosted by the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC), to discuss project plans and gather input from stakeholders.

“We can really make a difference when we’re open and transparent with one another,” said LHiNC chairwoman Linea Palmisano at the start of the meeting.

The planned pharmacy would replace the defunct Almsted’s Sunnyside Market and a gas station on two parcels of land totaling nearly 1.5 acres. Most meeting participants were generally not in

April 21, 2008
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Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Washburn to get ‘fresh start’

TANGLETOWN — Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) announced in March a plan to shake up staffing at Washburn High School next year, while at the same time providing additional resources to boost student performance.

Washburn, along with Edison High School in Northeast, will get what the district calls a “fresh start” in the fall of 2008. While both schools will retain their current principals, all other staff positions will be opened, and existing staff will have to reapply for their jobs.

“It does not mean that all the teachers are gone,” Washburn Principal Carol Markham-Cousins said. “It means the teachers that are here can recommit to working together.”

April 7, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah McKenzie, Jake Weyer and Dylan Thomas

CARAG

Plant swap: The Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG) Plant Swap is set for April 26 at 9:30 a.m. at Urban Earth Cooperative, 910 W. 36th St. The event provides an opportunity to for area green thumbs to trade plants and gardening knowledge.

Crime walk: The CARAG Stroll Patrol is teaming up with the Lyndale Walkers for a spring kickoff walk April 27. The details were not finalized at press time. For more information contact CARAG at 823-2520 or the Lyndale Neighborhood Association at 824-9402.

April 7, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

CVS Pharmacy planned for Almsted’s site

By Jake Weyer

The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council is hosting a community meeting with developers April 8 to discuss design plans

LINDEN HILLS — The former Almsted’s Sunnyside Market site near 44th Street and France Avenue and an adjacent Gas Plus station might be replaced with a CVS Pharmacy.

The national pharmacy chain’s hired development firm, Velmeir Companies, has been in talks with the owners of the Almsted’s and Gas Plus properties and hopes to use both sites for a single development.

The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) is hosting a community meeting with the developers April 8 to go over design plans. LHiNC plans to compile and submit neighborhood feedback from the meeting to Velmeir. The group wants to event

March 24, 2008
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Parks update

By Mary O'Regan

Bringing back swim docks

During open time at the March 5 Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) meeting, Fulton Neighborhood Association member Steve Young asked commissioners to consider bringing back docks to the city’s lakes.

All of the rules imposed at the lakes have essentially turned them into wading pools, Young said, adding that his family goes instead to Shady Oak Beach in Minnetonka, which charges a fee for beach usage but has more amenities.

Linden Hills resident Brad Bart agreed, saying that when his family visited Lake Calhoun, they weren’t allowed to play with inflatable toys, splash, throw anything or play tag, so they ended up leaving. Bringing back docks would be a reasonable thing, he said.


March 24, 2008
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Green news

By Mary O'Regan

Climate change grants

The city is offering several grants for organizations that are working to combat global warming. Twenty–30 Grassroots Climate Change Micro-Grants will be awarded, at up to $1,500 each. The deadline to apply is March 20. Five–seven Climate Change Innovations Grants of up to $10,000 each will also be given to qualified applicants with a March 24 deadline.

Neighborhoods, businesses, religious organizations, nonprofits, libraries and any public organizations that serve Minneapolis residents are invited to apply for the nonmatching funds. Candidates must submit plans for how they propose to use the money to reduce global warming. Visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability to download an application.

Last yea

March 10, 2008
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Masks that reveal

By Dylan Thomas

Linden Hills artist took mask-making project around the world

LINDEN HILLS — Throughout history, masks have been used for protection or disguise, to conceal identity or to take on the identity of another.

With her latest project, a Linden Hills artist takes that concept of the mask and turns it on its head. In “Inside Out: Faces of Self,”
Barbara Cummard uses masks not to hide, but to reveal hidden sides of their wearers’ personalities.

Over the course of about two years, Cummard helped nearly 200 people in four countries make their own masks. She photographed creator and mask side-by-side and, with some digital stitching, created a 6-foot by 20-foot photographic mural as a record of the project.

That mural

February 11, 2008
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Unhinged at Southwest

By Dylan Thomas

Long-standing tradition of student-produced theater may be stronger than ever

LINDEN HILLS — There were drunken Vikings, moronic doctors, Spanish Inquisitors and a whole squad of uniformed bobbies on stage during the latest Unhinged Theater production but, luckily, no fire marshal.

Lucky, because Southwest High School's black box theater was packed beyond capacity Jan. 9, halfway through a run of "My Hovercraft Is Full of Eels!"

Audience members were climbing over one another to reach their seats when director Henry Epp finally took the stage. The Southwest senior looked out at dozens of students crammed into metal folding chairs, shoulder-to-shoulder with parents, grandparents and siblings.

"It's a kind of long show, but you'll be laughing," Epp reassured them.

January 28, 2008
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Knitting for a cause

By Whitney A. Stewart

She can't see very well, but spunky Hazel Strickland, 93, of the Linden Hills neighborhood doesn't let macular degeneration slow her fingers from twisting cherry-red yarn around a pair of knitting needles into a stuffed Elmo teddy bear.

She knits for children affected by AIDS in Africa.

Strickland and about 30 other women — ranging in age from their early 20s to 93 — gather once a month at Turtle Bread Company, 3421 W. 44th St., to knit bears for children in Africa orphaned by or suffering from AIDS.

"[AIDS] makes us so sad we want to cry," said St. Louis Park resident Pat Foulkes, 62, as she wove chocolate brown yarn into the head of her 28th teddy at Turtle Bread. "But we don't cry. We knit."

The teddies th

January 28, 2008
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Southwest co-ops leaders in fair trade

By Katherine Rautenberg

It’s hard to deny that being environmentally and culturally conscious is chic right now. Celebrities are seen driving eco-friendly hybrids, and large chain stores are carrying organic food and
clothing.

The best aspect of this trend is that people are finding ways to make an impact that don’t take too much time or money. Take, for example, buying groceries. It’s something almost everyone does — but if those groceries are fair trade certified or from nearby farms, it’s also an easy way to help local and international
communities.

Standard grocery stores usually have a limited selection of these items, but Southwest Minneapolis has two grocery co-ops committed to offering a wide variety of local and fair trade goods.

January 14, 2008
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The running of the kites

By Mary O'Regan

As another cold, dark winter begins its long stay in the city, Southwest residents are turning to bright and colorful activities to keep their spirits warm. On Jan. 12, from 12–4 p.m., the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival will hit the ice for the seventh year with dozens of beautiful, high-flying kites.

Last year, the festival was cancelled due to thin ice. According to Craig Christiansen, vice president of the Minnesota Kite Society (MKS), one of the event sponsors, they weren't able to move the festival to a different location last year because lakes are the only vast, treeless spaces in the city. "There's something about kites and trees," he joked. "I don't know which one likes each other the best."

Christiansen is truly a kite master.

December 31, 2007
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Winter Southwest Poetry Project

By Poets

Happy Holidays! However you celebrate them I hope you’ll take some time to include poetry. You may be surprised how satisfying it can be. Sit down and read the King James Version of the Gospel of St. Luke, for instance, and be revitalized by the glories of the language.

Or read out loud Clement Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and remind yourself how good it is, how the scenes come alive with the narrative rhythm that echoes the hoofbeats of reindeer on your roof.

Or take a few minutes to read through this collection. You’ll find a wide variety of poetic perspectives — humor and satire, love and fear, insights into the season and even a little Italian. We offer it as a reminder of the joys of working with words, whatever it is you hold

December 17, 2007
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City council actions

By Mary O'Regan

Nov. 16 meeting

Absent: Council President Barbara Johnson (4th Ward) and Council Members Paul Ostrow (1st Ward) and Sandra Colvin Roy (12th Ward)

Lead testing: The City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Medica Foundation to accept $40,000 for lead testing of 1- and 2-year-olds. According to staff reports, the money will go toward materials for pediatric clinics to evaluate and improve their lead testing programs; visiting clinics to discuss barriers to testing; providing educational materials, community organization referral sources, and in-home lead testing kits for clinics to share with their patients; and evaluating the clinics' lead testing programs through voluntary chart audits and staff surveys.

December 3, 2007
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Letters to the editor

Airport noise
In regard to a recent letter to the editor in the Southwest Journal suggesting that the alternate flight plan used during the September and October runway repairs at the airport should be made permanent to alleviate the airport noise problem in Southwest Minneapolis, I should like to add my own observations:
1. Some years ago, a Northwest Airlines pilot friend was visiting us on our deck in Linden Hills when a series of noisy conversation-stopping planes flew overhead in rapid succession, to which she exclaimed, "My God, do we do that to you guys; it's positively horrible and unnecessary!"
2. A couple of months ago, my wife and I were attending a concert at Lake Harriet, and during the hour-and-a-half that we were there, I count

December 3, 2007
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Letters to the editor

By -

Airport noise

In regard to a recent letter to the editor in the Southwest Journal suggesting that the alternate flight plan used during the September and October runway repairs at the airport should be made permanent to alleviate the airport noise problem in Southwest Minneapolis, I should like to add my own observations:

1. Some years ago, a Northwest Airlines pilot friend was visiting us on our deck in Linden Hills when a series of noisy conversation-stopping planes flew overhead in rapid succession, to which she exclaimed, "My God, do we do that to you guys; it's positively horrible and unnecessary!"

2. A couple of months ago, my wife and I were attending a concert at Lake Harriet, and during the hour-and-a-half that we w

November 19, 2007
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Pulling the plug on a healthy program

By Dylan Thomas

Southwest High School program ends less than two months after welcoming its first class

LINDEN HILLS — For the students in Southwest High School's Health, Wellness and Fitness program, it was over almost as soon as it began.

As Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) embarks on an ambitious high school reform plan, it is beginning to pare down students' options in order to strengthen the programs that remain. Health, Wellness and Fitness — one of the district's 23 focused high school programs known as small learning communities — was the first to go, and more may follow.

When word got out in October that Health, Wellness and Fitness would be discontinued at the end of this school year, it was a surprise to many students and their parents. The brand new program had welcomed its first class of freshmen less than two months earlier.

November 5, 2007
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City to collect organic waste in Linden Hills

By Mary O'Regan

LINDEN HILLS — On Oct. 5, the City Council gave the green light for a pilot program that will initiate curbside collection of Source Separated Organics (SSO) in Linden Hills.

As part of their regular recycling routine, single-family homes and buildings up to four-plexes will be able to put their food scraps, pizza boxes, paper towels, grass clippings and other biodegradable substances into a bin provided by the city and leave it at their curbs for weekly pickup.

"I'm excited that we're going to be able to go forward [with the program]," said Susan Young, director of the city's Solid Waste and Recycling division who spearheaded the pilot project.

She's currently in talks with Schaefer Systems, a company that specializes in waste disposal

October 22, 2007
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2008 Education Guide

By Staff

Choosing the right school for a child is one of the most important jobs facing a parent. The job can be even more overwhelming in Minneapolis where parents face so many options. To help parents navigate this task, the Journal has once again put together its annual schools guide — a digest of information about early childhood, elementary, middle and high school options.

PUBLIC SCHOOL ABBREVIATION GLOSSARY

Alternative school = A school with its own facility run by community agencies that hire its staff. Their mission is to serve at-risk youth. Students attending alternative schools continue to be considered Minneapolis Public Schools students during their enrollment.

Areas A, B, C = Schools are broken into these geographic areas under the leadership of area superintendents.

October 8, 2007
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Read more stories about: Calhoun Area neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

weeHouse is BIG on innovation

By Anna Rockne

Linden Hills has new addition in a prefabricated, modular home that’s environmentally friendly

LINDEN HILLS — In many ways, Brian Oeschgard’s new Linden Hills home seems rather ordinary.

It has the traditional features that add to the warmth of a home: a cedar exterior, a cozy fireplace, wood flooring and an open floor plan that flows smoothly from one room to another. The familiar setting makes it almost easy to forget that this house recently arrived in Linden Hills in four modular pieces and was put in place by a crane.

Oeschgard’s home is one of only five of its kind in Minnesota. In a neighborhood filled with everything from Victorian style cottages to postwar bungalows, Linden Hills’ new arrival near the intersec

October 8, 2007
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Performance celebrates pioneering Linden Hills writer

By Mary O'Regan

Linden Hills has long been a neighborhood of free thinkers, even before women could vote and "Leave It to Beaver" showed us the idealized American family on TV.

It should come as no surprise that one of the first voices of change came from the neighborhood's own Brenda Ueland, a journalist, teacher and author of three nonfiction books.

September 24, 2007
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Parks notebook

By Mary O'Regan

Lowry Hills residents request environmental assessment of Parade Stadium

At the Sept. 5 Minneapolis Park & Recreation (MPRB) board meeting, commissioners discussed a request by Lowry Hill residents for the board to conduct an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) of the Parade Stadium project.

The residents collected around 30 signatures for a petition that claimed Superintendent Jon Gurban's vision for Parade — which includes an event center, grandstands and an athletic training facility — is "being implemented incrementally without citizen input or review of environmental impacts."

Currently, the area has artificial turf and lights, but the MPRB staff is also planning to install a new road next to the field.

September 24, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood

Sunnyside Market set to close

By Jake Weyer

September 10, 2007
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Linden Hills group gets grant for anaerobic digester

By Mary O'Regan

Linden Hills Power & Light (LHPL) has received a $30,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to conduct a feasibility study for a community anaerobic digester. With matching funds of $67,000 from national energy experts, the total budget for the study is $97,000.

Anaerobic digesters are industrial systems that recycle organic matter and use the resulting biogas — mostly methane — as an alternative energy source. The LHPL study will look at the economic possibility of waste collection and transportation and using the biogas and other byproducts resulting from digestion.

Possible uses for the biogas include heating and powering a large building like Southwest High School, heating and powering 30 Linden Hills homes or using biofuel to run s

June 18, 2007
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Supporting democracy in Sierra Leone

By Kari VanDerVeen

Linden Hills resident joins international delegation that will observe the elections process in small West African country

Just days before she left to join a small team of elections observers in Sierra Leone, Linden Hills resident Karen Louise Boothe was still working out the remaining details of her trip and had yet to receive her airline ticket.

Yet she sat in one of the neighborhood¹s coffee shops, relaxed and excited to describe the role she¹ll play as one of just two Americans selected to join an eight-member international team that will monitor the process leading up to the small West African country¹s elections.

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide, put

May 21, 2007
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Soothing patients with songs

By Mary OąRegan

Linden Hills man serenades cancer patients at Fairview Southdale Hospital

An elderly man hunches over his dinner tray in the oncology ward of Fairview Southdale Hospital. He¹s wearing a hospital gown and scooping food into his mouth as his wife hovers in the doorway, scanning the area around the nurse¹s station. Diedrich Weiss, a local volunteer, passes in the hallway, guitar in his hands, and her face lights up. ³My husband wanted to say thank you,² she says, gesturing at her sick spouse.

The man stops eating, looks up and agrees, ³Music therapy is always good.²

Weiss, 37, has been volunteering at the Edina hospital once a week for the past five months. He lives in Linden Hills as a self-employed guitar teacher and producer, and

May 21, 2007
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Keeping an eye on the courts

By Jake Weyer

Police work with three Southwest neighborhoods to track criminals, seek tougher prosecutions and hold the courts accountable

When police arrested two individuals after discovering methamphetamine, a large amount of cocaine and multiple firearms last year at a Lyndale neighborhood house, nearby resident Scott Moore felt compelled to get involved.

He regularly walked past the house with his then 2-year-old son. Some of his son's friends lived across the street.

"Nothing happened to me personally," Moore said. "And I wasn't there on the day of the arrest, but it impacts my environment."

 

May 7, 2007
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Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Calhoun Square Redevelopment, West Calhoun neighborhood

A Labor of Love

By Dan Haugen

Linden Hills church finds creative use for 150-year-old neighborhood tree

LINDEN HILLS - The old oak tree had stood at the intersection of 42nd Street and Sheridan Avenue since, well, before the intersection even existed. When it was just a sapling, the nearest avenue would have been a muddy cowpath called Richfield Road. It grew into a tree as the Civil War was being fought, and provided shade years before Edison would invent the light bulb and more than a century before we'd come to grasp the concept of global warming.

And so it came as troubling news when the congregation at St. John's Episcopal Church learned its building expansion would require taking down the tree, estimated to be about 150 years old.

“We started brainstorming plans for how to ma

April 23, 2007
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Letters to the editor
3 Comments

By Readers

Sunnyside Market will be missed

I am writing to express my utter dismay at the pending closure of Almsted’s Sunnyside Market on 44th in Linden Hills. From what I hear, the building will be padlocked until 2010 and people will be encouraged to shop at other grocery stores nearby.

I will only guess that a bigger motive was to keep another interested grocery entity from purchasing the store. I’m hurt by the Almsteds, who despite claiming to be “our neighborhood” grocery store for all of these years, had no problem walking away with the cash and leaving hundreds of loyal customers and a crew of soon-to-be-displaced workers holding the empty grocery bag.

We were very lucky to have a sweet little grocery in our neigh

September 10, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Sixth annual 9-11 tribute concert will also honor I-35W bridge victims, recovery workers

By Mary O'Regan

Sept. 11 happened six years ago, but many Linden Hills residents aren’t ready to forget. Each year, the neighborhood holds a tribute ceremony at the Lake Harriet Bandshell to honor the memory of those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks.

“Things are not the same as they were prior to 9-11,” said Bob Bayers, founder of the event and owner of Bayers Hardware, one of the tribute’s sponsors. “You can go on and have your normal life, you know, go to work … but take a special opportunity that day to reflect on the enormity of that attack and how it affected your life and the future.”

September 10, 2007
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Farming relief comes naturally

By Michael Metzger and Sarah McKenzie

Two Southwest natural food co-ops are joining with other co-ops to assist family farmers hurt by the floods hitting the Midwest during the past week.

September 10, 2007
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Another lap around the lake

By Kari VanDerVeen

Bill Brice is a fixture around Lake Harriet

As neighbors Molly Falk and Leni de Mik began their usual early morning walk along the tree-lined streets of the Linden Hills neighborhood, their four-legged walking companion needed a little coaxing to brave an overcast sky that threatened rain. They made their way toward the walking path that circles Lake Harriet, with Ebba — a two-and-a-half-year-old Labradoodle — plodding along next to them. But when the trio rounded a corner in the path, Ebba’s melancholy was suddenly wiped away at the sight of a tall man leaning over a small black dog.

As Ebba eagerly approached, he warmly greeted her by name and handed her a treat. After she sat and shook his hand, he rewarded her with another treat.

September 10, 2007
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Read more stories about: Armatage neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Art and business walking hand in hand

By Dylan Thomas

About 40 neighborhood artists of all ages — from creative children to professional artists — have signed on for the art walk. Their work will go on display in 20 storefronts in the small business district near the intersection of Upton Avenue South and West 43rd Street.

August 13, 2007
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'Character first' on the court

By Dylan Thomas

July 16, 2007
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Linden Hills Co-op completes 'Rays the Roof' project

By Mary O'Regan

July 2, 2007
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Southwest woman pushes for perfume ban in schools

By Dan Haugen

LINDEN HILLS - A Southwest woman fighting for a ban on perfumes in schools said she's disappointed with amendments to a legislative bill that would have established a pilot ban in Minneapolis.

Julie Mellum has been leading a campaign to raise awareness about what she says are the health and environmental impacts from things like perfume, woodsmoke and scented laundry products.

She contacted legislators about banning the use of perfumes and other chemical fragrances in schools, which she said can trigger asthma episodes in children.

A bill introduced by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-61A) and Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-60B) asked the state health commissioner to develop a fragrance-free schools pilot program. That language has been dropped from the bill, however.

Instead,

April 23, 2007
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Plotting ways to save the urban canopy

By Dan Haugen

 

Community leaders consider strategies to protect the urban forest from looming threats

 

LINDEN HILLS - A half-dozen neighborhood committee members sat around a table in a park building meeting room last month to discuss their strategy.

What can we do to spread awareness? How can we help residents pay for inoculations? How do we defend the neighborhood's borders?

They weren't talking about bird flu.

They were discussing Dutch elm disease, a tree-killing fungus that wiped out tens of thousands of trees in Minneapolis in the 1970s and that urban forestry experts worry is poised for a return.

Thirty years after Dutch elm disease exterminated boulevard trees throughout the city, Minneapolis' urban forest is now larger and hea

April 9, 2007
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Proposed zoning changes would thwart ‘McMansions'

By Jake Weyer

 

Proliferation of mega homes in Southest has riled many residents

LINDEN HILLS - Stuck in the ground outside Dana Mitchell's modest, stucco-sided home are two signs protesting a recent trend in Southwest.

“Monster houses make bad neighbors,” they read.

Next door, construction workers are putting the finishing touches on a brand new, million-dollar home that towers over nearby houses.

“It's mammoth in scope and not consistent with the wishes or style of the neighborhood,” Mitchell said. “We say this is the monster home that greed built.”

“Monster house” or “McMansion” are terms used to describe newly constructed or remodeled homes that are substantially larger

March 26, 2007
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Read more stories about: East Isles neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

A vision for recovery

By Dan Haugen

Cancer survivor hopes to help others with meditation video

LINDEN HILLS - The fear - make that terror - was almost overwhelming.

It was 1995, and Mary Hallman's doctor had just diagnosed her with a rare form of ovarian cancer.

Her odds of surviving another two years, she learned, were around one in five.

As an intensive care nurse, Hallman was trained in helping others through grim times, but her personal confrontation with cancer gave her a new depth of understanding.

It's something she hopes to pass along to others through a new meditation video aimed at helping cancer patients relieve their stress.

“I needed to step out of it,” Hallman said. “It was just instinctive to try to find a way to relax as best I could and let

March 12, 2007
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Wrapped up in robots

By Dylan Thomas

Southwest High students compete in statewide robotics competition

LINDEN HILLS - Hans Pflaumer's passions aren't the stuff of typical teenage fantasies.

“I have, like, a huge love for metal and plastic, just working with it,” the Southwest High School senior said.

Standing in the school's woodworking shop one night in early February, Pflaumer was surrounded by it: scraps of aluminum, a coil of medical-grade rubber tubing, sheets of Plexiglas, and yards and yards of electrical wiring.

It was a robot builder's dream.

Southwest is one of a growing number of Minnesota schools to field a team in the FIRST [For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology] Robotics Competition, an engineering challenge dreamed up by Segway invent

February 26, 2007
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PRICED OUT: First-time home buyers face real estate sticker shock

By Dan Haugen and Jake Weyer

The hunt for an affordable home in Southwest

Prospective buyers find slim pickings for homes priced under $300,000

LINDEN HILLS - A safe neighborhood, close to parks and trails, and preferably with a little charm to it, too.

When Parrish and Lisa Aharam started looking to buy a house earlier this winter, Linden Hills seemed like the perfect match.

It''s a part of town Lisa would feel comfortable being home alone in when Parrish is away on business. It''s got a friendly, small-town feel but it''s also close to Downtown. And the lake''s trails would be ideal for exercising their border collie.

February 26, 2007
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

art beat

By Dan haugen

Eye on the Ball

The spectacle surrounding the Super Bowl and big-league sports in general easily pulls a wandering attention span away from the on-field drama and intensity.

Whether at the stadium or on the couch, the experience is saturated with distraction: listen to this, look at that, buy this.

Maybe that's one of the reasons David Rathman's high school football paintings look so strange and unique. Set in rural Montana, the small-squad football scenes strip the sport of the sideshow.

What's left is a focused portrait of the game at its purest.

“Home and Away,” which runs through March 10 at the Weinstein Gallery, includes more than 15 new watercolor and ink paintings by the Minneapolis artist.

Most of the paintings

February 12, 2007
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business buzz

By Jake Weyer

46TH & GRAND

The owner of El Meson at 3450 Lyndale Ave. S. is opening another restaurant called Café Ena at 4601 Grand Ave. S.

The new restaurant will feature strong Mexican flavors blended with French and Italian techniques, said owner Erin Ungerman. Ungerman calls the food Latin fusion and said it would be a step up from the tacos and burritos normally associated with Mexican dishes.

Ungerman's husband, El Meson Executive Chef Hector Ruiz, will also oversee the menu at Café Ena. The new restaurant is something Ruiz has always wanted to do, Ungerman said.

Construction of the new restaurant is well underway and is scheduled to be complete early this spring. Hours have not been set. For more information, call 822-8062.

February 12, 2007
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Southwest Stars hit the ice

By Jake Weyer

Hockey team competes in U.S. Pond Hockey Championships

The warming house smelled like hockey.

Gloves, pads and other equipment were everywhere. Players tottered in and out in their skates, some wearing NHL jerseys, others sporting flannel.

It was a big weekend for pond hockey fanatics. It was the second annual U.S. Pond Hockey Championships and more than 1,100 players brought their gear, their passion and their funk to the competition, which took place Jan. 19-21 on Lake Nokomis.

The championships drew hockey enthusiasts from throughout the nation including former NHL, Olympic and college players. More than 200 teams competed in four-on-four, no goalie competition in open, women's, senior and rink rat divisions. The rink rat division was added this year

January 29, 2007
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art beat

By Dan haugen

Eye on the Ball

The spectacle surrounding the Super Bowl and big-league sports in general easily pulls a wandering attention span away from the on-field drama and intensity.

Whether at the stadium or on the couch, the experience is saturated with distraction: listen to this, look at that, buy this.

Maybe that's one of the reasons David Rathman's high school football paintings look so strange and unique. Set in rural Montana, the small-squad football scenes strip the sport of the sideshow.

What's left is a focused portrait of the game at its purest.

“Home and Away,” which runs through March 10 at the Weinstein Gallery, includes more than 15 new watercolor and ink paintings by the Minneapolis artist.

Most of the paintings

January 29, 2007
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

A day in the life of a library

By Dan Haugen

A reporter's account of a day's activities at the Linden Hills Library

With budget problems threatening to close branches and shrink hours, how to funding neighborhood libraries is among the most debated questions facing the city. Much attention has focused on dealings at City Hall, but meanwhile what goes on at a neighborhood library? Who uses them, and why are they important?

The Southwest Journal spent a day asking those questions at the Linden Hills Library on a recent Friday. The branch was never a candidate for closing, but the hours it is be open have been discussed. Here is a minute-by-minute account of a typical day in the life of a Minneapolis library.

9:57 a.m. Lee Ladd of Edina pulls off his chopper gloves and lifts his green jacket sleeve to che

January 15, 2007
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Strange Brew

By Dan Haugen

A Linden Hills coffee shop sells the world's most unusual and expensive cup of coffee

It smells like strong coffee, and that's it.

The steaming brew sits cooling in a brown Styrofoam cup.

An employee at Coffee & Tea LTD in Linden Hills has just handed over the shop's - make that the world's - most expensive and unusual cup of coffee.

It's called kopi luwak, or civet coffee, named for the tree-dwelling, raccoon-like animal that plays a pivotal role in its production.

The animals are often confused for cats, but their faces are more pointed like raccoons. They aren't classified with either species, though, and the family has its own branch of the evolutionary family tree.

An eight-ounce cup costs $10, and those who want to bring it

January 15, 2007
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In his own Old World

By Anna Pratt

Finn Meyer strives to make the perfect violin

Finn Meyer is covered by a cloud of sawdust. He just emerged from his small woodshop tucked behind saloon-style swinging doors that reveal mounds of woodchips on the floor, illuminated by a dim orange glow. The scent of spruce, maple and varnish permeates the Linden Hills-based Meyer Violin Shop.

Meyer, who resembles Santa Claus with his curly gray beard, spectacles and belly (he often poses as Santa for holiday events), is wearing jeans and a black T-shirt that reads, “Save the drama for your mama.”

Originally from Denmark, Meyer, 56, still totes a Green Card in his wallet. He belongs to a breed of Old World violinmakers who craft the delicate instruments by hand; he's been doing it in the quaint stor

January 15, 2007
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Finding resources in the trash

By Dan Haugen

New Linden Hills group looks at ways to harness energy with bacteria byproduct

It's one of the most daunting problems facing the planet today, but a group in Linden Hills thinks it might have found a piece of the solution in their trash.

They're calling themselves the Linden Hills Power & Light Company and, after several talks about global warming, they see a new future for their neighborhood.

Instead of coal power plants, table scraps will power restaurant kitchens, pet waste will light street lamps, and leaves and grass clippings will help heat homes.

The technology exists to generate electricity from all of those substances and other biodegradable garbage through a process called anaerobic digestion. Tiny bacteria breakdown the materials in a s

December 4, 2006
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Fulton leading the way in state Energy Challenge

By Dan Haugen

A Southwest neighborhood with a reputation for eco-friendly efforts was on leading the pack as of last week in the Minnesota Energy Challenge.

Fulton residents had pledged to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by about 18 percent for an annual total of about 85,492 pounds.

A month after the Center for Energy and Environment launched the website, Minneapolis had pledged to save 7 million pounds of carbon from being released into the atmosphere.

The site estimates how much carbon dioxide a household is responsible for based on the size of home, modes of transportation and other factors. It then calculates how much would be saved by pledging to take small steps and simple actions to make a difference.

December 4, 2006
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Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Finding resources in the trash

By Dan Haugen

New Linden Hills group looks at ways to harness energy with bacteria byproduct

It's one of the most daunting problems facing the planet today, but a group in Linden Hills thinks it might have found a piece of the solution in their trash.

They're calling themselves the Linden Hills Power & Light Company and, after several talks about global warming, they see a new future for their neighborhood.

Instead of coal power plants, table scraps will power restaurant kitchens, pet waste will light street lamps, and leaves and grass clippings will help heat homes.

The technology exists to generate electricity from all of those substances and other biodegradable garbage through a process called anaerobic digestion. Tiny bacteria breakdown the materials in a s

November 20, 2006
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Piecing it all together

By Dan Haugen

Linden Hills filmmaker documents personal histories for families

A gray photo of a young boy, necktie wildly flapping across his white collar shirt, gravitates toward the screen.

As his shoulders fill the frame, a soft fade brings viewers to the same boy seven decades later, in full color, recalling his younger days for an interviewer.

His tie now neatly hung between sides of a gray sport coat, Dr. Raymond Scallen tells the camera about growing up in Southwest, going off to fight in World War II and coming home to practice medicine.

Scallen, born in 1925, is the subject of a new short, personal history documentary by Linden Hills resident Maxine Davis called “A Good Doctor.” The Minnesota Historical Society recently awarded the film “Be

November 20, 2006
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art beat

By Dan Haugen

Delayed art arrives

The Museum of Russian Art has announced the arrival of 38 additional Russian lacquer art items on loan from two Moscow museums. The hand-painted items feature miniature scenes from Russian historical legends, myths and fairytales. They are on display through Dec. 30 as part of the museum's “Masterpieces of Russian Lacquer Art” exhibition, which opened Oct. 5.

The loaned items from the Russian museums were delayed because of a Russian Ministry of Culture's request for additional documentation following the recent unexplained disappearances of millions of dollars worth of art from the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

“We sympathize with the Russian museum authorities and support their efforts to e

November 6, 2006
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Library Board will likely vote to close at least three libraries

By Kari VanDerVeen

Members of the Minneapolis Public Library Board will likely vote to close at least three community libraries at an Oct. 25 meeting that will determine the future direction of the system and could leave Southwest with one fewer library.

The Library Board is closely examining several versions of a plan that would close and sell Roosevelt, Southeast and Webber Park libraries. The original plan they are considering calls for closing those three libraries alone. But three other versions of that plan would directly affect Southwest libraries. The first would close those three libraries as well as Walker Library in Uptown. The second would close the original three libraries, as well as Linden Hills and Pierre Bottineau libraries. The third would close the original three libraries, as wel

October 23, 2006
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Linden Hills Co-Op raising money to outfit roof with solar panels

By Dan Haugen

The Linden Hills neighborhood skyline might see a new addition as soon as springtime.

After a couple years of fundraising, the Linden Hills Co-Op is almost ready to attach a 10,000-kilowatt-per-hour solar panel system to the roof of its store at 2813 W. 43rd St.

Fifty-four solar panels will provide enough power to meet about two-thirds of the store's electricity needs on sunny summer afternoons, but that isn't the co-op's main motivation.

“It's to talk about clean, renewable energy options,” said Paula Gilbertson, the co-op's general manager. “We have 800 people coming into our store every day, and we can help educate people about how to make the planet a better place.”

The store's building is a good fit for solar because of its flat

October 23, 2006
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All fired up

By Kari VanDerVeen

Republican congressional candidate Alan Fine unleashes criticism DFL opponent Keith Ellison media's coverage of race

As Alan Fine made his way toward one of the classes he teaches at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, a stack of newspapers in the building's entrance grabbed his attention. The bold-faced headline on the front page of the Minnesota Daily, the university's student newspaper, blared, “With elections near, mudslinging begins.”

“Somehow, I think I'm in this article,” Fine said with a nervous laugh as he picked up a copy of the paper.

Fine, the Republican candidate in the Fifth Congressional District race, wasn't just in the article - he was one of the candidates at its center. Fine has made head

October 9, 2006
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Library Board turns to public for input on tough budget decisions

By Kari VanDerVeen

Leaders say it’s inevitable that some facilities will need to be closed or hours slashed

With the new Central Library serving as its flagship facility and two of its largest community libraries set to reopen early next year sporting millions of dollars in renovations, it seems on the surface that the Minneapolis Public Library system is thriving.

But as the date that will mark the first time all 15 libraries have been up and running after three years of new construction and renovation draws near, Minneapolis Public Library Board officials said they’re facing a financial crisis that will likely force them to close some community libraries or drastically reduce the hours at all of the facilities.

The Library Board has balanced its strained budget th

September 11, 2006
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A tale oftwo houses

By Anna Pratt

 

Linden Hills couple buy a home next door to save it and now use it as a summer cottage

Linden Hills residents Xandra Coe and Judy Meath are their own neighbors - the couple recently purchased the house next door for use as a summer cottage.

The couple bought the house that's a mere 10 feet from their home at 38th Street and Sheridan Avenue South to save it from the wrecking ball. The home's previous owners had plans to tear it down and build a new, larger house that would better suit their lifestyle.

When Coe and Meath imagined their view stripped of the classic abode, they didn't like what they saw.

Even though they live in a gray, cube-shaped contemporary house with simple, clean lines that in many ways couldn't be more different than

August 28, 2006
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Knitting old and new

By Anna Pratt

Southwest restaurateurs creatively redefine and reuse space

A mix of families with strollers and adults of all ages are dining where fire trucks once screamed. Café 28, an organic-food-serving, vegetarian-friendly restaurant is housed in a former firehouse that once helped safeguard Linden Hills.

Built in 1914, it still has the old metal firepole near the entrance, connecting the first and second floors, down which firefighters shimmied before hurtling off to battle blazes.

Other restaurateurs around town have transformed similarly novel spaces into chic destinations while preserving stately, aged buildings. How they knit old with new varies as much as the restaurants themselves, ranging from the irreverent to elegant, playful to respectful.

At C

August 28, 2006
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Wild time at Wild Rumpus

By Ellen Kane

Linden Hills bookstore attracts a following for unique story hour

Once upon a time, there was a little bookstore in Linden Hills called the Wild Rumpus. It was a place where nothing ordinary ever happened. But if you've been to the Rumpus, then you already know that. From the menagerie of chickens, cats and rats that run the store to the child-size purple door within a door, whimsical and wacky are the rule at the Rumpus.

So it follows that what's known as “story hour” at any other children's bookstore is called “Tale Time” at the Wild Rumpus. And true to form, Tale Time is not your ordinary story hour.

While storyteller Krista Barsness reads, she must compete for her audience's attention with three Silky Bantam chickens, three ta

August 28, 2006
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A tale oftwo houses

By Anna Pratt

 

Linden Hills couple buy a home next door to save it and now use it as a summer cottage

Linden Hills residents Xandra Coe and Judy Meath are their own neighbors - the couple recently purchased the house next door for use as a summer cottage.

The couple bought the house that's a mere 10 feet from their home at 38th Street and Sheridan Avenue South to save it from the wrecking ball. The home's previous owners had plans to tear it down and build a new, larger house that would better suit their lifestyle.

When Coe and Meath imagined their view stripped of the classic abode, they didn't like what they saw.

Even though they live in a gray, cube-shaped contemporary house with simple, clean lines that in many ways couldn't be more different than

August 14, 2006
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

A tale oftwo houses

By Anna Pratt

 

Linden Hills couple buy a home next door to save it and now use it as a summer cottage

Linden Hills residents Xandra Coe and Judy Meath are their own neighbors - the couple recently purchased the house next door for use as a summer cottage.

The couple bought the house that's a mere 10 feet from their home at 38th Street and Sheridan Avenue South to save it from the wrecking ball. The home's previous owners had plans to tear it down and build a new, larger house that would better suit their lifestyle.

When Coe and Meath imagined their view stripped of the classic abode, they didn't like what they saw.

Even though they live in a gray, cube-shaped contemporary house with simple, clean lines that in many ways couldn't be more different than

July 31, 2006
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Knitting old and new

By Anna Pratt

Southwest restaurateurs creatively redefine and reuse space

A mix of families with strollers and adults of all ages are dining where fire trucks once screamed. Café 28, an organic-food-serving, vegetarian-friendly restaurant is housed in a former firehouse that once helped safeguard Linden Hills.

Built in 1914, it still has the old metal firepole near the entrance, connecting the first and second floors, down which firefighters shimmied before hurtling off to battle blazes.

Other restaurateurs around town have transformed similarly novel spaces into chic destinations while preserving stately, aged buildings. How they knit old with new varies as much as the restaurants themselves, ranging from the irreverent to elegant, playful to respectful.

At C

July 31, 2006
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

A Republican in DFL-dominated territory

By Kari VanDerVeen

Can Alan Fine win the Fifth Congressional District?

Alan Fine doesn't buy into the widely accepted notion that the Fifth Congressional District is DFL territory.

Although Democrats have won the seat in the last 22 elections, the Republican candidate for U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo's seat is convinced that times have changed. The district that encompasses Minneapolis and the inner-ring suburbs has become much more diverse in the past few years, he argues, making it impossible to say that the DFL still has the area locked up.

“This district is a bastion of diversity,” Fine said.

The 44-year-old business consultant postulates that the media has hyped the area as being heavily DFL when constituents might have other ideas in mind. And he is convinced

July 3, 2006
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art notes

By Michael Metzger

‘Moonshine' superman

His father was a writer of hard-boiled spy novels, often starring Joe Gall, counterespionage agent extraordinaire. His dad also wrote stuff such as the mystery “The Case of the Shivering Chorus Girls” (written in 10 days), the screenplay for Robert Mitchum's drive-in masterpiece “Thunder Road” and the pulp fiction of “The Naked Years.” The cover of “Naked Years” is classic: men in bow-ties and white dinner jackets adorned with single red carnations are surrounded by slender women in long, clinging gowns. The cover blurb winked furiously at anyone who might've been browsing a bookstore back in 1940 when the book was published: “They groped for excitement in an age of boredom.”

June 19, 2006
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Linden Hills Festival features host of activities

By Michael Metzger

You know for sure that spring has finally sprung when the annual Linden Hills Festival takes place. This year's event-filled fest is on Saturday, May 20 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, May 21 from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

The festival kicks off Saturday morning with garage sales across the neighborhood from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. (Contact Patty Schmitz with questions at patty@schmitzdietz.com.)

At 9 a.m., there's a pancake breakfast at Linden Hills Congregational United Church of Christ, 4200 Upton Ave. S.

The Linden Hills Home Tour starts up at 11:30 that morning. (You can contact Lisa Birchen at lmbirchen@rkmc.com for more information.)

There's also a full slate of activities going

May 8, 2006
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The Friends of the Library invites discussion of system's future

By Michael Metzger

Minneapolis library hours remain shorter than most patrons would like. Book lovers are uneasy about the future of the libraries, even in the face of the grand opening of the new Central Library in May. The Friends of the Library will hold open discussions of challenges the library system faces at branches across the city at the following locations.

-Linden Hills Community Library:

Thursday, April 20, 6:30-8 p.m., 2900 W. 43rd St.

-Nokomis Community Library:

Tuesday, April 25, 6:30-8 p.m., 5100 34th Ave. S.

All forums are open to the public. Visit www.friendsofmpl.org for more information.

April 10, 2006
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art notes

By Michael Metzger

‘Between the Lakes'

A combination book launch and wine tasting takes place on Monday, April 10 at 6 p.m. at the France 44 liquor store, 4351 France Ave. S. “Verse and Vintages” kicks off the release of “Between the Lakes: The Poets of Linden Hills,” a book of poetry by Linden Hills poets and writers with ties to the neighborhood.

Linden Hills poet laureate Doug Wilhide isn't completely certain that any poetry reading will take place at “Verse and Vintages.”

“I'm not sure if we'll be reading, but my guess is yes, especially after a little wine,” Wilhide wrote in an e-mail. “As many of the poets as can make it will be in attendance.”

The poets in the book are Esam Aal, Cris And

March 27, 2006
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Lindenhearts lend a hand

By Michael Metzger

Linden Hills kids' club raises money for Joyce Uptown Food Shelf

For a third year in a row, the Lindenhearts Kids' Club has raised more than $3,000 for the Joyce Uptown Food Shelf, 3041 Fremont Ave. S.

The club raised just more than $3,500, up about $500 from last year's donation.

One of the group's founders, Heidi Rich (who also is mother to four of the Lindenhearts kids), said the informal group's efforts got a boost from area businesses.

“The east Lake Harriet businesses participated this year, and they made a big difference,” she said.

The 30-person club distributed small, homemade banks in Southwest businesses.

“One of the most important elements to me is that over 100 percent of what we raised goes to the Food She

February 13, 2006
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Mugging near Lake Harriet unnerves residents

By Sarah McKenzie

Violent attacks in park areas very rare

Minneapolis park officials say they are taking steps to improve safety near Lake Harriet after three teens reportedly assaulted a 57-year-old man near the Bandshell late November.

Park Police are stepping up patrols, clearing buckthorn in the area and working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board officials on improving lighting along the lake's pedestrian paths, said Brad Johnson, park police chief.

Beyond those steps, the recent cold snap has also put a damper on crime. “With the cold weather, things have quieted down considerably in the area,” Johnson said.

Still, the Nov. 17 attack on long-time Linden Hills resident Michael Tillemans, an employee at Bayers Do It Best hardware store, 4312 Up

December 26, 2005
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Linden Hills neighborhood, disability activist dies

By Michael Metzger

Eric Peterson remembered for his service to many groups

When friends gathered recently to remember Eric Peterson, they talked of a man who was a clear-sighted advocate for the disabled, though he had lost his own vision years ago to diabetes.

Peterson, 46, a Linden Hills neighborhood activist and local and national advocate for accessible arts and disability rights, died Oct. 3 of complications stemming from diabetes.

Peterson served on the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) board for the past five years, often urging the group to adopt Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) plans friendlier to the disabled.

Leonard Lang, who served on the board with Peterson, remembered how Peterson urged the group to rethink the signage they were buying for

November 28, 2005
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Linden Hills neighborhood, disability activist dies

By Michael Metzger

Eric Peterson remembered for his service to many groups

When friends gathered recently to remember Eric Peterson, they talked of a man who was a clear-sighted advocate for the disabled, though he had lost his own vision years ago to diabetes.

Peterson, 46, a Linden Hills neighborhood activist and local and national advocate for accessible arts and disability rights, died Oct. 3 of complications stemming from diabetes.

Peterson served on the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) board for the past five years, often urging the group to adopt Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) plans friendlier to the disabled.

Leonard Lang, who served on the board with Peterson, remembered how Peterson urged the group to rethink the signage they were buying for

November 14, 2005
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From Southwest to Guantanamo

By Scott Russell

How a Linden Hills lawyer came to defend an alleged terrorist - and have the FBI knocking on his own neighbors' doors

Attorney John Lundquist of Linden Hills believes strongly enough in the U.S. legal system that he and his colleagues are volunteering hundreds of hours to defend a suspected terrorist the U.S. government is holding without charges in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"For 25 years, I have seen the system work," said Lundquist, who practices white-collar criminal defense. "It is a very large and powerful machine. It only works if there is someone willing to stand in the corner of the individual. If there isn't someone performing that role, the machine will trample without any controls. It will run amok."

Lundquist, Jim Dorsey, Nicole M

July 11, 2005
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A farmhouse, once again an art house

By Anna Pratt

When Kellie Rae Theiss moved her downtown gallery into an old farmhouse in Linden Hills six months ago, it became the Red House Gallery, a crossroads of past and present.

The Red House takes its name from its most striking attribute, the cherry red exterior that distinguishes it from nearby homes. Its pillbox shape, peeling paint, aged wood, chalky white walls and antique fixtures testify to years of wear and tear.

Maybe it was because she grew up on a Nebraska farm, but Theiss was drawn intuitively to the two-story 3413 W. 44th St. structure. After she pulled up to the house a year ago she had a revelation, telling herself, "This is it."

The epiphany promptly ended a two yearlong search for a new space to display her collection of classical, surrealistic and

June 13, 2005
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Fun in Fulton

By Robyn Repya

In early March, Linden Hills parents Bridget O'Boyle and her husband Jim Rabidue opened a children's store called It's Play Time! From the outside, the 3100 W. 50th St. space might look like a daycare, but once inside, its purpose is clear: Go play!

The brightly colored store is designed as a place where parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles - even babysitters - can do projects with their kids.

You can simply buy a project, which range from $5 to $40 for kids age 2 and up, and do it at home. However, the innovation is a large, ready-for-a-mess craft room where you can build your creation for no additional change- leaving the cleanup to the staff.

Tammy Hendricks is such a fan, she'd been to the store three times in its first week.

"It's so easy to fl

April 4, 2005
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At Armatage, a peaceful playground

By Anna Pratt

Later this year, a giant, colorful U.S. map and grids for math problems and word play games will be spray-painted on a freshly paved "Peaceful Playground" at Armatage Community and Montessori School, 2501 W. 56th St.

Armatage's existing playground looks more like the pockmarked driveway it also is. Potholes and major water drainage buckle the battered surface. The wear-and-tear is partly due to kids' tough play and Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycle. However, cars that regularly roll through deepen the crevices and create safety risks for students.

Reducing the human stress is what $80,000 in grant money ($55,000 from the school district's foundation and $25,000 from the Armatage Neighborhood Association) is supposed to buy.

The school will pad its noisy lunch

April 4, 2005
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Political parties ready city endorsements

By Scott Russell

With a full slate of city offices up for election in 2005 - mayor, City Council, Park Board, Library Board, and the Board of Estimate and Taxation - political parties have a busy schedule of spring and summer endorsements.

Here's the schedule and the affected Southwest neighborhoods:

DFL endorsing conventions

• Ward 13 (Linden Hills, West Calhoun, Fulton, Armatage, Kenny, Lynnhurst and a bit of East Harriet): Saturday, April 2, Southwest High School, 3414 W. 47th St., 10 a.m.

   

   

• Ward 6 (Whittier, Stevens Square): April 9, Van Dusen Mansion, 1900 LaSalle Ave., 10 a.m.

   

   

• Ward 10 (East Isles, East Calhoun, the Wedge, CARAG, Lyndale, most of East Harriet): April 16, Jefferson S

March 21, 2005
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Goodman's $99K tops in city

By Scott Russell

Southwest City Councilmember Lisa Goodman (7th Ward) has no opponents and a campaign fund approaching $100,000 - four times as much as either of the declared mayoral candidates, according to financial reports filed by Jan. 31 with Hennepin County.

Goodman had $99,280 at year's end, according to the filings. She is a two-term incumbent and began this election cycle with a head start. She had more than $48,800 saved after handily winning reelection in 2001.

None of the three other two-term incumbents had more than $18,126 in the bank, county records show.

First-term Councilmember Scott Benson (11th Ward), has $27,135 in the bank, the second-highest total on the Council.

 

February 21, 2005
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Linden Hills and Whittier blocks receive police awards

By Robyn Repya

The Minneapolis Police announced Jan. 21 that two Linden Hills blocks and one in Whittier won 2004 Building Blocks Awards. Eleven Minneapolis blocks were honored for their work as block clubs.

The 4400 block of Abbott Avenue South received the award because of their annual events, which include a monthly book club, Christmas party, garage sales and miscellaneous

other parties.

The 4600 block of West Lake Harriet Parkway received the award for their environmental work and participation in National Night Out, barbecues and caroling parties.

February 7, 2005
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Crime-prevention specialist leaves Southwest

By Robyn Repya

Crime Prevention-Specialist Karen Abrahamson, who served on Southwest's Sector Two SAFE team, left the Minneapolis Police force Dec. 17 for a job with the Northfield, Minn. force.

Sector Two covers the West Calhoun, Linden Hills, East Calhoun, CARAG, East Harriet, Lyndale and Kingfield neighborhoods.

In an e-mail to residents, Abrahamson said residents should contact Sector Lt. Marie Przynski.

Przynski is a new arrival to Southwest's 5th Precinct, 3101 Nicollet Ave. She transferred from an officer training post Dec. 26 to replace Lt. Brad Sporny.

Residents can reach Przynski at 673-5595.

January 10, 2005
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Linden Hills Hearts share the love

By Michael Metzger

In two hours per Saturday, kids' group raises funds for good causes

If you had two hours and a dozen or so laughing, running, giggling kids at your disposal, could you change the world? Yeah, you could. The children and parents who are the Linden Hearts Kids' Club prove it every month.

The kids, ages 2 through 11, get together on the first Saturday of each month at the Linden Hills Park Neighborhood Center, 3100 W. 43rd St. This month, they made dove banks they dropped off at businesses throughout Linden Hills. Through the third week of December, people can put their tax-deductible contributions in the banks to help the Joyce Uptown Food Shelf, 3041 Fremont Ave. S.

One club member, Chloe Rich, is a budding poet. Each bank the kids put out this year carries h

December 9, 2004
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Southwest DFL legislators win; big state gains should boost influence

By Scott Russell

As expected, DFL Southwest House incumbents easily won reelection. The smallest victory margin: 32 percentage points.

The big surprise: The state GOP's 81-53 House majority nearly vanished -- boosting city DFLers' legislative power. At press time, the Republican margin was 67-66, not counting one late race where the Republican led by .5 percent. A recount could mean the House is tied.

Rep. Frank Hornstein of Linden Hills called it "a whole new ball game." Even if the Democrats lose the final race and remain in the minority, the Republicans won't be able to push any legislation they want as they did last session, he said.

"Either way, it is going to be a significant change in tone and activity in terms of the House," Hornstein said.

He said

November 11, 2004
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Lane won't seek re-election

By Scott Russell

Thirteenth Ward City Council independent cites family reasons; biggest achievement might be long-term city budgeting

City Councilmember Barret Lane (13th Ward) says he will not seek another term, citing family reasons and saying it was a family decision.

"My 7-year-old came home one night and said, 'Daddy, you need a job with fewer night meetings,'" said Lane.

Lane, 41, made his announcement during a Sept. 27 interview with the Southwest Journal. The 13th Ward covers the city's Southwest corner. It includes Fulton, Linden Hills, West Calhoun, Armatage, Lynnhurst and Kenny neighborhoods.

 

October 14, 2004
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Art Condition

By Anna Matykowski

'9-11 Tribute'

Southwest residents will once again unite through music to remember and reflect on the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 at Linden Hills' Lake Harriet Bandshell.

"The 9-11 Tribute serves to bring our community together through music in a spirit of patriotic reflection of the most terrible day in our nation's history," said program producer Bob Bayers of Bayers Do It Best Hardware, 4312 Upton Ave. S.

Last year, the free annual concert drew over 2,500 people, filling the 760-seat arena and surrounding grassy park area -- showcasing not only local talent but the local sense of community as well.

Southwest residents Amelia Santaniello of WCCO-Channel 4 News and her husband, Frank Vascellaro of Kare-11 News, will return to hos

September 2, 2004
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Art Condition

By Anna Matykowski

'The Incidental Observer'

It's all too easy to fall into the fast-paced tempo of modern life. While running down the street to catch a bus to work, one might simply not notice the beautiful statue to the left or the unusual texture of the woman's dress to the right.

In her photography exhibit, "The Incidental Observer," currently showing at Washburn's gallery360, Natasha D'Schommer invites Southwest residents to take a breath and appreciate the beautiful views we accidentally overlook everyday.

A photographer for over a decade, D'Schommer, a Windom resident, has dedicated her adult life to the study of classical beauty. While she perfected her technique as a professional wedding photographer, D'Schommer is most renown for her photogra

July 22, 2004
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Lake Harriet 9/11 concert needs volunteers

By Michael Metzger

The third annual Our Community Remembers memorial concert is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Lake Harriet bandshell, and organizers are looking for volunteers.

The concert commemorates those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Organizers are looking for musicians, singers and writers, as well as people to help produce the event.

Dr. Jeffrey Stirling, conductor of the Linden Hills Chamber Orchestra, will lead this year's concert along with Janice Hunton, head of the music department at the Arts High School at the Perpich Center for Arts Education, who will direct the chorus.

Rehearsals will be at the Lake Harriet Masonic Lodge, 4519 France Ave. S.

The concert is being produced with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

If you're inter

July 22, 2004
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Linden Hills Live is Aug. 12

By Michael Metzger

Linden Hills will be alive with the sounds of accordion, jazz, bluegrass, Swedish folk, tango and 1960s rock 'n' roll on Thursday, Aug. 12.

That's when Linden Hills Live takes place at 43rd Street & Upton Avenue South from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The free event features local performers, including members of the Minnesota Tango Dancers troupe; Move Over Brita, a Swedish folk music ensemble; the good-time bluegrass of The Cousins (the young performers in the group are truly cousins, by the way); and The Archives, a band specializing in golden oldies rock.

Also slated to perform are members of Team Yo-Yo, teenaged champs who will do a 20-minute demonstration. The bill includes Sabillous and Company, a puppeteer and accordion-player duo; a jazz group known as Lineup; a

July 8, 2004
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City Council actions

By Scott Russell

6/18/04 meeting

Absent: Don Samuels (3rd Ward) and Sandy Colvin Roy (12th Ward).

Smoking ban: Council voted to 9-2 to delay a vote on the smoking ban ordinance for five weeks, to July 23, and create a task force of business, government and health leaders to draft an ordinance. Dan Niziolek (10th Ward) and Barret Lane (13th Ward) voted no.

Housing: Council voted 11-0 to consolidate several housing policies into a single unified city policy. It directed staff to forward the policy to the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) Policy Board and neighborhood groups. It requested the NRP Policy Board not finalize any spending plans until NRP submits a business plan and five-year budget.

NRP cops: Council voted 10-1 to allocate $999,942 to neighborhoods from

June 10, 2004
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Art condition

By Hayley Tsukayama

Kingfield's 'Beautiful Girls'

Kingfield should be extra proud of two of its younger residents this month.

Ten year-old Nora Epp submitted an essay about her sister L/ne, 9, to Duluth-based "New Moon" magazine for the May/June issue entitled "25 Beautiful Girls." Twenty-five essays from the United States and Canada were picked from over 150 submitted to the magazine. L/ne is one of three Minnesota girls to make the cut.

The Epp sisters are close in more ways than age. Forget sibling rivalry, Nora extols her sister's virtues. "My little sister L/ne," wrote Nora, "believes that true beauty is when a person is kind and follows her dreams. She does both of these things."

 

June 10, 2004
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City council actions

By Scott Russell

4/30/04 meeting

Linden Hills: Council voted 12-0 to approve a $1 million forgivable loan from the Affordable Housing Trust "Seed Money" Program to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority for the Linden Hills Townhome Project, 3824 W. 44th St.

NRP: Council voted 12-0 to oppose the NRP Policy Board's proposed legislative changes to the NRP law relating to contract administration and implementation activities.

Fire personnel: Council voted 12-0 to approve a Fire Department countywide mutual aid agreement with the Hennepin County Chiefs Association.

April 29, 2004
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Second Act Theater Company

By Bob Gilbert

The only student-run theater group in the city stages a musical at Southwest

When Southwest High School senior David Jewette got the idea of forming a student-run theater company to perform one more musical before graduation, the typical response from his teachers and Principal Bill Smith was, "I don't think you can pull it off, but it's worth a try."

Of all the theatrical genres, the musical is perhaps the most challenging. It requires performers who can not only act but sing and dance, not to mention an orchestra.

Though fellow seniors Allison Dickinson and Kaila Frymire thought Jewette's idea was crazy, they agreed to co-direct a production, and thus Second Act Theater Company, the only student-run theater troupe in Minneapolis, was launched.
April 29, 2004
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Art Condition

By

'All You Need Is Stuff'

Uptown's fearless comedy group, the Brave New Workshop (BNW), 2605 Hennepin Ave. S., is embarking on a new show this month. "All You Need Is Stuff -- or -- 'Want' Is a Four-Letter Word" takes the stage with the Brave New Others, BNW's "auxiliary" cast. "Want" focuses on the "passion of greed" and whether all those possessions we crave can really live up to our expectations of them.

April 29, 2004
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Neighborhood Events

By Southwest Journal Reporters

Find out what's going on in your neighborhood

CARAG garage sale is May 22

The CARAG neighborhood hosts its annual neighborhood garage sale Saturday, May 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sales will be held at individual homes, apartment buildings, churches and at Bryant Square Park, 3001 Bryant Ave. S.

CARAG's boundaries are West Lake Street to West 36th Street and from Hennepin Avenue to Lyndale Avenue.

Signs will mark sales and neighborhood sale maps will be distributed at each sale site. Residents can register to be part of the neighborhood sale until Wednesday, May 19. There's a $5 fee to register, which covers costs for signs, maps and advertising.

To register, contact CARAG resident Rick Pritchett at 822-3330.

April 29, 2004
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Read more stories about: Kenny neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Council rejects Linden Hills housing plan; developer will try again

By Michael Metzger

Though the City Council bulldozed Michael Lander's rezoning proposal on April 16, the developer says his fight for affordable housing in upscale Linden Hills isn't over.

"There needs to be a better resolution of this than the behind-closed-doors kind of ramrod approach that Barret Lane took," Lander said.

Councilmember Barret Lane, whose 13th Ward includes Linden Hills, opposed the plan at the Council's April 16 meeting. Lane wrote a letter to his fellow Councilmembers, urging them to reject the request to upzone the property at 4251 Vincent Ave. from a R-1 single-family residential designation to a R-3 multiple-unit zoning. The Council voted 11-2 against Lander.

Lane wrote, "I have reviewed the record...the application and the many letters from resid

April 15, 2004
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Linden Hills affordable housing advances

By Michael Metzger

A single dollar makes a dream of affordable housing in Linden Hills possible; another million dollars will make the dream into a reality.

On April 14, the Metropolitan Council unanimously approved the $1 sale of a small lot at 3824 W. 44th St. to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA).

MPHA will take the land and a $1 million forgivable loan from the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund and build five units of public housing.

The Minneapolis City Council's Community Development Committee has recommended approval of the million-dollar loan; the full Council votes on it Friday, April 30.

Though the Council committee vote was unanimous, Chairwoman Lisa Goodman (7th Ward) and Councilmember Gary Schiff (9th Ward) expressed concern that the cost-per-unit of

April 15, 2004
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Young condo converters marking their Southwest territory

By Robyn Repya

29-year-old entrepreneur and a group of young pros convert apartments for fun and profit

Clark Gassen and his spry young associates who make up the 10-month-old Financial Freedom Enterprises (FFE), are following a real estate trend: acquiring rental property in Southwest and converting it to condominiums.

Gassen said with interest rates so low, the market is ideal.

Gassen's group currently has numerous projects in the works, including a 15-unit building on Lake Harriet at 4136 Queen Ave. S., a 68-unit building in Lowry Hill at 1770 Bryant Ave. S. and two Whittier projects: a fourplex in at 2309 Garfield Ave. and a 10-unit building at 522 Ridgewood Ave.

April 15, 2004
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City Council actions

By Scott Russell

4/16/04 meeting

Absent: None.

Airport: Council voted 13-0 to support the residential noise mitigation plan approved by the MSP Noise Oversight Committee.

Creek: Council voted 13-0 to support the creation of the Minnehaha Creek Partnership, in conjunction with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and other governments, to create a common vision for the creek corridor.

Linden Hills rezone: Council voted 11-2 to deny a Michael Lander petition to rezone 4251 Vincent Ave. S. to allow a second dwelling and other improvements. Dan Niziolek (10th Ward) and Dean Zimmermann (6th Ward) voted no.

CRA: Natalie Johnson Lee (5th Ward) introduced an ordinance to increase the Civilian Review Authority from seven to 11 members and make other changes. It was referred to the

April 15, 2004
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The life of books

By Bob Gilbert

A used bookseller's lot is as idiosyncratic as what's in the store

David Swirnoff thinks used book stores are about finding books you didn't know you were looking for. For him, that synchronicity is the whole reason to search his stacks at Rag & Bone Books, 2812 W. 43rd St. The experience of being struck spontaneously by something meaningful on the shelves is what he lives for.

His store's name is taken by a famous poem by William Butler Yeats:

Now that my ladder's gone,

I must lie down where all the ladders start,

In the foul rag-and-bone shop of the heart.

Unlike Border's, or Barnes & Noble, what lies on Swirnoff's shelves is not standardized or predictable. It is a reflection of his own literary taste inst

April 1, 2004
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Hardball: Linden Hills resident is tough public face of bus strike

By Michael Metzger

Met Council chair Peter Bell is the no-compromise leader willing to keep the bus system shut down

He blinks hard as he talks softly. The twitches are an endearing imperfection in the heavy P.R. armor worn these days by Metropolitan Council Chair Peter Bell.

The small nervous tremors that quickly blossom and fade on this face of management in the ongoing transit strike contradict the confidence in his voice, and nibble away at the sharper edges of his conservative political philosophy. He appears more human and frail than the portrait of the hardline union-buster that his harshest critics paint.

Still, the Linden Hills resident has no problem playing what he believes is a strong hand in the bus strike. "We're saving $220,000 a day. [In] most strikes, there's a ra

April 1, 2004
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Linden Hills poetry slam wants fools

By Michael Metzger

The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council holds an "All Fools" poetry slam on Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at Rag and Bones Books, 2812 W. 43rd St.

Judges will score the performances of poetry, and prizes will be awarded. You don't have to be a Linden Hills resident to participate, but you do need to register for the event at Rag and Bones.

Linden Hills Poet Laureate Doug Wilhide will host the slam.

April 1, 2004
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Art Condition

By Southwest Journal Staff Reporters

Open-micat Anodyne

Webster's dictionary defines "anodyne" as "something that soothes, calms or comforts." Those looking to release some tension should consider joining Anodyne @ 43rd's open-mic night, either to watch or participate. All types of performance -- from poetry and dance to shadow boxing or juggling -- are welcome/shall be seen.

There are some restrictions: presentations may be no more than 10 minutes long, and, according to organizers, "pyramid marketing pitches and yodeling" are strictly prohibited.

Open-mic night is Friday, April 2 and the first Friday of every month thereafter. The fun starts at 8 p.m. (participants must register by 7:50 p.m.).

 

April 1, 2004
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Word from your grandmother

By Michael Metzger

A lost diary inspires a Linden Hills woman to teach families to write their histories together

Director Shau-di Wang's 1998 animated film, "Mofa ama" ("Grandma and Her Ghosts"), tells the story of a young boy who learns about afterlife and death when he moves in with his grandmother. She performs Taoist rituals for the dead, helping them find their way in the next world. The Taiwanese film echoes around the world for Valerie Borey, a Linden Hills woman who heard from her grandmother in a very real way after the Norwegian woman's death seven years ago.

"It was like getting a phone call from the dead," Borey said of reading her grandmother's memoirs.

Her immigrant grandmother, Solveig Bjermeland, had written her life's story down in Norw

April 1, 2004
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Pricey neighborhood, affordable housing

By Michael Metzger

Linden Hills walks the talk by backing two affordable projects. The only controversy: one may not be as affordable as it seems.

When you think of places in Minneapolis where new affordable housing could be built, you might not think of Linden Hills. The neighborhood is a real estate agent's dream of massive Victorian manors, fashionably rustic duplexes and sweet little bungalows -- all fetching fat prices whenever they're up for sale. However, two new proposals for affordable housing in Linden Hills hold the promise of bringing changes to the neighborhood's genteel calm.

One proposal has percolated for a year under the watchful eyes of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), Mark Lindberg and the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC). If all goes well, the MP

March 4, 2004
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Art Condition

By Southwest Journal Staff Reporters

Political snapshots

Jila Nikpay, adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, is coming to Linden Hills' Geesu Art, 2720 W. 43rd St., to discuss issues of identity in her work for "Freedom, Identity and Gender: A Cross Cultural View."

Nikpay, also a photographer and filmmaker is an "Iranian diaspora[n]," and will talk about the effect of the politicization of Iranian women as it relates to her new workshop, "Body Image: An Exploration for Women."

The free event is March 15, 6-7 p.m.

SW High dons Dreamcoat

Linden Hill's Southwest High School, 3414 W. 47th St., is taking on Andrew Lloyd-Weber and Tim Rice's breezy Broadway hit "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for

March 4, 2004
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Your Neighborhood

By Southwest Journal Reporters

Various neighborhood-related stories

Basset Creek public meeting is Feb. 19

The Basset Creek Water Management Commission (BCWMC) will have a public hearing concerning its watershed management plan on Thursday, Feb. 19, 12:30 p.m., on the second-floor council conference room at Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Rd.

Though the meeting is in Golden Valley, Basset Creek runs through the Minneapolis's Bryn Mawr neighborhood and eight other Hennepin County towns.

According to Len Kremer of Barr Engineering, the plan includes a 10-year capital improvement plan that focuses on improving water quality in such lakes as Medicine Lake, Wirth Lake, Twin Lake, Westwood Lake and others, in addition to Bassett Creek and several ponding areas in the wa

February 5, 2004
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Buckthorn battles continue, but humans winning

By Michael Metzger

Years of sustained effort are ridding Southwest of European invader

The Fulton and Linden Hills neighborhoods are teaming up to chop down, poison and pull out a common enemy: buckthorn. Though it might sound like a character in a John Wayne movie, buckthorn is more like an escapee from a Monty Python film: a shrubbery. Not just any shrubbery or small tree, mind you, but one that threatens to turn your yard, neighborhood, parks and forests into one lookalike thorny thicket.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, Linden Hills and Fulton residents can have buckthorn they've chopped down on their property hauled away as part of the neighborhoods' annual Buckthorn Bust. On Saturday, Oct. 25, the fight moves to William Berry Park -- the greenspace between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun bounded by

September 4, 2003
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BUSINESS NEWS

By Robyn Repya

Mystery date: just how dangerous is 'expired' food?

What you don't know can't kill you, but Southwest grocers decode the confusing world of "sell-by" dates, "packed on" dates, "expiration" dates

Strolling though a Southwest grocery store on Sept. 8, I grabbed for a carton of orange juice but something caught my eye. The expiration dates on the cartons read AUG 15 and AUG 16.

There was an employee nearby stocking yogurt, so I flagged him over to point out the expired merchandise. He looked embarrassed, and immediately started taking it off the shelf. "This happens sometimes," he said with a grimace.

As it often does, curiosity got the better of me, so the next week I embarked on a search of Sou

September 4, 2003
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Library news

By Southwest Journal Staff

City libraries set shorter hours The Minneapolis Library Board has set truncated hours for the city's community libraries following 2004 budget cuts.

The three Southwest community libraries will have the following 2004 hours:

Walker Community Library, 2880 Hennepin Ave. S. and Washburn Community Library, 5244 Lyndale Ave. S., will be open five days a week: Monday and Wednesday noon-8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The libraries will be closed Friday and Sunday.

Linden Hills Community Library, 2900 W. 43rd St., will be open three days a week: Monday and Wednesday noon-8 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. It will be closed Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

August 21, 2003
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9/11 concert just the latest community service for Bob Bayers

By Michael Metzger

Linden Hills institution is determined to create a Southwest tradition

September 11, 2001 was a day most will never forget. Bob Bayers wants to keep it that way, which is why he's organizing the second annual 9/11 Tribute Concert at the Lake Harriet bandshell. The free concert begins at 7 p.m. on the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil.

"It was a tragedy for the world," Bayers said of 9/11 as he stood in the back of his Linden Hills hardware store. "It shouldn't go by unrecognized."

Last year's Southwest recognition of the tragedy at the World Trade Center and Pentagon was attended by about 2,500 people -- a number Bayers hopes can be met or even exceeded this year.

In order to realize the goal, he's trying

August 7, 2003
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How far was your Lakes jog? Park signs will tell you now

By Scott Russell

New signs are going up in the park system -- signs that identify Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles; signs pointing to the nearest beach or volleyball court; even signs that tell you how far you have walked or biked.

Mary Barrick, special projects coordinator for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and director of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, said the $900,000 project includes:

- 125 new name place signs;

- 18 new information kiosks and upgrades to 30 existing kiosks with park system maps;

- Approximately 40 new directional poles, with up to a dozen blades each, pointing to such things as bathrooms, tot lots, beaches and food, indicating their distance; and

- New blue-blade biking and walking signs that will include red medall

July 10, 2003
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Save the rainwater

By Dave Stack

Enjoy a low-maintenance rain garden

Reprinted from the Twin Cities Green guide, www.thegreen guide.com

Rain gardens are a great way for both the do-it-yourself homeowner to help reduce, or nearly eliminate, rainwater runoff from their property. Reducing urban runoff improves water quality in lakes, creeks, rivers and oceans. Rain gardens, large or small, also help recharge groundwater, reduce flooding and add precious green space to cities. Planting with various native species provides an oasis of natural habitats for butterflies, birds and other friends.

Sometimes called infiltration basins by civil engineers, rain gardens are simply perennial gardens in slight depressions or swales where rainwater can be captured to soak naturally into the soil. Try to locat

July 10, 2003
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'Linden Hills Larry' passes away

By Michael Metzger

Larry Carlson, who died July 31 at age 62, was a man with a love of Disneyland, the Beatles and graduation ceremonies at Southwest High School -- he attended 34 of them. Born with the developmental disability Down Syndrome, Carlson became a local legend: "Linden Hills Larry," renowned for his relentless optimism and ever-present smile. He was a frequent visitor to Linden Hills and Pershing parks, where he'd often entertain children by singing his versions of Elvis songs.

"He'd do anything for anyone that he could," said Cindy Lidstone, who worked as parkkeeper at Pershing Park for 22 years. "He always cheered me up."

Jerry Peterson, who saw Carlson nearly every day for 17 years at Pershing, said, "He could make your worst day better in a

July 10, 2003
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Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.



Armatage

July 27, 4:30 a.m., address
not available

An unknown suspect burglarized the home of a 34-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man. The victims had very little, unspecified, information on the suspect.

August 11, 2008
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Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

From Walker banners to bags

By Caitlin Pine

There's nothing worse than letting a perfectly good banner go to waste. Linden Hills-based Relan Corp. refurbishes the actual exhibition banners that hang outside the Walker Art Center into one-of-a-kind bags in several shapes.

These bags are made from the exhibition banner for "Vital Forms: American Art and Design in the Atomic Age, 1940-1960" that featured the image of patterned wallpaper circa 1953. Sewn into each bag is an image of the banner so banner-bag-toters can guess which section their bag came from. The bags come in three shapes: messenger, open top tote, and a small zip-top pouch.

Price: $16-$70.

Where available: Walker Art Center Museum Shop, 725 Vineland Place, closed Mondays, 375-7633.

June 12, 2003
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Save the rainwater

By Dave Stack

Enjoy a low-maintenance rain garden

Reprinted from the Twin Cities Green guide, www.thegreen guide.com

Rain gardens are a great way for both the do-it-yourself homeowner to help reduce, or nearly eliminate, rainwater runoff from their property. Reducing urban runoff improves water quality in lakes, creeks, rivers and oceans. Rain gardens, large or small, also help recharge groundwater, reduce flooding and add precious green space to cities. Planting with various native species provides an oasis of natural habitats for butterflies, birds and other friends.

Sometimes called infiltration basins by civil engineers, rain gardens are simply perennial gardens in slight depressions or swales where rainwater can be captured to soak naturally into the soil. Try to locat

June 12, 2003
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Walker, Linden Hills libraries won't be closed

By Michael Metzger

Budget-cutting scenario dropped, but some worry Walker site might still be sold

The Minneapolis Public Library Board of Trustees has dropped a plan to close at least one of two Southwest commnity libraries to mend a $2.8 million hole in the library system's budget for next year. Despite what appears to be a reassuring statement from the board about the fate of the Walker and Linden Hills branches, however, one well-known community activist urges residents to be cautious before celebrating.

"There might be a side deal on the Walker," said Steven Miles, a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota who is also founder and co-director of savethelibraries.com, a group of 200 Minneapolis residents trying to save library branches, programs and services.

M

June 12, 2003
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Southwest High neighbors get parking test delayed

By Caitlin Pine

Canceling resident-only permits near school raises storm

Councilmember Barret Lane (13th Ward) has delayed a proposed parking test around Southwest High School until this fall, after hearing strong protests from the school's most immediate neighbors.

Lane created a task force that devised a proposed test that would remove two-plus blocks of resident-only permit parking by the 3414 W. 47th St. school.

Residents closest to Southwest -- on the 4600 and 4700 blocks of Chowen Avenue and the northern end of 4700 Beard Avenue -- would lose their permits. The hope is that some student parking would move off perpetually filled 4600 and 4700 blocks of Drew and Abbott avenues.

At an April 14 public meeting, Lane, his assistant Julia Blount and a city engineer got an earful

May 29, 2003
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'Wild Rumpus at the Jungle'

By Caitlin Pine

Bookstore-theater partnership upgrades storytime

Cut within the adult-sized front door to Linden Hills' Wild Rumpus children's bookstore, 2727 W. 43rd St., is another, petite-sized door, its knob within easy reach of the average 4-year-old's arm.

Now the bookstore is collaborating with a local venue to bring such a kid-welcoming atmosphere, and children's books, to the theater.

Each Saturday this month, "Wild Rumpus at the Jungle" will present a souped-up theatrical version of story-time. Kids 4 and up are invited to come to the Jungle Theater, 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., and listen to one animated librarian, Mrs. Peterson, and her piano-playing next-door neighbor bring five stories, all about being different, to life.

Forget sitting cross-legged on cushi

May 1, 2003
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Park cuts: wading pools may survive, but so might milfoil

By Scott Russell

Facing $3.5 million in cuts, the Park Board will also close beaches, eliminate toilets and turn off fountains

This year, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will:

 

Close four of the seven beaches and two fishing docks on the Chain of Lakes;

 

 

Reduce milfoil harvesting and park mowing;

 

 

Charge youth sports participation fees (a first);

 

 

Eliminate all chemical toilets;

 

 

Turn off display fountains;

 

 

Eliminate a summer youth employment/park clean-up program; and

 

 

Leave more than two dozen vacancies unfilled -- including eight foresters, three park keepers and

April 3, 2003
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Public Works maintenance ends, construction proceeds

By Scott Russell

Broken traffic lights won't get fixed as fast this year, potholes won't get filled as fast, and the city will get farther and farther behind on its routine maintenance, said the Klara Fabry, Public Works director.

Fabry has proposed nearly eliminating preventative maintenance of streets, bridges, traffic signals and city-run malls and plazas to close her department's $6.2 million 2003 budget gap.

The City Council approved Fabry's plan April 1.

Public Works shouldered the biggest percentage cut of any major agency, as the city braced for the $21 million Local Government Aids (LGA) cuts proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. To protect vital police and fire services, city leaders told Public Works to take a disproportionate cut -- 16 percent of its general-fund revenues.

April 3, 2003
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The children of highway relocation

By Robyn Repya

They were kids when I-35W ripped their neighborhoods apart, and in middle age, they remember what they lost -- and the great sledding hills and ghost towns they temporarily gained

When I-35W was built through south Minneapolis in the 1960s, it altered the city. The state offered its citizens a more convenient transportation route, but tearing down and wheeling away houses separated friends and divided close-knit communities.

Thirty-five years later, the highway's sound walls are a fence between neighborhoods, fixing their borders and restricting movement. But there are many who were kids then and, even in middle age, remember the day when their neighborhoods spread on either side of what is now the great divide.

Cut off from the corner store

Vic

March 6, 2003
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A SAFE exit?

By Robyn Repya

Police-civilian crime-prevention teams could be an early casualty of city budget cuts; reformers say there are other ways to help neighbors prevent and combat crime

This year, State Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-61) has introducing legislation to increase communication between the police department and the community -- just as several city officials, including the mayor, are talking about cutting the city police unit that most often reaches out

February 6, 2003
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood

Art Condition

By Carmen Bartley

"Medea, Medea" is Bernard's classic show about a misunderstood woman who rages against the middle class through inventive combinations of set pieces, puppets and music. Performances will be Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 14, 9:30 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.

All shows take place at Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. Admission is $10 on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays and $12 on Fridays and Saturdays. A three show pass is also available for $25. Reservations are suggested for all shows and can be made by calling 871-4444 or visiting www.intermediaarts.org.

Linden Hills' first Poet Laureate Linden Hills Neighborhood Council's poetry committee selected Brent Terry as the neighborhood's first Poet Laureate. Terry will organize p

February 6, 2003
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Hitting the bottle: neighborhood restaurants adding liquor

By Robyn Repya

Southwest neighborhood restaurants such as El Meson, Little Tel-Aviv, Macchu Pichu and Caf Bicko are following the recent business trend in Minneapolis: seeking a liquor license to stay competitive and boost business. A veteran city licensing inspector, Ken Ziegler, said that although he can't provide specific numbers, over the past few months there has been a significant increase in applications for liquor licenses.

What's driving the trend to the bottle?

 

January 23, 2003
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Library hours cut; is new referendum next?

By Scott Russell

The Minneapolis Library Board's Finance Committee unanimously voted to reduce hours at four libraries, including Walker and Washburn, by 12 hours a week and to close libraries citywide for 12 extra days in 2003, part of a $1.5 million budget reduction package to bring it in line with city spending goals.

The full Library Board was scheduled to vote on the package Wednesday, Nov. 20, after the Journal's printing deadline.

"The bottom line is, we are not closing any libraries," said Board President Laurie Savran of Linden Hills. "That is my highest priority."

The city and the Board of Estimates and Taxation froze library tax revenue in 2003. Because of rising personnel and operating costs, the Library Board had to cut $1.5 million from its proposed

November 4, 2002
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Windom, Linden Hills residents win youth awards

By Robyn Repya

Windom resident Joe Sadowski and Paola Kindred of Linden Hills will be honored with the 2002 Teresa S. Ruhland Youth Award, Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Police Department's 5th Precinct, 3101 Nicollet Ave. S. This award recognizes Minneapolis residents who involve youth in block club activities and events.

First-place winner Sadowski is being honored as the leader of the "Pleasant Avenue Players," a summer theater group with neighborhood children that performs once a year. Runner-up Kindred is being honored for researching and creating three art projects a year for her block, involving neighbors of all ages.

November 4, 2002
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BUSINESS NEWS

By Robyn Repya

Southwest businesses find in-store animals can be a powerful draw for customers

Many Southwest store owners don't come to work alone anymore, they bring their pets. Some even have their pets live in the store. And be it a chicken named Elvis, a dachshund named Bob or a tank full of vibrant tropical fish, employees and shoppers agreed that in-store pets make their retail experience that much better.

Meghan Gherity, manager of Urban Bean, 3255 Bryant Ave. S., said their tropical fish tank attracts customers. "They walk in the door and are automatically drawn to it," she said.

Because the store has a fish tank service that cleans and maintains the tank, Gherity said that employees only need to feed the fish daily. "It's easy for us," she sai

October 7, 2002
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PARK NOTES

By Scott Russell

Park Board wants big donors for foundation

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is looking for a few high rollers to lead the new Minneapolis Parks Foundation, which it plans to launch May 1.

The goal is to find people of means -- respected in the community and with a philanthropic bent -- to serve on a board, pushing for major gifts for city parks.

The upshot could be more park facilities named after donors.

The foundation would be similar to how the University of Minnesota's foundation recognizes its contributors, said Don Siggelkow, the Park Board's assistant superintendent for development.

 

October 7, 2002
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Linden Hills church celebrated centennial

By Caitlin Pine

Linden Hills United Church of Christ, 4200 Upton Ave. S, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this fall, with a kickoff even Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m.

The 56 original members chartered the church in October 1902. The present building was erected the same year, and a sanctuary was added four years later.

At the kickoff event, the Twin City Trolley will give free rides around the neighborhood and there will be a Centennial concert at 4 p.m., featuring songs from throughout the century.

On Sunday, Oct. 6, a 10 a.m. worship service will honor the past 100 years and include speeches, music and prayers for the future. Historical displays will fill the church hall. Call the church office at 927-4603 for questions.

September 9, 2002
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Guerrilla crosswalk gone, but Linden Hills controversy remains

By Robyn Repya

Neighbors paint their own safety feature; city washes it away

In the early hours of Aug. 19, city public works employees power-washed a crosswalk off a steep hill at 38th Street and Abbott Avenue South in Linden Hills. The crosswalk was washed away just as it had been painted: in the night.

One neighbor on the 3800 block of Abbott said fellow residents painted the "very professional looking crosswalk" during National Night Out, Aug. 6.

Resident Ann Fritz said that drivers can't see what's on the other side of the hill, but neighbors have been unable to convince the city to install a safety measure such as speed bumps or a stop sign. "There have been a lot of near accidents," she said.

Noreen Busdicker, an 18-year resident, said care

August 26, 2002
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Fall library events set

By Scott Russell

The Minneapolis Public Library has released its fall events schedule. They are:

Linden Hills

2900 W. 43rd St., 630-6750

Toddler storytime (ages 18 months to 3 years): 10:30 a.m. on alternate Tuesdays, Sept. 17, and Oct. 1, 15, and 29.

Preschool storytime: 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 4, 11, 18, and 25; and Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30

Walker

2880 Hennepin Ave. S.

630-6650

Sunday hours (1-5 p.m.) start Sept. 8

Toddler storytime (stories, songs and finger plays, ages 2-4 with caregiver): 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 18, and 25; and Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Family time (songs, stories and activities, ages 5-8 with caregiver): 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12.

Book clubs: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 10

August 26, 2002
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The three Amigos

By Julie Swenson

Forsaking Sebastian Joe's for boiled bananas, three Southwest students find satisfaction working with Central and South Americans for a summer

Last summer, Peter Hepburn, Brian Ignaut and Emily Kerben, all 17 years old and seniors at Southwest High School, traded Lake Harriet, Sebastian Joe's and a reliable supply of hot water for a few weeks of worrying about amoebic dysentery, wild monkeys and a house with a dirt floor.

Do they regret it? Kerben, who lives in Armatage, speaks for all three when she says, "I wouldn't trade this summer for anything."

Kerben spent six weeks living with a family thousands of miles away from the chaos of American daily life in a community called Pau D'Oleo (oily wood), two hours by car from the city of Natal in rura

August 26, 2002
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Read more stories about: Armatage neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Government Notes

By Kevin Featherly

Financially, city benefits if Guthrie stays parked

Guthrie Theater proponents and Walker Art Center officials are battling about whether the theater should remain standing once the Guthrie moves to the downtown riverfront. But from a dollars and cents perspective, the city won't mind if the Guthrie stays put for a while.

The city will sell $25 million in bonds to pay for a 700-stall underground parking facility, slated to open in Fall 2003. Parking fees will pay off the bonds.

Mike Sachi, a city public works engineer, told the City Council Ways and Means Committee on July 8 that the city will benefit financially if the Guthrie operates where it is.

"The parking ramp will benefit with the added events due to the Guthrie being there," he

July 15, 2002
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Linden Hills walking tour on June 26

By Caitlin Pine

Without a connection to the now defunct streetcar line, the Linden Hills neighborhood might have developed as a Minneapolis suburb. Thanks to the trolley, Linden Hills wasn't hidden by the two lakes and developed into a livable neighborhood during the 1920s.

To learn more about the neighborhood and its history, the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission will host a walking history tour of Linden Hills, Lake Harriet and the 44th and Upton commercial district on Wednesday June 26 at 7 p.m. Reservations are required. Call 627-5433 to reserve a space and to find out about all of their historical tours scheduled this summer.

June 17, 2002
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Linden Hills convent will become housing for moms with disabilities

By Scott Russell

The former St. Thomas the Apostle convent in Linden Hills will become long-term supportive housing for working mothers with disabilities such as depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome or low IQs. Tasks Unlimited is developing the plan.

"There isn't anything out there like this," said Andrea West, program director. "Frequently moms with disabilities lose their children. There isn't a place they can be with the support they need to keep the family together.

"This is a unification program."

In the late 1980s, Oakwood Residence purchased the convent, 3012 W. 44th St., from St. Thomas. Oakwood ran a 16-bed facility for adolescents and adults with Prader-Willis syndrome, a rare birth defect marked by developmental delays and an insatiable appet

June 17, 2002
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Art Condition

By Caitlin Pine

Linden Hills businesses will host another "Linden Hills Live," 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 11. The Linden Hills Business Association will build three stages in the 44th-and-Upton district and host nine acts, including jazz quartets, Japanese drumming and folk singers. The July event is the second of three monthly events; the final Linden Hills Live will take place on Aug. 8.

Southwest trio plays the Dakota

Old-timey, KBEM-listenin' jazz enthusiasts will want to check out a teenage jazz trio hailing from Southwest on Sunday, July 21, 6-9 p.m. at the Dakota Bar and Grill, 1021 Bandana Blvd.

June 17, 2002
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

How pleasure is made

By Caitlin Pine, Photo by Rich Ryan

The three brothers behind Sebastian Joe's ice cream are upholding a family tradition of delightful desserts

If you go back two generations to Sendrio in northern Italy, you'll find the roots of the Sebastian Joe's ice cream business. There, in a small town, a young boy named Sebastiano Pellizzer sold gelato in the streets to his neighbors. Frozen treats must be in the Pellizzer blood, because two generations later, Sebastiano's three grandsons are still doling out scoops to their Southwest neighbors.

The Pellizzer Brothers -- Michael, Todd and Tim -- ate a lot of ice cream growing up in south Minneapolis. They also grew up listening to tall tales about selling gelato from their storytelling grandfather.

June 17, 2002
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

The neighborhood way of death

By Robyn Repya

The close-knit block is an ideal, but Paul Costello made it real for his Linden Hills neighbors. When he died, they came together again, to mourn and celebrate what he gave them.

Everyone grieves for the loss of a loved one in his or her own way, but in a small Linden Hills neighborhood, they all grieve together.

Paul Costello, 67, described by many as the neighborhood leader, died from complications involving a blood clot May 28.

He'd often be the host of a 4:30 p.m. happy hour, which he held three to four times a week in his Linden Hills backyard. On the day he died, neighbors and family gathered in Costello's backyard like they had so many times before -- this time for a wake.

"Some of the neighbors went out and bought some wine and beer,"

June 17, 2002
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Dry cleaning goes green

By Jayne Solinger

"Wet" dry cleaning may be an oxymoron, but environmentally friendly technologies get whites whiter and don't cost customers more, two Southwest businesspeople say

The business of dry cleaning has a dirty reputation.

Waste from the cleaning process has created EPA Superfund cleanup sites, and the material used in the dry-cleaning process has been linked to various health problems.

And then there's the smell.

"I had a customer in this week who had just come from a competitor down the street. He said, 'I went in there, I had to walk right out,'" said Soo Chang, co-owner of Colonial Cleaners in the Kingfield neighborhood.

 

June 3, 2002
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Existing dog parks are rated; no SW site in sight

By Scott Russell

The search for an off-leash dog park site in Southwest Minneapolis continues to flounder as staff of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board prepare to release an initial assessment on the first four sites.

The Park Board has opened dog parks at Lake of the Isles, Minnehaha Park, Franklin Terrace and Columbia Park. Jeff Lee, the park's environmental and operations manager, said he would report to the board May 1 on the environmental impacts of the dog parks.

The report would include information on such things as the condition of the grass, owner compliance in removing dog droppings, a soil compaction analysis and the impact on trees, he said.

The report would also include issues about off-leash permits, parking, park safety and maintenance issues, Lee said.

Pr

April 22, 2002
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Another dog-park brush likely in Linden Hills

By Scott Russell

Opposition to a possible dog park in Linden Hills is organizing, as the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is planning a public meeting on the proposal.

Marta Nelson, 4001 Linden Hills Blvd., lives a stone's throw from a site that is a leading candidate for an off-leash dog park in Southwest, a 5-acre low wooded area near the intersection of Richfield Road and Linden Hills Boulevard. She has set up information signs in her front yard and started circulating a petition against the site, a petition that now has more than 150 names.

This is a tony area of Southwest.

The Nelsons' house has an estimated market value of $500,000, according to the assessor's office.

"We bought this house for the serenity," Nelson said. If the dog park went in, "we w

March 25, 2002
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Park Notes

By Scott Russell

Linden Hills eyed for off-leash dog park

The leading candidate for an off-leash dog park in Southwest now appears to be a 5-acre spot between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, near Richfield Road and Linden Hills Boulevard.

A citizens' committee studying off-leash sites in the 6th Park District ranked 27 green spaces in the Southwest area and the Linden Hills site got the second highest score.

The committee's top-scoring site is unlikely to get Park Board approval. It is 1.4 acres in Lyndale Farmstead Park -- a spot the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board previously considered but which met with strong opposition from some neighbors.

 

February 11, 2002
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah Phemister, Cristof Traudes and Dylan Thomas

EAST ISLES
BOARD ELECTIONS: Five new members were elected to the East Isles Residents Association (EIRA) Board at the annual neighborhood meeting in April.
Rosita Acosta, Peter Levine, Karen Carney, Michael T’Kach and Rose Mathys were unanimously elected to fill five seats left vacant by departing board members. Ross D’Emanuele was re-elected board president and Kate Lynch was elected board vice president.

May 19, 2008
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Read more stories about: Lowry Hill Neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG
+ Oct. 3, 9:15 p.m., W. 31st St. and Bryant Ave.
Four male suspects robbed three victims, a 23-year-old woman and two others, at gunpoint. The three victims were standing at a bus stop when the suspects approached them and held a black, short-barreled revolver to the 23-year-old victim’s head and demanded their money. The victims complied, and the suspects fled the scene on foot.

November 5, 2007
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Kenwood

July 31, 4–6 p.m., 20 block of Park Lane

A 24-year-old woman was taking care of a vehicle belonging to a 52-year-old woman while the latter was out of town. The car-sitter held a house party while car-sitting and during that time an unknown party guest is suspected to have stolen the car. The 24-year-old woman believed that someone was playing a trick on her and waited several days before reporting the theft.

August 27, 2007
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Armatage
+ June 15, 5 p.m., W. 55th St. and Washburn Ave.
An unidentified suspect allegedly robbed an 18-year-old woman. The victim had been walking down an alley when the suspect approached and demanded she hand over her purse. The victim complied. Officers searched the area for the suspect but could not find the person.

July 2, 2007
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Griesling

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG
Feb. 26, 5:49 p.m., W. Lake St. and Girard Ave.
Police officers stopped a vehicle for having illegally tinted windows. The officers found that the passengers, two 26-year-old men, had warrants out for their arrest. The passenger allegedly had an unidentified narcotic in his possession. Hennepin County Jail refused to book the suspect due to an unknown medical reason and he needed to be transported to Hennepin County Medical Center.

March 24, 2008
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Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG
+ Nov. 2, 10:35 p.m., W. 31st St. and Bryant Ave.
A 48-year-old man attempted to tackle a 22-year-old woman in an effort to steal her purse. A brief struggled ensued until two witnesses intervened and restrained the suspect until police arrived. The suspect was arrested and transported to Hennepin County Jail.

Between Nov. 2, 3 p.m., and Nov. 5, 3 p.m., 3100 block of Fremont Ave.
A 31-year-old man left his vehicle parked on the street in front of his apartment.

December 3, 2007
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Mary O'Regan, Dylan Thomas and Jake Weyer

ARMATAGE

MASSAGE ROOM: On Aug. 29 police arrested a 23-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man for loitering with intent to commit prostitution at the Massage Room at 5410 Penn Ave. According to Crime Prevention Specialist Chelsea Adams, police have requested that the business close. The Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA) plans to send a letter to the parlor expressing their concern about any illegal activities.

October 8, 2007
Full Article

Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Block parties will challenge neighbors to reduce energy use

By Alison Fiebig

A series of block parties this fall will focus not only on getting to know your neighbors, but getting to know how much energy they use.

The goal of the Energy Challenge block parties is to get neighbors together to share ideas about ways to save energy and the environment. The parties will encourage neighborhoods to track their yearly energy use and pledge to take certain actions to reduce that use. The block club with the highest number of participating households will be personally recognized with a visit by Mayor R.T. Rybak and be featured on the WCCO evening news.

September 24, 2007
Full Article

Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

MPD hires new 5th Precinct crime prevention specialist

By Jake Weyer

The Minneapolis Police Department has hired Kingfield resident Sarah Mahmud as a crime prevention specialist for the 5th Precinct's first sector, which includes the Cedar Isles Dean, Kenwood, Lowry Hill, Lowry Hill East, East Isles, Whittier, Steven's Square and Loring Heights neighborhoods.

Mahmud started Sept. 18, replacing Jennifer Waisanen, who now works in North Minneapolis.

Civilian crime prevention specialists work with neighborhoods to inform them of crime trends, reduce fear of crime, enhance community cooperation with police and improve the quality of life in Minneapolis.

Mahmud said she is looking forward to being a resource for the third sector community of the 5th Precinct.

“I want to become as involved as I possibly can,” she said.

September 25, 2006
Full Article

Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Government

By Scott Russell & Michael Metzger

Various government-related stories

Bottom of the Ballot group explores caucuses

As Minnesota's March 2 caucuses draw closer, some are busily preparing to watch TV, read books and talk on the phone that night instead. The folks at Getting to the Bottom of the Ballot hope to change all that by hosting a nonpartisan discussion of how to get involved in party politics on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Southwest High School, 3414 W. 47th St., at 7 p.m.

The Republican Party will be represented by John Halvorson, the DFL by David Weinlick, the Green Party by William G. Kingsbury and the Independence Party by Jim Moore.

February 5, 2004
Full Article

Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

More schools miss student achievement goals

In what has become a grim annual ritual, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) reported in August that fewer of its school met goals for student proficiency in reading and math in 2008.

Once again, district leaders pointed to a continually rising bar for student achievement established in 2001 under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

“There are some excellent schools throughout the state that have been labeled as if they were failing,” said David Heistad, director of district research.

MPS students made small gains in math and reading proficiency as measured by their performance on state standardized tests. Still, only 11 of 77 schools made Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, the benchmark for student achievement, a decrease from 2007.

Just more than half of all schools statewide hit their AYP targets this year, the Minnesota Department of Education reported. Of the 1,920 schools that reported an AYP status, 983 schools met their goals for student improvement.

August 25, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood

Photo by Robb Long

Mandy Catlette, an employee at the Wedge Co-op, 2105 Lyndale Ave. S., stocks peaches. The Wedge Co-op is participating in the "Eat Local America" challenge, which runs until Sept. 15.

A carbon-light diet

By Sarah McKenzie

Co-ops promoting month-long ‘Eat Local’ challenge

The Linden Hills and the Wedge Community co-ops in Southwest have teamed up with 70 natural foods co-ops across the country for the “Eat Local America” challenge.

The challenge started Aug. 15 and runs through Sept. 15. The Southwest co-ops are among 11 in the Twin Cities taking part in the eat local campaign.

Those interested in the challenge can sign up at a participating co-op by signing a poster pledging their intent to have at least 80 percent of their food come from local sources within the five-state area and less than eight hours away.

Elizabeth Archerd, member services manager for the Wedge, said it’s nice to see that interest in local food has been on the rise. Area co-ops, she noted, have been promoting local food for three decades.

“It’s important for our local economics that we support local producers, whether it’s a locally owned bookstore or a local grower,” she said. “... It’s part of affirming stewardship in our area, and any number of studies have shown that every dollar spent locally recycles in the community more than a dollar spent on something outside of the community.”

August 25, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood

Representing the 'hoods

By Cristof Traudes

T-shirts and merchandise give neighbors a common bond

 Neighborhoods provide people a relatively small bond, certainly not one as recognized as being a Minneapolitan or a Minnesotan or an American. Yet they somehow still succeed at bringing a sense of unity to their regions.

While demographics aren’t always that different from one neighborhood to the next, each has its own stories to tell and its own unique interests.

One way that’s reflected is in merchandise — mainly, in T-shirts. They represent the stories of relatively small East Harriet wanting to build a strong brand, Kenny feeling like one mind, Linden Hills going green.

August 25, 2008
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Read more stories about: Armatage neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Garage sale season sweeps SW

By Jayne Solinger

Looking to buy? Sell? Chances are, if you live in Southwest, you need not travel far to do either. Southwest neighborhood sales have become popular "destinations" when garage sale season gets hot and heavy. With the help of the neighborhood organizations, what follows is a listing of the garage sales currently planned by SW neighborhoods in the coming months. Included is a contact number if you'd like to take part in a sale in your neighborhood. In case of rain, call the contact number for a rain date.

May 6, 2002
Full Article

Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Cristof Traudes

FULTON

ELECTIONS SOON: The Fulton Neighborhood Association will hold elections at its annual meeting, set for Sept. 10. Six current board members will be up for reelection.

Anyone interesting in joining the board should call neighborhood coordinator Tara Kumar at 922-3106 or e-mail info@fultonneighborhood.org.

FESTIVAL SOON: The Fulton Neighborhood Association is looking for more volunteers for its neighborhood festival, which will be 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Sept. 13 at Pershing Park.

Anyone interested in participating can call 922-3106 or e-mail info@fultonneighborhood.org.

August 25, 2008
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

DFL sets March 1 precinct caucus sites

By Scott Russell

The Minneapolis DFL Party is holding new precinct caucuses March 1 to elect ward and city convention delegates who will decide City Council and mayoral endorsements.

In the past, the DFL delegates selected during the presidential election year served the next year to make city endorsements.

All caucuses begin at 7 p.m.

The Southwest-area precinct caucus locations are:

6th Ward (Stevens Square, Whittier)

- Precincts 1-2 and 4 (Whittier): Whittier Community School, 2620Grand Ave.

- Precinct 3 (Stevens Square): Van Dusen House, 1900 LaSalle Ave. 7th Ward (Bryn Mawr, Lowry Hill, Kenwood, most of Cedar-Isles-Dean)

- Precincts 1-4: Bryn Mawr Community School, 252 Upton Ave. S. 8th Ward (north and east Kingfield)

- Precincts 6-7: Martin Luther K

February 21, 2005
Full Article

Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime report

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

East Isles

April 18, 12:01–8 a.m., 1000 block of W. Franklin Ave.

Unknown suspect(s) burglarized the apartment of a 25-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman. No forced entry was found, but multiple items were missing from inside the residence. Some of the victims’ property was later recovered by another person and inventoried, along with pictures of the crime scene.

May 5, 2008
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Southwest High School’s clinic closes

By Dylan Thomas

No replacement likely for school-based clinic until at least 2009

LINDEN HILLS — Southwest High School’s school-based clinic closed at the end of last school year and was not expected to reopen until next fall at the earliest, raising concerns about student health care.

Students who would have visited the clinic for everything from the routine physical required for school athletics to immunizations to mental health counseling will have to seek those services off-campus this school year.

That may mean students seeking health care will spend more time out of class this year. Others, officials feared, might not receive adequate treatment or counseling for health issues.

Teenage Medical Services (TAMS), the adolescent outpatient health service of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, operated the independent school-based clinic. It was shuttered quickly and quietly at the end of last school year, Southwest Principal Bill Smith said.

September 8, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

The architects’ touch: The stories behind five architect-designed home projects

By Cristof Traudes

Summer is home-tour season. There are luxury tours and garden tours, city tours and small neighborhood tours. These have been going on for years. Architects, meanwhile, have stood mostly on the sidelines despite oftentimes having designed the best work.

This year, however, they get to take center stage.

On Sept. 20–21, the Minnesota chapter of the American Institute of Architects is putting on a tour of 29 homes in the metro area, all of which were designed by certified architects. It’s a chance, organizer Jennifer Gilhoi said, to show that architects are a smart sounding board for all types of home projects.

“It’s the details that add up to the whole,” architect Jean Rehkamp Larson said. “That’s where architects play a big part.”

Featured on the tour are small homes, big homes, green homes and loft-style homes. Five Southwest locations will be featured. Here is a preview.

September 8, 2008
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Read more stories about: East Calhoun neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood

Fle photo

The Wedge is one of the participants in the Eat Local challenge, which ends Sept. 15.

Biz buzz

By Cristof Traudes & Dylan Thomas

WEST 43rd & SHERIDAN

While at the national level, tensions and questions are high about a bee population that seems to be inexplicably fading. How does that affect Minnesota’s beekeepers?

Linden Hills Co-op is hosting a class that will answer that question and more. Michael Whitt and Victoria Ranua, of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, will be at the co-op 6:30–8 p.m. Sept. 9 to discuss the latest management concerns from a small beekeeper’s perspective.

Along with educating the public, Whitt and Ranua also will hand out samples.

“If you want to learn about the bee population up here, this class is for you,” said Jeanne Lakso, member services manager for the co-op.

September 8, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Photo by Michele Jokinen

Keiko Veasey is pictured at her Linden Hills home with her children Kaiya, 3, and Leo, 1. Veasey is starting a new program focused on teaching parents how to live eco-friendly lifestyles.

Green report

By Cristof Traudes

Another green effort for Linden Hills, this one targeting parents

Green might as well be the official color of Linden Hills. The neighborhood already is the home of nonprofit Linden Hills Power and Light, Eric Utne’s first Community Earth Council and a soon-to-launch curbside compost pickup program. Now, its Environment Committee is set to launch a program aimed directly at parents.

Called EcoParents, it’s meant as a sort of book club-style forum, with intimate gatherings at people’s homes to discuss ways to reduce waste and toxicity.

The program is the brainchild of Keiko Veasey, vice president of the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council and the mother of two young children.

“It seemed to me that there are specific challenges and interests facing parents in wading through the myriad of information about environmental issues,” Veasey said, “especially ones that may have a health impact on their children.”

September 8, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Photo by Robb Long

More than 1.5 tons of organic waste was collected on Sept. 15, the first dumping date of the Linden Hills curbside compost pilot.

Green report

By Cristof Traudes

Curbside collection of compost under way

The bins are here.

The about 900 Linden Hills residents who signed up to participate in the long-in-development compost pilot program began receiving the 65-gallon green, plastic bins on Sept. 8. Collection began Sept. 15.

According to a newsletter from Linden Hills Power and Light, the nonprofit that helped get the pilot program under way, people have marveled at the size of the bins. Put side-by-side with their regular 94-gallon garbage bins, that’s a lot of space taken up.

But the newsletter advised that compostable items actually make up a large majority of what people throw away. In other words, the compost bins should end up fuller than the trash bins. (People have the option of asking the city to downsize their regular garbage bins, a move that lowers monthly bills by $2.)

September 22, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

File photo

A CVS/pharmacy will replace the former Almsted’s Sunnyside Market building and an adjacent gas station.

Planning Commission approves Linden Hills CVS

By Jake Weyer

LINDEN HILLS — Plans for a CVS/pharmacy at Sunnyside & France avenues made it through the Minneapolis Planning Commission Sept. 8 after months of often heated community discussion about the development.

The 13,600-square-foot store will replace the former Almsted’s Sunnyside Market building and an adjacent gas station.

The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) started hosting community meetings with project developers in April to discuss the plans and gather input from area residents. Many in the neighborhood were concerned about the national pharmacy chain’s “big box” design not fitting into the neighborhood. Parking problems, environmental issues and other concerns were also brought up.

In the

September 22, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Hanging on to students

By Dylan Thomas

District enrollment declines less than expected

LINDEN HILLS — Classrooms were extra-crowded during the first week of class at Southwest High School this fall, some filled to nearly bursting with more than 40 teenagers.

Principal Bill Smith began adding new classes to accommodate the students, but it wasn’t enough. The school didn’t have enough desks or textbooks to go around, either.

“It became obvious within the first five days that it was a bigger problem, that [the solution] was not going to come from internal tweaking,” Smith said.

Minneapolis Public Schools buildings welcomed more students than expected this year, and despite a few problems, district officials interpreted that as a positive sign. After years of losing students, the decline in enrollment slowed significantly this year.

An estimated 32,500 students filled classrooms in September, a decline of less than 2 percent from the 2007–2008 school year. For most of this decade, the district lost closer to 5 percent of students year-to-year, Jim Liston of the district’s student accounting office said.

October 6, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

submitted photo by doug pierce

Members of the Southwest High School green team enroll people in the Minnesota Energy Challenge at last year’s Good Energy Fair.

Green report

By Cristof Traudes and Emily Stickler

Old home, green living on display during Parade

LOWRY HILL — A Queen Anne Victorian house, one of the oldest in the neighborhood, will be featured as a “dream-remodeled home” during the Oct. 10–12 Parade of Homes.

Originally built in 1885, it recently underwent a whole-house remodeling, according to a news release. Despite the makeover, its historic status was maintained — with a twist.

The homeowners were determined to incorporate advanced energy-efficient systems, and the result is a home that surpasses many national green standards.

October 6, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Police Reports

By Southwest Journal Staff Repoters

CARAG

Feb. 12, 8 p.m., 3000 block of Lyndale Ave. S. A victim left his black 1995 Chevy Blazer running in a parking lot while he ran into a business. He returned to find the car stolen.

Feb. 23. 12:20 a.m., Figlios, 3000 block of Hennepin Ave. S. Officers cited and released a suspect for theft after he left the restaurant, failing to pay his tab for seven shots of Absolut vodka and a pack of cigarettes. When questioned, the suspect said he had no intention or means of paying. A Calhoun Square security guard stopped the suspect and performed a citizen's arrest, holding him until officers responded to the scene. The individual was also issued "No Trespassing" papers for Calhoun Square.

March 4, 2004
Full Article

Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Business Buzz

By Southwest Journal Staff Reporters

19th & 2nd Avenue

The Boiler Room Cafe, located on the garden level at the Castleton Building at 220 E. 19th St., received its requisite city permits and will open this spring. The Stevens Square neighborhood coffee shop is located in an 80-year-old brownstone that is on the historical preservation list. It was once occupied by a grocery but has been vacant for almost 20 years.

Owner Anne Mayers, a Tangletown resident, is planning to have sidewalk seating, serve light breakfast, soup and sandwiches for lunch, upscale baked goods and Sebastian Joe's ice cream in addition to coffee and espresso drinks. She is hoping to eventually have music.

"There is no down side to opening a coffee shop," Mayer said.

March 4, 2004
Full Article

Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Cristof Traudes, Dylan Thomas and Brian Voerding

ARMATAGE

FUN WALK: The Armatage Family Fun Walk is back for a second go-around.

The fundraiser for Armatage Community and Montessori School has students collect pledges to walk around Armatage Park. Last year, it raised more than $25,000, which organizer Tina Erazmus said went toward new computers for teachers.

This year’s walk will be from 9 a.m.–noon Oct. 11. A kick-off spaghetti dinner, featuring food from donors such as Noodles & Co. and Lake Harriet Pizza and music by neighborhood staple Armatageous will be held from 6–9 p.m. Oct. 10. Tickets for that event are $7 for adults and $5 for children at the door.

For advance tickets, e-mail Erazmus at mrsraz1999@yahoo.com.

TRAFFIC TALK: The Armatage Neighborhood Association will host transportation officials at its next board meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 21.

October 6, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Cristof Traudes

LINDEN HILLS

ZERO WASTE NIGHT OUT: After a successful run of greatly reduced waste at Linden Hills’ neighborhood festival, nonprofit Linden Hills Power and Light took the opportunity on Aug. 5 — National Night Out — to further the cause.

Power and Light block captains worked with block leaders to come up with ways to end the night with less trash. That included advice to use paper plates and cups instead of plastic, avoiding the use of juice boxes and choosing Tupperware over plastic wrap.

Power and Light also gave out biodegradable trash bags to collect food waste and used paper products. The city provided a compost-only dumpster.

August 11, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Cristof Traudes & Dylan Thomas

EAST ISLES

NEW WEBSITE: The East Isles Residents Association (EIRA) has a new website located at www.eastisles.org.

SUMMER VACATION: EIRA does not meet in August. Its next meeting is Sept. 2.

July 14, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Crime reports

By Christopher Greising

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Kingfield

+ March 26, 10:05 p.m., 3900 block of 1st Ave.

Five or six male suspects robbed a man. The suspects stole various items from the victim before fleeing the scene on foot. A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection to the robbery and booked at Hennepin County Jail.

April 21, 2008
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Submitted photo

The Anthony Middle School girls’ basketball team won the Minneapolis middle school championship.

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Windom students build wood duck houses

WINDOM — Windom Dual Spanish Immersion and Open School students assembled more than 30 wood duck nesting boxes in March, with plans to install the boxes in urban parkland later this spring.

Teams of 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students built the nesting boxes over several days. The school has proposed installing the boxes on area lakes and streams.

Parent Kevin McDonald said wood ducks seek out cavities in dead trees for nesting. Dead or dying trees are often cut down in urban areas, though, creating a need for the wooden duck houses.

March 24, 2008
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Anwatin on its way to IB certification

BRYN MAWR — Anwatin Middle School is on track to join a worldwide network of International Baccalaureate (IB) schools sometime next school year, school officials said.

Principal Beth Russell said Anwatin’s application to IB’s Middle Years Programme was accepted in February, completing a process that began in 2006. IB officials will visit the school in October for a final review.

Anwatin IB Coordinator Sarah Wernimont said the school could become an official IB “World School” within four to six months of that final visit. Still, the IB philosophy — which emphasizes personal and intellectual development — is not new to Anwatin.

March 10, 2008
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Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Traffic is up on most Southwest streets

By David Brauer

If you've lived in Southwest for a while, you probably think traffic is getting worse.

You're right -- most of the time.

To get a sense of history, we compared city traffic data from 2003 with 1973 (literally, a generation ago) and 1988 (the mid-way point). Overall:

- Since 1988, traffic is up at two of every three Southwest monitoring points, which are usually on arterial and busier neighborhood streets. At one of five monitoring points, traffic is up by 25 percent or more.

- Traffic since 1973 is also up at two of every three comparable points. At one of three, traffic is up by 25 percent or more.

- Although it doesn't seem possible, 2003 traffic is down at one of every three monitoring points from both 1973 and 1988.

 

November 11, 2004
Full Article

Read more stories about: Tangletown neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Southwest lands three city grants to fight climate change

UPDATED July 25, 2007, 2:51pm

By Michael Metzger

Three Southwest neighborhoods and organizations took five of the city's grants of up to $10,000 each to help encourage citizens to join the fight against climate change.

The Bakken Museum (in the West Calhoun neighborhood), Linden Hills Power and Light (appropriately enough in Linden Hills) and Lyndale neighborhood all received Climate Change Innovations Funds.

The Seward/Longfellow neighborhoods and the Alliance for Sustainability are also recipients of the grants.

Each of the groups receives up to $10,000 for activities to be completed by December 15.

July 16, 2007
Full Article

Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

Crime reports

By Andrew Newman

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Kingfield
Sept. 16, 6 a.m.–7 p.m.,
3700 block of Blaisdell Avenue South
A suspect entered a 23-year-old male’s duplex by cutting the screen on a front window.  The suspect stole one item and left through the front door, leaving a sweatshirt behind.

+ Sept. 18, 9–9:02 p.m., Wentworth Avenue South
A 17-year-old teenager was robbed at gunpoint while walking a dog. The suspect stole the victim’s cell phone and fled in an unknown direction.

October 6, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Photo by Tim Conner

Tiffany Rittler-Foley of Armatage sits with her son Seamus, 6, a player on the Southwest Hockey Association’s Mite team.

Reviving hockey culture: Southwest Hockey Association shooting for growth
1 Comment

By Dylan Thomas

LINDEN HILLS — Steve Jecha said there was a “culture” of spending winter weekends at the neighborhood ice rink when he was growing up in 1970s Edina.

“Hockey was different back then,” Jecha said. “Kids went down the park. They skated for eight hours a day at the park.”

Today, when even young children have schedules crammed with multiple sports and extracurricular activities, those long days at the park ice rink are, in many parts of Minnesota, long gone.

It’s just one of several factors many blame for a drop-off in hockey participation that is felt acutely in Minneapolis. Programs like the Southwest Hockey Association (SWHA) struggled with years of dwindling participation.

Until two or three years ago, that is, when the trend began to reverse and recruitment picked up, Jecha, SWHA board president, said.

October 20, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Photo by Robb Long

An amendment from the City Council means that the CVS/Pharmacy planned for the former Sunnyside Market will not be allowed to have an illuminated sign.

City council actions

By Cristof Traudes

No glowing ‘CVS’ signs at Sunnyside & France

A brick façade. Large windows. Multiple entrances.

Thanks to a City Council vote, add gooseneck lighting to the list of non-CVS-like characteristics that will be found at the chain pharmacy’s planned location for Sunnyside & France avenues.

The project came before the Council with items relating to zoning and a variance application. But with an amendment from Council Member Betsy Hodges (13th Ward), the discussion turned toward what form the outdoor signs would take. The amendment directs that signs would not be allowed to be internally illuminated. In other words, no glowing “CVS” letters.

Rather, the building will have to use gooseneck lighting for its signs, a move made to better fit it in with its Linden Hills neighbors.

October 20, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Steve Pease, Sarah Phemister, Brian Voerding and Dylan Thomas

BRYN MAWR

SCHOOLS REFERENDUM WINS SUPPORT: A motion supporting the 8-year, $60 million Minneapolis Public Schools property tax levy referendum was approved by the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association [BMNA] Oct. 13.

The vote by the Executive Board added BMNA to a growing list of neighborhoods that have voted in support of the Strong Schools Strong City campaign.

HARVEST DINNER: BMNA is sponsoring an appetizer competition at the neighborhood’s annual Harvest Dinner Oct. 30.

Neighbors can bring an appetizer to enter in the competition or a salad or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided.

The Harvest Dinner is 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Bryn Mawr Community School, 252 Upton Ave. S.

October 20, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Crime Reports

By Emily Stickler

Editor’s note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

Lyndale

Oct. 16, 2 a.m.

3400 block of Nicollet Ave. S.

An unknown suspect entered the victim’s vehicle by breaking out the right rear window, peeled back the steering column and removed the car radio.

November 3, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Enrollment figures impact budget process

Minneapolis Public Schools lost only 379 students from last school year to this school year, less than one quarter of the predicted enrollment decline, Chief Financial Officer Peggy Ingison said.

Ingison presented the revised enrollment figures to the Minneapolis School Board Nov. 18, confirming what school principals already knew from this fall's unexpectedly crowded classrooms: The district's ongoing decline in enrollment slowed significantly this school year.

"That makes a pretty big difference in the financial situation of the district," Ingison told the board.

December 1, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Armatage neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Crime reports

By Andrew Newman

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

December 1, 2008
Full Article

Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Windom neighborhood

Photo by Ethan Confer

Linea Palmisano, chairwoman of the Linden Hills Neighborhood Council, says not being green in her village-like neighborhood is a little bit like speeding. "I wouldn't want to be caught doing that in my village," she says.

Linden Hills: A neighborhood convinced

By Cristof Traudes

It was Tom Braun’s challenge: Once you’ve convinced someone of something, then what?

Three years ago, Braun’s friend, environmentalist Will Steger, held a meeting in the home of the curly haired, thoughtfully spoken owner of the Wild Rumpus bookstore. A sobering global warming discussion followed.

The world is changing. Ice caps are melting. Land and life will dramatically be affected.

Braun heard the familiar arguments. But, he asked, how could it be moved forward? So much stock was being put into convincing people that the issue was real that talk of ways to fix it was limited, lingering on such small efforts as switching to fluorescent light bulbs. What else could be done? he asked.

Once you’ve convinced people that global warming is real, then what?

December 1, 2008
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Putting a stop to traffic problems

By Andrew Newman

A Linden Hills resident pushed for and received a stop sign at 46th & Vincent shortly before a motorcyclist was killed nearby this fall

LINDEN HILLS — When it comes to city policy, most people don't march down themselves to City Hall to get it changed. But Randall Smith did exactly that.

Smith, a lawyer who lives and works in Linden Hills, had noticed several near-accidents by his home near Lake Harriet. There were few stop signs in the area, and some cars sped as fast as 40 to 50 mph down the road.

"We barely had time to pull out of the driveway without getting clipped," he said.

December 15, 2008
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The Chatterbox Pub

Biz buzz: An urban hitching post

By Brian Voerding

Linden Hills residents have a new home away from home: The Chatterbox Pub, which opened late last month on France Avenue near 45th Street.

Michael Deranek, who calls himself the "director of all things bright and shiny" for Chatterbox, said the place is an American-style take on an old European tradition: A pub as community gathering place.

"It's a good place to have real genuine human connections with other people from the neighborhood," Deranek said.

Chatterbox feels more like a friend's living room than a bar, with woozy warm lighting, soft couches and shelves of board games. There are old video game systems connected to small televisions, and a scattering of bar-height tables in one corner just waiting to be rearranged.

December 15, 2008
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Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah Phemister & Jake Weyer

LINDEN HILLS

ELECTION GRIEVANCE: The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) discussed a grievance about the October board elections at its December meeting. Debbie Evans, a former LHiNC board member and candidate in the recent election, filed the grievance, which alleged that some aspects of the election — such as the use of absentee ballots — violated the neighborhood group's by-laws. Most LHiNC board members felt that the election was flawed according to the bylaws, but argued that those rules were outdated and the intent of the process was in line with LHiNC's mission. A formal, written response to the grievance will be presented at the January board meeting.

December 15, 2008
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Read more stories about: Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood

Crime reports

By Andrew Newman

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

December 29, 2008
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Free rain-garden workshops will help you save money and environment

By Scott Russell

City residents are invited to a series of free spring workshops on designing rain gardens with native perennial plants.

In Southwest, the Community on Urban Environment (CUE) will host a pair of two-part workshops at Linden Hills Park, 3100 W. 43rd St.. The first pair of workshops is March 31 and April 14; the second pair is May 5 and 26. All workshops are on Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The first workshop of each pair will focus on understanding what a watershed is, why it is important and how appropriate gardening can reduce pollution runoff into city lakes and rivers. The second workshop will include hands-on rain garden design in small groups, including the types of plants to use and drainage issues.

March 21, 2005
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Read more stories about: Stevens Square neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Neighborhoods get reduced NRP allotments

By Scott Russell

The Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) Policy Board has approved the final neighborhood Phase II allocations -- including a new $537,000 American Indian set-aside program.

The overall pot of money the Board earmarked for neighborhoods is estimated at $47.7 million, according to a memo posted on the NRP Web site.

Southwest neighborhoods will receive the following through 2009:

Armatage, $375,682

Bryn Mawr, $270,080

CARAG, $636,557

Cedar-Isles-Dean, $261,420

East Harriet $218,316

East Isles, $387,253

East Calhoun, $334,613

Fulton, $387,229

Kenny, $266,533

Kenwood, $85,600

Kingfield, $770,934

Linden Hills, $530,161

Lowry Hill, $448,754

Lowry Hill East (Wedge), $747,852

Lyndale, $643

April 15, 2004
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Tangletown neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, Kenny neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Calhoun Square Redevelopment, Calhoun Area neighborhood, Bryn Mawr neighborhood, Armatage neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

New SAFE officer for seven Southwest neighborhoods

By Robyn Repya

Crime-Prevention Specialist Jennifer Waisanen is a new addition to the 5th Precinct's SAFE team, replacing CPS Shun Tillman, who recently transferred to another precinct. Waisanen will cover Sector 1, which includes the Kenwood, Cedar-Isles-Dean, East Isles, Lowry Hill, Lowry Hill East, Stevens Square-Loring Heights and Whittier neighborhoods.

Minneapolis Police Officer Karl Olson will remain part of the Sector 1 SAFE team.

Waisanen said she worked for SAFE for five years in Southeast Minneapolis' 3rd Precinct until last summer's budget cuts. She then worked at Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center as a 911 operator. She said she's very happy to be out in the community again.

 

February 5, 2004
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Read more stories about: Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Photo by Robb Long

Ongoing construction of a Kingfield green home.

Green report

By Brian Voerding

Making green building affordable in Kingfield

The first green-built affordable home in Kingfield is now under construction.

The house, at 4307 Wentworth Ave., had been on the Kingfield Neighborhood Association's radar for several years. Hennepin County seized it a few years ago following foreclosure.

Then the county, with grants in hand to pursue a green-building project, partnered with the City of Lakes Community Land Trust, a South Minneapolis organization that builds affordable housing and has completed several projects in Southwest.

January 12, 2009
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Read more stories about: Kingfield neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

Robberies surge at year's end

By Jake Weyer

Robberies in Southwest increased in late December, but were still down from last year

Police in the 5th Precinct spent the last month of 2008 fighting a wave of robberies scattered throughout more than a half-dozen Southwest
neighborhoods.

Robberies in Southwest were down all year compared to 2007 and 2006, but the weekly norm jumped from fewer than four in November and early December to seven or more by the year's end. Insp. Kris Arneson, commander of the 5th Precinct, said the holidays and the tough economy were likely factors in the increase.

January 12, 2009
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Read more stories about: West Calhoun neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood

Crime reports

By Jake Weyer

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

January 26, 2009
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Read more stories about: Calhoun Area neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Dylan Thomas, Sarah Phemister, Sarah McKenzie and Jake Weyer

BRYN MAWR

CAPITAL PROJECT: Choosing from among the suggestions of neighborhood residents, the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association (BMNA) selected an annual capital project that this year will focus on beautifying its small business district.

Known by neighborhood residents as Bryn Mawr's downtown, the area around the intersection of Penn Avenue South and Cedar Lake Road is the potential site of a new mural depicting the neighborhood's history. The BMNA board of directors also discussed plans to install street banners in the downtown area.

January 26, 2009
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Read more stories about: Calhoun Area neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood

Photo by Robb Long

A large mixed-use development is being proposed for Upton Avenue and 43rd Street, the heart of Linden Hills. It would replace the Famous Dave’s at the corner and some adjacent property.

A grassroots development

By Jake Weyer

New proposal calls for redevelopment of Linden Hills’ Famous Dave’s lot

Sometimes it takes a village to raise a development.

In no other Minneapolis neighborhood is that more true than in Linden Hills, and Mark Dwyer knows it.

The 44-year-old single dad, commercial property owner and Linden Hills Business Association president has lived in the neighborhood for 17 years and in Southwest for most of his life. So when an opportunity came along to purchase and redevelop what is arguably the epicenter of Linden Hills — the Famous Dave's lot at 43rd & Upton — he knew it would be the community that decided what was right for the corner, and he wouldn't want it any other way.  

"Every project I've seen where somebody comes from outside the neighborhood and tries to accomplish something, no matter how hard they try, it always seems like it's forced down," Dwyer said. "And from a neighborhood standpoint, I think we could create a better result."

February 23, 2009
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Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah Phemister and Dylan Thomas

Rethinking a capital project

BRYN MAWR — A proposed neighborhood capital project hit some snags in Bryn Mawr.

After learning it may not be able to implement planned improvements to the neighborhood's small business district, the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association (BMNA) Board of Directors discussed alternate plans for its annual capital project. Proposed improvements included banners and a mural, but early indications were that the improvements would be too expensive or difficult to carry out.

Several board members said they would continue to explore options for the downtown beautification project. Alternately, the board may choose a project that aims to reduce the impact of the emerald ash borer on the neighborhood's urban forest.

February 23, 2009
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Read more stories about: Bryn Mawr neighborhood, East Isles neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood

5th Precinct gets new civilian crime-stopper

By Robyn Repya

Southwest's 5th Police Precinct welcomes civilian Crime-Prevention Specialist Tom Thompson, formerly of Southeast's 3rd Precinct.

Thompson will cover Sector 2 , which includes the West Calhoun, East Calhoun, CARAG, Lyndale, Linden Hills, East Harriet and Kingfield neighborhoods. He replaces Karen Abrahamson.

As part of the SAFE unit, crime-prevention specialists (CPS) report to sector lieutenants, respond to community concerns, and promote safety and crime prevention. CPSs previously worked as a team with a police officer, until major SAFE unit cuts in 2002-03.

Thompson said he was a police officer for 17 years and a CPS for three years, before being laid off due in the latest SAFE unit cuts. He said he's very excited to be recalled and reported for his first day of

May 2, 2005
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Read more stories about: East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, West Calhoun neighborhood

Photo by Robb Long

Linden Hills resident Mark Dwyer has started engaging other neighborhood residents in discussions about his planned redevelopment slated for the Famous Dave’s lot.

Residents offer suggestions for proposed Linden Hills development
1 Comment

By Danielle Nordine

LINDEN HILLS — Linden Hills resident Mark Dwyer took matters into his own hands when he purchased the Famous Dave's lot at 43rd Street & Upton, but now he's looking to find out what the neighborhood wants him to do with it.

Dwyer held the first of many community input meetings on Feb. 19 to explain the process and gather thoughts and ideas from residents. "Collaboration starts tonight," Dwyer said.

"I'm not a  developer," he explained to the group, "but I have absolutely fallen head over heels for this place. I have tied up the properties with every nickel I've got."

The meeting essentially served as a brainstorming session for residents to voice their concerns, opinions and ideas for the development.

March 9, 2009
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Crime reports

By Alex Van Lepp

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

East Isles

+ Feb. 20, between 4:30 p.m. and 4:35 p.m., 2400 S. Hennepin Ave.

A suspect robbed Sudz Salon employees with a gun, and then robbed a 57-year-old woman from Golden Valley. The suspect fled away on foot.

March 9, 2009
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Read more stories about: Windom neighborhood, Stevens Square neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lyndale neighborhood, Lowry Hill East (The Wedge) neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Fulton neighborhood, East Calhoun neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood

Photo by Dylan Thomas

Susan Craig will retire as principal of Kenwood Community School at the end of this school year. Craig has spent two decades working in Minneapolis Public Schools.

Schools notebook

By Dylan Thomas

Brookings report: MPS third in improvement

Minneapolis Public Schools was one of the best-performing districts in the nation in terms of bringing its student test scores closer to the state average, the Brookings Institution reported in February.

The Washington, D.C., public policy think tank studied 37 urban school districts across the country and found MPS ranked third in increasing student achievement. The report, prepared by the institution's Brown Center on Education Policy, standardized scores on different state tests to make the comparison.

Big-city schools typically lag behind their suburban and rural counterparts in achievement, but 29 of 37 urban school districts in the study raised test scores closer to the state average between 2000 and 2007. MPS followed New Orleans Public Schools and the Dallas Independent School District on the center's list.

March 23, 2009
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Read more stories about: Kenwood neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood

Crime reports

By Jake Weyer

Editor's note: Alleged crimes against persons (assault, rape, murder, etc.) will feature the + symbol. Note, this compilation of crime reports provides highlights of area criminal activity. It's not intended to be a comprehensive overview of Southwest crime.

CARAG

+ March 7, 10:20 p.m., 31st St. W. and Girard Ave. S.

Two women, both 24, were robbed at knifepoint. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

March 23, 2009
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Read more stories about: Windom neighborhood, Whittier neighborhood, Lynnhurst neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood, Calhoun Area neighborhood

Neighborhood notebook

By Sarah Phemister, Jake Weyer and Dylan Thomas

East Harriet helping to improve city's Block Club website

EAST HARRIET — The East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association has agreed to spend $2,000 of its budget on renovations for the Minneapolis Block Club website, mplsblockclub.org.

The site is a way for block clubs throughout Minneapolis to communicate with each other and to provide resources for the clubs. The block clubs are aimed at fighting crime, and also community fellowship.

The money for the site's updates is coming from a fund previously set up to deal with graffiti in East Harriet.

March 23, 2009
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Read more stories about: Whittier neighborhood, Lowry Hill Neighborhood, Linden Hills neighborhood, Kingfield neighborhood, Kenwood neighborhood, East Harriet neighborhood