MINNEAPOLIS, MN, October 1, 2014—A Board of Directors has been created to be an advocate and voice for the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. The Board’s mission statement is:

To support artists, arts and culture in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District by encouraging artistic inspiration and creativity, as well as incubating arts related projects while encouraging thoughtful economic growth, tourism, worldwide cultural artistic exchanges, political effectiveness and community connectivity.

The Board will work to continue to build a city-wide presence of the brand—remaining focused on the arts,  artists, and supportive businesses in the area—and ensure that its identity (name and logo) is used in accordance to the mission. As a unified voice, the Board will represent the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District to the city and work to ensure that future District—and neighboring—developments consider the District’s needs and concerns. The Board is dedicated to keeping the District a vibrant, enticing destination. It will be transparent in its actions and partner with like-minded organizations to invite and encourage participation and action from community members and arts supporters.

The Board includes long-time Northeast Minneapolis Arts District artists and advocates/ volunteers, Dougie Padilla, Josh Blanc and Karen Wilcox, arts administration expert Leslie Palmer-Ross, Northeast business owner Mary Cassidy (Maeve’s Cafe), marketing/arts volunteers Herman Milligan and Betsy Gabler, and Michael Rainville, Chair of the Ritz Theatre Foundation. The Articles of Incorporation were filed in mid-September. An advisory panel is being recruited.

Information about Board meetings and Northeast Minneapolis Arts District initiatives is available online:
https://www.facebook.com/northeastartsdistrict
http://www.northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.com

The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District and, thus, its Board of Directors is an outcome of Minneapolis’s 2003 Art Action Plan. The Board extends appreciation and gratitude to the District’s fiscal agent, the Northeast Community Development Corporation. It also looks forward to continued support from long-standing friends: the Arts District Committee, comprised of Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) staff, Northeast Community Development Corporation staff, the Northeast Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and interested community members.

ABOUT THE NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS ARTS DISTRICT
The geographic boundaries of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District are the Mississippi River on the West, 26th Avenue on the North, Central Avenue on the East and Broadway on the South in the city of Minneapolis, MN.

The district contains a diverse mix of businesses, restaurants, parks, art galleries and studios as well as industrial and residential property. Warehouses and rail yards are interspersed with homes, churches and family-run businesses. Artists populate many of the historic and formerly industrial buildings, which have been re-purposed and renovated into studios, galleries and performance spaces. Independent galleries have sprung up throughout Northeast, with a concentration along the District’s 13th Avenue. For more information contact Betsy Gabler at [email protected]

Saturday, October 11, 2014

A fundraising run/walk event to be held on Saturday, October 11, 2014, will benefit Dickman Park Summer Program and other projects in the St. Anthony West neighborhood in Northeast Minneapolis.

The “Historic Riverfront 5K Run/Walk,” sponsored by the St. Anthony West Neighborhood Organization, in conjunction with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and Mill City Museum, commences Saturday, October 11, at 9 a.m. at Boom Island Park (700 Sibley St. NE), Minneapolis. The USTAF-certified course winds through several of Minneapolis’ most scenic areas, including Boom Island Park, Nicollet Island, the Stone Arch Bridge, and the Mississippi Riverfront. In partnership with the Mill City Museum, this year the course will showcase historical facts about various landmarks throughout the route. Registration is $30 until October 8, and $35 on race day. Prizes will be awarded to top male/female finishers.

Registration and other event information is available at http://stawno.org/events/5k-runwalk/

When: Thursday, October 2 @ 7 pm
Where: East Side Neighborhood Services (1700 2nd St NE)

On the Agenda:

BNA Board Elections: 

BNA by-laws provide many avenues for voters to participate in board elections. You can vote in person at our annual election meeting (7pm on October 2 at East Side Neighborhood Services, 1700 2nd St NE), mail in the ballot we’ve sent to your home, or drop your ballot off at the BNA office (2205 California St NE #107)—just slip it under the door. This year two director positions are open, each for two year terms.

Fumes from GAF:

Council Member Jacob Frey, City of Minneapolis, MPCA and GAF personnel have all been invited to this community meeting. Bottineau residents who are concerned about GAF’s emissions should also plan on showing up–this is your opportunity to be HEARD.

NOTE: GAF’s Air Emission Permit (No. 05300043- 001) and a major amendment (dated 9/17/2004) can be found at the following links:

www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=10888,

www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=10887

From the Engineering Firm, SEH Inc: 

As many of you know, Centerpoint Energy has been performing utility work (gas main relocation) along St. Anthony Parkway and surrounding roadways (Main Street, California St., Columbia Ave., 31st Ave.). Centerpoint Energy anticipates that it will be done with the utility work along the roadways after the first week in September, and then it will continue relocation work in the railyard through the end of September. Estimated timelines may change, but all Centerpoint Energy utility relocation work is anticipated to be done by the end of September.

Xcel Energy utility work (power line relocation) has not yet been scheduled, but may take place this year or in the Spring of 2015.

For more information, visit the project website: www.stapbridge.com

From Minneapolis Public Schools: 

What could be more fun than tasty food, a Corn-Shucking Contest, live farm animals and hands-on activities for kids? MPS Culinary & Nutrition Services is proud to announce that our third annual FREE Farm to School Community BBQ will be on Thursday, September 25th from 5:00 to 7:30pm!

The event will take place in the parking lot of our Culinary Center, located at 812 Plymouth Avenue North. Students, families, staff and community members will have the chance to enjoy a locally-sourced meal, taste samples made by local chefs, learn about community organizations and meet some of the farmers who grow food for our school meals.

Open Streets – Central Avenue

Lowry Avenue Community Works had a busy day at the Central Avenue NE – Open Streets Mpls event. From our station at Central and Lowry Avenues, we shared information about corridor planning with hundreds of people as they waited to cross the intersection.

People had opportunities to vote on roadway concepts for Lowry Avenue NE and share comments and ideas at the “big table,” a 25-foot-long community conversation space. Meanwhile, kids redesigned intersections using crayons, pipe cleaners and play-dough. Go to hennepin.us/lowry to see the roadway concepts for yourself.

Save the date: September 25 public workshop

Hennepin County is hosting a third and final public workshop dedicated to the Lowry Avenue NE plan: Join us on Thursday, September 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Side Neighborhood Services, Inc.

The Community Works team and partners will share information on final design recommendations for street design, intersection concepts, redevelopment opportunities and streetscape design.

Safely dispose of your household hazardous materials

In order to provide residents with a way to get rid of unwanted batteries, thermometers, drain cleaners and a host of other household chemicals and hazardous products, Hennepin County organizes an annual series of community collection events.

If you missed Northeast Minneapolis’ community collection event earlier this month, head to the University of Minnesota campus September 18 to 20. Materials will be collected on from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. each day at Parking Lot C66 at 2904 Fairmount St. SE, Minneapolis. Materials are accepted for free from households only. Businesses must manage their waste properly. For a full list of accepted materials and directions, visit hennepin.us/collectionevents.

Items can also be taken year-round to drop-off facilities located at 1400 W. 96th St., Bloomington; and 8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park. For more information, call 612-348-3777.

Business grants available for recycling

Did you know that Hennepin County offers grants of up to $50,000 to help businesses manage their waste? Funds can be used to start or improve programs to increase recycling and decrease food waste.

From large office buildings to small churches, restaurants and apartment buildings, most county businesses and non-profits are eligible to apply. Grants can be used for the purchase of containers and equipment, installation and hauling service charges and minor improvements to loading docks or waste enclosures.

Applications for the final round of grant funding for 2014 are due by October 15. Get more information at hennepin.us/businessrecycling or call 612-543-1316.

In July, 470 people gave feedback about corridor planning for Lowry Avenue NE through an online survey. Of the respondents, approximately 72% live, work or own businesses along or near the corridor. Among residents who noted their neighborhood, 240 (or 51%) are from neighborhoods directly along the Lowry Avenue NE corridor.

West of the Central Avenue intersection, respondents’ first preference is for a roadway with a bicycle lane, with a second preference for wider sidewalks. For Lowry Avenue east of Central Avenue, the first preference was a buffered bike lane and the second, a bicycle lane.

Survey responses about the six study intersections emphasized better signage for turn lanes and general wayfinding, improvements to building facades and streetscaping, wider sidewalks and redevelopment.

The survey data will be evaluated along with additional community input received to date, in the decision-making process for final recommended roadway and intersections designs.

Hennepin County will be hosting a third and final public workshop for the Lowry Avenue Northeast plan on Thursday, September 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Side Neighborhood Services (1700 2nd Ave NE).

The Community Works team and partners will share information on final design recommendations for street design, intersection concepts, redevelopment opportunities and streetscape design.

For more information, please contact:

Say Yang | SCOPE Planning Analyst
Hennepin County| Department of Housing, Community Works & Transit
612.348.0748 | [email protected]

Things to do Northeast …

Saturday, September 13th,  11:00am – 2:00pm

Waite Park Fall Festival
featuring the 6th Annual Waite Park Pushcart Derby!
1810 34th Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418