november 2008 uptown neighborhood news

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Commentary ............................................ 2 Crime & Safety ...................................... 4 Business & Real Estate ...................... 5 Special Voters’ Guide Pullout .......7 CARAG Report .........................................12 ECCO Report.............................................13 Events Calendar.....................................14 November 2008 • Volume 4, Number 11 inside Autumn’s Horizon Photo (left) by Bruce Cochran Do you know what happens when you don’t advertise in the December Holiday Guide? Nothing. Contact us now for simultaneous coverage of the Uptown and Wedge Newspapers 612.825.7780 | [email protected] Your Community-Supported News Source Covering the Neighborhoods of CARAG and ECCO and the Uptown Area Homegrown Style at Cal Surf By Bruce Cochran You wouldn’t guess it by look- ing at him, but Scott Cheschnick, gave up Stanford to run a snow- board/skateboard shop called Cal Surf. When he was younger he completed some career testing that told him he should become a forest ranger, marine biologist or professional athlete. But the board “spoke” to him. The store was started by John Kokesh and Gary Wiebuch in Vizi Spa & Salon Hosts Benefit Saturday, November 22, 6pm-10pm Located at 3208 Hennepin, Vizi Spa & Salon is celebrating it’s Grand Opening with food, drink, prizes, discounts and gift bags. By Senator Scott Dibble When Senator Allan Spear passed away on Saturday, October 11 Min- neapolis lost one of its greatest elected representatives. Minnesota lost one of exemplary great statesmen and our nation lost one of the leading ALLAN SPEAR 1937 - 2008 | A Tribute To The Senator Veni Vidi Vizi Scratch Games Understanding Graffiti By Bruce Cochran Understanding Power, self-expression and rebellion are the key words to understanding any discussion about graffiti. Recent angst about a growing problem in Minneapolis prompted the Uptown Association to present a Graffiti Education Meeting at Bryant Square Park. Sergeant Giovanni Veliz, a Minne- apolis Police Department graffiti investigator, gave an experienced report of graffiti in Uptown with 5th Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist Tom Thompson and Angela Brenny of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling(MSWR). The good news is that in Uptown, as defined by CARAG, East Isles, ECCO, Lowry Hill East and Lyn- dale, only about 1% of the graffiti is gang related. Veliz says it can take many years to master the art of deciphering between the two, so residents Sergeant Giovanni Veliz’s photo of a gun drawn on an officer while approaching a graffiti writer. Photo by Bruce Cochran Photo by Bruce Cochran Looking California -Feeling Minnesota Cal Surf Hosts a Shoe Release Party featuring POS, SIMS and PAPER TIGER of DOOMTREE shown above. This FREE show is 21+ and offered at The Uptown Bar & Cafe on Nov. 8 at 9:00 pm. See related story above. It’s Gotta Be The Shoes CAL SURF page 5 SPEAR page 11 VIZI page 5 GRAFFITI page 4 your 64 OZ OF CHEST- POUNDING DEMOCRACY, NO ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, PURE HOMEGROWN GRASS ROOTS, NEVER IMPORTED, 200% MORE FILLING THAN REGRET, SATISFYING NOT EMPTY, FEEL THE POWER, MADE IN THE U.S.A., WARNING: OVERINDULGENCE IN THE VOTING PROCESS MAY LEAD TO LEARNING ABOUT THE ISSUES, DISCUSSIONS WITH FRIENDS, CIVIC VOLUNTEERING, MEETING NEW PEOPLE, DOWN RIGHT BRAGGING AND SATISFACTION. PLEASE VOTE RESPONSIBLY. vote See page 7, 8 and 9 for Voters’ Guide to polling place locations, registering on Election Day and more... VOTE Tues. Nov. 4 Senator Allan Spear, Representative Karen Clark and Senator Scott Dibble in front of the Minnesota State Capitol. Photo by Darin Back Jordan Michilot, a veteran employee of Cal Surf, now rides for the team and is seen above executing a frontside boardslide.

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Vote Tuesday November 4, Allan Spear a Tribute to the Senator, and Looking California - Feeling Minnesota.

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Page 1: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

Commentary ............................................ 2Crime & Safety ...................................... 4Business & Real Estate ...................... 5Special Voters’ Guide Pullout .......7CARAG Report .........................................12ECCO Report .............................................13Events Calendar .....................................14

November 2008 • Volume 4, Number 11

inside

Autumn’s HorizonPhoto (left) by Bruce Cochran

Do you know what happens when you don’t advertise in the December Holiday Guide?

Nothing.Contact us now for simultaneous coverage of the Uptown and Wedge Newspapers

612.825.7780 | [email protected]

Your Community-Supported News Source • Covering the Neighborhoods of CARAG and ECCO and the Uptown Area

Homegrown Style at Cal SurfBy Bruce Cochran

You wouldn’t guess it by look-ing at him, but Scott Cheschnick, gave up Stanford to run a snow-board/skateboard shop called Cal Surf. When he was younger he completed some career testing that told him he should become a forest ranger, marine biologist or professional athlete. But the board “spoke” to him.

The store was started by John Kokesh and Gary Wiebuch in

Vizi Spa & Salon Hosts BenefitSaturday, November 22, 6pm-10pmLocated at 3208 Hennepin, Vizi Spa & Salon is celebrating it’s Grand Opening with food, drink, prizes, discounts and gift bags.

By Senator Scott Dibble

When Senator Allan Spear passed away on Saturday, October 11 Min-neapolis lost one of its greatest elected representatives. Minnesota lost one of exemplary great statesmen and our nation lost one of the leading

AllAN SpeAr 1937 - 2008 | A Tribute To The Senator

Veni Vidi Vizi

Scratch GamesUnderstanding GraffitiBy Bruce Cochran

UnderstandingPower, self-expression and rebellion are the key words to understanding any discussion about graffiti. Recent angst about a growing problem in Minneapolis prompted the Uptown Association to present a Graffiti Education Meeting at Bryant Square Park. Sergeant Giovanni Veliz, a Minne-

apolis Police Department graffiti investigator, gave an experienced report of graffiti in Uptown with 5th Precinct Crime Prevention

Specialist Tom Thompson and Angela Brenny of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling(MSWR).

The good news is that in Uptown, as defined by CARAG, East Isles, ECCO, Lowry Hill East and Lyn-

dale, only about 1% of the graffiti is gang related. Veliz says it can take many years to master the art of deciphering between the two, so residents

Sergeant Giovanni Veliz’s photo of a gun drawn on an officer while approaching a graffiti writer.Photo by Bruce Cochran

Photo by Bruce Cochran

Looking California -Feeling Minnesota

Cal Surf Hosts a Shoe Release Party featuring POS, SIMS and PAPER TIGER of DOOMTREE shown above. This FREE show is 21+ and offered at The Uptown Bar & Cafe on Nov. 8 at 9:00 pm. See related story above.

It’s Gotta Be The Shoes

CAl SUrf page 5

SpeAr page 11

VIzI page 5

GrAffITI page 4

your 64 oz of chest-

pounding democracy, no artificial

flavors, pure homegrown grass

roots, never imported, 200% more

filling than regret, satisfying not

empty, feel the power, made in the u.s.a.,

warning: overindulgence in the voting

process may lead to learning about the

issues, discussions with friends, civic

volunteering, meeting new people, down

right bragging and satisfaction. please

vote responsibly.vote

see page 7, 8 and 9 for voters’ guide to polling place locations, registering on election day and more...

Vote tues. Nov. 4

Senator Allan Spear, Representative Karen Clark and Senator Scott Dibble in front of the Minnesota State Capitol.

Photo by Darin Back

Jordan Michilot, a veteran employee of Cal Surf, now rides for the team and is seen above executing a frontside boardslide.

Page 2: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

2 • Uptown neighborhood news NOVEMBER 2008

commentaryletters

UPTOWN NeIGHBORHOOd NeWS

Uptown Neighborhood News is a monthly publication of Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG) in cooperation with the East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO). UNN covers the news of and is delivered free to households within the area bounded by Lyndale Ave. S. and Lake Calhoun, between Lake Street and 36th St. W. Extra copies are distributed to businesses in the Uptown area, along Lake Street, and Lyndale and Hennepin Aves. Circulation is 5,100, with a pass-along readership of 10,000. Publication and distribu-tion is before the first of every month. Subscriptions are available for $30 per year, prepaid. Send check to: UNN, 3612 Bryant Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409.

Contributors are area residents who volunteer their time to bring the news of the area to resi-dents. Articles, letters to the editor and story ideas are welcomed and encouraged. The editor reserves the right to edit for length, clarity, relevance to the area, or other reasons. Editorial and advertising guidelines are available. Please contact the editor:

NeWS, TIpS & leTTerS TO THe [email protected] UNN3612 Bryant Avenue SouthMinneapolis, MN 55409612.259.1372

eDITOrPhyllis Stenerson

ArT DIreCTION & prODUCTIONBruce Cochran

ADVerTISING Susan [email protected]

MANAGING BOArDAppointed/Elected Reps:Ted Ringsred, Chair (ECCO)612.824.6474Anna Matthes, Vice Chair (CARAG) Jill Bode, Treasurer (CARAG) Gary Farland, Secretary (ECCO)Ralph Knox (ECCO)Kay Nygaard-Graham (CARAG)Volunteer MemberMary Ann Knox

CONTrIBUTING pHOTOGrApHerSDarin Back, Jill Bode, Bruce Cochran, Gary Farland, Mark Hillyer, Andrea Lane, Kay Nygaard-Graham

CONTrIBUTING WrITerSBruce Cochran, Pam Costain, John Darlington, Senator Scott Dibble, Susan Marsh Aaron Means, Kelly Newcomer, Gay Noble, Kay Nygaard-Graham, Phyllis Stenerson, Pamela Taylor, Nancy Ward

NeWSpAper CIrCUlATIONCARAG/ECCO Circulation: Bill Boudreau 612.825.0979

MINNeApOlIS CITY COUNCIlTenth WardRalph Remington, [email protected]

CrIMe preVeNTION SpeCIAlIST Tom Thompson, 5th Precinct SAFE Unit, Sector 2, 3101 Nicollet AveMinneapolis MN 55408Serving the neighborhoods of;CARAG, East Harriet, ECCO, Kingfield, Linden Hills, Lyndale, West Calhoun

5TH preCINCT COMMUNITY ATTOrNeYLisa Godon 612.673.2005

Uptown Neighborhood News reserves the right to refuse publication of articles or advertisements as it sees fit. But we will see fit to publish most things, don’t worry. Copyright © 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News.

DeADlINe for submissions to

the Uptown neighborhood

news isTHe 15TH Of NOVeMBer

(email: [email protected])

Divine LiturgySunday 9:30 amFr. Paul Paris

rescuing The Good Name Of religion Ready to HelpI was reading this month’s issue and saw the part about the $4,500 needed to replace trees. Wouldn’t it make more sense and possibly save some money to organize a neigh-borhood tree planting event where everybody comes out to helps plant trees? It would get more people involved in the neighborhood and have us feel good about doing something useful and productive such as planting a tree. This may have already been brought up at the last meeting. I wasn’t there so I don’t know but if it is a possibil-ity to do, I would assist in setting everything up.

Brian McDonoughBooking/PromotionsUptown Bar and Cafe Old School

My ‘relationship’ with Grammar

By John Darlington

I like Bill Maher for his describing religion as “religulous.” Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect when I bought a ticket to the documen-tary that goes by that name.

Well, come to think of it, I did. I expected that Mr. Maher would rake religious people over the coals, merely for the fun of it.

Which, by the way, he did. “Come on!” he would respond to a wide-eyed evangelical, or a holy book-bearing fundamentalist. “You don’t really believe that stuff, do you?” Then he enjoyed a hearty guffaw, while the very one he was poking fun at laughed along with him. It seems that a few “religious” people are already aware of how “religulous” they are.

But there was something deeper to Mr. Maher’s investigation than the disintegrating of sacred cows. Pro-fessed agnostic notwithstanding, he seemed determined to uncover a kind of common ground that could help him see some good.

No such luck. If there were any kind of common ground, it was ideology that “divides and con-quers” in the name of the God which each religious party claims as its exclusive own.

I don’t think the “good name” of religion can be rescued. Fair-mind-ed people, (and, yes, I consider Bill Maher one), are increasingly swear-ing off the religion into which they were born in favor of a more posi-tive stream of consciousness into which they might be born. That’s a reality check for modern-day con-gregations and leaders who want

very much to invite the commu-nity through their “open doors,” aware at the same time that a very discriminating neighborhood is sure to discover a variety of doors that remain closed in spite of good intentions.

A recent arrival in Uptown, I’m glad to be meeting people from various faith communities which are not so much about religion as they are about spirituality, com-passion, equality and justice. It is with such growing understanding at Joyce Church that we try to lend integrity to the “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” of our Methodist parent, and our own public invitation which proclaims

that we are “The Uptown Church of Joy.”

We still bear the trappings of reli-gion. We might even still be a little “religulous.”

But the good people of Joyce are springing traps and throwing open doors that might very well accom-modate the spiritual longings of the “fair-minded.”

Perhaps like Bill Maher. But per-haps more like you.

John Darlington is pastor of Joyce Church and Simpson Church and a member of the CARAG board.

peace, religion And politics An Open Discussion “Peace, Religion and Politics” is the topic for an open discussion at Joyce Church’s Spiritual Springboard Coffeehouse Event on Saturday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m. Duane Cady, philosophy pro-fessor at Hamline University, will facilitate the program. Cady’s teaching and writing focus on peace and social justice. He is the author of From Warism to Pacifism (1989) and Moral Vision: How Everyday Life Shapes Ethical Thinking (2005) and the winner of several teaching awards. All are invited.

Joyce United Methodist Church, 1219 West 31st Street, 612.822.5288, www.joycechurch.org

By Bruce Cochran

Working for a community news-paper can be daunting. Deadlines, writing, photographing, design, meetings, note taking, late nights, junk food, videos, crank calls, repo men, court injunctions, post-ing bail–I mean working late–it’s enough to make you want to sell your ping-pong trophies.

Don’t get me wrong, I love it. But the toughest part of produc-ing the newspaper I think is the grammar. I take it for granted too often. Before I know it I’ve written myself into a verbal train wreck.

Take the SIMPLE SENTENCE. If I say “Jack eats.” That’s all I need for a sentence. Two words, a SUBJECT and PREDICATE.

But more often sentences contain more than two words. In which case there is a COMPLETE SUB-JECT and COMPLETE PREDI-CATE. So we have, “My buddy Jack eats often.” The NOUN is (Jack) and the ADJECTIVES are (My buddy). The VERB is (eats) and the ADVERB is (often).

Now take two or more SIMPLE SUBJECTS and join them to make one COMPOUND SUBJECT. As in “Jack and Bruce eat.”

Which is all well and good until you put the ADVERB back in and then you get a COMPOUND PREDICATE too. This would make “Whenever Jack and Bruce eat out, Bruce picks up the tab.” (Whenever) is the ADVERB that modifies (eat) the VERB. And (Bruce) would be the NOUN fol-lowed by (picks) the VERB.

Another example of a COM-POUND PREDICATE goes like this: “Whenever Bruce asks Jack to pay him back, Jack doesn’t.” Which introduces another part of speech, the OBJECT.

Examples of OBJECTS would be sandwich, buddy, wallet or chump. As in “Jack is a chump.” And the OBJECT could be modified with punch, thump, smack or location like “upside the head.”

And when we group words to take the parts of speech, we have a PHRASE or “Jack is not looking well,” “Jack won’t be getting a ride from me,” “Jack will be walking home,” and “Jack better find reli-gion when I ask him how he paid for that new Montana-sized flat screen TV!”

So until I master grammar, I’m going to keep my sentences–like my eating–simple.

to AdvertiseSUSAN HAGLeR

Advertising Sales Representative612.825.7780

[email protected]

Page 3: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

NOVEMBER 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • 3 .

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Citizen ACtion

CARAG [email protected]

ECCO [email protected]

City Councilperson Ralph [email protected]

Mayor R.T. Rybak612.673.2100 [email protected]

State Representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher651.296.0171 [email protected]

State Representative Frank Hornstein651.296.9281 [email protected]

State Senator D. Scott [email protected]

Governor Tim [email protected]

U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison612.522.1212www.ellison.house.gov

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman651.645.0323www.coleman.senate.gov

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar202.224.3244www.klobuchar.senate.gov

President George W. [email protected]

Vote “Yes” for Strong Schools, Strong City referendum

Democracy Is Us! commentary

By Phyllis Stenerson

Vote on November 4 as if our American democracy depends on it - because it does! We have a gov-ernment of the people, for the peo-ple and by the people. We ordinary citizens are the ones who must be actively involved in determining what kind of country we will have and leave for future generations.

Polls show that 90% of the people think the country is heading in the wrong direction, the highest level of discontent ever. That’s astound-ing! We can do better than this.

Voting is an essential step in our representative form of govern-ment. We need to know about the candidates and their positions on

issues so we can choose which best reflect our beliefs and viewpoints and their ability to work effective-ly to get positive results. The coun-try is the most polarized it’s been since the Civil War resulting in one stalemate after another instead of developing solutions to pressing problems. We need leaders with exceptional intelligence and judg-ment who can envision solutions and base decisions on the common good, not narrow ideology, special interests or party politics.

As the late Congresswoman Bar-bara Jordan said, “What the people want is very simple. They want an America as good as its promise.”

To get that America, we ordi-nary citizens need to be informed and involved at every level, every step of the way. Vote on Novem-ber 4 and then hold your elected officials accountable. And com-mit to actively exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship

throughout the year.

Note: see pages 7, 8 and 9 for exten-sive voting information including numbers to call with questions.

Phyllis Stenerson is Editor of the Uptown Neighborhood News and lives in CARAG.

By Pam Costain

I feel fortunate to live in a city that cares about children, that under-stands the importance of investing for the future, and that believes, like the late-Senator Paul Well-stone, that “We all do better when we all do better.” That is why I am convinced that the citizens of Minneapolis will vote “Yes” on November 4 for the Strong Schools, Strong City referendum.

Strong Schools, Strong City is the ballot measure that will provide $60 million annually to support the Minneapolis Public Schools. If approved, the referendum dollars will be used to provide academic essentials such as early literacy programs, math/science education, up-to-date textbooks and technol-ogy and class size management. These are not the frills of an edu-cational program, but represent the fundamentals of a strong pub-lic school system.

We all know how critical early reading skills are for children and the consequences of not being able to read. As a result, the Minneapo-lis Public Schools has a goal that every child will read at grade level by grade three. We also know how important it is to have 21st Century math and science education in all of our schools. We have a responsi-bility to prepare students now for a global economy and global citizen-ship. High quality math and sci-ence programs help to ensure that

our students can both compete and contribute to a higher quality of life for all people.

These are difficult economic times, and people are rightfully concerned. Yet, it is precisely in challenging economic times that we have to prepare for the future by investing in education. At the same time, taxpayers have a right to know that the referendum dol-lars they approve will be spent responsibly and as promised. Therefore, the district has con-vened an independent financial oversight committee to report back to the community. Two for-mer state finance commissioners, John Gunyou and Jay Kiedrowski, have agreed to serve on that com-mittee, providing accountability and transparency to the public.

Minneapolis is a city in which 80% of voters do not have children in the schools and yet we have history of voting for referenda by large majorities. Whether you have chil-dren in the schools, do not have children, or your children are already grown, we need your sup-port once again to help ensure that the next generation has the skills they need to succeed.

If you believe that public educa-tion is one of the pillars of our democracy. If you believe that all children deserve the highest qual-ity education. If you believe that educational opportunity is the door to success for immigrant children,

children in poverty and others. If you believe the economic engine of the city is a well educated work-force. If you believe that the state can and should do more, but if they have not, we must step in. Then, I urge you to join me in vot-ing “Yes” for the Strong Schools, Strong City referendum.

For more information, check out the website at www.strong-schoolsstrongcity.org.

Pam Costain is a Member of the Minneapolis School Board.

CArAG Nrp Visioning Town Hall MeetingBy Pamela Taylor

Tuesday, October 14 at Bryant Square Park, citizens of the CARAG community kicked off its Phase II NRP planning process. With an estimated $470,000 to spend on neighborhood approved endeavors (the remaining $130,000 has yet to be identified by the City of Minneapolis), a notice was mailed out to all households requesting their presence at a Visioning Town Hall meeting. While hopes may have been high regard-ing turnout, the reality of such was considerably less (20 people), but a good discussion, nonetheless, ensued.

The conversation began with our Executive Coordinator, Scott Engel, making introductions and giving a brief overview of the NRP process. Next, our current NRP steering Committee (Aaron Rubenstein, How-ard Verson and Kay Graham) revisited the nine strategic areas upon which the Phase I plan was developed (i.e. Housing, Community-Build-ing, Economic Development, Transportation, etc.), and a lot of ideas were generated such as putting a focus on energy efficiency in housing; youth block clubs and alley beautification projects to build community; giving loans to, as well compiling a directory of, home based businesses; master classes taught by our seniors and other intergenerational activi-ties; increasing pedestrian safety with self-defense classes, and renewing bicycle road markings; developing art and music summer camps, and partnering with neighboring schools; and taking an active role in vari-ous “greening” activities that will contribute to communal sustainability. These were just a few, amongst many wonderful ideas, that were voted upon by residents, using the familiar “sticker dot” priority method. The results of the voting were not available at the conclusion of the meeting and will be reported in a future issue of this newspaper.

Although all who came contributed, it was noted that considerably more

input would be needed to develop a cohesive plan for in a neighborhood with a high percentage of renters, remarkably few were in attendance. We have seniors who feel somewhat isolated and whom may need more than a postcard to join up. And, there was the overwhelming absence of young voices in a setting which would befit their natural curiosity while challenging our sometimes too serious minds. In short, many communal and diverse faces went missing that evening at a time when we all need to feel connected, to feel a sense of ownership to this place in which we all live. Therefore, in order for that to occur, we determined that a con-certed effort of change be brought to our usual methods of outreach and an increase made to our staff. The Phase II survey online is a good start, however, it is not accessible to those without access. While it is available at the CARAG office, many residents have no idea where that is, nor

Photo by Kay Nygaard-Graham

Residents of CARAG participated in a Visioning Town Hall held at Bryant Square Park on Tuesday, October 14.

Nrp page 15

Page 4: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

� • Uptown neighborhood news NOVEMBER 2008

crime & safety

5TH preCINCT (Southwest Minneapolis) Sector 2: Crime prevention Specialist Tom Thompson: [email protected]

September 2008Crimes by Location (ECCO: west of Hennepin. CARAG: east of Hennepin.)

EC

CO

CA

RA

GCArAGeCCO

New Bike lockersLocated at Calhoun SquareCalhoun Square now has bike lockers. They are free and located in the south end of the ramp. They will move when construc-tion shifts in November.

Photo by Bruce Cochran

shouldn’t necessarily worry about learning how to do it.

The culture does not necessarily generate any consistent profile of offenders. Men and women are involved of various ages and crim-inal backgrounds. Veliz described how they once caught a school-teacher. The videotape showed him walking around on the street talking on his cell phone and then intermittently scribbling on any-thing when it was clear no one was watching.

Some patterns are emerging though. Offenders mostly choose bikes as their favorite form of travel. Some kids work in crews that can boast up to 15 people at a time. These use lookouts–a strat-egy built up from the street drug

industry. Other patterns describe a preferred time window. Generally when the temperature rises dur-ing the summer, activity increases as with most other crimes. And at night the busiest “bombing” times are between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., a preferred time when most people are asleep.

The last pattern is useful in estab-lishing preventative measures. Taggers as they are called, prefer easy-to-reach areas, usually under 5 feet. But if a wall, sign or other surface is easy to climb up to that will do even better because it com-mands more attention.

So, some things that are helpful in preventing graffiti are:

• Keeping your property well maintained

• Covering up walls with vegeta-tion

• Using thorny bushes to block access

• Choosing a black, gray or mixed-tone mural covering which reduces the visibility of the graffiti.

Other preventative measures include:

• Education for kids and the com-munity

• Removal within the first 24 to 48 hours to reduce taggers effec-tiveness in communication

• Rewards of $200-$500 offered by the city

report ItIt’s important to report graffiti because of it’s negative effect on the neighborhood. It decreases aesthetics, lowers property values and attracts criminal activity. Most importantly, graffiti is a gang com-munication tool. Removing graf-fiti takes away this power.

If you see someone in the process

SUNDAY 6pm-2am

TUESDAY10pm

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Make Every Day Count.

Pretty good deals on Midwesternfood and beer. Oh yah, and bowl for $1.

DJs Ed Ackerson, Dan Boenand friends suss. $3 Bell’s.

2 entrees, 1 bottle of wine or 2 beers,and a round of bowling $28.

of writing graffiti call 911. Do not approach them. (See photo on page 1.) If you see graffiti after the fact, complete an online report at the address below or call 311 and the agent will file a report for you.

CleanupMSWR handles all cleanup and is always looking for volunteers. If you see graffiti photograph it and send your photo to the city. Doing so reduces the removal rate from ten to five days.

If your property becomes a target of graffiti you have two options:

GrAffITI from 1

• Remove or paint over it within 10 days OR

• Wait 10 days and the city will remove it for you, and you will pay the removal cost.

More Information and TipsThe City of Minneapolis website is: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/graffiti

Page 5: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

NOVEMBER 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • � .

business & real estate1988 at the current location at 1715 West Lake Street. Che-schnick, owner since 1999, has worked for Cal Surf since 1991. He started out as the com-pany’s “lead” errand boy which meant he got all of the garbage work i.e. inventory, litter and cleaning etc. But very quick-ly he was able to identify key improvements to workflow that caught the owners’ atten-tion. Soon after that he was asked to move up to full time sta-tus. At the time he was considering a gradu-ate degree in physiological psychology. But outside of the school culture, that idea gradually receded into the distance. It was a crucial point for Cheschnick. If he chose more school, it would have meant spending the rest of his life in a cubical working like a scien-tist. So, staying on at Cal Surf, he later decided to buy the shop in 1991 and do what he loved.

It’s a natural fit because he loves

people and with two kids of his own he’s never outgrown that sense

of discovery and spontane-ity that goes with being

a parent. There’s no shortage of person-alities in this culture either. Cheschnick leverages his love of the sports and the people involved to be continually involved in the day to day operations. And that’s what keeps it fresh.

“Simultaneously challenging and exciting, being the owner,” says Cheschnick, “isn’t easy.” Because he owns the shop,

this makes him a bit of a celebrity to

his customers. And that status translates

to an all-day barrage of questions from almost all

of his customers. He enjoys it but it makes it very hard to get anything done around the shop. He says he’s no different than any other store owner. But it’s the busi-ness of boards that makes him a magnet. “You don’t see joe blow walkin’ into J.C.Penny to talk to the manager just to say hi.” The nature of this business generates the hype.

And this he says, keeps him busy with shop

stuff even in a slow year

like this one.

But the shop is still healthy even with their location. They’re in Minnesota not Colorado or Cali-fornia. You would think that would make snowboards a tough-er sell. But that doesn’t mat-ter anymore. Cheschnick explains, “Like snow-boards, for instance, kids don’t want sharp edges and don’t need wax. It’s not about the racing, it’s about the urban s t u n t s . ” They don’t need the h i g h - t e c h s t u f f . I f they’re in the city rid-ing over con-crete barriers or sliding down metal railings–the dirtier the better. Boarding over ‘urban furniture’ gives the sport its next infusion of creativ-ity. This makes Minnesota a des-tination for winter boarding. Just when college kids are embracing the long board skateboard as the new trend, film crews are travel-ing here, to Minneapolis, to film the next urban hero of the stair rail or building dive. Minneapolis is big,” says Cheschnick, “because riders all over the country can count on it being cold and snowy.” On top of that, kids are hauling spent ice shav-ings from local ice rinks and building jump-ing and land-ing ramps around these obstacles.

On the other hand, skateboarding in Minnesota is a different story. When asked about the various skateboard parks built by cities around Minnesota he responded with this, “The organizations responsible for building those parks rarely consult real skat-ers. The result is that the parks don’t meet the needs of any skater

except beginners. For example, there’s this misperception that a 20’ tall U-ramp is dangerous. And

the state anymore.

To be part of this action, Cal Surf sponsors two teams, a skateboard and snowboard team. Davis Torg-erson, pictured on the cover, is one

industry favorite on the skate-board team here in Minne-

sota.

Other ways Che-schnick is involved is apparent in the shop as well. Both industries have a reputation for attracting kids that like to buck authority. And sometimes the kids take it on as a badge. But Cheschnick

knows where to draw the line.

He knows that parents are part of the picture.

And he knows that most parents get it. The sports are

not without their bumps, spills and injuries. But parents know that their kids are exercising out-side and this keeps them pretty busy for the most part. They’d rather see them doing that than spending their time with drugs, alcohol or excessive video gaming.

If he gets dropouts that ask for a job he encourages them to complete their education. And one day he actually told a kid he wouldn’t sell him a board. “The kid had been mouthin’ off and downright mean to his mom. Even after his mom brought him here and would be paying the bill. I told

him to go apologize to his mom or I wouldn’t sell him the board. He did, and we kept a customer.”

For more information see www.cal-surf.com.

Bruce Cochran is Art Director in charge of production for the Uptown Neighborhood News and lives in CARAG.

“I told him to go apologize to his mom or I wouldn’t sell him the board.

He did, and we kept a customer.”

- Scott Cheschnick

CAl SUrf from 1

VIzI from 1

a rail at 1’ off the ground is safer. The truth is beginners can’t get way up on the ramp until they get practice. Also the “U” shape of it catches them in their fall if they do. You won’t believe it but you’ll probably see more skaters injure

themselves on that low 1’ rail. So these parks end up being meet-up locations at best.”

So the nexus of skateboarding is still California. If kids want to make it big, they’ve got to move there eventually. On the other hand, contrary to expectations, not only can snow-boarders make it national from Minneapolis, but many rarely spend winter outside

Some of the features include:

• Savor luscious food and wines from Italy

• Be one of the first 100 and receive a spa bag loaded with products to spoil you and cou-pons to feed your Vizi vibe

• Enjoy discounts on fabulous retail purchases

• Have an eyebrow wax for $5 (donated to the Animal Humane Society)

• Bring in three non-perishable food items to benefit the Joyce Food Shelf and receive a com-plimentary gift certificate for a paraffin dip to redeem by 2/1/9.

• Drawing to receive a round trip airfare for one, a spa package or a free cut and color

Vizi offers haircuts, colors, razor cuts, rejuvenating facials, micro-dermabrasion, massage, pedi-cures, manicures and more. Call 612.822.3303 for more informa-tion.

Dan

Nar

lo

ch, le

arning to fly.

Cal Surf’s exterior will be getting a whole new m

ural application next year. Photo by B

ruce Cochran

Page 6: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

� • Uptown neighborhood news NOVEMBER 2008

This building on Holmes behind the Suburban World is now gone. Formerly Floyd Lock and Safe, it was most recently used as a discount outlet for the Shoe Zoo. Pictured is Rich Vissell, co-owner of Shoe Zoo and ECCO resident.Photo by Gary Farland

business & real estate

Urban earth Co-Op Celebrates By Gay Noble

Urban Earth Garden Store Cooperative celebrated its two year anniversary with an Open House on September 28. Community members, customers and co-op members came to celebrate by eating cake, sharing stories, meeting up with old friends and making new ones. Of course, the store was full of fresh cut flowers, mums, fall bulbs, in-door and outdoor plants for sale.

Deconstruction and Negative Space in Uptown’s CoreUptown’s Rebuilding Phase

facade Improvement Matching GrantThe City of Minneapolis is seeking proposals from organizations to administer a façade improvement matching grant program in areas that are eligible for the City’s Great Streets Programs. Eligible areas include commercial corridors, commercial nodes and Hiawatha Light Rail Transit (LRT) station areas, as listed in the RFP document. The organizations selected through this RFP process will provide matching grants to businesses and com-mercial property owners as reimbursement for exterior storefront improvements.

The RFP is available online at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/docs/facade_improvement_matching.pdf

There is a Pre-proposal Meeting scheduled on Thursday, Novem-ber 6, 2008 from 3:30 – 4:30 in the afternoon at:

Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Office Crown Roller Mill 105 5th Avenue South , 2nd Floor Minneapolis , MN 55401

During this voluntary meeting we will review proposal require-ments and answer questions.

Proposals are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 to:

Contract Services Department of CPED 105 5th Avenue South, Suite 200 Minneapolis , MN 55401

The Square This space at midblock of Hennepin between

Lake and 31st looking east makes way for

Calhoun Square expansion

Photo by Bruce

Cochran

The Ram

p

Solhem

The space left by Floyd Lock and Safe at left will be the new home of “Solhem”. Translated as “Home of the Sun,” this building will be home to a 60 unit apartment building with ground floor retail and office space. The project boasts many green characteristics.Photo by Bruce Cochran

As part of the new

Calhoun Square expansion, the

parking ramp is growing and pictured

here is the elevator and adjacent stairway.

Photo by Bruce Cochran

Page 7: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

NOVEMBER 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • � .

If you miss registering before the election, you can still vote by reg-istering on election day at your polling place. All you need is one of the documents listed below that shows your current address in the precinct where you live:

A current Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit, Minneso-ta identification card, or receipt for any of these; A student photo ID card, registration or fee statement with the student’s current address in the precinct, or only the student photo ID if your college has pro-vided a list of students; A photo tribal ID with your name and sig-nature (if tribal photo ID does not have address a current utility bill is needed); A photo ID without cur-rent address together with a utility bill that contains your name, cur-rent address within the precinct

Tuesday, November 4: polls Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.You Can register To Vote On election Day

with a payment due date within 30 days of the election.

Acceptable photo IDs are: MN driver’s license, MN State ID, US passport, military ID, college ID, tribal ID.

Acceptable utility bills are: cable, electric, gas, phone, cell phone, sewer, solid waste, water.

A previous registration in the same precinct but at a different address, A “notice of late registration” post-card.

Someone who is registered in the precinct where you live to vouch for you at the polling place. A voter who registers by this method may not confirm the residency of another voter on the day of the same election.

An Uptown Voters’ GUide

Kids Voting 2008 Children can “vote” at a Kids Voting poll in the 2008 election by going with an adult to the precinct’s polling place. In Minneapolis schools this month they will be registering and making a yellow polling place card with all the information they’ll need for the Kids Voting ballot. For more information go to www.kidsvotingminneapolis.org.

At The polling placeAccessibility - All polling places should be fully accessible to elderly indi-viduals and individuals with disabilities.

Personal Assistance - If you need assistance due to the inability to read English or have a physical inability to mark a ballot you may obtain the assistance of any individual you choose with the exception of the fol-lowing: your employer, agent of your employer, officer or agent of your union, or a candidate for election. Alternatively, you may obtain the aid of two election judges who are members of different political parties. See Minnesota Statutes, Section 204C.15 for more information.

If you can’t easily leave your car, you can ask for the ballot to be brought out to you in your car. Two election judges from different political par-ties will bring the voting materials out and assist you.

Every polling place will have an AutoMARK ballot marking device to assist blind voters or those with limited vision in marking their ballot.

Source: League of Women Voters Minnesota www.lwvmn.org 9/18/08

If you live in a residential facility, including nursing home, battered women’s shelter, homeless shel-ter and other licensed facility, an employee who will vouch that you live there (if the facility has pro-vided the county with a certified list of employees)

If you are a college student you can use these:

a current student fee statement showing your address in the pre-cinct and photo ID card.

a student photo ID if a college stu-dent housing list or list of students is on file at your polling place.

If you are already registered and move within the same precinct, you may re-register at the polling place as well.

“I know nothing grander, better exercise, better digestion, more positive proof of the past, the triumphant result of faith in human kind, than a well-contested

American national election.”- Walt Whitman

Thanks to the league of Women Voters of Minnesota (www.lwvmn.org)for allowing Uptown Neighborhood News to use candidate and election information provided on their website ww.lwvmn.org. NOTE: Nonpartisan voter information provided by League of Women Voters Minnesota. Reproduction without the written authorization of LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MINNESOTA is prohibited. LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MINNESOTA EDUCATION FUND provides this nonpartisan VOTER GUIDE ‘08 as a public service for the citizens of Minnesota. Each candidate included was sent a questionnaire. LWVMNEF requested a color photo, biographical information and answers to prepared questions. Responses are printed as received except for the correction of any spelling errors and arrangement to allow continuity of format. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. If you would like more information than this guide provides, please visit our website at www.vote.lwmn.org for additional responses. If you would like information on topics not covered in the LWVMNEF VOTER GUIDE ‘08, please call the candidate’s campaign headquarters. Nothing in this publication is to be considered or used as an endorsement of any candidate or party.

“The stakes are too high for government to be a

spectator sport.”- Barbara Jordan

Strong Schools Strong City referendumOperating Levy Referendum

for more information including complete sample ballotLeague of Women Voters of Minnesota - www.lwvmn.org Minnesota Secretary of State –www.sos.state.mn.us - 651.296.2803City of Minneapolis Election Center - www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us - 612.673.2070

The Board of Special School District No. 1, Minneap-olis Public Schools, has proposed to revoke the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization of $615 per pupil and replace that authorization with a new authorization of $1,200 per pupil beginning with taxes payable in 2009. This revenue will be used to develop early reading skills, bolster math and science pro-grams, provide up-to-date technology and textbooks and man-age class size for the benefit of the children of Minneapolis. The maximum amount of increased revenue per pupil will be $1,200. Beginning in 2010, the amount will be increased each year by the rate of inflation. The rate of inflation is the increase in the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Standards. The proposed revenue would be authorized for eight years, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.

Shall the school district’s existing referendum revenue authorization be revoked and the increase in the revenue proposed by the Board of Special School District No1, Minneapolis Public Schools be approved?

BY VOTING “YES” ON THIS BALLOT QUES-TION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

___ YES ___ NO

facts about the 2008 Strong Schools Strong City referendumThe Minneapolis Public Schools 2008 Strong Schools Strong City referendum will appear on the Nov. 4, 2008, general election ballot. If approved,

referendum funds would help drive achievement results for all students, including support for these education essentials:

• Improve early reading skills so every child is reading at grade level by third grade (learn to read, then read to learn).

• Enhance our math and science programs so every child is ready for algebra by eighth grade and ready for the future upon graduation.

• Provide up-to-date technology and textbooks so every child has the learning materials he or she needs to succeed.

• Manage class sizes in a renewal of the 2000 refer-endum.

Minneapolis Public Schools proudly enrolls stu-dents from a wide range of backgrounds. However, racial achievement gaps are unacceptable. Referen-dum goals include raising achievement for all stu-dents, closing racial and income achievement gaps and helping to ensure every student who graduates from Minneapolis Public Schools is college ready.

Questions about the referendum can be directed to [email protected]. Info from http://www.mpls.k12.mn.us/Referendum.html

3

Registration in Minnesota is per-manent. You need to register again only when you change your name

or address or fail to vote in four years.

See polling locations listed on pages 8 and 9

Page 8: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

� • Uptown neighborhood news NOVEMBER 2008

find Your polling placelook at map on page 9, find address, identify precinct number – see below for polling place location A Ward 6, Precinct 1 Whittier International School 315 26th St WB Ward 6, Precinct 2 Whittier Park 425 26th St WC Ward 6, Precinct 4 First Christian Church 2201 1st Ave SD Ward 8, Precinct 6 Martin Luther King Park Gym, 4055 Nicollet AveE Ward 8, Precint 7 Martin Luther King Park Multipurpose Room 4055 Nicollet AveF Ward 10, Precint 1 Jefferson Community School 1200 26th St WG Ward 10, Precint 2 Ballentine VFW Post 2916 Lyndale Ave SH Ward 10, Precint 3 St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church 3450 Irving Ave SI Ward 10, Precint 4 Bryant Square Park 3101 Bryant Ave SJ Ward 10, Precint 5 Horn Towers Highrise 3121 Pillsbury AveK Ward 10, Precint 6 First Universalist Church 3400 Dupont Ave SL Ward 10, Precint 7 Painter Park 620 34th St WM Ward 10, Precint 8 Walker Methodist Home 3737 Bryant Ave SN Ward 10, Precint 9 Lyndale Community School 312 34th St W *New Polling PlaceO Ward 10, Precint 10 Temple Israel 2324 Emerson Ave S (use Fremont Ave entrance)P Ward 10, Precint 11 Walker Library 2880 Hennepin Ave

“For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a

saving hand while yet there was time.”

- George Sutherland

Go For A Walk and Get Paid For It!Deliver papers for the unn for $150/issue. Paid, part time job. Please email [email protected]

Page 9: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

NOVEMBER 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • 9 .

(Lake St. & Bryant Ave. S.)

CONVENIENT ACCESS TO ONSIGHT PARKING

Now ServiNgFrench Pressed Coffee

Hemp Milk Lattes - Hot Or IcedPumpkin Spice Latte and Fresh Apple Cider

Also Available Organic Non-Homogenized Milk On Request

AlwAyS AvAilAbleFreshly Roasted Fair Trade Organic Coffee Beans

821 W Lake St • 612.824.6200 • Lake St. & Bryant Ave. S.

DUNN BROS COFFEE

VOTING MAP

AB

D,E

C

F

G

H

iJ

Kl

M

N

O

P

See polling locations listed on page 8

Page 10: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

10 • Uptown neighborhood news NOVEMBER 2008

looking for TalentMinneapolis looking to fill its new Neighborhood and Community Engagement CommissionThe City of Minneapolis is now accepting applications from residents for seven positions on the newly created Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission. The role of the commission will be to shape how the City engages its residents and works with neighborhood and community organizations, as well as oversee programming details and funding for neighborhood revitalization work.

The seven committee members that will be appointed by the Mayor and City Council will be part of the 16-member committee. Of the remaining members, eight residents will be selected by neighborhood organiza-tions and one will be appointed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Please note this application process only applies to the seven residents who will be appointed by the Mayor and City Council.

The application deadline for these seven positions is Nov. 19, 2008. Applicants are required to be Minneapolis residents who do not hold a current election certificate. Current City employees are not eligible. To apply, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/communications/communityengagement.asp to download an application form. Applications are also available at the Minneapolis City Clerk’s Office, room 304 of City Hall at 350 S. Fifth St.

Commission meetings will generally take place once a month. Typically, members will serve two year terms. However, since this is a new commission, staggered terms will be established for the future. Of the initial seven appointees in this group, three will be for a term to expire in January 2011 and four will be for a term to expire in January 2012.

The Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission was created by the Mayor and City Council in late September. It is designed as one measure to strengthen the relationship between the City and its neighbor-hoods and carry on the work of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) beyond 2009. Because the state legislation that funded NRP sunsets in 2009, City leaders have been working since 2006 to improve the City’s community engagement system and to find ways to make sure neighborhoods remain a valued part of the City’s culture, serving as a link between City government, residents and businesses. That work has centered around creating a community engagement system that allows City government and neighborhoods to work more closely together, while being more accountable and transparent to taxpayers.

Stress-less Use Yoga, Relaxation, Breathing and Homeopathy by Aaron Means

Let’s face it, who isn’t stressed in these modern times? Inces-santly we are bombarded by the demands and influences of the day. The build up of tension in our bodies and minds pays its toll and results in physical and mental/emotional imbalances. We need effective tools to manage and pre-vent stress and begin to become aware of the degree of influence these stress factors have upon us. The time tested techniques of yoga science and philosophy combined with homeopathy are avenues that have much to offer in this regard.

AwarenessHow do we change how we respond to stress factors? It simply begins with what is called Awareness. Take a moment as you read this to become aware of your body, feel the back of your neck and your shoulders, notice your breathing pattern, notice what thoughts are flitting through your mind. What did you notice? If you became more aware of yourself than before, you have made a step toward greater self-awareness. You see, simply becoming aware of what is hap-pening on a body, breath and mind level is the major key to reducing stress. To become aware is to come into the present and be fully con-scious of how we are reacting to many stress factors in our lives. Once we become aware, then we have a choice in how we respond. We are then able to live our lives in a way that prevents stress from building up in the first place. It is not so easy though, because many of us live out of our bodies and find it hard to be aware in the moment. We have trained ourselves pretty well to live in the past, be on the go and strive toward that next goal. Rather than becoming alive to the present moment awareness of what is, we live in what was and what will be.

Transitioning from a Tense State to a relaxed StateLet us begin with three earth grounding basics: stretching, relaxation and breathing. These are so simple, yet so profound in their ability to reduce and prevent stress in your life.

StretchingStretching is one of the best ways to become aware of yourself and how you respond to certain stress-ors and hold unnecessary tension in the body. Anywhere from 15-45 minutes of stretching per day is beneficial. The basic asanas (poses) and joints and glands exercises of hatha yoga are ideal in this regard. When taught well, a class incorpo-

rates movement, breath and relax-ation into the flow of stretches. Classes at The Meditation Center, (www.themeditationcenter.org) are exemplar of this.

relaxationRelaxation is also effective in releasing

Mind and Habit patterns The mind is a storehouse of many habit patterns. Our habitual self talks and perceptions dramatically influence our behaviors, physiolog-ical responses and feelings in any given situation. How we respond

to stress ultimately is influenced

by how

in the mind stream, accepting it and then letting it go. It is an act of witnessing. We become the observer. From this vantage point of increased self-awareness, we are then able to choose a differ-ent thought or action, one that hopefully brings a less stressful response. We also begin to identify less with our thoughts, that they are somehow different from who we are.

Over time we develop a more con-scious volition in our daily lives that can be implemented on all levels of body, breath and mind. For those interested, yoga philoso-phy provides an excellent foun-dation of what mind is, how it

functions and how to work with it effectively. An introductory

book on this is The Art of Joy-ful Living by Swami Rama (available at www.themedi-tationcenter.org).

Homeopathic Treatment for StressHomeopathy, the second most common form of alternative medicine in the world today (WHO report

2005), is a highly effective treatment to manage stress.

Similar to the system of yoga and meditation, homeopathy

is a whole system approach to health. Homeopathy involves a comprehensive intake that looks at one’s individual symptoms from a mental, emotional and physi-cal health standpoint. Specifi-cally with stress, the homeopath is concerned with how a person reacts to the various stress stimuli, both with respect to his total being and specifically his/her individual parts. A particular state or way of coping with stress is understood that is unique and individual to the client. Once the homeopath understands this underlying causal mechanism it can be matched with a homeopathic remedy to effec-tively reduce the intensity and frequency of the troubling and

limiting mental, emotional and physical symptoms. The result of homeopathic treatment is not only better health but the individual becomes more aware of his/her own internal processes. The indi-vidual learns to observe his/her own biorhythms, habit patterns and mental processes much more effectively. How their thoughts and emotions affect them directly becomes more apparent. Home-opathy helps the individual learn about him or herself. Similar to meditation, the knowledge gained through this self observation of homeopathic treatment aids the person in the process of bringing into conscious awareness elements of his/her existence that before were happening on an unconscious level.

With more awareness, comes a stress-less way of life! If you are feeling overburdened, that life is not working for you, and you don’t know what to do next, try some of these simple, yet effective techniques of yoga and meditation. Slowly an increase in awareness will build up in you. If it is a chronic stress issue and you have other chronic problems, you may also consider consulting a homeopath to reduce your life limiting symptoms.

Aaron Means MA, is a homeopathic practitioner with a private practice on 1516 West Lake Street in Min-neapolis. He welcomes adults and children of all ages. He is a graduate of the American Medical College of Homeopathy in Phoenix, AZ. Since 1994 he has studied and used home-opathy. He integrates yoga and medi-tation principles into his homeopathic practice, and regularly teaches yoga in the community. Complimentary homeopathy Q & A sessions avail-able. Contact him at: 651.328.4048, www.homeopathichealthservices.com, or [email protected]

The Uptown Neighborhood NewsIf We Were Any More Local We’d Be Sitting On You.

tension especially when com-bined with proper breathing techniques. The corpse pose or shavasana is an ideal pos-ture to learn how to relax the body. Relaxation should be progressive and systematic through the body. As you become more adept in relaxation practices, you begin to carry this relaxed state into life. Relaxation then becomes your nat-ural response to stress situations. Where you became stressed and tense before, you naturally become relaxed.

BreathingThe diaphragmatic breath is by far the most effective tool for releas-ing tension and keeping the mind peaceful. Most of us are used to using the chest muscles to breath. We forget we have this large dia-phragm muscle that is much more effective in carrying out a healthy breath cycle. There is a close rela-tionship between the breath, the mind and body. If the breath is shallow and tense, this reflects in the body and mind. Like-wise, if the body or mind is tense, the breath will become tense. In essence, the breath is our barom-eter of emotions. Retraining the breath involves specific and sys-tematic exercises, but overall one should learn to develop an even, deep, smooth and noiseless breath. Makarasana or crocodile pose is one of the best ways to learn how to breathe diaphragmatically.

we habit-ually have

responded in the past. The only way to break

this cycle is to change these mental habit patterns.

Meditation is a highly effective solution. It is an art and science that allows for new grooves to form and negative habit patterns to be transformed over time. Medita-tion involves the process of becom-ing more aware of what is flowing

Page 11: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

NOVEMBER 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • 11 .

By Susan Marsh

One might say that Joyce United Methodist Church had literally gone to the dogs Sunday, Septem-ber 28. The dogs, cats, bunny and gerbil, that is.

pets Are Blessed At Annual Ceremony

Fall Street Cleaning Begins October 21Information provided by the City of Minneapolis

In our second annual blessing of the pets, Pastor John Darlington and Intern Chris Kliessen Weh-rman blessed the animals during the regular service. The animals came forward to receive a blessing

after sitting patiently through the entire service, including a sermon that was once in awhile punctu-ated by the occasional growl or woof.

After the regular service, the con-gregation adjourned to the bou-levard of the church and Intern Chris brought forth the story of St. Francis preaching to the birds, recalling that there was even a time when St. Francis quieted a flock of noisy birds that were interrupting a religious ceremony! Member Barbara York ended the ceremony by sprinkling the air and ground with the baptismal water to bless all of God’s creatures.

All are invited to Joyce United Methodist Church – Sunday ser-vice at 11 a.m., coffee hour at 12. Come for the service, stay for the fellowship.

figures in the movement for civil rights and greater equality for all.

Allan Spear was the first openly gay member of the Minnesota Legislature and the longest serving, highest ranking openly gay state legislator in the United States when he retired in 2000. Senator Spear was the sec-ond elected official in the nation to publicly embrace being gay, doing so in 1974, and is widely known as the founder of the movement towards encouraging openly gay citizens to run for public office and to help other gay elected officials also embrace their identity.

Senator Spear moved to Minneapolis in 1964 to join the faculty of the History Department at the Uni-versity of Minnesota after receiving his undergradu-ate degree from Oberlin College and his Ph. D. in African American history from Yale University. At Oberlin College he was very involved in the African American civil rights movement, connecting his experiences as a Jew and gay man to the larger effort for greater liberation, profoundly shaping his life’s work and sense of justice. He wrote an influential historical account about the African American experience in Chicago at the turn of the 20th Cen-tury. He was admired by students and colleagues alike for his intelligence and inspiration as a teacher and a scholar.

Allan was a life-long Democrat and was first elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1972 to serve as a rep-resentative of Southwest Minneapolis. He was elected president of the Senate in 1993 and later that year suc-ceeded in guiding the passage of Minnesota’s GLBT civil rights law, delivering passion and eloquence dur-ing the debate – a Senate floor speech that will be long remembered. Allan Spear continues to be broadly praised by members of both parties as one of the Sen-ate’s most skilled and impartial presidents.

Allan Spear was a hero in our country’s sometimes halting, irregular, but inevitable march toward greater justice for its people. He generously shared of his intel-lect and skill in utilizing power and politics to bring about the promises for equality and justice on which our country was founded. He had a unique grasp of history and knew that only hard work and strategic organizing would create the future we all dream of – greater opportunity, fairness and justice for everyone.

I personally remember a good friend, reserved in his demeanor but transformative in his oratory. He was a vital figure in the progressive movement with many of today’s leaders receiving their earliest calls to public

service from Allan Spear, myself included.

State Representative Karen Clark of Minneapolis says, “For twenty years Allan and I served together in the Minnesota Legislature, the only openly gay state legislators in the country for the first six years. Allan was a good friend and also a trusted legislative ally I could go to for thoughtful advice. His unwaver-ing commitment to civil rights and to economic and social justice for all ran deep, reflected Allan’s own high standards for personal and professional integ-rity and earned him the respect not only of his con-stituents and colleagues here, but also throughout the nation. Time and again we teamed up, especially for those who lacked a voice at the Minnesota Capitol. One of my proudest moments was emerging victori-ous from the House Chamber in the Spring of 1993, hand in hand with Allan after the House voted to outlaw discrimination against GLBT people in Min-

nesota. I will miss Allan’s friendship, his humor, his strategic mind, his political insights, his

inspiring public speaking, his apprecia-tion for the good parts of life and his fer-

vent desire that others have a chance to enjoy them too. My heart goes out to his partner, Jun.”

Another former State Senator, Barack Obama of Illinois, said, “I join with

all Minnesotans who mourn the loss of Allan Spear. His evenhandedness, his

command of the issues and his ability to reach across the aisle and work with colleagues

of both parties were legendary and should inspire us all. He was a man of great courage who served as one of this nation’s first openly gay legislators. Michelle and I and the Bidens send our thoughts and prayers to Allan’s partner, Junjiro Tsuji, and all the family, friends and colleagues who loved him.”

Allan Spear was my cherished friend, mentor and quite simply, my hero. He taught us that politics could be a force for good in people’s lives. He lived a life of courage and honesty – demanding intellec-tual rigor in the creation of public policy. He spoke eloquently and movingly about our country’s ideals – equality under the law, fairness of opportunity for everyone, and justice for the least among us who have no voice. His life and actions inspired me and many others to pursue a life of public service and strive to bring about change for the better in our country. A loud voice for civil rights has left, but the echoes of his words will reverberate forever in our laws and in the justice he helped bring about.

Memorial Service to be held on Sunday, November 23, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Avenue South, Minneapolis (reception to follow).

Watch for “No parking” signs starting Oct. 20On Oct. 21, Minneapolis Public Works will begin the big task of curb-to-curb sweeping and leaf collection on streets throughout the city. During the five weeks of the comprehensive fall street sweep, crews will clean up about 1,100 miles of city streets. To make sure the sweepers can do the best job possible, temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted at least 24 hours in advance to make sure streets are clear of cars when they’re swept. The first signs will be posted Monday, Oct. 20, and sweeping will begin the next day. Anyone who parks on the street will need to follow street sweep parking rules or their cars may be ticketed and towed.

Making it easy to follow parking rules“No Parking signs” – City crews will post “No Parking” signs at least 24 hours before sweeping any streets. Parking will be banned from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day a street is swept. The “No Park-ing” signs will be removed as soon as possible after a street has been completely swept to allow people to resume parking. Vehicles not in compliance with “No Parking” signs will be ticketed and towed to the Minneapolis Impound Lot.

Phone calls to residents – In addi-tion to the “No Parking” signs that will be posted the day before sweepers come through, the City

will make about 3,500 automated phone calls each evening to let residents know their street will be swept the next day.

Interactive Web feature – Start-ing a few days before the sweep, folks will be able to use a feature on the City’s Web site to find out when the sweepers are coming through their neighborhoods. The tool will be available at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/streetsweep.

The fall street sweep takes five weeks and visitors to the Web site will be able to find out which week their street is scheduled to be swept. Then, on the weekend before each of the five weeks, the schedule for the upcoming week will be broken down to show which day of the week streets are scheduled to be swept.

Clean streets mean a healthier environmentMinneapolis is known for its spar-kling lakes and waterways and we want to keep it that way. That’s why protecting and enhancing our environment is one of the City’s top priorities. Street sweep-ing is one way we work to protect our environment because it keeps leaves and debris from clogging our storm drains and polluting our lakes and rivers. It also helps keep our neighborhoods clean and liv-able.

Minneapolis streets are swept com-pletely curb to curb once in the spring and once in the fall.

Residents should not push leaves, grass clippings or other debris into City streets – it’s bad for our lakes and waterways, can cause safety hazards and is against the law. Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful aquatic plants and algae.

Clean Streets = Clean Water

Photo by Mark Hillyer

SpeAr from 1

Photo by Jill Bode

CARAG resident Mark Hillyer can check this off on his “to do” list: he achieved a major goal on October 5 by completing all 26.2 miles of the Twin Cities Marathon. Nieces and nephews braved the cold morning rain to cheer Mark on with home-made signs as he ran past Lake Calhoun. His time was 4 hours 33 minutes and he was still standing when family met him on the state capitol lawn after he crossed the finish line!

personal Best

remington’s Hours ModifiedCouncil Member Remington will have temporarily modified office hours Oct. 22 - Dec. 17; Wed., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Gigi’s Café, 36th and Bryant

Open office hours will change from Monday to Wednesday after-

investigators, trainers, precinct commanders and officers about police procedures, what it is like to be an officer and how the Min-neapolis Police Department is organized.” For more informa-tion about the academy and eli-gibility for future sessions visit

noons beginning October 22 and lasting through the end of the year. This change is occurring because Council Member Remington will be participating in the Minneapo-lis Police Department’s Citizens Academy. In the academy, Rem-ington will “learn directly from

www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/about/citizens-academy.asp

To schedule a 15 minute appoint-ment call Amy at (612) 673-2210 or, if you’re in the neighborhood, just stop on by!

Page 12: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

12 • Uptown neighborhood news NOVEMBER 2008

Calhoun Area Residents Action GroupCARAG report

LAKE CALHOU

N

Lake St.

36th St.

Hennepin

Ave

.

Lyndale

Ave.

The CARAG Board meets the third Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. at Bryant Park Community Center, 31st and Bryant. All CARAG residents are welcome and urged to attend.

Want to be a citizen journalist? Uptown Neighborhood News is looking for

• a CARAG resident to serve a post on the newspaper’s Board of Directors. If you, or someone you know, is interested and lives in CARAG, please come to the next CARAG monthly meeting in November or contact the CARAG office at [email protected] or 612.823.2520.

• writers and photographers for occasional stories and pictures - use your talents in service to your community. Contact the Editor at [email protected].

Photo by Bruce Cochran

The new CARAG board from left to right is Howard Verson, Maren Nowicki (Secretary), Jeff Forrester, Pam Taylor (Vice Pres-ident), Brendan Jordan, Aaron Rubenstein (President), Anna Matthes (Treasurer), Scott Schiefelbein and John Darlington.

An All-Star Cast

CArAG page 15

C A R A G Neighborhood Meeting

CARAG | 3612 Bryant Avenue S | Minneapolis, MN 55409www.carag.org | [email protected]

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 7pmBryant Square Park (3101 Bryant Ave S)

Welcome 2008/2009 CARAG Board of DirectorsJohn DarlingtonJeff ForesterBrendan JordanAnna MatthesTreasurerMaren NowickiSecretaryAaron RubensteinPresidentScott SchiefelbeinPamela TayorVice PresidentHoward Verson

On the Agenda…• Council Member

Ralph Remington• W 31st Street Traffic

Signal Discussion• Vote for 2 UNN

Representatives• NRP & Development

Updates• And More!No meeting in December. Happy holidays!

Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG) Monthly Neigh-borhood Meeting Minutes: 21 October 2008

DRAFT: Subject to Approval at the November 2008 CARAG Meeting. Minutes recorded and sub-mitted by Maren Nowicki.

Board Members Attending: John Darlington, Jeff Forester, Bren-dan Jordan, Anna Matthes, Maren Nowicki, Aaron Rubenstein (President), Pamela Taylor, Scott Schiefelbein and Howard Verson

AgendaThe meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. with the introduction of CARAG Board Members and CARAG Community Coordinator Scott Engel. Motion, Seconded to amend the meeting agenda to defer the selection of representatives to the UNN Managing Board until

November’s meeting. Approved.

Bryant Square park Update: Julie SandinSandin reported:

• Soccer Tournament Week at Fort Snelling closes out the soc-cer season. Wrestling will begin in December and run through the winter.

• The Neighborhood Halloween Party will be held from 6-8 p.m. on October 31 at BSP. Party activities will be held outside, weather permitting.

• The summer concert season was well-received and is planned again for next summer.

• The skating rink will be open seven days per week and will be maintained through President’s Day.

Blaisdell YMCA capital campaign: John MeeganMeegan spoke about the exten-sive children’s programming supported by the YMCA at six Minneapolis public schools; the Blaisdell branch supports Sullivan School. The branch has embarked on a capital campaign to raise $6 million for expansion of its facili-

ties. To promote awareness of the Blaisdell Y and its missions, the facility is offering a membership special whereby the purchase of a 6-month membership includes an additional month’s membership at no charge.

MinutesMotion, Seconded to approve Sep-tember’s CARAG meeting min-utes. Approved.

Motion, Seconded to approve min-utes of the September 24 Special BOD Meeting with deletion of references to attachments, include clarification that every matter is put to a neighborhood vote and to add the statement, “Where required, the Board vote is record-ed separately.” The motion to approve was passed; one nay vote was cast. Pamela Taylor requested to be on record as having voted not to approve the Special BOD Meet-ing minutes.

Treasurer’s report: Anna MatthesThe September CARAG Opera-tions report shows that the check-ing account has a balance of $14,273.86 and asset accounts are valued at $7,187.20 for a total of $21,461.06 as of September 30,

2008. Matthes also presented the Fy08 Spending Summary, which shows that total expenses exceed-ed income in the budget because revenue from sales, such as those generated at the Uptown Art Fair and the Beer Fest, were lower than expected. CARAG’s move to a new office location incurred some unexpected expenses, however rental and phone costs are lower than at the previous location. Asset accounts include three cer-tificates of deposit, which are held to meet emergency expenses.

Motion, Seconded to approve CARAG FY2009 Accounting and Procedures and Practices. Approved.

Motions, Seconded to approve Aaron Rubenstein, Pamela Taylor and Anna Matthes to sign checks and to maintain the account at Bremer Bank. Both motions approved.

Motion, Seconded to approve the CARAG Conflict of Interest Policy. Approved. A copy of this document must be signed annually by each Board member and filed at the CARAG office.

Uptown Neighborhood News Treasurer’s report: Jill BodeBode presented the Profit and Loss statement for Fy08, which shows a net profit of $290.90. The cur-rent balance sheet shows $5,424.21 in the UNN checking account. Copies of the preliminary UNN budget for Fy09 were provided for review. CARAG must approve UNN Accounting Procedures annually.

Motion, Seconded to approve the UNN Accounting Proce-dures. Motion approved with one abstention. CARAG is seeking nominations to serve on the UNN Management Board. Nomination of Anna Matthes was seconded and accepted. Two people will be elected at the November meeting.

zoning Committee: Aaron rubensteinRubenstein reported:

• The Zoning Committee will meet prior to the CARAG November meeting to take a position on the City’s proposal regarding off-street parking standards, which would signifi-cantly reduce off-street parking requirements in commercial areas. A draft document will go out to the Board for finalization prior to submission.

• The City is proposing to change the sign code and has scheduled at meeting for October 30 at 4:30 p.m.

• The City is proposing a 45-day “notice” for neighborhood review when it wants to acquire and redevelop foreclosed prop-erties or demolish and reha-bilitate abandoned properties. This would replace the 45-day “review” period that exists at present. Implications of this change in terminology were considered. Motion, Seconded to ask the Zoning Committee to take up the issue. Approved.

Pamela Taylor moved that all Committee reports be submitted in written format for inclusion in monthly Board Meeting pack-ets. It was agreed that the Board would consider all amendments to Committee practices at the Board retreat in December and come back with recommendations for discussion at a future CARAG meeting. No vote was taken.

Nrp Update: Scott engelEngel reported:

• On September 26 the City Coun-cil approved the creation of the Neighborhood and Community Relations Department and the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission.

• The NRP Steering Commit-tee held a Visioning Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, October 14. CARAG is conducting a survey to gather information about issues important to the neighborhood to determine how to spend its NRP funds. The next NRP Steering Committee meeting is October 28 at 7 p.m. at BSP.

• CARAG needs to select an elec-tor and an alternate to send to the NRP Policy Board elections. The nomination of Pamela Tay-lor was seconded and accepted by acclamation with Aaron Rubenstein serving as alternate.

Page 13: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

NOVEMBER 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • 13 .

East Calhoun Community OrganizationECCO reportECCO meets the first Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, 34th and Irving. All ECCO residents are welcome and urged to attend.

LAKE CALHOUN

Lake St.

36th St.

Hennepin Ave.

Lyndale

Ave

.

Annual Meeting: ECCO Board Meeting Minutes for October 2, 2008. (East Calhoun neighborhood monthly meeting) Minutes recorded and submitted by R. Kean.

Meeting TimeMeetings are on the first Thurs-day each month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. The public is invited to attend.

Board Members presentBruce Grimm (President), Robert Kean, Ted Ringsred, Duane Thor-pe, Carrie Menard, Nancy Ward, Tim Prinsen, Ruth Cain, Michael Ekholm, Elaine Beyer, Gary Far-land, and Ralph Knox.

Total attendance at the meeting was approximately 34 people.

Special thanks to Davanni’s, for their generous donation of pizza for the meeting!

Information fairPrior to the official start of busi-ness, meeting attendees were able to take advantage of an informa-tion fair that included information on NRP grant (Home Security, tree treatment, graffiti remov-al) and information on the new Neighborhood walking group. Attendees also had a chance to get a park board update and discuss issues/concerns with Commission-er Tracy Nordstrom.

east Calhoun Crime Update from Inspector Kris Arneson• Inspector Arneson talked about

the numbers of crimes commit-ted in the East Calhoun neigh-borhood this year compared to previous years.

• There were 109 total crimes so far in 2008, 71 were theft

and 17 were burglary.

• In 2007 there were 107 total crimes, 52 of which were theft and 32 were burglary over a comparable time period.

• In 2006 there were 182 crimes for the whole year, and in 2005 there were 161 crimes for the whole year.

• During the summer this year there were 74 major thefts compared with 82 major thefts in the previous summer

• Overall, we are doing better than last year and reducing the crime in our neighbor-hood!

• In terms of violent crime den-sity, the ECCO neighborhood is doing well.

• Home thefts are being reduced in the ECCO neighborhood

• Police presence in our neigh-borhood has been increased in the past year. This translates to less crime in the area.

• There has been a large decrease in the number of opportunity thefts in the neighborhood. This may be due in part to the increased police presence, but may also be the result of greater atten-tion of residents to closing and locking doors and windows.

• The police are using GPS to help with response times. This system allows the police car clos-est to the crime to respond to it and this has cut down response times an average of 2 minutes.

• The police do not use the city wireless as of yet because there are still dead spots in the cover-age.

• The Police Department would love to hear from the citizens if you think there is anything sus-picious going on. Feel free to call 911.

• Inspector Arneson introduced Jack Kelly and Tom Thomson from the Minneapolis Police who are resources for our neigh-borhood.

• Board Member Nancy Ward reminded neighbors of the ECCO “Stroll Patrol” which walks through the neighborhood each week (see contact informa-

tion below) and the Neighbor-hood Safety meeting which occurs the second Wednesday of each month (meeting at 7 p.m. at Dunn Bros at 34th and Hen-nepin)

eCCO Board elections• A thank you was issued to the

Board members who are retiring (mandatory break from board membership after 2 terms):

• Bruce Grimm, Ted Ringsred and Keith Ruddick.

• Continuing members (in middle of current 2 year term) are Car-rie Menard, Nancy Ward, and Tim Prinsen.

• The nominations for the open board positions were (names of current board members under-lined):

• Ruth Cain, Judy Shields, John Ellis, Anders Imboden, Rob-ert Kean, Mike Ekholm, Gary Farland, Elaine Beyer, Ralph Knox, Brad Durham.

• For Alternate positions: Glen Christianson and Chris Prin-sen.

• The number of candidates exactly matched the number of open positions, so a motion was made to accept the nomina-tions slate without ballot. It was passed. Welcome new ECCO Board.

Announcements• An official thank you was made

to Gael Ellis for her service to the Board as NRP coordinator. The board in currently working on finding a replacement.

• The Stroll Patrol is up and run-ning. They meet weekly and would love to have more neigh-bors involved.

• They usually meet at a warm place (call 612.824.1343 for details on meeting times).

• They try to promote “neigh-bor care.”

• You can come as you are; bring dogs, kids, etc.

• They look for both the good and the bad things in the neighborhood.

• The Uptown Small Area Plan won an award for outstanding planning work from the Min-nesota Chapter of the Ameri-can Planning Association. The plan was judged on innovation, transferability, quality, compre-hensiveness, public participation and collaboration, role of the planner, and effectiveness. The plan was given the award in large part because of its excellent transferability, or ability to be an example for other jurisdictions.

• ECCO no longer has a repre-sentative for the Midtown Gre-enway Coalition. A replacement will be sought at a future meet-ing. The representative does not need to be a board member. Contact President Bruce Grimm at: [email protected] if you are interested.

GUeST SpeAKerSNick Kakos (Nrp policy Board)• The NRP needs the neighbor-

hood’s help to keep the pro-gram as is. The City is working to eliminate the NRP as an independent organization and replace it with a city “Neighbor-hood” department. The NRP board would like the neighbor-

Left to right are new ECCO board members Anders Imboden, John Ellis, Brad Durham and Judy Shields, not pictured. Re-elected to the board at the annual meeting were: Ruth Cain, Robert Kean, Michael Ekholm, Gary Farland, Elaine Beyer and Ralph Knox. Alternates elected were: Glen Christianson and Chris Prinsen. New officer elections will occur at the November 6th meeting.

New At The Helm

hoods to voice their displeasure at the changes to the city.

State representative frank Hornstein• The state is working on educa-

tion funding that will translate into class size reduction.

• The light rail is planned to be expanded in the Southwest metro. There are three possible routes being considered through Minneapolis; two go through the Kenilworth corridor, and one would go East on the gre-enway to Nicollet and then head North to downtown. The final plan will have to meet federal guidelines, or it will not qualify for the federal funds which are necessary to make the project feasible.

• He personally believes that the proposed changes to NRP would improve accountability, which has been somewhat lacking in the program as implemented.

lydia lee (Minneapolis School Board)• Lots of good things are happen-

ing in the schools.

• There are many more kids enrolled in Minneapolis schools than what was pro-

jected for this school year – this is a good problem to have. The school board is in the process of hiring more teachers to bring class sizes back down.

• The Referendum: You should vote yes. The funds will go to keeping teachers employed, and to helping the schools stay cur-rent with technology. With-out the additional funding, up to 350 teachers would be laid off. The money will be used for class size reductions, early literacy programs, technol-ogy in middle schools and high schools, and Math and Sci-ence programs in the schools.

Other Planned speakers, Council-man Ralph Remington and Coun-ty Commissioner Gail Dorfman opted to talk informally with resi-dents during the Information Fair so that the meeting could finish early (allowing residents to view the vice presidential debate). State Senator Scott Dibble was unable to attend owing to other commit-ments that evening.

The next ECCO Board Meeting will take place on November 6, 2008.

Join us at our nextECCO Board and

Neighborhoodmeeting.

Thursday, November 6th, 7:00 PMSt. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church

35th and Irving Ave. S.

Find out what’s happening inEast Calhoun.

All are welcome!

Photo by Bruce Cochran

Marcy Schotanus and Dan Narloch placed 1st in the Male and Female cat-egories of The Krause Cruiser Classic produced by Cal Surf and held on Lake Calhoun on Saturday, October 19. See related story page 1.

Krause Cruiser Classic

Page 14: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

1� • Uptown neighborhood news NOVEMBER 2008

community events calendar

Mainstreet Bank is proud to sponsor the Unn calendar

(Editor’s Note: We will run community event listings every month on this page. Contact [email protected] to submit your event information by the 10th of each month to be included in the next issue.)

DiSCuSSiOn/lECtuREDUNN BROTHERS3348 Hennepin Ave. So.Tues. 7:30 pm, weeklyThe Socrates Cafe is an open meeting. The evening is spent discussing a short list of questions of philosophy that range all over the map from self identity, capital punish-ment, perception and any-thing else in between. Bring your questions and prepare to engage your mind.

JOYCE UNiTED METHODiST CHURCH1219 W. 31st St. • 612.822.5288www.joycechurch.orgSat, Nov 1, 7pm - “Peace, Religion, and Politics” is the topic for an open discussion at Joyce Church’s Spiritual Springboard Coffeehouse. Duane Cady, philosophy professor at Hamline Uni-versity, will facilitate the program. Cady’s teaching and writing focus on peace and social justice. He is the author of From Warism to Pacifism (1989) and Moral Vision: How Everyday Life Shapes Ethical Thinking (2005) and the winner of several teaching awards. All are invited.

ViSuAl ARtSFlANDERS GAllERY3012 Lyndale Ave. S. • 612.344.1700www.flanders-art.comNov 8, 2008 - Jan 1, 2009. Opening reception: Sat, Nov 8, 6-9pm. Exhibi-tions of artwork by Jim Bird, Todd Sev-erson, Genie Castro and Michael Bigger. Todd Severson, local and international artist, has a new set of chainsaw draw-ings. These are paintings on wood with multi-colored layers of enamel that are drawn into with a chainsaw creating a finish that is both surprising and elegant. Genie Castro is a regional artist exhibiting a collection of vibrant abstract monotypes. Michael Bigger is a local well known sculptor with a handsome installation of recent abstract table top sculptures.

SOO ViSUAl ARTS CENTER /TOOMER GAllERY2640 Lyndale Ave. S. • 612.871.2263www.soovac.org Thru Oct 26 – Paper Tiger: Works by John Vogt. John Vogt will delve into the consequences of misguided ambi-tion and other human follies through his new works in Paper Tiger. Vogt pulls imagery from a variety of sources ranging from pop culture to theology, confronting his audience with sym-bols of power and permanence while revealing their inevitable path to self-destruction.

Thru Oct 26 – Minneatures by Plas-ticgod in The Toomer Gallery @ SooVAC. Los Angeles based artist

Plasticgod took to drawing the minute he picked up a pencil at two years of age. A graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena his works are found in the collections of an extensive list of celebrities including Madonna, Michael Jackson and Hugh Hefner. His work is featured on the walls of MTV Real World: Hollywood and he recently completed a limited edition poster for Linkin Park.

Gallery Hours: Wed, 12pm to 6pm, Thur, 12pm to 8pm, Fri, 12pm to 6pm, Sat, 12pm to 4pm.

BOOK CluBSBRYANT lAKE BOWl810 W. Lake St. • 612.825.8949www.bryantlakebowl.comTues, Nov 11, 7pm – Books & Bars. A unique atmosphere for a lively discus-sion of interesting authors, fun people, good food and drinks. October’s book is The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chaon. Living with an old-world mother and rebellious sister, an urban New Jersey misfit dreams of becoming the next J. R. R. Tolkien and believes that a long-standing fam-ily curse is thwarting his efforts to find love and happiness.

ONCE UPON A CRiME BOOKSTORE604 W. 26th St. • 612.870.3785www.onceuponacrimebooks.comWed, Nov 12, 6:30pm-7:30pm - Mys-tery Reading Group. Book for the night is CJ Box’s Open Season. Facili-tated by William Kent Kruege.

WAlKER liBRARY2880 Hennepin Ave. S. • 612.630.6650www.mpls.lib.mn.usThurs, Nov 6, 7pm-7:45pm. Boys Book Club.

AutHOR EVEntSMAGERS AND QUiNN BOOKSEllERS3038 Hennepin Ave. S. • 612.822.4611 www.magersandquinn.comSun, Nov 9, 6pm - Michael Crouser discusses his photo book Dog Run “I find that when I am in the dog runs,

I am nearly invisible to my subjects. . . They play like little boys throwing one another down a hill on the school play-ground. They practice in their play what nature has said they must know. Dominance, defense, breeding and agility. And I am often nearly on top of the dogs in useful obscurity, mak-ing the first pictures of my life that actually make me laugh.” Internation-ally renowned photographer Michael Crouser captures the thrilling inten-sity of dogs at play in his collection of photographs called Dog Run. Crouser

catches both rare and pro-vocative moments—split sec-onds of intense play that give an intimate glimpse into the expressive personalities of his dynamic subjects. The photos were shot in neighborhood dog runs, where the dramatic action is all about dogs being dogs away from the influ-ence of their masters. The stunning photos spotlight the candid interactions of the dogs—chasing, taunting, wrestling, flirting—display-ing the energetic craziness that only emerges when dogs engage with other dogs. The result is a collection of unique images that are raucous, vaguely ferocious, hilarious, and even poignant—much like the dogs themselves. The book is composed of ninety black-and-white photographs and features an insightful foreword by poet Mark Doty. Michael Crouser’s Dog Run offers a surprising and reveal-ing look at the very essence of dogs. Michael Crouser graduated from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. His work can be

found in the permanent collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and is represented by galleries in New York, Santa Fe, Houston and Barce-lona, Spain. He lives in Brooklyn.

FOR KiDS & tEEnSBRYANT SQUARE PARK3101 Bryant Ave. S. • 612.370.4907www.minneapolisparks.orgFri, Oct 31, 6pm-8pm – Halloween Party. We’ll have an outdoor fire with scary stories, a dance party and other ghoulish fun. All ages. Online regis-tration available or contact the location above to register in person.

PAiNTER PARK620 W. 34th St. • 370.4911www.minneapolisparks.orgHalloween Party, Friday, Oct 31, 6pm-8pm. Dinner and treats for the entire family. Free; no registration required.

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs: Oct 27 - Dec 18, 9:30am-Noon – Knee-Hi Adven-ture Session 2. Preschoolers will have a blast with this creative learning expe-rience. They will have the opportu-nity to play, sing, dance, draw, do arts & crafts, learn new games and much more. Ages: Ages 3-5. Mpls. Resident Fee: $235

WAlKER liBRARY2880 Hennepin Ave. S. • 612.630.6650www.mpls.lib.mn.usThursdays, Oct 30, Nov 6, 13, 20, Dec 4, 11, 18, 7 – 7:30pm - Family Story-time. For children ages 2 and up. Share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement with your children.

tHEAtERBRYANT lAKE BOWl810 W. Lake St. • 612.825.8949www.bryantlakebowl.comSun, Nov 2, 7pm (6pm doors) and 9:30pm (9pm doors) - Kitty’s Parlour Burlesques Show presented by The-ater Limina. Economic news got you down? Feeling depressed about your 401(k)? If you’re in need of a little break, take a step in to Kitty’s Parlour, where the liquor flows and the ladies love licentious conversation. The Dow may be down, but our acts will perk you right back up! Join us for The-atre Limina’s third annual burlesque show at the Bryant Lake Bowl Caba-ret, order up your favorite cocktail, and relax into the warm embraces of Ms. Kitty and her salacious sidekicks. $15 advance/$20 day of show. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

COMMunitY/GEt inVOlVEDWAlKER liBRARY2880 Hennepin Ave. S. • 612.630.6650www.mpls.lib.mn.us

Wednesdays, Oct 29 - Dec 17, 12pm-2pm – Conversation Circles in Minneapolis. Non-native Eng-lish speakers: practice your Eng-lish and make new friends in an informal, volunteer-led setting. No registration required. Call 612-630-6069 for more information.

ClASSES/WORKSHOPS/lECtuRESTHE MEN’S CENTER3249 Hennepin Ave. S. #55 • 612.822.5892www.tcmc.org

Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm - Creatively Coping with Combat Trauma. Are you a veteran whose combat experi-ences are still troubling you? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can make it hard to cope with everyday life. It emerges at unexpected times, disrupting your life. It’s common to experience panic, flashbacks, night-mares, disorientation, feeling unreal, family, problems and difficulty relax-ing. You are not alone. A new sup-port group starts in September, based on a whole-body creative experiential approach. Using drama and the arts, you will reconnect with family and community, safely explore traumatic memories, integrate body, mind and feelings, identify and develop strengths and increase coping tools.

DAnCEWAlKER ART CENTER1750 Hennepin Ave • 612.375.7600www.walkerart.orgNov 29, 7:00pm, Nov 29, 9:30pm - Choreographers’ Evening, McGuire Theater. 2008 features: Battlecats, Mag-gie Bergeron & Company, Tim Cam-eron, Jaime Carrera, Mary Easter, Judith Howard, Nicolas Lincoln, SuperGroup, Tamin Totzke and Dustin Haug, Galen Treuer, Emily Tyra and Caroline Fermin, Pramila Vasudevan, and Chris Yon. For more than 30 years, Choreographers’ Evening has served as the major gath-ering for the Twin Cities’ vital inde-pendent dance community. Witness and celebrate the remarkably diverse range of Minnesota dance—from established choreographers playing with new ideas to some of the fresh-est talent on the scene. This evening of short works has ranged from bal-let to clogging, classical Indian dance to Spanish flamenco, dramatic dance-theater to comic vignettes. Curated by Sally Rousse, vaunted dancer/choreog-rapher and cofounder of James Sewell Ballet. Price is $20 ($16 Walker mem-bers) Note: The performance begins in the lobby 15 minutes before showtime.

by Kelly Newcomer

Get down and do the Hokey Pokey at the new, free, communally-led singing and dancing group meeting in the activity room at Painter Park on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Kids shake maracas, dance with a parachute and just sing songs suggested by anyone in the group. This group is aimed at ages 1-5 but anyone is welcome. Facilitated by Kelly Newcomer who will be there with her one-year-old, Rocket. For more info, contact [email protected]. Laurie Sparks, director of Painter Park, is interested in making these types of community activities available to neighbors and she may offer a toddler indoor playtime this winter.

Sun, Nov 9, 6pm - Michael Crouser discusses his photo book Dog Run at Magers And Quinn Booksellers. (see details this page)

CAleNDAr page 15

Photo by Andrea Lane

From left to right: Kelly Newcomer, Spencer Devens, Everett Ronnei, Christy Devens and Rocket Ronnei at Painter Park’s free singing and dancing program.

Kids Sing Out!

Page 15: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News

NOVEMBER 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • 1� .

Got a little junk in the trunk? Sell it or give it away with a FREE UNN classified. CARAG and ECCO residents can run a free classified ad in one UNN issue per year. Free classifieds are limited to 25 words or less and must be non-commercial in nature. After one free ad, classifieds can be run in additional issues for a small fee.

Send your ads to [email protected] or Uptown Neighborhood News Attn: Classifieds 3612 Bryant Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409.

classifieds

SerVICeS

PAINTING\ReMOdeLING int.ext.painting, drywall-sheetrock hang, tape ceiling texturing. wall paper removal, skim coating, Ceil-ing & wall repair, deck staining. honest, friendly, respectful. Fully insured, own all tools. [email protected], 612.825.9959/612.991.6384

Commercial classified ad sales are 40¢ per word, 10-word minimum. Ad and advance payment are due the 15th of the month. please send a check and ad copy to: Uptown Neighborhood News, Attn: Classifieds, 3612 Bryant Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409.

CARPeT CLeANING2 average -sized rooms & a hall $48.95. Upholstery Cleaning: couch $49.95, Love seat $39.95, chairs $29.95. owner oper-ated, 35 years experience. dave 612.721.5105/612.636.3073 or www.orbcarpetcleaning.com

FURNITURe Re UPHOLSTeRY

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THe Uptown neiGhBorhood news

IS NOW AVAIlABle AT THe fOllOWING

lOCATIONS

Amore Victoria

Blue Sky Creamery

Booksmart

Bremer Bank

Bryant Square park

Cheapo records

Chiang Mai Thai

Dunn Brothers (lake & Bryant)

Dunn Brothers (lake & Humbolt)

Dunn Brothers (Hennepin & 34th)

falafel King

famous Dave’s BBQ

first Universalist Church

Gigi’s Café

Hennepin-lake liquors

It’s Greek to Me

Joyce United Methodist Church

la Bodega Tapas Bar

lyndale United Church of Christ

Magers & Quinn Booksellers

Marla’s Indian & Caribbean Cuisine

Mohn electric

parents Automotive

pizza luce

rainbow foods

St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church

Uptown Bar & Café

Uptown Theatre

Urban Bean

Urban earth

Walker At Treetops

Walker library

The Wave Salon

YWCA (Uptown)

FilMBRYANT lAKE BOWl810 W. Lake St. • 612.825.8949www.bryantlakebowl.comWed, Nov 19, 7pm – Cinema Lounge: Where independent filmmakers schmooze and make nice. For more info visit www.ifpmsp.org. Free and presented by IFP/MSP.

MuSiCBARBETTE1600 W. Lake St. • 612.827.5710www.barbette.comMondays, 10pm – Free Late Night

Music Series. Oct 27 - Lil’ Black Blondie.

FAMOUS DAVE’S 3001 Hennepin Ave S. • 612.822.9900www.famousdaves.comOct 24-25 - Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. Oct 29 - Alison Scott. Oct 31 - Reverend Raven.

FiRST UNiVERSAliST CHURCH3400 Dupont Avenue SouthSat, Nov 8, 7:30pm - Battle Of The Jazz Bands featuring Macalester (College) Jazz vs. Universal(ist) Jazz, featuring “The Usual Suspects” and noted jazz guitarist and composer Joan Griffith. Free Admission.

Thank YouSupporting Our Advertisers Supports Your Community

CAleNDAr from 14

BLeSSed HOMe CLeANING SeRVICeS, CHRIST INC.

residential/ Commercial Clean-ing. detail cleaning is our special-ty. honesty & dependability is our foundation. Call 612-408-1771.

ReMOdeLINGwindows and doors replaced. Fin-ish carpentry. Custom tile instal-lation. sheet rock, taping, plaster repair, texturing and painting. Local references, free estimates. tom 612-824-1554.

MASSAGetreat yourself to the pleasure of a massage. hrs 10am-8pm, Uptown so Mpls. 612-298-5223.

SAY GOOdBYe TO HIGH GAS PRICeS

burgundy, ‘94 Mitsubishi galant, great mileage at 30+ Mpg. runs great. 122,000 miles. $2500 obo. 952.994.1762.

fOr SAle

HIGH CHAIRS & WINe RACKhigh chairs, no straps: $5. wine rack: $5. [email protected].

SEASOnAlBRYANT lAKE BOWl810 W. Lake St. • 612.825.8949www.bryantlakebowl.comFri, Oct 31, 8pm - Tonight We Abide: The Big Lebowski Party. Masquerade bowling contest, movies, costume con-test, prizes!

lAKE HARRiET BANDSHEll4135 Lake Harriet Parkwaywww.teamortho.usOct 25, 9am – Monster Half Marathon & Monster Dash. Family Route-Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Minnehaha Parkway Limited to 2000 racers. Con-tact: John Larson: [email protected] Register Online. Registration Closes: Oct 24 at Midnight Central Time.

SUBURBAN WORlD THEATER3022 Hennepin Ave S • 952.471.9500www.suburbanworldtheater.comFri, Oct 31, 8pm-1am – Hip Hop Hal-loween: Featuring Maria Isa, Child of the Black Madonna, Killa Capone, Self Made Hustlas. 8pm-9pm: Com-plimentary Wine Tasting & Hors d’œuvres. Two costume contests and great prizes. $15 advanced, $17 at the door.

Photo by Kay Nygaard-Graham

The Van Dusen Memorial was one of a handful that truly managed to create a “sense of place” by providing a lovely seating area for family and visitors alike to relax and reflect on life’s mysteries. The historic Van Dusen mansion at 1900 LaSalle (just north of Franklin) is also one of the family’s legacies. Shown here, our tour guide, Aaron Rubenstein, enjoys a moment ‘s contemplation in his favorite “sense of place”.

lakewoodThe Jewel In The Crown By Kay Nygaard Graham

If a person’s fancy turns to thoughts of love in the spring, what would a person’s fancy turn to in the fall? Thoughts of the after-life, perhaps? What could be more perfect on a glorious fall day than to celebrate that life (before and after) and our common heritage by exploring our com-munity’s most elegant and beautiful treasure? And so it came to pass that a record turnout of close to 45 people showed up one fine fall Saturday to accompany CARAG’s Aaron Rubenstein on a tour of historic Lakewood Cemetery.

of CARAG’s existence on their behalf. And unfortunately, just as many have not taken the time to read the various neighborhood publications. So given that set of variables, who must shoulder the responsibility for bridging this gap of knowledge? Without question, and without hesitation, we must believe it rests equally on all of us.

In the “golden days” of town hall meetings, everyone was familiar in some way because they depended on each other to make their towns thrive. We need to adopt that same philosophy. In order to have a suc-cessful plan, we need an engaged constituency. We need to seek out and place a high value on as many viewpoints, volunteer efforts and available resources as we can

Nrp from 1 CArAG from 12

Transportation Committee: Brendan JordanJordan distributed a draft memo-randum that outlines CARAG’s issues of concern regarding the Southwest Transitway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and its potential impacts on the Uptown area. Public com-ments on the proposed DEIS will be taken until November 7. It was suggested that CARAG’s previous statement in support of rail in the Greenway corridor be included in the memorandum. CARAG will not take a position on a specific alignment at this time. Jordan was asked to bring the issue of traffic signals at the 3100 block of Dupont and Emerson Avenues to the Committee and report back at the CARAG meeting in Novem-ber.

Uptown Association Update: John DarlingtonThe Uptown Business Associa-tion met on October 21. The group reviewed the 2008 Uptown Art Fair, endorsed a Southwest Rail Alignment that routes the LRT corridor through Uptown and accepted a proposal to hold the Great River Bike Race in June 2009; route to be determined. With the goal of improving rela-tionships with the residential com-munity, the Association is seeking participation from neighbors and non-Board members, particularly in CARAG, in visioning its role. The Association wants to pro-mote a healthy business presence in Uptown and function as a voice for the neighborhood.

Committee policy: Aaron rubensteinBoard adoption of the Commit-tee policy was tabled until the Board retreat in December. John Darlington, Maren Nowicki and Pamela Taylor have expressed interest in serving on the Per-sonnel Committee. Rick Boyko, having served previously on this committee, will be approached to serve again. It was decided to wait until the Board retreat to discuss

the Personnel Committee and its membership.

Motion, Seconded that the December 16 CARAG meeting be canceled in favor of holding a half-day Board retreat on the proposed date of Saturday, December 13. Motion approved with one absten-tion. Taylor suggested that Board training precede the Board retreat. No decision was made.

Community Input and Announcements: Aaron rubensteinSecretary Maren Nowicki stated that due to the tight deadline for submission of CARAG meet-ing minutes for publication in the Uptown Neighborhood News, review by the CARAG Board prior to publication may not always be feasible.

AdjournMotion, Seconded to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Approved.

unearth. We need to conduct face to face gatherings in as many plac-es within our community as we can find. We are a diverse group of people and therefore we have unique ways of being. We must make our way, not only boldly, but without fear, into those places and graciously welcome what we can learn about each other. For our lives are no longer what they used to be. And, neither, for that matter, is NRP. So we must take time to recognize this for what it really is: an opportunity, under the guise of neighborhood revitaliza-tion, to come together as a vibrant and thriving community. You can count me in. Can I count on you?

Pamela D. Taylor is a new member of the CARAG Board and lives in CARAG.

Page 16: November 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News