January 14, 2016

Where We Live

Neighborhood Spotlight.

A new Journals’ feature spotlighting important community causes Page B2

There’s so much to love about Lyn-Lake Page B3

January 14–27, 2016 Vol. 27, No. 1 southwestjournal.com

Board of Education cuts ties with Páez One potential superintendent is dropped and another faces community opposition

By Dylan Thomas / dthomas@southwestjournal.com

The Board of Education cut ties with Sergio Páez on Jan. 12, just one month after it selected the former superintendent from Holyoke, Mass., as the next leader of Minneapolis Public Schools.

But attempts to settle the superintendent question that night were derailed in a way that revealed fissures among board members and between the board and segments of the

community. After protests disrupted the meeting, a decision on the district’s next leader was tabled until February.

Páez Páez won votes from six of nine board members in December, but an ongoing inves-

tigation into the alleged abuse of students in Holyoke cast a shadow on him. The board voted unanimously to terminate contract negotiations with Páez.

“That sort of doubt starting off a superintendency would not serve our district well,” Board Member Josh Reimnitz said.

Goar has led the district since former superintendent Bernadeia Johnson resigned just over

a year ago and won votes from the remaining three board members at that December meeting. Fresh off a weekend retreat and eager to demonstrate unity, the board still struggled to decide between offering the job to the runnerup and re-opening the superintendent search.

“We have to be fair and we have to be genuine,” Board Member Siad Ali, who voted for SEE SUPERINTENDENT / PAGE A14

Park supt. proposes $300M referendum for November election

By Eric Best / ebest@southwestjournal.com

A crucial role Tiffany Doherty in her classroom at Anwatin Middle School. Photos by Annabelle Marcovici

Teachers of color share perspectives on life in the classroom

Story and Photos by Annabelle Marcovici

T

iffany Doherty loves teaching, and it shows. The wall behind her desk at Anwatin Middle School in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood is covered with notes from grateful students.

A couple of examples: “I <3 YOU MS. DOHERTY” and “Ms. Doherty is my favorite teacher.”

“One of my best times in teaching, was one day I was telling some story as intro to lesson,” she said. “A kid looked over at the person next to them and they were like, ‘Hold on, wait, is this math?’”

She laughed warmly and for a moment it’s hard to tell she’s talking about a topic that, like math, is more often discussed with stern faces and solemn tones: racial inequity in Minneapolis public schools.

Doherty is one of a very few teachers of color in Minneapolis, a district where 67 percent of the students are not white and 87 percent of teachers are, according to Dirk Tedmon, communications specialist for Minneapolis Public Schools. While the national diver-

sity gap between students and teachers has been growing in recent years, Minneapolis’ numbers are especially stark compared to other big cities.

A recent report by the Albert Shanker Institute found that across nine major U.S. cities—Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.—white teachers make up 80 percent of the workforce on average. Despite numerous studies that show both white and non-white students benefit from having teachers of color, those numbers have been slow to budge.

With the district’s renewed commitment to equity as part of its Acceleration 2020 initiative, which aims to close the achievement gap between white and non-white students by 2020, it’s time to look closer at how the diversity gap fits into the problems facing Minneapolis schools.

SEE TEACHERS / PAGE A12

Minneapolis Park Superintendent Jayne Miller presented a plan Jan. 6 for a November referendum that would generate roughly $300 million for the city’s 157 neighborhood parks over the next two decades.

The proposal, which hasn’t been approved by park commissioners yet, would generate about $15 million per year in order to address a growing $140 million gap in backlogged funding necessary to maintain the system.

Miller recommended the referendum begin with 2018 taxes in order to ready the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for the additional park spending.

Miller estimates the additional funds, which would be tied to the city’s taxable property base, would cost taxpayers with a $190,000 home about $65 a year, those with $300,000 homes about $111 a year and those with $450,000 homes about $173 annually.

Commissioners, many of which have voiced approval for a referendum, are expected to vote on the superintendent’s proposal on Jan. 20.

The Park Board cannot put the proposal before voters by itself. If approved, Miller said the board would reach out by Feb. 1 to the City Council and the city’s Charter Commission, which are able to move it onto the November ballot. The board could also get on the ballot through the state Legislature or through a citizen petition, which Miller said she is also SEE REFERENDUM / PAGE A11

A2 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

WHITTIER TAKES FIRST LOOK AT ‘REX 26’ PROJECT AT 26TH & LYNDALE

By Michelle Bruch / mbruch@southwestjournal.com

The developer Master is proposing a four- or five-story building for the southeast corner of 26th & Lyndale, negotiating with a national retailer to occupy the first floor with apartments above.

Master Principal Don Gerberding said he could not yet confirm the business, though he distributed documents indicating the retailer Aldi, with the name covered in white-out.

One development option would place three levels of housing above the retail, topping out at about 59 feet. The apartments would consist of 45 one-bedroom and 31 two-bedroom units.

A taller option would install four levels of housing above the retail at a height of about 70 feet, with an additional 24 units.

Gerberding estimated pricing at $2–$2.10 per square foot, or $1,000 per month for 500 square feet.

Two floors of underground parking would provide 100 spaces for residents and 60 free spaces for retail guests, he said.

The project would encompass six lots, including the former Rex Hardware site and houses at 2609, 2613, 2617 and 2621 Lyndale Ave. S. The incoming ownership group has a purchase agreement for all six lots, set to close in late February.

Gerberding said he’s planning a canopy above the retail, and said he’s aiming for a contemporary design.

“I think we’ve got enough brick and stone

Kaslow, Michael SWJ 011416 H2.indd 1

A preliminary sketch of Rex 26. Submitted image

down the street,” he said.

Resident Laura Jean requested that independent businesses occupy the 20,000-square-foot retail space, rather than one large corporate chain.

Resident Giancarlo Casale said he’s disappointed to see chain stores like Starbucks and CVS occupy new developments. Casale lives near a new project slated for 26th & Stevens, and said his neighbors are betting on whether the new retail will be Jimmy John’s or Subway.

Mark Trehus, owner of Treehouse Records, said he wants to see more density, but said he also doesn’t like the idea of a national chain on the corner. He called the

proposal huge and “ostentatious.”

One man in attendance said he didn’t think the area would turn into a “big mall,” however, and said a mix of chains and independent shops can work at the right equilibrium.

“The vibrancy of the community is reliant on a broad range of choice,” Gerberding said.

“I think the two can cohabitate within the community.”

Erica Christ of the Black Forest Inn said she’s concerned developers are overbuilding small units, and she pushed for more large apartments in the mix.

Resident Jen Kader echoed that she sees friends leaving Whittier in search of a guest

room or space to start a family. The neighborhood rent price for larger units is out of reach for many, she said.

Gerberding said market studies show strong ongoing demand for small units. He said builders could continue construction at the current rate for at least three years without hitting absorption.

Some residents voiced traffic concerns, and the group discussed ideas for traffic calming in the area.

Gerberding said he hopes that as Minneapolis becomes more dense, it will become harder to drive and people will increasingly SEE REX 26 / PAGE A7

1/5/16 3:11 PM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A3

MINNEAPOLIS LAKES SPECIALIST

By Michelle Bruch / mbruch@southwestjournal.com

LE

LE

A RS

A RS

FO

FO

4545 York Ave S, Minneapolis · $524,900

4517 Drexel Ave, Edina · $1,095,000

Call today for a FREE market analysis

(612) 860-8679

Learn more at ZebHaney.com

Haney, Zeb SWJ 123115 6.indd 1

The large bar at Scena Tavern serves house-made vermouth and more than 100 gins. Photo by Michelle Bruch

LAKE & GIRARD

Scena Tavern There are plenty of seats at the large bar taking center stage at the two-story Scena Tavern, now open at 2943 Girard Ave. S. Consulting chef Erik Anderson said he feels most at home behind the crudo bar, where they’re preparing diver-caught fresh scallops and hosting $100 10-course crudo and cocktail pairings.

All of the bread is baked in-house — including focaccia, pretzel roll and sourdough, stacked on the edge of the counter in front of a flaming oven.

The piadini (pizza) come with ingredients like scrambled eggs and cotechino (an Italian

sausage). Anderson said he loves the “super simple” manila clam piadini with white wine, parsley and dried chilies.

“I think the food is really simple and really tasty,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun to cook too.”

Scena offers more than 100 selections of gin, and Bittercube is also making its own vermouth to pour into martinis like “2:1,” made with broker’s gin, mother’s dry vermouth and orange bitters.

Also, take note of the clock over the fireplace — each color of flashing light denotes the hour, minutes and seconds and does indeed report the time.

12/21/15 4:32 PM

CALL SHANNON — SHE’S THE LOCAL EXPERT!

26 Shannon Plourde Realtor® 612.298.4623 shannon@shannonplourde.com

Each office is independently owned and operated. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

If your home is currently listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solication of that listing.

38TH & NICOLLET

Plourde, Shannon SWJ 031215 6.indd 1

3/3/15 3:09 PM

Little Box Sauna Arriving just in time for sub-zero weather, “Little Box Sauna” is open to the public at 38th & Nicollet thru Jan. 30.

The mobile wooden sauna is an experimental “creative placemaking” concept by designers Molly Reichert and Andrea Johnson, and it’s traveling throughout the metro this winter. The sauna heats up to

a maximum allowable 194 degrees, and signups span two hours.

The Lander Group and The 612 Sauna Society are sponsoring the sauna. Online registration is available at $16 per person or free to those who live within a mile of 38th & Nicollet. For more information, visit 612saunasociety.com

LHD sponsors

24TH & BLAISDELL

Indie Business Awards The inaugural Twin Cities Indie Business Awards is now taking nominations to honor five local, independent businesses for their impact on the community.

“So many of our locally-owned, independent businesses fly under the radar, and we are excited to draw attention to businesses who are often overlooked but have been dedicated to serving their customers for years,” Metro Independent Business Alliance Executive Director Mary Hamel said in a statement.

“This is our opportunity to give some muchdeserved recognition to those businesses who contribute to their communities in ways not necessarily recognized.”

The awards will be presented May 18 at the The Blaisdell at 24th & Blaisdell. Nominations are accepted thru Feb. 22, and forms are available through the “MetroIBA / Buy Local Twin Cities” Facebook page.

Dr. Kordie Reinhold’s Mission Trip to the Philippines & Give Kids a Smile Dr. Kordie Reinhold Dr. Peter Hinke Dr. Chas Salmen Dr. Jane Puntillo

We welcome new patients!

4289 Sheridan Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55410 www.lindenhillsdentistry.com (612) 922-6164 Linden Hills Dentistry SWJ 011416 6.indd 2

1/6/16 11:05 AM

A4 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

Get the smile you’ve always wanted!

INVISALIGN AS LOW AS $2800 • Everyday price, not a special or discount • Free consultations • Most crowns completed in one visit

BEFORE

AFTER

CASEY NELSON, DDS Book your appointment at nicolletdental.com or call 612-866-8550 Nicollet Dental SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

12/28/15 2:37 PM

Rashad West is the new owner of Dragon Wok at 38th & Nicollet. Photo by Michelle Bruch

38TH & NICOLLET

Dragon Wok Hot Wok Delivery is renamed Dragon Wok, and it’s under new ownership by one of the staffers who helped build out the restaurant.

Owner Rashad West said people from all over Minnesota come in for the spring rolls.

He said he buys the veggies and meat fresh

each morning, and staff make all the sauces from scratch.

“It’s as fresh as we could make it,” he said.

“It’s a little more work, and takes a little longer, but I think the taste comes through.”

FULTON

Paisley + Sparrow A jewelry purchase is no small thing for Jen Biswas, who founded the online shop Paisley + Sparrow to support social justice groups around the world. “… Every item in my shop has a purpose and a story behind it,” she said.

She carries Soresa earrings handmade from melted-down bullet casings by HIV-positive women in Ethiopia. She’s currently the only seller for a group of widows in one Tanzanian village who make baskets.

“There are not a lot of ways for income there, it’s a really poor part of Tanzania,” she said.

Biswas has a degree in community health — she continues to blog about topics like winter running — and she worked for a time in the health and financial industries.

The idea for the shop came out of Biswas’ participation in the World Race, which sends people to 11 countries in 11 months to work with nonprofits and ministries. She met groups that employed women who had been abducted or trafficked or diagnosed HIV-positive.

“A lot of them really struggled with an outlet to sell their stuff,” she said.

One big seller on the site is a chevron necklace under the brand Purpose/ iSanctuary, made by women who were formerly trafficked and now receive educa-

Jen Biswas, founder of the online shop Paisley + Sparrow, sells products made by women around the world. Photo by Lydia Hartnett

tion, counseling and a job.

“It’s giving people an opportunity to make a difference from the house, just by spending money a little bit differently,” she said.

For more information, visit paisleyandsparrow.com.

Noted The Jonathan Adler store at 1439 W. Lake St. closes Jan. 23, according to news reports. The store opened in 2012.

Mpls Youth Baseball DTJ 011416 6.indd 1

1/11/16 4:25 PM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A5

Realtor® and Lakes Area Homeowner for Over 30 Years Butter Bakery Café owner Dan Swenson-Klatt is celebrating 10 years in business. Photo

by Michelle Bruch

612.229.5415

Visit

JimGrandbois.com

“Jim handles details, steadies emotions, and executes with confidence. Awesome!”

— Bill A. 2015 Seller in Linden Hills

37TH & NICOLLET

Butter Bakery Café celebrates 10th anniversary Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

After 10 years, Dan Swenson-Klatt has gone from hundred-hour workweeks to the luxury of time-off to recover from surgery — that’s shoulder surgery due to years of stirring, chopping and lifting.

“I thought it was the kind of shop where I would do it all myself,” he said. “I had to give that up pretty quickly.”

Butter has always aimed to be firmly embedded in the community, serving refreshments for the Jungle Theater and events at South High School, among many others. As a former middle school teacher, Swenson-Klatt said he can always pick out the teachers in line.

“In my heart I’m less of a restaurant, I’m more of a community center,” he said.

The menu is a reflection of community as well. Swenson-Klatt borrows menu items from restaurants like the Angry Trout Café in Grand Marais, which gave him the recipe for the wild rice salad. The Beet Burger recipe came from a little café in Milwaukee. Many of the soups are Swenson-Klatt’s family recipes, and he’s made the scones for years.

“For all the bakers, that’s their test,” he said.

“They take my recipe and see what they can do with it.”

Butter employs youth who live above the restaurant at Nicollet Square, which houses young people exiting homelessness or foster care. He estimates that at least 20 youth have interned at Butter, and he’s hired four on perma-

nently over the years. He’s been glad to break down barriers for kids feeling isolated. Whenever a new intern starts, he thinks: “Who in my customer base will connect with them?”

Butter also pays attention to sustainability.

Paper towels in the restroom are compostable and a sign challenges each customer to use only one. A boulevard garden takes advantage of otherwise unused space. And SwensonKlatt has spent years searching for the perfect compostable cup, challenging suppliers to meet his specifications.

Butter has worked with Big River Farms since the beginning, which trains immigrant and refugee farmers. The kitchen learned to adapt to local farms’ surges and shortfalls in produce — experimenting with unusual greens in quiche, and brainstorming soup recipes to take advantage of plentiful squash.

“I’m appreciative that customers have that sense of adventure, and staff are willing to be creative,” he said.

Butter has plenty of regulars; the Clint sandwich is named for one of them. At least twice a week, a group of women gather at Butter after water aerobics class — in the water, they pretend they’re taking sips of coffee. They’ve been coming for years, back when Butter was a tiny spot on Grand.

“They’re worth opening the door every day,” Swenson-Klatt said.

Grandbois, Jim SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

1/6/16 9:17 AM

A thorough tour of Twin Cities schools always includes a visit to City of Lakes Waldorf School, the vibrant alternative in education.

Join us for an upcoming group tour: January 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28 or schedule a personal tour: 612-767-1502 or admissions@clws.org City of Lakes Waldorf SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

MINNEAPOLIS, MN clws.org 1/12/16 12:23 PM

A revised hotel design at Lake & Emerson stands six stories on Lake and five stories at the building’s south end. Rendering

by Collage Architects, image courtesy of CARAG

LAKE & EMERSON

Hotel A proposed hotel at the corner of Lake & Emerson has dropped from nine stories (84 feet) to six stories (69 feet), according to the CARAG neighborhood.

According to the neighborhood group: The hotel is now reduced from 144 rooms to 123, and the building’s south side would step down to five stories (58 feet). A Planning Commission hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 25 to approve the height, building footprint, floor area ratio and rezoning.

The design changes come after Graves Hospitality heard concerns about the proposed height. While some neighbors have raised concerns about height and parking, others are welcoming new development.

Nearby resident Scott Merth said a hotel would be good for the area, and said he’s interested in seeing the neighborhood lose some of its surface parking lots.

“We’ll get some life back into that corner,” he said.

Oliveri, Tony SWJ 052115 6.indd 2

5/19/15 1:41 PM

A6 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

f o s t lo

By Sarah McKenzie / smckenzie@southwestjournal.com

City hit $1.4 billion in new construction in 2015

He sells homes in your neighborhood RodHelm.com REALTOR®

Your neighborhood realty expert Contact Rod Helm at: 952-924-6246 RHelm@cbburnet.com Helm, Rod SWJ 020711 6.indd 1

1/25/11 3:20 PM

GET A JUMP ON SPRING!

City officials said Minneapolis closed 2015 with $1.389 billion in building permits — the fourth consecutive year the city has surpassed $1 billion in new construction.

In 2014, the city hit $2 billion in construction with large projects like the new U.S Bank Stadium and Ryan Cos.’ Downtown East development accounting for a big chunk of that total.

Mayor Betsy Hodges said the continued confidence investors have in the city will fuel economic growth into the future.

“I remain committed to making sure that milestones like this continue to happen as we work together to transform Minneapolis into a globally recognized city,” she said.

Hotel development was especially hot in 2015 with four new projects and one remodel. The development of new rental housing projects also continued at a fast clip with the city issuing permits for 17 new apartment developments.

Panel studying paid sick time policies holding listening sessions

The perfect running shoe is waiting for you at Fleet Feet Marathon Sports

A 15-member task force charged with making recommendations on paid sick time proposals for workers in Minneapolis is holding several listening sessions this month.

The new Workplace Partnership is scheduled to report back to the City Council on Feb. 24 with recommendations on possible paid sick time policies.

Here’s the upcoming schedule: • Jan. 14: Small business, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at Bryant Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St.

2312 W. 50th St, Mpls | 612-920-2606 | MarathonRunWalk.com Marathon Sports SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

A total of 1,571 new housing units were added to the city, according to the city’s Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department.

Another highlight includes the construction of the new headquarters for Xcel Energy at 4th & Nicollet.

CPED director D. Craig Taylor said it’s exciting to see such a “robust mix” of new development.

“These projects not only grow our economy and make our city a more vibrant place for people to live, but they also play an important role in creating sustainable jobs in a wide variety of industries and communities,” he said.

The city’s 3rd Ward, which includes downtown, northeast and southeast Minneapolis neighborhoods, had the highest number of building permits issued in 2015 with a total valuation of $558.3 million.

1/8/16 11:31 AM

• Jan. 14: Downtown-based businesses, 4:30– 6:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Downtown Council, Skyline Conference Room, 81 S. 9th St., Suite 260.

• Jan. 17: Hospitality/service industry, 7–8:30 p.m. at Aster Café’s River Room, 125 SE Main St.

• Jan. 28: Public health/health care, 2–4 p.m. at Allina Commons’ Pettingill Hall (lower level), 2925 Chicago Ave. S. Additional listening sessions will be scheduled as well. For more information, go to minneapolismn.gov/workplacepartnership.

The City Council voted unanimously Oct. 23 to create the Workplace Partnership after tabling discussions on policy proposals that grew out of Mayor Betsy Hodges’ Working Families Agenda.

Policies calling for advance notice of schedules for workers and paid sick time for all employees at Minneapolis businesses faced pushback from some business leaders.

About 40 percent of the city’s workers lack paid sick time and they are disproportionately low-wage workers of color.

Vikings and Wells Fargo’s sign dispute moves to federal court The Vikings’ lawsuit against Wells Fargo over a rooftop sign dispute is now in federal court.

The football team alleges Wells Fargo is violating an agreement by installing mounted and illuminated rooftop signs on its two new 17-story officers towers, essentially photo bombing the new stadium during television broadcasts.

The complaint states: “This prohibited action must be stopped immediately because not only do the new signs violate the parties’ agreement, they also adversely affect U.S. Bank Stadium’s iconic image.”

The Vikings assert that their agreement with Wells Fargo only allows non-mounted and non-illuminated rooftop signs so they wouldn’t complete with the stadium’s U.S. Bank logo.

The team is seeking a court order mandating Wells Fargo remove the rooftop signs and lose its right to place any new rooftop signage on the towers.

Meanwhile, John Hobot, a spokesman for Wells Fargo, said: “We are satisfied with the signage package that was approved for our new campus in the historic Downtown East neighborhood and we will vigorously defend our case in federal court.”

The Vikings announced a 20-year naming rights deal with U.S. Bank for the stadium in June, but declined to disclose terms of the deal.

Construction on the $1.1 billion stadium is about 85 percent complete. The Vikings are scheduled to play their first pre-season game in the new stadium in August 2016.

Ryan Companies is overseeing construction of the Wells Fargo towers as part of a $400 million development project next to the stadium. The office towers are on track to open by April 2016.

The new Commons park will be located in front of the towers — a 4.2-acre green space that is being designed by Hargreaves Associates.

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A7

We are so proud of our work, we put our name on it!

Signs of momentum for the Upper Harbor Terminal site A new vision for the city’s Upper Harbor Terminal site on the Mississippi River is coming into sharper focus.

The City Council’s Community Development & Regulatory Services Committee voted Jan. 5 to allow city staff to start working with Park Board officials on an agreement outlining how to proceed with a redevelopment plan for the 50-acre city-owned parcel on the upper riverfront.

The full Council will consider the committee’s action at its Jan. 15 meeting.

The Upper Harbor Terminal in North Minneapolis operated as a commercial barging terminal from the 1960s until the end of 2014.

Now city leaders are moving ahead with plans to redevelop the site into a destination park with private development and other amenities.

City Council President Barb Johnson (Ward 4) said she’s hopeful the site will attract strong interest from developers given the success of riverfront revitalization efforts in other parts of the city and the recent closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. The lock closed in June after more than 50 years in operation in an effort to prevent the spread of invasive carp.

“I am celebrating this day,” Johnson said at the Council committee meeting. “This offers us the next step in redeveloping our riverfront. …

It’s just going to be fantastic.”

City Council Member Lisa Goodman (Ward 7) said it’s taken the city five decades to get to this point.

She also commended city staff for clearly outlining ways to measure the success of redevelopment, which include: creating a “firstclass” regional park for North Minneapolis

and the metro area as a whole, attracting high quality private development that includes jobs that will benefit residents of North Minneapolis, bringing a significant “riverfront-oriented destination” to the site near Dowling Avenue, adding a tribute to the history of site, incorporating sustainable features, connecting the site to the “fabric of the community” and achieving “equitable development principles.”

A tentative timeline envisions a call for developers to work on the redevelopment project in the spring with responses due in August and the selection of a developer by the end of 2016, according to a staff report presented to the Council. City staff and park staff if they choose to be involved would then work on crafting a redevelopment plan.

The City Council adopted a legislative agenda early 2015 that included seeking special tax-increment financing (TIF) legislation to help facilitate the redevelopment of the Upper Harbor Terminal site.

Ann Calvert, a principal project coordinator for CPED, has said the site has the potential to attract $100 million in private development and thousands of jobs if it can attract a business park and other mixed-use development.

To get ready for redevelopment, the site needs to be cleared, an overhead electrical transmission needs to be moved and new streets have to be built.

City officials are seeking special TIF legislation because current TIF legislation requires sites to have blighted buildings, not blighted infrastructure, as is the case with the Upper Harbor Terminal.

952.926.7696

I’m your neighbor.

Call me for a free consultation!

Customized full-service dental care, including implants for missing teeth.

66th & France, Southdale Medical Center, Edina / marthabakerdds.com Baker, Martha SWJ 111915 6.indd 3

11/12/15 3:03 PM

RE/MAX Results

5912 Dupont Avenue South $599,900 A beautiful home designed for the way you live! Enjoy modern day conveniences; open and spacious floor plan, main floor office, upper level laundry, huge mudroom, attached garage!

Judge orders Met Council to share SWLRT documents

612.817.2805

team@mattengengroup.com

mattengengroup.com

real estate redefined.

A federal judge has ordered Metropolitan Council to share documents concerning Southwest Light Rail planning with a citizens group that aims to halt the $1.77-billion project.

Lakes and Parks Alliance of Minneapolis is seeking communications records that could shed light on the decision to route light rail through Minneapolis’ Kenilworth Corridor.

The alliance has argued Met Council violated state and federal law by settling on the route before a full environmental review was completed.

On Monday, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Steven Rau gave Met Council 15 days to respond to the alliance’s request for discovery.

“We’re reviewing our options and haven’t made a decision,” Laura Baenen, a spokesperson for the Met Council’s SWLRT Project

Office, said when reached for comment Monday evening.

Met Council plans to release the results of an updated environmental review later this year. A draft environmental impact statement was made public in 2012, but that was before SWLRT plans were changed to include a shallow tunnel for light rail trains in the Kenilworth Corridor.

In August, U.S. District Court Judge John Tunheim denied the alliance’s request for a summary judgment in the case. But Tunheim also warned Met Council it was “dangerously close to impermissibly prejudicing the ongoing environmental review process.”

FROM REX 26 / PAGE A2

The project as currently proposed would need a conditional use permit for height and a variance to reduce a south-side setback from the required 13 feet to nine feet.

Gerberding said plans are “not etched in stone,” and said he plans to return to a Whittier meeting next month. He said he would likely flip the current design so that a large secondfloor terrace fronts Lyndale, an idea supported by residents in attendance.

choose not to drive.

Responding to questions, Gerberding said he is exploring alternative energy forms, will look into composting, and expects to install some form of greenhouse on the roof. He said he liked the suggestion of raised bed garden plots for residents.

The loading dock, trash and recycling would be handled inside the building.

MARTHA BAKER, DDS

— Dylan Thomas

Engen, Matt SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

1/5/16 11:22 AM

A8 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

PUBLISHER Janis Hall jhall@southwestjournal.com

CO-PUBLISHER & SALES MANAGER Terry Gahan 612-436-4360 tgahan@southwestjournal.com

EDITOR Sarah McKenzie 612-436-4371 smckenzie@southwestjournal.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR Dylan Thomas 612-436-4391 dthomas@southwestjournal.com

STAFF WRITERS Michelle Bruch mbruch@southwestjournal.com

Eric Best ebest@southwestjournal.com

CONTRIBUTORS Margie O’Loughlin Stephanie Glaros Loren Green Layne Kennedy Annabelle Marcovici CREATIVE DIRECTOR Dana Croatt dcroatt@southwestjournal.com

CLIENT SERVICES Zoe Gahan 612-436-4375 zgahan@southwestjournal.com

Lauren Walker 612-436-4383 lwalker@southwestjournal.com

Emily Schneeberger 612-436-4399 eschneeberger@southwestjournal.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Valerie Moe vmoe@southwestjournal.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda Wadeson awadeson@southwestjournal.com

By Jim Walsh

All the young dudes

T

he most oft-repeated mantras on Facebook the Day David Bowie Died were, “David Bowie helped me fly my freak flag,” “David Bowie helped me feel less alone” and “David Bowie inspired me.” Some fans threw up their hands at the thought of saying anything at all, unable to properly eulogize such a hot creative flame gone, poof, so they clammed up altogether.

His music flew all across the globe Monday, and as post after post flew by it was as if all the glitter and stardust that Bowie had been sprinkling on us all these years had finally landed and actually rubbed off, and so now we all wanted to report in and testify, that we had a ticket stub or a story.

I discovered Bowie in all his androgynous rock ‘n’ roll star glory when I was a 15-year-old Catholic kid looking for adventure, and while I have many lifealtering memories of my times spent with his music (starting with dancing to the Suicide Commandos’ blistering version of “Suffragette City” at Regina High School) one of my favorites came on his 69th birthday, last Friday, at Studio 2 Café in South Minneapolis.

The night started out with the former Java Jack’s and DevJam owner David Hussman and I toasting Bowie’s birthday and talking about “Heroes,” an epic and emotionally-wrenching and uplifting song I’ve had the honor of singing at First Avenue with the Rock For Pussy crew a couple times, and which I discovered Friday night that David has deep recording knowledge of.

Hussman and I have become friends over the last year, as he and his wife Andrien Thomas and their family have worked hard to bring live music and the Mad Ripple Hootenanny back to the corner of 46th and Bryant. And while we share similar communitybuilding and live music missions, our main conversational bond as rock dudes has been Bowie.

“David Bowie” has always been shorthand for a particular freedom and freedom of expression, sexuality, and otherworldly enthralling ROCK, and, so, as so many have said since Bowie succumbed to cancer Sunday, he was and remains a voice for all sorts of eternal teenagers, aliens, freaks and space travelers. So it was perfect when, after Friday’s live music concluded, Hussman dialed up his iPod and right there in that sleepy little neighborhood a small

dance party broke out to Bowie’s “Golden Years,” “Fame,” “Young Americans,” and “Let’s Dance.”

I thought of Bowie that night, and his brilliant infectious smile and confidant roar, and how tickled he’d have been at the sights and sounds of his music transforming a cozy little family bistro into a minidisco on his birthday. Sweet.

I didn’t think much about it at the time, but as rocker/author Laurie Lindeen put it when I interviewed her for a story about Rock For Pussy in 2008, “Bowie is everything that appeals to me in one package, which is rare: beauty, fashion, great songwriting, acoustic songs and rockers, the whole package. I’ve always gone through androgynous stages — boyish stages and really girly-girl stages — and I realize that guys don’t have that freedom at all. So he was probably much more helpful to guys, to say, ‘You can have these phases too, and we’re all cool.’”

That was me, and my friends. We grew up amid the sexual and political freedoms of the glitterbombed ’70s, and as the Studio 2 Cafe minidance party reminded me, I knew in my bones it all stuck with me for good. After high school, I’d continue listening to and writing about Bowie,

saw him twice in concert, and for a couple years running on the morning after Rock For Pussy, I had to explain to the Little League umpires why the coach of the Lynnhurst team was wearing slept-on rouge and lipstick.

These nights my Bowie fix has been sated by John Eller, who mans the Tuesday night piano bar at Nye’s Polonaise Room in Northeast Minneapolis with real artistry and generosity. Nye’s is now rumored to be shuttering at the end of February, and when it does, gone will be the monster magic sound of Eller expertly ripping through the Bowie catalogue, and leading people in all those great songs, and the sight of strangers’ faces transformed in recognition of all those great songs, and in their own supremely unique connection to all those great songs.

Time and again I’ve seen it happen: They really can’t believe what they’re hearing; that it’s Davidfricking-Bowie being played so well and with so much heart and grit. They become teens again, or they remember the teen they were, or the time they discovered Bowie amid all their own ch-chch-changes. It’s a beautiful thing to behold and I’m heartened to know that Johnny will be playing his broken heart out this Tuesday night at Nye’s and that there and all across the known and unknown universe, Bowie’s music will never die.

Speaking of which, of loss and love, my friend Mike Wiley buried his 26-year-old daughter Lauren this week. My brother Terry sang Van Morrison’s “Into The Mystic” at St. Joan’s at the memorial service Wednesday, then he reprised it at Lee’s Liquor Lounge Saturday night with the full Belfast Cowboys band as Mike and his wife Janey danced.

I will never forget the sight of Mike under that mirror ball, just days after his daughter’s funeral, dancing with his love, and Lauren’s friends dancing and singing as one hive gang, and it made me feel once again that music has healing powers beyond our understanding and that those who really truly hear it and play it truly never die.

That’s all I’ve got. Ouch. Tears. Good night. David Bowie is dead and I’m freaking sad.

Jim Walsh lives and grew up in East Harriet. He can be reached at jimwalsh086@gmail.com

DISTRIBUTION Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 distribution@southwestjournal.com

ADVERTISING sales@southwestjournal.com 612-436-4360 PRINTING ECM, Inc.

NEXT ISSUE DATE: JAN. 28 News deadline: Jan. 20 Ad deadline: Jan. 20 37,000 copies of the Southwest Journal are distributed free of charge to homes and businesses in Southwest Minneapolis.

A note from the publisher about our new ‘Where We Live’ feature We live in a remarkable city and it can be easy to take what we have for granted. Minneapolis is special due, in part, to the sheer number of groups and organizations that help those who, for whatever reason, are in need.

We at Southwest Journal and the Journal are using our voice to bring attention to just a few of the groups who make this city a better place.

Over the next year, in a project we’re calling “Where We Live,” we will profile 26 charitable organizations based in Minneapolis that serve

the homeless, seniors, youth, recent immigrants, and more. (See page B2 in the Focus section.) We only wish we had room to bring attention to every organization that serves our community.

The list is homegrown, compiled and voted on by our staff. We’ll certainly hear of many more organizations that merit coverage and as the year goes on, we’ll revise our list as needed.

We’re very excited about this project and hope that by bringing attention to these groups,

we can help them in their work of making this city more equitable for all.

I’d like to thank the freelance writer and photographer for this project: Margie O’Loughlin. Thank you to editor Sarah McKenzie, designer Dana Croatt, project assistant Zoe Gahan, and everyone at Minnesota Premier Publications. You make us proud.

Janis Hall Journals publisher

DAVE ANDERSON PRESENTING TWO EXCEPTIONAL EDINA HOMES 5225 Blake Road, Edina The Southwest Journal, 1115 Hennepin Ave, Mpls, MN 55403 phone: 612-825-9205 © 2015 Minnesota Premier Publications, Inc Subscriptions are $32 per year

Reminiscent of a sophisticated country estate, this Ken Durr custom built home is available for the first time by the original owners. Extensive kitchen and master bathroom recent remodel. Situated on a 1.4 acre site with impeccable grounds in the heart of Edina. 4BR/6BA

$3,300,000

PRINTED WITH SOY INK ON RECYCLED PAPER

DAVE ANDERSON

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS SINCE 1985!

Anderson, Dave SWJ 011416 masthead banner.indd 1

LIKE

5012 Schaefer Road, Edina Mid Century Prairie influenced home in an executive neighborhood on an acre site overlooking a pond. Extensive use of stone inside and out. Terrazzo tile flooring, floor to ceiling windows and top quality construction. Lots of extra room here. 5BR/5BA

$1,395,000

facebook.com/RealtorDA AND BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING FOR A

100

$

DINNER CARD

FOR VALENTINE’S DAY!

952-924-8724 direct | 612-750-2209 cell For additional photos go to www.realtorDA.com 1/8/16 12:11 PM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A9

News

By Dylan Thomas / dthomas@southwestjournal.com

Negotiators reach agreement on teacher contract Negotiators representing Minneapolis Public Schools and its teachers union reached agreement on a new contract Dec. 17.

The district did not immediately release details of the agreement with the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, which still must be approved by teachers and the Board of Education. Negotiations over the 2015–2017 contract began in June.

A joint statement released in December

by MFT President Lynn Nordgren and interim district Superintendent Michael Goar read: “This contract is about doing positive things for the students of Minneapolis Public Schools. It’s about engaging with teachers around classroom safety and dealing constructively with behavior issues. And, it’s about supporting and rewarding great

Term ends for first student representative The Board of Education wasn’t able to follow through on a plan to honor its first student representative during a tumultuous Jan. 12 meeting.

But Patrick Henry High School junior Noah Branch left a mark during his year of service on the board, for which he earned a $5,000 college scholarship. Branch didn’t get a vote on the board but he was invited to join in the debate, and he developed a reputation for incisive commentary.

“He speaks his mind, and we can’t control it. We’ve tried,” his mother, Rebecca Branch, joked.

Both of Branch’s parents expressed their pride for their son during the meeting’s public comment period, but a plan to formally honor the student representative was abandoned after a protest disrupted the meeting. When that item came up on the agenda, it was already near 10 p.m. on a school night, and Branch had left the building.

The board is expected to name a new student representative soon.

teaching and related services. This contract does all of these things.”

The public won’t learn more about the new contract until after the Board of Education and union leaders meet to discuss it in an executive session scheduled to take place in January. The meeting will be closed to the public.

Board elects officers Jenny Arneson will serve another year as chair of the Minneapolis Board of Education.

Arneson was re-elected to that position during the board’s Jan. 12 annual meeting. All of the board’s other officers also retained their positions, including Vice Chair Kim Ellison, Treasurer Rebecca Gagnon and Clerk Josh Reimnitz.

Choosing officers was unusually awkward exercise at an already tense board meeting, one of several in recent months to be disrupted by protest. Board Member Siad Ali nominated his colleague, Rebecca Gagnon, for chair, although she clearly was not expecting it, saying she preferred to serve as treasurer for the upcoming year, when the district will pursue a referendum.

Ali later nominated for vice chair Board Member Don Samuels, who turned him down. Board Member Carla Bates, who had in the past sought the treasurer position, also turned down a nomination from Ali for that position.

After her re-election to chair, Arneson spoke only briefly, saying she was “tired.” She described the board as “divided.”

BoardWatch report card is in Students for Education Reform finished its BoardWatch pilot project and released its report card on the Board of Education’s performance in late December.

The SFER members who observed meetings throughout the superintendent search process judged the board to be doing a “fair” job. The report states that “disorganization” led to overlong meetings, too much time was spent discussing process instead of substantive issues and members occasionally looked bored and distracted or argued in ways that appeared “unprofessional” to the student observers.

“We were like, yeah, we want you to disagree, but you shouldn’t disagree with so much vitriol,” Kenneth Eban, SFER’s Minnesota program director, said.

The board got its highest marks from SFER for treating the superintendent candidates fairly; demonstrating a belief in all students’ potential; its focus on academic achievement; its concern for “marginalized populations”; and making the community feel welcome in the boardroom. Board of Education Chair Jenny Arneson did not respond to a request for comment on the SFER report.

SFER is a national education reform organization also active in California and North Carolina.

A10 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

On a personal level, I’m grateful for her friendship and appreciate being able to count on her inside scoop on new restaurants to try and places to shop.

Jen Nelson Lynnhurst

Southwest Thank you to all our readers who sent us thank-you tributes for our annual Thank You, Southwest feature.

I welcome these notes honoring kind deeds anytime of the year!

Please send letters to smckenzie@ southwestjournal.com.

It is an honor and a labor of love to serve as editor of this newspaper.

We are grateful for everyone who supports The Southwest Journal. We wish you the best in 2016!

A SHOUT-OUT FOR STUDIO 2 Thanks to the owners and staff of Studio 2 for bringing back the neighborhood coffee shop and space for the community!

Mike Hess Lynnhurst

THANKS FOR THE SWEET SONGS We want to thank our neighbors from 35th & Hennepin for stopping by our house to sing us Christmas carols. It made our holiday season bright to hear your singing!

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL HISTORY Thank you to all of my Southwest neighbors who have visited Hennepin History Museum (located in Whittier) this year! I’ve just finished up my first year as the executive director, and it’s been such a wonderful treat to meet so many of you as you’ve visited the exhibitions, done research in the archives, stopped to chat at events, or who have made a difference through your volunteering. We are a community museum, and it’s you, our community members, who make this place so special.

Thank you!

Cedar Imboden Phillips CARAG

— Sarah McKenzie James Nash & Jill Buckingham

A SPECIAL PERSON IN KINGFIELD Thank you for the annual opportunity to reflect on people from the neighborhood who made a difference in my life. This year, I’d like to thank Melinda Ludwiczak, who lives in Kingfield.

I’m sure many people in the neighborhood have walked by her whimsical garden and taken delight in her careful selection of plants. And I’m sure there are probably hundreds who have had the chance to get her gardening advice when she staffs the Master Gardener table at the Kingfield Farmer’s market during the summer.

And all of us that visit the market benefit from her dedication to building a vibrant market. But I’m not sure that many people know about her commitment to the arts in Minneapolis. From her professional role as program coordinator at the Metropolitan Library Services Agency, where she brings a wide variety of arts programs to public libraries across the metro, to her service as member of the city’s Arts Commission, Melinda makes sure that all residents can experience the arts.

She is a relentless champion for neighborhood artists and restaurateurs and committed to ‘buying local.’

GRATITUDE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

warm welcome, patient service, knowledgeable advice, and kindness to the kids. You guys get it!

Mike Bransford Linden Hills

A special “Thank You” to the Hennepin County EMT/Paramedics that keep a 24/7 post at the Tangletown fire station located at 54th and Nicollet.

Not only are you responding to the emergencies and critical care needs of my neighborhood, but I am also keenly aware of your presence and watchful eye giving me a sense of safety especially in the very early hours when I’m out and about starting my day.

THANK YOU for “all” that you do everyday! Having your presence in my neighborhood means so much to me.

Mary Little Tangletown

A FRIENDLY FACE AT SUPERAMERICA

Connie & Bob Hartshorn Lynnhurst

I want to recognize and thank Linda, the full-time (plus) clerk at the SA on 40th and Lyndale. Linda is a most faithful employee, often working long hours and extra days to keep this business staffed. Her dependability and courtesy to customers deserves recognition. It can’t be easy to deal with the public every day!

We aren’t always pleasant or patient, and rarely say thank you. Linda serves each customer in turn, and often with a smile. She is an important member of our neighborhood!

Fran Bly Kingfield

THANK YOU, SETTERGREN’S!

his age and uses it to the advantage of us all on the block. In his quiet, self- effacing manner he is always willing to lend a hand. For decades he has cleared snow, manicured lawns, and helped anyone in need. Jim is the jewel of our block.

What would we do without him?

THANK YOU FOR AN ANONYMOUS HELPER Thank-you to the person who found my car key and left it on top of my red Honda Fit in the Whittier neighborhood. After a restless night of sleep (it is my only key ... I know ...) I went outside for one last check. There it was on my car. Wow! I have told many people about your kindness and honesty. Thank-you for the priceless gifts of inspiration and hope. And for finding my key.

GRATITUDE FOR AN ENERGETIC NEIGHBOR

Big thanks to Joe Young and Mark Settergren at Settergren’s Hardware in Linden Hills. I may not be the handiest guy, but you make me look like one! Thanks for the consistent

Karla Rehberg Whittier

Jim Pentico has lived in his home for over 50 years. At age 83 he has the energy of a man half

We Carry a Large Assortment of Designer Watches

50% OFF

Any Watch Battery Replacement Most battery replacement regularly priced at less than $10.00 including tax. Exp. 02-24-16. Highland Park & Edina (NOK13/HP14)

Highland Park (651) 690-5524

Edina in Southdale Center (952) 929-7122

Expert Watch, Clock & Jewelry Repair • Battery Replacement • Watch Bands • Keys Duplicated • Engraving

Fixery, The SWJ 011416 H18.indd 1

12/31/15 12:36 PM

2309 Nicollet Ave, Mpls, MN 55404 612.874.0311 • ststephensmpls.org Al Vento - Sparks SWJ 011416 H12.indd 1

1/12/16 12:02 PM St Stephen's DTJ 2012 VBC NR1 Filler.indd 9/27/12 111:27 Lund Food AM Holdings SWJ 011416 9.indd 1

1/8/16 11:11 AM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A11

Minneapolis man pleads guilty for Whittier homicide

FROM REFERENDUM / PAGE A1

considering.

Miller plans to come back before the board in April with details on where the estimated $77 million generated in the referendum’s first five years will go. She presented a preliminary framework that split the extra funds into maintenance, investment and rehabilitation.

She plans to spend more than $20 million on maintenance between 2018-2022, which would push up park care across the system’s facilities.

For example, instead of replacing site amenities every 20 years, the board could do it every 10 years. Instead of mowing every two weeks, staff could mow every 10 days. Staff would maintain and repair four times as much sidewalk — a quarter mile to a full mile — each year.

Miller proposed to use $14 million to rehabilitate park assets in the first five years, which would go to lighting upgrades, security improvements and addressing a large backlog of recreation center and other projects.

The board would also invest just over $43 million under the referendum’s first five years, putting money into realizing its approved master plans across the city; creating new parks; and improving facilities in under-served areas.

The proposal is the culmination of a more than yearlong effort to educate the public on the needs of the city’s neighborhood parks, which are facing a $111 million funding gap. By 2020, the board estimates that would grow by $46 million if funding levels remain consistent.

Park leaders say the gaps have accumulated over the past few decades as park facilities, many built in the 1970s, decline. Each year, Miller says these neighborhood parks need more than $14 million to maintain assets like playgrounds and recreation centers, despite receiving about $5 million annually. At the same time, the city has the top-rated system in the nation.

Mark Andrew, a former Hennepin County commissioner, will chair a citizen effort to rally around the referendum and voiced his

The proposed parks referendum would raise $77 million in its first five years. File photo

support for the additional funding at the board’s meeting.

“I believe we’re on the precipice of an irreversible decline of our city parks,” he said, adding that the decline wasn’t the fault of the board. “I believe it’s beyond important.”

Andrew promised robust public backing for the referendum. Miller said the group could lead the charge of a citizen petition if other avenues to get on the ballot are exhausted.

“The public values our parks more than any other city asset,” he said. “It’s show time. It’s decision time.”

Commissioner Brad Bourn, the referendum’s most vocal critic during the meeting, said he wouldn’t get in the way of a referendum effort, but questioned its longevity with future boards.

“Every meeting we’re at, I feel like you’re bringing forward an issue to us that we’re correcting a 20-year-old mistake of a previous board. I guess I don’t want to do that to my successors if there’s a better path,” he said. “My biggest concern is that it’s not sustainable.”

Commissioners Annie Young, Scott Vree-

land, Steffanie Musich, Meg Forney, Jon Olson and President Liz Wielinski all voiced some preliminary support for the referendum.

Commissioners John Erwin and Anita Tabb were absent.

“I think the superintendent is taking us down the right road,” Young said.

Wielinski, who has represented the board in meetings with other city groups regarding the topic, said a referendum is the most politically feasible option.

“This is the most likely scenario to help save our park system into the future, and that’s what I was elected to do,” Wielinski said.

Vreeland challenged Minneapolis residents to maintain the award-winning system or risk losing the city’s top spot.

“It’s really up to the city and its voters to decide ‘OK, we don’t want to be the No. 1 park system, we want to be No. 10…’ or is this really essential to what makes the city?” he said. “For me, the solution is the referendum.”

A 19-year-old man agreed to plead guilty Jan. 6 to murder charges for the shooting death of another 19-year-old man in the Stevens Square neighborhood in May, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

The murder case was about to go to trial.

Eugene Watkins of Minneapolis is facing a 30-year prison sentence for the shooting death of Jason Adams who grew up in the Armatage neighborhood. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 7.

According to the criminal complaint, Watkins went to an apartment at 2101 3rd Ave. S. on May 6 around 3:30 p.m. with two other men to buy marijuana from Adams. Once inside the apartment, Watkins pulled out a gun and told one of Adams’ friends to hand over all of the marijuana.

Adams then pulled out a gun and the two men starting shooting at one another.

Watkins was also wounded and later arrested at the hospital. Adams was taken to HCMC where he later died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

In May, Armatage resident Denis Houle, a neighbor of Adams’ family, told the Southwest Journal that his son grew up playing basketball with Adams. “Jordan was a really nice kid,” he said. “He was definitely the best player on the team. There was never a reason to think that anything like this was going to happen.”

Watkins was charged with second-degree murder — a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Minneapolis had 49 homicides in 2015, up from 32 in 2014, according to police records.

— Sarah McKenzie

Only Locally-Owned Veterinary Referral Center in Minnesota Every Veterinarian on our Specialty Team is Board-Certified Since 1980 aercmn.com Open 24/7 Oakdale 1163 Helmo Ave N 651-501-3766

St. Paul 1542 W 7th St 651-293-1800

Our St. Paul Clinic is only 10 miles from SW Minneapolis

MCAD DTJ 011416 4.indd 1

12/18/15 1:08 PM

Animal Emergency Center SWJ 102215 H12.indd 1

10/13/15 10:22 AM

Loppet Foundation SWJ 2016 Promo 6.indd 1

12/23/15 11:53 AM

A12 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

Corey Yeager in a classroom at South High School.

FROM TEACHERS / PAGE A1

U

nderstanding why so many education experts find the lack of teachers of color troubling starts with a bigger question: what gets students to learn? If you ask Dr. Corey Yeager, a teacher with the Minneapolis Office of Black Male Student Achievement, he’ll tell you that it comes down to relationships.

“I can hit you over the head with all this information, but … if the relationship is the focus from the outset, there’s nothing I can’t teach you,” he said, leaning across the table for emphasis.

Yeager, a therapist by trade who is pursuing a doctorate from the University of Minnesota, speaks with the calm authority of someone who’s been there. This is his second year teaching BLACK, short for Building Lives Acquiring Cultural Knowledge, a course through the Minneapolis Office of Black Male Student Achievement that targets the unique needs of black male students.

For most kids in the program, BLACK is the first time they’ve had a black teacher, which has proved important for building the kinds of relationships that help students succeed.

Just a few weeks after the start of the school year, a group of students gathered in his morning class at South High School. It was a tutoring day, and for the most part Yeager hung back and observed as AVID tutors checked with students to see what they needed help with.

Ishabor Makvandi (Ish, for short), one of the tutors, spent a lot of this period working through algebra with David Cribbs, a junior at South.

After just 20 minutes, Cribbs was glowing with the satisfaction of having finally understood concepts that had eluded him for years. “Ish was speaking his language,” Yaeger told me, reflecting on the moment.

“He said, ‘OK your learning style is different … so let’s describe it differently.’”

It’s not just that Ish — or any other educator of color — can make ideas more accessible for non-white students. That’s the product of a longer equation: personal experience with a colorblind education system not designed for “minorities” plus firsthand insight into the student’s cultural background, multiplied by an emotional connection that’s built on those commonalities (or, at the very least, the student’s perception thereof). That is to say, educators of color may have more direct experience facing and overcoming challenges students of color encounter, and can use shared experiences and cultural codes as learning tools. That makes it easier to build a relationship built on mutual trust, respect, and understanding.

“Absent that relationship, [teaching] is gonna be a tougher sell,” Yeager said.

If you never see those people in positions of power or in positions of professionalism, then you start questioning yourself. ‘Why are they not there? Well maybe because I don’t deserve to be there. Maybe because we’re not meant for that.’…

That’s the message that it sends.

— Kleber Ortiz-Sinchi

AVID tutor Ishabor Makvandi works with a student on his math homework.

BLACK, however, is atypical. It was designed with a critical eye toward the many ways schools disempower black students, which means it’s set up for success in ways most classes are not. For instance, its class sizes are capped at 20, it uses curriculum specially designed by Dr. Keith Mayes, an African-American Studies professor at the University of Minnesota, and its teaching model is based on student empowerment and consciousness-raising dialogue. BLACK invites students to dig deep into the material they’re learning in other courses as well as the struggles they experience in their day-to-day lives, and to use the insight they gain to transform their worlds.

I

n other classrooms, teachers of color deal with many of the same obstacles white teachers face. Overstretched resources, large class sizes, and curriculums constrained by state testing requirements make it challenging for any teacher to form close bonds with students or cater to individual learning styles.

Even so, Tiffany Doherty, math teacher at Anwatin, has noticed that a lot of her white peers fight a steeper uphill battle in understanding nonwhite students’ perspectives and the contexts that shape them. This can make it harder to draw relevant connections between the material and students’ lives, a strategy Doherty considers essential for keeping class engaging. Landmark research supports her approach. Students learn best when they can draw connections between past experiences and new ideas, so teachers with more insight into student’s lives have an advantage, according to education experts Dr. Ana María Villegas and Dr. Jacqueline Jordan Irvine.

Doherty also sees misunderstandings that come from cultural differences as a major source of behavior problems at Anwatin.

“We have lots of teachers who come from far out in the suburbs where they’re not used to being with African-American students, and

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A13

And, as Dr. Jacqueline Jordan Irvine’s research suggests, their absence also teaches white students that people of color don’t generally hold power.

The burden of underrepresentation can also weigh heavily on teachers of color, who may feel called to take on extra work to make up for gaps in cultural responsiveness in the classroom and at the district.

N

Abir Ismail, a math teacher from Egypt, works with her students at Ramsey Middle School.

they get here and it’s a culture shock,” she explained. “They have all this friction trying to adjust what they think is acceptable in a classroom.”

That friction can lead to misunderstandings that strain relationships between teachers and students.

It’s possible that multicultural sensitivity training could help prevent misunderstandings like that for white and non-white teachers alike, who can also struggle relating to students from backgrounds different from their own. However, the few trainings the district offers aren’t mandatory and take place outside school hours, according to Kleber Ortiz-Sinchi, social studies district program facilitator for grades six through 12.

More importantly, trainings don’t fix the underrepresentation of people of color in teaching positions, Ortiz-Sinchi said.

A lot of his job revolves around working with teachers to help them be more culturally sensitive, but he feels that work can only go so far because students of color need role models that they can relate to.

“If you never see those people in positions of power or in positions of professionalism, then you start questioning yourself. ‘Why are they not there? Well maybe because I don’t deserve to be there. Maybe because we’re not meant for that.’…That’s the message that it sends,” he said.

orma Alejandro-Mattson, a literacy specialist and bilingual coach with Green Park Elementary School, carries the weight of being one of the few Spanish language literacy advocates in the district.

Although her expertise is in Spanish instruction, when she applied for the specialist position the interviewer only asked her questions about English literacy. She was turned down for the job, but her principal had seen her work and had confidence in her potential, so she took matters into her own hands and hired her through the school’s budget rather than the district’s.

Now at the district’s biweekly literacy specialist meetings, AlejandroMattson feels like an outsider. She’s one of only three people of color at these meetings, which she estimates about 50 people attend.

The alienation is palatable.

“In Minneapolis, we have a lot of different bilingual programs but [the meetings] will never address that we teach more than just English,” she said.

The lack of support from the district adds a heavy burden on top of the many roles she plays at her school, which include planning and co-teaching with teachers, serving on her school’s instructional leadership team, working with students in the classroom, coordinating professional development, overseeing Reading Corps, serving on the Family Engagement Committee, providing feedback to teachers after observing them in the classroom, and working with the dualdevelopmental language (DDL) classes to make them more culturally responsive.

“Now that I’m in this role, I can help the teachers, but when I was a teacher I didn’t have any help,” she said.

The lack of teachers of color is in some respects a vicious cycle.

Yeager said that without examples of great teachers who look like them, students of color are less likely to see teaching as a realistic possibility.

“The message you send to kids of color is it’s not worthy for us to get that number of teachers of color up. It’s just what it is. You can learn from anybody,” he said.

But he quickly added that doesn’t mean candidates aren’t out there.

“Often times folks may say we don’t have applicants of color,” he said. “It’d be like a football coach saying we don’t have any running backs. Well at a certain point you better recruit ‘em.”

SEE TEACHERS / PAGE A14

OPEN 24 HOURS 7 DAYS A WEEK 365 DAYS A YEAR

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in Loring Park Breakfast, Burgers, Fries & Shakes Fresh, Locally Roasted Coffee

1428 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403 | 612-399-MALT (6258) | thenicolletdiner.com Nicollet Diner DTJ 082715 H12.indd 1

8/7/15 10:19 AM

Bi-Annual Inventory Reduction Sale

30-70% Off January 21-30

Chan Luu Jewelry Trunk Show direct from New York

January 28-February 29

515 First Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis 55413 | 612.455.6666 keynorthboutique.com | Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM Key North DTJ 011416 6.indd 2

1/12/16 9:03 AM

A14 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

Observers demanding a new superintendent search and a refund from the firm that led the search process filled seats at the Jan. 12 Board of Education meeting. Photos by Dylan Thomas Kleber Ortiz-Sinchi at his desk in the district office.

FROM SUPERINTENDENT / PAGE A1

FROM TEACHERS / PAGE A13

The district has been working hard to do just that. Its main efforts have focused on providing alternative pathways to licensure that make entering the profession more accessible, said Maggie Sullivan, executive director of human capital with the district.

The most notable example has been the Grow Your Own Program, which helps Minneapolis Public Schools staff to go into teaching, many of whom are people of color.

Efforts are starting to pay off. In the last hiring cycle, over 20 percent of new teachers were people of color. Nonetheless, much work remains. “We’re such a data-driven profession that if you look at the data right now you’d say … obviously we’re not doing enough,” Ortiz-Sinchi said.

The issue, however, goes deeper than role models and recruitment.

As Ortiz-Sinchi pointed out, people of color are underrepresented in professional positions across virtually all sectors, and face a mountain of systemic hurdles that maintain that reality.

But like Kleber, Yeager is still hopeful.

“We can’t ever hang our head and say, ‘Well that’s such a big system, we can’t have an effect.’

We must start somewhere,” he said.

He thinks the school system is a great place to start.

Goar in December, said. “We have to look to the person who was next to Mr. Páez, and that was Mr. Goar.”

Goar remains a divisive figure in the district. His period as interim superintendent was marred by a community protests over a controversial literacy curriculum, which forced Goar to apologize for a lax review of the reading materials by his staff, and pushback against changes to the district’s citywide autism program.

“It is interesting to have a person in a job for a year and lose a vote 6–3,” Board Member Rebecca Gagnon said.

Earlier, Gagnon suggested offering a one-year contract to Chief of Schools Michael Thomas, an internal candidate who is familiar with the district’s goals and strategic plan. Several community members suggested the same during the meeting’s public comment period.

But Board Member Carla Bates said she

LOW RATES — IMMEDIATE RESPONSE — TROUBLESHOOTING

Defeating Violence with Prayer

Weaver Electric

John Q. Adams

A Free Lecture with

John Q. Adams

2 p.m., Sunday, January 31, 2016 Third Church of Christ, Scientist, Minneapolis 4147 Xerxes Ave South | Minneapolis, MN 55410 Child care provided.

was “profoundly concerned” by the idea of “anointing” a candidate who had not previously sought the job, leading to a tense exchange with Gagnon. Bates urged her colleagues to reconsider Goar and a third superintendent finalist, Charles Foust of Houston.

Board Member Don Samuels said he would’ve supported either Páez or Goar as superintendent, but said both had been poisoned politically.

“There’s no way to put them in the pot again,” Samuels said. “Take them out.”

A series of votes moved the board closer to a showdown on Goar, prompting both Gagnon and Board Member Tracine Asberry to remark that they didn’t expect the decision to proceed so swiftly. That was when a group of protesters that included Minneapolis NAACP President Nekima Levy-Pounds surged to the front of the boardroom, cutting off debate with a series of loud chants.

“We are sick and tired of you all playing games with our children,” Levy-Pounds said,

Residential and Commercial Wiring

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES

That evil cannot be defeated with evil, but that it can be overcome and destroyed through our prayers and good efforts.

Third Church of Christ, Scientist SWJ 011416 H12.indd 1

1/8/16 1:23 PM

Licensed Master Electrician • Over 30 Years Experience

651-644-6551 OR 612-599-7353 Weaver Electric SWJ 011416 H12.indd 2

+

We now office in the heart of Linden Hills

1/12/16 3:50 PM

DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT

YEARS — — 1990–2016

Stop up and see us — above Great Harvest!

FROM OUR DOORSTEP TO YOURS. With a team of over 40 carriers, headed by Distribution Manager Marlo Johnson, we bring the Southwest Journal direct to you.

Tod Teeple & Larry LaVercombe

We live here. We work here.

Marlo

952-201-5891 | TodandLarry.com Lavercombe, Larry SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

1/8/16 1:34 PM

SWJ Distribution Dept SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

1/7/16 3:09 PM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A15

WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE WINNERS OF THE 2015 NARI CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS SILVER WINNER

GOLD WINNER

www.narimn.org

LANDSCAPE DESIGN/OUTDOOR LIVING UNDER $60,000 Ispiri Design Build A small group of protesters demanding a new search, including Minneapolis NAACP President Nekima Levy Pounds (fourth from right), eventually swelled to more than 20 people.

FROM SUPERINTENDENT / PAGE A14

adding that community members were frustrated with the district repeatedly turning to “subpar leaders.”

Board Chairperson Jenny Arneson recessed the board for more than 30 minutes. When they returned, Arneson sought and received a motion to table the decision for a month.

Gagnon said she appreciated the board’s willingness to delay the superintendent decision, noting they’d ended negotiations with Páez because of “community angst.” She said the protest revealed more angst over Goar’s leadership.

Bates shot back: “I think that’s one way we use community sentiment against each other to undermine each other.”

Samuels warned his colleagues that he board was setting a dangerous precedent in its response to the protest.

“We can’t expect this will just now go away,” he said. “… I think children are watching it.

They’re watching democracy not work.”

“You had board members who said this moved faster than they expected,” Levy-Pounds said after the board voted to table. “This moved faster than the community expected.”

How we got here Johnson’s resignation prompted the Board of Education to launch its first national search for a superintendent in 10 years. Executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates won the contract to run the search process.

In November, the board narrowed a list of six superintendent candidates to three finalists: Páez, Goar and Foust, a school support officer for the Houston Independent School District.

When it came time to vote nearly a month later, on Dec. 7, six board members picked Páez and three cast votes for Goar.

But Páez had less than 48 hours to celebrate his new job.

On Dec. 9, Massachusetts’ Disability Law Center released a report detailing instances of physical abuse that occurred under Páez’s watch at Holyoke a school for students with physical and emotional disabilities. The allegations, stemming from a spring 2015 investigation, never came up during the superintendent search process.

Steven Zrike, the state-appointed receiver placed in charge of Holyoke, said he was “deeply concerned” by the report and described the Disability Law Center’s findings as “troubling” in a written statement given to the press.

Reacting to the news in Minneapolis, Bates said allegations of staff members punching or slapping students and using physical restraints excessively made her “sick to (her) stomach.”

Stanley Eichner, litigation director for the Disability Law Center, raised questions about Páez’s response after a district employee brought her concerns to the superintendent’s office.

“The district is large enough and has enough challenges that you wouldn’t expect a superintendent to know each and every thing that’s going on,” Eichner said. “But in this instance there were pervasive problems, and it would be

Mom’s Landscaping and Design

LANDSCAPE DESIGN/OUTDOOR LIVING $60,000 and OVER Mom’s Landscaping and Design Mom’s Landscaping and Design

RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR UNDER $100,000 Hoffman Weber Construction

RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR $100,000-$200,000 mackmiller design + build AMEK Custom Builders amekinc.com • 952-888-1200 Board Member Carla Bates looked on as a protest disrupted the meeting.

fair to raise a question if someone in that position knew or should have known.”

A week after the revelation, the Board of Education voted to suspend contract talks with Páez.

When he was first asked to explain why the investigation wasn’t discussed during his interviews in Minneapolis, Páez’s response was that he didn’t believe it was a “significant issue.” He reasoned that dealing with issues of student safety and even responding to state investigations were routine matters for school superintendents.

Over the next month, Páez attempted to bolster his case with documents he said showed Holyoke responded to concerns raised by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and that the department determined the matter closed in October. But that wasn’t enough to reassure some in Minneapolis who argued Páez should have been more forthcoming about the investigation.

His efforts at reassuring an uneasy community during three-day visit to Minneapolis in January didn’t change the mind of parent Rebecca Hamblin, who said Páez lost her support the moment she learned of the allegations in a news story.

“To me, it was a failure ethically and politically,” Hamblin told Páez during one of his hastily arranged meet-and-greets at Minneapolis café.

It was a different story at an earlier stop on Páez’s whirlwind tour of the city. No community member even asked about the allegations when Páez met with the public at Avenue Eatery, just blocks from district headquarters, where the conversation focused on student achievement and what Páez might do to better market the district to families.

Meanwhile, two Board of Education members visited Holyoke in mid-December, following through on a plan made before the abuse report went public.

In a written report to the board, Josh Reimnitz and Tracine Asberry said their interviews with a dozen people mostly confirmed what they’d learned about Páez’s strengths and weaknesses as a leader during the interview process.

But Reimnitz and Asberry were unable to learn anything more about the allegations of abuse at Peck School, now the subject of an investigation by the Hampden County District Attorney.

In the month after it was first released, Páez repeatedly questioned the timing of the report.

RESIDENTIAL DETACHED STRUCTURE John Kraemer and Sons Inc Mom’s Landscaping and Design

COMMERCIAL INTERIOR TreHus

RESIDENTIAL ADDITION OVER $250,000 Vujovich Design Build Inc. vujovich.com • 612-338-2020

RESIDENTIAL PROJECT UNDER $15,000 mackmiller design + build

BASEMENT UNDER $50,000 Quality Cut Remodelers qualitycut.net • 651-730-1880

BASEMENT $50,000-$100,000 Tomco Company Murphy Brothers Designers and Remodelers mbros.com • 763-780-3262

BASEMENT OVER $100,000 College City Design Build

RESIDENTIAL BATH UNDER $25,000 PURE Design Environments Bluestem Construction bluestemconstruction.com • 952-926-0164

RESIDENTIAL BATH $25,000-$50,000 Plekkenpol Builders Inc. plekkenpol.com • 952-888-2225 College City Design Build

RESIDENTIAL BATH $50,001-$75,000 College City Design Build McDonald Remodeling mcdonaldremodeling.com • 651-554-1234

RESIDENTIAL BATH $75,001-$100,000 Quality Cut Remodelers qualitycut.net • 651-730-1880

RESIDENTIAL BATH OVER $100,000 TreHus

RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR ELEMENT UNDER $30,000

RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR ELEMENT $30,000 AND OVER Tomco Company

RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR ELEMENT UNDER $75,000 PURE Design Environments PURE Design Environments

RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR ELEMENT $75,000-$150,000 Finished Basement Company Finished Basement Company

RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR ELEMENT $150,000 AND OVER Vujovich Design Build Inc. vujovich.com • 612-338-2020

RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN UNDER $30,000 Orfield Design and Construction Inc. orfielddesign.com • 952-920-6543

RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN $30,000-$60,000 Bluestem Construction bluestemconstruction.com • 952-926-0164 J. Carsten Remodeling

RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN $60,001-$100,000 DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen dreamkitchenbath.com • 952-417-9999 McDonald Remodeling mcdonaldremodeling.com • 651-554-1234

RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN $100,001- $150,000 Ispiri Design Build Bluestem Construction bluestemconstruction.com • 952-926-0164

RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSAL DESIGN AWARD DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen Sylvestre Construction Company sylvestremn.com • 612-861-0188

RESIDENTIAL HISTORICAL RENOVATION/ RESTORATION UNDER $250,000 w.b. builders

RESIDENTIAL HISTORICAL RENOVATION/ RESTORATION $250,000 AND OVER John Kraemer and Sons Inc.

ENTIRE HOUSE $250,000-$500,000 Murphy Brothers Designers and Remodelers mbros.com • 763-780-3262 Anchor Builders

ENTIRE HOUSE $500,001-$750,000 TreHus

ENTIRE HOUSE $750,001-$1,000,000 Vujovich Design Build vujovich.com • 612-338-2020 John Kraemer and Sons Inc.

ENTIRE HOUSE OVER $1,000,000 TreHus

BEST NEWCOMER

PURE Design Environments

Mom’s Landscaping and Design

Closets for Life closetsforlife.com • 952-484-0416

BEST OF SHOW

COTY - NARI SWJ 011416 V2.indd 1

John Kraemer and Sons Inc. 1/4/16 2:38 PM

WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE WINNERS OF THE 2015 NARI CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS SILVER WINNER GOLD WINNER

www.narimn.org

Residential Addition Over $250,000

Vujovich Design Build, Inc. • vujovich.com • 612-338-2020

Residential Interior Element Over $150,000

Vujovich Design Build, Inc. • vujovich.com • 612-338-2020

Entire House $750,000-$1,000,000

Vujovich Design Build, Inc. • vujovich.com • 612-338-2020

Residential Bath $25,000-$50,000

Plekkenpol Builders, Inc. • plekkenpol.com • 952-888-2225 COTY - NARI SWJ 011416 2FP.indd 1

Basement $50,000-$100,000

Murphy Bros. Designers & Remodelers • mbros.com • 763-780-3262

Entire House $250,000-$500,000

Murphy Bros. Designers & Remodelers • mbros.com • 763-780-3262

Residential Kitchen $60,001-$100,000

McDonald Remodeling, Inc. • mcdonaldremodeling.com • 651-554-1234

Residential Bath $50,001-$75,000

McDonald Remodeling, Inc. • mcdonaldremodeling.com • 651-554-1234

Residential Kitchen Under $30,000

Residential Kitchen $30,000-$60,000

Bluestem Construction • bluestemconstruction.com • 952-926-0164

Residential Kitchen $100,001-$150,000

Bluestem Construction • bluestemconstruction.com • 952-926-0164

Residential Bath Under $25,000

Bluestem Construction • bluestemconstruction.com • 952-926-0164

Orfield Design & Construction, Inc. • orfielddesign.com • 952-920-6543

Residential Interior Element Under $30,000$90,000

Closets for Life • closetsforlife.com • 952-484-0416

Residential Exterior $100,000-$200,000

AMEK Custom Builders • amekinc.com • 952-888-1200

Residential Universal Design Award

Sylvestre Construction, Inc. • sylvestremn.com • 612-861-0188

Residential Bath $75,001-$100,000

Quality Cut Remodelers • qualitycut.net • 651-730-1880

Basement Under $50,000

Basement Kitchen $60,001-$100,000

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen • dreamkitchenbath.com • 952-417-9999

Quality Cut Remodelers • qualitycut.net • 651-730-1880 1/13/16 12:18 PM

A18 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

News

By Michelle Bruch / mbruch@southwestjournal.com

Mosaic Workshop in CARAG is Jan. 30 Volunteers are laying mosaic tiles to create a new mural at Bryant Square Park. Workshops for the community art project have drawn more than 120 residents of all ages.

Artist Sharra Frank created the design in collaboration with community members.

Panels facing Bryant will incorporate a biker and winter scenes, similar to the community mural recently lost in repairs to the former Bryant Avenue Market. The new design also incorporates additional seasons, flowers, butterflies, a bee and water elements.

The CARAG neighborhood provided a $10,000 grant for the project, and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council provided an additional $10,000.

The next workshop is Saturday, Jan. 30 from 1-4 p.m. at the Southwest Senior Center, 3612 Bryant Ave. S.

Volunteers lay out tiles for the Bryant Square Park mural. Submitted photo

Skating party at Lake of the Isles Jan. 24 Four neighborhood groups are throwing an ice skating party Sunday, Jan. 24 at the ice rink on Lake of the Isles.

Residents are encouraged to bring their skates and enjoy hot chocolate, coffee and cookies.

The free event runs from 1-3 p.m. and is sponsored by the Cedar-Isles-Dean, East Isles, Kenwood and Lowry Hill neighborhood associations.

In December, a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board committee discussed the possibility of constructing a new seasonal warming room at Lake of the Isles. Park Board staff said there is community interest in raising funds for design and construction, but no concrete plans are in place.

Windom Reads and Book Exchange is Jan. 30 The annual neighborhood event “Windom Reads” is slated for Saturday, Jan. 30.

The neighborhood has lined up several authors to appear, and the National Federation of the Blind will provide education on Braille.

To prepare for the book exchange, students at Windom School are collecting gently-used books for all ages.

The event runs from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Windom Spanish Immersion School, 5821 Wentworth Ave. S.

SOUTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP MEETING TIMES Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA): Board meets 3rd Tuesday monthly at Armatage Park, 57th & Russell.

Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association (BMNA): Board meets 2nd Wednesday monthly at Bryn Mawr School, 252 Upton Ave. S. Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG) meeting: Board meets 3rd Tuesday monthly at Bryant Square Park, 3101 Bryant Ave. S. Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Association (CIDNA) meeting: Board meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Jones-Harrison Residence, 3700 Cedar Lake Ave. East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO): Board meets 1st Thursday monthly at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Ave. S.

East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association (EHFNA): Board meets 1st Wednesday monthly at Walker Methodist, 3737 Bryant Ave. S. (Health Service door)

Kingfield Neighborhood Association (KFNA): Board meets 2nd Wednesday monthly at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 41st & Nicollet.

Stevens Square Community Organization (SSCO): Board meets 3rd Thursday monthly at the Loring-Nicollet Community Center, 1925 Nicollet Ave. S.

East Isles Residents Association (EIRA): Board meets 2nd Tuesday monthly at Grace-Trinity Community Church, 1430 W. 28th St.

Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC): Board meets 1st Tuesday monthly at Linden Hills Park, 3100 W. 43rd St.

Tangletown Neighborhood Association (TNA): Board meets 3rd Monday monthly at Fuller Park, 4800 Grand Ave.

Fulton Neighborhood Association (FNA): Board meets 2nd Wednesday monthly at Pershing Park, 3523 W. 48th St.

Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association (LHNA): Board meets 1st Tuesday monthly at Kenwood Neighborhood Center, 2101 W. Franklin Ave.

West Calhoun Neighborhood Council: Board meets 2nd Tuesday monthly at 6 p.m. at The Bakken, 3537 Zenith Ave. S.

Hale Page Diamond Lake Community Association (HPDL): Board meets last Monday of the month at 5144 13th Ave. S.

Lowry Hill East (Wedge): Board meets 3rd Wednesday monthly at Jefferson Elementary School, 1200 W. 26th St.

Kenny Neighborhood Association (KNA): Board meets 3rd Tuesday monthly at Kenny Park Building, 1328 W. 58th St.

Lyndale Neighborhood Association (LNA): General membership meetings are on the 4th Monday monthly at Painter Park, 34th & Lyndale.

Kenwood Isles Area Association (KIAA): Board meets 1st Monday monthly at Kenwood Neighborhood Center, 2101 W. Franklin Ave.

Whittier Alliance: Board meets 4th Thursday monthly at the Whittier Recreation Center, 425 W. 26 St. Windom Community Council: Board meets 2nd Thursday monthly at Windom Community Center, 5821 Wentworth Ave.

Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association (LYNAS): Board meets 2nd Thursday monthly at 6 p.m. at Lynnhurst Community Center, 50th & West Minnehaha Parkway.

Give a Gift to the People and Park You Love Your Local Realty Professional Give me a call for a market analysis and take advantage of the demand for homes that will lead to a higher sale price for your property!

TOM LICKTEIG LickteigHomes.com | Call Tom today 612-915-8827 Lickteig, Tom SWJ 111915 H12.indd 1

11/10/15 1:40 PM

DINOKOS.COM

DiNoko s

Adopt a refurbished bench or engrave a brick paver at Lake Harriet and leave an impression that lasts for years to come!

5” x 5” paver with three 12 character lines — $75 5” x 11” paver with four 12 character lines — $125 Benches with no engraving — $1,000 Benches with 37 character engraving — $1,250

P i z z e r i a

South Minneapolis West Location 4747 Nicollet Ave S · 612-345-5166 Monday – Saturday: 4PM until 9PM Sunday: 3PM until 8PM

PICK-UP & DELIVERY

2 OFF

$

PICK-UP ONLY

4747 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls 612-345-5166 · dinokos.com Must present coupon for discount DiNoko's SWJ 120315 H12.indd 2

12/1/15 1:39 PM

More info: www.peopleforparks.net or call 612-767-6892 People for Parks SWJ 2011 filler 6.indd 1

1/15/13 6:03 PM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A19

By Sarah McKenzie / smckenzie@southwestjournal.com

Experts predict another strong year for the housing market The southwest Minneapolis housing market had a strong year in 2015 and real estate experts are predicting more of the same in 2016.

The median sales price for homes in the southwest market was $339,900 in 2015 — up 6.2 percent from the same time period in 2014, according to the most recent local market update from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors.

The number of new listings increased 9.2 percent compared to the same time frame in 2014.

The southwest Minneapolis market includes Armatage, East Harriet, Fulton, Kenny, Kingfield, Linden Hills, Lynnhurst, Tangletown and Windom.

As for the Calhoun-Isle market, the median sales price was $361,100, up 14.6 percent in 2015 through the end of November compared to the same period in 2014. The market includes Bryn Mawr, Calhoun (CARAG), Cedar-Isles-Dean, East Calhoun (ECCO), East Isles, Kenwood, Lowry Hill, Lowry Hill East and West Calhoun.

Jim Grandbois of Lakes Sotheby’s International Realty, said 2015 was a strong year for real estate in southwest Minneapolis.

“Single family homes had an impressive year as indicated by a 20.8 percent increase in closed sales and an average sale price increase of nearly 5 percent,” he said. “With the market returning to

Crooked Pint - Scena SWJ 011416 H2.indd 1

pre-recession prices and remarkably strong buyer confidence, any homeowner considering selling in 2016 should find the perfect selling conditions of strong buyer demand, low interest rates and the low supply of homes, just a 2.8 month supply in our area.”

He said 2015 was one of the most “consistent years” in a long time.

“I listed a home in December, normally a very slow month, and it sold in multiple offers in just a few days. I expect the New Year to start out with this continued sense of excitement,” Grandbois said.

Homes in great condition that are priced appropriately are getting multiple offers, an indication of pent-up demand, he said.

He is also seeing more buyers who are willing to buy homes that need remodeling to bring them up to modern tastes.

“It is a golden opportunity to get into the area at a lower cost for anyone able to see the potential and take on the extra work. They will be nicely rewarded for their efforts, in my opinion,” he said.

Brian Weedman of Lifecycle Real Estate Services, which specializes in property management, renovating and selling in southwest, predicted there will be a shortage of quality rental homes in the area as more are building sold.

“Our rental portfolio of homes managed in

A duplex for sale in Uptown. Photo by Sarah McKenzie

the Lake Harriet area is about half what it was in 2010. We receive constant inquiries from prospective tenants asking what we have in

inventory this year,” he said.

He said he worked with three buyers in 2015 that rented homes with the intention of negotiating sales during the first year of their leases.

“This worked out great for both buyer and seller. The seller reflected cost-savings in a lower price as they did not have to fix-up and paint the property, stage it, and take vacancies while marketing,” he said. The buyer received a great price on a property they would have otherwise not found.”

Overall, 2015 was generally a good year for the housing market throughout the Twin Cities, according to a recent analysis from the Shenehon Center for Real Estate at St. Thomas’ Opus College of Business.

Home prices, closed and pending sales, new listings and the percentage of traditional sales as opposed to foreclosures were on the upswing, but the low inventory of houses for sale continues to be an issue with buyers outnumbering sellers.

Herb Tousley, director of real estate programs at the University of St. Thomas, said he expects the median sale price of homes in the Twin Cities to increase 6 to 8 percent this year along with a slight uptick of the number of homes on the market.

1/11/16 11:46 AM

A20 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

By Dylan Thomas / dthomas@southwestjournal.com

The next step for organics recycling More than 19,000 organics recycling carts are ready to roll this spring when the Minneapolis’ new organics recycling program goes citywide.

The service has been available since August to about a quarter of Minneapolis households and began even earlier in a few neighborhoods that were enrolled in curbside composting pilot projects. Phase two of the organics recycling rollout is scheduled to take place between March and June.

About 12,000 households are participating in the program, but many more are waiting to join. Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling reports nearly one-third of its customers, or roughly 34,000 households, have opted-in.

The city recently claimed there’s no extra cost to customers for organics recycling, but that’s because solid waste and recycling fees have already been hiked $48 to pay for the program. The fee increase helped to cover the cost of the organics recycling carts and eight new collection vehicles.

Those who register for organics recycling get a new, 32-gallon cart to set out alongside their trash and recycling bins.

Dwellings with multiple units get a cart twice that size.

Study examines risk from ‘mega rains’

Organics (up to 200 pounds) are collected weekly. They must be contained in compostable plastic or paper bags.

Acceptable materials include kitchen scraps like carrot shavings, peach pits, wilting lettuce, eggshells and even bones.

Food-soiled paper, which shouldn’t go in your recycling bin, is OK; diapers, dryer lint and other varieties non-compostable household waste are not. A detailed list is available online.

Once collected from the city’s alleyways, Minneapolis’ recycled organic waste is combined with yard waste and left to compost for about six months. Once it’s cured, the finished product is good for use in gardens and landscaping projects.

Those who don’t already have organics recycling should sign up by Feb. 1 to get an organics recycling cart during the phasetwo rollout this spring. Wait any longer and you may not get a cart until July.

To register, call 673-2917 (8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday) or email swrcustomer@minneapolismn.gov. For more information on the Minneapolis organics recycling program, or to register for email updates on the phase-two rollout, go to minneapolismn.gov/organics.

Think solar is expensive?

Think again.

Solar can cost less than power from Xcel.

All Energy Solar is Minnesota’s premier full-service solar installer.

Contact us for a FREE consultation and learn why homes & businesses throughout the state are making the switch to solar!

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE:

800-620-3370

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District released a guide in December that aims to help Minnesota communities plan for a future where so-called “mega rains” are more common.

The guide was produced after the watershed district completed its part in a national study on preparing municipal stormwater systems for climate change.

The federally funded Weather – Extreme Trends (WET) Study examined a portion of Minneapolis and the exurban community of Victoria to uncover vulnerabilities and propose strategies cities could use for adapting to a warmer, wetter future.

“The takeaway for communities is really about the process,” watershed district spokesperson Telly Mamayek said.

That process involves identifying the locations most at risk for flooding, inviting community leaders and experts to brainstorm plans for mitigating those risks and then running cost estimates of the proposed solutions. At the end, communities have a roadmap to guide their planning.

The study took place between 2011 and 2013. But reporting out the findings and completing the guide was delayed, ironically, by the need to respond to major flooding during the spring of 2014, Mamayek said.

The watershed district reports the 2014 flooding caused $1.2 million worth of damage along six major streams.

The guide makes clear the need to take action. Stormwater infrastructure is often designed to handle what’s known as a 10-year storm. In the Twin Cities, that means about 4 inches of rainfall in one weather event. Based on climate modeling, the guide notes, the likelihood of a 10-year storm is expected to increase between 10 and 150 percent by the middle of this century.

Every city will adapt to climate change in its own way, and the guide proposes low-impact development and green infrastructure as strategies that could limit costs. It also identifies four priorities: raising awareness of the risks among policymakers; updated land-use planning to prepare for extreme weather; incorporating flood-control measures into new development and redevelopment; and creating a sustainable funding source that can be tapped to update infrastructure and identify areas where flood-control improvements are needed.

To download a copy of the guide or read more about the WET Study, go to minnehahacreek.org/WET.

Buying or Selling?

Contact the Matt Engen Group 612.817.2805 | team@mattengengroup.com | mattengengroup.com

www.AllEnergySolar.com All Energy Solar SWJ 022615 H12.indd 1

2/24/15 3:24 PM

Engen, Matt SWJ 121715 H12.indd 1

11/24/15 12:04 PM

FUNERAL CHAPELS, CEMETERIES & CREMATION SERVICES Proudly serving the southwest area from two locations.

Family Owned & Operated For Over 150 Years

Edina Chapel W. 50th & Vernon at Hwy 100, Edina

(952) 920-3996

Green Dry Cleaning & Wet Cleaning Environmentally Friendly Family Owned & Operated Since 1950 • No Odor • Non Toxic • No Allergies • Gentle on All Fabrics

Colonial Cleaners, Inc. GARMENT CARE PROFESSIONAL

612.823.8095 3701 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis www.colonialcleanersmn.com Colonial Cleaners SWJ 021314 H18.indd 1

Banners to Go SWJ 032615 H18.indd 1

3/24/15 8:43 AM

Welander Quist-Davies Chapel 2301 Dupont at Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis

(612) 377-2203

Thank you for your continued trust from the McReavy Family.

Residential Asbestos Abatement Water Restoration & Mold Remediation Locally owned and Woman owned

Call today for a free information no obligation brochure!

Call us for a free consultation

www.washburn-mcreavy.com

ENVIROBATE.COM • 612-729-1080

1/21/14 Washburn 2:30 PM McReavy SWJ 012113 9.indd 1

1/7/13 Envirobate 5:43 PM Core Services SWJ 042315 H18.indd 1

4/15/15 9:57 AM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A21

By Eric Best / ebest@southwestjournal.com

Thin ice prompting cancellation of Lake Harriet Kite Festival The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has cancelled the Lake Harriet 2016 Kite Festival due to unsafe conditions.

The board announced that even with the upcoming cold weather that the lake in Southwest Minneapolis does not have deep enough ice to host the annual kite festival.

The festival, which was scheduled for Jan. 16, showcases the colorful kites of Minnesota Kite Society members and other kite enthusiasts.

“Unfortunately mother nature has spoken and we will not be able to see all those beautiful kites flying high over the lake.

Hopefully next year we will have better luck,” said the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association, which sponsors the event, in an announcement.

Registration underway for City of Lakes Loppet A scene from a previous Lake Harriet Kite Festival.

Submitted photo

The neighborhood group said in case of poor conditions the event would be

cancelled without a backup date.

Organizers of the City of Lakes Loppet Festival are gearing up for the annual celebration of winter sports set for Feb. 5–7.

For the first time this year, the urban cross country ski festival will include speed skating competitions — a 25K, 50K and 1K races.

Opening ceremonies at the Loppet Village near the Lake Calhoun Executive Center will feature fireworks at 8 p.m.

There are races for both amateur and competitive skiers, ice-cycling events, dog sledding races, the Southwest Journal Snow Sculpture Contest and the gorgeous Luminary Loppet event on Lake of the Isles, among many other events.

For more details, go to loppet.org.

Rock the Garden is coming to Boom Island The Current and Walker Art Center’s annual summer music festival is relocating to Northeast Minneapolis this year.

Due to the reconstruction of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Rock the Garden is moving to Boom Island in the St. Anthony West neighborhood this June. The Twin Cities-based radio station will instead host a one-day festival with two stages this year.

“We are so pleased to have secured Boom Island as a temporary location Rock the Garden ‘16,” said Philip Bither, the Walker’s director and McGuire senior curator for performing arts, on the station’s blog. “This beautiful setting will allow for a one-day, multiple staged event sure to carry the same

Rock the Garden will be held at Boom Island in June. File photo

CARING FOR YOUR PETS SINCE 1973

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

CONGRATULATIONS DR. RHONDA DOWNIE ON 25 YEARS WITH WESTGATE PET CLINIC!

Offering performances, residencies and touring shows. since 1973

available for event & performance rentals

DID YOU KNOW? WESTGATE PET CLINIC HAS 10 DOCTORS AND OVER 175 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE!

612.721.2535 · hobt.org

PLEASE DONATE To be an active supporter of In the Heart of the Beast, you can make a gift online or mail a check to 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls, MN 55407 In the Heart of the Beast SWJ 2014 H18 filler.indd 1

great spirit and inspired mix of music that Rock the Garden has been so noted for in the past. We look forward to returning to the gorgeously re-designed new Walker campus for Rock the Garden ‘17.”

The station will announce the lineup Tuesday, April 5, on 89.3 The Current, and tickets will go on sale for Minnesota Public Radio and Walker members shortly after.

Rock the Garden will be on Saturday, June 18 from 2-10 p.m.

FREE NAIL TRIM FOR NEW CLIENTS

8/27/14 11:54 AM

SCHEDULE A TOUR OR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

4345 FRANCE AVE. S. MINNEAPOLIS MONDAY–THURSDAY 7AM - 7PM FRIDAY 7AM - 6PM | SATURDAY 8AM - 5PM 612.925.1121 // WESTGATEPETCLINICMN.COM Forney, Meg SWJ 012113 H18.indd 1

1/7/13 11:26 Westgate AM Pet Clinic SWJ 011416 9.indd 2

12/29/15 3:29 PM

A22 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

A pioneering comic New book traces the history of Brave New Workshop

By Michelle Bruch / mbruch@southwestjournal.com

A new book traces the history of the Brave New Workshop, from its beginnings as a sideshow in a Northeast coffeehouse to its role as a training ground for entertainers like Sen. Al Franken and “The Daily Show” co-creator Lizz Winstead.

After closing his Minneapolis coffee shop on a summer night in 1961, owner Dudley Riggs sat around a table with a barista, two journalists and a playwright and brainstormed 100 ideas for sketches — what became the birth of Brave New Workshop. When writer Rob Hubbard learned nearly everyone at that table was still around, he felt compelled to act.

“Somebody really needs to talk to these people and get their story,” said Hubbard. “I better do this now.”

Riggs, now in his 80s, said Hubbard did a “wonderful job” with the book, and said he’s relieved he no longer holds the burden of writing the history himself. Riggs is working on a memoir that focuses on his circus and vaudeville days.

Riggs’ parents worked as aerialists. Hubbard writes that Riggs tumbled around the big top and eventually ascended rope ladders for more demanding stunts, performing as a clown while he recovered from injuries.

Riggs later worked in New York in the 1950s booking circus and vaudeville acts. While there, he developed “instant theater,” in which audience members shouted out names and places for an impromptu act.

He opened Café Espresso in 1958 at a converted garage at 18 University Ave. NE, hosting performers and encouraging improvisation. Riggs believed he owned America’s first espresso machine west of Chicago, which he purchased in Italy while abroad with the circus.

(Hubbard writes that the machine was so foreign to local licensing authorities they required him to train as a boiler operator.)

The name Brave New Workshop was inspired by Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.”

While on the coffeehouse stage, Riggs said he took pleasure from riffing on the newspaper headlines, particularly when he could read an early edition of the next day’s newspaper.

“The current political season is certainly a ripe time,” he said. “I continue to get a lift from that.”

Brave New Workshop’s early locations in Northeast

A 1983 performance about the advance of technology was titled “I Compute, Therefore IBM.” Photo courtesy of Brave New Workshop

Brave New Workshop founder Dudley Riggs, a former aerialist in the circus, is pictured on Café Espresso’s opening night in 1958. Photo courtesy of Brave New Workshop

tended to be inexpensive storefronts eyed for redevelopment.

“As Dudley put it, it was always one step ahead of the wrecking ball,” Hubbard said.

The move to 2605 Hennepin was sudden and coincidental. Riggs saw the lease sign go up while having coffee at Embers at 26th & Hennepin (where Chipotle is today).

The theater had been evicted days earlier — all of their gear was still loaded on a truck — and Riggs jumped at the empty space. Some of the actors showed up to the wrong building minutes before show time.

“I was foolishly bragging that Brave New Workshop never canceled performances,” Riggs said. “We managed to pull it all together and do the performance as promised.”

They expected 2605 Hennepin to be a temporary location. A former technical director who worked at Brave New Workshop in the 1980s remembers a roof leaking so badly they asked audience members to hold buckets on their laps.

“The new theater downtown lacks a certain charm by being dry all the time,” Steve Rentfrow told Hubbard.

All scripts were written down in the early days, and Hubbard pored through a box of them while researching the book.

“It’s sort of like an alternative history of the Twin Cities area,” he said. “It’s Twin Cities culture, but looking at it through the eyes of satirists.”

Hubbard lists titles of former shows, like “Overdrawn at the Sperm Bank” (1972), which explored artificial insemination. “The Girth of a Nation; or, Alice Doesn’t Work Out Here Anymore” (1988) suggested that being a couch potato could be sexy. Other titles included “Politically Correct Means Always Having to Say You’re Sorry” (1993); “Saving Clinton’s Privates; or Swallow the Leader” (1988); and “Pluto and Other Lies My Teacher Told Me” (2007).

In one interview, Riggs commented that every controversial show — whether the topic was religion, Vietnam War, or the Minneapolis vice squad — was met with a brick inevitably smashing through the window. The pattern continued until late one night at Embers, when Workshop staff left the restaurant and spotted someone in the act. The man was arrested, and evidence showed he was likely responsible for most, if not all, of the brick-throwing.

One of Hubbard’s favorite shows was “Fifty Shades of Gravy,” which he reviewed for the Pioneer Press last year. Two men perform identical interviews for a job, answering alike in comical fashion, until an interviewer deems the African American candidate to appear more “thuggish.”

“It’s making a very biting statement,” Hubbard said.

“That’s good old-fashioned biting Brave New Workshop satire. It’s doing its job in getting people to think in addition to making them laugh.”

The theater proved to be an early foothold for many who found careers in entertainment.

“I’m quite proud of the fact that so many people who came through this theater were very successful,” Riggs said.

The list includes stand-up comedian Louie Anderson, “A Prairie Home Companion” cast member Sue Scott, “Analyze This” screenwriter Peter Tolan, Saturday Night Live writer and Coneheads co-creator Tom Davis, actor Peter MacNicol of “Ghostbusters II,” “Roseanne” producer Nancy Steen, “Naked Gun” screenwriter Pat Proft and actor Rich Sommer of “Mad Men.” Franken wrote the forward to the book, noting that the original writing sample he sent Lorne Michaels included a piece he first performed at Brave New Workshop.

Riggs sold the theater in 1997 to former cast member John Sweeney, Second City vet Jenni Lilledahl and former Workshop director Mark Bergren. Sweeney had left a job in commercial real estate to work in comedy, and he told Forbes magazine: “When I got my first big laugh, it was similar to the rush that I got when I made my first big sale, only better.”

At the helm of Brave New Workshop, the owners temporarily moved the group to Calhoun Square, tried staging shows on Disney cruises, and performed for a time at the Palace Theater in St. Paul. Hubbard writes that Brave New Workshop is now seeing financial success through expanded corporate improv training and its new location Downtown.

The current business provides a contrast to the early days, which Hubbard called a “hand-to-mouth operation.”

“They lived month-to-month for what ended up being decades,” he said.

Riggs said he oversaw 250 continuous original productions, funded without grants or nonprofit status. Whenever he thought the theater had reached its end, something momentous would occur in the news and he’d feel the urgency to respond onstage.

“If we shut down even for a week, we’ll lose too much momentum. History keeps going. … We have to keep responding,” Riggs said. “The rent keeps going, and so does the show.”

Hubbard is a freelance arts and music writer for the Pioneer Press, and he served as artistic director of the City Stock theater company from 1983-1991. His book “Brave New Workshop: Promiscuous Hostility and Laughs in the Land of Loons” is available online and at local bookstores.

Magers & Quinn will host Hubbard and Riggs for a discussion Jan. 14.

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 A23

SNAPSHOT

A tree with a sense of humor next to Lake Harriet. Photo by Layne Kennedy

Health, Wellness & Fitness Your resource guide for a healthy, mindful lifestyle.

Want to see your business here?

Call 612-436-4366 Today!

only export page 2

wyla harrington nails

Relax.

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who has the safest hair color of them all?

The best thing about our products is what we leave out.

wyla harrington • 612.799.5532

Laura Laura Arechigo Arechigo

uptown salon concepts 2801 hennepin ave, suite 14 minneapolis

Organic, Clean Hair Color & Natural Acne Treatments for Teens & Adults

wylanails.com

IGNITING BEAUTY FROM WITHIN Wyla Harrington Nails SWJ 102215 2cx1.indd 1

10/19/15 10:45 Beyond AM Organic Salon and Spa SWJ 121715 2cx1.indd 2

12/8/15 10:58 AM

HEALING SPACE

Viki Adducci: ACUPUNCTURE Joann Kawamura: SHIATSU Nicole Nardone: SACRED LIVING

25% OFF

Birgit Kraus: HEALING ARTS

FIRST VISIT *

*New clieNts oNly.

some restrictioNs apply.

612-670-9113 • one-yoga.org 721 W 26th St, Mpls

612-259-7331 pixiesalonminneapolis.com 314 W 42nd St, Minneapolis MN 55409

Skincare • Pain Management Micro Current Treatment for Pain and Injury Healing

25% OFF

Chiropractic • Massage Nutrition • Acupuncture

YOUR FIRST SERVICE

Your Health & Energy Restored

Salon Concepts 2801 Hennepin Ave. Suite 12 651-494-4986 cellsparkskincare.com

2822 W 43rd St, Ste 100 sunuwellness.com 612.767.4680

Cell Spark Skincare SWJ 121715 1cx3.indd 12/15/152 New 1:48Health PM Wellness Filler 2.indd 1 8/11/15 1:32 PM

Top Pick For Getting Fit

CHIROPRACTOR

One Yoga Healing Space SWJ 0827158/25/15 1cx2.indd Sunu 2:52 1 Wellness PM SWJ 081315 1cx2.indd7/31/15 1 2:21 PM 12/29/15 3:00 PM

Pixie Salon SWJ 123115 2cx1.indd 1

• Winter Radiance Facial •

-Stars Nails

75 Minutes & Exclusive Gift Bag Decadent Aromas of Chocolate, Cherry, Cinnamon and Clove. Soothing Massages as Skin is Bathed in Rich, Creamy Indulgence.

Enjoy an Eye and Brow Lift with Sonic and Microcurrent Technology. Experience Ends with a Sweet Treat and Sparkling Beverage.

Professional Nail Care Mon–Fri 9:30am–7:30pm Sat 9am–6pm Sun 11am–5pm

612-920-3479 3100 W. 50th St., Suite 102, Mpls RECEIVE 20% OFF WITH THIS AD UNTIL FEBRUARY 1ST

323 W. 48th St., Minneapolis • 612-244-8632 ONLINE SCHEDULING

Paula Allenburg, DC Robert Shepherd, DC

Offering natural chiropractic services for healthy living

—Minnesota Monthly Mag

Small Group Personal Training

2415 Hennepin Ave S Minneapolis

50th & Bryant — info@gwerx.com

612-872-9133

501 Fit SWJ 110515 2cx2.indd 2 V-Stars Nails SWJ 121715 1cx2.indd 12/3/15 1 Paula 4:45 PM Allenburg Chiropractic SWJ 081315 8/10/15 1cx2.indd 9:43 AM 2 12/7/15 3:00 PM

Tula Spa DTJ 011416 2cx2.indd 1

m. le coiffeur

CENTER FOR NATURAL HEALING

Reflexology – Jin Shin Jyutsu Acupressure Energy Healing Therapy

612-825-3070

Dean Amundson salon-concepts.com/stylist/dean-amundson Full Service Salon 612-874-0930 Parking Available

centerfornaturalhealing.us 3728 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls

24/7 toll-free helpline

List your company in The Southwest Journal’s new wellness guide.

Call us today at

612-436-4366!

for Natural Healing SWJ 123115 12/28/15 1cx2.indd New 2:531Health PM Wellness Filler.indd 1 10/15/15 Center 4:07 PM

FREE Haircut

1-800-550-4900 Free · Nonjudgmental · Confidential Medical Arts Building 825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 702 612-338-2353

Birthright of Minneapolis SWJ SPEC 2cx2.indd 1 8/11/15 12:26 PM

*New Clients Only*

TRAIN SMART, NOT HARD

HELEN VICTORIA

helenvictoriahairdesign@gmail.com

KOFICORE.COM • 612-247-4587 • 1 Groveland Terrace, Suite 101

Health, Wellness & Fitness SWJ 011416.indd 1 Helen Victoria Hair Design SWJ 111915 2cx2.indd 2

12/4/15 11:52 AM

FREE 30 MINUTE MASSAGE WITH ANY CLASS PACK OR TRAINING SESSION.

with purchase of any Color Service

612.207.6750

11/4/15 10:00 AM

Birthright of Minneapolis

Nutritional & Herbal Health Care

New Location, Same Fabulous Services

M Le Coiffeur SWJ 102215 2cx2.indd 1

Do you run a client-focused business in the health industry?

PREGNANT? NEED HELP?

1/11/16 4:17 PM 11/9/15 4:09 PM

KoFi Core Fitness DTJ 120315 2cx2.indd 1

11/19/15 10:20 AM

Southwest Journal January 14–27, 2016

Two months of exhibitions inspired by art’s feminist provocateurs

By Dylan Thomas dthomas@southwestjournal.com

J

ust when did the Guerrilla Girls Takeover get to be so huge?

Two members of the art collective came to town on a scouting mission back in October, and there were hints then that the takeover — a collaboration involving dozens of Minnesota arts and cultural organizations both large and small — would be this sprawling, hard-to-grasp thing. The Northern Spark festival might be a good comparison, but that’s just one summer night; the takeover will run for nearly two months.

Words like “exhibition” or “event” don’t really cut it. The takeover is its own season: a pre-spring awakening.

Less than two weeks out from the Jan. 21–22 kick-off, the count was 50-plus exhibitions hosted by more than 30 different organizations. All are taking inspiration from the Guerrilla Girls’ three-decade legacy of social activism though witty, artful provocation.

“We hope to provoke some dialogue around the issue of diversity in the arts and also issues of income inequality in the art world and in the world at large,” said a member of the collective, one who uses the alias Frida Kahlo, during that October visit.

The Guerilla Girls emerged in New York City in the mid-1980s as a group of feminist masked avengers who challenged the racist, sexist status quo of the art world. At first, they donned gorilla masks to protect their reputations, but it became clear early on that anonymity — and the sense of unease it created in the clubby, upper-crust sectors of the city’s art scene — was a kind of power.

“We wanted to be freedom fighters in that fancy world,” Kahlo said. “We wanted to scare people into thinking that at any (gallery) opening, at any cocktail party, maybe there was someone watching them.”

The Guerrilla Girls adopted the punchy visuals of advertising to jab at discrimination, critiquing the underrepresentation of women and people of color in galleries and SEE GUERRILLA GIRLS / PAGE B8

Where We Live

A JOURNAL COMMITMENT TO HIGHLIGHTING GREAT COMMUNITY CAUSES

St. Stephen’s Human Services

3 Members of the zAmya Theater Troupe rehearsed their Christmas show. The troupe’s homeless, formerly homeless and housed actors come together to present transformative community theater. They perform throughout the Twin Cities.

St. Stephen’s provides emergency assistance, housing, employment and human rights advocacy focused on systems change to move toward ending homelessness.

Ending homelessness by changing minds Location Every Monday night, a long line forms outside the Simpson Homeless Shelter on 28th Street just off Nicollet Avenue.

2309 Nicollet Ave. S. At 5 p.m., the doors open and 100 or so homeless men find seats on couches and chairs, waiting for the housing lottery that starts in 30 minutes.

Contact Only a handful of them will win a 28-day stay in one of the three South Minneapolis shelters that share this lottery: Simpson’s, 612-874-0311 St. Stephen’s and Our Saviour’s. The women’s lottery is held on Wednesdays, and there are even fewer beds available for them.

Monica Nilsson, director of community engagement for St. Stephen’s Human Services, said many people have misconceptions Website about the homeless. ststephensmpls.org “A lot of people think they know the face of homelessness. They associate homelessness with a panhandler they’ve seen on a street corner. We’re working hard to change that perception, because the face of homelessness could belong to anyone,” she said.

Year Founded “If you took the whole homeless population of Minnesota and condensed it into 100 people, this is what they’d look like. Twenty1981 nine would be men, 25 would be women, 10 would be young adults (18–21), one would be under 18 and on their own, and 35 would be under 18 with one or both parents. Out of the 100, only four would describe themselves as panhandlers.”

St. Stephen’s Human Services has been working to help the poor and homeless in the Twin Cities since 1981.

“In the last couple of years, we’ve started looking at volunteerism differently,” Nilsson said. “We’ll always need donations of money, food and supplies, but we’re really here to help people who aren’t homeless connect with people who are. We believe that learning is service too, and we have two very direct ways to engage in learning here.”

The first is called “A Day in the Life,” which is an experiential learning program — a day spent seeing what it feels like to be homeless. It offers a unique opportunity to engage with, and be educated by, people who have experienced homelessness and extreme poverty. Participants hear personal stories, and learn firsthand how racism and economic oppression squash the human spirit. They buy their lunch with $2.50 in food stamps and spend time talking with residents in homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities. At the end of the day, St. Stephen’s staff present an overview of ways that participants can continue to engage in the work of ending homelessness.

The second opportunity for learning is to watch a performance of St. Stephen’s resident theater troupe zAmya (Sanskrit word for aiming at peace). Their plays explain how and why people become homeless, and are always followed by a question and answer session. zAmya is available for bookings in every kind of venue from schools to faith communities to leadership conferences. The troupe is made up of actors who are homeless, previously homeless and/or deeply concerned about the issue.

By the numbers

8,903

People helped in 2014.

4,163

People supported with housing assistance in 2014.

603

Number of rental housing property managers people were connected with in 2014.

1,015

People helped with employment support in 2014.

$10.41

Average hourly wage of employers St. Stephen’s has connected people with.

What you can do Contact your mayor, representatives, congressperson, senators, even the president, to express support for programs to end homelessness.

Contact Monica Nilsson at 612-767-4456 or mnilsson@ststephensmpls.org to learn about participating in “A Day in the Life” or for details about upcoming zAmaya performances (or to book one).

Last but not least, don’t ignore panhandlers or people who appear to be homeless. Whether you choose to give money or not, acknowledge their humanity with a nod and a smile.

About the Where We Live project This project is an ongoing series spearheaded by Journals’ publisher Janis Hall showcasing Minneapolis nonprofits doing important work in the community. The editorial team has selected organizations to spotlight.

Margie O’Loughlin is the writer and photographer for the project.

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 B3

Neighborhood Spotlight. Lyn-Lake

A neighborhood where indie businesses thrive An interview with John Meegan of Top Shelf

By Sarah McKenzie / smckenzie@southwestjournal.com

John Meegan, owner of Top Shelf — one of the nation’s largest sellers of custom clothing — has operated his business in Lyn-Lake for 18 years. Before that, the business was at Lake & Hennepin for 23 years.

As head of the neighborhood’s business association, Meegan is a cheerleader for one of the most charming and hippest slices of Minneapolis. Here are highlights of a recent Q&A with Meegan.

EDITOR’S NOTE We’re kicking off our new Neighborhood Spotlight series with this special feature on Lyn-Lake.

Stay tuned for more neighborhood guides throughout 2016.

Q: What are the greatest strengths of the Lyn-Lake area, in your opinion?

What would be an ideal day for you in Lyn-Lake?

Independent business ownership is what makes Lyn-Lake a very special place. You can walk inside 85 percent — if not more of the businesses in the area — and the owners will be working there. We aren’t so much of a regional destination like Uptown where the majority of businesses are national chains, we’re a neighborhood destination. It’s the neighborhoods of South Minneapolis that keep it alive.

An ideal day is hard to think about, but an ideal week is much easier. I’d bounce between Golden Leaf, Morrissey’s Irish Pub, It’s Greek to Me, Fuji Ya, Moto-i, the speakeasy that shall remain nameless, The Alt for a bike tune up, and jump on the Greenway for a great skate or bike ride in either direction.

The Greenway is one of the greatest physical assets of Minneapolis and having it run right through the heart of Lyn-Lake is one of the best reasons to live close by.

What are some of the challenges/issues facing the area?

Lyn-Lake still needs to develop daytime traffic so that retail can survive on the corner. The restaurants and bars keep the place lively at night, but retail needs to be a destination or it just can’t make it. Development has been focused on rental housing,

What would make the neighborhood more vibrant?

John Meegan of Top Shelf, a custom tailor at 3040 Lyndale Ave. S. Photo by Sarah McKenzie

but we need daytime employment centers to balance traffic. Parking is the business communities’ biggest concern. We have

plenty of capacity in the daytime, and not nearly enough at night.

I think a well run live music venue would be the thing I’d like to see most of all. I miss Cause. I love live music, and we have practically none. A book store like Magers and Quinn would be great, too.

Are You Looking For A New Flame?

Save on energy costs this winter and have a much warmer house at the same time!

Elegant Avalon, Radiant Plus Gas Insert Ready to Burn for Just $3,350.00!* (*Offer valid through February. Price includes unit, venting, normal install and permits — limitations apply.)

1810 Plymouth Road, Minnetonka, MN 55305 | 952-546-6162 | allseasonsfire.com

All Seasons Fireplace SWJ 011416 H2.indd 1

1/12/16 11:43 AM

B4 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

Neighborhood Spotlight. Lyn-Lake

A lot to love in Lyn-Lake NEIGHBORHOOD RUNDOWN

Lyn-Lake is one of the most colorful places in Minneapolis.

Take a stroll down Lyndale and you’ll be struck by the building’s bright facades — there are many shades of orange, green and blue spicing up the corridor.

Lyn-Lake has an eclectic mix of restaurants and bars, including the sake brewpub moto-i, the Uptown VFW — a karaoke hotspot undergoing a renovation to add another bar and live music room — and Galactic Pizza, which has delivery people clad in superhero outfits.

New high-end apartment buildings, a strong mix of independent retailers, the Jungle Theater, Bryant-Lake Bowl & Theater, Intermedia Arts and the Midtown Greenway, which cuts through the neighborhood, are also major neighborhood assets.

The neighborhood also has LynLake Brewery, a microbrewery and tap room founded by Mark Anderson, Joel Carlson and Paul Cossette at 2934 Lyndale Ave. S. Plus, the neighborhood is set to get the city’s first woonerf — a Dutch term for a living street.

Two blocks of West 29th Street between Bryant and Lyndale avenues will be reconstructed later this year to make way for a new shared-used street much more inviting for pedestrians and bicyclists. Construction on the roughly $900,000 project is expected to start this spring. It will feature a pedestrian zone, metered parking and new green space.

394

Boundaries: The Lyn-Lake commercial district is bordered by Harriet Avenue on the east, West 28th on the north, Dupont Avenue on the west and West 31st on the south.

How to get involved: The LynLake Business Association provides a forum for businesses and residents interested in keeping the area thriving. For more information, go to lyn-lake.org

CEDAR LAKE

Special attractions: The Midtown Greenway cuts through the heart of Lyn-Lake — a 5.5 mile stretch of biking and walking trails along a former railroad corridor. The Jungle Theater is another major draw — a 150-seat performing arts venue at 2951 Lyndale Ave. S. Sarah Rasmussen is the theater’s new artistic director.

35W

LYNDALE AVE S

BRYANT AVE S

DUPONT AVE S

LAKE OF THE ISLES

W 28TH ST

LYN-LAKE LAKE ST W 31ST ST HARRIET AVE

LAKE CALHOUN

Intermedia Arts, a multidisciplinary arts center at 2822 Lyndale Ave. S. Photo by Sarah McKenzie

plan a summer

ADVENTURE at Minnesota Parent’s 10th annual

100

Camp Fair

35W

LAKE HARRIET

Saturday, February 27th 10am–2pm Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

Edina Country Club

meet one-on-one

with dozens of camp representatives

35W

Free admission! Free parking! mnparent.com/campfair 612-825-9205 • events@mnpubs.com SPONSORED BY

Camp Fair 2016 SWJ 011416 4.indd 1

1/12/16 3:49 PM

Bar Louie SWJ 011416 4.indd 1

1/12/16 12:29 PM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 B5

Neighborhood Spotlight. Lyn-Lake

An ideal day in an eclectic neighborhood With all that is packed in to the blocks at Lyn-Lake, there is no need to travel more than a few steps to fill a perfect day.

The neighborhood’s eclectic mix of shops and bars and galleries can’t be replicated.

Story and Photos by Michelle Bruch / mbruch@southwestjournal.com

5)

See a show. The 2016 season at Jungle Theater begins Feb. 12 with Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” featuring an all-female cast.

Improv shows at HUGE Theater run all week — there is improvised Jane Austen, the office-themed “Nimblicity” happy hour show (where admission includes an adult beverage), or weekly “Improv A Go Go” shows accepting admission prices of any amount. HUGE also hosts drop-in improv classes every Wednesday.

Bryant-Lake Bowl offers full bar and menu services at its shows. Upcoming performances include The Bible Cabaret (Jan. 31), the storytelling show Story Club Minneapolis (Jan. 21), the Bell Museum’s Café Scientifique discussing mountaintop science (Jan. 19), and a screening of the movie “Aliens” featuring live commentary by the improv group Splendid Things (Jan. 15).

1) 2)

Start with breakfast at Egg and I. The classic diner with enormous portions has been around more than 30 years, and the hash browns are worth any wait time.

Bike the Midtown Greenway, in any weather.

Ramp access is on the north side of the trail at Bryant Avenue. The trail is plowed throughout the winter, but for extra traction you can rent fat bikes at Freewheel Bike shop’s West Bank location or Angry Catfish Bicycle & Coffee Bar.

3)

Take in the shops. You’ll find fair trade gifts at Regla de Oro, one-of-a-kind home décor at Pharmacie, and local designers at Showroom.

4)

Have lunch at World Street Kitchen. Try the signature Yum Yum Rice Bowl with crispy tofu or caramelized lamb belly. Or try the giant Bangkok burrito filled with Korean bbq short ribs. WSK’s ice cream parlor, Milkjam Creamery, is set to open soon next door.

6) 7) 8)

Hunt for Volstead’s Emporium. The press-shy speakeasy without a web page challenges customers to find the unmarked back entrance at 711 W. Lake St.

Hit the patios, weather providing. Plenty to choose from here, including LynLake Brewery, Herkimer, moto-i, Marché, Fuji Ya and Muddy Waters.

See the galleries. You’ll currently find a holiday salon at Douglas Flanders & Associates, Art Shanty photos at SooVAC, and the local co-op exhibition “Prints on Ice” at Highpoint Center for Printmaking. The exhibition “Hands Up Don’t Shoot – HER” opens in late January at Intermedia Arts.

9)

All days should end at the VFW for karaoke.

A TOUCH OF GREECE IN THE HEART OF MINNEAPOLIS Full Authentic Greek Menu if you are a fan of courage, then you are already a fan of Special Olympics.

Full Bar • Daily Specials • Carry Out • Catering

volunteer, support, coach or compete.

626 West Lake Street (corner of Lake & Lyndale) Tue.-Fri. 4:30pm-11pm, Sat. 11am-11pm, Sun. 11am-10pm

specialolympicsminnesota.org

612.825.9922 | www.ItsGreekToMemn.com

Special Olympics SWJ 2010 VBC filler.indd 6/22/101 It's 2:08 PM To Me SWJ 122710 H18.indd 1 Greek

12/15/10 11:37 AM

Family Business since 1907

JANUARY CLEARANCE Boots, Jeans, Hats, Apparel, Belts, Gifts, Horse Supplies 413 West Lake St., Mpls., MN 612-825-2459 Park FREE in our lot located by the alley side of the store

Mon.–Fri. 9:30am–6pm • Thurs. till 8pm • Sat. till 5pm Schatzlein's Saddle SWJ 011416 H12.indd 1

www.SSaddle.com 1/8/16 2:02 PM

B6 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

City Voices.

Photos and interviews by Stephanie Glaros

What are your hopes for this upcoming year?

Terra Perez, Minneapolis

Stephanie Wipf, Brooklyn Center

Ken Killion, Minneapolis

To attend the Art Institute, which is something I wanted to do a while ago, just never got the courage. I’ve always been into art.

I wanted a career that was something I loved doing, so I finally took that step to get enrolled. I’m very excited and anxious. I want it to be different this year, it’s a new year. I don’t want that fear to get in the way of anything I wanna do.

I’m already working on it, I’m getting more in shape. I just came from a dance class. I have Type 1 Diabetes, and I’m trying to get better at my eating habits, and working out to keep my overall health in check. … I grew up dancing as a little girl in the big tutus and things like that. Got into the dance team in high school, became a hobby, a passion of mine. Now I’m doing musical theatre as kind of a side hobby, so I wanna make sure I keep that up, and it’s a good way to stay in shape.

In general, that we have some peace. People can kind of come together, and we can find some sort of peace. We can work things out a little bit more without having to go to extremes.

And we can sit down and talk about things, and sort of hash things out, and make a better place for our children. …

I’ve been here less than two years. I come from San Francisco, I’d been there for about 26 years. And it’s kind of different there because it’s really a big melting pot, everyone is different. People tend to get along, I think, a little better there. Where I think here, it’s sort of “us against them.” And I would like to get away from that, and have more unity. The reason that certain people are being killed, particularly young people of color, is because of misunderstandings about a lot of things that stem way back. So I wish there was a way we could all sit down and get to know each other a little bit more. I think the more we know, and learn, and understand about each other, the more we realize that we have a lot in common.

Glaros: What are you afraid of?

Rejection. I was raised in foster care. I was 6 when I was adopted, and I was 14 when I went back into the foster care system. I wasn’t a part of a family, so I always felt kinda left out. I’ve gotten picked on when I was in different homes, “Oh, you’re gonna steal my stuff.” They put us all in the same category. It’s not very nice. So I’ve been dealing with rejections for a long time. But it’s time for me to kind of mask that, and say, “I can do this, I don’t care what your opinion is, I’m still gonna keep pushing forward.”

Glaros: What do you wish people understood about foster children?

That we are human beings like anybody else. The difference is that we don’t have our own families, so we need other families to love and care for us.

I don’t know, this is a big step for me. Them accepting me into the Art Institute, that would give me hope that I could accomplish anything. There’s hope out there.

Glaros: Were you surprised to learn that you had Diabetes?

Yeah. It doesn’t run in my family. I started experiencing symptoms and thought that something was very wrong, and finally after about a month I said, “OK, I need to go to the doctor.” And I made the appointment, and that’s that.

Glaros: How are you feeling nowadays?

I’m doing a lot better, it comes on a day-to-day basis. One day I could be in a really good range, the next day I could be up and down with sugar levels. Keeping sugars in check can really affect your day. So the more I can keep it at an even tone, the better I feel.

Glaros: How do we do that?

One thing is that people need to get together and talk within their own groups about ourselves, and what we need to do to make ourselves better, so that people will understand us more.

And understand where people are coming from, why things happen the way they do. I just think there needs to be more discussion about that, and more openness, more understanding.

More empathy.

Your One-Stop Shop For Heating

“Warming Winter and Cooling Summer”

SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1950 We service all Brands — furnace / boiler / AC Fast — Repair parts stocked on trucks Flat Rate Pricing — you know the cost before we repair

NEED SERVICE NOW? Our Service Techs are Ready to Help You!

YOUR SERVICE AND REPLACEMENT PROFESSIONALS! — FURNACE / BOILER / AIR CONDITIONER —

Reliable Dependable Service From A Team Of Professionals

VICTORY

We stock boilers for

IMMEDIATE INSTALL

95% Efficiency Furnace Installation for only $3,800 EL195E-070 model with power-saving technology

Financing Available

Boiler Replacement Receive new Wi-Fi thermostat with new boiler!

Born and bred in the USA U.S. Patent No. US 7,013,843 B1 Offer expires 1/31/2016

Offer expires 1/31/2016

www.midlandhtg.com 413 W 60th St, Minneapolis Midland Heating SWJ 123115 FP.indd 1

612-869-3213

Call for Your Free In-home Estimate Today 12/29/15 2:53 PM

B8 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

Two Guerrilla Girls, operating under the aliases Frida Kahlo and Kathe Kollwitz, pictured during an October visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Photo by Dylan Thomas

FROM GUERRILLA GIRLS / PAGE B1

museums. A collection of their early poster work was acquired in the 1990s by the Walker Art Center, and a more recent purchase by the museum has brought the archive up to date.

A display of those posters will be added to the Walker’s ongoing and ever-changing 75th-anniversary exhibition, which opened in the fall of 2014 and continues through the end of this year. Walker executive director Olga Viso, a member of the steering committee organizing the takeover, said the citywide event has been “one of the most rewarding collaborations and easiest collaborations I’ve ever been involved in with other institutions.”

“I think admiration for their work is obviously what drew us all together,” Viso said.

“It’s the first time I‘ve worked with (the Guerrilla Girls), but they certainly were a very visible force in the art world when I was emerging as a young curator,” she said. “I was in graduate school in late ’80s, early ’90s, so they were a very visible and inspiring force that I was very aware of and conscious of and appreciative of.”

The Guerrilla Girls grew their reputation early on with a simple but effective tactic: they counted.

By adding up the numbers of male and

female artists represented in museums claiming “encyclopedic” collections, or by comparing the number nude women to nude men in the artworks on display, they uncovered vast disparities. Consciously or unconsciously, cultural gatekeepers were excluding women from a skewed, male-centric version of art history.

Nicole Soukop, an artist liaison for the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, worked with the Guerrilla Girls as they took stock of that museum’s collection in October. During the takeover, digital projections at Mia’s two winter entrances will display their findings: just 11 pieces made by women out of the roughly 400 artworks currently on display from Mia’s collections of paintings, sculpture and prints and drawings.

While the museum has for years purposefully gone about adding art by women and people of color to its collection, Soukop said, “when you’re talking about several decades after 100 years of collecting art, it’s still not going to be perfectly equitable.”

It’s a different story in the museum’s collections of African and Native American art, which have the highest proportions of work made by (often anonymous) women. For Mia, the Guerrilla Girls’ visit is a chance to talk openly not just about disparities, but about what the museum is doing to correct the record.

“I found this very refreshing,” Soukop said.

GUERRILLA GIRLS TWIN CITIES TAKEOVER KICKOFF When: Jan. 21–22 Where: Multiple locations Info: ggtakeover.com

Next door, at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the main galleries will be featuring a mix of student work taking on a variety of current issues, including transgender discrimination, police violence, environmental degradation and animal rights. And that’s what the takeover is really about: not just the Guerrilla Girls, but the way the group has inspired other artists to fight for what they care about.

“Everyone wants to do some good in the world, and we’ve developed this totally crazy way of doing it that makes people think they can do something their own way, too,” a Guerrilla Girl who called herself Kathe Kollwitz said back in October. She would add, a few minutes later: “It’s great that it’s not about us doing our thing, it’s about so many people here doing their thing.”

Highpoint Center for Printmaking hosts “Sus Voces,” featuring the work of women printmakers from Mexico, one of dozens of satellite exhibitions planned for the takeover. Submitted photo

REMOVE THE MOLD & ALLERGENS

154 Blake Road N • Edina–Hopkins KazempourUSA.com • 612-672-0434 ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR SENIORS

25% OFF

•

Lights or power out, circuit troubleshooting

•

Storm damage repair, 24 Hour Emergency service

•

Electrical panel upgrades, fuse to circuit breaker panel

•

Ceiling fan and bath exhaust fan installation & servicing

Rug Cleaning

On any Pre-Paid Orders

Not valid with other offers. Restrictions apply. Exp. 2/10/16

Up & Delivery FREE Pick Minimum of 200 Sq. Ft. Not valid with other offers. Exp. 2/10/16

763-544-3300 Harrison-Electric.com

Quality Is No Accident

NEW 12 PACK COOKIE BOX!

Kazempour Oriental Rugs SWJ 111915 11/17/15 VBC.indd 12:27 Harrison 1 PMElectric SWJ 112014 VBC.indd 11/19/14 3 11:17 AM

Family owned and operated for 65 years!

All insurance accepted • Lifetime Repair Warranty • FREE Estimates

$17 includes choice of 12 Ginger Molasses or our famous Bittersweet Chocolate cookies along with a choice of greeting | For $5 we will ship anywhere in the U.S. | Go to rustica.com for details

3220 W. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55416 612.822.1119 • rusticabakery.com

RUSTICA BAKERY

2800 Lyndale Ave S. Minneapolis Mon–Fri: 7am-5:30pm, Sat–Sun: Closed 612-872-6671 | www.hagensautobody.com Rustica SWJ 011416 6.77x5.12.indd 1 Hagen's Autobody SWJ 121715 H18.indd 1

12/11/15 4:03 PM

Monday–Friday 6:30 am–8 pm Saturday–Sunday 7 am–8 pm

ALWAYS SERVING DOGWOOD COFFEE 1/11/16 9:18 AM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 B9

Nonprofit awarding $400K in grants to support Somali youth

By Sarah McKenzie / smckenzie@journalmpls.com

Northeast nonprofit Youthprise will be awarding $400,000 in grants in late February for programs designed to build resiliency among Somali youth as part of a national effort to prevent radicalization.

The nonprofit, which is based in the Nicollet Island-East Bank neighborhood, is also funding other innovative projects for Somali youth, including Salon Africana — a community partnership launching in February led by East African vocalist and songwriter Somi, said Youthprise President Wokie Weah. Youth will be mentored during the program and encouraged to develop their own creative voices.

The Somali Youth Development Fund

MORE INFO For more information about Youthprise’s Somali Youth Development Fund, go to youthprise. org/Somali-youth-development

administered by Youthprise includes funding from the U.S. Department of Justice and private funding. It is part Wokie Weah of the Twin Cities Building Community Resilience program, an effort led by U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger aimed at combating radicalization among Somali youth.

Similar programs are also underway in Boston and Los Angeles.

The Twin Cities Building Community Resilience program also includes a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring project for Somali youth and a youth employment initiative of the City of Minneapolis and state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Some in the Somali community have been suspicious of the program, however, and raised concerns about the potential for government surveillance.

Minnesota is home to the largest Somali immigrant community in the country with most living in Hennepin County. Beginning in 2007, al-Shabaab started recruiting Somali Minnesotans to fight abroad for the terrorist organization, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Abdirizak Mohamed Warsame, 20, of Eagan is the most recent Twin Cities man charged with conspiracy to provide material support to ISIL. Luger and other law enforcement officials announced the charges Dec. 10.

The criminal complaint filed against Warsame alleges he and his co-conspirators started watching propaganda videos glorifying religious violence and stared discussing plans to travel to Syria to fight with ISIL. He later planned to travel to East Africa with his family and either travel to Syria or wait for ISIL to expand to Somalia and join forces with the terrorist organization there.

Warsame made his first court appearance Dec. 10 in federal court in Minneapolis.

“This defendant is the 10th Twin Cities’ man charged as part of a broad conspiracy to provide

material support to ISIL,” Luger said in a statement. “The FBI and prosecutors in my office continue to work without pause to keep Minnesotans safe and bring these defendants to justice.”

Community leaders are hoping to intervene in the lives of at-risk Somali youth before they consider going down the path toward radicalization.

Weah said Youthprise is focused on building on existing relationships it has with Somali community.

“We will oversee a transparent and competitive grant making process to distribute $400,000,” Weah said in a recent interview. “We will prioritize investing in Somali-led organizations, collaborative partnerships and holistic approaches to healthy youth development.”

The request for proposals (RFP) for grant applications was released Jan. 8.

Youthprise was established by the downtown-based McKnight Foundation in 2010.

It’s focused on championing learning beyond the classroom and accelerating innovation with the end of goal of ensuring all youth in Minnesota can thrive.

Beyond the Somali Youth Development Fund and Salon Africana, Youthprise is involved in the Pipeline to Integration initiative, which is bolstering the leadership of community groups serving Somali youth, and the East African Youth at Work program, an effort to improve employment outcomes for Somali youth ages 14 to 24.

“As a grant maker, we really are interested in bringing a very holistic, positive youth-development approach to young people,” Weah said.

Southwest H.S. students raise money for The Bridge

By Sarah McKenzie / smckenzie@southwestjournal.com

Southwest High School seniors Harper Svee and Grace McEnry are bridge builders.

As part of the school’s annual BLAST (Be Loving and Sharing Together) event, the students led a month-long fundraising and awareness campaign in December for The Bridge for Youth, an Uptown-based organization that provides counseling and other services for youth and families.

The campaign raised more than $10,000 for the nonprofit.

While the dollar figure is impressive, Svee and McEnry said their main mission was to inform students about resources available to them when they are struggling with mental health issues or family problems.

They also spread the message that if each

student gave a little, collectively they could have a big impact.

Besides creating an online fundraising portal for The Bridge, they organized classroom presentations, made a video about the nonprofit featuring interviews with staff members and put up posters about the organization all over the school.

They visited English classes in each grade for weekly presentations to discuss the nonprofit’s work throughout December.

They also informed students about the nonprofit’s new texting hotline — a 24-hour service for teens and families staffed by Bridge staff and volunteers trained to help de-escalate crisis situations.

Svee and McEnry said it was important for

them to connect with students and let them know that The Bridge was there for them if they needed help with mental health challenges.

“It was important for us to talk about issues that are often stigmatized,” McEnry said.

Svee said they wanted to let students know that mental health issues should be taken just as seriously as physical conditions.

Janet Hallaway, director of development and external relations for The Bridge, said she admired how hard the students worked on the project.

“BLAST did so much more than raise funds for The Bridge,” she said. “It pushed out a message about our services, particularly our new crisis text hotline, to kids across the southwest metro. Our hope is that if a kid is in crisis, they

now they can text us for help. BLAST will have a long-lasting impact in our community.

The Bridge for Youth in the East Isles neighborhood focuses services on youth ages 10 to 17 who don’t have a safe place to call home. The organization provides a range of counseling and supportive services and has shelter beds for youth in Minneapolis and at a new 24-hour emergency shelter in Excelsior, which has six beds for youth.

It serves nearly 1,000 youth each year and is the largest provide of emergency and extended-stay shelter for children in crisis in the Twin Cities.

The organization’s board of directors also recently named Michelle Basham as its new executive director. She starts the job in February after serving as CEO of the YWCA of Delaware.

PRESENTS THE 11TH ANNUAL

2016

FREE!

SATURDAY, MARCH 26 10AM-3PM BURROUGHS COMMUNITY SCHOOL 1601 WEST 50TH STREET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet with over 40 representatives of the Twin Cities’ best landscaping, plumbing, interior design, painting and remodeling companies as they showcase their work and present solutions for your home improvement needs.

Free Admission • Door Prizes For more information call 612.825.9205 or visit southwestjournal.com/homefair SW HI Fair SWJ 011416 6.indd 1

SPONSORED BY:

1/8/16 2:20 PM

B10 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

Get Out Guide.

UNFILTERED Instinct Art Gallery is going gorillas until March as part of the Guerrilla Girls’ “takeover” of the city. The Nicollet Mall art gallery is pairing international illustrator and political artist Sue Coe with quirky local painter Nancy Robinson.

“Unfiltered” will echo the work of the Guerilla Girls, who are known for exposing sexism through their art, and will end with a video surveying their work over the past three decades. Instinct will host an opening reception Saturday, Jan. 23 from 6-8 p.m.

Submitted Photos

7 PSALMS

Where: Instinct Art Gallery, 940 Nicollet Mall When: Jan. 23 through March 12 Cost: Free Info: instinctmpls.com

U.S. POND HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Vocalist Jason Harms and a jazz ensemble join forces with the Radio Choir from American Public Media to bring you 7 Psalms. The concert, featuring the work of composer and pianist Jeremy Walker, who is also a resident of Stevens Square, incorporates the full texts of Psalms 3, 6, 13, 22, 126, 130 and 131. The Star Tribune said the piece “cries for help, howls of frustration and shouts of joy.”

Nothing is quite as Minnesotan as donning ice skates and playing hockey on a frozen pond. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships has drawn thousands of players and spectators to Lake Nokomis each year for more than a decade. While it’s too late to register as one of 250 or so teams vying for the Golden Shovel this year, the championships are something every Minnesotan needs to experience.

Spectators can watch games and take advantage of open rinks. Due to unseasonably warm weather, the championship was postponed this year.

Where: Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall When: Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8 p.m.

Cost: $15-35 Info: minnesotaorchestra.org

Where: Lake Nokomis, 4955 W. Lake Nokomis Pkwy.

When: Jan. 28-31 Cost: Free Info: uspondhockey.com

How Brian Delivers Great Results: • 25 Years Buying, Selling, Property Management • 380 Leases Negotiated • 26 Years Contracting • 18 Years Self-Employed Small Business Owner

HAPPY HOUR • Sun – Thur

’

612-213-2670 www.brianweedman.com Weedman, Brian SWJ 011416 H18.indd 2

3pm – 5pm & 9pm – close

1/6/16 12:31 PM START YOUR MEDICAL CAREER WITH US!

Full-time and Part-time Direct Support Staff Openings in South Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington and Eden Prairie Responsibilities: · Support individuals with activities of daily living · Teach independence · Be a role model · Provide personal and medical cares

Paid Training Benefits 401(k) Internal growth opportunities!

hours: Thur – SAT 12pm – 12am Sun 12pm – 10PM • Mon –Wed 3pm – 12am 3801 Grand Ave S • Minneapolis, MN 55409 612-824-4052 • www.rincon38.com

For requirements and to apply , visit www.dungarvin.com Apply to requisition number 15-0224. AA/EOE

Dungarvin SWJ 102215 H18.indd 1

10/16/15 12:20 Cafe Ena PM - Rincon 38 SWJ 110515 9.indd 2

10/30/15 8:50 AM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 B11

MINNEAPOLIS SKYWAY FOOD TOUR Downtown Minneapolis’ skyway can be a never-ending tunnel of office workers and coffee shops, but there’s plenty more to see with the right guide. The Taste of Twin Cities puts on walking tours of the skyway system on Saturdays with plenty of stops to make the 9-5 labyrinth feel like a weekend getaway. The three-hour walking tour features plenty of tastings — from chocolate to pizza — VIP sights of the city’s oldest theaters and all the landmarks most people likely miss on a daily basis.

Where: LaSalle Plaza, 800 LaSalle Plaza When: Jan. 16 through March 26 Cost: $46.55 per person Info: tastetwincities.com

WINTER MARKET PERICLES Newly appointed artistic director Joseph Haj is getting his Guthrie directorial debut with Pericles, the highly anticipated restaging of the show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The lesser known Shakespeare play begins with pirates setting sale on an epic journey and the titular character wooing a princess, fighting famine and weathering a storm. The adventurous, yet romantic tale features live music composed by Tony Award-winner Jack Herrick.

Where: Guthrie Theater, 818 S. 2nd St. When: Jan. 16 through Feb. 21 Cost: $15-64 Info: guthrieheater.org

FIRST AVENUE’S BEST NEW BANDS First Avenue is once again celebrating all new bands, musicians and talents who we couldn’t stop listening to last year. This year’s Best New Bands event will showcase intoxicating indie rockers Aero Flynn, rapper Baby Shel, St. Paul punk band Bruise Violet, lifelong musician Eric Mayson, rapper Lexii Alijai, Murder Shoes and dreamy Perfume Monster. The 18-plus show is a great rundown of the local music to get to know before it gets big.

Where: First Avenue, 701 N. 1st Ave. When: Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.

Cost: $7-10 Info: first-avenue.com

The Northeast Farmers Market will once again host its Winter Market at Chowgirls’ space in the Solar Arts Building. The event in Northeast Minneapolis typically runs on the third Saturday of Minneapolis’ colder months from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., on Jan. 16, Feb. 20 and March 19. Fans of the Northeast Minneapolis farmers market, in its 16th year, can expect music from DJ The Ring Toss Twins, activities for children and plenty of local vendors and artisans. The regular community-based market is located in the parking lot of the Church of St. Boniface.

Where: Solar Arts by Chowgirls, 711 15th Ave. NE When: Saturday, Jan. 16 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Cost: Free Info: northeastmarket.org

OLEXA BULAVITSKY Artist Olexa Bulavitsky made a name for himself in Minneapolis as a painter after growing up in Ukraine during World War II. Bulavitsky will display his immigrant story in “Olexa Bulavitsky: Immigrant Experiences and Ukrainian-American Art” at the Museum of Russian Art. From living in a Displaced Persons camp in wartime to learning at the USSR Academy of Arts, the artist has plenty to tell about his history in a far-off land, but also about his home here in Minneapolis. His paintings include still lives, landscapes and portraits in a realist style.

Where: The Museum of Russian Art, 5500 Stevens Ave. S. When: Jan. 30 through July 3 Cost: $9, discounts available Info: tmora.org

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 In any way 6 Brief 11 Pack the groceries 14 Actress O’Donnell 15 “Peter, Peter, pumpkin __” 16 TV brand 17 *Alabama team 19 Boston Bruin great Bobby 20 Fisherman’s Wharf entrée 21 Kevin of “Dances With Wolves” 23 Honey makers 25 Okla. neighbor 26 Fighting 30 Item inserted through eyelets 34 Nappy leather 35 Woodwind instrument 36 “Veep” channel

64 Hawaiian wreath

11 *Raspberry

43 Doughnut with a twist

38 x or y, on graphs

65 Cubs Hall of Famer Banks

12 43,560 square feet

44 Fashionable

13 Actress Teri

46 Nonpro sports org.

18 Sugary ending 22 Earl Grey, for one

47 Tree also called basswood

24 *Tinseltown trade

51 La Brea goo

69 Cosmetician Lauder

26 “Now!” in memos

52 Quite a blow

27 Monkey suits

53 Eye layer containing the iris

39 Dickens’ Drood 41 Crystal ball gazer 42 Cribbage marker 43 One of 14 in a pro’s golf bag 44 Like xenon and krypton

66 One committed to a military career 67 Coppertone user’s goal 68 Lear daughter

45 Dietary supplement obtained from predatory fish

DOWN

28 *Dieter’s concern

1 Circle segments

48 Up on a map

2 Ripped

29 Newspaper revenue source

49 Letter before upsilon

3 Cambodia’s continent

50 Clearasil targets

4 Swing support

52 Vein in the neck

5 Longtime Buick model

56 Actress Wood

6 Feels

61 Eggs

7 Boater or bowler

62 Lengthy litany ... and, literally, what the ends of the answers to starred clues comprise

8 Suffix with psych 9 Decorate again 10 Railroad bridge support

Crossword Puzzle SWJ 011416 4.indd 1

31 __-Wan Kenobi

54 Swiss river 55 Step on a ladder

32 Very long time

57 Boxers Muhammad and Laila

33 Longtime partner of Siskel

58 English elevator

37 Sports MD’s specialty 39 Yellowstone grazer 40 Batman and Robin, e.g.

41 __-cone: shaved ice dessert

59 “Gotcha” 60 French I infinitive 63 Actress Vardalos Crossword answers on page B12

1/6/16 11:26 AM

B12 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

Mark Henry and Gretchen Skedsvold, the husband-and-wife team behind Henry & Son. Submitted photo

COUPLE OPENS BOUTIQUE WINE SHOP ON GLENWOOD

By Loren Green

Husband and wife team Mark Henry and Gretchen Skedsvold moved from New York to Minneapolis and, when they did, they noticed a difference in wine availability from their familiar haunts like D.O.C., Chamber Street Wines, Astor Wines and Uva. “We didn’t long for much,” said Skedsvold of their relocation. “It has all of the amenities without the competition and stress.”

The young couple bought a home in Bryn Mawr and started thinking about their next step: to own a neighborhood wine shop, one to showcase their love of the beverage while advancing their small scale and sustainabilityfocused philosophy.

“I was walking the dog one day and there was an old dry cleaner with a for rent sign,” Henry remembered when they scouted their first potential location. “I ran home with the

dog,” he said, only to later find that it wasn’t zoned accordingly. This led them to Glenwood Avenue, where they’ve now opened Henry & Son next to iSpace and across the street from the International Market Square.

Henry & Son is bigger than they’d first planned, but it’s been a dream come true. “It’s very urban. What we’re going for is something that could be in Minneapolis or New York or Paris,” Skedsvold said.

The industrial brick and high ceilings in 811 Glenwood Ave. remind them of their first shared apartment back in New York, with an art studio vibe that makes the successful jump into a retail atmosphere.

Henry & Son’s inventory is built on Skedsvold’s knowledge from personal interest, global travel, and frequent purchases in New York. Her history with sustainability goes back further.

HENRY & SON About: Specializes in craft wine and spirits.

Where: 811 Glenwood Ave. Website: shophenryandson.com

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

Byron Electric

Residential & Commercial

Free Estimates

Awareness3D LLC 121715 HBC.indd 1

12/1/15 4:02 PM

The Car Shop That Cares

612-750-5724 ByronElectric.com

Free loaner cars available!

Free estimates with work performed 1 year labor warranty, manufacturer’s on parts 24 hour towing 40 years of experience

(612) 824-4155

Byron Electric SWJ 011416 V12.indd 1

Born and raised in North Dakota, her parents practiced organic agriculture and were among the first in her rural area to convert from beef cattle to bison. Most of the wines carried at Henry & Son carry a similar concept, produced by small scale family-owned vineyards, not necessarily organic, but aimed toward natural ingredients and green business practices.

Since first settling in Minneapolis they’ve found more of their favorites at other stores, noting that they’ve frequented Zipp’s and France 44, but their store collects the odds and ends they previously had to skip across town to find.

“We consolidate a lot of them,” Skedsvold said. “We have what I would buy if I were to go to those stores, plus a few others.” The idea is to offer a variety of less available brands sharing that sustainable focus.

It’s a niche, but distributors have welcomed the concept, excited to have a store that wants to sell small run wines that are harder to market in the larger stores who are more concerned about high volume sales. It’s a store run by enthusiasts who enjoy their craft, and they embrace the ideals without pretention.

“We see it as half retail, half learning institution,” said Henry, and the store offers tastings on Thursdays and Fridays to help familiarize customers. While their staff is knowledgeable, they also make a point to minimize intimidation.

“There’s a lot of wine shops that look down at people if they ask for a wine,” he said. “I think people feel that when they come in.”

Given their emphasis on small-scale operations, they won’t have everything a customer is used to, but they work to reach across that barrier.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how receptive people are to different stuff,” Skedsvold added. “People seem to have fun, get more excited in here.”

Another key element, and one they couldn’t have achieved had they opened in a smaller space, is their organization. It’s open, well lit, and welcoming. There are tables in the center for discussion and samples, and the wines line the walls in neatly arranged columns and rows instead of geography. Vertical columns equate to region while the horizontal rows reflect the fullness of the grape, making side-by-side comparisons easy without crossing the store to assess wines from South America and Australia.

Since their grand opening on Oct. 29, Henry & Son has connected with their neighborhood while increasing their inventory. Besides wine, the store sells Minnesota-made beers and they’ve connected with nearby Sisyphus Brewing to sell 750 ml cans, or crowlers, of the nanobrewery’s beers—the only store to do so.

With two additional coolers on order, Henry plans to increase beer selection and they are growing their spirit selection as well.

While the building may be a larger investment than initially planned, it’s united their passion with the community.

All Makes – All Models QualityCoaches.com

1/5/16 11:46 QualityAM Coaches SWJ 011416 H18.indd 1

20 W. 38th St. Minneapolis

12/31/15 Crossword 4:46 PM Answers SWJ 011416 V12.indd 1

Crossword on page B11

1/6/16 11:25 AM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 B13

Classifieds

MAINTENANCE / Chimney Services, Electric, Plumbing + EXTERIORS / Decks, Roofing, Windows +

PAINTING / Exterior, Interior, Plaster, Woodwork +

PLUMBING, HEATING, COOLING / Furnaces, Water Heaters +

REMODELING, CONTRACTORS / Design-Build, Full Service, Specialty +

LANDSCAPING, OUTDOOR SERVICES / Stonework, Snow Removal +

CONCRETE, ASPHALT, DRIVEWAYS / Patios, Steps +

FLOORING / Restoration, Cleaning, Maintenance +

EXTERIORS

VB ROOFING INC. Complete Roofing Services & Repairs

LINE CLASSIFIEDS Lic.# BC637628

Rotten wood?

Winter is almost here, let us handle your snow removal needs; roof, sidewalk or driveway!

We will carefully remove your snow.

1972–2015

43 YEARS

c.

Li

Save Thousands Over Replacement

#R

MISCELLANEOUS / Music Lessons, Sanitation +

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • QUALITY

— 32 Years Experience —

612-706-0046 | nystromroofing.com | 3134 California St NE, Mpls

EMPLOYMENT EARN TAX FREE MONEY!

Lutheran Social Service Senior Companion Program is seeking individuals 55+ interested in making new friends, providing errand assistance & sharing hobbies with others in your community. Tax free money, mileage reimbursement and other benefits. Contact Kate Neuhaus, 651-310-9447 or kate.neuhaus@lssmn.org

HOME SERVICES

R 2 0 21619 7

HANDYPERSON 11/17/15 2:27 PM

Nystrom Construction SWJ 111915 2cx1 .indd 1

Vern Buckman 612-599-8200

Retired Handyman. Prefer small jobs; Lake Harriet area. 651-247-1525.

Window sills, casings & trim replaced, storm windows

Gary 612-721-3793 651-698-3156

Tuckpointing · Concrete Restoration · Brick-Block-Stone Chimney & Foundation Repair · Waterproofing · Caulking

ADS: 612.825.9205 5/19/15 2:32 PM www.harmsenoberg.com

VB Inc SWJ 052115 1cx2.indd 3

Commercial & Residential

Your Local Contractor For Over 40 Years!

Harmsen & Oberg SWJ 052115 1cx2.5.indd 5/18/15 110:17 AM

612-353-4646 EpicMasonryRestoration.com

TO PLACE A LINE CLASSIFIED AD CALL 612.825.9205

EXTERIORS

Epic Masonry Restoration SWJ 013014 2cx1.5.indd 2

1/28/14 10:55 AM *On Settergren’s Referral List*

MN # 5276

INSULATE AND SAVE! TM & © 2012 MGM.

e Lifetim ty n a r r Wa

Minneapolis, MN

Roofing · Siding · Windows Insulation

ROOF SNOW & ICE REMOVAL FOR 36 YEARS

CALL US TODAY!

Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Insulation

612-343-3301 · www.midwestplus.com

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD COMPANY

Locally Owned • MN LIC# BC010277 • A+ Rating from BBB Rob.olson@topsideinc.net Topsideinc.net Midwest Exteriors SWJ 052115 2cx3.indd 1

5/18/15 10:05 AM

She’s my biggest investment.

Phone: (612) 869-1177

#BC648158

A RATING

Topside Inc SWJ 011416 2cx3.indd 1

1/11/16 Kaufman 8:41 AM Roofing SWJ 032714 2cx3.indd 1

3/25/14 12:03 PM

That’s why I depend on NARI. NEWS Visit narimn.org or call 612-332-6274 to find a NARI-certified professional for your next remodeling project or to become a NARI member.

Stay tuned to the latest news from the Southwest Journal with our weekly e-newsletter update.

The NARI logo is a registered trademark of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. ©2008 NARI of Minnesota.

Sign up at southwestjournal.com Hyperlocal News | Connect with the Editor | Noteworthy Events E-Newsletter SWJ 2011 4cx2 Filler.indd 1

FLOORING

NARI SWJ 2010 NR5 H18.indd 1

• Installation • Restoration • Repairs • Buff & Coat

Snow Plowing & Shoveling Cleanup / Dethatching Aeration / Seeding

“Our quality will floor you.”

9349 Bryant Ave S, Bloomington

(952) 994-9696

www.uniquewoodfloor.com

10/22/14 3:49 PM

22 yrs. Fully Insured

Southwest Resident for Over 40 Years

The Best Kept Secret in the Twin Cities

Unique Wood Floors SWJ 031314 2cx2.indd 1

LANDSCAPING

12/5/12 5:31 PM

www.harlanfloors.com • 612-251-4290

612-345-9301

Lawn Mowing Fertilizer & Weed Control Gutter Cleaning

peterdoranlawn.com

3/6/14 Harlan 3:26 PM Hardwood SWJ NR3 2cx2.indd 1 4/23/14 Peter 2:57 PM Doran SWJ 100815 2cx2.indd 1 8-time Angie’s list super Your Neighborhood.

There IS a Difference! service award winner Interior Design Consultants • Stunning Window Treatments www.earlsfloorsanding.com Quality Carpet and Flooring

Your News. 10/1/15

10:48 AM

Putting “Wow” in homes like yours for 70 years!

Sanding

Install

Refinishing

Repair

www.abbottpaint.com

Ask about our maintenance program 612.825.9205 SWJ 011416 Classifieds.indd 1 Earls Floor Sanding SWJ 110614 2cx2.indd 1

1/12/16 3:11 PM 10/31/14 11:20 AbbottAM Paint SWJ 012915 2cx2.indd 1

1/13/15 Community 3:36 PM Focused-coffeeshop SWJ 2012 2cx2 filler.indd 1

7/10/12 5:11 PM

B14 January 14–27, 2016 / southwestjournal.com

LANDSCAPING

Northeast

TREE

(612) 789-9255 northeasttree.net

1 MONTH

Trained & Courteous Staff Expert Rope & Saddle Pruning/Removals Expert High Risk & Crane Removals Pest & Disease Management

FREE (new contract

customers only)

Safe Period for Oak Pruning now through the end of March

Call Dennis today!

George & Lynn Welles

Certified Arborists (#MN-0354 & #MN-4089A)

952-545-8055

@swjournal facebook.com/swjournal

www.premierlawnandsnow.com

George Welles Certified Arborist #MN-0354 1/4/16 Premier 4:30 PMLawn & Snow SWJ 040915 1cx1.indd 3/30/15 Lynn Welles Certified Arborist #MN-4089A

Northeast Tree DTJ 011416 2cx1.indd 1

2:00 1 PM

Winter is the Best Time to Prune Your Tree!

• Expert High Risk & Crane Removals The best local coverage • Trained & Courteous Staff Expert Rope & Saddle Pruning/Removals, • Commercial &•Residential • Owner Operated Minimizing Impact on Trees & Yards • ISA Certified Arborist • Stump Grinding • Free Estimates Licensed and Insured • Freewww.isa-arbor.com Estimates / 24 hr emergency service • Visit for consumer guides

(612) 729-9454

Trimmer Trees SWJ 071309 2cx1.5.indd 1

connect with us

INVEST IN YOUR TREES AS YOU DO YOUR HOME.

of lawn mowing

SOUTHWESTJOURNAL.COM 7/2/09 Hyperlocal 2:58 PM SWJ 2010 1cx1.5 NR3.indd8/6/13 1

(612) 789-9255

Complete Professional Tree Services Living and working in your area for over 20 years

651-248-1477

MISCELLANEOUS

Connect With Us SWJ 2011 2cx2 filler.indd 1

HiawathaTreeServices.com

11:00 AM

www.northeasttree.net

PRESENTS THE 11TH ANNUAL

MAINTENANCE

Hiawatha Tree Services SWJ 120315 1cx3.indd 12/1/15 2:19 1 PM

Carson’s Snow Removal,

Low Rates — Immediate Response — Troubleshooting

Byron Electric

651-644-6551 OR 612-599-7353 8/5/15 4:48 PM

SPREAD THE WORD.

612-750-5724

call ! Electric SWJ 052713 1cx1.indd 5/20/13 1 todayByron

TELL YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES Carson's Painting SWJ 112014 1cx1.5.indd 11/17/141 ABOUT IT.

3:59 PM

612.825.9205

Tell the Merchants SWJ 012411 2cx1.indd 1

1/18/11 9:37 AM

•

Lights or power out

•

•

Troubleshooting

•

Storm damage

•

Emergency service

•

1:13 PM

Fuse to circuit breaker panel upgrades

SATURDAY, MARCH 26 • 10AM-3PM

Bath exhaust fan installations & servicing

1601 WEST 50TH STREET, MINNEAPOLIS

BURROUGHS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

763-544-3300 Harrison-Electric.com ■ ■ ■ ■

Construction Clean-ups Household Clean-ups 1-40 Yard Containers Available Residential & Commercial

Harrison Electric SWJ 120414 1cx2.indd 11/24/14 1 8:59 AM

612-861-2575

Krafft, Tom SWJ 121913 1cx2.indd 12/17/13 1 11:44 AM

Total Sanitation 082806 2cx1.5.i1 1

8/16/06 9:59:54 AM

Our specialty is your y existing home!®

FREE!

Free Estimates

(612) 390-5911

Licensed Master Electrician • Over 35 Years Experience

2016

Residential & Commercial

Painting & Handyman Services

Complete Home, Office & Commercial Wiring

Weaver Electric SWJ 081315 2cx1.indd 2

8/23/13 9:31 AM

Local services.

Local references.

Local expertise.

Houle Insulation Inc.

• Painting • Plaster repair • Ceramic tile • Light remodeling • All around repairs

Meet with over 40 representatives of the Twin Cities’ best landscaping, plumbing, interior design, painting and remodeling companies as they showcase their work and present solutions for your home improvement needs.

SPONSORED BY:

Free Admission • Door Prizes

612.825.9205 • southwestjournal.com/homefair SW HI Fair SWJ 011416 2cx5.indd 2

1/11/16 8:32 AM

Our Contractors have local references

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE ON ATTIC INSULATION • BYPASS SEALING SIDEWALL INSULATION

www.houleinsulation.com

763-767-8412

612.267.3285

Serving the Twin Cities since 1977

PAINTING

Houle Insulation SWJ 010107 2cx21 1

12/26/06 9:43:32 Tool Icons AM - Fall SWJ 2013 1cx2.5 filler.indd 3/29/131That 8:16Handy AM Guy Greg SWJ 102314 1cx3.indd 10/3/14 Hammer 12:03 PMGuy SWJ 2013 2cx2 filler.indd 1

Local Painters. Green Solutions.

TO PLACE AN AD IN THE SW JOURNAL CALL 612.825.9205

EXPERT PLASTER & DRYWALL RESTORATION “REPAIR SPECIALIST” Skim Coating Walls & Ceilings Water Damage Repair Popcorn Texture Removal Wall & Ceiling Textures Certified Plasterers • 40 Years Experience Professional • Reliable • Free Estimates

UNITED WALL SYSTEMS 952-292-7800 UNITEDWALL.COM

– Linden Hills

Painting & Wallcovering Co. A SW tradition of excellence since 1970 • Int/Ext Painting • Stain & Wood Finish • Enamel • Water Damage • Plaster & Drywall Repair • Wallcovering Removal & Installation

612-227-1844

United Wall Systems SWJ 111915 1cx2.indd 11/12/15 1Greco 9:55 AM Painting SWJ 073114 1cx2.indd 7/21/14 1 11:22 AM

Design Consultation · Painting · Enamel · Drywall Serving the Twin Cities Metro WINTER SPECIALS Reachhigherpainting@gmail.com

government

612.825.9205 parks

DEC. - FEB.

schools

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

PA INTING

7/19/11 3:27 PM

Local

Professional Quality Work

Reach Higher Painting DTJ 123115 2cx1.indd 1

Interior/Exterior

Exterior Painting Interior Painting Wood Finishing Exterior Wood Restoration

12/29/15 1:28 PM

Premium Quality Professional/ Respectful

Licensed & Insured

Insured — Bonded References

greg@chileenpainting.com | chileenpainting.com

612-850-0325

VantagePainting.com | 651-343-2323

SWJ 011416 Classifieds.indd 2 TigerOx Painting SWJ 070912 2cx1.5.indd 1

5:41 PM

blueladderpainting@gmail.com

Blue Ladder DTJ 052115 1cx2.indd 15/18/15 10:09 TwitterAM SWJ 2011 1cx2 filler.indd 1

SELECT SERVICES

7/10/12 Refresh Your Home for the New Year

Community Focused-uptown SWJ 2012 2cx1.5 filler.indd 1

people

REACH HIGHER PAINTING AND DRYWALL, LLC

15-20% OFF

Professional painting service designed to meet all of your residential and commercial painting needs.

Part of your daily life since 1990

@swjournal

Call Kevin McNealey: 612-825-1809 612-685-0210

grecopainting.com

RHP.MN | 612-221-8593

Your Neighborhood.

Your News.

BLUE LADDER PAINTING “We take pride in our work so you can take pride in your home.”

3/29/13 8:05 AM

1/12/16 3:12 PM 7/2/12 10:37 Chileen AMPainting SWJ 070215 2cx2.indd 1

6/29/15 Vantage 1:14 PMPainting SWJ 123115 2cx3.indd 1

12/28/15 10:10 AM

southwestjournal.com / January 14–27, 2016 B15

PAINTING

PLUMBING, HVAC PRO MASTER

Furnaces Boilers • Air Conditioning • Geothermal Heating • Infloor Heat • Air Quality • Maintenance •

Plumbing, Inc.

•

• Wallpaper removal & hanging • Plaster & sheetrock repair • All facets of interior painting • Stripping & “trim” restoration • Skimcoating

Since 1980

since 1904

SHEEHAN

PAINTING CO. HOME REPAIR

InTERIoR & ExTERIoR

612-282-2959

www.zahlerheating.com

Zahler Heating SWJ 022615 2cx1.5.indd 1

Full-Service Plumber

The best local coverage

651-337-1738

promasterplumbing.com Call Jim!

Pro Master Plumbing SWJ 071615 1cx1.indd 7/2/15 1Hyperlocal 3:20 PM SWJ 2010 1cx1 NR3.indd 8/6/13 1 11:01 AM

2/20/15 11:41 AM

FREE ESTIMATES

FREE ESTIMATES

612.670.4546

612-310-8023

Dave Novak 30 yrs. experience

Lic. #20373701 Bonded • Insured

Lic • Bond • Ins

NovakPaint SWJ 022210 1cx3.indd 82/10/10 Sheehan 3:29 PM Painting Co SWJ 020810 1cx3.indd 1/27/10 18:58 AM

Lyndale

Lake Calhoun

www.SHEEHANPAINTING.com

East Harriet

We Respond When Your Heating or Cooling Can’t

FREE ONLINE ESTIMATE

From your neighborhood to you.

Save 5–10% by getting your quote online with a few easy steps.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee. formerly O’Connor & Sons Painting

HYPERLOCAL

SAME DAY REPAIR SERVICE

612-869-3213 • www.midlandhtg.com

Interior & Exterior Painting and Restoration We are your painting and restoration partners specializing in listening to your needs and concerns, and using the best quality products for the job.

Local services.

Local references.

Midland Heating SWJ 100815 2cx3.indd 1

Local expertise.

10/5/15 Hyperlocal 4:57 PM SWJ 2013 2cx3.5 NR1.indd 1

MCR treats your home as if it were our own.

We pay special attention to safety, cleanliness, dust control, children, and pets.

9/22/14 4:18 PM SPREAD THE WORD.

TELL YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES ABOUT IT.

612.242.8692

612.825.9205

www.millcityrestoration.com All phone calls and emails returned within one business day.

SOUTHWESTJOURNAL.COM

Tell the Merchants SWJ 012411 2cx1.indd 1

Look for our work in Edina, Tangletown, and all of SW Mpls

REMODELING, CONTRACTORS

Martin O'Connor Painting SWJ 011416 2cx3.indd 1

1/12/16 Tool 3:48Icons PM - Spring SWJ 2013 2cx1.5 filler.indd 1

1/18/11 9:37 AM

3/29/13 10:36 AM

Our Contractors have local references

(612) 221-4489

Your vintage home remodeler HomeRestorationInc.com

ADS: 612.825.9205

Hammer Guy SWJ 2013 1cx1 filler.indd4/9/13 1 10:09 AM

Home Restoration Services SWJ 012915 1/14/15 1cx1.5.indd 2:15 PM 1

612.821.1100 or 651.690.3442 www.houseliftinc.com License #BC378021

House Lift SWJ 041612 2cx3.indd 1

Hanson Building SWJ 032714 2cx2.indd 1

Design/Construction

4/5/12 3:00 PM

3/24/14 10:02 AM Lic: BC637388

Specializing in Reproduction Kitchens & Baths

2nd Stories • Additions • Kitchens • Basements Baths • Attic Rooms • Windows

Remodel • Design • Build

No project is too small for good design

612-924-9315

inspiredspacesmn.com 612.360.4180

www.fusionhomeimprovement.com MN License #BC451256

Inspired Spaces SWJ 022714 2cx2.indd 1

2/17/14 3:02 PM

Fusion Home Improvement SWJ 021314 2cx3.indd 1

We tell our members:

1/31/14 10:44 AM

“Before anything else, build their trust.”

Visit narimn.org or call 612-332-6274 to find a NARI-certified professional for your next remodeling project or to become a NARI member.

Your Sign of Satisfaction

952-512-0110

The NARI logo is a registered trademark of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. ©2008 NARI of Minnesota.

www.roelofsremodeling.com SWJ 011416 Classifieds.indd 3 Roelofs Remodeling SWJ 073015 2cx2.indd 2

NARI SWJ 2010 NR1 4cx2.indd 1 7/28/15 3:01 PM

12/11/12 1/12/16 4:27 1:01 PM

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION Urban Cycle + Fitness offers a wide variety of classes to accommodate any level, intensity, and time commitment.

at 50th & Penn S

FOUNDING MEMBERSHIPS AND CLASS PACKAGES AVAILABLE

JANUARY 23RD, 2016 9am Cycle (90 minutes) | 11am Cycle & Strength (60 minutes) 12pm Yoga (60 minutes)

CYCLE 30/45/60/75:

CYCLE & STRENGTH:

ZEN CYCLE:

Indoor Cycling Studio classes range from 30-75 minutes from low intensity recovery rides to HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and Tabata threshold training.

A 60-minute class featuring 30 minutes of strength work followed by 30 minutes of cycling.

A 60-minute class featuring 30 minutes of high intensity cycling followed by 30 minutes of restorative yoga.

JOSHUA SEGAL Owner Joshua Segal founded Urban Cycle in 2010. He has 12 years of experience in the health and wellness industry.

Experience the best of many worlds from Group Indoor Cycling, HIIT “High-Intensity Interval Training” Classes, Personal Training, Nutrition Coaching, Chiropractics, Massage, Acupuncture & the most bad-ass dedicated team of instructors, trainers, coaches & doctors — thru education, integrity, energy & a maniacal commitment to customer service we are honored to invite you to the future of health, fitness & wellness.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

Talk about yin and yang!

Email or call to reserve your spot: josh.segal@yahoo.com | 612.250.9249

DR. AARON KIRKING His specialties include strength and conditioning, structural analysis, structural correction, physiological correction and rehabilitation for trauma based injuries.

Dr. Aaron’s passion for life is felt in his practice through his unique style, techniques and love for Chiropractic. Loyal and devoted to chiropractic, Dr. Aaron travels nationally and internationally participating in professional sporting events treating athletes.

Call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Aaron today: 612-590-0058

612.250.9249 | myurbancycle.com | 2313 W. 50th St., Minneapolis, MN 55410 Urban Cycle SWJ 123115 FP.indd 1

12/29/15 4:39 PM