January 2010 SCCA NEWS

Seward’s business community.

January Meeting 2010

Presentation by Karen Lundquist of Lunquist & Lange, Attorney’s Board of Directors
at Law, about Depression in the Workplace
Chair:
Jim Welna
It is that time of year: daylight is short, the cold is isolating and Welna II Hardware
people are feeling down. The winter blues (and year round blues,
for that matter) affect your employees and can have serious Vice Chair:
implications for your business. Rick Siewert
Siewert Cabinet

Karen Lundquist will give an overview of the clinical aspects of Treasurer:

depression and discuss, legally, what employers need to know. Max Duckler
Caption Max

Wednesday, January 20, 2009 / 11:45am - 1:00pm Suzanne Weinstein

at Wells Fargo / 2600 E Franklin Ave Coastal Seafoods

Chris Johansen
Himalayan will provide lunch. Crown Video & Tanning

To RSVP, please contact Megan: 612.435.0729 / megan@redesigninc.org Tracy Singleton

lunch is $10 Birchwood Cafe

Hans Steege
December Meeting Notes Dero Bike Rack
Annual Holiday Gathering at Koyi Too Sushi
Jennifer Larson
Communications Design
A large group gathered in the former Seward Co-op site at Seward’s new-
est restaurant, Koyi Too Sushi, last month to celebrate a successful year and Joe Buck
recognize the contributions of three exceptional leaders in Seward’s busi- Buck Bros. Construction
ness community: Tracy Singleton, owner of the Birchwood Cafe; Sean Doyle,
General Manager of the Seward Co-op; and Katya Pilling, Associate Director
of Redesign and Staff Support for SCCA.
Monthly Meetings are
Worku Mindaye, owner of Shega Bakery and the old Seward Co-op site, and held on the 3rd Wednesday of
Willis Dry, owner of Koyi Sushi Too, shared information about the building each month from 11:45 - 1pm.
and their businesses before the group of SCCA members and guests ravaged
the buffet. We were served a preview of the types of dishes that are now Upcoming Dates:
available to the neighborhood, including chicken wings, cream cheese puffs, January 20th
sushi rolls and Koyi signature fried rice. February 17th
March 17th
continued on page 3
SCCA Mission: to provide a forum for Seward area businesses to plan, discuss, advocate and network for mutual benefit.
Page 2 SCCA NEWS
First Ever Franklin Frolic
Saturday December 5, 2009
by Megan Sheridan

On December 5th, hundreds of ‘frolickers’ traced the map, visited new businesses and experienced the
wonders of Seward neighborhood during the first ever Franklin Frolic. It was a sunny, brisk winter day;
perfect for ducking in and out of store fronts, warming up with beverages and treats, and huddling around a
chestnut-roasting fire.

With over 40 business and artist participants, there was much to see, eat and buy. Some highlights included:
free bird feeder kits for families at Welna II Hardware, cupcakes from the new Cake Eater Bakery, free egg
rolls at True Thai, happy hour at the Birchwood Cafe, a rain garden workshop by Giving Tree Gardens, elec-
tric ZENN car display at Cushman Motors and fire truck tours at Crown Video & Tanning.

Businesses also participated in the “Light up the Avenue” contest, in which they were judged on luminocity,
creativity, and street impact of their façade lighting and decoration. An esteemed panel of judges, includ-
ing Council Member Cam Gordon, Cara Letofsky the Policy Aid to Mayor R.T. Rybak and Kelly Hoffman
from Community Planning and Economic Development for the City of Minneapolis, carefully viewed each
business’ lighting displays at dusk. Although the competition was tough, the judges returned with one clear
winner - the Birchwood Cafe.

After the sun went down, “frolickers” began to gather in

Triangle Park. A crowd formed around a couple of grills
and Suzanne Weinstein, owner of Coastal Seafoods, who
was roasting chestnuts. The ceremony began with music
from the Brass Messengers, a local (and lively) band. The
music was followed by an exciting fire dancing routine by
the People’s Fire Coaltion, a University of Minnesota stu-
dent group. All the while, interactive art was displayed on a
giant screen by Minneapolis Art on Wheels.

Lighting Contest Winner: Birchwood Cafe Luminous
‘peace’ sign wreath and matching facade decorations.
At 5:30 p.m., the Birchwood Cafe was announced at the
winner of the businesses lighting contest and the Seward
Co-op was presented with the ‘Heart of Seward’ Award in
recognition of their outstanding service to the neighbor-
hood. The ‘Heart of Seward,’ a stained glass mosaic will
be awarded to a different business every year, traveling
throughout the neighborhood. And then a young volunteer
was invited to light up the park.

By the time the tree was illuminated, over 150 people had
converged in the park. With the tree lit and the prizes
awarded, the music picked up again until the frolickers (and
the brass instruments) could take the cold no more.
The Heart of Seward: Seward Co-op Grocery &
Deli Stained glass mosaic created by local artist, Lisa Arnold.
 SCCA NEWS Page 3

December Notes continued from page 1 Bike Lane

After we had eaten our way through the buffet, Jim Welna, SCCA Board chair Planned for
called for order so we could commence with the meeting. Jim highlighted
some of SCCA’s successes in 2009, including the printing and distribution of Franklin Avenue
the Seward Neighborhood Directory and the first ever Franklin Frolic, before
In 2010 Minneapolis Pub-
moving on to the presentation of awards,
lic Works will be working
on a project to add bike
Suzanne Weinstein, owner of Coastal Seafoods, SCCA Board member and
lanes on Franklin Av-
close friend of Tracy Singleton, awarded the owner of the Birchwood Cafe
enue between Riverside
with a certificate of recognition for her work in educating our community
Avenue and East River
on the importance of understanding where our food comes from and how it
Parkway.
is grown. Tracy has been a long time supporter of the Peace Garden at the
Seward Montessori School and recently played a key role in the Homegrown
In order to do so, it is
Minneapolis initiative.
likely that parking would
need to be removed on
Jim Welna, co-owner of Welna II Hardware and SCCA Board chair, presented
the south side of Franklin
an award of recognition to Sean Doyle, General Manager of the Seward Co-
Avenue between 30th
op, for his personal leadership in opening the new Seward Co-op Grocery
and 31st Avenues.
& Deli, a cornerstone that will serve the neighborhood for years to come.
Sean’s entrepreneurial drive and willingness to take the risk has truly en-
Currently parking is re-
hanced the neighborhood.
stricted Monday through
Friday, 7am to 9am and
Jim Welna also presented Katya Pilling, Associate Director of Redesign and
3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, so
Staff Support for SCCA, with an award to recognize her efforts above and
that this eastbound curb-
beyond the call to make Seward a better and more vibrant community in
side lane can serve as a
2009. Katya’s work with SCCA has directly resulted in the success of SCCA
moving traffic lane.
this past year.
Before the project is
2010 SCCA Board Elections designed, Minneapolis
Public Works is gathering
At a special Board meeting on December 3, 2009, the SCCA Board elected feedback on any effects
to renew certain Board member’s terms and include an additional member: this change may have on
the neighborhood.
Jim Welna (Welna II Hardware), Jennifer Larson (Communications Design)
and Rick Siewert (Siewert Cabinets and Wood from the Hood) were re- Please contact Shaun
elected for 3 year terms. Murphy at 612.333.2450
or shaun.murphy@
Joe Buck (Buck Brothers Construction) was newly elected as the ninth mem- ci.minneapolis.mn.us to
ber of the 2010 Board. Welcome, Joe! share your input.

Max Duckler (CaptionMax), current Board member, was elected to serve as We will also be discussing
the Treasurer for 2010. the planned bike lane at
the membership meeting
Rick Siewert was re-elected as the Vice Chair of the Board for 2010. on January 20, 2010.

Jim Welna was re-elected as the Chair of the Board for 2010.
Page 4 SCCA NEWS

Thank you to SCCA members who contributed to SCCA in 2009!

A-Craft Windows * Acme Tuckpointing & Restoration * Allweather Roof * Animal Rights Coalition * ArtiCulture

At Last Gourmet Foods, Inc. * Augsburg College * Baking Bearing * Beapre Aerial Equipment * Big Print * Birchwood Cafe

Blue Nile * Bruce R. Johansen * Buck Bros. * CaptionMax * CB Richard Ellis * CCI Properties * Charles Levin Architects

Close Associates Architects *Coastal Seafoods * CommonBond * Community Connection Partnerships

Crew 2: Home Services Specialists * Crown Video and Tanning * Cushman Motor Company * Daniel Greuel Translations

Dave’s Riverside Shell * Decisive Movement * Dero Bike Racks * DigiGraphic Photos, Inc. * Employment Action Center

Expedited Transportation * Fairview Health Services * Fast and Furless Vegan Emporium * Hayat Beauty Salon

Hexagon Bar * Hiawatha Metalcraft * Himalayan Restaurant * History Crafters * House Green * Imagin Studios

Infinite Real Estate Group * Intercommunity Home Health Care * J.C. Miller & Sons Cement Contractors

Jennifer Larson Communications Design * Jim’s Barber Shop * Kraus Anderson Construction Co. * Lehn and Posl

Los Campeones * Mezzanine Salon * Minneapolis Maintenance * Mill City Builders * Minneapolis Speaker Company, Inc.

Mississippi Mud Works * Movement Arts Center * Nguyen Archtects * Northern Clay Center * Partners Three Consulting

Pizza Luce IV * Raja’s Mahal * River Realty * Riverton Community Housing * Russell Dentistry * Seward Cafe

Seward Childcare Center * Seward Co-op & Grocery * Seward Inc. * Seward Market

Shabelle Grocery and Meat Market * Shega Bakery * Sheldon Mains * Sierra Club Northstar Chapter * Siewert Cabinet

Skol Liquors * Speak to Solve * Swirlygig Industries * Tracy’s Saloon * Triangle Park Creative * True Thai

Twin City Filter Service * United Noodle * Verde Strategies * Volunteers of America Education Center

Welna II Hardware * Whiskey Junction * Wood from the Hood * Woodland Stoves * World Endeavors

Worry Free Enterprises * Zipp’s Liqours

Seward Civic & Commerce Association

2619 E Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55406