inside
Commentary ............................................. 2
Covering the Neighborhoods of CARAG and ECCO in the Uptown Area
Commission Sends USAP
To Council For Adoption
The commission listened to many speakers, including Thatcher Imboden, center, voice their concerns about the Uptown
Small Area Plan (USAP.)
By Aaron Rubenstein
After one and a half hours of dis-
cussion and public testimony, the
city’s Planning Commission voted
6-0 January 14 to recommend
Dating Times Are
Tough For Finding That
Diamond In The Rough
By Colette Davidson
Did ya hear? So-and-so got mar-
ried last week to a guy she met on
the internet. The inter-
net!
It’s happening Valentine’s
everyday to peo-
ple by the dozen. Day?–“Oh,
The online dating
scene has surged vomit,” says
and it’s leaving the
few rare skeptics in its Amy.
wake. Whether it’s Match,
EHarmony or OK Cupid, Min-
neapolis singles and people around
the U.S. are turning to differ-
ent dating techniques than their
mamas ever did.
FREE!
classifieds
(SEE DETAILS, PAGE 15)
that the City Council approve the
Uptown Small Area Plan as an
amendment to the city’s compre-
hensive plan—with minor edits.
The vote was nearly the final step
in a planning process that began
But what about those few new-
school dating skeptics sprinkled
about the Twin Cities? Maybe
bars are still the old standby for
meeting great people, or
perhaps it’s the cor-
ner bookstore or
that friend of a
friend of a friend
that you meet at
a party. As the
dreaded Valen-
tine’s Day swiftly
approaches, one is
almost inexplicably drawn
to the age-old question---How,
where and when will I meet Mr. or
Mrs. Right?
dating page 6
Art to Heart
Photo by Bruce Cochran
in April 2006—21 months earlier.
The City Council’s Zoning and
Planning Committee voted 6-0
on January 24 also to recommend
USAP page 10
Uptown Loses A Friend
Celebrating the Life of Rachel Dow
By Colette Davidson
Rachel Dow was a fixture in the
Uptown community. She lived near
Lyndale Elementary School, and
worked at Chiang Mai Thai and
Cars-R-Coffins Coffee. Part of
the flourishing Minneapolis
biking community, she
could often be seen
racing by on her
blue fixed-gear
bike through the
Uptown streets.
Photo (right) by Brian Rose
...and Ban That
Censorship Stuff!
Whatever your viewpoint, make sure it gets heard at your upcoming neighborhood caucus. (Details Page 6)
Book Review ............................................... 4
Crime & Safety ....................................... 5
CARAG Report ........................................12
ECCO Report ............................................13
Calendar........................................................14
Photo (left) by Kelly Newcomer
Build Your Own Robot Valentine! (Page 14)
February 2008 • Volume 4, Number 2
Painting Uptown Red;
One Window at a Time
By Beth Seth
Much of Uptown will be seeing red this month.
But in a good way.
The Uptown Business Association has partnered with
the American Heart Association (ASA) and Univer-
sity of Minnesota merchandizing students for a “paint
the Uptown Red” window display contest to promote
heart health. Sixteen businesses will have their win-
dows decorated in red as part of the American Heart
Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign. The goal
of the national campaign is to raise awareness about the
importance of heart health for women and to educate
women about ways to live a more heart healthy life-
style.
Each window will be decorated by a team of merchan-
dising management students from the University of
Minnesota. In all, 85 students will be involved in the
project. Each window display features a red theme and
will include a red dress and a window cling from the
American Heart Association. The red dress is a symbol
of “Go Red for Women” and serves as a visual reminder
of the importance of heart health.
Red page 11
A memorial was held on
Thursday, January
17 at Soo Visual
Arts Center at 2640
Lyndale Avenue
South to celebrate
the life of Rachel,
29, who was found
dead in the Mis-
sissippi River
on Saturday,
January 12.
Rachel page 8
No War!
No Taxes!
2 • Uptown neighborhood news february 2008

commentary
election year bible Thumping letters
By Susan Marsh whether our leaders pass our own ers even wanting to be President. Dear editor,
religious tests. We call on our President to do
“…Religion is a matter which lies some very un-God like acts, such Thank you for the front page arti-
solely between man and his God, that It also brings to mind that Rich- as launch war, sign letters of exe- cle about the Minneapolis Public idh
ckb
=@
A5
he owes account to none other for ard Nixon was a Quaker; though cution, decide who gets aide and School Information Fair. As an
his faith or his worship…Thomas my Quaker friends have said that who doesn’t. How can they pos- ECCO resident with two school
Jefferson, letter to sibly reconcile those aged children, I wanted to high-
Danbury Baptist light a neighborhood school that
actions with being a
Association, Conn., was not included in your article,
religious individual? Kenwood School. Kenwood
January. 1, 1802.
School is a Minneapolis Public
If we are going to be School that uses performing arts
As a Christian and a determined to hold techniques to teach the Minneapo-
citizen of the United leaders to a standard lis curriculum.
States, I’ve been get- of religiosity, and want a strong education for their
ting a little edgy these that of a Christian Many families in the ECCO and children interwoven with per-
last several elections religiosity at that, CARAG neighborhoods have cho- forming and fine arts opportuni-
where we are call- I would rather ask sen Kenwood School, our “alter- ties. Tours are available through
ing our candidates them about what it nate community school.” At our February, 668.2778. I encourage
to answer to us as to means to be a Chris- bus stop alone, 32nd and Irving, all ECCO and CARAG families to
how they answer to there are 15 children who attend join our bus stop.
tian. Not the vapid
God. Kenwood School.
“Do you pray?” that Sincerely,
we heard earlier this Kenwood School is a fabulous Courtney Cushing Kiernat
I am always remind- fall. I would put school option for families who ECCO Resident and Kenwood
ed of James Madi- to them this Bible School Site Council Parent Chair
son’s famous quote verse:

your Analogue Oasis

about the separation
of church and state: Matthew 25:34: For
“The purpose of sepa- I was hungry and
ration of church and you gave me food, I By Bruce Cochran
state is to keep forever was thirsty and you
from these shores the Somewhere between my imagination and my experience, I see a world
gave me something to that develops and thrives with the backbone of community. I work for
ceaseless strife that drink, I was a stranger
has soaked the soil of this paper because I believe in the power of community as the funda-
Digital Illustration by Bruce Cochran ©2008 and you welcomed mental life-blood of a healthy planet. Those problems that ail us can be
Europe with blood for me, I was naked and
centuries.” tackled with organic solutions found in the fabric of community. By this
no meeting would claim him. Yet, you gave me clothing, I was sick and I mean fundamental upstream solutions to build health and prevent soci-
if we were to question a leaders’ you took care of me, I was in prison etal illness.
Here we are in a war where reli-
moral and ethical stances on the and you visited me.
gious sectarian violence is based
basis of his faith, how would we As the world becomes more digitized and large newspapers feel the pinch
on not much more difference than Then ask how they would fulfill
ever doubt a Quaker? of the web, community newspapers like this one can reassert their ability
that between Lutherans and Cath- their promise to God. Jesus didn’t
olics, and we are concerned with I am also leery of religious lead- hang around the rich and power- to bring people together. I think the paper can be helpful as a community
forum. It doesn’t have to be a place for character assassination and devi-
ful. He hung out with the lost, the sive politics but a place for challenging dialogue and issues of debate that
left out and the needy. He spent a affect us all.
UPTOWN NEIgHBORHOOD NEWS good deal of time making the rich
and powerful nervous. About the It’s in this coming together that I see a community empowering itself to
Uptown Neighborhood News is a monthly publication of Calhoun Area Residents Action
Group (CARAG) in cooperation with the East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO).
only thing making the rich and tackle issues. The UNN is poised especially well for bringing these issues
UNN covers the news of and is delivered free to households within the area bounded by Lyn- powerful nervous today is whether to our readers. The staff is eclectic, gregarious and engaged. And because
dale Ave. S. and Lake Calhoun, between Lake Street and 36th St. W. Extra copies are distrib-
uted to businesses in the Uptown area, along Lake Street, and Lyndale and Hennepin Aves.
or not they’ll get to keep their tax the neighborhood is dynamic and constantly re-inventing itself, the staff
Circulation is 5,100, with a pass-along readership of 10,000. Publication and distribution is cuts. is very flexible and open to new ideas and experimentation. Because
near the first weekend of every month. Subscriptions are available for $30 per year, prepaid.
Send check to: UNN, 711 W. Lake St., Suite 303, Minneapolis, MN 55408. community is built on mutual trust, the staff’s energy comes not from a
Contributors are area residents who volunteer their time to bring the news of the area to resi- place of fear but courage and leadership. They don’t ask what the UNN
dents. Articles, letters to the editor and story ideas are welcomed and encouraged. The editor
letters To The can do for them but what they can do to help the UNN improve its rela-
reserves the right to edit for length, clarity, relevance to the area, or other reasons. Editorial
tionship to the community.
and advertising guidelines are available. Please contact the editor:
editor Policy
neWS, TIPS & leTTeRS TO The eDITOR COnTRIbUTIng PhOTOgRAPheRS
uptownnews@yahoo.com Bruce Cochran, Kelly Newcomer,
Write to us, provided you It’s in this spirit that I believe we can help with crime. A product of eco-
UNN, 711 West Lake St. #303 Kay Nygaard-Graham write fewer than 250 words! nomics, personalities, time of day and disposition, crime can be tracked
Minneapolis, MN 55408 Your letter may be edited and
(612) 259-1372 COnTRIbUTIng WRITeRS by its contributing elements. I’ve started to add the “Crimes by Time of
Bruce Cochran, Gary Farland, Jessica Fox- we don't know if it will be
SenIOR eDITOR Wilson, Susan Marsh, Aaron Rubenstein, published, but we will cer- Day” to the crime page by compiling the information from the crime
Beth Seth Sara Sponheim
tainly try to do so. We need maps that the city provides. I believe that crime can be fought by work-
InTeRIM ASSOCIATe eDITOR gRAPhIC DeSIgn & PRODUCTIOn to know your name, address, ing on various solutions. We can dissect crimes to learn about the why,
Colette Davidson Bruce Cochran
phone number and neighbor- when and where it happens in order to prevent it or at the very least,
ADveRTISIng neWSPAPeR CIRCUlATIOn hood. Send to uptownnews@
Susan Hagler CARAG/ECCO Circulation:
avoid it.
825-7780 Bill Boudreau 825-0979
yahoo.com.
susanhagler@earthlink.net Another issue we all face is environmental decay. I’m excited to read
MInneAPOlIS CITy COUnCIl
MAnAgIng bOARD Tenth Ward Opinions Policy Mary Ann Knox’s new column about living small. We’re beginning to
Appointed/Elected Reps: Ralph Remington, 673-2210
Kay Nygaard-Graham, Chair (CARAG) ralph.remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us Please submit your opin- learn that reducing global warming is complicated and will take time
825-3637 ion pieces to the editor. We to work out the most effective solutions. Whether we’re pushing for
CRIMe PRevenTIOn SPeCIAlIST
Gary Farland, Vice-chair (ECCO)
824-6744
Tom Thompson, 5th Precinct encourage thoughtful essays a gas tax, buying compact fluorescent light bulbs or mowing with a
SAFE Unit, Sector 2, 3101 Nicollet Ave about anything that’s going
Anna Matthes, Treasurer (CARAG) push mower, we’re all in this together, and eventually any solution will
Minneapolis MN 55408
Jill Bode (CARAG) on in the neighborhoods. On
Ralph Knox, Secretary (ECCO)
Serving the neighborhoods of; require some form of sacrifice by everyone. The more we engage, the
Ted Ringsred (ECCO)
CARAG, East Harriet, ECCO, Kingfield, occasion, we will solicit con-
Linden Hills, Lyndale, West Calhoun trasting views on one subject better our solutions will be. Every choice we make makes a difference to
Volunteer Members:
David Peterson 5Th PReCInCT COMMUnITy ATTORney and run multiple opinions. our vibrant neighborhood that is Uptown.
Mary Ann Knox Lisa Godon 673-2005 We reserve the right to edit
CAlenDAR eDITOR Uptown Neighborhood News reserves the right to refuse for space or clarity, taste and We host such a variety of religions, ages, characters and dispositions as
Wendy Auldrich publication of articles or advertisements as it sees fit.
But we will see fit to publish most things, don’t worry. legal concerns. well. I like to think of Uptown as a small international city. Its cosmo-
Copyright © 2008 Uptown Neighborhood News.
politan nature is not only a social mechanism for change but adaptation
as well. For communities to grow and stay healthy they must adapt. We
can respond to growth by adapting. One thing is certain, change will
always be with us. I’m reminded of a quote from an HBO series called
vOlUnTeeR WRITeRS! Deadwood. “Change ain’t lookin’ for friends. Change calls the tune we
all dance to,” –Al Swearengen. So at the local level we can find solutions
Are you yearning to be heard? do you Love Uptown? the Unn is looking for writers who want and this paper can help. Can we use density to create revenue, variety,
to write about books, crime, politics, art. we are also looking for submissions for our rumi- housing, and decrease sprawl? Can parking issues be used to encourage
nations section – do you have reflections on living in this area? we want to hear from you! other forms of transportation? Should development be encouraged as a
Call 612.259.1372 or email uptownnews@yahoo.com. revenue stream in ways that encourages balanced housing solutions and
OASIS page 8
 february 2008 Uptown Neighborhood news •  .

commentary
Dear Readers,
Hello! I just wanted to take a
moment to introduce myself. My
name is Beth Seth and I recently
accepted the position of Senior
Editor for the Uptown Neighbor-
hood News.
I have been a CARAG resident for
more than three years. I love living
in Uptown. The vibrancy, dedica-
tion and community involvement
of Uptown residents is truly inspir-
ing. I feel very fortunate to live in
a real neighborhood, particularly
one that is so eclectic and lively.
Currently, I am a full-time Mom
with a one year old and a five
year old. Before becoming a par-
ent, I held a variety of professional
writing positions doing magazine
writing, web copy and technical
writing, just to name a few.
I have been on the job for a little
more than a month and, so far,
I love it. I am really thrilled to
have this opportunity. I’m very
Photo by Kay Nygaard-Graham impressed with the dedication of
Please join all of us at the Uptown Neighborhood News in extending a warm
welcome to the newest member of our editorial team, Senior Editor, Beth Seth,
our staff - the writers, photogra-
pictured here with her daughter, Davina. phers, board members and other
contributors. I have been amazed
with all of the hard work they do
and the myriad tasks they per-
form.
In many ways, this paper reminds
me of a lot of my college newspa-
per, simply because it’s so much
fun! Everyone involved is so full of
energy and enthusiasm. But don’t
get me wrong--this newspaper is
much more than just a lot of fun.
Neighborhood newspapers serve
an important role in our commu-
nity. As our media becomes more
corporate and uniform, it is even
more important to have indepen-
dent local sources reporting on
the issues that directly affect you
where you live. And what could be
more important or more personal
than news from your own neigh-
borhood?
I hope that the Uptown Neighbor-
hood News will continue to inform
and entertain its readers, but will
also serve as an important tool for
building a cohesive community.
My hope is that the UNN will
help its readers not only feel more
connected to their neighborhood
and the Uptown community,
but will also inspire people to
get involved in issues that are
important to them.
Above all, as a community
paper the UNN is your news-
paper. We want to hear from
you, to know what is important
to you and what you care about.
I would like to stress that we
welcome input and involve-
ment from all our readers. If
you have story ideas, sugges-
tions, comments, criticisms, or
would just like to chat, please
feel free to drop me an email.
Once again, I am thrilled to
have this opportunity and I’m
looking forward to working on
the paper well into the future.
The UNN is going strong
and will continue to serve the
ECCO and CARAG neighbor-
hoods for years to come.
Sincerely,
Beth Seth Senior Editor
Uptown Neighborhood News

Take the Minnesota Energy Challenge!

By Sarah Sponheim
I’ve recently joined the fight
against global warming. That is to
say, by September my alarm had
risen to the point where I could
no longer bear to sit still, wring-
ing my hands. One of the places
where I have focused my atten-
tion is at home, where my fam-
ily and I are trying to reduce our
energy consumption. Even though
my kids and husband support my
initiatives, I tend to feel isolated,
as if I were acting in a vacuum.
Gestures such as turning off lights,
purchasing wind energy through
Xcel’s Windsource program and
recycling everything possible seem
so private. Who else is doing these
things? Am I alone?
My greater concern is that nothing
I do as one individual - or as one
household - will make a speck of
difference. How in the world will
a miniscule change like replac-
ing a light bulb have an effect
on the immense global warming
crisis? Talk about a drop in the
bucket. It’s more like a drop in the
ocean, which as we know is rap-
idly expanding in volume with the
melting of the polar ice caps.
Fortunately, I discovered the Min-
nesota Energy Challenge (www.
mnenergychallenge.org), a secure
online program about reducing
household carbon dioxide emis-
sions. The program keeps a run-
ning tally of other Minnesotans
who are doing what I’m doing.
Every time I check the team stand-
ings on the website, I get a boost:
I’m not alone. The program also
gives me hope. If enough people
take action, we will make a differ-
ence.
The brainchild of the Center for
Energy and Environment (www.
mncee.org), a Minneapolis based
non-profit, the Energy Challenge
is straightforward and easy. You
enter basic information about your
personal and home energy use (for
instance, the size of your house or
apartment, average monthly bills
for heat and electricity, the type of
vehicle you drive and the distance
of your daily commute), and the
program calculates your annual
carbon dioxide output. This is
your carbon footprint.
Next, you are encouraged to choose
from a list of actions that you are
willing and able to take to reduce
your carbon footprint. You might
pledge to replace five incandescent
light bulbs with compact fluores-
cents, to drive the speed limit, turn
off lights when not in use and take
shorter showers. The program
enumerates how many pounds of
CO2 and how much money you
will save annually as a result.
At the end of the program, you
may assign your savings to up
to three different teams. Team
categories include cities, neigh-
borhoods (such as Uptown, East
Calhoun and CARAG), schools,
congregations and environmen-
tal groups. The website ranks the
teams within categories; standings
reflect total number of pounds of
CO2 conserved. Individuals can
pool their efforts and engage in
friendly competition with other
teams.
I first heard about the Challenge
through Linden Hills Power
& Light (LHPL), a non-profit
organization that works at the
neighborhood level to promote
sustainable energy, waste reduc-
tion and energy conservation.
LHPL received a Climate Change
Initiative grant from the city of
Minneapolis to promote the Ener-
gy Challenge and distribute free
compact fluorescent light bulbs to
every household in Linden Hills.
The Energy Challenge program
is accessible, user-friendly and fast take the Energy Challenge today.
(it took me less than 10 minutes Invite ten friends and neighbors to
to sign up). Following through, I join you. Together, our efforts will
now wash clothes in cold water. I be magnified. Together, we can
am making a concerted effort to make a difference.
drive within the posted speed limit.
Questions or comments about the
We’re in the process of switching
Minnesota Energy Challenge?
all of our incandescent light bulbs
Contact the program coordinator,
to compact fluorescents, and I’ve
Neely Crane-Smith, at ncrane-
launched a campaign at home that
smith@mncee.org or 612.335.5852.
I call TOLBY (Turn Off Lights
Behind You). My kids and my
Sarah Sponheim is a long-time
husband are learning; our electric
ECCO resident who writes about
bill is decreasing.
global warming in her blog, www.
In a recent interview, Al Gore greenseachange.blogspot.com.
paraphrased an African proverb:
“If you want to go quickly, travel
alone. If you want to go far, trav-
el with others.” Referring to our
present imperative to halt global
warming, Gore concluded, “We
have to go far, quickly.” Thanks to
the Energy Challenge, I feel reas-
sured that I’m going in the right
direction and I’m not traveling
alone. As of this December, over
8,200 Minnesotans have pledged
to reduce their energy use. We’re a
movement. We’re turning heads.
There’s no time to lose. Log onto
www.mnenergychallenge.org and
Our faith is over 2000 years old,
our thinking isn't.

Never place a period where

Deadline The UNN is seeking a civic minded God has placed a comma.
for submissions to the individual to serve as Associate Editor
Sunday Christian Education for all ages 9:15 a.m.
February issue of The This is a part time, paid position. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Uptown Neighborhood Job description available upon request.
News is 810 West 31st Street, Minneapolis LYNDALE
612-825-3019
Wednesday, Please call 612.259.1372 www.lyndaleucc.org
February 20th. or send resume to uptownnews@yahoo.com
No matter who you are, or where you are on your journey you’re welcome here.
 • Uptown Neighborhood news february 2008

Kevin Kling Bridges Life Between Rural and Urban Minnesota

By Jessica Fox-Wilson in “View from the Card Table” to my husband, and found myself needing to explain the
When I was fifteen, I moved to Minneapolis from Los Angeles. In preparation for our whole book.
move, my mother tried to indoctrinate me into Minnesota culture. In other words, we
In addition to the family essays, Kling includes several other
listened to Garrison Keillor on the radio. I thought Keillor was quaint and eloquent,
stories that portray his adult life in Minneapolis. The best
but I didn’t understand his brand of humor. It was
stories of this bunch are the ones he tells of his neighborhood
entirely foreign to me since I was raised in a
bar, the Uptown Bar, before it became a haven for rockers. It
West Coast city. Once we moved into Uptown in
is here that we see the heart of the Minnesota personality in
the early 1990s, I was even more puzzled. How
the urban landscape. Rather than stoic farmers, we find stoic
did Norwegian-Scandinavian stoicism relate to
working-class men who carry the weight of their jobs with
this hip, urban neighborhood? Growing up, I
honor and a tired dignity. One such story, only a page and a
never understood the connection between Minne-
half in length, describes how a former meat processing plant
sota’s urban and rural personalities. Kevin Kling’s
worker came to ask forgiveness for a pasture full of cows.
autobiographical essays in The Dog Says How
By the end of this brief interlude, I felt the heaviness of the
illustrate how a traditional childhood in semi-
man’s guilt and the earnestness in his desire for forgiveness.
rural Minnesota can lead to a nontraditional life in
I also recognized the roots of the sense of community we
Minneapolis and beyond.
still honor in our neighborhood. These men live their lives
Kevin Kling’s book describes his life through a series together in the early evening hours after they leave work
of vignettes that are tender, funny and diverse. The and before they return home.
strength of his book lies within the range of subject
The last grouping of stories involves the development of
matter and, therefore, his life. The book follows
Kling’s artistic sensibilities. Kling wisely bridges these
Kling from his upbringing in the exurbs of Minne-
stories between childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
apolis to his young adulthood living in Minneapo-
It’s easy to see the connection between the young boy who
lis, and traveling the world with a theater company.
desperately wanted to be a musician, despite his lack of
What remains constant throughout the wide variety
skill, and the young man who becomes a traveling actor
of his experience is his narrative voice, which revels in
and playwright. The desires to create and to entertain
the awkward humor of living a flawed--but interest-
an audience are unchanged, despite the change in locale
ing--life. While reading The Dog Says How, I felt like
and time period. In both the childhood and adulthood
I was listening to war stories over beers in a local dive.
essays, Kling revels in the moment of creation and the
Kling’s childhood stories focus primarily on his fam- reaction of the audience.
ily, who seem quirkily and typically Midwestern. My
If these essays are any indication, Kevin Kling has cer-
favorite family essay was, “View from the Card Table,”
tainly led an interesting life. Through the sensitive sto-
a touching portrayal of Christmas dinner. The terri-
ries in The Dog Says How, it is clear how an artistic
tory is familiar. The children are impatient to eat; his
and sensitive young boy becomes a storyteller, actor
relatives are mysterious and embarrassing. But Kling
and artist. We see the connections between our urban
focuses on the unique details within the memories, such
and rural identities as a young man from the exurbs
as the whistle of his aunt’s clogged nostril as his uncle
migrates to the city. Through Kling’s perspective, we
leads grace. He also diverts from the action to relate an
can recognize the layers of personality in our city and
anecdote about starving cats viewing neglectful children
the beginnings of the close-knit neighborhood we live in today.
as saviors, and a comparison about Tristram Shandy’s
conception to his own. At the center of the story is a son who is in awe of his father, who Jessica Fox-Wilson is a poet and writer who lives in the Wedge neighborhood. In between scrib-
turns out to be just as fallible as he is. It seems hard to give detail to these stories, because bling poems and spending time with her husband and cats, she blogs at 9to5poet.blogspot.com.
while brief, they contain so many pleasant surprises. I tried to read my favorite passage

Tidbits Lent Begins This Month

Gelato Coming To
Lake Street
Here comes Jackson’s...Set to open
in April if all goes well, with park-
ing variance in hand and seating
for 45, local entrepreneur and
property owner John Meldahl and
his son will soon be opening Jack-
son’s, a new gelato and coffee shop
at 822 West Lake Street just east
of Bryant, next door to Uptown
Video. They are especially proud
of their new gelato machine,
which recently arrived all the way
from Italy. However, if past is pro-
logue, we may be in for more than
just gelato.
Perhaps you don’t remember
that John was the visionary who
transformed the ailing old East
Calhoun Coop on 33rd and Bry-
ant into the very popular Ole and
Lena’s, which rode the cusp of the
coffee shop trend years ago before
coffee shops were all that trendy.
The design was crisp and appeal-
ing. The Urban Bean lives at 33rd
and Bryant now, but some of us
remember when the old was new.
Boat Permit Application
Time
Can spring be far behind when
the Minneapolis Park and Recre-
ation Board is taking applications
for sailboat buoys and canoe rack
permits? Applications and storage
agreements must be completed and
submitted to MPRB Headquarters
by 12 a.m. April 1 for canoe racks;
and by 12 a.m. April 14 for sailboat
buoys in order to be eligible for the
April 15 drawing. For more com-
plete information, or online appli-
cations, agreement information,
and assignment procedures, go to
www.minneapolisparks.org. See
“permits and reservation section.”
And yet another sign of spring…
Lent.
On Ash Wednesday, February 6,
Joyce Church will observe the start
of Lent with a 5 p.m. soup sup-
per and service of ashes and Holy
Communion. Additionally, the
church will offer a six week Lent-
en discussion, “Journey to God,”
on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to
8 p.m. beginning on February 14.
The six-week series begins with
the topic, “Basic knowledge of
God,” and wraps up with “Eternal
life and the destiny of the world.”
And Still Another Sign
Of Spring
The Youth Farm and Market
Project would like to find an
easy and inexpensive way to sell
Youth Farm’s vegetables locally.
Community Meeting, Tuesday,
February 19, 4 to 6 p.m. at Zion
Lutheran Church, 33rd Street
and Pillsbury Avenue. Snacks and
childcare provided! Questions?
990.9261.
Needed: Old Prescription
Eye Glasses And Readers
If you have old prescription eye
glasses or “readers” in your junk
drawer, bring them to Once Upon
a Crime bookstore before Febru-
ary 10. Friends of the bookstore
staff are traveling to Peru on a
health and education trip. Col-
lected glasses will be distributed by
Doctors to those in need. Fashion
is not a consideration! ANY AND
ALL GLASSES WILL BE USED
AND APPRECIATED. Once
Upon a Crime bookstore is located
at 604 West 26th Street.

“Spiritual Springboard for Uptown “

The Latest in the Treatment Feb. 2nd, 7:00 p.m.
and Prevention of “Journey to God”
Alzheimer’s Disease beginning Feb 14, 6:30 p.m.
Presented by Dr Leah R. Hanson, Ph.D.
Director Alzheimer’s Research Ctr., St. Paul
Saturday, March 1st, 12:00pm-2:00pm
St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church
3450 Irving Ave So
Minneapolis, Mn 55408
612-825-9595
Free Admission • Light refreshments
 february 2008 Uptown neighborhood news • 5 .

crime & safety

December 2007

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

Busline

CAR AG
Crime events Time of Day
eCCO

eCCO CARAg

CARAg

5Th PReCInCT (Southwest Minneapolis)

Sector 2: CPS Tom Thompson: 673.2823
thomas.thompson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Photo by Kay Nygaard-Graham
24/7 crime fighters in the know like to bust out The Uptown Neighborhood News for crime stats that deliver.

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 • Uptown Neighborhood news february 2008

dating from 1
Uptown resident Amy, 28, has
tried online dating for the past
year and doesn’t hesitate to express
her opinions on the Minneapolis
dating scene, which she describes
as filled with people in long-term
relationships. “It’s torturous,” she
says, “it’s so rare that I meet some-
one I’m interested in. Out of the
30,000 people I’ve gone out with,
there have only been two [that
I’ve clicked with]—and it hasn’t
worked out.”
Amy, who submitted her profile
on OK Cupid, says she has been
happy with the service and has met
many quality people. “Everyone
was pretty normal, not crazy,” she
jokes, “no death threats or stalking
or assault charges came out of my
online dating.”
Still, Amy says she took her profile
off the site a month ago because
she was tired of going on so many
bad dates. “It’s so frustrating, so
disappointing,” she says. Amy has
considered joining Match.com
because applicants are required to
pay for the service. “There’s some-
thing with people willing to pay,”
she says, “maybe they’re more seri-
ous about dating.”
Adam, who is 28 and also an
Uptown resident, says he has not
tried online dating and thinks of it
as a last resort. “There’s just some-
thing about it,” he says, “there is a
stigma, like ok, I’m down to trying
this now.” Adam, whose only non-
dating events for people ages 21 to
59, has gotten great feedback from
participants. “I’ve heard from my
daters that more qualified singles
come to my events, “says Harris,
“One woman stood up after an
event and applauded that the men
were so great.”
Harris says that about 65 percent
of participants meet someone they
will see again, and she can’t count
the number of times she has heard
about marriages and babies result-
ing from her services. She says that
many people choose speed dating
after some sort of disillusionment
with online dating.
“The online thing is just overdone
and you don’t know what you’re
getting there,” says Harris. She
describes the online dating com-
munity as traps for married people
and people looking for a one-night
fling.
For those who don’t have time to
date and who’ve unsuccessfully
tried the online dating path, It’s
Just Lunch offers busy profession-
als a time to meet other like-mind-
ed people over the lunch hour.
This self-described “personalized
matchmaking” service hand picks
and arranges lunch dates or after-
work drinks at local venues after
screening applicants through a
personal, face-to-face interview.
Some of their Uptown restaurant
partners include Amore Victoria,
Campiello and Joe’s Garage.
Sara Darling, Owner of It’s Just
Lunch in Minneapolis, and her
staff select dates for clients after
discussing their interests, hobbies
and what type of people they’re
looking to meet. “Most people
come to us because they’ve already
tried online dating. They’re tired
of how long it takes. It’s so frus-
trating,” says Darling, “when they
do actually meet them, informa-
tion is [often] misrepresented.”
Because her clients are working
professionals, Darling says most
of them just don’t have the space
in their lives to do things the tradi-
tional way. “They don’t have time
to date,” says Darling, “They don’t
think they’re going to meet their
match in a bar.”
Darling and her staff measure suc-
cess based on the number of first
dates that turn into second dates,
which happens about 80 percent of
the time. From ten years of experi-
ence and their extensive and per-
sonal interview process, Darling
says that the number of marriages
and engagements she hears of is,
on average, a whopping three per
month. Last month, she heard of
seven.
For those still set on meeting peo-
ple out on the town, Minneapolis
offers plenty of spots for schmooz-
ing. It’s Just Lunch names Figlio’s
as the “Best After Hours Place,”
Bryant Lake Bowl as the “Best
Cheap Date,” and Zeno Café as
the “Best Place for Coffee and Des-
sert.” For comedy, the Brave New
Workshop always provides a good
laugh, and restaurants abound in
the Uptown area for any genre of
food craving.
“If you’re in Minneapolis, there
are usually plenty of bars and
places with cheap entertainment,”
says Adam, “I’ve
always been a
fan of bowl- “Out of the 30,000
ing. There’s
usually some people I’ve gone out
sort of hilar-
ious result.” with, there have only
In honor of been two [that
Va l e n t i n e ’s
Day, many Min- I’ve clicked
neapolis venues will
be having special events with]”
and deals. There will even be
an Anti-Valentine’s Day event at
Stella’s Fish Cafe on February 15 at
8 p.m. What do some local singles
think of the upcoming Hallmarki-
est of all Hallmark holidays?
“Oh, vomit,” says Amy. Last year,
Amy visited Smitten Kitten for
their Masturbation Workshop. “I
might go to that again.”
Adam, who jokingly describes
himself as “single, with low stan-
dards, and able to come to terms
with acceptable deformities,” is no
more optimistic about February
14. “I’m going to make an effigy to
every girl who’s rejected me in the
last year and set fire to it, and then
maybe pass out,” says Adam, “no,
something simple. No plans. I’ll
probably be working, and observ-
ing other people’s misery or bliss.”
For more information on dat-
ing sites mentioned
in this article,
visit www.
itsjustlunch-
minneapo-
lis.com and
www.cupid.
com/predat-
ing. Check
out www.stel-
lasfishcafe.com to
register for the Anti-
Valentine’s Day event at
Stella’s Fish Café on February
15.
Colette Davidson is the Associate
Editor of the Uptown Neighborhood
News.
UNN

Minnesota Caucuses
traditional dating experience was a
blind date five or six years ago that

are Tuesday, February 5

he refers to as “terrible,” prefers to
meet people through friends or out
at the bars. “I’ve always been a fan
of knowing what you’re getting
before you get it,” he says.
Some online dating sites might
disagree with Adam, where the
transparency of applicants is made
a priority. Sites like OK Cupid have
singles go through a series of tests
about personality, interests, values
and more. Amy says the statistical
analyses that matched her up with
prospective dates were helpful in
her search. “I was going out with
people with similar ideas,” she
says, “the more of a match there
was, the more I was able to enjoy
being with that person.”
It seems that election news is everywhere. That is, everywhere except here.
If you have been bemoaning the fact that all the election excitement is happening somewhere else, this is your chance
to get in on the action.
Tuesday, February 5 is Caucus night in Minnesota. The Minnesota caucuses are part of Super Tuesday, in which 22 states will
have primaries or caucuses.
Precinct caucuses start at 7 p.m. and run until approximately 9 p.m. Caucus participants must be of that party or likely to vote
for that party. Participants can only vote in one party’s caucus. At the caucuses, participants will elect delegates and alternates
for each party’s national convention. Additionally, caucus-goers elect local party leadership, vote on resolutions for the party
platform and often take a straw poll to feel out preferences for presidential candidates.
In the ECCO and CARAG neighborhoods, caucus meeting’s will take place in a variety of locations: Joyce Church, Painter
Park, Lyndale Farmstead Community Center, Jefferson Elementary School, St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Bryant Lake Bowl and
Walker Library.
To find the exact location of your caucus, go to http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us and enter your street address. The
caucus finder will bring up the location of caucus meetings (usually including the room number) of DFL, GOP, Independence and
Constitution parties for your particular address. The Green Party will not meet until March 4 and has not yet determined
a location.

Other Minneapolis singles take a FAST FACTS

more pragmatic approach to online Caucus dates: Tuesday, February 5 from 7 p.m. until approximately 9 p.m. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
dating. Rose, 27, who recently
began filling out her Match.com Caucus Websites Caucus Sites In The Uptown Area
profile, says she is not expecting State Constitution Party Green Party
to find Mr. Right. “Honestly, I
http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us Eisenhower Community Center Green Party caucuses will be on March 4.
don’t think I’m going to get any-
1001 Highway 7; Room 213B Please contact the party for caucus location.
thing from it,” she says, “[but] it’s Constitution Party Hopkins
a good way to meet tons and tons www.cpmn.org Independence Party
of people. It’s faster than going to DFL Party Lyndale Farmstead
the bars.” DFL Party Bryant Lake Bowl Community Center
www.dflcaucuses.org 810 Lake Street West 3900 Bryant Avenue South
Speaking of fast, one of the dat- St Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church
ing rages in the past few years has
Green Party Republican Party
3450 Irving Avenue South
been speed dating. In 3 to 6 min- www.mngreens.org Jefferson Elementary School
Joyce Methodist Church 1200 West 26 Street
utes, those suffering from short Independence Party 1219 West 31st Street
attention spans can sift through St Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church
www.mnip.org Painter Park 3450 Irving Avenue South
handfuls of people in just one
620 West 34th Street
night. While Adam and Amy both Republican Party
referred to speed dating as “obnox- Walker Library
www.mngop.com
ious,” companies like Cupid.com/ 2880 Hennepin Avenue
Predating have had no problems
drawing large amounts of people “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end
to each of its Minneapolis speed up being governed by your inferiors.” - Plato
dating events.

Dora Harris, the Events Coordina-

tor of Cupid.com/Predating’s speed
 february 2008 Uptown Neighborhood news •  .
Calhoun Square: Turn Around Time?
New Owner and Developer Prepare Again to Revamp and Expand
By Aaron Rubenstein
Struggling Calhoun Square (CS)
got a new owner last summer—
the global investment firm Black-
Rock, which manages $1.3 trillion
in assets. BlackRock kept the same
architect but hired a new devel-
oper—Capital Growth Madison
Marquette (CGMM)—to remake
and revitalize Uptown’s moribund
mall. CGMM submitted plans to
the city at the end of December
for CS’s renovation and expansion.
The city’s Planning Commission is
expected to review the plans at a
public hearing on February 11.
CGMM and its architect, RSP
Architects, have revised the CS
plans of the previous developer,
the Solomon Group, which the
Planning Commission approved
in December 2005 and the City
Council approved in January 2006
on an appeal by CARAG.
The CS development team met
with the CARAG Zoning Com-
mittee three times last fall to
review and discuss plans as they
evolved—and then came to
CARAG’s November and Janu-
ary neighborhood meeting, as
well. The relationship between the
development team and CARAG
has been significantly more open,
communicative and positive. Ulti-
mately, however, CARAG voted
at a special January 22 meeting
to recommend to the city neither
approval nor denial of the proj-
ect. The three-page statement
approved by CARAG’s mem-
bership says CARAG wants the
project to succeed, but expresses
a number of concerns and sug-
gestions about the project for the
Planning Commission to address.
The CS discussion expanded to
take up most of CARAG’s regular
monthly meeting on January 15, at
which the zoning committee rec-
ommended denial as proposed and
approval only with specific condi-
tions and modifications. With the
matter still unresolved, CARAG
held a special meeting on January
22 and quickly approved a revised
statement drafted by CARAG’s
Zoning Committee.
The revised CS plans focus on
complete renovation and re-ten-
anting of the existing mall—
including many new
tenants, a
new
fitness club on the second and third
floors and some new construction.
The new construction in 2008
would include a new three-story
building on Lake Street, replac-
ing buildings currently housing
Rotisseria and Passage to India
restaurants, and a new two-story
building along Hennepin where
Border’s Books was formerly
located.
CGMM’s Jim Larson said at the
November and January CARAG
meetings that his priorities are to
expand the parking ramp from
approximately 450 to 750 spaces
as quickly as possible, to remodel
and revitalize the existing mall as
quickly as possible and to work
on the future expansion phases—
which essentially outlines the proj-
ect’s three phases in chronological
order.
The CS development team met
December 6 with the Planning
Commission’s Committee of the
Whole for a preliminary review
and discussion of the project. The
commissioners’ feedback was posi-
tive in some respects but they also
expressed concerns about the over-
all level of amenities and the lack
of significant open public spaces.
The plans submitted later that
month sought to address those
concerns.
CARAG’s primary concern about
the project is that the square
doesn’t contain a sufficiently high
level of amenities required by
the city’s Planned Unit Develop-
ment (PUD) ordinance, to justify
the numerous zoning exceptions
required. The biggest exception
is buildings of five and seven sto-
ries; the zoning code currently
allows only four stories. The
plan approved two years ago had
a large public plaza at 31st and
Girard. That plaza is not part of
the revised plan, which instead
calls for retaining the existing
Famous Dave’s and the
loading dock at the
mall’s south end.
The Uptown Small
Area Plan calls for
the revamped Cal-
houn Square to have
a “year-round indoor/
outdoor gathering
space” and suggests a winter gar-
den opening onto Hennepin Ave-
nue midblock. CARAG wants to
see CS have such a gathering space
that would be the intersection of
community and commerce. The
developer’s proposal instead calls
for three seating areas within the
mall.
The proposed plan also calls for
Girard Avenue to be turned pri-
marily into a pedestrian area
with spaces for restaurant seating,
special events and outdoor ven-
dors. The north and south ends of
Girard will remain open to traffic
to provide access to the parking
ramp from Lake and 31st streets.
The previous plan had a similar
scheme.
The scope and some of the details
of Calhoun Square’s planned
revamp are as follows. The first
phase—the addition of two lev-
els to the parking ramp—will
start within the next few months.
Construction should take five to
six months. The vacant former
Music Go Round building at Lake
and Fremont will be demolished
in early February to make room
for a construction staging area.
The ramp will be available only
for valet parking while it is under
reconstruction, said CS General
Manager Gayle Siegler. The flat
fee has not yet been determined.
Parkers will drop off and pick up
their vehicles within the ramp.
CGMM plans to start construc-
tion on the mall renovation—plus
some additions—in the spring.
They hope to be substantially fin-
ished with this phase by fall 2008.
Most of the mall’s interior surfaces
and furnishings will be replaced.
The mall’s center atrium gener-
ally will be reduced in width to 30
feet—between the existing, two-
story brick piers or columns. The
interior circula-
tion and configuration of the mall
will also be redesigned.
When most of phase two is com-
pleted, the three-story building
along Hennepin in which Kitchen
Window is partially located will be
demolished and replaced with a
new two-story building.
Doug Huemoeller, the owner of
Kitchen Window, said in mid-
December that he is still in nego-
tiations with Calhoun Square for
a new location for his store within
the mall. He added that he is very
optimistic, very close to signing a
letter of intent and excited about
the concept for the store—but can’t
say more until the deal is finalized.
The deal still hadn’t been finalized
as the end of January approached.
The CS development team is still
exploring options for the final
phase—what to build at 31st and
Hennepin and along the south
side of Lake Street between Fre-
mont and Girard avenues. Solo-
mon, the previous CS developer,
had planned a five-story building
at 31st Street with condominiums
above two stories of retail space,
and, on Lake Street, a seven-story
building, again with condomini-
ums above two stories of retail.
CGMM’s Jim Larson has said it
may take 18 to 24 months to deter-
mine what the final, major expan-
sion phase will be. He has said it
will consist of retail space along
with some combination of offices,
apartments, condominiums and/or
a hotel.
CGMM has asked the city to reap-
prove the five-story and seven-
story buildings the city approved
two years ago. CGMM does not
intend necessarily to build those
specific buildings but it wants to
retain approval for development
of that type.
Some existing Calhoun Square
businesses will lose their leases
and be forced to move or
close as a result of the
mall’s renovation. So will
four businesses in the path
of CS’s expansion: repre-
sentatives of TCM Health
Center and the Lotus, Rotis-
seria and Passage to India
restaurants all said they will
likely close around
the end of
March and
are looking
for new locations in Uptown.
The Lotus has been in Uptown for
26 years. Mohammed Awal, man-
ager of Passage to India, said that
his nine-year old restaurant might
reopen and that he’s “looking for a
new location but it’s hard to find.”
Rotisseria owner Saleh “Kino”
Hamshari said, “I have no idea
what’s going on” and “ I haven’t
heard anything from them (the CS
developer).” He found out project
details and timelines when called
for this story. “It’s been really
stressful—I just try not to think
about it,” Kino said. He’s consid-
ering a new Uptown location but
is not sure it’s possible. He opened
another Rotisseria location at East
Lake Street and Bloomington Ave-
nue last year. Asked how he feels
about having to close or move, he
replied “it’s hard to give it up—it’s
ten years of our life.” Kino added
that “business has been down—
less traffic and business—because
Calhoun Square is empty.” He
also noted that the CS folks “were
really good to us—they treated us
more than fairly.”
Sufficient Amenities
and Quality
Aside from the question of wheth-
er the redevelopment plan for
Calhoun Square will succeed in
revitalizing the property. One of
the biggest questions is whether the
project’s level of quality and ame-
nities will merit city approval as a
planned unit development (PUD).
PUDs, according to the city’s zon-
ing code, apply to parcels of two
acres or more and are intended to
“provide for flexibility in the use
of land and the placement and size
of buildings in order to better uti-
lize the special features of sites and
to obtain a higher quality of devel-
opment, which incorporates high
levels of amenities....”
In addition to the proposed Girard
Plaza and the three interior seat-
ing areas, the revised plans also call
for landscaped seating areas along
31st Street, a new Hennepin mid-
block entry plaza larger than the
existing one, and new buildings
set back from the public sidewalk
four to eight feet—as called for in
the Uptown Small Area Plan—to
create more public space and some
outdoor restaurant seating.
The desirability and success of
the Girard Plaza seems at least a
bit questionable—tucked next to
a five to six level parking ramp
where the developer says new trees
would not grow.
Calhoun page 10
8 • Uptown neighborhood news february 2008

The Sandbox
OASIS from 2
as a means to fund civic projects
playing with stardust and open spaces? Can entertain-
ment be defined by its end goals
to encourage more cultural forms
such as theatre, dance, comedy and
art? For it is this collective energy
that is our culture and that is what
we can all benefit from.

Politically, I’m encouraged that

people in this neighborhood are
engaged. Uptown residents are
knowledgeable about the issues.
We boast a high voter turnout rate.
That’s why I wanted to include the
“Citizen Action” box to make it
easier to follow through with com-
munity representatives.

Of course I would like to keep it

all in perspective. There are end-
less issues facing our planet as well
Bryce, CARAG: Because the news isn’t always enough and as our neighborhood. Uptown is
sometimes we need to look a little further down the road at what just a dot on the planet. Our sun
the children see. Email your kids’ art, poetry, short prose etc. to is just a dot in the cosmos. Pro-
uptownnews@yahoo.com. We’ll showcase one here each month in
The Sandbox. fessor Rudnick at the U of M just
discovered an empty area of space
that is 6 billion trillion miles wide.
But I can’t help thinking that after
we explore the heavens, we will Art by Bruce Cochran ©2007

GO FOR A WAlk inevitably discover that what we

AND GET PAiD FOR iT were hungry for all along was the
personal connection found only in
DEliVER PAPERS FOR ThE UNN building community here on earth.
for $150/issue That community may or may not
prosper with or without the web,
Paid, part time job. Please call 612.259.1372 but perhaps the digital world will
or email uptownnews@yahoo.com
make you want to push back even
just a little, engage your corporeal
self and check out The Uptown
Neighborhood News; “Your Ana-
logue Oasis.”
Bruce Cochran lives in CARAG and
spends his free time looking for a
good definition of time.
UNN
RAChel from 1

Rachel often went to a special spot

along the river to sit and think.

10 0 OFF After leaving the Uptown Bar on

B
$ U
nY
A Uet
q
LOCUY
AL Friday, January 11 while out with
BO a friend, Rachel went for a ride
but did not return home. A friend
led a search for her the next day
Order Flowers for Your Sweetie! VALENTINE’S DAY or any day! and found her bike near a hole in
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the ice, which Minneapolis police
bouquet or pre-made arrangement. Coupon expires 2/28/08.
later confirmed was where Rachel
A MEMBE r-OWNE D COO pE rAT I V E O p E N T O T h E pu B L I C fell through. The specifics of her
death remain under investigation,
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although many speculate that it
was an accident.

Nicollet
At the memorial, friends and fam-
ily gathered to talk about Rachel
and find some closure under such
tragic circumstances. She was
described as intelligent, indepen-
dent and determined, and some-
one who had a sweet, intuitive love
for others. Her bike, decorated
3805 Nicollet • Mpls, MN • 612-822-3121 with flowers, hung above the podi-
um where the owner of Chiang
$
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Mai Thai, among several others,
spoke about her life. Thirty-five
staff members of Chiang Mai Thai
Any purchase Any purchase were also in attendance and when
asked to stand, approximately 40
of $10 or more. of $25 or more. people identified themselves as her
Not valid with any other coupons or special offers. Not valid with any other coupons or special offers.
regular customers. Although there
Expires 4/15/08 Expires 4/15/08
was family present, her mother
was too upset to attend.
Photo by Bruce Cochran
Never mind 10 degrees with 10 below wind chill, the bikes of supporters collect-
Rachel was born in Montana but
Your ECCO/CARAG Neighborhood ed out front of the memorial at the Soo Visual Arts Center to show solidarity for
Rachel Dow. had lived in Minnesota for several
Realtor & Lender Team! years, where she was a Univer-
Providing 1st Class Realtor Services sity of Minnesota student. Adam
& Home Financing Programs “in One Location” Johnson, who used to work with
Rachel at Fresco Juice Co., said he
hadn’t been in touch with Rachel
for a while, but that their friend-
ship had been rekindled in the last
several weeks while hanging out at
Cars-R-Coffins Coffee.

“She was just a real individual,”

says Adam, “she was strong,
Lance Fraser Josh Hennessy
Lakes Area Realty 1428 W 28th St Prime Mortgage adventurous…a really interesting
lance@lakesarearealty.com Uptown A Division Of The Business Bank
person. We’ve been denied a life.”
651-230-1648 josh@prime-mortgage.com
(Next to Isles Buns Coffee) 612.716.1187
UNN
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10 • Uptown neighborhood news february 2008

Ruth Cain of East Calhoun testi- question, no discussion, and thank

fied that although she was a bit you’s from Council Member Rem-
skeptical of the planning process ington, who is a member of the
initially, “it was a good process committee and was chair of the
[with] a lot of participation.” plan’s steering committee.

Thatcher Imboden said the process Remington spent about eight

Planning Commission member Lara Norkus-Crampton engages speakers with follow-up questions.
USAP from 1
adoption of the plan as amended.
The full council is expected to
adopt the plan on February 1 with
little, if any, discussion.
CAlhOUn from 7
The Planning Commission will
have to evaluate the proposed
plans and whether they, and the
amenities they call for, meet the
bar. Perhaps it will lay the matter
over and strongly suggest revi-
sions, as it did several times with
CS two years ago.
Yes, Calhoun Square is clearly and
primarily a place of business, but
it’s also the heart of Uptown and
a uniquely important place in the
community. By providing a special
and vibrant community gathering
space within the mall, as CARAG
seeks, Calhoun Square’s owner
and developer might very well do
themselves a big favor that would
reward both commerce and com-
munity. Perhaps they can thrive
more successfully together; check
out the public living rooms recent-
ly installed at the heart of Ridge-
dale mall.
BlackRock, the new CS owner,
The plan lays out a vision for how
different parts of Uptown should
grow, along with specific guide-
lines, concepts and ways the parts
reportedly paid $47 million for the
property—more than the previ-
ous owner who caused business
to slack but apparently increased
the property’s monetary value. But
BlackRock won’t pay to relocate
Famous Dave’s or Starbuck’s Cof-
fee. The tiny Starbucks, located
in a one-story building with eight
seats inside the store, will remain
where it is—and, therefore, so will
the Hennepin midblock entrance
to the mall. Keeping Dave’s where
it is means losing the previously
planned public plaza; that would
be a fairly good deal if the cur-
rent plans had a winter garden—a
year-round, indoor/outdoor gath-
ering space that would connect the
mall to the street life of Hennepin
Avenue, invigorating both.
To verify that Calhoun Square’s ren-
ovation and expansion plans will be
on the February 11 Planning Com-
mission agenda, go to http://www.
ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/agendas/
planning-commission/, a few days
prior to the meeting.
UNN
Photo by Bruce Cochran
should fit together. The need for
the plan arose in 2005 when there
were community conflicts over the
then-proposed 13-story Mozaic
project (later approved for 10 sto-
ries) and Calhoun Square expan-
sion with five and seven story
buildings. Construction has not
started yet on either project. The
need for the plan was a significant
part of Council Member Ralph
Remington’s election campaign in
2005 (the plan needs to start yes-
terday, he would say). Mayor R.T.
Rybak also consistently showed
concern about Uptown develop-
ment issues and expressed sup-
port for the planning effort. He
facilitated the plan happening sig-
nificantly sooner than would have
been the case otherwise by finding
the funding for it.
Ten Uptown area residents attend-
ed the January 14 Planning Com-
mission meeting (representing
East Calhoun, CARAG, East Isles,
and Lowry Hill East) and many
of them spoke. Council Member
Remington and his aide Kim Mal-
rick, three developers, architect
Jack Boarman (whose firm, BKV
Group, has designed five high-
profile Uptown and Lyn-Lake
projects), and Midtown Greenway
Coalition Executive Director Tim
Springer also attended the meet-
ing.
included good focus groups and
outreach to the business commu-
nity. Imboden works for developer
The Ackerberg Group and lived
in CARAG until recently. He also
suggested that some of the plan’s
building height guidelines should
be taller.
Howard Verson, CARAG’s elder
statesman, responded diplomati-
cally:
“When you’re considering some of
the suggested changes to the cur-
rent draft’s language with height
and density, you might want to
consider this plan something like a
peace treaty—the end of the Indi-
an Wars. The planning staff and
the neighborhoods have achieved
something of a political compro-
mise here and I think you’ve got
a considerable amount of buy-in.
So I would like to suggest that
we not have the equivalent of the
Indian Wars and backtrack on the
treaty.”
Following 40 minutes of public
testimony, the commission did not
change the plan’s height guide-
lines. It did approve a good num-
ber of the minor amendments that
Uptown residents had suggested
during the public testimony. Plan-
ning Commission member Lara
Norkus-Crampton, an East Cal-
houn resident, proposed a number
of minor amendments that were
approved as well. She also com-
mented, regarding the plan, that
“this is a truce— coming together
to move forward.”
The City Council’s Zoning and
Planning Committee voted unani-
mously January 24 to recommend
adoption of the Uptown plan—
following a staff report, one brief
minutes thanking many people
who helped make the plan hap-
pen. He first thanked the Mayor
“for his leadership around this. If
it weren’t for his strength and his
guidance and actually his ear—to
listen to what the community and
I were articulating, we wouldn’t
be here and have had the resourc-
es” to make the plan happen. “So
the Mayor deserves big props for
that,” said Remington. He also
thanked Lara Norkus-Cramp-
ton “for her strength and ability
to articulate the concerns of the
neighborhood.”
Remington gave special kudos
to city planner Amanda Arnold
and to The Cuningham Group,
the project’s planning consultant.
About Ms. Arnold he said “This
woman is a gem!” The Cuning-
ham Group, he said, came into a
hostile situation in which the com-
munity had felt burned by some
previous planning efforts and did
an “astounding” job.
About the plan itself, Remington
said “people came together for the
greater good.”
After the meeting, Ms. Arnold said
that a rezoning study, which will
follow and help implement the
plan, will happen later this year.
The city will initiate a similar
small area planning process for the
Lyn-Lake area in spring 2008. Ms.
Arnold will be the lead staff per-
son for that plan as well.
For more information on the
Uptown Small Area Plan go to
www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/plan-
ning/uptown-plan.asp.
UNN

Submitted Photo
Pictured from left to right are Mike Lamb of the Cuningham Group; Principal City
Planner, Amanda Arnold; Planning Commissioner, Lara Norkus-Crampton; Coun-
cil Member Ralph Remington; CARAG President, Kay Nygaard-Graham; CARAG
Zoning and Planning Chair, Aaron Rubenstein; and long time ECCO activist, Kay
Anderson.

Birth of a Small Area Plan

After nearly two years of visioning sessions, steering committee meet-
ings, moratoriums, focus groups, public comment, more tweaking, cajol-
ing and agonizing, the long gestation period finally came to an end. On
Tax Preparation Thursday, January 24, 2008 the
City of Minneapolis Zoning and
Jack D. Manders Planning Committee gave its offi-
cial blessing to a brand new bounc-
Certified Public Accountant ing baby Uptown Small Area Plan.
Beaming like a proud “papa,” CM
1900 Hennepin Avenue South Ralph Remington was generous in
Rbe^SX”TY^^Ub”\QdU^YWXd Minneapolis, MN 55403 his praise for everyone who par-
ce^dX(Q]!Q]”VbYcQd(Q]"Q]
!& g\Q[Ucd\Q[UYbfY^W
Call Jack at 612-874-7884 ticipated in the process. Later there
were congratulations all around
]Y^^UQ`_\Yc&!"("'%'!
jackmanders@sihope.com for a job well done.
 february 2008 Uptown Neighborhood news • 11 .

Uptown Association Gets Down To Businesshe has installed a whole new com-
By Gary Farland
On Tuesday, January 15, the
Uptown Association held its annu-
al meeting. It was a bright and
cheerful morning (8 a.m.), set in a
great location—the Terrace Room
overlooking Lake Calhoun in St.
Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church.
About 80 people were in atten-
dance, most of whom enjoyed the
tasty breakfast brunch.
Mike Dean, Uptown Association
(UA) Board President, opened
the meeting, and remarked how
he grew up a block away and still
lives in the area. He introduced
the featured speaker, Hennepin
County Sheriff Rich Stanek, who
presented a slide show on how
the various public safety agencies
worked together to deal with the I-
35W bridge collapse. He has been
teaching a course in “Lessons for
Leadership” based on experiences
during this disaster. He showed
a number of dramatic slides of
the collapse and related that 104
public safety agencies responded,
which made for difficult coordi-
nation. They employed a “Unified
Command System” that came into
being after Hurricane Katrina,
with various jurisdictions having
specific jobs. For
example, Min-
neapolis Police 330,000 people attended and 80 percent
and Fire had
total jurisdic- of the artists gave the [Uptown Art]
tion for the first
90 minutes and Fair an excellent rating on a survey.
after that, vari-
ous agencies did - Executive Director Maude Lovelle
specific tasks,
such as Henne-
pin County doing water rescue.
Sheriff Stanek told how during
the next 20 days, eight additional
victims were recovered and how
the river, which flowed up to seven
knots, would create dangerous
eddies and fast currents through
the fallen bridge. And, how there
was really no visibility in the water
and how bridge sections would
continue to collapse in the river.
The sheriff also told of how his
office has 850 employees and how
mand staff.
Next on the agenda was Tenth
Ward City Council Member Ralph
Remington, who first spoke about
the Uptown Small Area Plan and
how it will put everyone “on the
same page.” He also spoke of the
need for compassionate regula-
tion of panhandling, working with
the homeless, and getting LRT
to Downtown through Uptown.
Several challenges he mentioned
were correcting the city civil rights
department and the city police
department.
Kris Arneson, the Inspector (Com-
mander) of the Fifth Precinct of
the Minneapolis Police Depart-
ment, spoke next. Arneson said
that they have 100 officers, three
of whom are assigned as beat cops
in Uptown. She is also trying to
reopen the police substation on
Hennepin by McDonald’s. She
said that burglaries in the Fifth
precinct increased 16 percent last
year and that people should make
sure their doors and windows are
well secured. It is estimated that
17 career burglars are working the
Fifth precinct. MPD creates focus
areas where they will do intensi-
fied enforcement to reduce crime
in areas that have problems like
gang activity. Arneson said they
can’t investigate all the domestic
assault cases, but are videotaping
victims in squad cars that can be
used in bringing charges.
The program then shifted to the
Uptown Association itself, with
Executive Director Maude Lovelle
leading the presentations. She first
highlighted what had occurred
Sheriff Stanek discusses response logistics of the I-35W bridge collapse at the Uptown Association’s (UA) annual meeting.
with the association during 2007.
First, there was working with the
Loppet organization, which is
located in Uptown, to create the
successful February event. Next,
the Art Fair had many challenges
like the bridge collapse and the
cold and rainy Saturday. Despite
this, 330,000 people attended and
80 percent of the artists gave the
Fair an excellent rating on a sur-
vey. They aver-
aged in sales
about $1,000 to
$4,000 and 78
percent said they
would reapply
for exhibition.
Maude then told
of a survey they
did of Uptown
businesses, and
how they had a 43 percent response
and how the respondents said the
Association had to be more of a
partner with the community and
give it promotion. They also held
visioning sessions in which 65 per-
cent of the participants said that
public safety was their biggest con-
cern while 38 percent mentioned
parking.
Next, four Association commit-
tees gave reports. Alicia Garatoni
reported that the membership
committee implemented a news-
letter and an enhanced website.
Brad Bridwell and Charles Selcer
reported for the Finance Commit-
tee, and said how revenues from
the Art Fair came to $920,000,
almost reaching the budgeted
$930,000. They have a healthy
$60,000 cash reserve.
Thatcher Imboden, Association
Secretary, announced the names of
new board members. They are Jon
Charles of Jon Charles Salon; Car-
men Chirinos of the Bremer Bank;
Mike Dean of CAG Development;
Bill Frothinger of Frothinger
Properties; Alicia Garatoni of
Keller Williams Integrity Realty;
Carlos Landreau of Landreau
Insurance Agency; Mary Magers
of Magers and Quinn Booksell-
ers; Bill Morton of Joyce Method-
ist Church; Kim Seidel of Chiang
Mai Thai; Brad Bridwell of Old
Chicago; Bob Sorenson of Bobby
Bead; Gayle Siegler from Cal-
houn Square; and Holland Wood
from Brand Corps. Continuing
members are Mike Finkelstein
of The Ackerberg Group; Doug
Huemoeller of Kitchen Window;
Thatcher Imboden of OurUp-
town.com; and Nancy Sjoquist,
the Tenth Ward East representa-
Photo by Bruce Cochran
tive.
Ending the program, Maude
Lovelle reported on what’s new in
Uptown. “Paint the Uptown Red,”
comes to Uptown, where 16 store-
fronts will be decorated by Uni-
versity of Minnesota student teams
promoting the American Heart
Association’s drive for heart health
for women. On September 30,
thousands of nurses from across
the state will come to Uptown for
special offers and discounts. The
“Taste of Uptown” during the sec-
ond week in November will allow
area restaurants to showcase them-
selves, complete with a hair style
fashion show. Additionally, efforts
will be made to connect to the
National Republican Convention
from mid-August to mid-Septem-
ber. Finally, there will be network-
ing events on March 13 at Kitchen
Window and on May 8 at Rendez-
vous Dance Studio. Both events
will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Many of the speakers praised
Maude on how the Uptown Asso-
ciation is expanding its activities
and working well with the city
and other agencies to promote a
healthy Uptown. And so the par-
ticipants went back to their busi-
nesses full of optimism and cheer.

Heart from 1 can Heart Association and provide

Heart disease is the number one
killer of American women. In
recent years, women have become
more aware of the dangers of heart
disease, but they often need infor-
mation on the prevention of stroke,
heart attack, heart disease and liv-
ing a heart healthy lifestyle.
The American Heart Associa-
tion was the chosen charity for
the Uptown Art Fair according to
Maude Lovelle, Executive Direc-
tor of the Uptown Association,
producers of the Uptown Art
Fair. The partnership between the
two organizations worked so well
together that they wanted to work
on another project. This seemed
like a perfect fit.
Lovelle said the project will bene-
fit all the participants. The contest
will help to promote Uptown busi-
nesses by bringing people into the
Uptown area, promote the Ameri-
students with a useful real world
class project.
Originally, the contest was only
supposed to involve 15 windows
but they managed to squeeze in
one more to make 16. More busi-
nesses wanted to take part in the
contest, but were unable to par-
ticipate because organizers didn’t
want the project to become too
unwieldy.
Visitors and residents will have
a chance to vote for their favorite
window display. Each of the par-
ticipating merchants will have a
ballot box for paper ballots inside
the store. As an added incentive,
those who complete a paper bal-
lot will receive a coupon for a free
health screening. Votes can also be
cast online www.uptownminne-
apolis.com.
UNN
Fast Facts
For more information on heart health and the “Go Red for Women” campaign, go to www.americanheart.org
or www.goredforwomen.org.
The decorated windows will be on display from February 11 to 29 at the following locations:
Bay Street Shoes, 3001 Hennepin Avenue South
Bobby Bead, 2831 Hennepin Avenue South
Chiang Mai Thai, 3001 Hennepin Avenue South
City Image Salon, 1404 West Lake Street
Eye Deals, 3001 Hennepin Avenue South
Heartbreaker, 2941 Hennepin Avenue South
John English Hairspa, 2929 Lyndale Avenue South
Kitchen Window, 3001 Hennepin Avenue South
Local Motion, 2813 Hennepin Avenue South
Magers and Quinn Booksellers, 3038 Hennepin Avenue South
Old Chicago Restaurant, 2841 Hennepin Avenue South
Ragstock, 1433 West Lake Street
Smitten Kitten, 3010 Lyndale Avenue South
Stella’s Fish Café, 1400 West Lake Street
Uptown Row, 1221 West Lake Street
Urban Traveler, 3001 Hennepin Avenue South
12 • Uptown Neighborhood news february 2008

CARAG report Calhoun Area Residents Action Group

Lake St. The CARAG Board Jamie Ronnei, Aaron Rubenstein, Crime and Safety architect, and much discussion.
meets the third Scott Scheifelbein, Howard Ver- Zoning Committee Chair Aaron
Tuesday of each MPD Update
son. Rubenstein introduced a three-

Hennepin Ave.
month, 7 p.m. 
The Uptown

Lyndale Ave.
(Lt. Marie Przynski) page draft statement from the
LAKE CALHOUN

at Bryant Park
Community Center, Consent Agenda committee that recommended
Neighborhood 31st and Bryant.
and Minutes
There has been an increase in
denial of the project as proposed,
All CARAG residents robberies in the Fifth Precinct—
and approval of the project with
are welcome and
news is 36th St. urged to attend.
(Kay Nygaard-Graham) especially in the Whittier commu-
12 conditions and changes to the
nity. Overall crime in CARAG is
project. Some people said this is
The agenda was approved. The
available at CARAG Monthly Neigh- minutes of the November and
down 13 percent from this time
confusing. Keith Sjoquist suggest-
last year, though burglaries are
borhood Meeting Min- ed CARAG should recommend
December 2007 meetings were laid
the following utes FOR Tuesday, January 15, over to next month.
up 23 percent. Seventy percent of
approval. Ellen Meyer moved to
these burglaries are due to doors
2008 recommend denial; this was essen-
locations and windows left unlocked.
tially ruled out of order. Jill Bode
Treasurer’s Report suggested CARAG should recom-
DRAFT: Subject to Approval at Calhoun Square
CARAG February 2008 Meeting (Anna Matthes) mend neither approval nor denial
Redevelopment but, rather, state its concerns about
Bryant Lake Bowl CARAG has $15,256.24 in the and suggestions for the project.
Board Members attending: Anna The presentation, questions and
bank account and $7,187.20 in
Bryant Square Park Matthes (Treasurer), Ellen Meyer
asset accounts. The total bal-
discussion about the proposed
(Vice-President), Bill Morton, Kay Calhoun Square redevelopment With meeting time running out,
Calhoun Square Nygaard-Graham (President), ance as of December 31, 2007 was and expansion took up most of Rubenstein made a motion that
Dan Qualy (interim secretary), $22,443.44. the two-hour meeting; most other CARAG hold a special neighbor-
Chiang Mai Thai agenda items were skipped. hood meeting on Tuesday, Janu-
ary 22 at 7 p.m. at Bryant Square
Dunn Brothers(Lake) Jim Larson, Capital Growth Mad- Park to develop a recommendation
ison Marquette: We will continue on the proposed Calhoun Square
Dunn Brothers(34th)
to manage Calhoun Square after redevelopment. The motion passed.
Hennepin-Lake the property is redeveloped. Our
Liquors primary focus is to get Calhoun Uptown and Lyn-Lake
Square renovated, re-tenanted and Business Association
Gig’s Cafe thriving again. We’ll then focus
(Bill Morton)
on expansion opportunities. Con-
Mohn Electric struction on the parking ramp will Laid over to January 22 meeting.
begin shortly.
Parents Automotive
Bill Wittrock, RSP Architects:
Minneapolis Parks and
Rainbow Foods Lakes Area Council
The key to keeping Calhoun
Urban Bean Square active all day long will be (Carl Holmquist)
a positive retail mix with the core
Urban Earth of current quality tenants plus res- The Minneapolis Parks and Lakes
taurants and a new fitness center. Area Council works with the Park
Walker At Treetops Photo by Bruce Cochran New amenities will include a bus Board staff and recently discussed
Former CARAG board president, Nancy Sjoquist, makes an appeal to approve the shelter, widened sidewalks and a plans for parks in the Southwest
new Calhoun Square Plan in order to encourage other Uptown plans to fall into midblock Hennepin entry plaza area. There will be a public meet-
place for the health of the neighborhood. (See related story, Page 10).
doubled in size to 15 feet deep by ing on January 24 at 7 p.m. at Mar-
80 feet wide. A new restaurant at tin Luther King Jr. Park (40th and
Lake and Girard will have an out- Nicollet Avenue) to gather input
door seating area adjacent to the from the community for the Park
public sidewalk and recessed under Board.
the upper stories of the build-
ing. The Girard Plaza will have Meeting adjourned 8:55 p.m.
a 20-foot wide pedestrian walk-
way in the middle, plus space for Upcoming meetings
restaurant seating, special events The next monthly CARAG
(farmers markets, art shows) and Neighborhood meeting will be
outdoor vendors. The redesigned Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. at
interior will have improved light- Bryant Square Park.
ing, sight lines to common areas
and storefronts, and easily-found Annual CARAG Chilly Chili
escalators. Fest: Sunday, February 24, 12:30 to
3 p.m. at Bryant Square Park.
There were a good number of
questions for the developer and

Because our newspapers

don’t eat themselves
We thank you for recycling this newspaper.
 february 2008 Uptown Neighborhood news • 13 .
ECCO report
Lake St.
Hennepin Ave.
LAKE CALHOUN
36th St.
ECCO Board Meeting
Minutes for January 3, 2008
(East Calhoun
monthly meeting)
Minutes recorded and submitted
by Robert Kean.
Meeting Time
Meetings are on the first Thursday
each month at 7 p.m. located at St.
Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church.
The public is invited to attend.
Board Members Present
Bruce Grimm (President), Rob-
ert Kean, Ted Ringsred, Heidi
Niziolek, Elaine Beyer, Michael
Ekholm, Duane Thorpe, Ruth
Cain and Keith Ruddick.
Others Present
Bill Morton (CARAG) and Steve
Carlton.
Welcome and Introductions
President Bruce Grimm called the
meeting to order, welcomed board
members and others, and initiated
introductions.
Open Forum
A question was posed concerning
the sinking of Edgewater. It was a
general concern that the founda-
tion of the building could be the
problem, but no information was
available to address this concern.
There was concern about the ice
on Irving Avenue. The speaker
was advised to call the Minneapo-
lis 311 number to report the prob-
lem. While dealing with ice is not
a duty of the ECCO Board, the 311
service was commended for excel-
lent response to calls. Councilman
Remington will be at the February
meeting, and it was suggested that
questions on ice and snow removal
could be addressed to him at that
time if the problem had not been
resolved.
Approval of December
Minutes and January
Agenda
The December Minutes will be
approved at the February meeting
along with the January minutes.
The NRP Update/What’s ahead
for 2008 and ECCOinfo discus-
sion/update were taken off the
agenda because the board mem-
bers responsible were unable to
attend the meeting.
The agenda was approved after its
revision.
Zoning Committee Update
There were no new zoning con-
ECCO meets the
first Thursday of
each month, 7
p.m. at St. Mary’s
Lyndale Ave.
Greek Orthodox
Church, 34th
and Irving. All
ECCO residents
are welcome and
urged to attend.
neighborhood
The ECCO board and guests consider the details of the 2008 budget.
cerns for this month’s meeting.
Board member Heidi Niziolek
(and chair of the zoning commit-
tee) resigned from her position,
effective at the end of January. A
resolution of thanks was put for-
ward by Board member Ruth Cain
for Heidi’s service.
Bruce will contact the elected
board alternates to discuss the
opening on the board. Designating
a replacement for Heidi’s vacated
position will be on the February
agenda.
Budgets
2007 total expenses were presented
by President Bruce Grimm. Total
expenses for 2007 were $6,134.95.
The total expenses were slightly
under budget! The ECCO Board
was able to obtain the antici-
pated income for the year from
the CPED grant, the wine tast-
ing event and the ECCO super
sale. The Watershed Grant was
successfully used to complete the
sculpture garden. The UNN went
slightly over budget but there were
no expenses for the webmaster at
this time.
The 2007 Final Budget was
approved.
The 2008 Budget was presented
by Bruce Grimm and Elaine Beyer
and approved with revisions.
These revisions were:
The web maintenance budget
was raised to $650 (from $500) to
include software fees.
A motion was made to put an
appreciation donation to St.
Mary’s in the budget for allowing
the community to use their build-
ing space.
Discretionary donations were
raised to $650 (from $500) to allow
for donations to St. Mary’s.
The contingency fund was low-
ered to $1,500 (from $1,600) to
bring income and expenses in line.
The approved 2008 budget
includes anticipated income and
expenses of $6,700.
The next ECCO Board Meet-
ing will take place on February 7,
2008.
East Calhoun Community Organization
January 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
at the Mill City Museum and Janu-
ary 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the East-
side Neighborhood Services. This
will provide a policy framework
for all planning, zoning and devel-
opment decisions made by the city
of Minneapolis.
Councilman Ralph Reming-
ton, after reviewing his sched-
ule, has decided to scale back on
neighborhood meetings in the
Tenth Ward. He will now attend
quarterly meetings beginning in
March along with annual meet-
Photo by Bruce Cochran
ings. He will continue Break-
fast with Ralph, appointments at
Ecco Minutes Mike Schlecht and Virginia Kuhn.
Gigi’s, Happy Hour with Ralph,
for December and phone and e-mail communi-
Welcome and Introductions
ECCO BOARD MEETING cation. Ralph also responded to
President Bruce Grimm called the
MINUTES FOR December 6, an e-mail that was sent regard-
2007 meeting to order, welcomed board ing Neighborhood Revitalization
members and others, and initiated Program (NRP) funds. He will
(East Calhoun neighborhood introductions. keep informed and is expecting to
monthly meeting)  hear something in the beginning
Open Forum
of the year, although he feels that
Meeting Time Announcements by President NRP has run its course, even if the
Bruce Grimm; St. Mary’s church neighborhoods feel differently.
Meetings are the first Thursday
was very appreciative of the thanks
each month, 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s
Greek Orthodox Church (public from the East Calhoun Neigh- Inspector Arneson from the Min-
invited). borhood. Bruce received a thank nesota Police Fifth precinct sent an
you from Sylvia, the contact at e-mail regarding crime prevention
Board Members Present St. Mary’s Church, thanking East around the holiday season; they
Calhoun for recognizing them. have added two permanent police
Bruce Grimm (President), Ralph
Knox (Vice President), Carrie beat cops working from 5 p.m.
Share your ideas on how Minne- until 2 a.m. Some establishments
Menard, Duane Thorpe, Ted
apolis should look in 2030. There such as Drink and Lunds hire
Ringsred, Gary Farland, Keith
will be five meetings in January their own off duty police to help
Ruddick, Michael Ekholm, Tim
to give people an opportunity to with the community.
Prinsen, Ruth Cain and Robert
share their thoughts. Meeting
Kean.
times and locations are: January 8 Approval of December
at 5:30 p.m. at the North Region-
Others Present Agenda and November
al Library; January 12 at Lake
Gael Ellis (NRP Coordinator), Hiawatha Community Center
Minutes
Pamela Taylor, Nancy Ward, from 10 a.m. to noon; January Minutes and agenda were
Sarah Sponheim, Andrew Leeth, 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Martin approved.
Jake Weyer (Southwest Journal), Luther King Recreation Center,
ECCO page 15
East Calhoun Community organization
(ECCo)
upComing mEEtings
- All Are welcome -
thursday, February 7, 2008
St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church
35th and Irving Ave. S.
6:00 pm
NrP (Neighborhood revitalization Program)
NrP Steering committee meeting
7:00 pm
ecco Board and Neighborhood monthly meeting
INCLUDED ON THIS MONTH’S AGENDA
Update from Councilmember Ralph Remington
Graffiti - Discuss East Calhoun grafitti issues and
potential solutions with representatives from the
Minneapolis Police Department and City
of Minneapolis.
More Information: www.eastcalhoun.org
1 • Uptown neighborhood news
community events calendar
Mainstreet bank is proud
to sponsor the UNN calendar
(Editor’s Note: We will run commu-
nity event listings every month on this
page. Contact uptownnews@yahoo.
com to submit your event informa-
tion by the 17th of each month to be
included in the next issue.)
VISUAL ARTS
FLANDERS GALLERY
3012 Lyndale Ave. S. • 344.1700
www.flanders-art.com
Gallery hours: Tues. to Sat., 10 am to
5 pm.
Sat. Feb 9, 6-9 pm – Opening recep-
tion for The Populated Landscape, a
photo exhibit curated by lonni Ranal-
lo. Exhibition runs Feb 9-Apr 19. An
exhibit of photographs in which a
large number of artists present differ-
ing views of the land, the inhabitants
of the land and the uses of the land
from most basic sustenance to the cre-
ation of commodified art objects.
MCAD GALLERY
2501 Stevens Ave. S. • 874.3700
www.mcad.edu
Gallery hours: Mon. to Fri. 9 am to 8
pm, Sat. 9 am to 5 pm and Sun. noon
to 5 pm.
Daily until Sun. Feb 17 -- Rico Gat-
son. Playing with geometric fractals
(patterns repeated at increasingly
smaller sizes) as well as iconic images
from American history, Gatson’s work
is aesthetically reminiscent of African
textile design and folk art. To say his
work is politically and emotionally
loaded would be an understatement:
Free.
THE WOMAN’S CLUB
410 Oak Grove St. • 813.5300
www.womansclub.org
Daily thru Sun. Feb 24 -- DNA Por-
traits. Lynn Fellman may be a rarity
in the art world; she’s an artist with a
great appreciation and understanding
of the world of science. Though the
end results are colorful, informative
and unique works of art, each portrait
begins scientifically. A map demon-
strates where an individual emerged
from Africa, bright lines appear across
the map like a bolt of electricity, while
translucent DNA sequences swirl
about the image. Fellman’s work com-
bines science, art and ancestry, taking
it to a completely unique level. Free.
BOOK CLUBS
BRYANT LAKE BOWL
810 W. Lake St. • 825.8949
www.bryantlakebowl.com
Tues. Feb 12, 6-10 pm—Books and
Bars’ February book is The Sparrow
by Mary Doria Russell. Social hour at
6, book discussion starts at 7. You’re
welcome even if you haven’t read the
book.
ONCE UPON A CRIME
BOOKSTORE
604 W. 26th St. • 870.3785
www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
Tues. Feb 12, 7 pm -- Twin Cities Sis-
ters In Crime. The book for the night
is Tin City by David housewright. •
Wed. Feb 13, 6:30 pm -- Mystery Book
Club. The book for the night is Law-
rence Block’s The Devil Knows You’re
Dead. Carl Brookins facilitates.
Local experts.
Localbankers.com
Kelly newcomer leads a craft project at Walker library on Saturday, February 9. Use recycled
cardboard to create unique valentines for your computer love. Picture provided by artist.
WALKER LIBRARY
2880 Hennepin Ave. S. • 630.6650
www.mpls.lib.mn.us
Tues. Feb 12, 6:30-8:00 pm – Walker
Book Club. February’s book is Therese
Raquin by Emile Zola • Tues. Feb 19,
6-8 pm – Love in the Stacks: MPL’s
Romance Book Club. Winter in Min-
nesota... and the title we’re all gonna
read? A Cold Day in Hell, a romantic
suspense by Stella Cameron.
AUTHOR
EVENTS
FIRST UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH
3400 Dupont Ave. S.
Wed. Feb 20, 7:30 pm -- Jim Wallis,
founder and CEO of Sojourners and
editor of Sojourners magazine, discuss-
es his new book, The Great Awakening.
What will it take to solve the biggest
issues of our time: extreme and need-
less poverty, global warming and envi-
ronmental degradation, terrorism and
the endless cycle of violence, racism,
human trafficking, health care and
education, and other pressing prob-
lems. While Washington offers only
the politics of blame and fear, Wallis
helps us rediscover our moral center
and provides both the needed inspira-
tion and a concrete plan to hold poli-
tics accountable and find solutions to
our greatest challenges.
LYNDALE UNITED
CHURCH OF CHRIST
801 W. 31st St.
Mon. Feb 18, 7:30 pm -- Michael Oren
discusses the updated paperback of his
book, Power, Faith, and Fantasy. This
best-selling history is the first fully
comprehensive history of America’s
involvement in the Middle East from
George Washington to George W.
Bush.
MAGERS AND QUINN
BOOKSELLERS
3038 Hennepin Ave. S. • 822.4611
www.magersandquinn.com
Tues. Feb 19, 7:30 pm -- Colonel Ann
Wright discusses her book Dissent:
Voices Of Conscience. Former State
Department diplomat has spent four
years traveling worldwide speak-
ing out for peace. She has negotiated
with Iraqi parliamentarians, spoken
in schools, churches and peace gather-
Get the financial expertise you deserve.
Contact your Local Expert today!
Member FDIC
ings, including Guantanamo and the
half-million-person demonstration in
Washington, D.C, in January 2007,
and fasted for more than a month.
This is her story, and the story of oth-
ers in government who leaked docu-
ments, blew the whistle, or resigned to
protest this administration’s policies.
ONCE UPON A CRIME
BOOKSTORE
604 W. 26th St. • 870.3785
www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
Sat. Feb 16, noon to 3:00 pm -- MN
authors Camille hyytinen and Carl
brookins read from The Heat of the
Moment. Twenty-one authors came
together to create this anthology to
raise money for the San Diego wildfire
survivors. Proceeds of sales will ben-
efit the Fire Safe Council of San Diego
County.
GET
INVOLVED/
COMMUNITY
ARISE! BOOKS
2441 Lyndale Ave. S. • 871.7110
www.arisebookstore.org
Sun. Feb 10, 4 pm -- Low-cost Health
Screenings and Movie. United Health-
care Action Network of Minnesota
and Arise! are co-hosting low-cost
health screenings and a showing of
Michael Moore’s Sicko, a documentary
on the state of America’s healthcare
system. The movie is free, but dona-
tions are appreciated. Health screen-
ings start at 4, movie at 5. Discussion
afterwards. Pre-registration for the
health screenings is encouraged. To
pre-register, call 383.0973 or email
joel@uhcan-mn.org, or sign up on the
sheet at the front desk at Arise!
BAKKEN MUSEUM
3537 Zenith Ave. S. • 926.3878
www.thebakken.org
Tues. Feb 12, 6-8 pm – Bakken Eve-
ning Out. What makes chocolate so
irresistible? Learn why everyone’s
favorite indulgence has entered the
21st century as a food that promotes
good health. Enjoy complimentary
chocolate, green tea and red wine sam-
ples. Admission $7. Free for members
and a guest.
Minneapolis Lowry Hill
2120 Hennepin Ave. S.
612-767-5600
BRYANT SQUARE PARK
3101 Bryant Ave. S. • 370.4907
www.carag.org
Sun. Feb 24, 12:30-3:00 pm -- CARAG
Chilly Chili Fest. Join friends and
neighbors for a chili feed and other
festivities.
INTERMEDIA ARTS/SASE
2822 Lyndale Ave. S. • 871.4444
www.intermediaarts.org
Tues. Feb 19, 6:30-9:00 pm -- Vino.
Arte. Comunidad. First annual ben-
efit for Joyce Preschool featuring
Latin wine tasting and wine auction,
an exhibit of Latino artists, and Latin
food from Cafe Ena and El Meson.
The purpose of the event is to cel-
ebrate the Latino culture and to raise
funds for Joyce Preschool, a dual-
immersion, sliding-fee program that
prepares all children--regardless of
income--for success in school by pro-
viding high-quality early education,
and connecting children and families
cross-culturally. $50 per ticket.
JOYCE METHODIST
CHURCH
1219 W. 31st St. • 822.5288
www.joycechurch.org
Sat. Feb 2, 7 pm – Coffee House Event
& Spiritual Springboard. Joyce Church
will have an eclectic mixture of music,
art, film, provocative discussion, cof-
fee, treats and fellowship on the first
Saturday of each month. February
will feature the music of local musi-
cian Barbara Meyer. There will also be
artwork on display from local artists
and a chance for attendees to create
their own artwork. Please invite oth-
ers, and plan to come and share or just
hang out. Free.
VAIL PLACE
1412 W. 36th St. • 824.8061
www.vailplace.org
Tues. Feb 19, noon to 1 pm – Monthly
tour. Find out more about our Uptown
neighbor at 36th and Hennepin who
has been supporting our communi-
ty’s adults with mental illness since
1981. An international program and
a neighborhood presence. Come learn
first-hand about Vail Place men-
tal health services and hear some
of our great success stories. Lunch
provided. Call Greg, 952.938.9622, ext.
25 for reservations.
february 2008
ZION LUTHERN CHURCH
33rd St. and Pillsbury Ave. S. • 990.9261
Tues. Feb 19, 4-6 pm -- Community
Meeting. Come help the Youth Farm
and Market Project decide how to get
the vegetables our youth grow to you!
We want to figure out an easy way to
sell Youth Farm´s vegetables at cheap
prices to Youth Farm Supporters and
Families, but we need YOU to help
us! Snacks and childcare provided.
FOR KIDS
& TEENS
BRYANT SQUARE PARK
3101 Bryant Ave. S. • 370.4907
www.carag.org
Thur. Feb 28, 9 am- 1:30 pm -- Maple
Grove Pool. Hop on the bus for a swim
trip to the Maple Grove Pool. Bus
pickups start at 9 am. Visit the web site
or contact the location specified to reg-
ister in person. Ages 6-12. Fee $12.
PAINTER RECREATION
CENTER
Tuesdays, Feb 5-26, 10-11 am -- Snowy
Sensations. Smell an icicle, touch a
snowflake and listen to a winter bird
song. Look at winter through the eyes
of a lynx. Experience winter using
your senses while discovering the lives
of animals. Visit the web site or con-
tact the location specified to register in
person. Ages 4-5. Fee $20.
WALKER LIBRARY
2880 Hennepin Ave. S. • 630.6650
www.mpls.lib.mn.us
Wednesdays, Feb 6, 13, 20 & 27,
10:30-11 am – Preschool Storytime.
An interactive experience especially
designed for children ages 3-5 and
their caregivers. Sessions encourage
early literacy development through
stories, songs and movement. • Thurs-
days, Feb 7, 14, 21 & 28, 7-7:30 pm
– Family Storytime. Stories are aimed
at preschoolers, but all ages & pajamas
are welcome! • Fri. Feb 1, 15, & 29,
3:30-5:30 pm -- Tomodachi: Anime &
Manga Club – Share and discuss your
favorite Anime and Manga series and
characters. • Sat. Feb 9, 10 am-noon.
Second Saturday Series – Storytime
10:30, Music 11:00, Craft 11:30. Make
robot valentines with Uptown neigh-
bor, Kelly Newcomer. • Thur. Feb 7,
7-8 pm – Boys’ Book Club. Call for
current selection. • Thur. Feb 14, 7-8
pm – Girls’ Book Club. Call for cur-
rent selection. • Sat. Feb 16, 1-4 pm
– MN Children’s Museum Discovery
Trunk Event. Join the MCM for a
fun-filled afternoon exploring a dis-
covery trunk filled with treasures for
children and families. Volunteers will
be on hand to help you try, create and
explore.
THEATER
JUNGLE THEATRE
2951 Lyndale Ave. S. • 822.7063
www.jungletheater.com
Tues. thru Sun., Feb 1 – Mar 9 – The
Syringa Tree. Local favorite Sarah
Agnew portrays more than 20 char-
acters in this virtoso one-woman show
about the abiding love between two
families – one black, one white – and
the two children that are born into
their shared household in early 1960’s
South Africa.
CAlenDAR page 15
 february 2008 Uptown Neighborhood news • 15 .
calendar from 14
SURBURBAN WORLD
THEATER
3022 Hennepin Ave. S. • 822.9000
www.suburbanworldtheatre.com
Every Sat. & Sun., 9 am-2 pm – Vin-
tage cartoons and brunch. Call for
details regarding Super Bowl Sunday.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
2534 Hennepin Ave. S. • 377.8680
www.templeisrael.com
Thurs. Feb 28 & Sat. Mar 1 at 7 pm &
Sun. Mar 2 at 2 & 7 pm -- The 2008
TIPTY (Temple Israel Program for
Temple Youth) Play, Fame – The
Musical.
Set during the last years of New York
City’s celebrated High School for the
Performing Arts on 46th Street (1980-
1984), Fame is the bittersweet but
ultimately inspiring story of a diverse
group of students as they commit to
four years of grueling artistic and aca-
demic work. With candor, humor and
insight, the show explores the issues
ECCO from 13
Minnesota Energy
Challenge
ECCO Resident Sarah Spon-
heim spoke about the Minnesota
Energy Challenge, which is a free
online challenge to help residents
calculate their current carbon out-
put and determine what changes
to make to reduce that. “Secure,
clean, affordable and renewable
energy is one of the greatest chal-
lenges facing our generation. If we
are to meet this challenge, protect
our environment from irrepa-
rable harm and preserve our four
seasons, we must reduce our con-
sumption of fossil fuels.”
Currently, ECCO is one of the
least active neighborhoods in this
challenge. Sarah would like to see
more ECCO residents take the
challenge and make people aware
of simple things that can be done.
The website address is www.
ci.minneapolis.mn.us/energychal-
lenge.
Graffiti Discussion
Resident Virgina Kuhn is con-
cerned about graffiti in ECCO.
She has contacted Ralph Reming-
ton, who was not interested in her
concerns, and Maude Lovelle from
the Uptown Business Association.
This may be something for the
NRP and its funds. There needs to
be clean up crews and ways to deal
with absentee landlords.
“Save NRP” Discussion
Liz Wielinski from Save our
Neighborhoods reviewed efforts to
Save NRP. Because of NRP, there
are improved neighborhoods and
quality of life, and civic participa-
tion of our residents, homes, busi-
nesses, schools, parks, libraries and
streets. NRP funds enabled our
neighborhoods to leverage more
than $1,000,000 of public and pri-
vate investment. The organization
is looking to make sure that NRP
is fully funded for phase II. They
are sending cards to council mem-
bers from interested residents.
Please visit their website at www.
neighbors4nrp.com.
NRP Update
Gael Ellis, the NRP coordinator,
reviewed the current funds from
NRP. The current contract balance
is $10,795.52 and the ECCO NRP
that confront many young people
today: issues of prejudice, identity, self-
worth, literacy, sexuality, substance
abuse and perseverance.
CLASSES
HIGHPOINT CENTER FOR
PRINTMAKING
2638 Lyndale Ave. S. • 871.1326
www.highpointprintmaking.org
Sat. & Sun. Feb 23-24, 9 am to 4 pm -
- Solarplate Intaglio: An Introduction.
Instructor: Matt Kania. A relatively
new approach to intaglio printmak-
ing, Solarplate uses a polymer-coated
metal plate that is sensitive to UV
light. Images will be created on trans-
parent surfaces using opaque draw-
ing materials such as lithographic
crayons, graphite pencils, India ink,
ballpoint pens, and permanent mark-
ers. Participants will be provided with
different types of drawing materials
and transparent sheet materials for
image creation. This process is perfect
for seasoned printmakers and begin-
ners alike! Age: 18+, no experience
required. Cost: $195.
checking account has $1,555.60.
The Phase II allocation is as fol-
lows: total allocation is $181,967.00
with 70 percent ($127,378.30)
available for the first 3 years and
$54,591.00 available after 3 years.
The guidelines require that 70
percent must be spent on housing
related issues ($89,164.81), with
a maximum of 20 percent to be
spent on administrative needs such
as coordinating, supplies, printing,
advertising, booklets and delivery
($25,475.66). This leaves a 10 per-
cent balance ($12,378.30). The total
$127,378.30 will allow a proposed
budget for Phase II.
Zoning Committee Update
Bruce Grimm spoke on behalf of
Heidi Niziolek, the zoning chair,
as she was ill. There was a zon-
ing committee meeting regarding
3232 Hennepin, which is asking to
go from a R1 to an R2B as an up
zone. The block across the street is
an R2B. They will need documen-
tation approved by neighbors. The
ball is now in his court, however,
the zoning committee did not feel
this was a good fit.
Lake District Council
Update
Robert Kean, the ECCO repre-
sentative for the Lake District
Council, gave an update on past
meetings. The council is a gath-
ering of neighborhoods that meet
with the park board to enhance
communication. The last two
meetings were in September and
October, and now will continue
quarterly. The September meet-
ing dealt with recreation centers;
as ECCO has none. Funding
comes from such places as income
property tax and state aid, Private
People for Parks, Foundation for
Minneapolis Parks and NRP.
The October meeting reviewed
WALKER LIBRARY
2880 Hennepin Ave. S. • 630.6650
www.mpls.lib.mn.us
Tues. Feb 26, 6-7:30 pm -- Research-
ing the History of a House, Building,
Neighborhood, or Piece of Land in
Minneapolis. Have you ever wanted
to learn more about the history of your
house, your neighborhood, or a piece
of property that you own within the
Minneapolis city limits? This presen-
tation will explain the many tools and
resources available at the Minneapolis
Public Library and throughout the
city that can be used to compile this
information.
SEASONAL
BRYANT SQUARE PARK
3101 Bryant Ave. S. • 370.4907
www.carag.org
Fridays thru Feb 15, 5:30-6:30 pm
– Family Skate Night. Join us Friday
evenings this winter for skating, hot
chocolate and cookies. All ages, Free.
some items from September and
the now available Minneapolis
Parks Comprehensive Plan.
Critical Parking
Area Proposal
Gary Farland asked the board to
make a resolution regarding pro-
posed critical parking in CARAG
that will force parking into ECCO.
The resolution was approved as
follows: WHEREAS in the ECCO
neighborhood over 70 percent of
the residents are renters who often
need street parking, especially on
the north end of ECCO.
WHEREAS, there is already pres-
sure on parking on the north end
from residents and Uptown visi-
tors.
WHEREAS, any increase in per-
mit parking in CARAG will force
Uptown visitors to seek more park-
ing in the ECCO neighborhood, be
it resolved that the ECCO Board
hereby opposes plans for expanded
permit parking in the CARAG
neighborhood. Instead, the ECCO
Board favors that restricted hour
parking in CARAG be reduced to
allow public parking.
ECCO Secretary Election
Since there was no interest in a
secretary in last month’s elections,
Robert Kean had proposed to be
elected as Secretary and to have
his daughter be the minutes taker,
with his approval. A motion was
made and approved.
UNN Managing Board
ECCO Representative
Michael Ekholm was elected as a
part of the Uptown Neighborhood
News (UNN) managing board,
but has realized that he could not
make a commitment with his job;
Ted Ringsred agreed to be the rep-
CITY OF LAKES LOPPET LAKE CALHOUN/
LAKE HARRIET
www.cityoflakesloppet.com.
Sat. & Sun., Feb 2-3, various times. 370.4948
The annual cross-country ski race and www.minneapolisparks.org
related events will host thousands of
skiers, including many of the sport’s
Beginning Feb 1 – Buoy and Canoe
Rack rental applications. The Min-
best, who will ski through woods, over neapolis Park and Recreation Board
parkways and across lakes. Skiers of (MPRB) will begin accepting applica-
all ages and abilities will be challenged tions on Feb 1 for sailboat buoy and
and thrilled by this beautiful urban canoe rack permits on select Minne-
course. Spectators are also welcome. apolis lakes. Applications available on
The complete schedule, maps, regis- above website. For details, check this
tration and more are available at the month’s Tidbits section, page 4.
above web site. The event also features
a non-competitive lantern-lit ski tour UNN
and ski-joring events, among others.
advertise with us...
Susan Hagler
Advertising Sales Representative
612.825.7780
susanhagler@earthlink.net
resentative. A motion was made
and passed. Citizen
Eccoinfo Discussion/Update
ACtion
There was a discussion whether to
CARAG Neighborhood
drop the ECCOinfo function, and 612.823.2520
how this would be handled. Would carag@carag.org
communication be better handled ECCO Neighborhood
612.987.2344
through a different method such ellischild@earthlink.net
as a web newsletter?
City Councilperson
Ralph Remington
The next meeting is January 3, 612.673.2210
Ralph.Remington
2008. @ci.minneapolis.mn.us
UNN Mayor R.T. Rybak
612.673.2100
rt@minneapolis.org
State Representative
Margaret Anderson
Kelliher
651.296.0171
rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn
FREE!
State Representative
Frank Hornstein
651.296.9281
rep.frank.hornstein@house.mn
Non-Commercial State Senator
Classified D. Scott Dibble
651.296.4191
sen.scott.dibble@senate.mn
With a circulation of over
Governor Tim Pawlenty
5,000, you can get your ad in
651.296.3391
front of residents and local tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us
businesss in the Uptown area U.S. Congressman
all month long. Classified ads Keith Ellison
612.522.1212
are 50-word maximum. Ads
www.ellison.house.gov
from residents are due by the
17th of the month and are U.S. Senator
Norm Coleman
non-commercial in nature. 651.645.0323
www.coleman.senate.gov
Send your ad to: U.S. Senator
uptownnews@yahoo.com Amy Klobuchar
202.224.3244
or
www.klobuchar.senate.gov
Uptown Neighborhood News
President
711 W. Lake St., Suite 303
George W. Bush
Mpls. MN 55408. 202.456.1111
comments@whitehouse.gov
classifieds
Services wanted
HANDYPRO Seeking ROOM
Professional Handyman Service.
to Rent
Home repairs and improvement in EAST CALHOUN for March
– skilled carpentry, restoration, 1st. Call 612 929 2133
wood and wall repair, doors and
windows, to-do lists and more.
Licensed, bonded, insured. Call
Carl at HandyPro (www.handypro.
com) to schedule a free estimate: For sale
612.823.8128.
Furniture
for sale
REMODELING
Windows and doors. Finish car- Sturdy all wood child’s desk $5.
pentry. Custom tile installation. Antique Rocking Chair: $25.
Sheet rock, taping, plaster repair, Contact bruce@satellitedesign.
texturing and painting. Local ref- com or 612.822.0816.
erences, free estimates. Tom 612-
824-1554
16 • Uptown Neighborhood news february 2008

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