August 15th, 2010 by Nieeta

Rendering of Frogtown Square by Trossen Wright Plutowski Architects, PA

August 15th, 2010 by Nieeta

August 15th, 2010 by Nieeta

August 15th, 2010 by Nieeta

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Meet at University of Minnesota’s UROC (Urban Research and Outreach & Engagement Center), 2001 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Last year, the University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota NCR-SARE program and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture collaborated to host a tour of urban agriculture projects in the Twin Cities area.

We had a terrific mix of attendees from the University and public offices (city, state and county), along with practitioners and nonprofits working in sustainable agriculture. Participants on the tour were both learners and teachers, sharing their expertise with the rest of the group. Our objective last year was to bring people together around urban farming and deepen our knowledge, collective resources and ultimate impact.

Attendees were enthusiastic about the day and suggested planning another tour, combined with more opportunity for discussion. This year’s tour will focus on urban agriculture enterprises, and address land access issues. The stops represent a range of entrepreneurial efforts, both in terms of scale and stage of development. We’ll explore rooftops, parking lots, mixed-use developments and neighborhood-based innovations led by urban farmers.

If you’d like to join the tour, please click here and provide your contact information. Cost is $10 (to be paid on day of tour) to cover the cost of lunch. We will confirm your participation within a few days of receipt of your registration. Bus space is limited so please register early.

If you cannot attend the entire day but are interested in meeting the tour as time permits, let us know and we will provide you with a tentative itinerary. We would be happy to have you join us.

Questions? Please contact either Beth Nelson or Barb Grossman.

August 15th, 2010 by Nieeta

Saturday, August 21, 10 to 11 a.m.

University between Western and Marion!

Public Assembly at Western Park 11:15!

We want a better University Avenue! We want a more unified University Avenue! The light rail is coming and we want to celebrate our community, and show our pride! And we want you to celebrate with us!

We will be going from Jackson School, along Thomas to Virginia, along Virginia to University, along University to Galtier and along Galtier to the Western Sculpture Park and the Hmong Arts and Music Festival!

After the parade, we will have a Public Assembly on the main stage at the Music Festival. We will be speaking about what brought us out from 11:15- 11:45!

This parade has been organized by concerned citizens and community groups, including the Metropolitan Interfaith Coalition on Affordable Housing (MICAH), the Aurora-St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation (ASANDC), the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT), the District 7 Planning Council, the St. Paul Council of Churches, and more. We have been brought together by concerns over the light rail, and want to show our care, concern, and pride in the University Avenue communities.

We are still accepting registrations, if you wish to participate in the parade! (Contact Vaughn Larry at ASANDC at 651-222-0399 or by email. ) We would love to see you either in the crowd, in the parade, or at the Hmong Arts and Music Festival! For further information, contact John Slade at 651-491-2084 or by email.

August 15th, 2010 by Nieeta

August 3rd, 2010 by Nieeta

Join your neighbors at a National Night Out celebration tonight! Many events will have free food and all will provide an opportunity to continue strengthening our community connections. You won’t want to miss out!

Stop by a National Night Out event in the Summit-University area:

• 790 block Summit (House of Hope btwn Grotto & Avon), 5-9 p.m.
• 270 N. Kent (Hallie Q Brown Community Center), 5:30-7 p.m
• Freeport West Youth Center (Selby btwn Milton & Victoria), 5-7 p.m.
• 400 block Laurel (btwn Western & Arundel), 4-9 p.m.
• 3100 block Pleasant (Irvine Pl./Pleasant/Ramsey), 6-9 p.m.
• 470 block University (btwn Mackubin & Arundel), 4:00 p.m.
• 981 Marshall (First Trinity Church), 6:30 p.m.
• 870 block of Hague (btwn Milton & Victoria), 5:30 p.m.
• Parking lot at Selby/Milton (btwn Selby & Hague), 5:00 p.m.
• Victoria & Aurora (Peace Garden), 1:30-4 p.m.
• 300 block of Aurora (btwn Farrington & Galtier), 5-7 p.m.
• Carty Park (Carroll btwn Grotto & St Albans), 5:30 p.m.
• 1247 St Anthony (Skyline Towers), 4-6 p.m.
• 1120 block of Dayton (btwn Dunlap & Lexington), 6-8 p.m.

August 3rd, 2010 by Nieeta

The Neighborhood Energy Connection, a local nonprofit agency, will be door-knocking in Frogtown this week. Between August 4th -10th, they’ll be signing up residents for their Home Energy Squad program. A visit from the Home Energy Squad is the easiest, fastest and most effective way to start saving on utility bills. The Squads will install key energy-saving products in your home, such as exterior door weather stripping, a programmable thermostat, a new showerhead and bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators. Residents who schedule a Home Energy Squad appointment will receive a discounted Home Energy Squad visit. You can save money on your bills and save energy resources for the planet!

For more information on the Home Energy Squads and the Neighborhood Energy Connection, visit them on the web. Or watch the campaign roll out on the Neighborhood Energy Connection’s Facebook page!

August 2nd, 2010 by Nieeta

August 2nd, 2010 by Nieeta

Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Council.

The Northeast Neighbors & Business Association in Minneapolis is offering free assistance to businesses affected by the Central Corridor construction project. The group will provide free advertising through December 2010 on its Local Biz Bucks Online Coupon website for any business located on a construction route or in a construction area. Affected businesses will be allowed to place a static Coupon advertisement on the corresponding geographic page of the website where their business is located (either Southeast Minneapolis | U of M or East Metro). The Northeast Neighbors & Business Association will waive all fees for participating construction-affected businesses. For more information, email or phone the group at (612) 889-9648.