Marcy Student Photography Show
Thursday December 13
5:00 to 7:00

Over 650 matted photos

French Cafe will offer delicious appetizers, treats, and beverages in support of the Middle School 2008 French Camp.

Link to PDF.

Marcy Student Photography Show
Thursday December 13
5:00 to 7:00

Over 650 matted photos

French Cafe will offer delicious appetizers, treats, and beverages in support of the Middle School 2008 French Camp.

Link to PDF.

I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi

Nov. 21, 2007

Greetings!

With a shortened work week (for those not working on the new 35W Bridge), we’re sending out the regular update a little early this week. As we head into the holiday, 35W Bridge Project leaders note that steady progress is continuing on the 35W Bridge project.

If you have questions, please do not reply directly to this email. Contact Amy Barrett, Public Information Officer, at (612) 807-3264 or via e-mail at abarrett@flatironcorp.com.
Minnesotans Break for the Holiday- Construction Crews Continue Work

Listen while you can

Not long after the holiday, the project will mark a milestone. The pile driving that began last week is almost 80% complete, and crews will wrap up this work over the next week.

There will be a break in pile driving on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day), but it will continue on Friday and Saturday and run from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This process involves steel-on-steel impact, which generates a significant amount of noise. Pile driving is taking place only on the south side of the river, near the Center Point Energy parking lot.

Flatiron engaging local sub-contractors and local workers

Flatiron-Manson made an early commitment to provide local jobs and to engage local companies in this important project for the state. We’re proud to report that the Project has already hired a number of local subcontractors to assist with the bridge construction and will continue to do so through the remainder of the project.

Flatiron-Manson also reached a Project Labor Agreement last week with the Minneapolis Building Trades Council, which ensures union workers will perform all construction work on the project. At the project’s peak, there will be approximately 600 union employees working each day.

Looking for ways to burn off Thanksgiving dinner and leftovers? Bring your friends and family to see the bridge progress this weekend

If you have out-of-town visitors this weekend who are interested in viewing the bridge site, bring them to this Saturday’s Sidewalk Superintendent Talk. Project Manager Peter Sanderson will lead interested citizens along the 10th Avenue Bridge for a close-up look at the construction site and answer questions. Everyone is welcome, including kids. Meet in front of Grandma’s Saloon at Washington Avenue South and 19th Avenue.

Construction Updates

Here’s what you can expect the remainder of this week and into next week:

Not working on the night shift

There will be no second-shift work for the remainder of the week and no night lighting. Second shift work may begin again around the middle of next week as crews begin drilling shafts for bridge supports.

No parking

Parking will be restricted in the southwest quadrant of the intersection of 4th Street SE and 6th Avenue SE, and some parking meters on 6th Avenue SE (south of Main Street) have been hooded for the remainder of the project. This will improve traffic flow and provide construction vehicles with better sight lines for turning.

Public safety reminder

The public is asked to stay away from the bridge construction area for safety reasons. The best place to view construction activity is the west side of the 10th Avenue Bridge.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Flatiron-Manson construction team intend to build a high quality and safe bridge while minimizing interruptions to the surrounding neighborhoods.

We will continue to distribute updates weekly and welcome your comments on how to improve the communication process between the project team and the community.
For more information on the I-35W project visit www.mndot.gov  or call the I-35W Bridge Hotline at 612-236-6901.

I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi

Nov. 15, 2007 Greetings!

If you have questions, please do not reply directly to this email. Contact Amy Barrett, Public Information Officer, at (612) 807-3264 or via e-mail at abarrett@flatironcorp.com.
I-35W Bridge Work Gets Heavier

It may be a holiday week for some, but work on the bridge will continue. The following work will occur the week of Nov. 19:

Heavy lifting begins

A giant “triple-nine” crawler crane with a 250-ton lifting capacity will soon be visible on the south side of the river, where it will be used to support drilling work on Pier 2, near the Lower Lock Wall. The crane will arrive in pieces on several trucks next week and will be assembled on site. Once assembled, it will lift the big rebar cages, formwork for cement casting, and other extremely heavy loads.

Driving in full gear

Pile driving began on Tuesday, Nov. 13, on the south side of the river, near the Center Point Energy parking lot. During the next few weeks, over 100 steel I-beams will be pounded into the ground to support the footings of the bridge piers. As many as 10 beams will be driven in each day. This process, which involves steel-on-steel impact and generates a significant amount of noise, will only occur from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Not-so-bright lights, big city

Grading work will occur above the historic rock wall on the north side of the river. As part of this, second shifts may start as soon as Monday, which will require night lighting from 6 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Work crews will use “balloon” lights that radiate down to reduce light disruptions to area residents. Diesel-powered loaders and dump trucks will be used for grading. Engine noise and backup alarms will be noticeable in some areas.

Getting a closer look

The public is asked to stay away from the bridge construction area for safety reasons. The best place to view construction activity is the west side of the 10th Avenue Bridge.

There are several other ways for the public to get an inside look at construction:

Sidewalk Talks

An opportunity for the public to get a closer look and get questions answered is at Flatiron-Manson’s Sidewalk Superintendent Talks, which began last week.

Interested parties should meet at the corner of Washington and 19th Avenues (in front of Grandma’s Saloon) at 11 a.m. on Saturday during the construction. Project team representatives will provide a current update on construction and answer questions.

Bridge shots
FIGG Engineering, the bridge design team, has developed a set of illustrations that highlight design characteristics of the bridge and what it will look like at various stages of construction. These are available in a Powerpoint presentation at www.dot.state.mn.us/i35wbridge/rebuild/

The public is asked to stay away from the bridge construction area for safety reasons. The best place to view construction activity is the west side of the 10th Avenue Bridge.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and the Flatiron-Manson construction team intend to build a high quality and safe bridge while minimizing interruptions to the surrounding neighborhoods.

We will continue to distribute updates weekly and welcome your comments on how to improve the communication process between the project team and the community.
For more information on the I-35W project visit www.mndot.gov <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001BKyHZm8Fbv_NNYKSmKcWjU1Efqv_QiRa907pqUkmuE7×38ImzsE5TWoYkcWPSyHLCc6sCWrqVOGqAY3FZPkHCsf9A7VP9Cz39Bf7UkriKfw=> or call the I-35W Bridge Hotline at 612-236-6901.

Mark your calendar for December 5th @ the Minneapolis Depot — a night of ice-skating!!!

Discounted admission, $5 for adults and $3 for juniors, includes free skate rental. 5:30 ­ t0 9 pm.

Complimentary appetizers, cash bar.
Bring the whole family. Sponsored by R & R Social Club, for riverside residents, and the Downtown Network, for people who work, build and live downtown.

For more info see www.rrsocialclub.com

Mark your calendar for December 5th @ the Minneapolis Depot — a night of ice-skating!!!

Discounted admission, $5 for adults and $3 for juniors, includes free skate rental. 5:30 ­ t0 9 pm.

Complimentary appetizers, cash bar.

Bring the whole family. Sponsored by R & R Social Club, for riverside residents, and the Downtown Network, for people who work, build and live downtown.

For more info see www.rrsocialclub.com

MWMO (Mississippi Watershed Management Organization) invites us to a series of community meetings to address the future of watershed management and its impact on the health of the Mississippi River. Our input will provide the basis for a 10-yearaction plan to improve water quality and the health of our river.

For more info go to: link.

Another photography show in the neighborhood: ­

Every student at Marcy Open School learned how to use a digital camera this fall and shot photos with the theme “I Can Change the World”  All 660 photos will be on display in December with an opening Dec 13. More details next month.

A community forum, How the Arts Build Community, is scheduled for Nov 29 from 7 ­ - 9 PM in the Marshall Room, Christensen Center at Augsburg. If you miss the show, we will be using some of her photos in neighborhood marketing in the coming year so you’ll get another chance.

The Overexposure Photography Show will be held at Augsburg College’s Student
Art Gallery beginning Nov. 7. The gallery is located at the Christensen Center, 22nd Ave So at 7 1/2 St. Gallery hours 8 am ­ 5 pm daily, Missy Toft’s photos of Marcy-Holmes are included in the exhibit which features 10 photographers, 10 neighborhoods and 10 perspectives.

A community forum, How the Arts Build Community, is scheduled for Nov 29 from 7 ­ 9 PM in the Marshall Room, Christensen Center at Augsburg. If you miss the show, we will be using some of her photos in neighborhood marketing in the coming year so you’ll get another chance.

Another photography show in the neighborhood ­ Every student at Marcy Open
School learned how to use a digital camera this fall and shot photos with
the theme “I Can Change the World”  All 660 photos will be on display in
December with an opening Dec 13. More details next month.

I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi,  November 2007

This is an update on the new I-35W bridge over the Mississippi. If you have
questions, please visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/i35wbridge/rebuild and click on “Project Contacts.” We will also try to post these updates on MHNA website.

The Flatiron-Manson construction team has begun work on the new St. Anthony Falls I-35W Bridge project this week. On Thursday, Nov. 1, crews will begin
drilling a test shaft on the north side of the river, near the new Pier No. 3.  A diesel-powered drill rig will be used to drill the shaft. Construction lighting will also be emplaced at river level at this site.

Hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. (two separate shifts) Monday through Saturday.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 5, the construction team will begin “H” beam pile driving. Pile driving, which requires a steel driver to pound a steel pile into the ground, generates significant noise. This activity will take place only between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Mn/DOT has also established a hotline for the project.

Citizens who have questions or comments about the project can call 612-236-6901 to get more information.

35W Bridge Sidewalk Talks for public begin Saturday Nov 10.

Now that construction has officially begun, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Flatiron-Manson team want to continue to hear from you while giving you an inside look at bridge construction.

Watch for neighborhood meetings to be announced soon. As always, let us know if you have questions or concerns about any aspect of the bridge construction. You can reach me at 612-236-6901 or abarrett@flatironcorp.com.

We’re committed to building a bridge that reflects community values while limiting neighborhood disruptions in the process.

Sincerely,
Amy Barrett, Public Information Officer, Flatiron-Manson Joint Venture

HOPE LODGE (AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY) TO OPEN IN DECEMBER 2007

The Richard M. Schulze Family American Cancer Society Hope Lodge will be opening in late December of 2007.

The Hope Lodge will be located at 2500 University Ave SE.

This nurturing, home-like environment provides free, temporary accommodations for adult cancer patients traveling long distances for outpatient treatment.

I am looking for opportunities to share information about the Hope Lodge as community volunteers will be a major part of the Hope Lodge’s success.

Mary Oys Wiles,  Hope Lodge Manager, American  Cancer Society  651-255-8183

The 5th St SE Bump Out gardens won an award from the Minneapolis Blooms
Committee.

Congratulations, gardeners!

An awards ceremony will occur next spring.  Meanwhile, we have at least one garden that needs adopting next spring and summer ­ in front of the Elmroe Apartments, 6th Ave SE.

Call the office if you would like to take on this beautiful flower garden in 2008.

2008 Home Tours

Link to details.

2008 Home Tours

Link to details.

Deadline for Home Tour 2008 Applications.

Link to details.

Show off your home, promote our neighborhood: Apply for the 2008 Home Tour.

Minneapolis & St. Paul Home Tour organizers are starting to accept applications from homeowners considering putting their homes on the tour this spring. Early inquiries and applications are encouraged.

The Home Tour, in its 21st year, will be Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, 2008.

Applications and information about nominating a home are available on the Home Tour Web site at: http://www.msphometour.com/about/nominators.php.

Applications are due Jan. 23, 2008.

The Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program manages the tour as a celebration of city living that encourages homeowners to improve, remodel and expand the existing housing stock. Contractors and other vendors may nominate homes they have worked on, and are encouraged to call Home Tour
Coordinator Margo Ashmore at 612-673-5103 or link@nrp.org.

“Outdoor Lights On, Dusk to Dawn”  Campaign to Light Up Our Neighborhoods

Q: What’s the easiest and least expensive way to increase lighting of our sidewalks and street?

A: Get everyone on your block to use their existing outdoor lighting every night, dusk to dawn. (front doors, front porches, garages, etc.) When people to use their own lights it complements large-scale block and neighborhood projects to increase the number of street lights.

Remember: Lights, like locks, must be used to be effective.

Q: Why is this a good idea?

A: It increases pedestrian visibility, makes people feel safer walking in their neighborhood, and deters crime-all for pennies a day! Lighting a 100-watt bulb every night (average of 10 hours/night) costs about 7¢ a night (less than $26 a year).

For monthly crime stats go to:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-statistics/index.asp

Theft from auto continues to be a problem in the precinct. What you can do: If there is suspicious activity or a crime in process, call 911 so officers can be dispatched to the location.

To report crimes, call 911 or 311, or go to www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/e-report.

Call 311 or use the website when a police response to the scene is not required. This includes cases with no suspect information and no physical evidence (thefts, vandalism, harassment, and suspicious activity that is not in progress at the time of the call).

These systems were developed to make it more convenient to file a police report and to help make police available to respond more quickly.

* Keep your car locked. Don’t make it easy for the thief to get in.

* Do not leave items in your vehicle. Even pocket change and inexpensive sunglasses are tempting to a thief.

* Place items in the trunk before you reach your destination.

* If possible, park your vehicle in well-lit areas.

* If you have a garage, use it. Park in a garage whenever possible. We all need to make a commitment to watch out for each other and practice simple crime prevention strategies to protect ourselves from becoming a statistic.

TELLING RIVER STORIES: THE I-35W BRIDGE, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND REBUILDING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Tom Fisher, Dean, College of Design, University of Minnesota, “The Design of
a New Bridge”

Immediately after the I-35W bridge collapsed, public talk centered on the tragedy and heroism of the incident itself, and on how such a thing could have happened.

In the ensuing weeks, talk has turned to questions of appropriate responses, whether legislative, engineering and/or community-driven. This series of public lectures will extend the conversation further, into a series of considerations and reflections about the ongoing nature and role of the Mississippi River, the new I-35W bridge and the community in which these two critical systems intersect.

The lecture series is jointly sponsored by the University of Minnesota¹s College of
Design, Institute for Advanced Study, Institute on the Environment, Metropolitan Studies Consortium and Urban Studies Program.

To learn more and see the full schedule, visit: www.bridgeproject.umn.edu