Author Archive
CHAT: Citizen Health Action Teams mobilize to improve health
Update on the Backyard Initiative By Janice Barbee, Cultural Wellness Center Community Residents”' Strategies to Improve Health in the Backyard Residents of the Backyard have been meeting at the Cultural Wellness Center for the past six months to develop their ideas for health improvement. People with similar interests have been contributing their ideas and designing projects together that they believe will make a difference in the health of the community. So far 11 teams have formed and are now working on their projects. The CHATs are continually recruiting new members to join their teams. The Backyard Initiative was initiated by Allina Hospitals and Clinics in the fall of 2008 in the neighborhoods of Phillips, Powderhorn Park, Corcoran, and Central. What was once a project led by Allina is now a community-owned project in which Allina is a major partner. The Community Commission on Health Some of the CHATs have developed their projects to the point that they are [...]
CURIOUS?
“Curiosity didn”'t kill this cat!” ”¦Studs Terkel When you asked too many questions as a child, you were probably scolded with this advice, “Curiosity killed the cat!” Studs Terkel died on Halloween Eve 2008 at 96 years of age. Three years earlier, at the time of major heart surgery, he said he wanted his tombstone to read, “Curiosity didn”'t kill this cat!!” He was curious when he asked questions of many great Americans””not Presidents, Generals, and the famous”“he was curious as he interviewed hundreds of common folks. After graduation from law school he became a doorman instead of a lawyer”“so he could constantly meet and greet people. His consummate curiosity was only exceeded by his superb listening. Terkel asked poignant questions and overbalanced that adroit inquisitiveness with listening and documenting the answers. Are you curious? That”'s probably, why you are reading this newspaper. You [...]
Curious about a “key victory” in the Xcel Powerline dilemma?
By Tim Springer, Executive Director, Midtown Greenway Coalition As many Alley readers may know, Xcel energy applied to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for a permit to construct two new high voltage transmission lines over the Midtown Greenway or nearby, and two new substations. The community has concerns about potential impacts on human health, aesthetics, and historic resources, and consigning this part of town to blight. Because of the relatively short distance of the lines, about 1.2 miles, a “certificate of need” was not required for the project. This means that the PUC cannot deny the project, they may only say where the wires go. This was a frustration to many people who felt that a closer look should be taken at energy conservation, local power production such as with photovoltaic solar panels, electricity storage, and smart grid. The only way to require an analysis of this bundle of alternatives is to require a certificate of need. Enter [...]
