‘Cover Stories’ Archives
Phillips Aquatics Center: A dream come true! IS OPEN!
MURPHY BYRNE (MURPHYBYRNEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM) COURTESY OF MPLS. PARK & RECREATION BOARDPhillips Aquatics Center Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (at entrance to the 6-Lane Pool) These 25 adults represent the Partners for the Center”'s Renovation and Expansion whose support and dedication was a wide range of individuals and organizations in Phillips and the broader community. This includes generous funding support from the Mpls. Park and Recreation Board, the State of MN, Mpls. Public Schools and Hennepin County”'s Youth Sports Grants Program, as well as donations from three Phillips Neighborhoods and Minneapolis Swims. Support coordinated through Mpls. Swims includes funding from the Minneapolis Foundation, Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the Piper Family Fund, East Phillips Improvement Coalition, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Rogue Foundation, Midtown Phillips Improvement Association, and Wells Fargo. The three children pictured here are a reminder of the focus of [...]
Our DAD, Virgil Welna
By VIRGINIA M. MAGNER He unlocks the door and cranks down the awning. Then turns on the lights. A new day is dawning. It”'s eight o”'clock sharp; all merchandise in its”' place. For the next 10 hours he”'ll keep a steady pace. Serving the needs of the young and the old. And listening with his heart, I have been told. Down creaky stairs, he heads for the basement. To a child”'s eyes, it is a place of amazement. Wood beams on the ceiling and limestone for walls. And whiffs of machine oil I do recall. (more…)
Virgil Welna 1929-2018 Vast legacy by quintessential storekeeper and community elder
Virgil Welna has heard the last bell signaling another person to meet and serve By JENN WELNA Born on March 24th, 1929 in Holdingford, MN to Alphonse (Al) and Anna, Virgil (Virg) Welna was one of six children. When he was in 8th grade, his family moved from their large house in the small town to a two-bedroom apartment in the Phillips neighborhood to ensure that each of their children could find a job and go to college. Upon his arrival in Minneapolis, Virg worked two jobs to pay his tuition to DeLaSalle High School: in the fruit department at the local grocer and at Dalsin Hardware where his father was the manager. (more…)
