‘Cover Stories’ Archives
A Historic Decision! COMMENTARY: Mpls. School Board made a magnanimous commitment of money and intent to youth and the Phillips Aquatic Center partnering with the Mpls. Park Board
BY DENNY BENNETT, Minneapolis Swims, Board of Directors, president Tonight was historic. The in a most selfless and noble act, the resolution below was passed by the Minneapolis School Board. Historic, selfless, noble? Really? Yes, really! First, let me begin by saying tonight caps years of efforts by Minneapolis Swims to convince MPS of the virtues of swimming, and why Phillips, of all places, was the one neighborhood that most deserved a gift from the coffers of the MPS treasury. With MPS firmly entrenched in the philosophy of not investing capital in properties they do not own, and many budget fires of their own to put out, we resigned ourselves to not ever receiving capital dollars from MPS toward this project. Of course, once it is built, we need to make sure it is sustainable, so we were quite pleased to get MPS to agree to a five-year commitment to contribute $150,000 toward operating costs. Over the past year, our fundraising efforts gained momentum and [...]
COMMENTARY: The City Says “NO” to our Efforts to Clean Up Air Pollution and to Seek a Better Future for East Phillips
By Carol Pass, Chair, East Phillips Improvement Coalition, EPIC. In spite of their continuing rhetoric about ”˜equity”', the City of Minneapolis is rapidly moving forward with their long-hidden plans to intensify the air pollution and traffic congestion problems of what has become known by area residents as the “Intersection of Death”, 28th St. and Cedar Avenue South, with its dangerous, toxic and foul-smelling air, its numerous massive and unsightly trucks, its impossible traffic congestion and its many nearby families with children and several ethnic daycare centers. The Ways and Means Committee of the City Council voted Monday, June 15th, 4 to 1 with one abstention to approve the intensification of these problems and on Friday, June 19th, in a 10 to 3 decision the City Council followed suit, in spite of the many letters, petitions and loud protests of your neighbors and many area organizations. The Back Story: Last November the East [...]
Dream Come True: New National Center for Norway in America
“Color it Indigo,” said Dewey Thorbeck, NH Architect, to portray water”'s mutual significance and beauty in Norway”'s fjords and Minnesota”'s deepest lakes. The vivid, eye-catching use of Indigo also recalls the strong cultural affinity of Norway and Minnesota. Welcome to Franklin Ave. and Ventura Village NH.By happenstance, Indigo”'s traditional meanings---service to humanity, integrity, sincerity, intuition, and perception---are fitting with the NH “Peace Initiative” and hope to enhance conversation culture, and contemplation. Indigo”'s deep midnight blue also suggests concentration and meditation.The opening of another cultural center on Franklin Avenue, being adjacent to Mindekirken””the Norwegian Memorial Lutheran Church at the west end of the American Indian Cultural Corridor, enhances this area as a “go to” location for the richest of cultural traditions, insights and education. BY ELIZABETH PLAETZ LORI, [...]
