News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Monday December 22nd 2025
Community Woodshop Seeks Physical Space and Neighborhood Input
By JESSIE MERRIAM
https://www.fireweedwoodshop.org/
Fireweed Community Woodshop (FCW), formerly known as the Women”™s Woodshop, had to close its South Minneapolis physical location in April of 2020 due to COVID. The shop was started by Jess Hirsch in 2016 as a safe studio and classroom space for women and nonbinary folks to practice and learn woodcraft. During the lock-down, she and a group of dedicated instructors, volunteers, and students used the down time to learn and transition the shop to a cooperative nonprofit, renamed Fireweed.
Fireweed”™s mission is to facilitate creative and vocational experiences in the art of woodcraft for genders traditionally marginalized in the field.
Throughout the past year, the woodshop has offered virtual hand tool classes such as spoon carving, chip carving, woodblock printmaking, and Dala horse carving as well as demos such as dovetails and bowl carving. The virtual space created new opportunities to gather folks outside of the metro area as well as large groups together in panel discussions such as “Getting into the Trades,” “Getting into Furniture,” and “Building Codes and Construction Standards.”
While virtual programming will continue, FCW is seeking a new physical space to facilitate more varied classes, fabrication projects, support local makers through retail, and to gather as a community again.… Read the rest “Community Woodshop Seeks Physical Space and Neighborhood Input”
Peace House Community: A Place to Belong
Pleased to Almost Meet You
By MARTI MALTBY
I stole the title for this column from Colin Hay, the lead singer from Men Without Hats. His song “Pleased to Almost Meet You”™ is a tongue in cheek commentary on how people these days tend to talk a lot about getting together without ever actually meeting. The song opens with the lines:
I’m pleased to almost meet you
The pleasure’s almost mine
I can see that you’re busy
Perhaps another time
I’m pleased to almost meet you
Here let me get that door
No need for conversation
They do say less is more
Before covid hit, I heard many people talk about being too busy to spend time with friends or family. After covid hit and everyone started interacting through video chats, the discussion focused on how much people missed face to face interaction. Now I”™ve heard debates about whether workers will want to come back to the office or stay at home, whether we will keep connecting with far-flung friends through our phones or just go back to meeting at coffee shops, and whether we will gather in places of worship or simply watch online videos of the services from the comfort of our pajamas and living room couches.… Read the rest “Peace House Community: A Place to Belong”
An Unexpected Blessing
RETURNING CHAPTER 10
By PATRICK CABELLO HANSEL
Agnes led them down the alley to 29th Street, then scampered over to Bloomington, and down the steps to the Greenway. Luz followed quickly, with little Angel in her arms. Big Angel slipped on the leftover ice on one of the steps, and slid on his butt most of the way down. His adrenalin was pumping so hard, he didn”™t notice the pain, or the wetness in his pants.
When he got to the bottom of the stairs, he couldn”™t see anyone. He thought he had lost the rest of his family, and fear gripped his entire body. Oh god, no! he thought, I can”™t do this. There was icy fog along the Greenway, and try as he might, he couldn”™t see anyone in any direction.
Then Agnes called his name.
“Angel,” she shouted. “We have to hurry!”
She was under the 15th Avenue Bridge, and moving fast. Luz was struggling to keep up with her.
“How can that old lady move so fast?” Angel said, out loud, and started running. He slipped again and fell in a slush pile. Now he could really feel the pain and the wet.
He caught up to them just as they were heading up the 13th Avenue ramp.… Read the rest “An Unexpected Blessing”
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