News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Saturday December 20th 2025
Meet Diane Amgamarca-Ortiz
By Tesha M. Christensen
Diane
Seven-year-old Diane Amgamarca-Ortiz can make friends with anyone.Â
She”'s in second grade at Risen in Christ Catholic Church (1120 E. 37th St.), and takes the bus over to Banyan Community after school. At Banyan, she works on homework, plays in the gym, and “chills out.”
Diane is one of 16 South Minneapolis students whose portraits are part of the WE ARE 2065 project by local painter Joanna Hallstrom. Diane is one of three participants from Banyan. “I love Banyan,” she stated.
Diane will be 53 in 2065. What will she be like then? “Nice, kind and I think my likes will be the same,” said Diane.
As part of the project, students were interviewed and asked to share their experiences of school, family and growing up for a soundscape the accompanies the gallery.Â
How does her day start? “I wake up, brush my teeth, change and have breakfast,” she said. “Then I come downstairs, put on my shoes, get my backpack, and wait a few minutes. My dad and mom take me to school.”
The talkative seven-year-old loves to draw and can”'t imagine a day without drawing. “I like to play with my stuffed animals.… Read the rest “Meet Diane Amgamarca-Ortiz”
East Lake Savers closes
By Tesha M. Christensen
After 27 years, the Savers on East Lake St. shut its doors for the last time on April 3, 2019.
The closure came as a surprise to staff members, shoppers and building owner, Wellington Management, Inc.
“We are disappointed with their departure,” said Wellington Management Executive Vice President David Wellington. He pointed out that they were mid-lease and the rent had not changed recently.
“We are actively attempting to backfill their vacancy with other soft-good retailers including other well-known thrift stores,” remarked Wellington. “We have a deep understanding of how the Hi-Lake Shopping Center operates as an important community resource and we hope we will continue this tradition as we look for a new tenant.”
Wellington acquired the shopping center in 2004 and has since doubled the density onsite with three new buildings that brought 30,000 square feet of additional retail and 100 new owner-occupied and affordable rental housing units. Wellington confirmed that there are no plans to redevelop the Hi-Lake Shopping Center beyond this at any point in the foreseeable future.
Related Images:
Heart of May Day
People ”“ gathering in workshops, conversation, rehearsals, and celebration
HOBT/MayDay artist and staff member, Ramon Cordis and those quoted helped collect these testimonies.
May Day Workshop 2019, by Bruce Silcox
36 Parades later (for me), I keep participating because it is so much fun work! My favorite aspect of the entire MayDay season, is the workshops. We create miracles of imagination. I love assisting an enthusiastic kid in designing a mask and costume ”“ together transforming the refuse of society into a beautiful creation. The kids who come year to year become masters of their ideas, visionaries and engineers of the impossible.” ~ Greg Leierwood
Your MayDay Community Band” used to be called, “There Goes the Neighborhood ”“ Band.” We would gather by meeting on the street or in the park. Now we are on the internet. We always defy authority and almost never march in step! In the early years, there were usually fewer than 10 players. When we rehearse, we have 10 to 12. At the Parade, we often have 20 to 25; sometimes more than that. I missed the first two years. My first year in the band was the third year of the Parade.… Read the rest “Heart of May Day”
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