News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Sunday December 28th 2025
New Food and Beverage Choices Coming to Abbott Northwestern Hospital
BY ALISON PENCE, Director of Community Engagement ”“ West Metro, Allina Health
On December 1st, Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Allina Health announced that they were putting into action a new food and beverage policy starting in 2016. These changes will include removing sugary drinks and deep-fat fried foods from all cafeterias, vending machines and gift shops. As part of this change, the hospital has terminated the lease with the McDonald”'s that has been located inside the hospital for many years. The McDonald”'s will close by the end of May.
The decision to create a policy such as this one and to remove the McDonald”'s restaurant was not one that was made easily or quickly. For many years, both Allina Health and Abbott Northwestern Hospital have been looking at the role that lifestyle choices make in the health of our patients, their families, our staff and community members.
We know that this change will have an impact on the options available in our buildings, however as our President and CEO, Dr. Penny Wheeler has said “As an organization focused on health, it is our responsibility to model and encourage healthy choices.” The new policy does not prevent employees and visitors from bringing their own food and beverages into the building, it just means that we will focus on selling healthier options to make it easier to choose healthy.… Read the rest “New Food and Beverage Choices Coming to Abbott Northwestern Hospital”
The Dream is Coming True!
BY DENNY BENNETT
When I woke up on January 1st, and reflected on 2015, I smiled, as I re-assured myself, that, no, it wasn”'t just a dream, it really is happening!
As I write this, the city”'s finest construction companies are submitting their bids to build the new Phillips Aquatics Center! Master plans have been drawn up and ratified, and construction will begin in May!
Ventura Village generously voted to provide an additional $80,000 in funding through the City to the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board earmarked specifically toward the addition of a small 3rd warm-water, therapy pool. To distinguish this from the 4-lane, 25 yard, warm water pool already in the plans, I”'ll describe (my words) the 3rd pool as a “hot-tube” or “whirlpool spa”. A very nice addition indeed! Of course, there is the necessary bureaucracy before this is a “done deal.”
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation recognized Minneapolis Swims for our efforts in bringing together the entities for the pool, and offered us one of only two $5,000 grants they awarded this year. In our case, we used it as a matching grant, and the 2014-2015 Boys Swim team & boosters from South, Washburn & Roosevelt High Schools who call themselves TMT (Tigers, Millers, Teddies) stepped up by raising $10,000 and donated it to Minneapolis Swims, easily achieving the match.… Read the rest “The Dream is Coming True!”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
