Posts Tagged ‘December 22’
Growth and Change at Alley Communications
Introducing Two New Team Members Sonya Ewert Sonya Ewert, BUSINESS MANAGER Sonya has lived in South Minneapolis for most of the last 15 years, moving into East Phillips last year. She loves being out and about in the neighborhood whether it’s eating tacos, going to writing workshops at the library, or bike commuting. She has two degrees from the University of Minnesota, the first in Environmental Science and the second in Business Administration. Her previous work has been in agriculture and she is excited to bring her love of spreadsheets to an organization dedicated to elevating the voices of the Phillips neighborhoods. Have a question about advertising or promoting your business or organization in the alley newspaper?--- email Sonya at businessmanager@alleynews.org. Mattie Wong Mattie Wong, DESIGN & LAYOUT COORDINATOR Mattie has lived in South Minneapolis the past five years. She has experience being the editor and layout designer for several community-based publications including DAY PLANNER, an arts-based publication, and Litorum Journal out of the University of Minnesota’s Landscape Architecture department. She is honored to be the graphic support uplifting the voices of Phillips through the alley. You can find her riding her bike all over town, playing trumpet at a show, or staring at trees trying to identify them. Announcing the alley Community Resource Assessment Project Cirien Saadeh Hello Phillips Community. My name is Cirien Saadeh, and I am a Twin Cities community journalist and organizer. As with all of you, I believe that the alley is a crucial community resource. Over the next few months I will be engaging residents and organizations in the Phillips community - as many of you as I can reach - around the alley as part of a project to help this Phillips community newspaper and institution find greater resilience. I would love to speak with any and all of you in this [...]
Museum exhibit presents one woman’s journey of discovery exploring her family’s past
Postcards from the early 1900s provided valuable clues about Debra George's ancestors. Some of the postcards are in the collage shown here, one of twelve collages on exhibit now at Hennepin History Museum. Photo: Provided by the Hennepin History Museum. By ROSELLA DePIETRO, Hennepin History Museum It began by sorting through cardboard boxes that had been sitting in her parents’ basement for years. When the time came to clean out their parents’ home, local artist Debra George and two brothers divided up the boxes. In one of the boxes Debra opened, she found two small vases she recalled seeing atop her grandmother’s writing desk when Debra was a little girl. She began to wonder not only about the origin of these vases, but about the unknown history of her ancestors as well. What Debra George discovered about her family is the subject of an exhibit, Family in Pieces, on now through Spring of 2023 at the Hennepin History Museum. Created by Ms. George, Family in Pieces shares the results of Ms. George’s genealogical results which revealed that her earliest ancestors in this region played a significant role in the formation of the City of Minneapolis, information not known to Ms. George and her brothers. But in her research, Ms. George also learned of some disturbing aspects of her family history and Family in Pieces shares how she has attempted to come to terms with this history as well. Family in Pieces is a multi-dimensional exhibit featuring family heirlooms and twelve collages created by Ms. George as an artful and innovative way to preserve her family stories and make them accessible to future generations. Ms. George noted, “Making art became my way of honoring the discovered stories about my family history. I hope this exhibit and my work will inspire others to explore and capture their own stories in their own ways.” Visiting the Museum: Hennepin History Museum, 2303 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis on MTC’s #11 High [...]
Prepare for Higher Heating Costs this Winter
By CITIZENS UTILITY BOARD Rising energy costs have been big news across the world this year. As Minnesotans enter the heating season, it’s a concern here too. We’re not fans of sharing bad news, but many of us should expect noticeably higher heating costs this winter. Below are some highlights from the Winter Fuels Outlook provided by the U.S. Energy Information Agency. We’ve summarized forecasted propane, electricity, heating oil, and natural gas prices mostly specific to the Midwest. During the 2021/2022 heating season, some fuel prices were the highest in 7 years, so when we talk about increases this year, it is on top of the higher prices many experienced last year. First, let’s start with the not-so-bad news. Propane prices are not expected to change much compared to last year. Approximately 11% of Minnesota households, primarily in rural areas, use propane. Though the price isn’t projected to rise this year, propane is significantly more expensive than natural gas. Approximately 17% of Minnesota homes use electricity to heat their homes. Retail prices of electricity across the Midwest are projected to rise on average by 5% compared to last year. In Minnesota, specifically, substantially larger rate increase requests are under consideration for Xcel Energy (which is requesting a 24% residential base rate increase between 2022-24) and Minnesota Power (requesting an 18% base rate increase in 2023). In addition to base rate increases, customers are likely to see continuing increases in the cost of fuel, which is generally charged directly to customers in a separate line item on bills. The cost of heating oil across the US is expected to increase by approximately 16%. Historically this has been the most expensive heating fuel in Minnesota. About 1.5% of Minnesota households use heating oil. Natural gas users, who comprise 66% of Minnesota households, will see the largest increase in their heating prices. The EIA [...]
Call Out to Our Neighborhood Artistic Youth
JANELLE HOSFIELD EMMETT BOSTIC FRANCISCO NARANJO NOELLE NARANJO First Photo: Sha’Vontie recording - June 2022 issue. Second Photo: KRSM Zine and alley article by Emmett - Nov 2022 issue. Third Photo: Andrew with djembe drum - July 2022 issue. Fourth Photo: Queen Bee by Noelle - April 2022 issue. Do you paint, sculpt, dance, sing, write, act, or…? Whatever form your creative juices take, the alley would love to highlight your talent and dedication to your art. Besides making your family and friends proud, an article or interview in a local paper is a great addition to a college or job application! We all benefit from the arts. Art and cultural activities uplift our spirits and help build community. You know how your creative work makes you feel, that’s why you do it. Showcasing your work in the alley can inspire others to find their own artistic expression and reap the benefits. And multiply the beauty in our Phillips community. 💗 If you are interested, simply send an email to copydesk@alleynews.org with a few sentences about yourself (or the young artist in your life). We will happily connect with you!
American Indian Flag Library at Franklin Library
Ceremony held on November 2nd dedicating the new Tribal Flag Lending Library. Photos: Philip Hussong. By CARZ NELSON Flags can be an important presence at ceremonies, official procedures and programs, symbolizing identity and status for governments and other groups. If you are hosting a ceremony or official occasion, such as a graduation or tribal event, you might decide to display flags as a way to signal the event’s importance. But finding flags for tribes and other Native groups to use can be challenging. Help is here - Franklin Library is now the home of the new American Indian Flag Lending Library. Flags from eleven sovereign nations in Minnesota are available to borrow, pending tribal approval. For more information on borrowing a flag, go to https://www.hennepin.us/your-government/get-involved/community-engagement.
Library News
By CARZ NELSON All information listed here is accurate as of November 15, 2022. For the most recent information, check out the library website at www.hclib.org. FRANKLIN LIBRARY HOURS Monday 9 AM to 5 PM Tuesday 12 PM to 8 PM Wednesday 12 PM to 8 PM Thursday 12 PM to 8 PM Friday 9 AM to 5 PM Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM Sunday 12 PM to 5 PM URBAN 4-H A youth leadership club that’s driven by curiosity. For adolescents. Franklin Library Tuesdays at 4-5:30 PM WOMEN OF COLOR AFFINITY GROUP Looking for a space where women of color can come together and share their experiences? Then join the Women of Color Affinity Group. Hosmer Library. Tuesdays at 6:30 PM COFFEE & CONVERSATION Join us for Coffee & Conversations. Franklin Library Second Friday of the month 10 AM to 12 Noon WAY TO GROW Way to Grow connects parents of kids ages 0-8 to a culture-to-culture family educator to help with resources and provide support and education. Franklin Library Tuesdays at 3 to 5 PM STEAM WORKSHOP The Franklin Library’s Teen Tech Squad leads education and entertainment for kids 8-plus on topics in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Franklin Library Wednesdays at 5-6 PM EMERGE A Workforce Coach from EMERGE will be available to work with people aged 16-21. Franklin Library Wednesdays at 3 to 5 PM ANIME CLUB Anime Club for adolescents. Franklin Library Wednesdays at 6:30 - 8 PM CAREER AND JOB ASSISTANCE Meet with a CareerForce employment specialist at Franklin Library for job and career help. Stop by for individual assistance with job searching, resume writing, and more! Franklin Library December 7 at 1 PM to 3 PM HOMEWORK HELP Both Franklin and Hosmer Libraries offer free one-on-one tutoring for K-12 students. Franklin: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30-7:30 PM, Saturdays at 1-5 [...]
