News | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Minnesota’s First Economic Competitiveness & Inclusion Plan implemented in Ramsey County

On March 23, the Center for Economic Inclusion (the Center) joined its peer consultants Fourth Economy, NEOO Partners, MZ Strategies, and Urban3 to present the first-ever Economic Competitiveness and … more

4/14/21

Transforming Systems Together

Activist and orator Danny Givens has been chosen as the first director of Transforming Systems Together (TST) – an initiative to improve, rethink, and reshape services and programs to be more … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 4/14/21

MEET AUTHOR Tasoulla Hadjiyanni - “I was 10 years old when Turkey invaded the Cyprus and my family joined the thousands of refugees around the world, losing everything we had ever known. Losing my house and home ruptured my way of being. I embarked on a new life as a 10-year old child of war, rootless, fearful, and apprehensive, with a gap in my heart that could not be closed. “To counteract my sense of loss, I turned to my schoolwork – education, my parents told me, is something no one can ever take away from you. Before completing high school, I was awarded an AMIDEAST scholarship to study architecture in the U.S., a diplomatic effort on the part of the U.S. to assist refugees in Cyprus rebuild their lives. Little did I know that I would meet my husband a few months before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and move to Minnesota. ‘My experiences as a refugee and a member of the Greek diaspora propelled me to connect with others who experienced displacement and injustice as part of my healing process. I was struggling with not knowing how to mend my broken self and worst of all, being pregnant at the time, I did not know how to create a sense of home for my daughter and my family. ‘In collecting the stories of refugees, immigrants and minorities both in Cyprus and Minnesota what struck me was recognizing that the effects of losing one’s cultural connections and sense of continuity carried forward for generations. I, therefore, used my platform to advocate for designs and policies that recognize home as a right and contribute to creating communities in which everyone can thrive.”

Thriving places, thriving lives

How does the design of your house or apartment help you live a healthy and connected life? Minneapolis resident Tasoulla Hadjiyanni has been studying this through her work as Northrop Professor of … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 4/14/21

This biomass illustration, which compares 2019 (left) with 2020, shows the improvement in eliminating curly-leaf pondweed (which is red). (Courtesy of Capitol Region Watershed District)

Proof: Como Lake water quality getting better

The herbicide that Capitol Region Watershed District used in 2020 to battle invasive curly-leaf pondweed in Como Lake, and the alum it used to battle excessive phosphorus, both are showing amazing … more

By Michael Kuchta | 4/14/21

START YOUR ENGINES!

Nelson’s Automotive (2314 E. Hennepin Ave.) shut down in March 2020 just like everyone else did as they waited to see what the impact of COVID-19 would be. They opened back up a few weeks later … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 4/14/21

Over 500 people marched along the Mississippi River on March 11 to protest Enbridge drilling their tar sands Line 3 pipeline under the headwaters of the Mississippi. It was part of the largest ever grassroots multi-faith day of action to lift up bold climate demands in over 40 countries. (Photos by Margie O’Loughlin)

Line 3 threatens Mississippi River

Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light held a rally on March 11 to protest the Enbridge Energy Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Program. A spokesperson for the group said, “Construction of the tar … more

4/14/21

Cardboard placed in recycling bins is picked up by Eureka Recycling and sorted at their NE Minneapolis facility. It ends up here at WestRock in the Midway neighborhood, where it is remade into one of two types of recycled paper. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Understanding the life cycle of recycled cardboard

For people who care about conserving resources, recycling is a given. But what really happens to all the cardboard and paper dumped in curbside recycling bins? Mike Gunderson is general manager of … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 4/14/21

{ Monitor in a Minute } April 2021

Big Top can relocate store Even though its building is a fire-damaged shell, Big Top Liquors has obtained city approval to renew its off-sale liquor license. The St. Paul City Council approved … more

By JANE McCLURE | 4/14/21

Lexington Station denied

Lexington Station and its 288 apartments won’t be built near Lexington Parkway and University Avenue. On a 4-3 vote April 7, 2021, the St. Paul City Council rejected an appeal by developer … more

By Jane McClure | 4/14/21

Trent Bowman is the president of NAREB, a coalition of Black real estate professionals. He said, “Throughout history, people of color have been left out of the homeownership game. It’s about leaving a legacy. It’s about building wealth in our communities. We have to understand the history of housing discrimination, so we can work in the present to leave something for our kids in the future.” (Photo courtesy of NAREB)

Part II: The Twin Cities housing market

In last month’s article about the Twin Cities housing market during COVID-19, real estate professionals characterized the market as “frenzied.” A picture emerged of Minneapolis and … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 4/14/21

Artwork by Susan Gainen, a resident of the Midway area.

Art to change the world

When Art to Change the World director Barbara Bridges saw all the new construction of apartment buildings going up in her Northeast neighborhood she saw potential art buyers and collectors moving … more

4/14/21

Dunkin' Donuts joins Hiway at new Roseville branch

Complementing an ongoing commitment to provide best-in-class services, state-of-art technology, and fun for its members as well as to the communities that it serves, Hiway Credit Union announces that … more

4/14/21

Victoria Theater Arts Center establishes a Community Trauma Response Program

All summer of 2020 Victoria Theater Arts Center (VTAC) made a commitment to the Frogtown and Rondo community to help process the trauma in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and other Black … more

4/14/21

Let’s go far together instead of going fast alone

If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.” - An African Proverb Happy Spring Monitor readers, This is such a refreshing time of the year with the return of the … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 4/14/21

Como’s State Swim Meet qualifiers at the U of M (left to right): Kai Sackreiter, Ethan Napierala, Gabe Napierala, Sig Isaacson, Soren Sackreiter, and Mark Remuto.

Successful winter sports seasons

As students returned to in-person learning on April 14, the spring sports season was already entering its third week. During distance learning, Como winter sports teams kept competing with many … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 4/14/21

Kelly Smith of the Star Tribune will be speaking during the Old Media Navigate New Era event on Sunday, May 2, from 1-2:30 p.m.

Vote by April 20 for district council reps

Tuesday April 20 is the last day to vote in the 2021 board elections for the Como Community Council. Once again this year, District 10 community members can vote from home using a secure online … more

By Michael Kuchta, Executive Director district10@district10comopark.org | 4/14/21

Standing in the streets for justice

St. Paul School Board member Chauntyll Allen (center), with Black Lives Matter Twin Cities Metro, was among speakers at The People vs. Derek Chauvin Rally for Justice in Minneapolis on March 8. … more

Jill Boogren | 3/11/21

Alatus project sparks debate on definition of ‘affordable housing’, gentrification

Developer Alatus’ Lexington Station mixed-use project is in the hands of the St. Paul City Council, with a public hearing and likely vote March 17 on its site plan. The Minneapolis-based … more

By Jane McClure | 3/10/21

Is Round Two coming?

Minneapolis and St. Paul are braced for civil unrest as the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin commences. City councils in both cities have been receiving updates on plans to … more

By JANE McCLURE | 3/10/21

People find common ground when they come together over a meal and conversation, according to Russel Balenger, who leads The Circle of Peace gatherings in order to promote racial healing and stop violence. (Photo submitted)

The Circle of Peace story

It began as a conversation among neighbors. Russel Balenger remembers when his sons were younger and in a row with a couple of families. “I went to the heads of the families and said we had to … more

By JAN WILLMS | 3/10/21