SNG NEWSLETTER, JANUARY 15, 2009

I. SNG Calendar of Events – SNG Board Meeting, January 28 – Finance Committee Meeting, February 4 – History Committee Meeting, February 5 – Executive Committee Meeting, February 9 – Crime and Safety Committee, February 9 – Community Development Committee meeting, February 10

II. SNG Calendar of Events – Longer Term – Seward Garage Sale Days, May 15-16

III. News and Items of Interest – Snow Shoveling in Seward – Buy the Change, Support SNG – Field Trip for Sushi, January 20 – Historic Resource Survey Public Meeting, February 3 – Spring Entrepreneur Training @ Seward Redesign – Cam Gordon Roundtable Discussion, February 11 – Minneapolis Parks Programs in Seward for Adults and Children – Public Art Research Project on “Merwyn”

I. SNG Calendar of Events

-SNG Board of Directors, Wednesday, January 28
7 p.m., Seward Tower East, at the intersection of 30th and Franklin Avenues

This is the first meeting of the 2009 Board of Directors. Items currently on the agenda include: adoption of the 2009 budget; a presentation by SNG volunteer bookkeeper Robin Westacott on how to review SNG’s monthly financial statements; election of officers; committee reports; and a continuation of visioning for 2009. All residents and those who work or own property in Seward are invited to attend.

Please enter the building from the parking lot on the north side of the building. Just inside the airlock, turn left, and follow the long corridor to the office. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor meeting room.

-SNG Finance Committee, Wednesday, February 4
5:30 p.m., SNG Office, 2323 E. Franklin Avenue

The Finance Committee will be working on the 2009 SNG budget and cash flow analysis. If you’d like to be a part of the Finance Committee, contact SNG Treasurer, Diann Anders, 612-721-7316 or diann.anders@iphouse.com

- History Committee Meeting, Thursday, February 5
10:30 a.m., SNG Office, 2323 E. Franklin Avenue

The History Committee will be working on planning an upcoming event to mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Matthews Community Center. For details, contact Dick Westby at sandrich22@comcast.com.

-SNG Executive Committee, Monday, February 9
5:30 p.m., SNG Office, 2323 E. Franklin Avenue

The SNG Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organization. Executive Committee meetings are open to the public. For details, contact Sheldon Mains, SNG Chair, at 612-729-4088 or smains@visi.com

-SNG Crime and Safety Committee, Monday, February 9
7 p.m., Matthews Community Center, 2318 29th Avenue South

We will receive updates of safety related occurrences within the neighborhood over the past few months, discuss topics for future meetings, and work to build community to proactively prevent crime in Seward.

If you have topics you would like to discuss at this meeting, please e-mail Annie Welch at ward2outreach@gmail.com

-SNG Community Development Committee, Tuesday, February 10
7:00 p.m., Matthews Community Center, 2318 29th Avenue South

The committee will continue developing plans for a new Housing program to begin next spring. There will also be a discussion of development guidelines for Franklin Avenue.

For additional information, or if you have topics you would like to discuss at this meeting contact Bernie Waibel, bernie@sng.org .

II. SNG Calendar of Events – Longer Term

- Seward Garage Sale Days—Volunteers Wanted!
Mark your calendars! The Seward Garage Sale Days will be May 15-16 this year.

Watch out for more details in upcoming newsletters. If you are interested in helping to plan the garage sale, contact Mike Rollin at the SNG office (mike@sng.org, or 612-338-6205, x 119).

III. News and Items of Interest

-Snow Shoveling in Seward
If you or someone you know is looking for help with snow shoveling, SNG has a list of neighborhood shovelers. For more information, call the SNG office at 612-338-6205, x119, or e-mail mike@sng.org.

- Buy the Change, Support SNG
Tired of anonymous commerce? Looking to promote your business in the neighborhood? Then join members like Seward Co-op, the Birchwood Café, and Animal Rights Coalition online at www.buythechange.com. When you post on buythechange.com, you can buy, sell, and connect with friends, neighbors, and other community-minded people and raise money for non-profits like Seward Neighborhood Group. Just designate SNG as your non-profit of choice when you register (go to www.buythechange.com/l/NDM0), and SNG will receive half of your registration fee.

-Field Trip for Sushi (or other Japanese Appetizers)!
Tuesday, January 20th, 5:30 p.m. until whenever.

Koyi Sushi, 122 North 4th Street (about 2 blocks north of the last Light Rail Station Downtown) http://www.koyisushi.com/Koyi/Home.html

The owners of Koyi Sushi in downtown Minneapolis are working on a deal to start a new restaurant at the soon-to-be-“old” Co-op site, at 2111 Franklin Avenue. In this current uncertain economic landscape, we want to show our support to the owners of Koyi Sushi, and let them know how much we want them to become our new neighbors on Franklin Avenue in the spring.

We invite you to join us at Koyi Sushi to do some important community building and show a new neighbor how much we support their move to Seward.

Hope to see you then!

Katya Pilling, Seward Redesign
Jim Welna, Seward Civic and Commerce Association
Sheldon Mains, Seward Neighborhood Group
Charlie Hoffman, Seward Neighborhood Community Development Committee

-Historic Resource Survey Public Meeting
Tuesday, February 3, 6-7:30 p.m., Matthews Community Center, 2318 29th Ave. S.

The City of Minneapolis will hold a community meeting to share information on heritage preservation in South Minneapolis. The City is currently conducting a historic resource survey in the Seward, Longfellow, Cooper, Howe, and Hiawatha neighborhoods to assess the potential for historic properties. The City was first surveyed in the 1970s and many of today’s designated landmarks and historic districts are a result of this original survey. This meeting will be an opportunity to learn about the survey project and preservation activities in the survey area.

For more information on preservation in Minneapolis, please visit the Heritage Preservation website: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/hpc/landmarks/ .

- Spring Entrepreneur Training
Now’s the time to plan for your next career, a career where you will be your own boss! If you are interested in turning your passions into a business, sign-up for this spring’s Entrepreneur Training course. Working with a trainer and a small group of other aspiring entrepreneurs, you will learn how to write a plan for your own business. Classes are held right here in Seward.

This course is sponsored by Seward Redesign and Neighborhood Development Center. For an application, contact Emily: emily@sewardredesign.org / 612.338.8729 ×105. Classes start in early February.

- Cam Gordon February Roundtable Discussion
Wednesday, February 11, 6-8 p.m., Matthews Community Center, 2318 29th Ave S.

Join Ward 2 Councilmember Gordon to discuss priorities and challenges for 2009. In
this time of economic uncertainty, how can we work better together to keep making progress towards our shared goals? Come discuss your hopes and concerns for our city.

- Minneapolis Parks Programs in Seward for Adults and Children
For Adults – Snowshoeing along the Mississippi River
Saturday, January 31st 10:00am to 11:30am
Snowshoe along the Mississippi River in an area that most people only see in summer. Watch for wildlife as you tromp through the snow in a secluded area just a few miles from downtown Minneapolis. Snowshoes provided. Meet just south of the Franklin Avenue Bridge on East River Road. $10
Register online at minneapolisparks.org or call 612-313-7725.

For Children – Snowflake Jamboree
Wednesdays, January 21, 28, February 4, 11 (Four one-hour sessions, four weeks in a row).
11:30a.m. to 12:30p.m.; $7.
Matthews Recreation Center – 2318 28th Ave S – 612-370-4950
Join us for art projects and plenty of stories that focus on Winter. Discover snowflakes, icicles, and participate in more frosty fun. Design your own snowflakes and participate in an exiting winter themed party. For kids ages 4 and 5.

Life in the Cold
Wednesdays, January 21, 28, February 4, 11 (Four one-hour sessions, four weeks in a row).
4:30 to 5:30p.m.; $10.
Brackett Recreation Center – 2728 39th Ave S – 612-370-4924
What do you do in winter? We’ll explore Minnesota’s wintertime history through different cultures. Create art projects, play games, and enjoy traditional foods. Learn about the Ojibwe, Scandinavians, Fur Traders, and Modern Day people and how all get through life in the cold. For kids ages 6 to 12.

Snowshoeing
Friday, January 23 – 12:30 to 2:30p.m.; call for price.
Matthews Recreation Center – 2318 28th Ave S – 612-370-4950
Looking for a fun activity to get you outside in winter? Try snowshoeing. We’ll provide snowshoeing at your park, on a field trip, or both. Snowshoeing allows you to play outside and float on top of the snow. It can allow you to see areas that most people only see when it’s warm. Snow boots are required for this program. Schedule it at your park as a one day event, two day series, or in combination with a field trip to a regional park near you. For kids ages 6 to 12.

Winter Explorers Club
Tuesdays, January 20, 27, February 3, 10 (Four one-hour sessions, four weeks in a row).
3:30 to 4:30p.m.; $7
Matthews RecreationCenter – 2318 28th Ave S – 612-370-4950
Zip up your snowsuit and prepare for outdoor adventures. We will create snow sculptures, build survival huts, drink hot chocolate and play outdoor games. Yes, we’re going outside in the winter! Lots of fun outdoor activity for winter. For kids ages 6 to12.

- Public Art Research Project on “Merwyn”

A University of Minnesota graduate student would like to interview Seward residents about their experience with the public art piece “Merwyn” that is located in Triangle Park at the intersection of Franklin and 27th Ave.

The purpose of this research is to determine how public art influences residents’ concept of their community.

The interview would be one time only, last from 45 to 60 minutes, and be conducted in person at local coffee shop. The interviewer asks that participants meet the following criteria:
resident of the Seward neighborhood
between 18 to 64 years of age
have some familiarity with the “Merwyn” artwork

Please contact the researcher, Randy Olson, at either 651-343-7373 or olso3775@umn.edu.

This newsletter was compiled by the SNG with the assistance of neighbors who contributed suggestions and news items. If you know of an upcoming event, meeting or news item that should be included in a future newsletter, please email mike@sng.org. Thank you!

last revised: January 29, 2009

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