September 22, 2016 eNews

September Meeting Highlights

  • Armatage Park
    • Volleyball registrations available and starting soon. Winter sports registration will open early October for basketball and more, including skating lessons!
    • New Halloween event (Friday, Oct 28 • 6:00-8:30p) to include a pumpkin carving contest and Trunk-or-Treating. Watch for details coming soon!
    • Open gym time for toddlers was requested for this winter. Details to be determined.
    • Dinner and a Movie available monthly for area families!
    • Fire & Ice is scheduled for January 20 (weather permitting).
  • ANA Supported Funding
    • Portable indoor/outdoor projection screen (for meetings and possible new community events)
    • Hydration Station for park/school fountain near the gym.
    • Window blinds for the multi-purpose room
    • Reupholstering park lounge furniture
  • Will be lighting trees near the warming house entrance this winter. A tree-lighting event will be planned in conjunction with a charity.
  • City Council Updates: The Mayor’s Budget Proposal has been released, so will be the main focus in the coming weeks. There is a new head of Public Works and Council Member Palmisano will be doing a tour of Ward 13 to highlight areas in need of improvement and to share examples of past successes.
  • Safety
    • Our new MPD 5th Precinct Inspector will be at our November meeting.
    • Statistically crime is down in our area over last year.
    • Planning underway for a block leader workshop/listening post in early 2017.
  • Engagement Activities
    • We will continue to host a neighborhood happy hour at Cafe Maude. Considering holding them the first Thursday of every-other month.
    • Renter workshop/event series planning underway. Details to come.

Utility Box Wrap

To help deter graffiti and enhance the visual interest, the ANA installed our first unity box wrap atht he corner of 60th & Penn. This only was able to happen with the wonderful volunteer leadership from Cynthia. Know other boxes that might be a good candidate? Let us know!


Kids Voting Minneapolis

Volunteers are needed to help at Armatage on November 8. The shifts run from 2-5p and 5-8p. Anyone 16 and older can volunteer! Prefer 2 people per shift. You can sign up online if you are interested in helping.

Kids Voting Minneapolis is a community-based, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to empower students in Minneapolis with the skills and confidence to embrace civic involvement and become active citizens as adults.


Addressing Barriers to Community Solar

Thursday, October 27, 2016
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1644 Larpenteur Avenue West, Falcon Heights

In 2013, Minnesota passed legislation allowing companies to enable community solar garden programs. Since then, consumer subscribership in community solar gardens has demonstrated tremendous interest, but also has revealed a host of financial, regulatory, and social barriers. Participants at this event will explore lessons learned from the implementation of Minnesota’s community solar programs and ways to address barriers to more wide-spread community solar deployment. Register or learn more »


Hang Out in Minneapolis Parks

If you’ve visited many Minneapolis parks in the past year or two and noticed hammocks hanging from trees, you may have wondered, “Can we do that?”

The answer is YES, with limitations and a few guidelines:

  • Hammocks may only be used during regular park hours
  • Hammocks are temporary. Anyone hanging a hammock must promptly remove it each time they are done using it
  • Hammocks do not damage property
  • Hammocks do not damage vegetation or trees
  • Hammocks do not restrict the free use of the parks, or create a hazard to buildings, park or pathway use

Hammock users should be aware of two Park Board ordinances related to vegetation and trees:
PB2-2. – Molesting vegetation. 
No person not an employee of the board shall pick or cut any wild or cultivated flower, or cut, break or in any way injure or deface any tree, shrub or plant within the limits of any park or parkway; nor carry within or out of any park or parkway any wild flower, tree, shrub, plant or any newly plucked branch or portion thereof, or any soil or material of any kind. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 1010.030)
PB10-9. – Damaging trees. 
No person shall remove, destroy, cut, deface, trim or in any way injure or interfere with any tree or shrub on any of the avenues, streets or public grounds, including parks and parkways, without a permit from the general superintendent of parks. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 1020.090)