Tomorrow: Tech Help for Seniors
Sat, April 23 | 1:00 – 3:00pm
Armatage Community Center
Come to the Armatage Community Center for free tech help tomorrow (Saturday, April 23) from 1:00-3:00pm! We’re partnering with Cyber Seniors, a nonprofit that provides free tech help, youth training, and connects generations!
Bring your phone, tablet, computer, or other device AND your questions on troubleshooting issues, apps, content, and more to get help from friendly, trained Minneapolis teens who will walk you through step by step. Please wear a mask to keep the event safe for all. There is no need to register – just stop by! Learn more at armatage.org/techhelp/
Spring Earth Day Clean-up: TOMORROW
Sat, April 23 | 9:30am – 12:00pm
Armatage Park
Join the Armatage Green Team and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board for the annual Earth Day Clean-up at Armatage Park tomorrow (Saturday, April 23) from 9:30am – 12:00pm! This is a great, meaningful opportunity for kids, teens and adults to show our neighborhood pride and clean up neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and parks to keep trash and recycling from polluting our waterways. Every single person who volunteers makes a huge impact! Learn more at armatage.org/events/clean-ups
April 19, 2022 Meeting Recap
Council Vice President Linea Palmisano joined this week’s Monthly Meeting and shared a recap of the Ward 13 Public Safety Forum in March, answered questions about Open Streets events, and discussed the redevelopment project at 50th & Beard. The ANA Board voted to add a “Community from the Community” item to the beginning of monthly meetings where community members can share concerns or ideas for 2-3 minutes each.
The ANA Board also discussed next month’s Annual Meeting & Board Election (see below for more info!), chose a date for a fall renter-focused event at the Washburn Tot Lot, and approved up to $250 in funds to co-sponsor a fall Tech Dump event with other south and southwest neighborhoods.
Support the 2022 Armatage Art Show
On May 19, 2022, the Armatage Elementary School art teacher and parent volunteers will be holding their first Art Show “Gallery A” since 2019! This beloved community event features artwork from kindergartners through 5th graders on display, a community art project, a scavenger hunt, refreshments and more to support the Armatage Elementary School’s Art Program.
Along with the amazing art display, there is also a silent auction to exhibit donated art and crafts made by parents and community members as well as items donated by local businesses. Proceeds will fund art supplies for next school year as well as cover the costs of the event.
Please consider supporting your local public school by making a donation to the 2022 silent auction. Your donation will be recognized onsite the night of the event. To donate, please complete the donation form here, which also includes options for submitting your donation. Thank you for supporting our hard-working neighborhood elementary students and the arts at your local public school!
Spring Street Sweeping
It doesn’t quite feel like spring, but street sweeping is here! This spring, the City of Minneapolis will sweep more than 1,000 miles of streets. Check when your block is scheduled for street sweeping and look out for no parking signs to avoid a ticket or tow!
Save the Date: Armatage Pet Fest
Sat, May 14 | 2:00 – 4:00pm
Armatage Park
Bring your furry, feathered or scaled friends to Armatage Park for our first-ever Pet Fest on Saturday, May 14 from 2:00-4:00pm! Promenade in the pet parade. Enter the pet contest to win fabulous prizes donated by Zeroish, Woof Central and more! Visit a pet chiropractor, get a caricature of you and your pet, grab human treats from Sparrow Cafe, meet adorable rescue puppies, see an obedience demo, connect with other Armatage animal lovers and more!
All are welcome, whether you have a pet to bring or not. Hosted by the Armatage Community Engagement Committee. Learn more and register for the contest or parade at armatage.org/petfest
Save the Date: Garden Tool Swap
Sat, May 14 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Armatage Park
The ANA Green Team is excited to host one of the citywide Garden Tool Swap sites this year at Armatage Park! With the weather warming (thinking positive here), many of us are turning towards our homes and our green spaces. When cleaning out your storage, hang on to unused yard tools, planting equipment and gardening items and bring them to the citywide Garden Tool Swap. From first time gardeners to those with green thumbs, all are welcome at this free event.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 14, 2022 9:00am – 12:00pm and bring your unused items to Armatage Park. You do not need to bring items to the event to take items home with you. Learn more at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/garbage-recycling-cleanup/garden-tool-swap
Annual Meeting & Board Election
Annual Meeting: Growing Together: Connect with your elected representatives and grow individually and as a community with relaxation and stress management techniques from Julie Gramentz, owner of Unwind Within on 54th Street. Hear what your neighborhood is up to and how you can get involved. The fun happens outdoors at Armatage Park on Tues, May 17 at 6:30pm.
Board Election: Step up as a leader in your community and run for the ANA Board! Meetings are held the third Tues of each month and the time commitment is 5-6 hours/month. Members of under-represented communities are especially encouraged to run, including renters, people with disabilities, and residents who identify as LGBTQ or BIPOC. Important Dates:
- Register to run by Tues, May 17 at 9:00pm at https://armatage.org/2022boardelection/
- Online voting will be open from Wed, May 18 at 9:00am through Wed, May 25 at 9:00pm.
Protect Pollinators & Wait to Rake
Bees often nest in broken stems of plants, and butterflies overwinter in leaf piles. Please wait to cut back perennials, rake leaves, and clean up yard waste in your yard until daytime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees (late April or early May) to protect pollinators.
Share Your Ideas for a Zero Waste Future
Participate in developing the Hennepin County Zero Waste Plan by telling the county about your experiences in recycling, composting and ideas to reduce waste on the new engagement site. Residents who register on the website can engage with other community members, post ideas, and stay informed as the plan progresses.
Hennepin County’s zero-waste vision is a system where all materials are designed to become resources for others to use. Our definition of zero waste is preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated. Click here to weigh in.
TRUST, Inc. is Hiring
Local non-profit TRUST, Inc. offers home and chore services to people 55+ and those with disabilities in Minneapolis and the south metro area. TRUST is currently hiring workers to help with yard/garden, housekeeping, repair work, spring cleaning and organizing. This is a great option for teens 16+, college age youth looking for summer work, and adults looking for PT options working with area seniors. Call 612-827-6159 to learn more and apply.
Work with Minneapolis Parks
The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board is hiring for a wide range of summer jobs! Whether you want to gain experience at your first job, or grow your skill set for a future career, there are a lot of great positions open.
Learn About and Celebrate Ramadan
Ramadan Mubarak to all our neighbors who are celebrating this month. As one of the most important months in the Muslim calendar, Ramadan is a sacred month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. It is a time when followers of Islam celebrate the “Night of Power” when Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the sacred book of Islam. This year Ramadan is celebrated from April 2 until May 1. During Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dusk to dawn. The fast is supposed to cleanse the soul and make the believers empathize with those in the world who are hungry and less fortunate.
Amidst the time of Ramadan, most Muslims go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Quran. Every day they recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh Prayer (Night Prayer), which is usually twice or three times as long as the daily prayers. Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman announced this week that mosques will be allowed to play the adhan, or call to prayer several times between the hours of 7:00am and 10:00pm daily and all year round. The City Council unanimously supported the broadcasts and the recognition of Ramadan. Thanks to Safety, Equity & Outreach Member, Sheila Dingels, for this write-up!
Here are some ways to celebrate Ramadan in Minneapolis:
- Try a halal meal from Hamdi Restaurant in the Phillips neighborhood.
- Make these fun paper lanterns. How to make paper lanterns Ramadan Decoration, Ramadan Decoration Idea/s 2019, Ramadan Decoration DIY – Bing video It is believed this tradition was started in Egypt more than a thousand years ago when lanterns were used by people to light their homes and the streets at night. One evening in 969 AD, on the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Caliph Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah came to Egypt. The military commander commanded the people of Egypt to light the Caliph’s path with lanterns so he could see where he was going as he walked through the streets.
- Listen to the podcast Tell Them, I Am. While not about Ramadan specifically, but over the course of the series, host and producer Misha Euceph interviewed 22 people, all Muslims, about the defining moments of their lives. Megaphone: A Modern Podcasting Platform
COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing
Vaccines: if you haven’t been vaccinated or gotten a booster yet, get a free vaccine as soon as you can. Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map (more options listed below). Learn more about boosters here.
Free Rapid Tests: you can now order four totally free COVID-19 rapid tests per residential household at https://mn.gov/covid19/ Ordering takes just a couple minutes.
Enjoy the eNews? Support Our Work
The Armatage Neighborhood Association works to make Armatage a place where all are welcome, empowered, and connected through safety initiatives, community-building events, environmental work, advocacy and communications that keep you informed and engaged.
Big or small, EVERY donation matters! Give today at www.givemn.org/organization/Armatage-Neighborhood-Association As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, every donation to the ANA is tax-deductible and eligible for an employer match.