Category Archives: Equity

March 3, 2022 eNews

Upcoming Soil Health & Regenerative Agriculture Series

Join Armatage Neighborhood’s Green Team in a series on soil health and how we all can have an impact by working with, rather than against nature to help fight climate change. The series includes a virtual community screening of Kiss the Ground next week and a panel on regenerative agriculture on March 24 at 7:00pm on Zoom. Learn more and register at https://armatage.org/soilhealth/

Soil might be the last thing on your mind right now. But in a moment when the future of our planet and humankind is at stake, nothing may be more important than regenerating the ground beneath us. We’re in need of a kind of hope we’ve never felt before. All are welcome to attend whether you live in Armatage or not.

Image shows a collage of four images from a summer food truck night. In the top left, two men are masked and behind a table with a hydrodipping art station. In the upper right hand, many neighbors are waiting in line for food trucks. In the lower left hand, two tables are set up under tents with the Armatage logo and lots of volunteers talking to neighbors. In the bottom right, two women are monitoring organics and recycling.

Get Involved with an Armatage Neighborhood Committee

Hi Neighbors! Did you know that Armatage has three committees that plan fun and educational events to bring the neighborhood together? Last year these committees worked as teams to host free workshops, film screenings, neighborhood clean-ups, organized food truck nights and more.

We would love for you to join us on the Safety, Equity & Outreach, Green Team, and Community Engagement Committees. Check out the Get Involved page on the Armatage neighborhood website and then choose to volunteer for a single event or join a Committee e-list to help plan new events throughout the year. Come meet new friends and neighbors while making Armatage an even better place to live!

Learn more, register for a meeting or volunteer at armatage.org/get-involved/:

  • Community Engagement meets TONIGHT (Thursday, March 3) on Zoom at 6:00pm
  • Safety, Equity & Outreach will meet next Wednesday, March 9 at 6:00pm on Zoom (rescheduled)
  • The Green Team meets next Thursday, March 10 at 7:00pm on Zoom

Graphic with black eyed susans at each corner and a coral and green background that says "Join us: Trust Inc. Spring Market & Craft Fair, Sat March 5 from 9:00am-3:00pm at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church at 5760 Portland Ave"

Spring Market and Craft Fair

Join local nonprofit TRUST Inc. this Saturday March 5th 9:00am-3:00pm for an indoor market and raffle with food, music, and crafts for kids!

Shop from over 15 local vendors while supporting TRUST and your neighbor’s small businesses at host site Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, which is located at 5760 Portland Ave.

Screenshot of map showing properties in the Kenny Neighborhood that had racial housing covenants in the Armatage, Kenny and Windom neighborhoods..

Remove Racial Covenants Through the Just Deeds Project

Applications are open for the Minneapolis Just Deeds Project, which provides property owners with the opportunity to discharge racial covenants recorded against their properties and reclaim their homes as equitable spaces. Racial covenants were legal documents recorded against a property’s title that prohibited all future owners of the property from selling it, renting it or allowing it to be used by people of certain races or ethnicities. Thanks to the work of Mapping Prejudice, we know that more than 8,000 properties in Minneapolis contain racial covenants including many here in Armatage (see above).

The City’s Just Deeds Project and Hennepin County will help homeowners record a discharge form against their property title, free of charge. Participation is first come, first served and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more, check whether your home has a racial covenant, and apply for the project on the city’s website here. If you have questions, contact JustDeedsProject@minneapolismn.gov.

Graphic shows keys for car and a house separate with the text "Safety Tip: Keep car and house keys separate."

Personal Safety & Carjacking Prevention Tips

Our Safety Equity & Outreach Committee has pulled together tips from a wide range of sources from cities across the country, local media, law enforcement, and our own committee members. As the weather warms and the days get longer, our community will likely see an increased need for these tips. We hope they help you to stay aware and stay safe.

See the full list at armatage.org/safety-tips/  Follow the ANA on Facebook or Instagram for posts to share with family, friends and neighbors.

Image shows a group of seven Armatage Neighborhood Association board, staff and volunteers standing under a tent at an outdoor summer event. Everyone is wearing navy shirts that say "Armatage".

Join the ANA Board

The Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA) has one additional open seat on the Board of Directors! We welcome any Armatage resident that is interested in making an impact, wanting to connect with neighbors and can provide a unique perspective! This is an opportunity open to renters and homeowners alike!

The time commitment and duties are posted at https://armatage.org/open-board-seats/ If you are interested in learning more, please email us at anacoordinator@armatage.org and plan to attend the March 15 Monthly Meeting at 6:30pm on Zoom. Photo credit: Jacob Tapia.

A flyer with a blue-green and orange background that shares free home weatherization and old home renovation classes at rethos.org/classes

Upcoming Home Weatherization & Old Home Workshops

Rethos, a regional nonprofit that advocates for the reuse and repair of old buildings, will be offering six free home weatherization and energy efficiency workshops to residents of Hennepin County this year! Workshops will teach residents of old buildings how to maximize energy efficiency, saving money and prolonging the life of their homes.

The first workshop, Why Old is Green: Sustainability in Older Homes, happens on Wednesday, March 16 from 5:30-7:00pm on Zoom. Pricing is pay what you can. You can learn more about the upcoming workshops and register at https://www.rethos.org/education

Image shows a proposed Minneapolis ward map

Final Redistricting Process Details

After every census, Minneapolis updates the boundaries of its 13 wards and six park districts to reflect new population counts. The Redistricting Group, made up of 24 Minneapolis volunteers, built the new maps with input from their communities. The Minneapolis Charter Commission approved the proposed ward and park district maps at 4:00pm yesterday (Wednesday, Mar 2).

Final steps: The City Council will vote on proposed voting precincts and polling places based on the new maps at its regular meeting at 9:30am on Thursday, Mar 10. You can watch on the City’s website, the City’s YouTube channel, or on Comcast channels 14 or 799.

Image shows the Minenapolis skyline at dusk with street lights illuminated from the river.

Office of Police Conduct Review to Review No-Knock Warrant Policy

In the wake of the Feb. 2 fatal police shooting of Amir Locke, the Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR), a division of the City’s Civil Rights Department, will conduct a special review of Minneapolis Police Department’s no-knock warrant policy. The review will focus on identifying and recommending specific changes and improvements to department policy and procedures. Read more here.

Click here to watch the Feb 7 Policy & Government Oversight Committee’s discussion on no-knock warrants.

Canopy logo with sea glass background and two hands (one with tan skin and the with brown skin) holding a growing plant and reaching toward the word "canopy" above.

Minneapolis Behavioral Crisis Response Teams Expand Hours

The City’s Behavioral Crisis Response teams are now operating 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday through a pilot project with Canopy Roots. Two mobile units operate throughout Minneapolis. People having a behavioral crisis, or reporting one, should continue to call 911 for help. 911 dispatchers will gather information and determine if the incident is eligible for a mobile behavioral health team response.

The teams will not respond to incidents involving firearms or violent behavior. The MPD will only be on the scene if dispatch determines the need to clear the scene first or the response teams request assistance to complete their work.  Learn more about the Behavioral Crisis Response teams pilot project here.

Armatage Park is Hiring!

Armatage Park is hiring! Positions available range from childcare staff to programmers, customer service and building supervisors! The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board offers flexible scheduling with hours ranging from afternoon-evening, weekdays and weekends available.

This is a great opportunity for teens, young adults, retired neighbors and anyone looking for flexible, fun work. Reach out to our Park Director Jordan at Armatage@mineapolisparks.org for more information or to apply.

Roll up your sleeves Minnesota graphic showing a person with a mask and a bandaid to indicate recent vaccination.

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.

Testing: you can now order four totally free COVID-19 rapid tests per residential household through https://www.covidtests.gov/  Ordering takes just a couple minutes. For more local testing options including home saliva PCR tests, visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/index.html

Mask Mandate: all patrons, employees and visitors over the age of 2 must wear a mask in Minneapolis businesses and areas of public accommodation. Learn more at https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/coronavirus/masking-guidance/

Graphic with a blue background and coral flowers that says "Donate Today. The Armatage Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit."
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.

February 10, 2022 eNews

Graphic shows a snowy street at dusk with street lamps and snow catching the light on the left. On the right, it says "Armatage Monthly Meeting, Tues Feb 15 from 6:30-8:30pm. Community members welcome! Register to attend on Zoom at bit.ly/ANAmtgs armatage.org"

February 15, 2022 Agenda

Come one, come all to the Armatage Monthly Meeting next Tuesday, February 15 from 6:30-8:30pm on Zoom! You’re encouraged to attend and bring your questions, ideas, and concerns. Register at bit.ly/ANAmtgs

  • Welcome and Introductions (6:30pm)
  • Park Update – Jordan Nelson, Armatage Park Director (6:35pm)
  • MPRB District 6 Update – Commissioner Cathy Abene (6:40pm)
  • Open Board Seats (7:00pm)
  • Annual Meeting & Board Election Planning (7:05pm)
  • Spring Newsletter (7:25pm)
  • Collaboration & Shared Resource Fund (7:40pm)
  • Coordinator Report (7:55pm)
  • ANA Committee Updates (8:00pm)
    • Green Team
    • Safety, Equity & Outreach
    • Community Engagement
  • New Business (8:15pm)

Image shows a group of seven Armatage Neighborhood Association board, staff and volunteers standing under a tent at an outdoor summer event. Everyone is wearing navy shirts that say "Armatage".

Join the Board

The Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA) has two open seats on the Board of Directors! We welcome any Armatage resident that is interested in making an impact, wanting to connect with neighbors and can provide a unique perspective! This is an opportunity open to renters and homeowners alike!

The time commitment and duties are posted at https://armatage.org/open-board-seats/ If you are interested in learning more, please email us at anacoordinator@armatage.org and plan to attend the February 15 Monthly Meeting at 6:30pm on Zoom. Photo credit: Jacob Tapia.

Image shows the Minenapolis skyline at dusk with street lights illuminated from the river.

Minneapolis Lifts Food/Drink Establishment COVID Restrictions

Effective immediately, the City of Minneapolis is rescinding emergency regulations requiring people entering food and drink establishments to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test. The end of the mandate comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are trending downward.

Case rates in Minneapolis have been dropping rapidly and steadily with a current seven-day new case rate of 499 per 100,000 people and positivity rates below the high-risk threshold. When the emergency regulation went into effect, the seven-day new case rate exceeded 1,300 cases per 100,000 people and positivity rates were increasing rapidly. Businesses may continue with their own vaccine or testing requirements.

The City requirement that masks are worn in most public places will remain in effect.

Celebrate Black History Month

The first Black History Month was organized in February 1926 by Carter G. Woodson to encourage “people of all ethnic and social backgrounds [to] discuss the black experience” (ASALH). Congress passed “National Black History Month” into law in 1986, proclaiming that “the foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity” (Library of Congress).

Here are just a few small ways to learn more:

Thanks to Safety, Equity & Outreach Member Sheila Dingels for pulling these resources together!

Graphic has a blue/purple background and shows an outline of a person surrounded by headphones, phones and other devices. The graphic reads "Safety Tip: Be aware of your surroundings" with the Armatage logo.

Personal Safety & Carjacking Prevention Tips

Our Safety Equity & Outreach Committee pulled together tips from a wide range of sources from cities across the country, local media, law enforcement, and our own committee members. We hope they help you to stay aware and stay safe.

See the full list at https://armatage.org/safety-tips/  Follow the ANA on Facebook or Instagram for posts to share with family, friends and neighbors.

Upcoming 58th St/Sunrise Dr/60th St Meeting

Minneapolis Public Works will hold a virtual meeting on the 60th St/Sunrise Dr/58th St repaving project and related assessment on Wednesday, February 23rd, at 6:30pm.  To access the virtual meeting, please visit https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/58th-st-w/  A link to the Microsoft Teams meeting will be posted on the resurfacing project page the day of the meeting.

If you have any questions about assessments for this project, please email the Special Assessment Office at pwspecialassessments@minneapolismn.gov or call 612-673-2401. If you have any questions about construction, please email: Hazel.Wolf@minneapolismn.gov or call 612-772-2524.

Graphic of an envelope with a note that says "Calling All Block Leaders! We're gathering contact info for every block leader in Armatage. Send your name, email address, phone, and the block(s) you represent to anacoordinator@armatage.org"

Organize a Block Party? Let us Know!

The ANA is gathering block leader contact information for every block in Armatage and we need your help! If you help organize any events on your block (like block parties, book clubs, etc.), you’re a block leader and we’d love to connect with you!

Currently, city requirements mean that block leader information cannot be shared or accessed by neighborhoods. Thanks to everyone who has already reached out – we’ve got contact information for about 1/3 of all blocks in Armatage and need to keep adding to this list!

  • If you are a block leader and we don’t have your contact info yet, please send your name, address, email address, phone, and the block(s) that you represent to us at anacoordinator@armatage.org
  • If you’re interested in learning more about block and apartment clubs and how they work, visit http://bit.ly/blockclubs to learn more!

Image shows a proposed Minneapolis ward map

Participate in the Redistricting Process

After every census, Minneapolis updates the boundaries of its 13 wards and six park districts to reflect new population counts. The Redistricting Group, made up of 24 Minneapolis volunteers, builds the new maps with input from their communities. The Redistricting Group needs your help with the redistricting project to make sure all voices are heard. See below for the remaining redistricting process meetings, which you can watch on the City’s website, the City’s YouTube channel, or on Comcast channels 14 or 799.

There is one more public hearing on Thursday, Feb 24 at 4:00pm (register online here to speak).

Next steps: the Minneapolis Charter Commission is expected to approve proposed ward and park district maps at 4:00pm on Wednesday, Mar 2. The City Council will vote on proposed voting precincts and polling places based on the new maps at its regular meeting at 9:30am on Thursday, Mar 10.

Sign up to get notices for all upcoming redistricting meetings.
See current drafts of ward maps.
See current drafts of park district maps.

Armatage Welcome Bags

Have you or any neighbors on your block recently moved to Armatage? If so, we want to bring an Armatage Welcome Bag! The groovy, reusable tote bag’s contents include useful information on the ANA, elected representatives, governmental services, local businesses, and a couple of fun items to welcome you.

  • Homeowners: be on the lookout for friendly ANA volunteers Ethan (pictured), Eli or Kevin with a Welcome Bag with your name on it! They’ll swing by to do a distanced drop-off.
  • Renters: if you are a renter who moved in during the past year or if you own a rental property in the neighborhood and have newish tenants, please reach out to us at anacoordinator@armatage.org and let us know where we can drop off a Welcome Bag!

Join Hennepin County’s Plastic-Free Challenge

Our actions help create a plastic-free world!

Join the 960 participants (and counting!) in reducing your plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics, in ways that fit best in your lifestyle and are most impactful to reducing your footprint. The challenge, which runs through February 28, will help you increase your understanding of plastics and plastic waste, uncover opportunities to cut back on the amount of plastic you bring into your home, and provide support and motivation to make lasting change at home and in your community.  Learn more and sign up at https://hennepinplasticfree.ecochallenge.org/

(The ANA hosted a GREAT workshop on the problem with plastic and practical solutions one year ago with informative speakers from the City, Tare Market, and Eureka Recycling – check it out here!)

Image shows children walking up a sledding hill with sleds in hand.

Sledding at Armatage Park

Saturdays through February 12
10:00am – 12:00pm

Come hit the slopes! As you probably know, Armatage Park has a great sledding hill and winter is the perfect time to burn off some energy sledding with friends and neighbors. Limited sleds are available at the recreation center, so bring one if you can and plan to distance. You can drop by any time for socially distanced sledding! Learn more here.

Roll up your sleeves Minnesota graphic showing a person with a mask and a bandaid to indicate recent vaccination.

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.

Testing: you can now order four totally free COVID-19 rapid tests per residential household through https://www.covidtests.gov/  Ordering takes just a couple minutes. For more local testing options including home saliva PCR tests, visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/index.html

Mask Mandate: all patrons, employees and visitors over the age of 2 must wear a mask in Minneapolis businesses and areas of public accommodation. Learn more at https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/coronavirus/masking-guidance/

Up Your Mask Game

Wearing a high filtration, well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask over your mouth and nose in indoor public settings or crowds (whether indoors or outside) is crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Now is a great time to upgrade your masks to a high filtration mask that provides the most protection. Your mask should fit over your nose and mouth and snug against your face with no gaps. Check lists of trusted manufacturers from the CDC and Project N95 to avoid counterfeit masks.

Graphic with a blue background and coral flowers that says "Donate Today. The Armatage Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit."

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.

February 3, 2022 eNews

Image shows a group of seven Armatage Neighborhood Association board, staff and volunteers standing under a tent at an outdoor summer event. Everyone is wearing navy shirts that say "Armatage".

Join the Board

The Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA) has two open seats on the Board of Directors! We welcome any Armatage resident that is interested in making an impact, wanting to connect with neighbors and can provide a unique perspective! This is an opportunity open to renters and homeowners alike!

The time commitment and duties are posted at https://armatage.org/open-board-seats/ If you are interested in learning more, please email us at anacoordinator@armatage.org. Photo credit: Jacob Tapia.

Celebrate Black History Month

The first Black History Month was organized in February 1926 by Carter G. Woodson to encourage “people of all ethnic and social backgrounds [to] discuss the black experience” (ASALH). Congress passed “National Black History Month” into law in 1986, proclaiming that “the foremost purpose of Black History Month is to make all Americans aware of this struggle for freedom and equal opportunity” (Library of Congress).

Here are just a few small ways to learn more:

  • Sign up for free, once-a-day emails from Anti-Racism Daily’s 28 Days of Black History at https://www.28daysofblackhistory.com/
  • The Capri Theater is showing “How It Feels To Be Free,” tonight (February 3) at 7:00pm. The film centers the story of six iconic Black female performers challenging racism in the entertainment industry. Post-screening community discussion to follow. Tickets are available here.
  • Midtown Global Market hosts a celebration this Saturday, Feb 5 from 12:00-3:00pm showcasing the Black community. Check out new pop-up vendors, musicians, food and kids crafts. Learn more here.
  • The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery’s latest exhibit shares the stories of early Black settlers in Southeast Minnesota. Now open with free admission and parking. Learn more here.
  • Read a book with your child:

Thanks to Safety, Equity & Outreach Member Sheila Dingels for pulling these and the following Lunar New Year resources together!

Image shows a cluster of illuminated red lanterns with gold twinkle lights in the background at night.

Happy Lunar New Year

February 1 st is the beginning of the Lunar New Year in Asian culture, and 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. On the stroke of midnight on the first day of the New Year, every door and window in the house is opened to allow the old year to go out. The color red holds a significant place in New Year celebrations. Specifically, people wear red clothes, they decorate poems on red paper, and they give children “lucky” money in red envelopes. For the Chinese, red symbolizes fire, which traditionally was believed to prevent bad luck.

Here are some ways to celebrate or learn more:

  • Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Minnesota Orchestra. This special event on Saturday, February 5 at 8:00pm will draw upon cultural traditions past and present. Learn more here.
  • Watch this YouTube video on how to make Chinese lanterns.
  • Celebrate the Year of the Tiger, one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, with the Met Museum’s exhibition items online.
  • Enjoy this book with your child: Lunar New Year (Celebrate the World) by Hannah Eliot and Alina Chau.
  • Find interactive videos on New Year and the traditional art of paper cutting through Hennepin County Library (paper cutting kits available at certain library locations).

Graphic has a blue/purple background and shows an outline of a person surrounded by headphones, phones and other devices. The graphic reads "Safety Tip: Be aware of your surroundings" with the Armatage logo.

Personal Safety & Carjacking Prevention Tips

Our Safety Equity & Outreach Committee pulled together tips from a wide range of sources from MPD, local media, cities across the country and our own committee members. We hope they help you to stay aware and stay safe.

See the full list at https://armatage.org/safety-tips/  Follow the ANA on Facebook or Instagram for posts to share with family, friends and neighbors.

Image shows a collage of four nighttime photos - one with two women behind a mutual aid table full of donations, another with neighbors and volunteers at event tables with lots of people in the background, the third shows a group of bundled up folks around a fire pit, and the last shows a group of people watching people skate on an ice rink.

Armatage Fire & Ice Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who came out to Armatage Park’s Fire & Ice event last Friday! Thanks to your generous donations, six large bags of winter weather gear was given to the People’s Closet in George Floyd Square! They were very happy to get the donations as their supplies were starting to dwindle down.

Special thanks to Armatage park staff for hosting! Extra kudos goes to our outstanding volunteers – Kevin, Sharla, Ethan, Torrie, Joyce, Sheila and Paul! So grateful to each of you!

Join Hennepin County’s Plastic-Free Challenge

Our actions help create a plastic-free world!

Join the 814 participants (and counting!) in reducing your plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics, in ways that fit best in your lifestyle and are most impactful to reducing your footprint. The challenge, which runs February 1 through 28, will help you increase your understanding of plastics and plastic waste, uncover opportunities to cut back on the amount of plastic you bring into your home, and provide support and motivation to make lasting change at home and in your community.  Learn more and sign up at https://hennepinplasticfree.ecochallenge.org/

(The ANA hosted a GREAT workshop on the problem with plastic and practical solutions one year ago with informative speakers from the City, Tare Market, and Eureka Recycling – check it out here!)

Armatage Welcome Bags

Have you or any neighbors on your block recently moved to Armatage? If so, we want to bring an Armatage Welcome Bag! The groovy, reusable tote bag’s contents include useful information on the ANA, elected representatives, governmental services, local businesses, and a couple of fun items to welcome you.

  • Homeowners: be on the lookout for friendly ANA volunteers Ethan (pictured), Eli or Kevin with a Welcome Bag with your name on it! They’ll swing by to do a distanced drop-off.
  • Renters: if you are a renter who moved in during the past year or if you own a rental property in the neighborhood and have newish tenants, please reach out to us at anacoordinator@armatage.org and let us know where we can drop off a Welcome Bag!

Graphic of an envelope with a note that says "Calling All Block Leaders! We're gathering contact info for every block leader in Armatage. Send your name, email address, phone, and the block(s) you represent to anacoordinator@armatage.org"

Block Leader Contact Info Needed

The ANA is gathering block leader contact information for every block in Armatage and we need your help! If you help organize any events on your block (like block parties, book clubs, etc.), you’re a block leader and we’d love to connect with you!

Currently, city requirements mean that block leader information cannot be shared or accessed by neighborhoods. Thanks to everyone who has already reached out – we’ve got contact information for about 1/3 of all blocks in Armatage and hope to keep adding to this list!

  • If you are a block leader and we don’t have your contact info yet, please send your name, address, email address, phone, and the block(s) that you represent to us at anacoordinator@armatage.org
  • If you’re interested in learning more about block and apartment clubs and how they work, visit http://bit.ly/blockclubs to learn more!

Upcoming 58th St/Sunrise Dr/60th St Meeting

Minneapolis Public Works will hold a virtual meeting on the 60th St/Sunrise Dr/58th St repaving project and related assessment on Wednesday, February 23rd, at 6:30pm.  To access the virtual meeting, please visit https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/58th-st-w/  A link to the Microsoft Teams meeting will be posted on the resurfacing project page the day of the meeting.

If you have any questions about assessments for this project, please email the Special Assessment Office at pwspecialassessments@minneapolismn.gov or call 612-673-2401. If you have any questions about construction, please email: Hazel.Wolf@minneapolismn.gov or call 612-772-2524.

Image shows a proposed Minneapolis ward map

Participate in the Redistricting Process

After every census, Minneapolis updates the boundaries of its 13 wards and six park districts to reflect new population counts. The Redistricting Group, made up of 24 Minneapolis volunteers, builds the new maps with input from their communities. The Redistricting Group needs your help with the redistricting project to make sure all voices are heard. See below for the remaining redistricting process meetings, which you can watch on the City’s website, the City’s YouTube channel, or on Comcast channels 14 or 799.

Public hearings on proposed maps (register online here to speak): Wednesday, Feb 9 at 7:00pm and Thursday, Feb 24 at 4:00pm

Next steps: the Minneapolis Charter Commission is expected to approve proposed ward and park district maps at 4:00pm on Wednesday, Mar 2. The City Council will vote on proposed voting precincts and polling places based on the new maps at its regular meeting at 9:30am on Thursday, Mar 10.

Image shows a basket of vegetables including beets, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and parsnips and a sprig of mint sitting on a wood bench in front of a bamboo fence.

Free Vegetable Growing Basics Classes

Join the Hennepin County Master Gardeners for a 4-week series on Vegetable Growing Basics. Take a deeper dive to learn what you can spend your time planning, selecting and doing while waiting for the outdoor season to begin again. This series of classes provides a post-beginner view of how to plan and get ready for your herb and vegetable garden. Classes take place on Saturdays at 10am or Tuesdays at 7pm starting February 5. Registration is free – sign up here.

Image shows a graphic of a kangaroo holding a book and says "Armatage Elementary School"

Armatage Elementary Enrollment Deadline is February 7

School enrollment season is coming to a close! Anyone who lives in the neighborhood who has a child in grades K-5 during the 2022-2023 school year who is not already enrolled at Armatage Elementary can request Armatage as their first choice on the online school choice form at https://enrollnow.exploremps.org/onlinerequest (scroll down to the 2022-2023 enrollment) by this Monday, February 7!  This includes all incoming kindergartners.

Kanga News: Sign up for Armatage Elementary’s e-news, Kanga News! Current families and community members are welcome to sign up for Kanga News at https://armatage.mpls.k12.mn.us/Communications

Image shows children walking up a sledding hill with sleds in hand.

Socially Distanced Sledding at Armatage Park

Saturdays through February 12
10:00am – 12:00pm

Come hit the slopes! As you probably know, Armatage Park has a great sledding hill and winter is the perfect time to burn off some energy sledding with friends and neighbors.

Limited sleds are available at the recreation center, so bring one if you can and plan to distance. You can drop by any time for socially distanced sledding! Learn more here.

Graphic with a blue background that says "#maskupmpls at all indoor public spaces" and lists daycare, gas station, government building, grocery store, office building and library.

Mask & Restaurant Testing/Vaccination Requirements

Starting last week, everyone age 5 and older entering an establishment that serves food or drink in Minneapolis must show proof of either being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or having a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days. There are a few exceptions including K-12 and early childcare settings. Get all your questions answered at https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/coronavirus/businesses-employees/testing-vaccine-policy/

Mask Mandate: Because of the surging, highly contagious omicron variant, all patrons, employees and visitors over the age of 2 must wear a mask in Minneapolis businesses and areas of public accommodation. This includes restaurants, bars, libraries, retail stores, schools, recreation centers, rental establishments, theaters and more. Learn more at https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/coronavirus/masking-guidance/

Up Your Mask Game

Along with getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a high filtration, well-fitting mask over your mouth and nose in indoor public settings or crowds (whether indoors or outside) is crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Now is a great time to upgrade your masks to a high filtration mask that provides the most protection. Here are a few more tips:

  • Your mask should fit over your nose and mouth and snug against your face with no gaps.
  • If you’re using a cloth mask, wear one with multiple layers or wear a cloth mask over a surgical mask. Be sure your mask fits properly; nose wires improve fit.
  • Surgical masks provide protection against large droplets.
  • Check lists of trusted manufacturers from the CDC and Project N95 to avoid counterfeit masks.

Screenshot taken from the website to order free at-home COVID-19 tests through the federal government.

COVID-19 Testing Options

You can now order four totally free COVID-19 rapid tests per residential household through https://www.covidtests.gov/  Ordering takes just a couple minutes.

For more local testing options including home saliva PCR tests, visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/index.html

Roll up your sleeves Minnesota graphic showing a person with a mask and a bandaid to indicate recent vaccination.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters

Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map (more options listed below). Learn more about  boosters here.

Find a Vaccine:

Vaccines work. If you haven’t been vaccinated or gotten a booster yet, get a free vaccine as soon as you can.

December 2, 2021 eNews

Graphic with holiday lights at night in the background and text that reads "Armatage Holiday Light Tour, Friday 12/10 through Sun 12/19 from 5-8pm. More info at armatage.org"

Sign up for the Holiday Light Tour by Dec 7

We need more houses and apartments to sign up for the second annual Armatage Holiday Light Tour! Any winter holiday or theme is welcome so bring your love of Hannukah, Kwanzana, New Year, the Winter Solstice, and/or Christmas!  If you live in the neighborhood and love to decorate for the holidays, please sign up by Tuesday, December 7 at 11:59pm at https://armatage.org/holidaylights/

Please plan to have lights on and decorations up throughout the tour, which runs from December 10 through December 19 from 5:00-8:00pm. Your address will be published on the tour map, which will be light at armatage.org/holidaylights/ next week. Visitors will be able to vote for their favorites and the three displays with the most votes will each win a $50 gift card to a local business!

Graphic with full shelves of books in the background and text that says "Join the 2022 Armatage Reading Circle. Sign up at bit.ly/2022readingcircle"

Sign up for the Next Armatage Reading Circle

Hello neighbors! Interested in joining a book club? Have past book clubs overwhelmed you with the pace of reading and content overload? Well, then consider joining our slothful book club. Each month, we will read a small chunk of a book and then get together to discuss questions focused solely on that chunk. That way, the pace is more manageable and the questions feel more relevant.

Last year, we read All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis and are currently looking for a new title for next year! The goal would be to start in Jan/Feb 2022 and it would last anywhere from 6 to 9 months based on the book we choose. If you’re interested in joining and/or have titles that might be worth sharing with your neighbors, please sign up at https://bit.ly/2022readingcircle

New Feature: Armatage Neighbor Spotlight!

If you have an Armatage neighbor you’d like us to honor, we’d love to spotlight them in the Armatage eNews and on social media!

To submit a Neighbor Spotlight, please send an email with a short description and a picture to anacoordinator@armatage.org Check out out first Neighbor Spotlight of Green Team member Sarah Komoroski below!

Image shows two people, one man and woman with their dog. They are in the snow with pine trees in the background.

Neighbor Spotlight: Sarah Komoroski

Did you know that Armatage neighbor and Green Team member Sarah Komoroski (above, right) attended the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this year?

We couldn’t be more proud and excited for Sarah and are excited to hear moreabout her experience at an upcoming Green Team meeting! She’s pictured here with husband Ethan and pup Sanford. Go Sarah!

Graphic with a microphone on a stand that has a sign hanging from the handle. The sign reads "public hearing"

Final City Budget Public Hearing

The City of Minneapolis will hold its final public hearing on the 2022 City Budget on Wednesday, December 8 at 6:05pm. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the budget on December 8, too.

Find out how to watch the public hearing, send in a comment for the public record, or sign up to speak during the hearing at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/meetings/ **If you’re thinking of speaking, the deadline to register is no later than 3:00pm on December 8.**

The proposed 2022 $1.599 billion City budget includes a 5.45% levy increase. Visit the City’s website to learn more about the mayor’s recommended budget, key dates in the approval process, FAQs and more: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/budget/

Life on the Southside Free Event

In this virtual event from the Hennepin History Museum on December 7, African-American elders will share memories and stories about life in the integrated middle-class community on the Southside of Minneapolis before and after 35W. This program will highlight the narratives showcased in the Hennepin History Museum exhibit, Human Toll: A Public History of 35W. Speakers include: Mr. Louis Moore, Mr. Anthony Scott, Mrs. Nelda Huggins, and moderator, Dr. Ernest Lloyd.

**Register for this Zoom event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/life-on-the-southside-tickets-212727141607   Photograph from the John F. Glanton Photographic Collection

Image shows a recent snowfall in an urban neighborhood with snow dusting a tree, a street lamp, a fence and two houses in the distance

Get Ready for Winter Weather

Winter in Minnesota can be tough with extreme cold, whiteout blizzards and power outages. Children, older adults and people with chronic illness are especially at risk during cold months. Here are a few tips to get ready:

  • Sign up for weather alerts on your device and download apps such as the free FEMA app.
  • Know important weather terms:
    • Winter weather advisory means that snow, sleet or freezing rain is accumulating.
    • Winter storm watch means that conditions are right for a storm to happen.
    • Winter storm warning means that a storm is happening.
  • Have a plan to stay home safely if the power goes out. Check in with neighbors, friends and family.
  • Have a plan to stay safe while you travel. Don’t crowd the plow. Have supplies in your vehicle such as boots, a blanket and a shovel.

Graphic shows a diagram of underground water lines that run from a water main to a home. The property owner is responsible for the curb valve, water service line, and water meter. The City is responsible for the water main.

Tips to Keep Your Pipes from Freezing

Water in your service line can freeze during very cold winter weather and prevent it from getting to your faucets. This can happen when:

  • The depth of the frost reaches the depth of the service line.
  • Your basement is not heated where the water service line enters your home.

While water mains are maintained by the City, lines that bring the water from the mains into homes and buildings are the responsibility of property owners. If your service line is frozen, you’ll need to contact a qualified contractor who specializes in thawing frozen service lines. Call 311 for information on contractors who do this type of work.

Most service lines are buried deep enough to not freeze in the winter. If your water service lines have not frozen in the past, they are unlikely to freeze now. Find more information including tips on preventing water lines from freezing on the City website.

Side by side before and after images of an Armatage curb. In the first before image, there are many leaves covering the curb and storm drain. In the second, volunteers have cleaned the curb and bagged up all the leaves.

Still Have Leaves in your Yard or Drains? We Have Options!

Yard waste collection has ended for the season but there still lots of leaves falling, including into our storm drains where they cause flooding and lead to all kinds of problems in our lakes and the Mississippi River. The pics above were from a volunteer clean-up earlier this month and WOW – what a difference! Thanks to Armatage Green Team members for sending this in!

For leaves on lawns, consider mulching them with your lawn mower to give your grass a nutrient boost, which is quick and easy.  If you find yourself with full yard waste bags and nowhere to take them, here are a few low cost options:

Take the Minneapolis Salt Mini-Course

Did you know that Minnesota is over salting our roads and sidewalks? Learn more with the City of Minneapolis educational program, the Salt Mini-Course. Winter road and sidewalk de-icing salt can be hazardous to our safety and our environment. Safety is the priority when applying de-icers, and over application of salt is actually LESS effective. More salt does not mean more melting!

Take the pledge to salt smartly with the self-guided Minneapolis Salt Mini-Course! Residents and businesses can learn about the consequences of over salting, and what we can do to help protect our beloved Minnesota waters from the permanent pollutant of chloride salt. If you’re interested in learning more, visit https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/environmental-programs/salt/ or reach out to program coordinator, Léa, at lea.payette@minneapolismn.gov

Picture that shows a storm drain with leaf debris and says "not clearing organic debris from storm drains can lead to..." next to a picture of a lake with lots of green algae and text that says "...algae in our local waterways."

Psst! It’s a Great Time to Adopt a Storm Drain

Did you know storm drains flow directly into our local lakes and the Mississippi River? Rain can carry leaves, trash and other debris and nutrients that can, in abundance, harm our waters. Just five bags’ worth of leaves can deliver one pound of phosphorus to a water body and result in up to 1,000 pounds of algae blooms.

Adopting a storm drain near you at adopt-a-drain.org is a simple, yet effective step in preventing this.

New Zero Waste Store, Zeroish Co!

Interested in reducing your household waste? One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic packaging. And that’s where new nearby store, Zeroish Co, at 50th & Penn and https://www.zeroishco.com/ can help!

Zeroish is a shop where you can find hundreds of sustainable everyday items (think bathroom consumables or kitchen cleaning products, as examples) and eco-friendly gifts. They aim to give people the tips and tools to make positive changes within their means, without the pressure of achieving the “perfect” zero waste lifestyle. Not sure how or where to start? Bring a few empty mason jars and an open mind to the store and let them be your guide!

-Ethan, Armatage Green Team member

Image shows a group of neighbors in front of a two story home with solar panels holding signs that say "we went solar" next to a Solar United Neighborhoods informational table

Interested in Rooftop Solar?

If you’re interested in going solar, 2022 is a great time to do it with help from neighbors. Your participation will also help Minneapolis reach its goal to generate 10% of electricity needs with local solar. This is part of the City’s climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gases. We’re already at 6% today!

Twin Cities Region Solar Co-op

Twin Cities Region Solar Co-op helps make rooftop solar more accessible for Minneapolis homeowners. The solar co-op joins neighbors together to get the best price and service from a solar installer, tap into the expertise at Solar United Neighbors, and learn about solar incentives. The City of Minneapolis is partnering in this effort. Learn more from Solar United Neighbors.

Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards to Re-open in 2022

With Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards Incentive Program, if you produce more energy than you need, the extra energy is added to the grid, and excess energy will be credited to your bill.

Roll up your sleeves Minnesota graphic showing a person with a mask and a bandaid to indicate recent vaccination.

COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters

With the omicron variant hitting Minnesota, getting a COVID-19 booster and getting children ages 5 and up vaccinated is more important than ever. All adults are now eligible to get a booster. Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map.

Upcoming Minneapolis Vaccine Clinic – learn more here:

  • Saturday, Dec. 4 (9 a.m.-noon) Park Avenue United Methodist Church, 3400 Park Ave. Pfizer (12 and older, Pfizer boosters available, walk-ins welcome)

Other Ways to Get a Vaccine:

Vaccines work. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, get a free vaccine as soon as you can. About nine out of 10 Americans live within 5 miles of a COVID-19 vaccination site.

2021 Highlights

Another year impacted by COVID-19, but volunteers and staff had plenty of creativity!  Here’s what the ANA did in our community:

January Let’s Talk About Plastic series

In January, the Armatage Green Team & staff hosted a three part educational series on plastic. The first part was a community screening of groundbreaking documentary, The Story of Plastic. Next, we hosted a community discussion on the film. Last, a panel of fabulous speakers from the City of Minneapolis, Eureka Recycling and Tare Market shared the problem with plastic AND practical solutions. We had hundreds of participants from around Minnesota and were so excited to host this series!

Reading Circle

From February through September of this year, a group of Armatage neighbors and Green Team members read and discussed All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, first on Zoom and then outside. This was a slothful book club where members only read a chapter a month so they could fully dive into the content together. It was so successful that the next Reading Circle is planned for 2022!

Solar Workshop

In March, the Green Team hosted another virtual workshop, this time on solar energy with an emphasis on options for renters and homeowners who don’t have a roof conducive to solar. An informative speaker from the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society shared on the history of solar and community options.

Spring Neighborhood Clean-up

The ANA partnered with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board to host a DIY Earth Day Clean-up at Armatage Park on April 26. Volunteers handed out supplies and clean-up teams went into the park and neighborhood to gather trash and recycling.

Spring Tea & Blooms

The Community Engagement Committee hosted a Spring Tea & Blooms event outside at Armatage Park on Saturday, May 8. Kids picked up take-home planting kits and free books and did neighborhood scavenger hunts.  Food and drinks were available from Sparrow Cafe, Cafe Ceres, and Jinx Tea.

Year 4 – W 60th St

Rain & Native Garden Program

The Green Team again led a low-cost Rain & Native Garden program in partnership with Metro Blooms.  15 rain or native gardens were installed throughout the neighborhood as part of the program and the ANA offered additional assistance to residents who met income guidelines and renters. We also created a NEW gallery of Armatage rain gardens that you can check out at https://armatage.org/rain-garden-gallery/

All Are Welcome Here Lawn Signs

The ANA organized this lawn sign campaign to show unity and support for neighbors throughout our community after racist messages appeared around the neighborhood earlier this year. Our goal was to get 100 inclusive, colorful lawn signs into the neighborhood to spread the message that ALL Are Welcome in Armatage!  Volunteers tabled throughout the summer and at events, like the Movie in the Park pictured above. Learn more and get one of the remaining signs at https://armatage.org/allarewelcomehere/

Movie in the Park

At last!  Distanced, outdoor Movies in the Park were back in 2021! On June 12, MANY Armatage neighbors and visitors gathered outside at Armatage Park for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The Safety, Equity & Outreach Committee tabled with All Are Welcome Here lawn signs before the movie.

Summer Food Truck Night

The Community Engagement Committee held a Summer Food Truck Night on August 14 with free hydrodipping art activities, books donated by Jump! Library, and a ton of fabulous food vendors. It was amazing to spend the evening outdoors enjoying good food, music and sunshine with neighbors. Huge thanks to our volunteers, vendors and partners for a great event! Learn more at https://armatage.org/summer-food-truck-night/

New Playground at Armatage Park

The Armatage Park Play Area was redone this year! The ANA shared planning surveys, online public hearing info, and information on the project with the neighborhood. When there was a gap in funding for the project, the ANA Board voted to allocate $27,645.21 from a park improvement budget to cover the funding gap for the playground so it could be completed on time and in full. This donation from the neighborhood made two of the three shade canopies (pictured above) and an accessible seesaw possible. Learn more about the project at https://armatage.org/armatage-park-play-area/

Meet Your Community Helpers Event

On September 25, the Safety, Equity & Outreach Committee hosted an interactive educational event with the helpers that serve our community. Participating organizations included the US Postal Service, Free the Deeds, Minneapolis Fire Department, Armatage Elementary, Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling, Minneapolis Police Department K-9 and Mounted Police Units, Allina Health, Park Board Police, and two amazing health care providers who just happen to be fabulous neighborhood volunteers. Learn more at https://armatage.org/meet-your-community-helpers/

Fall Neighborhood Clean-up

We had an awesome team of kids and adults at the Fall Neighborhood Clean-up on October 2! The clean-up was hosted by the Armatage Green Team with most clean-up supplies provided by the City of Minneapolis. Together, volunteers collected 16 bags of trash and 10 bags of recycling from our parks, boulevards, storm drains.

Jim Crow of the North Screening & Discussion

A member of the Armatage Safety, Equity & Outreach Committee organized an outdoor screening of ground-breaking local documentary, Jim Crow of the North. Neighbors came together on a Thursday evening at the park to screen the film AND to hear from speakers from Just Deeds and the City of Lakes Land Trust.

Halloween Tour

Holiday Light Tour

October 14, 2021 eNews

October 19, 2021 Agenda

Community members are encouraged to join the ANA Monthly Meeting this Tuesday, October 19 from 6:30-8:30pm. This month’s meeting will be held on Zoom. Register at bit.ly/ANAmtgs

  • Welcome and Introductions
  • Park Update – Jordan Nelson, Armatage Park Director (6:35pm)
  • Southwest Voices – Charlie Rybak (6:40pm)
  • Edits & Approval of New Bylaws (7:00pm)
  • Edits & Approval of Plan Mod (7:15pm)
  • Draft ADA & Language Access Policies (7:30pm)
  • Coordinator Report (7:50pm)
  • Committee 3 Minute Updates (8:00pm)
  • New Business

Weigh in on the Draft Bylaws & Funding Plan Through Oct 15

There are just two days left to weigh in on the ANA’s draft bylaws and funding plan! Learn how the ANA plans to update its governing bylaws to comply with the City of Minneapolis’s new funding program and how it plans to add more funds to its reserve community engagement and staffing budgets. Thank you to the many of you who have already voting for making your voice heard!

Click here to learn more about the plans and vote by tomorrow (Friday, October 15) at 11:59pm. You can also call or text us at 612.466.0296 or email us at anacoordinator@armatage.org. As long as your vote gets in before the deadline, it will be counted.

Armatage Halloween Decoration Tour graphic with pumpkin. Tour dates are Friday 10/22 through Sun 10/31 from 6-8pm each night.

Sign up for the Halloween Tour

Get ready to enjoy the sights and frights around Armatage for our second annual Halloween Decoration Tour!

Sign up for the tour by Monday, October 18 at 11:59pm and be a bright spot in the neighborhood this season! Learn more and register at https://armatage.org/halloweentour

Upcoming Candidate & Charter Forums

We’ve teamed up with our neighboring communities to host informative, non-partisan City Council and Park Board candidate forums as well as an educational series on the proposed charter amendments to help you get ready for Election Day on November 2!

Charter Amendment Forum

Saturday, October 16 | 10:00-11:30am

Not sure about the proposed charter amendments? This Saturday’s forum will cover the topics of public safety, rent control, and the structure of city government. Advocates in favor of and opposed to each charter amendment will make their case, and help you decide which way to vote. Register to attend: https://forms.gle/eLyRqiZ9LDuZAHH98

You can also check out this handy fact sheet that outlines the arguments for and against each amendment here. Sponsored by Minneapolis neighborhood organizations (including the ANA) and moderated by the League of Women Voters.

Ward 13 Candidate Forum

Tuesday, October 19 | 7:00pm (rescheduled date)

Join us online for a Ward 13 Candidate Forum on Tuesday, October 19 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Candidates and the moderator will be in-person, but there will be no live audience. The forum will be recorded and livestreamed on the League of Women Voters Minneapolis Facebook page. Sponsored by Ward 13 neighborhoods (including the ANA). Register to live stream the event at https://lindenhills.org/ward-13-forum/

Graphic from the Minneapolis Park Board District 6 Candidate Forum held on September 28. Recording available.

Park Board District 6 Candidate Forum

In case you missed last month’s Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board District 6 Candidate Forum, check out the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtV9pSqEdY8

Picture of a Minneapolis Streep Sweeping truck on a city street

Street Sweeping Starts Next Week

Watch the progress, look up your sweeping date, and get all your street sweeping questions answered at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-around/parking-driving/street-sweep/

Woman cooking a meal

Create Meals, Not Waste: Join Hennepin County’s Stop Food Waste Challenge

We LOVE food, which leaves us wondering: why do we let so much of it go to waste? About 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain. Here in Hennepin County, we throw away enough edible food each year to fill Target Field 1.5 times (!!).

Join Hennepin County’s Stop Food Waste Challenge. Hennepin County can help you learn easy, practical skills that will help you stop wasting food, put more money in your pocket and create a healthier environment. Creating a meal plan, buying just what you need at the grocery store, cooking creatively and properly storing food can have a big effect on reducing the amount of food in your home that goes to waste.

Kid A Clutter Pickup Drive Van

Kid Clutter Pickup Drive This Month

Fall is here!  Clear out that outgrown kid stuff when the Kid Clutter Pickup Drive returns to Armatage on October 25 and 26.

Kid A picks up your used kid and baby stuff, pays you for the items that they resell, and donates everything else to great local non-profit organizations for you.  During their spring pickup drive, Kid A raised $682 for local school PTAs and collected more than 7,500 donated items for Tandem Family Resource Center, Arc’s Value Village, and Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN.

Turn your kid clutter into cash and community resources in one convenient pickup. Reserve a time at kidamarketplace.com/pickup-drive – but don’t wait, slots are limited!

Take the Transforming Community Safety Survey

Please complete the Office of Violence Prevention’s Transforming Community Safety Survey to share your thoughts on a new model of community safety. The purpose of the survey is to give members of the Minneapolis community an opportunity to identify what safety looks like and provide ideas for how a new model can be accomplished

The Office of Violence Prevention will use feedback from this survey to create recommendations for elected leaders and guide our next steps in our community engagement

Click here to take the survey.

Jim Crow of the North Screening

Huge thanks to everyone who attended last week’s outdoor screening of Jim Crow of the North!  Sponsored by the Armatage Safety, Equity & Outreach Committee and hosted in partnership with AREA, we had a great turnout for the film AND got to hear from two great speakers from the Just Deeds Project and the City of Lakes Land Trust!

If you missed the screening but want to learn more, you can also view the documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWQfDbbQv9E

Get Ready for the November 2 Election

The Minneapolis Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave is open for voters who wish to cast their ballot early and in person. Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services has also begun mailing ballots to voters who have requested to vote early by mail. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person  And see what’s on the ballot at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot

Never voted early before? A new video shows you how easy it is to vote early. Follow typical Minneapolis voters Chad and Maya as they cast early ballots. Watch the video HERE.

Ranked Choice Voting

Minneapolis voters will use ranked choice voting this fall! Ranked choice voting is a way of voting that eliminates the need for separate primary elections. Voters rank up to three candidates for each office. The ballot has three columns, and choices are made from left to right in those columns. Ranked choice voting in Minneapolis is used only for municipal elections. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/ranked-choice-voting/

Voter Registration

The Office of the Secretary of State has a simple online tool that voters can use to see if they are registered to vote at their current address.

October 7, 2021 eNews

Jim Crow of the North Screening & Discussion Tonight

Thursday, October 7
6:30-8:00pm

Our FREE community screening and discussion of the groundbreaking documentary, Jim Crow of the North, happens TONIGHT (Thursday, October 7) from 6:30-8:00pm outside the Armatage Rec Center. After the film, we’ll hold a short discussion with Maria Ciseros of The Just Deeds Project, which helps homeowners and cities by providing free help to undo racial housing covenants.

Please dress for the weather and plan to distance. Free hot cocoa, sparkling water and popcorn provided (donations appreciated). All are welcome, even if you don’t live in Armatage. Sign up at https://armatage.org/jimcrowofthenorth/

Community Engagement Meeting Tonight at 6:00pm

You’re invited to tonight’s Community Engagement meeting, which happens from 6:00-7:00pm outdoors at Armatage Park!  All are welcome (including kids and dogs!) to join. We’ll meet near the playground so please bring a chair and come find us.

On the agenda is planning for the Halloween Decoration Tour this month (see below), the Holiday Light Tour in December, with time for new ideas, too.

Weigh in on the Draft Bylaws & Funding Plan Through Oct 15

There is just over a week left to weigh in on the ANA’s draft bylaws and funding plan! The ANA is updating its governing bylaws to comply with the City of Minneapolis’s new funding program. The ANA has ALSO drafted a neighborhood funding plan (called a Plan Modification) to add more funds to its reserve community engagement and staffing budgets.

We hope to have as many community members vote on both during the public comment period, which runs through October 15. Huge thanks to the many of you who have weighed in already!

Click here to learn more and weigh in by October 15. Thank you for making your voice heard!

Sign up for the Halloween Tour

Get ready to enjoy the sights and frights around Armatage for our second annual Halloween Decoration Tour!

Sign up for the tour by October 18 and be a bright spot in the neighborhood this season! Learn more and register at https://armatage.org/halloweentour

Candidate & Charter Amendment Forums

We’ve teamed up with our neighboring communities to host informative, non-partisan City Council and Park Board candidate forums as well as an educational series on the proposed charter amendments to help you get ready for Election Day on November 2!

Kid Clutter Pickup Drive This Month

Fall is here!  Clear out that outgrown kid stuff when the Kid Clutter Pickup Drive returns to Armatage on October 12, 25, and 26.

Kid A picks up your used kid and baby stuff, pays you for the items that they resell, and donates everything else to great local non-profit organizations for you.

During their spring pickup drive, Kid A raised $682 for local school PTAs and collected more than 7,500 donated items for Tandem Family Resource Center, Arc’s Value Village, and Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN.

Turn your kid clutter into cash and community resources in one convenient pickup. Reserve a time at kidamarketplace.com/pickup-drive – but don’t wait, slots are limited!

Open Streets Lyndale collage

Open Streets Lyndale: Sunday, October 10

Open Streets Lyndale happens this Sunday, October 10 from 11:00am-5:00pm!

A four-mile stretch of Lyndale Avenue South from West 22nd Street to West 54th Street will be closed to motor vehicle traffic to open it up for people to enjoy activities on the street in a car-free environment. There will be live entertainment, more than 140 local vendors and a large artisan market with over 30 local creators.  Learn more about the event here.

Get Ready for the November 2 Election

The Minneapolis Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave is open for voters who wish to cast their ballot early and in person. Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services has also begun mailing ballots to voters who have requested to vote early by mail. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person  And see what’s on the ballot at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot

Never voted early before? A new video shows you how easy it is to vote early. Follow typical Minneapolis voters Chad and Maya as they cast early ballots. Watch the video HERE.

Ranked Choice Voting

Minneapolis voters will use ranked choice voting this fall! Ranked choice voting is a way of voting that eliminates the need for separate primary elections. Voters rank up to three candidates for each office. The ballot has three columns, and choices are made from left to right in those columns. Ranked choice voting in Minneapolis is used only for municipal elections. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/ranked-choice-voting/

Voter Registration

The Office of the Secretary of State has a simple online tool that voters can use to see if they are registered to vote at their current address.

Take the Transforming Community Safety Survey

Please complete the Office of Violence Prevention’s Transforming Community Safety Survey to share your thoughts on a new model of community safety. The purpose of the survey is to give members of the Minneapolis community an opportunity to identify what safety looks like and provide ideas for how a new model can be accomplished

The Office of Violence Prevention will use feedback from this survey to create recommendations for elected leaders and guide our next steps in our community engagement

Click here to take the survey.

Thank You, Clean-up Volunteers!

Huge thanks to everyone who volunteered at the Fall Clean-up on October 2! We had an awesome team of kids and adults! Together, they collected 16 bags of trash and 10 bags of recycling from our parks, boulevards, storm drains. Thank you, volunteers!

All Are Welcome Here Lawn Signs – Just a Few Remain

If you’ve been thinking about getting an All Are Welcome Here lawn sign, now is a great time to do so!  The ANA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so your donation is tax deductible and eligible for employer matching contributions.

Signs + stakes are $20 each and your donation goes toward supporting the ANA’s work in our community. Order online at armatage.org/allarewelcomehere/ and, if you’re in the neighborhood, we’ll deliver your sign to your front yard.

September 30, 2021 eNews

Jim Crow of the North Free Screening & Discussion

Thursday, October 7
6:30-8:00pm

The Armatage Safety, Equity and Outreach Committee is hosting a FREE community screening and discussion of the TPT documentary, Jim Crow of the North, on the history of redlining in the Twin Cities on Thursday, October 7 from 6:30-8:00pm outside the Armatage Rec Center. After the film, stay for the discussion with Maria Ciseros of the Just Deeds Project, which helps homeowners and cities by providing free help to undo racial housing covenants.

Both the Armatage neighborhood and Minneapolis as a whole are deeply impacted by racial housing covenants. Don’t miss this chance to safely view and discuss the film. Dress for the weather and plan to distance. Free hot cocoa and popcorn provided. All are welcome, even if you don’t live in Armatage.

Sign up at https://armatage.org/jimcrowofthenorth/

Fall Neighborhood Clean-up

Saturday, October 2
9:00-11:00am

Join the Armatage Green Team for our annual Fall Clean-up this Saturday, October 2 from 9:00-11:00am! This is a great opportunity for kids, teens and adults to show neighborhood pride and keep trash and recycling out of our waterways. The ANA will provide the supplies and you provide the volunteer power!  Sign-up at https://armatage.org/events/clean-ups/ Rain date: October 9.

Weigh in on the Draft Bylaws & Funding Plan Through Oct 15

This fall, the Armatage Neighborhood Association needs your help!  The ANA will update its governing bylaws in order to comply with the City of Minneapolis’s new funding program. The ANA has ALSO drafted a neighborhood funding plan (called a Plan Modification) to shift more funds to long-term community engagement and staffing budgets to enable the ANA to operate as long as possible. We hope to have as many community members vote on both during the public comment period, which runs through October 15.

Click here to learn more and weigh in by October 15. Thank you for making your voice heard!

Upcoming Candidate & Charter Amendment Forums

We’ve teamed up with our neighboring communities to host informative, non-partisan City Council and Park Board candidate forums as well as an educational series on the proposed charter amendments to help you get ready for Election Day on November 2!

Sign up for the Halloween Tour

Get ready to enjoy the sights and frights around Armatage for our second annual Halloween Decoration Tour!

Sign up for the tour by October 18 and be a bright spot in the neighborhood this season! Learn more and register at https://armatage.org/halloweentour

Take the Transforming Community Safety Survey

Please complete the Office of Violence Prevention’s Transforming Community Safety Survey to share your thoughts on a new model of community safety. The purpose of the survey is to give members of the Minneapolis community an opportunity to identify what safety looks like and provide ideas for how a new model can be accomplished

The Office of Violence Prevention will use feedback from this survey to create recommendations for elected leaders and guide our next steps in our community engagement

Click here to take the survey.

Minneapolis Bag Ordinance Starts Friday

Starting this Friday, October 1, a City ordinance requiring a 5 cent fee for each carryout bag provided by a store goes into effect. Enforcement had paused temporarily when the pandemic began. Carryout bags include any plastic, compostable, paper and reusable bags provided by the store. Shoppers can avoid paying the fee by bringing their own bags with them to the store. This fee is only charged when a store provides a new bag to a customer at checkout. Customers are welcome to reuse any bags they already have. Learn more here.

Meet Your Community Helpers Thank You!

Huge thanks to everyone who came to last Saturday’s event, donated school supplies and participated in the demos and activities!

Get Ready for the November 2 Election

The Minneapolis Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave is open for voters who wish to cast their ballot early and in person. Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services has also begun mailing ballots to voters who have requested to vote early by mail. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person  And see what’s on the ballot at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot

Ranked Choice Voting

Minneapolis voters will use ranked choice voting this fall! Ranked choice voting is a way of voting that eliminates the need for separate primary elections. Voters rank up to three candidates for each office. The ballot has three columns, and choices are made from left to right in those columns. Ranked choice voting in Minneapolis is used only for municipal elections. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/ranked-choice-voting/

Voter Registration

The Office of the Secretary of State has a simple online tool that voters can use to see if they are registered to vote at their current address.

All Are Welcome Here Lawn Signs – Just a Few Remain

If you’ve been thinking about getting an All Are Welcome Here lawn sign, now is a great time to do so!  The ANA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so your donation is tax deductible and eligible for employer matching contributions.

Signs + stakes are $20 each and your donation goes toward supporting the ANA’s work in our community. Order online at armatage.org/allarewelcomehere/ and, if you’re in the neighborhood, we’ll deliver your sign to your front yard.

September 23, 2021 eNews

Meet Your Community Helpers Event

Saturday, September 25
2:00-5:00pm

Meet the helpers that serve our community this Saturday, September 25! Get your pressing recycling questions answered, meet a fire truck, talk with our MPD 5th Precinct staff about community safety, explore the inside of a USPS mail truck or an ambulance, learn about Free the Deeds and AREA’s work to undo racial housing covenants, share what equity in Armatage means to you, get an All Are Welcome Here lawn sign, weigh in on the neighborhood Bylaws & Funding Plan, learn about the proposed charter amendments, and lots more. Plus, Sparrow Cafe and Thumbs Cookies will both be on-site with treats!

Please plan to wear a mask at the event. See more COVID safety and event details at https://armatage.org/meet-your-community-helpers/

Armatage School Supply Drive

Check out Armatage Elementary’s school supply wish list here and bring much-needed items to donate to get entered to win a Ring doorbell or three day emergency kit donated by the ANA!

The American Rescue Plan Act Survey Closes Friday

The City of Minneapolis is seeking feedback from residents, businesses, and community organizations as it considers funding priorities for the second round of American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded to the City to address economic and public health impacts from the pandemic.

The survey will be open through this Friday, September 24. Results will assist City leaders as they determine funding priorities for the remaining federal funding awarded to the City. Take the survey to rank funding priorities here.

Advocate for Neighborhood Funding

Base funding for neighborhood organizations like the Armatage Neighborhood Association will drop to $15,000/year in 2022 and just $10,000/year in 2023. When taking the survey, please consider asking for more neighborhood funding. Crunched for time? A sample comment for the survey is included below:

Neighborhood organizations play a key role in our city through their community work, communications and advocacy. They will no longer be able to do that without increased investment in their basic operating budgets. Please use the American Rescue Plan Act Funding to ensure neighborhoods are funded at a base minimum of $25,000 per year. Their work benefits our communities and the entire city of Minneapolis and together they help meet the goals of the stated priorities in this survey.

September 21 Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined this week’s outdoor Monthly Neighborhood Meeting!  Larry Matsumoto from the Department of Public Works gave an overview of the 2022 60th Street /Sunrise Drive repaving project. 60th hasn’t been repaved since 1985 and we hope next year’s mill and overlay will help immensely. For an average city lot, the anticipated assessment will be roughly $1100 spread over 5 years. Property owners adjacent to 60th can expect a mailing from the city in early 2022 and an invite to a public hearing with more specifics on the construction timeline.

Park Director Jordan Nelson also gave an update on fall and winter programming. Ward 13 Policy Aide John Freude attended to discuss the upcoming city budget hearings and the American Rescue Act Fund survey (see below for a link). The ANA then edited and approved its 2022 city funding applications, several new required policies, and funds to support local businesses and purchase gift cards for the Halloween and Holiday Tour prizes.

Weigh in on the Draft Bylaws & Funding Plan Through Oct 15

This fall, the Armatage Neighborhood Association needs your help!  The ANA will update its governing bylaws in order to comply with the City of Minneapolis’s new funding program. The ANA has ALSO drafted a neighborhood funding plan (called a Plan Modification) to shift more funds to long-term community engagement and staffing budgets to enable the ANA to operate as long as possible. We hope to have as many community members vote on both during the public comment period, which runs through October 15.

Click here to learn more and weigh in by October 15. Thank you for making your voice heard!

Upcoming Candidate & Charter Amendment Forums

We’ve teamed up with our neighboring communities to host informative, non-partisan City Council and Park Board candidate forums as well as an educational series on the proposed charter amendments to help you get ready for Election Day on November 2!

Jim Crow of the North Free Screening & Discussion

Thursday, October 7
6:30-8:00pm

The Armatage Safety, Equity and Outreach Committee is hosting a FREE community screening and discussion of the TPT documentary, Jim Crow of the North, on the history of redlining in the Twin Cities on Thursday, October 7 from 6:30-8:00pm outside the Armatage Rec Center. Dress for the weather and plan to distance. Free hot cocoa and popcorn provided.

Learn more and sign up at https://armatage.org/jimcrowofthenorth/

Fall Neighborhood Clean-up

Saturday, October 2
9:00-11:00am

Join the Armatage Green Team for our annual Fall Clean-up on Saturday, October 2 from 9:00-11:00am! This is a great opportunity for kids, teens and adults to show neighborhood pride and keep trash and recycling out of our waterways. The ANA will provide the supplies and you provide the volunteer power!  Sign-up at https://armatage.org/events/clean-ups/

Early Voting is Here

The Minneapolis Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. is open for voters who wish to cast their ballot early and in person. Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services has also begun mailing ballots to voters who have requested to vote early by mail. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person  And see what’s on the ballot at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot

Minneapolis voters will use ranked choice voting this fall! Ranked choice voting is a way of voting that eliminates the need for separate primary elections. Voters rank up to three candidates for each office. The ballot has three columns, and choices are made from left to right in those columns. Ranked choice voting in Minneapolis is used only for municipal elections. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/ranked-choice-voting/

Sign up for the Halloween Tour

Get ready to enjoy the sights and frights around Armatage for our second annual Halloween Decoration Tour!

Sign up for the tour by October 18 and be a bright spot in the neighborhood this season! Learn more and register at https://armatage.org/halloweentour

Free Minneapolis Home Energy Squad Visits

For a limited time, the City of Minneapolis Sustainability Division is offering FREE Home Energy Squad visits for residents living in 1-4 unit homes, including renters. A team of energy experts will evaluate energy saving opportunities in your home and install materials to help you start saving on the spot. These upgrades can include door weather stripping, high-efficiency water fixtures, LED bulbs and a programmable or smart thermostat.

If the Home Energy Squad recommends insulation or air sealing, you will receive a personalized quote and an opportunity to schedule the work with a qualified contractor. Minneapolis residents also have special access to 0% APR financing to complete insulation and air sealing work, or to upgrade to heat pump electric water heaters, air source heat pumps, or solar. Sign up at https://www.mncee.org/mpls?energy-audits or call 651-328-6220 to schedule.

All Are Welcome Here Lawn Signs

Get your All Are Welcome Here lawn sign and proudly display to spread the message that ALL are Welcome in Armatage! The ANA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so your donation is tax deductible and eligible for employer matching contributions.

Signs + stakes are $20 each and your donation goes toward supporting the ANA’s work in our community. Order online at armatage.org/allarewelcomehere/ and, if you’re in the neighborhood, we’ll deliver your sign to your front yard. You can also find signs at the Meet Your Community Helpers event on September 25 from 2:00-5:00pm at Armatage Park.

September 16, 2021 eNews

September 21, 2021 Agenda

Community members are encouraged to join the ANA Monthly Meeting from 6:30-8:30pm outside the front door of the Armatage Community Center. Please bring a chair if you are able and dress warmly (the area is well lit at night). In case of rain, the meeting will switch to Zoom: register at bit.ly/ANAmtgs

  • Welcome and Introductions (6:30pm)
  • Park Update – Jordan Nelson, Armatage Park Director (6:35pm)
  • Edits and Approval of City Funding Applications & New ANA Policies (6:40pm):
    • Neighborhood Network Fund Application
    • Equitable Engagement Fund Application
    • Required City Policies
  • 2022 Draft Budget (7:15pm)
  • Hybrid Meeting Options (7:25pm)
  • President’s Report (7:35pm)
  • Coordinator Report (7:45pm):
    • Bylaws & Funding Plan Modification
    • Halloween Decoration Tour
    • Fundraising
  • Committee 3 Minute Updates (8:00pm):
    • Safety, Equity & Outreach
    • Community Engagement
    • Green Team
  • New Business (8:15pm)

Meet Your Community Helpers Event

Saturday, September 25
2:00-5:00pm

Meet the helpers that serve our community at Armatage Park on Saturday, September 25! Get your pressing recycling questions answered, learn about fire safety, talk with our MPD 5th Precinct staff about community safety, explore the inside of a USPS mail truck or an ambulance, share what equity in Armatage means to you, get an All Are Welcome Here lawn sign, weigh in on the neighborhood Bylaws & Funding Plan, learn about the proposed charter amendments, and lots more. Plus, Sparrow Cafe and Thumbs Cookies will both be on-site with treats!

Please plan to wear a mask at the event. See more COVID safety and event details at https://armatage.org/meet-your-community-helpers/

School Supply Drive

Check out Armatage Elementary’s school supply wish list here and bring items to donate to get entered to win a Ring doorbell or three day emergency kit!

Weigh in on the Draft Bylaws & Funding Plan Through Oct 15

This fall, the Armatage Neighborhood Association needs your help!  The ANA will update its governing bylaws in order to comply with the City of Minneapolis’s new funding program. The ANA has ALSO drafted a neighborhood funding plan (called a Plan Modification) to shift more funds to long-term community engagement and staffing budgets to enable the ANA to operate as long as possible. We hope to have as many community members vote on both during the public comment period, which runs through October 15.

Click here to learn more and weigh in by October 15. Thank you for making your voice heard!

Minneapolis American Rescue Plan Act Funding Survey

The City of Minneapolis is seeking feedback from residents, businesses, and community organizations as it considers funding priorities for the second round of American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded to the City to address economic and public health impacts from the pandemic.

The survey will be open through Friday, September 24. Results will assist City leaders as they determine funding priorities for the remaining federal funding awarded to the City. Take the survey to rank funding priorities here.

Neighborhood Funding

Base funding for neighborhood organizations like the Armatage Neighborhood Association will drop to $15,000/year in 2022 and just $10,000/year in 2023. When taking the survey, please consider asking for more neighborhood funding. Crunched for time? A sample comment for the survey is included below:

Neighborhood organizations play a key role in our city through their community work, communications and advocacy. They will no longer be able to do that without increased investment in their basic operating budgets. Please use the American Rescue Plan Act Funding to ensure neighborhoods are funded at a base minimum of $25,000 per year. Their work benefits our communities and the entire city of Minneapolis and together they help meet the goals of the stated priorities in this survey.

Upcoming Candidate Forums

We’ve teamed up with our neighboring communities to host non-partisan City Council and Park Board candidate forums as well as an educational series on the proposed charter amendments to help you get ready for Election Day on November 2!

Jim Crow of the North Free Screening & Discussion

Thursday, October 7
6:30-8:00pm

The Armatage Safety, Equity and Outreach Committee is hosting a FREE community screening and discussion of the TPT documentary, Jim Crow of the North, on the history of redlining in the Twin Cities on Thursday, October 7 from 6:30-8:00pm outside the Armatage Rec Center. Dress for the weather and plan to distance. Free hot cocoa and popcorn provided.

Learn more and sign up at https://armatage.org/jimcrowofthenorth/

Fall Neighborhood Clean-up

Saturday, October 2
9:00-11:00am

Join the Armatage Green Team for our annual Fall Clean-up on Saturday, October 2 from 9:00-11:00am! This is a great opportunity for kids, teens and adults to show neighborhood pride and keep trash and recycling out of our waterways. The ANA will provide supplies and you provide the volunteer power!  Sign-up at https://armatage.org/events/clean-ups/

Playground Reopening Celebration Thank You!

The ANA would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who came to last week’s Playground Reopening Celebration!  Learn more about the playground planning at bit.ly/armatagepark and read how neighborhood funds were used to complete this project at armatage.org/armatage-park-play-area/

Special thanks to…

  • Minneapolis Parks Superintendent Al Bangoura, Commissioner Londel French, Park Designer Fransisca Pass, and Park Director Jordan Nelson;
  • Armatage Elementary Principal Steve Searl;
  • Armatage Neighborhood Association President Joel Federer, Coordinator Lauren Anderson, and Board Members Adriana Dobrzycka, Ethan Komoroski, Janhel Leandre.

Early Voting Opens Friday, Sep 17

The Minneapolis Early Vote Center at 980 E. Hennepin Ave. opens at 8:00am this Friday, September 17 for voters who wish to cast their ballot early and in person. Also September 17, Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services begins mailing ballots to voters who have requested to vote early by mail. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person  And see what’s on the ballot at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/ballot

Minneapolis voters will use ranked choice voting this fall! Ranked choice voting is a way of voting that eliminates the need for separate primary elections. Voters rank up to three candidates for each office. The ballot has three columns, and choices are made from left to right in those columns. Ranked choice voting in Minneapolis is used only for municipal elections. Learn more at https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/ranked-choice-voting/

Sign up for the Halloween Tour

Get ready to enjoy the sights and frights around Armatage for our second annual Halloween Decoration Tour!

Sign up for the tour by October 18 and be a bright spot in the neighborhood this season! Learn more and register at https://armatage.org/halloweentour

Free Minneapolis Home Energy Squad Visits

For a limited time, the City of Minneapolis Sustainability Division is offering FREE Home Energy Squad visits for residents living in 1-4 unit homes, including renters. A team of energy experts will evaluate energy saving opportunities in your home and install materials to help you start saving on the spot. These upgrades can include door weather stripping, high-efficiency water fixtures, LED bulbs and a programmable or smart thermostat.

If the Home Energy Squad recommends insulation or air sealing, you will receive a personalized quote and an opportunity to schedule the work with a qualified contractor. Minneapolis residents also have special access to 0% APR financing to complete insulation and air sealing work, or to upgrade to heat pump electric water heaters, air source heat pumps, or solar. Sign up at https://www.mncee.org/mpls?energy-audits or call 651-328-6220 to schedule.

All Are Welcome Here Lawn Signs

Get your All Are Welcome Here lawn sign and proudly display to spread the message that ALL are Welcome in Armatage! The ANA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so your donation is tax deductible and eligible for employer matching contributions.

Signs + stakes are $20 each and your donation goes toward supporting the ANA’s work in our community. Order online at armatage.org/allarewelcomehere/ and, if you’re in the neighborhood, we’ll deliver your sign to your front yard. You can also find signs at the Meet Your Community Helpers event on September 25 from 2:00-5:00pm at Armatage Park.