Category Archives: Green Living

February 24, 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 in March 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 the Community Engagement Committee

Hi Neighbors! Did you know that Armatage has a Community Engagement Committee that plans fun events to bring the neighborhood together? Last year we worked as a team to create Spring Tea & Blooms and the Summer Food Truck Night along with the Halloween Decoration and Holiday Light Tours.

We would love for you to join us. Check out the Armatage calendar on the website and then choose to volunteer for a single event. Or you can join the Committee to help plan new events throughout the year. Come meet new friends and neighbors while making Armatage an even better place to live!

To register to volunteer or to join the Community Engagement Committee, visit https://armatage.org/get-involved/

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. 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 person holding a KN95 mask in their hands

Minneapolis Lifts Mask Mandate

The City of Minneapolis has lifted its mask mandate, which had been in place since January 5. Rates in Minneapolis have been dropping rapidly and steadily, with a 7-day new case rate of 135 per 100,000 individuals and positivity rates below the high-risk threshold based on the latest reported data.

Individual organizations may still institute individual mask mandates. The City of Minneapolis will continue to uphold mask mandates for City employees and City-managed buildings. Visitors and employees in City-managed buildings will still be required to wear a mask. Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), masks will continue to be strongly recommended in public indoor settings.

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 TODAY (Thursday, Feb 24) at 4:00pm (register online here to speak).

Going forward: 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 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.

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. The teams are part of a pilot project led by the City’s Office of Performance and Innovation with Canopy Roots. Two mobile units operate throughout Minneapolis. Each has a team of two behavioral health responders and outreach supplies, such as water, socks, snacks and toiletries.

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.

Soil Health Series

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who attended this month’s Soil Health Series and especially to our wonderful panel speakers!

If you’d like to stream Kiss the Ground, you can reach out to the ANA at anacoordinator@armatage.org

Panel Recording

You can also view a recording of the Soil Health & Regenerative Agriculture Panel on March 24. Please click here to check it out!  Should you need it, the passcode is +!6#6%pP

Soil Health & Why It Matters

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.

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 the neighborhood or across the country.  Please fill out the google form below for details on how to watch the movie and how to attend the panel. We hope you join us!

Screen the Documentary, Kiss the Ground

We invite you to screen the documentary, Kiss the Ground, at home for free from March 10 – 24 and develop some of your own questions and thoughts.

Kiss the Ground unveils a game-changer to our climate crisis: the Earth’s own soil. The solution is called “Regenerative Agriculture,” which can revive farmer prosperity, reduce flooding & drought, replenish fresh water sources, reduce fire hazards, reverse global warming, recreate regional access to nutrient-dense food, reduce toxic pesticides & fertilizers, reduce dead zones & water pollution, reverse extinction, and reconnect humanity & nature.  Kiss the Ground presents the research, practice, and hope we need to move forward. Together.

Regenerative Agriculture Panel: Hope for Climate Change is in Our Soil

Join the Green Team on Thursday, March 24 from 7:00-8:30pm on Zoom to hear from a panel of featured experts on local food systems, regenerative agriculture, and soil health who will join us for an evening of education.

We’ll learn about what’s happening right here in Minnesota around regenerative agriculture and local food systems. Panelists will share how they’re protecting soil health, answer our questions, and help us understand what we can do locally or with our own yards. This event is open to all and free to attend.

Speakers

Grant Breitkreutz runs Stoney Creek Farm near Redwood Falls, MN with his wife Dawn. Since taking ownership, they have converted a conventional crop and cow/calf operation into a multi-enterprise regenerative family business. Their “unconventional” techniques include a three-crop rotation in their 100% no-till cropping system and managed intensive cattle grazing throughout their pasture systems. Their overall goal is to heal the land, create a successful and enjoyable multi-generational family business, and ensure that future generations have a beautiful legacy to carry on the family farm.

Martin Larsen is a fifth-generation farmer from Byron, MN. He grows conventional corn and soybeans in a full no-till system with almost 100% cover crops. The last 3 years he has integrated food grade oats into his rotation to add diversity.

Martin also works for the Olmsted Soil & Water Conservation District, where he does research on cover crops and nitrate reduction in groundwater, and is a caver where he sees effects of agriculture up close underground.

Grace Rude of Homegrown Minneapolis, which is a citywide initiative expanding our community’s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods. Homegrown Minneapolis brings together key partners from local government, area businesses, community organizations, non-profits, and residents to build a healthy, local food system.

Register to Attend

 

January 27, 2022 eNews

Image of Armatage Park at night with lights on and snow on the ground. White text over the image says "Armatage Fire & Ice, Friday January 28th from 6:00-7:30pm. Skating, cocoa and popcorn. Hosted by Armatage Park and the Armatage Neighborhood Association"

Armatage Fire & Ice – Tomorrow!

Friday, January 28 
6:00-7:30pm

Join Armatage Park’s annual Fire & Ice Family Skating party tomorrow, Friday, January 28 from 6:00-7:30pm! Bundle up and enjoy a night with your family and friends skating or keep warm with hot cocoa by the bonfires (we’ll have multiples going!). COVID-19 safety: as much of the event as possible will be held outdoors. Bring a mask if you need to step into the warming room. Learn more at https://armatage.org/2022-fire-ice-skating-party/

Winter gear donations needed: the ANA would like to gather donations that will help keep our residents, guests and unsheltered neighbors warm. Please bring any new or gently used items to donate and/or feel free to take what you need. We are looking to collect items such as wool socks, hats, mittens, winter jackets, boots and long underwear.

If you or someone you know is in need of winter gear, please stop by the winter gear table and take whatever you need to stay warm!

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.

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 masked, 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! 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 the neighborhood 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 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 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.

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

Armatage Elementary Enrollment

School enrollment season is here! 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 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 a gloved hand sprinkling blue salt crystals from a small cup onto a shoveled sidewalk. The salt distribution shown is sparse according to safe salting practices.

Using Less Sidewalk Salt Protects Water & Saves Money

Winter road and sidewalk de-icing salt is a major – and permanent – polluter of local freshwater lakes and streams. Seventy-eight percent of salt applied in the metro area ends up in groundwater or local lakes and rivers.  If de-icer is needed, people should use as little as possible. It’s easy to use too much, but more salt does not mean more melting. Removing snow and ice early and often is the best approach. Shoveling instead of using chemicals will protect our waters and with the extra cold temps we’ve been having, most de-icers don’t work below 15 degrees anyway.

Pledge to salt wisely
Any residents and businesses can take a pledge on the City of Minneapolis website to salt wisely. A 30-minute course with self-guided readings and videos will teach anyone about the consequences of using too much salt and about how to protect beloved Minnesota waters from this permanent pollution.

Image of a traffic circle at a Minneapolis snowy neighborhood intersection.

Take the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Survey by Jan 31

Minneapolis Public Works wants your input on a proposed process to address traffic safety concerns and traffic calming requests on neighborhood streets. The process provides a way for community members to request traffic calming and for Public Works to review those requests fairly, transparently and equitably. We know traffic calming has been a priority for neighbors for a long time and we hope you’ll weigh in!

Find more information about the proposed traffic calming process and share your feedback by Jan 31 here. After reviewing feedback, Public Works will finalize the process this year and share details in the spring about how to request traffic calming measures.

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 p.m. Wednesday, March 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.

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. With the rapid spread of the omicron variant, now is a great time to upgrade your masks to a high filtration mask that provides the most protection. Here’s 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

Image of the Armatage Community Center at dusk. The sky is inky, snow is on the ground and the building glows in the fading light.

Recreation Center & Warming Room Hours Scaled Back

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and staffing shortages, drop-in hours at recreation centers are discontinued and buildings are open only for pre-registered and ActivePass programs now until February 14. Existing recreation center room rentals will be honored, but no new rentals will be accepted through February 14.

Warming room hours are also reduced through the end of the skating season. New hours are Monday-Friday, 4:00-7:00pm and Saturday-Sunday, 1:00-5:00pm. Lights will continue to remain on until 9:00pm and outdoor rink-side benches and picnic tables will be added. A friendly reminder: masks are required for all park building visitors, including staff, instructors and sport spectators.

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 now dominant in Minnesota, getting a COVID-19 booster AND getting children ages 5 and up vaccinated is more important than ever. Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map (more options listed below). Learn more about who’s eligible for a booster 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.

January 20, 2022 eNews

January 18, 2022 Meeting Recap

Thanks for a great first meeting of 2022!  Council Vice President Linea Palmisano shared updates on plowing, COVID-19 restrictions, and plans for an upcoming forum on public safety. Armatage Park director Jordan Nelson gave an update on activity enrollment, the Fire & Ice skating party next Friday, and summer movies. The ANA Board also elected Sharla McIntosh-Ziegler as Vice President (congrats, Sharla!!!!!), discussed armatage.org website layout changes, started planning this year’s Annual Meeting, and gave the green light (pun intended) to the Armatage Green Team to apply for a Lawns to Legumes grant.

Open Board Seat: the ANA continues to have an open seat on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in joining or learning more about the time commitment and duties of neighborhood board members, please email us at anacoordinator@armatage.org

Image of Armatage Park at night with lights on and snow on the ground. White text over the image says "Armatage Fire & Ice, Friday January 28th from 6:00-7:30pm. Skating, cocoa and popcorn. Hosted by Armatage Park and the Armatage Neighborhood Association"

Armatage Fire & Ice is BACK!

Friday, January 28 
6:00-7:30pm

Join Armatage Park’s annual Fire & Ice Family Skating party on Friday, January 28 from 6:00-7:30pm! Bundle up and enjoy a night with your family and friends skating or keep warm with hot cocoa by the bonfires. COVID-19 safety: as much of the event as possible will be held outdoors. Bring a mask if you need to step into the warming room. Learn more at https://armatage.org/2022-fire-ice-skating-party/

Winter gear donations needed: the ANA would like to gather donations that will help keep our residents, guests and unsheltered neighbors warm. Please bring any new or gently used items to donate and/or feel free to take what you need. We are looking to collect items such as wool socks, hats, mittens, winter jackets, boots and long underwear.

Lake Harriet Kite Festival

The Kite Festival returns to frozen Lake Harriet this Saturday, January 22, 12:00-4:00 pm! Check out this beautiful event that fills the sky with colorful kites and offers winter activities for all including kite flying (BYO or or enjoy the kites from Minnesota Kite Society), dog sledding, ice fishing, delicious local food trucks and free s’mores by the fire. This year, there will be no heated tents and Art Shanty Projects will be offering an exterior-only experience. All event attendees are encouraged to wear masks.

There will be no parking in the Lake Harriet Parking lot and on either side of Linden Hills Boulevard from W 43rd Street to W 40th Street on event day. A shuttle from the Calhoun Executive Center (3033 Excelsior Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416) will run continuously from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm. Masks will be required for all shuttle passengers.

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.

Redistricting Group mapping meeting: Wednesday, Jan 26 at 4:00pm

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 p.m. Wednesday, March 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 graphic of a kangaroo holding a book and says "Armatage Elementary School"

Armatage Elementary Enrollment & Open House

School enrollment season is here! 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 This includes all incoming kindergartners.

Open House on Tuesday, January 25 from 5:00-6:00pm: learn about Armatage Elementary at the Open House. This is a great opportunity for prospective families to tour the building, meet Principal Steve Searl and some of the teaching staff, and hear all about the school! Per MPS policy, please wear a mask.

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 of a traffic circle at a Minneapolis snowy neighborhood intersection.

Take the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Survey by Jan 31

Minneapolis Public Works wants your input on a proposed process to address traffic safety concerns and traffic calming requests on neighborhood streets. The process provides a way for community members to request traffic calming and for Public Works to review those requests fairly, transparently and equitably. We know traffic calming has been a priority for neighbors for a long time and we hope you’ll weigh in!

Find more information about the proposed traffic calming process and share your feedback by Jan 31 here. After reviewing feedback, Public Works will finalize the process this year and share details in the spring about how to request traffic calming measures.

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 yesterday, 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. With the rapid spread of the omicron variant, now is a great time to upgrade your masks to a high filtration mask that provides the most protection. Here’s 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

Image shows a gloved hand sprinkling blue salt crystals from a small cup onto a shoveled sidewalk. The salt distribution shown is sparse according to safe salting practices.

Using Less Sidewalk Salt Protects Water & Saves Money

Winter road and sidewalk de-icing salt is a major – and permanent – polluter of local freshwater lakes and streams. Seventy-eight percent of salt applied in the metro area ends up in groundwater or local lakes and rivers.  If de-icer is needed, people should use as little as possible. It’s easy to use too much, but more salt does not mean more melting. Removing snow and ice early and often is the best approach. Shoveling instead of using chemicals will protect our waters.

Pledge to salt wisely
Any residents and businesses can take a pledge on the City of Minneapolis website to salt wisely. A 30-minute course with self-guided readings and videos will teach anyone about the consequences of using too much salt and about how to protect beloved Minnesota waters from this permanent pollution.

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 one of *the best* sledding hills in Southwest along Penn Ave. 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.

Image of the Armatage Community Center at dusk. The sky is inky, snow is on the ground and the building glows in the fading light.

Recreation Center & Warming Room Hours Scaled Back

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and staffing shortages, drop-in hours at recreation centers are discontinued and buildings are open only for pre-registered and ActivePass programs now until February 14. Existing recreation center room rentals will be honored, but no new rentals will be accepted through February 14.

Warming room hours are also reduced through the end of the skating season. New hours are Monday-Friday, 4:00-7:00pm and Saturday-Sunday, 1:00-5:00pm. Lights will continue to remain on until 9:00pm and outdoor rink-side benches and picnic tables will be added. A friendly reminder: masks are required for all park building visitors, including staff, instructors and sport spectators.

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 now dominant in Minnesota, getting a COVID-19 booster AND getting children ages 5 and up vaccinated is more important than ever. Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map (more options listed below). Learn more about who’s eligible for a booster 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.

January 13, 2022 eNews

January 18, 2022 Agenda

Please join the first Armatage Monthly Meeting of the year next Tuesday, January 18 from 6:30-8:30pm on Zoom. Neighbors are encouraged to attend. Register at bit.ly/ANAmtgs

  • Welcome and Introductions (6:30pm)
  • Ward 13 Update – Council Vice President Linea Palmisano (6:35pm)
  • Park Update – Jordan Nelson, Armatage Park Director (6:55pm)
  • Special Election for Open Board Seat (7:00pm)
  • Vice President Midterm Election (7:05pm)
  • Lawns to Legumes Grant Opportunity (7:10pm)
  • Armatage.org Updates (7:25pm)
  • Coordinator Report (7:45pm)
  • ANA Committee Updates (8:00pm)
  • New Business (8:15pm)

Graphic with a black background and gold glittery decorations. Text says "Armatage Neighborhood Association Special Election January 18, 2022 at 6:30pm on Zoom. Learn more and register to run at armatage.org"

January Special Election

The ANA will hold a Special Election for one open board seat on January 18, 2022!  The deadline to register to run is this Sunday, January 16!  All residents (aged 18 and over) and designated neighborhood business or institution representatives are eligible to vote through an online form on Tuesday, January 18 from 9:00am-7:00pm.

Learn more about the time commitment and duties and register to run at armatage.org/january-2022-special-election/

Image shows a speaker at a podium from a previous Rev. Dr. MLK Day Celebration. There are several people also on the stage.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

Monday, January 17
6:30-8:00pm

Annual tributes to Dr. King’s life and legacy take place at several Minneapolis park locations throughout the day, including an evening celebration at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center with speakers, live entertainment and the presentation of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Living the Dream award.

The celebration will be emceed by Chad Jackson, Senior Manager, Brand Partnerships, with the Minnesota Twins. Adair Mosley, President and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities, will be the keynote speaker. Musical performances that evening will come from “VocalEssence Singers Of This Age”.  Click here to learn more.

Image of Armatage Park at night with lights on and snow on the ground. White text over the image says "Armatage Fire & Ice, Friday January 28th from 6:00-7:30pm. Skating, cocoa and popcorn. Hosted by Armatage Park and the Armatage Neighborhood Association"

Armatage Fire & Ice is BACK!

Friday, January 28 
6:00-7:30pm

Join Armatage Park’s annual Fire & Ice Family Skating party on Friday, January 28 from 6:00-7:30pm! Bundle up and enjoy a night with your family and friends skating or keep warm with hot cocoa by the bonfires. COVID-19 safety: as much of the event as possible will be held outdoors. Bring a mask if you need to step into the warming room. Learn more at https://armatage.org/2022-fire-ice-skating-party/

Lake Harriet Kite Festival

The Kite Festival returns to frozen Lake Harriet on Saturday, January 22, 12:00-4:00 pm! Check out this beautiful event that fills the sky with colorful kites and offers winter activities for all including kite flying (BYO or or enjoy the kites from Minnesota Kite Society), dog sledding, ice fishing, delicious local food trucks and free s’mores by the fire. This year, there will be no heated tents and Art Shanty Projects will be offering an exterior-only experience. All event attendees are encouraged to wear masks.

There will be no parking in the Lake Harriet Parking lot and on either side of Linden Hills Boulevard from W 43rd Street to W 40th Street on event day. A shuttle from the Calhoun Executive Center (3033 Excelsior Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416) will run continuously from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm. Masks will be required for all shuttle passengers.

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

Armatage Elementary Enrollment & Open House

School enrollment season is here! 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 This includes all incoming kindergartners.

Open House: learn about Armatage Elementary at the Open House on Tuesday, January 25 from 5:00-6:00pm for any prospective families who would like to tour the building, meet Principal Steve Searl and some of the teaching staff, and hear all about the school! Per MPS policy, please wear a mask.

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

Graphic that lists a Saturday, Jan 15, 2022 service opportunity to pack kits for neighbors in need hosted by trust.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Saturday, January 15
10:00am-12:00pm
Richfield Lutheran Church (8 W 60th St)

Looking for a meaningful service opportunity to honor Dr. King’s life and legacy?  Join TRUST Inc. for a free “Day of Service” Event packing cold weather kits for neighbors in need. The Keynote Speaker for this event is City Council President Andrea Jenkins. This is a great service opportunity for all ages. All attendees must wear a mask and plan to distance indoors while packing kits. Please give a TRUST a heads up that you can make it by calling 612.827.6159.

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 January 19, everyone over the age of two 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/

Graphic with a white background that shows the outline of a test tube and says "Stay Safe MN COVID-19 Testing"

COVID-19 Testing Options

Did you know that the MDH provides FREE COVID-19 saliva PCR testing from home via rapid delivery (often courier)? All you need is an internet connection to order your test AND to schedule a zoom observation of you taking the saliva test. Drop off the completed test sample at a UPS/USPS/Fedex drop-off site. Here’s a link to order your test: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/athome.html The Vault saliva PCR tests have been running out so be sure to check back if the order forms asks for payment as more free tests will be available soon.

Need a rapid or can’t wait? Find community testing site options at https://mn.gov/covid19/get-tested/testing-locations/community-testing.jsp

Image shows a gloved hand sprinkling blue salt crystals from a small cup onto a shoveled sidewalk. The salt distribution shown is sparse according to safe salting practices.

Using Less Sidewalk Salt Protects Water & Saves Money

Winter road and sidewalk de-icing salt is a major – and permanent – polluter of local freshwater lakes and streams. Seventy-eight percent of salt applied in the metro area ends up in groundwater or local lakes and rivers.  If de-icer is needed, people should use as little as possible. It’s easy to use too much, but more salt does not mean more melting. Removing snow and ice early and often is the best approach. Shoveling instead of using chemicals will protect our waters.

Pledge to salt wisely
Any residents and businesses can take a pledge on the City of Minneapolis website to salt wisely. A 30-minute course with self-guided readings and videos will teach anyone about the consequences of using too much salt and about how to protect beloved Minnesota waters from this permanent pollution.

Image of a traffic circle at a Minneapolis snowy neighborhood intersection.

Deadline Extended for Neighborhood Traffic Calming Survey

Minneapolis Public Works wants your input on a proposed process to address traffic safety concerns and traffic calming requests on neighborhood streets. The process provides a way for community members to request traffic calming and for Public Works to review those requests fairly, transparently and equitably. We know traffic calming has been a priority for neighbors for a long time and we hope you’ll weigh in!

Find more information about the proposed traffic calming process and share your feedback by Jan 31 here. After reviewing feedback, Public Works will finalize the process this year and share details in the spring about how to request traffic calming measures.

Image of the Armatage Community Center at dusk. The sky is inky, snow is on the ground and the building glows in the fading light.

Recreation Center & Warming Room Hours Scaled Back

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and staffing shortages, drop-in hours at recreation centers are discontinued and buildings are open only for pre-registered and ActivePass programs now until February 14. Existing recreation center room rentals will be honored, but no new rentals will be accepted through February 14.

Warming room hours are also reduced through the end of the skating season. New hours are Monday-Friday, 4:00-7:00pm and Saturday-Sunday, 1:00-5:00pm. Lights will continue to remain on until 9:00pm and outdoor rink-side benches and picnic tables will be added. A friendly reminder: masks are required for all park building visitors, including staff, instructors and sport spectators.

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

Socially Distanced Sledding at Armatage Park

Saturday, January 8 – February 12
10:00am-12:00pm

Come hit the slopes! As you probably know, Armatage Park has one of *the best* sledding hills in Southwest along Penn Ave. 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 Boosters

With the omicron variant now dominant in Minnesota, getting a COVID-19 booster AND getting children ages 5 and up vaccinated is more important than ever. Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map (more options listed below). Learn more about who’s eligible for a booster 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.

January 6, 2022 eNews

Graphic with a black background and gold glittery decorations. Text says "Armatage Neighborhood Association Special Election January 18, 2022 at 6:30pm on Zoom. Learn more and register to run at armatage.org"

January Special Election

The ANA will hold a Special Election for one open board seat on January 18, 2022!  All residents (aged 18 and over) and designated neighborhood business or institution representatives are eligible to vote. Learn more about the time commitment and duties and register to run at armatage.org/january-2022-special-election/

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

Armatage Elementary Enrollment & Open House

School enrollment season is here! 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 This includes all incoming kindergartners.

Open House: learn about Armatage Elementary at the Open House on Tuesday, January 25 from 5:00-6:00pm for any prospective families who would like to tour the building, meet Principal Steve Searl and some of the teaching staff, and hear all about the school! Per MPS policy, please wear a mask.

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

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.

Minneapolis Mask Mandate Starts Today

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 effective today (Thursday, January 6) at 5:00pm. This includes restaurants, bars, libraries, retail stores, schools, recreation centers, rental establishments, theaters and more.

Read the full text of Mayor Jacob Frey’s emergency regulation No. 2022-1 here, which reinstates the citywide mask policy.  Get all your questions answered at https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/coronavirus/common-questions/ and click on “Guidelines around wearing masks.”

Graphic with a white background that shows the outline of a test tube and says "Stay Safe MN COVID-19 Testing"

Free PCR Tests Delivered to Your Door

Did you know that the MDH provides FREE COVID-19 saliva PCR testing from home via rapid delivery (often courier)? All you need is an internet connection to order your test AND to schedule a zoom observation of you taking the saliva test. Drop off the completed test sample at a UPS/USPS/Fedex drop-off site and you’ll get results back usually within 48 hours. Here’s a link to order your test: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/athome.html

With the Omicron variant surging in Minnesota, it’s extra critical to test often. The Vault saliva PCR tests have been running out so be sure to check back if the order forms asks for payment as more free tests will be available soon.

Image shows two people with a waterfall in the background

Thank You, Joel!

We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to outgoing Armatage Neighborhood Association President, Joel Federer (pictured above at right with his wife Carrie)! We are so grateful to Joel for his years of leadership helping the ANA weather staffing transitions, years of COVID, and getting ready for our big city funding program with a steady hand, good humor, and a wealth of expertise.

You’ve likely seen Joel at neighborhood events as he is usually the first to volunteer (even for the the not so fun projects like rewriting bylaws). We are glad he’ll stay involved with the Safety, Equity & Outreach Committee and wish him the best as he heads to a continuing education program this January! 

Image shows a home with lights on at night and a garage with a security camera

Safety Rebate Program Changes

With decreasing city funding, the ANA is making a few changes to the popular Safety Rebate program. As of January 1, the program has a $200 lifetime cap per address for residents (both renters and homeowners) and the business program, which hasn’t had an application in years, is discontinued. The ANA will still issue rebates for eligible home safety updates for up to $100 per address per calendar year until you reach the $200 lifetime cap.

Our goal with these changes is to help as many neighbors make home safety updates as possible while keeping the program operating. Learn more at https://armatage.org/security-rebate-program-for-residents/

Graphic with an image of full bookshelves in the background and a dark pink circle over that that says "Join the 2022 Armatage Reading Circle. Sign up at bit.ly/2022readingcircle " and a small image of the cover of "The Overstory" book

Sign up for the Next Armatage Reading Circle

Have past book clubs overwhelmed you with the pace of reading and content overload? Well, then consider joining our neighborhood slothful book club! Each month, we will read a small chunk of The Overstory by Richard Powers and then get together to discuss questions focused solely on that portion.

The first meeting will be Wednesday, February 16 at 7:00pm on Zoom. If you’re interested in joining, please learn more and sign up at https://bit.ly/2022readingcircle

Image shows a speaker at a podium from a previous Rev. Dr. MLK Day Celebration. There are several people also on the stage.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

Monday, January 17
6:30-8:00pm

Annual tributes to Dr. King’s life and legacy take place at several Minneapolis park locations throughout the day, including an evening celebration at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center with speakers, live entertainment and the presentation of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Living the Dream award.

The celebration will be emceed by Chad Jackson, Senior Manager, Brand Partnerships, with the Minnesota Twins. Adair Mosley, President and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities, will be the keynote speaker. Musical performances that evening will come from “VocalEssence Singers Of This Age”.  Click here to learn more.

Graphic that shows a small white van with "Kid A" on the side, images of used kids gear (stroller, bike, boxes, high chair) that says "Kid Clutter Pickup Drive"

Kid Clutter Pickup Drive

The Kid Clutter Pickup Drive returns to Armatage on Monday January 10th! Schedule one convenient pickup of all your outgrown toys & kid gear, and start the year decluttered. Leave it all on your front step and local organization Kid A will pay you for the items that they resell and donate the rest to local non-profit organizations.

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

Socially Distanced Sledding at Armatage Park

Saturday, January 8 – February 12
10:00am-12:00pm

Come hit the slopes! As you probably know, Armatage Park has one of *the best* sledding hills in Southwest along Penn Ave. 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.

Free Dog & Cat Adoptions

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control currently has NO adoption fee for cats and dogs over six months old! Are you ready to adopt a new furry family member just in time for the new year?

Visit the City website for more information

The image shows a group of recreational skaters of all ages and abilities wearing masks and skating outdoors on a rink on a lake.

Minneapolis Ice Rinks are Open

Skating rinks and warming houses are open across the City! Check the status of each rink using this interactive rink map.

Do you have old or outgrown skates that are still in great condition? Parks (including Armatage Park) would love to adopt them!  You can do the park staff a big favor by making sure they’re in ready-to-go condition and freshly sharpened for new skaters.

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 now dominant in Minnesota, getting a COVID-19 booster AND getting children ages 5 and up vaccinated is more important than ever. Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map (more options listed below). Learn more about who’s eligible for a booster 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 16, 2021 eNews

Navy & light blue graphic that says "Armatage Monthly Meeting" next to a photo of a tree in holiday lights at Armatage Park next to the skating rink. Further down, the graphic reads "Tues, Dec 21 6:30-8:30pm Community members welcome! Register to attend on Zoom at bit.ly/ANAmtgs"

December 21, 2021 Agenda

Please join the last Armatage Monthly Meeting of the year this Tuesday, December 21 from 6:30-8:30pm on Zoom. Neighbors are encouraged to attend. Register at bit.ly/ANAmtgs

  • Welcome & Introductions (6:30pm)
  • Park Update – Jordan Nelson, Armatage Park Director (6:35pm)
  • President Midterm Election (6:40pm)
  • ANA Committee Work Plans (6:50pm)
  • Safety Rebate Program Changes (7:25pm)
  • Approval of 2022 ANA Budget (7:45pm)
  • Coordinator Report (8:00pm)
    • ANA Web Updates & Financials
    • 2021 Fundraising
    • Holiday Light Tour Wrap-up
    • Staffing Update & Holiday Schedule
  • New Business (8:15pm)

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"

Holiday Light Tour Ends Sunday

Friday, Dec 10 – Sunday, Dec 19
5:00-8:00pm

Enjoy the colorful city streets and light displays of the Armatage Neighborhood this holiday season!  The tour runs from 5:00-8:00pm each night through Sunday, December 19. Check out this year’s tour map at https://armatage.org/holidaylights/  Please be courteous and respectful of neighbors on your adventure and minimize the amount of time your car is idling. If you leave your vehicle, please maintain social distancing.

Once you’ve visited every stop on the tour, visit https://armatage.org/holidaylights/ to vote for your favorites! Voting closes at 12:00pm on December 20 so don’t wait to get your votes in! To keep things as fair as possible, please refrain from voting until you’ve visited each and every address on the tour. The three addresses with the most votes will each win a $50 gift card to an Armatage business.

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

Socially Distanced Sledding at Armatage Park

Tues, Dec 21 & 28
1:00-3:00pm

Come hit the slopes! As you probably know, Armatage Park has one of *the best* sledding hills in Southwest along Penn Ave. Limited sleds are available at the recreation center, so bring one if you can and plan to distance.  Please register in advance here so staff know how many to expect.

(Can’t make it this week?  You’ll have more chances for socially distanced sledding each Saturday January 8 – February 12 from 10:00am-12:00pm at Armatage Park. Learn more here.)

Sign up for Southwest Voices

We’re happy to announce that the Armatage Neighborhood Association will be partnering with Southwest Voices, a local news and information service covering SW Minneapolis. Southwest Voices has a free daily newsletter with information on how to get involved with the city, fun local events, restaurant openings and closings, live reports from School Board, Park Board, and City Council meetings, and information about community happenings. Sign-up at SouthwestVoices.news.

The ANA will receive a portion of each membership fee from people that sign up from our neighborhood, so if you sign up to support Southwest Voices, you’re also supporting the ANA. As a civic news organization that believes that good local journalism starts with listening, Southwest Voices wants to hear from you! Shoot them a note at info@southwestvoices.news or a text message at 612-204-2887 to share what you’d like to see covered and follow them on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Image shows a City of Minneapolis press conference from Dec 13, 2021 with diverse attendees and sign language interpretation

New Minneapolis Crisis Response Teams

The City of Minneapolis launched a behavioral crisis response teams pilot project. Canopy Roots will provide crisis intervention, counseling, and connection to support services as an alternative to police responders.  Two mobile units will operate throughout Minneapolis 7:30 am to midnight, Monday through Friday, and eventually ramp up to service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Each vehicle will have a team of two behavioral health responders and outreach supplies, such as water, socks, snacks and toiletries.

People should continue to call 911 for help with behavioral crises. 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 Minneapolis Police Department will only be on 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 here.

Image of a traffic circle at a Minneapolis snowy neighborhood intersection.

Take the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Survey

Minneapolis Public Works wants your input on a proposed process to address traffic safety concerns and traffic calming requests on neighborhood streets. The process provides a way for community members to request traffic calming and for Public Works to review those requests fairly, transparently and equitably. We know traffic calming has been a priority for neighbors for a long time and we hope you’ll weigh in!

Find more information about the proposed traffic calming process and share your feedback by Dec 31 here. After reviewing feedback, Public Works will finalize the process early in 2022 and share details in the spring about how to request traffic calming measures.

Make This Holiday Season Low Waste

Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling has a TON of helpful resources to help you celebrate low waste holidays, find answers to your “where does this go?” recycling questions, and more!

The image shows a group of recreational skaters of all ages and abilities wearing masks and skating outdoors on a rink on a lake.

Minneapolis Ice Rink Updates

Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board staff are hard at work preparing the ice for this year’s skating, hockey and broomball season!  None of the rinks or warming houses are open yet, but you can watch the progress using this interactive rink map.

Do you have old or outgrown skates that are still in great condition? Parks (including Armatage Park) would love to adopt them!  You can do the park staff a big favor by making sure they’re in ready-to-go condition and freshly sharpened for new skaters.

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

Image of a Minneapolis Public Works blue dump truck with an orange plow attached in the midst of plowing a city street.

Are You Signed up for Snow Emergency Alerts?

When a Snow Emergency is declared, parking rules take effect so plows can clear the streets and emergency vehicles and other cars can then get around and park. Plowing the streets completely requires vehicles parked on streets to move. We all have to work together to do our part and follow the parking rules so plows can do the best job possible and we can avoid a ticket and tow.

You can sign up for text, email and phone alerts and download the Minneapolis Snow Emergency smartphone app. Keep your app updated to make sure you have the latest version. Learn more at minneapolismn.gov/snow.

Pledge to Salt Smart to Protect Water

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. Click here to learn more or reach out to program coordinator, Léa, at lea.payette@minneapolismn.gov

Graphic that says "Keep Minneapolis walkable. Clear your sidewalks. Call 311 to report unsafe sidewalks" over a picture of a person shoveling a snowy sidewalk.

Remember to Shovel Your Sidewalks

Sharing this friendly reminder that Minneapolis ordinance requires property owners of single family homes and duplexes to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall, and all other property owners must clear their sidewalks within four daytime hours. Clearing snow and ice from sidewalks helps people of all ages and abilities safely walk or roll to where they need to go. Sidewalks are a primary mode of transportation for many people in the city and should be open for everyone.

In addition to relying on complaints reported to 311, City inspectors will also be out in neighborhoods actively looking for sidewalks that aren’t shoveled. Failure to shovel and maintain your sidewalk could result in a warning letter and, if left uncleared, a bill for the City to remove snow from your sidewalk. A typical bill is $229. People should call 311 to learn more about resources available to people who may need help clearing their sidewalks.  Learn more here.

Free Dog & Cat Adoptions

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control currently has NO adoption fee for cats and dogs over six months old! Are you ready to adopt a new furry family member just in time for the new year?

Visit the City website for more information.

Personal Safety & Carjacking Prevention

ICYMI, the Minneapolis Police Department released tips around personal safety and carjacking prevention in response to the uptick in carjackings, robberies and home invasion.  We’ve shared some of the tips below – see the full list here.

Personal Safety:

  • Be aware of your surroundings. Look at who and what is around you and take note of anyone following you closely, especially while driving home.
  • Always keep your doors locked, even while you are home.
  • Be aware of what’s happening to others around you and call 911 if you see signs that someone is being threatened or assaulted.
  • Never leave your car running while unattended and never leave a key inside a parked vehicle.
  • Keep some distance between yourself and a stranger who approaches you. Staying more than arm’s length away means someone can’t grab your bag or you, as easily.

Carjacking Prevention:

  • Don’t sit in your car with the door unlocked or with the windows rolled down.
  • Have your license plate memorized. This can help in a fast recovery and arrest.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Call 911 and use your key fob or other car alarm if you feel a threat.
  • Keep your distance between the car in front of you so that you can drive around it if needed to get away fast.
  • Be wary of how carjackers lure victims. These include bumping your car, pretending to be stranded motorists or flashing their lights as if there were something wrong with your car.

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 for anyone 16 and up who is at least 6 months past their second dose AND getting children ages 5 and up vaccinated is more important than ever. Visit mn.gov/vaccine to use the Vaccine Locator Map (more options listed below).

Find 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.

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.