May 28, 2021 eNews

Get Your All Are Welcome Here Lawn Sign

The ANA is organizing an All Are Welcome Here lawn sign campaign!  Get your lawn sign and proudly display it in your yard!  This is a way to show up and support our BIPOC neighbors after racist messages appeared in the neighborhood earlier this spring. Our goal is to create a sea of signs throughout the neighborhood to show that All Are Welcome in Armatage.

Signs are $20 each and by ordering through the ANA, you’ll also help us continue serving our community. Order your sign at armatage.org/allarewelcomehere/ or find us at an upcoming in-person sale date – see the full list here.  Huge thanks to All Are Welcome Here for helping us organize this campaign!  To learn more, visit armatage.org/allarewelcomehere/


Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at Armatage Park

Saturday, June 12 | dusk

Join the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the Armatage Neighborhood Association for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at Armatage Park on Saturday, June 12! The sun sets at 9:00pm and the movie will start at dusk. Bring your blanket, bug spray and plan to distance to keep yourself and neighbors safe. See the full list of Minneapolis Music & Movies at www.minneapolisparks.org/activities__events/music__movies/


Armatage Playground Construction Starts June 2

The Armatage Park Play Area construction is scheduled to start next Wednesday, June 2. Crews will begin by fencing off the play area and removing existing play equipment. The new play area should be completed and ready for use around July 12-16. While the playground is under construction, we encourage neighbors to enjoy the Washburn Tot Lot playground at 5825 Washburn Ave S or, outside of school hours, to use the Armatage school playground. Sign up for project updates at bit.ly/armatagepark

Save the date for the Armatage Monthly Meeting on June 15 from 6:30-8:30pm, outdoors at Armatage Park, when Project Designer Francisca Pass will be sharing a construction update and the ANA will discuss contributing neighborhood funds to the project.


Get Involved on a Neighborhood Committee

There are lots of ways to get involved in the neighborhood and with weather warming up, now is a perfect time to join an Armatage Committee! Neighbors are encouraged to check out a meeting or sign up for a committee’s e-list. Register at bit.ly/ANAmtgs and here’s what each group is working on:

  • Community Engagement meets on Thursday, June 3 from 5:30-6:30pm on Zoom to get ready for the Summer Movie in the Park and plan our next Food Truck Night in August.
  • Safety, Equity & Outreach meets on Saturday, June 5 from 10:00-11:00am outside at Armatage Park to discuss our neighborhood’s relationship with MPD, the All Are Welcome Here lawn sign campaign, and plan a Meet Your Community Helpers event for the fall.
  • The Green Team meets on Thursday, June 10 from 7:00-8:30pm outside in one of our members’ backyards to plan a great summer of environmental advocacy and programs. Register to attend and get our meeting address.

Armatage Safety Rebates

Did you know that the ANA offers $100 per household per calendar year to each Armatage household (both renters and homeowners) for security enhancements including items such as doorbell camera systems?

Learn more and apply for a rebate at armatage.org/security-rebate-program-for-residents/


Annual Meeting & Board Election Thank You!

Huge thanks to everyone who voted in the Board Election or attended the Annual Meeting last week!

Congratulations to our newly elected board member Eli Johnson and to re-elected board members Joel Federer, Vikisha Goberdhan, Ethan Komoroski, Janhel Leandre and Judy Vecere!


Free Business Advertising in Armatage Welcome Bags

Are you a neighborhood business that would like to advertise for FREE? Consider providing content for our Welcome Bags that are delivered to all new neighbors in Armatage! The reusable bags contain useful information on our neighborhood, community involvement, area businesses and local government. Your contribution can include menus, brochures on your business, gift cards, coupons, branded trinkets, or even just business cards!

Businesses in and around the Armatage neighborhood are welcome to donate and excluding the cost of producing your item, it’s free to contribute. You can also consider a tax deductible cash contribution to our non-profit organization to help support the cost of producing the bags. Learn more about the Welcome Bag program at armatage.org/programs/welcome-bags/


Minneapolis Mask Requirement is Still in Place

Mayor Jacob Frey has kept Minneapolis’ mask requirement in place pending review of public health data and local vaccination rates. Private businesses, public transportation and other settings also have face covering requirements including Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan, which stays in effect requiring masks in schools through the end of the school year.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced May 13 that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can start doing many things they had stopped doing because of the pandemic. Gov. Walz has lifted Minnesota’s mask requirement while still strongly recommending Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated wear face coverings indoors. These are still subject to local restrictions. Learn more here.


Minnesota Rent Help

RentHelpMN was created to help Minnesotans who have fallen behind on their rent or utility bills or fear that could happen. If you find yourself in this position, RentHelpMN is here to help. Eligible renters can receive assistance with rent and utility bills dated on or after March 13, 2020. If you qualify, you could receive up to 15 months of total assistance.

Find out if you qualify and apply at renthelpmn.org or by calling 211, which has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions from 8:00am until 8:00pm, Monday through Saturday.


Minnesota Vaccine Connector

With COVID-19 vaccines now approved for young people 12 to 15 years old, sign up for the Minnesota COVID-19 vaccine connector and get updates on vaccine opportunities in our area in English, Spanish, Somali or Hmong. Getting vaccinated helps all of us get back to what we’ve missed sooner and safely.

Do your part now by continuing to help slow the spread of COVID-19: Wear a mask, wash your hands often, stay 6 feet away from anyone you don’t live with, and stay home if you are sick. Doing all of these things will help keep people healthy until all Minnesotans have the opportunity to get vaccinated.