Yinghua is preparing to begin construction on a $6 million renovation and expansion project in the summer of 2013. The investment will update its current building systems, accommodate its current and future enrollment, and enhance program offerings.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s capital improvement program includes $4 million for building and site improvements at Northeast Park. Park staff will share information about upcoming community engagement for a Northeast Park master plan and near-term plans to address the community’s programming needs.

Yinghua Academy is located at 1616 Buchanan Street NE and is adjacent to Northeast Park. The MPRB’s current recreation building is located on school property. To plan for the expansion of Yinghua, the MPRB has allocated funding it its capital program for several years. Since spring, Yinghua and MPRB representatives have been working collaboratively to determine how the groups might work together during their respective design and construction planning periods.

CONTACT:

Jennifer Ringold, Manager Community Engagement and Citywide Planning
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
612-230-6466
jringold@minneapolisparks.org

Jen Shadowens, Board Chair
Yinghua Academy
612-865-4115
jen.shadowens@yinghuaacademy.org

Since the first development, environmental constraints to development have tightened. This time around, environmental grants have been awarded through the Met Council and others to meet the challenge. Demolition of the old horse barn on the north end will begin soon as well as a building owned by Aaron Carlson to achieve a new roadway off of Central to the back lot.

Once an industrial complex, it has come to include warehouse and office space. To further facilitate other non-industrial uses, and therefore become more attractive to many other types of use, Hillcrest Development is requesting an Industrial Living Overlay District (ILOD), much as NEPNA granted to the owners of the building housing Antiquified, Nimbus Theatre and Gaytee Glass.

NEPNA will meet with Hillcrest, in a special session, Thursday, July 26, at 6:30 at the Park Building for a short presentation. If you can brave the heat and find time in your schedule to hear about what changes are about to happen, please join us.

This meeting is open to everyone, but is specially designed for people who are not yet members and would like to learn more about membership in the Northeast Investment Cooperative. Please email info@neic.coop to let them know if you plan to attend!  For more info please visit: http://neic.coop/

These exciting field renovations, which include a new irrigation system, fencing, infield construction and grading, as well as installation of bull pens, batting cage, scoreboard and dugouts, have been made possible through the combined efforts of the Northeast Boosters, Edison High School, Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein, and Park Board Commissioner Liz Wielinski. Funding was provided by the Hennepin Youth Sports Program.

We are proud to present Northeast Park baseball field as a premier athletic venue for this community, serving thousands of youth and adult participants of afterschool programs, in-house sports leagues and much more!

5:30 PM Face Painting and Refreshments

6:00 PM Grand Opening Ceremony, first pitch delivered by Commissioner Mark Stenglein

6:15 PM 15U RBI Game

Emelia Rose “Melo” Janski

Janski, Emelia Rose “Melo” age 86, of NE Mpls. Emelia lived and breathed NE Minneapolis. Melo cared deeply for the city in which she spent her whole life. She was vital in the process for the plaques that adorn the Broadway-Central Bridge in NE.

Melo also was a long-time secretary for the NE Neighborhood Association, where she made many friends. She will be missed by many, especially her lap cat, Andy. Survived by loving husband of 59 years, Leonard; children, Mary (Kent) Smith & Michael (Teresa) Janski; brother, Walter Andrychowicz.

Visitation was held at KOZLAK-RADULOVICH CHAPEL (1918 University Ave NE), on Sunday, April 22.  Mass of Christian Burial was held at the CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS (435 NE 4th Street) on Monday, April 23. Interment was at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the church. Special thanks to the staff at Bethany Covenant Village, Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck and North Memorial Hospice Unit.

Published in Star Tribune on April 22, 2012

The City of Minneapolis’ Neighborhood and Community Relations department is hosting the first-ever Communities Connections Conference, “Building Better Communities Through Neighborhoods”, on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at the St. Mary’s University Event Center – 2540 Park Avenue South (formerly known as the Zuhrah Shrine Event Center).

This new conference is specifically designed for neighborhood organizations, cultural communities, nonprofit organizations, City departments and residents to share best practices of neighborhood engagement. In addition, the conference will introduce people to new and innovative ideas for working within communities and neighborhoods. A major theme of the conference is building diversity and increasing participation in neighborhood organizations and communities.

The conference will include 16 concurrent workshops. The topics include: Minneapolis One Read, bridging the digital divide, reducing waste at local events, social justice, neighborhood safety and success stories of collaborations with City departments. There will also be neighborhood and community booths, a Neighborhood Café, food from communities throughout the city, local cultural entertainment and a closing reception. The Neighborhood and Community Relations department supports the city’s 71 neighborhood organizations, which serve as the City’s primary community engagement infrastructure. The department also has an Access and Outreach team whose focus is to support engagement of all residents particularly where cultural norms or customs, language or disabilities limit access.

For more information, including the agenda and workshop descriptions, please visit: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ncr/CommunityConnectionsConference

“People attending the tour are looking for ideas on how to remodel or expand their homes,” said Tour coordinator Margo Ashmore. “Homeowners on the tour enjoy feedback and find it’s also a great promotion for their neighborhoods.”

Contractors often help staff the homes, and homeowners ask family and friends to contribute a few hours hosting. “A good support network makes it fun. It’s a great incentive to finish up the last few little projects,” Ashmore said. “Recruit help at fall and winter gatherings, and identify clusters of homes to call special attention.”

Contractors and other vendors may nominate homes they have worked on, and are encouraged to call for more information about sponsorship. Green, energy efficient, and historically-sensitive remodels and expansions get special notice among the 50 homes. It is not necessary to have remodeled the whole house.

The tour is a celebration of city living that encourages homeowners to improve existing homes, and to complement the neighborhood vibe if they build new. For more information, call Tour Coordinator Margo Ashmore at 612-867-4874 or email mfashmore@aol.com. The application can be downloaded from www.MSPHomeTour.com under “nominate.”

Margo Ashmore, Coordinator
Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour
April 28-29, 2012
612-867-4874
www.MSPHomeTour.com
Find us on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/msphometour