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Winter Quarterly 2012

Festivals & Frolic!

SEWARD WINTER FROLIC: Art in the 'hood

Photos: Courtesy of M Marne Zafar

Read why Seward is the place folks talk about, visit & want to live in!

B-I-N-G-O!

Published by The Seward Neighborhood Group Minneapolis, MN 55406

Volume 2, Issue 4 2012

This year's Seward Winter Frolic: Art in the 'hood on December 1 and 2 has a new twist. Play Seward BINGO and win fun prizes! By visiting the artists and businesses on the game grid and getting your card stamped, you will be eligible to win cool goodies like local treats and artwork. Fill in the entire game and you're eligible to win even bigger prizes! Pick up Bingo games at Welna II, Seward Co-op, Bethany Lutheran Church and Faith Mennonite Church.

And the winner is ...

SPOKES BikeWalkConnect UPDATE by Andrew Magill

It has been a great first few months at SPOKES! Thank you to all who attended our grand opening celebration and to the many local businesses who donated food, beverages and extra bicycle parking. We enjoyed meeting new friends and showing off our amazingly cool new shop! Since then, volunteers have logged nearly 200 total hours doing the following: completely repairing 20 bicycles including 8 which were provided to students at Seward Montessori who did not yet own a bicycle (in partnership with the Seward PTA) painting and organizing the shop and labeling tools helping to teach 6 students who attended one or more of our Learn to Ride sessions at Matthews Park Additionally, staff: conducted a special Fix-a-Flat and bicycle safety class for one of Sewards Girl Scout Troops participated in the Native American Day- Health and Resource Fair and the Midtown Farmers Market led a Community Listening Session about bicycling at Seward Towers with staff from Hope Community. For November and December we will offer: Open Shop: 7-9 PM Wednesdays and 1-5 PM Saturdays Womens and Transgender Only Open Shop (with Grease Rag): 4th Monday of the month from 7-9 PM. Volunteer night: 4-8 PM Thursdays Classes on Basic Bicycle Maintenance and winter biking (check spokesconnect.org or SpokesConnect on Facebook for class times and dates and other info). SPOKES Movie Nights the 2nd Friday of the Month @ 7 PM: Enjoy a biking or walking themed film and meet new friends.

The Seward Profile, a quarterly publication of the Seward Neighborhood Group (SNG), strives to keep neighborhood residents, businesses, property owners and organizations informed of what's happening in Seward and assist SNG in building and sustaining a strong, diverse, and vibrant community. As a typical Seward endeavor, the Profile relies on volunteers to plan each issue, create copy, sell ads, and prepare the printed edition for mailing. We welcome your suggestions and would welcome your time and energy even more.

Upcoming Issues and Deadlines:

To get involved, contact us at profile@sng.org or Seward Profile, 2323 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55406. Spring Issue 2013 - Refresh & Renew Copy and Ad Deadline: February 7 In Homes and Businesses: February 26-27

If you or someone you know would like a written translation of the Profile Quarterly, please contact profile@sng.org or call 612-338-6205, ext 119.
Editors & Staff Writers: Diann, Bruce, Maddy, Trevor Design: Marne e-mail:profile@SNG.org Printer: PrintCraft

For information on everything Seward, find us at www.sng.org

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Continue to drop off your extra used bikes and bike parts at SPOKES and let us know what programming you would like to see in 2013! Thanks!

Discover all that is Seward at www.sng.org

 Collaborated with neighborhood businesses and over 35 Block Clubs on National Night Out. Coordinated Garage Sale Days in May with over 100 sales. Organized and promoted the first ever Seward Day at the Dog Park, a community event for local dogs and their owners. Continued publication of The Profile Quarterly, distributing it to over 4500 Seward homes and businesses. Received and fulfilled a $5000 new and increased donor Match from Mcknight Foundation. Organized the kick-off to the Seward Winter Frolic at the Playwrights Center, highlighting the work of over 20 performance artists, entertaining over 100+ guests and raising over $1400 for SNG. Recreated the Seward Garden Tour, exhibiting 10 beautiful gardens and raising $1000 for SNG. Launched our community bike & walk center -- SPOKES with a grand opening in August. SPOKES promotes biking and walking in and around Seward. Open shop hours started in September. Classes started in June. Continued support of Hub of Heaven Community Garden. Collaborated with Seward Civic and Commerce Association to create the Seward Winter Frolic: Art in the Hood a business, neighborhood and arts event in December. Awarded Conservation Grants of $150 each to Seward homeowners who carried out energy-saving improvements in their homes. Monitored and promoted recycling and composting pilots being conducted in Seward by Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling. Revamped the SNG home improvement loan programs to make them more accessible and attractive. The revolving loan program was expanded to include rental property (with 4 or less units), townhouses and condominiums. A separate emergency loan program was set up for homeowners experiencing emergency repairs. The income limits were raised to 115% of area median income and the interest rate has recently been lowered to 2.75%. Worked with Seward Redesign on the Seward Commons project including approval of the Touchstone project, the Seward Senior Housing project and street reconstruction projects in the Seward Commons project area. In 2012, construction started on the Touchstone project and 22nd Street was extended to Cedar Avenue. Advocated for improvements to Franklin Avenue west of Minnehaha Avenue including extension of the bike lanes, improved pedestrian safety and development of the median and boulevards in the LRT station area. Through Community Development Committee, reviewed and made recommendations on requests for rezoning, Conditional Use Permits, variances and expansion of nonconforming uses. Worked on programs to educate and encourage Seward households to reduce reliance on practices and products releasing toxic components into neighborhood air and waternamely Make Seward Green and Great Green Yards. Continued support of the Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership, through which 32 youth have participated in restorative conferences in the last 12 months, totaling $130 returned to victims, 146 volunteer hours contributed to the community and 46 written and verbal apologies to those harmed. Grew our on-line presence. The E-Democracy Seward Neighbors Forum has become an important way for SNG to communicate with the neighborhood. The forum has grown to 827 members in 2012 and averages 3 posts each day. The Seward Profile site broadcasts items like community reports from the Minneapolis Police Department and information on neighborhood events and feeds the SewardTweets twitter account. A community calendar is also in place where community groups can directly add their events. Through a Legacy Fund Research Grant, a Seward Co-op Community Fund Grant, and a generous donation from a Seward resident, enlisted twenty neighborhood writers to do archival research, conduct oral history interviews, write, edit and consult on the History Committee's Seward History Book Project. This unique, collaborative way of telling a neighborhood's story is being recognized by others. Staff of the Special Collections Room at Hennepin County's Central Library are touting the book project as a model of what other neighborhoods could and should be doing.

Oh, what a year its been!

Cafe Society

Seward is home to a slew of inviting hangouts, from Birchwood Caf to the Eagles Club, Boneshaker Books to Memory Lanes & Flashback Caf, from Himalayan Restaurant and Blue Nile, to the Hexagon Club and Tracys Saloon. Places such as the Unideli at United Noodles, Precision Grind Coffee, Pizza Luce and the oh-so-yummy Donut Cooperative make life sweet.

Theres nothing like a third place to warm up the day & meet a friend!

Seward Neighbohood Group 2012 Review

Social surroundings separate from home and work serve as anchors of community life. Theyre inviting, friendly and comfortable. With a core group of regulars, food and drink, they sustain us during the blustery days of winter.

http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/mpls-seward

Share your favorite neighborhood hangout on the Minneapolis Seward Neighbors Forum:

Discover all that is Seward at www.sng.org

SNG Home Improvement Loan Programs:

Low Interest Home Improvement Loans for Owner Occupied and Rental Housing
by Doug Wise

Neighborhood Note

Whats (Hip and) Happening in Seward

Kick-off your weekend by attending the Winter Frolic Benefit Gala on Friday, November 30, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Playwright's Center (2301 E. Franklin Ave). This year's event includes poetry, performance art, music, dance, and stories from the Seward History Project. Wine, beer and lovely morsels to eat are included in the ticket price of $15 or two for $25. Purchase advance tickets from SNG at 2323 E. Franklin Avenue (612338-6205) or any member of the SNG board of directors. Tickets will also be available at the door on November 30.

The Emergency Deferred Loan Program provides deferred loans to owner-occupants of properties in the Seward neighborhood who face emergency home repairs and are unable to obtain funds to repair the problem. Loans will be made to cover the cost of correcting the problem up to a maximum of $5,000. For homeowners unable to make monthly payments, the loans will be repaid when the house is sold. All of the loan programs have an annual household income limit of $96,500 for the owner of the property.
For more information on the loan programs or general home improvement advice, contact Doug Wise, SNG's Housing Coordinator, at (612) 338-6205, ext. 102 or doug@sng.org.

The SNG Interest Subsidy Grant Program reduces the interest rate on Community Fix-up Fund loans from 5.75% to 3.75% on loans up to $20,000 for up to 15 years. The Community Fix-up Fund is available to owner occupied 1-4 unit buildings and townhouse and condominium owners. The loans can be used for most types of home improvement projects including interior remodeling and additions.

There are still low interest home improvement loan funds available for Seward property owners. The SNG Revolving Loan Program can now be used for improvements to 1-4 unit owner occupied and non-owner occupied rental properties. The loans are also available to townhouses and condominiums. The Revolving Loan Program provides loans up to $12,000 for exterior, energy, mechanical, electrical and code improvements at 3.75%.

Seward Neighborhood Group

Home Improvement Assistance

Are you thinking about making improvements to your home, but not sure how to proceed? The Seward Neighborhood Group's Housing Coordinator can help with project planning, hiring contractors, obtaining financing and advice during construction.

To schedule an appointment, contact Doug Wise, SNG's Housing Coordinator, at (612) 338-6205, ext. 102 or doug@sng.org.

If the Spirit Moves You

Take time to listen to the birds the waves, the wind.

by Marne Z

Take time to be still, to be silent, to allow God to fill you up with deep peace and love.

Take time to breathe in the air. the earth, the ocean.

- Mairead Maguire Recipient, Nobel Peace Prize Ireland

In keeping with this inborn need, there are places for worship, contemplation, and mediation to reconnect and nourish your soul when the spirit moves you. Some of our suggestions ...
Bethany Lutheran Church 2511 E. Franklin St., 612-332-2397 www.bethanyinseward.org

The Seward neighborhood and extended community is home to many places of worship. Winter and the holidays seem to allow one to seek sustenance in a more spiritual, more blessed way. It is a season ripe for reflection and celebrating the infinite varieties to personal understanding.

Leann Johnson
Artist

Faith Mennonite Church 2720 22nd St. E., 612-375-9483 www.faithmennonite.org The Community of St. Martin
(services held at Faith Mennonite) www.communityofstmartin.org

Emmanuel Tabernacle Church of God in Christ 2501 22nd Street E., 612-724-6701 www.etcmn.org

Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses 2201 E 24th St., 612-721-2885 www.watchtower.org

Common Ground Meditation Center 2700 E. 26th St., 612-722-8260 www.commongroundmeditation.org

Seward Chuch 2011 21st Avenue South, 612-721-4994 www.sewardchurch.org

Masjid Rawdah 2426 E. 26th Street, 61, 612-205-2544 info@masjidrawdah.com

Lamb & Lion Fellowship 2801 22nd Street E., 763-439-7799 www.twhl.org

Leann Johnson is a fine art, tile artist (and independent graphic designer and illustrator) who moved into the Seward neighborhood last year. Born and raised on a dairy farm in Ohio, she spent her adult formative years on the East Coast with a career goal of becoming a medical illustrator. Finding that restrictive creatively, Leann segued into illustration and graphic arts. Taking a computer graphics position at the Mayo Clinic brought her to Minnesota. After seven years, she relocated to the Twin Cities and expanded her creative interests first to printmaking, then to tile art. In 2011 she was awarded Best Use of Detail at the 10th Annual Minnesota Tile Festival. Her scratchboard illustrations have been published in the New York Times and the 2013 Saint Paul Almanac. Her local clients include Beautopia, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc., and Minneapolis Public Schools. Websites: www.mnartists.org/Leann_E_Johnson www.lea-way.com www.sewardarts.org Contact: leann@lea-way.com

Temple Israel 2324 Emerson Ave. S., 612-337-8680 www.templeisrael.com Holy Rosary - Santo Rosario Church 2424 18th Avenue S., 612-724-3651 www.holyrosaryop.org

So close and not far ...

Discover all that is Seward at www.sng.org

Boneshaking Books

After an intense year of organizing and fundraising, a creative business plan was formed and Boneshaker Books opened for business January 2011 in Seward. Amanda Luker one of seven original collective members who came up with the idea to open an independent bookstore says, Everyone who is here is here because they love books. Boneshaker is lined wall-to-wall with everything from African-American womens texts to political zines, from D.I.Y. to history and biographies, from feminist literature to classic highbrow, without the exclusion of Oprahs Book Club-esque middlebrow titles. Boneshaker Books does not fail to foster the minds of our youth either, as the store features an impressive kids section.

cashier or clerk who will never know our name, an independent, volunteer-operated bookstore sounds like a good thing, even better if its local.

In a world where almost every purchase we make is scanned by a

by Maddy Edwards

Annual Meeting Election Results

In addition to conducting routine business, the first, full-board meeting in December will serve as an orientation for new board members.

Boneshaker Books is located at 2002 23rd Ave. South. Open daily from 11:00 am - 9:00 pm.

Look out for Boneshakers latest fundraising projects to pay for the expanded kids section and new P.A. and sound-system in the future. Right now, Boneshaker Books special online orders can be handdelivered by bicycle to you at your home! Another mentionable perk of the independent community provided by Boneshakers conscious volunteer book lovers.

Is it easy to define just what type of bookstore Boneshaker is? Not really; however, Amanda says of the members who volunteer working shifts at the store, all of us can look at a book and just know if this is a Boneshaker book or not. The books are diverse, obscure, nostalgic, informative and immaculately placed on shelves by dedicated staff for the customers to scan. Not the other way around.

Skeleton Crew Picks are selections of books made by donors who give $250 or more. With the donation Boneshaker agrees to stock donors picks forever. The Skeleton Crew, make up the backbone or skeleton of our store, says Luker.

Newly elected board members will join 8 incumbents to form the Board of Directors for the Seward Neighborhood Group. Those elected at the SNG Annual Meeting on November 7 will join members Anne Cronmiller, Hanna Epstein, Peter Fleck, Mike Trdan, Michael Vegell, Ben Walen, Ken Webb and Marne Zafar. Returning and new members include Diann Anders, Angela Haeg, Bruce Johansen, Tariku Belay, Maia Homstad, Michael Pursell, Emily Whebbe and Bob Friddle.

Recognized by the City of Minneapolis as Seward's official citizen participation organization, SNG is a volunteer-driven organization with an active Board of Directors. Members of the Seward community are welcome at its meetings. For information, contact kerry@sng.org or call 612-338-6205 (ext 119).
Scenes from 2012s Annual Board Meeting: Tariku & Michelle, Board members Mike, Anne and Ben; Robert Lilligren, Jim Davnie and Cam Gordon speaking to all about new Seward Wards 2 and 6.

Discover all that is Seward at www.sng.org

2nd Moon becomes ...

Shortly after taking over 2nd Moon Coffee Cafe in May, new owners Jay and Laura Fritzke decided they wanted a new name. The name 2nd Moon, after all, was derived from Blue Moon Coffeeshop on East Lake Street when its owners opened their second coffeeshop on 23rd and Franklin Avenue. The Fritzkes wanted a name that reflected the shop's connection to the neighborhood and its history.

PRECISION GRIND

by Trevor Born

Something with "Seward" in the name, like Seward Coffee House? Too easily confused with the Seward Co-Op or Seward Cafe. Perhaps harken to the nearby historic Milwaukee Avenue? Well, not many options besides the word "Milwaukee." "Or, we thought, how about something with 'Franklin?'" says Jay Fritzke. "Well, there's already a lot of businesses with Franklin in the name, and it's a long road." They eventually landed on Precision Grind -- after Precision Grinding, the machine shop that previously occupied the building. "We liked it because it relates to our history as well as our coffee, which is what keeps us in business," Fritzke says. An awning with the new logo will be ready by late November or early December. Signs will highlight the history of the building, which housed the Agate Theater from 1915 to 1955.

And there are more changes than just the branding. They've brought in new tables and chairs, painted, fixed moulding, added recycling and replaced the double-door drink refrigerator with a smaller reach-in model. They're also looking for ways to address customers' number one suggestion: more food options. The lack of space makes food a challenge, but the Fritzkes say its their top priority.

They've also kept many of the features that keep regulars coming back to Seward's only dedicated coffee shop. They've maintained the long hours (7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends), kept the same coffee, offered to hire back all of the baristas and retained most of them, and continued Open Mic nights. They're also trying to add more musical performances and upgrade their sound equipment for weekend entertainment. It is the first ownership venture for the couple, who have a background in the restaurant industry. They plan to try lots of ideas, they say, but still want to preserve the heart of the business that has become a community staple.

"We joke that, it turns out we didn't buy a coffee shop, we almost bought a church. People are really passionate about the place," says Jay. Adds Laura: "That's that 'small town in a big city' feel we really like about Seward."
Discover all that is Seward at www.sng.org

Keep up with neighborhood events, meetings, and issues at The Forum.

Check out Seward's other "virtual" properties at: http://goo.gl/Xa6AR

at the Seward Neighborhood Online Forum!

Join your Neighbors Online

Join today at: http://bit.ly/sewardforum

Discover all that is Seward at www.sng.org

Neighborhood Note

Whats (Hip and) Happening in Seward

Cooperative Energy Futures has been hosting solar and insulation workshops in and around Seward Neighborhood, but the very last one will come up on the 4th of December at the Seward Food Coop between 6:00 and 8:00pm. This will be your last chance to learn about our community solar and insulation programs, and to ask us questions about how we are able to save you so much money, how a community energy cooperative works, anything at all! Call us at: 612-568-2334 or e-mail Brendan at brendan@cooperativeenergyfutures.com

Seward Neighborhood Group 2323 E. Franklin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55406

VINELAND
TREE CARE
Its time to prune your oak trees! Call us at 612-872-0205
2423 E. 26th St. Minneapolis www.vinelandtree.com