inside
Django Jazz Fest .................................... 4
Covering the Neighborhoods of CARAG and ECCO in the Uptown Area
Bryant Avenue Bikeway
Creating a Motorist/Cyclist Utopia Ties in Fifth Precinct
By Jacqueline Varriano
“Share the road!” is a statement
heard loud and clear in the
Uptown area by motorists and
cyclists alike. Thanks to some
careful planning and hard work
by the CARAG Transportation
Committee and the Minneapo-
lis Bicycle Advisory Committee,
Bryant Avenue is now home to
a bikeway.
Different from a bike lane, the
Bikeway promotes a “share the
road” concept which refers to
a “chevron” pavement mark-
ing that conveys the message
to both motorists and cyclists
to share the same driving lane.
The pavement markings will
appear at every intersection
approach and the Bikeway will
extend from the River-Lake
Trail (40th Street Greenway) to
the Midtown Greenway, ending
at the Loring Park Bridge just
north of Franklin.
In addition to the pavement
stamps, the Bikeway will also
feature bike route and direc-
tional signs to help bikers find
their way. The parking lane
stripe encourages motorists to
park closer to the curb, keeping
the road wide and cutting down
on accidents involving cyclists
and car doors. The premise of
Classy Lake Street
Building Saved for Now
By Gary Farland
Developers had their tape mea-
sures out this summer and fall
wondering if the site of the
ornate Mediterranean style
building at the southwest corner
of Lake and Irving could be a
site for yet another condo build-
ing. As it turns out, according
to owner Philip Banford of the
East Isles neighborhood, the
building has been sold to an
unidentified buyer who plans
to preserve the present build-
ing. Yet, all is not over, since the
transaction has not yet closed.
But the new owner is in the pro-
cess of renting out the vacant
spa part of the building and so
things seem to be on track.
The building was built in 1928
Community Attorney
Lisa Godon Builds
the “share the road” concept is
to communicate just that. With-
out a designated bike lane or sig-
nage, both motorists and cyclists
have previously been unsure of
where the cycles belong, leav-
ing both parties questioning the
rules of the road. The Bryant
Avenue Bikeway just may be the
right solution for this problem.
The plan for the Bikeway was
first conceived in the 2000
CARAG Master Plan. Fund-
ing was allocated through the
Neighborhood Revitalization
Program. In 2003, CARAG
began working with an urban
planning firm to research logis-
tics and create a design concept
and settled on Bryant Avenue.
“There were a lot of factors that
went into the decision to have
Bryant Avenue as the host of
the Bikeway,” said Scott Engel,
CARAG Community Coor-
dinator. “Bryant is wider than
most streets, it is a two way,
and has had extensive renewal
in recent years. Long the site of
Giorgio’s and the Urban Retreat,
these businesses left and were
replaced by Amore Victoria
and the 1608 Spa (which is the
address of the spa). Now the spa
will be changing hands again.
According to Philip, the poten-
tial developers thought the
building and its parking lot were
too small to build on, unless the
house next door was also pur-
chased for about a million dol-
lars. Also, he says that it is in
the Shoreland Overlay District,
so many zoning changes and
conditional use permits needed
to be had. Perhaps the building
Amore Building
continued on page 5
CARAG Report ......................................... 6
Election................................................... 9–15
Wine at Lyn-Lake.....................................17
ECCO Report .......................................... 19
Photo left: Mural at Bryant and Lake Dunn Bros.
October 2006 • Volume 2, Number 10
BIKEWAY By Meggan Ellingboe
KICK-OFF EVENT After stints in Washington,
D.C., and a private law firm,
Saturday, Oct. 7 attorney Lisa Godon now finds
1 to 3 p.m. herself making a difference on
Bryant Square Park a local level. Godon is the Com-
(31st and Bryant) munity Attorney for the Fifth
Precinct in a community pros-
1 to 2 p.m. ecution program sponsored by
Bicycle Safety Clinic the Minneapolis City Attorney’s
For Kids 8 to 14 Office. The program started
Free bike helmets four years ago in an effort to
build cooperation and under- Photo by David Peterson
standing between the police, Fifth Precinct Community Attorney
2 to 2:30 p.m. Lisa Godon.
Art Bike Parade courts and community. All five
Bring your decorated precincts now have an attorney.
bike, and join the ride Nicollet four days a week.
to the new Loring Park Godon came to the Fifth Pre-
Bridge. cinct just over a year ago and The Fifth Precinct most com-
acts as the liaison between the monly faces livability crimes
2:30 p.m. courts, the police and the com- such as assaults, drug offenses,
Loring Bike Bridge munity. “[The Minneapolis City prostitution or disorderly con-
& Park Celebration Attorney] had this initiative duct. While Godon says she
as a priority…but had to pri- never has a “typical day on the
Free “Share the Road” oritize which precinct received job,” she lists working with
T-shirts an attorney first according police and neighborhoods to
to crime rates,” said Godon. focus on chronic offenders as a
“The two highest-crime pre- large part of her role as Com-
cincts, the Fourth Precinct on munity Attorney. When one
it’s not as busy as a Lyndale or the North side and the Third of the offenders is arrested, she
a Hennepin and it serves as a Precinct on the South side, handles the case by charging
constant connection from the were staffed first” followed by the offender with the appro-
southwest to downtown.” Godon’s eventual placement in priate crime. She then works
the Fifth Precinct. She can be with a neighborhood organizer
found surrounded by stacks of
Bikeway papers in her small office inside lisa godon
continued on page 8 the police station on 31st and continued on page 8
Urban Chess Garden to Be
Established at Lake Calhoun
Photos by Courtney Cushing Kiernat
(l to r) Quinn Kiernat moves his queen across the giant chess board, while Lucy Kiernat gets close to her king. This
chess board at Lake Calhoun was provided by the Minneapolis Chess Garden (www.minneapolischessgarden.com)
The goal of this project is to establish a permanent urban chess garden. A chess garden is a permanent pavilion area
incorporating a giant chess board and nearby chess tables. Most giant chess boards are between eight and fifteen feet
per side. Bring the family and check it out.
 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
GRECO Lyn-Lake Project Redesigned and Rejected
By Aaron Rubenstein
The board of the Lowry Hill
East Neighborhood Association
(LHENA) voted 6-2 on Sep-
tember 20 to reject GRECO’s
latest plan for Lyn-Lake area
redevelopment. The plan calls
for two buildings on the west
side of Aldrich between 29th
and Lake Street with retail
space along Lake Street and 282
market-rate rental apartments.
The south building would be
five and six stories. The north
building would be four sto-
ries adjacent to the Midtown
Greenway, six stories, and ten
stories mid-block. All parking
would be underground. The
project is called Aldrich Ave-
nue Apartments.
According to LHENA coor-
dinator Caroline Griepentrog,
the LHENA board voted to not
support the project, as present-
ed, due to concerns about height
and density. She said the board
found that density should not
exceed 120 dwelling units per
acre (DU/A). That is the maxi-
mum density recommended in
the draft Midtown Greenway
Land Use and Development
Plan, according to LHENA
board member Steve Benson.
GRECO’s proposed density is
approximately 176 DU/A.
Griepentrog said the LHENA
board also found that any
building taller than six stories
should be set back at least 120
feet from any public roadway.
This standard is based on the
ten-story MoZaic/Lagoon proj-
ect model, which is also located
within LHENA and which
LHENA supported.
The plan rejected by LHENA
is the fourth that GRECO Real
Estate Development has pre-
sented in the past year for their
Lyn-Lake properties. The first
two called for a larger project
that included the Aarcee Rental
and VFW sites. GRECO found
out in July that the city would
not support $10 million in tax
increment financing (which
would pay for affordable hous-
ing, and for underground
parking for office and hotel
buildings on the Aarcee/VFW
sites) so they scaled back the
project to a first phase on the
west side of Aldrich.
GRECO presented a plan to
LHENA in August that called
for five to five-and-a-half story
buildings along the west side of
Aldrich. GRECO project man-
ager Brent Rogers said at the
September 13 LHENA Zoning
& Planning Committee meeting
that for financial reasons and a
desire to see a streetcar operat-
ing in the greenway, they have
received (political) support to
reduce building height along
the greenway and increase it
mid-block. Architect Jack Boar-
man, of the BKV Group, said
the ten-story building would
break up the building mass and
add architectural interest. The
committee voted 5-0 to support
the project that the board later
rejected, with conditions of a
maximum height of eight sto-
ries and the developer looking
at moving the tallest building
closer to Lake Street.
GRECO project manager
Brent Rogers said GRECO is
taking the LHENA board’s
comments into consideration
and is trying to talk with Coun-
cil Member Remington. He
said they are not yet sure of
the project’s direction and are
considering going back to the
August plan (of 5 to 5-1/2 story
buildings). Rogers also said he
is still hoping to submit land
use applications to the city in
early to mid October for the
project­­—re-zoning, variances,
site plan review, and condi-
tional use permit for additional
height—and then meet again
with LHENA.
AfterBar Remains
Controversial
By Aaron Rubenstein lated flyers, calling for a take-
over of the CARAG board,
It’s not clear when the contro- just prior to CARAG’s annual
versial AfterBar restaurant meeting on September 19 at
liquor license request will be which board members were
forwarded to the Minneapolis elected. The flyer states that the
City Council. It was expected CARAG board members “have
to be on the agenda for the two made it their life goal to RUIN
Public Safety and Regulatory life for residents of Uptown”
Services Committee meetings and “they will never stop until
in September but it was not. they get every single bar and
City Liquor Inspector Philip restaurant to close at 11 PM.”
Schliesman said AfterBar’s
“file is being reviewed by staff” A good number of people
and he doesn’t know when the appearing to be AfterBar sup-
license application will be sent porters attended the CARAG
to the committee. meeting but they made no
board nominations during the
The restaurant, planned for first round of nominations.
913 West Lake Street and well AfterBar owner Robert Serr
under construction, is contro- nominated himself during
versial because owner Robert an unexpected second round
Serr wants to serve liquor until but he was not voted onto the
2 a.m. and food until 4 a.m. board.
Many nearby residents oppose
the late night hours because of
what they already have to live
with, particularly noise from
late night revelers and people
talking loudly, car doors slam-
ming and radios. CARAG
voted in August to recommend UNN is seeking an
approval of the liquor license Ad Sales
only if liquor sales cease at Representative.
11 p.m. during the week and
midnight on weekends (the Commissioned, part time
maximum hours of similarly job. Please call 259.1372
situated Pizza Nea and Tum or email uptownnews@
Rup Thai). yahoo.com.
Supporters of AfterBar circu-
November Issue of Uptown Neighborhood News:
Deadline for submissions Thursday, October 19.
Uptown Neighborhood News
Uptown Neighborhood News is a monthly publication of Calhoun Area Residents Action Group
(CARAG) in cooperation with the East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO). UNN cov-
ers the news of and is delivered free to households within the area bounded by Lyndale Ave. S. and
Lake Calhoun, between Lake Street and 36th St. W. Extra copies are distributed to businesses in the
Uptown area, along Lake Street, and Lyndale and Hennepin Aves. Circulation is 5,100, with a pass-
along readership of 10,000. Publication and distribution is near the first weekend of every month.
Subscriptions are available for $30 per year, prepaid. Send check to: UNN, 711 W. Lake St., Suite 303,
Minneapolis, MN 55408.
Contributors are area residents who volunteer their time to bring the news of the area to residents.
Articles, letters to the editor and story ideas are welcomed and encouraged. The editor reserves the
right to edit for length, clarity, relevance to the area, or other reasons. Editorial and advertising guide-
lines are available. Please contact the editor:
News, Story Ideas and letters to the Newspaper circulation
editor CARAG/ECCO Circulation:
uptownnews@yahoo.com Bill Boudreau 825-0979
UNN, 711 West Lake St. #303
contributing writers
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Meggan Ellingboe, Gary Farland,
(612) 259-1372
Sue Lundquist, Aaron Rubenstein, Scott
Managing Editor Schiefelbein, Jasqueline Varriano
Mary Ann Knox
contributing columnists
associate Editor Dave Frankowski, Dave Veeser
Colette Davidson
Graphic Design & ProducTion
Managing Board Kelly Newcomer 824-1092
Appointed/Elected Reps: kelly@kellynewcomer.com
Gary Farland, Chair (ECCO) 824-6744
Minneapolis City Council
Ralph D. Knox, Secretary (ECCO)
Tenth Ward
Carrie Menard (ECCO)
Ralph Remington, 673-2210
Anna Matthes (CARAG)
ralph.remington@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
Kay Nygaard-Graham, Treasurer (CARAG)
825-3637 Crime Prevention Specialist
Jill Bode, Vice-chair (CARAG) Tom Thompson
Volunteer Members: 5th Precinct
David Peterson Safe Unit, Sector 2
Mary Ann Knox 3101 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis MN 55408
Advertising
Serving the neighborhoods of;
Anna Matthes 824-6183
CARAG, East Harriet, ECCO, Kingfield,
amatthes@visi.com
Linden Hills, Lyndale, West Calhoun
Photographers
5th Precinct Community Attorney
Courtney Cushing Kiernat, Jeffrey Farnam,
Lisa Godon 673-2005
Mary Ann Knox, Gay Noble, Kay Nygaard
Graham, Naomi Oshiro, David Peterson, Uptown Neighborhood News reserves the right to
Scott Stillman refuse publication of articles or advertisements as it
sees fit. But we will see fit to publish most things,
don’t worry.
Copyright © 2006. Uptown Neighborhood News.
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  
letters editorial
Best Wishes From Departing Editor
HORNSTEIN SHOULD
NOT BE REELECTED
Frank Hornstein is finishing
his second term in office, yet he
has already amassed a legisla-
tive record that should alarm
his constituents. He consistent-
ly supports legislation that does
not protect our livelihoods. He
does not care about strength-
ening our economy, protecting
our children, or preserving our
property rights.
Last session, he introduced a
bill raising the state income tax
rates at all income levels. He
introduced a bill increasing
the sales tax in the metro area.
And he introduced bills to raise
the gas tax to 30 cents per gal-
lon – six times!
He was one of only ten House
members to vote against the
Public Safety Bill, which
included tougher penalties for
sex offenders and meth manu-
facturers, and stricter laws gov-
erning identity theft.
Mr. Hornstein was again in the
minority when he was one of 17
Representatives to vote against
the Eminent Domain Reform
Bill. Led by Representative Jeff
Johnson, now a candidate for
Attorney General, Minnesota
enacted a bill protecting prop-
erty owners from governments
turning over their property to
others.
We have worked hard to pur-
chase homes in a great neigh-
borhood. Frank Hornstein
would be alright with the City
of Minneapolis telling you that
your property was being taken
and given to a private company
that argues it can make better
use of the property than you.
By voting with the extreme
minority on legislation that
critically impacts our district,
he proves that he is out of touch
with us; he should not be elect-
ed to another term in office.
Colleen Bruce
Fulton
Letters to the Editor Policy: Write to
us, provided you write fewer than 250
words! Your letter may be edited and we
don't know if it will be published, but
we will certainly try to do so. We need to
know your name, address, phone num-
ber and neighborhood.
Opinions Policy: Please submit your
opinion pieces to the editor. We encour-
age thoughtful essays about anything
that’s going on in the neighborhoods.
On occasion, we will solicit contrasting
views on one subject and run multiple
opinions. We reserve the right to edit for
space or clarity, taste and legal concerns.
By Mary Ann Knox many years of experience as a
I hope you readers will con- enough gossip to publish every
college English teacher, with
tinue to read and to write to month. Send us your gossip,
This has been my last issue as freelance writing experience.
us – we value the Letters to people!
editor of the Uptown Neigh- He is a participant in the neigh-
the Editor, and the Opinion
borhood News (UNN). I am borhood – you will have seenpieces that you send to us. We Thanks for reading and my
departing with some sadness, as him out with the Stroll Patrol,
really need your feedback. Tell best wishes to our new editors
I have enjoyed the us what you as they take up the reins here.
contact I have with like or don’t
my community. I like about the Feel free to contact me:
run a business and This month, Courtney Cushing Kiernat sent to paper. Tell us maryannknox@visi.com.
have many volun- me unsolicited photos of the chess garden by Lake if something Contact the paper at 259.1372
teer ventures that is missing that or uptownnews@yahoo.com.
make it impossible
Calhoun. I hope more of you do that, as well. you would like
for me to find the to read about.
time needed to Please com-
continue as editor of the paper. or working at the pop booth at ment on the regular columns
the Art Fair, or the Chilly Chili and story areas. We love to hear
When we began two years ago Event in CARAG. He has been from you.
to organize a new paper after writing for the UNN for a few
the demise of the East Calhoun months, and he is excited about This month, Courtney Cush-
News, I never intended to be the possibilities, and has lots of ing Kiernat sent to me unsolic-
editor. I was working with the energy and ideas. Contact him ited photos of the chess garden
Managing Board of the paper at uptownnews@yahoo.com or by Lake Calhoun. I hope more
to plan and organize the paper, 259.1372. of you do that, as well. All are
and always intended to be welcome as contributors. The
involved. But a series of unex- Colette Davidson has already purpose of a community news-
pected circumstances caused assumed the role of Associ- paper if for us to exchange
me to step in as editor – for ate Editor. Colette is recently information with each other
what I thought was a month returned from living in India, – to learn about what’s fun to
or two. And as things go, one where she wrote and managed do in the neighborhood, when
thing led to another, and sud- a small newspaper for English new businesses open or we say
denly I was the editor. I tried to speaking tourists. She is a gift- goodbye to closed businesses.
fit it into my busy life, but just ed writer and editor, and has We like to hear the gossip about
cannot find the time to devote her finger on the pulse of the housing prices, who had a baby,
to it. young renters in the neighbor- what giant remodel project
hood. We expect great things is happening, a local resident
But not to worry – we have from her. who wrote a book or plays in
found two energetic and a band…. This is your forum .
delightful people who want to I have been delighted to meet Send us your news. The paper
take on the challenge of con- many people, learn about new belongs to all of us.
tinuing and expanding the businesses, and attend many Rbe^SX”TY^^Ub”\QdU^YWXd
UNN. really swell meetings in my Many people have told me that ce^dX(Q]!Q]”VbYcQd(Q]"Q]
time as editor. I shall miss all they enjoy my “Heard Around !& g\Q[Ucd\Q[UYbfY^W
Scott Schiefelbein, a CARAG that, but will hope to remain Uptown” column – I call it my ]Y^^UQ`_\Yc&!"("'%'!
resident, will take over as involved. gossip column and my neigh-
Senior Editor. Scott brings us bor calls me CJ. But I don’t get
ST. MARY'S
Greek Orthodox Church
3450 Irving Ave. South (overlooking Lake Calhoun)
Divine Liturgy (612) 825-9595
Sunday 9:30 am www.stmarysgoc.org
Fr. Paul Paris
Inside our new store,
God doesn’t reject people. you’ll find enough
Neither do we. games to fill any size
room. Plus custom
bars, kitchen and bar
Never place a period where stools,theater seating,
artwork – well, you
God has placed a comma. get the idea.
Sunday Christian Education for all ages 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
810 West 31st Street, Minneapolis
612-825-3019
LYNDALE
www.lyndaleucc.org
6150 Lyndale Ave. S. • 35W / 62 Crosstown at Lyndale • Minneapolis
No matter who you are, or where you are on your journey you’re welcome here. 612.866.8433 • petersbilliards.com
 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006

Uptown Gypsy Jazz Fest Swings

By Aaron Rubenstein has toured the U. S., Canada,
and Japan.)
The Uptown Row Django Jazz
Fest on Saturday, September So each band had a bass and at
9 was a swingin’ success! The least one guitar. The first band
Uptown Row parking lot was had accordion, (which is rather
full of folks eating, drinking, rare in hot club bands now, but
dancing and enjoying seven wasn’t during the 1930s), the
hours of great “Gypsy jazz” second band had violin, and
music performed by four really the third had sax plus singer.
great bands. Bravo!

The festival featured the swing- Uptown Row is the two-

ing “hot club” style, also known
as Gypsy jazz, developed by
guitarist Django Reinhardt and
violinist Stephane Grapelli and
first performed in Paris cafes
and cabarets during the 1930s.
It’s a mix of musical genres:
Gypsy, French café, and Amer-
ican swing jazz.
The four bands that performed
not only sounded great but
provided a satisfying combina-
tion of differing instrumen-
tation. The first, the Parisota
Hot Club, had a guitar, bass,
and accordion (their incredible
French violinist died in May).
Young accordioniste Patrick
Harison was sizzlin’! Next was
the Twin Cities Hot Club with
two guitarists, a bass player and
the incredible violinist Gary
Schulte.
The Hot Club of Sweden and
Connie Evingson performed
next. The Stockholm band
features three young play-
ers on two guitars and bass.
Local and versatile jazz singer
Connie Evingson was terrific
as usual. She and the band
have just released a CD called
Stockholm Sweetnin’. Gypsy jazz
typically does not involve vocals,
but Evingson really knows how
to make it work and she gives
the band plenty of room. This
performance featured a sur-
prising guest soloist — the solid
Dave Karr on tenor saxophone.
Closing out the evening was
the celebrated Clearwater
Photos by Scott Stillman
Clockwise from upper left: Twin Cities
Hot Club members (l-r) Gary Schulte
on violin, Matt Senjem on bass, and
Robert Bell and Reynold Philipsek on
guitar. Twin Cities Hot Club violinist
Gary Schulte. The Hot Club of Swede
with Connie Evingson: (l-r) Gustav
Lundgren on guitar, singer Connie
Evingson, Hampus Lundgren on bass,
and Andreas Oberg on guitar.
Hot Club from Grand Rap-
ids, MN. The band features
young virtuoso Sam Milt-
ich on lead guitar, his father
Matthew on bass, Mark Kreitzer
on rhythm guitar and guest
Dave Karr on sax again. (Sam
has played across the U. S.
and in Holland, Germany,
and Japan while the band
story office/retail building on
the south side of Lake Street
between Emerson and Fre-
mont avenues. Django Jazz
Fest participants enjoyed food
and beverages from Uptown
Row’s two award-winning
restaurants, Tum Rup Thai
and Pizza Nea (both 2006
City Pages “best of” winners).
The Uptown Row Django
Jazz Fest was put together by
Uptown Row developer Ross
Fefercorn. Let’s hope he spon-
sors more such great communi-
ty events in the future! Thanks,
Ross!
Fefercorn said he thinks Djan-
go Fest “was successful” and he
“would love to do it again.” He
noted that the crowd was very
mixed and warm and appeared
receptive to the music.

Re-elect your District 60 legislative team at the Capitol

Standing With You.

Working Together. Every Day.
For our community and our state.
On the issues
that define our
future...
health care,
education,
transportation,
civil rights,
jobs and
housing...
Scott Dibble Margaret Anderson Frank Hornstein DFL, Labor and
Senate Dist. 60 Kelliher House Dist. 60B TakeAction
Minnesota
www.scottdibble.com
(612) 824-3823 • scotofmpls@aol.com
House Dist. 60A www.frankhornstein.org
(612) 926-3406 • fhornstein@msn.com endorsed
www.margaretandersonkelliher.org
(612) 377-9836 • MKELLIHER@mn.rr.com

Nov. 7 is our opportunity to make important changes...

VOTE!
Prepared and paid for by Volunteers for Dibble, 2622 S. Emerson Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55408; Margaret Anderson Kelliher Volunteer Committee, 620 Morgan Ave. S.,
Minneapolis, MN 55405; Hornstein Volunteer Committee , 4344 Drew Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55410
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  

crime & safety

Crime Map Glossary
Crime News from 5th precinct This is not all encompassing, but a gen-
eral guide to interpreting what some of
the crime map symbols mean.
ECCO and CARAG crime statistics from August 2006 LARCENY
Larceny is basically Theft.
This could be shoplifting, theft
LAKE STREET August 1-31, 2006 of a bicycle, theft of personal
KNOX

JAMES

property where force against

Crimes ECCO CARAG you is not used.
31st STREET BURGLARY
CALH

Homicide 0 0 Burglary is entering a dwell-

OUN

ing/residence /garage / busi-

PKW

ness, etc. This has to be entry

Y

Rape 0 1
E.

32nd STREET to a private location without

Robbery 1 4 permission. It does not mat-
ter whether it’s entry through
Agg Assault 0 2 an unlocked door/window or
33rd STREET
breaking the door down to
IRVING

HUMBOLDT

HOLMES

HENNEPIN

GIRARD

FREMONT

EMERSON

DUPONT

COLFAX

BRYANT

LYNDALE
ALDRICH Burglary 9 13 gain entry.
ROBBERY
34th STREET
Larceny 18 39 Robbery is basically a per-
son-on-person confrontation
CONAR’S WAY Auto Theft 1 4 with force/weapon or threat
of force/weapon used. This
35th STREET Arson 0 0 could be things like someone
demanding money with a
TOTAL: 29 63 gun/weapon/etc, someone hit-
ting/kicking you to get money,
36th STREET or a purse being ripped off
someone’s shoulder.
Symbols on map and numbers in ECCO and CARAG may not match, as statistics overlap at neighborhood borders.

Amore Building New Lake St. Building a Go

continued from page 1
By Aaron Rubenstein
height moratorium being put in
place by Council Member Rem- The Minneapolis Planning Com-
ington had something to do mission approved construction
with it. of a new, four-and-a-half-story,
mixed-use building at 1514 West
Lake Street. The site, located just
Stroll Patrol
The building became embroiled
in the unfortunate fate of the east of the Citadel Building at October Schedule
spa in the old Walker library the northeast corner of Lake and
building. Tom Schmidt and Irving, currently holds a two- Everyone is welcome!
Jeff Lillimoe of Urban Retreat story 1914 building with six apart- Join the Patrol!
teamed up with Jon Johanson ments; it will be demolished.
to purchase the Walker build- Photo by Jeffrey Farnam Wednesday, Oct 4, 7 p.m.
1601 West Lake Street The new building will have Meet at Bryant Square Park
ing and then invested two to
four million in it. But, for some retail space on the first floor
reason it didn’t fly, and so Tom fumes from both the plumbing Alex and Jenna like to think and three condominiums on Monday, Oct 9, 7:45 p.m.
and Jeff came back to Lake and from Amore’s next door. that their restaurant is a real the upper floors. It will be taller Meet at Urban Bean
and Irving as the 1608. After The smell from Amore’s was of neighborhood place. They have than the existing building on the (33rd & Bryant)
investing $300,000 over time bread being baked, but perhaps lived in the Wedge (or close by) site—but also narrower. * CARAG Crime & Safety
in the interior, that too became that doesn’t mix too well with for 10 years and feel they are Committee meets at 6:30 p.m.
unprofitable and so they went hair spray. here to stay. Along with creat- The Planning Commission gave
across the street and created ing authentic Italian food and the following approvals: Tuesday, Oct 17, 9 p.m.
Tommy’s for men and Lulu’s for Speaking of Amore’s, things raising babies, they even find • Conditional use permit to Meet at Bryant Square Park
women. Hopefully the smaller are happening there. Espe- time to renovate houses. They increase height from 3 to 4-1/2 * CARAG Neighborhood
spaces will be more viable. Var- cially since another member is also own a Queen Ann duplex stories (same height as the adja- Meeting at 7 p.m.
ious bankruptcies along the way now to join the family of Alex on Park Avenue that they lov- cent Citadel building).
have created a legal mess and and Jenna Victoria in April. ingly restored. Alex did most of • Variance to reduce west side Thursday, Oct 26, 7 p.m.
a lot of hardship for everyone. We reported before on Alex the carpentry work in Amore’s, yard setback from 11 to 7 feet. Meet at Bryant Square Park
The potential new spa owner Jr. being born last November. including putting in original • Variance to reduce aisle width
hasn’t yet been announced, And Amore’s now has happi- wood flooring from the Ft. in underground parking garage Tuesday, Oct 31, 6 p.m.
but this reporter did meet Jon ness all day long, with $2 pre- Snelling Armory. They say from 22 to 18 feet. Meet at Bryant Square Park
Charles as he was looking over mium tap beers always and the it has the original stain put on • Variance to reduce required Halloween
the place with his realtor. usual happy hours with reduced 200 years ago. They also like to parking for retail from 4 to 0
wine prices and appetizers and show original local art on the spaces (with bicycle parking pro-
Another issue that was reported $2 bottles of Perroni’s (3:30 to walls for which they don’t take vided).
in the Southwest Journal con- 6:30 and 10 to close). Plus, they a commission. The place really • Site plan (subject to 5 condi-
cerns sewer gas in the build- have half price bottles of wine shows the $300,000 plus sweat tions).
ing. However, Philip says that Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, equity they put in the place.
inspectors cleared the build- and $5 martinis and Absolute Four days following the Plan-
ing of that and found that the Bloody Marys every Wednes- So hopefully we will continue ning Commission’s approval of
intense evacuation of air from day. to get our lasagna and our nails the project, the City Council
the hair salon was pulling in done in the classy looking build- imposed a height moratorium
New hours are opening at 3:30 ing at Lake and Irving. for Uptown that temporarily
p.m. on the weekdays and all prohibits conditional use per-
day on the weekends. (It seems Gary Farland lives in East mits to increase height such as
Tom Thompson hard for restaurants to attract a
lunch crowd in Uptown.) You
Calhoun and enjoys talking to
neighbors at Amore.
the one approved.
Crime Prevention Specialist can often get a ticket for a free Property owner Toni Crockett
612.673.2823 Saturday brunch when you dine will start construction in June
there. 2007 and finish winter 2008.
 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
CARAG report
Lake St.
The
CARAG
Hennepin Ave.
Board meets
Lyndale Ave.
the third
Tuesday of
each month,
7 PM at
36th St.
Bryant Park
Community Center, 31st and
Bryant. All CARAG residents are
welcome and urged to attend.
Monthly Meeting Minutes
Sept 19
Board Members Attend-
ing: Jill Bode, Rick Bojko,
Cindy Christian, Thatcher
Imboden, Ellan Meyer, Bill
Morton, Kay Nygaard-Graham,
Aaron Rubenstein, and Howard
Verson. (Absent: none)
This meeting was preceded by
the annual CARAG potluck
dinner.
Welcome: The CARAG Board
is made up of volunteers who
also volunteer time on other
neighborhood committees and
organizations. Scott Engel, the
CARAG community coordina-
tor, can be reached at 612-823-
2520. CARAG is a democratic
organization; membership and
voting privileges are open to resi-
dents, property owners, and busi-
ness owners in the neighborhood.
North Face Store
Coming to Uptown
UPS and Tibet’s Corner To Go
By Aaron Rubenstein mit applications to the city in
The North Face, an outdoor
clothing and equipment com-
pany, is planning to open a
retail store in a new building
in Uptown. The store would
displace the UPS Store at 3010
Hennepin and Tibet’s Corner
restaurant at 3008 Hennepin.
North Face products are sold
at many local sporting goods
stores. The company also has
ten of its own stores around the
country. The company makes
tents, backpacks, sleeping bags,
outerwear, clothing, footwear,
luggage, and accessories.
Developer Michael Lander, an
advisor to the project, presented
the project to the ECCO Zoning
Committee on October 2. The
project has been in the works
for two to three years.
The planned new building is a
tall, one-story structure filling
the site. Lander described the
façade as “glassy and slick.” The
façade was designed by JGA
Architects of Boston—a firm
that works for North Face.
North Face has signed a lease.
Lander said they hope to sub-
Election Candidates: Candi-
dates in the upcoming state
elections spoke to the meet-
ing. Running for MN State
Senate are: Sam Adriaens and
Scott Dibble, and for MN State
House: Frank Hornstein and
Skyler Weinand.
Approve Agenda & Minutes:
Motions were passed to approve
the amended agenda and the
August meeting minutes.
Treasurer’s Report: (Cindy
Christian) As of Aug 31,
CARAG has $12,039.54 in the
operations account, $7,106.80
in asset accounts. CD #4416
matures at the end of this
month; a motion to reinvest this
as a 6-month CD was approved
unanimously. FY2007 CARAG
Operations and NRP Adminis-
trative budgets were presented
and approved unanimously.
The UNN Checking account
balance as of Aug 2006 is
$5,488.23; preparation of the
August issue resulted in a net loss
of $466.22. A FY2007 Uptown
Neighborhood News budget was
presented and approved.
CARAG Board Elections: A
flyer, which had been distrib-
uted around the neighborhood,
was read aloud. The anony-
October, start construction
around the end or beginning
of the year, and open the store
approximately one year after the
construction start.
Lander said several variance
applications are anticipated.
There is no off-street parking
provided. Other discussions
will address the loading dock
requirement, the design of the
south elevation (facing Uptown
Bar’s parking lot; city require-
ments call for architectural
articulation so that there are no
blank wall sections greater than
25 feet in width), and possibly
signage. Lander said they plan
to rely on on-street and ramp
parking in the area.
Lander noted that they couldn’t
find a way to make a second
story work. Additional space
would also increase the off-
street parking requirement.
He added that the family that
owns the property evaluated the
condition of the existing build-
ings several years ago and con-
cluded that they didn’t merit
further investment for mainte-
nance and upgrades and that he
agreed.
Calhoun Area Residents Action Group
mously-written flyer disparaged
the CARAG board and promot-
ed late-night hours for liquor-
serving establishments. There
was no further discussion.
Nominations were opened
for CARAG Board Elec-
tions. Nominations from the
August meeting were: Jill Bode,
Rick Bojko, Anna Matthes,
Ellan Meyer, Bill Morton, Kay
Nygaard-Graham, Dan Qualy,
Aaron Rubenstein, and How-
ard Verson. Nominations from
the September meeting: Skyler
Weinand, Steven Eisenmenger,
and Robert Serr. Each candi-
date was allowed 90 seconds for
an introductory speech, and the
balloting commenced. and will be meeting with the
Council Member Remington’s
Report: (Ralph Remington)
Kim Malrick was introduced
as Ralph’s new aide. City-wide
wi-fi access was approved by the
council, and will be available by
end of 2007. On Friday, Ralph
will introduce a height mora-
torium to slow development in
Uptown that will limit approval
for any building outside of the
existing zoning regulations. For
information and to provide feed-
back on the proposed Southwest
Transitway, visit: http://south-
westtransitway.org.
Flower and Garden Co-op
Spruces Up for Opening
By Mary Ann Knox
The Flower and Garden Store
Cooperative in the former
Greenstone Nursery space at
36th and Bryant has opened
after a whirlwind four months
of planning. A group of area
residents conceived the idea
in June, began planning and
recruiting members and rais-
ing money in July, began seri-
ous store planning in August,
and spent September repeat-
ing all of those tasks. Whew.
While normally a cooperative
store might take two years to
plan and form before open-
ing, the accelerated pace was
required because building
owners Dan and Julie Ziegler
needed to rent the space. The
group formed a non-profit cor-
poration to raise money, then
signed the lease. A legal coop-
erative structure is underway,
and is projected to be complete
in about a month. The coop-
erative has not been named,
but is using the interim name
of The Garden Store. Local ad
agency StoneArch Creative is
donating branding and mar-
keting expertise to develop a
name and logo.
Ongoing opportunities include
a topical discussion at “Break-
fast with Ralph,” Monday, Oct
16, 8 a.m. at The Egg and I, and
open discussion on Mondays
at Gigi’s Cafe, 2 to 4 p.m. (call
for an appointment). Coming
up will be “Happy Hours with
Ralph,” dates to be announced.
Ralph intends to begin a regular
newsletter.
Ralph will oppose the nomina-
tion of Tim Dolan as Minne-
apolis Police Chief, as he doesn’t
think the selection process
has been open. Regarding the
licensing applications for After-
Bar, Ralph stated that he has
read the community comments,
owner of the new restaurant to
find some resolution with hours
acceptable to the community,
stating that “4 a.m. is not going
to happen.”
NRP Updates: (Cindy Chris-
tian) As part of the conclusion
of NRP Phase I, a survey will be
mailed neighborhood-wide to
evaluate all Phase 1 programs.
Zoning: (Aaron Rubenstein)
Two announcements: the After-
Bar liquor license request will be
heard at the city’s Public Safety
and Regulatory Services Com-
mittee meeting on Wed, Sept
Left: Painting crew chief and Founding Member Florence DeBard.
Right: Founding Member and volunteer Linda Alton.
The group has raised about
$25,000 in cash and in-kind
donations. Currently there
are about 60 Founding Mem-
bers, about 60 volunteers,
and many offers of help with
advertising and marketing,
construction and electric-
ity, sales planning and plant
advice. Several member and
fundraising events have gen-
erated a lot of excitement.
Professional floral design-
ers will manage the ongoing
cut flower arrangement and
delivery business. The store
delivers locally and anywhere
in the world. If you need a
bouquet wired anywhere at
all, stop in or call. A search is
underway for a delivery driv-
27, 1:30 p.m. A significantly
scaled-down GRECO develop-
ment project at Lyn/Lake was
presented at the LHENA Zon-
ing and Planning Committee
meeting last week. The devel-
opers are looking for possible
LHENA approval in October;
Aaron has invited the devel-
opers to meet with CARAG
as well.
Thanks to Board Members:
Thanks were extended to the
members of the CARAG Board,
and in particular to those leav-
ing the board as of this meeting.
Board Election Results: With 51
ballots cast, the members of the
newly-elected CARAG board
are: Jill Bode, Rick Bojko, Ste-
phen Eisenmenger, Anna Mat-
thes, Ellan Meyer, Bill Morton,
Dan Qualy, Aaron Rubenstein,
and Howard Verson.
Adjourn: Motion to adjourn
passed unanimously.
Prior Board Action: In an earli-
er meeting, the CARAG board
approved the personnel com-
mittee’s annual performance
evaluation and FY2007 salary
for Scott Engel, CARAG Com-
munity Coordinator.
Photos by Gay Noble
er and a store manager.
A Grand Opening is planned
for October 28, but the store
has opened for business. You
will find flowers, houseplants,
pumpkins and other mer-
chandise coming in weekly.
In spring, the cooperative will
expand into garden plants.
Next month, Christmas trees,
wreaths and garlands will be
offered. Hours are Tuesday
to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Closed
Mondays.
Reach them at 824.0066 or the
gardenstorecoop.org.
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  

tidbits Small Area

CHOOSE TO RE-USE
WEEK. October 14 to 21 is
Choose to Re-use Week. Each
year in Hennepin County,
32 million pounds of usable
clothing and household goods
are thrown away –– that’s
the equivalent of 486,000 full
shopping carts. Lined up they
would stretch from Minneapo-
lis to Milwaukee. In an effort to
encourage more reuse, Henne-
pin County proclaims the third
week in October as Choose
To Reuse Week to encourage
residents to rent, repair, resell,
trade, consign or donate their
usable stuff instead of throw-
ing it out. Helping the environ-
ment has never been so much
fun. Back by popular demand,
67 retail partners provide cou-
pon offers with tons of savings.
Get a free copy at a participat-
ing retailer, a Hennepin Coun-
ty Service Center or Hennepin
County Library. Coupons are
valid October 1 to 21, 2006.
The following Uptown organi-
zations and businesses will have
free coupon books available
October 1: Steeple People Sur-
plus Store, Better Than Ever
Consignment Boutique, CD
Warehouse, Tatters, Dream-
haven Books, The Corner
Store, Via’s Vintage Wear and
Magers and Quinn Booksellers.
ESTES UPTOWN NEWS
opened in early September in
Calhoun Square in the former
candle shop space. Owner Fred-
ric Estes carries miscellaneous
convenience items in the shop:
greeting cards, over- the-coun-
ter medicines and toiletries,
books, newspapers, magazines
and gift items. Hours are Mon-
day to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9
p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
824.4971.
BILLS IMPORTED FOODS
(721 West Lake) is doing a little
remodeling. Uptime Nutrition
next door will move around
the corner on Aldrich behind
Bill’s. Windows are scheduled
to be installed in early October.
After Uptime moves, Bill’s will
take over that space. The busi-
ness is growing, and they may
add a few tables for coffee. If
you have not been into Bill’s
lately, you should check out all
their great cheese, olive oil and
fresh produce.
TWIN CITY DAILY
PLANET recently won the
“Wild Card” Knight-Batten
award for Innovations in Jour-
nalism. A ceremony funded by
the John S. and James L. Knight
foundation honored news orga-
nizations that are attempting
unique ways of connecting
communities through jour-
nalism. The Twin Cities Daily
Planet is a project of the Twin
Cities Media Alliance and acts
as a newswire that republishes
work from community presses
as well as showcases the work
of independent journalists and
engaged citizens. Visit their
web site at www.tcdailyplanet.
net. The Uptown Neighborhood
News is a partner newspaper
and provides stories to the TC
Daily Planet.
OKTOBERFEST. The Church
of the Incarnation (3801 Pleas-
ant) is holding its 42nd Annual
Fall Festival on October 6 to
8. Over the three days, there
will be rummage sales, silent
auctions, turkey dinner, bake-
shop, gift booths, music and
dancing in the evenings, bingo,
pancake breakfast, and more.
Check their web site for sched-
ule: www.incarnation-church.
com, or call for information:
822.2101.
COMMUNITY EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE TEAM
(CERT). The Minneapolis
Fire and Emergency Prepared-
ness Office is offering CERT
training to provide private citi-
zens with the skills and knowl-
edge to prepare for a disaster.
When a catastrophe of any kind
occurs, the first people at the
scene are often private citizens:
neighbors, family members
and co-workers. The goal of
the CERT training is to teach
volunteers what to expect in
a disaster and how to prepare
themselves and their families.
It will also help people learn
how to help their neighbors.
The course teaches the basics of
disaster preparedness, fire safety
and fire extinguisher use, emer-
gency first aid and triage, light
search and rescue, and much
more. CERT members can
also help with non-emergency
projects that help improve the
safety of the community. The
city hopes to establish a CERT
group in every Minneapolis
neighborhood that will act in
coordination with professional
first responder services.
CERT training is open to any
resident and is free. The course
is 21 hours of training. The
next course will be offered the
weekend of November 10 to
12. Friday evening classes are
scheduled from 5 to 10 p.m. with
Saturday and Sunday classes
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classes are
taught by emergency respond-
ers from the Minneapolis Fire
Department. For more infor-
mation, contact CERT coor-
dinator Susan Ude at 581.9624
or susan.ude@ci.minneapolis.
us or Deputy Chief Roll-
wagen at 673.2648 or kristi.
rollwagen@ci.minneapolis.
us. Or visit the CERT website,
www.citizencorps.gov/cert.
UNN is seeking an
Ad Sales
Representative.
Commissioned, part time
job. Please call 259.1372
or email uptownnews@
yahoo.com.
Plan to Hear
Consultant
Proposals
The October Uptown
Small Area Plan steer-
ing committee meet-
ing is scheduled for
Monday, October 16, from
7 to 9 p.m., at the Uptown
YWCA. At this meeting
potential planning consul-
tants will give presenta-
tions about their proposals
to the steering committee.
All steering committee
meetings are open to the
public, and the City wel-
comes anyone who wants
to sit in on the meetings.
However, to ensure that
the steering committee
has time to focus on and
complete their work, there
will not be question and
answer time for the public
at large.
If you have questions,
please feel free to contact
City Planner Amanda
Arnold (673.3242, amanda.
arnold@ci.minneapolis.
mn.us) or Paul Mogush
(673.2074, paul.mogush@
ci.minnapolis.mn.us).

 CARAG Neighbors

 Watch Your Mail

Coming Soon…

 NRP Phase I Survey
We need your input about the success of CARAG’s Neighbor-
On the Agenda... hood Revitalization Program (NRP) projects. Watch your mail
- New Board of Directors for the survey, complete it and return it for your chance to win
a $25 gift certificate to a local business.
- Council Member Remington’s Report

- NRP & Development Updates

- And More!


Welcome 2006/2007
CARAG Board of Directors 
• 
Jill Bode • 
Rick Bojko
Stephen Eisenmenger 
Anna Matthes Calhoun Area Residents Action Group • 
Ellen Meyer 711 West Lake St., Suite #303 • 
Bill Morton Minneapolis, MN 55408 • 
Dan Qualy (612)-823-2520
Aaron Rubenstein www.carag.org 
Howard Verson Email: carag@carag.org • 
• 
 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
Lisa Godon
continued from page 1
to gather community impact
statements from neighborhood
residents. A community impact
statement can tell the court
what the community thinks
and feels about both the offend-
er and the crime. Community
members are rarely present
when the offender is going
through the court system, and
the courts and attorneys can
easily forget how crimes affect
the community. “There’s been
lots of success in getting serious
consequences when the court
receives a community impact
statement,” says Godon.
Godon knew she wanted to be
a prosecutor because she has
always found criminal law to
be “the most interesting and
compelling” field. Criminal
law is like one big “human
drama” and she often builds
unique ties with her clients.
Some of the victims will call
her constantly, while it’s more
difficult to maintain a rela-
tionship with others. When
asked if she feels like a coun-
selor at times, she laughs and
says that, sometimes, she does
indeed. However, she went on
to emphasize that “getting the
victim on board is essential to
prove or prosecute cases.”
When not charging offenders
with crimes, counseling a vic-
tim or gathering community
impact statements, Godon says
that another fun and intriguing
part of her job is participating
in ride-a-longs with police. “It’s
helpful for a prosecutor to see
how it works for [the police],”
says the attorney liaison, “A lot
of times [the police] don’t get to
write reports; they just have to
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Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
HealthPartners Bariatric
Surgical Network
To attend an informational session, call
612-873-5479 or 1-888-873-5479
or visit hcmc.org.
solve a problem on the spot.”
The passionate attorney also
jokes that she felt like she was in
“Constitutional Law 101” again
when a Fifth Precinct officer
came forward with the recent
proposal to prohibit people
from walking through alleys.
Godon says she researched for
hours about the constitutional-
ity of the proposal while bal-
ancing the mixed reviews it
brought out in the community.
Godonrole is a liaison between
the criminal justice system,
the police and Fifth Precinct
neighborhoods. She attends
neighborhood meetings and
encourages neighborhoods to
have crime watch commit-
tees. She cited CARAG’s Stroll
Patrol and Stevens Square
Block Patrol as examples of
well-organized efforts and says
that communities should stay
in touch with crime prevention
specialists and Sector Lieuten-
ants. Godon repeatedly empha-
sized that community impact
statements are “really key”
when an offender is before a
judge. She or the precinct crime
prevention specialist can help a
resident file such a statement.
It’s a more unique role for a
prosecutor, but it’s a position
that Lisa Godon, and others
like her, believes is important
and can make a difference in
our community.
Godon can be reached at
612.673.5402 or at Lisa.Godon@
ci.minneapolis.mn.us.
Meggan resides in CARAG and
can be spotted running around
Lake Calhoun.
Bikeway
continued from page 1
After working with the urban
planning firm, CARAG resi-
dents and members of the City
Bicycle Advisory Committee
got together and counted bikes
on Bryant Avenue one Saturday
for a 12-hour period.
The city took that data to the
federal government to apply for
Minneapolis to become one of
the testing cities for a bikeway.
CARAG has been working
with the city since 2004 but the
Bikeway plan has taken a long
time “to get a little paint on the
road,” explained Engel.
The Bikeway and its chevron/
bike marking are essentially a
pilot project right now and not
an approved marking. Minne-
apolis is one of several test cities,
along with San Francisco, Den-
ver, Portland and Fort Collins.
In order for the program to be
deemed a success, volunteers
will return to the Bryant Ave-
nue Bikeway in two years to
count bicycles again. A rise in
the number of cyclists will be
the indicating factor that the
Bikeway is a necessary addition
to the road.
The CARAG Transportation
Committee, in conjunction with
Lowry Hill East Neighbor-
hood Association (LHENA),
the Minneapolis Police Depart-
ment, Calhoun Cycle and Penn
Cycle are holding a celebratory
Bryant Avenue Bikeway Kick-
Off Event on Saturday, Octo-
ber 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bryant
Square Park.
Activities will include a CCP/
Safe sponsored bicycle safety
clinic where bike helmets will
be given away, and an art bike
parade to the new Loring Bike
Bridge. Free “Share the Road”
t-shirts will also be given out to
participants.
Jacqueline Varriano is an ECCO
resident who’s excited to start
seeing more cyclists.
Bennett Lumber Becomes The
Remodeler’s Choice and Sherman
Redevelopment in Question
By Aaron Rubenstein
Bennett Lumber at 2828
Emerson Avenue South
closed its doors for good on
July 31, apparently due to
bankruptcy. The lumberyard
and hardware store reopened
on August 3 as the first The
Remodeler’s Choice (TRC).
TRC is a new business
concept owned by Fuller-
ton Lumber Company, a
Plymouth, Minnesota, firm
founded in 1882, with 13
lumberyards in small towns
in five Midwestern states.
Maggie Jamieson, TRC com-
munications specialist, says
the Uptown store will be
TRC’s flagship store for a
planned regional and nation-
al concept. She said the new
store is geared to remodelers,
both professional and do-it-
yourselfers.
Bennett’s facilities on the two
blocks east of the store had
been slated for residential
redevelopment in the near
future by developer Sherman
Associates, but that project
has been scrapped.
Jamieson said the TRC store
is currently being remod-
eled and reconfigured. Some
sections will grow; others
will shrink or be eliminated
(such as lawn and garden).
The hardware department
and showrooms for cabi-
nets, doors and windows will
expand.
Jamieson added that big sales
are happening now — and
that a “huge liquidation” of a
half-million-dollar inventory
will start on November 4.
Fullerton Lumber Company,
TRC’s parent firm, is part
of Do it Best Corporation, a
member-owned distributor
of hardware, lumber, and
building materials.
TRC has a 10-year lease
on its building but doesn’t
know how long it will be
able to lease the lumber yard,
Joyce United Methodist Church
31st and Fremont • (612) 823-0537
Worship at 10:30 a.m.
Bible Study of Romans, Sundays at 12:00 p.m.
Everyone welcome regardless of age, race, nationality,
creed, sexual orientation, income or ability
The Joyce Food Shelf
The Joyce Preschool
Worship Handicapped Accessible
Open Hearts
according to Jamieson. She
added that they will be able
to utilize Fullerton’s other
facilities to provide lumber in
the future if necessary.
The Remodeler’s Choice is
open weekdays 6:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.
to noon (the hours indicate
it’s oriented to professional
builders). New business signs
will be installed once a logo
has been designed.
The financial losses Bennett
Lumber sustained from its
short-lived Burnsville store
apparently brought down
the Uptown store as well.
The outgoing voicemail mes-
sage on the cell phone of the
Bennett CEO states that a
petition for Chapter 7 invol-
untary bankruptcy was filed
August 2 against Bennett
Lumber. Bennett was a good
neighbor that many area resi-
dents will miss.
Developer Sherman Associ-
ates worked for several years
on plans to redevelop Ben-
nett properties on the two
blocks east of the store for
residential use. Sherman
project manager Chris Win-
ter said Sherman withdrew
city applications in mid-Sep-
tember for land use approv-
als and for tax increment
financing (TIF) and also had
to cancel purchase agree-
ments for the parcels. He said
Sherman took these actions
because of uncertainty about
TIF and because Fullerton is
considering holding on to the
Dupont-to-Emerson lum-
ber yard. The tax increment
financing would have been
used to keep down the height
and density of the new devel-
opment, to help pay for Ben-
nett’s relocation costs, and
to help pay for preservation
of a historic, two-story brick
railroad building adjacent
to the Greenway at Dupont
Avenue, Winter said.
Winter added that Sherman
“hopes to continue conversa-
tions to restart the project.”
www.JoyceChurch.org
Open Minds Open Doors
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  

2006 election coverage

THE GENERAL ELECTION IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

T his is the second issue

in which we have cov-
ered races that affect
our area. Last month we asked
questions of candidates for Soil
and Water Board, Hennepin
County Attorney, Minnesota
Attorney General, U.S.Senate,
U.S Fifth Congressional Dis-
trict, and Hennepin County
Sheriff.
This issue includes coverage
of Hennepin County Commis-
sioner, Minnesota Senate and
House of Representatives, Min-
nesota State Auditor, Governor,
Secretary of State, and Minne-
apolis School Board.
These are the races that will
appear on our local ballots.
We asked each candidate to
reply to three questions – a few
chose not to participate, but
most candidates are included
here.
How to Register to Vote
Have you registered to vote? Don’t miss this chance! • “Notice of Late Registration” postcard
It’s as easy as tying your shoes! If you miss out, you • U.S. military photo ID card with utility bill
can always register on Election Day. Just bring one of • Prior registration listed on roster at former address
the following. in precinct
• Minnesota driver’s license, learner’s permit, identi- College students can use:
fication card, or receipt for one, with your current • Student ID, registration, or fee statement with your
address current address
• Tribal ID (there are a few special requirements - • Student photo ID with utility bill
call if you have questions) • Student ID if you are on a student housing list on
• If the Minnesota license, Tribal ID or MN State ID file at the polling place
has a former address, you may bring a recent utility • Someone who is registered in the precinct where
bill to use with your license (Note: The utility bill you live who will vouch for your residence
must have your name, current address, and be due
within 30 days of the election. Utility bills may be Absentee Ballots:
for electric, gas, water, solid waste, sewer, telephone, To request an absentee ballot you need to call your
or cable TV.) county auditor/elections office and request it. Do
• U.S. passport with utility bill (see Note with utility so soon - ballots must be received in the mail by
bill, above) Election Day.

Hennepin County Commisioner

What Does the Hennepin County Commissioner Do?
Like all counties in Minnesota, Hennepin is governed by an elected board of commissioners from seven separate districts of the county. Each
commissioner represents a district of equal population. In Hennepin County, the commission appoints the medical examiner, county auditor/
treasurer and recorder. Board members are elected to four year staggered terms with three or four board members elected every two years.

Q. 1. Discuss your reasons for

supporting the widening of
Lyndale Avenue at Lake Street
over the objections of the four
2. Discuss your views on
using public taxes to pay for a
Twins stadium.
3. How can we decrease traf-
fic congestion and pollution,
and increase mass transit in
south Minneapolis?
neighborhood groups at that
intersection.

Gail Dorfman is
running unopposed for
the seat of Hennepin
County Commissioner
in District 3.
GAIL DORFMAN (DFL)
gailadorfman@aol.com
952.925.1374
www.gaildorman.org
 
Q1. I always
look for trans-
portation
solutions that
balance pedes-
trian safety,
transit, parking
and auto traf-
fic. That bal-
ance can be
difficult to find at busy intersections
like Lyndale/Lake, but we are close
with the design for the west segment
of Lake Street. The neighbors and
business owners on the Lake Street
Project Advisory Committee (PAC)
met for months, considering 19 dif-
ferent layouts, attending neighbor-
hood meetings and open houses and
re-examining options in response to
concerns. The PAC unanimously
approved a design with pedestrian
improvements that include reducing
the crossing distance at the Lyndale/
Lake intersection, widening side-
walks on Lake Street, and improving
bike racks and bus shelters. The plan
reduces sidewalk width by five feet
for roughly half a block on Lyndale
Avenue, to allow for signalized left-
turn lanes and improved safety at this
intersection. I believe this plan best
balances the competing needs and
values along this corridor.
 
Q2. In August, the Hennepin Coun-
ty Board voted 4 to 3 to impose a sales
tax to fund the new Twins’ stadium.
I voted NO, as I have on every sta-
dium-funding package that asked
taxpayers to foot the bulk of the
bill. I love the game of baseball, but
this is about the business of baseball.
The business deal that was struck is
bad for Minneapolis residents, who
already pay higher taxes, and bad
for Hennepin County taxpayers who
will have to pick up 75 percent of
the construction costs while the vari-
ous user fees generated accrue to the
team. However, the votes have been
taken and planning has begun. As
we start negotiations with the team
and site owners, and consider design
and redevelopment of the surround-
ing area, I will do my best to ensure
that the new ballpark will be an ame-
star corridors, creates the spine of an
integrated regional transit system for
nity for all the citizens of Hennepin the future. Visit our website at south-
County. westtransitway.com and let me know
  what you think.
Q3. To connect people and places
in a manner that’s reliable, sustain-
able and protects the vitality of our
communities, we need a balanced,
integrated transportation system.
We know we can’t build our way
out of congestion through road con-
struction. We must instead improve
existing roadways to encourage effi-
cient vehicle movement, enhance
the pedestrian environment, support
multi-modal transit, and promote
Abbreviations:
development along corridors that is
truly transit-oriented, not just tran- R = Republican
sit-adjacent. I chair the Southwest
Corridor Policy Advisory Committee
This committee, with representatives
DFL = Democrat
from the five cities from Minneapo-
lis to Eden Prairie, is weighing the IP = Independence
viability of light rail transit to con-
nect the suburbs to the city, Uptown Party
to downtown, and Minneapolis
residents to jobs throughout the GP = Green Party
region. Southwest Corridor, linked
to Hiawatha, Central and North-
10 •  Uptown Neighborhood news
elections
Minnesota House
Q. 1. What do you think are the biggest problems facing our state?
2. What are your priorities for this upcoming
legislative session?
3. Do we need to raise/lower taxes?
How will we fund what we need to do?
60A
MARGARET ANDSERSON
KELLIHER (DFL)
www.margaretandersonkelliher.org
612.377.9836
Q1. Any chal-
lenge ahead for
our state can
be resolved by
working togeth-
er and put-
ting Minnesota
first. We live
in a magnificent
state, with enor-
mous resources –– most importantly
our people.
Our biggest challenge is to work
together to accomplish our work on
education, health care and property
tax reduction. A central principal
of my achievements on behalf of my
district has been reaching across the
aisle and putting differences aside at
times when no one thought forward
movement was possible. I will bring
that spirit of working together to the
2007-08 sessions of the legislature.
Q2. This session I will continue to
prioritize education, health care,
reducing property taxes, and energy
issues such as a renewable energy
standard. During the last budget
we did win modest gains for educa-
tion and were able to defend throw-
ing 35,000 more Minnesotans off of
health care but we can do better.
We need to fully fund voluntary all
day kindergarten, cover all kids with
health care and enact a renewable
energy standard and more incen-
tives for renewable energy sources.
Also it is critical to bring bi-partisan
efforts to our legislating –– to renew
confidence in our ability to make fair,
timely and forward looking legisla-
tive decisions.
Q3. We need to reduce property
taxes. But we also need to focus on
tax fairness and compliance. The lat-
est Legislative Auditor report says
there are up to 1 billion dollars in
uncollected income taxes.
I’d like to see the legislature invest in
more tax compliance work, to pro-
tect others from an unfair increased
tax burden. Additionally, we need
to renew our determined efforts to
reduce homeowner property taxes.
ALEX WHITNEY (R)
alexanderwhitney@gmail.com
612.770.8649
chose not to participate
60B
FRANK HORNSTEIN (DFL)
FHornstein@msn.com
612.926.3406
www.frankhornstein.org
Q1. The biggest
problems facing
our state are:
lack of invest-
ment in educa-
tion; needed
access to health
care for 431,000
uninsured
Minnesotans,
including the 76,000 uninsured chil-
dren; increasing traffic congestion;
global warming; increasing poverty;
an unfair tax system; and erosion
of civil and human rights. We must
address these issues by increasing state
support and funding for education
from early childhood through college;
improving health care by provid-
ing universal coverage; building more
light rail, and expanding local bus
service; promoting renewable ener-
gy; creating more living wage jobs;
a more progressive tax system and
lower property taxes; aggressively
protecting human rights.
Q2. I am running for reelection to
build on my accomplishments and
strong record on behalf of children,
working Minnesotans, transit, human
rights and environmental protec-
tion. I will actively work to reduce
public school class-sizes, promote
universal health care; fund transit
projects; create a renewable energy
standard; lower property taxes by
increasing state aid to Minneapolis;
and continue to oppose divisive and
discriminatory legislation such as a
constitutional amendment banning
gay marriage.
Q3. The key tax issue for our com-
munity is to lower property taxes.
Our double-digit increase in property
taxes is, in part, a result of Governor
Pawlenty and House Republican cuts
to Minneapolis’ state aid and their
efforts to shift tax burdens from the
state to local governments. I will
work for a fair tax system that low-
ers property taxes and rolls back tax
cuts and loopholes for the wealthiest
individuals and large corporations.
Closing corporate loopholes, return-
ing to pre-1999 income tax policies
and recovering uncollected revenue
will all add close to $2 billion to state
coffers which could help fund educa-
tion, health care and other general
fund priorities. A modest increase in
the gas tax and constitutional dedica-
tion of the motor vehicle sales tax will
go a long way to relieve congestion
by funding needed road and transit
improvements.
SKYLER WEINAND (R)
skyler@iskyler.com
612.600.3650
www.iskyler.com
Q1. The biggest
opp or t u n it ie s
Minnesota has
are in: reinforc-
ing an educated
workforce, intro-
ducing proven
crime preven-
tion methods
and reducing
the tax burden on our citizens. We’re
at a standstill in terms of public edu-
cation. I agree with the Governor’s
proposal to spend 70 percent of edu-
cation money in the public school
classroom. My opponent thought his
time was better spent voting against
allowing school districts to ask par-
ents why their kids were absent from
school. Meth and sex offenders should
face tougher penalties. My opponent
voted against tougher penalties for
these criminals (this is how he plans
to cut spending). Our property taxes
have skyrocketed in the past three
years (thanks R.T!). My opponent
apparently doesn’t think so because he
introduced a bill to raise income tax
rates for Minnesotans at all income
levels! He also introduced bills six
times to increase the gas tax. Watch
your pocketbooks.
Q2. My priorities lie in representing
60B with creative ideas to reinforce
an educated workforce and to provide
a safety net for those unable to afford
healthcare. We all want our kids and
our neighbors to feel safe. We also
want to help middle class families
crawl out from an ever-increasing tax
burden. We need to start coming up
with better solutions, because throw-
ing good money after bad solutions
has not worked. I want to focus on
issues that affect our everyday live-
lihood. We need 70 percent of all
money spent on public education to
be spent in the classroom. We need
tougher penalties on sex and meth
criminals. We need a healthcare
safety net for those that aren’t able to
afford preventative healthcare. We
also need tax relief. Minneapolis resi-
dents are bombarded with taxes. We
need help!
Q3. I want Minnesotans to bring
home more from their time at work.
Minnesotans’ pocketbooks are suf-
fering at the pump, suffering on
their energy bills, suffering when
they work and even when they sleep.
When are our taxes going to go
down so we can keep more of what
we earn? My opponent introduced
bills to raise the gas tax six times in
2005. He introduced bills to increase
drivers’ license fees, to increase taxes
on cars and hearses. He introduced
a .5 percent sales tax on cars sold in
the metro area, and a .5 percent sales
tax increase and a tax per student in
school. Apparently, if it moves, my
opponent wants to tax it. When my
family needs more money, we work
more or we cut back on spending.
Apparently my opponent is able to
just go to his neighbors for a handout.
Minnesota Senate
Q. 1. What do you think are the biggest problems
facing our state?
2. What are your priorities for this upcoming
legislative session?
3. Do we need to raise/lower taxes? How will we
fund what we need to do?
SAM ADRIAENS (R)
samforsenate@gmail.com
612.804.2837
www.samforsenate.org
Q1. The miser-
able condition
of our roads and
mass transit sys-
tem is easily the
biggest problem
facing Minne-
sota today. We
will not con-
tinue leading
the country in quality of life without
adequate transportation infrastruc-
ture. Another pressing concern is the
recent reversal of the long downward
trend in violent crime. We live in one
of the safest states in the Union and
we should keep it that way.
Q2. If elected, my first priority
would be the expansion of the mass
transit system. Gas prices last sum-
mer demonstrated what our depen-
dence on single vehicle transit can
do to the economy as a whole when
faced with rising costs. By creating
more Metro Transit routes to the sub-
urbs and completing the LRT Cen-
tral Corridor, Minnesotans will not
only reduce the direct economic cost
of transit, but the environmental cost
as well.
As a Minneapolitan, crime is a major
concern for me. I would fight to rein-
state full funding for the Minnesota
Gang Strike Force, a law enforcement
group with a proven track record
combating gang and violent crime.
It was no coincidence that the rever-
sal in the downward trend in vio-
lent crime occurred when their state
funding was cut almost entirely.
Q3. Minnesotans are among the most
highly taxed citizens in the nation.
Last year, we ranked third in the
nation for highest state and local tax
burden. That’s a contest we do not
want to win. We need to take a long,
hard look at how we spend our tax
dollars and see where we can improve
now instead of waiting for the next
budget crisis to force the issue.
We can pay for new transportation
infrastructure by honoring the origi-
nal intent of the motor vehicle sales
tax and devoting 100 percent of that
revenue to our roads, busses, and
trains. We must also look for solutions
to bring down the cost of health care.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and
other market-oriented measures have
demonstrable success to this end.
october 2006
SCOTT DIBBLE (DFL)
scotofmpls@aol.com
612.824.3823
www.scottdibble.com
Q1. Minnesotans
greatly value
freedom, oppor-
tunity, security
and responsibil-
ity. Those val-
ues explain our
amazing success
as a state. But
our continu-
ing success is not guaranteed. Many
currently in power don’t believe that
everyone matters and should get a fair
shake. We are tired of efforts to divide
us and sow conflict for short-term
political gain. We have a transporta-
tion system that hinders movement,
rather than expanding mobility and
opportunity. Healthcare is either out
of reach or more expensive and less
responsive. Worker productivity is
increasing, and working people are
not participating. Wages are going
down, retirement plans are disap-
pearing, and healthcare, housing,
tuition and childcare are all becoming
out of reach. The middle class is pay-
ing a larger share of the taxes and the
wealthy are paying far less.  Those
who came before us did far better. 
We honor their legacy by leaving the
state in better shape than we found it.
 
Q2. I hope to help Minnesota return
to a place where individual liberties
are upheld, everyone has the opportu-
nity for a better life, economic, envi-
ronmental and personal security are a
priority, and we all take responsibility
for creating a better future. I will lead
the effort to secure sustainable fund-
ing for transit to develop a system that
expands opportunities and boosts our
economy. I am proud of the biparti-
san bill we passed last year (and regret
that the Governor saw fit to veto it).
Global warming demands immediate
and comprehensive action. I support
a mandate that our utilities supply 20
percent of our energy from renewable
and clean sources. I will reintroduce
the Freedom to Breathe Act so that all
workers are safe at work. Passage of
the Housing Solutions Act is crucial
to address the housing crisis. Underly-
ing all of this are the major priorities
of investing in education and guaran-
teeing healthcare for everyone.
 
Q3. Republican Governor Elmer L.
Andersen said, “Taxes are the way
people join hands to get good things
done. That’s the tradition of Min-
nesota.” Political will and sustained
investments created the state we are
all proud to call home. People and
employers want to be here. We have
a highly educated population, great
research institutions, amazing cultur-
al offerings, natural wonders, clean
cities, high levels of home ownership
and overall good health. Many in
state leadership claim that taxes are
bad. Their actions have shifted taxes
to those less able to pay, transforming
many into fees and placing many state
services onto local residential prop-
erty taxes. We have witnessed deliber-
ate disinvestment in public education,
healthcare, public research, transpor-
tation, clean environment, and public
safety. Minnesotans support paying
taxes when the corresponding ser-
vices add value to our lives and our
shared prosperity, and also believe the
payment of those taxes needs to be
distributed fairly.
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  11
Minnesota State Auditor
Q.
1. Discuss your
qualifications to
perform the spe-
cific functions
of this job. Is a
political ideology
important?
Pat Anderson (R)
info@andersonforauditor.com
651.238.1598.
www.andersonforauditor.com
Q1. Because the
State Auditor
oversees local
government
finance, I believe
a background in
local govern-
ment is impor-
tant. I served
on the Eagan
city council for eight years, and then
served another four years as Mayor,
for a total of twelve years in local
government. Because of that, I came
to the State Auditor’s office with an
extensive knowledge of how local
government finance actually works.
I also have a Masters degree in Public
Administration that gives me an even
greater understanding of how the
nuts and bolts of government work.
Political ideology is important only in
how it relates to fiscal issues. It’s the
job of the State Auditor to question
local officials on how tax money is
being spent to make sure it is being
spent effectively. To fulfill that mis-
sion, it is important that the State
Auditor be a fiscal hawk.
Q2. They are one and the same
because it is the job of the State Audi-
tor to do both. At its core, the mission
of the State Auditor is to be a watch-
dog for taxpayers –– to make sure
that tax dollars are being well spent.
Because of that, it only makes sense
that the State Auditor would make
policy recommendations based on
analysis of the financial data collect-
ed. Further, the State Auditor’s office
is the only state agency that oversees
local government finance.
Therefore, the perspective of this
office is vital when dealing with
policy matters related to local gov-
ernment finance. In fact, over the last
four years we have had many policy
initiatives that were passed by the
legislature that have either helped
local governments be more efficient,
or more accountable, or both.
Q3. My vision is that the state and
local governments will continue to
work together for the common good
of all Minnesotans. Naturally, state
and local officials may not agree on
every issue. However, I believe that
in my role as State Auditor, I can fos-
ter a greater spirit of cooperation by
promoting best practices while at the
same time being a vigilant watchdog
for taxpayers.
It is possible to hold local officials to
a high standard while simultaneously
helping them improve how they do
things. Frankly, the citizens of this
state expect nothing less.
2. Do you believe the job is to
report audit findings to the
legislature, or to advise on poli-
cies to be adopted by the legis-
lature? Are they one and the
same?
DAVE BERGER (GP)
dave@berger4auditor.org
612.338.3630
www.daveberger.org
Q1. I have been
an instructor
of sociology,
a nt hropolog y,
and criminal
justice at Inver
Hills Commu-
nity College
for 15 years. I
teach statisti-
cal analysis and research methods in
all of my classes. I am well quali-
fied to understand the data collection
process used by the Office of State
Auditor. In addition, as a sociologist,
I understand the application of statis-
tical data analysis to program review
and evaluation. Political ideology is
not a major part of the Office of State
Auditor. Objectivity is more impor-
tant than ideology. The State Auditor
must be fair and even handed and not
an advocate for partisan politics. Both
Pat Anderson and Rebecca Otto wish
to politicize this office. For example,
Anderson has taken the “no new tax
pledge” from the Taxpayers League
of Minnesota while Otto states that
she will help to lower property taxes.
Tax policy is set by the state legisla-
ture not by the State Auditor.
Q2. The State Auditor should report
findings to the legislature. These
reports should be accessible and
understandable. The State Auditor
should advocate for policy changes by
the legislature only when it is in the
best interest of the citizens of Min-
nesota. For example, switching to a
single payer universal healthcare sys-
tem could save hundreds of millions
of dollars in health care costs to Min-
nesotans. Policy advocating, however,
needs to be tempered in the Office of
State Auditor. The main purpose of
this office is to oversee the financial
integrity of local government entities.
The State Auditor should advocate
policy changes that help local govern-
ments get the jog done. I will not
advocate that the legislature impose
unfunded mandates on local govern-
ments. This will lead to inefficiencies
on the local level and a waste of tax-
payer money.
Q3. The current relationship between
the Office of State Auditor and local
government entities is too combat-
ive and unproductive. Pat Anderson
claims she is the watchdog for the tax-
payer but she acts more like a pit bull.
You cannot focus on just punishing
local governments for errors. The
State Auditor should also try to help
local entities improve their financial
accounting methods. As State Audi-
tor, I will work with the local govern-
ment entities on improving efficiency
in data collection methods, data shar-
ing, and data applications thereby
saving taxpayer money. In addition, I
will introduce a “Green Audit” which
will help local governments under-
stand the external costs that are asso-
ciated with their financial decisions.
For example, vehicles purchased by
local governments may cause more
pollution costs then they save in up
front costs. Hybrids and alternative
fuel cars may actually cost less in the
long run to our communities.
3. What is your vision about the
relationship between state and
local governments, and how
will you achieve it?
LUCY GEROLD (IP)
campaign@teammn.com
612.767.4465
www.TeamMN.com
Q1. I am a cop,
big on account-
ability and col-
laboration. A the local govern-
political ideol-
ogy is not neces-
sary to perform
the duties of
the State Audi-
tor. In fact, the
State Auditor should be independent
of political influences. Working in
local government, I have always been
fiercely apolitical. I have had to work
effectively with whoever is elected,
ensuring freedom from special inter-
ests.
I believe the State Auditor should
promote innovation that is coupled
with accountability. The relation-
ship between local and state govern-
ment has been eroded by mistrust
and blame. It is possible to turn that
around. As Team Minnesota’s State
Auditor, I will be the main link to
improving the performance of gov-
ernments throughout the state and
to delivering better results in educa-
tion, health care, transportation and
the environment. I will use the State
Auditor’s access to information as
a tool to actually improve how local
governments serve their communi-
ties.
Q2. The State Auditor is the only
office that has as its main job to pay
attention to local government. Unfor-
tunately, traditional auditors have
used that role mainly to call press
conferences to highlight mistakes or
misdeeds. We should expect more for
our money.
Local governments manage sixty per-
cent of all governmental resources in
Minnesota. To deliver better results,
we must do it with, not in spite of our
towns, cities, counties, and school dis-
tricts.
Q3. Just as policing has moved from
enforcement only to community
policing, auditing should move from
enforcement only to engaging local
government. I will ensure financial
integrity in our government.
Also, I will learn what works in local
government and share it throughout
the state. Through collaboration, we
will do more of what works. We’ll
include local government in setting
state policy to create one agenda and
one set of priorities.
REBECCA OTTO (DFL)
rebecca@rebeccaotto.com
651.433.2982
www.rebeccaotto.com
Q1. I am a for-
mer State Rep-
resentative on
ment committee
and have been a
small business-
woman for 20
years. I have
also served at the
local level on the Forest Lake School
Board. Many former State Auditors
served first as State Representatives.
You are the manager, spokesper-
son, leader, and the visionary for
the office. You serve as the bridge
between state and local government.
The job should be nonpartisan, and
it was for the most part until now. I
have a track record of being bi-par-
tisan in the work I have done. Arne
Carlson and Walter Mondale joined
together behind my last House race
and my vision of One Minnesota. I
brought together two former finance
commissioners, John Gunyou-R and
Jay Kiedrowski-D for the first time
to talk about what good fiscal policy
looks like, and they took their show
on the road to 54 places around the
state.
Q2. I believe that you do both. The
Auditor’s job is to ensure compliance
in local government spending, but also
monitors the financial health of local
governments and to report on their
situation. Those reports are used by
the legislature to plan. But a good
Auditor will also advocate at the state
and federal level for good policies that
strengthen our communities and their
financial situation, and against poli-
cies that weaken them. The Auditor
can provide useful insight to policy
makers when they are considering leg-
islation so that our communities face
their future challenges successfully. I
will take a proactive role rather than
a reactive one. I will also put a stop
to the pattern of repeated account-
ing errors, to the tune of hundreds of
millions of dollars. Legislators count
on these numbers to be accurate. As
your state auditor, I’ll make sure the
numbers add up.
Q3. There has been a highly parti-
san and punitive atmosphere set up
which has created mistrust between
state and local government. There
should be a clean line of communica-
tion and trust with the local officials.
The office should be nonpartisan,
and there should not be any “gotcha-
politics” played. I will hold regional
listening sessions around the state
to let local officials know what our
expectations are, and also listen to
their challenges. Our work will be
proactive and preventative so that
locals can avoid waste and mistakes in
spending. Had I been Auditor when
the no-new-state-tax-pledge policies
were being proposed in 2003, I would
have spoken against the large cuts to
our communities that caused great
property tax increases coupled with
reduced services, increased fees in the
schools, cities, and counties. The cur-
rent Auditor advocated for this shift
onto our communities at the legisla-
ture, and worked for her party rather
than the people.
What Does the State
Auditor Do?
The state auditor is a constitu-
tional officer who is elected in a
statewide election and serves a
four-year term. The state audi-
tor serves on the State Executive
Council, State Board of Invest-
ment, Land Exchange Board,
Minnesota Housing Finance
Agency, Public Employ-
ees Retirement Association,
and Rural Finance Authority
Board.
The Office of the State Audi-
tor serves as a watchdog for
Minnesota taxpayers by helping
to ensure financial integrity,
accountability, and cost-effec-
tiveness of Minnesota’s local
governmental entities. The
vision of the office is to perform
professional reviews of finan-
cial statements, documents, and
reports submitted.
The auditor has oversight
responsibility for all units of
local government, including:
counties, cities, school dis-
tricts, townships, police and
volunteer fire relief association
pension funds, housing and
redevelopment authorities, port
authorities, soil and water con-
servation districts, as well as
approximately 150 other special
districts.
Oversight of these local gov-
ernments is achieved through
auditing, reporting, and col-
laboration.
The auditor performs approxi-
mately 250 audits per year.
The office maintains copies of
annual audit reports prepared
by private firms for local gov-
ernment units and nonprofit
organizations that receive fed-
eral funds through the state of
Minnesota.
Another function of the office
is the collection and distribu-
tion of financial data about
Minnesota’s local government
units. Data is collected through
audits and financial reports
and is then analyzed and com-
piled. The reports based on the
data are then made available
for lawmakers, governmental
units, and citizens.
The auditor is a resource for
cities and counties to obtain,
review, and compare financial
data to be more efficient and
economical with public funds.
The office works with local
government officials to provide
answers to legal and financial
compliance questions and to
find ways to implement cost-
effective internal controls. The
office also does investigations
of allegations of misconduct by
local government officials.
12 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
Minnesota Governor
elections
Q.
Leslie Davis (American
Party)
Leslie@LeslieDavis.org
612.522.9433
www.LeslieDavis.org
Q1. I will stop
the runaway
inflation. I will
stop borrowing
money and pay-
ing interest. I
will balance the
budget, lower
taxes and build
great roads and bridges. My plans
for energy, transportation and agri-
culture that will create thousands of
well paying jobs throughout the state.
My answers to question 3 will apply
here also.
Q2. Environment - Money - Educa-
tion - Crime are my four cornerstone
issues. Of course I am also concerned
and have plans for jobs, agriculture,
housing and immigration. If you are
an illegal immigrant you are persona
non grata in Minnesota as far as I’m
concerned. The best place to learn
about my issues is on my web site
listed above.
Q3. We need to lower taxes and get
inflation under contorl. I will build
state of the art roads, bridges and
mass transit with my money plan
that requires state-chartered banks
to fund them. My funding method is
new, unique, exclusively mine, and it
will work.
In addition, I propose to raise $1-
2 billion from my Water Plan that
requires industrial and commerical
users of public underground water
to pay 1to2 pennies per gallon. The
Davis Administration will raise new
money, lower taxes, build the best
transportation system in America
while balancing the budget.
One additional note on the tax issue...
I plan to freeze property taxes for
people 65 and over who are on a fixed
income.
WALT E. BROWN (Quit
Raising Taxes)
waltbrownforgov@yahoo.com
218.850.9627
DID NOT RESPOND
TIM PAWLENTY (R)
info@timpawlenty.com
651-905-0555
www.timpawlenty.com
chose not to participate
1. What do you think are the
biggest problems facing our state?
MIKE HATCH (DFL)
mike@hatch2006.org
651.221.0881
www.hatch2006.org www.TeamMN.com
Q1. There are
several problems
facing Minne-
sotans: we have
fallen behind in
education with
classrooms over-
crowded and
college tuition
skyro cket i ng ;
health care is a growing, unchecked
crisis; our transportation system is
a mismanaged, under-funded mess.
Yet we are paying more for govern-
ment. Our tax system has become
more regressive with huge increases
in property taxes and “fees” amount-
ing to over $2 billion in the last three
years, with middle and working class
taxpayers paying higher percentages
of their incomes than those at the very
top of the income scale. The trans-
portation system in the metro area is
at breaking point, and it is affecting
our competitiveness. We cannot be
satisfied with Minnesota being an
“average” state. We compete in a glob-
al economy; the governor must ensure
that we are ready to meet that chal-
lenge. Presently, we are not as pre-
pared to succeed as Minnesota needs
to be. Minnesota can, and must, do
better.
Q2. We need to lower college tuition
to pre-Pawlenty levels and fully fund
K-12 education again. I would like to
make Minnesota a world-leader again
in research and technology innova-
tion, and better fund research at the
University of Minnesota. Such invest-
ments lead to spin-off businesses that
compete well in the global economy
and create good paying jobs. Minne-
sota can be an international leader in
stem cell research, leading the way for
cures to Parkinson’s disease, cancers,
Alzheimer’s and other diseases. It’s
time for Minnesota to lead again on
health care .Our administration will
not rubber-stamp the unconscionable
annual increases in premiums as the
current administration has, saving
Minnesota businesses, families, and
government over a billion dollars dur-
ing the next biennium. We need to
get moving on road repair and con-
struction, as well as transit expansion
in the metro area. Learn more about
my priorities for a better Minnesota
on our website: www.Hatch20006.
org.
Q3. The state needs to stop cutting
local government aid, which helps
local governments fund education,
police, fire, and numerous other
critical government functions. The
incumbent governor’s approach has
sent property taxes through the roof.
As governor, I will close the tax loop-
holes that allow corporations to claim
foreign operating status and avoid
paying their fair share of state taxes.
There are millions and millions of
tax dollars that are owed every year
yet go uncollected. As governor, the
Minnesota Department of Revenue
will undertake the work necessary
to ensure that these dollars are col-
lected. These steps should produce
nearly a billion dollars for the state
budget. With gasoline prices up 100
percent over just a few years ago, I do
not believe that the gas tax should be
increased. I do not favor an increase
in state income taxes.
2. What are your priorities for this
upcoming legislative session?
PETER HUTCHINSON (IP)
campaign@teammn.com
612.767.4465
Q1. I believe
Minnesotans
think politics
is broken as a
result of closed-
minded par-
tisanship that
has stalled our
govern ment .
The partisan
extremists have made enemies of
those with whom they disagree. They
have used fear to divide us from our
friends, neighbors and community.
We’ve been manipulated by our fears
rather than joined by pursuit of our
common interests. Minnesotans want
their leaders to keep the main things
– education, health care, transporta-
tion and environment/energy – the
main things. If we get these things
wrong, it won’t matter if we get other
issues right. Minnesotans are not
closed-minded. We do expect each
other to work hard, tell the truth and
take responsibility for ourselves and
our families, while doing our part to
help others and build a strong com-
munity. We are practical and imagi-
native – crafting solutions from the
best ideas available, regardless of
party affiliation.
Q2. As Governor, I will focus on dou-
bling the odds of Minnesota students
getting a college degree (and being
able to afford it); world class health
care for Minnesotans at the nation’s
lowest cost per person – a system that
delivers better health, better care at
better prices for everyone; investing
reliably in reliable transportation/
transit so that rising congestion (and
wasting more of our time) is not our
only choice; reducing Minnesota’s
dependence on oil, repairing dam-
age to the environment, reinforc-
ing economic competitiveness, and
reversing the pollution of our lakes
and streams; and, challenging “the
way we’ve always done it” to get more
value from every dollar that govern-
ment spends today rather than stick-
ing future generations with our debts.
Fixing health care is my top priority,
and on November 8, Dr. Maureen
Reed, Lt. Governor, will start to work
on our six-point plan (see it at www.
TeamMN.com).
Q3. Government is broke. States, cit-
ies, counties and school districts are
laying off policemen and teachers,
closing schools, and cutting services.
Government leaders have patched
together combinations of accounting
gimmicks, one-time fixes, real cuts,
and tax and fee increases to relieve the
fiscal pain. On one side are skyrock-
eting costs of health care and other
government services. On the other
is opposition to tax increases. What
we really need is a radically different
approach to budgeting that focuses on
buying results for citizens rather than
cutting or adding to last year’s spend-
ing programs. I have proposed plans
for health care, education, transpor-
tation, and energy/environment. By
fixing our health care system, we can
invest the savings in our schools and
environment. In my plan for trans-
portation, I call for re-passage of the
2005 transportation bill so we can
create a reliable source of funding for
our transportation and transit system.
3. Do we need to raise/lower
taxes? How will we fund what we
need to do?
KEN PENTEL (GP)
tori_j@msn.com
612.387.0601
www.kenpentel.org
Q1. My main
goal as Gover-
nor of Minne-
sota would be to
establish an hon-
est democracy
and an economy,
which is linked
to ecological,
and community
healing. We need our public elec-
tions publicly funded, lobby reform,
(MN was #1 per capita in country,
with over $42 million lobbying.) Also,
establish instant runoff voting and
proportional representative electoral
systems like most every other democ-
racy in the world. This will lead to
a more honest democracy. Another
priority will be ecological restoration
through local-sustainable energy and
agriculture. This will localize billions
of dollars and create meaningful jobs
based on real security. Finally, I will
establish a single-payer healthcare sys-
tem that is universal. All Minnesotans
would have a health card, and the bill
would be covered by the State off a set
menu. This will be paid from savings
in administrative costs, a progressive
income tax and a pollution tax.
Q2. Look to question #1.
Q3. I support a progressive income
tax, and the lowering of property and
sales taxes. I will establish an ecologi-
cal tax based on industrial water use,
pollution caused by: electric power,
cars, chemical facilities, oil refineries,
agri-chemicals, energy and dispos-
able items. In a Pentel/Provencher
administration we will not pick-up
the tab for problems industry doesn’t
want to pay for. By preventing pol-
lution, wasteful land-use, energy
and transportation policies upfront,
we will reduce taxes and the over all
cost of living will come down. Also,
through local-sustainable energy and
agriculture we will recycle billions
of dollars in the state that normally
leaves. Taxes must lead us to healing
our relationship to the earth and our
communities by reducing the ecologi-
cal and social extremes.
What Do the
Governor and
Lieutenant Governor
Do?
The governor is a constitution-
al office established by the state
constitution. The Governor is
responsible for the administra-
tion of state government, the
proposal of biennial budgets,
appointments, proposal and
review of legislation and the
preparation of comprehen-
sive long-range plans for state
growth.
As Minnesota’s second-in-com-
mand, the lieutenant gover-
nor is prepared to assume the
governor’s duties any time the
governor is unable to perform
them. The lieutenant governor
represents the governor and the
State of Minnesota within the
state, nationally and interna-
tionally.
The governor has the power to
sign executive orders, and use
the “bully pulpit” to propose
and support special projects
that may become law.
Proposing the budget is a large
part of the office. The State of
Minnesota operates on a two-
year budget cycle (or a bien-
nium as it is referred to in the
state government). State fiscal
years begin on July 1 and end
the following June 30. The fis-
cal year is designated by the
calendar year in which it ends.
The budget process for the
next biennium begins in July
of the preceding year when the
Department of Finance issues
budget instructions to state
agencies.
Each odd-numbered year the
Governor proposes, and the
legislature ratifies, the Oper-
ating Budget, often called
the Biennial Budget, for the
State of Minnesota. This bud-
get is for a two-year period.
This budget includes expendi-
tures for education, roads and
bridges, technology, health
care, public safety, housing,
natural resources, agriculture,
economic development, higher
education, as well as dollars to
state agencies, and local units of
government.
In even-numbered years Gov-
ernors usually propose Supple-
mental Budget revisions to the
Biennial Budget, which are
then acted upon by the Legis-
lature.
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  13
Secretary of State
Q.
BRUCE KENNEDY
(For Independent Voters)
bruce@bk4sos.org
651.633.3713
www.bk4sos.org
Q1. Minnesota
has paper bal-
lots—hand-
m a r k e d ,
opt ic a lly
scanned. Plus,
this year each
polling place
has a machine
accessible by
the blind and disabled that prints an
optical scan ballot for them. While
this system is the best available, we
should be looking to improve. No
thanks to Mary Kiffmeyer, the cur-
rent scanners do not have the capac-
ity to measure rankings. We will need
to upgrade them for Minneapolis if it
adopts the Better Ballot amendment.
My vision for voting will leave the
proprietary model behind. We don’t
need Diebold or ES&S. Just like PCs,
voting machines can be constructed
from easily available parts. Election
software should be open source, for
quality, security, accuracy, flexibility,
and less expense. We won’t be locked
into a vendor or have to replace an
entire fleet every ten years. Touch
screen selection with paper output
makes ranking easy, yet secure. See
openvoting.org.
Q2. Citizens must trust elections, or
it’s just a matter of time until they
pick up guns. How can we expect
trust when the election official at the
top comes from the ranks of, is select-
ed by, is funded by, and is expected to
be loyal to, one of the parties? There
are grey areas in election law that are
not discovered until a crisis. This deci-
sion could affect a candidate, party, or
election (see Florida 2000 and Kath-
erine Harris). Even if the decider tries
to be fair, both bias and peer pressure
can come into play, and support-
ers of the other party know it. Mary
Kiffmeyer may lose this election, but
there will be another Mary Kiffmeyer
unless we change the game. The chief
election official should be chosen by a
multi-partisan commission. The Sec-
retary of State should be abolished or
assigned a bundle of responsibilities
that doesn’t include elections.
Q3. I was the primary drafter of
Instant Runoff bills introduced in
the Minnesota Legislature in the last
six years. I led a campaign to bring
Instant Runoff to Roseville in 2004,
which failed in large part because of
Mary Kiffmeyer’s influence behind
closed doors. I have promoted IRV
to city councils, charter commissions
(including Minneapolis), and school
boards. In 2005, I met with San Fran-
cisco election officials and activists to
learn about the political and admin-
istrative aspects of IRV. No one has
studied this issue more or has a great-
er understanding of the challenges of
making ranked voting a reality. Why
IRV? To encourage qualified candi-
dates to run who don’t fit in a major
party. To have efficient, economical
elections. To insure that the winners
are supported by and rule for the
majority and not for the noisy faction
that got them in. To vote your con-
science, not defensively.
1. Discuss voting machines
and ballot tabulation. Is a paper
receipt a good idea? Does
Minnesota have a fair system?
MARY KIFFMEYER (R)
www.kiffmeyer.org
763.263.3876
mary@kiffmeyer.org
Q1. Minnesota
will continue to
have 100 per-
cent paper bal-
lots. The paper
ballot is essen-
tial to fair elec-
tions, especially
for recounts. I
worked hard to
preserve the paper ballot by getting it
written into statute. As for technolo-
gy in elections, for the first time ever,
this year people with disabilities —
particularly with visual impairments
— will be able to vote privately and
independently with what you might
think of as a sophisticated “pen”
called an Automark. Also, optical
scan voting equipment will appear in
most polling places in the state.
This year, almost all voters will use
this technology, which has been used
in our state’s most populous areas
for many years. This voting equip-
ment detects common ballot-marking
errors and provides an opportunity to
make corrections before leaving the
polling place. It also tabulates results
so that poll workers get home at a rea-
sonable hour. I’m pleased to see this
statewide equal treatment of all Min-
nesota voters, originally my top prior-
ity, now accomplished.
Q2. It provides sunlight on what the
officeholder’s views are on a wide
range of issues. But most impor-
tantly, it gives the people –– the vot-
ers –– control over the leadership of
the state’s elections. The state of New
York has an election board and was
recently sued by the Dept. of Justice
for failure to comply with the federal
law, The Help America Vote Act.
Lack of single accountability and the
buffer of appointments make it easier
to have such things happen. The dis-
advantage is that often partisanship
by the party out of office creates an
atmosphere of obstructionism, even
when policies are publicly popular
and seem like common-sense.
Q3. I think it is worth debating. In
that debate, I believe our #1 prior-
ity should be voter participation and
engagement. I am concerned that
making voting more complicated ––
which IRV most definitely does, and
no one really denies that –– would
dissuade people from participating.
Over the past 8 years, we have turned
around Minnesota’s steadily declin-
ing voter turnout so that in 2000,
2002, and 2004 we had the highest
voter turnout in the nation — and
the highest in our own state since the
1960s and earlier. Also, our youth
voter turnout in 2004 was the high-
est in state history. If instituting IRV
would in any way threaten to dampen
participation in Minnesota like it
appears to have in other places where
it’s been put in place, then I think it
would be a bad idea.
2. What is the advantage/
disadvantage of this office
being held by a partisan party
member?
MARK RITCHIE (DFL)
www.markritchie06.net
612.229.1962
info@markritchie06.net
Q1. Minnesota
has one of the
best election
systems in the
country. Thanks
to several DFL
legislators, we
not only have
a paper trail in
Minnesota, but
every voter uses a paper ballot which
is maintained for use in recounts and
audits. Starting this year, every ballot
in Minnesota will be counted by an
optical scanner. We have safeguards
in place to ensure that the scanners
accurately read the ballots, including
hand re-counts in randomly selected
precincts in every county in Minneso-
ta and a review of the software source
code by the Secretary of State’s Office
and representatives of both major
political parties.
Minnesota has a fair system due to
these safeguards and the work of
hundreds of local elections officials
and election judges across the state.
I am committed to maintaining and
adding layers of security to our great
system.
Q2. Previous Secretaries of State,
including DFLer Joan Growe and
Republican Arlen Erdahl, ran the
office in a nonpartisan manner.
Their clear priority was ensuring
every Minnesotan’s right to vote.
They refused to give advantage to
one political party over another, and
even occasionally made choices that
hurt their own political party, because
it was what was best for the state. I
would return the Office to this non-
partisan tradition. The commitment
to nonpartisanship is what’s impor-
tant, not whether or not someone
belongs to a political party.
Q3. I think that instant runoff voting,
in which voters get to rank their can-
didate preferences, is an option worth
exploring. It would give voters the
freedom to vote for whomever they
like without being afraid of wasting
their vote, and ensure that our elected
leaders have the support of at least
50 prcent of the voting population. I
am an active public supporter of the
effort to bring Instant Runoff Vot-
ing to Minneapolis. At this point, I
would like to see Instant Runoff Vot-
ing, and other alternatives, tested at
the local level before I would support
them for statewide use. This will give
us the opportunity to see what works
and what doesn’t, before changing the
whole state’s voting system.
3. What do you think of
instant runoff voting?
JOEL SPOONHEIM (IP)
campaign@teammn.com
612.767.4465
www.TeamMN.com
Q1. Minnesota
is known across
the nation for
its fair voting
system and com-
paratively high
level of citizen
engagement.
The real chal-
lenges facing
the Secretary of State are: 1.) involv-
ing citizens in our collective civic life
and encouraging them to participate
in our democracy, including casting
their vote; and, 2.) ensuring reliability
and confidence in those who facilitate
our elections. I would encourage the
use of new voting technologies that
will increase voter turnout and protect
the integrity of the election process.
As Team Minnesota’s Secretary of
State, I will be the state’s leader for
democracy and citizen engagement.
Citizens are increasingly cynical and
disengaged from the electoral pro-
cess and participation in governance.
I will make civic engagement in all
its forms – in-person, online, and
through the media – my top prior-
ity. We need truly engaged citizens
in order to move Minnesota forward
and produce better results in health
care, education, transportation, and
the environment.
Q2. Democracy matters. It’s too
important to leave to partisan nit-
picking. I am passionate about mak-
ing democracy work in order to
protect our freedom and to grow our
economy. Yes, that’s right, grow the
economy.
I’ve spent years using and teach-
ing democratic processes to improve
troubled neighborhoods and under-
performing organizations. Minne-
sota needs a Secretary of State who
has experience on the front lines of
democracy, not one with affronting
lines of partisanship.
Q3. Campaign and election processes
should be reformed so that govern-
ment represents the people before
special interests, so that public par-
ticipation in the election process is
maximized, and so that qualified
candidates are encouraged to run for
public office.
I support Instant Runoff Voting or
another runoff process that allows us
to vote our conscience and ensure that
winners are supported by a majority.
What Does the
Secretary of State Do?
The secretary of state is a state-
wide elected official. Some of
the responsibilities of the Sec-
retary of State are to certify the
authenticity of a wide variety
of official documents, register
a variety of business organiza-
tions and act as the chief elec-
tion official of the state.
The secretary is the keeper of
the great seal of the State of
Minnesota and files and certi-
fies a wide variety of official
documents. These include
gubernatorial proclamations,
appointments and executive
orders, the enrolled acts of the
Minnesota Legislature, rules,
and some municipal docu-
ments. The office also main-
tains a computerized version of
the original land survey notes
from the 1800s and township
plat maps.
The office registers a variety of
business organizations includ-
ing corporations, assumed
business names, banks, insur-
ance companies, limited liabil-
ity companies, limited liability
partnerships, and limited part-
nerships. Other business-relat-
ed filings include trade and
service marks, auctioneer’s
licenses, legal newspaper regis-
trations, among others.
A statewide computerized net-
work with county recorders is
maintained so that the public
may search Uniform Commer-
cial Code records throughout
the state from any filing office.
UCC information is also avail-
able for a fee at any county
courthouse through this com-
munications network.
The secretary of state is the
chief election official in Min-
nesota and is responsible for
administration of the Min-
nesota election law. The sec-
retary of state operates the
statewide voter registration
system and prepares the offi-
cial roster of voters for every
election conducted in Minne-
sota. Other election activities
include certifying voting sys-
tems, conducting administra-
tive recounts, accepting filings
by candidates for multi-county
offices, and training of local
election officials. The secretary
of state chairs the state canvass-
ing board, which certifies the
results of state elections.
The secretary of state admin-
isters the open appointments
process and publishes the Min-
nesota Legislative Manual, a
compendium of federal, state
and county government infor-
mation.
14 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
Minneapolis School Board
elections
Q.
CHRIS CLARK
hazeleyes1973@yahoo.com
612.788.9539
Q1. Many ques-
tions need to
be asked as the
search for a new
superintendent
begins. We
need to know
of their previous
track record.
The individu-
al’s successes and goals. The accu-
rate time needed to succeed and get
back on track. I would be interested
in higher education they sought. In
depth questions in regard to what it
took them overall to reach this point
in their career. I would prefer choos-
ing those candidates familiar with
Minneapolis school/ or the state of
Minnesota. If that doesn’t work, do
a national search. I was disappointed
with the forced resignation of former
Superintendent Peebles. The current
Minneapolis Board led by Joseph
Erickson, who hired then pushed
her out was disturbing to me. Maybe
they did a routine check yet she fol-
lowed through her goal: raise tests
scores for poorer student popula-
tion and instructed teachers to give
out homework assignments during
extended breaks.
Q2. I have mixed feelings. This man-
date was meant to close achievement
gaps, offer flexibility, give parents
options and teach students based on
what works. The program isn’t con-
sistent throughout the nation. Head
Start programs have been to get a
jump start on early learning. That
program saw a cut early on. The
other options are home schooling
and charter schools. A percentage
of funding goes to charter schools:
a dismantling of public schools.
How are home schooling parents
and charter school teachers as quali-
fied as those with certified teaching
degrees? The standards are not the
same –– much easier for a charter
school to set up. I believe in: cap on
the number of qualified teachers at
each influential school. The newly
graduated teachers should be men-
tored. More stability in every school/
classroom. Eliminate some teacher
in-service days. Too many days off
in the school year. All-year round
school is a thought.
Q3. I believe things will get worse.
Equal representation for school
board members should be in the
works. Most are from southwest
Minneapolis. Not every family has
the advantage as these residents.
I am in favor of how school board
members are elected. We need to
look at how money is spent, at
what administrators earn and their
duties. School board members are
part-time yet blamed for teacher pen-
sion screw-up and closing schools
rather than use that extra million
for smaller classroom sizes. A year-
ly evaluation should be done for all
employees of school system. More
diversity needed on the board. Too
many candidates have been DFL
endorsed in a non-partisan race. We
need to be open to others who have
left the district. We need to regain
our hold on Minneapolis students
and parents. Listen to their concerns
and take action. Time is running
out before we have a bigger crisis on
our hands.
1. One of the School Board’s
most important charges will be
selecting a new superintendent.
What qualities and qualifica-
tions will you prioritize in this
search?
Pam Costain (DFL)
pam@pamcostain.org
612.280.1112
www.pamcostain.org
Q1. The next
superintendent
will need excep-
tionally strong
leadership
skills, as well
as an interest in
and capacity to
build relation-
ships with staff,
unions, parents, public officials and
the general public. He/she will need
a depth and breadth of experience as
a manager of a large urban district.
The superintendent must be able to
hire and inspire excellent staff. The
person must be uncompromising
in their commitment to instituting
rigorous academic programs that
addresses the needs of poor children
and children of color, while attract-
ing and retaining middle class fami-
lies of all races and circumstances.
Q2. Despite its lofty name, No Child
Left Behind was designed more to
punish poor-performing schools and
disadvantaged students, than to help
them to improve and succeed. NCLB
has never been backed up with ade-
quate funding and its regimen of
endless testing has narrowed the cur-
riculum and demoralized teachers
and students.
Despite these facts, staff in MPS
has done an admirable job attempt-
ing to meet the requirements of the
legislation and to truly assist those
schools who perform poorly. I have
been impressed with the district’s
commitment to meeting the needs of
the children and schools identified as
failing by NCLB.
Q3. We must be honest. The Min-
neapolis Public Schools are in crisis.
The district faces the most serious
challenges in decades. I stepped for-
ward to run for the board because
I believe passionately in public
education, I am committed to the
Minneapolis Public Schools, and I
understand that the future of our city
is tied to the success of our schools.
Our district needs strong leadership
to turn things around. With focused
and determined effort, we can solve
our district’s problems and restore
confidence in MPS, but it will
require our entire community com-
ing together to support our children
and our schools.
2. What are your feelings about
the federal No Child Left
Behind legislation? Specifi-
cally, what are your thoughts
about 1) the way achievement is
defined and assessed under this
legislation, and 2) the achieve-
Tom Madden (DFL)
tom@tommadden.org
612.374.3852
www.tommadden.org
Q1. We have
much to achieve
and need a
strong school
board to help
select the right
leader for our
district. The
new superinten-
dent must have
the skills and characteristics that
enable us to achieve our goals. These
include the ability to actively listen,
lead with courage, push for rigor in
education and planning, demonstrate
equity for all of our kids, and be will-
ing to be innovative in solutions. The
Superintendent must have integrity,
be responsive and be a proven man-
ager. This person must select strong
leaders as department heads and del-
egate appropriately. She or he should
be excited, motivated and think in
terms of customer service. Finally,
as if that weren’t enough, I would
also like someone who is willing to
reach out and partner with the park,
library, city, county and state officials
to help us achieve our goal of educat-
ing all of our kids.
Q2. First, ensuring ongoing prog-
ress in education for all of our kids
is necessary. However, NCLB has
become another example of a fed-
erally unfunded mandate. In 2004
alone, it was underfunded by $26B.
Second, achievement is defined and
assessed in unrealistic terms. Those
definitions do not take into account
the very individual they are trying to
help. So much so that it is predicted
that between 74 percent to 99 percent
of schools in the U.S. will be fail-
ing within 8 years as measured by
NCLB definitions. Third, Minne-
apolis student achievement by these
standards has not met expectations.
When anywhere between 40 per-
cent and 80 percent of our kids don’t
make adequate yearly progress, we
are failing them and us. No one per-
son has all the answers to close the
gap. However, I do know that we
must measure what we do and cancel
those programs that are failing while
putting those resources into ideas we
think can work.
Q3. While there are many challeng-
es, I truly believe that we are at a fork
in the road of opportunity to succeed
or fail. People have more choices than
ever before as to where their kids can
go to school. That choice can mean
that we give up and ultimately fail, or
we can see it as healthy competition,
a means to inspire us and ensure we
improve our schools so that MPS will
be peoples’ first, second and third
choices. I choose to see this as an
opportunity to restore the brilliance
that MPS once had and produced in
its students. Daunting? For many it
is. Perhaps that is why the competi-
tion for four seats is only between
six candidates. However, like thou-
sands of parents in Minneapolis, I
am the father of three kids in MPS
and cannot afford for it to fail
ment to-date of Minneapolis’
students by these standards?
3. Our school system faces pro-
cess issues, superintendent and
staff turnover, decline in enroll-
ment, poor achievement levels
Doug Mann (Gp)
dougmannlnc@cs.com
612.824.8800
www.dougmannlnc.com/id21.html
Q1. In reviewing
resumes, I will
look for prior
experience as a
teacher, school
principal, and
district superin-
tendent. I want
a superintendent
whose work
experience is concentrated in the
field of public education. Before we
get to the point of screening candi-
dates, we should have a public discus-
sion about the kind of school system
we have, and the kind of school sys-
tem we want. I want to see a stable
teaching staff in all of the district’s
schools, a more even distribution of
low-seniority teachers, an end to the
practice of sending layoff notices to
teachers who don’t need to be laid
off, and an end to “ability-grouping”
practices which track a majority of
students into watered-down cur-
riculum programs. Responsibility
for the superintendent search should
not be outsourced. Decisions related
to the search process should be made
in open meetings with opportunities
for public input.
Q2. “No Child Left Behind” serves
an agenda of charterizing and priva-
tizing the public schools. I have no
problem with using standardized
achievement tests to evaluate progress
toward a goal of closing the achieve-
ment gap. However, those tests are
generally not closely aligned to what
students are expected to learn, and
in many states the expectations not
very clear. So the testing is not very
helpful in telling teachers and school
administrators much about the effec-
tiveness of classroom instruction.
Moreover, it is my opinion that the
racial “achievement gap” is mostly a
reflection of differences in access to
high quality education programs.
Nationwide, about two-thirds of
teachers with less than 3 years expe-
rience are teaching in schools where
African
American and Latino students are
over-represented. About 40 percent
of public school teachers quit teach-
ing within 3 years, about 50 percent
within 5 years. NCLB promises, but
doesn’t deliver equal access.
Q3. The district administration, with
Board approval has been driving up
teacher turnover rates by sending
layoff notices to teachers who don’t
need to be laid off. About two-thirds
of the teachers who received layoff
notices last year accepted offers of
continuing employment with the dis-
trict. That’s done to save money. The
salary of a teacher employed with the
district for ten years is almost twice
that of a new teacher. But the price
paid by a majority of our students
and parents is too high. Educational
programs serving a majority of our
students are crippled by high teacher
turnover. We need a plan to evenly
distribute low-seniority teachers
to all school programs. The Board
should negotiate how and not wheth-
er to desegregate newer teachers. A
majority of students are also denied
access to a high quality education
by the district’s curriculum tracking
system. Everybody is entitled.
and budget cuts. These factors
did not deter your candidacy.
How daunting are the chal-
lenges facing the Minneapolis
School District?
CHRIS STEWART (DFL)
chris@betterminneapolis.com
612.229.8586
www.betterminneapolis.com
Q1. Our next
superintendent
should have a
tested record of
improving the
conditions of
a major urban
school district;
they should have
a background
that suggests a firm focus on student
achievement; and they should have
the personal and professional savvy
to represent Minneapolis well when
interacting with business and state
government.
Also, the hiring process should be
improved greatly. Due to past hiring
mistakes there is a need to regain the
public trust. That can only happen
with an open process that involves
the voices of the community. I sug-
gest that Minneapolis avoid using
a national search firm and use fees
saved to enhance a performance
based contract. Finally, we need to
have a clear preference for local can-
didates to ensure that the next super-
intendent will survive the life of a
strategic plan.
Q2. No Child Left Behind has cre-
ated a high stakes testing game that
gives us a better picture of how our
students are performing, while also
taxing and restricting our teachers
from doing their most creative work.
Continually assessing students may
be useful tool to benchmark prog-
ress and build learning on, however,
the number of mandates enforced
through NCLB greatly exceed the
funding of it.
Q3. We must be honest; Minneapolis
Public Schools are at a crossroad. One
direction leads us further down the
path toward eventual ruin, and the
other leads us toward renewal. The
positive path for us today requires a
re-thinking of how we provide pub-
lic education.
The current model of schooling has
expired. Some would even say that
high school has become irrelevant.
Our troubles are so deep that the
word “reform” is far too mild for
where we need to go. Due to chang-
ing demographics locally, and a
changing economy nationally, we
need to redesign education in order
to truly prepare students for the
world they will inherit. The chal-
lenges are “daunting,” however, we
have no choice but to face them with
earnest commitment if we at all care
about our future.
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  15
Minneapolis School
Board Continued
(Theatrice) T
Williams (DFL)
thar16@aol.com
612.522.4994
www.t-williams.org
Q1. In addition
to having high
educational
achievements in
whatever field,
the person must
have excellent
i nter p er s o n a l
relationship
skills and the
capacity to recognize talent in oth-
ers. The person should be a team
builder. I would look for evidence of
where the person has developed and
worked with a team to accomplish
any significant tasks. I would look
for a visionary with knowledge and
understanding of large organiza-
tions, how to delegate and hold peo-
ple accountable and is willing to be
held accountable for developing and
implementing action plans.
Q2. First No Child Left Behind is
anything but that. Second, I don’t
believe in unfunded mandates. If
the State or the Federal Govern-
ment is going to mandate a program,
they need to provide the resources to
implement it. Finally relying on stu-
dents’ performance on high-stakes
standardized tests to determine a
student or a school’s future is a recipe
for leaving many children behind.
Performance on standardized tests is
not the only measure of student suc-
cess.
Q3. The challenges are most daunt-
ing and need the attention of the
village. If it takes a village to raise
a child, then I know full well that it
will take that same village and more
to educate that child and many oth-
ers. As a citizen of the village I feel
it’s my responsibility to step forward
and do my part. The task is great,
but so are the villagers and working
together I know we can get it done.
What Does the
School Board Do?
The Minneapolis Board of
Education is a policy-making
body responsible for selecting
the superintendent and over-
seeing the district’s budget,
curriculum, personnel and
facilities. The school board
is granted authority to carry
out these duties by the State of
Minnesota and the Minnesota
Legislature. Seven Directors
are elected in citywide elec-
tions.
The board is responsible for
all policies and management,
to pass upon the recommen-
dations of the superintendent,
to adopt a budget and provide
the funds needed through
means authorized by law, and
to interpret and report the
program of education to the
citizens. The board is charged
with maintaining a thorough
and efficient school system. It
is the purpose of the board to
secure the best facilities and
programs possible within the
limits of its resources.
REFERENDA ON THE BALLOT
IN MINNEAPOLIS:
Minneapolis Better
Ballot Campaign
This question will appear on
the general election ballot on
November 7, 2006:
“A Proposal to use Instant Runoff
Voting in Minneapolis Elections
Should the City of Minneapolis
adopt Single Transferable Vote,
sometimes known as Ranked
Choice Voting or Instant Runoff
Voting, as the method for elect-
ing the Mayor, City Council, and
members of the Park and Recre-
ation Board, Library Board, and
Board of Estimate and Taxation
without a separate primary elec-
tion and with ballot format and
rules for counting votes adopted
by ordinance?”
You will be asked to vote yes
or no on the above question.
A “yes” vote from 51 percent
of those voting on the question
is needed to adopt the amend-
ment.
What is it?
Instant Runoff Voting allows
voters to rank candidates in
order of preference. Using
this method, more formally
known as Single Transferable
Vote, winners are determined
by counting first choices and
determining if any candidates
received a minimum number
of votes needed to win.
In the single-seat races for
mayor, city council, and park
district commissioners, the
share of votes needed to win
is 50 percent of the total votes
cast plus one vote. If there is no
candidate with a majority of
first choices, the candidate with
the fewest votes is defeated
and those votes then go to the
second choices on each ballot.
The votes are recounted, and
the process continues until one
candidate achieves the required
majority.
The proportion of votes need-
ed to win goes down for those
offices where more than one
person is being elected. These
offices include at-large park
board commissioners, library
board trustees and estimate and
taxation board members. The
“instant runoff” process is the
same as for single-seat offic-
es, except that if a candidate
receives more votes than needed
to win, the “surplus” portion of
each vote goes to the next choice
on each ballot. This is called
proportional voting because it
allows more voters to help elect
a winner and be represented by
someone they voted for.
DEBATES AND FORUMS
IN THE STATEWIDE
ELECTION: MINNEAPOLIS SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Wednesday, October 4 at 7 p.m.
Constitutional Clara Barton Open School (4237 Colfax Avenue South)
Amendment
Monday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Field School (4645 4th Avenue South)
Amendment language as it will
appear on the ballot November
Monday, October 16 at 6 p.m.
7, 2006:
Midtown YWCA (2121 East Lakes Street)
“Shall the Minnesota Constitu-
tion be amended to dedicate rev-
enue from a tax on the sale of MINNESOTA GOVERNOR CANDIDATES
new and used motor vehicles over
MSRPO Gubernatorial Forum
a five-year period, so that after
October 4 –– 7 to 9 p.m.
June 30, 2011, all of the revenue
Thunderbird Hotel, Bloomington
is dedicated at least 40 percent for
public transit assistance and not
Minnesota Senior Federation Gubernatorial Forum
more than 60 percent for highway
October 11 –– 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.
purposes?”
Maple Grove Community Forum
You will be asked to vote yes
Live League of Women Voters/KSTP Gubernatorial Debate
or no on an amendment to
October 29 –– 6 to 7 p.m.
Minnesota’s constitution that
KSTP-TV
would permanently dedicate
those funds for transportation.
KTCA Gubernatorial Debate on Almanac
This is neither a new tax nor a
November 3 –– 7 to 8:00 p.m.
tax increase.
KTCA-TV Channel 2
Right now, about 54 percent of
MPR Gubernatorial Debate
the vehicle sales taxes are used
for transportation improve- November 5 –– 8 to 9 p.m.
Fitzgerald Theatre, St. Paul
ments to both highways and
transit statewide. If the amend-
ment were passed, 100 percent
of the money would go toward MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL
transportation. The amend-
MPR Attorney General Debate
ment calls for up to 60 percent
October 6 –– 9 to 10 a.m.
of the dedicated fund to go to
MPR Forum
state highways and local roads
and at least 40 percent to public
LWV/KSTP TV Attorney General Debate
transit statewide.
October 28 ––1 to 2 p.m.
KSTP-TV Studio, St. Paul
Passing an amendment to
the constitution in Minnesota
requires a majority vote of all
people voting. If a voter sup- MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE
ports the amendment, a “yes”
LWV/KSTP TV Secretary of State Debate
vote is necessary. If a voter
October 21 –– 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
leaves this question blank on
KSTP-TV Studio, St. Paul
the ballot, it is considered a
“no” vote.
FIFTH U. S. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
October 10 –– 7 to 9 p.m.
Minnehaha United Methodist Church (3701 East 50th Street)
political tidbits
ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUPS www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/elections
If you want to surf around to find out more Minneapolis election information
about the candidates in this election, here are www.lwvmpls.org
some web sites that offer information, conver- Minnesota League of Women Voters
sation, gossip and more:
BECOME AN INFORMED VOTER
www.e-democracy.org/mpls Sign up for an adult community education
Minneapolis Issues Forum on Minnesota class presented by the League of Women Vot-
e-democracy. ers. October 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at South High.
www.checksandbalances.com Call 668.4326 and ask for Civic Education.
This is “The One-Stop Shop for Online You will learn why you should vote, about the
Politics,” they say. Voting Rights Act, what will be on the bal-
www.mplsobserver.com/ballot_box lot, how you choose a candidate, how you can
The Minneapolis Observer – Ballot Box learn more about the issues. Register online at
www.mnspeak.com www.mplscommunityed.com.
MN Speaks
http://drinkingliberally.org/forum VOTERS GUIDE TO MINNEAPOLIS
Drinking Liberally SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION 2006
http://forum.minneapolisfinder.com Go to the League of Women Voters site (www.
http://insideminnesotapolitics.blogspot.com lwvmpls.org) to read a voter’s guide and over-
Minnesota’s first political podcast view of the school board election.
16 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
Isn’t it Ironic? Don’tcha Think?
By Colette Davidson
As I walk into Guy Savage’s
bright purple house on the cor-
ner of 37th and Lyndale, I am
greeted by a hodgepodge of trin-
kets in his front room encased
in a large picture window: A
blooming violet orchid on the
coffee table, a mannequin’s
head wearing sunglasses on the
mantle, an antique children’s
bicycle flipped at a 90-degree
angle, life-size movie post-
ers on the wall and a parking
meter wedged between large
plants overflowing their pots.
Guy extends his hand warmly
and I am surprised to see that
the head of white hair I’ve seen
parading around his yard from
time to time is actually dyed,
and that Guy is fairly young.
Guy Savage has lived in his
house for four years and is a
native Minneapolitan who has
worked at a graphics company
doing maintenance and deliv-
ery for the past ten years. His
job appears to have worn off
on him, attributing to his keen
visual sense and this beauti-
fully organized chaos. His
house, most recognizable by
its outrageous color and huge
front window inviting constant
stares, used to be a paint shop.
The house was repainted by
his friend and roommate with
whom he shares the duplex.
Although his place is his own,
he and his friend have a relaxed
attitude about sharing space.
The door in between the house
is left open and their respective
dogs are free to roam through-
out.
What many neighbors and pass-
ersby will notice about Guy’s
house is a large painting on the
outside wall reading, “IRONY”
in spiraled red and blue letters.
The painting was once a sign
for the paint shop until it was
transformed by Guy’s friend,
a self-described 1960’s rabble
rouser who calls himself “Pablo
Fiasco.” Guy had informed
Pablo about the open space
and then let him loose to create
anything he wanted. There is
a smaller version of “IRONY”
overhead one of the doorways
inside the house, accompanied
by another awkwardly affixed
doorway painting from the old
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Tues – Fri: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun: noon to 4 p.m., Closed Mondays
store that says, “one size fits
all.”
Guy’s most notable contribution
to the Minneapolis community
is his willingness to let others see
into his life. Because his house
rests on the corner of a busy
intersection, he has increased
visibility and opportunities
to make a voice for himself.
Although his lack of privacy at
first made him uncomfortable,
he has completely embraced it
and now doesn’t know how he
could live anywhere else.
“I felt self-conscious at first
but then I realized, why close
myself off from the rest of the
world?”
Instead of looking at the large
boards scattered along the house
walls as leftovers from the paint
store, he sees blank canvases.
What were once transparent
front windows may soon turn
into a spot for soap messages
with a highly political bent. The
reactions he gets from people
walking by have, however, been
the highlight of his living situ-
ation.
With so many interesting
knickknacks to look at, people
can’t seem to control their voy-
euristic urges when passing
Guy’s house. Guy loves sitting
on his couch and watching peo-
ple’s faces as they stroll along
the sidewalk or sit in their cars
waiting at the stoplight. Most
people smile and laugh, elicit-
ing a friendly wave from Guy,
who often sits on his couch and
people-watches from his win-
dow. Some have gone so far
as to walk right in and take a
peek. Guy remembers one man
who walked through his front
door, thinking the house was
a store, asking Guy what he
had for sale. When asked what
people say when they enter his
house, Guy replies, “wow—this
is unique, unusual.”
So, where does Guy get his
inspiration? A self-confessed
“dumpster-diver,” most of his
treasures were once someone
else’s trash, left near garbage
cans or on the side of the street.
Guy mentions Salvador Dali,
Van Gogh and Surrealist art as
artistic encouragement and a
genuine love for the eclectic and
interesting. He loves to cook
ethnic food, play the guitar and
harmonica, and travel, nam-
ing Iceland and Amsterdam
as some favorite spots. Guy is
“kind of an Atheist” but follows
Buddhism and believes in Kar-
ma’s theory of getting back what
you put out into the world. His
political views are predictably
liberal and he doesn’t hesitate in
expressing his disappointment
with the direction in which
America is going.
“I love my country but I really
mistrust my government….
America is the biggest world
power and we flex our muscles
to get whatever we want. The
true test of strength is tolerance,
not violence.”
Despite his faltering support
of U.S. politics, Guy still has
faith in Minneapolis. He loves
the city, its cultural diversity
and the endless list of things to
do around town. The ability to
walk out the door and check
out who is playing at the Lake
Harriet bandshell is one such
asset. He worries though, like
many residents do, that Uptown
is changing for the worst.
Photos by Kay Nygaard Graham
Top: Guy Savage’s ironic house at
“I think it’s sad to see the devel- 37th and Lyndale. Middle: Guy Sav-
opment change our city. It’s all age. Left: It’s not graffiti, it’s the house
about the money these days.” number.
But, just as the eye-popping
color of his house can brighten
anyone’s day, Guy’s optimism
comes in refreshingly large In the end, Guy is a guy with any of this for fame or recogni-
amounts. He gets excited when a unique style and a unique tion.
he thinks about the house being opportunity for creating com-
built across the street, with its munication with his commu- “It was never about getting
rumors of being designed by nity. He will never know how attention. It is about me express-
one of the Walker Art Center many people notice his house or ing myself. I’m just having fun
architects. He realizes that “life the impact he has on his neigh- with it.”
is one constant state of change.” borhood. After all, he never did
Remington Introduces Uptown Height Moratorium
By Aaron Rubenstein use approvals from the city that the height of new devel-
council, planning commission, opment in the area will not
Council Member Ralph Rem- and/or board of adjustment undermine the future orderly
ington has introduced an ordi- by September 21; projects for development of the area. The
nance imposing a six-month which complete applications city finds that this interim
height moratorium for portions had been received by the city ordinance should be adopted
of Uptown. Such ordinances by September 21; and projects to protect this planning pro-
become effective immediately which do not exceed the maxi- cess and the health, safety, and
upon introduction. mum height allowed. welfare of the citizens.
The ordinance was referred The moratorium covers the The ordinance further states
to the council’s Zoning and same area as the Uptown Small that “a waiver may be granted
Planning Committee, where Area Plan. The findings and where the city council finds
it was expected to be discussed purpose of the moratorium, as substantial hardship caused
September 27 and then sent introduced by Remington, are by the restrictions and finds
back to the council for final stated as follows: that the waiver will not undu-
adoption. ly affect the integrity of the
The city council is concerned planning process or the pur-
The moratorium prohibits about the scale of develop- poses for which the interim
new buildings that exceed the ment projects in the area of ordinance is enacted.” Any
maximum height allowed by the Uptown Small Area Plan waivers would need to be
the underlying zoning, unless and has enacted an interim approved prior to the filing of
the City Council approves a ordinance in order to allow for conditional use permit applica-
waiver. the completion of a study to tions for additional height.
inform future development in
The moratorium does not this area. The Uptown Small Council Member Reming-
apply to projects that already Area Plan, along with appro- ton said he would evaluate in
have building permits; proj- priate revisions to the city’s six months if the moratorium
ects that had all required land official controls, can ensure should be extended.
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  17
Half-Price Wines and More (or Less) in Lyn-Lake
By Scott Schiefelbein
“It’s all about the deal,” enthu-
siastically quipped Uptown
resident Jen Robinson as she
marched her companion into
Bryant Lake Bowl (810 West
Lake Street) for Cheap Date
Night. It may not be all about
the deal for everyone, but given
the proliferation and variety of
specials at Lyn-Lake area res-
taurants, their proprietors are
counting on filling tables with
bargain-seeking patrons.
One of the most popular spe-
Local Artist Nicholas Harper
Paints a Unique Picture
By Sue Lundquist
Last year the sites and smells
of the Tobacco Shop in Cal-
houn Square were replaced
with something completely
different –– the “magical real-
ism” of local artist Nicholas
Harper. Harper, who shares
“The Gallery” with local art-
ist Yuri Arajs, is best known
as owner of the Rogue Bud-
dha Gallery (RBG) located in
northeast Minneapolis.
Showing his work in Cal-
houn Square made sense for
several reasons, according to
Harper. He likes the energy
of Calhoun Square because
it isn’t really like a mall. “It
has the vibe and youthfulness
that you wouldn’t get at a strip
mall,” Harper says, “It’s the
type of clientele that appreci-
ate and enjoy the art.” He also
felt it was a good opportunity
to showcase work to people
who may not be familiar with
RBG or know that he’s an
artist as well as gallery owner.
The clientele, however, may
soon be learning even more
about Harper who has been
making a name for him-
self and RBG on the local
and national art scene. In
August, he won first place at
the Minnesota State Fair for
Oil Painting and GO Maga-
zine named RBG as one of
the essential galleries in the
United States.
Harper’s journey to becoming
a gallery owner came almost
by accident. Originally, he
owned a studio in downtown
Minneapolis where he would
throw parties. “Art hung on
the wall, but it was really
more party than art show,” he
says. One party got a little out
of hand and Harper found
himself without a place to
live. That’s when he started
thinking about owning his
own studio. But he didn’t
want just an ordinary art stu-
dio. “I wanted the place to be
multi-functional— a place
cials is a weeknight (or two)
featuring half-price bottles of
wine. This promotion is offered
at many restaurants not only in
Lyn-Lake but also throughout
the United States. According to
Mark Seaberg, wine expert at
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culi-
nary Arts in Mendota Heights,
the trend started in New York
City restaurants hoping to lure
back customers following the
decrease in business after 9/11.
The trend has become wide-
spread since then, notably in
Lyn-Lake.
Top: Paris The Bride. The Gal-
lery in Calhoun Square showcases
the “magical realism” of Nicholas
Harper. Bottom: Susannah. Nicho-
las Harper’s pieces capture the ordi-
nary in the extraordinary.
to showcase musicians, poets
and theater.” Rogue Buddha
Gallery was born.
The name is a combina-
tion of two opposing words
that embody the spectrum
of human existence yet coex-
ist in harmony meaning that
everything is always okay.
Both locations showcase
Harper’s portraitures in
which he strives to capture the
“extraordinary in the ordi-
nary.” Each painting is a mir-
ror of the person viewing it,
which is why all of his paint-
ings are of people. “They are
a tool for the viewer, for med-
itation and contemplation.”
The Gallery is open Satur-
days and Sundays and by
appointment.
Sue Lundquist lives in
CARAG.
Photo by Naomi Oshiro
It’s hard to beat a Cheap Date Night,
who doesn’t want that?
La Bodega (3005 Lyndale Ave-
nue South) was one of the first
Lyn-Lake restaurants to offer
half-price bottles of wine. The Photo by Naomi Oshiro
practice has become a main- Customers at La Bodega enjoy a summer evening and a nice wine.
stay. Many of their Monday and
Tuesday night customers take
advantage of the special with
their meals and some, especially
in the summer, come just for the
chance to drink the discounted
wine and enjoy the outdoor
seating. To complement their
Monday and Tuesday specials,
for the past year La Bodega has
been offering a free bottle of
wine with dinner (minimum
food purchase $30 for a couple)
on Sundays and Thursdays.
Jody Bednar, owner of Vino 610 Photo by Jeffrey Farnam
(610 West Lake Street) says that Caption: Vino 610 owner Jody Bednar believes lower priced wines helps the
he has been selling all bottles neighborhood by increasing traffic in Lyn-Lake on traditionally slower restau-
of wines on his list at half price rant nights.
on Mondays and Tuesdays since
opening the business in Novem- on Sundays. In addition to the wine and one game of bowling
ber 2005. He began running the darkened theater, Virgili says per person. The cost is $28. BLB
special at the urging of a man- that the practice also helps the also has Neighborhood Night on
ager from FujiYa (600 West restaurant to encourage cus- Sundays with $4 appetizers and
Lake Street), which also features tomers to buy European wines, discounted prices on local beers
a half-price wine night. Bednar which have become more expen- and wines by the glass from
says the lower prices definitely sive due to weakness of the US Minnesota winery, Alexis Bailly
make a difference on tradition- dollar against the Euro. Offer- Vineyards.
ally slow nights. In addition, he ing half-price wines has built
believes that having many estab- loyalty among their patrons and It may not be all about the deal
lishments with specials available many Sunday and Monday visi- for you, but it seems to be for
increases traffic and business for tors are now regulars. He notes many. If you ARE looking for a
all restaurants in the area. that they may have come for the less expensive night out, a walk
discounted wines, but they came to the restaurants around Lyn-
The Jungle Theater is closed on back because of the restaurant. Lake on an evening other than
Mondays. According to General Friday or Saturday will help you
Manager, Franco Virgili, this Bryant Lake Bowl does not find it.
is one of several reasons why offer half-price bottles of wine
jP American Bistro (2937 Lyn- but has some other interesting Scott Schiefelbein lives in
dale Avenue South) sells half- deals. Cheap Date Night, offered Uptown and eats anywhere and
price bottles of wine on that on Mondays, includes two everywhere.
day. They also offer the special entrées, a bottle of red or white
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Thomas Ave.
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t
e S
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Lander Premium Series homes from the $600,000’s. or 612-986-2511.
xxx/3737XFTUMBLF/dpn Brought to you by 2626 West Lake, LLC.
18 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
Two Uptown Churches Partner Up
By Colette Davidson
In May, we told you about
the unfortunate deterioration
of the historic Salem English
Lutheran Church and Lyndale
United Church of Christ build-
ings. Sadly, the Salem church,
built in 1904, was not able to
find a solution to its financial
problems and has been forced
to seek out a new venue for its
services. After its final service
on October 29, Salem Church
will move to its temporary
home within the partnership
of Lyndale United Church
of Christ located at 31st and
Aldrich.
Although the two churches
have no intention of merg-
ing their congregations, they
intend to celebrate each other’s
unique history and identity
while preserving their ecumen-
ical agreements and retaining
their positive influence on the
community. Because the Salem
church’s interim location is
only four blocks away from its
original space at 28th and Lyn-
dale, Salem hopes to keep the
same community groups that
have been using the church as
a meeting place. Unfortunate-
ly, several of the groups have
already jumped ship due to the
uncertainty of the building’s
outcome. The Lyndale church
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currently houses yoga and
dance classes and hopes to pro-
vide even more services to the
community.
As developers decide what
will become of the old Salem
space, ideas have been thrown
out to use it for housing, retail,
arts organizations or, ideally, a
ministry center that could be
used by both the Salem and
Lyndale congregations. For
now, the Salem congregation
has accepted that their build-
ing is just too costly to stay in
any longer. Even though the
Lyndale building is expensive
to maintain, Salem’s enormous
heating bill was just one of the
reasons why they decided to
move in with Lyndale, instead
of the other way around.
Although the Lyndale United
Church is going to house the
Salem congregations for now,
they too are losing their wor-
ship space. Both congregations
hope that the old buildings
will be bought by owners who
appreciate and want to preserve
their historic value, and that the
buildings will remain places of
worship.
At Salem, the staff has filed an
RFI, or Request for Interest,
which will gauge the interest
of developers in the Salem lot.
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“We’re trying to see if there
is anybody who has ideas to
develop our lot and save the
1904 building,” says Paul Liv-
dahl, building and office man-
ager at Salem. Depending on
who buys the space, all or none
of the current buildings could
be retained. It’s up to the devel-
opers. Says Livdahl, “we have
to find out what will work for
us financially.”
Salem had also been looking
into getting historic preserva-
tion for the 1904 sanctuary.
Encouraged by community
members who insisted that the
site be saved, the church applied
for historic preservation but
realized that, even with the
license, the process would be
too expensive. Being designated
a historic site doesn’t mean that
the city offers money directly.
Salem church would have been
given a loan, which they knew
they wouldn’t be able to afford.
Thus, they decided to with-
draw their application for his-
toric preservation.
At the Lyndale church, prog-
ress for development has been
equally slow. Lyndale church
pastor Don Portwood says,
“there has been interest, but
there have been no offers.”
Portwood has received nearly
40 phone calls about the sale of
his church, but only about six
or seven people have followed
through and come to take a
look at the building. Of those
six or seven people, no takers.
For now, Portwood isn’t wor-
ried. “We’re in no hurry. We’re
just testing the market.”
Despite the sadness of losing
their buildings, both the Salem
English Lutheran Church and
Lyndale United Church of
Christ realize that keeping their
congregations and being able Photo by Mary Ann Knox
to provide services to the com- Lyndale UCC has put up a giant red
munity are the most important “For Sale” sign.
aspects of their ministries. The
trials of trying to house a new
congregation while selling his Join the Salem English Luther-
own building have not stopped an Church congregation on
Portwood from expressing October 29 for a final service at
his happiness about the two its original location on 28th and
churches coming together. Lyndale. A Festive Worship
Service will be held at 10:30
“We’re thrilled with the part- a.m. followed by a catered meal
nership — that’s been the easy at 12:30 p.m. and a Program of
part — we’re just so pleased at Remembrance and Renewal at
how much fun they are.” 1:30 p.m. Please call the church
office by October 17 to reserve
What do the Salem folks think a spot at lunch at 872.4650.
about having to move in with
the Lyndale congregation? Colette Davidson lives in
Minneapolis and is sad to see
“Optimistic, really. We feel like these historic churches go.
it’s the smart thing to do. We
have similar missions and we
feel a kindred spirit between
Lyndale and us.”
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October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  19

ECCO report East Calhoun Community Organization

ECCO Board
ECCO meets
Lake St.
Zoning Chair Replacement for
Lara Norkus-Crampton
and objectives.
4. Hold community meeting
Profile
2. Where is Ralph?
the first Thurs- A Zoning chair replacement where the neighborhood cre-
Ralph was in Portland study- Get to know a little bit
day of each
Hennepin Ave.

Lyndale Ave.
ing mass transit with Midtown needed to be voted on to replace ates a vision and begins a goal
LAKE CALHOUN

month, 7 PM
Community Works. Lara Norkus-Crampton as she development state by reviewing about your neighbors
at St. Mary’s
Greek Ortho-
had resigned from the board. A information about issue areas. who serve on the ECCO
He also visited Chicago two motion was made to make Tim 5. Educate and inform the
dox Church, Prinsen, who had shown inter- neighborhood about the ECCO
Board. Each month,
weeks prior with the Mayor and
36th St. 34th & Irving.
others to discuss public safety est in the initial voting process, homepage and set up an e-mail we will feature Board
All ECCO residents are welcome
and urged to attend.
issues and review their camera to be the interim chair for the address to collect feedback members. They welcome
systems. next month, until the first meet- through electronic submissions.
ECCO BOARD MEETING ing after the Annual Meeting. A
your advice and your
MINUTES 3. In Council Happenings motion was made and passed. Responsibility rests with the help in trying to improve
September 7, 2006   Alleyway 10/3 vote against NRP coordinator who was ECCO. When you see
the ordinance that would have Small Area Master Plan: hired by the board. Board will them on the street, stop
Board Members Present: Bruce made illegal walking through Steering Committee Represen- keep the process moving and
Grimm (President) Anne G. alleys that you do not live or are tative Discussion and Update. be the liaison between steering and say hello.
Chase (Vice President), Ted invited into. Ralph voted against Lara Norkus Crampton and Committee, ECCO Board and
Ringsred, Bruce Sabatke, Deb- this for many reasons. Among Tim Prinsen reviewed the City NRP.
bie Jans, Gary Farland, Car- them: laws already exist to pro- process for Uptown. Due to Jim Steman
rie Menard, Jim Stemen, Don hibit the behaviors this ordi- the increase in the number of Use the City NRP to under-
MacPherson, Tim Prinsen, nance would hope to target and new development projects in stand and utilize the legal
Carrie Menard, Keith Ruddick, enforcement of this ordinance Uptown, such as the Uptown guidelines in developing and
Ruth Cain. would be tricky at best. Hotel, and to guide future implementing phase II. The
development and create one ECCO NRP Coordinator will
Others Present: Gael Ellis Wireless Internet The council vision, a small area plan is being oversee implementation of the
(NRP Coordinator), Steve voted to approve US Internet created. It is in the early stages. Action Plan by working closely
Buckley (resident) Bill Mor- (a local Minnetonka company) There will be scheduled meet- with the Steering Committee
ton (resident), Lara Norkus- as the city’s wireless provider ing throughout the year. The and the ECCO Board
Crampton (resident), Mary Ann and allow city staff to complete Committee has been providing
Knox (CARAG), Ellan Meyer the contact. Wireless will allow input on the project boundar- Goal: Establish a 10-month
(CARAG), Virginia Kuhn our public safety mechanisms to ies and work to be undertaken. timeline for the completion
(resident), Mike Gallagher work together more closely and Such as character and environ- of the Action Plan, from Sep-
(resident), Darrell and Joanne in real time, as well as provide mental. A request for proposals tember of 2006 to June of 2007
Savage, (residents), Courtney great community benefits (i.e. for consultant services has been and have it ready to submit for Photo by Jeffrey Farnam
Cushing Kiernat (resident). local hotspots with free internet advertised to find a consultant approval September 2007.
and a ten year locked rate of $20 for the development of the plan.
Welcome:  President Bruce a month for private users) By There will be a Steering prepa- Discussion of Permit Parking By Jackie Varriano
Grimm called the meeting to the end of 2007 the city should ration for vision meeting on Proposal from Jeff Farnam
order, welcomed board mem- be hot. September 27. Resident Jeffrey Farnam would ECCO Board Member Jim Ste-
bers and others, and initiated like to see a parking permit pro- man and his wife Liza moved
introductions. Moratorium Ralph will intro- ECCO Fundraising Request gram in ECCO. His plan would with their three daughters to
duce a moratorium within the Kay Anderson, has asked the require residential permits with- the ECCO neighborhood five
Open Forum: next couple of sessions. Pur- ECCO Board for funds to help in Hennepin and Lake between years ago. Both Jim and Liza
1. Steve Buckley, resident, con- pose: slow development until the Loon Lake Trolley Path 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. grew up in Minnesota and
gratulated The Uptown Neigh- they have a more clear idea of Event, after discussion of peo- attended the University of Min-
borhood News as a community where the Uptown Small Area ple who have been present on Residents issued stickers for nesota, Minneapolis campus.
paper. Master Plan will be headed. It the past to spread chips over vehicles and cards for guests. After college, the Stemans left
2. Lara Norkus Crampton will be a “As of Right” mora- the path. It was decided that a Residential Permit Program Minnesota and lived in Belize,
encouraged residents to vote at torium, meaning developers donation of 100 dollars would would allow street parking New York, Japan and Los
the primary election. do not go through an added be made. A motion was made for daytime visitors and work- Angeles. Liza worked in the
3. There were three meetings to process if their plan fits within and passed. ers. It would keep late night Peace Corps while Jim served
be held in September: the current zoning, Anyone visitors and workers safer by as a translator in Japan and
• September 28 at the Jones/ requesting CUPs, variances, or Annual Meeting Discussion preventing them parking on later as a controller for an inter-
Harrison residence with Mike zoning changes will go through and Committee Formation residential streets and return- national real estate company.
Lander to improve Triangle the moratorium process. Those The Social Committee will plan ing to their cars on dark, quiet
Park. who have submitted a complet- the execution of the Annual streets where they would be After living and traveling all
• September 27 for a public ed application to the city by the Meeting in October. It was vulnerable to crime. Parking over the world, the Stemans
safety amendment to climate time the moratorium is intro- asked that a discussion of child- ramps and lots would provide decided to come back to their
sidewalk seating to businesses duced will be grand parented care be included. There will be more surveillance and security. home state. Minnesota was the
with more than 30 percent sales in. 4 Board vacancies this term.   A Residential Permit Program destination of many of their
from alcohol. would make the neighborhoods family vacations and Liza grew
• September 18 for a zoning  4. In other news. Democratic NRP Phase II Update quieter because people return- up in East Isles. It was East
application for a 3 dwelling with National Convention-Looks NRP Coordinator, Gael Ellis, ing to their vehicles late at night Calhoun’s Uptown location and
a mixed juice business. good for Minneapolis/St. Paul Reviewed Phase II update. or early morning from bars and walk-ability that convinced the
to host the convention in 2008. Gael reviewed highlighted clubs can be loud, disturbing, Stemans to settle in Uptown.
Approval of August Minutes Between New York and us. points from the participation and sometimes destructive. This
and September Agenda Breakfast with Ralph was 9/18, agreement to get approval from would keep the late night activ- Jim has served on the board
Minutes and agenda were 8 a.m. at the Egg & I. GiGi’s the board. Purpose. ity in the business district and since 2005. He enjoys his neigh-
approved.  Mondays from 2 to4 p.m. Call The summary of steps involved out of residential areas. borhood and looks for ways to
the office to make a 15-minute in the Neighborhood Action give back some of the hospitali-
City Councilman Report appointment. Please call the Plan development process will eccoinfo update ty that he and Liza have always
Report via e-mail from Ralph office at 612.673.3314 if you have be as follows: Carrie Menard will follow up felt from Minnesota in their
Remington’s new aide, Kim any questions. 1. Community meeting to with Al Anderson and Erik travels and homes abroad.
Malrick. Review Phase 1 Plan (formal Hansen to update the ecco.info
Alternate Board Member review was done in 2004). page, especially in time for the Jim is a Vice President at a local
1. Who is Ralph’s New Aide? Vote to change Gary Farland 2. Develop Block Club System Annual Meeting in October. construction company and also
Her name is Kim Malrick and from Alternate to Board Mem- as a means of generating partic- serves on the leadership board
she began working with council ber. Board member Lara Nor- ipation and system communi- The next meeting is October 5, at Jefferson Community School,
office in August. Before work- kus Crampton since becoming cation and gather information and is the Annual Meeting. where two of his daughters are
ing for the city, she did com- a member of the Planning about issues and concerns of students. A marathon runner
munity coordinating work for Commission, resigned from the the neighborhood. and an avid fisherman who
a local restorative justice non ECCO Board, her position was 3. Hold regular community recently took up fly fishing,
profit, Restorative Justice Com- to be filled by alternate Gary wide meetings at which resi- Jim is always looking for time
munity action. She will be at the Farland. A motion was made dents review, approve and either on a river, lake or with
October meeting. voted on and passed. prioritize the proposed goals his family.
20 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006

East Calhoun Came Out For a Big Labor Day Party

Clockwise from top left: Abbey McIntosh, Jack Jablonski and Francesca sporting their balloon hats; everybody joined in the street
parade; School Board member and East Calhoun resident Lydia Lee was delighted to ride in a boat; Eiesland-Birch family; and the
Southwest High School marching band.

Photo by Courtney Cushing Kiernat Photo by Courtney Cushing Kiernat

Photo by Courtney Cushing Kiernat

Photo by Jeffrey Farnam

Photo by Courtney Cushing Kiernat

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612-824-2171 HOME OFFICE
carrie@homeavenue.com

A cozy little neighborhood diner minutes from home or work.

HOURS: Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 3 pm
Sat. 6:30 am - 2 pm, Sun. 7 am - 2 pm

kellynewcomer.com
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  21

The East Calhoun Community Organization says

c to these Labor Day Event Sponsors:
1st National Bank of the Lakes
East Calhoun Residents!

PLAY
3 Fish
Aarcee Rental - this side of 100 on 35th Street, behind the Ford Dealer
Accent Arts
Alternative Bike & Board - odd side of Lyndale south of Lake Know Your
Amigo Service Center
Amore Victoria Neighborhood

GAME
Anderson Cleaners
Applebee’s
Bally Total Fitness
Barbette
Blue Sky Creamery
Bobby Bead
Booksmart - on the even side of Hennepin between Lake and Lagoon
Bryant Hardware After each sponsor listed,
Checkers Auto identify their location
City Image Salon - kitty-corner from 1st National Bank of the Lakes without giving the actual
Creole Maison
Deavalon
numerical street address.
do hair - next to Blue Sky Creamery
For example, Blue Sky Creamery is
Dunn Bros Coffee
located “on Lake Street between Irving
El Meson
Giorgio’s - now on odd side of Hennepin between 24th and 25th and Humboldt,” or “across the street
Hirschfield’s from Dunn Bros Coffee.”
Jimmy John’s Again, describe the location without
Jon Charles Salon - across the street from Hennepin Lake Liquor Store using the actual numerical address.
Kitchen Window
Lucia’s & Lucia’s Bakery (Some of the tough ones are done.)
Magers & Quinn
Margolis, Mark & Pam -- no location required Please include your
Marla’s Indian Cuisine
Minnesota Lynx -- where do they play?
Noodles
Name _ __________________________
Ophelia’s Salon
Orr Books Address _ ________________________
Pizza Luce
Rainbow Foods Phone ___________________________
Rockler Woodworking - odd side of Lyndale south of Lake
Saint Paul Saints -- where do they play? and mail your completed entries to:
Salon E
Salon Levante 3144 Humboldt Ave S.
Sawatdee Minneapolis, MN 55408
Starbucks
Stella’s Fish Café All correctly completed entries, post-
The Chair Salon marked on or before October 28, 2006,
The New Uptown Diner (not Uptown Bar) will be in a drawing for a
The Tin Fish

$100.00
Trader Joes
Tryg’s
Tum Rup Thai
Uptown Theater
Uptown Veterinarian
Vino 610 - Next to “It’s Greek to Me” on Lake & Lyndale
Williams Pub
PRIZE!

Come to the East Calhoun

Community Organization

Annual
Please Help Maintain Our Lake Calhoun Historic Loon
Neighborhood
Lake Trolley Path By Laying Chips With Your Neighbors
Meeting Who: All adults and children who love our public park space
Thursday, October 5, 2006 When: Saturday October 7th 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon
St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Where: Meet for coffee, donuts, treats, water at 34th and Irving S.
We will work the two block long path from 34th to 36th St.
Church, 35th and Irving
Bring: Leaf rakes, work gloves, wheel barrels, pitchforks
7:00 to 9:00 PM — but come (we will have some tools from the Park Board)
at 6:45 PM Reward: We get new chips on our public historic walking path
to enjoy free food and
beverages with your friends Come for the entire time or as much time as you can give.
and neighbors! All adults and children
22 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006
dear dave
Dave Veeser
lives in Min-
neapolis and
is the resident
advice colum-
nist at www.
personaladvice.
net. Requests
for advice
can be sent to deardaveadvice@
yahoo.com or USPS in care of this
publication.
Visiting Cat Woes
Dear Dave: My neigh-
bor has a cat that wanders the
neighborhood. The big prob-
lem is that it uses my vegetable
garden as a litter box. This all
started last year and now I have
had to abandon trying to grow
food in my garden due to the cat
waste. I have mentioned it sev-
eral times to the neighbor who
owns the cat, and he always
treats it as a joke, and doesn’t
seem to do anything about it. I
miss my garden, what can I do?
––J.K
Dear J.K: I’m a cat lover
myself. I had my previous cat
Sunny for 21 years. Sunny was
an indoor/outdoor cat that, for-
tunately, never left the confines
of our yard. But, alas, that is
rare behavior for an un-teth-
ered feline.
Many folks feel it is fine to let
their beloved pet to roam free-
ly, especially cats. Many say it’s
cruel to keep them indoors, or
tether them outside; I say it’s
cruel not to!
There are innumerable dangers
and threats our unprotected
pets face: attacks by other ani-
mals, being struck my motor
vehicles, a myriad of diseases
and parasites, as well as the risk
of getting disoriented and lost.
As pet owners, we must do all
we can to keep our pets safe
and healthy, and that means
either keeping them indoors,
fenced in, or tethered/leashed
within the confines of our
property. Aside from the moral
responsibility to our pets, we
also have a legal responsibility.
We are liable for any damage
our pets cause to property or
persons; a frightened cat can
produce a painful scratch on a
child or adult for which the pet
owner is legally responsible for
any and all resulting medical
costs, as well as potential puni-
tive damages should the case go
to small-claims court. You have
two options with your neigh-
bor’s wandering kitty.
First option: put a fence around
your garden. That would help
to keep any and all cats out.
This would also serve to keep
many wild critters, skunks,
raccoons, etc, out of your gar-
den as well. If your don’t feel
you should have to expend the
money or effort to solve your
neighbor’s negligent pet care
issues, the second option is to
contact Animal Control.
Minneapolis does not have a
leash law for cats (title 4, chap-
ter 64), but all dogs and cats
over the age of 4 months must
have a collar and identification
tags and license or the owner
faces a potential $100 fine. The
dog feces clean-up ordinance
applies to cats as well. You do
have legitimate grounds for
complaint. Your neighbor is in
violation of the feces clean-up
ordinance: Ch. 64.50: “Any
person having the custody or
control of any dog or domestic
animal shall have the responsi-
bility for cleaning up any feces
of the animal and disposing of
such feces in a sanitary man-
ner.” Violators of this ordi-
nance are also subject to a fine
of up to $100 (this and other
Minneapolis ordinance infor-
mation can be found it www.
municode.com).
You may want to present this
ordinance information to your
neighbor (via this column if
necessary). Then, if he still
ignores your plea to keep kitty
restrained, I’d suggest taking
some photos of your neigh-
bor’s cat in your garden, docu-
ment the times and dates of the
occurrences, then calling the
Minneapolis Animal Control at
348.4250.
geek’s world
Copyrights and Culture
By Dan Frankowski
Lindsey Lohan
discovers a third breast.
Well, no she doesn’t, but it got
your attention, eh? I enjoy writ-
ing, but coming up with col-
umn ideas is murder. I’m lazy,
sue me. Anyway, I’d much
rather write about something
you want to read about, and
how am I gonna know that if
you don’t tell me? So I’m asking
you nicely, email column ideas
to dfrankow@gmail.com. Now,
on with this week’s column.
Since ‘tis the season, I’m going
to talk politics again. I’d like
to pay homage to a geek hero,
Larry Lessig. First and fore-
most, he is a champion of free
culture. Oh sure, he’s a Stan-
ford law professor, used to be
at Harvard, argued a case in
front of the supreme court, was
referred to by name on the TV
show West Wing, yadda yadda,
but let’s talk about free culture.
Larry would want us to. What is
free culture? The best thing you
can do is put down this paper,
go to a web browser, and watch
his talk from 2002. Here’s a
URL: http://tinyurl.com/11dw.
Go. Shoo. Entertaining, sober-
ing, makes you think. Shoo.
Larry’s talk style is fairly unique,
especially to anyone who has
ever seen or tried to give a talk
using slides (for example, Pow-
erPoint). Instead of filling the
slides with bunches of text and
reading it, he mostly talks, but
has a few words or a picture
that punctuate his story. Very
powerful.
You’re not gone yet. Well, I still
have space, so I’ll give you a
print version. Lessig says:
Creativity and innovation always
build on the past.
The past always tries to control
the creativity that builds upon it.
Free societies enable the future by
limiting this power of the past.
Ours is less and less a free society.
You know Disney? Snow White,
Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland.
All of those Disney movies were
first other people’s ideas. Walt
Disney took those ideas and
adapted them to his own medi-
um. Rip, mix, burn. When I say,
“took –– it was legal I think
–– the characters were in the
public domain, meaning that
the copyright had expired. Well,
that was not so hard then. From
1790 until 1978, the average
copyright term was never more
than 32 years. I say “I think”
because in 1928, the year Mick-
ey Mouse was born, he starred
in “Steamboat Willie,”
ripped off directly from
Buster Keaton’s “Steam-
boat Bill, Jr.” of the same
year. The Disney way
— creating new out of some-
thing freshly old, in this case
very fresh. It was, as Lessig put
it, “a lawyer-free zone” where
culture could charge forward
unimpeded.
However, in 1978 something
changed. The copyright term
was extended 11 times in 40
years, culminating in the Sonny
Bono Copyright Term Exten-
sion Act. It is now the lifetime
of the author plus 70 years. Aver-
age life expectancy in the U.S.
would put that at over 140 years!
Compare to 30. What changed?
The most obvious answer is the
power of the corporation. Les-
sig calls the Sonny Bono act
the “Mickey Mouse Protection
Act,” because whenever Mick-
ey Mouse is due to come into
the public domain, Congress
extends the term. Sonny extend-
ed it 20 years. Lessig summa-
rizes: “No one can do to Disney
Inc. what Walt Disney did to
the brothers Grimm.”
But authors should own their
works, right? Sonny’s widow
said Sonny wanted copyright
protection to “last forever.” Well,
that’s not what the framers of
our constitution intended. Let’s
look at the clause whence spring
copyrights and patents:
The Congress shall have Power ...
To promote the Progress of Science
and useful Arts, by securing for lim-
ited Times to Authors and Inventors
the exclusive Right to their respec-
tive Writings and Discoveries.
Two observations: first, it is in
order to “promote the progress
of science and useful arts,” not
to enrich individuals or cor-
porations. It’s for us. We, the
people. Second, it is supposed to
be secured “for limited times.”
Technically 140 years is limited
(even compared to 14, where
it started) but what if they just
keep extending it?
To all dear readers who say,
“Phooey, it’s just cartoons,” sadly
I do not have space to reply with
all sorts of examples (Shake-
speare, sampled music, JibJab’s
“This Land is Your Land” elec-
tion-time satire). However, one
last word: patents (a cousin of
copyrights in a subtle way) are
also being abused, and those
cover prescription drugs. Edu-
cate yourself and your political
representatives about the prop-
er use and abuse of copyrights
and patents. They are intended
to promote progress, and are
instead being used to prevent it.
October 2006 Uptown Neighborhood news •  23
community events calendar
(Editor’s Note: We will run commu-
nity event listings every month on this
page. Contact uptownnews@yahoo.
com to submit your event informa-
tion by the 17th of each month to be
included in the next issue.)
visual arts
FLANDERS GALLERY
3102 Lyndale Ave. S. • 344.1700
www.flanders-art.com
Gallery hours: Tues to Sat, 10 to 5;
Sun 12 to 5.
Through Oct 21 –– Prints by
Damien Hirst. Photography by
Misha Gordin. Paintings by Bill
Monson. And the continuation of
the Fourteenth Annual Warehouse
Show. Paintings, drawings, sculp-
ture, hung floor to ceiling. Recent
acquisitions include vary rare early
work circa 1919-1959 including
works by Modern Masters: Pierre
Bonnard, Salvador Dali, Frida
Kahlo, Henri Matisse and Pablo
Picasso.
HIGHPOINT CENTER FOR
PRINTMAKING
2638 Lyndale Ave. S. • 871.1326
www.highpointprintmaking.org
Sat , Oct 28, 7 to 11 pm –– Fifth
Anniversary Gala. The evening
will feature a live auction of prints
by hot emerging and established
artists, a silent auction of works
by local, national and interna-
tional artists, food, drink, and live
music. All proceeds raised by this
benefit will be used to support and
strengthen Highpoint and its pro-
grams.
Photo provided by Intermedia Arts
“In Touch” by Shakun Maheshwari
INTERMEDIA ARTS/SASE
2822 Lyndale Ave. S. • 871.4444
www.intermediaarts.org
Through January — Immigrant
Status: Contributions. The fourth
and final edition of Immigrant
Status, is created for, by and about
new immigrant artists, curators
and community leaders who will
shed light on the many variations
of the new immigrant experience.
SOO VISUAL ARTS CENTER
2640 Lyndale Ave S. • 871.2263
www.soovac.org
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri 12–6,
Sat and Sun 12-4.
Through Oct 14 — Culture Cop-
Works by Andrea Carlson. Andrea’s
work portrays the cultural assimi-
lation of her Anishinaabe (Ojibwe)
and European ancestors. Using
very personal and highly stylized
imagery, her aesthetic choices are
intended to “challenge and cham-
pion modes of understanding in
terms of tradition, progress, indi-
viduality and identity”.
book clubs
WALKER LIBRARY
BOOK CLUB
Walker Library • 2880 Hennepin
Av. S. • 630.6650
www.mpls.lib.mn.us
Mon, Oct 16, 6:30 to 8 pm — Rag-
time by E.L. Doctorow.
LOVE IN THE STACKS BOOK
CLUB
Walker Library • 2880 Hennepin
Av. S. • 630.6650
www.mpls.lib.mn.us
Wed, Oct 18, 6 to 8 pm. — Book
club for romance readers.
ONCE UPON A CRIME MYS-
TERY READING GROUP
604 W. 26th St. • 870.3785
www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
Wed, Oct 18, 6: 30 to 7:30 pm —
James Sallis’ The Long Legged Fl,
first in his Lew Griffin series.
TWIN CITIES SISTERS IN
CRIME
Once Upon a Crime Bookstore
604 W. 26th St. • 870.3785
www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
Tues., Oct 5 , 7 pm –– Judgment in
Stone by Ruth Rendell.
BOOKS & BARS
Bryant Lake Bowl • 810 W. Lake
St. • 825.8949
www.bryantlakebowl.com
Tues, Oct 10, 6:30pm — Atone-
ment by Ian McEwan. A unique
atmosphere for a lively discussion
of interesting authors, fun people,
good food and drinks. You’re wel-
come even if you haven’t read the
book.
author events
DREAMHAVEN BOOKS
912 W. Lake St. • 823.6070
www.dreamhavenbooks.com
Fri, Oct 13, 6:30 pm — Kelly
McCullough describes his new
novel WebMage as a combination
of urban fantasy and cyberpunk •
Sat, Oct 14, 3 pn — Book launch
for Lois McMasterBujold’s new
fantasy novel The Sharing Knife
Vol. One: Beguilement. • Tue, Oct
24, 6:30 pm — Catherine Lundoff
will be reading. Her short stories
have appeared in many fantasy
and erotica anthologies, and she is
a contributor to the forthcoming
Encyclopedia of Women in Science
Fiction and Fantasy.
ONCE UPON A CRIME
MYSTERY BOOKSTORE
604 W. 26th St. • 870.3785
www.onceuponacrimebooks.com
Thurs, Oct 5, 2 pm — M. C.
Beaton Love, Lies and Liquor. Stock
signing only. • Wed, Oct 11, 7 pm
— Vince Flynn Act of Treason.
theater
JUNGLE THEATRE
2951 Lyndale Ave. S. • 822.7063
www.jungletheater.com
Oct 11 to 29 at The Pantages The-
ater — Sylvia by A. E. Gurney.
Directed by Bain Boehlke with
Kristen Frantzich.
PANGEA WORLD THEATER
711 W. Lake St, Suite 101
822.0015
www.pangeaworldtheater.org
Oct 12 to 29, Thurs to Sun, 7:30
pm — The Island. Set in South
Africa’s notorious Robben Island
maximum-security prison, a trib-
ute to the men and women who
were imprisoned there during the
fight for a free and democratic
country. Panel discussion after Sat.
performances: Oct 14: Legality of
incarceration of political prison-
ers. Oct 21: From Robben Island
to Guantanamo to Abu Ghraib.
Oct 28: Race issues and the current
demographics in the U.S.
film
Photo courtesy United Nations
Sustain Documentary Festival
BRYANT LAKE BOWL THE-
ATER
810 W. Lake St. • 825.8949
www.bryantlakebowl.com
Sundays, Oct 1, 8, 15 and 22, 7 pm
— Sustain Documentary Festi-
val. Presented by The Institute for
Agriculture and Trade Policy. A
series of five documentaries that
examine globalization’s influence
on people worldwide. More info at
www.iatp.org. $7 to 14 (pay what
you can). • Wed, Oct 18, 7 pm ­—
FREE. Cinema Lounge presented
by IFP/MSP. Presented by IFP/
MSP where independent filmmak-
ers schmooze and make nice. For
more info visit www.ifpmsp.org.
FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY
OF MPLS
900 Mount Curve Ave• 377.6608
www.firstunitariansociety.org
Fri, Oct 27 — An Inconvenient
Truth. Call for details.
FIRST UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH
3400 Dupont Ave. S. • 825.1701
www.firstuniv.org
Thur, Oct 5, 6 pm — UU Eco-
Minds Film: An Inconvenient
Truth.
halloween
BRYANT LAKE BOWL
THEATER
810 W. Lake St. • 825.8949
www.bryantlakebowl.com
Sat, Oct 28, 7 pm and Sun, Oct 29,
3 pm and Tues, Oct 31, 7 pm —
$10 to $15 (pay what you can). Son
of the Clammy Hand of Nightmare
presented by Hardcover Theater.
Last year’s Halloween hit returns.
• Tues, Oct 31, 10 pm — $12 / $10
with Fringe button or costume.
The Scrimshaw Show w/ Tim Uren
& Pablo - Comedy! Music! Dance!
UNSPEAKABLE HORROR!
It’s the Scrimshaw Brothers 3rd
Annual Halloween Spooktacular!
A very visceral variety show fea-
turing spine tingling comedy , the
blood curdling crooning of Pablo!
The horrifying hoofing of Hidden
Pudenda! Plus the ever-popular
Audience Costume Contest!
Powderhorn Writers Festival
BROADSIDE PROJECT Exhibit
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont • 825.1701• Thru Sun Oct 15
Collaborations between artists and poets printed by Ricardo
Levins Morales. Uptown can learn some lessons from Pow-
derhorn’s commitment to building community through art.
TWIN CITY
UNDERGROUND
405 W. Lake St • 824.2612
www.tcunderground.com.
Tues, Oct 31, $5 • 7 to 8pm
— SSDD (post hardcore) • 9pm
— Just the End Doors.
BRYANT SQUARE PARK
3101 Bryant Ave. S. • 370-4907
www.minneapolisparks.org
Tues, Oct 31, 6 to 8 pm — games,
treat bags, refreshments and other
fun activities
PAINTER PARK
620 W. 34th St. • 370-4911
www.minneapolisparks.org
Tues, Oct 31, 4 to 6 pm — games,
treat bags, refreshments and other
fun activities
LYNDALE FARMSTEAD
PARK
3900 Bryant Ave. S. • 370-4948
www.minneapolisparks.org
Tues, Oct 31, 6 to 8 pm — games,
treat bags, refreshments and other
fun activities
music
TEMPLE ISRAEL
2534 Henn. Ave. S. • 377.8680
www.templeisrael.com
Sun, Oct 8, 4 to 6 pm — Music for
Medicine Benefit. Mn. Orchestra
musicians chamber music concert
to benefit Neighborhood Improve-
ment Program (NIP). Food and
wine reception to follow. Info:
Nancy at 925.2255.
general
INTERMEDIA ARTS/SASE
2822 Lyndale Ave. S. • 871.4444
www.intermediaarts.org
Sat, Oct 7, 1 to 4 pm — Papercut-
ting Workshop. From paper dolls
to paper cut pictures come explore
uptown
community
events
this unique art form with an artist
who can make the art of cutting “a
very simple process”. Open to the
public, families are encouraged to
join this fun filled Saturday. $5.
TEMPLE ISRAEL
2534 Henn. Ave. S. • 377.8680
www.templeisrael.com
Sat and Sun, Oct 28 and 29, 9 am to
noon — Temple Annual Library
Book Fair. B’nai Mitzvah gifts,
Hanukkah gifts, or expand your
Jewish library.
get involved
ARISE BOOKS
2441 Lyndale Ave. S. • 871.7110
www.arisebookstore.org
Volunteer to help work in the store,
or join the collective. 3 to 4 hours
per week. Receive 20% discount.
NRP POLICY BOARD
NEIGHBORHOOD REPRE-
SENTATIVE ELECTION
NRP office: 673-5150 •
www.nrp.org
New candidate filing deadline -
Friday, October 13. New election
date - Tuesday, December 12. Can-
didates must file with the League
of Women Voters of Minneapolis.
community
meetings
UPTOWN SMALL AREA
PLAN
w w w. c i . m i n n e a p o l i s . m n . u s /
planning/uptown-plan.asp
Mon, Oct 16, 7 to 9 pm. Steering
Committee meeting at Uptown
YWCA. Potential planning consul-
tants will give presntations about
their proposals to the committee.
Public welcome to observe.
24 •  Uptown Neighborhood news october 2006

LOCATE The Uptown

Neighborhood News
classifieds
Amore Victoria remodeling services employment www.gardenstorecoop.org.
612.824.0606.
BookSmart HANDYPRO RUBBISH HAULING/ WANTED
Bryant Lake Bowl TREE SERVICE
Bryant Square Park Center
Professional Handyman Service.
Home repairs and improvement Small trees cut down or
Motivated and teachable people
of integrity with a heart for oth- for sale
Cheapo Disc / Records / Applause – skilled carpentry, restoration, trimmed. Licensed and insured. ers. $800/month. 612.987.2344. I AM SELLING
CRC Coffee wood and wall repair, doors and 612.869.8697. my like-new size 12-16 profes-
Dunn Bros Coffee – Hennepin windows, to-do lists and more. RETAIL FLORAL AND GAR- sional wardrobe: suits ($25+),
Dunn Bros Coffee – Lake FERN DAVIDSON STUDIO
Licensed, bonded, insured. DEN STORE MANAGER blazers ($10+), skirts, pants,
Este’s Uptown News – Calhoun ANNOUNCES
Call Carl at HandyPro (www. Manage community-owned more. Call 612.348.1774 to
Square Piano lessons for students age
handypro.com) to schedule a cooperative. Responsible for arrange a visit.
Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues four through adult in my home
First Universalist Church
free estimate: 612.823.8128. overall store operations, staff,
studio in Kenny neighborhood. ordering, inventory and product FOR SALE
Garden Store Cooperative
ECCENTRIC Over 30 years teaching experi- pricing. Requires retail man- Beautiful oriental rugs, total of
Hennepin Lake Liquors
REMODELING JOBS ence and active MMTA mem- agement experience, knowledge 8, hand tied Tabriz, Chinese
Isles Bun & Coffee
Kustom room additions, patio ber. Private and group lessons of and passion for floral and and Bokhara, wool and silk.
It’s Greek to Me
Lotus Restaurant decks, kustom garages, siding, include all aspects of music in a garden products. Strong service Must see. Ph 612-867-1314.
Lou Lou’s Retreat for Women aluminum trim, soffits, gutters fun learning environment. Spe- mindset. Able to work longer
Louie’s Food & Deli and interior painting. Marty cial program, Kids on the Keys, hours according to seasonal SUBARU FOR SALE
Lyndale United Church of Christ 612.724.8819. for preschool and kindergarten needs. Salary depends on quali- Only 43,000 miles! Impreza L
Magers & Quinn Booksellers children. 612.861.2115. fications and experience. Provide sedan, 1997 in excellent shape.
Marla’s Indian & Caribbean Cuisine CARPENTERS resume and salary requirements $7000. All wheel drive, 5 speed.
Orr Books Experienced. Windows and THE ELIZBETH to elainebeyer757@hotmail.com. 612.822.8533.
Our Kitchen doors replaced, sills repaired. ERICKSON PIANO w w w.gardenstoreco op.org.
Painter’s Park Center We build fences and decks, STUDIO IS EXPANDING 612.824.0606.
Panorama Video and apply all siding. Finish Private lessons offered for
Pizza Lucé carpentry. Sheetrock, plaster beginning through advanced DRIVER WITH VEHICLE CLASSIFIED AD SALES
Pizza Nea repair, and texture. Local levels. Convenient Linden Hills Prefer a van. Deliver floral 40¢ per word, 10-word
Spin Cycle references, free estimates. Tom location with on-street parking. arrangements for community- minimum. Classifieds must
Starbucks Coffee 612.824.1554. The studio also offers Music owned cooperative. Part time be paid in advance. Please
The Chair a salon Discovery classes for children morning and afternoon hours, send a check and the ad
Uptown Bar & Cafe MASONRY REPAIRS ages 12 months – Kindergarten. some flexibility required. Must copy to: Uptown Neighbor-
Uptown Theater Steps, brick, stucco, Over 30 years of teaching know Twin Cities area, have hood News, C/O CARAG,
Urban Bean tuckpointing, foundations, experience. Call for additional valid driver’s license, insurance 711 W. Lake St., Suite 303,
Vera’s basements. 27 years experience. information 612-926-0343. and an excellent driving record. Mpls. MN 55408. Ad and
Walker Library 612.377.3822. Apply by sending your quali- payment are due the 17th of
YWCA
fications and experience to: the month.
elainebeyer757@hotmail.com.