Talmage Crossing Prairie Garden
Spring has sprung at Talmage Crossing! Some spring cleaning began last week, but there is still more to do: 

Spring clean up - Saturday, May 26, at 10 a.m.
Trim back last year’s dead stems to 6-8 inches, gently rake away moldy or matted leaves and bag for composting. Tools, gloves and snacks will be provided.



Accord Native Garden excavation plan
The Accord Native Community Garden in Van Cleve Park is growing! A meeting was held with Accord artist Norman Andersen, resulting in a refined excavation and planting plan. Read below to find out more details about the work days:

Friday, May 18, at 10 a.m.
Excavation day! Protect the sculpture base with tarps, remove sod using a sod cutter and excavate rain garden area. Then, add compost, level the bottom of garden to prevent pooling and mark plant areas. Tools, gloves and snacks will be provided. Wheelbarrows are needed! Contact Lila at kasmithtc@msn.com if you wish to lend one.  

Saturday, May 19, at 10 a.m.
Planting day! Plant, mulch and water.

If it rains, or if work is not completed, the garden will be finished on Sunday, May 20, at 1 p.m.



Diverter improvement project awarded grant
Our application for a $3000 "mini-grant' from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) was successful. The grant will be used to hire a landscape designer to produce a detailed and usable design for the pilot project diverter at 15th & Talmage.

We're planning a Diverter Garden Kick-off event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20th.  It will be at Van Cleve Park in the Multi-purpose Room.  

• Preview the design activities to happen in summer and fall 2018
• Preview the schedule for the whole pilot project
• Hear what plans people may have for working on their chosen diverters this summer
• Share problems that people encounter when working on the diverters (compacted soil, roots, etc)
• Plan education and engagement activities on the concerns and issues of water stewardship

The MWMO is very concerned about water stewardship issues. The application requires planning to educate the community on the need for retaining water where it falls and for preventing pollution of the Mississippi River. On June 20th we'll be looking for your ideas and help to accomplish these goals. Your ideas for outreach in the community on these issues will also be welcome. Please put June 20th at 7 p.m. on your calendars.

  - Katie Fournier, Convenor, Diverter Steering Committee

Join the fun at Art-A-Whirl
Art-A-Whirl is an open studio tour in Northeast Minneapolis. It’s a great opportunity to tour private artist studios and galleries, connect with the artists and purchase original artwork. Over the last 23 years, it has become the largest open studio tour in the country. 

Friday, May 18, at 5 - 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 19, at 12 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 20, 12 - 5 p.m.

Learn more about participating studios online. This event is free and open to the public.

Minneapolis Movies in the Parks
The Movies in the Parks series runs from early through late August. The mobile program takes place Monday through Saturday evenings and travels to more than 30 parks throughout the summer. Find the full list of free outdoor movies online, and connect on Facebook to stay updated on weather cancellations. 

Neighborhoods 2020 update 
The Neighborhood and Community Relations department of Minneapolis would like to extend a  big thank you to all residents that took time to comment on the Neighborhoods 2020 Roadmap! These public comments were presented to the City Council on Monday, March 14. To stay informed about the progress of this project, head to the Neighborhoods 2020 project webpage.

Minneapolis 2040
Minneapolis 2040 is a draft Comprehensive Plan that covers topics such as housing, job access, the design of new buildings and more. The draft is an opportunity to undo barriers and overcome inequalities created by a history of policies in our city that have prevented equitable access to housing, jobs and investments.   

Members of the SE Como community are encouraged to add their voice by commenting on the draft plan online. Be sure to sign up for updates to learn about other opportunities to engage. 

Community engagement this May 
Minnesota American Indian Month
This month, there are great opportunities to celebrate the Twin Cities’ American Indian  community. Check out the American Indian Family Center’s calendar of events to learn more! 

Ramadan begins May 15
The Muslim holy month of fasting, Ramadan, started May 15 in the U.S., and will end on June 14. If you wish to be inclusive of your Muslim neighbors, try not to schedule major events during this time, as many residents will be fasting until sundown. Neighborhood organizations can reach out to Numan Shaikh, the Neighborhood and Community Relations department’s East African community specialist, with questions via email at numan.shaikh@minneapolis.gov. 

Learn more about Ramadan here. 

No more book donations to SE Library 
SE Library will no longer be hosting book sales, therefore donations of books to the library are no longer accepted. SE Library greatly appreciates your past generosity in donating books for the sales.

Minneapolis urges residents to help protect bees 
Since 2015, the city of Minneapolis has not used pesticides on city properties, and it now encourages you to do the same. Neonicotinoids and other pesticides can kill or weaken bees, which are a necessary part of our ecosystem. Do your part and protect the bee population by not using pesticides this planting season. 

You can also help by surveying the pollinator habitat in your own backyard with the city’s Pollinator Points Program Survey. The first 190 people to respond to this short survey will receive a voucher for five free native, pesticide-free perennial plants. After all plant stock is gone, wildflower seed bombs and pollinator patch gardens will be made available. Results of the survey will be posted by the end of summer 2018.

Minnesota Senate approves protections for student renters
Senator Kari Dziedzic worked with the University of Minnesota’s Minnesota Student Association to draft a measure which requires landlords to be more transparent. The bill targets two leasing practices: short leases and unit-specific leases. It requires landlords to list the specific unit a renter will receive in the lease, along with clear statements of move-in and move-out dates. 

A House committee passed a companion bill that is awaiting a vote by the full House.