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  • 8/9/2019 SNG Spring 2015 Profile

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     S  e wa     r      

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    Spring Quarterly 2015

    Crafts • Arts • Dance • Music • Food • Theatre • Services • Community

    Read why Sewa

    is the place fol

    talk about, visit

    want to live i

    Signs of Seward

    Where have you been?

    Planting for PollinatorsThe Beauty of Raingardens

    Bee-ing GoodSweet Inspiration

    SPOKES +Cycles for Change

    Seward Bikes On!

    What’s Up?Happenings & Events

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    The Seward Profile, a quarterly publication

    of the Seward Neighborhood Group (SNG),strives to keep neighborhood residents,

    businesses, property owners and organizations

    nformed of what's happening in Seward

    and assist SNG in building and sustaining

    a strong, diverse, and vibrant community.

    As a typical Seward endeavor, the Profile

    relies on volunteers to plan each issue,

    create copy, sell ads, and prepare the

    printed edition for mailing. We welcome

    your suggestions and would welcome your

    time and energy even more.

    To get involved, contact us at 

    [email protected] or Seward Profile, 2323

    E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55406.

    Upcoming Issues and Deadlines:

    Upcoming Issue and Deadline

    Summer Issue 2015

    Copy and ad deadline:

    May 11, 2015

    In homes and businesses:

    May 29 - June 2, 2015

    f you or someone you know would like a

    written translation of the Profile Quarterly,

    please contact [email protected] or call

    612-338-6205.

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    Editors & Staff Writers, and Volunteers:

    Diann A., Bruce J., Kate S.

    Design: Marne Z.

    e-mail:[email protected] 

    Printer: Print Craft

    For information on everything Seward,

    find us at www.sng.org

    Save the Date - SEPTEMBER, 19th!Every late Summer, Seward neighborhood celebrates a much anticipated

    festival at Matthews Park known as "King's Fair." This eclectic family-friendly

    event features home-grown musical talent and entertainment, tasty food by lo

    restaurants, pet judging, artwork by our creative community, interesting histor

    about our neighborhood, and plenty of fun activities organized by our local

    businesses and neighbors. For more information, contact Kerry at 612-338-62

    ext. 119 or [email protected].

    I t’s Back!  Garage Sale Days have become a

    May tradition in Seward. Some folks are eager to move unused articles

    from their closets and cupboards and into someone else’s home. Others

    are looking for bargains and treasures while others simply want a good

    excuse to stroll outside after a long, hard winter. The Seward Garage

    Sale Days are coming up! Friday May 15th and Saturday May 16th

    will be the official dates. Seward Neig hborhood Group has put together a map of the

    participating houses and advertises the event. This is a great opportunity for some

    spring cleaning and neig hborhood fun!

    Registration is $18 and gets you on the official map

    that is advertised widely. If you’re interested in being

    a part of the sale, please register here by May 8th:

    http: //goo.gl/forms/4QiOYo01 YP

    SPREADSeward  Fund! Seward SPREAD JOY Fund: Winner AnnouncementAt the Seward Neighborhood Group Board meeting in January, the first Seward

    Spread Joy Fund award winner was drawn by chance from the nine qualifying

    entries for 2014. Sonja Casey will use the support she received from the SSJF

    to work as a volunteer Spanish/English interpreter in Quiroga, Bolivia this MaShe will be traveling with a non-profit organization MELA (Medical Educators fo

    Latin America) and will be working to open a health center with another non-p

    Mano a Mano. Mano a Mano is a non-profit that opens clinics in rural Bolivia t

    serve their communities. In addition, her award will allow her to fulfill her dre

    of climbing the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru with a few colleagues. The

    SSJF awards a grant of up to $1,000 each year to a Seward resident who year

    to do something that is just beyond their budget. The winner of the 2015 awa

    will be drawn at the SNG annual meeting next November. Applications will be d

    this fall. For additional information, contact SNG at [email protected].

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    by Sheldon Mains,

    SPOKES’ founding director

    On January 1, we had a big change: SPOKES merged with Cycles for Change,

    a community bike center headquartered in St. Paul. The two community bike

    centers have very similar programs. Also, Cycles for Change provided fantastic

    support to SPOKES when it was starting two and a half years ago. We will keep

    SPOKES great staff, location, programs, and hours. However, the merger means

    that we will no longer be a program of the Seward Neighborhood Group. We will

    miss SNG; SNG has been unbelievable in its support of SPOKES’ in its first two

    and a half years. (THANK YOU, SNG!)

    SPOKES is actually merging with an old friend. There has been a long history of collabora-

    tion between SPOKES and Cycles for Change (as long as that a two and a half year old

    program can have):

    • Most of SPOKES’ programs and policies were designed using Cycles for Change’s

    programs as a template.

    • For its first year, SPOKES contracted with Cycles for Change to provide staff

    support for the Learn-to-Ride program and Open Shop.

    • SPOKES has been a branch of Cycles for Change’s Community Partners Bike

    Library Program for the last two years.

    In addition, SPOKES is joining with a couple old friends: Cycles for Change’s current

    Executive Director (Jason Tanzman) and current board president (Katya Pilling) were the

    two people responsible for the original idea of starting a community bike center in Seward.Katya also wrote the grant application that funded the start-up of SPOKES.

    For Seward Neighborhood Group, this change frees up capacity to start other new and

    creative activities. And even though we are no longer a program of SNG, SPOKES will

    continue to partner with SNG on activities in the neighborhood.

    For Cycles for Change and SPOKES, the benefits include:

    • SPOKES will be part of a larger organization that has a board and staff who are

    all about getting more people biking.

    • Cycles for Change has some exciting youth programs that will expand to the

    SPOKES location.

    • With locations on both sides of the river, Cycles for Change and SPOKES can

    work together to become a regional voice in bike advocacy.• SPOKES has an established record of working with the East African Community.

    Cycles for Change has an established record of working with the Latino/Latina

    community.

    • SPOKES’ Adult Learn-to-Ride program (initially based on curriculum developed

    by Cycles for Change) will expand to serve more people who have never learned

    to ride a bike.

    • Volunteers from both organizations will have even more choices of ways and

    when to volunteer.

    • Cycles for Change and SPOKES will be able to share each others experience,

    expertise and enthusiasm.

    With this merger, both organizations will be able to be even more effective in our work of 

    building a diverse and empowered community of bicyclists in the Twin Cities.

    SPOKES + Cycles for ChangeGOOD for Biking, GREAT for you!

    bike-walk-connect

    SPOKES cycles  for  change

    Cycles for Change Calendar for SPOKES locat

    WINTER 2015 Public Hours

    Open Shop

    - Wednesdays 5 - 9pm

    - Saturdays 1 -5 pm

    Grease Rag Women & Trans Open Shop

    - 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7 - 9pm

    The Hub @ SPOKES

    - Wednesdays 5 - 9pm

    - Saturdays 10am -5 pm

    Volunteer Night 

    - Thursdays 5 - 9pm

    ** SPRING HOURS START MARCH 29th

    Open Shop

    - Wednesdays 5 - 9pm

    - Saturdays 1 - 5pm

    Grease Rag Women & Trans Open Shop

    - 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7 - 9pm

    The Hub @ SPOKES

    - Wednesdays 5 - 9pm

    - Saturdays 10am - 5pm

    - Sundays Noon - 6pm

    Volunteer Shop

    - Sundays Noon to 4pm

    Classes & Events• Ride to May Day Parade - Sunday May 3rd

    • Minneapolis Bike Week is May 11th-15th

    • Stay tuned for spring Bike Tune Up classe

    • Earn a Bike Classes

    - Saturdays in March 9am-12pm

    - Tuesdays in May 6pm-9pm

    • Adult and Teen Learn-to-Ride classes sta

    in April or May (weather dependent) emai

    To register or for more information email

    at [email protected] 

    SPOKES + Cycles for Change1915 E 22nd St

    Minneapolis, MN 55406Shop phone: 612-787-7433

    [email protected]

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    Discover allthat is Seward at

    www.sng.org

    Believe it or not, Spring is coming! One of the best ways to get a ju

    on springtime is to start planning your garden now. This year, why

    not order your plants from Seward Montessori School? That's righ

    every year the Seward Montessori PTA hosts a plant sale fundrais

    right here in the neighborhood. Now, it’s easier than ever for neig

    borhood residents to participate in this event by visiting the online

    shop (sewardplantsale.org)! You will find a varied selection of nat

    plants, annuals, perennials, strawberries, vegetables, and herbs.

    Beautiful hanging baskets, Mother Earth Gardens gift cards, and

    t-shirts, are also a part of the mix.

    Here is how it works: The plant sale officially kicks off on Friday,

    February 27. You can order and pay online (sewardplantsale.org);

    or pick up an order form in the school office (2309 28th Ave S).

    Just be sure to submit your order (online or in the school office)

    before Friday, March 20. Then, just sit back, think spring, and let

    Seward Montessori do the rest! Your plants will arrive and be read

    for you to pick them up in the school gym on May 7 and 8 - just in

    time for Mother’s Day!

    Spread the word and share the link! This is a great way to satisfy

     your green thumb while supporting a neighborhood school! SewaMontessori is a public K-8 school. Funds raised support after scho

    programs, band instruction, sports teams, field trips, books, and

    classroom materials.

    Seward Montessori Plant Sa

    Come to the Seward Neighborhood Sustainability Fair! Our 4th annual

    fair will be coming up on Saturday, Aprill 11th, 11:00 am - 3:30 pm,

    at Faith Mennonite Church, 2720 East 22nd Street, Minneapolis. This

    is a casual drop-in event that is designed to provide an opportunity for

    education on local environmental issues and projects, and offer practial

    skills to enhance household and neighborhood sustainability. Drop by

    for free electronics and small applicance recycling, bike tune-ups and

    used/broken bike donation, used clothing and used toy exchange,household more-with-less activities and products, activitites for children,

    seed swap, free food, free coffee, info on alternative transportation,

    alternative energy, urban gardening, and sustainability organizations.

    FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

    Sponsored by Faith Mennonite Church, Seward Neighborhood Group, the

    Community of Saint Martin and the Mennonite Worker. For more information

    and to reserve a spot if you would like to present at the fair, contact Phil

    Stoltzfus, 612-375-9483 or email [email protected].

    Get Sustenance. Be Sustained.by Phil Stoltzfus

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    Bee Friendly Seward Blood DriveOn Tuesday, March 17th, Garland's I

    and Welna II Hardware will sponsor

    American Red Cross blood drive. Th

    drive will be held at Garlands's, 2501

    26th Avenue from 8:30am to 2:30pm

    Parking available in front of building.

    To make an appointment to donate,

    either call 1-800-733-2767 FREE orgo online towww.redcrossblood.org

    and enter the sponsor code:

    Garland's (case sensitive).

    Appointments are preferred; walk-ins

    are welcome. A photo ID is required.

    Donors will receive a coupon for a

    free pint of paint at Welna II Hardwa

    "Give a pint, get a pint."

    Culvers coupon will also be given.

    Questions? 

    Call Denise Lucier, 612-276-7228 o

     Sue Welna, 612-280-4500.

    Donor Health Line:

    1-866-236-3276

    (FREE Call with any questions you ma

    have about donating blood).

    While some Seward yards have a good

    population of bees and native pollina-

    tors, other neighbors express concern

    about seeing so few bees. Beekeepers

    and researchers around the state are

    finding reduced numbers of native

    pollinators as well as fewer honey bees.

    So why are people concerned?

    Bees are an integral part of the foodystem, and an essential contributing factor to biodiversity. The

    ommon honeybee is responsible for pollinating from 30 to 80% of

    ur food supply. But bee populations are rapidly declining, and many

    eople remain unaware as to exactly how great an impact this will have

    n daily life. Seventy out of the hundred most prevalent food crops that provide about 90% of the world’s

    utrition are pollinated by honeybees.

    he most common theory currently for the decline of bees is that a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids

    re damaging pollinators' neurological and immune systems, impairing their ability to navigate and their resist-

    nce to diseases and other environmental stresses. Neonicotinoids are systemic poisons; applied to soil, seeds,

    r any part of a plant, they integrate into the whole plant. This, in turn, means that they are found in the nectar

    nd pollen of the flowers that bees feed on.

    hese pesticides have a cumulative effect, building up in the hive and in the systems of the bees. Generally, the

    ees are not killed outright, but their natural patterns are altered to the point where they can no longer maintain

    he hive. And, because many different varieties of pesticides are used on plants, bees bring the toxins into the

    ive where they are consumed by workers, queen, and larvae. The way that various chemicals interact has been

    tudied very little, and they could possibly be even more toxic in combination.

    nother factor believed to contribute to high bee mortality is the way the U.S. food system is structured.

    While many grains are wind pollinated or self-pollinating, most fruits and vegetables require insect pollinators

    o reproduce. Most of the food in the US is grown using mono-cropping, a technique by which a single food crop

    s grown in massive quantities. The hives of bees are transported from site to site for pollination as the plants

    loom. This leads to a feast and famine cycle for the bees, as well as to nutritional deficiencies, which slowly

    eaken the immune systems of the individual bees, as well as the hive overall.

    eekeepers now commonly lose anywhere from a third, to three fourths of their hives in a single winter. Major

    osses such as this are difficult to recover from.

    hankfully, many states and municipalities are making legislative and educational efforts to protect honeybee

    opulations. Minnesota has taken steps to legalize residential beekeeping, as well as to require that bee-

    eepers be compensated for hive loss due to pesticides, and that sellers of plants provide

    ertification that any plants labeled bee friendly really are.

    variety of organizations in the Twin Cities are lobbying for the benefit of the bees. One

    f these organizations, Beez Kneez, is located in the Seward Neighborhood. Beez Kneez

    rovides educational workshops at community sites and opens their honey house on

    aturdays. Beez Kneez staff and volunteers demonstrate the process of extracting honey

    nd sell honey products. The University of Minnesota Bee Lab and their Bee Squad

    rogram is offering advice and education to commercial bee keepers and providing assistance to homeowners

    who want to host bee hives in their yards. Many other Minnesota groups are working with Beez Kneez to lobby

    or bee-protective legislation, promote reduction of pesticides, and educate neighbors about planting bee friendly

    owers.

    he Pesticide Action Network (PAN), a national organization, specifically addresses the flaws within our food

    ystem by examining the root of the problem, our use of pesticides. PAN aims to inform the general public as

    o just how prevalent many pesticides are. Neonicotinoids are found just about everywhere, and are incredibly

    ersistent, remaining in the environment for anywhere from a few months to several years. Neonicotinoids are

    lso applied as a ‘prophylactic’ seed treatment, meaning that the seeds and seedlings are sold pre-treated to

    onsumers, as a theoretical safeguard against potential pests.

    ne of the most important things an individual can do to help the bees is to provide bee friendly spaces, with

    ntreated flowers that are highly attractive to bees. Be informed and ask questions when choosing plants from

    he nursery. Many resources are available, from phone apps such as “Bee Smart” to local master gardeners; or,

    oint your browser to pana.org (the Pesticide Action Network website). Another great site is beyondpesticides.com.

    Many thanks to Erin Knapp from the Beez Kneez, and to Lex Horan of Pesticide Action Network, for the valuable

    nformation they contributed to this article.

    by Khiara Foss

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    People are drawn to Seward in part because of the wid

    array of independently owned businesses. Their signs

    reflect the cultural diversity and add to the visual vibra

    of the neighborhood. Here's a small sample.

    How many of these businesses have you visited?

    Discover all that is Seward atwww.sng

    What’s that Sign

    The 12th Annual South Minneapolis Housing

    Fair will be held April 18, from 10am – 3pm,

    at the Minneapolis Sports Center at theMidtown YWCA, 2121 East Lake Street.

    In addition to local high-quality building, remodeling 

    and landscaping contractors, there are booths with

    experts on gardening from the University of MN and

    “Ask an Expert’ from the city of Minneapolis who will

    answer your questions on everything from building 

    codes, solid waste and graffiti removal.

    New this year is a booth from TechDump, where

    you can bring your electronic devices for recycling.

    ‘How-to sessions’ are being offered every half hour

    on a variety of home improvement topics including;

    kitchen remodeling, patios, landscaping, air condi-

    tioning for homes with radiators, and many more.

    Directories will be available at your local South

    Minneapolis Neighborhood Organization offices.

    Look for posters and directories at local businesses.

    by Bruce Johan

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                         B           r          u       c    e

          Johby Marianne Badar Ohman, 2015 Housing Fair Manager

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    SCCA is a nonprofit association with membership

    made up of businesses located in Seward, and

    has grown to over 90 members.

    Join Us and Grow Your Businesshttp://www.sewardbusiness.org/membership/

    Planting for Pollinators:

    How Raingardens Can Help

    n a world without bees, your next plate of food would haveconsiderably less variety. By some estimates, one of every three

    bites of food we take depends on pollinators like bees. Pollinators

    are the small creatures—among them bees, butterflies and hum-

    mingbirds — that carry pollen from plant to plant as they forage,

    unknowingly performing an important step in the production of

    fruits and seeds.

    n recent years, we have observed severe declines in various pollinator

    populations. Honey bees are a key example. According to the USDA,

    beekeepers lost an average of one-third of their colonies every winter

    from 2006 to 2011. In the last couple of decades, the monarch butterfly

    population has declined 90 percent in North America.

    This is worrisome. Consider the following: more than 80 percent of

    plants depend on pollinators for survival. In this country alone, bees

    and other insect pollinators contribute more than $24 billion a year to

    the economy.

    Why are pollinators disappearing? A leading cause is lost habitat. Quite

    simply, many pollinators no longer have the food and other resources they

    need to survive. They are also vulnerable to pesticides, in ways that are

    currently being studied.

    While this problem exists globally, we can act on a personal level to help

    solve the problem. Our gardening practices can create urban habitats

    that attract and sustain pollinators. Choosing native plants is a step inthe right direction: pollinators and plants that evolved in the same areas

    generally benefit one another. For example, milkweed attracts bees and

    butterflies. To reproduce, monarch butterflies actually need milkweed

    because it is the only plant their caterpillars eat. Practices on this scale

    can establish pollinators in our own backyards.

    Which brings us to raingardens, one of our favorite topics. Metro

    Blooms teaches people how to plant raingardens as part of our mission

    to promote gardening, beautify the community, and help heal the

    environment. These shallow depressions, planted with native vegetation,

    allow stormwater to be cleaned naturally as it soaks into the ground,

    diverting polluted runoff from our waterways.

    Creating raingardens that are also habitats for native pollinators is, quite

    simply, smart design. The raingardens help clean and preserve natural

    bodies of water and function as habitats for bees, butterflies, and other

    nsects and small animals that pollinate. In turn, the pollinators, just

    by doing what they do, help the raingardens thrive so they can work

    efficiently to clean our water.

    Learn more at one of our eco-friendly raingarden workshops. This year

    we will offer lots of information on designing raingardens for pollinators:

    metroblooms.org/workshops.php

    Aleli Balagtas is a freelance writer interested in gardening ecologically.

    by Aleli Balagtas

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    Discover allthat is Seward at

    www.sng.org

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      F o r u m  !

    Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership:Conference Facilitator Training, May 1 - 3, 2015

    Attend a fun and powerful training that equips you with the skills to

    facilitate restorative conferences with youth who have committed minor offense,

    such as shoplifting and theft. All conferences are co-facilitated, and we will

    team you up with a more experienced facilitator at first. Conferences are

    coordinated with YOUR schedule! Facilitator training is offered two times per year.

    Contact Michele Braley at 612-338-6205 x108 or [email protected] for more informat

    about the training and a registration form or to inquire about other ways to get involve

    Earth Day Clean-Up:Let’s Keep our Planet

    Clean and Healthy

    April 25th, 9:30 am – 12:00 noon

    at 24th St. and West River Road. Sponsored by

    the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation.

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    Lend a Helping Hand. Be Environmentally Involved

    Have an interest in environmental issues? Then, you might want

    to consider the SNG Environment Committee. The committee met

    in January to define its focus for 2015 and there are numerous

    opportunities for you to be involved:

    • Create Seward-specific resources on transit, energy upgrade and

    waste management options to share at neighborhood events

    • Encourage more folks to receive a reduced-price energy audit

    • Connect neighbors to grant money for upgrading really old

    gravity-fed furnaces

    • Listen to guest speakers at committee meetings

    • Understand what a Community Solar Garden project

    means for Seward ... and much more!

    If any (or all!) of the above interests you, please email or

    call the Environment Committee's co-chairs Mike Trdan

    ([email protected]) and Alexis Troschinetz

    ([email protected] or 763-213-2932) to be addedto the committee's contact list so that you can be notified

    of meetings and activities. The next two committee meetings

    will be held on Mondays March 9 and May 11 from

    7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Matthews Center.