Free Sand for Sidewalks
After shoveling and clearing your sidewalks, spreading sand or ice-melting material is helpful.

The City offers several sites where residents can pick-up
FREE SAND for their residential sidewalks.  Locations are open 24-hours-a-day.  Please bring your own pail and shovel.  Call (612) 673-5720 for more information.

 

6036 Harriet Ave. S. (on West 60th Street between Lyndale & Harriet)
3607 E. 44th St. (between Snelling Ave. and the railroad tracks)
1809 Washington St. NE (18th & Jefferson)
198 Aldrich Ave. N.
E. 27th Street, just east of Longfellow Avenue near the Public Works gate


Feed The Dream Food Drive

The “Feed the Dream” food drive is underway at 19 Minneapolis recreation centers to benefit the Greater Lake Country Food Bank, Inc. (GLCFB) of Minneapolis.  Collection is through Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010.  

The drive is sponsored by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) Diversity Council and Youthline in conjunction with the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

Non-perishable food items will be collected at the following sites:

 

Armatage – 2500 57th St. W, 612-370-4912
Creekview – 5001 Humboldt Ave. N, 612-370-4965
Farview – 621 29th Ave. N, 612-370-4922
Harrison – 503 Irving Ave. N, 612-370-4951
Keewaydin – 3030 53rd St. E, 612-370-4956
Kenwood – 2101 Franklin Ave. W, 612-370-4941
Logan – 690 13th Ave. NE, 612-370-4927
Longfellow – 3435 36th Ave. S, 612-370-4957
Lyndale Farmstead – 3900 Bryant Ave. S, 612-370-4948
Lynnhurst – 1345 Minnehaha Pkwy. W, 612-370-4914
Matthews – 2318 29th Ave. S, 612-370-4950
ML King – 4055 Nicollet Ave. S, 612-370-4908
North Commons – 1801 James Ave. N, 612-370-4921
Pearl – 414 E. Diamond Lake Rd., 612-370-4906
Powderhorn – 3400 15th Ave S, 612-370-4960
Sibley – 1900 40th St. E, 612-370-4954
Van Cleve – 901 15th Ave. SE, 612-370-4926
Waite – 1810 34th Ave. NE, 612-370-4959
Whittier – 425 26th St. W, 612-370-4966

 

Fare for All

Fare For All is a program to help stretch your food dollar.  Each month you can order from a variety of five packages of food, pay for it and pick it up the following month.  Packages contain a variety of healthy, fresh, quality food items, including fruits, vegetables, frozen meats and staple items.  It is open to all - there are no income-based requirements.  Pick up your food and order the next month’s food at Southeast Christian Church.  For more information or to order food, call Fare For All at 763/450-3880 or visit their website at www.fareforall.org.

 

'Hungry Planet' Now Through May at the Bell Museum
The Bell Museum of Natural History is hosting "Hungry Planet: What the World Eats" from now until May 9.  The exhibit features nearly life-sized photographs that show kitchens and markets around the world in an exploration of the food eaten by people in various cultures.  In addition, every Thursday evening during the exhibit's run, the Bell is hosting panel discussions, speakers and tastings of locally produced foods.  Food themed films—HomeGrown, The Real Dirt on Farmer John, Julie and Julia, The Gleaners and I, etc.—are also being featured from now until May.  For details, check the Bell's website.

 

Abandoned Vehicle Work Group

The City of Minneapolis needs volunteers interested in participating in a process study group regarding abandoned vehicles parked on the city street in Minneapolis.

 

To sign up, please contact Matt Dekker, matthew.dekker@ci.minneapolis.mn.us, or John Murphy, 612-673-5974, john.murphy2@ci.minneapolis.mn.us.  The City of Minneapolis will be hosting this meeting at Van Cleve Park Community Center on Monday January 25th, 7pm-8pm. Light refreshments will be served.

 

Thousands of Census Jobs Available in Metro Area
Between now and next spring, the U.S. Census Bureau will hire thousands of people in the Twin Cities metro area.

The positions are good paying, temporary jobs that range from $11.50 to $20.00 per hour plus mileage for the field positions of Recruiting Assistants, Crew Leaders, Crew Leader Assistants and Census Takers.  The pay for Census Clerks range from $7.50 to $12.75 per hour depending on location.  There may be some opportunities for advancement.  

Positions are available in many communities throughout the metro area.  The Minneapolis Census office is looking to hire people in all neighborhoods throughout the city who have diverse backgrounds and/or the ability to speak multiple languages.  The U.S. Census Bureau encourages interested persons to apply for these jobs by calling the Toll Free Jobs Line at 1-866-861-2010. 

To be considered for these positions, applicants must pass a 30-minute test that focuses on critical reading, math, and clerical skills.  Census leaders are encouraging people to sign up early to take the practice exam and to take it more than once.  Free test prep classes will be held every Saturday from
10 a.m.noon at the Redeemer Missionary Baptist located at 116 E. 32nd St. For more information, call 612-823-1081.  An additional one-time test prep class has also been scheduled on Jan. 13 from 1 – 3 p.m. at Eastside Neighborhood Services – 1700 2nd St NE.

For those who can’t attend a test prep class, practice tests are available on the U.S. Census Web site.  <http://2010. census.gov/ 2010censusjobs/ documents/ Practice_ Test.pdf>

 

MPLS Public School Community Meeting

The Minneapolis Public Schools invites you to attend a community meeting to learn more about proposed MPS “New Schools.”

 

“New Schools” are intended to encourage innovative teaching and learning methods to improve student learning and narrow achievement gaps.  They are designed to complement existing school models and provide an environment in which students are able to achieve at a faster rate.  The creation of high performing “new schools” is one important strategy outlined in the MPS strategic plan to ensure that every MPS student is academically proficient in reading, math, and college ready, and to close the racial and economic achievement gaps.

 

Proposals for “New Schools” applying for approval from the Minneapolis Board of Education will be presented at a community meeting on Thursday, January 14, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis.  School leaders will also address questions from the public.

 

Recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education on January 19.  The board is expected to make approval decisions on January 26.

 

A light dinner and child-care will be available.  Please call (612) 668-0230 to reserve a space.

 

WHAT: Community meeting to learn more about proposed MPS “New Schools”

 

WHEN: Thursday, January 14, 6:30 to 8:00 pm

 

WHERE: Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC)

2001 Plymouth Ave. N.

 

If you have additional questions, please contact John Bacal, Executive Director of the Office of New Schools, at Jon.Bacal@mpls.k12.mn.us.

 

Van Cleve Park Programming

Fundamental Basketball - Children will develop fundamental basketball skills in a positive, encouraging atmosphere.  The program will focus on skills development, team concepts, and sportsmanship.  Practices start in mid-December at the team’s home park.  Practice Wednesday night 6 to 7pm. Games will be held at Bottineau Park on Friday nights at 6:15 & 7:15pm from January 8-February 12.  Ages 7 to 9 years old $ 20.00 – register at Van Cleve.

 

Skating Season - December 19th-February 15, 2010 weather permitting - Warming Room hours: Monday-Friday 3-9pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm Sunday: noon-5pm

 

Senior Group - Senior get-together on Thursday mornings at Van Cleve Park.  Cards, conversation, meals, and activities.  Call Pat Olson, Senior Coordinator for info. and schedule.  612-370-4926 Every Thursday morning, 9:30 to 11:00am.

 

Southeast Soccer Club

The Southeast Soccer Club of Minneapolis will offer several age-appropriate workshops this winter.  Starting on January 19/20, at Marcy Open School, located at 4th St& 4th Avenue Southeast.

 

Grass Roots Soccer ... for ages 6 – 8                                              Coordination Training for Beginners ... for ages 9 - 10                                                                 

Coordination to Improve Skills ... for ages 11-14

 

For information, go to www.southeastsoccerclub.org.  Click on SESC Special Programs.  Follow directions.  The web site will be updated before the end of December.

 

2010 Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour Wants Your Home

The 2010 Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour is looking for homeowners and home improvement professionals who would like to put their homes on the Tour.  Nomination/applications are due Thursday, January 21, 2010, and early submissions are encouraged.  The Tour, in its 23rd year, will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25, 2010.

 

Past participating homeowners have said they “liked the incentive” to get their home improvement projects done in time for the tour, though it is not necessary to have remodeled the whole house.  “It was nice to get all the compliments from strangers to reinforce what I’d heard from friends and family,” said one homeowner.

 

“Contractors often help staff the homes, and homeowners ask their families and friends to contribute a few hours,” said Margo Ashmore, Tour coordinator.  “A good support network hosting the home makes it fun.  Talk it up at fall and winter gatherings.  Community leaders also should start now, identifying individuals or clusters of well-kept and remodeled homes to ask to participate.”

 

Contractors and other vendors may nominate homes they have worked on, and are encouraged to call for more information.  Green, energy efficient, and historically sensitive remodels and expansions get special notice.  Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) manages the tour as a celebration of city living that encourages homeowners to improve existing homes.  Many organizations and businesses sponsor the tour.

 

For more information, call Tour Coordinator Margo Ashmore at 612-673-5103 or email her at link@nrp.org.  The application can be downloaded from www.MSPHomeTour.com under “nominate.”

 

Holiday Light Recycling

The SECIA staff noticed that the options for recycling broken incandescent light strings were inconvenient to SE Minneapolis residents.  To remedy this, the SECIA office signed on to be a drop-off location for broken holiday lights.  Light recycling fits right into the Como Green Village waste reduction efforts.

 

The light recycling is sponsored by the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) and it’s appropriate that there is a drop off in SE Como because the lights are disassembled right in the neighborhood!  PPL Industry's job training facility on 15th Ave SE eventually receives the broken light strings and employees there take apart the strings.  Each element of the light string is directed to its own recycling process, for example the bulbs are recycled into tiles, asphalt and fiberglass, and the metal in the cords is captured in another process.

 

To recycle your unusable light strings, just bring them to SECIA's office from now until January 10th.  It is recommended that you call ahead to make sure a staff person will be there.  Some evening hours are available. 

 

Since early December, 15,000 pounds of light strings have been diverted from landfill or the garbage burner through this program.

 

U of M Student Neighborhood Liaison Updates

 

Como Cookbook

The SE Como Community Cookbook has been completed, thanks to the work of Como residents and the U of M Liaisons.  Contributors will receive a free cookbook, so if you contributed a recipe to the book, please contact the liaisons.  The cookbooks are selling for $15, and the liaisons are donating all profits from the cookbook to SECIA.  This is one way the University would like to support the SE Como neighborhood, by encouraging community stories to be shared through this Cookbook as well as financially supporting SECIA.

So please help support the neighborhood by purchasing a SE Como Community Cookbook for the holidays.  They make great gifts and are perfect for your own home!  The recipes are varied, from appetizers to desserts, and they have all been submitted by SE Como residents.  Cookbooks can be purchased at SECIA, or you order them through SECIA and the Liaisons can drop them off at your house.  The liaisons also want to encourage students to help support their community and they will be offering a Student discount of $7 for the cookbook.  Contact liaison Elora, at 651-353-8672 or email turne311@umn.edu for more info.

 

Winter Community Event Planning

The Liaisons won a grant from the University of Minnesota to host winter and holiday events!  So we are looking to partner with residents to hold community events.  We are open to create ideas-from hosting a knitting party, ornament decorating, potluck dinner to Snow Sculpting.  Share your ideas with us so we can use the grant funds to partner with the community and foster neighborhood relations!  Contact your Block Liaison or email Jasmine at blan0255@umn.edu.

 

Fire Prevention and Safety

There have been numerous fires here on Como over the past several weeks.  Make sure you, your friends and your family know how to reduce your risks of facing the effects of a house fire.  Come and learn about fire and safety prevention from Cassidy Anderson with the Minneapolis Fire Department and the Liaisons.  Event will be held with free food and refreshments at Van Cleve on Thursday, January 28th with the time yet to be decided.  Look for our Liaison flyers and emails that will share more information about our event.  Contact Adam Arling at arlin009@umn.edu or call at 612-396-6091.

 

Safety Update

 

Upcoming Events

 

Housing Inspections – Informational Meeting about Housing Inspections –Angie Hugen, Housing Inspection Supervisor, will give a presentation on how Housing Inspections addresses community concerns.  The program will be part of the 2nd Precinct PAC meeting on January 11th at 6:00 p.m. at Monroe Village, 1900 Central Avenue Northeast.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  If you have questions, please call 673-2874.

 

Block Club Training -   Will be held on January 27 at the 2nd Precinct, 1911 Central @ 6:00 p.m. please consider attending to learn how you can work with your neighbors to decrease the opportunity for crime in the community.  Please call 673-2874 to make reservations.

 

CASE SUMMARIES:

Case Year:  2009 Case No. 387775   Burglary of dwelling

Incident Location: 20** Como AV SE /   

Date and Time:  12/23/2009 11:00:00 AM - 12/25/2009 2:45:00 PM

 

Public Information:  VIC left the house on the above date and found that the back door to the house had been broken into and that the listed property had been taken.  Entry was made on the back North facing door and the exit looked to be the same.

 ---------------

Case Year:  2009 Case No. 387904 Burglary of dwelling

Incident Location: 0021** Talmadge AV

Date and Time:  12/25/2009 6:00:00 PM - 12/25/2009 8:00:00 PM

 

Public Information: Officers were dispatched to the above on a report of a BURGD of a single-family house.  Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victims and they stated that when they arrived home they observed that a lower bedroom unlocked window on the eastside of the house ...
--------------------

Case Year:  2009 Case No. 388872 Burglary of Dwelling

Incident Location: 0009** 21 AV SE /   

Date and Time:  12/26/2009 11:30:00 PM - 12/27/2009 2:00:00 AM

 

Public Information: V1 reported that his house had been burglarized while he was at work.
---------------------

Case Year:  2009 Case No. 388911 - Assault (degree 2) and Assault, Misdemeanor  (degree 5)

 Incident Location: 001130 14 AV SE /   

Date and Time:  12/27/2009 3:20:00 AM - 12/27/2009 3:25:00 AM

 

Public Information: Officers responded to the above location for a fight.  Victim 1 & 2 were transported to HCMC via ambulance for injuries.  Victim 3 & 4 declined medical attention.  All parties involved were given blue cards and advised.

 


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James, Justin, Stephanie & Jennifer
Intern: Alison
SE Como Improvement Association & Resource Center
837 SE 15th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-676-1731 / http://www.secomo.org
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The "Como Tidbits" e-mails are sent to Como residents and interested others about twice a month, plus occasional special e-mails with crime alert or other such urgent information. The Tidbits are meant to supplement our monthly "Comotion" newsletter that is mailed to each residence.

If you know of any events, meetings, or information that you'd like us to include in a future Tidbits e-mail, please send them to secomo@secomo.org with "For Tidbits" in the subject line.

If you would like to have your e-mail address removed from the "Como Tidbits" e-mail list, send a "Remove address" to secomo@secomo.org. Also, if you know of anyone else who would like to get this, have them send an "Add address" to the same e-mail address. Feel free to forward this e-mail to friends or family that may be interested in it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SECIA is the neighborhood association representing the
Como neighborhood in Southeast Minneapolis. SECIA is one of Minneapolis' 81 neighborhoods that receives support and funding via the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP); find out more at http:\\www.nrp.org.


Como boundaries:

35W/railroad tracks to the west
the
St. Paul border/Hwy 280 to the east
Elm St.
/railroad tracks to the south
E. Hennepin Ave/Winter St. NE
to the north