October 2010 Archives

What happens during foreclosure and what do homeowners need to know?
What rights do homeowners have?
What options are there?

Get your questions answered by local nonprofit foreclosure counselors. Free, confidential advice provided. Three upcoming sessions are listed below.

Presented in collaboration with the Hennepin County Taxpayer Services and Minnesota Home Ownership Center.

Nice Ride Minnesota launched the largest public bike sharing system in America on June 10. As we approach the 100,000-ride milestone and the close of our first season, Nice Ride is planning a major expansion!
 
Part of our expansion is already funded. We will add at least six stations in North Minneapolis next year and are holding planning meetings there now.
 
But Nice Ride has much bigger plans. Mayor Rybak, Mayor Coleman, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota CEO Pat Geraghty are helping Nice Ride seek Phase 2 funding for a major expansion. We want to serve neighborhoods on all sides of downtown Minneapolis, downtown St. Paul, and the Grand Avenue/University Avenue corridor.
 
We kicked off Phase 2 planning with a metro-wide meeting on September 15. Now we are holding workshops so you can show us where you want a Nice Ride station in your neighborhood.
 
NICE RIDE NEIGHBORHOOD WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
 
Northeast Minneapolis Workshop
Tuesday, November 9, 6:30-8 pm, at Hedberg Maps, Northrup King Building (enter by Van Buren Street) / 1500 Jackson St NE, Suite 314, Minneapolis, MN 55413 / 612-706-9686
 
If you are unable to attend a workshop, we still want your ideas. Please send an e-mail to ideas@niceridemn.org.
 
Nice Ride Minnesota is a local non-profit. Our current system includes 65 self-service bike share stations and 700 bikes. We bought this equipment through generous contributions from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota; Bike Walk Twin Cities, a program of Transit for Livable Communities; and the City of Minneapolis.

This week, AT&T rolled out the Eco-App, an iPhone app that tries to promote sustainability through education.  As explained on AT&T's website, the Eco-App has two top features: a tool to help people find nearby recycling centers and educational resources to help people understand the "environmental benefits of paperless billing."

 

The Eco-app is part of AT&T's "One Million Eco Challenge," a broader initiative to raise environmental awareness among kids and teens. The app includes useful information, like tips about local environmental events.

The Waite Park Community Council and Waite Park Wesleyan Church are excited to host the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center on December 4th for a Children's Safety Workshop for parents and children in grades K-5 throughout Northeast Minneapolis.

Last year Waite Park Wesleyan hosted the event for over 75 parents and children in the upper Northeast area. This year the Waite Park Community Council has partnered with Waite Park Wesleyan to bring the presenters from the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center back for another seminar for ALL Northeast residents.

This program will include a 45-minute presentation about how to talk to your child about personal safety in different circumstances as well as an age-appropriate discussion with children on personal boundaries and other relevant topics.


You can pre-register for the event by completing the form below or by emailing childsafety@waiteparkchurch.org.
 

Jameel Amed, the owner of Auto-Giants is interested in rebuilding his facility at 3650 Central Avenue Northeast that burned down on April 30, 2010. The nature of the business operation is used car sales, with incidental, minor vehicle repair, which will take place in the enclosed garage. He is applying to the City for:
 

1. A Conditional Use Permit for minor auto repair.

2. Expansion or alteration of a non-conforming use.

3. Site plan review. This will be discussed at the Columbia Park Neighborhood Association meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 15th at Columbia Park Golf Chalet, 33rd and Central Avenue.

The Auto Giants site is in Columbia Park neighborhood. Central Avenue is the boundary between Waite Park and Columbia Park neighborhoods. Waite Park residents and business people are encouraged to attend this meeting.
 
The Minneapolis Planning Commission will hold a public meeting on these applications at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, December 13th in Room 317 City Hall, 350 South 5th Street.

An illustrated project narrative is available here:
October 18 - Narrative for Auto-Giants-1.pdf

As a means to improve the Fall Festival, the council is requesting comments on changes you would like to see in the festival format.  Visit WaiteParkNeighborhood.org and take a moment to fill out the brief survey form. If Internet access is limited, send us an email at WaiteParkCC@gmail.com or stop by the Waite Park Community Council office at 1810 34th Avenue NE and fill out a printed form.  Thank you in advance for your comments.

Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

Community Energy Services, a one-stop residential energy program, is helping homeowners save energy and money.  And what better time to participate than in these waning days of warm weather?  Waite Park homeowners are invited to attend a FREE educational workshop:

Tuesday, October 19th, 6:30 p.m.

Washburn High School (201 W. 49th St.)

Tuesday, November 9th, 6:30 p.m.

Minnehaha Academy South Campus (4200 West River Parkway)

To reserve your spot at a workshop or for more workshop dates contact

Ashley Robertson at 612-335-5869 or arobertson@mncee.org

Participants of Community Energy Services are eligible to receive a customized home energy visit that includes diagnostic tests as well as installation of energy and money saving materials, energy tracking and feedback and access to specialized rebates.  The program offers up to $400 in services and materials for a co-pay of only $30.  The Waite Park Community Council will cover $10 of the co-pay for the next 19 homeowners who participate!

For more information visit www.mncee.org.  Community Energy Services is a partnership with the Waite Park Community Council, Center for Energy and Environment, City of Minneapolis, CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy with funding provided by the MN Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.