AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER

20 AWARDS FOR TMC PUBLICATIONS IN 2023

TMC Publication's three newspapers earned a total of 20 awards at this year's Better Newspaper Contest. Congrats to the winners! NEWS1) First Place, Sports Story - Eric Erickson, “Unforgettable …
Strong start to gathering community input on Kmart site
The plan to reopen Nicollet Ave at Lake Street is slowly moving forward. Demolition of the buildings on the former Kmart site is scheduled next year with street construction aimed for 2025. This …
Theater Mu celebrates AAPI heritage month
In 1992, Theater Mu was founded in St. Paul to tell stories from the heart of the Asian American experience, and now, we are in the middle of celebrating our 30th anniversary season. Four world …
HUGE Improv expands to new location up street
HUGE Improv Theater is excited to announce that it is moving from its original home at 3037 Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis, up the street to a larger space at 2728 Lyndale. The Twin Cities Improv …
Intimate shows at 318 Cafe
Shows are small and intimate at the 318 Cafe (318 Water St., Excelsior) - and that’s just how co-owner Matt Muller wants it. He and Suzie Reed of Bloomington purchased the cafe from Kate and …
ARMATAGE ACTORS
Two Armatage residents are wrapping up a run in “The Prom” at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and looking ahead to “Jersey Boys.” Spouses Tony Vierling and Michael Gruber …
Meet Max Kile
For the first time, “An American Tail” is being brought to stage, and the world premier is in southwest Minneapolis at the Children’s Theatre Company. The 1986 animated musical …
WACSO: Man’s best friend…
Man’s best friend…or is it best friend’s man? (Illustration by WACSO)
Be curious and attend Art on the Edge July 22
Have you ever met someone and wondered, “Why are we suppose to meet?” Does it make you wonder as to why your paths have crossed? Are you curious if you had met at in a different time and …
Spring is alive with healthy choices
My mother died of metastatic breast cancer two months after her 62nd birthday. I celebrated my 62nd birthday earlier this month. My reflections and emotions are all over the place. She had a double …
Former ward 7 council member, school board member Pat Scott dies
Former Ward 7 Council Member and school board member Pat Scott died April 29, 2023 at age 86. “I wanted to start off this newsletter to offer a few thoughts on the passing of a devoted public …
City Briefs - May 18
Anthony Middle School addition Plans have been approved for the Anthony Middle School, at 5757 Irving Ave. S., for a new 3,352-square-foot entry and stair addition to meet Minneapolis Public …
Neighborhood News - May 18
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA SHOW MAY 20 On Saturday, May 20, the Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, the United States’ first orchestra organized to represent and support the queer and allied …

BEGINNING A NEWSPAPER

Welcome, readers of the new Southwest Connector. We’re glad you’ve picked up a copy of our inaugural edition. It’s an exciting time for neighborhood journalism. Thanks for coming …

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

In thinking about the future of precinct buildings, would you prefer...

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Voices Against Violence
A SAFER APPROACH FOR CUSTODY CASES
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? And how does it affect the kids?Figuring out family dynamics in custody cases can be tricky, but the Battered Women’s Justice Project (BWJP) in St. Paul …
FAILED BY FAMILY COURT
Helpless and hopeless.That’s how Kelsey Kruse felt for years as she tried to co-parent with her ex and his wife, Brett and Sarah Hallow.And then one day, she got the call she was scared …
‘I RAN’
At 25, Sarah* doesn’t speak to her dad. And she points the finger squarely at him and how he treated her before and after her parents’ divorce.She knows that people often blame mom when a …
Professor gives tips to helpers on how to help families affected
Like many issues, domestic abuse situations have only been heightened by COVID-19. Jerrod Brown, a professor at Concordia University and program director for the Master of Arts degree in human …
They took her children away
When Starr Jones* tells her story, people can’t believe this is happening in Minnesota. They can’t believe that the dad was investigated by child protection when their first daughter was …
Home & Garden
No mow May helps pollinators
Stumbling over bicycles and skateboards in the back of the garage, your fall is broken by the lawn mower handle. Wrestling your new turf terrorizer out of its winter hold, a vague memory forms of the …
Spring cleaning tips and tricks
Here are some tips that can help anyone master spring cleaning.• Create a plan. Make a checklist and establish a cleaning plan of attack. Focus on areas that are not regularly cleaned, as they …
Why throw away a house when parts can be reused?
From early 20th Century thrift to building cabins from contractor cast-offs, building materials reuse had long been an informal norm. But in a more recent world, entire houses have been thrown in the …
Spring yard Cleanup in a word: WAIT!
Especially this spring, after what feels like an endless winter with February weather in March, most gardeners are understandably impatient for the snow to melt and clear the way for yard work. But …
Learn about building reuse grants April 29-30 on MSP Home Tour
Ryan Hanson of the Linden Hills-based Sustainable 9 Design Build sees deconstruction – and when applicable, use of a Hennepin County grant that helps with the cost – as part of their …
Mindful Creativity
WACSO: Duck hunting, Lake Harriet style
Duck hunting, Lake Harriet style. (Illustration by WACSO)
‘Summertime Acoustic’ returns to Linden Hills
In the spring of 2020, when the social distancing mandate was putting restaurants and shops out of business and driving the rest of us nuts, a team of friends pulled together to create a wonderful …
Mark Granlund: an artist grounded in nature
Meet Mark Granlund, a Minnesota landscape and still life artist, who frames questions and connections, blending symbolism, whimsy and academic depth in a well-developed fine art style. …
Finding friendships across cultures
Two summers ago, I was playing in a little acoustic trio out front of Everett and Charlie’s Art Gallery, and a guy with a violin rode past on a bike. He circled back and walked toward us. When …
WACSO: Slingin’ pizzas at Rosalia
Slingin’ pizzas at Rosalia (2811 West 43rd Street).  (Illustration by WACSO)
Rebuild Repair Recycle
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metropolitan area ranks 24th nationally for EV-friendliness, mainly prompted by a strong EV ownership mindset, the overall favorable infrastructure, the growing …
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners wants to cut waste. And according to a recent county report there is roughly 2.8 trillion pounds of waste produced in the county every year. That is over …
Limiting beliefs, whether you are aware of them or not, can self-sabotage your health. What are limiting beliefs? They are a state of mind or belief about yourself, how the world works, ideas, or how …
Aging Well
Some time ago, after suffering the shocking and unexpected loss of my still young husband, Martijn, while we were living in Europe, I experienced what is called traumatic grief. In addition to a year …
Ever been accused of having a thin skin? When it comes to maintaining proper body temperature, this old adage is no joke. As we age, our metabolic rate decreases and our skin literally thins. Often, …
The world of queer synchronized swimming is very small. But the Subversive Sirens, a non-binary synchronized swimming team out of Minnesota, is making a big splash. (Forgive the pun.) Advocating …
HENNEPIN AVENUE
Hennepin Ave design: Helpful or hurtful?
If the proposed reconstruction plan for Hennepin Ave. passes, Kristin Traynor says The Corner Balloon Shoppe will be moving from 2455 Hennepin Ave. “I have an extremely diverse group of …
Hennepin for People supports city’s proposed plan for Hennepin Ave. South
As woman of color, Wedge resident Chandra Lalla says she knows how “our streets don’t serve everyone well.“For generations, city streets were built solely with car travel in mind, …
True progress on Hennepin requires a business plan
Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community. They provide distinctive character to a neighborhood and are the engine that drives a local economy. Without local businesses, there is no local …
COMPETITION FOR SPACE ALONG S. HENNEPIN
By Tesha M. Christensen In a one-way presentation on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, city staff acknowledged that there are competing desires for E. Hennepin Ave., and they can’t all be addressed …
Opinion
Welcome to the happiest place on earth
The happiest place on Earth isn’t Disneyland. It’s Finland. For the sixth year in a row, Finland was named the happiest country in the world, according to the 2023 World Happiness Report. …
We are all in this together
Tony Robbins must be doing something right. After 45 years of life coaching, the 63-year-old motivational speaker is still motivating. That’s no easy feat in today’s world.But it’s …
What I’ve learned about fasting after 10 years
I’ve been fasting for 19 days per year towards the end of winter every year for over 10 years. As long as the sun is up, I don’t eat or drink anything. This practice is surprising to most …
Let's think beyond fortress-like police stations
The recent proposal to reopen a police station in our community is bringing back painful memories and opening old wounds for many of us, me included. I served on the City Council, representing the …
Watch out for that sinkhole
Good news. Minneapolis is back in the top 10. According to Extreme Weather Watch, this winter ranks third for the largest snowfalls ever recorded with 89.9 inches. And it’s only April.The most …
COLUMNISTS
In light of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson’s expulsion, some Minneapolis leaders appear rooted in a conservative ideology
On Thursday, April 6, Tennessee Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled from their House seats by the Republican super majority who determined these young Black Representatives …
Awarded
I have recently been made aware that TMC Publications CO, which includes the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, Southwest Connector, and Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, received 20 awards at the recently …
Stretching your comfort zone
When was that last time you were invited (OK maybe thrust!) out of your comfort zone? This theme has come up multiple times in my coaching sessions and with friends this past month. One common …
Get rhythm
The Norwegians have a word, friluftsliv, for the practice of embracing a life outdoors as a bulwark against the inevitable soul-crushing doldrums of a long, dark winter in a Northern climate. I …
The joy of unclogging storm drains
I have some big news to announce. We have a new addition to our family. His name is Harold Green, and he is a storm drain at the southwest corner of 27th Street and Dupont Avenue South in …
George Floyd Memorial Square

Resident asks: Where are city leaders? Why aren't they at 3rd Precinct meetings?

Longfellow business owner, 30-year Longfellow resident and local filmmaker Paul Irmiter doesn't want the 3rd Precinct site reopened at its existing location - and none of the residents he's spoken …

VOTERS GUIDE
Ward 8 candidates: where they stand
Dozens of neighbors attended a Ward 8 city council candidate forum at St. Peter’s AME Church on April 25, 2023. Candidates included Andrea Jenkins, the current City Council president; and Soren …
City council races: endorsements
Palmisano Endorsed by DFLOn April 1, at the Ward 13 Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party convention, Linea Palmisano was endorsed for reelection in her race for Ward 13 city council member. She won on …
City council races: who is running in wards 7 and 13?
In Ward 13, Kate Mortenson has joined the race and will be challenging incumbent Linea Palmisano for the city council seat she currently holds. Mortenson lives in Lynnhurst and is the founder of …
Election brings many firsts
The 2022 midterm election provided many firsts for Hennepin County and Minnesota as a whole. Black women will serve in the Minnesota Senate for the first time with the election of Zaynab Mohamed, …
COLLIN BEACHY
Beachy is currently in his 21st year of teaching. This is his eighth as a special education teacher with Minneapolis Public Schools.  “I come from a family of teachers, and I am a strong …
Neighborhood organizations
Spring Events in Linden Hills
Linden Hills Neighborhood Garage Sale May 20 Every year, Linden Hills hosts one of the city’s largest garage sales with 40-50 residents participating. This year, treasure seekers should mark …
Neighborhood News - May 4
Neighborhood Day May 13Minneapolis residents can picture the neighborhood they want to live in and then help make that vision a reality. Many of Minneapolis’ 70 neighborhood organizations are …
Neighborhood News April 6
BDE MAKA SKA PAVILIONConstruction on a new concessions pavilion area at Bde Maka Ska continued to progress throughout the winter with work on the building interiors. Starting Monday, April 3, …
Sneak peek at the future of buses
BETTER BUS ROUTES Metro Transit has a little-known program called Better Bus Routes. The primary purpose of this program is to simplify bus routes by trimming branches (versions of a route with the …
Give feedback on new zoning rules
The city is poised to take a big step this spring when it enshrines zoning regulations that will guide the city’s growth for decades to come. Ward 7 City Council Member Lisa Goodman, who chairs …
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The best and most unexpected things to do in Rapid City
(BPT) - There are some places that exemplify the classic summer vacation. One such place: Rapid City, South Dakota.The gateway to the Black Hills, Rapid City is minutes from some of the …
Same fears, new tactics: How efforts to ban 'bad books' reached a record high in 2022
Stacker looked at 20 years' worth of banned books data from the American Library Association to understand how book challenges have changed over time.
The 21 most popular ice cream flavors in America
Stacker analyzed YouGov data and found the most popular ice cream flavors in the U.S. Read on to find America's favorite flavors.
A brighter future: 6 tips for funding your child’s college education
(BPT) - The college years are an important milestone in a young person's life — during this time they explore options for future careers and gain experiences that shape the person they will …
5 ways homeowners can prepare for summer pests
(BPT) - As we quickly approach warmer months, homeowners are getting ready for their summertime favorites, including spending more time outdoors and entertaining for backyard barbecues. However, they …