Columns | Southwest Connector

When you bring houseplants inside, check to make sure there aren't any pests. (Photo submitted)

Bringing houseplants inside for the winter

This summer, you may have brought your houseplants outside to enjoy the warmth and humidity – I certainly did! As the nights get colder and days get shorter, it’s time to bring … more

By LAUREN BETHKE, Master Gardener | 9/29/22

OUT AND ABOUT ON THE PAPER ROUTE

There’s a 10-year-old in our house now, and he took on a few paper routes this summer. That means, of course, that mom did, too. I was excited he was interested in the family business and … more

Tesha Christensen | 9/28/22

MOLTEN BEESWAX, PAINT, AND COLLAGE BLUR LINE BETWEEN PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

Jodi Reeb is a visual, fine artist from Minneapolis specializing in fine art abstract, collage, sculptural, contemporary, landscape, acrylic and encaustic paintings … more

Suzie Marty | 9/21/22

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

WE SOLDIER ON

Today, right now! It's the first day of the first year without my brother. He died! Myself, my sister-in-law, and my nieces – we continue to mourn. Labor Day week-end of 2021 was the last time … more

Donald L. Hammen | 9/21/22

Crixell Shell of the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute talks with community members at the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association's Twin Cities Community Pop-Up Market at Mueller Park on Aug. 20.

How to create healthy neighborhoods for everyone

Minneapolis has 83 residential neighborhoods, 70 neighborhood associations, 13 wards, 11 communities and five precincts. If we do a health check based on gun violence, some of these places are not … more

Eric Ortiz | 9/21/22

The Team Larry House Band performed at Woofstock on Saturday September 10, 2022 hosted at Sheridan Ave S & W 43rd St.

Teaming up for good [Photo gallery]

It was sunny and 70 degrees for the 17th Annual Linden Hills Woofstock, and the pooches were not to be disappointed. Nor were the fans of The Disappointments, the latest teenage rock group coming … more

Larry LaVercombe | 9/13/22

Michele Rae, RPh, MA, NBC-HWC is the founder of The Center Within, LLC and author of “Living From the Center Within: Co-Creating Who You Are Becoming.” She provides holistic coaching designed to accelerate and support personal, professional, and organizational transformation.

Wellness in the Workplace

Working can be stressful! Everyone who is employed or volunteering has been pivoting and re-adjusting schedules, expectations, and communication these past few years. Thank you to all the front-line … more

Michele Rae | 9/9/22

Follow up to my last column about ‘Republican Untrustworthiness’

I was not surprised to receive a lot of response to my last column, which among other things, included these sentiments: “Once you have drunk the Republican Kool-Aid, you seem to … more

Larry LaVercombe | 9/9/22

Feeling good starts with gratitude

Birthdays are about a lot more than eating cake. Of course, it’s always nice to celebrate another trip around the sun. But it’s equally important to remember that we don’t make the … more

Eric Ortiz | 9/9/22

Somewhere in the middle

Being 22, I am on the older end of Generation Z, people born from 1997 to 2012. I am a part of the same ‘cringey’ generation who does Fortnite dances and is obsessed with TikTok videos. … more

Chloe Peter | 9/9/22

There are easy woodland walks that don’t require heavy hiking. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

From the ‘Hood to the Woods

Beach to beechWhen I arrived in Minnesota as an east coast transplant in the late 1980s, my summer visions were of expanses of New Jersey beaches rather than expansive views of blue beeches, the … more

By SUSAN SCHAEFER | 8/31/22

Early blight is common, and causes yellowing leaves. A lack of air flow in dense tomato plants can be an issue.

Should you use eggshells and Epsom salt?

It seems like every time I open up social media, I see posts or videos with gardening advice. Sometimes the advice is good, but sometimes it’s useless or even harmful. But how to know which … more

By LAUREN BETHKE, Master Gardener | 8/31/22

Audrey Young (left) and Annika Lindorfer, both age 10, are two new carriers for the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger. They said it is calming to walk around and see different parts of the neighborhood. (Photo submitted)

Out and about on the paper route

There’s a 10-year-old in our house now, and my son, Axel, took on a few paper routes this summer. That means, of course, that mom did, too. I was excited he was interested in the family … more

By Tesha M. Christensen Owner & editor tesha@longfellownokomismessenger.com | 8/31/22

WE SOLDIER ON!

Today, right now! It's the first day of the first year without my brother. He died! Myself, my sister-in-law, and my nieces – we continue to mourn. Labor Day week-end of 2021 was the last time … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 8/31/22

GRATEFUL FOR ART ON THE EDGE

Reflecting on this past week, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. On Saturday July 23, we celebrated creativity, intuition, and community with the first Annual Art on The Edge Festival in Linden … more

By Suzie Marty | 8/3/22

QUARTERLY TRANSIT SCHEDULE CHANGES COMING

Hi! I’d like to introduce myself to the Southwest Connector readers. My name is John Wilson and I have been a transit enthusiast since the 1970s. You may have seen my Metro Transit column in … more

By John Wilson | 8/3/22

Eric Ortiz lives in the Wedge with his family. When he’s not community building, he’s the director of media for Big Edition and writes bilingual children’s books with his kids. Their first book, “How the Zookalex Saved the Village,” is available in English and Spanish.

Extremism leaves everything out of whack

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Sometimes, it feels like the whole world has gone crazy, and we're all on one big hamster … more

By Eric Ortiz | 8/3/22

Are we accomplishing enough with the Jan. 6 hearings?

Without an obstructionist Republican megaphone, these hearings are both coherent and revealing – nothing like what you get when one party is doing everything they can to obscure any progress or … more

By Larry LaVercombe | 8/3/22

Dawn2Dusk farm provides land, infrastructure, and sharing of knowledge of farming and markets, as well as building community to beginning farmers through 1-on-1 support. (Photo by Susan Schaefer)

FARMERS MARKETS

Summer in the cities finds metro residents flocking like sheep to partake of the bounty offered at more than 15 local farmers market from various neighborhood locations. (See sidebar on page 3.) … more

By SUSAN SCHAEFER | 8/2/22

WRITING WITH A SENSE OF GRATITUDE

Gratitude for the life of my brother, Richard A. Hammen, an out-of-town reader of the Messenger. Reader as long as his powers of comprehension were intact. Gratitude for the fact that he was the … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 8/2/22