News | Southwest Connector

Nokomis Tattoo owner Mike Welch (left) is joined by Ward 11 Council member Jeremy Schroeder, Nokomis Surplus owner Raul Morales, and Grande Sunrise Restaurant owners Javier (front) and Roberto Grande to launch the bilingual Little Free Library on Jan. 20, 2021. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Get a book in Spanish or English at the Little Free Library in front of Nokomis Tattoo (4933 S. 34th Ave.). It is now bilingual.Through an informal partnership with other local business owners, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 1/27/21

South Minneapolis homeowner Kelly Muellman installed solar panels on her garage in 2018, as a member of an earlier group of Twin Cities Solar United Neighbors. She said, "Being part of a co-op was great. Our neighbor group reviewed several bids from installers together, and chose the one we thought had the best reputation, warranty, and price." (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Neighbors go solar together

For home and business owners in the Twin Cities metro area who have been considering installing solar panels, there are two affordable reasons to go solar now. Solar United Neighbors is a national … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/27/21

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN ACTION

As more people see the need to not just talk about environmental justice and racism but to do something about it, support is growing for the East Phillips Urban Indoor Farm.During a virtual press … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 1/27/21

The Minnehaha Post Office building was demolished on Dec. 10, 2020 after it was destroyed by fire six months earlier in the civil uprising after George Floyd's death.

Post office update

Minnehaha station may be moved By TESHA M. CHRISTENSENThe Minnehaha Post Office may not be returning to 3033 27th Ave. S.The building was destroyed by fire along with the majority of the block … more

1/27/21

Local pharmacist and Longfellow resident Joel Albers is working on a five-part Virtual Community Tour of the George Floyd Uprising. The films can be viewed by Googling his name on Youtube, followed by “George Floyd Uprising.”

Documenting past to inform future

Longfellow resident Joel Albers is compiling a Virtual Community Tour of the George Floyd Uprising that rocked the world last May. The first two installments can be watched on YouTube, along with a … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/27/21

Northeast Minneapolis artwork on display at airport

Travelers spending time at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport will enjoy viewing art by hundreds of Northeast Minneapolis Arts District-based artists. Part of the Airport … more

1/27/21

LEGENDARY AL MIGROM

The whirlwind life of legendary film enthusiast, professor, writer, photographer, filmmaker, and founder of the University Film Society ended Dec. 20, 2021 when Al Milgrom, 98, succumbed to a … more

By JAN WILLMS | 1/27/21

Floyd Williams' father was the first Black police officer in the Metropolitan Airports Commissioner, where he worked from 1968-98. (Photo by Jan Willms)

Origin of Racism

Floyd Williams describes himself as a student of life, a revolutionary on many different levels: mentally, spiritually and socially. “I am definitely a person who is about my roots, and … more

By JAN WILLMS | 1/2/21

Tents are set up at various places in Minneapolis, including near a wooded park. Homelessness is prevalent throughout the state. According to Minnesota Homeless Coalition (MHC) Executive Director Rhonda Otteson, 80 out of 87 counties lack enough shelter beds. Half of the people experiencing homelessness are youth up to age 24. People of Color are 10 times more likely than their White counterparts to be homeless. (Photos by Terry Faust)

Minneapolis wrestles with homelessness

The combination of winter weather with its days of cold temperatures and shorter daylight hours, along with the isolation and fear caused by COVID-19, strikes a depressive chord within many. But if … more

By JAN WILLMS | 1/1/21

Linda Grieme (left) and Gregg Kelley (right) have been members of the NSSTC for decades. They’re drawn to others who love and value silent sports. They bought their home, in part, because of its proximity to the Hiawatha Golf Course – where they’ve already skied a few times this year. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

North Star Ski Touring Club embraces silent sports

To a cross country skier, there are few sounds more magical than the swoosh of their skis on a freshly groomed trail – and Minnesota has no shortage of these. According to Gail Lundeen Brand, … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/1/21

‘Energy we can’t afford’

MN350 wants people to question whether natural gas is really clean-burning, safe and abundant energy, and they are fighting Xcel’s proposed new billion dollar fossil … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/1/21

The Creative Enterprise Zone’s new executive director is Nokomis resident Angela Casselton. The 18 murals that now grace the mostly industrial spaces of the CEZ are a great way to experience art, especially during the pandemic when museums are closed. View the map of where they are located on the CEZ website at www.creativeenterprisezone.org. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Creative Enterprise Zone hires new executive director

Nokomis resident Angela Casselton was recently named executive director of the Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ), a non-profit organization that attracts and supports creatives … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/1/21

Demonstrators who marched onto I-94 during the November 4 National Day of Protest are blocked from exiting by law enforcement officers who kept them on the interstate for more than five hours as 646 arrests were made. (Photo by Jill Boogren)

On streets for democracy and justice

On Nov. 7, 2020, the day the Associated Press called the election for President Elect Joe Biden, nearly a thousand people gathered in front of the former Third Precinct police headquarters at … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 11/25/20

Jeanelle Austin, lead caretaker at the George Floyd Global Memorial, stands near Peyton Scott Russell’s striking portrait of George Floyd. (Photo by Jill Boogren)

Taking care of the George Floyd Global Memorial

At the center of the intersection at 38th St. and Chicago Ave. S., a large sculpture of a fist holding a red, black and green striped Pan-African flag is surrounded by a circular garden. On Chicago … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 11/25/20

When Wendy Wolff and her family returned from a year working at the Holden retreat center, she found herself helping friends and family move. "People wanted to hear about why we left, what it was like, and how we changed," recalled Wolff. "They listened as I told them that the most significant shift we made as a result of our time at Holden was thinking more intentionally about what we brought into our home and what we let go of by donating, gifting or purging anything we did not love or need." She quit her job working for Minneapolis Public Schools as a therapist, and Blissworks was born. (Photo submitted)

Letting go to live blissfully

Helping people let go of things to focus on a new season of life is what Blissworks is all about. Wendy Wolff launched Blissworks, Beautiful Living in Simplified Spaces, in 2019. The company merges … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 11/25/20

Board chair Craig Drehmel (at right) and executive director Christopher Allison start their early morning food rescue rounds for Community Driven. (Photo above by Margie O’Loughlin)

Community Driven: Delivering free food to those who need it most

Every Monday morning, Christopher Allison and Craig Drehmel meet at the Fresh Thyme grocery store parking lot in Southeast Minneapolis, where pallets of food are waiting to be loaded. Allison opens … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 11/25/20

Despite pandemic and civil unrest, taprooms opening for customers

In 1919, as a great flu pandemic was winding down, Minnesota’s representative in congress Andrew Volstead, helped pass a Constitutional Amendment, HR 6810, also known as prohibition. After Jan. … more

By Stephanie Fox | 11/2/20

Arbeiter Brewing Co.

3036 Minnehaha Ave.612-438-2437Taproom opening soon When three friends working at Northern Brewery, a home brewer supply company, first started talking about opening their own brewery and taproom, … more

By Stephanie Fox | 11/2/20

Lawless Distilling Company

2619 28th Ave. S.612-276-1000 When Nathan Karnitz was attending graduate school at Carlson School of Management, he submitted a business plan to start a distillery in Minneapolis. Once graduated, … more

By Stephanie Fox | 11/2/20

Urban Forage Winery and Cider House

Urban Forage Winery and Cider House3016 East Lake Street612-584-4398Tasting room just openedUrban Forage Winery and Cider House creates wines and hard ciders made from local ingredients. The idea for … more

By Stephanie Fox | 11/2/20