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Late 2020 About Town
Official Magazine of the City of Edina AboutTown LATE 2020 AboutTown Volume 31, Number 2 Circulation 25,000 Late 2020 Official Publication of the EdinaMN.gov City of Edina, Minnesota 4801 West 50th Street Edina, Minnesota 55424 952-826-0359 Editors: Jennifer Bennerotte and Kaylin Eidsness Designer: Katie Laux Contributing Writers: Jennifer Bennerotte, Katy Koch Campbell, Kaylin Eidsness, Kaitlin Gault, David Katz, Heidi Lillie and Debbie Townsend Publisher: City of Edina Copyright 2020 by City of Edina, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424. About Town is published by the City of Edina. The purpose of the magazine is to keep Edina residents informed of news, activities and programs that are important to them. We include articles of interest about our residents and community history as well. About Town is printed on recycled paper to conform to City conservation guidelines. Cover photo by Michael Braun Table Of Contents Calendar Of Events ...................................................................1 Calendar Highlights..................................................................7 A Word From The Editor.........................................................8 Minneapolis Real Estate Mogul Financed Formative Edina Mill.............................................................10 It’s Not Only Neighborly ... It’s The Law ...........................16 Remodel Of English Tudor Revival House Wins Heritage Award ............................................................18 Human Rights & Relations Commission Celebrates 50th Anniversary ...............................................24 Darren Davis Named Mike Siitari Officer Of The Year ...32 Volunteers ‘Drive’ Successful Pandemic Response At VEAP .................................................................34 Donors Contribute More Than $195,000 To City In 2019 ..............................................................................36 Edina Farmers Market Moves To Rosland Park .............38 Edina Community Foundation: Impacting People … In Their Words ........................................................................40 Growth Of Annie’s Army Is Legacy Of Edina Woman .42 Two Edina Nonprofits Celebrate Their 50th Anniversaries .................................................................46 New Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Leading With Authenticity ....................................................................50 The Last Word .........................................................................54 City of Edina Facilities ............................................................56 CENTENNIAL LAKES PLAZA | EDINA 7523 FRANCE AVE. S Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City Tear Here Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3Fourth of July observed. Edina City Hall closed. 410 a.m., Virtual July 4 Parade, Edina TV and SWTV. 5 6 7 87 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 9 10 11 12 136:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 147 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 15 17 18 19 26 20 217 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 227 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 234:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 24 25 287 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 8 a.m., Filing period opens for Council and Mayor elections, Edina City Hall. 29 307:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 3127 July 2020 166 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 1 • ABOUT TOWN Some events and meetings might change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit EdinaMN.gov for the most current list of City events and meetings. 3-7 p.m., Farmers Market, Rosland Park. Key:Tear Here Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4Night to Unite, various neighborhoods. 57 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 6 7 8 9 106:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 11Primary Election Day. 5 p.m., Filing period closes for Council and Mayor elections, Edina City Hall. 127 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 14 1510 a.m., Vehicle Day, Southdale Center parking lot. 16 177 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 18 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 19Noon, Parks & Recreation Fall/Winter registration begins for residents. 206 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 21 22 257 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 24 31 23 30 August 2020 26Noon, Parks & Recreation Fall/Winter registration begins for non-residents. 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 277:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 28 29 137:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 2 • ABOUT TOWN 3 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5 6 17 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 2 3 4 7Labor Day. Edina City Hall closed. 87 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 97 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 107:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 11 1210 a.m.-noon, Barnyard Babies, Rosland Park 137 p.m., Inver Hills Community Band, Edinborough Park. 146:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 157 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 16 18 1910-11 a.m., Author’s Studio: First Blush by Dan Hill, Edina Art Center. 207 p.m., Armenian Dance Ensemble, Edinborough Park. 21 227 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 237 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 247:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 25 26 29 3028271-5 p.m., OpenStreets, 50th & France. 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. September 2020 17Noon, Will Hale and the Tadpole Parade, Edinborough Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3 47 p.m., Celebration Brass Quintet, Edinborough Park. 5 67 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Zuhrah Shrine Band, Edinborough Park. 1Noon, Kid Power with Rachael, Edinborough Park. 2 7 8Noon, Westwood Hills Nature Center, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 9 10 117 p.m., The Jazz Standards, Edinborough Park. 126:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 137 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 147 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 16 178 a.m.-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. 18Noon-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. 7 p.m., The Somewhat Dixieland Band, Edinborough Park. 19 207 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Jazz-n-Jazz, Edinborough Park. 21 224:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 23 248 a.m.-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. 277 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 26 25Noon-4 p.m., Buckthorn Dump, across from Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. October 2020 287 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 297:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. Noon, Brodini the Magician, Edinborough Park. 30 31 157:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. Noon, The Jolly Pops, Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar 4 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1Braemar Field Dome open for the season. 7 p.m., Capri Big Band, Edinborough Park. 47 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 5Noon, Teddy Bear Band, Edinborough Park. 723General Election Day. 87 p.m., Richfield Symphonic Band, Edinborough Park. 96:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 107 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 11Veterans Day. Edina City Hall closed. 125-8 p.m., Opening Reception “Up North Gift Gallery,” Edina Art Center. 7:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 13 6 14 157 p.m., St. Paul Police Band, Edinborough Park. 16 177 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 187 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 20 21 227 p.m., Gypsy Mania, Edinborough Park. 23 24 25 26Thanksgiving Day. Edina City Hall closed. 27Edina City Hall closed. 28 30 297 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. November 2020 196 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 5 • ABOUT TOWN Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5Noon, Town Hall Meeting, Edina Senior Center. 67 p.m., Minneapolis Police Band, Edinborough Park. 17 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 5 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 2 3Noon, Music with Kernsey, Edinborough Park. 4 77 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 87 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 97 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 107:30 a.m., Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 11 12 137 p.m., Bend in the River Band, Edinborough Park. 14Outdoor ice rinks open (weather dependent). 6:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 157 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Classic Brass Quintet, Edinborough Park. 16 18 19 207 p.m., Good News Big Band, Edinborough Park. 21 22 23 24Christmas Eve. Edina City Hall closed. 25Christmas Day. Edina City Hall closed. 26 2928 30 31Noon-4 p.m., Cocoa & Cookies, Cornelia Park. 27 December 2020 174:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina City Hall. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 6 • ABOUT TOWN Other Dates To Remember July 9 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City HallSept. 10 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. Sept. 24 Noon, Mary Hall and the Pipsqueeks, Edinborough Park Oct. 22 Noon, Bob the Beachcomber, Edinborough ParkOct. 25 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park Nov. 12 Noon, Woodland Puppets, Edinborough Park Nov. 12 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. Nov. 17 7 p.m., Roseville Big Band, Edinborough Park Nov. 19 Noon, Richardson Nature Center, Edinborough Park Dec. 1 7 p.m., Prior Lake Windjammers, Edinborough Park Dec. 8 7 p.m., Brio Brass, Edinborough Park Dec. 10 Noon, AlphaBits, Edinborough Park Vehicle Day at Southdale Center What: Explore fire trucks, police cars, snowplows, buses and more at the Southdale Center parking lot. Please note this event is held rain or shine, so dress for the weather. No registration is required. When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Aug. 15 Where: Southdale Center parking lot (in front of the old Herbergers) Cost: Free Info: 952-826-0433 Barnyard Babies at Rosland ParkWhat: We bring the farm to you with a full-size petting zoo, pony rides, art table, face painting and kid-friendly music at Rosland Park near the playground. No registration is required.When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 12Where: Rosland Park, 4300 W. 66th St. Cost: $5 per child Info: 952-826-0433 Buckthorn Dump OpenWhat: At the drop-off site, residents must show a photo ID with a current Edina address. Commercial haulers must be accompanied by the resident for whom they are working. Buckthorn brush cannot be bagged, boxed or bundled. If it is, it must be removed from the container before being left at the dump. When: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays Oct. 17 and 24, noon-4 p.m. Sundays Oct. 18 and 25Where: Across from Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd. Cost: Free Info: 952-826-0308 Edina Farmers MarketWhat: For the past 10 years, the farmers market was located at Centennial Lakes Park. This year’s location at Rosland Park will allow for wider walkways and the recommended social distancing between vendors and patrons. Vendors include Bee Happy Honey, Chang’s Garden, Great Harvest Bread, Groveland Confections, Natasha’s Pierogi, Peter’s Pumpkins & Carmen’s Corn, Picka Farms, The Kraut Guy, Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm and more. When: 3-7 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 24 Where: Rosland Park parking lot, 4300 W. 66th St.Info: EdinaMN.gov/FarmersMarket Calendar Highlights LATE 2020 • 7 8 • ABOUT TOWN A Word From The Editor Three decades ago, two City employees used the back of a napkin to jot down ideas for a new way to keep residents informed about local government activities and feature the people and places that tie the community together. The first issue of About Town magazine was published in the fall of 1990. It was then-Communications Director Ralph Campbell and City Manager Ken Rosland who dreamed up the idea of a magazine at a time when few cities produced any printed material. Their ideas for a square design and content were solid, withstanding the test of time. The masthead in the Autumn 1990 issue included the magazine’s purpose, which read, “The purpose of the magazine is to keep Edina residents informed of news, activities and programs which are important to them. We’ll include articles of interest about our citizens and community history as well.” If you flip to the masthead on the inside front cover of this issue, you’ll find a near-identical statement. Many of the features Ralph introduced in the debut issue of About Town you’ll also find in this one, including a calendar of events; contemporary history column; information on local laws, especially those unique to Edina; features on City staff members, programs and services; stories about residents and organizations making a difference in the community; and advertisements from local businesses. Through Quality of Life Surveys, focus groups and direct feedback from readers, we know the community has enjoyed the magazine. We are proud to have provided you with content you find valuable. A handful of times each year, we receive a call from someone who is missing a copy in what would otherwise be a “complete set” of magazines collected over the years. With some regularity, we also receive inquiries from students researching some aspect of Edina’s past, looking for historical columns written for the magazine by E. Dudley Parsons, Deborah Morse-Kahn, Joseph Sullivan, Marci Mattson or David Katz. Some people have asked to remain on the mailing list after moving out of Edina, hoping to stay connected with a beloved community. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented our community with many challenges, including a fiscal one. With regret, I must announce this is the last issue of the magazine. Since we are able to provide timelier information in the monthly newsletter Edition: Edina, also mailed to all households in the community, we have been scaling back the magazine for awhile. You will still be able to read about local government activities in Edition: Edina, and can follow the City’s social media, watch Edina TV and visit the City’s website to stay informed. It has been an honor to serve as editor of the About Town magazine for the past 20 years. I hope you have enjoyed reading the magazine as much as I’ve enjoyed putting each one together. Jennifer BennerotteCommunications Director LATE 2020 • 9 1990s 2010s 2000s Covers Through The Years 10 • ABOUT TOWN Minneapolis Real Estate Mogul Financed Formative Edina Mill By David Katz Perhaps no one structure is as central to the history of Edina as the gristmill that once straddled Minnehaha Creek near West 50th Street. The so-called Edina Mill was one of the area’s first nonfarming commercial enterprises, lent the budding village its name in 1888, and even appears today on the City’s official seal. Until its demolition in 1932, the property was also owned and operated by a revolving door of influential community members. In addition to those claims to fame, the Mill also enjoys a lesser-known tie to one of the most successful real estate moguls in Hennepin County history – by some estimates, Minneapolis’ very first multimillionaire. Stewart “Foresaw the Future of Minneapolis”Over a five-decade career in land speculation and leasing, Levi Merrick Stewart amassed a portfolio valued at $4 million (more than $100 million in today’s dollars) and composed of 400 individual pieces of real estate. In the grand scheme, a modest gristmill in the then far-flung Township of Richfield does not rank among Stewart’s most flashy or lucrative business ventures. However, the Edina Mill does hold distinction as one of his first. Stewart was born into a prominent family in Corinna, Maine, on Dec. 10, 1827. His father, a second-generation Baptist minister, strongly encouraged his son to pursue theological studies. In a nod to this family pedigree, neighbors took to calling Levi “young Elder Stewart” almost from birth. The moniker would stick for life. Ironically, Elder Stewart eschewed the ministry in favor of a career in law. He received a top-shelf education at Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, and joined older brother David’s flourishing law practice in St. Albans, Maine. David was a rising star in his own right, on a promising trajectory that would eventually see him as president of the Maine state senate. In 1856, a family friend and fellow Corinna native named Dr. Jacob Elliot encouraged Levi to join him in the budding “frontier” town of Minneapolis. Feeling overshadowed by his brother’s charisma and early career success, Levi jumped at the chance. Photo courtesy of Corinna PreservationBetween 1856 and his death in 1910, Levi M. Stewart amassed one of the largest private land portfolios in Hennepin County. LATE 2020 • 11 Elliot and Stewart were by no means unique in this regard. Between 1850 and 1857, the Minnesota Territory’s settler population skyrocketed from 6,000 to 150,000. However, precious few “foresaw the future of Minneapolis as did Levi Stewart,” wrote biographer Maynard W. Quimby. He began dabbling in land speculation almost immediately, “before other shrewd men realized that the geography of the Northwest” positioned Hennepin County to enjoy the State’s fastest growth and greatest prosperity. Early Missteps and Hard LessonsSources differ on how Elder Stewart (the nickname followed him to Minnesota) scraped together the funds to make his first foray into this high-stakes game. He either committed a relocation stipend gifted by an uncle back in Maine, secured a capital investment from brother David, or possibly both. What is crystal clear, however, is that Stewart’s first investment scheme was a dismal failure. At the behest of fellow New England transplant Harlow Gale and the eponymous heads of Cushman & Woods (a small legal firm based in the same Washington Avenue office space as his own), Stewart entered into a complicated joint partnership arrangement. The associates pooled resources to buy an 80-acre tract in North Minneapolis. Anticipating a sharp appreciation in land values, they paid down one-third of the purchase cost with the intent to mortgage back the property for the remaining two thirds. Initially, events played out according to plan. However, when the asking price for undeveloped land in this part of town reached $125 per acre, Stewart implored his partners to flip the property and secure their profit. They demurred, hoping to hold out for still greater riches. “One morning, the boom woke up without a bottom,” wrote a Minneapolis Tribune columnist in a colorful 1901 retrospective on Stewart’s career. Land prices fell precipitously, and Stewart was compelled to both forfeit his claim and pay out an additional $400 besides. Biographer Quimby, always eager to take a glass-half-full approach and paint Stewart in a positive light, stressed the valuable learning opportunities the episode afforded. “No doubt this poor beginning had much to do with his success in future years, when he became the area’s most conspicuous holder of strategically located property.” A New PartnershipLevi M. Stewart’s second side project, a water-powered grain mill west of town, differed from the North Minneapolis fiasco in all respects but one. It would be another joint venture, albeit one with an entirely new set of players. Stakeholders included Dr. Jacob Elliot, the physician who had enticed Stewart to Minnesota the year before. In time, Elliot would leave his own permanent mark on the Twin Cities. Among other legacies, Elliot Park in south central Minneapolis is named in his memory. It sits on a generous tract of land that the doctor donated in 1893 for the establishment of the City’s first municipal park. In order to raise the necessary capital, Stewart and Elliot enlisted a mutual acquaintance, Joseph Cushman, and a fourth partner, Richard Strout. (continued on next page) 12 • ABOUT TOWN Although undistinguished at the time, Strout would gain fleeting fame eight years later as a captain in the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry regiment. Known to Civil War buffs as a pivotal unit in the key battles at Nashville and Brice’s Crossroads, Mississippi, the Ninth also saw extensive action in the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. It was on this home front theatre that Strout made a name for himself, defending the settlements of Glencoe and Hutchinson with a small and outnumbered force. (While there appears to be no extant record of how Stewart and the future captain met, Strout’s 1819 birth certificate lists a Maine birthplace – a tantalizing context clue.) Stewart Bankrolls ‘Waterville’ MillWhile a gristmill may seem an odd priority for a lawyer-cum-investor like Levi Stewart, the venture made good economic sense. As proof of concept, the partners could look to the successful Minnetonka Mill near the Lake Minnetonka headwater of Minnehaha Creek. Originally constructed as a sawmill in 1853, this predecessor boasted a brisk business cutting wood to fuel Minneapolis’ rapid expansion – including, notably, the many oak beams used in the County’s first Mississippi River suspension bridge. Downstream, a different triumvirate of investors had purchased 12 acres in June 1855 in hopes of harnessing the creek for a flour mill. Located near the geographic center of the Township of Richfield, the Richland (later Richfield) Mill proved both profitable and propitious for the area. According to historian Jeffrey A. Hess, within just a few years, the gristmill attracted “settlers… a store, a school, a blacksmith shop, and two churches” and emerged as a locus of local government. For their own operation, Stewart and company selected a spot about midway between these two mills. On December 27, 1856, they completed the purchase of 169 acres in today’s Country Club neighborhood. Seller William Hoyt, who had purchased the tract from the federal government at a low rate in October 1855, was no doubt pleased with the $1,700 deal. They contracted with one John Merriott, a local carpenter, to construct the actual mill – purportedly offering as compensation one healthy cow. Once up and running, they hired a millwright named John Stroopes to tend to day-to-day operations. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia CommonsCapt. Richard Strout – an interesting historical personage in his own right – collaborated with Stewart on the Waterville Mill investment. LATE 2020 • 13 Not yet on a stable financial footing, Stewart wrote out a promissory note to a relative back East the following July. In it, he pledged O.D. Merrick a security in the form of “an undivided fourth part” of what he termed “block four in the Town of Waterville & known as the Mill Block... with the Mill Site Dam & priviliges [sic], together with the flouring mill newly erected thereon and just finished, and also the dwelling house on said lot.” Stewart’s reference to a Town of Waterville offers a hint to the partners’ grand ambitions for their acreage. Earlier in the year, Richard Strout platted a town site in the immediate vicinity of the new mill (and named in reference to it). The associates hoped to replicate some of the Richfield Mill’s success and stoke rapid settlement – with obvious implications for land values. Eventually, a modest but historically important community would grow up with the gristmill as its nucleus. By the mid-1870s, the area boasted a schoolhouse, regional Grange Hall, and an Episcopalian church. However, the original investors ultimately chose not to pursue this long game. Stewart and his associates sold the Waterville Mill in January 1859 to Jonathan T. Grimes. Fortuitously for the new proprietor, the Civil War brought with it lucrative military requisition orders for Fort Snelling. According to local historian Deborah Morse Kahn, gangbusters demand required Grimes to keep the mill running day and night from 1861 until 1864. A Man of Great SecretivenessAlthough Stewart “sold out” on the Waterville Mill on the eve of its heyday, he could not have been overly discouraged. Between 1859 and his death in 1910, “the Elder” would amass one of the largest private land portfolios in Hennepin County. Notable holdings included plots on Hennepin Avenue between 10th and 11th streets, a sizable swathe along Lake Street between Portland Avenue and Third Street, and about half of Nicollet Island. (continued on next page)File photoLocated near the modern junction of Lyndale Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway, the prosperous Richland (later Richfield) Mill represented a compelling proof of concept for Stewart and his associates. 14 • ABOUT TOWN Undoubtedly, one of Stewart’s most visible and controversial acquisitions was Zion’s Hill, his own personal homestead at Hennepin Avenue and Fourth Street. While sparsely populated when Stewart moved to Minnesota, this corner of Minneapolis would quickly become enveloped by downtown’s commercial sprawl. Stewart obstinately refused to part with the estate in his lifetime, despite astronomical taxes and a steady stream of offers to sell. Stewart’s ability to hold onto his beloved clapboard cottage and the forested urban oasis surrounding it despite those pressures offers as strong a testament as any to his incredible success. Fortunately for his contemporaries, Stewart was also a “kind-hearted and munificent man.” According to the Minneapolis Tribune, he also developed a reputation for Saint Nicholas-style antics – purchasing hand-picked gifts for the children of his many lessees, and anonymously leaving groceries for families experiencing hard financial times. However, unlike his friend Dr. Jacob Elliot – who still has a park and neighborhood named in his honor – Levi Stewart’s footprint in the Twin Cities is surprisingly hard to spot today. More than likely, the Elder would have had it no other way. Despite his penchant for charity, “Stewart lived almost wholly within himself, and was a man of great secretiveness,” reported biographer Quimby. He “disclaimed any special credit for the success of his investments… and disliked publicity in any space or manner,” agreed journalist Arthur James Pegler. Legacies Large and SmallNevertheless, Stewart’s legacy is seen and felt in subtle ways. As one example, Abbott-Northwestern Hospital sits where it does because Stewart donated the plot for the purpose in 1885. No less interesting is the indelible mark he left on Edina’s history with his 1856-57 partnership and gristmill experiment. Stewart’s purchaser, Jonathan Grimes, sold the operation in 1867. It came into the possession of a Scottish emigrant named Andrew Craik shortly thereafter. Craik made capital improvements and rechristened the Photo courtesy of Edina Historical SocietyEdina Mill, pictured here circa 1901, was originally christened Waterville Mill. LATE 2020 • 15 enterprise Edina Mill – an homage to his boyhood home of Edinborough, Scotland. Under this management and sobriquet, the gristmill remained a prime driver of the area’s economy for decades. Fittingly, when the community broke off from Richfield and incorporated in 1888, they adopted the mill’s new name as its own. Primary sources referenced come from collections maintained by Corinna Preservation, Inc.; the Minnesota Historical Society; Edina Historical Society; and James K. Hosmer Special Collection at Hennepin County Library. Photo courtesy of Hennepin County LibraryStewart’s urban oasis, Zion’s Hill, was one of the financier’s most conspicuous and valuable land holdings. Photo courtesy of Minneapolis Morning TribuneWhen Stewart died in May 1910, the passing of “the city’s heaviest real estate holder” made front-page news. This was something of an exception. During his life, the mogul spurned public attention, even going so far as to sue local newspapers for covering his business activities. 16 • ABOUT TOWN It’s Not Only Neighborly, It’s The Law The Law: Edina City Code Sec. 30-118. Turf grasses and weeds shall be regularly cut such that no individual plant shall exceed, at any time, 10 inches in height or length as measured from its base at the ground to the tip of each stalk, stem or blade. Noxious weeds as defined by the State Commissioner of Agriculture shall be eradicated. What It Means: The City has standards for grass and weed management and maintenance. Weeds and grasses should not be taller than 10 inches. This includes boulevards, alleys, landscaped areas and developed and undeveloped land. Grass and weeds in drainage ponds, wetlands and similar waterways are exempt. Noxious weeds, which must be eliminated, include Tree of Heaven, Garlic Mustard, Glossy Buckthorn and Multiflora Rose. To report a possible violation, use the Edina 311 app or visit EdinaMN.gov and click on “Report A Problem,” or call the weed inspector at 952-826-0353. For a full list of Minnesota’s noxious weeds, visit www.mda.state.mn.us The Law: Edina City Code. 28-261. All properties with an address ending with an even digit may use City water for irrigation purposes on even-numbered dates only. Sec. 28-262. All properties with an address ending with an odd digit may use City water for irrigation purposes on odd-numbered dates only. Sec. 28-264. No property may use any water for irrigation purposes during the hours of 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. of any day. Sec. 28-265. Upon written request and approval by the City Manager or his designee, the following properties are authorized to irrigate at times other than permitted above … Newly sodded or grass seeded areas for a period of 14 days. What It Means: If your property address ends in an odd number, you may water your lawn on odd-numbered days of the month. If your property address ends in an even number, water your lawn on even days of the month. No one may use water for irrigation from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have an area with new sod or seed, contact the Public Works Department for a 14-day permit to irrigate more frequently. Otherwise, please irrigate lawns during allotted dates and times. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 952-826-0376.– Compiled by Heidi Lillie Learn Local Laws Tall Grass and Weeds Maintenance Lawn Irrigation LATE 2020 • 17 LATE 2020 • 17 Stephane Cattelin 612-703-8229 www.stephane cattelin.com THE International Approach to Real Estate Serving the Edina French-American Community • Plan your next adventure with a AAA Travel Agent • Learn about AAA Roadside Assistance and all the benefits of joining AAA • Manage your AAA Membership • Make an appointment with an independent insurance agent to review your policy • Shop for luggage and travel accessories in the Travel Store AAA.com | 952-925-2244 | 7151 France Ave S. Whether you’re on the road or on vacation, AAA has you covered. Open Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm and Saturday from 9am-3pm Discover Everything YouCan Do at AAA in Edina ✓ Holds 500+ Pounds ✓ Keeps Debris Out Call For A Free Estimate! 612-387-3564 tundracwwc.com LONG LAKE, MN 18 • ABOUT TOWN Remodel Of English Tudor Revival House Wins Heritage Award By Debbie Townsend The meticulous remodel of a home that would go on to win the 2020 Edina Heritage Award all began with a walking tour. Julie and Doug Baker, already Edina residents, learned the details and history of the English Tudor Revival house at 4610 Browndale Ave. while taking a 2015 tour of Country Club District homes and history. They would soon buy the house, in part because of its location along Minnehaha Creek, and hire the firm of one of their tour guides, architect Jean Rehkamp Larson, to design the remodel. “We knew we wanted any changes we made to be in keeping with the original style and craftsmanship,” Julie Baker said. “The homeowners did extensive renovation work of this historic home, taking great care to honor its historic features and carefully match them as they expanded certain elements,” Heritage Preservation Commissioner Jane Lonnquist wrote in her nomination of the home. The award, given annually since 2003, honors an individual, family, company or organization that has contributed to the historic fabric of the community and made an outstanding contribution to the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and use of a heritage resource in Edina. The award recognizes not only the home’s beauty, but also its importance. It’s built on what is believed to be the site of the original farmhouse of Henry F. Brown, the Minneapolis lumber baron who once owned the Edina Mill. Brown established the large Browndale Farm, known for its cattle. Browndale Avenue is named after the farm and follows the path of a farm road. In 1922, Samuel Thorpe purchased the Browndale Farm, combining it with two other major properties to develop the Country Club District. The current house also is home to history. Construction began in 1929 or 1930, but wasn’t finished until 1932 due to the Great Depression. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was started in the home’s basement and its first pancake breakfast was served there, according to Lonnquist’s research. The church, now located on West 50th Street, won its own Heritage Award in 2011 for restoration of that building. The back side of 4610 Browndale Ave. before remodeling had few details. The expansion and remodel included adding interior spaces, half-timbering and many windows to look out onto Minnehaha Creek. Submitted Photo LATE 2020 • 19 Rehkamp Larson would highlight the house on the historic tour, pointing out its half-timbering, woodwork, stone, and the symmetrical composition of its design elements. While many Country Club homes are in the English Tudor Revival style, she called 4610 Browndale one of the “grand dames” of the neighborhood. “When you look closely at the house, you keep seeing layers and layers of detail. There is just a richness of the front facade,” she said. “You could take away half the detail and you would still think it’s a beautiful house.” The challenge in remodeling was not just adding space or modernizing. The goal was to capture that front detail and replicate it around the house while making each side functional and unique. The south end of the home includes a new two-story addition that keeps the main gable and bay windows intact. The existing round-arch in-swing casement windows were restored for reuse on the addition and replicated. The half-timbering from the front facade was also replicated on the new addition. On the north end, the garage doors originally faced the street. “The guidelines at the time wouldn’t allow a front-facing garage,” Lonnquist said. “That property had an exception because of where it was on Minnehaha Creek.” Though it wasn’t required, the remodel shifted the garage doors to the side of the house, away from street view. In their place, the brick and stone of the front facade was replicated. The most dramatic change is on the back side that faces Minnehaha Creek. That west facade had a few windows and almost no embellishment, what Lonnquist simply summed up as “plain.” Perhaps it was intended. Perhaps the original owners cut their budget with the Depression on. “It made sense to us to make the back of the house as attractive as the front,” Julie Baker said. “We spend a lot of time on our back terrace, plus there are a lot of people kayaking by in the summer and skating by in the winter whose only view of the house is from the back.” The architects designed a dramatic addition onto the back, adding windows and picking up the design details of the front so they wrap around the house. It now rivals the front for its beauty. “We love the way our architects were able to bring the outdoors in. All the windows onto the creek from our kitchen and family room make them wonderful places to be,” Baker said. “It’s spectacular,” Mayor Jim Hovland said in recognizing the Heritage Award winner at a May City Council meeting. The Bakers thanked the Heritage Preservation Commission for the award, but they gave the credit to architects Anders Matney and Rehkamp Larson, builder Dovetail Renovation Inc. and all the subcontractors who did the renovation. They also honored the home’s history. “We are so grateful for the craftsmen who built the home originally back in 1929. They set the bar high for all of us,” the Bakers wrote in a statement read at the City Council meeting. (continued on next page) 20 • ABOUT TOWN Rehkamp Larson also credited all the artisans who put great effort into creating everything from stones and bricks to replicating the details of door handles. “We really learn from the houses,” Rehkamp Larson said. “Doing a thoughtful addition to a historic house takes just looking closely at what’s there and learning from the details that exist and then making changes sensitively.” Her firm is working to remodel a Mediterranean house next door. “The Bakers’ renovation anchored a whole wave of revitalization” in the Country Club District, Lonnquist said. “It upholds a standard that people want to see.” For more information about the Edina Heritage Award and past winners, visit EdinaMN.gov. The south side of the home includes the expanded area that restored, reused and replicated curved-arch windows that add to the home’s character. The bay windows were kept intact.Submitted PhotoTake Historic Walking Tour of EdinaTake a walking tour of Edina’s historic spots at your convenience with a new online map you can access on your cellphone. The Edina Heritage Preservation Commission worked with City staff to create the 12-stop self-guided tour map, which covers areas near City Hall and the Edina Country Club. The historic loop is about 3 miles or 6,000 steps. It starts and ends at Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave., though people can easily start at any of the sites and visit as many as they choose. Places you can learn about include the Browndale Farm, Edina Mill, Cahill School, Minnehaha Grange, Wooddale Avenue Bridge and Yancey Farm. The tour map includes historic photos and a bit of history about each site. Find the map at EdinaMN.gov/HistoricWalk. LATE 2020 • 21 Edina County Club Wooddale Ave Bridge St. Stephen's Church Baird House Edina Mill Cahill School MinnehahaGrange Hall Yancey Farm Second Millstone Second Site ofMinnehaha Grange Hall Brown Farm Browndale Bridge EdinaMN.gov/HistoricWalk 22 • ABOUT TOWN Announcing St. Therese Southwest is nowThe Glenn Catholic Senior Communities. With age comes wisdom. And an opportunity to define your next chapter. At The Glenn Catholic Senior Living Communities, we’re focused on inspiring a more active lifestyle. We’re a welcomingCatholic community that provides daily spiritual support, a warm sense of family, and the ability to modify your living arrangement from independent to assisted or memory care to suit your needs. Call or visit today! 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Interest rates subject to change. 1.25% 3 YEAR 2.25% 5 YEAR 3.5% 10 YEAR 24 • ABOUT TOWN Human Rights & Relations Commission Celebrates 50th Anniversary By Kaitlin Gault The Human Rights & Relations Commission (HRRC) will commemorate 50 years of courage, partnership, advocacy and perseverance this July. Established July 10, 1970, as the Human Rights Commission, the HRRC has spent the past five decades working to promote, defend and advocate for all who live, work, visit or study in Edina to have freedom from discrimination. It is an advisory body of the Edina City Council. To truly understand the HRRC’s achievements, it’s important to understand where it began. According to the City’s history, black families were among the first to settle in Edina and black and white families lived together as neighbors when the village was incorporated in 1888. In the 1920s when the Edina Country Club District was established as one of the first planned neighborhoods in the country, racial restrictions began to appear in deeds of covenants for residential properties. Homebuyers agreed they would never sell, lease or rent their property to anyone “other than one of the white or Caucasian race.” Deed restrictions in some neighborhoods also excluded those who were Jewish. Black, all other nonwhite and Jewish residents were barred from living in certain areas unless they were domestic servants residing in the household they served. In time, nearly all the black families moved, and Edina had become a mostly white and Christian village. Residents who were Jewish continued to be discriminated against and were excluded at social clubs in Edina. In June 1950, the Morningside Neighborhood was one of the first to “push back” and opened its doors to any who wished to buy property. In June 1960, a black family moved into the Morningside Neighborhood but initially faced a campaign to keep them out. A “Fairness Petition” signed by 251 Morningside residents supported the family, who stayed in the neighborhood. At the time the commission was established, Edina was a community in need of change. “When Edina went from a village to a city, the first mayor, James Van Valkenburg, wanted it to be welcoming and opening to all,” said Edina City Council Member and former Commissioner Mary Brindle. “It’s been the role of HRRC to help the City prepare and become a place that is welcoming to all.” Fifty years later, the commission continues to fulfill that role and works toward bringing people together, advocating for equitable policies, and rejecting discrimination of any kind. “Every city needs a human rights commission because in every city there are people whose human rights are being abridged,” said former Commissioner Ellen Kennedy. “It is the responsibility of the people in each city to stand up for the rights of those in who city who live, work, visit and study there.” LATE 2020 • 25 Everything Kennedy does is with human rights at the forefront. As a resident who is Jewish, she knows she would not have been welcome years ago in the same community she’s called home for 31 years. For the past 15 years, she’s served as the executive director of World Without Genocide, a nonprofit organization she founded. Her compassion and quest for human rights in Edina and across the world led to her being the second recipient of the Tom Oye Human Rights Award, an award developed by the HRRC to honor community members whose good works promote human relations and advance human rights. It also honors Oye, a founding member of the commission. Oye was a second-generation Japanese American who served as a Nisei solder in World War II in the 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In 2003, he received the Prize for Humanity by the Immortal Chaplains Foundation. In addition to the Tom Oye Human Rights Award, the HRRC has championed numerous initiatives and advised the Edina City Council on matters relating to discrimination and human rights. “Edina was the fourth city in Minnesota to approve a Domestic Partnership Ordinance,” said former Commissioner and 2015 Tom Oye award winner Jessi Kingston. “Fifteen other cities later passed a similar ordinance by the time marriage equality became legal in Minnesota.” The legislation allowed unmarried or same-sex couples in a long-term, committed relationship to apply for a certificate to be used as evidence of their union. Under Kingston’s leadership, the “Days of Remembrance” event was created to honor the memory of victims and survivors of the Holocaust and to encourage and educate the community on the need for respect for all people. Days of Remembrance was recognized following a proclamation adopted by the City Council affirming that Edina will annually observe National Days of Remembrance. Another event regularly organized by the HRRC is “Sharing Values, Sharing Communities,” a panel discussion on important issues like religious diversity The Tom Oye Human Rights Award was created in 2006 to honor Tom Oye, Edina resident and founding member of the Human Rights & Relations Commission.File Photo(continued on next page) 26 • ABOUT TOWN and mental health. Student Commissioner Shin Bee Waldron said co-moderating the event in 2018 was when she first felt like she had made an impact. She joined the commission to get more involved in her community. “Human rights stood out because I’m an Asian American. As a minority, I thought I may have something interesting to add to the discussion, and at the same time, help the Commission engage with students,” she said. The HRRC has helped the City take other significant actions, including supporting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and approving a resolution to establish Edina as a Human Rights City. This initiative calls for cities to guide their strategies for education, health and housing by the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Edina is the only city in Minnesota to pass a resolution with this designation. When City staff and community members began working to update the 2020 Comprehensive Plan, Kennedy realized a chapter was missing. “Each commission always planned a chapter for that document, and there was one commission that didn’t have a chapter – the Human Rights & Relations Commission,” she said. The Commission lobbied for that chapter to be created and was successful with its inclusion and approval by City Council. “The fact that the Commission has existed for 50 years demonstrates the wonderful support from the City Council, and I think that sends an important message to the community,” said current Commissioner Jim Nelson. One of the Commission’s current initiatives relates to incidents of racist and anti-Semitic vandalism in Edina. This year, a Commission committee is revising the 1997 Bias Offense Response Plan to broaden the definitions in the plan to include offenses outside of the State Statute’s definition of a “bias offense.” “We’ve had acts of intolerance, and as City policy those are rejected by the vast majority of Edina residents,” said Nelson. “It’s really important to live in a place that is not only tolerant but is welcoming and that celebrates our differences.” He also said the Commission works with the Edina Police Department when responding to these discriminatory acts and ensures that City Council is aware of the occurrences. In 2010, Edina City Council unanimously approved a Domestic Partnership Ordinance. Joan Wallner and Kristin Peterson were the first couple to register for domestic partnership in Edina.File Photo LATE 2020 • 27 “I’m really proud of the City of Edina for its longstanding commitment to human rights,” said Nelson. “This is a good time to remind ourselves of what we’ve been able to accomplish but also to remind ourselves there is room for progress and improvement. Continuing to ensure Edina is inclusive involves righting systemic inequities. I’m hopeful we will use this milestone as an opportunity to renew our ideals as a Human Rights City.” Edina has changed in 50 years. A lot more can change in the next 50 years. “Human rights work doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of coalition building and outreach to have some of these difficult conversations that affirm the fact that there is perhaps a path for greater safety, security, comfort and equality for everyone,” said Kennedy. “There is a tendency for people in any community to believe that there are no problems, but there are problems anywhere. To be able to raise these issues to a level significant enough to get action, that takes time. It takes perseverance, and it also takes a belief in the good intentions of the people in our community.” To learn more about the Human Rights & Relations Commission, visit EdinaMN.gov or contact Race & Equity Coordinator Heidi Lee, staff liaison, at HLee@EdinaMN.gov. Premium Quartzite Granite + Marble CAPITAL GRANITE EDINA 7329 WASHINGTON AVE S #130 capitalgranite.com · 952-942-7100 28 • ABOUT TOWN LATE 2020 • 29 BBrriinn gg ii nngg yyoo uu rreeaall eessttaattee iinnssiigghhttss ssiinnccee 11995555.. 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Experience the Bell Bank Mortgage Difference. Bell Ads 3.6x3.6_OCT16.indd 2 10/21/16 12:06 PM LATE 2020 • 31 Stay Healthy Wash your hands with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds; cover your coughs and sneezes; wear a mask when in public; practice social distancing and stay home if you are sick. Stay Informed To get reliable and updated information about COVID-19, refer to the Minnesota Department of Health, CDC or your health provider. Challenge the Stigma Sharing facts and accurate information about COVID-19 helps challenge rumors and stereotypes that have been negatively associated with racial and cultural groups or people wearing facemasks. There have been incidents of discrimination, bias and hate reported around the world during the pandemic. If you believe you are a victim of a hate crime because of fear around COVID-19, contact the Edina Police Department, 952-826-1610. If you feel you have experienced discrimination within the City’s services, facilities or institution, contact Race & Equity Coordinator Heidi Lee, 952-826-1622. Edina COVID-19 Resource Hotline 952-826-0370 Resources for businesses, residents and seniors can be found at BetterTogetherEdina.org EdinaMN.gov/coronavirus Sign up for City Extra emails at EdinaMN.gov/CityExtra Sign up for text notifications by texting EDINA to 57838 Stay Informed About the City’s Response to COVID-19! 32 • ABOUT TOWN Darren Davis Named Mike Siitari Officer Of The Year By Kaylin Eidsness Officer Darren Davis was recently named the 2019 Mike Siitari Officer of the Year by the Edina Crime Prevention Fund. Davis, who joined the Edina Police Department in 2015, has policing in his blood. His father, Darren Davis Sr., retired as Police Commander at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Growing up in a law enforcement family, Davis knew from a young age he wanted a similar career. He graduated from Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. However, as he was heading into his junior year in 2008, Davis tore every ligament in one of his knees. “It was my first real humbling experience,” said Davis. “Everything that I had worked up to was taken away from me in a second. I went to school to be a cop and play football. But the doctor said, ‘you may not be able to run again.’” As a 21-year-old, this was hard for Davis to hear, knowing that his days of playing football or becoming a police officer might be coming to an end. Davis decided to stay relevant however he could and found a job with a small nonprofit called the Family and Children’s Center in Winona. There, he ended up running the Youth Night Campus, working with kids on the cusp of going into juvenile detention or coming out of placement. To garner more experience while still rehabbing his knee, Davis decided to take a job as a Correctional Officer and then Probation Officer with Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted County Community Corrections. “I worked fairly closely with the Rochester PD and it just kept coming back to me that that’s what I really wanted to do. What I was doing was great and I was making an impact, but I wanted to be that initial contact to be able to stop something before it got worse,” he said. After his first child was born in 2016, Davis and his wife desired to move closer to family in the Twin Cities. Davis had heard of the Edina Police Department from an instructor of his who was an Edina Police Sergeant at the time. He thought he’d take a chance and apply. Before he knew it, he was offered the job. Officer Darren Davis was named the 2019 Mike Siitari Officer of the Year.Photo by Michael Braun LATE 2020 • 33 Since beginning with the department, Davis has joined the SWAT team, become a Neighborhood Engagement Officer and drone operator. He also sits on the City’s Race & Equity Advancement Team. “Darren is a team player and selfless, always going out of his way to help his shift partners and the community. Darren takes the extra time on calls to make sure the residents of Edina are getting the highest service possible,” said Sgt. Dave Boosalis, who leads the night shift Davis is on. “We are lucky to have Darren at EPD!” The Mike Siitari Officer of the Year award is given annually to an officer of the Edina Police Department who has modeled exemplary service and leadership through innovation and public relations. Past President of the Edina Crime Prevention Fund Jon Barnett said Davis was selected for the recognition because of his strong community ties. “It was clear in the nomination letter that Darren is extremely dedicated to his job, his department and the residents of Edina,” said Barnett. The nomination came from a resident who said, “From the very first time I met Officer Davis, I could tell he truly cared about my safety and the safety of the entire community of Edina. … Officer Davis took immediate action on his day off. This was way above and beyond the call of duty.” Police Chief Dave Nelson also speaks highly of Davis. “He sincerely cares about connecting with the community, and it didn’t take long after hiring him before I started getting thank-you letters for his outstanding service. He’s a great asset to our department, the SWAT team and community,” said Nelson. “It didn’t surprise me that he still followed up on one of his cases on his day off. That’s just the type of officer he is.” The Crime Prevention Fund has recognized at least one officer a year since 2011. The Officer of the Year Award is named after Mike Siitari, who served as Police Chief from 1999 to 2009 during his 31-year tenure with the Edina Police Department. Winners are selected by members of the Edina Crime Prevention Fund. Past recipients of the award include Officers Joel Moore, Dave Lindman, Jake Heckert, Mike Seeger, Det. Mike Lutz, Det. Erik Amundson, Sgt. Brian Hubbard and Sgt. Kevin Rofidal. The Edina Crime Prevention Fund has been a community partner for 50 years, helping fund Police Department services and recognize exceptional officers. Davis said he is humbled to receive the award and mentioned that his father was proud. “He is extremely proud and happy for me,” said Davis. “My father received a similar award at the same time in his career, and I think that is pretty cool.” For more information about the award, contact the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610. 34 • ABOUT TOWN Volunteers ‘Drive’ Successful Pandemic Response At VEAP By Katy Koch Campbell, Contributing Writer Beth Reilly doesn’t hesitate to admit it. Pandemic-induced fear drove her to action with Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP). “Contribution to community,” she said, was the only way she could escape her feelings of powerlessness in the face of the deadly virus crisscrossing the globe. Now she’s a regular weekly van driver on two-hour shifts of food pickup and delivery to clients in neighborhoods across Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and South Minneapolis. Reilly is one in a new wave of volunteers finding meaning in service. In the first two months of the pandemic, 25 new volunteers stepped forward to work with VEAP, 9600 Aldrich Ave. S., Bloomington. Because of what staff directors call an “overwhelming response from the community,” the organization has been able to expand capacity while meeting needs. In the first two months alone, there was a nine-fold increase in demand for food delivery service. Through this program, VEAP serves identified participants who have transportation and mobility barriers. Typically, its service includes select senior homes and complexes including a shuttle site at South Haven, a Common Bond property in Edina. “Our ability to ramp up our capacity is directly connected to a timely and incredible increase in volunteer driver support,” said Courtney Flug, VEAP’s Volunteer Director. “Our van drivers are thoughtful, compassionate and committed to meeting the needs of our community members. They carefully pack each food order and pay close attention to the needs of each individual household.” Reilly, whose prior volunteer experience was hosting foreign exchange students, “is amazing,” Flug said. In many ways, for Reilly, VEAP is a natural choice. A lifelong resident of Bloomington, Reilly is a successful Realtor who, with her husband Dan Burling, operates the Flamingo Group in the Edina office of Keller Williams Realty. She can show you the multimillion-dollar homes and she can name the specific street boundaries of Bloomington’s food desert. “A food desert is an area where there is no place to get fresh green produce,” Reilly explained. No stores sell it, and the only option may be Walmart, requiring transportation. Prior to the pandemic, VEAP’s mobile food pantry cargo van had been providing regularly Volunteer Beth Reilly is one of the “amazing” VEAP volunteers stepping forward during the pandemic.Photo by Katy Koch Campbell LATE 2020 • 35 scheduled stops in those neighborhoods. When quarantine restrictions for health and safety began, VEAP moved quickly to make several program changes to maintain required social distancing, said Paul Jacobson, VEAP’s Basic Needs Director. Mobile pantry services and senior shuttle rides were discontinued. Now, participants have options of drive-up service at the warehouse food pantry or home delivery. These program changes are expected to continue at least into the fall months, Jacobson said. In April alone, VEAP’s monthly average of 50 grocery deliveries to a small number of regular households expanded to 469 homes, Jacobson said. Volunteers use a fleet of cargo and passenger vans donated by community partner Western National Insurance Group in Edina. Without the ongoing support of that valued partnership, Jacobson said, “our capacity to transport this volume of food deliveries to families in need in our communities would not exist.” Several volunteers fill key positions at the warehouse food pantry. They take appointments and orders, do inside “shopping,” load food onto vehicles, and serve as language translators. Participants used to “shop” inside for themselves. Now they make appointments, drive up and wait in their cars. They receive, according to their preferences and needs, a pre-packed supply of dry goods (canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, canned meat, soup, cereal, rice, dried beans, etc.) and a selection of dairy, eggs, deli, fresh produce and bakery items. The stock is purchased and generously donated by grocery stores and restaurants, often in larger amounts, due to the crisis. Van drivers like Reilly prepare individual orders, confirm participants will be home, load the van and make the delivery. They also pick up grocery donations. On one shift, Reilly picked up 300 pounds of food donated by Lakewinds Co-op and 100 pounds collected by residents in her own Bloomington neighborhood. Such generosity, she said, is inspiring. “This community has risen to the challenge,” said Flug. “I am grateful to each and every one of the volunteers who have stepped up during this health crisis and shown all of us what selflessness and service looks like in action.” VEAP is one of several organizations to receive human services funding from the City of Edina. In addition to that funding, the Edina City Council in April unanimously voted to give VEAP $100,000 from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund to help Edina residents in need of emergency rent assistance during the pandemic. For more information on VEAP, visit veap.org or call 952-888-9616. 36 • ABOUT TOWN Donors Contribute More Than $195,000 To City In 2019 Thanks to the generous donations of many philanthropic individuals, clubs and causes, the City of Edina received more than $195,000 in donations in 2019 to use toward programs, public safety and park improvements. The largest donations came from the Edina Crime Prevention Fund. Donations totaling more than $35,000 were used to purchase an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), more commonly known as drones, for the Edina Police Department. The equipment will primarily be used for special events, suspect tracking and search and rescue. Now, the Police Department will not have to rely on the State Patrol’s helicopter, which is expensive and not as timely. The Police Department recently received the Federal Aviation Administration Certificate of Authorization, making it one of a handful of agencies in Minnesota allowed to operate a drone. A team of officers has obtained their UAS pilot certifications. “After presenting the proposal to the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, the Board was excited about the program as there are many benefits to department operations and community engagement programs,” said Police Chief Dave Nelson. “I am grateful to the Edina Crime Prevention Fund for the donation to jump-start this program for the department.” The Edina Garden Council gifted $22,000 to the City for work started last summer on the Tranquility Garden at Arneson Acres Park. “The Tranquility Garden is a unique garden space for the community of Edina. It’s a place of beauty, evoking feelings of quiet and sanctuary,” said Edina Garden Council member Liz Genovese of the space that will also be used for small celebrations when complete. The first phase of the project was spent grading the site, laying brick paths throughout and planting 14 trees. The second phase of the project is scheduled to take place this year and includes installing an irrigation system and 26-foot-long stone seat wall. Future phases include planting a great number of shrubs, perennials, bulbs and grasses in addition to adding a pergola and benches. For more information on donating to the City of Edina, call 952-826-0359. – Compiled by Kaylin Eidsness Construction of a Tranquility Garden is underway at Arneson Acres Park. Submitted Photo LATE 2020 • 37 Edina Crime Prevention Fund $528.40 for FBI Academy flight reimbursement Ann and Frank Delmont $700 for a tree at Arden Park Edina Garden Council $1,000 toward buckthorn removal at Bredesen Park Troy Mathwig $1,050 for a tree at Pamela Park Andrew Warczak $1,400 for trees at Strachauer and York parks Albrecht Sign Company $1,495 for hockey rink white boards Friends of the Edina Library $1,500 to Edina Senior Center for space used during library book sales N. C. Little Hospice $1,500 to the Edina Police Department N. C. Little Hospice $1,500 to the Edina Fire Department Andy Warczak $1,540 for trees at Wooddale Park Edina Crime Prevention Fund $1,732 toward the K-9 Retirement Program Edina Crime Prevention Fund $1,963 toward 50th & France foot patrol Hendry Family Foundation $2,000 for the Edina Police Department AAA Minneapolis $2,000 for Police Department’s Safe Driving Initiative Rodeo at Edina High School Edina Crime Prevention Fund $2,298 for uniforms for new motorcycle officers Edina Crime Prevention Fund $2,620 for service on the Police Department’s Mobile Pro camera trailer Jen Erickson and Jaclyn Brown $3,000 for Isaiah Murray memorial bench Lyche Family $3,200 for a bench at Pamela Park Chris Friedemann $3,200 for a memorial bench at Williams Park Edina Community Foundation $3,500 for Connect Card scholarship funds Edina Crime Prevention Fund $9,566.33 for 2018 Police K-9 expenses Jeff Huggett and Diane Lindquist $10,700 for new diving boards at the Edina Aquatic Center Edina Crime Prevention Fund $13,000 in proceeds from the 2018 Fall into the Arts Festival to Centennial Lakes Park Edina Crime Prevention Fund $13,000 in proceeds from the 2018 Fall into the Arts Festival to Edina Art Center Edina Crime Prevention Fund $14,299 for 2018 Police Department Bike Patrol Program Edina Garden Council $22,210 for the renovation of the Tranquility Garden at Arneson Acres Park Edina Community Foundation & Edina Crime Prevention Fund $31,950 for the K-9 Memorial Sculpture Edina Crime Prevention Fund $35,616 for two Police Department drones Contributions of $500 or more in donations to the City in 2019 were: 38 • ABOUT TOWN Edina Farmers Market Moves To Rosland Park By Kaitlin Gault Crisp air and farm-picked fruits and vegetables, all in your own backyard. The Edina Farmers Market returns for the 2020 season ready to freshen up Thursday afternoons for Edina residents. The market, open from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays until Sept. 24, offers a variety of produce and locally produced items. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s market is located at Rosland Park, 4300 W. 66th St., in the parking lot closest to the Edina Aquatic Center. This year’s location will allow for wider walkways and the recommended social distancing between vendors and patrons. Other changes to this season’s market include sanitizer stations, limiting the number of patrons at one time, one-way traffic through the market, a defined entrance and exit, no entertainment or family activities, and no onsite food consumption or sampling. Although the market has a different location and features many changes, it offers the same great products and most vendors as previous years. “The Edina Farmers Market is one of the most well-known markets in the state,” said Centennial Lakes Park General Manager Tom Shirley. “While it is usually held along the walkways outside of Hughes Pavilion overlooking Centennial Lake – a truly scenic backdrop – we know this year will be a success thanks to our local farmers, growers and producers selling a wonderful variety of homemade and locally grown products.” This year’s vendors include Bee Happy Honey, Chang’s Garden, Great Harvest Bread, Groveland Confections, Natasha’s Pierogi, Peter’s Pumpkins & Carmen’s Corn, Picka Farms, The Kraut Guy, Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm, and more. To support safety guidelines when interacting with vendors, patrons are also asked this year to wear masks and maintain six feet of social distancing and avoid touching products. Vendors are prepared to bag and hand purchases to patrons. A unique feature of the market that hasn’t changed is the afternoon start time. By hosting it later in the day, it’s fresher. Most of the produce is picked in the morning for sale the same day. It doesn’t get any fresher than same-day farm to table. A variety of fresh produce and locally produced items are available Thursday afternoons at the Edina Farmers Market.File Photo LATE 2020 • 39 Products vary weekly, but visitors can anticipate items like apples, beans, beef, breads, cheeses, confections, eggs, fruit, honey, jams, jerky, lamb, melons, pears, peppers, pork, potatoes, poultry, salsas, strawberries and sweet corn. The market may look and feel a bit different this year, but the fresh produce and products and excited vendors remain the same. Credit card payment is encouraged to support the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Some vendors only accept cash. For more information, visit CentennialLakesPark.com or contact Shirley at tshirley@EdinaMN.gov or 952-833-9582. Produce is about as fresh as it gets at the Edina Farmers Market.File PhotoExpires January 1, 2021 40 • ABOUT TOWN Edina Community Foundation: Impacting People … In Their Words By Dick Crockett, Edina Community Foundation Executive Director After telling our own story in almost 50 About Town articles over the years, we decided that the pandemic era was a good time to hear from our friends and neighbors. Here’s how they have described the impact of our work in recent years: Edina 4th of July ParadeI’ve lived and worked in Edina for more than half of my life, and the Parade is an annual highlight and a great event for families. – Ed Bergeron, Edina senior Maybe it’s a birthday party... – Cate Crockett, at age 2, sitting on her grandpa’s shoulders Fabulous parade … So much fun!!!! – Skip Thomas, Parade Sponsor Edina ReadsIt was a pleasure on my part – the most social interaction I’ve had all week! Thanks for making me a part of it, and I hope the future Edina Reads programs keep getting better and better! – Pete Hautman, virtual Edina Reads author Thank you so much for sending these lovely photos and for your kind words about the event. It was an honor to be invited! Many thanks for including me in such a memorable evening. – Emily Fridlund, Edina Reads author and Edina High School graduate Community Impact ProgramPartnering with the Edina Community Foundation has allowed our organization to exist efficiently and successfully. The Foundation handles our donations and financial areas, which frees us up to focus on providing services. Since Craig and I do this on a volunteer basis, we would not be able to operate the orchestra without Edina Community Foundation. I am grateful to [the staff] for their advice and encouragement over the years, and together we are proud to provide the Edina community with a high-quality orchestra. – Hilary Santoni, Minnehaha Music Co-founder and Managing Director THANK YOU! THANK YOU! We would like to extend an enormous thank you to the Edina Community Foundation for helping Bluebirds and Blooms launch in February 2018. As our charitable partner, ECF has shepherded us into the nonprofit world. We are excited to announce that we are now our own 501(c)(3)! Many people have helped us get to this point and we would not be where we are without ECF, our stellar Board of Directors, dedicated volunteers and the generosity of so many donors, including our flower donors. We are excited to embark on this next chapter and we are happy to have you all along for the ride! – Moira Schnorbach, Bluebirds and Blooms Board member I am an 8th grader at South View Middle School and I play basketball, volleyball, tennis, soccer, flag football, and track. The Her Next Play JV Board is made up of girls who are leaders in the community and passionate about inspiring girls to stay in sports and develop as leaders. Our first project was to apply for the Edina Community LATE 2020 • 41 Foundation Bold New Idea contest. … We won and put on the Edina Girls’ Sports Summit for 130 middle school girls in September. … It was really fun, and 97 percent of girls said they felt more confident, and 99 percent of girls said they were inspired to stay in sports after the event. We are grateful to the Edina Community Foundation for their support, as we couldn’t have done the Edina Girls’ Sports Summit without them. – Claire Wegmann-Krider, Her Next Play Director We are truly grateful for the grant of $1,000 from the Edina COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide art kits to seniors at Heritage of Edina. I was so happy that I literally cried. Thank you! – Gail Kiitie, Simply Jane/ArtAble Studio Director General ImpactThe Edina Community Foundation provides financial support to several local initiatives and causes near and dear to the hearts of Edina residents. This non-profit organization assists approximately 65 designated beneficiary funds representing groups like the Edina Garden Council and Public Art Edina. Its own philanthropic programming includes Connecting With Kids, Edina Reads, the 4th of July Parade and Edina Dialogue. If you care about it, it’s likely that the Edina Community Foundation supports it. The collaborative nature of this organization, its broad support of local causes and the simplicity of charitable giving provided to donors is why we believe the Edina Community Foundation is a treasured local resource. – Angela Johnson, Edina Magazine Editor, naming ECF as Best Community Organization in 2016 The Edina Community Foundation contributes greatly to the life of our community by hosting high quality programs such as the annual Connecting With Kids Leadership Breakfast and the 4th of July Parade (and even providing us with a virtual alternative this year). It also serves as a reliable and respected charitable partner for 75 independent nonprofits, including the Edina COVID-19 Relief Fund that helps other community organizations meet the needs of individuals impacted by the coronavirus. We can all be proud of ECF for so effectively meeting its mission of: • Impacting People • By Bringing Them Together• To Serve, Strengthen and Celebrate Our Community. When you are thinking about how you can help people or organizations in Edina, please consider the Edina Community Foundation in your philanthropy. They will be a great partner for you in your giving. – James Hovland, Edina Mayor We Impact People by Bringing Them Together to Serve, Strengthen and Celebrate Our Community. If you’d like to add your comments about ECF’s impact in the Edina community, or to request more information on ECF or to donate, visit www.edinacommunityfoundation.org or send an email to edfoundation@EdinaMN.gov. 42 • ABOUT TOWN Growth Of Annie’s Army Is Legacy Of Edina Woman By Debbie Townsend Ann Dickey’s legacy can be measured by the people who loved her, the lives she touched as coach and mentor, and by the girls on golf courses. Though she lost her life to melanoma in September 2017, her friends and family carry her spirit forward with an organization devoted to get girls golfing. “She didn’t like cancer. She liked golf,” husband Dave Dickey said. “She didn’t want cancer to be her legacy,” said best friend Angie Ballinger. And it’s not, thanks to the efforts of family, friends and strangers who gather every summer to celebrate her and contribute to her dream of increasing access and opportunity for girls to learn the game and the joys of golf. It began in 2017, when Ann was an assistant coach for the Edina High School girls golf team. Private fundraising helped pay for a no-cut policy so any girl who wanted to play could do so. The first year instead of just 15 girls playing, there were 40. That team went on to win the state title. They were the first members of what has been affectionately dubbed “Annie’s Army.” An organization and a website, getgirlsgolfing.com, were launched to continue that effort. Now those behind Get Girls Golfing are shifting focus to younger girls, increasing opportunities for them to experience golf – and have fun doing so – at earlier ages. Braemar Golf Course is now home to both the annual celebration for Get Girls Golfing and the new opportunities designed for girls. Ann Dickey holds one of the two Interlachen Country Club Women’s Club Championship trophies she won. The tournament trophy now bears her name.Submitted Photo LATE 2020 • 43 The CelebrationIt all started as a birthday block party in June 2017 as Ann’s health was declining. Ballinger, who lives across the street from the Dickeys, and three other women organized the biggest birthday bash they could muster with food and ice cream trucks, a fire truck, high-top tables down the street, furniture in front yards, live bands, and lots and lots of birthday cakes. Mother Nature seemed to have other plans. A rather nasty summer storm arrived that June 25 and with the party set for 4-6 p.m., Angie feared it would be a mess. “Then at 3:50 p.m., the clouds suddenly went away and the sun came out,” Ballinger said. So did the people. At best count about 300 showed up, far more than anyone expected. “It was awesome,” Ballinger said. So awesome that they’ve turned it into an annual party, now held at Braemar Golf Course. The family and friends are still there, as are the live music, the food and laughter. Last year, they added long drive and putting competitions to the events. “The putting contest was phenomenal,” Braemar Golf Course General Manager Joe Abood said, recalling the excitement as golfers attempted to win a $10,000 prize. “It was just fun.” The fundraiser party is usually in late June for Ann’s birthday, but has been be postponed this year due to coronavirus. It’s open to everyone; check getgirlsgolfing.com for the latest information. If the weather threatens on party day, don’t worry. “Every year, Ann plays a little trick on us. She makes it feel like it’s gonna rain, but then it clears up,” Ballinger said with a laugh. The ArmyAs a youngster, then-Ann Forrest got exposed to golf at Braemar Golf Course and instantly fell in love with it. She joined the Edina High School varsity golf team as an eighth-grader, was a three-time all-conference player and captained the 1988 EHS team to the state title. She later twice won the Interlachen Country Club Women’s Club Championship, which now bears her name. Get Girls Golfing To learn more about the effort to involve girls interested in golf or to donate, visit getgirlsgolfing.com. Or send a check made out to Annie’s Army in care of Get Girls Golfing, Edina Community Foundation, 5280 Grandview Square, Edina MN 55426. Joining the Girls League Check BraemarGolf.com for details about the league. (continued on next page) 44 • ABOUT TOWN She coached and mentored children in many sports, but golf stood apart. “It is about more than putts and drives. It’s about building character in young women,” husband Dave said of Ann’s beliefs. “Golf is a sport where you police yourself. Honesty and virtue are values” and the game teaches life lessons far beyond a scorecard. Ann saw that in an elementary-age girls golf league that friend Andrea Keller used to run every Sunday evening. It focused on etiquette and fun while learning the sport. Parents were allowed to come, but had to be quiet and offer only support, not instruction. “Ann loved that,” Dave said. “She thought it was super cool.” Some of the young girls who were part of that league grew up to hoist the state trophy for Edina High School. “What you’re going to see next at Braemar is a resurrection of that league,” Dave said. Money from the annual party and from donations is now sponsoring a girls league at Braemar Golf Course. Get Girls Golfing is providing scholarships, equipment, instruction and access. Maybe most importantly, Dave notes, is the focus on fun, with events and experiences planned to make it more than golf lessons. Abood sees great promise in the foundation’s work. “They are bolstering the game and creating golfers for the future,” Abood said. And maybe adding generations to Annie’s Army. “Ann would be blown away,” Dave said of Annie’s Army and the effort around it. “She was so humble that she would not have guessed so many people would have been interested in something that she was into. She would be very, very impressed and humbled.” Dave Dickey, left, and his brother Doug Dickey proudly wear their Annie’s Army shirts at the annual fundraiser party for getgirlsgolfing.com. Submitted Photo LATE 2020 • 45 See your home in a whole new light. More than 100 exclusive lighting lines • Ceiling Fans Lamps • Home Accents • Gifts lighting & home 7123 France Ave. S. • Edina, MN 55435 P (952) 926-5007 • F (952) 926-5013 www.filamentlighting.com Now op e n in Edina! Behind L u n d s & Byerly s FAMILY OWNEDAND OPERATEDSINCE 1857 EDINA CHAPEL 5000 W 50th Street952.920.3996 washburn-mcreavy.com Funeral Chapels, Cemeteries and Cremation Services Sylva ZoraqiREALTOR® Edina Realty Office: 952-924-873950th & France Cell: 612-710-8081 SylvaZoraqi@edinarealty.com SylvaZoraqi.edinarealty.com 46 • ABOUT TOWN Two Edina Nonprofits Celebrate Their 50th Anniversaries By Kaylin Eidsness Two mainstays in the community celebrate their golden anniversaries this year. Both organizations, the Edina Crime Prevention Fund and the First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, have left a mark on Edina over the last 50 years. Edina Police Chief Dave Nelson has signed a thank you note for every donation the Edina Crime Prevention Fund has received since he become Chief in 2014. He said there have been a lot of them over the years. “It’s very humbling for me,” said Nelson. “A couple times a year, I update the officers and tell them how many donations were received, and for them to hear that number is important. They’re like, ‘wow, our community really does support us. Our residents are here for us.’” During a daytime burglary in 1969, an Edina resident was severely beaten in his own home and later died from complications from the attack. The Police Department had no leads and the investigation stalled. Friends and neighbors of the man, and Edina civic organizations such as the Rotary Club of Edina, recognized reward money could have helped to acquire information about and solve the crime. They began to raise the monies that became the Edina Crime Prevention Fund in 1970. Dennis Maetzold, who served on the Edina City Council as Council Member and Mayor from 1995 through 2004, has been on the Board of Directors for the Edina Crime Prevention Fund since 1990 when it was still a somewhat secret committee. “There were FBI and Secret Service agents on it, and our main job was rewards,” he recalled. “Our first big initiative outside of funding rewards was purchasing K-9 Kodiak. We realized that the group could have an even greater impact on the safety of the community.” Today, the Edina Crime Prevention Fund supports many Police programs, including K-9s Blitz and Gryf, who were both purchased through the Fund. A memorial at Edina City Hall was also recently built to commemorate past K-9s and their service to the City of Edina. In addition, the Fund supports Citizens’ Academy, drones for search and rescues, Junior Police, the mobile camera system, foot patrol at 50th & France, motorcycle patrol, Night to Unite, Officer of the Year Award, Police Explorer Post, prescription drug disposal program and more. File PhotoDenny Maetzold and his wife, Linda, staff the Edina Crime Prevention Fund’s booth at last year’s Open Streets on 50th event. LATE 2020 • 47 “Without the Crime Prevention Fund, we wouldn’t have nearly as many community programs or some of the ones that we have wouldn’t be as robust,” said Nelson. “The Fund is also able to help purchase special equipment that would have taken years to acquire.” President of the Edina Crime Prevention Fund Pacy Erck has always supported the Edina Police Department and talks highly of her experience participating in the Department’s Citizens’ Academy. “I admire them tremendously. We have a fabulous police department,” said Erck. “I absolutely love Edina and will support it any way that I possibly can.” As Edina residents were raising money in 1970 for the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, Scott Crosbie was graduating from Edina High School thinking about how he and his bandmates could keep “the band” alive. Crosbie, conductor of the First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, said he and his friends purchased 50 used band uniforms for $3 a piece from Buffalo High School, bought some music and marches and for $180, they had a band. He found a flatbed truck and thought if he could get $1,000 from the Edina Lions Club, that would be enough money to fix it up. “We had a meeting to talk about it,” recalled Crosbie. “A couple weeks later, they called me and said, ‘you still got that band? We took out a loan and bought a showmobile.’ So, I went to the City and talked to Ken Rosland (Parks & Recreation Director at the time) and asked if I could park it in their garage.” Rosland was on board right away. In 1973, the City of Edina become the official sponsor of the First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band. The group played concerts in the parks in the summer, which it still does. The band typically plays the last Sunday of the month at Centennial Lakes Park in the summer and Edinborough Park the rest of the year. “Everyone knew our mailbox was at Parks & Recreation. We practiced in the Council Chambers of City Hall. And Public Works would help us out if we needed something built,” said Crosbie. “It was an evolutionary process, but we’ve always had the love of the City behind us and it was just a great feeling. It still is.” File PhotoConductor Scott Crosbie started the First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band in 1970 and still leads it today. (continued on next page) 48 • ABOUT TOWN Crosbie, who plays a variety of instruments, including percussion, flute, piccolo, tuba and banjo, speaks highly of his bandmates, including current Council Member Mary Brindle and her husband, Ralph. “Mary handles a lot of stuff,” said Crosbie. “They are my righthand people.” Mary, who plays the French horn, joined the band in 1977, along with Ralph. She recalls when Centennial Lakes Park was built, how great it was when the City provided them with a large space to practice and store their instruments. “People love playing in this band. We don’t have a lot of turnover,” she said of the 40- to 45-person group that still practices in that same Centennial Lakes Park space. “The members know each other so well, because we’ve been playing together for decades. It’s so much fun.” The annual Torchlight Concert at Centennial Lakes Park in August is Crosbie’s favorite event of the year. The 25-cent ice cream cones, Model “T” Fords, Edina Model Boat Club display and fireworks that cap the night make the event special. More than 3,500 people attend the concert, and both Brindle and Crosbie recount the evening’s magic. “Nobody has an agenda,” said Crosbie. “It’s just everyone together, with the band and the lake and the torches that are twinkling – a big American family. If there’s a heaven, that’s what it ought to be.” Tom Shirley, who’s been managing Centennial Lakes Park for 30 years, noted, “The Sousa Band has incredibly dedicated fans, not only in Edina but throughout the metropolitan area.” Audience members will often show up hours before a Sousa Band performance to ensure a good seat, he said. “In the early ‘80s, the Sousa Band started drawing audiences. That was when you couldn’t see the last row there were so many people. There’s a pride in knowing that after 50 years, the band is as popular and as skilled and as relevant to the community – probably more so than it ever was,” said Brindle. “The audience is our pay,” added Crosbie. “We have some phenomenal players, and a great audience. It’s all worked out.” For more information on the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, visit edinacrimefund.org. For more information on the First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, visit sousaband.net. LATE 2020 • 49 We refuse to wait for a better tomorrow. Right now, we have the means and the mindset, the knowledge, the insights, and the energy to partner with you to help you make the possible, possible. Visit us at crown-bank.com. MAKING THE POSSIBLE, POSSIBLE EDINA • 6600 FRANCE • 952-285-5800 | MINNEAPOLIS • 601 MARQUETTE • 612-746-5050 MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER 4502½ VALLEY VIEW ROAD EDINA 952-920-0949 www.snuffysmaltshops.com Buy One Regular Burger Get a Second Burger $3 Off! Void with other offers. Dine-in or to-go. SOUTHDALE Y FREE 5 DAY PASS *OFFER EXPIRES 5/23/2020 FREE DROP OFF CHILD CARE 190+ GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES SWIMMING & FAMILY POOL FULLY EQUIPPED FITNESS CENTER ALL AGES & FITNESS LEVELS To activate pass - contact Karl 952 897 5476 karl.wilbur@ymcamn.org SOUTHDALE Y FREE 5 DAY PASS *OFFER EXPIRES 5/23/2020 FREE DROP OFF CHILD CARE 190+ GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES SWIMMING & FAMILY POOL FULLY EQUIPPED FITNESS CENTER ALL AGES & FITNESS LEVELS To activate pass - contact Karl 952 897 5476 karl.wilbur@ymcamn.org SOUTHDALE Y FREE 5 DAY PASS *OFFER EXPIRES 5/23/2020 FREE DROP OFF CHILD CARE 190+ GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES SWIMMING & FAMILY POOL FULLY EQUIPPED FITNESS CENTER ALL AGES & FITNESS LEVELS To activate pass - contact Karl 952 897 5476 karl.wilbur@ymcamn.org 50 • ABOUT TOWN By Kaitlin Gault A career in municipal parks and recreation was Tracy Petersen’s calling before she even knew how to make a jump shot. Born with a competitive spirit, as a child she would pass time playing every sport or neighborhood game. From racing popsicle sticks in the rain to watching her father umpire baseball to playing basketball in high school, she was always determined to be part of the action. She dreamed of becoming a professional bowler, going as far as getting a bowling ball engraved with her name. That career didn’t pan out, and it wasn’t until her first job working as a summer playground leader at a neighborhood park in her hometown of New Brighton, Minnesota, when her desire to be in the center of the action found its way toward a career in public service. “I worked there for seven summers and loved providing a safe and fun place where children could come to play, learn and have fun!” she said of the job. “At the end of my first summer, a participant painted me a rock to look like a globe of the world and said, ‘You made my world this summer!’ After that experience, I knew that this was what I wanted to do.” She still has that rock. Petersen went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Bethel University in St. Paul and garnered more than 27 years of professional municipal recreation experience with the cities of Arden Hills, Chanhassen, Inver Grove Heights, Shoreview and now, Edina. She began work as the City of Edina’s Assistant Director of Recreation & Facilities in the Parks & Recreation Department in February. She hopes to make a positive impact and build relationships with her staff and Edina residents in her new role. “I have a wide spectrum of experience with recreation programming, facilities, parks maintenance, marketing and community engagement,” she said. “I am most excited about working with the staff and getting to know and engaging with the community. I’m also looking forward to continuing to provide value and quality to the New Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Leading With Authenticity Tracy Petersen began work as the City of Edina’s Parks & Recreation Assistant Director of Recreation & Facilities in February.Photo by Michael Braun LATE 2020 • 51 programs and facilities we offer that make Edina a great place to live, work and play!” City of Edina Recreation Supervisor Nicole Gorman knew of Petersen’s positive reputation in the parks and recreation field. “I am fortunate to have known Tracy from the field of parks and recreation prior to her starting with the City of Edina,” Gorman said. “She is an approachable leader who exemplifies the City’s core values of integrity, quality and service. Tracy is extremely knowledgeable and will become a tremendous asset to our department.” In Petersen’s role, she oversees the operations of all recreational programming and the eight recreation facilities in Edina: the Edina Art Center, Edina Aquatic Center, Edina Senior Center, Edinborough Park, Centennial Lakes Park, Braemar Arena, Braemar Field and Braemar Golf Course & Golf Dome. An integral part of her role is also helping to lead the department. “A good leader is someone who can maximize people’s strengths and bring value to others,” she said when asked what strong leadership looks like. “They also have a strong vision, are passionate about what they do and have integrity, trust and empathy.” Having the opportunity to work for numerous cities helped her prepare for her role at Edina. She gained a broad and comprehensive understanding of cities, government and the parks and recreation field. Her past experiences allowed her to work with facilities such as community centers, ice arenas, athletic complexes and aquatic centers – all beneficial to her role with the City. “Tracy stood out in a very competitive pool of applicants for the position,” said Edina Parks & Recreation Director Perry Vetter. “Her successful career of working with various program and enterprise operations brings not only experience and fresh ideas, but also a commitment to collaboration, leadership and mentoring. These attributes, along with facility, program, budget and project management experience, showed it was obvious from the start why she was the best candidate for this large operation. It’s exciting to have added her to our professional staff and start to see her work in Edina.” He also noted the recognition she’s received for her contributions to the parks and recreation field. She was selected by her peers as a Dorothea Nelson Award Winner by the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association, which shows her successful track record over her career. “Tracy has served the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) in several facets throughout her career,” said MRPA Executive Director Michelle Snider. “She is a servant leader whose dedication to enhancing the profession in Minnesota is evident by her service on the Association’s Board of Directors and numerous committees. She often volunteers her time for initiatives and projects for the betterment of parks and recreation in the state. MRPA is grateful for Tracy’s longtime commitment to the profession and her fellow colleagues.” (continued on next page) 52 • ABOUT TOWN Living and working in Minnesota her entire life, Petersen was aware of Edina’s impressive parks and recreation system, and community amenities. “Edina is well-regarded in the metro area and the state for its outstanding parks and recreation system, including its parks, trails, facilities and programs,” she said. “It’s obvious the community values these amenities as essential to their quality of life.” She is passionate about people, parks and bringing those two things together. Her favorite quote, by Theodore Roosevelt is, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” She truly cares. “I love parks and recreation because it is an opportunity to be an integral and valuable part of a community,” she said. “As a profession, we can provide programs, events, facilities and services that improve people’s lives physically, socially and mentally. This is my passion and I see it as my life-long career.” When asked where she sees the parks and recreation industry in 10 or 20 years, she mentioned the need of the City to be responsive and nimble to changing recreation trends and demographics. As cities continue to age, active aging will need more of a focus. At the same time, technology advances will most likely affect the City’s programming, and service models will also need to adapt. Often, she envisions what residents experience when they participate in Edina’s recreation programs and facilities. “I hope they first and foremost have fun, but more importantly, that they enjoy their visit, feel safe and want to return.” She’ll keep working toward that vision, just like that girl who led a summer playground program years ago. For more information about the position or to connect with Petersen, contact tpetersen@EdinaMN.gov or call 952-826-0431. LATE 2020 • 53 The RECtivity Box is recreation delivered to your door. Pick out your RECtivity Box and order online at bit.ly/RegisterEdina. Choose from themed boxes to create something fun at home. Please call the Parks & Recreation Department at 952-826-0367 with questions. Connect Card funds can be used toward the purchase of a RECtivity Box. Ellyn Wolfenson 612-644-3033 mobile 612-915-8894 office ejwolfenson@cbburnet.com “It’s all about relationships!” International President’s Elite Voted Best Real Estate Agent and Super Agent, 2012-2016 Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine www.ellynwolfenson.com Ellyn Wolfenson 612-644-3033 mobile 612-915-8894 office ejwolfenson@cbburnet.com “It’s all about relationships!” International President’s Elite Voted Best Real Estate Agent and Super Agent, 2012-2016 Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine www.ellynwolfenson.com Ellyn Wolfenson 612-644-3033 mobile 612-915-8894 office ejwolfenson@cbburnet.com “It’s all about relationships!” International President’s Premier Voted Best Real Estate Agent and Super Agent 2012- 2018 Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine 2012-2020 54 • ABOUT TOWN The Last Word Providing city services during a public health emergency is complicated. For one thing, it adds a new level of danger to our employees’ lives. One of the less dangerous, but still important, challenges at work these days is facing the fiscal challenges of the pandemic. I think it is important to address this fiscal challenge head on. And, like any challenge, the more time and options you give yourself in the early stages, the more likely you will be successful in achieving your goal in the end. It is that spirit that drives me to take actions now that will benefit us in the future. There are actually two fiscal challenges created by the pandemic for city governments. One is in the immediate term (2020) and the other is in the short term (2021-2022). At the City Council’s April 21 meeting, members approved the creation and funding of the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF). The BSF was created to address the fiscal challenge we will face in 2021 stretching into 2022. The BSF will create the opportunity to maintain current service levels in our 2021 budget, providing there isn’t a total national economic collapse. The BSF allows us to “buy down” the City’s 2021 General Fund property tax levy, which allows the City the option of maintaining current service levels without increasing tax levels. The other budget challenge is the immediate term – 2020. The primary fiscal challenge for 2020 is not the extra or unanticipated expenses caused by our response to the pandemic. The challenge is on the revenue side of our budget. Our Finance Department projects that our General Fund revenues will be short of our approved 2020 budget by $1.4 million. About 60 percent of that $1.4 million shortfall results from a sudden drop in our user fees and other charges for services, most of which is in our Parks & Recreation facilities and services. About 20 percent of the shortfall comes from a reduction in court fines, which is caused by a substantial decrease in traffic citations as Police Officers have been redirected to pandemic-related duties and staffing levels. The wildcard in our 2020 General Fund revenue picture won’t show itself fully until very late in the budget year. That wildcard is whether property taxpayers are going to pay their 2020 property taxes fully and on time. The Hennepin County Commission extended the deadline to pay the first half of 2020 property taxes to July 15. This complicates our ability to project our full-year property tax collection rate for 2020. The collection rate for property taxes is an important fiscal metric for the City because property taxes are by far the largest revenue source for our General Fund. In a normal year, the City collects 100 percent of the property taxes it levies. But 2020 is not a normal year and we do not know what that means for our property tax collection rate. If, for example, our property tax collection rate is 99 percent instead of 100 percent, that 1 percent decrease in the property tax collection rate is an unanticipated loss to our 2020 General Fund of $332,000. LATE 2020 • 55 The assumption we make about our property tax collection rate is important because we won’t know the real data about property tax collections until mid-December, and by that time it is too late to make reasonable and rational revisions to our 2020 budget. After considerable analysis, we have projected a 2020 property tax collection rate of 98.1 percent. This assumption means that staff believe we must move forward with a 2020 budget revision that will reduce $2 million in General Fund spending, with a hedge that we may only collect 98.1 percent of our 2020 General Fund property taxes. In response to our budget forecast, the Council approved a revision to our 2020 General Fund budget that will reduce our 2020 service and spending levels by $2 million, a reduction of 4.4 percent. A spending reduction of 4.4 percent midway through a budget year is significant. I think residents will notice some of the service level reductions. For example, our parks will be maintained, but they won’t get mowed as often. Weeds in our road medians will get pulled, but not as often. Police and Firefighters will serve the community’s public safety needs, but won’t attend as many community events as they may have in the past. Potholes will get filled, but not as many and not as fast. Streets will get swept, but not as often and not by special request. Making service and spending reductions in the spring means that reductions can be modest through the balance of the year, and also decreases the necessity of more dramatic service reductions this year and in 2021. If we can be cautious for the next 18-24 months, and if we see the economy stabilize, I think we will come out of this period of economic stress as fiscally strong as we are today. Scott H. Neal City Manager 56 • ABOUT TOWN City Of Edina Facilities Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St. 952-927-8861 Edina Aquatic Center, 4300 W. 66th St. 952-833-9560 Edina Art Center, 4701 W. 64th St. 952-903-5780 Braemar Arena, 7501 Ikola Way 952-833-9506 Braemar Field, 7509 Ikola Way 952-833-9512 Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive 952-903-5750 Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S. 952-833-9580 Edina Liquor – 50th & France, 3943 50th St. 952-903-5720 Edina Liquor – Grandview, 5013 Vernon Ave. 952-903-5740 Edina Liquor – Southdale, 6755 York Ave. S. 952-903-5730 Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square 952-833-9570 Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S. 952-833-9540 Fire Station No. 1, 6250 Tracy Ave. 952-826-0330 Fire Station No. 2, 7335 York Ave. 952-826-0357 Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility, 7450 Metro Blvd. 952-826-0376 South Metro Public Safety Training Facility, 7525 Braemar Blvd. 952-903-5700 Elected Officials City CouncilJim Hovland Mayor 612-874-8550Mary Brindle Council Member 952-941-7746Kevin Staunton Council Member 952-836-1020Ron Anderson Council Member 952-833-9549Mike Fischer Council Member 952-833-9569 Edina School Board Erica Allenburg erica.allenburg@edinaschools.org Matthew Fox matthew.fox@edinaschools.org Julie Greene julie.greene@edinaschools.org Ellen Jones ellen.jones@edinaschools.org Owen Michaelson owen.michaelson@edinaschools.org Janie Shaw janie.shaw@edinaschools.org Leny Wallen-Friedman leny.wallen-friedman@ edinaschools.org OtherJan Callison County Commissioner 612-348-7886 Melissa Franzen Senator 651-296-6238Heather Edelson Representative – 49A 651-785-8696Steve Elkins Representative – 49B 612-578-2103 Call 952-927-8861 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for general information. If you have a situation after hours or on weekends, but do not require immediate response from a paramedic, firefighter, police officer or Public Works crew, call the Police Department’s non-emergency number, 952-826-1610. City-Recognized Neighborhoods Arden Park Melissa Downey, ArdenParkNA@gmail.com Chowen Park Bill Neuendorf, chowenpark.edina@gmail.com Concord Ellen Westin, EllenWestin@edinarealty.comCreek Knoll Tim O’Neill, tim@pianobrothers.com Lake Cornelia Nora Davis, noradavis73@gmail.com Morningside Madelyn Nasser, Edina.morningside@gmail.com Pamela Park Laura Bergman, laurabergman@edinarealty.com South Cornelia Mary Hackel, mehackel@gmail.com Strachauer Park Chris Bremer, cbremer101@gmail.com White Oaks Dayna Deutsch, wonaedina@gmail.com LATE 2020 • 57 tcclosets.com 612.623.0987 2634 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis #ORGANIZETHENORTH AboutTown Magazine City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 EdinaMN.gov ***ECRWSS***POSTAL PATRONCAR-RT-WS PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGEPAID TWIN CITIES MN Permit No. 3932 Locally Owned & Offering OnlyLocally Owned & Offering Only the Best Products & Service! the Best Products & Service! 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