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Legeros Sculpts Life in New Book
Edina Sculptor Teaches Readers How to ‘Express the Inexpressible’
BY RICARDO ACOSTA
Residents can now read about an artist
and his process for creating several public
art pieces in a new book produced this
year by the Edina Community Foundation
about Edina native Nick Legeros.
The book, Nick Legeros: Sculpting a
Life, was written by longtime writer and
journalist Karin Winegar. The book gives
highlights of Legeros’ life as an artist and
his many sculptures that can be found
around the Twin Cities.
“It’s not just a catalog of my work; it
really does go through the process, both
the step by step on how to do it and the
creative aspect of it: how to make form,
how we perceive things, how we see the
world,” explained Legeros.
Legeros works out of his Blue-Ribbon
Bronze studio, gallery and foundry in
Northeast Minneapolis. He works only by
commission and has provided his art to
a wide variety of clients, including cities,
families and businesses. Some recognizable
pieces include the Goldy Gopher statue
on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
campus, his statue of Sid Hartman outside
Target Center in downtown Minneapolis,
and two sculptures made to commemorate
Northwest Airlines and the leadership of
Donald Nyrop at Centennial Lakes Park in
Edina.
“Kids in the school district when they pick
this book up, they can see this as a [career]
possibility, or those in college for the arts
can see that this guy could do it,” said
Legeros. “I never really saw my life being
turned into a book, but now that it’s
done, it’s kind of nice to have.”
The book was an idea that was first
pushed for by John Horn, the retired
president of Northwest Airlines, and later
became a reality with the support of Edina
Community Foundation Executive Director
Dick Crockett.
“John Horn thought it was fascinating
and thought that very few people would
understand it and was wondering if there
was some way that would explain the
process and make it more accessible,” said
Legeros, adding that Horn often comes
to his studio to watch the creative process
from a front-row seat. “He really wanted
something that he could give to libraries
Edition: Edina
NOVEMBER 2021
Volume 8, Issue 11Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
and schools so people can learn that this is
a real career.”
Crockett is now working on making that
sentiment a reality by giving copies to
every Hennepin County library, school
library, Arts & Culture commissioner, City
Council and School Board member in
Edina.
“The primary purpose of this book was
to communicate to the community and
broader community about the notable
work this sculptor has done,” said
Crockett. “We are using the book as a
communication tool to better inform the
public about the nature of this public
art that is around us and help them
understand the talent and effort that goes
in to making it.”
Copies of Nick Legeros: Sculpting a
Life can be purchased at the Edina
Community Foundation, 6750 France Ave.
S., Suite 220, or through Itasca Books.
Nick Legeros’ sculpture “Dreams Take Flight” was donated to the City in 2015. The art, located
on the Edina Promenade, depicts two children dreaming of the future of aviation. (File Photo)
Several of artist Nick Legeros’ sculptures
are on display in Edina, including:
•Coach Ike, Braemar Arena, 7501 Ikola Way
•Dreams Take Flight, Edina Promenade
•Reflecting on Friendship, Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S.
•Reflection of Me, Edina Promenade
•The Glamourous Days of Flight, Edina Promenade
22
BY THE NUMBERS
Just Deeds
In the past, discriminatory covenants were used to keep people
of color and certain ethnicities and religious groups from buying
houses in certain Minnesota neighborhoods. The covenants
resulted in segregated communities and adverse effects on those
blocked from ownership, including a lack of access to quality
education, policing, parks and public transportation.
In June, the Edina City Council approved a resolution condemning the
use of discriminatory covenants, discharging them from City-owned
property and approving participation in the Just Deeds coalition to
help Edina residents renounce such covenants from private property.TRACY AVEVERNON AVE
WOODDALE AVEHANSEN RD70TH ST W
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Lake Cornelia
Indian Hills
Highlands
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Creek Valley
Morningside
Todd Park
Birchcrest
PamelaPark
Grandview
The Heights
Presidents
Lake Edina
Prospect Knolls
Parklawn
Golf TerraceHeights
Melody Lake
South Cornelia
Chowen Park
Interlachen Park Country Club
Arden Park
Normandale Park
Indian Trails
Promenade
HilldaleRollingGreen
Pentagon Park
Strachauer Park
Creek Knoll
FoxMeadow
Brookview Heights
Minnehaha Woods
Edinborough
White Oaks
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June 2021
±Legend
City Owned Parcels with Discriminatory Covenants
Parcels with Discriminatory Covenants
Edina Neighborhoods 0 2,000Feet
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
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Edina Residents contacting
the city to discharge
covenants by the Just Deeds
coalition for free
City-owned properties
that had racially
restrictive covenants
in their deeds
cities participating in
the Just Deeds coalition
Mayor Jim Hovland hears from people
how they used to love to come to 50th &
France for dinner and a movie at the Edina
Theatre.
COVID-19 shuttered the theater in 2020.
The previous tenant at the historic theater
at 3911 W. 50th St. vacated the facility in
early 2021 due largely to the economic
impacts of the ongoing pandemic.
Since then, those same people and many
others have urged the City to find a way
to save the theater and keep Edina’s
downtown vibrant.
Last month, the Housing & Redevelopment
Authority (HRA) pledged $500,000 to help
Mann Theatres reoccupy the Edina Theatre.
Suzie Haugland of JSG Properties, owner
of the building, is working on a lease with
Mann Theatres to revive operations with
a unique mix of art films, popular films
and live events. The cost to renovate and
reopen the facility is very high. Without
support from the City, Haugland and
Steve Mann say they are unable to make
the needed $1.5 million investment.
“The demise of the theater is twofold:
neglect and COVID,” Mann explained.
“What this theater needs is a complete
makeover. When the project is done, it
will be as fine a theater as any in the Twin
Cities. We believe we can bring the Edina
Theatre back to its heyday or we wouldn’t
consider this investment.”
Among other things, Mann said he plans
to completely renovate the concession
areas, build a bar on the upper level,
replace all seating with recliners, install
City Pledges Support for Reopening of Historic Edina Theatre
Mann Theatres Plans to Renovate, Reopen in Early 2022
For more information, visit
EdinaMN.gov/RenouncingCovenants.
2,800
approximate number of
residential properties in Edina
that have racially restrictive
covenants in their deeds
new screens and audio equipment and
repair the sign, which is on the National
Register of Historic Places.
The HRA pledged a $200,000 grant in
American Rescue Plan Act funds to JSG
Properties and a $300,000 forgivable loan
to Mann Theatres for brick-and-mortar
improvements to the building.
JSG Properties and Mann Theatres plan to
begin work on the renovation soon, with
an anticipated reopening in early 2022.
Mann Theatres will make the theater
available to local community groups to hold
meetings, events and film festivals at cost.
“It’s going to be a wonderful asset again
for our community,” Hovland said.
The HRA is expected to approve final
contracts for the grant and loan at a
future meeting.
The HRA will next meet 7:30 a.m. Nov.
18. The City Council will next meet 7 p.m.
Nov. 3 and 16. For more information, visit
EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
The City has pledged $500,000 to help Mann
Theatres reoccupy the Edina Theatre at 3911
W. 50th St. (File Photo)
Golden Valley
Robbinsdale
New Hope
Crystal
Minnetonka
Minneapolis
Hopkins
Rochester
Richfield
Edina
St. Louis Park
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
Town Talks: Street Funding, Edina City
Hall, Council Chambers
Engineering Director Chad Millner and
Ann Swenson, chair of the Street Funding
Task Force, will present information about
street reconstruction and funding at a
special “Town Talks” event.
Tuesday, Nov. 2, Election Day
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall,
Council Chambers
Thursday, Nov. 4, Diwali
No City meetings
Thursday, Nov. 4, 4-6 p.m.
Pumpkin Smash & Bash, Countryside
Park
Thursday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day
City offices closed
Friday, Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m.
Friday Family Movie Night,
Edinborough Park
Tuesday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall,
Council Chambers
Wednesday Nov. 17, 7 p.m.
Planning Commission meeting, Edina
City Hall
Thursday, Nov. 18, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Thursday, Nov. 18, 11:30 a.m.
Caitlin & Miss Rose, Edinborough Park
Thursday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving
City offices closed
Friday, Nov. 26
City offices closed
Sunday, Nov. 28, Hanukkah
For a complete listing of meetings and
events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission meetings live:
• Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16)
• Facebook.com/EdinaMN
• “Watch a Meeting” web page at EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
The spending plan for the first half of $4.9
million the City will get from the federal
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) focuses
on programs and services to quickly assist
Edina residents and small businesses most
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In community discussions about how to
spend the money, mental health services
repeatedly came up as a focus. As a result,
$258,000 will go toward:
•Sending a specially trained person to
respond with Police to mental health-
based calls
•Expanding an existing program where
a social workers follows up on certain
Police calls to connect people with
resources and help.
“This is to provide those services most
important to people in crisis,” said Police
Chief Todd Milburn.
Another $142,000 will go to the Edina
Education Fund Heal Together Campaign
that provides school-based mental health
providers, school district staff training
and summertime mental health support,
among other services.
Here is how the first half of the ARPA
money is being spent, followed by some
common questions.
•Small Business Support - $600,000
•Community Broadband Expansion -
$500,000
•Mental Health Assistance Expansion -
$400,000
•Rental Assistance - $300,000
•Fiber Connections to City Utility
Facilities - $300,000
•Community Health Software Upgrade
- $300,000
•Food Assistance - $100,000
•Urban Forestry Initiative - $100,000
Why don’t you use this money to
reduce taxes or credit utility bills?
Federal regulations forbid using ARPA
money for direct or indirect tax reductions,
rebates or the like. The money must be
used by 2024 for these federal priorities:
supporting public health response,
addressing negative economic impacts of
the pandemic, serving the most impacted
communities and families, investing in
water and sewer infrastructure, investing
in broadband infrastructure, replacing
lost public sector revenue, or providing
premium pay for essential workers. City
Manager Scott Neal noted the City opted
against the latter two to focus funding on
helping the community.
What will the $600,000 in small
business support be spent on?
Direct technical services to help small
businesses compete in the digital-driven
environment, such as setting up websites,
search engine optimization and social
media support. One-third will be shared
by the 50th & France Businesses &
Professional Association and the Edina
Chamber of Commerce, both of which
provide programs and services key to
supporting local businesses. Another
$200,000 will go to improvements to
reopen the Edina Theatre building that is
the hallmark of 50th & France.
How can I apply or get some of this
assistance?
Food and rental assistance will come
through Volunteers Enlisted to Assist
People (VEAP), which already has
extensive experience and a system for
vetting applicants. Call VEAP at
952-888-9616.
Application processes for broadband
assistance and for small business technical
assistance are being developed and will be
announced soon.
How will the City spend the other
half of the money?
That will be determined in 2022 to remain
flexible to changing needs.
View the 2021 spending plan in the
Sept. 9, 2021, City Council agenda packet
online at EdinaMN.gov.
ARPA Spending Plan Focuses on Struggling Businesses and Residents
Small Business Support and Mental Health Services
Among Priorities
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov4
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Braemar Golf Dome Back Up With New Amenities This Winter
One-of-a-kind indoor facility offers players of all levels a chance for year-round fun
BY DAN REISIG
Most of the leaves have fallen from the
trees and furnaces across Minnesota are
firing up for the long haul. That can only
mean one thing.
It’s indoor golf season in Edina.
Braemar Golf Dome, 7420 Braemar Blvd.,
reopens for the winter season Monday,
Nov. 1. At the same time, Braemar Golf
Course and its outdoor driving range shut
down for the year. The dome will look to
build off a banner year.
“It was definitely a record year, even with
the couple shutdowns we had with the
pandemic,” said Braemar Golf General
Manager Joe Abood. “Early on, it was one
of the few things you could still do and do
safely. Also, the technology is really good
in the dome environment.”
Braemar Golf Dome features the
Toptracer Range technology, the only such
indoor facility of its kind in the state of
Minnesota. Toptracer offers players the
chance to virtually play famous courses,
participate in skill games, or just fine-tune
their game.
“People are getting used to the
technology, and they’re learning that
it’s easy to use and, if they want, they
can track a lot of their own information
through the app,” Abood explained. He
provided an example where a player could
let the software know the club they are
using, and it can track all the shot data
from that club throughout the season.
Visitors to the dome will also notice
improvements to the facility’s food and
beverage offerings.
“Last year, we added the ability to get
a beer, wine or hard seltzer,” Abood
explained. “But because of COVID-19, we
didn’t have anybody congregating. Now, if
you have to wait for a bay, you can stop in
and have a drink or a sandwich.”
While the facility will operate at full
capacity, enhanced safety precautions
such as cleaning and sterilization of the
bays between uses continue. Employees
are requested to wear masks and they are
recommended for visitors. When players
arrive, they’ll check in to see availability
and be given a buzzer while they wait,
similar to a busy restaurant.
Players can also stay competitive by joining
a two-person floating league that allows
them the chance to fill out their scorecard
on their own time.
“This is an opportunity to join a league
and go play whenever you want,” Abood
said. “You don’t have to designate
Tuesday night at 5 p.m., you can actually
come in on a Friday afternoon and grab a
scorecard, post your score and win weekly
prizes.” Future improvements this season
include the ability to reserve and prepay
for a bay.
Braemar Golf Dome offers everyone from
duffers to scratch players the chance to
have fun, improve their game, or just stay
prepared for the first tee come springtime.
Learn more about the Braemar Golf
Dome by visiting BraemarGolf.com.
Braemar Golf Dome is back for the winter, open
at full capacity while maintaining enhanced
safety precautions. (File Photo)
YANCEY PARK OFFICIALLY
DEDICATED IN OCTOBER
Mayor Jim Hovland, Human Rights & Relations
Commissioner Jasmine Stringer Moore and Race & Equity
Task Force Co-Chair Jessi Kingston unveil signage at the
newly dedicated Yancey Park, 5520 Hansen Road, before a
large crowd Monday, Oct. 4. (Photo by Dan Reisig)
CITY OF EDINA
4801 WEST 50TH STREET
EDINA, MN 55424
***ECRWSS***POSTAL PATRONCAR-RT-WS
PRESORT STD
U.S. POSTAGEPAID
TWIN CITIES MN
Permit No. 3932