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Autumn 2017 About Town
AboutTownAboutTown 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 Leverage the global power of Coldwell Banker® Contact your Neighborhood Specialist today. Curt Adams 612-701-7376 Beth Andrews 612-801-2041 Emily Bradley 651-792-5340 Tom and Kari Cartier 612-910-9556 Daniel and Julie Desrochers 612-554-4773 Anne C. Elliott 612-327-3027 Kathryn Haymaker 612-203-1486 Isaac Johnson 612-280-9991 Seth Johnson 612-810-5124 Karen Moe 612-418-6840 Jerry and Stella Rezac 612-720-6942 Steve Schmitz 952-484-6045 Wade Thommen 952-994-2035 Mike Weiss 612-747-5463 Jerome Nelson NMLS #340544 Tel 952-844-6042 Guaranteed Rate Affinity Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Burnet are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2017 Coldwell Banker Burnet. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Burnet fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Edina Regional Office, 7550 France Ave, S STE 100, Edina, MN 55435 . Celebrate Edinborough Park’s 30th Anniversary Oct. 6 Page 26 AUTUMN•2017 Official Magazine of the City of Edina AboutTown AboutTownVolume 28, Number 4 Circulation 25,000 Autumn 2017 Official Publication of the EdinaMN.gov City of Edina, Minnesota 4801 West 50th Street Edina, Minnesota 55424 952-826-0359 Editor: Jennifer Bennerotte Designer: Katie Laux Contributing Writers: Ying Chen Axt, Krystal Caron, Dick Crockett, Wes Drey, Kaylin Eidsness, David Katz, Grace Kramer, Debbie Townsend, Dawn Wills and Mary Woitte Photographers: Michael Braun and Dietrich Nissen Publisher: City of Edina About Town is produced by the City of Edina. To advertise in About Town, call Barb Pederson, 612-998-7412 . Copyright 2017 by City of Edina, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424. About Town is published quarterly 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 Andrea Bryant. Table Of Contents Calendar Of Events ..............................................................1 Autumn Calendar Highlights .............................................4 A Word From The Mayor ...................................................5 Forgotten Opera Sensation Emma Abbott Bankrolled Early Edina Development ..................................................6 It’s Not Only Neighborly ... It’s The Law .......................12 Makeover Improves City Website, Facility Pages .........14 New Utility Bill Payment System Offers Improved Functionality .......................................................................18 Windsource Brings Clean, Renewable Energy Option To Edina .................................................................20 Home Energy Fair To Be Held Oct. 7 ..............................22 Edinborough Park Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary ........26 Officer Piper To Work In Edina Schools .........................30 Recreation Supervisor Works To Make Edina Even More Active .........................................................................32 New Approaches To Teaching And Learning Prepare Young Minds for What’s Next...........................34 City Explores Covering Highway 100 To Reunite Grandview Neighborhoods ..............................................36 Edina Community Foundation: Diversity And Inclusion ..............................................................................38 Funding, Nearby Development Next Steps For Fred Richards Park .............................................................40 VEAP Strengthens Access to Healthy Foods, Affordable Housing and Social Services .........................44 Planning Matters ................................................................46 Business Notes ....................................................................50 The Last Word ....................................................................54 a blue print for success. remodeling & design Imagine your life transformed. Remodel your home. Imagine your life transformed. Contact us about remodeling your home. CA US TO SET UP YOUR FIRST HOUSE VISIT. Transforming homes and lives for over 40 years. 612.861.0188 | sylvestremn.com We’ve got one. It’s called the 360˚ Remodeling Plan. Our 360˚ Remodeling Plan is more than a ballpark estimate and a quick sketch. It delivers comprehensive planning and customer-centric design, setting the stage for a highly successful remodeling experience. Call us to explore how our 360˚ Plan can make it easier to bring your remodeling dreams to life. Tear Here Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 37 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 47 p.m., Edina Parent Communications Network Forum “How to Talk to Your Kids About Sexuality,” Edina Performing Arts Center. 5Noon, Teddy Bear Band, Edinborough Park. 5-8 p.m., 33rd-annual Members’ Juried Exhibition opening, Edina Art Center. 69 a.m.-9 p.m., Edinborough Park 30th anniversary celebration, Edinborough Park. 79 a.m.-1 p.m., Home Energy Fair, Braemar Golf Course. 9 a.m., Construction Walking Tour, Braemar Golf Course. 2 87 p.m., Rum River Brass, Edinborough Park. 99:30 a.m., School Board candidate forum, Edina Community Center. 6:30 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. 117 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 12Noon, Alphabits, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 138:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Urban Vision Symposium, Braemar Golf Course. 14 157 p.m., Roseville Big Band, Edinborough Park. 167 p.m., Edina High School Choral Concert, Edina High School Fick Auditorium. 174-6 p.m., Community Flu Shot Clinic, Edina Community Center. 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 187-9 p.m., Wine & Canvas Wednesday, Braemar Golf Course. 20No school for Edina Public Schools. 2111 a.m.-1 p.m., Pumpkin Fest, 50th & France. 227 p.m., Seward Concert Band, Edinborough Park. 237 p.m., School Board, Edina Community Center. 247 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Zuhrah Shrine Band, Edinborough Park. 257 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 264:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission Edina Art Center. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 276:30-8:30 p.m., Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Edinborough Park. 286 p.m., Edina High School Carnival Concert, Edina High School Fick Auditorium. 3130297 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. October 2017 19No school for Edina Public Schools. Noon, Woodland Puppets, Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar 2017 AUTUMN • 1 17 p.m., Somewhat Dixieland Band, Edinborough Park.Tear Here 2 • AUTUMN 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1Braemar Golf Dome opens for the season. 27 p.m., Edina High School fall play, “The Visit,” Edina Performing Arts Center. 37 p.m., Edina High School fall play, “The Visit,” Edina Performing Arts Center. 47 p.m., Edina High School fall play, “The Visit,” Edina Performing Arts Center. 57 p.m., St. Paul Police Band, Edinborough Park. 67 p.m., Edina Parent Communications Network Forum“Creating Character & Connection in Your Home,” South View Middle School. 7Election Day. Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 87 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 97 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. 10Veterans Day. City Hall closed. 6:30 p.m., Friday Family Movie Night, Edinborough Park. 11 127 p.m., Heart of a Tinman Performance, Edinborough Park. 136:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., School Board, Edina Community Center. 147 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 157 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 7-9 p.m., Wine & Canvas Wednesday, Braemar Golf Course. 17 1810 a.m.-noon, Town Hall meeting, location TBD. 5 p.m., Edina Federated Women’s Club Fundraiser, Edina Country Club. 197 p.m., The Percolators band, Edinborough Park. 20 217 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 22No school for Edina Public Schools. 23No school for Edina Public Schools. Thanksgiving. City Hall closed. 24No school for Edina Public Schools. City Hall closed. 253-5 p.m., Small Business Saturday & Winter Market, 50th & France. 287 p.m., Bend in the River Big Band, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Kindergarten information night, Concord, Cornelia, Countryside, Creek Valley and Highlands elementary schools. 27267 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. November 2017 297 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 30Noon, Jack & Kitty, Edinborough Park. 16Noon, Westwood Hills Nature Center, Edinborough Park. 4:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission, Edina Art Center.6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 3 • AUTUMN 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 37 p.m., Minneapolis Police Band, Edinborough Park. 4 55 p.m., Human Rights & Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 6 7Noon, Jack Pearson, Edinborough Park. 86:30 p.m., Friday Family Movie Night, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Winter Jubilee concert, Edina High School Fick Auditorium. 98:45 and 10:30 a.m., Breakfast with Santa, Braemar Golf Course. 7 p.m., Winter Jubilee concert, Edina High School Fick Auditorium. 107 p.m., St. Louis Park Community Band, Edinborough Park. 116:30 p.m., Community Health Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., School Board, Edina Community Center. 127 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Commission, Edina City Hall. 137 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 15 16 177 p.m., Good News Big Band, Edinborough Park. 187 p.m., Edina High School Band concert, Edina High School Fick Auditorium. 197 p.m., City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Brio Brass, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Edina High School Band concert, Edina High School Fick Auditorium. 20 214:30 p.m., Arts & Culture Commission Edina Art Center. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 22 23 26No school for Edina Public Schools. 25No school for Edina Public Schools. Christmas. City Hall closed. 24 December 2017 27No school for Edina Public Schools. 28No school for Edina Public Schools. 29No school for Edina Public Schools. 5-8 p.m., Pre-New Year’s Eve Party, Edinborough Park. 14Noon, Richardson Nature Center, Edinborough Park. 7 p.m., Energy & Environment Commission, Edina City Hall. About Town Calendar 30 4 • AUTUMN 2017 Autumn Calendar Highlights Other Dates To Remember Oct. 6 5:30 p.m., Edina Education Fund “Socktoberfest,” Braemar Golf Dome. Oct. 10 7 p.m., LaVelle Jazz Band, Edinborough Park. Oct. 26 Noon, Bob the Beachcomber, Edinborough Park. Nov. 14 7 p.m., River City Jazz Orchestra, Edinborough Park. Nov. 14 7 p.m., Parks & Recreation Commission, Edina City Hall. Dec. 5 7 p.m., Eden Prairie Community Band, Edinborough Park. Not-So-Scary Halloween Party What: Start your Halloween weekend off with a party at Edinborough Park! Trick-or-treating, games, special “kid-friendly” entertainment and mask-making with the Edina Art Center round out this exclusive annual family event. Costumes are encouraged, but not required, and admission price includes full access to Adventure Peak and the Great Hall play areas. When: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. Where: Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S. Cost: $11/child; adults free with paying child. Discount available for pre-registration. Info: 952-833-9540 or EdinboroughPark.com. Pumpkin Fest What: The 50th & France Business & Professional Association hosts Pumpkin Fest, a fun, family-oriented day filled with festive activities, including trick-or-treating, face painting, petting zoo and a cake walk. When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Where: Downtown Edina, 50th Street and France Avenue. Cost: Free Info: 50th & France Business & Professional Association, 952-922-1524, or 50thandFrance.com.File PhotoFile PhotoTear Here A Word From The Mayor 2017 AUTUMN • 5 One of Edina’s longest-serving public servants quietly stepped down from volunteer service to the City this summer. Jack Rice retired from the Edina Housing Foundation, an organization he helped found about four decades ago with William Greer, Virginia Shaw, Ronald Ringling and John Bailey. Rice started work as a public servant in 1973 when he joined what was then called the Park Board and was a member until December 1978. With a clear calling for public service and an interest in continually making Edina a better community, he helped form the East Edina Housing Foundation a few years later. The East Edina Housing Foundation, now doing business as the Edina Housing Foundation, was organized by the Housing & Redevelopment Authority in 1985 to provide modest cost housing opportunities to people of low and moderate incomes. Initially, second mortgages were offered to qualified buyers of the Edinborough condominium complex. Over time, the deferred loan program was expanded to include Centennial Lakes condominiums and owner-occupied housing. Initially, the funds to start the second mortgage program came from tax-increment financing funds associated with the Edinborough development. The second mortgage program has been very successful, with more than 300 second mortgages issued. As these second mortgages have been paid back, the Foundation has invested the funds, creating a source for future affordable housing offerings. Rice and his colleagues on the Foundation have diligently watched over and used those funds to create housing opportunities. Over the years, the Foundation has offered the following affordable housing funding programs: • Second mortgage program. Second mortgages have been issued since 1985, accruing 5 percent simple interest. • Come Home 2 Edina program. Replacing the original second mortgage program, this program has been crafted to meet the current requirements of the mortgage industry. Up to $60,000 is available to income- and asset-eligible homebuyers in a defined area of Edina. • Group home. Interest-free first mortgage to Mount Olivet Rolling Acres for the purchase of a single-family home to serve as a group home for four low- or moderate-income people. • Oak Glen of Edina. Provided funds in the form of a loan/grant to assist in the restoration of 26 Section 8 units in Oak Glen of Edina, thus encouraging the owner to extend the Section 8 contract for another decade. • H.O.M.E. Annually, the Foundation provides a grant to Senior Community Services for its Household and Outside Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) program to fill the gap in its funding request that cannot be fully accommodated with the City’s Community Development Block Grant budget. Rice served on the Foundation for three years after its inception, then took a 10-year hiatus before rejoining and serving another two decades. While his work on the Edina Housing Foundation spanned the longest amount of time, Rice served the City in other ways. Most notably, he served on the City Council from 1988 to 1994. In the 2000s, he was of great assistance with a complicated property acquisition for the site of the current Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility on Metro Boulevard. Rice helped shape the community and the City owes him a debt of gratitude. When you see him around town, please thank him for his service. James B. Hovland Mayor Tear Here 6 • AUTUMN 2017 Forgotten Opera Sensation Emma Abbott Bankrolled Early Edina Development Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 2 will appear in the Winter 2018 issue of About Town. In the next issue, we will delve into how Emma Abbott came to lend her name and deep pockets to the development of one of Edina’s earliest and most progressive subdivisions. By David Katz, Contributing Writer While few today know her name or story, in her time, opera prima donna Emma Abbott enjoyed an international reputation as America’s premier singing sensation. Over an extraordinary career that spanned from 1859 to her premature death in 1891, this plucky soprano rose from hardscrabble Midwestern roots to the top of her chosen profession: a media darling in Paris and London, belle of the ball in the opera meccas of Milan and Florence, and a doorbuster act in “New World” markets from New York to San Francisco. Surprisingly, at the absolute zenith of her career, this globe-trekking phenom held a special place in her heart for a tract of land in the northeast corner of present-day Edina. She never resided there herself. Had she lived just a year or two longer, however, the star would have molded “Emma Abbott Park” into a combination residential oasis and weekend retreat for the growing Minneapolis working class. From Peoria To ParisIn the words of a family friend, Emma “[exuded] musical talent from her first lisped words.” That is probably only a slight exaggeration. Her relations boasted “refined musical taste and talents … were well educated in music theory, and skillful manipulators of popular instruments,” dating back at least two generations, according to her biographer and friend Sadie E. Martin. Her paternal grandfather Dyer Abbott taught military fife during the War of 1812, and maintained a private music studio in Connecticut in his later years. Emma’s father, Seth, followed suit, becoming an in-demand choir instructor and itinerant band leader. After marrying Almira Palmer – an accomplished singer, naturally – in 1842, Seth moved west to the growing burb of Chicago in pursuit of greener pastures. Although he successfully established himself as a “musical celebrity of that time and locality,” Seth’s reputation and earnings fell short of his lofty hopes. Emma, the couple’s third child, was born in Chicago on Dec. 9, 1850. The Life and Professional Career of Emma Abbott (1891), by Sadie E. Martin.Emma Abbott established the Abbott English Opera Company – the first such American troupe formed by a woman – in 1878. 2017 AUTUMN • 7 Seth moved the growing Abbott brood to Peoria, Illinois, shortly thereafter, where he dabbled in various commercial enterprises, but continued to nurse his and his family’s musical aspirations. (Seth’s entrepreneurial ambitions will play into the story again shortly.) It was here, at the ripe age of 8, that Emma gave her first vocal concert – to a schoolhouse full of miners in her father’s employ. Donations received at a half-dozen free, casual performances such as this enabled young Emma to afford professional lessons back in Chicago, where she studied under a maestro with the auspicious name of Mozart. She then furthered her vocal education in New York City, where the cash-strapped ingénue had the good fortune to enjoy the patronage of several national luminaries, including famed New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley, abolitionist and preacher Henry Ward Beecher, and Clara Louise Kellogg – America’s preeminent operatic soprano at that time. Afterward, like Kellogg and every other opera singer seeking to achieve headliner status, Emma traveled to Europe to polish her voice and acting skills. She quickly perfected Italian and German, the languages of opera, and eventually mastered French, the lingua franca of high society, with equal alacrity. Seats for Emma’s formal stage debut in London, and later shows on the continent, “sold at a premium, and even aisles and foyers were packed to the doors,” remembered Martin. Her obvious talents were only part of the reason for this meteoric rise. Novelty was another. Cosmopolitan audiences had never before encountered “a product of the wild and woolly West,” who embodied the ideals of an opera prima donna while also breaking the mold in striking ways. Off stage, Emma’s many surprising hobbies ranged from fencing (continued on next page) Seth Abbott enjoyed a close relationship with his daughter, nurturing her talent and instilling the work ethnic needed to succeed in the competitive world of musical theater. “She never uttered [Seth’s] name without a prefix of endearment,” noted one childhood friend. The Life and Professional Career of Emma Abbott (1891), by Sadie E. Martin. 8 • AUTUMN 2017 to hiking to nautical pursuits like rowing, sailing and swimming. (She purportedly even once saved the life of a drowning victim.) In addition, Emma’s devotion to historical authenticity and the minutiae of stagecraft set her apart. When she prepared for the popular opera Queen Anne, for instance, she read up extensively on the British monarch in the little free time available to her. She insisted on wearing a gown of “moss-green velvet and shrimp-pink satin” – an exact copy of one on display at the Louvre – even though reproducing Queen Anne’s finery “cost many times that of the royal garment itself.” The Abbott English Opera CompanyWhile abroad, Emma met and in 1874 wed a New York expat named Eugene Wetherell. Although a love match, the marriage proved a boon to Emma’s professional prospects as well – particularly after the couple returned stateside. Eugene took the reins as business manager when, in 1878, the prima donna incorporated the Abbott English Opera Company (incidentally, the first such troupe formed by a woman in America). The Abbott English Opera Company, which employed upward of 60 cast and crew in its heyday, toured widely throughout the country for over a decade. Emma, as artistic director, initially concentrated on bankable classics like Romeo and Juliet and Verdi’s La Traviata. However, unlike her competitors, who staged “the same old repertoire year after year,” Emma was not content to perform “time-worn opera in a stereotyped manner,” (continued on page 10)The Life and Professional Career of Emma Abbott (1891), by Sadie E. Martin.Between each season, Emma Abbott traveled to Europe to scout new operas to adapt for the American stage. Over time, such novel offerings gave the Abbott English Opera Company a leg up on the competition. 2017 AUTUMN • 9 Minnesota Misses Out On Abbott’s ‘Grand Mausoleum’Emma Abbott’s adoring husband and adroit business manager, Eugene Wetherell, died 18 months before her. Family and friends held funeral services near his childhood home in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and interred his remains at seaside Oak Grove Cemetery. Emma considered that arrangement temporary; she nursed a grandiose ambition to, in the words of her biographer, “erect one of the most expensive, indeed perhaps the costliest monument in the United States dedicated to the memory of a private individual.” She strongly considered moving Eugene’s remains to Greenwood Cemetery in New York City, a tranquil place he had once called “the loveliest spot on earth.” She also flirted with the idea of constructing this “grand mausoleum” in Minnesota, as an adornment for Emma Abbott Park or another of Seth Abbott’s platted subdivisions in or near Edina. In the end, the question of location proved a moot one. Eugene’s mother, citing a state law which barred Emma from disinterring her son without her permission, insisted Gloucester remain his final resting place. Understandably, Emma did not take kindly to that pronouncement. However, once “a burst of passionate grief” subsided, she opted to move forward with her plans. The ornate Wetherell Monument in Gloucester, built of Quincy granite at a height of nearly 60 feet, is an amalgam of six different designs commissioned by Emma Abbott. She did not live to see it completed, and was buried there alongside her husband after her own untimely death in 1891. Abbott Grave Marker Wetherell MonumentSubmitted PhotoSubmitted Photo 10 • AUTUMN 2017 noted Martin. Each off-season, she traveled to Europe to research new operas to adapt for the American stage. New crowd favorites like Anne Boleyn and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado gave Abbott’s troupe a decided leg up, particularly in the West and Midwest. Once it hit its stride, the Abbott English Opera Company often netted as much as $10,000, which equates to more than $235,000 in today’s dollars, in profits from just one week-long engagement. Emma, who starred in most of the productions herself, naturally generated the most crowd enthusiasm. In the words of one arts critic with a flair for mental imagery, the prima donna’s nightly standing ovations typically came complete with “flowers and sweetmeats in sufficient quantities to stock a moderate-sized conservatory and confectionary stand.” In 13 years on the road, the Abbott English Opera Company also had the singular honor to stage the inaugural shows at a record 35 new music halls from coast to coast – proof positive of Emma Abbott’s singular popularity. If the opera superstar is little remembered today, it is at least partly attributable to the sad fact that the soprano was cut down in her prime. On Dec. 29, 1890, the troupe dedicated a new opera hall in Ogden, Utah. Emma caught a chill that night in the drafty, unfinished building, and came down with pneumonia soon after. The Life and Professional Career of Emma Abbott (1891), by Sadie E. Martin.Abbott English Opera Company productions came to be known for their extraordinary – and extraordinarily expensive – costumes. In this case, her renowned work ethic proved her downfall. Despite protestations from her entourage and personal physician, Emma refused to cancel a performance scheduled for the following night in Salt Lake City. “I must sing if I die for it,” she declared. It proved a prophetic statement. After a brave showing in the opera Martha, her condition took an abrupt turn for the worse. Despite bedrest and round-the-clock physician attention, Emma Abbott fell into delirium and died on Jan. 5, at just 40 years of age. On her deathbed, Emma voiced satisfaction with a life well lived, but regretted leaving three major projects unfinished. First, she would not live to complete a promising, original collaboration with famed French composer Edmond Audran then in development for the Abbott English Opera Company. Second, she would never lay eyes on the grandiose monument she had recently commissioned in memory of her husband. Last but not least, Emma lamented that she would never see “Emma Abbott Park,” one of her enterprising father’s favorite pet projects, take shape in far-off Edina. Martin’s biography wistfully notes: “Had Miss Abbott lived, she would have joined her father in the making of this [subdivision] bearing her name a real park, with beautiful trees, flowers and streams of water … a place where the citizens of Minneapolis might resort, and enjoy as her gift, pure air and charming surroundings.” Author’s Note: Edina did not become “Edina” until 1888, when residents of what was then informally called “West Richfield” voted to secede from Richfield Township and form a separate village. The story of Emma and Seth Abbott straddles this seminal moment in local history. For the sake of simplicity, “Edina” is used here throughout. Background information for this piece came from materials maintained by the Edina Historical Society, Minnesota Historical Society, and Illinois State Historical Society. Books of particular help to the author include The Life and Professional Career of Emma Abbott (1891), by Sadie E. Martin, and The History of Edina, Minnesota: From Settlement to Suburb (1988), by Paul Donald Hesterman. Unless otherwise attributed, direct quotes come from the Martin biography. 2017 AUTUMN • 11Submitted PhotoHad she lived longer, the opera prima donna would have left her own stamp on “Emma Abbott Park,” a subdivision platted by her father in present-day Edina. Today, Todd Park sits close to where Seth Abbott intended to site the community’s titular green space. 12 • AUTUMN 2017 It’s Not Only Neighborly … It’s The Law The Law: Edina City Code Chapter 24, Article II, Sec. 21 – Prohibited encumbrances or obstructions. No person shall obstruct, encroach upon, encumber or interfere, wholly or partially, with any street, boulevard, alley, sidewalk, easement, park or public ground by placing … refuse, as defined in Article III of Chapter 20. What it Means: Keep fallen leaves out of the street to help prevent clogging the storm sewer, which can lead to water runoff, backups and flooding. In the fall, three street sweepers work four to six weeks, collecting leaves throughout the city. If residents rake leaves from their yards into the streets, the street sweeper will not be able to keep up. Residents should compost their leaves or contact their refuse hauler for proper disposal. Licensed haulers in the city are Aspen Waste Systems, 612-884-8000; Republic Services, 952-941-5174; Curbside Waste, Inc., 763-504-2872; GarbageMan of Edina, 763-269-8182; Vierkant Disposal, 612-922-2505; Suburban Waste Service, 952- 937-8900; and Waste Management, 952-890-1100. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 952-826-0376. The Law: Edina City Code Chapter 36, Article XII., Div. 2, Sec. 1254 (c)(8). Customary home occupation as an accessory use … the following shall specifically not be permitted as customary home occupations … Tourist homes, boardinghouses or rooming houses and other kinds of transient occupancies. What It Means: Vacation rentals like VRBO and Airbnb are not allowed in Edina. Single-family residential properties are to be used as the residence of an owner or tenant of the unit. If the owner does not reside in the unit, a tenant may reside, but for a period of not less than 30 consecutive days. For more information, contact the Planning Division at 952-826-0369. The Law: Edina City Code Chapter 23, Article II, Div. 3, Sec. 68 – Discarded or disused equipment or material and refuse. The following are declared to be nuisances affecting public health … Accumulations of discarded or disused machinery, household appliances and furnishings, or other material, or storage in the open of machinery, equipment or materials not in normal use on the premises where stored, in a manner conducive to the harboring of rats, mice, snakes or vermin, or to fire, health or safety hazards from such accumulations. What It Means: Nobody likes to see non-operational vehicles, appliances, refuse or temporary trash receptacles on the front lawn. Please dispose of these things promptly and responsibly. Visit hennepin.us/dropoffs or call 612-348-3777 for information on recycling household junk and hazardous waste. For more information, contact the Health Division at 952-826-0370. – Compiled by Dawn Wills Leaves Vacation Rental by Owners Junk 2017 AUTUMN • 13 www.smilesatfrance.com 4999 France Ave. South, Suite 230 • Edina / Minneapolis • 612-824-7033 Enhancing Smiles... Building Cc e... Changing Lives Complimentary,Cosmetic,Restorative & Implant Consultation Located at50th &France C M Y CM MY CY CMY K EdinaOnTheGoAd-PM.pdf 1 8/22/17 9:11 AM More Luggage. More Saving. Bring in this ad and save 20%* off one item PLUS your AAA Member discount. Our new Edina location has more luggage and travel gear than ever before! Stop by today to see our expanded collection from TravelPro, Briggs & Riley, Baggalini, and PacSafe, plus exclusive products from Swiss Gear and more. Located on France behind Lunds & Byerlys, our Edina location has expert advisors who can help with membership, travel planning, Tourbooks and maps, and insurance services. *Offer valid until 11/30/2017. Coupon must be presented at time of transaction. No copies will be accepted. AAA member discount is available to current AAA members and is based on membership level. Excludes Briggs & Riley. AAA.com 7151 France Avenue S. Business Hours Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm Saturday: 9am-3pm 14 • AUTUMN 2017 Makeover Improves City Website, Facility Pages By Debbie Townsend If you haven’t visited EdinaMN.gov lately, you’re in for a surprise. The City of Edina’s website has been redesigned to make it easier for people to quickly find the information they want. It’s also mobile-friendly, so it works well on any device. New menus display the most sought-after information for each department or facility, meaning the answers you seek are usually found in a single click. Buttons take you directly to the calendar of events, the sign-up for email notifications or a featured City event. The latest news is right at the top, giving you the basic information in a quick glance. The new calendar lets you see all City events and meetings or just the ones you want. For example, users can choose just to see Edinborough Park events, what’s happening at City Hall or both. The redesign got an enthusiastic endorsement from City Hall Receptionist Lynette Biunno, who fields more questions about the City than anyone else. “The toolbars are amazing to me!” she said. “I love that there are dropdowns that are so very informative and so easy to navigate with everything that I need right there! No more guessing where to go for information!” The project also included creating stronger websites for the City’s enterprise facilities: Braemar Arena, Braemar Field, Braemar Golf Course, Centennial Lakes Park, Edina Aquatic Center, Edina Art Center, Edina Liquor, Edinborough Park and the Edina Senior Center. All of those sites got a makeover and improved navigation. To help create a better browsing experience for people, City staff worked with consultant CivicPlus, which specializes in developing user-friendly government websites. In addition, Communications & Technology Services staff did an extensive study of the old site’s traffic and how people moved through it. Feedback from residents and a usability study also contributed to the improvements. “We are thankful for the feedback and many suggestions we received from focus group participants and other residents who want to help us improve the website,” said 2017 AUTUMN • 15 Communications & Technology Services Director Jennifer Bennerotte. “It’s an important communications tool for all City departments.” She encourages people to visit EdinaMN.gov and see for themselves. “The City’s new website is more modern in look and functionality,” she said. “With the majority of our users now accessing the site from a smartphone or tablet, I’m hopeful they will be able to find information much more quickly and enjoy a better experience while browsing.” Look for more improvements in the coming months as new features are rolled out. 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WE BUY, SELL AND TRADE PRE-OWNED TIMEPIECES Luxury Watch Winders • Band Sizing, Repair and Adjustment • On-site Battery Installation • Crystal and Crown Replacement • Watch Restoration • Complete Overhauls: Quartz, Mechanical, Manual and Vintage Pieces Full Service Watch Repair Swiss-trained and Certified $5 OFF BATTERY INSTALLATION OR BAND SIZING EXPIRES 12/31/17 Watch Storage Solutions Authorized Dealer of Eterna, Glycine and SEIKO Watches Services Offered: 18 • AUTUMN 2017 By Krystal Caron Nearly three months after the launch of the new utility bill payment system, residents and the City are still reveling in the long list of improvements the new system offers. InvoiceCloud is the company behind the new bill payment system, which offers more reliability and an array of new features for users. “This system really improved the customer experience with the bill-paying process. It is safe, easy and convenient. InvoiceCloud provides a portal that residents can access to manage their own billing,” said Finance Director Don Uram. “We’re pleasantly surprised at how well the rollout of this system has been. People seem enthused about using it and are taking advantage of what it can do for them. We are getting comments on the notifications and reminders feature. People can sign up for text messages and emails for when the bill is due.” Through InvoiceCloud, residents are able to view their utility bills online and pay online, by phone or by text. Credit cards, debit cards and electronic checks are accepted. In addition, there are several new features available: • Email notifications when a bill is ready, just before the due date and when a scheduled payment is pending. • Option to pay by phone at any time. The phone number to make payments is 844-476-3107. • Ability to register online to receive notifications by text message and/or pay by text. • Option to make a one-time payment or create an account to gain access to all features. • Security to save payment options for future use. • Ability to schedule payments or enroll in AutoPay. “Something that makes InvoiceCloud unique is that we’re a true software as a service. That means that every time there is an upgrade, it is automatically available to all clients when we launch. There is no need to ever install New Utility Bill Payment System Offers Improved Functionality Residents have the option to set up highly personalized payment and notification preferences in the new utility bill payment system. 2017 AUTUMN • 19 anything new,” said InvoiceCloud Marketing Associate Casey Tocchio. “We also have the highest e-adoption in the industry. We convert more conventional payers – mail and in-person payers – to online payers. That has a lot to do with the ease of use of our system; it’s intuitive. We allow people to pay more than one invoice in a single transaction, we have the ability to let our payers view the last 24 months of their past bills and we have the ability for payers to pay by text and receive text message reminders.” Utility Billing Supervisor Lori Lohmann oversees the utility billing process and has helped research a variety of bill pay options before ultimately selecting InvoiceCloud. “InvoiceCloud had aspects that mirrored other online payment sites, but was more user friendly. We wanted to be sure that people would have some general familiarity with the interface, too,” said Lohmann. InvoiceCloud is currently used by several other cities in the metro, including Bloomington, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove and Eagan. The previous bill pay system was managed by the Local Government Information Systems (LOGIS) consortium and had been used for the past several years. The Finance Department recognized the tool had issues with browser and operating system compatibility and left room for improvement. “This system is going to allow the people to manage their own utility billing accounts. Users didn’t have the ability to update their own credit cards and make payments via phone in our old system. And a new feature will be paying for more than one account, which will be helpful for landlords and their tenants or residents who own more than one house,” said Lohmann. “Users will have several options; they can really personalize it.” While some account information was successfully transferred to the InvoiceCloud system, the Finance Department still asks users to log into their account to ensure accuracy and to set up new preferences. “We encourage past users to go to the website and go through the registration process to select the various options that they require. We encourage everyone to do that in order to experience the full functionality of the new site,” said Uram. To learn more or sign up, visit EdinaMN.gov/Finance. For more information, contact the Finance Department at 952-826-0373. 20 • AUTUMN 2017 Windsource Brings Clean, Renewable Energy Option to Edina By Kaylin Eidsness Now that consumers are becoming more aware of the positive impact alternative energy has on the environment, residents and business owners, along with Xcel Energy, are taking advantage of renewable energy sources. The existing energy mix the community receives from Xcel Energy includes 25 percent renewable energy and is more than 55 percent carbon free. Many would like even more clean energy, and are looking to power their home or business with wind and solar sources. One option is to participate in Xcel Energy’s Windsource program, where residents and business owners can pay a little extra every month to get some or all of their energy from wind energy – which can cost less than the price of a latte. “Energy & Environment Commissioners and other residents have been working hard to get the message out to their neighbors,” said City of Edina Sustainability Coordinator Tara Brown. “From a film series, to hosting ‘Energy House Parties,’ to the Home Energy Fair coming this October, residents want to empower each other to help Edina become a leader in subscribing to renewable energy.” In July 2016, the Edina City Council set a goal to reduce the City’s own electrical use 7.5 percent by March 2018 and encourages residents and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint as well. Currently, roughly 60 percent PROTECT THE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN. EdinaMN.gov/Windsource Sign up today! The City of Edina and Xcel Energy are pleased to work together to achieve our community goals. For $5 a month, the average household can get 50-100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy. 2017 AUTUMN • 21 of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity in Edina come from commercial properties and 30 percent from residential. The municipality and schools make up the remaining 10 percent of electricity-related emissions. “The Council made that goal because the community has told us that the environment is important to them, the air we breathe is important, having a stable climate and keeping the earth safe is important,” said Mayor Jim Hovland. “A really easy, affordable way that we can do that is to tell our community about Windsource and encourage them to take part.” All of the carbon-free energy comes from wind farms in Minnesota. “We’re very lucky to have strong wind here, which a lot of people don’t think about,” said Howard Hoffman, Xcel Energy Demand-Side Management Consultant and Edina Energy & Environment Commissioner. “People typically think of the east and west coasts as hotbeds for wind energy, but Minnesota is among the wind energy leaders.” Hoffman also said that Xcel Energy has been the top utility provider of wind energy in the United States for more than a decade. To sign up for Windsource, residents can select how much energy they’d like to purchase through the program each month. One 100 kilowatt-hour block of renewable energy costs about $1, and the average household uses 4 to 8 blocks per month. For $5 a month, the average household can get 50-100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy. “Windsource is a great choice for customers,” said Hoffman. “Residents are saying they want carbon-free energy, but installing solar panels on your roof can be expensive. This program is a hassle-free way for customers to have clean energy powering their home.” To make it easy, the Windsource subscription is added to the customer’s Xcel Energy bill. The program is certified by Green-e Energy and regulated by the Public Utility Commission. “You don’t have to be a homeowner to subscribe,” said Brown. “Anyone with an electricity bill – renters and businesses included – can sign up to source their electricity through renewable energy.” There are currently 900 Windsource subscribers in Edina. The community goal is to have 675 additional subscribers over the next five months. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov/Windsource or contact Brown at tbrown@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-1621. 22 • AUTUMN 2017 Home Energy Fair To Be Held Oct. 7 By Grace Kramer Win prizes, take part in family-friendly activities and learn how to save money during the Home Energy Fair on Saturday, Oct. 7. The free event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. is sponsored by the Edina Energy & Environment (EEC) Commission and Xcel Energy. It will be held at Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive. The EEC hosts an annual community gathering. Past events have included forums and expert speakers in energy and environment topics. This year, the event will focus on bringing together home and energy experts to help residents care for their homes and learn about new technologies that will allow them to reduce energy use and save money. The fair will be a family-friendly event with interactive exhibits, food and prizes. Among the prizes are certificates for Dairy Queen ice cream cakes and Rachio Smart Sprinkler controllers that let you customize and control sprinkler systems from your smartphone. “This event will be really accessible to residents who are interested in learning about ways to take care of their homes going into the fall and winter seasons,” said Lauren Satterlee, Energy & Environment Commissioner. “It’ll be a fun environment to swing by.” Exhibitors include Home Energy Squad teams, building contractors and solar farm vendors, as well as tables with information about renewable energy such as Windsource. Visitors will also be able to check out the electric car show. “Our purpose is to meet the City’s electricity action goals and encourage residents to take some steps to reduce their electricity at home,” said Satterlee. Residents will be able to sign up for a Home Energy Squad visit that can help them identify energy leaks in their homes. Additionally, they can sign up for Windsource energy through Xcel Energy, an alternative energy program the City encourages residents to consider. H O M E E N ERGY FAIR E D INA SAVE ENERGY & MONEY! FREE!9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 Braemar Clubhouse 6364 John Harris Drive EdinaGoGreen.org 2017 AUTUMN • 23 “We want residents to feel more empowered and knowledgeable on how they can save money on their energy bill and keep up their house,” said the City’s Sustainability Coordinator, Tara Brown. The commission hopes that the fair will be an opportunity for learning and fun. “We highly recommend those families that are looking for something to do on Saturday, Oct. 7, come out and entertain your kids while learning to save money on your house,” said Brown. The City has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2025. The fair is the first step in empowering residents to help with this goal. “We want to continue to support residents,” said Brown. “We’ve heard that people want to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and Edina has the opportunity to do that. This is a great way for people to learn how they can take action themselves and save money.” The EEC is using the fair to take a step back, look at the current and future impact of the community’s energy use, and make sure it is working toward a cleaner future. Reducing energy use in Edina homes is a way that Edina can continue to be a leader in the area. “Edina has a really high quality of life and I think we’re all proud to be living in this community,” said Satterlee. “We have really great goals tied to the environment and sustainability and we want to continue to lead in that area. This is a way that residents can really help our community be a leader in sustainability.” Overall, the fair will be a great opportunity to get informed and empowered on reducing energy use. “It will also just be a great time,” said Brown. For more information on the Home Energy Fair, contact Brown at tbrown@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-1621. Energy savings customized for your home. Consultation, diagnostic tests, materials, and labor for only $50 (normally $100) thanks to the City of Edina. Call 651-328-6220 Schedule your visit today Aaron Ouska 612-940-8020 Charlie and Dava Aul 612-787-7477 Chris Willette 612-388-8828 Dan Willette 952-927-1694 Danya Spencer 952-237-6611 Deb Langevin 651-343-0404 Susan & Gary Wahman 952-334-4663 Ginna Raming 952-210-8342 Jane Larson 612-720-1048 Jane Oelfke 952-200-5712 952-927-2842 Jim Starr 612-247-5898 Margie & John Sampsell 952-927-1195 John Everett 952-927-1646 John MacKany 952-927-1163 John McDonald 952-927-1197 Jude Dugan Olson 952-927-1186 Keenan Olson 952-240-4903 Kim Melin 952-201-4758 Laura Bergman 612-644-7799 Mark Granlund 612-803-8129 Mary Krieter 612-719-0665 Ruthann Holetz 952-927-1624 Tom & Erick Ries 952-393-6600 Winnie Crosbie 612-741-9556 Cindy Jarvis 612-600-4119 Find us atedina6800.edinarealty.com Find us atedina50thandfrance.edinarealty.com EDINA 6800 FRANCE EDINA 50TH & FRANCE Alli Deckas 612-306-3735 Amy Deckas 612-735-7430 Andy and Teresa Mitchell 612-242-4514 Anna Mae Lambert 612-730-3121 Arthur (a.d.) Hays 612-805-5929 Linda Smaby 612-325-7972 Brad, Amy, Meghan McNamara 612-805-8785 C + C Group 612-926-9999 Connie Cauble 612-751-3930 Dave Anderson 612-750-2209 Jane Paulus 612-702-5694 Karen Daly 612-751-0663 Kris Waggoner 612-965-3655 Kristin Smith 612-965-0030 Krysta Clark 612-644-3173 Kyle Litwin 612-803-5595 Lisa Eckert 952-240-7890 Lisa Heim 612-382-9672 Mark Kouatli 612-708-8400 Martha Webb 612-384-4413 Meg and Tom Meyers 952-924-8712 Meg Boehne 952-240-4417 Pam Aagaard 952-261-7576 Sara Moran 612-720-7560 Sheila Cronin 952-913-2129 Sylva Zoraqi 612-710-8081 We were born here. Bringing you real estate insights since 1955. Edina 50th & France 952.920.1960 Edina 6800 France 952.927.1100 WeSellEdina.com 24 • AUTUMN 2017 Aaron Ouska 612-940-8020 Charlie and Dava Aul 612-787-7477 Chris Willette 612-388-8828 Dan Willette 952-927-1694 Danya Spencer 952-237-6611 Deb Langevin 651-343-0404 Susan & Gary Wahman 952-334-4663 Ginna Raming 952-210-8342 Jane Larson 612-720-1048 Jane Oelfke 952-200-5712 952-927-2842 Jim Starr 612-247-5898 Margie & John Sampsell 952-927-1195 John Everett 952-927-1646 John MacKany 952-927-1163 John McDonald 952-927-1197 Jude Dugan Olson 952-927-1186 Keenan Olson 952-240-4903 Kim Melin 952-201-4758 Laura Bergman 612-644-7799 Mark Granlund 612-803-8129 Mary Krieter 612-719-0665 Ruthann Holetz 952-927-1624 Tom & Erick Ries 952-393-6600 Winnie Crosbie 612-741-9556 Cindy Jarvis 612-600-4119 Find us atedina6800.edinarealty.com Find us atedina50thandfrance.edinarealty.com EDINA 6800 FRANCE EDINA 50TH & FRANCE Alli Deckas 612-306-3735 Amy Deckas 612-735-7430 Andy and Teresa Mitchell 612-242-4514 Anna Mae Lambert 612-730-3121 Arthur (a.d.) Hays 612-805-5929 Linda Smaby 612-325-7972 Brad, Amy, Meghan McNamara 612-805-8785 C + C Group 612-926-9999 Connie Cauble 612-751-3930 Dave Anderson 612-750-2209 Jane Paulus 612-702-5694 Karen Daly 612-751-0663 Kris Waggoner 612-965-3655 Kristin Smith 612-965-0030 Krysta Clark 612-644-3173 Kyle Litwin 612-803-5595 Lisa Eckert 952-240-7890 Lisa Heim 612-382-9672 Mark Kouatli 612-708-8400 Martha Webb 612-384-4413 Meg and Tom Meyers 952-924-8712 Meg Boehne 952-240-4417 Pam Aagaard 952-261-7576 Sara Moran 612-720-7560 Sheila Cronin 952-913-2129 Sylva Zoraqi 612-710-8081 We were born here. Bringing you real estate insights since 1955. Edina 50th & France 952.920.1960 Edina 6800 France 952.927.1100 WeSellEdina.com 2017 AUTUMN • 25 26 • AUTUMN 2017 By Grace Kramer In 1987, when Edinborough Park opened to the public, it looked different than it does today with a 40-by-40-foot ice skating rink, no Adventure Peak and a small indoor play area. Memories have been made there every day of its 30-year evolution as the Twin Cities’ premier indoor park. “Edinborough opened with the idea of attracting younger families to the area who could live, work and play all in the same place,” said Edinborough Park General Manager Patty McGrath. The space was not originally intended for children when planning began. It was going to be a young adult athletic facility with basketball and tennis courts. The idea of building the “cultural centerpiece” of Edina was also considered. Ultimately, the decision was made to create a space for a mix of culture and recreation. From the start, the goal of Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S., was to create a natural setting for people to play year-round. A lot of time was put into picking out the plants and trees that filled the Great Hall and the surrounding areas of the space. “We wanted full-grown trees in the park,” said former Parks & Recreation Director Bob Kojetin. “We went to Florida to pick them out.” The trees grew too tall after some years and many were removed in recent years, but at its start, this natural feel made it the premier venue in the area. Today, Edinborough is known for its events such as the annual Halloween and New Year’s Eve parties that draw in hundreds of visitors. At its start, though, Edinborough was known for holding events such as proms, weddings and even a visit from the King and Queen of Sweden. “We had to clean all the bathrooms in preparation of them coming,” said Kojetin. “Then we had to lock them up because they couldn’t be used by anyone besides the Queen.” Edinborough Park Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary File photoConstruction crews worked hard to lay the foundation of Edinborough Park. Since this photo, Edinborough has experienced many changes such as the removal of the skating rink and addition of Adventure Peak. 2017 AUTUMN • 27 (continued on next page) Weddings became such a major demand from the park that they had to hire someone to manage them. The original park manager, Bill Bach, was even married in the park. Although it has been years since Edinborough Park has been a wedding venue, McGrath notes they still regularly get calls inquiring about hosting. Before Adventure Peak was the main attraction of Edinborough Park, a small ice skating rink brought people inside. “We once brought in a professional figure skater. He was an Olympic-level figure skater and he put on a skating show on the ice rink,” said former City Manager Gordon Hughes. “I remember him doing a triple jump in the middle of the park, which was fascinating to me because I had no experience in ice skating.” The skating rink had rounded corners and was so small that a custom ice resurfacer had to be designed. Eventually, the resurfacer broke down just as indoor playgrounds were becoming popular, so the rink was removed. “Edinborough Park was at the forefront of the indoor park movement and immediately set the standard for all others to follow,” said Tom Shirley, former Edinborough Park General Manager and current General Manager of Centennial Lakes Park. Whether it’s known to residents as their wedding or prom venue, the place where they learned to skate or Adventure CITY OF EDINA Edinborough Park Celebrating 30 years of indoor fun under the sun! Friday, Oct. 6 EDINBOROUGHPARK.COM 30 Come to Edinborough Park on Oct. 6 for a variety of discounts and fun. The day will include: • $3 Admission to Playpark (save $4.50) • $30 off Adventure Peak Annual Membership Limit one per family. Must be purchased Oct. 6. • $30 off Pool & Track Annual membership Limit one per family. Must be purchased Oct. 6 • Entertainment, special activities and treats! 28 • AUTUMN 2017 Peak as it is today, Edinborough has remained a place where families can spend time and play together. Ann Kattreh, former General Manager of Edinborough and current Parks & Recreation Director, brought her three kids to Edinborough regularly when they were young. “It gave me a firsthand opportunity to experience what an environment like Edinborough means to Minnesotans by providing a place to let kids play, socialize and exercise no matter what the weather is like outside,” said Kattreh. Kattreh always valued the multigenerational appeal and its ability to bring people of all ages and ability together. “This is truly a place where parents play with their kids and I think that’s very unique,” said Edinborough Park Assistant Manager Dawn Beitel. “It’s fun to see grandparents coming with their grandkids or adults coming with their kids and saying, ‘My mom used to take me here.’” As time has gone on, Edinborough’s staff has focused on making it even more accessible to all family members. “The park was designed so it was less about observing kids playing and more about actually playing with them,” said Beitel. “Adventure Peak was actually built with wider tunnels so family members could actively play with their kids. It’s not just sitting on the sidelines and watching.” The staff wants Edinborough to remain relevant and fun for park patrons. And after 30 years, they will not be slowing down. “It’s our responsibility to keep up with the times and to keep the park fresh,” McGrath said. “And it will always be a priority to keep things up to date so it is a great experience for everyone.” For more information on Edinborough Park’s 30th anniversary, contact McGrath at 952-833-9542 or Beitel at 952-833-9543. 2017 AUTUMN • 29 LOCATED INSIDE THE WELCOME CENTER AT THE EDINA COMMUNITY CENTER 5701 Normandale Road (Door #3), Edina, MN 55424 | (952) 848-3936 contact@edinaresourcecenter.com | www.edinaresourcecenter.com The Edina Resource Center, in partnership with the City of Edina and Edina Public MAKE THE EDINA RESOURCE CENTER YOUR FIRST CALL FOR RESOURCES SUCH AS 30 • AUTUMN 2017 By Debbie Townsend Morgan Piper isn’t likely to stand out this fall as she begins working in Edina Public Schools. In street clothes, she will blend in with teachers and staff walking the school halls. She’s known for being calm and compassionate. She’s a good listener and a problem-solver. “I like to be able to sit down and talk with people,” Piper said. Those qualities made her the choice for the new School Resource Officer. Piper replaces Eric Carlson, who finished his rotation in the position. She will be based out of Valley View Middle School, but will work with students, parents and staff at all nine public schools and with David Boosalis, the School Resource Officer based at Edina High School. The positions are a partnership between the schools and the City. Piper’s desire to work with people was among the reasons an Edina Public Schools committee recommended her for the position, said South View Middle School Assistant Principal Ryan Carlson. “I think the ability to build relationships is really, really key,” said Carlson, who served on the committee. “She came across as someone who would be able to build those relationships.” School Resource Officers do far more than patrol schools and investigate crimes on campus. They develop and present prevention and safety programs for youth and are a supportive presence in the schools, counseling and mentoring students as needed. “Being an SRO is like being the police chief in a small town, except you are the only officer in the department,” said Boosalis, who is going into his fourth year in the position. Edina’s Police Chief, Dave Nelson, served as the City’s first School Resource Officer back in 1994. Officer Piper To Work In Edina Schools Photo by Michael BraunEdina Police Officer Morgan Piper started working in Edina schools this fall as the new School Resource Officer. Most days she will be wearing street clothes and not her police uniform. 2017 AUTUMN • 31 “It’s very important we have a strong relationship with the schools,” Nelson said. He described the position as evolving into one that’s more mentor and counselor than enforcer. The goal is to help our youth. “Let’s focus on what’s the best solution for the student to correct the behavior,” Nelson said. Piper, who has been with the Edina Police Department for seven years, didn’t plan on becoming a police officer. She was an English major, which could come in handy while working in schools. Her desire to help people led her to police work. Piper’s message to students and staff will be that she is there to serve as a resource. “I’m not here to get you into trouble. I’m not here to arrest you,” she said. She will, of course, respond to any police-related incident on campuses. But she expects to spend the majority of her time explaining possible consequences to students, making presentations, offering advice, referring people to the help they need or just being a good listener. “If you need help, come and talk to me,” she said. For more information about School Resource Officers, call the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610.Preferred provider for most insurance companies. Call or request your appointment online. 6545 France Ave. S, Suite 390, Edina, MN 55435 952-926-3534 | parkdental.com Ann M. Thiele Burt, DDS Camille M. Jensen, DDS Annette G. Dunford, DDS General dental care for the entire family. Early morning and evening appointments. New patients welcome. With you every smile of the way. Brandon S. Kvidt, DDS Owen J. Thoele, DDS 32 • AUTUMN 2017 Recreation Supervisor Works To Make Edina Even More Active By Krystal Caron Tiffany Bushland has been drawn to athletics and recreation her whole life. Growing up in New Ulm, Minnesota, she played hockey, softball and volleyball. She recently began as the City’s new Recreation Supervisor and her passion for recreation and active communities has not waned. “Being able to impact people’s lives in a fun and healthy way and provide resources for people to be active while also having fun is really important to me; and being able to give people that while they’re in their own community is great,” said Bushland. “One of the areas I hope to focus on is expanding the adult leagues and offerings that we already have. People play sports their entire lives and then it drops off when you hit adulthood, so I want to tap into that.” Bushland started in June after a previous Recreation Supervisor, Eric Boettcher, took a job in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Bushland attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and received her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and a master’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Management. She previously worked for the Hopkins school district as the Lindbergh Center Manager where she oversaw the facility and the district athletic scheduling. She worked there for a year and a half before taking the role of Facility Manager of Events and Operations with the University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness Department. As a resident of St. Louis Park, she now serves on the St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. “At the University of Minnesota, I worked with the facilities that the general student population utilized and I oversaw the external events in all the spaces, including external leagues, youth leagues and summer camps,” said Bushland. “But I was involved with special projects happening in St. Louis Park through the Commission and that really sparked my interest in city recreation,” explained Bushland. Her work on the St. Louis Park commission gives her experience that Edina leadership appreciates. “Serving on the City of St. Louis Park’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission gives her a unique perspective on accountability and service to our residents,” said Parks & Recreation Supervisor Ann Kattreh. “She quickly rose to the top of an incredibly Photo by Michael BraunThe City’s new Recreation Supervisor, Tiffany Bushland, began work in June. 2017 AUTUMN • 33 talented and deep candidate pool. Tiffany is very dedicated, confident, hard-working, detail oriented and has a proven track record of professional success. We are thrilled to have Tiffany on our team.” “The point of a Parks & Recreation Commission is to be a sounding board. It serves to hear the community’s recommendations, so the ideas behind both St. Louis Park and Edina’s commissions are similar in that way. It is great that I have that background coming into this role,” added Bushland. As a Recreation Supervisor, Bushland is the point person for a variety of activities and associations. The variety can be dizzying, but she sees it as a high point in her role and hopes to make strides toward more consistency and finding ways to make processes operate more smoothly. “There’s a very wide variety in this position, which I think is great because you really stay entertained. I can dabble in this and dabble in that. I’m spending a lot of time learning the current processes of the different associations and school districts. I just want to learn how things work, what has historically happened and how we want to move forward,” said Bushland. “I want to be sure that we’re being fair and accurate with our athletic associations. We want to ensure there is enough and there are equal opportunities for all people.” Bushland recognizes the learning curve ahead, but she appreciates she’s part of a great team. “Every day I learn something new, like a new project or program. I’m thinking nonstop, but the team here is fantastic. The people working in the Parks & Recreation Department have been working here for a while and they’re very knowledgeable,” she said. “I’m really enjoying the variety. I get to work with the adults in adult leagues, the youth in youth sporting camps and the athletic associations.” Bushland lives in St. Louis Park with her husband, Shane. In addition to a new job, Bushland was married in September at her parents’ cabin outside of New Ulm. For more information on the Parks & Recreation Department, call 952-826-0367 or visit EdinaParks.com. • Private apartments with month to-month rental • Flexible meal plans • Transportation for shopping, banking and more • Physician visits and 24 hour nursing sta nursing staff on site • Personal & concierge services • Wellness program with PTA • Weekly housekeeping • Respite and hospice stays • Age in place with loving care, dignity and serenity Independent Living, Assisted Living, Extended Assisted Living 55 Years of Service to the Community • Private apartments with month to-month rental • Flexible meal plans • Transportation for shopping, banking and more • Physician visits and 24 hour nursing sta nursing staff on site • Personal & concierge services • Wellness program with PTA • Weekly housekeeping • Respite and hospice stays • Age in place with loving care, dignity and serenity Independent Living, Assisted Living, Extended Assisted Living 55 Years of Service to the Community57 Years of Service to the Community • Private apartments with month to-month rental • Flexible meal plans • Transportation for shopping, banking and more • Physician visits and 24 hour nursing staff on site • Personal & concierge services • Wellness program with PTA • Weekly housekeeping • Respite and hospice stays • Age in place with loving care, dignity and serenity • Many daily activities Call for a tour and a Free Lunch (952) 920-9145 Independent Living, Assisted Living, Extended Assisted Living 34 • AUTUMN 2017 By Wes Drey and Mary Woitte, Contributing Writers “Creative people start with a question,” said Highlands Elementary Media Specialist Lisa Dooley to students gathered in a room adjacent to the school’s media center. “What question are you going to try to answer today?” Students were seated in groups of four or five, the tables before them covered with everything from buttons and rocks to empty, crinkled water bottles. The students brought the materials from home to use in a project. However, the room in which they were seated is not the art room – it is the school’s “maker space.” Often the phrase “maker space” conjures images of advanced technology such as 3D printers and robots. Not often associated with maker spaces are items such as duct tape, scraps of wood and foam, and pieces of deconstructed keyboards and computers. The theme was “found object,” where students were to create a project using items found at home. “If you could design a machine that would turn snow into any other material, what would that machine look like?” asked Dooley. Maker spaces are unique learning areas, in part because they foster so many aspects of Edina Public Schools’ (EPS) educational competencies – collaboration, communication, innovative thinking and creating – and, in turn, important aspects of the district’s mission – to educate all students to thrive in a “rapidly changing, culturally diverse, global society.” They give students opportunity to learn, experiment, problem-solve and create in real-world kinds of ways. As the “found object” lab demonstrates, it is not all about equipment – it is a lot about space and possibilities. This year, maker spaces that were creatively shoehorned into corners of school media centers have an identified home that provides adequate and appropriate room for exploration and invention. Media centers in six of the district’s nine schools have been designed and renovated to include a maker space, along with zoned areas for books and flexible collaboration work. (The remaining three schools will have the same design as their facility renovations occur in the coming year.) Creation of the maker spaces and renovation of school media centers are part of the district’s Next Gen facilities plan that is transforming learning spaces throughout the district to meet the changing needs of how students learn and how teachers teach. A combination of school district New Approaches To Teaching And Learning Prepare Young Minds For What’s Next Submitted PhotoStudents learn about electrical circuits in an elementary school maker space. 2017 AUTUMN • 35 funds, donations from local organizations such as the Edina Education Fund, and business partnerships work together to enhance the learning experience for not only EPS students, but also for district teachers and staff. Last year, Highlands enlisted the expertise of Annmarie Thomas, an Associate Professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, and Opus College of Business. In her book, Making Matters: Kids, Tools and the Future of Innovation, Thomas suggests, through stories, research and data, is “crucial to encourage today’s youth to be makers – to see the world as something they are actively helping to create.” Thomas led a series of professional development sessions that were open to teachers district-wide. The sessions included a demonstration of maker activity with Thomas leading a group of students through a project while EPS teachers observed. Teachers then stepped into the students’ shoes by trying the project themselves. The fun was preceded by a talk about the maker mindset, where Thomas posed the question, “Can you truly understand something without experience?” She then stressed that anyone can be a maker “even without a 3D printer, without electronics. Maker education is really engagement education.” Thomas practices what she preaches with her own students at the University of St. Thomas, where she runs the Playful Learning Lab, a maker space providing college students with hands-on, real-world learning opportunities. “Being a maker is about creating,” said Highlands Principal Katie Mahoney. “It’s about enabling kids to solve problems, and giving them the space and time to struggle. It’s not about the items or technology. It’s about a mindset and how we do what we do.” By having access and opportunities to maker spaces and other innovative learning experiences, EPS students are gaining the essential skills needed to be prepared for whatever lies ahead of them in college, career and life. For more information, visit edinaschools.org.Submitted photoObjects brought from home were the basis for maker space projects. 36 • AUTUMN 2017 By Debbie Townsend It sounds like something out of a futuristic movie: Build new green space – on top of a major highway, with traffic still zooming through underneath. But that is the concept of a new study to determine the feasibility of constructing a large bridge over portions of Minnesota Highway 100 and the unused slopes and land along the highway corridor. Similar projects already have been built in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Fort Snelling and Duluth. “It’s actually not unusual, and it’s becoming very popular all over the country,” said Cyrus Knutson, Director of the Center for Community Connections at the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “It’s something that cities and departments of transportation have been doing for about 20 years.” Whether it’s feasible in Edina is still a big question. A very preliminary look, done in May, at putting a “lid” on Highway 100 from roughly Vernon Avenue/50th Street to Eden Avenue says yes, it might be. It’s enough to give the project a working title, “Grandview Green,” and to take the next steps of talking with City commissions, residents and those who live near the highway about their thoughts. Also ahead are studies by transportation, environmental and other consultants to see how feasible it might be. The plan is to take it slowly, step by step, rather than fast track such a complex project, said City of Edina Economic Development Manager Bill Neuendorf. “At any point, we might find a fatal flaw,” he said. The OpportunityDecades ago, people could safely and comfortably walk and bicycle through the Grandview area. Historic Cahill School was part of a park. That changed in the early 1970s when the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) expanded the highway and installed multiple on- and off-ramps, dividing Grandview. Today, Cahill School is an isolated spot in a much smaller Tupa Park. Residents complain the area is unsafe as vehicles zoom on and off the highway. The green bridge concept could potentially fix that. In the Grandview area, Highway 100 runs in a valley, with cars and trucks downslope from the residents and businesses above. Unused land along the highway sides grows weeds and collects trash. Much of that land is owned by MnDOT. The ConceptThe Grandview Green project would span across six-lane Highway 100 between the existing bridges on West 50th Street/Vernon Avenue and Eden Avenue. Essentially, it would be a bridge intended to serve people rather than vehicles. It would create new green space for people to use and enjoy. The sloping portions of the highway and some of the area taken up by highway ramps and local access roads could be reconfigured to accommodate new buildings – possibly office, retail or housing. Parking could be constructed underneath portions of these buildings in the existing low areas. By the numbers, it could mean up to 13 acres of new, buildable land; more than 2,500 potential new parking spaces; and more than 2.4 million square feet of private development. “There’s tremendous benefit to the community that is possible with this type of project. Most significant is City Explores Covering Highway 100 To Reunite Grandview Neighborhoods 2017 AUTUMN • 37 re-connecting neighbors who live on opposite sides of the busy highway by means of a public green space,” Neuendorf said. Knutson points to the Leif Erickson Park in Duluth, the A-B-C Parking Ramps in Minneapolis and the Longfellow Gardens near Minnehaha Falls as examples of completed projects that successfully straddle major highways. “People are really excited about it,” Knutson said. “I think they understand what a barrier these large highways have created. They say, ‘I live in this place and I don’t go across the highways.’” Other possible benefits include job creation, housing opportunities and maybe building a community center across from City Hall, a project residents and community groups have requested. “I think it’s ambitious. It’s a well-formed concept and really taken the shape of a proposal at this point,” Knutson said. “Because it involves commercial, residential, public space and the connection over the highway, it’s a pretty comprehensive proposal to meet a number of different needs and uses.” Potential IssuesTechnically, such a project is possible. How much new space could feasibly be constructed and in which specific locations requires more detailed study and input from community residents. Many technical matters also must be investigated before any decision is made about the Grandview Green project – from possible highway expansion to environmental impact. While the preliminary concept already presumes space will be provided for one additional lane in each direction of the highway, the actual use is still to be defined. Neuendorf noted it might be used for cars or as space for buses, rail, or some other form of transportation or utility needed in the distant future. The City and MnDOT also will have to seriously consider the financial costs of the project. Neither wants to create additional infrastructure unless there are clear means to pay for it. The preliminary financial forecast, however, shows returns from new development exceeding estimated project costs. What’s NextInitial environmental, utility and transportation studies are under way. Staff and consultants began gathering community thoughts and suggestions on what community purpose the lid will fill, with a report on the findings expected in early 2018. Simultaneously, MnDOT continues to work with Edina and other metro communities to explore how this type of 21st century project could be funded and done. For more information, contact Neuendorf at bneuendorf@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0407. 38 • AUTUMN 2017 By Dick Crockett, Contributing Writer The Edina Community Foundation (ECF) exists to enhance and enrich the lives of all community members in myriad ways. Our programs and services are offered to everyone in the Edina community regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation. We define the Edina community as individuals who live, work or attend school in Edina, and our mission is to bring people together to serve, strengthen and celebrate our community. We promote an inclusive and welcoming environment for all Edina community members, and many of our programs and services encompass elements promoting diversity and inclusivity, including economic diversity. Edina Challenge: ECF initiated and still leads the Edina Challenge, a collaborative group of organizations that meets regularly to address ways they can work together to meet the needs of financially challenged youth in Edina. These efforts are aimed at not only recognizing disadvantaged kids who live and attend school in Edina, but also ensuring they have the same access to high-quality programming as other Edina kids. Edina Challenge seeks to give every child every chance of success regardless of economic status. Connect Card: The Connect Card program is an Edina Challenge initiative allowing families in need access to a variety of community programs and scholarships through a one-stop qualification process. Enrolled families receive a unique Connect Card for each child. The code on this card can be used to access scholarships for activities and programs throughout the community. Connect Card enrollment is open to any child who meets the federal criteria for free and reduced-priced meals. Connect Card information and enrollment applications are provided in Spanish and Somali for ease of access. ECF launched the Connect Card program in 2016, and enrollment has steadily grown. Edina Parks & Recreation Scholarships: ECF provides Edina Challenge scholarships for disadvantaged Edina youth to participate in Edina Parks & Recreation programs. These grants help families in need give their children the same recreational enrichment opportunities as their peers. Edina Community Foundation: Diversity And Inclusion Submitted PhotoDulce Torres was a 2016 Connecting With Kids Leadership Award recipient. 2017 AUTUMN • 39 One-to-One Mentoring Program: As part of the Edina Challenge initiative, ECF helped launch the One-to-One program with initial funding and organizational support. This mentoring program matches struggling middle school students with a mature high school student or older adult in a structured weekly mentoring program during the academic year. Middle school counselors at South View Middle school select students they think would benefit from such a mentoring relationship for participation. Participants in the program are often economically disadvantaged, students of color or recent immigrants. One-to-One is now a program of the Southdale YMCA. The Last Mile: ECF provided initial Edina Challenge funding for The Last Mile program at Edina High School. This program provided individualized counseling and mentoring support for financially disadvantaged graduating seniors (who are often the first in their family to attend college), and it has now been succeeded by “College Possible.” Edina Dialogue: In partnership with the Edina Community Library, ECF hosts an annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday speaker and event addressing a topic pertinent to race and diversity. In 2017, the topic was the City of Edina’s newly created Race & Equity Task Force. Connecting With Kids: A person of color has been chosen as an honoree at its annual Leadership Breakfast for 2014, 2015 and 2016, and the keynote speaker in 2017 was a five-time medal winner in the International Paralympics. ECF Designated Funds: ECF provides organizational and accounting services as a charitable giving partner to a wide variety of community groups, including some engaged in efforts aimed at reaching out to a specific ethnic group. Examples include these programs initiated by students of color: SEVA Football – uses soccer and donated soccer equipment as a medium for education and empowerment among minority youth both locally and abroad. Unlocking Young Minds – provides educational resources to children in developing countries so the cycle of poverty may be broken. OmniSight International – raises funds and obtains donated eyeglasses for a school in India that does not have the resources to aid visually impaired students. ECF’s role in these programs highlights the commitment of our Board of Directors and staff to create an Edina community where all can thrive, and we invite suggestions on how we might better incorporate diversity and inclusion practices in our work to serve, strengthen and celebrate the Edina community. For more information on ECF or to donate, visit edinacommunityfoundation.org or send an email to edfoundation@EdinaMN.gov. 40 • AUTUMN 2017 By Debbie Townsend Three years of planning, study, public input, concept drawings, presentations, feedback and revisions have turned into a plan for Edina’s next great park. At 43 acres – nearly double the size of Centennial Lakes Park – Fred Richards Park will feature everything from serene nature spaces to pickleball courts to a giant lawn for field sports. In winter, visitors will be able to sled, snowshoe or cross-country ski through it. “It’s going to be an amazing park when it’s done,” said Parks & Recreation Director Ann Kattreh of the park at 7640 Parklawn Ave. In July, the City Council unanimously approved the Master Plan, which lays out the basic design, features and uses for the park, setting the stage for the project to move beyond the design phase. “Construction could begin in 2019 if everything falls into place,” Kattreh said. Part of the park’s funding depends on the redevelopment of the former Pentagon Park property, which lies adjacent to the southwest corner of the park space. Some parking also would come from that development. That and other funding needs to be determined for both building and maintaining the park before the project can move forward. The City’s next step, after determining funding, would be to draft final construction and bid documents, possibly in 2018, Kattreh said. When the park opens, it will be difficult to tell the land was once home to Fred Richards Golf Course, which closed in 2014. People will be able to reach the park from access points on all four sides and via the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail that winds through it. Once there, they can visit a small part or wander through the five main sections, all connected but providing different experiences and recreation. “Creating a lot of nodes and activities along the trails and space provides a diversity of things for people to do and interact with the site,” said Terry Minirak, Principal at Confluence, the consultant that helped develop the Master Plan. Funding, Nearby Development Next Steps For Fred Richards Park Photo by Dietrich NissenFred Richards Park will eventually feature everything from serene nature spaces to pickleball courts to a giant lawn for field sports. 2017 AUTUMN • 41 The five areas are: Nature BankThe western side of the park will feature water, woods, wetlands and open spaces returned to nature. It’s meant to be a spot for relaxation or learning about our surroundings. Planned features include: • Pollinator garden• Wetlands restoration• Nature play areas• Boardwalk over water areas• Places to sit and relax Neighborhood ParkLocated on the eastern edge of the park, this section provides connections to the Parklawn Neighborhood and a play spot for children. Planned features include: • Traditional playground with play structures• Picnic shelter The LoopThe northernmost section of the park, north of the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail, featuring a looping trail among gardens and open spaces. Planned features include: • Rolling walking trail• Native prairie garden• Garden seating Great LawnThis area south of The Loop and north of the old clubhouse will have lots of parking available nearby. Planned features include: • Large open lawn • Field that accommodates sports and special events• Open field when no sports are in session Central GreenThis section of the park near the Great Lawn, old clubhouse and parking will host a variety of activities. Planned features include: • Pickleball courts• Multipurpose sport court for basketball and futsal• Small stage/yoga deck• Playground• Swings Some parts of the plan remain in discussion. When approving the Master Plan, the City Council deferred field scheduling and lighting installation decisions in the Great Lawn area. During public meetings and in feedback, many residents expressed interest in new uses for the former golf course clubhouse, with popular ideas including renovations for a restaurant or brewpub. Such an operation also could provide revenue to help with park maintenance. These aspects will be determined as funding and construction move forward. To see park plans or learn more about the project, visit EdinaMN.gov/FredRichardsPark. 42 • AUTUMN 2017 SOUTHDALE Y FREE WEEK PASS $0 ENROLLMENT, $50 SAVINGS *OFFER EXPIRES 12/14/2017 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 SNORKELING EQUIPMENT and SCUBA CERTIFICATION for your TROPICAL AdvENTURES 5015 Penn Avenue S. Minneapolis 612-925-4818 www.scubacenter.com tom pedersonYou haven’t lived until you’ve tried to ESCAPE! 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Where our students develop in dance, life, and so much more! • Classes in tap, jazz, classical ballet, acro and hip hop • Smart Start - Mommy & Me classes for infant Neural Development • Rhythm Works - Integrative Hip Hop Classes • Adult Yoga & Tap Classes 44 • AUTUMN 2017 By Ying Chen Axt What the community needs most from Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) is access to healthy foods, affordable housing and social services. That’s what a recent and robust strategic planning process revealed. VEAP’s new Strategic Framework, which was arrived at with input from clients and other partners, will focus and strengthen VEAP’s programs to meet the changing needs of community members. Access To Healthy FoodsVEAP clients consistently report affordability is the biggest barrier to eating healthy. Clients noted access to healthy foods was a factor in their ability to achieve future success. In response to the growing need of healthy foods, VEAP has begun to make changes in its food delivery to get more healthy foods into the hands of the people who need it most. Among the 3.4 million pounds of food distributed in 2016, 1.8 million pounds (52 percent) were fresh fruits and vegetables. Access to Safe, Affordable, Dignified HousingLack of affordable housing is a mounting crisis. With nearly 80 percent of clients living on $1,600 per month and spending 70-80 percent of their income on housing, they live with the constant threat of missing a rent payment and possible eviction. Meanwhile, affordable housing options are rapidly purchased by for-profit developers, with lost affordability and the displacement of hundreds of families at a time. “Through the food program, VEAP is able to help clients free up dollars they would spend on food so they can pay their rent,” said Patty Schulz, Advancement Director at VEAP. “Homelessness is extremely expensive for taxpayers and cities.” At VEAP, individuals and families who are typically spending a large percentage of their income on rent are able to access financial assistance to prevent homelessness through VEAP’s Social Services department. In addition, VEAP has formalized its commitment to lead and participate in community dialogue and to promote strategies to increase access to affordable, safe and dignified housing. VEAP Strengthens Access to Healthy Foods, Affordable Housing and Social Services Submitted PhotoApproximately 10,000 individuals every month have access to healthy foods from VEAP’s food pantry. 2017 AUTUMN • 45 Social Connections And Support SystemsFifty-three percent of VEAP clients reported they rarely, or never, were able to get help from others when they needed it and had no one to go to for help. They expressed a strong desire for connections with others, seeking a mix of emotional support, practical help and opportunities to network for career development. VEAP’s Social Services programming offers caring, professional support for individuals and families to stabilize their financial situation. VEAP’s licensed social workers and community health workers guide clients through these complex issues – sometimes providing them with financial assistance – helping people in a strengths-based approach to navigate all systems of support and address their critical needs. “VEAP is at an exciting turning point, poised to deepen its commitment to making a profound difference not only in the lives of those in need, but in the lives of all involved: volunteers, supporters and partners alike,” said VEAP’s CEO Lisa Horn. “VEAP needs you more than ever.” With 110,496 visits to its food pantry in 2016, VEAP operates one of the largest food pantries in Minnesota. In addition, VEAP provided 12,823 rides to medical appointments and home from the food pantry, allocated $167,000 in financial assistance and performed 520 new client assessments by social workers in 2016. VEAP clients are low-income residents in the cities of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield and a portion of south Minneapolis (south of 50th Street and west of Cedar Avenue). Approximately 10 percent of VEAP clients are Edina residents. For more information, visit VEAP.org. 46 • AUTUMN 2017 Planning Matters Construction Scheduled To Begin In January 2018 On ‘Edina Collaborative’ Downtown Edina will see some changes next year. In April, the Edina City Council approved plans for “Edina Collaborative,” a $79 million redevelopment project to revitalize vacant property and parking ramps along Market Street (formerly West 49 1/2 Street). Saturday Properties and Buhl Investors plan to build 110 apartments, 35,000 square feet of new retail space and roughly 300 additional parking stalls. In late 2016, the Edina Housing & Redevelopment Authority selected the developers’ proposal. The project includes a one-acre plaza with pedestrian walkways. Included in the plaza is a community gathering space. The project will also feature four rotating public art walls and four public art sculpture locations. Some green project elements include a 3,000-square-foot green roof, electric car charging stations, a 10 percent reduction in impervious surface and the use of low-VOC building products and LED lighting in public areas. Construction will take place in phases and is scheduled to begin in January 2018. The first phase includes revamping the North Ramp, followed by demolition of the Center Ramp and reconstruction on that site. For more information on the project, contact Peter Deanovic from Buhl Investors at 612-968-3728. RH To Build New Showroom In Southwest Corner Of Southdale Center PropertyRestoration Hardware will build a 58,000-square-foot “RH” showroom on the northeast corner of France Avenue and 69th Street, near the water tower on the Southdale Center campus. In July, the Edina City Council approved plans for the RH store, which will include furniture sales, a rooftop showroom, restaurant, outdoor courtyards and garden terraces. The store will feature two main entrances: one that opens to the intersection and one that faces Southdale Center. Valet parking services will be available on-site, which allows for reduced site parking. RH has other free-standing showrooms in Boston, Chicago and Denver, but this is the first in Minnesota. Submitted IllustrationThe $79 million redevelopment project will transform the vacant property and ramps along Market Street. 2017 AUTUMN • 47 To enhance the property, a double row of trees will be planted along France Avenue and 69th Street to screen parking. Construction is slated to begin this fall. Management hopes to open next winter. For more information on the project, email PR@RH.com. Edina School Bus Garage To Be Redeveloped As ApartmentsDallas-based developer Trammell Crow Co. is building a six-story, 165-unit apartment complex on the old Edina Public Schools bus garage site at 5150 and 5220 Eden Ave. The apartments, geared toward active adults ages 55 and up, will include a bistro bar and WiFi coffee lounge, activity center, pet spa, fitness center, yoga studio, club room, great room, chef and catering kitchens and resort-style pool deck with an outdoor kitchen. Per the City’s affordable housing policy, 10 percent of the rentable area of the apartments will be affordable housing. The project approved by the Edina City Council in July will include 214 parking spaces for the apartment complex. (continued on next page)Submitted IllustrationThe RH showroom being built on the corner of Frace Avenue and 69th Street is slated to open winter 2018. Submitted IllustrationThe old Edina school bus garage site will boast a new 165-unit apartment building for those 55 and older. Open House &Tour January 15, 2015 9:30-10:30 a.m. 2015-16 Registration January 22, 2015 9:30 a.m. normandalepreschool.org 952-929-1697 X43 6100 Normandale Rd. Edina, MN 55436 ••Lunch, Extended Day Options • Enrichment Opportunities • Music and Movement Activities•• Library and Chapel Times • Dedicated College Educated Professionals• Celebrating 40 years of serving families just like you! NORMANDALE PRESCHOOL AND BLESSING PLACE Open House & Tour Registration NON-PROFIT ORG. 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NORMANDALE PRESCHOOL AND BLESSING PLACE TOGETHER SERVING CHILDREN, TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN Open House &Tour January 18, 2018 9:30 a.m. 2018-19 Registration Begins January 25, 2018 Christian Faith & Values • Half and Full Day Programming • Kindergarten Readiness Classes Lunch, Extended Day Options • Enrichment Opportunities • Library and Chapel Times Music and Movement Activities • Plus One Friday Class to Extend Your Week Dedicated College Educated Professionals Normandale Preschool: 952-977-9371 • joanne@normluth.org • normandalepreschool.org Blessing Place: 952-977-9370 • lisa@normluth.org • normluth.org/Blessing-Place STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Learning Together at Serving children ages 33 months to age 5 Serving Toddlers ages 18-33 months NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 952 Twin Cities, MN Currently Accepting Registrations for Fall 2015! Options • Enrichment Opportunities • Music and Movement Activities• Library and Chapel Times • Dedicated College Educated Professionals• Serving Children 18 months through age 5 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 952 Minneapolis, MN NEW Half Day STEM Class French Immersion Half Day Class With Blessing Place serving ages 18 months to 5 years Kindergarten Readiness Class for 5 year olds Friday Class to extend your week Extended Day Option Normandale Preschool 952-929-1697 x 43 normandalepreschool.org FOR 4 & 5 YEAR OLDS 48 • AUTUMN 2017 More than 70 trees will be planted on the 1.64-acre site to make the space more green. Demolition of the old school bus garage will begin this winter. Trammell Crow officials hope to begin renting the apartments by Spring 2019. For more information on the project, contact Mary Lucas at MLucas@trammellcrow.com or 630-481-1179. Jesus Celebration Center Moves To Newly Remodeled BuildingThe 80-member multicultural church Jesus Celebration Center moved into its new space in August. It holds services every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. The Edina City Council approved a conditional-use permit in June for Jesus Celebration Center to remodel a building at 6879 Washington Ave. S., originally zoned for office/light industrial, so services can be held there. The new sanctuary seats 144 people. For the last two years, services have been held at Valley View Middle School. Jesus Celebration Center is headquartered in Mombasa, Kenya, where it’s been around for more than 30 years. For more information on the project, call Jesus Celebration Church at 952-297-6685. – Compiled by Kaylin Eidsness 2017 AUTUMN • 49 Expires January 1, 2018 Sylva ZoraqiREALTOR® SylvaZoraqi@edinarealty.com IndividualizedInstruction FlexibleScheduling Math Specialist Instructors Safe, FunSuccessful! MAKE THIS SCHOOL YEARGREATER THAN LAST YEAR! A new school year brings a fresh start—and Mathnasium is here to help set the stage for success! Together, we can make this school year greater than last year! (763) 269–6969 SW Edina • 7104 Amundson Ave, Edina mathnasium.com/swedina St. Louis Park-Edina • 4590 Excelsior Blvd, SLP mathnasium.com/slp-edina Lynnhurst • 5315 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis mathnasium.com/lynnhurst FREE TRIAL! See center for details. We want to help you OWN AN EDINA HOME Want To Learn More? Contact Joyce Repya 952-826-0462 or jrepya@EdinaMN.gov KC CORE Chiropractic Practice Opens In Southdale Medical Center The hospital-based chiropractic practice KC CORE has opened a new location in the Southdale Medical Center. After working at an Iowa location for four years, Dr. Grant Nobles wanted to open a KC CORE franchise of his own. Nobles has family in the Minneapolis area and decided it was a good fit. It is the first Minnesota KC CORE location. “The clear choice was to open up in Southdale Medical Center in Edina because it’s a great area and because of the foot traffic we see,” Nobles said. “Our whole basis is hospital-based chiropractic care, so we’re trying to bridge the gap between medicinal care and physical therapy, which we can do when we’re located in a medical center.” KC CORE MN opened in May and specializes in myofascial relief therapy, a type of deep tissue massage that is not typically seen in a typical clinic. Treatment times are also 30 minutes, longer than most chiropractic visits. “We definitely take the time to work with the tissues and work with the joints,” said Nobles. “We want to be sure by the time people are leaving they feel a lot better.” KC CORE MN is located in Southdale Medical Center, 6545 France Ave. S., Suite 301. For more information, visit kansascitycore.com/edina. Centennial Lakes Office Park Wins International TOBY AwardThe Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Greater Minneapolis awarded the International TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) Award to Centennial Lakes Office Park in its 2017 category. The office park, owned by United Properties Investment, LLC, and State Farm Realty Company and managed by Cushman & Wakefield Northmarq, won in the Suburban Office Park (Mid-Rise) category. “It was an honor for Centennial Lakes Office Park to receive the TOBY for Best Low-Rise Suburban Office Park,” said Ellen Morton, General Manager of the office park. “Every day, our team works hard to ensure that our building meets the highest standards applicable and our tenants are happy leasing space in our building, and in Edina.” The award was announced at the June 27 BOMA International Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. “We couldn’t do it without the support of our ownership team, United Properties Investment, LLC, and State Farm Realty Company, which provides us the resources we need to maintain our high standards,” said Morton. Edina Business Organizations Grow MembershipThe Edina Chamber of Commerce has welcomed 14 businesses into its organization since April. These businesses are American Family Insurance – Burnett & Associates; Artistry Theater and Visual Arts; Barnes & Noble Kitchen; Bjorn Portraiture; Brookdale Business Notes 50 • AUTUMN 2017 Edina; Edina Realty – Kim Melin; Edina Realty – Judd Sampson; Global Talent Strategies, LLC; Ideal Image; KC CORE MN; Minnesota Office Technology Group (MOTG); Tesla; The Bar Method; and Tufford-Hughes and Associates. The 50th & France Business & Professional Association has also grown in the past few months. The organization has welcomed Harriet & Alice, Alchemy Edina, Anne Shaeffer Realty, Carbone’s Pizzeria, Edward Jones, Hope Law and Verizon 50th Street since April. For more information about the Chamber of Commerce, call 952-806-9060. For more information on the 50th & France Business & Professional Association, call 952-922-1524. – Compiled by Grace Kramer 2017 AUTUMN • 51 OTF-55937_PreSale_Print Ad_Version 2_8.5 x 5.5 Orangetheory®, OTF® and other Orangetheory® marks are registered trademarks of Ultimate Fitness Group LLC. ©Copyright 2017 Ultimate Fitness Group LLC and/or its affiliates. First-time visitors and local residents only. Certain restrictions apply. *Visit orangetheoryfitness.com/termsofuse for additional information. Edina, MN | 612.930.4630 3523 West 70th Street | Edina, MN, 55435 FIND OUT MORE AT ORANGETHEORYFITNESS.COM CALL 612.930.4630 JOIN NOW – TRY US FOR FREE TODAY. THE WORLD’S BEST ONE HOUR WOKOUTIS HERE! • BURN 500+ CALORIES IN 60 MINUTES* • KEEP BURNING CALORIES FOR UP TO 36 HOURS* • COACH-LED GROUP WORKOUTS • FOR ALL FITNESS LEVELS 52 • AUTUMN 2017 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!” www.ellynwolfenson.com International President’s Premier Voted Best Real Estate Agent and Super Agent 2012- 2017 Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card Premium Rewards. Premium Benefits. Visit your local U.S. Bank branch or flexperks.com today. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to credit approval. The creditor and issuer of the U.S. Bank FlexPerks Gold American Express Card is U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from American Express. American Express is a federally registered service mark of American Express. © 2017 U.S. Bank 171157C 8/17 2017 AUTUMN • 53 Home Rehab Funds For Qualified Edina Home Owners You may qualify for up to $30,000 to make repairs or necessary improvements to your Edina home through Hennepin County Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program. This program provides deferred repayment funds on a first-come-first-served basis to people who can show financial need. If you would like to receive information, income guidelines, qualification summaries, interest rates, and applications, please call Hennepin County Housing Rehabilitation at 612-348-9260. Dozens of Edina residents have protected the value of their homes by using this program. If your primary residence is located in Edina and needs repair or structural improvements, please give Hennepin County a call.CITY OF EDINA PLANNING DIVISION 54 • AUTUMN 2017 The Last Word One of the more interesting insights in the 2017 Quality of Life Survey data for me is learning where residents get their information about City government. It tells us where we should put our information in order to get it into the ears and brains of our residents. As a City official, I’d like to think that residents get most of their information about Edina city government from the City of Edina. To a large extent, they do. More than 60 percent of the survey respondents report that the City’s website is either a major or minor source of City government information. The City’s YouTube and cable television channels were noted by 11 percent and 21 percent, respectively. The City’s email notification service, City Extra, was mentioned by 21 percent. The City’s social media presence was noted by 40 percent, up from 5 percent in 2011. On the human side, 31 percent reported that City employees were a source of information. City Council Members came in at 26 percent. The survey has a 4.5 percent margin of error, so these two sources are essentially tied. The City’s highest-rated communication tool is the magazine you’re reading right now. About Town was classified as a major or minor source of information about the City of Edina by 82 percent of our survey respondents. But, even as highly rated and successful at catching the public’s attention as About Town is, it is not the No. 1 source of information about the City for Edina residents. The top source of information, as reported in our survey, is Edina residents. In the survey, the option was called “word of mouth from friends, family or neighbors.” Eighty-nine percent of our survey respondents rank it as either a major or minor source of information about the City. The rating is higher than any official source of City information provided by the City’s human, print or electronic resources. It’s higher than any form of traditional news media like the Edina Sun Current (64 percent) or the Star Tribune (63 percent). It’s higher than any form of official or unofficial social media. The City of Edina spends hundreds of thousands of dollars every year on newsletters, website updates, communications staff and much more in order to communicate accurate and reliable information. And, despite all that, most people report getting most of their information about the City of Edina from talking to their friends, family and neighbors. What does this mean for the City? Two things. First, it reminds me Edina is, in many ways, a small town. Residents know and trust their neighbors and friends. If they hear something about the City from their neighbors or friends, they believe it. That is good for the City to know. Second, if family, friends and neighbors are the most important source of city government information for our residents, where are those people getting their information? I think they are getting it from the direct City sources, like About Town, our website and our Council Members and employees. It is vitally important that the City continue to serve as a primary source of information so that the secondary sources have accurate and reliable information to share. Sharing information with residents is a high calling for those of us who work for the City. Informed residents are better stewards of their community. In the end, that’s what will preserve the exceptional quality of life in Edina for years to come. Scott H. Neal City Manager 2017 AUTUMN • 55 Closets • Garage • Home Office • Laundry Room • Pantry • Mudroom Contact us for a complimentary in-home design consultation today! 2634 Minnehaha Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55406 (612) 623-0987 | tccloset.com Dedicated to Project Management Since 1998 (612) 330-0123 results@projectconsultinggroup.com www.pcgmn.com