HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitySlick_April_2013by Brady Skoglund, Communications Intern
The Edina Senior Center has been
changing the lives of seniors in the
community for decades, offering
activities, trips and countless
other options to help entertain
them and keep them young.
For the past 35 years, the Senior
Center has also changed the life of
Sue Weigle. Although her time as
Senior Center Director is coming to
an end on April 30, her time enjoying
the Senior Center and its members is far from
over.
Weigle, a native of Hutchinson,
Minn., has worked with seniors
since she was 26 years old. After
graduating from Minnesota State
University, Mankato, she started
work at Hutchinson’s local senior
center.
“I worked for three days there and
I said ‘this is for me,’” she said.
A newsletter for the City Council and employees of the City of Edina
CITYSLICK p1
by Emilie Kastner, Communications Assistant
A nice vacation could have turned tragic for
the family of Accountant Kyle Sawyer when
two explosions less than three blocks away
from them at the Boston Marathon killed three
people and injured hundreds.
For the past decade, Sawyer’s father has
been training to run marathons. Last July,
at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minn.,
his race time of 3 hours, 39 minutes and
41 seconds qualified him – by 19 seconds
for the 2013 Boston Marathon, a feat he’d
always wanted to accomplish. The family
couldn’t have been more excited to fly
to Massachusetts to cheer him on as he
completed the 26.2-mile race.
The day of the race, Monday, April 15, for
the 117th Boston Marathon, Sawyer, his wife
and his mother headed toward the finish line
to cheer on their beloved runner. However,
Sawyer’s mother was feeling claustrophobic,
as there were about 500,000 spectators this
year, so the trio decided to wait at the 25-mile
mark where it was less crowded. His father
finished the race in 3 hours, 48 minutes and
52 seconds – a mere 21 minutes before the
first bomb was detonated near the finish line.
Approximately 10,000 of the 27,000 runners
did not get to finish the race this year. The
bombers, two Chechen brothers who had
been living in the United States for the past 10
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2 Around The
Water Cooler
2 Caught In The Act
3 Green Your
Workspace
4 Techy Tidbits
April 26, David, Police
April 26, Jim, Public Works
April 27, Darin, Police
April 29, Brian, Public
Works
April 30, Scott, Police
April 30, David, Police
May 2, Bart, Public Works
May 2, Laura, Engineering
May 2, Jessica, Human
Resources
May 4, Chet, Public Works
May 6, Nancy, Police
May 6, Jennifer, Police
May 8, Jeff, Braemar Golf
Course
May 9, Derek, Police
City Accountant, Family Has Close ‘Run-In’ With Explosion At
The Boston Marathon
EMPLOYEE MILESTONES
Terri Wilson, Human
Resources, 5 years.
(April 21, 2008)
Joseph Struzyk, Fire,
25 years. (April 11,
1988)
4|26|2013
City Accountant Kyle Sawyer and his family
pose in the Boston Marathon welcome area –
just two minutes prior to the explosions.
Senior Center Director Sue Weigle Opens Next Chapter
Continued on Page 3 ...
Continued on Page 4 ...
–
CITYSLICK p2
Communications & Technology
Services
The Communications & Technology Services
Department officially said goodbye (and RIP)
to the AS400, which had been in service
for more than 13 years. The AS400 was the
mainframe computer that functioned as
the Police Department’s backbone and data
storage repository through three software
upgrades over the last several years. The
AS400 ran on a token ring platform. Token
ring versus Ethernet was a popular 1980s
and ’90s battle, with token ring being touted
as technically superior. However, due to
pricing and lack of marketing by IBM, it was
eclipsed by Ethernet technology. Recently,
the I.T. staff oversaw completion of a
conversion that pulled many hundreds of
thousands of data elements into the City’s
current Windows-based systems and the
AS400 (as well as the token ring technology)
was officially laid to rest.
Human Resources
This is a busy time of year for the Human
Resources, Finance, Parks & Recreation and
Public Works departments as they wrap
up the hiring process for seasonal summer
positions. The City hires more than 250
seasonal employees who typically work May
through August. This is the first year that
hiring managers have fully used NeoGov, the
online application system.
The City recruits for more than 31 unique
seasonal positions
and manages
hundreds of
applications for
positions at Braemar
Arena, Braemar
Golf Courses,
Centennial Lakes
Park, Edina Aquatic
Center, playgrounds
and tennis, Park
Maintenance,
and Public Works
Streets and Utilities.
This year, Human
Resources and
hiring managers
were able to better
review applications,
schedule interviews
and communicate with candidates using the
online system.
Along with the seasonal hiring, the City also
offers opportunities for summer internships in
Communications, Engineering, Health and Public
Works, for which we are also in the final stages of
hiring.
Police
Edina Police Officer Dave Lindman was named
the 2013 Mike Siitari Officer of the Year for his
work on an international financial fraud case
dubbed “Operation Starburst.” The award was
presented to Lindman at the April 16 City Council
meeting.
The case started locally in 2009 while Lindman
was assigned to the Minnesota Financial Crimes
Task Force. Officers on the Task Force began to
see a pattern in their investigations. Once they
brought the pieces of their puzzles together, they
saw they were dealing with something much
larger than they had initially thought.
Lindman, who joined the Edina Police
Department in 2001, said this team discovered
an organized crime ring that involved “dirty”
bankers who would sell account information
to criminals. Since 2006, more than 10,000
people have been victimized by king pin Julian
Okeayainneh’s crime ring and so far, more than
30 people connected with Operation Starburst are
in prison.
Since the case began, Lindman and his
team’s efforts have paid off. In August 2012,
Okeayainneh was sentenced to 27 years in
prison, the longest punishment handed down for
an identity theft case. While Operation Starburst,
a case that amounted to more than $58 million in
fraudulent activity, is no longer active, federal and
local agents are still working to charge others who
were involved.
Officer Joel Moore received the Award last year
for his work as a Commercial Crime Officer in the
Southdale Corridor.
AROUND THE WATER COOLER
Following is a summary of some of the projects of some departments, divisions and
facilities. Other areas of the City will be featured in upcoming issues.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
City Horitculturalist Tim Zimmerman
shows Communications Assistant Emilie
Kastner how to properly plant a seed
during the Edina Wellness Committee’s
“Plant a Plant” on April 4 at Edina City Hall.
CITYSLICK p3
Being green can extend beyond
switching your incandescent light bulbs
to CFLs and recycling bottles and cans
at home. What changes can you make in the
workplace to be more green? Here are five steps to
help kick off your eco-workspace.
1. Use Less Paper. According to the Clean Air Council,
the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of
paper every year, equating to roughly two pounds
of paper per person every day. Use less paper by
not printing emails or unnecessary documents or
printing double-sided. Place any unwanted paper
in recycling bins. Not only does it create less waste,
but also saves the City money.
2. Recycle! Recycling is one of the easiest ways to
reduce workplace waste. Most desks and City
facilities have recycling bins. Toss anything from
paper, plastic and aluminum in the bin for proper
recycling.
3. Use reusable dishes. Skip the plastic water bottle
and paper coffee cups. Bring in a reusable plastic
Reuse
paper clips
and clasps
instead of
throwing
them away.
or steel water bottle. Drinking out of reusable
bottles can save hundreds of plastic bottles
every year. Instead of using paper coffee cups,
use a ceramic cup. The average American uses
500 disposable cups every year. Switching to
reusable dishes keeps these single-use items out
of the trash.
4. Conserve energy. Most people use computers
in their everyday lives, but computers can be
energy wasters. Consider changing the power
setting on your computer for it to enter sleep
or standby modes after a designated amount
of time. A computer in sleep mode can save
60-70 percent of power usage. Since they do not
actually save energy, ditch the screen saver in
favor of having the display or monitor turn off.
Before leaving for the work day, turn off lights in
your office and at your desk to conserve energy
after hours.
5. Reuse supplies. Stop waste and reuse supplies.
More than 11 million paper clips are used every
year. Reuse paper clips and clasps instead of
throwing them away.
years, each allegedly placed a bag on the ground containing a shrapnel-
packed pressure-cooker bomb near the finish line. In addition to the
three deaths, according to the Boston Globe, the number of reported
injuries from the bombing has risen to 282.
“I didn’t hear anything,” said Sawyer regarding the bombs’ detonation.
The family was walking back to the Revere Hotel, six blocks away from
the finish line, during the explosion. People kept asking them if they’d
heard anything and no
one could make calls from
a cell phone during the
confusion. Though they
were told to stay in their
hotel rooms, said Sawyer,
“We weren’t going to live in
fear.” The family had dinner
reservations, which were
canceled because of the
restaurant’s close location
to the explosion, so they
ventured out anyway.
When they walked through the Boston Common
and Public Garden, they saw the National Guard
being briefed on the situation. “There was a large
police presence everywhere,” he said; all different
varieties of law enforcement were present, from
the FBI, to Boston police, to Army units.
“The scariest part is the variables,” said Sawyer.
“If my dad would have cramped up, that would
have delayed his race. Or if it was just my wife,
Carleigh, and I, without my mom, we would have
been at the finish line where the bombs went
off.”
“It puts a lot of things into perspective,” he added.
“That’s what you take away from something like
that – you don’t sweat the small stuff anymore.”
When his washing machine broke down the other
day, Sawyer would normally have been irritated
to have to pay $1,000 to replace it. Instead, he
thought, “I could just not be here right now.”
GREENYOUR WORKSPACEWITH FIVE SIMPLE STEPS
by Jordan Gilgenbach, Communications Coordinator
The day before the marathon, where
one of the explosions took place.
Boston Marathon – Continued from Page 1 ...
CITYSLICK p4
Tim Barnes began work as full-time City
Facilities Manager on April 22. Barnes received
his bachelor’s degree from Lee University
in Cleveland, Tenn., and also received
Management and Teaching Certification from
the University of Florida. Prior to starting
at Edina, Barnes worked at both the City of
Columbia Heights and Smithtown Christian School
and Church as the Facility Maintenance Director.
STAFF NOTES
TECHY TIDBITS
by Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications &
Technology Services Director
Some argue that social media has made
life easier because of how it connects us
to others. Others think it’s just another
hassle and creates more work. Social
media is here to stay, but you don’t have
to be a slave to it.
To simplify your life and cut through the noise, follow these
tips:
tOpt out of unnecessary email lists.
tSchedule time on your calendar daily to check emails
and social media. Otherwise, it is easy for emails and
posts to pile up.
tChange social media settings. You don’t need to receive
a notification every time someone posts on your
Facebook wall, tags you in a photo or invites you to an
event.
tTurn off mobile push notifications.
tIf you don’t have a lot of time, pick just two forms of
social media to use personally. What’s the use of setting
up accounts on every possible social media platform if
you don’t use them or don’t have time to post to them
regularly?
tIf you use LinkedIn, make sure to use a catchy title and
complete your profile.
For more information, write to helpdesk@EdinaMN.gov or
leave a message at 952-903-5711.
Wellness Committee: Driving Range
Employees who present their City ID can hit a small bucket
of range balls at Braemar Golf Course for free 11:30 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Friday, May 10. During that time, employees can
purchase a turkey sandwich or
grilled chicken sandwich for $5
at the grill. Keep your eye out
for this new monthly event!
After a year in Hutchinson, Weigle moved to the
Creekside Community Center in Bloomington
where she often accompanied groups of interns
to community centers and senior centers in
surrounding cities. She visited the Edina Senior
Center and was asked if she would like to be the
director.
Since March 6, 1978, Weigle has served as the
Director of the Edina Senior Center. She has a lot to
be proud of in her 35-year career with the City.
“I accomplished what I set out to do,” said Weigle,
who said her goals were to build a community in
which the seniors are primarily responsible for all of
their activities, with support and publicity from the
Senior Center.
Under Weigle’s leadership, she helped usher in the
opening of the Senior Center in 2002 to its current
location in Grandview Square. Previously, the Senior
Center was located in the Edina Community Center.
The Edina Senior Center shares its building with the
Edina Community Library. The two have collaborated
on programs such as Edina Reads.
Weigle shows no signs of slowing down. After retiring
later this month, she plans to escort some of the
tours and join both the Scrabble group and the Edina
Singing Seniors at the Senior Center. She also plans
to spend time with her granddaughters, Adriana and
Gigi, who are 5 and 6 years old.
“Sue won’t sit still. She’ll stay busy, she’ll still interact
with seniors,” said John Keprios, former Director of
Parks & Recreation.
Senior Center member and front desk worker
Dorothy Krueger, who has been a member since
1989, will miss Weigle.
“She is absolutely the best,” said Krueger.
“Everything she does, she does so well.”
Weigle knows that she will still be able to work with
the seniors and looks forward to growing even closer
with others.
“I look forward to the new friends that I’ll meet and
also refreshing old friendships,” she said.
Weigle is thankful she has been able to work at the
Senior Center for so long and knows that the Senior
Center will continue to expand programs and reach
out to even more seniors in the coming years.
“It’s been such a profound privilege to work here
with the City of Edina,” said Weigle.
Sue Weigle
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