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AboutTown_2004Summer
PRESORT STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID Permit No.3932 Edina, MN AboutTown Magazine City of Edina 4801 West 50th Street Edina, MN 55424 www.cityofedina.com SUMMER•2004 About Town Official Magazine of the City of Edina Edina Garden Council ToFeature ‘The Magic of Fountains’ See page 16 for details ***ECRWSS*** POSTAL PATRON CAR-RT-WS ©C O L O U R S 2 0 0 4 The Minnesota Association of Government Communicators (MAGC) recently presented the City of Edina with six awards. “A Word From The Mayor,” Mayor Dennis Maetzold’s column that appears quarterly in About Town,was selected for an Award of Excellence in a writing category of MAGC’s annual Northern Lights Awards competition. Also recognized with first-place awards were former communications intern Jill MacPhail’s Autumn 2003 feature story on the Scheerer brothers who work together at the Fire Department; the City’s employee newsletter, City Slick; and a photograph taken of Centennial Lakes Park by Horticulturist Ted Stephenson. Stephenson’s award-winning photograph appeared on the Summer 2003 cover of About Town. The City was also presented two Awards of Merit in the Northern Lights Competition. The City’s website, www.cityofedina.com, and Centennial Lakes Park’s Great Duck Chase logo received those honors in the “websites” and “visual design” categories, respectively. For more information on the City’s publications or communications projects, contact Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte, 952-833-9520. Table of Contents Calendar Of Events.................................................................1 Summer Calendar Highlights................................................4 A Word From The Mayor ......................................................5 Edina’s Police Force Had Its Beginnings In Early 1930s...6 Edina Garden Council To Feature ‘The Magic Of Fountains’......................................16 Art Center Event Focuses On Local Resource..................20 City Thanks Volunteers At 25th Annual Reception...........22 Edina Theatre Receives Edina Heritage Award................26 VEAP Continues Back-To-School Program........................27 Edina Buckthorn Abatement Program Continues To Expand...........................................28 Horticulturist Ted Stephenson Discovers ‘Gold’...............30 City Adds Motorcycle To Fleet............................................32 Streetcar Memories At Edina History Museum................34 Community To Celebrate ‘115 Years Of Tradition’ July 4.............................................36 It’s Not Only Neighborly ... It’s The Law...........................38 The Edina Community Foundation – A Charitable Giving Partner........................40 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony To Be Held July 4....................42 City Hires Assistant City Engineer, Traffic Engineer.......44 City of Edina To Flush Hydrants In September, October ...46 AboutTown Volume 16, Number 3 Summer 2004 Official Publication of the City of Edina, Minnesota 4801 West 50th Street Edina, Minnesota 55424 952-927-8861 Circulation 25,000 Editor:Jennifer Bennerotte Assistant to the Editor:Matt Lockrem Publisher:City of Edina About Town is produced by the City of Edina. To advertise in About Town, contact Richard Barbeau at Barbeau Marketing Group, 610-277-9252. Copyright 2004 by City of Edina, 4801 West 50th Street, 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 citizens and community history as well. About Town is printed on recycled paper to conform to City conservation guidelines. www.cityofedina.com Cover photo by Dianne Plunkett Latham City Receives State Awards Special Pull-Out Sections: Community Foundation 2002-2003 Annual Report and Park & Recreation Insider 1•SUMMER 2004 SUNDAYMONDAYTUESDAYWEDNESDAYTHURSDAYFRIDAYSATURDAY 1 Noon, Rusty’s RockingJamboree, CentennialLakes Park. 5:30 p.m., Board ofAppeals, Edina CityHall. 2 3 4 12:30 p.m., July 4 Parade followed by Edina City Hall Open House. 8:45 p.m., Fireworks sponsored by Fairview Southdale Hospital, Rosland Park. 5 Independence Day Observed. Most City Offices Closed. 7 p.m., Jazz on the Prairie Big Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 6 Noon, Brodini Comedy Magic Show, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., HRA&City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 7 p.m., Star of the North Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 8 Noon, Steve Johnston &Friends (ventriloquist/ puppeteer), Centennial Lakes Park. 5-8 p.m., Exhibit Opening, Edina Art Center 9 8-9:30 p.m., Band Jam, Centennial Lakes Park. 10 11 10 a.m.--2:00 p.m., “The Great Paint-Out,” Minnehaha Creek 3-6 p.m., Ice Cream Social, Edina Art Center 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 12 7 p.m., DebbieBigelow &DeanKlaven, CentennialLakes Park. 13 Noon, Will Hale &theTadpole Parade,Centennial LakesPark. 7 p.m., HeritagePreservation Board,Edina City Hall. 14 Edina Garden CouncilGarden Toursbeginning at ArnesonAcres Park. 7 p.m., BrooklynCommunity Band,Centennial LakesPark. 1617 18 7 p.m., Calhoun IsleCommunity Band,Centennial LakesPark. 19 7 p.m., HyebarDancers, CentennialLakes Park. 20 Noon, Mrs. Catherine and Friends, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., HRA&City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano,” Centennial Lakes Park. 21 7 a.m., Recycling andSolid WasteCommission, EdinaCity Hall. 7 p.m., Eden PrairieCommunity Band,Centennial LakesPark. 22 Noon, Bob the Beachcomber, Centennial Lakes Park. 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. Braemar Golf Course 40th Anniversary Celebration. 2324 27 Noon, David Walbridge &The Big Fun Show, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Human Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 26 7 p.m., Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, Centennial Lakes Park. 25 7 p.m., Northern Winds Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. About Town Calendar JULY 2004 28 7 p.m., Hopkins Westwind Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 29 Noon, Kristi’s Kid Songs!, Centennial Lakes Park. 30 15 Noon, Mary HallShow for Pipsqueaks,Centennial LakesPark. 5:30 p.m., Board ofAppeals, Edina CityHall. 31 7 p.m., Shakespeare in the Park, “Measure for Measure,” Centennial Lakes Park. 2•SUMMER 2004 SUNDAYMONDAYTUESDAYWEDNESDAYTHURSDAYFRIDAYSATURDAY 1 7 p.m., MinneapolisPolice Concert Band,Centennial LakesPark. 3 Noon, Magic of Brian Gilbertson, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., HRA&City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano,” Centennial Lakes Park. 4 7 p.m., Stan Bann BigBand, CentennialLakes Park. 5 Noon, WonderfulWorld of Woody,Centennial LakesPark. 5:30 p.m., Board ofAppeals, Edina CityHall. 67 10 a.m.-3 p.m., EdinaArt Center Presentsthe Family Art Tent atthe Loring Park ArtFestival. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., ExhibitOpening, EdinaHistory Museum. 2 7 p.m., Jim Berner,Centennial LakesPark. 8 7 p.m., Zuhrah Shrine Flames, Centennial Lakes Park. 9 7 p.m., Zuhrah Concert Band, Centennial Lakes Park. 10 Noon, Mary Hall Show for Pipsqueaks, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Board, Edina City Hall. 11 7 p.m., Die Bavarian Musik Meisters, Centennial Lakes Park. 12 Noon, Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree, Centennial Lakes Park. 13 8-9:30 p.m., Band Jam, Centennial Lakes Park. 14 15 Lighthouse Night. 8:30 p.m., First JohnPhilip SousaMemorial Band,Centennial LakesPark. 16 7 p.m., ArmenianDance Ensemble,Centennial LakesPark. 17 Noon, Wiggle, Jiggle & Jam, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., HRA&City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano,” Centennial Lakes Park. 18 7 p.m., River City JazzOrchestra, CentennialLakes Park. 2021 22 7 p.m., MoonlightSerenaders Big Band,CentennialLakesPark. 23 7 p.m., LarryMcDonough,Centennial LakesPark. 24 Filings for City Council open. Noon, Will Hale and the Tadpole Parade, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Human Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 25 7 p.m., Claire Van DeCrommert &BrianGalpa, CentennialLakes Park. 26 Noon, BrodiniComedy Magic Show,Centennial LakesPark. 6 p.m., TransportationCommission, EdinaCity Hall. 2728 31 Noon, Children’s Music with Bruce Bell, Centennial Lakes Park. 30 7 p.m., Scott Frasier Guitar Duo, Centennial Lakes Park. 29 7 p.m., Just Friends Big Band, Centennial Lakes Park. About Town Calendar AUGUST 2004 19 Noon, StorytellerCarol McCormick,CentennialLakesPark. 5:30 p.m., Board ofAppeals, Edina CityHall. 5•SUMMER 2004 Lights! Camera! Take action! The City of Edina began broadcasting meetings of the Edina City Council in May on Edina Community Channel 16. The channel is available to local cable television subscribers. Tapes and DVDs of the meetings are also available for a small fee. The Council’s decision to televise its meetings has roots in Edina’s Vision 20/20, our long-range strategic plan. One of our key objectives is to match our technological capabilities with the needs and desires of residents. Televising our Council meetings is just one of the ways that the City has enhanced its technological and communication resources in recent years. Our website, www.cityofedina.com, now boasts more than one million “hits” each month and interactive online forms have become commonplace. In conjunction with the construction of Edina City Hall, the Council completed plans to televise its meetings. Equipment was purchased for that purpose and also to broadcast important community information in a “bulletin board” type of format. The bulletin board was launched on Edina Community Channel 16 in late March. Four robotic cameras were installed in the Council Chambers. Two technicians in an audio/visual control room adjacent to the Council Chambers operate the cameras from behind the scenes. Because the cameras move silently and the technicians are not visible to the public, it’s business as usual — our meetings run no differently than they had in the past. No additional staff has been hired to handle television production. Thanks to a great working relationship with the City of Bloomington, the Communications Department there provides Edina with two camera operators per City Council meeting for a very reasonable price. The Council typically meets the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month. Council meetings are not broadcast live at the present time, but instead are shown at 7 p.m. Thursday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Monday following each meeting. Edina Community Channel 16 gives the City another way to communicate with the public. We look forward to sharing news and events with the community using this medium! Dennis F. Maetzold Mayor 4•SUMMER 2004 OTHER DATES TO REMEMBER: July 6 7 p.m. Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano” Centennial Lakes Park. July 13 7 p.m. Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano” Centennial Lakes Park. July 27 7 p.m. Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano” Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 10 7 p.m. Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano” Centennial Lakes Park. Aug. 24 7 p.m. Jim Shannon “Strolling Piano” Centennial Lakes Park. BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE 40TH ANNIVERSARY What:Braemar Golf Course opened its pro shop doors July 22, 1964. Over the course of the past four decades, Braemar has celebrated many wonderful golf events, including the 1969 Minnesota Golf Classic, 1974 Minnesota Women’s Publinks Championship, 1979 Women’s Amateur Public Links National Championship and the 1984 Minnesota Men’s Publinks Championship.To honor these 40 years of public golf in Edina, Braemar will host an open house. The free event will include food and hole-in- one, putting and chipping contests. At 5 p.m., a brief ceremony will be held, at which time a proclamation from Braemar, Scotland, will be read and the contest winners announced. When:Thursday, July 22 Where:Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive Info:952-826-6791 LIGHTHOUSE NIGHT What:Started by the Edina Model Yacht Club, Lighthouse Night has become an annual event at Centennial Lakes Park. More than 100 Tiki Torches will burn behind the Centrum and the park’s special lighting will be highlighted. At 8 p.m., there will be open boating in the Central Pond for model yachts. The First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band will perform in the amphitheater at 8:30 p.m. At dusk, the boats from the Model Yacht Club will light up the lake. Interior cockpit and cabin lights, searchlights and floodlights will shimmer off the water. The backdrop will be a floating and fully operational scaled model of a lighthouse. When:Sunday, Aug. 15 Where:Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S. Info:952-832-6789 FALL INTO THE ARTS FESTIVAL What:As summer draws to a close, people will start thinking about fall and winter – holiday gift-giving, back-to-school shopping, fall and winter entertaining and indoor décor, rustic accessories and glittering jewelry. More than 125 talented artists from around the Midwest will display and sell their work at the second-annual Fall into the Arts Festival at Centennial Lakes Park. The arts festival will also feature favorite fall foods and entertainment, children’s activities and artist demonstrations. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Edina Crime Prevention Fund. When:10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12 Where:Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave. S. Info:www.FallintotheArtsFestival.com or EdinaFallArts@aol.com Summer Calendar Highlights A Word From The Mayor 3•SUMMER 2004 SUNDAYMONDAYTUESDAYWEDNESDAYTHURSDAYFRIDAYSATURDAY 1 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 2 5:30 p.m., Board of Appeals, Edina City Hall. 34 5 6 Labor Day Observed. Most City Offices Closed. 7 4:30 p.m., Filings for City Council close. 7 p.m., HRAand City Council, Edina City Hall. 8 5-8 p.m., Skating class registration, Braemar Arena. 91011 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fall into the Arts Festival, Centennial Lakes Park. 12 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fall into the Arts Festival, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Grace Church Big Band, Edinborough Park. 13 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Board, Edina City Hall. 14 Primary Election Day. 15 7 a.m., Recycling and Solid Waste Commission, Edina City Hall. 1718 19 7p.m., Moonlight Serenaders Big Band, Edinborough Park. 2021 7 p.m., Community Health Committee, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., ArmenianDance Ensemble,Edinborough Park. 2223 6 p.m., Transportation Commission, Edina City Hall. 2425 28 7 p.m., Human Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Debbie Bigelow &Dean Klaven, Edinborough Park. 2726 7 p.m., First JohnPhilip SousaMemorial Band,Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar SEPTEMBER 2004 29 7 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 30 16 5:30 p.m., Board of Appeals, Edina City Hall. By Joe Sullivan Contributing Writer Before 1930, police protection was only a fond hope for most Edina residents. The nascent Village of Edina was still in the early stages of its long transition from rural farm community to residential suburb. Morningside was the earliest area to be “suburbanized.” But by 1924, farms south and west of Morningside were being cleared by developers such as Sam Thorpe, who had purchased parts of the Brown and Baird farms to build what would eventually become the 550-home Country Club District of Edina. New Residential Areas Created Need For Police It was in this context of accelerating residential development that the Edina Village Council hired its first police officer. Percy A. Redpath, an Edina resident, was named Edina’s first marshal in 1930. Shortly afterwards, Bob Mieske was hired as the village’s second marshal. Mieske worked the dayshift and Redpath handled the nightshift. Bill Heydt joined the Edina Police Department (EPD) in 1936 as its first foot patrol officer. By that time, a 20 mph speed limit had been established for the Country Club District. (Heydt was still patrolling the Country Club District on foot in 1947.) Redpath died in 1937 and Ted Telly replaced him as marshal. That same year, Hilding “Ding” Dahl joined the EPD as a patrol officer. To this day, Dahl, who retired in 1973, is Edina’s longest- serving police officer with 36 years on the 7•SUMMER 20046•SUMMER 2004 Edina’s Police Force Had Its Beginnings In Early 1930s force. (In the late 1940s, Officer Dahl was a familiar face at the Brown Derby Café, located next to the Edina Theater. When my Southwest High schoolmates and I were there enjoying burgers and cokes after a movie, I would sometimes notice him checking to make sure there weren’t any beer bottles on our table. There weren’t.) Edina’s First Police Station Was In A Basement Edina didn’t have a police station until May 1942 when the Minneapolis Tribune announced that Edina’s first Village Hall and police station would be opened for a Village Council meeting. (The Council had been meeting in the old Minnehaha Grange Hall for years.) Because of World War II building material restrictions, the new Village Hall was only the basement of the modest structure that had been planned. Located at 4801 W. 50th Street, it was built on the same site as our new City Hall. After the war, a single-story Village Hall was erected atop that basement’s temporary cap. Cost of the structure was $4,950. It provided a proper meeting room for the council and offices for village police, engineer, recorder and assessor. H.M. “Hank” Wrobleski, who joined the Edina Police Department in 1947, said that “our first Village Hall looked like a Quonset hut.” (Wrobleski eventually attained the rank of captain and retired in 1977. He still lives in Edina.) Also that year, the EPD sponsored the first Appreciation Day for the Edina school patrol at Excelsior Amusement Park. Edina’s Police Chiefs (1930-Present) Percy A. Redpath1930-1937Village Marshal Bob Mieske1930-?Village Marshal Ted Telly1937-?Village Marshal John LyonDates Unknown Wayne Bennett1955-1975 Bert Merfeld1975-1977 Craig Swanson1977-1993 Leonard Kleven1993-1993 Bill Bernhjelm1993-1999 Mike Siitari1999-Present (continued on next page) This house at 6300 Brookview Ave., was the home of Percy Redpath and his family in 1936. The Walnut 2151 telephone number listed for the Edina Police Department in the Minneapolis directory was Redpath’s home phone. Ph o t o c o u r t e s y o f M a r y R e d p a t h - S h i e l d s Pictured with one of the Police Department’s early patrol cars are (from left): Marshal Percy Redpath and Officer Ted Telly, who replaced Redpath as marshal after his death in 1937. The six officers of the Edina Police Department in this 1947 photo are (from left): H.M. “Hank” Wrobleski, Clayton Erickson, Clarence “Slim” Knutson, Donald A. Nelson, Hilding “Ding” Dahl and Bill Heydt. The two squad cars — a 1946 Ford and a 1946 Plymouth — were parked in front of Edina’s first Village Hall and police station, built in 1946 on the same site as the new City Hall. Dic k P a l e n p h o t o to be the first Twin Cities suburb to hire minority patrolmen. The three officers added to the force that year — selected from 196 applicants — represented three races. Michael A. Fairbanks, 26, one-quarter Chippewa, held tribal rights on northern Minnesota’s Red Lake Reservation. He joined the EPD in April 1963. Also added that year were Charles P. Conners, 25, African American, and Wesley D. Sack, 23, Caucasian. Police/School Liaison Program Established In 1965 EPD patrol officer Richard Alstad was named the Village’s first school liaison officer in 1965. Edina schools have had liaison police officers ever since. Marc Limbeck joined the EPD in 1988 and became a school liaison officer in 2002, with primary responsibility for Edina High School. He is proud of his relationships with the students. “They see me on a daily basis and know I’m here primarily to help them. Students stop by my office in the high school looking for help with a problem or sometimes just to chat,” he said. “It’s more about solving problems than arresting people.” During a typical day, he might investigate violations of tobacco, drug, alcohol, vandalism or harassment laws. “But, by far, the bulk of the problems involve theft of personal property,” he said. “With 1,621 students in the high school, I’m like a one-man police force in a small town. We have most of the same kinds of problems that little towns have.” Jim Rygg, who has been with the EPD since 1993, joined Limbeck as a second school liaison officer in January. His primary responsibility is Edina’s two middle schools, Valley View (1,174 students) and South View (1,093 students). But he also works with the elementary schools. Rygg’s office is at South View, but he’s at Valley View at least twice a week. “Part of my job is to be visible in the schools, greeting students in the halls and visiting with them in the lunchroom and in other non-threatening situations,” he said. Edina Crime Prevention Fund — A National Model Edina’s Crime Prevention Fund was created during a 1970 murder investigation when some local residents discovered that the EPD was not allowed to use tax dollars to reward persons for information about crimes. “The Edina Crime Larger Police Station First Considered In1951 On July 23, 1951, the Edina Village Council met to consider construction of a new municipal office building that would replace the badly overcrowded original Village Hall. Plans included a new police station with a three-cell jail and a fire station. When the new Village Hall was completed in May 1954, the police station shared the basement level with the Park and Recreation Department. Former Edina City Manager Ken Rosland recalled working for “Park and Rec” in the basement after he graduated from college in 1957. “The Police Department had a small space on the other end of the basement and there was a kind of vacant ‘no-man’s-land’ area in between us. That was it,” he said. Bennett Introduced Innovations To Department Until 1955, when Wayne Bennett became police chief, the EPD was assigning two patrol officers to a squad car. Bennett began a one-officer-per-car policy that has been used ever since. In 1957, Bennett also inaugurated a program through which patrol officers received training as firefighters. Two patrol cars were equipped with basic firefighting equipment so that police officers arriving as First Responders were able to control small fires. Merfeld Family Included Several Edina Public Servants When Wayne Bennett retired as chief in 1975, Bert Merfeld replaced him. Merfeld’s boyhood home was at 5145 Eden Ave., near the Village Public Works garage where his father, Matt, worked. The Fire Department’s two fire engines were housed there at the time and Matt became Edina’s first volunteer fireman. Also, Merfeld’s sister was the Edina Fire Department’s first dispatcher. During World War II, Bert Merfeld joined the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific. In 1948, five years after leaving the Navy, he joined the EPD. While waiting for his new police uniform to arrive, he wore his navy uniform. “The navy uniforms were very similar in appearance to the green uniforms that were worn by the police officers at the time,” he said. EPD Hires ‘Best Available’ Employees, Regardless Of Race According to a 1963 Minneapolis Star article, Edina had inaugurated a selection process designed to hire “the best available policemen, regardless of race or color.” It was said 8•SUMMER 2004 9•SUMMER 2004 (continued on next page) Lined up in the snow for a 1953 photo were Edina police officers Hank Wrobleski, George Butler, Bert Merfeld, Lloyd McGary, Robert Christy, Bill Hoffman, John Richards and Richard Lindberry. “Edina’s finest”— The Edina Police Department (circa 1956), lined up for this formal photo in front of the former City Hall. Non-uniformed officials in the center of the front row are: (from left) Lt. Hank Wrobleski, City Manager Warren Hyde and Chief Wayne Bennett. 11•SUMMER 2004 Eidem and Dave Lindman oversee the training sessions. “Explorers learn law enforcement procedures and communications skills that they can use throughout their entire lives,” Eidem said in a recent interview. Each spring, post members participate in a Minnesota Law Enforcement Explorers Conference at Breezy Point in northern Minnesota. “Our Explorers also travel to national conferences where they compete for trophies covering 12 areas of police procedure,” said Eidem. “They’ve ranked in the top five every year.” Current EPD officers Mark Biermaier and Kevin Rofidal got their first exposure to law enforcement as members of the Explorer post. Emergency Response Team Established In 1986 Edina’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) was originally called the Special Entry Team. The name was changed in 1997 to reflect its broadened capabilities, which now cover barricaded suspects, hostage rescue and extreme weather situations. Today’s ERT is made up of 10 operational EPD officers trained in special weapons and tactics (SWAT), plus four paramedics from the fire department and team leader Lt. Ken Kane. “Our ERT trains with four other teams from surrounding suburbs at every-other-month meetings and at annual four- day sessions held at Camp Ripley near Little Falls, Minn.,” Kane said. “Training sessions are held in a wide variety of locations including buildings slated for demolition, wooded areas and open fields.” A five-day school is also held each spring for prospective new team members. Bike Patrol Expands EPD’s Reach In 1996, the EPD introduced a bike patrol unit to increase its coverage in shopping centers, parks, office buildings and other locations not accessible to police cars. “Police on bikes are very effective,” said Thomas McKenzie, EPD’s training officer and leader of the bike patrol. “We can blend into the darkness or quietly ride up to a crime scene without scaring offenders off. Currently, 12 officers are bike-trained and available for bike patrol service.” In the 50th & France shopping area, the bike patrol can stop a car speeding through a crosswalk or making an illegal turn. In city parks, bike patrol officers can patrol paths and other areas where squad cars can’t go. Several years ago, the bike patrol was able to locate a 3-year-old 10•SUMMER 2004 Prevention Fund was the first program in the nation to gather funds from individuals and organizations to use as rewards for information about crimes,” said Molly Anderson, EPD’s public information officer. “It has served as a model for similar programs in cities throughout the United States and Canada.” Police Chief Mike Siitari reported, “The Police Department has recovered a lot of property, arrested many criminals and uncovered a lot of information we wouldn’t have been able to get without the fund.” To-date, the largest reward offered by the fund is the $5,000 awarded for a tip that led to the arrest and conviction of two armed robbers who broke into an Edina home in 2001 and beat and robbed two occupants. Rewards up to $1,000 are offered at the discretion of the police chief. Larger rewards require approval from the Crime Fund’s board of directors. In addition to offering rewards for information about crimes, the Crime Prevention Fund sponsors other EPD programs including Neighbors’ Home Watch, Operation I.D., educational aids and special equipment purchases. Young Adults Can Explore Law Enforcement Profession Since 1982, the Edina and Eden Prairie police departments have jointly offered young men and women ages 14 to 21 an opportunity to explore careers in law enforcement. They also learn about good citizenship through the Police Explorer program, a special section of the Boy Scouts of America. Explorer Post No. 925 started with a proposal by EPD officers Bill Barington, Roger Laurance and Mike Lutz. Barington is now retired and living in southern Minnesota. Laurance now works for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department. Lutz is an EPD detective. The 23 current members of Post No. 925 meet weekly at the Eden Prairie fire station. EPD officers Jason Behr, Dick Campbell, Kris (continued on next page) Detective Sgt. Dick Alstad was stationed on a Southdale Center rooftop with binoculars and a portable radio as part of a commercial crime team aimed at apprehending car thieves and reducing theft of property from cars in the shopping center’s parking lots. Explorer David Boosalis performed CPR on an accident “victim” during a weekly Post No. 925 meeting. Boosalis completed the Explorers program and is currently enrolled in a basic police skills course at the Minnesota Center for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement in St. Paul. A member of Edina’s Police Reserve unit, his goal is to become an Edina police officer. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n Bike patrollers are prepared to ride across a six-lane highway, throw their bike over a fence, climb over it, jump back on the bike and keep pedaling. child that was missing from a field trip group at Centennial Lakes Plaza. Two bike patrol officers covered the area within minutes and found the child roaming the bushes. “But perhaps the greatest benefit is that bikes make police officers more accessible,” McKenzie explained. “Residents are much more likely to report suspicious behavior to an officer on a bike.” The bike patrol is used for “targeted service,” which includes parking lots at Southdale Center and Centennial Lakes and community events such as the Edina Art Fair, July 4th parade and fireworks celebrations, 5K and 10K runs and the annual Race for the Cure. ‘Black-and-White’ Patrol Cars Came Back In Edina In 2000 In the fall of 2000, the EPD purchased four Ford Crown Victoria police interceptor vehicles. The new patrol cars were painted black and white and emblazoned with traditional graphics. “The trend in squad cars was to return to the traditional black and white colors,” said Siitari. “Now it’s almost become the norm,” he added. Other metro-area police departments now driving “black- and-whites” include Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Plymouth. Today’s EPD fleet has 12 marked and two unmarked patrol cars. Each car has an on-board, mobile computer connected to EPD’s dispatchers, the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles and police departments all over Minnesota. In addition, they all carry heart defibrillators, laser or radar equipment for tracking speeders and cell phones. Some cars are also equipped with a new 800 MHz radio that provides metro-wide coverage. (Eventually all cars will have these radios.) Edina Police Department Capabilities & Service YearOfficersSquad Office Calls for CarsStaffService 19744610712,522 198443131219,274 200450141627,000* *Projected Edina’s New Police Station “Our move to the recently-completed police station has been a welcome change from our former cramped quarters in the old City Hall,” Siitari said. “We had officers working in closets and female officers using the public restrooms as locker rooms.” Investigators now have enclosed offices for questioning crime suspects. “Our efficiency and productivity have increased from the former ‘Mayberry RFD’-type police station with its old-fashioned jail cells,” Siitari emphasized. “Security is greatly improved. Our new front desk has bullet-proof glass and we now have video surveillance in all critical areas of the operation. We’ve also got a garage where we can safely move suspects from patrol cars to detention without having to make transfers in an open parking lot.” ‘Growth From Within’ Philosophy “From the beginning, Edina has followed a ‘growth from within’ philosophy to fill vacancies in its Police Department,” said Siitari. Except for retirements, there has been relatively little turnover in department personnel, which he says has resulted from several factors: • The department offers its employees competitive wages and fringe benefits. • Job assignments are routinely rotated to provide cross training and keep employees’ jobs interesting and challenging. • Strong support from Edina citizens, as demonstrated when Officer Mike Blood was wounded in a local bank robbery in 2000. The Current Edina Police Force Consists Of: 1 Chief 1 Deputy Chief 2 Lieutenants 8 Sergeants (including 2 detectives) 3 Detectives 1 Narcotics Investigator 1 Financial Crimes Investigator 2 School Liaison Officers 1 Crime Prevention Specialist 31 Patrol Officers 20 Support Staff Members Police Reserve Program Involves Citizen Volunteers Instituted in 1972, the EPD Reserve program currently involves 19 citizen volunteers. They assist the department by presenting the Junior Police program in Edina’s schools and directing auto and pedestrian traffic at community events. Reservists wear light blue uniform shirts with a specially- designed patch. “They are trained in a 10-week course at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Reserve School,” said McKenzie, who coordinates the reserve officer program. “But they are not licensed police officers and do not have the power of arrest.” 12•SUMMER 2004 13•SUMMER 2004 (continued on next page) Chief Mike Siitari stands beside one of the four black-and-white patrol cars added to the police department’s fleet in 2000. “Patrol cars are the most visible representation of our department and the black-and-whites are easier for citizens to identify,” he said. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n • Completion of the laptop computer project and installation of a mobile data system, which provides critical information to the officers on the street more quickly. • Improved enforcement of traffic laws in residential areas. Controlling increased neighborhood traffic is a continuing challenge. • Improved long-term problem solving — looking at the big picture and the root causes of crimes that are increasing the fastest. • Officers now take ownership of problem areas. Background material and photographs for this article came from collections of the Edina Historical Society; files of the Edina Police Department; minutes of Edina Village Council meetings; and the following publications: Minneapolis Tribune, Minneapolis Star, Edina Sun, Edina Sun-Current, About Town and the City of Edina’s website. Officer Kevin Rofidal is compiling information and photographs for a more complete history of the Police Department. His assistance was invaluable in the preparation of this article. If you have historical information or old photographs that pertain to the early days of the department, contact Rofidal at 952-826-1610. Joe Sullivan is a freelance writer and Edina resident. He can be reached via e-mail at edinamail@ci.edina.mn.us. 15•SUMMER 200414•SUMMER 2004 EPD’s K-9 Unit Activated In 2002 The EPD canine team consists of a 4-year-old German Shepherd Dog named Kodiak and K-9 handler/Officer Rofidal, who joined the EPD in 1997. They patrol together in a standard patrol car equipped with a kennel that replaces the rear seat. Rofidal carries a remote control that automatically opens the vehicle’s rear left door to let Kodiak out. The 75-pound male dog is trained to locate Rofidal by sight and sound, wherever he might be. When off-duty, Kodiak lives at Rofidal’s house. Occasionally, Rofidal gets a call at home and responds to a request for K- 9 support. Kodiak was obtained from the Czech Republic when the K-9 program began in 2002. The dog and Rofidal trained together at the St. Paul Police Canine Unit. The basic course required 12 weeks and the narcotics detection course lasted three more weeks. Funding for the canine unit was made possible by a donation from an area resident. EPD’s Accomplishments Since 1999 Asked what he feels are the EPD’s most significant achievements since he became police chief in 1999, Siitari identified several accomplishments. “First, let me say that I took over a well-educated, well-trained and highly-motivated police department,” he said. “The quality of our people continues to rank extremely high in comparison with other departments in the state and nation.” According to Siitari, some of the EPD’s most significant progress since 1999 has involved: Pictured with his handler/officer Kevin Rofidal is Kodiak — Edina’s K-9 patrol dog. In addition to training for obedience, agility, criminal apprehension handler protection and tracking missing persons, Kodiak is trained to search for evidence and detect narcotics. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n Mike Siitari has been Edina’s Chief of Police since 1999. He joined the department as a patrol officer in 1978. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n Werness Brothers Funeral & Cremation Services (612) 927-8641 Werness Brothers Funeral & Cremation Services (612) 927-8641 Free Pre-planning Information (612) 922-1932 Minneapolis •Edina •Bloomington Service Beyond Expectation Since 1934 Free Pre-planning Information (612) 922-1932 Minneapolis •Edina •Bloomington Service Beyond Expectation Since 1934 16•SUMMER 2004 17•SUMMER 2004 Edina Garden Council To Feature ‘The Magic Of Fountains’ The Edina Garden Council will feature “The Magic of Fountains” during its garden tour, scheduled for Wednesday, July 14. The theme of the tour matches the Council’s major project of the year, which is to raise $40,000 to replace the fountain at Arneson Acres Park. Two of the gardens on the tour have lovely fountains. Proceeds from the tour will go toward the Arneson fountain project. Showcased in the 2004 tour are the historic 1886 Baird House gardens, a Greek rose garden, English cottage/prairie garden in the Interlachen Country Club area and a water garden in the Parkwood Knolls Neighborhood. Tickets to the four private gardens on the tour are available in advance by contacting a member of the Garden Council or the day of the event at Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St., which is also featured during the tour. Addresses of the gardens on the tour will not be disclosed until the day of the event. Arlene and Brad Forrest Home (Historic 1886 Baird House) —The Baird House, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by Minneapolis architect Charles S. Sedgwick in the Eastlake Style for George and Sarah Baird in 1886. Brad and Arlene Forrest purchased the home and 1.16-acre lot in 2001. Their back-of-the-house addition met National Park Service guidelines and seamlessly integrated the new with the old structure, creating a harmonious and livable home while maintaining a distinct visual separation on the exterior. In recognition of their excellence, the Edina Heritage Preservation Board presented the Forrests and the addition’s builder, M.A. Peterson Designbuild, with the first Edina Heritage Award. The garden was designed to provide lovely views from the home’s windows as well as outdoor living spaces, including kitchen garden plants around the back porch patio. Plantings blend historically appropriate cottage garden perennials, such as Culver’s root, rudbeckia, peonies, bee balm, roses and hydrangeas, with whimsical modern touches – weeping tree forms and ornamental grasses. Sedum and hollyhocks sprout among the ruins of a windmill on the property. The dry- laid stonewall on the east side of the home provides visual structure to the garden and a place for guests to sit and enjoy the outdoors. The lovely fountain in the front yard leads the eye up the hosta-lined brick front walk and is a testament to the “magic of fountains.” The perennial gardens were designed and installed in the spring of 2003 by Barb Dunsmore of Countryside Gardens in Delano, Minn., and Laura Baxley of Anthemis Landscape Design in Minneapolis. M.A. Peterson provided hardscape, nursery stock plantings and site preparation. Sue and Wes Simonton Home – Step along the stone path into the front yard and you will feel like you are at Ann Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Fragrant Asiatic lilies and prairie dropseed border the path to the front door. A prairie garden fills the entire front yard. There you will find Turk’s cap lilies, royal catchfly, monarda, baptisia, and prairie smoke, among others. In the shade garden, you can find our state flower, the showy Lady’s- Slipper, Jeffersonia dubia, twinflower, wintergreen, trillium and others. Unusual native shrubs and small trees edge the gardens – bayberry, Dirca paulustrus, winterberry, witch hazel, redbud, various dogwoods and more. The more cultivated part of the garden near the house includes the rose “Frau Dagmar,” tree and herbaceous peonies, azaleas and rhododendrons, Siberian iris, clematis, daylilies and magnolia “Leonard Messel.” The back patio and boulder garden have an enormous climbing rose, probably “Lillian Gibson,” and a spectacular winter-hardy wisteria, “Blue Moon,” on the pergola. Sue’s prairie plantings also cover the hillside in the back yard. It includes favorites such as liatris, Penstemon grandiflora, rudbeckia, purple coneflower, gray- headed coneflower, and butterfly weed. The home overlooks an excavated pond, which has an aerator. The pond was added to attract wildlife. The residence abuts Interlachen Country Club, giving it a rare rural feel in Edina. The home was built in 1995 on this 0.7-acre lot and includes a greenhouse and cold frame. Sue is a volunteer for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s woody plant collection and also is a member of the Edina Garden Council. The Baird House fountain is an Edina icon and goes well with the Edina Garden Council’s 2004 garden tour theme, “The Magic of Fountains.” The front yard of the Sue and Wes Simonton home features extensive prairie plantings. The cover of About Town shows the Simontons’ Wisteria “Blue Moon.” Few metropolitan-area residents can boast of as lush a wisteria as the Simontons’. Most Wisteria cultivars are not hardy in Minnesota. This cultivar, however, blooms three times per year and is hardy up to 40 degrees below zero. (continued on next page) 19•SUMMER 2004 In the rose garden are benches, tables and chairs where a weary visitor can enjoy the four-tier fountain, rose aroma and beauty. There is also a rock garden in the back yard. Susie does most of the gardening and Tommy does the heavy work. Arneson Acres Park —You won’t want to miss touring Edina’s premiere public garden! The 13.2-acre Arneson Acres Park gardens are maintained by the Edina Park and Recreation Department and can be toured any time. The gardens include a daylily garden, hosta glade, perennial borders, wildflower garden, and memory garden with its spring-blooming shrubs and trees. Tickets cost $12 in advance and can be purchased by calling Marcella Daehn, 612-866-1116, or $15 the day of the tour at Arneson Acres Park. Children 12 years and under are free. Restrooms and a drinking fountain are available in the Arneson House Terrace Room. A small plant sale will be held the day of the tour at the Arneson Acres gazebo, for those looking for something unusual from members’ gardens. 18•SUMMER 2004 Steve and Teri Hamm Home –A large garden of perennials and annuals graces the sweeping walkway to the front door. Featured on the 2003 Parade of Ponds tour, this beautiful patio-side pond with a two-foot waterfall is surrounded by lush greens. The pond contains flowering water plants and fish. The homeowner finds sitting at the pond next to the patio’s trickling waterfall could lull you to sleep. Outdoor Environments installed the 16-foot-by-20-foot-by-30-inch pond during the summer of 1999 when this Parkwood Knolls home was remodeled. The garden setting covers 2,500 square feet of the 0.9-acre lot. Tommy and Susie Phill –The Phills’ garden was one of six winners in the Star Tribune’s 2003 garden contest. The Phills have spent 40 years turning their Edina yard into a Grecian fantasy. The front has concrete benches and planters. Enter the back yard from the left side of the home by going through a vine-covered arbor. The back yard has a second vine-covered arbor, a pergola, and a deck with stone pillars. With 130 roses in the back yard along the paths and patio, the Phills have little lawn to mow on this 0.41-acre lot with its 1957 ranch style home. Lush gardens of perennials and annuals lead to the front entrance of the Hamm home in the Parkwood Knolls Neighborhood. A “Grecian fantasy,” the Phill home features 130 roses and ornate statuary in the back yard. VISIT OUR NEW STATE OF THE ART FACILITY: 7705 Bush Lake Road ~ Edina, MN 55439 952-941-8601 GENUINE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS ~ SOAPSTONE SINCE 1896 The largest in-stock inventory in the Twin Cities!www.northwesternmarble.com OPEN: Monday-Thursday 8:30AM-7:00PM Friday 8:30AM-4:30PM By Kathleen Sovell Contributing Writer It’s not often that art and the environment come together. But when they do, many opportunities arise. Show your support for both the artistic community and Minnehaha Creek, a splendid natural resource that joins several cities together along its scenic route to Minnehaha Falls, at a special summer Edina Art Center event. The Edina Art Center, in cooperation with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and The Loft, will host “22 Miles: Celebrating Minnehaha Creek!” A juried exhibition of works inspired by the Creek will open with a reception at the Edina Art Center 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 8. Award presentations and readings will be given at 6 p.m. The exhibition will continue through Aug. 21. A related event follows with “The Great Paint-Out” along the Creek, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 11. The day is sure to be packed with artistic works, historical insights, environmental discoveries and fun, all centered around this urban treasure of the greater Twin Cities. Selected artists will paint or work in their medium along the Creek at sites that will be publicized for public viewing. Storytellers will also give historical accounts about the Creek with Native American and Euro-American perspectives. Volunteers will be in period costumes and provide educational materials about the importance of the Creek and how to be an active steward. The day will culminate in an old-fashioned ice cream social, entertainment and music from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Edina Art Center. Entertainment includes story telling, readings of Longfellow’s poems, viewing paintings completed that day along the Creek and additional artwork by selected artists. The day will end with a 7 p.m. concert by the John Phillip Sousa Memorial Band at Centennial Lakes Park. “The purpose of this exhibition is to elevate the unique contributions of Minnehaha Creek through the arts,” notes Carol Gray, who is the catalyst for the exhibition and project, “22 Miles: Celebrating Minnehaha Creek!” Gray, through her landscape painting, came to realize the beauty and value of Minnehaha Creek to this community. Along with assisting and accelerating the environmental preservation of the Creek, she wants to reveal and demonstrate the connection between artists and the community. Gray is a resident of St. Louis Park and has a studio in Hopkins. Gray is curating the show, with assistance from Bradley Benn, Assistant Director of the Edina Art Center. According to Benn, artists throughout the Twin Cities and state were encouraged to submit artwork inspired by this valuable natural resource. “We encouraged anyone interested in art and the Creek to help spread the word about the event to possible sponsors and interested organizations, neighbors and friends,” Benn says. “The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, including staff and our Board of Managers, are proud to be title sponsors of this event,” says Eric Evenson, MCWD administrator. “It’s a fitting celebration of a natural resource whose 20•SUMMER 2004 Art Center Event Focuses On Local Resource 21•SUMMER 2004 stories, legends and poems are known internationally through works by such famous poets as Longfellow and his ‘Song of Hiawatha.’ We know that the Creek inspires all of us! Artistic work about this beloved waterway also inspires both the public and its government agencies to preserve and improve this valuable environmental landmark. We’re looking forward to a great exhibition and a great day of art, entertainment and education along the Creek.” “The Loft is delighted to be a part of this singular event by featuring Loft instructors [who] will read to celebrate Minnehaha Creek and Minnesota waters and rivers,” explains Jules Nyquist, Program Associate for Education at the Loft Literary Center. “Featured readers will be Freya Manfred, Mary Jean Port and Brian Malloy.” The Loft writers will read the night of the reception at the Edina Art Center. For more information on “22 Miles: Celebrating Minnehaha Creek,” contact Benn, 612-915-6604. -Custom Remodeling and Additions -Construction Consulting -Design, Build A LOCAL BUILDER YOU CAN TRUST TO TRANSFORM IDEAS INTO REALITY got hearing? Call us today for a free, no-obligation hearing screening plus a free Listening Kit ($25 value) On-Site Hearing Services, Inc.® Grandview Square 5201 Eden Avenue Suite 130 • Edina, MN 55436 Phone (952) 929-2060 • Fax (952) 929-2067 www.onsitehearing.com “We’re Listening…” 23•SUMMER 2004 During the 2003 holiday season, Kevin Ries, a member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club and the Edina Community Foundation, and his daughter hatched an idea to spread good cheer to U.S. armed forces serving overseas. Learning about an “Adopt-a-Soldier” program, the wish of Ries and his daughter came true through an e-mail and they adopted a sergeant with the 331st Signal Brigade stationed in Iraq. They sent a small package to him, along with a note of introduction. The sergeant sent a thank-you note back to them and mentioned the 78 other soldiers in his platoon. As a result, the Ries family adopted the platoon. With ideas from the sergeant, the following partial list of needs was developed: an abdominal ball for exercise, deer jerky, jump ropes, coffee, hot chocolate mix, miniature tool kits, walkie-talkies, Odor Eaters for boots and magazines. Ries and a number of volunteers went to work pounding on the doors of retailers, and to date, the Edina Community Foundation has paid to ship nearly 20 large boxes to the platoon. After learning that the sergeant’s wife was expecting their second child, Ries and his volunteer team adopted her and their teenage son to give them support. Mayor’s Outstanding Senior Commendation Awarded to a senior citizen for outstanding volunteer service within the community. One of Harold Westerberg’s earliest connections with the YMCA was in fourth grade when his “Knot Hole Gang” watched ball games through a bank building’s fence at Nicollet Park on Nicollet Avenue and Lake Street. As he matured, Westerberg’s passion for serving others blossomed. In 1948, he and other high school Hi-Y members formed the Kingsmen Y’s Men’s Club at 34th Street and Blaisdell Avenue. In 1972, it became the Crosstown Y’s Men’s Club and in 1977 merged with the Southdale YMCA group. The Southdale Y’s Men’s Club, of which Westerberg is considered a charter member, actively raises funds to ensure that children are able to participate in YMCA youth programs and to receive scholarships to attend the Y’s resident camp, Ihduhapi in Maple Plain, Minn. In 1969 and 1970, Westerberg was the International President of the Y’s Men’s clubs, which are located in 44 countries. From 1996 to 2000, he was president of the Past International Presidents Club. Currently, Westerberg is chairman of his club’s Archives Committee, organizing 180 boxes weekly at the University of Minnesota Elmer Anderson Library. Westerberg also serves on Edina’s Crime Prevention Fund Board of Directors. At Normandale Lutheran Church, he is an usher, a lector and a former church council member. Every Monday morning, Harold picks up food at Cub Foods for VEAP’s food shelf—last year delivering 24,404 pounds of food. Mayor’s Youth Commendation Awarded to an outstanding young person who has demonstrateda commitment to improving the quality of life in the community. Will Amundson has been volunteering for Edina Public Schools for at least six years. Amundson organized a volunteer fair, dubbed “Volunteer Connections,” in October 2003, to increase awareness of volunteer opportunities in Edina and to give students ideas for completing 10-hour community service requirements or developing May Term projects. Amundson has served on the Youth Development/Youth Service (YDYS) Advisory Council for the past four years and is currently the chairman of the nominations committee. He also sits on the 22•SUMMER 2004 City Thanks Volunteers At 25th Annual Reception An estimated 66 percent of people living in Minnesota volunteer and 2.3 million of them are over the age of 18. The average Minnesota volunteer gives nearly four hours of his or her time each week. The value of the hours spent by volunteers in the state totals $6.7 billion annually, according to a recent survey by the University of Minnesota. “These statistics are stunning and Minnesota’s volunteering statistics are better than the national averages,” said Mayor Dennis Maetzold. “Although no formal studies have been done, I believe Edina has better volunteering statistics than many other communities in the state. There are an estimated 100 service organizations in Edina, each contributing to our quality of life and working to make Edina ‘the preeminent place for living, learning, raising families and doing business.’” To recognize some of the community’s volunteers, Maetzold presented the Mayor’s Service Club Commendation, Individual Service Commendation, Outstanding Senior Commendation, Youth Commendation and Community Involvement Commendations at Edina’s All-Volunteer Awards Reception April 27 at Edinborough Park. Nearly 200 people attended the evening reception inside the park’s Great Hall. Mayor’s Service Club Commendation Awarded to a club or organization that has made outstanding contributions to the community through its regular activities or through special projects. The Edina Optimists’ Club planted its stake in the community 50 years ago and began a legacy of service to the community with one goal in mind: be a friend of youth. As a result, youth activity in Edina has been continuously sponsored by a vital group of volunteers who make up this club. In its half-century of existence, the club has sponsored baseball, football and hockey teams. The Optimists offer bicycle safety checks, support the Edina A Better Chance program, and host a rodeo and carnival for youth in Glen Lake, Minn. The Club also conducts essay and oratorical contests, awards scholarships to students in need and participates in Habitat for Humanity. Just this year, the Edina Optimists’ Club has affected the lives of about 5,000 youths. Mayor’s Individual Service Commendation Awarded to an individual for outstanding and exceptional volunteer service to the community at-large. Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator Solvei Wilmot presents a plaque to Normandale Elementary school students for their recycling efforts. (continued on next page) 24•SUMMER 2004 Edina Community Education Services Board as the YDYS representative, as he has for three years. Amundson was a volunteer for Summer Shades as a classroom assistant for three years and is now teaching classes for the program. Amundson is also a member of the Edina Key Club, meeting once a week to plan service projects. Before the old City Hall was torn down, he helped move furniture earmarked for a mission site in Bolivia. Mayor’s Community Involvement Commendation Awarded to a City employee for outstanding volunteer service to the community, above and beyond his or her position with the City. Throughout his tenure on the Edina Police Department, Police Chief Mike Siitari has upheld the motto “service above self.” In 1999, Siitari found a niche that truly fits his giving nature and complements his challenging job — he helped found the Kiwanis Club of Edina, becoming its vice president and then president, to support its mission of “serving children of the world.” Siitari is adviser to the Builders Club, providing direction and assistance to these middle school students at their weekly meetings with service projects such as creating a cookbook for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Additionally, Siitari helps the high school-age Key Club members in their activities, such as moving books at the library, serving food at the Salvation Army’s Harbor Lights, putting food packets together for “Feed My Starving Children,” and donating bubble tumblers to patients at Children’s Hospital. Siitari has participated in the Kiwanis Club’s Special Olympics efforts, carnival and games at the Yorkdale Townhomes, anti-bullying program at Cornelia Elementary School, Peanut Day and golf tournament. He is now working on a door-to-door membership campaign. Many service organizations also recognized their own exemplary volunteers at the reception. Awards were presented to: Mary Bohlig, Edina Girls Athletic Association; Claire Schwanebeck, Edina Art Center; Davanni’s Pizza and Hot Hoagies, Edina Chemical Health Partners; Ede Donovan, Edina Community Foundation; Karin Rutter, Edina Family Center; Betty Workinger, Edina Garden Council; Herb Telshaw and Jim Bentley, Edina Golden K Kiwanis Club; Elly Fisher and Martha Johnson, Edina Historical Society; Ted Field and Mark Moore, Edina Morningside Rotary Club; Jennifer Kren’s third-grade class at Our Lady of Grace School and Normandale Elementary School’s third-grade Kid’s Council and Service Committee, Edina Recycling and Solid Waste Commission; Ruth Lyons, Edina Woman’s Club; Jeff Shlosberg and Scott Crosbie, Fourth of July Parade Committee; Steve Klein, Southdale YMCA; Duane Lundquist, Southdale Y’s Men Club; Mary Heinzel, Sonja Ecklund and Catherine Elliott, Youth Development – Youth Service; and Faisal Abdulaziz, Siamak Aghamalizadeh, Caitlin Casey, Brett Daniele-Van Slyke, Lynette Gutkowski, Rosie Harris, Lauren Howard, Howard Milton, Mohamed Mohamaud, Danny Shum, Amarita Singh and Sarah Winikoff, Youth Serving Youth. For more information on the All-Volunteer Awards Reception or the mayor’s commendations, contact Human Services Coordinator Susan Heiberg, 952-826-0403. 25•SUMMER 2004 Edina PlasticSurgery, Ltd. 952-925-1765 |www.edinaplasticsurgery.com 6525 France Avenue South |Suite 300|Edina — in the Southdale Medical Center The Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgery Specialists Smile when you look in the mirror. Call us today. CCeenntteennnniiaall LLaakkeess OOffffiiccee PPaarrkk A community for business Centennial Lakes is proud to be part of your community! How often does your business address also become a place for entertainment,retail and shopping? At Centennial Lakes Office Park,those amenities are just a short walk away. CCoonnttaacctt uuss aatt:: 995522--883377--88440000 7650 Edinborough Way, Suite 20, Edina, MN 55435 27•SUMMER 2004 VEAP Continues Back-To-School Program Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) needs your help in giving our neighborhood children the opportunity to start the school year with the basic supplies necessary for a good education. VEAP’s Back-to-School Program provides every child in need with a bag of basic school supplies, plus a backpack or calculator and a $15 gift certificate with which to purchase a clothing item. Last year, more than 1,350 children received supplies. Based on statistics from its other programs, VEAP officials expect a similar double-digit increase in usage this year. VEAP distributes items valued at an average of $67 per pre- registered child to ensure that he or she has the basic tools necessary to start the school year off right. You can make a real difference in a child’s education by donating some of the items on the wish list below; donating gift certificates from Herberger’s, K-Mart, Kohl’s, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Southdale Center, Target or Wal-Mart; or by sponsoring a child with a monetary donation. VEAP’s Back-to-School Wish List: Backpacks Scientific calculators Spiral notebooksWide- and college-ruled Loose-leaf paperWide- and college-ruled Rulers12-inch with metric measurements ScissorsMetal Fiskars with sharp point FoldersTwo-pocket, solid basic colors MarkersWater-based and non-permanent Pencil boxes or zippered pencil pouches Colored pencilsBoxes of 12 or 24 ErasersFull-size and solid colors No. 2 pencilsPackages of 8-10 Glue Elmer’s white Glue sticks Highlighters Ink pensBlue or black ink only Watercolor paints Crayons 8, 16 or 24 packs only VEAP, which serves the communities of Edina, Bloomington and Richfield, cannot accept donations of used items. Donations should be sent to the VEAP office, 9731 James Ave. S., Bloomington, between July 6 and Aug. 26. Collection sites will be set up in the community starting Aug. 3. Volunteer opportunities begin Aug. 6. Donated items will be distributed during the last week of August. For more information, contact VEAP at 952-888-9616, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 26•SUMMER 2004 Edina Theatre Receives Edina Heritage Award The City of Edina recently presented its Edina Heritage Award to Gene and Suzanne Haugland, Landmark Theatres, Inc., for preserving an Edina icon. The Heritage Preservation Board developed the award in 2003 to recognize outstanding contributions to the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and use of Edina’s heritage resources. Last year, the Board selected the Baird House at 4400 W. 50th St. for the award because of the homeowners’ careful attention in building a modern addition to the historic home. This year, the Board unanimously selected the owners and tenants of Edina Theatre, 3911 W. 50th St., for the prestigious award for their efforts to make the theater shine again. The smooth, flowing lines and colored lights of the Art Deco movie theater facades personified the movies of the time. Prominent vertical signs and rows of flashing lights arranged in streamlined curves were the most obvious characteristics of Art Deco theaters. When plans for the Edina Theatre were announced in the early 1930s, local objections surfaced against the construction of a “flashy” movie sign and marquee. The opposition was strong enough to force the architects to alter the sign into a tower format with a minimum of lighting. The architect’s second design featured a small tower partially surrounded by a concave wall. The curved wall was later eliminated and the tower assumed more prominence. Built on the site of the Norris Dairy barns, the Edina Theatre was built in 1934 in a timeframe of just 90 days. The Edina Theatre was damaged by a windstorm on July 21, 1951,and the top one-third of its tall vertical sign was bent over. It was repaired, but 30 years later, on June 14, 1981, the sign was hit by a tornado and destroyed. It was replaced with an exact replica of the 1934 sign, which weighed 3,000 pounds and used 272 light bulbs. After purchasing the Edina Theatre, Haugland Company, and tenant Landmark Theatres, Inc., refurbished the facility and the marquee. Eager to restore the sign and marquee to its former glory, the sign was repainted in June 2003 with colors such as “Peach Angora,” “Primrose Pink,” “Caroline Clay,” “Shell Tint” and “Chantrelle” to replicate the paint used 70 years before. “Though the stores and services at 50th [Street] have changed in the past 70 years, the Edina Theatre marquee has remained the same – a visual anchor for our community,” said Ann Swenson of the Heritage Preservation Board, who presented the award May 4 with Mayor Dennis Maetzold. “The lights at night and the distinctive starburst- topped tower by day are a wonderful heritage to keep.” For more information on the Edina Heritage Award or activities of the Heritage Preservation Board, contact Associate Planner Joyce Repya, 952-826-0462. The owners and tenants of the Edina Theatre were recently presented with the 2004 Edina Heritage Award for their efforts to restore and preserve the marquee that has become a community icon. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n 29•SUMMER 2004 removed before purchasing, or ask to lower the sale price by the cost of buckthorn removal. Asian Lady Beatles Tired of vacuuming them up in your home in the fall? The Asian Lady Beatles eat soybean aphids. The soybean aphids lay their eggs on buckthorn. This is believed to be the only way the soybean aphid can survive Minnesota’s winters. Extensive buckthorn means plentiful soybean aphids, which in turn produce masses of Asian Lady Beatles. Reducing buckthorn will reduce the Asian Lady Beatle population. Weed Wrenches Available To Edina Residents Weed Wrenches and Root Talons are available for residents to borrow from the City of Edina. These can be signed out by calling Forester Tom Horwath at 952-828-0308. These tools are useful to uproot buckthorn trees up to 2-1/2 inches in diameter. Weed Wrenches and Root Talons are only effective when the ground is unfrozen. Do not use Weed Wrenches or Root Talons on hillsides or near shorelines where erosion can occur. Weed Wrenches pull out the tree’s entire root system and leave a 4- to 6-inch depression in the soil, loosening the soil for a 12-inch or more diameter. When buckthorn roots are pulled out, they dislodge any native plants above them, which may not be apparent because they are dormant. It also disturbs the soil and brings weed seeds to the surface, which will then germinate. If you are not immediately replanting the area where weed wrenches were used, cover the area with up to four inches of mulch to suppress subsequent weed seedlings. Weed Wrenches and Root Talons are best used on paths, or where stumps may cause walkers to trip. Residential Buckthorn Curbside Pick-up Service Some residents may have too much buckthorn to set out in four-foot bundles for their local waste hauler. Edina residents with large quantities of buckthorn can participate in the October Buckthorn Abatement program by taking advantage of the special buckthorn curbside pick-up rate of $18 per crushed cubic yard, which is offered by the Top Notch Tree Service. To schedule the buckthorn curbside pick-up service, call the Top Notch Tree Service at 763-253-0027 and identify yourself as a participant in the Edina Buckthorn Abatement program. City Park Program The City of Edina has been awarded a $5,000 Department of Natural Resources Conservation Partners grant, which the City will match with an additional $5,000. The $10,000 will be used to study Edina’s high priority buckthorn infested park areas, establish a priority management plan, and provide an estimate of expenses and resources needed to accomplish the plan in each area. The City continues to remove buckthorn in various parks. For more details on this program visit: the League of Women Voters of Edina’s website, www.LWVMN.org/LocalLeagues/Edina/. To volunteer to remove buckthorn from City parks, contact Horwath, 952-826-0308. Individuals, Scout groups and other community organizations are encouraged to help with the effort. 28•SUMMER 2004 Edina Buckthorn Abatement Program Continues To Expand For the third year, the City of Edina will team up with the League of Women Voters of Edina (LWVE) and the Edina Garden Council (EGC) to sponsor Buckthorn Abatement month in October. Across the metro area, cities and residents are joining forces to rid their communities of this noxious weed, the sale of which is prohibited in Minnesota. To assist residents with buckthorn identification last year, the LWVE and EGC distributed nearly 1,200 bright pink door hangers to those residents in selected neighborhoods with buckthorn. The LWVE and EGC will again distribute door hangers this summer and fall to residents with buckthorn. If you receive such a door hanger, please cooperate by removing your buckthorn. If any homeowner maintains this invasive weed, it will infest their neighbors’ properties and nearby public property as well, since birds can carry buckthorn berries up to a third-mile. Environmental Problems Caused By Buckthorn This alien tree was put on the State of Minnesota’s “restricted” list because buckthorn is replacing our native woodlands. A chemical in buckthorn’s roots suppresses wildflowers and the next generation of tree seedlings. The blue berries are toxic to humans, birds and other wildlife. Since wildlife has little else to eat in buckthorn- infested woodlands, the few remaining native plants, and residential landscaping, become all the more attractive to browsing wildlife. Buckthorn eventually forms dense, thorny thickets, which you cannot easily walk through. In addition to shading out native plants, it provides cover for criminal activity in parks and other areas. Homeowners who maintain buckthorn thickets for privacy should consider conifers, which offer much better privacy as they stay green all year. Buckthorn infestations reduce property values. Savvy buyers ask that buckthorn be 31•SUMMER 2004 While Stephenson was working with SDSU, he and his wife maintained nursery stock on their property. It was during that time that the Stephensons discovered a new cultivar of the native Soloman Seal in a seedling row. The plant features golden yellow leaves, which differs from the species with green foliage. Kelli’s Gold also produces white flowers around early June, which are followed by blue berries later in the season. “My wife Jean and I were just lucky enough to identify the potential of the plant in our nursery row and set it aside to observe,” Stephenson said. “Otherwise, it would have just been culled and hoed out.” The Stephensons have had the plant under development for more than 15 years, and are currently in the final stages of procuring a U.S. plant patent. Kelli’s Gold will also be registered with the Canadian government in the near future. Receiving a plant patent is a time consuming process with many obstacles. It may take up to two years to receive a response from the Biological Plant Services (BPS) on the status of a patent. The process begins by discovering a new plant with distinguishing features – a plant unlike any other in the trade. The plant then has to have a precise biological description made by a certified agent with credentials approved by the plant patent office in Washington, D.C. Even if a plant is found to be unique, it may not receive a patent if it is believed to have very little commercial value. Patent Agent Penny Aguirre believes that will not be an issue in the Stephensons’ case, stating that, “Kelli’s Gold is a stunning plant and gold foliaged perennials are popular, especially for the shade garden. It is also a plus that the plant is a variant of a native plant, so it will grow well and be attractive to consumers [who] are interested in using native plants.” The Stephensons hope to get a response from the BPS on Kelli’s Gold sometime in August. If a patent is granted, the couple may decide to sell the plant’s rights to a major nursery or greenhouse, or they would receive a royalty for each plant sold in the future. Stephenson also plans to plant Kelli’s Gold at Centennial Lakes Park once the patent protection is in place and he has been granted grower authorization. When Stephenson is not planting at Centennial Lakes, he and his wife volunteer with the City of St. Paul’s Park Department. The couple helps maintain the landscape around the carousel at Como Park, where they also sponsor one of the horses. Although the Stephensons have several hundred pots of fern leaf peony, many seedling pots and dozens of perennials growing in their yard at the moment, the couple feels that Kelli’s Gold will probably be the last plant they will have the opportunity to patent. “However,” stated Stephenson, “our eyes are always open for any plant that may have the potential of being a new cultivated variety.” For more information on Centennial Lakes Park, call 952-832-6790. 30•SUMMER 2004 Horticulturist Ted Stephenson Discovers ‘Gold’ By Matt Lockrem What is growing in your garden this summer? With a keen eye and an attention for detail, you might be surprised to find a unique treasure nestled between your favorite summer plants. Centennial Lakes Park Horticulturist Ted Stephenson found his own little piece of “gold” in his backyard many years ago when he discovered a new plant, which he has since named “Kelli’s Gold.” Stephenson has helped to beautify Centennial Lakes for the past four years as the park’s horticulturist. Stephenson is responsible for maintaining all the plant material and large ornamental containers throughout the park, as well as designing annual and perennial beds and hanging baskets. “Ted has been a tremendous asset to Centennial Lakes Park. His skills in horticulture and his love of plants are evident in the gardens and planters found throughout the park,” said Centennial Lakes Park Manager Tom Shirley. Other City officials echoed those comments. “The City of Edina is successful, in part, because of the innovations of our employees. Ted’s resourcefulness benefits Centennial Lakes Park every day and our residents enjoy the results,” said City Manager Gordon Hughes. “My interest in horticulture began when I was very young,” said Stephenson. “Every Saturday was the weekly trip from the farm to town and my mother always stopped at the greenhouse on the edge of town on the way home. While I was there, I got to wander through the greenhouse and look at the plants and smell the peat moss.” Stephenson believes these early trips contributed to his pursuit of a degree in park management in the Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks (HFLP) Department at South Dakota State University (SDSU). After graduation, Stephenson was hired by SDSU as a faculty research assistant for the HFLP Department. Stephenson left SDSU to landscape for many years, but returned after being offered the position of assistant director for the Arboretum and McCrory Gardens. Centennial Lakes Park Horticulturist Ted Stephenson is in the final stages of securing a patent for “Kelli’s Gold,” a plant he and his wife discovered 15 years ago in a seedling row. A proud Stephenson is pictured here with his granddaughter at his home where he grows many plants. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n In addition to the motorcycle costs, protective equipment was also provided to Bolks. Specialty pants and boots were provided, as well as a helmet that is wired to the Police Department’s portable radio system. The Edina Police Department was able to begin its new motorcycle program with funds received from an impounded vehicle. The vehicle was sold at auction, and the money was used to purchase all of the equipment necessary for the bike. “While there were initial costs to the program, the Edina Police Department will be able to transfer all of the equipment they purchased to motorcycles they may lease in the future,” said Deputy Police Chief Ken Carlson. As well as being more cost-effective in the future, the addition of a motorcycle to the Police Department has helped traffic enforcement in the community. Bolks has been assigned to traffic duty with safety in mind. “For police work, motorcycles are a lot more maneuverable than patrol cars. This is a distinct advantage in traffic control situations and at special events,” Bolks said. “Motor units are a highly effective way to enforce traffic laws at city, county and state levels. Edina neighborhoods will benefit from this added safety as well as the additional contact residents will be able to make with Officer Bolks,” said Mayor Dennis Maetzold, who has been supportive of the program. If you have not yet seen the new motorcycle on the streets of Edina, the vehicle will be present at the City of Edina’s Fourth of July celebration. While Bolks and his motorcycle are sure to be favorites of both the children and adults in the crowd, the vehicle will also help to make this year’s festivities safer for everyone in attendance. For more information on the motorcycle patrol, contact Carlson at 952-826-1610. 33•SUMMER 200432•SUMMER 2004 City Adds Motorcycle To Fleet By Matt Lockrem What does $1 buy you in the year 2004? You might be able to pay for an hour of parking at your favorite lake, a half -gallon of gasoline for your summer road trip or a one-year lease of a new Harley Davidson motorcycle. Beginning in early May, the Edina Police Department began using a motorcycle patrol to assist in the City’s traffic enforcement. The City was able to lease a new motorcycle for $1 per year through a program offered by Harley Davidson. St. Croix Harley Davidson, located near the Minnesota and Wisconsin border, provided the motorcycle for the program. Harley Davidson has been providing law enforcement departments throughout the country with motorcycle patrol vehicles for more than nine decades. The company currently offers seven different models of fire and law enforcement motorcycles to lease or buy in the United States. St. Paul, Bloomington and Eagan are currently involved in the Harley Davidson program. A city may lease more than one motorcycle at a time through this program, but there are additional rules and costs to the leasing of each motorcycle for a police department. A stipulation of Harley Davidson’s leasing program is that only one officer may ride the motorcycle for each Police Department, and Edina was fortunate to have an excellent candidate for the position. Jeff Bolks, an Edina Police Officer since 1988, will be the lone motorcycle patrolman for the City. Bolks has had many years of personal motorcycle use, and he also took part in a two-week motorcycle training course offered through the St. Paul Police Department in April and May. Edina began its lease of the 2004 Harley Davidson FLHTPI Electra Glide, manufactured specifically for law enforcement purposes, at the beginning of 2004. The leasing fee is minimal, but there are additional costs to begin such a program. All maintenance costs are the responsibility of the Edina Police Department and equipment such as lights and radio equipment had to be added before the vehicle could be taken on patrol. A member of the Edina Police Department since 1988, Jeff Bolks recently began his new duties as motorcycle patrol officer. The City of Edina is leasing the 2004 Harley Davidson FLHTPI Electra Glide from the manufacturer for $1 per year. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n huh? Call us today for a free, no-obligation hearing screening plus a free Listening Kit ($25 value) On-Site Hearing Services, Inc.® Grandview Square 5201 Eden Avenue Suite 130 • Edina, MN 55436 Phone (952) 929-2060 • Fax (952) 929-2067 www.onsitehearing.com “We’re Listening…” CallTed Field 952-927-1150 www.SeniorExpert.com 30+ years experience working with seniors 35•SUMMER 200434•SUMMER 2004 Streetcar Memories At Edina History Museum On Saturday, Aug. 7, travel back in time when streetcars were Edina’s primary mode of transportation. Take a 1950s- era Twin Cities Line bus to the Lake Harriet depot and ride a renovated streetcar down a one-mile track. Blow the whistle, clang the bell and sit in the driver’s seat in a streetcar front parked at Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St. Those activities and more are part of the Edina History Museum’s grand opening of a new exhibit on the Como- Harriet streetcar line, which operated in Edina for almost 50 years and influenced daily life and Edina’s growth. Edina became a “streetcar suburb” in 1905 when the track was extended from Lake Harriet to Lake Minnetonka, past the Jonathan Grimes farm at 44th Street and Grimes Avenue. Soon after, the farm was subdivided and became the neighborhood of Morningside. The Como-Harriet Motor Line ran out along west 44th Street from 1882 to 1886. Edina became a “streetcar suburb” with cars similar to this in 1905 when the track was extended from Lake Harriet to Lake Minnetonka, past the Jonathan Grimes farm at 44th Street and Grimes Avenue. Streetcar Memories Exhibit Opening Saturday, Aug. 7 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Edina History Museum 4711 W. 70th St. Overflow Parking at Christ Presbyterian Church But the streetcar affected more than residential growth. Because most people depended on the streetcar to get them to shopping, work and school, it affected every aspect of daily life — including who you dated and married, remembers former Edina resident Carolyn Lundquist. She attended West High School before Edina got its own high school, but the Minneapolis boys didn’t date girls from Edina. “It was too much work,” she explained. Going from one city to another required a long walk, lots of time and paying for streetcar rides to pick up the girl, going out and bringing her back home. Lundquist married a boy from her neighborhood. The exhibit will include memories collected from Edina residents about the role the streetcar played in their lives, as well as the mechanics of how the streetcar operated, where the route went, vintage photos and film, tickets, tokens and other objects. Thanks to a partnership with the Minnesota Transportation Museum, the Edina History Museum has access to original artifacts from the streetcar era. The Edina Family Center will assist with some “hands on” activities for children, who are as enthralled as previous generations were with the streetcar. Families can plan to spend the morning at the museum and Arneson Acres Park, where gardens maintained by the Edina Garden Council will be at peak bloom. For more information, call the Edina History Museum at 612-928-4577. The museum is open 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays and by appointment. 37•SUMMER 2004 sponsorships are available. All sponsors receive recognition in the parade, event program and website. At press time, sponsors included U.S. Trust Co., platinum sponsor; Fairview Southdale Hospital, Grandview Tire & Auto and North American Banking Co., gold sponsors; Christensen & Laue, Cornelia Place Apartments, Galleria, Jerry’s Enterprises, Key Cadillac, Southdale Osteopathic Clinic and Xcel Energy, silver sponsors; and Plekkenpol Builders and Time Warner Cable, bronze sponsors. “We rely on sponsorships from our community businesses to pay the various costs of the parade, including the many fabulous performers that residents and visitors have come to expect each year, ” said Jan Michaletz, chairwoman of the Edina July 4 Parade Committee. “Involvement by local businesses helps make the parade bigger and better each year.” For more information, contact Recreation Supervisor and staff liaison to the parade committee Susie Miller, 952-826-0433, or visit www.edinaparade.org. 36•SUMMER 2004 Community To Celebrate ‘115 Years Of Tradition’July 4 The City of Edina will celebrate its heritage while waving the red, white and blue this Independence Day. Edina’s annual July 4 parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. July 4, and features the theme “Edina – 115 Years of Tradition.” The July 4 Parade is one of the City’s largest community events of the year. From marching bands to clowns, more than 70 entries will be part of this year’s Independence Day celebration. Dr. Paul and Mary Carson, residents since 1941 and former Board of Education and Park Board members, have been selected as this year’s grand marshals. They will ride in a 100- year-old horse-drawn buggy originally belonging to Fred Willson and later given to the Carsons. To offset the costs of the annual July 4 parade, the City accepts donations from the community. Money collected pays for such things as marching bands, professional clowns, costumed characters and other types of entertainment. Donations of all amounts are welcomed and appreciated and can be made through the City’s website, www.cityofedina.com. Businesses are invited to participate in the parade as sponsors. The generosity of local businesses and organizations allows the Parade Planning Committee to offer entertainment including music, clowns, dancers and stilt-walkers. Platinum-Level Community Patron ($5,000), Gold ($1,000 or more), Silver ($500) and Bronze ($250) Longtime Edina residents Paul and Mary Carson have been selected as this year’s grand marshals. They will ride in a 100-year-old horse drawn buggy originally belonging to Fred Willson. Contact Us to Build Wealth Now. My Home Mortgage Edina 4445 West 77th Street (952)224-5670 www.myhomemn.com Free Classes in Credit Repair,Mortgage Transactions, Wealth Management,1st Time Home Purchases, and Real Estate Investment. 39•SUMMER 2004 must be taken down before the contractor leaves for the day. Real estate signs are not considered “portable” under the Edina City Code. Those signs are addressed by another local ordinance. Campaign signs are the only signs allowed in the public right-of-way. Signs can be erected Aug. 1 until Nov. 12 with permission of the abutting property owner. For more information, contact Associate Planner Joyce Repya, 952-826-0462. Dumping In Parks Edina’s parks are among the community’s treasures. Unfortunately, those treasures are sometimes tarnished when people illegally dump garbage and yard waste there. According to the City Code, “no person, in any park, street, sidewalk or publicly owned property shall … deposit, place or leave any paper, rubbish, waste, cans, bottles or refuse of any kind except in receptacles provided for the collection of waste.” There are four licensed refuse haulers in the City, with which residents must privately contract. They are Aspen Waste Systems, 612-884-8000; BFI, Inc., 952-941-5174; Vierkant Disposal, 612-922-2505; and Waste Management, 952-882-2300. Garbage containers should be set out by the house or garage by 7 a.m. on pickup day. Containers should be visible from the street on pickup day, but should not be placed at the curb. After collection, containers must be stored out of view from the front street. Residents must also contract with a refuse hauler for the disposal of yard waste. Yard waste should be set out by the curb no more than 12 hours prior to the day of collection. For more information, contact Park Maintenance Superintendent Vince Cockriel, 952-826-0305, or Recycling Coordinator Solvei Wilmot, 952-826-0463. 38•SUMMER 2004 It’s Not Only Neighborly … It’s The Law Fences The Edina City Council recently established new fencing regulations. Under the amended ordinance, the maximum height of new fences in Edina is six feet for all properties in the R-1 and R-2 residential zoning districts. “Fence height” is defined as the “vertical distance measured from the finished grade to the uppermost point of the fence panels.” The grade at the fence line cannot be altered in any way that artificially increases the maximum permitted height of the fence. The height of the fence, however, may exceed six feet by a maximum of six inches to accommodate drainage and uneven terrain. Posts may extend beyond the top of the fence by no more than 12 inches. There are many eight-foot fences in Edina. When those fences are replaced, because of deterioration or other reasons, they must be replaced with six-foot fences. A property owner may seek a variance to build a taller fence, if he or she can prove a hardship would exist with a six-foot fence. For more information, contact the Planning Department, 952-826-0369. Garage Sales Garage or yard sales are a great way to clean out your house, meet your neighbors and make some extra money. If you plan to have a sale at your home this year, please be aware of the following rules. • You may conduct only one sale per year at your home, lasting no more than 72 consecutive hours. • Items offered for sale must be owned by the owner of the premises or by friends of the owner. • Items offered for sale must not have been bought for resale or received on consignment for the purpose of resale. • Signs may be erected on the premises where the sale is taking place. No off-site signs are allowed. • No signs may be posted on the road right-of-way (the City-owned property 15 feet in from residential curbs) or on telephone poles. For more information, contact Associate Planner Joyce Repya, 952-826-0462. Signs Signs can negatively impact the aesthetics in an area and, in some cases, pose a safety hazard. As a result, most portable signs are prohibited in the City of Edina. Contractors are allowed to erect a portable sign on property where work is being done. However, the sign must be removed when work is complete. So, a construction company could put a sign in the yard of a home where an addition is being built, but the sign must be taken down when the project is finished. A lawn care company could erect a sign in a yard being mowed, but it Southdale IMAGING CENTER 6525 France Avenue Suite110 EDINA, MN 55435AN IMAGING NETWORK Half of women over 50 don’t get their yearly mammograms.* Which half are you in? The Southdale Imaging Center offers mammography, bone-density testing,ultrasound,fluoroscopy and X-ray. Let us help you get on the right side of the majority. *March 31,2004,Associated Press. Schedule an appointment today. Call (952) 927-7017 CONSULTING RADIOLOGISTS, LTD. 41•SUMMER 2004 balances, having its records audited by a public accounting firm, annually filing a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service and a Charitable Organization Report with the Minnesota Attorney General, and helping increase the Fund balances by including them on the Wish List distributed with Foundation mail campaigns and personal solicitations throughout the year. As we look to the future, we believe that these partner relationships offer a great potential for “Strengthening Our Community,” the mission of the Edina Community Foundation. Please contact me or any of the Foundation Board members or staff listed below if you have questions about any of these Funds or would like to make a charitable contribution to support our programs. The office of the Edina Community Foundation is located at 5280 Grandview Square, Edina, MN 55436. Contact Crockett or Development Officer Patricia Tucker at 952-833-9573 or edfoundation@ci.edina.mn.us. The Edina Community Foundation Board of Directors includes: Chairman James B. Hovland, Vice Chairman Kevin Ries, Secretary Otto Bang, Treasurer James Van Valkenburg, Jon Barnett, Bernadette Flores, George Klus, Janice Michaletz, Frederick S. Richards, Jr., and Ann Bentdahl-Wessels. 40•SUMMER 2004 The Edina Community Foundation – A Charitable Giving Partner By Dick Crockett, Executive Director The Edina Community Foundation uses Temporary Restricted Funds to provide an important link between charitably minded individuals and organizations that operate programs for the benefit of our community. The Foundation’s role as a vital partner for such organizations is based on its exemption from taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, so that gifts to the Foundation or any of its Funds may be deducted as charitable contributions. Moreover, a gift to a designated Fund may only be used for the beneficiary organization, which needs only to request a program grant from our Board of Directors and does not have to compete with other applicants for grants from that Fund. Funds for a wide variety of both public and private organizations currently exist on our accounts. On the public side, the Foundation maintains Funds for many City of Edina departments. Several examples illustrate this potential: • A donor who was especially appreciative of the efforts of our City’s fire and police personnel made a very generous $100,000 donation to the Fire Department Fund for the new South Metro Public Safety Training Facility. • A group of neighbors donated $58,500 to a special Parks & Recreation Department Fund to develop Fox Meadow Park. • A number of individuals and local service clubs have made gifts to Funds we maintain for the Senior Center (to pay for furnishings and kitchen equipment) and the Art Center (for a new kiln and student scholarships). On the private side, the Foundation maintains Funds for other nonprofit organizations with very diverse missions: • The Conservation League of Edina is dedicated to educational and demonstration programs related to improving the quality of lakes and streams within our community. • The Edina Garden Council includes seven neighborhood garden clubs that together sponsor an annual plant sale. Profits from these sales are currently being held by the Foundation in a Fund to replace the Arneson Acres fountain. • The Highlands Neighborhood Association has established a Fund to hold contributions from members who want to support public plantings and area beautification. • The Edina Swim Club has asked the Foundation to start a Scholarship Fund for young swimmers otherwise unable to participate in the Club’s educational and health programs. The Foundation fulfills its partnership role with these City Departments and community organizations by providing written acknowledgement and thanks to all donors, keeping an accurate and complete accounting of all gifts and Fund S TRENGTHENING O UR C OMMUNITY Practicing high quality medical, surgical and dental care Early mornings, evenings and Saturday hours 612.925.1121 4339 France Avenue South, Minneapolis 55410 wagsandwhiskers.com “They’re our best friends too!” 43•SUMMER 2004 call in the new City Hall to Water Billing. Police Officer Joy Fragodt was the first to park a squad car in the underground garage. Police Officer Kevin Sullivan was the first to book a subject in the Police Department’s new detention center. Demolition of the old City Hall began in early April and was completed within a month. Work on the surface parking lot and landscaping, the last two elements of the construction project, began in May. At press time, the parking lot was targeted for completion before the open house. Although the 1950s-era building is gone, it will not be forgotten. A time capsule from the building will be opened at the July 4 grand-opening celebration. Recognizing the importance of the past, City Manager Gordon Hughes and Mayor Dennis Maetzold also named the City Hall conference rooms, mindful of the community’s history. Conference rooms on the first floor, from west to east, are Mill Room, Minnehaha Room and Morningside Room. Theconference rooms on the second floor are Cahill Room and Edinborough Room. The Mill Room honors the former gristmill around which the community that would become Edina was settled. Minnehaha Roomis named for the nearby creek. The Morningside and Cahill rooms are named for two of Edina’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods. The Edinborough Room pays tribute to Edinburgh, Scotland, the city from which Edina derived its name. In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening of the time capsule, the open house will include tours and free ice cream treats provided by International Dairy Queen and Frauenshuh Hospitality Group. The ribbon- cutting ceremony, dedication and opening of the time capsule will begin at 2:30 p.m. The open house will continue until 4 p.m. For more information on the construction project, contact Assistant City Manager Eric Anderson, 952-826-0415. For more information on the open house, contact Bennerotte, 952-833-9520. The Edina City Hall is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of the Building Inspections Department, which opens at 7:30 a.m. 42•SUMMER 2004 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony To Be Held July 4 City officials will celebrate the end of construction of the new Edina City Hall with an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday, July 4, following the 12:30 p.m. Independence Day parade. City employees moved into the new building in late January. Communications Director Jennifer Bennerotte and Communications Intern Matt Lockrem were the first to move into the new building. Their 43 boxes, two computers and a printer were moved the afternoon of Jan. 27. At the close of business, Barrett Moving & Storage Co. began moving the Edina Police Department to their new quarters next door. Although emergency services remained intact, the Police Department’s administrative offices were closed for the remainder of the week as staff began unpacking and organizing office areas. After telephones and computers were unplugged and packed at the close of business Jan. 29, Barrett began moving the other City offices. Barrett’s workers were able to move almost all of the boxes before the end of their shift. Barrett returned the next morning to finish the work. Among the last items to move were the boxes of office supplies kept in the old building’s archive room. The Mayor’s Conference Room, Council Chambers and adjoining audio/visual control room were the last to be completed. The City Council met twice at the Edina Community Center while construction was under way. The first meeting of the City Council in the new City Hall was held March 16. The first televised meeting was held May 4. Like the telecast of the City Council meeting, many “firsts” have been celebrated in the new building. The first employee to receive a facsimile in the new building was Finance Director John Wallin. Bennerotte, who met with historical columnist Joe Sullivan, was the first to have a meeting in the new building. One resident came in to visit the Planning Department to discuss a boat storage issue before the building officially opened at noon Feb. 2. The first resident to visit the building after it officially opened came to apply for a dog license. Receptionist Pat Dawson connected the first telephone Demolition of the 1954 Edina City Hall began in early April. One of the most dramatic moments of the demolition was the removal of the fire hose tower adjacent to the Council Chambers, which had once served as the Fire Department’s garage. City officials will dedicate the new Edina City Hall with an open house July 4, immediately following the Independence Day parade. 45•SUMMER 2004 summer include work on Wooddale Avenue and Valley View Road. Lillehaug expects these projects to end in early fall. “I wanted to work more with local transportation problems and have more interaction with the public. It is wonderful to be associated with such a highly regarded community,” said Lillehaug when asked why he chose to work in Edina. “Steve’s experiences with large roadway projects, along with his personal experience with local government, is a great asset for the City of Edina,” Houle said. Lillehaug currently resides in Chanhassen, where he has lived with his wife and two children for the past six years. For more information on activities of the Edina Engineering Department, call 952-826-0371 or visit www.cityofedina.com. 44•SUMMER 2004 City Hires Assistant City Engineer, Traffic Engineer By Matt Lockrem Listen in on almost any conversation during a weekday morning and you will be sure to hear a comment about the day’s commute. While traffic is easy to complain about, very few people are willing to face the issue head-on. Steven Lillehaug, Edina’s new Assistant City Engineer and Traffic Engineer, has focused his career on making the roads more efficient and less stressful for drivers. Steven Lillehaug began work as Assistant City Engineer and Traffic Engineer in late March, succeeding Wayne Houle, who was promoted to City Engineer and Director of Public Works in early 2002. Lillehaug began his career in the U.S. Army as an electrical technician. While in the Army, Lillehaug worked with Apache helicopters and served in the Gulf War. After his career with the Army, Lillehaug attended Kansas State University, where he received a degree in civil engineering. Lillehaug has been employed by the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency and most recently at SRF Consulting where he worked as a transportation and municipal engineer. In addition, Lillehaug has served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Chanhassen for the past two years. Lillehaug will split his time between his duties as the City’s Assistant City Engineer and Traffic Engineer. Some of Lillehaug’s duties will include analyzing and collecting traffic data, preparing plans for city-wide street reconstruction projects in the summer and working as a staff liaison to the City of Edina’s newly formed Transportation Commission. “Steve’s background made him an ideal candidate to be our next Assistant City Engineer,” said City Manager Gordon Hughes. “His experience and training in transportation- related issues will be particularly valuable to the City.” Lillehaug has kept busy his first months on the job with the many projects that come along with the summer road construction process. Major projects for this Steven Lillehaug began work earlier this year as Assistant City Engineer and Traffic Engineer. As part of his position, Lillehaug will focus on traffic concerns in the community. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n 47•SUMMER 200446•SUMMER 2004 City Of Edina To Flush Hydrants In September,October To purge rust and stagnant water from the water distribution system and identify hydrants in need of maintenance, the Utilities Division of the City of Edina’s Public Works Department will flush hydrants for four weeks beginning Saturday, Sept. 20. Random hydrants are also flushed throughout the year as weather and water demand allows. Hydrant flushing will take place 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. In an attempt to minimize the impact on residents, hydrants will be flushed as follows: Sept. 20-24East of Highway 100 & North of Highway 62 Sept. 27-Oct. 1West of Highway 100 & North of Highway 62 Oct. 4-8West of Highway 100 & South of Highway 62 Oct. 11-15East of Highway 100 & South of Highway 62 Due to hydrant flushing, it is inevitable that some residents will receive rust-colored water, which can stain laundry but is safe to drink. Residents may also receive rust-colored water when areas adjacent to theirs are being flushed. Residents should check that water coming into the house is clear before doing laundry during the flushing period. The flushing schedule is approximate. For an up-to-date flushing schedule, call the Public Works Hotline at 952-826-0375. For more information, contact the Utilities Division at 952-826-0311, or visit www.cityofedina.com. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n