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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAboutTown_2004WinterPRESORT 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 WINTER•2004 About Town Official Magazine of the City of Edina Park &Recreation Insider Special Pull-Out Section ***ECRWSS*** POSTAL PATRON CAR-RT-WS Edina resident and renowned golfer Cora Jane Blanchard, featured in the summer 2003 issue of About Town, was recently inducted into the Minnesota Professional Golf Association and Minnesota Golf Association Golf Hall of Fame. The Minnesota PGA and the MGA selected Blanchard, Bob Reith Jr. and George Reynolds for induction into the Minnesota PGA/MGA Golf Hall of Fame. The trio was officially inducted in late October at the Golden Valley Country Club. Blanchard was chairwoman of the 1979 USGA Women’s Public Links Championship held at Braemar Golf Course, a member of the USGA Public Links Championship Committee from 1980 to 1987 and the committee’s chairwoman from 1991 to 1997. She was a member of the USGA Women’s Committee from 1987 to 2001 and the committee’s chairwoman in 2001. In addition, Blanchard was a board member of the MGA and in 2002 received the MGA’s Warren Rebholz Award for service to the game. Table of Contents A Word From The Mayor ......................................................5 Edina’s First Library Was Born In 1921, In An 1887 Elementary School..............................................6 494 Commuter Services Moves Into Edina.......................15 Edinborough Park Offers New Children’s Fitness Programming ..........................................................17 Works of Renowned Potter, 30 Others To Be Featured In Art Center Faculty Exhibit..................18 South Metro Public Safety Training Facility Opens.........20 City Council Approves 2004 Budget...................................22 It’s Not Only Neighborly...It’s The Law..............................24 Matson Works To Tell The Stories Of Edina’s History.................................................................26 City Cleans Mains To Prevent Sewer Backups.................28 Braemar Golf Course Establishes ‘Sister’ Relationship...............................................................30 Cover photo by Polly Norman AboutTown Volume 16, Number 1 Winter 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:Brett Carlson 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, 612-965-2041 or 952-938-3390. 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 Edina Golfer Inducted Into Hall Of Fame 1•WINTER 2004 SUNDAYMONDAYTUESDAYWEDNESDAYTHURSDAYFRIDAYSATURDAY 1 New Year’s Day. Most City offices closed. 2 3 4 5 6 1:30-3:30 p.m., Hearing Tests, Edina Senior Center. 7 p.m., HRA&City Council, Edina City Hall. 78 5 p.m., Gallery opening, Edina Art Center. 9 5:30 p.m., Maria Genne Workshop, Edina Art Center. 10 11 1-5 p.m., Winter Ice Festival, Centennial Lakes Park. 7 p.m., Stan Bann Big Band, Edinborough Park. 1213 1:15-3 p.m., Blood Pressure Clinic, Edina Senior Center. 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Board, Edina City Hall. 141617 18 7 p.m., Eden Prairie Community Band, Edinborough Park. 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Most City offices closed. 20 7 p.m., HRA&City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Armenian Dance Ensemble, Edinborough Park. 21 7 a.m., Recycling and Solid Waste Commission, Edina City Hall. 22 4 p.m., Edina Art Center Board, Edina Art Center. 2324 27 5-8 p.m., Ice skating class registration, Braemar Arena. 7 p.m., Human Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 2625 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar JANUARY 2004 28 7:30 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 29 30 By appointment beginning at 8:30 a.m., Podiatrist appointments with fee charge, Edina Senior Center. City Hall closed for moving. 15 5:30 p.m., Board of Appeals, Edina City Hall. 31 Noon-4 p.m., Midwinter Beach Party, Edinborough Park. 2•WINTER 2004 SUNDAYMONDAYTUESDAYWEDNESDAYTHURSDAYFRIDAYSATURDAY 1 7 p.m., Golden Valley Orchestra, Edinborough Park. 3 7 p.m., Edina HRAand City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Royal Scottish Country Dance, Edinborough Park. 45 5 p.m., Faculty exhibit opening, Edina Art Center. 5:30 p.m., Board of Appeals, Edina City Hall. 6 1-3 p.m., Valentine Workshop, Edina Art Center. 7 6 p.m.-midnight, Edina Chamber of Commerce Emerald Gala, Edina Country Club. 2 Noon, New Edina City Hall opens. 8 7 p.m., Brio Brass, Edinborough Park. 9 10 1:15-3 p.m., Blood Pressure Clinic, Edina Senior Center. 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Crosby Lake Clatterers, Edinborough Park. 11 12 Noon, Annette Fragale Valentine Show, Edinborough Park. 13 By appointment beginning at 8:30 a.m., Podiatrist appointments with fee charge, Edina Senior Center. 14 1516 Presidents’ Day. Most City offices closed. 17 Summer Park and Recreation program registration begins for residents. 7 p.m., Edina HRA& City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., A Song & a Dance, Edinborough Park. 18 7 a.m., Recycling and Solid Waste Commission, Edina City Hall. 20 Children’s Music Classes, Edina Art Center. 21 Clay classes, Edina Art Center. 22 7 p.m., Just Friends Big Band, Edinborough Park. 2324 7 p.m., Human Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Cathy & Tom, Edinborough Park. 25 7:30 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 26 4 p.m., Edina Art Center Board, Edina Art Center. 2728 29 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar FEBRUARY 2004 19 5:30 p.m., Board of Appeals, Edina City Hall. Special Pull-Out Sections: Edina Resource Directory Park & Recreation Insider 5•WINTER 2004 For months, state and local headlines have splashed the tale of government budget woes. Nearly all Minnesota cities were affected by State Aid reductions enacted during the 2003 legislative session. State aids for cities have been in the form of Local Government Aid (LGA) and Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC). The City of Edina is virtually the only city in the state that does not receive any LGA due to the State’s strict formula. Edina does, however, receive MVHC. In 2003, $528,756 of MVHC was supposed to have been received and we projected that a like amount was to have been received in 2004. Pursuant to legislation enacted in 2003, though, Edina lost both its 2003 and 2004 allocations. Despite the loss of MVHC, the fiscal impact to Edina was and will be less than nearly every other city in Minnesota simply because we receive very little State Aid in relation to our overall budget. That said, some belt-tightening was in order at City Hall. City staff responded to the budget dilemma with creative solutions that allowed us to maintain our services and staff level. One example of those solutions was the elimination of the Park and Recreation Department’s annual Activities Directory. Instead, important information about programs and facilities will appear as an insert in About Town and the website, www.cityofedina.com. The first such insert is included with this issue. Property owners with alarms will be charged for officers responding to the second and subsequent false alarms, instead of the third. We will seek a sponsor for the July 4 fireworks rather than pay for the celebration out of City coffers. In this time when government spending is being scrutinized, some might ask why a budget continues to increase when the size of a city does not. That’s the case in Edina – the population has remained nearly constant for the past decade, but the City’s budget has increased slightly each year. This year’s budget represents an increase of 1.71 percent over that in 2003. The City is not that much different than a family living in an older home. The family might not increase in size, but it’s likely that as the price of energy, food and clothing increases, so will their annual spending. In addition, as the house they are living in ages, maintenance costs will increase. While the City might not be buying food and clothing, its costs for utilities and maintenance have been steadily increasing. More significantly, Edina’s infrastructure is as old as its oldest neighborhood and is in need of regular maintenance, repair and replacement. These costs will likely continue to grow, even if our population does not. The Edina City Council has always taken great pride in its fiscal responsibility. This year is no exception. We are proud we are able to deal with the new financial realities of the State with little impact to our services. Dennis F. Maetzold Mayor 4•WINTER 2004 EDINA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EMERALD GALA 2004 What:The Edina Chamber of Commerce will host its largest fund-raising event of the year, Emerald Gala 2004. The “black tie admired, but not required” event will feature a silent auction, dinner and dancing, among other things. A portion of the proceeds from a raffle will provide scholarships for Edina High School students. When:6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Feb. 7 Where:Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave. S. Info:Edina Chamber of Commerce, 952-806-9060. INDOOR SKATING LESSONS What:Braemar Arena offers ice skating lessons throughout the year. Registration for the spring session of lessons is held in January. When:5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 Where:Braemar Arena, 7501 Ikola Way. Phone-in registrations will not be accepted. Info:952-941-1322 or www.Braemar-Arena.com. CITY HALL MOVE What:City of Edina employees will move into the new City Hall building in late January. City Hall will be closed to facilitate the move. Volunteers are needed to help pack boxes before the move. A formal dedication ceremony will not be held until the spring. When:City Hall will be closed all day Friday, Jan. 30, and until noon Monday, Feb. 2. Where:Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St. Info:952-927-8861 or www.cityofedina.com. Winter Calendar Highlights A Word From The Mayor 3•WINTER 2004 SUNDAYMONDAYTUESDAYWEDNESDAYTHURSDAYFRIDAYSATURDAY 2 1:30-3:30 p.m., Hearing Tests, Edina Senior Center. 34 5:30 p.m., Board of Appeals, Edina City Hall. 5 By appointment beginning at 8:30 a.m., Podiatrist appointments with fee charge, Edina Senior Center. 61 7 p.m., Edina HRA& City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 8 9 1:15-3 p.m., Blood Pressure Clinic, Edina Senior Center. 7 p.m., Park Board, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Heritage Preservation Board, Edina City Hall. 10111213 14 7 p.m., St. Louis Park Community Band, Edinborough Park. 15 16 7 p.m., Edina HRA& City Council, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Notable Singers, Edinborough Park. 17 7 a.m., Recycling and Solid Waste Commission, Edina City Hall. 1920 21 7 p.m., Calhoun Isles Community Band, Edinborough Park. 2223 7 p.m., Human Relations Commission, Edina City Hall. 7 p.m., Claire Van De Crommert, Edinborough Park. 2425 4 p.m., Edina Art Center Board, Edina Art Center. 5 p.m., Gallery opening, Edina Art Center. 26 By appointment beginning at 8:30 a.m., Podiatrist appointments with fee charge, Edina Senior Center. 27 302928 7 p.m., First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park. About Town Calendar MARCH 2004 31 7:30 p.m., Planning Commission, Edina City Hall. 18 5:30 p.m., Board of Appeals, Edina City Hall. By Joe Sullivan Contributing Writer In 1887, Edina School District 17 purchased farmland, owned since 1869 by Edina pioneer Andrew Craik, to build a yellow brick elementary school near the site of today’s City Hall. In 1921, a single room in the 1887 school became the home of Edina’s first library. My former neighbor Mildred (Millam) Willson remembered attending the school. “The school had just two classrooms,” she recalled in a 1971 interview with local historian Foster W. Dunwiddie. “Later, two classrooms were added at the rear of the building. One of them was used for the Village library … Mrs. Vinson was the librarian.” The1963 Edina-Morningside High School Buzzette publication quoted Elvira Vinson saying, “For years, there was not a library -- in fact not a dictionary or an encyclopedia -- in Edina.” But in 1921, Vinson, who had no previous library experience, helped establish a library in that old school located between what is now Eden Avenue and 50th Street. The District 17 Board of Education approved a pact with the Hennepin County Library, which supplied the books and staffing. “Our first 50 books were all about the first World War, but it was a start,” Vinson said. In 1926, Vinson and the tiny library followed the yellow brick school’s students to a new school at 50th and Wooddale Avenue. From 1926 to 1937, a single room at Wooddale School served as a combined school and public library. But the school was absorbing nearly all of the library’s service, leaving only evening hours for the public. The two libraries were separated in 1937, occupying two different rooms in the school. Edina’s First Free-Standing Library Edina’s first free-standing library opened in 1938 after Vinson left the Wooddale Elementary School following a 7•WINTER 20046•WINTER 2004 Edina’s First Library Was Born In 1921,In An 1887 Elementary School disagreement with its principal. The Morningside Village Council rented space in a tiny, storefront location in the then-new Westgate Theater building at 3902 Sunnyside Road near France Avenue and the public library moved in with Vinson as librarian. With the move came a new name – Edina-Morningside Branch – and a change of patrons with fewer grade school children, but more adults and high school students. Vinson ran a “tight ship.” Edina resident Phyllis Wenell worked in Edina libraries from 1966-87 and her first assignment was as a librarian at Morningside. She heard stories about Vinson’s strictness with children who visited the library. “Some said she made sure the kids had clean hands before she let them handle any books,” Wenell recalled. Ron Shirk, my friend and classmate at Southwest High School in the late 1940s, remembers visiting the library and waiting while Vinson looked up his family in the local phone directory to make sure he was a resident before letting him take out a book. ‘Feisty, Creative’ Redhead Becomes Librarian At Morningside Dorothy Dunn succeeded Vinson as Morningside branch librarian in 1963. Dunn had a master’s degree in library science from the New York College for Teachers. During World War II, she was an Army librarian at Camp Shanks, N.Y., and for three years headed a public library near Albany, N.Y. Wenell followed Dunn as Morningside’s librarian in 1966. She remembers Dunn as “a feisty redhead with lots of charisma” and describes her as a “very good organizer. Dorothy was very creative and conceived many programs (continued on next page) This 1887 yellow brick Edina Elementary School was home to Edina’s first library. The one-room, community-school library opened in 1921 with only 50 books. Ed i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y Pictured at her desk in the Morningside branch library, Elvira Vinson became Edina’s first librarian in 1921 when she opened a one- room, combined community-school library in the old Edina Elementary School located on the site of today’s City Hall. The Wooddale Elementary School was the second home of the Edina Community Library, which also served as a school library from 1926 until 1937. Mi n n e a p o l i s S t a r Ed i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y well as general fiction and non-fiction collections,” the article said. “The Morningside branch will continue to observe the same hours as in the past.” The new branch’s first librarian was Elinor Heath. She was followed by Dorothy Dunn, who had served as librarian at the Morningside branch for three years and came to the Edina branch in 1967 from the branch library in Crystal. Old Library Too Small — Study Recommends New Building A 1962 League of Women Voters (LWV) study titled “Edina’s Library Situation” described the old Bull house: “There is approximately 1,500 square feet of space in the present library building.” (At the time, American Library Association standards recommended minimum space of 8,000 square feet for public library service for a community of Edina’s size). Edina Friends of the Library, organized following the LWV report, recommended a new library costing between $150,000 and $250,000, built on Village-owned land near today’s Rosland Park. The proposed 12,000-square-foot building would have housed 40,000 to 50,000 volumes. Later that year, the Village Council commissioned a study by Harold Goldstein, a University of Illinois library science professor. He also recommended construction of a new Edina library building and indicated that staffing and supplying the library should remain under the county’s jurisdiction. Goldstein’s report concluded that the 50th and and displays for the Edina libraries.” She also recalled some of the unusual aspects of running a library in a theater building. “For example, the only restroom was the one used by theater patrons,” she remembered. Joan Lonsbury, also a resident of Edina, worked with Dunn from 1971 to 1981, when Dunn retired. Lonsbury describes her as “very attractive and bursting with energy.” She recalls leaving the library at closing time with Dunn, who would make comments like, “Wasn’t this a full, stimulating and interesting day?” The Morningside library remained open until the early 1970s. “Morningsiders loved that little library. They were not happy when ‘their library’ closed,” Wenell said. Former James Bull House Given To Edina For Library In 1954, a vintage two-story house at 4120 W. 50th St., near the corner of 50th and Halifax Avenue, was donated to the village by Edina residents Russell Lund and George Kruse, who had developed much of the 50th and France commercial area. The building and its 140-by-150-foot lot were deeded to Edina for use as a “buffer zone” between 50th and France businesses and residences located to the west. The old, red brick house, built by Edina pioneer farmer James Bull in 1872, became the Edina Branch Library. Cost of remodeling and repairing the house for use as a library was estimated at $5,000. The Edina- Morningside Courier announced that the new Edina Branch Library would be dedicated May 17, 1955. “The library, newest branch in the Hennepin County system, will house 6,000 to 7,000 volumes, and will include a reference section, a children’s room and a young people’s alcove, as 8•WINTER 2004 9•WINTER 2004 (continued on next page) Virginia Williams was the children’s librarian at two Edina libraries. The Bull family’s farmhouse was built by pioneer Edina farmer James Bull at 4124 W. 50th St. on the northwest corner of today’s 50th and Halifax. From 1955 to 1968 the house, later razed to make way for a bank parking lot, served as Edina’s Community Library. Edina’s Westgate Theater was built in 1936 on Sunnyside Road near France Avenue South. The entrance to the Morningside branch library, which moved into a storefront location on the east side of the theater building in 1938, can be seen at the left. Librarian Dorothy Dunn served the Edina libraries from 1963 until her retirement in 1981. She worked at the Morningside branch on Sunnyside Road, the Edina branch on 50th and the Community Library at 50th and Eden Avenue. Ed i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y Ed i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y Ed i n a C o m m u n i t y L i b r a r y Ma r k & C a r o l i n e D u n n 11•WINTER 2004 and historical events emphasized in her symbolic representation of Edina. (Nash’s statue was moved outdoors during a 1994 renovation of the library. It was reinstalled outside the new Grandview Square library and Senior Center in September 2003). Hennepin County Offers To Buy Edina’s Library Building From the beginning, Edina’s libraries had been staffed and operated by the Hennepin County Library System. The county was also responsible for providing the library collections. For these services Edina paid a county tax of 5.58 mills, which amounted to $311,480 in 1969. Except for the Morningside branch’s rented space, Edina’s role had always been to provide and maintain the library building. Since 1967, however, the county library system had been trying to acquire ownership of all its branch libraries. By 1970, Richfield and Edina had the only library buildings owned by individual communities. The county was paying Edina an annual rental fee of $36,217. When Hennepin County Libraries proposed to purchase the Edina library building in 1970, the Village administration initially spurned the offer, preferring to retain ownership and the rental income. However, in late 1971 the Village Council authorized sale of the library building to the county and the county library system became its landlord. The county agreed to continue paying the rent for the Morningside branch on Sunnyside Road. New Regional Hennepin County Library Built Near Southdale For many years, the possibility of a new Hennepin County reference library for the Southdale Center area had been considered. In December 1970, the Hennepin County Library Board purchased a nine-acre site southeast of Southdale from Glacier Sand and Gravel Co. for a regional county library. 10•WINTER 2004 Halifax site was too small for expansion and adequate parking. He concurred with the Friends’ recommendation that the most convenient location would be at 66th Street and Valley View Road. 50th And Eden Avenue Is Final Site For New Library Building In March 1967, after five years of polls, studies, petitions and planning, Edina announced that its new library would be built at 50th and Eden Avenue, on Village property east of the Village Hall. Ground was broken that fall with completion scheduled for fall 1968. The estimated $480,000 building was designed by Edina architect Arthur Dickey. It would still be a branch of the Hennepin County Library System, despite plans already in the works for a major regional library to be built by the county in the Southdale area. George Hite, Village Director of Public Works, indicated that the Morningside library would continue to operate. “This is a very active library and I feel there will always be enough traffic there to warrant keeping it open,” he said. The future of the old library at 50th and Halifax was not as bright. Consideration was given to keeping it open as a special children’s library, but the former Bull house was later razed and replaced with a bank parking lot. Plans for the new library included six study carrels for individual study. Three rooms were designated for researching term paper topics or operating sound recording equipment and typewriters. A separate children’s area and emphasis on art and music were also planned. In addition to books and periodicals, records, tape recordings and art objects would be available. The new library would contain 38,000 volumes, twice as many as the high school library and nearly four times more than the former Edina branch. The Eden Avenue library opened in September 1968. At a November open house and dedication an 11-foot copper sculpture created by Katherine Nash, University of Minnesota art professor and artist, was unveiled in the library’s foyer. Nash explained the geographical features (continued on next page) Ground was broken in October 1967 for this new Edina Community Library to be built at 50th Street and Eden Avenue, east of the Village Hall. The library’s collection included 38,000 books. It opened in September 1968. In 1966, Edina and the Minneapolis Library Board approved proposed plans for a branch library site near the old 50th and Halifax site. The site, which was later ruled out, would have been on the “connector” street running diagonally from 50th and Halifax to 51st and France. Ed i n a M o r n i n g s i d e C o u r i e r Ed i n a C o m m u n i t y L i b r a r y Named the Southdale-Hennepin Area Reference Library, it would be the county’s largest, with 60,0000 square feet of space housing 200,000 volumes. Its cost of $2.85 million included land acquisition, building, landscaping, furnishings and the initial book collection. The Southdale library was the first of three new libraries included in a $20 million county library expansion program, which would eventually include regional libraries of similar size and purpose planned for the Brookdale and Ridgedale Center areas. The Southdale library opened to the public July 30, 1973. Most of the fiction -- some 30,000 volumes -- was in the second-floor popular library. The children’s library offered another 25,000 books. But the bulk of the total collection was in the third floor reference center, which offered more than 8,000 reference items as well as some 75,000 non-fiction books. Southdale-Hennepin: A Different Kind Of Library The Southdale-Hennepin Area Library probably doesn’t look like any library you’ve ever seen. Rising dramatically at the intersection of 70th Street and York Avenue South, it is the third largest public library in Minnesota. Southdale- Hennepin now has a 300,000-item collection. “It is a full-service library offering programs, collections and services for the entire community,” said Coordinating Librarian Mark Ranum. “People will find books, magazines, online information, Internet access, a computer lab and classes on how to use our online library resources. Our staff is well-prepared to help people find just what they need at the library.” The third-floor reference center provides answers to questions from the library’s in-depth collection of reference materials. Today, the library subscribes to more than 700 magazines and newspapers with electronic access to thousands more. Southdale-Hennepin librarians answered almost 200,000 reference inquiries last year (several of those from me). Southdale-Hennepin was remodeled in 1985-86 and again in 1992- 94. The third floor was remodeled in the summer of 2003 to accommodate express checkout and express reserves pickup service. The library building currently has total space of 77,107 square feet. Discussion Of New Edina Community Library Began In 1998 Plans for a new Edina Community Library first surfaced in 1998 as part of the proposed Grandview Square mixed-use development on Eden Avenue, west of Minnesota Highway 100 and south of the Vernon Avenue Grandview Heights commercial area. “We were totally jammed full at 50th and Eden,” said Edina Community Library Senior Librarian Marcia Wattson. “And parking had been such a problem.” “We sat down with Charles Brown, head of the Hennepin County Library System, and negotiated a land swap,” said City Manager Gordon Hughes. The City offered to erect a combined library and senior center building at Grandview Square. The City and the county library system would share ownership and maintenance of the building. In exchange, the City would get title to the land occupied by the old library for a new City Hall building. “The combined facility will reduce the operating and building costs of the two entities,” Hughes said. The $4.6 million project was approved by the City Council in 2000 and the groundbreaking for the new community library/senior center took place July 9, 2001. Described as “a model for other communities,” the library has 18,000 square feet of floor space -- 4,000 more than the former library. It includes an expanded meeting room, a large area with a fireplace, more lounge seating, additional space for computers and a children’s room. The Edina Community Library moved into the new Grandview Square facility in April 2002. “Our close proximity to the Senior Center has increased our connections with Edina’s senior population,” said Wattson. Representatives of the library and Senior Center have said the joint facility helps to bridge the gap between young and older members of the community. Another advantage of the new location is added parking space. “We had only 33 parking spots in the former location,” Wattson said. “But now, the library and Senior Center have 108 parking spaces, not including additional on-street parking and evening and weekend parking in the ramp next door,” she added. “There’s more elbow room for the staff and more functional space that’s better-designed to meet the needs 12•WINTER 2004 13•WINTER 2004 (continued on next page) “A library … should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas — a place where history comes to life.” Norman Cousins (1912-1990) The Southdale-Hennepin Area Library opened in 1973. This 1980 photo shows the building before extensive remodelings in 1985-87, 1992-94 and again in 2003. At the right is the Hennepin County Government center. Ed i n a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y 494 Commuter Services, an outreach program of the I-494 Corridor Commission, has moved to its new office in the Eden 100 building located at 5100 Eden Ave. in Edina. The mission of 494 Commuter Services is to reduce traffic congestion and ease the cost and stress of the daily commute for people commuting to and from Edina, Bloomington, Richfield, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Plymouth. Free resources are available to employers, property managers and commuters, including: • Display of commute options. The display includes free bicycle trail maps, bus schedules, online ride-matching, park-and-ride locations and information on the Guaranteed Ride Home program. • Commuter Fair. Representatives from 494 Commuter Services come onsite with a resource table of commuting options information and answer commute-related questions. • Zip Code Map. 494 Commuter Services prepares a visual tool for employees to see how many people at their company live near them for ride-matching purposes. • Carpool and vanpool preferred parking signs. • Free outdoor bike racks. • Articles on commuting options for distribution in company’s intranet and newsletter. • Mn/DOT presentation on construction projects. • Travel Demand Management plan assistance. • Free bicycle path maps, Park-and-Ride lot maps, match lists for carpooling/vanpooling. • Customized bus itinerary with bus schedules. • Guaranteed Ride Home. For more information, contact Employer Outreach Specialist Melissa Madison, 612-749-4494. 15•WINTER 200414•WINTER 2004 of the library’s patrons,” Wattson said of the new library building. “We hope it will be as well-loved and well-used as the old library was.” Currently, there are 85,000 items in the Edina library’s collection. The community library specializes in providing information about current and popular subjects including consumer matters, health, gardening, cooking and youth services -- especially for pre-school through middle school students. The librarians also make printed and audio book recommendations for individual readers and book clubs. Stop in for a look around your new library. You’ll find it on the second floor at 5280 Grandview Square, Edina. The phone number is 952-847-5425. Background material and photographs for this article came from: the collections of the Edina Historical Society, the Edina Community Library, the Hennepin-Southdale Area Library and the Mark and Caroline Dunn family; the personal recollections of Joan Lonsbury, Ron Shirk, Marcia Wattson, Phyllis Wenell and Mildred Willson; the writings of Foster W. Dunwiddie and E. Dudley Parsons; and the following publications: “Edina’s Library Situation” a report by the League of Women Voters, a Friends of the Edina Library brochure, a report by consultant Dr. Harold Goldstein, Edina-Morningside High School Buzzette, Edina Sun-Current, Edina Sun, Edina-Morningside Courier, Minneapolis Star and Minneapolis Tribune. Joe Sullivan is a freelance writer and Edina resident. He can be reached by sending an e-mail to edinamail@ci.edina.mn.us. 494 Commuter Services Moves To Edina 16•WINTER 2004 21•WINTER 2004 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 Edina Community Resource Directory 2004 We are pleased to bring you this resource directory in partnership with the City of Edina. If you are new to Edina, welcome! If you are a current resident, we hope this pullout will be helpful to you as well. The Edina Resource Center is a partnership between the Edina Public Schools, the City of Edina and the community. We’ll help connect you with community information, resources and services. We often have quick answers to your questions. If we don’t, we will do the research for you and call you back. We’ll even follow-up with you to see if our referrals helped. Our service is free, confidential and up to date. 5701 Normandale Road, Room 336, Edina, MN 55424 952-848-3936 Check out our new website www.edinaresourcecenter.com …your connection to community information, resources and services. 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 At your location - or ours! Since 1991, we have been a preferred audiology provider for mature adults and residents at over 140 care facilities throughout the metro area. With our new offices in Edina, we are now able to provide medically based audiological care right in your home…or in our state-of-the-art clinic. Most insurance accepted. Conveniently located in the Grandview Square Building next to the new Library! (Eden Avenue & Vernon) Improve your hearing health today. We can help. “We’re Listening…" On-Site Hearing Services, Inc. 5201 Eden Avenue, Suite 130 Edina, MN 55436 Phone (952) 929-2060 Fax (952) 929-2067 Special Feature •WINTER2004 Government & Motor Vehicle Services Services such as Minnesota Identification card; certified copies of birth, death and marriage certificates; passport; car tabs; and hunting license can be obtained at: All Hennepin County Service Centers websitewww.co.hennepin.mn.us Southdale Service Center612-348-8240 7009 York Ave. So. Right next to Southdale Hennepin Area Library To obtain a driver’s license: Residents without an out-of-state license must take a “behind the wheel” exam. Only test examiner and driver are allowed in the vehicle. An interpreter is not allowed to accompany the driver & examiner during exam. Appointments must be made in order to take the driving test. Allow 1 – 2 hours for this process. New residents with a valid out-of-state license, must take the Minnesota written test. The nearest exam sites are: Chaska952-448-3740 Eagan651-688-1870 Plymouth952-476-3042 Curfew & Mental Health Resources The curfew for minors in Edina is: Under 12 yearsSun – Thu9 p.m. Fri – Sat 10 p.m. 12 – 14 yearsSun – Thu10 p.m. Fri – Sat 11 p.m. 15 – 17 yearsSun – Thu11 p.m. Fri – Sat midnight City of Edina Chemical Health Coordinator952-929-7627 Edina Public Schools Chemical & 952-848-3028 Mental Health Coordinator Hennepin Children’s Mental Health Collaborative 612-827-1234 Helps families & school personnel locate & coordinate services for children with mental health needs. collaborative websitewww.sed–kids.org Family &Children’s Service - outpatient 952-884-7353 mental health services & specialized counseling services websitewww.famchildserv.org The Storefront Group - prevention, 612-861-1675 intervention & treatment programs to support & strengthen children & families websitewww.storefront.org Resources for Immigrants & Refugees Hennepin County Project for Multi-Cultural Service Delivery612-348-2193 websitewww.co.hennepin.mn.us/ chpcsi/oms/oms.html Community of Nations Project952-885-1275 Bi-lingual staff works with new immigrants on issues that impact the future success of their families. World Relief - employment & immigration612-243-2941 assistance, citizenship classes & healthcare advice websitewww.wr.org/where_we_work/ united_states/richfield.asp Center for Victims of Torture - assessment & care for victims of government-sponsored torture612-436-4800 websitewww.cvt.org/main.php ESL Programs (learn English as a Second Language) Family Literacy Program - for adults & children 3 – 5 years of age who are learning English 952-848-3985 (Transportation is available.) SHAPE - for adult ESL learners call952-681-6170 (Evening classes are held at Cornelia Elementary Mon. & Wed. from 6:30 – 9 p.m.) Senior Information Edina Senior Center952-833-9570 Senior Community Services - home visits & referral 952-934-3370 Normandale Ministry for Healing & Wholeness952-929-1697 Support for seniors and their caregivers Special Feature •WINTER2004 Emergency Numbers Emergency Response911 Edina Animal Control952-826-0494 City Emergency Preparedness Questions952-826-1610 Poison Control1-800-764-7661 Crisis Connection612-379-6363 City Services City Offices - main line952-927-8861 Animal Licenses952-826-0417 Edina Police - non-emergency952-826-1600 Fire - non-emergency952-826-0330 Housing and Planning952-826-0369 Parks & Recreation952-826-0367 Adaptive Recreation952-826-0433 Recycling952-826-0381 Voter Registration952-826-0363 City of Edina websitewww.cityofedina.com Edina Public Schools – District #287 & Other EducationResources Parents can register their children for school at the Edina Community Center main office on the first floor. 5701 Normandale Road For information call:952-848-4585 District Offices 952-848-3900 Community Education Main Office952-848-3952 Edina Family Center - pre-K parent/child952-848-3980 classes Edina Kid’s Club - school-aged child care 952-848-3975 Edina Public Schools websitewww.edina.k12.mn.us Edina Education Fund952-848-4222 SHAPE (South Hennepin Adult 952-681-6170 Programs in Education) Volunteer Connection & Learning Exchange952-681-6109 Pacer Center - advocacy for families of952-838-9000 youth with disabilitieswww.pacer.org Edina Community Services For information about Edina athletic associations call:952-826-0367 Edina Art Center612-915-6600 websitewww.edinaartcenter.com Edina Newcomers Information Hotline952-942-7414 Edina Chamber of Commerce952-806-9060 50th & France Business 952-922-1524 & Professional Association Edina Sun-Current 952-829-0797 The Edina Community Foundation952-833-9573 Edina Community Library952-847-5425 Southdale Hennepin Area Library952-847-5900 websitewww.hclib.org Employment & Housing Resources Employment Action Center612-752-8664 websitewww.eac-mn.org Minnesota Workforce Center952-346-4000 websitewww.mnwfc.org Minnesota Housing Link612-522-2500 websitewww.housinglink.org City of Edina Housing & Planning952-826-0369 Medical Services Hospitals Abbott Northwestern612-863-4000 Hennepin County Medical Center612-347-2121 Fairview Southdale (Edina)952-924-5000 Methodist and Park Nicollet (St. Louis Park)952-993-5000 Urgent Care Centers - after clinic hours Fairview Southdale952-924-5030 (M – F 6 – 10 p.m., Sat. 1 – 10 p.m., Sun. noon – 10 p.m.) Family Convenience Care – a Quello Clinic952-985-8155 (M – F 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ) St. Mary’s Clinics - for uninsured care651-690-7029 17•WINTER 2004 Edinborough Park Offers New Children’s Fitness Programming In addition to providing one of the largest indoor play structures in the Midwest and a unique setting for birthday parties, Edinborough Park is now offering new fitness programs for children. The new programs are offered in cooperation with My Gym Children’s Fitness Center. The award-winning programs provide non- competitive fitness and play programs for children ages 3 months to 13 years. The programs will be held in the Great Hall of Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S. In the My Gym Waddler/Gymsters program, children and parents learn and play together while enjoying structured activities including stretches, songs, dances, gymnastics, tumbling, games and puppets. The Waddler/Gymsters program is for infants ages 12 to 24 months. “The children feel great about themselves as they learn beginning gymnastics and other fun skills,” said Recreation Supervisor Donna Tilsner, who is helping to coordinate the program. The My Gym Terrific Tots program is similar to the Waddler/Gymster program, but is for boys and girls ages 2 and 3. My Gym Mighty Whiz Kids, for ages 3 to 6, is an independent class where children gain strength, flexibility and agility while doing aerobics, stretching, relays, tumbling, gymnastics, sport skills and games. “This non-competitive program challenges children while providing a great deal of support and positive reinforcement to help boost confidence and self- esteem,” Tilsner said. “Parents are welcome to observe or leave during the class for the older kids.” Cost is $80 per class for each eight-week session. Session I will be held Mondays, Jan. 5 through Feb. 23. Session II will be held Mondays, March 1 through April 19. Pre-registration for the programs is necessary at the Edina Park and Recreation Department at Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., or online at www.cityofedina.com or www.edinboroughpark.com. For more information on the My Gym curriculum, visit www.my-gym.com or contact Tilsner, 952-826-0432. For more information on Edinborough Park, contact Assistant Park Manager Ann Kattreh, 952-832-6790. Special Feature •WINTER2004 Volunteers of America Senior Services612-331-4063 websitewww.voamn.org AARP (Assoc. of American Retired Persons)952-858-9040 websitewww.aarp.org Meals on Wheels - provides homebound ill, 952-292-2579 senior and disabled with meals Senior Dining (7151 York Ave.)952-893-1448 H.O.M.E. - outside maintenance & small chores 952-888-5530 Store to Door - delivers groceries to651-642-1892 aging & disabled websitewww.storetodoor.org V.E.A.P. - medical appointment rides952-888-9616 websitewww.veapvolunteers.org Social Service Agencies Serving Edina Bloomington Public Health - providing 952-563-8900 health care for prenatal moms to home care services for older adults websitewww.ci.bloomington.mn.us CASH (Community Action for Suburban Hennepin)952-933-9639 - energy assistance, homeowner & budget counseling websitewww.cashenn.org Cornerstone - domestic violence services952-884-0376 websitewww.cornerstonedv.com Edina Resource Center - your connection to community information, resources and services 952-848-3936 websitewww.edinaresourcecenter.com Family & Children’s Service952-884-7353 Outpatient mental health services & specialized counseling services websitewww.famchildserv.org Hennepin County Economic Assistance Client Service Center612-596-1300 Initiates applications for financial and medical assistance The Storefront Group612-861-1675 Prevention, intervention & treatment programs to support & strengthen children & families websitewww.storefront.org V.E.A.P. (Volunteers Enlisted to Help People)952-888-9616 Provides food, emergency assistance, transportation & seasonal programs to those who qualify. websitewww.veapvolunteers.org Transportation Information Edina Dial-A-Ride– door-to-door in Edina only, 952-474-5398 must make an appointment BE-Line – local bus service 612-349-7000 Metro Mobility Service Center 651-602-1111 –applications for service Metro Mobility Transit – reservations for 612-332-7161 service – must complete application first Metro Transit – metro-wide bus service 612-349-7000 Waste Disposal Information Line for Environmental Services612-348-6509 South Hennepin Recycling & Problem Waste Drop-off Center1400 W. 96th St., Bloomington Websites City of Edina www.cityofedina.com Edina Schoolswww.edina.k12.mn.us League of Women Voterswww.lwvmn.org Housing Link – housing referral service www.housinglink.org Hennepin Countywww.co.hennepin.mn.us Free Translation www.freetranslation.com Metro Transitwww.metrotransit.org Parent Communication Networkwww.edinapcn.org Edina Resource Centerwww.edinaresourcecenter.com By Kathleen Sovell Contributing Writer Potter Harriet Campe, a longtime Edina resident, will be one of several artists whose work will be featured during the Edina Art Center Faculty Exhibit, Feb. 5 through March 17. Some of Campe’s porcelain pots are hand-built from slabs. Others are thrown on the wheel. Several decorating techniques in addition to glazing are used, including free- hand carving and colored slip brushwork. Campe loves the challenge of working with porcelain, as well as the elegance of the finished pieces. Her goal is to make high-quality pots that convey the special qualities of porcelain – pots that others will be happy to own and use. To this end, she sells her work at several galleries and art fairs. She notes that, despite its delicate appearance, porcelain is very durable and does not chip easily. All of her pots are useable and are not intended for decoration only. Her business name is “Useful Pots.” Campe grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota where she spent many happy childhood hours making mud pies—the beginning of her love for clay. She was fortunate to have artistic family members. Her grandfather was a stone carver who made headstones for cemeteries and her uncle was a lithographer. Today, both she and her sister, Natalie Campe Boorman of North Carolina, are potters. After earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Bemidji State University, she worked in research labs 18•WINTER 2004 Works Of Renowned Potter,30 Others To Be Featured In Art Center Faculty Exhibit 19•WINTER 2004 for many years, went to law school for a while, married and had two children. Eighteen years ago, her family outgrew its house in Minneapolis and moved to Edina where they continue to live today. Campe has been a member of the Edina Art Center faculty for five years. She teaches studio ceramics classes to students of all levels. “It takes years of daily practice to become proficient at wheel throwing,” she said. “Once you get there, though, the wheel becomes more than a tool—it’s almost like playing a musical instrument.” “It is very satisfying to see students progress. Sometimes they get very frustrated, but seeing them work through their discouragement is heartening to see. I enjoy teaching and find that I learn at least as much as my students.” Once a year, Campe teaches what might be her favorite class – “All the World’s a Kiln – Basic Science for Potters.” During this class, students learn basic scientific concepts and enough geology and chemistry to understand the origins of ceramic materials and formulate their own clay bodies and glazes to test. Participants learn what changes take place in clays and glazes during firing and how to troubleshoot firing and glazing problems that may occur at the Art Center. “Working in ceramics is a good way to combine a person’s artistic and scientific interests. The number of people with scientific backgrounds who find their way into ceramics is impressive. Perhaps they are attracted by the technical nature of this art form,” said the artist. Art Center administrators and peers are complimentary of Campe’s work for the facility. “Harriet Campe is one of our most knowledgeable ceramics instructors,” said Director Diana Hedges. “With her scientific background, she is able to communicate ‘recipes’ for glazes in a safe and informative manner. Her personalized approach to teaching and strong dedication to the Art Center are two of her most outstanding qualities, not to mention her exquisite porcelain work that we feature in the Clark Gift Shop year round.” Campe is just one of about 30 Art Center faculty members whose work will be on display during the Faculty Exhibit. Works will include pottery, realistic drawing and painting, watercolor, collage, sculpture, abstracts, colored pencil, pastel, acrylics, jewelry, sumi-e, PhotoShop, photography, decorative painting, stained glass and greeting cards. “The Edina Art Center Faculty Exhibit is an opportunity for our community to view the variety and premier quality of this City facility,” Hedges said. “It gives the gallery audience a chance to see a sample of work and assists students in their selection of classes. This showcase of artistic expression is an amazing example of what goes on all year at this ‘home for the arts’ in our area.” For more information on the Art Center faculty or the Faculty Exhibit or for a listing of courses and programs, visit the Art Center’s website, www.EdinaArtCenter.com, or call 612-915-6600. The Edina Art Center is located at 4701 W. 64th St. on the northwest corner of Rosland Park. Pots such as this one by Harriet Campe will be on display during the Edina Art Center’s Faculty Exhibit, scheduled for Feb. 5- March 17. 21•WINTER 2004 Besides the opportunity for increased training, the facility will also save money that is usually budgeted for staff overtime. Because most training opportunities do not currently exist in Edina, local firefighters and officers could not train while on duty. As a result, firefighters and officers had to train during their personal time, costing the City tens of thousands of dollars in overtime pay each year. Although located in Edina, the city is just one owner of the facility. A joint powers board oversees operation of the center. The board is made up of representatives of MAC, Eden Prairie, Bloomington and Edina. Kevin Kelleher was hired in October 2003 as the facility’s coordinator. Kelleher holds a bachelor’s degree in police administration from the University of Minnesota. Kelleher retired in September 2003 as chief of the Wayzata Police Department, a position he held for seven years. While at Wayzata, Kelleher helped move the department into a new building, improved community policing and added a police officer to the force. Before taking the police chief position in Wayzata, Kelleher worked for the Bloomington Police Department for more than 16 years. While a sergeant in Bloomington, Kelleher served as a training officer and was involved with developing the conceptual plans for the South Metro Public Safety Training Center. “It’s nice to retire and stay active in the police community I have enjoyed for so long,” said Kelleher, who comes from a long line of police officers. “It’s also nice to see this project come full-circle during my career. The construction of this facility reflects leadership and a commitment to training.” For more information on the South Metro Public Safety Training Center, contact Kelleher, 952-653-0671. 20•WINTER 2004 South Metro Public Safety Training Facility Opens Helping to strengthen the thin blue line, the state-of-the-art South Metro Public Safety Training Facility opened late last year. The project is the result of a joint effort between the cities of Eden Prairie, Bloomington and Edina and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). The South Metro Public Safety Training Facility, 7525 Braemar Blvd., is made up of two buildings and includes classrooms, live indoor firearm ranges, driving simulators and simulated residential and commercial buildings for firefighter and officer training. The 24,000-square-foot main building and the 6,000-square-foot fire tower on the three-acre campus provide real life training opportunities for area law enforcement officers and firefighters. The fire tower includes a two-story residential simulator. Together, the residential simulator and tower provide a variety of tactical training opportunities, including entry, search and rappelling. An estimated 600 police and fire personnel from the consortium will use the facility regularly. Federal, state and other local agencies will also train at the center, paying a rental fee to do so. There will also be times for the public to use the firearm ranges. After the Wippermann Gun Range closed several years ago, Edina police officers had not been able to train with their firearms on a regular basis. Some officers received formal training just four times per year. Firefighters used to burn down local houses scheduled for demolition as part of their training, but that practice has been discouraged in recent years. Instead, firefighters have had to rent facilities outside of the City for controlled burns. The South Metro Public Safety Training Facility opened late last year. It is the result of a joint effort between the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Edina. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n This live indoor firearm range is part of the new South Metro Public Safety Training Facility. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n Kevin Kelleher Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n 12 Years, 1000’s Served Thank You! Locally owned & monitored www.edinalarm.com Before the end of 2003, the Edina City Council will have approved a budget of approximately $24,200,000 for 2004. Broken down by category, 49.6 percent of the budget will be spent on public safety – police protection, fire protection, emergency medical services, emergency preparedness and crime prevention; 20.4 percent on public works – street maintenance and repair, snow and ice control, street lights, traffic signals and grounds maintenance; 14.1 percent on general government operations; 13.3 percent on park and recreation – athletic and recreation programs, cultural programs, community service and park planning; and 2.5 percent on non- departmental expenses. The 2004 budget represents an increase of $408,388, or 1.71 percent, over 2003. Of that, $16,489,129 must be collected through taxes. The City has been subject to State-imposed levy limits for several years. In prior years, the levy limit was a function of the prior year’s levy adjusted by household growth, commercial and industrial growth and inflation. For 2004, the levy limit was very restrictive. The City could levy only to recover 60 percent of the lost Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC). This will reduce the City’s revenues from taxes and state aids by about $210,000, when compared to 2003. When coupled with increases in wages and other rising costs such as energy and insurance, significant reductions in expenditures and increases in non-tax revenues were required in order to provide a balanced budget. The major expenditure changes for 2004 include the addition to the staff of an Assistant City Engineer, a police officer in the Traffic Enforcement Unit and a park maintenance worker; a wage adjustment of 2 percent and $45 per month increase in the health insurance package for all City employees; $30,000 for the Fire Department’s share of the costs for the South Metro Public Safety Training Center; an expected $69,000 increase in the cost of worker’s compensation, property and liability insurance coverage; and increases in utility costs for a larger City Hall. The City will reduce expenses by eliminating from the budget some contractual services, eliminating $200,000 for equipment replacement; extending the life of squad cars from two years to three years and reducing the Health Department’s full-time staff complement by one position for the last five months of the year. In addition, the City will eliminate the Park and Recreation Department’s annual Activities Directory, but include necessary programming information in About Town and on the website, www.cityofedina.com. The City anticipates a 9.87 percent increase in revenues from licenses and permits, fees and charges, fines, other revenues and intergovernmental aids. The increase is necessary, in part, to offset the loss of MVHC in 2004. The major revenue changes for 2004 include a $53,000 increase in fine revenues due to the addition of a police officer to the Traffic Enforcement Unit, $116,500 increase in contributions to the General Fund from liquor store operations, $66,600 increase in false alarm fees due to a change in policy (residents will be charged for the second and subsequent false alarms instead of the third), $20,000 22•WINTER 2004 City Council Approves 2004 Budget 23•WINTER 2004 increase in maintenance assessments to owners of property in the 50th & France commercial area for parking ramps and federal aid increase due to Financial Crimes Task Force funding. The City collects revenues from sources other than taxes. Broken down by type, 70.1 percent of the budget comes from taxes, 9 percent from licenses and permits, 8.9 percent from fees and charges, 4.3 percent from miscellaneous sources, 4.2 percent from court fines and 3.5 percent in intergovernmental aid. “The 2004 Budget was particularly challenging due to significant reductions in State aids brought about during the 2003 legislative session,” said City Manager Gordon Hughes. “I am proud to report that our City staff responded to this challenge with great suggestions for reducing our budget while maintaining services to and facilities for our residents. We think we accomplished this without laying off employees or reducing services.” For more information on the 2004 budget, contact Finance Director John Wallin, 952-826-0410. Police and fire protection remains our top priority, and demands are increasing. Public works are another high priority. A large share of your property tax dollar pays for street maintenance, plowing and reconstruction. Parks, trails and open space account for most of the remaining City taxes. Some recreation programs are fee-supported. Many City services, such as water and sewer utilities, are supported by user fees and other resources. City Property Taxes Pay For Basic Services 25•WINTER 200424•WINTER 2004 It’s Not Only Neighborly … It’s The Law -Custom Remodeling and Additions -Construction Consulting -Design, Build A LOCAL BUILDER YOU CAN TRUST TO TRANSFORM IDEAS INTO REALITY Premises Identification A UPS driver goes up and down your street, trying in vain to find your house in order to deliver a package. A local florist tries to deliver a bouquet of roses to your neighbor, but circles the block before being able to find her house. People such as the delivery truck drivers might have difficulty finding your homes because your house numbers are not clearly visible from the street. While small or obstructed house numbers could be annoying to delivery truck drivers, they could cost precious time in an emergency. In the winter, Edina Police and Fire personnel have all too often responded to a 9-1- 1 call, only to be delayed in coming to aid because addresses are located on mailboxes buried in snow instead of on homes. According to the Minnesota State Building and Fire Code, “Approved numbers or addresses shall be provided for all new and existing buildings in such a position as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or road fronting the property.” City staff members interpret “plainly visible” as addresses on a home or business being visible from the street, not hidden by landscaping or other objects that may obstruct the numbers. Numbers should be visible day and night. Numbers should not be on doors or garage doors that are open at certain times, rendering them invisible. “Legible” means that the address can be read from the street. The color of the numbers should contrast the color of the home or business. Black numbers on a white house are easy to read. Gold or shiny brass numbers on a light-colored home are just slightly legible during the day, but very difficult to read at night. Many homes have very small numbers and others have more ideal five- or six-inch numbers. The minimum height is four inches. Some homes have numbers in script that are very hard to read when searching for an address in an emergency. Script numbers are not allowed in Edina. For more information on Premises Identification, contact the Edina Fire Prevention Bureau, 952-826-0378. Pets The City of Edina not only cares about protecting its residents, but also protecting the pets residing in the community. It is important for owners to keep their pets safe and protected. All dogs 6 months and older residing in Edina must have a license permanently affixed to their collars. Cats do not have to be licensed. Dog licenses may be purchased at City Hall. In order to obtain a license, simply present proof of a current rabies vaccination at the time of the initial licensing and each renewal. Rabies vaccinations are required on all dogs and cats 6 months and older. Dogs are required to wear vaccination tags at all times. Remember, all 2003 City dog licenses expired Dec. 31, 2003. Licenses can be renewed at City Hall, online or through the mail. To renew by mail, send current rabies information and a check for the licensing fee to Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424-1394. Residents who renew their licenses before March 1 will receive a discount. For more information on licensing, contact Pat Dawson, 952-927-8861. For more information on laws pertaining to pets, such as the keeping or regulation of certain animals, or laws pertaining to kennels, contact Edina Animal Control Officer Tim Hunter, 952-826-0494. 27•WINTER 200426•WINTER 2004 Matson Works To Tell The Stories Of Edina’s History Marci Matson believes that everything has a story to tell. As the new executive director of the Edina Historical Society, she is committed to telling the stories of Edina’s artifacts. “Without the stories, we are just an antique shop,” said Matson of the Edina Historical Museum, 4711 W. 70th St. “If we have a pan from the turn of the century in our collection, it’s just an antique unless we can tell the story of who owned it and what they cooked using it.” Matson succeeds Kay Wetherall as executive director. Wetherall retired in July 2003 after five years in the position. With a background in journalism, education and customer service, Matson was immediately attracted to the position. “I was looking for the perfect job and I think this is it,” she said. “Communications, education and customer service are all rolled up into one job here. It’s a great fit for me. Plus, there are a lot of stories here. My job is to make sure that we have all of them or to go back [to the sources] and get more information to tell the stories accurately.” A native of the metropolitan area, Matson holds a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota. She formerly worked as an editor for both the Prior Lake American and Skyway News. She also worked as coordinator of SHAPE’s Read To Me program. She continues to volunteer for SHAPE and the Raptor Center. The mother of two is working in her spare time to publish a children’s book. The Edina Historical Society was formed in 1969 by a group of volunteers committed to preserving the artifacts and records of the community’s history. Artifacts have been collected ever since. In 1991, the Society opened the Edina Historical Museum at Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St. The Society also operates the Edina Historical Center at Frank Tupa Park, 4918 Eden Ave. The site includes two restored historic buildings: the one-room Cahill School built in 1864 and the Minnehaha Grange Hall built in 1879. The park and buildings are open by appointment and on special occasions. In addition, the Cahill School provides a living museum for elementary school students who come daily during the school year to experience life in the turn- of-the-century schoolhouse. Besides overseeing operations of the buildings, Matson is responsible for accessioning photographs and artifacts, publishing a quarterly newsletter, taking visitors through the galleries, assisting researchers, mounting exhibits, overseeing the budget and handling correspondence for the Board of Directors. One of Matson’s immediate goals is to complete an inventory of all of the Society’s possessions and create an electronic database using the accessioning software program PastPerfect. Matson is looking for volunteers in the community who are willing to help with the project. Volunteers are also needed to transcribe the 50 to 60 oral histories that have been collected on tape in the past few years. “I really like working with the volunteers,” Matson said after a few months on the job. “They are dedicated – they show up like clockwork every week. But, as we grow, so does our need for volunteers of all ages.” In the future, Matson would like to do more programming for families and market the benefits of family memberships. In addition, she would like to encourage more extensive use of the museum’s library. “The best place to find detailed information about the history of Edina is the Edina Historical Museum,” Matson said. “Right now, I don’t think people immediately think of the museum when they are researching. But, I’m working to change that.” The Edina Historical Museum is open 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays and by appointment. For more information, to schedule an appointment or to volunteer, call 612-928-4577. Marci Matson was hired in July as the new executive director of the Edina Historical Society. Matson, a resident of Richfield, succeeds Kay Wetherall in the position. Ph o t o b y P o l l y N o r m a n Brochures Annual Reports Newsletters Graphic Design Services Technical Editing & Writing Coaching Fiction Writers Trade Show/Seminar Materials PUBLICATIONS EXPERTISE Professional publications at a reasonable cost at Chemistry Creative, an Edina-based freelance service. Call Kathy Stoehr at 612.201.6208 -or- <kstoehr@chemistrycreative.com> Utilities Superintendent Roger Glanzer said most residents will be oblivious to the maintenance project. “People will see the truck outside and some with hear gurgling in their drains. Those are the only clues that we are cleaning the mains,” he said. “If their system is vented properly, they won’t notice a thing.” Occasionally, homeowners might smell a slight sewer odor. Glanzer said the odor is evident if the building’s traps have been siphoned. People who smell the odor should simply add water to the trap to reseal it. Another phenomenon, purged plumbing, commonly referred to as “blown toilets,” occurs rarely during the cleaning process. Purged plumbing is the result of negative air pressure created by faulty house vents or traps. When air pressure builds up behind a small amount of water in the trap, the water will be ejected from the trap as the air escapes. In some cases, this can be dramatic. Water from the toilet bowl can come out onto the floor. Glanzer said he receives three or four reports per year of blown toilets in Edina. The City does not clean or maintain individual service lines. However, when lines are televised, crews are able to peer into the lines. If serious roots or debris show up in the service line, Glanzer sends a letter to the property owner, encouraging him or her to have the line cleaned. Glanzer sent approximately 10 letters to property owners in 2003. Residents who choose to have their lines cleaned should contact the City before an independent contractor completes the work. Crews will determine how much debris from the lines will be pushed into the mains. If a lot of debris will be pushed into the main, crews will plan to clean the main in the area after the service line has been cleaned to prevent sewer backups in the area. Some areas of town will have more problems than others with line and main blockage. “Some areas of the City of Edina’s infrastructure is very old,” Glanzer said. “Older lines are not as tight as new ones. Sometimes, tree roots grow right through the joints of older lines.” Areas with boulevard trees – particularly boulevards planted with silver maples – also tend to have more problems with roots. During dry years, more roots are reported since tree roots extended deeper to find water. For more information on the City’s sewer cleaning project, call Glanzer, 952-826-0311. 29•WINTER 200428•WINTER 2004 City Cleans Mains To Prevent Sewer Backups This year, residents in the northwestern portion of the community might see a unique truck parked in their neighborhoods as the City of Edina’s Public Works Department cleans sanitary sewer mains in the area. To prevent sewer backups, the Utilities Division of the Public Works Department cleans sanitary sewer mains April through November of each year. It takes crews three years to clean approximately 200 miles of sewer mains in the City. Mains in northeast Edina were cleaned in 2002 and mains in the southern part of the community were cleaned last year. Known problem areas are cleaned annually. The cleaning method used by the City involves the use of two high-pressure jetting machines. One is a combination jet and vacuum and the other is a jetter. Tools used with the jetters include jet nozzles, root cutters and proofers (for locating obstructions in the sewer line). High-pressured water is pushed through the sewer main. As the machine works through the main, roots are cut out of the way. Roots and other debris, such as rocks, sand, solids and rags, are vacuumed into a nine-yard container. The City visually inspects a third of its sanitary sewer system each year. When problem areas are identified, they are televised to determine whether the line needs to be repaired or placed on a more frequent maintenance schedule. Some residents in northwestern Edina might notice the City’s 2002 truck used to clean sewer mains this year. Crews will spend most of the year cleaning the 355,912 feet of mains in that area of the community. 31•WINTER 2004 Furthering the “sister” relationship with the town and course in Braemar, Scotland, 10 patrons of Braemar Golf Course traveled to Braemar, Scotland, for a two-week adventure in late August and September. Those attending were Robert and Elaine Sandilla, Sharon Shin, John and Jean Hedberg, Tom Prin and Deanna Weeks, John Callahan and John and Anita Valliere. Soulsby, author of Braemar Golf Club, a historical book on the developments of the Braemar (Scotland) Golf Club, accompanied the 10 patrons of the Edina club on their trip. Part of their visit included playing various golf courses, visiting Farquharson’s castle and experiencing Scottish dining. In addition, patrons of Edina’s golf course mixed with members of Braemar, Scotland, in a four-person, best ball golf tournament. The visitors also had the privilege of meeting and conversing with Farquharson. According to Braemar General Manager John Valliere, “Capt. Farquharson is a very gracious gentleman.” Everyone who made the trip to Scotland enjoyed the people met along the way. Tom Prin summed it up, saying, “We really met some very wonderful people on the trip. For me, that was the highlight.” This May, members of the Braemar, Scotland club will visit Braemar Golf Course in Edina. Valliere is excited to reciprocate the hospitality and generosity that the Edina patrons received on their trip. The local golf course plans to host a dinner toasting the relationship between the respective clubs. Valliere looks forward to the exchanging of stories about each of the distinguished clubs. In addition, patrons of each club will play such local golf courses as Braemar, Interlachen and Hazeltine. Valliere and other Edina patrons have begun to entertain the idea of returning to Braemar, Scotland, in the fall of 2005. The Braemar Golf Course in Edina features a 27-hole regulation course and two executive courses. The first nine is called Castle, which refers to the handsome chunk of Scotland’s Braemar Castle that sits near the first tee. Holes 10 through 18 are called Hays, in honor of the family who once farmed the land. And the last nine is called Clunie, named after the river that runs through the original Braemar Golf Course in Scotland. In addition, Braemar offers a driving range and winter practice dome. Braemar is owned and operated by the City of Edina within the Park and Recreation Department. For more information, contact Valliere at 952-826-6799. 30•WINTER 2004 Braemar Golf Course Establishes ‘Sister’Relationship By Brett Carlson Nearly a dozen local golfers recently visited Scotland to cement a relationship that was born nearly 50 years ago. In the late 1950s, the City of Edina acquired land that would later become Braemar Golf Course. The “Braemar” name was chosen in honor of the village and course in Scotland. Because golf originated on the eastern coast of Scotland in the Kingdom of Fife during the 15th century, golf course planners found the “Braemar” name appropriate for the park and golf course. Lying in a natural amphitheatre created by the imposing Grampian Mountains, Braemar is one of the most picturesque villages in Scotland. Braemar Golf Club is Scotland’s highest 18-hole course. Situated at the foot of Glenclunie, the River Clunie splits the course into two, with water playing a large part in 12 of the 18 holes. There are no par fives on Braemar and it is relatively short in terms of distance, making a good score difficult, but attainable. In 1964, Capt. Alwyne A.C. Farquharson, Lord of the Estate at Braemar, Scotland, allowed the City of Edina to officially adopt the name of Braemar and the family clan and tartan of the Farquharson family. During the mid-1960s, Farquharson marked the twinning of the two Braemar golf courses by sending a stone from the Farquharson family castle. The stone mysteriously went missing for a number of years. The stone, which lies near the first tee, now bears the inscription “Donated to Braemar Golf Course this day of July 22, 1982.” Four years ago, Edina residents Marty and Winnie Friede visited Scotland and decided to play a round at Braemar Golf Course, Scotland. While they were there, they struck up conversation with the manager and various members of the Scotland course. As the conversation ensued, members of the course in Scotland decided to schedule a visit to the course in Edina. What was once a group of about 10 people shrunk to one -- Dr. Eve Soulsby. Last year, Soulsby visited Braemar Golf Course in Edina for approximately 10 days. During her stay, she generated substantial interest in the Scotland course among the Edina-area golf community. Capt. Alwyne A.C. Farquharson, Lord of the Estate at Braemar, Scotland, speaks with John and Jean Hedberg. The Hedbergs were just two of the 10 Braemar Golf Course patrons who visited Scotland last fall.