District Councils Collaborate to Reduce Expenses - Councilmembers Applaud and Encourage Cost-Saving Efforts

In a joint press release, Councilmembers Brendmoen, Bostrom and Stark announced that district councils in Saint Paul would now be able to significantly reduce their individual costs by participating in a group liability insurance policy.

“Since I took office in January, I have been encouraging the City’s district councils seek money-saving efficiencies by combining or sharing “back-of-house” resources,” said Councilmember Amy Brendmoen.  “A group insurance policy is a great step in that direction.”

Starting on May 1, 2012 four district councils; District 2 (Greater East Side) District 10 (Como), District 11 (Hamline/Midway) and District 12 (Saint Anthony Park) will purchase their general liability insurance in a group policy through one provider.  All had previously purchased their policies separately.  By combining their liability to a group policy some of the agencies will save as much as one thousand dollars a year.

“These are tough budget times, and I am glad to see district councils find creative ways to stretch a dollar,” said Councilmember Bostrom.

 “I work in the non-profit community, and I know that there are many administrative requirements that have nothing to do with providing services,” said Brendmoen.  “If we can reduce these burdens and expenses through collaboration, it will make our tax dollars go farther and allow the district councils to focus on their priority--community engagement.”

Saint Paul has seventeen district councils that receive funding from the City’s Citizen Participation grant program.  District councils are responsible for facilitating communication between the City, residents and businesses in their geographic areas.  They are all independent non-profit organizations operated by a community elected board. 

Soon, hundreds of projects led by local artists will bring new life and vibrancy to the Central Corridor Light Rail Line in Saint Paul, thanks to a new partnership between Springboard for the Arts, Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the City of Saint Paul. Called Irrigate, this initiative spurs artist-led creative placemaking spanning the six miles of the Central Corridor Light Rail line in Saint Paul during the years of its construction. This is a unique opportunity that brings together huge infrastructure development, a high concentration of resident artists on both ends of the corridor, a diverse ethnic and cultural mix among the neighborhoods, and a city with a strong track record of artist community engagement. By mobilizing artists to engage in their community, Irrigate will change the landscape of the Central Corridor with color, art, surprise, creativity and fun.

Placemaking is the act of people coming together to change overlooked and undervalued public and shared spaces into welcoming places where community gathers, supports one another, and thrives. Places can be animated and enhanced by elements that encourage human interaction – from temporary activities such as performances and chalked poetry to permanent installations such as landscaping and unique art.

How to Get Involved

Residents of Hamline Midway and neighboring communities are now eligible to receive rain barrels at a significant discount. Choose from four different styles.

To receive this deal, you must:

• Be a resident of the Capitol Region Watershed District.
  
• Complete the order form and submit it with propert payment to: Hamline Midway Coalition, 1558 W. Minnehaha Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104.  Make checks payable to HMC.
• Attend a rain barrel and stormwater management workshop, 4:00 – 5:30pm, Saturday, June 2 at Newell Park (900 N. Fairview Ave). Participants will learn how to build, install, and maintain their rain barrel, as well as other techniques for stormwater management. 
• Transport your rain barrel home at the end of the workshop. 

The workshop will be part of the Hamline Midway Heartwood Festival's Green Living Workshops. The festival runs from 11am-6pm in Newell Park, so come early to enjoy the festivities!

Please Note:

Hub Seedling Distribution
Saturday, May 19, 2012
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon 

Leonardo's Basement/Griggs Park
1188 Hubbard Ave, St. Paul 

Is this spring’s warm weather inspiring you to start planting your veggies? Pick up your low-cost seeds and plants for your garden’s “cool season” (in quotes this year) on Saturday, May 19! Meet other gardeners, ask a Master Gardener your burning questions, and enjoy refreshments. Children's activities will also be provided.

Did you miss the seed distribution? No problem! You can become a member at the May 19 event and get your seeds, too.

In order to get your seeds and seedlings, sign up to be a member of the Midway Local Food Resource Hub. The Midway Hub is a community-based network serving supporting each other to grow, cook, and preserve fruits and vegetables to increase access to healthy, fresh food in Hamline Midway and surrounding neighborhoods. Membership starts at $10 (scholarships available) and provides at least $45 in value. Learn more and join online at www.gardeningmatters.org/hubs. 

For more information, contact Gardening Matters at 612-821-2358 or info@gardeningmatters.org. Sponsored by Hamline Midway Coalition and the Midway Local Food Resource Hub Leadership Team. 

Come check out local artists & crafters displaying their work at the Hamline Midway Heartwood Festival's Art & Craft Fair! Artists from the Twin Cities and the Hamline Midway neighborhood will have booths to display and sell their work. Many of these artists will also be donating pieces to the silent auction.

**It is not too late to register for a booth! Register by May 18 to be included in the event program.

To participate, submit an image of your work (file size no larger than 1MB) or a link to faith@hamlinemidway.org no later than Friday, May 18.

Partial listing of participating artists:

Join efforts to build a stronger local food system in our corner of St. Paul through the Midway Local Food Resource Hub! Together with your neighbors, you can access low-cost seeds and plants, free or low-cost gardening workshops, a tool-lending library, newly-established community gardens, and more. 

Is this the program where I can get low-cost seeds and plants? Yes! Become a member of the Hub (see below) to reap the benefits!

How can I get involved? There are many ways to become involved in the Midway Local Food Resource Hub. Contact Faith at faith@hamlinemidway.org or 651-494-7683 for more information on the following opportunities:

• Become a member! The Hub is membership-based. Members gain access to a supportive community and a variety of other benefits, including seeds and seedlings. Even if you don't garden, you can become a member to support the movement. Learn more about membership and sign up online here. Print applications will be available from various locations, including the Hamline Midway Coalition office.
• Volunteer. The Midway Hub depends on helpful people like you to staff seed and seedling distribution events, teach workshops, organize a tool-lending library, and more.
• Become a leader. The Midway Hub leadership team organizes events, represents the hub membership in the larger hub network, generates ideas, and sets priorities. The group includes people from several neighborhoods in this corner of St. Paul. Meetings are generally held the third Monday of the month from 7:00-8:00pm at the Hamline Midway Library auditorium (1558 W. Minnehaha Ave).

Every year in January, the City of Saint Paul and the City's 17 District Councils celebrate the contributions of outstanding neighborhood volunteers. Each District Council can name up to 3 groups or individuals for recognition at the City's "Neighborhood Honor Roll" event, which was held on January 20. This year's honorees from Hamline Midway are Pat Vanreese, Kathy Oaks, and the Hamline Midway History Corps.

• Pat Vanreese. We all appreciate having a helpful neighbor - one who will look after our pets or lend us a tool or help with a home improvement project - and Pat is that neighbor. Even more so, we all appreciate having a helpful neighbor in the winter - one who will help remove our ice dams or take out the snow blower and clear the sidewalk and driveways on the block. According to those who live near him, Pat is that neighbor, too.
• Kathy Oaks. For the past several years, Kathy has hosted and promoted the Hamline Midway Barter Market - a time and place for local residents to swap extra produce, trade home-made goods, exchange used items, or just have a good conversation. Through her generous investment of time and energy, Kathy has advanced the twin ethics of neighborliness and stewardship of our planet.
• Hamline Midway History Corps. Since 2005, the Hamline Midway History Corps has persistently pursued its mission to collect, share, and preserve the history of the Hamline Midway neighborhood. From a popular speaker series to monthly meet-ups to archival projects to advocacy for the preservation of the historic Hamline Park Building, the Hamline Midway History Corp has consistently reminded the neighborhood that the future of a community is always firmly rooted in its past.

HMC salutes Hamline Midway's 2012 Neighborhood Honor Roll honorees!

Step right up to get involved in the 2012 Hamline Midway Heartwood Festival!

Registration is now open for exhibitors and sponsors. Businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, and government agencies are invited to fill out a registration form and reserve their space today. Unable to participate as a sponsor or exhibitor? Reserve advertising space in the event program and donate to the Silent Auction. The registration packet (downloadable below) includes:

• A cover letter explaining the benefits of participation,
• An event overview detailing different aspects of the festival, and
• A festival registration form.

If you have questions, please contact Faith at 651-494-7683 or faith@hamlinemidway.org.

*Note: These materials are not intended for Art & Craft Fair submissions. Please find information here. 

Come out for a variety show to support the Hamline Midway Heartwood Festival! Featuring live music by the Midway-Frogtown Arborators Band and the Brass Messengers, this event will also showcase comics and eclectic performances.

5:30pm (all ages): Midway Frogtown Arborators Band

6:30-8:30pm (all ages): Variety Show hosted by Jason Jones featuring comic Dean Johnson, Pop Wagner, Dreamland Arts' Leslye Orr, dough thrower Nicholas Diesslin, Irish piping, belly dancing, and more!

8:30pm (21+): Midway-Frogtown Arborators

9:30pm (21+): Brass Messengers