Over the last few years, the city has made minor changes to a noisy and congested part of Johnson Street. That section, from 18th Avenue to Lowry Avenue, has gotten painted crosswalks, intersection center islands, and dedicated left turn lanes, but because of the ever-increasing volume of northbound traffic that empties from the I-35W exit, more extensive alterations are called for. At a recent open house at the Northeast Recreation Center, residents got a chance to see a number of proposal elements that the city’s Transportation Engineering and Design staff will be considering.

A neighbor called it a “push and pray” crossing. He was referring to the crossing on East Hennepin Avenue and 5th Avenue, a well-traveled intersection connecting residential Marcy-Holmes to a more industrial area along the busy thoroughfare. This crossing was a key point of interest amongst others in the discussion of the upcoming resurfacing of a length of Hennepin spanning from 8th Avenue to Johnson Street scheduled for the summer of 2020.

At a presentation at De LaSalle High School May 30, Steve Fletcher, Third Ward Council Member, provided updates regarding the rehab projects to three bridges crossing the Mississippi into Northeast Minneapolis. Due to their age, large amounts of traffic and climate conditions, these projects are necessary to preserve Minneapolis’ infrastructure system.

Curious what the garlic mustard greens taste like? We found out at the edible invasives potluck and talk May 30… best I could tell, they add just a little garlicky taste but don’t outshine their carriers – for example, a garlic mustard pesto using olive oil and cheese is going to taste more like olive oil and cheese than a garlic mustard biscuit which is going to taste like a biscuit, yummy with honey butter.

Join the Northeast Royalty Ambassador Program for their Coronation and Mississippi River Boat Cruise on Wednesday, June 19, 6-8 pm. Boarding at 5:45 pm; Boat leaves promptly at 6 pm from Bohemian Flats on the Mississippi River, 2150 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis. Don’t be late; rain or shine. Parking is metered at $1 per hour.

What unfolded behind the rolling camera was a scene of controlled, and quiet, chaos as students scrambled to get the footage edited for one of the year’s final episodes of ETSN, a student news production under the tutelage of social studies teacher David Salzer at Edison High School. The class, titled “Civic Engagement through Media,” is technically a government course meant to illustrate the importance of First Amendment rights in the media and student speech. The curriculum gives students hands-on training on camera and sound equipment.

James “Jimmy” Haracz passed away May 18, just five months after retiring from the business he started in 1985. He was 79.

On top of the Art-A-Whirl excitement, Northeast was also host to several sites for Doors Open Minneapolis, a kind of citywide “open house” that took place May 18-19. It was the first time the City and AIA Minneapolis organized such an event. Northeaster reporters talk about the buildings they covered.

Art-A-Whirl 2019

Planning is underway to bring the nation’s first permanent monument honoring sexual assault survivors to Boom Island Park. With the support of several local community groups and donors from outside the Twin Cities area, Survivors’ Memorial organizers have raised $622,000 of the $650,000 needed to construct the monument.