Items of Note 7/23/25

Founder of St. Anthony Band program dies

Roger Paul Bjorklund, a Minneapolis-born music educator, died on July 14, 2025. After studying music at McPhail College of Music and the University of Minnesota, he went on to teach music at Clara City High School and St. Anthony Village High School. In 1961, the Army veteran started SAVHS’s band program; his bands were featured at local and national events, and they were ultimately recognized as a Program of Excellence by the Department of Education.

Bjorklund was eventually given the St. Anthony Outstanding Citizen Award. In 2001, after years of music education in Minnesota, he was inducted into the Minnesota Music Educations Association Hall of Fame.

Bjorklund is survived by his daughters, Lori and Beth; his grandchildren, Daniel Gullickson, Matthew Gullickson, Kari and Kelli; and his nine great-grandchildren, Grace, Paul, Ruth, Alison, Lauren, Elise, Zoey, Lando and Chloe.

Services were held June 2. Memorials preferred to St. Anthony High School bands.

State Senator leaves ICU

Three weeks after he was shot in his home in Brooklyn Park, State Senator John Hoffman has been released from the intensive care unit. He is now at a rehabilitation facility. Per a written statement, John was shot nine times and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, was shot eight times. Yvette was discharged from the hospital on June 19.

Congrats, students

Lily Johnson of Minneapolis was named to St. Cloud Technical & Community College’s Dean’s List and President’s List.

Minneapolis’ Anna Abel, Margaret Altmann, Anya Christenson and Kevin Vanner were named to the Dean’s List at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Any student named to the Dean’s List needs to have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Christenson and Vanner also graduated from the same university; Christenson graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Xenia Anderson-Millay and Amy Waters, of Minneapolis, graduated from University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Minneapolis’ Andy Groebner earned Semester High Honors at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Tony Manciu earned Semester Honors at the same school.

Columbia Heights’ Nhia Lor, John Moseychuk and Beteab Tefera, as well as Minneapolis’s Taha Ekin, graduated from St. Cloud State University. Tefera and Ekin graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Minneapolis’ Abby Johnson, Sohpia Kuehn and Jovanna Palma Trejo graduated from University of Minnesota Duluth.

Truc Mai of Columbia Heights was named to the Dean’s List at Tufts University.

Minneapolis’ Soledad Aitchison, Ella Bergquist, Lu Chaput, Signe Johnson, Elliot Mevissen, Fabricio Orellana Morocho, Emily Philbrook and Zalma Wardere were named to the Dean’s List at St. Olaf. Annie Welch of Saint Anthony Village was named to the same list.

Gabriel Eduarte of Saint Anthony recently landed an internship at Pentair, a water treatment company based in Golden Valley.

Minneapolis’ Sam Heckel, Anna McCleary and Dominic Zelinski, as well as Columbia Heights’ Christine Myhre, recently graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Merger survey

The Sheridan Neighborhood Association and Saint Anthony West Neighborhood Organization are considering a possible merger. According to the groups, “nothing is decided yet — this is just the beginning of the conversation.” Residents of the Sheridan and Saint Anthony West neighborhoods are invited to participate in a survey at https://bit.ly/SNO-STAWNO-merger.

MnDOT shares proposed design for University

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced their redesign for University Avenue NE stretching from Central Avenue. to 27th Avenue. According to a statement shared with the Northeaster, the design narrows University Avenue from four lanes to three; creates boulevards to separate sidewalks from the road; adds curb extensions on side streets; adds a bike lane between Central Avenue and 1st Avenue; adds medians between travel lanes; and removes on-street parking for much of the road. More information can be found at the Department of Transportation’s website: https://bit.ly/UniversityAvenueRedesign.

Natural gas upgrades coming to Northeast

CenterPoint Energy workers have begun upgrading natural gas lines in Northeast Minneapolis. Work will last through the fall, with potential to extend into spring. The project involves replacing natural gas main lines but is primarily focused on service line updates. Work will predominantly occur between Sheridan and Logan Park, with some stretching into Holland.

Suspect charged in Manny Collins case

Weeks after Columbia Heights resident Manny Collins, age 16, was found dead in a landfill, police have charged his father, Jordan Collins Sr., with second-degree murder via decapitation. Police said Jordan Collins Sr. was carrying $1,300 in cash; investigators believe he was planning to leave the state. He is set to go to court next month and is currently being held in Anoka County Jail on a $2 million bail.

Traffic cameras coming to Minneapolis

Roughly fifty traffic cameras — speed-monitoring cameras installed at road intersections — are coming to Minneapolis. Mayor Jacob Frey recently signed the contract to launch the city’s first-ever traffic cameras. They are slated for a September rollout. In a statement, Frey said: “Minneapolis is taking commonsense steps to protect lives on our streets. With these traffic safety cameras, we’re making clear that speeding and reckless driving won’t be tolerated — especially near our schools and areas with lots of foot traffic. This pilot program is about saving lives, not writing tickets, and I’m proud to have signed the contract to get this work moving.” For now, five cameras will be installed in a pilot program, including one at 18th Avenue NE and Central Avenue NE.

Open Streets coming to Central Avenue

Open Streets, an event series which promotes biking and pedestrian-friendly activities, is coming back to Central Avenue. In 2024, they hosted events on Lyndale Avenue, West Broadway and Nicollet Avenue, filling streets with vendors and free, family-friendly events for residents. The first Open Streets event of 2025 will take place on August 2, from 11 am-5pm, on Central Avenue between 14th and 26th Avenues NE.

LNENA grant program reopens

The Lower Northeast Neighborhoods Association (LNENA) has re-opened their home security grant program. The program is intended to “improve neighborhood safety and prevent crimes by increasing security measures for homes and garages in the Beltrami and Northeast Park neighborhoods.”

The LNENA will reimburse residents for up to $200 in home security improvements, such as new locks for windows and doors, motion-sensor lights, strike plates, security cameras or replacements for broken windows or doors.

Any resident of those neighborhoods living in a residential property is eligible. Grants are issues on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Community input sought for the natural areas at Sheridan Memorial Park

The Sheridan Neighborhood Organization (SNO) and Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) have worked to establish a plan whereby volunteers can help restore and maintain natural spaces along the Mississippi River close to Sheridan Memorial Park. The 1.5-acre area borders are from the walking and biking path west to the river and from the southern boundary at the Broadway bridge to the northern boundary at the railroad bridge that spans the river north of 16th Avenue NE. The partnership has included “restoring and enhancing the park’s riverbank, removing invasive species and planting native grasses and wildflowers in an effort to improve habitat, water quality and community connection to the river.”

FMR will release a volunteer-centric natural resource management plan for this riverfront habitat in fall 2025. The community may provide input for the plan through a survey at http://bit.ly/44Cm9Mz through Sunday, August 17.

Plymouth Ave Bridge project faces delays

by Mark Peterson

On April 21, the Plymouth Avenue Bridge was closed to auto traffic and pedestrians for the construction of a 24-foot-wide tunnel under the east side of the bridge that would continue the off-road riverside trail that connects Sheridan Memorial Park, Graco Park, Boom Island Park and Nicollet Island. The work, which included previously scheduled bridge maintenance, was due for completion on August 22.

However, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board spokesman Ben Johnson said, “There were a few surprises during construction, including uncovering remnants of the original Plymouth Bridge that required adjustments to designs, and varying soil conditions that required extensions to the steel pile supports for the underpass, but construction is scheduled to be complete this fall.”  He added that the completed tunnel will allow pedestrians to avoid an unsafe crossing at Sibley Street, at the East end of the bridge. MPRB will maintain the grade crossing there but will add flashers and curb bump-outs.