NeighborWorks Launches New Resource to Help Homeowners Locate Foreclosure Counselors

url: Findaforeclosurecounselor.org NeighborWorks America has created a Web site to make it easier for homeowners to find a counselor who can help them with their foreclosure needs and explain the Obama Administration's Making Home Affordable modification and refinance options. Findaforeclosurecounselor.org enables users to search for a foreclosure counseling agency by state or zip code. All agencies in the database offer free counseling services and are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program administered by NeighborWorks America.

For sale: Green, sustainable, energy-efficient house – and affordable

url: http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/portal/site/HCInternet/menuitem.f25c437125254e89710ece04b1466498/?vgnextoid=fb9ecb2829f30210VgnVCM1000000b124689RCRD March 25, 2009 - The small one-bedroom, one-bath house at 4307 Wentworth Ave. S. in Minneapolis, originally part of a housing development for immigrant workers in 1900 – had been boarded and condemned and turned over to Hennepin County Taxpayer Services for nonpayment of taxes. As part of the county’s program to rehabilitate and sell tax-forfeited properties, the house was stripped to the foundation and transformed into a three-bedroom, two-bath, “green,” energy-efficient home with a two-car garage. And it’s for sale -- at an affordable price to a qualified low-income buyer. The green reconstruction of the house has been a collaboration between county Taxpayer Services and Environmental Services (which financed part of the work with a $25,000 environmental grant) and the Kingfield Neighborhood Development Group. The reconstruction was patterned after Energy Star and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified design principles and building methods for minimal maintenance and low monthly utility costs, says Harold Troup, senior property management specialist for Taxpayer Services. The geothermal heating and cooling system will reduce the home’s former energy consumption by at least half. The house features long-life, low-petroleum asphalt shingles; formaldehyde-free lumber; low-toxin paints and stains; recycled products, including carpeting and a floor covering called marmoleum that contains flax; energy-efficient windows, appliances and electrical fixtures; a high-efficiency water heater; and rain-garden landscaping. Reconstruction was done by a local African-American small-business-enterprise contractor. The house was patterned after surrounding homes in the style of the era in which they were built. In the current mortgage market, it’s not easy to buy a house, especially for a low-income buyer. But through Hennepin County’s Tax-forfeited Property Affordable Housing Program, properties are rehabilitated for resale to the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA). The HCHRA, in turn, sells the properties to the City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT), which then sells them to low-income buyers at an affordable price. Through the CLCLT, the homes are not only affordable today, but will remain perpetually affordable for future generations of low-income buyers if the homeowner ever decides to sell. The estimated market value of the reconstructed home is $200,000. CLCLT is offering the house at $142,000 to an income-qualified buyer. Hennepin’s Tax-forfeited Property Program encourages home ownership – critical to healthy neighborhoods. Whenever possible, tax-forfeited properties are rehabilitated and sold, putting them back on the tax rolls and no longer a burden to taxpayers. Construction costs are recovered through sale proceeds. Troup says renovation of tax-forfeited properties spurs other residents in the neighborhood to spruce up their homes too. “This house rehabilitation is good for the neighborhood and good for the environment,” says Troup. The house will be featured in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour April 25-26. For more information on how to buy this house, potential buyers should contact Jeff Washburne at CLCLT – 612-721-7556, x. 17, or e-mail at jeff@clclt.org. For more information on the Hennepin County Tax-forfeited Property Program and remodeling of the Wentworth house, call Harold Troup, 612-348-2995. This project contributes to Hennepin's Cool County Initiative. Learn more at www.hennepin.us/coolcounty.

Hennepin County needs your ideas

url: http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/portal/site/HCInternet/menuitem.f25c437125254e89710ece04b1466498/?vgnextoid=ebc4943f1f06f110VgnVCM2000000a124689RCRD With significant cuts in federal and state funding, and increasing needs by residents in the current economic crisis, Hennepin County is facing serious challenges in prioritizing services and how to fund them.

• Are there ways to deliver current services more cost-effectively?
• Are there services or programs that you believe should be cut or modified?
• Are there ways to save money without cutting services?
• Is the county funding something that others should pay for?
• What should be the county's priorities?


Click here to submit your idea

Hosmer Music Series Announces New Spring Season

Date: April 4, 11 25, 2009 Time: 2:00 p.m. Location: Homer Library Address: 347 E 36th St url: http://www.hclib.org/AgenciesAction.cfm?agency=Hs The Hosmer World Music Concert Series is a performance series hosted at the Hosmer Community Library (347 East 36th St., Minneapolis). Each concert features performances from renowned international musicians. Please join us at an upcoming Saturday concert:          Saturday, April 4, 2:00 p.m. Paddy O'Brien collects and performs traditional Irish music. Saturday, April 11, 2:00 p.m. Susanne Cooley and David Echelard play French traditional folk music. Saturday, April 25, 2:00 p.m. Singer-songwriter Jaspar Lepak describes her music as folk/country. These free performances are open to the public. CD sales available. Call Hosmer Community Library at (612) 630-6950 for more information. Sponsored by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County, the Lyndale Neighborhood Association, and KFAI Fresh Air Radio 90.3 FM.

Comment on Statewide Transportation Plan

A draft of the Minnesota Statewide Transportation Plan is currently available for public review.  MnDOT will be taking public comment on the draft plan through next Monday, March 30th.  To view the entire plan, visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/stateplan/download.html. Directions for commenting on the plan are available at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/stateplan/comment.html.   The purpose of the Statewide Transportation Plan is to establish a transportation vision, along with supporting policies and strategies, to focus investments and services over the next 20 years.  The plan is redrafted every 5 years.   Walking and Bicycling is addressed throughout the plan; however there are specific areas that may be of interest to pedestrians and bicyclists.  On pages 10-13 (or 12-15 of pdf readers) of the Introduction/Executive Summary, 10 policy areas are described.  Details on each policy are described in Chapter 7.  Pedestrian travel is explicitly described on pages 28-30 of Chapter 3 – Transportation System Description.  A Metro District Highway Investment Plan is also available for review.

NNIP/CURA Symposium: Neighborhood Responses to the Foreclosure Crisis on May 12

Date: Tuesday, May 12th Time: 8 AM - 4:30 PM (reception to follow) Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Center, University of Minnesota Address: 331 19th Ave South, Minneapolis Put on jointly by National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) and University of Minnesota's Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA). Afternoon workshops on strategies for dealing with the foreclosure problem on the ground include: Outreach/Organizing for Prevention, Managing Foreclosed Properties, Acquisition of Foreclosed Properties, and Land Banking. Invitation and web registration link to follow. Please contact Sara Bielawski with any questions, biel0032@umn.edu or 612-625-9040.

Learn how rain gardens are good for the environment and your pocketbook: Workshops in March and April

Dates: March and April Times: various Locations: various url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20090313RainGardensWkshps.asp Want a garden that attracts birds and butterflies, helps protect our water resources and may even help reduce your monthly stormwater utility fee? Build a rain garden! Metro Blooms, a local organization that promotes and celebrates gardening is sponsoring rain garden workshops that will teach you how to install a rain garden using native plants that don’t require fertilizers or pesticides. Rain gardens allow rain and melting snow to seep naturally into the ground. This helps recharge groundwater and keeps contaminants from being washed into storm drains and carried to our lakes, rivers and creeks. Participants will also learn about downspout redirection and more eco-friendly lawn care. Workshop attendees can get a $65 native plant reimbursement grant. Metro Blooms has a complete listing of workshop dates and registration information. There is a $10 registration fee. To register in advance for the rain garden workshop of your choice, visit Metro Blooms or contact Noelle Hechtman at (651) 699-2426. Space is limited. Workshops are sponsored by Metro Blooms with support from the City of Minneapolis, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Hennepin County Environmental Services, Minneapolis Public Works Storm Water Education Fund, and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Transition Mentoring Training on March 28

Date: Saturday, March 28 Time: 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Location: Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility Mens Building Address: 1145 Shenandoah Lane N, Plymouth Dear PEACE Partner: Many of you know and understand the enormous power of mentoring. We know now that the mentoring of ex-offenders recently released from prison can be the key to their ability to stay out of prison and rehabilitate their lives. In fact, a study just released by the Community Justice Project cites the following: “In 2008, only 13% of ex-offenders who received mentoring returned to prison (compared with a national average of 52%). Of those who stayed connected with their mentors following release, only 3% were re-incarcerated.” This compelling fact underlines that – if we are willing to commit the time – we all have the potential to change someone’s life, and the lives of those around them, for the better. On March 28th, 2009, The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County Adult Correction Facility are hosting an in-depth training on how to mentor ex-offenders returning to the community. We at the PEACE Foundation urge you to consider participating in this training and becoming a mentor to an ex-offender. The details are: IN-DEPTH TRAINING: TRANSITION MENTORING To Help Ex-Offenders Returning to the Community Saturday, March 28, 2009 8:45am – 2:00pm Hennepin Co. Adult Corrections Facility Men’s Building 1145 Shenandoah Lane, Plymouth Directions: 494 north to Co. Rd. 6 – turn left on Co. Rd. 6 to Shenandoah Lane (west side of Parker's Lake) Snacks/Lunch will be served If you have questions, you may contact Hillary Freeman of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches at 612-721-8687 ext 332, or email her at hfreeman@gmcc.org. Thank you for considering this important opportunity. In peace, Michelle Martin Executive Director PEACE Foundation

Bring an HOURCAR to your Neighborhood

HOURCAR, the Twin Cities’ nonprofit car-sharing program, seeks sponsors to support expansion into new neighborhoods. Sponsors make a one-time financial contribution to establish a new HOURCAR hub. For a limited time, sponsors’ contributions are being matched by a grant from the McKnight Foundation, making new hubs even more accessible. Anyone can be a sponsor—housing developers, corporations, colleges, neighborhood groups, and individuals. Contributions to HOURCAR are tax deductible. HOURCAR currently offers 19 vehicles, shared by 750 members. HOURCAR members enjoy affordable rate plans, low-emissions cars, and all of the convenience of a private car without the headaches of ownership. HOURCAR is proud to be a local, environmentally-focused car-sharing program. HOURCAR even offers the world’s first solar-powered, plug-in hybrid shared cars! HOURCAR is a program of the nonprofit Neighborhood Energy Connection. For more information about hub sponsorship, see www.HOURCAR.org, or call Mary Morse, (651) 221-4462 Ext. 113.

Stevens Square Sixth Annual Rummage Sale on April 18 and 19

Dates: Saturday April 18 ($2.00 per adult) and Sunday, April 19 (free) Time: 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Location: Van Dusen Event Center Address: 1900 LaSalle Avenue On April 18 and 19th , Stevens Square Community Organization (SSCO) will hold its annual rummage sale at the Van Dusen Event Center, 1900 LaSalle Avenue. Admission to the event is $2.00 per adult on Saturday, April 18th and free on Sunday, April 19th. Hours are 8am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 3pm Sunday. The rummage sale, now in its sixth year, is organized by residents of the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood of Minneapolis. Proceeds from the event will fund neighborhood arts, greening, safety, and outreach programs. Hard hit by the current economic crisis, SSCO is looking to the rummage sale to bolster its financial health. “It's going to be an incredibly tough year for nonprofits,” says Steven Gallagher, executive director of SSCO. “There just isn't enough funding to go around. To maintain our current level of programming, we'll be depending heavily on the proceeds from the rummage sale and our other fundraising events. There's a lot riding on it.” Items donated by area residents and local businesses include furniture, housewares, antiques, collectibles, art, jewelry, toys, tools, books, bikes, and baby, kids, and adult clothing. Snacks and beverages will also be for sale. “We put a lot of effort into obtaining high-quality items,” says Linda Ferris, chair of the 6th Annual Rummage Sale planning committee. “This definitely isn't your average rummage sale. It offers collectors, bargain hunters, and green consumers the chance to find some amazing deals. It's really a win-win—the rummagers save money, SSCO raises funds, and everybody always has a wonderful time.” About Stevens Square Community Organization Stevens Square Community Organization, founded in 1976, is the officially-recognized citizen participation organization for the Stevens Square-Loring Heights neighborhood of Minneapolis. For more information about SSCO or this fundraising event, call us at 612.874.2840 or visit us at www.sscoweb.org.

Winter weather show tune tops City’s Snow Emergency videos

url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20090310SnowVideoWinner.asp A locally produced song-and-dance musical was chosen as the best video submitted during the City’s “Create your own Snow Emergency video” call for entries. The video, created by Cole Koehler of Northeast Minneapolis, features a band of merry neighbors singing “There’s No Business Like Snow Business” while they chisel ice from windshields and move their vehicles off the streets during what they think is a Snow Emergency. However, it ends with one neighbor using her cell phone to learn that a Snow Emergency was in fact, not declared. The moral of the story…use of one the City’s many tools it has in place, including email and phone alerts, text messages, and Web site notifications, to learn when a Snow Emergency is declared. Other contest entries feature a couple who get to relive a day when their car gets towed, a man who gets sucked into the Snow Emergency Web site on his personal computer, and a narrative on the many ways you can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared. All of the entries will appear on City cable channel 14 for the remainder of the Snow Emergency season, which concludes April 1. The videos have also been posted on YouTube and City’s Snow Emergency Facebook page. The call for entries is part of an ongoing effort to communicate to younger drivers: a segment of the driving population that is more likely to be unaware of Snow Emergencies. The City has also created “Snow Emergency” profiles on the social networking sites Facebook and MySpace. These Web pages are updated whenever a Snow Emergency is declared. By “friending” Snow Emergency, drivers can keep tabs on the latest Snow Emergency status. Since the profile’s creation in December, more than 6,400 people on Facebook have become friends with Snow Emergency. For more information on Snow Emergencies and snow season parking, go to http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow/.

Federal grant to help Minneapolis bike share program and bike-walk corridors

url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20090310BikeGrant.asp Just in time for spring comes news that a federal grant will help Minneapolis become even more bike-friendly. Already a national leader when it comes to bicycle commuting, Minneapolis is receiving $1.75 million grant from Bike Walk Twin Cities, a federal source of funding to increase biking and walking and decrease driving, to help fund the Minneapolis Bike Share Program. The infusion of funding brings the program closer to the $3.3 million needed to become operational. The Minneapolis Bike Share Program will create the nation’s largest municipal bike-share system right here in Minneapolis. Plans call for a thousand bikes to be available in the areas of Downtown, Uptown, and the University of Minnesota campus. Bikers would either purchase a season pass for around $50 or pay $5 for one-day use. At the end of their bike trips, riders could then return their bikes to any one of 75 kiosks. When completed, the bike share program will be run by the nonprofit organization Nice Ride Minnesota. Some kiosks could begin operations by the end of 2009, with a full launch expected in 2010. Two other Minneapolis bike/walk projects also received funding from Bike Walk Twin Cities:

• $400,000 for construction of biking improvements along portions of 17th and Bloomington Avenues. This bike walk corridor would stretch all the way from 24th Street to the city’s border with Richfield.
• $350,000 for pedestrian enhancements along 5th Street NE and 7th Street N.

According to the U.S Census, Minneapolis is the No. 2 bicycling city in the country. Bicycle commuters help keep down traffic congestion in Minneapolis. Bicycling is a great workout and an environmentally friendly alternative to driving, reducing our dependence on oil and our production of greenhouse gases. Bike Walk Twin Cities is run by Transit for Livable Communities, a metro-area nonprofit organization that promotes a more balanced transportation system. TLC is designated by federal law to administer Bike Walk Twin Cities, a $21.5 million initiative to increase biking and walking, and reduce driving. For more information, go to www.tlcminnesota.org.

Attend an open house to learn more about City property taxes April 8 and 9

Dates: Wednesday April 8 and Thursday, April 9 Time: 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Location: see below url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20090310PrprtyTaxesOpenHouses.asp Attend an open house to learn more about City property taxes The City of Minneapolis is hosting two open houses to give property owners an opportunity to learn more about their property taxes, as well as programs that may provide some property tax relief. Folks can get information on subjects ranging from homestead credit and market value to lead abatement rebates, senior citizens deferrals and disabled veteran programs. UNDERSTANDING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES Wednesday, April 8, 2009 
4:30 to 7 p.m. 
Webber Park Community Center
4400 Dupont Ave N Thursday, April 9, 2009 
4:30 to 7 p.m. 
Pearl Park Neighborhood Center 
414 E Diamond Lake Road Staff from the City Assessor’s Office will be on hand to provide you with information about Minneapolis property taxes, and to answer your questions. Cookies and refreshments will be served. This flyer has more details on the open houses, including information on translation services.

Minneapolis participating in “Earth Hour” on March 28

url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20090309EarthHour.asp Minneapolis participating in “Earth Hour” to help raise awareness of climate change City offices will join other buildings in Minneapolis to go dark for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 as part of the 2009 Earth Hour program. The Minneapolis City Council Committee on Health, Energy and Environment approved a resolution Monday, March 9, to participate in Earth Hour for the second consecutive year and turn off all uses of electricity in municipal buildings that are not required for life, safety or operations. The decorative lighting on the underside of the Stone Arch Bridge will also be turned off for the night, as will the City Hall’s clock tower neon lights. According to the State of Minnesota, electricity use in the state accounts for 35 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global climate change. Participating individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to make a global statement of concern about climate change and demonstrate their commitment to finding solutions. In 2009, organizers expect more than 1,000 cities in 100 countries to participate. In Minneapolis, in coordination with the City, 20 buildings are signed up already, from the Red Stag Supper Club to many of the tall lighted buildings downtown including IDS Center, Wells Fargo Center and Target headquarters. City leaders encourage businesses and individuals to participate and support the effort to fight climate change. Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. During Earth Hour 2008, more than 50 million people in 400 cities on all seven continents turned off their lights. Learn more, sign up and share your ideas at http://www.earthhourUS.org. The resolution to participate in Earth Hour will go before the full City Council March 27. To learn more about sustainable Minneapolis and find out how you can practice a more sustainable life, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability.

Opening Government To Public Scrutiny on March 20

Date: Friday, March 20 Time: Noon to 2:00 p.m. Location: Minneapolis Public Library, Conference room S-275 Contact: Mpls League of Women Voters (612) 333-6319 Address: 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis url: www.lwvmpls.org The Minneapolis League of Women Voters “lets the sun shine in” with Sunshine Week. As in the tune “Let the Sun Shine In”, The Minneapolis League of Women Voters is holding its 4th annual Sunshine Week National Dialogue, “Opening Doors: Finding the Keys to Open Government” with a brown bag lunch on Friday, March 20 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Minneapolis Public Library conference room S-275. The discussion will feature panels of experts from inside and outside government who will discuss federal openness policies and opportunities for people to use government information to make a difference in their communities. The actual discussion will take place in the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. and webcast to the Minneapolis Central Library. Those attending the Minneapolis event will be able to question the panelists in real time. Discussion of open government and its effects at the local level will feature guest speaker Don Gemberling, who retired in '04 from the MN Department of Administration after three decades as the “go-to” person on the Data Practices Act. Gemberling has participated in every significant debate on the ways state government handles the ever-increasing volume of information it collects and maintains. Sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Minneapolis, Openthegovernment.org, the Minneapolis Central Library, and the MN Coalition on Government Information. The event is free and open to the public. Parking available in library ramp. Enter on 4th Street.

The Census Counts: Learn how an undercount can affect the state March 25

Date: Wednesday, March 25 Time: 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Location: Minneapolis Central Library, Pohlad Hall Address: 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis Contact: Mpls. League of Women Voters 612-333-6319 url: www.lwvmpls.org The League of Women Voters of Minneapolis, in partnership with the Hennepin County Library and the County Library Foundation, will present an evening of discussion of the 2010 census as a State of Democracy Project on Wednesday, March 25 from 6 to 8:30 P.M. in Pohlad Hall of the Minneapolis Central Library. The event is being held to learn about the census process and the economic, social, and political consequences of not being counted as well as to prevent an undercount of the upcoming 2010 census. One result of an undercounted census is the loss of an electoral vote in the House of Representatives, while another is that federal funds are distributed in part based upon the state's population. The evening's speakers will be state demographer Tom Gillaspy, LWVMN Executive Director Keesha Gaskins, Marsha Avner of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. The goal of the State of Democracy Project, initiated by a generous grant from the Joyce Foundation, is to determine the health of democracy in Minnesota and to develop, in collaboration with other organizations and the public, recommendations on how and where we can improve. The effort also seeks to identify the most significant shortcomings in Minnesota's political systems and develop strategies and best practices to lay the groundwork for real reform. Refreshments will be served. Parking available in library ramp with entrance on 4th Street.

HOURCAR - News

url: http://www.hourcar.org/mckgrant.html MATCHING GRANT INFORMATION 
HOURCAR Hub Sponsor Fact Sheet and Application Information HOURCAR, the Twin Cities-based car-sharing program of the nonprofit Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC), seeks partners for a McKnight Foundation challenge grant of $150,000. The grant will be matched dollar-for-dollar by sponsors that seek to host new HOURCAR hubs. Businesses, institutions, neighborhood organizations, or even individuals can become hub sponsors. The challenge grant is an excellent opportunity for community supporters to bring HOURCAR to their neighborhood.  Sponsor matches will range from approximately $12,000 to $15,000 depending upon the vehicle selected. In return for the hub sponsorship, HOURCAR commits to operating a shared vehicle at the hub for a minimum of two years.   Today, HOURCAR's fleet numbers 16 fuel-efficient vehicles. The matching grant will result in the program's expansion to at least 26 hubs in Minneapolis and Saint Paul over the next two years. The expanded fleet will serve more than 1,000 Twin Cities-area drivers. All existing and new HOURCARs are available to all HOURCAR members, 24 hours a day. Goals for hub expansion include serving more members, extending the utility of the current fleet, adding service in new neighborhoods, increasing positive environmental impacts, and creating partnerships with supporting businesses, institutions, and communities. At this time, HOURCAR seeks to serve neighborhoods in the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, although future expansion may include suburban communities. 

Save it, Try it, Learn it, Buy it at the Living Green Expo May 2-3

Dates: May 2-3 Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Minnesota State Fair Grounds url: www.livinggreen.org. The 8th Annual Living Green Expo will feature over 250 exhibitors who offer practical advice on how to make effective, sustainable choices. Learn from the experts in one of the 62 workshops. Get in on the latest green technologies. Connect with others who value green living. At Minnesota’s largest environmental event, you’ll find everything from how to compost and reduce toxicity in your home, to using the latest energy-saving technology, to cooking with organic, locally grown food. This family-friendly event features kids’ activities and an exciting music lineup. Green Building The 2009 Living Green Expo will have loads of information about green design, construction, remodeling, and interior house work. Attend workshops such as Residential Building Codes for Green Homes and Designing and Remodeling a Non-toxic Basement for more information. Then, tour the newly constructed, green Minnesota AFL-CIO building two blocks from the Grandstand on the State Fair Grounds. Learn about the building’s green features, stay for kids’ activities and workshops on green building topics. Admission is free! Secure bike storage is available and Metro Transit is offering free rides to the Expo using the Go Greener Pass. Visit www.livinggreen.org for more information on exhibitors, workshops and activities. Ways Your Neighborhood Can help Spread The Word:

1. Distribute brochures. Beginning in early March, we can send brochures for events, meetings or put in brochure racks.
2. Post posters. We will have 8 1/2” x 11” posters --  one in English and one in Spanish.
3. Put an article about the Living Green Expo in your newsletter and Neighborhood newsletters. An article and graphics are available for download at  http://www.livinggreen.org/media.cfm
4. Post the Living Green Expo graphic on your organization’s website with a link to www.livinggreen.org.

The Living Green Expo is a free event that connects people with information, resources and practical advice about living sustainably. More about the event can be found at www.livinggreen.org. For more information, contact: Laurie Gustafson Grassroots Marketing Coordinator Living Green Expo 651-248-8874 laurie.gustafson@gmail.com

Changing School Options public meetings in March

Dates: March 9, 10, 11, 12 Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Locations: see below for location details url: http://barton.mpls.k12.mn.us/Changing_School_Options.html Changing School Options Creating an effective, sustainable system for the future Please join us for this second phase of community input! Hundreds of people joined us in February to talk about changes being considered for magnet and community school locations, attendance areas and bus routes for 2010-2011. We look forward to hearing from more people and to continuing our conversation in March. Attend the meeting works best for you. Meetings are 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. unless noted.

• Review the purpose and timeline of Changing School Options.
• Hear a summary of feedback from February?s meetings.
• Take a closer look at school scenarios.
• Share your thoughts and ask questions.

Overview plus additional info on middle and high school scenarios March 9 Little Earth of United Tribes Neighborhood Early Learning Center 2438 18th Avenue South Presented in English and Spanish March 10 Nellie Stone Johnson Community School 807 - 27th Avenue North Presented in English, Hmong and Spanish March 11 Church of the Incarnation 3817 Pleasant Avenue South Presented in English and Spanish Sullivan Community School 3100 East 28th Street Presented in English and Somali March 12 Whittier International School 315 West 26th Street Presented in English and Spanish Everyone welcome; co-hosted by Area C Parent & Community Council Overview plus additional info on elementary (K-5, K-8) scenarios March 19 Pillsbury Math/Science/Technology School 2250 Garfield Street NE Presented in English and Spanish Everyone welcome; co-hosted by Area A Parent & Community Council Hiawatha Community School 4201 42nd Avenue South Presented in English and Spanish Everyone welcome; co-hosted by Area B Parent & Community Council March 21 10 a.m. Minneapolis Public Schools Headquarters 807 NE Broadway Presented in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish Need childcare? Please call 612-668-0230 to reserve a spot or for more information. All are welcome.