‍Melody will be at Walker Library tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.  Swing on by and chat with me about your neighborhood, your favorite books, or show me pictures of your pets. I should be tucked away in the Isles Conference Room. Just ask a friendly librarian.

Charlie interviewed the Park Board's new president, Meg Forney.  She talked about the importance of the park system during the pandemic, why her favorite lake is the Mississippi River (!?), and the Park Board's public-private partnerships (like MIA!). Speaking of the Park Board...


Painter Park Plan

More basketball courts or tennis courts? There is a a final hearing about Painter Park's future, after which they'll vote on approving the draft plan, at the Park Board's meeting at 6:30 p.m. If you live in the area, you are familiar with the basketball court that is overflowing with people. I remember during quarantine, people were still playing basketball there even when the parks were shut down.  It's a popular court, especially with kids and young men of color.
The current Painter Park redesign plan includes one basketball court, a new skate park and a tennis/pickleball court. The original plan had two basketball courts.
If you feel some kind of way about this plan, attend the hearing or email your comments to jringold@minneapolisparks.org (email comments due by noon).  There is more background information available on page 12 of tonight's Park Board Planning Committee agenda.

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Tasha holds Merick in front of an Art Shanty Projects instillation on Bde Unma/Lake Harriet. Photo submitted by Cynthia.

LINK ROUNDUP 🔗
Did you order your free COVID tests yet? Each household gets four free tests.  If you live in an apartment and are having trouble with the system identifying your unit, check out this helpful Twitter thread. (USPS/Twitter)

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Minneapolis City Council members gave preliminary approval to a plan that will convert a former mansion and youth hostel in Whittier into an emergency shelter for women. (Star Tribune)

Laura Yuen is encouraging us to not snooze our alarm when it's dark out. She got this idea from the Scandinavians. Read at your own risk. (Star Tribune)

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COMMUNITY ACTION 💪
Minneapolis Public Schools is hiring a farm-to-school coordinator. This is a fantastic position for someone looking to work at the intersection of school nutrition, local food systems development, and agricultural education. Send in your application by Jan. 28.

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OUT & ABOUT 🛵
Don't forget that starting today Minneapolis and St. Paul have a vaccine/negative PCR COVID test mandate for any place that serves food and beverages.

It's story time this morning at Washburn library from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Share books, stories, rhymes, music and movement. If you miss this week, it's happening again next Wednesday, too.

I will be serving up local beers tonight at Fire & Nice. It's Bring Your Own Vinyl night, which means, uh, bring your own vinyl and we will play it! Don't have any cool LPs? I connected my Discman to the sound system.

Have a beautiful day, neighbor. -Melody

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