N RTH NEWS December 20, 2019 Serving the neighborhoods of North Minneapolis www.mynorthnews.org First-graders Maylene Vang, left, and Ashley Thao respond to applause after their class sang a traditional song at Hmong International Academy’s Hmong New Year celebration in November. Hmong New Year is an annual celebration to honor ancestors, unite families and give thanks for the year’s harvest. 2019 in North Minneapolis A photographic journey through the year. Page 9 INSIDE 'We're just wrestlers': ABEP leaders say their Lucy Laney's new Increasingly common credit union project will be principal Lisa Pawelak in the sport, three girls back on track by 2020 finds her light wrestle at Henry Page 6 Page 8 Page 22 2 NORTH NEWS December 20, 2019 NEWS the Mississippi, to celebrating National The city council passed Mayor Jacob Gentrification and displacement require Night Out, to building a new skate park, Frey's 2020 budget on Dec. 11. As part urgent attention. The need for new Letter from Northsiders made many memorable of the mayor's prioritization of economic business support is pressing. We plan to moves this year. Check out the snapshots inclusion, the West Broadway Corridor devote significant resources to coverage the Editor on Page 9. has been proposed as one of six "cultural of the Upper Harbor Terminal, Section 18 Despite this paper having the shortest districts" that will have access to significant and the future of MPHA's single family production timeline of our year, there's no funding—more than $2 million—for homes, domestic violence, changes to the Welcome to the final 2019 edition ofNorth shortage of news on the following pages. infrastructure development by the City of demographic landscape of the Northside, News. It's hard to believe that another year, A forum on how the community is policed Minneapolis (Page 4). and the experiences and actions of our our fourth under ownership by Pillsbury turned into a contentious discussion about Learn what life at Lucy Laney has been Council Members. United Communities, of putting this paper how the community is researched on Dec. like after Love Them First from interim Finally, if you need a last minute holiday out each month will soon pass. 10 (Page 17). principal Lisa Pawelak (Page 22). gift or just want to make a resolution to One of the things I love most about First Avenue and the Northside Our North High students have written support local media in 2020, remember producing local news is the record of life Neighborhoods Council connected a handful of stories too: read about both that we sell home subscriptions to North in the community that it creates. As the entrepreneurs with resources on Dec. 2 in the Polars men's and women's basketball News for just $30 (North Minneapolis days, meetings, events and occurances fly hopes of equipping them to take advantage teams' seasons so far (Page 3 and Page residents) and $50 (everyone else). Get us by, newspapers always offer a way to look of upcoming business opportunities related 17), a couple of best friends who have delivered to your mailbox each month and back and remember where we've come to the Upper Harbor Terminal (Page 7). turned their local accomplishments into help fund our youth work in the process. from, what we've accomplished, and who Read the latest about the Association for college scholarships (Page 17), and a inspired us along the journey. Black Economic Power and its high profile recap of December's First Thursday Film Until the new year, In that spirit, we bring you our annual project, Village Financial credit union, event (Page 17). year in photos feature. Staff reporter David on Page 8. They'll enter 2020 with new As we head into 2020, our team is going Kenzie O'Keefe Pierini has combed through the thousands leaders, new vision, and new funding. to take an more in depth approach to Editor/Publisher, North News of photos he took on the Northside this After being shot with a pellet gun, Wendy the way we cover certain stories. 2020 [email protected] year and selected a handful of standout Puckett is back on Broadway serving up is going to be a consequential time for 651-245-2647 moments. From dancing at Les Jolies SOULROLLS to her devoted patrons (Page North Minneapolis. Real estate values Petites, harvesting mushrooms along 3). and speculation continue to climb. NORTH NEWS This activity is made possible by 2019 Issue #12 the voters of Minnesota through INSIDE OUR "O" a grant from the Minnesota State Circulation: 10,000 in North Minneapolis. Arts Board, thanks to a legislative Delivered free on a monthly basis to appropriation from the arts and public places & homes in Near North & Camden. cultural heritage fund. 125 West Broadway Ave. Suite 130, Minneapolis, MN 55411 Phone: 651-245-2647 A collaborative concert experience celebrating Website: www.mynorthnews.org the Northside community through music. Kenzie O’Keefe Editor/Publisher/Advertising Abdi Mohamed David Pierini Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Emily Ronning Anya Johanna DeNiro Graphic Designer Copy Editor Howard Hadley, David Lyle James Snoddy, Kyla Moore Delivery Interns Additional support is provided by The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota and the Minneapolis Foundation. Music by the Northside Celebration Choir, Patrick Henry High School Choir and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Co-presented by the Capri Theater, Story ideas and letters to the editor under 300 words this unique performance brings gospel choir music, orchestral music and spoken are always welcome. Unsigned letters will not run. word together under the thoughtful direction of Sanford Moore, Dennis Spears, If you want North News on your doorstep NOW, Kevin West, Sherri Orr and Courtland Pickens. subscribe for $30 per year. A plate of Christmas cookies invited Email [email protected] families to indulge as children visited with or call 651-245-2647 to sign up. Santa Claus during the annual Holiday on Next issue delivered: January 31, 2020 44th celebration. Jan 25 — 2 PM & 8 PM | North Community High School 1500 James Ave N, Minneapolis — enter door 18 on Irving Ave North News is an enterprise of: By David Pierini Staff Reporter Reserve your FREE tickets at: More photos on Page 3 www.thespco.org/northside or 651.291.1144 NEWS NORTH NEWS 3 North Minneapolis at a glance After pellet gun shooting, Meteor Bar to open on Washington Holiday on 44th delivers another year of holiday cheer Wendy's House of SOUL reopens Just down the street from the newly arrived Bar Brava, another drinking establishment The cold air made its case for staying indoors Friday night, Dec. 6, but Christmas After being shot in the face by an attacker is preparing to open its doors. Meteor music, horse drawn carriage rides and roasting chestnuts won out as Northsiders with a pellet gun as she left her business Bar, which bills itself as an “elevated dive took in the annual Holiday on 44th Street event. Photos by David Pierini on Friday, Nov. 22, Wendy Puckett is back bar,” according to the Star Tribune, will serving up SOULROLLS on W Broadway begin serving quality, classic cocktails Ave. The owner of Wendy’s House of inside the former Donnie Dirk’s Zombie SOUL, which operates inside K’s Grocery Den at 2027 N 2nd St. imminently. Follow and Deli, had surgery on Dec. 6 and was them on Facebook @meteor.bar for the back at work by Tuesday the 10th. Wendy’s official opening announcement. By Kenzie friend Pam McCurdy, who helps market O'Keefe the business, says Puckett has received hundreds of Facebook messages and Find fitness during the holiday many donations since the incident and that she has been “so touched” by the support. season at North Market “We are thankful for everyone’s outreach, For some, the holidays are a time of rest prayers, and donations and keeping us in and relaxation, but fans of the North their thoughts. It’s really impactful when Market fitness classes aren’t taking any you have something traumatic happen to time off. Val Fleurantin, a former engineer have that support.” Community members at Medtronic and Target who turned her interested in supporting Puckett and her passion for fitness into a full time job, will business are being asked to buy a meal or lead her free classes through the holidays. use Puckett’s catering services now that Fleurantin is just one of the fitness she has reopened. By Kenzie O'Keefe instructors at North Market. Bootcamp is held on Wednesdays at 6pm. Dance Above: Emily’s F&M Lady Polars' basketball season classes are Mondays and Fridays at 6pm. Cafe Restaurant starts with highs and lows There is also a strength training program offered walking tacos for seniors on Tuesday and Thursday to holiday strollers and Despite early season losses, the Lady cook Henry Lange mornings at 9:30am. Other classes at Polars say their season will turn around. gave each order the North Market include Yoga, Tai Chi, and As of Dec. 16, the varsity team is 1-5. Christmas spirit. Trap Music Bandz. By Abdi Mohamed “It’s just a rough start,” said sophomore Left: Draft horses Joy Cunningham. After a slew of losses, pulled two different hay Controversial police line item wagons up and down the team's comeback began on Dec. 14 44th Street. when they fought for their first win of resolved in 2020 budget Below: Louie Otterson the season against rival Patrick Henry The Minneapolis City Council passed gave the big bearded High School.