“I have an amazing family supporting me,” said HHH Job Corps graduate Nikoli Fitzgerald, pictured with several family members after the commencement ceremony held on May 22. He completed HBI’s Building Construction Technology trade at the St. Paul, Minn. center before enrolling in advanced Overhead Line training at Oneonta Job Corps in New York. Fitzgerald now works full-time as a lineman for Miller Electrical in Hasting, Minn.
HHH Job Corps celebrates 120 graduates during ceremony
On Thursday, May 20, 2025, Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps (1480 Snelling Ave.) celebrated 120 graduates. Of those, 65 returned to participate in the ceremony. Those who couldn’t attend were …
Choose MNcomm
Reach 400,000 people in St. Paul and Minneapolis with one easy ad buy.   35% of our readers are Black, Indigenous and people of color. Zip Codes Covered: 55075, 55101, 55102, 55103, …
After finishing an interview with Georgia Fort of BLCK Press on June 10, 2025, Isabel Lopez was surrounded by men in unmarked vehicles. None wore visible badges, according to Fort. She was taken into custody. Her shoulder can be seen bleeding in this image that Fort included in an email to those on her newsletter list.
Woman arrested after interview by St. Paul journalist
Immediately after leaving an interview with St. Paul journalist Georgia Fort, Isabel Lopez was arrested by  several men in unmarked vehicles – none of whom were wearing visible badges. "We …
Minneapolis mayoral forum set for June 25
The American Indian OIC, Indian Health Board, Community Power, and Vote Climate announce a Minneapolis Mayoral Forum hosted by the Native community. With assistance from the League of Women …
Mahdi Ali
EDUCATORS PASS RESOLUTION: FREE MAHDI ALI
The Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59 has passed a resolution in support of freedom for former South High School student Mahdi Ali.     "Mahdi Ali was 15 years old when he …
Law enforcement on East Lake Street shared by Ward 9 City Council Member Jason Chavez.
Federal agents raid restaurant at Bloomington and Lake St.
Today, there were numerous federal agents in our community near the intersection of Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue. "We still have many unanswered questions about why these agents surrounded our …
Home & Garden
Divide perennials to boost health, beauty
Welcome back to a new gardening season, and a new season of City Gardener columns! As our gardens begin to wake up from their winter rest, it's a great time to think about an often-neglected …
Clever ideas for tiny yard spaces
Faux hedges If your outdoor patio or side yard is hemmed in by something like a chain-link or cinder block wall or planter box, consider installing a faux green hedge. This is the perfect …
Avoid waste by purchasing soil from Chard Your Yard, which sells it by the bucket to augment or fill garden beds you already have. The effort is run by neighborhood volunteers.
Chard Your Yard this year
Spring is calling; It’s time to think about gardening! The neighborhood volunteer-run organization, Chard Your Yard, has the garden resources to make it happen. The gardens are provided at-cost …
Sid Triantafilou of Greco Linden Hills Painting paints houses in residential neighborhoods, including East Isles, near Lake of the Isles. (Photo by Lulu Jaeckel)
Homeowners experiment with paint colors, say local painters
Whale gray, dry sage and french press are some of the popular names of interior paint colors right now at Benjamin Moore, a paint company.  Sid Triantafilou, a local painter and owner of …
They wanted to save the boulevard trees along six blocks of 29th Ave. and they came together to do just that. Then they celebrated together at Arbeiter Brewing. (Photo by submitted)
Motivated by a common goal
Residents along six blocks of 29th Ave. S have banded together to save 40 ash trees. “These are public trees that the whole community benefits from,” observed Loey Colebeck. “Many …
Rebuild Repair Recycle
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is inviting people to share their thoughts on a draft update of the state’s long-range plan for muskellunge. “Public input, stakeholder …
MN Lakes and Rivers is proud to announce the launch of a new pilot initiative, the City of Lake Stewards program, debuting on Lake Harriet in the summer of 2025. Drawing from the success of the …
As of May 2, 2025, the Twin Cities has received approximately 6 inches of precipitation , which is near normal for this time of year, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Nearly half of …
Living 50+
Tina Jackson is the “Lady of Line Dance.” She teaches free classes once a month at Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis (310 E 38th St), and is at Oxford Community Center in …
With warmer weather coming, I have been able to get outside and walk more. Walking more is causing me to be aware that it is so easy for me to take my feet for granted. So, in this column, I am …
A rally was held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 outside the VA at E 54th St and Minnehaha Ave. Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey spoke to about 400 protesters about Trump's threats to VA staff and medical care.
AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPERS

11 AWARDS FOR TMC PUBLICATIONS IN 2025

At the 158th annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention, TMC Publications earned 11 wards. Accepting them in person were (left to right) Tesha M. Christensen, Jan Willms and Terbuto Ochothow. …
Voices Against Violence
Dr. Catherine Barrett
‘Oppressive’ experience:’ 57 hearings, 80 court orders, 12 parenting time schedules
What do you do when 11 judges and referees, 20 therapists, 12 mediators, two parenting consultants (with 37 directives), one custody evaluator, and one guardian ad litem haven’t been able to …
Police officer Paul Elmstrand, officer Matthew Ruge and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth
Violence Free Minnesota issues statement on Burnsville Police and EMT domestic violence homicides
Violence Free Minnesota issued the following statement on Tuesday, Feb. 20 to call attention to the full circumstances around Shannon Cortez Gooden's murder of two police officers and an EMT in …
Christmas Eve luminary supports Domestic Abuse Project
For 25 years, the warm glow of hundreds of luminaries have lit Dupont/King’s Highway on Christmas Eve. The annual event not only brings neighbors together, but it has raised over $50,000 for …
Dani's daughter sent her teddy bear with her mom on Oct. 2, 2023. “I couldn’t stop thinking about how my daughter would take the news that her mom wasn’t coming home for a month,” said Dani.
Domestic abuse victim jailed
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a Minnesota judge ordered a victim to jail for not forcing her daughter to see her father. Dani* was ordered to serve 30 days in jail on Oct. 2, 2023 or …
Thi Synavone works as the executive director at Standpoint.  (Photo submitted)
FROM THEIR STANDPOINT
Thi Synavone came to the U.S. in 1979 as a Laotian refugee. After living in many states, her family settled in Minnesota in 1988. Synavone said that growing up, domestic and sexual violence was never …
Arts
The three women featured in the film, “The People’s Way” – (left to right) Robin Wonsley, Toshira Garraway and Jeanelle Austin – pose after a Q&A with moderator Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley (far right) after a screening at The Main during the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival on April 9.
‘The People’s Way’ premieres in Midwest
After two sold out screenings – first at The Main and then at the Capri – “The People’s Way” film was given an encore screening among the “Best of the Fest” …
Artists and community members join together to celebrate E. Lake St. during a weekend Skate and Sauna event in March, part of the Lake Street Lift project. At the events, neighbors were asked what they want to see at 2800 E. Lake St. where the US Bank building formerly was. (Photo by Bruce Silcox)
Lifting up Lake Street
“I’m thrilled to see Lake Street back and thriving, and there’s more to come,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley during an event at the former US Bank site at …
The opening film of the festival is “Free Leonard Peltier,” a documentary about the struggle to free Peltier, who was charged with murder in a shootout with FBI agents.
Ang Lee kicks off MSPIFF
Highlighting the 44th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) this year is a conversation with Ang Lee, the award-winning director of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” …
Patrick Scully
‘The Dance is Not Over: The Patrick Scully Story’
The most challenging part of making a movie about Patrick Scully was editing it down to 93 minutes, according to director Mark Wojahn. Scully is an internationally known dancer, choreographer, …
John Noltner
A 'Peace of my Mind' lands in St. Paul
Photographer and storyteller John Noltner has settled into his new work space at 550 Vandalia Street, suite #170, in Hamline-Midway’s Creative Enterprise Zone. He shares the multi-use …
Opinion
TMC Publications sales representative Denis Woulfe has worked on both the editorial and advertising sides of newspapers, and relishes the opportunity to work with area businesses on developing marketing plans and finding solutions to reaching their audience.
The intern becomes the teacher
I often tell people that I was the intern that never left some 46 years ago. I was fresh out of Hamline University and took a job at the Midway Monitor as editor after a brief internship. Over the …
Tesha M. Christensen
Racism takes aim at community members in newspaper
What does racism look like? I saw it in April when I received an envelope at my south Minneapolis post office box filled with clips of nearly every person of color who made our edition of the …
Valerie Fitzgerald
I should have seen it sooner
Part 4 in a 4-part series From Heather Cox Richardson, I learned about an era called the 'Liberal Consensus.' She traces it back to the New Deal of the 1930s. The programs that helped my parents …
Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.
Love can be simple between father and son
I first wrote this for Father's Day 2021. I have previously written a Stories and Journeys column acknowedging my mother's influence on my life. It's time for me to acknowlege my father with Father's …
Becky Alper, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board Commissioner
DFL can’t afford to alienate its most engaged members
The fragility of our democracy has been on full display since Donald Trump returned to the presidency. The 2025 DFL caucus and convention in Minneapolis’ Ward 2 revealed that the battle is much …
Longfellow
2800 East Lake: What’s next?
Redesign Inc. is asking the community to help answer that question through a series of interactive events this May. Residents, neighbors, and anyone with a stake in the future of the area are invited …
Guest chef from Francis Burger kick off new series at Soup For You Café
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Soup For You Café (SFY) will welcome its first-ever guest chef: Chef Lindsey Johnston, who will prepare a special vegan soup for the community. Johnston is a partner …
Hot tips to make your garage sale go better
As the vibrant energy of spring ushers in the season of decluttering, Longfellow Community Council announces its highly-anticipated Neighborhood-Wide Garage Sale: a glorious two-day celebration of …
There are some neighbors near the light rail site that are advocating for the closure of the access point to the light rail station at E. 45th St near 35th Ave west of Hiawatha from the neighborhood street, and they've put up signs supporting that viewpoint. Others believe that access to this public infrastructure and space is important to continue making a more livable, walkable city.
What will make Hiawatha/46th intersection safer?
MnDOT is making $2.6 million in pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements to the intersections of H wy 55/Hiawatha Ave. and 46th St. E . and 45th St. E. in Minneapolis. MnDOT held a community …
A community meeting was held to discuss a possible name change to Edmund Boulevard.
Last chance to share your voice on the Edmund Boulevard Community Engagement Survey
For the last few years, a community-led coalition has been working to connect with their neighbors to educate them on the namesake of Edmund Boulevard. Edmund Boulevard is a magnificent tree-lined …
Nokomis
At the Nokomis East Business Association (NEBA) annual meeting on April 16, Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) board chair (center) Christina Meyer gave an update: announcing that Sarah Friedman (right) had just been hired as the new NENA Executive Director. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
NENA hires new executive director
Sarah Friedman has been promoted from communications manager to executive director at the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association. She will step into the new role on May 1. “I’m truly …
Facade improvement grants available
Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) is proud to announce that we received the Business Façade Improvement Grant from Greater Streets Minneapolis! We have $17,000 that we can give to …
Nokomis Yoga at 2722 E. 50th St. was started by Solveig Corbin 17 years ago. (Photo by Sarah Friedman)
Nokomis Yoga: A journey of healing and transformation
Seventeen years ago, Solveig Corbin opened Nokomis Yoga (2722 E. 50th St.), a sanctuary dedicated to bringing the transformative power of yoga to people of all ages and backgrounds. Her journey to …
Minnehaha Food Shelf seeks community support during Minnesota Food Shelf Month
As Minnesota marks the 44th Annual Food Shelf Month this March, Minnehaha Food Shelf is calling on the community to step up and help address food insecurity. Designated by the Minnesota Council of …
Grande Sunrise is a family-run business. (Photo submitted)
Grande Sunrise: A family’s journey from El Salvador to neighborhood staple
When I arrived at Grande Sunrise, I found Roberto Grande-Perez in the parking lot, fixing his car with a confident, self-taught ease. Within minutes of meeting him, his hard-working spirit and …
Longfellow Business Directory articles
Ekta Prakash moved to Minneapolis 20 years ago as an immigrant from India and has served as CAPI’s CEO for the last 14 years.
A BETTER BUSINESS AS USUAL
Since we last printed the Longfellow Business Directory in early 2020, our business community, landscape and daily rhythms have been substantially and irrevocably changed. COVID-19 has presented a …
Ruhel Islam at the Gandhi Mahal site. Photo by Jan Willms
LONGFELLOW RISING
The year 2020 was challenging for the Longfellow business community, particularly in the main commercial intersection of Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue referred to as Downtown Longfellow. The COVID …
As we heal the Coliseum, 
it is a sign that the 
broader community 
along Lake St. is healing. 
Taylor Smrikarova, Redesign
RESTORING THE COLISEUM
The Colisum, a community commercial center since 1917, was almost destroyed following the civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd. In order to restore this historic 80,000 square-foot building, …
Mother Earth Gardens
COMMUNITY VOICES
1) “We are asking questions about what our community needs, trying to use our space and resources to meet those needs, and trying to hold onto connections and awakenings that have been made …
A LONGFELLOW PARTNERSHIP
The Longfellow Business Directory has been an important part of the Longfellow community going back to the 1990s. It was started to help foster better communication within the business community, and …
Web Extras - Contact us to sponsor content
Moving to a new climate zone? Keep your cool
(BPT) - Relocating from a Northern region to a Southern U.S. state can provide a mild respite from frigid winters. However, if problems exist within your new home's energy infrastructure, moving to a …
A whole home approach to energy efficiency
(BPT) - A spike in home energy bills often leads consumers to suspect a problem with their heating or cooling equipment. However, before assuming faulty equipment is the cause of high energy bills, …
10 cool cars you can't buy in the US yet
CheapInsurance.com reports on 10 exciting cars unavailable in the U.S. due to regulations, costs, and brand strategies.
Dog breeds losing popularity
Stacker pulled data from the AKC to compare dog popularity rankings from 2004 and 2024; the 2024 popularity rankings were released in March 2025.
The foods and scents we associate with our childhoods can provide a meaningful source of comfort and connection.
Nostalgic foods and scents like fresh-cut grass and hamburgers grilling bring comfort, connection and well-being
Once thought to be an unhealthy experience, researchers now know that feelings of nostalgia can promote greater social connectedness and a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.
MESSENGER CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
Cal deRuyter and Tim Nelson began and ended their careers in neighborhood journalism. In 1977, their office was at Thomas and Fairview in St. Paul. (Photo submitted)
How a newspaper business developed
When I was chosen to be co-editor of our high school paper, it was exciting to learn the ropes of planning a publication, assigning stories, cleaning them up and eventually putting them on the page …
At Uptown Bill's, the coffeeshop, bookstore and performance venue in Iowa City which Tom Gilsenan managed for almost 10 years.
SO MANY STORIES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Our neighborhoods are full of wonderful stories. And for more than a dozen years, I got to tell those stories right here in the Messenger. It was grand. Minnehaha Falls is full of stories. It has …
20 years with neighborhood newspapers
It has been nearly 20 years since I handed in my first story to the Longfellow Messenger, and it is hard to believe the time has passed so quickly. I had arrived in Saint Paul from Montana with two …
Lewis Duemke
THE MOVERS AND THE SHAKERS
The Longfellow-Nokomis Messenger is not only one of Minneapolis’ oldest neighborhood newspapers, it is part of a long tradition of such Minneapolis and St. Paul publications.Coverage of city …