NENA News

The Night Before New Year’s Eve party, on Fri., Dec. 30, is a family-oriented, free event. It offers parents and kids a chance to celebrate the coming New Year a night early.

The celebration includes food, carnival games, music, and dancing, marshmallow roasting over a bonfire, a photo board, the famous Nokomis Fish Pond, a “midnight” (7:15 pm) countdown complete with noisemakers and much more!

If you are looking to forgo New Year’s Eve altogether but still want to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, consider this annual community party, now in its 17th year. This party is chock-full of family-friendly activities.

Night Before New Year’s Eve is on Dec. 30, 5:30–7:30pm at Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Pkwy.

Volunteers needed!

Looking for a good way to ring in the New Year? Go to www.nokomiseast.org and click on the “Volunteer” button on the right. You’ll be able to sign up for one of the many volunteer opportunities we have available at the Night Before New Year’s Eve party.

Apply for vacant Board seat

NENA is seeking applicants for the vacant Board seat from the Wenonah neighborhood. The Wenonah neighborhood is bordered by 54th St. on the north; 34th Ave. on the east; Cedar Ave. on the west; and the southern boundary of the City of Minneapolis on the south.

If you live (homeowners and renters) in the Wenonah neighborhood, you can nominate yourself (most common); or any NENA member can nominate a Wenonah neighborhood resident as an applicant for the Board. Completed nomination forms are due on Dec. 8.

The NENA Board of Directors will review all applications and appoint a new Board member at its Dec. 15 meeting. This is a replacement appointment serving from December 2016 to April 2017. The appointed Board member can run to be elected to the seat at the April Annual Meeting and serve a full two-year term.

Visit www.nokomiseast.org for more information and application.

34th Ave. S. rebuild

The Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) and the Nokomis East Business Association (NEBA) will host a public information meeting about the planned 2018 rebuilding of 34th Ave. S. from E. 50th St. to E. 58th St. The open house is co-hosted with City Council Members Andrew Johnson (Ward 12) and John Quincy (Ward 11), along with the Public Works Department.

Construction is expected to begin in 2018, but plans are already being put together, and this is your first chance to hear about it and have your voice heard. The city will solicit public comments regarding street parking, sidewalks, bike lanes, pedestrian and cyclist safety, streetscape elements, boulevard trees and more.

The public meeting is from 6-8pm at the NENA office at 4313 E. 54th St. The meeting with be an open house format, with a short presentation from the city at 6:30pm. City staff will be present to answer questions throughout the meeting.

Come with your questions and suggestions. This is an occasion to identify any concerns you may have about the project. You’ll have an opportunity to see the street configuration and hear and exchange ideas with your neighbors and city staff.

A second public information meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2017.

Bossen Field is taking shape

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Bossen Field has not seen the current level of construction in almost 30 years. The Master Plan passed by the MPRB in 2015 will bring about substantial change to the 37-acre park.

Brief updates on all of the work underway are below. An aerial view of the park’s master plan is linked below, otherwise, click the picture to the right.

Much of the work of the Master Plan will be completed in 2017, but some projects will be phased in over several years.

A large amount of work has already been completed. The softball fields to the south now have their irrigation, fencing, infield/warning track and new sod. The south parking lot has its new curbs installed, and lighting is coming before the end of the year. Irrigation has been completed, and the new topsoil and sod are also in place for the east open field. The northern softball fields still have considerable work to be done. Once the grading is done, other projects on those fields can move forward in 2017.

More information and an aerial view of the park’s Master Plan is on the MPRB website.

NENA Home Improvement Loan Program

Whether by choice or necessity, start planning your next home project now with the help of a home improvement loan from NENA. Owners of one to four unit residences can apply for up to $15,000 to make improvements to their properties. Owner occupants and investors may apply. Interest rates are either 2 percent or 3 percent, depend on income, and there are no income restrictions.

NENA also has available a limited amount of funds for our emergency repair loan program. Only owner-occupied households are eligible, and income restrictions do apply. There is a maximum loan amount of $7,500 at 0 percent interest. The loan is due in full upon sale of the property or title transfer.

For more information or to request an application for the NENA loan program, call our partner, the Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation’s Housing Resource Center 612-722-7141, or visit www.gmhchousing.org. Loan applications are processed on a first-come, first served basis.

Upcoming events

• Tues., Nov. 29, 6:30-8pm: MPRB Meeting - Hiawatha Ground Water at Powderhorn Recreation Center, 3400 15th Ave. S.

• Wed., Dec. 7, 6;30-8:30pm: NENA Housing, Commercial and Streetscape Committee at the NENA Office, 4313 E. 54th St.

• Thur., Dec. 8, 7-8pm: NENA Executive Committee Meeting at the NENA Office

• Tues., Dec. 13, 5-6:30pm: Nokomis East Business Association (NEBA) Happy Hour at Town Hall Lanes, 5019 S. 34th Ave.

• Tues., Dec. 13, 6:30-8pm: NEBA Board Member Meeting at McDonald’s Liquor Store (Meeting Room), 5010 34th Ave. S.

• Wed., Dec. 14, 6:45-7:45pm: NENA Green Initiatives Committee Meeting at the NENA Office

• Thur., Dec. 15, 7-9pm: NENA Board of Directors Meeting at the NENA Office

• Wed., Jan. 4, 2017, 6:30-8:30pm: NENA Housing, Commercial and Streetscape Committee at the NENA Office

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