NENA News: NENA Annual Elections and Community Meal scheduled Apr. 26

Do you live in the Keewaydin, Minnehaha, Morris Park or Wenonah neighborhoods? Have you wanted to be more involved in your community or are you just curious about what is happening in your neighborhood? This is the event for you.

NENA is a growing community-based nonprofit organization serving four unique, welcoming neighborhoods with over 14,600 residents and dozens of businesses in the southeast corner of Minneapolis. NENA is dedicated to bettering the quality of life and building a sense of community pride by sponsoring actions which help our environment, businesses, and homes.

Please join us on Apr. 26, 5:30–8pm at Crosstown Covenant Church (5540 30th Ave. S.) to elect NENA Board Members for your neighborhood, enjoy a free meal from Dominguez Family Restaurant, and help determine community goals for 2019 and beyond. You also get to connect with neighbors to the soundtrack of a jazz performance from Huge If True. Children’s activities will be provided to better accommodate families wanting to attend this meeting.

Curb Appeal Matching Grant Lottery

Nokomis East residents (Keewaydin, Minnehaha, Morris Park and Wenonah neighborhoods) are encouraged to sign up for the Curb Appeal Grant Lottery and get their upcoming exterior home project entered to win a matching grant up to $500. The deadline to enter is Apr. 20, and winners will be announced during the Apr. 26 NENA Annual Meeting. Visit www.nokomiseast.org for more information and to register.

Monarch Habitat Workshops open for registration

NENA is offering its 12th annual, newly revised Grow Monarch Habitat Workshop and native plant sale, on May 19, 9am-12pm at the Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Pkwy.

The 2017-2018 monarch population is down 15% from last year. As monarch numbers have continued to plummet in recent years, researchers and naturalists are urging people to create monarch habitat, especially throughout the Midwest Corn Belt—the monarch’s traditional breeding grounds. There is an urgency to replace lost habitat that once held the monarch’s host plant, milkweed, alongside essential nectar plants. This how-to workshop will provide the information and essential plants to get started. Our urban and suburban gardens can help make a critical difference!

This year, the two new workshop presentations will be offered consecutively to cover different aspects of being a monarch/pollinator habitat gardener. Both sessions are taught by Vicki Bonk, a Nokomis Naturescape stewardship leader for over 20 years and native plant gardening speaker. Each session will be followed by Q&A time.

“Grow Monarch Habitat - An Introduction to The Essentials of Gardening For Monarchs” is a 45-minute presentation covering the monarch life and migratory cycle and how these two cycles determine the habitat components. The current environmental status of the monarch butterfly and other pollinators is also addressed.

NEW! “Grow Monarch Habitat - A How-To on Planting, Maintaining and Expanding Your Garden” is a 45-minute presentation designed to expand on previous years GMH workshops and cover some new ground.

Attendees are offered the opportunity to purchase a Monarch Garden-to-Go Kit to start or expand their monarch/pollinator habitat. The kit is available in 2 choices and contains 12 local native host, nectar, and shelter plants to get you started. There is a registration fee of $32 ($36 value) for the kits, with a May 11 deadline. Workshop and native plant sale attendance is free.

These kid-friendly* sessions offer a wealth of information for both beginning and advanced gardeners. Space and Monarch Garden-to-Go Kits are limited, so registration is suggested. For information on the Grow Monarch Habitat Workshop, the Minneapolis Monarch Festival or the Nokomis Naturescape, please visit NENA’s website or email nena@nokomiseast.org.

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