SNG E-NEWSLETTER – October 

4rd, 2011

. In this edition … Community Energy Services Workshop Tonight!!!…Seward Art Festival Kick-off…Seward Art Festival …Special rebates and Home Improvement Assistance…Seward Walkers…

I.   SNG News and Events

II. SNG Committee Calendar  

III. Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership News

IV. Community News and Events 

I.  SNG News and Events

King’s Fair –Thankyou!!

Thanks to everyone who helped make King’s Fair a great event.  Here is a partial list of all the great Seward volunteers who helped on King’s Fair.  If I forgot you or someone you know, please let me so I have the opportunity to thank everyone who made it happen.

Our Committee;  Denise Rouleau, Mike Trdan, Anne Cronmiller, Sheldon Mains, Wayne Martins, Ken Webb, Claudia Rhodes and Cynthia Wilson. 

Set-up and clean-up volunteers;  Bill Barnett, Laura Murray, Joel Lutz, Ben Walen, Sara Rotholz Weiner, T

ariku Hassan, Janci Curiskis, Diann Anders, Fred and Ann Kreider, Bruce Johansen, Don Barton, Scott Vreeland, Peter Fleck , Barb        , Bev Mains. 

Our bands;  Jerry Rau and his band, The Textiles, Machinery Hill, Papa John Kolstad, Cadalac Kolstad and the Fat Chance Jug Band.

Our entertainment:  The Queen –Josie Winship, Dans Askina, the women in the Cultural Fashion Show and spoken word artist Chaltu Berento. 

Sound System: Nathaniel Damron, Jaramy and Karl

Our MC’s:  Anne Cronmiller, Cam Gordon, Jim Davnie, Josie Winship and Diann Anders

Our Sponsors:  Seward Co-op, Seward Civic and Commerce Association, Wells Fargo and Comcast.  Finally, the businesses who fed the “day of the event” volunteers; the Birchwood Café, Pizza Luce and Starbucks.

Please thank these businesses and individuals for their contributions!

Seward Art Festival/Franklin Frolic—December 2^nd and 3rd

Now is your chance to sign up to be part of the Seward Art Festival.  All registrations must be in by October 28^th.  Register online @ http://goo.gl/nBNoA or print out the attached registration form.  If you would like to sell your art in a business or nonprofit on Franklin let Kerry at SNG know and she will find a space for you.

This year the Seward Art Crawl will be held in conjunction with the Franklin Frolic—December 2^nd and 3^rd.

The application form is attached at the end of the newsletter.

Art Crawl Kick-off at the Playwrights Center, Dec. 2nd—Local Readings and performance artists! Great food and wine from Seward Businesses. Save the Date!!  Email Kerry@SNG.org if you want to get involved or want to sign up to participate.

SNG Home Improvement Assistance

Are you thinking about making improvements to your home, but not sure how to proceed?  The Seward Neighborhood Group’s Housing Coordinator can help with project planning

, hiring contractors, obtaining financing and advice during construction.

In addition, Seward homeowners can take advantage of special loan programs available through a partnership between the Seward Neighborhood Group and the Center for Energy and Environment at interest rates from 0%-5.99%.  The SNG Revolving Loan Program provides loans up to $12,000 to income eligible homeowners for exterior, energy, mechanical, electrical and code improvements at 3.99%.  The Minnesota Fix-up Fund provides loans up to $35,000 for home improvements including additions at 5.99%.  Income eligible Seward homeowners can have their fix-up fund interest rate reduced to 3.99% on up to $20,000 for up to 15 years. The Home Energy Loan Program provides loans up to $20,000 from 0%-4.99% for energy related improvements (0% for terms 36 months or less).

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Doug Wise, SNG’s Housing Coordinator, at (612) 338-6205, ext. 102 or doug@sng.org.

Community Energy Services Workshop - Residential Energy Program Comes Back to Seward!

Tuesday, October 4, 6:30 p.m. at Matthews Center (2318 29th Ave S) 

A free educational workshop for Seward homeowners.  To reserve your spot or for other workshop dates contact:  The Center for Energy and Environment at (612) 335-5869 or visit www.mnces.org. You can also sign up for the  workshop at the SNG table at King’s Fair.  *Free childcare provided at the workshop*

By attending the workshop, you are eligible to receive a customized home visit; a $400 energy efficiency package for a co-pay of only $30! This package includes two energy professionals from the Center for Energy and Environment spending an hour and half with you in your home. During this time they will perform a blower door test, which measures air leaks, as well as install energy and money saving materials. Some of these materials may include: compact fluorescent light bulbs, a programmable thermostat, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, pipe wrap and more!  Homeowners are also provided with 12 months of personalized energy tracking. This unique feedback allows you to see how your home uses energy and how much energy you home is saving with the program. Participants are also given information on financing, incentives, and gain access to rebates available only to Community Energy Services participants.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

Seward Environment Committee Rebate

The Seward Environment Committee is offering a special $150 rebate to members of the Seward community who are participating in both the Minnesota Energy Challenge and Community Energy Services!  This rebate is in addition to the rebate of up to $350 from Center Point Energy for participants in the program.

To receive this rebate, you must be a member of the Seward Energy Challenge team

<http://www.mnenergychallenge.org/Teams/Neighborhoods/Seward_Mpls.aspx>;  have received a home energy visit through Community Energy Services and completed one of the recommended upgrades* from that visit between 9/1/2010 and the end of this year.  To receive this $150 rebate, you need to submit the following:

·                                Copy of your “Home Energy Report - Reduction Plan” that you received at your home visit;

·                                A signed invoice from your contractor for the completed work;

·                                A print-out of your Energy Challenge dashboard (“My Challenge”).

Submit these forms to Kerry Cashman at kerry@sng.org or the SNG office at 2323 East Franklin Avenue.

*Qualifying upgrades are: attic insulation and air sealing, wall insulation and air sealing, new furnace or boiler and new water heater.

Seward Walkers

Seward Art Festival/Franklin Frolic—December 2^nd and 3rd

Now is your chance to sign up to be part of the Seward Art Festival.  All registrations must be in by October 28^th.  Register online @ http://goo.gl/nBNoA or print out the attached registration form.

This year the Seward Art Crawl will be held in conjunction with the Franklin Frolic—December 2^nd and 3^rd.  Art Crawl Kick-off at the Playwrights Center, Dec. 2nd—Local Readings and performance artists! Save the Date!!  Email Kerry@SNG.org if you want to get involved or want to sign up to participate.

II. SNG Committee Calendar

-Crime and Safety Committee –  November 14 

7:00 PM, Matthews Center, 2318 29^th Ave. S. 

FFI, contact committee chair Kathy Sikora at ksikora@me.umn.edu

-Community Development Committee – October 11

7:00 PM, Matthews Center, 2318 29^th Ave. S.

FFI, contact Doug Wise at doug@sng.org

-History Committee – Oct 5

6:30, SNG office, 2323 E. Franklin Ave.

FFI, contact Dick Westby at sandrich22@comcast.net.

-Seward Arts Crawl/Festival-October 13th

            7PM Matthews Center 2318 29^th Ave. S

            FFI contact Kerry Cashman @ kerry@sng.org or 612-338-6205

-Environment Committee Meeting – October 24

6:55PM , SNG office, 2323 E. Franklin Ave.

FFI, contact committee chair Carol Greenwood at carolgwood2@gmail.com

-Board of Directors Meeting – October 26

7:00 PM, Seward Towers East, at the intersection of 30th and Franklin Avenues

Board meetings are open to the public—all residents and those who work or own property in Seward are invited to attend.  FFI, contact board chair Sheldon Mains, smains@visi.com.

II. Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership News

Thank you to Common Ground who raised $10,000 to be shared by 6 local organizations, including  SLRJP, at the first annual “Festival of Giving and Receiving,”.   

 Thank you to Longfellow resident, Karl Jones, for selecting SLRJP as the recipient of donations at an annual classical music concert.  We raised over $1400 and spread the word about restorative justice.

Advisory Committee is open to anyone with a stake in Seward or Longfellow who wants to help set the direction for our program.  Next meeting is Monday, October 10 from 6:30-8p at Longfellow Park (3435 – 36^th Avenue) 

For more information about restorative justice, SLRJP and how you can get involved, contact Michele Braley at michele@sng.org or 612-338-6205 x108

III. Community News and Events

.

Midtown Farmers Market Expands Shopping Dollars!  

In 2006, the Midtown Farmers Market (MFM) became the first market in Minnesota

to accept EBT/Food Stamps. Now, for the second year, MFM will match the first $5 customers spend on their SNAP-EBT cards with $5 in Market Bucks coupons. This means up to $10 of free market goods each week! Customers can use these Market Bucks on fresh and local market goods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheese, and bread. The market is located at E. Lake St. and 22^nd Ave. S on Tuesdays (3-7) and Saturdays (8-1). Come by and take advantage of this great deal!

Farmer’s market each Wednesday in Seward

Free Lead Paint Testing

If you meet the following criteria, you may be eligible to receive new windows through a Hennepin County grant program:

·        Home built before 1978

·        A child (5 or under) lives in or frequently visits your home

·        Live in Hennepin County

·        Meet certain income qualifications

Call Sustainable Resources Center at 612-872-3281 to schedule a free home visit! Communication available in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.

Worried About Your Mortgage?

You’re not alone. Just since January of 2011, 3 of our neighbors in Seward have lost their homes to foreclosure, and we know many more are still struggling to keep up.

If you’re behind on your mortgage—or worried that you might not be able to make future payments—a nearby, HUD-approved non-profit (PRG, at 2017 E. 38^th Street) can help. 

PRG was started in 1976 by a group of neighbors in the Powderhorn Park area—the original name was Powderhorn Residents Group. Today, the organization serves many neighborhoods in and near Minneapolis, and their services are available to all Twin Cities residents, with no minimum or maximum income limit.

PRG’s counselors will take a look at your household finances, help you figure out what your options are, and then work with you toward a solution. This service is free. 

You can work with a counselor whether you’re already in the foreclosure process or are still current on your payments and worried about the future. Of course, the sooner you take action, the more options you have, so it’s best to start working toward a solution right away.

Unfortunately, there are also companies out there who are looking to take advantage of homeowners who are facing the possibility of foreclosure. Beware of organizations that charge money for counseling. And be very wary of anybody offering a “quick fix” or a “buy back” deal. These “services” take advantage of homeowners’ desire to find a solution quickly, and they can often leave you worse off than you started. 

To set up an appointment with a counselor at PRG, call (612) 721-7556, or visit prginc.org for more information.

Financing Now Available for Residential Energy Efficiency Upgrades

The Center for Energy and Environment now offers 0% financing to qualified homeowners of single family owner occupied residences statewide.  Designed to address the needs of homeowners prior to the winter, this program offers 0% financing for many energy efficiency upgrades including air sealing, insulation, windows, high efficiency heating systems and more.  Insufficient insulation is the main cause of ice dams which created huge damage to homes across Minnesota last year.   Did you know that it only costs approximately $2-3,000 to have the average home’s attic air sealed and insulated?   That’s about $85/month for 3 years at no interest for peace of mind this winter.  The chart below identifies the monthly payments associated with the corresponding loan amount.  CEE offers up to a $20,000 loan amount for this program.

Art Crawl registration form.doc Download this file