The Minneapolis League of Women Voters hosted a forum Tuesday at the Northeast Library for City Council candidates in Ward 1. Four of the five candidates who will be on next Tuesday's ballot participated in the discussion. They were, in alphabetical order:

Thomas Alessi, Ron Paul Conservative
Mark Fox, Equity Advocacy Responsibility
Susan Howitz Hanna, Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Kevin Reich, Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Independent candidate Larry Ranallo was not present.

If signed into law as passed, by 2010 we should see many changes in the Fishing Contest rules, with guidance and support from Senator Satveer Chaudhary, Representative David Dill and Representative Larry Howes both the House and Senate sent a new Game and Fish bill forward. The contest modifications came about through the actions of anglers, working together with Legislators for changes. Fishing contests are an important part of angling in Minnesota, both economically and recreationally. Lead by an alliance of anglers active in the Northerns Inc, the Minnesota Bass Federation Nation, Muskie anglers and bow fishing groups; they spent hundreds of hours lobbying for change. As a result of this the rules have been relaxed and the fee’s reduced. Now it’s up to the contest/tournament anglers to conduct themselves ethically and professionally at public accesses and on the water.

So what will be different?

The contest application will be available on-line, thus streamlining the process and creating a Web page listing for all the contests Statewide.

A best practices certification program for fishing contest organizers will be developed by the DNR to ensure the proper handling and release of fish. Angling groups will be invited to help develop these practices.

Who will be required to obtain a permit will change. What’s new: Events with fewer then 25 boats or 150 ice fishing contestants will be exempt or if the contest is limited to rough fish; or the total prize value is $500 or less. Much of the old language of who is also exempt stays the same.

I expect the new electronic web permit system will be similar to Wisconsin’s and a series of questions will be asked, to determine who needs a permit.

Whittier Alliance May Day Soriee
Submitted by Rebeca Neamy
Date: Friday, May 1, 2009
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Blaisdell Manor
2322 Blaisdell Ave.
Minneapolis, MN

Come support the Whittier Neighborhood with a Happy Hour Benefit!

Sven Sundgaard will Emcee the event while Justin Thompson and Jason Heinrichs keep the lounge music flowing.

Food served with an International Flavor from Fabulous Eat Street Restaurants: Azia, Black Forest, Pancho Villa, It's Greek to Me, Peninsula Malaysian and Rainbow Chinese. Suggested donation for Happy Hour beverages.

The auction boasts of a variety of items from Eat Street Shops, Theater and Sporting Event Tickets, to a Flatscreen TV.

This is sure to be an event YOU WLL NOT WANT TO MISS!

Tickets $25 in advance $35 at the door.

Contact the Whittier Alliance at 612-871-7756 to purchase your tickets today.

Whittier Alliance May Day Soriee
Submitted by Rebeca Neamy
Date: Friday, May 1, 2009
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Blaisdell Manor
2322 Blaisdell Ave.
Minneapolis, MN

Come support the Whittier Neighborhood with a Happy Hour Benefit!

Sven Sundgaard will Emcee the event while Justin Thompson and Jason Heinrichs keep the lounge music flowing.

Food served with an International Flavor from Fabulous Eat Street Restaurants: Azia, Black Forest, Pancho Villa, It's Greek to Me, Peninsula Malaysian and Rainbow Chinese. Suggested donation for Happy Hour beverages.

The auction boasts of a variety of items from Eat Street Shops, Theater and Sporting Event Tickets, to a Flatscreen TV.

This is sure to be an event YOU WLL NOT WANT TO MISS!

Tickets $25 in advance $35 at the door.

Contact the Whittier Alliance at 612-871-7756 to purchase your tickets today.

Set aside the afternoon of February 14 for a romantic Valentines Day afternoon showing of "Apollo 13", the true story of love, romance, passion and adventure on a moon mission that encounters problems enroute. Don't worry kids, the adventure comes first and the mushy stuff is of the family variety concern for each other. A share of the ticket price helps send 42 great kids to spacecamp in Huntsville Alabama

Location the Parkway Theater 46th And Chicago Ave S
Minneapolis
Movie Starts at 1PM Tickets are 7$ each

Direct from Minnesota Fishing with My Fishing Pals

forum - DNR is selling off our land to balance the budget

DNR is being directed by the Governor and the Legislature to sell of public lands to pay down on the State Deficit. Some of this even comes from the Commissioner's Office. They have been doing this for several years. The proceeds from these land sales are going into the General Fund. Some of these public lands were purchased using Game and Fish Funds. Effectively we the anglers and hunters are funding sales of land put into things like WMAs, State Parks, State Forests and then parts are being quietly sold off and those sales dollars stolen from us. The old rob Peter to Pay Paul Game.

I’d like to urge you to support this bill. Please write, e-mail ,fax your State Senator. Many of us in the outdoors community are working hard to preserve, protect and acquire outdoor areas that will benefit future generations of Minnesotans. It makes no sense to sell off our future.

S.F. No. 353, as introduced - 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) Posted on Jan 28, 2009

1.1A bill for an act
1.2relating to natural resources; prohibiting sales of land within the outdoor
1.3recreation system for certain purposes;proposing coding for new law in
1.4Minnesota Statutes, chapter 86A.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 Section 1. [86A.055] PROHIBITION ON SALES OF OUTDOOR RECREATION  Read more...

Did you know that currently more than 26 million people have kidney disease, and most dont know it? At least 20 million more are at risk. That is 400,000 Minnesotans that have chronic kidney disease. This is why it is important to be screened.

The mission of the National Kidney Foundation is to prevent kidney disease, improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.

We raise money to provide free kidney screenings to those at risk. Those at risk include anyone with high blood pressure or diabetes, or a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease.

Our next free kidney health screening will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 from 3:00pm - 7:00pm at the Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church located at 2600 E 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or have any questions, please call 651.636.7300 or email nkf@nkfmn.org.

There is an informal poll located at My Fishing Pals that lets you vote for the funding or not. If you missed the original press release, you can still read it here...

Lot's of controversy folks, but it seems the general fishing population is going to vote yes. Links of interest...

Minnesota Fishing with My Fishing Pals
Controversial Forum
Minnesota Fishing Communities - Dedicated Funding?

The poll can be seen on every page.

(I-Newswire) - Minnesota Anglers are sharing mixed feelings regarding the proposed Dedicated Funding Amendment due on the ballot on November 4. The bill calls for a constitutional amendment raising the sales tax 3/8th of 1 percent and dedicate the $276 million in annual revenue to wildlife habitat, clean water, parks and the arts.

After a long 10 year battle the bill has finally found the legs to make its way to the ballot. While initially excited, some outdoor enthusiasts are critical of the spending proposal. Many remember the legislation passed for the state lottery in 1990 to be the miracle fix for the environment. Profits generated by the lottery were to fund the Game and Fish Fund, Natural Resources Fund and the Environmental Fund. Much of the lottery profit has been directed away from its intended environmental funds and Minnesotans are leary that history may repeat itself with the Dedicated Funding Bill.  Read more...

This was brought to our attention by a co-worker, so we can’t claim credit. The old “Fortana” at Hennepin & University is being erased by repairs. I don’t know what Fortana was. Signs from that era usually advertised flour, tobacco, beer, or undertakers. Safe to say that most of the people who used Fortana are long in the ground; it’s a miracle the sign lasted as long as it did – but that’s the side benefit of being a backwater neighborhood. When the place gets “discovered” and nice bars and nifty shops move in, you lose some of the history that attracted people to the area in the first place.

Since there’s no Twin Cities Ghost Sign Preservation Society, this will go unchallenged. Perhaps the owner realizes the virtue of a unique historical detail, and will repaint the sign in its original glory when the sandblasting’s done.

No, I don’t think so, either.

A Night To Say Good-Bye

By Tyzaguirre,

Vigils are as much about the survivors as the victims. Tonight the vigil was for 10 year-old Robert Shepard and his mother Katricia Daniels, and those they left behind... read the rest and view the video at:

http://mplsmirror.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=351&Itemid=1