Fourth Ward Report
Council Member Barbara A. Johnson
Phone: 612-673-2204
Web Page: minneapolismn.gov/ward4/
Contact Form: minneapolismn.gov/ward4/contact-ward4
2016 Paint-A-Thon applications available
Each year, on the first weekend in August, Metro Paint-A-Thon rallies volunteer teams from corporations, congregations and civic groups to paint the homes of seniors and people with disabilities. The program helps homeowners remain living independently in their own homes and improves neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area.
Paint-A-Thon welcomes referrals and accepts applications from all eligible homeowners. To be considered, completed applications must be received by April 14, 2016. Selected homeowners are notified by mail in early July of each year. For more info or an application, call 612-276-1579 or visit gmcc.org/paintathon.
EMS Pathways Academy
The Minneapolis Fire Department is taking applications from men and women ages 18-30 for a certification course in emergency medical services. The Fire Department offers the EMS Pathways Academy with Hennepin County Medical Center to train Minneapolis residents from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds as emergency medical technicians. Twenty-five candidates will be accepted into the program. Graduates of the program will get preference points on the next Fire Department entrance exam, which will take place in the spring of 2017. Graduates will be eligible to apply at HCMC for jobs in EMS, and if hired they’d have the option of further education for paramedic certification. There is no cost to trainees. Trainees will be considered part-time student interns of the City of Minneapolis and earn $14.93 hourly to take this college-level course two days a week for 12 weeks. The Minneapolis Foundation is providing financial support. For info visit minneapolismn.gov/fire or call 612-673-2890.
Rain gardens and beyond – $15 workshops
You can help keep our lakes, rivers and streams clean while creating a beautiful and pollinator-friendly habitat in your yard. Metro Blooms workshops offer the latest information on a healthy yard and combine a do-it-yourself approach with expert help to put “rain gardening” in the hands of gardeners and non-gardeners alike.
This three-hour workshop first gives participants an overview of raingardens and native plants, including design, installation and maintenance. In the second half of the workshop, participants receive recommendations for their property with one-on-one assistance from Metro Blooms Landscape Designers and Hennepin County Master Gardeners. For more info and to register, go to myraingarden.org or call 651-699-2426.
Earth Day Clean-Up
This year’s annual Earth Day Clean-Up is Saturday, April 23 from 9:30 a.m.-noon. It’s easy to get involved; no pre-registration is required. Arrive at any clean-up site and check in at the registration table. A site coordinator will give you gloves and bags, and instruct you where to go and where to leave trash. The annual event involves cleaning Minneapolis parks, neighborhoods, watersheds and water bodies including: the Chain of Lakes, Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha, Powderhorn Lake, Diamond Lake, Shingle Creek, Minnehaha Creek, Bassett’s Creek and the Mississippi River. For more information and to view site locations, visit minneapolisearthday.com. If you are interested in getting involved in Earth Day through site coordination, please contact Erica Chua, Community Outreach Event Coordinator at echua@minneapolisparks.org or 612-230-6479.
4th Ward E-Newsletter
Sign up for the 4th Ward email newsletter at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MPLS/subscriber/new?
Enter your email address; under “subscription topics” select “Ward 4-Barbara Johnson” under City Council then submit.