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Friday, May 27, 2011

Klobuchar Tours Tornado-damaged Water Plant in Fridley

Sen. Franken was also at Minneapolis' facilities in Fridley.

Both of Minnesota's U.S. senators were in Fridley Friday morning, visiting City of Minneapolis facilities along the Mississippi River in Fridley's far southwestern corner. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL) toured tornado damage at the Fridley campus of the Minneapolis Water Works while Sen. Al Franken (DFL) met with local officials inside the City of Minneapolis Emergency Operations Training Facility. "I was glad and heartened that it wasn't so much worse," Klobuchar said in an interview after the tour. 'Important Structure' Still, she cited several examples of the storm's power that she learned of during the tour: winds tossing heavy equipment inside a Fridley industrial building and damage that rendered a century-old brick chimney at the water …

In this Article:

Roundup: Tornado Coverage Across Patch and Viewfinder: U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison on Tour of Fridley Tornado Sites

Thursday, May 26, 2011

See the City of Fridley's Tornado Map

It's a detailed view of the diagonal swath the tornado cut through the city.

Here is the map of tornado destruction in Fridley produced by the City of Fridley. City crews are picking up wood debris left at the curb from residents and property owners within the tornado zone.  The map shows that Sunday's tornado had a remarkable ability to stay within the city limits of Fridley once it crossed the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, where it was at its worst. It continued its northeasterly 14-mile run in Spring Lake Park, Mounds View and Blaine. Much more information is available at the City of Fridley's Storm Cleanup web page.

In this Article:

Fridley Collecting Wood from Tornado-downed Trees Through May 31, Updated: Tornado Hits Fridley, National Weather Service Survey Team Assessing Fridley Tornado Damage, and 1 more ›

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Q&A: Fridley Police on bullet holes, internal probe and chase charges

Fridley Patch posed three quick questions for Fridley Police.

Fridley Patch asked Fridley Police Lt. Mike Monsrud three questions about ongoing cases involving the department. Fridley Patch: Has the department finished its internal investigation into that recent misconduct charge? Lt. Mike Monsrud: We should wrap up the investigation later this week. Fridley Patch: Has the department received tips related to the bullets fired at a house? Monsrud: We have not received any tips or new information on the shots fired at the house. Fridley Patch: Did the department ask the Anoka County Attorney to file charges against the suspect who allegedly swerved toward a Fridley officer in a squad car during a high speed chase? Monsrud: The case has been sent to the Anoka County Attorney’s office for review. I would…

In this Article:

Updated: Sheriff's Probe Finds Police-misconduct Charge 'Unfounded', Fridley Police Seek Tips on Bullet Holes in Home, and Fridley Police Aim to Add Assault Charge Against Resident For Veering Toward Squad

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

City Council OKs Ban on Parking That Blocks Mail Delivery

You can still park next to a mailbox—just not when the postal carrier is coming.

The City of Fridley wants to make sure you get your mail. The Fridley City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance Monday that would ban parking in front of a mailbox between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding federal holidays, in a way that blocks the mail carrier from delivering mail. The ordinance allows parking in front of a mailbox during those hours—unless the mail carrier is trying to deliver mail. “If you are parked in such a way that obstructs or interferes with mail delivery, that’s a violation of the ordinance,” said Fridley Director of Public Safety Don Abbott. Over the years, the Fridley Police Department has dealt with complaints from residents that they didn’t get their mail delivered that day because …

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Fridley City Council Agenda: Pigeons Put Off Again?

Action set on transit-oriented zoning but not on pigeon-keeping.

On Monday the Fridley City Council will take its second and final vote on a proposed transit-oriented development zone around the Northstar Commuter Rail station. But a vote on renewing a pigeon-keeping license is likely to be tabled again, due to city staff's difficulty in reaching the license-holder. Another item is a petition from the owner of a vacant just south of I-694 on Seventh Street NE to vacate an undeveloped stretch of platted street to create a bigger, developable parcel. And the council will take its final vote on a proposed ordinance to ban parking near mailboxes that prevents the delivery of the mail. Below is the agenda for the May 9 council meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at council chambers at City Hall. For details, …

In this Article:

Hyde Park Neighborhood in Zoning Hot Seat, Northstar Rail Trips to and from Fridley Up by 10 Percent over 2010, Fridley Municipal Center, and 1 more ›

Friday, April 29, 2011

Summer ROCKS for Kids in Fridley Program

Kids get special destinations and parents get peace of mind.

  • THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
  • Friday, April 29, 2011

Are you looking for something to keep your kids busy and active this summer? The Fridley Parks and Recreation Department is once again offering the popular summer ROCKS program for kids completing kindergarten through seventh gradd this school year. The ROCKS program meets Monday through Friday for nine weeks of continuous recreation and enrichment activities. The program is based at the Fridley Community Center and Commons Park, but Wednesdays are field-trip or special-event days. Kids will get a chance to visit places such as Hyland Park, Cinema Grill, Valleyfair, Bunker Beach, Nickelodeon Universe, Vertical Endeavors, Cascade Water Park and more. This low-cost program ($125 per week) offers children opportunities to participate in clubs…

In this Article:

Fridley Community Center and Commons Park

Courtney Rathke

4:44 pm on Friday, April 29, 2011

Our kids participated in the ROCKS program for many years and always enjoyed the variety of activities offered. The activities change weekly, so they never got stale.   more ›

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Northstar Rail Trips to and from Fridley Up by 10 Percent over 2010

Fridley, the last stop before Minneapolis, is still Northstar Commuter Rail's least-busy station.

Trips to and from Fridley on the Northstar Commuter Rail line increased by 10 percent in the first three months of 2011, compared to the same period last year. Fridley, the final stop before inbound trains reach downtown Minneapolis, is Northstar's least-busy station, accounting for only about 5 percent of ridership. But the station's ridership outpaced the 6 percent growth the rail line as a whole saw in the first quarter. In January through March this year, Fridley saw 7,936 trips made, up from 7,192 in 2010. Neither year's ridership figures for the first quarter included fans attending Minnesota Twins games, who boost the rail line's numbers during the long baseball season beginning in April. 'Long Curve' Northstar Commuter Rail and the…

In this Article:

Fridley Remains Least Active Station on Northstar Line, Hyde Park Neighborhood in Zoning Hot Seat, and Totino Grace High School

Amy Paddock

3:50 pm on Wednesday, May 4, 2011

I think we should make effort to use the train. Every year our need for energy rises in the US. Even with alternative energy sources being implemented, costs for transportation rises - and then there is a pollution problem. Doesn't matter if you believe in climate change or not - the dependency and other pollution is enough to think about making a few adjustments. Making this type of …   more ›

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Document: Fridley Council Renews 13 Liquor Licenses

The Fridley City Council renewed 13 existing liquor licenses Monday.

The Fridley City Council renewed the 13 liquor licenses in the city at its meeting Monday, but only after some grumbling about police calls at G.B. Leighton's Pickle Park and the Shortstop's food-drink ratio. The 40 police calls last year at Pickle Park, 7820 University Ave. NE, represented a 60 percent increase over 2009. Council Member Ann Bolkcom called that "disturbing." The Shortstop Fridley, 1298 E. Moore Lake Dr., achieved the exact minimum ratio of food sales to liquor sales required by city code: 40 percent food, 60 percent alcohol. "A flag is raised for me at the Shortstop in Fridley when they're right on the numbers like that," said Mayor Scott Lund. "It's a little suspicious when it's 40-60." Council members praised a memo to …

In this Article:

GB Leighton's Pickle Park and Document: Fridley Council Renews 13 Liquor Licenses

Monday, April 11, 2011

The Week in Preview

Items for your agenda this week.

Here is a selection of events, meetings and other activities in and around Fridley over  coming weekdays. Monday, April 11: Board of Appeal and Equalization, 7 p.m. City Council, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12: Preschool Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13: Maintain Your Brain, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14: Red Cross Blood Drive, 1:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, April 15: Tell us what you're doing Friday in comments below!

In this Article:

Preschool Storytime, Maintain Your Brain, and Red Cross Blooddrive

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Potholes on the Mend in Fridley

City crews take time and care to undo what cold and snow do to streets.

The good news passed from one customer to another at a Fridley coffeeshop last week with the excitement of a Santa-sleigh sighting: "They're filling potholes!" Indeed, a city crew was cruising streets in the North Industrial Area, finding pits and quickly ladeling them full of hot-mix asphalt. "Our biggest battle is with water and cold temperatures" that create and enlarge potholes via the freeze-thaw cycle, said Fridley Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar. Fridley workers heat the edges of deep holes for a longer-lasting fix. "The objective is to try to be there once," Kosluchar said. "We probably take a little more time and care." He contrasted the city's approach with the hurried and very temporary "throw and go" method of filling …

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