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Welcome to our weekly newsletter! If you're new here, on Fridays we share things we've published this week alongside things to do for the weekend.
While we have you here, we are curious how parents and caregivers are feeling about the potential Minneapolis Public School teacher/ESP strike. If you are a parent or caregiver we'd love to know how you are feeling about students being out of school if there is the strike. Reply to this email or text us at 612-204-2887.

Here's a roundup of what we published this week

Lindsey West, a teacher at Clara Barton Community School, wrote about what it's been like trying to teach and connect with students during the pandemic. She says that experience is why she voted to authorize a teacher/ESP strike. "We're not asking for the moon. We're asking for realistic things that would make the lives better of the students we love so dearly."

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‍People utilizing a wheelchair, motorized scooter, stroller, or any other mobility assistance may find that major parts of the city become inaccessible for chunks of the winter months due to inconsistent shoveling. I wrote about a campaign to bring municipal shoveling to the city's high-priority pedestrian corridors.  The campaign's goal is to make the sidewalks more accessible by having the city take charge of clearing snow in high-traffic areas
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Yesterday we published the latest feedback we've received on our articles and the topics we've addressed. We always appreciate receiving your feedback so keep sending in your perspectives.
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Charlie and I met Ayman Samie, owner of Espresso Coffee, when we were walking around the Stevens Square area. Samie's story is a fascinating one. Read Charlie's interview with him.  
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Our daily newsletters covered a variety of other topics this week. People enjoyed reading the March birding report published by Explore Minnesota. We began the week with some good local news about COVID-19 rates, a new CDC community level reporting tool. We followed the Minneapolis boys hockey game this week, and their win is sending them to the state playoffs. If MPS teacher/ESP strike happens next week, the Star Tribune reports that the team will still play in the playoffs.

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OUT & ABOUT 🛵

Charlie restocked our events calendar with a ton of unique events around town. You can subscribe to the calendar so the events go straight to your phone calendar. 🤯

Friday
Tonight at Driftwood Char Bar features an all-teacher cover band, Old School, from Burnsville. Also performing is the blues rock band The Hazy Phase, Later in the evening, 7000apart and Vinnie Franco are playing.

Saturday
There is a Midwinter Folk Music Festival happening at the American Swedish Institute this weekend. There is a virtual option to watch and listen from home. (Melody, future Swedish reality TV star, and Charlie approved)

Andrew is excited about the Minnesota United home opener at 5 p.m. Come on you Loons!

Charlie is looking forward to supporting those who are raising money for Special Olympics Minnesota by jumping into Bde Maka Ska at 10:30 a.m. Have you ever jumped into a frozen lake?

Melody is stoked for Modist Brewing's celebration of International Women's Day and its new Brave Noise Pale Ale from 2- 6 p.m. Brave Noise was brewed by the women and gender non-conforming folks at Modist and their friends. During the event,  $1 of every pint sold during the event will go to and now she rises, a non-profit  working to "change the narratives of abuse survivors from victimhood to victory." A portions of the proceeds from the beer benefit Brewing Change Collaborative, which works to foster the inclusion and equity of people of color in the brewing and beverage industries.  

Sunday
COOKIES! Girl Scout Troop #14798 will be selling cookies in the Plymouth Congregational Church parking lot, on the corner of Nicollet and Franklin from 1-3 p.m.