Jaye McEvoy and Madison Kane Above, 7th graders Jaye McEvoy and Madison Kane proudly display their history project about Elvis. Excitement was in the air at South High as students from I all over Minneapolis, grades 6 and up, waited as their History Day projects were selected by members of the MN Historical Society to advance to the statewide competition. National History Day is a program that encourages students to explore a historical subject to an annual theme. Students have a choice as to the type of project to work on, whether it be an imaginative exhibit, original performance, documentary, or a historical research paper. History Day now boasts more than 700,000 students participating nationwide. In Minnesota, more than 25,000 students participated last year. (Photo by Sher Dain)

Pillsbury House serves vital needs of area residents

BY DENNIS GEISINGER

Pillsbury house supporters - (l to r) Roxanne Jan Horn, Mary Whitney, Syretha Bounds, Jessica Prendergast, Amelia Grieu, Robin Draper

Mary Whitney's telephone is always ringing. One recent Wednesday night at the Pillsbury House at 35th Street and Chicago Avenue, while surrounded by a close group of women who have dubbed themselves "Sisters at the Table," Whitney's cell phone started to ring—again. Whitney is a busy woman committed to her work at Pillsbury House, which provides important services for area residents.

The programs available at Pillsbury House range from early education childcare and after-school and summer youth programs, to home buying, tax preparation, computer, family health education, loan and health insurance enrollment assistance, as well as a Family Advocate Network System (FANS). The programs connect hundreds of metro residents to help that is sorely needed, and are all funded by outside public and private subsidies that have become scarcer than ever.

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Block Club leader training on April 25

If you are interested in joining other community leaders throughout the city to develop skills for effectively working with your neighbors, there is a new Block Club Leader training session on Wednesday, April 25, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The training will take place at the Minneapolis Police Department's 3rd Precinct Community Room at 3000 Minnehaha Avenue. You must RSVP to attend this training by calling 612-673-2839.

Topics to be covered include:
•How to organize a Block/Apartment Club
•Block Club Leader responsibilities
•How and when to use 911
•How to solve problems effectively

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{Runners, walkers and supporters of the Get in Gear Run/Walk event at |Minnehaha Park will have a scenic view on Saturday, April 28. There are three {levels of events: the 2K Fun Run at 8:30 a.m., the 5K Run/Walk at 9:50 a.m. land the 10K Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. For more info, call 612-722-9004.

May Day Parad workshops to begin April 7-Join the fun!

Beginning Saturday, Apr. 7 and ending Thursday, May 3, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) transforms its theater space at 1500 East Lake Street into a giant community art studio where parade artists and hundreds of people create the amazing May Day Parade puppets and floats.

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Mercury-free vaccines debated in MN Legislature - sensible but not easy to pass

by Leo Cashman

Tim Kasemodel, and his son, Tom who suffers from autism - which has been linked to caccines containgin mercury.

A bill introduced in the state Legislature would require that a mercury-free version of a vaccine be given whenever it is available to health care practitioners. If not available, then a vaccine containing mercury could be given.

But if the vaccine contains more than a trace of mercury (more than one microgram), the practitioner must disclose that "this vaccine contains more than a trace amount of the mercury compound, thimerosal." Thimerosal is a highly toxic substance.

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Safegaurd valuables in your garage

With our unusually warm winter, our community experienced an increase in thefts and burglaries from garages. Thieves' have little difficulty, finding things to steal. All they have to do is drive up and down alleys looking for open garage doors, or look through windows to see what's inside worth stealing.

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Click here for a list of Articles for April '07