It’s been one year since the collapse of the I-35W bridge, an event that touched many Bridgelanders with special strength because it occurred in our corner of the city. Over the year, we’ve witnessed firsthand the destruction, the search and rescue, the media onslaught, the challenges of extra traffic and construction, and the dramatic rise of the new bridge, now expected to be completed as early as mid-September.

While we’re all looking forward to the opening of the new bridge, the one thing many will miss is the delightful presence of Roger Brown.

Brown works as a security guard for Flatiron-Manson, and he can be found every weekday morning monitoring the access roads near the north end of the Stone Arch Bridge. He’s the guy giving a big wave to everyone who bikes, walks or rollerblades by. “Good morning!” he shouts. “Have a great day!”

Brown began work at his post in March, and as a daily bike commuter from Marcy-Holmes to my office Downtown, I was startled at first by this friendly man in the hard hat who always seemed so happy to see me. I have to admit I was a tinge disappointed when I noticed he was just as happy to see everyone else, giving them the same enthusiastic greeting.

I soon realized, of course, what good cheer he was spreading to everyone who passed his way. I’ve watched him chat with businesspeople in suits and ties, parents pushing strollers, students biking to the university and quite a few tail-wagging dogs.
I asked Roger if he wasn’t really hired to do public relations, but he laughed and insisted his job was to keep folks from wandering down to the construction site and getting in the way of the workers. “They’d just be disappointed because you really can’t see anything from down there,” he said. “I tell them they’ll get a much better view from the 10th Avenue bridge.”

His friendly greetings are just something he enjoys, he says. “It makes the time go quickly,” he said. “And you know, it’s so much easier to smile than to frown.”

Roger says he’ll be at his job for a few weeks past the completion of the new bridge.

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School is still a month away, but local supporters of the Minneapolis Public School district’s “Strong Schools, Strong City” referendum campaign are already busy planning events to raise awareness about the need to provide more funds to the Minneapolis schools, an issue that will be on the ballot in November. One of the first house parties was held July 13 at the home of Kate and Jeff Towle of East River Terrace. See Kate Towel’s op-ed piece on page 6.

On a beautiful summer afternoon, attendees enjoyed refreshments, took part in a vigorous discussion about the referendum and were treated to a dynamic performance by The Cowardly Lions, a rock band composed of students from Marcy Open School. The band, which performed such favorites as Wild Thing, Knock on Wood and Seven-Nation Army, delighted the crowd, including U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, a co-chair of the referendum campaign. –
Congratulations to South High junior Sade Ogundiran, who took first place in the senior individual exhibit category at the National History Day competition, held June 15–19 at the University of Maryland. Ogundiran’s exhibit was titled We Will No Longer Accept Compromise: Fannie Lou Hamer, the Voice that Inspired Freedom Summer. Her first place finish earned her a trophy and a cash award of $1,000. Gary Waelhof of South also placed highly, finishing in eighth place in the senior individual exhibit category.

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Christ Church Lutheran in the Longfellow neighborhood will host a festive reception on Aug. 17, following the 9:30 a.m. service to honor Pastor Norman D. Kretzmann, who is celebrating the 65th anniversary of his ordination and his 90th birthday. Pastor Kretzman served the congregation from 1964 until 1981. He and his wife Jeanette continue to be active members.
In addition to his service at Christ Church, Pastor Kretzmann is well known for his work with Lutheran Social Service and as founding president of Metro Lutheran, a monthly publication for metro-area Lutherans. The congregation invites the community to join in the celebration. The church is located at 3244 34th Ave. S. –

Another Longfellow-area church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 E. 31st St., is pleased to announce the arrival of their new pastor, the Rev. Jay M. Carlson, who began his ministry at the church on June 25. Pastor Carlson is a 2003 graduate of Luther Seminary and served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Vincennes, Ind., for the last four years.
Pastor Carlson’s tenure follows that of Pastor Ron Johnson, who served Holy Trinity for 32 years.

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Congratuations to Peggy Metzer, CEO of the Cedar-Riverside People’s Center (CRPC), who has been recognized by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as an “industry leader” among successful businesswomen in Minnesota. Patricia Kelly, board chair of the CRPC, said, “Peggy has been at the forefront of the revitalization of this organization and has worked extremely hard to ensure the success of our clinic.”

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And finally, a big congratulations to Marcy-Holmes residents Cork and Harriet Johnson, who recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The lovely couple enjoyed a special celebration with their children and grandchildren at Lutsen, on the North Shore.

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Do you have community news you’d like to share? Send it to me, Linda Lincoln at lmlincoln@comcast.net. You can also call 612-379-4301.

last revised: August 11, 2008

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