People and butterflies connect at Minneapolis Monarch Festival

BY TESHA CHRISTENSEN, TC DAILY PLANET

September 13, 2011

People of all ages and backgrounds came together on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at the Monarch Festival on Lake Nokomis to share their love for the monarch butterfly.

That’s what Lis Young-Isebrand of the Monarch Lab at the University of Minnesota loves about this annual event.

“One of the best parts of the Monarch Festival for me is when I witness kids and adults becoming empowered to help the monarchs that they love. Many participants were surprised to learn that monarch larvae only eat milkweed and that they can grow this beautiful plant in their yards! They get excited and I am quite sure that many of them will increase monarch habitat,” said Young-Isebrand.

During the monarch tagging, Young-Isebrand encouraged participants to touch the butterfly. “People are so gentle and respectful,” she observed. “It seems a real connection between this small insect and people is made once they are allowed to touch them.”

“We had a great time,” noted Crystal Wood of Minneapolis after she and her daughter created a mudball containing a milkweed seed to plant in their own garden.

The 2011 stage line-up featured performances by Mariachi Mi Tierra, the Javier Trejo Trio (Mexican/Americana), Larry Long (American folk), the Tropical Zone Orchestra (salsa), KetzalCoatlicue (Aztec dance), Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca (traditional dance), Larrie Yazzie (Native American Fancy Dance) and Batak (fusion jazz).

“Our show promotes the mutual sharing between people beyond boundaries,” observed Pedro Fonseca of the Tropical Zone Orchestra. “If the ecosystems and small creatures work in harmony, we should be able to do so.”

There were numerous activities, including the Butterfly Fun Run, canoe tours of Lake Nokomis, and guided tours of the NatureScape. The steamroller operated by ArtOrg and Grupo Soap del Corazon, rolled over special print blocks created by kids to make individual butterfly artwork. Local vendors sold Hispanic and American food.

The festival is organized by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association and Community Celebration of Place. Learn more at the bilingual web site: www.monarchfestival.org.

“The volunteers, participants and organizers all did a wonderful job celebrating and promoting conservation for the monarch.  Everything went smoothly and it is because of the hard work of the volunteers!” stated Young-Isebrand.

Copyright: 

 © 2011 Tesha M. Christensen

See photos @ HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/TCDAILYPLANET/SETS/72157627658567282/

See original news story @ http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/09/13/people-and-butterflies-connect-minneapolis-monarch-festival

On the flip side

It's an odd thing for a reporter to be quoted in another person's story. In the last two months, it has happened to me twice, both for Star Tribune stories, and both for stories about arson.

The first one was about the arson at the Isanti County Historical Society where I served as Board President for five years. I still help out with their PR.

http://www.startribune.com/local/125314573.html

The second time occurred because I posted something on the e-Democracy.org site about witnessing the fire at a vacant church building along 42nd Street in Minneapolis. In addition to quoting me, the Strib also posted a link to a video I took of the fire.

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/129645998.html

Here is my video:

Fire destroys church building in Minneapolis, arson suspected

BY TESHA CHRISTENSEN, TC DAILY PLANET

September 12, 2011

Firefighters battled a suspected arson fire in a vacant church at  at 3115 42nd Street in Minneapolis in the early morning hours of Monday, September 12. The fire was reported shortly after 2 a.m. (Additional photos below.)

According to investigators at the scene, there were multiple areas where the fire started, pointing to arson.

The building was constructed in 1911 and housed several churches over the years, including Across Nations Church and Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Most recently it was a furniture store.

Power was shut off to neighboring properties at 3:30 a.m. and was back on by 10 a.m.

See printed story at http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/09/12/fire-destroys-church-building-minneapolis-arson-suspected