Brooklyn Center Business Association Blog

After its summer recess, the Brooklyn Center Women’s Club resumes its monthly meetings with a fall luncheon at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at the Community Center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway. The cost is $7. Members can pay annual club dues of $12 at this meeting. Bingo will be played. Those attending can sign up for the Wednesday, Sept. 29 trip, a tour of Lakewood Cemetery, lunch at Russell’s in Big Lake and a tour of the Church of St. Michael in St. Michael. The cost of the trip is $35.

The club is sponsoring a used book sale Friday, Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6311 Unity Ave. In addition to books, there will be CDs, DVDs, games, puzzles, movies and magazines for sale. For information on the book sale or to donate items call 763-537-0367. Money raised at the book sale will go to the club’s scholarship fund. Each year the club awards two or three scholarships to high school senior girls living in Brooklyn Center.

The Brooklyn Center Women’s Club promotes social, cultural and civic activities. Membership is open to any woman over the age of 21. Residency in Brooklyn Center is not required.

Information: 763-569-3400 or go to

www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org.

The Star Tribune reported Aug. 18 that construction of a 63,000 square-foot building at 71st and Brooklyn Boulevard will provide north suburban residents access to a full slate of Hennepin County programs without making a trip to downtown Minneapolis. The new facility will be an addition to the existing ISD 279 adult education building. The county will transfer 250 to 300 employees from Minneapolis to the new Brooklyn Center building.

In addition to the county services, the new building will be home to Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP). The community-based program started in Brooklyn Center and currently is located in Brooklyn Park.

The cost of the project is estimated at $11.6 million. If all goes as planned construction will begin in the fall of 2010 and take approximately 10 months to complete. For the full news story go to www.startribune.com.

Brooklyn Center businesses certainly will benefit from the presence of several hundred county employees in the city. The county service center will be a nice compliment to the government center at the Brookdale Library on Shingle Creek Parkway. With the new FBI building project on Freeway Boulevard getting underway this month, hundreds of construction workers also will be in the city for the coming year.

The Molasky Group of Companies, the U.S. General Services Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announce the formal groung breaking ceremonies for the FBI Minneapolis Field Office at 10 a.m. on Aug. 31. The event will be at 1501 Freeway Blvd. (kitty-corner from Brooklyn Center High School). Access to the event is from James Circle.

What’s happening with the property on 57th and Logan? Is the FBI building really going to be built? Is there a plan for the Superior Ford site? Any new news on Brookdale Center?
 
Come and hear the status of various redevelopment plans for Brooklyn Center at the August meeting of the Brooklyn Center Business Association.
Gary Eitel, Brooklyn Center’s director of business and community development, will provide insight into a variety of projects. Come with your questions and learn about what’s happening in the city.
 
Meeting date: Aug. 26
Place: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Freeway Boulevard.
Time: Registration starts at 11:30, lunch is served at noon.
Cost: $16 for BCBA members; $18 for non-members.
Reservations required and can be made on the BCBA web site www.brooklyncenterbusiness.com or by leaving a message at 763-503-1133.
Announcements can be made during the introduction portion of the meeting.

Prayers, comforting thoughts and sympathies go out to three members of the Brooklyn Center Business Association Board of Directors. Paula Helgerson lost her father, Teresa Schutz and Gena Johnston each their  mothers-in-law, all in the space of a few weeks. It is never easy to say good-bye  to those we loved and who were part of the fabric of our lives. No matter what the circumstances, there is sadness in the parting. Condolences to these BCBA members.

TwinWest Chamber of Commerce is leading the effort to develop a Web site devoted to gathering ideas and comments on uses for the Brookdale Center property. This will be a chance for members of the business community as well as residents to voice their opionions. More details will be posted here as well as a link to the new site as soon as it is ready. Get ready to make your voices heard. If you can’t wait, share your ideas here.

Two Brooklyn Center businesses received Minnesota Entrepreneur of the Year awards from Ernst & Young on June 11. The two local winners are Rollie Benjamin, Abra Auto Body & Glass, in the retail category and Omar Ansari, Surley Brewing, in the consumer products category. Eight businesses were selected from 24 finalists in the region (Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas). The winners will vie for Entrepreneur of the Year recognition Nov. 13 in Palm Springs, California at a gala hosted by Jay Leno. The eight winning businesses will be featured in the August issue of Twin City Business.
The annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards program, now in its 24th year, honors those who are building and leading successful, growing, and dynamic businesses. The award aims to encourage entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and to recognize the contributions of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership, and achievement.
The Brooklyn Center Business Association congratulates these outstanding local businesses.

There are several new employees at Earle Brown Terrace (EBT), a senior living community managed by Lang Nelson. Joni Oberg is the new housing administrator. She recently has been named to the Brooklyn Center Board of Directors.
Angie Tovsen is the new part-time receptionist.Karen Brajdich, who has been a volunteer at Earle Brown, is now working part-time as an Activity Assistant and will train as the front desk receptionist to provide back-up support when someone is ill or on vacation. Adrina Bailey is a part-time caretaker.

Earle Brown had an open house on June 5 welcoming the new employees to the Lang Nelson team. There were tours of the facility, treats and prizes. EBT also hosted community sing-along and ice cream social and a musical performance by Betty Rydell in June. For more information on EBT go to earlebrownterrace.com.

The annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Brooklyn Center is scheduled for July 9 at Brooklyn Center High School, 6500 Humboldt Ave. Events are on the football field. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Cancer survivors walk a Victory Lap at 6:15 to kick off the evening. Dinner tickets are $6. Luminarias will be lit at 9 p.m. For information call 651-255-8134 or email kenzie.vlack@cancer.org.

Cancer is a disease that touches virtually all families. This is a very moving evening. Come out for a few minutes or stay overnight. It is a good cause.

If you were not at the BCBA luncheon meeting today, you missed a good program. Karley Vogel brought us useful information on challenges facing returning military members and their families, especially when someone is deployed. There are a number of resources available to both the miliary and their families and for employers. For more information go to www.militaryonesource.com or call 1-800-342-8646. Help is available 24/7. The program for June will be an update of public safety issues in Brooklyn Center. We might get some information on how the search for a new police chief is going. Tommy Watson, principal at Palmer Lake Elementary School, is the speaker in July. He has an inspiring story to share on his success and the importance of mentoring children at risk. Gary Eitel, business and community development director for the city, will be on hand in August to provide an overview of projects underway and/or proposed. You won’t want to miss any of these informative programs. Don’t forget you can reserve your place at the luncheon online and use PayPal to pay for it.

Congratulations to Robert Marvin, principle electrical engineer, with R.J. Marvin & Associates Inc. He went back to work with our summer fun cooler loaded with goodies including an overnight stay at the Embassy Suites in Duluth and an oil change at Christy’s Auto in Brooklyn Center. Thanks to all who donated to the gift package. Welcome to Justin Loop, new manager of Applebee’s. Stop by and tell him hello.