Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein at Lowry Avenue Harvest Festival

Today was the 2nd Annual Lowry Avenue Harvest Festival at the up-and-coming intersection of Penn and Lowry.  The day turned out to be beautiful and perfect for a high turnout.  Hennepin Commissioner Mark Stenglein was one of several V.I.P.s greeting the festival participants and thanking the community.  Here, he is giving an exclusive greeting to the Johnny Northside audience.  Look for more write-ups and photo journals on numerous NoMi blogs and publications soon!

By the way, Mark Stenglein is up for re-election this November and although his challenger may have an uphill battle in my eyes, Commissioner Stenglein expressed his thoughts that he never under estimates his opponents and he is working hard to earn each and every vote so he can return to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners this November. 
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More Images Of The Lowry Bridge Implosion... (Summer Visitation 2009)

Here are a few more images of the Fathers Day bridge implosion I wanted to share...

In the top photo, some spectator made a little boat out of a piece of wood and a feather, and sent it floating down the river. In the next image, workers at the scrapyard wait and watch for the bridge implosion.

In the third photo, a Hennepin County Sheriff's Department vessel, patrolling the river. There were many boats with spectators, including what appeared to be rented canoes, next photo.

In the next photo, my son holds shells found along the river. The next image captures some of the litter which was, well, everywhere. You really have to wonder why snack food companies don't use biodegradable bags made of corn starch polymer, but I guess the people who make Cheetos just don't give a rip about the environment. I picked up a few pieces of litter, but found myself wishing I'd brought a bag, so I could make myself productive while waiting for the demolition.

The last two pictures show my son right after the demolition. The demolition was VERY COOL.

Lowry Avenue Bridge Goes Down, Here Is Video...(Summer Visitation 2009)

After decades of conflict, North Minneapolis and "Nordeast" finally got divorced and went their separate ways with the destruction of the Lowry Avenue Bridge. It happened several minutes after 9 o'clock.

Bystanders gathered on the riverbank and in boats had no last-second auditory countdown or warning the implosion was about to take place, though sirens sounded a few times at seemingly random intervals shortly before the demolition, which appeared to last all of two seconds. The event would have been much more satisfying if the people in charge had more of a sense of showmanship. I'm just saying.

My son Alex is in the foreground, to the left. What a great Fathers Day! 

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