Ely trip

Posted by Shek on June 23rd, 2008

Last weekend’s trip to Burntside Lake, near Ely, MN, was brief and packed with hiking, paddling, swimming, and brief rain showers/rainbows. It was a lot of fun.

Gas prices above $4.00

Posted by Shek on June 10th, 2008

Gas prices surpassed $4.00 per gallon last week and I finally encountered the price while filling up. Rest assured, my bikes are in working order.

Memorial Day bike ride

Posted by Shek on May 26th, 2008

It was a beautiful morning for a bike ride. Sunrise at Minnehaha Falls was beautiful. I then rode the length of the Midtown Greenway, which now includes the new Sabo Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge over both the light rail line and Hiawatha Ave/Highway 55.

35W bridge construction

Posted by Shek on May 26th, 2008

Ten months after the 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River and the new span is now taking shape.  I took the tour of the construction that is offered every Saturday.  It is impressive to see how quickly this bridge is being built.  I suppose that’s what happens when construction continues 24 hours each day.

To take the tour, meet on any Saturday at 11:00 AM in the parking lot next to Grandma’s in Minneapolis.

Urban Chicken Coop

Posted by Shek on May 22nd, 2008

The chairwoman of one of my committees, Rep. Phyllis Kahn, has a chicken coop in her backyard. The chicken coop, located on Nicollet Island, is in downtown Minneapolis. The coop was built in 2005 and each day more than 20 eggs are collected from the chickens, ducks, and geese she helps raise.

The Last Night of the Legislative Session - part 2

Posted by Shek on May 19th, 2008

After competing the prior day’s committee work at 6:00 AM, the MN House of Representatives came back into session at 1:00 PM. By midnight the legislature adjourned with very little discord.

The Last Night of the Legislative Session - part 1

Posted by Shek on May 18th, 2008

It was widely expected that May 17 would be the last day of the Minnesota legislative session. Ultimately, that was not the case. Negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders lasted throughout the night and this gave me time to explore the capitol.

Declaration of Independence

Posted by Shek on May 15th, 2008

A friend was married over the weekend at the Minnesota History Center. One of the first published versions of the Declaration of Independence, a Dunlap broadsheet, was on display.  The visit by this version of the Declaration coincides with the 150th anniversary of Minnesota’s admission as a state and is one of the History Center’s many sesquicentennial related events and displays.

35W Survivor bill passed

Posted by Shek on May 9th, 2008

Rep. Ryan Winkler and Sen. Ron Latz joined many survivors of the August 1, 2007 I-35W bridge collapse to witness Governor Tim Pawlenty’s signature of a legislative package that will help the survivors. I administer the committee in the House of Representatives that held the first two hearings about Rep. Winkler’s bill.

Spring is here!

Posted by Shek on May 5th, 2008

 

 

The dam at the Minnehaha Creek is open, the creek is flowing, there are buds in the trees, the grass is greening, and yesterday was the first day where it really felt like spring.  It was a perfect day for both a late lunch at Sea Salt and a walk along the creek.