Mystery House Tours at The Pond House
Mystery House Tours at The Pond House
Examine the historic Pond House as a history detective.
- Where is the secret compartment?
- Why are there 31 numbers on the clock?
- Why is there a wooden egg in Mrs. Pond's sewing basket?
Answer these and other curious questions to win a detective gadget!
Free program for all ages. No registration required. Drop in any time during the three-hour event.
Popcorn and Cranberries at the Pond House
Popcorn and Cranberries at the Pond House
Make a garland of popcorn and cranberries to string on your Christmas tree and/or to feed the hungry birds in your neighborhood.
This was a popular winter decoration in the homes of early settlers.
Free program. No registration required. Drop in any time during the 3-hour event.
Give a Mug a Rug at the Pond House
Give a Mug a Rug at the Pond House
Weave a mug rug with yarn on a cardboard loom, with guidance from historic fiber expert Pauline Bold.
You'll be following in the footsteps of Mrs. Pond who spun her own yarn and thread, wove it into cloth, and sewed clothing for her many children!
Samples of other types of small looms will be on display.
Free program for all ages. No registration required. Drop in any time during the 3-hour event.
Thanksgiving Bingo at Creekside
Thanksgiving Bingo at Creekside
Contact Information
Join us for gobbling good time playing Thanksgiving-themed Bingo!
- Cost: FREE.
- Registration: Required and accepted until event is full.
- For adults ages 50 and above.
- Space is limited.
- Register today at blm.mn/webtrac.
For more information or questions, contact Creekside at: 952-563-4944, MN Relay 711, or creekside@bloomingtonmn.gov
Beading with Carol Charging-Thunder
Beading with Carol Charging-Thunder
Make your own pair of dentalium shell earrings to take home with guidance from Lakota artist Carol Charging-Thunder.
Carol has been beading for over 50 years. Her work has been exhibited at the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth and was featured in an art exhibit developed by All My Relations Arts.
Free program. All materials provided. No registration required.
Drop in any time during the 3-hour event.
SAFER and Stronger: City of Bloomington Receives Grant to Hire 18 New Firefighters
SAFER and Stronger: City of Bloomington Receives Grant to Hire 18 New Firefighters
Bloomington, MN — The City of Bloomington is proud to announce that the Bloomington Fire Department has been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This grant will provide funding to hire 18 additional full-time firefighters, strengthening the BFD’s ability to meet the growing safety needs of the Bloomington community.
The SAFER grant provides funding to fully cover the wages and benefits of new firefighters over the next three years, significantly boosting the BFD’s staffing capacity. The hiring process is expected to begin within the next few months, with an anticipated start date for the new recruits around April 1, 2025. More information about the hiring process will be shared as details are finalized.
“The additional staffing will improve our response times and ensure that we can meet the growing needs of Bloomington residents,” said Deputy Chief Jay Forster. “We’re grateful for the support of the Mayor, City Council and Bloomington residents who have all played an important part in securing this funding.”
The SAFER grant marks a significant step forward in the BFD's ongoing mission to enhance service performance. Insufficient staffing in recent years has impacted the department’s ability to meet its response-time and staffing goals. The new hires will help address this by allowing the department to better meet safety goals and improve the quality of service for the Bloomington community.
This is the second time Bloomington has been awarded a SAFER grant. The City received its first grant in 2022, which also allowed the department to hire 18 full-time firefighters.
Visit FEMA's website for more information on the SAFER grant.
Media Releases
The City of Bloomington publishes media releases from time to time, to share newsworthy information that may be of interest to the community and to the audiences of local media outlets.
City of Bloomington receives national health and wellness award based on resident feedback and community data
City of Bloomington receives national health and wellness award based on resident feedback and community data
Assistant City Manager Kathy Hedin
Bloomington, MN—The City of Bloomington has been awarded a 2024 Voice of the People (VOP) Award by Polco and the International City/County Management Association, or ICMA. The City received the award in the category of Transformation in Health & Wellness. The VOP Awards are the only national awards that honor local governments based on resident feedback and community data.
In its award-winning application, the City highlighted the high marks it has received from residents through the National Community Survey and other surveys for being an excellent place to live and work.
The City also provided several examples of how it has improved its health and wellness services to the community, particularly in its COVID-19 response and in the areas of tobacco prevention and mental health. One result of this work is an innovative pilot in the Police Department to match licensed marriage and family counselors with students completing their clinical practice requirements. This partnership has helped individuals in crisis receive timely mental health support.
“Bloomington has always strived to be a place where people want to live,” said Assistant City Manager Kathy Hedin. “Polco has been an invaluable partner in understanding our community’s priorities and concerns. Their tools and insights have helped the City of Bloomington innovate and adapt our public health services to better serve the evolving needs of our community.”
Learn more about the Voice of the People Awards.
Learn more about public health in Bloomington.
Media Releases
The City of Bloomington publishes media releases from time to time, to share newsworthy information that may be of interest to the community and to the audiences of local media outlets.
Fix-It Clinic at Creekside
Fix-It Clinic at Creekside
Contact Information
Bring your broken household items to this free Fix-It Clinic and work together with friendly, skilled volunteers to diagnose, troubleshoot and repair your stuff.
Get help with:
- Small appliances & electrics
- Examples: Lamps, vacuum cleaners, fans, paper shredders, electric kettle, sewing machine, toys, blenders.
- Personal items and furnishings
- Examples: Clean clothing, jewelry, wooden furniture.
- Electronics and Mobile Devices
- Examples: Smartphone, tablet, laptop.
Items must be carry-in sized. Bring any parts or supplies that might be helpful in the repair effort.
Schedule
- Clinic Hours: 12 - 4 p.m.
- Last call for repairable items: 3:30 p.m.
Download, print and share the Creekside Fix-It Clinic flyer.
About Fix-It Clinics
Fix-It Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable things that are thrown in the trash. Events are held monthly in different cities around Hennepin County. For more information and a schedule of upcoming clinics, visit hennepin.us/fixitclinic or contact program coordinator Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.
No registration required.
Volunteers
Do you have skills in mechanical, electrical or computer repair, soldering, sewing or general tinkering? If so, volunteer to help others learn to repair their items. Please email nancy.lo@hennepin.us if you would like to volunteer!
Questions? Contact Creekside at 952-563-4944, MN Relay 711, or creekside@bloomingtonmn.gov.