Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Warming up the car? Be careful of theft

Now that the weather has changed and gotten colder, people are starting to warm up their vehicles. The Duluth Police Department would like to remind citizens not to leave their cars and trucks running unattended and un-secure. City ordinance restricts leaving your keys in an unattended vehicle under City Code 33-91, but if you choose to warm your car up or leave it running, at a minimum, roll up the windows and lock the doors.

Auto theft is often a crime of opportunity and citizens can help prevent auto theft by not giving a thief the opportunity to steal their car. Also, do not leave vehicles running and un-secure when going into the store. It only takes a person a few seconds to get into a running, unlocked car and drive away.

Incident: On 11/14/2006 Duluth Police received a report of a vehicle stolen from outside of a person’s home in the East Hillside during the evening hours. The vehicle was running, unattended and unlocked. Duluth Police later recovered this vehicle in West Duluth after a diligent citizen observed suspicious juvenile entering vehicles and contacted 911. Duluth Police Officers arrested the juvenile male and the investigation revealed he had stolen the above vehicle and also entered six other vehicles. Charges are being requested from the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Division.

Citizenship-Not to be Taken for Granted

By Sandy Robinson

In order to become a naturalized citizen of the United States, a person must first have status as a Permanent Resident. Permanent Resident status is achieved through a sponsor, who is either a US citizen or a Permanent Resident, filing a petition, which, if approved, allows a resident of a foreign country to apply for a visa to enter the US.

Once residing in the US for a determined number of years, a Permanent Resident can apply for US citizenship. An application with a fee is sent to the appropriate Federal office and processed. After acceptance of the application, the Permanent Resident is called in for fingerprinting and a photograph is taken. After processing of fingerprints, the Permanent Resident is given an appointment for an interview and must also demonstrate the ability to speak, read and write English and pass a civics test.

This requirement can be modified for persons over the age of 55 who have resided in the US as Permanent Residents for more then 15 years. If everything goes smoothly, the whole process can take about 6 months.

On Friday, November 3, 2006, 30 people representing the diversity that is enriching Northern Minnesota entered Court Room 1 of the United States District Court in the Federal Building at the Duluth Civic Center. With friends and family packing the courtroom, people representing more than 10 foreign countries took the oath of allegiance and became naturalized US citizens. Each new US citizen is given a certificate of citizenship, a US flag and voter's registration information. The group included local television personality, Barbara Reyelts and Hillside residents Paul Robinson and his son, Sean Robinson

Hillside father and son receive citizenship


Hillside father and son, Paul and Sean Robinson received Untied States Citizenship status on Fri, Nov. 3 in Duluth. The Robinsons immigrated to Duluth from Jamaica in 1998.
Paul works seasonally for the City of Duluth and performs with a local reggae band. He is married to Sandra Robinson.
Sean is a 2004 Duluth Central High School graduate and the first Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Scholarship recipient. He also received a scholarship from the Alan Page Education foundation. He is a sophomore at UMD majoring in mechanical engineering and is employed at Miller Dwan Hospital.
For a related story see Citizenship-Not to be Taken for Granted.

Free Medicare D Counseling

Free Medicare D Counseling
Offered by the Area Agency On Aging, Senior Linkage Line

It’s Time to Consider Your Options for Medicare Part D. The Annual Enrollment Period opens on November 15th and runs through December 31st for plans that go into effect on 1 January 2007. Now is the time to review your current needs to determine whether your plan is still working for you.

At Rainbow and Lincoln Park Centers volunteer counselors will utilize tools at www.Medicare.gov to help participants determine which prescription drug plan best meets their needs. Anyone who feels that a Medicare D plan will meet their needs can enroll during the appointment, or enroll at a later time. Anyone can use this web site to do individual research using the "Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder". At each community center site there will also be computers available for those who want to do the Medicare Part D program search independently without the assistance of a volunteer counselor.

Volunteer Counselors will help participants identify the best possible options for their individual circumstances. People using the computer to assess their options need to have a list of their prescription drugs and dosage instructions, or bring their prescription bottles with them to the computer lab.

At Rainbow Center, the lab will be reserved for Medicare Part D counseling on Mondays from 9 AM to 1 PM weekly through December 18. Appointments can be made for any Monday by calling 727-8147 Ext. 0 and talking to the volunteer receptionist.

At Lincoln Park Center the computer lab will be reserved for Medicare D counseling on Tuesdays from 11 AM to 3 PM weekly through December 19. Appointments can be made for any Tuesday by calling 722-4107 Ext. 0 and talking to the volunteer receptionist. Walk-ins can be accepted at each center between appointments.

Awards given at LISC Lucnheon



Duluth’s Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) awarded two groups and one individual at the annual LISC Celebration Luncheon on Nov. 1


Rick Ball, executive director of the Duluth Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA), accepted the first award on behalf of his governmental agency which develops and administers public housing.

Bruce Wyman, Executive Director of the Hillside Business Association, accepted an award on behalf of his organization, and was joined at the podium by HBA board members Henry Banks, Tammy Gosline, Gene McKeever and Claudie Washington. HBA was recognized for its role in saving the Fourth Street Market and helping it come under ownership by minority community members, for promoting the Fourth Street Redevelopment Plan, and for its advocacy on behalf of the Village Place Apartments and Chester Creek Bridge. HBA focuses on economic development, crime prevention and safety, storefront renovation and business retention efforts, and also participates in the At Home in Duluth initiative.


Scott Vesterstein, representing the private sector, received a Building Better Neighborhoods award for his work in At Home in Duluth neighborhoods and affordable housing initiatives through LISC-supported partnerships.


Also recognized at the luncheon for her service was outgoing LISC Local Advisory Board member Marti Buscaglia, publisher for the Duluth News-Tribune