HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 01-27 Friday Opinuendo: On coextrusion, traffic safety, public art and more... PIONEER PRESS2/1/2017 Friday Opinuendo: On coextrusion, traffic safety, public art and more... —Twin Cities
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Friday Opinuendo: On
coextrusion, traffic safety,
public art and more ...
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January 27, 2017 at 12:48 am
INVENTORS HALL NOMINEE
Congratulations to retired 3M scientist Dennis L. Krueger, who will be the 2016
inductee into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame.
Krueger's contributions spanned nine different technologies and all five 3M business
groups, the Pioneer Press reported this week.
The hall of fame, a nonprofit based in Redwood Falls, was established in 1976 to
honor inventors and draw attention to the economic and social importance of their
contributions to society, according to its website.
Krueger is known throughout 3M as the "Father of Coextrusion" — the process of
simultaneously manufacturing a film with different layers of properties — according
to Twin Cities Business. It reported Krueger has 70 patents to his name and that his
work is said to have generated more than $1 billion in product sales.
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2/1/2017 Friday Opinuendo: On coextrusion, traffic safety, public art and more... —Twin Cities
WORKING TOGETHER FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY
Law enforcement agencies in Ramsey County will be honored for outstanding traffic
safety enforcement and education efforts during 2016, the state's Department of
Public Safety announced last week.
The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office and nine partner agencies will receive the
"Toward Zero Deaths" Commissioner's Award at an event this summer. The partner
agencies are police departments in Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North
St. Paul, Roseville, St. Anthony, St. Paul and White Bear Lake, as well as the Minnesota
State Patrol.
The award highlights the exceptional partnership of municipal, county and state law
enforcement agencies working together on a highly visible, well-publicized traffic
safety enforcement program funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, says a statement.
"When multiple agencies work together on traffic safety, it creates life-saving results
for Minnesotans," Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mona Dohman said.
The agencies "are helping influence the decisions of people through personal
outreach and enforcement."
The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, the statement says, is lead agency in an
enforcement grant demonstrating that "improving safety on Minnesota roads takes
face-to-face outreach and enforcement to influence behaviors." The agencies' work
included focus on impaired driving, occupant protection (seat belts and child seats),
speed and distracted driving.
A MILESTONE FOR PUBLIC ART ST. PAUL
A milestone of note: 2017 is the 30th anniversary of Public Art St. Paul. The nonprofit,
"started as a seed planted by founder Christine Podas-Larson in 1987, has grown into
a multi -faceted organization, still true to its original vision of artists bringing their
ideas and talents to city -making," executive director Colleen Sheehy writes in its
winter newsletter.
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2/1/2017 Friday Opinuendo: On coextrusion, traffic safety, public art and more... —Twin Cities
The dream was to "bring artists to the table with city staff and elected officials,
people from businesses, nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations and
residents," Sheehy writes. "These powerful coalitions created great public spaces and
infused art into the everyday lives and spaces of St. Paul."
It has done so — to name a few— by restoring sculptures in public spaces around
town, imprinting poems on city sidewalks, creating Western Sculpture Park near the
state Capitol and hosting the memorable "Minnesota Rocks" symposium in 2006 that
brought sculptors from around the world to create works for St. Paul.
PORT PARTNERS
We mentioned in passing in an editorial this week the St. Paul Port Authority's
refreshed website at sppa.com. Among its features is some worthy recognition for
"Port Partners," with links to business, energy, environment, economic development,
government and other organizations.
Its work "would not be possible without the strong partnerships we have in both the
public and private sectors. Our successes are their successes," the Port Authority says,
recognizing the work its partners do to make St. Paul and Minnesota healthier and
more prosperous.
AN IMPRESSIVE YEAR
The St. Paul -based conservation nonprofit Great River Greening provided some food
for thought about the scope of its work in 2016 in a recent e -newsletter. Last year, it
"continued to get kids, families and communities outside, learning about science and
discovering the spark that ignites a lifetime of caring for our land and water," the
organization said.
Its report celebrated the work of 2,423 volunteers, more than 700 of them youth, who
restored or enhanced 1,667 acres and planted 27,371 native trees, shrubs and
wildflowers.
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Friday Opinuendo: On coextrusion, traffic safety, public art and more... —Twin Cities
Great River Greening also hosted a record-breaking total of 43 events, it says,
including new ones dealing with climate research, shoreline erosion and pollinators,
as well as a Million -Milkweed -Seed collection initiative.
Further, milkweed on the wind, Opinuendo sayeth not.
Pioneer Press Editorial Board
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