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Published: 26 March 2020

Online Premiere of "The Wall: Stories of the 2018 Minneapolis Homeless Camp"

   Due to the rapid ride of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film industry is rethinking the method by which it reaches consumers. With the majority of theaters closed due to social distancing, some movie distributors are postponing planned releases of new films.

   Others, including Mound-based The Periphery Media, are moving to online distribution. The company celebrated the online debut of its documentary, "The Wall: Stories of the 2018 Minneapolis Homeless Camp,” the evening of Mar. 27, airing in its entirety on The Periphery’s YouTube Channel, which can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/c/theperiphery

   As a YouTube premiere, viewers were able to live-comment throughout the film, after which there was an hour-long Q&A featuring Ferdig and area leaders working on issues covered in "The Wall."  In addition to the film's release, film producer Brandon Ferdig is using the event as a fundraiser for organizations helping those facing homelessness and poverty--a growing concern during this shutdown.

   Here is a link to the Facebook page for the film: https://facebook.com/events/s/the-wall-online-premiere-and-c/206683447250406/?ti=as

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Published: 20 March 2020

Flowers Have the Power to Make People Smile

   The COVID-19 crisis has caused cancellations all across the country. Pretty much all social gatherings big and small are being put off, including what has become one of the most popular events of the year in Edina. The Galleria 2020 Floral Experience with Bachman’s was supposed to run from Mar. 29 to April 12. The event would have featured 4,000 brightly-colored flowers set up throughout the Galleria’s public spaces for guests to enjoy. This year’s event theme was intended to be “Sugar Coated."

   Rather than let the flowers grown specifically for the event go to waste, the decision was made to sugar-coat the situation and donate ALL of the flowers. Most went to Twin Cities nonprofits, and there were enough left over for every resident of The Waters’ nine Minnesota communities to receive a surprise delivery at their door.  Deliveries were  made to each of the company’s senior living communities on March 20,, and more than a dozen media outlets were there for the deliveries. In the Twin Cities, stories aired on KARE-TV, KSTP-TV, WCCO-TV and KMSP-TV.  Print stories have published in the Star Tribune and MN Sun Current (Edina),  Southwest Journal, , MN Sun Sailor - Plymouth , MN Sun Sailor - Eden Prairie, Highland Villager and White Bear Press. In Rochester, stories ran in the Rochester Post Bulletin, as well as KTTC-TV, KIMT-TV, KAAL-TV, and KXLT - FOX - TV

   In addition to The Waters on 50th in Minneapolis, flowers were also dropped off at The Waters of Eden Prairie, The Waters of Edina, The Waters of Excelsior, The Waters of Plymouth, The Waters of Highland Park, The Waters of Oakdale, The Waters of White Bear Lake and The Waters on Mayowood in Rochester.

    “ The goal of the floral experience is to bring an early touch of spring and make people smile.  While that won’t be happening in the Galleria, we certainly hope to still bring smiles to the community,” said Rachel Oelke, Marketing Director, The Galleria.

   “I’m comforted knowing that the beauty of these flowers will be enjoyed during times that are uncertain,” said Karen Bachman Thull, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications for Bachman's Floral, Home & Garden. 

      “We feel so fortunate to be beneficiaries of this generous donation from The Galleria and Bachman’s. I can’t wait to see the smiles on the faces of seniors when their flowers are delivered to their apartments on Friday afternoon,” said Lisa Bien-Sinz, Vice President of Marketing for The Waters.