Volunteer Spotlight - Martha Hrcnir

by Aryca Myers

Painter, knitter, gardener, advent calendar aficionado, and piñata creator extraordinaire; LNA volunteer Martha Hrncir serves Lyndale with humor and creativity.

A member of the Environment Committee, block club leader, and constant supporter of LNA community events, she initially became involved in the neighborhood after attending a standing room only meeting about the controversial street light issue about ten years ago. Thinking, “Wow, this is a cool neighborhood: everyone’s here!” she was hooked and has continued to use her skills and talents for the betterment of Lyndale.

Born and raised around the D.C. area, Martha studied art at university in Colorado. Driving out to Colorado she says, “As we traveled west the radio slowed, the pace slowed”, which is just how she likes it. Dense, crowded, and busy gave way to open and relaxed. After moving to Florida, she returned to the Midwest in search of seasons, which she missed while down south.

Settling in South Minneapolis, she also briefly lived in a northern suburb, but returned to the area because she wanted her family to experience the richness of diversity here. A Lyndale resident for over 20 years, Martha loves the neighborhood because you “never have to leave here! There is a park, a school, you can get anything you need.” As a volunteer and block club leader, Martha “likes being informed, letting others be informed about what the neighborhood has to off er.” From helping out at Fish Fest to organizing her block’s National Night Out (NNO) Party, she lives by the adage that “if things are going to get done, somebody’s got to do them!” And do things she does!

If you’ve been around Lyndale you’ve probably seen her working on her yard, the raingarden, other people’s gardens, or hanging one of her piñata masterpieces at the 3500 Pillsbury block NNO party. Martha is currently working on a series of paintings that feature sights from around the neighborhood and surrounding areas. Working with oil paint, she favors landscapes but may one day tackle portrait painting.

When asked what she likes best about the neighborhood, she responds emphatically, “the people!” Although Martha sees room for some senior programming and would love to see better access for wheelchairs on sidewalks and curbs, when asked what else she’d like to see in Lyndale she says, “From where I’m sitting, wow, it looks pretty good!”