Parks Volunteer Recognition Program

With volunteer assistance, Saint Paul's Parks and Recreation Department is able to provide a wide range of educational and environmental initiatives that have greatly enhanced Saint Paul. Volunteers complement the abilities and work of our staff by expanding our reach and impact. The Volunteer Recognition Program is a way of saying thank you to those who contribute their time and effort.

Individual Volunteer Recognition Program
Eligibility and Guidelines
Participants who are registered under the St. Paul Parks and Recreation Volunteer Program as certified Park, Eco, or Garden Stewards are eligible. Volunteers must report their hours of service to the Volunteer Coordinator via phone, email, or log them remotely through our Volgistics tracking software. Hours are subject to approval by the Volunteer Coordinator.

Individual participants who complete 120 hours of volunteer service, approved by the Coordinator, are eligible for the following awards:

• 1 seasonal (3 month) individual or family aquatics membership valid at Great River Aquatic Center, Highland Aquatic Center, and the newly built Como Aquatic Center
• 1 all access membership valid at Oxford Community Center. Pass includes: walking track, fitness center, gym and water park
• 1 hanging basket (to hang flowers) (subject to availability)
• an award given out at the Coordinator's discretion

Group Volunteer Recognition Program

Eligibility and Guidelines

Groups who are registered under the Parks and Recreation Volunteer Program as certified volunteers or friends groups are considered eligible. Volunteer groups must report their hours of service on a consistent basis via phone, email, or log them remotely through our Volgistics tracking software. Hours are subject to approval by the Coordinator.

for example - here are Friends of Henry Park!

Groups that have shown a consistent volunteer effort within a designated park, and accumulated 120 or more hours of service are eligible to receive a "Park Steward" sign recognizing their efforts. Placement of the sign is negotiable but it must be approved. Certain restrictions may apply. The signs will remain within the park as long as the group continues to show a dedicated volunteer effort. Signs are removed when the group no longer maintains the park or does not continue to report hours. Corporate logos are subject to approval by the Department.

Submitted by Andy Rodriguez, Parks Volunteer Coordinator

Cooking Classes in District 1

The older girls operate the mixer.

In partnership with the Minnesota Project and the Minnesota Extension Service, we have been sponsoring free cooking classes for kids ages 7 - 15 years old in Highwood Hills. These classes teach kids how to cook from scratch, read a recipe, try things out, and clean up afterwards. There are lessons about nutrition and the importance of getting exercise as well as cooking right to stay healthy.

The younger girls try the smoothies!

These after school classes have been available free to the kids from Shamrock Courts and Afton View apartments. Joyce McGee-Brown, Extension Educator, has kept the kids entertained and engaged. They have cooked black bean soup, smoothies, chicken salad wraps and other delicious fare.

We are hoping to be able to continue these classes at other locations throughout the district.

Thanks to the Minnesota Project and especially to the Minnesota Extension Service!

Fundraiser for Local Tour of Historic Black Colleges

The Progressive Baptist Church's Education Ministry is holding a fundraiser on Friday March 9 at 7p. The event features the A Cappella Choir of Wiley College (Marshall, Texas). The concert is free but a good will offering is suggested. In addition, the concert will be preceded by a chicken and spaghetti dinners for $7 each. All proceeds go to help fund the expenses of youth from our community attending the Historic Black Colleges and Universities tour that Progressive Baptist sponsors each year.

For more information about the college tour, visit www.wix.com/pbccollegetour/progressive

Reminder - Energy Loan Program

It's not too late to get a 0% interest deferred loan to replace your furnace or boiler and/or add insulation to your home. The Saint Paul Energy Smart Homes loan program is coming to a close, but funds are still available.

Here are the details:

• loans up to $6,500 for Saint Paul homeowners
• available for insulation and furnace/boiler replacement
• no monthly payments and no interest
• loan is due in 30 years or upon sale of property
• no income limits, but income affects terms
• loan availability is first-come, first-served

Energy Smart Homes is made possible by the City of Saint Paul with a grant from the US Department of Energy through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA)

More info is available at www.TheNEC.org/financing or by calling the NEC at 651.221.4462 x 132

Dinner/Mystery Theater Presentation

The Historic Mounds Theater (1029 Hudson Road) is holding their first dinner/mystery theater for one night only on March 11 at 2p. The theater experience puts you on a Caribbean Cruise Ship where a murder mystery ensues. Attendees will help the security officer solve the crime. If you solve it, you win a prize.

Doors open at 1p with the dinner and show starting at 2p. Tickets are $30. (and a cash bar is available...). You can get your tickets at www.moundstheatre.org

Fun, food and MYSTERY on March 11!

Lenten Fish Fry at St. Pascal's

The St. Pascal's Men's Club will host their Fish Fry on Fridays starting February 24 through March 30 in the St. Pascal Baylon Brioschi Social Hall (enter from Flandrau). The fish fry runs from 4:30 to 7p each Friday. The All-you-can-eat menu will consist of fried and baked cod, coleslaw, mixed steamed vegetables, au gratin and seasoned fried potatoes, macaroni and cheese, dinner roll, dessert, and coffee or water. Milk, bottled water, pop, and TAKE-OUT will be available.

Adults (those 12 years and older) are $10, children (6-11 years) are $4, and children 5 and under are FREE. Proceeds go toward the purchase of equipment, uniforms, and supplies for the St. Pascal's K-8 Grade School Physical Education Program and extra-curricular sports activities, and other parish and school events.

Submitted by St. Pascal's Men's Club

Get Rid of Your E-Waste

The Retrofit Companies is happy to announce a new E-waste Recycling Program for Ramsey county residents, beginning 2/1/2012.

What type of e-waste is included & What are the Fees?

Televisions & Monitors Recycling Fee: $5.00 each

            Televisions: including TV's, TV DVD-VCR combinations, monitors for home security/CCTV systems

            Computer Monitors: including monitors, "all in one" computers, eBook readers, digital picture frames and portable DVD players

Computers & Peripheral Electronic Devices Recycling Fee: FREE

            Peripheral devices include items sold exclusively for external use with a computer that provides input or output from a computer

·         CPUs and Computer Towers

·         Laptop computers

·         Tablet PCs

·         Keyboards

·         Mice

·         Printers

·         Fax Machines

·         DVD Players

·         VCRs

Drop-off Facility is open to Ramsey county Residents M-F, 7:00am to 4:00pm

The Retrofit Companies is located at 2960 Yorkton Blvd., Little Canada, MN 55117

Submitted by Ramsey County Environmental Services