New Crime Prevention Advice - Alerts

Please be aware that there have been numerous reports of theft from vehicles at 3 or more gas stations in the District 1 area where people have had wallets, purses, credit cards, cash, etc. stolen from their cars while pumping their gas. Yes, they were right there at the gas pump attending their vehicle when someone opened a door on the other side of the car and took the items. None of the victims ever saw or realized what had happened until they got into their car, and sometimes not even until they got home. Moral of the story: always lock your vehicle, even when you are pumping gas, be aware of what is happening around you, and when exiting the car be sure to put your wallet/purse in a safe place.

Police are aware of this situation and I have requested that an officer speak with the owners of the gas stations to ask that their security cameras be positioned to record what is happening at the pumps.

In the past 2-3 weeks there have been burglaries of garages where snowblowers and other things have been taken. Please take care to  keep your garage as well as your home locked, and when you are working in your garage, or removing snow on your property, be sure you keep the overhead garage doors closed so people cannot see what you have to offer from your garage.

Remember as recycling day approaches to break down boxes and bundle them so the writing on the boxes is not visible, especially for those electronic Christmas gifts. These show what you have in your home. Thieves watch for this to see what is available on your property.

Submitted by Pam McCreary, D1 Crime Prevention Specialist

Energy Efficiency Workshops Return!

This fall we had great success helping neighbors save money by doing simple home energy fixes. Folks attended a workshop and signed up for very low cost home visits by the Home Energy Squads.

Well the workshops are returning in 2011 with the same great opportunity to save money and energy.

Eastside workshops are taking place on -

• Wednesday, February 16 at 6:30p - Arlington Presbyterian Church, 1275 E. Magnolia Ave.
• Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30p - Dayton's Bluff Rec Center, 800 Conway St.

Sign up by calling Carl at 612.278.7123 (or you can just show up)... we had over 70 households from District 1 take advantage of this opportunity already - so sign up and start saving! (You need to attend the workshop to get the low cost fixes from the Home Energy Squads...)

Affordable Food for Everyone...

Fare For All also has a Traditional Option...

Fare For All is a program that helps individuals and families get healthy food at an affordable price. Through group purchasing, folks can save from 30-50% on their food bills.

And there are two sites in our area where you can easily participate.

Hazel Park Congregational Church, 1831 E. Minnehaha, has the Fare For All Express program that does not require pre-ordering. In 2011 the following dates are set for this "cash"-and-carry program: January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4 and June 1 - all from 4-6p. You can pick up fruits, vegetables and meat packages at this location.

Grace Lutheran Church, 1730 Old Hudson, participates in the Traditional Fare For All program that involves pre-ordering and pre-paying. The dates for delivery are January 22, February 19, March 19, April 23, May 21, June 18, July 23, August 20, September 17, October 22, November 19, and December 17, at 8-9a. You must order at least 5 business days before delivery, but you can pre-order the next month when you pick up the current month's order. The phone number to call is 763.450.3880.

For both these programs you can pay with cash, check, credit/debit or EBT cards. There is no income limit to participate. Check out the website for food packages and prices. And because the dates are staggered for each program, you can participate in both if you need to spread out your purchases.

Spread the word on these important, healthy opportunities!

Winter Fire Safety Tips

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater;
• Have a three-foot "kid-free zone" around open fires, space heaters and the kitchen stove;
• Never use your oven to heat your home;
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to local codes and manufacturers' instructions;
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional;
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed;
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters;
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container for disposal. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home;
• Be sure to have an operable smoke detector outside and INSIDE of each room used for sleeping. Test smoke alarms monthly and change the battery annually. Hardwired smoke detectors that get their power from the home's electrical system are the most reliable;
• Install a carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of the doorway of all bedrooms;
• Consider installing residential fire sprinklers in your home, especially if you're building a new house. Fire sprinklers are 97% effective in controlling fires and are the best fire protection available.

And consider this opportunity:

Saint Paul homeowners have a unique opportunity to join the Saint Paul Fire Department's Project Safe Haven program. The fire department will send you a valuable safety checklist for you to do a safety survey of your home. When that's completed, you can have a fire crew come out to review your safety survey with you, install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for you if you need them, install a stovetop fire extinguisher, and help you put together a fire exit plan for your home. To join the Project Safe Haven, start by calling the Saint Paul Fire Department at 651.228.6273. Help the Saint Paul Dire Department "Put a Freeze on Winter Fires" this year!!

Submitted by the Saint Paul Fire Department.

News about the CP Rail Noise...

As you may recall, the Federal Rail Authority (FRA) was out testing noise levels from November 1-5.

Council President Kathy Lantry had a conference call with the FRA and Janet Nelson (of Senator Franken's office) on December 3, 2010. There were a number of delays in having this conversation due to a variety of emergencies that came up with the FRA.

The FRA would normally test noise on couplers for the types of requests that we made, but because they had done this testing before, they decided to broaden the scope of items to noise test.

The FRA conducted noise tests at 11 different locations on the following things: Coupler noise, retarder noise, moving train noise and moving locomotive noise.

Each one of the items measured has different limits on the decibel level allowed. There are tons of factors that are associated with each of the items that range from frequency to wind speed to train speed and for simplification purposes, I have used the most basic information shared in the conference call.

Coupler Noise
limit is 92 dB
highest measured was 66 dB

Retarder Noise
limit is 83 dB
highest measured was 80 dB (measured at corner of Lower Afton and Point Douglas Rd)
highest measured from a residence was 69 dB

Moving Train Noise
limit is 88-93 dB
highest measured from a residence was 69 dB

Moving Locomotive Noise
limit is 96 dB
highest measured was 88 dB

All this information will be sent to Senator Franken's office within the next week or so and Janet will forward this to Kathy Lantry who will forward it to District 1.

So what happens next? Obviously the numbers show they are in compliance. The FRA has been out here 3 years in a row with pretty much the same results each time. Kathy Lantry told them perhaps it had something to do with the time of the year. Each time they have showed up in November.

The FRA did have a contact name for someone within CP Rail and they have passed that along to Janet. Janet is going to wait until she gets the report from the FRA and then she is going to contact the person at CP to chat with him about the concerns of the neighborhood. After she does this, she is going to let Kathy Lantry know what she thinks our best approach with CP might be.

Kathy Lantry wants to be sure and acknowledge the work of Janet Nelson from Senator Franken's office. She has been able to get more done in a faster fashion than anyone else. Kathy also feels as if she is advocating for our neighborhood in a strong and consistent fashion. She suggested talking to the new contact at CP in hopes that the weight of the Senator's office will help to yield results. Having Janet on board has been a fabulous addition.

Updates to follow.

Submitted by Kathy Lantry, City Council President and Ward 7 representative.

December Safety Tips

We often hear about cars being stolen or items being stolen from someone's vehicle. But there are so many issues around the topic of vehicles, I want to touch on some of them.

Pedestrians. What do pedestrians have to do with your vehicle? If you have a vehicle or drive at any time, and if you walk anywhere, pedestrians and vehicles are something you should be concerned about. We have probably all heard about the relatively new law that requires cars to stop for pedestrians. While I think this is a good law and even borders on being an act of kindness when you stop to let a pedestrian cross the street, especially at this time of year with the snow and cold weather, it is sometimes dangerous. I make a habit of checking behind and beside me before I stop for a pedestrian. Too many times drivers try to pass on the shoulder to get by a stopped vehicle. Are you one of the drivers who does this?? If so, take a few seconds to see what it is that the car in front of you is stopping for. It seems like there have been an unusual number of pedestrian accidents and even deaths over the past few months - let's all take extra precautions to not be on either end of the next tragedy involving a pedestrian and a vehicle.

How about the Right Turn on Red law?? Please remember that this law requires the vehicle to come to the red light and to STOP before making the turn. Also, it is not required that vehicles turn on red -- it is an option. If you decide not to turn on red or you are behind a vehicle that makes that choice, just wait for the green light to proceed. Too often I see cars roll through the red light, not even attempting to slow down before turning. Again, I urge you to slow down and watch for pedestrians, bikes, or other vehicles. You may take the few seconds to look around and not see another car approaching the intersection, but what about other forms of transportation? I see and know of people who ride their bike year round, and as in the tragic accident that happened in Saint Paul recently, not everyone is of a height that they can be seen crossing the street without the extra time to stop and look. Right turns on Red? Not such a fan, only because the majority of people don't do the first part of the red light requirement - stopping.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Submitted by Pam McCreary, D1 Crime Prevention Coordinator

Crime and Safety Committee

Do you have concerns, information, or ideas for crime prevention efforts in District 1 you would like to share with the D1 Crime Prevention Coordinator? We welcome input from the community and would like to hear form you. At this time, we have a Safety Task Force and we are anxious to hear what the community is concerned about. Please call Pam McCreary at 651.578.7400 if you would like to join this group, or if you would like to share ideas for this group to address.

Think about proactive ways to prevent crime!!

Submitted by Pam McCreary, D1 Crime Prevention Coordinator

Toys for Tots at Anytime Fitness!

Anytime Fitness at 1682 Suburban Avenue is a drop-off location for the Toys for Tots program. To participate, just stop by with your unwrapped new toy and receive a FREE Anytime Fitness 14-day pass including a session with one of their trainers, or no payments until next year with a new member package.

"The goal of this event is to compound the amount of toys by rewarding members for participating and incent people of the community who want to help out and donate," said Joe Wittwer, Personal Trainer at Anytime Fitness and organizer of the event. "By involving not just our members, but also the community, we show our united concern for the community that supports us. The importance of giving back is vital, and it is rewarding to make a difference for those faced with difficult times."

The facility at Anytime Fitness is co-ed, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and located conveniently in our neighborhood.

Support Toys for Tots!! (The District 1 Community Council is donating 6 kids bicycle helmets - we challenge you to make a donation, too!!)

Submitted by Anytime Fitness, 1682 Suburban Ave.

Park System Plan Hearing Date Changed!

Due to responses from the public about the Park System Plan, the Parks Commission is not holding its public hearing about the plan until January 10 from 6:30-8p. The meeting will focus solely on the System Plan and will be held at the Phalen Golf Course Clubhouse.

This change in date will give residents a chance to organize their comments, but we hope it will also give the Parks Department time to rethink this plan altogether...

Thanks to everyone who sent in comments!

Neighborhood House Coming to the Eastside

You may have seen the Star Tribune article today that announced that Neighborhood House is expanding to the eastside of St. Paul. It is taking over the East Side Family Center that used to be run by the East Side Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Although Neighborhood House has a long history of providing services to families on the West side, many of its patrons have been from the eastside. Their mission is "helping people, families and organizations develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in diverse communities." The sites on the eastside will be at Dayton's Bluff (262 Bates), Bruce Vento (409 E. Case), John Johnson (740 York) and North End (27 Geranium) Elementary Schools.

Check out their website for the resources they provide.

Trees for the Holidays

Consider giving a gift of a Tribute Tree to your friend or family member this holiday season. A Tribute Tree, sponsored by the Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County, is one that you give in honor of someone and it is planted in a park by park staff. This helps to "reforest" our beautiful parks.

Trees cost $100 each or three trees for $250. A hand-stamped holiday card announcing your gift will be sent by The Friends to the person you honor. After the tree is planted next summer, the Friends send the recipient a map showing its location.

Trees may be planted in Ramsey County parks or in the city of Saint Paul parks. Tree species preferred by each community are listed on the Friends website at this link.

For more information call 651.698.4543 or visit the website above.

Submitted by Friends of the Parks and Trails of Saint Paul and Ramsey County

Emergency Kits for Your Vehicle - what to include...

Preparing your vehicle for winter is something everyone says they are going to do, but in reality how many of us actually do it?? While you can certainly purchase an emergency kit from most any store that sells automotive supplies, you can also put one together yourself.

This list is not all inclusive but these are items that should be included in your Emergency Kit and kept in your vehicle or the trunk:

• a properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and jack
• a shovel (in Minnesota the folding shovels work really well)
• jumper cables (always check the recommended type according to your vehicle's manual - larger vehicles usually require cables of a stronger capacity)
• basic tools (wrench, screwdriver, fuses, etc.)
• flashlight and batteries (there are also emergency flashlights that you hand crank that eliminate the need for batteries)
• reflective triangles (to put out behind your vehicle) or road flares
• first aid kit (remember to check the expiration date of medication annually and keep it well stocked)
• ice scraper and snowbrush
• wooden matches in a waterproof container
• non-perishable, high energy foods (unsalted nuts, dried fruit, candy, etc.)
• coat, hat and gloves
• blankets and towels
• can in which to melt snow or ice
• bottles of water - change these out if they freeze
• bag of sand or kitty litter (for weight or to put on icy spots)
• extra bottle of windshield washer fluid (suitable for below freezing temperatures)
• other items to consider include - can of lock de-icer, compass, cell phone charger, safety vest, tow chains, NOAA weather radio.

Remember, Safety is no accident!!

Information courtesy of the National Safety Council, submitted by Pam McCreary

Winter Driving Survival Tips

Winter - the word seems to bring a chill to everyone. It evokes thoughts of snow, ice, and, usually, cold. Unfortunately, it normally means more problems for Minnesota drivers as well.

• A good rule of thumb is to always keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid any problems with water getting into your gas line.
• Keep close tabs on the weather, especially if you are planning on traveling. Let someone know your destination and route, and expected arrival time in inclement weather.
• If your car was outside during a snowstorm, make sure to brush it off COMPLETELY before departing. Snow left on the hood will blow onto other vehicles and block their vision. Make sure both your headlights and taillights are visible on your vehicle, not covered with snow.
• Adjust your speed for the conditions and increase your following distance between vehicles.
• If you become stranded while in your vehicle, DO NOT LEAVE your car. Your chances of being rescued are greater if you stay in one place. Staying in your vehicle with an emergency kit will decrease your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Run your engine for heat about once an hour. Make sure the exhaust pipe is clear to avoid a backup of carbon monoxide into your car. Leave one window slightly open. Tie a piece of brightly colored cloth to your antenna to alert others to your presence.
• Take note of where you are as you drive so, if you become stranded, you can relay your location to a 911 dispatcher (carry a cell phone with you if possible!!). Stay calm and stay safe.

Information courtesy of the Minnesota Safety Council, submitted by Pam McCreary, Crime Prevention Specialist

Still looking for Volunteers for Spring...

We still need two people from the neighborhood to be our representatives on the Community Facilities Task Force of the Capital Improvement Budget process (CIB). This is the group of residents who evaluate and advise the CIB Committee on which projects related to parks, libraries, trails, playgrounds and other public spaces will be funded over the following two year period.

This task force is meeting Mondays at 4:30p for about six weeks in March and April downtown at City Hall. They provide a voucher for free parking at the lot near the science museum.

This is a great opportunity to have a huge impact on what happens on St. Paul's eastside, as well as city-wide. The city also provides training, and the District Council staff will support you.

PLEASE consider serving! Contact me at 651.578.7600 or at district1council@aol.com. Thank you!1

Parks Commission will Vote on Parks Plan

December 8 at 6:30p at the Daytons Bluff Rec Center, 800 Conway, the Parks Commission will vote to accept the Plan proposed by the Parks Department that will "repurpose" Conway Rec Center. Again, "repurposing" is another name for putting the building in private hands.

I am not sure whether there will be a chance to comment at the meeting, but there probably will be. It would be great if District 1 folks would show up with either signs or ready to speak in favor of keeping Conway Rec Center in the public realm.

A later public hearing will be held before City Council on this proposal. I'll let you know when that happens -- it will be sometime in January.

Here is a link to where you can comment on the proposal online -- Comment on Parks Proposal  scroll down the page to the comment section...

Still Time to Comment On Parks Plan!

This is important folks... if you haven't commented on the proposed parks plan, attend an open house

• November 15 at 270 Lexington Parkway N., OR
• November 18 at 1414 N. St. Albans.

The plans include the potential closure of Conway Rec Center with a new tenant taking over the building. This would shut the facility for public meetings, for after school programs, and for senior programming (outside activities would still occur). It would also leave the 20,000+ people of District 1 with only one fully functioning recreation center...

You can also send emails to Mike.Hahm@ci.stpaul.mn.us with your comments.

How many public facilities do we have in District 1?? Not many... we are losing the core of our neighborhoods if this happens.

Have You Tested Your House for Radon?

At the last District 1 Community Council meeting, several residents from the neighborhood expressed interest in Radon testing for their homes. According to the Minnesota Department of Health:

"Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, that means it continuously decays and releases radiation. It is produced from minerals in soil, such as uranium and radium. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless."

And why is Radon important? Once again, from the Minnesota Department of Health:

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that each year 21,000 people die of lung cancer as a result of being exposed to elevated levels of radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer for smokers and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers."

Minnesota has one of the highest levels of Radon in the entire country. Add that our habit of keeping windows closed during the winter, and Radon is a severe risk for people living in homes in Minnesota. In some counties, up to one out of every three homes are at toxic levels.

The solution? For a few dollars you can pick up a Radon test at your local hardware store. If your house has toxic levels of Radon, there are ways to eliminate it from your home to keep your family safe.

Fall Reminders

First, a reminder that the city has started its fall street sweeping that will go through the middle to late November. Please remember that it is illegal to sweep leaves into the street. Getting up the leaves in the street is a very costly job for the Public Works Department AND having all that organic matter in the streets adds tremendous amounts of phosphorus to the river and lakes. All that phosphorus encourages algae to grow, which will quickly kill off our surface waters. DON'T DO IT!! You can take all your leaves to the free county compost site off Londin Lane, near Afton View Apartments. You are paying already for the compost site to be there - why pay again for the massive clean up by Public Works?? Especially when city budgets are already strained?

Second reminder - backyard burning of leaves (and trash) is illegal in the city. This is another hazard to our public health. Composting is a much better solution - and avoids all kinds of pollution.

That is today's poem...

Comment on Parks Plan

In November, the St. Paul Parks and Rec Dept. is hosting a series of open houses to get people's reactions to their draft system plan. The open houses run from 7-9p and one is at the following location on the eastside:

November 8 at Phalen Rec Center, 1000 E. Wheelock Parkway


Other meetings will be on Nov 3 at 1978 Ford Parkway, Nov 9 at 179 Robie, Nov 15 at 270 Lexington Parkway, and Nov 18 at 1414 N. St. Albans.

The city is proposing to close many of its existing recreation centers and develop key multi-use centers throughout the city. The proposal relies on a model that is similar to how suburbs run their parks and is being proposed to save significant amounts of money on maintenance of many older facilities.

If you have comments or questions, go to the open houses and speak your mind...

More CleanUp News

enter the Clean-up

demolition debris is always part of the Clean-up

The bicycle recyclers

D1 residents brought 3 walkers and 3 sets of crutches to the clean-up. These items were taken to GoodWill where they will be refurbished and added to the Easter Seals equipment loan cupboard. Residents can always bring health care items such as these to any GoodWill drop off site. The equipment loan office is in St. Paul at Fairview and Charles (just off University Ave.).

Submitted by Kris Gjerde, resident and former D1 Board chair.

Paying for College

There will be free family scholarship information meetings on the eastside over the next two months. The first is the Gates Page Scholarship Night (focusing on students of color) on October 21 from 5-7:30p at Metro State University, 700 E. 7th St. The second is the Hmong Family Scholarship Information night on November 30 from 5 - 8:30p at the Eastside YMCA, 875 Arcade St. An Immigrant Family information night will be held on November 16 5-8:30p on the westside at Neighborhood House, 179 Robie St.

Although these meetings are set up to encourage students of color to think about how they might finance college, they are open to all families with children of all ages.

Judicial Candidate Debate

The candidates for the 2nd District will be debating on Monday, October 18 from 7-8:30p at the Hamline University Law School room 105. This site is located one block east of Snelling and one block south of Hewitt. Take the I94 west from District 1 to the Snelling exit, go north to Hewitt (last light before the bridge over the tracks near the fairgrounds) and turn right.

This event is co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Ramsey County Bar Association.

D1 Clean Up cleans up...

the Bridging volunteers

cars lined up to unload

the reuse center 

The District 1 Community Clean Up took place at the Slumberland Clearance parking lot on Saturday October 9. We had a beautiful day and a lot of wonderful volunteers helping out. Preliminary numbers indicate that we had more people dropping stuff off this year and we helped out 40 seniors to bring their stuff to the event.

In addition, we filled up the truck that Bridging brought with furniture, bedding and household goods that can be used by families in transition. We had lots of bicycles that were worked on and refurbished to be donated to people working with victims of torture. We had community garden, physical therapy, Books for Africa, and animal rescue organizations receiving donated goods. And our reuse center saw an incredible amount of stuff get picked up by residents - children's toys, glassware, sports equipment, household goods, entertainment equipment.

Little Oven, Brueggers, and Cub Foods were our sources for food for the volunteers, and Slumberland, Culvers, and Perkins made donations of coupons for visitors and volunteers.

Special thanks go to Pete Emeott for his heroic efforts organizing the 3 crews (4 or 5 trucks) that went to seniors' homes and transported their stuff to the clean up site. This was a record number of elders in the neighborhood that we could help out. These crews deserve a big round of applause!!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Totem Town Community Garden Needs New Leadership

Totem Town Community Garden is looking for some help with the administration of the garden for 2011. The garden is financially sound, and all garden plots have been occupied for the last three years. After the passing of John McDermott, who for many years ran the garden by himself, we need to find some one (or multiple people) who can help in the day to day operations of the garden.

The garden members are meeting at Conway Rec Center (2090 Conway St.) on Monday, October 18 at 6p to discuss the garden's future. There will be several gardeners who will not be returning next year, so we have an opportunity to open those plots to new gardeners interested in helping out.

If anyone wants an overview of the garden and to discuss the challenges facing the garden next year, they can contact Joe Reiter at JoeBarbCo@aol.com or by phone at 651.738.8865.

Submittted by Joe Reiter of the Totem Town Community Garden

Community Journalism

The district councils and the City are jointly sponsoring workshops on community-based journalism. There was one held on October 2 with a discussion by various media outlets on how to get stories of the community into the "press". A link to the video of the discussion is here.

There will be a second session on November 6. If you are interested in attending from our area, let us know and we will get you signed up (district 1 Council). You must register beforehand.

Platting changes proposed for Highwood

The owner at 589 Burlington is proposing to replat his very large lot into 7 lots of varying sizes. This proposal is not yet scheduled for review by the city, but if you are interested in seeing the proposal, we have the proposed plats in our office.

We will take comments from residents about this proposal by phone, email, or in person.

Hawkins Inc. makes changes

There is a proposal by Hawkins (at 1425 Red Rock Rd.) to redo their parking lot and driveways and improve security at their industrial site with a guard house. We have copies of the plan in our office if you are interested. Hawkins provides services and products to 98% of the water treatment plants at municipalities in Minnesota. The changes they are making are required by homeland security...

The meeting at the city about the site plan will be Tuesday, October 5.

Great River Road Signage

Come visit our office to see the new historical sign that will go into Battle Creek Park. We have a mock-up of the sign that talks about the history of the park. This is part of a project to bring information to residents and visitors about the river and how to find your way along it in St. Paul.

The signs are at the office for a while and the city is looking for feedback. They will also be posted at the city's website. (Look under Scenic Byway Signage) Construction will begin next spring.

Tree Damage from Storms

The City wants you to know how to deal with tree damage and debris from storms. They send this message:

"The City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department does not manage and/or remove private tree debris as a result of storms. All public debris is managed by the Forestry section, however. Tree debris on private property is the responsibility of the homeowner.

FAQs about this issue can be found at this link and provide homeowners with answers to common questions as well as a link to the Ramsey County free compost/brush sites."

It is important to know where the public space is in some of our neighborhoods where there isn't a clearly defined boulevard with a sidewalk...

Streets for People

Here are some examples of sidewalk and street designs that are meant to encourage walking and a lively business district. These are from Curitiba, Brazil - a city that is considered the Sustainability Capital of that country. They tried some very innovative ways to encourage people to be out on the streets and to find their way to the large pedestrian mall in that city.

See what you think about these! And notice how they indicate where to walk, park or drive by the different pavement colors...

Fitness Class at BC Middle School Needs Participants

If you are looking for a fitness class, this one is starting next week and needs more participants to avoid being canceled...

Cardio Resistance Combo - Learn how to get in shape and stay fit using exercises you can do at home. We will use steps, flex bands, fee weights and our own bodies for resistance. Come ready to sweat and have some fun. Bring a resistance band and a pair of 2-5 lb weights to class.

Cost is $58, Wednesdays beginning September 29 5:45-6:45p at Battle Creek Middle School for 8 sessions. Call 651.293.8733 to register.

Candidate Forums

The League of Women Voters is holding several candidate forums in our area:

Oct 4 - Merrick Community Center, 1526 E. 6th St - 6-7:30p - candidates for state Senate district 67 - Dino Guerin, John Harrington and Krysia Weidell

Oct 12 - Merrick Community Center, 1526 E. 6th St. - 6-7:30p - candidates for state House district 67B - Sheldon Johnson and Cheryl Golden-Beck

These are your chances to hear from the candidates for offices that represent this area in the Minnesota State Legislature.

Remember, the general election is Tuesday November 2, 2010.

Critical Area Zoning

On Wednesday, September 29 from 4-7p there will be an open house to present the proposed new rules to govern the Mississippi River Critical Area. The open house is at Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center (in Spring Lake Park Reserve) at 8395 127th St. East, Hastings, MN.

Visitors will be able to provide feedback on the draft districts and standards. Parties wanting to enter comments on the public record will need to submit them during the public hearing if the DNR proposes the rule for adoption. But this open house can give you a chance to start formulating a response for the public hearing.

You can get more information at this website.

Update on Zoning Issues in D1

We have been busy lately with some zoning issues...

The proposal for a pawn shop that was originally turned down MAY be resubmitted. We heard again from local businesses and some neighbors about this proposal - they have not been supportive.

Also there is a request for a parking variance at 1499 Pacific. This home has a converted garage and therefore no off-street parking spot.

At the CP Rail hump-yard, the city is trying to get equipment to monitor the noise levels all day long.

Zoning for Parks

Soon there will be a special zoning category for parks in Saint Paul. All areas of the city are identified according to their use - residential, commercial, industrial. These zoning categories make it clear where single family homes, shops, commercial endeavors and heavy industrial activity should be located.

Saint Paul has never had zoning protection for parks. Since there is no 'park zone', parks can be zoned residential or even industrial. The new Parks and Recreation Plan adopted by the City Council earlier this year requires that the zoning code be amended to include a new park zoning district. The City will begin working on these zoning code changes in early 2011. The zoning change will make park ownership more transparent and reinforce the no-net-loss policy for parkland in Saint Paul.

Pete Regnier, a representative of the Friends of the Parks and Trails, seved on the Parks and Recreation Task Force supporting this change. "This effort took over 20 years but it is a big victory for the Friends and the residents of the City. It will provide additional protection and help preserve parkland in our city," said Peggy Lynch, Executive Director of the Friends.

Reprinted from the Park Notes of the Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County.

How to Remove Buckthorn

Buckthorn remains a major threat to the diversity of the urban forest and removal of this invasive small tree is critical. Learn how to identify and remove this pest. Adults and teens are invited to a free class at Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 7th St. E. Maplewood, 55119. Registration is required by September 14 by calling 651.249.2170. This is a perfect class for a leader who plans to work with community members on a buckthorn removal project.

reprinted from the Park Notes, newsletter of the Friends of the St. Paul and Ramsey County Parks

Fall Interns begin at the Storefront

We have at least 10 new interns from Century College's Law Enforcement program putting in hours at the Police Storefront - the District Council's co-habitant at the SunRay office. The students are future police officers, corrections or probation officers.

These students are in the "Police and the Community" class, a class that requires 40 hours of volunteer activity at a community organization. This collaboration allows us to have more hours that the office is open, and gives the students a chance to meet with police officers and talk to community members about their concerns. They answer phones, meet with folks walking in, and refer people to the proper resources. They free up our regular staff for other projects as well.

The Saint Paul Police Storefront is a joint project of the District 1 Community Council and the Saint Paul Police Department. You can reach the Storefront by calling 651.578.7400.

Welcome to our interns and THANK YOU for your service!!

Land Use Meeting on Pawn Shop Proposal

Our regular September land use committee meeting will include a presentation by the owners and architects of Max-it Pawn who want to put in a pawn shop at 373 Ruth St. They submitted a proposal to the city earlier and it was denied because of its proximity to residential areas, specifically the Heritage Estates apartments.

They want to come back and talk with the committee and the community about who they are and what they want to do with this corner in order to see if it is worth their while to resubmit their application.

Join us at the Conway Rec Center, 2090 Conway St., on Tuesday September 14, 5:30p for this meeting. These folks will be second on our agenda, so probably around 6:15 or so.

Call our office for more information - 651.578.7600.

Senior Legal Fair

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) is holding a free senior legal fair at the Saint Paul River Center on September 22 from 8:15a - 3p. They will be talking about the Future of Senior Health Care - Law and Medicine and have presentations on employment issues, preparing a will, identity theft and scams, and debt collection and bankruptcy, among other topics. There will be free and private consultations with attorneys from 1:30-3p.

There is also the opportunity for free simple wills, but you must register by September 1 by calling 651.788.8451.

This is a good opportunity for elders to find out about how to set up legal protections for themselves and their estates.

National Night Out at Faith Alliance

Here are some photos from the big community event at Faith Alliance Church (520 N. Howard) on National Night Out. They had over 250 people attend, so between this large event and the one at Afton View Apartments, over 500 people in the district were whooping it up on August 3.

And that doesn't even count all the other events that were happening in our area! Pam McCreary estimates that over 1000 District 1 residents were partying on the 3rd!

There was lots of good food there and the Hmong congregation made egg rolls. So the egg rolls were added to Tony's pizza, Culver's frozen custard, Brueggers bagels and good old hot dogs. Check out the egg roll operation though!

National Night Out in D1

(Sorry it's been a while since I posted - I was on vacation...)

We had two very large really spectacular events for National Night Out in the neighborhood. One was at Faith Alliance Church at 520 N. Howard. This event drew at least 250 people and had great food from Culvers, Anthony's Pizza, Brueggers Bagels, and the folks at the church. There were also events for kids.

At Afton View and Shamrock Courts Apartments, there was another large event with another 250 people or so. This event had sub sandwiches, visits from HealthEast, Head Start and the police and fire departments. There were games for the kids here, too, and it was also a celebration of the redesigned parklands at Highwood Hills Elementary/Rec Center.

Here are a few pictures from Afton View. I am going to try to pull together the great photos sent by Faith Alliance and my humble attempts at Afton View and post them on Facebook, so check that out next week...

Thanks to all the organizers and volunteers. And congratulations to the block clubs who sponsored at least 16 other parties - a large increase from last year's participation...

Fall Festival

St. Pascal Baylon Catholic Church and School has its annual Fall Festival on Sunday, September 26 from 11:30a to 5p. Come and join the fun, including our home cooked spaghetti dinner, bingo, children's games, a cake walk, raffles, the Festival General Store, tacos, football and more.

The festival will be held at 1757 Conway St. at White Bear Avenue and 3rd Street.

Community Design Center and Suburban Avenue

Here are some photos of the work the Community Design Center did to bring a fresh look to Suburban Avenue this summer. We had some questions from residents early in the summer as to why it took so long to get the planters done - their program involves getting kids involved in this important community work, and those kids don't start until after school is out. But look at the results!! These photos show it from start to finish.

Thanks to the young people and the staff of the Community Design Center for their efforts! And to Kathy Lantry's office for the funding to make it happen...

Ash and Oak Resources

The City of St. Paul has a plan for removing ash trees on the public right of way, but perhaps you have questions about when this might happen in your area, or what to do about the ash trees in your own yard. Here is the link to the resources the city has for you... Ash borers in Saint Paul

There are maps by ward of the planned removal. Our ward is Ward 7.

We also have numerous oaks in our district. It is important NOT TO PRUNE OAKS UNTIL FALL!! The fungus responsible for oak wilt is easily transmitted when trees are pruned. Wait until after frost for trimming oaks. Here is a link to city resources regarding oaks... Oak wilt in Saint Paul.

Tutor at Battle Creek Middle School

Hello, my name is Kristina Mandell and I am an Americorps VISTA member working at Battle Creek Middle School in cooperation with the St. Paul Public Schools Foundation. As the Tutoring Coordinator, I am charged with staffing and evaluating the school's tutoring program. Through tutoring the school and I hope to not only work together to close the achievement gap and give these children the skills necessary to succeed, but also to provide them with role models and mentors that they can look up to. Volunteers may provide the support needed to overcome some of the problems facing our students today!

Battle Creek Middle School is a very diverse school and has many children who need help. 86% of the student body is eligible for free or reduced lunches (the district's measure of children living near of below the poverty line) and 49% of them are English Language Learners. These are factors that can lead a child to remain in a cycle of generational poverty unless we do something to reach out to them at this tender age.

We need your help and the help of the caring and compassionate individuals in the neighborhood. We ask for at least one hour of service a week between the hours of 9am and 3:40pm. I am available for any questions you may have about this opportunity. Phone 651.293.8960 or by email at kristina.mandell@spps.org

(Editorial note: Remember, Battle Creek Middle School is going through some changes this year, too, with its merger with Hazel Park Middle School... there will be even more students at the school who can use a tutor! Can you step up to this challenge?? Battle Creek Middle School is located at 2121 North Park Drive.)

Bike Rodeo a Big Success!

We had a lively crowd of young people join us and the Police Department for a Bike Safety Rodeo on Saturday, July 24. It was a beautiful day to learn about the rules of the road!! There were 23 young people who received new helmets, safety vests and other gifts for participating as well as the information they need to be safe while riding their bicycles.

We would like to thank Councilwoman Kathy Lantry's office for the grant that funded the helmets, vests, and other give-aways, the Police Bike Patrol and Reserves, SunRay Shopping Center and Bruegger's Bagels for their donations making this event possible. Our Safety Task Force and the Valeri family, in particular, were also vital to this event.

Look what we can do when we work together!! Safety FIRST!!

Local Yard and Garden Sale in August

Progressive Baptist Church, 1505 Burns Ave., will be holding its first annual Yard and Garden Sale in their parking lot on August 21 from 8a to 4p. Proceeds from the sale go to support a new Day Care Center they will be starting at the Church.

Please come out to support their efforts to improve the lives of local children - and beautify your yard at the same time!!

Critical Area Rules Update

Here is a link to the information about the process underway to update the Mississippi River Critical area rules. The Friends of the Mississippi River are tracking the public responses to the proposed changes.

These rule changes will affect areas of Highwood Hills and Battle Creek, and the industrial area along the river and at Pigs Eye Lake. We have a stake in this, folks!!

Block Nurse Program has a Fundraiser

The Conway Battle Creek Block Nurse Living at Home Program is holding a fundraising sale on Saturday and Sunday July 24 and 25 from 9a to 2p. THIS DATE IS WRONG IN THE DISTRICT 1 NEWS. Our apologies for the misprint in the paper, but we encourage everyone to get out and support this worthy program that serves elders in our neighborhood.

The sale will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 1730 Old Hudson Rd.

Being a Good Neighbor

As the District 1 staff member, I usually try to avoid editorializing, but something happened in my own neighborhood that made me think about some things happening in this neighborhood. So I thought I would give my opinion and see what other people think...

What happened is that there was a party over the weekend in the backyard a few houses from me that went late into the night (only broken up by rain at about 1am). What is happening in District 1 is that the Cherry Pit is asking for a noise variance for bands to play in August, and residents along Point Douglas are living with screeching, squealing brakes by CPRail... So here is my take on being a good neighbor when it comes to noise:

When someone in the neighborhood has an outdoor party or other activity that generates noise, it is as if everyone in the neighborhood is invited - whether they want to be or not; attendance at the activity is compulsory - neighbors have no choice as to whether they join in; and these participants must stay until the "host" goes to bed, or decides to stop doing whatever they are doing. No choice is given to neighbors in any of this. One person/household/business

We tend to believe that residents at a location have the right to do whatever they want to do on their own property, or in their own homes. Of course, if we actually think about it, this isn't true at all. There are laws that govern certain kinds of activities that are illegal or that are a danger to the health and safety of people - including to those who want to participate in these activities... But there are also community rights. Our personal rights do not override someone else's personal rights. And there are things that are good for us collectively that may not be the best for any one of us individually. We have to define the common good...

There are restrictions in the city about when noise should be limited and the times are generally between 10p and 7a. There are restrictions about the level of noise and the type of noise. And there is a mechanism to be granted a variance of the rules. (To read about what is allowed, check out this site in the city code. Search on Noise...)

There are some neighbors in D1 who don't understand why the railroad doesn't have to abide by any rules, or try to be a good neighbor. And others in D1 who wonder if the Cherry Pit knows what makes a good neighbor.

So anyway, let me know what you think....

Request for Conditional Use Permit

The old Sinclair station at 373 N. Ruth (where the Disabled Veterans donation site has been recently) is being given a new life. Cash 'n Pawn is proposing to open a pawn shop at this site, an allowed use, if a conditional use permit is obtained...

The District Council has a call into the owner to request information on how the site would be developed. We do not want this corner to look as if the business is temporary.

For comments, contact Luis Pereira at 651.266.6591. The hearing at the Zoning Committee is set for July 22 at 3:30p, 3rd floor, City Hall Council Chambers.

Free Energy Efficiency Workshops Coming To District 1

Save Money and Energy through the District 1 Neighborhood Energy Program!

Thursday, July 22, 2010 &

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
6:30-8pm
Conway Rec Center
2090 Conway St.

Neighborhood organizations are teaming up to offer a residential energy efficiency program to Saint Paul residents.

The first step is to attend a FREE workshop on saving energy and money in your home. Next, you schedule a home visit where the Home Energy Squad will install energy-saving materials for only a $30 co-pay. Finally, we provide one year of personalized home energy reporting.

Improving your home’s energy efficiency can save you hundreds of dollars yearly. By attending our free workshop you’ll qualify to receive the home visit with up to $400 dollars worth of goods and services for only $30. At the workshop you’ll also receive a free “starter kit.” This incredible opportunity is only available through attending a neighborhood workshop.

This program is moving neighborhood to neighborhood throughout St. Paul, and you can participate! Please RSVP to Carl at 612-278-7123, or email csamuelson@greeninstitute.org. Plus, tell a friend because this deal is too good not to share!

For more information check out our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Free-Energy-Efficiency-Workshop/130694646968049 or our website at http://nes.mncerts.org.

Sound Variance Request at Cherry Pit

The Cherry Pit, 735 N. White Bear Avenue, has requested a sound variance for a live music event in their parking lot on August 14 from 7:30 to midnight. The City of St. Paul is recommending that the end time be 11:30p instead of midnight.

There is a public hearing at the City Council (15 W. Kellogg, 3rd floor) on July 21 at 5:30p. The public is welcome to come speak about this proposal OR to send written comments to:

City of Saint Paul, Department of Safety and Inspections

375 Jackson St., Suite 220

St. Paul, MN 55101-1806

If you have comments about this - send them on!!

Fare For All At Hazel Park Church

The Fare for All Express is a co-operative food-buying program that offers 30-50% savings on healthy foods to EVERYONE. There are no income restrictions, and no need to order ahead of delivery. They have fruit and vegetable packages, frozen meat packages and you can buy as many packages as you would like. Pay by cash, credit/debit, EBT cards.

The next delivery is at Hazel Park Congregational United Church of Christ, 1831 Minnehaha East, Wednesday, July 7 from 4 - 6p.

Check it out!!

Bike Lanes on Burns

We are seeking input/reactions from folks about a proposal by the city to put in new bike lanes along Burns between Ruth and McKnight when they resurface the road this summer. These lanes will tie into the new lanes going in on Ruth Street between Upper Afton and Minnehaha. Putting in bike lanes is a proven way to slow traffic. They will also be restricting parking to the northside of the street. These two changes will narrow the traffic lanes and calm the traffic.

If you would like to comment on this proposal, call us at 651.578.7600 or email us at district1council@aol.com. We need to hear from you by July 1...

Canadian Pacific Proposal

Last week the St. Paul Planning Commission okayed a request for a variance on steep slopes and for a conditional use permit for building in the floodplain. This proposal was put forth by Canadian Pacific Rail to expand parking lot and office building on their property at 1000 Shop Road.

The District Council opposed this proposal for a variety of reasons, including that their written submission said they were requesting these things in anticipation of future, unspecified projects - one of which, we suspect, is a resubmission of a proposal by Marathon Oil to store hazardous materials in tank cars on CP property. The proposal would create more impermeable surface in the 100 year floodplain, and could release toxic materials buried at the old Pigs Eye dump site - a Superfund site...

We are considering an appeal of this ruling, but will need donations by residents to cover the $450 filing fee. We will be talking to neighbors about this project, and others, at our Monday, June 28 board meeting - 6:30p at Boys' Totem Town (398 Totem Rd. - Lower Level Conference Room). We hope you will attend and let us know what you think.

River News

The Friends of the Mississippi River have some updates that may be of interest to those of you with environmental concerns.

First of all, the Mississippi River Critical Area designations have been under review for a while. The draft plan is being presented for comment. This affects the Highwood Hills and a portion of the Battle Creek neighborhoods. For more information, check out this site.

Also, FMR did some comparisons between the BP gulf oil spill and what is flushed into the gulf from runoff in the Mississippi River basin. You can read more about the findings here.

Burns and Suburban Developments

The City is in the process of putting in the streetlights on Burns between Ruth and Suburban. This is a project that was funded through the competitive Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) process last year. It came about because of requests from residents in the apartment complexes along Ruth and Burns.

Next year is the next cycle of the CIB process, so if you have street improvements you would like us to propose, let us know (district1council@aol.com).

Also happening in this area is the planting of the planters on Suburban Avenue. This project should start on Thursday, June 17 and is a partnership between the Community Design Center (a youth development program that focuses on gardening and environmental projects), the district council and City Council President, Kathy Lantry's office. Young people from the Design Center will be planting and tending the planters all this summer. The plants are donated by the City of St. Paul, Department of Parks and Recreation.

Summer Meals Update

So our earlier blog post was incomplete and somewhat inaccurate... Here are the sites in the area that are offering free meals to children (under 19) and for handicapped persons (regardless of age) who participate in special education programs. This program begins June 20 and ends August 26...

• Battle Creek Elementary School - 60 S. Ruth Street - both breakfast and lunch are available - times are not yet set but are either 7:30a or 8:30a for breakfast and around 11a for lunch;
• Battle Creek Middle School - 2121 North Park Drive - both breakfast (8:30a) and lunch (11:30a);
• Highwood Hills Elementary School - 2188 Londin Ln. - both breakfast and lunch are available - times are not yet set but are either 7:30a or 8:30a for breakfast and around 11a for lunch;
• Eastern Heights Elementary School - 2001 Margaret St. - both breakfast and lunch are available - times are not yet set but are either 7:30a or 8:30a for breakfast and around 11a for lunch;
• Sheridan Elementary School - 525 White Bear Ave. - I am a bit confused about this site since the school is supposed to be closed as of the end of June, however - both breakfast and lunch are available - times are not yet set but are either 7:30a or 8:30a for breakfast and around 11a for lunch;
• Conway Rec Center - 2090 Conway St. - lunch from 12:30 - 2:30p and another meal from 4:30-5:30p;
• Eastview Rec Center - 1675 E. 5th St. - lunch from 12:30 - 4:30p

Campfire and BBQ Safety

Here are some safety tips to keep outdoor fires from turning deadly.

For Barbecue Fires:

• keep BBQ fires on a deck or balcony at least 10 feet away from your home or apartment - the fire department actually urges landlords to prohibit barbecuing on balconies in the leases;
• when using a propane grille, always check the connections for leaks before turning it on;
• never use gasoline to light a charcoal grille; use charcoal lighter fluid but be careful not to add fluid to an already lit fire (there is danger of flashback which can burn you!). The safest way to light a grille is with an electric charcoal starter;
• never barbecue in an enclosed area; deadly carbon monoxide is produced;
• do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue;
• keep all matches and lighters away from children. Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Always supervise children around outdoor grilles;
• dispose of hot coals properly - douse them with plenty of water and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper, or wooden containers. The improper disposal of hot coals is the leading cause of barbecue related fires in Saint Paul!

For outdoor campfires:

• Recreational fires are legal within St. Paul without a permit as long as you follow these requirements. Open burning for disposal requires a permit from the Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) - call 651.266.8989;
• recreational fires cannot be more than 3 feet wide and 2 feet high and you can only burn sawn wood; they cannot be used for disposal of construction debris or other such materials - or trash;
• recreational fires on the ground cannot be less than 25 feet from a building or combustibles. If the fire is in an approved container such as a barbecue grille or an outdoor fireplace, the fire cannot be less than 15 feet from a building or combustible material;
• always remain in attendance at any outdoor fire and have the means to extinguish it if necessary;
• wind speed should not be more than 10 miles per hour. If the smoke is creating a nuisance to others, the fire must be put out. Smoke is the leading cause of complaints about recreational fires in Saint Paul.

Remember - no outdoor burning of trash allowed!!

Submitted by the Saint Paul Fire Marshal, Steve Zaccard

Schools Closing and Moving

So the final vote of the school board was that Hazel Park Middle School co-locate with Battle Creek Middle School and that Sheridan and Ames Elementary Schools co-locate at the vacated Hazel Park Middle School. This arrangement will be in effect for at least 3 years.

Although this is good news in the sense that all eastside neighborhood schools remain on the eastside, it means that the various eastside neighborhoods are in danger of losing their identity and their assets - again. This is better than the original school board proposal, but not the best solution for District 1 neighborhoods.

There was a THIRD proposal to create two K-8 schools, one in the Hazel Park area (co-locating Ames and Hazel Park Middle), and one in the Battle Creek neighborhood (co-locating Sheridan - or other D1 elementary schools - and Battle Creek Middle School). But this didn't fly.

Again, I ask the question -- what makes a good, healthy neighborhood?? Are neighborhood assets, such as schools and libraries, parks and local businesses important? How is the health of the community affected as we lose local parks and schools?

Free Shredding of Personal Documents

US Bank at 2751 Shepard Road is holding a free shredding event on Saturday, June 19 from 9a to 1p. Although this is outside our neighborhood, it is just down Warner Road to Shepard Road and on to their Riverbank Business Center.

This is a good way to safely dispose of your old confidential files, bank statements, cancelled checks and so one. Help prevent identity theft!

Cintas Document Management is partnering with US Bank to hold this event.

Litter Clean Up in Rainy Battle Creek

On Tuesday, June 8 -- you know, the really rainy day?? -- 100 Woodbury High School students picked up litter along McKnight, Suburban, Lower and Upper Afton. As Angela Mens-Eastman, Recreation Services Supervisor for Ramsey County Parks said, "If they had already graduated we would not have had the perfect attendance that we did. But nonetheless they were troopers!! They were disappointed when I told them they could not use their garbage bags for ponchos, though!!"

Thanks to Ramsey County Parks and especially to the Woodbury students for help in cleaning up our city.

BUT - what can each of us do to PREVENT THE LITTER in the first place??

Summer Meal Program for Kids

The Saint Paul Public Schools and the Parks and Rec Department are working together this summer to provide free meals for kids at local parks and school buildings. I am still waiting to hear what times each location will be open, but the following D1 locations are food hosts:

• Battle Creek Rec Center - 75 S. Winthrop
• Battle Creek Elementary School - 60 S. Ruth
• Battle Creek Middle School - 2121 North Park Drive
• Conway Rec Center - 2090 Conway St.
• Eastview Rec Center - 1675 E. 5th St.

As soon as I hear about times, I will update...

Healthy Neighborhoods??

What makes a healthy neighborhood? Come join the discussion on the District 1 Community Council Facebook group. Go to www.facebook.com and search on District 1 Community Council. There is a place to discuss this important topic on the discussion page and on the wall.

So why are we asking?? Because you are the expert of life in your neighborhood. You know what is happening there and what you would like to see happening there. If you have ideas, we can find a way to make them happen.

Join the discussion...

Energy Efficiency Workshops

Although we have energy workshops scheduled for July 22 and 27 (if you haven't signed up, contact us at district1council@aol.com), there are a variety of workshops available around the city. The full list of workshops can be found at the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams website.

But the Twin Cities Daily Planet has some info about the program, too, and its outreach to neighborhoods. Check it out at the Daily Planet site.

Submitted by Carl Samuelson of MN CERTS.

Community Garden in at Conway

Neighbors have put in the garden at Conway Rec Center, next to the tennis courts. Support for this garden is coming from a lot of directions - the police (who see it as a great crime deterrent), neighbors, scout troops, and the Parks Department.

The garden has been named "The Garden of Feed'em" and this year will be donating the vegetables to the local food shelf. In future years, the garden will be opened up for individual plots.

Plant donations have come from Bailey's Nursery and seeds were donated by the Minnesota Horticultural Society.

For more information on community gardens and their benefits, check out the Gardening Matters website.

News on the Traffic Front...

After our Battle Creek Board Meeting where traffic on Ruth Street came up again, Kathy Lantry had a talk with the City's Public Works Department. It turns out they did a speed study on Ruth Street in 2006 and found that, at certain times of the day, the average traffic speed was 5 to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit (which is 30 mph, by the way!!).

There are several things that they are going to do about this:

1. put the street in the queue for getting one of the electric speed indicator signs (there has been one on Minnehaha lately - these show people how fast they are going and tends to slow those people down who just don't realize that they are over the limit...)
2. adding the bike lanes on Ruth Street that we lobbied for last year - striping these lanes in narrows the street and has been proven again and again to slow people down (a public meeting about these lanes will be coming up soon...)
3. putting in turn lanes at the freeway entrance - this will also clarify how many lanes there are on the street and keep traffic moving, but not too fast.

The main thing to remember about traffic anywhere in the neighborhood is that WE are the ones who set the example, set the pace, and let people know we live here. Having people out walking on the sidewalks slows people down, too, but if you don't want other people to speed, make sure you drive the limit, too!!

P.S. If you are interested in committing to drive the speed limit or less in this neighborhood and every other neighborhood, pick up a PACE CAR bumper sticker at the district council office.

UPDATE: June 8 - the city CAN'T put in a digital speed reader on the northbound lane - there is no room and no electricity. We are looking into other options.