Tis the Recycling Season...

Since the 2012 Recycling Guide hit your mailboxes, we have been getting a lot of requests for bins. That is great - the more we can recycle, the better. If you have neighbors who are putting their recycling out in containers other than bins, let them know that they can contact us and we will deliver the bins - along with info about the neighborhood.

remember, you can now recycle pizza delivery boxes...

And if your bins are cracked and falling apart, you can bring them back here and we can recycle them and give you new bins. Just call 651.578.7600 for times to drop them off. Or call that number for us to drop off bins.

Some people think there is a charge for these bins - you have already paid for them through your property tax bill - if you are living in a house. If you live in an apartment, your management company needs to arrange for recycling containers at the complex, but we have recycling bags perfect for hanging on a door knob in an apartment - washable and with separated compartments for paper and the glass/cans/etc. There are sturdy straps to carry your recycling to the containers, too.

So do your part, and let us help...

Park Kiosks

pigs eye

There have been several recent inquiries about the 'Little Kiosk Structures' that have been seen popping up lately, so as the project manager with St. Paul Parks wanted to get back in touch to update the District Councils and other interested groups on the project.  

These little kiosks, (one near the intersection of Burns and Johnson Parkway, one at the intersection of Randolph and Shepard Road, one at the new parking lot at Shepard Rd. and Elway and one at the scenic overlook near the Ford Dam)  are part of the National Scenic Byways interpretive sign and kiosk project funded, in part, by a Scenic Byways grant. During the project design, the Parks department submitted project information to District 1 about the kiosks and they are now, finally, being completed.

The kiosks will have both historic interpretive materials that relate to their particular locations and wayfinding maps. They also help to identify that a trail is part of the Saint Paul Grand Round. 

When completed, the kiosks will also include a solar (photovoltaic) powered lighting system to illuminate the wayfinding maps at night. At various locations along the river, there will also be interpretive history panels that tell the story of how the Mississippi River has been utilized by the residents of the area.

There is additional information on the project, the kiosk and sign panel locations on the City Web site, linked here:

http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?nid=4619

The project is expected to be completed before the end of May.

Gateway Corridor Update

In March, the Gateway Corridor Commission approved a ranking of the transit options under consideration as part of the Alternatives Analysis Study. The ranked options were presented at open houses and community meetings in March and April to gain feedback from the public.
 

Since the start of the study, hundreds of valued comments have been collected at public meetings and events. Many people expressed their excitement for transit improvements in the east metro, while others raised questions about impacts to their neighborhood. All comments have been compiled and are being used to help determine the best transit option for the entire Corridor.
 

Over the summer, the Gateway Corridor Commission will be refining technical data on the transit options and reviewing the comments received from the public. A final decision on which alternatives will be carried forward to the next phase of the project is expected in September.

Water Meter Installation Update

Residential Installations – water meters

·       We are 65 - 70 percent finished with installations south of Holloway, west of Century Ave., east of White Bear Ave., and north of Conway.

·       Installation are 45 percent complete in an area bordered approximately by I-94 in the south, Arlington in the north, McKnight in the East, and Burlington in the west.

·       Mailings have gone out to property owners in Maplewood and Saint Paul, south of I-94 and bordering either side of McKnight road down to the southern edge of both cities. The area extends to the railroads in the west and the Century Avenue in the east.

Commercial Installations

·       We are nearly finished with the installation of large (1.5- and 2-inch) residential and commercial meters.

·       We have begun installing commercial meters 3-inches and larger, with 44 of these large meters replaced. These larger meters are more involved and require a longer installation period. This affects the length of time the water service will be interrupted. Businesses should plan accordingly when setting appointments.

·       Complaints continue to decline and remain low relative to the number of meters installed at about 1 percent overall, with leaks being the number one complaint. 

Please be aware that in a minority of cases, in which repeated attempts to contact the homeowner or resident have gone without response for at least two months, we have disconnected water services until we can arrange to have a new meter installed.

Grace Lutheran Church celebrates 95 years on Eastside

On Sunday, April 22 at 9:30a, Grace Lutheran Church (1730 Old Hudson Rd) will be celebrating 95 years of ministry on the Eastside. Grace was founded on April 23, 1917 at White Bear and Stillwater, and 50 years ago moved to its current location on Old Hudson off of White Bear. The church is inviting all current and past members (or any interested neighbors!) back for its 95 anniversary celebration. Pastor Richard Nelson, pastor in the 1960s and 70s will be preaching. Pastor Craig Richter, who retired in 2010 will be presiding over a baptism, and many other past pastors will be in attendance. Come and celebrate as the church looks ahead to many more years of ministry and partnership on the Eastside.

Check them out at http://gracelutheranstpaul.org

Save Tax Dollars; Save the Environment!

new tree damaged

We received notice from the parks department that with the early spring weather there has been a lot of activity in city (and county) parks. Some of it is not good. At one city park, vandals damaged newly planted trees. This kind of damage means that the trees have to be removed and replaced - all of which costs money.

As with any criminal activity, or suspected criminal activity, our system depends on people in the neighborhoods reporting it. If you see damage to public (or private) property, graffiti, destruction of trees and plantings in parks or on the boulevard, please call the City and report it. You would call 651.266.8989 and would need to have a description of where the damage has been done as well as what it is. If you know who has done it, report it.

And keep in mind that the more people there are out and about behaving as friendly, observant, and good "citizens", the less of a chance there is for folks to behave badly. Take back the streets and the parks - we do that in an eyes wide open, hearts wide open kind of way...

Upcoming Events

April 14 - Parks Clean Up - contact Cory.Hinz@co.ramsey.mn.us to participate at Battle Creek Park...

April 17 - Voter ID: The Civil Rights Implications - at William Mitchell Auditorium, 875 Summit Ave. at 6-8p; sponsored by Wm Mitchell Law, St. Paul NAACP, ACLU, League of Women Voters, and Ramsey County.

April 18 - Town Hall on Predatory Lending - Know Your Rights and Protect Your Finances - at Dayton's Bluff Rec Center, 800 Conway St., 6-8p.

April 28 - Eastern Heights Elementary School Community Rummage Sale - 9a-4p; rent a table for $15 (fundraiser for the school) and keep all your proceeds from selling your stuff. Contact Layne Brose at 651.293.8870 for more info.

April 30 - Proposed Industrial Zoning Code Changes - at Carpenters Union Hall, 710 Olive St. (off Phalen Blvd) 6:30-8p. Learn how the changes may affect our river corridor businesses.

Kids Show Creativity in Cooking!

each plate a work of art!!

Maybe you saw the nice article that was in this week's Eastside Review about our Sports and Nutrition classes that we are holding free at Conway Rec on Tuesday afternoons. Well, this week the kids were making hummus and preparing vegetables for dipping as a high-protein snack to bolster their pre-sports energy.

When it came time to plate their dishes (and share with Rec Center staff!), their creativity really shone! They were all vying to out-do each other and their instructor, Joyce McGee-Brown, with their beautiful presentations. Take a look and judge for yourselves. These young people are budding chefs!