Ramsey County Fair is Coming in July!

The 99^th Annual Ramsey County Fair will be held July 11-15.  The free admission fair is located in Maplewood on White Bear Av. at Frost.  Now is the time to start planning how you can participate in the fair besides being a spectator when that time comes.  There are many opportunities to exhibit you skill or hobby at the fair – ribbons and prize money are given to winners in horticulture, arts and crafts, clothing, foods, photography, home furnishings, etc.   There are youth and adult divisions for the competition.  Our web site will give further details about entering into the Talent Contest. The contest is open to pre-teens, teens, and an open division.   Fair highlights include opening night parade, farmer for the day children’s petting zoo,  pig races, carnival rides, bands, beer, bingo and many food choices.  Take advantage discount on carnival ride tickets purchased before the fair starts.   Keep watching on the web site “ramseycountyfair.com” for all of the entertainment and educational opportunities.  For more information call (651) 770-2626

Healthy Food Resources

The City has set up a website to help people to make healthy choices about food and gardening activities. This site will serve as a resource for groups looking for community garden spaces, information on urban agriculture zoning and permits, and where to find healthy food in the city. It is a part of the City's Sustainability initiative.


Check out the website here:  http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=4811


(Did you also know there are people on the eastside trying to set up a co-op? For more information, contact our office and we will put you in touch with the organizers - district1council@aol.com or 651.578.7600

New In-window Signage Ordinance in SP

The City of St. Paul has updated its ordinance governing the amount of temporary signage that can be in business windows. Only 30% of window area between 4 and 7 feet above the ground can be covered with signage, and they cannot block the view of the cashier area.


Why has this change been made?? It is a matter of safety - people need to be able to see into and out of a store. When does it take effect? It took effect in February 2012 but until next January, the city (and neighbors!) are getting the business owners informed about the change. After next January, fines will be issued.


For more information visit this site -- 

http://www.ansrmn.org/programs/ramsey-tobacco-coalition

Check out the film on bike boulevards...

This link was sent in by neighbor and cycling-advocate, Ed Lehr... It helps give a sense of what can happen in neighborhoods that adopt this street format. Shouldn't we make it easier for these kids to cycle safely through our area??

D1 held a bike rodeo, helmet and vest give-away in 2010

http://www.streetfilms.org/portlands-bike-boulevards-become-neighborhood-greenways/

Feeding Pigs and Saving Money

Did you know that Ramsey County works with a hog farmer to collect food waste from several County-owned facilities? In 2011, almost a half a million pounds of food scraps were recovered from food prep activities at the Ramsey County Care Center, at the County’s transitional housing and correctional facilities, as well as from celebrations at the Landmark Center. The food scraps were turned into food for the farmer’s hogs Instead of going into a landfill. Not only did this program boost the County’s overall recycling performance, but it also saved the County almost $10,000 compared to throwing away food scraps in the trash. If your Ramsey County business has a lot of food scraps, contact Minnesota Waste Wise at 651.292.4650 or mnwastewise@mnchamber.com to receive a free consultation.

Submitted by Ramsey County Go Green... (wish I had a picture of a hog to go with this...)

From the 'Hood to the Wood...

Saint Paul Parks is holding a Community Camp that will teach families the fundamentals of camping. At Conway Rec you will learn to set up a campsite, what to bring, how to make s'mores, participate in a campfire program, and sleep under the stars. This will happen on July 27 from 6p to 8a.

Tents, sleeping bags and pads, activities, a light breakfast and snacks are provided. You can bring extra food or special snacks with you. The cost is only $10 per family.

Families that participate in the recreation center camping experience will be invited to camp at Hidden Falls Regional Park on August 10 from 6p to 8a where there will be hiking, fishing and stargazing provided by American Bass Fishing Assoc., Wilderness Inquiry and the National Park Service.

Families that participate in both the neighborhood and regional park camp experiences will receive a $10 Target gift card.

The local camp experience will be guided by the YWCA and Conservation Corps of Minnesota.

Space is limited so contact Mike DeVilliers at Conway Rec by calling 651.501.6343

Come Hear about the Suburban Car-lot site

The owner and developer of the old car-lot site on Suburban Avenue will be at our board meeting next week (Monday, May 21 at 6:30p, at Battle Creek Rec Center) to talk about changes to the site plan and the tenants. Also on hand will be the designers and a representative from Pawn America, one of the major tenants.

If you would like to hear more about this project and give input on it, please join us.

We will also hear about changes to the city's sign ordinance - so this meeting will really focus on our local businesses and business districts.

Public Art on the Street

We invite residents in the Battle Creek/Upper Afton (District 1 – Eastview, Conway, Battle Creek and Highwood Hills) and Page/Woodbury (District 3 – West Side Citizens Organization) Residential Street Vitality Program (RSVP) project areas to a get-together to talk about public art opportunities for their neighborhoods.

Please join the design team – Marcus Young, City Artist in Residence, and artists Matt Olson, Brad Kaspari and Lisa Elias – on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Battle Creek Recreation Center, 75 Winthrop Street South, Saint Paul, MN 55119. http://www.stpaul.gov/facilities.aspx?RID=113&Page=detail

In 2009, an ordinance was passed by the City setting aside one percent for public art because it strengthens public places and enhances and promotes Saint Paul’s identity as a livable and creative city and a desirable place to live, work and visit. This is the pilot year for integrating art into RSVP projects.

Marcus Young has been City Artist in Residence since 2006 and has created the popular Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk program which has touched all corners of the city, wherever sidewalks are being repaired or replaced.

The design team is just beginning their process and want to get to know the neighborhoods better. The team also wants to give residents a glimpse into how they are starting to think about public art. Like with Everyday Poems for City Sidewalk, the artists are exploring how art can be integrated systemically into street reconstruction. Later in their design process, the team will follow-up with a celebratory event that presents their design ideas.

We hope you can join us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact: Regina Flanagan, Public Art Ordinance Administrator, #651-266-9159,Regina.Flanagan@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Action Delayed on Great River Park Plan

The Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Commission will be waiting to take action on the Great River Passage plan until the end of June. The Commission was expected to take action at their May 9 meeting, but due to the volume of public comments and the corresponding detailed public hearing staff report, the Commissioners requested additional time for review. The public will also be able to review the staff report, which is expected to be available on the Great River Passage website (www.greatriverpassage.org) at least 3 weeks prior to the special meeting.

Details of the special meeting (date/time) will be announced as soon as they are confirmed (expected to be at the end of June). The special meeting will be for Commission action-only on the plan, and will not include a public hearing. The next public hearing/comment period on the plan will begin during the next phase of the approval process which is the Planning Commission.