Upcoming Hearings on Highwood Properties

There are two properties in Highwood asking for variances. One is asking for a variance for construction into a steep slope that is already underway and is in the River Corridor. The other is for extension of a driveway up a slope to a new construction on the former home site to make the new home more accessible.

We need to hear from neighbors about these proposals. There is a short timeline. The hearings are August 10 at 3p in the City Council Chambers, third floor of City Hall.

Contact Betsy for more information (district1council@aol.com or 651.501.6345). And if you want early notification of such zoning requests, follow this link to get signed up. Our district is DISTRICT 1 - signing up will keep you informed.

National Night Out is Just Around the Corner!

Remember August 4!! That's National Night Out this year and we are encouraging every neighborhood to celebrate. Every household should turn on its porch light for the night (not a bad idea for EVERY night!), and see if your neighbors want to get together for a potluck, a dessert and maybe games or a discussion. Contact Pam McCreary at 651.702.6770 and let her know what you're planning.

And there will be a community gathering at Faith Alliance Church, 520 N. Howard again this year. Announcement will be coming in the District 1 News - due at your doorstep next week (July 27 or so...).

The most effective way to keep our neighborhoods safe is to know your neighbors and spend time outside, watching the traffic, walking the block, playing in the front yard. AND its healthy for you, too!!

Public School Superintendent Search

The St. Paul Board of education is using consultants to guide their search for a new permanent superintendent. There will be an opportunity for community engagement in this search by 

1. providing input for the candidate profile (what would we be looking for?)
2. giving impressions of the finalists when they have been picked.

The Board is hoping to hire someone before the end of 2009, but at least by then. There is more information and updates about the search at the School Board's website.

Keep in mind that, although Sheridan School remains open for the 2009-2010 school year, the School Board will still need to close a school in the following year. If you have concerns, you better be ready with input!!

Why Everyone Should be an Environmentalist

Maybe you saw in the Star Tribune newspaper today the article about the link that researchers have found between air pollution and brain development of children... They looked at inner-city mothers-to-be and monitored their exposure to air pollution while they were pregnant. Then they tested the children's IQ at age 5 or 6 and found that kids who were exposed to higher air pollution levels in utero had significantly lower IQs than those exposed to less pollution. It was as if the kids had gotten lead poisoning - the effects were similar.

In addition, scientists are finding increasing evidence that when prescription drugs get flushed down the toilets, they are getting into the river water - which is often a source of drinking water in cities. These levels of drugs have a disruptive effect on hormones of living beings, including people... (Here is a link to how to properly dispose of these drugs.)

The way we live, design our communities, get to our jobs has an effect on ourselves, on our children, and on our children's children. There are things we can do about this - choices we can make. Getting involved in your community is one of those things.

Help for Food Shelves

"Fruits of the City" is a new project by the Minnesota Project that is looking to glean unused fresh fruit from trees in the city for donation to local food shelves. They are asking that if residents have apple, pear or plum trees on their home lots, which have excess fruit that tends to go to waste, those residents register the trees with this project. Then they will send out volunteers to pick the excess fruit. They are also looking for volunteer gleaners to help pick the fruit.

For more information, to register a tree, or to volunteer, call 651.789.3320 or email fruits@mnproject.org. Here is a link to their website .

Sheridan School to Remain Open...

At least for the coming year... The school board voted last night not to close Sheridan Elementary or to "repurpose" it. This affects the school district budget in a negative way so the school board will need to look at additional closings for the 2010-2011 school year. But for now, the neighborhood school is safe.

Receive Alerts Electronically

The St. Paul Police Department has launched a new Community Information Service designed to deliver important, relevant and timely information to residents using the latest technology.

This service, Nixle, delivers important neighborhood-level public safety and community event notifications that are instantly sent to you by cell phone text message, email and the web. There is NO advertising or Spam.

Nixle is free (although standard cell phone provider text message rates apply for those who chose to receive text alerts).

The service is simple to use, reliable, and the information Nixle delvers comes directly from the St. Paul Police Department.

We encourage you to register now and learn more by clicking HERE. After you've registered, invite your neighbors, co-workers, and friends to join us so they too can get important and timely information about issues that matter to them.

We are excited to have you join us in "Making Saint Paul the Most Liveable City in America."

For additional information about all the great events and services available in St. Paul, visit us at the city website.

Submitted by the SP Police Department Crime Prevention personnel