Think Green Fair 2010
You’re invited to be a part of the 2010 Think Green Fair. Applications are currently being accepted for new and returning exhibitors and sponsors for this unique, community oriented event.
The fair is entering its second year and is committed to showcasing green businesses and organizations dedicated to bringing sustainable services, products and visions to southeastern Minnesota.
The Think Green Fair will include:
Food and catering from local restaurants, growers & producers.
Community action groups
Workshops
Guest speakers
Children’s activities
Local artisans
Entertainment
Door prizes
Exhibitor application packet and Sponsor information is now available at www.RNeighbors.org/thinkgreen. Volunteers are also needed to assist us
A Litter Bit Better 2010
Pick it up on April 17-24!
During the week of April 17-24, 2010, volunteers from Rochester neighborhoods, businesses, groups, and individuals will be joining together to pick up the litter in our community.
You can help by volunteering to pick up Rochester. Register after March 15 on our website or by calling 328-2431.
April 17-24
Groups collect litter across Rochester
Saturday, April 24, 9 am
RNeighborWoods tree planting in the Manor Park and Diamond Ridge neighborhoods. Meet at Manor Park, 4238 Manor Park Drive NW
Saturday, April 24, Noon
Greening of Rochester celebration picnic at Manor Park provided by Great Harvest, Gingerbread House, Pepsi, and Roscoe’s Root Beer &
2010 Spring RNeighborWoods Community Tree Planting
At the fall 2009 RNeighborWoods planting this group of Slatterly Park neighbors joined in the effort to get 100 news trees planted in their neighbohrood.
Currently there are 29,088 vacant boulevard tree spaces throughout Rochester neighborhoods, out of a total of 98,475 spaces. The city is currently at 30% less than capacity and each year 500-900 boulevard trees are removed to disease or damage.
Trees make good neighbors. Come join us for our largest community tree planting to date! 500 trees!
Saturday, April 24, 9 am-Completion
Manor Park and Diamond Ridge Neighborhoods
Meet at Manor Park, 4238 Manor Park Drive NW
No Cost
Free lunch at noon:
2010 Spring RNeighborWoods Tree Grant
2009 Tree Grant winner Northwest neighbor Tim Nelson rallied his neighborhood together to plant 30 trees and fill approximately 1,967 feet of street boulevards.
Trees make good neighbors.
Since 2006, the RNeighborWoods program has organized the planting of over 1,000 trees on Rochester boulevards, that provide multiple ecological and other public benefits including reducing Rochester’s carbon footprint. This spring the City of Rochester and RNeighbors is offering a grant for a winning neighborhood to receive free boulevard trees.
Announcing the RNeighborWoods Tree Grant!
We have 20 trees that will all be planted in a deserving neighborhood by the neighbors! You can read about the success
2010 Spring Citizen Forester Training
When: Saturday, April 10, 2010. 8am to Noon.
Where: Quarry Hill Nature Center
Community Ed Class Number: 8644.221
Price: $15.00
Become a part of the Rochester urban forester team through this course led by the City of Rochester Forestry Division and RNeighborWoods. This class is packed with tree education, climbing, and planting. You’ll be an active participant in learning tree planting basics, care, basic arboriculture, urban forest advocacy, and hands-on activities.
Discover techniques that will give you the knowledge to correctly plant trees that will grow 100 years or more, rather than the average of 20-30 years.
To wind up the morning, you’ll help plant a tree
Voluntrees Needed for EAB Urban Forest Project
Hello tree loving folks!
Our City Forester, Jacob Ryg, has been approached by the University of Minnesota to assist in a project which will study ways to prepare, manage and respond to the threat of Emerald ash borer (EAB).
One of the tasks is to collect data on about 2500 trees (public and private). Professor Gary Johnson will be doing the training, which will amount to about 16 hours. Any event Gary is involved in is always a fun time.
We will explain more about the project and what it entails during the training.
There is no prior knowledge required, just an interest in
Neighbors for Safety January Update
Since our large public information meeting in December, the Neighbors for Safety group continues to work in the background collecting information and building a strategic plan that we will bring to the City Council in March.
The ongoing goal of this group of neighborhood leaders and business people is to strengthen neighborhood safety through improved neighborhood, city, and police relationships. Our focus is not to delve into the social aspects that we realize also play into this topic, as there are other efforts in Rochester focusing on these.
The four focus areas for Neighbors for Safety continue to be:
Neighborhood Policing
Gang Issues
Police Force
Improved
Salt Your Meals, Not Your Rivers and Lakes
As winter continues, do you need to to restock your supply of snow and ice control products? Before you do, think about this: even one teaspoon of deicing salt in 5 gallons of water is toxic to aquatic life. It takes 5,000 gallons of water to dilute a 25 lb bag of salt to levels that are safe for our aquatic neighbors. There are three categories of products designed to keep us safe while traveling on foot or in a vehicle. 1. Anti-icers are liquid and solid products applied to pavements before a storm event to prevent ice crystals from
2nd Annual Rochester Heritage Preservation Awards
The Rochester Heritage Preservation Committee is seeking nominations for Heritage Preservation Awards to be presented during National Heritage Preservation Month in May of 2010. The National Trust created Preservation Week in 1971 to spotlight grassroots preservation efforts in America, and it has grown into an annual celebration observed by small towns and big cities with events ranging from architectural and historic tours and award ceremonies, to fundraising events, educational programs and heritage travel opportunities.
The Rochester Heritage Preservation Committee is seeking nominees that fall into one of the following six categories: Historic Restoration or Rehabilitation Project, Adaptive Reuse Project, Community Education
Realize Raingardens: Grants Available!
Got a low spot in your yard that stays wet? Have a desire to invite butterflies and songbirds to your yard? Want to help fight storm water pollution and beautify your neighborhood? These are all great reasons to install a raingarden, and the City of Rochester will help you do it! Cost-share grants are available for residential storm water customers to install a raingarden at their residences. Register to attend a free Grant Writing Workshop on March 3rd, 7-8pm by emailing aplute@rochestermn.gov and visit www.rochesterstormwater.com for details, resources, pictures and more.
