December 2010 – RNeighbors

Tips for Safe Sledding

December 30, 2010

Article from the Olmsted County Public Health Services monthly newsletter. Email Laura Mix to subscribe. Who doesn’t love zipping down a snow-packed hill in the middle of winter? The sport of sledding can be lots of fun (and great exercise) as long as safety isn’t compromised. Here are some tips to stay safe when sledding: Make sure the sled is sturdy and can be steered The handholds should be easy to grab Never use homemade sleds like garbage-can lids, plastic…

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Olmsted County Website To Launch in January

December 29, 2010

Starting in January, Olmsted County’s website will showcase a new eye-appealing look and feel. The navigation of the website has been totally restructured in an effort to give users multiple ways of finding information. On the homepage, there are five fly out tab menus on the top, a County Department fly out on the left, an A-Z Guide located in the top right corner and left hand side, a County Meeting calendar, and a Search box in the top right…

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Managing Snow and Protecting Our Water

December 21, 2010

Whether you are a homeowner or business owner, we all have to deal with snow and ice at some point. Winter maintenance activities can have a very detrimental effect on our waterways. The MN Pollution Control Agency has partnered with several others to create manuals, fact sheets, and videos on proper snow and ice removal. These informational materials cover a lot of topics in a simple and effective way. Please take the time to review the following document and see…

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Weekly Green Fact

December 21, 2010

Planning to cook a big holiday dinner? Well even if it is on the smaller scale here are a few tips to have a “green” delicious meal. Fruits and Vegetables: If you have the option, try to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables over those that are packaged or canned (includes frozen). During certain seasons the fresh choice will often cost less than your more processed option. The amount of energy saved from buying fresh fruits and veggies could light a…

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Weekly Green Fact

December 13, 2010

RNeighbors will begin to provide our neighbors with weekly green facts that are easy to accomplish in your daily life and increase your “greeness.” So without further ado here is the first weekly green fact: All that Christmas shopping leads to wonderful gifts – and lots of plastic bags! So what can you do with all those plastic bags – recycle them! Many local grocers (including Hy-Vee) provide consumers the opportunity to recycle unwanted clean and dry plastic bags. Accepted…

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Landlord Ordinance – Chapter 38

December 13, 2010

By RNeighbors Board President Bob Nowicki LANDLORD ORDINANCE (Rochester Code of Ordinances Chapter 38) After numerous complaints and evidence of abuse by just a few “landlords” the council recognized that the existing ordinances governing the issuance and renewal of rental certificates was lacking and moved to correct the matter. After several meetings with representatives of our local Multi-Housing Association, review of ordinance from other cities in Minnesota, and a few public hearings Chapter 38 of the Rochester Code of Ordinances…

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Snow Emergency Declaration for Downtown

December 10, 2010

City of Rochester, Public Works Department, Streets Division This is an Official Snow Emergency Declaration. Rochester City officials are declaring a Snow Emergency effective 12:00 am Tuesday December 14, 2010. The snowfall totals over the weekend have resulted in a many downtown city streets becoming increasingly narrow, the result of blowing snow and snow filled boulevards and numerous vehicles parked on downtown streets through the day and night. The Snow Emergency parking restriction applies ONLY to the Downtown Business District,…

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Salt Your Meals, Not Your Rivers and Lakes

December 10, 2010

As winter continues, do you need 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. This winter, consider the environment and go on a “low-salt diet” to protect our water. Every type of snow and ice control product can impact the environment in some way. When snow and ice melt, the residual products are washed off our…

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Recycle Your Non-working Holiday Lights

December 2, 2010

Now there’s a recycling option for that frustrating tangle of holiday lights that just won’t work. Olmsted County is partnering with the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) and their Recycle Your Holidays™ program. Look for the green bins coming soon to the lobbies of the 2117 and 2122 Campus Buildings and the Government Center Rotunda. You are encouraged to drop off your old, broken holiday lights throughout the holiday season. Recycle Your Holidays™ is a Free, non-profit run, grass-roots program of…

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New Grounds for Coffee and Conversation

December 2, 2010

Last year, a Rochester Chapter of the Citizens League was formed by merging two local organizations. Coffee & Conversation, of which RNeighbors was a partner in, was one of those organizations. Coffee & Conversation had been providing forums for Rochester citizens since 2004. Perhaps you attended one or more of those forums? Now the Citizens League Rochester is interested in talking with those who have attended our events over the last several years. We need your advice so we can plan…

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