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2010 Spring Citizen Forester Training

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…

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Voluntrees Needed for EAB Urban Forest Project

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….

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Neighbors for Safety January Update

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…

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Salt Your Meals, Not Your Rivers and Lakes

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…

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2nd Annual Rochester Heritage Preservation Awards

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…

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Realize Raingardens: Grants Available!

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…

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A New Focus for A Litter Bit Better!

A New Focus for A Litter Bit Better!

A Litter Bit Better! is entering its 4th year, providing an opportunity for citizens to take an active role in pollution prevention via the week-long, city-wide trash cleanup effort.  A new subcommittee has formed this year to increase awareness about cigarette butt litter, aptly named A Litter Butt Better!  This group has compiled research on butt litter and plans to perform scans of butt-laden areas in Rochester as well as educate the public on this topic.  Business owners and others…

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Missouri Gravel Bed Project

Missouri Gravel Bed Project

A Plan to Reforest Our City This article was taken from the “MN Shade Tree Advocate Newsletter” and written by Derik Olson, MN GreenCorps Member and Urban Forestry Specialist for the City of Rochester. In Rochester, we have over 30,000 vacant tree planting spaces.  Last year we planted 500 trees, and those were just to replace the 1000 that were removed because of poor condition, damage or disease.  I think most cities would like to do more, but with one tree costing between…

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300 New Volunteers Needed in Rochester

300 New Volunteers Needed in Rochester

United Way of Olmsted County is recruiting 300 new volunteers in 2010 in three impact areas.  There are long-term, short-term, and one-time opportunities available.  Everyone is welcome:  seniors, families, groups, high school students…there is something for everyone!  Youth:  It’s not all that surprising that students do better when someone cares about them. Academic coaches help students overcome challenges in reading and math. Mentors are friends and role models who listen and care. Been awhile since you cracked a book? No…

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Vote Now! Rochester Downtown Plan

Vote Now! Rochester Downtown Plan

Share your voice and help create an extraordinary Downtown Rochester experience… Hundreds of millions of private and public sector dollars will potentially be invested in downtown in the coming years. The master plan will establish a clear set of objectives for that growth and development. Most importantly, the plan will identify the priorities, strategies, policies and resources necessary to realize downtown’s potential. An online community survey was launched January 11 to gather perspectives from community residents, workers, and visitors about…

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