We had a successful rain barrel workshop in June and are looking forward to another. Make your own rain barrel in this low-cost workshop and learn about proper use and the environmental benefits of harvesting rain water.  We'll supply the food-grade barrels, the equipment, and all the parts as we guide you through constructing your own. Cost $10 per barrel for SAP residents, contact green@sapcc.org or 651-649-5992.  The workshop is co-sponsored by the St. Anthony Park United Methodist Church and will be held on July 14 at 7pm at the Church at 2200 Hillside Ave.

BNSF has changed, yet again, the closing date for Raymond Ave. The road will be closed 2:00 PM Sunday July 5th and reopen 400 PM Tuesday.

Center of roadway will be open for pedestrians bycycles and signs will be posted at each end of Raymond Ave.

Forestry staff assisted MDA with the placement of purple "traps" in ash trees throughout Saint Paul (eastern limit is Rice St). These traps attract EAB both with the color purple and a scent pouch placed in the middle of the tree that emits a chemical which smells like a stressed ash tree (EAB are inclined to go to stressed ash more so than healthy ash). The outside of the triangular trap is covered in a sticky substance that insects cannot get out of once attached. These traps will be monitored by MDA staff throughout the summer and removed this fall-the point of the traps is to see how widespread EAB actually is in the metro area.

Forestry staff began issuing permits for the treatment of public property ash trees to homeowners who have hired a tree service company to do the work. Permits are available free of charge under the following conditions:

- the city's review of whether the tree or trees still warrant chemical treatment

If you didn't receive the Networker (our quarterly newletter) on your doorstep, or it was too miserable wet to read, find it here.

Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) offers grants of up to $2,000 to homeowners, organizations, or faith communities who want to improve water quality by installing a raingarden or rain barrel, build a green roof, or replace hard surfaces with pervious pavement that allows rainwater to soak into the ground. Water quality education projects are also eligible. Contact Capitol Region Watershed District today to find out more, or to get an application! Call Anna at 651-644-8888, or email her at anna@capitolregionwd.org. More info....

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As part of the 2009 Green SAP Neighborhood Project, we have set a goal to convert 200 SAP neighbors to 100% wind power.  Through a program offered by Xcel Energy, residents can guarantee that their entire electricity bill is building new wind energy that would not otherwise exist.

Monday, June 1, 2009, the first EAB confirmed trees were removed in Minnesota along Long Avenue in the Hampden Park neighborhood of Saint Paul. This is basically the point area of where the infestation was first confirmed. All told, Saint Paul Forestry, working under the direction of the MDA, removed approximately 27 public trees on the ROW and in Hampden Park itself.

An update on Central Corridor Light Rail has been put together by the District Councils Collaborative (a group made up of representatives of neighborhoods on the light rail line). Read it here...

Hermes, which is close by at 1750 Larpenteur Ave, is taking garden plastics this year all season long.

To find other sites in the Metro, see the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association website.

SAP Library

All current and aspiring block captains, leaders and coordinators are invited to a gathering of Blockheads.  Meet other blockheads and share ideas and information.  We'll map out all the block clubs in SAP, talk about how blocks can participate in the Green Neighborhood Project, introduce our lawn mower sharing program and sign up for National Night Out.  There will be dinner from Eden Pizza in Hamline-Midway, plus lots of good company from the Park.  Contact Renee to sign up.

From the City of St. Paul:  Sewers has informed us that a sewer has collapsed in Raymond Ave just South of Energy Park Drive. This work will require a complete closure of Raymond between Robins Street and Energy Park Drive starting this Wednesday. If all goes as planned Raymond could reopen as early as Friday - depending on the repairs required.

Traffic will be detoured to Snelling Avenue during construction (chosen because of the State work along Hwy. 280) with advanced notice signs placed to notify residents of the upcoming work. The Public Works Right of Way inspector for this area, Dick Rohland will work to minimize impacts to the general public as well as the affected neighborhoods. Dick's email address is dick.rohland@ci.stpaul.mn.us  and phone number is 651-485-1688. Questions can also go to Don Stein, City of St. Paul Traffic Engineering, 651-266-6233; or at don.stein@ci.stpaul.mn.us

The Met Council has developed a report detailing ways to deal with the planned reduction in on-street parking on University Avenue. (There are currently about 1000 on-street parking spaces. That number will go down to 175.) To see the site specific and corridor-wide solutions, go to their website and click on "Hot Topics"

BNSF will be closing Raymond to reconstruct the bridge that carries their trains just north of Energy Park Drive. The latest word from BNSF is that Raymond will be open except for a few days up until the State Fair.  The two months they need to close the road will probably be September-October.

Thanks to all of you who voted.  Our Board starting May of 2009 includes: From North St. Anthony Park: Gary Carlson, Greg Haley, Brian Longley, Roger Purdy, John Seppanen; From South St. Anthony Park: Ranae Hanson, Matt Hass, Jim Hunt, Joanne Makela, Paul Mix, Arnold Ramler, Gregg Richardson; Business Delegation: Ray Bryan, Linda Hodge, Paul Hanscom, Jackie Lunde, Ferdinand Peters

The St. Anthony Park Community Council was disappointed to learn that Mayor Coleman (with the support of Councilmember Stark) is proposing to cut up to 14% of all District Council Citizen Participation grants for 2009. Though these cuts are part of the Mayor’s efforts to balance the City budget, they are a threat to the ability of the entire St. Paul District Council system to deliver on its mission.

In a time when city services are being cut to the bone, District Councils are needed more than ever to respond to the needs of the neighborhoods on a grassroots level.  As we see police, fire, parks and libraries diminishing in their capacity to serve the people of Saint Paul, the ability of residents to actively engage in solving neighborhood quality of life issues becomes paramount.