August Newsletter | 2019

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View this email in your browser August 2019 Eastview | Conway | Battle Creek | Highwood Hills Summer Appeal - Please Donate We have accomplished so much this year! Highlights include the following: We welcomed new board members, and continue to maintain a diverse board with over 60% who represent our Somali, African American, South American, and Asian neighbors, and all who bring a wide range of skills to our work. We hired a liaison to help us build relationships with our Somali neighbors. We contracted an organizer to focus on renter outreach and engagement. We are working with an intern from the University of MN CURA program to research pedestrian safety along McKnight Road. Our office is working with the St. Paul Police Department, Councilmember Prince, Brixmor Management and Sun Ray Shopping Center businesses to increase the safety of this community hub. We have been meeting with housing advocates and local renters to address renter displacement issues in our district. We completed a research project with local youth to examine out-of-school time needs of our district. Through the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, we received funding to host a series of family-friendly performances in August (the Highwood Performance Series). Your support promotes democracy in our City. Your donation of $25helps us reach 200 more neighbors to invite to a community gathering about public transportation.                  Your donation of $50 helps us bring community members and government representatives together for a meeting about important safety issues. A contribution of $100 can help provide zoning or planning education for our neighbors. Please donate to the District 1 community Council. Your financial contribution allows to reach more residents and ensure a healthy future for our organization. We welcome donations in any amount.  Thank you! The Highwood Performance Series The Highwood Performance Series brings some of the state's finest performers to the District 1 community! Bring your blankets, chairs and a picnic for this series of free, family-friendly events outside the Highwood Hills Recreation Center.   Highwood Hills Recreation Center* 2192 Londin Lane, St. Paul, MN  55119 (behind the school) Wednesdays in August from 5:30 to 8:00 pm, performances begin just after 6:00 pm   Schedule: August 7     Ensō Daiko Drumming, Taiko Arts Midwest August 14   Master Storytellers Beverly Cottman and Nothando Zulu August 21   Physical Clown Benjamin Domask & the Bollywood Dance Scene August 28   Somali Museum Dance Troupe performance and Exhibit     *The rain location is in the Highwood Hills Recreation Center gym. *If there is a heat advisory, we may reschedule that event for September. Information will be shared on our Facebook and website by 3:00 on that day.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Interested in volunteering? We need help greeting and counting attendees, collecting surveys and helping with our kids art project. Sign up today.   Care About Clean Parks and Green Spaces? Volunteers Needed to Assist with Drop-Off Day Every year, our city and residents deal with illegal dumping of mattresses, furniture, trash bags, clothing, debris and electronics. These waste items can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes, disrupt wildlife habitats, and pose fire risks. In addition, chemicals can leach into the soil and into ground water. We find piles in our parks and waterways, as well as in vacant lots and  alleys. It contaminates our green spaces and costs money to clean up.  >> D1CC staff observed this first hand as we hauled broken furniture, child seats, clothing and household items out of Battle Creek Park during the Earth Day Clean-up this year.  Help us keep our city clean. The annual Drop-Off Day helps deter illegal dumping in our parks and neighborhoods. Drop-Off Day encourages St. Paul residents to dispose of items correctly and legally. We need volunteers to assist in the process. Help greet neighbors, unload vehicles, and make decisions about what can be recycled and what needs to go into the trash. The eastside Drop-Off Day will take place the second Saturday in September and we need your help. Follow this link to our website to sign-up. Date: Saturday, September 14 Location: Harding High School parking lot Volunteer Shifts: 7:15 am-10:30 am and 10:15-1:30 pm Volunteer for one or both shifts. Volunteers receive: Breakfast, lunch and refreshments A voucher to drop off a free load of items Your name entered into a door prize drawing per each shift Got a truck or trailer? We also need help with Senior Pick-Up. Volunteers with trucks or trailers will drive to the homes or older adults, veterans and individuals with disabilities to retrieve items they need to dispose of. Each senior pick-up vehicle also receives a $10 gas card. Sign up via our website or call us at 651/578-7600. Community Survey As part of the District 1 grant funds we have regarding Boys Totem Town, we have three goals to accomplish:   1. Develop community leadership 2. Build community 3. Capture community ideas and themes regarding the potential future use of the Boys Totem Town land. Some of this took place in previous of years, but we've heard from community members who have not had a chance to weigh in with their feedback. Please follow this link to complete a survey that helps us gain a better sense of community needs in District 1. We do not have final say over the outcome of the property, but this information will be compiled into a report and shared with city and county officials as well as community members. Battle Creek Regional Park Master Plan - Weigh in! Battle Creek Regional Park is getting a new master plan for the first time in 30 years. Led by Ramsey County Parks & Recreation, community members can share their vision of what the park should look like with planners and park designers. Because our district encompasses a good portion of Battle Creek, we encourage you to complete the survey and provide your ideas and input! D1 Board Member Melissa Wenzel serves on the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Commission and has kept us apprised of the process. Follow this link to find out more about the planning process, and to complete the survey. Planners will also be attending one of our Highwood Performance Series events to collect information. New Hands-Free Phone Law Goes Into Effect It was already against the law in Minnesota to send text messages, emails, or browse the internet  on your phone while driving. Beginning August 1st, drivers are only allowed to use their phone by voice commands or single-touch activation.  Police can and will stop anyone that they see holding a phone while they are driving. This includes those doing so while waiting at a stoplight or stuck in traffic. Committee Updates Land Use Committee City staff joined the committee to share updates on the Fish Hatchery Trail re-opening. The committee has discussed creating and implementing a Equitable Development Scorecard to ensure community-relevant decision-making on planning and development in District 1. There is no news about Boys Totem Town except that the facility is closing. A commemorative event will beheld in August. Discussions about the Red Rock Terminal railroad issue continue. Work group meetings take place each month. Follow our website for information. Communications Committee We continue to work with our graphic designer on the logo. Please provide your insights on the logo design on our website. Interested in helping us with community outreach or tabling at events? Contact us to sign up. Upcoming Meetings and Events (See the Calendar on our web site for more info) All committee meetings run from 6:00-8:00 pm. Board meetings take place from 6:30-8:30 pm. Land Use Committee: Aug 5 & Sept 3, 6:00-8:00 pm (D1 Ofc) Communications Committee: Aug 12 & Sept 9 , 6:00-7:30 pm  (D1 Ofc) Board Meeting: No meeting in August, Sept 23, 6:30-8:00 pm, Battle Creek Rec National Night Out, August 6, 5:00-7:00 pm, Conway Recreation Center   Submit ideas and events by the 20th of each month to district1council@gmail.com. Copyright © 2019 District 1 Community Council, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 2105 1/2 Old Hudson Road St. Paul, MN  55119 651-578-7600 district1council@gmail.com District1Council.org