Sustainable Stillwater Gathers Community Ideas at Launch Party
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Press Publications PRESORTED 4779 Bloom Avenue STANDARD White Bear Lake, MN 55110 U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED PERMIT NO. 640 STILLWATER, MN Wet & Dry Fun for Everyone! Waterpark • Alpine Slides • Go-Karts • Freefall XP FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 www.wildmountain.com - Taylors Falls, MN VOL. 04 NO. 36 www.presspubs.com $1.00 FARMING: Artistic couple shapes the land PAGE 14 Bison herd returns to Afton JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | PRESS PUBLICATIONS JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | PRESS PUBLICATIONS Facilitator Cheryl Kartes arranges idea notecards on the vision board throughout the evening of the Sustainable Stillwater The bison gallop away to explore their new prairie home, launch party June 9. where they will remain until October. BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER Sustainable Stillwater gathers STAFF WRITER AFTON — There’s something special about seeing a bison in person, said Belwin Conservancy community ideas at launch party Executive Director Nancy Kafka. “They’re so soulful,” she said. “They’re docile, but then you think about how their only natural BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER them on a vision board displayed predators are grizzly bears and wolves, so they STAFF WRITER in the center of the ballroom. At must not be worried about much. They carry that. the end of the evening, members They’re curious about you, but they’re really not STILLWATER — The organiza- from Sustainable Stillwater orga- worried about you.” tion Sustainable Stillwater, whose nized them into the same three Hundreds of other people felt exactly the same mission is to connect communities categories outlined by the TED way: the crowd was thick on a sweltering Saturday to inspire and create sustainable talks. Ideas included creating bet- in June. People of all ages lined up at the fence (some living for the future, recently ter signage and resources for bike with umbrellas for shade) on a treeless prairie in held its offi cial launch party. The trails, adding solar panels to condo Afton. There were food trucks and booths lined up launch drew local business owners rooftops, and creating a rideshare nearby, all gathered to witness the annual arrival of and residents from across the St. system, in addition to many more. a herd of bison at the Belwin Conservancy. Croix Valley to discuss local con- Alliance for Sustainability Appropriately, the Tatanka Truck (Tatanka cerns related to community health Executive Director Sean Gosiews- is Lakota for “bison”) was on the scene serving and its impacts. The party was ki said he was excited to see the bison tacos and other Native American-inspired held at the Grand Ballroom June 9. amount of interest in the event, but fare. There were several other food trucks and Stillwater City Administrator JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | PRESS PUBLICATIONS hopes that in the future there will native prairie and bison-themed booths. At noon, Tom McCarty was in attendance City Administrator Tom McCarty speaks be more young people involved. the bison herd arrived by trailer, towed into the to talk with community members with citizens about the future of devel- “One of the things to strive for is prairie enclosure by a pickup truck, and guests and take notes on the brainstorm- opment in Stillwater. to get youth back involved, to pro- waited eagerly for the handlers to lower the trailer ing sessions. He spoke at the vide opportunities for them to get gate. Cautiously, one or two bison emerged before beginning of the event, sharing economic vitality and resources, involved,” he said. He was enthused galloping out into the fi eld and waiting for the rest that the city invites public input on and environmental stewardship. to see that many young members of of the herd members. Together they stampeded many of its future projects relating These were subdivided into the Stillwater Mountain Bike team into the far reaches of the prairie enclosure, explor- to sustainability. additional categories, represent- were present at the event. ing their summer home. It took three trailers to Later in the evening, guests ing themes such as active living, Following the event, the Sustain- transport the entire herd, which gave guests plenty broke into groups to listen to one building community, food and able Stillwater group held a meet- of opportunities to witness the release, whether it of three TED-style talks, given by tools, housing, recycling and water ing a few days later on June 13 to was standing next to the fence or climbing the 20 community members in different and nature. further examine and pare down the foot observation tower to watch from above. corners of the ballroom. Topics Throughout the evening, attend- ideas collected at the launch party. included the categories of healthy ees wrote down ideas for improv- SEE BELWIN BISON, PAGE 8 and connected communities, local ing the community and posted SEE SUSTAINABLE STILLWATER, PAGE 8 Big Apple Cigar & Pipe UNDERCROWN SHADE & KENTUCKY FIRE CURED 955W. Broadway | Forest Lake Minnesota Th ursday, June 30th, 2016 • 6:30-8:30pm (651) 982 - 1080 A special evening presented by Drew Estate. Enjoy two very special cigars, ousands of Cigars and Pipes in Undercrown Shade and Kentucky Fire Cured. stock at discount prices! Sign up on our website | www.BigAppleGlobal.com NEWS ADVERTISING CIRCULATION CLASSIFIED PRODUCTION 651-407-1229 651-407-1200 651-407-1234 651-407-1250 651-407-1239 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] classifi [email protected] [email protected] 2 THE LOWDOWN JUNE 24, 2016 www.presspubs.com Does Scandia need LATV? Option 3: Dissolution with limited partner- BY SUZANNE LINDGREN ship [email protected] Under this plan, the three cities would dissolve the JPA and re-establish Will Scandia continue to air govern- a simplifi ed partnership focused on ment meetings, community events and government programming. Subscrib- high school sports on cable television — ers would still have access to channels or has the medium become obsolete? 10 and 20, but broadcasts would be For months, Scandia offi cials have adjusted. Early estimates indicate this been considering whether to leave the option would cost $30,000 annually — Forest Lake Cable Commission, citing saving more than $100,000 each year by reasons that include the recent resig- streamlining services, reducing staff nations of top commission staff and the hours and overhead, and eliminating city’s ability to broadcast meetings and rent. events online without going through Smarter and better the Cable Commission. “There was a lot of conversation Three potential outcomes emerged about how we can do this smarter and June 9 when Scandia representatives better and reach more people,” said met with offi cials from Forest Lake and Scandia City Administrator, Neil Sol- Columbus — the other two cities with tis. “There are so many alternatives to a stake in the commission and its two cable TV now to get media on demand.” stations, LATV 10 and Ranger 20 — to discuss the future of the public access cable channels. WHO WATCHES LATV? “There was a lot of City of Columbus 1,525 total households conversation about how 252 cable subscribers we can do this smarter 17% subscriber rate and better and reach more City of Forest Lake people.” 7,441 total households Neil Soltis 2,557 cable subscribers City Administrator, Scandia 34% subscriber rate City of Scandia Option 1: Keep the joint powers agreement This option would require hiring 1,476 total households JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | PRESS PUBLICATIONS a new executive director and offi ce 216 cable subscribers Monica Anuforo, a DiaSorin intern, uses pedal power to blend a healthy smoothie at an manager at LATV and either renewing employee event last week. the current lease or fi nding a new space 14% subscriber rate to rent. Filming schedules and programming Currently, the city pays about $10,000 would continue as usual. If one city annually in franchise fees to support decides to withdraw from the joint pow- the commission. That money originates DiaSorin promotes healthy living for ers agreement (JPA), the budget would from cable subscribers, not tax dollars, need to be re-evaluated to account for but the cable stations are not accessible the future loss of franchise and public to every Scandia household — cable employees education government (PEG) fees. infrastructure is only offered in rela- Option 2: Dissolve the JPA tively densely populated areas. Internet Last week, the employees of DiaSorin in Stillwater were treated to a health If the current JPA were dissolved access is more widespread. expo to promote employee appreciation and healthy living. DiaSorin is an completely, each city would be respon- The Scandia City Council was sched- Italian company specializing in medical diagnostics, and has its U.S. head- sible for fi lming and airing its own uled to vote on whether to withdraw quarters in Stillwater. The event offered free blood glucose testing, samples government meetings and community from the agreement June 21 after press of organic fruit and produce, and many informational tables from local busi- events. time. nesses and health organizations that serve residents of the Stillwater area. Highway 96 closed for construction at Manning STILLWATER/GRANT — Washington The intersection west of Manning was County, in coordination with the Minneso- closed to begin stage 2 on June 16, and ta Department of Transportation (MnD- work will continue on the west side of the OT), is overseeing intersection improve- planned roundabout until August. Con- ments at County Highway 15 (Manning struction for stage 3 will then begin on Avenue) and Highway 96 (Dellwood Road the east side of Manning, lasting through North). September. The intersection project will replace the For the summer, drivers going east on existing all-way stop with a single-lane Dellwood Road should take an alternate roundabout.