Raingardens benefit the environment

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After a long and dreary winter, spring is really here. The grass is green, trees are leafing out, and it’s time to get the garden going. One type of garden that is growing in popularity is the raingarden, which is a shallow, depressed garden that can catch rain or stormwater runoff and is environmentally and economically friendly. Raingardens can provide beautiful landscaping in areas where grass does not grow due to flooding or soil erosion.Where to go
The Capitol Region Watershed District helps protect the water resources of nearly a quarter million people- or one in twenty Minnesotans. CRWD includes parts of Saint Paul, Falcon Heights, Roseville, Maplewood and Lauderdale. Continue Reading

Dayton’s Bluff Spring Vacant Home Tour

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The Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood has breathtaking views of downtown Saint Paul and its own historic district, the largest in the city, with 600 structures. The neighborhood is home to Metro State University. And, as of May 4, 2009, the city’s website lists 286 vacant buildings in Dayton’s Bluff. Dayton’s Bluff Spring Vacant Home TourSunday, May 17 • Noon to 5 p.m.
The Dayton’s Bluff District 4 Community Council will host its third vacant house tour on Sunday, May 17, from noon to 5 p.m. Tour goers can pick up a map at the council office at 798 East Seventh Street, at Margaret. Visitors who arrive by noon will have a chance to ride the tour route on a vintage Twin Cities Transit bus. Continue Reading

It’s FMA Live! and everything’s in motion

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“Everything’s in motion” shouted out JJ, Eric and Katie as they performed a high energy hip hop dance at Washington Technology Middle School in St. Paul on April 16 and 17. They were here with FMA Live! a show that travels cross-country to promote Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion. Flickr slideshows do not display properly on some browsers. Continue Reading

Rent or food? Housing costs burden one in three metro families

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Annie and her husband, Tim, (not their real names) live with their ten-year-old daughter in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul. When they first rented their two-bedroom apartment, the $900 rent was “doable,” Annie wrote in an e-mail. At that time the cost of rent amounted to 25-30 percent of the couple’s combined incomes. That all changed when Annie lost her job because the company she worked for downsized. Continue Reading

Eagles fly this summer at St. Paul school

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Middle school aged students can register now for the opportunity to attend the Eagles Summer Camp at Washington Technology Middle School located in the North End neighborhood of St. Paul. The Eagles Summer Camp is free to all Minnesota students who are entering 6th-8th grades in September The camp provides STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and enrichment classes, along with sports programming. Transportation is provided for free to students living in the Saint Paul Public School District and in the South Washington County School District. Lunch and snack are provided. Continue Reading

Ward 4 meeting draws library supporters, Como Park advocates

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“Property Taxes are soaring. Property values are dropping. What are you going to do about the elderly?” said one woman at the Ward 4 meeting on March 4 at the Goodwill Building in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood. Ward 4 City Councilmember Russ Stark had called the meeting to discuss the tough time the city is facing with the drastic budget cuts. Continue Reading