March 2012 Gem Lake Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gem Lake News Page 4 of 6 BuBu Xcel to Start Project on Big Fox Road Underground cable on Big Fox Road will soon be replaced by Xcel Energy with new cabling that works better and cuts down on outages. When the ground thaws, Xcel will be replacing the transformers in that area. The utility company will be notifying customers in the immediate area when the work is being done, so they can prepare for possible short-term power outages. Stopping Water Where it Drops--A Free Rain Garden for Your Yard Series Learn how to design and build a rain garden this Spring in a series of seminars being sponsored by the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and the cities of Maplewood and North St. Paul. You can attend one class or the whole series. The focus of this free training is to move from design principals to hands-on field sessions and finally to teaching you how to assess your own yard. The ultimate goals are to resolve drainage issues, while protecting waters downstream. The first session is "A Rain Garden for your Yard." It will be held Wednesday, April 11 from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. at the Maplewood Public Library at 3025 Southlawn Drive in Maplewood. You need to register by April 2. The class will be taught by a landscape architect and will provide the nuts and bolts of rain gardens and the ability to improve overall water quality. This classroom session will present many design options for rain gardens. The second session is "Rain Garden Site Assessment: Drainage and Soils." It will be held on April 24 at 2278 Ariel Street in North St. Paul, a private home, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Attendance at session one is a pre-requisite for registration for session two. At this session you will learn how to analyze your site, test for soil infiltration and determine your drainage area. You must register by April 12. The third and final session is "Rain Garden Design Workshop: Garden Layout and Plant Design." It will be held on May 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 East 7th Street, Maplewood. You need to have taken session two to register for this seminar. City News Page Also, you must register by May 1. During this session, a conservation district designer will provide an overview of design principles. You will use the information gathered regarding your own site to design a rain garden. Master gardeners and other gardening specialists will provide one-on-one design assistance. Participants will need to bring a map of their own site and the results of their soil infiltration test. All sessions are free, but pre-registration is required. Please register by phone at (651)-792- 7965. For specific questions about the content of these classes, contact Sage Passi at the Watershed District. The phone number is (651- 792-7965. Mayor on the Mend Mayor Bob Uzpen spent much of February and March recovering from back surgery. He is on the mend and the council wishes him a speedy recovery! Gem Lake Scholarship Program Deadline Approaches The deadline for applying for the Gem Lake Scholarship Program is March 28. The program, which is in its third year, is designed to award $500 scholarships for post secondary education to graduating seniors who live in Gem Lake. Last year Gem Lake gave out four awards to local seniors. To apply, obtain an application form from your high school counselor.